Disclaimer: Ahem. I am not JK Rowling. Nothing here belongs to me, except the lamely names of Wodniw and Rood, which you might notice are just "window" and "door" spelled backwards... Also, if I were JK Rowling, I'd be stinkin' rich, richer than the queen, and I'd have no idea what to do with that much money. As it stands, I'm just Carly, and I just dabble in the art of FF.
A/N: This is the longest chapter yet (thought not as long as "Halloween" from my "Remembering" fic...), and I think it's the best I've written. But that's just me, give it a go and see what you think. And I would really appreciate if you guys would all review, 'cause I'd really like to know your thoughts on this chapter.
Remus appeared in the middle of a street thousands of miles from where he had left Tonks. He looked around, although the village had long since been deserted, it was where Remus had spent his childhood, and he would forever call it home.
In the dying daylight, Remus walked east, away from the setting sun. He still remembered where his old house was, but then, he doubted he'd ever forget, even if he lived a thousand lives over, he knew he wouldn't forget the location of the building where Greyback had attacked him.
He looked left and right for any form of civilization, but knew that no one lived in Wodniw because of the havoc Greyback and reeked on it's citizens, not only the Lupin's, but many of the other households in the village. Ever since that fateful night, the town had been pronounced cursed, and had long since been deserted.
Remus found that he couldn't stay away, though. This was because of all the children attacked in Wodniw by Greyback, he was the only one who survived, and when he felt as he did after his fight with Tonks, he liked to go to their graves and say he was sorry that they had died while he had lived, but was also glad because they had escaped the horrors though which he had lived.
Remus picked his way towards the cemetery. As he walked past they graying houses with unkempt front lawns and boarded up windows, he couldn't help but feel devastated at how hideous his beautiful childhood home had turned out, and that somehow, it must have been his fault.
He walked past house after decapitated house, feeling angry at the mere thought of Greyback, who had made him what he was, and who had become so much in touch with the werewolf within that he attacked the innocent now even when he was in human form.
What Remus didn't know about Greyback, however, was that he was sitting in wait in Remus' old house, waiting to serve Remus with the most important ultimatum in Remus' life.
Remus trotted on, now in total darkness, curing at himself for not having apparated closer, but deciding that he was close enough now to continue on with his walk.
Finally, at long last, he reached the cast-iron fence surrounding the graveyard. He walked on until he reached the gate, which, when he pushed it open, gave a loud screech that stung Remus' sensitive ears. He ignored it, however, and pressed on until he reached the enclosed area in the center of the cemetery where all of Greyback's victims were buried.
Remus sat among the chipped, moss covered headstones for a very long time, watching the moon rise, feeling increasingly angry at the thought that he'd be transforming in a few short nights, but even more angry at how he'd argued with Tonks.
As he sat, he began to think of ways to make up to Tonks, when suddenly he sat up very alert, sniffing at the air hastily.
He gave himself only enough time to realize that he indeed smelled what he thought he'd caught a whiff of before standing up and sprinting across the moonlight graveyard.
He hurried past headstones, each one a blur as he hurtled past and over them. He reached the street within seconds, and smelling the air, spun left on towards Rood St.
Once on Rood St,. he slowed down slightly, knowing instantly that the smell was coming from his childhood house. He pushed on and on, his lungs screaming in agony to have liked to died, and in one agile movement had jumped over the overgrown hedge running the circumference of the property.
Remus didn't have to search the house long before he realized that the smell was coming from the master bedroom. He walked the old hallway slowly, trying desperately to ignore his childhood memories that came sweeping over him, as well as the dread he felt over what he might find as a scene in his parent's old bedroom.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he reached the rotting door. He extended his hand to push it open, when it swung open of it's own accord, and a cold, raspy voice came from within the dark of the room.
"Ahh, yes, come in, we've been waiting for you, Remus."
Remus walking into the room, his wand held aloft. Once they had adjusted to the dark, his eyes darted about the room, frantically searching for the owner of the voice.
"Fenrir," he growled, "where are you?"
Fenrir Greyback moved silently from the shadows of the room, his traveling cloak falling from in masses from his shoulders. "Ahhh, I knew you'd remember me, Remus, and look, at this! This is where I attacked you, wasn't it?" Greyback smiled sickeningly.
Remus started hard and coldly at his Maker, "What do you want?"
"Ahhh, Remus, you are a werewolf. Use those enchanting powers of yours, the ones I passed along to you, to find out what I want." Silently he studied Remus, "Ahhh, but you won't, will you? You won't accept any powers that come from being a werewolf. Well, if that's the case, I'll tell you.
"You have something that I need, and the only way you'll give it to me is if I have something you need more. Which, I believe that I do."
With that, he pointed lazily to the door connecting the room to the master bath, and called out, "Severus, if you please…"
The name "Severus" brought forth an intense hatred towards Severus Snape that came not only from their past, but from the fact that he had, quite recently, shown his true colors (so to speak), deflecting back to the Dark Lord, killing Dumbledore in his wake.
Remus struggled over what to do, he could attack Snape and risk his own life, or, he could leave Snape be, which wasn't an option that he thought ensured his own safety either. At the very last second he lowered his wand, hoping against hope that whatever they needed was enough to keep him alive.
Fenrir laughed, "Remus, you worry too much. If you simply give us what we need, we can, and will, all leave here very much alive."
Just then, Snape entered, but much to Remus' surprise, he was not alone.
Just behind Snape, slightly hidden by the shadows cast off the furniture, was the levitating form of Tonks.
Remus froze, a growl caught in his throat. Snape merely looked at him, clearly amused at the scene, smiling a twisted smile.
"Well, Lupin, nice to see you again."
Before Remus could retort (as under other circumstances he'd have died to say "Funny, it's not nice to see you), Fenrir spoke.
"Enough of the pleasantries. I'm certain you two know each other. Now, Remus, have a seat, and we'll talk some business."
Remus, however, had no intention of sitting down to a conversation with Greyback. He did, however, have every intention of standing alert, waiting, waiting for what, he did not know, but waiting all the same.
"Ahhh, very well then," Fenrir said after several minutes of silence with Remus refusing the pro-offered seat, "however you like it, Remus.
"We'll just start, and I'll cut the crap. Remus, Nymphadora can leave here unharmed if you tell us where the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is located."
Remus almost gasped, but his intuition told him to keep as many of the cards in his favor as he could. He couldn't imagine how they knew he was the Secret Keeper.
Of course, Snape would no longer know the location, meaning he would know a new Secret Keeper had been chosen, but that didn't explain how they knew it was him, and he doubted they would go this far out of their way on nothing but a mere guess.
As Remus' thoughts raced through his mind, Snape laughed, "Remus, Remus," he muttered, "you've forgotten I know everything that goes on in that silly head of yours. Aside from that, I've been watching Headquarters all week with Fenrir. I knew you'd been chosen as Secret Keeper by that little speech you gave about pride and glory.
"We expected it would be hard to get it from you, but then, you just left your charming girlfriend. She was quite easy to capture, as distraught as she was, don't you know?" Snape smirked, as thought it took a genius to capture a distraught woman.
"So, how'd you find me then?"
"Ahhh, that's where I come in, you see. I Turned you, Remus, normally companionship would have followed, but you understand it was strictly for revenge that I attacked you. All the same, the Bond was there, and with it, I could easily locate you."
Remus' eyes glowed yellow.
"Ahhh, yes, Remus, there werewolf in you shows when you're angry. You would make a brilliant werewolf if you would only embrace that." Fenrir teased, watching for Remus' reactions with an almost perverse pleasure.
Remus wouldn't be swayed. "But you couldn't have known that I was going to be picked as Secret Keeper, so why use Greyback at all?"
Snape laughed, "It's ironic and useful if we need to find and persuade you, but we weren't sure who would become Secret Keeper, and thought that no matter who it was, the threat of a werewolf attack on those who they loved would be enough for them to break their silence." Snape sneered, "It's a brilliant plan, isn't it Remus?"
Remus shrugged, his eyes still on Tonks, "I guess."
Snape smiled with pride.
Fenrir, thought looking quite bored by the small talk, took a step towards Tonks, muttering something about "think I'm useless," and "last minute plans" with an angry edge.
"Now, Remus," Greyback muttered as he walked closer to Tonks and smelled her hair, "why don't we get a move on? We have other places to be."
The hair on the back of Remus' neck stood on end, his eyes glowing manically yellow as Greyback brushed his hand along Tonks' neck. "Leave her alone!" He growled.
"Ahhh, yes, just tell us what we need to know."
"I won't."
Fenrir stepped back, "Severus will have a go at it, then."
Snape walked up to Tonks and pulled out his wand. "Do you happen to the order the Dark Lord likes to follow?" He asked Remus, as Fenrir watched on sneering towards Snape.
"Why would I?" Remus spat back.
Snape merely smiled, "Well, it's simple really. It' s three easy steps; pain, control and death. We follow that order when trying to get what we want. Do you understand?"
Remus made to move between Snape and Tonks, but Snape raised his wand and Remus froze in place. "I don't need you to interfere, but if you want to protect her, then you can just tell use where Headquarters is."
But, as Remus could neither move or talk, he was forced to watch as Snape performed the Unforgivable Curse, Cruciatus on Tonks. He roared with anger inside, but couldn't offer her any help. Her only saving grace, he mused somewhat calmly, was that she was unconscious.
That was when he realized that she wasn't unconscious, but was wide-awake and suffering every moment of the curse.
Remus raised his eyes in comfort to hers only to find the whites of her eyes, her eyes having rolled back into her head in pain. His look of comfort went forever unknown to the woman he loved.
When he was finished, Snape looked pleased, and Fenrir, though still looking like he had something against Snape, smiled, "You'd make a good werewolf as well, Severus."
Then he turned to Remus. "Let him talk at least, Severus."
With a lazy flick of Snape's wand, Remus could himself regain control of his mouth.
"Now, Remus, do you wish the torture on her to continue?"
"No," Remus panted, seeing Tonks' eyes rolling back down into place.
"Then tell us where to find the Order." Fenrir commanded.
"I can't," Remus strained, "and even if I could, what good will it do you? You won't be able to tell Voldemort where to find it!"
Snape laughed, "He doesn't want to know, he's got bugger things to worry about. He's got his reasons for only wanting us to know where Headquarters is. Now, kindly tell us where to find it."
Remus knew full well that if he didn't answer Snape would perform the second Unforgivable Cure on Tonks, the Imperius curse. He also knew that not telling was his life-or-death task.
When Snape had finally gotten enough pleasure out of making Tonks do all sorts of horrid things to herself and Remus both, Fenrir raised his eyebrows, "Tell us, Remus, or Severus won't hold back in killing her."
Remus' eyes found Tonks', and although they were wet with tears they simply said, "Don't tell them, Remus. Don't tell them."
"Alright, I'll do as you wish." Remus said at long last.
"Ahhh, excellent." Greyback hissed in his raspy voice.
"Fenrir, you've done your part, stay out of this," Snape snapped, before turning a glowing face to Remus, "Where's the Headquarters, Remus?"
Then, Lupin looked at Snape and strongly said, "I'm sorry, Tonks, but I can't help you."
Snape understood instantly that Remus was still not going to answer. He raised his wand.
Remus spoke once more, "I know he'll kill her, but at least if he does, you won't be able to Turn her."
"You think being a werewolf is worse than death?"
Snape interjected, finally tired of Greyback's childish attitude, "WHERE, REMUS?" He screamed, so that both Fenrir and Remus flinched.
Remus gave no answer, knowing that Tonks was about to die, but also knowing that he was doing his duty by letting her die. An immense internal struggle raged within him, the opposing forces those of duty and love.
While Remus battled with himself, Snape raised his wand slowing, making it obvious that this was going to be quick, but he'd get sadistic pleasure from it. "Ah," he started out, hate burning in his eyes, ("vah,"), sickeningly slow he uttered each syllable, ("dah,"), until finally he reached "Dav," and then…
"NUMBER TWELVE, GRUMMAULD PLACE!"
Snape lowered his wand, his face a grotesque mask of anger and joy. "Well done, Remus, very well done." He then turned to Greyback, "I'm going on ahead, I'll meet you there."
As Snape disapparated from the room, Tonks and Remus both collapsed into heaps on the floor. Remus pulled himself up, over to Tonks' still form, praying that she was alright, but also that Minerva has not returned to Headquarters after her meeting.
Fenrir smiled a yellow, decaying smile. "Ahhh, like I said, Remus, give in to the werewolf within. Life is much better when you needn't worry about such things as who to save and why."
Remus growled, too worried and tired to do anything else.
"And, as I promised, we're all leaving here unharmed."
"Does he look unharmed to you?"
"She's not dead is she? She's not bleeding or maimed is she? She's not a werewolf, is she?"
Remus shook his head.
"Ahhh, my point exactly. Now, get up and go."
Remus struggled to pull himself up, and once he was upright he saw Greyback pulling Tonks up."
"Thank you. Now give her here."
"Why would I do that?" Greyback asked innocently.
"Because you promised!"
"I did no such thing. I promised we would all leave here alive, and that we will. I never once said who she'd be leaving with."
Remus rushed forwards to grab Tonks from Greyback, but just as he reached them, the floor gave way beneath his feet, and he went crashing down to the next story, landing in an awkward pile on the dinning room table below.
Greyback looked down the hole to Remus, "Ahhh, that was very heroic of you, Remus. I'll be sure to tell her about it once she wakes up, but now we – Tonks and myself – really must be going.
Remus tried to rise as Greyback's head disappeared but found the pain unbearable. He looked down to see why, and discovered that he had landed on a dusty, silver cutlery set, and that several pieces had driven into his skin.
The image of his own body lying flayed in a pool of his own blood, with silver utensils eating away at his skin was the last that Remus ever saw.