Sirius looked over to the bushes beside him. Shock racing through his body, someone else was here? How many reinforcements had they brought with them? He knew Fenrir had been tracking Remus, he knew he would have to get rid of the evil werewolf before he got rid of his friend, his brother. However, so many people didn't seem right; Fenrir had never been one for playing too dirty so completely out numbering the opposition seemed beneath him.
Unsure of what to do next, the bigger of the men stepped forward and began walking towards the bushes close to Sirius and Mooney. Sirius immediately pointed his gun at the man advancing closer to them.
"What are you doing?" Sirius asked his voice curious and angry all at once.
"Someone's there, I heard them!" the man said taking another tentative step forward.
Sirius quirked an eyebrow, unsure if the man was genuinely surprised at the new visitor to the situation. Nodding his head he indicated for the man to continue.
The man breathed out and calmly began walking forward. His hand reached out and his fist tightened obviously grabbing a hold of something. Someone.
Pulling his arm back quickly a scream of agony was released and out fell a figure, the man's hand wrapped in curly frizzy hair.
As soon as Remus got a look at the girl on the end of the man's hand his howls sounded. Baring his teeth he snarled and dug at the ground. Anger pulsing through his body.
Sirius looked horrified, knowing the girl he cared for like a relative was now forced into a dangerous situation. Turning he glared at the howling werewolf and let out his own growl attempting to gain control over his friend.
For some reason, unknown to Sirius, Mooney quietened. Maybe it was possible that Mooney had grown to accept Sirius as a human form now, or maybe he was so desperate to help Hermione that anyone was welcome to do something.
The man holding Hermione by the hair looked at the two friends and sneered, "is she yours mutt?"
Remus growled again as Hermione's eyes opened and locked onto his. Her face was contorted with pain and her cheeks stained with tears. Her mouth went to open, to say something, but no words were formed. Just a quiet whimper.
The anger in Mooney burst to the surface again and he had to use all his pact instinct to allow Sirius to speak. In this situation Sirius was acting as alpha and Mooney had to respect that.
Sirius saw the inner turmoil written on the werewolf's face and turned to the man. "Listen just put her down okay, we know her. She's nothing to do with this!"
The man laughed deeply. "Is this old Lupin's plaything? Fancy's doing some cross breeding does he?"
The man's hollow tone angered Remus and he let out another snarl. Hermione looked at the werewolf wondering why he was getting so worked up about it. Sirius was acting much calmer and that was something new all together for the usually rasher one out of the pair. Confusion was etched on her features but there was no explanation given by anyone.
"Maybe we should let her go?" the smaller of the men said. "She is only a school kid after all."
Gaining a snarl from Fenrir the man stepped away from the werewolf, his uncomfort of being in this situation evident in his stance and body language.
"I don't know, I think this seems like good leverage." The man holding Hermione suddenly placed a hand up to her neck, squeezing down slightly earning a squeal from the terrified girl.
Remus was ready to break at that instant, taking a few menacing paces forward Fenrir growled back. Sirius held up a hand in panic, "very big, now let her go!"
The man tightened his grip on her throat and laughed. "Why don't you place the gun down and then I'll consider whether I'll leave this sweet little thing go."
Sirius considered his options but held his gun steady. His eyes locked down onto Hermione's. There was no pleading desperation in her eyes. She had been in many life or death situations and faced them with true heroism. Sirius looked and hope she understood that his duty was to the minister, and to Remus. He had to protect.
'protect?' Sirius thought to himself. What good was his job if he was choosing to protect others over Hermione.
"What are your demands?" Sirius asked angrily.
The man looked surprised, "put the gun down and allow Fenrir to do what he wants. A...fair fight." The man said with slight hesitation.
Sirius was not impressed. The man sighed, "As you will."
Before there could be any pause for thought the man's hand gripped deathly tight on Hermione's throat. Her eyes bulged as her mouth opened wide to scream.
Remus stood on all fours panic racing through him as her chocked gurgled attempt at a scream came out.
Then it all stopped. The world paused for one moment as Sirius pulled the trigger of his trusty revolver and shot the man holding Hermione captive. Sirius watched unbelieving as the body dropped lifelessly to the ground. Blood spilling out from a dent in his forehead. He had shot someone. Hermione choked as her breath came back to her before letting out a scream and dropping to the ground.
With only a moments hesitation Fenrir lunged forward taking the gunman's concentration on Hermione to go for Remus. However Sirius was too quick and twisting round he shot the wolf. Once. Twice. And then a third as the large dog's body hurtled through the air at Remus before slumping down on the ground.
Sirius dropped the ground and ran to Hermione. His arms enveloping her in into him, crushing her to his chest and rocking her so her sobs would quieten.
"You have one second to get the hell out of here!" Sirius said. His eyes locking onto the smaller man who stood hidden in the shadows away from them. Sirius knew the man had not meant to cause that much trouble, but his heart wasn't in a place to forgive him just yet. "Merlin, if you don't get out of my sight now I will hunt you down! I will kill you! If it be the last thing I do!" The man took a panicked step backwards tripping on a stick and falling. "Now!" Rising up he turned and scuttled away into the trees terrified of Sirius' empty threat.
Sirius planted a kiss onto Hermione's head still holding the girl to him. He could feel her tears soaking his shirt and her sobs echoed in his head. Looking up at Remus he saw the werewolf pacing back and forth. His teeth still bared and his hackles raised. The body of Fenrir lay near him and Remus couldn't get the smell of the enemy's blood out of his head. Blood, pain, and anger all mixed up inside of him. His senses pulsating on overdrive.
"Calm down!" Sirius suddenly shouted, Hermione's body quivering against him in surprise.
Mooney snapped a bark at him but his mind was too busy. Thoughts racing in his head. The scene he had just witnessed played on repeat in his head. Hermione's soft tender throat being crushed. That man standing, watching.
Growling once more the werewolf shot off into the dark. The leaves rustling and twigs snapping beneath his fast moving feet. Sirius sighed and Hermione held her breath. Both waiting, expecting the worst.
Within an instant a deathly shriek sounded. A millisecond later a heavy being hit the ground; the only other noises were the padding feet of a heavy hearted werewolf walking away.
Hermione listened for any more sound. The sound of the man maybe getting up, crawling away. But there was none. Knowing the worst had occurred she buried her face back into Sirius' chest and cried.
She cried until her throat was horse and her eyes were dried up. She cried until all the emotion that was twisting up inside her was released. Anger, confusion and pain passed over the next few hours. Sirius stayed with her, neither moving from their spot, just waiting until she was ready to go. In the following hours the werewolf never returned but without agreeing on it, Sirius and Hermione were both convinced they heard the heart-breaking pained cry of a howl in the distance.
The howl of realization at his actions. The actions which killed. Killed a scared, innocent man.