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CHAPTER 3
INEVITABLE HEART-BREAK – I
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Sirius was an easy-going guy. Even though he was well-aware of the Dark times, he kept his cool. Even though he was basically homeless, jobless and loathed even his mother, he kept up to his image of being funny and smart – quite naturally.
Though all this changed on that fateful morning of midsummer.
He had got up early that day – something unusual for him. But the reason was that he had an interview that day with the Head of Auror Training Academy. Given the number of N.E.W.T.s he had been able to get, that was not really a surprise.
So he went down to the Potter's kitchen early to find himself all alone. Oh well! He would have to make his own breakfast. The Pureblood in him made a face but he got to work anyway.
He had managed to sit down with some not-so-burnt toast and a jar of marmalade when there was the familiar pecking sound on the window.
Looking up, he did not like what he saw. It was an eagle owl with his family crest on its chest.
Okay, so which Black was writing to him?
Bellatrix! Goodness! What was next?
The letter really didn't answer the questions in his mind. It was a simple request (yeah, with a "Please") asking him to meet her at the Leaky Cauldron at seven in the evening.
To say that it intrigued him would be quite an understatement. Not only was there no love lost between the cousins, but Sirius was well aware of the fact that his three female cousins had been strictly forbidden by their mother to meet him. Not that he bothered, but he knew quite well that the girls were more than a bit afraid of their mother and would certainly not disobey her.
Hmmm… this had to prove interesting.
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The interview had gone exceptionally well. So when he headed towards the Leaky Cauldron, he was in quite a good mood. He felt charitable and ready to listen to Bella.
He found her sitting in a dark corner (no surprises there). He went to join her.
"You came," were the words which greeted him as he sat down.
"That should be obvious," he said dryly. "What is it, then?"
As he observed her, he noticed that she had changed. Her eyes were so opaque, a barrier to showing emotions, her face was leaner and her hair, which had usually flown freely down her back was tied up in a thick braid. He felt that she looked ill. What was wrong with her?
"Remus."
He stared at her, shocked beyond words. Since when were Moony and Bella on first-name terms?
"What about him?" he asked, trying to sound as casual as she did, but failing horribly.
"It's a long story."
"Begin right now, then."
"But first you have to promise you won't say a word until I finish. You won't even move."
Sirius raised a brow. "That horrible?"
"Do you promise?"
"Promises are meant to be broken, my dear. I give you my word on my honour."
He was quite surprised when she didn't roll her eyes. He wondered if she had even heard him properly.
She began her tale then. She began by telling him that she had been a Death-Eater for the past year. It didn't surprise him in the least. She then told him that the Dark Lord was trying to win over the outcasts of the wizarding world – the powerful outcasts like the giants… and werewolves, her voice quiet.
And then all about what was their between her and Remus – why and how it came about, the uncertainties and the obstacles and what things were now.
He listened like one in a dream. He would have pinched himself to test if he was in some kind of nightmare or not. But he did not because just as she said, "I love Remus," he got up suddenly, violently hitting his knee against the table.
Yes, the pain was very much real.
She regarded him disinterestedly, as if his response didn't matter to him in the least.
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Remus looked at the watch, rubbing his eyes. He had spent the whole day moving from one place to another with no success. His head was throbbing. His legs were paining. He was hungry and thirsty. Worst of all, the full moon was just a few days away.
Yawning, he headed towards the room he shared with Sirius.
"Tough day, Moony?"
He smiled wryly. "It's a hard world for a werewolf out there."
"Yeah, very hard."
Remus looked at Sirius. Why was he looking at him like that?
"Bad day?" he asked, more to break the eerie silence than anything else.
"Extremely."
"What happened?"
"You won't believe me."
"Nothing that happens to you can be that horrible."
"Nothing has happened to me, Moony. It never does, thank Merlin! Things only happen to you. And you are stupid and a traitor not to tell them to me about them."
Remus stiffened and looked straight into his eyes.
So he has come to know about Bella and me then… well, they do say that bad things always follow each other…
"You have been with her for all these months and you never told us," said Sirius angrily.
"Why should I?"
"Maybe the fact that we are your best friends has something to do with it."
Remus lay down on the bed, ignoring him.
"I am talking to you, Moony! You've go to answer me!"
Remus didn't move.
It infuriated Sirius more than anything. He got up and turned him violently to face him.
Still retaining his iron grip on his arms, Sirius shouted, "YOU LIED TO ME! YOU BETRAYED ME! AND YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THE DECENCY TO EXPLAIN YOUR DAMNED SELF NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FOUND OUT!"
Moony struggled out of his hold and got out of the bed. "I have nothing to say."
He headed towards the door.
Sirius bounded after him and stood barring his way out. "You will explain yourself before you do anything else."
Remus stared at him angrily. "And who are you to demand an explanation?"
Sirius grew angrier – if that was possible – and struck him hard across his face.
"You damned bastard!"
Remus, all his pains and exhaustion forgotten, lunged at Sirius, pushing him hard against the door.
Soon, the two were engaged in a vicious fight. Not caring about the injuries on their own body, but only feeling the need to hurt the other – very badly.
Suddenly, the door burst open and James and his father came in. Even they were injured as they tried to separate the two.
The noise that ensued as Sirius and Remus yelled swearwords at each other, woke up their neighbours. Mr. Potter had no choice but to stupefy them.
"Sorry, dad," said James, looking angrily at his friends, "I don't know what got into them. I'll handle it now."
"I am just two doors away if you need help. Surely, I thought you boys were best friends."
"We are. But the worst of fights do happen between best of friends – that's what you told me, right?" said James, wondering what the hell had got into Padfoot and Moony. More into Moony than Padfoot. Was there something hormonal because the full moon was near? Surely, it had never happened before.
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"Okay, I am going to release you two now, but if you decide to start at your job of killing each other again, I will freeze you again and never release you."
Sirius sat up immediately, but Remus remained on the bed. His head was throbbing with pain. The injuries on his forehead and arms were bleeding. Sirius had been wearing a sharp-edged ring.
However, in the darkness of the room and as Remus pulled the covers over him, neither James nor Sirius noticed the wounds.
"So?" James looked from one to the other. The vicious fight had surprised even him.
"Nothing. We got carried away with an argument," said Sirius. Seeing that Remus wasn't going to get up, he, too, settled down under the covers.
"Carried away… yeah, right. Well, I'll get it out of you tomorrow. Night, guys. And I am going to SLEEP, so put a Silencing Charm before start to fight again."
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"I know you are not asleep, Moony."
Sirius turned towards Remus, but the latter made no response.
"No more fights. But I want to talk. I want to know why you hid it from us. How could you not trust us after all we have gone through – together?"
Remus made an unintelligible murmuring noise but didn't move.
"Moony?"
Sirius got up from his bed and stood beside Remus'. In the faint light from outside, he saw blood trickling down Remus' cheek.
With a curse he knelt down in front of him and lightly touched the wound. Remus flinched in his sleep.
Sirius looked at his ring. Drops of blood marred its perfect white edge.
Disgusted, he took it off and threw it away.
"Merlin! What have I done?"
He could trace some more blood stains marring his perfect white night clothes. Gently, he woke him up.
"Sirius?"
"I am sorry, Moony," he said softly, "I hurt you real bad. I'll help you clean up those wounds before you sleep."
Remus smiled ruefully. "I gave you a real black eye. It is the first time I have done it. I am sorry, too, Padfoot."
"Don't be. It's my fault. I'll get the salve and my wand."
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"So," asked Remus, as he buttoned up his shirt, "how did you come to know about Bella and me?"
"She told me. We met today. She had sent me a letter to meet her."
Remus was greatly surprised.
"Why would she do that?"
"She cannot meet you anymore. She says it is too dangerous. She wants me to protect you at all costs because Voldemort wants you – because you're a werewolf."
Remus frowned. "She's giving up, already? No, I won't let her. I will meet her. Sirius, you've got to tell me where she lives. I will go and talk to her. I love her like I have never loved anyone else. I will not let go of her."
Sirius sat down on Remus' bed. "Don't be daft, Moony. They are dangerous people. You shouldn't have done this in first place. But since you have, there is no choice but to undo what you have done. She knows it. She is willing. Why can't you?"
"She is not willing and neither am I. I want to meet her. Please, Sirius, you've got to help me."
Sirius looked away but kept his jealous anger at bay.
"Remus…"
"You met her. You talked to her. She told you about us. How did it all strike you, Sirius? Did it seem even for one second that she doesn't love me? Did it even feel as if she wanted to leave me? Tell me, Sirius. Look into me eyes," he cupped his face and turned it towards his own, "and tell me."
Sirius' eyes were dark with the turmoil going on within him. "She loves you and wants to be with you."
It was so painful to say those words. But he knew that he had to say them. He had to say them for Remus – Remus would be happy.
Remus was happy and he smiled.
"Thanks, Padfoot. You don't know how much that means to me. You will help me, won't you? Imagine if you love someone, Sirius…"
Sirius swallowed hard.
"And she leaves you. Will you not do everything possible to not let her go? To always keep her by your side? Won't you, Sirius?"
I would… for 'him', I would… for you, I would…
He barely managed to nod.
"You will help me, please? I want this more than anything else in life. You will give it to me, right?"
Anything for you, Remus…
"Yes. We'll go to her house tomorrow. I'll borrow Prongs' Cloak, too, just in case."
Remus smiled, hope sprouting anew in his heart. "Thank-you! Thank-you so much! You're the best friend I have ever had – or will ever have. Thanks, Padfoot."
Sirius just nodded slightly and went to bed.
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