TW: mentions of child physical abuse
There May Be Trouble Ahead
There may be trouble ahead,
But while there's music and moonlight,
And love and romance,
Let's face the music and dance.
Before the fiddlers have fled,
Before they ask us to pay the bill,
And while we still have that chance,
Let's face the music and dance.
Let's Face The Music and Dance (1934) from The Gay Divorcee
(Note: in 1930s some old-fashioned Upper Class families referred to their parents as Mama and Papa)
"Answer the question, Lord Grimmauld."
Snape's voice sounded nasty, nasty and smug, and Remus felt a wave of revulsion wash over him.
"Detective Inspector Snape, I'm leading this interview," he said.
"Answer the question, Lord Grimmauld!"
Snape completely ignored Remus, as though he didn't exist. He watched as Sirius Black stared at Snape, eyes narrowed, before turning to Remus again.
"I shan't utter a single word, until he leaves," he said, speaking only to Remus.
There it was again, that unshakable Black certainty that people would inevitably bend to their whims.
"Why?" Snape sounded personally offended.
The aristocrat didn't spare him so much as a glance this time. He looked at his nails in a bored fashion, running his thumb over his fingernails and sighing. A haughty, world-weary sigh.
"He's making me say it again, isn't he?" he said, looking up at Remus over long, black lashes.
Remus frowned slightly and made as if to reply.
"I. Don't. Like. Him," he told Remus.
This time, Remus had to turn his surprised laugh into a cough.
"This is preposterous!" said Snape, standing up.
Lord Grimmauld looked at Remus, his left eyebrow lifting minimally. He rolled his eyes at the Duchess' eldest son and turned to his colleague.
"D.I. Snape, can you just do as the man asks?" Remus said. "Please."
"Excuse me?"
"Look, you can either leave and let me complete this interview in peace, or I can go and find the Chief and explain you're hampering the investigation. Your choice," Remus said, suddenly feeling bone tired.
But he was standing up now and taller than Snape. Tall and determined and somehow unyielding. Snape took a step back, hesitantly.
"Well?" said Remus.
"I'm reporting you for harassment!" Snape said to Remus, looking furiously between him and the man still reclining in his chair.
Remus said nothing.
"Please do," Sirius Black said, looking vaguely amused. "I'm reporting you for being insufferable, and we both know my complaint is accurate, whereas yours is pathetic."
Snape flushed a deep red and left the room in a hurry, slamming the door shut. Remus winced.
"I'm sorry."
Remus' head shot up in surprise. The very last thing he expected was a Black apologising to him. Sirius Black smiled.
"I'm infuriating. It gets me into trouble. So much trouble. I hope this doesn't cause problems for you. I told you I'd speak when we were alone, and I shall. I've a feeling Chief Inspector Moody will be interested in what you have to report back."
He sighed, only this time there was no pretence, just weariness.
"I'm sorry," Remus said. "Sorry about Snape, he's…"
"Insufferable. I'm well aware," Sirius Black smiled.
Remus liked his smile. It was affectionate, almost intimate.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, I was rude, and I wasn't feeling well and…" his voice trailed off.
"You have nothing to apologise for, Remus Lupin."
Remus felt his cheeks blush and cleared his throat once again, playing with the edge of his notebook. Lord Grimmauld seemed to mistake it for impatience on his part.
"I understand, you need to continue the interview. My mistake," he said.
His elegant hands fidgeted as though playing with an invisible ring on his little finger. He noticed Remus observing him and clasped his hands together, tightly. His face had taken on a tense, closed-off expression.
"Take your time," Remus said quietly.
The man nodded, taking a deep breath.
"I… my father and I, we had a… a row, last night…"
"I'm sorry," Remus found himself saying.
Sirius Black huffed softly.
"Not the first time."
He met Remus' eyes and dropped his gaze.
"I… Mary told me mty father wanted to speak with me, it was about eleven o'clock. I had had a few whiskeys with Prongso- Dr Potter- by then, but, you know, one does not simply refuse Orion Black…"
Remus nodded.
"I can imagine," he said.
A grateful smile flashed across the man's drawn face.
"When I got there, he had some documents spread out on the table," he said.
"His study?" Remus asked.
"Yes. Turned out it was his will."
Remus leaned forwards.
"I thought- we all thought- he had disowned me. Told me, told everyone. I was too much of a disappointment. A disgrace to the family name, etcetera…"
Sirius Black clenched his jaw and looked away.
"But?" Remus said.
"He said he was giving me one last chance. He said if I agreed to marry Hettie Lestrange, I could still become the Duke of Grimmauld after his death."
"Hettie Lestrange?"
"Bellatrix's sister-in-law, daughter of the Duke of Salazar."
He could see the man trying to suppress an involuntary shudder.
"Rodolphus Lestrange's sister?"
Sirius Black gave a curt nod.
"What did you say?" Remus asked.
"She's a fascist bitch, just like the rest of them. I told him I'd rather drink rat poison," he said, with fake nonchalance.
Remus bit the side of his lip.
"I presume that didn't go down too well?" he said.
The dark-haired man was sitting very straight, his back not touching the chair, his hands clenched beside him.
"Not particularly, no."
Bit of an understatement, Remus thought.
"What did he say?" Remus said.
"He went on a slight rant, subjected me to a… lengthy diatribe, about my failings, about what he would do to me if I didn't agree to his demands, how he would ruin my life…"
"What did you do?"
"What I always do. I refused. I said no."
"How did he react?" Remus asked, almost afraid to ask.
"He…"
Sirius Black paused, a flicker of shame crossing his face, before raising his chin.
"He slapped me across the face."
Remus wasn't sure what to say. Your father was a bastard presented itself as an appropriate response, but he kept his mouth shut.
"He was wearing his cygnet ring, which, you know…" the man said, waving his hand in the general direction of his cheek.
"It must have been a strong blow to cause an injury like that," Remus said, looking at the broken skin over Sirius Black's high cheekbone.
Lord Grimmauld didn't answer.
"He shouldn't have hit you," Remus said.
The man looked down immediately, clearly embarrassed.
"And after he… after that, what happened?" Remus asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.
"I told him no matter what he did, I would never change my mind. He said he was going to throw me out, make sure I never got a job," Lord Grimmauld said, still sitting bolt upright, but refusing to look at Remus. "He told me I had twelve hours to change my mind, and if I didn't, I should prepare to leave before lunchtime today, or he would have me arrested for trespassing."
"And then?" Remus said.
"I told him I was going to go and pack, and that he could stick his inheritance and his title up his arse."
Remus couldn't help a small smile.
"What did he say?"
"Nothing. He knew he had lost, he was raging. Not disowning me, all these years, it was, there was no kindness… he hoped to bend me to his will, in the end. I was… I thought it prudent to leave."
"Did you think he might come at you again?" Remus asked.
Sirius Black's eyes darkened.
"He said he should have had me put down, whatever that means…"
Remus could see the tension in the man's body, the way his lips were firmly closed now, his eyes resolutely staring at the ground.
"Was your relationship with Orion Black always this difficult?" Remus said.
"Yes."
"Why did you stay?"
Sirius Black's jaw tensed again.
"I had to … you wouldn't understand."
"Try me," Remus said.
He shook his head.
"Stupidity. I should have left, years ago."
"Did anyone hear you arguing last night?" Remus said.
"Probably," he said. "We were both shouting, anyone could have overheard us."
Yet nobody had intervened.
"Your father shouted at you, regularly," Remus said.
The aristocrat looked at Remus and nodded.
"And not the first time he hit you either," he said.
There it was again, that split second of shame, his eyes closing.
"Lord Grimmauld?"
He knew he needed to stay professional in his dealings with this man, but he couldn't help the kindness, the warmth, in his voice.
This time Sirius Black looked at him, really looked at him, and he saw the emotions brimming under the surface of his stunningly beautiful, silver eyes – shame, guilt. A pause.
"No. It started when I was nine."
"What started?"
"My, uh, that is to say, my father said something cruel to Reggie and I stood up to him. Before that, he tended to pick on my little brother, say horrid things to him. Constantly. He would send him to his room, with no food or drink for the rest of the day. Reggie would drag me along with him. I knew he was frightened of Papa. But that time, he raised his hand as though to slap Reggie… he was only six. Something inside me snapped, I couldn't back down. Got in between them. Reggie left. I refused to follow him. He lost it. Hit me across the face so hard I couldn't remember where I was for a few minutes afterwards."
Remus watched the man swallow, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he tried to control his breathing again.
"I'm sorry," Remus said.
Was it possible to convey in two words what he meant, in a way that did not sound pitying or condescending? Perhaps it was, as Sirius Black continued speaking, now looking at his hands.
"I was fine. Completely fine. No scars or anything. I, uh, after that, things… things had changed. A barrier had been crossed. I think he tried his best to break me, and I resisted him. I refused to be cowed into submission. Things got… a bit… bothersome…"
He had been going for a casual tone of voice, clipped, but there he stopped, his voice trembling. Remus had the sudden urge to walk over and envelop the man in his arms.
"How bad?" he asked instead, keeping his voice soft.
"The, uh, the… situation got… a bit heated, over the next year. Until, uh, it was happening more frequently… used his belt and so on."
His head dropped lower.
"Did your mother not…" Remus asked, unable to keep the shock out of his voice.
"She knew."
A simple reply. Remus could hear his blood pounding in his ears. He wasn't even aware that he was now standing.
"What happened?" he said, moving closer to the dark-haired man.
"Someone rang the police and said I had been in an accident. They called an ambulance. Police said a woman called. Nobody would admit to it. I was taken to hospital. The police spoke to my father and he denied any responsibility, so they closed the file. When I was discharged and sent home with the chauffeur, my parents were standing at the front door, waiting. I was told… I was… I had disgraced the family name, that I was being sent to Boarding School, to Hogwarts College, as a punishment. Our family had always employed private tutors, up until then. I left the next day. Nobody was allowed to speak to me. I wasn't… I wasn't allowed to see Reggie. Helga, our cook, made me a cake. Found it in my trunk when I got there. Emma, one of the maids, shoved some biscuits into my jacket pocket. I, it was just a gesture, not anything… but, uh, at that time, just to know that someone actually… they, uh, they would have been fired, you know, on the spot, if he found out?" Sirius Black said, trying to laugh.
Remus nodded, hoping he didn't look as appalled as he felt.
"And after that?" he asked.
"My father came with me to Hogwarts, and we met with Dumbledore, the Headmaster. My father told him I was a delinquent, needed harsh discipline, regular caning. Wanted to make doubly sure that flogging with the birch in accordance with the Hogwarts' fashion was still a popular feature of the curriculum, and all that*. I was expecting it. Dumbledore listened and nodded along, but after my father left, he told me that he didn't personally believe in the value of corporal punishment. He said he would base his opinion of me on my behaviour from then on, that I was starting off with a clean slate. Papa was on the Board of Governors though, he made sure to warn all the other teachers. They knew I was trouble. They singled me out. So I gave them hell. It was better than home though. I had James."
"You had some fun, then, in school, I hope?" Remus said.
Sirius Black smiled a genuine smile. Remus was taken aback by how much he wanted to see that smile again, to make him smile, to be the cause of such happiness for this man.
"We did. Spiffing. We were a handful. Constantly in trouble for pranking everyone, harmless, stupid pranks. We always did well, top of the class, and most of the teachers liked us after a while. I think they looked forward to our nonsense. Knew it was us, but could never figure out how we did it, so we got away with murder," the aristocrat said with a grin.
Remus Lupin's brow raised.
"Unfortunate phrasing," said Sirius, grimacing.
His eyes were still dancing though. He was so charming, so charming, Remus wondering was there anything he wouldn't get away with. He had the feeling most people would have let him off scot-free if they ever caught him misbehaving.
"Just a tad," Remus commented drily.
"Of course, Prongso and I, we made some enemies in Hogwarts. A gang of racist, sadistic little bullies. They tried to target Prongso and it backfired fantastically. We ended up targeting them, mercilessly. One or two of them were Prefects, and Prefects had the right to bring pupils to teachers for caning or slippering**. They knew which teachers hated us, so we got punished rather a lot. But it wasn't the same. It was nothing compared to what Papa… I didn't care. They could see I wasn't afraid. And it infuriated them all," the man made a scoffing, almost bored, sound.
"These public schools," Remus said, unable to contain his fury. "I don't understand why parents allow their children to go there, it's just so…"
"We English are remarkably… cruel, I suppose," Sirius said, with a light shrug, feigning indifference. "Lots of boys left school emotionally stunted, perfect fellows to run the Empire, what? James' parents would have freaked if they knew, he never told them, didn't want them to worry, or to take him out of Hogwarts. We were best friends. Like brothers. Closer than brothers. James' parents adored him, and they held all sorts of unorthodox, eccentric, left-wing, foreign views, according to my parents."
"You mean they didn't agree with cruelty? They believed that praise and having positive role models might work better than aggression in helping children's moral development?" Remus said, with an aggressive flick of his notebook.
"Precisely. The horror," Sirius Black said, looking at Remus with an emotion he couldn't place.
"Such bastards," Remus said. "If I ever have children and anyone dares lift a hand against one of them…"
He stopped and cleared his throat. Why the hell could he not remain professional and distant, dispassionate, the way he usually conducted all his investigations?
"Pardon me," he said, feeling his cheeks grow hot.
"I expect you will make an excellent father someday," Sirius replied.
Remus was sure he might spontaneously combust from a combination of this man's voice, his words, the light in his eyes. And something else, something far too beautiful and frightening. He couldn't look Lord Grimmauld in the eye any longer, so he concentrated on his notebook, scribbling random words, hoping he looked convincingly formal. Normal.
Please can I just go back to being completely normal? Good at my job, sensible, sane, rational, normal?
"Of course, my parents got all the end of term reports, they knew I was no angel. But my father was more careful now. If I came home for the Summer, he would deliver any punishments early on. Made sure not to try anything that would… uh, leave any, anything visible, you know, in the final two weeks before we returned to school. I did my best to avoid them. Spent as much time with the Potters as I could get away with. My brother, my brother was not…"
For the first time Remus saw tears in the man's eyes. He looked away immediately, horrified that Remus had seen him like that, and tried to compose himself. Remus clutched his fountain pen tightly, looking at the lines on his page.
"I'm sorry," he said. "You don't have to tell me."
"My brother… from the day I went into hospital until I the day I left Hogwarts, he was, he was forbidden by my father from talking to me. So were the servants. It was… I was… rather lonely, I suppose. I hated Reggie for being so afraid, for not being willing to disobey them. I dreaded going home. Eventually I realised it wasn't just that he was too afraid, it was also… my brother, he, well, he didn't care enough. We had grown apart. We had nothing in common."
Sirius Black had moved so that Remus could no longer see his face.
"But surely your brother, he must have started talking…" Remus said, anxiously sucking at his lower lip.
"After I had to, after I left… you see, I had to leave Hogwarts after…"
"I heard you were expelled," Remus said quietly, hoping to make it easier for Sirius to continue.
There was silence. Sirius Black's figure seemed frozen.
"I'm sorry, I overheard your cousin Bellatrix saying you had been asked to leave after physically assaulting another student," said Remus. "I already know."
I already know and it doesn't change how I feel about you.
Remus caught his breath and shook his head forcefully. What the ever-living fuck was wrong with him?
He heard the other man take a deep breath and continue.
"After I was sent home… he, Regulus, had a new private tutor, Miss Minerva McGonagall. She had a reputation for being extremely stern. My parents were delighted when she accepted the post. When I showed up to my brother's lessons after a few… I couldn't start immediately, not after my father… she didn't bat an eyelid. She was… she was strict alright, damned strict, but far kinder and warmer and more humane than any teacher I had ever had. I don't know how she did it, but all of a sudden, in our lessons, Reggie was talking to me. And soon all the household staff were too. We're not close, but at least, we… we exist in each other's lives. Even if I tease him or antagonise him at every available opportunity, and he mostly just replies with monosyllabic answers or ignores me. It's… well, it's the fact that I haven't lost him entirely, you know?"
"There is still hope," Remus said, almost a question.
"He's still young, only twenty-one. I hope…"
Sirius turned around and looked at Remus once again.
"I hope so too," Remus said.
There was silence for a few moments, Sirius looking out at the grounds with a brooding expression and Remus looking at Sirius' profile - his high cheekbones, his jaw, his long, straight, nose, his elegant posture.
"When did your father stop… did your father?" Remus said, feeling unable to continue.
"It… the last severe punishment happened after I was expelled. I couldn't walk for, uh… for a while. Since then, it's… hardly at all, just slapping my face, I, uh…"
The man stopped as Remus moved closer to him, looking furious.
"That's not alright, Sirius! It's wrong! He shouldn't have…" Remus blurted out, his hands reaching out as though to touch the man's waistcoat and then pulling back at the last minute. "Sorry, I should have said Lord-"
"Sirius is much better, thank you," the man replied with a smile.
Remus cleared his throat, feeling hot and bothered, for some reason.
"I'm pretty sure he was afraid of Minnie, of McGonagall. That's why he…" Sirius said. "She was a force to be reckoned with."
"Good," said Remus.
He was thinking that if the Duke hadn't been murdered, someone else ought to have done it.
"You must think me a coward," Sirius Black replied, his voice shook slightly, laced with bitterness.
"What do you mean?" Remus said. "Why would I…"
"That I let him, that I let him do that, all those years? I was sixteen when I knew I should have fought back. Eighteen when I realised I was stronger than him. I should have… fuck! I couldn't… I wanted to, desperately, but… his voice, his presence, I can't explain. It was… I would freeze, unable to think or defend myself… I was weak! I've never been able to… you're the first person I've ever told, Remus, the only one who knows the truth. I know what you must think. That I asked for it, and that if… I should have stopped him, I could have stopped him… sometimes I'm disgusted at myself too."
"I don't think that. I will never think that. You were only a child. He treated you savagely from the age of nine, and you didn't deserve it!" Remus said, wanting, needing, the man to believe him. "You acted bravely. I see no cowardice in anything you did, nothing to feel ashamed of. I admire your courage. Your refusal to yield. Your expectations are unreasonable."
"Father told me I was a coward. He was right," Sirius said, swallowed hard. "James would never have allowed it. He would have stood up to him."
"You said Dr Potter came from a family who loved him, who gave him a sense that he was worthy of respect, of self-worth. Of course he would have reacted differently if your father had tried to hit him! That's entirely different!"
Sirius Black nodded stiffly.
"I still don't know why I decided to tell you all this," he said. "You must think ill of me."
His face was a paler shade than usual, and his fingernails were digging into his palms.
Remus had no idea either.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I can assure you, that is the furthest thing from-"
The man's Adam's apple moved once more, and he nodded.
"I'm both glad and sorry that I told you. I… I've been carrying this secret around for years… I, it feels a bit… it's a relief, in a way, you know the truth and you don't completely, wholly, despise me for-" his voice shook.
"I'm very glad you told me," Remus said, putting out his hand.
Sirius' hand felt cold, and slightly tremulous.
"It's the chill," Sirius Black said, with a practiced lie.
Remus put out both his hands and took the man's hand in his, squeezing it gently, trying to put as much kindness and compassion as he could into a simple gesture.
"Thank you," he said.
Sirius gripped his hands tightly, earnestly, before letting go and clearing his throat.
"I, I know you will have to let the others… your Chief, Snape, know about this, all this… I understand. It won't look good for me if I'm the heir, will it? I hope he had another will somewhere? Reggie is expecting to get everything, poor bastard. I don't even want it. I have never wanted it."
"Fuck Reggie," Remus muttered to himself.
"Mr. Lupin, language!" said Sirius, with a small grin in his direction.
He had said that out loud. Fucking hell…
"Apologies, I, well, I'm relieved you told me, it would look worse if you had hidden this from us," Remus added.
"And Mr. Lupin?" said Sirius.
"Yes?"
"It's not Reggie's fault. He's an idiot, but none of this is his fault."
"I suppose not."
It was not Reggie's fault if their father was a bastard. He knew that. Lord Regulus must have been terrified of the Duke. Yet he couldn't help feeling angry at Sirius' younger brother.
"Remus, wait up!"
He turned around to see Lily jogging down the corridor after him. She always seemed to be running places, he liked her vitality. He smiled.
"Do you mind if I join you, for Lord Regulus' interview?" she asked.
"No, I don't mind…" he stopped, scanning her face for clues.
"Great, thanks. I-"
"Lily, Please, for the love of… did the Chief ask you to accompany me?" he said, pressing a harassed hand to the back of his neck.
Lily looked distinctly uncomfortable. She nodded, tight-lipped.
"Shit," he muttered to himself with a sigh. "Did he say anything about… is he unhappy with how I've conducted myself? Has anyone complained?"
"A few complaints. Quite a few…"
"Fuck," said Remus, putting a hand on his forehead and making a face.
"They're all bastards, Remus, don't give it another thought," said Lily, striding beside him with a determined expression. "I'd be worried if any of them liked me."
The image of a dark-haired man, elegant, with brooding good looks and striking silver eyes immediately popped into his mind. I hope he likes me.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Remus said with a hoarse groan.
"Remus, it'll be fine," Lily said, stopping in front of the closed door and giving Remus an encouraging smile. "Talk to Moody after we've finished with this posh fella, alright?"
At least it was Lily, he thought, a dream, compared to Snape.
"I'm starving," Lily muttered, inhaling deeply. "The smell from the kitchens is absolutely gorgeous!"
Remus sniffed.
"Can't smell a thing," he said.
"Are you coming down with something?" Lily asked, looking at him with concern.
"Not at all. I haven't really been able to smell anything since the whole… Greyback… thing."
"Oh," said Lily, the concern on her face increasing.
"I'm sure it's nothing," he said, determined to avoid any further hospital visits.
"Let me get this straight, you heard people shouting?" Lily said, folding her arms.
"Correct," Lord Regulus whispered.
"But?"
"I didn't hear anything. That is to say, I failed to actually-"
"You heard people shouting, yet somehow you were simultaneously also unable to hear anything that they said?"
"Correct," the man, pressing the palms of his hands into his trousers.
"Lord Regulus, I don't mean to sound rude, but we both know that's absolute and utter rubbish."
Lord Regulus gaped at her in shock.
"Lord Regulus?" Lily said.
"What?"
"Are you lying?"
"I-"
The young man's face looked terrified now.
"Answer the question," Lily said, her tone implacable.
"I heard a racket, raised voices, I thought, but I couldn't hear-"
"Voices. What voices? Did you recognise them?" Remus said.
"I, well, Papa-"
"Ah! So one of them was your father?" Lily said, sitting back more comfortably.
Regulus Black gulped, as though he hadn't meant to reveal that information.
"Is that a yes?"
He nodded.
"Lupin, I'm noting for the record, that was a yes."
"Thank you, Evans."
"And your father was arguing with?" Lily asked.
Regulus shook his head.
"No-one. Nobody. I mean, I didn't hear, I don't know who he was."
"Another man?" said Lily, raising her brow. "Your memory is mysteriously returning, Mr. Black. How fascinating."
Regulus glared at her.
"It was your brother's voice you overheard, wasn't it?" Remus said quietly.
Regulus locked eyes with him. Lily could read fear on the man's face.
"I cannot be certain, Mr. Lupin," Lord Regulus said.
"I can," Remus continued, reluctance in his voice. "Your brother told me everything."
"Everything?"
"Everything."
Regulus' eyes shifted nervously from one to the other.
"They were arguing, just arguing," he said hurriedly, words spilling out of his mouth as though his brain couldn't keep up with his thoughts.
"Arguing about what, Mr. Black?" Lily said.
Regulus looked thoroughly put out.
"It's Lord Regulus to you!" he snapped.
"Is it?" Lily said, looking at him blankly. "Look, I couldn't care less whether you call yourself a Mister or a Lord, stop lying, and answer the question!"
She was quite intimidating, with her fiery green eyes, something about the energy she emanated - confident, clever, astute, no bullshit, no airs and graces. Fearless. And she knew it.
Regulus seemed to shrink back in on himself, his leg moving backwards and forwards at a frenzied pace.
"They were arguing, calling each other names, nothing violent, just the run of the mill row between them, nothing extraordinarily-" he said.
"I see," Remus interrupted. "Just a run of the mill row, was it?"
"Exactly," said Lord Regulus, looking relieved.
"Yes, your father physically assaulting your brother, and nobody doing anything about it?"
Lily glanced at Remus, the tone of his voice distracting her. He was quietly seething.
"What?" Regulus' voice rose higher, on edge.
"You don't consider your father hitting your brother as violence, do you?" Remus continued.
She could tell he was attempting to look calm, composed, but she could see the cold, undisguised fury in his eyes.
"Remus," she cautioned.
What was going on? It was most out of character for Remus to be acting in this manner. He felt things deeply, she could tell, but he had always presented himself very differently at work. As someone who regularly repressed his feelings, and used logic and rational arguments to win people around. He was not someone to succumb to strong emotions.
"Answer the question, Black," Lily said.
"He… he told you?" Lord Regulus looked at Remus.
"Everything," Remus confirmed.
"My father, he was always angry at my brother, at everyone, I mean to say…" his voice trailed off.
"What are you saying?" Lily asked, feeling exasperated.
"I heard him calling my brother names, the usual ones, nothing out of the ordinary, what?"
She heard a low growl escape Remus' lips.
"I say, are you alright?" Regulus looked at Remus warily.
"Perfectly alright, thank you. Sudden onset neck pain."
"Oh," said Lord Regulus.
"And lower back pain," Lily said.
"That too," said Remus. "A pain in the perineum."
"Ah," said Lord Regulus.
He seemed a bit thrown by it.
"And, in my case, some chest pain. Bilateral."
Remus snorted and coughed aloud.
Lord Regulus stared at them blankly.
"I'm not sure I-"
"So then, you interrupted the argument," Lily said, cutting him off.
"What? I say, I did no such thing!" Lord Regulus said.
"Well, you spoke to your father afterwards," Lily insisted.
Lord Regulus' eyes flicked between them, nervously wetting his lower lip.
"We didn't, I asked was he alright, he said he wasn't-"
"Pah! Was he alright? What a load of fucking-"
"Remus!" Lily said.
She watched Remus take a deep breath and compose himself. She needed to talk to him. He was acting in an unusual manner. Impulsive, almost erratic. Most unlike him. She was worried about him. She needed to find out what exactly had happened to him during the Greyback case. Was he even fit to be at work?
"Lord Regulus?" she said.
"What?"
Lily rolled her eyes.
"He was talking to someone else before I spoke with him."
"Who was that then?" Lily asked.
"Dr Potter," said Lord Regulus, with a pleased smirk.
"Are you sure?" said Lily.
"Yes, positive," said Lord Regulus. "He slammed the door shut as he left, and I saw the back of him as he stormed off. Kicked the Japanese vase on the landing and near broke it."
"Dr Potter maintains he did no such thing," Lily said.
She turned and shared a grim look with Remus.
"I say, what an appalling liar! Although it is a well-known fact that Italians are a race of liars, so not entirely unexpected," Lord Regulus added.
"Yes, funny that, an entire nation of liars," Remus said through his teeth.
"That's what my father told me," said Regulus.
"Of course he did," said Remus.
"Only I expect you'll find there's good and bad and in between, just like us. Mussolini obviously is-" Lily said.
"Oh gosh, yes, how frightfully silly of me! Of course there are some very modern, impressive Italian fascists. Mussolini is rather splendid, I agree. And very upfront. I simply adore the classical inspiration with the modern twist that the train station in Rome-"
"Help me," Remus muttered under his breath.
"Mussolini is… not your typical Italian, I suspect, is he? And I suppose the Irish are…" Lily said, with an exaggerated smile.
She was enjoying this, and Remus groaned.
"As a rule? Also liars. Backward, lazy, dirty drunkards, completely unable to self-govern," Lord Regulus said. "We never employed any Irish maids. Papa expressly forbid it.***"
Remus placed a hand in front of his face.
"So, Mr. Black, to get back to your father's murder, what exactly did you discuss with him, on the night of his death?" she said.
The Duke's youngest son was wringing his hands distractedly.
"Lord Regulus?" said Lily.
"Nothing of high import," he said.
"I swear to you, I am going to lose my damned mind if you don't answer the question, Lord Regulus!"
Lily's mouth fell open as she looked at Remus. Lord Regulus looked taken aback too.
"I asked him for… something, and he said no," he whispered. "No row, no fuss."
"Money?" asked Lily.
"Yes," Lord Regulus squirmed uncomfortably. "The allowance is, well, rather… it is rare for one's finances to last until the end of the month."
"Tight, was he?" Remus asked.
"Yes, if you must know!" Lord Regulus snapped. "Very."
"Just as well he's dead now, isn't it?" Lily mused. "Now the heir can spend as much money as he wants."
"I'm sure that my-" Lord Regulus stopped.
"Your?" Lily said, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm sure my… er, family, will continue to manage the Black's wealth carefully and-"
"Your brother," Remus said.
"What?"
"Your brother. You were going to say your brother."
"No, I was not."
"Lord Regulus, you are a terrible liar, I'm sure you know that by now?" Lily said.
Lord Regulus swallowed.
"I have no idea what you mean," he said, clasping his hands together tightly.
"You overheard your brother arguing with your father. You burst in and challenged your father about your inheritance, the inheritance you had been promised for years, you were angry, something inside you snapped. You killed him," Remus said calmly.
"I did not kill my father, you swine!" Lord Regulus shouted, rising from his chair.
"Lord Regulus, kindly refrain from insulting members of the-" Lily said, also rising.
"I did not kill him! I may not have liked him, but I am not a murderer!"
Lord Regulus was breathing heavily.
"You didn't like him?" Remus said, brushing some lint from the sleeve of his jacket. "I find that hard to believe."
Lord Regulus' fists clenched.
"You know nothing about me," he said, taking a deep breath and looking furious. "Nothing!"
"Pray, do tell, Mr. Black," said Lily pleasantly, motioning for Regulus to sit down again.
"Yes, enlighten us," said Remus, folding his arms.
Lord Regulus shook his head.
"And you? I believe he was cruel to you as a child too?" Remus said.
Lily noted his voice was less angry.
"I was… it was merited, I failed to meet his expectations… my schoolwork…" Lord Regulus paused, his voice trembling.
Lily waited.
"I was… disappointing," the man's left hand was squeezing the fingers of his right hand too tightly, turning them bright red.
Lily stayed silent.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm feeling unwell, my hands feel unusual, pins and needles, and around my lips," Lord Regulus said, his breathing sounding irregular now. "I must, I have to leave."
He looked a bit panicked. She was concerned he might faint.
"We can resume this conversation at a later stage, Lord Regulus," she said. "Please let us know when you are well enough to continue."
"Of course," he said. "Thank you, Miss Evans."
He headed for the door.
"Lord Regulus, one final thing, I think it only fair to tell you. I'm Irish," Lily said.
She smiled.
He looked at her in horror.
"I say…" Lord Regulus croaked. "I'm frightfully, that is to say, I have no-"
"Good day, Lord Regulus," Lily said.
He seemed unable to answer her, closing the door behind him in haste.
Lily waited until she heard his footsteps hurrying away, then groaned theatrically.
"Are all the aristocracy such utter twats, Remus?" she asked. "Don't worry, it's a rhetorical question. Ugh! Do you think he did it, though? He seemed awfully on edge for someone innocent. And it looks like he was the last person to see him alive."
"Fucked if I know. Both he and Lord Grimmauld had reason to wish the Duke dead," Remus said with a heavy sigh. "I'll have to fill you in on what Sirius told me."
"Sirius? I'm more interested in Dr Potter," Lily said, pursing her lips shut tight and choosing not to comment on Remus' use of first name terms.
"Oh really?" Remus said, his left eyebrow raised.
"Not like that, you idiot!" she said. "I meant as in why he lied to me earlier on. We need to re-interview that man!"
She could feel her cheeks burning. Damn her ridiculous pink and freckled complexion. Damn that man's stupid arms and stupid smile and stupid everything.
Remus nodded.
"Sorry," she added absentmindedly, fiddling with the back of her earring. "Everything about this case is annoying me."
Including his stupid hair. And his stupid dimple.
"Are you alright, Remus?"
"Pardon? I'm perfectly fine, yes, thanks."
He was most definitely not fine. When they finished work, she was dragging him out for a pint and a chat.
They found Dr Potter sprawled across a leather Chesterfield armchair, his legs on the armrests, throwing a golf ball into the air repeatedly. Lord Grimmauld was pacing the floor in front of him, somewhat agitatedly. They spoke in low whispers, but the sound of occasional laughter filled the room as they knocked politely and entered.
"Hullo, Miss Evans, Mr Lupin," Lord Grimmauld said, with a glint in his eyes as he looked at Remus.
"Good morning," Lily said, completely at ease and refusing to address him by his title.
"I see you've already met my best friend, Dr Potter," Sirius Black said, beaming at James Potter, who stood up hurriedly and pulled his waistcoat down, trying to look respectable. "I believe he did not make a favourable first impression?"
She watched Dr Potter narrow his eyes suspiciously.
"Padfoot, what are you doing?"
"Why nothing, Prongso, old chap. Nothing at all."
"Huh," Dr Potter said, folding his arm and glaring at his friend.
"Dr Potter, we need to speak to you, immediately, regarding some new information," she said, eyeing him coolly and glancing back at the long-haired man.
The aristocrat seemed oblivious to the fact that she wanted him out.
"Miss Evans, allow me the honour of presenting my good friend and-" he said, with a polite bow in Dr Potter's direction.
Lily rolled her eyes.
"Could you leave, you ass-hat? Miss Evans here is trying to interview me," Dr Potter said. "And so is Mr Lupin."
Sirius Black laughed as he looked at Remus with a smile, a warm smile, unlike anything she had yet noted, before turning back to Lily.
"Evans, a word of warning. Prongso here may talk like an idiot and look like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."
Remus lupin tried not to smile back.
"Excuse me?" Lily said.
"You really aren't helping," said Dr Potter, waving his hand at Sirius Black in an effort to get him to leave.
He too looked as though he was trying not to laugh.
"Duck Soup, 1933," Dr Potter said, shaking his head.
"My favourite line from that film. You've watched it, surely, Miss Evans?" Sirius said.
"I don't have time for much cinema," Lily said.
"Suffering sciatica, of course not!" Sirius said, winking at Dr Potter. "Too busy in your line of work."
"It's a Gift, 1934?" Dr Potter said.
"Correct, Prongso, my man!" said Sirius Black, slapping him on the back heartily.
"You seem very chipper, Mr. Black, considering your father just died?" Lily Evans said.
Sirius stopped and looked at Dr Potter.
"My father and I… we were never on good terms, everyone knew that, I shan't start pretending I liked the man," he said. "I can't stand deviousness or deceit. As for this, it's my way of coping with, well, with everything… has been, for a long time."
Dr Potter clapped a hand onto his shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.
"We know Padfoot, we know," he said.
His voice had a quiet, soft note, which Lily found rather attractive.
"Dr Potter, you misled me, earlier on," Lily said in a calm voice, once Lord Grimmaud had departed.
"I did?" Dr Potter said, shifting uneasily in his seat.
"Do not even attempt to lie to me, or God help me, I will have you arrested for Perjury or Obstruction of Justice or some such thing!"
"Righto," said Dr Potter, clearing his throat.
"Firstly, you failed to mention that your friend, Sirius Black, met with his father last night and they had an almighty row. Secondly, you failed to mention that you subsequently had a blazing row of your own with him," she said, looking at him intently.
"Ah," Dr Potter said, wincing. "Touché."
"Just tell me what happened, Dr Potter, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God, or you will regret it."
"I do apologise, Miss Evans, I… it is my fault, entirely. I didn't want… I was worried about, about Sirius being blamed for- he is completely innocent, you see. He told me… the fact is, I'm sorry."
"Could you please speak in coherent sentences, Dr Potter?" Lily said, tapping her pen in irritation.
Dr Potter sighed and placed his elbow on the desk, running a hand down his face.
"Yes. Yes, of course. When Sirius was called in to speak with his father, I knew it was bad news. When I saw him afterwards, I just… I lost it, Miss Evans. He was trying to tell me it was no big deal, blood dripping down his face. I asked him before, if his father hit him. He always denied it, but I knew. I fucking well knew. That bastard."
"What did you do?" asked Remus.
"I went into Orion's study, grabbed him by the collar and shoved him up in front of the bookcase and told him if he ever went anywhere near Sirius again, I would dismember him."
Dr Potter was glaring back at Lily now, as though daring her to say anything.
"I see," she said. "Gave him a piece of your mind."
"Yes," Dr Potter said. "And I'm not the slightest bit sorry. He deserved worse."
"He was murdered," Remus Lupin said mildly.
"Like I said," Dr Potter said.
"How did Orion respond?" Lily said.
"Pah! He threatened me with the usual bullshit. Said he'd report me to the Medical Council, bla bla bla," said Dr Potter, fixing his cuff links with a derisive scoff.
"Lucky for you he didn't," Lily said, inclining her head to the side. "You could have been in trouble."
"I don't think you understand," Dr Potter said, leaning across the table. "If my threats meant that bastard stayed away from Sirius for the rest of his life and left him in peace, it would have been worth it."
"Are you saying you would have done anything to keep your friend safe?" Lily said, eyes locked onto his.
"Anything," Dr Potter said.
"Even murder?" Lily asked.
"Possibly," Dr Potter said, moving to lean against the back of his chair. "Luckily, somebody else beat me to it."
"Allegedly," Lily said, flicking her notebook shut.
"Think what you will, Evans," said Dr Potter, his gaze hard.
"It's difficult to trust suspects who lie," she retorted sharply.
"Think what you will," he repeated.
"And those who have so little respect for women," she added.
"What?"
"Lying again?"
"I can't think of anything I've said or done in the past few days to merit such harsh criticism from you," Dr Potter said.
"Therein lies your problem, Dr Potter," said Lily.
His eye contact didn't falter. They must have been staring at each other for a long time. She heard Remus clear his throat. At the same time, the door opened, and Snape walked in.
"Do you mind, D.I. Snape? We are in the middle of an interview with this suspect!" Lily said, her tone of voice deadly.
"As I shall shortly be leading this investigation, Miss Evans, I think it is up to me to decide what interviews I need to sit in on," Severus Snape said, attempting a thin smile. "Mr Lupin, leave."
Remus and Lily shared a wordless glance, horrified.
"I don't think it's appropriate for Snivellus to be in charge of this investigation," said Dr Potter, looking at Snape with uncontained disgust.
"Excuse me?" said Lily. "Do you two know each other?"
Dr Potter gave a short, mirthless laugh.
"Oh yes, we go back a long way. Sniv here was a Prefect in Hogwarts, couple of years ahead of us. Had a special liking for Sirius and me," Dr Potter said, curling his lip. "The feeling was mutual."
"Rest assured, Potter, I shan't let our prior… acquaintance affect my professional dealings with you," Snape said, with a hint of a smile.
"You've got to be joking," Dr Potter snorted.
"Quite the opposite," Snape replied, sitting down. "Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"
Lily looked at Remus, feeling helpless.
"Mr Lupin, I thought my instructions were clear?" Snape said, without turning to look at Remus.
Remus looked at Lily in bewilderment. She shrugged, looking worried.
"Mr Lupin!" Snape's voice was sharper.
"Mr Lupin was-" Lily said.
"Miss Evans, kindly stop talking, and take notes," Snape said.
She turned to look at Remus one last time, mouthing find Moody at him. He nodded and left, shutting the door quietly behind him.
"Good riddance," said Snape, smiling at Dr Potter. "Now, from the beginning, Dr Potter."
"Va' fa' un culo***," said Dr Potter.
"What did you say?" Snape practically shouted.
"It's Italian. Cool. Cool, cool, cool," Dr Potter said.
"Good. Start talking, Potter, I haven't got all day. I know that either you or Sirius Black, or both of you, were responsible for the Duke's death, and I intend to prove it."
Dr Potter looked ready to murder him. The fact that Snape seemed to hate Dr Potter as much as he hated Remus Lupin, if not more, made it impossible to detest him quite as much as he probably deserved.
"Oh thank God, Remus, I swear to God I need you to talk me down, because the chances of me personally offing Severus Snape in the next few days have skyrocketed."
"I thought that was always a possibility?"
"After three hours of listening to his preposterous rantings, and the way he treated that suspect, they've climbed from possible to inevitable."
Remus Lupin's smile caught her attention. Something was wrong.
"So, what did the Chief say?"
"He's-" Remus started.
"Chief, what's going on?" Lily said sharply, as Chief Inspector Moody tried to walk past, surrounded by three other police officers. "Chief!"
Moody turned, looking from her to Remus with a resigned expression she had yet to see.
"Sideways promotion."
"What does that mean?" she insisted.
"I've been kicked off this case, moving to London, to Scotland Yard. Permanently."
"Superintendent?"
"No, same rank."
"Why?"
It didn't make sense.
"Assistant Chief Constable's decision."
"Shit!" Lily Evans said, staring at Moody's uneasy face. "Please don't tell me it's…"
One curt nod.
"It is. Assistant Chief Constable's decision. Seems Sebastian Lestrange is an ex- Hogwarts man himself. Snape was a First Year when he was Head Boy. They overlapped. Thinks highly of him. Personally recommended him for the promotion."
"Promotion for doing what?" Lily almost shouted. "He's mediocre, at best!"
Moody looked at Remus Lupin and sighed.
"Promoted for his handling of the Greyback case."
"He had nothing to do with that case!" Lily shouted. "Everyone knows that! It was Remus, and Remus alone!"
She couldn't stand the way Remus' eyes had clouded over.
"Lestrange seems to think Snape was the brains behind his arrest, despite my putting him right. On numerous occasions."
"Damn," Lily said, her green eyes fuming.
"Is he related to Lady Bellatrix's' husband?" Remus asked, keeping his own voice low.
"I don't doubt it," Moody's voice sank lower. "Second cousins or something like it."
"This stinks to high heavens," Lily said. "It shouldn't be allowed!"
"Rotten to the core," Moody replied. "Be careful, Lupin, Snape's after you, he's going to try something to discredit you."
"I'm well aware," Remus Lupin said, pushing his ash-coloured curls off his eyes with a resigned look. "I presume there's nothing we can…"
"Nothing," Moody whispered back. "Ring me if-"
"Ah, Chief Inspector, just the man we need. Pongo Parkinson's here to open the will. Care to join us?"
Bellatrix's voice, high, lilting, and delighted, interrupted them.
"Shall we?" she sneered, gesturing towards the very study where Orion's body had been recently discovered.
"Already?" said Moody. "It's only been-"
"Auntie Walburga is keen to make sure that the family affairs are looked after as quickly as possible."
Moody muttered something under his breath and followed her into the late Duke's study, where the rest of the Blacks were already assembled with Pongo Parkinson, plump and self-important behind the polished desk. Walburga sitting demurely nearby in a jade coloured, low-cut satin gown, Lord Regulus standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder, his left eye twitching. Lady Narcissa looking somewhat perturbed and playing with her gold bracelets, beside her a white-blond man, immaculately dressed in a rich navy suit with a peacock design cravat, murmuring in her ear with a self-satisfied expression on his face. Lady Andromeda standing apart from the group close to the tall cabinet, taking a sullen drag from her cigarette and occasionally coughing.
Lord Grimmauld stood on the opposite side of the room, away from the others, an unlit cigarette in his hand. At first glance he seemed cool and collected, but as their eyes met across the room, Remus sensed disquiet in his gaze. Remus wondered if his hands had trembled too much when he tried to light it. He looked like he needed one. Dr Potter was standing beside him, his white shirtsleeves rolled up, looking furious, as though daring anyone to so much as try to antagonise his best friend. Remus thought he looked like he might throw a good punch. He found himself veering towards them and disregarding Moody who remained at the end of the room, arms folded, in front of the doors, as though blocking the exit.
As Lily joined Remus, Lord Grimmauld leaned towards her.
"What the hell is your problem, Evans?" he hissed quietly.
"Excuse me?" she said, looking entirely unafraid.
"It was a quote! You heard a fucking quote from The Gay Divorcee!"
"Oh sure, a film where they openly discuss sex with the scullery maids?" she said calmly, out loud.
Lord Grimmauld's cheeks turned pink.
"What?" he said, looking confused.
"There is in fact no legal requirement to read a will out loud, but as requested, I shall now do so…" Pongo Parkinson paused to don a pair of pince-nez glasses. "I, Orion Henri Black, eighteenth Duke of Grimmauld, name my eldest son, Sirius Orion Black, as sole heir to my estate-"
Within a split second, the room was in uproar.
Notes
(Yes I know the links do not work on but I am not bothered about any of this)
* If you think that is in any way exaggerated… books/2017/apr/08/school-boarding-secrets-crimes-alex-renton-kipling-rowling-dahl-churchill
**Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of a number of hits (known as "strokes" or "cuts") with a single cane usually made of rattan, generally applied to the offender's bare or clothed buttocks, or hands (on the palm). Slippering is a term for the act of smacking the buttocks, or the hands, with a slipper as a form of corporal punishment. Both were very common in boarding schools in the UK well into the second half of the twentieth century.
*** Not that unlikely e.g. quote from Margaret Thatcher when she was Prime Minister in 1980s "I've got one thing to say to you my boy… you can't trust the Irish, they're all liars', she said, 'liars, and that's what you have to remember so just don't forget it'.
**** Go fuck yourself in Italian
The Gay Divorcee is a 1934 American musical film which Sirius and James quoted in the previous chapter (i.e. the "Oh, what is the matter with you? Are you still moping after that same girl?" etc)
