The cold evening breeze was sweeping over Hogwarts causing the leaves on the trees to crackle and rustle. The sun was just falling as two figures emerged from the shadows and began walking across the darkening grounds.
"You don't still have to come with me you know," Remus said to his oldest friend, however the gratitude he felt did not go unhidden as he placed his hand firmly on Sirius' shoulder. "But thank you."
Sirius smiled. He hadn't been with Remus when he transformed since the dramatic transformation 4 years earlier. He missed the animalistic bond they had when they were roaming the castle together, quite at ease with each other's presence. "I have to," Sirius said truthfully. It was only a few hours ago when Remus had discovered there was a missing vile of wolfsbane from his cabinet, the careful professor had insisted on mastering the potion himself much to the annoyance of Snape who had to teach him. Thankfully, Sirius had insisted on coming with him, seemingly happy with staying with his friend for the full moon. "Even if I didn't have to I still would," Sirius added causing Remus to smile back thoughtfully, removing his hand from his friends shoulder as they walked onwards towards the tree line of the forbidden forest.
On Sirius' back was a smallish backpack, it hung low even though there was little content. He hadn't told Remus what it was for and Remus never asked. The unspoken rule of his work at the castle carried on and Sirius was glad for the obvious understanding.
The eeriness of the dark area suddenly caused a shiver to escape Sirius.
"Scared Padfoot?" Remus said teasingly.
"Nope," Sirius said shortly before adding, "well maybe a little. This place has always been a bit too creepy for my liking."
"What? It was always you who dragged us in there!" Remus exclaimed shocked at his friend's admission.
"Yeah but I just wanted to challenge Prongs. He was always the wild one," Sirius said honestly walking into the forest.
"True," Remus replied quietly. "A true wild heart."
The pair walked in silence for almost half an hour. Both so engrossed in their own thoughts of old memories and times spent as a quartet.
"Here will do," Remus finally said stopping at a clearing deep in the forest. They had picked a safe path staying clear from any other creatures of the forest by using Remus' keen sense of smell to sense their whereabouts. Twitching the professor began pacing back and forth.
"Okay there?" Sirius asked as he watched the agitated werewolf.
"Yeah I'm fine, just getting restless. It's going to happen soon. I can smell it," Remus replied his eyes fixed on the ground.
Sirius let out a low whistle earning him a growl from his friend. "And you're sure we weren't followed?" he asked placing his backpack on the ground and sitting ready to wait.
"No Sirius! I'd know if we were or not," Remus replied hotly. His eyes met his friends then dropped again. "Definitely not, I mean most likely we weren't."
"What?" Sirius said automatically. His face turning pale as his eyes opened wide.
"Well I'm not sure," Remus replied honestly. He couldn't help it but over the last week he could not shake the feeling of being watched. As if wherever he went there was someone there, someone watching his every move. And this morning as he had gone to his cabinet for the wolfsbane potion Remus was certain he could smell something else, someone else. "I'm just paranoid." Sirius sat back against the grassy mound he had chosen to sit on, his hand reaching into his backpack and curling around something, resting.
"Anyway, distract me!" Remus said quickly. When Sirius raised his eyebrows Remus laughed. "C'mon it's what we would do as kids: talk rubbish until the wolf came out."
"I don't know mate," Sirius said causally. "I think we've spoken about enough interesting stuff lately as it is." His eyebrows waggling suggestively.
Remus' face reddened as he thought back to his friend and his conversation. Remus had ended up demolishing his hard barrier and telling the old dog his exact feelings towards Hermione. Every passing thought he had had on her was laid bare for Sirius to see and judge. Yet judge he had not. Instead Sirius had waited patiently as the werewolf explained the growing attraction he had felt since the summer together, and the confusion he felt when he thought Sirius had feelings for Hermione. A match he found more suitable than himself and her.
His mind began to fill with images of her, the beautiful young witch that haunted his thoughts, sleeping and awake. It took some time before Remus' mind floated back down to reality and he remembered where he was again.
"Yeah tha..." Remus was about to attempt to sidetrack the conversation before he stopped. Standing still his eyes squeezed shut before an agonizing howl ripped from his throat. His body dropping to the ground, pulsing and contorting in pain. Growls and yelps sounded as the loved professor spazmed on the ground.
Sirius jumped up immediately, leaving the backpack and its contents on the round. Looking up through the barely there hole in the trees shelter above, Sirius saw the brightness of the newly emerged moon shining fully in the sky, "Its animal time!" His own body slowly morphed into that of a long black haired dog. His mouth opened wide, panting as his tail wagged happily. It wouldn't be too long until Remus' pain and screaming would stop and the wolf would stand tall. If Sirius had not been paying as much attention to his friend then he would have possibly heard the quiet whimpers behind him, the whimpers of a young scared girl, terrified and worried for the man hurting in front of her.
He would have seen her before the wolf did.
It took a few minutes more until a grey shape lay still on the ground in front of him. Its body lying amongst a small pile of ripped clothing, shredded as his body had changed and grew tearing the constricting material off of him.
The panting soon slowed until a complete still then the wolf raised its head. Sirius looked happily at his friend, seeing nothing different in the man he loved as a brother.
The wolfs yellow eyes trained in on Sirius and Remus' face grew into a roguish animal smile. However, both animals' ears were quick to perk up when a scent of something new came into contact with their noses. Both heads lifted highly with their noses up in the air gathering the scent. Remus let out a low deep growl, his hackles rising as his claws dug into the ground.
From the bushes and trees surrounding them a large brown dog like shape emerged. Sticking to the shadows it stayed too hidden for the two friends to see properly what it was. However, Sirius knew.
Letting out a few warning barks Sirius attempted to place himself in front of Remus who was sniffing and pacing angrily on his claimed territory.
Thoughts raced through Sirius' mind. His job at the castle had always remained a secret, to everyone but Professor McGonagall. It was all for this moment, this point. He knew this would happen, there had been rumours of an upcoming idea. A plan to remove and gain revenge on the Order of the Phoenix.
The dark creature began slowly moving forwards, soft growls emanating from it.
The few followers of Voldemort who had survived now sought punishment and pain on a certain order member, Remus. The werewolf, who had escaped the battle, escaped the pain and devastation they had inflicted. And not just once but many times. He had danced with death on too many occasions and now a certain follower of the late Dark Lord finally wanted him destroyed.
Advancing another step the werewolf known as Fenrir Greyback stepped into an area illuminated by the moon above. Two tall men flanked him, both standing at his side; arms folded looking like huge bodyguards however the expressions held on their faces didn't look quite so severe.
Remus growled, anger bubbling up inside him. The wolf instinct told him h was being threatened and cornered, a feeling he did not appreciate.
The next movement, however, surprised both parties as Sirius transformed back into his human form, standing tall with an angry sneer on his face.
Fenrir growled darkly at the surprise figure in front of him. "I knew you would come, the ministry knew you would come," Sirius said anger laced in his tone.
The werewolf barked in reply and Sirius was surprised at the control Fenrir had over himself. Was it possible he used Wolfsbane? Maybe not, maybe he had just embraced his wolf self, something he knew his friend could never do.
The bigger of the two men stepped forward slightly, "it doesn't matter what the ministry knows, we're here to settle the score."
"Settle the score!" Sirius exclaimed loudly. "What the hell are you talking about? Remus is the same as every other order member! He suffered as much as all those who survived. We have had to face the pain of battle and of lose!"
Remus dug his paws and sharp nails into the ground. The werewolf of him wanted to rip every single one of them to pieces, but there was also something else. A part of him telling him that Sirius was good, and he needed time to speak to the others.
The same man turned to his 'colleague'. The shorter man shook his head and looked down at the ground. Sirius got the strong sense that both men weren't happy to be here, yet he felt no sympathy. The man turned back to Sirius, "Fenrir takes personal insult in that mutt over there due to his 'condition'. 'A disgrace to the species' he called it."
"They are not the same!" Sirius shouted before spitting at the ground. "Now I'm giving you boys one chance to leave. Use your senses and leave, get far away!"
The men laughed. Feeling cocky with the side they were on. "Good one dog," the smaller of the two said patting Fenrir on the back but instantly regretting it as the large werewolf barked and bared his teeth at the man's hand.
Sirius smirked, "have it your way!" As quick as a blink Sirius lent down, his hand flying into his backpack and bringing out an old, rusty metal revolver. Lifting it up his arm trained it onto the werewolf in front of him. The world around them slowed down as everyone froze from the ex-convicts quick actions. Even the two werewolves stilled, looking up at the man, waiting.
An audible gasp was heard from the bushes next to Sirius causing the group to lose focus. Someone had been listening. Someone was watching.