FIC: Once in a Blue Moon - Ch 19 (WIP)
Start of the story, including summary, full ratings, warnings, pairings etc. Here
Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise. J K Rowling retains all copyright.
The First Cut (PG13 for a tiny bit of swearing)
Sirius and Remus trudged through the Forbidden Forest, both thankful for the fact that most of the snow had melted earlier in the week. Sirius didn’t mind the cold that much at all, he was just thankful to be outside of the castle. The stares and snide comments that had been made since the publication of Rita’s latest gossip column were really starting to get to him, and if he stayed in the school, he might just strangle the sneaky Slytherin.
“I don’t think it’s as cold as it was before,” Sirius commented with forced cheerfulness. “And at least it’s not raining.”
“I guess,” Remus replied. “You should be heading back though. Sunset isn’t far off now.”
“I’ll start back when Firenze shows up,” Sirius replied, his voice colder than the Scottish weather as he spoke of the young centaur.
Remus gave an exasperated sigh. “He’ll be here soon…he promised.”
“And until then…”
“You can’t stay with me all night.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Sirius tried to sound affronted at the idea that he’d want to spend the night out in the forest with Moony, a nearly full grown werewolf.
“You should be returning to the castle,” Romulus added. “The only reason Moony didn’t attack you in the basement was because the forest smells spell prevented him from picking up your human scent. Out here it’s a whole different matter. You can’t be out here.”
“You should lead him back to Hogwarts,” Remus suggested brightly.
“Nice try,” Romulus replied with a snort of humour. “Sirius, you really should go back.”
“Not until I’ve spoken to Firenze,” Sirius stubbornly retorted.
“Spoken with me about what?” the centaur’s voice carried through the trees several moments before he appeared in the flesh.
“About last month,” Sirius snapped.
“What about it?” Firenze asked, a tone of warning in his voice.
“You left him on his own,” Sirius accused. “When I came into the forest to find him on the morning after the full moon, you’d left him to fend for himself. He could have died.”
“I had no choice, and he’s fared well enough despite my absence. I knew you’d be here within an hour of the sunrise.”
“And if I hadn’t been?”
“I had no choice,” Firenze repeated. “I was called to attend the pre-New Year rituals.”
“I don’t care about your stupid centaur rituals!” Sirius yelled. “You left him alone!”
“Our rituals have existed for longer than your Hogwarts has,” Firenze replied, his own voice rising in volume to match that of Sirius. “You know nothing of them, so don’t disrespect them in my presence again.”
“He could have died!” Sirius shouted, caring nothing for how long the rituals had been carried out.
“And my father did die!” Firenze snapped. “I’m trying to carry on his work, to keep the herd from being broken up, to do the right thing.”
“The right thing?” Sirius laughed bitterly and shook his head. “The right thing includes leaving the boy in your care to die in forest, does it?”
“He didn’t die.”
“He could have!”
“Enough!” Romulus bellowed.
Sirius and Firenze both turned towards Remus’s brother, the latter faltering slightly as he saw what had become of the elder Lupin brother. “I’m sorry,” he offered quietly. Romulus nodded respectfully before turning to Sirius.
“You need to get back to Hogwarts, and quickly.” He pointed to Remus and Sirius immediately saw why.
Whilst he had been arguing with Firenze the minutes to the full moon rising had slipped past.
Remus was doubled over in pain, the fur already coating his body.
“Sirius, run!” Romulus yelled.
Firenze shook his head. “He won’t be fast enough, the wolf will give chase, he’ll think he’s prey.”
“He can’t just stay here.”
“I’ll take him back to the school grounds,” Firenze suggested, reaching over to pull Sirius onto his back. Unfortunately, Sirius was unprepared to be hoisted up off the ground, and was unfamiliar with how to mount a regular horse, let alone a centaur. Missing his footing completely, Sirius tumbled right over Firenze’s back and onto the ground on the other side, a position that left him sprawled on the floor barely two feet from Remus.
Sirius scrambled backwards, only to become blocked by Firenze.
“Give me your hand,” the centaur ordered. “Slowly, don’t make any sudden movements.”
Sirius reached his hand upwards, his eyes never leaving the werewolf. He gave an involuntary shudder as Moony put back his head and howled. He felt Firenze’s fingers grip his hand as Moony turned to face him.
For several long seconds Sirius stared right back at Moony, silently repeating in his head ‘I’m not scared…I’m not scared’.
He wasn’t sure exactly when it was that he realised that Moony wasn’t attacking him. There were no vicious, sharp teeth snapping at his leg and no claws seeking to strip the flesh from his body. Just a pair of golden eyes staring at him in the darkness.
“Moony?” Romulus called from the other side of the werewolf.
Sirius watched as Moony turned towards the sound of the voice. He heard the low growl of the werewolf a second before it sprang towards, and straight through, the ghost.
“Quickly,” hissed Firenze, as he pulled Sirius onto his back and took off through the forest. Sirius clung to the back of the centaur, casting a single glance back through the trees as they hurried away from the werewolf. Sirius’s last view of Moony, before there were too many trees obscuring his vision, was of the werewolf trying to take a swipe at the ghost.
In what seemed like no time at all Sirius found himself being deposited on the ground at the edge of the forest, the dim light from Hagrid’s hut warning him to go quietly. He turned to thank Firenze, but the centaur had already disappeared back amongst the trees.
-o-xXx-o-
Sirius crept back into Gryffindor Tower with very little trouble. He suffered one heart-stopping moment when he spied Professor McGonagall strolling down a corridor near the entrance to the common room, but thankfully she didn’t notice his presence and merely continued on her way.
Back in the third year boys’ dormitory, James and Peter were wide-awake and awaiting his return.
“He’s definitely far enough away from the school?” Peter asked. He cast a nervous glance out of the window towards the darkness of the forest.
“Of course,” Sirius replied impatiently. James, and especially Peter, had become more and more anxious as the full moon had approached. James had even gone so far as to threaten to report Remus to Professor Spion if he were still in the dorm an hour before sunset.
“We don’t mind him coming back tomorrow though,” James assured him. “Right, Peter?” Peter nodded. “Just not while he’s dangerous.”
“We’re not stupid,” Sirius snapped. “Remus had no intention of staying here on the full moon night. He’s not some bloodthirsty monster.”
“Okay, okay.” James raised his hands in mock surrender. “What time are we planning on going to fetch him in the morning?”
“I’m going to leave just before sunrise,” Sirius replied.
“We’re coming with you.”
“What for?”
“To help.”
“I don’t need your help,” Sirius answered as he grabbed his pyjamas, towel and wash things and headed out towards the bathroom. He wasn’t particularly worried about James and Peter going with him into the forest, the chance of either of them being awake in time was pretty slim.
It therefore came as rather a surprise to be rudely awoken by James Potter roughly shaking him awake in the early hours of the morning.
“Wake up, you lazy git,” James hissed, punctuating his order by way of a sharp poke in the shoulder.
“Wha’?” Sirius mumbled, before he remembered what he was meant to be doing and sprang from his bed. He had meant to stay awake all night, but sleep had overtaken him despite his best efforts. The Transfiguration textbook he’d been reading until after midnight was lying open on his bed, one of the pages folded and creased by his arm.
With James and Peter both awake and dressed before him, Sirius had no choice but to let them come with him as he headed out of the castle.
The first rays of sunlight were creeping over the horizon as they entered the forest.
“How do you know which way to go?” Peter asked. “It all looks the same.”
“Going to head in the same direction as last night and take it from there,” Sirius replied. “Romulus will be looking out for me too. I’ll find him.”
“We’ll find him,” James corrected.
Sirius shrugged and continued to hurry through the trees. Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was probably only ten minutes or so, he made out the silvery form of Romulus in the distance. He quickened his pace and sprinted towards the ghost. He wasn’t surprised to see Remus lying on the ground, wrapped in the torn remnants of the robe he had borrowed from Sirius.
“Morning,” Remus greeted him. “What sort of night did you have?”
“Not a wild one like you’ve had,” Sirius teased. “You don’t look as bad as I was expecting you to.”
“That’s because he was unconscious half the night,” Romulus commented. “Moony knocked himself out on a tree.”
“Well, that was a dumb thing to do,” James chimed in.
“Who asked you?” Sirius retorted, without turning round.
“If you didn’t want my opinion, you shouldn’t have invited me to come with you.”
“I didn’t invite you,” Sirius pointed out. He opened his satchel, pulled out a couple of potions and handed the first of them to Remus.
“What are they?” Peter asked.
Remus screwed up his nose as he took a swallow from the first vial. “Revolting,” he replied.
“Do you have any cuts that need sealing?” Sirius asked as Remus took a swallow from the second vial.
“Just one on my leg,” Remus confirmed.
Sirius pulled out his wand and reached to pull back the material. His fingers had barely brushed the edge of the robe, when Remus pulled back sharply, his eyes flickering nervously to the other two boys. “I don’t want them watching,” he whispered to Sirius, the words carrying to them anyway.
“Come on, Peter,” James said, nodding in understanding at Remus. “We’ll just be over there.”
Sirius waited until the two boys were out of earshot before turning to Remus. “May I?” he asked, gesturing towards Remus’s injured leg. Remus nodded and pulled back the robe. The scratch, deep and ugly, stretched from his right knee to his hip and was bleeding profusely.
Sirius wasted no time in sealing the wound and cleaning up the blood.
“Now, the blood replenishing potion,” announced Sirius, passing across the second vial he’d retrieved from his satchel.
Remus groaned but took the vial from him anyway. “Don’t you have anything nice in there?” he asked. He winced as he leaned forward to try to reach the satchel to see for himself.
“Might have,” Sirius teased as he pulled the satchel out of Remus’s reach. “I might have a sugar quill or two in here.” Remus’s eyes lit up. “If you’re a good boy and drink all the nasty potions.”
“Did I ever tell you that you’re sometimes really annoying?”
“You might have mentioned it once or twice, and quit stalling…drink.”
Remus downed the potion in one gulp, coughing slightly as he finished the last drop. He passed the empty vial back and held out his hand with a smirk. Sirius grinned back as he pulled out the bag of sugar quills and passed them into Remus’s eager hands. “Don’t eat them all at once,” he warned. “The next Hogsmeade weekend isn’t for over a month, and there’s no way my parents will be sending me any. This bag represents the last of my Uncle Alphard’s Christmas box.”
“I can’t take the last of them,” Remus gasped, pushing the bag away.
“Don’t be daft. Of course you can. I’ve had plenty already.”
“If you’re sure…” Remus looked longingly at the bag of sweets.
“Take them,” Sirius told him with a smile. “I want you to have them.”
“For Salazar’s sake, take the ruddy things,” James interrupted. “Before I start retching from all this mush.”
“We should head back to the castle before we’re missed,” Peter added.
“You okay to walk?” Sirius asked.
Remus nodded and let Sirius help him to his feet. He stumbled slightly as he took the first few steps, then two sets of strong hands were holding him upright. The first hands were those of Sirius, reliable as always. The second set belonged to James, slightly hesitant but sturdy nonetheless. “Let’s get you back to the dorm,” he said. “You look like you could use some sleep.”
Remus nodded again and leaned into Sirius as they walked back through the forest.
-o-xXx-o-
Remus stayed hidden in the dorm for the next two days, slowly regaining his strength.
James had surprised Sirius by how attentive he was towards the young werewolf, even going so far as to comment on the severity of the injuries Remus had accrued over the years.
Sirius meanwhile took the opportunity to quiz Romulus about what had happened during the night of the full moon. Romulus had barely spoken a word since they’d returned from the forest, and Sirius could tell that something had happened.
“Remus is angry with me,” Romulus explained with a grimace.
Sirius looked at the ghost in confusion. “But Moony…?”
“Moony is angry with me, because Remus is angry with me,” Romulus continued.
“Remus isn’t angry with you,” Sirius argued. “He’s just upset because…”
“He’s upset because I’m a ghost, but he’s angry because I won’t tell him what happened in Azkaban.”
“He’s asked you?” Sirius questioned in surprise. He hadn’t thought that Remus had brought up the subject with his brother, at least not directly.
“Not in so many words,” Romulus confirmed. “He wants to know, and yet he doesn’t want to know. He’s confused and upset, but all those emotions are too complicated for the wolf to understand. The wolf just understands that his host is suffering and I’m the cause.”
“Why don’t you tell him what happened to you?” Sirius asked.
“Because he’ll blame himself if…” Romulus’s voice trailed off as though he’d said too much.
“He blames himself anyway,” Sirius pointed out.
“I know.”
Sirius was quiet for a long time, as he worked up the courage to ask what he wanted to know. “Romulus?” he tentatively asked.
“No, Sirius,” the ghost replied softly. “I’m not going to tell you what happened to me.”
“Why not?”
“Apart from the fact you’ll tell Remus at the first opportunity?”
“I won’t, not if you don’t want me to.”
“Drop it, Sirius,” Romulus warned.
Sirius was quiet for barely a minute before he spoke again. “Back at the Wizengamot,” he began. “Professor Dumbledore said he’d taught you something, something to help you…”
“He did.”
“What was it?” Sirius asked. “I read about the dementors and you need a wand to perform the Patronus charm. That’s the only way to fight them off.”
“Professor Dumbledore wasn’t teaching me how to fight them.”
“Then what was it?”
Romulus was silent for so long that Sirius thought he hadn’t heard him. He was about to repeat his question when Romulus finally replied. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not? It’s not like it’ll make any difference now you’re dead.”
Romulus snorted humourlessly.
“Well, it won’t,” Sirius insisted.
“It’ll make all the difference,” Romulus replied with a sigh.
“I don’t see how.”
“I promise that one day I’ll explain to both you and Remus, but not now.”
Sirius could tell that the subject was closed and he scuffed his shoes on the wall impatiently.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of another ghostly voice.
“Romulus, lad. Been looking all over for you,” the Fat Friar called.
“Friar,” Romulus greeted the older ghost with a respectful nod of his head.
“That irritating little weasel of a Defence teacher is heading this way. Better make yourself scarce, don’t want him recognising you and getting suspicious.”
“Thanks,” Romulus called as he hurried out of sight, leaving Sirius with the Friar. A moment later Professor Spion appeared round the corner.
“Mr Black,” Professor Spion growled as he approached him. “What are you doing loitering in the corridors?”
“I’m not loitering,” Sirius replied. “I’m just hanging around here.”
“Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek,” Professor Spion snapped. “Now, hurry along and stop bothering the ghosts.”
“Oh, he’s no bother at all,” the Friar insisted. “We were having quite a pleasant chat.”
“Nevertheless, Mr Black should be making his way to class; don’t you have Herbology down in the greenhouses in ten minutes?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Then run along, before you lose even more points by arriving late for class.”
“I’ll come with you,” the Friar said with a jovial grin. “We can continue our discussion on the way.”
Sirius nodded and made his way down the stairs towards the Entrance Hall.
“A fine young man,” the Friar commented once they were out of earshot. “It’s a pleasure to have him join us ghosts at Hogwarts, even if it won’t be forever.”
“What do you mean?” Sirius asked. “Why won’t it be forever?”
“Because of Remus, of course. Romulus is here for him, but Remus won’t be here forever, will he?”
“You mean once Remus dies, Romulus will be able to move on?” Sirius asked in hopeful surprise.
“Well, I don’t know about that. I was just speaking of the school generally. Once Remus leaves the school, Romulus will have no reason to remain at Hogwarts. Such a shame. It’s nice to have a young ghost on the premises. And one who doesn’t persistently flood the corridors on a yearly basis.”
“Thanks for helping us,” Sirius whispered as they left the building.
“I could do no other,” the Friar replied. “Romulus was a Hufflepuff, just like I was. We are loyal until the end…and even afterwards. I’d be proud to have his little brother in my house too, so would Professor Sprout.”
“I’d rather he were in Gryffindor with me.”
The Friar laughed. “Of course you’d want that. Just remember: if you ever need the help of this old Hufflepuff, send word through Romulus or Sir Nicholas. I’m always around somewhere.”
Sirius nodded his thanks and hurried towards the greenhouses.
He was a few minutes early and saw that only Professor Sprout had arrived before him.
“Mr Black.” She nodded at him and directed him towards the nearest bench. “I’m glad to see you’re taking such an interest in my class. We’re starting studying plants commonly used in healing potions today; I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting.”
Sirius frowned slightly at the tone of the Professor’s words. Although nothing had been said to him directly, he was sure that Professor Dumbledore knew he’d smuggled Remus into the school; he was sure that nothing happened in the school that the Headmaster didn’t know about. Madam Pomfrey was also likely to have been made aware of Remus’s presence in case of an emergency. But did other members of staff know as well?
Suddenly, a comment made by Professor McGonagall popped into his mind and he chewed on his lip thoughtfully. She’d referred to his ‘friends’ on the Quidditch pitch, when the only person she should have seen out there was Charlene. Did she know about Remus? Did Professor Sprout, Romulus’s former Head of House, know about the return of her former student and the arrival of his younger brother?
He was sure that they had been careful. Remus never left the dorm unless he was under cover of the invisibility cloak. He avoided the Great Hall because of the crowds, choosing to eat in the safety of the dorm. They had done all that they could to keep Remus hidden.
Yet still Sirius couldn’t shake the feeling that more people knew about the extra student in the castle than he had originally believed.
-o-xXx-o-
“I think maybe you shouldn’t come to classes any more,” Sirius suggested the following morning.
Remus looked up from where he was tying his shoes and frowned. “You don’t want me there?” he asked quietly.
“It’s not that,” Sirius assured him. “I’m just worried that some of the other teachers might have realised you’re in the school.”
“But, how can they have?”
“I don’t know, but the Fat Friar said Professor Sprout would like to have you in her house, and then Professor Sprout made this comment yesterday about plants that are used in healing potions, and I think she knows.”
“She could just know about your extra lessons with Madam Pomfrey,” Remus pointed out.
“And what about McGonagall saying my friends were out on the Quidditch pitch?”
“She can’t have seen me, I had the invisibility cloak on.”
“But what if she did?”
“You’re just being paranoid. That or you just don’t want me coming to class with you any more.”
“Not if it means you end up in the hands of the Ministry!”
“Sirius, you worry too much.”
“Well, one of us has to,” Sirius snapped, his temper rising.
“Fine!” Remus yelled. “I won’t come to classes with you. I’ll just live here in the dorm, or maybe you’d like it better if I went to live in the forest again? That safe enough for you?”
“Now you’re just being stupid.”
“Well, what do you expect?” Remus screamed. “We can’t all get a wonderful education at Hogwarts like the Black family can!”
Sirius stared at Remus silently. They’d had minor disagreements before, but Remus had never used his family as a weapon against him. He could tell immediately that Remus knew he’d gone too far, but he didn’t wait around for the apology he knew was coming. He grabbed his books for Charms class and bolted out of the door.
-o-xXx-o-
Remus winced as the door slammed behind Sirius.
“Maybe you should skip classes this morning,” James suggested, his invisibility cloak in his hands. “You don’t want to be fighting with Sirius in class, or you really will get caught.”
Remus nodded and turned towards his new friend. “Can you get him to come up here at lunch?” he asked.
“I’ll try,” James offered. “But he looked pretty pissed off, and it’s not like he listens to me much.”
Remus nodded again. “Do you mind if I borrow your cloak anyway? I’d like to check out the library while it’s quiet.”
“Just be careful.”
“I’ve not torn it yet, have I?” Remus asked as he took the cloak from James.
“That’s not what I meant,” James replied with a smile. He didn’t wait to see if Remus understood his meaning and grabbed his own books so that he could hurry after Sirius.
Remus put on the cloak and followed him out the door, being especially careful not to brush against anyone in the still rather crowded common room.
He arrived at the library just before the first class of the day started and quietly ducked through the door when Madam Pince’s back was turned. He hadn’t been inside the library before, it was always too crowded when the classes were over for the day, and he had preferred to be in classes with his friends than wandering round the school on his own.
Now he was inside the library, and he stood in awe of the sheer volume of books in the room.
A few of the tables were occupied with sixth and seventh year students who were using their free periods wisely. It didn’t take long for Remus to find an empty corner of the library to settle down in for the morning. Making sure that no one saw him appear, he took off the cloak and draped it over the back of the chair.
Then he settled himself down with a book from the Defence Against the Dark Arts section of the library, a book which focused heavily on dangerous creatures such as werewolves.
It was late in the morning and he was halfway through the fifth chapter when he heard Romulus sigh impatiently behind him. “Remus, have you lost your bloody mind?”
“Not since the full moon,” Remus replied calmly, without looking up from the book.
“That’s not funny,” Romulus hissed. “You’re sitting here in the library where anyone can see you; can’t you see what’s wrong with this?”
“I’m in Sirius’s uniform, anyone who sees me will think I’m just another student.”
“Even if Pince doesn’t realise you’re not a student, what do you think will happen if she sends you to class? Do you see anyone below sixth year in the library this morning? Of course you don’t. That’s because they’re all in class. And what do you think Slughorn will say if you turn up in his classroom? Do you think he’ll just calmly tell you to take a seat and join in?”
“It’s Charms this morning,” Remus pointed out.
“Remus, please,” Romulus pleaded. “Just put the cloak on and go back to the dorm where it’s safer.”
“I’m perfectly safe here.”
“And if Spion comes into the library for something?”
“He’s teaching at the moment.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Just go back to the dorm…please.”
“Fine,” Remus sulkily replied. He pulled the cloak on and made sure it covered both himself and the book.
“You can’t take the book from the library without checking it out,” Romulus pointed it out.
“I think Madam Pince might notice me if I tried to check it out properly.”
“Put it back on the shelf and get one of your friends to check it out later.”
“No,” Remus argued. “I’m reading it now and don’t want to have to wait until later to carry on with it.”
With that, Remus crept back out of the library and made his way towards Gryffindor Tower.
It was only when he got to the Fat Lady’s portrait that he realised he wouldn’t be able to get back into the common room without revealing his presence.
He was about to turn round and go back down the stairs when he heard the sound of footsteps heading his way. He pressed himself back up against the wall, hoping whoever it was who was approaching, didn’t hear him there. He drew in a sharp breath as Professor McGonagall swept down the corridor.
“Good morning, Professor,” the Fat Lady greeted the teacher.
“Good morning,” Professor McGonagall replied. “Everything in order within Gryffindor Tower today?”
“As always. Would you like to check for yourself?”
“Considering the dungbomb incident last term, perhaps it might be best,” McGonagall replied with a grimace. “Poor Argus is at a loss as to how they get so many of them into the school during the year.”
The Fat Lady chuckled as she swung open the portrait hole, enabling both Professor McGonagall and Remus to enter the empty common room.
Remus pressed himself up against the wall, not daring to risk the creaking stairs until the Professor was safely on her way.
“Well, at least the air is breathable,” Professor McGonagall commented to herself. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mr Lupin?”
Remus darted a look around the room, hoping that Romulus was lingering somewhere, and that was whom she was talking to. But a cursory glance revealed that Romulus had disappeared again and the only ‘Mr Lupin’ in the room was himself. This fact was confirmed by Professor McGonagall turning to look right at him.
Sirius had been right, he realised. Professor McGonagall did know he was in the school and now he was going to be turned over to the Ministry and sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp for the rest of his life.
“Come with me,” Professor McGonagall asked as she opened the portrait hole again and stepped back into the corridor.
Remus knew that if she could tell he was there even when he was under the invisibility cloak, there was no point in ignoring her request. He wondered where Romulus had disappeared to, and for the first time since his return, Remus wished for the sight of his brother’s ghostly face.
Remus followed Professor McGonagall out of the portrait hole, down the corridor and into her office.
“Do take a seat,” the teacher asked kindly. “And I would much prefer you take the cloak off while we’re talking. It’s rather distracting not to be able to see the person to whom I’m speaking.”
Remus pulled the cloak off reluctantly and sat down in one of the comfy chairs.
“Ah, that’s better.” Professor McGonagall smiled at him. “You look a great deal like your brother, you know.”
Remus flushed slightly, not really enthusiastic about the idea of discussing his brother with the older woman.
“You’re not eating properly though,” she chided. “Here, have some biscuits whilst I get the house elves to bring you a proper lunch.”
Remus wasn’t hungry, but he didn’t dare refuse the offering. He placed his book down on the chair next to him and nibbled on the biscuit while staring at the bookcase that lined the wall beside him.
A few minutes later saw the arrival of one of the Hogwart’s house elves bearing a large platter of delicious looking food. He placed the meal in front of Remus who, with very little prompting from Professor McGonagall, gave in to temptation and began to tuck in.
“Is that from the library?” McGonagall asked, pointing at the book.
“Yes,” Remus mumbled round a mouthful of potatoes.
McGonagall held out her hand. “May I?”
Remus passed her the book and the teacher flicked through it, tutting occasionally and sighing. “I only borrowed it,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t have kept it forever.”
“Of course not,” McGonagall replied kindly. “But, if you want to read up on your condition this isn’t a very good book. It’s a Ministry approved publication and highly inaccurate. May I suggest you start with Lycanthropy: A Healer’s Analysis. It’s a collaborative effort by several of the Healers from St Mungo’s and other wizard hospitals, and whilst it won’t answer all your questions, it is at least more accurate than this one.”
“Is that one in the library?”
“Probably, but I’d rather you borrow my own copy instead of going back there. You really should be more careful,” McGonagall continued. “It’s rather windy this time of year, and that cloak isn’t much use when it’s flapping about in the breeze. Now, what are we going to do with you?”
“Turn me over to the Ministry, I guess,” Remus muttered.
“Goodness, no!” McGonagall exclaimed. “Not until Professor Dumbledore is ready.”
“Ready?”
“Until he can make sure he can keep you alive.”
“Alive?” Remus asked, choking on his biscuit as he spoke.
“Yes, Mr Lupin, alive,” Professor McGonagall repeated sternly.
“But, I thought I’d just get locked up in one of those camps?”
Professor McGonagall hesitated, clearly realising that Remus had no true idea of the seriousness of the position he was in.
“Professor? Rom always said if I got caught I’d be sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp. He wouldn’t lie to me.”
“You brother is quite correct,” McGonagall said quietly. “But, I feel that perhaps you don’t know the true extent of your situation.” McGonagall looked hesitant for a few moments and Remus frowned in confusion as he waited for her to continue. “I’m not sure that Professor Dumbledore would approve of my telling you this, but I feel you need to know how dangerous a position you’re in. Perhaps then you might be more careful when wandering the school.”
Remus nodded as Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly.
“If you are caught you’ll be sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp until the Ministry can decide what to do with you.”
“Wouldn’t I just live there?”
“Many werewolves and other creatures deemed dangerous by the Ministry do live their lives in the camp, but it is very expensive to keep adding to the number of…prisoners. The Ministry only allows someone to live in the camp indefinitely if there’s no other option.”
“But, where else would I go?”
“Remus, the Ministry issued a warrant of execution for you shortly after you were bitten.”
Remus opened his mouth and closed it several times, the words he wanted to say not coming forth. “There can’t be…” He shook his head violently, refusing to believe the words he’d just heard.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no doubt about it.”
“You’re lying,” Remus shouted. “Rom would have told me if there was a…a…”
“I’m sorry, but there is a warrant issued and unless the person who requested it changes their mind, there is nothing the Ministry can do except carry out the order. Professor Dumbledore had hoped to persuade them to retract the warrant, but when he finally had the chance to speak with them after your brother’s trial they refused.”
“But, Rom said I’d be sent to a camp. He said that I’d only be killed if I’d attacked someone.”
“Your brother didn’t know about the warrant until his own trial. He told you what he thought was right. In all likelihood you would be confined to one of the camps if you were to be captured. At least until the order can be carried out, or until Professor Dumbledore can argue your case.”
“Maybe I should find somewhere else to hide?” suggested Remus, more to himself than to the Professor.
“You’re safer here than you realise,” McGonagall advised. “Professor Dumbledore will do everything he can to help you…when the time comes.”
“But you said he’d tried to get them to change their mind about the warrant and they said no.”
“That’s true, but there may be another way he can help you. One that doesn’t require the co-operation of those who won’t give it.”
“Are you going to tell him I’m hiding out in the school?” Remus asked.
“I assure you, Professor Dumbledore is well aware of your presence here, as are several other members of staff. Did you think us teachers wouldn’t notice an extra body in our classrooms?”
“But I was under an invisibility cloak.”
“Nevertheless, your presence was noted. Though thankfully not in Professor Spion’s class.”
Remus shook his head rapidly at the very idea of going into the classes of the man who was trying to find him. “I’ve not been to his.”
“Well, that’s a relief at least. Thank goodness you’ve shown some sense,” Professor McGonagall huffed. “Now, what about your meals. I assume you’ve been sneaking into the kitchens or getting your friends to bring you food?”
Remus nodded.
“Healthy food?” McGonagall queried.
“Er…”
“I didn’t think so. From now on, I’ll give the orders to the house elves to provide you with three regular meals a day in the dormitory, and I promise you won’t be living on desserts, snacks and whatever other things your friends have appropriated for you.”
“Thanks,” Remus said, earning a beaming smile from Professor McGonagall.
“Now, I believe your friends will be arriving at my classroom shortly, are you planning on joining them?”
“Can I?”
“Of course, but try to keep all your limbs under the cloak this time.”
Remus grinned as he pulled the cloak on.
“I’ll see the book we spoke of is sent up to the dormitory for you,” Professor McGonagall told him. “Now, come along, before the class thinks I’ve forgotten them.”
Remus trailed after Professor McGonagall, thrilled that he practically had permission to be in her class. He saw that there was a spare seat next to Sirius and made a beeline for it. It seemed that Rita, who was often seated next to him in this class, had opted to sit elsewhere today. He took advantage of her absence to slide into the seat as quietly as he could.
Unfortunately he wasn’t quiet enough and Sirius shot him a look that told him he knew he was there. The other boy didn’t look particularly pleased to see him, but Remus knew there was nothing either of them could say until after the class was over.
Chapter 20
Disclaimer: I own nothing that you recognise. J K Rowling retains all copyright.
The First Cut (PG13 for a tiny bit of swearing)
Sirius and Remus trudged through the Forbidden Forest, both thankful for the fact that most of the snow had melted earlier in the week. Sirius didn’t mind the cold that much at all, he was just thankful to be outside of the castle. The stares and snide comments that had been made since the publication of Rita’s latest gossip column were really starting to get to him, and if he stayed in the school, he might just strangle the sneaky Slytherin.
“I don’t think it’s as cold as it was before,” Sirius commented with forced cheerfulness. “And at least it’s not raining.”
“I guess,” Remus replied. “You should be heading back though. Sunset isn’t far off now.”
“I’ll start back when Firenze shows up,” Sirius replied, his voice colder than the Scottish weather as he spoke of the young centaur.
Remus gave an exasperated sigh. “He’ll be here soon…he promised.”
“And until then…”
“You can’t stay with me all night.”
“I wasn’t going to.” Sirius tried to sound affronted at the idea that he’d want to spend the night out in the forest with Moony, a nearly full grown werewolf.
“You should be returning to the castle,” Romulus added. “The only reason Moony didn’t attack you in the basement was because the forest smells spell prevented him from picking up your human scent. Out here it’s a whole different matter. You can’t be out here.”
“You should lead him back to Hogwarts,” Remus suggested brightly.
“Nice try,” Romulus replied with a snort of humour. “Sirius, you really should go back.”
“Not until I’ve spoken to Firenze,” Sirius stubbornly retorted.
“Spoken with me about what?” the centaur’s voice carried through the trees several moments before he appeared in the flesh.
“About last month,” Sirius snapped.
“What about it?” Firenze asked, a tone of warning in his voice.
“You left him on his own,” Sirius accused. “When I came into the forest to find him on the morning after the full moon, you’d left him to fend for himself. He could have died.”
“I had no choice, and he’s fared well enough despite my absence. I knew you’d be here within an hour of the sunrise.”
“And if I hadn’t been?”
“I had no choice,” Firenze repeated. “I was called to attend the pre-New Year rituals.”
“I don’t care about your stupid centaur rituals!” Sirius yelled. “You left him alone!”
“Our rituals have existed for longer than your Hogwarts has,” Firenze replied, his own voice rising in volume to match that of Sirius. “You know nothing of them, so don’t disrespect them in my presence again.”
“He could have died!” Sirius shouted, caring nothing for how long the rituals had been carried out.
“And my father did die!” Firenze snapped. “I’m trying to carry on his work, to keep the herd from being broken up, to do the right thing.”
“The right thing?” Sirius laughed bitterly and shook his head. “The right thing includes leaving the boy in your care to die in forest, does it?”
“He didn’t die.”
“He could have!”
“Enough!” Romulus bellowed.
Sirius and Firenze both turned towards Remus’s brother, the latter faltering slightly as he saw what had become of the elder Lupin brother. “I’m sorry,” he offered quietly. Romulus nodded respectfully before turning to Sirius.
“You need to get back to Hogwarts, and quickly.” He pointed to Remus and Sirius immediately saw why.
Whilst he had been arguing with Firenze the minutes to the full moon rising had slipped past.
Remus was doubled over in pain, the fur already coating his body.
“Sirius, run!” Romulus yelled.
Firenze shook his head. “He won’t be fast enough, the wolf will give chase, he’ll think he’s prey.”
“He can’t just stay here.”
“I’ll take him back to the school grounds,” Firenze suggested, reaching over to pull Sirius onto his back. Unfortunately, Sirius was unprepared to be hoisted up off the ground, and was unfamiliar with how to mount a regular horse, let alone a centaur. Missing his footing completely, Sirius tumbled right over Firenze’s back and onto the ground on the other side, a position that left him sprawled on the floor barely two feet from Remus.
Sirius scrambled backwards, only to become blocked by Firenze.
“Give me your hand,” the centaur ordered. “Slowly, don’t make any sudden movements.”
Sirius reached his hand upwards, his eyes never leaving the werewolf. He gave an involuntary shudder as Moony put back his head and howled. He felt Firenze’s fingers grip his hand as Moony turned to face him.
For several long seconds Sirius stared right back at Moony, silently repeating in his head ‘I’m not scared…I’m not scared’.
He wasn’t sure exactly when it was that he realised that Moony wasn’t attacking him. There were no vicious, sharp teeth snapping at his leg and no claws seeking to strip the flesh from his body. Just a pair of golden eyes staring at him in the darkness.
“Moony?” Romulus called from the other side of the werewolf.
Sirius watched as Moony turned towards the sound of the voice. He heard the low growl of the werewolf a second before it sprang towards, and straight through, the ghost.
“Quickly,” hissed Firenze, as he pulled Sirius onto his back and took off through the forest. Sirius clung to the back of the centaur, casting a single glance back through the trees as they hurried away from the werewolf. Sirius’s last view of Moony, before there were too many trees obscuring his vision, was of the werewolf trying to take a swipe at the ghost.
In what seemed like no time at all Sirius found himself being deposited on the ground at the edge of the forest, the dim light from Hagrid’s hut warning him to go quietly. He turned to thank Firenze, but the centaur had already disappeared back amongst the trees.
-o-xXx-o-
Sirius crept back into Gryffindor Tower with very little trouble. He suffered one heart-stopping moment when he spied Professor McGonagall strolling down a corridor near the entrance to the common room, but thankfully she didn’t notice his presence and merely continued on her way.
Back in the third year boys’ dormitory, James and Peter were wide-awake and awaiting his return.
“He’s definitely far enough away from the school?” Peter asked. He cast a nervous glance out of the window towards the darkness of the forest.
“Of course,” Sirius replied impatiently. James, and especially Peter, had become more and more anxious as the full moon had approached. James had even gone so far as to threaten to report Remus to Professor Spion if he were still in the dorm an hour before sunset.
“We don’t mind him coming back tomorrow though,” James assured him. “Right, Peter?” Peter nodded. “Just not while he’s dangerous.”
“We’re not stupid,” Sirius snapped. “Remus had no intention of staying here on the full moon night. He’s not some bloodthirsty monster.”
“Okay, okay.” James raised his hands in mock surrender. “What time are we planning on going to fetch him in the morning?”
“I’m going to leave just before sunrise,” Sirius replied.
“We’re coming with you.”
“What for?”
“To help.”
“I don’t need your help,” Sirius answered as he grabbed his pyjamas, towel and wash things and headed out towards the bathroom. He wasn’t particularly worried about James and Peter going with him into the forest, the chance of either of them being awake in time was pretty slim.
It therefore came as rather a surprise to be rudely awoken by James Potter roughly shaking him awake in the early hours of the morning.
“Wake up, you lazy git,” James hissed, punctuating his order by way of a sharp poke in the shoulder.
“Wha’?” Sirius mumbled, before he remembered what he was meant to be doing and sprang from his bed. He had meant to stay awake all night, but sleep had overtaken him despite his best efforts. The Transfiguration textbook he’d been reading until after midnight was lying open on his bed, one of the pages folded and creased by his arm.
With James and Peter both awake and dressed before him, Sirius had no choice but to let them come with him as he headed out of the castle.
The first rays of sunlight were creeping over the horizon as they entered the forest.
“How do you know which way to go?” Peter asked. “It all looks the same.”
“Going to head in the same direction as last night and take it from there,” Sirius replied. “Romulus will be looking out for me too. I’ll find him.”
“We’ll find him,” James corrected.
Sirius shrugged and continued to hurry through the trees. Finally, after what seemed like hours, but was probably only ten minutes or so, he made out the silvery form of Romulus in the distance. He quickened his pace and sprinted towards the ghost. He wasn’t surprised to see Remus lying on the ground, wrapped in the torn remnants of the robe he had borrowed from Sirius.
“Morning,” Remus greeted him. “What sort of night did you have?”
“Not a wild one like you’ve had,” Sirius teased. “You don’t look as bad as I was expecting you to.”
“That’s because he was unconscious half the night,” Romulus commented. “Moony knocked himself out on a tree.”
“Well, that was a dumb thing to do,” James chimed in.
“Who asked you?” Sirius retorted, without turning round.
“If you didn’t want my opinion, you shouldn’t have invited me to come with you.”
“I didn’t invite you,” Sirius pointed out. He opened his satchel, pulled out a couple of potions and handed the first of them to Remus.
“What are they?” Peter asked.
Remus screwed up his nose as he took a swallow from the first vial. “Revolting,” he replied.
“Do you have any cuts that need sealing?” Sirius asked as Remus took a swallow from the second vial.
“Just one on my leg,” Remus confirmed.
Sirius pulled out his wand and reached to pull back the material. His fingers had barely brushed the edge of the robe, when Remus pulled back sharply, his eyes flickering nervously to the other two boys. “I don’t want them watching,” he whispered to Sirius, the words carrying to them anyway.
“Come on, Peter,” James said, nodding in understanding at Remus. “We’ll just be over there.”
Sirius waited until the two boys were out of earshot before turning to Remus. “May I?” he asked, gesturing towards Remus’s injured leg. Remus nodded and pulled back the robe. The scratch, deep and ugly, stretched from his right knee to his hip and was bleeding profusely.
Sirius wasted no time in sealing the wound and cleaning up the blood.
“Now, the blood replenishing potion,” announced Sirius, passing across the second vial he’d retrieved from his satchel.
Remus groaned but took the vial from him anyway. “Don’t you have anything nice in there?” he asked. He winced as he leaned forward to try to reach the satchel to see for himself.
“Might have,” Sirius teased as he pulled the satchel out of Remus’s reach. “I might have a sugar quill or two in here.” Remus’s eyes lit up. “If you’re a good boy and drink all the nasty potions.”
“Did I ever tell you that you’re sometimes really annoying?”
“You might have mentioned it once or twice, and quit stalling…drink.”
Remus downed the potion in one gulp, coughing slightly as he finished the last drop. He passed the empty vial back and held out his hand with a smirk. Sirius grinned back as he pulled out the bag of sugar quills and passed them into Remus’s eager hands. “Don’t eat them all at once,” he warned. “The next Hogsmeade weekend isn’t for over a month, and there’s no way my parents will be sending me any. This bag represents the last of my Uncle Alphard’s Christmas box.”
“I can’t take the last of them,” Remus gasped, pushing the bag away.
“Don’t be daft. Of course you can. I’ve had plenty already.”
“If you’re sure…” Remus looked longingly at the bag of sweets.
“Take them,” Sirius told him with a smile. “I want you to have them.”
“For Salazar’s sake, take the ruddy things,” James interrupted. “Before I start retching from all this mush.”
“We should head back to the castle before we’re missed,” Peter added.
“You okay to walk?” Sirius asked.
Remus nodded and let Sirius help him to his feet. He stumbled slightly as he took the first few steps, then two sets of strong hands were holding him upright. The first hands were those of Sirius, reliable as always. The second set belonged to James, slightly hesitant but sturdy nonetheless. “Let’s get you back to the dorm,” he said. “You look like you could use some sleep.”
Remus nodded again and leaned into Sirius as they walked back through the forest.
-o-xXx-o-
Remus stayed hidden in the dorm for the next two days, slowly regaining his strength.
James had surprised Sirius by how attentive he was towards the young werewolf, even going so far as to comment on the severity of the injuries Remus had accrued over the years.
Sirius meanwhile took the opportunity to quiz Romulus about what had happened during the night of the full moon. Romulus had barely spoken a word since they’d returned from the forest, and Sirius could tell that something had happened.
“Remus is angry with me,” Romulus explained with a grimace.
Sirius looked at the ghost in confusion. “But Moony…?”
“Moony is angry with me, because Remus is angry with me,” Romulus continued.
“Remus isn’t angry with you,” Sirius argued. “He’s just upset because…”
“He’s upset because I’m a ghost, but he’s angry because I won’t tell him what happened in Azkaban.”
“He’s asked you?” Sirius questioned in surprise. He hadn’t thought that Remus had brought up the subject with his brother, at least not directly.
“Not in so many words,” Romulus confirmed. “He wants to know, and yet he doesn’t want to know. He’s confused and upset, but all those emotions are too complicated for the wolf to understand. The wolf just understands that his host is suffering and I’m the cause.”
“Why don’t you tell him what happened to you?” Sirius asked.
“Because he’ll blame himself if…” Romulus’s voice trailed off as though he’d said too much.
“He blames himself anyway,” Sirius pointed out.
“I know.”
Sirius was quiet for a long time, as he worked up the courage to ask what he wanted to know. “Romulus?” he tentatively asked.
“No, Sirius,” the ghost replied softly. “I’m not going to tell you what happened to me.”
“Why not?”
“Apart from the fact you’ll tell Remus at the first opportunity?”
“I won’t, not if you don’t want me to.”
“Drop it, Sirius,” Romulus warned.
Sirius was quiet for barely a minute before he spoke again. “Back at the Wizengamot,” he began. “Professor Dumbledore said he’d taught you something, something to help you…”
“He did.”
“What was it?” Sirius asked. “I read about the dementors and you need a wand to perform the Patronus charm. That’s the only way to fight them off.”
“Professor Dumbledore wasn’t teaching me how to fight them.”
“Then what was it?”
Romulus was silent for so long that Sirius thought he hadn’t heard him. He was about to repeat his question when Romulus finally replied. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not? It’s not like it’ll make any difference now you’re dead.”
Romulus snorted humourlessly.
“Well, it won’t,” Sirius insisted.
“It’ll make all the difference,” Romulus replied with a sigh.
“I don’t see how.”
“I promise that one day I’ll explain to both you and Remus, but not now.”
Sirius could tell that the subject was closed and he scuffed his shoes on the wall impatiently.
He was pulled from his thoughts by the sound of another ghostly voice.
“Romulus, lad. Been looking all over for you,” the Fat Friar called.
“Friar,” Romulus greeted the older ghost with a respectful nod of his head.
“That irritating little weasel of a Defence teacher is heading this way. Better make yourself scarce, don’t want him recognising you and getting suspicious.”
“Thanks,” Romulus called as he hurried out of sight, leaving Sirius with the Friar. A moment later Professor Spion appeared round the corner.
“Mr Black,” Professor Spion growled as he approached him. “What are you doing loitering in the corridors?”
“I’m not loitering,” Sirius replied. “I’m just hanging around here.”
“Five points from Gryffindor for your cheek,” Professor Spion snapped. “Now, hurry along and stop bothering the ghosts.”
“Oh, he’s no bother at all,” the Friar insisted. “We were having quite a pleasant chat.”
“Nevertheless, Mr Black should be making his way to class; don’t you have Herbology down in the greenhouses in ten minutes?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Then run along, before you lose even more points by arriving late for class.”
“I’ll come with you,” the Friar said with a jovial grin. “We can continue our discussion on the way.”
Sirius nodded and made his way down the stairs towards the Entrance Hall.
“A fine young man,” the Friar commented once they were out of earshot. “It’s a pleasure to have him join us ghosts at Hogwarts, even if it won’t be forever.”
“What do you mean?” Sirius asked. “Why won’t it be forever?”
“Because of Remus, of course. Romulus is here for him, but Remus won’t be here forever, will he?”
“You mean once Remus dies, Romulus will be able to move on?” Sirius asked in hopeful surprise.
“Well, I don’t know about that. I was just speaking of the school generally. Once Remus leaves the school, Romulus will have no reason to remain at Hogwarts. Such a shame. It’s nice to have a young ghost on the premises. And one who doesn’t persistently flood the corridors on a yearly basis.”
“Thanks for helping us,” Sirius whispered as they left the building.
“I could do no other,” the Friar replied. “Romulus was a Hufflepuff, just like I was. We are loyal until the end…and even afterwards. I’d be proud to have his little brother in my house too, so would Professor Sprout.”
“I’d rather he were in Gryffindor with me.”
The Friar laughed. “Of course you’d want that. Just remember: if you ever need the help of this old Hufflepuff, send word through Romulus or Sir Nicholas. I’m always around somewhere.”
Sirius nodded his thanks and hurried towards the greenhouses.
He was a few minutes early and saw that only Professor Sprout had arrived before him.
“Mr Black.” She nodded at him and directed him towards the nearest bench. “I’m glad to see you’re taking such an interest in my class. We’re starting studying plants commonly used in healing potions today; I’m sure you’ll find it very interesting.”
Sirius frowned slightly at the tone of the Professor’s words. Although nothing had been said to him directly, he was sure that Professor Dumbledore knew he’d smuggled Remus into the school; he was sure that nothing happened in the school that the Headmaster didn’t know about. Madam Pomfrey was also likely to have been made aware of Remus’s presence in case of an emergency. But did other members of staff know as well?
Suddenly, a comment made by Professor McGonagall popped into his mind and he chewed on his lip thoughtfully. She’d referred to his ‘friends’ on the Quidditch pitch, when the only person she should have seen out there was Charlene. Did she know about Remus? Did Professor Sprout, Romulus’s former Head of House, know about the return of her former student and the arrival of his younger brother?
He was sure that they had been careful. Remus never left the dorm unless he was under cover of the invisibility cloak. He avoided the Great Hall because of the crowds, choosing to eat in the safety of the dorm. They had done all that they could to keep Remus hidden.
Yet still Sirius couldn’t shake the feeling that more people knew about the extra student in the castle than he had originally believed.
-o-xXx-o-
“I think maybe you shouldn’t come to classes any more,” Sirius suggested the following morning.
Remus looked up from where he was tying his shoes and frowned. “You don’t want me there?” he asked quietly.
“It’s not that,” Sirius assured him. “I’m just worried that some of the other teachers might have realised you’re in the school.”
“But, how can they have?”
“I don’t know, but the Fat Friar said Professor Sprout would like to have you in her house, and then Professor Sprout made this comment yesterday about plants that are used in healing potions, and I think she knows.”
“She could just know about your extra lessons with Madam Pomfrey,” Remus pointed out.
“And what about McGonagall saying my friends were out on the Quidditch pitch?”
“She can’t have seen me, I had the invisibility cloak on.”
“But what if she did?”
“You’re just being paranoid. That or you just don’t want me coming to class with you any more.”
“Not if it means you end up in the hands of the Ministry!”
“Sirius, you worry too much.”
“Well, one of us has to,” Sirius snapped, his temper rising.
“Fine!” Remus yelled. “I won’t come to classes with you. I’ll just live here in the dorm, or maybe you’d like it better if I went to live in the forest again? That safe enough for you?”
“Now you’re just being stupid.”
“Well, what do you expect?” Remus screamed. “We can’t all get a wonderful education at Hogwarts like the Black family can!”
Sirius stared at Remus silently. They’d had minor disagreements before, but Remus had never used his family as a weapon against him. He could tell immediately that Remus knew he’d gone too far, but he didn’t wait around for the apology he knew was coming. He grabbed his books for Charms class and bolted out of the door.
-o-xXx-o-
Remus winced as the door slammed behind Sirius.
“Maybe you should skip classes this morning,” James suggested, his invisibility cloak in his hands. “You don’t want to be fighting with Sirius in class, or you really will get caught.”
Remus nodded and turned towards his new friend. “Can you get him to come up here at lunch?” he asked.
“I’ll try,” James offered. “But he looked pretty pissed off, and it’s not like he listens to me much.”
Remus nodded again. “Do you mind if I borrow your cloak anyway? I’d like to check out the library while it’s quiet.”
“Just be careful.”
“I’ve not torn it yet, have I?” Remus asked as he took the cloak from James.
“That’s not what I meant,” James replied with a smile. He didn’t wait to see if Remus understood his meaning and grabbed his own books so that he could hurry after Sirius.
Remus put on the cloak and followed him out the door, being especially careful not to brush against anyone in the still rather crowded common room.
He arrived at the library just before the first class of the day started and quietly ducked through the door when Madam Pince’s back was turned. He hadn’t been inside the library before, it was always too crowded when the classes were over for the day, and he had preferred to be in classes with his friends than wandering round the school on his own.
Now he was inside the library, and he stood in awe of the sheer volume of books in the room.
A few of the tables were occupied with sixth and seventh year students who were using their free periods wisely. It didn’t take long for Remus to find an empty corner of the library to settle down in for the morning. Making sure that no one saw him appear, he took off the cloak and draped it over the back of the chair.
Then he settled himself down with a book from the Defence Against the Dark Arts section of the library, a book which focused heavily on dangerous creatures such as werewolves.
It was late in the morning and he was halfway through the fifth chapter when he heard Romulus sigh impatiently behind him. “Remus, have you lost your bloody mind?”
“Not since the full moon,” Remus replied calmly, without looking up from the book.
“That’s not funny,” Romulus hissed. “You’re sitting here in the library where anyone can see you; can’t you see what’s wrong with this?”
“I’m in Sirius’s uniform, anyone who sees me will think I’m just another student.”
“Even if Pince doesn’t realise you’re not a student, what do you think will happen if she sends you to class? Do you see anyone below sixth year in the library this morning? Of course you don’t. That’s because they’re all in class. And what do you think Slughorn will say if you turn up in his classroom? Do you think he’ll just calmly tell you to take a seat and join in?”
“It’s Charms this morning,” Remus pointed out.
“Remus, please,” Romulus pleaded. “Just put the cloak on and go back to the dorm where it’s safer.”
“I’m perfectly safe here.”
“And if Spion comes into the library for something?”
“He’s teaching at the moment.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Just go back to the dorm…please.”
“Fine,” Remus sulkily replied. He pulled the cloak on and made sure it covered both himself and the book.
“You can’t take the book from the library without checking it out,” Romulus pointed it out.
“I think Madam Pince might notice me if I tried to check it out properly.”
“Put it back on the shelf and get one of your friends to check it out later.”
“No,” Remus argued. “I’m reading it now and don’t want to have to wait until later to carry on with it.”
With that, Remus crept back out of the library and made his way towards Gryffindor Tower.
It was only when he got to the Fat Lady’s portrait that he realised he wouldn’t be able to get back into the common room without revealing his presence.
He was about to turn round and go back down the stairs when he heard the sound of footsteps heading his way. He pressed himself back up against the wall, hoping whoever it was who was approaching, didn’t hear him there. He drew in a sharp breath as Professor McGonagall swept down the corridor.
“Good morning, Professor,” the Fat Lady greeted the teacher.
“Good morning,” Professor McGonagall replied. “Everything in order within Gryffindor Tower today?”
“As always. Would you like to check for yourself?”
“Considering the dungbomb incident last term, perhaps it might be best,” McGonagall replied with a grimace. “Poor Argus is at a loss as to how they get so many of them into the school during the year.”
The Fat Lady chuckled as she swung open the portrait hole, enabling both Professor McGonagall and Remus to enter the empty common room.
Remus pressed himself up against the wall, not daring to risk the creaking stairs until the Professor was safely on her way.
“Well, at least the air is breathable,” Professor McGonagall commented to herself. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mr Lupin?”
Remus darted a look around the room, hoping that Romulus was lingering somewhere, and that was whom she was talking to. But a cursory glance revealed that Romulus had disappeared again and the only ‘Mr Lupin’ in the room was himself. This fact was confirmed by Professor McGonagall turning to look right at him.
Sirius had been right, he realised. Professor McGonagall did know he was in the school and now he was going to be turned over to the Ministry and sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp for the rest of his life.
“Come with me,” Professor McGonagall asked as she opened the portrait hole again and stepped back into the corridor.
Remus knew that if she could tell he was there even when he was under the invisibility cloak, there was no point in ignoring her request. He wondered where Romulus had disappeared to, and for the first time since his return, Remus wished for the sight of his brother’s ghostly face.
Remus followed Professor McGonagall out of the portrait hole, down the corridor and into her office.
“Do take a seat,” the teacher asked kindly. “And I would much prefer you take the cloak off while we’re talking. It’s rather distracting not to be able to see the person to whom I’m speaking.”
Remus pulled the cloak off reluctantly and sat down in one of the comfy chairs.
“Ah, that’s better.” Professor McGonagall smiled at him. “You look a great deal like your brother, you know.”
Remus flushed slightly, not really enthusiastic about the idea of discussing his brother with the older woman.
“You’re not eating properly though,” she chided. “Here, have some biscuits whilst I get the house elves to bring you a proper lunch.”
Remus wasn’t hungry, but he didn’t dare refuse the offering. He placed his book down on the chair next to him and nibbled on the biscuit while staring at the bookcase that lined the wall beside him.
A few minutes later saw the arrival of one of the Hogwart’s house elves bearing a large platter of delicious looking food. He placed the meal in front of Remus who, with very little prompting from Professor McGonagall, gave in to temptation and began to tuck in.
“Is that from the library?” McGonagall asked, pointing at the book.
“Yes,” Remus mumbled round a mouthful of potatoes.
McGonagall held out her hand. “May I?”
Remus passed her the book and the teacher flicked through it, tutting occasionally and sighing. “I only borrowed it,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t have kept it forever.”
“Of course not,” McGonagall replied kindly. “But, if you want to read up on your condition this isn’t a very good book. It’s a Ministry approved publication and highly inaccurate. May I suggest you start with Lycanthropy: A Healer’s Analysis. It’s a collaborative effort by several of the Healers from St Mungo’s and other wizard hospitals, and whilst it won’t answer all your questions, it is at least more accurate than this one.”
“Is that one in the library?”
“Probably, but I’d rather you borrow my own copy instead of going back there. You really should be more careful,” McGonagall continued. “It’s rather windy this time of year, and that cloak isn’t much use when it’s flapping about in the breeze. Now, what are we going to do with you?”
“Turn me over to the Ministry, I guess,” Remus muttered.
“Goodness, no!” McGonagall exclaimed. “Not until Professor Dumbledore is ready.”
“Ready?”
“Until he can make sure he can keep you alive.”
“Alive?” Remus asked, choking on his biscuit as he spoke.
“Yes, Mr Lupin, alive,” Professor McGonagall repeated sternly.
“But, I thought I’d just get locked up in one of those camps?”
Professor McGonagall hesitated, clearly realising that Remus had no true idea of the seriousness of the position he was in.
“Professor? Rom always said if I got caught I’d be sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp. He wouldn’t lie to me.”
“You brother is quite correct,” McGonagall said quietly. “But, I feel that perhaps you don’t know the true extent of your situation.” McGonagall looked hesitant for a few moments and Remus frowned in confusion as he waited for her to continue. “I’m not sure that Professor Dumbledore would approve of my telling you this, but I feel you need to know how dangerous a position you’re in. Perhaps then you might be more careful when wandering the school.”
Remus nodded as Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly.
“If you are caught you’ll be sent to a Dangerous Creatures’ Camp until the Ministry can decide what to do with you.”
“Wouldn’t I just live there?”
“Many werewolves and other creatures deemed dangerous by the Ministry do live their lives in the camp, but it is very expensive to keep adding to the number of…prisoners. The Ministry only allows someone to live in the camp indefinitely if there’s no other option.”
“But, where else would I go?”
“Remus, the Ministry issued a warrant of execution for you shortly after you were bitten.”
Remus opened his mouth and closed it several times, the words he wanted to say not coming forth. “There can’t be…” He shook his head violently, refusing to believe the words he’d just heard.
“I’m sorry, but there’s no doubt about it.”
“You’re lying,” Remus shouted. “Rom would have told me if there was a…a…”
“I’m sorry, but there is a warrant issued and unless the person who requested it changes their mind, there is nothing the Ministry can do except carry out the order. Professor Dumbledore had hoped to persuade them to retract the warrant, but when he finally had the chance to speak with them after your brother’s trial they refused.”
“But, Rom said I’d be sent to a camp. He said that I’d only be killed if I’d attacked someone.”
“Your brother didn’t know about the warrant until his own trial. He told you what he thought was right. In all likelihood you would be confined to one of the camps if you were to be captured. At least until the order can be carried out, or until Professor Dumbledore can argue your case.”
“Maybe I should find somewhere else to hide?” suggested Remus, more to himself than to the Professor.
“You’re safer here than you realise,” McGonagall advised. “Professor Dumbledore will do everything he can to help you…when the time comes.”
“But you said he’d tried to get them to change their mind about the warrant and they said no.”
“That’s true, but there may be another way he can help you. One that doesn’t require the co-operation of those who won’t give it.”
“Are you going to tell him I’m hiding out in the school?” Remus asked.
“I assure you, Professor Dumbledore is well aware of your presence here, as are several other members of staff. Did you think us teachers wouldn’t notice an extra body in our classrooms?”
“But I was under an invisibility cloak.”
“Nevertheless, your presence was noted. Though thankfully not in Professor Spion’s class.”
Remus shook his head rapidly at the very idea of going into the classes of the man who was trying to find him. “I’ve not been to his.”
“Well, that’s a relief at least. Thank goodness you’ve shown some sense,” Professor McGonagall huffed. “Now, what about your meals. I assume you’ve been sneaking into the kitchens or getting your friends to bring you food?”
Remus nodded.
“Healthy food?” McGonagall queried.
“Er…”
“I didn’t think so. From now on, I’ll give the orders to the house elves to provide you with three regular meals a day in the dormitory, and I promise you won’t be living on desserts, snacks and whatever other things your friends have appropriated for you.”
“Thanks,” Remus said, earning a beaming smile from Professor McGonagall.
“Now, I believe your friends will be arriving at my classroom shortly, are you planning on joining them?”
“Can I?”
“Of course, but try to keep all your limbs under the cloak this time.”
Remus grinned as he pulled the cloak on.
“I’ll see the book we spoke of is sent up to the dormitory for you,” Professor McGonagall told him. “Now, come along, before the class thinks I’ve forgotten them.”
Remus trailed after Professor McGonagall, thrilled that he practically had permission to be in her class. He saw that there was a spare seat next to Sirius and made a beeline for it. It seemed that Rita, who was often seated next to him in this class, had opted to sit elsewhere today. He took advantage of her absence to slide into the seat as quietly as he could.
Unfortunately he wasn’t quiet enough and Sirius shot him a look that told him he knew he was there. The other boy didn’t look particularly pleased to see him, but Remus knew there was nothing either of them could say until after the class was over.
Chapter 20