At headquarters November 1st, 1980.
It is very early morning and the sun is not quite ready to begin it's ascent.
You returned from a mission a few minutes before and are now moving quickly and efficiently through headquarters. Because you are between moons, you are currently at your best so you are stealthy and light on your feet. Because you are considerate, you do not want to wake anyone.
Also, you're fairly certain Sirius is upstairs sleeping off his latest mission. The last thing you need is his most recent attack on your character. And you still feel deep down that he must be behind James's and Lilly's problems.
Whenever you think this, you get a twinge inside as if your conscience is scolding you. But your logic tells you it has to be true.
Sirius always was the dark one. The one with daddy issues. And mommy issues. Self esteem issues. Power issues.
He's shown himself to be capable of cruelty and a disregard for even his closest friends. He had almost gotten Snape killed. He had almost made you a murderer. The Sirius you knew seemed so far past these things though. But maybe you don't know him at all…..
You grab parchment, ink, and a few maps from the main study and make your way into the kitchen to write up your latest report for Dumbledore. You distractedly make tea while going over your maps and as you sit down you pull out chocolate from your pocket and take a small bite.
You become so engrossed in your report that you do not at first hear the slow and steady footsteps approaching. You pause to listen. The footsteps are deliberate and are the opposite of stealthy but you can not be too careful these days, so you draw your wand anyway and point to the doorway.
Your face is suddenly lit with recognition and you lower your wand and give a small smile to Dumbledore.
"Albus. I was just writing up the report now. Should be done in just a moment. Can I get you a cup?" you ask while motioning to your tea.
He gave a barely perceptible shake of his head and you pause for a second and look at him. Something has happened. You know it's so because his eyes are not bright and sparkling; they are dark and cloudy and the lines on his face are more deeply etched than you have ever seen. He looks to be in almost physical pain and so you grab him a chair and ask him to sit.
" I'm fine Remus. I've come here to tell you something…."
You pause. You take in the silence of the headquarters. You make out a clock ticking somewhere in the background. You begin to bite your lip and you know something horrible has happened. Your hand shakes as it runs through your hair. You don't want to hear the news. You don't want to hear it. You really don't want to hear it. But almost as if a magnet is pulling the question from your lungs, the words come spewing out of their own accord.
"For god's sake Albus. What in the world happened?"
All is quiet for a few moments. And then he places his hand on your shoulder. Your head begins to shake back and forth. Your own voice echoes in your head. "No. No don't say it.." And he doesn't want to say it either. He doesn't want to break you.
When he's finished you wish the silence had never been broken. Because the reality was far worse than you could have imagined.