Summary: AU What if Dumbledore never became headmaster? Remus wouldn't have been able to go to Hogwarts. When Sirius becomes a healer they meet at the ministry. RLSB SLASH
Warnings: This is rated for slash rlsb! Can become M later.
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Many thanks to my wonderful beta Versipellis! Who not only betad but gave me great advice. Check out her stories! Remaining mistakes are my own.
Chapter dedicated to Kristi, who left me my first review by somebody I don't know personally. g
He hadn't realised it would be anything like this. He had seen these kind of wounds before of course, they were at war, big bloody chunks of flesh that seemed to be ripped out. For one moment he wasn't sure what to do. The thick scent of blood became too much and he switched on automatic pilot.
'First, the werewolves with a family waiting for them.' He thought, repeating Bandaid's rules to himself, opening up the first cage and leading the woman toward the room in the back. He was happy family members weren't allowed in the dungeons, happy that they couldn't witness this clumsiness while a loved one suffered. He had to repeat to himself that they were not human. The boy last night had started it all – no, not a boy, an animal- he couldn't stop seeing those eyes, wondering what had happened and how somebody who looked so kind could be a monster. He quickly finished the three werewolves.
The boy from last night was the only one who seemed to be alone. Sirius wondered how he'd ever make it home. There was blood everywhere; covering the floor and the wall behind him. He lay unconscious on the floor, and for one moment Sirius thought he had make a horrible mistake to take care of him last. However the boy –not boy, werewolf, he corrected himself- started to move slowly and groaned. Sirius moved forward quickly to help him up and into the healing room. The feel of the dreadfully thin waist under his arms was heartbreaking.
Once they were in the room he pressed a dose of potion to his lips; the boy drank it down and turned on his side, not saying anything. Sirius took the vial away and startled as the boy spoke.
'What is it?' His voice sounded weary, as if he had screamed too loud for too long, which was probably true, Sirius thought.
'Just a blood replenishing potion.' Sirius replied 'I'll give you some extra to take home with you, you'll need it.' He started rummaging int his bag. 'Here take this too; it's a strong painkilling potion.' Sirius quickly did his healing charms. The boy had so many scars that they littered his body, from his big toe to his nose. Sirius knew there was only one werewolf in the London area that was bitten as a child. He figured this must be him, the only one who didn't know how to use magic either. No painkilling spells or soothing charms. Sirius winced. Thank merlin there were no muggle werewolves in the area. He finished bandaging Remus and gave him some vials.
'Thank you, Sir' Remus said quietly as he took the vial. Sirius laughed at that.
'No need to call me Sir, Sirius will do just fine.' He chuckled; this kid was growing on him. Remus however looked a bit shocked.
'O-okay, you can call me Remus, of course. I mean you don't have-'
'Ill do that, Remus. Shouldn't your parents be here to pick you up?' Sirius wondered why he hadn't thought of that before. He frowned. Why weren't his parents here? He had left the charts with the personal information from the werewolves upstairs in the office.
'Oh, no, I've been living alone for some years now.'
Sirius frowned. 'How old are you, kid?'
Remus' eyebrows shot up at that. The potions were starting to work and he was feeling much better. He started feeling giddy, and this trainee had been very nice to him, much nicer then anyone else, really. He wondered if he could touch him.
'Kid? As old as you are, I suppose, twenty.' Sirius could barely hide his surprise at that.
'Well, I'm twenty-one, so no need to get cocky here. Speaking of that,' Sirius let his eyes go down Remus' body. 'shouldn't' you get dressed? It's bloody cold in here.' Remus started blushing at that. He quickly wrapped his arms around himself and jumped of the examination table. Not a very good idea, Sirius caught him just in time before he could hit the ground.
'Oof, take it easy there; it's not because the potion cancels out the pain that your body feels any better. You'll still need a couple of days of rest.' He carefully placed Remus back on the table. 'Let me get those for you.' He quickly walked to Remus' cage and picked up his clothes.
'Aren't you done yet?' Bandaid had walked in at some point, 'You can send him home, we've got some paperwork to do. And we have to send out forms about their new brandings.' Sirius noticed that he looked at Remus as if he were a thing, and couldn't help but wonder when he had stopped doing that.
'Ill be right up, Sir.' he answered as he quickly turned his back on Bandaid to bring Remus his clothes. 'Here they are. So, how are you going to get home?'
Remus saw Bandaid leave over Sirius shoulder. He took his clothes from Sirius and looked at him. They shared a quick smile. 'Ill be fine. I take a muggle bus and the stop isn't far from the ministry. It goes straight to my area.'
'Alright, I'll see you next month then.' Sirius said the words quietly, he couldn't help but hesitate. He wanted to say more, but didn't know what he wanted to stay to this boy –no Remus- , he wanted to stay with Remus just a bit longer. He knew he had to go though. 'Bye then.'
Remus smiled sadly, putting on his clothes. 'Bye, and thanks for the potion.'
Hphphphphp
On the bus Remus couldn't help but curse himself. How had this happened, why was Sirius so nice to him? He couldn't help but think up crazy theories like wanting werewolf potion ingredients to sell on the black market. Yet something deep inside him couldn't stop hoping, hoping that maybe somebody could care for him. He quickly pushed those thoughts away, no, he shouldn't hope for irrational things. He should be worrying about paying for rent, or food. Yes, getting a new job should definitely be number one on his priority list. If only he could stop thinking of those grey eyes.
Hphphphphp
Sirius was sitting at his desk, bent over forms about the new werewolf regulations. 'These new regulations are in order because of the difficult times we are in…' He had tried to read the booklet a million times, his thoughts just drifted of to the young werewolf. He was angry at himself for being so emotional about this. He wasn't sorry he had given Remus the potions though, no matter what Bandaid said. He was a healer, so it was his job to heal, right?
Good thing there was an order meeting tonight. It would take his mind off of things. He could talk with James and Peter, and maybe afterwards take Alicia out on a date. He grinned. Now that would take his mind of of Remus.
Hphphphphp
James was worried. He'd just come back from a meeting with Dumbledore and he didn't get good news. On the contrary, it seemed that Lily, Harry and he had become one of Voldemorts targets. He sighed, not liking the idea of having a secretkeeper, but if it was necessary to protect his family...
He knew both Sirius and Peter would be willing but he didn't like putting them in danger. Dumbledore had offered, but the man had so much to worry about already. New deaths every day, sometimes he wished he was a Muggle. He took a hand full of floo powder and shouted 'Godric's hollow!'
The story is advancing slower then I hoped it would. I'm still proud of this chapter, it's not only longer, but it flows more, I think.
Thanks for the reviews! They really encouraged me to write this chapter. (I wasn't sure I wanted to continue the story at first)
Ffnet rules say it's verboten to reply to reviewers in the story. I don't want this story deleted, so if you have a question, just leave your e-mail address and Ill get back to you.
Please leave your comments!