Jasmine Lupin desperately wanted to love Halloween.
It was arguably one of the most fun holidays at the library, and kids came in all day in adorable costumes, asking for treats and showing off their dress-up skills. Jasmine loved every single one of them, coming in all grins, leaving with their hand made gift bags full of candies and a fun, Halloween themed bookmark. There were always games to be played, small prizes to be won which Jasmine had to admit some years were better than others, depending on the budget the library had, but always something worth trying for.
She wanted to love it.
In fact, as long as she was busy, Jasmine adored Halloween.
It was the times she was not busy, not actively thinking about the kids and keeping them happy and engaged in learning and reading- that is when her seething hatred for the Holiday came out.
Halloween would always be the day that ruined her young life. Sure, she'd found her way back to her feet, and she loved the life she had now with Remus, and Harry, now, too; Halloween night 1981 was another thing entirely. Remembering it turned her stomach to rot, made her feel rage and pain as fresh as it was new. So to keep sane, Jasmine stayed busy.
Early this Halloween morning found Jasmine choking down her herbal tea as she was told, already dressed in her own costume.
She'd bought a blue dress with a white collar, and sewn felt planets and stars all over- one of Ms. Frizzle's iconic looks. She'd pinned her hair up the same way her book look-alike always had hers. She was ready for the day.
"Good heavens, what is that smell?" Remus groaned, making his way out of the bedroom, hair still flying a mess on his head from where he'd slept on it. He'd fully dressed for the day, yet had not made his way in to comb his hair or shave just yet- this always came after a bit of a caffeine boost from his morning cup of Builder's tea.
Jasmine didn't even attempt to hide the scowl on her face as she looked down into her cup, swirling the dark tonic around before finishing the rest in one thick pull.
"Tea." Jasmine answered, popping her tongue on her teeth, grimacing at the taste. Even honey hadn't helped it much, it was a bitter, thick mixture, tasting and even looking a bit like pond scum, just thinner.
"Tea?" Remus questioned, moving over to put a teabag into a cup of his own before reaching for the kettle. "You sure about that?"
"Not entirely." Jasmine laughed. "But it was a gift, and it's exotic. I have a feeling it'll grow on me. Who knows, might be a new favorite."
"You're a weird little witch, you know?" Remus ask, kissing her cheek as he moved away with his cup. "Costume is perfect, by the way. Just missing the lizard."
"Not for long!" Jasmine assured him. "McGonagall helped me out with that one."
"What- no..." Remus laughed as Jasmine began to snap her fingers and make kissy sounds.
"Come on Monty! It's time to go!" She called, and the sounds of his heavy paws on the stone castle floor alerted them to the cat's presence. Monty dutifully sat before her feet, purring happily. Jasmine took her wand out of where she'd hidden it in her hair, tapped the cat on the head three times, and repeated an incantation quietly, so Remus missed exactly what it was. Monty went rigid for a moment, and Remus watched in both horror and amusement as the cat's fur was replaced with scales. In a matter of seconds the feline was an iguana, still looking up at his owner with large, loving eyes.
"That was disturbing." Remus commented, sipping at his morning tea. "But I think I like him better this way."
"Come here sweet boy." Jasmine cooed, picking the lizard up and putting him on her shoulder. "Its just for the day."
"Oh, okay." Remus laughed out loud. "Yeah, this is perfect. Too perfect. Make sure someone gets pictures."
"We always do!" She replied, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him goodbye. "Don't get too tired with these kids. You'll need to rest this evening." She reminded him.
"Yeah, yeah..." Remus remarked, as she left the room, and he propped on the counter to await her return. Almost as if on a timer, Jasmine hurried back into their kitchenette in his suite and plopped Lizard-Monty onto the table before moving across the room and grabbing his lapels, she pulled him down to her and kissed him, hard. Remus smiled into her lips as she pulled away.
"I didn't forget, I just-"
"Almost forgot." He laughed. "Go to work, try and have a good, fun day."
"I almost forgot. There is a bowl of sweets on your desk. There are enough for each kid in the school to get two, I think, then some, you know, so you can munch too. Bowl is enchanted, and the extras are in the cupboard. As you take from the bowl, it'll refill from the bags in the cupboard. Please do not waste them all on the first years." Jasmine warned.
"Okay, you're going to be late if you don't go now." Remus laughed. "Go have a wonderful day."
"Yeah..." She nodded, "you too. I love you."
"I love you, more." He called, as she and the grouchy cat-lizard waved once more from the doorway.
Jasmine's candy bowl had been a surprisingly helpful tool in keeping the children's attention as Remus taught.
Two months into the school year, it was as good a time as any to do a review of what they'd learned thus far. So Remus went around the room, asking each student a question, and right answers were tossed a sweet. Wrong answers were circled back to, given a second chance, and a sweet whether they were correct on their second try or not. Then each student was told to take a second sweet as they left, Remus standing by the door holding the bowl as he went. He made a mental note of how engaged they all were in the review, so that the next time he decided to do a review with a class, whether it be before a test or just to have subject matter fresh in their minds, he was going to use this bribery system again.
Remus had just plucked a large orange hard candy from its wrapper and popped it into his mouth when a knock sounded on the door. He turned on his heels to find his coworker, his least favorite coworker, striding toward him, face in a twisted grimace.
"Lupin." Severus Snape greeted coldly.
"Ah, morning Severus." Remus choked, moving his candy to his inner jaw with his tongue so he could better speak. He held out the bowl of candy toward the potion's master. "Fancy a sweet?"
Snape looked to the bowl, then to Remus, his face still full scowl.
"I'll pass. Just dropping off your order." He said, placing the steaming goblet on Remus' desk.
"Oh wonderful, my favorite!" Remus smiled, the candy helping him as he lied, making Snape scowl harder. Remus gave a small bow. "All jokes aside, thank you, Severus. As always, I appreciate it."
"Mmm." Snape hummed back, spinning on his heels and exiting the classroom.
Remus waited for him to go before carefully cracking his candy in his teeth and swallowing it down before turning his attention to the goblet and the foul, thick Wolvesbane potion that awaited him there.
It was past moonrise when Jasmine made it back to the castle.
It had been expected, and she knew Remus, or rather, Moony, would be curled up on his mat by their bed, probably snoring and awaiting the sunrise so he could become himself again. However, this night was much different than the others she'd made her way back to the castle late from work. Usually she'd see and avoid the odd dementor, maybe have an awkward exchange with an Auror who didn't know her, or a friendly word with one who did, as she made her way back to the grounds from Hogsmade.
Tonight, however, something was wrong.
The castle grounds were covered in Ministry Officials, teachers, and dementors alike. Jasmine slowly took Monty down from his perch on her shoulder and then took out her wand, turning him back to his furry, fluffy self.
"Better head inside." She instructed, and Monty did as he was told, hurrying along the shadows back toward the castle.
Wand in hand, Jasmine eased her way onto the grounds. It was utter chaos as people moved around, shouting into the dark. Jasmine saw someone at last she recognized, Kingsley Shacklebolt, up on a hill, and she made her way over.
Jasmine had always liked Kingsley, he and Remus had been friends for many years. He'd shared more than one happy meal in her home, and she knew he wouldn't keep her in the dark if she ask what had the castle in such a state.
"What the hell is going on?" She demanded, fear cracking her voice.
"Black." Kingsley nodded, in the direction of the castle. "He was here. Inside. Attacked the Gryffindor portrait."
"What- Is Ha-"
"Everyone is safe and accounted for." Kingsley looked over at his friend's frightened wife. "Everyone."
"You checked on Remus?" She pressed.
"Of course." Kingsley smiled. "Personally."
"Thank you." She smiled up at the auror. "What should I do?"
Kingsley looked around the open grounds for a moment, then nodded down toward the lake.
"Join the hunt, keep a tight grip on your wand." He suggested. "Or head inside. No one would fault you for being as far away from the son of a bitch as possible."
"No," Jasmine shook her head. "I want to help."
"Very well. But Jazzy- if you find anything, any sign- send sparks up with your wand. Don't get yourself hurt. Don't get to close. And..." He looked her over with hard eyes, and sighed. "Use whatever spell you have to. He is wanted dead or alive."
Jasmine nodded her understand and bade him good luck as she moved away and toward the lake, where she couldn't see as many people out searching. She kept an eye on the tree line, and at the first sign of something moving away from the light she slipped into the trees herself, landing on all fours in her rarely used animagus form- a bright orange fox.
It helped her to sneak through the under brush as she followed the rustling over the overgrown forest floor, chasing whatever she'd seen down.
Her mind raced, unsure if this was even a dog she was following, much less Sirius. Still, she kept up the chase, until she found herself in a clearing. Jasmine dug her paws into the soft, mossy earth as she stopped her sprint. There was no sign of who or whatever she'd been following. She sniffed at the air, smelling stale sweat on the wind, but she was having trouble pin pointing the origin.
Then, the snap of a twig and had her back in human form and wand at the ready.
She looked all around, trying to get a read of where she was, and which way she'd come. Jasmine had been so focused on the chase she'd not noticed how deep she was in the forest.
"Well... Well... Well..." A voice sounded from close on her left. She spun and pointed her wand in the general direction before it came again from behind her. "Jazzy Evans, as I live and breathe... You grew up really well..."
"Come on out, Sirius." She spat, angry at herself for how badly her voice shook, and even angrier at him for using her nickname. She didn't want to show fear, but she new she reeked of it.
"Why?" His voice came again, this time to her far right. "Not very fair. You're armed, after all."
"If you weren't going to face me, why even speak at all?!" She demanded, her attempt at a controlled, firm yell coming out as a desperate yelp.
"Well, I admit, I mostly wanted to know why on earth you were here." Sirius replied, again, from a new position somewhere within the forest. Jasmine mentally kicked herself. Of course Sirius knew every inch of the forest- it was old growth, and while the under shrubbery was every changing, large trees and other landmarks would be the same. Sirius spent many full moons out here with her husband over their years at school. He had the upper hand.
"I could ask you the same." She spat, this time her anger sounding through like she'd wanted all along.
"Lower your wand, tell me why you're here, and I will tell you why I am." Sirius replied calmly, yet again in a new place when he replied. "Wait- no. Tell me why you're here and an animagus and I'll even come out."
"Why should I tell you anything?" Jasmine growled back. "I could signal now, let them know I've found you."
"But you haven't..." Sirius reminded her, "Have you?" His voice moved again.
"Cut this shit, Sirius." Jasmine demanded. "Why are you here? To kill Harry? Remus?" She paused for a moment. "Me? Finish what you started?"
"No. No, and no." Sirius answered, then added, "But also yes."
"What the fuck does that mean?" She hissed, kicking at the ground in frustration.
"I am not here to harm anyone you stated. I am here to finish what I started. But it isn't what you all think. Jazz, I never hurt anyone in your family, I swear. I am trying to protect Harry..."
Jasmine nearly faltered when Sirius walked out of the brush, hands in the air. This new statement, whether it was truth or not, had her caught off guard, and her curiosity piqued. He looked like death warmed over, his face and what of his chest was visible through his torn prisoners uniform was sunken from undernourishment. He was filthy, his face and hair covered in dried dirt and bits of plants from where he'd been running. Jasmine took a deep breath, renewed the grip on her wand, and aimed for his throat.
"Explain." She barked. "Now."
"You first." Sirius replied calmly, hands still in the air.
"What?" She questioned.
"I know why I am here. I want to know why you are here." Sirius reminded her.
"I don't have to answer that." She insisted. "Who has who cornered here?"
"Oh darling, I know who has who cornered." He smirked. "I just don't think you have it in you."
Jasmine saw red. He'd toyed with her and belittled her enough, and she didn't know what she was going to do until the curse fell from her lips.
"Crucio." Her she spoke through gritted teeth, firm in her conviction, and the fugitive sank to his knees with a groan.
"Okay, okay." Sirius said, kneeling in the dirt, raising his hands back to where she could see them. "Not a little girl anymore. Got it. But you answered my question, so I am thankful for that. Even if it hurt like a bitch."
"What?!" She demanded, pointing the wand in warning she'd repeat the curse.
"When you turned your hand over to hex me." Sirius nodded. "That's Hope Lupin's wedding ring. You're with Remus."
There was a happiness to his voice as he gave her his revelation that confused her.
"Little Jazzy..." Sirius shook his head. "It hasn't been kind to you either, has it? Time?"
"I already warned you once." Jasmine reminded him. She stepped forward and hit him with a binding curse, knocking him to his face in the dirt, ropes binding his arms to his sides and ankles together. She walked over and kicked him with her foot to turn him so he could speak.
"I shouldn't have doubted you." He smiled up at her. Jasmine scowled down in reply, but Sirius could see that behind her rage, she was hurting. He'd already spoken too much about it, but he couldn't help himself. "You have me caught now. Why not call the troops in? Turn me back over to Azkaban?"
"Because then I won't get my answers." She insisted, wand still trained on his chest. "Why did you do it? Why are you here now?"
A tear slid down her cheek and Sirius followed it's entire path with his eyes before he chose to answer.
"You might kill me." Sirius replied. "And I'd be okay with it. But you have to know what I know first. You have to keep Harry safe."
"Start talking." Jasmine commanded.
"Peter Pettigrew." Sirius answered shortly.
"You killed him." Jasmine shrugged. "What about him?"
"I wanted to kill him. I tried to kill him." Sirius began. "He got away from me, killed all those poor muggles..." Sirius shook his head. "He was your sister's secret keeper. Not me."
"No." She scoffed, disgusted with his lies. "It was you. Sirius, I lived in their house. I am not a fucking idiot."
"You were in school, and things were changing." Sirius tried to explain again. "Peter was... he was weak, scared all the time. He told us he'd heard of a spy in the Order of the Phoenix's ranks- said he knew it for a fact. And I was stupid and scared enough to believe him."
"I don't understand." Jasmine said, her curiosity only growing.
"Remus and I, we shared a flat back then." Sirius started. "We were all so scared, all the time, Jazz."
"Jasmine is fine." She snapped back. Sirius nodded the best he could from his place in the dirt.
"Sorry. So when Peter said he knew there was a spy, he had the perfect story. He told us-" Sirius stopped and looked Jasmine over, the muscles in his jaw twitched as if he wasn't sure how to make the words come out. "Jasmine he," Sirius closed his eyes to continue, "He told us that Greyback had promised Remus the world to switch sides."
"And you fucking believed him?" Jasmine screamed now, obviously not caring if anyone heard.
"We were young, stupid, scared. Lily never believed it, though. She cursed James up and down, 'how dare we ever think Remus could be won over to there werewolves he hated so much', it was- It was a tough time. I didn't want to believe, but to be safe... James and Peter convinced me that because I was his flatmate I was too close in with him, and Peter would be the better secret keeper." Jasmine paced for a second, whirled back around and aimed her wand back at Sirius' throat.
"Keep talking." She demanded.
"So we did it. We switched the secret keeper to Peter." Sirius' voice broke. "I've spent nothing but time thinking about how I'd do things differently, Jazz-Jasmine, sorry." Sirius swallowed. "Sitting in Azkaban, wishing I could just... die."
"You're still not making any sense. People saw you kill Peter, kill all those people..." Jasmine reminded him, her jaw clinched hard as she spoke through gritted teeth.
"Oh, I tried." Sirius smiled sadly. "Peter, I mean. I got there and I found James, then Lily..." tears rolled off his face as he recounted the events from all those years ago. "Hagrid took Harry, Dumbledore's orders. I gave him my motorcycle to get away faster. I went to find the rat... and Find him I did. But he swept up a dust storm with his wand, killed all those people and in the confusion, I guess the witnesses could hear me screaming that I was going to find and kill him... He cut off his finger and he ran. I suspect he's been living as a rat ever sense, because when I finally saw him again... He was still a rat."
"I still don't understand." Jasmine whispered.
"Peter Pettigrew is alive. Ron Weasley, he's in Harry's year, Gryffindor, I assume, because he is a Weasley." Sirius croaked, coughing a bit from where he'd been crying on the ground.
"He's one of Harry's best friends." Jasmine confirmed.
"And the man responsible for the murder of his parents, of James and Lily... Has been sleeping in that dorm every night for years."
"What the fuck are you talking about?!" Jasmine exclaimed again.
"Jasmine. Listen to me." Sirius cleared his throat. "I didn't kill Peter, he made it look like I did. I know you know his animagus is a rat... He cut off a finger to make it look like I blew him up... and he ran. The guards, sometimes they let us read the paper, and someone brought in the Prophet. I was going to do the crossword, just a little bit of sanity... Azkaban is awful... and I see that same fucking rat perched on the Weasley boy's shoulder in a story about them winning a trip to Egypt. Missing toe, long ear hair. We were less than an hour's walk from where Molly and Arthur live when Peter and I had our face off. Obviously he ran and made himself a pet to their children."
Jasmine looked devastated, confused.
"I promise, Jasmine." Sirius called as she paced. "You found me this time, you can do it again. Let me go, let me prove it... and If I can't, I'll let you kill me yourself."
"How can I know?" Jasmine murmured, her mind racing.
"Moony ever tell you about our map?" Sirius ask. Jasmine nodded. "Well, it is somewhere in the castle. Possibly in a lock box in Filch's office. Find it, and it will show you everyone in the castle. Nobody can escape it- Remus charmed it himself. We'd tried to trick it several times."
"I- I can't-" Jasmine pushed the heels of her hands into her eyes.
"Its okay, I won't fault you for just turning me in. I probably wouldn't believe me, either. But maybe ask yourself- if I had the ability to escape Azkaban this whole time, why wouldn't I? I deserved to be there, so I stayed. It wasn't until I saw he was there and close to Harry that I had to escape."
"Fine." Jasmine sniffled, then nodded. She flicked her wand and released his binding. "You have until the end of this school year. You don't have proof before then- just turn yourself in."
"I will, I swear I will." Sirius said as he tried to climb out of the dirt. Jasmine simply turned and jumped back into fox form and was sprinting off. "Keep your eyes on him, Jasmine!" Sirius screamed after her, renewed in his determination to find the rat.
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