1981

After Ashley had apparated herself and Snape back to Hogwarts, Remus turned to Isaac, "I'm going to look through the house, for anything…" He couldn't even finish, his lower lip trembled so much. He just walked away, watched, worriedly, by Isaac.

Isaac felt like a peasant offering to help a king run the kingdom, compared to Remus, to anyone, but he offered anyway, "I'll come with you."

Remus looked over his shoulder, ready to say he didn't have to stay, he was fine.

Isaac explained, as he came beside him, "It's not just for you. I want to see if there's anything I want too."

Remus nodded, then added, "I'm not sure I'll want anything, really."

Isaac nodded, "It could just be a trigger."

Remus agreed, with his eyes. Then, they both entered the house, side by side, up the steps. Isaac allowed Remus in first.

They both looked up, towards the bedrooms, and Remus asked, "Do you think they would let us give Harry any of his old toys?"

Remus locked eyes with him and Isaac suggested, "They'd probably think we put a tracking spell on it."

"Probably," Remus looked away and said, "Well, I'm going to check James and Lily's room."

Isaac followed him up the stairs, out of concern, despite feeling uncomfortable about going there.

Their room was trashed, paintings on the floor, the glass shattered, the bed disheveled, the tall stack of drawers was face down, on the hardwood floor, and the mirror to the dresser was cracked, and Voldemort had left what looked like a knot of lightning in the middle.

Isaac kept glancing at Remus, who went over to the closet and focused on James's clothes, as if, Isaac could almost hear him thinking, he realized they could probably go to him, as he headed over to the night stand on the left of the bed.

Isaac pulled out the drawers, but they were empty. He used his wand to see what was inside the one on the other side and found it was empty too.

He looked over at Remus, who had his back to him, while he studied James's clothes. They reminded Remus of various moments, some good, some bad, but he wished he could rewind and relive all of them.

Isaac assumed James would want Remus to have the clothes, Remus thought so too, but they both knew that to wear James's clothes, to see Remus in James's clothes just wouldn't set well with either of them.

Isaac used a nonverbal spell, like he did the night stand, lifted the tall drawers. Then, he asked Remus, uncertainly, "Do you think we should go through the drawers?"

Remus turned to him, just as uncertain, "Well, just to check for anything important. Sirius and Peter might want something or we could save it for Harry, when he gets older."

Isaac nodded at him, just before they opened the first drawer, full of James's socks. The other drawers were full of similar items, like boxers, pajamas and white and black t-shirts he would use with his boxers as pajamas sometimes.

After nothing more was found, they looked over at the dresser, surely full of Lily's undergarments, and shared uneasy, blushing looks.

Isaac offered, "I'll ask my sister to come back and look through it."

Remus smiled, awkwardly, mouth closed, and nodded.

So much focus on the acknowledgement of Lily's undergarments was too much and made them both look away from each other.

Simultaneously, they both suggested they check the other rooms and that's what they did for an hour. They found a book shelf, in one room, the bottom for James, middle for Lily, and the top for Harry.

Isaac watched Remus pull out one of the baby books, the only Sesame Street one amongst the wizarding ones, and opened it to the middle. Isaac got closer to him, exchanged a quick glance with Remus, and looked through it with him.

The previous Sunday afternoon, Isaac, Ashley, and Father McKenzie (let in by Benjamin, who had been watching Neville and Harry, upstairs, with Frank) came by and found Lily and Alice cooking a full chicken along with rice and steamed veggies, while James entertained the other Marauders in the living room.

The conversation was so lively, full of laughter, that James, Sirius, and Peter didn't notice, Remus eyed the kitchen doorway and suggested, "Maybe, we should go and help…" He stopped, as soon as he spotted Isaac, Ashley, and Father McKenzie. He shared a fond smile with Isaac that he extended to Ashley and Father McKenzie, shortly afterwards.

Ashley, Isaac, and Father McKenzie noted the stereotypical gender roles and shared tight looks, like they always did, (although Father McKenzie tried to restrain himself on passing judgment) as Benjamin pointed out to the Marauders that the three of them had arrived, with an intense Be nice to them. look he always used when they came by.

James gave them a blank look, while Sirius and Peter, after he glanced at Sirius to see how he reacted, barely hid their contempt. Lupin gave Isaac, Ashley, and Father McKenzie apologetic looks, while Benjamin stared at his son, to make him start a conversation involving his three new guests.

Before James had to oblige, Lily and Alice walked out of the kitchen, brightly. Lily and Alice immediately embraced Ashley, simultaneously, like they used too, before the Marauders were part of their social circle.

When they pulled away, Lily tucked a lock of her hair, which had come out of her low ponytail, behind her ear and shared a small, awkward smile with Isaac, then with Father McKenzie, as Alice hugged Isaac.

Alice pulled away and asked Isaac and Ashley, "Where's your dad? I though he said he was coming."

"He is." Ashley said. "He's just got something to take care of."

Alice nodded, uncomfortably. Something. Severus. Donovan had been trying, since after he heard about Ashley's first visit to the safe house, along with his other children, to persuade Severus into going to see everyone.

Lily turned back to the Marauders and said, "Well, another twenty minutes, I think, and then we can eat."

As she headed back into the kitchen, followed by Alice, Isaac asked Benjamin, "Is Frank upstairs?"

"Yes," Benjamin nodded. "We've been watching Harry and Neville. Would you like to come up?"

"Yes," Isaac said, as he began to follow him.

Benjamin added, to Ashley and Father McKenzie, as a formality, "Would you like to come up too?"

Ashley pointed her thumb over her shoulder at the kitchen, and said, so the Marauders wouldn't miss it, "No, I'm actually going to help Lily and Alice. I think they could use it."

James, Sirius, and Peter glared at her, while Remus got up, affording him a You traitor. look from Sirius that he missed, and said, "I was just saying that, before you came in. I'll help too." Then, he gave Isaac a hopeful look.

Ashley shared a quick, apprehensive look with Father McKenzie, before she told Remus, "Er, no, I think I'll be all the help they need. It'll be too crowded, if we all go." She ushered Father McKenzie over to Isaac and Benjamin, "You should all go upstairs and do some male bonding."

Remus smiled, as he assured her, "The kitchen's not that small-"

Father McKenzie jumped in, "Yes, but she thinks it's cute when men bond," he looked at Benjamin, "especially you, me, and Don."

Ashley pointed out, "Well, you're older-"

Benjamin raised his eyebrows, in mock-offense, "I'm not that old. I'm in my early forties. So is you're father." He motioned to Father McKenzie, "That's much different from being in your late fifties."

Ashley rolled her eyes, "Ok, well, you're all still at that age, where people just seem to say to themselves, 'I'm just going to be a loner and constantly tell anyone family member who will listen about when I actually had friends.' and commit to it, like they've never committed to anything before."

The five of them chuckled, as Benjamin and Father McKenzie insisted she was wrong, while she just shook her head and pointed out how many loners she saw in the 40+ crowd.

Ashley threw her hands up, eventually, and said, "Fine, I was obviously wrong. Now, I'm going to help Lily and Alice, and you all need to go upstairs and do some male bonding."

Sirius waited until the five of them were out of ear shot to ask James and Peter, in a low voice, "Why does Remus always act like he's Isaac and Ashley's little puppy? It's sickening, the way he follows them around, like we're nothing to him."

James avoided looking at him or Peter, as he pointed out, "They're his friends and he doesn't see them a lot."

"Prongs!" James turned to him and Sirius continued, "You can't honestly tell me you trust Snivelly's siblings? Well, Ashley might be alright, but did you see the way Lily looked at Isaac. I think she suspects him of something too."

"She doesn't." James said, simply.

"Then, why doesn't she ever hug him?" Sirius leaned forward, "You know female death eaters are very rare, my own cousin being the only one. Maybe, Ashley's alright, but Isaac-"

"He doesn't have the mark." James pointed out.

"Yes, but maybe he's still working for Voldemort—oh, Peter, you can handle hearing his name-and not having the mark is a cover. He could be feeding information about this place to his brother-"

Peter shrunk a little.

"So why are we all still alive?" James demanded to know.

Sirius theorized, "Maybe, Voldemort—Peter, saying his name won't make him come—Maybe, Voldemort is waiting for the right time. From what we've seen, only Ashley can break the Fidelius charm, so maybe Snivellus and Isaac—maybe, even their father too-are trying to figure out a way to use her-"

James reminded him, "Moony trusts Isaac well enough, and Ashley and Mr. Snape, and he won't say anything bad about their brother. They're friends. I'll admit, I wasn't thrilled about it, but they're his friends and they're friends with Lily, Alice, Frank, and even my dad. And all the Snapes were friends with the Filches-"

"Not anymore." Sirius told him. "When I went to Gringotts the other day, I heard the Goblins mention something about a shared account between Snivelly's father and Mr. Filch was cancelled by Mr. Filch, on his side, he took all his money out of it, and the families aren't doing any business with each other or coming in at the same time."

James gave him an irritated look, "So they don't share an account. That doesn't mean they're not friends. If they're not coming in at the same time, it could just be a coicidence. Maybe, they're not working together anymore. It doesn't mean they're not friends, and even if they weren't, it doesn't mean any of the Snapes are death eaters? What's next? You'll tell me you think Moony's a death eater now too?"

Sirius gave him a hesitant Well, he could be. look, while Peter looked, nervously, from him to Sirius.

James glared at him, like he wanted to slam him against the wall. He restrained himself, but said, angrily, "Moony's our friends, Sirius. We kept his secret—Well some of us better than others. He would never betray us. He loves us." James leaned back, "And I thought we all loved him, enough to get over any kind of paranoia that this situation might make us feel."

Sirius leaned closer to him, "Prongs, the four of us," he glanced at Peter, "we were brothers-"

"Are brothers," James corrected him, as he stared out the window.

"Are brothers," Sirius agreed. "That's why thinking that Remus might have possibly turned against us, has been so hard for me-"

James turned to him, eyes glistening, "You don't think it would be hard for Moony, if he knew?"

Sirius gave him a grim look, "Are you going to tell him?"

James turned to him, angrily, "No, because, unlike you, I'm his friend. So you could at least try acting like you are. Don't make him feel like he doesn't belong." James looked away, leaned back into his chair, and reflected, "He doesn't need to feel like more of a freak. Don't make this like our sixth year, Sirius."

"Ok." Sirius nodded.

While they're conversation went on and Ashley clenched her jaw to keep from mentioning that her own family never had only the women cook, Benjamin had led everyone else up to the room with the book shelf. Frank was sitting on a red couch with Neville and Harry.

He smiled at Isaac, as soon as he came in, then at Father McKenzie, just as fondly, "I was starting to think you weren't coming."

Benjamin shared, as he walked over to sit with Harry on his lap, "It's all he talked about for the past hour: whether or not something was holding you up."

"My service," Father McKenzie confessed.

Frank asked Isaac, hopefully, "You went with Severus and Argus?"

"No." Isaac shook his head, solemnly. "Father McKenzie came to our house, after the service, and today it ran late."

"I get a little carried away sometimes." Father McKenzie admitted, with a smile. Then, he motioned to the book Frank was holding, "I see you've got a Sesame Street book there."

Frank glanced at the book, then at Father McKenzie, as he walked over, "Yes, well, we all thought it was about time we showed them a book from the muggle world."

Isaac offered, "I can buy them some more."

Frank shook his head, but gave Isaac a grateful look, "Thanks, but, no, I couldn't make you-"

"You wouldn't be making me do anything." Isaac assured him, as he walked over, "I actually don't mind buying things for Neville and Harry, if you can believe that."

Frank chuckled, as Isaac stood beside him, "I love you, Isaac."

Isaac grinned, "I love you too, Frank," and kissed the top of his head. Then, he kissed Neville and Harry on their foreheads.

Afterwards, Frank inquired, uncertainly, "Are Ashley and your dad-"

"My dad's not here yet." Isaac told him, as they shared an understanding look that Benjamin and Remus were starting to pick up on, about Severus ever coming for a visit. After their wordless communication, Isaac lowered his eyes, on the book, "May, I read some of it to them?"

"Yeah, sure," Frank said, as he got up, "Switch places with me-"

Isaac grinned, "So Harry and Neville can see the pictures, I know."

Frank smiled, "I over think things, when it comes to Neville and Harry too, I know."

"It's sweet, really," Isaac said, as he positioned Neville on his lap.

Benjamin motioned for Remus and Father McKenzie to come over, "This isn't a private event. You can come and see the pictures too." He added to Father McKenzie, "Especially you. We have to prove to Ashley that we're capable of not being loners."

Frank pointed out, humorously, "Because it doesn't matter that she can't see you. She'll just feel you bonding."

Remus admitted, "I wouldn't be so quick to rule that out, Frank."

"Neither would I." Isaac chuckled, fondly. Everyone went silent, so he swept his eyes over them, saw their curiosity, and added, "She can't do that."

They all laughed at themselves and then Isaac started reading.

Donovan showed up just in time to be told by his daughter, watched by Sirius and Peter, as James went up to tell the others dinner was ready, "Lily, Alice, and I just finished making dinner, but, really, I only helped at the end. Lily and Alice did most of it."

They shared a grim look over the way only women were viewed as the cooks, the ones who did housework.

Ashley added, "Isaac's upstairs with Remus, Father McKenzie, Frank, Mr. Potter, Neville, and Harry." She forced a smile, as if it were really some joke and not something that had to make them anxious, "Isaac and Remus wanted to help us in the kitchen, but that many people in a kitchen together-"

"It's an argument waiting to happen." he stated, with a forced smile.

She nodded, "Yeah, and I thought it would be much cuter if they all did some male bonding, especially Father McKenzie and Mr. Potter. Oh, and you too, with them, now that you're here."

Donovan chuckled, softly, and was about to say something, when Sirius cut in, "She's right. You shouldn't just start ending friendships because of your age or anything else."

Ashley glared at him, while Donovan only gave him a solemn look and warned, "Don't start trouble today over things you know nothing about."

Sirius put on an innocent look, "I don't know what you mean. I was just agreeing with your daughter."

"Save it." Ashley said. She glanced around her, then added, "It's a nice day so far. Don't wreck it."

Before Sirius could respond, the others joined them, from upstairs, and they headed into the kitchen, then into the dining room.

Remus and Isaac shared a sad glance, when they got to the end of the book. Then, Remus sighed, nostalgically, closed it, and slid it back on the shelf.

He turned to go, "I'm going back to the Ministry to see if they've heard anything from Sirius or Peter."

Isaac held his shoulder, as he walked along with him, "I'll come with you."

"Thanks." Remus shared a small, unhappy smile with him.

Isaac pulled his wand out and apparated them to the Ministry. They ended up in front of another could-break-your-legs-in-a-second kind of guard, beside Fudge, who looked truly sorry for Remus, as he said, "Remus, I don't know how to tell you this. With all that's happened…"

Isaac turned to Remus, who had lost a few shades of color, his eyes full of fear, as he envisioned his friends' corpses. Remus asked, like he was going to pass out, "What happened?"

Isaac turned back to Fudge, just before he told Remus, "Sirius Black killed your friend Peter Pettigrew-"

"No." he said, with an unsteady voice. Remus's eyes began to glisten, as tears came forward to drip out on his check, "No, you're wrong."

"I wish I was." Fudge confessed. "But, Remus, we have witnesses, muggle witnesses mind you, that saw Black kill Pettigrew. He also killed twelve muggles. From what the witnesses heard of things, we know that Black was giving You-Know-Who information and Pettigrew found out, but it was too late, your other friends had been killed… Pettigrew tried to fight Black, to avenge your friends."

Remus avoided looking anyone in the eyes and breathed, "Peter…"

Isaac held his shoulder again, impulsively, although he didn't actually feel like a strong, emotional rock. Remus turned to him, as Fudge muttered condolences and walked away, with the guard, and explained, "Sirius had seemed angry with me, for a while. At least I thought it was with me. If I had only realized-"

"It's not your fault." Isaac said, as his eyes filled with rage over Sirius's part in Lily and James's murders, Harry being taken away. He started crying and struggled to steady his voice, "We all missed it." He looked away, "Honestly, I'm usually so observant-"

"It's not your fault." Remus stated in a way that made Isaac look back and see that Remus thought blaming Isaac was completely ridiculous. "You didn't spend as much time with him. You stayed away from him, so you wouldn't start fighting. I noticed. No, I was his friend. At least I thought I was. I should have noticed something was up." Remus added, like he had eaten stale, cold cereal that had been drenched in spoiled milk, "I should have listened to Severus, when he said Sirius had tried to get him killed by me in werewolf form. He was right, all along..."

Isaac couldn't argue, just nod, as he thought, Maybe, he would have figured it out…

Remus nodded, right before they embraced, desperately, trembling.

When they pulled apart, loosely in the hug, Remus told him, as he turned to go, "You should go see your father. Tell Severus I'm sorry, for not listening…"

Isaac got in front of him, hands on Remus's shoulders, "No, Remus, I don't want you to be alone tonight. You can come-"

"No, no, I can't." Remus told him. "I can't see him, Frank, or Alice, knowing that I could have prevented it-"

"It's not your fault." Isaac insisted. He added, "But, well, I'm not ready to see Frank and Alice either. Where do you want to go?"

"My room at the Leaky Cauldron," Remus got out, in a choked voice.

Isaac nodded, "Alright."

Isaac apparated them there, right outside the Leaky Cauldron. Remus had gone numb, so Isaac had to ask for the keys, when they got to his room, and unlock the door himself. He even had to shut the door, relock it, as Remus pulled off his cloak and placed it beside him, as he leaned on a table in the middle of the room, with a fruit bowl on it.

Isaac studied his drained expression, while he took off his cloak and hung it on a cloak/hat/umbrella rack, as memories of Sirius bombarded themselves around Remus's mind and became distorted. Isaac felt a pang of guilt over the fact Severus had been right about Sirius at least. It dug into him, as if someone was scooping out his heart: if only he had listened to Severus, back in the hospital wing, even before then.

Lily… Frank… Alice… Benjamin… James… Peter…

Along with the way his chest had tightened, his hand muscles tensed up, as he felt a stronger bitternes towards Sirius than Severus had ever previously had for him. Remus felt the same way, but like the hatred cut away at his skin to reach his soul.

Both Isaac and Lupin thought of how their friends might have been alive and able minded, if they had just figured out Voldemort had someone on the inside.

Isaac felt like a wave hit him, he trembled, and pressed his hand against the door to keep himself up. After a few moments, he regained his composure and studied Remus.

Even after the night's events, what Isaac thought of as his own personal failure, as if someone had burned all his friends' tragic ends on him, like a brand on a slave, Remus had still sought him out for comfort.

What had Isaac done? Seek out comfort in him. Remus must have felt him trembling.

Isaac took a quiet, but deep breath. He didn't think he was worthy of being anyone's hero, but he certainly wasn't worthy of asking anyone else to be his. He had blocked out emotions before, when he was a hero. He could do it now.

Isaac went over to Remus, held his shoulder, and kissed him on the cheek. Remus relaxed a little more, until Isaac pulled away. Then, he sulked even more, as something new barreled into his thoughts.

Isaac had gone over to look out the window, to be torn apart over Frank and Alice's demise. Vomit had burned his throat, but he swallowed it back down in time.

Remus was thinking about the way Isaac's group had never really stopped being friends. If Lily had lived past tonight, Severus would have eventually seen her. Argus and Mr. Filch would have too.

Remus was aware of the break between the Filches and Snapes, that Mr. Filch had no contact with anyone other than his son, who only saw Severus. But they all would have reconciled, eventually.

Back when Ashley had offered Remus their friendship, he had longed to accept, eve, deep down, if he had to leave the Marauders, which would still eat away at him, randomly. Sure the Marauders cared about him, but Isaac, Severus, Ashley, Lily, Alice, Frank, Argus, Silvia, and Alison had kept his secret ten times better than the Marauders ever did. Plus, Isaac, Ashley, and Lily had never treated him like their werewolf friend. Just their friend.

And Isaac's group. They didn't need an official name or nicknames, like Moony, which, secretly, although he longed to hear James and Peter call him it now, Remus had never liked, just felt obligated to accept. Because they knew his condition, Remus thought he should just go along with the group.

But he didn't feel like that about Isaac's group. You could feel the bond between them, even after the rift, which Severus brought on. They even defended Alison, despite the evidence to mark her as guilty for what she had been accused of. Remus could never defend any of the Marauders like Isaac's group defended Alison.

Isaac decided he should probably say something. He turned away from the window, only to turn right back. A second glance outside was enough to make him decide he wouldn't let himself fail Remus and he turned to him. Not that he thought he should be even trying to act like the hero, but still… He blamed himself for Remus's pain, among other things about that night, so he might as well try to fix it.

Isaac walked away from the window, stopped a few steps away from Remus, and rubbed his hands together. Isaac told him, "We should go see Frank and Alice. Afterwards, you can come back, with my family, to our house,-"

Remus snapped out of his angry, sulking stupor, stood up straight, and turned to Isaac. Remus snapped, "What makes you think I'd want to go anywhere with your family?"

Isaac wasn't affected much by Remus's outburst, just on guard, but not for his own safety. He prayed that Remus didn't pull out his wand to use Avada Kedavra on himself.

Isaac explained, "I didn't think you would want to be alone tonight and I don't want you to be alone either. You could even stay with us longer than tonight-"

Remus asked, coldly, "And live with you? Really? So I can listen to Severus constantly tell me how he was right about Sirius being a killer-"

"He wouldn't do that." Isaac insisted.

"He hates me." Remus pointed out. "And now he knows I didn't figure out Sirius was working for Voldemort-"

"Neither did any of us. Anyone could blame me," he motioned from himself to Remus, "as much as they could blame you. And you're not to blame, Remus."

Isaac looked away from Remus's angry eyes to think. How could he end the fight?

After a few moments, Isaac locked eyes with him and promised, "Even if Severus wanted to throw Sirius's betrayal in your face, my family and I wouldn't let him-"

"Like you weren't going to let him become a death eater?" Remus saw not only the way Isaac's face fell, but how much that comment hurt him, like he had taken a scalpel and dug into his heart and soul, without anesthesia. But he added, anyway, "You didn't exactly keep that promise."

Isaac's throat felt tight, but he managed to speak, softly, "He came back, after five days…" Regret sunk into him. He did think Remus was right after all.

Remus sensed his feelings, but instead of apologizing, he only ordered, "Well, go! I don't want you here!"

Isaac regained some composure and shook his head, "I don't want you to be alone tonight."

Remus smiled, in disbelief and anger, "What? Do you honestly still think you can help me? What would you do? Keep telling me that you'll find a cure for me?" He snarled, "You're not going to find a cure. You're not going to be anyone's hero! And certainly not mine!"

That broke Isaac. Frank and Alice's demise were so fresh in his mind. Two living-zombies at St. Mungo's.

That evident pain was enough to make Remus feel like someone was drilling into his chest and scraping his rib cage, on the inside, but all he did was tell him, flatly, "Just leave, Isaac. Go be with your family." Bitterness flooded back in and he added, "Go tell Severus you wish you had listened to him and not to me."

Isaac just stared at him, a moment, concerned. Then, he took his wand out, waved it, and said, eyes on Remus, "Accio Remus's wand."

Remus watched it fly out of his cloak, then, he, immediately, glared at Remus, as he charged over to him, "Give me back my wand!"

Isaac waved his wand, "Petrificus Totalus." and then Remus felt his body lock in place, as he fell on to his back, onto cushions Isaac had moved off the couch in time.

His listened to Isaac conjure up his alcohol, seven bottles, one of which was half empty from the last transformation, and all his knives. There was silence, for a few seconds, as Isaac contemplated something. Then, Remus heard him conjure up his other eating utensils, razors, and two black bags to stuff everything in.

It wasn't until Isaac was half way out the door and he had promised, "You'll get everything back tomorrow morning." that he used the counter curse on Remus.

Remus got up as the door shut, ready to vomit. After all he'd said, Isaac had stopped him from using Avada Kedavra on himself, drowning in alcohol, scraping his throat with a razor, sticking a knife in himself, or even using a fork or spoon for a replacement.

Remus willed his last meal to stay down, as he walked over to the window. He was surprised to see Isaac, one bag in each hand, walking away.

Remus was sorry, but he couldn't make himself open the window and invite him back in. He just thought, Why did he still help me?

Then, Isaac put both bags in his left arm, pulled out his wand, and apparated.

Isaac arrived in his bedroom. It looked like a Hufflepuff themed bedroom of one of Jane Austen's male protagonists.

There was a black table, with a yellow bowl of fruit on it, in the middle of the room. There was a wall full of books, with a yellow chaise chair. On the other side of the room was the black, regency style bed, with a yellow comforter and white sheets. There was a black, with a yellow shade, lamp next to the black desk, in front of the window, with a soft yellow chair to sit in. The walls were white and two of them had regency-era, romance themed paintings on them. He had a small pot of yellow primroses on the windowsill.

Isaac went over to the window, closed the black curtains, and placed the bags and his cloak on it.

Then, he pulled off his shoes, stuck them under his bed, and left the lamp on, as he went to sleep.

He got to bed remarkably easily, but he was plagued with nightmares involving Neville getting blasted by the Cruciatus curse, Frank and Alice at St. Mungo's, oblivious to the world, or turning into bloodsucking zombies who attacked him on his first visit, and of Remus, in werewolf form killing himself, Severus, or killing Isaac.

One dream that stood out to him, involved Lily. He was in Harry's room again, her body on the floor. Pieces of stuffing were being blow around and lighting was flickering. He dropped to his knees, in front of Lily, and heard her voice, simply, inform him, "It was all your fault."

He gasped, "No!" as he sat up in his bed, breathing loudly and shakily. He took in a few moments to take in his surroundings. He looked down at his comfy bed, which made him think, Harry probably won't have anything like this. but he brushed it off. Petunia couldn't be that awful. Nor could the Ministry be. Not to The-Boy-Who-Lived.

He looked over at the grandfather clock, by the window and saw it was six forty-nine. Then, Isaac looked over at the bags, regretfully.

Donovan looked extremely out of place, in his black sweater, black corduroy pants, and black shoes, compared to the other wizards out an about in Diagon Alley. He heard adults and children asking each other, "Did you hear?" "Is it true?" "Oh, I hope so."

He felt guilty about not telling them and, then a tug on his heart, as he thought of Argus and his father, I wonder if Warren knows.

Donovan thought of them, pictured him (and then Argus, after recovered from those spells) smiling and laughing like he did, eleven years prior. He also hoped that Voldemort's downfall would be enough incentive for them to see everyone, not just Argus having to see Severus.

When he got inside the Leaky Cauldron, he found Tom, "Tom, hello. Has Remus Lupin been down yet?"

Tom gave Donovan a suspicious look, but did explain, "No, he's sick, up in his room. I offered to bring him some soup, but he refused. He sounds plain awful, Mr. Snape. He shouldn't strain himself, I'm sure."

Donovan's told him, politely, "I'll keep that in mind." despite the way Tom treated him, the very suggestion that Donovan, because of his youngest son, could be bad for anyone.

Donovan left and walked right past the other people who eyed him, with contempt or suspicion.

He stood out outside Remus's door and announced, "Remus, it's Donovan Snape."

Remu, his eyes a dead giveaway at a night full of crying, even as he dreamed, had seen him walk over to the Leaky Cauldron, so he was already standing at the door, in as much black as Donovan. Without even thinking, as if he wasn't in control of his own body, Remus opened the door and Donovan asked him, "May I come in?"

Remus nodded, Donovan walked in, and Remus closed the door. Then, Remus looked, expectantly, but with a hollow sadness, at Donovan.

Donovan finally showed some emotion, some concern, as he asked, in his warm, gravelly, but somehow smooth at the same time, voice "Did you eat today?

Remus told him, "I had an apple."

"It's good that you ate, but you need more than that for breakfast." Donovan decided.

Remus nodded, eyes on the floor.

Donovan stared at him, as he pulled the bags out of his pocket and placed them on the table, "Isaac sent me with these. He didn't think you would want to see him, after last night."

Remus looked at him, guiltily, "I'm sorry."

Donovan took his eyes off the bags to look at Remus, shake his head, and say, firmly, "No, Remus, you lost so much more than the rest of us last night."

Remus's jaw felt heavy, like he was going to cry, "But Isaac was only trying to help me." He motioned to Donovan, "You can't know everything I said to him. If you did-"

"Remus, I know everything." Donovan stated, honestly and grimly. "And I'm not mad at you, neither is Isaac or Ashley." He added, reluctantly, "Severus is, but I'm sure you expected that, but only over you calling him a death eater and mostly the way you yelled at Isaac."

Remus looked down, "I shouldn't have done that…"

Donovan agreed, but held his tongue. He felt like sludge was in his stomach and ice on his ribs and throat. Remus wasn't going to talk to his son, anyone in his family, or Father McKenzie. Tom seemed friendly with him, but how long could he keep him on? The Ministry's regulations on employing werewolves got worse each year, after all.

The worst part was that Remus would have no one. Would he go days without talking? Weeks? Donovan eyed the fruit. The grapes made him think of the alcohol. Remus drank heavily around the full moon, but how much more would he drink now?

It made him sick, to think about it, and it was even worse when he thought of how, if Remus didn't keep in contact with his family and Father McKenzie, Remus wouldn't have anyone to hug him. No comfort. No human contact. Some men, in Remus's situation might seek out prostitutes, but Remus wouldn't.

Donovan went over and embraced Remus, around his torso and shoulder, and told him, "You don't have to be alone. You can stay in touch with us and Father McKenzie. We're not mad at you and I'm sure Severus wouldn't want you to be alone either. You could come an live with us."

He kissed Remus on the cheek, which got him to hug Donovan back.

Remus smiled, sadly, "Thank you, but I'm fine here. But, Mr. Snape-"

"You can still call me by my first name."

"Please, tell Isaac I'm sorry." Remus's eyes glistened and he fought himself not to sob. He was going to add something more personal, that Isaac was still his hero, but he couldn't do it. Why would Isaac really want to be his hero now? So he just said, "Those clothes you bought me-"

"They're yours."

Donavan kissed him on the cheek again and Remus just let himself be hugged and hug Donovan back. It felt nice and, although Remus didn't feel like he deserved it, he needed someone to hold him and kiss his cheek.