Chapter 2
Remus doesn’t want to move, but the sun is getting higher in the sky and as the light creeps across the land their chances of getting anywhere safely diminish. Sirius might not be sleeping but his eyes are closed and he almost looks peaceful. The lines on his face are softer and the five o’clock shadow is not as harsh in the natural lighting. He looks more his age, almost 22 shouldn't look so old on him but the war has aged them all. New scars cover both of them, most in the form of burn like marks from spells. Remus has more, spending several moons with the wolf pack did a number on his body and mind no matter how far apart they were spent.
After a few more moments of watching his boyfriend sleep he does decide they have to at least figure out what they're going to do. He places a soft kiss on Sirius forehead and that is enough to stir him from his rest. “What are we going to do?” Remus doesn’t mean to blurt it out, but it’s all he can say. The thought of staying in this building makes Remus want to pull his hair out and scream.
“Headquarters?” Sirius’s face is still tear stained and his dark curls have been plastered to his cheeks. “I think it’s our best shot at finding out what’s happened.”
“You’re right,” Remus knew that was their best shot but he had hoped it wasn’t. To be hopeful this would be easy was foolish of him. But he knew that too.
They have no things to gather besides the wand Sirius dropped hours before, but it still takes them a while to even begin to be ready to leave. Sirius busies himself with inspecting the doorway that the four of them had carved their initials into their fifth year. He smiles softly to himself remembering the time he and James had come here just the two of them to smoke some weed and talk about their romantic interests and the shit at home. They didn’t do it often, mainly because it was so far from Hogwarts main grounds but also because 98% of the time they stepped foot into this building they had to watch their best friend and his boyfriend rip himself apart and become a creature with no thoughts besides hunt. It’s hard to think of those times as good times, but he wouldn’t trade them, they kept Remus safe.
Remus just stares out the window listening to the village below them come to life, he hopes today will be better. No matter what happens it won’t undo the previous night's tragedy but at least it could prevent another today. As he’s listening he hears the sounds of cheering and then sees an old man running down the street in his bathrobe screaming about the dark lord. Remus can’t quite make out what he’s saying but for a moment he has real hope that something good may have come out of the horribleness that was last night.
“Sirius, do you hear that?” Sirius jerks his head up at his name but looks at Remus blankly.
“Hear what?” Remus smiles as he catches what exactly they are saying outside. A loud unmistakeable shout of ‘we are free’ comes through the window. The wolf in him picks up the chatter of the people passing by as well.
“People have come out of the imperius curse,” Sirius’s eyes widen and a smile threatens to form on his face. “Do we dare hope?” Hope that Voldemort is dead. Hope that the war is over. Hope that they could begin to actually heal not just tape and glue themselves back together enough to continue the fight.
Sirius rushes forward towards Remus. He backs away from the window to let Sirius see out as well but is pushed into the frame instead. Sirius’s hands are in his hair and they are kissing. A long drawn out kiss that leaves them both breathless. Sirius steps away with a small but brilliant smile. “C’mon Moony,” he holds his hand out to Remus. “ Let’s get going.”
With his head still spinning wildly he takes the hand being offered, there's the familiar feeling that tugs at his core as he side-along aparates with Sirius.
They land moments later in a back alley several blocks from Grimmauld Place, the walk is worth it to see the handful of wizards and witches running through the streets with wide smiles and joy in their movements for the first time in years. They hold hands as they rush through the streets themselves, eager to get to The Order, to know for sure if it’s really over.
By the time they burst through the doors of Grimmauld Place they are the last to arrive, voices coming from the kitchen tell them there are at least two others in the house. Molly and Arthur are standing in the parlor room holding a mass of blankets and have clearly been crying. Brief worry runs through Remus’s mind at the sight of his friends in tears.
“Is it true?” Sirius is the first to speak, always the one with impulse control issues. Molly looks up at him and her face goes white as a ghost. Arthur raises his wand and shouts at them.
“DO NOT MOVE!” Sirius who had already been walking towards them falters then steps back raising his hands, confusion written all over his face. Remus doesn’t move to even raise his hands frozen to the spot by only the look of fury from Arthur. Alastor Moody comes around the corner at the sounds of Arthur’s yelling. Followed by Snape and Dumbledore. Severus fights a smile at the sight of them held at wand point. The others are unreadable as always.
“What’s going o-” Remus is interrupted by Sirius shouting.
“WHAT IS THAT TRAITOR DOING HERE?!” He points his finger at Severus with rage. It’s a burning feeling that starts in his chest and floods his body. How dare the man that got his best friends killed stand in front of him with that look of pure glee.
“I could say the same to you mutt.” Severus smirks as he says it, cruel and full of malice. “Or you beast.” The last part is directed at Remus. Sirius sees red and begins to lunge at him until he remembers the wand pointed at his chest.
“Arthur.” Dumbledore’s voice leaves no room for questions. “Lower your wand.”
“Not until we know for sure.” Arthur doesn’t move except to pull Molly and the bundle behind him further.
“Know what!” Remus is angry now, not at Arthur but certainly at everything going on. Couldn’t they catch a break. First losing James and Lilly and now, their friends- people they've called family for years- clearly think they are the ones that went back on it all. After everything Remus has done for them, for everyone. The months of time he spent undercover with the wolves. No contact with anyone to keep him sane. Just monsters surrounding him as he became one too. Falling into his roll far too easily recently, and with the moon so close he felt the wolf inside stir as more time passed without answer. He doesn’t mean to but a growl slips out as he demands again to be given answers. Everyone in the room takes a step back from him. Everyone but Sirius.