A/N: Alright, the next chapter! Not much has really changed from the main plot of the original story, and I'll desperately try to keep it that way throughout the whole fic. All of the dates and times the characters go through are chronologically correct in the series.
Basically other than writing to form a relationship between Audrey and Remus, this fic is mainly going to describe how much a life can be destroyed with Voldemort around. (You'll see later.)
If you like it, make me happy and write a review or subscribe. It makes me very happy when you do! I'll write more soon.
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Seventeen years later.
The moon wouldn't stop following him, no matter how fast he ran.
The trees shot past him like frozen bodies, glowing in a haunting blue light.
'Faster. I have to go faster.' he screamed to himself. He could feel his body already begin changing, his footsteps starting to dig deeper into the forest floor, his claws shredding the thick roots underneath him. He could hear himself howling in pain as blood began pouring from his mouth. 'I have to get away. Have to run.' Soon, his breathing was pulsing out of him in deep gasps, the course fur matted on his face blinding him as he ran.
He tripped on a massive root and collapsed to the ground. Now the moon had caught up to him, burning his skin, making it bubble and blister. He opened his mouth open to scream, but his voice had left him ages ago, replaced by a deep, sinister howl.
Remus shot out of the tangled bed sheets, his body racked with a stinging sweat.
His eyes seemed to be crossed as they searched to make out something recognizable in the darkness.
Calm yourself, Remus. It was just another nightmare. Like always.
He let out a shaking breath and wiped the beads of perspiration off of his forehead.
As his eyes adjusted to the dim light coming from underneath the door, he caught sight of the puckered face of Elphias Doge across the room, lying on a small cot similar to his own.
He lay sprawled out on his back, snoring.
Taking a deep breath, Remus crossed the room and stepped out onto the landing, closing the door softly behind him. He stumbled down the hallway, every once in a while glancing at the sleeping pictures on the wall. 'Do portraits have nightmares too, I wonder?'
He made his way down the main staircase and through the dining room and into the basement kitchen. It certainly wasn't a place to comfort yourself after being jolted out of bed by bad dreams. The rough stone walls made Remus feel as if he was trapped in some sort of dungeon, the doxy-filled curtains snarling at him as he brushed past.
He reached a small fireplace at the far end of the room and muttered an "Incendio".
The flames danced happily from the tip of his wand and onto the awaiting logs, lighting the room with a yellow glow.
"Up for a midnight snack are we, Remus?"
Remus jumped several feet in the air at the voice and searched to the long wooden table in the center of the room, where a nonchalant Sirius Black sat, his hands cupped around a small brown mug.
"For Merlin's sake, Sirius." Remus huffed, his hand clutched at his heart.
Sirius let out a chuckle and lifted the mug to his lips, sipping loudly.
Remus, when he recovered from his surprise attack, made his way over to the table and pulled out a chair across from Sirius.
"Is it normal behavior for you to sit in a pitch black room drinking mead?"
Sirius straightened himself up and conjured himself another mug, handing his original cup to Remus, who accepted it gratefully. The sweet liquid trickled down his throat, warming him instantly.
"So what are you doing lurking the halls at this hour, Remus? Off for a little late night hanky- panky with old Mrs. Black?" He filled his new glass to the rim and began sipping earnestly.
Remus let out a small chuckle and nodded. "You know me, I love older women, even if they won't stop screaming in your ear."
Sirius snickered and finished off his drink with one large gulp.
"Another nightmare?" he asked, almost in a whisper, not looking up from his cup.
Remus nodded slowly. "The third just this week."
Sirius knew his friend all too well when it came near his time of the month. The increasingly agitated state, the occasional spasm of pain that shot down his spine, making his teeth clench, and the nightmares. They all began at least a week before the moon rose, full and pompous in the sky, sending Remus into hiding.
He could see the agony in his eyes even now, glowing in the darkness around them.
Remus set down his mug and began fumbling with the cuff of his nightshirt.
"Harry's birthday was today, wasn't it?" he asked, hopeful to change the subject.
At this, Sirius' eyes lit up and a spirited grin slapped itself across his face.
"Yeah! Can you believe it? Fifteen years its been."
Remus couldn't have been happier for Sirius, now that he was actually able to fulfill his duties as godfather to Harry, even if he was limited to the confines of Grimmauld Place. Every time he spoke of the boy, a strong sense of pride seemed to shine off of him, his smile beaming.
He wouldn't be able to spend much time with him as he was to return to Hogwarts in September, but it made the moments they were together all the more special.
Remus picked up his cup and swallowed the remainder of the mead and he could feel his head begin to buzz slightly.
"Well, I should head back to bed." he yawned, glancing over to Sirius.
He nodded, understanding. "The order meeting is tomorrow, wouldn't want them to have to look upon our sorry, sluggish faces."
Lupin trudged back up the stairs, his eyes peering out at the moon, beaming cheerfully out upon the darkened streets outside. 'I should be heading back to bed now. Like Sirius said, no one wants to see a cranky, sluggish Lupin at the meeting tomorrow.'
But he knew it wasn't that easy, that he wouldn't get back to sleep that night.
'How peaceful the moon looks. How uncaring.'
But he knew better. Knew its dark side, knew it hated him.
No, there would be no going to sleep now.
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"Alright, settle down everyone."
Remus looked up at Arthur, his hands raised to the others seated at the wooden table around him.
On his right sat an unamused Moody, his magical eye searching around the room trying desperately to catch a glimpse of the food Molly was preparing behind them.
"Dedalus, no smoking in the house please. I've told Mundungus hundreds of times, and now you are doing it. " Arthur called to the unshaven wizard at the end of the table. He mimed taking a pipe from his mouth and nodded to Diggle.
"Sorry about that." he mumbled apologetically, the pipe disappearing into his pocket.
Arthur smiled thankfully and raised his eyes back to the rest of the Order.
"Now, down to business."
With each passing minute of Arthur and the others discussing various actions of the Ministry, the views of goblins on the war and which side they would ultimately join and the next steps of Voldemort, Remus could feel his eyes begin to grow heavy and every once in a while a yawn would clog itself in his throat.
Judging by the looks of Sirius, who was equally heavy-lidded, he hadn't taken his own advice and fallen asleep either. Tonks began to prod his shoulders to keep him from dozing to which he would respond with an angered swat to her hand.
"...Now, Severus said he was unable to attend this meeting, but he will come to the one in the next few days."
Severus Snape. What a git.
But, as he was able to offer personal information directly from Voldemort himself, he was a valuable asset to the Order.
"Also another important item,' Arthur hummed, glancing around the room. "We have a new recruit to the Order, on request from Dumbledore himself. He has claimed her ultimate loyalty during the many years he has known her and that her condition will give us many advantages in fighting the Death Eaters."
At this, he gestured to the kitchen's door frame where a small shadow of a girl stood, her eyes wide with delight.
Upon looking at her face, Lupin's eyes swelled and he could feel his face begin to get hot.
Wasn't that?
"Audrey." he cried aloud, unable to contain his surprise. He couldn't help himself.
The surprised eyes of everyone at the table shot to him and Sirius let out a loud roar.
She looked the same. EXACTLY the same as when he had first met her at the Ministry seventeen years ago.
Not a hair out of place. Even her clothes seemed identical. That same joyous smile erupting from her eyes.
"Hello Remus." she cooed, her face going a bit pink with embarrassment.
Arthur looked eagerly from her to Remus, a confused smile curling his lips.
"Have you two...met...before?" he asked.
Audrey searched Remus' eyes intently, never blinking.
"Yes we have. A long time ago."
Arthur slapped his hand across Audrey's back, leading her to an empty seat.
"Well, welcome to the Order, Miss Belmont."
While Arthur returned to the front of the kitchen to resume discussion, Remus kept his eyes on Audrey. It was as if she had been preserved, not changing for nearly two decades.
Of course, her vampirism would assure her of never-changing youth, but it was a sharp contrast against his own face, now hardened and wrinkled with his own condition.
Sirius leaned across the table and snapped Remus out of his reverie.
"Moony, would you close your mouth? You are drooling like some sort of animal."
Sirius chuckled at his own joke and pulled himself back into his chair.
"That'll be enough Sirius." said Arthur firmly. He cleared his throat to begin speaking again when suddenly a disheveled Mundungus Fletcher burst through the doorway, his ginger hair sat bunched in front of his eyes.
"We have a situation!" he shouted causing Molly to drop her cooking to the floor.
"Curse you, Mundungus. It was nearly..." He cut her off before she could argue any more.
"Dumbledore's...on his way to the Ministry.' he huffed between heaving breaths, "Harry...cast illegal...Patronus charm....Dementors..."
At this, several sitting at the table leaped from their chairs, shouting.
Arthur removed his wand from his sleeve and raised his arms to quiet everyone.
"Okay. I'll head over to the Ministry to figure out what is going on. Sirius, write to Harry immediately telling him not to leave the house. Under any circumstances. The rest of you..."
He looked hurriedly over the group. "The rest of you, get Harry."