Two for Tea

Disclaimer: Don't own any characters. If I owned Sirius and Remus, I'm pretty sure I would be running through the streets screaming about it and holding parades in their honour.

A/N: Kind of a random fic written in a style that I saw and tried (I hope not too painfully badly) to imitate. I'm planning to write two chapters and leave it at that. Reviews keep me warm and fuzzy on these cold...er...August nights.

I knew what the dingy staircase led to. At the top of the steps, there would be a cheerful, Gryffindor red door. Behind it would be a small but immaculate flat. Inside the flat would be Remus Lupin. I braced myself and rang the bell.

The red door swung open, framing a man with a kind face and tawny hair just beginning to streak with silver. Remus smiled, a soft, gentle smile that he saved just for us. Just for his friends. How duplicitous.

"Hello, Sirius. It's been far too long."

Too long since you received new information? "Hello."

"Would you like to come in?" He stepped back from the doorway, gesturing towards the cheerfully crackling warmth of his sitting room hearth.

This better not be a trap. "Alright."

"Cup of tea?" He asked over his shoulder as he walked into the small kitchen.

As long as it's not poisoned. "Fine."

"Are you prepared for Halloween tomorrow?" He asked nervously as he placed a steaming mug before me and another before himself.

You should be nervous; whatever you're planning won't work. "As prepared as we can be."

Remus shook his head. "I just can't believe they're plotting anything against James and Lily. How anyone could want to harm them or little Harry is beyond me."

Is it really? Why should you mention James and Lily now? How dare you try to talk about them with me? How dare you pretend to be concerned about them? I won't tell you anything for you to relay to your master. "Yes, it's terrible."

"I hope they'll be alright."

Don't you already know how they'll be? What are you planning to do to them, Remus? "I do too."

"Sirius," he slams down his mug, frustrated with me now.

You may have fooled everyone, even me until now, but Peter told me what he saw you do. Peter told me, and now I don't know why I didn't see it before. I can't believe I let you fool me this way. "What?"

"Why have you been acting so differently lately? Have I done something wrong?" He looks hurt now. So hurt. I've only seen him look at me like this once before.

I have to act this way. I have to hate you. I can't treat you the way I always have, like Moony. You aren't Moony anymore. "I know."

He blinks, staring at me blankly. "Know what?"

Very funny, Remus, but the time for games is past. You aren't Moony anymore. You're the traitor. "I know your secret."

He doesn't pale, doesn't flinch away in fear. Just keeps staring. "Of course you do. You've known since our first year at Hogwarts."

Stop pretending. It hurts more to see you pretending than it does to see you transform. I know. It's over. Don't lie to me. "Your other secret."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

So civil. So kind and mature and brave. You're being polite to me. Polite and patient just like always. But it's not just like always because you aren't Moony anymore. You're the traitor. You can be civil; you can keep up your pretenses. I don't have to. I upend the table, and your two best mugs lay shattered, staining your carpet the ugly brown of our tea. The last remnants of our civil conversation. "I hate you!"

"Why? I don't understand!" The hurt is back, and fear is there too, but only for a moment. He can only be hurt for a moment before he hides behind the mask of his neutral expression again.

You're used to wearing a mask, aren't you Remus? Used to hiding things from your friends. Such a good English gentleman by day, doing whatever you can, making the most of your life. But I know what you become at night. You're an evil dark creature. I was never afraid of Moony, though. I loved Moony, because even if he was a dark creature he was smart and refined and loyal, so desperately loyal. I'm afraid of you. I hate you. You aren't even close to Moony. You're the traitor. "I never thought it would be you."

"What are you talking about?" There is the tiniest hint of steel in his voice. He is angry. He has to use anger to hide his hurt.

But I know you too well, traitor. I can get past your anger. I can still hurt you. I can hurt you so much that you'll stay away from now on. I can hurt you so that you never come back. I can cut through those masks and that armor and stab you right between the ribs. I would never hurt Moony this way. You aren't Moony, though. "We hate you. Everyone hates you. I've been trying to tell you for weeks. We want you to stay away from us, this war is too hard to fight without worrying about whether or not you're a spy, werewolf."

It is easy to see the exact moment when he realizes what has been said. He turns his face away, and takes in a breath sharply as though he has just been punched in the stomach. From the look on his face, I can tell that part of him really has been killed. "Leave then, if you hate me so much."

You're just the same. You hold your head high when you're insulted, like a gentleman. I don't have to be a gentleman, I can kick you while you're down. I have to. It's the only way to save James and Lily. I would do anything to keep them safe, I'm sorry Remus. "I warned you, you monster."

He sits, staring at the tea staining the white carpet with the carefully guarded expression he wears when he wants to cry. Only his eyes betray him, they are pleading, begging me to tell him that it's only a sick joke. I hate myself for wanting to.

I turn away and leave the house. My mission was successful, I told him the lie I came here to tell, Lily and James would be safe. He thought everyone was afraid of him, and suspected him as the spy because he was a werewolf. His weakest point, something beyond his control. Now he knew that we suspected him, without knowing how much he had given away. He didn't know what Peter had seen.

I felt disgusted, but in a different way than I expected. Yes, I hated him for being the spy. But traitor or not, he was Moony. I hated myself for hurting Moony.

I promised myself that the next day would be better. The next day I would look back and know that I had done the right thing. The next day, Lily and James died.

Moony's heartbroken expression would haunt me for twelve years.

A/N: Wow, sorry I made Sirius so mean. But the next chapter will be MUCH more pleasant I promise. Once again, reviews are lovely!