Tell Me

I guess your stories

Make me feel like it's alright now

Tell me what it's like to be with you

Remind me of the things we used to do

And tell me that this time will never end

Tell me what it's like, tell me again

"Tell me everything."

"Everything?"

"Everything," Vala reaffirmed.

Remus rose his eyebrows. "This could certainly take awhile."

Vala sat down at the round kitchen table. "I've got the time. Saxon has some arrangements to make and then he's off to dinner with a few clients."

"Oh… Tea?"

She shook her head. "No, I'd rather just get the facts."

His hands shook slightly as he lowered the teapot. "Yes, the facts…" He nodded, and faced her. "And where did we leave off?"

She smiled. "I believe it was, 'Peter was their Secret-Keeper…'"

~+~+~+~

"Yes, I've gained contact with the girl," said Lupin.

Ares Malfoy steepled his fingers. "And this doesn't seem peculiar to her?"

"Of course not. Would it to you?"

"Hmm…"

Lupin shook his head, and took a seat. "Perhaps I've said the wrong thing. She's a young girl, barely graduated and all the more ditzy. She's got some mind about her, and with a little guidance she can be quite useful."

"Yes, I'd like to think so."

Lupin sniffed the air; it was like searching a rock for emotions. Rocks, that's what he liked to think of them as. They couldn't feel pain or guilt… They would just as soon slit the necks of their own kin for a little ranking. Ranking meant power, and power was everything. They had no spinal cords, which certainly didn't mean their backbones were absent as well. Oh no, they had backbones, perhaps too much.

Lupin worked for many Rocks, but that didn't mean he liked it. He liked to be on his own. Making progress and getting paid for it. He liked his line of work. All it consisted of was stealth and tracking. Now that was something he was good at. He could've been an auror, but that was reserved for kind-hearted men with the foolish idea of making a change. A small change, but a change none the less. He wanted to make change, but he wasn't very kind-hearted. And his change was to thicken his wallet and make his pockets jingle. Oh no, let the sweethearts could take care of the law, while he avoided the law at all costs.

Some did it for the killing. Some actually got a drive out of killing people. They liked to sneak up behind their prey, tap them on the shoulder, and just as they saw the whites of their eyes, hit them with the Killing Curse. They liked to see their victim's expression as they died. Not Lupin. Too many Assassins were killed that way. The hunted so quickly turned into the hunter, and vice versa. He was content with standing ten feet away, pointing his wand, and making a clean job of it. He wasn't a coward; he was just interested in getting the job done right. The sooner it was done the sooner he got paid, and then he was a happy man.

He sighed, and dropped his hand restlessly. He usually didn't get mixed with family affairs. They got too messy too quickly. But alas, he was in it for the money, and the Malfoys were wealthy employers.

"Love her."

He jolted upright. He was usually cool and reserved, but what had he said? "Sir?"

The edge of Ares' lip curled. "She's got some mind about her… With a little guidance she can be quite useful," he smirked. "A luckless girl in a big family. Show her what it's like to love and she's putty in your hands." He stood up, smoothed her coat and extended his hand. "It has always been a pleasure working with you, Mr. Lupin. I do hope I can count on your services again."

Lupin didn't move, he simply stared. Family affairs was over his limits, now this?

"I will personally be sure your expenses and inconveniences are paid for," he assured.

What could he say? He was a man you could count on; just so long as you also counted on paying a good deal of money. He rose, and shook Ares' hand heartily. "Yes, I look forward to it…"

~+~+~+~

"So Sirius is innocent and Peter is alive…"

"Yes," Remus nodded.

"And Peter was in league with Voldemort?" Vala asked slowly.

Remus winced. "I wish you-"

"Was he?" she demanded.

"Yes."

"So Sirius is innocent?" she said, gazing intently at Remus.

"Yes, I've alrea-"

"Is he?" she interrupted.

"Yes, yes," he nodded, "He's innocent."

She sat back and crossed her arms. "Then what are you waiting for?"

His brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Sirius has been wrongly accused, Peter faked his own death, and all you can do is sit around? Do something! Go to the Ministry! Clear his name! Something!" she threw her hands up in exasperation.

"What am I supposed to do, Vala?" irritation spread across his face like wildfire. "Go to the Ministry? You don't think I want to? Yes, very intelligent idea, but you've forgotten one minor detail--I'm a werewolf. I'm dangerous and unkept… I haven't been shunned my whole life because I wear tattered robes and worn out socks," he bit with sarcasm. Few people saw Remus' agitated side. Truth be told, Vala had only seen it once or twice before.

She narrowed her eyes at him. I would join him any day, she thought, but had the mind not to speak it.

Agitated as he was, he was still a warm-hearted caring person and instantly regretted not biting his tongue. "I'm sorry," he apologized, burying his face in his hands. "I've been up since four trying to think of something, and I've only come up empty handed." He sighed. "It was only us four," he whispered. "And who'd believe a bunch of kids and a werewolf?"

Her eyes softened, and she leaned against the table, brushing the hair behind his ears. "I believe you," she comforted. "I always have… We'll find a way."

~+~+~+~

"Let's get to planning--we know how to distract Saxon, but…" Gale trailed, her eyebrows knitting together. "What's wrong?"

Lupin was crouching in front of the window, staring off like a child entranced by a television. "Hmm?" he turned, raising his eyebrows. "Oh, I was just watching the," he rubbed his hands together, "The birds fly." He faced the window again and sighed.

She glanced past him and out the window; it was night. Anyone less and she would have told him to get away from the window. It was the sensible thing to say; it was a large window and anyone could see him. He ought to draw the thick curtains and sit down at the round table. Nobody could see him there, and then maybe they could get some work done. But Gale had three older brothers and two younger. She was fast at detecting discomfort and concern. "Something on your mind?" it was a simple question and the way the reply was expressed, not the words themselves, told her the answer.

"No," he said softly, his eyes rolling towards the sky.

She frowned. It was obvious that something discounted Lupin from the real world, but Gale felt it might be wise to remain silent on her observation. She scratched the back of her neck, and bending her head, she pressed the quill against the parchment.

"I mean, even if we do manage to get Vala out of the house, what then?"

She rose her head very slowly, her thick blond hair falling over her shoulder in great locks. She focused her gray eyes on him, off guard and curious. She weighed him for a moment; her round pink lips round and pressed in a permanent pout. "Why, I do believe that is when you take over," she said. "I wanted my revenge on the prissy brat, but you've told me time and time again that it's not the time."

He looked back over his shoulder, the sun still high in the sky, "Yes, its not quite the time…"

"Are you a follower?"

He looked at her. "A follower? Oh, Vol--Him?" He shook his head and glanced back over his shoulder. "No, I'm only in it for the money, darling. Once my services are of no further use to them, I'm gone."

She stood and drew closer. "No further use? What does that mean? Why, that could be, that could well be after His great comeback."

Lupin rolled his eyes to her. "Yes, I suppose it could be. But," he smiled slightly, "Why worry about tomorrow when we're still in today?"

A smile powdered her lips. "Yes," she replied, "I've often said that myself."

~+~+~+~

"Remus," Vala's eyebrows furrowed. "When do I get to see Sirius again?"

Remus continued to stir his tea, and glanced up at her. "Well, I'm not sure…" he gingerly sipped the herbal brew. "I suppose it could just about be whenever. In any case, he knows where I live."

"You've seen him, right?" she asked uncertainly.

Remus fell uncomfortably silent.

"Remus?" she pressed. "You've seen him haven't you?"

"I…" he began hopefully, no sooner closing it with a frown. "No, I can't say that I have since the night in the Shrieking Shack."

Her heart sank. "I'd hoped you wouldn't have said that…" She sighed and turned to the window, gazing intently over the lake. "You wouldn't perchance know how he escaped, would you?" she asked in a whisper.

He paused before answering. Silently calculating the responses to his answer. "I wish it were my tale to tell," he said softly, looking down at the swirls in his teacup. She turned slowly to stare at him.

CRACK

"Sorry to intrude, Vala," Fae bowed apologetically, "I thought you might be here, but I hoped to catch a word with Remus--if, of course, you do no object."

Vala stared. At length, she waved her hand in a shooing manner and insisted, "Take him, take him."

"Right," Fae grabbed Remus' hand and dragged him to the next room.

Vala sighed lightly, but lifted her tea and stood. She strolled to the screened back door, holding the teacup at elbow height.

It had never been much of a lake, but it was certainly a feast for the eyes as the sun lowered, tossing crimsons and hues of orange across its smooth surface. The sun, a glorious yellow orb tinged with little orange and a golden outline, was slowly tucked to bed by the blue blanket of night. As she watched, the moon became more pronounced and the lake reflected it's silver beams. A black shadow crouched forward, sending smooth ripples across the mirrored surface of the lake.

Vala squinted. She had never seen a bear in this part of the woods. Actually, she'd never seen a bear in her life. Curiosity and perplexion crossed her face. Still staring at the animal, she set down her teacup and opened the door. Arms crossed, she leaned forward, squinting harder through the dark.

The rhythmic lapping stopped as the beast paused to look up. It didn't growl, but simply lowered its head again in pursuit to moisten its dry throat.

After examining the animal for ten minutes she clucked her tongue and turned to go back inside. The thing barked at her. Peering over her shoulder, and slowly turning to stare at the beast again, it wagged its tail frantically at her.

"A dog are you…" she breathed. "Well, you ought to get out of here."

His head bent to one side and his ears perked curiously.

"Yes, that's right," she smiled, "These are the woods of a werewolf. No place for a dog to be traipsing around… Now go on, go home." She waved her hands at the dog.

It regarded her for a moment, seemed to shrug, and turned on its heels.

"Who are you talking to?"

Vala turned, Remus appeared in the doorway, Fae had left.

"Oh no one," she said lightly, stepping over the threshold. "Just some stray."

Remus peered through the darkness, "What type of stray?"

"I don't know," she shrugged, picking up her abandoned cup and pouring its contents down the sink. "A large black one."

"A large black one?" he repeated, his voice tensing.

"Yeah, across the lake… Why?"

"Oh, no reason," he said, hastily closing the door and shuffling inside. "Just curious."