The Wolf of Change
Chapter 12 - Crime and Punishment
The next morning it seemed that a couple of very foolish Ravenclaws had attempted to go trick or treating around the staff dormitories last night, and many of the teachers were unimpressed at having their slumber interrupted by a 'Dementor' and a 'Banshee'. Charlie and Sephine were on night detention with Hagrid, but they seemed to think it had been worth it. Charlie because he'd got to see Professor McGonagall in her night gown and Sephine because she'd got to see (and photograph) Professor Trugin in his night cap and face mask.
At Sunday breakfast Remus received a discreet owl post from Dumbledore informing him of the Headmaster's 'desire to have a talk with him after breakfast'. Lily and Peters' senses of justice were satisfied with this, as were James, Sirius and Martins' senses of boyish pride. Insisting he'd rather go alone, Remus wandered up the corridor he'd been instructed to head for and gazed distractedly out of the windows as he neared the gargoyle at the dead end of the passage. Movement on a previously still panting of fruit on the wall to his right caught his attention. To his great dismay Colonel Collins leapt from behind the pear. He was barely halfway to the gargoyle and Collins was already drawing his wand. "Think you're going to tell Head-teacher do you?" Remus grimaced and turned away, starting to sprint down the corridor. As he ran, Collins followed him closely, travelling from picture to picture, cackling maniacally as he did so. Remus slammed his palms into the wall to save his nose from doing it, and with the help of momentum shoved back off the wall. He drew his own wand and studied the stone and the statue anxiously, aware that Collins was fast approaching. "Alohamora!" Nothing happened. "AlohamORA!" Nothing. "Imperio!" This spell did work.
* * *
When Remus woke up on this occasion, he was under a bed. He wasn't in his dorm; he could tell that easily as he lay very still, listening hard. He could smell girls' perfume, and the bed-sheets hanging untidily off to one side of the bed were pink, not blue. What on earth did Collins have me doing in here? He wondered incredulously.
Remus was just about to squirm out from the dusty space when the door flew open with some force. It banged off the wall, swinging back on its hinges before being slammed shut behind the heavy and angry steps that had entered. A familiar voice shouted, "bloody Charlie! How could he do that? He was just jealous, 'cause I'd remembered to take my camera! Now it's confiscated, too I'll bet!"
Sephine threw her trunk lid open and hurled items of clothing out all over the floor. She heaved a sigh of relief, and Remus assumed that she'd found her camera. Not bothering to tidy the mess, she kicked the trunk hard and the lid fell closed. She stormed out of the room again.
Remus inched out from under the bed. It was obvious Sephine had this room to herself - she didn't take too much care about its tidiness, although it was relatively clean.
After dusting himself down, Remus noticed something he hadn't whilst being under the bed; She had dropped some pieces of paper as she came in. They were torn on one edge, as though she had ripped them down off something.
Remus picked them up and turned them over. They were normal Muggle photos - not moving Wizard ones - but they showed a surprised and angry Professor Trugin flailing about in bed complete with face pack and striped night-cap. Considering Sephine had taken the photos, Remus decided that the image of her smiling head peeking out from under Trugin's sheets had to be magically added.
Despite being able to see how Sephine could be so angry, Remus had to restrain a snigger. He placed the photos back as he found them and peeked around the door. Down in the Ravenclaw Common Room they'd obviously seen the pictures too.
Remus then hurried to the window. Unfortunately for that plan of escape, Ravenclaw had a t0wer like Gryffindor, and Remus didn't think it a good idea to leap from a 10th floor window - no matter how fed up he got with Colonel Collins.
Then, something caught his eye. Charmed to stay there, under the windowsill was a broomstick. A broomstick which first years weren't supposed to have. Remus drew his wand and without thinking, performed a spell to free the broom. It wasn't until he was sitting with a leg outside the window, gripping the broom with his right arm and leaning over it, that Remus suddenly remembered the creature. The Snitch almost looked silver in the light, or platinum. And the beasts' eyes looked like two full, round moons . He shuddered violently and felt himself slip a little. His left arm swung out to grab at the broom, and he found himself swinging by his arms from the broomstick, still 10 floors up.
Remus froze. He could feel the chill November wind cool the cold sweat on his forehead further. He couldn't move; he stared fixedly at the ground - So far away! He marvelled.
A sharp bang brought him to his senses - It was just the window hitting the frame as the wind caught it too, but for a moment he'd thought Sephine was back. It was enough anyway to encourage him to swing his leg up and over the broom and tentatively fly it round to the Gryffindor Tower. He wasn't surprised to find James, Sirius, Peter, Lily and Martin sitting in there. He rapped on the window and was rewarded with expressions of surprise that would have been comical in other circumstances. After explaining to them, he then demanded to know what he had been forced to do this time. It was with difficulty that the account was presented to him in a serious manner - the photos of Sephine and Trugin were, of course, absolutely hilarious if you didn't know who had done them or why. "I think you should apologise to Sephine." Lily suggested. "Wha-at?" Martin exclaimed. "God knows what she'd do to you if you told her it was you! Plus, it's gonna be funny watching her tear Charlie to pieces when she finds him!" Lily didn't press the point, seeing that no one else was with her on this one. "But if Charlie didn't do it, then why is he hiding?" Remus asked. "He knows she'll automatically blame him." Sirius said with a smirk. Just then there was a sharp knock on the door and Professor McGonagall strode in. She stopped abruptly upon seeing the group, and looked in shock at Lily. "Lillian Evans! What are you doing in the boys' dormitory?" Lily seemed a little surprised at this question. "I was talking with my friends." "Get out of here! You can talk to them in your house Common Room if you choose! Girls should not spend their Sundays in boys' dormitories!" The young Professor seemed quite flustered and embarrassed. When Lily had left, casting a bemused look behind her, McGonagall turned to the boys. "Now. Remus Lupin? Professor Dumbledore urgently needs to speak with you. Follow me please." And she strode out again. Remus obediently followed her, looking back once to see Sirius give him the thumbs up sign and a cheery grin. This time, although Remus thought he saw something move in a painting, Colonel Collins was wise enough to stay away - he wasn't going to mess with a Professor. When they got to the gargoyle, Remus watched with interest to see what spell McGonagall would perform. He was disappointed however; all she did was say "Pepper imps," in a slightly disapproving tone. But then to his great astonishment and delight, the gargoyle jumped up and moved to one side, revealing a green granite staircase revolving silently upwards. At the top, the heavy oak door was already open. As Remus stepped into Dumbledore's office after McGonagall, he saw the wizard standing by his window talking to two huge flame-coloured birds. He looked up at the boy as he came in and then turned back to the phoenixes. "Fawkes, why don't you take your new friend for a tour of Hogwarts, eh?" The phoenix that hadn't been addressed gave a small shriek of what sounded to Remus to be alarm. Dumbledore hesitated in the act of opening the window. "Hmm. I forgot about that, I apologise. All right, I'll let you two chat for a bit in the next room. Maybe you could learn a bit from Fawkes.?" Remus swore he saw that phoenix raise a golden eyebrow at this, but couldn't be sure. Dumbledore pulled a painting on the wall out, unveiling a dark stone passage just big enough for the phoenixes to scrabble down. Remus could hear the tapping of their claws on the stone receding even as Dumbledore swung the painting back. Now he turned to McGonagall and Remus. Remus noted that McGonagall was looking at Dumbledore with a terribly shocked expression. She gathered herself together, though, and turned and left them alone. He swore he heard her mutter, "It'll be a while before I get used to this." as she swished out, head bowed slightly. "Hello, Remus." Dumbledore said kindly, drawing attention back to himself. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Um. yeah." Remus was surprised he'd been asked this - he'd expected to have been told immediately how much trouble he was in and how long he was going to be suspended for or when his expulsion would take force. But Dumbledore just smiled sadly and invited him to sit down in the big padded- leather chair opposite the Headmaster. "Remus, I would like to stress here that you are not in trouble. I want to find out what the problem is, so that we can work out a solution." Deja vu flashed through Remus' head. He felt exactly as he had done the last time that they'd met - before school - to sort out the previous problem. Remus sighed. He suddenly felt home sick. He remembered their little house in Manchester, and all the other kids: the children of his father's work-mates. He remembered his mother. Although she'd been stressed there, they'd all been happier there than they had been since. Well apart from the three weeks or so they'd spent in peace at Hogsmeade. But Remus couldn't remember that place as a place of peace anymore. Dumbledore was still sitting patiently, waiting for him to begin his tale, or at least make some excuse. Remus yet again fought the threatening tears bitterly and angrily. He would not cry, he would not. And yet again, his emotions were quelled for the time being, forced to build up more and more. Finally, he began his tale. He told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Dumbledore listened quietly and patiently. He didn't interrupt, but whenever Remus spoke of Colonel Collins the old wizard's expression became dark. When he'd finally finished his tale, Remus sat watching the Headmaster's expression for any sign of anger, or any sign of, well. anything. But Dumbledore just leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin, and a distracted look in the depths of his eyes. "Very good, Remus. I'm terribly sorry this had to happen to you, and so soon into your first term here. Colonel Collins will be. dealt with, and if you don't mind, I'm sure Professor Trugin would like his wolf-skin cloak back-" Remus gulped. "And before you leave, Remus," Dumbledore added quietly as Remus rose from his seat, "is there anything else you want to talk about?" Remus instantly thought of the half-truths that he'd told his friends; the trouble he knew he would have in convincing them why he had to leave school regularly for only a night and a morning; Sephine and Charlie's ignorance of even the white-lies he's told his fellow Gryffindors. He shook his head. "No, sir, thank you." And he opened the shiny oak door and stepped onto the now downwards-revolving staircase.
Chapter 12 - Crime and Punishment
The next morning it seemed that a couple of very foolish Ravenclaws had attempted to go trick or treating around the staff dormitories last night, and many of the teachers were unimpressed at having their slumber interrupted by a 'Dementor' and a 'Banshee'. Charlie and Sephine were on night detention with Hagrid, but they seemed to think it had been worth it. Charlie because he'd got to see Professor McGonagall in her night gown and Sephine because she'd got to see (and photograph) Professor Trugin in his night cap and face mask.
At Sunday breakfast Remus received a discreet owl post from Dumbledore informing him of the Headmaster's 'desire to have a talk with him after breakfast'. Lily and Peters' senses of justice were satisfied with this, as were James, Sirius and Martins' senses of boyish pride. Insisting he'd rather go alone, Remus wandered up the corridor he'd been instructed to head for and gazed distractedly out of the windows as he neared the gargoyle at the dead end of the passage. Movement on a previously still panting of fruit on the wall to his right caught his attention. To his great dismay Colonel Collins leapt from behind the pear. He was barely halfway to the gargoyle and Collins was already drawing his wand. "Think you're going to tell Head-teacher do you?" Remus grimaced and turned away, starting to sprint down the corridor. As he ran, Collins followed him closely, travelling from picture to picture, cackling maniacally as he did so. Remus slammed his palms into the wall to save his nose from doing it, and with the help of momentum shoved back off the wall. He drew his own wand and studied the stone and the statue anxiously, aware that Collins was fast approaching. "Alohamora!" Nothing happened. "AlohamORA!" Nothing. "Imperio!" This spell did work.
* * *
When Remus woke up on this occasion, he was under a bed. He wasn't in his dorm; he could tell that easily as he lay very still, listening hard. He could smell girls' perfume, and the bed-sheets hanging untidily off to one side of the bed were pink, not blue. What on earth did Collins have me doing in here? He wondered incredulously.
Remus was just about to squirm out from the dusty space when the door flew open with some force. It banged off the wall, swinging back on its hinges before being slammed shut behind the heavy and angry steps that had entered. A familiar voice shouted, "bloody Charlie! How could he do that? He was just jealous, 'cause I'd remembered to take my camera! Now it's confiscated, too I'll bet!"
Sephine threw her trunk lid open and hurled items of clothing out all over the floor. She heaved a sigh of relief, and Remus assumed that she'd found her camera. Not bothering to tidy the mess, she kicked the trunk hard and the lid fell closed. She stormed out of the room again.
Remus inched out from under the bed. It was obvious Sephine had this room to herself - she didn't take too much care about its tidiness, although it was relatively clean.
After dusting himself down, Remus noticed something he hadn't whilst being under the bed; She had dropped some pieces of paper as she came in. They were torn on one edge, as though she had ripped them down off something.
Remus picked them up and turned them over. They were normal Muggle photos - not moving Wizard ones - but they showed a surprised and angry Professor Trugin flailing about in bed complete with face pack and striped night-cap. Considering Sephine had taken the photos, Remus decided that the image of her smiling head peeking out from under Trugin's sheets had to be magically added.
Despite being able to see how Sephine could be so angry, Remus had to restrain a snigger. He placed the photos back as he found them and peeked around the door. Down in the Ravenclaw Common Room they'd obviously seen the pictures too.
Remus then hurried to the window. Unfortunately for that plan of escape, Ravenclaw had a t0wer like Gryffindor, and Remus didn't think it a good idea to leap from a 10th floor window - no matter how fed up he got with Colonel Collins.
Then, something caught his eye. Charmed to stay there, under the windowsill was a broomstick. A broomstick which first years weren't supposed to have. Remus drew his wand and without thinking, performed a spell to free the broom. It wasn't until he was sitting with a leg outside the window, gripping the broom with his right arm and leaning over it, that Remus suddenly remembered the creature. The Snitch almost looked silver in the light, or platinum. And the beasts' eyes looked like two full, round moons . He shuddered violently and felt himself slip a little. His left arm swung out to grab at the broom, and he found himself swinging by his arms from the broomstick, still 10 floors up.
Remus froze. He could feel the chill November wind cool the cold sweat on his forehead further. He couldn't move; he stared fixedly at the ground - So far away! He marvelled.
A sharp bang brought him to his senses - It was just the window hitting the frame as the wind caught it too, but for a moment he'd thought Sephine was back. It was enough anyway to encourage him to swing his leg up and over the broom and tentatively fly it round to the Gryffindor Tower. He wasn't surprised to find James, Sirius, Peter, Lily and Martin sitting in there. He rapped on the window and was rewarded with expressions of surprise that would have been comical in other circumstances. After explaining to them, he then demanded to know what he had been forced to do this time. It was with difficulty that the account was presented to him in a serious manner - the photos of Sephine and Trugin were, of course, absolutely hilarious if you didn't know who had done them or why. "I think you should apologise to Sephine." Lily suggested. "Wha-at?" Martin exclaimed. "God knows what she'd do to you if you told her it was you! Plus, it's gonna be funny watching her tear Charlie to pieces when she finds him!" Lily didn't press the point, seeing that no one else was with her on this one. "But if Charlie didn't do it, then why is he hiding?" Remus asked. "He knows she'll automatically blame him." Sirius said with a smirk. Just then there was a sharp knock on the door and Professor McGonagall strode in. She stopped abruptly upon seeing the group, and looked in shock at Lily. "Lillian Evans! What are you doing in the boys' dormitory?" Lily seemed a little surprised at this question. "I was talking with my friends." "Get out of here! You can talk to them in your house Common Room if you choose! Girls should not spend their Sundays in boys' dormitories!" The young Professor seemed quite flustered and embarrassed. When Lily had left, casting a bemused look behind her, McGonagall turned to the boys. "Now. Remus Lupin? Professor Dumbledore urgently needs to speak with you. Follow me please." And she strode out again. Remus obediently followed her, looking back once to see Sirius give him the thumbs up sign and a cheery grin. This time, although Remus thought he saw something move in a painting, Colonel Collins was wise enough to stay away - he wasn't going to mess with a Professor. When they got to the gargoyle, Remus watched with interest to see what spell McGonagall would perform. He was disappointed however; all she did was say "Pepper imps," in a slightly disapproving tone. But then to his great astonishment and delight, the gargoyle jumped up and moved to one side, revealing a green granite staircase revolving silently upwards. At the top, the heavy oak door was already open. As Remus stepped into Dumbledore's office after McGonagall, he saw the wizard standing by his window talking to two huge flame-coloured birds. He looked up at the boy as he came in and then turned back to the phoenixes. "Fawkes, why don't you take your new friend for a tour of Hogwarts, eh?" The phoenix that hadn't been addressed gave a small shriek of what sounded to Remus to be alarm. Dumbledore hesitated in the act of opening the window. "Hmm. I forgot about that, I apologise. All right, I'll let you two chat for a bit in the next room. Maybe you could learn a bit from Fawkes.?" Remus swore he saw that phoenix raise a golden eyebrow at this, but couldn't be sure. Dumbledore pulled a painting on the wall out, unveiling a dark stone passage just big enough for the phoenixes to scrabble down. Remus could hear the tapping of their claws on the stone receding even as Dumbledore swung the painting back. Now he turned to McGonagall and Remus. Remus noted that McGonagall was looking at Dumbledore with a terribly shocked expression. She gathered herself together, though, and turned and left them alone. He swore he heard her mutter, "It'll be a while before I get used to this." as she swished out, head bowed slightly. "Hello, Remus." Dumbledore said kindly, drawing attention back to himself. "Are you okay?" he asked. "Um. yeah." Remus was surprised he'd been asked this - he'd expected to have been told immediately how much trouble he was in and how long he was going to be suspended for or when his expulsion would take force. But Dumbledore just smiled sadly and invited him to sit down in the big padded- leather chair opposite the Headmaster. "Remus, I would like to stress here that you are not in trouble. I want to find out what the problem is, so that we can work out a solution." Deja vu flashed through Remus' head. He felt exactly as he had done the last time that they'd met - before school - to sort out the previous problem. Remus sighed. He suddenly felt home sick. He remembered their little house in Manchester, and all the other kids: the children of his father's work-mates. He remembered his mother. Although she'd been stressed there, they'd all been happier there than they had been since. Well apart from the three weeks or so they'd spent in peace at Hogsmeade. But Remus couldn't remember that place as a place of peace anymore. Dumbledore was still sitting patiently, waiting for him to begin his tale, or at least make some excuse. Remus yet again fought the threatening tears bitterly and angrily. He would not cry, he would not. And yet again, his emotions were quelled for the time being, forced to build up more and more. Finally, he began his tale. He told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Dumbledore listened quietly and patiently. He didn't interrupt, but whenever Remus spoke of Colonel Collins the old wizard's expression became dark. When he'd finally finished his tale, Remus sat watching the Headmaster's expression for any sign of anger, or any sign of, well. anything. But Dumbledore just leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin, and a distracted look in the depths of his eyes. "Very good, Remus. I'm terribly sorry this had to happen to you, and so soon into your first term here. Colonel Collins will be. dealt with, and if you don't mind, I'm sure Professor Trugin would like his wolf-skin cloak back-" Remus gulped. "And before you leave, Remus," Dumbledore added quietly as Remus rose from his seat, "is there anything else you want to talk about?" Remus instantly thought of the half-truths that he'd told his friends; the trouble he knew he would have in convincing them why he had to leave school regularly for only a night and a morning; Sephine and Charlie's ignorance of even the white-lies he's told his fellow Gryffindors. He shook his head. "No, sir, thank you." And he opened the shiny oak door and stepped onto the now downwards-revolving staircase.