A/N: Slightly more action in this chapter… but not immense loads of it. So I hope you enjoy.
The love of a Werewolf Chapter 3: What Did a Black Ever See
They all tumbled down the stairs together, Ginny, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Remus, Bill and Tonks. When they reached the bottom in a mass of bodies they detangled themselves from each other. "Is everyone ok?" Molly called from the hallway. Tonks had slipped on the troll foot umbrella stand, again, at the door causing them all to tumble as they tried to be silent and not wake Mrs Black… but that was too late.
"Nooooooo! Blood traitors! Filth, half-breeds! You!" She had pointed a accusing finger at Remus as he appeared at the top of the stairs, before Ginny had collided heavily into him, pushed by Harry, who was jabbed by Ron's elbow, who had caught Hermione, who had been tripped up by Bill, in his gallant attempt to save both Tonks and umbrella stand. Failing to do both, he grabbed onto the curtain of Mrs Black as Tonks fell into him. Molly merely saw this coming and had stepped back against the wall. Unfortunately all the others had not foreseen the event.
Mumbled answers were called from downstairs up to Molly. As she battled with Mrs Blacks curtain. "Shut up you old HAG!" Tonks being at the top of the pile ran up the stairs to help Mrs Weasley.
"FILTH! TRAITORS!"
"I'm so sorry." Tonks called out.
"A WEREWOLF IN MY HOUSE!... WHAT DID A BLACK EVER SEE IN YOU?"
"There, there dear… it couldn't be helped."
"I said SHUT UP!" They both heaved the curtain closed.
Meanwhile the bodies mingled together on the stairs tried to separate themselves.
"Guys I really am crushed down here!" Ginny squeaked.
"Hang on." Bill shouted as he managed to pull his leg out from underneath Ron.
He then helped Ron up, to let Hermione out from underneath him, who was finding it hard to breath.
"God I couldn't breath, Ron you had to be at the top, didn't you." She shook her head.
Remus at the bottom of the pile had Ginny crushed against him, she had blushed slightly making him blush too, and he didn't know why. Ron and Bill, who then helped Harry up, then pulled up Ginny, just as Tonks and Molly came down the stairs.
"Nice work Nymphadora." Bill teased. Causing Tonks to scowl.
Hermione knelt down to pull Remus up; her golden locks tumbled down over him as she pulled him up by his hand and shoulder. He nodded his thanks.
"Oh there you are Remus." Molly shouted above the hullabaloo. "How are you my dear?" She eyed him closely before taking him into a fierce hug.
"Nothing but skin and bone." She tuted and shook her head. "Right then… lunch it is, you can all help."
Remus finally spoke.
"Hey everybody." But all that left his lips was a quiet croak. Hearing this he coughed and cleared his throat properly, Molly, Hermione, Harry and Bill looked at Remus oddly.
It was only then when Remus tried to speak again he realised he had not spoken in over two weeks.
"Hi. How are you all?" He managed this time, although his voice did sound incredibly scratchy.
Bill stepped forward and shook his hand. "Very well Remus, very well, thanks." Remus turned his gaze to Harry, who looked to Remus' eye incredibly thin and pale. Harry tried to smile at Remus, but he could see that in his eyes was a misery too deep to disappear.
"Alright Harry?" Remus asked unsure, stepping towards him, Harry gave a quick nod. So Remus wrapped his arms around Harry and gave him a quick hug then pat on the back.
"I see you have grown again Mr Weasley." He said giving Ron a brief hug and pat on the back. Ginny jumped forward and gave him a quick hug.
"Yeah, soon I'll be as tall as Hagrid." Ron claimed whilst shaking his head. "If it wasn't for the red hair and freckles, I'd swear I was adopted."
"Ronald!" Mrs Weasley shouted across from the other side of the kitchen.
Hermione then who was standing near Remus embraced him. "Hi Professor." She was on her tiptoes as she placed her arms around his neck and gave him a squeeze before letting go.
Remus chuckled. "I'm not your professor any more Hermione."
"I know but you were the best we ever had." She said earnestly.
"Wotcher Remus! Sorry about that." Today Tonks was sporting her favourite bubblegum pink, cropped hair, weird sisters purple top and ripped baggy jeans. She gave him a quick hug before going to help Molly sort lunch out.
"Arthur is working late again, so he won't be back till later, I think he said he was bringing Mad Eye back with him." Molly called from the sink.
"The more the merrier." Remus declared and went to help with the others with the lunch. When he passed Harry he gave him a squeeze on the shoulder Harry smiled in return and nodded his head.
They all sat down for lunch around the large pine table in the kitchen. Remus had not eaten in days… he had just forgot to. Especially with his transformation a few days ago, he never felt hungry around that time. As hungering for blood as a werewolf always sickened him as a human… but the desire was there all the same.
Lunch was a pleasant occasion, everyone was sat chatting quite happily… even Harry seemed to be enjoying himself, as he seemed to be in a heated debate with Bill and Ron, discussing who the best player from the Chuddley Cannons was, Bill and Harry had agreed but Ron begged to differ on their choice.
"… but its guaranteed that Professor McGonagal will set Transfiguration level six. But I really am intrigued about who the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher will be. Are you sure you don't know Remus?" Remus suddenly jolted out of his daze, he was distractedly listening to Molly, Tonks and Ginny discussing what colour robe Tonks should buy.
" I told you Hermione I have no idea… I'm not even sure Dumbledore has found anyone yet." He said now focusing all his attention onto Hermione. They had been talking about the books that would be set for Hermione's sixth year, as she wanted to start backup reading now, but was unsure what books she should start on.
"I'll tell you what Hermione, why don't you come by my room later before you go to bed and I should have sorted some books out for you by then… is that ok?" Remus suggested.
"That would be brilliant!" Hermione beamed as she helped herself to more quiche.
Remus passed the rest of the day in a daze amidst the hubbub, of noise and people. Everyone had been avoiding the subject of Sirius… which was particularly difficult considering that the house they were in belonged to him. And after all every thing about it screamed Black.
After dinner that evening he had finally managed to escape and spend some time by himself. Not that he didn't mind the company for a change, but he just couldn't pretend to be happy for much longer when he hurt so bad inside.
He had managed to persuade Molly that he would do all the washing up that evening and would stay down in the kitchen waiting till Mad Eye and Arthur arrived. He would call her he said when they arrived. She took a while to convince, but then thanked him and claimed that she had seen some cleaning that needed to be done in the rooms near the attic.
With that all the others had dispersed into the more habitable parts of No.12 Grimmauld Place, he could see that Harry would be searching for solace, and had an inkling that he would be found later in the attic where Sirius used to skulk around with Buckbeak. But seeing as Buckbeak was no longer residing here, as Hagrid had collected the Hippogriff after… after Sirius had died. It only seemed right for him to go back into the Forbidden Forest with the rest of his herd.
So there would be no excuse this time for being up in that cold dank place. But Remus could understand Harry, in fact Remus felt like going up there himself… but he knew he shouldn't but that didn't stop him wanting to.
He sighed heavily, rolled his shoulders and moved his way to the sink where he began to scourgify the plates and dishes clean. As he did this task he felt his mind drifting and he found himself staring out of the window into the black night. He was leaning against the sink now and his leg was aching a lot more, especially after the earlier fall.
He lowered his gaze from the window and settled it on the plughole of the sink. He shut his eyes tight and let out an inaudible sob.
"Oh Sirius." He whispered.
Life as a marauder definitely was not an easy one. Yes the grey-eyed Black was the best looking, most rebellious and most dangerous of the four marauders, but they all suffered the same. Yes all of them, even Peter. But perhaps Sirius had suffered the most; after all he had spent twelve years in Azkaban knowing the truth.
Where as I just lived on in ignorance. Absolute and complete ignorance.
Knowing the truth would have killed him. He knew it would have… because the injustice of the truth was killing him now.
Near sixteen years ago, after Harry was born… before James and Lily went into hiding. That was the last time the marauders were a united force. It was at this time, trust was lost and secret accusation began from within. It was then the four best friends fell apart and turned against one another…
Tbc…
A/N: Next chapter to look back at the time where discord formed, leading to three deaths, a mad man in prison, a rejected werewolf and a boy who lived.
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