Note for part of this: In book 3 Professor Lupin mentions that there wasn't a cure back when he was bitten. That seemed to imply that there is one now. This is partially inspired by that.


Chapter Eight: Dinner with the Werewolf


Professor Myfanwy hadn't arrived yet by the time Harry made his way down to the Entrance Hall. However, he saw Hagrid waiting with a wicker basket full of dubious items and called out a hello. Hagrid waved back, his deep voice booming through the Hall, and Harry accepted a cheerful blow to the back by way of greeting.

"What's the basket for, Hagrid?" Harry asked, sincerely hoping Hagrid didn't intend to give the house-elves cooking lessons.

"Ah, Rowan asked me ter bring a few things from Hogsmeade for one o' her Potions," Hagrid explained, swinging the basket slightly. An indignant triple hiss sounded from within its confines and Hagrid steadied the basket. "And a new pet."

"Rowan?" Harry asked, a bit confused.

"Professor Myfanwy," Hagrid explained. "Though she'd be offended if I called her that. Right smart she is, but hates titles. Had enough of them, I'd wager."

"You know her then?" Harry asked.

"Yep, went ter Hogwarts with yer parents, she did. I've known her ever since she was the skinny little girl that used ter sneak down to the Forest at night ter talk ter the unicorns. "Hagrid grinned and almost continued when he was cut off by Professor Myfanwy's entrance.

"Hagrid! Don't tell him that!" Professor Myfanwy mock-scolded, appearing silently in the doorway with a pair of attentive house-elves in tow. She turned to Harry, manner prim, but with a small mischievous smile. "It wasn't always at night."

Suddenly one of the house-elves caught sight of Harry and began hopping excitedly, his large ears and mismatched socks flopping madly. "Harry Potter, sir! It is being Harry Potter!" Dobby shouted happily at him. Harry laughed quietly, waving a hello to the house-elf and feeling somewhat relieved that the large golden tray each of the house-elves held saved him from an enthusiastic, rib-crunching hug.

"How are you, Dobby?" Harry asked politely. Dobby beamed at him.

"Dobby is doing fine, Sir. Very fine indeed!" the house-elf squeaked hyperactively.

"I wondered if Dobby knew you," Professor Myfanwy said, smiling slightly at the house-elf's antics. "He volunteered immediately to help me carry dinner up from the kitchens when I mentioned you."

"It is an honor, Professor Myfanwy, miss, to help Harry Potter!" Dobby squeaked determinedly.

Harry flushed slightly, covering it by stammering, "Is Winky still in the kitchens too?"

"Oh, Winky is, Harry Potter, sir." Dobby's smile faltered slightly. "But Winky is still having trouble remembering we is free," he confided sadly before brightening again. "Though Professor Myfanwy tells Dobby that Winky will 'come around'. And Professor Myfanwy would know, Harry Potter."

Harry blinked. "Why's that, Dobby?"

"I've just got a way with magical creatures," Professor Myfanwy answered before Dobby could and shrugged. "Thank you, Hagrid." She accepted the basket from the half-giant. The basket swung slightly as it was passed, prompting another fit of irritated hissing. Harry noticed he could make out words this time and three separate voices. "What's this?" Myfanwy asked curiously peering into the basket to investigate the strange quiet hissing that still came from the basket.

"Found him wanderin' abou' the pumpkin patch and thought yeh might like him," Hagrid explained as Myfanwy reached inside the basket and pulled out a rough sack that undulated oddly. "Not sure what he was doin' this far north, though." She quickly set the basket on the floor and opened the bag, whispering quietly to the occupant. Harry couldn't make out her words but they seemed to work as the mystery creature slithered out, a smooth rope of blue, green and copper scales, and coiled itself around Myfanwy's arm. The three heads uncoiled, rising up and regarding all three of the humans at the same time. The copper one staring at Harry cocked its head and hissed quietly, "Hello."

"Hi," Harry replied, vaguely aware that it came out in a hiss. Professor Myfanwy then called the three heads' attention and, while not hissing in Parseltongue, or in fact saying anything at all, quickly managed to coax the creature onto her shoulder.

"What is that?" Harry asked, still staring at the snake.

"It's a Runespoor, Harry," Hagrid answered.

"They normally prefer more tropical environments, though. I'm not sure how it got so lost," Professor Myfanwy commented. "Most unusual. Shall we go, Harry?" she asked finally settling her odd snake more comfortably and picking up the basket. Harry agreed and they waved goodbye to Hagrid before setting off down a long corridor that wound back behind the Great Hall. The house-elves followed them silently, carrying the trays. Harry smiled, thinking that Hermione would be muttering something along the lines of "slave labor!" under her breath.

After a few minutes Harry noticed that their path took them close to Gryffindor Tower. Professor Myfanwy halted at an unfamiliar, nondescript door and pulled out her wand to unlock it. The door opened up into Professor Myfanwy's office and Harry wondered if they would travel by fireplace into the Staff Wing.

"Remus is violently allergic to some of the things in here," Professor Myfanwy explained, walking in and setting the basket carefully under a table. "I'd rather not make him feel worse than he already does." Orion hopped down from his perch on the mantle and padded over to sniff at it and glare balefully at the Runespoor still curled contentedly around Myfanwy's shoulders. Harry stepped into the cozy office, noting, with some surprise that a very large patchwork beanbag chair sprawled close to the fire along with more prosaic seats like a pair of squashy armchairs.

"What are you working on?" Harry asked, pointing to the large table covered in various paraphernalia and backed by a large chalkboard covered in what looked to be arithmancical equations that dominated one side of the room.

"Wolfsbane potion," she responded, pulling the Runespoor off her neck and coiling it securely in a large glass tank. "That should do him until later." She nodded and stepped back to the table, scooting the basket further under it and carefully filling a waiting goblet with steaming potion. Myfanwy quickly cast cooling and sealing charms on the goblet before picking up a small notepad and looking back up at Harry.

He stared at the smoking goblet in her hand, recognizing it and feeling relieved that Professor Lupin was getting the Potion and that Snape wasn't the one behind the cauldron any more. Professor Snape despised Professor Lupin as much as he did Harry himself and possibly Sirius Black, but Professor Myfanwy seemed to like both of them.

"It takes all this to brew it?" Harry goggled at the complicated array of tubes and devices.

"Oh no. I can brew it in a single cauldron," Myfanwy laughed. "It takes this much to improve it. This is the product of over thirteen years of research and if I can just get it right those years will be well worth it." She beckoned him over and held up a smoking beaker filled with a glowing silver-green liquid. "When I'm finished this potion will let a werewolf control his change and hopefully extend it past the time of the full moon to become an Animagus instead of a monster. This is only for advanced cases, of course, I've already worked out a cure for the earliest stages. Unfortunately, it only works on newly bitten victims. That doesn't help Moony, but someday . . ." Harry nodded and began to understand why Professor Lupin sometimes looked at Professor Myfanwy the way he did.

"Come on then. We've just got to take this up to Remus." She picked up her cloak. Harry followed her out the door and up to the stairs toward the Staff Wing.

After several silent minutes of walking, Professor Myfanwy halted, drawing up to a nondescript, narrow, section of wall between two ornate suits of armor.

"It's a blank wall," Harry stated, confused, hardly realizing that his eyes kept attempting to slide off to either side rather than examine the wall.

"Actually it's a door. It's just pretending," Professor Myfanwy said, pulling her wand from within her robes and tapping the wall. "Cave canem." The wall between the two suits of armor split and opened for them, revealing a long spiral staircase. Harry and Myfanwy mounted the steps and shortly found themselves on a landing before a heavy oak door marked "Remus J. Lupin".

Professor Myfanwy knocked briefly before opening the door and letting herself and Harry inside. Remus Lupin sat at his desk, reading and looking rather pale and tired, but relaxed. He smiled broadly as he saw her and got up from the chair he was in, putting down his book. Professor Myfanwy handed him the still smoking goblet.

"I hate that password, Moony," she told him crisply. Then her face broke into a smile. "And you have company along with dinner." She stepped slightly aside, allowing Lupin to see Harry standing just behind.

"Harry!"

"Hello, Professor," Harry grinned, stepping forward to shake the older Marauder's hand. Remus reluctantly released Harry's hand to accept the smoking goblet from Myfanwy.

"All of it, Remus," Professor Myfanwy reminded him. "And you should drink that before the moon comes up," she warned. "I'm really not in the mood to chase you through the Forest tonight."

Lupin chuckled at her teasing and sniffed at the potion before taking a mouthful. He grimaced. "Couldn't you have done something about the taste, Rowan?"

She swatted at him playfully. "Sugar ruins it. Quit complaining. I'm working on it." She waited patiently as he drained more of the goblet. "I made more if you feel like seconds. It's in my office."

"Seconds?" he wrinkled his nose in distaste. Harry and Rowan laughed. "I'm just glad you pared the dose down, Rowan," Lupin grunted as he swallowed the final contents of the goblet and made a face. "Three is definitely easier than seven."

"I'm just sorry you have to take it at all," Professor Myfanwy said quietly. She shook herself and lifted the goblet. "I'll need you to tell me how this batch is working," she said, moving smoothly to the door. "But later. I'll be off now and let you two enjoy yourselves. Don't tire yourself out too much," she admonished Lupin sternly. "You might get sick again and Madam Pomfrey would harvest my blood."

"I won't, Rowan," Lupin assured her, rolling his eyes good-naturedly and watching until she disappeared back out the oak door. The two house-elves had also vanished, leaving the golden trays and two place settings on the table behind them. Lupin gestured for Harry to take the other place as he himself sat down to eat.

"Why is Sirius so afraid of Professor Myfanwy?" Harry asked, helping himself to a warm roll. "She seems nice."

"Too many good memories soured by bad ones, I'd imagine," Lupin replied thoughtfully. "Rowan attended Hogwarts a year behind us. And, yes, she's very nice. I think Sirius is afraid of reopening old wounds." Lupin took a long drought from his goblet of pumpkin juice to clear his mouth.

"Have you seen Snuffles lately?" Harry asked curiously. Professor Lupin smiled and set his goblet down.

"Call him Sirius in here, Harry. And yes, last night in fact."

"He's close? In Hogsmeade?" Harry asked eagerly.

"No, not in Hogsmeade, but close. I can't tell you much more than that," Lupin apologized. Harry cocked his head curiously.

"Last night was the full moon."

Professor Lupin raised an eyebrow, grinning. "And? So tell me, how are your classes coming?"

"Potions class is better," Harry admitted. "I'm not really looking forward to Snape coming back. And I'm really glad he's not making your potion anymore." Harry said the last bit quickly, his face betraying his deep hatred of the absent Potions Master. Lupin laughed.

"Professor Snape's not evil, Harry. And he's an excellent Potions Master. Though I am grateful that Rowan doesn't intentionally make the taste worse," Lupin noted wryly. "What about your other classes? I hear Hagrid hasn't toned down the creatures this year."

Harry grinned, and happily related stories of Hagrid's latest classes. Harry honestly expected a Chimera any day now. So far Hagrid had brought in four baby griffins for each class of fifth-years to raise. Several of the Slytherins and a few Hufflepuffs had nearly gotten trampled when one escaped and rampaged through greenhouse number four. "They aren't exactly tame yet," Harry noted wryly. Lupin chuckled.

"Apparently not. How are Ron and Hermione?" Professor Lupin asked. "I haven't seen them much lately."

"They're fine. At least I think so." Harry paused for a moment then shook his head. "I think something's going on between those two. I'd almost say they like each other! Ron's suddenly become really interested in studying for his O.W.L.s. and I probably spend more time with Ginny than with Ron and Hermione some days!"

"Hm." Lupin listened quietly as Harry began to ramble off onto the subject of Ginny Weasley, Ron and Hermione, Ginny, Sirius, and then back to Ginny, and hid a knowing grin. Harry, he realized, didn't quite notice his slight preoccupation with the red-haired girl yet but Remus made a mental note to talk to Sirius about his godfatherly duties. He'd heard this speech before from James. Harry was growing up very fast.