A/N: Sorry this took so long. I have one small correction: In the last chapter, I said that the Ministry wasn't supposed to give out the identities of underage wizards. I meant to say underage werewolves. Anyway, thanks for all the reviews!

Chapter Seven

James frowned in confusion as he and Peter made their way to the Headmaster's office. A few minutes after he'd stormed out of the Great Hall that morning, he and Peter and been stopped on the way back to Gryffindor Tower by a House-elf. Apparently, the Headmaster wanted to have a word with them. James' first thought was that they were in trouble for the scene they'd made at earlier, but if that were the case, Professor McGonagall would have handled it by herself. There was no reason for Professor Dumbledore to get involved. Obviously, there was something going on that they didn't know about.

"I wonder why Dumbledore wants to see us," Peter said as they reached the corridor outside the Headmaster's office.

"I was just wondering about that," James said. "Maybe he's found something out about Sirius and Remus, and he's going to tell us about it."

"I hope so," Peter stated. They stopped talking when the reached the gargoyle blocking the entrance to Dumbledore's office. After speaking the password they'd been given by the house-elf, the two boys stepped onto the spiral staircase that wound its way upward towards the Headmaster's office.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, Mr. Pettigrew," Professor Dumbledore said seconds later, as the two boys stepped into his office. "Please, take a seat. Now, I'm sure the two of you are wondering why I asked to see you."

"Yes, sir," James said, as he and Peter sat down in two of the chairs across from the Headmaster's desk. "Is it about Sirius and Remus? Or are we in trouble for what happened at breakfast?"

The Headmaster allowed himself a small chuckle at James' bluntness. "Neither of you is in any trouble," Dumbledore replied. "In fact, I must say that I was quite proud of you boys this morning."

"I don't understand, sir," Peter said, looking confused. They'd made a scene at breakfast, and the Headmaster was proud of them?

"Professor McGonagall and I were impressed by your willingness to stand up for your friends, especially considering the fact that so many of your classmates have forsaken their friends with even less cause than the two of you have," Dumbledore said, his expression solemn. "It is becoming distressingly clear that our students, along with the rest of the wizarding word, need to learn that there is no such thing as 'guilt by association'. With any luck, your classmates will take your words this morning to heart. Perhaps they will come to understand that being related to or associated with someone who is believed to be involved in Dark activities means nothing."

James looked doubtful. "With all due respect, sir, I have a feeling that it's going to take a good bit more than what we said this morning to get everyone to see sense."

Dumbledore nodded sadly. He sighed before saying, "I fear you may be correct, Mr. Potter. However, there is a group of talented witches and wizards who are attempting to aid the Ministry in combating Lord Voldemort as well as the prejudice inherent in our society. You must know that I am telling you boys this in the strictest confidence. You must not discuss anything I am about to tell you outside of this room – not even amongst yourselves," Dumbledore said, peering intently at the two young Gryffindors.

James and Peter both nodded. "We understand, sir," Peter said. "We won't say a word about this to anyone."

"I expected no less of you," Dumbledore told them. "I founded this group, known amongst its members as the Order of the Phoenix, several years ago when it became clear that the Ministry had no intention of responding to the threat of Lord Voldemort. Recently, I have employed the Order members in attempting to locate Mr. Black and Mr. Lupin, as well as trying to find out exactly why your friends were taken."

"And?" James interrupted impatiently. "What have they found? Do they know where Remus and Sirius are?" He and Peter both leaned forward unconsciously, their expressions eager.

The Headmaster took a moment to adjust his half-moon glasses, before looking both teens in the eyes once more. "By tracing the magical trail left by the Death Eaters who Disapparated out of Hogsmeade a few days ago, we have been able to four different locations that they could have Apparated to. As we speak, my agents are attempting to ascertain whether or not they moved after they reached their initial destinations. I have high hopes that your friends will soon be found."

"So you don't think they've been killed?" Peter asked worriedly.

"No, I do not," Dumbledore said, shaking his head. "If Voldemort had wanted them dead, he would have had his Death Eaters kill them during the attack. It is my opinion that he staged the attack for the express purpose of bringing them to him. Sirius and Remus are both very talented wizards, and have the potential to become extremely powerful. They could grow to become very powerful allies – or incredibly dangerous enemies. It is also likely that Voldemort wants them for the very reasons that they have been experiencing prejudice."

James looked both angry and thoughtful. "You mean, he took them in order to try and recruit them? And he wants them because Remus is a werewolf, and Sirius a Black?"

"Precisely," Dumbledore said with a small nod.

"But they would never join Voldemort!" James exclaimed, jumping up out of his seat in his agitation. "That dirty monster killed Remus' family! If anything, Sirius and Remus would want to get revenge against him. The day my two best friends join the Death Eaters will be the day Hell freezes over."

"And that is why I can only hope that they are together in their captivity," the aged Headmaster said with a small sad sigh. "They will need each other's support if they are to resist Voldemort's powers."

Moments after being removed from their cell by the half-dozen Death Eaters, Remus and Sirius were being led down a narrow stone passageway that seemed to be going deep underground. It was lit at intervals by flickering torches, casting odd shadows along the walls, and making the already sloping path even more treacherous. Their hands had been magically bound, making it difficult for Sirius to keep his balance as they walked along the uneven floor. Sirius forced himself not to dwell on what might happen to them in the next few minutes, as he felt cold panic springing up inside him.

When he took a glance at Remus, Sirius saw that his friend looked incredibly pail (whether it was from rage or fear, he couldn't tell), and his eyes were still red from crying. He also noted that the werewolf's expression was pained, and he was struggling – and failing – to hide a limp. Remus' ankle had obviously gone untreated since the battle a few days ago, and his injury seemed to have gotten worse due to the treatment they'd received at the hands of the Death Eaters. The other boy's hazel eyes shone with some sort of inner light, as if Remus somehow knew that he could handle whatever was coming. And perhaps he could, Sirius realized. After all, the torture they'd been subjected to in the last three days probably wasn't any worse than the pain Remus dealt with every month during the full moon.

Sirius couldn't help flinching as he thought back to the conversation he and Remus had been having before the Death Eaters interrupted them. It had taken him a long time to accept how he felt about Remus, but he'd never planned on telling anyone that he was in love with another boy. Over the summer, Sirius had taken to writing letters like the one Kreachure (is that how you spell it? I can't remember.) had found as a sort of outlet for his feelings. Even James didn't know that his best friend was gay. It wasn't that he thought the others would shun him for being gay; Sirius was certain his friends would be able to accept his homosexuality – after all, they could accept Remus' lycanthropy, and that was at least dangerous. No, what Sirius had been worried about was how Remus would react to finding out that he was the reason Sirius knew he was gay. After all, not having a problem with one of your best friends being gay was very different from being able to deal with your gay best friend being in love with you.

He knew Remus would never hate him for his feelings. After all, both of them were hated enough because of things they couldn't help; they both needed all the friends they could get. However, Sirius was equally certain that Remus could never return his feelings, and that he had just seriously damaged their friendship with his revelation. That knowledge brought on a fresh wave of despair. They would stay friends, of course, but Sirius knew that he would never again be as close to Remus as he had been. Even though that closeness had driven Sirius to long for more, he knew it was more than he deserved.

Thoughts of ways that he could repair his and Remus' friendship fled from his mind as their group rounded a corner, and Sirius saw what was awaiting them.

A/N: Well, I hope everyone likes this one! Sorry it's not that long, but oh well. Anyway, I've decided to start acknowledging the reviews I get. At the moment, I'm just going to reply to the ones for chapter six, because I'm just to lazy to go back reread all the others.

lizbennett: My dear friend, I'm glad I made you cry. That might sound mean, but it means that I'm getting my point across. This is supposed to be an emotional story. And if I get my way, people will be crying a good bit more before this fic is over.

Ceyxa: I'm glad you like the way I've done this. I usually try to stay as true to the way I think the Marauders behaved as possible.

Mykah Leigh: I've read your story, and I think it's really good. Very dramatic. Thanks for reading mine.

Nina: Glad you like the slash.

marauding-siriusly: I completely agree about Peter. He's hardly my favorite character (that would be Remus), but I don't think the others would have been friends with him if he'd started out evil. I think something happened after Hogwarts that might have made him go over to Voldemort's side, and it really bothers me when people portray him as evil and mindless.

Okay, now I think you all know what to do next. Just click on the little button down there that says 'review', and tell me what you think. NO FLAMES.