49. Dawning Truth
Severus Snape went to Remus Lupin's quarters and knocked on his door, only to receive no answer. He frowned to himself. This was very unlike Lupin. The man was so very conscious of the slightest possibility of harming anyone, that he was usually annoying Snape early, looking for the potion. He'd never ignored it altogether. Unless, something urgent came up to distract him. Where could the man be? Although he didn't want to admit it, he found himself getting worried.
As Evangeline had before him, he set out to search the castle as quickly as he could. Suddenly the image of Lupin running amok and terrorizing everyone didn't seem quite as amusing as it had before. After he'd thoroughly searched everywhere he could think of, it suddenly dawned on him that he hadn't seen Evangeline anywhere either. He knew that she hadn't been feeling too well that morning, so he'd expected to find her resting in their quarters, but he hadn't. He'd had it in the back of his mind that he might join her there once he'd finished his work, and they could perhaps spend a little time "resting" together.
Now that pleasant image was fading rapidly. Where could she be? Could they possibly be together? He found himself getting nervous at the very thought. If Lupin hasn't taken the Wolfsbane Potion, then he was a grave danger to anyone who was anywhere near him. Could that possibly be the idea? Could someone have kidnapped both of them? No. He was letting his imagination run away with him. They had to be around here somewhere. He simply hadn't found the right spot yet. He'd just have to keep on looking. Sooner or later, they'd turn up. They had to! Suddenly, he found himself praying that it was sooner…a lot sooner.
Finally Snape decided that he needed help in his search, there was simply too much ground to cover alone. So he headed off for the Headmaster's office. As he came to this conclusion, he found himself practically running down the corridor. Time seemed very much the enemy at the moment. He turned a corner quickly and narrowly avoided colliding with Eleanor Hamilton.
"Professor Snape! What's your rush?" she gasped as she threw herself against the wall.
"I'm sorry, Miss Hamilton. Have you seen either Evangeline or Remus Lupin anywhere?" He held his breath waiting for her answer, hoping desperately it was in the affirmative.
She shook her head. "No, I haven't seen Professor Lupin at all today. Evangeline was at lunch with us, but she seems to have vanished. I've been looking for her myself, but I haven't had any luck." She could see the worry in his eyes. "Do you think something has happened to her? You seem concerned."
He frowned and continued down the corridor at a rapid pace with her at his heels. Fear and dread his silent companions.
"I sincerely hope not, Miss Hamilton, but in my experience, when Evangeline disappears without telling anyone where she's going, it's never a good thing."
He halted in front of a rather ugly gargoyle and stated flatly, "Wedding cake."
The gargoyle hopped aside, and the two of them jumped onto Dumbledore's moving staircase.
When Snape and Hamilton entered Dumbledore's office, they found him sitting at his desk talking to Minerva McGonagall. Both professors turned toward Snape as he came forward. Their smiles froze as they saw the expression on his face.
Dumbledore looked up at Snape with concern. "What's the matter, Severus?"
Not mincing his words, Snape got right to the point. "I can't find either Evangeline or Remus Lupin. No one has seen Lupin all day, and apparently Evangeline has been missing since lunchtime."
McGonagall's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, no, not again!"
Thinking that she knew what Snape was so fearful of, Eleanor Hamilton put a friendly hand on Snape's arm and attempted to reassure him. "If you're perhaps thinking that they've run off together, I'm sure you're wrong. Evangeline has made it quite clear to me that she has no interest in anyone but you. Professor Lupin holds no fascination for her, I'm certain of it."
Snape shook his head impatiently as he turned to look at her. "You don't understand, Miss Hamilton. I have no fear that Evangeline is involved with Remus Lupin, but I very much fear that they may be together, not of their own free will."
Dumbledore looked grim and asked quietly, "Remus hasn't taken his potion?"
Snape shook his head again and looked equally grim. "No. That's what started me looking for him. I've been all over this castle, but I can't find either of them anywhere. The possibilities are unfortunately endless. We only have a few hours to find them, but I don't know where else to start looking." His utter frustration was readily apparent.
Eleanor shook her head in puzzlement, turning from one to the other of them. "I don't understand. What are you all so concerned about? Surely Professor Lupin wouldn't harm Evangeline in any way, and what's this potion you all keep talking about?"
McGonagall took Eleanor by the arm and looked at her seriously. She hated to give out Remus' secret to a stranger, but they were likely to need Eleanor's help. It would be much better, if she knew the truth. "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Eleanor, but Remus Lupin is a werewolf."
Her eyes got big, and her jaw dropped. For a moment she just stared at McGonagall in amazement, then her brain kicked into high gear and began to process this alarming piece of information. "Oh, my god! How horrible, and there's a full moon tonight, isn't there?"
McGonagall nodded with a very worried expression on her face. "Yes. Now, Severus can make a potion that would render Remus essentially harmless, but he hasn't taken the potion. If he and Evangeline are together somewhere…"
Eleanor shivered and nodded in sudden understanding. "Then, she's in terrible danger." The full enormity of the situation landed full force on Eleanor as she contemplated the peril her friend could be in.
Reassured that now Eleanor fully understood the situation, McGonagall turned back to Dumbledore. "If they've been abducted, they could be anywhere."
Eleanor frowned as she thought things over. "How could they be abducted out of Hogwarts? This castle is well protected. If someone got to them here, then your security has been breached. Perhaps someone here isn't who they appear to be."
Suddenly suspicious, Snape frowned speculatively at her. "The only new people here are you and your friends, Miss Hamilton."
She nodded and stared up at him gravely. "Yes, I realize that. Have you been able to account for all of us? I haven't seen Margie or Edward for quite awhile. The last time I saw Ariantha, she was with your friend James, but that doesn't mean she still is. I suggest you find everyone and question us closely."
McGonagall frowned. "That's an odd suggestion for you to make, Eleanor. Why would you want us to suspect you of wrongdoing?"
Eleanor sighed. "I don't want you to, Professor McGonagall. It just makes sense. If someone has abducted Professor Lupin and Evangeline out of Hogwarts, with no one noticing anything, then most likely, someone who belongs here was probably involved. Your staff isn't large at the moment and is well known to you. We're the unknown wildcards in all this. That makes us the most likely suspects. We should approach this logically. If we don't have much time, start with us. I'm quite willing to take some truth serum, if you have any."
She turned to look at Snape speculatively. "If you're half as good as your reputation, Professor Snape, I'll bet you do."
Pleased to finally have some concrete plan to pursue, he nodded approvingly. "Very well, Miss Hamilton. Come with me, and we'll round up your friends. Time is short. Minerva, Albus, will you help?"
The two professors nodded, and rising from their seats, they all set off to find Evangeline's other wedding guests.