house of black

chapter 26: secrets and lies

Somewhere hidden. October 29th 1991.

"- the days are long, but the nights have been longer. They have infiltrated the Ministry completely and no one is safe. Many have been caught, but the Imperius curse is an airtight defence. There is no way to prove otherwise."

Sirius Black peered over the boney shoulder of his companion, Remus Lupin, as he attempted to scrawl down all the thoughts whirling around his head as quickly as they came in.

"Of course there is a way." he scoffed, flicking a strand of hair out of his face and kicking his feet up on the arms of the settee.

"Not one that is legal." Remus muttered, his left hand tracing the natural lines of wood on the floorboards as his right continued to scribble.

"They make the laws Moony." Sirius said. "They have cost people their lives, their professions, their family. His supporters need to be held accountable. Why are they able to parade around like... like peacocks?"

Remus scoffed. "That sounded personal. Do you know how your cousin fares?"

Sirius's expression hardened. "Why would I care? Her leech of a husband gets to avoid any consequences, as always. Family names like Malfoy always seem to get away unscathed. That man he cursed, that family has children- five I hear. Crucio the lot of them I say. All the blonde bastards. There is your solution."

"Not one that is moral." He offered.

"Since when has the Ministry had morals?" Sirius asked.

"They used to." Remus sighed, dropping the quill. "Once."

Silence hung between the two boys. Men. They were men now (hardly). If age didn't make you a man fighting a war certainly did.

Sirius didn't feel like they were doing much fighting, cooped up here, concealed with a vanishing spell. But Dumbledore had promised that this was the best course of action, and James trusted Dumbledore and Sirius trusted James.

James, Lily and now little Harry. There was almost nothing himself and Remus enjoyed more than reading James and Lily's letters about what the little kiddo was getting up to. A proper Marauder from the start, always into mischief. The only thing better than the letters were the sporadic visits they had together. Protected by a single secret.

Sirius had been hesitant to hold Harry at first, as had Remus until Marleen unceremoniously dumped the baby into his arms and Harry tugged on his Godfathers hair. His face the picture of his father, down to the sheepish grin.

Sirius found himself smiling at the memory and felt the warmth of Remus now leaning against his leg, looking up at him.

"What are you thinking? Your eyes were clouded." Remus asked softly.

"Harry." Sirius replied. Remus' expression softened.

"Ah, Harry." he said

Remus had never had much experience with children (he never really saw himself as a child in his youth, only a burden) so he wanted to protect Harry from any harm that could come from his own hands. He was quite content to watch Sirius and James toss the infant up and listen to his laughs.

It was Lily that got Remus to hold Harry first. She had sat beside him once on the couch and nudged him gently with her shoulder.

"Did you finish it?" she asked softly. Remus nodded.

"What did you think?" she continued.

"It was long. And sad." he shrugged.

"You didn't think it was long when I handed it to you?" she chuckled. "Did you enjoy it?"