DISCALIMER: I own nothing, nothing you hear me! Well, apart from Odin,
Frey, Skadi, and all the other Lupuscans. They're all mine. Please don't
nick 'em otherwise I won't be happy with you!
Oh, and please review, it'd make me very happy (call it your good deed for the day!)
PART 1 - Odin
Professor Varulf was furious.
He stared at the parchment in a towering rage, resisting the overwhelming urge to screw it up and throw the damned thing in the fire. Pushing back his desk chair he stalked out into the corridor, slamming the heavy door behind him.
Odin Varulf was a fairly tall man with long corn coloured hair and startling pale blue eyes that always seemed to look beyond what everyone else saw, a gaze he had picked up after a lifetime of looking at the stars despite being only in his mid thirties. He had a friendly, cheerful face and was generally liked by students and teachers alike for his easy-going, accessible nature. But today his face betrayed his anger and no one dared approach him.
He glared menacingly at the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office and hissed the password through savagely clenched teeth.
Without even bothering to knock, he stormed into the study and slammed the letter that had caused him so much anger down on the solid oak desk, his Norwegian accent coming out strongly in his rage.
'What is the meaning of this, Armando?'
Professor Armando Dippet, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, turned to face the irate Astronomy teacher with a mixture of sadness and fear stamped across his frail features.
'Now, now, Odin, calm down. I'm sure you understand that with Frey's. condition he would be a danger to others. I won't have that risk hanging over my head. It would be irresponsible to accept him.'
'Risk? You don't have the vaguest idea what you are talking about, Armando. My son poses no threat to anyone. I have looked after him for almost eleven years without any problem. Nothing would change if he came here.'
'Odin, calm yourself. Think of what people would say if I allowed a. werewolf to run around loose in this school. There's no telling what damage he would cause,' the way in which he said werewolf, as if the word itself was filthy, made Varulf's eyes blaze and he leaned in closer to the Headmaster so their faces almost touched.
'So you are more concerned with your own reputation than making sure everyone gets an equal right to study and make friends. My son is no monster, Armando, nor is he a mindless beast. But he is a wizard and needs to be taught.'
Professor Dippet stood, if only to tear his eyes away from Odin's furious gaze, but the twin blue flames followed him, 'I'm sorry but I cannot allow it. He is your son and I understand that, but he is a danger to others and I will not have it. My decision is final, Odin.'
Varulf drew himself up to his full considerable height, the air of absolute dignity and nobility hanging around him like a protective shroud, 'And so is mine. Someone needs to teach Frey and it's obviously not going to be you or your staff. You can take this as my immediate resignation. I will be gone by morning.'
Armando was shocked, he hadn't realised how much his decision would cost him, 'Odin, be reasonable.'
'Reasonable? It is not I who needs to be reasonable, Armando. Good day.' Odin strode towards the door.
It was Dippet's turn to be angry now, 'You'll have to get the boy registered with the Ministry, you know. This new law.
Varulf froze and his answer came from between clenched teeth, 'I will not have anyone demonising Frey because of something beyond his control. I've seen so called 'normal' wizards more dangerous. I'll be taking him back to Norway. It's a good place for a child to grow up, away from such absurd laws that turn him into a beast. My son is a wolf, Armando, and I will teach him to be proud of it.'
'Please reconsider.'
Something within Odin Varulf snapped at the old wizard's stubborn narrow- mindedness and turned to him with a wolfish grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, 'You might as well know that Frey's condition is hereditary. Goodbye Armando.'
With that Odin stalked out of the office and left the realisation of what he had just said just beginning to dawn on his old boss.
Professor Dippet stared open mouthed as the werewolf who had taught Astronomy for the past six years walked away and decided to keep the bombshell to himself.
* * * * *
'Odin, are you all right?'
Varulf was just packing the last of his belongings into his old and battered trunks. He shut the lid and turned the visitor at his open door.
'I'm leaving, Albus. That idiot Dippet won't accept Frey. He needs me to teach him all he needs to know. It's going to be a hard world for him.'
'How is Frey?'
'Well enough. He's a strong boy and as charming as they come. Here's a picture.' Odin dug out a photograph in a wooden frame and handed it to his friend. In it it showed a handsome young boy, almost a smaller version of his father except for his eyes which were brilliant gold. 'He has his mother's eyes.'
'Is that his mother?' Albus Dumbledore pointed to the young looking woman behind the boy.
Odin shook his head, 'No that's my sister, Skadi. She looks after Frey while I'm here. My wife, Lene, died in giving Frey to me.'
'I'll be sorry to see you go, Odin, but, if you don't mind me intruding, how did Frey become a werewolf?'
'The same way I did. The Varulf's have been werewolves for centuries. It runs in our blood. No one really knows why our family was chosen to be different, but that's the way it is.'
'It must be terrible to be so cursed.'
Odin laughed, not the bitter laugh one might expect but one full of amusement. He placed his hand on Albus's shoulder and looked smilingly into his eyes, 'I am not cursed, my friend. Lycanthropy is seen as a curse only by those who do not have it. We few who possess it own a precious gift and we are proud to do so. Only those who do not understand their gift use it to cause destruction. It has been the purpose of all wolf born Varulf's to teach others to use their gift wisely. We are not monsters or demons, but those who can see in two worlds. Surely that is a valuable quality in these dark days of ours.'
'I had never seen it that way.'
'You have never had need to. It is a sad fact that we are afraid of what is different, but do not be afraid of us, Albus.'
* * * * *
Word of Professor Varulf's resignation had spread around the school like wildfire and students lined the corridors to wish him well. One in particular, a Ravenclaw sixth year, beckoned the ex-teacher into a quiet room where he could not be overheard.
'You're not really leaving, are you Colvarn?'
'I am afraid I must. My son needs me now. I would have wished him to come here and meet you lot, but fate is against me.'
'But what about us, who will we turn to now?'
'They will look to you, Saltus. You will be alpha in my stead. Here.' Odin pressed an amulet into the boy's hand. 'Do not fear, I shall return.'
As Odin made his way into the night, he turned at an odd sound. Hanging out of one of the windows were six faces, all howling their hearts out. Odin threw back his head and joined them as Colvarn, now their departed alpha, before walking down the path into the star-filled night.
Oh, and please review, it'd make me very happy (call it your good deed for the day!)
PART 1 - Odin
Professor Varulf was furious.
He stared at the parchment in a towering rage, resisting the overwhelming urge to screw it up and throw the damned thing in the fire. Pushing back his desk chair he stalked out into the corridor, slamming the heavy door behind him.
Odin Varulf was a fairly tall man with long corn coloured hair and startling pale blue eyes that always seemed to look beyond what everyone else saw, a gaze he had picked up after a lifetime of looking at the stars despite being only in his mid thirties. He had a friendly, cheerful face and was generally liked by students and teachers alike for his easy-going, accessible nature. But today his face betrayed his anger and no one dared approach him.
He glared menacingly at the stone gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office and hissed the password through savagely clenched teeth.
Without even bothering to knock, he stormed into the study and slammed the letter that had caused him so much anger down on the solid oak desk, his Norwegian accent coming out strongly in his rage.
'What is the meaning of this, Armando?'
Professor Armando Dippet, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, turned to face the irate Astronomy teacher with a mixture of sadness and fear stamped across his frail features.
'Now, now, Odin, calm down. I'm sure you understand that with Frey's. condition he would be a danger to others. I won't have that risk hanging over my head. It would be irresponsible to accept him.'
'Risk? You don't have the vaguest idea what you are talking about, Armando. My son poses no threat to anyone. I have looked after him for almost eleven years without any problem. Nothing would change if he came here.'
'Odin, calm yourself. Think of what people would say if I allowed a. werewolf to run around loose in this school. There's no telling what damage he would cause,' the way in which he said werewolf, as if the word itself was filthy, made Varulf's eyes blaze and he leaned in closer to the Headmaster so their faces almost touched.
'So you are more concerned with your own reputation than making sure everyone gets an equal right to study and make friends. My son is no monster, Armando, nor is he a mindless beast. But he is a wizard and needs to be taught.'
Professor Dippet stood, if only to tear his eyes away from Odin's furious gaze, but the twin blue flames followed him, 'I'm sorry but I cannot allow it. He is your son and I understand that, but he is a danger to others and I will not have it. My decision is final, Odin.'
Varulf drew himself up to his full considerable height, the air of absolute dignity and nobility hanging around him like a protective shroud, 'And so is mine. Someone needs to teach Frey and it's obviously not going to be you or your staff. You can take this as my immediate resignation. I will be gone by morning.'
Armando was shocked, he hadn't realised how much his decision would cost him, 'Odin, be reasonable.'
'Reasonable? It is not I who needs to be reasonable, Armando. Good day.' Odin strode towards the door.
It was Dippet's turn to be angry now, 'You'll have to get the boy registered with the Ministry, you know. This new law.
Varulf froze and his answer came from between clenched teeth, 'I will not have anyone demonising Frey because of something beyond his control. I've seen so called 'normal' wizards more dangerous. I'll be taking him back to Norway. It's a good place for a child to grow up, away from such absurd laws that turn him into a beast. My son is a wolf, Armando, and I will teach him to be proud of it.'
'Please reconsider.'
Something within Odin Varulf snapped at the old wizard's stubborn narrow- mindedness and turned to him with a wolfish grin tugging at the corners of his mouth, 'You might as well know that Frey's condition is hereditary. Goodbye Armando.'
With that Odin stalked out of the office and left the realisation of what he had just said just beginning to dawn on his old boss.
Professor Dippet stared open mouthed as the werewolf who had taught Astronomy for the past six years walked away and decided to keep the bombshell to himself.
* * * * *
'Odin, are you all right?'
Varulf was just packing the last of his belongings into his old and battered trunks. He shut the lid and turned the visitor at his open door.
'I'm leaving, Albus. That idiot Dippet won't accept Frey. He needs me to teach him all he needs to know. It's going to be a hard world for him.'
'How is Frey?'
'Well enough. He's a strong boy and as charming as they come. Here's a picture.' Odin dug out a photograph in a wooden frame and handed it to his friend. In it it showed a handsome young boy, almost a smaller version of his father except for his eyes which were brilliant gold. 'He has his mother's eyes.'
'Is that his mother?' Albus Dumbledore pointed to the young looking woman behind the boy.
Odin shook his head, 'No that's my sister, Skadi. She looks after Frey while I'm here. My wife, Lene, died in giving Frey to me.'
'I'll be sorry to see you go, Odin, but, if you don't mind me intruding, how did Frey become a werewolf?'
'The same way I did. The Varulf's have been werewolves for centuries. It runs in our blood. No one really knows why our family was chosen to be different, but that's the way it is.'
'It must be terrible to be so cursed.'
Odin laughed, not the bitter laugh one might expect but one full of amusement. He placed his hand on Albus's shoulder and looked smilingly into his eyes, 'I am not cursed, my friend. Lycanthropy is seen as a curse only by those who do not have it. We few who possess it own a precious gift and we are proud to do so. Only those who do not understand their gift use it to cause destruction. It has been the purpose of all wolf born Varulf's to teach others to use their gift wisely. We are not monsters or demons, but those who can see in two worlds. Surely that is a valuable quality in these dark days of ours.'
'I had never seen it that way.'
'You have never had need to. It is a sad fact that we are afraid of what is different, but do not be afraid of us, Albus.'
* * * * *
Word of Professor Varulf's resignation had spread around the school like wildfire and students lined the corridors to wish him well. One in particular, a Ravenclaw sixth year, beckoned the ex-teacher into a quiet room where he could not be overheard.
'You're not really leaving, are you Colvarn?'
'I am afraid I must. My son needs me now. I would have wished him to come here and meet you lot, but fate is against me.'
'But what about us, who will we turn to now?'
'They will look to you, Saltus. You will be alpha in my stead. Here.' Odin pressed an amulet into the boy's hand. 'Do not fear, I shall return.'
As Odin made his way into the night, he turned at an odd sound. Hanging out of one of the windows were six faces, all howling their hearts out. Odin threw back his head and joined them as Colvarn, now their departed alpha, before walking down the path into the star-filled night.
