Phoenix Tales

[Anneko]

This is just the first little ficlet. Not much happens, but I wanted to get back in the swing of writing in the HP world.

PHOENIX TALES
Best Laid Plans


"I don't like it." Sirius said darkly.

"Of course you don't." Remus sighed, stirring lumps of sugar around in his tea.

"I'm only saying, I did help come up with the plan, and I ought to be the one going through with it."

Remus tapped him lightly with the rolled-up front page of the Daily Prophet. "You're not even meant to be out of bed 'til the end of the week. If you weren't so cavalier about the last mission you went on, maybe you would be the one going through with it."

"Well, I don't see why it has to be--"

"It has to be."

"But isn't there anyone else?"

"Would that there were. I'd go myself--"

"Not much better." Sirius snorted.

"Not this weekend, no." Remus acknowledged.

"I just think... I mean, with--"

"It'll all turn out."

"I'm just saying, when it comes to secret missions, he's the absolute worst."

"He knows how to keep his mouth shut."

Sirius nodded. "That isn't the problem."

"Then what is the problem?"

"The problem is, I was supposed to host Prongs' bachelor party!"

"You will host it."

"Yeah, but you've got someone else running around getting everything set up beforehand. It was supposed to be me!"

"You're like a child, really." Remus smiled. "Now don't sulk."

"Peter gets to buy the booze, Peter gets to pick the entertainment--"

"He most certainly does not. I arranged for entertainment, I don't trust either of you to pick something tasteful."

"It's hardly my party anymore, is it? I mean, it's James' party, but I'm hardly responsible for it anymore. Not fair."

"Well, fewer fights with Death Eaters would keep you in better shape to throw parties, Pads."

Sirius grabbed a biscuit, biting into it rather more viciously than necessary. "We're supposed to fight them."

"Not in the middle of a crowded pub on a Saturday afternoon."

"Yeah, but we know he's a Death Eater!"

Remus rolled his eyes, pulling the biscuit plate away from Sirius. "There's a time and a place. Reckless property damage, character defamation... mark my words, you'll wind up with a criminal record yet."

There was a long pause. Sirius stretched across the table after the biscuits, wincing slightly.

"Here, just ask, don't strain yourself! You know you're luck--"

"Yeah, yeah. Hey, you could have left me a few more."

"I don't know why I bother playing nursemaid to you, really I don't. Anyway, Lily will be by in a little while... I do hope you can behave yourself for her?"

Sirius attempted a scowl, but didn't quite pull it off. "I don't need a nursemaid."

"I can't believe purchasing liquor is really so important to you--"

"It's not the buying, it's the-- it means something. I'm the best man!"

"Of course you are." Remus picked up the tea tray. "Peter's going to get everything set up this weekend-- it's not like you need to do the decorating yourself!-- and I've got things handled, but... If you like, once Lily gets here, I'll go get the liquor set aside for us, and when you're back on your feet, you can pick it up on the way to the party. Since it means something."

Sirius made a show of considering the idea. "So I'd be the one buying it?"

"Well, I could pay the man ahead of time, but I'd have to take your money to do it anyway..."

"And I'd be bringing the drinks to the party?"

"A party which absolutely could not start without you."

"It really couldn't, could it?" He smiled. "Yeah, sure, sounds like a plan. What sort of entertainment did you arrange?"

"Band he likes. Absolutely no scantily clad girls."

"Thanks for that." Lily's voice carried through to the kitchen. She appeared in the doorway a moment later. "How's the patient?"

"Well, obstinant." Remus shrugged. "He won't stay in bed, but he'll behave himself. Just don't let him get up for anything unless he absolutely has to."

"I'm right here, you know." Sirius slouched down in his chair.

"Do you want to play a game of chess or something?" She slid into the seat Remus had vacated.

"Only if you're worse than Moony."

Lily laughed. "Well... if you promise to keep the bachelor's party nice and tame, maybe I'll go easy on you."

He snorted in mock disgust. "Yeah, the host just off of bedrest and the so-called entertainment arranged by Moony the prude. It's gonna be a wild night of debauchery, Lils."

"Thanks, Sirius."

"Anytime."

---/-/---

FIN  

[Anneko]

PHOENIX TALES
Battle Scars

They were used to Alastor Moody by now, the staff at St. Mungoes. Not only to his occasional appearances, but to having to undo the effects of haphazard, days-old treatments he'd administered to himself in his efforts to remain unhospitalized.

They were accustomed as well to the distrust with which he treated the staff, the mad shouting and protestations, the deep paranoia and the easily lobbed insults.

True, many of Moody's battle scars were the result of curses, things that could never truly be undone, but here and again there were marks and missing chunks that could have easily been regrown if he'd sought mediwizard attention to begin with, or at the very least refrained from cauterizing his own wounds.

The healers at St. Mungoes were very rarely surprised by anything now, some had gotten quite used to dealing with Moody, but this...

This was somewhat less dignified than the usual.

"I told you, it's fine!"

"Mr. Moody, it's missing!" The healer-in-training managed, his face slowly sliding towards the colour of his robes.

"Aye, and it wouldn't be the first time I've lost someth--" He stuck his wand between his teeth, readjusting his robes and displaying the latest scar.

"Yes, but, well I've just never seen a-- an injury of this nature,"

"Can you do for it or no?"

"Sir?"

"I asked you--" He spat his wand back into his hand. "Can you do anything about it, or are you just wasting my time, as I suspected?"

"Well, maybe if you'd come in when it was... fresh..." The boy swallowed, looking for his mentor. For anyone, really.

"Pah! You're all useless."

"Mr. Moody, you need to--"

"You listen here, boy," He rounded on the healer-in-training. "I think I know a fair bit more than you do about surviving things. If there's nothing to be done for it, there's nothing to be done for it, and I can better spend my time fighting the forces of You-Know-Who!"

"Y-y-yes, well... Of course, but... Sir?"

"What is it?"

"How did it happen?"

"Never you mind how it happened!" Moody scowled, tromping out of the room and out to the lobby.

"Well?" Kingsley Shacklebolt was waiting for him.

"I don't know why I let you talk me into coming here."

"I didn't 'talk you into' coming here, you were ordered to."

"Pah!"

"Could they do anything, or did you put it off too long?"

"Well, it's a lot to regrow..." He waffled.

"You've put it off too long."

"I managed it fine on my own when it happened."

"Yes. What happened, exactly?"

Moody pretended not to have heard.

"I mean," Shacklebolt continued. "I can hardly imagine anyone getting the best of you from behind. You weren't snuck up on?"

"No!"

They walked back towards the ministry.

"Did they say anything about how soon you could expect to fly again?"

"I'll make some modifications." Moody growled.

"So is it the whole buttock that's been blasted off?"

"Shut. Up. And you'll not mention it again, if you know what's good for you!"

"Of course." He suppressed a smile.

---/-/---

FIN

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Anneko  

[Anneko]

PHOENIX TALES
Regret To Inform

"This the place?" Sirius asked, tilting his head to the side, one hand resting on the swinging gate.

"Looks like." Remus nodded.

There was a sprawling yard with a few trees, a chicken coop with a big yellow tomcat snoozing on the roof, and at the top of the walk, a bright little cottage, a second story currently under construction.

"No time like the present, then. News isn't going to get any more pleasant." Sirius pushed the little gate open and started towards the house.

"Why did you volunteer? To deliver it." Remus caught up to him. Their pace slowed the closer they got to their destination.

"Related. I think. Distantly, or through marriage. Or something. I don't know, but they were pureblood, so..."

"I read somewhere that you can't be more than six cousins removed from anyone...

"Lot less than that when you're talking about pureblood families." Sirius snorted. "Trouble is, everyone's so bloody proud, no one thinks about widening the gene pool any. Stupid."

Remus shrugged. "I guess I never thought about it. I don't really give much thought to bloodlines at all. Not like I'm ever having any."

"You'd be good with kids." Sirius said loyally.

"Maybe. Other people's kids. But... Well, you know. It's the-- thing."

"So why'd you come?" He switched subjects, hand falling away from the door knocker before announcing their presence.

"Well... you volunteered... and I thought..."

"Yeah."

"Best not to go anywhere alone, anyway."

"Thanks."

He could put it off no longer. Sirius knocked.

A harried-looking woman answered the door, an infant on one hip and a dishtowel over her shoulder. She was easily six months pregnant, and she had flour in her hair.

Remus tried to think about how they must look from her perspective. Two men showing up out of the blue. One tall, dark and handsome, sure, but he's got a pauper with him, and they both look a bit grim... not a reassuring picture, all in all.

"Can I help you?" She asked.

"Miss Prewett?"

"I was, yes." She indicated the room behind her, two small boys playing on the floor. "Is... something the matter?"

"It's the sort of news that might be better delivered indoors..."

Her brow furrowed.

"You ought to sit down." Remus added gently.

"Well, I wish I could, but-- No. I-- I really should, shouldn't I?" She looked unsure. "My husband's at work-- he is, I know. Should this wait for him?"

"No." Sirius shook his head. "We haven't the time, and it's really-- You're, or, you were--"

"It's about Fabian and Gideon."

"Oh." She sat down heavily, and Remus closed the door before following Sirius on into the living room. "Are they...?"

"I'm afraid--"

"They died heroes." Sirius interrupted, finding the words at last. "Everyone in the Order is proud to have known them."

"The order? What order? They mentioned, but they never said outright-- I'm sorry, they're dead?"

"We're very sorry." Remus nodded.

"Both of them?"

He nodded again. "The Order of the Phoenix. Committed to the fight against Voldemort. That's how they died."

"I just can't believe..." She turned, casting an eye towards the two little boys, but their game had moved down the hall, making a small racket, and they hadn't overheard. "I'm not sure how to break the news... Well. I suppose-- They're so young. I just don't know..."

"Gid spoke of you." Sirius offered. "He always seemed very fond. They both-- You're the next of kin. For both of them. I don't know that it's much, but they left you everything. Dumbledore said, if you wanted, you could take over making the arrangements, or he would be honoured to see to everything for you, whatever you prefer. It's a blow to all of us, losing them, and... well, the one thing I know is they both wanted to be sure their sister would be taken care of."

She nodded a little, dabbing at her eyes with the dishtowel. "They were always a bit protective...I just can't believe they're gone. This-- this Order,"

Remus steeled himself. He hadn't delivered the news personally before, but he'd heard about it, the one time James had. The next-of-kin had been grief-stricken, of course, and you had to allow for some things to be said that weren't meant, and if it helped anyone's mind to blame the Order, or him, he could take it.

Sirius tensed up beside him, clearly anticipating the same.

"What can I do?" She asked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"What can I do to help?"

"Oh, no--" Remus stood up. "We really can't allow--"

"I did learn a thing or two from having two Aurors in the family, I grew up learning to fight just as much as if I'd been a third son, I can--"

"Madam, a woman in your condition--"

She stopped, slumped over, a pitiful, broken laugh escaping. "You're right. Of course you're right. What was I thinking?"

"You were thinking that your brothers have done noble work, and that you wanted to honour that."

"When are you due?"

"April." She smiled a little at that.

"I'd've thought sooner." Sirius blinked.

Remus smacked his arm.

"I think it's twins this time. Merlin, that's all I need... No. No, I'm glad, really. I hope it's twins. Boys. I could name them after their uncles. They'll never know their uncles..."

"You're going to do all right. We'll be in touch. And if you ever need anything, you get in touch with Dumbledore, all right? And he'll send someone 'round, one of us, or someone else who knew Fabian and Gideon."

"Thank you." She stood, placing the baby in its bassinet and hugging both Remus and Sirius. "And-- if there is anything I can do, not fighting, but... well, if there's ever anything-- Well, I want to help. You... you all cared about them. And you're all-- Well, I just-- You know?"

"We'll be in touch." Remus nodded.

---/-/---

FIN

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Anneko  

[Anneko]

PHOENIX TALES
Indelible

"Just so long as someone's awake at all times, I should think napping'd be all right." James reasoned.

"Mm."

"You don't agree?" Sirius elbowed Remus.

"Well, it's an important job..."

"Right, and we'll do a bloody poor important job when we're all four of us exhausted." Sirius argued.

"Fine, we'll take it in shifts, I suppose."

"Wake me when it's my turn, then." And he flopped back and promptly fell asleep.

"I'm going to walk around, check the perimeter." James said, grabbing his cloak. "Be back in a tic."

"I'm going in close, see if I can't have a listen." Peter nodded, transforming.

Remus sighed.

---/-/---

"Your watch."

Sirius awoke with a start and a quiet snuffling sound, but he didn't say anything, just shoved his balled-up cloak to Remus for use as a pillow.

James had gotten back and was snoring gently, and Sirius nudged him 'til he woke up.

"What?"

"We're up. Wormtail should be coming back any second. You want to sit up here or do you want to try and get closer?"

"I reckon I've got the invisibility cloak, I'll go, you stay."

"Right."

After a while, Peter scampered back over to their vantage point. He didn't bother changing back, just hopped into the overnight bag he'd brought and curled up.

Sirius was feeling a little sorry he hadn't thought to bring anything. He was so sure a stakeout would be exciting. It wasn't like he could read or anything, anyway. Even if darkness hadn't been important, he had to pay some attention, as boring as their target was being.

Remus had brought food along, though. Sirius reached into the grocery sack, more out of boredom than hunger, and it was then that he noticed it.

The words were difficult to read, in the very dim light, but they were there, in neatly printed, bold black letters, right in the palm of his hand.

'Remus Lupin is sexier than me'.

"Real mature." He whispered. He couldn't help the smile, though-- he remembered their first year at Hogwarts, and the danger associated with being the first in the dorm to fall asleep. He dug through the bag until he found what he was now looking for.

The Sharpie, that most brilliant of muggle inventions. You couldn't write on a sleeping mate with a quill-- unless he was a very heavy sleeper. The Sharpie was its own kind of magic.

---/-/---

"Your watch."

"Mm, thanks." Remus blinked away sleep, stretched, and returned Sirius' cloak. "Peter up?"

"He and James just switched." Sirius nodded towards James' head. James' body was underneath the invisibility cloak, using it as a makeshift blanket.

"Disturbing." Remus smiled.

"Yeah. Try not to step on him. Well, don't try too hard."

"Right. Get some sleep. Team doesn't come to relieve us 'til late morning."

Sirius obeyed, his hand curled against his chest, palm slightly red from scouring charms, lettering a faded grey.

After an uneventful watch, Peter came scurrying back up the hill, this time transforming once he reached the relative safety of their little blind.

"Hey, Moony, you, ah... you've got something. On your face."

He wiped at the corner of his mouth. "Get it?"

"No..."

The other side. "Get it?"

"Here," Peter rummaged through his things, coming up with a shaving mirror.

Remus crawled under his cloak before lighting his wand. There, scrawled inelegantly across his forehead, were the words 'No one's sexier than SB'.

"Serves me right, I suppose." Remus sighed.

He then got to work.

---/-/---

When Frank Longbottom's team arrived to relieve them, they wisely opted against asking any questions.

"My arm, Moony?"

"You wrote on my forehead."

"Yeah, but-- I wrote that I was hotter, as a fact. You went and made it sound like opinion!"

"I think it's a sound opinion." He smiled.

"But it's not MY opinion!"

"'Remus Lupin, I think you're sexy, too'." Peter read. "That sounds like opinion, all right."

"I'll have to wear long sleeves 'til I can get this off!"

"You don't have to."

Sirius made a noise which sounded suspiciously like a growl. Remus continued smiling.

"I'm just glad I didn't get involved in this one." James laughed.

Nobody told him about the cat whiskers he was sporting.

---/-/---

FIN

=^__^=
Anneko