Robin Ridgeway
Ok! This is the beginning of a rather long series. The first 'book' (book in fanfic language would be a story with more than 5 chapters) is about a man named Robin Ridgeway. It is rather interesting and you don't see any recent HP characters (Ron, Ginny, and Harry) till the 3rd or 4th chapter! (Instead we have the older ones like Dumbledore, Remus, Sirius, etc) But then when I start the second 'book' it shows a lot of them! Please read and review!
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The handsome man in his early twenties walked along the roadside. Cars drove by him at very fast speeds. He watched them curiously as they passed. His deep brown hair fell over his eyes slightly as a truck drove by, honking its horn at the man.
The man looked nervous. Very nervous I noticed.
Hello. I am Celeste. Celeste Walker. When I was a little girl I often watched people outside of my window. I usually didn't mind the people walking by, but this one scared me. He looked a nervous wreck. His clothes were tattered and torn; his face had numerous scratches and dirt smudges on it. He was very handsome, still. I was seventeen at the time.
The story of this man, I know. We've met before. He's looking for me. His name is Robin. Robin Ridgeway. When I look back out my window he will be gone. Gone as all my other dreams disappear. Robin, himself, is no dream. But the longing in me for him to return is.
Robin left years ago. I want to tell you his story. The story of Robin Ridgeway.
~-~
The man walked along. He glanced behind him as the strange things pushed by him. What do they call them? Cars…
Being new to this whole world, the man had no idea what to do. He stopped and watched the cars go by. He heard a pop—a familiar pop—behind him in an alleyway. He glanced over his shoulder to see a wizard with a long silvery beard walking towards him.
"Albus! Good lord, I thought I would be lost for sure! I was about to turn and head back—"
"Yes, well, you did take a wrong turn but your still on the right road… don't know how you managed that one… but still—I just came to remind you—"
"Do only what you told me, no lingering, and back to Hogwarts with the package. I've heard it before Albus!"
His eyes twinkled. "I'm sorry but you do have a knack for forgetting things!"
"That was the old me! The new me has a new system…"
"Of writing notes on his hands…" Dumbledore finished as he glanced at the mans hands, which he quickly hid behind his back, blushing furiously.
"Err… yeah. But that potion helps too."
Dumbledore laughed. "Well, this seems to be a good system for you so good luck, and do be careful!"
"Yes sir!"
With another pop from the alleyway, Dumbledore vanished.
The man hit himself on the head. "Nice job Robin… now where do I have to go…"
He looked around. A small street sign about a mile ahead caught his eye. Robin had a very good eye. He had "the vision of an eagle" According to his mother. Though she died years ago.
Robin jogged over to the street sign and read it.
"Main street… hmmm… it should be around here somewhere…"
He turned his head to the left and smiled. Stone Gate Road!
He walked over to it and looked at the houses. There were many of them… probably over a hundred. But he caught the one he needed. The one with a bright blue paint job caught his eye. 8 Stone Gate! That's it!
Within a matter of moments he was at the front door. He was confused for a moment, then dragged his memory back to Muggle Studies at Hogwarts. A doorbell!
He pushed the small button. He hoped he had pressed it hard enough.
Suddenly the door opened. A girl of about 17 was standing there.
"Um… hello" Robin started "I'm looking for an…" He looked at his hand quickly
"I'm looking for an Amanda Walker?"
"Yes, hi, I'm Amanda's daughter… I'll go get her… you are…?"
"Oh, I am Robin. Robin Ridgeway."
"Right. Hold on a moment."
Robin waited there for a few moments, absent-mindedly running his fingers through his hair. Finally, the door reopened and there stood a woman of about forty.
"Hello!" She said shaking Robin's hand briefly, a small piece of her curly auburn hair falling into her face.
"Hello! Yes, you do know why I'm here don't you?" HE said, spotting the young girl watching from behind her, not wanting her to know about his 'top secret' mission.
"Yes of course. Come in, come in!" She said as she quickly shoved him in. With a last nervous look at the cars he followed Amanda, barely keeping up with her fast pace.
"So, Mr. Ridgeway would you like some tea?"
"Oh no thanks, I'm not too fond of tea."
"Coffee?"
"Well, maybe some coffee…"
She smiled, nodded, then rushed into the kitchen to get some coffee.
What a busy woman. Not even my mother was like that…
He felt the tears well up in his eyes at the thought of his mother. She had died when Robin was twelve years old. The most horrid times in Robin's life those were.He quickly changed his thoughts as Amanda walked back in.
"Here you go…" She said handing him his coffee.
"Thank you. Well, I am not to sure what exactly I'm taking off of your hands here, but I do know its important and I am also taking… taking the package with it."
The package was a complete secret. Robin refused to say what it was unless he was in Dumbledore's company.
"Yes, well, I seem to have a few rather upset Cornish pixies in the cellar… don't know how they got there…" Amanda said with a distant look. She immediately snapped back.
"I do hope you can get them… my daughter is pure Muggle… she knows nothing of the wizarding world and I just might keep it that way for a little longer."
Robin nodded, though not agreeing with this witch's daughter not knowing what her own mother was. "Yes, I quite understand" not really but oh well. "I can get them out. Actually I'm quite glad you have those… I've been looking for a few… The 7th year students seem to think that fairies are very simple… this will blow them away!"
The woman laughed. "So you still enjoy teaching?"
"Oh yes. Since I started I've loved it!" Robin, who had been teaching since he was 18, was the Defense against Dark Arts teacher. He had been in many unusual fixes since the time he was a child and Dumbledore found it a wonderful idea for him to teach DADA.
She nodded and led him down into the basement. The first thing he saw was a bucket of paint being thrown at him. He dodged it very quickly.
"Well, you're the speedy one." Amanda said with paint streaming down her face.
He laughed. He pulled out his wand and began freezing the pixies; one by one they put them into a small crate.
"Well, I'll have to remember that, simply freeze the pixies."
"There is a better way but with my memory—freezing is just fine!" he said jokingly. She laughed.
"Would you like to stay a bit longer? Have some tea--- oh um some coffee?"
He grinned. "Sorry but I am to report immediately to Dumbledore once I have the package."
"Right… Well come on I'll get it." As she led him up the stairs he noticed the stunning green eyes watching. I bet that girl knows her mum's a witch and just hasn't had the heart to tell her. Haha.
Amanda went up the stairs and retrieved a small package about the size of a Basketball-or, depending on what sports you play, a quaffle.
He took it from her and nodded. "Thank you for the coffee and the pixies! If any more turn up I'll be glad to take them for you!"
She laughed "Good bye! Would you like to use floo-powder? I have some in my bedroom if you'd like?"
He glanced out the window at the cars speeding by, then cast a nervous grin to Amanda.
"Yes, thank you, Floo-powder sounds just marvelous at the moment."
She nodded and led him up. She handed him a pinch of the powder and directed him to the fireplace. He threw it in the flames and stepped in, saying his destination, and he was gone.
~-~
When he arrived at Dumbledore's fireplace, there were a few students there. The regulars. Remus Lupin, one of his favorite students, James Potter, Sirius Black, and even little Peter Pettigrew.
They all glanced at him and grinned. Robin was a very liked teacher.
"Ah, do you have the package? Ah, yes, just place it there, I will see to it later and call you in when I need you. Did you help Mrs. Walker with her pixie problem?"
"Oh yes, I fear the 7th years have no idea what the burdened upon themselves."
"Ah, well, I think they will have a harder time than they thought… mind if I watch?"
"Of course you can watch. I'm leaving it all to them. I won't even help if they get on their knees and beg me. I wonder how they'll do…?"
Dumbledore laughed. "Well, I will see you then, then. Good-bye!"
Robin walked towards the door but stopped. He turned back.
"Might I speak to Mr. Lupin when you're done with him?"
"Of course." Dumbledore said nodding to Remus.
With that Robin headed out the door. He went to his office and sat down in front of the fire. He sighed loudly. He had only sat for a few moments when there was a knock on the door. He got up and smiled as he opened the door.
"Hello, Remus, come in."
"Hi. Um, Professor, why did you want me?"
"I have a few things to ask you. First off, have you been feeling well lately?"
"Um, yeah. A little nauseous I guess but other than that fine."
Robin nodded grimly. He headed over and picked up a pen from his desk, only to drop it and yell out slightly as a burning pain surged through his hand.
"Professor Ridgeway?"
"I'm sorry Remus, now, I was going to ask you, how have your transformations been going?"
"What do you mean? Been going?"
"Anything different that you can remember… taking longer to transform… Anything!"
"Well, yeah it take longer to transform and sometimes I stay with my own mind for a few minutes in the wolfs body…"
Robin bit his lip as he massaged the burnt part of his hand. Remus was watching him curiously… no not curiously… suspiciously.
"Why did that pen hurt you?" He asked. It wasn't a question really.
"No reason. Now I am done with you. Be gone and don't get into too much trouble…--and if anything else happens that is strange… like… well just come to me ok?"
"Ok." Remus left the room.
He sat down at his desk and carefully picked up the pen with two pencils, like chopsticks. He dropped it into the fire.
"Last time I resort to Muggle stuff. Back to quills I go. Silver. Humph."
He sat down in the chair and sighed. He felt so weak. He had no idea why but he did.
+--=--+
Remus walked into the Gryffindor common room feeling better. The nauseous feeling had left him after Professor Ridgeway asked him about it. He walked to where James, Sirius, and Peter sat. James and Sirius where in the midst of a chess game.
"I WON! CHECKMATE!"
"You idiot that's not checkmate."
"Yeah huh, look!"
"Sirius I can just move like that and you're gone." James' piece moved to the left.
Sirius pouted. "Damn."
"Oh, hey Remus, what did Professor Ridgeway want with you?"
"He just wanted to ask about stuff."
"What kinda stuff?"
"stuff"
"Oho, that kind of stuff."
"Hey… Does he go to classes on full moon days?"
James raised a brow. "Yeah, why?"
Remus shook his head. "Just wondering…"
"Ok. How you been feeling Moony, you seem sick."
"Yeah you're all pale and stuff."
"I'm fine. I think I just need some sleep. G'night."
"Night Remus."
"Don't let the bedbugs bite!"
"Snape-bugs!"
"What? No! Bedbugs!"
"Same thing."
"Hahahaha I get it now. Don't let Snape bite!"
So Remus walked up the stairs to his room. He was dead confused and lay awake for hours trying to think of why the pen had hurt the professor. It had silver on it. That's all he could think of. Soon he fell asleep.
~-~
"Ah, Headmaster, how nice of you to join us!" Robin said with a grin.
The 7th years looked anxious. They had been told that they were to be having some hands-on experience.
"Now, class, today you are going to have to get the creature's which I let out and lock them in that crate over there."
He went to unlatch the crate next to him.
"Yes, Mr. Russell?"
"Sir, what's in the crate?" The large din of rumors suddenly being spread from student to student overwhelmed Robin. Dumbledore frowned when Robin seemed to zone out from the noise—more like a thoughtful frown though. Robin blinked a few times then crossed his arms over his chest. The room grew quiet, seeing his anger. He grinned.
"Alright then." He pulled the latch off and quickly went to the back of the room as the cover flew off.
Almost all of them laughed at the fairies when they first came out. But then they began to turn over desks. After about ten minutes Dumbledore whispered into Robin's ear.
"I think they've had enough to give them a bit more respect to pixies." Robin laughed.
"Well, class. So much for pixies being 'a cinch.' I happened to have had to take these very pixies out of someone's house. There is an easier way to catch them but I seem to have forgotten it. I will tell you this though—a simple spell will do it."
After awhile the kids got the idea of freezing. They froze the fairies and quickly put them in the crate.
When they were all gone Robin walked to the front of the class.
"Well, I hope you all have learned your lesson?"
"Don't voice our opinions…" Said Shawn Russell, the boy who thought fairies would have been 'a cinch'.
"No, don't underestimate anything or anyone! But that was a good one too… at least don't voice your opinions in front of me… especially you Shawn your opinions are usually worth a few detentions right there. Now, off you go."
The students walked off laughing and telling their own versions of 'how the fairy nearly ripped my head off'. Dumbledore chuckled.
"I do say! Your classes are a lot better than my DADA classes when I was young. We had the strictest teacher imaginable! Not a bit of fun…"
"Sounds like a 'Mcgonagall' to me."
Dumbledore laughed again. "Oh, I would have to say worse."
Robin raised a brow. "I'm glad I wasn't in school when you were."
Dumbledore was about to leave the room when he turned around.
"How was your journey last night? You went to get more of the potion, correct?"
"Yes. The journey was fine… but Albus… the side-affects bother me…"
"Well, just wait longer. You'll get used to them."
Robin nodded, not entirely convinced, but he dropped it as another thought entered his head.
"When will I be able to tell him?" He asked in a barely audible voice.
"Not now. I will tell you when you can."
That night at the feast, both Robin and Albus came in late because of their small chat before.
Robin took a seat next to Professor McKensey, the potions teacher. He was a very grumpy man in his late forties. His black hair was streaked with white and his face was always pulled in an angry scowl, or a nasty forced-smile when he had to.
"So, Robin." He said glancing over at him.
"Yes, Izak?" Izak McKensey flinched. He hated his name. He hated the unusual spelling of it and the name itself.
"Did you manage to get your potion?"
"I'm sorry I didn't let you be the one to make it, but I had to find someone who I'd trust with my life… I trust you but just not that much!"
The look on McKensey's face grew hard. "I don't care. I was just wondering if you got it?"
"You know that's what you were thinking. But yes I did get it."
Izak grunted and continued eating with a look of deep anger on his face. Robin went back to his meal.
When the feast was over, Izak had already left. Robin remained seated till the last person at the table stood, for that was how he was raised. The teachers had gotten to know that and no longer bothered him about it; they just let him go doing that.
Robin got up and walked towards his room.
"PROFESSOR!" He turned around. James, Sirius, Peter and Remus were running his way.
"Professor Ridgeway! We wanted to know something… what is our next lesson going to be about?"
"I don't know, I'll have to check my notes. If you'll come with me, I can get them out of my office."
"Alright! We are planning on getting some early work done, cause we have some planning to do!"
"Ah, what, another prank? Do tell me when it will take place. I wont ask anymore but that."
The four boys grinned. They all thought Robin was the coolest teacher. They often told him of their pranks. He would never try to interfere though they knew he was forced to give them all detentions afterwards but they didn't care—as long as the prank went on!
"It's going to be in a few weeks."
"Oh, good. I need something to make me laugh."
They reached his office. He opened the door and invited the boys in. He let them have some tea and then began searching his notes.
"Ah, next is…" His voice faltered. He sighed and read it grimly. "Werewolves."
"Oh! Well, don't need to study for that too much." Remus said cheerily. But everyone knew he hated when Werewolves were the subjects.
"Well, if you boys like I can give you the assignments now and you can finish them ahead of time…?"
The four boys glanced at each other. "Sure." They said simultaneously.
Robin headed for his desk and lifted up his book. He flipped the pages. Notes were written in the margins of his book.
"Werewolves… how to kill?" He seemed quite surprised at that. "No, no, no. I do not agree with teaching anyone how to kill werewolves. But I suppose I have to." He sighed slightly. "Well, I suppose I can wait till next year…" He said. Remus nearly laughed aloud. He was so glad he didn't have to do that.
"How about, how to distinguish a werewolf from a regular person? Yes I would like to see what you come up for, for this one, Remus." Remus looked slightly glad at this assignment. I will find out if he's a werewolf or not.
"Yeah lets do that one!" Sirius said loudly.
"Alright, don't yell, my ears are quite sensitive, now, that will be a report, however long it needs to be to hold as many clues as possible, but consider you all are big slackers… I'll say at least a page long. I would love more though."
"Ok!" Remus said. Sirius looked crestfallen
"Why not just how much we want?"
James laughed and elbowed him. "For you that would be a sentence or two!"
"Now, James I wouldn't talk if I were you." Robin said. He laughed at James' hurt look.
"Go. Now. You're giving me a headache!"
They all walked out of the room. Remus cast him a curious glance before leaving.
He is a very clever boy. He'll figure it out before I even get to tell him anything.
~-~
The full moon was that night. Robin walked along the corridor, thoughts swimming through his head.
"Gods, I need that potion… I can't concentrate…" Then it hit him… What if he took this one time… and just didn't take the potion? Robin headed straight to Dumbledore's office.
He stormed into the room. Dumbledore was talking to Izak.
"Sorry to intrude but this is rather important."
Dumbledore looked at him, the twinkling in his eyes leaving as he saw the look on Robin's face.
They both headed to the other room. Izak sat there to wait for Dumbledore.
"What is it Robin?"
"I can't take the potion… I know it's to clear my mind and all… and make it so… well so I don't go insane… but I cant stand it… If you knew what I was feeling right now…!"
Dumbledore waved a hand and Robin stopped.
"I'm afraid I will never know what it feels like to have your transformations taken away from you. All I know is it can mess with ones physical and mental state. I feel letting you have this moon will help to overcome these for the next one, where you will take that potion."
Robin nearly fell over with gratitude. He realized then that he was sweating and quite out of breath. The sun was setting.
"Thank you… thank you so, so much!" He realized how desperate he had sounded earlier. Now he was just adding to it. It was killing him inside. He couldn't wait to transform. Dumbledore led him out.
"Now, you might want to go to Poppy… I'm afraid we weren't all that prepared… you might have to go to the shrieking shack with young Lupin."
Robin froze. He turned slowly shaking his head. "I-I can't do that"
"Just go talk to Poppy."
He turned and headed out the door feeling weak in the knees.
He never really noticed how fast the sun really set… either that or he never noticed how slow he was walking.
He met up with poppy while she was bringing Remus to the shack. Having not transformed in such a long time, his body was beginning to change early—slowly—but early.
He clutched his stomach and gasped for breath.
"Robin!"
Poppy rushed over to him. She helped him stand.
"I-I'm not… not… not…" He couldn't continue but she seemed to get it.
"Hurry… Remus you'll have someone joining you in the shack tonight."
Remus looked at Robin.
"Madame Pomfrey? He's transforming…. Right…now…"
Robin felt himself double over. Poppy gasped and backed away.
"Remus go to the shack now—I'll handle him."
She spoke very calmly so left, reluctantly, but he left.
He was confused as to how Professor Ridgeway—who IS a werewolf! --- Actually stopped his transformations…
That's why he's been so nervous like lately. His body is mixing with the wolves because of his not transforming… but how?
Once Remus had left view Poppy grabbed a vial from inside her pocket. On the label it read
Robin Ridgeway
Take once every day to ensure
That you will be able to control
Any outbursts.
Then on the bottom, in messier writing (obviously added on after the original note was printed on it) was-
Take well before transformation on full moon
Might cause problems in transformation
Sometimes stopping the transformation totally.
She opened it up and quickly forced it into Robin's mouth before the wolf took over. He stopped thrashing about, but she noticed something odd.
"Robin? Robin? Professor Ridgeway? ROBIN?"
He was totally not responding.
She hadn't heard Dumbledore walk up behind her.
"Is something wrong Poppy?" She turned around a little stunned.
"I'm afraid so."
Dumbledore peered at Robin.
"Oh dear. He didn't make it in time? Did you give him his potion?"
"Yes… Albus—normally I know what's going on with people in their health—but I'm stumped at this one… what happened?"
"The potion is causing big changes in him. He needed this transformation to regain a little—It's hard to explain. The wolf and the man are mixing. These things do take time and every once in awhile a transformation is needed or else… well they never really found out what would happen… There have been cases where the person is killed."
Poppy nodded. She pulled out her wand and conjured a stretcher to bring him to the hospital wing.
~-~
Hello. My name is Celeste Walker—have I already said that? I have not been much of a part in this story. My time comes later. Later. The future! I had such high hopes for the future when I met Robin. They have been shattered.
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All right people how'd you like it? Please review!
Reviewer s-
I have had no reviews so this is to my beta reader!
DaPaNDaZz ~ *hugs* you're the best beta-reader in the world! Yes DaPaNDaZz, I know that I only put notes on the bottom for my lovely reviewers but I know you'll review and I just needed to do this! I think your stories aren't all that bad you just need to work on lengthening them a bit--- add more detail! I know that's one of my problems too. It's hard to overcome but just work on it!