Molding the Next Generation
by Matthew W. Quinn and Kyli Ann Rasco
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I've been busy with a family vacation and job stuff.
December 2nd, 1997 AD
1:30 PM
"Now," Remus Lupin began. "Who can tell me about grindylows?"
It was his third day teaching at the school he had established for the children of the werewolf colony (when he could get away from training Greyback's army, of course). Lupin had set it up so there would be a very basic curriculum from 8 AM until 11 AM and then Hogwarts-level education from noon until 3 PM.
I'd have liked to do everything Hogwarts level, but the level of teaching around here is rather spotty.
Most of Britain's wizarding population home-schooled their children prior to sending them to Hogwarts, but most British wizards were Hogwarts-educated themselves and could do a good job of it. The situation in the werewolf colony was far more varied, with some of the colony's children barely even able to read!
One boy raised his hand.
"They live at the bottom of lakes," he said. "They have green teeth and horns and long fingers that they use to pull prey into the water."
Lupin smiled.
"Very good."
Behind the boy, another, bigger boy snickered.
"Teacher's pet," he hissed, apparently unaware Lupin could hear him.
Lupin frowned. The second boy was the son of one of Greyback's lieutenants and was fond of harassing the other children.
Like a little Malfoy, only less intelligent.
At least he was easier than some of the others to deal with. The daughter of another lieutenant was quiet and attentive in class, but she displayed a rather unsettling interest in Dark Magic. At one point after class, she asked when they would they would learn about how to cast curses.
If I can permanently settle this one down, he'll be fine. She'll be trickier, in the long run. Best find her a healthier outlet, lest she turn into a little Snape.
"Now," Lupin continued. "Has anyone been successfully able to domesticate grindylows?"
Jack raised his hand.
"Merpeople," he said. "They keep them as pets."
The lieutenant's bullying-prone son snickered again. Lupin pondered calling on him, to embarrass him a bit, but he didn't want the boy's wrath to fall on the other children outside of class.
Of course, I can always teach the other children certain hexes and not teach him. If he tries to cause trouble, the others will then put him in his place.
That could mean then that the boy would be the target of revenge-driven bullying from the other students. Lupin's ideal was that nobody bully anyone at all.
Guilt flickered at the back of his mind about some of the activities he had been involved in, particularly in regards to Snape.
You're older and wiser now. Don't wallow in regret. Instead learn from what you did wrong.
"Very good, Jack. Where do they live?"
The boy was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know," he admitted sheepishly.
The bully snickered again.
"Thomas," Lupin said, raising his voice slightly. "Could you tell me what's funny?"
The bully spoke with a candor that indicated he did not expect any punishment.
"Who cares about grindylows?" he asked. "There don't seem to be any around here."
"That is possible," Lupin replied. "But there are some in the Black Lake at Hogwarts. Someday you may all go there, and it would be good to be prepared."
He looked straight at Thomas.
"You don't want to be careless by the lake and get pulled into the water and eaten, do you?"
The boy swallowed.
"No," he said, somewhat more quietly.
Lupin smiled.
"Good."
Lupin spent the next half an hour teaching the class all he knew about grindylows, then announced a trip to a lake near the colony for the students to look for them.
That will give them some hands-on experience in dealing with them, if there are indeed any at the lake.
"Does everyone who is old enough have their wands?" he asked.
Prior to Voldemort's takeover, Greyback had secured wands for all the adults in the colony, but there weren't enough wands to go around for the children, even those who would be old enough to attend Hogwarts. Lupin had arranged for all children aged eleven or older to receive wands, a move he knew made him quite popular among the parents in the colony.
Lupin repressed the urge to smile at how this would make his plan to ultimately replace Greyback easier.
Best not make yourself too prominent too quickly, or else Greyback and Wolf will suspect something.
Lupin remembered there was a Muggle tyrant who told another Muggle tyrant how he kept in control by killing the best and most prominent men in the community rather than general repression. Greyback was more knowledgeable about Muggle and magical history than he let on — the reference to the Chinese Muggle who restrained the Mongols proved it — and Lupin did not want to give him the chance to apply more sanguinary political lessons.
The children filed out of the classroom and Lupin lead them beneath the great arching doorway, through the free-fire zone that surrounded the colony, and into the woods. There were some small lakes nearby, with a much larger lake about half a mile away.
Best get them started on some easy ponds before we move onto something big, Lupin thought. Plus a thorough exploration of some of the bigger ponds will likely require gillyweed or something else that will let them breathe water.
As they made their way through the woods, Jack edged closer to Lupin.
"Thank you for teaching this class," he said.
Lupin smiled.
"You're welcome," he said.
The boy's face brow furrowed with worry for a second.
"Are you sure I'll someday be able to attend Hogwarts?" he asked.
Lupin nodded.
"Positive," he said.
"When Greyback's won?" Jack asked. "When we're in charge and can do whatever we want?"
Lupin repressed a frown.
It seems like my lessons haven't countered the Wilsons' brainwashing, at least not enough.
He knew he had to be very careful here. If Jack let something slip, the Wilsons would complain to Greyback, who would come down on Lupin or — Merlin forbid — Dora.
He decided on a nice, neutral way to put it.
"Someday, Jack, you will be able to attend Hogwarts with students who are werewolves and students who are not. Everyone will be nice to everyone, regardless of whether they're afflicted with lycanthropy or not."
I'll make bloody well sure of it.