Chapter 29

When Remus woke up, he was already in the private room of the hospital.

"Madam Pomfrey, Madam Pomfrey!" Remus called out. He heard the quick high heels and the door opened.

"Hush now, Remus. You'll wake the other patient." Madam Pomfrey told him.

Remus's face went white and he stuttered "other patient?".

Oh Merlin, one of my friends was injured last night, perhaps more killed.

Remus struggled to get up and Madam Pomfrey fought him, saying "No Remus, you mustn't get out of bed. You have a cracked rib this time!"

Remus could feel the excruciating pain from the cracked rib but got up anyway. He pushed past Pomfrey who was guarding the door and limped over to the only closed privacy curtain. He took a big breath and opened it.

"Professor Estrella?" Remus asked in confusion. Remus felt a gentle hand on his right shoulder.

"He was bitten last night by Frederick Greyback in the Astronomy tower." Madam Pomfrey whispered.

Frederick made it up to the tower. My friends!

"Was anyone else injured or . . . killed?" Remus questioned nervously.

"No. The Professor was very brave and saved everyone else. Apparently there was an eclipse last night, so Greyback's lunar rhythm was disturbed and he turned back into his human form. It was just enough time that Professor Estrella could launch him off the observation platform." she explained.

"So he's dead." Remus said relieved.

"Not quite dear. Students claimed they saw Greyback apparate mid flight, so he probably survived." Madam Pomfrey said solemnly.

Remus felt as if he were about to faint and sat in the chair besides Estrella's bed.

He'll come back. He won't stop until everyone I care for is dead.

"Come now, child. You must get back to bed." she said as she helped him up, but suddenly Professor Estrella grabbed Remus's arm and opened his eyes.

"Let me talk with him, Madam." Remus asked. Madam Pomfrey left the room and closed the curtains.

"Hello, Professor." Remus hushed.

"Hello, my favorite student." Professor Estrella said while smiling, but was interrupted with a coughing fit.

"I'm so sorry that this happened to you." Remus said with tears in his eyes.

"Now, now. Don't be sorry. I would much rather have me on this bed than a student." The Professor said in a warm tone.

"Thank you for saving my friends." Remus said as he grabbed his hand.

"I didn't kill Greyback, though." Estrella mumbled.

"It's okay." Remus said.

"No. I should've used the killing curse, but I choked." Professor said.

"No one should use the killing curse, Professor. It's unforgivable." Remus said, slightly disturbed.

"Remus, that man is a monster. He killed an innocent little girl and probably countless others. Some people deserve the unforgivable." Estrella said while remaining eye contact. Remus didn't answer, unsure if he agreed or not. He began to walk away.

"Remus," Professor said. Remus turned to him. "What's it like?" he asked in a horrified tone.

"Agonizing. But you'll find out soon enough." Remus answered and he left and returned to his room.

The next morning Remus woke up, feeling much better. He changed into his school robes and walked out of the hospital. As he was walking through the hall outside the infirmary, he saw all his friends turn the corner.

"Remus, you're back!" James shouted and he gave him a bear hug and lifted Remus's tiny frame into the air. Remus had to bite his tongue from screaming in pain because his rib was still cracked.

"Yep." Remus squealed as he was let down. He looked to see Sirius, Peter, Lily, and Severus were all present. "What are you guys doing here?"

Their faces dropped and Sirius said sadly. "We're here to see Professor Estrella, have you heard what happened yet?"

"Yes. I have." Remus said in a solemn voice. He followed his friends back into the hospital and they approached the Professor who was sitting up in his bed.

"Hello. . ." The professor said to the six students who stood before him. He and Remus made awkward eye contact.

"Hi, Professor!" They said together.

"Um. . . we wanted to see how you were doing." Lily said.

"How considerate. I'm doing well, the pain has decreased and I should be out of here by tomorrow." Professor answered while smiling.

"That's good because you're the only cool teacher we have right now." Sirius said.

"Thanks, Sirius."

"Also, we cannot tell you how grateful we are that you saved our lives." said James

"Anyone would have done it. Anyway, you all were very brave, but especially you, Sirius, and Severus were incredible because of how you used your defensive charms without hesitation." Estrella said.

"You did?" Remus asked

"Yeah, but it didn't really do anything. If you were there we might have had a shot." Severus said disappointed.

Just then the doors of the hospital flung open and Professor Malfoy, Dumbledore, and the Minister of Magic, Jeremy Walter, entered. They walked over to the bed that Estrella was lying in.

"Children, please leave us alone." Malfoy said.

"What are you here for?" James asked.

"It really doesn't concern you, does it? Leave!" Malfoy said. The children went into the hall and Lily and Severus left for the library. James pulled out his invisibility cloak and ordered the marauders to go underneath. They entered the hospital once again and stood in the corner.

"I'm being fired?" Estrella asked in disbelief.

"I forgot, your English is not advanced. Sim!" Malfoy said.

"Professor that is enough. Is this really necessary? The man's a hero. He saved your nephew, Professor. He should be promoted, not exterminated!" Dumbledore said.

"Yes, he did save the children, but then he was infected. He is a danger to the student body and I will not have a werewolf on campus!" Malfoy snarled.

"Please, Mr. Minister, I will openly register, I will even leave Hogwarts every full moon. I would never let myself endanger a person." Estrella said. "I am the brightest astronomy teacher in the world, please don't make me leave."

"We've seen what werewolves can do. I'd think you would know best of all people. Do it for your late wife. Do it for Susan." Malfoy whispered into the Minister's ear.

"I'm terribly sorry, Professor Estrella, but I want you out of Hogwarts by tomorrow." The Minister said while avoiding eye-contact. The Marauders left undetected and went to Sunday breakfast.

"Fired? I can't believe they fired the Professor!" Sirius said as he angrily bite his sausage.

"I know, he's the greatest teacher ever! Who cares if he's a werewolf?" James said.

Wow, I did not expect them to react to a werewolf like this, this is good. Remus thought.

"Remus, how was your appointment?" Peter asked.

"Fine. It was fine." Remus shortly said. He was very starving and was eating a large serving of scrambled eggs. "I have to go do something, I'll see you guys later though." Remus said as he shoveled a last large fork full of eggs into his mouth.

Remus first went to the hospital in search of Estrella, but he was already gone. He ran to Estrella's office instead. The door was open and he could see Estrella leaning against his desk. He knocked.

"Ah, Remus, come in!" the Professor said with a smile. He moved a half full luggage from the visitor's chair. Remus sat down.

"You're leaving sir?" Remus asked.

"Yes. I decided to take some time off. I miss my family in Rio." he lied.

"I see. Frederick Greyback is after to kill my friends and family because he is the brother of Fenrir Greyback, the werewolf who turned me when I was five." Remus confessed.

"You were only five, Remus?" Estrella asked in shock. Remus nodded. "Why are you telling me all of this?"

"I've never been able to tell anyone before." said Remus. "I just wanted to tell you before you went." Remus started to leave.

"Remus, it was a pleasure to know you. May we stay in touch?" The Professor asked.

Remus nodded and said "Goodbye, Professor." He walked to the doorframe and turned around. "You didn't deserve to be fired." and left. Estrella's eye released one tear and picked up the Undesirable Number 1: Frederick Greyback poster that was lying on his desk and examined it closely, gazing into the sapphire blue eyes that attacked him.

"Incendio" he said while waving his wand and the moving picture started on fire and dropped it on the floor. "I'll make you pay for what you've done, Greyback. Mark my words."