Words: 2576

Description: Now that the Marauders are aware of Remus's abuse, they're determined to rescue him.

Story:

Remus was fifteen now, at the end of fourth year. Christmas at the Potters' with James and Sirius went better than he could've expected and he was invited back the next year, which Remus was quite happy about.

But he would have to get through the summer first.

Remus was scared. He had a little bit of trouble admitting it to himself at first, but he was.

He'd told himself at the beginning of the year that he would stay out of trouble, but he'd gotten more detentions this year than he had in third year. His father would be furious.

They sat together in a compartment on the train and this time all the attention was on Remus. He hid his fear well, he was composed and his jaw was set tight, but he was screaming on the inside. And the other boys knew that.

"We'll find a way to rescue you, I promise," Sirius said as they separated at the platform. Remus felt a lump in his throat and he nodded at them as Sirius hurried off to where his mother and Regulus were standing. James patted him firmly on the shoulder in that way of his that filled you with courage.

And Remus turned to face his father. But he wasn't there. Remus's stomach dropped and he turned to see if any of his mates were still there, but they had gone and Remus was alone.

He waited at the station for some time, until all the students and their families had cleared out and his father still hadn't shown. Remus didn't know how he was going to get home, he couldn't very well walk and he didn't know how to apparate.

After running through all of his options, he decided on the Knight Bus. He'd never taken it before, but he'd heard stories. He looked both ways to be sure the muggles weren't watching and he stuck out his left hand with his wand and there was a great 'pop' sound and a giant purple double decker bus careened up to the curb and the door opened.

"'Ello mate, welcome to the Knight Bus! Where can we take ya?"

Remus dragged his trunk behind him and told the driver his address.

"Ya might want'er take a seat, lad. It's going to be a bumpy ride!"

Remus did as he was told and still ended up being sick.

When the bus finally stopped in front of their cottage, Remus could barely walk for the shaking of his legs. He thanked the driver and payed him with the little pocket money he had left from James and stumbled up to his front door.

It was past dark and cold and the trees whispered and moved like they were haunted things and Remus could swear he saw shadows moving about.

The door was locked. Remus could've cried, but he didn't. He knocked and tried the door again and again, but it never opened. Remus could hear Lyall just inside and he knew that Lyall was aware he was locked outside and he didn't let him in.

Remus sank against the wall and wrapped his sweater tightly around his shoulders. He watched the shadows until the sun rose, knowing that if he dared to close them, the trees would snatch him up and he'd never be seen again.

Lyall let him inside after he'd had his morning coffee and read the paper.

He led Remus right past the kitchen where he could smell the bacon cooking and he took him right to the cellar.

Remus started to panic as they got closer to the door.

Not the cellar, not the cellar, NOT THE CELLAR!

He dug his heals in, clawed at the walls, elbowed at his father, did everything he could and it still wasn't enough.

He went tripping down the stairs again, crashing to the floor as his father looked on from the door, expression hard as steel. "I'll be damned if you see the light of day this summer, you worthless, disgusting monster. I should've known you were more animal than boy because you can't get a fucking thing through your head! How many fucking detentions did you get this year! HUH?"

His face was red from shouting and Remus shook. He didn't answer, he couldn't. Lyall shook his head, muttering to himself, and he slammed the cellar door shut and the light disappeared with it.

Remus was used to the little window at the top of the cellar, but it had been boarded shut and Remus shook all the harder, having the worst panic attack yet with no one there to help him out of it.

+++

Lyall forgot to bring Remus food for a few days and when he did it was hardly enough. The full moon was that week and a hungry wolf was an angry wolf and the moon was brutal.

That full moon took a lot out of Remus, too much. It took the fight.

+++

When Sirius promised to rescue Remus, he'd meant it with all of his being. He just hadn't expected to need rescuing himself.

The second his mother had the two of them in the door, she sent Regulus to his room until supper and cursed Sirius silly until he couldn't walk and then she left him there in the study to cry and lick his wounds as the three of them had their happy little family dinner without him.

For the remainder of summer, he was expected to stay in his room and stay quiet. It was driving him crazy, pacing around his room and wondering what was going on in the outside world.

Was Remus okay? Had James gone to rescue him without Sirius? Were they safe? He didn't know. He couldn't stand the not knowing.

One day, about a month into summer, Sirius saw Regulus walk past his room. It was incredibly sad to say that Sirius hadn't actually seen his brother since Kings Cross Station.

"Reg!" He whisper shouted.

Regulus whipped around, eyes wide. He looked both ways before whispering back, "What?"

"I need a favor," Sirius asked.

Regulus's bit his lip. He knew damn well he wasn't supposed to be talking to his brother. But he was going to be a third year. He could make his own decisions. Right?

Sirius could see the war going on in Regulus's head. He tapped his foot impatiently, but refrained from goading him on. He knew Regulus was fragile in the decision making department and he really needed this favor.

Finally, Regulus sighed and tip-toed over to Sirius and crossed his arms.

"I need you to send a letter to my mate James. Please, it's really important."

Regulus could see the sincerity in his brother's eyes. And he'd always had a hard time saying no to Sirius.

"Alright, but quickly. Mother mustn't know."

Sirius beamed at him and gathered him in a quick, bone crushing hug that took the breath right out of Regulus, but Sirius's arms were gone in an instant as he raced back into his room to write the letter and Regulus found himself missing the safe feeling of his brother's arms.

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Dear James,

SOS. I'm going crazy here without your company. Reg agreed to send you this letter with the family owl, thank Merlin. I've got nothing to do here but pace my room and worry. Have you heard from Remus? I'm really worried about him and we said we'd rescue him and I mean to do just that, but could you maybe rescue me first? I'll leave my window open if you bring your broom and I can sneak out that way.

Yours in Mischief,
Sirius B.

+++

James left as soon as he got the letter. He yelled down to the kitchen to let his Mum know he was going out and he grabbed his broom and his invisibility cloak and left.

Of course, if Euphemia knew about his last minute rescue mission, she would not allow him to go, so he just didn't tell her.

He flew all the way to Grimmauld Place and stopped where he thought Number 12 should be and he waited until he could hear Sirius calling his name.

He hovered where he heard Sirius's voice and got ready to catch him. Oh, he thought, if only Mother knew what I was getting up to.

Sirius, bag over his shoulder, jumped from the window and James hurried to get under him and he grabbed onto Sirius, holding the broom steady between his thighs and he hoisted Sirius onto the broom behind him.

Sirius laughed joyfully, he couldn't believe that had worked. He saluted to Regulus where he knew he was watching and James pulled the cloak around the both of them and they shot off towards Potter Manor.

The Potters were of course overjoyed to see Sirius, but quite appalled and horrified about the way he had gotten there.

The two boys endured a long lecture and went to bed.

The next morning, they both got up bright and early and were planning on sneaking out again to find Remus's house (they weren't quite sure how they planned to do that, but they were determined nonetheless) but Fleamont and Euphemia were waiting for them.

"And where do you boys think you're going now? Did you not hear a word of what we said last night?" Euphemia said sternly with her hands on her hips.

James was about to defend their listening skills, it had been just on the tip of his tongue, We heard everything you said, we just chose not to listen, but Sirius beat him to it.

"Remus needs our help," he said.

Fleamont furrowed his eyebrows. "How do you mean, lad?"

James and Sirius shared a look. "His dad's terrible to him. And I promised we would rescue him and it's already been over a month—" Sirius couldn't help that he was starting to sound tearful and Mrs. Potter was quick to jump in and soothe him.

"You just can't be going off on your own, dears, it could be dangerous."

"It's dangerous for Remus, too, Mum," James whined.

Fleamont sighed. "We'll go with you, then. Do you know where he lives?"

James and Sirius shared an embarrassed look and shook their heads.

"Well." Fleamont said.

But Euphemia was already hustling to the kitchen, an idea brewing in her head. She came back with James's owl and a simple note that read, Remus Lupin, in her fancy scrawl.

"I've never known an owl so good at finding wizards and witches as this one. We'll let James's owl lead the way."

"Brilliant!" Fleamont cheered and they got ready to follow the owl, James and Sirius each picking a parent to side-along apparate with behind the bird.

It was a long journey, but sure enough, James's owl found Remus's house.

Sirius's uneasy feeling resurfaced when he saw it. It was a run down cottage and the lawn was overgrown with vines and weeds. The trees surrounding the property gave him the chills, the way they swayed and seemed to be watching them.

Fleamont frowned and walked up the drive and knocked on the door. There was no answer, and he twisted the knob to find that it was locked.

"Alohamora," he muttered and the lock clicked. Fleamont tried the door again and it opened and he stepped in first. Euphemia drew her wand as well, arm out to keep the boys from rushing in.

Fleamont wrinkled his nose at the smell of the place. What they could see of the cottage looked just as run down as the outside did.

And there, passed out on the couch with a bottle of alcohol in his hand could only by Lyall Lupin.

Sirius felt himself sneering in disgust. James looked to his mum for permission and she nodded tensely and the two of them set about searching the cottage for Remus.

Right as the boys found the door to the cellar, they heard Lyall waking up in the living room.

"What the hell?" He asked and there was a shuffle and then, "Hey! What the bloody fuck are you doing in my house?!"

"Sit down, Lyall," Fleamont said sternly, a storm brewing in his voice.

James and Sirius set to trying the locks, but they were done by magic, and not the kind that could be undone with a simple alohamora.

"Mum! We can't get it unlocked," James called behind them (Lyall grunted in frustration) and then he pounded on the door. "Remus?! Remus, are you in there? Can you hear me?"

"I said sit down!" They heard Fleamont say in the living room.

Euphemia hurried over and she gasped at all the locks, tears welling in her eyes at such cruelty and she called over her shoulder to Fleamont, saying, "Honey? We should call the aurors in the child abuse department."

"Impedimenta," Fleamont cast and Lyall started cussing until Fleamont cast a "silencio."

He hurried down the hallway toward them and swore under his breath when he saw the locks. "You may be right, love."

He sent a patronus and the two of them worked on the locks. Once they'd gotten them all unlocked, James and Sirius pushed past them and hurried down the steps.

James gagged and his eyes watered at both the smell and the horridness of what he saw. Sirius didn't stop. He went right to where Remus was passed out on the floor.

He was reaching out for him, but suddenly Euphemia was there, snapping at him to stay back and wait for the mediwitches.

Sirius didn't realize he was crying until Euphemia had her arms around him, wiping his eyes. Remus looked so frail and thin, pale as a ghost and trembling like a leaf. He was unconscious and hadn't stirred in all the commotion.

Sirius cried Remus's name and reached out for him as the mediwitches rushed past him to Remus's side and checked his vitals, loading him up onto a stretcher to transport him to St. Mungos.

Sirius hated the cellar already, it was small and putrid and dark.

Euphemia led the two boys out of the house and they sat outside while Fleamont helped the aurors deal with bringing Lyall in to the Ministry and inspecting the house. One child care witch helped Fleamont in packing a bag of Remus's things, even though he didn't have much. His bedroom had gone untouched since he'd spent the entire summer in the cellar.

As soon as everything was figured out, they went to St. Mungos to see Remus. He was still unconscious and he was hooked up to all sorts of IVs. He'd been severely dehydrated and malnourished, the nurses said. And he sustained some injuries from an unknown source. The boys knew this meant furry little problem.

They stayed with Remus through the night and he came to in the morning.

Sirius hugged him carefully but tightly, hating how small Remus was, but loving that he was safe in his arms.

Remus was crying, a constant tremble in his muscles. Sirius held him close, vowing to never let him go, not ever.

"Don't worry, Rey. I've got you. I've got you."

+++

THE END. I hope you enjoyed reading that little series as much as I enjoyed writing it!