Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003511265

Chapter 2: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003514336

Chapter 3: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003520568

Chapter 4: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003526224

Chapter 5: https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003532106

Tags: @MeowTasticCat @IMPERIAL TRANSMISSIONS @HxnyFlxwers @HRRYPTTERFN234 @Brystal Granger @Widelymisunderstood @Stxrryskiesxx @TsundereGrl @William Perks @Madiblox @Girlyball @RoséChaeRosé @LiviaBlackthorn.47 @LePotateofOh @V from bts

(Yes when I don't have names I often write a characteristic of the character I am trying create and put it in google translate, translate it to latin and see if it sounds Harry Potterish. I did this with Canini in the first book, but she had double meaning as she is of Italian decent and I thought it fitting to give her a name from the oldest language in that region.)

Warning: This is a long one and it is filled with angst, you have been warned.

Chapter 6: The Six Weeks of Tragedy

Over the next week there was very little change in Remus and Sirius’ relationship then before Christmas night. They still had the same routine, they worked, they played with Harry and taught him skills, and cooked and ate supper together, the only difference was now they also started doing newly couple things. They talked about how they felt for one another, they started holding hands when next to one another, and now kissed on occasion however it was still new so the more physical stuff was currently at a minimum.

January fourth Remus came home to a distraught and nervous Sirius, who was clearly waiting for him. Remus puts his work briefcase down.

‘What’s wrong, what has happened?’

‘I don’t want you to worry, but I have been fired.’

‘What, what happened. Why would they fire you?’

‘They told me it was due to lack of sales, but I think had to due with my darkened mood for the first couple months I was working. I never said anything impolite or sarcastic, but I hardly ever smiled or looked happy either and I think that made customers uncomfortable.’

‘That’s hardly fair though, you should go and explain to them that you are better now and need to be able to support Harry. I can afford our food and rent, but not the nanny and part of the custody agreement was you having a job.’

‘Remus, I think it’s ok, I told you not to worry because back in November I applied to several stores and I was accepted to a few. I chose to work at the broom shop, but I talked with Flourish and Blotts Bookseller and they said there offer still stands and that after some training I can start in a couple days. See, it’s going to be ok, that and Flourish pays its employees well, in a few years we could afford a house, maybe even a nice vacation every so often.’

‘A vacation does sound nice, ok, then tonight we should celebrate your new job. After supper me, you, and Harry are going out for ice cream.’

Remus kisses Sirius on the cheek, blushing Sirius replied, ‘Can’t wait.’

The night before his new job Sirius had a hard time sleeping so he barely managed to keep his eyes open the whole day, but he was wide awake when he opened there flats door.

‘Bloody "religious location"! What happened?’

There was stuff thrown everywhere, the smaller furniture was all broken, and he could hear sobbing. He carefully walked to Remus’ room and found the man in emotional agony.

‘What the bloody "religious location" is going on Remus, what have you done to our flat?’

‘He’s dead, she killed him!’

‘What do you mean he’s dead, your father?’

‘No it’s not my father, if you paid attention at all these past few months you’d know we aren’t on speaking terms. No, it’s the man who saved me and my parents life, the man who’s the bloody reason I’m not a registered werewolf, the man who’s made it possible for me to be an auror in the first place. Vincent MacBones has been murdered and it is my fault!’

After learning Remus got Sarah to babysit Harry away from the flat, Sirius have Remus the time to calm down and after a quick mending the two men where sitting at the dinner table. Sirius did not wish to upset his new romantic partner but they had to talk.

‘Do you want to tell me what happened?’

‘Yesterday, while I was locked up here, Vincent went out on a field mission. He hardly does anymore because of how old he is, but I was out so I guess they were down a man. They managed to find the whereabouts of one of You-Know-Who’s deadliest followers, Ronna Trooner. They caught her, but not before Trooner cast the killing curse at Vincent. If I had only been there he might be dead.’

‘But it sounds like if you had you would have taken his place, Remus you are alive because of him.’

‘But he shouldn’t have died, he shouldn’t have even been on the force, he’s only an auror because of me.’

‘What are you talking about, he’s been an auror for decades. You mentioned that he saved your life and is the reason you are employed, what was that about?’

‘That night, when I was four, it was him who came to my family’s rescue and forced Greyback away. He knew I was bitten, but he wrote up the attack as one of a Manticore and that it happened the following night, it might have been because he knew my dad, or because he was an unregistered animagus, but he lied and kept me off the werewolf registry.’

‘What animal was he?’

‘He was an Eurasian eagle-owl, that’s how he got down from his office to your trial so fast, no one really questions the occasional owl flying around. Anyway he retired to a desk job not long after, but went back on active duty when he saw I was accepted for auror training. He was my personal trainer and didn’t report my absences on full moons, he’s the one who suggested taking a nomadic position so it would be harder for them to track my transformations, and he became my reporting officer. If I hadn’t became an auror he’d still be safe at a desk or even fully retired right now, but instead he is dead.’

‘Again, Remus I am so sorry, I had no idea he was such a big part of your life. However his death isn’t your fault, you had no control over becoming a werewolf, and you didn’t ask him to take all those risks. It’s not your fault.’

They sat in silence for a long time, Remus’ head still down. After what seemed like hours but was only a couple minutes, Remus spoke.

‘You may go pick up Harry, but I think I need to be alone right now. I’ll be in my room.’

And indeed he went to his room where he remained.

On January ninth there was a full moon, so they asked Sarah to watch Harry at her place for the day again and Remus did not go to work. He had to chain himself up as Sirius would not be home from work in time and he couldn’t risk being fired again by leaving early. Remus transformed alone, and was in pain without anyone by his side for hours.

Sirius eventually came home with Harry, rushed him to his room and locked him there, and then transformed himself to try and calm his lover, he spent the entire night with him. It was always a risk to have Remus alone as if he got to agitated he could turn the damage he couldn’t cause to others onto himself.

The next morning, despite the pain, and the exhaustion, they both went into work.

Time passed, over the next month Remus continued to mourn and was a bit broken inside, however Sirius didn’t notice as Remus put up a facade of recovering. He didn’t want to upset Harry any further, nor Sirius, however deep down he was really hurting and really wanted Sirius to comfort him.

Because of his closed-offness there relationship remained vague, some affection here, a date there, but never changing. Neither fully noticed however due to there jobs. All the problems of the last six weeks came to a head when Remus was summoned during his shift to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and was not so warmly greeted by Cecil Lee of the Werewolf Capture Unit, Negotium Perficitur of the Werewolf Registry, and Gethsemane Prickle of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

‘Sit down Mr Lupin.’

His heart was racing out of his chest but he knew if he showed fear then it would be over. Before he could speak, Cecil Lee turned towards his fellow interrogators.

‘I don’t see why I am here, my job deals with known werewolves, currently Remus Lupin here is not documented.’

Ms Prickle answered his question.

‘Your job pertains to determining whether a werewolf in question, in human form, is safe to be in society, or if they are "too far gone". That will most likely be needed for this case.’

‘Why am I here today Ms Prickle.’

‘I think from those that are currently present it is quite obvious the reason you have been summoned. It has come to your new supervisor’s attention that you have missed a day of work this past month. After further investigation we believe you are a werewolf and are here to officially determine that. Now Mr Lupin-‘

Before she could continue, Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, along with Canem Amans burst into the room.

‘Good day Lee, Ms Prickle, Mr Perficitur. Mr Lupin will not be subjected to any questions without Mr Amans beside him. I will also be standing in this interrogation.’

‘Who even is Mr Amans?’ Ms Prickle asked.

‘He is head of Werewolf Support Services and as a suspected werewolf Mr Lupin is entitled to his council.’

‘Very well, if there will be no further interruptions, Mr Perficitur, you may begin your questioning.’

‘Thank you. Mr Remus John Lupin, born March tenth, 1960, you officially have missed ten days over the last forty-three months however going deep into your records you have actually missed sixty-four days, almost all of those days being on or right next to a full moon. What is your petty excuse for that?’

‘Objection, please refrain from insulting my client.’

‘I still need an answer from his lips.’

‘I am sure you are all aware I am now raising a toddler, do you know how germy they can be, I get sick a lot.’

‘This was happening before you and Mr Black adopted the young Mr Potter.’

‘Yes, before we adopted him we were fighting against the dark lord, so that the blood bath can end, apologies for not coming in when we were preventing murders of innocent people.’

‘Now could you explain the large amount of claw-like scarring covering both your face and body.’

‘On records I was attacked by a wild Manticore as a child. The more recent scarring comes from my dangerous life as an auror.’

‘Funny, that a Manticore would attack you with its claws instead of its tail, like it is so well known to do. Also curious how this alleged attack happened the night after a full moon when the vicious Fenrir Greyback was spotted in that area, and that the now deceased Vincent MacBones was the one to save you who would later be both your mentor and boss. Sounds to me like he repeatedly covered for you.’

‘I have no comment, I was attacked by a Manticore, not a werewolf.’

‘Ms Prickle, he is not being very cooperative, might I suggest the use of Veritaserum or the Where-Wolf charm?’

Remus got mad at this, ‘Using Veritaserum on me is against my rights.’

‘As a werewolf you have very little of those.’

‘You have yet to prove that. Veritaserum is only permitted in criminal interrogations and trials, which this is not as I have committed no crimes.’

Canem Amans then spoke up.

‘And as Mr Lee well knows, the Where-Wolf charm can only be used on suspected werewolves in custody the day before or of a full moon to insure the safety of the other inmates. If you are not going to charge Mr Lupin with a crime, then you can not cast that spell.’

‘They are both correct, you may not use Veritaserum or the Where-Wolf charm on Mr Lupin as of yet,’ Ms Bones concluded.

Ms Prickle spoke up, ‘Then I guess our only option is to ask Mr Scrimgeour to fire you.’

‘Under what pretenses? As you have not proven anything today the Werewolf Restriction Law does not apply to me.’

‘That is true, that is why you are being fired for taking fifty-four paid undocumented sick days. We also have enough evidence to place “probable lycanthropy” on your permanent record.’

In shock, Remus turned to Amelia Bones, who nodded sadly.

‘They do have the right to fire you under those pretenses. I am sorry. However you could fight these charges or seek an appeal.’

Mr Perficitur smiled a nasty grin, ‘True, sadly the only available hearing day in the coming weeks is the eighth, tomorrow, which as I am sure you are aware is a full moon. Would you like that time slot Mr Lupin?’

Remus hung his head low, ‘No, I am busy that day.’

Ms Prickle then spoke, ‘Then I regret to inform you Mr Lupin, but you are hereby stripped of your title as auror and the privileges the job entails. You may take the day to collect your things but after that you are no longer permitted in the auror offices unless under civilian means. Your final check will be available in a week. Good day.’

Remus was in shock, he wasn’t sure if he could move. He just lost the job he had worked so hard for. Ms Bones lead him out.

‘I am so sorry Mr Lupin, when I heard that you would be interrogated today I tried my very best to turn the tides in your favour, but I couldn’t change the law or there verdict.’

In his immense anger he snapped at the head of Law Enforcement.

‘I’m sorry, but who are you to me, we have never met before so why intervene like that?’

Thankfully Amelia Bones did not take this as an insult.

‘We have more in common than you think Mr Lupin, you fought side by side with my brother Edgar Bones. My sister, Edgar, his wife and children were all murdered by deatheaters and I have been raising my niece Susan for the last six months. I know the hardships of the war and the raising of an orphan just as you do, I didn’t think it fair you be punished for something not in your control, especially when you risked so much every day to keep our world safe.’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were Edgar’s sister. I do appreciate what you did, but I think I got to go now. There is a lot I have got to do.’

‘Fair enough. If you ever need anything let me know. Good day.’

And with that she was off, and so was Lupin. He went straight home and entered to Ms Baker feeding Harry lunch.

‘Mr Lupin, you are home early again, there hasn’t been another awful murder has there?’

‘No Ms Baker, but I sadly must dismiss you permanently today. We can no longer afford your services. I will pay you today’s full salary. I am so sorry for such short notice.’

She looked a bit emotional but put on a smile.

‘It’s ok Mr Lupin, you and Mr Black have been so kind, I wish you luck.’

‘I wish you luck as well, if you every need a job reference let me know.’

‘Thank you Sir.’

He paid her and she left. After finishing feeding Harry he put him next to his play tent and then got to work. He spent the rest of the afternoon crunching the numbers and calculating how much money him and Sirius had in total. He also was writing down job ideas for him to apply to. By the time Sirius arrived home, Remus had covered there entire dining room table in paper and was physically and emotionally exhausted.

‘Remus, why are you home, why is there paper everywhere?’

‘I was fired today, under suspicion of Lycanthropy, I am trying to figure out how long we can afford rent and food.’

‘Woah, woah, slow down. That’s terrible, and there was no warning?’

‘No, there was plenty of warning. There was the Werewolf Restriction Law passing in December, and Vincent, who was my main cover, dying last month. I told you this was coming and you didn’t believe me.’

Sirius didn’t respond, seemingly not knowing what to say that wouldn’t upset Remus.

‘How long do we have?’

‘Until we can no longer afford rent, three weeks.’

‘But I have a job, I already told you how good it pays.’

‘I was paid a little under double your current salary, just enough to pay your combined rent and buy essentially, once we started splitting the rent we both started saving our extra money, but your current payment isn’t enough, and the saving don’t compensate.’

‘Well what do we do? How do we get more money?’

‘I’ve already let Sarah Baker go, if I manage to get another job we’ll figure out who watches Harry then, I have started separating my essential items from ones I can sell, and I have compiled a list of jobs I am able to perform however I fear that I will not be excepted for any of them because of my new status.’

‘Remus, it’s going to be ok, not everyone in the wizarding world cares about whether your a werewolf or not, me James and Dumbledore didn’t, nor did your boss.’

‘But half of the people you mentioned are now dead. Sirius you aren’t taking this seriously. This is really important.’

Remus was now quite red in the face.

‘I know Remus, but please calm down, you don’t need to get upset.’

‘Get upset?! Get upset?! I have been upset for over a month now, Sirius!’

‘Wait, what do you mean?’

‘My entire life has been falling apart and you haven’t noticed at all, I have been drowning, but you have been so wrapped up in your own head to notice!’

This turned very quick into a very long and loud argument that went back and forth for over an hour. Both yelling each other’s fallacies and flaws at each other while proclaiming the other was right. It finally came to a head around eleven at night.

‘You are acting completely bloody insane Remus, for bloody sakes it was just a job.’

‘That job was the reason Harry isn’t living with his horrible aunt and uncle right now, I have been working my butt off while you go on little solo adventures every other weekend. We are supposed to split raising Harry and yet I feel as though I am doing this job more than you are.’

‘Well at least I have an actual job, unlike you now.’

‘That is so immature!’

‘I’m sorry that I don’t have quippy comebacks like you’ve been using all night. I have been dealing with the murder of my best friend slash brother and his wife.’

‘And you think that I haven’t! I have been helping you through your pain and trauma for months now, and I know it doesn’t just go away, but not once every have you asked how I’m doing with it, and after the law was signed you told me that it was fine, and after my mentor was bloody murdered you treated it as a sad thing and not a completely soul wrenching event. That is it, you are out!’

‘Excuse me?!’

‘You heard me perfectly well Sirius Black, get out!’

Sirius looked as he was about to explode, however he just turned on his heel and went to pick up Harry.

‘Oh no, you have absolutely no idea where you are going, I am not risking having Harry on the streets in the middle of the night.’

‘But tomorrow is a-‘

‘A blasted full moon, is aware, I will figure it out, now get lost!’

And so Sirius left and slammed the door behind him. Remus just wanted to keep screaming, but he didn’t have the energy. He deactivated the one way sound proofing he had cast so that Harry could not here them arguing, and found the infant sound asleep in his tiny tent.

‘Come on Harry,’ Remus whispered, ‘Time for bed.’

He scooped up the sleeping tot and tucked him into the crib that was starting to get to small. He then proceeded to pass out on his own bed, not even getting changed or under the covers.

The following day he wrote up resumes, and with Harry in arm, started delivering them to many businesses within Diagon Alley. He also stopped by the The Junk Shop and Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment to sell off some of his unprized possessions.

‘Please Mr Colpitts, I bought this broom for 100 Galleons, I think 80 is fair to ask for it. It’s only a year old.’

‘But brooms go out of date really quickly, and it wasn’t even top of the line when you bought it. 30 is my final offer.’

‘50, please sir.’

‘45, take it or leave it.’

‘Thank you Sir.’

Remus managed to get a hundred and twenty-five Galleon by selling many of his personal effects, but in the long run that was nothing. And even as he was making his way towards the Dursley’s at four in the afternoon he was already receiving rejection owls stating they could not risk a having a werewolf employee.

Very down, he knocked on the Dursley’s front door. After three minutes of waiting Petunia entered the doorway.

‘You aren’t supposed to be here until Friday, why are you here?’

‘I need your family to watch over Harry for the night.’

‘Out of the question, I have plans, I will not accept-‘

‘One, I’ll pay you, and two if you don’t accept there’s the chance I might eat him tonight.’

‘Eat him?’

‘Yes, best not to ask questions. I have thirty muggle pounds on me, will you watch him.’

‘For that low of compensation, I hardly think so.’

‘Fine, here is forty, that’s literally all I have.’

‘Fine then. This is highly regular though, and where is your boyfriend?’

Anger once again rose in Remus.

‘He is not my boyfriend!’

‘My goodness, it was only a joke, obviously you two are not homosexuals.’

‘I don’t know what that term means, however it doesn’t matter, I must go. Good evening Petunia.’

And with that he apparated away.

He chained himself up as best he could, however he knew that without anyone there he would turn all his attention towards himself. It became a long and tortuous night.

At 7:26 AM the sun rose and Remus morphed back to human. In agony he undid the chains and entered the small bathroom to look in the mirror. The chains had prevented his claws from reaching his face, but there were new deep cuts along his back and arms. Wincing, he treated them and applied bandages, but he knew that would only save them from infection and that every single one of them would scar.

After cleaning himself up a bit he apparated to the Dursley’s house where he picked up Harry, Vernon met him at the door.

‘I don’t want anymore of these surprise drop offs, you hear me, we are not your babysitter. Of course what would a couple of pansies know about raising a child. Ha.’

‘Pansies?’

‘I spoke with my wife, she said how defensive you got when she said you were, ug, boyfriends. You and that Black fellow are a couple of homosexuals for sure now that I think about it.’

‘I’m not going to satisfy you with an answer, but with a statement. We in the wizarding world don’t put such stigma on what kind of people we love or the colour of ones skin, we apparently save it all for people who were born or became different not under there control. Now I can’t promise there won’t be anymore surprise drop offs, but I will try to limit them. Good bye Dudley.’

‘I’m Vernon, not Dudley. Bloody "religious location".’

With that Remus went home with his adopted son in his arms. They spent the day playing, but whenever Harry took a nap Remus would turn his attention to his ever bleakening financial situation. He believed it would be possible to get a job again, the problem was he couldn’t guarantee that it would be within the next few weeks.

Another thing that was worrying him was Sirius. Regret had been washing over Remus for the last few hours now, he was still really mad but now he just wanted him back. He was worried too because Sirius had seemingly left his motorcycle behind.

By that evening Remus was a mess and stayed up most of the night not being able to sleep.

The next day Remus was now very worried, he didn’t know where Sirius was and was fearing the worst.

“What is one of you-know-who’s followers got him? It’s all my fault he’s who knows where and alone. Why did I have to take it all out on him, why can’t he be here now. What am I going to do?” He thought over and over again in a spiral of doubt and stress. He was only brought out of it a little by the one and a half year old wobbly standing next to him.

‘Moony, where’s Paddy?’

‘Oh, don’t worry Fawny dear, Paddy is ok. He will be back soon.’

Harry then did a little dance. ‘Paddy, Paddy, Paddy, I love Paddy.’

‘I know love, I know.’

The day crept by and soon Remus concluded that the three of them weren’t getting out of the situation they were in without outside help, a temporary support for them to fall back on if everything does turn for the worst. He knew right away who he much get in contact with, but he procrastinated making the floo call all evening.

At quarter to nine he had the floo powder in his had and was about to say the name “Lyall Lupin” when the fireplace erupted in emerald flames and Sirius’ face was in the fire.

‘Sirius! Oh thank goodness you are ok! I am so sorry, I didn’t mean almost any of what I said and I-‘

But Sirius cut him off. ‘We can discuss what happened later. But I’ve been doing some thinking and I believe we need a little help. I’ve run into a cousin I didn’t think I’d ever see again. Pack up yours and Harry’s stuff, I’ll come and get mine, and then we are moving in my cousin and her family.’

‘But I thought Narcissa Black was the worst of the worst.’

‘What, no! We’re going to Bedford Bedfordshire, where going to stay with Andromeda Tonks.’