Written for Heroes Hunt (write about something sinister hiding behind a charming face) and Ultimate Patronus Quest (Frog: Write about Sirius Black)
Remus groans, massaging his temples and staring at the empty glass before him. He's lost count of how many drinks he's had tonight. Not enough.
He can still see the crime scene so vividly in his mind. Lily Evans, an old friend of his, dumped in the park under the oldest oak tree. She had looked so peaceful, Remus almost could have imagined that she'd just been laying out and staring at the leaves above… He could have, at least, if her eyes hadn't been removed.
His dear friend has been reduced to just another victim, the third so far, in a string of murders plaguing London lately. Each victim had been missing a piece of their body, some sort of morbid trophy taken by the killer.
"You look like you could use another drink."
Remus looks up, his heart turning somersaults in his chest as Sirius Black sits across from him. He's as handsome and charming as ever with his soft grey eyes and that smile that could melt the coldest of hearts.
"You have no idea," Remus mutters.
"On me," Sirius assures him before calling to the bartender.
"I didn't realize you were back in town," Remus notes. "What happened to seeing the world?"
Sirius shrugs. "It got lonely after a while. Decided to come home," he laughs. "But enough about me. Detective, huh? Hell of a time to be on the force with all these horrific murders. James phoned me about Lily."
Remus shudders. He'd taken it upon himself to deliver the news to James. He'd held his best friend as he'd sobbed, his heart breaking even further.
Remus doesn't know how much more he can take. Alice Longbottom bottom had been the first. Her lips had been removed. Then came Lucius Malfoy, who had been scalped after death, his luxurious hair completely removed.
"Hell of a time," Remus agrees, gratefully accepting his drink and downing it quickly. "Just made detective two months ago, and this is my reward. A bunch of old classmates dead, and me on the case."
Sirius reaches across the table, taking Remus by the hand. "You poor thing," he whispers. "I can't imagine what you're going through."
Remus shakes his head. He doesn't have time to feel sorry for himself. "Just part of the job," he says.
"Yes, well, I'm here if you need me. I'm renting a little place in Bethnal Green, and-"
"We can't do this," Remus says. "I know how this will end. We'll fall in love again, just crash and burn. You know it. I know it. Let's just quit while we're ahead."
Sirius leans back in his chair, studying Remus. A smirk plays at his lips. "You always were too clever," he laughs. "The brains of the group. But if you change your mind…"
He leans in again and scrawls his address across a napkin before handing it to Remus. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you soon enough."
…
Remus wipes the sleep from his eyes as he sits up in bed. "Lupin," he says into his phone.
"Got another one," Kingsley Shacklebolt says. "Hope you weren't planning on getting any sleep tonight."
"Another? But the last ones have been days apart," he says. "This hasn't even been a full twenty-four hours."
"Something must have changed. Or maybe it's just a coincidence," Kingsley says before telling him the address. "Get down here quick."
…
Andromeda Tonks is positioned with the same care the others had been outside an antique shop. Like the others, she looks peaceful. It's only the hole in her chest that betrays the serenity of the scene.
Remus covers his mouth, trying not to gag. He doesn't think he'll ever get used to such things.
"Same guy," he says, kneeling down and examining the wound. "Sloppy removal, always postmortem."
Kingsley exhales deeply. "You knew her," he guesses. "If you need to be removed from the case-"
Remus shakes his head and climbs to his feet. "I'm fine. It helps if you have someone who knows the victims," he says. "Jesus, she just had a kid, too. A little girl."
Kingsley rests his hand on Remus' shoulder. "Same as always. The body was dumped. Our killer is thorough. Nothing left behind."
Remus nods, frowning deeply. It still bothers him that the time frame has changed. The shortest the killer had gone so far was three days between victims. For him to suddenly leave them two bodies in one day…
"It's like he's trying to get our attention," he says.
…
"Remus? It's four in the morning," Sirius grumbles, but he still opens the door. "What happened?"
"Another body. It's… Fuck, Sirius. It was Andi," Remus says, scrubbing his hands over his face.
The color drains from Sirius' face. "A different Andi, right? Not my cousin," he demands. "Remus? Tell me it wasn't-"
"It was," Remus mutters, and he catches Sirius when he nearly falls to the floor. "I'm sorry."
"What did he take?"
"Her heart."
Sirius inhales deeply, shaking his head. "Why would anyone hurt her? She always had a good heart," he chokes out, wrapping his arms tightly around Remus.
"I know. She-"
Remus pulls back, his eyes wide. "Say that again."
"What?"
"She always had a good heart," Remus says, and he feels as though something is falling into place.
He pulls out his mobile phone and punches in Kingsley's number.
"What's going on?" Sirius asks.
"Shacklebolt."
"What if the trophies aren't random?" Remus asks without preamble. "That's why he never takes the same thing twice."
He knows that he shouldn't talk so openly about this in front of Sirius, but Remus can't help himself in his excitement.
"Meaning what?" Kingsley asks.
"Meaning he's pretty particular about what he takes from each victim. Lily had gorgeous eyes. Lucius was vain about his hair. Alice had the sweetest smile. And Andi had the kindest heart," he explains. "There wasn't a connection before, but now there is. I mean, if I'm right, there could be. Our guy knows them, and he's targeting them to take things that he likes about them."
"We'll talk more about this in the morning. Get some rest, Remus."
Remus returns his mobile to his pocket.
"That's brilliant," Sirius says, taking Remus by the hand and pulling him close. "Look at you."
Remus swallows dryly. He knows that he doesn't need to be this close to Sirius. Sirius has always been his weakness, the only thing that could cloud his judgment. "I should go," he whispers.
"Just a little longer. I'll be gentle. I promise."
…
"We have a motive now. Possible motive," Kingsley says. "Good work."
Remus snorts. "Now we just have to find out who has the prettiest hands in London," he says dryly.
Kingsley shrugs. "It's not much to go on," he agrees. "But our psychologists are working to piece together a profile."
Remus nods, biting the inside of his cheek. He wishes it could be enough. But the killer is still out there. The killer is targeting people he knows. He can't bring himself to find peace in this progress, not until it's over.
…
Remus doubles over, emptying his stomach. This is too much, so much worse than the rest. James. His James. One of his closest friends, gone only a day after Lily. And to make matters worse….
"His- his-"
"Genitals," Kingsley supplies grimly. "The killer left a note."
Remus looks up, confused. It isn't like a serial killer to change things up, even a little. Leaving a note is a big change from the others.
"'Nearly there.'," Kingsley reads. "Looks like you were right."
"Nearly there? I don't… I don't understand."
"Maybe he's running out of things to admire. I'll get this to the lab. Maybe we'll get lucky."
…
"To James," Sirius says, lifting his bottle.
"To James," Remus echoes, drinking deeply.
He's so numb now, so hollow, that he doesn't care when Sirius begins to undress him.
…
The bodies pile up quickly. Gilderoy Lockhart, the famous novelist, is found with his teeth plucked out. Peter Pettigrew is dumped with his ears removed. Barty Crouch Jr., a promising future detective, has his nose cut clean off.
And then they stop. The murders just stop, and the city begins to breathe a little easier.
…
"It's been a month," Sirius says. "Isn't that good news?"
"In a sense. Except that we still don't know who was behind the murders."
"Jack the Ripper all over again," Sirius says, pouring Remus a drink. "How exciting."
"It isn't exciting. It's horrifying. He could strike again. So many families are going without justice or at least closure," Remus says, sipping his drink.
"Of course. I just meant the sensationalism is exciting. The scandal. The rest is tragic, of course."
Remus nods, blinking rapidly. His head begins to spin, and his stomach knots. "Sirius?"
"Don't worry. Just a sedative. Might leave a nasty headache, but-"
Remus doesn't hear the last of the sentence. The world grows black, and he collapses.
…
Remus wakes, his vision blurred. "Wha- What?"
He feels pressure against his wrists, groaning when he realizes he's bound.
"You must think so poorly of me," Sirius sighs. "Drugging you and all. Sorry about that."
"Sirius, what-"
Remus turns his head, his eyes wide. From one jar, Lily's green eyes peer at him. Beside it, a heart floats in some sort of liquid. He turns again. A mannequin wears horribly familiar white blond hair.
"You?"
"Me," Sirius says proudly. "Oh, it was so much fun! I always wanted these things. Father used to call me a covetous little boy. But now I have everything I ever wanted. Well, almost."
"Sirius, be sensible."
Sirius smiles at that, pulling out a long, sharp blade. "The others didn't get to witness what I did to them. They wouldn't have appreciated my work anyway. But you're special, Remus."
"Lily? James? Even Peter?"
"Not much attractive about dear Pete. But he was always such a wonderful listener, don't you think," Sirius laughs, stepping closer. He press the tip of the blade against Remus' head. "I saved you for last, you know. The final puzzle piece. You should be honored."
"Sirius, please, you can't!"
Remus screams as the blade presses in, breaking skin.
"I always loved your mind, Remus."