Summary: A special tapestry sends Lupin and Tonks on an adventure where their adversary is a powerful Roman wizard, Lupin's ancestor. (Lupin meets Einon, so to speak)

Disclaimer: The characters belong to JK Rowling. The story was written for the pleasure of playing with her characters.

Author Notes: Occurs in the week before the Prefect party in Book 5. Written Dec 5, 2004. This relies on the physical features of Lupin as presented in the PoA movie. Wolfmoat is a term meaning wolf month, typically January when the Britons would hunt wolves.

WOLFMOAT

Threads of Time

Knockturn Alley

Alastor Moody frowned as his magic eye began to spin wildly. He was inspecting a tapestry that hung across the wall at a second-hand shop in Knockturn Alley. The Aurors had raided the establishment last night, but only the experienced Auror had stumbled upon the basement holding.

The embroidery was very old and the features were ambiguous. The browns and greens of the threads gave it the flavor of a topographical map, however. It's surface was occasionally marred by black dots. It was blue at its edges and the cerulean turned into midnight blue at the top of the where the features were clearest. An array of stars seemed to shimmer beside the waxing moon.

"Just like our moon phase," muttered Moody to himself. Somehow he didn't think it was coincidence. His musings were interrupted when he heard the familiar expletives his young colleague emitted whenever she banged her knee on an object.

"We've completed the catalog..." Tonks' voice died away as she entered the basement. She was the last Auror here and had been given the task to find Moody. Now she gasped in surprise. "Mad-eye, doesn't that look like the area around Holyhead?"

She stepped a bit closer, but Moody's arm blocked her approach.

"Don't get too close to it, lass. There's Dark Arts at work here, but I can't get my finger on it. It's like a fog is obscuring the scene."

She was accustomed to Moody's paranoia, but his confusion over the diffuse nature of the threat was something new. "It's probably just a layer of dust, don't you think?"

"Dust isn't this dirty," replied Moody. He took a quick drink from his hip flask and then asked, "Do you still have that trinket of Lupin's?"

"Not with me, but I can get it quickly," said Tonks. She understood that he referred to the moonstones of the Wolfshadow amulet.

"Go fetch it," began Moody, then added, "and bring Lupin with you. It does look like northern Wales now that you mention it. Maybe he'll recognize it."

Tonks frowned for a moment. "Remus is in Edinburgh this week at the Scholastica Magus conference. I'm not expecting him back until tomorrow."

"I'm sure you can find a way to charm him away from those dullards," huffed Moody. "Bunch of pompous know-it-alls excepting the Hogwarts professors."

Tonks turned away to hide her smile and faced the tapestry again. The ambiguous features still held the cast of the Holyhead environs for her. She considered Gideon Skinner, a Dark Wizard who had been intent on gaining revenge against Lupin's family. "We found a lot of other artifacts that Skinner had disposed. Think this is one of them?"

Moody nodded and followed her out. "I was thinking the same thing. I'll see if I can verify our suspicions while you run your errand."

Tonks disapparated immediately while Moody stomped out of the shop after sealing it with wards.

In the basement of the shop, the black dots on the tapestry began to move. Even more disturbing was that the figures who stood on a hilltop began to gain definition. The lanky man in the garb of a Roman Centurion would have been quite familiar to both Aurors.

- - - - - - - -

Edinburgh

The old woman with hair of silver curls entered the large ballroom of the hotel. It was full to bursting with wizards and witches who wore the robes of their academic regalia indicating their advanced degrees over black Roman cassocks. Her bright eyes surveyed the crowd with a twinkle as she found her target.

"Oi, Johnniekins, why didn't you tell me you'd be visiting Edinburgh? Are you trying to avoid me, you naughty boy?" said Tonks as she approached Remus Lupin and rapped his arm with her fan. He should be grateful she was rescuing him from this droning trio.

Indeed, Lupin cut off his conversation with some relief. "Excuse me, my aunt's mental faculties are a bit fragile."

He took Tonks by the elbow before she landed another whack with her fan and lead her out of the room saying, "Why would any nephew avoid such a sweet tempered woman, Auntie Nyms?"

As Lupin pulled Tonks down the hallway to his room, Filius Flitwick passed by them saying, "Nice look, Tonks, you must stop by and chat soon."

"I will, Professor," Tonks called to the diminutive figure. Lupin continued to pull her to his guestroom as she muttered, "I never could disguise myself from my head of house."

"Good. I shudder to think of all the extra mischief you would have managed otherwise," said Lupin as he opened his door.

Tonks changed her face and hair into her natural form immediately, but lost all professional demeanor when she pulled him down for a quick kiss.

Lupin was smiling when he murmured into her hair, "So why this intrusion?"

"I need you." Tonks then noticed that his black cassock was in very good condition, as was the robe he wore. Obviously he only donned them once a year. Her hands fluttered to the series of buttons at the midline.

"I'm flattered by this urgency, Tonks, but I really need to--"

"Remus, if I wanted a tryst with you, I'd be dragging you to your bed. This is business, honestly."

Tonks voice held conviction, but her hands were now traveling down his torso in a rather distracting fashion. "By the way, what's under that cassock?"

"You're not about to find out now," said Lupin as he caught her hands and held them between his.

"You know, you do look rather dashing." Tonks moved her hands out of his grasp and began trailing the buttons down the front. How long would it take her to release them, she wondered. "And Moody said this is a very dull affair."

"So it is, but everyone has to be--," Lupin caught her hand before she could test a button, "properly attired."

Still, Lupin had to admit that abandoning the convocation for some time with Tonks was very appealing. He shook his head at his stray thoughts and patiently asked. "I really need to get back. What's this business you need me for?"

Tonks scrunched her nose at him but made a mental note to get to Lupin to wear this garment for their next lesson--which should be tomorrow night, she thought in delight.

She moved her hands behind her back and focused on her task. "Moody sent me to fetch you and the moonstones. We need you to inspect this charmed tapestry we found."

"That would be more Flitwick's area of expertise," said Lupin, but he accepted the Wolfshadow amulet that Tonks extended to him.

"No, there's a definite feel of Dark Arts to this one and I thought I recognized the layout around Holyhead. We think it might be an artifact from Skinner's collection."

Lupin frowned lightly at that news. "I need to be back in an hour," reminded Lupin. He quickly removed his regalia and left it draped carefully over a chair. "After you, Auntie Nyms. Where are we going?"

- - - - - - - - -

Knockturn Alley

"I've traced it back to Skinner," confirmed Moody when he met Tonks and Lupin at the shop, "but there's no information yet on how it works. Follow us, Lupin."

The Wolfshadow moonstones were clearly in view around their necks as Tonks and Lupin approached the tapestry alongside Moody.

"That's the Isle of Anglesey," confirmed Lupin. His gaze scanned the familiar landscape. He marked the location of the Lupin arsenal and family domain at Holyhead.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Tapestry

The Centurion felt a sudden connection not just with the present, but with the future, as if his progeny would extend directly from him for thousands of years. He raised his arms suddenly and called his name loudly from atop the hill as he surveyed the land before him. "Lupinus eternus!"

"That's a rather arrogant proclamation from a man who has no sons," observed the Roman soldier who stood on the hill beside him.

The Centurion merely clasped his friend's shoulder and said, "All in good time. For now, I have an urgent mission for us. Get our mounts. We're going hunting, but we have to hurry."

The man did as he was bid and soon the two Romans were on horseback heading to the woods as the sun began to fall in the sky.

- - - - - - - - -

Knockturn Alley

"Did you see that, Mad-eye? Figures are moving." Tonks voice was quiet. There was an eerie feeling that compelled her to draw closer to the tapestry.

"I see two men on horseback," responded Moody, "but I can't see their faces."

"I can," said Lupin with a note of wonder in his voice.

He was moving forward as both Tonks and Moody shouted, "Stay back!"

The Aurors could see Lupin stop just before he touched the tapestry, but suddenly his body became distorted. The tapestry before them swirled like a snowstorm that swept Lupin's form into it. When it settled back into the landscape, the human figures were quite distinct.

Tonks was too shocked to move for a moment, but when she did try, Moody had a vise grip on her arm.

"Stop right there. We can't help him if we get sucked in, too," admonished Moody.

Tonks looked at Moody, then back at the tapestry. Although the figures were no larger than her thumb, she could now see two Roman soldiers who were on horseback through the snow.

"Amazing. See, the tapestry has Lupin trapped as a Roman soldier," said Moody.

Tonks saw the familiar face on the Centurion, but he was clean-shaven and his hair was much shorter. Venificus primo? Then she noticed the black figure lying next to a large boulder that succeeded in hiding the body from the riders' view. The black cassock that Lupin wore blended with the shadow cast by the boulder.

"No, no, Mad-eye, that's not Remus," said Tonks. "He's over there in the shadow of the boulder. They'll trample him with their horses."

She was unable to keep the distress from her voice, but heard Moody chant, "Immobilus!"

The spell had no effect on the movement in the tapestry.

- - - - - - -

The Tapestry

"You haven't told me what the rush is about, Mallus," shouted the blonde-haired soldier. "I thought you were going to wait another week before starting the wolf hunts."

"Quit whining, you'll appreciate my surprise, but we'll miss her if we tarry." Mallus Lupinus urged his mount forward. He had spotted his prey earlier in the afternoon, probably gathering the winter berries for her sister's potions.

Opis, however, suddenly stopped his horse. "Wait. Her? What her? Who is this her?"

Mallus pulled on his reigns and gave a disgusted look to his friend. "Don't make me recite the wretched poetry you've been writing about the woman, Opis. My stomach couldn't take it."

Opis blushed as realization struck. Although most Celts were dark haired, this particular woman was as blonde as he was. "You read my personal scrolls? You read about Oriana?"

"Boredom does strange things to a man, Opis, and this heavy snow has prevented any further progress on the roads. Besides, you've been after me to check your work on those so-called incantations."

"I'm just surprised you can still read," offered Opis. He was suddenly filled with dread as he realized Mallus was up to a new game.

Mallus laughed at his friend's chagrin and spurred his horse forward again. He suddenly changed directions when he spotted his target and called over his shoulder, "If you want her, you better beat me to her."

Opis blinked as the situation registered on him when he caught sight of the flash of blonde hair that had appeared at the edge of the woods to their right. Mallus Lupinus had a cavalier attitude toward women, Roman or Celtic. He took his pleasure whenever the mood would strike him. The threat to Oriana was very real.

Opis spurred his horse forward to follow Mallus, so neither soldier was aware of the black figure lying near the boulder who began to stir. Remus Lupin was feeling very weak at the moment, but he raised his head to witness the events that occurred at the edge of the forest.

Remus was able to distinguish the Roman bearing down on the defenseless woman: Mallus Lupinus, the first Wolf Hunter of his line to arrive in Briton. He needed a translation spell, so he whispered, "Epedio latini."

"Subsisto," called Mallus. He waved his hand negligently since his attention was now on the tracks in the snow to his right. The woman stopped in mid-turn about 30 meters away.

"That's not fair--" began Opis, but then realized that Mallus had done it again. He'd called a word that directed his magic. Opis abruptly changed topics and asked, "What did you just say?"

Opis pulled up beside beside Mallus. His friend was a powerful wizard, but the man was rather chaotic in the exertion of his power. Opis had made it his life's work to record the phrases Mallus spoke.

"Are you after another one of your incantations?" asked Mallus as he got off his horse to inspect wolf tracks in the snow. It was January, the ideal time for hunting hungry wolves, especially the ones that hid among men. He had stopped the woman so he'd have time to check the tracks.

"Not really," called Opis as he spurred his horse forward. He grabbed Oriana's body easily and had her on his horse before Mallus realized he'd lost his prey.

"You can have her," called Mallus without concern. Wolves were more interesting than women any day.

Opis whispered in the woman's language, "Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you."

Oriana's eyes managed to blink as if the words had registered. Her sister Brina was going to be very upset when she found out that Roman soldiers had abducted her. Her eyes grew wide when she recognized Mallus by his characteristic smirk as he finally approached her. Brina's wrath would be formidable indeed.

"How is your dear sister?" Mallus asked of her tauntingly. He passed his hand in front of her face so that she could move again.

Oriana turned her face away from the Mallus and into Opis' shoulder, but her voice was clear in the cold air as she responded in Latin. "Happily cursing you every day."

Mallus merely laughed. "Ah, so Brina still thinks of me." He leaned forward and touched Oriana's chin. "I can't wait until she hears about this."

Opis pulled Oriana closer to him and away from Mallus. "That's enough, Mallus. You shouldn't have brought this innocent girl into your games."

Mallus grinned rather wolfishly at his friend. "You seem to have benefited, Opis. I wouldn't complain too loudly."

"I'll take her back to her home now." Opis began to turn his horse, but suddenly became immobile. His eyes flicked to Mallus who held a clenched fist in front of him.

"She can share your quarters or mine, but we are not taking her back, Opis. Make your choice."

Opis gasped for air when Mallus released him. Not only had he been held immobile, his very breath had stopped. The Lupinus was a dangerous man to friend or foe. Opis tightened his grip on the woman and proclaimed, "Then Oriana stays with me."

Opis turned his horse and sped away. He could hear his friend's laughter ringing behind him.

Remus Lupin was able to follow the exchange and remained still until the last horse cantered away. Remus rose unsteadily by holding onto the boulder, but the night approached and with it, the moon.

Each of its phases was burned into his memory. In a few days, as in his own time, the full moon would be upon him. He hoped he would find his way out of this predicament before then. Somehow the tapestry had swept him into Roman Briton and into the world of Mallus Lupinus, a voracious Wolf Hunter.

TBC

Author Notes:

Cast of Characters: Consider Mallus Lupin as an Einon (Dragonheart) personality. Opis should be seen as a variation of David Wenham's Brother Carl character from Van Helsing. The ladies you can imagine for yourself... Yes, it'll have romantic comedy, but with a lot of adventure in the meantime.

Lupin cast a translation spell to understand the Romans. It's a bit of handwaving because the story is obviously written in modern English.

This story will have 3-4 chapaters and is not epic in scope. It's just a quick peek at a significant ancestor of Remus Lupin. I plan to post a new chapter every week, but I really want it finished before Christmas. This can be read as a stand alone, but if you're interested in the history behind these events, just hit Queriusole and you'll find the other stories.

Thank you for reading and reviewing. I hope the story will not be disappointing.