Black Letters
By Neurotica
Six: Telling Moony
Over the next few days, Sirius and Harry came up with a plan to inform the Order of the Phoenix of Sirius' return. Granted, it was a very weak plan; it was hard to figure out how to convince a group of some of the most suspicious people in the wizarding world that one of their own had returned. So they decided to start with Remus. Harry would write the former professor a letter, asking Remus to meet him in the park, and then Harry would bring him to Sirius' hiding spot.
Harry pointed out all the things that could go wrong upon Lupin's arrival. One example was that the werewolf would notice the strangeness of Harry's letter and bring someone with him. Another scenario was that Lupin would see Sirius, believe he was an impostor, and take him to the Ministry where the Dementors would be waiting to administer a Kiss to Sirius. At this point, Sirius suggested Harry stop being so optimistic and just write the damn letter.
Remus was sitting in the library of the Order's Headquarters when Hedwig flew through the house and landed on the arm of his sofa. He smiled at Harry's owl and fed her a piece of toast left over from his breakfast. Hedwig hooted in thanks and munched on the treat while Remus read Harry's letter.
Professor Lupin—
Could you meet me in the park at 4:00 this afternoon? It's kind of important.
—Harry
Remus raised an eyebrow and glanced at the grandfather clock across from him 3:30, it said. He stroked Hedwig once and stood from the sofa. He threw the book he'd been researching thought down on the table and made his way down the stairs.
The page he had left open showed a dais with a sinister-looking stone archway and a tattered veil fluttering gently in a light breeze.
Harry waited anxiously at the edge of the wood for Lupin. Any moment now, he'd see the shabby but respectable werewolf turn the corner. What would happen in the next hour, Harry didn't know. Sirius felt confident that his old friend would be easy to convince, but Harry didn't share his feelings. He liked Lupin immensely, but at the same time he didn't want to see his godfather go back to Azkaban, or worse…
Harry gulped nervously as he spotted Lupin's arrival. The former professor approached him looking quite concerned. "What's happened?" he asked immediately.
"I, uh, need to show you something," Harry said lamely.
Lupin raised an eyebrow at his best friend's son as the boy headed into the woods around them. He followed Harry without questioning what was happening. That didn't last long, however, when Remus laid eyes on the clearing they'd walked upon. Sitting in the center was the last person he'd thought he'd ever see again.
"Harry… get back…" Remus said, taking out his wand and putting himself between Harry and Sirius.
Harry tried to explain what was happening to Remus, but he wasn't sure the older wizard was even listening. Through it all, Sirius hadn't moved; he'd only been on the other side of Remus' wand once before, and he wasn't anticipating repeating the experience any time soon.
"Sirius, do something!" Harry called to his godfather.
"That isn't Sirius, Harry," Remus spat.
Sirius raised an eyebrow casually and transformed into Padfoot. The dog still hadn't moved an inch, but its tongue was hanging from its mouth and its tail was wagging playfully.
Remus began to slowly shake his head. "No… it's not possible," he whispered.
Sirius returned to his human self and stood before Remus. "Hey, Moony," he said. "You're looking a bit peaky. Full moon coming up?"
Apparently this was enough for Remus; he lowered his wand and embraced his friend.
Harry watched the exchange with a grin. One down, only the rest of the world to go.
Sirius and Harry explained to Remus what had been happening. It was obvious Remus was over the moon (no pun intended) to have his friend back, but still skeptical.
"Why didn't you tell me about these letters?" he asked Harry.
Harry shrugged. "I was going to mention it to Tonks, but when it turned out to be you instead, I kind of forgot," he answered honestly.
"Hmm, easily sidetracked," Sirius noted. "Yet another characteristic of the great James Potter. Don't you agree, Mr. Moony?"
Remus grinned. "Mr. Moony agrees with Mr. Padfoot, but wishes Mr. Padfoot would tell him why he didn't return to Headquarters?"
"With all those Aurors around? Not to mention Mad-Eye. By the time I made it to the kitchen, I would have been nothing more than a pile of goo on the floor," Sirius said.
"Most likely. And that would have been before I got a hold of you," Remus said, smirking.
"So, what are you going to tell Dumbledore?" Harry asked, not wanting to interrupt the two friends, but curious.
"The best way to deal with Albus Dumbledore, Harry, is the truth. When you're in trouble as much as James and I were in school, you'll find that's actually the only way. Because that man knows… And if you're lucky, all you'll get is a lemon drop and a night's detention," Sirius replied.
"You would be the expert," Remus said.
"876 detentions," Sirius sighed reminiscently. "Those were the days."
"876?" Harry asked incredulously. "How did you manage that?"
Sirius grinned. "Oh how I longed for the day you would asked me that," he said.
Rolling his eyes, but smiling, Remus listened as Sirius told Harry about the majority of their detentions at Hogwarts. The rest of the world could wait until tomorrow.
