Message In The Ashes

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Chapter Six

Proposition

 

It took Remus by surprise that, after nearly three weeks, nothing of the murder in the Muggle village became public. Aaron and Clara must have found solid evidence in favor of Remus’ innocence. However, when he ran into Aaron at the Ministry a week after the incident, the case was still open and he and Clara were still investigating. The whole thing still bothered Remus greatly, and while he had fully recovered from the last rising of the full moon, the sight of that other werewolf kept plaguing his mind. It was even more frustrating that Dumbledore was away to some undisclosed location and unavailable to talk with Remus. He needed answers to whoever "Beta" was, and soon.

James was still mildly troubled by the "prophecy" he found in his parents’ old vault. Lily tried her best to distract him, and they both found that they were spending more time at work. Death Eater activity was rising, but even though Remus paid extra attention to every detail he found pertaining to them, anything of his brother was no longer found. The money clip was all he had; this he kept hidden, although he wasn’t altogether sure why he did.

Those of the Order quickly became skilled at the capture and prosecution of Death Eaters. Remus and Sirius were given orders via Owl by Dumbledore to ambush known spots where Voldemort’s followers hid. By the fourth ambush, Remus had mastered the art. Yet, it was James and Lily who were the best at their job, and they quickly became the most feared in the Order by the Death Eaters.

When the next full moon came closer, Remus still had not talked personally with Dumbledore about the last one. "Beta" still had yet to make herself known, at least in human form. As Voldemort’s activity escalated, so did the need for the Order to be out in the field. More aurors were hired for security at the Ministry, thus allowing the Order to make more use of their job. To Remus’ surprise one Thursday morning, he was to team up with Charles Gates and Darwin Edwards on an ambush.

Before then, Remus had never really had a chance to get to know the others of the Order. Charles was known for his long blonde hair, which he kept tied up in the back. With his green eyes, he was considered the most "handsome" of the Order. Darwin, however, was the odd one. He was extraordinarily tall with his black hair in a short bowl cut. Known as the "silent giant", Darwin never said a word. Somehow, Charles could communicate with him, and he would always speak for Darwin.

"What is it that he did before he came to the Order?" Remus asked Charles as they prepared to go out.

"Darwin?" Charles turned to his silent partner. "Oh, he’s an Unspeakable. Been so for two years."

"So, it’s not just a name then?" Remus concluded.

"How do you mean?" Charles looked puzzled.

"Unspeakables really don’t say a word, do they?"

Charles laughed, a very loud and obnoxious sound. He was a very adamant man and was known for being boastful and nearsighted.

"Of course not! Darwin’s just not fond of talking much!"

Remus cocked an eye up at Darwin, who had apparently tuned everything out and was staring dead ahead at… nothing, really. For such a mellow individual, it was amazing that he put up with someone like Charles, who obviously was his complete opposite. There was something about Darwin that didn’t make him appear to be "dim" in any way. Far from it, actually, his silence and the deep look in his eyes gave Remus the impression that he was a very intelligent man. Something Charles, however, seemed to be lacking in.

"I could never figure out doors," he laughed loudly again as they left an equipment room. He struggled for a few moments trying to determine if it swung in or out. "Why can’t they all just swing the same? Why make them all different?"

"One of the great mysteries of life," Remus muttered to himself, rolling his eyes as he followed Charles and Darwin down a corridor. When they reached the designated area for apparating, Remus recognized the Longbottoms- also in the Order- looking slightly frazzled and worried.

"Hello Frank," Remus said cheerfully to them.

"Oh, hello Remus. You wouldn’t have seen Peter around have you?" Frank wrung his hands as his wife, Katherine, went to check the corridor again.

Remus frowned. It wasn’t like Peter not to show up to work on time.

"No. Why? Is he assigned with you two today?"

Frank nodded, beginning to look exasperated.

"I’m not even sure if he got the assignment. From the report, it sounds urgent."

"Ready, Remus?" Charles asked loudly. Remus shot him a look.

"I guess. Frank, I’m sure Peter will turn up soon. There must be a logical explanation for his tardiness."

Again, Frank nodded and gave a small smile. Katherine returned, shaking her head and swinging her arms impatiently. When the characteristic pops of apparation reached Remus’ ears, he reluctantly did the same.

 

Remus wasn’t entirely sure what was so important about this assignment that he needed to come along.

He stood with Charles and Darwin in front of a small pub where both Muggles and wizards seemed to frequent. It was out in the middle of nowhere, a location that was convenient for rural wizards and Muggles alike. If it weren’t for the smell of Butterbeer, it could have been any other pub.

Yet the crowd was more interested in other beverages than the popular wizard children’s drink.

"Scrubby little place, ‘aint it?" Charles rubbed his hands together with a large smile. Darwin, naturally, said nothing.

"What is it we’re here for again?" Remus grimaced, looking around the small, dark, and cluttered establishment. Haughty groups of men of no distinguishable affiliation gave them gaunt stares as they picked their way through. The typical rough laughter and grunts abound, as women wearing scarcely anything topped off their pints. Remus went very tense and alert. Anything could happen here.

"Something about a brawl involving some pretty fancy magic," Charles whispered, perhaps for the first time in his life. Maybe Darwin advised him; Remus wouldn’t have been surprised if he had.

"I don’t see the need for the three of us. One team could have taken care of this." Remus nearly flattened himself against a pillar of scruffy wood as a waitress gave him a suggestive wink.

"Dumbledore has his reasons, I guess." Charles shrugged, looking around the pub with an optimistic expression. "Might as well have a drink while we’re here, eh?"

"Oh, I really don’t think-" Remus started.

"A round for the three of us!" Charles bellowed to the same waitress that had winked at Remus. Remus groaned.

Perhaps it was just his heightened state of awareness, but Remus could have sworn that the entire pub had gone a decimal quieter and that there were unseen eyes watching them. Charles, however, merely sat down at the nearest emptied table with a large ridiculous grin on his face.

"If we’re lucky, it’d all be a close call!" he whispered excitedly to both Remus and Darwin. Darwin simply looked at him, his expression indifferent. Remus thought of all the times Sirius had got on his nerves whenever they were in a pub, and figured he’d much rather have Sirius right then than Charles.

Much to Remus’ dismay, after three rounds nothing happened, other than just Charles becoming less intelligent with every swig. His tense guard began to slack as, after hours passed, nothing more than just a few drunks getting into a heated argument over the same woman they both loved brought attention to themselves. Before long, his chin was propped up by his hand on the table as Charles began to talk loudly about his position at the Illegal Concoction Regulation Department back at the Ministry before the Order came together.

"I told that kid from Belgium, he’s not gonna get anywhere mixing alligator bile with extract of hyacinth!" He slapped the table with his open palm, causing Remus to jump slightly.

"What d’you mean, I’m too loud?" he asked suddenly, looking at Darwin. Remus blinked; Darwin was staring right at Charles with the same indifferent expression. Remus hadn’t heard a word, but somehow Darwin must have said something for Charles was now looking very put out.

"You always say that," he snipped at Darwin.

Remus continued to stare, until a sudden movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. When he turned for a better look, however, whoever it was had gone. Desperate for a moment away from Charles bickering with his silent partner, Remus excused himself to the restroom and moved over to the spot where the movement had came from.

This corner of the pub was surprisingly quiet and darker as well. Remus’ tension returned and he fingered his wand, hidden underneath his cloak.

"Like father, like son… eh, little brother?"

The voice cut through Remus like a steel-cold knife. He twisted around in his spot, but he saw no one.

"Neo," Remus breathed.

"Careful," Neo taunted, still unseen in the shadows. "Wouldn’t want to find the same fate as Father."

"Show yourself, Neo!" Remus turned his back to the tenants sitting in the pub and drew out his wand. "You’re in serious trouble!"

"Oh?" Neo began to laugh, the sound beginning to circle around Remus.

"You have an invisibility cloak," Remus muttered bitterly. "Tell me, what else has your master given you to make you a worthy minion?"

"Things are more than what they seem, little brother. Always have, always will." Neo seemed so close that Remus could feel his breath. He lashed out with his wand, only to have Neo grab it.

"Am I really your enemy?" Neo whispered.

"You killed Mother," Remus spat. Neo was always the strongest, and his wand was now pointed to the ceiling. No chance of saying any curse.

"Did I?" He twisted Remus’ wrist.

"You were there!" Remus shrieked in pain, but his voice couldn’t reach back into the pub, where the din had escalated.

"So were you, little brother, so were you. Tell me, Remus- whom can you trust anymore?"

Neo then dropped Remus’ wand and brushed passed his side. Remus stood there, panting, too dumbstruck to go after him. His ears were ringing and his temples were pounding. What did Neo mean?

Someone tapped his shoulder and he whirled around angrily, only to face the bartender. The old, haggard man’s eyes widened at the sight of the wand in Remus’ hand and Remus hastily pocketed it.

"Are you a Mr. Remus Lupin?" the bartender asked shakily, trying to peer past his robes.

"Who is inquiring?" Remus asked brusquely.

"A young woman at the bar wishes to speak with you. And may I ask that whatever business you have here that you take care of it quickly and make your exit." The bartender gave him an almost fearful glare and turned to go back to his duties. Remus brushed himself off absentmindedly as he stole a glance at the table where Charles and Darwin appeared to be caught up in yet another round of beer. Looking back to the bar, he could just make out in the gloom the profile of a very tall, thin person bending over a pint.

Reaching for his wand again, Remus carefully made his way toward her, watchful for any sign of Death Eaters- or his brother. He came level with her backside without event, but he remained highly alert.

"You act so tough for one so weak," said a low feminine voice.

"Who are you?" Remus asked tersely. "I have you know that those of the Order of the Phoenix are in the vicinity and will take action should you show hostility."

The figure turned. Indeed, she was a young woman, perhaps a year or so younger than Remus. Her long hair was dark and unruly, and her face was angular and sharp. A memory hit Remus- this was the same woman he bumped into at The Three Broomsticks the night Sirius bought his motorcycle.

"Those two over there?" She turned toward Charles and Darwin. "I hardly think they could apprehend a fly right now."

Remus frowned as he let his gaze follow hers for a moment. Charles was richly engaged in conversation with a waitress, while Darwin’s indifferent face had turned to a frown as he continued to stare blankly at nothing.

"Who are you?" he asked again, looking back at her.

"You really are weak," she said, shaking her head slightly. "Why, I wouldn’t believe you were part of my kind if you didn’t have the smell."

Then it hit him. This was Beta. The realization must have been clear on his face, for she nodded with a twisted smile.

"At least you’re not that stupid. Perhaps you could work after all."

"What do you mean?" Remus began to grow exasperated with the idea that Dumbledore hadn’t instructed him more on this encounter.

"Come with me then," she said, dropping a few coins on the counter and heading for the door.

"I don’t think alone is a good idea," he said to her.

"There is no such thing as ‘alone’ anymore, no matter where you are," she said over her shoulder without looking back.

Hesitantly, Remus looked back at Charles and Darwin- they didn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. Beta hadn’t bothered to wait, and had gone outside already when Remus decided to follow. Whatever this was about, it was meant for him and him alone. Dumbledore would have said otherwise.

She was standing underneath a large willow, the lights from the pub barely touching the leaves. Sheathed in shadow, she had her back to him as he approached.

"Very few there are, like you," she said suddenly without turning back.

"Like me?" he asked, bewildered.

Beta looked at him then, and a moonbeam from the sliver crescent in the sky hit her face. Something about her awoke a feeling he had never felt before. Her sharp features weren’t unpleasant, but rather invoking the sense that there was more about her than met the eye. When he realized he was staring, he looked away.

"Not too many wolves get an education in magic, let alone by one of the top schools in the world," she said, crossing her arms.

Remus said nothing. It was an issue that crossed his mind often, and he was ever more grateful to Dumbledore for allowing him to go to Hogwarts.

"As such, you’re a contradiction. So weak, yet made powerful by your knowledge and no doubt skill. An ally we so desperately need." Her voice grew softer, and she too looked away.

"An ally to whom?" Remus’ eyes narrowed, looking at her again.

"Your brethren. Those just like you… like me. Werewolves. The minorities of the magical world- people who aren’t people, and people who aren’t quite creatures. At least not all the time." Her voice was low.

"I’m not a werewolf by choice," Remus whispered abruptly.

"Who is?" she countered sternly.

"I don’t consider other… other werewolves as brethren. I am a human being!" But he didn’t believe his words. Was he a human being? Surely a human being didn’t have to change into a beast every month.

"You know you’re not," Beta said his thoughts. "You are not alone, though. For centuries our kind has suffered discrimination and injustice. The time has come for great change! You-Know-Who treats our kind with equality and respect… something we’ve never had. There’s even promise of a cure!"

"So you’re with him," Remus acknowledged bitterly.

"How long are you going to hide the truth? How long do you think you’ll last before someone you don’t trust finds out about you? Can you continue to change in fear? Does your Minister know what you are? Do you think you’re position will protect you if he finds out?" Her words hit him blow by blow, each making sense. Everything was what he feared- and deep down, he did feel alone.

"You can make better use of your degree," Beta continued. "I have been sent by the leader of my pack to invite you to join us."

"How do you know about me?" Remus asked shakily.

"We have our sources," she said simply.

Remus’ mind was a whirl of confusion. He couldn’t say yes, for that would be joining the enemy- surely Dumbledore didn’t mean that. Did he know this was what Beta was meeting him for? What were her sources? He needed to talk to Dumbledore, now.

"I don’t help Voldemort," he said. "I never will."

She stepped closer to him, to the point where her nose almost touched his. Their eyes locked, and Remus could finally see the sharp aqua color she had.

"It’s not every day a rogue is invited into the pack. For that is what you are. We suffer the same curse, you and I. If not for yourself, why not join to find a cure for those just like you? You have more worth than you realize, perhaps even more than I think you have." She stepped back then, still looking at him.

What was he to do?

"I can’t give you an answer now," he said after a few moments.

"Meet me by Godric’s Hollow on the night of the full moon if you should decide to run with us. Either way, remember, we have our sources. Do not speak a word of our conversation if you do not wish to have more enemies than you already have." With that said, she turned and walked into the small wood, disappearing in the darkness.

Remus stood there a moment more, completely befuddled with his situation. It was absolute that he needed to go straight to Dumbledore. Racing inside the pub, he rushed over to Charles and Darwin, still engrossed with their pints.

"We’re done here," Remus told them quickly.

"Thought so," Charles boomed, the alcohol clear on his breath. "Wouldn’t have stayed so long if Darwin here hadn’t of chatted so much!"

Remus looked at Darwin, who seemed just as exasperated with Charles as he was. Still silent, however, he followed as Charles left the pub loudly with Remus at the rear.

His brother’s presence taunted him, long after Remus had left.

 

Dumbledore listened to Remus’ every word, jotting down random things on parchment as he explained everything Beta had said. Also, he finally was able to tell him about what happened on the night of the last full moon, when he encountered the female werewolf.

Safe from prying ears, Dumbledore’s office had not changed at all since Remus last had stepped foot in it. After what seemed to be an hour, and his voice had grown hoarse, Remus stopped and fell back upon the armchair as if it had taken all his energy to finally let his thoughts out. It grew silent then, the only sounds coming from the countless curious trinkets softly popping, whirling, and bubbling around Dumbledore’s office. The dancing light of gently flickering flames emanating from the torches lighting the scene reflected off of Dumbledore’s half-moon spectacles. He sat there with his hands folded in front of his face, looking not unkindly at Remus with a pensive expression.

"How do you feel, then, about what she offered you?" he asked Remus.

Eyes wide, Remus grasped for words at Dumbledore’s tone, as if he felt that Remus would be enticed to go over to the enemy. How much did Dumbledore know that Remus didn’t? It seemed as if there was more than met the eye here.

"I… I think I would be making the ultimate betrayal if were to say yes. I don’t consider myself one of them… I have no interest in helping them!"

Dumbledore unfolded his hands, looking grave. He shuffled around more parchment before saying anything more.

"Do you remember the conditions of which I forewarned you about before you decided to join the Order?" he asked.

Remus looked away, his face slightly stricken.

"Yes."

"And you remember your understanding that you would have a specific and specialized role as such?"

"Yes."

"Then you must understand what you must do?" Dumbledore looked at him intently, earnestly, an expression of searching on his face.

Remus stared at him, and then he realized. How dim could he be, to not see it right away!

"You want me as a spy," he said blankly.

"The only way to defeat Voldemort now is to infiltrate unseen into his forces. Weaken him at his roots, then will we be able to match him in combat. I’m afraid that not even the combined powers of the Order could likely defeat him now. You are a very intelligent and skillful wizard, one who’s rare among those who share the same curse you do. Become integrated into their society, your choice is to either bring them against Voldemort- or stop them by any means necessary." Dumbledore looked grave.

Remus stared at him, his chest becoming tight with apprehension. This was a very dangerous task. Dumbledore knew all along this was going to happen. Was Remus truly the best one for the job?

"What of my job now?" he asked, uncertain of exactly what to ask.

"This is your job. You will need to make reports with me at arranged intervals on what goes on. I trust you, Remus. I know you can do it."

What makes you so sure? Remus thought, staring down at his hands.

"What about James? The others?"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"I leave it up to you to tell them if you wish. However, the more people who know of your position, the more dangerous things become- for them and for you."

Then I really am a rogue. Remus stared at the fire in the hearth in the office. The dangerous one with which no pack is safe. It will either be the downfall of a society… or my friends.

 

It was decided that, for the first time since he was a child, Remus was to transform alone that full moon. Much to the disconcertment of Sirius and James, Dumbledore ensured that everyone had a major assignment that night. Lily was quiet, her lips taught as she looked at Remus with concern. The all left the house loudly in protest, Remus assuring them that Dumbledore had made prior arrangements. The only who didn’t seem convinced entirely was Lily, and she hugged him longer than normal before she left.

"I know I can trust you. Can you trust me?" she had whispered in his ear.

"With my life." Remus could feel his heart falter at the dishonest deception he was committing.

"You are just as part of my heart as everyone else is. Remember that."

She looked him in the eyes before James pulled her away, and Remus knew that she suspected that there was something more going on. Yet she said nothing, and his two best friends simply accepted his story. In a way, Remus was a little surprised that they couldn’t sense it. They always did with Peter.

When the house was empty of human occupants, Remus made his leave to the same clearing in the woods. Leaving a stack of clothing under a bush, he disapparated then to Godric’s Hollow. There he waited, until the last rays of sunlight touched the sky, and the moon made itself present.

Every time he transformed, Remus always tried to keep his mind. Yet it was useless, like water seeping through his fingers his human self disappeared, only to be replaced by another consciousness. Just before Remus was gone, his last thought was if being so close to Godric’s Hollow would keep his wolf self close enough to meet Beta. And then, nothing.

The wolf lifted his head and sniffed the air. Scents of ash and smoke, along with other things, made him bristle with the knowledge that men were nearby. Men were his only enemy, and he would do well to avoid them. He stretched his enormous muscles and shook himself, before turning to the opposite direction for his hunt. That was when another scent filtered in among the others.

A memory bubbled up inside the wolf’s brain, one of blood and another that made an unknown urge well up deep from his core. It made him turn in a different direction, parallel to the men’s dwelling, marking his own scent against trees and bushes along the way. In a zigzag pattern, he trotted toward the scent, which became stronger as he got closer. Tail erect and ears perked, all senses were trained now on finding the source.

He came to another incline, and, still searching, he slowly made his way to the top. There on the precipice, he found her.

Long flowing brown fur blew in the wind carried the female’s scent into the air. The rogue wolf froze, his keen nose taking in all the information her intoxicating scent allowed. She stared up at him defiantly, before craning back her head to let out a single, low howl.

Like the flow of a river, shadows gradually appeared behind her. A cloud shifted, making the moonlight cast its glow upon the hill. The rogue didn’t move, for the shadows were no longer shadows, but a pack. Only the sound of ruffling grass reached his ears, as he quickly passed his sharp eyesight over each individual. Every one of them was just as alerted as he was; their tails shot up above them. The female that had lured him, the same one he had seen before on one of his runs, lowered her head slightly. That signaled the largest of the wolves behind her to step forward.

Instantly, the rogue knew who he was. Coming to stand nearly nose to nose, this wolf stood a hand taller. Scars ran down his muzzle, creating valleys in the thick black fur that made him look more like a lion than a werewolf. His eyes were as dark as the bottom of midnight pools, but the rogue could feel the intensity they held. This was the alpha male, the leader of the pack.

You challenge me, Rogue? The alpha demanded.

Instinct was tearing inside the rogue’s mind. He did not belong to a pack, nor did he ever. Part of him told him to back down and leave, for he had no desire for company. But another said to challenge him, for it was the deepest law that a male should lead and have the right to mate. And yet something was pushing its way passed these thoughts, a sense of reason as he stared up at the alpha. The rogue weighed his odds at overcoming this wolf, who was larger and more experienced in sparring. Cunning intelligence made the rogue confident in his decision. He would wait for his chance to lead; he would allow the alpha to teach him how.

The rogue lowered his tail between his legs and crouched until his belly touched the ground.

No.

The alpha continued to stare down at him, his eyes sizing the rogue up and judging his worth. Then he turned to the long-furred female, and an unheard approval passed between them. The alpha then turned back to look down on the rogue.

Do you run?

Still with his tail between his legs, the rogue got up on his paws.

If the pack allows. It was the proper answer.

Satisfied, the alpha lifted his head to the moon and let out a long howl. Next the female, and not a moment later the entire pack filled the air with the sound. The rogue grinned inwardly, before stretching out his tail and joined his voice to theirs.

Run!

Let’s run!

The stars shine, the moon glows, the hunt calls!

Each wolf cried out their exuberance and turned together to continue their monthly ride. Tail wagging, the rogue went to join them, coming up to side with the female that had so attracted him. Her eyes were sharp and blue like none other the rogue had ever seen. She looked at him carefully before he was roughly knocked aside by the alpha.

Know your place. His hackles were raised.

Her scents now made sense to the rogue. She was the alpha female. Only the alpha male could pair with her, and none other could challenge such a position. Yet, when the alpha urged her forward to catch up with the pack, she was reluctant. Not wanting to jeopardize his instinctual plans, the rogue wagged his tail lowly in submission to the alpha’s law and ran ahead of them.

Still a pup, you are, Rogue. A particularly aged and wizened male panted beside him as wove through the forest. The rogue simply ignored the statement and ran faster, leaving the elder in his dust.

By the time the moon was halfway down in the sky, the rogue had counted and evaluated each member of his new pack. Alpha and his mate, three older females, another male slightly older than himself, and the elder male. His presence was treated with curiosity and caution, not being allowed any closer to the alpha female than Alpha allowed. Yet she ran apart from him, and the rogue sensed the alpha’s slight exasperation at her distance.

They came to rest when the moon threatened to disappear for the night. The rogue sniffed around him, detecting that he was close to his original territory. His new pack loafed amongst themselves, the females tenderly curling around each other as they cleaned their paws. The elder laid panting alone while the young male sat listening earnestly to the sound of scuffling rabbits in a far away hole.

An eye on Alpha, the rogue got up and pretended with youthful curiosity to inspect the trunks of the trees that surrounded the perimeter of the pack’s domain. Something from his old territory was calling to him, yet the call came from his own keen mind. When the young male suddenly burst into a sprint after the rabbits, Alpha quickly went to reprimand him. Taking the opportunity to slip out, the rogue swiftly headed back to his old home.

Only one saw him disappear into the wood, and she let him go.