Chapter Six – Wolf Found

His grasp on her hand was strong and firm. Even though she trusted him with her life, she felt as though if she questioned where he was going, or what he was doing, he would get angry with her. He had no reason to, and she had no reason to believe that. Maybe it was just being in this state of mind after all those years of lost cause made her jumpy and paranoid. Well, jumpy and paranoid or not, she had to know where they were going. The further they ran in the dark, silent woods, the more frightened she became.

"Frank!" she exclaimed, causing him to turn around and slow down his pace to a quick walk. "Frank, where are we going? I'm tired, and hungry, and—"

"Shh," he whispered warmly. He stopped walking completely and placed a hand on her delicate, pale face. His lips then burst into a smile, and he suddenly wrapped her in a tight bear hug. "Jen, we're okay!" he muttered into her hair, then kissed her forehead.

She looked up at him. "But where are we going? Frank, I want something to eat. We need to go to Diagon Ally or something. I'm so hungry!" She was about to continue, but her husband cut her off sternly.

"No, Jen. We need to do something first."

Genevieve's face showed pleading, but Frank could only add, "Hey, don't you trust me?" and she could only nod happily and continue on their run through the woods.

But considering the couple had been in wheelchairs for fourteen years, they were not in the physical shape to go galloping throughout the woods for hours on end. Frank eventually stopped when he had an asthma attack, and Jen had to stop by a stream for water. They ended up talking about what their future would be like under the stairs and canopy of the evergreen treetops, soft earth beneath them, and a wolf chorus in the background.

Slowly, as Frank was describing what their trip around the world would be like, Jen fell asleep, and Frank was left to protect his wife. He didn't mind at all; his profession before the attack had been an Auror, and a damn good one at that. He had won several awards for his outstanding achievements when it came to tracking down Death Eaters. And as the crickets played a symphony around him, he slowly slid into a sane sleep.

^*^*^

He took a look up at the sky. Full moon. He only had minutes until the change, and Snape still hadn't come to his room with the antidote. Lupin was getting squeamish. And what he thought was a little itching behind his knee was really the transfiguration. He was becoming a werewolf in Hogwarts castle—with nothing to hold him down.

^*^*^

"Frank, do you hear that? Frank?"

Jen looked up at her snoring husband and decided it was a lost cause. She wouldn't bother him even though it was early morning. But she looked around some more. She could have sworn she heard a human voice. Unless, she fearfully thought, the insanity is coming back, and I'm hearing voices...

But there it was again! She turned around. There! She could see someone, but they didn't notice her. She didn't know what to do...call out? Try to wake Frank? Or handle it herself? She considered the fact that the person may not be a threat. But, she rethought, we are wanted by Voldemort. It could be a Death Eater.

"Frank!" she urged, but her spouse was just too worn out to wake up and realize the probable danger.

She had said it too loud. The figure froze, and appeared to be confused. He turned around, and Jen screamed. She fished through her cloak to find her wand, but ended up empty handed. The man, however, was standing right in front of her when she looked up from her search.

"You stay quiet, you hear? What are you doing in this forest?"

Jen did not know how to respond. Something was trying to click in her head...hadn't she seen this man before? She could have sworn...obviously, though, he remembered before her, because he suddenly exclaimed, "Genevieve? Genevieve Longbottom!?"

She hesitated to answer. "Uh...erm, yes..."

The man's eyes were wide with astonishment, and his mouth was gaping like a fish out of water. When he realized she didn't know who he was, he said, "It's me...Remus Lupin!"

She beamed. "Remus?!" She laughed loudly, amazed at everything that was happening, and threw her arms around him, as he hugged her tightly. "Oh, Remus! I can't believe this! First, Frank and I escape Voldemort into this horrible forest, and then you show up, and—what are you doing here?" she asked, just as Remus exclaimed, "Voldemort!"

Jen nodded sadly. "Terrible, Remus! Though, I guess I owe him some gratitude. He's the one who restored us from our little...illness, if that's what you would like to call it."

"Really?" Remus asked. "How surprising."

"I know. But...well, what are you doing here?" she asked him.

"I'm a werewolf, Jen. I was changing." He surprised himself slightly at how easy it was to divulge a secret he had tried so hard to keep from people, including Jen, when they were at school. But she didn't seem to mind. She just nodded, as if she knew all along.

"I see. Where..." she smile sheepishly. "Where exactly are we?"

Remus cocked his head. "Don't you recognize it? It's the Forbidden Forest!" Genevieve's jaw dropped and Remus laughed. "How about we wake up this husband of yours and get you guys some food? You must be hungry."

Jen nodded. "Thank you, Remus! Thank the Lord we found each other!"

^*^*^

Remus led Frank and Genevieve Longbottom into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where the three had spent their school days together. Remus and Jen had actually been close friends—even dated a bit in their past. Frank had never really gotten to know Remus—they had been in different years—but were getting along fine.

"Oh, it's just as I remembered it!" Jen was squealing, her eyes glowing with excitement and happiness. "The paintings...oh, and the changing staircases!" She beamed as she watched the stairs below her move.

Remus just nodded and smiled, and continued leading them to Dumbledore's office without interruption, when he found his favorite trio in the school coming his way.

"Hey! Harry, Ron, Hermione, over here!"

The three ran closer, and as they came into Remus' focus, the noticed that Ron and Harry looked sick, almost green, while it was evident that Hermione had been crying.

"Harry? Harry Potter?!" Frank suddenly exclaimed. Remus nodded. "Boy, Harry, you look like your father...well, what's the matter boy? Today's a happy day!" He hugged Jen.

"Professor Lupin," Harry began, using the title only because there were other adults present, "you have to go find Dumbledore," Harry ended with urgency in his voice.

Remus put a hand on Hermione, who had begun to cry again. "By golly, kids! What's going on?"

Ron just looked sick. "Sir, we're really not the ones to tell..." He looked at Hermione and grabbed her hand. "Calm down, Hermione!" He turned back up to his teacher. "We'd best be going, sir..." He looked over at Harry, who was studying Frank and Genevieve. "Harry? Come on, we need to get to the Great Hall. We need to go find Dean..."

Harry's face darkened. "I don't know if I can stomach it," he sighed. "Alright. Sir, you're very wanted by Dumbledore. I would advise you to go there alone," he added, nodded towards Frank and Jen. "I'm sure your guests would understand. It's so important."

Remus shook his head. "I can't leave them alone, Harry. This is Frank and Genevieve Longbottom. They're wanted by Voldemort (Ron winced), and must see Dumbledore immediately. Now go on to the Great Hall, and I'll meet up with you later, okay?"

Sadly, Harry nodded his head, and he, Ron, and Hermione continued to the Great Hall.

"What was that about?" Jen asked Remus.

He shook his head. "I have no idea. But we'd better hurry to the Headmaster's office...I don't like this ominous feel, do you?"

"No, this isn't good," Frank agreed. "Let's just get there quickly, get the bad news over with, and continue this happy day!"

Remus led them to the statue that guarded Dumbledore. He announced the password ("Almond Joy!"), and then led them up the escalator-like staircase and entered the office.

"There's the bastard!" screamed Severus, who was bright red and still in his pajamas—black shorts and t-shirt. He wasn't even wearing a robe.

"Nice to see you too, Snape," Lupin replied, used to his treatment. "Albus, the most remarkable—Albus?" Remus looked at the sullen face of Albus Dumbledore. He then noticed that McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, Pomfrey, Binns, Trelawney, and an Auror were present in the office—the teachers all in sleeping garments and a few in robes, McGonagall not included. "What's going on here? Staff meeting without me?"

"Something like that," Snape replied harshly. "Of course, you go romping around the castle at night by yourself..."

"That's enough Severus!" Albus said, his voice like a whip, causing Snape to retreat his attack. "Remus, something quite terrible has happened."

Lupin, at that point, was sweating from nerves. He sat in a seat, while the Longbottoms just stayed in the doorway, realizing it was rather important and not to be interfered with.

"What has happened, sir?" Remus asked quietly.

"A student is dead, Mister Lupin," Albus replied

"What?" Remus asked quietly completely shocked.

"Seamus Finnigan, to be exact. He died last night."

Remus' face went pale. A Gryffindor! In Harry's year and room, no less! No wonder the three had been so flustered and upset in the hallway.

"How did he die, sir?"

Snape growled. "It was an animal attack."

Remus scratched his head. "An animal attack? But what...what could have killed a child in their bed? An owl? I don't think so!"

"A werewolf, Mister Lupin," Albus said darkly, "and the only one that could possibly have been on the premises, would be you."