A/N: Hey everyone. I'm sorry this chapter is later than I expected. Allow me to explain how it happened:
I had the chapter nearly finished the weekend before last. Unfortunately, I left the nearly-finished chapter at home after I went to college, so I couldn't finish it. I had to wait until this last weekend to go back home and get it. Once I had, I finished writing it that day. The next day, I typed nearly all of it, and then Word shut down for no reason with no warning, and I hadn't saved. I got really mad at it then, and so I stopped.
Now, I'm really mad at something else (World of Warcraft, if you're interested), so I'm back to typing this. I shall save after every two sentences, and hopefully, this will actually get to you this time. I hope you enjoy!
Questions:
"Why isn't Remus eating very much?"
Ah, well, I can't tell you that. Sorry.
"Does he have other food requirements we don't know about?"
If he does, he's not eating that either, because he is extremely skinny, remember?
"Does he disappear to go eat people or something?"
Eww...No, he doesn't. But good theory, anyway.
"Why is Lupin so desperate to get Harry away from his relatives?"
Can't tell you that, either. Sorry
"What does he want with him, or is it just the 'kindly Lupin' thing?"
I also can't tell you that. I bet this is annoying.
The Truth About Werewolves
Sirius Revenge
Chapter Five: To Ponder for the Truth
Later that evening, as Snape sat in his office, doing an inventory of his potion ingredients, Snape found his thoughts drifting, once again, to Lupin.
Snape could not fathom why Lupin wanted Potter to leave the place that was safest for him, unless Lupin had ill will for the little brat. Then again, Snape had ill will towards Potter, and he didn't want him to leave his aunt and uncle. One reason being that Snape wouldn't wish the wrath of the Dark Lord on anyone - not even Potter. Another reason being that he didn't want to have to put up with Potter while Snape was at Grimmauld Place - the Weasley clan was more than enough for him.
Would Lupin want Potter removed to Grimmauld Place because he did want to spend time with the boy? That seemed unreasonably selfish for Lupin, whom Snape had generally considered at least somewhat logical. Perhaps Lupin thought Potter would need the company after the death of his precious godfather? Well, he would have it soon enough when school began, and besides, Potter had barely known Black at all - he had known Diggory better, and he'd survived after that death. Lupin wasn't pushing for Potter to be removed after Diggory died. Although Black had been more than loud enough for both of them.
Perhaps Lupin wanted Potter for his own comfort? Lupin had known Black much better than Potter. That, too, didn't seem right - Lupin had always preferred to suffer alone, and hated to bring other people down.
If it was ill-intent toward Potter what could have caused Lupin to feel that way? Snape couldn't believe that Lupin was working for the Dark Lord. If he was, no one knew about it - not even the Dark Lord himself.
Snape sat in thought, a glass jar of a pickled snail clamped in his hands - forgotten. He couldn't think of any other explanation, and his mind kept turning to the only explanation that it could make sense of - that Lupin had ill will toward Potter because the werewolf had ill will toward Potter. Because the werewolf had ill will toward all humans.
oOo
In the end, Lupin got his way. Snape didn't know how that had happened. Last he'd known, Dumbledore's answer was a resolute "no." It had been no more than a day ago. And now, Potter was eating dinner at Grimmauld Place. Dumbledore made a point of sitting away from Potter, and Snape took the hint, and joined him.
At the other end of the table, Lupin was smiling faintly as he avoided eating any more than was necessary. Molly was running her usual worrisome rounds, piling food on any plate with a clear spot for it. When she ate, Snape didn't know. She was fretting and fussing over Potter more than ever. All around him, his pile of red-headed friends were celebrating in loud voices and suspicious pops. The Weasley twins quieted down to silence whenever their mother went by and shot them a look. Potter grinned at his friends when they bothered to look at him, then stared gloomily at his plate, eating less than Lupin, and not hiding it nearly as well, causing Molly to fret even more.
Nearer the middle of the table, whispered discussions about recent Order business were being drowned out by the louder diners. Dumbledore had pulled Snape clear to the end, where they were unlikely to be overheard by anyone, and where they could not overhear anyone.
For the first half of the meal, Dumbledore remained silent, contemplating his meal as though it held the secrets of life. Snape had never seen him so solemn and withdrawn at a public event.
When dessert was served, Dumbledore cut his limited conversation entirely, as other conversation reached its climax. Instead, the Headmaster turned to Snape with a quiet whisper.
"Severus, I want you to be very quiet about this, okay?" The man actually waited for him to nod. "I've used some of my spare time," Dumbledore allowed himself a small grin. "To research your, ah . . . observation of Mr. Lupin. I would prefer not to let any of the others know about this. If too many people start watching him, he'll notice and withdraw."
Snape nodded. "What have you found out?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Not much, yet, I'm afraid. I was correct when I said there have been no reports of such a thing. The werewolves have always died after their strange reaction to stunners."
"Is there something else we can check?" whispered Snape. "Shouldn't the Werewolf Registration Office have reports on . . ."
"No," interrupted Dumbledore. "They keep nothing like this. Those deaths are always listed as normal suicide. No one cares much to keep track of things like this."
"Is there noting else we can find?"
"I will be looking into some of our oldest accounts dealing with werewolves. Evidence suggests that they were tolerated far more in earlier times than in our own. Hopefully these will provide some insight into the situation. Until then, please just keep an eye on him. He's been acting very oddly lately. Perhaps being stunned has changed him in some way?"
Snape frowned at the Headmaster. "What do you mean? And . . . may I inquire as to why you gave into him about Potter?"
Dumbledore sighed and, for the first time during the meal, he glanced at Potter and Lupin. "I did not."
Snape stared. "You didn't?"
"No, I did not. Mr. Lupin, along with Messrs. Fred and George Weasley, went and retrieved him last night, without my permission."