Chapter 5: Explanations
"Oh god, oh god," Harry said in a small voice. He felt like someone had just dumped a bucket of cold water on him. John Moon was Remus Lupin. He'd spent the last couple days flirting with someone who had been best friends with his father; with someone who had been lying to his face since the moment he'd regained consciousness.
He needed some space. Without a word to either of the older men he ran to his room and grabbed his broom. It wasn't safe for him to fly around their cottage in case he was spotted by muggles, so with a pop he apparated to the Burrow. After greeting his honorary aunt and uncle he headed for the paddock where the Weasley boys played quidditch and took off from the ground. He resolutely decided not to think about the very complicated situation until the reality of John's identity had some time to sink in.
He had only been circling the field for about fifteen minutes when Arthur Weasley came running out. "Sirius is on the floo. He asked me to tell you that he had to call Hermione for your guest."
Harry landed abruptly, his hands tense on his broom. "Is it serious? Could they find Hermione?"
Arthur held up a hand. "I don't know, lad. Sirius didn't tell me anything else but he didn't look very good himself."
"Okay, I'm going straight home. Thanks for letting me fly." Harry said.
"Anytime, Harry. Do let us know if everyone is alright," said Arthur heading back to the house.
Harry appeared in the living room of their cottage and ran to the guestroom. Finding Sirius in the hall with his head in his hands he began firing questions.
"What happened? Did you hex him? Couldn't you tell he's been injured! What did he tell you?"
Sirius shook his head, "Calm down kiddo. No, I didn't hex him. He told me how he ended up here and that he told you his name was John Moon. I told him about Peter and I think he must have believed me. I think he just passed out from the shock of it all. I shouldn't have pushed him, I know that, but some things just couldn't wait."
"Will he be okay? Are you okay? You don't look so good." Harry asked.
"Gee thanks, it was a bit of a shock for me too you know. I look just fine I'll have you know. You're not exactly Witch Weekly's Most Eligible…..oh yeah, you were. Damn. Anyway, he'll be fine when Hermione is done with him. "
Right on cue the door opened and Hermione stepped out into the hall. "He's fine, it wasn't serious. It looks like he just forgot to breathe for a while. I gave him a calming potion. I have one for each of you as well."
Harry started to shake his head but she cut him off. "Don't argue with me, just drink it, you've all had quite a day."
Both men reluctantly took the potions from her hand.
Hermione slapped her palm to her forehead. "A werewolf! Well at least that explains the strange readings I was getting. I can't believe I didn't catch that!"
Harry knew that this was the moment when he was supposed to reassure Hermione about her abilities. For the brightest witch of her age she was astonishingly hard on herself.
"Don't worry, it's not like you come across this everyday. I'm sure you're the only one in your class that has treated someone with lycanthropy yet." Harry said, the calming effect of the potion helping him to focus on his friend.
Hermione's face lit up "Oh yes, I'm sure you're right. I can't wait to tell my trainer! I'll keep the details to myself of course."
Harry smiled "That's my girl."
"I need to go back to work, but I'll come back tonight. He's asking for both of you and I think now would be good time to clear the air before the potion wears off," she turned to Harry, "We can talk later if you need to."
"Thanks, Hermione. It might be a good idea to get the perspective of somebody who is not involved in all this."
Hermione headed for the floo and the two men looked at each other.
"Are you ready to hear what he has to say now?" asked Sirius.
"Let's get it over with," said Harry, leading his godfather into the guestroom.
They entered to find Remus sitting up in bed drinking a glass of water. When he saw that they were both there he gave them a sad smile. "I'm sorry about that. I guess things just got to be a bit too much for me."
"I'm sorry, I'm sure there was a better way I could have handled that, but I'm not sure there are that many ways to tell one of your oldest friends that you aren't the insane mass murder he thought you were." Sirius said.
Remus bowed his head "I'm not sure I'll ever have the words to apologize, although you must have suspected me as well or you would have told me about the switch."
Sirius sighed, "I've had a lot of time to think about it, and I'm pretty sure that Peter was telling lies to both of us about the other."
Remus nodded. "I guess that we underestimated Peter's abilities. He said that you were having an affair with Charlotte Wilkes."
"In your case it was Snape. He knew I hated the fact that you two were on friendly terms, he must have thought it was the perfect idea for his plan. Or Voldemort's plan, I still don't think Peter was capable of that kind of thought."
"I agree. Believing him is just one of the things I have to apologize to both of you for. Harry, I am so sorry that I lied to you. I would like to try to explain myself to you later, if you'll hear me out."
Harry nodded, "We'll talk privately later."
Remus gave him a shy smile. "Thank you."
Sirius sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "It's been almost twenty years Remus. I don't…"
"Please Sirius, let me tell you what happened, both of you. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but I'm hoping for your understanding. This isn't easy, please just let me get it out without interruption."
Both men nodded. Harry carefully avoided sitting on the bed and took the chair next to it instead. Sirius settled himself at Remus's feet. Remus closed his eyes and taking a deep breath he began his story.
"You both know that Halloween night was a full moon. I regained consciousness on the first when the aurors knocked on my door. They stormed my parents' cottage and took me in for questioning. It wasn't untill I was in an interrogation room at the ministry that I found out what had happen. I was completely lost. They poured veritaserum down my throat. They kept asking me if I knew you were a Deatheater, if I wanted James and Lily dead, if I knew other werewolves who were Deatheaters. When I couldn't give them any information they got rough. Then Crouch came in."
Sirius's whole body tensed, his fists clenched at his sides. Remus just nodded and swallowed a few times, having trouble with his composure despite the calming potion.
"Yes, Crouch wasn't content with just sending you to Azkaban. He was convinced I was dark as well. He sent all the aurors out of the room. I was never allowed an advocate of my own. Crouch pinned me to the wall by my throat and told me that if I didn't disappear on my own he would leak to the Prophet that I was a werewolf who was suspected in several deaths. You know what would happen then. I believed that I had nothing left. "
He turned to Sirius, seeing his own tears mirrored on his friend's face. "I thought you had betrayed us, that you would be in Azkaban for the rest of your life. I'm so sorry."
Finally, he steeled himself to meet Harry's eyes. The green eyes were filled with tears and full of sympathy. Remus took another deep breath and was surprised when Harry reached out and rested a hand on his arm in comfort.
"And you, Harry. I knew that no matter what happened they would never let me see you, let alone raise you. I convinced myself that Albus and Minerva would take care of you. You have no idea how relieved I am to find you had the best possible care, " he said with a smile at both men.
Harry managed a small smile, "That I did."
"A few weeks ago, completely by chance, I overheard that Crouch was dead. I decided to come back and try to make a life for myself. Unfortunately I had a run in with some rather unfriendly wizards and that's when I ended up here."
Remus collapsed back into the pillows. Sirius jumped up to help him but Remus stopped him.
"I'm okay Sirius, that just took a lot out of me." Remus said softly.
"I think we could all use some rest and time to think. We'll let you sleep until dinner time, okay?" Sirius said.
Harry nodded and stood as well, "We'll all have some dinner and than you and I can talk."
"Thank you," said Remus, "for everything."
