Last Part! Please Remember to Review!
Summary: Sirius' last moments on this world were far from simply healing an oversized bird. Rather, they were filled with laughter, memories, swing dancing and one best friend, otherwise known as Moony.
Warnings: Character Death, Sadness/Angst Abound, Swing Dancing, and Sub-text.
Rating: T for the hell of it
Beyond the Department of Mysteries
Remus watched as his things flew into his trunk tiredly. The orders had been simple: get in, get everything of importance, and get out. He had to also grab Buckbeak though. His trunks and briefcase thumped down in front of him and he lifted them with a flick of his wand. Remus finally looked up from the floor and took one last glance around the room. It had a look of abandonment about it. Large clear patches spread through out the thin layer of dust littered the room, especially on the table that had held his aptly dubbed "music box." His stare lingered at the spot and for a moment he could hear music and laughter before he shook his head and turned away, refusing to think of what happened only two days before. He stepped out of the room with his luggage following behind him.
He stared at the two doors across the hallway. In one Buckbeak was waiting for him, and in the other—the few possessions Sirius managed to get his hands on screamed out to him. Remus bit his lip and turned his head away from Sirius' room and walked into Buckbeak's. The Hippogriff looked up at him as he walked in. Remus started to bow but Buckbeak trilled, nodding his head. Remus straightened and walked in, leaving his things outside in the hallway.
"Ready to go Buckbeak?" he asked quietly going over to the creature. The Hippogriff stood up and gingerly placed weight on it's hurt foot. Remus grimaced.
"Come on Buckbeak, we'll go slow so you can take it easy, all right?" The Hippogriff huffed and Remus lightly rested his hand on the beast's neck as they took one slow step after another.
"That's it Beaky, careful now, all right? One step at a time." They got to the door and Remus walked out first, leading Buckbeak out slowly. Finally they were out in the hall and Remus smiled lightly at the Hippogriff.
"There now, that wasn't so bad. We'll take a short break, and then we'll go down the stairs, ok?" The Hippogriff trilled as Remus went to grab his briefcase and suitcase. He shrank them and placed them in his pocket before going back to Buckbeak—his back turned on Sirius' room. Buckbeak glared at the werewolf before nudging him towards the door. Remus shook his head.
"No Buckbeak…don't…" Buckbeak looked Remus in the eye and Remus sighed looking away.
"Fine…but I'm just grabbing his stuff and then going…" he muttered. He turned and walked to the door taking a deep breath before opening it. Behind him Buckbeak trilled softly encouraging him to go forward. Remus stepped into the room and glanced around.
There weren't many things that actually belonged to Sirius—but it was enough to keep his memory alive. Remus flicked his wand and soon all of Sirius' items were in neat stacks in front of him. There were a few outfits and a picture album as well as a few framed pictures. Remus' eyes locked on to two piles with six old leather bond books each. He picked one up and fingered the faded gold lettering on the front cover
Sirius Orion Black1971
Slytherin Gryffindor First Year
Remus smiled as he remembered all the crap James used to give Sirius every time he pulled out the old leather bound books to write in. Sirius would always insist on it—no matter what James called him, and when Remus bought him a Gryffindor Red leather bound book to add to his collection in 4th year, it forever silenced the "Journal vs. Diary" fights. Remus opened the book to the first entry and bit his bottom lip as he read it, smiling despite the tears building up in his eyes.
September 1, 1971
Made Gryffindor—Mom is going to kill me, along with the rest of my family. The Hat told me that I had a choice though, Slytherin to follow the family or Gryffindor to where I could make my own name and be my self.
I didn't realize I had chosen until he yelled out the house and was taken off my head.
Would I have been better off in Slytherin?
James Potter is in my common room—typical. Mom said that he'd make Gryffindor. He's nice though, and really funny, and smart! Mom said the Potter's are stupid.
Peter Pettigrew is another dorm mate. Don't know what his blood is. He's kind of weird. Really quick to agree with everything James and I say. He kind of annoys me.
The last dorm mate is this boy named Remus Lupin. He doesn't look too good—really sick actually. He went to bed almost immediately after we got into the Gryffindor tower, I can't blame him.
There's something about him though; I really want to talk to him tomorrow. I hope he'll be feeling better. Maybe it's just because he's not used to being away from home.
Oh well, we've got classes tomorrow—I hope we don't have any with the Slytherins, I don't think I'll be able to face Bellatrix.
-Sirius
Remus slightly chuckled at the memory. It took Sirius a week to finally corner Remus and talk to him without James and Peter around and without Remus using classes as an excuse. It was the first—but most definitely not the last time that Remus had had a book stolen from his hands and a curious Sirius in his face.
Smiling Remus pulled out his briefcase and enlarged it. He placed Sirius' clothes and the pictures in it before carefully setting the first journal inside as well. He picked up the next journal and opened it up to a random page. He glanced down and started to read it while in the hallway Buckbeak lay down and made himself comfortable.
November 5, 1972
Remus is a werewolf. Makes sense actually.
James and I confronted him about it today, he was really afraid of what we were going to do. James seems to be slightly disturbed by it, but I don't care. As long as he promises not to wake me up in the middle of the night and devour me whole—he's still Remus.
Peter's being stupid about it, but a few smacks upside the head from yours truly solved that.
Anyway, I asked Remus how it happened and what it feels like.
I have a whole newfound respect for him and a new goal in life.
I want to find away to make it easier on Remus, if not a cure for Lycanthropy.
-Sirius
Remus shook his head and wiped away a stray tear before putting that one in his suitcase as well. Knowing he didn't have much time, Remus stopped reading and one by one put each journal into his briefcase. When he picked up the 7th one and a picture fell out of it. It was all of the Marauders along with Lily and her best friend on graduation day, smiling and waving up at the camera. Remus could remember the day all to well, Sirius was a nervous wreck and Remus had stayed up with him all night trying to calm him down. The picture made it obvious that the two canines of the group were not up to standard. Sirius was waving tiredly and grinning while occasionally yawning and Remus was using him as a pillow occasionally glancing up with a quick smile and wave before trying to go to sleep. Remus shook his head and put the picture back into the journal before setting it into the briefcase. He put four more of the journals into his briefcase before carefully picking up the last one.
Sirius Orion Black
1996
Remus closed his eyes and traced the gold lettering carefully remembering when Sirius had gotten the journal. All of the others had been written before Azkaban, this was the only one he had after. Remus had given it to him on Christmas Eve when every one else was heading for bed. Buckbeak trilled from the hallway and Remus turned to look at him.
"I can't…" he whispered. Buckbeak stared at him for awhile longer before Remus finally sighed and opened up to the last entry.
June, 1996
I hate this house, I hate Snape, I hate my Mother, and I'm starting to hate Dumbledore.
Remus is out on a mission, has to meet with Mundungus. I'm not sure whether or not I should think he's lucky to get out of this place, or unfortunate for having to waste 3 days for a 3 hour conversation where he'll only get enough information to give him maybe 5 minutes worth of attention during the next meeting.
And that's assuming he's lucky.
We're on an edge of a war again, a war that should've ended ages ago. I'm worried about what will happen. I have complete confidence that Harry will manage to beat Voldemort—but at what price? His life? Everyone else's?
I'm worried most especially about Remus though. I can see exactly what he's doing with everyone. "Hi, I'm Remus, I'm a werewolf, nice to meet you. I know you probably want to get to know me better—but I can't risk it. I lost everything last time, and I don't want to go through that again, so instead I'm going to distance myself."
Luckily I have the Serious Sirius Charm (Merlin, it's been forever since I used that!) and I've sort of forced him to stop distancing himself from me.
Now I just have to cross my fingers and hope that nothing happens to either one of us. We're each other's last hope, strength, and all that jazz. Harry's got too much to deal with to worry about two old men.
If something does happen to me though, I hope he reads this. I hope he realizes that just like James and Lily never completely left us (and it's more then just having Harry hanging around) I'll never completely leave him. He's just got to keep living for us, for Harry, for the Marauders.
I sound like I'm writing a suicide letter—that's really not good, but still, Moony—if you ever read this, I want you to know I'm always going to be there. I'm always reading over your shoulder, trying to steal your books, and making inappropriate comments at the best (or worse…) times. And every full moon Padfoot will be there running with you. So just keep living ok?
I sound stupid. I didn't know that boredom actually could drive you to insanity.
Maybe I'll go see if I can sneak out as Padfoot for a few hours and get some exercise and fresh air.
-Sirius
Remus closed the book and his eyes, tears falling down his face. Finally he looked up and put the journal in his briefcase and closed it up. He shrunk the briefcase and put it back in his pocket before standing up and drying his face. He brushed off his robes and turned to Buckbeak smiling.
"Ready to go start a new life Beaky?" he asked calmly. The Hippogriff stood up and Remus grinned going over to the large creature and patting it's neck.
"Let's get out of here and go somewhere where you can stretch your wings," he said closing the door to Sirius' bedroom and leading the Hippogriff downstairs.
"Ready to go Remus?" Tonks asked when he reached the bottom where she and Kingsley were. Remus glanced up the gloomy stairs and nodded.
"Yeah, I suppose so. I've got everything I need from here," he replied. Kingsley nodded and glanced at the things he and Tonks were carrying.
"I think we've got everything Tonks, have you got the port key to Dumbledore's office?" Tonks held up an odd object.
"Yep, we've got about 4 more minutes till take off. Remus, do you want to come with us?" Remus shook his head.
"No, I need to get home with Buckbeak. I have to get settled back in before meeting with the rest of you to greet Harry at King's Cross. The Dursleys aren't the best people in the world—I would like to have a few good night's sleep before having to deal with them."
"All right then, as long as you have a place to go," Tonks said. Remus nodded.
"Yeah I'll be fine…" Kingsley glanced at Buckbeak.
"How are you planning on getting from here to your house?" he asked. Remus grinned.
"Disillusionment charm and then I'll have to hope that my apparating skills are up to par," he explained. The Aurors laughed.
"Good luck then Remus, call us if you wind up splinching." Remus nodded and tapped his wand on Buckbeak's head. The Hippogriff trilled and shivered.
"Bye guys…" Remus replied walking out of the house and to the Apparating Zone they had designated. He and Buckbeak stopped and Remus glanced up at the spot where number 12 Grimmauld Place normally stood. He could hear Sirius laughing and turning to look at it just as he was before yelling out his good byes. Remus wrapped his arm around Buckbeak's neck and grinned.
"See ya in the next life," he said before apparating out.
The End.