13 T H I R T E E N


Remus blinked through the blurred edges of his vision until he could make out the dimly lit room around him. The air was thick, making it difficult to breath, and as he tried to cough he felt a searing painful reminder of the attack in the back of his head and noticed the gag firmly wrapped around his mouth, preventing him from making any other noise.

Light was streaming in from a window above. Had he been kept here all night?

He glanced around frantically as he shoved himself to his feet, trying to place anything familiar but the strangeness of the room only caused his panic to rise. What had happened? Who attacked him? Why was he still breathing if their intention was to kill him?

The moment Remus realized his hands were tied firmly behind his back with rope was the exact moment the sound of the wooden door creaking open echoed throughout the chamber. Remus stumbled back quickly to put as much distance between him whoever was now entering, stopping only once his back hit the stone wall.

Behind him he felt around for something, for anything, he could use to defend himself and stopped immediately as his fingers scrapped over a sharp edge in the stone. He waited until the figure in the door way turned to shut the door to tried to yank it from the wall.

"You. Move. Center of the room. Now."

Remus anxiously clawed one last time, and felt his fingertip rip slightly as the sharper end suddenly broken and he clung to it desperately as he slowly moved forward. The figure had tossed something on a table near the door and then turned to him.

"On your knees." The looming figure in a black cloak demanded, and when Remus had not moved fast enough, landed a sharp punch to his gut and shoved him down.

Remus only barely managed to keep his grip on the sharp edge stone as he tried to inhale through the gag. His vision was blurring again. He felt the stench of dried blood wafting over him, only worsening his need to vomit. He felt the splash of freezing cold water being drenched over him, and suddenly he was wide awake. The sounds that were coming from him were strangled and hardly audible, though the person hardly seemed bothered by the fact that Remus could not, in fact, breath. Remus thought that was rather the point, actually.

He glared up at the large man staring down at him. He looked almost excited.

"Orders were to keep you alive, but only just."

Remus gripped his fingers tightly around the stone and continued working it on the now fraying rope. If he could only get through a little more, he could use his hands and then—

Another shock of freezing water rushed over him, followed by the large man's boot shoving him onto his back. Remus felt the pain, but he was more aware of his now empty fingers. Just as he saw the stone a few feet away from his cheek where it now pressed against the stone, panting for breath, he sensed another blow coming from above and quickly rolled over onto his stomach. The sound of wood hitting stone ringed out as the weapon the man chose to hit him with nearly knocked into his skull. Quickly, Remus shoved to his knees and managed to put enough space between him and the man as he worked at the ropes rung around his wrists. With every passing second he could feel the effects of the cool water causing him to shiver and ache all over.

"You little shit, get back—"

Remus felt the ropes break apart and a slow, shivering smirk spread over his features as he tore off the gag. "Now that it's a fair fight, why don't you try that again?" He managed to say through heavy breaths.

"My pleasure."

The man's lunge forward was like a million Remus has seen before from men who thought to use their entire weight with every hit, which is how Remus easily avoided it with one smooth step to the right, sending the man straight into the stone wall behind him, face first. Without hesitation, Remus reached for the man's abandoned club and twisted around full force, landing it directly against the man's throat. As he was doubled over trying to catch his breath Remus kicked him in the groin for good measure and darted towards the door and then stopped. The sound of muffled laughter could be heard faintly in the distance.

What if there were several more just like the man on the other side? Remus turned and quickly looked for another option. His eyes landed on a window just low enough for him to climb through if he used the table near the door to help him up. He moved quickly, almost completely out of the window when the door opened. He didn't stick around to find out who it was. The long drop was probably going to make him break something or at the very least sprain his ankle, but he'd survived worse, and with that thought— he jumped.


The next time Remus woke he realized that his hasty escape had been a fool's attempt, as he was once again stuck in an unfamiliar room and in even more pain. Remus wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry at his luck. Of course he didn't get away. Of course.

The similar smell of blood that encompassed the last room he woke in coated the area around him, except he wasn't alone this time. Cast about the vast damp room were several hooded figures, all completely unaware of him gradually waking. He could hear his heartbeat in his ears, unable to focus on anything else. He tried to submerge his panic long enough to take in his injures and begin planning how to conjure a miracle to escape. His ankle ached. Surely it had taken the brutal force of the landing. He winced as he tried to untangle his limbs, only to find both his wrists and ankles bound tightly. And then suddenly the muffled murmurs about the room ceased and dread flooded Remus in an instant.

He wasn't sure why or how, but the air sudden seemed tangible and stiff. The atmosphere icy cold and unsettlingly tense. His senses were alerting him to pay attention. The sent radiating from the new hooded figure entering the large chamber was unlike anything Remus had even smelt before. It was horrible and caused his stomach to roll with the need to vomit what little remained inside his stomach.

The scattered groups of figures about the room quickly dropped to their knees as the man slowly stopped in the center of the room. Just as Remus attempted to use the slight distraction to force himself to his feet discreetly, the hooded figure turned towards him.

"Bring him forward."

The hissing sound that escaped the man's lips sent a tremor of terror directly through Remus' veins. Before he knew what was happening large hands were gripping him on either side and shoving him forward. There was a sharp jolt of pain from his ankle striking through his entire body, but Remus hardly felt it as his gaze finally landed on the man in the center of the room.

Red. His eyes were red.

"Romtayen Lupin. We finally meet." The man's voice practically slithered across the few feet between where Remus was kneeling and where the man stood, and Remus was certain he had never hated his name more. "The half-breed. I must say, you have certainly managed to surprise me. Which I assure you is no small feat." A slow smirk crossed over the man's features, sharp cheek bones, skin pale enough to look translucent.

"First time for everything I suppose." Remus managed to grunt out roughly, suddenly aware of how tightly he had been clenching his jaw.

The bark of laughter that escapes the man before him is anything but pleasant, sounding almost unnatural coming from him as if he wasn't familiar with the sensation of it. "I've heard you had a mouth on you."

Remus managed to swallow his growing dread as he lifted his chin defiantly. "Is there a point to all of this? Surely, you can get to the part where you kill me. No need to prolong the event."

The smirk on the man's face doesn't falter. "Perhaps I will. Perhaps I won't. I believe you will be far more valuable alive I'm afraid. I have plans, you see— plans that you have so inconveniently put a pause in, though, now that you're here, it shouldn't be a problem."

Remus felt his heart clench as he watched the man nod over to his shoulder and another hooded figure moved to his side, handing him a dark wooden stick. Remus frowned, unable to make sense of the object of choice as the man's long, thin fingers began stroking it. The air around them seemed to tremble and spark.

"But where are my manners." The raven-haired man continued, and suddenly the stick shifted into the form of a whip, and Remus could do nothing but stare in amazement and mortification at the impossibility of it. Magic. The man could wield magic. There was no other explanation. The whip slowly shifted as the man took a step forward, allowing each tendril to fall slowly through the air. Remus couldn't tear his eyes away as he braced himself for the inevitable. "I haven't introduced myself. My name is Tom Riddle, and I do not like it when people interfere with my plans. I find it incredibly… inconvenient."

Before Remus knew what was happening the two large figures on either side of him forced him forward onto his hands and knees and the sudden sharp crack of the whip thrilled through the air. The grunted strangled sound that escaped him echoed around the room along with a few snickering laughs from the crowd of figures watching on.

Sharp, unbearable heat crossed through Remus as he struggled to recapture his breath. The shock of the brutal lashing had been more painful than the lash itself. Pain, he knew. Pain, he could handle. His bones rearranged themselves monthly, he could handle this. He spit out the terrible taste in his mouth and slowly lifted his gaze defiantly to glare back at the man, at Tom Riddle, causing his red eyes to shine brighter as his smirk to widen.

"I had a feeling you wouldn't be an easy one to break. But break you I will."

Remus was expecting it this time. The lash came quickly followed almost immediately by another. He willed his mouth to remain shut, grunting through the lingering sting of his skin being torn from his back. He lifted his gaze again, chest heaving in and out.

"You must be wondering why you're here? Or perhaps you know already? I've been told that you are clever for a half-breed."

Another lash, another growl escaping Remus as he bit his lip to prevent any other noise from escaping him.

"You see," Tom drawled lazily, as if he was merely walking through he city market, "—this could have all been easily prevented."

The next lash landed where the last one had, and as Remus blearily blinked through the pain he saw the remnants of blood and skin flinging from the whip that seemed to be glowing with magic. Had he not been on the verge of passing out from the pain he would have thought it mesmerizing.

"I even tried to be merciful. I sent people to warn you. Threats were made and then followed through on only when it became apparent that you were either far too stubborn or ignorant to know the weight of importance your bowing out of the Tournament made—"

"What do you want from me?" The words were hardly audible as Remus forced them out. He could feel the dizziness from losing so much blood begin to weigh heavily on him. His skin was numb from the overwhelming sensation of being exposed, and he was sure he was in shock, unable to feel just how torn apart he was. As he lifted his heavy head to meet the man's heated gaze, blinking through the daze he saw the whip disappear into thin air. Tom let out a humorless laugh.

"My dear boy, I already have what I want from you."

Remus tried to keep his head up, he truly did, but the weight of it became too much and he slumped forward onto his hands and knees, attempting to keep his mind awake, to make sense of why any of this was happening. Just kill me already, he wanted to scream.

"As we speak, your absence from the Tournament stage is giving me exactly what I want. Just another step towards the final outcome."

This gave Remus the sliver of strength he needed to glare up at the man. "I don't give a damn about winning the fucking Tournament! If that is what this is about—" Remus tried to recapture his breath, but faltered from the weakness in his limbs and he fell to his elbows once more. "If that's what this is about then just— it's yours. You win. So kill me… kill me or… let me go."

"This is about more than winning the Tournament, and in time you will see."

"Kill me or let me go!" Remus spat, his head falling to the ground.

He didn't give a damn about whatever nonsense this man was saying. His head was swimming and the pain came like waves washing over him, as if the magical whip was still slicing at his skin, tearing him to shreds, buzzing like an electrical current of an eel.

Somehow, he still hadn't passed out. Somehow, he could still think, and somehow his thoughts suddenly replayed an image, the same image— over and over, and that image was Ori's face right before he stormed off. Remus was somehow able to conjure thoughts of him, and wonder through the dizzying pain about what would have happened if he hadn't left, if he had stayed and not allowed his stubbornness to control him. He had wanted to. He should have. And what if this Tom Riddle monster had known he was with Ori— with Sirius, and now he was in danger too. The thought of it was almost more unbearable that his charred skin and aching limbs.

"Just let me go." Remus heaved out through a long breath. He suddenly wanted nothing more than to see Sirius again, to touch him, to let him know it didn't matter, that none of it mattered—

"I'm afraid I cannot."

"Why?!" Remus demanded, his eyes shut firmly as he swayed before the man looming over him. "I'm nothing! I don't want to be a prince. I don't give a damn about any of it!"

"This is much bigger than a crown." Tom Riddle answered evenly, his voice sounding as if it was retreating away. Either that or Remus was losing consciousness. "I'm afraid whether you want to be apart of the royal family or not has little to do with anything at all. Just like the Tournament, it is irrelevant, though a necessary means to an end, and also the reason I cannot let you go. You have become something of a symbol to the Realm, whether you wish it to be or not. I have tried to prevent this, but you have won the people over and that, dear boy, is far more dangerous.

"You see, after today, there will be no more Tournaments or royal families. When you do not arrive to perform the final challenge, the people of the Realm will realize the absurdity of it all. Of how naive they are to put their faith in something as pathetic as a pointless Tournament— in royal families who wield no real power at all, royals who suppress their true nature to remain insignificant. All of that will come to an end and I will be there to show the Realm what true power looks like. I will be there to remind them of the possibilities to live in a world we have been forced to forget."

Remus couldn't respond. He had no clue what this delusional man was talking about and he really didn't care. The only thing he focused on was not allowing his eyes to shut.

He felt something tingle over his skin, and his eyes widened in shock as he saw tendrils of bright light leave Tom's fingers and trail across the room to begin caressing Remus' skin. He hissed out as he felt his back begin to slowly stitch together, though even he could tell it was a butcher's attempt at healing him. In the foggy recesses of his mind he was enraptured by the heavy truth that this man could wield magic, could heal with magic as well as torture. It was impossible. Or it should have been.

And just like that, Remus was alone in the large chamber, save for one looming figure. They slowly turned to Remus and began pulling back their hood, but before Remus could see anything besides a curtain dark hair his eyes fluttered shut, and the pain finally swept him into unconsciousness.


The third time waking for Remus was by far the most jarring. Everything felt numb. Inside and out. So much so, that he almost allowed himself to believe that it had all been a horrible nightmare. That was until he attempted to move his limbs, and then the terrible ache he had thought numbed returned full force.

Some time passed before he gathered the strength to attempt to stand. He couldn't be certain how much time had passed since being left alone in the dimly lit chamber, the only light coming from the small window across the room. He wouldn't have tried to move at all had it not been for the noises wafting in through the open window.

It was a few feet higher than his own height, and a moment of trailing his gaze around the room he found a small barrel in the far corner and slowly shoved it until he could stand upon it; wincing with every small movement, his skin still searing and not entirely healed. The moment he was able to look through he window, his chin barely high enough even on his tip toes, he realized the chamber he was in was underground. He heard himself release a small gasp. Before him, was the fairgrounds, and above him, the tournament stage.

The noises he had awoken to were heavy footsteps walking above him, joined only by the loud murmuring of the crowds. Even if he attempted to shout, no one would hear him over the roaring laughter and shouts of anticipation.

He quickly scanned the crowds, hoping to see someone he knew.

"Your royal competitors!" A voice bellowed. Remus knew that voice. Dumbledore was announcing the beginning of the final challenge. Deafening applause filled the air.

Remus ignore the lump of disappointment clogging his dry throat. It didn't matter. Him not showing did not matter. Except, he had told everyone of his intentions of dropping out of the Tournament. Would that mean that no one would think twice about his absence? Would Minerva think he took the cowards way out by simply not showing. Would Sirius think—

No. Remus couldn't think of that now. He needed to come up with a way to escape.

Dumbledore began rattling off the names of the three champions. Pausing only briefly, and Remus wondered if he did so in hopes that Remus would bound out of the crowd at the last moment. His heartbeat was thumping wildly as he attempted to pull his body weight up onto the ledge, but failing miserably when the moment his fingertips attempted to haul him up, pain shot through every inch of his body.

"Your final competitors!" Dumbledore continued, and Remus grit his teeth against the aching disappointment threatening to drown him. His heart felt like it was going to shatter, it was pounding so hard. He needed to get out of here. He needed—

His gaze flickered to the stands, ignoring the pain inflicted by the awkward angle of his neck to seek out a familiar face, and then his heart slowed suddenly at the sight he found.

Behind the silk screen, the royal families were arranged right front and center. Remus' throat felt scraped raw as he stared at Sirius, sitting beside Prince James, his gaze frantically searching the crowds, eyes wide with an array of emotions Remus knew all to well at the moment. Despite the situation, Remus couldn't prevent himself from admiring how handsome he was, dressed in court finery of green and gold, his dark braid decorated with gold bands at the end, jeweled flowers scattered randomly about, gold hoops in his ears. There was a small gold something painted just beneath his left and right eye; Remus found himself desperate to find out what it was, swearing to himself that he would do whatever it took to get close enough to touch it, kiss it. If it was the last thing he did…

It was then that Remus realized that the sounds of the crowd had all but seized then. It was a jarring contrast to moments before and the only sound of footsteps above him told him that someone had joined the stage with Dumbledore. And then a second voice joined him, the same ice cold tremble that Remus had been introduced along with the deep lashings against his back only hours earlier.

Tom Riddle.

"My dear people of the Realm," the slippery voice said from above, "I come before you in hopes to dismantle those who sit upon a thrown of falsities— to reveal to you those who wish to deceive you all."

Murmurs of anxious conversations broke out amongst the crowd, some guards were shuffling toward the stage but seemed to be stopped in their tracks as if by magic. Remus felt a shiver of fear roll down his spine.

"What is the meaning of this Tom?" Dumbledore's voice was calm, commanding, but much calmer than Remus thought appropriate. He wondered if Dumbledore knew Tom could wield magic. Certainly not, if he was not as terrified as Remus suddenly felt.

"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this Albus, truly." Tom's voice was like velvet, precise enough to cut, but Remus could practically taste the insincerity in his tone. "Though, it appears I have been left with no choice."

"Reconsider, Tom—"

"Enough." Tom cut in, and then his voice rose higher as if to command the attention of everyone in the fairgrounds. Remus ignored how his entire body trembled from the effort to hold himself up. "My fellow people, we have let the Potters modify so much during their time of favor, but I implore you to open your eyes to their deception. This Tournament was meant to strengthen our Realm, but how can we trust the outcome when there are those seeking to control it?"

The crowd was silent now, hanging on the dark haired man's every word. Remus glanced over to the spectators stands again, and his heart sunk into his stomach. From the small amount of the crowd he could see, there seemed to be groups of people emerging at random within the crowd, all wearing black cloaks and white masks, practically ten figures for every ten not wearing them.

"What is the meaning of this, Riddle?" King Potter bellowed from where he was now standing beside his son and wife. The King, Queen and youngest son of the House of Black, suspiciously, were no where to be found. "There has been no such deceit from anyone in the royal families."

"Ah, King Potter. I had hoped you would speak up." Tom replied evenly, and then louder asked, "Do you deny it then, that your own son refused to marry the victor of the previous Tournament? Choosing instead to ignore the law and continue his affair with a servant?"

Remus' mind immediately flickered to Lily, and by the growing response of the crowd, Remus worried for her safety if anyone found out. It struck him then. All the nonsense Tom had been rattling about earlier, and suddenly he knew what Tom intentions were with this interruption. He was turning the Realm against the Potters.

"I know not of the servant, but I do not deny the other matter. As the entire Realm knows, the victor and my son fulfilled their three month trial period—"

"During which, your son continued his affair with a servant!" Tom quickly countered, gaining a group chorus of gasps from the crowd. "The attempt was feeble at best. The Prince had every intention of refusing the victor, and if that is true, then what is to say that it won't happen again?

"And now," Tom continued, "—favoritism has granted an unlikely candidate to intrude on the traditions of the Tournament. And our King has allowed it! Are we to sit idly by and continue to let those in power deceive us?"

"You will stop this this instant, Riddle!" Queen Euphemia said. "I will not allow you to spread such lies—"

"Lies?" Tom responded with a bark of a laugh, "Tell me, Queen Euphemia. Where is the Realm's favored 'Champion'? I do not see Romtayen Lupin anywhere. Do you? Perhaps his traitorous actions have finally caught up with him and he has relented into the guilt that has been the foundation of his entire involvement with the Tournament."

"Traitorous actions—?" The king bellowed back, and from where Remus was forcing himself to look out the smallest view he had of the events above, he could see the faces of everyone in the crowd. Some were intrigued to see the king raising his voice and standing to his feet in outrage, some looked angry, but the other royals, Sirius and James especially, now looked nervous.

"Do not pretend you did not know that the very whore who just happened to stumble into this Tournament and land a position as a Champion, is the very same that our little Prince has been seeking out to warm his bed at night? And before you question the validity of my information, you only need to ask Queen Walberga herself. The shame of the scandal itself was enough to keep her from attending today, but she agreed we could not allow this charade to carry on any longer and sent me in her stead. To inform the people of the truth!"

There was a rush of gasps throughout the crowds and Remus took a slow step backwards, barely managing to catch himself as he stumbled from the barrel, wanting to just sink into the ground and never reemerge. This was it. Riddle intended to use his relationship with Sirius as the catalyst to start a revolution. It was absurd. It was impossible. But it also wasn't.

The Realm held the traditions of the Tournament so dearly that any form a slander against it would be enough reason to cause an uprising. If Riddle could make the people believe it to be so, then the royal family didn't stand a chance.

His mind turned over the million in one ways that the nest few moments would play out, each one ending with him never seeing Sirius again.

Remus felt bile rise in his throat then, and he couldn't even bring himself to prevent it from escaping him, sullying the wall before him.

"Are we to just ignore that the royal family is willingly accepting such mockery to our beloved traditions?" Tom continued, sounding fiercely outraged, but Remus could hardly focus through the anxiousness rising in his chest. He shut his eyes, trying to make sense of his reality. "If so, then what is the point of the Tournament? Even more so, what is the point of trusting a royal family to lead us?"

"This is an outrage!" King Potter bellowed over the rising voices and frantic movements from within the crowds. It sounded as if the crowds were gathering closer to the stage. "Guards! Guards! Arrest him!"

"I propose a new world order!" Tom bellowed over the rising panic. "Led by someone worthy of such responsibility. Allow me to prove it to you.

Then suddenly, there was a sharp cracking noise and the small chamber Remus was in illuminated so bright with white light that Remus could hardly see anything at all. And Remus could taste it, smell it, the lingering scent of magic that crackled through the dense air around him. The sudden lack of vision seemed to cause his hearing to enhance into scenery overload, and as if he were up on the stage above him, he knew Riddle was moving quickly now. Loud crack after crack filled the air, releasing his vast power, causing the chamber and ground beneath him to rumble violently. Debris crumbled around him, as if the stage would collapse any moment.

As the bright light suddenly dimmed in his small chamber Remus realized he had fallen to his knees. It wasn't until he felt his body being tugged backward, that he realized his arms gripping tightly to either side of his head, attempting to mute the overwhelming sounds of destruction above.

And then he saw what had tugged him backwards. Two strong hands. He jerked upright and turned to see stormy grey eyes starring anxiously at him, but they weren't the familiar shade of grey he had come to know and long for, they were darker.

"We have to go. Now!"

Remus blinked in disbelief at the hooded figure before him.

"Prince Regulus?" Remus felt the words escape him in a breath more than heard them.

"There's no time for explanations." The shorter boy said urgently, reaching out to grip Remus' arm before he could even process that they were now moving through a maze of underground tunnels. The stone around them shaking with the force of destruction ensuing at Riddle's hand.

Above them, through the random windows, the violence continued and Tom's voice rang out and it was amplified somehow, almost as if Remus could hear it as if he was running next to him, declaring the demand for justice, for the people to rise up and join him or be exiled and executed same as the royal family. But Remus couldn't make out anything else as he pushed through the remaining pain searing through his body, not to mention the confusion rattling him as he jogged behind Sirius' younger brother.

"This way!" Regulus said suddenly, causing them both to jerk into a more narrow tunnel. Remus felt the injured skin on his back stretch as he bent to prevent his head from scrapping the ceiling. He had no choice but to follow the young prince, despite his entire being wanting to run back and find Sirius, his mother, Frank—

"Ready?" Regulus asked, breaking him out of his whirling thoughts. Remus glanced behind him to see a stone door leading somewhere. When Remus didn't answer Regulus didn't hesitate to turn and shove the door open, using his entire body to force the seemingly stiff latch to bend to his efforts.

Suddenly, bright sunshine seared into the tunnel, both men momentarily pausing to adjust to the sudden light. Remus heard the commotion before he noticed the herds of people shouting in horror and bustling about the streets before him. Remus wasn't sure which part of the city they were in, nor how the tunnels had gotten him there, nor did he have a moment to consider much more than this before Regulus began tugging him through the frantic crowds.

"Where are you taking me?" Remus finally asked, only then recognizing a familiar street. They were nearing the docks.

"There's no time." Regulus said impatiently. He stopped suddenly in his tracks to avoid being run over by a carriage barreling past them. At the sight of several black hooded figures with white masks entering the opposite end of the street, Regulus quickly shoved Remus backwards and they began to run. Regulus hurried through several back alleys, Remus could do nothing but follow. He didn't dare stop to see if anyone was chasing them.

What felt like an entertain later, they paused.

"James!" Regulus shouted.

Remus gaze jolted to the right where Prince James was sprinting towards them. He was covered in blood, but it appeared to be not his own as he was wielding a sword almost as large as himself.

"Reg!" The older Prince exclaimed, stopping short to bring the younger prince into a quick embrace. James glanced over at Remus then and his eyes grew wide. "You're here. I thought for sure—"

Before Remus could respond Regulus was shoving the three of them out of the way of another herd of people running through the streets.

"Sirius?" Regulus asked James pointedly, gripping his forearm tightly.

James nodded quickly, shaking his head slightly as if to focus. "Little banged up but he made it out with Lils and Minerva on the Phoenix. I came back on her orders to gather ensure those who need to flee are able to do so safely. I'm heading to flank the East End."

Remus wasn't sure who was more relieved to hear this information, him or Regulus. None of what James had said made any sense to him, but knowing that Sirius was safe was more than enough.

"Alone?" Regulus asked angrily.

Then James smirked arrogantly before he disappeared right before Remus' eyes. Remus swallowed the lump in his throat and just gaped at the place the boy had once been standing. Regulus rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, Potter. Now is not the time for showing off."

Just like that, James appeared once more, giving the younger prince a cheeky wink.

"What the fuck—" Remus stammered, but then stopped when the sound of horses bounding forward echoed a few alleys over.

"Shit." James muttered and pulled whatever had made him disappear moments ago over his shoulders, revealing nothing other than his head that now appeared to be floating. "I haven't much time, the last of the boats are being saved for the stragglers and Dumbledore says we'll need all the numbers we can get—"

"Fine. Fine. Yes." Regulus cut in. "Moody's waiting on us too."

Remus had about a million questions filtering through his brain, but nothing seemed to escape as he watched the two princes embrace one more time. James starring intently into Regulus' eyes as he dropped his voice into a serious tone, "Don't go back for them, Reg."

The younger prince stepped out of his embrace and only nodded once, not saying a word.

James glanced over at Remus then and before Remus knew what was happening James pulled him into a tight embrace, making every wound on his body scream out in protest.

"Look after him as you would look after Sirius. Yeah? Don't let him do anything stupid."

Remus winced as James quickly pulled away and disappeared from view. Just as Remus was about to ask Regulus how the fuck that was possible, he felt his arm being tugged forward and they were off again at a sprinting pace.

It wasn't until Regulus stopped once more, glancing nervously around that Remus noticed the latch beneath their feet. He watched the younger prince kneel down and knock the steel grate three times, pause, and knock twice more.

"Password." A gruff voice said from beneath them, startling Remus.

"Arbitrium est semper."

The latin phrase slipped so effortlessly off of Regulus' tongue, reminding Remus of Sirius when he would sing to him. His heart clinched suddenly at the memory, but the sound of loud shrieks a few alleys over, forced him back to present.

Regulus was already moving down the ladder, pausing only long enough to give Remus a pointed look. Remus sighed, but followed after him.

It was too dark to see much of anything as the descended, but once Remus' feet landed firmly on the ground, the sight before him was enough to startle the breath out of him.

The vast chamber seemed to stretch on forever, winding deeper and deeper, miles long, until it seemingly darkened and went on further still. Some ways down the cavern walls molded in to translucent glass revealing the eerily blue-green glow of underwater. The thick glass the only surface between them and the weight of crushing water above. Remus had never seen anything like it. There were people and horses gathered along the expanse of the tunnel. Some of the people battered and bruised, but otherwise appearing firmly determined and ready for a fight. Some faces Remus recognized from around the Realm, some guards and others similar to his station, but the more he searched he realized none were the ones he was desperate to see. As if just realizing more people had joined them, everyone seemed to begin turning to look at them, well at Remus specifically, and all conversation seized.

"What is this place?" He heard himself ask with slight reverence in his voice. "Are we— Are we under the ocean?"

"Welcome to The Order of the Phoenix headquarters." Regulus said, slightly breathless with his hands now firmly planted on his hips.

"Enough dawdling little prince, get the Champion in here. There's no time to waste. The time is now." The gruff voice from before now had a face and was glaring impatiently at them. One wandering eye was encased in an odd circular contraption, swiveling around as if it were being controlled by another person entirely.

"I hate when you call me that." Regulus grumbled as the man turned their back on them to join the others that seemed to be waiting for an order.

"That's Moody. Our general." Regulus explained as they began deeper into the cavern.

"I'm sorry—" Remus said suddenly, coming to a complete stop. "Can someone tell me what the fuck is going on?"

The sharp bark of laughter sliced through the silence that followed and the moment Remus recognized who it belonged to he felt the tension within him lessen, if only slightly.

"Caradoc!"

The larger man came over to him quickly, shoving through the crowds and instantly wrapping Remus in a tight embrace. He held on tight, letting his body relax, suddenly desperate to see his mother, and Frank, and Sirius to know they were ok.

"Not surprised to find you raising a fuss the moment you enter headquarters." Caradoc teased as he pulled back to look at Remus fully, noticing the way he winced with every slight movement. "Alright, lad?"

Remus nodded, "M'fine. What's going on?"

"No time. You lot can have story time along the way." Moody retorted roughly, limping over to a large table covered in scattered parchment and weapons. Shiny swords, hand-made cylinders Remus knew to explode when activated properly, and more weapons craftily made. More than Remus thought was possible to own unless by the City guard themselves.

"My mother?" Remus asked Caradoc, knowing he was in charge of the guards keeping her safe and ignoring the way Moody was glaring at them.

"Safe. With Benjy, already heading to the Beyond Realm with the others. They both insisted on waiting for you, but—"

"Wait—" Remus blinked quickly and gaped at him. "Did you say the Beyond Realm?"

Caradoc's grin faltered slightly as he glanced over at Regulus. "You really haven't told him anything yet, have you?"

"Oh, my apologies." Prince Regulus retorted with false sincerity, giving Caradoc the slightly of bows by incline his chin down, "Should I have mentioned it before or after saving his arse and escaping our impending doom from the dark overload hellbent on extracting my entire family from existence?"

Caradoc rolled his eyes fondly, often as he did with Benjy, and muttered "Royal smart arse."

"They can inform ya along the way." Moody was saying now, turning quickly and raising a large sack over his shoulder. "Everyone else, mount up, carry as much as ya can and follow me. Injured get rights to a horse first, after that, you can sort out who walks first and who rides."

Remus watched as Moody began heading deeper into the eerily cavern, moving swiftly onto a large white horse. The water on either side of them, he now noticed, housed sea creatures, mostly small fish, but some also not so small. Remus swallowed nervously. He did not enjoy being under the ocean.

"You said this was a headquarters." Remus said to Regulus as he hurried to catch up with him and Caradoc near the edge of the large migrating group. "Headquarters of what?"

"The Order." Regulus said simply, mounting his own horse. Apparently, Princes didn't count in Moody's pecking order of injured first.

"Dumbledore's secret army." Caradoc offered, coming to pull Remus' up onto a large tan horse with a blonde mane.

Remus settled in behind him, not apposed to being considered injured. He was sure if he had to walk any further it was only a matter of time before he passed out from exhaustion. The slight reminder caused everything that happened within the last twenty for hours to wash over him. Suddenly, his mind was very, very tired.

"Apparently," Caradoc continued as they rode, "He's been building it ever since rumors of the Death Eaters returning started surfacing the first time. The Order began as just a few small trusted numbers, Minerva for one, probably the only name you'd recognize. Up until a few months ago did he start recruiting at large, sensing that Riddle was planning something. He's been building these unground tunnels to reach the Beyond Realm. The Order has been attempting to reach the outer villages, knowing it was only a matter of time before Riddle made his move. It was really just a precaution, but seeing as Dumbledore was one of the few around during the last uprising— well, I suppose he knew what it would take to be prepared."

"If Dumbledore knew about Riddle, why didn't he do anything before now?" Remus asked him, hearing his own frustration in his voice.

On his left, Prince Regulus scoffed.

"You must have been more damaged in the brain from the torture than I initially suspected."

"Excuse me?" Remus glared at him.

"Well," Regulus replied calmly, "That's the only explanation I can rationalize at your obliviousness. But allow me to refresh you in case you haven't caught up yet, Tom Riddle as magic."

"A lot more than anyone thought possible for one person to wield." Caradoc added with less irritation in his voice.

Remus shook his head, this was entirely too much information to be processing at once. Only days ago, his largest worries were the Tournament and keeping his friends and family safe. And now this?

"How is this possible?"

"Another good question." Regulus replied brightly, giving Remus a forced smirk. "Why hadn't we thought of asking that? If you find the answer, do let us know."

Remus was quickly realizing that for all that they looked similar, the young prince and his brother's personalities could not have been more different.

"Settle down, children." Caradoc chided and then glanced over his shoulder at Remus. "I had all the same questions. Dumbledore and Lady Minerva believe it has something to do with the amount of missing persons increasing over the last several months. I hadn't thought much of it since I was one of the guards to look into that personally. We visited that odd group over on Slytherin Row, multiple times in fact, thinking their little scam business of collected bodies for profit may be the reason for it, but that turned out to be a dead end. That was, until Dumbledore explained to us what it meant to consume someones magic. No one knows what happens to the body once you've consumed someone's magic. Dumbledore says no one thought it possible or was insane enough to try, but thinks maybe they go somewhere, or Riddle's hiding 'em away."

"But—?" Remus frowned, leaning into Caradoc a bit more for support as his vision swam slightly from blood loss. "But no one's had magic since the curse was lifted. All traces of magic vanished years ago."

"The total amount of mass and energy in the universe is constant." Regulus mumbled, almost too soft for Remus to hear. He glanced over to see Regulus watching one of the larger fish swim along the glass. When Regulus glanced back to him, Remus was almost taken aback at the softened expression as it made him think of his older brother. "Matter is neither created nor destroyed."

"What once exists, always will." Caradoc tacked on after a beat.

"So, you're saying that people have had magic all this time, and what? Just kept it a secret? And Riddle is harboring them like some sort of parasite?"

"Yes and no." Caradoc said. "The way Moody explains it, everyone has the ability to access their magic, it's never left because it's apart of us, in our genetic make up. There's a division in the Order dedicated to understanding it, but without experimenting there isn't a whole lot they've discovered."

"So why haven't I heard of anyone crumbling buildings with their eyes or blasting fire out of their eyeballs?" Remus asked, only slightly joking.

Regulus scoffed. "You must've certainly borrowed a book or two from my brother during your nightly trysts. Honestly. What sort of fantastical rubbish have you been reading? "

Remus felt his heart jump at the thought of Sirius, at his very brother speaking about him so casually.

"How was the Realm not prepared for this threat?" Remus asked instead of responding. "You said yourself, Caradoc, that these Death Eaters were a threat before. How could it get so out of hand if people in power knew this was a possibility?"

Caradoc was quiet, as if he was trying to consider his words carefully. "I truly do not know. Lady Minerva suspected that Riddle was using the Tournament as a distraction to keep anyone from realizing what was going on. The missing body reports wasn't the only red flag over the last several months. There's been a decrease of any criminal activity along the Realms borders, even the creature cultures have been relatively quiet, almost as if everyone decided to suddenly focus their intention on the Tournament. That, or persuaded to turn their efforts and focus on something else, something bigger…"

Remus stiffened slightly, glaring at the side of Caradoc's face. "Are you seriously lumping half-breeds and creatures with the criminal sort on Slytherin Row?"

"No. No." Caradoc sputtered, "I was just stating a fact."

"It's not uncommon for the outlining species to be considered easier targets in regards to swaying their allegiance, as they have been known to hold a particularly passionate distaste for the royal families in the past." Regulus offered neutrally.

Remus turned his glare to him, "So what? Just because a couple of Goblins in the past refused to give up their land to the crown they are considered criminals? They're just expected to fall victim to the false promises of some evil overlord because they aren't willing to succumb to what you deem civilized?"

"That's not what I'm saying—" Regulus started, but Remus wasn't hearing it.

"Really? Because it sounds to me that your precious little order has considered alliances with strangers from Beyond the Realm before consorting with the half-breeds and creatures within their own." Remus suddenly felt ill once more. He didn't wait for Caradoc to slow to a stop as she swung his leg over the side and hopped down. He instantly regretted it the moment he felt his previous injury of jumping out of the window spark to life.

"Shit— Fucking hell—" Remus muttered.

"Remus." Caradoc said calmly, coming to a stop. He nodded at Regulus, who had paused as well, eyeing Remus with mild interest, looking almost amused by his actions, to continue on.

Remus shut his eyes tighter, trying to calm the raging pain in his ankle.

"Come now. Back on the horse with you." Caradoc said gently, assisting Remus with a gently touch to the elbow. Remus lifted his gaze to glare at him, but pressed his lips firmly together and nodded.

Once they were on the horse again and several long minutes passed Caradoc eventually said, "You know I am not one to hold prejudices, Master Remus. But in my line of work, I'm forced to expect patterns is all. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Alright." Remus said, because really, he didn't want to talk anymore. He was too tired. Too anxious. To everything.

"We just suspect that's how Riddle got the numbers he did. He must have been recruiting the usual criminals and perhaps used that silver tongue of his to fan the flame of hatred most already have towards the crown."

"Perhaps." Remus said with a sigh, unable to argue with Caradoc's reasoning. He wasn't sure why he had gotten so upset when they spoke of the half-breeds and creatures, or why he cared. It wasn't like he lived among them, or knew any of them personally. For all he knew they were criminals. But maybe a part of him always thought there shouldn't be a divide between the two. Maybe he wanted every person to have an equal opportunity to prove themselves, despite circumstances.

He scoffed inwardly at himself. Since when did he start thinking a world like that could ever exist. He had long accepted his place in the world before the damned Tournament, but now… well now, everything was fucked. Especially his outlook on life.

"What's the plan then?"

Caradoc frowned at him, raising a confused brow.

"Once we get to the Beyond Realm? Is Dumbledore planning recruit his own army out of the surrounding villages there and return to take back what was his?"

"I'm not sure."

Remus repressed the need to sigh. His thoughts traveled to weeks back when during their travels through the Realm, of the Healer who spoke of the Beyond Realm. Of the Werewolf pack there, of the people who existed far beyond, and did so freely. What would it matter to them? This wasn't their war to fight.

He wanted to demand Moody tell him everything he knew of the Beyond Realm and why they all felt it was some sanctuary when it could very well be a prison.

"Has anyone actually been there?"

"No one I know."

"That's promising." Remus mumbled and he heard Caradoc release a small sigh.

"We could speculate for hours, Champion, but I think it best if you let your mind clear for awhile. You'll need your strength."

Remus didn't reply. He knew he was right. He just hoped that when they finally got where they were going that he would be able to see Sirius again. He focused on that thought as silence settled over them for the rest of the journey.


A/N:

Sorry for the late update, it's been a hectic few weeks! Hope you enjoyed this one. Things are about to get interesting for our characters...