**
~Chapter 12~
-The Marauder's Map!- Professor Remus Lupin smiled as he remebered the fun he, Sirius, James, and Peter all had. But thinking about his old friends sent a pang of sadness through him. Two of them were dead, and one, the person who he loved the most, was the Wizarding world's most wanted person.
He shook his head, shaking the depressing thoughts away. Picking up his wand, he tapped the Map, and said softly, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good!" Spider-silk like strands of ink webbed out across the paper, revealing the enchanted map of Hogwarts. Tiny dots moved about the parchment. Everything seemed to be normal. Snape was sitting in his office, as was Professor Dumbledore.And, just as he thought, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were standing outside of Hagrid's cabin. The next thing he saw however, was definentally not normal. Two dots, belonging to two people who certainly should not have been at Hogwarts, were in close proximity to Harry and his friends. The first dot was labeled Sirius Black, and the second was- Peter Pettigrew!
Without pausing to think that tonight was a full moon (he needed to take his Wolfsbane Potion), or to even wipe the Map clean, Professor Lupin ran out of the classroom, and hurried towards the Whomping Willow.
**
"Padfoot!" Remus exclaimed. He hadn't seen Sirius in thirteen years, and spent the majority of them hating Sirius for betraying Lily and James, and himself for loving Sirius just the same.
Sirius smiled, looking much like a jack-o-latern left out too long past Halloween. "Hullo, Moony." He opened his arms, and Remus embraced him. After seeing Peter's name on the Marauder's Map, he had no doubt in his mind that Sirius was innocent. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all staring at Remus like they had never seen him before.
"You were helping him?!" Hermione gasped. "I kept you're secret for you, I didn't tell anyone what you were!"
"Hermione, please! Listen!" Remus pleaded, stepping towards her.
She retreated from him. "I didn't tell anyone that you are a WERE- WOLF!"
Remus' stopped dead in his tracks. An odd expression landed itself on his face. Ron made a small yelp of pain and fear, drawing Remus' attention to him. "Here, let me help you," he said kindly, starting towards Ron.
"Don't touch me, were-wolf!" Ron gasped, eyes wide with fear.
Again Remus stopped. Turning towards Hermione with a pained expression he asked, "How long have you known?"
"Ever since I did that essay for Professor Snape."
"You are one of the cleverest witches I have ever met, Hermione. Professor Snape would be proud, thats the whole reason he assigned that essay."
"Snape? What's he got to do with anything?" Sirius asked hoarsely.
"He's here, Pads. A professor at the school."
Sirius snorted. "How's a slimy little git like that become a professor? Stupid little D-" he stopped mid-word at the warning look Remus had shot at him. "Anyway, I came here tonight to finish the crime I was imprisoned for..."
"Ron, may I see your rat?" Remus asked, holding his hand out towards Scabber, whose tiny eyes were nearly popping out of his skull. He and Sirius had already explained to the three about them being Animagi. "I promise you, if it isn't Peter, then it won't hurt Scabbers at all." Ron handed over his pet. "Ready Padfoot?"
Sirius nodded, and he and Remus pointed thier wands at Scabbers. A jet of light surrounded the animal, and soon in Scabber's stead, a small pudgy man was sitting on the floor, in between Sirius and Remus. "H-h-hullo Moony. Hullo P-Padfoot..." he squeaked.
"Hullo Wormtail, and good-bye. You had to realize if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would." Remus mock smiled. He raised his wand, as did Sirius, and would have killed Peter right there if Harry hadn't intervened.
"Harry, this scum is the reason you don't have any parents," Sirius snarled, looking at Peter with pure loathing..
"Yes, but I don't think my dad would want you to end back up in prison, y'know?"
Sirius looked gravely at Harry. "Are you sure?"
Harry nodded and Remus smiled at him. "Well, I guess we should take him-" Remus motioned towards Snape, "-and head back up to the castle." The group headed out the door, and back to the castle.
When they were just out of the Whomping Willow, Remus glanced at the sky, and let out a strangled gasp. He bent over double in the full moonlight as the transformation into his were-wolf form took place. Sirius pushed the children and Snape to saftey, and quickly transformed into the great black dog. In the choas, Peter slipped away.
Howling, Remus started towards Ron, fangs bared, but he was knocked off course by Sirius. Then Sirius chased Remus into the forest, leading him farther and farther away from the children.
**
"Ah, well, that was fun, eh Moony?" Sirius smiled, pushing his matted hair out of his face. The full moon had faded, and Remus was back to his normal self, even though he was feeling a little sick.
Remus returned the smile. An wild esctatic joy filled him everytime he looked at Sirius. He didn't feel guilty anymore. Sirius was innocent, and would soon be freed. "Just like old times..."
Sirius looked Remus straight in the eye. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you that James' switched Secret Keepers. None of this was supposed to happen. I was sure Voldemort would come after me, but it was Peter who betrayed them...Can you forgive me?"
Remus smiled again. "Of course."
"I'd kiss you, but I'm a little smelly," Sirius laughed.
"A little?" Remus asked incredulously. "You stink to high heavens Padfoot! How long has it been since you've bathed?"
"A little over 6 months," Sirius grinned. He leaned over and kissed Remus.
"Mmmm, you're just like wine, Sirius. You get better with age," Remus said, still amazed that he was reunited with his love. "Though, you'd probably taste a little better after you get cleaned up!" He laughed, and hugged Sirius.
"Come on, let's get you back up to the castle, so that I can finally see your place," said Sirius, standing up.
"Wait," Remus said, pulling Sirius on top of him. He kissed him fully, and Sirius' hands caressed his skin. Soon the two were oblivious to the world around them, and they made love just like the old times.
**
Remus snapped awake from his dream. -Of course I would dream something like that, because that is just what I need,- he thought sadly. He often wondered why he loved Sirius. Some great force seemed to amuse itself by seperating them, letting them reuinite, and then just seperating them again.
Afraid to fall asleep in case he dreamt of Sirius again, Remus spent the rest of the night staring blankly at the ceiling.
**
~Chapter 12~
-The Marauder's Map!- Professor Remus Lupin smiled as he remebered the fun he, Sirius, James, and Peter all had. But thinking about his old friends sent a pang of sadness through him. Two of them were dead, and one, the person who he loved the most, was the Wizarding world's most wanted person.
He shook his head, shaking the depressing thoughts away. Picking up his wand, he tapped the Map, and said softly, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good!" Spider-silk like strands of ink webbed out across the paper, revealing the enchanted map of Hogwarts. Tiny dots moved about the parchment. Everything seemed to be normal. Snape was sitting in his office, as was Professor Dumbledore.And, just as he thought, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were standing outside of Hagrid's cabin. The next thing he saw however, was definentally not normal. Two dots, belonging to two people who certainly should not have been at Hogwarts, were in close proximity to Harry and his friends. The first dot was labeled Sirius Black, and the second was- Peter Pettigrew!
Without pausing to think that tonight was a full moon (he needed to take his Wolfsbane Potion), or to even wipe the Map clean, Professor Lupin ran out of the classroom, and hurried towards the Whomping Willow.
**
"Padfoot!" Remus exclaimed. He hadn't seen Sirius in thirteen years, and spent the majority of them hating Sirius for betraying Lily and James, and himself for loving Sirius just the same.
Sirius smiled, looking much like a jack-o-latern left out too long past Halloween. "Hullo, Moony." He opened his arms, and Remus embraced him. After seeing Peter's name on the Marauder's Map, he had no doubt in his mind that Sirius was innocent. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all staring at Remus like they had never seen him before.
"You were helping him?!" Hermione gasped. "I kept you're secret for you, I didn't tell anyone what you were!"
"Hermione, please! Listen!" Remus pleaded, stepping towards her.
She retreated from him. "I didn't tell anyone that you are a WERE- WOLF!"
Remus' stopped dead in his tracks. An odd expression landed itself on his face. Ron made a small yelp of pain and fear, drawing Remus' attention to him. "Here, let me help you," he said kindly, starting towards Ron.
"Don't touch me, were-wolf!" Ron gasped, eyes wide with fear.
Again Remus stopped. Turning towards Hermione with a pained expression he asked, "How long have you known?"
"Ever since I did that essay for Professor Snape."
"You are one of the cleverest witches I have ever met, Hermione. Professor Snape would be proud, thats the whole reason he assigned that essay."
"Snape? What's he got to do with anything?" Sirius asked hoarsely.
"He's here, Pads. A professor at the school."
Sirius snorted. "How's a slimy little git like that become a professor? Stupid little D-" he stopped mid-word at the warning look Remus had shot at him. "Anyway, I came here tonight to finish the crime I was imprisoned for..."
"Ron, may I see your rat?" Remus asked, holding his hand out towards Scabber, whose tiny eyes were nearly popping out of his skull. He and Sirius had already explained to the three about them being Animagi. "I promise you, if it isn't Peter, then it won't hurt Scabbers at all." Ron handed over his pet. "Ready Padfoot?"
Sirius nodded, and he and Remus pointed thier wands at Scabbers. A jet of light surrounded the animal, and soon in Scabber's stead, a small pudgy man was sitting on the floor, in between Sirius and Remus. "H-h-hullo Moony. Hullo P-Padfoot..." he squeaked.
"Hullo Wormtail, and good-bye. You had to realize if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would." Remus mock smiled. He raised his wand, as did Sirius, and would have killed Peter right there if Harry hadn't intervened.
"Harry, this scum is the reason you don't have any parents," Sirius snarled, looking at Peter with pure loathing..
"Yes, but I don't think my dad would want you to end back up in prison, y'know?"
Sirius looked gravely at Harry. "Are you sure?"
Harry nodded and Remus smiled at him. "Well, I guess we should take him-" Remus motioned towards Snape, "-and head back up to the castle." The group headed out the door, and back to the castle.
When they were just out of the Whomping Willow, Remus glanced at the sky, and let out a strangled gasp. He bent over double in the full moonlight as the transformation into his were-wolf form took place. Sirius pushed the children and Snape to saftey, and quickly transformed into the great black dog. In the choas, Peter slipped away.
Howling, Remus started towards Ron, fangs bared, but he was knocked off course by Sirius. Then Sirius chased Remus into the forest, leading him farther and farther away from the children.
**
"Ah, well, that was fun, eh Moony?" Sirius smiled, pushing his matted hair out of his face. The full moon had faded, and Remus was back to his normal self, even though he was feeling a little sick.
Remus returned the smile. An wild esctatic joy filled him everytime he looked at Sirius. He didn't feel guilty anymore. Sirius was innocent, and would soon be freed. "Just like old times..."
Sirius looked Remus straight in the eye. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you that James' switched Secret Keepers. None of this was supposed to happen. I was sure Voldemort would come after me, but it was Peter who betrayed them...Can you forgive me?"
Remus smiled again. "Of course."
"I'd kiss you, but I'm a little smelly," Sirius laughed.
"A little?" Remus asked incredulously. "You stink to high heavens Padfoot! How long has it been since you've bathed?"
"A little over 6 months," Sirius grinned. He leaned over and kissed Remus.
"Mmmm, you're just like wine, Sirius. You get better with age," Remus said, still amazed that he was reunited with his love. "Though, you'd probably taste a little better after you get cleaned up!" He laughed, and hugged Sirius.
"Come on, let's get you back up to the castle, so that I can finally see your place," said Sirius, standing up.
"Wait," Remus said, pulling Sirius on top of him. He kissed him fully, and Sirius' hands caressed his skin. Soon the two were oblivious to the world around them, and they made love just like the old times.
**
Remus snapped awake from his dream. -Of course I would dream something like that, because that is just what I need,- he thought sadly. He often wondered why he loved Sirius. Some great force seemed to amuse itself by seperating them, letting them reuinite, and then just seperating them again.
Afraid to fall asleep in case he dreamt of Sirius again, Remus spent the rest of the night staring blankly at the ceiling.
**