Theodore Remus Lupin was immensely proud of his father. He was up on the pedestal as the best learned man and professor that ever could live. But even this pride could not keep him from inheriting his mother's habit of breaking rules. Or improvising on rules and being resourceful, if Alice would phrase it.

He saw the Aurors returned with force. There were no drumrolls or war-cries but his stomach gave a churn when he saw twenty such Aurors barge inside Hogwarts doors with their posh badges, and robes trailing behind them. He tried to remind himself that this flock of deadly Aurors might have been the same Aurors who offered him peppermint and treats and made him into a sort of pet where he could ride on their shoulders. The observation would have had ended with that, only mum made it a point to add, "these people could kill you in just a flick".

Perhaps it was different when they were there without your mum, and they were there to barge in and arrest someone. And if that someone was your dad.

That moment they pushed the doors open, he thought that was the worst sight he had ever seen. But not until the Aurors at the back part of the death march got inside. To Teddy's horror, they dragged along with them a caged dementor by the tip of their wands.

Behind its hood Teddy felt as if its eyes were directed to him. It knew his deepest secrets even he himself was not aware of. It knew he was in distress.

.."This is ridiculous. Who on their right minds would file such a petition?!" his mum's angry voice drifted upstairs. Where he had been sent to bed to not witness any of the commotion below."

"It is what it is. The child had been petitioned Mr. Lupin cannot have custody over the child." said the man outside the door.

"You may have forgotten, I am his mother!"

"If that is to be the case Mrs. Lupin, either you move out or the child will be given to the custody of appropriate guardians…"

"Appropriate guardians my arse. I will not have my child carted off over some stranger!"

…

"One night! I become stupid for one night, and now some bloody neighbor who feels sorry for the boy files an official complaint!"

"Dora…perhaps we could listen to their side…We could come up with a compromise and you could live away then…I could visit on Sundays…perhaps…"

"I'm not bloody well having this conversation!"

Remus sighed. "Of course dear."

At his soft tone, Tonks' anger ebbed lower. She unclenched her fist and went to sit on his lap. Remus lay his head to his shoulder and began to breathe deeply.

"Are you tired?" said Tonks.

"No. Much as the reality of the situation dawns on me, I have…"

"Have…"

"…gotten quite selfish." She clutched the front of his robes tighter. "I…" he gulped. "do not want."

"Good," said Tonks dismissively. "That's all I wanted to hear."

"Mum? Dad?" Teddy suddenly said from the doorway.

Remus and Tonks started and immediately pulled apart when they saw him.

"Is it true that you are going to give me away?"

Teddy did not understand why mum suddenly burst into tears and ran to hug him tightly. "Oh you poor thing… and you … you don't even understand what's happening. Look at you? You'll be sifted out of life by the time the institution is done with you."

Teddy was so shaken from all that man's shouting from earlier that he hugged his mother fiercely. Trying to clung to salvation when the world around him was chaos. He had to hold on to her mummy for his dear life. If he go lax for a second, he was going to fall…

He did not even realize he was already crying. "It's alright sweetie, mum's not going to let them take you away. Just tell the judge the truth. You don't want to be taken away, that you love mum and dad. The judge will probably listen."

Teddy opened his wet eyes, to see his father frowning. "Probably not. With Teddy's case, they will not care an inkling about how Teddy feels. As long as he is safe. He will cry himself sick and nobody will help him…Oh merlin…what have I done?"

Teddy? Teddy?

"Teddy? Teddy! Madam Pomfrey! I think he's coming 'round!"

"How could he not when your shouts would have woken a person petrified by a Basilisk?" Madam Pomfrey strode into the room.

Peggy quickly got out of the way in the old healer's wake.

"You could have rivalled a mandrake with all these racket!" The old witch told her sternly.

She hopped closer to the young metamorphagus; as close as she can get without acquiring the old matron's fury.

"Interesting theory. I wonder if they could conduct an experiment on the frequency in which petrified patients recover? She could at least measure out the Banshee's then try to recreate the environment…"

"What happened?" Teddy clutched his head from the onslaught on an incoming headache.

"You fell," said Alice.

Teddy looked confused for a few seconds…

Dementors, Aurors….

Then quick as lightning, he pushed the duvet out and made to go out of bed, only to be stopped by the quick sharp pain in his head.

"No no no no," Madam Pomfrey immediately halted his advances. "You are not to move yet. The after-effects of a dementor attack has not worn off yet."

"No!" said Teddy, sounding like a spoiled child. "They're going to take dad away again."

"Mr. Theodore, calm down! You are not going to make things any better by thrashing around."

"Where's dad? Why hasn't he come for me?"

"Your father had been busy all day discussing security precautions with the Aurors. Somebody had been sent to tell him you collapsed when you encountered the dementor. He will be here shortly," said Madam Pomfrey, still restraining him from getting up.

"No! I have to see him now!"

Finally, seeing that his tantrums did no good to the restraints placed upon him, Teddy slumped back to bed like a rock.

"That's it, keep calm, you'll be alright," instructed Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good, because any more thrashing and I would have been forced to cast a restraining charm on you."

Seeing that force was taking him nowhere, he relented to their entreaties and went to breath with docility. However, just as soon as he was left alone in the room, Teddy found himself running as fast as he can back to their house, ransacking the Wardrobes for some scarlet robes with a sense of urgency. Steal mother's Auror robes for himself. Impersonating an Auror is a serious offense. But that was one advantage of being underage. There will be no criminal charges. Except perhaps, expulsion. He was surprised he was unfaced by that fact, even though he tried to present it in front of his brain over and over.

By the time he was running in the corridors again, the young metamorphagus found himself holding and realizing that not only was it surprisingly easy to steal the scarlet robes, but it was also equally easy to steal a fabric of invisibility cloak in his parent's bedroom.

Teddy lurked on the edges of the huddled group of Aurors for ages yet he could not find the perfect moment to slip himself in. But then suddenly, with one great breath, he heaved himself up in a flash. He had slipped through their ranks.

He was walking along with everyone when one head jerked his way. There was a shade of surprise etched in the Auror's face. Teddy thought it was suspicion.

They've noticed me.

"This is going to be a busy night," he quickly replied. "We will be going through the Hogwarts estate to find this mystery werewolf."

The Auror threw his head back and laughed. Teddy had never heard something so cold that sent chills to his bones. "I suggest you don't sweat it. We already have the warrant for Remus John Lupin. The whole investigation was just for show anyway. "

"What about the Mystery werewolf?" Teddy managed to say.

"We find it of course. Maybe even get to kill it in action."

"Aren't there already rules against that? Was it Granger who pushed it forward with a lot of her propagandas?"

"Not now there isn't. It would have been better if we were back at the old times. When we were hunting werewolves to extinction. T'was a nice sport, that was."

"Such a shame we can't do it now," replied Teddy mechanically.

The man clapped him on the back. "Don't stay down. We can still claim it's for self-defense," he winked.

"What are you doing talking to the rookies?" barked Dalios.

"But sir, you told us Remus John Lupin is probably the werewolf on the loose. He did not just want the public to know."

No! Teddy wanted to shout. But what good would it do to shout at the murderers that they're murderers? Especially if those murderers held wands.

Teddy heard enough. He got the information he needed. It was time he did something about it. He took one last look at their menacing figures, he casually slipped outside their circle when they had a detour on one of the convenient nooks. He was not there all sweaty and panting like the last time. He was thinking. Unable to comprehend what his little skills could do in such a demanding situation. Nothing. It was an agenda for the adults. His father would be arrested, and if he ranted, he will only be held down by a single shove. A child can do nothing to impact its outcome.

He broke into a run when he came to an empty corridor to immediately seek his father to tell him to escape on the back of the castle and hide. But father had already gone to his ward for the night. It was useless. Even if the full moon has not yet come out, he could not get past those wards with his current abilities. The Aurors will already be waiting for his father at sundown. Then they can do whatever they want.

Teddy had heard stories of course. And it scared him. Everytime someone goes into their house, he felt like they were there to take his dad in chains. Then Remus wouldn't fight. He would just let them drag him off.

Teddy was almost angry at him for not fighting back. But father had said it would only sink them lower if they show aggression. And that he still had a lot to learn on how politics worked.

That's it, Teddy decided. He had his limits. If his father was too ninny to save himself, he was the only one left to do it. He walked faster towards the Gryffindor tower.

"Alice! Alice!" Twice that day, Teddy found himself pounding another door.

The door opened with a creek, and an icy voice of Alice greeted him. "What is it?"

"Please. You've got to help me. Violet's not about to come back from the ministry and they are about to kill daddy by 'accident'. Nobody's going to do the investigation. Everyone wants him dead. We must find the person now. This night, before the moon rises."

"But we must wait for Violet. Things like this is likely to get messy," said Peggy.

"Violet's not coming back," said Alice.

"What?" said Teddy and Peggy at the same time.

"You sent her the patrounus about your father in trouble, yes?"

Teddy hesitated. "Well, well… no."

"Has it ever occurred to you to contact somebody more powerful than ask for help from teenagers who are still learning to navigate the world as much as yourself? It's an unspoken rule of real life. If you can't do something, get a leverage and stop pushing hard."

For the next ten minutes, Teddy was busy waiving his wand for the patrounous. One for Tonks, One for Harry, his godfather, one for his Aunt Hermione. They waited patiently for any sign of reply.

Nothing came.

"This is something important. The first reaction your mother would probably do is to apparate straight here. And considering the debacle on full moon, you'd expect her to be here to take care of things. I'm afraid she is probably abducted by now. Illegally detained. Or else blackmailed to stay put."

Teddy sat on the chair putting both hands in his face. "What are we going to do?"

"Teddy, your mother is not the only adult in your acquaintance? We need to seek the assistance and the advice of adults before we move on our own. It's always a worthy decision to seek more powerful persons instead of acting on your own."

"I tried calling uncle Ron and Harry, but they were still away in Russia. I already sent them owls, but I doubt it would reach them tonight."

"Patrounus? What about sending a patrounus?"

"Sent them already, but with no reply."

"Granger?" asked Alice.

"The Aurors said she was already taken care of for the night, they said."

"Try to contact her at all cost. Isolating ourselves and not getting any help is one of the reasons why so many operations failed in the past. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of communication during these moments."

Teddy threw another patrounus outside the window. "I don't think it will do us any good. She is probably held up in another Wizengamot meeting where any interruption would be considered criminal."

"That's not enough. We need to find her," said Alice.

"But how do we? All the secret passages are blocked."

"Not if we-"

She was interrupted by a sudden red envelope dropped in front of Teddy.

"Teddy, I need you to listen very carefully." It was Hermione's voice and all at once, a shade of relief washed over him when he heard it. "We received the information you sent us and I have dragged Harry and Ron back from Russia in order to mobilize a new Auror team to handle this whole affair. You need to stay put and be very careful. At most, try to hide this night and don't go into the open whatever happens. The old guards who are supposed to protect you from the werewolves may be an ambush team ready to point their wands at you. Anything may be just a plot to lure you out or pin your father."

"A two whole Auror team for duel?" asked Alice. "In a school? The school board will not be happy. Even if your father comes out alive, his reputation is still effectively ruined. If the new team of Aurors don't come, the Auror guards will just shoot him dead for the night. I'm afraid this is checkmate. Whoever planned this must really have thought about everything. Or else he may hate your father too much."

"Or maybe both," said Peggy.

"What are we going to do?" said Teddy again.

Alice sighed. "I don't know about you wizards, but if you just had a few R and D scientists to figure out a vaccine to prevent everyone from being infected after a bite, none of these issues would have happened. But as it is, we should learn to stand on our two feet. We have less experience, but we will still try to move. What are our options, Teddy? What are the things that are still in control that we could possibly use to influence those that we don't have control over?"

"I don't know what we can possibly do," said Teddy.

"What are the things that could make the Aurors stop shooting?"

"I could throw myself between them and shout for them to stop shooting, or shield my father from being killed."

"A Hufflepuff would say that. You could write odes and epics about it yet the only thing it accomplishes is to get yourselves killed. Think better," said Alice.

Teddy sat silent for a few minutes. Then after a long pause, he finally said, "We have to come back there tonight. Find some evidence about the incognito werewolf before any breakout of the fight starts," said Teddy.

"I see…" said Alice.

Everyone knew what 'there' meant.

"The new portals may have new features that we still don't have any idea with. I also no longer have clearance access to the his labs, we would have to open it with screw and tinsel."

"How much chance do we have of opening it?" said Teddy.

"Ten percent. Maybe Fifteen if we have a drive and keep our morale longer," said Alice.

"I'll take it," said Teddy.

There was a slight pause for which Alice looked at him with searching eyes. "How far are you willing to bet to save your father?"

Teddy looked at her with unblinking eyes.

"Alright," Alice took a deep breath. "Let's begin."

.oOo.

There was a knock on Laurence's door. Laurence couldn't see who it was, since only a silhouette could be seen from the dim lit hallway outside the boy's dorm.

"Violet, if you came here to bother me again, I won't be merciful like last time."

It was not Violet.

"Oh, It's you," said Laurence a little bit disappointed. "Have you seen Violet?"

Serenity slowly opened it and closed it behind her.

"What do you want?" asked Laurence again.

"You're asking the wrong questions," said Serenity.

.oOo.

"Transform into Violet and make him open the door to his room. Then you have to keep it from closing with a piece of paper, for us to sneak inside."

Teddy's brow furrowed, as he faced a formidable door in front of him. He knocked.

.oOo.

Somebody knocked on Laurence' door. For the second time that night, he opened it.

Violet Sharp was standing in front of him with her willowy hair.

.oOo.

Thing were not helping alleviate the stress. Remus was going to have a full moon that evening, yet everything was still in chaos inside the school. Tonks had gone to the Ministry and it looks like she would not be returning for the night. Probably running around to try to get him out of trouble again.

"I want everyone's cooperation in this operation. Professor Lupin will leave the school premises and transform in his basement house away from the school, for everyone's protection," the headmistress announced that morning. "Two MLE guards will be on site to oversee if he is telling the truth that he is not the escaped werewolf. The whole castle will be heavily guarded with Aurors on every corridor. Students are to sleep in the grand hall where the Aurors can easily take count and protect everyone. "

"Darn this werewolf kid," Remus heard a kid say. Being in one of his posts in the great hall, it's amazing how the children could sometimes forget he was still in the room. "I bet he forgot his Wolfsbane potion only that one night, and now everyone's inconvenienced. Why the heck did he have to guts to go to school anyways? He should never have gone out of his hole."

"Watch your mouth," said his friend near him. " The teachers may hear you."

He went home where an adjacent room will be waiting to lock him for the night. The place was safe from the students if ever the wards are overcome. The outside of their house would only lead to the forbidden forest.

"Teddy? Teddy? Are you home?" he called from the stairs. There was no answer. He is not in their house. That was safe enough.

The boy had not put away his chocolate frog cards again. He noticed with irritation. The glass of water and the half-eaten chocolate made him further frown.

Very well, that would do for the night. It was too late to do any last minute cleaning. The moon does not wait.

Everyone was to be sent to the grand hall, and all the doors would be barred. No one was to stay inside their dormitories. The two Aurors outside was to guard his room throughout the transformation.

But even with all the precautions and the preparations, the plan was not full-proof. The werewolf child might transform in the midst of them. What if the child transformed inside the grand hall itself? How many students would actually be injured before it is contained?

But still, everyone who wished to go home may do so, for the wrath of the parents were to be attended to. So the werewolf child, whoever he is, could just remove himself (or herself) for the night. The werewolf child might not be there still. There were many things going around his head before the first pangs of transformation hit his bones.

When the werewolf transformation would strive to hit his body, the wolfsbane will take over, and he would still be able to feel his surroundings. Remus knew there was something wrong the moment his human thoughts did not form as they used to. Instead, Raving desire for blood started to kick in. Blood, food, scent bloody hell, what on earth- this is a bad batch… That was his last coherent thought, before the wolfish ravings took over, and he lost all sense of humanity.

.oOo.

When the sun peeked its way up again, Remus opened his eyes to see that he found himself surrounded by heavy vegetation and ferns. He was in the heart of the forest. Upon his attempts to go up, he discovered a rather large cut on one of his legs. He wondered when the last time was that he had to wake up alone. He was not used to the idea of Tonks not being around to nurse him. but he tried to sit up on his own anyway, ready to limp back to the castle to take care of himself.

It was when he noticed three dead bodies lay around him. Even with their torn limbs, he recognized their uniforms all very well. They were Hogwarts students.

His worst fears had come true. Three of his students were lying dead just meters away from him. Their corpses all gazed at him with their naïve eyes. And his son. His own son was lying dead on his feet.

.oOo.

"Live a good life. Marry, and be happy. I'll be here watching you grow into full bloom."

America. That was the answer. She had been offered to be stationed there as part of the advanced guard for the embassy. Remus and Charlie lost no time to make her sign the papers.

"We can meet new people. Forget about this like it's a bad dream," Charlie had said. "It's always been us. We can work this out again." Remus also said the same thing. Though his words must have been more articulate.

Tonks saw reason and requested Remus to see her off as her last request.

Tonks looked at each of them with a pained expression on her face. Charlie stretched his hands. Remus stepped back. The ship behind her gave another long honk to make everyone go inside.

"I wish you well," said Remus.

They walked away leaving Remus to brush the dust off his hat. Nymphadora looked back. Remus would always be there standing. But suddenly, he stiffened, then turned. She watched him walk the opposite direction.

Tonks looked in front of her again, at the vast ocean ahead of her, then to the great ship towering above them, promising her a great future. A full life. A happy life. Then she looked back. A grave mistake.

"Come on, Tonks," Charlie nudged again. One of his foot was already on the stairs to the boat.

"Just… just a minute. I have to see him off outside the gates."

She was about to touch his hand when her eyes wandered over to the inside of the ship. There was a slender woman her left hand balancing the red contents of her glass precariously, leaning casually to a man, who was wearing a black coat. The lights were dim yellowish and she could see a glimpse of a buffet table just across the room.

It must have been a great party, full of dancing and great music. They could eat at the side of the ship and just look out at the gulls or at lands they may stop at along the way. Not that the whole idea did not appeal to her. Yet, only she remembered those quiet moments with a cup of coffee, or when Remus brought her to the his cottage, with that breezy woods on the left. She remembered wanting to step her foot on its soft grass, because Remus said it would be nice. She remembered all the leaves fell from its trees and how Remus made it twirl around them.

No. Not that the lights inside the ship did not appeal to her. It just that, it became so pale when she thought of all the places she was already taken to.

"Remus!" He felt that familiar hand grab him from behind. He turned around to find an out-of-breath Tonks who just stopped running.

"You walk so fast," said Tonks, still panting.

Remus stared at her blankly. "I…"

"Oh shut up Remus."

Then suddenly, it was like he woke up in a sort of trance and immediately told her. "Ride the boat! It's leaving." Remus took her hand and started running towards the boat…

When Tonks woke up, she was already hard back on the concrete floor. She jumped forward and shook the cells as if to test if it was real. It was the same cell where she had put other scums inside for their misery. The same cell where she watched them all break their spirits while she had to look aloof and firm.

She saw a figure approach her. The foreboding face of another Auror looked inside the confines of her cell. She withdrew inside the shadows for him not to read her face.

"You can't lock me in here. This is illegal detention," she said quietly.

"Watch me," said Dalios from across the bar. Then he softened his tone. Even a bit hopeful. "This is only until we put him to sleep with a dementor's kiss. We'll let you out eventually."

"Coward. Fight me with legal papers. You better hope you never let me out of this cell. The moment I get free, I'm going to hunt you down."

"I am tired of this Tonks. I have tried again and again, to be kind to you. But you never even looked. Remus-" he gripped the handle of the cell tighter. "- he is not even famous. He is a nobody. He would have been the looking at trash bins for his next meal if you had not taken him in, there is nothing to that man."

"And he would have eaten his meal with more dignity."

"Look at you." Dalios extended his hand to her cheek. "You are too beautiful to waste your life to that rascal. Someone like you should have been up in pedestal as a wife of someone of your own caliber. "

She flicked his hand away. "Nobody decides for me. I am nobody's trophy wife. I am my own. We aren't school-children anymore to decide that way."

"Exactly. We are not school children anymore," replied Dalios. "A simple obliviation spell would clean you."

"Don't touch me." spat Tonks. "Remus is worth ten of you."

"Not anymore. Haven't you heard the news? Your son is dead."

"What do you mean, you bastard?"

He walked away from the cell, raising his hand as if to silence a prisoner, ignoring the shouts from the person behind him.