Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling

Chapter 26 :

Sirius looked out at the bleak November day, and shivered. Even after all this time, he was still thin, and he felt the cold as he'd never done when he'd been young. He was not old in years, but he felt old.

It was time to do a job he'd been putting off. The vault of Bellatrix Lestrange, nee Black, had reverted to House Black in the absence of a will. There had not been a great deal of gold, but there were various items that had been stored in the vault, and he had to do something about that. He put on his warmest cloak, and set off for Gringotts.

Far away in Azkaban, Voldemort slipped out of the shell of Rabastan Lestrange he'd been possessing, and forced himself into the strong and burly body of one of the new inmates. He was George Pritchard, who'd been sentenced to six years in Azkaban for illegal dragon-keeping, one of which had killed two neighbours and then an Auror. He was a Muggle-born, but Voldemort was not being fussy. Pritchard resisted, but quickly succumbed to the force of the will of the Dark Lord. This one was strong and would last a long time. He still didn't know how he was to progress from prisoner to Dark Lord. What he was looking for was a weak-willed guard to influence.

Left behind, Rabastan Lestrange lay in his cell, totally indifferent to what was happening. He was no longer possessed by Voldemort, but was too far gone to know it. He was no longer cold or hungry. Unless he came to himself sufficient to at least eat, he would not live for much longer.

Sirius regarded the gold cup that reeked of black magic, and asked the Goblins their fee for its destruction. He didn't want to risk Fiendfire in his home again if he could help it. The price was agreed, the Goblins took the cup, and Sirius turned back to checking other contents of the vault. There were things here that Narcissa would probably want. Andromeda as well. He'd make arrangements for them to inspect before he emptied and closed the vault.

Two days later, Pritchard/Voldemort issued instructions to the new guard. 'Let me out,' he told him, and weakly, the guard opened the cell door. He was free, and in a strong body that would last several months. Maybe he should return to Hogwarts. He needed unicorn blood. He was going to rise again, he knew it. Some of his other Death Eaters called to him, but Voldemort was reluctant to try and help them. It was too likely that the guard would come to his senses. He needed to get off the island, and he needed a wand.

The weak-willed guard escorted him to the boat, and then handed over his wand. Voldemort caressed it. It was not like his own, but it was good enough. He used it to kill the guard, then stepped into the boat and raised his wand to start the journey to the mainland. It was at that moment that the goblins destroyed the gold cup that was one of his last horcruxes, and yet again, Voldemort was wrenched from a body he'd possessed, and was hurtled into something close to oblivion. And yet he was not dead. Weakened, lost, confused and in pain, but not dead. The bodiless spirit was still on the island of Azkaban. The boat drifted quietly out to sea.

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At Hogwarts, Perenelle Flamel looked out at the night, seeing a full moon briefly glide out from behind heavy clouds. It was a wet and miserable night, but a werewolf's transformations did not rely on actually seeing a full moon. If the moon was full, it would force the change. If the Cursed wizard dosed himself with Wolfsbane, the potion invented by her husband, he could stay in the form of a large, but normal wolf, and would keep his human rationality. If he did not, he was a danger to anyone within reach, with a ravening appetite for human flesh. Werewolves were incredibly dangerous, and Perenelle was one of many who thought they should be confined, without the option. If all the werewolves were contained, there would be no future infections, and then the Curse would die with the last of the werewolves.

She had come to like Remus Lupin, but his absences that coincided with the full moon, and his fatigue afterwards, had her suspicious. And yet, surely, if he had been a werewolf, the teachers would have been notified. And he should not be anywhere near children! Even if he had a supply of Wolfsbane, some of what was on the market was nowhere near the standard that would make a werewolf reliably safe.

She knocked on his office door. There was no answer. His private quarters would be through his office, as hers were. Most of the teacher's offices were like that, the office, and then an internal door to the bedroom and sitting room, the living space.

She knocked again, loudly, demandingly. Again, no answer.

She pointed her wand, 'Alohamora,' the simple unlocking charm that was on the 2nd year curriculum. The door clicked and swung open. There was a growl as she entered, but she had her wand ready. She regarded the large wolf, and said warily, "Remus?"

The wolf lay down but watched her closely. She went to the desk that held the potion, and sniffed it. Close to what was needed, but she could have done better. The wolf was likely to be aggressive. Even now, its lip was lifted in a silent snarl.

Carefully, no sudden movements, wand still ready, she said, "I will come and see you tomorrow, Remus."

The wolf still watched her, still with that silent snarl. She backed away, not taking her eyes off him for a moment. Once out the door, she locked it from the outside, locking spells much stronger than the one that had kept it shut before. And then she reinforced the door. A powerful wolf could severely damage and possibly break through a normal door. She didn't think it could break through this one.

Twice more that night, she checked that his door was still securely locked. And she found a place in the dungeons that could be made a lot more secure than any normal room. A werewolf was extremely dangerous for one night, but also dangerous for the night before and the night after - three nights, not just one. If she decided not to have him removed from the school, he would have to spend three nights locked away every twenty-eight days. It was the way it was. Not a punishment, but a necessary precaution. She still thought that all werewolves should be confined without the option, and yet, this was Remus, who had been particularly nice to her when she'd first arrived.

Remus was himself again the following day when she unlocked the door, knocked, waited for an answer, and then entered. Remus said quickly, "It is not fair that a werewolf cannot find work if it's known. I am no danger to anyone, I make sure of that."

Perenelle said sternly, "You didn't even have your door securely locked, Remus. What if a student had come prying? What then?"

"It was locked with magic."

"And easily opened with magic."

"I'll be more thorough next time, but I was only in wolf form, not werewolf form!"

"And wolves are dangerous, Remus. We don't actually know if you can pass on the Curse if you bite someone when in natural wolf form. It is not good enough."

"So you're going to tell the headmaster?"

"Did Dumbledore hire you?"

"He found me and offered me the job. He wanted me to do a favour for him."

"What favour?"

"Are you planning on betraying me?"

"I have not decided. What favour?"

"He wanted me to try and get close to young Harry Potter. He said that the boy needed someone to guide him in the right direction."

"What direction was that, Remus?"

"I don't know what he wanted, only that he was suspicious of the motives of his new guardians."

"Have you tried to get close to him?"

"Not yet. I don't really know how."

"Does anyone else know you're a werewolf?"

"The senior teachers would know since I was a boy here, but no-one has said anything. And Snape knows. He was to make me the potion, but this time, I had to buy it."

"You look tired."

"The normal wolf does not hurt himself as the werewolf does when he can't get at anyone else, and yet I am always tired after."

"Yes."

Lupin said suddenly, "Please don't tell anyone. You know it's not my fault."

"You were careless last night. You put the children in danger, including Harry Potter. Children are curious, and some might already have guessed, as I did."

Lupin sighed and put his head in his hands.

Perenelle said, quite gently, "It is not unjustified discrimination that the world does not trust werewolves. It is common sense."

Lupin spoke in a defeated tone, "I'd best stay here one more night for safety's sake, but then I will leave."

Perenelle said, "You are a very good teacher, Remus. The students like you. If you promise to take the potion that I make for you, rather than lesser quality purchased potions, and if you agree to have me lock you in a secure dungeon for the critical nights, then I will not force you to leave."

Lupin hesitated, not liking the thought of spending three nights of every month in a prison. But he had no choice and knew he had no choice. He nodded, and said, "I would be grateful."

That afternoon, before nightfall, Lupin regarded the secure cell that Perenelle and the house-elves had prepared for him. The stone walls and the bars might have looked forbidding, but it was warmed with magic, there were provisions, even a perfectly usable bathroom, and there were comfortable furnishings suited to both wolf and human. And yet it was a prison and he did not like prisons.

Perenelle reminded him, "You do want the children to be totally safe, don't you, Remus?"

"I suppose," and, resigned, he entered.

Perenelle said briskly, "The potion is ready on the desk there, one draught now, another before nightfall, and in the morning, the purple potion, which will help with the muscle fatigue and the pain."

"Thank you, Alinta."

Perenelle clipped the heavy bar in place, locked the two padlocks, and then made some very strong locking spells.

Lupin suddenly said, bitterly, "I suppose you want my wand, as well."

"Yes," Perenelle said, "I should have thought of that."

Lupin thrust it at her, through the bars. Perenelle accepted it, and said, "It is necessary. You know that. And it means you can go on doing something you enjoy."

Lupin gave an impatient shrug. The potion, plus bars and a prison, plus he didn't have his wand. He thought the precautions far more than were needed.

Perenelle was satisfied. A werewolf in a school - it was unheard of. There were werewolves who would speak of their enjoyment in roaming free in werewolf form, so strong and fast. She'd never heard of one who admitted to enjoying it when there were people around, but some probably did or there would be no new infections. It must be a temptation for them, but it could not be allowed. If Lupin ever refused to do as she told him, she would not hesitate to inform on him. She was protecting Harry Potter, whom she cared about, but she was also protecting every other Hogwarts student. Those Weasley twins, for instance, she knew they been caught in the Forbidden Forest more than once.

Lupin was back at work the day after, feeling better than he normally did after a transformation. It was a terrible strain when muscle and bone transformed into something else, but Alinta said she thought his transformations might be easier now as her potions were the best. He still resented her. He didn't know why she would think that he was not responsible. Yes, he sometimes thought longingly of roaming the Forbidden Forest with his friends as he'd done when a teenager, but even if he had been tempted, no students were permitted in the Forest, and especially not at night.

Sirius Black had been a close friend, along with James Potter. He'd thought Sirius guilty of the betrayal, and so had been reluctant to contact him. He must surely hold a grudge. But maybe he owed it to Albus. It was what he'd agreed to do. Albus Dumbledore would be able to clear himself of those absurd charges, and he owed a great deal to Dumbledore. It had been four months now since Sirius had been released from Azkaban. He wrote to Sirius.

xxx

There was no dozing off in History of Magic these days, and no opportunity for quiet talk. Nearly every student felt it a welcome change, as the new teacher kept them absorbed in the retelling of the tale of the olden days when there was a king of the wizards. Lupin concluded, "And so there was no longer any heir to the throne, and while there was chaos for a bit, the leading Houses finally agreed on a new system - and that's the bell."

There was a rustle as students put away their notes, and Lupin raised his voice. "No homework tonight, and Mr. Potter, I would like you to stay behind for a few minutes please."

Harry looked at him questioningly. His latest homework had been well done, he'd thought. He'd forgotten about it, but suddenly remembered that Lupin had been in a few of the pictures in the photo album that Hagrid had given to him. A personal matter then?

He finished packing his bag and went to stand in front of his teacher. Lupin smiled at him and said, "I knew you as a baby, Harry. Can I call you Harry?"

"You never said anything?"

"No. It didn't seem quite appropriate. But I am going to be a house guest of Sirius Black over Christmas, and he says that he expects to see you over the Christmas holidays."

"Yes, I expect I'll see him."

"So I just thought I'd warn you that when you visit his home, you will find your professor there as well."

"Thank you, Professor Lupin."

"That's all, Harry. You have Quidditch practice now, I believe?"

Harry glanced out the window at the sleet, and said, "A sensible captain would cancel it today, but Oliver's always keen."

"Your father used to be on the team too, but he played Chaser."

"He did? Was he good?"

"Very good, though a bit conceited sometimes."

Harry laughed and said, "The way people carry on about Quidditch, it would be easy to get a big head."

"He was a lot better once he started going out with Lily."

"I would really like to know a lot more about them."

Lupin smiled and said, "Well, you can pump both Sirius and I for information during the holidays."

"Thank you, Professor Lupin," and Lupin nodded, "Off you go then."

A short time later, Oliver Wood pointed out that Quidditch matches were never cancelled no matter the weather and they needed to practice in all conditions. There were some groans, but no open revolt. But darkness fell early in December, and light charms were not very effective when the air was full of driving rain. It was a shorter practice than usual, to everyone's relief. Harry used one of the Charms he'd learned from Sonia Greaves to dry and clean himself somewhat before he stepped into the castle. Sonia didn't like muddy footsteps and it seemed neither did Filch, the cleaner, as he could hear him loudly threatening the Weasley twins with whippings.

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