Disclaimer: you recognise it, it's not mine.
BAWEE (Because Aislynn Wanted the Extended Edition)
Scene taking place between chapter 5a and 5b
Added 24 June 2005
A/N: Thank you all for the feeback, it's a great incentivetowriteand if you're still reading this story, thank you for your patience. See? TaBA hasn't been abandoned. It's just going very slow. Actually, it's very, very, very slow, being written out of chronological order and competing with anime (and other crossovers) for my attention. So, sorry, don't know when the next update will be. Oh, and about the fight in chap 5b, would you please stop jumping to conclusions! g> I know the Death Eaters wouldn't attack Hogwarts at that point, and they're not. I like my villains with a brain, trust them to have a plan. A farfetched one, maybe, but they have a plan.
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Waiting for Albus and his quests to arrive, Remus found his mind wandering. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been that amused simply watching people 'interact'.
It might have been that time Lily kicked James out of their house because she could only deal with one enfant at one time. Unless it was the day James and Sirius tried to convince Arabella Figgs to let them try out different 'exotic' fur colourings on her cats. Merlin, it was so long ago… Even the Weasley twins hadn't been that entertaining. Sure, trying to guess their next move had become a game for him and he'd seriously wondered whether they'd catch up with the Marauders' detention record. But Fred and George had never done that. They had never inserted taunting quips into the conversation at every opportunity, single-mindedly tried to get a rise out of the other. Remus would have thought Legolas and Gimli were bitter enemies forced to collaborate but still attempting to push the other beyond his limits if he had not witnessed their reunion.
But even then, he had had doubts on the status of their relations until Pippin had assured him this was a normal behaviour for the two friends. "They're keeping it cool, actually. They greeted each other and the arguments are still somewhat making sense." The young man had sighed in disappointment.
Remus hadn't known what to make of that piece of information but Frodo had merely laughed. "Pippin is just sore because he bet they'd skip the greetings and go straight to the arguments. He forgets Legolas and Gimli can behave if they have to. But he is also not exaggerating, unfortunately. These two can be much worse than that."
"Today, they acknowledged the other's existence," Merry had commented drolly.
"Missing Gimli is rather hard to do, Merry," Legolas piped in at that moment. "Discretion's never been a part of his vocabulary, and stealth even less."
"At least, people acknowledge my presence, unlike yours. I'm awed by the fact I ever realised your existence at all," the quick repartee had come. "Who won the bet and what was the wager, this time?"
"Frodo. He bet you'd greet each other then start arguing inside five minutes without letting Legolas say hi to anyone else." Sam had answered with a smile, pausing to let Legolas and Gimli salute Frodo's victory. "And no wager. Strider didn't want to."
"Aragorn didn't want to?" Legolas had puzzled on the matter rapidly. "Ah. And on what did he bet?"
"He said you'd give it two hours," Merry had announced, a big grin on his face.
Gimli had snorted and Legolas had arched one fine eyebrow before they had shared a bemused look. "Either he is getting more realistic or it's a hint. Should we take it?" Gimli had wondered.
"Where's the fun in that? Aragorn knows better. And of course you observed my presence. Common people always look up to their betters."
"Don't you mean look down on lowlier beings?"
Legolas and Gimli had started another outrageous round then with Merry and Pippin egging them on. For his part, Remus had started to wonder which of the reluctant grin or the confused frown would become a permanent fixture on his face. He felt tired deep to his bones, certainly too tired to figure out the dynamics of this group but still willing to enjoy the atmosphere of warm camaraderie and the good-natured, although intense, discussion. Keeping up with the whimsical and quicksilver Legolas on the way to Hogwarts had exhausted the meagre reserves of strength the moon had not drained and he wished for nothing more than a bed. The restorative liquor he had drunk earlier - Miruvor, Legolas called it – had helped keep the fatigue at bay for a time but even its effects had almost entirely dissipated. I wonder if there is a spare room left in the Staff section. Poppy must have a lot to do in the infirmary without having to fuss over me. Although I remember she liked to fuss…
"Legolas. What have you been doing?" A exasperated question interrupted Remus' musings suddenly. Opening eyes he hadn't realised he had closed, he saw Frodo staring at Legolas with a little reproach.
"I've been doing what I always do," the elf answered with genuine curiosity. "I live, I breathe, I sleep occasionally, I eat…"
A pained groan came from all the people in the room as one. Gimli immediately added a string of muttered insults. With surprise, Remus caught the words 'of all the fey, whimsical, arrogant, insufferable and infuriating creatures…'
"I thought we had agreed to wait until everyone was here to start the explanations," Legolas ignored Gimli and cocked his head, waiting for Frodo's response.
But it was Sam who intervened. "You groaned too!" he exclaimed, turning towards Remus. Confused, he nodded, having no idea what the problem was. But Legolas seemed to have caught on.
"He asked me some questions when we met this morning. I answered as I could. I admit it might have wearied Remus further than I had intended."
"Further than you had intended?" Gimli repeated incredulously. "The poor man is asleep on his feet!"
"Your point, Master Gimli?"
"My point? Are there no limits to your flightiness, Master Legolas? He looks like he should be sleeping the week away; not playing the guessing games with foolish ---" Gimli spat a strange word.
What? Never mind. Through the haze of fatigue, annoyance filled Remus. Taking a deep breath, he intervened calmly, "I'm still here, you know."
Gimli had the grace to look somewhat abashed and gave a small shrug in apologies before rounding on Legolas again. The elf, on the other hand, merely raised an eyebrow and stared back. Remus tried to hold his gaze but turned away after a moment, the clear eyes seeing too much to be comfortable.
"Did we miss a part of the story?" Merry wondered, looking back and forth between Legolas and Remus.
Legolas' laconic answer hid a wealth of meaning. "Probably."
Gimli snorted. "Well, he's improving. Now, it only takes him one word to be non-committal."
"He is here."
"Yes you are." A beat passed and Gimli's exasperated expression became suddenly fond. "By the way, have you been told lately how incredibly maddening you are?"
The elf laughed softly then glanced towards Remus. "Well, now that you mention it…"
"This morning, repeatedly and at great length." Remus continued with a sigh.
That drew everyone's attention but Sirius barked at that moment to announce Professor Dumbledore's and the rest of his guests' arrival.
"You've got some explaining to do. Just later," Merry promised before heading out the door.
Greeting Albus, Moody and the two other men, Remus profited from the occasion to study them. Aragorn, alias Strider, alias Adam Dawson was a little taller than his companion, but Boromir was broader across the shoulders. They were both physically fit and seemed to possess a great strength of character. They need it to deal with their friends. For the moment, they also appeared to feel some small measures of dreading expectation and Remus couldn't resist adding to the mystery. "Go ahead. I'll present either my congratulations or my condolences later," he finished when Merry dragged them off.
Sensing Albus' thoughtful gaze and Moody's suspicious one, he added in a lower voice, "If you see something off about their friend, don't do anything. We'll explain later." There is lots and lots of explaining to do, actually, he sighed mentally.
Albus considered the matter for a second before giving a nod of agreement and Moody followed his lead reluctantly. Just in time. Remus wanted to see if the reunion would be as entertaining as before.
"Pip, Frodo, Sam and I didn't do anything," Merry was saying smugly. Boromir looked back at Remus. He was the one who had first used the word overwhelming.
"Actually, I wasn't talking about these four when I said your friends were overwhelming," Remus explained, trying to repress his smile. But I have to admit they're likely on par with the Weasley's. They're setting you up beautifully.
Aragorn was the first to reconstitute the puzzle. "Which bet were you talking about?" he askedin a level voice. The expression on his face was much more interesting. Deliberately closed off but there was still something shining through in his eyes. Hope? Fear?
"The Naugrim. Me. Estimated time before the insults start flying. You lost. Again." Legolas made his entrance. Boromir whirled around to face him entirely but Aragorn had the strangest reaction. He leaned back on the wall and closed his eyes, shoulders slumped.
"What the hell!" Moody muttered. Following the former Auror's line of sight, Remus observed he was not watching Aragorn's reaction but staring intently at Legolas. The elf was ignoring the wizards to grip Boromir's arm in a warrior's clasp before hugging him. Both of Moody's eyes were repeatedly gauging him up and down, a frown appearing on his face as he appeared unable to pinpoint exactly what was wrong. Albus too was frowning but his gaze was focused over Legolas' shoulder. The illusion of the backpack. The elf laughed softly at something Boromir whispered in his ear before heading for Aragorn, still not sparing a glance at Remus' group. His moves didn't betray the smallest traces of hesitation, unlike earlier when he had first frozen on hearing his friends' voices near the entrance of the castle.
"Remus," Albus' voice was demanding. He wasn't looking at Remus but still staring at Legolas, his usually twinkling eyes hard as steel.
"He gave us his word he didn't mean any harm to the school." That drew Albus and Moody' attention sharply. Remus looked back evenly. Yes, I did say us. He knows about Sirius. But if we didn't think he could be trusted, we wouldn't have brought him here. Onlywhen Albus relaxed finally, his eyes shining again with an intrigued little spark, did Remus turn back towards the other men - and the elf – to witness, puzzled, their strange exchange.
"It has been too long, Aragorn." From Remus' perspective, this hug looked much less intense than the previous ones. But for some reason, he was reminded of his own reunion with Sirius at the start of the summer. For a moment, they had done nothing but hold each other, not speaking or moving, simply content to be in the other's presence. In front of him, Aragorn and Legolas were still speaking softly and Remus shook off this impression.
Letting his friend go, Legolas finally turned his attention towards Remus, Albus and Moody. Nudging Aragorn slightly, he said with a small smile, "Introduce me, will you?"
With an imperceptible nod, Aragorn complied. "Albus, Moody, we told you our bond involved several other people. This is one of them, Legolas Thranduilion, whose current name is…"
"Lawrence Green."
"Legolas, meet Professor Albus Dumbledore and Professor Alastor Moody. I suppose you have already met Professor Remus Lupin?"
He nodded, giving Remus an impish smile before bowing slightly his head, hand over heart. "It is an honour to meet you both. Professor Moody, your reputation as an Auror is still unparalleled. As to you, Professor Dumbledore, it would seem I owe you much for taking care of my friends."
"No thanks necessary, Mister Thranduilion," Albus said, his eyes flicking over Legolas' shoulder once again.
"Thranduilion means son of Thranduil, Professor Dumbledore. Just call me Legolas. My father's name is taken in vain often enough as it is," the elf replied, his eyes sparkling with humour. Whether it was at his own words or at Albus' glance, Remus was unable to say.
Raising a partially amused eyebrow in return, Albus opened his mouth to speak when a shrill whistle came from Moody's robes. Under the Headmaster's expectant gaze, the former Auror took out a small roll of parchment and checked it before grimacing.
"Remind me to have a word with you, Lupin."
Curious, Remus glanced questioningly at the parchment and Moody held it out gruffly. The roll was blank except for a few words.
Front gate
Minister of Magic
Head of Law Enforcement
Escorts
Remus' lightened mood disappeared at once and his mind went quickly over possibilities. Apart from having housed a criminal on the run, Remus had done one or two things the ministry frowned upon this summer. But no one except a closed circle was supposed to know this. The Death Eaters know, or they will figure it out very soon.
"Remus," Albus' kind voice interrupted his musings, "Madam Bones is here to interview our guests. They saw Peter Pettigrew in Lord Voldemort's company two days ago."
What? For a moment, his mind stayed blank as he tried to understand what this would mean. Then, the implications hit him suddenly and he raised shocked eyes to meet Albus' calm ones. Failing to find words to express what he felt, he sought out Padfoot from the eyes. Sirius looked equally dumbfounded, or at least as dumbfounded as a dog could appear but his brilliant eyes were fixated on Remus, begging him to speak where he couldn't. "You… You think Sirius could be cleared."
"Or that the kill on sight order will at least be taken down," Dumbledore rectified.
"We'll do everything we can to help," Frodo promised with compassion. Idly, Remus wondered what he looked like to provoke that feeling from an almost unknown but found he didn't care. His mind was still trying to absorb the news.
"That means the rest is up to the current ministry," Moody snorted uncomplimentary. "Do not get your hopes too high," he warned. "In this case, acknowledging Pettigrew's continued existence also means acknowledging Voldemort's return. And we know how Fudge feels about this." Fudge was in denial and still refused to admit Voldemort was back. "They could also be here for entirely different reasons. They're here earlier than expected," he also noted grimly, his penchant for paranoia resurfacing.
"Why don't we go, then?" Boromir intervened impatiently. "We won't know anything for sure by staying here."
Albus nodded thoughtfully, "We'll meet the minister and his collaborators at the entrance of the castle." Turning sideway to invite his guests to pass first, he said, "But meanwhile, Legolas, I would be curious to know how you're late." Visibly, Albus had decided to hold back the serious questions for the moment as he cast a last meaningful glance to Remus.
"You don't need to hold Remus responsible for my acts, Professor Dumbledore," Legolas said softly, catching the glance. "Entering Hogwarts' grounds was easier with him than it would have been alone but I would have found a way to come all the same." Despite the soft voice, the tone brooked no argument. All Legolas' demeanour exuded a quiet confidence as he stared calmly at Albus. "And although he considers himself in my debt, that's not the reason for which he agreed to lead me here."
A flash of surprise flew across Albus' face before he took a neutral expression again, asking Remus' confirmation of that tale with his eyes. "We'll have a long discussion once the Minister is gone," he said at length.
"Of course," Legolas agreed easily. "And it's a private joke," he added. At Albus' inquiring look, he stated, "I'm never late." Which prompted a loud snort in response from someone in front of them. Probably Gimli. "Two nights ago," Legolas started loudly, "I felt the bond which linked my soul to my friends' being strained. That's why I came. But now I'm here, I really can't fathom why I bothered at all." He sounded sincerely puzzled and Remus choked down a laugh at the tone.
"Why does it not surprise me?" Gimli's voice came back as he looked over his shoulder, with a tone of tried patience one would use to state the obvious to the simple-minded. "Your brain is so muddled it's a wonder you even remember your own name."
Here we go again, Remus thought and he shrugged resignedly under Albus and Moody's bewildered stares.
End of chapter
