Eheheh… Wyrm hates writing dialogue. But…. Apparently people have to, you know, -talk- to each other sometimes. So, here's the next lovely chapter!
Thanks to my reviewers! You lovelies are the reason I keep writing!
Sunny Moonlight: I wouldn't be that evil to Remus. I lurve him. And don't worry, Sirius will be out of there soon!
Becky Silver Black: Is this soon enough? I would've been faster, but writing dialogue slows me down. I should make all my characters mute. It would solve so many problems.
Reyna the Fantabulous: Like BUNNIES! Bunnies, I say!
And… erm… nothing here belongs to me, except Rory, Romulus, Raul, and Talbot. Which I suppose means over half the characters belong to me. Ah, well. However, if anyone wants Talbot, he's free to a bad home.
Healed, showered, and bandaged, Remus pulled on an old sweater against the chill. He needed to fix the furnace, but that cost more money than he had at the moment. Easier to just bundle up until Friday, when his paycheck came. Not that it was much of a paycheck, but better than nothing. Shivering slightly, the werewolf went into the kitchen to make a pot of tea.
The teapot had just started to whistle when the fire turned green. Shocked, he automatically reached for his wand, pausing when he recognized the head of chocolate brown hair. The wand was forgotten completely when the bruised face came into view. "Rory! What happened to you?"
"You were right about Talbot." The pregnant woman smiled painfully as she was helped out of the fireplace, then handed one sleeping boy to her friend. Remus cradled his godson close, then helped Rory to the couch, shocked at her bedraggled appearance.
"Talbot… your husband… did this?" At her nod, Remus growled. Rory might claim to be an only child, but the marauders had decided their first year that she needed brothers to protect her, and immediately nominated themselves to the position. Even eight years out of school, the werewolf found himself more than willing to come to her defense.
"He's not my husband for much longer…" Her flat unhappy voice chilled was more chilling than the black eye. Rory's voice was usually bubbling with laughter. She always gave the impression that the world was a grand cosmic joke, and if asked nicely, she might be willing to share the punchline. Dark eyes closed and she pulled Raul and Romulus protectively close to her before continuing.
"Three years of various confounding and obliviating charms. He had to reset them every week, and they got stronger over time. But he went off on a bender, lost track of time. The healer at St. Mungo's said that was enough to weaken the spells. When he hit me, somehow they just… shattered. There are still bits and pieces—It hurts to even think that he hit me, for example—but they'll fade soon." Rory's eyes opened and looked straight into Remus's. "I'm sorry I haven't been here for you lately. I somehow kept… forgetting. I wouldn't have come here except… I'm so tired, and I don't have anywhere else to go."
"I told you, you're welcome in my home anytime. For as long as you need to be here. Aren't you my favorite not-sister in the world?" The school nickname brought back memories of happier times, and they both smiled. Strained exhausted smiles, but still smiles. Remus felt his spirits lifting for the first time in months, and wondered if being alone had tormented him that much. The little mental voice decided to provide a different answer. It's because she reminds you of Sirius. Easy laughter, always smiling and making trouble, and then of course they look alike. You looked into her eyes and forgot they weren't Padfoot's eyes, didn't you?
The tawny-haired man hated that little voice. Hated it all the more because it was always right. The oldest pureblood families did have a stamp of similarity on their features, and the Greys and Blacks had intermarried more times than was strictly healthy, leaving members of both families looking more like siblings than cousins. But Remus couldn't deny that it made him happy to see Rory smile, so he poured them both tea and settled in for a long talk. It had, after all, been a long time since he'd felt happy.
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Harry was exhausted by noon. He'd only had a single piece of bacon at breakfast, and a burnt piece of toast that even Dudley wouldn't eat. Then he'd had to do the dishes, weed the garden, and clean Dudley's rooms. He wasn't complaining, though. This was no more than he did every weekend, and this time he had the image of the zoo to hold in the front of his mind while he worked.
The very last task was done just before dinner. Aunt Petunia looked over his work and finally sniffed, saying she supposed it would have to do. Harry was so happy he barely noticed Dudley stealing the roll off his plate. The skinny black-haired boy would sleep well that night, despite the spiders that tickled his neck.
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Remus added another log to the fire, wiping a blob of mashed carrots off his sleeve with a chuckle. The twins had been enthusiastic about their dinner. So enthusiastic that little of the food had made it to their mouths. The soft humming of a lullaby in one of the guest rooms had almost lulled him to sleep when Rory slipped silently back into the living room. He grinned at her. "Finally got them to sleep, I see."
"Mhm. Had to explain to them that we're visiting 'Uncle Remus' for awhile. They're delighted, by the way. Apparently they've taken a fancy to you." She lowered herself onto an overstuffed armchair by the fire, relaxing into its embrace reluctantly. "You do realize you're going to have to help me get out of this chair, don't you? And it might take a crowbar to do the deed, cow that I am."
"Cow? You're the most fit pregnant woman I've ever seen. Especially as far along as you are…" Remus dropped gracefully into a chair opposite her, trying to calculate how many months along his friend was.
"Far along? Not even seven months yet. I'm just huge because it's twins again." The brunette patted her abdomen, a small worry line forming between her brows. "They will never know a father…"
"Bollocks." Having gotten her shocked attention by his uncharacteristic profanity, Remus continued. "I said you're welcome to stay here for as long as you need. Even if you need to stay permanently. Raul and Romulus are my godsons, aren't they? I'll be their father. You're my best friend, Rory. The only real friend I have left since… Since Voldemort was killed." He found his lips twitching into a smile. "You might have to help cover the grocery bill, though. You eat like a sumo wrestler when you're not pregnant. I shudder to think about how much food you put away now. I'm absolutely certain my paycheck can't cover it."
Remus easily ducked the first cushion that came flying at him. Unfortunately, Rory knew him well. Her second throw had started before he even began to duck, and hit him square in the face. The ensuing pillow fight meant the twins had to be sung back to sleep, but neither adult minded. It was good to laugh again.
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In his cell, wearied by the constant attentions of his guards, a black dog curled up and slept.
Huzzah, another chapter finished! In the next chapter, Moony goes to work, Harry gets attacked, Rory reads a diary, and Padfoot gets visitors. More dialogue, so it might be a couple of days.