AN: This is a reposting of this chapter.  For some horrid reason that I can't fathom, I wrote up this chapter without having read the next little bit in PoA.  Because of that, I missed a few minor details that Remus talks about later that needed to be included in the chapter.  It's not a HUGE deal, but I wanted to get it right.

Also, as I said earlier, I owe much of this chapter to Durayan and her wonderful talent of filling in the gaps.  She wrote so much of this chapter, it really should be hers! 

Chapter Thirty-Two

Bruised and Broken

Remus felt himself sway slightly on the spiral staircase and he closed his grasp around the railing for support.  He could still taste the blood and bile in his mouth, and every bone and tendon in his body screamed with the aftermath of the transformation.  Still, he knew what he had to do, and focused his mind on facing the Headmaster.  He felt Hagrid's firm grip on his arm, supporting him, and felt a rush of gratitude for this gentle giant of a man. 

At the top of the stairs, they reached the door to Dumbledore's office. Through the heavy wooden door, Remus could hear the raised voices of Snape, McGonagall and of the Minister of Magic.  Remus drew a shuddering breath and   raised his hand to knock, but the door silently opened before him.

Snape was yelling something venomous about Remus and the folly of trusting such a dark creature. "He could have killed us all!!" he bellowed.

"Now, really, Severus!!" Minerva McGonagall was just as angry as Snape.  "I've known Remus Lupin for twenty years!  He has always taken careful precautions…" 

Snape's nostrils flared.  "Careful precautions?  Must I remind you that this is the second time I was almost killed by that creature?"

Cornelius Fudge interrupted them impatiently.  "It's clear that the Ministry should have greater control over staff appointments considering the circumstances.  I shudder to think of the consequences had that werewolf attacked a student!" 

The scene was utter chaos, yet in the background, the headmaster stood behind his desk quietly listening to the arguments with an impenetrable calm.  His eyes met Remus' and slowly each of the others turned to look at them.  Remus was shaking, his legs felt like jelly.  Hagrid must have felt this, for he helped Remus into the closest chair.  Snape glared at Remus with disgust and opened his mouth to say something.

"Well," started Fudge, beating Snape to the first word, "now at least we have one of them in custody."

Remus looked at Snape.  "What have you told them?"  

"I told them the truth!" Snape raged.  "How Potter, Weasley, and Granger helped Sirius Black to escape tonight.  And how you did nothing to stop it!"

"Severus…"

"Not only that," Snape looked from Dumbledore to Fudge and back to Remus, "but he's known all along that Black was using that old shack as his hideout.  It is my belief that he helped Black break into the castle!"

Remus met Snape's eyes evenly, and forced his voice not to shake.  "I assure you, Severus.  I did not help Sirius break into the castle. "

Fudge turned to Dumbledore.  "I had my doubts when you appointed a werewolf, Dumbledore.  I hope that you see the error in your ways.  Imagine how this will look for the Ministry!  We will have parents complaining not only about their children being exposed to a dark creature, but also that he has been assisting a murderous traitor!"

Remus shivered.  "Sirius Black is not a murderer."

Fudge snapped around to look at Remus.  "Black has been convicted of his crimes.   He's a cold blooded and dangerous killer.  There will be a formal enquiry.  You have a great deal of explaining to do!!"

"I believe," Dumbledore said calmly, stepping from behind his desk, "that Professor Lupin is in no condition to answer any of these questions at this time."

Remus blinked.  Was it his imagination or was Dumbledore warning him not to say a word?  What happened?  What did he know that Remus didn't? 

"But Headmaster – " Snape began to protest.

Dumbledore ignored him and turned to Hagrid.  "Thank you for your help this morning, Hagrid."

"S'all right.  I was hopin' t' find Beaky out n' about.  But I seen no sign of 'im.  Don' know how he got out," Hagrid gave a wary look in Remus' direction, "but I hope he's all righ'."  There was more to Hagrid's statement than simple concern for his Hippogriff.   

"Buckbeak… is missing?" Remus asked.

"Yeah.  Don' know what happened.  He's jus'…gone."

"Well, I can assure you that I didn't…" he wanted to say eat but decided on a better choice of words… "harm him or any of the other creatures in the forest last night."

"Creatures?" Snape spat.  "He put the lives of humans in danger last night and he's only concerned about the creatures in the forest!  I warned you about this, Headmaster.  There is no way to tame a werewolf!"

"Severus," Dumbledore said looking over the tops of his glasses, "I would think that you would understand what it is to be unjustly discriminated against for circumstances that were beyond your control."  Snape's dark eyes flashed, but he said nothing.  "In fact, I believe that Professor Lupin should be recognized for his efforts to protect the students."

"Protect them?" Snape fumed. 

"Yes, indeed," Dumbledore continued.  "He took a great risk confronting Sirius Black without any aid.  I'm sure he only had the well being of Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger on his mind."  Snape was stunned.  "Now, I would prefer to speak with Remus alone for a few moments.  After all, he is under my employ as a teacher at this school."

"You can't be serious!" Snape bellowed in a furious rage.  "You can not allow him to remain on staff after what he's done!  He is no longer a child to be pampered. And I can no longer over look these issues.  As a teacher at this school, and head of Slytherin House, I will do what is necessary to protect my students!  It is clear that he is a threat!  He's dangerous!  If the students only knew what he was – "

"Severus!" Dumbledore said.  Snape fell silent.  "I have heard your arguments and I will be taking them into consideration.  Now, I ask you to please allow me to speak with Professor Lupin alone."

Snape hesitated, his eyes shooting daggers at Remus.  The tension between the two men was thick.  Snape suddenly smiled a vicious smile, almost looking triumphant, and gave a curt nod.  With a flourish of his robes, he strode from the room. 

Remus exhaled the breath he had been holding.  His head was pounding.  He touched the cut on his forehead to check if it was still bleeding.  It was. 

McGonagall pulled a handkerchief out of her robes and bent to help Remus.  "Hagrid," she said quietly, "would you be so kind as to tell Madam Pomfrey that Professor Lupin is here in the office and in need of a healing potion?"

Hagrid nodded and left the room as well. 

Fudge remained, determined to have one more word.  "I'm not through here yet, Dumbledore."  He threw a glance at Remus over his shoulder.  "The Ministry will be able to recognize Lupin's actions as intending to be helpful.  After what you've said this morning, there is no doubt in my mind that Black would have killed those students had Lupin not shown up.  However, I still need to know the truth about Black's disappearance.  Having him escape once is bad enough.  But twice – it makes the Ministry appear incompetent, and we can't have that.  Nor can we have a madman running lose.  People are terrified – frightened for their lives!"

"There's no reason to be," Remus said, surprising not only himself but also the others in the room.  "Sirius…is no danger to anyone."  That wasn't exactly true.  Remus knew that if ever Sirius had another chance to kill Peter, he would do it without thinking twice. 

Remus noticed that Dumbledore shot a warning look at him.  Did I say too much?  What am I supposed to do?   

"He killed his best friends!  How can you say he's not a threat?"

Remus looked to Dumbledore for how to proceed.  The older man raised his eyebrows and placed a hand on the Minister's shoulder.  "Cornelius, I promise to make you aware of any new information I receive on Sirius Black.  But for the time being, I would really like to talk to Professor Lupin about last night in private."  Dumbledore gave McGonagall a look, almost a signal of what she was to do. 

McGonagall opened the door to the hall and waited for the Minister to join her in exiting the room.  Fudge looked from Minerva to Dumbledore, picked up his bowler hat from the desk, and stalked from the room.  The door closed with a thud.

"Albus, it's not what you think," Remus started.

"Oh isn't it?  I think that someone I have trusted for a very long time has been keeping a remarkable secret from me."

That confirmed it.  Dumbledore knew…something.  Remus felt the bottom fall out of his stomach.  The queasiness he felt earlier returned as he summoned all his courage to finally tell Dumbledore the truth.  "Yes, I have.  And it's time for me to explain everything."

The headmaster held up a hand.  "There isn't much need.  Sirius told me."

"Told you?"  Then that means that Sirius is all right.  "Then he was here."

Dumbledore nodded.  "Yes, he was.  And he told me a great deal.  About three rather ambitious teenagers and their mastery of the animagus transformation.   About James and Lily switching to Pettigrew for their Secret Keeper.  And most importantly, about the events that occurred in the Shrieking Shack less than twelve hours ago."

Remus slumped back on the couch and looked at the floor.  "And how I ruined everything," he muttered under his breath.  This was now the second time in his life when Remus came very close to actually hurting someone.  Ironically, Snape and Sirius had been involved in both situations.  However, this felt much worse than ever before.  Snape was right – Remus was an adult who should have known better.  He could have killed several people.  Worse than that, he could have passed on his curse – to children even!  And beyond that, Pettigrew was probably now free, leaving behind no proof of Sirius' innocence.  He would never forgive himself for his mistake. 

"I wouldn't say 'ruined' – but your transformation didn't help matters either."  Dumbledore looked very serious

Remus looked up at the old man in desperation.  "What happened?  I – I gather from what Snape and Fudge said that Sirius escaped.  But I…I don't understand how or when or even…"

Dumbledore smiled rather mysteriously.  "Yes, Black's disappearance was very surprising.  It seems that he was somehow able to escape from Fileus' rather well guarded office.  Very odd.   It's almost as if he flew away. "   Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.   "He quite completely vanished.  As did Hagrid's Hippogriff.   An interesting and remarkable coincidence, wouldn't you say?" 

Remus was stunned.   How…  "I thought the Hippogriff was executed just before sundown."

"It seems that the beast was able to undo his tether.   No telling where it's gone off to by now, but I am sure it's miles away from Hogwarts."

Comprehension began to dawn for Remus, along with many new questions.  "But how was Sirius captured in the first place?  Are the children all right?  Is Harry?  And what happened to Pettigrew?"  Please tell me he was caught!

Dumbledore held up a steady hand to silence him.  " Pettigrew, I am afraid, has escaped."

With the possible truth confirmed, Remus sunk even further into his guilt.  He sat in silence, letting his thoughts take over.  Damn it!  DAMN IT!  How could I? This is all my fault! I'm such an idiot for ever thinking I could live a normal life.     

Dumbledore continued his explanation.  "Snape, it seems, was able to capture Sirius after the dementors left him and the other unconscious."

Remus felt a sudden shock.  "What dementors?"

"The ones that surrounded Sirius, Harry, and his classmate, Miss Granger.  They were hungry and couldn't resist the lure of fresh souls.  There were probably close to a hundred dementors surrounding them."

The blood drained from Remus' face as a wave of horror filled his heart.  "Was anyone – hurt?"

A smile formed on the old man's lips.  "Thankfully, no.  Harry was able to drive the dementors away with his most excellent Patronus."

"But---Headmaster, there are few fully qualified wizards who could have fended off that many dementors with the Patronus charm!  Harry is only thirteen!" 

Dumbledore nodded soberly.  "Yes, that's true.  Harry must have had a very good teacher in order to have mastered that charm so well.  It saved his life.  And Sirius's, and Hermione's." 

A wonderful feeling of joy came over Remus upon hearing the story.  Harry had saved his own life and the lives of his friends with his Patronus.  "What an amazing accomplishment.  Harry should be very proud."

"You should be proud as well," Dumbledore said.

"Me?  No, I made too many mistakes.  I put the students in danger last night.  Hell, I put them in danger this whole year by not telling you I knew Sirius was an animagus!  How many times could Harry have been killed?  How many times could I have helped?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily.  "I need to remind you, Remus, that had you told anyone about Sirius' abilities, he might have been caught and sentenced to the Kiss.  As it is, he is currently alive and – " he held up a finger, "more importantly, there are witnesses to his innocence."

"But who will believe a werewolf and some thirteen year old children?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly.  "You make a good point.  But Harry will not always be thirteen.  Peter Pettigrew will most certainly return to Voldemort, showing himself again to his master and many others, proving that he wasn't murdered.   This ordeal may take years to solve, but it will come to an end.  With his escape, Sirius is now able to get a hold of the newspapers more easily and keep a watch on Harry.  And think of all the places an unregistered animagi can go that Sirius Black cannot.  I find this turn of events most fortuitous."

Remus didn't quite believe what he was hearing.  "Headmaster, you can't be suggesting that what I did…was the right thing to do?"

The older man thought a moment.  "Last week, had you brought this information to me I would have been furious that you hadn't told me sooner.  But as it is, I am glad that I didn't know the truth until last night.  Your deception over the years is the only reason Sirius is alive right now."

Remus brought a shaking hand up to his eyes.  He rubbed them, hoping to dull the ache in his head.  "It still doesn't change the fact that I recklessly forgot to drink my potion last night."

"Ah, yes."  Dumbledore walked over to his sideboard and poured a glass of water.  "I do agree with you about that." 

Dumbledore offered the glass to Remus, who took it.  The glass trembled in his unsteady hand, sending a small bit of water splashing over the edge.  "I don't know what happened.  I have never – never forgotten to take the potion.  When I saw the moon…"  Remus' remembered that awful moment in vivid detail.  He shut his eyes tight, hoping to block out the vision in his head.  Words failed him.  He didn't know what he could say – he couldn't even begin to apologize.

"You must prepare yourself for some difficult questions, Remus.  Parents will most certainly want to know how you intend to make sure this will never happen again."

Remus gaped at him.  "Albus, for the first time in my life, I agree with Severus.  I cannot stay on as an instructor.  The parents will be outraged that I was here at all.  There is no chance that they would knowingly allow their children to be exposed to me.  You would lose students."

"Remus, you have given your students a great deal this year.  Just look at Harry's accomplishments.  I've even noticed a change in Mr. Longbottom's countenance.  You have a gift for teaching."

Remus smiled bitterly and set the glass down on the table next to him.  "I also have a curse.  I cannot allow what happened last night to ever happen again.   I could have bitten any of them.  I could have killed them.    That must never be allowed to happen."

Dumbledore sighed, a frown forming on his face.  "I do not wish to lose one of my best teachers Hogwarts.  You will do the students a great injustice if you resign."

Remus looked away.  "How can you trust me after all I've lied to you about?  How can you trust me after what I've done?'

Dumbledore smiled.  "The same way I trust Severus – and Sirius – and Hagrid."

"But none of them have ever come so close to killing your students."  Dumbledore didn't reply to this.  "I must resign, Albus, and you know it."  He swallowed the lump in his throat.  "I'll report all the student's marks to you and leave for home as soon as possible."

A gentle rap at the door sounded and Madam Pomfrey came into the room.  "I was told that – "  Her breath caught upon seeing Remus.  "Heavens!  You should be down in the hospital wing!"  Immediately she tackled the wound on his forehead, applying a healing lotion with a cloth. 

"Hold this.  Keep pressure on it so that the bleeding will stop."

Remus did as he was told and held the bandage firmly against the cut.  The lotion made the cut sting a bit, but relief soon followed.

Poppy poured out some water into a goblet, muttering as she mixed in some healing herbs.  "I would have never believed it.  You should have been brought to me immediately!  But as usual, you wait for the wounds to set in before seeking help.  Really, I would think you would know better by now."

She handed Remus the goblet and he downed the bitter potion.  A warm sensation filled his body.  The ache in his bones began to dull, and his head almost immediately stopped throbbing. 

Not wasting a moment's time, Poppy began examining the wound on his shoulder.  "This looks like you've been attacked by some creature."  She met Remus' eye.  "You didn't…I mean…"

"No, Poppy.  I didn't eat anything."

She nodded and went back to work, mending his shoulder.  "Of course you didn't.  And to think Severus would even have the nerve to suggest such a thing.  How I would dearly like to do something painful to that man," she took a deep breath and continued. "Except that then he would require my services, and I'm not so sure I could maintain my professional demeanor with him.  Professional…tut!  It's a good thing they took away the Order of Merlin - as if he deserves such a thing.  He probably believes he's done everyone a favor by telling them about you.  Well, if you ask me, he didn't have any right to say one word!"

Remus reached up and grabbed her hand, stopping the healing of his wound.  "Poppy, what are you talking about?  What…did Severus say something?"

Poppy sighed heavily in frustration.  "Oh, Remus."

"Poppy, what is it?"  There was a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Professor Snape just told the Slytherin's about you while at breakfast."

Remus dropped the hand covering the cut on his head to get a better look at Poppy's face.  Is she serious?  This is a joke – it has to be.  Severus didn't actually…

"He announced that they had better be careful in Defense.  That – one wrong move and they could be bitten by a werewolf."

Remus slowly closed his eyes, letting the realization set in.  So now the whole school knows. 

"I will address the school at a general assembly this evening, Remus," Dumbledore offered.

"That won't be necessary."

"But Remus – "

"I'm not staying, Albus.  I won't do this to the school.  I won't." 

Dumbledore didn't object.  He only furrowed his brow in disappointment.

"It's settled then."