Love Sees More 3: Greyback's Pack

by SpoonyLupin

Remus has agreed to infiltrate Greyback's pack. That, however, proves much easier said than done. As the days pass and Remus spends more time with the animalistic werewolves, it becomes harder and harder for him to remember what it was like to live as a human.

16. Chapter 16: The Betrayal

Love Sees More 3: Greyback's Pack

Chapter 16 – The Betrayal

Remus kept his arms tightly around Harry as they made their way back to the Room of Requirement among the group of Death Eaters. Harry's hand was compulsively tightening around his, and Remus kept returning the gesture; as scared as he was, it comforted him the tiniest bit to know that he and Harry were in this together.

At the same time, the part that perhaps scared Remus the most was the fact that this wasn't just about him any longer. The entire time Remus had been living among the werewolves, if something had gone wrong, he alone would have been the one to pay for it. Harry was involved now, and if Remus made the slightest misstep, Harry would have to suffer the consequences right alone with him.

Remus had never realized before just how narrow the hallways of Hogwarts were. When he had been a child running to and from class, the castle had seemed positively huge, but now with the Death Eaters surrounding them, it almost made him feel claustrophobic. His eyes kept darting about, looking for a way out, but the Death Eaters were much too close. They would have plenty of time to attack Remus and Harry in such an event before they got anywhere even remotely safe.

They were drawing closer to the Room of Requirement and to the Vanishing Cabinet, and Remus knew they were running out of time. They might have a chance to escape once they went through the cabinet, but Remus didn't want to risk waiting that long. It would take them back to the very narrow and overcrowded Borgin and Burkes, and for all he knew, Voldemort might even be waiting for them there. There were simply too many unknowns if he waited to act, and besides, Hogwarts was familiar to Remus and to Harry. They had a better knowledge of where the hallways led and of the various secret passages, much more so than the Death Eaters. If Remus and Harry could find a way to get away from them, they would have a much better advantage in familiar territory.

Remus knew it would be stupid to just start running, but he was beginning to think he was out of other options. If he waited any longer, it might very well be too late. But then Greyback decided to be his predictable self, sniffing the air and licking his lips rather loudly and obscenely. It was making Remus uneasy.

"Will you stop that?" Bellatrix asked in disgust. "It's so obnoxious."

For once in his life, Remus couldn't agree more with the witch.

"I can't help it," Greyback said. He didn't sound annoyed like Remus had expected him to, the way he usually sounded when he spoke to Bellatrix; he sounded hungry. "So many children walk these halls everyday…I can smell every single one of them." He inhaled deeply again, and Remus could feel the shudder that ran through Harry's body at the sound.

Remus kept on walking, his arms still tightly around Harry. Remus knew that was putting them closer to the Room of Requirement, but on the other hand, Greyback was walking behind them. At the moment, Remus was far more interested in putting as much distance between them and the suddenly very creepy werewolf as possible. And with good reason.

"How can you tell?" Bellatrix asked. "I can't smell anything but you."

Greyback growled in response. "I can't expect mere humans to understand. I can smell everything."

It was then that Remus felt Greyback's hand on his left shoulder, gripping it tightly and forcing both Remus and Harry to turn around and face him. Greyback was still licking his lips and sniffing at the air, his eyes pinned on Harry. Harry tried to take a step backward, which was impossible with Remus behind him, and he only served to press himself even tighter against Remus's body.

"Like Potter's fear," Greyback drawled.

He looked crazed. His yellowish-green eyes were so large and round, and they seemed to be following every single one of Harry's tiny movements, even his hand clenching and unclenching around Remus's. Remus had only seen that chilling expression on Greyback's face one other time - just before he had devoured Talon.

"Give me the boy, Remus," Greyback ordered, his voice low.

Remus didn't respond, but simply tightened his already firm grip on Harry. They might have merged into one if possible.

"Excuse me!" Bellatrix yelled. "The Dark Lord wants him alive in case you've forgotten!"

Greyback took his eyes off of Harry just long enough to roll them. "I'm not going to kill him! I do have some self-control."

Remus wasn't so sure about that. Before Remus had joined Greyback's pack, he had been hearing more and more reports of Greyback killing children that he had apparently only meant to turn. Of course, those instances had been when he was in his wolf form, but the line between Greyback's human mind and animal mind had blurred so much, Remus began to suspect that it was almost nonexistent.

"I shouldn't have skipped dinner," Greyback said regretfully. "I'm hungry." He tilted his head, looking at Harry like he was nothing more than a piece of meat. "I said hand him over."

Remus knew his time had come - the time to reveal his true loyalties to Greyback. He and Harry were still in the middle of five Death Eaters, and Remus was terrified of what they might do, but he would never willingly hand Harry over to any of them.

Remus shook his head defiantly, looking Greyback straight in the eye. "No."

Greyback's eyes quickly rose to Remus's face. He tilted his head even more, so much so that it might have been comical if not for the very serious circumstances. "Remus," Greyback said in surprise. "I said give him to me. Don't make me tell you again."

"And I said no," Remus replied curtly.

Greyback exhaled sharply, his teeth clenching his eyes growing even wider. He took one step towards Remus so that they were only about a foot apart, Harry squished in between them. Greyback leaned forward, his face mere inches from Remus's, and his chest pressed up against Harry's face. Harry squirmed, probably in order to try and get away from the smell, the fact that Greyback wanted to eat him momentarily forgotten.

"Remus. You're making me very angry."

"Now the truth comes out, hm?" Bellatrix asked. She sounded quite gleeful at this latest turn of events, probably because she had been right about Remus all along, and now she could rub it in. "He doesn't sound very loyal to you," she told Greyback.

Growling very low and deep in his chest, Greyback didn't move. He remained with his body up against Harry's, and his face just a short distance from Remus's. Greyback looked like he was debating with himself, deciding whether he should say anything else or not. In the end, he simply reached out, clenched one clawed hand into the front of Harry's robes, and tugged.

Remus tried with all his might to hold on to Harry, but he was absolutely no match for Greyback's strength. Remus lost his grip on Harry, both of their arms flailing out for each other, but Greyback quickly dragged him out arm's reach. Remus stepped forward and tried to grab onto Harry again, no longer scared for himself but for Harry, but Bellatrix stepped in between them. She raised her wand towards Remus's throat.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you," she warned. "He's angry enough in case you hadn't noticed."

Remus stopped in his tracks. It wouldn't help Harry at all if he got himself killed. Remus just tilted his head backwards, glaring down his nose at her. "Go to hell, Bella."

"Such naughty language from you, too," Greyback admonished. "Now we know where Potter learns it. And you say you're not friends." Greyback had backed up until he reached the wall on the other side of the hallway, a good distance from Remus. All of a sudden, the hallways seemed enormous again.

Greyback had one hand still securely grasped in the front of Harry's robes, and the boy had latched onto Greyback's arm, trying his best to pry it away. Greyback, however, didn't seem the list bit bothered by Harry's movements. Greyback might have been holding on to a tiny little mouse for all the exertion he was putting into keeping his grip on Harry.

"Now where was I?" Greyback asked, grinning across the corridor at Remus. "Oh. Yes, I was hungry, wasn't I?" His eyes traveled back to Harry, his grin growing impossibly larger by the second. He returned to licking his lips and sniffing the air, that crazed expression engulfing his features again.

"Leave him alone!" Remus snapped.

Greyback's gaze snapped to Remus. "You, Remus, are in absolutely no position to be giving me orders. You'll be lucky if you're even alive after tonight. Either one of you," he added to Harry.

"I'm the one you're angry at," Remus said. "Take it out on me. Not on him."

Greyback huffed at being interrupted yet again. "You're missing the entire point, Lupin. I'm hungry, and being here in the halls of Hogwarts where so many children walk each day has made me crave exactly that. I don't want to eat you right now. Later tonight, perhaps, but now…I want children."

In a flash, Greyback whirled around, turning his back towards Remus and the others. He fisted both hands in the front of Harry's robes and shoved him forcefully into the wall, causing the boy to cry out when his back connected with the hard stone. But a moment later, Remus realized that that wasn't the only reason Harry had screamed in pain. When Greyback pulled one hand away from Harry, Remus saw his fingernails were now stained a bright red color. Apparently, Greyback's claws has pierced through Harry's clothes and into his chest enough to draw blood.

Still keeping Harry pinned against the wall with one hand, Greyback brought his other one up to his mouth. He stuck out his tongue, licking the underside of one bloodied fingernail. There was a low rumbling sound from deep in Greyback's chest, one of pure pleasure. Greyback shuddered for a moment before he grabbed the front of Harry's robes in both hands again, drawing so close to the boy there was barely any distance between the two of them at all. Greyback bared his teeth, growling in hunger. Harry thrashed around harder, trying to free himself from the giant werewolf, but Greyback didn't budge an inch.

As Greyback's teeth drew closer to the soft skin of Harry's throat, Remus knew he had to act, because Greyback was way past the point of talking. He had tasted Harry's blood, and Remus feared he wouldn't stop until there wasn't anymore of Harry's blood left to spill. The rest of the Death Eaters weren't going to stop him. They had already warned Greyback that Voldemort wanted Harry alive, and they probably thought Greyback's promise not to lose control was good enough. They had no idea that with the state Greyback was in right now, nothing was going to stop him, least of all some petty promise he had made just to shut Bellatrix up.

Bellatrix still had her wand aimed at Remus, but suddenly, he didn't care. All he cared about in that moment was getting Greyback the hell away from Harry, making sure Harry was safe. Remus's left hand flew out, connecting with Bellatrix's and flinging her wand into the air. He heard the Death Eaters cry out in surprise, but Remus didn't take any notice of them. He sprinted across the hall, hurtling himself at Greyback. Remus slammed into Greyback's shoulder, throwing him off balance and knocking him sideways into the wall.

It was just enough for Harry to get away. He threw his arms up in an arc, easily slipping out of Greyback's grip. Harry stumbled away from them, but he didn't get very far before the remaining Death Eaters closed in, all aiming their wands at him. Harry froze, his gaze going back to where Remus now wrestled with Greyback.

Remus was the one to now fist his hands in the front of Greyback's clothes, trying his best to throw Greyback into the wall again, hoping to at least injure the hulking werewolf just a bit. That, however, didn't seem to work. Greyback didn't flinch when his back met the stone wall at all. Instead, he simply looked at Remus, his anger growing more and more apparent in his eyes.

Greyback roared, perhaps the loudest sound Remus had ever heard him make. Greyback's hands shot out so fast, Remus didn't even have time to react. Greyback grabbed Remus's shoulders so tightly, he could feel warm wetness against his skin where Greyback's claws punctured his skin as well. Greyback shook Remus so hard and so fast, it almost felt like Remus's brain was rattling around in his head.

Before Remus even had time to register what was happening, he was slammed into the wall next, the back of his head connecting with the hard stone. Remus's mouth opened in a silent scream, his eyes beginning to roll back in his head. Remus steeled himself, trying to will himself to stay conscious, for his eyes to stop swiveling around in their sockets. When they did, he focused his gaze on the ceiling, but it seemed like the rest of the castle had started to move instead, tilting at impossible angles. If not for Greyback's hands on him, holding him up against the wall, he almost certainly would have fallen to the floor. Actual stars started to flash in Remus's vision next, and for a moment, he almost thought he was in the Great Hall, looking up at the enchanted ceiling. Then everything started to grow dark and fuzzy, but he couldn't pass out, not when Merlin only knew what would happen to Harry if he did. Remus drew in some deep breaths, hoping that would help.

"How dare you!" Greyback bellowed. "How dare you lay a hand on me!"

For once in his life, Remus was grateful for Greyback's putrid breath. The stench was almost like a slap in the face, snapping Remus's mind back to perfect clarity.

"I see that I should have spelled some things out for you after all," Greyback went on. This time, his voice was oddly calm, although there was a calculating tone to it that Remus didn't like. "I thought you were smarter than this, Lupin. Smarter than to cross me." He shook his head and scoffed. "What exactly have you been doing these last few months? Was it all an act?" He sounded distinctly curious.

Remus knew it probably wasn't the best idea to be honest with Greyback right now, not when he was more or less at Greyback's mercy, but Remus couldn't help it. He had lied for far too long, he had allowed everyone to believe the worst of him for too long. He wanted everyone to know once and for all exactly where his loyalties lay, consequences be damned.

"I was never loyal to you, Greyback," Remus said, using the same tone Greyback had with his last name. "I was and will always be loyal to Albus Dumbledore."

Harry let out a slightly relieved breath. Remus had already told him, of course, that he would never betray Harry's trust, but Remus supposed Harry was happy to hear Remus announce it nonetheless. Truth be told, so was Remus.

"Told you not to fool yourself," Harry said smugly, speaking up for the first time since they had left the Astronomy tower.

Greyback shook his head in disbelief, still not taking his attention from Remus. "You bit a boy on my orders!" Greyback yelled. "Now why do I have such a hard time believing that Dumbledore would ever approve of that? Are you going to tell him? Tell him what you did for me and expect him to take you back? Expect him to accept you back with open arms?" Greyback threw his head back and laughed.

It was Greyback's last ditch effort to try and hold on to the loyalty that he thought he'd gained from Remus. He was trying to make Remus think he would never be accepted among Harry and the others again. That almost made Remus want to laugh in return. If only Greyback knew that the entire thing had been Dumbledore's idea. If only he knew just how much his side loved and valued Remus. Not just as a number, but as a person. Something Greyback would never know or understand.

Remus wanted to tell him the truth - that he never did nor would he ever bite anyone - but he couldn't. If Greyback ever found out that Remus hadn't truly turned Justin Farris, Greyback would go to the ends of the earth to find that boy and do what Remus couldn't. As far as Remus knew, Dumbledore was keeping the Farris family safe, but it would be better for them all around if Greyback didn't know the difference, and Remus would keep it that way.

"That would be assuming that I ever left his side to begin with," Remus said coolly. "There's nothing to take me back for considering I never left."

"So what are you saying?" Greyback asked. "That Dumbledore knew? Knew you were off pretending to be a part of my pack and biting children in the process? Now why don't I believe that either?"

"Believe what you want. It's the truth."

"The truth is," Bellatrix said, "that he's been making a fool out of you for months. I told you he was with Dumbledore. Only a moron would ever believe otherwise."

Greyback glanced back over his shoulder at her, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "No one asked you! This isn't any of your business! This is between me and Lupin, so stay out of it!"

"None of my business?!" Bellatrix scoffed. "When you bring Lupin here, when you bring him on a mission with the rest of us, it is my business! I thought I made that perfectly clear from the moment this all began."

"Just let me handle this in my own way!" Greyback snapped at her. When he turned back to Remus, he growled in anger once again. "You lost me my second-in-command! Who I always believed to be a perfectly good beta wolf until you came along." An expression of understanding spread across Greyback's face. "You really did sneak out that night, didn't you? You did do all those things Talon accused you of." He laughed, a soft sound of disbelief. "Oh, Lupin. I underestimated you."

Remus was barely paying attention. As far as he was concerned, as long as Greyback was talking, that was a good thing. It was when he lost control that things such as words failed to distract him. If Greyback was currently occupied with trying to talk this thing out, then let him. It only gave Remus more time to formulate a plan.

When Remus didn't reply, Greyback shook him. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?" Greyback demanded. When Remus continued to remain silent, Greyback ordered, "Answer me when I ask you a question! And look at me for that matter! I told you it's a sign of respect!"

Remus was currently focused on the ceiling. It had occurred to him when he'd looked up at it earlier that he could use it. He didn't have his wand, but perhaps he didn't need it. He thought back to that night very early on in the compound, the night before the first full moon with the pack. He'd used wandless magic to summon the key to his cell from its resting place on a nail above the door. He'd never used wandless magic in his life before that, he'd never had a reason to even try, but he knew from that moment that he could do it. Dumbledore had told him once that it only required immense concentration and self-control.

It had taken him two tries to summon the key, but that wouldn't do this time. If he failed once, as soon as the Death Eaters realized what he was trying to do, he wouldn't have the opportunity to try again. He had to get it right the first time. Again he thought back to that night in his cell, what he'd been thinking about at the time, and how he had let everything else drop from his mind. Everything but the key and the fact that he needed it in order to save Justin from Greyback.

Remus tried to do the same thing again. He let his mind go blank except for the ceiling and the fact that he and Harry needed to get out of here. That Harry's life depended on him and his ability to do this. He tried to ignore Greyback, forget about the hulking werewolf screaming in his face and the rancid breath that carried his words.

He could do this.

"I don't respect you," Remus said quietly, still not taking his eyes from the ceiling. His words didn't even quite register to him, and his own voice sounded very far away, like it was coming from the opposite end of a long tunnel. Every fiber of his being was concentrated on the ceiling. Nothing else mattered to him at that moment.

"For the last time-!" Greyback began, but he didn't have a chance to finish.

Remus raised his right hand over his head, stretching his arm and fingers out as far as they would go, like he was trying to touch the ceiling itself. His last thought was of Harry before he shouted, "REDUCTO!"

Almost immediately, parts of the stone ceiling started breaking off and raining down on them. Tiny pieces at first, and then larger ones as the ceiling's support structure started to crumble. The Death Eaters started firing spells in panic, but they were all off-target as they tried to dodge the pieces of ceiling.

Remus tried to use the chaos to throw Greyback off of him, but the werewolf still didn't budge. Greyback had raised one hand over his head to protect himself from the falling pieces of stone, but he somehow maintained a strong hold on Remus with his other hand. Then again, it was rather safe being trapped in between Greyback and the wall, as the bulky werewolf blocked most of the pieces of stone from hitting Remus himself.

"RUN, HARRY!" Remus yelled.

A few more spells were fired, but Remus couldn't quite see what was happening. As the ceiling crumbled, the air started to grow thick with dust. Remus couldn't see where the spells were coming from, or what they were hitting.

"I'M NOT GOING WITHOUT YOU!" came Harry's voice through the murky air.

"JUST GO!"

"NO!"

"HARRY-!"

Just then, another spell narrowly passed in front of Remus's face, flying in between him and Greyback and hitting the wall just beyond them.

Greyback let out a roar of anger and shouted, "Watch where you're shooting! You almost took my nose off!"

One of the male Death Eaters - either Rowle or Amycus, Remus couldn't quite tell - started mumbling about how he couldn't see a thing. Greyback finally took his attention off of Remus and turned around, yelling about what a bunch of incompetents they were. However, he still kept one hand securely in the front of Remus's robes.

"I said," came Harry's voice through the dust again, closer and quieter this time, "I'm not going without you."

Suddenly, Greyback stumbled as if something had hit him, and then Remus saw what it was. Harry had apparently run at Greyback, hitting in the stomach. Greyback tried to hold on to Remus, but his grip had loosened just enough. Remus brought up his arms in an arc, just has Harry had moments before, and brought them down hard on Greyback's arm. Finally, Greyback released him, continuing to lurch backwards as he tried to maintain his balance.

Harry's hand found Remus's in the chaos, and he tugged him away from the wall. Remus didn't anymore encouragement. He got his feet moving, running after Harry as he led the way down the corridor. More spells continued to come their way, but almost all of them missed Harry and Remus by several feet. The air was still too thick with dust for the Death Eaters to see straight.

"The grounds, Harry!" Remus yelled as they went. "So I can Apparate us away from here."

Harry didn't say anything, but he tightened his hand around Remus's in response.

They turned the corner, away from the spells and away from the frustrated cries of the Death Eaters. If Remus wasn't mistaken, he thought he could hear Greyback and Bellatrix going at it once again. Remus had never been so glad to leave anything behind in his life.

Luckily, most of the battles still raging through Hogwarts had moved towards the back part of the castle, so Remus and Harry's path was clear. Remus remained hot on Harry's heels as they ran for the front doors, their hands still intertwined so tightly that their lives might have depended upon it.

After what seemed like the longest run in the history of the world, the two of them reached the grand staircase. They flew down the steps and across the entrance hall, throwing themselves at the front doors and pushing them open. It was dark outside, but the moon was nearly full in the sky, providing more than enough light for them to see by.

Harry still clung to Remus's hand, the both of them running across the grounds for the front gates. Remus didn't even stop to look behind them, didn't bother to see if there was anyone around to fire anymore spells at them or not. All that Remus cared about in that moment was getting outside of the gates so that he and Harry could Apparate to safety.

They finally made it, emerging through the front gates, their shoes skidding a bit in the dew-dampened grass. Remus reached out his free hand, grabbing onto one of the stone pillars of the gate to steady himself. Harry's free arm flailed, and he grabbed onto Remus to catch his balance. Without waiting, Remus wrapped both of his arms around Harry, shut his eyes, and focused on their destination.

As it felt like they were being shoved through a narrow tube, Remus vaguely remembered the last time he had Apparated - when he had taken Greyback to Knockturn Alley earlier in the evening which had started this entire ordeal. Had that only been a few hours before? It almost seemed like a lifetime ago now. So much had happened since then; Remus almost couldn't comprehend how much had changed in those few shorts hours.

When their feet met with solid ground again, Remus opened his eyes to the very familiar and welcome sight of the exterior of number twelve, Grimmauld Place. Never before had Remus been so glad to see it, never before had he been so very happy to return home.

Harry still held onto Remus's hand, almost like Harry didn't want to let it go. Remus didn't blame him. When they had been in the castle, in the thick of the battle, Harry's hand had been his only source of comfort, the only reminder that Remus wasn't alone in it. They were safe now, but they were both gasping for air, their hearts pounding from the exertion and the fear that they had felt only minutes before. They still needed each other, still needed the comfort until they were calmed down.

They made their way up the steps of the house together, and Remus pushed the door open. They hurried inside and Remus slammed the door closed, leaning up against it and breathing hard and fast. Remus placed his free hand on one of knees, bending over a bit and gasping for air.

"You all right?" Harry asked in concern, still breathless himself.

Remus took a few more breaths before he was able to straighten up. He rested his head back against the door and swallowed before answering Harry. "I never realized how out of shape I was before. Or how big that castle is."

Harry only grinned in response. He ran a hand through his hair and pulled off his glasses, which had started to steam up from his sweat. He dragged his sleeve over his face, trying his best to wipe it dry.

"Padfoot?" Remus called loudly, wondering if Sirius was there at all.

"He's probably at Hogwarts," Harry said, answering Remus's unspoken question. "I think everyone's there tonight."

It was then that Remus realized that Harry was bleeding, the front of his robes growing wet at the spot where Greyback had scratched him.

"Never mind me," Remus said, pushing himself away from the door. "Are you all right?" He finally released Harry's hand, reaching for Harry's shirt instead. He pulled it open where it had been torn to shreds by Greyback's claws, inspecting the damage the overgrown werewolf had done.

"'M fine," Harry said. "Just some scratches. It stings like hell though."

"I suspect it'll scar," Remus said apologetically. He used the sleeve of his own robe to rub at the wound, trying his best to wipe up as much of the blood as possible. He would need to take Harry down into the kitchen and clean it properly, but for now, this would do.

Harry shrugged. "Sirius told me once that girls find scars sexy."

Remus snorted, and he had been about to protest. After all, his own scars hadn't landed him very many dates, so he wasn't sure that Sirius was correct, but he didn't even get a chance to open his mouth. The front door had flown open yet again, and there he was - the very person they had been talking about.

Before any of them could say a word, Sirius had crossed the foyer and wrapped one arm around each of them. Remus didn't even try to push it off, not like he would have done just hours ago. Harry holding on to his hand this entire time had seemed to open something up inside him, something he had closed off when he first went to live with the werewolves. He hadn't been able to stand any kind of physical contact while there, but now, Remus didn't think he'd ever get enough of it. He simply turned his head and buried it into his best friend's shoulder, as did Harry.

"I saw you two running for the gates…" Sirius began. "I tried calling to you, but I don't think you heard me. I only hoped to Merlin you'd come here."

"Where else would we go, Padfoot?" Remus asked, picking his head up and smirking at Sirius.

"Stranger things have happened," Sirius said.

"They were trying to take me to Voldemort," Harry explained. "That's why they were there, and Remus saved me." He paused and narrowed his eyes at Remus. "After giving me a heart attack!" He gasped in a mouthful of air, ready continue yelling, but then his breath caught in his throat. He stared down at the floor, his cheeks growing red. He suddenly looking ashamed for ever suspecting that Remus was capable of such a thing. "I thought you betrayed us," he whispered miserably.

"I thought you knew me better than that." Remus's voice was careful, guarded.

"So did I! That's why you scared me half to death! Seeing you standing there with all those Death Eaters, the things you were saying…"

"What things?" Sirius asked, sounding completely out of the loop.

"About how we weren't friends anymore," Harry said, "about how he'd joined the Death Eaters because of it…"

"He's been spying on them," Sirius clarified.

"I know that now!" Harry cried. "Just scared me at the time. Merlin. Warn a bloke, would you?"

"Sorry," Remus said. "We weren't sure how long it would last, whether you needed to know or not. At the time, it seemed best to keep it to as few people as possible in case anyone let it slip."

Harry shook his head, waving off Remus's explanation. "No, I'm sorry." His eyes were large and round now. "I do trust you. I don't want it to seem like I don't…"

"Don't," Remus whispered gently, cutting him off. "It's fine. I wanted you to believe it, to make the Death Eaters as convinced of my loyalty as possible. You have nothing to apologize for. I just hated having to do that. Merlin, how I hated it, hated seeing the look on your face when you thought-"

Before Remus could continue, Harry stepped forward, burying his face in Remus's chest and hugging him tightly. Remus's words died in his throat, but he knew he didn't have to explain himself anymore, knew that Harry understood exactly what it was he wanted to say. Remus wrapped his own arms around Harry, squeezing him back.

"I knew you wouldn't, Remus," Harry whispered, his voice softened even more against Remus's robes. "Even when I started to believe it, deep down I knew that you'd never do that to us. That's why you scared me so much." When Harry pulled away, he looked up at Remus and said, "Just don't do it again."

Remus laughed, a small and quiet one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hell no. My days as a Death Eater spy are over."

"Then you're home for good?" Sirius asked excitedly. "You don't have to go back there?"

"My cover's blown," Remus answered. "I can't exactly-" He stopped suddenly, something dawning on him.

"What?" Sirius asked.

Remus shut his eyes. For a few glorious moments, he didn't think he'd ever have to return to the compound. That he'd never have to see Greyback or the other werewolves ever again, but that wasn't true. "I do have to go back. I have one more thing I have to do."

"Moony…" Sirius began desperately. "If Greyback knows you've been spying on him-"

"That's why I have to go back," Remus interrupted. The longer he heard Sirius talk, the longer he was there, the harder it was going to be to do what needed to be done. "I made a friend there. Althea - the one you joked about being my girlfriend. Greyback knows we were close and…" Remus pressed a hand over his eyes, only now seeing the problems he could be causing for Althea. "I got her a promotion…he's going to think we were in on it together! He's going think she knew the whole time…and she did." When Remus lowered his hand, he gave Sirius a firm and determined look. "I have to get her out there. If I'm not there, Greyback's going to take out on her."

"Moony…"

"I know him!" Remus said desperately. "I didn't spend the last few months living with him and not learn a few things about what kind of person - werewolf - he is. He's going to punish her for it. For my mistakes."

"But you said she's one of them," Sirius reminded. "A part of his pack…"

"She's different," Remus said. "I didn't think so at first, but she is. She's not like the rest of them. She knew all along that I was there to spy on Greyback. She didn't say anything to him, but she knew. She protected me, and she deserves the same from me in return. She doesn't deserve to be there, and she doesn't deserve whatever Greyback might do to her because of me. I have to get out of there, Padfoot," he repeated, making it clear that there was no room for arguments.

"Greyback's probably not even back at the compound yet," Harry spoke up. "If you go now, you could get back before he even realizes you were there at all."

Remus was grateful for Harry's reasoning, and he looked to Sirius for his response.

"You're going to do this whether I let you or not, aren't you?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Remus replied. "Just this one last thing, Padfoot, and then I will be home for good."

Sirius seemed to debate with himself for a moment, his eyes going back and forth between Harry and Remus. Finally, he grunted and said, "Fine, but if you're not back in half an hour, I'm sending out a search party. It's been too damn long already."

Remus threw his arms around Sirius. "I'll be back soon," he whispered into his best friend's shoulder, "I promise." He pulled away and added, "And I won't be alone."

Before he could change his mind, Remus ran for the front door. The longer he stayed at number twelve, Grimmauld Place, the harder it would be for him to return to the compound yet again. In the few short minutes he had been home, he had finally started to relax completely for the first time in months. And then cruelly, like fate was somehow mocking him, it hit him all over again that his time at the compound wasn't quite over yet.

Remus descended the steps of the house, not looking back. If he did, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to do it, wouldn't be able to rescue the girl that he had put in danger to begin with. Had he ever been foolish enough to believe that he could make a friend in the pack without endangering their very life when he was found out?

When Remus reached the grass, he squeezed his eyes shut and Apparated once more, returning to the place he had hoped he would never see again.

To be continued…