II.
The house seemed emptier without Greta and her wisecrack jokes, messy room, and morning arguments about waking up. There just seemed that there was a lot more space now that she was off at Hogwarts.
They received a foot-long letter from Greta, dated September 2, that described Hogwarts in great detail for the benefit of her mother and Remus. She said that the Sorting Hat had immediately ruled out Slytherin for her, and after some deliberation between the other three houses she was placed into Gryffindor. She had two friends already—Dorcas Meadowes and Amelia Bones—who were also in Gryffindor. She had also described how awesome all three classes she had taken so far—Transfiguration with McGonagall, Charms with Flitwick and Herbology with Sprout—were, and how she couldn't wait for the rest of her classes. Dumbledore, apparently, was not teaching any classes but was the deputy Headmaster and amazing all the same, and Dippet was kind but rather senile.
By the time his father had finished reading the letter aloud, Remus was insanely jealous once again. He wanted to go to Hogwarts as well!
Each of the Lupins contributed to the reply, saying that there was nothing exciting happening at home except for Remus starting Muggle primary school.
He was very happy about being surrounded by children his own age, even if they were Muggles. He was a very talkative child and irritated the teachers to no end; they often sent letters home with him like with Greta, but again the Lupins were not too worried about their son.
Alex had an extensive family, and many of its members enjoyed dropping by at random intervals. This posed a problem for the Lupins, as they needed to be able to hide anything magical before they arrived.
On the second of October, they were actually expecting Alex's sister, her husband, and two daughters to arrive; therefore, they had completely de-magicked the house the day before and instructed Remus on what he could and couldn't say. It was mostly old news, as he had received the same briefing before primary school.
"I know, Mum!" he all but yelled. She scowled.
"Well, you may forget, and you have to remember that they don't know anyth—"
The doorbell rang.
Ian ran to answer it and bring their guests in, but instead of a smiling family on the front doorstep, there stood what looked like a homeless man. The only thing that made Mr Lupin worry was the wand sticking subtlety out of his coat pocket. Instantly alert, Ian gripped his own as he said, "What is it?"
"I was just wondering if I could spend the night here, as it promises to be cold," he said in a raspy voice.
"I'm sorry, we won't have any room. We've got company coming later and we only have enough room for them. I could get you a blanket and a bag of food if you—"
"Ian Lupin, do you know who I am?"
Rather frightened but standing his ground, Ian signaled to his wife behind his back to go upstairs with Remus. Taking the hint, she went quickly toward the stairwell.
"No, sir, I do not," he told the man calmly.
"Let's just say that your recent…publication has irritated me," he said. "My name is Greyback." Immediately, Ian's hand tightened around his wand. He had sent in an editorial to the Daily Prophet fighting against werewolves, and suggesting that at least the feral ones be put down…he had mentioned Greyback specifically…Oh shit…
"You might want to hold onto your family with two hands, Lupin," Greyback said nastily, "or you might just find them dog meat." Ian slammed the door in his laughing face, his heart beating at least three times faster than normal.
After checking out the window to make sure that Greyback was really gone, he dashed into the kitchen where the family calendar was located. Glancing over the month of October—
Thursday, October 9
In his wife's neat handwriting,
Grocery shopping
Suzannah leaves
And, in the fine print put in by the publishers,
Full moon
"Alex!" Ian yelled, "You can come down now!"
His wife and son came down the stairs, both very white. "Daddy, who was that?" Remus shivered. "He was scary."
"It was a very mean man," Ian said as soothingly as he could. "I sent him on his way; hopefully he won't bother us anymore." He sent a meaningful glance at his wife that clearly said, "I'll tell you later."
Before anyone could reply, the doorbell rang once again, and Ian approached it cautiously, looking out the window before opening it.
"Hey, Ian!" Peter Martin said, shaking his hand. "How're things going?"
"All right—we had some hobo at the door a bit ago, but nothing to worry about."
Suzannah and Alex both began catching up, which left Remus with his cousins. Three-year-old Carlie was nice enough, but five-year-old Jenna was a totally different story. She tried to boss around absolutely everybody, and no amount of lecturing on her parents' part could make her stop. In the company of his immediate family, Ian often called her the devil incarnate, and nobody argued with him.
"What is there to do?" Jenna asked snobbishly.
"Um…" Remus said, trying to remember the names of the Muggle games his mother kept around, "What do you like to play?"
"Hide and seek?" Carlie asked, blue eyes looking up at Remus in innocence.
"No, that's a baby game," Jenna sniffed. "Only babies play that."
"Well, can you think of anything else to do?" Remus shot back.
"Where's Greta?" she asked, seemingly just realizing that she was not there.
"She's at a private boarding school," Remus recited, remembering what his mother had told him to say. "So, do you have any ideas?"
The rest of the visit went on similarly, and Remus was not sad to see Jenna go. While Alex was out grocery shopping, Ian sat Remus down in the kitchen and said, very seriously, "Remus, you must be inside before dark tonight."
"Why?" Remus asked, confused.
"Because…well, you wouldn't completely understand," he said awkwardly. "But I don't want you to get hurt. Just promise me that you'll put your broom away and be inside before it gets dark."
Remus nodded slowly, still not completely understanding what was going on. His father had never insisted that he be inside before dark before…as long as someone was with him it was okay. Why is tonight any different?
His mother was informed of this new rule when she returned home, and she nodded; apparently she comprehended the situation more than Remus. He still did not understand why he had to be inside, and desperately wanted an answer. Unfortunately, neither of his parents would tell him anything.
That night after dinner Remus asked permission to go flying on his broomstick for a bit. He was granted it, but again reminded of the new rule. Remus tried to refrain from rolling his eyes as he walked outside. It was a beautiful evening that promised a gorgeous sunset, and Remus was determined to watch it—either from outside or from his bedroom window.
He retrieved his well-loved broom from the garden shed and began gliding around the backyard. He had been practicing every night—excluding the time they had company—and he thought he was pretty good at it.
Glancing back at his house and then at the slowly setting sun, Remus decided to go for a fly in the woods behind his house for a few minutes. Hopefully Dad won't notice…
After a few minutes of flying contentedly through the trees, Remus prepared to go back to the house; he did not want to go totally against his father's wishes. He saw that it was almost dark, and hurried to get out of the trees before the sun completely set.
A minute later, the darkness had completely come over the woods. Panicking slightly, Remus went on for another minute before something in front of him made him stop short and squeal in terror.
Ian glanced nervously out of the window at the now almost-invisible sun. Where is Remus?
He panicked when he saw that Remus was not in the yard. Cursing to himself, he told his wife that he was going to find Remus, grabbed his wand off the table, and ran out the door.
Remus' pale blue eyes widened as he stared into a pair of yellow ones. He began backing away slowly, trying not to make any sudden movements. What did Dad tell me about monsters in the forest?
Not recalling his father explaining any horrendous creatures coming out at night, Remus was even more frightened. What is that?
To his horror, the eyes had been growing larger as he backed away. Abandoning all pretenses of no sudden movements, Remus turned around and flew away on his broom as fast as it could take him. Apparently it was not fast enough.
The monster pounced on the back end of his broom, catapulting him backwards. He landed on the hard ground, and it felt as if his leg was broken.
He watched helplessly as the creature came toward him. He was unable to do or say anything until it pounced.
A scream flew through the woods, sending birds flying and making Ian drastically quicken his pace. NO!
He ran in the direction of the scream, praying to whichever deity was up there that he was not too late…
Remus screamed as the monster sunk its teeth into his unbroken leg. This startled him into motion again, and out of instinct he tried to curl up into a ball. The creature continued to bite and scratch every inch of Remus it could reach. Oh Merlin no I don't want to die someone save me oh please I don't want to be eaten please don't eat me nonononononono that hurts stop it nononono go away please…
Remus continued screaming out of pain, fear, and the hope that someone would come to save him. I'm going to die…
Suddenly the monster's weight was thrown off of him, and a voice cut into his muddled thoughts—"Remus!"
He vaguely recognized the voice as his father's, and hoped that he had scared the monster away, before he passed out.
Running around a tree, Ian saw an enormous figure bending over a smaller one. Oh my—
His heart rate tripled as he saw a very familiar toy broomstick lying on the ground in two pieces a few feet away. He quickly sent a levitated log toward the larger figure, throwing it off Remus and causing it to run into the trees.
"Remus!" he said, horrified, as he ran toward the bloody mess on the ground. Without thinking, he stuck his wand between his teeth, picked up his son, and sprinted back to the house. Alex screamed as they came into view.
"Alex—use the Floo powder—go to St Mungo's," he told her around his wand, taking huge gulps of air as he slowed down slightly in the kitchen. Without waiting for a reply, he Flooed to the hospital, his son in his arms.
The secretary blanched as Ian stepped out of the fire with Remus, and immediately scribbled something on a piece of parchment, sending it flying up the stairs.
"Where do I go for a werewolf attack?" Ian asked her, out of breath.
"First floor," she answered quickly.
He nodded his thanks to her and rushed up the stairs as his wife came out of the fireplace, running after him.
As Ian rushed onto the first floor, everyone stepped aside. Whether it was out of fear of his wild rampage, horror at the sight of the mess he was holding, or something else, he would never know.
"In here," a Healer said, wide-eyed. Ian rushed through the door and the Healers immediately brought him to one of the beds. Both parents sat, crying in shocked silence. They were unable to see Remus because of the ten or so Healers around his bed.
"Can Greta come?" Alex asked after a few minutes. Ian jumped; he had not thought of that.
"Excuse me," he said, walking up to an unoccupied Healer, "Can I Floo Hogwarts to get my daughter?"
"If Professor Dippet allows it."
Ian practically ran downstairs to the fireplace and threw the Floo powder in the fire. Sticking his head into the now-green flames, he yelled, "Hogwarts!"
After the normal spinning and nausea, the Headmaster's office came into focus. He was conversing with Dumbledore in an undertone.
"Professor Dippet!" he said loudly.
The old man spun around, his wand out, but lowered it a bit when he saw it was his head in the fire. "What is it?"
"It's my son…he's in St Mungo's and it's pretty bad…would you let my daughter out of school…?" Apparently he looked thoroughly hopeless, because Dippet's expression softened.
"Where is she?"
"Greta Lupin, first year Gryffindor," he glanced hopefully at Dumbledore.
"I will get her," he said at once, and swept out of the room.
"If you don't mind my asking," Dippet said, "what happened to your son?"
"Greyback happened."
He winced in sympathy. "Will he make it?"
"I don't know."
Dumbledore swept across Hogwarts from the Headmaster's office to the Gryffindor common room, intent on getting Miss Lupin. Her father had looked genuinely helpless, and he did not want to split up a family for longer than was necessary during a crisis.
He gave the Fat Lady the password, and climbed through the circular hole. The common room quieted quickly as the students saw him.
"I need Greta Lupin to come with me immediately," he said briskly. A brown-haired girl slowly stood up.
"Why, sir?"
"You're not in trouble," he assured her.
She nodded slowly and followed him out of the common room.
Greta was sitting with Amelia and Dorcas when Professor Dumbledore crawled through the portrait hole. What is he doing here?
She was very surprised when he asked her to come with him. What did I do? Amelia squeezed her hand as she stood up and asked, "Why, sir?" hoping that she did not sound rude.
"You're not in trouble," he said, and Greta let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. She followed him out of the common room and down the corridor, having no idea where they were going.
"What is it, Professor?" she asked, unable to keep it in any longer. She couldn't think of another reason for her Head of House to pull her out of her common room—on a Thursday night, no less!
"Your father just Flooed to Professor Dippet's office asking for you."
Greta paused. What does Dad need me for? "What's wrong?" she asked, dreading the answer.
"He said that your brother is in the hospital." Dumbledore answered her, looking rather apologetic. After waiting to see if he would elaborate and finding that he would not, Greta resumed walking, a bit faster than before. Remus is in the hospital—no way. He can't be. But Dumbledore wouldn't lie, would he…?
They were soon standing in front of a stone gargoyle, which Dumbledore gave a sort of password to. It jumped aside and revealed a spiral staircase. Greta dashed up it.
In the large room she saw the Headmaster standing sorrowfully by the fireplace. Her father's head was in the fire…
"Dad, what is it?" she asked, crossing the room in seconds.
"It's Remus. You need to Floo to St Mungo's," he said. "I've already cleared it by the Headmaster; he said that you can stay as long as you need to." He was talking as if there was nobody else in the room. Greta also saw that he had tearstains down his cheeks. Dad never cries…
"Do you want me to come through now?"
"Yes." His head disappeared, and the Headmaster handed her the Floo powder.
"I'll tell your teachers where you are," he promised, and prompted her to go.
She spun out of the fireplace and into a hospital lobby she vaguely remembered from six years previously, when Remus was born.
Remus…
Her father was nowhere in sight, and there were some drops of what looked like blood on the ground. That can't be Remus'…
She walked up to the secretary and asked, "Can you tell me where Remus Lupin is?"
She flipped through a few papers on her desk, but stopped after a few seconds. "Only his immediate family is allowed to see him."
Greta turned red with anger. "I'm his sister."
"Can you prove that?"
She was at a loss for words. "Well…"
"She's with me," she heard her mother's voice call out as she descended the stairs.
The secretary looked her up and down. "You're his mother?"
"Yes."
"And you came in after your husband?" Alex nodded. "Yes, I remember you. Very well. If she is your daughter, you know where the ward is."
The two walked to the staircase, and Greta's mother led her up a flight of stairs before stepping into the hallway. She read a sign that said "Creature-Induced Injuries" and was confused even more. What creatures live near our house?
"Mum, what happened to Remus?" she asked urgently.
"I'm not entirely sure, hon," she said, but Greta saw that her eyes were red as well. She's been crying too… "Your father will be able to explain it better than me."
She was not satisfied with this answer, but immediately walked to her father when they entered a ward. He was staring blankly at a bed with about fifteen Healers around it. Oh Merlin, that can't be—
"Dad?" she asked tentatively after he did not acknowledge her.
He looked up and seemed to be surprised by her presence. His eyes were much more red and puffy than his wife's.
He stood up and embraced Greta in a huge hug, which she returned. It took her a moment to realize that she was supporting him, and she slowly sat him down and asked, "Dad, what happened to Remus?"
Her father took a moment to answer. "Greta, do you know who Fenrir Greyback is?"
She thought for a moment. "Didn't you write an article that said something about him?"
He nodded, his head in his hands. Greta continued, "And that article was about werewolves, so Greyback is a werewolf…" she did not understand where the logic was going.
Her father pointed soundlessly out the window. Greta looked out, and saw an enormous full moon hanging in the sky. Bloody—
"Did Greyback attack Remus?" she asked, horrified and knowing the answer. He nodded silently, and her fears were confirmed. "Will he be okay?"
"I don't know."
Ian felt horrible as he said this a second time. He had decided as soon as he saw what had happened to Remus that it was his fault—he had failed as a father. If he had only gone outside with him, kept a closer eye on him to prevent him from leaving the yard, or forbidden him from going out all together, it would never have happened.
And, of course, it had been he who had provoked Greyback into mauling his son…
He completely broke down at that point, tears falling by the gallon down his cheeks. Because of me, my son might die. And even if he lives, he'll have no future.
