Remus hates Halloween, but maybe it's time to get over that hatred...
All's Well That Ends Well
“Uncle Moony, uncle Moony!” Harry comes rushing into the living room.
Remus puts away his book. “What is it, lad?”
“There are skeletons next door!” Harry exclaims.
Remus chuckles. “They're not real, Harry. They're Halloween decoration.”
“Decoration,” Harry repeats. “But decoration is fun, like flags and balloons. Skeletons aren't fun.”
“No,” Remus agrees, pulling Harry onto his lap. “But for Halloween, the decoration is supposed to be spooky.” He tickles Harry's sides and the boy giggles as he squirms. “Halloween is the scary holiday.”
“Scary,” Harry mumbles. “Uncle Moony, what is the scariest Halloween you ever had?”
Remus’ breath halts.
1981
“They can't be, they can't be…”
“The whole house is blown to bits. They're gone, Remus.”
“No. No. The Fidelius Charm, and Sirius, he…”
“He betrayed them, Remus.”
“No. No, he wouldn't. Not James. Never James.”
“There's no other explanation.”
“Just let me talk to him. I'm sure he can explain. Somehow. Just let me talk to him. Please.”
“He's on the run. Which just confirms his guilt. The Auror department as well as the Muggle police are all searching for him.”
“Muggle police…”
“Peter bravely went after him once he realized Sirius betrayed Lily and James. However, once cornered, Sirius blew up an entire street, killing Peter and nine Muggles.”
“Peter? Peter’s gone too?”
“I'm so sorry, Remus.”
“No. No. Sirius is not a… not a… Sirius is not a murderer.”
“We didn't think he was a traitor either.”
Remus swallows. “I'll have to think about that, Harry,” he replies, somehow managing to force a smile.
Harry pouts for a moment, but then he pipes up. “Can we put up Halloween decoration?”
“Oh, I don't know. I'm actually not such a fan of…”
“Pleaseeeee, uncle Moony, pleaseeeee.”
“Oh, alright then.”
1981
There's a knock on the door.
Almost in a trance, Remus goes to open. Whatever is on the other side of that door can't possibly make tonight any worse. He freezes once he sees who's on the doorstep.
“Sirius.”
“Moony, I-”
“No, don't call me that! You were the Secret Keeper, Sirius. How are they dead then, Sirius? How?”
“Moony, I can explain.”
“No. No, you can't. You can't explain betrayal and you can't explain murder!”
“It's not like that, Remus.”
Remus pulls out his wand. “I should hand you over to the Dementors right now!”
“I wouldn't do that if I were you,” another voice suddenly says.
“What's this then? Halloween decoration? I thought you hated Halloween?”
Remus looks up from where he's reading his book on the couch. “Well, apparently, I hate saying no to Harry even more.”
“Ha, I know what that's like. At least I can play the indulgent godfather-card.”
1981
“J-James? You're… You're… You're alive?”
“Peter was the Secret Keeper,” James wastes no time in saying. “At least of Godric’s Hollow. But we had our suspicions about Peter, so Harry, Lily and I were actually staying at another safe house, of which Sirius was the Secret Keeper.”
“When Peter indeed went and betrayed Godric’s Hollow to You Know Who,” Sirius continues. “Instead of James, Lily and Harry, he found an ambush waiting on him, set by Dumbledore and the most powerful members of the Order.”
“So when the house blew up, it was only He who got hurt,” James concludes.
Stunned, Remus looks from James to Sirius to James and back to Sirius. “And the Muggles, the murders…?”
A dark look appears on Sirius’ face. “Unfortunately, in my anger, I made the mistake of going after Peter. He blew up a street and disappeared into the sewer as the rat he is. I wish I could've saved those Muggles…”
A clattering sound brings Sirius back to the present, and he looks at Remus who has just dropped his wand on the floor.
Remus flings himself forward and wraps his arms around his two friends, relief flooding his body. Whatever is to come, they have each other.
Sirius gives Remus a kiss and sits down on the couch next to him, letting his head rest in Remus’ lap.
Remus kisses him again, just because he can. “How was the game?”
“Great. The Harpies won. Though James and I are still a little scared of how fanatic Lily gets,” he shudders. “Thank you for watching Harry. The Potters’ insist we come over for dinner tomorrow.”
“Ah, good. No offense, but I'd pick James’ cooking over yours any day.”
Sirius barks a laugh. “None taken, and same. Hey,” he then says, reaching out and cupping Remus’ cheek. “If you're really getting over your aversion for Halloween, maybe we could take Harry trick-or-treating?”
“Yeah,” Remus replies. “We could do that. I think I really am getting over my hatred for Halloween. After all, all’s well that ends well.”
