Chapter 1
If you had told the Remus Lupin a week ago that he'd be adopting a 7-year-old today, he wouldn't have believed you.
Granted, it was a nice dream, and he'd always wanted a family. Me and Sirius with a kid, living next door to Lily and James, one big happy family. But this wasn't a dream, and now the Potter's were gone, their little boy sitting next to me.
Remus tried not to stare at him, but it was impossible. A spiting image of James, eyes tearing up on exhaustion and fear. And his eyes! Brilliant green like Lily's, another ill reminder of his best friends.
Don't think about them he chided himself, looking at their boy.
Harry, the name linked to a story Lily had liked as a child.
“Naming after a book lily?!" Sirius had cackled, ducking as she throw a dish towel at him. “He'll be a mini moony in no time!”
Now the memory stung like a slap.
How could they be dead? How could Sirius have betrayed them? And how was he here now?
Remus eyed him to, the man he'd called his best friend, his boyfriend in disgust.
He looked awful, cheeks sunken, way to thin , his once bright eyes-no stop it.
The werewolf coughed and raise his wand, mouth dry."Come to finish the job" Remus sneered, will his voice not to shake.
Sirius looked wounded, any light remaining slowly draining away. "It wasn't me Remus! I wasn't-I couldn't have-"
"Save it" Remus cut over him, expression stony.
"I didn't kill them, merlin how could you think-"
"You betrayed them! Sold them out to your dark lord and killed them!"remus roared, anger boiling over.
Harry jumped, eyes welling up with tears. Sirius quickly put an arm on his shoulder, thumb rubbing it comfortingly. Remus growled at the action, staring daggers at the animagus.
"It was Peter." He said it so stoically, like a curse.
Remus paused, no, it's a trick, he's trying to trick you, He desperately reminded himself.Remus shook his head weakly.
"I convinced James to switch it, last minute" Sirius continued, eyes never leaving the werewolf. "Thought I was so clever! ‘They'll never suspect Peter!’ I said!” The dishonored black spat, running a hand through his matted hair.
"Peter Pettigrew is dead, you killed him in a street filled with muggles" Remus said coldly.
Poor Peter, the sweet boy he'd taken under his wing all those years ago. Murdered in cold blood, just like James and Lily.
"He's not dead, at least I don't think he is. Dirty rats like him always manage to survive" Sirius's fists were clenched.
"All they found...all they found was a finger, explain that!" Remus countered.
Stop playing into this nonsense! Call Dumbledore!
"Cut of 'is own fucking finger! Transformed and disappeared!" Sirius cried, pulling at his hair in earnest now.
“Lier! You killed them, kidnapped Harry!"
" I didn't kidnap him, he came willingly. Fucking Petunia took him in"
Harry shrank back a bit at the mention of her name, eyes down cast. He hadn't said a word this entire time. Had Sirius drugged him?
The escapees must have read Remus's mind, because he looked down at the messy-haired boy as well. "He's in shock, they've been treating him less the human"
Call Dumbledore! Get Harry out of here! What are you waiting for?!
But Remus knew. Knew from the moment he saw the black haired man.
You’re still in love with him, even after all these years. Pathetic hissed the little voice in the back of his mind.
"why did you take him? To kill him in front of me?How sick are you?"
Sirius visibly recoiled at that, eyes wide." I would never hurt him, ever." He growled, his hand on Harry's shoulder tightening.
"Yes, but you would turn traitor and betray your best friends " Remus scoffed sarcastically.
"They never marked me, I was never one of them." Sirius rambled, shoving up his left sleeve in anguish. The arm was blank.
"Guess they can't brand their prized spies can they? It'd give them away." Remus mused darkly.
Sirius looked pleading now, his gaze flip flopping between Remus and Harry.
"Remus, look at me." His voice was gentle, the same tone he would use after a particularly rough moon.
“I could never betray James, I love him like a brother, Lily's the sister I never had, I'm the godfather of their son." His eyes were filled with tears.
It took all of Remus self control to stay perfectly still, as if any movement might break him.
"It was Peter, Remus. I swear on Euphemia's grave I didn't kill them."
Merlin.
Sirius had loved that women like a mother, James's parents had welcomed them into their home after he ran away. Given him the home and love he had been denied.He'd never use her name in vain.
“Which finger?"