R/S PSL Backup Who: Sirius Black and Remus Lupin What: Twitchiness! Disclaimer: Severus Snape, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and other HP characters found in this community do not belong to any of the respective players. We love JKR's work, and thus are having some fun with it. No disrespect intended, and NO PROFIT being made. This is all for fun. Fun fun fun.
Padfoot's ears were plastered back to his head as he followed the scent through the Order's Headquarters. Either Snape was using some downright foul potion ingredients or else...
Sirius didn't want to think about that. He swore he could smell the faint trace of blood and what smelled almost like werewolf fur. It was a scent he was only accustomed to during the full moon. The scent of blood could be explained fairly easily by an injury, but the other wasn't so easy to explain.
If Snape was using werewolves for potions, Sirius was going to wring his greasy neck. Sirius was contemplating different methods of wringing Snape's neck when he finally reached the end of the scent trail.
He changed back into his human form and stared at Remus with confusion.
Remus had been on assignment. Knowing his mates the way he did, Albus had judged that it was best that they not know about the assignment.
One of the things about being a werewolf is that one could track one's "pack leader" (or the one that turned them). Remus had been tracking Fenrir Greyback.
Greyback had attacked someone. Remus had done what he could for the victim, and had taken them to St. Mungo's, but hadn't been able to get the scent away from himself.
He was startled to see Sirius there, and frightened. Not startled, but frightened of what could happen to Sirius if he was following him this way outside of headquarters. For that matter he had been on his way to bathe, the blood scent was getting to him. "What are you doing here?" He hadn't failed to notice that Sirius was sniffing a trail not heading for a bath.
"I just came to find you." Sirius lied, trying not to recoil at the idea of such a scent being on Remus. Remus seemed downright frightened to possibly be caught with it. He had trusted Remus... and this had been where it had gotten him.
"I had just been talking to James, you know - your FRIEND, and he brought something up I thought we should discuss." Sirius overemphasized James' name to bring out the idea of the party at danger if Remus betrayed them. Maybe he could get a guilty conscience reaction out of Remus.
Remus stiffened. Why was Sirius bringing James into this? His eyes widened slightly at the thought of James getting caught by Fenrir on one of these outings. He had to avoid that. HIs eyes narrowed slightly, what was Sirius doing? He was obviously lying. He didn't need to be Padfoot to find him.
"Oh? What was that?" He responded. What was Sirius digging for?
"It was-" Sirius paused for a moment, coughing in a slightly forced way. He had no idea what. Remus smelling like he did, the obvious next question was if he was going to betray them and do something utterly stupid on the full moon.
"What and where you plan to go for the next moon. James is a bit worried since he, obviously, can't be there. While Peter should be able to, a rat all on its own." He shrugged, satisfied with the lie he came up with. He'd have to inform James of it, even though he wouldn't be telling Remus where James was anyhow.
James would get the full story of this. A danger to his family coming from one of their best friends, let alone Remus, needed to be known.
"James shouldn't be there." Remus mumbled. He'd be tracking Fenrir the next full moon, and having James there would put their friend in more danger than he needed to be. Harry needed his father there! Not someone injured by a werewolf. Remus didn't particularly want any of his friends along on this full moon.
"What? I plan to be myself." He snapped, feeling raw. He couldn't afford to have them along. Why was Sirius pushing that? was Sirius planning something? Suddenly Remus didn't want Sirius near him.
"It doesn't matter where I go. I'll be away from James, and his family." He snapped. What was wrong with Sirius? Did he want them to get hurt? "And Peter is better off doing something else." He muttered.
"I know the-" Sirius paused, forcing himself to keep his temper in check. He knew that Remus had to transform. He meant if Remus planned to use a cage or the Shrieking Shack or what. He didn't know why Remus was being so touchy about the subject.
"I know you will. And let me come along, then. It'll be like back when we were in school and James got detention." Sirius snapped back, angry that Remus had snapped at him. Sirius didn't want Remus going on a rampage. He couldn't take that on his conscience.
Remus didn't want his friends getting hurt. That and he was worried about why Sirius was pushing this. He shook his head. "I'll be fine!" He snapped back at Sirius. "You should be protecting James and his family." He really should. It was Sirius' godson they were talking about! Why would Sirius want to shirk that responsibility to tag along with Remus.
And Remus didn't want to take the chance that Fenrir would turn Sirius too.
Sirius set his jaw, not sure why Remus was refusing his request. "I'm sure James and Lily knowing that you're being watched over would do more for them than I could in person. It's a waiting game."
He also knew that Remus could get moody closer to the moon, but he was about ready to chew Remus out for the tone he was taking with him. There was no valid reason for Remus snapping like that again and again.
"You're supposed to stay safe. You're going to be his secret keeper. How are you supposed to do that if you end up hurt along with me!" A hint of fear had entered his voice. Remus didn't want to lose his friends, and he couldn't for the life of him figure out why Sirius wanted to come with him rather than keep himself safe for James.
"I'll be fine." It was Sirius' turn to snap. "A few bruises and scratches won't hurt me or keep me from being their secret keeper." Sirius almost wondered if he should switch with someone else, since Remus couldn't be trusted. He'd have to talk to James about it.
That made Remus bristle. "Look, if you don't trust me, just protect James and Lily! I'll be fine." Remus was hurt, and turned to walk off. He couldn't believe Sirius didn't trust him to keep himself safe, and was willing to jeapordize James over it!
Remus had gotten the vibe that Sirius didn't trust him, apparently. That fact signaled to a guilty conscience, in Sirius' opinion. Sirius reached to grab at Remus' shoulder to stop him and prepared to follow after him.
"Remus!" There was a sharp tone to his voice. He wasn't done talking and Remus was already trying to get away from him.
Remus turned at the sharp tone, and raised an eyebrow. What the hell was Sirius doing here? He had stuff he had to do. He didn't have time to keep beating a dead horse, and damnit, why wasn't Sirius doing what he should be doing?
Sirius had never been angry at Remus like this before. He finally gave way to the anger. "You make your choice, there's no going back. Choose the right side."
He dropped his hand and turned opposite to storm off, not waiting to see Remus' reaction. The scent of blood and such still lingered, disgustingly fresh in his mind. The dog form having elevated scent had always been a good thing until now.
What the fuck...? It was all Remus could think. He felt himself go cold. Was Sirius choosing Voldemort's side?
He looked like he was going to be sick, and the thought of the blood still on him made him head into the bathroom without responding. He needed to get it off. And he needed to talk to Albus.