A few days after the end of the Triwizard Tournament. . .
"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, show me Thalia," Remus said softly. He tossed the galleon into the rainbow.
Thalia's face appeared in the mist. "Remus? What is this about?"
Remus looked nervous. "I need to ask Lady Artemis something."
"What?"
Remus shook his head. "I want to speak with her directly. Is there any way. . ." he trailed off.
Thalia shook her head. "She's not with us right now. You know how she occasionally likes to roam by herself. But if you tell me your message, I can pass it on to her when I see her next."
Remus nodded. "If that's the only option."
"Well?"
"Lord Voldemort has returned," Remus said solemnly.
Thalia squinted. "That's that crazy psychopath killer wizard, right?"
Remus nodded. "Right. And I was wondering if there was anyway that Lady Artemis could help us in the upcoming war."
Thalia looked dubious. "I don't know, Remus, the gods don't like getting involved in human affairs."
"Can you ask anyway?" the werewolf pleaded.
Thalia sighed. "Of course. But I don't know if you'll like the answer," she warned.
A few days later she messaged him again. Remus had to throw his tea on Sirius to distract him so he wouldn't see the Iris message.
It didn't matter. Artemis was standing firm: the gods would not get involved with the affairs of mortals.
They were on their own.
Remus sat on the side of one of the beds in the hospital wing of Hogwarts, his head in his hands as he leaned forward.
Sirius was dead.
It had all happened so fast; one moment he was laughing and fighting, and the next he was falling. It didn't seem fair to Remus; he had just barely gotten Sirius back, and now he had lost him.
His eyes hardened. Sirius had died protecting his godson. Now it was Remus' duty. He would help Dumbledore make the world a better place for the future generations.
He resolutely stood from his chair. He needed to contact Thalia and tell her that he wouldn't be returning until Voldemort was dead and his followers were all dead as well or in custody.