Chapter 43

Remus and Sirius had tried everything. They'd tried melting the locket by throwing it in the fireplace, smashing it, and just about everything in between. Then when they'd met with Dumbledore he'd told them they needed to use Gryfindor's sword, but even that hadn't worked. The locket needed to be opened first, and for that they needed a parslemouth. That meant involving Harry whether they wanted to or not. So they filled him in, and Harry being Harry, he'd pressed them to tell him everything, including that they were now fairly certain there were seven horcruxes and what they were likely to be. Now they were ready to destroy the locket. Harry hissed "open" and Remus raised the sword.

"You think the people you live with don't fear you? That they don't see the beast you really are?"

The horcrux was playing on every doubt Remus ever had.

"It isn't safe for you to be around normal people. You nearly killed someone while you were at school and you could have killed your own son last year. And yet you stay near others, as if you want them to be dead or cursed like you. It's only a question of time until you hurt someone. And you know they're always thinking about what you become, what you're doomed to become every month for the rest of your life."

"Don't listen to it Dad!" Harry yelled. Sirius was yelling too.

"You know we don't think of you that way."

But Remus was almost frozen, as if he couldn't help believing what the horcrux had to say.

"Your friend lies. If he doesn't think of you as an untrustworthy dark creature, why do you think he suspected you of being the traitor?"

Now Sirius was nearly frozen. Surely Remus didn't believe such things did he?

"Don't you believe that for a second Moony! It's not true. Just stab the thing already!"

The locket was almost working like a dementor, except using doubt instead of fear.

"I know what you are."

That simple sentence, while meant to be destructive, helped a happy memory of a much different voice come to Remus' mind, almost as if he was conjuring a patronus. A sweet voice with a cockney accent.

"I know too. You're a person."

"You're a monster."

"Remus Lupin don't you ever call yourself a monster again."

"It would be better for all of them if you just left."

Now it was a memory of Harry that surfaced.

"I know what's best for me is to be with you."

"You'll never be normal again anyway, not one of them."

It was James' turn now.

"So you have a furry little problem. You're still the same person we knew before we found out. You're still our friend."

"Dad why are you listening to that thing? Stab it!"

Yes, why was he listening to it?

"You know the truth yourself," the locket hissed.

"That's right," Remus said. "I do know the truth." And he brought down the sword, finally destroying the horcrux. Harry and Sirius were at his side in a second, looking at him as if expecting him to fall over. But Remus managed a smile.

"I'm all right," he said. "Really."

They weren't so sure, and each had an arm around him.

"Dad, not one word that thing said was true. You know that, right?"

Remus nodded weakly and answered "Yes, I know. You and the others have shown me that so many times." But then he turned to Sirius. "Although there is one thing I'd like to know. Now I'm not blaming you. After all I thought you were the traitor too and you've suffered for that. I'll always regret not standing up for you. But I'd just like to know. Why did you suspect me?"

Sirius put a hand on each of his friend's shoulders.

"Don't you believe what that thing said for a second, Moony," he repeated. "It had nothing to do with you being a werewolf. We knew somebody inside the Order had to be a traitor otherwise our missions couldn't have gone wrong so many times. And as much as I hated to admit it, it looked like the traitor had to be one of us Marauders. James was the main target. It couldn't have been him, and I knew it wasn't me. That left you or Wormtail, and he was always so terrified of Voldemort I expected him to wet himself every time we went on a mission. I thought he'd never join someone he was so afraid of. I didn't realize until it was too late that of course he'd want to be on the side with power. That's the only reason he ever hung around with us, because we were the popular group at school. He couldn't be like us, but he could hang around with us and use us for protection. I should have known better, and for the rest of my life I'll have to live with the fact that James and Lily are dead because of my mistake. But I should never have suspected you. I never wanted to. I was only doing what I thought would protect the others." He broke off a moment before saying "If I'd only known-"

"Sirius, it wasn't your fault," Harry said.

"No, it wasn't," Remus agreed. "You said yourself it didn't look like Wormtail would ever go to Voldemort. Do you blame me for you going to Azkaban?"

Sirius shook his head. "You know I don't. Wormtail did a perfect job of framing me. All the evidence pointed in that direction. You had no way to know the truth."

"And you had no way to know Wormtail was the traitor either. See? You have nothing to blame yourself over," Remus said, and Sirius finally brightened up.

"Anyway, on a happier note," Harry said, wanting to steer away from the somber talk, "That's two horcruxes down."

"But for now," Remus said. "The important thing is to focus on getting you safely through the next task. Then we can worry about getting rid of Voldemort for good. He can plot now, but it could be years before he's a real threat."

"You don't believe that," Harry said calmly. "All the times you've been telling me to be careful. You're more worried than ever, I can tell. You're just trying to keep me calm for the task. But I'll be all right."

Both Marauders took turns hugging him.

"Of course you will be," Sirius said. "All you have to do is get through a maze. No problem." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself as much as Harry, who looked up at both his guardians.

"You'll both be there, right? Since the champions' families are allowed to come."

"I'll be there even if the full moon is the night before," Remus assured him.

"I already checked," Harry said smiling. "There isn't a full moon for weeks after the task." He knew Remus would have checked the date of the full moon too, and saying what he did was just his way of telling Harry he'd be there for sure.

"And I broke in here before when there were dementors at every entrance," Sirius said. "You think anything's going to keep me out now?"

Harry had known of course that they would be there, and that once he was in the maze there'd be nothing they could do, but it felt good to know they'd be close all the same.

Exams were ending a day earlier at Phoenix House than at Hogwarts, and the werewolves were headed home. Most of them seemed cheerful, like any other students would at the close of a school year, but it was more than that. For the first time in their lives, it looked like they could have real hope. They were getting an education, which meant if the laws were ever changed or they could find ways to be self employed the way Remus had, they had a chance of a halfway normal life. But still, there were some who were doubtful and still afraid.

"All finished with your last exam Seth?" Remus asked as he saw the teen leaving. Seth nodded and was quiet a moment before speaking.

"I was just thinking, if things had been different I'd be taking my NEWTS at Hogwarts this year. In four more years, we'll be taking our OWLS at the Ministry." Since Phoenix House was a secret rather than a Ministry recognized school, the students would be taking their OWLS and NEWTS at the Ministry as if they'd been home schooled.

"I know you had a late start in your education but-"

"No, it isn't that," Seth said. "It's just- what happens when I'm finished with school? I'm not a child anymore. I have to start thinking about things like that. I can't just keep living off my parents."

"I had the same doubts when I finished Hogwarts," Remus said quietly. "I know life outside of school won't be easy for any of the students here after they graduate. I won't lie and make it sound like it will. But it's not all bad. I've found that there are good people out there, not just people who are prejudice. And there are opportunities that will take you by surprise, as long as you keep looking for them and don't quit."

"I wasn't going to quit!" Seth protested.

"I know," Remus said. "You're just worried. But that isn't going to change things. What will change things is us trying to live as normally as possible, showing others that we aren't what they think we are. I won't pretend that always works, but it's a start anyway. And that start can lead to big changes for the better, if we give it a chance to."

The younger werewolf shrugged, but seemed in a better mood, and when he left he cheerfully told Remus he'd see him next term. Seth wasn't the only one at Phoenix House feeling troubled though. Moments later Remus found Mila huddled in a corner, head down and her arms around her knees. He sat down beside heand put an arm around the little girl's shoulder's.

"What's wrong, Mila?"

Sounding chocked, the little girl answered "I thought they'd come back for me. I knew when I came here I was told I'd be staying here now, but Lon has a new home now so I thought maybe-" Lon was the other young werewolf who previously had nowhere else to go. Finally an uncle of his had convinced Lon's parents to give him to him, saying Lon was the same child he'd always been and there was no reason to treat him differently just because he'd gotten lycanthropy. Lon would be coming back in a couple years when he was old enough for school and they were all glad he was happy in his new home, but that left Mila as the only child left behind, and she was missing her parents worse than ever. "But I don't have a real home anymore, not with a family like it's supposed to be" she finished.

"I'm so sorry Mila," Remus said, hugging her. He let her shed some tears on his shoulder. "You shouldn't have to be treated that way, especially by your own parents. Sometimes, sometimes people just can't see past our condition. But your parents are missing out on having a very special little girl. I hope you know it's nothing you've done wrong, and I hope you know you still have people who love you."

"Who?"

Remus gave her a smile. "Me, for one. Remember that day you opened the music box and we couldn't wake you up for hours?" When the little girl nodded, Remus continued. "I was as worried about you as I would have been if it were Harry laying there."

Mila looked up at him with wide eyes. "You mean you care about me as much as you do your son?"

"That's right. I know you miss your parents, but I care about you now just as much as if you were my own daughter. You're not alone. You're part of my family now."

Now looking at Remus with something almost like reverence, she asked "I am?"

"Of course you are." Remus hadn't quite realized the truth of that until now. Like with Harry, fate, destiny or whatever else was out there had sent Mila into his life, without anyone else who cared about her and in need of a family. And now it felt like she belonged with him just as much as Harry did. "And you know what? The family is going to watch Harry compete in the final task tomorrow, so you'll be coming to Hogwarts with us for the day."

Mila put her arms around him and squeezed tight. "Thank you."

AN: I've been getting requests for more scenes from the werewolf school. I'll try to include them where I can fit them into the story. I will say this much, by the end, the werewolves will have plaid their part.

Speaking of the werewolves, I'm going to be having a contest for my readers involving them in the future, although it will be chapters away from now.

Sapphier, Sorry, can't answer that yet. I don't want to ruin what happens romantically with who for the others. If you really want to know, I'll send you a PM, but for some reason I'm having trouble sending a PM to your account.

Thanks to all my reviewers nd to Paddyandmoony for all her help.