Chapter Six:
Lupin wasn't at dinner that night. When Molly asked where he was Sirius simply replied that he wasn't feeling very well.
"Should I take something up to him?" She asked, and Sirius started.
"No!" He said quickly, then calmed himself. "No. He just needs some rest."
The children were giving them strange looks, so Molly decided not to pursue the matter until after dinner.
"Is something wrong with him?" Molly asked when she and Sirius were alone.
Sirius twitched. He seemed kind of jumpy tonight. "Well, sort of." He answered.
"What? Is there something I can do?"
Sirius laughed. It was a hollow sound, with no humor involved. "No, nothing." He sounded sad. Then he forced himself to smile. "It's no big deal. He's just never been very healthy, and gets sick easily. He'll be fine tomorrow." Sirius didn't believe what he was saying either, but his eyes were begging Molly not to ask any more questions, so she dropped it.
Suddenly, from upstairs, Ginny screamed. Loudly. Molly took off running up the stares, hoping frantically that she would get there in time. What was wrong? The screaming stopped abruptly, and Molly quickened her pace. She was dimly aware of Sirius right behind her as she ran.
The two of them reached the top of the stares, ready for action, and stopped. Ron had his hand clamped over Ginny's mouth, and both of them stood still. They were staring at a wolf.
It was big, and grey, with yellow eyes. Its fangs and claws were easily visible, and it also stood still, staring at the children, as if waiting for them to make the first move.
Sirius stood beside Molly, waiting, like her, for something to happen. Then Percy and the twins showed up.
The twins froze, but Percy drew his wand. "Get away from my sister!" He shouted, pointing his wand at the wolf.
"Wait!" Sirius and Ron yelled at the same time.
"Why?" Percy asked. He didn't lower his wand.
"It's okay!" Ron said. "It's Professor Lupin!"
Percy looked confused. "I know that!" He replied angrily.
"He didn't do anything to her!" Ron yelled.
Percy glanced uncertainly at Ginny, who pulled free of Ron. "He just startled me." She whispered, staring at the floor again.
Percy lowered his wand, and the wolf began moving towards Molly, whose head was spinning. This wolf was Lupin? How? Why? How did Ron know it was Lupin? Was it dangerous? Could it have hurt Ginny? She flinched as the wolf approached, but it passed her and ducked behind Sirius, who patted it roughly on the head.
"I think we have some explaining to do." Sirius said to the wolf, and Molly was almost certain that it nodded in reply. "Shall we head for the living room?"
And so Molly learned that Remus Lupin was a werewolf