Remus knew the moment he felt a chill run down his spine, from that point his heart beat a second faster and his senses heightened.
Remus was always able to sense danger the moment before it happened. You could say it might be one of the many side effects that came with his furry little problem or maybe it was just because all his life he was particularly good at noticing the little details. Like when his mother started getting distant and forgetful when he visited. He felt as though she was slipping away, almost like he could see the life leaving her eyes. He made sure to visit as often as his schedule could allow when he started noticing her emptiness. He took his time with her and spent every fleeting moment making sure she was comfortable and happy. That ended up being the last few weeks of her life. Remus was grateful that his soul could sense her final days because he was able to let her go with a proper goodbye, even though it still broke him the moment her lungs stopped breathing and her heart stood still. He felt he could sleep a little easier knowing that he did what he could in her final last moments but he still hoped that the grass was greener on the other side.
Even when he woke up staring at the worn ceiling of the shack, the faint metallic taste of blood on his tongue that awful day back in fifth year. He knew. Something had happened that night and he had a little bit of time to prepare himself before Madam Pomfrey stepped in, her eyes pitiful and apologetic.
So now in the present day of 1978, a year after the Marauders graduation and a year into missions upon missions assigned to them from The Order, every one chipping away at their childhood, Remus knew something was wrong the second the hairs on the back of his head stood up.
The whole Order of the Phoenix was scattered about a small muggle plaza, ‘hiding in plain sight’ as Moody had suggested. “They won't see us coming if we’re already in front of them.”
They were all disguised as normal locals going about their usual Saturday morning in peace.
Lily and James were by a flower shop, posed as a couple browsing the flower selection, Lily was in a green patterned sundress, her hair pinned at the back in a half up half down look. James was wearing a red t-shirt matched with a pair of dark jeans.
Marlene, Dorcas and Mary were sat at a cafe posing as some friends having a catch up over a spread of brunch, their faces plastered with fake smiles and gilded laughter.
Alice and Frank were positioned leaning against a shop window sharing a friendly conversation.
Alastor Moody was marching up and down the plaza pretending to be a guard keeping his eye out for trouble.
The rest of The Order were scattered less distinctly in the scene.
Remus and Sirius were positioned on a bench under a tree which grew in the centre of the main walkway. A book perched in Remus’ hand as he sat with his arm around Sirius’ shoulders. Sirius, who was sitting sideways on the bench leaning against Remus, had his feet up on the seat. He had a notepad in his hand and he was mindlessly sketching away with a charcoal pencil.
Remus liked to think that in some universe, this was just a normal Saturday morning and the two of them were happy and content sitting at that bench resting after a morning walk. In another universe there was no war, and they had years of youth ahead of them rather than having to rush their maturity and grow up with the fear that they could be digging their own graves at any moment.
“Somethings not right.” said Remus, breaking the serene silence.
“What was that Moons?” Sirius replied, looking up from his sketch which had started to resemble a dragon.
Remus’ eyes scanned the area trying to take in every detail in his rush to find the source of his intuition. His breath hitched, there was a hooded figure walking towards them from ahead. He looked behind them and there was an identical figure also heading their way. With a quick glance from left to right he confirmed his suspicions. They were being surrounded.
“It's a trap,” Remus said under his breath. He turned quickly, “MOODY IT’S A TRAP!”
The older man was only just able to process those words before spells were fired.
Hexes were being thrown from every angle, the number of Death Eaters multiplying.
This wasn't a raid, it was an ambush.
The scene unfolded into absolute chaos. Spells thrown from both sides, each of the groups trying to defend each other from stray spells and curses.
Suddenly there was a dark smoke like light, pooling into the centre of the fighting, revealing another hooded figure. This one was different from the rest. They held themselves with more defiance. Their shoulders were high and their back was straight. Their head slowly tilted upwards and their hood fell, revealing themselves; Tom Riddle.
He waved a hand and the fighting halted.
Heads turned towards him and eyes widened. There was a collective shock on everyone's faces. This was something they hadn't expected, they had never imagined to see him in person.
So this was it. The man himself.
Remus caught sight of Sirius next to him and instinctively stepped in front of him.
The Order as well as some Death Eaters are silenced momentarily as they try to rack their brains over what was happening. Riddle had never shown his face out in the open like this.
“Look at you,” Tom’s eery voice whistles its way into their ears, it leaves an unpleasant feeling in their bones. “Falling into my little scheme.”
The Death Eaters made their way into the centre and stood around him listening intently for his next instruction.
“The Order of the Phoenix,” he teased, his voice whirling into a kid-like mock.
A scared whimper was heard from Remus’ left and Emmaline Vance was struck with a curse by one of the Death Eaters, silencing her.
“BLACK!” yelled Tom looking her way.
“I'm sorry my lord, she wouldn't stop whining.”
Remus felt Sirius stiffen behind him at the sound of a name so familiar, a name that has tied him with a family of purebloods who had abused him and left him unloved and unwanted. The only thing still keeping him tied to that toxic family was his last name, which he felt he heard way too often.
“Bella,” Remus heard him say, his whisper so faint he almost missed it.
Oh god, thought Remus, please let Regulus not be here.
Sirius often tried to ignore anything related to his family, but the one thing he always let get to him was Regulus, his little brother. He felt a strong protectiveness over Regulus, that he had held with himself his whole life. He would take any blow or curse coming Regulus’ way just so that he never has to see him hurt. It had always been that way between the two of them. Sirius would stay strong to keep Regulus safe, for no matter how far life breaks them apart, he will always be his little brother. Even after knowing Regulus had been forced to take the mark, he still felt this same older brother responsibility for the boy. The first time they had seen Regulus on a mission it had taken a toll on sirius. He inevitably knew it would happen eventually but seeing him in person on the wrong side of the war just made it all too real.
His brother was slipping through his fingers with every passing day.
“You all think you're ‘noble’, you think you're ‘brave’ but The Order will fall, and I'll kill every last one of you.” Tom said with a snarl.
“Not if we kill you first,” spoke Sirius, Remus’ heart sank.
Sirius had always had a mouth on him, it was one of the qualities that Remus loved most about him. That no matter what he always had something to say, he shared his opinions with a boyish confidence and was able to stick up for himself. When he got really excited he could talk for hours about his latest obsessions or things he learnt. Most of the time you could never get him to shut up and Remus loved him for it, but Merlin, Remus wished he hadn't said anything.
Sirius stepped out from behind Remus and Tom's snake-like eyes found him.
“You filthy blood traitor!” screeched Bellatrix.
“Now, now, Bellatrix, let the boy speak.”
Sirius glared at Riddle with a death defying look of disgust.
“You're all poor excuses of villains, the lot of you.”
“Is that so?” Tom says, stepping forward. With a flick of his wand he yells “Crucio!”
It hit Sirius on the shoulder and he staggered backwards. He winced but he tried to keep a straight face. Trying with his entire being to not show any weakness even though it felt as if his insides were being shifted.
Lily gasped and everyone around watched in dismay, too frightened to say anything with the underlying fear that they too would get cursed.
“No!” said Remus, and pulled Sirius towards him. He glanced down at Sirius and felt his heart grow heavy, his face was scrunched in pain and his eyes grew watery. Remus pulled him into his chest in hopes of protecting him.
“Stop it.” Remus said to Riddle.
Sirius let out a breath and it seemed as though the curse had been dropped.
“Isn't this touching.” said Tom, catching Remus’ eye.
“You might just be the first one I kill, or maybe I won't have to.”
He waved his wand and muttered something under his breath.
It hit Sirius in the back and he stood up straight, going rigid.
Nobody noticed but Remus saw his eyes glass over as he turned and started walking towards Tom.
They all watched in shock and mild confusion, as Sirius then turned back and stared at Remus.
Something wasn't right.
With another flick of his wand, Sirius started slowly inching towards Remus, with his wand poised and pointed at him.
He shot a curse and Remus deflected it.
“Pads?” said Remus unsure.
“Expelliarmus!” said Sirius and Remus’ wand flew to the side. He saw Mary quickly catch it out of the corner of his eye and saw her tuck it safely into her coat.
“Watch out Remus, he's under the imperius curse!” shouted James.
“Quiet!” replied a Death Eater.
Sirius got closer and Remus took a breath. He had no other options.
“Sirius,” he said, holding eye contact. “Sirius, it's me. It's me, Remus.”
Sirius’ face faltered for a brief moment.
“It's Moony, your Moony. Come back to me.”
Sirius reached an arms length away from Remus and he saw his eyes change, they were pleading. His face was twitching, he was trying to fight it.
“Come on darling, come back.”
Tom chuckled, “lets watch your little boyfriends kill you himself.” He flicked his wand and Sirius lifted his arm and pointed it at Remus. He stepped forward and dug his wand into Remus’ chin.
“Av- '' Sirius' arm was trembling, he fought the curse with all his might, with all the strength his body and mind could muster from under the haze of the curse.
“Ava- Av”
Remus took Sirius’ hand and aimed his wand at his own heart.
He heard gasps from around him, but he stayed focused. Lily had grabbed James arms who had pulled her closer. She almost wanted to tuck her head into his chest but she couldn't look away. Her body was racked with the fear of losing her best friend, her mind filled with even more fear at the thought of him being killed at the hands of the love of his life.
Marlene gripped Dorcas’ hand tightly as they watched two of their friends struggle through the curse. She was in disbelief at the whole situation. She never would have thought one of her friends would be tortured in such an unusual fashion.
“Avada-” Sirius’ whole body shook now as he fought himself.
“I trust you” Remus said, keeping the wand aimed steadily at his heart.
“DO YOU HEAR ME SIRIUS!” he said, tears had filled both of their eyes as they continued their intense eye contact. Remus searched every corner of Sirius’ face for just the tiniest sign of his regular self. “I TRUST YOU!”
His voice was high and their foreheads slowly met in the middle.
“Come back to me Sirius, I love you!” His voice was trembling but he was still able to keep his words loud and clear.
Sirius’ eyes were flashing in and out, his true self almost taking over.
“Just fight it darling! I know you can do it!” He was trembling now too. “You’re so strong my love, so strong, I love you so much!” said Remus in his last attempt.
Sirius’ eyes finally focused and he let out a yell before abruptly turning and throwing his wand. James caught it mid air and tucked it into jeans.
Sirius then threw his arms around Remus who staggered backwards at the force.
“I'm sorry,” he said through sobs. “I'm so sorry.”
“Hey, don't you apologise for one second, it's okay, that was out of your control.” he replied.
Riddle looked as though he was one spell away from killing them all and they didn't want to stick around to find out.
“EVERYONE GO!” boomed Madeyes voice over the commotion and they all started to disapparate.
Remus took Sirius’ hand in his and let the swirl of disaperation encompass them both into safety.
Sirius and Remus landed in the living room of the Orders headquarters as well as many of the others.
“Sirius, are you alright mate?” asked James as soon as he appeared, Lily was wrapped tightly under his arm.
James pulled Sirius into a hug, “we lost you there for a sec.”
“Yeah, I’m fine, my heads a bit foggy but I’m alright.”
Lily took Remus into her arms and tucked her head into the wool of his jumper.
“I was so scared,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“I know, me too, but we’re all okay, that's the main thing.” Remus replied, wrapping his arms around her.
After everyone had had a moment to breathe after the tense morning they had just had, Remus and Sirius found themselves back in the safety and homely embrace of their flat. They sat on their couch, Sirius tucked into Remus’ side.
Remus felt a wet drop on his sweater and took Sirius’ face into his hands. He saw that Sirius was silently letting tears run down his cheeks.
“What's wrong, love?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“I could have killed you,” said Sirius, it came out watery.
“No, you wouldn't have, because you are the strongest person I know, and you fought the curse and I am so incredibly proud of you.” he brought Sirius’ face in for a tender kiss. They both savoured the moment, they were still worried that this love could get taken away from them during these difficult times.
“I don't deserve you, you’re too kind to me.” said Sirius as he pulled away.
“You deserve the absolute world darling, and I never want you to think otherwise. You have the most beautiful soul I’ve ever seen. You’re perfect inside and out, no matter how many curses you're under and no matter how many times you try to kill me, I will always love you with my whole existence.”
Sirius smiled, “I love you too my Moony.”
They sit in their flat, heads pressed together and soak in each other's presence. They don't know what the future holds for them, or what they will have to endure within the next few years of their lives. The grief that will overtake them is far from their reach and for now they are happy because they have each other, and that is all they ever needed.