Title: A Wizard and His Werewolf: An Unexpected Tail – Dear Reader
Author: Nijijin
Rating: R
Pairing: Light SS/RL, NL/DM/HP
Disclaimer: They don't belong to me…but aren't they so much fun to borrow?
Feedback: Gently Please
Notes: As mentioned in An Unexpected Tail and A Second Tail, these stories are excerpts from Severus Snape's non-fiction book. They are based on the journal entries the Potions Master wrote while doing research on werewolves with Remus Lupin/Moony. Timeframe is Harry's 7th year at Hogwart's. By then, the war was over and the Dark Lord defeated. The final battle occurred sometime in the summer. School may have started a bit late. Due to his injuries, Remus doesn't return to the DADA position until just after term has started. By then, he and Severus are friends and Sevreus has convinced him to collaborate on completing a comprehensive and definitive work on werewolves.
Spoilers: Some…but mostly post war speculation.
Archive: Sure
"A Wizard And His Werewolf: An Unexpected Tail" by Severus Snape
Dedicated to RJL – Fool, though I still cannot fathom why you put up with this 'greasy git', I am grateful for all the years you have done so. Thank you.
Dear Reader,
So, your curiosity has gotten the better of you has it? Well, if you are to continue, I suppose several points should be clarified.
First, why did I choose to write this volume? Quite honestly, it was not my original intention to do so. When my colleague, Professor Remus Lupin and I decided to collaborate on a comprehensive and accurate treatise regarding werewolves, we knew that circumstance afforded us a unique opportunity. The Wolfsbane potion that allows the professor to retain his human mind after transformation would enable me to spend a great deal of time observing a relatively docile werewolf.
Typically, during the course of a research project, it is my habit to maintain a very detailed journal. At a later time, only the truly scientific data is gleaned from the entries and the rest discarded. So, month after month, I spent full moon nights with, 'Moony', Professor Lupin's werewolf identity. Needless to say, my journal was painstakingly filled with detailed annotations.
It was during the hours spent reviewing my journal, that I realized many of the non-scientific entries were quite compelling. In fact, the remarks were rather entertaining. So much so, that I approached Professor Lupin with the idea of writing this book. After all, Moony would bear the brunt of exposure to a glaring public eye. As always, Remus Lupin was enthusiastically supportive of the venture and here you have the result.
Second, there is a muggle saying, 'do not try this at home.' Do not expect that you can simply sit an uncle or sister before the family hearth during a full moon night and discover their secret werewolf life. Make no mistake, you will most certainly gain an abrupt and rather painful insight, just not the one you intended.
As I have already mentioned, in part, circumstance afforded this unique opportunity. The availability of the Wolfsbane potion to Professor Lupin is most certainly a key factor. However, it is not the only aspect that worked in our favor.
We have known each other since childhood and I did, in fact, witness my first transformation while we were attending Hogwarts together. Through the years, and especially during the war, I, begrudgingly, came to accept and even rely on Moony. I know Professor Lupin/Moony shares the same sentiments with regard to me. Without the unwavering ability to trust each other, this project could not have gone forward.
The environment in which we conducted our research was strictly controlled. One might remember a time when the naysayers questioned the sensibility of letting a werewolf teach at a school full of children. Regretfully, I was one such idiot. One might also remember, that during the war, it was this particular werewolf who saved that same school while it was full of children.
For that reason, we were able to complete our project with the full knowledge and approval of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts' staff, students and their parents. Much to our surprise, many gave us their support and assistance. Everyone did an admirable job of understanding the confidential nature of our work and kept it private.
Hogwarts, even before the war, is heavily fortified to ensure the safety of all who enter. It is, in fact, quite a fortress. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, some rather ingenious students and quite surprisingly, a few Aurors were able to spell wards that created a series of impenetrable hidden passages whereby Moony could freely traverse the castle and grounds. At will, we were able to move from my dungeon to designated areas of the grounds and finally to the Forbidden Forest. If accurate data was to be had, the werewolf needed to be observed in a more natural but safe setting.
It would be nearly impossible to duplicate these conditions as well as the myriad of smaller details that affected this process. As a colleague of mine would say, 'the sun, moon and stars would need to be perfectly aligned,' for such an opportunity to occur again.
Finally, as you may have already gathered, this entire venture was not the work of one or two wizards. The success of this daunting task was most certainly dependent upon the contributions of many others. Exceptional wizards, witches, muggles, half-giants, ghosts, elves, and even an infuriating toad committed themselves with enthusiasm. I am fully aware this unwavering allegiance stems from their love and devotion for one rather extraordinary werewolf.
Ultimately, no inroads into understanding werewolves could have been made without, Remus Lupin/Moony. If I have given you the false impression that this wizard/werewolf is perfect, let me correct that misconception immediately.
Remus Lupin/Moony is stubborn, argumentative, and manipulating. Often times, his single mindedness is myopic. His sense of humor leaves little to be desired. His constantly cheerful demeanor aggravates on a regular basis. His overwhelming sense of duty and honor is a danger, granted mostly to him. I could continue, but there would certainly be enough material for another book.
Why then, does he have such a faithful following? Quite simply, Remus Lupin/Moony is passionately dedicated to others and the joy he derives from this pledge cannot be missed by anyone who has ever met or known him.
So, reader, are you sufficiently intrigued? Are you ready to meet and know Moony as his friends do? Very well, proceed.
