Disclaimer: Alas I do not own Harry Potter….I cry over it every night before I go to sleep. This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

The large fireplace in the Manor's receiving room lit up with green flames as a tall dark figure gracefully stepped out. Draco looked up from his reading to warmly greet the man he considered a second father.

He briefly hugged his godfather secretly relishing in the affection. He so rarely received any from his biological parents that he'd first come to treasure Severus simply for the father-like affections he showed when Draco was young. Of course since then he'd come to know him as a great listener, always ready to give advice, and the only person who'd never lied to him.

He stepped back and with a smile gestured to one of the comfortable armchairs in the room.

"Would you like a drink Severus, a good wine perhaps?" He asked, ever the mindful host — one of the few attributes he inherited from his mother — and with an affirmative response from Severus, a house-elf was summoned to serve and Draco settled across from his godfather, both with wineglasses in hand.

After about half an hour of pleasantries, Severus cut to the chase, "Draco, you obviously didn't have me over for a chat. Otherwise you'd have waited till our regular appointment later this week when we meet for your Potions Mastery training. So what was so urgent?"

Draco kept his face blank and his mind closed, well aware of the other man's Legilimency and Occlumency skills. "Not urgent, per say, more like necessary." He swirled the rich red wine in his glass lightly before taking a sip, savouring its exquisite taste. "I've been thinking about my current state, and I must admit, I do not find satisfaction with most aspects of my life."

Severus scoffed, "Well you are a Malfoy, you lot are never content with what you have."

Draco sneered "Well, what I have is my father in Azkaban, my mother off 'visiting' relatives in France, and the Malfoy name in complete ruin," he replied annoyed. "Oh, not to forget an insane Dark Lord who wants to kill me for Father's incompetence." The blond shrugged, "You're absolutely right, I can't see why I should have any form of discontent in my life right now." He levelled a glare worthy of his father at the man across from him.

Severus didn't react; he just drank more wine without a word or glance at his irate godson. Draco recognised this as a hint to calm down, tantrums only worked with his mother. Severus was certainly immune to such tactics.

After what seemed to be an in-depth contemplation of his crystal wineglass, Severus spoke, "So what are you going to do about it?" he asked, eyes steady on the fine crystal in his hand.

Draco shrugged, "I don't know. I thought I did. I want the family name strong again, my father out of prison, and my mother," he paused, "well, she can stay in France for the moment." He finished the remaining wine in his glass, then shouted "and why do people keep asking me that?" He slammed the glass on the side-table; any harder he would have broken it, "I don't know!! It's unfortunate, but I am under-age, without any real power. How am I supposed to fix anything?!" He called for a house-elf who refilled his glass, Severus declined when the elf offered a refill.

"Draco, listen to what you've said." He eyed the boy in front of him, "You are not a fool, so stop being foolish and you are not weak, so do not act like a bloody Hufflepuff." The Potions Master rose from his seat and moved toward the large fireplace.

Draco watched him prepare to leave in disbelief, "Wait! What are you doing? You can't go! I still have no idea where to start."

Severus turned to face his godson, an uncharacteristically soft look on his face, "Yes, you do. What did you say you lack?"

"Power." Draco responded without thought.

Severus nodded, "Then get it. May I recommend a little research?" He sighed at the boy's lost look, "Draco, wake-up. You need to bypass the Ministry, it is based on bureaucracy and ancient laws that support its corruption. The easiest way to defeat an opponent is to use their flaws against them."

He nodded to the young man and turned to pick floo powder from a bowl near the fireplace, "You're father raised no fool. You'll be fine." He gave what could have been a small smile before turning back to the fireplace to floo out, leaving a contemplative Draco still sitting in his armchair sipping expensive wine, with ideas cropping up to form a plan.

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Streams of sunlight disturbed him from uneasy sleep causing him to blink multiple times in annoyance before burying his face in his pillow. That particular move was abandoned once his powerful nose got a good whiff of the pillow.

He sat up with a grimace and tried to shut down his superior sense of smell, it certainly did not make his rented room an easier place to inhabit. He rubbed his eyes with his hands and remembered how he got to his current situation.

After his rash decision to quit the muggle life - that is Mark and his job - Remus returned to the Wizarding World and thanks to his half-baked plans ended up in one of the Leaky Cauldron's worst rooms. Unfortunately it was all he could afford and his only other option was to return to Grimmauld Place. Actually, that was no option; it was in fact, out of the question. Too many memories, too much pain lay within the gloomy walls of the old Black house.

He wasn't quite sure what had driven him to leave the muggle world completely. There, no one knew his past, or the fact that he turned into a ravenous beast every full moon; he had a job, ate regularly, and a decent place to live in. By some odd stroke of luck, he'd even had a man who cared about him. So why was he being stupid? Because of an owl from Gringotts? Should he really have taken that as a sign to help him decide where he belonged?

He stood up from the bed and opened his worn trunk, it had been with him since his first year at Hogwarts and though it looked like it was about to fall apart, it was one of the few things Remus could rely on. Remus smiled, it was probably sentient by now. He pulled out the envelope on top of his clothes and various things and re-read it.

To Remus Lupin:

Your presence is required as soon as possible at Gringotts. Please bring this letter as proof of identity and summons.

Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

It was only a summons to Gringotts, probably to inform him of the dire states his accounts were in. Why in the world had he taken it as a positive sign to leave the muggle world on an impulse that in retrospect was foolish and so quintessentially Sirius?

Sirius.

A jolt of pain like lightning, stronger than any he'd allowed himself to feel caused him to double over with its magnitude. He'd refused to think about his best friend while in the muggle world. He'd surrendered not a tear which is astounding considering Mark could have been Sirius' muggle doppelganger. Mark. Sweet kind Mark, who didn't know what he was getting himself into. It was selfish to use someone to forget pain, and it only worked for a while.

Maybe the move out of the muggle world was for the best. He decided he'd make a run into Diagon Alley and pass by Gringotts and get whatever business they wanted over with and done.

Resolutely suppressing all other morbid thoughts, the werewolf dug for his bath towel and soap and headed for the shower. Thankfully, Tom kept the bathroom cleaner than the room. Remus was glad to freshen up for the day and he headed downstairs for a cup of hot chocolate to start his day off.

After thanking Tom for the hot chocolate and paying for it, the honey-haired man sat down at one of the small tables meant for single diners. As he sipped his drink an abandoned Daily Prophet on the table caught his eye. Setting down his cup for a moment Remus flipped through the day's paper reading through the headlines.

—Ministry to Clean Up Fudge Sludge

—Boy-Who-Lived-To-Tell-The-Truth

—Dark Mark Spotted Over Several Residences

—New Minister of Magic Ushered In As Dumbledore Re-Instated

—Sirius Black Cleared Of All Charges

The last headline caused a small smile on the worn face, 'At least you made headlines like you always wanted to, Pads.' The smile grew even as the pain in his chest did, as Remus imagined Sirius complaining, 'I make headlines and I'm killed by a sodding curtain. Just great.'

Remus got up after finishing his small breakfast and went outside to tap the wall and enter the hustle and bustle of the crowds in Diagon Alley. After running a few errands, Remus proceeded to Gringotts Bank. He went up to one of the multiple counters, thankful it was still early in the day and the bank wasn't too busy yet.

A stern looking goblin glared at him. "What do you need help with, sir?"

Remus smiled politely, "I received a summons from the bank. Said it was important."

"Do you have the summons notice with you?"

Remus nodded and reached his hands into his pockets which turned up empty. He smiled bashfully, "Sorry, I seemed to have forgotten it."

She, at least Remus thought it was a she, glared reproachfully at him. "Very well, name?"

"Remus Lupin."

She nodded curtly and wrote his name down on an ancient looking blank scroll. She handed him a quill pushing the end of the scroll to him, "Sign here for confirmation."

He nodded and took the quill to sign the scroll. He felt a stream of cold magic move through his hand as he signed his name. He figured that there must be some sort of identification verification spell worked into the quill.

She took the scroll and quill back, "Proceed to the back rooms, a goblin will meet you with more information." She dismissed him with a nod.

Remus nodded politely back and turned to leave, but before he exited out of the queue he heard her call out to him, "A summons charge will be billed to your account. NEXT!"

Remus almost turned around to argue the injustice of the fee but decided against it. It's not like they'd find anything in his account. He did however comply with the instructions and went towards the rear doors of the Bank. Sure enough, as he approached an old goblin nodded to him, "Remus Lupin?" he asked in a scratchy voice.

"Yes, I am he."

The goblin turned, "Very well, I am Mr. Stonecreek," he started walking down the long hallway, "Follow me. I will be assisting you today."

Remus followed, a bit put off at his terse attitude, as he entered one of the nondescript doorways lining the hallway. It opened into a large but cluttered room, lit with sconces and floating candles. Talk about a fire hazard. There were all sorts of tomes piled up in various piles and scrolls of parchment littered the general area. Stonecreek hopped up onto his chair behind a large desk that was in as much disarray as the rest of the office. He gestured to one of the armchairs in front of him surprisingly clear of any litter.

"Please have a seat Mr. Lupin."

Remus entered the office completely and moved towards the armchair as Stonecreek looked down at a scroll he'd pulled out from the wreckage that was his desk. "Ah, there we are. You are here for the ordered individual based reading of the Last Will & Testament belonging to a Lord Sirius Orion Black."

At the old goblins scratchy words, Remus froze mid-step.

He'd forgotten how to breathe.

A/N: As promised, no Gary Stu in this chapter. Nxt chapter coming up soon. I'm trying as hard as humanly possible to not rush this story. I do so hate rushed stories, so bear with me. Thanx to the reviewers so far :)

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