Do I really need to say this again? J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. If you recognise anything from any movie, TV show, book or whatever else, it's probably because it is from them. If you want my 'full' warning, you can check out either 'Dormant Power' or 'Beginning of the End'.

If you've read both those fics, then you know how my version of it ends…but how did it begin? Again, only some names are mine, everything else is not! I've based this from the Marauders perspective so…well you'll know the story when something happens to a certain someone, even though I don't write about it in this one! Also check out 'The Apprentice', it has some info you won't find in my other two stories (wink, wink!).

If you know Order of the Phoenix quite well, you should 'get' this chapter. I'll even help you out; Sirius mentions it…or should I say 'yells' it. He also says it in Prisoner now that I think about it…sort of.

So, why aren't Severus' father, Regulus and Severus himself all sitting in a cosy little cell in Azkaban? Trent only overheard them talking about it, he doesn't have enough evidence to convict them (Severus and Regulus would not have known that Remus was to be targeted, and Severus' Dad may have only organised it, not carried it out). Hope that helps out with any queries about that little bit.

I did mention in BotE that Severus owed Remus…this was why. He didn't intend for Remus' parents to be killed, but of course he'd never actually tell him that considering the whole Gryffindor – Slytherin rivalry. He did send Remus a letter like Harry's though…any guesses to its contents (and no, I do not intend to write it. That story was about Harry, not Remus)?

Chapter 17 – Is It Worth It?

"You ready, Sirius?" Trent asked as he spotted Sirius at the castle doors waiting for him.

The young wizard nodded, "I guess so. I…I mean we…we're only patrolling, right?"

Trent smirked, "of course. Let's go."

Sirius didn't think he liked the look Trent had on his face, but decided to ignore it as Trent pushed open the front doors and stepped outside. Again Trent headed to the Quidditch pitch, but this time, he detoured into one of the changing rooms. After locking the door and putting up a silencing charm, he turned and faced the young wizard.

"Did you tell anyone what really happened?"

Sirius was about to say that he hadn't, and that Remus had figured it out, but the look in Trent's eyes told him that he should probably just say yes. He nodded instead.

"I thought so. But I'll guess that you didn't need to tell them, and that they probably interrogated you or something. I assume you'd like to know how I recognised you, correct?"

Sirius nodded again.

"Not your normal talkative self I see. Wise move, Sirius."

Trent then thought about how he wanted to word this. He didn't want to tell Sirius that he knew about the three of them being animagi, and Remus a werewolf...yet. He had to come up with something believable too, or else Sirius would be suspicious.

"I overheard something right at the end of the conversation between Remus and Severus last week. It was after Severus had left. James said the word 'Padfoot', after Remus had asked whether or not he should ask you to be his second. Now, I was a little surprised by this, because I couldn't see how you could have that as a nickname.

"But when I saw you last week, it all fell into place. You're named after the Dog Star, and your friends must have named you that in honour of it. Since dogs are not native to the forest, I guessed that what I came across was you in animagus form. Knowing that the four of you are such good friends, I don't know how you managed to keep this secret from them, but I certainly won't be the one who tells them."

Sirius released a breath. Trent didn't know about the others, he thought that only he, Sirius, was an animagus. He decided to let Trent believe that since he didn't want to betray his friends' trust, like he had done twice now with Remus.

Sirius turned his attention back to Trent who asked, "now, perhaps you'd care to explain exactly how much you overheard last week."

Sirius hung his head in shame. Trent used this opportunity to cast a secrecy charm over both himself and the young wizard, without Sirius knowing.

"Everything. Even the bit about the message in Remus' bedroom."

"Good, you are honest."

Sirius looked at him in confusion before Trent continued, "Remus came to me yesterday and told me what happened."

"Oh" he replied, before staring at the ground.

"Yes, and you somehow managed to go a whole week without maiming your brother. I'm quite impressed, Sirius" Trent replied, a light chuckle escaping his lips.

"I could say the same about Remus doing that to me. But it wasn't easy, believe me. I just can't believe my own brother would do that!"

"And Remus couldn't believe you'd listen in on a private conversation, either. I doubt Regulus could believe that you'd want to attempt to kill Severus too. We all make mistakes, Sirius."

Sirius snapped his head up, his eyes flashing with anger. "Regulus knew exactly what he was doing! He knew Remus would be targeted because of…it! Don't tell me it was a mistake!"

"Why weren't you targeted also then? Apparently, Remus wasn't sure if he was part of whatever plot you did" Trent countered.

"I…I don't know" he said, realising he had almost let slip about Remus' lycanthropy.

"It's all right, Sirius. I believe I can guess what happened. You told Severus where Remus goes every month, didn't you."

Sirius jerked his head up again, "WHAT! How…how do you…"

"I am aware of what Remus is, Sirius. Even if I wasn't already, I certainly would have been after last week."

"How?"

"Did you forget that I was present with your Boggarts? I saw what Remus' greatest fear was. And after last week, when he didn't want to go near the dead wolves? Not because of shock, but because they were coated in silver ink. Plus the fact that the four of you always escape the castle every full moon. Did you not think that as an Auror, I would notice these things?"

"I…we…no, we didn't. You won't tell anyone…will you?" he stammered.

Trent snorted, "which bit? The fact that you run around the grounds all night without permission, or the fact the three of you are unregistered animagi?"

Sirius' eyes widened, but Trent merely smiled before answering.

"You don't have to worry. I can't tell anyone without your permission."

"What do you mean? Why would you need my permission?"

"Because I have cast a secrecy charm over the two of us. Everything we've been saying will only stay between us two. You won't be able to tell your friends, and I can't inform anyone about you four either."

Trent knew the last bit was a lie, he could tell anyone about them, as Sirius himself hadn't told him. But he wanted to reassure Sirius that anything they discussed tonight would be kept between the two of them. But he had promised them to keep their secret…even if they couldn't remember it as Trent had erased their memories of that night.

Sirius nodded, then asked a question they all had from that night. "How did you know that the werewolves were there?"

"I sensed their presence."

"How? Remus said he didn't pick anything up, and his senses are heighte…um, you're not a werewolf…are you?" Sirius asked, quite nervously. The thought that a fully grown werewolf could have better senses than a teenage one, only just occurred to him.

Trent just laughed, "Merlin, no! I can sense people's magical signature, something which also extends to magical creatures. I can also identify those who I know. That was another reason how I recognised you last week."

"Can you teach me how to do that?"

"No, it would take too long. You've only got a few months before you graduate. If you get accepted into the Auror training though…I might consider it."

Trent gave Sirius a grin, which the young man returned.

"What kind of training does it involve?"

"Well, you already know what subjects you have to be skilled in. The training itself depends on what type of Auror you want to be."

"What types are there? I thought all of you would go out and fight."

"Not all conflicts are solved by brute strength, Sirius. Aurors have to also be able to peacefully solve situations, and some can do that better than others. Most of us fight, yes, but you also need people to train the younger Aurors."

"So you basically take on an apprentice then?"

Trent shook his head, "no, I mean you've got people whose job it is to teach, exactly like a Professor."

Sirius stood in silence before asking "do you think we'll win?"

"What, the war?"

Sirius nodded, and Trent had a grim smile on his face.

"No one wins a war, Sirius. You can only count the losses, for both sides. But, if you mean whether Voldemort himself will be defeated, then yes I know he will be."

"How could you possibly know?"

"Light must always triumph over darkness, for how can it end any other way?"

Sirius admitted Trent made a valid point before asking "have you fought him, one on one?"

Trent chuckled, "no, and I hope I don't."

"Why not? You're fantastic at fighting. You said so when you were talking with Remus. That you guys were the only country to drive him away."

"Which was made easier by the fact that Voldemort himself wasn't there. He thought we were weak so we were one of the first overseas communities he attacked. I also told Remus that we joined forces with the muggles. We outnumbered them by quite some margin."

"But you said you can sense people right? So can't you sense V…Vol…Voldemort?"

"Oh yes, I can sense him all right."

"Then why don't you just…"

"What, Sirius. You want me to just go after him, do you? In case you haven't noticed, he is quite powerful. We have to organise our defences" Trent snapped.

Sirius snorted. "What defences? You aren't doing anything! You're just standing around here waiting for him to strike! Why can't you go out and get them for a change!"

Trent glared at the young wizard in front of him. Again his features took on those that Remus found to be rather intimidating last week. "It's not that simple, Sirius. For starters, we don't know where he will next strike, so how can we get them if we don't know where they are?"

"You said you can sense Voldem…"

"So what? I'm in no position to go after him. My orders are to stay here and protect the school. I'm not finding it easy watching all those owls coming in every week either, Sirius."

A silence followed Trent's response before Sirius next spoke.

"Would you go after him, though? If you could, I mean."

"No, it would be a waste of time."

"How can you say that! What if you can kill him? How would that be…"

"I highly doubt any single person could penetrate all his defences and then defeat him. My death would be in vain, Sirius. In time you will realise that there are some things worth fighting for…worth dying for. Others are not."

"Like what?"

Trent sighed. "You wouldn't understand."

"Don't give me that rubbish! Tell me and find out!" he demanded.

"Very well. Imagine this scenario; you are happily married, and come home one night to find your wife murdered by Death Eaters. What would you do?"

"Hunt them down and kill them" Sirius replied instantly.

"And if you found out it was Voldemort who did it personally?"

"Same thing."

"Even knowing that Dumbledore himself has been unable to defeat him, you would still pursue that course of action?"

"I wo…I…don't know" he hesitantly answered.

"Exactly my point. Since you overheard the talk I had with Remus, then you'd know about my fiancé, correct?"

Sirius nodded.

"Well then, just before my self imposed three month exile, I did hunt down those responsible, and I did kill them. It didn't make me feel any better though. Anger and hate can only take you so far, Sirius. Once it stops, you have to face the consequences."

"Which are?"

"The fact that no matter what I did, she wasn't coming back."

Sirius pondered that information and a silence came between them before the young wizard asked,

"So what is worth dying for then?"

"To protect something, or someone" Trent answered.

Sirius rolled his eyes and made to reply, but Trent stopped him. "Would you die for your friends?"

He nodded.

"Then you should understand, Sirius. Friendship is something worth dying for. So is love."

He could only nod dumbly as he tried to make sense of everything the Auror told him.

Another silence followed, broken when Trent sighed.

"Do you know what it feels like, to feel evil?"

Sirius shook his head, so Trent continued "let me tell you then. It's when you can feel the hairs on the back of your neck prickle for no apparent reason. It's when the very air you breathe feels like poison. You can feel it in your bones. A coldness, the dread, knowing all you can do is watch and wait. It isn't pleasant, Sirius. I can feel the hatred and anger Voldemort has, his aura reeks of it. He is evil, plain and simple. I have never felt anything like it before."

Another silence followed before Sirius remembered something Remus had told them several months ago, after Trent had taught their Charms class more about the Patronus charm.

"We reckon we can sense yours too."

Trent looked taken aback. "Wh…what?"

Sirius nodded, "Remus told us that for some reason he just felt safe around you. As if no harm could come to those when you're around."

"I feel the same way around your Headmaster" Trent replied with a slight smile on his face.

He then continued, "well, if you want my opinion, I'd say you just know the difference between being around evil and being around good. Although I'd hardly put myself in that category."

"Why not? You're an Auror for Merlin's sake! You are good!"

Trent gave Sirius a wry smile before responding "perhaps, but as an Auror we are allowed to use the Unforgivables, something I have no problem with whatsoever. I used them willingly on those werewolves last week. That's hardly what you'd call Light wizard material."

Sirius was about to argue, but found he didn't really have anything to say. After an awkward pause, Trent then decided it was time to leave.

"Now, what do you say we get of here and start this patrol? You'll have to tell me which shops are the best to visit in Hogsmeade. It'll be the first time since being here that I'll be part of the team that's going with you next weekend."

Sirius nodded, and after Trent had removed the charms from the room, they exited. During the patrol, Sirius did his best to stay out of Trent's way, in case anything like last week happened, but also informed him of which shops he might like, with Zonko's being mentioned numerous times.