rt_morelove

Title: Cold Feet / Part III: Dumbledore
Rating & Warnings: PG-13
Word Count/Art Medium: 1,666 (...fitting?)
Prompt(s): 38, Sirius's Prank
Summary: Sometimes the painful stories are the ones that need the most telling. Tonks delves into the story of The Prank That Must Only Be Alluded To.

As Dumbledore was in hiding, Tonks had to wait a few days. Finally, Dumbledore turned up at Grimmauld Place. Sirius sat out.

"How is he, anyway?" Dumbledore asked Tonks.

He's still beyond frustrated that you won't let him leave, Tonks thought. But she just smiled and shrugged noncommittally.

"I remember the prank well," Dumbledore said. "I remember first and foremost that I found myself challenged with Sirius's punishment. I never was entirely sure of my decision. If it weren't for believing in second chances... but I do feel I've gotten ahead of myself. Let us start at the beginning."

*

Had Albus not previously seen Potter, Pettigrew and Black in his office, he wasn't sure they could have found their way to it, banging on his door.

It was just Sirius and Peter; both of them looked worried.

"James," Sirius panted. "He's at the Willow. Full Moon. With Snape."

It took Albus a minute to understand.

"I told him how," Sirius added miserably. "I told Snivellus where to find Remus. James went to stop him."

"Go in there and wait," Albus said. "Now. Neither of you are to leave."

He ran as fast as he could. How had Sirius known? Did Remus tell him?

When Albus got to The Whomping Willow, he heard scuffling. Severus Snape and James emerged. Severus was shaking head to toe, and seemed lost for words.

"Is he okay?" Albus asked immediately.

James nodded. "Got him just in time."

Albus looked at Severus, who nodded uncertainly. He was clearly in a bit of shock.

"Tell me everything,"Albus told James and Severus.

"Sirius and Snape got into a row," James said when Severus remained quiet. "He's been trying to find out where Remus goes every Full Moon for a while, and... while they were fighting, Sirius let it slip."

Severus's eyes narrowed. "Of course he meant to. You both meant to."

"No. I had no idea Sirius would go this far. I'm - I'm sorry."

James clearly wasn't used to apologising to Severus; but Albus could tell that the apology was earnest.

"Why should I believe that?"

"You have to." James looked at Albus. "You have to believe me, if I'd known..."

"Cold feet," Severus snapped. "You got cold feet."

"I will speak to you each privately," Albus said quietly.

"You're not going to tell anyone, are you?" James asked Severus as they approached Albus's office.

Severus considered James for a minute. Then, as they walked in, he yelled: "Lupin's a werewolf!"

Albus feared that might say it all.

He sent James, Sirius and Peter on their way, with strict instructions to return the following morning. Then it was him and Severus.

"Are you okay?" Albus asked again.

"As you can plainly see," Severus said, "I'm alive...."

He stopped, and whispered: "It was so big."

"It's okay to be scared," Albus told Severus gently.

Severus rolled his eyes. "I'm not scared. Nothing scares me. Werewolf Lupin? Just wait until I tell -"

Albus held up his hand. "That's where I must stop you. You are not to tell anyone what you saw tonight."

"Lupin almost had me killed in a prank, Sir!"

"It seems he was not involved. It appears to have been a rash moment on Sirius Black's part. I will of course investigate, but in the meantime... you are not to tell anyone."

"And what's to stop me?"

"I see your friends have given you confidence," Albus said. He had his suspicions. "Do not forget that whatever your loyalties - and I certainly hope they are in the right place - I am still your Headmaster."

That was all he needed to say. Severus nodded slowly.

"Although," Albus said, his voice more gentle now, "I also persuade you to do what's right."

"Unlike Potter and his filthy half-breed friends, I always do what's right," Severus said.

"Be as it may, I was your age once too. It is very easy to be persuaded by the wrong people into doing bad things. Things you will live to regret, yet cannot take back."

"I've got to go," Severus said, and he stood.

"Of course. It's been a most stressful night for you. But if you ever want to retrace your steps... know that I am and always will be here."

*

"That's the first time I've ever heard an encounter with a werewolf turn into an intervention," Tonks remarked.

Dumbledore smiled knowingly. "Well, it worked. He did, as I feared, join the Death Eaters. Then he came back."

"Why?"

"That, Miss Tonks, is not my story to tell. But it is why I am certain we could trust him."

"Did you really know for sure that he wouldn't tell anyone about Remus?" Tonks asked.

"No," Dumbledore admitted. "But I had a feeling he wouldn't. However, I took a lot of measures to protect Remus. It's one of the reasons I didn't expel Sirius."

"I'm sorry?"

*
It had been an eventful morning, to say the least.

Albus had questioned the four boys; he was now confident that none of the three had any idea what Sirius would do. Although something disturbed him - he knew James wasn't being entirely forthcoming about how they knew where to find Remus. One did not have a perfectly crafted excuse when questioned under pressure.

Remus was gone; Lyall and Hope had all but pulled him out of the school. Albus hoped very much that they would change their friends, but he had more pressing matters to attend to.

What to do with Sirius?

James was obvious. Albus looked at him and said, "Mr. Potter, I cannot say enough how impressed I am by your bravery last night. You jumped into action without hesitation."

"Who wouldn't?"

"Many people. Normally more of an award would be given... however, under these circumstances, we must keep what happened under wraps. I am, however, giving 100 points to Gryffindor."

James smiled. "Not bad."

Albus shook James's hand, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Potter's.

"You've raised a courageous son,"Albus told them.

"Thank you," Euphemia Potter said.

Andromeda was looking at her cousin with an odd expression on her face. It wasn't anger, but it was hardly forgiveness.

"Are you going to expel me?" Sirius asked.

Albus met his eyes. "Do you have a case against it?"

Sirius didn't reply, instead looking at the ground.

"His home," Fleamont said.

"Yes," Euphemia agreed. "They're horrible to him, Professor. The stories James has told us are enough to keep one up all night. Ever snapped a wand? You can do a lot to a wand to make it snap, but eventually it succumbs to the pressure."

"I didn't succumb to anything," Sirius said hotly. "My family hasn't affected me much at all."

"Of course they have," Andromeda said. "How can they not? No matter how hard you try, you can never truly escape them."

"Maybe that's true of you, Andromeda, but it's not true of me."

Albus knew that his quick denial meant it was actually very true of him. Which was a point to consider. Was it really so hard to understand how someone so very much like his parents snapped something inside of Sirius? What good would removing him do? It might, in fact, make things worse.

But forgiveness wasn't just a matter of philanthropy; sometimes it was better for others. Such as Remus. If Albus expelled him, he would have to give a reason to the Hogwarts Board of Governors. They were aware that a student was a werewolf, but not pleased. However, they'd relented. Expelling Sirius meant that they would know what Remus might have done; his education would also be taken away. Perhaps worse. After all, there were clearly things the four boys were hiding, and depending on what those things were, they could get into trouble beyond Albus's control.

Not that it was normally his concern, but knowing the current Ministry stance on werewolves, it placed a certain danger on Remus. And Albus had promised his parents that their son would be protected. In their eyes, he'd already let them down.

Albus considered Sirius again. There was also the fact that he knew people could change. Sirius already had; maybe the Potters were right. Maybe he'd undergone a terrible setback.Would he really be the first wizard to do so? Some of the greatest wizards had done unspeakable things in the rashness of youth.

"I won't expel you," Albus finally said. "Not today. But I do think it's best you go home with Mrs. Tonks for a day. Give yourself some time to think about what you've done."

"He'll come with us," Fleamont told Albus.

"I think his family would be best for now. Not his parents - we can agree that would be an unwise choice. But Mrs. Tonks, certainly, if she agrees to it."

"I am his cousin," Andromeda said. She didn't sound very happy about that.

"Very well. And Mr. Black... if you ever find yourself angrier than you would like to be, know you can speak to any of your professors. As well as your Headmaster."

"I never plan on being angry again," Sirius replied.

Albus very much doubted Sirius would keep his word; he just hoped that Sirius would remember his words.

*
"Is that all you needed?" Dumbledore asked.

"I think so," Tonks said. "But sir... why are you so confident that people can change? I'm not doubting you, it's just..."

She didn't know how to say "you seem fixated on redemption" without sounding nosy.

"Bertie-Bott's Every-Flavoured Jelly Beans," Dumbledore replied. "Ever notice how sometimes they're foul, sometimes they're excellent, and a lot of of the time they just taste fine, but regular? That's how I know."

Dumbledore checked his watch. "Alas, I must go. Shouldn't be in the same place at once. Good luck with your project. Do let me know once it's finished - I'd be very interested in what the others had to say."

After he left, Tonks realised he hadn't answered her question at all.