Okay so its been a while but its finally here the final part of The Fall Of The Marauders... It endswith Remus andI have to sayI'mquite happy with it.This was my first fanfiction so its goodto seethat its finally finished i enoyed writing it. Cya all in another story!

Thanx to everyone who reviewed!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and i hazard to say i own that Its my version of what could have happened...

Now on with the final part of the story!


The Fall Of The Marauders

Part Five Remus' Failure

Chapter one: Suspicion

Remus hated the war. He made no secret of this. He would never go as far to say that he would never fight the war but he also knew that he hated it with every fibre of his being. It made friends enemies, brothers fight brothers and tore families apart. Remus hated it.

He wished there was another way.

But he knew that in the fight against Voldemort there really was no other way. Voldemort would not fall without a fight. And if that meant that he had to fight then so be it. He would fight.

And he was. He, James, Sirius and Peter had been among the first to join the Order when Dumbledore had started it in the fight against Voldemort.

Now the Order was getting bigger more people were joining every day but Voldemort's forces of Death Eaters still vastly out numbered them.

And there were still more wizards and witches who were acting under the influence of the Unforgivables without knowing they were doing so and then threats, blackmail and pain were also useful weapons that Voldemort possessed.

Remus watched as friends disappeared and changed and became a shadow of the friends he had known. None more so than Lily and James. James was always on edge now. He wondered why.

There was an Order meeting that he was due at and he aimed to be there on time if it was at all possible.

But then, after all the things they were going through and the assignments they had been given it was almost impossible to make it on time. Remus was nearly always late for one reason and another.

Reasons he had explained to Dumbledore but Remus had the feeling that his extended absences were causing a stir in the Order. And in these times it was dangerous to have even a question mark over where you had been. It wasn't good and it made Remus hate the situation all the more.

War was not a good thing. He hated it with a passion he could not explain. He knew it was necessary and he would fight because fighting was better than submitting to the wrath of Voldemort.

Anything was better than that. He would do what was needed and more than that he would do it well.

Remus pressed his hand against the sensor that checked his magical signature and then he was admitted. Headquarters was a hive of activity and coming off his latest assignment, the first without Sirius as a partner Remus felt strangely out of place.

He had had to go it alone for this one and everyone seemed to have bonded in his absence. He resented that. It wouldn't have been so bad if Sirius had been able to come with him. Sirius had always been able to integrate itself back into the fold of his friends no matter how long he had been missing.

It was not a gist Remus shared with him and it was one that he wished he had. This mission had been difficult and he had nearly been caught more times than he could count it annoyed him. He thought he had more kills than that?

He wasn't an Auror. That was James and Sirius' forte besides, who wanted to employ a werewolf into the Auror Academy, especially now in times of war? He smiled bitterly.

He actually didn't envy James and Sirius he was a peaceful person and hated the war. He was doing what he needed to because he knew it was right. But had he had the choice he would have turned his back on it all.

But he was a Gryffindor through and through and knew when it was better to fight than to do nothing at all. He would not allow Lord Voldemort to continue his reign of terror if he could help it. Not at all.

But he was doing his bit on dark deep cover missions that he wished he would never have to do again. Dumbledore had sent him back underground to the werewolves in the hope that he could manage to do what so many other wizards had failed, make them join a side.

Remus shook his head. It was something he was having to attempt without the help of his friends and it was killing him. He had grown used to relying on his friends like he had never really relied on anyone before and now he was back to being alone and hated it.

Remus however was facing competition from the one person he feared he hated more than Voldemort. Ferir Greyback. The bastard had been the one to bite him and enjoyed being a werewolf. He enjoyed the power he could have over people as a werewolf and so it wasn't a surprise that Greyback was one of Voldemort's strongest supporters.

Unfortunately his arguments seemed to be having more sway with the werewolf population than his own. He could see their point of view, loathe as he was to admit and they resented him for trying to fit into a society that hated and ostracised them for what they were.

Most like Remus, had had no choice in the matter, afterall; Remus thought bitterly, how could a four year old have a choice of being bitten? Of course the Ministry didn't see it that way.

The Ministry, in their infinite wisdom of course. It made him sick. Werewolves were considered inferior and monsters but Remus knew that they could be a huge asset to the war against Voldemort. The Ministry wasn't taking any notice but thankfully Dumbledore was.

Remus just hoped to every god in existence that it wasn't too late like it was too late to hope for the giants.

Witches and Wizards had made a mistake in not coming to their aid and Voldemort had more to offer them than the wizards could hope too. More land, an alliance. The wizarding kind had lost out greatly there. No mistake.

Remus was used to talking the more dangerous of the assignments after all he was a werewolf and he took a battering every month simply to transform so he could handle taking the more dangerous assignments.

He was designed for it really when you thought about it. He was stronger than most and his senses were heightened even when he was in human form. He was best-suited fir this because he had ways to get out of tight situations that even the wizards didn't have.

He had other weapons besides his wand. And he did what was asked of him because he knew he could but that didn't mean he had to like it and what was more he was sure it was driving a wedge between himself and his friends.

He could almost feel the tension thrumming in the air and the smell of fear was a constant reminder of the times they lived in but Remus had not failed to notice that Sirius, James and Lily were becoming more distant with him.

At first he had thought that it was just the nature of the Missions they had all been assigned but now he was starting to notice that they were breaking away from him and Remus couldn't understand it.

What had he done wrong? Had something happened that made them act this way? He knew that Voldemort's campaign had just stepped up another level. Order members were becoming fewer and fewer

Disappearances…

Injuries...

Deaths…

It was all becoming too much and the Death Eaters out numbered them by at least five to one but Remus knew he was doing the right thing, he hated it, he hated everything to do with it but he knew he was doing the right thing.

He walked into Order headquarters and saw Frank and Alice Longbottom. "How was your mission Remus?" Frank asked with more energy and false cheer than Remus himself could muster at that present moment.

"Yeah it went well I'm waiting to see Dumbledore now to see what else he wants me to do." Frank put his hand on Remus' shoulder and said, "You're braver than many here Remus not many of us could do the things you've had to do." "We're proud of you." Alice said moving baby Neville to her hip where he grinned at Remus and waved happily oblivious to the evil that was swirling round him.

Remus smiled despite himself. Most of his old school mates were now in the Order and now knew the secret he had once fought so hard to keep. What's more they not only knew about it they accepted it. Accepted it and therefore accepted him. It made him happier than he could ever explain.

"Thanks Frank." He smiled and Frank and then winked at Alice and said, "I'm not sure I deserve all this praise!" "We are!" Alice and Frank said without a hesitation he smiled again at both of them and then just as he was about to say more he saw Lily, James and Sirius.

Sirius spotted him first and waved. Remus waved back and made his way over to them. Lily, like Alice had Harry on her hip. He smiled seeing little Harry he was over a year old now yet it didn't seem like two minutes since he was born.

Sirius clapped him on the shoulder and pulled him into a brotherly hug, which he returned, and then James followed suit. "I'm pleased to see you're back Moony!" Sirius said smiling using Remus' old childhood name.

"It's good to be back." Remus said meaning it. "How did the mission go?" James asked seriously. "Another one?" Sirius asked his eyes wide. Remus nodded tiredly. "Not as well as expected." Remus said frustrated. "I've got to report to Dumbledore."

He smiled at Lily on the way past and Harry grabbed his hand on the way past. "Hey Harry." Remus said smiling at him. "Hey Lily." He said smiling. "Remus." Lily smiled nodding her head. But her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

That had Remus' senses going into overdrive. Lily was always so smiley and friendly. The tension of the war got to everyone but Lily could be counted on to be the same as she had been before the war but now she wasn't smiling and her eyes bored through Remus as though they were trying to see his soul.

"I've got to go." Remus said tearing his gaze from Lily and turning to his friends. "Dumbledore is expecting me and believe me its not good." Sirius frowned and James looked sympathetic. "Hard going Moony?" "You have no idea." Remus said and then he turned and moved towards Dumbledore's office.

He knocked on the door and heard Dumbledore answer, "Enter." Remus pushed open the door and saw Dumbledore sat behind his desk looking over Order plans. "Death Eater activity increased?" Remus asked frowning.

"Remus." Dumbledore nodded in greeting. Then he sighed. "Yes things have changed since you went below ground the Death Eaters are becoming more and more adventurous. We're out numbered."

Remus nodded. He knew that already. He knew that from his mission and he knew just how hard it was going to be to make the difference.

"What of the werewolves and the vampires what is the news of their stance?" Dumbledore asked. Remus winced. He had done all he could but he felt that it still wasn't enough. He reported to Dumbledore what he had found.

"The Vampires insist this war is our own. They won't join us but I don't think they're going to join Voldemort either their too arrogant to be treated as slaves they are intelligent enough to know that is what will happen if they join Voldemort. I don't think they want apart in this war as a nation but I have friends in their circles now and they will fight with us of their own accord."

Dumbledore nodded as if he had expected that and then said, "That's the best we can hope for at this time." He looked at Remus then and said, "and the werewolves?"

Remus scowled. "They're proving even more difficult than the vampires. They're prejudiced and hate the wizarding world for the injustices they have suffered. They seem to be listening to what I have to say but its obvious to them from the way I am that I've tried to live among humans and they don't like that."

Remus shrugged his shoulders believing his mission with the werewolves to be a failure.

"Werewolves like Ferir Grayback seem to be making more headway. The only problem is of course that Grayback is one of Voldemort's strongest supporters and Voldemort is renowned for letting Grayback do as he pleases on the attacks he participates in. That appeals to most werewolves."

Remus shuddered at the thought he never could imagine acting that way causing other people intentional pain because of what he was. Then he shuddered in barely disguised horror as he thought of the werewolf that had turned him.

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes they seem to favour the revenge they can receive by joining Voldemort."

Remus looked at Dumbledore and said, "I'll try again." Dumbledore smiled. "You do that Remus but this is not a failure you have achieved more than I anticipated."

Remus smiled. "Thanks it's good to know that I'm alienating myself from everybody for a reason that isn't just a lost cause." Dumbledore's face seem to darken for a moment then it was gone and Remus wondered whether he had imagined it.

"There is something you need to know Remus." Dumbledore said, this time Remus was sure of it his eyes darkened. Dumbledore knew something and from Remus was sensing it couldn't be good.

"And what's that Albus?" Remus asked quietly. "We have a traitor in our midst." Whatever Remus had been expecting that had not been it. He felt himself go faint. A traitor here? In the Order? But that meant….

Oh god! That was so not good! "What?" He whispered. He could barely get his mouth to work. This could not be happening. They had been making progress despite the losses, why now?

Albus shook his head slightly and looked down at the desk. "I am only telling you this because I trust you Remus the fewer people that know about this the better."

Albus leaned forward slightly and clasped his hands in front of him on the desk. He looked at Remus then and said, "but I warn you Remus this will not easy for you. There is suspicion in the air and should people find out you maybe suspected. You haven't been here and there is only I that account for your absences. I wish I could I say that would be enough, at one time it would have been but…now?" Albus shook his head. "I trust you Remus and in time so will everyone else but for now, things may be a little…difficult."

Remus smiled despite the situation. This was nothing he hadn't dealt with before. He had to deal with suspicion anyway because of his long absences and his inability to account for them properly.

He would have said that he would be naturally suspected because he was a werewolf but in the Order they didn't see it that way. In the Order most of them saw it as a strength that they couldn't have and one that Remus could exploit for the good of the Light.

If affect that is what he had been doing but it also meant that he had to deal with the consequences of doing so. He could deal with the whispers. He had dealt with the whispers of an entire population before the werewolves as a population were not favoured by the wizarding kind hence the reason that Remus was having so much trouble persuading them that that joining the light was the right thing to do. But if that was what he had to do to prove that the Order could trust him, to give the Order firing power against Voldemort then so be it Remus could handle a little suspicion.

But even as Remus thought about it he knew it wasn't going to be as simple as that. Though for the life of him he couldn't figure out why.

Chapter two: Isolated In A Crowd

Something had changed among his friends Remus was positive of it. He just for the life of him couldn't figure out what it was. James looked like Hell Remus could see that even from across the room and it worried Remus no end. Lily held Harry close to her and the fact that she had even brought Harry to the meeting was worrying just last week she was leaving him with a babysitter.

Now it looked like she just did not want to let him out of her sight. What was going on in his friend's circle? He was hurt that they hadn't involved him but since his absences had been so prolonged of late he wasn't surprised really. He wasn't going to lie though, it still hurt.

Remus turned his attention from James and Lily and tired to concentrate on what was being said in the meeting because he knew he was soon going to have to contribute.

The meeting went on and Remus closed his eyes as he heard about more and more death and destruction and the loss of Aurors and various members of the Order. Remus was trying to be positive but faced with so much negative news how was it possible that he could be? It was beyond imagining how could they fight against the tide of evil that was trying to overthrow them?

Despite the odds Remus knew they would never give up fighting. They couldn't, the Order were working against the Dark, they all knew what would happen if the Dark won out and it wasn't something they were about to entertain.

Remus had to keep fighting for those that had given their lives for the fight he was still apart of and he may hate war but the alternative was so much worse. Besides he had been in the Order practically since Dumbledore had started it when it was clear the rise of Voldemort was a threat to the Wizarding World. That had been when Remus had been in school. He had joined right out of school along with James, Lily, Sirius and Peter and he knew that he had proved his worth to the Order.

He may hate war and fighting, but he knew that he would rather fight and create a war to stay free than let Voldemort take over knowing he had done nothing to stop the devastation he knew would follow.

The Order was getting smaller and smaller as the days went by and it was a both sad and scary thing to see.

Reports of disappearances, injuries and deaths were more rife than ever and Remus wondered if it would ever end. Despite all the darkness he knew that no matter how small the Order was making a difference and this ecliplsed a small part of the pain every time they caught a Death Eater or stopped an attack that could have had more people killed.

It made all the pain worth while and proved to Remus over and over again that he was doing the right thing.

One day a few weeks after he had first returned from the werewolves were he was still very much trying to push them to make an alliance, he chanced a conversation with his friends who he had no seen much of, of late for obvious reasons.

He caught up with James and Lily after a meeting and couldn't help notice that they looked thinner and more drawn than he had ever seen them. "Hi James, Lily." He greeted.

James smiled. "Hi Moony. Long time no see." Remus smiled. "I know. Deep covers are an ass." He said with feeling. He looked at Harry who was being carried by Lily and said, "Hiya Harry." "Moon!" Harry said gleefully holding his arms out.

James and Lily smiled and Remus said, "Do you want me to take him for a few moments?" Lily nodded gratefully and Remus lifted Harry from Lily's grasp.

He swung Harry round and then put him on his hip. Harry's giggles carried through the Order headquarters and though headquarters was hardly the place for children his innocent laughter seemed to lift the spirits of everyone there.

This is what they were fighting for, the rights of their children to grow up and not have to fear what happened when they stepped out the door because there were wizards that wished them ill.

As Remus kept Harry entertained he noticed Peter sat across the room and waving smiled. He hadn't seen Peter in ages. Peter looked up and waved back.

Remus couldn't help but notice how everyone seemed closer. The things that were happening to them were bringing them closer and for reasons he could not explain yet he could not be apart of that. It was not safe if he wanted to get into the Werewolf ranks he needed to be the picture of isolation although he wasn't sure his friends, namely Sirius and Remus would allow that.

Speaking of Sirius he hadn't seen him and glanced round the room. As he did Sirius moved out from the office Remus had not long vacated and seeing Remus with Harry bounded over. "Moony long time no see where the hell you been?"

Remus winced inwardly. He knew he had been neglecting his duties as best friend and Harry's baby sitter of late and though he knew he couldn't help it he still felt like he should have made more of an effort. It wouldn't be long before they could know what was going on. Though from the looks on their faces they weren't the only ones keeping secrets.

Remus closed his eyes briefly. Wars. He really did despise them.

"You know me Padfoot," He said lightly. "The little furry problem has its moments." He laughed and Sirius' eyes danced with merriment and James slung an arm around his shoulder. "Harry's babysitting duties need seeing too tomorrow night are you up for it I think Lily might need the help. She's going to some charity event or something Are you up for it?"

Remus nodded looking at the boys. He wasn't expected back at the werewolf compound for a little while so he could do that. "What are you guys getting up to may I ask," then he stopped and shook his head. "No, anyway I don't want to know." "Work at the Ministry. Barty Crouch is laying it on thick. We barely get a minute these days." Sirius said bitterly.

Remus offered words of advice and was sympathetic, "when you guys get back shall we do something I'll have caught up on my baby sitting duties and then I'll try and be a good friend for a night." He smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry I haven't been around but Dumbledore has had me on this mission that I'm kinda self made for."

He was trying to tell them without actually telling them. He hated keeping secrets from them and keeping them now was worse than when he was in school. Now he knew them, they were his best friends and had been for a long time now he hadn't kept secrets from him for a long time and doing so now was killing him.

James' eyes seemed to widen and Sirius nodded it seemed they had got the message. "That will be cool Moony we'll see you tonight though Merlin knows what time it'll be." "Don't worry Harry, Lily and I will have fun." he grinned.

Sirius and James rolled their eyes and with the Order meeting over they left to return to work to try and work out what exactly was going on inside the Ministry.

Remus smiled handing Harry back to Lily who appeared at his side. "I've been volunteered to help you tonight would you like the help?" Lily smiled looking relieved and exhausted. "Oh Remus you're an angel." She kissed his cheek and said, "I'll see you tonight and then left with Harry.

Remus sighed but his heart felt lighter he was going to be coming clean to his friends, at least after a fashion soon enough and then his head would be clear to do what he had to do. He hadn't lied to his friends since the middle of second year in Hogwarts when they had discovered his secret, and they in turn hadn't kept anything from him since he had discovered at the first transformation of his fifth year that they had turned into Anigimi for him.

He had laughed when Sirius had first called him Moony all three of his friends had found ways to create an adventure, a lesser offence of being a werewolf. They were the first people after his parents and Dumbledore of course, that had accepted him and for that he would be eternally grateful. Now he was going to repay them by telling him his secret whether Dumbledore wanted them to know or not. They deserved that much.

Later that night Remus discovered what a handful little Harry was becoming. He was starting to pull himself up and walk round the furniture and Remus was sure it wouldn't be long before he was walking. "Hey Harry." He smiled as Harry tired to climb onto the coffee table.

"Moon!" Harry giggled but didn't stop what he was doing. Remus rolled his eyes good-naturedly and pulled Harry off the coffee table and sat him down on the floor with his crayons and soft building bricks. He knew that James had wanted to get Harry a play broom for his birthday but that Lily had forbidden it until he was at least four.

Remus though he would never admit it to his friend could see the logic in this. He'd played, chased and stopped Harry from creating a post-apocalyptic site of the house. Though there had been a few accidents with Lily's vases due to Harry's never ending energy and his newfound fondness of climbing.

Of course a few well-aimed repairing spells had masked the evidence and he wasn't about to tell Lily he wasn't suicidal after all. It was midnight and Remus was starting to wonder whether James and Sirius had been pulled out on a raid. At this rate Lily would be back before them.

As it was they appeared together Lily seemingly as surprised as he was that Sirius and James had taken so long to return home. The door opened and he could hear Lily speaking "You guys I can't believe you! Leaving Remus alone with Harry what were you thinking?" "Work got the better of us Lily!" Sirius explained.

"Yeah Lily we can't help it if Crouch is being an arse at the moment he's pushing for arrests, captures and he can use Unforgivables on Death Eaters you know every Auror is pulling doubles at the minute." James said reasonably.

The walked into the living room and James smiled. "Besides Remus looks as if he has survived baby sitting duty just fine." Remus got up from where he was sitting on the couch. "Yeah was fine when I got over the fact that your son likes to climb." James winced. "Yeah it seems to be a new hobby of his."

"Anyway I put him to bed and he seems to have gone to sleep after I ignored his yelling for the first hour or so." Lily blushed. "Sorry about that." Remus shrugged. "All part of having babies Lily it was nothing really."

"I had fun. And apparently Harry had fun if his drawings, climbing escapades and general reluctance to do to sleep was anything to go by." The adults shared a laugh and then James and Sirius looked at him. "We haven't seen you for ages Remus fancy a drink?"

Remus smiled. Even after all of this time he was shocked at the thought of having friends, proper friends at that. "Yeah sure." Remus smiled. James looked at Lily. "Do you mind sweetheart?" Lily smiled but Remus noticed there was something behind that smile. "No honey you go, have fun god knows that hasn't happened for a while."

James' face lit up he gave Lily a kiss and then the three Marauders trooped out to the Three Broomsticks.

Chapter Three: The Monster Within

Remus smiled as he closed the door. It had been good to have a night out with James and Sirius god knows he couldn't remember the last time that had happened. He had told them that t would be the last time they saw him for a while the next week after that was the full moon. As expected both of them had offered to be there but they had their own responsibilities now and he'd barely seen them because they had been working both for the Ministry and for the Order.

It was sweet that they'd still think about it but he had had enough transformations on his own to know he would handle it. Still it had been a good six months since they had transformed together and he hated to say it but he did miss them.

He missed the fact he knew he wasn't dangerous with them around to make sure he didn't endanger any humans plus the wolf missed his pack mates. Remus sighed. The other reason that they couldn't transform together, was of course that Remus' mission meant that he was away from human and wizarding contact alike for long periods of time and he was to go back under cover the day after he transformed back.

It wouldn't matter that he looked like death warmed up where he was going because after all where he was going they were all like him. He hated to admit it but he did feel some kinship towards them because they understood his predicament more than anyone else could and he understood that he could have become like him if it hadn't been for his parents and his friends.

Yes, Remus thought he was one of the luckiest people in the world.

A week later he wasn't sure that that still stood. The last week had been the worst week of his life. If it was possible Death Eater attacks had almost tripled and from reports James, Sirius and others were bringing in the Ministry was in total disarray.

The Order members were fighting hard but they were outnumbered by Voldemort's followers and they knew it. Remus had hated the fact he would be going back underground but now he welcomed it because they needed a break, they needed back-up and if the werewolf community backed them up then their numbers would be greatly increased.

Messengers had been sent to the vampires, the elves, the veela and the giants and while all of the above had chosen sides (the vampires with Dumbledore the elves and veela staying neutral with the exception of Lady Katherine and her band of elves and Lady Amy and her band of Veela, and the giants with Voldemort) but the werewolves had yet to choose simply sitting out so far. Remus hoped to change that but he knew at the moment Ferir Greyback, Voldemort's representative was making more headway than he was.

Remus snarled to himself as he thought of that bastard. That monster was the reason Remus was a werewolf at all and he would not let others suffer the way he had.

So his reserve was set when he locked his door that Sunday night, Halloween night to get ready to Change. He would transform, he would bite the bullet, as the muggle saying went and then he would continue to do his but to help the Order.

He locked his door and put silencing Charms up. It was unlikely that he would be heard but he didn't really want to take an un-necessary risk either. He opened his curtains so he could see the sky. There was cloud cover tonight but he knew that that wouldn't matter.

He sat quietly and waited watching the sky. He fought the wolf every moment of his life. Remus was completely different to the Wolf and he fought to keep his true nature from being over taken by the wolf that was purely instinctual filled with rage, want and heartbreak.

It was difficult especially this close to the full moon but Remus dealt with it the same as he had been dealing with it since he was four years old. He watched as the clouds began to clear and felt his limbs stiffening.

He tired not to fight because he knew he had to transform whether he liked it or not and the harder he fought it the more painful it became. He slid from his window seat onto the floor and tried to breath and he crouched. It was pain, mind-numbing muscle burning pain but Remus weathered it the same as he had weathered everything else in his life with calm and heavy breathes.

Soon it was over and Remus opened his eyes and stretched. He hated being a wolf, but it couldn't deny that this was part of him. He stretched a totally different experience as a wolf from human he ran round his office trying to burn off the excess energy when that didn't work he simply snuffed and curled up in a ball and tried to sleep.

The human part of Remus who still existed somewhere in the wolves mind knew that there was something wrong the wolf was restless. Yes it was missing his pack mates but there was something else. Something else was happening out in the world and he didn't have a clue what it was but it wasn't good it couldn't be.

The wolf jumped up on the window seat and pawed at the window. It wanted to be free. It wanted to run.

When it exhausted itself, Remus was pleased to see he had controlled himself enough so that his injuries would be minimal in the morning. The wolf finally give up snarling at the part of its mind that wouldn't let it do as it pleased. Remus couldn't shake the feeling that there was something wrong, and in wolf form it was twice as bad as before and it was making the wolf itself antsy.

Finally when he had gnawed at the carpet scratched himself to splinters and generally snarled at the world that had locked him in the wolf gave up and finally curled up in a ball in the middle of the rug and gone to sleep.

Chapter Four: And then there was one

Remus found himself staring at the headmaster unable to take in what he was being told. There was just no way. No! He couldn't accept it. He wouldn't accept it. He put his face in his hands and tired to hide the heartbreak and muffle the scream that was working its way up his throat.

This could NOT be happening. It just could Not be happening!

"Dumbledore are you sure?" He said his voice threatening to break. He was begging Albus to tell him that it wasn't true but Albus looked as broken as he felt and he had his answer before the old headmaster had even opened his mouth.

"Yes Remus I'm sure. There were witnesses. The Ministry has him in custody now. I have to go and give evidence you are welcome to come if you wish."

Remus nodded feeling lost. This had to be some kind of nightmare; it had to be it couldn't be real. Not after everything they'd been through…

Remus had woken up that morning feeling oddly energised despite it being a morning after a transformation. He'd woken up with a bad head and he was aching. When he finally managed to peel his eyes open he'd snarled at himself for not closing the curtains the same as he did every month and then he'd gotten up and gone to the toilet to check out the damage.

He'd been mildly impressed. The scratches were minimal and the bruising could have been worse. So he'd gotten ready and was preparing to go below ground when he had received a fire call from Dumbledore.

"Morning Albus." He'd said cheerfully. "I'm just leaving for Below now are my Orders still the same?"

Albus looked and said, "There will be no need for that Remus Voldemort fell last night."

Remus stared. "What?" "Voldemort has fallen." Remus was dumbstruck for a minute or so before a bright smile broke through. "Dumbledore that's brilliant what did I miss? I leave the Order for one night to transform and everything happens without me."

Albus allowed himself a small smile. "So it would seem. When you're ready come to my office I need to speak to you."

Remus was about to reply when his hearing picked up a note to the headmaster's voice. "Is something wrong Albus?" Remus said the feeling of dread that he had felt during his transformation came roaring back leaving him short of breath.

"There is a matter we need to discuss yes." Dumbledore nodded. Remus frowned but nodded none-the-less "I'll just finish up here and I'll be with you."

Albus nodded and left the fireplace but the connection remained open meaning that all Remus had to do was step through and he would be at Dumbledore's office. This day couldn't be any better.

Half an hour later though he was curing himself for jinxing it. This day couldn't possibly be any worse if he had paid it.

Yes Voldemort had fallen but it had come at a price. James and Lily had gone into hiding using a Secret-Keeper but Voldemort had found them anyway. He had killed them both and then turned his wand on Harry only to have the Killing Curse rebound on him and be killed himself.

Harry had survived, how Remus wasn't sure and he really didn't care at least the little one was alive. Dumbledore had explained to him that Harry had been sent to live with his muggle relatives for his own safety.

Remus nodded mutely he didn't agree with this particular decision, Vernon and Petunia Dursley as far as Remus could remember where not the best relatives to have but Remus agreed to make sure Harry was safe.

"How were they found?" Remus asked finally taking his face out of his hands. He was trying his damndest not to cry but he suspected he'd soon loose the battle with his tears this was too much. His best friend had just been killed. He would cry if he damn well pleased.

"I mean if they were using a Secret-Keeper then the only way for Voldemort to find out is for…" "The Secret-Keeper to tell him their whereabouts yes I am well aware of that Remus." Dumbledore said quietly.

"So then who was the Secret-Keeper?" Remus couldn't believe Lily and James would use anyone but someone they trusted with their lives this just did not make sense. James and Lily had been distant they must have know how much danger they were in. So why hadn't they used a Secret-Keeper they could trust? Why hadn't they mentioned anything?

All these questions were whirling round in Remus' head and it was making him sick. He looked up at Dumbledore and he saw an emotion in his eyes he had never seen before. Defeat and Failure. It scared him.

"Sirius was their Secret-Keeper Remus." Dumbledore said quietly.

"NO!" Remus screamed jumping up so violently that his chair clattered to the floor suddenly he couldn't breathe and he stared at Dumbledore as if he had never seen him before. "No Dumbledore you're wrong. I mean it you're wrong."

He took a step back. "You have to be wrong." He whispered. "Sirius would never…He wouldn't. He couldn't." He was running out of air and as if anticipating this Dumbledore waved his wand and Remus sagged into a newly conjured seat.

"Dumbledore you have got it wrong, Sirius would never…" "There are witnesses Remus. His crimes do not stop there. The Minister tells me the Aurors tracked him to a muggle village not far outside Godric's Hollow. Witnesses say that Peter Pettigrew went after him they were heard yelling and then Sirius killed Peter and 13 muggles watching. I'm sorry Remus but it seems we were wrong about Sirius."

Remus couldn't believe it. This wasn't his friend. This wasn't his friend at all. It couldn't be. "Will he even see trial?" Remus whispered all the energy gone from him. "I doubt it. Crouch has ordered that his sentence be passed quickly and he be sent straight to Azkaban."

"He should get a trail!" Remus said. "No matter what he's done he should get a trail. Remus felt sick thinking about what Sirius had done. How could this be Sirius?

The Sirius Black he knew was not this evil stranger Dumbledore was describing. But someone else entirely. Someone who had risked the wrath of his family to stand up for what he believed in. Who was disowned because he believed in something completely different to his family.

Sirius was someone who had fought with his family to try and protect his younger brother and mourned and fumed when he had not managed to keep him away from the Dark Lord.

But most of all Sirius was a loyal friend. He would not have done that to James. James had protected him when he had run away when they were sixteen Sirius had helped James through the heartache when his parents had died in a Death Eater raid. He had been best man at Lily and James' wedding and was godfather to little Harry.

He had accepted Remus when they had discovered his secret and then he had been the one to come up with the idea to do something amazing. Become Animgini to help him through his Changes. He had been nothing but loyal. The resident ladies man, king prankster but the best friend any of them could have had.

What had happened to that man to turn him into the one he was now?

It was only then he realised Dumbledore was speaking to him. "What?" He asked quietly. "I'm going to the Ministry now do you want to come?" Remus was on his feet in a moment.

At the Ministry things became, if it was possible more painful than before. Dumbledore gave evidence and reports of Sirius' betrayal became even more real.

Remus had to swallow more than once to keep from throwing up. There was no way this was real, this couldn't be real. It just couldn't be real. He watched almost through tunnel vision as Dumbledore gave his evidence and watched as Sirius was pulled into the room.

He was quiet and drawn. "You're going straight to Azkaban Black." Barty Crouch spat. "Your sending an innocent man there." Was all Sirius said but Remus could see the pain in his eyes. "I didn't do this. I didn't do this."

Remus put his hand to the glass and watched the exchange. "Black there are witnesses that said you did it, that saw you do it and I know for a fact you were the Potter's Secret-Keeper so even if you didn't kill those muggles you certainly gave He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named the information on the where abouts of Lily and James Potter. You might as well have killed them Black that alone means you spend the rest of your life in Azkaban. Get him the hell out of here!"

Sirius looked up his eyes wild with fire. "I didn't kill anyone. I didn't kill them." He looked up at the glass and his jaw slackened as he saw Remus. "REMUS!" He screamed. "Don't believe them! I didn't do it I didn't!"

Sirius was dragged to the door and into the arms of two waiting Dementors it was then he started to scream. "I didn't kill James and Lily! I didn't kill them!"

Then he was gone and Remus felt his heart break. He had lost his three best friends in one night. Sirius might have still been alive but there was no way he was the same friend Remus had once had. The Marauders had finally fallen after all this time.

All the mishaps, all the chaos and all the fun it was finally over and Remus found himself standing alone. He was the last one.

Remus turned away from the glass and walked out into the sunlight. November 1st. The sun was shining and the Wizarding World was finally free. Remus knew it was meant to be a good day, it had started off so well but now he'd give anything to travel back in time and spend just one more minute with his friends.

Remus continued to find his way back to his flat Sirius' screams echoed in his head the way they had echoed all the way down the corridor. Suddenly he couldn't hold back the tears anymore. He made no excuses for them. He had a right to grieve.

He was the last of the Marauders.

Sirius would stay a traitor in the eyes of everyone in the wizarding world who knew him disbelief and confusion clouding the minds of those that had known him well. Peter would be considered a martyr by those who knew him considered brave when the time came. And James and Lily would be known as they always had brave and just until the end.

Twelve years would pass before Sirius would get what he truly desired. Justice in the truth. But it would not be found by the Ministry who condemned him. It would be found by the son of his best friend, his godson as he made his own way unknowingly following in James' footsteps.


Well its finished took a long time but its finished.

I don't usually advertise other stories but if anyone is interested i have a fic running at the Minute called Black Truth its Sirius-centric and looks at his life before, in and after Azkaban and sort of links with this one

RIte thats all from me cya all again Blue Firex