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Beginnings	By : TwistOfLime Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Remus/Tonks Views: 5768 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Author’s Note:The beginning of this story is a scene in the original book. I have twisted it to be from Remus’ perspective. To be consistent with the original, I have paraphrased J.K. Rowling’s version and used direct quotes. Quotes are in italics and come from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, pages 806 to 809, the first American edition, published in 2003 by Scholastic. I am not claiming credit for anything you recognize. This is J.K. Rowling’s masterpiece not mine. So without further ado...

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Chapter One: A Fallen Comrade

Remus didn’t see it happen. The circular, pit-like room was disorienting. The air was tingling with magic and filled with debris. Spells, flashes of light, flew in every direction, hitting the ancient walls as they missed their target and sending rubble raining through the air.

“Stupefy!” he shouted. The spell made contact. The masked Death Eater, distracted by Dumbledore’s appearance, crumpled to the ground.

Around him the Death Eaters were trying to flee, struggling against Dumbledore’s spell. To his left Tonks was being helped up by Moody, her eyes unfocused and her bubblegum pink hair covered in dust, while Kingsley tried to staunch the blood flow from a gash above his eye. They appeared otherwise unharmed and foolishly he believed things were under control. He began clambering up the high stone steps in search of the other students.

Behind him he heard Bellatrix’s triumphant cackle and turned to see her jump from the dais, the veil swaying innocently in the arch. He didn’t need to see it to know what had happened. Everything seemed to stop, suspended in time, as he stared transfixed at the spot where Sirius had been standing moments before.

”SIRIUS!” Harry yelled, “SIRIUS!” He tore down the steps, desperate, Remus knew, to reach the veil, to pull Sirius back through.

As he reached the bottom and began sprinting towards the dais, Remus reached out and snaked an arm around his waist, pulling him back. Harry struggled against his chest, desperate and vicious.

”There’s nothing you can do, Harry –“

“Get him, save him, he’s only just gone through!”

“It’s too late, Harry –“

“We can still reach him –“

“There’s nothing you can do, Harry... nothing... He’s gone.”

He’s gone. The words echoed in his head as Harry tried desperately to free himself. His arms tightened their grip while his mind screamed at him to follow Harry, to run to the dais and pull Sirius back through that stupid veil.

”He hasn’t gone!” Harry yelled. “SIRIUS!” he bellowed, “SIRIUS!”

“He can’t come back, Harry,” saidRemus, his voice breaking as he struggled to contain Harry. “He can’t come back, because he’s d – “

“HE – IS – NOT – DEAD!” roared Harry. “SIRIUS!”

Remus took a deep steadying breath. He needed to stay in control. The danger was not yet over. Kingsley had rushed forward to take up the battle against Bellatrix and rogue spells were once again ricocheting in all directions. Carefully, Remus pushed all thoughts of Sirius from his mind. There would be a time to grieve later; now he needed to get Harry and the other students to safety.

Harry had stopped struggling, though he had yet to take his eyes from the archway. Remus could feel him taking deep, uneven breaths against his chest and his arms loosened around Harry’s waist as he led him away.

”Harry?”

Neville had somehow had clamored down to meet them at the base of the steps, despite the fact that he had no control over his wildly dancing legs.

”Harry... I’b really sorry....” said Neville. “Was that man – was Sirius Black a – a friend of yours?”

Harry nodded.

“Here,” saidRemus quietly, and pointing his wand at Neville’s legs he said, “Finite.” The spell was lifted. Neville’s legs fell back onto the floor and remained still. “Let’s – let’s find the others. Where are they Neville?”

“Dey’re all back dere,” said Neville. “A brain addacked Ron bud I dink he’s all righd – and Herbione’s unconscious, bud we could feel a bulse – “

Neville was interrupted by a crack and heavy thud from behind the dais. Kingsley was on the ground clearly in pain and Bellatrix was sprinting up the steps to the exit, pausing only to deflect a spell Dumbledore had thrown at her.

Before Remus could react, Harry had torn his arm free from the loosened grip and was sprinting up the steps in pursuit of Bellatrix.

Harry – no!”Remus shouted as he toppled over Neville in an attempt to catch the ends of Harry’s robes.

”SHE KILLED SIRIUS!” bellowed Harry. “SHE KILLED HIM – I’LL KILL HER!”

Dumbledore was after them in a flash, moving with speed and agility unexpected in such an old man. At the doorway he turned and paused.

“Stay here Remus. Find the other students and take them back to Hogwarts.” he commanded, his eyes blazing with a frightening power. The next instant he was gone.

Untangling himself from Neville, Remus glanced at Kingsley, who was once again trying to staunch the blood from his cut, before helping Neville to his feet.

“Where are the others, Neville?” he asked quietly.

“Dis way. In da brain roob,” Neville replied as he began climbing up the steep steps. “Ginny’s stunned, wid a broken ankle. Herbione was hit with sbell, I don’t know what. Dere was purple flames and den she was unconscious. Luna got knocked out, bumped her head. And Ron’s gone all bunny. He sumbuned a brain and it addacked him,” he finished as they reached the top, breathing heavily from the steep climb.

“What happened to you?”

“Kicked in da face. I dink it’s broken,” he replied, touching his nose gingerly and wincing.

“Here,” Remus said, pointing his wand at Neville’s face. “Episkey. That should help, but we’ll have Madame Pomfrey look at it when we get back to Hogwarts.”

Entering the room, they were immediately besieged by a very pale and very worried Ginny.

“Neville! Professor! What happened? Where did Harry and Dumbledore go? Where is the rest of the Order? Wh – “

Remus held up his hand for silence. “Now is not the time. I understand that you’re concerned, but I have to get the five of you back to Hogwarts as quickly as possible.”

“Concerned!? Of course I’m concerned!? What happened? Why did Harry run off after that Death Eater? Why aren’t you trying to stop him? Something’s wrong, I can tell!”

Remus took a deep breath. “You were lured here tonight into a trap. Most of the Death Eaters are being held in the other room. Bellatrix escaped and Harry followed. Dumbledore is with them; he can handle things on his own. Right now you need my attention. Tonks, Kingsley and Moody are a little battered, but otherwise unharmed. Sirius – Sirius is... dead.”

Ginny gasped and slumped against the wall with her face in her hands.

“How’s your ankle?”

“I think it’s broken,” she muttered through her hands, taking a deep breath and looking up. “We were floating around in this strange room when the Death Eaters found us. One of them grabbed my ankle. I’m pretty sure I heard something snap, it feels broken anyway.” She winced as Remus touched her ankle to assess the damage. “Professor Lupin... I’m so sorry. I – “

Remus once again cut her off. “Please Ginny, now is not the time,” he replied, fighting to keep his voice even, though every word caused pain. “Now, Madame Pomfrey can mend bones much better than I can, but I need to you be able to walk to the castle on your own. Ferula,” he muttered, binding Ginny’s ankle with bandages. Flicking his wand once more, Remus conjured a set of crutches and handed them to Ginny.

“Neville, can you help her up?” he asked, moving to Luna who was sitting up and looking dazed. “Luna, are you alright?”

“I believe so, though my head does hurt quite a bit.”

“Can you stand?” he asked, holding out his hand to pull her up.

“Yes,” she replied, pulling herself to her feet. She swayed slightly, gripping Remus’ arm tightly, but it passed and she walked over to lead a giggling Ron away from the disfigured brain.

Next student, Remus thought, trying to keep his mind focused on the work and thoughts of Sirius locked away.

Hermione was sprawled on the floor with her eyes closed, her face pale and her upper lip bleeding but he could see her chest rising and falling slowly. “Rennervate,” he muttered, not at all surprised when nothing happened.

Remus picked up a splintered piece of desk lying next to Hermione and muttered “Portus.

“I think the Ministry will be a little too preoccupied tonight to notice an unauthorized Portkey. It’s the quickest way back to Hogwarts. However, only Dumbledore is authorized to create a Portkey that will transport us directly onto the grounds, so we’ll have to walk from Hogsmeade. Neville if you could help Ginny and Luna you Ron, I’ll take Hermione. Be careful on the landing, they can be hard and we have enough injuries to deal with.”

He picked up Hermione, cradling her gently in his arms and walked over to the others just as Kingsley and Tonks walked in.

“Dumbledore’s anti-disapparition jinx is holding. Moody is keeping watch. Where are Dumbledore and Harry and where are you going?” Kingsley asked.

“I’m taking this lot back to Hogwarts. Dumbledore and Harry ran through there,” Remus answered motioning to the door on his left. “I don’t know where they are now.”

Without another word, Kingsley dashed through the door, his wand drawn. “I should stay with Moody, I suppose. Until the other Aurors arrive.” Tonks said softly, tears running down her face. “Oh Remus! I can’t believe – I’m so sorry!” she burst out, moving towards Remus.

He stepped back involuntarily. He didn’t mean to be rude; her sympathy meant a lot to him, but if she touched him, comforted him, he would loose it and he still had to return the students to Hogwarts. “Thank you Nymphadora. That sounds like a plan. I’m sure I’ll see you soon,” he said, trying and failing to give her an encouraging smile. He turned to the students. “Everyone grab on. On the count of three: one, two, three.”

He experienced the familiar hook behind his navel and felt himself bumping between Ginny and Neville’s shoulders as he flew through a tunnel of color and wind. Seconds later he landed, a little off balance with Hermione in his arms, in the center of Hogsmeade.

To his left, Ginny let out a low groan.

“Are you alright?” he asked urgently.

“Yes,” she replied, taking deep, steadying breaths. “Just landed on it a little hard. I can still make it to the castle though.”

“Alright then, let’s go. Stay close and move quickly. Neville and Luna keep your wands out.”

Remus stayed alert, scanning the area and moving as quickly as their injuries would allow. Despite his focus, it still felt like the town was burning him, pressing against him from all sides, demanding that he remember.

Thoughts, memories of Sirius kept breaking out of the box he had tried to contain them in. He remembered wandering down these streets on their monthly adventures, remembered the countless times Sirius and James had tried to finagle some fire whiskey from the barman at the Hog’s Head – Stop it, he thought. His mouth was dry and his eyes stung, but this was not the time. Not when he had five students, three of them injured, to get to safety.

Remus took a deep calming breath, enjoying the cool night air on his face. He scanned the grounds around them and then turned to the sky, looking for anyone approaching on broom.

His mind betrayed him, instinctively finding the Canis Major constellation and focusing in on the brightest star: Sirius. He hadn’t even known he remembered that from the Astronomy lessons so many years ago and gave a short, humorless laugh.

“Sir?” Neville questioned uneasily.

“Sorry, Neville. We’re nearly there now. You’ve done a wonderful job.”

The made it to the hospital wing in ten minutes, without incident. Poppy was horrified as Remus explained their injuries.

She bustled about getting the students settled and muttering to herself, “Death Eaters... this is just ridiculous... reckless students... Ministry’s incompetent...they’ve all got death wishes”

Remus smirked thinking of how the nurse had detested the Marauder’s in their school days. The thought was quickly followed by a dropping sensation in his gut and he struggled to control his breathing.

The Weasley’s still needed to be notified. Two of their children were injured; they would want to be here. Dumbledore, wherever he was, would also want to know that the students were relatively unharmed and had made it back safely. Remus raised his wand and two brilliant white streaks burst from the tip and raced out the window, across the grounds and into the darkness.

“Poppy,” he said, stopping the nurse as she crossed the room with an armful of potions. “I shouldn’t be missed, but if anyone asks tell them I’ve gone home. I need to rest and I’m sure you have everything under control.”

“Yes, yes, of course,” she muttered, walking to Hermione’s bedside and dumping the potions on the table.

Remus dragged himself through the halls, seeing a young Sirius bounding down the main stairwell on his way to the Great Hall. Exiting onto the grounds, he watched Sirius, handsome and carefree, sitting under the oak tree and flashing smiles to all his admirers. He passed the Whomping Willow, hot tears streaming down his face as he remembered that glorious night two years ago, the night he got his friend back. The pain in his chest was unbearable. As soon as he reached the end of the grounds he turned on his heel and vanished.
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Beginnings