Remus Lupin was tired. He had spent the last several days immersed in the society of his werewolf brethren, spying on them and he was so very very tired. It was necessary work, the spying, and he knew that but it never failed to make him feel rather dirty. And lucky. So lucky.
Every time he came back from the tiny and ramshackle wooden structures that passed as houses for most werewolves, he was reminded that he was lucky. He couldn't help but feel rather guilty for it, if he was honest. Most of his kind struggled to scrape together enough money for meals, much less decent housing and clothes. Their lives were in tatters, clinging to existence by a thread thanks to the prejudices that had built up against them over centuries. And he... he lived in comfort in a house by the sea and maybe it wasn't perfect but Merlin he was lucky. Every step he made anywhere near these broke down slums reminded him of that, ringing in his head. Lucky lucky lucky. And it wasn't just because there were clothes on his back and hot meal waiting at home.
By now, plenty of the werewolves in these rundown communities had embraced the stereotype. Remus couldn't alway bring himself to blame them either. They were angry, after all. They had been tossed aside and called monsters all their lives and decided that if that was all anyone would see then there was no point in trying to be anything else.
Fenrir Greyback was the worst of them. The name alone sent a shiver down Remus's spine. He'd barely even seen the werewolf who attacked him when he'd been bitten as a child and it was so long ago that he didn't remember it at all. But it had been Greyback. And now, that same violent, bloodthirsty man was a self appointed leader of the werewolf community, encouraging those afflicted with lycanthropy to give up and give in. To embrace the beasts they were and use their 'gifts' to pay back the world for the awful lives they'd been forced into.
So when Death Eaters had come knocking and offered free reign on battlefields and access to new targets, Greyback had been the first to join and the first to encourage others to as well. It was for justice, they said. For payback.
Remus's job was simple: be one of them. He played at the hesitant recruit, someone open to their offers to join but not entirely convinced. Those had been Dumbledore's instructions and that was exactly what Remus did. He did his best to make them trust him, believe that he was young and impressionable and could be convinced. And then he turned around and gave everything he had learned of their plans and movements to Dumbledore.
At least it was useful work, even if he left the rundown shanty towns with something tight and awful in his heart. It was better than nothing anyway and nothing was really the only other option. He had known for years and years that he was utterly unemployable. No one wanted a werewolf doing much of anything for them. Everyone would much rather keep their distance. Which was why so many of his kind were so poor. And one of many ways in which Remus was lucky.
Honestly, without his friends, he didn't know where he would be, but both Sirius and Lavinia insisted that he stay with them. He had offered to leave more than once, especially as it became clear, at least to him, that one of these days, they were going to take the next step and no married couple should be sharing their house with him. And if they had children... Well, if that happened, Remus would put his foot down. He couldn't be trusted with children.
In the meantime, he accepted their help, if only because the look Lavinia gave him when he brought up leaving was enough to make any sane person back down. Not that he always chose the sane option. They had squabbled about it on more than one occasion, actually, and though Remus still felt bad, he was somewhat reassured by the fact that Lavinia insisted, every time, that she wanted to take care of him. That he did her a disservice by refusing her kindnesses. And slowly, Remus had started believing her.
He wasn't sure he would ever be able to explain to her how much it meant to him that she had never turned away, that even when she got short with him, it was always for him. That he knew he would come home to hot tea and the offer of a meal. It was perhaps one of the only ways in which he had ever seen her fight these past few years. Not against anyone, but for people. For her people. He wondered sometimes if she even knew she was doing it.
Now, sighing, Remus approached the top of a small hill in the field he'd been walking across. This was one of his many precautions. The werewolf community he usually visited sat at the very outskirts of a small town surrounded by what seemed like endless fields of grass. Every time he had to depart, he walked until the town was barely visible behind him, then apparated to a safe point, waited for several minutes, then headed home. It was too risky to apparate straight to the house in case he was followed somehow. The longer they could keep the location of their residence a secret, the better.
He crested the hill on weary legs and descended into the trough below, keeping his eyes and ears open for any signs of unwanted company. Just as he reached the bottom, where he could safely apparate away, Remus heard the loud and unmistakable crack of someone apparating nearby.
He whirled, wand in hand, ready to fight and came face to face with two Death Eaters, both hooded but not masked and watching him. One had his wand raised, the other was holding his hands in a placating gesture, though his face was mostly obscured by the shadows in his hood.
"Remus Lupin," said the man whose hands were up and Remus paused with a spell halfway to his lips. What were they here for? He shouldn't hesitate and he knew that, but, he supposed, he spent too much time around Lavinia and all he could think was that if she was right, there was a chance, a tiny, slim, miniscule, stupid chance that these could be defectors. Or that at very least, they might accidentally yield some information that Dumbledore would find useful.
"We are here to talk," the man with his hands raised continued.
Remus clenched his jaw, not trusting them for a moment. "Spit it out then," he replied evenly. Yes, he thought, he most definitely should be cursing them right now. But... but just in case, he waited. All he had to do if he decided this really was an ambush was escape, a far easier task than these Death Eaters would have trying to kill or capture him. So he waited.
But the man who had spoken before was just watching him now, still and silent. Remus got the impression that he was being sized up, like the Death Eater was trying to decide if he was worth it or if he could really give him what he wanted. It was not a comfortable feeling.
Just as the silence stretched and gaped, however, the other Death Eater spoke in a voice Remus thought he recognized, though he wasn't entirely sure what from.
"We have an offer for you," the second man said, a slightly sneer to his voice.
Remus tensed. There was no way this was good. At all. And he should have started firing spells right then, but the first Death Eater was still just watching him and Remus didn't at all know what to make of it. An offer? What did they want from him? And what did they think they had to offer? Not that he was going to ask. Better for him to wait, to stay alert and ready to leave at a moment's notice.
When Remus didn't answer, the second Death Eater made a scoffing sort of noise and continued. "Join us," he said simply.
It took all of Remus's self control not to laugh. Or choke. Or maybe scream. "Bit of a one sided offer," he pointed out after a moment. He should probably have left as soon as he said that, but... but this was valuable information to be able to bring to Dumbledore. The Death Eaters were trying to recruit Order members. The question was why. Why him? Why now? Why why why.
The first Death Eater spoke then, finally breaking his silent contemplation of Remus. "We would offer you an escape from your more brutal kin," the man said smoothly and something in the voice grabbed at Remus's mind, but he pushed the strange feelings away. He didn't have time for any distractions now. "You seem a more cultured man than they are," the Death Eater continued, "Join a more cultured fight and show the world that werewolves are more than just beasts. We can give you that opportunity. All you have to do is give us information."
The second man was watching the first with an intensity that made Remus think that this was not what they had agreed on. But he ignored that too.
A spy. They were looking for a spy. That explained a few of the whys. Why him, anyway. They probably thought he was a vulnerable member, easily convinced because of the terrible situation his kind had in society. They hadn't counted on him being one of the lucky ones. But it didn't explain the why now. He had been visiting werewolf villages for months and months. Why approach him now? What had changed that they decided they needed a spy now more than before? And needed one enough that they were being this brazen about it?
He readjusted the grip on his wand. He didn't think this was going to end without a fight and he fully intended to get off the first shot. Just in case.
"You're going to have to do better than that," he informed them carefully. He had to buy time. He couldn't risk disapparation now, not with them this close. If one grabbed him while he left, whichever safe location he went to would be compromised. He would just be dragging the fight to some other location which wouldn't be particularly helpful for anyone.
The second Death Eater laughed and raised his wand as the first pulled his from a pocket of his robes, watching again from beneath his hood. "How about," the second man growled, "You agree or you die."
Remus didn't deign to answer. He shot a silent stunning spell nearly before the man had the words out of his mouth. He blocked it, but the shield was weak and broke with the force of the spell and Remus was already firing another stunning spell right after it. This one caught the man in the chest even as Remus dodged a retaliatory curse from the first man. The second went down, hood falling off to reveal a face Remus knew vaguely from school, though he couldn't place the name.
The first man didn't wait to watch his companion fall. He simply attacked with renewed vigor, setting Remus on the defensive as his wand flung curse after curse. There was a break and Remus took the opportunity to go on the offensive, trying to hit the man with a stunning spell, trying to get away. But this man was fast and dodged Remus's spells with maddening ease, approaching until... Remus was just fast enough to dodge a strange purple spell, but stagged back on the uneven ground and right into another curse. He felt the impact in his side, registered that he was falling and wondered vaguely if this was it. If this was dying.
His limbs seized up as he tumbled over but... but his eyes were open, staring up at a cloudy sky. Not dead. And if his wand was still in hand...
Before he could think of a spell to fire or where the hell to aim now that he couldn't properly see, his fingers were being pried away from his wand and he mentally swore. There was a sigh, of relief or shock or something else, Remus didn't know, but soon a face came into his field of vision.
The Death Eater had removed his hood and was looking down at Remus with slightly narrowed eyes. He was vaguely familiar, but... again, no name came to mind. Another sigh and the Death Eater took a seat next to Remus, whose head was, by now, absolutely reeling. What the hell was going on? Was this man playing some sort of game? Taunting him before he finished him off? He'd heard of Death Eaters playing with their victims, but that usually involved the Cruciatus Curse, not sitting down next to him in an open field. Or was he simply waiting for someone worse to arrive? Had he summoned his master to finish the job?
But then the Death Eater started speaking and though the suspicions vanished, Remus's confusion only deepened.
"I don't think you know who I am," the Death Eater said, utterly calm, his voice forcibly blank. "We never spoke at school. Wrong house, wrong year, the whole deal." He sounded so... casual. It was throwing Remus completely off. But maybe, he thought, that was the man's goal. None of this made any sense.
There was a flash of light and if Remus had been able to move, he would have flinched. But the spell didn't hit him. The Death Eater glanced his way. "Sorry," he said, not sounding particularly sorry at all. "Have to waste time, you know. Make the fight seem longer." Another flash of light, followed by a slight tremor through the ground and Remus understood. The Death Eater was firing spells at the dirt so if anyone checked his wand, it would seem like a long fight. Why that was necessary, however, was anyone's guess.
"I think you know my sister," the man said now. His sister? The only woman with a brother that Remus knew particularly well was... Lavinia. Which made this William Selwyn. Which made no sense whatsoever.
"Tell her..." The Death Eater - Selwyn - trailed off, sounding almost... sad. "Tell her I miss her. Tell her I'm sorry." Again, silence and another flash of light followed by a shudder in the ground.
"And keep her safe," Selwyn added with a sigh that was very very heavy. "They'll be coming for her. Soon. And they won't be kind about it."
Now Remus was panicking. Coming for her? Who was coming for her? Of course they wouldn't be kind about it, but... Who? And when? And why. So many whys. But Selwyn answered none of them.
"Please," the Death Eater said simply and Remus wished he could have seen his face. Wished he could see if this was a trap or if there really was the sort of love in this man's voice that his words so implied.
But he didn't get the chance. Next thing he knew, his limbs felt like they were melting. His wand was dropped on his chest and there was the sound of someone disapparating. By the time Remus was able to sit up, neither Death Eater was there.
He grabbed his wand and looked around, even as his head was reeling with what Selwyn had said. They'll be coming for her. It must mean Death Eaters. But why? Why would they target her specifically? And why would Selwyn warn him? Was there really lingering affection there? He wasn't sure he trusted that but... Well. Better safe than sorry.
He didn't bother apparating to a safe location first. He went straight to the house, stepping into the bounds of the protective enchantments and hurrying into the front door to find Sirius lounging on the couch, The Daily Prophet unfolded in his hands. At the sound of Remus's entrance, the other boy sat up properly and greeted him.
"Productive?" Sirius asked, now folding away the Prophet.
"Sort of," Remus replied, glancing around distractedly. "Where's Vin?"
Sirius frowned at him. "At work," he shrugged. "Why?"
Remus didn't know how to begin explaining what the hell had just happened so he didn't bother. Instead he merely said, "I think she's in danger."
Sirius sat up very straight, head cocked slightly like a dog and looked him carefully up and down, then at the clock as though doing some quick calculations in his head. Remus marveled inwardly then at the trust his friend had in him that he didn't question how he'd gotten such information or whether or not it was sound.
"How immediate?" Sirius demanded, his eyes returning to his friend.
Remus shook his head. "No idea. Probably not that immediate," he reasoned. They're coming for her, Selwyn had said. Which meant she was being targeted, not that she was about to be attacked. Not to mention that she was undoubtedly safe while she was at work. Even the Death Eaters wouldn't dare attack her at the hospital. And thanks to new ministry guidelines, she could apparate directly to the entrance, a detail Remus suspected she had shared just to shut him and Sirius up about the dangers of walking through muggle London these days.
"She should be home in half an hour," Sirius reasoned. "We can figure out a plan to keep her safe then. Put some extra precautions in place."
Remus nodded and stifled a yawn. Merlin, he was exhausted.
Seeing him, Sirius gave a sympathetic smile. "Tea?" he offered and though the word was light and even, Remus knew his friend well enough to read the tension in his shoulders and the impatience in his expression. He wondered if the offer wasn't as much to kill time as it was to help Remus. So even though he would rather have just taken a nap, he nodded and Sirius disappeared into the kitchen, returning several minutes later with a steaming mug, which Remus accepted gratefully before the two boys settled in to wait.
But half an hour came and went and there was no sign at all of Lavinia Selwyn.
A/N: Well, life's officially a mess. Not that that's new, but I got confirmation today lol. My uni finally got back to us about the belongings we had in storage that were going to be delivered to our new dorm rooms free of charge thanks to the sudden leaving last semester. But of course, not there are no new dorm rooms. So our options are: pay to keep it all in storage or pay to ship it all to us. Which is an ow from my bank account. And also a couple choice swear words for the general logistics of it all. Because I have notes and textbooks in storage bc you know, they're heavy and bulky and what was I supposed to do with them when I was given 3 days to pack my bags for an airplane and leave. I chose clothes and that semesters notes. Not old notes. Which I now really need. But I can't just say "I want these specific items" I have to go all or nothing. So basically: fuck. It's a mess.
Also, logistical note for this story: the next two chapters will probably have stars (sorry) but they're not really for our normal trigger-y things. It's more assault and harassment triggers. If you're worried about specific things, you are always welcome to DM me and ask and I will, of course, tell you what sort of triggering things there may be in a chapter. This is just a heads up bc I don't want anyone blindsided by it.
Anyway, as usual, I hope y'all enjoyed and I'll be back again tomorrow!