Disclaimer: See Prologue

A/N: Chapter 10 leads on from this.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "So, let me get this straight. You bunked with a prostitute because she couldn't afford the room and then in the morning, she paid for it?"

Lupin nodded. "It took me a week to realise the flaw in his story."

"I think he fancied you," said Sirius.

Lupin glared. "Not as much as he fancied you after you took him for the ride of his life on the teacups."

Harry rifled through the box and said, "And bought him candy floss. That was bound to be a come-on."

Lupin laughed but was soon silenced by the look in Sirius' eyes. "What have you done to my godson?" Lupin raised his eyebrows further. "He used to be such a nice boy, Remus, and then he got to know you."

Lupin shrugged. "Or maybe he'll be worse than I ever could be because he's the Prongslet." Sirius paled. "Another James to make your life hell with little quips. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

Sirius looked down at his godson. "You realise this means I will never tell you anything about myself ever again?"

Harry smiled smugly. "But I've seen the pictures now so either you tell me or I'll just assume the worst."

Lupin grinned. "And the worst about you, Padfoot, could probably get you arrested."

Sirius smiled grimly. "Well played."

1981

"Get out of my house."

James sighed and massaged his temples as his wife stormed upstairs having woken their son in yet another vicious argument. "Come in." He closed the door behind Sirius, checking the wards were up before proceeding into the kitchen and collapsing into a chair.

"Things make a lot more sense now," said Sirius softly. "Since he moved out, I've been able to get my head around it." He entwined his fingers, clasping his hands together as though in prayer, and resting his chin upon them. "Voldemort says he'll give equal rights to werewolves. It's what Remus has wanted since he was about fourteen."

James shook his head. "I just had that discussion with Lily. I'm not ready for it again."

Sirius groaned. "Look, normally I would say do what the hell you like. Bury your head in the sand if that is what you want to do, but, James, when both of you are doing it, things get dangerous. The most evil people in the world are currently hunting for you son. Don't you see why I'm scared? I can protect you. I will protect you. I'm your best friend. I'm Harry's godfather. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, but I'm scared that you will, James."

James glared across the table at him. "What are you trying to say?"

"That you're too trusting. Lupin is a habitual liar. That is what he does. He lied to us for two years and we believed him, James. You haven't got two years to figure it out this time. He lies to everyone he meets and because that's how he gets jobs, that's his occupation in my mind. He's a manipulative bastard too. You should see how he's got his mother wrapped round his little finger and other than the Baron, he's the only person I have ever heard of who can control Peeves. It all adds up."

James sighed and nodded. "I know."

"And you're running out of time."

"I know," said James weakly. "I'll talk to him."

Sirius frowned. "When?"

"He's coming round later to help me shift some things. I'll talk to him then."

Sirius stood, scraping his chair across the tiles as he did so. "Why is he here? You're not supposed to take visitors."

James raised an eyebrow. "You're here."

"I am your Secret Keeper. That's different." He frowned deeply. "Why didn't you ask me? I'd have helped."

"Because they're his things," said James. "When he moved out last week, he brought some of his boxes here while he unpacked and he left a few."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Convenient."

James smiled grimly. "Don't let Lily hear you talking like that." He sighed. "You'd better go. I'd rather speak to him alone. I don't think he'd appreciate you being there."

Sirius scoffed. "Meaning that you're not going to say anything at all, are you?"

James took a step back, avoiding his friend's gaze. "It's harder than it looks. He's my best friend too."

Sirius muttered his reply under his breath, but James thought he caught the words "Merlin's sake" before Sirius bid him goodnight and headed upstairs to do the same to his godson.

Their timing was almost comic, as soon as Sirius Apparated from the doorstep, Lupin arrived upon it, hair disheveled and robes distinctly dusty.

"I've been in the Attic. Can I come in?"

James, still under the cloak, stepped aside and tentatively, Lupin entered, wondering whereabouts he ought to aim his good evenings. "Hello?"

The door closed and several locks bolted. Charms were hurriedly recast and James flung off the cloak. "So shall we go upstairs?"

Lupin nodded. "This would be so much easier if we could still just Apparate in and out. What is the matter with that door?"

James laughed bitterly. "And it would be how long until Voldemort tried that?"

"He can't," protested Lupin. "He doesn't know where you live."

"For how long?"

Lupin froze at the feel of James' gaze on the back of his head. He was aware that they were no longer in step and turned. "I'm sorry. Am I supposed to answer that? I don't know, James. You know what I think."

James took a deep breath. "He thinks it's you."

Lupin did not even blink. "I know. Why do you think I moved out?" The light in his eyes flickered and died. "Oh, I see. Okay. I don't sell out my friends, James. I know that whatever Voldemort is offering, it's all a lie. I'm not stupid. I must not take leave of my senses. Remember that? At least for me, that sunk in." He sucked in a breath. "And, just so you know, when he asked me, I refused. Thank you for looking after my boxes."

Lupin reached for one, but changed his mind, delving into his former school satchel for his camera which he aimed at a thoroughly confused James.

Click!

Understanding, remembering Sirius' account of Remus' departure, James' hands shook. "Please-"

"Yeah, he asked me. And I said I would rather die. It's because I'm what I am; a rather powerful weapon, don't you think? And I did damage to Travers that thankfully, he won't ever really recover from. So he wanted me."

"Or was it because you pulled a Death Eater out?"

Lupin glared. "That was years ago. She's dead now; that doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does."

Lily slammed the door of their bedroom shut. "Oh, you're here. What's the matter?"

"Nothing," James snapped.

"James and I were just engaging in a discussion on the subject of loyalties."

Lily licked her dry lips. "Remus, I-"

"You don't have to be St. Lily of the Outcasts," said Lupin, turning back to her husband. "And if you really want to know, she was pregnant. I never told you that, did I? Frankly, if you would allow a pregnant woman - Death Eater or no Death Eater - to be crushed, then you're not the man I thought you were. Now, of course, the baby didn't survive it, but I don't really believe that's the point."

James gawped. "Bloody hell."

Lupin shrugged. "And we'll never know whether it was mine or not, but as she said, my condition would make me unfit to be a father anyway, so I suppose that it all worked out for the best in the long run." He exhaled at last. "James, if I have to remove myself from your life to prove I'm innocent and to keep you safe, then that's what I'll have to do. Maybe when this is all over, maybe we can…m-m-meet up. M-m-maybe."

His stutter had returned and James was reminded of the eleven year old sharing a carriage with them, intimidated by Sirius and teased mercilessly. "Remus, you don't have-"

"If this child is killed by your own stupidity," Lupin shook his head slowly. "I will never forgive you."

He picked up his box and asked James politely to step aside so he could pass, not surprised when he did not feel a hand on his arm, pulling him back. James opened the door for him and said nothing, not even a last goodbye.

Closing the door, he turned to find his wife in tears at the top of the stairs. Composing herself, Lily hissed, "One by one, I seem to lose all my friends to you." She descended the staircase, two at a time, reaching for a coat on the end of the banister. "Well, my sacrifices end with Remus."

"You can't leave."

She pulled her arm away. "Just try and stop me."

"We don't know where he is."

"With a box full of his things? He's at home. Now let me pass."

Wordlessly, James did so, knowing this had to end. He returned to their kitchen and began to scribble a note. Sirius was right. He had only one last hope.

Peter,
I know it's late. Can you come round? We need a favour.
J.