All Debts Must be Paid

Chapter Ten: Remus

Earlier that morning, Remus had opened his eyes and looked up at the unfamiliar ceiling. He turned his head and saw a shaft of sunlight shining through the curtains onto the red and green patterned carpet sending dust motes floating up into the air. The roar of Muggle traffic from the street outside told him it was getting late.

With a grunt he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and stretched, yawning. The smell of frying bacon wafting up from downstairs made his stomach gurgle in anticipation, and he heaved himself out of bed. He looked distastefully down at his puke stained clothes, unimproved by his having slept in them and grabbed a towel and his wand. Then he stuck his head out of the door and hurried along the corridor to the bathroom before anyone saw him.

Once he'd showered and washed his clothes, he felt a bit more human. He'd feel even better once he'd had some breakfast, so he went downstairs to have some. However walking down the stairs he suddenly remembered the last thoughts he had had before falling asleep the previous night and his stomach gave a lurch. Sirius. Bloody hell, please God he'd not gone and done something stupid.

"There you are, Mr Lupin," said Old Tom in a genial voice, as Remus appeared downstairs. If you hadn't come down soon I was going to come and wake you up, breakfast's just finishing."

Remus looked longingly at one of the other guests, chomping his way through a plate piled with rashers of bacon, slices of black pudding, and a heap of scrambled eggs. "I'd love some breakfast," he said, "but I'm in a bit of a hurry."

"Won't take a minute to rustle up a bacon sarnie for you to take away with you if you like." Tom offered.

Remus' mouth watered at the prospect. "That would be very good of you," he said.

Tom came back a couple of minutes later with the food wrapped in a paper bag. "Thanks, look I, er… " Remus began awkwardly.

"Settle up when you can, Mr Lupin, any friend of Professor Dumbledore's..."

"You won't have to wait," Remus promised, embarrassed. Merlin, alone knew what the man thought he'd been up to last night, and he didn't have the energy to spare to think up a satisfactory explanation.

As soon as he had Apparated back to the cottage, he knew there was no one there, but he checked all the rooms just in case he was wrong. It was depressing looking at the mess the bastards had made of his home. There were some signs that Sirius had come back in and had then left, but nothing to indicate where he'd gone.

Back in the kitchen, Remus filled the kettle and quickly boiled it. While the tea was brewing, he picked up the plates from the floor and stacked them on the table, clearing up the broken ones and putting the pieces in the dustbin, with a wave of his wand. Then he starting picking up the books, scattered on the floor by the bookcase, shaking his head at the sheer vandalism of it. At least they hadn't damaged them. Finally, he picked up an overturned chair and sat down at the table.

Tom's bacon sarnie was delicious, and he savoured every bite. Then he sat back with his tea and thought about what on earth to do. He supposed it was too much to hope that Sirius had gone to Dumbledore. No, if he had done, Remus was sure Sirius would have been waiting for him here as he would surely have found out last night that he'd been released. If the stupid bastard had gone charging off to the Ministry as Remus rather suspected he had done, it was unlikely he'd been caught - Old Tom hadn't said anything and Remus didn't think the Ministry would be behind in letting the world know they had re-captured such a desperate character as Sirius Black. Remus shivered. If they had caught him, even Dumbledore wouldn't be able to save him from the Dementors if Fudge insisted he be given the Kiss. Of course it was possible Old Tom hadn't heard the news…

Remus decided to go and see Dumbledore himself, so he quickly finished his tea and washed up his dishes before retrieving his woefully light moneybag so he could nip into the Leaky Cauldron on the way and clear his slate.

Old Tom raised his eyebrows as Remus Apparated back into the Leaky Cauldron. "Didn't expect to see you again any time soon," he commented as Remus walked over to the bar.

Remus was surprised and not a little offended. "Oh? But I said I'd settle up as soon as possible."

Tom gave him a cynical look. "Well, I have to say I did wonder when someone from the Ministry came in looking for you - said they want to ask you a few questions."

"For me?" Remus' surprise was replaced by a lurch of trepidation. Had they caught Sirius then? "What happened?" he asked.

"Fellow came in about twenty minutes ago, name of Jacks, he's a Hit Wizard with the MLES. Anyway, he wanted to know if anyone had stayed here last night."

"What did you say?"

"Told him who stayed of course, Mr Lupin. Seemed quite anxious to find you."

Remus grimaced. "Did he say why?" There was really only one reason that he could think of.

Tom shook his head. "Didn't give a reason, but it seemed important, like I said, he was pretty anxious to find you. I hope it's nothing serious."

"I suppose I'd better go and see them - find out what it's all about," Remus told him, doing his best to look mystified.

"Well why don't you have some lunch first, seeing as you didn't really have any breakfast. We'll be starting the lunches in about ten minutes," Tom suggested.

Remus had thought he was still hungry, but his stomach was churning so much at the thought of why the bastards might want him again that he couldn't face the idea of food never mind the reality. He shook his head. "No thanks, I don't really have time. I need to get this Ministry business sorted out and it'll probably take all afternoon just to find out that it was somebody else they were looking for." He rolled his eyes, and Tom laughed.

"It wouldn't surprise me with that lot," the landlord said, then he frowned. "You know, you really should take the time to eat a proper meal. It's not good for you to be always rushing around everywhere. You said you were in a hurry this morning and you're still in a hurry."

If it had been anyone else, Remus would have suspected an attempt to embarrass him into buying lunch, but Tom was genuinely concerned. "It's all right, but I have to go and see Professor Dumbledore this afternoon."

"Well give him my regards," responded Tom, moving away to deal with a couple of wizards who clearly had come in for lunch.

There really only was one place to go for help, and half an hour after leaving the Leaky Cauldron, he walked into Dumbledore's office. It still smelt of old leather and beeswax, just like it always had done. He felt himself begin to relax almost immediately - the smell always had that effect.

The Headmaster looked up from where he had been writing and laid down his quill. "This is a surprise, Remus. But I suspect from your expression not a pleasant one. I take it that it's rather urgent since you've come in person?"

Remus swallowed. "You haven't heard anything from Sirius?" he asked.

"Should I have?"

"I just wondered." Remus sighed. That ruled the sensible option out. He went on to explain what had happened to him and what he thought Sirius had done. "Now tell me I'm over-reacting, that there's some other, possible explanation for this," he begged, letting his usual stoic façade slip for a moment.

Dumbledore sighed. "It would be nice to know that some things do change and Mr Black is not as predictable as ever. But I do believe you have the right of it."

Dumbledore's agreement brought little comfort to Remus however. "I thought you were going to say that," he responded.

Dumbledore smiled. "Don't worry, I think I can assist. We need to speak to someone at the Ministry and find out what is going on - unofficially, of course."

It only took a few minutes for Dumbledore to write a message and send an owl, but since a reply would not be forthcoming immediately, Remus took the opportunity to go to the library. Although he wasn't looking for any particular references or books, he had never yet failed to find time spent browsing the shelves anything other than productive. He failed today. Today, his eyes kept sliding off the pages of every book he looked at, and he was totally unable to concentrate long enough to make sense of what he managed to read. In the end he sat staring out of the window watching the wind ruffle the waters of the lake.

It must have been several hours later when the library door opened. "Remus," said Dumbledore, walking in, "I think you should read this." he held out a newspaper, pointing to an article at the foot of the page.

Remus looked up from his book, surprised, and then concerned at the expression on the Headmaster's face. He took the paper - it was the latest edition of the Evening Prophet - and read the article Dumbledore had indicated.

Werewolf Wanted in Black Case

A spokesman at the Ministry of Magic reported this morning that Remus Lupin, the only werewolf to successfully complete a wizard's education, is wanted for questioning by the Magical Law Enforcement Squad. The spokesman stated that Lupin may be able to assist them with the ongoing search for the notorious Azkaban escapee, Sirius Black. Lupin (35) was dismissed from a teaching post at Hogwarts last year after a shocking incident made it clear he was a danger to pupils at the school.

"Well," he said, trying to keep his voice light, "they really do want to speak to me again." As Dumbledore started to say something, Remus broke in, "Of course the fact that they've done this, is good news in a way."

"Hmm, yes, they'd hardly bother if they had caught Sirius?"

Remus nodded and frowned. "But if they haven't caught him, where the hell is he? Why didn't he go back to the cottage, or come here? What's happened to him?"