A/N: This is the part where I really begin to stray from the original storyline. A question for you all. Should I have Sirius and Remus meet in the chapter(ish) or wait until the Shrieking Shack scene?

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I'm still trying to get used to this new reply thingy.

Oh yeah, and I still don't own em.

The Nature of Remembrance

Memories are strange things. All entangled in the delicate threads of time, imagination and the intricate patterns of the human brain. Pluck out one of those silky threads and you destroy a memory. Memories are the remainders of the past, the reminders of both the terrible and the good times. But even they fade over time. As time passes, the memory becomes more faint, more washy, like a watercolour painting when you spill your glass of water over the page. Suddenly, you become unsure which parts are true. You find yourself questioning everything. Did this really happen? Did I really say that?

And it was for this reason that Remus treasured his Pensieve so much. It was a backup copy of every important memory he held, an unfailingly true response, as true as it had been when he had lived it.

In this way, time was flexible.

To a Wizard with the knowledge and a Time Turner, time was merely a tool. To Remus, time was a malicious force that grabbed him by the hair and dragged him through life, forcing him to face up to things he never imagined, to lose things that meant more to him than his life and to go on living when everything seemed lost. Time had pulled him back to that place where everything had really started for him. Hogwarts was his home, but it was the home that had been abandoned and overgrown in him mind. Coming back reminded him of the way time had mercilessly made him fall back into life and forced his beloved memories to fade. Sliding away from his groping fingers. I don't want to forget.

But time was also the angel who watched over him. Time was the slender, glowing figure who offered Remus a flawless alabaster hand when he stepped into the Pensieve. It was the voiceless, genderless figure who enveloped the werewolf in the protective embrace of shimmering golden wings when his memories got too much.

He could picture Time, standing, reaching out, smiling gently and indulgently, waiting to lead him into the past. For this beautiful compassionate figure, Remus was thankful. But, for the merciless demon who protected him from no-one, grabbed him by the hair and tore him into the present he was not so thankful. It was that persona of time that had dragged him away from the prone forms of Lily and James. It was that Time that had allowed twelve years of life to pass without a word about Sirius. It was this time that had never allowed him to ask Sirius why.

And as Remus leaned over the wall, he could feel them both. The gentle angel clasping his hand softly as it watched over him, and the malevolent form of the demon ripping at his hair, yanking him firmly into the future, screaming at him that the past was no more and he could never have it again.

He felt another figure approach him, this time of a person. A wizard. One Harry Potter, if his sense of smell didn't deceive him. And when did it?

"Good afternoon Professor."

"Ah, Harry. How are you feeling?" Remus turned his head to acknowledge the boy.

Harry smiled faintly. "Professor, last lesson-"

Remus held up his hand, demanding silence from his student. "You wish to know why I stopped you from facing that Boggart?"

Harry folded his arms uncomfortably and nodded.

"I merely assumed that were you to face the Boggart, I would be dealing with a Boggart in the form of the Dark Lord. Was I wrong?" He looked back out over the grounds, half wishing that Sirius would appear before his eyes, half dreading the inevitable confrontation. He turned his attention back to a thoughtful Harry.

"I did think of him at first, but then I remembered those Dementors."

"Interesting. This suggests that what you fear most of all is fear itself. Wise, perhaps." Wiser than me at least.

Harry was silent for a time, before asking the question that had been clearly niggling at him since meeting the professor.

"Did - Did you know my parents?"

Remus leaned heavily on the rail, wondering how to answer. He decided that simplicity would be best. "Yes. I knew them." He sighed, no longer able to ignore the young wizard's questioning gaze. "Your father was one of my first friends. He was a great person. Reckless, a little arrogant and intolerant, but he was brave. And Lily, well, she was the nicest person I knew. Softhearted and gentle. You look so much like your father Harry. But you have-"

"My mother's eyes. I know."

Remus's eyes twinkled in a way reminiscent of Albus Dumbledore. "I also hear that you are as troublesome as your father."

"I suppose you heard that from Snape."

"Professor Snape, Harry. And no. I did not."

"Oh."

They stood together, looking out over the Lake, each lost in their own memories until Harry left for Quidditch practice.

I know you're out there Sirius, he thought to himself. It's only a matter of time before I find you. Or you find me. And then what do you propose we do? I can't just forget about it, especially if you are guilty. It would be wrong of me. But I couldn't turn you in. I just-couldn't. Not after everything you've done for me. I suppose - I suppose I will just have to hope that it doesn't come to that. Despite everything, I hope they never find you. Because I know what they're going to do to you. And I hate it.

He turned deliberately from the grounds, deciding to seek out company in the Teacher's Lounge. Unfortunately, this would probably involve Flitwick's disturbing obsession with the new Wizarding Wireless, Minerva's constant clucking over the state of his robes and Albus, should be even be there at all, would be twinkling at him all afternoon. And Severus's mutterings as he scrawls all over an unfortunate person's Potions essay. But still. He could do without being alone for a while.

The door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom was surprisingly unlocked. Of course, Harry Potter being who he was, saw nothing particularly odd in this.

The room was filled with light and chattering creatures, others oozing sullenly against the edges of their tanks and some unpleasant organism extruding a horrifically unpleasant smell. Books on Dark Creatures and Defence spells were piled up on the desk along with a set of marked sixth year essays. All normal. Except there was no sign of the Professor Harry had been seeking out.

Harry shrugged and walked straight over to the door of Remus's office. He rapped on the door with his knuckles, but it simply swung lazily open. Harry was slightly disconcerted, but stepped inside anyway.

The room was empty, save for a large pile of parchment and a silver pewter bowl which was oozing silver vapour. The Boy-Who-Lived was drawn in by the hypnotic patterns in the air which seemed to create images that flashed across the silver rippling surface.

A dark haired boy, a flashing red and gold scarf. Bright flashes as of a camera. A whole, huge glowing moon suspended in the air, the silhouette of a wolf, a dog, a stag and a rat. Screams. Laughter.

"I love you Remus."

Flashes of light. A huge Grim.

Harry tumbled roughly into the Pensieve and was drawn instantly into a memory.

A tall man with long dark hair flails against two captors wearing dark robes. Both captors are male, each harbouring a grim expression.

A smaller man flies angrily out of the door, robes swishing around his ankles. A thunderous look on his face.

Harry immediately recognised the second figure as a younger Remus Lupin.

"What is the meaning of this!" He yells.

"I didn't do it! Remus! I didn't!" Screams the other man. "Don't let them take me away!"

One of the taller man's captors faces Remus with a solemn expression.

"We have discovered the traitor of Lily and James Potter."

Remus takes a horrified step back.

"Remus! No! Don't believe this!"

"Sirius..." He gasps, leaning heavily against the doorframe. "Sirius.. How could you..."

"I couldn't!" Sirius screams.

Harry clapped both hands over his mouth to keep from speaking.

"Remus! Remus, you know I didn't do it! I wouldn't! Remmie please!"

"I'm sorry Sirius. I honestly thought you were on our side."

"Remmie! Please don't do this to me! You know I didn't do it! How could I?"

"Sirius I-"

"How could you let me go down for this!"

Remus's eyes fill with tears as the other wizard is pulled away from him. Sirius's wand is taken by his captors and snapped in half. The pieces fall to the ground.

The moment Sirius is out of sight, the tears that adorn Remus's eyes begin to fall. He reaches down...

And Harry was pulled roughly out of the memory, head spinning. He squeaked as his feet his the floor and his eyes met the furious amber orbs of the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Harry had just seen something that would change everything.

Remus trembled fearfully, fervently hoping that Harry had not seen anything incriminating. Oh, please no.

Harry met his eyes and he hardened his gaze. Don't let him see your weakness.

Remus couldn't miss the shame in the boy's eyes. He obviously hadn't meant to pry into Remus's memories, but Pensieves have an irritating way of drawing one in.

Still, if Harry had seen anything about Sirius...

The boy was silent under the professor's gaze. Oh crap, he thought, it seems I really do attract trouble.

A/N: I don't much care for the end of this chapter, but I do like the beginning. LOL