The Marauders: Year Five #Wattys2017

The Stigma of the Werewolf

The Stigma of the Werewolf

People looked in disapproval and shouted angrily at Sirius as he ran down the street, past all the market awnings that lined the main road, under the long clothing lines that stretched from balcony to balcony... His breath burned his lungs, but he wasn't about to slow down until he was certain that nobody was following him. His knuckles were white as he clutched tightly to the handle of the briefcase.

Finally, after running what seemed like eons and eons, Sirius stopped and dropped to the ground behind a very large dumpster, which smelled like rotting food, down a back alley. Sinking to his bum on the dusty ground and leaning back against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath, the briefcase on his lap. He'd been there a few minutes when there came a knocking from inside the briefcase and he flicked the lock and it popped open just a teensy bit. Remus's eyes peered out, comical looking in their odd juxtaposition. Sirius couldn't help but laugh.

"What?" Remus asked.

"Your eyes."

"Glad to know you find my eyes funny."

"No, just... the way you're peeking out of a suitcase. It's rather funny."

Remus pushed it up a bit further and stuck his whole head and torso out, his arms resting on the frame of the case. "You've done it, haven't you? You got us away from that place." He looked around in awe, then smiled at Sirius, "Bloody hell, you're incredible."

Sirius shrugged, "It was nothing." But he couldn't help but swell up somewhere in his chest at the look of absolute pride and awe Remus Lupin was giving him.

"Yeah. Nothing. Right. Professor Veigler's already told us about the three centaurs you faced."

Sirius grinned. "Well. I mean..." his eyes sparkled and he shrugged, "Really, that was the Niffler that's saved the day against them..."

"We've already given the Niffler loads of shiny things as a reward," Remus replied, laughing.

"The Niffler gets a reward? What do I get?" Sirius asked.

Remus laughed, "I suppose you get me, seeing as I'm alive still and all."

"Best reward ever." Sirius leaned forward and kissed Remus as deeply as he dared, knowing Remus was balancing on a ladder and all. He ran his hands over his shoulders and cupped his face gently as he pulled away, "Absolutely the best reward ever."

Remus smiled.

Remus looked down, feeling Professor Veigler tapping on his leg and remembered what his purpose for coming out there in the first place was. "Oh. Right. Yeah. Sirius, Veigler wants you to trade places with him as he can disapparate us back to London."

"Right on," Sirius replied.

"Here." Remus got out the rest of the way so Veigler could emerge from the briefcase. Both of the werewolves looked very exhausted, their eyes bloodshot and dark rings beneath them, skin pallid. It was only a few days out from the real full moon and the effects of it had already been hanging over them but now after that moonstone ceiling it was much, much worse.

Veigler held onto the rubbish bin to support himself up. "Go on, the both of you... I'm afraid I'd splinch you if we disapparated together in this state, but the briefcase I can do." He waved for them to descend the ladder.

"You're sure you have strength enough?" Sirius asked, concerned.

"I must," Veigler replied, smiling sadly. "Besides. After all the bravery you've show already today, I think disapparating us all home is the least I could do."