Yay! Second chapter. Delving right in, here. ^_~ Watch out for the introduction of some very malicious characters (who we've all met before) in the next few chapters, also our evil Slytherin house leader, Raethe in this one. Poor Remmy!      

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The next morning came quickly, as Remus awoke from his lavish four-poster bed. He sighed and rubbed his eyes, sitting up, and looking around the room; everyone else was still asleep. Sunlight was streaming through his window in folds, dancing through the thin drapes that covered them, and bathing the walls in a soft red light. He stood from his bed and slid on his house slippers, pulling a maroon bathrobe with the Gryffindor house emblem stitched on the breast.

   Yawning, Remus walked to his dresser, taking his class list from on top of the wooden structure. He read it carefully, studying the list; "Double potions on Tuesdays," he said to himself, remembering that the strange Aduial was the potions master. He read on down the list, noting transfiguration and defense against the dark arts at the bottom.

   Remus set the list down and walked to his window, pulling back the drapes as a bolt of light struck his eyes. He grimaced, shielding his eyes from the blazing sunlight of an early autumn morning. But the lawn glittered faintly with early morning dew, and the sky was clear and blue; the day was gorgeous, beautiful and pure in all respects. Remus sighed; Hogwarts was a wonderful place. He was glad finally to be away from his home…

   Remus's parents kept him locked away, most of the time. They were afraid of him, afraid of what he could do to them. And he could do it, true, but he never would hurt his parents- not intentionally. There had been a time, when Remus was first bitten, that he couldn't control the wolf inside of him, full moon or not. Once he had attacked his mother when she'd come into the room to tuck him in, lunging at her from the shadows…

   Remus shuddered. The memory was enough to torture his dreams for years after; he didn't need to be thinking about it while he was awake.

   Suddenly, like glass the calm silence of the moment was shattered, as a piercing scream struck Remus's ears. Remus recognized it as coming from downstairs, and he bolted through the room and down the winding staircase that lead to the common room. He saw the portrait hole was hanging open, and he ran to it, as more students stirred and started gathering, exchanging worried glances behind him.

   Remus found himself face to face with the most terrifying thing he'd ever seen; blood splattered across the walls. His eyes followed the trail blindly, followed it to the body whose blood it was. Remus recoiled at first, horrified by the white corpse lying in the hall, but only for a moment. At once he sprung to her side; she was still awake, but her round face was cold and pale. She turned her glazing eyes up to Remus, silently pleading with him to help her.

   Remus choked, unable to hold back tears as he held her. He pulled her to his body and began rocking slowly back and forth, terribly frightened but unwilling to leave her alone. Suddenly Sirius leapt through the portrait hole, glancing down the hall to his right before hearing Remus's choked sobs to his left.

   Sirius sped to Remus's side, halting beside him. His eyes were wide with horror, and he barely held back a scream of his own. By now the whole Gryffindor house stood in the portrait hole, staring down the hall at Remus holding the dying girl, Sirius behind him.

   The girl reached up with one hand and touched Remus's face, a faint smile spreading over her lips. Remus's body shuddered as he watched her eyes, silent tears rolling over his cheeks. She choked, trying to speak.

   "What is it?" he cried, staring searchingly into her eyes. "What happened?"

   "S-…" she stuttered, blood creeping over her lip, "Slith-"

   James and Peter pushed through the crowd, joining Sirius behind Remus's huddled form on the floor. Immediately James's eyes darted down the corridor,

   "I'll get help," he said hurriedly, nodding and running down the hall.

   "Shh," Remus said, trying to comfort the girl, "It's going to be okay, you'll be okay," he said, his voice trembling.

   "Remus," started Sirius, taking Remus's shoulder into his hand, "Remus, I-"

   "Please be okay," Remus whispered, cutting Sirius off.

   Opposite the portrait hole, a dark man turned the corner swiftly. His black, piercing eyes hit Remus's shivering form like a wash of ice over his small body.

   "I told Fildor he was a fool to let you in," he spat, spying Remus holding the dead girl, blood all over his young form. Remus's eyes found the man's, his tear streaked face distorted between horror and angst. He knew it must look bad, cradling her body in his arms, her blood on his hands, on his face where she had touched him…

   The man grabbed Remus by the arm, jerking him away from the girl and dragging him up to his feet. "Couldn't control yourself?" he hissed, pulling Remus painfully down the hall.

   "Wait a minute," Sirius cried, running to Remus's side, "You don't think Remus did this?!" The man glared down at Sirius, signifying obviously that he did. "I was here! I was here with him!"

   "Go back to your room, boy."

   At that moment James and Aduial rounded the corner. Aduial halted before the man, "What is this, Raethe?" Aduial said, glancing and Remus.

   The two professors stood staring at each other for a moment. They were almost complete opposites, as far as Remus could see. The man called Raethe was dark, his shaggy black hair cast dark shadows over his eyes, and he seemed almost evil in his mannerism. But Aduial's presence calmed Remus somewhat… he seemed the epitome of all that was pure! His long platinum blond hair glistened, and his skin was clear and pale. His gentle gray eyes, though fierce as they were to Raethe, seemed kind to Remus. His long white robes even contrasted those of Raethe's; everything about him seemed good and right.

   "I caught the boy with his victim," Raethe spat, grimacing at Aduial, "I'm taking him to be detained until the headmaster can see him."

   "Raethe, honestly. He's only a boy."

   "Only a boy! You know damn well what he's capable of."

   "Raethe. Take the boy down, I'll speak with him when I finish here."

   Raethe drug Remus down, leaving Aduial to see to the girl in the hall.

   Remus sat silently in the dungeon, shivering in the cold. He pulled his robe around his shoulders, waiting for someone to come. His thoughts wandered to that girl… the way she stared at him before she died. What was it she said? Slith? Remus couldn't think. He hugged his knees to his chest and laid his head on them, sniveling miserably.

"Remus," came a soft voice from the door, "I'd like a word with you." Remus looked up, only to see Aduial standing in the doorway.

"I didn't hurt her," he pleaded, desperately.

"I know, Remus," said Aduial, "But I need to find out what did. I know you were the first to find her, it is only a coincidence that you were," he said, "Did Myrtle say anything to you before she died? Anything at all?" he asked, walking to Remus. He kneeled before the boy, smiling up into his pained face.

"Yes," Remus whispered, pausing… "She said Slith," he finished.

"That's all?"

"She died while I was holding her…"

"Yes, it couldn't be helped."

Remus closed his eyes and let his head fall onto his knees again, "Everywhere I go," he whispered, trying not to cry, "People get hurt."

"It wasn't you, Remus," Aduial said, "Raethe jumps to conclusions, and he's prejudiced. I know it wasn't you."

Remus looked up at him and smiled weakly. Aduial took a fold of his shining white robe, and wiped the blood from Remus's face. The cloth didn't seem to be tainted by the blood, though, it simply seemed pure as before it touched. Remus stared at his professor in wonder. He'd never seen anyone, or anything quite like him before.

"What are you?" he asked, quietly. Aduial smiled, his long blond hair framing his pale face.

"An elf," he said, simply, mystically, "Now, up you go," he said, taking Remus's hand and standing him up, "You need to eat something, I think. It's been a hard morning. And you know that tonight is the night of the full moon, Remus. We'll take you down at dusk."

That night before he went, Remus went back to the Gryffindor common room, where he found James, Sirius, and Peter waiting for him

"Honestly," cried Sirius, "We thought you'd never come back!"

"I'm sorry I was gone for so long," said Remus, sighing and sitting down, "I waited forever for Aduial to come down, and after that he made me eat and tell the story a few more times, eugh." Remus said, grimacing, "I just want to forget today ever happened."

"Man," said James, "I'm so sorry. But what was up with that Raethe guy?"

"Professor Raethe Shinnston," said Peter, "He's the head of Slytherin, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." He added.

"Why did he think Remus would kill that girl, though? That was ridiculous!" James said, plopping down heavily in the seat across from Remus.

"Well, I guess I looked sort of…. Bad" Remus said, sighing, "Being there and all. Anyway, I have to go soon."

"Where are you going?" asked Sirius, "They didn't kick you out, did they?"

"No, no, I just have to… stay in another dorm tonight, Aduial's afraid that whatever got Myrtle will come for me." Remus lied. He couldn't tell them where he was really going… they'd probably think he had killed her.

"Who?" asked James and Sirius together.

"Myrtle, the girl who died." Said Peter.

"Oh well, I have to go you guys. I'll see you in a few days."

That night Aduial took Remus from the school through a secret passage, telling him never to tell anyone where it was. He led him down a long, dark, winding corridor, to a house far, far away.