First of all, I'm sorry for how long this took. My laptop screen cracked right down the middle and I've had to use my dad's whenever I can. I didn't realize I could copy and paste to submit until today, because this chapter had to be redone on Google docs after my laptop died. I couldn't upload it like I normally do because my dad's laptop doesn't have Microsoft Word. But I figured it out!

Second, thank you to all the people who reviewed, favorited, and followed! You're the best! I'm sorry I couldn't get back to you personally, but I wanted to get this up as soon as I could.

So I hope you enjoy it! Leave me a review if you have a second:)

WARNINGS: language (maybe), aftermath of and implied rape, child abuse (non graphic), slash

Sirius almost fell out of bed when he suddenly heard a gruff voice in his ear late that night. He sat up quickly, groping for his wand on the bedside table in the dark, but paused when he saw it was just a Patronus.

The ferret spoke to him in Moody's voice. "Listen, Black, I know it's the Full tonight, but we need you in here in the morning. We just got a tip on a major Death Eater movement outside of London and we need to look into it as soon as possible. Get yer butt in here by seven, or I'm coming down to that cottage myself. Remus gave me the Floo password." The Patronus paused for a moment before adding, "Tell him I said hi."

The Patronus vanished in silver wisps of smoke that brushed against the ceiling before they faded into the inky darkness of the room.

Sirius felt Remus shift next to him. "Traitor. You gave Moody the password? That's cold, Remus."

"I figured he would want it in case you decided not to go in one day," Remus yawned and wiggled uncomfortably, the sheets rubbing against his skin making him feel itchy. "Like you're thinking about doing right now." he managed to raise an eyebrow at Sirius.

Sirius smiled a little and tilted his head to the side in reluctant agreement. Remus was flopping around, obviously beginning to feel more and more uncomfortable. Sirius glanced at the clock; the big, dully glowing numbers read 2 a.m. The discomfort tended to really set in in about an hour; right now Remus's skin was just slightly more irritated at the feel of anything against it. By tonight it would be practically unbearable if a gust of wind brushed his skin on their way to the cellar.

"Moody's always liked you, he wouldn't mind," Sirius murmured, scooching closer to Remus. He knew he was going to end up going in; Death Eaters meant that Harry wasn't safe, it meant that the whispers about Voldemort could be coming true, and Sirius would never let any type of situation like that escalate. He had a duty to the wizards and Muggles (if, Lord forbid, Voldemort was back) to protect them, and though his own family would always come first (even if he had vowed that everyone's safety was just as important), he still would do his absolute best to keep them safe. Remus understood that, empathized with that, and Sirius wondered if circumstances had been different if Remus would have gone into the Auror profession as well.

A small grin curved Remus's lips upward and he flopped his arm over his eyes. Sirius stared at the unmistakable scars from rope and a belt that crisscrossed the pale skin and wound around his wrists. His eyes drifted to Remus's quiet smile and then to the part of his nose where it was crooked, obviously having been broken a few times. Remus's nose crinkled when he laughed and it gave him this endearing lopsided and innocent appearence that made Sirius simultaneously want to laugh and cry because it was beautiful (Remus was beautiful), but it was also a reminder of Remus's father and everything he'd done.

"He needs you in there, I'll be fine," Remus moved his arm from his eyes to wave it blindly in the air, like it could brush away the worries floating around Sirius's head. When Sirius didn't say anything back, he cracked one eye open and watched him curiously. "What?"

Sirius smiled and rolled over so he was leaning over Remus, careful not to put any pressure on the smaller man's body. Remus quirked his mouth into that disapproving frown he did when he didn't want Sirius to know he was surprised. Sirius laughed softly and kissed the place where Remus's nose was crooked. "I was just thinking."

"Don't pass out from the shock," Remus said, but Sirius couldn't take it personally with Remus's hands moving to weave through his hair and lightly massage his scalp.

"Ha ha," Sirius shifted so he was half on top of Remus and moved his arm to sling it across Remus's waist. "I was thinking...what would you have done, if you weren't a werewolf?"

"What do you mean?" Remus asked, brow furrowing.

"For work," Sirius clarified. "Would you have been an Auror?"

"I doubt it," Remus shook his head and pursed his lips tightly. "I don't know. My whole life would have been different if I wasn't a werewolf; my mom would be alive, my dad never would have abused us, my brother probably wouldn't have left...who knows? I don't worry about it."

"I think you'd be a great teacher," Sirius admitted, recalling the times he watched Remus help Harry with his summer work, or how he used to tutor the other students when they were at Hogwarts. "You'd be good with the kids, you're smart..."

Remus smiled and nestled closer to Sirius. Everything had always hurt the day before the moon, and everything except for Sirius's touch still did. Since Sirius had agreed to the whole 'mates for life' thing, his touch had become more and more bearable, and now Remus reveled in it the day before the moon; it was his only respite from the abrasive feeling of everything against his skin and the wolf tugging at his mind as the sun sank lower and lower in the sky.

The only thing that will not hurt or cause discomfort to a werewolf the day before the moon if they come in contact with it, is the touch of their mate.

Remus remembered he'd read that somewhere a long time ago and thought it unimportant; he never believed he would actually have friends, let alone a mate.

"I'd like that," Remus agreed softly, his breath warm against Sirius's shoulder. "You know that. If I could do anything...it would be to help those kids learn. To just help them be good people. By the time they get to an Auror, it's usually too late."

Sirius nodded in agreement, thinking of the young people who had gotten lost in their teenage years and ended up becoming thieves and murderers and cheaters. By the time they landed in front of an Auror's desk, they were, in most cases, too far gone for anyone to help them.

Remus felt Sirius's fingers curl tighter around his hip under the elastic band of his boxers. He looked up at Sirius from where his head was pillowed on his chest. Sirius's hair fell around him in long, dark locks that tickled Remus's neck and face. "It's not your fault."

Sirius wasn't sure if Remus was talking about the kids or about the limitations his lycanthropy put on him, or even if they were talking about Romulus and Malfoy and John Lupin. He let out a long breath and pressed his face to Remus's shoulder. "Not yours, either."

Remus smiled and yawned. "You should sleep before you have to go."

"Are you comfortable?" Sirius mumbled, his eyes sliding shut.

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Remus promised softly, rubbing small circles on Sirius's palm and then the inside of his wrists as Sirius shifted to hold him closer. "Get some sleep."

He kissed Sirius's knuckles and rubbed Sirius's palms with his thumbs, relishing in the warmth and safety he felt, and in the complete trust Sirius held in him. It made him feel unspeakably grateful and content that Sirius felt safe around him despite what he was.

Remus relaxed against Sirius's warm body and was finally able to drift to sleep, holding the already slumbering dark haired man to him tightly.

When Romulus made his way down the stairs the next morning, Sirius was leaning back on two legs of his chair and had his feet propped up on the kitchen table. He was reading a folder flopped open on his thighs. Romulus didn't see Harry or Remus around, but he heard the shower running upstairs. He went over to the cabinet over the sink to dig out the oatmeal and started to fill up the kettle.

"Morning," he greeted Sirius, trying to sound genuine. Although he didn't hate Black with the fervor he had in school and during the war, he still felt a lingering distrust for the man. Romulus had always been protective of his little brother when it came to people having a romantic interest in him. For all Remus had been through, for all he'd been forced to do, he was still so innocent. Romulus looked at him today and still saw the six year old boy who had clung to his leg when they went anywhere, painfully shy and afraid of being lost in a crowd. He saw the boy who had crawled into bed next to Romulus one night with blood running down the inside of his legs and woke him up to ask what their dad had done to him because he didn't understand, he just knew it hurt and that he hadn't liked it.

He just didn't want Remus to ever be hurt like that again.

Sirius grunted and didn't look up from the papers spread out on his lap. He took a sip from the mug on the table and flipped a page over, determinedly ignoring Romulus's presence.

"Where're Harry and Remus?" Romulus asked, setting the kettle on the stove. He glanced outside at the rising sun and felt the familiar ache of dread settle low in his chest.

"Harry's in the shower," Sirius replied shortly. "Remus is asleep, for now. I called in sick for him."

"He doesn't get the day before the moon off?" Romulus raised an eyebrow. Sirius felt a stab of anger go through his gut at the gesture; Remus had learned that from his brother. Sirius equally hated and understood that Remus loved his brother despite what he'd done. Romulus had practically raised him, protected him from his sadistic father for years the best he could, he and Remus had been close since the moment Remus was born. Sirius understood not being able to just throw that all away. He still loved Regulus, even after finding out he was a Death Eater. He still missed him. If there was an inkling in what Romulus felt for his younger brother of what Sirius had felt for his, maybe Romulus had a chance of mending their relationship.

"He usually works in the morning and comes home midday," Sirius replied calmly, running his finger down a column on one of the pages spread out on his lap. "He can handle it, and I'm not going to stop him from doing what he wants, but running into Malfoy yesterday shook him up. He needs to rest for now."

"You're leaving?" Romulus noted Sirius's clothing, a set of Auror robes. He'd heard Black was an Auror, be he'd always had a hard time reconciling the rebellious Sirius Black with a straightlaced Auror.

"I got called in," Sirius replied, sighing disgruntledly. He shifted his knees, taking care not to send the papers flying. "Don't you have something else to do today? Meet your lawyer, or something?"

"I met him yesterday," Romulus lied easily. "I...I'll be around here for the day. Can I...what should I do for Remus? I haven't...not since I was a teenager..."

"It's still pretty much the same," the lines around Sirius's mouth softened and he glanced up at Romulus, making eye contact for the first time that morning. Romulus could tell Sirius felt bad about leaving Remus, but knew Sirius had a demanding job. "Don't touch him. He might come downstairs to eat. If he doesn't, I guess you can bring him some soup. Just be careful; he doesn't like to be touched."

"I remember," Romulus said sharply, slightly offended Sirius thought he could forget.

"Excuse me for not being sure," Sirius's gaze darkened and he clenched one of his papers in his hands tightly, crumpling it. "Considering the last time you were around the day before the Moon you had your friends beat the crap out of him."

"Sirius," Romulus sighed, swallowing the guilt Sirius's words stirred in him. "I don't want to talk about that. You don't understand."

"I don't understand?" Sirius demanded, rising to his feet angrily. "I sure as hell don't understand. You let Malfoy do that to him because he was gay? Because he was dating me?"

"No, it wasn't that," Romulus insisted, taking a step closer to Sirius. He remembered having the same feeling when he had so desperately wanted to tell Snape the true reason why he'd done it. He wanted to make Sirius understand that it wasn't anything to do with Remus; Remus had done nothing besides unintentionally capture the attention of Lucius Malfoy.

"So what was it?" Sirius asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "What could possibly be your excuse?"

Romulus wasn't sure what to say. He could only hear Dumbledore's words ringing in his ears; he repeated them softly. "It was for the greater good."

Romulus suddenly found himself pinned to the counter. Sirius glared at him and gripped the front of his shirt tightly, keeping Romulus immobile and unable to avoid Sirius's eyes boring into his, the gray irises swirling with anger. "The people you love should be the greatest good you ever have."

"Says the man who ditched his family the same way I did when he was sixteen," Romulus sneered, gripping Sirius's wrists to try to pry his hands off of him. "You act like you're so moral and in the right about everything, but you're no better than I am. Did you love your brother?"

"Of course I do," Sirius snapped, going a shade paler. Romulus noted how Sirius had kept it in present tense.

"And you left him with your family anyway," Romulus growled. "You have no right to judge me for leaving. I love Remus just as much as you love Regulus."

Sirius let go of Romulus's shirt and took a step back, his eyes never leaving Romulus's. He was silent for a few moments before he said quietly, "He loves you, too. That doesn't mean he can trust you again."

Sirius gathered up his paper and slid them into a folder, turning his back to Romulus and effectively showing he was ending the conversation.

Romulus wasn't finished, though. There was something he'd always wondered. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know the answer or not, but he steeled himself and asked anyway. "How long...did you...what happened? When you found him, I mean."

Sirius shoulders tensed and he paused in his organizing of the papers. He sighed and turned slowly to eye Romulus wearily. "I brought him to the Hospital wing. He didn't want to go, but it's always best if he's as healthy as possible when he transforms."

"How long was he...when did you...?" Romulus shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. Damn it, this was hard. He was a grown man, he held a powerful position in the Ministry of Magic, he was a fully trained wizard, for God's sake. Why was it that when it came to his little brother he suddenly felt like a bumbling sixteen year old again?

"Snape found us as soon as he could," Sirius replied softly, tucking the last of his papers into the folder. "James, Peter, and I were out looking for him. We thought he'd just fallen asleep in the Common Room with his homework. He always did that, just kept working until he couldn't even keep his eyes open to get upstairs..."

"He's with Romulus, Sirius, he's probably fine" james had to jog to keep up with Sirius's long, determined strides as he led the way down the lowly lit stone hallways. He'd seen Sirius worried before, but after he found the note Remus had left about meeting his brother, Sirius had gone straight from worried to frantic.

"Weren't you there for their argument when Romulus found out?" Sirius snapped, speeding up and gripping his wand tightly. "Romulus was pissed. I told Remus not to go off alone with him..." he rubbed his forehead and tried to calm himself down. "Stubborn, loyal idiot..."

"We'll find him," Peter said firmly. He was almost running to keep up with the taller boys' long strides. "He's not helpless."

"The Moon's tonight," Sirius reminded them, gritting his teeth. His grip on his wand tightened. "And he's worrying himself grey about his marks and his damn family...he's exhausted..."

"BLACK!" Sirius whirled around at his name and found himself looking at Severus Snape as he strode down the hallway towards them. "Black, follow me."

"What are you doing up, Snape?" James sneered, coming to halt next to Sirius. "We're busy."

"It's Rem-Lupin," Snape corrected himself, motioning frantically for them to follow. "He's down by the History of Magic classroom. He's hurt."
Sirius's skin went three shades paler in the cold light of the torches on the wall. He strode up to Snape and grabbed the front of his robes roughly. "Take me there. Right. Now."

Snape shoved Sirius away and glared harshly at him. "I was planning on it. Let go of me."

He turned on his heel and started down the hallway, moving quickly towards the wing of the castle he'd come from. Sirius kept pace with him and interrogated him as they rushed down the halls. "How badly is he hurt? Who was it? I swear to God, Snape, if I find out..."

"It wasn't me," Snape snapped, speeding up. He was still in his school robes and they billowed out behind him as they walked. "It wasn't...talk to Remus's brother." he spat out the word 'brother' like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Damn it," Sirius cursed under his breath.

Snape indicated a door off the hallway next to Professor Binn's classroom. "There. But, Black..." he grabbed Sirius's arm before Sirius could burst through the door. "He...he's really out of it. He was...they, uh...they..."

"I can handle it," Sirius snapped, pulling away from Snape and pushing the door open.

He stopped short and James and Peter ran right into his back. Sirius covered his mouth with his hand. "Oh my God..."

Remus flinched and curled into a tighter ball on the floor, pulling his tattered cloak around him to cover himself the best he could. He let out a small, desperate whimper that sounded like his brother's name.

That snapped Sirius out of his daze and he was immediately at Remus's side, kneeling next to him, but not touching him. He leaned over Remus, his hair dangling centimeters from the werewolf's bruised skin. "Remus. Remus, look at me. C'mon, babe, it's me, it's Sirius. You're okay, you're safe..."

Remus's eyes flickered open and he coughed. Blood speckled the floor. He swallowed and tried to speak, his voice hoarse and breaking. "I...Sirius, what are you..?"

"Shhh, don't talk," Sirius hushed him softly. He was aching to reach out and touch Remus to offer some sort of comfort (and physical reassurance for himself that Remus was there, that Remus was alive) but knew it would hurt him more than help him. What parts of Remus's skin that were visible were beginning to develop painful looking bruises. Bruises shaped like fingers painted Remus's throat and chin, and his bottom lip was split open and bleeding sluggishly. His wrist was bent at an odd angle and his choppy, uneven breaths indicated the possibility of broken ribs.

"We need to get you to the hospital wing," Sirius muttered, his hands hovering above Remus's side and arm. "Can you...can you walk?"

"Yes," Remus gasped quietly. He pushed himself up onto his elbows and caught sight of James and Peter. His expression immediately went from pain-riddled to humiliated and he ducked his head so he was looking at the ground, bracing himself with his forearms against the stone floor. "Sir...Sirius..." he struggled to say Sirius's names, but managed to force it past his lips. "Get them out of here."

"Remus, they're not going to..."

"Please," Remus hissed softly, his shoulders hunching. "I can't...I don't want them to see..."

Sirius swallowed hard and nodded. "Okay. Okay...Peter, James, go down to the hospital wing and get Madame Pomphrey. Remus and I will be there in a few minutes."

"Sirius-" James started to protest, but Peter grabbed his arm and tugged his sleeve.

"James, let's go," he said quietly.

James hesitated, but followed Peter out of the room, shooting back one last concerned glance at his friends.

"Alright," Sirius muttered. "You okay?"

Stupid question. Of course Remus wasn't okay. He was hurt, and something was obviously wrong.

"I don't need the hospital wing," Remus said firmly, setting his jaw. He pushed himself back up and moved so he was perched gingerly on his right hip. He winced. "I'll be fine."

He wouldn't look at Sirius. Sirius tilted his head, studying Remus closely, his concern for Remus growing. "Remus, what did he do to you?"

"I got a little beat up, nothing new," Remus muttered, his eyes flickering around the room nervously. His fingers worried the folds of the cloak around him. He ducked his head so he didn't have to look at Sirius, choking back tears. He felt them stinging at his eyes. He couldn't cry. He couldn't cry, because then Sirius would know... "Can we please just go back to the dorms?"

"Do you need help standing?" Sirius pursed his lips. Something was wrong, really wrong, but he'd let it drop until he could convince Remus to go to Madame Pomphrey. He knew it would be uncomfortable if he had to touch Remus to help him up, but it was better than leaving him on the unforgiving floor.

"No!" Remus pushed himself away from Sirius skittishly. "I can do it, please, just don't touch me..."

Sirius blinked, surprised at Remus's strong reaction. "Okay. Okay, I won't touch you if you don't want me to."

Remus's shoulders heaved and he rubbed his eyes against his cloak. "Thank...thank you..."

He took a few moments to try to steady his breathing before he rose to his feet, cringing at the horribly familiar pain that spiked up his spine. He stumbled and caught himself on a desk. He could see Sirius watching him with concern out of the corner of his eye, but couldn't look at him.

"Oh, God," he heard Sirius say softly.

Sirius felt his stomach grow cold when he saw the blood running down the inside of Remus's legs.

He moved to closer to Remus and tried to make the younger boy meet his eyes without touching him. "He touched you?"

"No," Remus shook his head, his blood streaked, honey hair hiding his face. "No, Sirius, I swear, he didn't..."

More than anything, Sirius wanted to hold him, reassure him, let him know it would be okay; Sirius wasn't good with words, it was so much easier for him to show his feelings through touch and action. But Remus was hurt, overwhelmed, and probably didn't want anyone to touch him ever again, and Sirius couldn't blame him.

"Remus, it's okay," Sirius said, keeping his voice low and soothing as he could. "It's alright. I believe you, babe. Remus, you're...you're really hurt. You're bleeding. There could be internal damage. Please...please let Madame Pomphrey check you over."

"I can't," Sirius could see the muscles of Remus's back bunch up painfully under his bruised and torn skin. "I...just leave me alone, Sirius. I don't need...I don't need anyone's pity."

"It's not pity," Sirius insisted softly. His hand was inches away from where Remus's was clenched on the edge of the desk, and it would be so easy to close the gap and twine their fingers together. "It's concern. You don't have to tell her who it was, you don't have to tell me who it was, if you don't want to. But please, please let her heal you. I'm begging you, Remus."

Remus's throat worked hard as he tried to keep his tears back. "I don't need-"

He suddenly felt his knees give out and his vision blurred before going completely black.

Sirius caught Remus before he fell and hefted the smaller boy into his arms. Remus was light; he hadn't been eating as much as he should, his appetite quenched by thoughts of his marks and his family breaking apart.

Remus whimpered and curled into Sirius's chest, half conscious. Tears ran unchecked down his cheeks and soaked into Sirius's shirt.

"Shhh, baby, it's alright," Sirius held Remus closer and started as quickly as he could towards the Hospital wing. Remus would be pissed Sirius hadn't listened, but James and Peter were already getting Madame Pomphrey and the Moon was coming soon; Remus needed to be as healed as possible before he transformed. "You're safe now, I promise, Remus, you're safe...I won't let him touch you again..."

"Was he mad you brought him there?" Romulus asked, feeling sick to his stomach.

Sirius shrugged and nodded. "At first he was upset. He didn't want people to know that it had happened." He was silent for a few moments before he sighed softly. "It was a bad Moon."

"I didn't..." Romulus began, but trailed off, not sure of what to say.

"I have to get to work," Sirius cleared his throat and pushed his hair out of his eyes. "Don't...just leave him alone unless he calls for you, alright? He's worked really hard to help himself heal from what your dad did, and what...what you did. He's come to terms with it. But you being here...it's not like the memories of it can just go away."

Sirius clutched the strap of his bag as his brain called up memories of the time after Remus had left the hospital wing. He'd been despondent and angry and lashed out. He'd pushed and pushed and pushed Sirius away until Sirius could barely even talk to him without Remus blowing up at him. He'd stopped eating, and he'd thrown himself into schoolwork. He'd barely slept anymore. He'd been on self destruct until Madame Pomphrey had finally convinced him to talk to someone. She'd set him up with a wizard in Hogsmede who had a practice in the small town.

Sirius still remembered the day Remus had sat down next to him at dinner after he'd been talking to this guy twice a week for six months and asked him quietly if Sirius would go with him.

Romulus could tell Sirius had gotten distracted and lost in thought by the faraway look in his eyes and cleared his throat to get the man's attention. "I'll be careful, okay? He'll be fine."

"He'd better be," Sirius growled, eyes flashing dangerously. He pinched some Floo powder between his thumb and forefinger and tossed it into the fireplace. The flames roared and he shot Romulus one more warning glance before stepping into the fire.

Romulus stood outside Remus's door with a bowl of soup in his hands and hesitated, unsure of whether or not he could go through with knocking. This might be the last chance he had to really talk to Remus before the Moo, and he had some things he needed to take care of.

After a few moments of hovering outside the door, he raised his fist to knock.

"Come in, Romulus," Remus's voice called before Romulus's fist could make contact with the peeling wood of the door. Romulus jumped a little, sloshing the soup in the bowl, and cursed under his breath. He'd forgotten how good Remus's hearing got as the Moon got closer.

He pushed open the door and stepped into the dark room, pulling the door closed behind him. The heavy curtains were drawn over the window, and Romulus peered through the darkness to make out where Remus was in the room. The bed was on the wall next to the door, and Romulus could see Remus propped up and sitting cross legged. Harry was curled up on the bed next to him, leaving a few feet of space between them. Harry sat up when Romulus came in and eyed him warily.

Romulus smiled at him in what he hoped was a kind way. He felt bad when he looked at the boy; Remus adored this kid, had raised him like his own. Romulus felt like he should have been a part of his life, somehow. The night the Dark Lord had been vanquished Remus had been left half dead, starving, and homeless, with two of his best friends dead, his lover under investigation, and an orphaned baby boy in his care. He had undoubtedly needed Romulus's support. Romulus had had other things on his mind at that point.

"I brought you some soup," Romulus held out the bowl in offering and moved towards the bed. He stood awkwardly next to it, not sure if Remus would want him to perch himself on the bed or if it would make him uncomfortable.

"Thank you," Remus smiled weakly. His fingers were picking at the sheets in his lap. "I'm not really hungry. Harry..?"

Remus took the bowl and offered it to the boy. Harry shrugged and shook his head. "I'm good. I was going to make a sandwich."

"Sirius said you should eat something," Romulus raised his eyebrows.

Remus rolled his eyes and placed the bowl on the bedside table. "Sirius worries too much."

Romulus pursed his lips and nodded shortly in agreement.

Harry broke the long silence by standing up and stretching, cracking his back. "I'm going to make a sandwich. Does any one else need anything?"

"No," Romulus shook his head.

"No thanks, sweetheart," Remus smiled tiredly.

Romulus shut the door behind Harry and moved to the opposite side of the bed. He perched on the edge and when Remus didn't say anything, relaxed a little bit. The room was small, but clean. Romulus could see pictures in frames hung on the walls; they were done in crayon and pencil and Romulus assumed they must have been Harry's drawings from over the years. Besides the bed and small bedside tables, a low chest of drawers was the only other furniture in the bedroom. There were a few knicknacks on top of it; a small wooden box Romulus recognized as something Remus had had since they were little, a black figure of a dog carved out of some dark stone, a picture frame with a photo of Sirius, Remus, Peter, baby Harry, and who Romulus recognized as James and Lily. He eyed the box for a few moments; if Remus had kept the ring, it would be in there.

"Romulus, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I think it would be best if you found a place as soon as possible," Remus said quietly, looking away from his brother. "Until then, I don't mind you staying here, but I would prefer it if you didn't...if you kept your distance from me."

"I'm your brother," Romulus said, watching Remus's eyebrows draw together as he spoke.

"You haven't contacted me in years," Remus's eyes snapped up to meet Romulus's. Romulus was unprepared for it; Remus had alway kept his head down when he expressed any kind of disagreement, if he said anything at all. "You haven't been there for me since we were kids. You can't just show up expect our relationship to magically fix itself. We're practically strangers, Romulus, we barely know each other anymore."

Romulus sighed and put his head in his hands. "I know, Remus. I know we can't just go back to how we were. I just...can we try to get to know each other again?"

He could tell Remus was confused by the question. Remus opened his mouth to speak, but Romulus went on before he could say anything. "I mean, we can maybe just...talk, catch up...maybe we can be friends someday. We can see where it goes."

Remus smiled a little bit, looking slightly unsure. Romulus let himself believe it could really happen like that for a few moments, and it felt indescribably good to imagine his relationship with Remus rebuilt to at least a portion of what it was.

Remus shrugged and replied hesitantly. "I think...Give me some time, Romulus. The day before the Moon isn't the time for me to be making a decision like that."

Romulus pursed his lips and nodded, rising to his feet. "Yeah, I have to agree with that. If I remember right, it was the day before the Moon when you decided to take Divination."

A small smile stole across Remus's face and Romulus felt the block of ice in his stomach melt a little bit.

"Exactly," Remus nodded. He tossed the sheets aside and moved to stand up. "I've got to get some things done before the moon rises."

"You need to stay in bed," Romulus said firmly, moving to push Remus back into bed. Remus flinched away from his hand before Romulus could touch him. "Oh, God, Remus, I'm sorry."

"It's alright," Remus waved him off, his hand on his chest where Romulus's hand had almost touched him. "I need to get up and do something."

"You're going to hurt yourself," Romulus warned gently, unsure of whether or not he was overstepping.

"I think I know what I can handle," Remus said back, sharply but not meanly. He stood up and hesitated before continuing. "I'm going to shower and then do laundry. If you have anything, throw it down to the bottom of the stairs and I'll wash it."

"Thanks," Romulus smiled. Remus nodded, started towards the hallway, paused, looked like he was going to say something, shook his head, and left the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Romulus heard the bathroom door shut down the hall and the water start. He stood up and rushed to grab the carved box from the top of the drawers. He opened it and cursed when he found it was full of letters written in Black's cramped handwriting. He put it back where he'd found it and looked around the room, rubbing his forehead frustratedly.

He went through the drawers first, finding nothing there but clothes and some of Remus's books. He tossed the books aside and sighed. If Remus had gotten rid of their mother's wedding ring, Romulus didn't know what he was going to do to protect him. He fingered the cover of one of the worn books and was suddenly struck by a memory; he and Remus had used to hollow out the pages of old books if they needed to hide something from their father. Remus had used to hide the small gifts he got for Romulus for Christmas in an old encyclopedia in their bedroom, and Romulus had done the same in a battered guide book of England.

It was a long shot; he didn't know if Remus would still do that, but he had nothing to lose by thumbing through the books. He felt a thrill of success when he found the pages of one hollowed out so a small plastic bag could fit in the niche. He pulled it out and let out a small sound of relief when he saw the glint of the band through the foggy plastic.

He clutched it in his hand and quickly replaced the books in the drawer where he'd found them.

"Black is away for now," Romulus kneeled in front of the fire and spoke quietly so Remus wouldn't hear him where he was trying to sleep upstairs. "He won't be back until tonight."

"Where's the werewolf?" Lucius sneered, his lip curling as he glanced around suspiciously.

"He's asleep," Romulus replied, managing to keep his expression neutral at Lucius's tone when he said werewolf. "He's been doing chores for four hours, his body is worn out."

"Perfect," Lucius smiled. "And the moon is in an hour?"

Romulus glanced at the clock above the living room couch. "About an hour, yes. Black should be occupied through the night if Death Eaters keep flocking towards your place. They'll want everyone they can spare watching."

"And you'll do your part by the time Remus is human again?" Lucius asked.

"Consider it done," Romulus nodded. "You should be able to get through the wards, I've been working on weakening them, and the blood spell breaks the second the bodies are off the property."

"Perfect," Lucius grinned coldly.

Romulus shifted uncomfortably on the rough wooden floor. "You swear you'll leave Remus alone?"

"I won't touch him," Lucius rolled his eyes. "He'll be fine. Getting cold feet, Lupin?"

"No," Romulus shook his head instantly. "I just...I'm doing this for him. I don't want him to get hurt."

"This is the first step to bringing the Dark Lord back," Lucius assured him softly. "And the Dark Lord is the only one who can take down the Ministry and Albus Dumbledore. Isn't that what you want?"

"Yes," Romulus muttered, biting his lip. "More than anything."

"Your brother will be much better off with the Dark Lord ruling than Dumbledore and his Ministry puppet," Lucius sneered when he referenced Fudge. "You've worked so hard for this, collecting information from Dumbledore, convincing Remus to let you through the wards, waiting for this day for year and years with the rest of us..."

"I know," Romulus nodded, his voice firm and steady. The Dark Lord would treat Remus better than Dumbledore and the Ministry did. As it stood, Remus couldn't even get a job in the wizarding world with all the laws. Dumbledore used Remus like he was dispensable, offering him up to the werewolves, to the Death Eaters, to the Ministry, and Romulus was sick of Remus living in blind devotion to the old man. "You're right, Lucius. I'm just nervous about this, I guess."

"It's something that will go down in history," Lucius smiled self indulgently, eyes glinting with anticipation. "The day the Dark Lord rose again."

Romulus's eyes flickered to the ceiling above him where Remus was sound asleep in his and Sirius's bedroom. He echoed the statement softly, "The day the Dark Lord rose again."

So there it is! I hope you guys liked it. Again, sorry it took so long. I should have my own laptop back by the end of the week. It picks up in the next chapter with the Moon and Romulus's intentions being exposed.

Please review! I love getting them, they literally brighten up my day like nothing else. So if you've got a second, feel free to drop me a review, question, comment, whatever. Thanks:)

Thanks for reading!