Disclaimer: I don't freaking own anything.
Author's Note: Do any of you out there hate your job? I do. Here's the next chapter!
Becoming Moony: Fateful
Remus stared at the wall, disbelief evident in his every movement. He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it! They couldn't be gone! Not all of them! They were all he had left!
When Dumbledore had shown up at his doorstep that morning, just before the morning post had arrived, Remus had known something was wrong. The way the man carried himself, and the fact that the annoying twinkle was gone, alluded to the fact that something was very, very wrong. And it was, it was the worst thing that could have ever happened to anyone. His family was gone, every single one of them. His parents, James, Lily, Peter, and Sirius, they were all gone. His parents were dead, the Potters were dead, Peter was dead, and Sirius, Sirius was in Azkaban. Poor little Harry was alive, but it wasn't like the Ministry would allow Werewolf AFU974635 raise a child. Especially not the newly branded Boy-Who-Lived.
What a stupid title, thought Remus, it was lacking in imagination and the poor thing was only one. A one-year-old child didn't need to be the fucking savior of the world! Voldemort was gone so why did anyone need a hero? It wasn't like no one else hadn't been trying to get rid of the bastard, the Order did more than anyone could say! Why did the Minister feel the need to bestow such a title on an infant who wouldn't remember anything anyways?!
Poor little Harry, off to live with wizard hating muggles. It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that Petunia and Vernon Dursley hated everything that wasn't Dursley-ish. And it didn't take a PhD to realize that Harry Potter, all things wizard, would not be welcome in that household.
Remus shook himself out of his mental stupor and stood. A cup of tea would make him feel more like himself. Remus wandered into the kitchen and put the kettle on to boil. He reached up into the cabinet and pulled down a mug. He glanced at it with one eye and flinched when he realized that it was the mug that Lily had given to Sirius for Christmas. The one that read "Bad Dog!", it nearly broke Remus's heart all over again, thinking of Padfoot in a place like Azkaban.
He remembered quite vividly the evening before.
FLASHBACK
"Hey, Remmie?"
"Hmm?" mumbled Remus against Sirius's chest. Sirius curled his arms tighter around the man in his arms and sighed.
"You love me right?"
"Of course. Why would you think otherwise?"
"I don't know. I just felt like asking. You would never leave me right?"
Remus pushed himself up onto his arms and looked at Sirius oddly. "Sirius, why are you asking me that?"
"I…don't worry about it. I love you. Always remember that, okay? No matter what happens or where I go, I'll always love you."
"Forever?"
"Yeah, forever." declared Sirius, smiling.
Remus raised his hand and put out his pinky finger, "Promise?"
Sirius put his own pinky around Remus's, "Promise."
FLASHBACK END
Four hours later Sirius had left. He had claimed to be going to check on Peter, who was the most vulnerable of the lot with his mother and all the siblings. He hadn't come back. Remus had sat up all night, wondering and waiting, He had realized that, with Dumbledore's arrival, Sirius would never be back.
The morning paper had delivered the next blow to the already wounded werewolf. As he read what had happened to the Potters, to Peter, and what Sirius had done, he knew that he was truly alone.
On the upside, thought Remus sarcastically, the Order trusts me now. Remus sat on the horrible and tacky red velvet couch, the one Sirius had insisted upon, and cried. He cried for his friends, he cried for his family, he cried for the little boy who would never know his parents, and most of all he cried for himself.
He didn't know what the future would bring, but he knew that it didn't bode well for a twenty-one-year old werewolf in London.
/page break/
Remus wandered between the gravestones, a thoughtful look on his face. This wasn't what they would have wanted. They wouldn't have wanted such a huge funeral. Over two hundred people were in attendance. They were all there to gawk at the martyrs of the Wizarding world and to, hopefully, catch a glimpse of the savior.
Remus stumbled upon Petunia, two little boys with her. One, a very chubby and rather ugly one, was in her arms. The other, Harry, was in a pushchair, starting to whimper at the bumps in the terrain.
"Excuse me, Petunia? Would you like for me to take Harry?" asked Remus, desperate for any contact with the life he had before. Petunia looked at Remus, down at the pushchair, up again, and nodded. Remus bent down in front of Harry.
"Hey, puppy."
"'Mus!" Harry cried, reaching out to Remus. Remus gently pulled Harry out of the chair and held him tight.
"You okay?" asked Remus, starting to walk toward the funeral procession. Harry didn't answer, but laid his head on Remus's shoulder. It appeared that Harry knew that his parents weren't coming back, because he didn't ask for them. It had only been a week, but Harry knew. Remus didn't know how, but Harry knew.
They watched the funeral in silence. It wasn't as lovely as James and Lily's wedding, not by a long shot. First off, there were daffodils, Lily hated daffodils. Then there were the gardenias. James was allergic to them and Lily hated those as well. Remus would have picked the most vibrant irises and the loveliest stargazer lilies he could have found. Lily's favorite flower and James's favorite "in memorandum" flower. The huge white caskets were separate, they would have wanted to be together.
Remus was not satisfied with his family's final send off. He knew that Lily would have hated it. James would have too, simply because Lily hated it. He hoped that Harry would never remember or have to see the horrendous funeral that had been planned for them.
The weather wasn't even that great, it was cold and windy. Not a good weather for children to be out in. Harry was shivering up a storm, even in the jumper he was wearing. Remus wrapped Harry in his own coat, pulling Harry closer for more warmth. It was also an effective shield from the paparazzi that flocked the cemetery.
"'Mus?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Where's Pa'foo?" Harry's question hit a nerve. Remus couldn't blame the baby though, he didn't know that Sirius was the reason his parents wouldn't be around to see him grow up.
"He's not here, cub."
"Where's Pa'foo?" asked Harry in a slightly hysterical voice. Remus sighed and cuddled Harry closer to him.
"He's gone away for a while, okay?"
"No. No 'kay." said Harry, his eyes misting up. Remus sighed, and rose from his seat. He sensed a full-fledged Harry tantrum coming on. It was better for people to not see the poor baby like that, it might ruin his reputation.
/page break/
Remus managed to get Harry calmed down and back to their seats just before the final farewells were said. Remus carried a sniffling Harry up to his parents closed caskets. It was the one thing Remus had been able to influence. He knew that James wouldn't have wanted anyone staring at their dead bodies. That was just nasty, his brother in all but blood had once said.
He gave Harry two of the white calla lilies that had been supplied and walked forward to stand between the caskets. One was covered in a white silk and lace shawl, Remus recalled Lily wearing it several times. The other was covered in James's Gryffindor Quidditch robe. Remus leant Harry down slightly, so that Harry could reach the body boxes.
Harry patted Lily's coffin, placed one of the flowers down at Remus's nod, and whispered, "Bye, ma."
Remus teared up once again as Harry placed the other flower on top of the robe, patted it, and whispered, "Bye, da."
Remus put his own flowers, a stargazer lily and a vibrant purple iris, down on the coffins and turned away. He couldn't bear to be there any longer. It was too painful to be there. To see the physical evidence of his lover's betrayal and the death of his siblings was too much. He didn't want to give Harry back to his aunt, he knew that his cub would never be accepted there. However, Remus also knew that Dumbledore would take Harry back as soon as he found out.
Remus gave Harry back to Petunia and left in tears. The cries of "'Mus! 'Mus!" followed him the entire way, getting more and more hysterical with every step away.
/page break/
Attention Werewolf AFU974635,
It has come to our attention that you are currently residing in the residence owned by one Sirius A. Black. As a part of the Werewolf Registry code 187, part 4 B, you are hereby in contempt of Code 75 and will be arrested and terminated if you fail to comply. You will be given one week to find a new place of residence and to remove yourself from your current location.
The newly placed Code 184 permits that if you are unable to find a new place of residence, the Ministry of Magic will assist you with a temporary living location within the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. In accordance to Code 287, you are allowed only 20,000 galleons worth of materials, please direct all other material things to the Werewolf Registry. Sirius A. Black's possessions will be picked up by the Ministry and returned to the family on November 15 at 8:00 am. Please have Sirius A. Black's possessions ready to transport at this time.
Hope that you are well,
Syneva Czerniak
Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
Werewolf Registry Unit
Remus stared around the empty flat. He watched the Ministry buffoons picking up boxes and piling them into the floo. He couldn't believe this was happening to him. First his parents, then his friends and lover, and now his home. He had done as the Registry had said, knowing that Dumbledore wouldn't even be able to save him. He was living in the ghetto now, a place where he was frightened to be in. Hell, the place got shot up every night and drug busts happened next door without any warning. The heating was faulty and water was brown. It was all he could afford. He had taken his meager allowance of possessions there three days ago, he was only brought back to turn the keys, and Sirius's things, over to the Ministry.
He had managed to sneak away several of Sirius's treasures; his leather jacket, a few of his records, a picture of all the Marauders and Harry in a gold frame, and Sirius's promise ring. The promise ring they had bought together two months after Lily and James got married.
"That's it?" asked one of the Ministry men. Remus nodded.
"That's it."
"Alright, if you just give us the keys and sign this form we can all be on our way." the man said, shoving a piece of parchment at Remus, clearly not wanting to be too close.
"What is this?" asked Remus. A rather brusque man answered.
"That, AFU974635, is a release form. It gives the property back to the leaser."
"My name is Remus." growled Remus, hating to be addressed as a serial code.
The guy shrugged, "Whatever. Just sign the damn thing. I want to get home soon."
Remus sighed and signed the parchment. It wasn't like there was anything he could do about it.
Remus returned home dejected. It was a terrible time. Sure, Voldemort was gone, the Death Eaters in hiding, but he had nothing left. His family, his friends, his home, and most of his possessions were now owned by somebody else. He only hoped that it wouldn't get any worse.
A/N: Aww, damn. I made myself cry! Hope I didn't ruin anybody's makeup.