Stress Relief

All is explained…


AN: Okay, I was nasty to poor Sirius, and I shouldn’t have left you all hanging there! (Call it the Slytherin part of me). Anyway, this chapter should explain a lot…



Remus sat silently before the fireplace the following week, in what had become his nightly ritual. Thinking about Sirius. Sirius was most definitely not himself, yet Remus could not understand why. Sure, he had a thing for Tonks, but that was one of those dark, forbidden secrets that Remus was sure his best friend would never have normally aired. And as for his attack on Tonks – well, it was worthy of a Deatheater, not a member of the Order, especially not that member.

Remus had never spoken a word to anyone about what had taken place that night, especially not to Tonks her self. Now that he was keeping a close eye on both Tonks and Sirius, Remus saw no need to stir up any more trouble. He knew that Tonks did indeed have a right to know, but that knowledge would only serve to hurt them all.

Whatever it was Sirius had given Tonks, thought Remus, it surely can’t have been legal. And there was only one person that came to mind who would be able to get his hands on such ingredients – Severus Snape himself. However, Remus thought it a long stretch to believe that Snape would have given Sirius anything of the kind – the two never had and never would get along, and the idea that Snape would do such a thing when he was fully aware of Sirius’ attitude towards his girlfriend was unimaginable, even for the likes of Snape. No, Snape was not the culprit here.

Remus had even briefly entertained the idea that Sirius literally wasn’t himself – that someone had taken over his body, just has they had to Moody several years ago. Yet why someone would do such a thing in order to break up Tonks and Snape was also grasping at straws. Besides, Moody himself would’ve spotted it a mile away, not to mention the other charms and spells over Grimmauld Place.

No, Remus thought in frustration, that can’t be it at all!

And yet his thoughts came back to that potion. He knew it was the key, but how?

Remus sipped at his firewhisky and scanned the room. Bill Weasley sat in one corner with his father pouring over papers. In all honesty, Remus should probably have been with them, but right now he had more pressing issues on his mind. The only other person in the room, all but passed out in the opposite corner, was Mundungus Fletcher.

Of course! How could I be so bloody stupid! Lupin thought angrily. Mundungus was well known for his illegal goings on.

Lupin leapt from his seat and was before the old drunk in an instant.

“What the hell did you give Sirius?!”

Bill and Arthur’s head span in their direction, stunned by the sudden outburst.

“What? Oh, nothing…” Mundungus replied, rather unconvincingly.

“Don’t lie to me, Fletcher!”

“Okay, okay, he asked me for Relevo, and must say it was bloody difficult to find, but managed it. Shall we say it fell off the back of a broom?”

Relevo? Bloody hell, Lupin thought. Yet it didn’t quite fit. Tonks hadn’t displayed characteristics of that potion at all. She had been perfectly aware that what Sirius was doing was wrong, and her drunken state was not fitting at all. No, that can’t have been it. Damn.

“Anything else?” Lupin growled in a tone worthy of his werewolf status.

“No, don’t think so…oh, hang on. Yeah, that’s right. Madide Potion. Yes, now I remember,” Mundungus replied, fortunately for him since Lupin now had hold of his collar.

“How bloody stupid are you?” Lupin snapped, shaking the wizard violently. “What the hell were you doing with that in the first place?”

“Remus, come now,” Arthur replied gently. “Mundungus, I suggest you head to bed.”

Mundungus gave Remus a rather shocked look, and then acted upon Arthur’s suggestion.

“What was Sirius doing with Relevo?” Arthur asked, sounding quite concerned.

“Not the vaguest. But I know precisely what he was doing with that Madide Potion!” Lupin growled angrily. What had happened to his friend? Sirius would never have done something so evil. This was all wrong…

“You know,” Arthur said quietly, “Sirius hasn’t been himself of late.”

“Really?” Remus snapped, then sighed apologetically. “Sorry, Arthur, I just don’t know what is going on with him.”

Arthur paused, then spoke in a hushed tone, “I think I do. Think, Remus, Sirius has been completely without inhibitions, without a sense of right or wrong. What does Relevo do?”

How could he have been so stupid? Of course, Sirius had been taking the potion himself. A weight was instantly lifted from the werewolf’s shoulders, only to be replaced by one much heavier. Relevo was quite addictive. There would be an almost impossible battle ahead…

Tonks felt sick. Had been for the past week. Getting up from beside the toilet, she quickly flushed away the evidence and grabbed at the glass of water by the sink.

“Tonks, you all right?”

It was Sirius. The man had had quite an attitude change over the passed two months. No longer was he continually pestering her, making her life hell. He actually seemed to have come to terms with her relationship with Severus, and seemed to be determined to make up for his wrongdoings. Tonks had forgiven him for what he had done – after all, it had never been more than a few nasty words about Severus.

“Ugh. Yeah, I’m right. Bloody stomach bug,” she muttered, opening the bathroom door.

Sirius stood there looking quite concerned about his cousin. He had a sneaking suspicion he knew precisely what her problem was, but how to tell her?

“Um, Tonks, you know this is what Lily was like when she was pregnant with Harry,” Sirius said quietly, not wanted anyone else to over hear.

“Good for her. I’ve got a bug, that’s all,” Tonks replied, not evening wanting to entertain that idea.

“Serious, Tonks, are you sure you’re not…”

“How can I be? Been taking Severus’ potions,” Tonks said, waving her hand in dismissal.

“You sure? I mean, nothing against Snape’s potion making ability, he’s possibly the best there is, but even the best make mistakes from time to time…”

Tonks froze as sudden terror flooded over her. Sirius was right, the evidence was all pointing that way and he didn’t know the half of it. She’d missed her last period, putting that down to stress. And then there was that potion that had tasted a little strange…

“Oh Merlin!” Tonks gasped, her hand shooting to her mouth. “No, no, no!”

Sirius stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

He watched on as Tonks slid down one wall, pulling her knees to her chest. “What the hell am I going to do?!”

Sirius shifted uncomfortably. “Um, I think I’d better go and get Molly.”



AN:

Virgy – hope this sorted out the confusion a little – poor old Sirius really wasn’t himself!

Gx-Silver – Hm, Snape’s reaction, you’ll just have to wait and see! Thanks!

Gem/Hermione - Sorry about Sirus, but I hope thiapteapter explained all! (Don’t give up just yet, Sirius will turn out to be a good guy in the end!)