Under the Full Moony
Scroll 19: XY390
Not even nine months of research and studying (with Remus of course) or watching birthing videos and sneaking into St. Mungo's to watch live births (with Sirius of course) could prepare James for the horrors of Lily going into labor.
And so, Sirius, Remus, and Peter were left to pace outside for what seemed like endless days, but was just a couple of hours.
Finally, the door opened and James poked his head out, grinning, and motioning frantically for them to come inside.
The first thing Sirius did when he saw the tiny bundle in Lily's arms, was raise an eyebrow, "Is he supposed to be that small?"
Remus stepped on his foot, "He's a baby! Lily ... he's adorable ... and ... dear me, he looks just like James!"
Peter nodded, "Yup, just like him!"
Sirius examined the baby carefully, "Except he's ... small ..."
James rolled his eyes, "He's a baby!"
He took the baby from Lily and held it out to Sirius, "Here, hold him."
Sirius backed away, appalled, "No ... he's so small ... and ... fragile ... what if I drop him!"
James rolled his eyes and pushed the baby into Sirius' arms, "Then you'd be a very poor godfather indeed."
Sirius really did almost drop the baby, but thankfully Remus was helping him hold the tiny bundle.
"G-g-g-g-godfather! You ... you can't ... me!"
Lily smiled, "You're really the best man for the job ... and James wouldn't have anyone else."
Sirius grinned weakly, "Heh ... very small ... oh look!"
James, Peter, Remus and Sirius crowded around Lily and looked as the tiny baby opened its eyes and looked around.
"He's got Lily's eyes! Isn't ... oh what's his name!" Sirius looked from James to Lily expectantly.
"Harry James Potter," answered James promptly.
"Wow ... another James ..." Sirius grinned.
James sighed, "I can't believe it! My son!"
"My godson! And Remus and Peter are his uncles!"
Remus frowned, "Now really-"
James shook his head, "No, no, no, Remus! He's right! You two are special too ... you're all like my brothers ..."
Remus beamed, but Peter looked away. James sighed, "Aw come on Wormy ... you'll be fine ..."
Peter looked up, "Really!"
James nodded, "Sure!"
Peter smiled oddly, "If you say so ..."
In time, Harry grew on Sirius and every time the two got together you were to expect trouble. Sirius would do anything to make Harry laugh, anything at all. Even if it meant using Levicorpus on whoever was nearby, or making the couches fight the coffee table.
So it was no surprise, that on Harry's first birthday, Sirius was the happiest person in the world. He gave Harry a toy broomstick (the younger he gets on one, the better), packages upon packages of Sugar Quills and Chocolate Frogs, and a toy Snitch that would only hover two feet from him.
It came to them as a surprise that Dumbledore would show up.
"Good evening to all. I see Mr. Pettigrew is here ... good, good, very good indeed. Happy Birthday to you, Harry."
Dumbledore smiled down at Harry and waved his wand conjuring a tiny model galaxy that showed the exact position of the planets and major stars at that very moment.
Harry (like any other toddler would) seized it and shook it, making the sun bump into Earth and Mars. Sirius laughed and picked him up.
"See the shiny one ... right there? That's Sirius ... that's MY star! And that's my constellation Canis Major! See the doggy? See, this star connected with this star-"
James rolled his eyes, "Come inside Professor."
"Thank you very much. It is most regretful to inform you, I bring bad news to you. And most regretfully, on Harry's first birthday. But, I must tell you tonight ... the sooner you know the better."
Dumbledore walked in and waved his wand around the living room. All the windows, doors, even the chimney was sealed. Then he calmly waved his wand again to conjure his squashy purple chair and sat.
Lily and James sat on one of the couches nearest to Dumbledore, Harry on Lily's lap, Sirius and Remus sat in the couch opposite them, but Peter, who seemed to find the situation quite uncomfortable, sat as far from Dumbledore as possible.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, his eyes were not twinkling as usual, " I have gathered evidence from various trustworthy sources, that right now, in this very room, at this exact moment ... there is a spy among us."
It seemed as if an eternity passed before James spoke, "A spy! Here! Now! No! No ... impossible ..."
Harry was now playing with the model galaxy, on the rug.
Dumbledore sighed, "James, I'm sorry. I wish it wasn't true but ..." His eyes traveled to Peter who was pale, then to Remus who was expressionless, then Sirius, whose mouth was open.
James looked around as Harry stood up and pulled at one of Remus' trouser legs, "Moony-moon, ook! Moon!"
Harry pointed to the small white orb that was half-hidden in darkness. Remus smiled down at Harry, "That's right ..."
Sirius and James looked at each other, then at Remus, then at the moon, to which Harry was still proudly pointing to, then back at each other ...
"No," was the first thing Sirius said to James after Dumbledore had left and the two had gone up to James' library and used Muffliato on the door.
James leaned against a bookcase, "Think about it, it makes sense that he-"
"No! No! NO! It never mattered before, why should it matter now!"
"We're not school boys anymore! We're not seventeen anymore! Stop thinking that everything is like it was!"
"Nothing has changed, I'd KNOW if-"
"His kind has all gone to the dark side! Sirius ... he's a werewolf dammit!"
"Well I'm a Black! Look at MY family history!"
"It's different-!" James ran a hand through hia hair, slowly.
"Different HOW, James! I think I'd have noticed if my LOVER was a Death Eater!"
"Sirius, I'm just saying-"
"You're full of SHIT, James! You fucking HYPOCRITE-!"
"Sirius, you don't know what it's like to know Voldemort's after you! I have a SON-"
"Yeah, I hope he doesn't turn out like you!"
With that Sirius strode out furiouslyand slammed the door shut.
"Sirius ... who do you think-?" Remus tried asking Sirius while they sat on their couch staring at the fire.
But Sirius silenced him with a kiss, "Shush. Don't think ... thinking is too hard ..."
"Sirius," Remus tried to pull away, but Sirius pinned him down.
"Moony ... I don't want to accept all this ... because if I do ... it'll mean ... accepting that all this time I haven't really known all of you. And I can't stand that!"
Remus nodded, "I feel like that too ... I'm sorry Sirius ... I shouldn't have-"
Remus was silenced by another kiss.
"Don't think ... don't fear ... just feel my body against yours ..." Sirius whispered.
And everything would have gone fine ... had not Remus received a letter a few days later.
"There's an owl at the window," said Sirius absentmindedly as he cooked breakfast.
Remus stood up and walked over.
A black owl held out his leg stiffly, and when Remus had removed the small letter, flew off as fast as he could.
"How strange ..." frowned Remus.
The envelope was blank, but Remus decided to open it anyway.
He gasped in pain as something shot out at him the moment he tore the envelope open. It was a silver manacle, protruding from the envelope by a silver chain, that clamped around his wrist, burning it.
Remus clenched his teeth to not make any sound and tried to pull away, but was held in place by the thick chain. A sheet of parchment slid out of the envelope like a snake. Writing began appearing on the parchment in large green scrawls.
Join the right side. Join our side, Lupin. Don't make the same mistake as your father.
Then the words began coming together to form the Dark Mark. Remus' eyes widened. His wrist shook from the pain and blood dripped onto the table.
To make matters worse, from the parchment came a loud piercing howl ... a howl that had haunted Remus' dreams since he was seven years old ...
There was puff of green smoke and the envelope, the letter, and the manacle was gone.
Sirius was there in a second, "Dear god, what ... what ... your wrist! What happened ... what was that howl! Moony! Talk to me! Say something."
Remus kept staring at the spot where the parchment had lain just a few second ago. He shuddered as he remembered the howl and suddenly flung himself into Sirius' arms.
Sirius was taken aback, "What the bloody hell-!"
Nonetheless he hugged Remus back, "What was that? That howl? Why's your arm bleeding! Is there something you're not telling me, Remus!
Remus shook his head, "No ..."
'There's many things I'm not telling you ...'
Sirius looked down at Remus in his arms and bit his lip hard, 'Maybe ... maybe James is right ... maybe ... Remus is ...'
And after that ... nothing was the same.
Remus had tried calling James and Lily many times, James always answered.
"Hello?"
"Yes?"
"It's me, Remus. Hello James."
"Hey. So what's-"
"Is Sirius there? He's been acting really strange."
"He's not here, Remus. Sorry. Gotta go. Good-bye."
And before Remus could reply, James had hung up.
Remus felt silly for feeling lonely. After all he'd gone four years without having anyone to talk to but his mum and dad. But now they were gone as well.
Remus noticed a change in Sirius. He'd go out in the morning and come back late in the night, sometimes he wouldn't come back at all ... for days and days.
Sometimes Remus stayed up to wait for Sirius, and he'd fall asleep on the couch. In the morning, he'd find Sirius had slept in their bedroom. When he tried to wake him, Sirius would jump back and say he had to go out again.
Eventually, Remus gave up on trying to talk to Sirius. But he still thought of him ... feared for him ...
'I should have seen it coming ... after Regulus ... I mean, after all he is a Black ... it only makes sense ...'
Remus would have never thought Sirius would go over to the Dark side ... but that was the only explanation for his strange behavior ... so Remus believed ...
'He's the spy then ... I have to tell James.'
Remus shook his head, 'James would never believe me. Sirius was his best friend ... I can't ... tell them ... not yet ... '
And Remus had spent three lonely months, trying to build up the courage to tell Lily and James something but failing miserably.
And he was suspicious, but he dared not ask Sirius about it.
Until one day that Sirius was headed out, Remus took the plunge and asked him, "Sirius, where are you going?"
"Out."
Remus stood up, "But where? Where do you go so much?"
"I'll be back. See ya."
Remus followed, "What's going on! Dumbledore told me something about you using the Fidelius Charm. Is that it!"
Sirius nodded tensely, "Yeah ... I'm their Secret-Keeper."
With that the door slammed shut and the low rumble of Sirius motorcycle announced his departure.
It hurt Remus that he had to get information from Dumbledore. But, Dumbledore was in fact the only one who's attitude hadn't changed towards him. It was as if Dumbledore knew something they didn't ... but then again, Dumbledore always did.
So it came to his surprise that on October 31, at around 3:00 AM, there was a frantic knocking at his door.
He was startled out of his sleep. He rubbed his eyes and stood up from the couch.
He walked drowsily to the door, "Yes?"
"It's me, Moony! Hurry up!"
"Sirius!"
Remus unlocked the door and was about to pull it open, when Sirius spoke again, "Wait ... we have to do the question thing."
"Question thing! Why?"
"To double check! Hurry and ask ..."
Remus frowned, "Um ..."
Sirius sighed, impatiently, "What's your favorite type of candy?"
"Other than sugar quills, none. I like chocolate better."
"Good, now me."
"Um ... what was our Marauders promise?"
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," answered Sirius urgently.
Remus finally opened the door. The first thing Sirius did, was lock it and use Muffliato. Then he grabbed Remus' arm and pulled him to the couch.
He got on his knees and put his hands on Remus' shoulders, "I am so sorry ... I am a complete idiot, Moony. You should've seen it ... destroyed ... fire ... Dark Mark ... dammit! I was so stupid ..."
Remus frowned. Sirius seemed to be talking more to himself than to him.
"Sirius, what-?"
Sirius finally looked up and took Remus' hands into his own.
"Remus! Promise me ... swear to me ... you will not open your door to anyone! Until your hear of me, please, swear that you won't!"
Remus nodded, "Okay, okay ... but Sirius, please tell me what's going on!"
Sirius just kissed Remus' hands, kissed Remus on the lips and Disapparated. Remus felt dread in his stomach. He began pacing, pacing endlessly ... and waiting for Sirius to return.
"You son of a-!" Sirius yelled as he slammed Peter onto a wall.
"Sirius! Sirius, please ... I didn't mean to ... he was just ... I just ... it wasn't me!"
Peter's eyes darted around the alley, searching frantically for an escape route.
"How COULD you! How COULD YOU! We didn't even suspect you! You BASTARD!"
Peter's trembled, "It wasn't me! It was Remus! Yes ... he forced me to join as well! Please ... I would never ... and you know Remus is a werewolf-"
Sirius punched Peter on the nose, throwing him to the ground, "Don't you fucking dare-"
But Peter was already running away, out onto the street. With a growl, Sirius followed, wand out and not caring if any Muggles saw it.
"I'm going to kill you Peter, dammit!"
Peter ran out into the middle of the street, wand behind his back, and yelled, "HOW COULD YOU, SIRIUS! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY LILY AND JAMES LIKE THAT! YOU WERE THEIR BEST FRIEND! AND YOU SOLD THEM TO VOLDEMORT!"
Sirius' eyes widened and he raised his wand, pointing it at Peter, "You bastard! How DARE-"
But Peter just grinned at him and the next thing Sirius knew, there was blinding flash of light and suddenly he was standing in the middle of the blown-up street, wand raised, with twelve people dead in front of him.
It was so ridiculous, so clever and stupidly ridiculous, Sirius laughed. It was the only thing he could think to do. Laugh, and laugh, and laugh, because Peter wasn't as idiotic as they had thought for eleven whole years. He had deceived them ... all this time ...
Remus was startled out of his sleep for the second time that day. This time, it was sharp tap at the window. Remus sat up and stretched. He rubbed his eyes and walked to the window, yawning.
It was an owl, this time though, bearing the Daily Prophet.
Remus paid him five Knuts and threw the newspaper down on the coffee table. He went to make tea and returned with a cup, to sit on the couch.
He stayed there a long time, just staring at his tea. Finally, he decided to actually read the Prophet. Picking it up, he took a sip of tea.
A few seconds later, there was a 'crash' of china as the cup hit the wooden floor and shattered into a thousand little pieces. Tea seeped through the rug near the coffee table.
Remus stared at the newspaper in his trembling hands.
'Please ... god ... no ... please no ... '
Remus closed his eyes as the tears that welled up in them threatened to fall.
He stood up suddenly, throwing the newspaper to the tea-soaked floor and ran to the door, grabbing his coat and slamming the door shut.
The newspaper laid there, soggy, but still bearing the picture of a struggling man, yelling and holding a prison number: XY390.
The bold black headline read: Sirius Black Sent to Azkaban
A/N: This was a really short chapter ... oh well! Had to end it here because the next chappies are-
Ahem! I can't tell you why! This fic ain't over yet!Not by a long shot! Well ... not really long ... hmm ...
"thinks hard" I dunno ... I stil have to ... and I have to ... and then I have to write when they ...
"cough" Stop spying on me! I don't want to give anything away! I really wanna end this with a happy ending ...
"ahem" Please review!