You Raise Me Up

Yay!! The bunnies are feeling much better, and have decided to hop around a little today, hence the nice on-time chappie!

Lots will be revealed in this chapter, and it will answer your questions. BUt if you have any more, feel free to ask them. Just post them in the form of a review. ^_^ I'm a review whore....
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Bellatrix led Remus to the Leaky Cauldron. She got quite a few glares from people on the street, but once she loudly threatened to snap a man’s neck if he didn’t stop staring, she was only bothered by the occasional stolen glances. Remus couldn’t help but admire the way she could snap at people one second, and coo happily at the infant in her arms the next. Orion was a strange-looking child to say the least.

He had a thin face for a baby, and dark hair that was already filled with soft dark whorls, indicating curls would form later. And those eyes! His eyes were a brilliant yellow, and reminded Remus of an owl he once saw. Not to say the baby wasn’t cute. He was adorable in a non-conventional sort of way.

The first real problem that she had with Remus was trying to get him inside the Leaky Cauldron. As soon as he crossed through the door, the bartender, a behemoth man that everyone knew as ‘Slim,’ picked up a broom and came at Remus wordlessly. It was Bellatrix who stepped in front of Remus, throwing Slim off-kilter. He stood, broom in hand, and glared at her.

“Stand aside, Death Eater…I’ve got a problem to take care of.” He said, tapping the handle of the broom against his palm like a weapon.

“The only problem you’ve got is your attitude, Slim.” She snapped. “He’s with me. You insult him, you insult me. And if you insult me, you insult my pretty blonde sister. You insult her, and you’ll have to deal with her husband. You don’t want that do you, Slim?” she asked, jiggling Orion innocently.

“You do know he’s a werewolf, dontcha?” he asked, glaring at Remus over Bellatrix’s shoulder.

“I’m quite aware of that detail.” She said. His eyes widened slightly.

“Whatever. If you want to lower yourself to spend time with his kind, that’s your problem. Just make sure he don’t make a mess…I don’t clean up after animals.” he said, glaring with renewed intensity as the two passed him.

“Thanks for that…” Remus said softly, his head lowered.

“Chin up, Lupin. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Walk with your head up.” She said.

“If I walk with my head up it’ll just be a better angle for someone to knock my teeth down my throat…” Remus murmured.

“Well….then…you’ll be…toothless and proud….” She said, at a loss for a proper comeback. Remus chuckled softly.

“By all rights I shouldn’t like you…” he said, settling down into the booth she had scored for them to wait for Hermione. She sat across from him, and raised an eyebrow.

“Pray tell?”

“You killed my best friend, were responsible for the mental breakdown of two more, and took the life and attempted to take the lives of countless others.” He said, locking his own gold eyes with her black ones. “Why should I believe that you are different?” he asked.

“You don’t have to believe it. Many already don’t. But I’ll tell you an extended version of what I told you on the street. After The Fall, a few of the Death Eaters went into hiding. Rodolphus and I were part of them. Around the second day after we ‘relocated,’ things started to get…chaotic. They were turning on each other, blaming each other for the fall of the Master. ‘If only’ s were rampant in the camp we had set up. Eventually they all settled on blaming me. They said I was closer to him than any….that I should have been able to protect him.” At this point her voice was starting to crack. Her breathing had increased, and she was stroking Orion’s face nervously.

“I never stood a chance against them. They disarmed me…but I put up one hell of a fight. They gathered around me, in a circle. At first it was just shoving. Then one of them struck me across the face with his fist. The others started in. I tried to fight them off physically, but it only roused them more. Eventually I fell to my knees. Two of them took my arms, and held me against the ground whilst another transfigured a whip from a vine. Then he whipped me. Oh…it hurt so bad…” by this time tears had pooled in her dark eyes. It almost scared Remus to see her like this.

“I don’t even remember how long he whipped me. The last thing I saw was a boot aimed for my face. When I woke up they were gone. They had left me for dead in a clearing not far from the camp. So, with the last bit of strength I had, I Apparated to Malfoy Manor. It was then that Hermione answered the door. She knew very well who I was, and she helped me anyway. She became my friend in that moment.” She finished, a hair’s breadth away from bursting into tears. To say Remus was uncomfortable in that moment would have been an understatement.

“Everything that I had been taught up to that moment was turned upside down. We were supposed to be on the same team. I’m a Pureblood. I was loyal. But that didn’t matter to them anymore…so why should it matter to me? I sold their arses out to the Ministry. They got Kissed, I got freed. I don’t regret anything.” She said, regaining her composure. “I have Orion, and Severus, and my family.” She said. Remus started.

“Severus? As in Severus Snape? He never mentioned a woman in his life…much less Bellatrix...er…Black.” he said. She smiled.

“I heard he was making the wolfsbane potion for you…but where have you been? Hermione said she hasn’t heard from you since The Fall.” She said.

“Anti-werewolf laws have tightened since the war ended. The Dark Lord had werewolves on his side, and ever since the public has completely gone mental on werewolves. Even those that fought on the side of the Light. Werewolf equals evil, they say, and the public has eaten it up. You spoke of everything you had been taught being turned upside down. I know the feeling. Taught to fear something. Told it was worthless, not even human…a beast. Imagine it. You know the education of a young magical person. Now…become it.” He said softly, locking eyes with her.

“I disappeared after the war because I may have lost many rights, but I didn’t lose my dignity. I lived with Sirius because he was my friend. He was single, and he was my friend. I couldn’t stay with Harry because I felt like a burden. I couldn’t work, so I couldn’t pay rent. So I left. I’ve been a wanderer since the war ended. I…was ashamed.” He said, and sighed softly.

“Harry wouldn’t have cared. He misses you so much. He wasn’t even sure if you were alive. And I’ll give you a hint. Tell Hermione what you told me about those laws, and she’ll be on the Minister’s ass like arrogance on a Malfoy. She can get things done…” she said, and flashed the werewolf a smile. He chuckled.

A loud squeal alerted the two (and the entire restaurant) to the presence of Hermione, and Remus suddenly felt arms around his neck.

“Remus! Oh gods I’m so happy to see you!” Hermione squealed, and squeezed him happily.

“Hermione….need…breathe…” Remus laughed.

She loosened her grip, but kept her arms around him. “I’m sorry! We just didn’t know where you were…one time we even thought you might have…have…” and she suddenly burst into tears, and buried her face against him. “We thought you had died! We missed you!” she said. She pulled back swiftly, and smacked his arm soundly. “You insensitive sod! We thought you were dead!” she snapped, her emotions hitting an angry high.

Remus actually looked scared. “Wh..what just h-happened?” he asked, rubbing his arm gingerly. Bellatrix laughed.

“That, Lupin, was hormones at their best.” She said, grinning as Hermione stood straight, huffing slightly. Remus swallowed hard.

“You look lovely, Hermione…” he said gently.

“Don’t lie! I look like a cow!” she snapped angrily. “Now scoot over, I’m starving!” she said, and Remus slid over quickly as she settled into the seat. “I’m hungry, my feet hurt, my clothes don’t fit anymore…Don’t look at me, I’m hideous!” she said, and burst into tears again, resting her head on her arms. Bellatrix raised both eyebrows.

“I’ll just go put in an order for some lunch. Take care of her, Lupin.” Bellatrix said, and left the table with Orion. Truth be told, Remus would have rather faced Fenrir Greyback than take on a crying, hormonal woman. He reached out and touched her shoulder. The result was instantaneous. She sat up straight, and wiped her eyes.

“I’m sorry…I just haven’t had a good cry all day…and I needed it…bad.” She said. Remus plastered a smile on his face.

“Of course, Hermione. I heard Draco is the father. How is life at the Malfoy house?” he asked, still slightly nervous of the volatile witch.

“It’s fine. I don’t want for anything…everyone’s really nice. I found an unexpected confidant in Bella. It’s really strange, but life is never boring!” she said. He laughed softly.

“I suppose not.” He said.

Hermione and Remus talked about the reason he had disappeared, and Hermione indeed made a promise she would, in her words, ‘kick Percy’s arse up one way and down another’ until he changed some of the werewolf laws. Remus couldn’t say he wasn’t quite excited when Bellatrix brought back the food, balancing the baby in one arm and the plate on another like a pro.

“Here we are. Sandwiches all around. I’ve got Slim bringing drinks in a moment. Lemonade for the ladies, and ale for the male.” She said, and Hermione smiled. This was really great.

Well…it was great, until halfway through the meal a drawling voice interrupted them.

“Well, well. The mother of my grandchild and my sister-in-law out with a monster. What has the world come to?”
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Oooh hoo hoo! This should make for an interesting scene....

Bunnies....low.....need....attention...................

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