This is Their Punishment

"Where is your so called proof?"

They were once again in the cottage with the lone couch. It was a beige color and looked extremely comfortable, but Remus continued to stand in the middle of the room. His eyes were narrowed on Fenrir who stood in front of him - the Fenrir that looked like a normal human being.

Fenrir raised a single, tanned arm and ran his long fingers over his buzz-cut. "Before I give it to you, I want to know what your father told you of werewolves."

"There isn't much to tell." Remus frowned, glancing out a window and staring out into the trees. His arms came up to cross in front of him and he leaned against the wall behind him. "I'm tainted and I need to suppress it. That the wolf is an evil that I should be able to fight."

A snarl came from Greyback and the older man began to pace, his steps agitated. "No! I gave him specific instructions so if he had to raise you, he would have some information to follow! If he wasn't dead I'd kill him!" The man's pacing quickened, his voice turning to a harsh murmur, "I could find a way to bring him back. No one -"

"Leave the dead be," Remus snapped and Fenrir blinked at Remus, frozen in place. Remus continued, "The proof, Greyback?"

Fenrir was wearing an oversized trench coat so Remus couldn't tell exactly where the other man pulled out the notebook. Fenrir stepped closer and handed the book to Remus. "Here, Cub. Your old man's notebook. There's also this." He thrust a few envelopes into Remus' hand.

There, on the paper, were words written in Remus' father's handwriting. "You could have forged these." The book he held seemed similar enough to the one he remembered his father owning.

"Cub, this is the only proof I have to give you, unless you come to the pack and meet them. Besides, I've been trying to open up that blasted journal for years now! I have a feeling it will only open up to you or anyone in your bloodline. Must be a pureblood thing." Fenrir rubbed his face, his scowl still heavily in place. He began whispering to himself as he marched away, "If I find a way, I'll..."

Remus let it go as the other werewolf had made his way into another room, opening cabinets and rummaging around for something. He took the things he held and went to sit on the couch. Remus set the notebook down and brought the letter to his face.

On the front had the words Fenrir Greyback written in his father's script.

He opened it up and began to read.

Greyback,

You are the last person I've ever wanted to speak with, but I wasn't sure who else to turn to. I have come across some ancient texts that state that werewolves - such as you - are more family oriented and protect those that require protection.

I made a deal I should never have made. Some things went downhill and the only way to repay it is with a life-debt. I thought they meant my life, but they told me they would hold off until three years had passed. Remmy was only a year old at the time. My son - who is now four - will be killed in my stead.

Half a year ago they told me of their decision saying I had a year left with my son. In my search for a loophole in the contract, I found one within text in an old tome not but two days ago.

He's a pureblood now, but if he's 'tainted' then they won't kill him. They'll consider it death for him. I beg you, if you turn him, they won't kill him.

Please, I don't know what else to do. Please, help me save my son.

John Lupin

Remus sat there, dumbfounded. Even if Fenrir had somehow managed to forge the letters, there were tiny hints that it was John himself that wrote it. The way that he explained everything, but never gave too much information. Calling Remus 'Remmy' instead of Remus in front of strangers.

"I spent four months sending him letters back and forth, to see if what he said was true," Fenrir's voice had Remus looking up, but he had heard the almost too quiet steps and wasn't surprised to find him there. The man gestured to the small pile in the younger werewolf's lap, "I don't have my responses of course, but I have all of his. When I felt sure he was being sincere, I met with him - not like how most saw me, but how you see me now. I had him write in that journal facts about werewolves so he could explain things to you if anything happened to me."

Fenrir walked forward until he was standing in front of Remus, but didn't sit down; for which Remus was grateful. Remus let his eyes drop onto the journal and his fingers tightened around it, but he didn't want to open it.

"Cub," this time the voice was closer, causing Remus to flinch back when he saw that Fenrir was uncomfortably close, but those deep blue eyes were tired. "Read it."

Remus looked down at the worn leather again, chewing the inside of his cheek. "I'm doing this for my Pup, not for -"

"I know why you're doing this." Fenrir's voice was hard. Before Remus had time to react, there were fingers on his chin, pulling his face upwards making it difficult for him to look away from those eyes. "The brat is yours, which makes him mine. I know you would do anything for him, even if it means denying yourself. But the brat wants you happy. This knowledge, the acceptance of yourself and the wolf, will make you happier. Which will make the brat happy. Now read it, Cub."

"I'll just go home and read it -"

"No," the harsh order had Moony cringing and nearly submitting. Remus snarled, pushing the wolf's reaction away. He wouldn't do that for anyone. Fenrir had a dark scowl in place, "You will not be returning to that... that shack! You shouldn't have been living there to begin with!"

"I've made do with less," Remus snapped, but then regretted it immediately when Fenrir tensed further. "Leave it."

Yet when he tried to apparate away, he felt Fenrir's hand on his arm and apparating them somewhere else before Remus had the chance to move.

When his feet touched the earth again, Remus rounded on Fenrir and growled, "What's the meaning of this? You can't just -"

"You are staying for your pup, yes?"

"Yes, but -"

"And you are going to be learning from me?"

"Yes, but -"

"Which means that -"

"I do not like to be interrupted!" Remus was brimming with anger. The lone wolf that Moony had to grow into suddenly showed his backbone. He snarled at the larger wolf in front of him, warning him to back down.

Remus' eyes flashed a bright gold and his body stood tense, ready to strike. What he didn't expect was for Fenrir to throw back his head and laugh. Not paying attention to where they stood or where he stepped, Remus slid his feet backwards. He tried to apparate, but something kept him from doing so.

His eyes quickly surveyed the area as Fenrir had his laugh. There was the path they stood on that led to a small house, and in the opposite direction lay a large crop of trees.

Without thought, Remus followed Moony's advice and took off, sprinting for the trees. He heard the pounding footsteps behind him seconds later, but Fenrir had a larger build, heavier and not light on his feet as Remus.

He didn't look behind him for Fenrir. His panting breath sounded harsh in his ears, but he persisted. He was almost to the trees. If he could make it, he would be able to leave. If he couldn't apparate, there were places to hide.

Just as he was about to enter, a weight had him falling forward, inches from the trees. All Remus' breath left him in a whoosh of air as something heavy pinned him down. Remus wiggled and snarled, but Fenrir wouldn't budge.

When the younger werewolf calmed, Fenrir chuckled and hauled them both up. "You know, Cub, no other werewolf has dared to try to leave me."

Remus turned and glared at the older man, crossing his arms and ignoring Fenrir's grip on his shoulders. "I'm sure."

"You need to read the journal. You dropped it in your mad dash."

Remus didn't blush. He wouldn't. He didn't even know what overcame him, but when they started nearing the house again, Remus could feel himself freezing. A dozen different scents mingled there: butter, cream, orange, lead, bacon, oil, salt, autumn, sweat; all with the underlying smell of wolf. There were other werewolves that had been there, and, as some of the scents hung heavier in the air, they were likely to come back.

When Fenrir tried to push Remus along, he shook his head, "No."

Fenrir sighed, "Oh, Cub, you've been alone for far too long." Remus tensed when the black-haired man wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "This is just you being scared."

"I'm not scared!" Remus snarled. He pushed Fenrir's arm off him, strode forward to grab the book, and stalked towards the house.

It wasn't until he entered that he realized that Fenrir tricked him.

Traits that Remmy will have after he's been bitten:

-Temperamental

-Affinity for rare meat

-His eyes will glow whenever he feels a strong emotion

There are other traits and changes that may occur once Remmy's bitten, but only time will tell what they will be or how they will develop.

Important facts for Remmy to understand:

-Fenrir Greyback is his Alpha.

-His wolf half is not his enemy

-He can change with ease during the full moon, providing he embraces his inner wolf

-He will be more powerful than an adult-bitten werewolf because he was changed at such a young age

-Pack is the most important thing to a werewolf, take that away and the werewolf will have nothing to live for

February 5, 1964

Remmy has just been sent out to be bitten.

I want to write down my reasons for my action, this way if I ever feel regret or remorse, I have just to read these words to strengthen my resolve. The reason I have sacrificed Remmy wasn't because of some life-debt that was owed. No, he was sent out because of my loving wife's indiscretions.

There was never a life-debt. Every transaction I have initiated, I followed through to completion with great success. There has never been a complaint about my work. Even Abraxis is exceptionally pleased.

I took a test some years ago that claimed me unable to have a child. I never told my wife. Then, one day she came home and announced she was pregnant.

At first I was ecstatic. Perhaps the medi-wizard had been wrong in their judgement. However, the doubt niggling at my conscience would not let it rest. Therefore, while Lianne was sleeping, I took a sample of our 'son's' blood and sent it to the family medi-wizard. It came back with the announcement that some muggle was the father.

Remmy is not my son. He's an illegitimate heir.

I came up with a way for Lianne to 'reap what she sowed', as the muggles say. Remmy was born and I loved him as my own. But she had to pay for her betrayal. She had taken a potion so that Remmy would look like me and her, keeping his heritage a secret.

With revenge in mind, I found an ancient tome on how werewolves were supposed to live. I sent a letter to Greyback, and - after some convincing letter exchanges - all the pieces began to fall into place. I made sure that Lianne was sick whenever Greyback came to speak with us, in order to keep her blinded from the truth.

By tomorrow, I will leave with my family for the sole purpose of keeping Remmy safe. Our Remmy, who had been bitten by the deranged wolf Greyback.

Lycanthropy is incurable. Remmy will suffer, as will Lianne. Remmy because he is not my son, and Lianne because of all the lies I am made to live with.

This... This is their punishment.

The book fell limply from Remus' hands and onto the floor. He couldn't see anything, there was an unaccountable moisture build-up that blocked his eyesight. He could feel his body trembling and he wanted nothing more than to curl up and pretend nothing happened.

So that's what he did. Remus curled up against the side of the armchair, staring at nothing as his brain tried to decipher what he read.

"Cub? Cub!" Strong arms wrapped around him. For a moment Remus tensed, but he didn't have the energy to fight the other man. He decided it wouldn't kill him to give in. Just once. Remus relaxed and let himself flee within his own mind as his world crashed around him.