A/N: Good to be back. Sorry for the delay.

Chapter 12: The Hunt Begins

It had been a while since he had last walked through these streets. The lights adorned the sidewalks and lit up with a luminous glow. As beautiful as the night was, there was no helping his poor condition. Aside from his usual weakness, his heart needed mending. Looking up into the sky; he glared angrily into the clouds and its well hidden moon. "You mock me. You are what keeps me away from feeling anything."

He sighed, wrapped his ratted scarf around his neck and stopped. There he stood before two houses. Closing his eyes, he uttered the words in his mind, "Number 12 Grimmauld Place". Eyes still closed he walked onwards blindly, reached out his hand and felt the crystal knob. Gently twisting, the door opened with a slight creak. He continued onwards and into the embrace of his dearest friend.

"Brother" he whispered.

With the closing of the door; Number 12 Grimmauld Place vanished.

Remus twiddled his fingers and fidgeted with his spoon as he sat at the dining table.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you so smitten, Remus." A voice beneath a dark head of long black hair spoke. Sirius, looked consolingly at Lupin. Remus, sat dolefully admiring the surface of the broth. The image reflected upon it was that of a spurn lover.

Was he rebuffed? Was it all to protect herself? From him? Or vice versa? The same thoughts ran incessantly in his mind since he departed Hogwarts.

"It's hard,Sirius. You give away a piece of yourself... its just..." Remus forced himself free of his tormented mind. "Listen to me, I'm being rude I shouldn't be acting this way."

"Nonsense,Remy. You don't have to pretend to be fine, when you've got something troubling you so."

Remus let out a small smile. He was always happiest when he was with his friends, James and Sirius. The only other time he felt like that was with Rosina.

The rest of the night remained silent. The journey had exhausted Remus, and as much as he would have liked to, he didn't feel in the mood to talk just yet. Sirius could tell, so many years of knowing him, he let it go. "Get some rest, Remus. Everything will be settled once you've had a good sleep." And with that he disappeared into the corridor.

"How could you do this to me, Rose?"

The morning light roused Remus bitterly. He had tried to get a good sleep, but his troubled mind would not give him peace. He spent the night tossing and turning.

For the next few months he was in agony. Some days he spent pacing around with worry and wonder in his eyes; and even resentment in his heart. Sometimes he regretted ever letting himself get so close to her, only to be hurt. Remus continued this daily ritual of self affliction. Sirius could not bear to see his best friend continue to torture himself.

"Remus, I know what's real in your heart. And I know what it is you're here for. Just ask and I'll help you." Sirius stood before Remus one afternoon as Remus sat sipping his Wolfsbane Potion Sirius had brewed for him. Remus put down the goblet and looked up at Remus. "I came here with such fervor to seek her out... but now I think that perhaps she rather I never be with her."

"Bullshit!" Sirius spat. "She's just afraid of what can get between you, but you can't just let this be the end of it all, you can't, Remus, this isn't what you truly want... is it? Let me help you."

Remus stared into his goblet, watching the water ringlets as he swirled his finger in the potion before taking one last drink. "Thank you Sirius..."

Black smiled and headed out of the dining room towards the main entrance. Remus looked up, "Where are you going?"

Sirius grabbed a scarf and tied it around his neck. "Sirius don't! You can't be seen outside its too dangerous!" shouted Remus.

Before he opened the door Black's silhouette changed from his handsome masculine human form into that of a large scruffy black dog, still wearing a scarf. He headed out the door in a rapid gallop.

Remus sat there rubbing his forehead bewildered and curious about where Sirius was headed.

In ritualistic manner, Remus prepared for his monthly transformation. Luckily Sirius's manor had so many rooms he could just choose one on the farthest wing to spend his night in. He stood in the center of a desolate room that could have been used as a study. As he stood there, nude and exposed he looked out the large glass window and saw the clouded sky. "Go ahead already, show yourself you coward... show your face...." he mocked the shy moon. Then the misty sky began to clear and in came the flash of light from the full moon, it shone so brightly. Remus closed his eyes and felt a great pressure upon his body, luckily there was no pain due to the potion, but there was still great discomfort. He let his body go and felt himself fall to the ground....

"Rose...."

Remus awoke by the early morning light from the sun. As he looked around he was glad that he had not made too much damage during the night, Sirius made a very potent Wolfsbane Potion.

Remus sat up, twisted his head back and forth and stretched out his arms before putting on his shabby dressing robe. He walked out of the room and made his way towards the kitchen.

"Morning Remus." Sirius had a sinister grin stretching across his face Remus had not seen since their childhood days in Hogwarts.

"Morning Sirius... what are you grinning about?"

"I, my dear Remy...." Sirius paused, "know where she is."