Ça fait mal
September, 86
„Where’s that bloody report, Black?!”
„Nice to see you too, Lupin.”
Remus felt how his blood started to boil. There was no other such infuriating person in the whole Ministry, but he has no choice. He swallowed hardly, trying to make a no-harm smile, however it wasn’t really that easy considering the fact that the man sitting in front of him didn’t even deign to look at him.
“It will be ready.” He said massaging his temples.
“You said that yesterday. And the day before. And two days ago as well!”
“Look, I’m busy, okay? And I’m also not fond of you coming every day to my office with that screeching voice of yours full of complaining.”
“Oh, yes, you must have been so busy with fucking every person that step closer to that arse of yours.”
“Are you calling me a whore?” Sirius finally looked at him. For a minute there Remus thought that he looked really wounded but soon he replaced this mimic with that stupid Sirius Black’s grin. “Well, that arse of mine must be something, right? No doubt, everyone wants me.”
Remus just rolled his eyes, annoyed to limit. How one person could be so self-obsessed?
“Report.”
“It. Will. Be. Ready.” Black averted his sight again. “Like I said.”
“I don’t have time! Why do you have to treat your job so shitty?! Honestly I don’t have any idea why people prise you so much. You’re such a dick.”
“Said who. With all respect, I’m not the one who goes to your office to brag how terrible you are.” Sirius said with a hard voice, although he took a quill and started to write on a fresh parchment.
“With all respect, I’m not the one who give you a reason to.”
“It will be done in an hour. Don’t waste any more air in my office and find for yourself something productive to do.” He waved a hand at him with a face of superiority. That was it, Remus’ last fuse has blown.
“Don’t act like my fucking senior, you prick!” He yelled suddenly, ready for a real fight.
“I’m older than you.” Sirius smirked, but after the while of silence his superiority mimic fade.
“You… know when I was born?”
Remus squinted his eyes the same time the grey ones in front of him widened in shock. His anger was slowly disappearing, replaced by the other weird feeling in his stomach.
“Aurors have access to files” He shrugged, trying not to look at the other man.
“You looked at my files?” Remus asked with a little smile curling on his lips. He wouldn’t normally enjoy someone going through his docs but, damn, seeing Sirius-fucking-Black embarrassed was worth it.
“Merlin, I need to know these things about every employee! It is a security measure in case someone crosses over!” He muttered it in one breath, but suddenly Remus’ smile has dropped and his anger returned.
“Oh yes, don’t trust anyone, right?”
Sirius’ eyes were again on him, the second time. Must be their record, cause usually the majestic Black, head of the family, wouldn’t sacrifice himself as much as to look at a mere half-blood. Although he looked really shocked this time, almost frightened. That made Remus frowned deeply.
“All right, I’ll be back in hour then” Remus said after a long while of pure silence.
He walked to the door as Sirius was just staring at him with the same expression looking like some impressionistic statue. But honestly, he always looked like a statue. Like a beautiful god turned to a stone or pushed into human world, most likely.
He exited the office and shuddered.
“What the fuck was that?”
He returned to his desk with laconic ‘I’m back’ directed to an elder woman, Ms Baisley, who was sitting next to him.
“Oh dear, you should tell me he didn’t send his report again, I would-” she smoothed her white hair with a little wink “-take care of that.”
Remus snorted loudly. “I bet, he would be much fonder of you. He hates me.”
“Oh, come on, it can’t be that way.” She made a sad face obviously worried about Remus’ feelings. The boy really appreciate that, although working with someone who is like a granny role model was a bit… weird.
“He hates me and vice versa, so it’s fine.”
“That’s a pity. You two would look so good together.”
He sighted deeply. There wasn’t a day in which he didn’t regret the fact that he came out to this women. It was four months ago when she desperately wanted to get him together with his granddaughter and at the time it was so intense he just spluttered that he’s gay. Oh, how much he regretted it. He should say that he’s taken or not interested, but no. And since then the women had wanted to get him a guy so much, it’s almost annoying. And the worst part is that in most of this situations the object of her conspiracy is no one else than Sirius-the prat- Black.
He gets it of course. What a grandmother wouldn't want the best piece for her boy. And honestly, Sirius Black was the best piece in the whole Ministry or the whole wizarding world. Maybe even in the whole world itself but Remus despise the guy too much to admit anything like that.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, how one person can be this perfect?! Perfect looks, perfect intellect, perfect charisma, perfect even at his job (excluding the raports, of course).
Remus’ expression fell after that hypocritical thought, it wasn’t long ago that he told Sirius he treats his work shitty. But well, he was right. Why every other auror can normally deliver their report but not the mighty Sirius Black.
“Well, he must be busy. Or maybe he really hates you and just wants to get on your nerves.”
Remus jumped on his chair, not knowing from which part he started to think aloud.
“Probably the second.”
“Probably right, considering the fact that he’s one of the best aurors.”
“I know.”
“But he may just have a problem with paperwork”
“He has many problems and I am one of them. Can we not talk about it any more?”
He started to sort reports and notifications trying to ignore the woman’s look.
He actually liked his job, finally feeling like he’s needed for something. Although, yeah, his job wasn’t on high level, he doesn’t fight with evil beings or dark wizards and isn’t paid fortune. He works with people twice his age or older and all day is sorting papers to each of the Beast Division sub-departments, but he’s needed. He works in the Ministry and that’s already something.
***
After two hours Remus heard knocking. He tore off his eyes from a giant pile of sheets and soon they met with Sirius grinning face.
“Ready.” He waved a sheet, he held in his hand, seemed so proud of himself.
“Good job!” Remus clapped sarcastically.
He held out his hand to get the sheet and after quick visual inspection his eyebrows rise.
“Werewolves?”
“Werewolves.”
“It’s third attack in this month.” Remus said nervously, feeling tension in both of them. Was Sirius afraid of werewolves? Hah, that would be hilarious!
“Yes.”
“Do you want anything else?” Remus said after another while of silence. He really doubt that Sirius was this quiet with other people.
“Merlin… I’m not ready for this.” Sirius rubbed his face with his hands and as Remus wanted to tell him not to do it then, he continued. “Come with me to Dumbledore.”
Remus frowned immediately. “I have a lot of work yet.”
“It’s urgent.”
“Go Remus, I can take some of your sheets.” Ms Bisley interjected with kind smile.
“No, I will not burden you because of him.”
“It’s not because of me, you prick. Dumbledore's orders.”
“I am subject to Minister for Magic, not Dumbledore.”
“Are you going willingly or should I take you by force?!”
“Are you threatening me?!” He got up almost toppling a chair and thank to his high could tower over the young auror. Sirius on the other hand wasn’t impressed at all.
“Yes. I very much am threatening you, so get your arse and go with me.”
For a second Remus thought that the man was going to hit him, but he just shuffled his hair and turned around to get out of this basement-office. Lupin bit his bottom lip but followed Sirius only because he was curious about the whole situation.
They stormed through crowded corridors of Ministry without even a glimpse of conversation. Remus focused himself on Sirius’ shining hair so he wouldn’t lost the man in the crowd, or so he told himself.
“We’re here.” Sirius stopped all at once and Remus was one step from crashing him with all his body.
Both of them got to the office which was the most elegant room that Remus had probably seen in his whole life. Behind the giant desk was no one else than Albus Dumbledore with his mysterious smile and cup of tea (to which he was throwing more and more sugar cubes).
“Oh, Mr. Black, Mr. Lupin. It’s good to see both of you.”
Remus raised his eyebrows slightly, not wanting to look all-shocked, but he wouldn’t know that Dumbledore would still remember him. The last and the only time he met him was a year ago when he offered him a job in the Ministry. He thought he was no good to be remembered.
“You finally decided, Mr. Black.”
“I’ve got enough of your shit.” Remus shot at him the most surprised look he would make. Why is he talking to Dumbledore like that?!
“Well, of course.” Dumbledore smiled again, baffling Remus even more. “After Mr. Black agreed to the conditions of this arrangement, I should explain everything to you, Mr. Lupin.” Remus shifted his weigh from foot to foot, not letting his face to show how annoyed he was of the fact that only he doesn’t know what’s going on.
“There’s an Order mission for which it takes both of you-”
“I’m not the member of the Order.” Remus said ignoring Sirius’ piercing gaze.
“No. But it may be a great favour if you help me.” Dumbledore knew exactly what he was doing. While offering Remus a job the only thing he wanted was ‘a little favour’. He wanted to curse but these weren’t the best circumstances. “Anyway, both of you are perfect for this mission. From what we know Death Eaters are gathering in the forests-” that’s reckless, thought Lupin “-protected by allied werewolves.” Oh shit. “That’s why I need your help, Mr. Lupin.”
Remus threw an uncertain glance towards Sirius, checking if he knows anything about his secret, but the man seemed unbothered. He relaxed a little.
“Fenrir’s pack? The attacks are increasing.” He said trying to steady his voice.
“Yes. He needs more werewolves for this, that’s why there aren’t many of death cases lately.”
“What exactly would I be useful for?”
Dumbledore stared at him for a while then turned to Sirius.
“Mr. Black, can you leave us alone for a moment?”
“What?! That’s absurd!”
“Mr. Black-”
“I’m not going to let you mess this again-”
“Mr. Black!” When Dumbledore yelled everything seemed to get quiet. “You promised something.”
Sirius gritted his teeth, glanced at Remus for the last time, nodded and leave quickly.
“What I want from you, Mr. Lupin, is getting directly to Greyback.” Remus froze. “Any information of his weakness, his plans, his strategy of protecting the Death Eaters, maybe even convincing his pack to get on our side. Anything, would be helpful.”
“You think he will let me?”
“He’s your creator, Remus. And, from what I know, for your kind it’s common that the creator treats he’s… works more special than anyone else.”
Kind? Remus frowned at the pathetic word.
“So, I’m needed to get through protection and Black is for exact confrontation with Death Eaters?”
“More or less. Of course there will be other aurors ready in case of any… misfortune. However, the less people there, the less we’ll be exposed.”
He hesitated, wanted to say no, but it looked like he didn’t really have any choice after all. And even worst than Sirius Black presence in this plan was presence of Greyback. Remus didn’t really want to think what would he do if he’ll ever meet his ‘creator’ but the thought itself sparked a wave of anger in him.
“Of course, completed mission will not go without a price. I will make sure that the Ministry give you appropriate promotion and satisfactory working conditions.”
Remus felt how his eyes sparkled at this announcement. With his… little problem it has been hard to find any job but the thought of promotion wasn’t even close to crossing his mind.
“But does it have to be him?” He pointed at the door.
“Unfortunately or maybe more fortunately for you, yes.”
Remus clenched his fists. “All right. I can’t promise the victory, tho.”
“As expected. I will send you both an owl with more instructions and for now-” he looked at the boy from his half-moon shaped glasses “-good luck.”
Without anything more to say Remus left the office. Sirius was still there, leaning at the wall in his black auror uniform looking all dangerous. Remus felt as his throat tightened.
“Can’t believe you agreed” raven haired snapped in his direction. “Especially when it comes to our partnership.”
“I’m more surprised you agreed to cooperate with a half-blood like me” he snapped back.
“You-” Sirius got all furious at once and then calm with the same fierceness. “Yeah… can’t believe I’m going on a mission with someone so stupid. Poor me.”
“Whatever” said Lupin passing the other boy.
“Whatever.”