A/N: Sorry about the lack of pre-chapter muggle adventures. I've been
busy working, shopping and decorating the house. I'm really almost done
(this is actually late for me as I'm one of those disgusting people that
gets everything done way ahead of Christmas) but I'm stressing about what
to get 'the boys'. What the heck do you get for a wizard anyway?
I've offered to microchip Sirius for Remus and register him with the pet-finder service, but he didn't think that was as funny as Remus and I did.
Oh, well. I'll figure something out.
Meanwhile....
No Pajama Parties ~*~
Fred and George could only stare back at the Astronomy professor, who was obviously enjoying catching the infamous duo red-handed.
"I suppose you know that you could be in a lot of trouble if I take the time to inform Professor McGonagall that you've been playing with explosives." Sinistra said.
The twins both nodded, silently.
She stood watching them mentally squirming for a few moments and then spoke again. "I'll tell you what. Let's make a little deal."
Fred and George looked at each other and then back at Sinistra. "Right, let's hear it." Said George.
"I'll just go along on my way and pretend I didn't see a thing, as long as you both go straight to your common room." She replied.
Fred and George figured that it was too good to be true. There had to be a catch.
"Where's the catch?" Asked Fred.
"Catch?" Asked Sinistra, innocently. "Oh, you think I'm going to require some other condition. No. None." She replied evenly, to the great relief of both brothers. "Well, there is just one little thing." She added as an afterthought. "I get to keep this." She added, holding up the last magical firework.
Fred and George looked at one another, agreed immediately and bolted out of the tower.
Ariel left the tower humming to herself, tossing and catching the silver orb again. "You're just the sort of thing I've been looking for." She said, and returned to humming as she descended the stairs.
Sirius was pacing the floor, rubbing his hands together as he thought out loud. "So, tell me, Mr. Moony, what sort of party are we going to plan for the students of Hogwarts?"
"What sort?" Remus asked distractedly, looking up from where he was grading Defense essays.
"You know. We need a theme for the party." Sirius explained. What do you think?"
"I don't know, Padfoot." Remus went back to the stack of parchment in front of him. "It's your idea. You need to decide."
Sirius frowned as he looked at his friend. Remus, not want to help plan a party? He quickly crossed the room and picked up the lunar chart that Remus kept on his desk. Five nights until the full moon, so he shouldn't be having headaches yet.
"Ok. What's up?" Sirius asked. "You've been pre-occupied all day and you haven't told me why."
Remus laid the quill down irritably. "You know, you're always asking me to spill my guts about everything. Did it ever occur to you that there are times when I actually have things I don't feel like talking to you about?"
Sirius winced visibly, obviously hurt by Remus's sharp reply to his concerned questioning. "Fine." He said, waving a hand indifferently. "Sorry I bothered to ask." He spoke as he turned and strode toward the door. He slammed it shut behind him.
Remus sighed. He didn't mean to snap at Sirius. It was just that he was so on edge right now. He had promised himself that he would tell everything to Marlina before the next full moon and he was rapidly running out of time.
Remus crossed the hallway and knocked on Sirius's door.
"Go 'way Moony."
Remus opened the door anyway.
"What part of 'go away' didn't you understand?" Sirius said as he looked up from his own desk.
"Sirius, look. I'm sorry." Remus said quietly. "You know I didn't mean to be such a jerk."
"Yeah, well you were." Sirius shrugged.
Remus sat on the edge of the desk. "Padfoot." He said, waiting until his friend was looking back at him. "I'm sorry."
"Ok. Ok." Sirius replied, very willing to let the whole thing drop.
"It's about Marlie." Remus volunteered, as he remained perched on the desk in front of Sirius.
"You haven't told her yet?"
"No." Remus replied. "I need to soon. Can I ask a favor?"
"Anything. You know that." Sirius answered sincerely.
"If I can get a few minutes with Marlina tomorrow, will you keep Noah busy? I don't want him there when I tell her." Remus explained.
"Of course." Sirius was uncharacteristically quiet. He knew just how much Remus was struggling with the whole problem, and he wished there were some way he could be the one to tell Marlina instead. He knew it was something that Remus had to do.
"It'll be ok, Remus." He said. "Maybe not tomorrow, but it will be ok."
Remus resolved to find Marlie in the morning and tell her. He hoped Sirius was right.
Marlina was sitting in the staff room grading essays as well, while Noah had a lesson with Rachel Davies in their rooms. She was busy writing comments in the margin of a fifth year's paper when she heard the door open. She looked up to see McGonagall and Snape entering the room together. It was apparent that they had been discussing something unpleasant with each other and were both obviously annoyed, but quiet now that they had seen there was someone else in the staff room.
"We'll finish this later?" Snape asked McGonagall, controlled irritation evident in his voice.
"Later." McGonagall agreed stiffly. She turned to Marlina. "How are you, Professor?"
"Fine, thanks. And you, Minerva?"
"Fine." McGonagall shot a look at Snape and left the staff room. As the door was about to close a post owl shot through the opening and landed on the table in front of Marlina, scattering parchment everywhere. Now she was annoyed and she knelt on the floor to retrieve flyaway essays.
"Damn owls." Snape said, and he picked up a few stray sheets that had come his way.
Marlina sat back in her chair and finally took the letter that the owl offered her. It bore a DRCMC seal and she stopped when she saw it.
Snape saw her hesitate when he recovered the last sheet of parchment near him and thought it curious that she looked nervous about opening the letter. Finally she took a deep breath and broke the seal.
She startled him with the sharp intake of air as she gasped, and he couldn't resist a glance at the letter as he set down the recaptured papers he was holding. The letterhead was from the Werewolf Registry. Quickly he looked away. "That's all of them." He said.
"What?" She turned a blank expression his way, and he could see she looked pale. Snape indicated the parchment he'd set on the table and quickly left the room. Marlina didn't seem to notice.
Remus encountered McGonagall in the hallway and greeted her pleasantly. "Afternoon, Minerva."
"Good afternoon, Remus." She was pleased to be speaking with Lupin instead of Snape.
"Have you by any chance seen Marlina?" Remus asked her.
"I just left her in the staff room doing some grading." McGonagall said as she passed him.
"Great. Thanks." Remus continued on toward the staff room.
He got a little further down the hall when he saw Snape coming his way, and he forced himself to be pleasant. "Afternoon, Severus."
"Lupin, a word?" Snape asked.
"In a minute? I've got to see Marlina about something." Remus turned as if he were going to continue down the hall, but stopped and looked surprised as he felt Snape's hand close on his arm.
"It can't wait." Snape stared him in the eyes, and he felt ice grip his gut when he heard the other man's tone of voice.
"Alright." Remus said. "What is it?"
Snape looked over his shoulder at the still empty hall, and then turned back to Lupin. "Not here. Come with me." He let go of Lupin's arm and walked quickly down the corridor. Remus had to hurry to catch up with him, as he headed for the nearby medical wing.
Remus felt an odd, but slight pang when the dark robed Slytherin spoke the counterspell that opened Lorien's door. She was treating patients in the infirmary, and Snape knew her rooms were close and would be private.
Remus looked at Severus after the door was closed. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Severus?" He knew he sounded a little impatient, but he wanted to arrange to talk to Marlina before he lost his nerve.
Snape wore an odd expression, and Remus swore that the man almost looked a bit concerned as he spoke.
"It's my understanding that there is something between you and Marlina?" He asked simply.
Remus frowned. Since when did Snape take an interest in anyone else's love life? Well, besides Lorien's. He answered cautiously. "Perhaps."
Snape scowled. "Oh, please. Don't waste my time with that childish nonsense. Lorien does tell me quite a bit you know."
Lupin shrugged.
Snape's expression neutralized. "Have you told her?" Was all he asked.
"Not yet." Remus answered, wondering what the hell Snape was getting at.
"I see." Snape said somberly. "Lupin, she knows."
"What?" Remus asked, and was suddenly angry. Snape couldn't have possibly had the nerve to tell her. "You told her?" He asked, obviously upset.
"Lupin, what would I possibly gain by telling her?" Snape was irritated now.
Remus just stared at him, waiting for a better explanation. After all, he'd done that sort of thing to him before.
"For your information, I was in the staff room just now when she received an owl from the DRCMC. She appeared quite upset." Snape explained, and saw Lupin's look of anger slowly change to one of anguish. He continued. "Lupin, it was from the Werewolf Registry."
Marlina still sat staring at the letter in front of her that Tenny Offut had owled her back as a favor. It contained a list from the registry.
In her days as a member of the small but elite team of wizards trained to capture rogue werewolves, Marlina had always kept the list memorized. Now, it was almost seven years since she had use for it, but many of the names had stayed burned somewhere deep in her memory.
Her eyes ran down the page. Abbot, C. R.,...Chaney, C. L.,....Fitzgerald, G.,....her eyes went reluctantly to the middle of the list. There sitting between Kessler, D. T., and McDermott, A. F., was his name. Lupin, R.J.
Marlina was devastated and tears came to her eyes. How could she have been so stupid? Six years ago she would have been on to him the moment he looked like he was thinking about getting a headache near the full moon, and she had missed the obvious giveaway. She had been blinded by her feelings for the kind Defense professor.
Now she was getting angry, and not only at Lupin. Lorien obviously knew, and if Lorien did, then so did Sirius. Who else knew? Everyone? Everyone but her?
Her heart sank suddenly. Everyone but her... and Noah! Noah didn't know. Her son had been with one of THEM, alone at times. Marlin's insides churned at the thought of a werewolf hugging her son.
It suddenly dawned on her that she had been alone with him. Merlin's wand! She had kissed a werewolf! Repeatedly. And she had enjoyed it! Marlina felt her stomach churn again and she barely made it to the staff bathroom before she was violently ill.
Lupin stared back at the tall, black haired wizard, realizing what the letter from the WWR meant. Marlina knew, and he hadn't been able to tell her. He finally spoke to Snape. "Thank you, Severus." He said in a defeated manner.
Snape nodded. "I'm not sure precisely how telling you that might help, but I though it would be best if you knew before she finds you."
Remus had been watching Snape carefully, and was surprised to find no menace in his voice, no hint of amusement at his own plight. The man was trying to genuinely be helpful. He nodded silently in acknowledgment.
Snape turned to leave but then hesitated at the door. He looked back at the werewolf, standing dazed in the middle of Lorien's room. "A word of advice, Lupin."
Remus looked at Snape again.
"Come clean when you're ready to talk to her. You have nothing to lose. Tell her the very worst, and if she can still deal with that..." Snape trailed off momentarily. "If she still wants to be with you after that, then anything else will be easy to overcome." He looked meaningfully at Remus and left.
Remus got the distinct impression that Snape had experienced precisely what he had just been speaking of, and he wondered what the worst was that Lorien had heard from the former Death Eater. He shuddered to think about it, but it gave him a small degree of hope. If Lorien had stayed by Snape's side beyond the worst, perhaps Marlina could come to understand as well.
Hermione was on her way to the library from the Gryffindor tower when she passed Remus in the hall. He seemed pre-occupied and said hello quietly only after she'd spoken to him a second time as she walked by.
'That didn't look good.' She thought, and wondered what would make the usually cheerful Defense professor seem so sullen.
She reached the adjoining hallway just as Keath and Kaneene Moody were coming off duty and speaking to two more Moodys, but wasn't paying much attention to the aurors as she thought about Remus. She hardly noticed when Kaneene went by her toward the tower, and a moment later, when Keath tried to. Hermione nearly walked into him.
"Oh, excuse me." She said, somewhat embarrassed to be in the young auror's way. She stepped to the left as he stepped to his right.
"Sorry." She apologized again. She stepped right as he stepped left, and once more found herself blocking his path.
Now her face was red, she could tell, and the youngest Moody stood there with a slightly crooked but charming smile.
"Here, allow me." He said with apparent amusement. He placed his hands on her arms and gently moved her to one side, and then let go and stepped by her. "There. Now I'm out of your way." He said jokingly.
Hermione glanced up at Keath, who was still grinning, smiled at him quickly, and clutching the books she was carrying closer to her, headed quickly for the library before she died of embarrassment.
Kaneene was glad to be off duty at last that afternoon. It had been quiet around Hogwarts and also around Hogsmeade, but all of the aurors new better than to let down their guard, and it was taking its toll on all of them to be constantly vigilant.
She went to meet Sirius as all of them often did after a shift, to let him know if there was any news. The only thing she had to report involved the murder of another Nemorosi witch outside of London.
"Come in." Sirius looked up at the door as he spoke and smiled to himself as he saw the auror step into his rooms and shut the door. He was sitting at the desk and leaned back in the chair with his hands laced behind his head and kicked his feet up on top. "Well, good afternoon, Miss Moody." He said cheerfully.
"Afternoon." She smiled a little and went to perch on the edge of the desk in front of him.
"Any news?" He asked.
"Do you want it if it's not good?" She asked in return.
He frowned. "Not particularly, but let me have it."
"They killed another witch in London last night. Brandon got an owl this morning." She said.
"Damn." Sirius was glad that Lorien was at Hogwarts. "Nothing brewing in Hogsmeade?"
"No."
"You busy right now?" He asked with a smile crossing his face again.
"No. Why?" She asked.
"I need help with a project." He replied.
She looked eager to help. "You need some help with a security issue?"
"Nah. I need help planning a party." He said.
"You want me to help with a what?" She asked, not expecting his answer.
"Party. You know fun, food, music, dancing....."
"I know what a party is, Black." She snipped back at him. "I wasn't aware that you were planning one."
He explained the reason for the party to her. "The only way I could get McGonagall to agree was to promise to take care of the whole thing myself."
"And you've never planned a party before?" She asked with a sarcastic smile.
He winked at her. "Plenty, but this one has to be.....um...appropriate for the students." He laughed a little at the thought of some of the other parties he'd planned in his younger days.
"I'm not really sure that I'll be any help." She admitted.
"I just need an idea for a theme, then I think I can take it from there." He said.
"Theme?" She thought about it for a minute. "You mean like costume party, beach party, pajama party...that sort of thing?"
"Yes. Did you say pajama party?" He asked, looking curious.
"Yeah. Everyone goes in their pajamas and slippers." She explained, and then she started to smile at the thought.
"Really? You've been to one of those?" He asked, not ever remembering having been invited to a pajama party.
Kaneene nodded. "It's pretty funny."
Sirius looked at her intently as she sat on his desk. "So, you wear whatever you normally wear to bed?"
"Yes." Kaneene saw the amused look on his face and knew he wasn't going to let this go.
"Well, then what would you be wearing if we have a pajama party, Miss Moody?" He asked, flirting with her again.
Kaneene wasn't going to let this get by either. She got up and stood a little closer to when he was still leaning back in the chair and leaned over him a little. "You really want to know?" She asked in a low, husky voice that made his eyes snap to meet hers.
He nodded, and pulled his arms out from behind his head to grip the arms of the chair as she leaned even closer.
Her face was near his and she whispered in his ear in a seductive voice. "Footie pajamas."
It took a minute for what she said to register and Kaneene was already laughing at Sirius when it did. "What?"
"You know, one piece, fuzzy, from here to your feet." She was holding one hand high up under her chin. She laughed again, knowing she was not painting the picture that Sirius had thought she was going to.
He shook his head and laughed at himself as well. "I think we'll let the pajama party idea go." He said. "Besides, we'd have to look at the staff in their night attire, and Merlin knows that's a scary thought for a lot of them."
Kaneene wrinkled her nose and agreed heartily.
"So, do you have any other bright ideas?" Sirius asked her as she sat back on his desk.
She thought about it for a minute. "Greek mythology?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm. That's one to consider."
"Under the sea party?" Kaneene offered again.
"Good. What else?" Sirius asked, encouraging her continue with her ideas.
"What about a muggle party?" She asked.
Sirius looked at her questioningly.
"You know, muggle food and music. Everyone wears muggle clothes and leaves their wands in the dorms."
Sirius brightened at the idea. "They could wear those awful muggle T- shirts with sayings and we could order lots of pizza!" He jumped out of his chair. "That's it! We're going to have a muggle theme party." He announced. "Excellent idea, K." He said, patting her on the arm. "And as an extra added bonus it should just about send all the Slytherins around the bend." He smiled mischievously.
She shook her head at him and laughed as she got off the desk. "Glad I could help." She said as she headed for the door. She paused for a moment. "Sirius?"
"What?" He asked, a little preoccupied with the ideas he was toying with now.
"I think it's a better choice than the pajama party." She said.
"Me too..wait, why?" He asked.
She smiled coyly at him. "They'd never let me go to the pajama party with what I normally wear..or should I say, 'don't wear' to bed." She stepped out of the room and closed the door.
Sirius stood there with his mouth open. The green-eyed auror had caught him off guard again.
A/N: About the list from the WWR - David Kessler is the werewolf in An American Werewolf in London, Andy McDermott is the wolf in AAW in Paris, Ginger Fitzgerald is cursed in Ginger Snaps, and Creighton Chaney is otherwise known as Lon Chaney Jr. ;)
All I can say about next chapter is that things get downright ugly.
I've offered to microchip Sirius for Remus and register him with the pet-finder service, but he didn't think that was as funny as Remus and I did.
Oh, well. I'll figure something out.
Meanwhile....
No Pajama Parties ~*~
Fred and George could only stare back at the Astronomy professor, who was obviously enjoying catching the infamous duo red-handed.
"I suppose you know that you could be in a lot of trouble if I take the time to inform Professor McGonagall that you've been playing with explosives." Sinistra said.
The twins both nodded, silently.
She stood watching them mentally squirming for a few moments and then spoke again. "I'll tell you what. Let's make a little deal."
Fred and George looked at each other and then back at Sinistra. "Right, let's hear it." Said George.
"I'll just go along on my way and pretend I didn't see a thing, as long as you both go straight to your common room." She replied.
Fred and George figured that it was too good to be true. There had to be a catch.
"Where's the catch?" Asked Fred.
"Catch?" Asked Sinistra, innocently. "Oh, you think I'm going to require some other condition. No. None." She replied evenly, to the great relief of both brothers. "Well, there is just one little thing." She added as an afterthought. "I get to keep this." She added, holding up the last magical firework.
Fred and George looked at one another, agreed immediately and bolted out of the tower.
Ariel left the tower humming to herself, tossing and catching the silver orb again. "You're just the sort of thing I've been looking for." She said, and returned to humming as she descended the stairs.
Sirius was pacing the floor, rubbing his hands together as he thought out loud. "So, tell me, Mr. Moony, what sort of party are we going to plan for the students of Hogwarts?"
"What sort?" Remus asked distractedly, looking up from where he was grading Defense essays.
"You know. We need a theme for the party." Sirius explained. What do you think?"
"I don't know, Padfoot." Remus went back to the stack of parchment in front of him. "It's your idea. You need to decide."
Sirius frowned as he looked at his friend. Remus, not want to help plan a party? He quickly crossed the room and picked up the lunar chart that Remus kept on his desk. Five nights until the full moon, so he shouldn't be having headaches yet.
"Ok. What's up?" Sirius asked. "You've been pre-occupied all day and you haven't told me why."
Remus laid the quill down irritably. "You know, you're always asking me to spill my guts about everything. Did it ever occur to you that there are times when I actually have things I don't feel like talking to you about?"
Sirius winced visibly, obviously hurt by Remus's sharp reply to his concerned questioning. "Fine." He said, waving a hand indifferently. "Sorry I bothered to ask." He spoke as he turned and strode toward the door. He slammed it shut behind him.
Remus sighed. He didn't mean to snap at Sirius. It was just that he was so on edge right now. He had promised himself that he would tell everything to Marlina before the next full moon and he was rapidly running out of time.
Remus crossed the hallway and knocked on Sirius's door.
"Go 'way Moony."
Remus opened the door anyway.
"What part of 'go away' didn't you understand?" Sirius said as he looked up from his own desk.
"Sirius, look. I'm sorry." Remus said quietly. "You know I didn't mean to be such a jerk."
"Yeah, well you were." Sirius shrugged.
Remus sat on the edge of the desk. "Padfoot." He said, waiting until his friend was looking back at him. "I'm sorry."
"Ok. Ok." Sirius replied, very willing to let the whole thing drop.
"It's about Marlie." Remus volunteered, as he remained perched on the desk in front of Sirius.
"You haven't told her yet?"
"No." Remus replied. "I need to soon. Can I ask a favor?"
"Anything. You know that." Sirius answered sincerely.
"If I can get a few minutes with Marlina tomorrow, will you keep Noah busy? I don't want him there when I tell her." Remus explained.
"Of course." Sirius was uncharacteristically quiet. He knew just how much Remus was struggling with the whole problem, and he wished there were some way he could be the one to tell Marlina instead. He knew it was something that Remus had to do.
"It'll be ok, Remus." He said. "Maybe not tomorrow, but it will be ok."
Remus resolved to find Marlie in the morning and tell her. He hoped Sirius was right.
Marlina was sitting in the staff room grading essays as well, while Noah had a lesson with Rachel Davies in their rooms. She was busy writing comments in the margin of a fifth year's paper when she heard the door open. She looked up to see McGonagall and Snape entering the room together. It was apparent that they had been discussing something unpleasant with each other and were both obviously annoyed, but quiet now that they had seen there was someone else in the staff room.
"We'll finish this later?" Snape asked McGonagall, controlled irritation evident in his voice.
"Later." McGonagall agreed stiffly. She turned to Marlina. "How are you, Professor?"
"Fine, thanks. And you, Minerva?"
"Fine." McGonagall shot a look at Snape and left the staff room. As the door was about to close a post owl shot through the opening and landed on the table in front of Marlina, scattering parchment everywhere. Now she was annoyed and she knelt on the floor to retrieve flyaway essays.
"Damn owls." Snape said, and he picked up a few stray sheets that had come his way.
Marlina sat back in her chair and finally took the letter that the owl offered her. It bore a DRCMC seal and she stopped when she saw it.
Snape saw her hesitate when he recovered the last sheet of parchment near him and thought it curious that she looked nervous about opening the letter. Finally she took a deep breath and broke the seal.
She startled him with the sharp intake of air as she gasped, and he couldn't resist a glance at the letter as he set down the recaptured papers he was holding. The letterhead was from the Werewolf Registry. Quickly he looked away. "That's all of them." He said.
"What?" She turned a blank expression his way, and he could see she looked pale. Snape indicated the parchment he'd set on the table and quickly left the room. Marlina didn't seem to notice.
Remus encountered McGonagall in the hallway and greeted her pleasantly. "Afternoon, Minerva."
"Good afternoon, Remus." She was pleased to be speaking with Lupin instead of Snape.
"Have you by any chance seen Marlina?" Remus asked her.
"I just left her in the staff room doing some grading." McGonagall said as she passed him.
"Great. Thanks." Remus continued on toward the staff room.
He got a little further down the hall when he saw Snape coming his way, and he forced himself to be pleasant. "Afternoon, Severus."
"Lupin, a word?" Snape asked.
"In a minute? I've got to see Marlina about something." Remus turned as if he were going to continue down the hall, but stopped and looked surprised as he felt Snape's hand close on his arm.
"It can't wait." Snape stared him in the eyes, and he felt ice grip his gut when he heard the other man's tone of voice.
"Alright." Remus said. "What is it?"
Snape looked over his shoulder at the still empty hall, and then turned back to Lupin. "Not here. Come with me." He let go of Lupin's arm and walked quickly down the corridor. Remus had to hurry to catch up with him, as he headed for the nearby medical wing.
Remus felt an odd, but slight pang when the dark robed Slytherin spoke the counterspell that opened Lorien's door. She was treating patients in the infirmary, and Snape knew her rooms were close and would be private.
Remus looked at Severus after the door was closed. "What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Severus?" He knew he sounded a little impatient, but he wanted to arrange to talk to Marlina before he lost his nerve.
Snape wore an odd expression, and Remus swore that the man almost looked a bit concerned as he spoke.
"It's my understanding that there is something between you and Marlina?" He asked simply.
Remus frowned. Since when did Snape take an interest in anyone else's love life? Well, besides Lorien's. He answered cautiously. "Perhaps."
Snape scowled. "Oh, please. Don't waste my time with that childish nonsense. Lorien does tell me quite a bit you know."
Lupin shrugged.
Snape's expression neutralized. "Have you told her?" Was all he asked.
"Not yet." Remus answered, wondering what the hell Snape was getting at.
"I see." Snape said somberly. "Lupin, she knows."
"What?" Remus asked, and was suddenly angry. Snape couldn't have possibly had the nerve to tell her. "You told her?" He asked, obviously upset.
"Lupin, what would I possibly gain by telling her?" Snape was irritated now.
Remus just stared at him, waiting for a better explanation. After all, he'd done that sort of thing to him before.
"For your information, I was in the staff room just now when she received an owl from the DRCMC. She appeared quite upset." Snape explained, and saw Lupin's look of anger slowly change to one of anguish. He continued. "Lupin, it was from the Werewolf Registry."
Marlina still sat staring at the letter in front of her that Tenny Offut had owled her back as a favor. It contained a list from the registry.
In her days as a member of the small but elite team of wizards trained to capture rogue werewolves, Marlina had always kept the list memorized. Now, it was almost seven years since she had use for it, but many of the names had stayed burned somewhere deep in her memory.
Her eyes ran down the page. Abbot, C. R.,...Chaney, C. L.,....Fitzgerald, G.,....her eyes went reluctantly to the middle of the list. There sitting between Kessler, D. T., and McDermott, A. F., was his name. Lupin, R.J.
Marlina was devastated and tears came to her eyes. How could she have been so stupid? Six years ago she would have been on to him the moment he looked like he was thinking about getting a headache near the full moon, and she had missed the obvious giveaway. She had been blinded by her feelings for the kind Defense professor.
Now she was getting angry, and not only at Lupin. Lorien obviously knew, and if Lorien did, then so did Sirius. Who else knew? Everyone? Everyone but her?
Her heart sank suddenly. Everyone but her... and Noah! Noah didn't know. Her son had been with one of THEM, alone at times. Marlin's insides churned at the thought of a werewolf hugging her son.
It suddenly dawned on her that she had been alone with him. Merlin's wand! She had kissed a werewolf! Repeatedly. And she had enjoyed it! Marlina felt her stomach churn again and she barely made it to the staff bathroom before she was violently ill.
Lupin stared back at the tall, black haired wizard, realizing what the letter from the WWR meant. Marlina knew, and he hadn't been able to tell her. He finally spoke to Snape. "Thank you, Severus." He said in a defeated manner.
Snape nodded. "I'm not sure precisely how telling you that might help, but I though it would be best if you knew before she finds you."
Remus had been watching Snape carefully, and was surprised to find no menace in his voice, no hint of amusement at his own plight. The man was trying to genuinely be helpful. He nodded silently in acknowledgment.
Snape turned to leave but then hesitated at the door. He looked back at the werewolf, standing dazed in the middle of Lorien's room. "A word of advice, Lupin."
Remus looked at Snape again.
"Come clean when you're ready to talk to her. You have nothing to lose. Tell her the very worst, and if she can still deal with that..." Snape trailed off momentarily. "If she still wants to be with you after that, then anything else will be easy to overcome." He looked meaningfully at Remus and left.
Remus got the distinct impression that Snape had experienced precisely what he had just been speaking of, and he wondered what the worst was that Lorien had heard from the former Death Eater. He shuddered to think about it, but it gave him a small degree of hope. If Lorien had stayed by Snape's side beyond the worst, perhaps Marlina could come to understand as well.
Hermione was on her way to the library from the Gryffindor tower when she passed Remus in the hall. He seemed pre-occupied and said hello quietly only after she'd spoken to him a second time as she walked by.
'That didn't look good.' She thought, and wondered what would make the usually cheerful Defense professor seem so sullen.
She reached the adjoining hallway just as Keath and Kaneene Moody were coming off duty and speaking to two more Moodys, but wasn't paying much attention to the aurors as she thought about Remus. She hardly noticed when Kaneene went by her toward the tower, and a moment later, when Keath tried to. Hermione nearly walked into him.
"Oh, excuse me." She said, somewhat embarrassed to be in the young auror's way. She stepped to the left as he stepped to his right.
"Sorry." She apologized again. She stepped right as he stepped left, and once more found herself blocking his path.
Now her face was red, she could tell, and the youngest Moody stood there with a slightly crooked but charming smile.
"Here, allow me." He said with apparent amusement. He placed his hands on her arms and gently moved her to one side, and then let go and stepped by her. "There. Now I'm out of your way." He said jokingly.
Hermione glanced up at Keath, who was still grinning, smiled at him quickly, and clutching the books she was carrying closer to her, headed quickly for the library before she died of embarrassment.
Kaneene was glad to be off duty at last that afternoon. It had been quiet around Hogwarts and also around Hogsmeade, but all of the aurors new better than to let down their guard, and it was taking its toll on all of them to be constantly vigilant.
She went to meet Sirius as all of them often did after a shift, to let him know if there was any news. The only thing she had to report involved the murder of another Nemorosi witch outside of London.
"Come in." Sirius looked up at the door as he spoke and smiled to himself as he saw the auror step into his rooms and shut the door. He was sitting at the desk and leaned back in the chair with his hands laced behind his head and kicked his feet up on top. "Well, good afternoon, Miss Moody." He said cheerfully.
"Afternoon." She smiled a little and went to perch on the edge of the desk in front of him.
"Any news?" He asked.
"Do you want it if it's not good?" She asked in return.
He frowned. "Not particularly, but let me have it."
"They killed another witch in London last night. Brandon got an owl this morning." She said.
"Damn." Sirius was glad that Lorien was at Hogwarts. "Nothing brewing in Hogsmeade?"
"No."
"You busy right now?" He asked with a smile crossing his face again.
"No. Why?" She asked.
"I need help with a project." He replied.
She looked eager to help. "You need some help with a security issue?"
"Nah. I need help planning a party." He said.
"You want me to help with a what?" She asked, not expecting his answer.
"Party. You know fun, food, music, dancing....."
"I know what a party is, Black." She snipped back at him. "I wasn't aware that you were planning one."
He explained the reason for the party to her. "The only way I could get McGonagall to agree was to promise to take care of the whole thing myself."
"And you've never planned a party before?" She asked with a sarcastic smile.
He winked at her. "Plenty, but this one has to be.....um...appropriate for the students." He laughed a little at the thought of some of the other parties he'd planned in his younger days.
"I'm not really sure that I'll be any help." She admitted.
"I just need an idea for a theme, then I think I can take it from there." He said.
"Theme?" She thought about it for a minute. "You mean like costume party, beach party, pajama party...that sort of thing?"
"Yes. Did you say pajama party?" He asked, looking curious.
"Yeah. Everyone goes in their pajamas and slippers." She explained, and then she started to smile at the thought.
"Really? You've been to one of those?" He asked, not ever remembering having been invited to a pajama party.
Kaneene nodded. "It's pretty funny."
Sirius looked at her intently as she sat on his desk. "So, you wear whatever you normally wear to bed?"
"Yes." Kaneene saw the amused look on his face and knew he wasn't going to let this go.
"Well, then what would you be wearing if we have a pajama party, Miss Moody?" He asked, flirting with her again.
Kaneene wasn't going to let this get by either. She got up and stood a little closer to when he was still leaning back in the chair and leaned over him a little. "You really want to know?" She asked in a low, husky voice that made his eyes snap to meet hers.
He nodded, and pulled his arms out from behind his head to grip the arms of the chair as she leaned even closer.
Her face was near his and she whispered in his ear in a seductive voice. "Footie pajamas."
It took a minute for what she said to register and Kaneene was already laughing at Sirius when it did. "What?"
"You know, one piece, fuzzy, from here to your feet." She was holding one hand high up under her chin. She laughed again, knowing she was not painting the picture that Sirius had thought she was going to.
He shook his head and laughed at himself as well. "I think we'll let the pajama party idea go." He said. "Besides, we'd have to look at the staff in their night attire, and Merlin knows that's a scary thought for a lot of them."
Kaneene wrinkled her nose and agreed heartily.
"So, do you have any other bright ideas?" Sirius asked her as she sat back on his desk.
She thought about it for a minute. "Greek mythology?"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Hmmm. That's one to consider."
"Under the sea party?" Kaneene offered again.
"Good. What else?" Sirius asked, encouraging her continue with her ideas.
"What about a muggle party?" She asked.
Sirius looked at her questioningly.
"You know, muggle food and music. Everyone wears muggle clothes and leaves their wands in the dorms."
Sirius brightened at the idea. "They could wear those awful muggle T- shirts with sayings and we could order lots of pizza!" He jumped out of his chair. "That's it! We're going to have a muggle theme party." He announced. "Excellent idea, K." He said, patting her on the arm. "And as an extra added bonus it should just about send all the Slytherins around the bend." He smiled mischievously.
She shook her head at him and laughed as she got off the desk. "Glad I could help." She said as she headed for the door. She paused for a moment. "Sirius?"
"What?" He asked, a little preoccupied with the ideas he was toying with now.
"I think it's a better choice than the pajama party." She said.
"Me too..wait, why?" He asked.
She smiled coyly at him. "They'd never let me go to the pajama party with what I normally wear..or should I say, 'don't wear' to bed." She stepped out of the room and closed the door.
Sirius stood there with his mouth open. The green-eyed auror had caught him off guard again.
A/N: About the list from the WWR - David Kessler is the werewolf in An American Werewolf in London, Andy McDermott is the wolf in AAW in Paris, Ginger Fitzgerald is cursed in Ginger Snaps, and Creighton Chaney is otherwise known as Lon Chaney Jr. ;)
All I can say about next chapter is that things get downright ugly.
