But Remus didn't stop disappearing. If anything, his absences became longer
and more frequent, and Sirius sunk into a deep depression as the winter
nights grew longer and colder. He woke up sometimes, a silent scream on his
lips and a vivid nightmare evaporating from his consciousness, and he would
turn over and sink his teeth into the pillow and swallow the tears which
threatened to break forth. Sometimes he awoke to find Remus beside him but
the relief soon gave way to paranoia: was he breathing? Was that his
heartbeat? And he would have to shake Remus awake to make sure he was okay,
causing the werewolf to lose his temper and demand to be left to sleep.
Daytimes were also difficult. Remus was working more, as was Sirius, and although they met for lunch it wasn't nearly enough. A few quick kisses in the street and then another five hours of painful separation which Sirius soon could not endure. When Remus was in the flat in the evenings, it was another story entirely, and Sirius often found himself trying to avoid him. Remus had changed over the past months, becoming more snappish and aggressive, traits Sirius normally attributed to the phases of the moon. Now he was noticeably worse, losing his temper where before a light-hearted comment would have been the expected reaction. When he was like this Sirius preferred his own company, venturing back out to see if Remus had calmed down as the evening progressed. He often had, apologising over and over again for his mood swings, kissing Sirius as if they were the most passionate and devoted of lovers. But sometimes he sought his own isolation, bolting his bedroom door and leaving Sirius to listen in vain for his breathing through the thin walls.
Surprisingly, Sirius found their sex life improving, but this was mostly down to Remus' passionate apologies and declarations of devotion after particularly nasty arguments. Remus became excessively emotional, even sobbing into Sirius' shoulder once, to the extent that Sirius hardly knew what to do with him. James had few helpful comments on the matter and his only solution was to get Sirius nicely drunk one evening, which only resulted in another row with Remus. Inebriated and feeling rejected and unwanted, Sirius had sulked in his room for two whole days until Remus coaxed him out. A final blazing argument was averted when Remus put a finger to Sirius' lips and begged him to finally explain how to get rid of Malfoy, if Sirius thought it was such a simple task.
Malfoy, it became apparent, was not the most careful of lovers. Remus often returned with bruises and bites, and Malfoy made no attempt whatsoever to hide their affair from prying eyes. Only his wife, Narcissa, was purposefully left in the dark, and that, Sirius knew, was where Lucius' weak-spot lay. And so information was gathered and eventually it was revealed that Narcissa would be home on the 30th October. Sirius explained what Remus must do, kissed him once, and left to respond to an urgent call from the Potters.
He apparated swiftly to Godric's Hollow and let himself in with the spare key. He found Lily in the kitchen, holding tightly to Harry, her eyes red- rimmed. As soon as she saw him she ran to him, shoving Harry into his arms and throwing her own around him.
"Sirius!" she whimpered. "Thank God you're here."
He frowned, holding woman and baby tightly. "Where's James?"
"He went straight to Dumbledore. I made him go, he didn't want to leave. I said you'd be here – thank god you are. Don't leave me."
Sirius made vague soothing sounds as he guided her to the living room, placing Harry back into her arms and helping her to lower herself onto the couch. He sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "Tell me what's happened?" he asked softly.
She took a moment to compose herself. "Someone got in while we were out," she said, her voice shaking as she spoke. "We only went to buy a few things for Harry, I dread to think what would have happened if we hadn't." She choked back a sob, and Sirius gripped her hand impulsively. After she'd taken a breath she ploughed on. "The pushed the table over, broke the back window. Nothing was stolen, it wasn't burglars."
"That would be impossible," Sirius supplied. "Only five of us can get into this house."
"But it can't have been you."
"No. Remus and I have been home all week."
"And Peter's with his mother."
"And Dumbledore and McGonagall are at Hogwarts." Sirius shrugged. "Someone must have let slip where you live, and if I find out who it was I'll murder them."
Remus and I have been home all week. . . But that wasn't true. Sirius hadn't left the house except for work, but Remus had vanished just the once in the past seven days. Sirius had thought this indicated an improvement, but it seemed even once was too much. Remus would never do something like this on purpose, but Lucius Malfoy was vindictive and manipulating, and it would only take one slip for a fatal mistake such as this to take place.
Lily wiped her nose on her sleeve, a sure sign of her distress. Sirius found a tissue for her and she blew her nose loudly. "James has gone to demand even higher levels of security," she told him. "The Roberius charm wasn't enough, so he's after the next one up, whatever it is."
"There is only one more. The Fidelius charm. Only he'll never get it, it's too difficult and dangerous."
"He will; I told him he can use any means to get Dumbledore on his side here, even his patented Potter Sulk." She managed a small smile. They both knew James could be refused by no one when he sulked. "And besides, what could be more deserving of the Fidelius Charm's protection than a young boy's life?" She glanced at Harry, who seemed completely oblivious to the severity of the situation. He was pointing at Sirius and laughing. Sirius had always found himself a fathomless source of amusement to young children, and poked Harry affectionately on the nose. The child tried to bit his finger but he yanked it away in time.
"Little nipper," he muttered. "Literally."
James returned not long later, and told them he had full permission to use whatever means he deemed necessary to protect his family. Lily breathed a sigh of relief as he explained the complexities of the Fidelius charm; it was a very complex piece of magic which put a hefty drain on the power of all involved. It also put the Secret Keeper – the one information was stored in – in carrying amounts of danger. In this instance it was a lot of danger.
"Will you do it for us, Sirius?" he asked, looking his best friend squarely in the eye. "There isn't a soul I trust more than you."
Automatically, Sirius nodded. James grinned at him and drew him into a tight hug.
"I owe you, seriously. No amount of drinks will pay for this. Padfoot, you've saved our lives."
Sirius did not have to think long about what he had just agreed, to realise how big a mistake it was. Everyone worth worrying about knew Sirius and James were the best of friends. It wouldn't be long before word got out that the Potters had used the Fidelius charm, and Sirius knew exactly who Voldemort and his supporters would come looking for first.
"It's way too obvious," he said suddenly. "Get one of the others to do it, it'll be much safer."
"Remus will do it," said Lily instantly. She was laying the table for dinner, and glanced up at them. "I'll ask him myself. He won't say no."
Sirius bit his lip. "Not Remus."
James raised an eyebrow at him. "Sirius, I know you love him, but don't try to protect him now. Please. We're desperate."
Sirius stared at their pleading faces. There was no way he could tell them his faint suspicion concerning Remus. It wasn't even a definite suspicion, just a niggling feeling that Remus was, whether consciously or not, letting things slip that he shouldn't be. He did love Remus, more than any of them could comprehend, and a niggling doubt was not enough to make a dent in his emotion or make him betray his beloved unnecessarily. However, it was enough for him to go for the obvious alternative to Remus as Secret Keeper.
"Peter," he said shortly. "No one will ever suspect him."
. . .
It was three hours later.
For the last time, Remus trod uneasily along the gravel path towards the Malfoy estates. From the road it was a thirty minute walk to the main wing of the house, and usually he used it for thinking space. Now, though, he did not want to think. What he had to do was not only against his instincts, but was completely immoral. Of course, the whole situation had been immoral from the moment he first let Sirius kiss him, but this . . . well it certainly wouldn't make life easier for Remus. He was going to lose his job and he would be left to live off Sirius, but at least Sirius would have his wish: Remus all to himself. Whether Remus would live to enjoy this was a different matter entirely.
He let himself in. He was very good at getting into places without being seen, which was a werewolf trait and something highly valued by the Marauders. The amount of activity in the house indicated that Narcissa was already home; people were everywhere, carrying things and moving things and delivering things and running a dozen other errands. A few of them looked at Remus suspiciously, but the Marauders were very good at looking exactly like they had every right to be wherever they happened to end up, and if Remus had been feeling a little more confident he would probably have found some subservient looking lackey and barked an order at them. As it was, he merely looked like a man on a mission. No one ever questions a man on a mission.
He didn't know where the Malfoys could be found, so he used his senses. He sniffed the air delicately, peered at fresh footprints to see if they belonged to Lucius, and eavesdropped into other people's conversations. Finally he found himself outside the main sitting room, staring at the panelled oak door. They were in there, and this was it. He knocked, nervously, but managed to make the knock sound firm and decisive.
"Enter."
Remus pushed the door open and strode in. His heart fluttered uncomfortably at the sight of Lucius and his family, but he forced himself to remain a picture of calm and confidence. Lucius was in his armchair, staring over the top of the newspaper. He was dressed in his habitual black, but very much more casually than Remus had ever seen him before. He even had his shoes off, something Remus had never seen without a fair amount of kissing taking place beforehand. In fact, now he came to think about it, he could not remember ever having seen Lucius either remove or put on a pair of shoes. Apparently they were too common for him ever to have to deal with intimately and they removed themselves at his whim.
Tearing his gaze away from Lucius' feet, he glanced at Narcissa. She had paused in the act of neatening the hair of something small and blond, and was giving him a questioning glare. She was thin, almost bony, but still very pretty. Her hair was similar to Lucius' in colour, but it was styled very elegantly on the top of her head. She looked quite affronted by this intrusion, and glanced over Remus' clothes. He had taken care to wear robes rather than his habitual muggle-wear, but they were much too shabby and cheap-looking for Narcissa to let them pass without comment.
"Who is this scruffy little man?" she demanded, not of Remus but her husband. Apparently Remus was not important enough to be spoken to.
Lucius took a moment to find his voice. "He's, um-" he was forced to clear his throat to cover the verbal hitch. "No one, dear. Someone Lupin, I think." He gave Remus a look which was at once questioning and accusatory. "What is it, man?"
Remus made a point of glancing at the small blond child, which was holding its arms out to its mother. Narcissa didn't take her hard black eyes off Remus, but picked the child up. "I just stopped by to tell you I quit," he said swiftly, turning his gaze back to Lucius. "I'm handing in my notice. You'll get the official letter on your desk, but since I was passing I thought I should let you know I won't be in tomorrow."
Lucius' expression was priceless, and Remus would stick it in his pensive and go back and enjoy it when he was bored. But he wasn't finished yet.
"And that other . . . Role you designated me to. I resign from that too. I've got too much on my plate right now, and I'm afraid this just isn't at the top of my list of priorities. So you won't be hearing from me again."
Lucius was on his feet instantly, walking swiftly towards Remus. "Out," he barked, pointing at the door. Obligingly, Remus left the room with Lucius close behind him. The blond gave him a shove across the corridor, and he staggered into the dark room opposite. Lucius shut the door behind himself, and Remus moved away from him, ready to shift promptly if Lucius should try to advance on him. If worse came to worst, he knew he could force himself to change into his werewolf form, even though it wasn't full moon. He had only ever had to pull that trick once before, when some thug had tried to grab him in an alley near his home. It wasn't something he ever wanted to do again, but he was well aware that Lucius was by far the strongest of them as long as he remained human.
"No, no, no," said Lucius, leaning against the door and shaking his head at Remus. "You're not going anywhere. You're mine, and as such you will do as I say."
"I'm not your possession, Lucius."
"I will NOT lose to Sirius Black!" his voice was a low growl; he did not want Narcissa to hear any of this, Remus knew.
"Well you have. If I belong to anyone, it's him." Remus let his own voice get steadily louder. "You never felt anything for me past ownership and that's not enough. You're a bully and a coward, and I'll have nothing more to do with you."
"Shh!" Lucius hissed, started away from the door. Remus moved deftly round so the distance between them remained the same, but he was a little closer to the door now. Lucius narrowed his eyes. "I know what you're trying to do. You think with my wife here, I'll crack."
"And you will. If you don't let me go, I'll tell her. If you ever try to contact me again, I'll tell her. If you lay a finger on me I'll make so much noise she'll come running to see what's going on, and I'll tell her right here in your home. I'll tell everything."
For the first time, a quiver of doubt gripped Lucius' features and Remus knew he was winning.
"And then what will she do, Lucius? I doubt she'd want anything to do with you then. Another woman is one thing. Another man? What will she think of that? And what when she learns who I am? My father was a stock broker, a muggle. That makes me a half-blood. She'll take you for a liar and a hypocrite, and she'll take your little boy away from you."
Remus drew breath sharply, watching Lucius' reaction. He was nervous now, something completely new for him. But he wasn't nearly nervous enough, and Remus played his last card.
"Am I really worth that? You wouldn't risk your son for some shabby little half-breed, would you? Like you've said yourself, I'm worthless. But you seem a little confused on that point, don't you? Maybe we should seek an outsider's opinion; I'm sure Narcissa will oblige." He moved towards the door, and Lucius lunged at him. He almost grabbed Remus' shoulder when he remembered what the werewolf had said about touching him and withdrew his hand sharply.
"I see you've got the idea," said Remus briskly. "I'm leaving, Lucius. I won't say I regret anything we did, but this is the end of an era."
He left without another word, his blood pounding frantically in his ears and his breath suddenly short. But he left with the same confident stride with which he had arrived. He had done it; it was over. When he left the Malfoys' property and found himself on the track down to the main road, he found himself grinning with relief. Things were going to be very different from tomorrow onwards, he knew. And, without looking back, he took himself home to his empty flat.
. . .
it was the 30th October 1981, and it was mere minutes until midnight. Godric's Hollow lay calm and serene in the waxing moonlight, its ivy- covered eaves and shrub-bordered paths quaint and homely, and its garden mysterious and inviting. To the casual observer it was just an attractive house; anyone really paying attention would have noticed that, behind the heavy curtains, the lights were still on; a magical observer would have seen the glimmer surrounding the entire house like a shimmering localised mist, indicating that vast amounts of magic were being manipulated within.
Half an hour later, they would have seen nothing but the road and the miles of open field beyond the cottage. They would certainly have paid no heed to the large rat which leapt out of the field, scampered across the road, and vanished into the grass verge. Tomorrow, when the news got out, they would not know how close they had been to the Boy Who Lived.
Daytimes were also difficult. Remus was working more, as was Sirius, and although they met for lunch it wasn't nearly enough. A few quick kisses in the street and then another five hours of painful separation which Sirius soon could not endure. When Remus was in the flat in the evenings, it was another story entirely, and Sirius often found himself trying to avoid him. Remus had changed over the past months, becoming more snappish and aggressive, traits Sirius normally attributed to the phases of the moon. Now he was noticeably worse, losing his temper where before a light-hearted comment would have been the expected reaction. When he was like this Sirius preferred his own company, venturing back out to see if Remus had calmed down as the evening progressed. He often had, apologising over and over again for his mood swings, kissing Sirius as if they were the most passionate and devoted of lovers. But sometimes he sought his own isolation, bolting his bedroom door and leaving Sirius to listen in vain for his breathing through the thin walls.
Surprisingly, Sirius found their sex life improving, but this was mostly down to Remus' passionate apologies and declarations of devotion after particularly nasty arguments. Remus became excessively emotional, even sobbing into Sirius' shoulder once, to the extent that Sirius hardly knew what to do with him. James had few helpful comments on the matter and his only solution was to get Sirius nicely drunk one evening, which only resulted in another row with Remus. Inebriated and feeling rejected and unwanted, Sirius had sulked in his room for two whole days until Remus coaxed him out. A final blazing argument was averted when Remus put a finger to Sirius' lips and begged him to finally explain how to get rid of Malfoy, if Sirius thought it was such a simple task.
Malfoy, it became apparent, was not the most careful of lovers. Remus often returned with bruises and bites, and Malfoy made no attempt whatsoever to hide their affair from prying eyes. Only his wife, Narcissa, was purposefully left in the dark, and that, Sirius knew, was where Lucius' weak-spot lay. And so information was gathered and eventually it was revealed that Narcissa would be home on the 30th October. Sirius explained what Remus must do, kissed him once, and left to respond to an urgent call from the Potters.
He apparated swiftly to Godric's Hollow and let himself in with the spare key. He found Lily in the kitchen, holding tightly to Harry, her eyes red- rimmed. As soon as she saw him she ran to him, shoving Harry into his arms and throwing her own around him.
"Sirius!" she whimpered. "Thank God you're here."
He frowned, holding woman and baby tightly. "Where's James?"
"He went straight to Dumbledore. I made him go, he didn't want to leave. I said you'd be here – thank god you are. Don't leave me."
Sirius made vague soothing sounds as he guided her to the living room, placing Harry back into her arms and helping her to lower herself onto the couch. He sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "Tell me what's happened?" he asked softly.
She took a moment to compose herself. "Someone got in while we were out," she said, her voice shaking as she spoke. "We only went to buy a few things for Harry, I dread to think what would have happened if we hadn't." She choked back a sob, and Sirius gripped her hand impulsively. After she'd taken a breath she ploughed on. "The pushed the table over, broke the back window. Nothing was stolen, it wasn't burglars."
"That would be impossible," Sirius supplied. "Only five of us can get into this house."
"But it can't have been you."
"No. Remus and I have been home all week."
"And Peter's with his mother."
"And Dumbledore and McGonagall are at Hogwarts." Sirius shrugged. "Someone must have let slip where you live, and if I find out who it was I'll murder them."
Remus and I have been home all week. . . But that wasn't true. Sirius hadn't left the house except for work, but Remus had vanished just the once in the past seven days. Sirius had thought this indicated an improvement, but it seemed even once was too much. Remus would never do something like this on purpose, but Lucius Malfoy was vindictive and manipulating, and it would only take one slip for a fatal mistake such as this to take place.
Lily wiped her nose on her sleeve, a sure sign of her distress. Sirius found a tissue for her and she blew her nose loudly. "James has gone to demand even higher levels of security," she told him. "The Roberius charm wasn't enough, so he's after the next one up, whatever it is."
"There is only one more. The Fidelius charm. Only he'll never get it, it's too difficult and dangerous."
"He will; I told him he can use any means to get Dumbledore on his side here, even his patented Potter Sulk." She managed a small smile. They both knew James could be refused by no one when he sulked. "And besides, what could be more deserving of the Fidelius Charm's protection than a young boy's life?" She glanced at Harry, who seemed completely oblivious to the severity of the situation. He was pointing at Sirius and laughing. Sirius had always found himself a fathomless source of amusement to young children, and poked Harry affectionately on the nose. The child tried to bit his finger but he yanked it away in time.
"Little nipper," he muttered. "Literally."
James returned not long later, and told them he had full permission to use whatever means he deemed necessary to protect his family. Lily breathed a sigh of relief as he explained the complexities of the Fidelius charm; it was a very complex piece of magic which put a hefty drain on the power of all involved. It also put the Secret Keeper – the one information was stored in – in carrying amounts of danger. In this instance it was a lot of danger.
"Will you do it for us, Sirius?" he asked, looking his best friend squarely in the eye. "There isn't a soul I trust more than you."
Automatically, Sirius nodded. James grinned at him and drew him into a tight hug.
"I owe you, seriously. No amount of drinks will pay for this. Padfoot, you've saved our lives."
Sirius did not have to think long about what he had just agreed, to realise how big a mistake it was. Everyone worth worrying about knew Sirius and James were the best of friends. It wouldn't be long before word got out that the Potters had used the Fidelius charm, and Sirius knew exactly who Voldemort and his supporters would come looking for first.
"It's way too obvious," he said suddenly. "Get one of the others to do it, it'll be much safer."
"Remus will do it," said Lily instantly. She was laying the table for dinner, and glanced up at them. "I'll ask him myself. He won't say no."
Sirius bit his lip. "Not Remus."
James raised an eyebrow at him. "Sirius, I know you love him, but don't try to protect him now. Please. We're desperate."
Sirius stared at their pleading faces. There was no way he could tell them his faint suspicion concerning Remus. It wasn't even a definite suspicion, just a niggling feeling that Remus was, whether consciously or not, letting things slip that he shouldn't be. He did love Remus, more than any of them could comprehend, and a niggling doubt was not enough to make a dent in his emotion or make him betray his beloved unnecessarily. However, it was enough for him to go for the obvious alternative to Remus as Secret Keeper.
"Peter," he said shortly. "No one will ever suspect him."
. . .
It was three hours later.
For the last time, Remus trod uneasily along the gravel path towards the Malfoy estates. From the road it was a thirty minute walk to the main wing of the house, and usually he used it for thinking space. Now, though, he did not want to think. What he had to do was not only against his instincts, but was completely immoral. Of course, the whole situation had been immoral from the moment he first let Sirius kiss him, but this . . . well it certainly wouldn't make life easier for Remus. He was going to lose his job and he would be left to live off Sirius, but at least Sirius would have his wish: Remus all to himself. Whether Remus would live to enjoy this was a different matter entirely.
He let himself in. He was very good at getting into places without being seen, which was a werewolf trait and something highly valued by the Marauders. The amount of activity in the house indicated that Narcissa was already home; people were everywhere, carrying things and moving things and delivering things and running a dozen other errands. A few of them looked at Remus suspiciously, but the Marauders were very good at looking exactly like they had every right to be wherever they happened to end up, and if Remus had been feeling a little more confident he would probably have found some subservient looking lackey and barked an order at them. As it was, he merely looked like a man on a mission. No one ever questions a man on a mission.
He didn't know where the Malfoys could be found, so he used his senses. He sniffed the air delicately, peered at fresh footprints to see if they belonged to Lucius, and eavesdropped into other people's conversations. Finally he found himself outside the main sitting room, staring at the panelled oak door. They were in there, and this was it. He knocked, nervously, but managed to make the knock sound firm and decisive.
"Enter."
Remus pushed the door open and strode in. His heart fluttered uncomfortably at the sight of Lucius and his family, but he forced himself to remain a picture of calm and confidence. Lucius was in his armchair, staring over the top of the newspaper. He was dressed in his habitual black, but very much more casually than Remus had ever seen him before. He even had his shoes off, something Remus had never seen without a fair amount of kissing taking place beforehand. In fact, now he came to think about it, he could not remember ever having seen Lucius either remove or put on a pair of shoes. Apparently they were too common for him ever to have to deal with intimately and they removed themselves at his whim.
Tearing his gaze away from Lucius' feet, he glanced at Narcissa. She had paused in the act of neatening the hair of something small and blond, and was giving him a questioning glare. She was thin, almost bony, but still very pretty. Her hair was similar to Lucius' in colour, but it was styled very elegantly on the top of her head. She looked quite affronted by this intrusion, and glanced over Remus' clothes. He had taken care to wear robes rather than his habitual muggle-wear, but they were much too shabby and cheap-looking for Narcissa to let them pass without comment.
"Who is this scruffy little man?" she demanded, not of Remus but her husband. Apparently Remus was not important enough to be spoken to.
Lucius took a moment to find his voice. "He's, um-" he was forced to clear his throat to cover the verbal hitch. "No one, dear. Someone Lupin, I think." He gave Remus a look which was at once questioning and accusatory. "What is it, man?"
Remus made a point of glancing at the small blond child, which was holding its arms out to its mother. Narcissa didn't take her hard black eyes off Remus, but picked the child up. "I just stopped by to tell you I quit," he said swiftly, turning his gaze back to Lucius. "I'm handing in my notice. You'll get the official letter on your desk, but since I was passing I thought I should let you know I won't be in tomorrow."
Lucius' expression was priceless, and Remus would stick it in his pensive and go back and enjoy it when he was bored. But he wasn't finished yet.
"And that other . . . Role you designated me to. I resign from that too. I've got too much on my plate right now, and I'm afraid this just isn't at the top of my list of priorities. So you won't be hearing from me again."
Lucius was on his feet instantly, walking swiftly towards Remus. "Out," he barked, pointing at the door. Obligingly, Remus left the room with Lucius close behind him. The blond gave him a shove across the corridor, and he staggered into the dark room opposite. Lucius shut the door behind himself, and Remus moved away from him, ready to shift promptly if Lucius should try to advance on him. If worse came to worst, he knew he could force himself to change into his werewolf form, even though it wasn't full moon. He had only ever had to pull that trick once before, when some thug had tried to grab him in an alley near his home. It wasn't something he ever wanted to do again, but he was well aware that Lucius was by far the strongest of them as long as he remained human.
"No, no, no," said Lucius, leaning against the door and shaking his head at Remus. "You're not going anywhere. You're mine, and as such you will do as I say."
"I'm not your possession, Lucius."
"I will NOT lose to Sirius Black!" his voice was a low growl; he did not want Narcissa to hear any of this, Remus knew.
"Well you have. If I belong to anyone, it's him." Remus let his own voice get steadily louder. "You never felt anything for me past ownership and that's not enough. You're a bully and a coward, and I'll have nothing more to do with you."
"Shh!" Lucius hissed, started away from the door. Remus moved deftly round so the distance between them remained the same, but he was a little closer to the door now. Lucius narrowed his eyes. "I know what you're trying to do. You think with my wife here, I'll crack."
"And you will. If you don't let me go, I'll tell her. If you ever try to contact me again, I'll tell her. If you lay a finger on me I'll make so much noise she'll come running to see what's going on, and I'll tell her right here in your home. I'll tell everything."
For the first time, a quiver of doubt gripped Lucius' features and Remus knew he was winning.
"And then what will she do, Lucius? I doubt she'd want anything to do with you then. Another woman is one thing. Another man? What will she think of that? And what when she learns who I am? My father was a stock broker, a muggle. That makes me a half-blood. She'll take you for a liar and a hypocrite, and she'll take your little boy away from you."
Remus drew breath sharply, watching Lucius' reaction. He was nervous now, something completely new for him. But he wasn't nearly nervous enough, and Remus played his last card.
"Am I really worth that? You wouldn't risk your son for some shabby little half-breed, would you? Like you've said yourself, I'm worthless. But you seem a little confused on that point, don't you? Maybe we should seek an outsider's opinion; I'm sure Narcissa will oblige." He moved towards the door, and Lucius lunged at him. He almost grabbed Remus' shoulder when he remembered what the werewolf had said about touching him and withdrew his hand sharply.
"I see you've got the idea," said Remus briskly. "I'm leaving, Lucius. I won't say I regret anything we did, but this is the end of an era."
He left without another word, his blood pounding frantically in his ears and his breath suddenly short. But he left with the same confident stride with which he had arrived. He had done it; it was over. When he left the Malfoys' property and found himself on the track down to the main road, he found himself grinning with relief. Things were going to be very different from tomorrow onwards, he knew. And, without looking back, he took himself home to his empty flat.
. . .
it was the 30th October 1981, and it was mere minutes until midnight. Godric's Hollow lay calm and serene in the waxing moonlight, its ivy- covered eaves and shrub-bordered paths quaint and homely, and its garden mysterious and inviting. To the casual observer it was just an attractive house; anyone really paying attention would have noticed that, behind the heavy curtains, the lights were still on; a magical observer would have seen the glimmer surrounding the entire house like a shimmering localised mist, indicating that vast amounts of magic were being manipulated within.
Half an hour later, they would have seen nothing but the road and the miles of open field beyond the cottage. They would certainly have paid no heed to the large rat which leapt out of the field, scampered across the road, and vanished into the grass verge. Tomorrow, when the news got out, they would not know how close they had been to the Boy Who Lived.