Chapter Four

Remus' first impression of Mr. Thunderburg was that he was not someone to cross. He was a short, plump, middle-aged man with balding hair and a rosy sort of complexion that deceptively gave the impression of someone's kind old grandfather. However, the haughty expression on his face and the angry glint in his eyes told Remus immediately that this man was not a kind person at all.

As Remus approached the man's desk, he took a few seconds to look around the office. It was large and rather well lit, but it looked more like a hunting lodge than it did a work place. There were dear antlers on the walls, as well as husks of various magical creatures that Remus knew were endangered; it was illegal to kill them, but it seemed that Mr. Thunderburg couldn't be bothered with such trivialities. Remus also noticed a rather large painting on the wall behind Mr. Thunderburg's desk, depicting in fairly graphic detail a wizard hunting down a werewolf pack. Remus shuddered. Like all wizard paintings, this one moved, showing one of the younger members of the pack being killed by the hunter.

"Ah, Mr. Lupin," Thunderburg said, in the same gruff voice. "You're on time. Good." He stopped speaking as he noticed where Remus' attention was focused. He smiled maliciously. "I see you've noticed my painting. I'm rather fond of it, though I don't suppose you'd be able to appreciate its beauty," He said rather snidely. Obviously, he was hoping to get some sort of angry response.

Remus merely raised an eyebrow at the man. "No, sir, I don't suppose I would." He agreed, keeping his tone neutral. Remus knew that nothing would be gained by making this man angry, no matter how insulted he was.

Thunderburg imitated the gesture. "Not going to get angry, eh? Good, things'll go much smoother that way," he said with a small chuckle. He shuffled a few papers around on his desk, until he finally found the one he was looking for. "Now, Mr. Lupin, I've got a few questions to ask you, before you see our Healer."

"Sirius, will you please relax? Moony's fine!It's not as if they can actually do anything to hurt him, you know,"James said, sighing in exasperation. They'd been at work for three hours, and both of them had piles of paper work to do. Sirius, rather than fill out reports about Death Eater attacks, had taken to pacing first his own and then James' cubicle when the time for Remus' appointment approached. He knew James and Remus were both right - it was just an interview and a physical, after all, what was there to be worried about?

"I know," Sirius said. "But I can't help worrying, you know?" He sighed as he sat down in a chair across from James' desk. To be honest, Sirius had no idea why he was so nervous. All he knew was that he would much rather be with Remus right now.

Remus' interview with Mr. Thunderburg had taken nearly an hour, and had involved questions that were much too personal for Remus' taste. However, he'd answered all of them honestly; he'd rather not risk getting into trouble with the Ministry by making them think he had something to hide - not when they could force him to give up his children.

After the meeting, Mr. Thunderburg's secretary, Clara, had led Remus to a small examining room on the next floor, and told him to wait for his assigned examiner. Remus sat on the metal slab that evidently served as an examining table for nearly five minutes, looking around the bare white room, before a tall, thin man with flaming red hair and icy blue eyes entered. Remus recognized him immediately; his name was David Cooke, and he'd been a Ravenclaw in the same year as Remus. David smiled when he looked up from his clipboard to see Remus sitting there.

"Hello, Remus. I don't suppose you remember me, do you? It's been quite a few years since we left Hogwarts, after all," he said, moving forward with his hand outstretched.

Remus took his hand and shook it warily. "Yes, I remember. We were both Prefects." He was a little uneasy about having David examine him. The redhead had been one of the only other boys in the school who was gay, besides Remus and Sirius, and he'd never made a secret of the fact that he'd found Remus attractive. Remus remembered how the boy had never missed a chance to hit on him, or ask him out. Even when Sirius was around, David had continuously hit on Remus, resulting inthe redheadtaking several trips to the Hospital Wing, and Sirius getting several more detentions. Remus wondered if David was still attracted to him.

David nodded as he released Remus' hand. "Right then, I guess we'd better get on with this, eh? I'll need you to lay down on the table...good," he said, as Remus followeddid as he was told. "Now, Remus, I'm terribly sorry, but this exam, in case you didn't know, is going to be a bit, er, 'hands on' shall we say. I hope that doesn't make you uncomfortable." David said, his expression radiating concern. Remus wondered how sincere that concern was.

"What do you mean, 'hands on'?" Remus asked, as he tried to make himself comfortable on the cold, hard table.

David looked somewhat uncomfortable."Er, well, what I mean is that I'm going to have to physically touch you, instead of using my wand to do anything. Sorry'bout that. Ministry regulations and all, y'know. Now, I'm going to have to ask you to take off your shirt,"he said with a blush.

Remus did so, very reluctantly. He desperately wished that Sirius could have accompanied him. It would have made him feel much better about having to be half naked in front of someone who'd lusted after him for so long in school. Remus could tell, as he slipped his shirt off, that David was still very much attracted to him, as the other man eyed his chest lustily.

After a while, Sirius did go back to his own cubicle. He attempted to get back to work, but decided that it was useless; he simply couldn't concentrate. Just as he was picking up a file from his desk, however, Sirius heard something- in his mind. Remus was calling him.