ROTRUFIN

CHAPTER 12-M.I.A Again

"I don't believe that prick," I said shaking my head.

James was glaring after Remus as if he liked to kick the crap out of him.

"I know!" Lily cried. "He didn't even seem upset that he did it!"

"Let's go," I said disgustedly.

We continued on our way to the hospital wing.

We entered the wing and Professor Gray looked up from checking on Emma.

"How's she doing?" I asked quietly.

"Better," Professor Gray said softly. "She should be well in a day or too. Luckily, nothing was seriously damaged from that fall. I was so sure she'd have more injuries than this."

"I know," Lily said. "God was with her."

We all nodded and agreed.

"Where'd that wolf come from?" Professor Gray asked applying a bandage around Emma's arm.

We looked at each other.

Just then, Professor Dumbledore entered the hospital wing.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Dumbledore could explain this better without telling them that Remus was a werewolf flat out.

"Professor Gray just asked where that wolf came from," Lily said.

"I've never seen it around before," Professor Gray continued looking at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore sighed.

"I'm afraid that the wolf is actually a werewolf," Dumbledore said quietly.

"A werewolf?" Professor Gray asked wide-eyed.

Dumbledore nodded.

Lily, James and I waited with baited breath. Dumbledore had to tell him. It was best if he told then someone find out and try and actually kill Remus with a silver object.

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "One of your students actually…Remus Lupin."

Professor Gray's eyes were wide.

"Good Lord," he said quietly. "I actually had a suspicion because Lupin always seemed sick before a full moon and didn't appear in class. But why on earth is he acting like he is now? It doesn't make sense."

"We don't know," Dumbledore said.

He turned to us.

"Where were you lot off to?"

"Professor Patterson," Lily said. "We're wondering if maybe Remus got a hold of some kind of plant. That would account for his actions now."

Dumbledore sighed again.

"I'm afraid that there's no plant that exists today that would account for aggressive and arrogant behavior that Remus is displaying,"

We looked at each other.

"You mean he's acting on his own accord? This is the real Remus?" I asked swallowing a lump of tears.

"I didn't say that," Dumbledore said patiently. "What I'm saying might be that Remus is acting this way not on his own accord."

"Someone's making him act this way?" James asked.

"It's quite possible," Dumbledore said. "But then again, there is that chance that this is the real Remus too. We can't rule anything out."

"If it is, he's definitely snapped," James said looking at me.

LILY.

I didn't want to believe that this really was Remus' own behavior…that he was acting like this on his own accord.

"I think he's acing not on his own," I said. "I can't believe Remus would just turn like this."

"I know," James said putting an arm around my shoulders. "But unfortunately, the only one who knows is Remus himself."

"So the trip to Professor Patterson is a waste of time yes?" Sirius asked Dumbledore.

"I'm afraid so," he said nodding. "As for Miss Gibson, when she is alright I want you three to stay with her. The news of Ellie probably won't sink in yet."

We nodded.

"And most important, stay clear of Remus," Dumbledore continued. "We don't want him going off again."

He put a hand on Sirius' shoulder before leaving the hospital wing.

We followed him out once I gave Emma a quick hug and kiss.

We decided to head to the library.

"I don't care what Dumbledore says," Sirius growled as we entered the library. "I'm checking out the Herbology book."

"You heard him though," I said. "There's no plant that exists that accounts for this behavior."

"Well something has to! I'm not going to believe that Remus is acing like this on his own," Sirius snapped.

James and I headed over to a table and sat down. Sirius immediately went over to the HERBOLOGY section and scanned the book spines.

Finally, he pulled one from the shelf and came over to us.

"Magical Plants of the 20th Century," James said aloud reading the cover.

Sirius sat down and flipped open the book. He had a look of determination on his face that I've rarely seen before.

He scanned the pages.

I looked up. Remus was coming into the library.

Two first years accidentally bumped into him. They immediately apologized.

"Don't apologize for your stupidity. It's inbred," Remus said coldly.

The first years looked scandalized before fleeing from the library.

"Look who's here," I whispered nudging Sirius, who was sitting next to me.

Sirius raised his eyes.

Remus was approaching us.

"Hi Moony," James said in a voice of forced cheerfulness.

I knew he was taking Dumbledore's advice and trying not to set Remus off again.

"What are you three doing here?" Remus asked sitting down on my other side.

"Reading," Sirius said.

"Well, that's apparent," Remus snickered.

Sirius went to retort, but I jabbed him in the ribs to silence him. He muttered something under his breath before returning his eyes onto the book.

"So, Lily," Remus said turning to me. "How's Emma doing?"

I felt ice settle into my stomach.

"She's stable," I said. "Professor Gray is helping her. She's lucky she didn't have anything more serious wrong with her after that fall."

Remus didn't reply. He was studying the book that Sirius was reading.

"Why are you searching in the Herbology book? Are you looking for a particular plant or something?"

"Yes," Sirius grunted.

"Well, I could help you, you know. I know a lot about Herbology and plants. I am a werewolf after all. I've studied all kinds of plants. What are you looking for?"

"The Jerkus Maximus plant," Sirius said not taking his eyes off the book.

I thought that was clever, but dangerous at the same time. He was obviously not caring that he could set Remus off by that comment.

"Why would you need that plant? I've already found it though," Remus said. "It's sitting next to Lily."

Sirius' head snapped up at that comment. Remus was smirking at Sirius. He slammed the book shut with a loud 'boom' that echoed throughout the library.

"What's your problem pal?" Sirius asked. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?" Remus challenged.

"Like an asshole," James said bluntly.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus said stiffly.

He got up from the table.

Sirius went to lunge for him, but James managed to restrain him.

Remus began walking out of the library. I jogged after him.

"Remus?" I asked, gently grabbing his arm and spinning him around to face me.

He didn't shrug my arm off but he glared at me.

"What?"

"Why are you acting differently?" I asked as tears formed in my eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus said and yanked his arm out of my grip now. "I would appreciate it if you all stopped questioning me."

He shoved me backwards. My back crashed into a nearby bookshelf and several books toppled on top of me.

Remus left the library.

Sirius and James rushed forward to help me up.

"You okay?" James asked concerned.

"Yeah," I said dusting myself off.

I straightened my robe out and my skirt.

"Let's just go to class okay?" I asked brushing past James and Sirius.

We left the library and headed to Charms.

Remus naturally began showing up late and he didn't even stay for his detention. He didn't stay for the first ones he received either.

The teachers all began talking about him now…even the other students. They couldn't understand what was going on with him. Why he was suddenly acting so mean and cruel.

They all began to fear him now. No one would go ten feet near him, nor sit next to him for that matter.

Emma recovered. She was allowed to leave the hospital wing a few days later. Once she heard about Ellie she went hysterical again.

It took her a good month to bounce back to somewhat normality. But she was never the same and now she completely hated Remus…another thing I never thought I'd hear her say.

Sirius and James too seemed to feel that way. Sirius could not find one flower or plant that would account for anything remotely close to Remus' behavior. Dumbledore was right.

So the other alternative was he was acting like this on his own…or someone was making him do it. Mostly everyone tended to go toward the second one, but the other half believed the first one. It was really split down the middle and very hard to determine.

We were walking down the corridor to head to dinner when Remus appeared and was walking toward us.

"Hi Emma," Remus purred. "How are you feeling?"

"Leave me alone," Emma said as she kept walking.

"I'm talking to you," Remus snapped as he grabbed Emma's arm and spun her around to face him.

Emma retorted my bringing her knee up into his groin and yanking her arm free.

"Don't touch me, you monster!" Emma snarled her honey brown eyes flashing. "Stay the fuck away from me!"

With that, she spun around and continued to head down the corridor.

Remus was still gasping for breath. We continued to follow Emma down the corridor.

EMMA.

I was so completely angry with Remus it was more like enragement. I couldn't bear to see him nor speak to him. He disgusted me.

I wanted to hurt him back…someway.

That night at dinner, I helped myself to some roast pork.

"I want to hurt him the same way he hurt me," I said to James, Lily and Sirius.

"We know how you feel," James said gently. "But we're thinking he's not acting on his own accord. If this is the case, he can't help it. It's not really him."

"And if it is?" I challenged.

"Then we'll beat the snot out of him, no biggie," Sirius said helping himself to some mashed potatoes.

I felt my lip twitch.

"Seriously," I said.

"That's my name," Sirius said.

I knew he was trying to lighten the mood for once. Since this all started it's been nothing but darkness.

"Knock it off, goofball," James said rolling his eyes.

"I'm being serious," I said sighing.

"I'm serious," Sirius said.

"Sirius," I said in a warning tone.

"Fine," Sirius said. "If it is Remus acting on his own, I would want to know what turned him."

"Me too," James added. "What made Remus decide to act like this."

We continued to eat dinner.

The next morning at breakfast, we noticed Remus was missing.

"Great," James said. "Remus is MIA again."

"Where could he have gone to now?" Sirius said.

The owl post arrived.

My owl landed gracefully on my shoulder. I took the copy of the Daily Prophet and gave her a piece of bacon as thanks. She hooted softly and took off again.

"Oh no," I moaned.

"What's wrong?" Lily asked leaning close to read.

"Peter's escaped the Ministry's holding facility,"

"You mean he broke out the Ministry of Magic?" Sirius asked wide-eyed.

I nodded.

"Listen to this: "Early last night, Peter Pettigrew, who was being questioned for the kidnapping of a child, broke out of the Ministry of Magic. He was being held in the Magical Law Enforcement section and around midnight, officials estimate, he broke out. Oddly, there's no sign of forced entry or exit from Pettigrew's cell. Law Officials have put out a Muggle APB, "All Person Bulletin" on any witch or wizard with the knowledge of where Pettigrew might go or any knowledge of the breakout. A reward is being issued by the Ministry. 3000 gold galleons will be presented to the person who helps capture Peter,"

"Bloody hell," Sirius said.

"Um guys?" James said suddenly dropping his fork onto his plate.

"What?"

"Around midnight I had woken up to get a drink of water," James said. "I noticed Remus was missing then."

"So the same time Peter escapes the Ministry, Remus goes missing too?" I said slowly. "That's completely odd."

"I'll say," Lily commented. "What do you think is going on here?"

"That I don't know," James said. "But I have a feeling that it isn't good."

We all looked at each other.

"Why didn't you say something earlier?" Lily asked.

"Because I wasn't sure if it was important or not," James replied. "Now it is."

"It doesn't matter," I said briskly. "What matters now is that we find out where Peter and Remus went and maybe then we'll find out why Remus is acting the way he is."

Lily and James nodded. Sirius pushed his food around on his plate.

"If we could do that, where would we start?" Sirius asked.

"By thinking like Peter," James said closing his eyes briefly. "What's the one thing Peter was good at?"

We all sat, and thought.

After a few moments, we gave up. James was grinning.

"Peter was good at being an Animagi right? I bet he changed into the rat and escaped the Ministry…but also, Peter was easily manipulated,"

"So someone's manipulating Peter too?" Lily asked. "But who?"

"Who's the one...thing…that we all fear?"