The Unwelcome Visitor
The knock sent a tremor of fear through the Warwicks' hearts. They remembered what Lupin had said about going undercover and infiltrating the werewolf pack of Fenrir Greyback. They also realized Lupin lived in the middle of nowhere. They trembled. Who could it be? Was it a werewolf?
Lupin quickly and quietly cast another spell. It seemed like an illusion charm, for bloodstains began to appear on the floor, as well as a few human teeth scattered about. A rotting hand was nailed above his fireplace. The potion cabinet and cauldron disappeared, as did the pictures of Lupin's past. An overpowering stench befell the twins, who silently gagged and tried not to vomit.
The visitor knocked again. "Coming!" he shouted. Tucking his wand away, he opened the door.
"Nephthus McGorgo," Lupin icily greeted the stranger. "Come in."
The man walked in. He was most unpleasant. He was middle-aged, with greasy black hair and filthy fingernails. He wore black robes, torn and ragged. The sleeves were up, and the twins could see a strange tattoo on his arm. He was taller than Lupin.
"Remus," he replied half-heartedly. His yellow eyes narrowed at the good wizard. "Mind if I sit down?"
Lupin shook his head. "Not at all." His voice was cold. "Sit. Care for some tea?"
McGorgo shook his head. "I'll pass."
There was something about that voice that sent a chill through the twins' bones. It seemed so familiar. The roughness and frigidness. . .the deep growl that ensued every word. . .the harsh bite of pronunciation of every letter. . . .And his eyes! How yellow they were! And not to forget his teeth! When he scowled at Lupin's coolness of his presence, he presented to the hidden twins two rows of sharp, yellow fangs.
Apollo's mouth dropped. His eyes turned to Artemis, who had her hand over her mouth. They knew who that man was.
Nephthus McGorgo was the man who killed their parents.
Apollo was filled with rage. His every ounce of being trembled with anger. Artemis realized the sun was hitting her brother, and any second now he would break their cover. She quickly took his hand, quivering. Her eyes begged him not to do it. He grimaced, but decided to take his sister's advice. He moved no more.
"What can I do for you, Nephthus?" Lupin asked the werewolf. The twins were severely impressed with how much their former teacher was staying calm.
"Tanigh's the Gatherin'," McGorgo replied. "The whole pack'll be comin'. Fenrir's gonna appoint a deputy, an' we're gonna begin the Hunt." He grinned. "It better be me 'oo gets deputy!"
Lupin frowned, realizing they were getting off-track.
"You said something about The Hunt?"
McGorgo nodded.
"Aye. The full moon's tanigh'. Fenrir's gonna take this advantage ta do three things." He held up one finger. "One: bite more children." He laughed, which sounded like his pointed nails scratching against a blackboard. "The more the merrier!"
The twins saw Lupin flinch. McGorgo didn't notice and continued, holding up another filthy finger.
"Two: have a little fun and look fer dinner--"
The twins suddenly felt sick. They knew what he meant. He meant flesh.
Human flesh.
"--and three: look fer those Warwick brats."
At this Lupin raised his brow. The twins' heart pounded. "The Warwicks?" he asked. "I heard they were dead."
McGorgo furrowed his brow.
"Dead?"
Lupin nodded. "Yes," he replied. "I intercepted a letter from Mad-Eye Moody to Dumbledore. It said the Warwicks fell from their broomsticks during a Death Eater attack and that they had died from broken necks, considering the fact that they fell head-first."
(The twins suddenly realized how miraculous it was that they did survive that fall.)
McGorgo shook his ugly head. "I don't believe it," he growled. "The Order probably sent two letters to Dumbledore, one real and one trick, knowing them bastards. You got the trick one. " He chuckled. "I hate to say it, but those twins are way too powerful to just die like that. I think they're still alive. And we'll find 'em." He licked his lips hungrily, then laughed maniacally.
"Of course."
There was a silence between the two men. Finally, Lupin broke it's seal.
"What time does the Gathering begin?"
"Right before moonrise. Everyone's going." McGorgo's eyes flashed. "You'd better be there!"
The ex-teacher's head bobbed. "I'll be there."
McGorgo grinned hideously. "Alright, then," he growled. He stood up and left Lupin. The good wizard watched the werewolf leave, and as soon as he was far enough away, he pointed his wand at the twins and said, "Ennervate." The two became visible again. Lupin then turned to wave his wand, and the illusion of the hell-shack vanished. Artemis approached him.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" she asked firmly. "What is the Hunt? What is the Gathering?"
"And when will I be able to kill McGorgo?" Apollo hissed. The blood in his veins felt fiery, and his face grew hot.
Lupin turned to them. "Kill McGorgo?" he questioned the twins.
Apollo nodded. "McGorgo was the one who killed our parents!" he shouted. "And he was right there! I could have taken him!"
The werewolf shook his head. "Don't be rash, Apollo," he warned the wizard calmly. "If you kill McGorgo, not only will my cover be blown but yoursas well. Fenrir will discover you and he'll kill you."
Apollo scowled, realizing the teacher was right. Artemis put her arm around his shoulders. "Don't worry, Apollo," she comforted him. "We'll find a way to get back at him."
Lupin smiled warmly. "I'm sure you will."
Lupin conjured up two mugs of hot chocolate and sat the twins down. Lupin sank into the armchair and the twins sat in the wicker chairs. Artemis blew away the steam from her drink and took a sip. Apollo's hard gaze rested on Lupin.
"Tell us, Lupin," he demanded firmly. "What is the Hunt and the Gathering?"
The werewolf replied passively, "The Gathering is a werewolf meeting, if you will. The entire pack comes together to discuss events and goals." He sighed. "Fenrir's pack is a particularly nasty one. Every dark wizard that just happens to be a werewolf is in it. Not only that, but Fenrir is a Death Eater. The whole of his pack is!"
Artemis furrowed her brow. "That tattoo we saw on McGorgo's arm," she asked. "Was that the Dark Mark?"
Lupin nodded. "The Dark Mark, as you probably know, binds a witch or wizard to Voldemort"--Apollo flinched-- "as his servant, or Death Eater." He rolled up his sleeve, which revealed the macabre tattoo. The twins widened their eyes in disbelief. Lupin smiled. "Don't worry; this one is fake. But I have to fit in somehow." He coughed. "The werewolves are following Voldemort for some strange reason, so I have to go find out."
Artemis nearly gagged. "You're going?" she choked. "You're leaving us?" She felt betrayed, and she feared the night ahead. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat. She realized something. She and Apollo had probably left a scent for the werewolves to follow when they trekked through the forest. The werewolves would be able to pick it up and follow it back to Lupin's shack, where they would not only discover the twins but Lupin's treachery as well.
"Lupin!" she exclaimed, eyes wide. "Apollo and I! We probably left a scent when we were running to your shack! The werewolves can pick it up!"
Lupin nodded. "That's right," he replied. "But if Nephthus didn't pick it up, I think you'll be fine."
It was hard for the twins to believe that. If they knew the canine species, they knew that dogs and wolves had excellent senses of smell. Supernatural canines probably had super-smell senses. A chill crawled up their spines. "Lupin," Apollo asked softly. "What's gonna happen to us when you go?"
Lupin pondered for a moment. "Well, you can't come with me," he said firmly. "That's completely out of the question." He mulled over the situation a bit longer. The afternoon was almost over. Sunset would be arriving soon. The twins could feel their power reaching equilibrium. "I'll cast a spell that'll conceal your scent," Lupin decided. "The werewolves won't be able to pick it up."
"And the shack?" Artemis inquired. "Will we have to hide? Will you have to cast Evanesco on us again?"
Lupin shook his head. "No," he assured her. "It have a small underground shelter you can use. The hatch is under my bed. Go there as soon as I leave. And Artemis, when the moon rises, you'll be at your full potential. Say the first spell that comes to your head."
Artemis frowned. "Why?"
Lupin stared at her with soft, brown eyes. "Trust me," he said.
For some strange reason, she did. Apollo was cooling down as the Sun began to die, only to be reborn at dawn. He was beginning to feel remorse for his actions earlier, and logic swept through him. He knew his twin would soon be feeling headstrong and brave.
"Alright," he said to Lupin. "So what'll happen if we're caught?" Lupin took a deep breath.
"Let's just hope for the best, alright?"
The twins nodded.
Sunset arrived, and Lupin prepared to leave. The twins stood near his bed, quivering in fright. They dreaded the night ahead. They lamented about being left, defenseless. But most of all, they feared Lupin's absence. Something about him was fatherly and kind. They remembered their own father was a kind and gentle man, understanding and intelligent. Lupin was almost exactly like him. Artemis and Apollo felt safe when he was around, even when he taught them at Hogwarts.
Their protector interrupted their thoughts. "I will probably be returning home in my lupine form," he told them. "If that happens, stay in the shelter! Don't leave it until morning, got it?"
They nodded.
"Alright. However, if I don't return home tonight, don't look for me. You'll risk getting caught. If that does happen, stay in the shelter! Apollo, you'll have to find some sunlight. If you do, use the first spells that come to your head."
Lupin then grinned at the twins. "Remember, wands at the ready!" he reminded them. The twins smirked back, recalling their ex-professor's favorite motto and also greatest piece of advice. He nodded good-bye and headed out the door.
"Be careful!" Artemis called after him, feeling a pang of worry for Lupin.
"Don't get killed!" Apollo yelled.
When Lupin was out of sight, the twins scurried to his bedroom and crawled under his bed. Sure enough, there was a trap door hidden there. Apollo unlatched it and they climbed down, careful not to fall. It wasn't a very big distance--just about four feet. When they reached the ground, they felt a slight hill under their feet. They followed it until they found themselves under Lupin's shack. It was dark, dank, and dusty down in that area. However, they found that they could stand up straight, so they weren't complaining.
"Lumos," Apollo whispered. A silvery light appeared from the tip of his wand. The room was illuminated, revealing a small, earthen space with a few sacks and barrels stacked in a corner. A door mouse scuttled away from the light. Spiders spun their webs in a peaceful silence, ignoring the twins as they worked. Apollo moved the light over, and gasped. There were tunnels carved into the walls of the space. They were about six feet wide, five of them littering the bulwarks.
"Where do they lead to?" Artemis asked her brother. She hid behind him, eyes wide. He shrugged.
"I dunno," he replied. "There's only one way to find out!"
He hurried over to the nearest tunnel and crawled into it. Artemis held her breath as he went further into the enclosed, earthen path. Finally, she heard him shout, "This one's a dead end!"
She watched as he climbed out and dusted off his robes. He motioned the next hole. "Go check that one out," he ordered her. "I'll do the other one."
Artemis obeyed, whispered "Lumos," and scurried over to the hole. She climbed into it, and, taking a deep breath, crawled up the brown tunnel. Roots stuck out of the ground and swept past her hair. There were many pebbles jabbing at her elbows, and she winced in pain. Centipedes and spiders made their appearance by climbing upon her arms. Finally, she reached the end. Nothing. Dead end. Groaning, she quickly returned to the room, where she found Apollo already there. She wiped off her robes (and a few insects).
"Nothing," she reported.
"Same here," her brother said. "Next tunnels!"
"I have a better idea," Artemis told her brother. Placing her wand in her palm, she breathed, "Point me."
Her wand began to spin around, first pointing north. Swiveling around a bit more, it finally rested upon the last tunnel. The twins approached it. Apollo practically leaped into it and in the next two minutes was out again.
"That's the one," he grinned happily. "If we have any trouble, we'll go through there."
Artemis nodded and returned to the middle of the room, sitting down. She looked up and furrowed her brow. She noticed something. She rose, squinting her silver eyes. There was a crack in the shack's floor. Through this crack, she could see a window. Through this window, Artemis could see it was darker out. The moon was not yet visible, but it's nascent power rushed through her like an energy potion. She smirked. Apollo turned to her. "Arty," he warned, knowing now what his sister could become. "Please. Be sensible. Lupin told us to stay here. You wouldn't want to disobey him, would you?"
Artemis rolled her eyes. "Lupin would want us to discover what the hell is going on, right?" She raised her wand. "I think we should. Come on!"
Apollo shook his head. "No, Arty," he said sternly. "I won't get killed because of your foolishness."
"Come here."
"No."
"Get over here."
"No!"
Artemis gazed at him, widening her eyes. She wasn't doing it on purpose, Apollo knew, but her eyes reflected longing, curiosity, and a lust for the truth. He suddenly felt sorry for her. Deep down, he wanted to know what exactly they were up against. He wanted to see Fenrir's pack. But he knew Lupin would be enraged to a point where Avada Kedavra might be a blessing. But on the other hand, if they were supposed to fight Fenrir's pack, wouldn't Lupin want them to observe the ferocious group? Wouldn't he want them to take note of their weaknesses? Wouldn't he?
Apollo groaned. "Fine," he mumbled reluctantly. He dragged his feet over to Artemis, slouching by her side. "What do you have in mind?"
Artemis grinned. She remembered Lupin's instructions: Say the first spell that comes to your head.
"Just stay close."
Taking her brother's hand, she shouted boldly, "Incognatius!"
At once, their bodies disappeared, their earthen scents vanished, and they could no longer speak, but communicate telepathically. Apollo clasped his twin's hand tightly.
What the hell are you doing? he screamed at her. Where did you learn this spell?
I dunno, she replied honestly. It just came to me.
Well, what do propose we do now?
Just follow me and DON'T LET GO!
She led Apollo to the fifth tunnel and they began to scale it. They came to a wooden hatch disguised by clumps of dirt and grass. Using her other hand, Artemis lifted it and they climbed out. They found themselves just outside Lupin's shack. They looked up. The moon wasn't up yet, so they still had time to reach the pack. In the dying light, the forest was a menagerie of shadows. It made the settings around them a bit more grotesque and moribund than they already were.
What now? Apollo asked, raising an invisible eyebrow.
Artemis thought for a moment. Well, I can't use 'Point me' because using magic in this state will blow our cover. She pondered the situation a bit longer before spotting something embedded in the cold, dead ground.
Look! she exclaimed. Footprints!
They must be Lupin's! Apollo hollered excitedly. Let's go!
They followed the prints towards the forest, feeling a little like the foolish muggles Hansel and Gretel going to see the cannibalistic witch.
