Rebecca stumbled out of the fireplace and looked around the near empty pub, it only being early in the day and everyone was getting everything ready for that night.
"Ready?" Sirius asked as he stood in front of her.
"Yeah." She said and gave a small smile to Caradoc and Benjy before they all headed to the back.
"So incase anything should happen." Caradoc said as he turned to them. "You are to get away as fast as possible alright? Do not worry about us." He said and Rebecca nodded before Caradoc turned to the wall and tapped the bricks in order and the wall opened up. They made their way in to the crowd with Caradoc in the front Rebecca in the middle with Sirius and Benjy behind them. Rebecca glanced around quickly at everything the roar of the crowd around her making her adrenaline rush. Her heart nearly stopped as she spotted a hooded figure leaning against the wall. She blinked and the figure was gone, leaving her looking around fearfully.
"Everything alright?" Sirius asked and she looked at him noticing she had stopped.
"Yeah." She said and continued down the street, glancing over her shoulder once more to the empty spot. There was a loud crack from in one of the stores which made her jump and she grabbed a hold of Sirius' hand tightly and took a deep breath before looking at him surprised and quickly let go of his hand.
"Sorry." She mumbled and looked at the ground as they kept walking until they reached Ollivanders and stepped inside.
Rebecca looked around the dusty old shop lined with shelves of boxes.
"Mr. Ollivander?" Benjy said as Caradoc walked outside to guard the door. Suddenly Mr. Ollivander popped up from behind the counter and Rebecca gasped with a jump as she held her hand over her heart.
"How may I help you?" He asked with a crooked smile as he looked at each of them.
"She needs a wand." Sirius said as he motioned to Rebecca.
"Ah Mr. Black ten and a half inches elm with dragon heart string, I remember it well." Mr. Ollivander said and Rebecca raised an eyebrow.
"I remember every wand I ever sold Miss…"
"Just Rebecca." She said and he nodded.
"May I ask what happened to your previous wand?"
"Snapped."
"Well perhaps we can fix it-."
"In a million pieces, no hope of repair, just need a new one." She said quickly as she glanced out the window and back to Mr. Ollivander.
"Very well." He said and paused as he looked away for a moment and then disappeared.
"What an odd little man." She said to herself. "You know Sirius, ten inches is awfully small for a wand. Mine was twelve." She said as she looked at him and he rolled his eyes as she cracked a smile.
"It's ten and a half." He grumbled. "And its bigger than most."
"Guys I am going to go wait outside." Benjy said as he looked at Sirius and Rebecca and she nodded before he headed outside and stood across the street. She pulled her arms around herself as she glanced around the shop.
"Are you doing alright?" Sirius asked as he looked at her concerned.
"Yeah I'm fine." She said and suddenly Mr. Ollivander appeared with two boxes. He laid them out before opening the first one. He pulled aside the velvet cover and revealed a short light brown wand.
"Maple nine inches with a unicorn hair core." He said as he held it out for her and she heard Sirius snicker.
"Nine inches." He scoffed as she picked it up and gave it a wave. It shot out a spell which hit a candle making it explode and she set it down.
"Well thank goodness for that." She said as she looked at him and he rolled his eyes.
"How about this one?" Mr. Ollivander said as he held out a dark colored wand. "Ten inches, oak with a dragon heartstring." He said and Rebecca picked it up and waved it but nothing happened and she sighed and set it down. "I do hope this isn't a repeat of last time. I don't want to go through fifteen wands again." She said before Mr. Ollivander disappeared and returned with a smile on his face as he held up the dark wand lightly in his finger tips. Rebecca stared at it as she felt a sensation of awe and she reached out to take it.
"Bocote 11 inches with a serpent scale core." He said as she gripped her fingers around the handle, the grooves fitting to her fingertips.
"This is it." She said and waved it as red sparks came out of the tip like a fountain.
"That will be five galleons please." Mr. Ollivander said as she examined the wand with a smile. She heard the sound of coins against the counter and looked up as Sirius removed his hand from the coins on the counter.
"No I can cover it." She said as she reached in to her pocket.
"No its fine." Sirius said as he lightly stopped her. "Really it is; my treat." He said and she frowned as she looked at the coins on the counter.
"Well I have to pay you back some how." She said as she handed the wand back to Mr. Ollivander who boxed and bagged it.
"Don't worry about it alright?"
"No because every time I look at my wand I'll be reminded of it."
"Alright you can buy me something nice or whatever, I don't care, its not a big deal." He said and Mr. Ollivander held out the bag.
"Thank you." Rebecca said and walked out with Sirius, getting her wand out and sticking it in to her robes. "It's kind of a big deal to me." She grumbled as they walked outside.
"Are you guys ready to go?" Caradoc asked as he looked around and Rebecca nodded before they headed down the street.
"Would you guys mind if we stop off at the potions shop? I need a few ingredients." She said as Caradoc glanced back at her and looked at the potions shop down the street.
"Alright but lets make it quick." He said as they headed towards it.
"What do you need from there?" Sirius asked.
"A few things for the upcoming full moon." She said and her nose caught a familiar scent of potion ingredients and she spun around and grabbed the person next to her and turned them around and came face to face with Severus Snape.
"Unhand me Walcott." He sneered and she pushed him down the alleyway and pinned him up against the wall.
"It was you." She said with narrowed eyes.
"Rebecca?" Caradoc said as they stood in the alleyway.
"I don't know what you're talking about Walcott and I would appreciate if you would let me go."
"Why did you do it? I know it was you." She said and he glared at her before shifting his attention to Sirius.
"Black." He sneered.
"Snivellus." Sirius said with narrowed eyes.
"Why didn't you just leave me there to die? Why did you save me?" She whispered her face close to his so only he could hear.
"He wants you dead you know that?" Snape said and she glanced at the others.
"Come on Rebecca lets go." Caradoc said and she looked back at Snape.
"I may never be able to forgive what you are but Dumbledore would." She said quietly before stepping back as he stared at her. "Despite the things you may have done." She said and walked back to the others.
"Wait." Snape said and they all looked at him. "One of you need to make it look like you deterred me here by force, if they see you just let me go they will quite literally kill me." He said and Sirius rolled his eyes.
"So what." He said with a shrug and turned to walk away.
"Stupefy." Caradoc said and Snape slumped to the ground before Sirius motioned Rebecca out of the alley.
"What was that all about?"
"Nothing." She said with a shake of her head as they continued down the street.
"Hey Becky, what's that?" Remus asked as he walked in to the kitchen and saw Rebecca pouring over several books and papers. She didn't answer as she continued to flip through the pages, scribbling things down and he stepped up closer and she looked up and jumped in her seat.
"Jesus Remus don't just sneak up on someone like that." She said and took a deep breath.
"I said hello." He said and got himself a glass of water and leaned against the sink.
"Oh hey." She said and leaned back in the chair before checking the clock.
"Is it nine already?"
"Yep. What's all that?"
"Well something I wanted to discuss with you." She said and ran her fingers through her hair. "See there is this new potion, its still in its trial stages. It's called the Wolfsbane Potion." She said and got up and walked to the fridge. "It's suppose to help with the effects of the full moon, you're supposed to keep your human mind while in the werewolf form."
"Oh." He said, as he looked surprised.
"But it hasn't quite been perfected which is why it hasn't been released yet, there are still a bunch of things that need to be worked out, some ingredients if digested in too large of amounts will make you sick and so forth but I was hoping perhaps you might be willing to try it." She said as he stared at her. "And I know that wolfsbane is poisonous for you and with the smallest miscalculation can actually kill you but I believe with the countering of the other ingredients it will work. You don't have to do this I just thought it might help." She said and bit her lip as she looked at him.
"Has this ever been tested before?" He asked and she seemed to be searching for words.
"Yes."
"And what were the results?"
"Well I was reading up on the report and so far it has been tested on five different lycanthropes, three of them died and two were badly poisoned." She said with a small cringe as she saw his expression turn to surprise. "But I have worked out most of the things that went wrong with it so I am fairly certain that it won't kill you." She said and he rubbed his face.
"So you're trying to tell me that three people have already died from this potion that you want me to test?"
"Yes and Remus I will certainly understand of you say no, I just feel really good about this and I really think it would help make full moons easier."
"How long does it take to prepare?"
"A little over a week."
"Alright." He said and took a drink of his water.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I trust you not to kill me." He said and she smiled as she walked up to him.
"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Will it help anyone else if it does work?"
"Of course."
"Well if I can make it any easier on anyone else I would be more than happy to do it." He said and she wrapped her arms around him.
"I really hope I don't kill you."
"I don't think that's possible, you're a far better potion brewer than that, though your doubts concern me." He said and she leaned her head against his shoulder as she laughed.
"And if I make you sick just know it was not on purpose." She said as she looked back up at him.
"I will keep that in mind." He said and looked at the table. "How about we order something to eat tonight?"
"Alright sounds good, your pick." She said and kissed his cheek as she walked back to the table and sat down.
"Is there anything I can do?" He asked as he laid his hands on her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
"Not really." She said as she looked at everything.
"Alright I'll go get the food; I'll be back in a little while. Anything in particular?"
"No, anything is fine." She said as she turned back to the books and paper and he grabbed his coat and walked out of the house.
Sirius and James stared at Remus as he told them about the Wolfsbane potion.
"And you're trusting Walcott to make it?" Sirius asked skeptically.
"Yeah, I trust her, don't you?"
"Well…you could die mate." James said and Remus looked at Sirius.
"I don't know, it could kill you."
"You guys don't trust Becky?"
"Well I do mate but did you not understand, you could die." Sirius said clearly and looked at James who nodded.
"Guys we go out and risk our lives on a daily basis, I have as much of a chance as dying from that as I do from this potion."
"Well he has a point." James said with a sigh.
"I am a little nervous though, I mean I don't want to get my hopes up."
"Or die." Sirius added.
"Or that but Becky is brilliant at potions I mean if St. Mungos trusts her to make the potions then I think it is safe to say that we can as well."
"I still don't think it's a good idea." James said as he leaned back in his seat.
"Well I have to go, I promised Becky lunch today. I'll see you guys later." Remus said and headed out of the living room at James' house.
"I don't like this." James said as he looked out the window and back at Sirius. "Now she is making him a potion that could kill him."
"You don't still think she is a spy do you?" Sirius asked with a sigh and sipped his tea.
"I don't know, it's the only think that makes sense."
"Come on, Walcott a Death Eater? Please, she would never."
"You've never thought it?"
"No, its absurd. I think the war is getting to your head."
"Well someone has to be the spy."
"Who says there has to be a spy? Marlene's family was well known, they could have found them easily and as far as Madam Dawson goes, I think it was a miracle that the others were not killed as well." Sirius said as he got up. "And you might be forgetting that she risked her life to get us that locket, she nearly died that day so no." Sirius said as he set his cup down. "I do not think Walcott is a spy and you best drop that because I don't think Walcott would take kindly to being called a spy after what she went through."
"But-."
"There are no buts. I'll see you later mate." Sirius said and pat James on the shoulder before walking out.
"Walcott?" Sirius said as he poked his head in to the house.
"In here." She said from the kitchen and he stepped inside and closed the door, walking in to the kitchen.
"Smells good." He said as she pulled a pie from out of the oven.
"Thanks, you don't get any though." She said and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Have you forgotten I am a Marauder? I can get that without you even noticing."
"I highly doubt your sneaking skills are that good as to get past me."
"Oh believe me, they are. Spent seven years developing them." He said as he leaned against the counter next to her.
"Right." She said with a roll of her eyes and walked over to the fridge and glanced back at him.
"I will castrate you if you touch that pie." She warned as he looked at her with a smirk as he inched his way towards the pie.
"Do. Not. Touch." She said as he reached his finger out towards the pie holding it an inch away as he smiled at her and she glared at him.
"I'm just messing with you Walcott, no need to take it so seriously." He said and paused before chuckling at his own pun.
"What are you doing here? Did you just come here to bug me?"
"Kind of yes." He said and sat down at the table and picked up an apple from the bowl.
"Isn't there someone else you can annoy right now?"
"No one is half as fun."
"Awwwww that means a lot." She muttered sarcastically.
"Want to go do something?"
"I have a house to clean, unfortunately I have responsibilities, you just snap your fingers and your house elf does anything you want."
"Want to borrow him?"
"No Sirius I do not want to borrow your house elf, I find the idea of house elves kind of wrong."
"Why? They don't mind, well most of them if you're nice to them."
"Why can't you clean your own house or make your own food?"
"Well have you seen the size of my house? It's huge; you can't expect me to clean up the entire thing by myself. Besides I am rubbish in the kitchen."
"Then get a smaller house and learn how to cook." She said as she sat down across from him.
"You think I should?"
"Should what?"
"Get a smaller place."
"You're asking if I think you should sell your house?"
"Yeah."
"I can't tell you whether or not you should move."
"I am asking what you think. If you were in my position."
"Well the house is a little gaudy and I think you secretly only like it to try and impress girls."
"I think you're right." He said with a chuckle. "It does impress the ladies." He said rubbing the back of his neck. "Want to go get lunch?"
"I have a house to clean." She said as she got up.
"What if I help?"
"Physical labor? Have you ever done physical labor?" She asked shocked and he rolled his eyes as he stood up.
"I'm not totally incapable. Come on what needs to be cleaned?"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes I am." He said with a smile and she looked around.
"Well the bathroom needs cleaning and the dishes need to be washed, and the living room needs dusting and I'm supposed to pick up groceries today."
"Alright I will do the dishes and we can get the groceries after lunch."
"Well don't strain yourself with the dishes. Do I have to show you how to do them or can you figure that out on your own?" She said mockingly.
"I think I can figure it out, doesn't take a genius." He said as he rolled up his sleeves.
"I think in your case it might." She said with a smile as she got out the cleaning supplies from under the sink.
"Just you wait; they will be the best washed dishes you have ever seen." He said as he grabbed the sponge from her and she rolled her eyes as she walked out of the kitchen to get started on the bathroom.
She returned 20 minutes later from the bathroom and dusting and saw Sirius drying the last dish.
"Wow, you actually did them." She said leaning against the door way and he looked at the dishes proudly.
"They are spotless, inspect them yourself." He said and threw the rag on to the counter.
"Alright, I bet you just licked them all clean." She said with a light chuckle.
"Oh hardy har har." He said dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. She walked up and picked up one of the dishes and inspected it carefully.
"You missed a spot." She said and he looked at her confused and leaned in towards the plate.
"What? I made sure-." He said and she burst out laughing.
"I'm messing with you, they're fine." She said and waved her wand and they started to put themselves away. "Good boy. Good job on the dishes." She said as she pat him on the head as he pushed her hand away from him with a scoff.
"I'm not a dog."
"Yes you are; the worst kind." She said and smiled before looking around the kitchen. "Did you still want to go to lunch?"
"I don't know, I don't appreciate the insults." He said with a scoff.
"Stop being such a priss, let me just change and we can go." She smiled and walked out of the kitchen before returning a few minutes later.
"Where did you want to go?" She asked.
"I don't know, I didn't actually plan that far ahead."
"Of course, well there is a nice little place about a mile down the road, lets walk." She said and he gawked at her. "Yes, walk. Oh gosh exercise, get over it, it will be good for you, come on." She said and grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the house.
"You're bloody nuts if you think I am walking there." He said as she walked down the path.
"Alright, well I guess I will see you later." She threw over her shoulder and continued. Sirius sighed as he watched her go before looking around.
"Bloody nutter. We have wands and brooms and fireplaces for a bloody reason- Hold up Walcott, you walk too fast." He said as he jogged to catch up with her.
"I do not, you walk too slow."
"Look at you, you're practically running."
"Stop walking like a girl and I won't seem to be walking so fast." She smirked as she looked back at him.
"I don't walk like a girl." He said as he sped up his pace.
"Do too."
"Do not."
"Do too."
"Do not."
"Race ya." She said and gave him a push and ran down the road.
"Oh hell no." He said as he ran after her, catching up to her quickly.
"How the hell did you catch up so quick?" She panted.
"Stop running like a girl Walcott." He teased and ran ahead of her.
"Not so fast." She said to herself as she took longer and quicker strides before she was running next to him.
"Nice of you to join me."
"My pleasure." She said and there was a fork in the road.
"Which way do we go?" He asked as they approached it quickly and she laughed. She faked right and went left, accidently tripping Sirius and she glanced back at him as he laid sprawled out on the ground. She stopped and panted as he laid out on the ground not moving.
"Sirius?" She said as she slowly walked back over to him. "Are you alright?" She asked, kneeling next to him and he opened his eyes.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"My knee." He groaned and she looked to his knee.
"Mind if I take a look?" She asked and he shook his head as she started to roll up his pant leg and he gave a small hiss. She rolled back the pants over the knee and rolled her eyes as she looked at the tiny scrape.
"How bad is it?" He asked as he closed his eyes.
"I don't know, it looks like you might lose the leg." She said dryly.
"What?" He said as he sat up and she waved her wand at the scratch and it healed up instantly.
"You're such a baby it was a tiny scratch, come on get up." She said and he examined his knee and frowned at her. "Come on." She said and held out her hand to him.
"I can get up myself thank you very much." He said and got up himself and walked past her.
"Way to take it like a man Sirius." She said with a laugh as he continued to walk on with out her.
Remus stared at the cup in front of him with contempt and Rebecca sighed.
"I still don't understand why I can't just take it once?"
"Well it really needs to get in your system." She said and pushed it towards him.
"It tastes awful." He said as he reached for it and sloshed the brown goo around.
"I'm sorry but if I add anything for the taste it may cancel out some of the ingredients." She said he sighed and drank it back and she held out a cup of water to him to help wash the rest down.
"Thanks." He said as he finished off the water. "So do you know what exactly will happen tonight?"
"Well from what I have read you will still go through the transformation, it will be the same unfortunately and you'll be able to control yourself unlike without the potion, that's what is supposed to happen. Its early stages it was supposed to try and cure the lycanthropy but there is nothing that can cure it." She said as she looked at his hands and lightly took them. "I just hope everything goes alright." She said and looked up at him.
"I'm sure everything will be fine, you're positively brilliant." He said with a smile.
"It worries me how much faith you put in to me." She said smiling.
"I love you, therefore I trust you, completely." He said as he leaned forward and kissed her.
"Oh you're right that does taste horrible." She said as she backed away from him walking to the sink quickly.
"Sorry." He said sheepishly as she drank back a glass of water and turned back to him.
"You trust me right?" She said as she walked back over and sat down across from him.
"Of course."
"And I already know the answer to this but I want to be down there when it happens." She said and held up her hand as he went to protest. "Remus the cage is very secure there is no way you could get out." She said and he got up and started to pace.
"I don't want to risk it Becky." He said as he stopped and turned to her. "I wont risk it."
"Remus what if something happens? I need to be able to treat you."
"I would rather die than put you in the way of danger, especially at my hand."
"Remus you won't hurt me."
"I would kill you; you understand that Becky, I would kill you without a second thought."
"Remus I love you." She said as she stared at him and he stared back at her. "And what makes you so sure the potion wouldn't work? I am actually kind of interested in seeing you; I've never seen a werewolf." She said as she laid a hand on his chest.
"You never want to see a werewolf and I don't want you to see me that way, its awful, you really have no idea."
"I won't watch, you know, as it happens. I'll step out during and then come on once you're done. The cage can handle anything; there is no way you could get out." She said as she touched the side of his face softly and he pulled away from her touch and walked across the kitchen.
"Please Remus, it would never make me think any less of you."
"Becky, you would be terrified if you saw me." He said as he leaned against the sink.
"I love you, just as you are Remus, nothing can change that." She said as she walked up behind him, wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm just so scared to lose you Becky." He whispered. "It was not too long ago I almost thought I had lost you."
"I'm not going anywhere alright? I love you and that's that." She said and stayed silent before he turned around.
"You have to promise to stay out during the transformation alright?" He said and she nodded as she lightly took his face.
"Everything is going to be just fine." She said assuring and he sighed and nodded.
"Remus wake up." Rebecca said as she lightly shook him and he groaned and opened his eyes slowly.
"It's almost time." She said and helped him sit up.
"I would really prefer if you didn't do this Becky." He said as he rubbed his face and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"I would really prefer if you didn't die because of a small miscalculation." She said as she crawled over and rubbed his shoulders lightly. "Come on." She said and got off the bed and held her hand out to him.
"Is it really necessary that you be down there?" He asked and she sighed.
"I need to make sure that it works, what happens to you, how long it lasts if it works so then i know if I need to make something stronger, observation is sort of necessary."
"I really wish it wasn't." He said as she helped him down the hall and helped him down the stairs.
They entered the basement and a chill went up her spine. She had never liked the basement; it always made her sad knowing what Remus went through every month.
"It can't be too comfortable in here." She said as she helped him in to the cage and sat him down on the small cot.
"I don't really notice, remember I used to transform in the Shrieking Shack, I remember how cold it would be in the winter, which was freezing, and this is alright." He said and he looked to the small window and back at her as she stood up.
"Please be safe." He said as he took her hand lightly.
"I will be." She said as she stood between his legs and looked down at him. "I love you." She said and kissed him.
"I love you too." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in to him. He gave a sharp breath as he jerked and pushed her away from him.
"Get out." He said as he bent over holding his stomach and she stared at him as he rolled to the ground.
"Get out!" He shouted as he looked up at her and she stepped out of the cage watching him with shaky hands and slowly backed away as he writhe on the floor before stepping out of the basement. She stared at the door as she heard his screams of pain and she had to force herself not to rush in. She sat down on the stairs pulling her arms around herself as she stared at the door waiting for the screams to stop. Suddenly it turned in to a howl and she felt a pang of fear rush through her. It was quiet for a moment and she took a deep breath as she got up and reached for the door handle. She stood still for a moment and turned the handle slowly and pushed the door open before stepping inside. It was pitch dark with the exception of the moonlight shining through the small window which lit up the cage and she felt her heart drop as she saw the cage door open a crack. She slowly reached for her wand as she started to shake and she gripped it tight as she brought it up slowly.
"L-Lumos." She whispered and shone it towards the cage and saw it was empty and she felt as if she was going to be sick.
Haha uh oh. Yeahhhhh so please R & R you guys are totally awesome! I hope you all have a good rest of the week and an awesome weekend, haha skydiving again for me, sooo excited, perhaps it will bring me more inspiration =) see you guys all next time which should be...we're going to shoot for Saturday or Sunday, we'll see how fast i can get my writing done. I'm learning how to balance out things now so i will hopefully be back to two stories a week but i am not making you guys any promises, i said hopefully =) have a good day everyone!