Chapter Text
Alastor woke up slowly and a bit disoriented. Waking up, his first thought was of Tonks.
He hoped she managed to flee and that the entire Lupin family had gone ahead with the safehouse plan. He hated not knowing. He was leaning against a wall, his wrists bound with ropes. He could feel the ropes on one wrist pulsing, likely cutting off his own magic. Whoever had tied him up knew he'd be able to cast wandlessly. How clever.
Jack and Agatha were killed first. They were Muggles, unable to defend themselves and unable to be shielded in time. Their sons followed, despite Ted and Alastor's efforts. Ted was killed next, but whether Tonks saw her father fall, Alastor did not know.
Whatever plan they had made, whatever plan they had been confident in, it didn't matter. They were severely outnumbered the second the Fidelius Charm was broken. Tonks had planted herself at the bottom of the stairs, confirming to Alastor that Remus and the baby were likely still upstairs. She was buying them time.
He had forced Dean and Neville to flee. Alastor knew it was hopeless and if they stayed to fight, they would die. He had tried to duel his way over to Tonks, hoping to get her to leave if they could ensure Remus had fled with Teddy, but he was overpowered first. Overpowered, but not killed. They knew he'd have information.
And then, his captors had arrived. Over the next few hours- or maybe days, he was not sure- he was tortured and questioned, but he wouldn't speak. Bellatrix visited him nearly a dozen times but he had no idea how long had passed since his capture.
"You have nothing to tell us, is that still true?" Bellatrix finally asked. She was being careful not to torture him too long, so as not to risk sending him spiraling into insanity like the Longbottoms.
"I won't tell you anything." Alastor said.
"I thought so." Bellatrix said. She flicked her wand at him, and the binds around his arms and chest tightened, nearly painfully. "I also wonder if you may change your mind."
"I'd rather die."
"That can be arranged, but I thought we'd try something else first." Bellatrix said, and she flicked her wand at the door, which opened again. Alastor felt the shock hit him like a wave when Tonks was dragged in by Rodolphus. Rodolphus shoved her to the ground and she tried to hide her naked body from view. Bruises littered her back and arms as if she had already been beaten. "Crucio!" The curse hit Tonks before she had a chance to push herself up. Her screams tore through the room.
"Don't hurt her!" Alastor yelled. "Torture me, don't-"
"Anything now?" Rodolphus demanded.
Bellatrix dropped the curse and kicked Tonks onto her back. "We won't tell you anything." Tonks spat.
"We'll see." Bellatrix said, as Rodolphus pulled her upright. "Anything to say yet, Mad-Eye?"
Tonks was shaking her head at Alastor. There was blood running down her face from a cut to her forehead, her hair matted with it. There was also blood running down her legs, but Alastor needed to ignore that for his own sake. He did not want to imagine what Rodolphus had done to her. He knew Rodolphus did not always use magic for torture. Alice had borne the signs of rape, too. There had been scratches on Rodolphus' cheek to prove Alice had fought back. He had those same marks now.
"We don't know where the Order has gone." Alastor said. "I have no information."
Rodolphus' hands moved, his hands gripping her breasts so tightly, she cried out as if subjected to the Cruciatus again. "Are you certain?" Rodolphus asked. "I don't mind the lies, I have permission to keep going if you refuse to speak..."
"We don't know!" Tonks cried.
"Are you absolutely certain?" Rodolphus asked, shoving her to the ground again. "I'm certain you'll not want to see what happens next, Mad-Eye."
"I already told you, I don't know!" Alastor yelled. "Let her go, you bastard!"
"I don't think we will." Bellatrix said. "Rodolphus, I'm certain you can think of some other way to convince him."
Rodolphus knelt next to Tonks, brushing a finger over her cheek. "Aye, I can, and I can not imagine he'll like it very much." He said, and then he reached for his own belt buckle.
"Oxfordshire, that's where the others were headed!" Alastor yelled. "Leave her alone!"
"Lovely! Rodolphus, meet us there when you're done. And heal her up, we don't want her to bleed out just yet. I have more plans for her."
"No, no, I gave you the information, get off of her!"
Bellatrix cackled as she left. Alastor struggled against the binds. Tonks fought against Rodolphus the best she could, but he was much stronger than her. Rodolphus' laugh filled the room as he squeezed her breasts hard enough that milk leaked out between his fingers. She was sobbing by the time he forced himself between her legs. Alastor shut his eye against the sight, the only option to block out the sight when the spell holding him against the wall was preventing him from looking away otherwise. He could not tune out her screaming.
And then it's over. Once Rodolphus is gone, he realises that the spell holding him against the wall has vanished. The rope is still bound around one wrist, to keep him from performing magic, but at least he can drag himself over to her. Tonks curled up around herself, sobbing.
"Get off of me!" She screamed. She immediately shrank away from his touch. "Don't touch me!"
"It's just me, it's alright. He's gone." Alastor said, shedding his jacket to cover her. "I'm sorry."
Alastor is pretty sure she can't hear him over her own sobbing.
"You told them! You monster!" She sobbed, trying to push herself up. She managed to sit up, pulling her knees close to her chest, his jacket wrapped fully around her. The cuts from the beating have been healed, Alastor realised. They knew, then, about the poison's long term effects.
"There'll be no one there!" Alastor hissed. "We never set up a safehouse there, they won't find anything."
"You lied? They're going to come back!"
"They're going to kill us anyway, I will not die betraying the Order." Alastor said. "Anything I know, I will take to the grave with me."
And they did return. Alastor realised too late that their anger would not be taken out on him. They now knew that torturing Tonks in front of him was far more effective. This time, the spell that holds him immobile is stronger and he is unable to close his eye against the sight of his trainee being tortured. They're already losing her. Between the beatings, the Cruciatus, the rape, they're already sending her down the same path as the Longbottoms.
Finally, after a length of time Alastor can not identify, Bellatrix is bored. "Give them to Greyback." She decides. "I am certain his pack would appreciate it, and I'm sure he's just as eager to make Lupin pay."
Remus would likely never know what became of his wife, though. Not unless Greyback told him, but Alastor had a hard time believing Remus would still be in the country after everything that happened. If he survived the safehouse, and it sounded to Alastor like he must have, he'd have taken Teddy far away, if only because that is what Tonks would want.
They're taken by foul smelling men Alastor doesn't recognise, but assumes must be werewolves. They appear right beside a tree with a symbol carved in it. He doesn't know what the symbol is supposed to convey, but knows it is the pack's symbol and this must be to mark where Apparition is possible.
The moon will be full in three or four days, Alastor can tell. While this makes the werewolves more agitated and dangerous, it also means they can try to escape. And hours after their arrival, when Greyback is done tormenting them, he tries to talk to Tonks. She doesn't seem to notice they're anywhere different, or that it was Greyback and not Rodolphus who just assaulted her. Her eyes stare blankly at the floor, her dark hair still matted with dried blood.
"You're going to Apparate." Alastor said. "I know you're still holding on, they haven't done you in yet. So, you're going to listen to me. On the full moon, the werewolves will be gone. You're going to get out of here, pass that tree with the pack symbol on it and Apparate. It'll be wandless, so you'll be Splinched. That's almost guaranteed. And when it's wandless, you'll likely be Splinched internally. I hope to Merlin it's in your head and that it wipes your memories of all of this. Healers will be able to find it and fix it, so you'll need to Apparate somewhere people will be able to help you. If you Apparate into Calais, the French Ministry will be alerted that someone crossed the magical border. You'll get help. Tell them you need to get to Italy."
Tonks didn't respond or acknowledge his presence in any way, but he knew she was still there. She was teetering on becoming like the Longbottoms, he knew. Whether she'd be coherent enough to remember a word he said, he did not know. But he knew he was going to be killed any day. Greyback didn't have any reason to keep him alive. If Tonks couldn't remember what he said, and did not escape, he knew Greyback would not leave her alone. He'd find too much pleasure in knowing he had Lupin's wife.
He reached out and grabbed her shoulder. She did not flinch or look at him. "Nymphadora, you need to remember what I've said." Alastor said. "On the full moon, you need to run. Apparate at that tree. Go to Calais, France. Tell them you need to get to Italy, where Rossi is. She will help you."
The next morning, when Greyback returns, Alastor knows. Greyback is holding a knife. He is not alone.
Alastor knows he's about to die.
His last thought is of Tonks.
Voldemort stood on the wide steps of Malfoy Manor, Harry's body at his feet. Snape stood a few feet away, at the bottom of the stairs. The sight sent terror through Sirius. He had known it would happen, of course. Harry had told him. There was no way to prevent it. But the sight was more terrible than Sirius had ever imagined it would be.
He looked so much like his father in death, as well.
The Death Eaters were able to move, and had all moved to stand behind the Order. One word from Voldemort, and they'd be in the perfect spot to execute the entire Order at once.
There was nothing but silence among the Order, whether by Voldemort's spell or their own shock, Sirius did not know. They had all known there was no other option, but the sight of Harry laying dead was horrific.
"Your cause is lost." Voldemort said. He stepped around Harry's body, blocking it from view. "I have killed Potter, my Death Eaters caught him as he tried to flee the country... for his own safety, no doubt. You have come to defend a coward, someone who would gladly save his own skin than fight beside you. Lay down your wands, and you may live."
"You're a liar, he didn't run!" Ron yelled. There was a loud crack and he fell with a scream, blood pouring out of a deep wound across his leg. Voldemort lowered his wand, taking one step down the stairs.
"I do not wish to continue to spill magical blood. It is a dreadful waste." Voldemort continued. "I give you the option to lay down your wands, join me... and you will be spared. If you insist on continuing to fight you will be killed, along with your families. Every man, woman and child who opposes me will pay the price."
Voldemort was at the bottom of the steps, his red eyes surveying the crowd. "So many purebloods... noble stock and so brave, so courageous to be fighting a battle that was lost long ago." He said. He paused in his pacing. "Who will join me?"
"No one." Neville's voice rang out, loud and clear. Voldemort's eyes flickered to him. "We will continue to fight! We will fight for Harry and for my Gran, for Mad-Eye and Tonks, for Arthur! Everyone you have killed, we will fight in their names!"
"You fight to die." Voldemort hissed. "You are loyal to the wrong side, Longbottom."
"And we will remain so." Sirius said, loudly. He wondered if Voldemort had noticed Bellatrix's absence among those standing, or if he had seen her corpse where it lay.
"It is noble to see such loyalty. Especially from those who have seen how easily loyalties can change for a bit of gold... how children can lose a father, a man his wife, friends losing friends, grandmothers... all for someone else's desire for wealth." Voldemort said, resuming his pacing. Sirius felt his heart clench. "However, I do wonder how you managed to enter the gates... perhaps someone has not been so loyal to me, as I assumed they were." There was the sound of something dragging and Sirius noticed the snake had slithered out of the door, its great body moving towards Voldemort, as if summoned by some unspoken command. Voldemort had turned back towards the stairs as the snake circled around him, up and over his shoulder.
"Severus?" Voldemort's voice was a low hiss, yet it echoed clearly.
"Yes, my Lord?"
Voldemort was twirling his wand between his fingers. Sirius could feel the other Order members getting antsy. The snake was right there, only a few feet away from them. If only they could break through the spell keeping them frozen, keeping them trapped as unwilling audience members to whatever was about to happen.
"It is peculiar, do you agree?" Voldemort asked. "They did not enter with Potter."
Snape did not answer. What was the point? Voldemort clearly suspected.
"I also find it peculiar that this wand does not seem to work for me." Voldemort continued.
"You have performed extraordinary magic with it, My Lord."
"I am extraordinary, this wand has not done anything more extraordinary than the wand I procured from Ollivander's all those years ago. And now I believe I know the truth."
"I don't understand, my Lord." Snape said, but it was clear on his face that he did. Sirius wanted to push against the spell holding them all. He wasn't sure why, but he felt guilt at the idea of not trying to defend Snape, if Voldemort was about to kill him.
"I think you do." Voldemort said. His finger brushed over Nagini's nose as she slithered over his shoulders and landed on the ground with a great thump. Snape's eyes followed the snake. "Nagini... kill."
Snape had- somehow- produced a basilisk fang from his robes in the same second that the great snake lunged towards him. The fang was sunk into the snake's head as it latched around Snape's neck.
There was a scream- an inhuman, piercing scream- as Voldemort raised his wand at the man he had once trusted. A curse threw Severus backwards as the snake recoiled, and Voldemort advanced, his wand aimed at the bleeding man, the snake twisting and flopping against the ground as dark smoke poured from the wound surrounding the embedded basilisk fang.
"Protego!"
A shield erupted between Voldemort and Snape. Sirius could have sworn it was Harry's voice but that was impossible. Harry was dead, he had sacrificed himself. But then Sirius realised Harry's body was gone. He did not see when this had happened.
And then Harry pulled off his cloak.
This moment, the moment when horror and rage passed over Voldemort's face, seemed to break the charm holding the Order in place. Sirius ran forward before he really realised it, Kingsley running to join him, in an effort to protect Snape while he was down. Hermione and Molly were at Ron's side, trying to slow the bleeding in his leg. Other duels resumed as Voldemort and Harry circled each other at the bottom of the steps, the Order members trying again to push the Death Eaters back and overpower them.
Kingsley was muttering Healing Charms, trying to slow the ooze of blood from the two punctures wounds on Snape's neck. Sirius was deflecting any curse that came their way. He wanted to get closer to Harry, to try and defend him, but Kingsley and Snape would be unguarded. Besides, Sirius would have struggled against Voldemort if he was able to duel with his dominant hand. Without, he stood no chance.
There was a brilliant explosion of colour, green sparks meeting red, as Harry and Voldemort aimed their wands at each other. The sound of the spells colliding was nearly deafening, bringing a new pause to the duels around the pair as the onlookers backed away, forming a semi-circle around the duel.
Golden flames burst from the spot where the spells collided, and the wand was ripped from Voldemort's hand, flying into the air and towards Harry. The golden flames rolled through the air towards Voldemort, colliding with his chest. As it did, a wave of energy seemed to shoot outwards, the Death Eaters being knocked backwards and away from any Order members.
Voldemort fell, landing a few feet away from Harry. He did not move again.
The silence was now nearly as deafening as the sound of the spells' collision had been. Sirius realised, with a jolt, that the bodies on the ground were Death Eaters. Ron and Snape were both unconscious, but he did not see any other Order members among the fallen.
And then Sirius closed the distance between himself and Harry, nearly knocking his godson to the ground.
The remaining Death Eaters who were still standing, now outnumbered and leaderless, were bound in an instant by a quick spell from Kingsley and the other Aurors. Sirius could not help but notice that there were a few faces already missing. They'd have to be hunted down later, but that didn't feel so urgent now.
Voldemort was dead, his eyes glazed over, staring at a sunrise he could not see. Others were approaching Harry now. Sirius saw Kingsley's Patronus appear and disappear into the distance. Dawlish and Savage were at the gates and a few minutes later, Sirius saw more Aurors arriving. He felt a bit bitter that they had waited until now to help the Order, but it did not matter so much anymore. Voldemort was dead.
Sirius wasn't sure what he expected. A huge celebration, perhaps. For the world to instantly become whatever it had been before the war... not that he knew what a world without war was. Instead, there was a strange quietness.
It was as if no one believed it was over. Sirius almost couldn't believe it himself, to have it be over and done with one single spell. He almost expected him to get back up. Kingsley was now talking to the other Aurors who had arrived. Sirius did not know what to say to Harry and was trying to think of something- anything- when Kingsley approached.
"We need to tell Remus." Harry finally said to Sirius. "He needs to know, from us, that it's done."
"First, we need to take back the Ministry. We'll be taking Voldemort's body there. Dawlish and the others will help us get in and show the public that it's over." Kingsley said. "We're going to take over the Daily Prophet too. Lee will handle that."
"Has anyone seen Greyback?" Sirius asked.
"He's dead." Kingsley said. "I think one of the twins-"
"Dead?" Sirius demanded. "Did he say anything?"
"Why does it matter? We should be happy he's dead." Kingsley said.
"Bellatrix was taunting me, asking if we were going to bury an empty coffin for Dora and I- I asked where her body was, obviously Bellatrix knew something! She said to ask Greyback but now we can't."
Kingsley shook his head. "Asking him would not have been any better than believing her body burned in the house." Kingsley said. "It might be best we let Remus believe that."
"He deserves proper closure, he deserves to have a body to bury!" Sirius said.
"Greyback and his pack- they're... they're cannibals, Sirius." Kingsley said. Harry looked disgusted. "There would still be no body to find. Not to mention, if she didn't die in the house, the horrors he'd have inflicted on her as revenge for Remus leaving the pack... it is best if we all believe she died in the house, and her body was burned in the fire. It is best for Remus to believe that, and for him to remain in hiding for the time being."
Sirius opened his mouth to argue, but Kingsley spoke again. "We are not done yet, Sirius. We still have to take back the Ministry, catch any Death Eaters who fled or weren't here... prove Harry's killed him." Kingsley said. "Not to mention all the work we have to do to undo everything the Daily Prophet has published about the Order. Remus is safe where he is."
July 1st, 1998
Sirius was unable to stand still. His arm was still in a sling, as useless as it had been the day Bellatrix had cursed it. It didn't hurt, and St Mungo's said they'd likely amputate it soon and replace it with a false one, but Sirius was not too worried about rushing to have it done, as long as Bellatrix's curse was not able to spread. He'd been managing. He was also lucky, considering. Ron had lost his leg from whatever curse Voldemort had used. He was still in St Mungo's, as was Snape. Sirius had visited him once, mostly to thank him for killing the snake. They had then parted ways with a tense handshake.
Lee Jordan took over writing articles and sharing interviews for the Daily Prophet, with little pushback from Barnabas Cuffe. First, there was a simple statement declaring Voldemort dead.
Then, and Harry took control on this one, they had to share the truth about the Order- especially those who weren't able to do so themselves now. Lee Jordan took over the Wizarding Wireless Network, where Harry and a few others could discuss the lies published by the Death Eaters. It had been Kingsley who had discussed Alastor and shared the truth of what work he had done for the Order. It had been Sirius and Harry who had done this for Tonks, and then they did it for Remus too. They wanted him to return home, but knew the slander could damage any chance he had at creating a future for Teddy.
Within a few weeks, it seemed the public believed the truth about the Order, just as Kingsley began to arrange for the ones displaced by the war to return home. This meant Remus could return home.
This was why Sirius and Harry were standing at Platform 9 3/4.
The Hogwarts Express was due to appear at any moment, one of many trips that would return displaced witches and wizards back to the place they once called home. It had been discussed by the Ministry at length and memos were sent out to all other Ministries around the world, published in the different newspapers, inviting the displaced home. Sirius had not realised so many had fled. It made sense, he knew. Not all would be Muggleborn. People would have followed their Muggleborn family and friends if they had been able to, some may have left out of fear. But the Ministry made sure they knew they could come home, and it was decided that it would be easier to set up Portkeys to take everyone to Hogsmeade Station from wherever they had ended up. There, they had all identified themselves and letters were sent ahead for any surviving family to meet them at King's Cross. At King's Cross, Ministry employees also waited. This was mostly to ensure things ran smoothly here, to verify identities as they disembarked, and to offer aid to those who had nowhere to go after returning.
This would not be an issue for Remus. Sirius and Harry were set to move into a new house, a quiet and secluded house just outside of London in a few weeks. It would be the perfect place for a young Metamorphmagus to grow up without the risk of the Ministry having to erase the memories of Muggles whenever Teddy changed his hair colour. They'd been staying in Grimmauld Place in the meantime, but Sirius did not want that to be permanent. Sirius intended to keep his word and use the Black family fortune in a way that would make most of them roll over in their graves. The widowed father would have all the help he never asked for. And he wouldn't ask, Sirius knew. He never did. That had never stopped Sirius before.
Harry was standing there too, but did not remark on the older man's pacing. It was a small miracle that no one was harassing Harry.
Sirius could hear the train. The sound of the train seemed to stir life into the rest of the small crowd waiting.
Only some of these, he knew, were people hoping their friends or family would appear. There were a few hundred witches and wizards missing. Someone had started a wall in Diagon Alley, covering up the boarded up windows of Ollivander's. Sirius had visited Diagon Alley once and had been unable to look at the wall for longer than a couple of minutes.
The rest of the crowd was likely made up of a few journalists, wanting to publish one of the biggest 'feel good' moments after the war. And some were likely just curious.
The train was much closer and Sirius felt Harry's hand on his shoulder as it rounded the corner, slowing as it neared the platform. Sirius was standing still now, his heart racing.
The doors of the train opened. The Ministry officials were waiting with clipboards and as people disembarked, Sirius found himself getting restless again. Some people were being sent in the opposite direction, towards more Ministry officials. Very few were headed their way. A woman had broken free of the crowd, running forward and throwing herself into the arms of a man that had been heading their way.
A smile crossed Sirius' face when Remus finally appeared.
Remus looked well, considering. He had Teddy balanced in one arm, his bag on his other shoulder. He paused to talk to a Ministry official, who nodded and gestured towards the waiting crowd. Sirius and Harry met him partway. Sirius threw his good arm around Remus and Teddy, stepping back to let Harry greet them too.
Teddy's hair had turned the same scarlet red as the Hogwarts Express, but it quickly shifted to black when Remus- with the slightest hesitation, Sirius noticed- relinquished his hold to Harry.
"I thought Teddy would be older when he boarded that train for the first time." Harry commented, as Teddy tried to grab at Harry's glasses. Teddy had grown quite a bit in the few months Remus had been gone, and Remus gave Harry an apologetic look as Harry gently grabbed Teddy's fist to stop him from actually grabbing the glasses off of his face.
"He likes to grab things now. You'll want to watch your hair, Sirius. It's long enough for him to grab and you remember how strong Harry's grip was, I'm sure." Remus said. Sirius remembered it well, along with how hard Lily had laughed when he had to beg her for help because he could not get Harry to let go. "What happened to your arm? It wasn't mentioned in the letters."
"Ah, Bellatrix got me." Sirius said, shrugging. "St Mungo's will probably take it, but since it's not lethal, I'm waiting. They have a lot more to deal with first. Ron lost his leg, did Harry's letter say?"
"No, it would appear both of you may need lessons in how to write informative letters." Remus said, as they headed towards the exit.
"I don't intend to write you any more letters." Sirius said. "I do intend to spoil the cub, though."