Disclaimer: I own nothing. Harry Potter and all that jazz (not the song) belong to JK Rowling.
Author's Note: Okay, HBP Spoilers! Nothing major, nothing that would ruin anything for you really, but still there are spoilers! I said I would tell you and I'm telling you! Lolz…any way, review replies are down the bottom, if you're interested.
oOoOoOoOo
"Knotgrass, Lacewing flies, Leeches," Pettigrew checked each one off on his stubby fingers. "Skin of boomslang. Brilliant, all I need is Horn of bicorn and Fluxweed. And of course a sample of hair."
Pettigrew looked down at his list again and then glanced at his ingredients, absentmindedly ticking them off once more. He sighed. The store had been aplenty with everything he needed, except for the Horn and of course the Fluxweed, but he hadn't expected that. He had to pick this particular ingredient at a full moon, not something he was keen on doing. He wasn't fond of dancing around in the middle of a field looking for Fluxweed on a full moon. He gave another sigh as he pondered another event to a store in hopes of acquiring a cauldron. He didn't much fancy the idea of sitting in this rat filled sewer, stirring the Lacewing flies for twenty-one days prior to his preferred date of his, uh, interrogation.
"I would never have thought I was witty enough to even contemplate stewing this," Pettigrew muttered to himself, taking it all in. "Polyjuice Potion," he muttered, disbelieving. "I must be daft."
oOoOoOo
Wednesday had arrived far too early for Remus' liking. It seemed to him, sitting in his lonesome cell, listening to the anguished screams of other prisoners around him, that the coming afternoon's trial would be a tiring and an inevitable foreboding one. It was with a heavy heart that Remus reported to the Ministry on that Wednesday evening. He had heard Sirius yell at the guards as he made his way to the Azkaban cells. As a trained and professional Auror, Sirius was very persuasive, but this time his persuasive techniques just didn't cut it. Remus was taken away to Azkaban that night to await his trial and as he sat there, in the dank cell, reliving all his worst memories, he bitterly imagined the many ways in which the Ministry might decide to execute him.
As a Dementor passed his cell, Lupin gave an involuntary shudder and memories of childhood trauma swirled around in his mind. He felt the wolf inside him stir horribly. It wanted out of this torturous place. It wanted freedom. Remus took in a deep steadying breath, trying to calm the beast. But it worried him to no ends that he might lose control. Whether it be now, at the trial…at his execution. But then another thought plagued his mind. What if what Sirius said was true? What if he had lost control of Moony that day? He wouldn't have known it. Maybe he imagined going to work that day? It was possible and it was the only explanation of his fur being found in the Ministry. But if his fur had been found, then that would mean that he would show signs of scratches or marks on his body and the wizard healer had found nothing on his body when they performed a physical on him just hours before.
"Sirius, what's wrong?" his own voice echoed in his head. He knew this memory. He wanted nothing to do with it. But the voices continued, mercilessly taking enjoyment, it seemed, in Remus' apparent suffering.
"It's happened," Sirius panted, signs of tears trailing down his face.
"What?" Remus asked, feeling the wolf's contentment within him. Remus didn't need to ask. The wolf provided the answer. The war had ended, but why was Sirius so upset?
Sirius sank to his knees, his shoulders bobbing up and down as he buried his face in his hands.
"Stop it," Remus mumbled, covering his ears with his hands and rocking backwards and forwards on the balls of his feet. "Stop it."
But the voices didn't stop and now accompanying them were the images that Remus could only have imagined, but now seemed like reality once more.
"I'm so sorry Remus," Sirius choked, his sobs getting louder so that it was becoming increasingly hard for Remus to distinguish what were actual words from uncontrolled sobs.
Remus felt awkward. Should he comfort the man who had accused him and was coming back to Remus' own home for comfort? It seemed a bit too forgiving for Remus' taste.
"What has happened, Sirius?" Remus asked in a tired voice. "You've found out that I'm not guilty?"
Sirius looked up from his position on the floor. His handsome features were twisted horribly in a pained expression.
"You were never guilty," he said, his voice suddenly dead and hollow, but still more tears splashed down his cheeks. "I was wrong. I have never been more wrong. Peter…Merlin…I…"
It was then that Sirius completely broke down and Remus felt himself shatter. Had something happened to Peter? Is this why Sirius was so upset?
"What's happened to Peter?" Remus cried, flinging himself down on the floor opposite Sirius, desperate for information on the wellbeing of their friend. "He's alright, isn't he? Please, Sirius, tell me."
As quickly as they came, Sirius' sobbing stopped. He looked up once more, tears still spilling down his face and looked Remus in the eye, cold fury evident in his own greys.
"Peter…the scum of the earth…the rat, is fine," Sirius whispered. Not a scared whisper, or a sad one, not even in an angry whisper. It was a disbelieving whisper. "He was the one. He was the rat…the spy."
Remus felt his breath stop short. No, he cried. This is not right. But as he probed Sirius' eyes for a fib, for a prank, he realised the truth. Remus stood up abruptly. He stalked his living room like a lion, hunting his prey.
"No," he breathed, trying to find an excuse for Sirius' statement. But he knew there was none. Sirius wouldn't joke about this. Peter had been acting quite suspicious for a while. He even remembered him complaining one night about how his left arm hurt. He would always leave them with no apparent destination and always return with a smug look on his face.
"No," Remus muttered again as he paced the living room, aware that Sirius' eyes were following him closely. Remus noticed a nice looking vase propped up on his coffee table. In one stride he was level with the coffee table and with one grab; the vase was clutched in his hands. He spun around on his heel and thrust the vase at the opposite wall. It broke when it made contact and its shattered pieces lay on the ground. Remus stared at it for a second before drawing his wand and pointing it squarely at Sirius' face.
"You lie, Black," he sneered. "Peter wouldn't do that. Peter is too loyal. Peter is too-"
"Stupid?" Sirius supplied, giving a smirk even though the tears continued heartlessly. "Yes, that's what I thought too."
"But…but I don't understand…" Remus stuttered, still clutching his wand fiercely.
"Don't you, Remus?" Sirius laughed, in what Remus considered to be a cruel and rather unnatural laugh. "He has played us all for fools…that Peter. Right under our noses."
Remus let out a ferocious growl that was quite unlike him. "If what you're saying is true, why not go to Dumbledore? Inform the Order. Tell Lily and James."
A few more tears leaked down Sirius' face as he looked up at the ceiling as though a heavenly being would appear there.
"There is no Lily and James," Sirius spat. "Did you hear me, Remus?" Sirius started to stand, but was forced back down when Remus let off red sparks from his wand.
"What?" Remus whispered. "James…?"
Sirius gave off another laugh. "Merlin, how gullible I've been," he closed his eyes, the tears came to a halt. "Why did I give my position as Secret Keeper to Peter? Why didn't I tell you? Why did I feed the enemy all of our secrets? I'll tell you why! BECAUSE I'M A BLOODY MONGREL!"
Remus stood, with his wand pointing at Sirius, feeling his heart pound rather hard and now feared the condition of his rib cage.
Sirius now stood up, not taking notice of the wand that was still aiming his way. He took the few strides that separated the two men and glared at Remus.
"James said once that he will never be complete without Lily at his side," Sirius spat, his sore, red eyes clearly giving off his anger. "There is no Lily and James because there's no Lily."
Remus felt his heart stop and his breathing become shallow. His hands felt numb and his dropped his wand. There was an ominous clutter as it hit the wooden floorboards. Remus took a step back, staring at a threatening Sirius fearfully.
"No," Remus whispered. "Lily…Merlin…I…James…"
Remus didn't quite know what was happening. He felt himself reach a solid barrier as he took another step back and he slid down it without a second thought, his eyes still focused on Sirius, who had now started to shake, either with fear or anger.
"Harry and James are fine," Sirius choked, watching as Remus, himself, started to sob. "We need to compose ourselves if we want to be there for them."
"Stop it," Remus muttered, and as though the cruel being who had caused all these unwanted memories to resurface had heard him, the visions stopped and Remus was left in his cell, rocking on his feet. "I…Merlin…I'm sorry Lily…I'm so sorry."
Crying had never exactly been a past time for Remus, he hated the very thought of a man crying, but he couldn't help it. So much pain in such a short time. Truth be told, he would welcome his execution with open arms at the moment.
Feeling the wolf inside him surge fiercely, he screamed. He screamed till his throat was hoarse and he couldn't quite distinguish between his emotional pain and his physical pain. It was until the moment when he had finished his let out of emotional anguish did he hear a loud rapping on his cell door and a harsh voice floating through.
"Quiet in there, wolf."
oOoOoOoOo
James crossed his bedroom in three long strides to his wardrobe. He flung open the door and glanced inside, his irritation becoming evident with every passing minute he spent looking at every single article of clothing he possessed.
"Damn it, Arabella, where did you put my good robes?" he muttered angrily under his breath. He couldn't well go in his underwear, now could he? Not that the ladies would mind, he thought proudly, admiring his muscular physique.
"Mind on business, James," he muttered, turning back to his wardrobe and double checking it for his sleek red robes. But, alas, they were not to be seen.
Sighing somewhat dramatically he strode over to a long silver box sitting on his bedside table. He picked it up carefully as though his very being was residing inside. He opened it and looked down proudly at its only content. A long, nicely carved wooden wand. James beamed as he noticed the way that it gleamed brightly in the morning's sun, not one smudge or fingerprint apparent on its shiny features. James hadn't brought it out since he had moved into his manor with Harry. He hadn't needed to. But last night he had brought it out. It was a small comfort to him, knowing that the source of everything powerful within him laid just half a metre away. It was this same comfort that would help him get through the coming trial. He had studied incessantly whenever he could, trying to find a way to free Remus of his charges, but didn't prevail. And now, the morning of the trial, with Remus in an Azkaban cell and Sirius doing everything in his power to tear the Ministry to shreds, James felt utterly helpless. And to top it all off, his red robes were missing.
There came a soft knock on his door and he smiled. There were only three people in the house that morning and two weren't present in his bedroom. James knew the knocker before he called come in. Arabella wasn't very graceful with her knocks.
The door opened slowly and a messy black haired head poked through. Harry glanced at his father once, taking in his outfit, consisting of only his blue underwear. He grinned mischievously and allowed his whole body to enter the room, closing the door behind him gently. In his right hand he clutched red, smooth material that dragged on the floor behind him. James knew instantly that his red robes had been found, but was absolutely horrified that Harry was dragging them along.
"Hey shortie," James said, shutting the silver box shut quickly and setting it back down on his bedside table. "What have you got there?"
Harry grinned and ran over to the bed where he sat down and looked up eagerly at his father. "Mrs. Figg washed this for you," he said, indicating to James' robes that he held tightly in his hands. "She told me to give them to you."
James studied his son, who continued to grin up at him. "May I please have it?" he asked carefully, all too well knowing the answer.
Harry's grin broadened and he shook his head in a way which made James wonder why he hadn't collapsed from dizziness.
James knew how this would end up and he didn't particularly want to sway the outcome. He lunged himself on the bed and took Harry around the waist. For a six year old, Harry was quite strong. James blamed it on all the vegetables he had fed his son. Harry struggled against James' tight hold on him, but he was only a six year old after all. James had him pinned down on the bed, lying flat. James' hands tightly pinned to Harry's sides.
"Are you ticklish, Harry?" he asked, feeling a smirk come about.
Harry's eyes widened and his smile faltered as he realised the situation he was now facing. He quickly shook his head, his eyes wide in a desperate plea to take mercy. But James wasn't so kind. James had Harry in a ticklish fit before Harry had any time to respond. Harry kicked his legs in a weak attempt to free himself from his father's reign of ticklish terror. And still, throughout all this, Harry clung onto his father's robes as though they held some mystic power.
"Are you going to give me my robes?" James laughed, tickling Harry harder.
James could tell that Harry was considering his options. In the end he decided, quite wisely, that he would return the robes, as James had predicted. James stopped tickling Harry immediately and grabbed his robes.
"Hmm," he said, looking down at his crumpled robes, as Harry tried to catch his breath. "It looks like you scrunched my robes." He grinned and looked back down at his son. "This deserves punishment."
Harry's eyes grew wide and fearful as he realised the full extent of James' 'punishment'. It was as he predicted when James grabbed him by the waist once more and Harry had broken out into further fits of boyish giggles.
"Why…do…you…have…a…dress?" Harry panted through his laughter.
It was as though this small, innocent question had blown a hole through James' chest. James sighed and drew back from his young son. James hadn't seen his good robes for such a long time. He had kept it hidden away, just like all his other magical possessions. He never thought he would need it until he started work again, or at least until Harry started at Hogwarts. But now, that he was bringing it out for such a sombre event, he couldn't help but feel that this robe was forever tainted.
"It's not a dress, Harry," he said, patting Harry gently on the back as his son started to gasp for breath again. "It's a robe."
"You mean like a dressing robe?" Harry asked, cautiously, thinking it through it seemed.
"Kind of," James said, thoughtfully. "Harry, I'm going out today and I won't be back until later."
Harry instantly sobered from his bliss and pouted. "So you mean I have to stay here with Mrs. Figg all day?" he asked. "But she's no fun. Can't I go with you?"
James hopped off the bed and pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt. "Sorry, shortie," he said. "But today I'm going to a, uh, meeting."
Harry sat up on the bed and looked down at the covers, somewhat sheepishly. "Is this about Remmie?" he asked shamefacedly.
James' back stiffened and he turned to face his downcast son. "What about Remmie?" he asked cautiously.
"I heard you and him talking about something once," Harry started. "I didn't mean to, but it sounded really serious and he sounded sad."
James sighed and sat back down on the bed beside Harry. "I'm going to be honest with you Harry," he said. "Remus is in trouble. A lot of trouble. Now, he's done nothing bad, he's not a bad person, do you understand that?"
Harry nodded slowly.
"Good," James said and groaned. This was it, he thought desperately. I have to do this. "Remus might die," he said and immediately regretted it. Harry's eyes began to water.
"Do you remember that day I told you that we needed to talk?" James asked gently.
Harry looked up, his eyes shining with tears that hadn't already leaked down his face. "Yes," he choked. "You said it was important."
"And it is," James nodded vigorously. "I want to speak with you about it, soon. Not right away, but soon. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded. "What if Remus…?"
James didn't think he could handle hearing the rest of that question, so instead he grabbed Harry in a hug.
oOoOoOoOo
Aglaia watched Sirius closely. Too closely for Sirius' liking, but nevertheless she watched him. It seemed to her, sitting opposite him in their newly furnished office, that he was deeply annoyed. He sat at his desk, poring over books of werewolf trials and their outcomes, but she knew it was hopeless. It was ten o'clock. In one hour they would have to make their way down to courtroom ten, in preparation for the coming noon trial. Aglaia would be one of many aurors to fill the courtroom and although she knew Sirius would be sidelined on this particular job, she also knew there would be no stopping him from attending the trial, nonetheless. But with the startling disappearance of the Head of the Auror Department, Horris Smith, Aglaia wondered if Sirius would stay sidelined. If they were short on Aurors, they would need extra help and Dementors were the last source of help they would use.
"You're upset," Aglaia stated, finally giving in to urges in breaking the silence.
Sirius only barely glanced up before returning to his book, 'The Werewolf Chronicles'. "Oh," he said his voice unmistakably sarcastic. "You've noticed."
"Don't get all shirty with me," she replied calmly. "I've done nothing wrong."
Sirius snorted, clearly thinking otherwise, but he continued with his book.
Aglaia glared at him for some time, watching his eyes travel backwards and forwards as he read each line printed on the book. She felt a strong sense of compassion that she couldn't quite explain, but her anger was just too great.
"So you think it's my fault, then?" she spat, her patience running thin. "You think he's being accused because of me?"
"I never said that," Sirius said, without looking up. "But you're all in it together."
"In what together?" Aglaia asked. "What do you think goes on around here? We have these little clubs where we get together and plot conspiracies against people? Frame people?"
Sirius still hadn't lifted his head, but Aglaia could see his smirk. "But the question is why didn't you let me in?"
"Are you crazy?" Aglaia exclaimed.
Sirius' head snapped up, no traces of a smirk or anything of the nature. "How do you know it was his fur?" he snarled. "How can you be so sure?"
"The Ministry keeps samples of a werewolf's fur," Aglaia said as though she were merely reading from a textbook. "You know this. When a werewolf is reported, they are given an official Ministry registration number. We then take a sample of their hair which has traces of their wolf fur embedded in their roots. This is for future guidance on their whereabouts and if they leaved traces of their own fur at a full moon."
Sirius stared idiotically at her for a brief moment before opening his mouth once more. "You know maybe it isn't his fur," he said. "Maybe you tested it wrong."
"Firstly, I didn't test it," Aglaia corrected. "The guys down ay the identification department did. I'm not qualified. And second, whose fur could it be?"
Sirius, obviously at loss as to who it could be, returned to his book. "All I know," he muttered turning a page. "Is that when I find Fenrir Greyback…well, it's not going to be pretty."
"Fenrir Greyback?" Aglaia questioned.
Sirius snorted. "He's the bastard that bit Remus," he said. "Maybe you should be looking at him. He's the one that's in league with Voldemort."
Aglaia stiffened. "He's in league with You-Know-Who?" she asked softly. "But…but…"
"But what?" Sirius asked, clearly disinterested.
"What if…Okay, just say Remus wasn't the one that infiltrated the Ministry."
Sirius' head shot up. "What have I been trying to tell you?" he exclaimed. "Am I not heard around here?"
"Shut up for a sec, would you?" Aglaia snapped, standing up from her seat. Sirius watched her carefully as she started to pace the length of the office. "What if what we thought was true was actually the other way around and what we thought wasn't possible was completely and utterly true?"
Sirius stared at her for a minute and then glanced at the large clock hanging from the wall. "Right, well if you're ready to claim your sanity, we can make our way down to the courtroom."
Aglaia waved her hands in front of her eyes as though trying to declare that she could still see. "No, Sirius don't you get it?" she cried, flinging her arms by her sides again and staring at Sirius with a mad glint in her eyes. "If…If what I think is possible, then Remus is innocent."
"Remus is innocent," Sirius said. "Why can't you people see that?"
Sirius glared at Aglaia for a moment, trying to make her see, once more, what he knew was right. But then the most startling thing happened. Aglaia started laughing. Not a soft chuckling or light giggling. No, Aglaia was in hysterics, something Sirius was not happy to see.
"Why are you laughing?" Sirius demanded angrily.
Aglaia sobered enough to choke out one sentence that was filled with glee. "I'll be back."
Sirius could only watch as his, for the moment, eccentric partner stumbled out of the office. He could still hear her joyful laughter as he made his way down to courtroom ten, his bag filled with weighty books slung over his shoulder and his wand stowed away in his robe pocket.
He reached the entrance to courtroom ten, swung the door open and rushed forwards, only to bounce back as he collided with a stocky auror standing in front of him.
"Sorry, Rolland," he apologised casting his eyes past Rolland and to the thronging line that proceeded. "What's going on?"
Rolland snorted as he turned to face Sirius. "Procedure," he said flatly. "All Aurors, members of the Wizengamont and visitors to the courtroom are to formally announce themselves."
"Brilliant," Sirius muttered. "I'll be here for hours."
Rolland turned back to the front of the queue and looked up at the platform of the courtroom. He squinted at it for a minute and then gave out a hearty laugh. "Is that James Potter sitting there next to Dumbledore?" he asked, grinning broadly. "I haven't seen him in donks. How is the codger?"
Sirius barely glanced up at James who was chatting quietly with Dumbledore, before shrugging and looked at the front of the line as a woman was talking animatedly with a man who looked quite annoyed.
"Would you please hurry up?" he shouted, clearly frustrated. "Some people want to get out of here today."
"Calm down Black," Rolland said, sounding quite alarmed.
Sirius huffed, but stayed silent. It would take ten minutes before Sirius finally reached the front of the line, facing the tiresome man he had seen chatting to the woman.
"Wand," the man drawled lazily.
Sirius extracted his wand and passed it on to the man.
oOoOoOoOo
Pettigrew couldn't believe how simple it had been to get into courtroom ten. Wearing Horris Smith's attire and presenting his wand to the Auror taking down people's identification, Pettigrew was stunned at the lack of security the place held, especially after the werewolf attack. The Auror hadn't even glanced at his face, hadn't even asked Pettigrew to lift his head to face the man.
Although the man had been shockingly slack on security, Pettigrew was even more stunned with how he was just walking people by. It was true; he had used a glamour charm to change his dirty blond hair to match Smith's black and grey. He had used a glamour charm to age his face, forming wrinkles and age lines under his eyes and at the corners of his mouth, but it wasn't so that he had a dramatic change. Not even his bowed head made much of a difference. To anyone who looked hard enough, he would be recognisable as Peter Pettigrew. But no one had placed a finger on it, which made him nothing but cocky. And now he stood at a side door with an Auror who, like the rest, was oblivious to Pettigrew's true identity. He knew what would come through those doors and he couldn't help but let out a slight tremor of glee. It was at this moment that Pettigrew knew that Remus didn't stand a chance and he couldn't wait for the verdict to be passed down. Pettigrew admitted to himself that if the verdict was as he suspected, then this would have a major impact on his plans, but the satisfaction of having lived out at least one of his former friends, was a temptation he could hardly contain. And if the verdict was completely the opposite of what he had hoped, then his plans would carry on as though nothing had happened. Either way, Pettigrew knew he would triumph.
Pettigrew glanced up at the platform where dozens of wizards and witches sat. His eyes wandered past so many unfamiliar faces until he recognised one that gave him a deadened feeling. Sirius Black sat apart from everyone, at the end of a row, as though waiting for his queue to jump up and present himself to the many people present. His face was without emotion and he merely glanced at Pettigrew before bringing his attention to the new arrival. Pettigrew stared openly as the new Minister for Magic stalked in the courtroom, flanked by two burly Aurors. There was a silence as the Minister seated himself in his chair in the first row.
The Auror on the right stood and shouted, "Where is Horris Smith, Head of the Auror Department?"
In a ditch on the outskirts of London, Pettigrew thought silently, but what he said was, "I'm here!"
"We are ready!" the Auror bellowed back.
For what? Pettigrew thought desperately. He should have put more thought in this before running head on. But thankfully, his companion knew what to do. He opened the door that they were standing in front of and opened it. The room beyond was clouded with dark shadows and Pettigrew had to blink a couple of times before his eyes adjusted to the gloom. But when he did, his satisfaction and cockiness reached their intensity. Kneeling down in the small closet like room was a very weak looking Remus Lupin. Pettigrew grinned. The Auror beside him looked as if he were about to make a grab for the werewolf, but Pettigrew got their first. Taking Remus by a fistful of hair he dragged him to his feet. Remus glanced up at him and Pettigrew quickly looked away, but Remus continued to stare.
"Get a move on," Pettigrew snarled in a voice much unlike his own. With the help of the other Auror, Pettigrew guided Remus past the many stationed Aurors and to the middle of the courtroom where a wooden chair stood, chains sitting limply on its armrests. As Pettigrew passed Sirius, he couldn't help but cackle inwardly at the look of pain plastered on Sirius' face.
They reached the chained chair and Pettigrew thrust Remus down on it. The chains instantly wrapped themselves around Remus' arms and torso, but Pettigrew still hadn't let go of Remus' hair and Remus hadn't stopped looking curiously at Pettigrew's bowed head.
"That will be all Smith," Fudge spoke up in an alarmed tone.
Pettigrew nodded his head and fiercely let go of Remus' hair, taking a few strands with him.
oOoOoOo
Moony knew that scent. Where had he smelt that scent before? But Moony was tired from a long night of reliving his worst memories. Maybe he had thought it up. But although Moony might doubt himself, Remus Lupin didn't. He knew Moony well enough to tell that he would never forget a scent. And that man - Smith, was it? – seemed vaguely familiar to him. Like he had spent time with him, socialised with him. But Remus had never met Smith before, he was sure of it. And it was very odd that Smith had refused to meet Remus' eyes.
"Sir, I asked you a question," Fudge was sitting upright in his seat, staring down at Remus haughtily. "Is your name Remus John Lupin?"
Remus nodded, shakily, his wrists beginning to sting from the tight hold of the metal chains.
"Verbal answers, if you wouldn't mind, Mr. Lupin," Fudge said, no traces of sympathy or kindness in his tone.
Remus swallowed. He wasn't sure if his voice worked. He had screamed non-stop that previous night and he hadn't used it since stepping out of Azkaban early that morning.
"M…My name is Remus John Lupin," he croaked, his voice sounding weak to even himself.
"That's wonderful," Fudge said dryly, looking down his small nose at the papers cluttered on the wooden bench top in front of him. "Let's get straight to business, shall we, Mr. Lupin. Are you or are you not a registered lycanthrope?"
Remus looked around the courtroom, trying to find a friendly face in the crowd of cold stares. He found James sitting next to Dumbledore, his face showing signs of concerns as he gave Remus an encouraging smile. Dumbledore stared at him over his half moon spectacles. Remus felt his old Headmaster probe him with his light blues and Remus felt uncomfortable. He spotted Sirius sitting at the end of the second row, his chin propped on his hand as he leant forward to get a better look at Remus.
"Yes, I'm a registered werewolf," Remus nodded, his limp hair barely giving its approval in the matter as it hung flaccidly.
"Is your registration number 56689?" Fudge asked, consulting a small note pad and a piece of paper before him.
Remus nodded once more. "It is," he said simply.
"Very well," Fudge said. "You do know the charges that are brought before you, don't you? Several counts of murder, attempted murder, penetration of the Ministry of Magic and forcibly turning oneself into a creature that should, by all laws, be persecuted for even existing."
Remus swallowed and nodded his head once more. He felt his palms sweat and his nerves run high.
Fudge sighed and leaned forwards in his chair. "Dear Merlin, son, you have changed the course of people's lives. You have ruined dozens of lives, and you sit there in front the whole Wizengamont and more. Do you have no remorse?"
Remus felt a shortness of breath, and he swallowed again. His heart pounded uncomfortably in his chest as he looked up at the Minister of Magic. "I didn't do those crimes," he said breathlessly as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I wasn't at the Ministry."
"Do you take us as fools?" Fudge exclaimed as several wizards and witches scowled. "Your fur was found at the scene. How can you explain that?"
Remus' eyes were dry only because he knew if he had allowed them even a slight wetness, the tears wouldn't stop. "I can't," he muttered.
"Well, then-"
"He didn't do it!" a shout rang through the courtroom and everyone turned to look at a tall figure standing in the fourth row. James Potter looked defiant as he stood there, breathing deeply as he looked around furiously at the congregation.
"You'll excuse us, Mr. Potter if we don't take your word seriously," a witch sitting only two seats away from Fudge said, calmly. "Not only are you biased for Mr. Lupin, you are also a retired Auror who has absolutely no concern in the case."
James huffed. "Madame Bones look at him," he said, indicating to Remus. "He looks pathetic. How could you think he could be capable of murdering several people and injuring more?"
Remus had enough sense left in him not to shout out at James for calling him pathetic. Instead he sat there quietly, looking on as the scene unfolded itself before him.
"It is not a question of what he looks like or how pathetic he is," Fudge spoke up. "It is what he turns into that concern us. And another outburst like that, Potter, and you will be excused from this courtroom."
James glared at Fudge, but didn't sit down. Dumbledore rose to his feet and whispered something in James' ear. James sat down abruptly and Dumbledore turned to Fudge.
"Cornelius, I am surprised that you have ridden Mr. Lupin off as being the culprit so soon," he said, calmly, staring down at Fudge over his half moon spectacles. "I suggest you present the evidence to us before you or any of us present in this courtroom here today does anything rash."
Fudge looked highly affronted that Dumbledore was telling him how to do his job, but nevertheless, he returned to the front as Dumbledore took his seat.
"Uh, yes the evidence," Fudge cleared his throat as Remus began to pale. "Well, the evidence stands as this-"
"It's a load of hippogriff dung!" this time the shout came from the entrance of the courtroom and everyone turned their heads in time to see Aglaia dragging a scruffy looking man into the courtroom. Her right hand clutched an old looking book while the left grasped the man's arm.
"Aglaia?" Sirius was heard over the angry muttering that had started to fill the hall like a swarm of bees.
oOoOoOo
Pettigrew cursed under his breath as the young woman made her way to the Minister. He was so close. So close in hearing the werewolf's fate, which he had known would be a gruesome one. But this young woman would make his hopes shatter. He knew it. Why else would she interrupt an important trial?
Pettigrew watched the woman closely as she dragged the young man forward to the Minister.
"Minister," she cried, among the disapproving mutters of the many congregated. "I have evidence that your evidence is wrong."
Fudge glared down at her and muttered, quite distinctly, "Why do my trials end up a joke?"
Aglaia cleared her throat. "When a person is bitten, they carry a piece of genetic material that belongs to the werewolf that has bitten them. Once the werewolf's fangs penetrate your skin, you carry a piece of them around with you on a full moon or any time you transform. In most cases, it is your fur that can be identified as yours and the werewolf's that has bitten you."
The courtroom hung in an eerie silence. Fudge stared down at Aglaia and Aglaia felt herself blush.
"Genetic material?" he asked. "What is this bosh?"
Aglaia threw the book at Fudge, who caught it in a flustered manner, and then sprung the young man forward. "Explain, John," she snapped, standing back and looking on as though she were an artist admiring her work.
"It…It's true," John said. "It is quite possible that Mr. Lupin may not be responsible for the attack on the Ministry. We have done further research on the matter and have discovered that Fenrir Greyback and Mr. Lupin have, indeed, identical fur when they transform," the man paused and swallowed. "It is explained in that book," he indicated to the book, Fudge held open.
Pettigrew witnessed as the courtroom went in an uproar. Wizards and witches all around were demanding further explanations, while others sat in numb disbelief. Dumbledore was smiling down gently as he studied a very startled looking Remus, who had sunk down in his seat as much as the chains would allow. James was on his feet, looking positively delighted. Sirius had his head in his hands, his shoulders bobbing up and down. At first Pettigrew thought he might be crying, but when Sirius looked up, Pettigrew saw, rather than heard, his laughter.
Fudge had turned a nasty shade of green and he glared down at John who cowered back impulsively.
"Why are you telling us this now?" Fudge bellowed. "We could have been looking for this Fenrir Greyback instead!"
The man shrank back in the shadows and remained quiet. Fudge turned to Remus with what seemed like such force. The courtroom grew quiet once more.
"Where were you on the day in question?" Fudge asked his voice oddly calm.
"I went to work and then to Diagon Alley," Remus croaked, his voice husky and shaky.
"Were you with anyone?" Fudge asked. "Did anyone see you?"
Remus shook his head. "I was with no one," he said. "Diagon Alley was so hectic. Everyone had heard about the attack by that time and it was mad. I'm sure someone must have seen me, maybe. But everyone was in a hurry to get off the streets that I probably went unnoticed."
Fudge leant forward in his seat. "Were you bitten by Fenrir Greyback?" he asked.
Remus nodded. "When I was three," he said, hollowly. "I hardly remember it."
"Mr. Lupin, regarding this startling new information given to us, I am inclined to think that you were not involved with the infiltration of the Ministry," Fudge said softly. "I am allowing you to leave the Ministry as a free man, but if this Fenrir Greyback character turns out to be a dead end, I will call you back in," Fudge rubbed his eyes. "Mr. Lupin, do not attempt to leave the country. You will be monitored until we investigate the matter to its full extent."
Fudge stood up and looked around at the courtroom. "I trust nobody has any objections?" The courtroom remained still and silent. "Good," Fudge muttered, obviously not in the mood for further objections. He flicked his wand casually and the chains holding Remus was released. "Your wand will be returned to you shortly, Mr. Lupin," he said, and with that, he made his way down the row and out the courtroom door.
Not missing a beat, James flung himself out of his chair and hurried down towards Remus who still sat numbly in his chair. Pettigrew watched as James embraced Remus awkwardly as Remus was still seated. Sirius didn't miss a second, he raced down to meet his two friends, past the young woman who was smiling broadly, and hugged the two of them. Together, the three remaining Marauders embraced each other.
oOoOoOoOo
Author's Notes: The story is not finished just yet; I'm just making my way to the main plot. This was probably a slow chapter but it had to be done…I'm sorry! Oh, did I use words or phrases in here that were totally Australian or am I just imagining it? Please tell me so I can control the bogan within! Lolz…!
MaraudinglyMagical: Oh, thanks! And I didn't kill Remus…how could I even think about doing that! He's got a gorgeous personality…now I really do sound stupid…lolz…besides, I need him in the story, for my own evil bidding:P Thanks for the review! Oh, and I'm sorry it's taken so long to update!
Alyanna-Jessica: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like the story!
SeriousSiriusFan: Yay! I'll email you when I get a chance to…some of these reviewers can be very demanding…lolz…no, they're all cuties! Oh, and I promise I won't say anything about your, uh, secret identity (wink wink nudge nudge)…lolz…Oh, how can you say that about poor Padfoot? He's a big softy underneath! We all lurve him! Lolz…thanks muchly for the review!
TearWings: OMG you two are so funny! There are two of you, yeah? Lolz…thankyou so much for the review! Oh, and I love the Pet of Evil, that is so smart…I get excited about those kind of things…lolz…and don't worry, I haven't killed off Remus…yet…no, I wouldn't do that, because your theory has got me going! Lolz…I have to say when I read your review, you had me in tears I was laughing that hard…! Thank you so much for the cool review!
GMUXMenSoaps: Sirius is a big softie, don't you think? Not really in my fic, but just all around…he's so adorable! I wouldn't really make him turn on our very own wolf! Not again, anyway! Did the trial drag on? I hope it didn't! Thanks for the review!
SailorHecate: Not one person has said 'Remus should die!' Which is a good thing! Who doesn't love Remus? Anyway, thanks for the review!
Fenderbender505: Lolz…It will take a while before we learn everything about anything! Yes, I can feel the flames coming on…lolz…Remus doesn't die as you can see! But I have to congratulate you! You are the only person who has any clue about the towers! Well as far as I know! The towers are significant to the whole plot…it actually has a lot to do with HBP…so yeah…thanks for the review!
Hedwig136: Here's the next chapter! Would you say I dragged it on? I'm glad you like the story so far…thanks for the review!
Ellen-D: Umm…Is James going to tell Harry soon? You're going to hate me! The problem with that is, it has to be brought out as the story unfolds. I might change my mind…but as I'm looking on it now, Harry probably won't know until the end of the story! Sorry! I've updated, so you know what Remus' fate is! Thanks for the review!
Kay05: I didn't kill Remus! I knew that if I did, flames would come in the dozens! So we can all start celebrating now! Thank you so much for the review!
Hyper Punk 018: Yeah, it was highly unlikely that Smith would escape. He made a sacrifice for my story! Besides, I didn't much like him. I dunno why, because we hardly got to know him! Lolz…Thankyou so much for the review!
Anti-thule: That review made me laugh! Brilliant…absolutely brilliant!
Crimson Reality: Thanks! You know you're always like the first to review, so I thanks for that!