Abandonment and Exile

"You did WHAT?!" Pandora's eyes went wider the more the boys told her. Evan had a hand at his mouth and Barty leaned against a wall, arms crossed.
 "I don't know if I should hug you, slap you, yell at you or make you tea" she grumbled.

“Why not all of the above?” Regulus laughed. They were relaying what Remus did with the guards this morning because Regulus was too exhausted last night. They didn’t pry about what had happened but they were worried and it was clear. His eyes were swollen today, and his eyebags more prominent.

"Because you would barely survive a single one of those things" Barty grinned. 
"Are you okay, do you want to tell us something else?" Evan finally spoke for the first time, voice thick with worry.
“Possibly.” Regulus mused. He looks to Remus, wondering if he should mention that Sirius is back.

"It's yours to tell, Sweetheart. Not mine. But I think we can trust them" Remus nodded.
Regulus nodded and turns back to them. “So… we ran into someone unexpected yesterday.”
There was silence that stretched until Regulus spoke again. “Sirius- Sirius is in town.”

"What?" The three of them exclaimed "Sirius as in your brother Sirius as in the firstborn Black?" Barty asked.
"The very same." Regulus paused, “But my parents can’t know. I don’t want him hurt again.” He knows that they remember the night before he left too.

No one is going to tell anyone that Sirius is back, you can trust us on this" Evan said and somehow the words said by him carried do much more meaning. Pandora would have sounded soothing and Barty was too impulsive to make promises. But Evan was quiet and honest. 

"Plus he is with Greyback" Remus added "And the pack. I don't think they will let anyone hurt him" 
"Greyback?" Pandora's eyes shot up at Remus 
"Yes?" Remus looked at Regulus with a confused expression.

"Greyback as in...The Romanian Royal Family Greyback?" 
Barty's eyes lit up with recognition "You don't think-" 
Regulus furrowed his brows. It made sense, a lot actually, Greyback's entire presentation was so charismatic and diplomatic, just like most royals he had met. He carried himself like a king. Until now, he had assumed that it was because he was the leader of his pack 

"Evan, isn't your dad well aquainted with them?" Barty turned to him with a questioning look.
“Yes, he is. The Greybacks are pretty secretive, but there was a rumor that they used to hurt kids. If he’s a werewolf maybe if wasn’t by choice?”
Barty nodded in thought "That would make sense...although I doubt anyone becomes a werewolf by choice" Pandora just nodded in thought. "I don't like that one bit, to be honest"

“Yeah, though there are some intense fanatics out there.” Evan remarks in passing. Regulus says, “Forcing children to become werewolves is so messed up.”
"I can see why they would do it" Remus finally spoke up "You have a child from a very early age on and they suffer, so you are sweet with them and help them and eventually, they will do what ever you say because they see you as their savior"

“It makes sense when you put it like that, but it also gives the children a sense of stockholm syndrome, doesn’t it? They caused the pain just to make them love them.” Regulus responded.
"They create a dependency, it's pure torture" Barty understood. 
"Anyways, I want to go back there. Tonight, if possibile" Remus muttered.

Regulus inhaled, “I’m coming with you.” he insisted.
"I know you will. I wouldn't want it any other way" Remus smiled softly 
"Excuse me while I go throw up" Barty mumbled

Evan laughws and Pandora just shook her head. Regulus gave Remus a soft smile before turning to Barty and death glaring him.
He threw his hands up in a defensive gesture "Alright Sorry" he said quickly

--------------

It was dark outside when they snuck out, much easier today since Barty and Pandora were on outside duty. Remus noticed very clearly how Regulus seemed, but he didn't know what to do about it.
"Did they mention where they were, mon amour?"

"The tavern, that's where they are staying" He smiled. Said tavern wasn't far away and when they arrived and opened the door, the pack was sitting at the same table again. Greyback immediately noticed and waved them over. 

"Good evening boys, did you make it here safely?" He asked with a smile, making space for them on the bench. "Yes we did, we had friends to help us today." Remus looked around for Sirius, who was complaining to...James. James was the name. 
"Padfoot, move over here" Greyback ordered.

Greyback looked at Remus "You can be here for him, but we two need to talk. And Prongs, get over there with Dorcas, this is not your place to be right now"
Remus looked back to make sure that Regulus was really okay before following Greyback to the bar. He ordered two drinks and placed one in front of Remus as soon as he sat down but stopped. 

"I should have asked you first, apologies" He smiled softly. "No, it's fine, I'm not picky" Greyback nodded. "You and Regulus can call me by my first name by the way. I noticed how he called me Greyback earlier. There is really no need for formalities."

Remus nodded, understanding. "So...you wanted to talk to me?" "No, Remus. I need to talk to you because I need you to know something so you can make your own decisions." Remus had a bad feeling, not about Fenrir but about what he was going to tell him. 

"So...I might have to start a little back when I was much younger. I was born in Romania and my parents...they liked the idea of power. And what is more powerful than a werewolf that does their bidding? So they used me for that" Fenrir sighed

"at first they would just be there for me when I felt bad so I trusted them. But after a while they would take me places before the full moon and I would wake up hurt and covered in blood but they reassured me and said I was fine." Fenrir emptied his entire glass and ordered another one "Eventually I did found out the truth and I left immediately, but it was to late. They told me I only ever bit one person, the rest died. And I felt so, so guilty for years." 

He leaned forward a little "You know, when you transform someone, it is your job to help them because how would they know how to fend for themselves? It is a primal instinct, like a mother feels for her baby. And for years as a kid I would feel empty and never knew why, I just assumed it was the wolf"

Remus knew it, he knew what was coming but he didn't dare speak it in hopes of being wrong. Or in fear? "But then I left and met other people and learned a lot and I knew it was that kid I had been forced to bite in an act of war. And I looked everywhere and when I finally got where that kid had been he was gone."

 Fenrir groaned "I know I should get to the point, I am sorry, I am...I am terrified, is the truth. And the other truth...is that all that time ago...fifteen years...you were the kid I had bitten" Remus nodded, taking it in. Here sat the person that had damned his life into eternal torment, the person he had sworn to kill. 

But...also the person that was indirectly the reason he had met Regulus. And for some mysterious reason, Remus felt no hatred. "Alright." he nodded. "That...is it? You can hit me, I filly anticipated that" Remus shook his head 

"I don't...I don't know how to feel right now but I know I don't hate you and it is confusing but..." "It's the Wolf and your human consciousness fighting.' Fenrir explained. They talked for much longer, half an hour probably, Fenrir explaining to Remus how to sort those voices in his head and also telling him about how the tavern could be accessed from many places so that if Remus ever needed him, he would be there.

------------

Sirius was still standing there, even after Remus and Greyback (albeit reluctantly on Remus’ end) had left and it made Regulus uneasy. 
“Can you just… sit? You’re making me nervous.” He rushed out. 
“Sorry, Reggie.” Sirius said, and sits down. “How…have you been?” he gets out. It’s very stiff. 

“Really? We haven’t seen each other in six years and you ask me about how I’ve been? How about you, asshole?” Regulus angrily replied. 
“Asshole? Really? Jumping right into it I guess. Merlin, Reggie.” Sirius scofffed a laugh. “You’ve gotten bigger.” “Yeah, that’s kind of how growth works.” Regulus deadpaned.

“Smartass,” Sirius paused, “I did miss you, you know. I wanted to bring you with me.” 
“Then why didn’t you?” Regulus whisperd. 
Sirius sighed, “I couldn’t. After that night, Walburga stormed into my room and and told me to leave. I said no. It escalated again, and I left. She had thrown some of my things out the window.”

“At first I planned to go back for you, but it didn’t work out like that. Before I knew it I was in India staying with James and his parents, and I developed a substance abuse problem. It was a whole mess. I’m better about it now, but the call of alcohol is always strong. Fenrir got me out of a bad situation, and I stayed with them. I’m not going to give you all the details, obviously. But that’s the gist of it.” He stayed with James and his parents, of course. That explained a lot. “…Are you going to say anything?” Sirius asked.

Regulus just stared, processing what Sirius had said even though it wasn’t very detailed. He hated that him and Sirius had been separated for so long because they were not on the same page anymore. They used to have a telepathy that only siblings could have.

 “What do you want me to say, Sirius? That I missed you? That life has been Hell without you? That I’m neglected and mother and father hate me? Well, that’s all true but that doesn’t change anything. I couldn’t do anything for you when you needed it, and you left me in the palace. I know now that mother made you, but Sirius for the past six years I’ve felt like you decided to hate me and leave me with them as punishment because I didn’t help you.”

He takes a deep breath, he was crying now. “So yeah. I missed you, and I was miserable without you. I have missed so much of your life and you mine. You don’t even know that I’m in love and that you flirted with him yesterday. That shit hurts, Sirius. I don’t even know you anymore. You don’t know me. We’re strangers. We’re strangers.” He cried, putting his hands on his head harshly, basically hitting himself now. It was hard to feel his emotions properly.

Sirius grabbed his wrists to stop it. “Reg, Reggie. Stop. Listen to me.” Regulus looked at him with blurry eyes. “It wasn’t your fault, nor was it mine. It was Walburga and Orion’s. We were not in the wrong. You did nothing wrong. Yeah, we’ve definitely grown apart. But I promise you there is not a day that has passed that I haven’t regretted taking you with me. I needed to heal. And so do you. I’m here with you now, and we’re staying together from now on, okay?” Sirius said calmly.

Sirius was crying now too, oh how Regulus missed his older brother. He pushes forward and suffocates him in a hug. He’s definitely ugly crying but it’s a step in the right direction. A fresh start.

Sirius and Regulus held each other and cried for a while, but eventually they pulled away to bond over things again, like they used to. Sirius told him adventures he went on, and Regulus gushed about Remus. Which made Sirius tell him that he very much enjoyed being single and hadn't even kissed a person, he just thought flirting was fun. So Regulus wasn’t worried about Sirius falling for Remus anymore. 

Remus and Greyback entered the room again so Regulus reached out for Remus and kissed his hand once he got close. 
“Ew.” Sirius commented. 
“Shut up, Sirius, honestly.” Regulus responded, rolling his eyes with a smile. Sirius looked between them. 

“Reggie, do I need to have a talk with your boy toy? That’s what stable families do, right?” Regulus laughed. “No, Sirius. You do not have to give Remus a talk, let alone the both of us about it. If you try to tell us about safety I WILL punch you.” 
“Yessir.” Sirius said with a salute

-------------

Remus smiled, adoration in his eyes and very quickly and softly kissed Regulus before sitting down. Fenrir sighed and shot Sirius a glare at calling Remus a 'boytoy' before sitting down as well. The atmosphere was much better now, easier. Fenrir ordered another round of drinks for everyone. 

When Remus saw Regulus trying to move his own plate over to him the plate, he rolled his eyes a little. "Sweetheart, you also have to eat" he said. Remus was sitting with an arm around Regulus' waist and honestly, he was very comfortable like this. Everyone else was also getting food now. Remus knew almost no one, having seen James only once in a diplomatic meeting and the rest hadn't introduced themselves.

“Reggie, may I make a nickname for your boyfriend?” Sirius asked with a smirk.
“Don’t ask me, ask him. He’s right here.” He said with a glare.
Remus immediatly looked up, having heard what he had said and shrugged 

"Go ahead? I don't mind" and went straight back to eating and occasionally feeding Regulus. 
"Don't you make it something stupid" Fenrir warned, being interrupted by James from the other side of the table "You are expecting too much from him, he only knows stupid, Fenrir"

“Hmmmm….” Sirius ponders, “How about, Moony?” He says with a genuine smile. 
“Are you serious?” Regulus gasped. “You’re going to give my heart a nickname centered around his lycanthropy? What the Hell is wrong with you??” 

Remus looked at Regulus and frowned "Way to be stereotypical, I guess. Then again I have been called worse" 
"It's sweet and simple, not the worst Padfoot has come up with" Fenrir nodded.
“You’re on thin ice.” Regulus said with an icy glare and Sirius just laughs. 
“No, I’m Sirius.” He replied.

Fenrir rolled his eyes and groaned while Remus chuckled a little. It was nice like this. 
"If I could I would just take you two with us" Fenrir sighed "Why can't you?" 
"I would have to arrange some things for you to be safe and I can hardly just kidnap another Prince of France"

Regulus and Sirius were having a staring contest when a voice perked up. “Can we introduce ourselves, Fenrir? Since we weren’t able to last night.” a dark skinned woman with black hair styled in twists asks.
"Oh, of course dear, I did not know if any of you felt comfortable" he nodded, looking slightly pleased. 

"Well...My name is Scabior, although I barely belong to this group. I run the tavern" 
"No, you belong, very much so. You just live somewhere else." Fenrir smiled softly at Scabior.

The woman who asked the question spoke up again. “My name is Dorcas Meadowes, I am the right hand of Marlene McKinnon. She also happens to be my girlfriend.” She explained, looking at the blonde next to her. 

“Well, I guess I’ll go next then, thank you Dorcas. The name is Marlene McKinnon, and I’m also royalty. Hi.” She says awkwardly. The McKinnons were German royalty, so that was interesting. Except Dorcas sounded British, so maybe she was not from Germany. Marlene nodded to James who’s next to her.

"Oh I know them" James shrugged and patted a black hair guy on the shoulder, who was lost in looking at a nail he had found on the table

"Huh?" 
"Introduce yourself" 
"M Laslow." he just shrugged and went back to looking at the nail. 

"There isn't much behind that forehead of his, sadly. Can be glad he had a pretty face" Fenrir said, not mean in any way, just making an observation. 

A blonde person looked up and smiled dreamily. "My name is Xenophilius. It is a pleasure to meet the two of you, I have heard a lot about at least one of you"
Remus and Regulus looked at each other. Sure, Sirius probably told him about Regulus, but Remus? 

A woman with bushy light brown hair tied in a bun and wrapped in a silk scarf sitting next to him looked up and said; “Sybill’s my name, but you can call me Trelawney if you’d like. That’s my last name, you see. We knew you were coming.” She smiled, less dreamy than Xenophilius but still not fully on Earth either.

It clicked in Remus' brain and he looked over at Fenrir, who nodded 
"Yes, they are seers" he confirmed. Knowing everyone at least by name made it feel much more comfortable now and Remus relaxed a little.

"Why don't you go pick up the next round of drinks" Fenrir asked, lookin at Remus, Regulus and Sirius. 
"Alright" Remus got up, helping Regulus up.
“I could have gotten up myself, mon amour, but thank you.” Regulus said bashfully. Sirius gagged.

"Shut it" Remus threw in his direction and they left for the bar. As they did, the bell above the door rang and Remus turned around to look, just put of interest. He did not expect who he saw.

---------

It was Minnie and Poppy. They looked just as surprised to see them there as they were. “Shit, do you think we’re in trouble?” Regulus says, turning to Remus. Sirius is just smiling so big. He raises his hand and waves enthusiastically.

"I am positive" Remus whispered back. But for now, they focused on Sirius, in disbelief to actually be seeing him. Remus took Regulus' hand and sneaked back to the table. 
"They don't know?" Fenrir asked, Crossing his arms in front of his chest and leaning back in his chair. Remus shook his head. Fenrir simply chuckled at that.

“No, they don’t.” Regulus says, still looking at them from afar. 
“We left Sirius there because I don’t feel like getting yelled at today - Great, he’s bring them over here-“
Remus groaned and leaned down, putting his head on Regulus' shoulder. Great. This would be fun...

Regulus was grimacing, but looked at them with a sheepish smile. “Regulus, what are you and Remus doing here?” Minerva asked with barely contained rage. Poppy put her hand on Minerva’s arm. 
“Can you lecture them tomorrow, cariad? Sirius is back.” 
“Fine. But you boys should know how hurt you could have gotten had you been caught at all.” She seethes. Sirius cuts in, "They were obviously smart about it since even you didn’t know they were here.”

"They have done it what, twice now?" Fenrir chuckled 
"Four times, actually" Remus said with a slight smirk. 
"And actually, Minnie, I ordered them here. Moony at least"

"You should have seen how he handled those palace guards yesterday. Never had such a good show" Fenrir continued.
“You handled castle guards?” She asked, worried. “What if they report you back to the king and queen? You’ll be skinned, Remus. Or flayed. Especially if they find our Regulus was with you,”
She turned to Regulus. “Did anyone see you?” 
“No one but these guys, no.” He shakes his head pointing at them with a thumb. 

“That’s a relief then.” She hugs him. “Oh, Poppy and Sirius come here too we need a family reunion.” 
“What about Remus?” Regulus mumbled into her shoulder, being squished on all sides. 
“You can join us too if you’d like, Remus love.” Poppy said

--------

Remus hesitated until he felt a foot nudge him in their direction. 
"Go on" Fenrir gentle said and so Remus did, albeit still hesitant. It felt so weird to him but also not bad. He just had to get used to people wanting to be around him.

Eventually everyone sat down, even Minerva and Poppy joined. Remus put his head on Regulus' shoulder and closed his eyes a bit.
“Are you tired, mon amour?” Regulus asks while leaning his head on Remus’.
He shook his head "Comfy"he mumbled, feeling safe around people for the first time and all that having a weird effect on his brain. 

Distantly, he heard Fenrir chuckle "It gets like that when they find their pack" he explained, clearly to Regulus. Remus didn't even process it anyways. "He feels safe here and he knows he belongs"
Regulus nods. “That’s good to hear.” he moves Remus’ hair to kiss his forehead.

Remus took one of Regulus' hands, intertwining them with a smile. Minerva and Poppy seemed very well aquainted with most of them and over the night, the different personalities were easy to see. 

Xenophilius and Sybill were very dreamy, talking in a mix of weird words and sounds, about things no one understood, living in their own world. 

Laslow was - there was no other way to put it - quite daft, but he had a big heart to make up for the missing mass of his brain. 

Marlene was very well spoken when talking to Fenrir, Scabior, Minerva or Poppy, but she swore like a sailor when talking to Sirius or James, not afraid of putting them in their place. 

Dorcas was naturally beautiful and stoic, her aura alone enough to intimidate. She watched Marlene quietly most of the night.

Scabior was somehow very eloquent and at the same time unhinged in a way you wouldn't notice if you didn't think about it. He hung around the bar or Fenrir a lot, stealing hugs and wrapping his arms around Fenrir's shoulders from behind, having his hands rest of the leader's broad chest. 

And well, there was Fenrir. He was charismatic and somehow had the upper hand without trying. A word of his would be enough to quiet down anyone and even in his conversation with Minerva and Poppy he seemed at least equal to them, it was obvious how they respected him. He was very diplomatic in the way he spoke, the words flowing from his mouth like a melody, each one carefully chosen without feeling forced. He seemed millenia old yet younger than some at the table.

At the end of the night Minnie and Poppy said good night to everyone before getting up to escort the two of the back to the castle. It would be a short night, they knew, but it had been worth it.