A/N: Thanks very much for your reviews. I hope you enjoy this chapter, too!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Don't sue me.

The Truth About Werewolves

Sirius Revenge

Chapter Two: To Calm the Rising Storm

One by one, the Order and the refugees emerged from the kitchen fireplace of 12 Grimmauld Place. Children were crying, some from pain, some for their parents, others no one could make any logical sense out of. The Order hurried to place all the refuges about the house where they could be comfortable. Mrs. Black was crying her dislike for having such people in the house of her fathers, but nobody payed her any mind, and the children just cried harder to be heard above her screams.

The final group to emerge from the fireplace was quickly being escorted to an unoccupied area of the large house. The last two came out of the fire together, Snape dragging Lupin along by his wrists. Lupin's yelling rivaled Mrs. Black's.

Snape glanced around the room, looking for someone to dump Lupin on. He really didn't feel like babysitting a suicidal werewolf. That, and Snape had to get back to celebrate with the Death Eaters for their victory. There were perks to being a spy - you could switch sides anytime you felt the wind blow the other way. Snape wasn't planning anything quite that drastic. Yet.

Moving through the distressed and panicking crowd, Snape made his way to the Master Bedroom, still dragging Lupin behind him. Because of the hippogriff, nobody had been placed in this room. Snape bowed, and had Lupin do the same, and the beast bowed back. He was getting to trust far too many people these days. Lupin had stopped screaming for death, and went to pat the hippogriff's beak.

"You know Buckbeak?" asked Snape.

"Who?" asked Lupin, looking around at the other man. He turned back to face the hippogriff. "Oh. No, should I?"

Snape stared at him. He didn't want to discuss the hippogriff. "Where's the werewolf, Lupin?"

Lupin didn't turn from the hippogriff. "He's been stunned," he repeated.

"I know that," Snape snapped. "I mean where is he now, where is he stunned? Where is he, in you?"

Finally taking his eyes off Buckbeak, Lupin walked slowly toward the bed, and sat down. "He's everywhere in me. He's taken over."

"He must be centralized somewhere, if you're being possessed." That was the way these things usually worked - if you could figure out where the invader was in a person, you could destroy it, kick it out, or at least subdue it. But Lupin shook his head.

"I don't know . . . " He pointed vaguely at his chest, near his heart.

"Then we can get rid of the werewolf. As long as we know where it is, we may be able to get rid of it," said Snape. Lupin looked up at him.

"Then do it." Lupin's voice was harsh. Though it annoyed him, Snape had gotten used to Lupin's gentle nature. It was strange to hear Lupin speaking like that.

"It would take some time . . . "Snape started, but Lupin shook his head.

"No! I'm not waiting! I'm not going to let him come back!" said Lupin, and stood up and began searching the room. Snape assumed he was looking for something sharp and pointy. He was tempted to offer his own knife, but resisted.

"He won't come back yet, he was hit by five stunners." Snape pulled Lupin back to the bed, and pushed him back down. (Slash fans, get those naughty thoughts out of your head!). Lupin settled down, but glared up at Snape.

"How long would it take?" asked Lupin, in a would-be calm voice. "I don't want to lose my chance - I may never get another chance like this."

Snape sighed. "We'll do it as quickly as possible, but I need to go. Just stay in here, and . . ."

"No!" cried Lupin. "No, I won't! I won't wait! Why would you leave? Where are you going? He'll come back! He'll come back, and then he'll hurt me again!" Lupin stood up, and grabbed Snape, pulling him closer, and staring into his eyes, he continued. "You don't understand. You don't know what it's like. Do you know what it's like to lose control of your own life? To feel nothing but the pain of your body - not even really your body - twisting into the horrid creature that's taken over your mind? Do you know what it's like to want to cry, but not even have that much control? To not even know why you want to cry? I don't know my parents! I don't know my friends, if I have friends. I don't know anyone! I have nothing to comfort me. All I have is that beast, sucking my life away, and using my power to transform and kill those people he fools into thinking he's safe, and innocent. Don't you know? He's not innocent - he chooses to transform! It's me who's force into it!"

Lupin released his grip on Snape, his eyes teaming with anger. Snape could think of no other way to say it - Lupin was pissed. And with good reason, if what he'd said was true. Still. . . .

"Okay, I get it. I'll go get someone who can help you. I really do need to go. I'm already late." He turned to leave, but Lupin leapt from the bed, and grabbed Snape around the middle.

"Please don't go," said Lupin, in what was perhaps the most pathetic voice Snape had ever heard (and he taught first-years). Snape pulled himself free of his grip - mad or not, that crossed the line for Snape. Lupin still had his hands reached out toward Snape. "Please. What if he comes back before you come back . . ."

"He won't," interrupted Snape, losing patience. There's only so much kindness the threat of an angry Dumbledore could produce. "I can't help you, but I'm going to get someone who can. So just stay here and wait." He pointed to the hippogriff. "Play with Buckbeak if you need company." Snape stalked out of the room, but stopped at the door. "Just don't insult him."

Snape moved out of the room, into the noisy hallway. Locking the door behind him, Snape set off in search of someone to care for Lupin.

The Order Headquarters were swarming with people running every which way. Snape didn't recognize most of the people running past him. He made his way down to the kitchen, trying to find a free Order member. Glaring at the clock on the wall, which told him he was much too late to avoid suspicion from the Dark Lord, Snape eventually settled on telling Bill Weasley, who had always shown at least mild intelligence, to go to help Lupin as soon as possible, then set off through the fireplace once more.

oOo

Bill was swamped. The chaos around him was maddening. So many people were hurt, or crying, and the Order was so few, that Bill hardly had a spare moment to worry about anything but the urgent cries around him. Professor Snape came by and said something about Lupin needing help. Bill wasn't sure where Professor Snape had said Remus would be, so he kept an eye out for the man, hoping he would come across him as he did his best to help the refugees.

The Order was pouring in and out of the fireplace, carrying the injured to St. Mungos. Not finding Lupin anywhere in the house, Bill eventually assumed that someone else had already taken Lupin to the hospital.

A/N: Shorter this time. Sorry about that. Please review though, it makes me very happy.