Chapter Thirty-Nine: Incriminating Evidence and A Different Kind of Monster

The next morning by the time classes was over Remus was no closer to a believable story about what he had seen so he avoided his friends not at all ready to explain. Instead, he went to the library and looted over old newspapers desperate to find a picture of Greyback.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah! Sirius! Oh, I was um…" He should have been able to come up with something but the sharp look Sirius was sending him stopped him lying before he could come up with a believable excuse.

"Where are the others?" He asked instead, not wanting to bring up the way his roommates had been ignoring him, but the need to have a topic to discuss alone with Sirius winning out.

"Back in the dorm." Sirius sat down giving Remus a rather chilling smile. "So it's just you and me." There was a slight threat ringing behind his friend's words and once more Remus knew he had to play on the truth just enough to get out of this without letting his roommates know what was going on.

"Have you come to bring me back to the dorm?"

"Well, I figured you'd hide out here all night if I didn't." Remus didn't refute that, he knew just how true it was, he had in fact been contemplating it before Sirius had snuck up on him and scared him. They had let it go until after Lily's birthday as he wished, but he wasn't dumb enough to think they would let it go even more

"Then I guess we should go back?"

"I'm not letting you have more time to come up with a lie!" Sirius huffed sounding more hurt than angry. This was worse and Remus hung his head in shame. He really was a terrible friend and he wasn't going to be able to call himself one anymore if he wasn't careful.

"I saw something that really scared me." He admitted in a small voice. Sirius was regarding him carefully, the distrust apparent.

"What did you see?" He asked coldly and Remus flinched again. Even if he concocted some sort of half-truth would it be enough, was it too late to be forgiven? Had he really messed up that badly?

"I'm ready to talk but I'd rather not repeat it." Sirius took him in carefully and suddenly his hand darted out, for one terrible second Remus thought he would hit him and nearly tumbled out of his chair. Instead, Sirius only gripped his shoulder and Remus was surprised to find he was trembling.

"I wouldn't hurt you. I'd never hurt you." He heard Sirius whisper and looked up to those dark fog colored eyes filled with hurt and tears.

"Tell us or don't Remus I don't care anymore." He next responded so flatly, so cooly that Remus flinched. Sirius let him go and walked away looking more lonely than Remus had seen him since the beginning of the school year. Remus wanted to chase after him, nearly did but he still had to come up with something to tell his friends.

Because he could no longer pretend he didn't want them as his friends, didn't need them to be. So he watched Sirius leave his cheeks feeling damp and he put a pause to his hunt for what Greyback looked like and spent a long time coming up with what to tell them.

…...

Sirius was so upset he didn't go back to James and Peter as he promised them he would. Instead he went to straight to Professor Blatvnik's office sick of waiting for Remus for answers. After a seventh year Hufflepuff, not a muggle-born, was poisoned everyone was thrown into confusion about what this was about. Sirius was sure Professor Blatvnik was involved regardless, and there was no reason he couldn't find out himself what was under that trap door.

His bravery faltered slightly as he got closer to his professor's classroom. It's not like he was afraid of detention or whatever, but something had terrified Remus and that, was unnerving. He let out a breath when he found the classroom empty. He looked both ways before dashing inside.

He stood where Remus did last time trying to figure out what had caused his peculiar friend to know something was there but try as he might he saw or felt nothing. Maybe something had been different last time but he doubted it. Instead, he recalled where Remus had been and knelt down sweeping his hands frantically across the floor, his frustration increasing as the minutes ticked by and he still didn't find a trap door.

"Oh come on!" He muttered to himself.

"Mr. Black, what do you think you are doing in my office?" Sirius jumped nearly banging his head on his professor's desk he had been halfway underneath, just in case the trap door moved. He scrambled to his feet and gave his intimidating professor a calm smile.

"Well, sir I thought I lost something in here from detention." He forced himself not to look away as cold eyes pierced into his.

"Mmmm well then perhaps you should check the lost and found. There's a rather large collection after so many years." Sirius knew Professor Blatvnik didn't believe him any more than he believed Remus about what he claimed he had found beneath the trap door.

"I don't believe I know where that is, sir." He responded dryly feeling irked at his Professor's calm demeanor. He should be acting guilty, perhaps if Sirius bated him he'd show his true colors. The problem was he didn't know how to bate him, he didn't have enough information to do so. Still, he had to try, for Remus, for all the students he'd been hurting.

"Well, I imagine you will find it with all the snooping you do."

"I suppose. I bet there's all sorts of cool stuff in the lost and found. And probably some dangerous stuff too. For example, I mean no one would be stupid enough to hide incriminating evidence somewhere it could be traced back to them." He was sure his Professor's eyes would narrow or he'd snap at him. But instead there was no change in his demeanor, and when he spoke again it was the same maddening calmness as before.

"If you are referring to the poison being used to hurt the students I assure you all the Professors have been on high alert for contraband of any kind." Sirius felt a chill run through him as the Professor gave him a rather menacing smile.

"Of course I would hope no incriminating evidence would be found on your person or in your dorm Sirius. That would be…..most unpleasant for you. Perhaps I ought to tell your head of house to search your dorm, as you've seemed to take an unnatural interest in this." Sirius swallowed feeling a stab of fear. He had never liked his Professor very much, hated him after what Remus told him, still he hadn't expected to be threatened. Not so casually, at least.

It left him wondering what sort of nasty things Professor Blatvnik would do if he was pushed too far. Sirius convinced himself he wasn't giving up, just merely biding his time. For there would be no reason for Professor Blatvnik to threaten him is he wasn't involved in the poisoning of the students. So, in the end, Sirius really won, even if he felt rather nervous about it.

"Not at all Professor. Just don't like all the students getting hurt recently is all." He heard himself reply glad he was able to keep his voice from trembling. He could only imagine what Remus had found now, everything from bodies to poison, to the most dangerous of monsters.

"Then get out and don't let me catch you in here or anywhere you shouldn't be again. Am I clear?"

"Yes, sir." He whispered this time feeling his voice wobble. Professor Blatvnik raised an eyebrow at him in clear disapproval and Sirius left quickly having to force himself not to run. It didn't take him long to get back to the dorm and once he got there he started searching like a mad man for planted evidence in case Professor McGonagal would be knocking on the door soon. He wasn't about to get expelled, if anyone was going to get expelled from his family it would be Bella not him!

"Geez Sirius, what happened?" James asked sounding more amused than irritated.

"You gonna finally lose it and go through Remus' trunk? Careful I think I saw him hex it or something to bite." James laughed and Peter joined in. When Sirius didn't laugh and went from Remus' bed to his they stopped laughing.

"Are you ok?" Peter asked uncertainly stepping quickly away as Sirius went next to his bed. James came up behind him and grabbed his wrist just as he reached to check under the bed.

"Woah there I can only take one mysterious roommate at a time. What happened?" Sirius thought about not saying anything but didn't want to be like Remus so instead, he explained it all hastily to his friends who by the end seemed as shaken as him.

"Sirius, what were you thinking? Pissing off a professor!"

"Not just any! One of the most dangerous ones in school!"

"Exactly! We could all get expelled."

"Then ...then we should go to Dumbledore." Sirius found himself saying nervously. James nearly laughed at him then gave him a bit of a shake.

"I thought you didn't trust him. Besides what makes you think he'd believe us?"

"I'm sure if we all explained everything…."

"He seems to like Remus and James a lot." Peter pointed out thoughtfully.

"I don't know if he does enough to believe us over a Professor! You heard what Remus said happened when that one-seventh year tried to threaten the same thing, Professor Blatvnik just blew off the threat…" James explained sadly. They all sat there for a while feeling the weight of the power Professors had over them. It wasn't fair!

Sirius jumped to his feet.

"What is it this time?"

"I nearly forgot. Things didn't go well…..with Remus."

"Big surprise." Groaned James flopping back onto his bed.

"I don't like being mad at him. Does this mean he won't tell us anything?" Peter asks sadly.

"Nor do I but we have to stand our ground. We still know nothing about what happened to him." James pointed out, though he sounded more worried/sad than mad. They all were, really. Sirius sighed heavily wondering if it would make things worse for him to go hunt Remus down again or better.

"We can't let up on him now or he'll never be ready to talk." Sirius sighed ready to head back to the library with a heavy heart.

"We can talk now." They all jumped shocked to see Remus standing in the doorway. He looked nervous but his eyes were filled with a determination Sirius had come to expect and admire from him. Of course, he wanted to ask Remus how long he had been standing there, how much he had heard, but James opened his mouth before he could.

"You mean it?" James asked happily sitting up from his bed with a smile, apparently quick to forgive.

"Yes," Remus said in a tone that suggested he wished he didn't. Sirius bit back a grimace, the hurt, and frustration at not being trusted rising in him upon seeing his friend again.

"No lying ...I mean it Remus don't you think it's about time you start trusting us?" Trusting me especially, he wanted to add silently and tried to with his eyes.

I mean he got Remus as no one else did, he knew what it was like, so why didn't Remus trust him? Why did he get the sickening feeling he didn't know what it was like at all, that Remus and his experiences hadn't been as similar as Sirius initially imagined?

Because whatever way he looked at it, it seemed Remus' life had been worse way worse. He shuddered and looked away from Remus' earnest amber eyes. Part of him wasn't sure he wanted to know everything, but most of him was convinced he had to. So he made a mental note to himself that he and Remus were going to have a heart to heart tonight even if he had to kidnap him to get him alone long enough.

And he realized he knew exactly how he was going to do it.

…..

They were all, predictably excited for him to talk to them. They also all were, understandably wary of whatever answer he'd give.

Sirius especially seemed ready to nitpick and interrogate every word he said. They were all huddled on his bed, as had somehow become customary. He was sitting with his back pressed against his headboard, away from the other three who had elbows on elbows and legs on top of legs. All looking at him eagerly, expectantly. Sirius looking ready to attack him if he didn't follow through on his promise.

"There was some sort of creature down there."

"So?"

"He's a defense against the dark arts professor!"

"Why did that scare you so much?" Came the onslaught of remarks and Remus forced himself to stay calm. He was expecting this. But he also knew he couldn't tell them he found the potion because he hadn't, and if it turned out Professor Blatvnik wasn't involved, ...well he didn't want to get anyone into trouble unless he was sure they were guilty.

"I…...well I'm really afraid of Cockatrice's…...one…..attacked me when I was younger. And I just…...panicked." Remus knew he sounded convincing and didn't have to fake the shame he felt when he explained the reason he didn't tell them sooner was that he didn't want them to judge him or laugh at him. He held his breath refusing to look up as the seconds ticked by.

"No poisons or potions of any kind? Promise?"

"Promise." He responded immediately, relieved it wasn't a lie. Again there was another long pause and he could tell they were all deciding to believe him or not.

"Blimey mate we wouldn't laugh at you about that. Cockatrices are scary especially if you got attacked by one. I think they should be on the list of banned creatures myself!"

"You just don't want to like Professor Blatvnik," Peter laughed and James elbowed him lightly in response.

"It's not like any of us like him now. Especially not after he threatened Sirius." Remus forgot he wasn't going to look at them and stared surprised as Sirius flinched then shifted guiltily.

"What?"

"Um ...well you see….." So Sirius explained his stupidity and Remus had to take deep breaths so as not to yell at him.

"So if you had just told us what it was about sooner that wouldn't have happened. Not that I'm mad because now we are sure he's in on it."

"Sirius isn't it possible he was just irritated by you?"

"Remus!' Sirius shouted scandalized.

"I can't believe you are protecting him. He pushed you out a window."

"Or maybe he didn't."

"Then it was the Slytherins."

"I don't know…." Peter, Sirius, and James gave him an exasperated look.

"Well, I don't want to accuse anyone unless I'm sure." He protested weakly.

"I still think it's the Slytherins."

"My bets on Professor Blatvnik."

"You just don't like him because he gives lots of homework!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!" Remus held back a laugh watching his friends squabble fondly. Things were back to normal, he had done it, he had convinced them. For now.

"Oi Remus tell us about being attacked by a rooster crocodile."

"Sirius we said we weren't going to tease him!"

"I can't help it, James, it's just who I am." Remus knew he should be offended since they were making light about what must have been very traumatic for made up Remus who was a regular boy with loving parents. In fact, he reckoned that was the scariest thing that ever happened to made up Remus.

He covered his mouth shaking with laughter but soon was overcome once more by hysterical mirth. His friends, probably assuming he was laughing at them since that was a more sane option, soon joined in. Then they were tossing pillows and swapping stories about the worst creature that ever attacked them, and everything stayed light and fun and Remus was oh so very glad.