McKay (scribbulus_ink) wrote in time_of_storms, @ 2006-01-10 09:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | chronological, lupin |
Remus: September 24, 1997
Original poster: werwolfoflondon
Music: Ain't No Sunshine, by Bill Withers
"Where the hell have you been?"
As soon as Remus arrived back at camp, Ethan accosted him, grabbing his arm and dragging him over to the fire pit, and Remus let him, partly out of surprise at the unexpected greeting and partly because he didn't want to risk issuing an inadvertent challenge by balking.
"Greyback is due to arrive any minute," Ethan continued, his voice low and tight as he glanced around at the rest of the pack. They could hear the conversation, of course, but everyone within ear shot was pretending they couldn't, but if Ethan was speaking to Remus where he knew they would be heard, then Remus assumed it wasn't confidential information.
"What on earth for?" Remus took a seat on an unoccupied log by the fire, but Ethan remained standing, pacing back and forth nearby. "Another mission?" His stomach sank at that; they had been used as a diversion the last time, and mayhem had been the result; he hoped Voldemort wasn't trying to test their loyalty by forcing them to do something worse this time.
"The message didn't say." Ethan grimaced and ruffled one hand through his hair. "I assume so, but..."
You never know.
The words hung in the air, unspoken, and Remus turned his gaze to the dancing flames as he tried to sort through this puzzle. He prayed nothing had gone wrong and he had somehow been discovered, and he prayed this had nothing to do with that vindictive bitch, Bellatrix - unless Voldemort had decided to turn her over to the pack's tender mercies on his own for what she had done to Severus. That, he thought with a flash of bared teeth, would be welcome news indeed.
But there was no more time for speculation as Greyback arrived, swaggering into the camp as if he owned it, and Ethan bristled, his lip curling in a low snarl at the sight of Greyback's arrogant smirk. Remus rose to his feet swiftly and moved to stand at Ethan's back, a silent gesture of solidarity and - hopefully - a reminder to Ethan not to do anything rash.
"My business isn't with you." Greyback waved his taloned hand dismissively in Ethan's direction, and Remus could feel the banked fury rolling off Ethan in response to the dismissal, which was, no doubt, what Greyback wanted. Ethan was right: Greyback was trying to goad him into a challenge. "I'm looking for the envoy who spoke to Lord Voldemort's men, the one who worked with Snape."
Oh bloody buggering hell.
Remus stepped forward, careful to keep his expression neutral and his voice calm. "That would be me." He decided against offering his name; Greyback would know his face and his scent, and that was more than enough to let any werewolf identify someone.
Greyback looked him up and down, the disdain in his gaze revealing he was less than impressed with Remus' thin form. Remus returned the scathing look with one of utter placidity, knowing from years of dealing with Severus that appearing calm in the face of scorn would be far more annoying than revealing any kind of negative reaction.
"Snape spoke well of you," Greyback said at last, his dubious tone speaking volumes about his thoughts on Severus' opinion of Remus. "Must be because of your clever tongue, because God knows you look like you haven't any strength to see you through a fight."
It took every bit of will power Remus possessed to keep a straight face, and the only way he managed it was to focus on how bad it would be if he burst out laughing and had to explain that no, he wasn't laughing at Greyback; he was laughing because he knew exactly how much Severus liked his clever tongue. That, he knew, would not bode well for the proceedings at all.
Amusement kept him from bristling at the slur as many of the other males in the pack would have done - he didn't put it past Greyback to try picking a fight with him just for a lark, either - and his tone was mild when he replied. "I do my best to serve."
"Good, because you've got another job to do." Greyback pulled a lumpy packet out of his pocket and tossed it to Remus, who caught it reflexively and examined it.
Whatever was inside was tied up in plain brown paper, and turning it over revealed no writing or any kind of distinguishing mark to provide a clue as to the contents.
"Your instructions are inside along with a Portkey," Greyback continued. "It will take you to Durmstrang, where you will meet with the new headmaster, who is far more reliable than the old."
"What am I meant to do there?" Remus asked, puzzled. He couldn't imagine why Voldemort would send a werewolf all the way to Bulgaria instead of one of his own Death Eaters.
"Recruit." Greyback grinned toothily. "There are werewolf packs in the area. Our Lord wants them brought here to fight for him. Succeed, and you'll be rewarded. Fail, and you'll regret it."
Remus fought to keep the apprehension he felt from showing on his face. Go to Bulgaria and recruit more werewolves? Weren't there enough here under Voldemort's sway? How was he going to recruit anyone to a cause he was fight against himself?
"You must leave at once. Send word as soon as you've returned with the werewolves." With that, Greyback turned and loped away, and Remus watched him go, his mind whirling as he tried to figure out what to do first. He needed to tell the Order about this turn of events, and he needed to tell Severus, too.
His chest constricted at the thought of having to leave so soon. There was no way of knowing how long he would be away, and he hated leaving Severus now with Bellatrix on the loose and out for blood. What if Severus needed him while he was gone? He could well imagine how furious she would be when she found out that Severus was still alive, and she might try to finish the job she had started.