Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to the wonderful J. K. Rowling, not me.

Hello again, everyone. Wow, fast update, especially for me. :-D

---

Remus pulled his cloak about himself again and went to answer it. He seemed to not move quickly enough for his visitors, for the pounding resumed and kept itself going at a very loud rate. "All right, I'm coming!" he said irritably just as he pulled the door open, immediately having to jump backwards to avoid getting hit by the fist that was repeatedly assaulting his wood.

However, Remus quickly realized that the man's aim hadn't been off—he had been the target once he had opened the door. He quickly scrambled to his feet as the next blow was aimed his way and groped for his wand, which was behind him on the table.

Immediately two more stepped into his house and pointed their own wands at him.

The first man also pulled his out. "Don't move," he threatened, "Or you'll never see another full moon."

"I really wouldn't mind that," Remus said dryly.

He suddenly found himself with a wand pressed up to his throat. "Watch it, werewolf," the man growled. Remus recognized him as the local butcher.

Wonderful.

Remus took a very deep breath. I wonder if that Umbridge lady did this on purpose—timed the laws so that all the werewolves would be aggravated so shortly before the moon when we're hard-pressed to keep a temper. Doesn't matter—keep cool.

"May I help you?" he asked calmly.

"Yeah, you can help us," the butcher said. He was still wearing a nametag: Raymond Lewis. "You're going to come along with us quietly."

"I haven't done anything to threaten you," Remus said in a low voice. "You can't hold anything against me."

Lewis held up a paper and shook it in Remus's face. "Right there!" he said, pointing. "'Or if they feel in the slightest way threatened.'"

"I haven't done anything to threaten you!" Remus shouted, repeating his words. He drew himself up, clenching his fists.

"Au contraire," one of the two other men said. He was tall and skinny with a thin face and black hair, and a neat goatee framed his mouth. His voice was very scratchy and almost sounded snake-like in manner. "The quote from Draco Malfoy about you makes us feel very threatened."

"There, you see?" Lewis said, turning back. "Now—you're going to come with us—"

Remus ducked and backed up, diving for his wand. He caught it in his hand and turned back around, aiming it at Lewis. "I'm not going with you," he said.

"I'd like to see you avoid it," the third said, finally speaking. He was heavy-set, though Remus could tell the weight was muscle. He stepped forward, wand also pointed at Remus. "You can't do anything to us or it'll be on your head," he said maliciously. "You'll be dead before you can wag your tufted little tail."

Remus turned to regard the man. "Detan?" he asked in shock. "Jameson Detan?"

The man had been at Hogwarts the same year as Remus, a Hufflepuff.

Detan shifted awkwardly at having been recognized.

"Jameson, please," Remus said, his mind racing. He and Detan had studied together for the O.W.L.s—the test in which that very question involving the tufted tail had arisen. "You know me—I helped you on Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I never would have gotten through Ancient Runes without your help—" He tried desperately to appeal to whatever had caused the Sorting Hat to place Detan in Hufflepuff.

Jameson hesitated, but Lewis came forward. "Don't even try it, Lupin. Detan knows where his real loyalties lie. He has true friends, not friends who deceive him like you did."

Remus's stomach felt like lead when he realized that he'd failed in his attempt. His grip slackened for a moment, and he was caught unprepared for the spell that slammed into him and sent him backwards onto the table.

Detan leapt forward and his fist smashed into Remus's jaw.

The werewolf saw spots dance before his vision and felt blood dripping down the side of his mouth.

The fist came in again but Remus's own reached up and caught it, twisting the arm around and hearing a loud crack. He winced inwardly, but his wolf instinct was starting to control him. He needed to survive. He had to get out—and run.

"No!" The cry was torn from Remus's lips as he tried to suppress the primal instinct that told him to fight. He let go of the hand that he was holding onto and struggled upright, breathing heavily. He looked right into Lewis's eyes, and a faint whine formed itself in the back of his throat.

"You're more beast than human," the man snarled. He put the wand between Remus's eyes.

"Stupefy."

The little green parrot fluttered wildly against the window of the cabin, pecking at it and squawking as loudly as he could. When none of the humans noticed him and levitated the bound and gagged form of Remus out of the cabin, the bird flew up and into the chimney. He tried to fly down but the hot air from the fire made it impossible.

He made a loud noise of frustration and distress and fluttered around the house once more, suddenly seeing a window that was open a crack that he had missed previously. He squeezed through it with only a few lost feathers and went to the table, grabbing the letter Remus had started that had blood splattered on it. He flapped his wings madly and looked for a way out, then flew to the window and landed on a latch that released the lock and opened the glass.

The parrot started on his southern journey; Sirius had given him strict orders not to leave until he got some reply or another from Remus, but not to let Remus know that the bird was still there, otherwise he'd shoo it away.

Padfoot raised his head and watched as a small green bird fluttered into one of the back alleys and he immediately bounded up, following it down the twists and turns until they were in a completely deserted little cranny.

Sirius shifted back into his human form and held up an arm. The little bird fluttered down and landed, rubbing against the human, making a soft cooing noise of affection.

Sirius smiled at it and ruffled its feathers, then took the piece of parchment that was clenched in one tiny claw. It was crumpled up, which caused the man to frown deeply as he opened it. Panic settled into his stomach as he saw all that was written on it: Padf

The parrot pushed his beak down onto the lower part of the page and Sirius saw several reddish-brown drops and upon closer inspection, realized that they seemed to be splattered on the paper.

"Damn it all," he breathed. "What happened to him?"

He expected no answer, but the bird suddenly started flapping madly about his head, squawking in loud distress repeatedly.

Sirius's face was grim. "I've got another letter for you to carry," he said, pulling paper and a Muggle pen out of his pocket. He wrote something and folded it up, giving it to the parrot. "Take this to Albus Dumbledore, and be quick."

The bird chirped his farewell and was off.

---

Hmm, Remus is a little out of character, but I thought that with the full moon being so close, he might be hard-pressed to hold his temper and the wolf instinct would rise up more often.

Reviews:

Dierdre of the Sorrows: True, they wouldn't have been. Don't worry, though, these laws are going to be faced with definite opposition. The magical community isn't all going to roll over on their backs and take it.

Hamburgergirl: Hmm, well, the only aspect of Remus that we really get clearly enough is his "Professor" side, so it's hard to give him a definitive character. But I'm glad you thought mine was good! :)

Alatariel aka Legolas' Cousin: chuckle Hey, it's good to see a familiar face. waves Hmm, you know what, you're right on that Aragorn-Sirius thing. I've always compared Gandalf and Dumbledore, but never Aragorn and Sirius. will have to ponder that Yeah, the laws are pretty harsh… Poor Remey!

Blanc S'est Leve: I'd try to translate your name, but I know I'd get it so wrong. It makes me think of, if Blanc were a name, "Blanc got up." Heh, pardon a learning French student.

JCJules: Hmm. It's so very strange responding to you in one of these… Yes, yes, I know, I missed that spelling error… cringe Oops. Well, I'm glad you like it, and that you think I can do better, because I certainly didn't. ;) Anyway, I'm seeing you tonight, what am I doing talking to you in a Word Document? Nyer. sticks tongue out I don't know what you've done today to deserve that, but I'm sure you've done something!

Jess moony: grin Glad you like it. Thanks for reviewing!

Nazerathe: Hee, I'm glad you think so. A lot of my Remus's character is actually based off of the works by an author called Mysid. And JKLB (same person). I like the way she wrote him, so you end up seeing bits of that in my own. But, yeah, a lot of the time I can't stand the way Remus is written. So, glad you like it, thanks for reviewing!

DreaminofLorien: waves Another familiar face, lol. It's kind of weird replying to reviews when I'm so used to everyone I get for Isengard's Captives, and I've known some of them for all 44 chapters! And all of these people are strangers, hee. Aww, don't kill Umbridge like that…you gotta maul her first!! Heehee, don't worry, this fic'll have Sirius in it quite a bit, I hope.

Dunno when I'll be able to write the next chapter, so, I'll update when I can!