(16)The Power Of Love

"Moony?!" Sirius lifted his head from Remus's chest & stared down into his face. Again, he felt movement under his hand resting just under Remus's ribs. "He's moving! He's still alive!"

"No Sail!" said Randalla. "He was dead the moment he turned back to his human self. It's just his Lycan symbiont that's dying off!"

"B-But why...how?" Sirius whisper was barely audible. He stroked back a sandy brown curl off Remus's closed eyes.

"Like I said," Randalla explained. "The human host dies first. Then the disease."

"& why is the disease dying?" Sirius looked like he was concoting something.

"Because that symbiont is in a body over-pumped up with silver," Randalla went on. "It's dying now because of the silver." Randalla watched as Sirius leaned over Remus, lost in thought. He looked so forlorn, his black bangs falling over his Azkaban-haunted eyes. It was rare to see his eyes like that, usually full of misheif & teasing, now clouded over. Randalla moved closer to him & swept back some stray long hair. Why am I even caring all of a sudden? He's a slut! Worse! He's a werwolf lover! Randalla still couldn't help but feel a sense of pity. "Sail.....? He's just....just a....you know?"

"He was my friend," Sirius broke down again. "Since we were 11 years old, we...I...I won't let him die!"

"Sail--!"

"Randalla, you said the Lycan symbiont is still alive---!"

"Not for long!" Randalla reminded him.

"Why is it dying?"

"Because it's in a body filled with sil...ver! Sail? SAIL NO!"

"Give me Moony!" Sirius shoved an extra bed beside Remus. "I don't have silver in me! Transfer that symbiont to me---!"

"SAILUCK BRIS!! YOU'RE CRAZY!!"

"I've spent 13 years of my life having people tell me I'm crazy!" Sirius shot at her as he began to get undressed. "So I guess it's true! Remus may be gone but Moony is a part of him! Both were my friends. Give me Moony now before he dies comepletely!"

"SAILUCK BRIS!! HAVE YOU TRUELY LOST YOUR MIND?!" Randalla raged at him as Sirius lowered himself onto the bed. He reached over & held Remus's hand. "You'd better tell me what to do first," Randalla sighed when she saw there was no way to change his mind.

"No idea!"

"You mean this type of 'transfer' never happened where you come from?" Randalla stared indignantly at Sirius.

"Hey look on the bright side," Sirius half-smiled. "You'll be making a medical breakthrough!"

"To save werwolves?!" Randalla groaned. "Sail, Remus is dead! Mmmm--Moony---is just about there! Isn't that enough death? You could die too!"

"At this point, I don't really care anymore!" Sirius snapped. "If there's a slight chance Moony will live, I'll give it to him; regardless! Now give me Moony! How hard could it be? Just cut him out of Remus & put him into me! If I die, I die & I'll take Moony with me! Either way he might die, so here's a chance at life! Just do it!"

"Sail....OH!" Randalla gave up. "Fine! Die! See if I care! Then I'll be rid of both of you!" She handed Sirius something to drink that put him right to sleep & then proceeded to find Moony within Remus & place it into Sirius. The symbiont was found nestled under Remus's ribs. It was pulsing, gasping, drowning in silver. Randalla pulled it out to safety. "I can't believe I'm doing this!" she groaned. "You owe me Sail! You owe me BIG!" Randalla glowered at Moony, no bigger then the palm of her hand. Such a small thing, oval in shape, yet it can grow into a deadly monster once a month & cause much pain to it's human disguise. She half-dropped, half-threw Moony uncerimoniuosly through the incision under Sirius's ribs & spread over it a sealing paste that left no trace of a cut.

Sirius suddenly arched & screamed as Moony plunged into him, taking his place under his ribs. He remained frozen in postion for a moment as Moony settled & then collapsed onto the bed, still unconcious. Sirius woke up a few minutes later but before he could say anything, he felt his jaws go numb. He clenched them tightly but decide that was a mistake. Sirius dug his nails into Remus's hand as Moony's fangs cut through. It was over as quickly as it started as Moony accepted his new host easily. Sirius was a werwolf now. No, he was Moony! He had Moony within him. Sirius sat up & looked at Remus. He noticed the fangs were gone & his teeth back to normal. Sirius tried to speak but felt a pain in his lower lip. He was the one with fangs now!

"Sail?" Randalla edged cautiosly closer to him. "Are you alright?"

"I--mmm--nipped myself!" Sirius smiled sheepishly. "I wonder though. Padfoot...?" Sirius concentrated a moment & became a Grimm. He could still do it! Being a werwolf really didn't matter! Then he heard an inner voice.

Where am I?

"Moony?" Sirius asked aloud.

Padfoot? Why did I just feel like a Gri...Padfoot what did you do now?!

"You were dying! I saved you!" Sirius heard a soft cough behind him. "Randalla transfered you from Remus to me."

PADFOOT!! You never cease to amaze me! But Remus is dead now?

"Yes, by a silver bullet," Sirius played with Remus's sandy brown hair. He was suddenly over-whelmed by a flood of memories. As if in a pensive, Sirius saw the werwolf that had attacked Remus. He saw a very differnt 13 years from what he himself had suffered in Azkaban & he actually felt the pain & hatred Remus felt for those years. He saw Neville Longbottom just as he was bitten by Moony. He saw what Remus had seen when he first fell through the Veil. & Bellatrix? She was dead! Apparently killed by Neville! Remus had been extatic when he found out! He saw everything, Remus's whole life flashed before Sirius from when he was bitten onward to the sudden sharp pain of a bullet peircing through him & a slow death. These weren't Sirius's memories, they had belonged to Remus. Moony, of course, had recorded the same experiences. I told you I'd take care of you Moony!

Thanks Padfoot! But your Animagic won't spare you from me next Full Moon!

It'll be alright! Don't worry about it!

Sirius turned to Randalla who was looking back with questioning eyes. "Aw now! If you want to bite me, you go right ahead!" Sirius laughed, exposing fangs. He suddenly felt soft lips against his own.

"Don't tell anyone I did this!" Randalla ordered after their kiss.

"Did what? Kiss me?" Sirius teased. "As if that would be a surprise!"

"I meant about---mmm---Moony!" Randalla punched Sirius in the arm.

"I know that!" Sirius laughed again. "Now I must find Merida & get her home!"

"Here take these back," Randalla handed over both mermaid scales. "I'll take care of Charmone. You go get Randaf! Be careful! There's some wild animal that has stakes on his head. I know you're immune to stakes but it could still hurt you!"

"I'll watch for it!" Sirius tucked the mermaid scales away. He noticed a white vase on the shelf & walked over to pick it up. It was about a foot high & rather narrow. "Can I use this?" Randalla nodded, watching him curiously. Sirius walked back to Remus's side & with a wave of his wand, he turned Remus to ash in the vase & sealed it. "He should be at Godric's Hollow with his other pack members!"

"You are a strange one, Sail!" Randalla laughed softly.

"Between you & me, my name's not actually Sail!"

"Why didn't I see this coming?" Randalla sighed. "OK, who are you?"

"Sirius Black," said Sirius. "Sailuck Bris is my anagram! He went on to explain how he had been wrongfully accused of several murders & ended up being condemned. Then he told her about the Viel & how he didn't realise he was in another reality. "& that's how Sailuck Bris began!" Sirius finished. "Now, I've got a new Dark Lord to worry about. He killed my godson, Remus came to repay the debt. I'm just taking over!"

"Then go get Randaf!" said Randalla. "He's usually with Charmone! Go find him!"

"I intend to!" Sirius marched for the door, keeping the vase safe under his cloak. Randalla transformed to a bat & flew away to find Charmone. Now that she knew te truth about him, she was intent & putting an end to his reign. Sirius ran up the stairs & outside, his new-found werwolf senses taking in everything. He noticed movement on his left but turned to late to see the hind end of a black animal disappear around the corner. Sirius blinked. Did I see right? It looked like a stag tail... "Prongs?" He waited a moment but James Potter didn't come bounding around the corner. What did I expect?! Sirius scolded himself as he headed around the corner himself in search of Merida. There were no stags here. This was not the afterlife! Sure there may be forrest animals resembling stags, but that's all they were, forrest animals!

"Sweetheart? Sweetheart!" Merida's voice pulled him back to reality. "Where have you been? Where's Rem---what's with your eyes?" She noticed some amber was speckled across those ice-blue eyes. "Messer Black? What did Remus do?"

Sirius took Merida by the hand & led her over to a bench near a pond of blood & sat down. He pulled out the vase. "Remus is--well not exactly! Part of him is with me---well Moony is---Rem was...!"

"Yes?" Merida sat back, arms folded across her chest similiar to what her father used to do.

Sirius sighed heavily. "Remus is dead but not dead! Not a ghost either! He's well---um!"

"You're not making any sense!" Merida groaned. "Let me read you!" She entered his mind & saw Moony getting shot & then transferred to Sirius. But Remus, himself was gone. Merida stared at the ground for a long time until she felt somehting hard & cool pushed into her hands. The vase. "Oh, not again!" Merida sighed. "Now I've really lost both of them!" She tightened her grip on the vase, crying softly.

"Take him to Godric's Hollow OK?" Sirius asked. "Dumbledore knows where it is!"

"You're not coming?" Merida wiped away her tears & looked up at Sirius.

"I'm not interested in seeing my 'demented' wife any time soon!" Sirius barked his laugh.

Merida laughed a bit herself. "But Sweetheart! You're a werwolf now! They won't bother you ever again! Don't you want to see James's grandson? Besides Remus & Moony were his godfather so I guess you can take over! But don't give him any of your perverted ideas! Poor Moony! Ending up with a slut!"

"I always knew it would end up with either me in him or him in me!" Sirius teased.

"Shut up!" Merida ordered. "Merlin's sake! How could the Ministry miss the crime of 'sex offender' so easily?!"

Padfoot, I agree with the lady!

"Moony be quiet!"

"He can't help it Moony!" Merida groaned. "It's habit!"

"Merida be quiet!"

How did I end up with you anyway?! Moony whined making Sirius whine softly.

"Why don't you be quiet, Black?!" Merida snapped.

"Go play with your Dad's chemistry set!" Sirius teased.

"WHY YOU VILE DIRTY CREATURE!" Merida raged. Sirius only giggled. "OH! I give up on you crazy Marauders! I--UGH!--I--you're dispicable!" Merida got up & marched away, tucking the vase under her cloak. Sirius followed meekly.

A loud shriek interepted them. They looked up to see two large bats swooping at each other in a rage. "That's Randalla & Charmone! Come on!" Sirius hurried across the balcony to the railing. He kicked out a post & formed a stake. "Randalla here!" Sirius held it out. Randalla dived for it but Charmone crashed into her. Sirius plunged the stake through the second bat making him shriek his last before falling to the ground & dying.

Randalla landed in front of Sirius & returned to human form. "Your Dark Lord is in the court yard where Charmone's grand fountain stands!"

"He won't leave alive!" Sirius hurried down the steps to the ground, changed to his Grimm-form & bounded towards the city, a black panther close behind him.

Sirius reached the court yard first while Merida ran around the surrounding buildings to trap Randaf from the other side. "Hello Randaf!"

Donoven Randaf whirled around. "Sirius Black?! NO! You're dead!"

"No, you're dead!" Sirius corrected. "You've killed my godson! Did you think I wouldn't find out? Or have you forgetten the portal across the Veil?"

"Did you think you could avoid the Dementors forever?" Randaf sneered. "You missed your appointment for a Dementor's Kiss a few years ago!"

"That isn't going to work, Randaf!" Sirius bared his fangs. "I'm a werwolf now!"

Randaf suddenly didn't feel as confident & tried to escape. He was struck down with Crucio. Sirius released it after a few moments & stalked towards him, growling ferally. Randaf backed away slowly to the road behind him, pulling out his wand. Sirius was thrown backward with Exitos. He got up & ran into Randaf. Randaf tried to keep away from the fangs & managed to throw Sirius off, but only for a moment. A fist painfuly connected to his jaw, making him bleed while another one landed on his stomach making him gasp for air. Sirius stood up & was hit with a stunning hex. Randaf pushed him down the hill & attempted to perform the Death Curse.

"Expelliaramus!" Merida sent his wand flying.

Randaf turned on Merida, grabbing her wand. He threw Merida to the ground & raised her own wand against her. At that moment, something crashed into him with the force of the Hogwarts Express. Randaf went flying through the air & landed with a loud thud on the ground. He stood up to see the forrest creature lowing its head & swaying its branches back & forth in a threatening manner. Randaf got up & fled out of sight. The black animal trotted over to Merida & nuzzled its nose into her side. Merida turned to stare at the animal. It didn't look dangerous at all, to her. The animal blinked its long eyelashes lazily. "A black stag?" Merida stood up & felt Randaf's hand grab her from behind.

"Don't! Touch! My! Wife!" Harry laid his own hand on Randaf's hand making him scream & pull back. His hand turned to soft stone that crumbled into dust. Harry strode past Merida like a man on a mission. He placed both hands over Randaf's face & leaned in a moment. "EVER!!!!" Harry threw Randaf backward. Randaf screamed again before crumbling into a pile of rubble. Harry raised his face a little higher, exhaling sharply as a stag would after a fight.

Merida could only stare. Finally, she found a voice that she assumed must be hers. "Harry?" Merida eyed him as he turned to look at her.

"Merida, are you OK?" Harry reached out to touch her face but Merida stepped backward out of reach & stared at the pile of rubble beside the fountain. "It's alright! It won't affect you! I kinda got the power from Mom." Harry went on to explain how he had been protected by his mother when he was a baby by the power of love & how some people couldn't handle his touch.

"I've just---never seen you do that before," Merida gasped.

"I did it once when I was protecting the Philosipher's Stone," said Harry. "But it won't affect you!" He raised a hand to touch her face again & this time Merida didn't move. Harry pulled her closer.

"Harry...you--you're dead?" Merida stammered. "It's been over a month. Randaf killed you."

"No, I was being held prisoner in the Portal Room," Harry replied. "Over a month? How's Sirius?"

Merida almost said that he was still a slut but then she remembered her son! "He's still a sl---er---asking why all the time!" she rephrased herself in a more normal voice, making Harry laugh. "He's been at Jessica's place! What's the Portal Room?"

"Oh it's where all the protals are controlled," Harry explained. "When we came here I managed to escape for a few days. I spent the time finsishing my Animagical lessons & now I can turn into a black stag! But Randaf caught me & held me by the energy beams of the portals. I woke up when someone tripped the lever."

"Oh, you mean the room with a blue glow?" asked Merida & Harry nodded. "I was there but Cyan found me. I tripped over that lever. So you're the 'forrest creature' terrorizing the poor bats!"

"Well, I've got a massive 24-point spread of antlers!" Harry laughed. "Hornhead The Second is quite the nightmare for Vampires! So, you've been in this realm for a while?"

"Yeah, well I wasn't supposed to come but I got caught in Remus's wand pocket when he stepped through the portal," Merida replied. "We've been looking for Randaf ever since, along with the help of Siri---Sailuck Bris!"

"Oh I've heard of him," Harry shrugged. "So where's Remus?"

"Well, actually--er--!"

"Oh, I get it!" Harry smiled. "You & Remus got together after I 'died'! That's Ok! I told him to look after you!"

"That's not it!" Merida shook her head. "Though yeah we did!"

"Ah, you're pregnant? Cool! Moony needs a pup or two!"

"HAROLD!" Merida shushed him snappily. "No, that's not it either, at least not that I know of! It's--well actually---Remus is---well he's dead but not dead but not a ghost either!"

Harry blanched. "W-What?"

"Oh!" Merida buried her face in her hands a moment. "Someone did something---weird! Well, Remus was shot wiht a silver bullet but Moony survived!"

"He changed to his wolf form & is now stuck as a wolf?" Harry raised one eyebrow then another.

"No," Merida sighed. "His Lycan symbiont was transferred to a new host!"

"Huh?" Harry stared. Merida actually laughed a bit. "I miss hearing your laugh!"

"Thanks!" Merida glanced shyly to the ground a moment. "Look Harry! I've got a major surprise for you so I think you better sit down!"

"OK!" Harry sat on the edge of the fountain. "Come here!" He patted the spot beside him. When Merida sat down, he pushed back her lips. "No fangs? So who did take Moony?"

"Well, thats the--er--surprise!" Merida stammered. "Wait here!" She got up & ran to the road & down the hill. Sirius was just waking up & Merida pulled him to his feet. "Sirius? Harry is--well--um--follow me!"

Harry was staring into the fountain, waiting for Merida. He checked down the road & saw right passed her to a strangly familiar face. Merida led Sirius closer. Harry took one step forward then three steps back, uncertain. "S-Sirius?"

"Harry?!"

"Oh!" Harry placed both hands on either side of his head & turn away in shock. "But---but the veil---Sirius?!"

"There was a portal in front of it!" Sirius gasped. "I'm fine! I'm fine! It's alright---Harry? I thought you were dead?"

"I well I actually---Sirius!" Harry threw himself into his godfather's arms & burst into tears. Sirius clung to Harry as if his life depended on it. "Oh--look at you!" Harry gasped between tears as he stood back to look at Sirius. "You look great!"

"No Dementors here!" Sirius barked a laugh.

Harry noticed the fangs! "Sirius? Are you---a werwolf?!"

"Moony actually!" Sirius went on to explain the transfer. Harry could only gape. "& he has Remus's memerios as well so Remus is partly here!" Sirius patted the place just under his ribs. "But Harry! Wow! Look at you! You're all grown up! I see you've got a moustach like Remus now! And I guess you were that stag I thought I imagined?"

"Oh? Oh yeah!" Harry turned into a black stag.

"I can still do Padfoot!" Sirius turned into a Grimm for a moment. "But he won't help me on Full Moons! Moony will still take over!"

"That's OK!" Harry said. "We can spend Full Moons together! So shall we go home?"

"I----don't think I should, Harry!" Sirius glaced to the ground a moment. "I may be a werwolf now & immune to Dementors but I'm not imuune to silver!"

"So? Who knows you're a werwolf now?" Harry pulled something out of his jacket. "Besides these are for you! I got them from Dumbledore just before we went after Randaf!" Harry handed over some papers.

Sirius opened them up & could have sworn his eyes leaped out of his head!

It has come to the attention of the Ministry Of Magic that Sirius Orion Black is indeed innocent of certain crimes wrongfully charged to him. These charges as follow have now been dropped:

A faithful follower of He-who-must-not-be-named
The secret keeper for James & Lily Potter
The murders of a dozen muggles in the street
The murder of Peter Pettigrew

These crimes were in fact, caused by Peter Pettigrew, who had faked his own death & framed Sirius Black for his own misdeeds. Peter Pettigrew, however, died during the final year of he-who-must-not-be-named at the hands of a werwolf. Remus Lupin will not be charged for this act, given the werwolf laws. He is not responsible for what his wolf does.

We regret to inform you that Sirius Black has died while on mission to save the surviving Potter, Harold James. He fell through the Veil Of Death under the Ministry Of Magic.

Sirius Black was one of the four Marauders & his remaining crimes are:

grand threft up to 10,000 galleons in fines (this goes to all four Marauders)
flying in restricted airspace on his charmed motorbike on countless occasions
two counts of adverse sexuallity

However, if he were still alive, Sirius Black would not have had to spend the appropriate jail terms for these crimes for he has already spent nearly 13 years of his life in Azkaban, needlessly; years which belonged to Peter Pettigrew.

"WHOA!" Sirius dropped the pages to the ground. "Finally! Took them long enough! Adverse sex---Merida? You wouldn't have had anything to do with that now would you?"

"Not yet!" Merida threatened, ignoring those Merlin-forsaken puppy-dog eyes! "About time they charged you with THAT crime! You deserve it!"

"Do not!" Sirius pouted. "I'm just a lovable kind of guy!"

"Yeah," Merida scoffed. "Sirius? You'd sleep with anyone at the drop of a hat! Hell, you'd sleep with the bloody hat!"

"Would not!"

"I'm sorry Sirius but," Harry put an arm around Merida's waist. "I have to agree with her! So tell me, why did my dad elect a perv like you to be godfather to his precious son?!"

"Oh that hurt!" Sirius frowned even more.

"GOOD!" Harry & Merida snapped at the same time. Sirius clicked his fangs together nervously.

A lone bat landed in front of them & Randalla appeared. "Have you found Randaf?"

"Yeah, he's gone now!" Sirius answered. "& I found my godson. He's alright!"

"The Portal Room is still active if you wish to go home?" asked Randalla.

"Yeah I guess I'm ready to go back," said Sirius. "But what about you?"

"I'm taking over now that Charmone is gone!" said Randalla.

"& the Lycans?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"They won't have any problems from me!" Randalla promised. "Come, I'll take you to the Portal Room. I had always wondered why it was called that. Now I see that it controls our Celestial Temple!"

"Perhaps we will meet again!" said Sirius.

Harry & Merida glanced at each other. "Oh no! Not again! Not ANOTHER woman!"

Randalla led them inside & to the Portal Room. She turned the lever & the room glowed in blue light. At the end of the room, blue beams of energy twisted around themselves. "Now that they have been unblocked, you may step through!"

"Unblocked?" asked Sirius.

"I was stuck in those energy beams," Harry shrugged. "Don't worry! I didn't feel anything! I was sleeping the whole time!"

"I see!" Sirius glowered. "Well Randalla! Thank you!"

"Actually, thank you!" Randalla replied. "Charmone is gone now thanks to you!"

After everyone said thier goodbyes, Harry, Merida & Sirius stepped into the portal. They found themselves in front of the Veil Of Death under the Ministy Of Magic.

Harry & Sirius looked at each other for a moment. "Let's get out of here!" Harry said.

"& never return!" Sirius finished.

The three of them transformed to their animal-forms; Sirius a Grim, Harry a black stag, Merida a black panther. They stalked out of the Ministry Of Magic, taking care not to be seen. It was late at night & hardly anyone was around anyway. Mr. Weasley was sitting at his desk & was startled when a black deer-nose was shoved under his face.

"Get out of here!" Mr. Weasley rolled up an old Daily Prophet & began to swat at the stag.

"Mr. Weasley! STOP!" Harry giggled.

"AHHHHHHH!!" Mr. Weasley dropped the paper to the floor.

"Hello Arthur!" Sirius waved from behind Harry.

"Er---hello Mr......?" Mr. Weasley wasn't quite sure where he had seen this man before.

"Black! Sirius Black!" Sirius posed a James Bond pose!

Mr. Weasley fell into his chair. "Impossible!"

"Pretty girl there!" Sirius nodded to a photo of Ginny on the wall. Ginny waved shyly back.

"Yeah that's you, Sirius!" Mr. Weasley recovered himself. "& don't even THINK about my daughter! But how in Merlin' name....?"

Mr. Weasley was hit by rounds & rounds of sentences & half-sentences as Harry & Sirius launched into what had happened. It was Merida who finally rescued poor Weasley & then sat down beside him to explain properly.

"Whoa!" Mr. Weasley gasped after a long moment of silence. "Well---uh--welcome back Sirius! & Harry! Don't EVER scare us like that again! You lot get home! I'll take care of everything!" Mr. Weasley helped the three of them floo away to the Snape Manor & then picked up his late night work. He strode out of his office, picking up pace to a brisk walk, grinning from ear to ear.

Word spread like wildfire in the Wizarding World the next day! Sirius Black was alive & well. Harry Potter had also returned. Sirius was pardoned officially of the murder crimes (though he had to humbly pay 40,000 galleons for the Marauding crimes commited by himself & the others! He would eventually steal it all back over the next year or so!). Never again did a Dementor bother him, for he was now a fellow Dark Creature such as they were though he kept it between himself, his closest friends & Harry.

Harry & Sirius placed Remus in Godric's Hollow beside another stone with James & Lily Potter. Moony, however, was quite comfortable with Sirius (well most of the time anyway!). A few days later, Harry handed over some very familiar keys. "She's in the barn!" was all Harry said, grinning wickedly.

Harry & Merida watched from the back door, Harry holding the younger Sirius. A loud whoop was heard from the barn & soon the older Sirius was flying through the air on his motorbike.

He landed in front of them for a moment. "Well, I'm off to get Cheryl! Great date planned! See ya later!" Harry could only shake his head as Sirius took off.

Merida leaned over to Harry & asked, "Are you sure about this guy?"

"Not at all! Just keep smiling & bare it!" Harry said with a stiff smirk. "He'll never change!"

& he never did! Except on Full Moons, when he was joined by his new pack, a black stag called Prongs Jr. (Harry hated the "Jr." part with a passion!) & a black panther called Mystique! Merida would not become a wolf in front of Sirius Black! Oh no! A panther could keep him in his place a whole lot better!

The End