CHAPTER 9
The next few weeks were spent training their animagus form with Professor McGonagall. She taught them some interesting facts about their forms. During those hours spent with her, they came to really understand her. They came to realize she was strict because she was afraid. She was afraid that her students would get hurt because she didn't teach them all they should know about transfiguration. With that realization, they began to really appreciate and love her. She was now more open with them and she told them more about herself and her past. How she came to study at Hogwarts when Dumbledore was still a young and inexperienced teacher. How she became the new transfiguration teacher after the old one retired. To make a long story short, they learned more about her in those few weeks than during all their previous years at Hogwarts.
Also, Harry had been spending more and more time with Remus. The young wizard realized he didn't know Remus that well. When Sirius had fled Azkaban, Harry had been eager to learn more about his godfather, thus forgetting all about Remus and Harry knew that Remus had not taken it well. So, in an attempt to redeem himself, he spent as much time as he could with Remus, his second godfather. They would spend long hours at night simply talking in the astronomy tower, getting to know each other. Quickly, Harry and Remus developed a friendship as powerful if not more so than the one Harry had with Sirius.
At first, Ron and Hermione were shy about their relationship mostly due to the fact that the twins kept teasing them. However, all that changed when Nathaniel got tired of the twins and turned them into snails during dinner in front of every teacher and order members. The young wizard refused to turn them back into their original form for three days. When he did, the twins were so frightened of him they didn't dare tease the couple anymore, afraid Ron or Hermione would call Nathaniel for help. Since then, they had become far more open with their relationship, kissing in front of everyone and not caring.
Finally, there was Nathaniel. Since Harry spent so much time with Remus and Nathaniel was tired of seeing Ron and Hermione kissing all the time, he had turned to the adults for company. He had became fast friend with Hagrid. The two would often disappear for an entire day into the forbidden forest to visit creatures in it. Because he was a druid, Nathaniel had been accepted by the centaurs and had even gained some influence among their people. He would visit them and tell them about the news of the outside world and Voldemort's progression. Nathaniel had managed to convince Hagrid to move Grawp to Dragon's keep where the druids will take good care of him.
The young druid had also became friends with Professor Sprout, the herbology teacher and with Professor Leis, the ancient runes teacher. Nathaniel had provided those two teachers with knowledge only known to the druids. He often could be seen talking to one of these teachers in the hallways. Nathaniel would also conduct experiments with them, trying out some druidic runes or some new vegetables.
*** As the sun set that evening, the four teenagers were walking down the corridors toward Remus's office. Soon, the full moon would rise and Remus would transform. It was the first time Harry and his friends would be with Remus during his transformation. They were all a bit nervous, but confident. When they reached the door, Harry knocked and surprisingly, it was Dumbledore who answered and they noticed Madam Pomfrey in the back.
"Come in." he said, his voice calm as usual but without its usual cheerfulness.
"Professor, what are you doing here ? The transformation is going to happen any minute now." Protested Hermione.
"I know, Miss Granger. I came here to give Remus his potion and I left four bottles on the drawer for you."
They entered the room and saw Remus sitting at his desk, looking extremely weak and pale even though Dumbledore had provided him with strengthening potion and Madam Pomfrey had took care of him.
"Hello, Madam Pomfrey." Greeted the teenagers.
"Good evening, children. Now, I have given several potions to Remus plus the Wolfbane potion so everything should be alright."
"It's the first time we administer several potions along with the Wolfbane one so we don't fully know how Remus is going to react. Maybe the strengthening potion I have given him to lessen the symptoms will also increase the werewolf strength and stamina. If at any moment you realize something is wrong or if Remus gets out of control, I want M. Weasley to fly immediately to my office and alert me. Is that understood ?" ordered Dumbledore.
"Of course, Professor."
Suddenly, Remus started to twitch and shake.
"Albus, it's beginning...Leave, now... Harry...transform..." he gasped.
"Good luck." Wished Dumbledore before swiftly leaving the room after a frightened Madam Pomfrey.
The remaining teenagers looked anxiously at each other. Ron and Hermione kissed and held each other's hand. Harry nodded to Nathaniel who did the same. They knew that if something went wrong, it was up to them to restrain Remus. Although Ron and Hermione could help, they knew that Hermione couldn't do much and Ron had to leave them to alert Dumbledore. They would have to do this mostly alone.
With a sigh, they all transformed to their animagus form. The moment they were finished, Remus started his transformation which was far more painful than the other ones. Finally, the transformation was complete, leaving a panting and huge wolf on the ground. The animagi stayed alert, watching for a sign of threat. However, it didn't come. Remus simply got to his feet and stretched a bit, looking like a normal wolf. The others relaxed and prepared for the long night to come.
During the night, Ron had grabbed a chess game and had been playing with Remus, each moving the pieces with their nose or beak. Hermione had opened a book and was reading calmly while Harry and Nathaniel fooled around, wrestling, running around. However, they stopped when Hermione gave an angry meow at all the noise they were making. They then stopped and passed time by examining all the magical objects Remus owned.
*** Dumbledore was seated at his desk, writing on a piece of parchment, candles lighting his office. However, he stopped and gave a tired sigh as he put down his quill. Fawkes, who had been watching him, gave a questioning chirp. Dumbledore got up and walked to his phoenix.
"It seems I won't get some work done tonight. I am too worried about Remus and the children. I only hope they are alright."
As if to answer his question, a fierce roar echoed through the entire school. Immediately, Dumbledore recognized it. Only Nathaniel could manage such a loud roar. It was closely followed by a growl. A tiger growl.
"Harry."
With that, Dumbledore rushed to the door and went straight to Lupin's office. As he got closer, he started to hear trashing sounds, as if a fight was going on. As he ran, he was met by McGonagall, still in her sleeping cloths, who was rushing too.
"Albus, the children."
"I know, Minerva."
They ran faster, until they reached the right corridor. In the distance, they could already see teachers trying to open the door. Unfortunately, it was Dumbledore who had locked it and no one was strong enough to break one of his spell.
"Stand aside."
He ordered. Immediately, all the teachers scrambled out of his way, clearing a path for him toward the door. When he was near enough, he stopped.
"Prepare your wands." He said and immediately, wands were held straight at the door. "Alohomora." He recited.
A blue glow shot from Dumbledore's wand an hit the door. It glowed blue for a second and shook for a moment, before a click was heard, indicating the door was unlocked. Dumbledore made his way to the door, intend on opening it, but the moment he touched the doorknob, the door was pushed open violently, sending Dumbledore into the wall. Out of the door ran Remus, as a werewolf, closely followed by a tiger and a puma. Spells were aimed at the wolf, but he was too fast and to close. He tackled the mass of teachers blocking him and ran into the darkness chased by Harry and Nathaniel.
When everyone was up again, they saw Hermione as a cat, making her way toward them and meowing. She was limping. When she noticed the teachers, she transformed back into human form, but fell to the ground, holding her ankle.
"Miss Granger, are you alright ?" inquired McGonagall as she and Madam Sprout went to check on her.
"My ankle. I think it's twisted, but that's not important. Ron is unconscious in the office. Remus knocked him into a wall when he tried to fly out the window to alert Professor Dumbledore." She explained.
Immediately, Madam Hooch, the flying teacher, went into the room and came back holding carefully a falcon in her arms. Dumbledore looked around at Ron, then at Hermione and then at the corridor Remus, Nathaniel and Harry had used to flee. Seeming to have taken a decision, he looked back at his staff.
"Minerva, Poppy, take care of Miss Granger and M. Weasley. The rest of you, take some brooms and search the grounds from the air while Hagrid and I go searching for them into the forbidden forest."
Immediately, the teachers used the summoning charm to bring brooms to them and fly out the windows while McGonagall transformed Ron back to human form and conjured stretchers for the two teens.
The search was long and fruitless. Professor Lies conjured dozens of runes in the air to light the grounds and help in the search. Dumbledore and Hagrid, accompanied by Fang, Hagrid's dog, disappeared in the forest for hours. They asked all the friendly creatures in it to help them in their search which most of them did, even the centaurs.
Finally, at dawn, Dumbledore emerged with Remus, Nathaniel and Harry on stretchers out of the forest. The Headmaster sent the three of them in the infirmary by the window to make it faster. By the time, he had reached the hospital wing, McGonagall was waiting for him.
"How are they ?" he asked immediately.
"Poppy says Hermione will be fine. A twisted ankle is easy to heal. Ron is more serious. He has a broken arm and a concussion. It'll take him a week or so to heal. Albus, what happened in the forest ?"
"We found Nathaniel first. He had collapsed and was bleeding very much. Not far from where he was, we found Harry and Remus. They were both exhausted and couldn't fight anymore. I transformed the children back and Remus got back to his human form on our way back. How are they doing ?"
"Nathaniel has lost a lot of blood. He'll need blood but since Poppy has to much on her hand to prepare a blood-increasing potion, we'll have to do it the muggle way. He has a large gash on the side of his chest and a broken rib. Harry has several cuts and bites on him. He'll need a blood transfusion too, but they will heal. Remus is not that hurt. I think the children didn't want to hurt him that much."
"I'll call the teachers and the order to find someone suitable for the transfusion."
Less than ten minutes later, the order minus Snape and the staff were assembled in the great hall, talking among themselves. Dumbledore had tested everyone for the right blood type. Tonks could give Nathaniel her blood and Charlie Weasley could give his to Harry. They were now in the infirmary with Pomfrey.
"Silence." Ordered Dumbledore at the bustling adults. Immediately, everyone shut up.
"Now, let me explain what happened tonight. No, Voldemort has not sent a werewolf to attack the children, it was simply Remus. Some time ago, I decided to rehire Remus as defense teacher under the disguise of Viktor Philigan. To manage his transformation, I decided to prepare for him the Wolfbane potion and to reduce the symptoms, we also tried to add strengthening and other potions. Harry and his friends who have become animagi a short time ago have volunteered to stay with Remus to keep an eye on him. The presence of other animals comfort a werewolf. For reasons that are still unknown to us, this plan didn't work and we have to wait for the children's recovery to learn what happened. Now, I ask all of you to keep Remus's disguise and the children's new power a secret. Thank you."
With that, he left for the hospital wing to check on the children and Remus. When he arrived, he knocked quietly and entered. The teenagers and Remus were still asleep except for Hermione who was looking at her friends. Probably Poppy's doing. Tonks was seated near Nathaniel's bed a needle in the arm and blood running through a tube and into Nathaniel's outstretched arm. Charlie was in the same position, but near Harry's bed. Poppy was examining Ron while two other nurses were looking over Harry and Nathaniel. The two new nurses, who were also members of the order, had offered their help to Poppy. She accepted immediately, having too much people to look over on her own. When Poppy saw Dumbledore near the door, she made her way to him.
"How are they ?" he asked immediately.
"They will make it. With Tonks and Charlie's blood, Nathaniel and Harry will survive. We've healed all the cuts, but Nathaniel's gash on his side was more tricky. We had to operate, but he's fine now. He just needs rest and blood. Same goes for Harry."
"And the other three ?"
"Miss Granger will be fine by tomorrow. She was the luckiest of all of them. I know you want to talk to them. You always do. You can go talk to her, but leave the others to their sleep. The young Weasley should be fine. He'll be weak for a bit and could feel light-headed for a day or two. We healed his arm, but he shouldn't use it too much. That means no Quidditch for him."
"I will make sure Rolanda (the flying teacher) knows."
"Remus is only tired. The children didn't hurt him. Only tackled and shook him up. He'll have a lot of bruises, but that's it. However, I'm worried about the emotional impact this is going to have on him. I have known him for a long time and he'll feel guilty. You'll have to ease him."
"I will. Don't worry about this. Now, I'll let you go back to work."
With that, Poppy left him to return to Ron while Dumbledore went straight for Hermione.
"Hello, Professor. How are they doing ? Madam Pomfrey doesn't want to tell me anything, but I saw them operate Nathaniel. Is he fine ? How about Ron ? And Harry ?"
"Calm down, miss Granger. Everyone will be fine. Now, I have to know what happened tonight."
"Of course. Everything was going fine at first. Remus and Ron were playing chess, I was reading a book while Harry and Nathaniel fooled around. That went on for most of the night. Dawn was approaching and we were all tired. That's why we were caught by surprise. Remus was sitting down in a corner, Ron was sleeping I think. I was fighting to stay awake while Harry and Nathaniel were cuddled together, waiting. Then, suddenly, Remus howled and growled. Before we could do anything, he had lunged for Ron, had grabbed him by a wing and threw him into a wall. Ron didn't move after that. Harry and Nathaniel were fighting Remus, trying to restrain him while I searched for a way to call you. The door was locked and I couldn't transform back to human that near Remus. So I tried to help restrain Remus. We were succeeding for a bit, but then he seemed to grow bigger. He tackled Nathaniel who went flying straight at me. That's when I twisted my ankle. Than, the door opened. We all heard it so Remus ran straight for it. You know the rest."
"I see. I'm curious about something. You said he seemed to grow ?"
"Yes, I know it seems crazy, but I'm sure he was bigger than before. What I'm wondering is why he lost control that late in the night. Why not immediately ?" "I'm wondering the same thing. Well, thank you. Now, you should rest."
*** With that, Dumbledore left the hospital wing, leaving the injured to their rest. He had a lot of thinking to do. First, he had to figure out what happened to make Remus lose control like that. The Wolfbane should have left him his mind. Secondly, he had to do something about the news of Harry and his friends being animagi. As much as he trusted the school staff and the order members, he didn't want to risk the information leaking to Voldemort.
When he reached the Great Hall, he found out nobody had left yet. Every wizard and witch that had came were talking among themselves, obviously wanting to know more about the children's condition. Letting escape a sigh, he entered the giant room. Immediately, everyone stopped talking and watched him impatiently as he made his way to the front of the hall.
"First off, I am glad to announce the children are all fine and will be fully recovered very soon. However, I have another matter to discuss with you. In the state of emergency we were all in, I didn't have time to consider the actions I have made, but now that everything has been settled, I need to fix everything. I won't beat around the bush on this, so I will simply tell you. I will obliviate all of you so none of you can remember this incident. I know must of you aren't comfortable with this idea, but it is necessary."
"What do you mean obliviate us so we can't remember the incident. I do want to remember that my son has been wounded." Objected Molly.
"Molly, this is no time for your parental worries. We need them to be safe and all of us could be a threat to them if we were to be captured and questioned under Veritaserum. So, let Albus do what he has to do and be quick about it." Interrupted Moody.
Although most of them didn't agree, they all accepted the necessity, so Dumbledore took out his wand and modified their memories so they would believe they had been in a meeting.
The next few weeks were spent training their animagus form with Professor McGonagall. She taught them some interesting facts about their forms. During those hours spent with her, they came to really understand her. They came to realize she was strict because she was afraid. She was afraid that her students would get hurt because she didn't teach them all they should know about transfiguration. With that realization, they began to really appreciate and love her. She was now more open with them and she told them more about herself and her past. How she came to study at Hogwarts when Dumbledore was still a young and inexperienced teacher. How she became the new transfiguration teacher after the old one retired. To make a long story short, they learned more about her in those few weeks than during all their previous years at Hogwarts.
Also, Harry had been spending more and more time with Remus. The young wizard realized he didn't know Remus that well. When Sirius had fled Azkaban, Harry had been eager to learn more about his godfather, thus forgetting all about Remus and Harry knew that Remus had not taken it well. So, in an attempt to redeem himself, he spent as much time as he could with Remus, his second godfather. They would spend long hours at night simply talking in the astronomy tower, getting to know each other. Quickly, Harry and Remus developed a friendship as powerful if not more so than the one Harry had with Sirius.
At first, Ron and Hermione were shy about their relationship mostly due to the fact that the twins kept teasing them. However, all that changed when Nathaniel got tired of the twins and turned them into snails during dinner in front of every teacher and order members. The young wizard refused to turn them back into their original form for three days. When he did, the twins were so frightened of him they didn't dare tease the couple anymore, afraid Ron or Hermione would call Nathaniel for help. Since then, they had become far more open with their relationship, kissing in front of everyone and not caring.
Finally, there was Nathaniel. Since Harry spent so much time with Remus and Nathaniel was tired of seeing Ron and Hermione kissing all the time, he had turned to the adults for company. He had became fast friend with Hagrid. The two would often disappear for an entire day into the forbidden forest to visit creatures in it. Because he was a druid, Nathaniel had been accepted by the centaurs and had even gained some influence among their people. He would visit them and tell them about the news of the outside world and Voldemort's progression. Nathaniel had managed to convince Hagrid to move Grawp to Dragon's keep where the druids will take good care of him.
The young druid had also became friends with Professor Sprout, the herbology teacher and with Professor Leis, the ancient runes teacher. Nathaniel had provided those two teachers with knowledge only known to the druids. He often could be seen talking to one of these teachers in the hallways. Nathaniel would also conduct experiments with them, trying out some druidic runes or some new vegetables.
*** As the sun set that evening, the four teenagers were walking down the corridors toward Remus's office. Soon, the full moon would rise and Remus would transform. It was the first time Harry and his friends would be with Remus during his transformation. They were all a bit nervous, but confident. When they reached the door, Harry knocked and surprisingly, it was Dumbledore who answered and they noticed Madam Pomfrey in the back.
"Come in." he said, his voice calm as usual but without its usual cheerfulness.
"Professor, what are you doing here ? The transformation is going to happen any minute now." Protested Hermione.
"I know, Miss Granger. I came here to give Remus his potion and I left four bottles on the drawer for you."
They entered the room and saw Remus sitting at his desk, looking extremely weak and pale even though Dumbledore had provided him with strengthening potion and Madam Pomfrey had took care of him.
"Hello, Madam Pomfrey." Greeted the teenagers.
"Good evening, children. Now, I have given several potions to Remus plus the Wolfbane potion so everything should be alright."
"It's the first time we administer several potions along with the Wolfbane one so we don't fully know how Remus is going to react. Maybe the strengthening potion I have given him to lessen the symptoms will also increase the werewolf strength and stamina. If at any moment you realize something is wrong or if Remus gets out of control, I want M. Weasley to fly immediately to my office and alert me. Is that understood ?" ordered Dumbledore.
"Of course, Professor."
Suddenly, Remus started to twitch and shake.
"Albus, it's beginning...Leave, now... Harry...transform..." he gasped.
"Good luck." Wished Dumbledore before swiftly leaving the room after a frightened Madam Pomfrey.
The remaining teenagers looked anxiously at each other. Ron and Hermione kissed and held each other's hand. Harry nodded to Nathaniel who did the same. They knew that if something went wrong, it was up to them to restrain Remus. Although Ron and Hermione could help, they knew that Hermione couldn't do much and Ron had to leave them to alert Dumbledore. They would have to do this mostly alone.
With a sigh, they all transformed to their animagus form. The moment they were finished, Remus started his transformation which was far more painful than the other ones. Finally, the transformation was complete, leaving a panting and huge wolf on the ground. The animagi stayed alert, watching for a sign of threat. However, it didn't come. Remus simply got to his feet and stretched a bit, looking like a normal wolf. The others relaxed and prepared for the long night to come.
During the night, Ron had grabbed a chess game and had been playing with Remus, each moving the pieces with their nose or beak. Hermione had opened a book and was reading calmly while Harry and Nathaniel fooled around, wrestling, running around. However, they stopped when Hermione gave an angry meow at all the noise they were making. They then stopped and passed time by examining all the magical objects Remus owned.
*** Dumbledore was seated at his desk, writing on a piece of parchment, candles lighting his office. However, he stopped and gave a tired sigh as he put down his quill. Fawkes, who had been watching him, gave a questioning chirp. Dumbledore got up and walked to his phoenix.
"It seems I won't get some work done tonight. I am too worried about Remus and the children. I only hope they are alright."
As if to answer his question, a fierce roar echoed through the entire school. Immediately, Dumbledore recognized it. Only Nathaniel could manage such a loud roar. It was closely followed by a growl. A tiger growl.
"Harry."
With that, Dumbledore rushed to the door and went straight to Lupin's office. As he got closer, he started to hear trashing sounds, as if a fight was going on. As he ran, he was met by McGonagall, still in her sleeping cloths, who was rushing too.
"Albus, the children."
"I know, Minerva."
They ran faster, until they reached the right corridor. In the distance, they could already see teachers trying to open the door. Unfortunately, it was Dumbledore who had locked it and no one was strong enough to break one of his spell.
"Stand aside."
He ordered. Immediately, all the teachers scrambled out of his way, clearing a path for him toward the door. When he was near enough, he stopped.
"Prepare your wands." He said and immediately, wands were held straight at the door. "Alohomora." He recited.
A blue glow shot from Dumbledore's wand an hit the door. It glowed blue for a second and shook for a moment, before a click was heard, indicating the door was unlocked. Dumbledore made his way to the door, intend on opening it, but the moment he touched the doorknob, the door was pushed open violently, sending Dumbledore into the wall. Out of the door ran Remus, as a werewolf, closely followed by a tiger and a puma. Spells were aimed at the wolf, but he was too fast and to close. He tackled the mass of teachers blocking him and ran into the darkness chased by Harry and Nathaniel.
When everyone was up again, they saw Hermione as a cat, making her way toward them and meowing. She was limping. When she noticed the teachers, she transformed back into human form, but fell to the ground, holding her ankle.
"Miss Granger, are you alright ?" inquired McGonagall as she and Madam Sprout went to check on her.
"My ankle. I think it's twisted, but that's not important. Ron is unconscious in the office. Remus knocked him into a wall when he tried to fly out the window to alert Professor Dumbledore." She explained.
Immediately, Madam Hooch, the flying teacher, went into the room and came back holding carefully a falcon in her arms. Dumbledore looked around at Ron, then at Hermione and then at the corridor Remus, Nathaniel and Harry had used to flee. Seeming to have taken a decision, he looked back at his staff.
"Minerva, Poppy, take care of Miss Granger and M. Weasley. The rest of you, take some brooms and search the grounds from the air while Hagrid and I go searching for them into the forbidden forest."
Immediately, the teachers used the summoning charm to bring brooms to them and fly out the windows while McGonagall transformed Ron back to human form and conjured stretchers for the two teens.
The search was long and fruitless. Professor Lies conjured dozens of runes in the air to light the grounds and help in the search. Dumbledore and Hagrid, accompanied by Fang, Hagrid's dog, disappeared in the forest for hours. They asked all the friendly creatures in it to help them in their search which most of them did, even the centaurs.
Finally, at dawn, Dumbledore emerged with Remus, Nathaniel and Harry on stretchers out of the forest. The Headmaster sent the three of them in the infirmary by the window to make it faster. By the time, he had reached the hospital wing, McGonagall was waiting for him.
"How are they ?" he asked immediately.
"Poppy says Hermione will be fine. A twisted ankle is easy to heal. Ron is more serious. He has a broken arm and a concussion. It'll take him a week or so to heal. Albus, what happened in the forest ?"
"We found Nathaniel first. He had collapsed and was bleeding very much. Not far from where he was, we found Harry and Remus. They were both exhausted and couldn't fight anymore. I transformed the children back and Remus got back to his human form on our way back. How are they doing ?"
"Nathaniel has lost a lot of blood. He'll need blood but since Poppy has to much on her hand to prepare a blood-increasing potion, we'll have to do it the muggle way. He has a large gash on the side of his chest and a broken rib. Harry has several cuts and bites on him. He'll need a blood transfusion too, but they will heal. Remus is not that hurt. I think the children didn't want to hurt him that much."
"I'll call the teachers and the order to find someone suitable for the transfusion."
Less than ten minutes later, the order minus Snape and the staff were assembled in the great hall, talking among themselves. Dumbledore had tested everyone for the right blood type. Tonks could give Nathaniel her blood and Charlie Weasley could give his to Harry. They were now in the infirmary with Pomfrey.
"Silence." Ordered Dumbledore at the bustling adults. Immediately, everyone shut up.
"Now, let me explain what happened tonight. No, Voldemort has not sent a werewolf to attack the children, it was simply Remus. Some time ago, I decided to rehire Remus as defense teacher under the disguise of Viktor Philigan. To manage his transformation, I decided to prepare for him the Wolfbane potion and to reduce the symptoms, we also tried to add strengthening and other potions. Harry and his friends who have become animagi a short time ago have volunteered to stay with Remus to keep an eye on him. The presence of other animals comfort a werewolf. For reasons that are still unknown to us, this plan didn't work and we have to wait for the children's recovery to learn what happened. Now, I ask all of you to keep Remus's disguise and the children's new power a secret. Thank you."
With that, he left for the hospital wing to check on the children and Remus. When he arrived, he knocked quietly and entered. The teenagers and Remus were still asleep except for Hermione who was looking at her friends. Probably Poppy's doing. Tonks was seated near Nathaniel's bed a needle in the arm and blood running through a tube and into Nathaniel's outstretched arm. Charlie was in the same position, but near Harry's bed. Poppy was examining Ron while two other nurses were looking over Harry and Nathaniel. The two new nurses, who were also members of the order, had offered their help to Poppy. She accepted immediately, having too much people to look over on her own. When Poppy saw Dumbledore near the door, she made her way to him.
"How are they ?" he asked immediately.
"They will make it. With Tonks and Charlie's blood, Nathaniel and Harry will survive. We've healed all the cuts, but Nathaniel's gash on his side was more tricky. We had to operate, but he's fine now. He just needs rest and blood. Same goes for Harry."
"And the other three ?"
"Miss Granger will be fine by tomorrow. She was the luckiest of all of them. I know you want to talk to them. You always do. You can go talk to her, but leave the others to their sleep. The young Weasley should be fine. He'll be weak for a bit and could feel light-headed for a day or two. We healed his arm, but he shouldn't use it too much. That means no Quidditch for him."
"I will make sure Rolanda (the flying teacher) knows."
"Remus is only tired. The children didn't hurt him. Only tackled and shook him up. He'll have a lot of bruises, but that's it. However, I'm worried about the emotional impact this is going to have on him. I have known him for a long time and he'll feel guilty. You'll have to ease him."
"I will. Don't worry about this. Now, I'll let you go back to work."
With that, Poppy left him to return to Ron while Dumbledore went straight for Hermione.
"Hello, Professor. How are they doing ? Madam Pomfrey doesn't want to tell me anything, but I saw them operate Nathaniel. Is he fine ? How about Ron ? And Harry ?"
"Calm down, miss Granger. Everyone will be fine. Now, I have to know what happened tonight."
"Of course. Everything was going fine at first. Remus and Ron were playing chess, I was reading a book while Harry and Nathaniel fooled around. That went on for most of the night. Dawn was approaching and we were all tired. That's why we were caught by surprise. Remus was sitting down in a corner, Ron was sleeping I think. I was fighting to stay awake while Harry and Nathaniel were cuddled together, waiting. Then, suddenly, Remus howled and growled. Before we could do anything, he had lunged for Ron, had grabbed him by a wing and threw him into a wall. Ron didn't move after that. Harry and Nathaniel were fighting Remus, trying to restrain him while I searched for a way to call you. The door was locked and I couldn't transform back to human that near Remus. So I tried to help restrain Remus. We were succeeding for a bit, but then he seemed to grow bigger. He tackled Nathaniel who went flying straight at me. That's when I twisted my ankle. Than, the door opened. We all heard it so Remus ran straight for it. You know the rest."
"I see. I'm curious about something. You said he seemed to grow ?"
"Yes, I know it seems crazy, but I'm sure he was bigger than before. What I'm wondering is why he lost control that late in the night. Why not immediately ?" "I'm wondering the same thing. Well, thank you. Now, you should rest."
*** With that, Dumbledore left the hospital wing, leaving the injured to their rest. He had a lot of thinking to do. First, he had to figure out what happened to make Remus lose control like that. The Wolfbane should have left him his mind. Secondly, he had to do something about the news of Harry and his friends being animagi. As much as he trusted the school staff and the order members, he didn't want to risk the information leaking to Voldemort.
When he reached the Great Hall, he found out nobody had left yet. Every wizard and witch that had came were talking among themselves, obviously wanting to know more about the children's condition. Letting escape a sigh, he entered the giant room. Immediately, everyone stopped talking and watched him impatiently as he made his way to the front of the hall.
"First off, I am glad to announce the children are all fine and will be fully recovered very soon. However, I have another matter to discuss with you. In the state of emergency we were all in, I didn't have time to consider the actions I have made, but now that everything has been settled, I need to fix everything. I won't beat around the bush on this, so I will simply tell you. I will obliviate all of you so none of you can remember this incident. I know must of you aren't comfortable with this idea, but it is necessary."
"What do you mean obliviate us so we can't remember the incident. I do want to remember that my son has been wounded." Objected Molly.
"Molly, this is no time for your parental worries. We need them to be safe and all of us could be a threat to them if we were to be captured and questioned under Veritaserum. So, let Albus do what he has to do and be quick about it." Interrupted Moody.
Although most of them didn't agree, they all accepted the necessity, so Dumbledore took out his wand and modified their memories so they would believe they had been in a meeting.