Marauders - Always - Part One

CVIII: Fallen Into Disrepair

Albus Dumbledore's knuckles rapped against the large red doors of the sanctuary in Iceland. He noticed the red paint was desperately in need of a new coat and wondered why Remus hadn't used magic to do the repair as he knocked a second time. The door creaked as it opened ever so slightly, dark eyes peering out from the shadow within.

"Good afternoon," Dumbledore said, smiling through a pause during which the sentiment was not returned. "I have come to see Mister Remus Lupin."

The door opened further and a very large, very muscled man stepped out onto the steps where Dumbledore stood. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Mr. Lupin is not available, but you're welcome to talk to me and I'll pass along the message," the man said, looming large over the old man's frame. He glowered down, his eyes squarely focused.

Dumbledore nodded and reached into his pocket. "Lemon sherbet?" he asked, producing the bag.

The man's muscles tensed. "No."

Dumbledore popped one in his mouth. "I am Albus Dumbledore," he said in a jovial tone as he rocked from his flat footed stance to the balls of his feet and back again.

"And you," Dumbledore said, sucking the sweet as he spoke so that it clicked against his teeth, "Are Storm Lyson, if I am not mistaken. Second to Mr. Lupin." His eyes glimmered merrily and a smile played on his lips as Storm bristled at being recognized. "Mister Lupin has told me a great deal about you, Storm. He is quite proud of you." Storm's face grew hot in spite of himself. "Now," Dumbledore said, "I am here to visit with your Alpha about the acquisition of Fallengunder castle, which he came to Hogwarts just last week to petition me for. I come with good news."

Storm still hesitated, but he slid his palm to the dagger in a scabbard at his hip and he stepped back, allowing this Albus Dumbledore to step through the doors of the church into the mahogany-and-crimson foyer. "This way, sir," Storm gestured to the thrown-wide double doors of the main sanctuary.

Dumbledore's eyes moved around the high walls and vaulted ceiling, roaming over the exposed rafters and the colored glass that made up the windows in various Christian-religious images. Christ with a foray of children - the last supper - hanging on the cross - the glowing resurrection tomb. Dumbledore's boots clicked over the stone floor as Storm led the way down the center aisle toward the pulpit and the Priest's quarters beyond, stepping through into the privacy of the area that Remus had been using as his quarters.

Storm directed Dumbledore to sit at the corner of the front-row pew. "Wait here," he said sternly and Dumbledore nodded, sitting, his magenta robes with their silver stars standing out garishly compared to the dark velvet of the seat cushions. Dumbledore watched Storm walk up to the door and knock.

Another man - who Dumbledore knew was Spencer Stewart - poked his head out and listened to Storm for a moment before his eyes darted to Dumbledore in the pews and he hurried across the pulpit toward the old wizard.

"Mr. Dumbledore, sir, I am sorry. Storm is - he's new around here and hasn't yet learned who is granted immediate passage and who must be kept at bay."

"Oh it is quite alright, I appreciate the knowledge that Mr. Lyson has the common sense to protect his Alpha during times such as these. Not every kind face can be trusted - no matter how old and wizened they may appear," he smiled.

"Kind face or not, your kind can change your features to hide your identities," Storm rumbled. "How are we to know you truly are Dumbledore?" He eyed the old man.

Spencer flushed.

Remus Lupin appeared in the door way of the sanctuary.

"Storm has an excellent point, Stewie," Remus said as he emerged, walking across the pulpit with one hand shoved into his trousers pocket, his jumper hanging over his wrist. He tried not to notice as Storm gave Spencer an almost gloating smirk and Spencer scowled in reply. Instead, Remus's eyes slid over Dumbledore's magenta robes and long beard and his lips twitched in amusement. In a challenging voice, he said, "In my third year at Hogwarts, I was employed by Albus Dumbledore for a specific task and payment. Might you recall for us what that task and it's payment were?"