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Let Love In	By : Kimmimaru Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Remus/Sirius Views: 3124 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters or settings by JK Rowling. I make no profit from this story.

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Chapter Twenty: James' Legacy

Remus opened the paper...and what he saw made his heart go cold. The picture showed Sirius, gazing back at him through lank hair that reached his elbows, his silver eyes heavily lidded and filled with darkness. Prison had sapped him of most of his good looks, but they were still there, lurking behind the insanity and the protruding cheek bones. He felt his fingers convulse on the paper, making it crumple and tear as his heart hammered in his chest. Then he dropped it, standing up abruptly, startling his roommates in the hostel. "Harry..." he muttered and fled the room, finding a private place to Apparate.

Dumbledore received the letter, he read it slowly, the hand writing was rushed and familiar. He couldn't say that it was all that surprising to hear from Remus after the news of Sirius Black's escape.

Albus,

I heard...it was in the paper this morning! Please...please tell me it's not true? He can't have escaped! It...it should be impossible! Is Harry safe? Is he going to be alright? I have to know! Don't keep me in the dark!

R.J. Lupin.

His reply was fast and Remus received it while he was sitting in an abandoned warehouse somewhere near London. The letter appeared with a flash of fire and a crimson feather...he grabbed it, tearing it open and reading it.

Remus,

Harry is fine. He is safe and I intend him to remain so, he will be under the strictest protection while at school and for now he is under the watch of the Ministry at the Leaky Cauldron after attempting to run away from his Aunt and Uncle's home after blowing up his Aunt. The Ministry have been in contact and they have insisted that I allow Dementors to patrol the school grounds to ensure, not just Harry's safety, but that of the other students as well, unfortunately I have had to agree as the Ministry were particularly adamant. However, I am willing to place one more safety measure upon Hogwarts, if you would be so inclined, I would ask you what I did back in nineteen eighty one...would you be willing to take up the Defence Against the Dark Arts position? It would, of course, only be a temporary precaution and I would, as always, ensure the safety of the students every full moon. Severus Snape is very adept at Potion making and has the skill to create the wolfsbane potion; you would have no need to fear harming others during your tenure. Also, I do believe that it would do Harry some good to be able to hear of his parents from someone who knew them and was close to them, if he were, by chance, to discover the truth regarding Sirius' betrayal.

Please consider this opportunity carefully; I would be happy to welcome you back.

Yours faithfully,

Albus Wulfric Percival Brian Dumbledore.

Remus' reply was fast. He didn't even need to think about it, he was ready...he was ready to finally meet James' Legacy.

Sirius crept through the darkening streets, a vague memory of Lily sitting in a chair, tea in one hand and her hand covering her large stomach with the other as she spoke about her muggle family to him. She had mentioned how her sister had moved in with her husband to a place in Surry, Privet Drive. Sirius walked silently, his breathing heavy as he paused, sniffing the wind, eyes half closed. He was loving the breeze, he was loving the stars that stretched above him, the sounds of people, the laughter...it all soaked into him, slowly but surely easing the darkness that had enslaved him since James' death.

The dog paused before a sign post and looked up at it. 'Magnolia Crescent' it read. He moved down the road cautiously, he could have sworn he heard shouting from the street over and then the tiny, distant tingle of uncontrolled magic...he froze on the spot, eyes scanning the street. There was an alley way there and he slipped down it and lay down, head resting on his paws as his ears twitched for any sign of movement.

When the boy sat down on his luggage Sirius felt an almost overpowering sense of joy fill him. It hurt. It was so painful he began to pant and it very nearly forced him from his transformation. Merlin! The boy not only looked the very double of James but he even smelt like him. Sirius' tail was wagging as he stood up, slowly inching closer to the boy. He had to see. He had to know. He had to be able to make sure this was real...that this wasn't just another hallucination of his damaged mind. He had to greet the child, lick his face, hug him, tell him everything would be alright again...because now he could make up for everything! Now he could finally kill the person who had destroyed this boy's future...and perhaps give him a better life by doing so.

Remus climbed onto the train, exhausted. The change the night before had been terrible, agonising as his mind had dwelt on the fury that had been stirred within him at the discovery that Sirius Black was free. He found a compartment and slumped down, covering himself with his cloak he fell asleep almost immediately...and dreamt of James.

And when he woke...there he was! Slumped in his seat in terror of the Dementor at the door. Remus was on his feet in an instant, using that wonderful, giddy joy to bring forth a misty, unformed patronus. It took him a minute to gather his wits and, as he gazed into the face of the Thirteen year old boy, he realised that it wasn't James...it was Harry.

Sirius stood in the shack as it swayed drunkenly around him. He gazed at the familiar scenery, remembering soft morning light, filled with dust and warmth. He gazed at a particular spot on the floor by the bed and he could almost see three boys, lying in a huddle with stupid smiles as they curled up against each other like puppies. He fell to his knees with a bang, he felt cold hands on his shoulders, a soft voice whispering in his ear.

"Remember? It was always like that on those mornings...we'd wake up slowly, rubbing the sleep from our eyes before making sure Remus was alright...and then we would lie there, for as long as we could. Remember?"

Sirius looked down at his own shadow. The cold hands tightened painfully...and then faded as he blinked. "I remember." He croaked. "I can't forget." The childish laughter seemed to ring around the room, he could hear James, overly excited about getting to spend the full moon with Remus. He could hear James' laughter, could almost see his ghostly figure as he laughed on the bed before toppling off and onto the dusty floor. He could see Remus smiling reluctantly as he sat on the floor, blanket over his shoulders, he could see his own childhood self bouncing on the ancient bed, making it creak and moan in protest against its brutal treatment. The images were distorted, but he watched them play through as tears slid down his face...he barely even noticed the fact that Peter was now absent from these memories.

Remus gazed out across the beautiful rolling hills that surrounded the castle, he could hear the children laughing far below him and he sighed heavily. It was harder than he had first thought, being back in the castle after so many years, being forced to remember all those innocent moments, all those wonderful, painful memories...he could hardly stand it. But he had to, for Harry's sake and...and because half of him hoped, hoped so desperately that he would see Sirius again. He wasn't sure what he would do if he did see his old lover, he wanted to kill him...to rip him limb from limb and hear his dying screams...he wanted to embrace him, kiss those lips, feel that skin against his once more...he wanted to scream at him...he wanted to whisper love and devotion to him...

"Reminiscing I see..."

Remus turned his head to see Severus stood a little way behind him, holding the tapestry open that hid the secret passage way. He smiled wearily. "Yes, I suppose so." He replied. "How did you find me?"

"I thought that you were..." Snape sneered. "Students."

"Ah, I see." Remus ignored the disdain in the man's voice and pushed himself away from the ledge. "Then, I suppose I had better..." As he passed, he felt a grip on his arm, he looked down at Snape's fingers as they dug into his flesh.

"If you are a danger to this school, to Dumbledore, to..." He paused, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. "...Then I will not hesitate to destroy you, Lupin."

Remus could only smile. "I'm not here to betray or hurt anyone, Severus. I am here to protect Harry."

After a tense moment Severus released him. "I will be keeping a close eye on you." He muttered and swept away, his cloak billowing behind him. Remus stood for a moment remembering one summer beneath a tree by the Lake...a summer he had once again failed to stop his friends from bullying Snape. He sighed, it was too late now, no matter how many times he apologised Severus was determined to hate him, merely for his association with James.

The year drew on, Remus was amazed by Harry. He was almost the polar opposite of James in his personality, until he smiled and then Remus remembered with a sharp jolt that same smile on James' face. He was kind, like Lily...he was innocent, and yet had the ability to attract as much trouble as James. It was more painful than the full moon watching Harry with his friends, watching him laugh and learn...he had an uncanny talent for Defence that Remus took great pride in watching him grow. He taught him how to repel Dementors, avoiding actually showing the form of his own Patronus to the boy...because it would have been too much. He hadn't used it since before James' death. He hadn't needed to; he hadn't wanted to see that giant, scruffy dog leap joyously from his wand...it hurt too much.

Without a wand there wasn't much Sirius could do, but he had stolen a knife from someone. He found his way into the castle one night, choosing a full moon to conduct his activities...because he had been able to smell him. The scent of Remus was everywhere, it clung to the stones as he passed through darkened tunnels, it drifted on the soft currents of air as he walked silently upwards...to the tower...to kill. It was familiar, it was painful and yet it was so heart warming he could almost have forgotten his real purpose for being at the school...

When the ginger boy had woken and stared up at him, he had frozen, knife poised above the rat that screeched in terror and legged it beneath a bed. But he couldn't chase it...he had to leave before...he heard a voice...a voice from the past, but this wasn't the voice inside his head...this was real. He gasped in a breath of air and fled.

"You failed, didn't you?"

He sat in a little hollow deep in the forbidden forest, knees drawn up to his chest as he gazed at the leaf littered floor. He nodded and closed his eyes, bowing his head. Gentle arms surrounded his shoulders and he felt soft breath stir the hair by his ear...but it could have been the wind.

"It's alright, Pads, you'll get there...he's just too well protected. He always was a coward, hiding behind us when Filch caught us...Do you remember?"

"Yeah..." Sirius croaked, smiling slightly as fingers found his hair and he could almost, almost feel them running through the strands, pulling on it...but it was probably the branches of the tree.

"Revenge...you'll have it. You have to do it, for me...for Lily...for yourself. You understand, right? I won't leave you...you won't have to be alone."

"Together, forever. Is that a promise?" Sirius muttered, closing his eyes.

"As much as it was a promise in the first year...remember?"

Sirius nodded, smiling slightly...

"What on earth are you doing, Potter?" Sirius asked, kneeling on his bed, his head cocked slightly to the side.

James grinned, lifting up a pocket knife. "You'll see!" he stood, having been crouched over his trunk and moved to Sirius' bed. When he was sat with his legs crossed, Sirius imitated him. "Give me your hand..." He held his out and grabbed Sirius'. "It'll hurt...but don't scream." Sirius nodded, biting down on his lip. "This is a promise...my dad told me once that long ago, Wizards used to seal bonds in blood." He poked his tongue between his teeth and frowned in concentration as he dug the blade deep into Sirius' palm, Sirius winced but made no sound. "They used the power of magical blood..." he lifted his own hand and cut into his own palm with a hiss. "To seal contracts as well as special protection rituals...and this." He grabbed Sirius' hand tightly in his own bloodied one and they looked at each other over their clasped hands. There was a moment where nothing happened, but then Sirius gasped as he felt an odd, tingling sensation creeping through his body, he shivered...it was not unpleasant. James' eyes shone in the moonlight that streamed down through the window, there was a small flash of light from their clasped hands and James gasped, swearing softly before they released each other. "And now, we're blood brothers." He grinned.

Sirius looked curiously at his palm, the cut was no longer bleeding but crimson stained his hand. "That was Dark Magic." He said softly, lifting his eyes up to James' again.

James smiled. "Could be..."

"Most of the Old Ways have been classed as Dark though..." Sirius considered his palm for a while. "So...I'm blood brothers with a blood traitor?"

James giggled. "So it would seem...it just means that we'll always be together, magically speaking. It won't hurt us...and it won't give us special powers."

Sirius finally looked up at James and smiled slowly. "Even after that massive fight we had when we first moved in here?"

"Well...that was...different. You were alright on the train, then you got here and after calling that boy a...a..."

Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Mudblood? You...hit me for calling him a Mudblood?"

James rolled his eyes. "Of course I did, you idiot! At first I thought it was because you were being cruel...but, now I know you better, I know that it's just because you don't know any better!" he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to Sirius'. "I'll teach you." He grinned. "I'll teach you to become better than your family, teach you to understand that you can't do or say certain things because it's mean."

"Really? You can teach that kind of stuff?" Sirius replied softly.

"Course I can! We're brothers." He raised his bloodied hand and Sirius took it in his own.

They grinned at each other at the exact same moment before falling backwards, laughing loudly.

They had never spoken of this pact to Remus or Peter, mainly because they weren't sure if it was illegal or not, but also because it was something that could only have been done between Purebloods, it had to be pure magical blood that intertwined and bound two souls together. Sirius gazed down at his palm, there was no scar anymore...it had faded long ago. But he could still feel that little tingle of James' magic flowing into him through the cut, he could feel his friends blood in his own. It had been so perfect, so wonderful that Sirius had known in that moment that they would be inseparable. He sighed heavily and curled tightly in on himself, far off, in the distance, he heard a howl and shivered, forcing away thoughts of Remus...because he knew that he had to concentrate on finding Peter...finding him and ripping away his life once and for all.

When Remus gazed down at the map he couldn't breathe. His heart hammered in his chest so violently he was worried it would shatter his ribs and leap across the desk. It was impossible. It couldn't be true. He blinked, looking again...there he was; Peter Pettigrew, running through the grounds with Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry James Potter all in pursuit...and heading straight towards the Whomping Willow. Remus watched in fascinated horror as someone else appeared behind Harry and Hermione...

Sirius Black.

Innocent.

Pettigrew was alive...

Innocent.

It was impossible...but the Map never lied.

Innocent.

Remus' hands shook so violently he couldn't hold the map, it slipped through his fingers as he felt a surge of grief so powerful he had to bite down on his lower lip as it overcame him.

Innocent.

"No...No...no..." He stood, allowing his chair to fall to the floor with a crash. "No...S-Sirius..." He moved, without thinking. He turned and ran for the door, yanking it open so it slammed into the wall. He ran as fast as he could, heart hammering in his chest as he turned corner after corner, slipping down secret passages without thinking about where he was going.

Innocent.

The night air hit him as he opened the doors and ran towards the Willow. "Sirius..." He gasped, ignoring the urge to cry. He was consumed by guilt, pain and deep down an insurmountable relief. He hadn't done it...he hadn't betrayed them...he was...

Innocent.

**Sirius stared, unable to believe what he was seeing as Harry and a girl rushed over to their friend.

"Ron...are you okay?"

"Where's the dog?"

"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain. "Harry, it's a trap..."

"What...?"

"He's the dog... He's an Animagus. " The ginger boy was staring over Harry's shoulder. Harry wheeled around. With a snap, Sirius, who stood in the shadows, closed the door behind them. A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn't been shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin.

"Expelliarmus!" Sirius croaked, pointing the ginger boy's wand at them. If he had thought that the capture and eventual murder of Pettigrew was to be easy he was sorely mistaken, Harry attacked him with his fists, which should have been humiliating but he realised, as he hit the floor, that he probably deserved the beating. When he found himself gazing up into Lily's eyes in James' face he slowly realised that the boy was going to try and kill him, and he would have laughed at that, except he couldn't die yet...he hadn't killed Peter. He had to live...just long enough to complete the task.

They were interrupted by a figure, the feet on the stairs were heavy and then someone entered and Sirius felt his heart skip a beat in his bony chest, he suddenly couldn't find his voice...Remus stood there, eyes unreadable as he looked at the scene before him.

Remus saw him, lying sprawled at the bottom of the wall with a massive ginger cat sat on his chest like a giant cushion. Harry was pointing his wand at him, breathing hard and seeming to be in middle of an internal war. Remus only had eyes for the man on the floor, he looked horrible, starved, matted hair and worst of all eyes that seemed full of some kind of intolerable suffering...seeing Sirius Black, lying inelegantly on the floor with a cat protecting him from a thirteen year old child would have been hilarious in any other situation, but for now, all Remus could see was his best friend, his lover...the only man who had ever made him feel wanted, needed. After disarming Harry so he didn't do anything rash, he looked back at Sirius. "Where is he Sirius?" He asked, almost breathlessly, he squashed all those feelings that seeing him again brought up. He watched Sirius lift his hand and point at Ron. "But then..." He paused, hating himself for the weakness he felt. "Why hasn't he shown himself until now? Unless..." Remus' eyes looked over Sirius' head, it was easier to concentrate when he wasn't gazing into those deep pools of darkness. "...unless he was the one... Unless you switched...Without telling me?" He watched as Sirius nodded, very slowly. And all of a sudden he could no longer contain himself, all the repressed feelings; guilt, shame, terror and love, overflowed and before he thought about what this would like to outsiders he was leaning down and reaching out to Sirius.

Sirius gazed up at Remus' hand, he felt his chest constrict painfully, gritting his teeth against the urge to throw himself into his arms as he wrapped his wasted fingers around Remus' hand. He was pulled onto his feet and he felt arms surround him, it almost broke him. Remus was...warm. His heart beat against his own, he gripped him tightly, holding back all his whispers, all his pain because there may be time for that later...for now, all he wanted was to hold him. All he wanted to keep him in his arms, he didn't care if the world was collapsing around him, because this was the only reason he was still alive.**

**Speech taken directly from The Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling.
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