31 October , 1981

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He was meant to be going overseas. Meant to be finding allies, looking for ways to subvert the werewolves away from Voldemort. Remus knew that what they were really doing was trying to keep him as separate from the rest of the Order as possible. Knowledge that hurt, certainly, but he could understand. To a point.

That point being the fact that his best friends for years seemed to believe it, too.

He was, however, running late for his ferry. It would attract less attention than magic, but it meant he really did need to be moving. He'd forgotten some books at the Order's main house, which meant he had to run back to get them.

It was why he was there when the news came in about the attack on Godric's Hollow. Everybody was talking and running around at the same time, trying to decide what to do. Remus, on the other hand, ducked into the bathroom and plugged the sink, running water into it as he searched through his pockets. He pulled out a lock of hair, brushing his thumb over it before he took out his wand to do the scrying spell, dropping the lock into the water. Once he had the location, he grabbed up the lock, breaking the spell. Then he apparated.

He arrived in Godric's Hollow, unsurprisingly. Remus looked around, then started as he finally saw who he was looking for. "Sirius!"

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"We may have to tell Dumbledore about you being an Animagus. Others will just assume that Voldemort taught Peter." Remus took hold of Sirius. "That is, of course, assuming Dumbledore doesn't already know. He tends to know more than he lets on in the first place."

That, at least, was something that Remus could appreciate. And the headmaster had never been very overt in saying whether or not he trusted Remus, but he had been sent to try to bring the werewolves onside. So the man at least trusted him not to just join up.

"I'm not letting you go, Sirius. We'll run if we have to." Which wouldn't be easy, no, but no way was he letting Sirius go to prison for trying to keep him sane.

[grimbiker]

Sirius laid his hand on Remus's cheek.

Remus really did mean that. He was willing to put himself at risk, to go to Azkaban if they were caught, just as long as Sirius had his freedom. How could Sirius have suspected Remus capable of betraying them?

"Someone will have to be there for Harry." He said. He pressed his forehead to his lover's. "We'll get through this. We'll find Peter and then..." Beyond that the future was unclear. How they-- how he could navigate a world without James he didn't know.

"I won't leave you." He'd have to find his way.

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Tilting his head into Sirius' hand was the easiest thing in the world. Remus closed his eyes, turning his head to press his lips to the heel of Sirius' hand.

"Yeah, I know." Which didn't mean for one moment that he wouldn't run if he had to. He managed a small smile. It didn't reach his eyes, but it was real enough. "Worst comes to worst, we stay here. Hardly anybody ever comes out this far and...well, I wouldn't be the first person out this way to have a big dog."

Hiding in plain sight was useful. And nobody would ever suspect a dog.

[grimbiker]

"I'll live with the fleas." In spite of the horrors of tonight, there was the ghost of a smile on Sirius's lips.

"We'll get through this." Sirius leaned in to kiss Remus. "Together." And then their lips met.

I trust you. I'll never doubt you again. I love you. Words that Sirius didn't have to utter as long as they were kissing. And yet still something he hoped to convey. Sirius didn't know which one of them he was trying to convince.

[thewholeofthemoon]

It felt good. Remus moved closer, tightening his arms around Sirius and tilting his head. I love you. I forgive you. His answer to Sirius' unvoiced words. Because there was very little that he wouldn't forgive Sirius for. Had he actually been behind James and Lily's deaths, that would probably have done it. But he loved and trusted Sirius, so he believed him when he said that it had been Peter.

Though he wouldn't have entirely denied that the veritaserum would help, if for no other reason to know his gut was right. It normally was, but it was good to have back up.

He pulled back, pressing his forehead to Sirius'. Breathing the same air back and forth and letting it settle him. "We will. Absolutely."

[grimbiker]

For too long Sirius thought that he'd never feel Remus's lips on his own or his arms wrap around him. He didn't know what would happen next. He didn't know if he'd be taken into custody, convicted, and sentenced to Azkaban. He didn't know if they would find Peter or not. But for now Remus was holding him and, while everything was far from right and Sirius's soul was still breaking, at least he had his lover. And he could almost believe his own promise.

Sirius's eyes remained closed. He wasn't haunted by images of his friends' bodies. Instead, he imagined things as they used to be. Before doubts had festered in his mind, back when all of them had been happy. It hurt almost as much. When had they lost that carefree innocence?

"I love you, Remus." He said for not the first time that day and, if he had anything to do with it, not for the last either. "Whatever happens."

[thewholeofthemoon]

There was truly very little that would keep Remus from trying to keep Sirius safe. After all, Sirius and James had kept him safe during his changes for so many years. The loss of James and Lily was enough to tear him apart, but he had something to concentrate on. Sirius had always been like a brother to James. For James' sake, as well as his own, he would keep Sirius together.

He pressed his forehead to Sirius', hands spread over his back. Just breathing, staying calm for them both. So very much had changed in only a few hours.

"I love you too, Sirius," he murmured, opening his eyes to watch the other man's face. "Whatever happens."

Now, they only needed Dumbledore to arrive. Once the headmaster knew, they could work on the rest of it.