Chapter 7 Fly Me to the Moon

Harry and Hermoine flew their winged mounts through the darkening skies toward Professor Lupin's house. Harry, being a natural flier and the seeker on the Gryffindor quidditch team, relished the chance to fly on Midnight. He loved flying and rode his Firebolt broomstick whenever he could.

Hermoine, on the other hand, was not fond of flying at all. Broomsticks were one thing, but flying a huge half-horse half-eagle was not her idea of fun. It didn't help that when she took her attention from Harry and Midnight to say some soothing words to Buckbeak that Harry would whisper the word to make Midnight disappear.

"Harry, stop that!" Hermoine squawked when Harry had disappeared for about the fourth time.

"Animis." Said Harry. "Come on, Hermoine. Can't you take a joke?"

"Not when the only one who knows where we are going is invisible and I have no way to follow." Hermoine snapped. "Besides, I think all this popping in and out is making Buckbeak nervous and the last thing I need right now is a nervous hippogriff."

Midnight took a shallow turn and began to decend toward a light in the valley below.

"Look." Said Harry, "That must be it."

They circled once then Midnight and Buckbeak lightly touched down in front of a thatched roof cottage. Lupin was standing in the doorway as they landed. He looked to be in much better health than when he was as a teacher at Hogwarts, although his robes were as shabby as ever.

"Harry, Hermoine." He said warmly. "I wish this meeting were under better circumstances. I just got Hagrid's owl a few minutes ago."

"Professor Lupin," said Hermoine happily. "Nice to see you again. How are you?"

"On the whole," Said Lupin "I'm doing rather well. Take your things in the house and we'll get the animals put up."

Harry unloaded his Firebolt and the invisibility cloak from Midnight and put them in Lupin's house. He went out to help Lupin take care of Midnight and Buckbeak. Lupin was admiring them both.

"What beautiful animals." He said softly. "I have never seen a Thestral before except in pictures. Magnificent, simply magnificent. Hagrid certainly has a way with magical creatures. And you," Lupin added turning to Buckbeak and bowing. "Anytime I see a hippogriff is a pleasure. You are marvelous in your own right." Buckbeak after a slight pause bowed back.

"There is a place we can put them behind the house." Lupin said.

They led Midnight and Buckbeak behind the cottage to a small barn. Lupin put them both in stalls and gave them food and water that they both attacked ravenously.

Lupin, Harry and Hermoine, settled into Lupin's little cottage. Lupin made them all tea as he listened to Harry and Hermoine explain the purpose of their visit.

"So we fear for our friend, Padfoot, eh?" Lupin mused. "It would be most unusual for a beast as loyal as a hippogriff to desert his master in a time of need. Buckbeak does not strike me as that type."

"He's not." Harry replied. "Hagrid said that if Sirius had wanted him to stay he would have fought to the death if he had to. Hagrid thinks Sirius sent him away so he would not be caught too."

"That makes sense." Said Lupin, "and it would be just like Padfoot to ensure the safety of Buckbeak even if his own was in peril."

"Hagrid was going to try to send Sirius an owl." Hermoine said. "To tell him to contact you if he could."

"Getting a message to him in Azkaban could prove challenging." Lupin murmured. I hope you have some strategy to accomplish this."

"Ron has a midget owl." Said Hermoine. "Hagrid says the he might be able to get in undetected."

Interesting concept." Said Lupin, "I will, of course, be happy to help in any way I can. Padfoot, as well as you, can consider me at your disposal. Now, what do we know for sure, so far?"

"Really, not too much." Admitted Harry ruefully. "Buckbeak just showed up at Hogwarts and we assumed the worst for Sirius. Hagrid said to bring him here because he is still under an execution order."

"Well," Said Lupin, "It appears there is little to do now but wait."

"That's the part I can't stand." Said Harry. "I feel like I should be doing more."

"You have done all you can for now." Lupin assured them. "We must first know what we are facing. Rule number one of any battle is 'Know Your Opponent'."

"By the way, Professor." Said Hermoine changing the subject, "Has there been any change in your, uh, condition?"

"Hermoine, I'm not your teacher anymore so you can dispense with the 'Professor' title. Just plain Remus will do." Said Lupin lightly, "As for my condition, yes, thanks in large part to Professor Snape, it has much improved."

Harry and Hermoine made a face.

"I am aware of what you and many other Hogwarts students think of Professor Snape." Lupin said. "But I assure you that, despite his demeanor, there are but a small handful of wizards that are equal, much less superior, to him in the field of potions. You can learn the craft from no one better."

"Well then why does he have to be such a jerk?" Harry asked. "He has done nothing but harass me from the day I set foot into Hogwarts."

"Snape knows talent when he sees it, Harry." Lupin told him. "You and Hermoine have that talent. This is just his way of trying to push you to do your best."

"Snape has been working on a series of potions to help me and others with my affliction." Lupin went on. "He theorizes that a werewolf bite is nothing more than an injection of a potion that triggers an involuntary transfiguration when the victim is exposed to the Light of the full moon. Therefore, he feels the he should be able to concoct a counter potion. It is so blasted simple that no one ever thought of it before or approached it from that angle. And because of its simplicity, it is indecently brilliant. It is that kind of thinking that makes Snape the genius with potions that he is."

"So how far along is he?" Hermoine asked.

"We have made great progress." Said Lupin, "but do not, as yet, have the final solution. However, Snape feels that he is quite close and could have a breakthrough at any time. As it is, I have much better control over my transformation than ever before. I am not completely cured but we are getting there. It should not be a problem to give my assistance to Padfoot."

"That's great, Profes.I mean Remus." Harry grinned. "I feel better already just knowing you are with us."

"I owe Padfoot much." Lupin said, "It's the least I can do. Please let me know if there is any other assistance I can give you and I will keep you apprised as to any news I receive."

"Thanks, Remus." Said Harry, "Well we better be getting back now."

Lupin glanced at his watch. "My word," He exclaimed, "It is getting late. Tell Hagrid I shall tend to Buckbeak and Midnight."

"Oh yeah. About Midnight." Said Harry. "Do you know about his invisibility?"

"Hagrid briefed me in the note sent by his owl." Lupin smiled. "I shall relay the information to parties needing Midnight's, shall we say, special talents."

"Thanks again." Said Hermoine as they walked out the front door of the cottage.

"Not at all." Replied Lupin, "Keep in touch."

"We will." They answered as they mounted the Firebolt and wrapped the invisibility cloak around them and took of into the night sky.

With the speed of the Firebolt it was only a short trip back to Hogwarts or maybe it was because the return trip always seems shorter. As they landed in front of Hagrid's hut, Ron and Hagrid were on the porch.

"Have you found anything out?" Harry asked.

"Oh yeah." Ron answered. "Prepare for an earful."