Chapter Sixteen -- Friday Night

"On behalf of the Ministry, we apologize sincerely, and hope that you can forgive our blindness."

Lupin smiled at Mysticus and shook his head. "Of course, Minister. Thank you for releasing me so quickly. I was beginning to worry that I might actually have to stay there for life."

Mysticus winced slightly. "I really am sorry. I was actually surprised at the fact that people wanted you locked up. You seem pretty harmless to me."

"Gee," Lupin laughed, "thanks for that assessment. Am I free to go? I'd really like to get back to work as quickly as possible."

"Of course, Mr. Lupin. Albus Dumbledore owled me and said that he would be escorting you home, so if you'd like to wait for him, there's a chair over there…"

Lupin grinned at sat down, his bags placed at his feet. Though Gregory was a nice man, he didn't want to wait too much longer for Dumbledore to arrive, in case they decided to change their mind and put him back in his cell. He shivered at the thought and instead forced himself to look positively at going back to Hogwarts.

It actually did not take that long for Dumbledore to get there, and he could tell that Lupin was anxious to get into a comfortable bed, so he said his hellos and goodbyes to Gregory Mysticus quickly and Apperated away with Lupin.

He was welcomed by quite a crowed. The entire staff, (except for Snape) showed up, along with Harry, Ron, Frank, and Genevieve. He beamed brightly and gave everyone hugs, as they cheered for his release.

He noted that Harry seemed to be quite uncomfortable, and for a moment the thought of Harry believing him to be guilty passed through his mind. But that was ridiculous, he finally complied, as Harry ran and threw his arms around him happily.

"We were so worried, Remus!" he yelled, laughing as Lupin hugged tightly back. "We couldn't believe that they had--"

Lupin put a hand over his mouth. "No talk of the verdict or the trial, you hear? I just really want to get back to work." He turned to Frank and smiled. "I hear you're the one who took over for me?"

"Hope you don't mind. I must say, the children will be blissfully happy to see you rather than me tomorrow."

"Actually," Dumbledore said, eyes bouncing his happiness, "it's Christmas break, starting on Monday. Sorry, Remus, but you'll have to wait!"

Remus pouted and Frank laughed. Genevieve then came over, wrapping her thin arms around him, then giving a small kiss on the cheek, causing him to blush.

"We all missed you, Remmy," she whispered in his ear. "Especially me."

Blushing again, Remus forced her to let go and turned to Dumbledore. "You know sir," he said, "I don't know why the Ministry released me. Perhaps you could answer that?"

Remus suddenly knew what deafening silence meant. Everyone looked uneasily at Dumbledore, and he looked forlorn. Lupin watched how the same distant, uncomfortable look plastered itself on Harry's face, and he suddenly whispered, "A death?"

"Death and injury," Dumbledore corrected. "Miss Parvati Patil, and Miss Hermione Gran--"

"Hermione!"

Dumbledore warily nodded. "Sadly, yes, though she is doing wonderfully under Poppy's care. It's the only reason she is not here to welcome you back, though she was insisting she get out of bed to join the festivities. Of course Poppy just wouldn't allow it, and I can't say I blame her…" he shook his head. "We must head down to the Great Hall for the feast. The house-elves have been working vigorously working on a dinner in your honor, Remus!"

"I don't know if I feel much like eating, sir," Lupin uttered.

Dumbledore put a hand on Lupin's shoulder. "You can see Hermione after the dinner. But we must continue this celebration of your release! I believe the students should be down there, waiting…. Oh, come along everyone! I'm looking forward to having some shrimp scampi. The house-elves covered them in Japanese breading this time, to my pleasure…"

He led the parade out of his room, and Harry, Ron, and Remus tied up the rear, allowing them to talk.

"How is she, really?" Lupin asked nervously.

"Honestly, she's fine, Remus," Harry smiled. "We're not allowed to visit her, but she should be alright by Christmas."

Ron beamed. "Only three more days!"

"This year is going by too slowly," Lupin said, rubbing his forehead. "But no matter. Let us go down to the dinner. I'm anxious to see Snape's reaction to my release!"

^*^*^

Harry swallowed his pride and opened the door, finding Frank Longbottom already waiting for him. He smiled and waved Harry in, and the boy closed the door behind him, not wanting anyone to see what was going on.

"Hello, Harry, hello. How are we doing tonight?"

Harry shrugged indifferently. "Alright, I guess."

Frank sighed. "You know Harry, I can't help but feel that you are avoiding me. Is something the matter? You've been rather cold towards me, if you don't mind me being rather blunt. I realize that I am not exactly your favorite person, but I can't help but--"

"Professor Longbottom, don't think I don't like you!" Harry exclaimed. "I have nothing against you. It's just this situation, and…"

"Is something bothering you, Harry?"

Harry bit his lip. Truth be told, everything was bothering him. The dreams were becoming more and more frequent, varying between Kotu, Voldemort, and his parents' deaths. He missed Sirius, who was currently locked up in a cell, and he couldn't get out of his mind the picture of Hermione on the bloody bed….

"Nothing, sir," Harry lied.

Frank sighed again, putting his wand down and stood up. He walked over to Harry and sat at the edge of the desk Harry and put himself in. He stared down into Harry's eyes and said, "Now listen. I may not be Remus Lupin or Albus Dumbledore, but I am just as trustworthy as anyone else. Tell me what's bothering you."

Shaking his head, Harry said, "No, really sir, I'm alright."

"I am an Auror, Harry, and I know when someone is lying to me. Tell me the truth. Name one of the many things that haunt your mind."

"The attacks," Harry blurted out.

"What about them?"

"There's something strange about them. It's not a wolf that's doing this. I mean, it is a wolf, but not a wolf. You know what I mean?"

Furrowing his brow, Frank asked, "Are you suggesting an Animagus?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Well, Harry, we can easily sort this out. Follow me."

He stood up and Harry did the same, and Frank led him out of the classroom into the corridor, passing random students along the way. It took a while for Harry to realize that Frank was taking him to the library, where Frank then asked the librarian to get him the list of registered Animagi in Europe. She handed him a list, and he brought it to a table and showed Harry.

"There are no wolf transformations," Frank pointed out.

"But he could be illegal," Harry said.

Frank shook his head. "No, Harry. The Ministry would know if--"

"You know Sirius is an Animagus, and he's not on the list." Frank frowned, and Harry continued. "My father was an Animagus. He turned into a Stag. He's not on the list. Peter Pettigrew, he's a rat Animagus, and he--"

"Alright!" Frank said loudly, causing the librarian to yell, "Shh!" Frank looked at Harry and said in a annoyed tone, "So what? The chance of the wolf being a person in disguise is a small chance, Harry. I doubt, highly doubt, that it is so. This is a wild animal coming in from the woods."

"Don't you think it's rather convenient that it only comes in on full moons?" asked Harry. "If it's not a werewolf, but only shows up when the moon is full, then it could be a person forcing us to believe that it is a werewolf. Possibly trying to set-up Professor Lupin. But they made the mistake of attacking the night he was sentenced. The news that he was in prison didn't come out in the news until the next day, after the attack. The person wouldn't have known that he shouldn't have attacked, therefore blowing the cover that led us to believe it was Remus!"

Frank looked like a fish, the way his mouth opened and closed at Harry. "Harry, I--"

"Just admit it is possible!"

Sighing, Frank said, "I suppose…but who could do it?"

"Someone connected with Voldemort, if not Voldemort himself. Someone working with him who has a lot of power."

"But most of Voldemort's followers are wizards who are no good at magic, which is why they join him in the first place!"

"Well, whoever it is," Harry replied, "we need to stop him soon, because if we don't, I don't think Hogwarts will stay open much longer."