The next day was a Tuesday and consequently, he would be spending his evening at Black Manor. He still couldn't quite believe that he had been granted permission. He needed his grandfather's help in brewing the Wolfsbane potion. He knew the process and ingredients thanks to his pre-death memories.
Severus had always provided Remus with the potion, even after he was no longer a teacher. He'd learned that during an order meeting and remembered thinking Severus only did it so that one day he could poison the werewolf, having garnered his trust. He was quite paranoid back in those days, or in the days to come. But then, Severus had seemed quite capable of doing just that in those days. His hatred for anything Lupin, Black, or Potter knew no bounds.
Sirius was keenly aware of the approaching full moon, which was the following day. He kept a close eye on Remus, noting how pale he looked and how he seemed feverish and fatigued, how tremors sometimes shook him. He doubted anyone else noticed. Remus was good at becoming invisible. His silences became longer, he sought refuge in his bed, studying alone with the curtains drawn. He'd never noticed any of it before and thought he must have been blind in his first go around. The wolfsbane potion wasn't even close to being invented he knew it would take much too long to brew in one day. Sadly, though Severus would someday be accomplished enough to brew it, he wasn't capable of it yet.
Which left Sirius in a dilemma about what he was going to do to help Remus tomorrow. Somehow he had to get out and join Remus in the shrieking shack as Padfoot.
As he came down from the tower into the Gryffindor common room dressed for their daily run, he was surprised to see Lilly waiting for him. "Do you think it would be okay if I joined you for your morning runs?" Sirius blinked remembering James telling him emphatically not to allow Lilly into the Marauders. He grinned, "Uhm, sure. I even have an outfit for you. My grandfather enchanted them."
He ran back upstairs to get them and barked at his friends to dress smartly, the girls were going to run with them. Which made them groan and throw pillows at him, all of which he dodged. "Suck it up, gentlemen. Witches have been liberated." He winked and made it downstairs handing Lilly the bundle of clothes and running shoes.
After he explained it all to her, she asked, "How did he know my size?"
Serious shrugged, "Magic." Then turned and made his way outside, "I'll be down at the pitch warming up."
Lilly fit right in with the group. The antagonism between Severus and James was missing, although James was still jealous of Lilly's friendship with Severus, though he wasn't mature enough to understand the root of that jealousy. Sirius worried constantly that by Severus sorting into Gryphendor, James and Lilly falling in love was at risk. Harry never being born was at risk.
Lilly was an amazing athlete and admitted that she loved to run. The shoes, enchanted to shrink or enlarge to the size of the wearer, were just as amazing to her as they had been to James. She had decided plain black was much too boring and changed her hoodie to Gryffindor colors. Which distracted the group for a moment as everyone wanted to match.
About the halfway mark on their run, Sirius noticed Remus slowing down and finally moving into a despondent walk. He let the others run ahead and matched his pace to Remus's, "Feelin okay?" He asked, knowing he probably felt like shit.
Remus shook his head, "No. Kinda not...feeling well." He shrugged. "Mind if I skive off? Think I'm gonna have a bit of a lie-in."
Sirius clapped him on the shoulder, "No problem mate. Feel better soon." He watched him walk back up to the castle head bowed and hands shoved into his pockets. He looked like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. Sirius wanted to shout to the heavens that it wasn't fair! It just plain wasn't fair!" He took a deep breath and turned and finished the run.
Lilly enjoyed sparring and Sirius purposefully paired her with James. James insisted he couldn't hit a girl and Lilly put him on his butt with a wicked sweep of her leg. "...ow." James wheezed as he tried to get his breath back. "Was that entirely necessary Evans?" He asked plaintively.
Lily tightened her ponytail and laughed, "Oh come on Potter. Don't be such a girl."
Sirius smirked and then turned back to Severus and continued throwing punches while Severus blocked them. Other than minor corrections in his stance or occasionally having to adjust his balance, Severus was an attentive and able student, surprisingly quick on his feet with impeccable timing. The four of them then began to move through a beginning kata, much like a dance against imaginary opponents, block, strike, kick, pivot, turn, block, sweep, punch, block, step, pivot, block, and turn.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Gryffindork mating rituals perhaps?"
The voice was familiar and he spun to face none other than Bellatrix Black and a few of her snickering snake fiends. Sirius smiled. "Well if it isn't my cousin Hells Bells, come to welcome me to Hogwarts? Care to join us? It couldn't hurt your chances much, to snag a mate I mean.'" Seemingly completely unphased by her blatant attempt at bullying.
The girl seethed. "Hello, cousin. I'm surprised Walburga hasn't struck you from the family tree. Imagine the shame she must feel to have a filthy blood traitor for a son." She laughed a bit derisively. "Blood traitor!" She hissed at him.
Sirius laughed, "Walburga Black was admitted to St. Mungo's psychiatric ward. Which is where you will end up if you aren't more careful Bells!" Infuriating the girl even more.
Sirius sighed and realized that she would respond to only one thing. Power. He crossed his arms so that his heir ring caught the light and made sure she could see it. "Bellatrix you will remember your place. You will immediately apologize to my friends for being rude and then apologize to me as well. I am the heir to the most ancient and noble house of Black and you will do well to remember that."
Bellatrix paled when she spotted the ring. She'd thought he had renounced his inheritance, but it seems she was mistaken. The wild-haired witch hissed as if Serious had scalded her with a branding iron. She sucked it up though and curtsied to Serious, "Please forgive me my breach of etiquette cousin." Tipping a bit to the side as her heels caught in the muddy grass.
Serious nodded, "Don't let it happen again Bellatrix or I will have to inform grandfather." Knowing he sounded like a pureblood prat but Bellatrix wouldn't care for his usual methods. Besides he was trying to goad her. She was just that easy.
Bellatrix glared at him and then her haughty gaze swept the over his friends standing in solidarity behind her cousin. Her zeroed in on Lilly and she sneered, "God they stink. I don't know how you can possibly stand to be around that Mudblood."
James and Severus were on the verge of hexing the witch. Sirius took a step in her direction and got right in her face. "Apologize Bella. Or you and I are marching to the headmasters' office right now and demanding an audience with Lord Arcturus Black."
She sneered nastily, her features twisted from beautiful to grotesque reminding him forcefully of his mother. "Make me." She taunted.
He sighed and his wand slid effortlessly into his hand, "Petrificus Totalus" The spell hit her dead on. Belatrix's two friends screamed and the fight was on. He didn't know either of them, but one cast a stinging hex that hit James right in the face, and the other went for Sirius with a jelly legs curse. He dodged it easily and stunned her on the spot. Lilly cast a disarming spell and the other witch's wand flew to her as if summoned and she snatched it victoriously out of the air just as Severus's stunning spell put the witch out of the fight. James was down and moaning as his face looked like an overripe tomato; distorted and red.
Sirius repeated the Petrificus Totalus spell on the disarmed witch and then with Severus's and Lilly's help they were able to haul Bellatrix upright and drag her to the school. Professor McGonagall met them at the door. "What in the name of Merlin is going on here?" Her baleful gaze went from one face to the other. "Mr. Potter, what happened to your face?"
Lilly answered the last, "He was hexed by a Slytherin fifth-year professor."
"Best get him to the hospital wing Ms. Evans. Please go with them, Mr. Snape." Severus and Lilly each took one of James' arms and hightailed it as quickly as they could, looking relieved at the reprieve but casting guilty looks over their shoulders at Sirius who simply smiled ruefully at them.
The professor then turned and revived Bellatrix with a wave of her wand. The girl glared nastily at Sirius and climbed to her feet with as much dignity that she could but it was pretty obvious she was embarrassed about being shown up by a firstie. "Now. Mr. Black, please explain."
Sirius quickly and succinctly explained what had happened, leaving out nothing. "I would like permission to floo call Lord Black professor. I believe that this is a family matter that he should be made aware of."
Bellatrix was wisely keeping her mouth shut but her expression was mutinous and he was pretty sure she was on the verge of a meltdown. Professor McGonagall took a look at her and then sighed, "Very well Mr. Black. You may use my private floo. Come along."
When Bellatrix didn't immediately begin following Professor McGonagall snapped, "I won't tell you twice Ms. Black." Bellatrix sighed and unbent her limbs enough to follow them to her quarters.
So it was that a few minutes later that Arcturus stepped through the floo and brushed off the ash with a wave of his wand. His expression looked grave, and his gaze raked over Sirius first as if to ask, 'Now what did you do?' Sirius gave him an uncertain smile. He then looked at Belatrix and his expression darkened. It didn't take a genius to see that trouble with a capital T was brewing.
Sirius stood and gave his grandfather a formal bow, "Good morning grandfather. I'm sorry to call you away from your breakfast." He kept his tone polite and respectful.
Bellatrix sneered but also stood and inclined her head, "Good morning grandfather."
"Yes, yes. Now can someone please tell me why I am here?" Arcturus growled at the pair. The professor had left to give them privacy to work this out on their own. A wise move but not exactly brave Sirius mused.
"Do you want to tell him or shall I?" Sirius asked politely.
Bellatrix crossed her arms, "I was taking a morning stroll with some friends to the lake. Sirius and his... friends." She twisted her face into a look of disgust, were doing some kind of strange muggle ritual. I said something stupid, and Sirius asked me to apologize, and I did. But he was associating with a mudblood!" She looked outraged. "When I dared to tell the truth about how horrible they smell, Sirius hexed me and when my friends tried to help me, he and his friends hexed them too." Sirius watched her performance with delight.
Lord Arcturus listened attentively to every word before turning to Sirius. "Anything to add?" He asked his grandson with a hint of derision in his tone.
Sirius mulled over Bellatrix's story. "No, I think that about covers it." Not even bothering to defend his actions much to the girl's ire.
Arcturus frowned at both of them and leaned against the desk. He glanced at Sirius trying to divine the boy's purpose in calling him. He well remembered how he told him that Bellatrix in his future had killed him. He shook his head, "I am faced with a strange dilemma. It has always been my belief that we are NOT superior to Muggles." At this blatant admission, Bellatrix's head snapped up to stare in shock at him.
"Not? Not?!" Her voice practically climbing twenty octaves. Sirius resisted the urge to whine. His hearing was very sensitive and Bella's screech was like fingernails across a chalkboard.
"You heard me!" Arcturus barked. "We are different yes. Our society is by necessity xenophobic. The statute of secrecy is important to our continued survival and thus by necessity we keep ourselves apart." He glared at the girl before him, "That being said, however, there is a point where Xenophobia turns into ignorant hatred. You have been infected with it from birth and I hold myself responsible. But... I do not believe you are beyond redemption." He seemed to come to a decision. "Surrender your wand." The elder held out his hand.
Bellatrix looked mutinous. "Now!" Arcturus commanded loudly and she jumped and quickly handed over her wand. Her gaze defiantly turned downward. "Look at me Bella." The young witch looked up and met the old man's steely gaze. "I will be speaking with your parents and your grandmother about what should be done for you. However, until we reach a consensus, you will not be allowed to do magic."
Serious watched Bellatrix's expression turn from rebellious to horrified. Every sentence must have felt like a stake to the heart of all of her dreams. He tried very hard not to let his glee at her punishment show, but his insides were dancing.
"You can't do that!" Bella screeched, "My parents won't let you do that." She sneered, "Lord Voldemort won't let you do that!" Then seeming to come to her senses as she realized who she was talking to she bit her lip, "I'm sorry my Lord. I shouldn't have yelled at you." Her venomous glare however was briefly turned on Sirius.
"Your parents, Bellatrix, answer to me." He pocketed her wand. He then moved to the door, and called the professor back in. He explained what had been decided and the professor looked shocked but resigned. She glanced at the pale slytherin and almost felt sorry for her. Almost. Bellatrix was a handful and her hate infected everything she touched. "Come along Ms. Black. We will be needing to see the Headmaster." Bella looked frantically around her eyes landing on Sirius.
"YOU! You did this! You did all of this!" She then launched herself at her cousin in a disgraceful display. Professor McGonagall quickly stunned her and sighed. "For what it is worth Lord Black, I think you are doing the right thing." She cast a Mobilcorpus charm and floated an unconscious Bellatrix Black from the room.
Sirius let out the breath he was holding in a huff. He nodded to his grandfather. "Thank you. So what are you planning for her?" He asked curiously.
Lord Arcturus nodded solemnly. "Ever since you told me about what happened to you, I've been considering our options." He shrugged. "I wouldn't discount her just yet, though she has been...neutralized for now. With some luck and a little hope, we might see a different Bellatrix in the future. One that has a grip on her sanity." He could tell Sirius needed to talk, but he looked at a portrait on the wall of a woman with her hair in a tight bun that reminded him strongly of the professor. The woman in the frame had a look of intense interest and curiosity on her face. "But we can discuss these things this evening during your lessons."
The rest of the day Sirius barely paid attention to what was going on. He had retreated into the background thinking about the changes he was making and trying to anticipate how things would turn out. It was an exercise in futility. James, Severus, and Lily cornered him just before dinner, and he told them about Bella. They were relieved that Sirius himself hadn't been disciplined..
His time at Black Manor was divided between dinner with Regulus and his grandparents, and time spent talking to his grandfather about some of the problems he was facing. He shared with his grandfather about how Remus was going to turn the next night and he wanted to help him. His grandfather listened, intrigued by the potion that Sirius knew about but couldn't brew.
"Deadly tricky it is. Though I have Severus's and Remusus's memory on how to brew it I don't have the time or resources to brew it for him." Arcturus listened and agreed to study the memory and see if he or perhaps Aunt Cassie who was a deft hand at brewing could make it. "I'll make no promises, but hopefully by the next full moon I will have it ready."
Sirius broached his concerns about James and Lilly and Severus and his grandfather sighed. "That I can't help you with Sirius. Romance is a personal thing for everyone. It's not something you can force."
Sirius looked glum. "If...If Harry is never born...then all this... ALL THIS is for nothing! Its vanity. It's hubris!" He wanted to punch something.
Arcturus placed his hand on his grandson's shoulder. "You must know that Lilly and James knew the risks when they sent you back. They alone understand their connection to each other and had enough faith in their love and in you that they decided the risks were worth it. You should embrace that. Keep that hope alive always."
Sirius nodded, "I'll try."
By the time he returned that night Remus was already sleeping fitfully, tossing and turning and feverish. Sirius wished he had been able to provide him with the potion, but he would at least be able to keep Remus company.
By lunchtime the next day, Remus had lost his patience with James. Remus growled -GROWLED- at him to shut the hell up. James really was a loud kid. Everything had to be announced at full volume. Then shortly after left the dorm claiming he wasn't feeling well and was going to see Madam Pomfrey. James had just come from there and looked downright shocked that anyone would willingly subject themselves to the medi witch.
"You want us to go with you?" Sirius asked. Remus shook his head, "Naw. Don't worry about it." He then left before he could be questioned further. Sirius nodded, "Right then. I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up for dinner." Closing the curtains around his bed to shut out the brilliant sunlight.
That night after everyone was asleep and Remus had still not returned, Sirius slipped out of bed and snuck out of his dorm. Luckily no one was up late and he quietly left the common room. His running shoes muffled his footsteps and he cast a dissolution spell upon himself. Sirius made his way outside and crossed to the whomping willow and pointed his wand at a stick lying on the ground. Levitating to the secret knot that would still the lethal limbs of the tree momentarily and crawled inside. Immediately he transformed into Padfoot and a surge of joy coursed through him. He wagged his tail happily for a moment then scurried through the tunnel and finally arrived at the basement of the Shrieking Shack. He quietly made his way up the stairs and could now hear Mooney. The young werewolf was frantically trying to get out. Padfoot put his nose to the crack under the door and sniffed. Dust, and wolf. He barked once joyfully and the sound on the other side of the door stilled. He whined and sniffed at the door again. He could see Mooney's shadow under there pacing back and forth madly.
He barked again and whined. Mooney howled. Sirius howled. It was a chorus that was designed to scare the neighbors and would give the shack its haunted reputation.
Sirius howled louder and Mooney whined and he could see that he'd stopped his pacing and was sniffing under the door. Sirius put his nose under the door and touched Mooney's nose with his own. He didn't think it would be wise to go inside quite yet.
Mooney was curious and interested and happy for the company. He could tell by the way he calmed down. Sirious licked Mooney's nose under the door and Mooney licked Padfoot's. Finally the grim stood, stretched, and looked up at the doorknob, and standing on his back legs he was able to turn the knob and opened the door. Mooney was curled up in front of the door half asleep. He stepped inside and managed to push the door closed with his head. He then slowly approached the young werewolf. The werewolf lept to his feet and they circled each other for a moment then Sirius got into his... Lets Play! Stance. Mooney was all for playing and soon they were chasing each other around the room. When they had tired each other out, they cuddled together like puppies and napped a bit.
Sirius left just before dawn and made his way out of the shack to the dorm. He climbed exhausted into his bed and when the time for the morning run came he claimed to have caught the plague and skived off. Amusingly James, Severus, and Lilly decided to go without him.
Remus would be in the hospital wing for the whole day recovering from the transformation, but he felt relieved that he wouldn't be coming back with fresh scars that he couldn't explain and with any luck, the potion would be ready before the next full moon.