CHAPTER 31

Je Ne Mourrai Pas

They quietly crawled out of the knight's armor on the first floor. First, Wormtail, to make sure that the coast was clear. Then Padfoot, keeping a close eye on Moony as he jumped out. Then, with a bit of difficulty, came Prongs. They recognized the corridor at once, and trodded off to the right, looking for places in which to explore. They had already mapped the second floor corridors, and were heading for the dungeons.

Moony walked between Padfoot and Prongs, trying as hard as he could to keep the wolf at bay. It was especially hard tonight, for some reason. He couldn't concentrate on what they were doing. He couldn't think properly.

A musical sound came from their left, like a music box. Someone's door was opened down the corridor that led to Ancient Runes. Wormtail ran ahead and peered around the corner. Turning toward the other three, he nodded quickly. They followed him around the corner to find out what exactly the music was coming from.

The sight before them was a melancholy one. Professor June was standing over a packed suitcase. He seemed to be finally leaving after three years of teaching. His face was illuminated by the candlelight coming from a candle set on his table. He held a small music box in his hand. It was outlined in silver and blue, and engraved on top were the words Je ne vais pas mort. The phrase was under a shining full moon. The tune was sad, sorrowful, and June seemed to be silently crying to himself as the four boys watched him.

Moony, staring at the full moon, felt the wolf creep back up. He gave a low growl in the back of his throat, and Sirius nipped him on the ear. The wolf inside him grew stronger, and the growl grew louder. No one nipped him! No one ---

Prongs snorted quietly, and Moony shook his head. He couldn't let the wolf come back.

They continued on down the corridor, then down the stairs to the dungeon.

The shuffling of feet was heard to their right, and they quickly ducked into a dark corner. Professor Slughorn walked past them, wand in hand. He walked into the Potions dungeon, and reappeared with some papers. He then locked the door behind him and made his way out. Silence returned to the corridor, and the four of them continued down the passageway, remembering everything that they passed.

Finally, the passageway ended, and Padfoot ran to a torch and jumped at it. With one swipe of his paw, the torch fell off of its perch and into a puddle of water that had resided on the dungeon floor. Prongs gave him a look of surprise, but he soon saw why Padfoot had done such a thing.

The entire wall in front of them had slowly gotten larger, and now the four of them stood in front of a secret passageway.

Padfoot bounded in front of them as Wormtail cowered behind Prongs. Moony followed Padfoot into the darkness, trying to adjust their animal- like eyes to the changing light. Prongs's eyes glowed as he entered the blackness, and Wormtail squeaked disdainfully as he was forced to follow. Moony could still hear the music box echoing through the corridors.

The tunnel grew smaller as they continued through it. And in turn, it grew darker. Luckily, they could see quite well with their animal eyes.

Soon, Moony saw an opening at the end, and began to run quickly for the exit. He was feeling very cramped, but not as much as Prongs. Prongs had to crawl through half of the tunnel, on account of his height. It had been very humorous to see a stag on its knees, edging its way through the darkness.

The full moon was showing brightly as they drew closer to the exit. Padfoot ran ahead of Moony and took a breath. He was free again. Prongs staggered out after Padfoot, and Moony came charging after the still squeaking Wormtail.

The full moon hit Moony's face without warning, and he choked. The wolf! The wolf was rising! The wolf was taking hold ---

Moony howled and dropped, convulsing, on the ground. Prongs and Padfoot ran to him and examined him.

Blood. He could smell it.

Prongs jumped back as Moony snapped at him, growling. Padfoot nipped him again on the ear, and the wolf snarled and lunged at him. Except this time it wasn't out of fun. It was real.

Padfoot yelped, and fell to the ground. Prongs charged at Moony, but Moony was gone. The wolf attacked Prongs as well, aiming his fangs at his legs. Prongs stumbled back, and the wolf smiled evilly.

"Hello? Who's out there?"

It was Hagrid. They must have been somewhere in the Forbidden Forest. Prongs darted his stare at the wolf, who had turned his head toward the sound of the voice.

No, Remus! Prongs thought, and he leaped to the snarling wolf.

But the wolf was too quick. He was off in an instant, running in the direction of Hagrid.

"S'at you, Firenze?"

Padfoot shook his head, gathering his senses, and then leaped to his feet and ran after the wolf. They couldn't let him be seen! They couldn't let him get to Hagrid! The moonlight glistened on the back of the wolf, and Padfoot lunged at him, digging his claws and teeth into his friend. The wolf howled and tried to bite back, but Padfoot had him this time. He pounded his paws on the top of the wolf's head, trying to get him to stop.

Wake up, Moony! Wake up!

They rolled into the bushes, out of the moonlight. The wolf blinked, and the snarling ceased. He stared at Padfoot, who was bleeding from the cheek and chest, and then his eyes grew wide.

Oh, God. What have I done?

Padfoot, seeing that he had control again, began to descend off of him, but then footsteps came from their right, and he pushed him back into the dirt and thorns.

"'Ello?" Hagrid's large boots were now visible.

There was a rustling, and then Hagrid looked up.

"Ah, jus' a deer. Haven' seen yer kind in this forest fer a while. Yeh got yerself a good fight, I see," Hagrid said, staring at it. Moony half expected Hagrid to trap Prongs and try to nurse him back to health. But Hagrid headed off, preoccupied, and it was again silent in the woods.

The two boys stood, still in animal form, and trotted back to a bleeding Prongs and Wormtail, who was still squeaking.

Moony looked in horror at Prongs, who was also terribly scratched. Had he done that? Prongs looked away from Moony, and headed back to the tunnel that they had discovered. The other three followed.

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"Now where was that tunnel?"

"Somewhere around there," James said, pointing to the dungeon dead end, and he stuck another flavored bean into his mouth. "You all packed, Padfoot?"

"Yeah," Sirius said, sucking on the end of his quill. "I think it was closer to here."

"How did you know about it anyway?" James asked.

Sirius's face stung. There was a large cut that covered his cheek, and more hidden under his cloak. James wasn't as badly injured, but he had a very nasty scratch on his neck and scratches all over his arms. His knees and elbows were also scraped from the tunnel.

"I was walking out of Slughorn's class, and Wormtail backed into this torch. Well, no one else noticed, but after the torch was extinguished in the puddle, the corridor seemed to be a little longer." Sirius looked over at Remus, who was still sleeping silently in his bed. He had been very shaken upon returning from the hospital wing earlier that morning, and had only said, "Some night, huh?" before falling asleep.

"You think he's all right?" Sirius asked.

"Of course he's all right," James said. "We're the ones that were bleeding to death. Oh, and by the way, I don't think it's good to nip him on the ear anymore."

"No, really?" Sirius huffed, and went back to the map. The door banged open, and Peter appeared.

"Professor June wants to see Moony," Peter said, looking at the back of Remus.

"Hey, Moony! Wake up!" Sirius threw a pillow at him, and he snapped up, jumping out of bed.

"Huh?" he snorted.

"June wants to see you," James said, taking another bean out of his box.

Professor June was waiting outside the Tower, looking very shabby indeed. The stick was in his hands, and announced Remus's arrival as he stepped out of the portrait hole.

"Remus Lupin, five feet away," The stick's notch moved, and June smiled warmly.

"Ah, Remus," June said. "I wanted to speak with you before I left. Are you packed?"

"Yes," said Remus.

"You have a few minutes to spare?"

"Yes."

"What time does the train leave?"

"Five o' clock."

"Well, that's later than I thought. Could you follow me, please?" June held his stick in front of him, and the stick guided him and Remus down the staircase and through the school to the Ancient Runes office. There lay June's suitcase, all packed and ready to go. But the music box was still sitting out on his desk. June's stick told him where to place his hand, and June picked it up and felt it over.

"Do you know what this is, Remus?" he said quietly.

"Erm --- it's a music box, Professor," Remus said, not sure of what he meant.

"It was my son's," June clarified, making his way to the chair behind the desk. Remus stood in front of the desk, staring at him and the music box. "My wife and I bought it for him as a gift after he ---" he stopped, and swallowed, his Adam's apple moving up and down. "I --- I thought that we had lost him that night. He was only three months old. The music --- it soothed him during his nights. Certain nights when it became too much ---" he trailed off again, and felt the inscription on the top. He then smiled to himself sadly and asked, "Remus, can you read French?"

"A little."

"Read the inscription there." June handed him the music box, and Remus peered at the letters.

"Je ne mourrai pas," he read.

"I will not die," June recited. "It gave him hope. It gave me hope. After he died, everything changed. The --- the world is a cruel place, Remus. I beg you to be careful." June's smile faded, and he gripped his stick. "You remind me so much of him. You even look like him --- from what I can remember ---"

"How did it happen, Professor?" Remus asked. He knew he shouldn't have. He knew it was a personal question, but it had been eating inside him for the whole year.

"You're too young to worry yourself with that answer. Just know that there are dangers out there for boys like yourself. There are people who make it their lives to hurt you, to --- to kill you," June said quickly, and then added even quicker, "I want you to have this. Maybe it will bring you more luck than it did us."

Remus blinked, and then stared down at the little music box. He opened the top, and a quiet tune rolled out.

"The song is called 'La Lune Romaine,'" June said quietly, "It tells a story of soldiers, surrounded by battle, and yet they take comfort in the stars and Roman moon above them. And they sleep in peace. If it be in death, or in dreams."

"It's a beautiful song," Remus said weakly, "but I can't take this. It was your son's."

"And he would have wanted you to have it," June said. "Now, I believe that you need to get ready to go. Have a wonderful summer, and as I've said before, it's been a pleasure teaching you."

They shook hands, and Remus excused himself from the room. The music box was still chiming its tune in time with his footsteps.

He never saw Professor June again. A week later, back at home in the comfort of his own kitchen, he read the obituaries for what was now becoming known as the Great War. He dropped his spoon in his cereal bowl as he spotted a name.

Messr. Michael S. June. 54. Killed last night by two unknown Death Eaters in his home. Follows his wife and son, both deceased. No survivors.