Disclaimer: As you all well know, I do not own the Marauders, despite my deep desire to have my very own Sirius, Remus and James. The characters of the Harry Potter novels belong to J.K. Rowling, queen of the quill. But the other characters are mine. Respect my rights to them, or I'll get ya!
Author's Note: Ahhh! I'm so excited to get some action going in this nice, long chapter! Beware; it's about to get angsty. I know, I don't want any of our lads and lasses to be upset either… But I mean, come on, is there anything quite as dreamy as a brooding, angst-ridden Marauder? Anyway, be prepared for some very out-of-character behavior: you've been properly warned.
* * *
Something was brewing.
Ani could feel it all around her—heavy and oppressive, like a storm rushing over the horizon. It hovered over her constantly, setting her hair on end, causing her to glance over her shoulder as she wandered through the halls of the bed and breakfast. She felt as nervous as a cat, on edge all the time, and she knew it was wearing on her family's nerves.
As a result, when Lynx and Blythe offered to take Lily and Ani into town on their last day in Bath to celebrate the end of their very successful catering of the convention, Ani opted to stay in the room and work on some of the homework her mother had pressed on her at the last minute.
The excuse to be by herself had worked—though Lily, who always studied much harder than Ani, offered to stay with her until Ani persuaded her otherwise—but even as she spread out her books and parchment out in front of her to work on her History of Magic essay on trials against users of Unforgivable Curses, she found herself staring gloomily out the window. The weather didn't help her mood; grey clouds hung low in the sky and a determined wind tapped at the glass of the windows with tiny fingers.
She glanced down at the lawn and shuddered. Try as she might, Ani couldn't seem to banish the image of poor Caro with her neck bent and thick syrupy blood staining her oddly ruffled feathers from her mind. She chewed nervously at her quill tip. Nothing made sense. Why would anyone attack the owl she sent to her parents? What was the point? What had she, a fifteen-year-old witch of no consequence, said in there that someone—another witch or wizard, no less—considered dangerous?
"Ani?"
She jumped at the sound of her older brother's voice. "Rion!" she breathed shakily, turning around to where her brother stood in the doorway. "For goodness sakes, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Don't sneak up on me like that."
Rion held up a hand in apology. "Sorry," he said. "I knocked, but I guess you didn't hear me."
"Guess not," his sister replied. "Why aren't you in Bath with Lynx and the others?"
"Eh. Didn't really feel like shopping. I told them if I wanted to join them I could just Apparate downtown a little later," he said with a non-committal shrug. He entered the room and perched on the edge of the bed where Ani had spread her school things. "Don't tell me you're actually working on this?" Rion asked, picking up the almost-blank roll of parchment and glancing at the title. "Vacation is when you're supposed to relax."
"Well, don't worry too much," Ani said gloomily. "I can't work or relax. So I guess at least I'm not defeating the purpose."
"What's bugging you, Ani?" Rion asked, the concern in his voice barely masked. "I know you hate being pestered about it, but it's obviously something important. I mean, hell, you passed up shopping with Lily! I've never seen you do that." Ani laughed but Rion's face remained grave. "So what is it? Really?"
Ani shrugged and flopped back on the bed, despondent. "I just feel really terrible about the Reynolds' owl," she confessed. Rion opened his mouth and she held up a quick hand to cut him off. "I know, I know… It wasn't my fault, it was just someone playing a prank, and it didn't mean anything. I know all of that. But still… I can't shake the feeling that something's going to happen. Something bad. Something… dark."
As she spoke, a particularly loud howl of wind echoed outside and in spite of themselves, the two Hellsings shivered. But Rion, diplomatically, gave Ani a comforting pat on the back. "You're just shaken because of what happened," he informed her. "And you're right, it wasn't your fault. You'll feel better once we get home, I guarantee it Ani. But until then, you just can't think about it too much. Okay?"
She offered her brother a half-hearted smile. "Alright, but only because I know I've been driving you all crazy," she said.
"I'm glad you said it and not me," Rion teased. He pushed up off the bed and hauled Ani up with him. "Now come on. I bet some Quidditch would really get your mind off things. We don't have a Snitch or Bludgers, so we'll just toss the Quaffle around."
"We don't have brooms," Ani protested, but let herself be pulled from the room.
"The Reynolds have a couple that they keep around for their guests and their grandchildren when they come to visit," Rion informed her. "They're not bad, actually… a few Cleansweeps and even one of those new Nimbus models!"
"How did you find out about all this?" Ani asked as they clattered down the stairs.
Rion grinned somewhat sheepishly. "I've actually been talking with your friends from school for most of the morning," he admitted. "We were hanging out on the porch and they told me they'd found some while they were rummaging around the house. They're pretty good guys." He gave his sister a sideways glance. "Especially Sirius. I really like him, Ani. He's a good kid."
She smiled back at him. "Didn't I tell you?" she said gently.
He nodded. "You were right," he said simply. They paused by the front door and Rion put a serious hand on his sister's shoulder. "But I still think you ought to be careful… especially in light of recent events."
Ani gave him a sharp look. "I thought you weren't worried," she said, an edge in her voice. "Are you telling me all that comforting talk about it not being anything to worry about was just a bunch of blathering?"
"Don't be a smartass," Rion shot back. "You know I'm just looking out for you."
Ani glared at him, half ready to turn on her heel and stalk back upstairs, but took one look at his face and softened. "I know you are. But as I said, you don't have anything to worry about. Sirius doesn't have any interest in me."
He sighed, let his shoulders drop in his relief. "Good." Rion smiled wryly and cuffed her gently on the chin. "Let's get out there."
They stepped out onto the lawn where the wind, though still brisk, had becalmed and the sun had begun to peak out through the clouds. As she and Rion trudged steadily down the hill to where the four boys stood with brooms in hand, Ani felt her mood begin to lift. The tentative sun on her shoulders seemed to melt away some of the ice within her stomach, and the glimpses of blue sky were restful on her eyes. She grinned at her friends as she and her brother approached, waving in response to Peter's caroled greeting.
She was about to run down the rest of the way to them and grab one of the spare rooms when she stopped dead in her tracks, so suddenly that Rion bumped her from behind. "What's with you?" he asked, and shifted past her to descend the rest of the way.
"Nothing," she murmured, but as she looked upon Remus' face, the inner chill began to creep through her once more. Something is wrong with him, Ani thought. But what?
He had given her a smile as she approached, but his normally warm eyes seemed blacker than even Sirius'. The lines around his mouth were harsh and deep, and his hands seemed taut as he clutched the worn broomstick. It looked as though he hadn't slept since the morning they found Caro—the lines in his back were rigid and his jaw was clamped so tight it seemed sewn shut.
He noticed her scrutiny and glanced away quickly, striding away from her to where Peter stood, fiddling with a few straying twigs on his own broomstick. Remus bent to help him. Ani moved to approach him with a frown spreading over her face, fully intending to ask him if anything was wrong, when James stepped into her path.
"I'd just let him be, for now," he advised softly as Ani opened her mouth to speak. He glanced over his shoulder to see if their friend was listening. "He's been a bit sullen since we went into Bath yesterday. He's just been real quiet, has kept to himself. I asked him what was up, but he doesn't want to say."
"He hasn't said anything?" Ani asked, voice low. "It's not like Remus to sulk."
"I know it," James replied. "Normally that's Sirius' department. Anyway, we thought some mock Quidditch game would buck him up. But until then, I think we should try not to say anything."
Ani started to protest, then nodded grudgingly. James was Remus' best friend—he probably knew best. She suddenly had a sneaking suspicion that this was how Lily felt whenever James was right. "Good idea," she admitted. No use worrying over something you can't affect, she reminded herself. Just enjoy the day and after the game you can talk to him.
"All right, Ani?" Sirius asked her as she crossed over to him and picked up the spare brooms off the ground, tossing one to her brother.
"Can't complain," she said with a smile. "Not thrilled about going home this evening, but at least I get to see Ghost."
"We're leaving tonight too," Sirius replied. "As soon as Mr. and Mrs. Potter get in from Bath, we're taking a Portkey back."
He moved closer, almost imperceptibly so, and looked solemnly down into Ani's eyes. Ani felt her heart rise into her throat. Dear Lord, she thought. Despite the heavy bruising still marring his face, Sirius' striking face stirred something deep within her. "I'll be going back to London soon," he told her, dark eyes pouring into hers. "You should send me an owl before you go to Diagon Alley to pick up your school things. Maybe we can see each other while you're there." A glimmer of a smile lit in his gaze. "I'd like to see you again before school."
Ani fumbled for her words, her mind flashing with Lily and Rion's reactions if they were to find out that Sirius was asking to see her. Still, Ani thought, her smile tugging up the corners of her mouth, they don't have to know about it!
She was about to speak when someone cleared his throat loudly. Both she and Sirius turned quickly to see Remus, half-turned away, standing nearby. His face—tauter and thinner than any of the others boys'—looked craggy from the shadow of the clouds. "Are we going to start now or what?" he asked gruffly.
"I'm ready!" Peter Pettigrew squeaked as he quickly mounted his broom.
Ani gave Remus a confused look, but he had already turned away. Exchanging a shrug with Sirius, she mounted her broom, kicking off the ground and soaring into the air. A lingering gust of wind rocked her to the side, but she rolled with it, surprised by the agility of the seemingly ancient broom. Shouts of laughter echoed from her brother and the others as they leapt off the ground. She turned and raced towards James—who was such a good flier that it made Ani feel like a first-year novice—who had the large Quaffle tucked under one arm. He tossed to her and Ani, lightning quick, passed it to Remus, who hurled it at Sirius so hard and fast the red ball seemed to blur.
At first, Ani thought it had just been a trick of the light when she saw Remus' eyes flashing in anger. But as Sirius caught the Quaffle, he grunted in pain, the unnecessary force actually forcing his broom back a pace. For a moment she thought he was going to fall and Ani caught her breath—Sirius was just beginning to look normal from his last spill off a broom—but at the last second he caught himself. He cast a confused glance at Remus and shouted something that Ani couldn't hear through the rushing wind. But Remus didn't pay attention. He had zoomed off, higher than the rest, out of range of their voices.
Confused, Ani zoomed upwards towards Remus, but as soon as she got close he zipped away again. She turned, poised to follow once more, but her brother was suddenly at her side, and the Quaffle was rushing into her arms. Catching it, she whipped around and tossed the ball to Peter, who (despite his somewhat clumsy nature on two feet) was actually quite agile on a broom. James and Sirius began to goof off, doing harrowing, sweeping dives that Ani wouldn't have considered attempting even on the best broom in the world, while Rion swooped past them, matching them stunt for stunt.
After it had already happened, Ani realized that she should have seen it coming. The more frenzied Sirius and James' antics got, the darker Remus' face became. Soon almost an hour had passed and sweat was beginning to bead on Ani's brow as she took the Quaffle from her brother once more. She circled, higher and higher into the sky, up above anyone else. She looked around her and caught sight of Remus, circling up to join her. She tossed the ball to him, but Sirius—his face alight with laughter, a sight that inexplicably warmed Ani's heart—intercepted it halfway through, zooming up from underneath them.
"Good snag, Black!" James shouted after him.
Ani was about to laugh along with her friends when out of the corner of her eye she saw Remus turn sharply in midair and angle himself back at Sirius. The laughter hadn't even left her lips when it was replaced with a sharp cry—Remus, faster than she would have thought he was able, had charged Sirius and snatched the Quaffle out of his hands, wrenching it back so quickly that he nearly toppled off his broom. The ball in hand, he gave Sirius a sharp shove and pushed his broom away.
Panic overtook Sirius—who had until that point been grinning cockily at Ani—as he fought to regain his balance. He grasped desperately for the handle of his broom and the situation was almost comical… that is, until his flailing stopped and he fell, suddenly, off his broom and plummeted towards the earth.
"Sirius!" Ani and James screamed in one voice, watching helplessly as Sirius tumbled through the air.
He'll break his back if he lands wrong! Ani cried inwardly. Her hands were shaking as she clutched her broom and watched as James shot downwards, hoping to intercept his friend, but it was useless. He was too far away, and falling too fast.
Thankfully, Rion was faster. Moments before Sirius hit the ground he whipped out his wand and shouted, "Apprehendo!" A stream of blue-green mist shot out of the tip of Rion's wand and enveloped Sirius midair. Mercifully, the fall was slowed, which gave Sirius just enough time to right himself and land on his hands and knees rather than his back. He grunted as he struck the ground and rolled over onto his side. He was still.
Ani was first on the ground. She landed with a thud and sprinted over to where Sirius lay. "Sirius," she gasped, skidding to a halt by his side, on her knees in the soft grass, "are you okay?"
He let out a low groan and opened deep eyes to look on Ani's face as the others rushed to surround them. "I'm fine," he said, cautiously flexing his arms and legs, wincing as he tilted his head from side to side. "Bit bruised, but I'm okay." He looked at Ani and, reading the fear on her face, sat up and—oblivious to two sets of burning stares—put a hand to her cheek. Shivers chased down her back as he looked into her eyes. "Honestly, Ani, I'm okay."
"Gave us a bit of a fright there, mate," James said with a forced laugh. He reached down and gripped Sirius by the arm and hauled him to his feet. "Next time you try a dive like that, keep your broom with you," he joked.
Ani and the others tried to laugh, hoping to ease the tension, but Sirius had already pushed past them. He slowly made his way across the grass to several feet away where Remus stood, alone, his hands balled into tight fists at his side. Trepidation filling her, Ani scurried to join him, but Sirius held up a hand as she approached. He stopped, mere inches away from Remus, and looked his friend square in the eyes, his face blank. "Why did you do that, Remus?" he asked, his voice low.
She looked at Remus and felt something tug at her heart. The emotions written over his face were at war. Shame and embarrassment flickered through his eyes, but were then replaced with something akin to hatred. Ani felt her hands go cold. "Looks like you just have bad luck with brooms, doesn't it, Sirius?" he asked, and his voice was taut.
Sirius' eyes flashed and he took a step forward, but Remus neatly sidestepped him and brushed past, moving back towards the house. Peter, James and Rion parted as Remus stalked past them. No one said a word as they watched him leave, shock and confusion vibrating among them.
"Remus!" Ani shouted. "Remus, come back here!"
He paused for half a second. With all her heart she begged him to turn. But instead, he maintained his steady pace as he walked over the hill and out of sight.
* * *
Idiot.
An inferno of shame ate away at Remus' insides as he and the other Marauders stood uncomfortably by the Reynolds' front porch. Peter, Sirius and James had grouped together off to one side, which he didn't really mind. I'd rather we not say anything than hear what Sirius' fist has to say, he thought gloomily to himself. He'd never seen Sirius so angry in all their years of friendship. But even that wasn't what hurt the most. He knew he and Sirius would be right again. What stung most were the long, level, sad-eyed looks he received from those golden eyes across the lawn every time he dared to look up.
He attempted it again. Luckily, Ani was diverted as she and her family and friends chatted with the Potters and the Reynolds next to Lynx Hellsing's battered old Muggle car. He wasn't sure if he could stand the shame of his stupidity and was feeling more than a little relieved that soon they'd all be on their separate ways. Back to home, back to his parents and little brother… And back to being completely bored for the rest of the summer, Remus thought.
"Boys!" MaryAnn Potter caroled. "Are you about ready to go?"
"Come say goodbye to the Reynolds and the Hellsings!" Harold Potter echoed, the wind ruffling his dark hair.
Hands deep in his pockets, Remus trudged to join the larger group and glanced up to meet a pair of blue eyes. Rion Hellsing met Remus' eyes and Remus cringed inwardly. Any good impression he'd hoped to make on Ani's older brother—whom he'd liked at Hogwarts and now liked even more—had more than likely evaporated the moment he shoved Sirius off his broom.
He still couldn't believe that he'd lost control like that. After the incident with Remiel, which even his parents had admitted was a terrible accident and not at all his fault, Remus had spent intense effort on keeping his temper under control. His mild temper was what differed him from Sirius and even James, who had been known to foam at the mouth from time to time, and he prided himself on his cool disposition. But that didn't change the fact that sometimes—against his will—his reactions turned primal, animal. No matter how tight a reign he tried to keep on his feelings, sometimes the wolf in him won out. And that was scary.
As he'd watched Sirius fall towards the ground, intense panic and remorse instantly filled his being. But that all disappeared when he watched as Ani rushed over to their fallen friend's side. He burned as Sirius put a hand to Ani's cheek as she looked at him with concern writ all over her face. And as he stared at them, Remus remembered how he'd felt the night Sirius checked Ani for wounds and she looked into his eyes.
It's not fair, Remus thought, and clenched his fists in his robes as he and the others said their farewells to the other two families. The one girl he could really talk to—The one girl you might have been able to tell your secret to, an inner voice chimed in—was being pulled away from him by Sirius. Always by Sirius.
Snapping back to attention, Remus schooled his face to stillness and looked up at Rion. He suddenly became aware of the others looking at them, especially Ani. Ani's brother looked at Remus for a moment and one corner of his mouth quirked up into a half-smile. Remus suddenly got the impression that all the feelings he had about Ani and Sirius were laid bare and obvious to Rion.
"Remind me to make sure you're on my Quidditch team next time we play," he joked, extending his hand.
Relief filled him as he shook Rion's hand. He glanced at Ani, whose eyes, despite the impassivity of her face, were warmer. "Sounds like a plan," he agreed.
Mr. Potter and Mr. Reynolds helped Lynx and Rion load up the Hellsings' car while Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Reynolds hugged Ani, Lily and Blythe goodbye. Ani looked up and met Remus' eyes, then looked at the other Marauders. "We'll let you know when we're going to London," she said with a smile. "Maybe we can all meet there again."
"Or maybe not," Lily added under her breath, and Remus couldn't help but chuckle at the look on James' face.
"See you soon!" Peter called out as the Hellsings piled into their car.
"Better head out to the fields," Mr. Potter announced, putting his arm around James' mother. "We're due for our Portkey in about fifteen minutes. Let's get a move on."
They were about to turn away when they heard the sickening sputter of the Hellsings' car. The boys cringed at the sound of it. "I don't know much about Muggle things," James said as he and Remus glanced at each other. "But I know that a car isn't supposed to sound like a dying cat."
Mr. Potter, a look of concern over his face, turned back towards the car as Lynx climbed out and lifted the hood of the car to examine the engine. "I don't understand it," he told James' father as they both leaned over the open car. "We've had this for almost fifteen years and it's never given me trouble before. Maybe the charms Dad put on the engine are wearing off."
"Well, let's see if we can't figure out the problem before we catch our Portkey," Mr. Potter suggested.
But ten minutes of poking, prodding and mild swearing had produced no results. Even a desperate attempt at a Reparo spell could not get the Hellsings' engine to turn over. "I don't understand it," Blythe wondered aloud. "It worked fine a few days ago!"
"Can you call a mechanic?" Lily asked.
"Even if we could, there are repelling charms all around the house," Mrs. Reynolds pointed out. "A mechanic would never be able to find us."
"I promised your parents I'd have you back by today," Lynx told Lily worriedly. "I guess we'll have to send them an owl and tell them we'll have to wait until I can either figure out what's wrong with the car or we can take off the repelling charms so a mechanic could find us."
Mr. Reynolds rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. "I've got some books on old cars up in the house," he informed Lynx. "My son was fascinated with 'em. And we've got some of his old tools. He taught his old man a trick or two, let's see if we can't get this thing fixed."
Mrs. Potter, concerned, asked, "How long do you think it'll take?"
The older man shrugged. "Don't really know," he replied. "If we can't fix it ourselves, it'll take a damn long time to undo all them charms we put on."
James' mother turned to Lynx. "If you would like, we could redirect our Portkey and take the girls home," she offered. "We'd get there much faster than an owl and that way Lily's parents wouldn't have to worry."
Remus felt his insides clench. More time with Ani? Maybe a chance to redeem himself? He dared to hope.
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, that'd be very kind of you," Lynx said gratefully. "We'll just leave the luggage in our car until we can get it all home so you don't have to try to cling to it while you're on a Portkey."
"It's no trouble at all," Mrs. Potter assured him. She looked at Blythe and Rion. "And you two are more than welcome to come. We'll just redirect the spell and get these girls home in no time."
"I'll go ahead and stay with Lynx," Blythe suggested. "I've had my share of car troubles back in the States; we'll see if I can put them to any use. But Rion should probably go with the girls; Cassie will worry if both of her boys are AWOL."
Ani added, "You can all have dinner with us. Mum won't mind, she loves any excuse to cook for company."
"No problem," Rion agreed.
"It's settled, then," Mr. Potter said. "We'd better hurry, though. We're due to leave in a few minutes." He shook Lynx's hand. "Hope you can get the problem fixed, son."
Lynx gripped Mr. Potter's hand and smiled. "So do I," he said with a rueful laugh. He turned to his sister and gave her a quick, one-armed hug. "Tell Mum and Dad what happened, will you?" he asked.
"Can do," Ani said and turned to follow the Potters and the Marauders. "See you at home. Good luck!"
* * *
"Pity we had to arrive so far from the house," Ani said to Remus and the other boys as she and Lily led them and the Potters down Smythwick Circle. "That field is the only place that I'm pretty sure we wouldn't have been seen."
"Last time Mrs. Hellsing had a Portkey transport us directly into the backyard," Lily added, "my sister had her boyfriend Vernon over and he nearly had a heart attack. Not that this would have been a bad thing, you understand."
Mrs. Potter said good-naturedly, "It's no problem." She squinted down the street. "Which house is yours, Ani?"
Ani pointed. "The tall, kind of faded blue one," she said. She paused for a moment, gazing confusedly at the house. "But whose car is that outside? Don't tell me that Lynx managed to fix it after all and beat us here!"
Remus followed her gaze to the house. He frowned. "That looks like a Ministry car," he commented. "They always send one that looks like that to our house when they come to renew my—Ouch!"
"What's wrong?" Ani asked, looking back over her shoulder at him.
"Nothing," James said quickly. "He just tripped."
"Yeah," Remus murmured. "I tripped." Nice going, he thought to himself. It would not have done him any good to let Ani know his secret by telling her, on accident, that he had to continually renew his werewolf's registration. Good of James to get my back, he thought gratefully. "I wonder why the Ministry is at your house," he covered.
In silence they trudged the rest of the way towards the house, and just as Ani had reached out to open the front door, a tall wizard in Muggle sunglasses wearing a stern-looking black business robe appeared in the doorway. "Can I help you?" he asked, his gruff voice menacing as he looked over the tired group of people.
Taken aback, Ani started and then glared up at him. "I live here!" she said hotly. "Who are you?"
"It's alright, Thomas," another male voice said, and suddenly a milder looking young wizard appeared at the wall-like man's side. "You must be Andromeda and Orion," he said to the confused Hellsing children. "I'm Malius Baldrick, I work for the Ministry of Magic."
Remus and the Marauders all exchanged confused looks. What was going on?
"Is there a problem, sir?" Mr. Potter said, pushing forward. "I'm Harold Potter, Lynx Hellsing sent me to take his younger siblings home."
"I'm afraid there is a problem, sir," Malius Baldrick said as he gestured for the group to enter the house. "Please come in."
Remus felt his eyes growing wide as he came inside. Dozens of black-robed witches and wizards, grave of face, were milling about, looking over papers, muttering to each other in low, serious voices. The Hellsing house, which seemed comfortable and cozy otherwise, now seemed impersonal and official. A buzz of tension hung low in the air.
He glanced over at Ani and saw the panic on her face. "Mum?" she called out, and her voice trembled slightly.
A moment later a woman who looked remarkably like Ani came into the room. Her eyes were red rimmed and her face looked pale. "Mum, what's wrong?" Rion asked urgently, pushing through the crowd of people to grasp his mother by the arms.
Mrs. Hellsing swayed in her son's embrace and lifted trembling hands to her mouth. "Oh, Ani, Rion," she moaned, sounding like someone lost. She buried her face in her son's shoulder. "I don't know what happened! I just don't know!"
"Mum, what is it?" Ani asked, and she began to shake. Remus stepped forward as he heard the apprehension in her voice, his heart aching and his mind whirling. "What happened?"
"It's your father," Mrs. Hellsing said, and fresh tears sprang to her eyes. "He's missing. He disappeared."
Remus shouted in alarm and rushed forward as, pale and shaking, Ani's knees buckled and she sank to the ground.