Chapter 3: Confrontation

Lupin woke up in a panic and quickly checked that the invisibility cloak was still wrapped tightly around him. Nothing seemed amiss and the woods were quiet and still. The dream however had been all too vivid and the gnashing horrible face of Fenrir Greyback was still present in his mind, overwhelming everything else. It wasn't just the dream though, somehow Lupin could tell that things were off, and it was settled. This had to be the night.

The pack had traveled several miles over the past few days. They had traveled so far that they were no longer in the deepest parts of the forest. They had come to the edges of civilization and now they were on the outskirts of Derwent, a Muggle village nesteled near to edges of the forest. The little village was quaint and antiquated, with just two roads connecting in and out of town, a single phone line, and without access to most modern Muggle conveniences. Lupin had been here before, in days that were somehow happier though they had seemed so dark at the time. He and Sirius spent two weeks tracking down a death eater near the end of the war and Derwent was where they finally found her. She had planned to take the village hostage, to either escape or take the whole village with her when she died. But Sirius had tricked her, Lupin was overwhelmed again thinking how Sirius had actually been tricking him, but he let it pass. The village was saved and he and Sirius had celebrated. In less than a year Lily and James would be dead. Pushing aside the anger and depression, and with a twinge of guilt at how easily the thought came to him, Lupin knew where to go, and why. "The perfect place for a massacre," he growled. There was only one more night until the full moon.

Lupin knew he had only this one chance to stop the pack, there was only one day that he might be able to make a difference before he would either be incapacitated by the stale wolfsbane in his cloak, dead, or joining in the slaughter. He packed away his gear and headed back to the trail, the he started to move as quickly as possible toward the town, no longer trying to keep a distance and observe the pack, but trying to gain on them. The only chance would be if he could reach the village first and set up an ambush taking Fenrir out first, then hopefully he could get off enough curses to mortally wound, or at the very least maim, a few of the others… before they ripped him to pieces.

Following the pack had allowed Lupin to pick up several key insights he hoped to use to his advantage. First, none of the wolves had wands and they had not exhibited any magical quality at all. Second, while they definitely had superior senses of hearing and smell this seemed to come at the expense of their sight. Finally, Lupin knew exactly what Fenrir would be after and where he would be immediately be drawn in this village. Lupin turned off the trail and looked around to ensure he could not be seen and apparated straight into the heart of the town. He could set up and make his move. He knew the pack would wait until dark to make their attack but the first wave would certainly come that night. Fenrir would want the townspeople to know that over the next three days they would not be visited by ordinary wolves. Lupin knew Fenrir wanted more than just blood, he wanted the fear and hatred too.

The pack tore ahead, smashing and breaking and tearing with more intensity than ever. Until finally Fenrir stopped and they all stopped with him. He knew their follower had gone. It seemed most likely he had gone ahead of them into the town. "Good," Fenrir growled, "playthings all over." They had reached the edge of the forest that bordered on the town.

He peered out from the trees at the small houses that lined the tiny street. Fenrir could feel that each of those houses was brimming with meat and other pleasures he so desperately wanted to taste, but it was not quite yet time. The pack began to advance on the first house but Fenrir signaled them to back off. Lycrus was unable to hide the resentment on his face and had begun to think about whether he should keep listening to Fenrir. Perhaps, Lycrus thought to himself it was time to start doing things his way instrad. Perhaps the old man was going soft and he, Lycrus, should take charge. He took another step out toward the village.

In a flash Fenrir was beside him, his pointed teeth bared in a cracked smile. Lycrus tried to step back toward the forest but it was too late. Fenrir lept forward, biting into the side of the larger man's face. He tore a gigantic gash in Lycrus' cheek which began to spew blood all over the forest floor. Fenrir swallowed the hunk of flesh and watched for a bit as the large man bled. "Mud," grunted Fenrir, and Lycrus buried his bloody face in the wet ground, chastised for his disobedience. The pack was back in order.

Lupin found his way quickly through the town. While it was the case that normal werewolves could attack anyone, essentially at random, Fenrir had certain preferences. As Lupin remembered all too well, Fenrir preferred to hunt children, lithe young women, and strong young men. This town had a small church school that housed most of the children from the surrounding countryside throughout the academic year and the school was run by a group of young nuns. Lupin was certain that this was where Fenrir would strike first, and it seemed likely that it had been his target for heading in the direction of Derwent in the first place, the scent of the prey calling to the beastly man. The school was tucked away, off the main street, and the design of the building, two stories each connected by a single stairwell in an entrance hallway with only a single entrance meant it would be difficult for anyone to get away, and nearly impossible for people to come to help. Between the teachers and students there were probably thirty people in the two story building and it was likely that none of them were older than twenty-five. "His favorites," Lupin coughed as he hopped the short fence surrounding the school.

Twilight hit the town and the pack approached again from the forest. "Tonight, games. Tomorrow, feast," thought Fenrir, but all he said was, "Now." The pack leapt into the street, hoping to be seen, or better yet, to be confronted. Fenrir led them straight toward the most delicious smells where, he could smell him now too, of course, the boy was also waiting there. No one stopped them, or even stepped foot outside their houses, it was if no one even noticed the commotion in the street. The pack arrived at the school and Fenrir kicked open the door at the front and then the first doorway on the first floor which led directly to the children's dormitory. He stayed silent as he motioned for the pack to come inside. They sliped into the dormitory but Fenrir didn't follow, instead climbing the outside of the building.

The students awoke to howls as the four beasts burst into the dormitory and began to scream. Lupin, who had been hiding under the invisibility cloak in the back corner of the entrance hall threw off the cloak and started casting spells at the attackers. Finius, the smallest of the pack, grabbed a trembling girl and launched toward her neck. Lupin advanced on him firing a stunning curse that hit him directly in the face from inches away. Finius' jaw exploded and he fell motionless to the ground. Once they saw Finius fall, the others turned away from their prey that they had been huddling toward the back wall of the dormitory and advanced on the pesky man with the lighting stick, the "wand" Rocherna remembered it was called. "Get out of here!" Lupin shouted and the panicked students stamped across the room, rushing through the entrance hall and out into the night or escaping through the open windows, some students had already been injured so others were dragging away the injured and bleeding. The pack surrounded Lupin and he shot off defending spell after defending spell to keep them at bay. Lupin then noticed the largest of the group was bleeding from an open wound on his jaw and concentrated his energy on the injured Lycrus, who was slowed by loss of blood and his still seeping wound. Lupin shouted "Reducto!" and the spell directly hit the mud patched cheek and Lycrus fell to the ground, now gushing more and more blood from his face. The other two, while being stunned and slowed somewhat by the spells eventually converged on Lupin and wrestled his wand away. As Rocherna licked her lips and prepared to feast; a harsh voice filled the room, "No. Leave it. The boy is mine."

Fenrir entered the room, his body entirely covered in blood. "Give me that one," he said, "you'll find far easier treats upstairs. They are already quite.. subdued." Rocherna threw him the wand and she and Narius hurried up the small stairway snarling hungrily.

"Well, boy," Fenrir croaked as he picked at his teeth with Lupin's wand, "mighty good plan you had here. How's your sister?"

Lupin lunged for his wand but Fenrir caught him by the arm with his gigantic hand. "None of that, boy. Now tell me, what brings you around?" Lupin fought to get free and bit hard at Fenrir's hand. Fenrir laughed, "Oh, biting are yeh? That's more like," and then he threw Lupin across the room. Lupin crashed hard into the wall. "Now," Fenrir grabbed Lupin again and put his face as close as he could to younger man's. Lupin looked into the face and the flith and blood and years of decadence rained down on Lupin as Fenrir said, "Why did you come to me?"

"Why did I come?" thought Lupin. "Obviously, to die, but was that all? Just as obviously I was never going to be able to help. So why? Was there any reason for this at all." He could see nothing but the face and as if he had been inside Lupin's head Fenrir answered. "You came to learn. They always do."

Fenrir Greyback threw Remus Lupin to the floor of the schoolhouse. "So, learn," he smiled. He lifted his right hand, and Lupin could see that the middle two fingers were not human fingers at all, but the horrible pointed claws of a wolf. Fenrir drew back the claw and slashed it down across Lupin's face and blood sprayed out from the fresh wound.

"Learn!" Fenrir screamed, as he drew back the claw again.