Chapter 12 Hungry Like the Wolf

Remus Lupin had never taken himself very seriously. He couldn't.

When he was at Hogwarts, the sorting hat had an awful time trying to decide where to put him. It considered Slytherin but then decided that if that house were to find out about Lupin being a werewolf, they would turn hostile towards him. It finally decided on Gryffindor where his friends would be loyal to him no matter what. This proved to be the right choice as Lupin found three of the most loyal and steadfast friends anyone could ever have. So devoted to their fellow author of the "Marauders Map" that they all, Sirius Black, James Potter and Peter Petigrew, became Animagi so they could be with him during his werewolf transformation periods. Lupin considered this action far above and beyond the bounds of mere friendship and as such revered his friends exceeding all else. It saddened and perhaps devastated him that one of his valued friends, Peter Petigrew, fell into the clutches of the dark side and doomed his other two friends by allowing the murder of James and Lily Potter by Lord Voldemort and framing Sirius Black for the crime condemning him to a life of prison in the fortress of Azkaban. Lupin felt every bit as much betrayed by Petigrew as Sirius did. At first Lupin believed, as much as he did not want to, that Sirius blasted that street fourteen years ago, killing Peter and 12 innocent bystanders. When he last saw Sirius, he discovered to his dismay that it was Peter and not Sirius that was responsible for the crime. Now Peter was free, Voldemort had returned and Sirius recaptured. The fire raged within him. Petigrew would pay. If and when Sirius escaped, he and Lupin would find him, somehow, someway.

"I owe it to Prongs memory as well as proving Padfoot's innocence." He told himself.

Lupin was shaken from his thoughts by a knock at the door of his cottage. For a moment he was puzzled as to who it could be but when he glanced at the calendar he relaxed and went to the door. Standing at the entrance was Severus Snape with a smoking flask in his hand.

"Ah, Severus." Lupin greeted him. "I almost forgot it was getting close to the time for your visit. Won't you come in?"

Snape had been a little irritated that Lupin had gotten the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position at Hogwarts two years before. When Lupin was indisposed with during the full moon, Snape would take over the class and have them do reports on werewolves to see if anyone would guess the truth. Only Hermoine Granger caught on but kept it to herself. After Sirius' and Petigrew's escapes from Hogwarts, Snape let it be known that Lupin was a werewolf and Lupin was forced to resign. Snape had come to Lupin some months later and offered what amounted to an apology for acting so rashly. He also offered to try to help Lupin with the Curse of the Werewolf. The two had since patched up their relationship and were now, after two years, fairly friendly.

"Thank you." Said Snape dryly. "You should take this as soon as possible. The sooner you take it the sooner it can work to suppress the transformation."

"Of course, of course." Said Lupin taking the flask. Holding it up he added, "Cheers." And drank the contents. He blinked and shook his head. "My, Severus." He croaked, "That had a bit of a kick to it."

"This potion, taken sufficiently in advance of the event, should suppress most all symptoms." Said Snape a little smugly.

"You mean I won't transform?" Lupin exclaimed, "Why Severus, that's wonderful."

"We won't know the full effect until I see it first hand, so don't thank me yet." Snape warned. "I may need to make further adjustments. I am not on personal terms with many werewolves and therefore my testing procedures can only go so far." He smirked, "So you get to be my Guinea Pig. Also be advised this is not a cure as such. You will need to take this periodically."

"It is a task I take on with pleasure." Said Lupin. "Will I be able to stay functional?"

"If by that you mean will you be able to think and act normally, I'd hope the answer is yes." Said Snape. "I know you were previously 'treated' by being effectively heavily sedated during your episodes. That does work but I think we can do better than knocking you silly for two or three days."

"Any progress on the permanent cure?" Lupin asked.

"It is not easy." Said Snape bitterly. "I was thinking that I would have had it by now. Finding the balance is very tricky. Proportions of the potion ingredients must be exactly right or it may do more damage than good. I hesitate to try it on you until I am sure that it will, at least, do no harm."

"That's just as well." Said Lupin, "I may need my functionality in the next few days."

"Anything you'd care to talk about?" Snape inquired. "If I could be of assistance.."

"That's very good of you Severus." Replied Lupin, "But I could not ask you to get involved. This is something personal."

"Is it something involving the dark side?" Snape pressed, "I am more capable than people think in that area."

"You need not prove yourself to me." Said Lupin "I am aware that you are most adept in defense against the dark arts."

"Why only you and no one else." Muttered Snape.

"Others do see your talent." Lupin asserted, "But Severus, you are the most accomplished wizard with potions I have ever experienced."

"Please." Snape interrupted with a wave of his hand, "Anyone that can read and follow simple directions can do potions."

"Not when it comes to developing new ones." Lupin pointed out. "It is there we need experienced potion masters like yourself. Face it Severus, we can't all be Aurors. Potion making may not be as glamorous, but it's still a vital necessity."

"Like the indomitable Mr. Black." Snape growled. "He gets the things like Auror training. To think all that was wasted on him."

"Severus, you know better than that." Said Lupin sharply, "Sirius graduated head of our class. He had all the ability to do anything he wanted and succeed handsomely at it."

"Do I?" Snape snapped, "Do I really know better, Remus? Are you forgetting his little schoolboy stunt that could have gotten me killed, or, worse, also becoming a werewolf."

The look on Lupin's face stopped him. "Remus," Snape began, "I didn't mean.."

"It's all right Severus." Said Lupin, "I would not wish the Curse of the Werewolf on anyone and you are right to fear it. As for Sirius, that was the unfortunate choice made by an immature young man. He is no longer that immature young man, Severus. He needs help. He needs our help. Can I count on you?"

"What do you want me to do?" Snape asked suspiciously.

"For the moment, just search yourself. Ask if you really believe that our friend Padfoot could have done such a monstrous crime. Then consider, if not him then who?"

"I need to bring you another dose of this potion in a few days." Snape replied. "I will give you my answer then."

"I can ask no more of you." Said Lupin walking Snape to the door and down the walk.

Snape picked up his broomstick to fly back to Hogwarts. He turned again to Lupin. "You really believe that Sirius Black is innocent don't you?" He asked pointedly.

"Yes, I do." Replied Lupin, "And I further believe that the spirit of James Potter will never rest until the proper perpetrator is captured and Sirius Black is absolved."

Snape mounted his broomstick; "I'll see you in a few days, Remus." He said as he took off into the night.

Lupin watched him disappear, sighed and walked around to the small barn. He opened Midnight and Buckbeak's stalls and led them outside. "You boys need some exercise." Lupin told them. "Go stretch your wings but don't be up too long." The great beasts spread their wings and took off. Lupin watched them play and frolic. Midnight and Backbeak had developed a fast friendship in a matter of days and now one did not want to be without the other. They both landed breathing heavily. Lupin took them into the barn, rubbed them down and gave them each an extra measure of food and water.

"You boys eat hearty and gather your strength." Lupin told them. "I suspect you will both need it."