The Last Horcrux

Frost Moon

The afternoon of the full moon found Sev tied up at St. Mungo's with one thing and another. He was working on a tricky cure for a vanishing spell and there was an extra order for an anti itching solution from Hogwarts, where there had been an outbreak of dragon pox. And, of course, he was finishing up the Wolfsbane potion for Remus. He arrived home later than he had intended, the sun low, the trees outlined against the orange glow of the western sky.

Gavin greeted him at the kitchen door. "Mr. Moony threw up," he announced.

"Where is he?" Sev asked.

"Upstairs," Gavin replied. Sev moved swiftly inside. He deposited his bag on a kitchen chair and dug through it until he found the flask of Wolfsbane potion.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked Gavin as he headed up the stairs.

"Almost," Gav replied with a guilty little jump.

"Help Oakley pack up," Sev instructed. "It's late. Dudley should be here for you any minute."

In their bedroom, Remus was pacing back and forth, every muscle of his body tensed. He wore maternity trousers and a tattered t-shirt, pulled taught over the bump which stuck out awkwardly in front. His eyes were bloodshot with a tint of with feral yellow.

"Where were you?" he snapped. He stopped to scratch furiously at his arms, then started pacing once again.

"Sorry," Sev replied. "Work got busy. I couldn't get away. Here." He uncorked the flask and held it out to Remus who shook his head and continued pacing. "I don't think I can keep it down," he said. "It's too late...I'll just puke again."

"Nonsense," said Sev in a businesslike manner. "Slow down for a minute, would you?" He tried to grasp Remus' hand.

Remus snatched it away. "Don't touch me!" he snarled.

Sev noted the dark hairs, growing long against the pale skin of Remus' arms, the heavy stubble of beard on his chin, the dark circles under his eyes. A trickle of drool escaped from his mouth and he wiped it away angrily with the back of his hand.

"Drink it!" Sev commanded and Remus reluctantly took the flask. He looked at it with distaste. A wisp of greenish smoke rose from the top. He screwed up his face, put it to his lips and swallowed. "Nasty!" he muttered. He gagged, but he kept it down, and after a moment he relaxed.

" 'S working," he murmured, stopping his pacing at last.

"Of course it is," said Sev. "Have another sip."

Remus swallowed obediently. "You brew a good potion,'' he said.

"Is that why you chose me?" said Sev. Remus laughed, a wild harsh laugh, with a note of insanity in it, though the joke hadn't been that funny.

"Don't spill it," said Sev and Remus laughed again.

"Lunatic," said Sev.

"Exactly," Remus agreed, and then they were both laughing, and Remus let Sev pull him close, just for a moment.

"Finish that off," said Sev. "And be careful with it. I don't want all my efforts going to waste. I have to see the boys. Dudley'll be here any minute."

"Poor Muggle born boy," said Remus. "How'd he end up as part of this crazy family?"

"He's all right," said Sev. "He likes it. Get ready," he added, his hand on the door knob. "We'd best leave as soon as we can."

He went up to the boy's room, where Gavin was dutifully packing his knapsack and Oakley was playing with his trucks. He grabbed Oakley's backpack, with its logo of Marvin the mad Muggle and stuffed in his pajamas and a change of clothes. "Where's your broom?" he commanded. Oakley dove under his blankets and retrieved the worn toy.