Author's Note: It's been almost a year. I know. I'm the absolute worst. Forgive me? Full time work, full time school... I haven't even read for fun in ages. (Also, I'm pregnant. Be nice to the poor pregnant lady behind the computer screen :P) This didn't turn out exactly according to plan, but I'll be wrapping up within a couple-few more chapters. Hopefully they won't take quite so long to hammer out.
Sirius and Lyall helped Remus stumble up to the bedroom just after sunrise. The dark-haired boy staunchly refused to look at the walls, at Remus's ravaged body, and instead focused on his face. Remus's eyes were so tired, like someone who had died a hundred deaths but still couldn't find any rest.
All Sirius wanted was to curl up next to the werewolf and absorb some of his pain. Was it possible to siphon hurt from one body to the other? All he was able to do was stand by while Lyall performed the routine healing charms, which helped to close the superficial wounds, but he was still left bruised and obviously hurting.
The pain was eased enough, though, that Remus's ragged breathing slowly evened and deepened as he fell back into sleep. Sirius aimed an exhausted half-smile in Lyall's direction, then shifted into his doggy form. Lyall smiled softly in return and gave Sirius a good scratch behind the ear.
"Thank you for taking care of my son," he said as the black-haired dog joined the light-haired werewolf on the bed. Sirius curled against Remus's frail body, and gave a contented sigh as the boy unconsciously wrapped an arm around him. He barely heard the door click shut as he fell into a deep sleep.
He was awoken by a soft scream. He let out a grumble that sounded a bit like a growl, and lifted his head to see a wide-eyed Hope Lupin standing in the door way.
"Good doggy," she said nervously. "Good boy. Come here now, get away from Remus. Where did you come from?"
Sirius noted the way she stepped back slowly as he gently extracted himself from his friend, then padded off the bed and across the floor. He was tempted to give chase, just to terrify her a little, but saw the dark circles beneath her eyes and knew she had yet to find any rest.
So he hid as best he could behind the wardrobe and changed back, then stepped out.
Way not to terrify her, he thought as she screamed loud enough to wake the dead (but, apparently, not Remus, Sirius noted with a relieved sigh).
"Um, I guess Lyall didn't tell you?"
"I guess he didn't," she said after regaining her composure. She gave a crooked smile. "So you're a shapeshifter then?"
"Animagus," he corrected. "I can turn into a dog. Um, Lyall and I discussed it last night-werewolf bites don't affect animals. Remus begged me not to tell the two of you about this, but Lyall has agreed to let me go down next moon. He doesn't hurt himself nearly as much if he has someone else with him, so-oof!"
"Are you sure it's safe?" she whispered desperately.
"We've done it before," Sirius answered. "Nothing worse than cuts and bruises on either of us. He recovers a lot faster because the wolf has something to take out its aggression on, but the wolf... acknowledges me, I guess, as its packmate, so it doesn't try to kill me."
He suddenly had to sit down on his bed, arms full of Hope, as she collapsed into sobs.
"Shh," he tried to soothe her awkwardly. "We don't want to wake Remus."
"Remus is awake," came a groan from the other bed. "And royally pissed, if he might add."
"Moony I-"
"Don't 'Moony' me, Sirius Black," he snapped. "You promised you wouldn't tell. You swore. Do you never think about consequences? What if my father decided to report you?"
"Report you?" echoed Hope, confused.
"He's an illegal Animagus," said Remus, wincing as he sat up in bed. "He can't register, he's too young to have even gone through the training. It could be Azkaban if he were found out, which is why it was so monumentally stupid of him to-"
"Well then he won't be found out," his mother said firmly, shifting from her spot half-on top of Sirius to the bed beside him. "And if you are dense enough to believe your father and I would do anything that would harm the one person who might be able to make life a little easier for you-"
"That's not the point-"
"Remus John Lupin, you will stop being thickheaded or you will face my wrath."
Remus deflated back into his pillows. "Yes, Mum."
Sirius grinned, then leaned toward Remus and stage-whispered, "Your mum can be scary."
"Damn right she can," answered Hope. "Now, Remus, get your rest. Sirius, I came up to begin with because you've got a letter." She pulled it out of her pocket, unfolded the envelope, and handed it over.
He recognized the handwriting on the thick, expensive parchment immediately, and his gut sank to his knees. He could hear his mother's shrill voice through the words:
Sirius, it read,
You will join us in two days' time in Diagon Alley. Our family has a reputation to uphold, and that means there are appearances to keep up. As much as I'd love never to lay eyes upon your filthy traitor's face again, we haven't a choice in the matter. You shall meet us at the Leaky Cauldron at noon for lunch.
Walburga Black
"Wow," he said hollowly. "Didn't even call herself my mother in this one." He handed the letter to Hope to read, then shifted into his canine form to avoid the emotions he was struggling valiantly not to feel. Remus patted the bed beside him, and Sirius returned to his prior spot, curled against his favorite person. The strange ache between his ribs faded gently as Remus stroked the fur of his neck.
"Well, she sounds vile," said Hope in a falsely chipper voice.
"Hates Sirius for being a Gryffindor," Remus explained. "And not hating Muggle-borns, and generally for not following in the family footsteps of being a prejudiced prat. She about threw a fit at the station when she found out he was staying here, you being a Muggle and all."
"Well," Hope said thoughtfully, "there isn't much I can do, since she is your... mother... you'll have to go. Would it help if we Muggled you out as much as possible, though?"
Sirius lifted his head from Remus's chest and gave a doggy grin.
The Muggle shops were about an hour's drive away, but Hope deemed it worth the time. The next day, when Remus was feeling a bit better, the three of them went shopping. Sirius was glad he had had the foresight to bring Muggle money-you just never knew when you might need it, even though he didn't understand it.
"I don't know how these... notes work. Can I just give them to you and let you take care of it?" begged Sirius. "I don't want to look stupid."
"Of course," said Hope. "How much did you want to spend?"
"Ummm..." he thrust the money into her hands. "This much? If we can afford lunch with that too, even better."
Hope's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Sirius, it's one outfit."
"I told you I don't know how this works!"
Remus, well-versed in money both Wizarding and Muggle, only laughed. "Sirius, that's money for a whole wardrobe. Or a really substantial mortgage payment, and then some. Yes, we can get lunch, if you want. I have a little money though-"
"Nope," said Sirius brightly. "This is my treat. As thanks for helping me give my mother a heart attack. I wonder... how close can we get to dressing me like that Bowie fellow from your records, Hope?"
It was Hope's turn to laugh, and her faced morphed into an almost-vindictive style. "Will your mother have a heart attack?"
"I'm pretty sure."
"Then we'll get as close as we possibly can."
Remus vetoed at least a dozen outfits of Sirius's choosing, citing the protection of his eyes. "But Moony," Sirius whined, "it's rock and roll!"
"It's mustard yellow," answered the werewolf. "I know Bowie wore one just like it, but trust me... this would be better."
He pulled out a leather jacket, frayed at the edges, sporting about a dozen pockets. He rummaged through the next rack over, and ten seconds later came out with a pair of very small leather trousers.
"Pair these with your Sex Pistols T-shirt-where did you find that, anyway?-and it'll be perfect."
Knowing full well Remus was right but not wanting to admit it, Sirius sighed. "Fine. But I'm still wearing eyeliner. When did you get taller than me, by the way?" he asked, his tone accusing as he stared up at his friend.
"The moon," answered Remus easily. "My growth spurts come all at once when I shift. How did you not know this before now?"
"Because you've never been taller than me before!" whined Sirius.
Sirius and Remus stood just off the fireplace at the Leaky. "They'll be a few minutes late," Sirius said. "Tactic to try and make me nervous."
"Are you sure you want me here?" asked Remus. "I wasn't exactly invited."
"Please," said Sirius, taking Remus's hand. "I need you here."
The newly-taller boy smiled softly and squeezed Sirius's hand in return. Though this had been a gesture of support between all of the Marauders for years, Sirius suddenly felt nervous. Should he be holding Remus's hand? Was it wrong to do that when he was in love with Remus? Was Remus going to notice that his hand was getting sweaty and his face was flushing and realize that-
His train of thought was interrupted as the fireplace beside them roared to life. Out stepped Walburga Black, in all her wretchedness. Remus quickly squeezed Sirius's hand again before dropping it.
"Hello, Mother," he said as the flames turned green again to release his father.
Walburga turned as though she hadn't seen Sirius, then looked him up and down in disgust. "What in Merlin's name are you wearing?" she spat by way of greeting.
"Muggle fashion," said Sirius with a shrug. "Hope Lupin is a genius with eyeliner, wouldn't you say?"
Orion's face was turning a suspicious shade of red. "Hello, Father," said Sirius brightly. "Good to see you."
Orion only gave a curt nod, and then one for Remus. "I don't believe we asked you to bring a guest," Walburga said pointedly.
"You didn't. But you also didn't ask me to come. Where's Regulus?"
"With his friends," said Walburga. "His friends, who happen to be future members of our society and very beneficial."
"Mother, Father, Remus Lupin," Sirius said without dropping his chipper tone. "Shall we sit?"
As soon as they made their way to a table, Tom brought Remus and Sirius each a butterbeer and his best elf wine for the elder Blacks. "Will this suit, Mr. and Mrs. Black?" asked the barkeep.
"Yes, thank you, Tom," said Orion. "And whatever's been made today for lunch." He wrinkled his nose distastefully and, as soon as Tom was gone, added, "I don't know why we have to eat here of all places."
"Because," hissed Walburga, "here we will be seen. Although I am rethinking that decision as we speak." Her son kept on his brightest smile, even as his stomach was rolling and he wished to be literally anywhere else: History of Magic... Cornish Pixie nest... Dumbledore's office...
"Good to see you too, Mother. I'm doing quite well, thanks. I've been having a wonderful summer with Remus and his parents. Just yesterday we went to the Muggle shops."
"I can see that," she snapped as Remus merely looked on, his face appearing as though he'd have liked to disappear. "Why would you choose to disgrace the Noble and most Ancient House of Black by dressing in such filth?"
Kreacher's cabinet... Detention...
"Filth?" Sirius said in mock offense. "It's the finest leather. All the rage among Muggle musicians. The makeup, too. It might just be for birds in our world, but in the Muggle world, everybody wears it! Well... everybody cool, anyway."
Orion grit his teeth and said through them, "You're upsetting your mother. Now, the next time we see you we expect you to be groomed to a standard worthy of the name of Black, keeping company worthy of associating with the name of Black, and with an attitude a fair sight better than the one you're displaying today. At this rate, no suitable young woman will ever bear you an heir."
Realization dawned over Sirius, and rage boiled in his ears. "That's what this is about," he said, calm as ice. "You want to marry me off to carry the line, but you're worried none of the 'right' families will give me their daughters if I don't at least appear to be a proper member of the House of Black."
"Of course," spat Walburga. "Did you think we were here because we wanted to see you? Regulus cannot produce an heir until you do, it just isn't done, and at this rate we'll end up with a Mudblood for a daughter-in-law and lose our esteemed place among the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
"That's all you care about!" exploded Sirius, years of resentment and rejection and rage boiling over. "Would it bloody well kill you to try to care about me, what I might want or what might make me happy? Do you hate me so much for not turning out exactly the way you wanted?"
"Sirius," hissed Walburga, leaning over the table, "you're making a scene. Quiet down this instant."
Under the table, Remus squeezed Sirius's knee in support. He leaned forward to meet his mother until they were nose-to-nose. "You'll never have what you want," Sirius whispered, the icy calm back over his visage. "And do you know why? Because I fancy blokes."
Without waiting for a response, he stood, pulling up Remus by the elbow, and stormed to the fireplace. He ignored the looks from every table as he threw down powder and stepped into the flames.