Chapter 3

"Harry shifted? Are you sure?" Lupin asked, hoping he'd heard wrong.

"Yes and we can get into details later but for now, I was hoping you could help. Talk to him maybe. The poor thing was so worried about getting in trouble or expelled that he asked to go back to his wretched aunt and uncle," McGonagall said making no effort to hide her feelings for the Dursleys. "The boy hasn't a clue what happening and he's freaking out."

Lupin fumbled over to a seat, feeling a headache pushing through.

"Okay, start from the beginning; what happened last night?" Lupin asked, worried by what may have happened last night.

"It wasn't as bad as you'd think. Luckily he'd earned himself detention last night and was being escorted to Hagrid's when it happened. He'd been freaked out and ran into the forest. As a precaution, we still had all students banned from leaving their dorms last night and had Snape and myself keep watch in case he wandered back onto the grounds," McGonagall said, everyone's exhaustion made sense. They'd been up all night on werewolf watch.

"Who knows?" Lupin asked.

"Dumbledore, Professor Mason, Snape and myself," McGonagall said. "We've had some professors ask why the lockdown and we simply said it was a confidential matter. Lupin I didn't just ask to speak with you to tell you about Potter's condition..."

"You want me to talk to him," Lupin concluded.

"You're the best person to do it; you knowledge on the topic is unflappable, you're honest and you have first-hand experience," McGonagall said.

"Harry is my best friends boy; I've known him since he was a baby. I'll talk to him. Would you like me to do it now or later?"

"Drink the whole thing Potter; good boy," Madam Pomfrey had finally gotten Harry to drink the potion she'd presented to him. Perhaps the pain had finally registered and he knew the potion would help.

"What happened?" Harry asked in a shaky voice. "I don't remember anything."

"I can answer that," Lupin said stepping into the room. Lupin winced slightly when he bent over to pick up a chair but he still dragged it over to Harry's bed and said down. Harry wore a short sleeve shirt which revealed a bite mark on his arm.

"When did you get this?" Lupin asked, wondering how thick he was to have not figured out Harry's condition sooner.

"Over Christmas break," Harry said, his voice still trembling. Lupin sighed and rolled up his pants to reveal an identical scar on his own leg.

"I've got one of those, too," he told Harry, watching as Harry's mind started working. "You were bit by a werewolf."

Somehow Harry managed to pale more than he already had. "Wouldn't that make me a... oh... no! I can't be a werewolf! What about school, my friends?"

"Don't worry, everything will be fine. I was turned before I came here and they were really accommodating. I'm sure Professor Snape had already started brewing the wolfsbane potion for next month, but we'll talk about that later."

"Why can't I remember anything?" Harry asked.

"That's normal. I'd be more surprised if you did," Lupin said. "But Harry, I want to make sure you know that I'm here if you ever need to talk. You're going to notice some changes and my door is open 24/7."

"Alright; you two need rest. Go to sleep," Madam Pomfrey said as she shut the curtains. "You can talk later."

Lupin made his way over to his bed and shut his eyes. But sleep didn't come quickly. His best friend's son was a werewolf. He was now sentenced to a lifetime of monthly transformation, an emotional roller coaster, and Lupin wanted to do everything in his power to stop it but he couldn't. But as hard as telling Harry had been, he shuddered at the idea of telling Sirius. The boy's godfather was not going to be pleased about this.

But as hard as telling Harry had been, he shuddered at the idea of telling Sirius. The boy's godfather was not going to be pleased about this. (Sirius was never convicted of murder and never sent to Azkaban)

Later that evening, Dumbledore came back to the hospital wing with a grave expression.

"Harry, the Dursleys have responded to the letter I sent this morning; they don't feel comfortable with you coming home but not to worry; we will find a place for you to go. We're going to reach out to your godfather," Dumbledore said. "We will tell his that we request his presence at Hogwarts."

Lupin sat up in bed; Sirius, coming to Hogwarts.