The Watcher
Chapter 7-The Secrets That We Keep
By Magoo
Arabella's life on Privet Drive these past three months had fallen into a routine. She was slowly learning to wake up early, actually get out of bed, and prepare for the day's events. Admittedly, waking up was growing a bit easier, but not by much. As time passed, she had been given more and more responsibility with her godson, especially after Petunia realized she wasn't charging for his care. Arabella had passed that one off by saying she valued the companionship more than the money. Yet, this was only part of her responsibility. She still had Ministry work to do, even if it wasn't official. Amazingly enough, Arabella was growing to like research. Some of the charms and spells were fairly amusing, and it was certainly a good thing the Marauders had never learned them at Hogwarts. Filch would most likely not have survived those seven years if they had.
Although the routine was simply that, a routine, it was a sense of stability that Arabella was coming to rely on. The last thing she wanted, or needed, was something to change this. Something to remind her of how awful her life truly was. To remind her of her lost friends, her lost family. However, life wasn't going to allow her that small comfort, as Professor Ward turned up on her doorstep one chilly Wednesday morning while Arabella was preparing for Harry's arrival.
"Professor!" she said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Arabella," he replied, smiling widely. "I still need to get used to that disguise of yours…rather unsettling to see one of my students looking older than I am."
She smiled. "Come inside Richard, and I'll shift back to my old form."
"Don't you mean true form?" Richard inquired. He seemed upset by Arabella's choice of words, although she had no idea why. "Don't you think you're spending too much time as 'old Mrs. Figg'?" he continued.
"Spending too much time? I'm simply doing my duty Richard," Arabella's tone was sharper than she'd intended it to be. "Forgive me," she said. "I've just been tired lately. It's been a long week, and I'm rather worried about Harry."
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Besides the fact that he's living in a closet?" Arabella asked sarcastically. Ignoring the look she received from Professor Ward, she continued, "He's just losing energy. No matter what I do, I'm afraid that Petunia will succeed in stamping all the life out of Harry. He's shown almost no signs of magic-"
"Harry Potter not showing signs of magic! Really Arabella, this is the child who defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Harry Potter not showing signs of magic indeed!"
"I am quite well aware of Harry's magical ability," Arabella said sharply. "However, despite my best efforts, he is becoming more and more withdrawn. It's nearly impossible to get him to smile. He's only a year and a half! He should be smiling at everything. He used to smile all the time. But now, he's just so quiet. And there has been no recorded unintentional magic from Privet Drive. I'm getting worried."
Richard looked astonished. "Well, you'll just have to make the most of it," he said coolly. "You're his godmother, he should listen to you. As it is, I have another assignment for you. You've been reading up on werewolves, as instructed?"
"Of course Professor," she replied, her tone betraying her hurt and shock. Richard Ward was supposed to be on her side. He should be helping defend her actions, but apparently the last few months had changed things between them. From what Arabella had been hearing, Richard was becoming more and more involved with the Ministry, and less with Dumbledore. Even the Ministry's attitude was rubbing off on him.
"What do you expect me to be able to do when I only have Harry for four mornings a week? Petunia can work her evil ways on him the rest of the time…that is when she remembers he exists. I'm doing my best!" she snapped. Not that he paid any attention to her protestations, simply continuing with his recitation.
"Well Arabella, last night was a full moon."
"Yes, I'm quite well aware of the lunar schedule. What does that have to do with anything?" By this time Arabella was getting quite annoyed at the man who had once been her favorite professor.
"A nine-year-old boy was killed last night in Kent. By the time the Werewolf Registry got there, the werewolf had vanished. Naturally, we need to capture the beast and destroy it. Your assignment is to determine the whereabouts of all the various wolves in Britain during the past twenty-four hours and which of them is responsible for slaughtering Daniel Lars. I trust this shouldn't be too difficult for you? After all, your research has been improving. Plus, you are the resident expert on those beasts. Having befriended one and all."
"Bloody hell Richard, what has the Ministry done to you?" Arabella was fairly shaking with fury. What could have inspired this radical change? The Richard she remembered had been a sweet, funny teacher, who lived for his students. What could have turned him into this cruel…Slytherin! Remus had been one of his favorite students. Although, Sirius had been as well.
"Get out of my house," she said quietly. Her tone was low, and dangerous. "I'll complete your assignment, but I will not have a bigot in my home."
Richard allowed himself to be ushered to the door. But he paused to make one more cutting remark. "By the way Ari," he smirked, "One of the werewolves that's unaccounted for is Remus Lupin."
The door closed behind him with a bang.
Arabella sank to her knees, unable to fully comprehend the meaning of his last statement. No, not Remus. It could never be Remus. He swore when we found out that he would die before killing someone, or worse, passing on his curse…
Arabella's mind drifted to years past…Christmas Holidays during her first year. Lily had just left with her family, and she had returned to Star Manor with her Gran…
~*~
Alice Moore led her granddaughter towards the Floo Station in Hogsmeade. After a few moments, both had safely returned to Star Manor. Soon, Ari was caught up in a flurry of hugs. "My dear, it's so good to see you again," Alice said, smiling warmly. Motioning for a house-elf, the two were soon seated on the sofa with mugs of steaming hot spiced Butterbeer.
"So, tell me about school," Alice said once they had both been thoroughly warmed up. "How are your classes? Your professors? Have the Slytherins been bothering you at all? And your friends dear, what are their names. You barely mention anyone in your letters. There has to be more than just Lily and the Prewitt girl…"
"Well," Ari began. "There are really seven of us in the group. Or the two groups together. The boys are still sort of separate from us, but we like them just fine. Well, for boys anyway." Ari wrinkled her nose in dislike. "They're always causing trouble and losing points. But they're really, really funny."
"Well, I'm glad you've found a-"
"James Potter isn't that bad, even if he is constantly showing off. He's pretty smart though, and was helping me with Transfiguration. He also keeps us awake in History of Magic. How long has Professor Binns been teaching that anyway? It's SO dull. And Sirius Black…ooo, what a trouble maker! Do you know that he blamed ME for one of his pranks? I would never even dream of hexing all the Slytherins' breakfasts. Even if it was really funny. And he lost almost fifty points! Peter is pretty funny, he and Jane get along really well. I probably know Remus the worst. He seems nice enough though."
"Remus Lupin?" Alice inquired sharply.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"No matter dear, it's really nothing."
~*~
Of course, it wasn't nothing, Arabella thought in disgust. I should have realized it then. But that would have been too easy.
~*~
The Ari Figg that returned to Star Manor for Easter in her second year was nothing like the Ari who had returned every other holiday. She seemed consumed by some unknown (to Alice at least) worry. For a few days, Alice tried her best to convince her granddaughter to explain. But after a week passed without any news, Alice just flat-out asked.
"All right Ari, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Arabella Figg! You have been sulking for a week. I am an Auror, I can tell when a person is upset. Something must be wrong, and I want an explanation. Immediately."
"It's nothing."
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"I'm worried about Remus!" Ari blurted out, and then blushed at her statement. "He always seems to be so sick all the time, and Madam Pomfrey is always fussing over him. Do you think something could be wrong with him?" she asked earnestly.
Alice sighed, as if wrestling with a difficult decision. She pursed her lips and then spoke quietly. "Ari, I'm sure that if there was something bothering Remus, he would tell you. It isn't your concern, and if he doesn't trust you with what's wrong, then there's no reason for you to try and do anything about whatever it is."
Ari leapt out of her chair and turned to face her grandmother. "Not do anything about it? You're telling me that something is wrong with one of my friends, and because of it I shouldn't speak to him? What, is that the same thing that people said to my MOTHER when they found out she was a Squib?" Ari was fairly fuming.
"Of course not dear, but it's different with Remus." Alice looked like she was trying desperately to avoid this discussion.
"Different? How?" Ari demanded.
"Arabella, I assure you, it isn't any of your concern." Alice seemed to be growing quite nervous about the topic.
"Not any of my concern? Remus is one of my best friends. I would do anything for him, just like he would do anything for me."
"Maybe you should choose different friends then. I don't think that Remus is the right type of friend for you," Alice replied back, more harshly then she'd intended.
"Now you're trying to choose my friends for me? You're not my mother, so stop interfering!"
"No, but unlike your mother I care about you!"
"Some way you have of showing it," Ari shouted back.
"Arabella! I am your grandmother and I am also an Auror. It is my job to protect you! I just don't want you to be around dangerous things."
"Dangerous? Now Remus is dangerous? I don't believe you!"
"Remus is a werewolf." Alice clasped a hand over her mouth in shock. From the look on her face, it was obvious that she had never intended to let that piece of information slip. "Ari, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to…" she seemed unable to finish.
Dead silence followed, and Ari's eyes filled with tears. "No," she whispered. "You're lying! Remus can't be a werewolf, he just can't be!"
Starting to sob, she ran into her room and slammed the door behind her.
~*~
Gran and I didn't speak for the rest of the holidays, Arabella recalled. And when I got back, and Remus confirmed her accusation…All I can remember was him truly breaking down. He expected me to abandon him, or worse turn him in. But I didn't, and I've never been more proud of that fact. Instead, we grew even closer, and I was there for him each month. I helped convince the others that this wasn't something to be speculated on wildly, or something that they should think was 'cool'. And Remus and I became closer than any of the others in the group. Always and forever. Maybe that's why his abandoning me hurt so much, even if I did it first.
Arabella stared up at the sky outside and spoke aloud one time. "I promise Remus, one day I'll find a cure. Regardless of what the cost. But for now, it's time I get back to work. First watching Harry, and then finding the rogue wolf, and clearing all suspicion from you. Because I know it would never be you. It couldn't be you. We're friends, and I know you better than that. I love you Moony. And I won't let anything happen to you." Looking at the sky one more time, Arabella returned to her home, and her work.
Author's note: You'd be surprised what you can come up with at four in the morning. Especially when you're supposed to be writing a paper. Next chapter? Who is Jane Prewitt? What did she have to do with Remus? Arabella pays a visit to the gravesite of a dear friend. Many thanks to Anne, Amy and Zsenya for beta reading. Zsenya, I hope you enjoy your morning coffee! ;)