Summer of 1981
“I’m okay. Quit shaking me, Sirius, I’m okay.”
He stopped instantly. “I’m sorry.”
He wasn’t really. Sirius isn’t ever sorry for anything he does. It seems funny to me that he should look just exactly like his father and act exactly the opposite from him. But they only looked alike— Sirius Black is as different from his father as he can be. Where Orion is cold and hard, Sirius is bright and wears his heart on his sleeve, they couldn’t be more dissimilar, where it really matters.
Sirius is five-foot-ten, slender, and practically a Greek god. He has dark black hair that comes down just past his shoulders— long, silky, and straight, but it’s halfway pulled up now, a bun held together by his wand. He’s got these eyes that are like two pieces of pale blue-green ice. They’ve got a determined set to them, just like the rest of him. Something about the way he looks at Remus makes his heart flutter.
Sirius jammed his fists in his pockets. “You didn’t get hurt too bad, did you?”
I did. I was smarting and aching and my hip was sore and I was so tired I was shaking, but you didn’t just say that to Sirius.
“I’m okay.”
James stepped closer, by then I had found where Peter was. He was still in his animagus form, sitting on James’ shoulder. He dropped down beside me, eyeing me carefully. “You got cut up a little, eh Moony?”
I looked up at him. “Oh did I? Didn’t notice.”
I gave him a sly grin, and he patted my back, lighter than he normally would.
James is probably more handsome than anyone else I know. Not like Sirius— James is the movie-star kind of handsome. The kind that people stop on the street to watch go by. He’s not as tall as Sirius, but he’s broader around the shoulders. He has a finely drawn, sensitive face that somehow manages to be reckless and thoughtful at the same time. He’s got deep brunette hair that kicks out in front and a slight cowlick in the back, in the summer sun it looks dark gold. His eyes are warm brown— lively, dancing, recklessly laughing eyes that can be gentle and sympathetic one moment and blazing with excitement the next. He has his dad’s eyes, but James is one of a kind. He can get drunk in a quidditch match or dancing without ever getting near alcohol. He gets drunk on just plain living. And he seems to understand everybody.
James looks at me more closely, and I look away hurriedly. I knew I was as white as I felt, and I was shaking like a leaf. James just puts his hand on my shoulder. “Easy, Rem. They can’t hurt you anymore.”
“I know.” I nodded, thankful that I was finally back.
Now, I should probably explain. It all started when good old Dumbledore sent me a letter, saying I needed to meet with him immediately, and he arranged to come over at tea time. I know what you’re thinking, who the hell invites themselves into someone else’s house? And the answer is nobody but Dumbledore.
During the meeting Dumbledore told me all about his plan to send me to spy on Fenrir Greyback and his pack. Greyback, being the reason I am what I am, basically the person (if you can call him that) that should’ve ruined my life. So I jumped at the chance to meet the bastard.
Obviously, I can’t just walk up to the pack and sign up. There’s apparently this rule where you have to spend three full moons with the pack before you can join. And let me go ahead and tell you, they’re three of the top five weirdest nights of my life. (The other two have to do with a very elaborate prank, and somehow a possessed couch, but that’s unimportant as of right now.)
After all the initiation shit, I finally met the bloke. Not much to look at, I’ll tell you that. I eventually had to cut the mission short, after one of the werewolves attacked me, but we don’t have to get into that. Which leaves us where we left off.
* * *
Fall, October 24th, 1981
“You’re crazy, Prongs. You’re out of your mind.” Sirius looked at us as if he’d like to knock our heads together. “You’re both nuts.”
James merely cocked one eyebrow, then cracked a grin. I had to smile at him, James is the kind of person that just seeing him smile makes you want to smile too. Peter laughed, a little late but he liked in be included, so the others did too.
Peter Pettigrew was twenty-one, short and round, with thick mousy hair in complicated curls. He was sneaky, smarter than he let on, and James’ childhood friend. He and James had grown up in the same town, and have been friends all their lives. Whether this is because James feels bad for him, or because he actually enjoys his company, I’ll never know. At first I only liked Pete because he was James’ friend, I’ve always thought he was a tag-along and slightly annoy, but he grows on you. He had hazel eyes and an uneven grin, and was always following James around. He likes herbology, food, and for some unfathomable reason, watching quidditch.
I tried to think of something to say, but I draw to a blank. Luckily, James began talking instead.
“Speaking of, I told Lily we’d set aside a time to take Harry to Diagon Alley.”
“Finally gonna let me buy him a broom then?” Sirius looked over at James from the couch where he was lounging.
“Yeah, we figured a year old’s as good a time as any to start training him.” James’ face broke into a grin, so wide I feared his face would split in two.
“Brilliant.” Sirius returned the grin, which only made James’ smile widen. I looked around at the boys, now men, that I’ve become so attached to.
“Yeah, s’pose so.” That was all he had to say. Everyone could feel the happiness in the air.
Eventually, a silver, wispy phoenix burst into the room. Dumbledore’s booming voice blasted out of it, “ATTACK ON DIAGON ALLEY. RUMOR OF A SIGHTING OF THE DARK LORD.”
The four of them exchanged glances before running outside to apparate in the alley behind Remus and Sirius’ shared flat.
As soon as my feet hit the ground I smelled the magic coursing through the air, the strong smell of blood and an unmistakable whiff of other werewolves.
I felt a twinge of pain looking at all the faces I recognized from Hogwarts.
On one side, there were the familiar faces of the Slytherins, all around my age. On the other, all of my friends. Barty Crouch Jr. was standing next to Evan Rosier, wand at the ready. I spotted Bellatrix Lestrange, Sirius’ cousin, cursing Alice Longbottom, Alice just barely dodged it. Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy were standing back to back, dueling with Frank and Marlene. Lily had just been knocked back into the rubble of Flourish & Blotts, and James had rushed over to her.
I’ll spare you all the gory details and nasty bits, and just skip to the good part.
I let out a gasp of surprise as none other than Regulus Black, previously presumed dead, steps out of the smoke. Sirius looked confused as he followed my gaze, then when his eyes land on his brother, a look of pain shadows his face.
Rosier and Crouch turn to look at him, and I swear I saw Rosier smile. However, I’m distracted by Garrick Mulciber, who has just attempted to disarm Sirius, but failed. The three of us begin dueling fiercely.
An anguished screams shatters the atmosphere, I whirl around immediately, just in time to watch the scene unfold.
Regulus Black is pointing his wand at Voldemort, a bolt of bluish green light emitting from it. I blink for a moment and almost miss it.
The Dark Lord has turned into a swirl of ashes, now resting in a pile where he was standing only mere seconds ago.
I hear cheering, and shift my gaze to see Evan and Barty with their arms raised, running over to their old friend. As I look around, half the faces seem confused, a few happy or relieved.
Then I see the horrified faces of Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Narcissa, Lucius, Mulciber, and the rest of Voldemorts army, and I realize we’ve won. We actually won.
It all happened so fast I almost missed it.
Narcissa and Lucius apparate away, hand in hand. Frank Longbottom cast a body binding spell on Bellatrix, and Alice confunded Mulciber. Marlene McKinnon, Mary MacDonald, Dorcas Meadows, Lily and James, Peter, and a few others hex and capture as many Death Eaters as they can.
All I can think about is finding Sirius, we must have been separated during all the chaos. I began wandering around, then I catch sight of him.
He’s with Regulus. Sirius is hugging the younger boy so hard I begin to wonder how he’s breathing.
When they break apart I yell after Sirius, and we both broke into a run. I embrace him immediately, glad to have him in my arms again. He pulls back and kisses me, hard at first but it softens.
He eventually pulls away whispering to me,
“We won, Moony. We did it.”
I pull him closer, my face in is hair, and I mumble back, “I know, love. I know”
* * *
September 1st, 1991
“You know I’ll miss you, right?” Harry says, looking up at me and Sirius.
“I know, Ree. Promise you’ll write to me?” Sirius was grinning, but there was a trace of sadness in his eyes.
“Yeah, you know I will, Padfoot.” Harry smiled, looking exactly like James, his green eyes glistening.
Harry looked at me, made eye contact for a few moments, then pulled me into a hug. I hugged him back, and felt Sirius’ arms wrap around us both.
I pulled away first, “Off you go Harry, wouldn’t want to be late for your first day.” I give him a warm smile. “I’ll see you there, lad.”
And with that, Harry turned back to his parents, who were waiting by the door. All three of them waved, then stepped outside to apparate.
Sirius turned to me, and gave me a quick peck. “You should be off too, darling. Send Minnie and Poppy my love.”
He started to walk off, but I pulled him back, kissing him softly for a few minutes. This time Sirius was first to pull away, grinning. “You really do have to leave now, Moony.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” But still, I stand there a few moments longer, studying his features as if I’ll never see him again. Until finally, I step back, and say goodbye.
* * *
It’s been a decade since the war was won, and Voldemort was defeated. Yet it still feels so surreal. I can’t believe there was a time I thought I would never be happy again.
I ponder this a bit longer as I board the train, settling into a compartment. I grin as the memories of my years at Hogwarts come flooding back.
Harry walks in just then, a red headed, freckled boy to his right, and a bushy haired brunette to his left. “Moony! I didn’t know professors rode the train.”
“I’m not sure normal ones do, but never mind that now. Introduce me to your friends?”
Harry nodded, “Guys, this is my Uncle Moony, er.. Professor Lupin.” He motioned to the boy. “Moony, this is Ron Weasley.”
The young girl piped up. “I’m Hermione Granger, nice to meet you.”