Chapter 24

Minerva McGonagall sat calmly in the plush, velvet covered high back chair and watched as Dumbledore conjured up two more beside her and moved to his own seat, behind his magnificently cluttered desk. Introductions to the visitor had already been made when he had arrived on the doorsteps of Hogwarts not fifteen minutes before so she felt no need to rise and greet him as he sat. Nor did she feel a need to rise and greet Severus Snape as he scowled and slouched into his own, green covered, seat on the opposite side of their guest. It was not that she intended to be rude; it was more that she wanted to start this impromptu meeting without the delay that pleasantries would take. She was glad to see that their guest felt the same way.

"Now Dumbledore, perhaps you could explain to me why it is that I received an urgent owl asking to speak with me immediately? Could this conversation not have taken place via fire talk?" Dennis Tamer sat tall in his seat, his mop of chestnut hair surprisingly controlled considering how long it was. She couldn't help wondering if he had once been a friend of Lockhart's, seeing as their grooming habits appeared similar. It was an uncharitable thought and she immediately turned to face Dumbledore, who had a twinkle in his eye that she suspected meant that he knew what she had been thinking. She tilted her head slightly and looked over her spectacles, waiting for the Headmaster to speak. Tamer was not the only one in this room that did not know why this meeting had been called.

"I'm sure fire talk would have been just fine, though I didn't want our conversation to risk being intercepted. Lemon drop?" The aged wizard produced a plate out of no where and Tamer took one without thinking.

"What is this urgent issue then? A wild batch of Swiss Feathertail eggs is due to hatch any time now and I would like to be there."

"Of course, of course. I don't wish to keep you from your duties with the dragons." Dumbledore looked briefly at Snape, who glared back with disinterest. "I received an important message this morning from a colleague who believes that we may have an issue with the dragons."

"What sort of issue?" Tamer leaned forward and McGonagall was very aware of how his posture switched from boastful to defensive.

"Well, that is in fact the question isn't it? He's been taking some time to himself and has been spending a lot of it in Romania, the Carpathian Mountains to be precise. It seems there have been a few instances of dragons attacking other dragons without provocation."

"It doesn't sound as though your colleague is very informed when it comes to dragon mannerisms. They don't attack each other without provocation. He most likely misinterpreted the situation."

"There is little doubt in my mind that he would raise such an issue without being positive of his findings." Dumbledore rebuffed in that kindly way of his.

"When was the last time you had a team in the Carpathian Mountains Mr. Tamer?" McGonagall asked, making sure her tone was a perfect blend of interest, politeness, and a smidgen of criticism. He reacted as she had hoped, sitting straighter and becoming slightly defensive while, at the same time, happy to tell them anything that would educate them of his position.

"Well, I believe it was…six or seven years ago? I'd have to check the records of course; the Carpathian Mountains aren't very high on our list of hotspots. The dragons there, while mixed, tend to remain in their territory and don't branch out to general population much, if at all."

"Ignoring a population of dangerous creatures for several years is not something that strikes me as competent. Tell me, are you aware of the concept of change? Or do you simply think that since the animals have not acted up before that they shall remain stagnant forever?" McGonagall resisted the urge to roll her eyes as Snape, a man that she both disliked and respected, introduced himself with his normal flare for diplomacy. Tamer bristled with indignation and looked briefly to Dumbledore before turning on the potions professor.

"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met Professor?"

"Snape." The former Death Eaters dark brown eyes stared at him assessing, waiting for his undoubted rebuke.

"Well, Professor," Tamer spoke the title as an insult. "I'm sure you're aware of the concept of funding, which is needed in order for studies of dragon populations to take place."

"And I suppose you're lacking in that area."

"Well, for the most part." Tamer turned away from the Slytherin's glare and looked at Dumbledore, hoping for understanding. "The war with You-Know-Who stressed our resources over the last few years and we are, understandably, a bit behind in our population surveys."

"Understandably. Voldemort had a great affect on our society. Though I'm sure that, now he has been gone for two years, sending someone out to the mountains to check on my colleagues' suspicions would be a reasonable action to take."

"Of course. Those mountains were on schedule for June, but I see no reason why we can't have an expedition head up earlier."

"Perhaps more than one team should go, seeing as there is the possibility of suspicious behaviour on the creatures' behalf." She smiled tightly, letting him know that it wasn't really a suggestion.

"Of course. Now, if you will all excuse me, I have a batch of hatchlings waiting to come out." He stood with a flare and, completely ignoring Snape, nodded to the two of them.

"Of course, thank you for taking our concerns seriously Mr. Tamer. If you wish you can floo back to your office from here." Dumbledore gestured towards his massive fireplace and the Manager of the Ministry's Magical Creatures, Dragon Division disappeared in a puff of ash.

"Well, that certainly was a waste of my time." Snape sat straighter now that their guest had left and looked at Dumbledore. "Perhaps you would care to enlighten us about your concerns." He sneered, though his voice held its usual lack of vehemence when speaking with the Headmaster.

"Of course Severus. I received a message from Remus Lupin this morning. He didn't go into grave detail of how he knew something was wrong in the Romanian mountains, but his concern was valid. He spoke of a wizard who seems to believe that he can control dragons. He said he goes by the name of Dragon Lord." Severus snorted in derision but McGonagall frowned as the title bounced around in her mind.

"Dragon Lord? Why is that title familiar to me Albus?"

"Because we had a student once who was often heard claiming that he would control the dragons." He looked at her, waiting for her memory to kick in and she frowned. It was difficult to forget that boy, he had disappeared without a trace after graduating from Hogwarts. Not even his parents had known where he went.

"Richard Yorkshire." She announced, nodding her head as she thought back to the burly teen who had always boasted that he would one day have reign over the dragons. Nobody had given any real attention to his boastings, thinking it to be bravado and nothing more. "You think he's this wizard that Remus mentioned?"

"I believe that he had a great lust for dominating the creatures, and that he was driven enough to disappear from the wizarding world to accomplish such a task."

"In other words yes, you think it's possible. That's all good and great but I am still scratching my head as to why I am here." Snape interjected, looking put out by not having any knowledge of this Yorkshire person.

"Richard Yorkshire had been a close associate of Tom Riddle's. I do not know if he remained in contact with him throughout his first campaign, or if he was ever a Death Eater. I wanted you to be aware of his possible return and to ask you to keep an eye open for any possible Death Eater activities." Snape nodded and stood, leaving the large office with his robe flaring dramatically behind him. They all knew that Snape, having worked against the Death Eaters in rounding them up after the battle, had no more power within the few remaining circles. This did not, however, negate his knowledge on the workings of their groups or their minds. He would be on the lookout for any suspicious activities and he would let them know. McGonagall looked over at Albus as he leaned back in his chair.

"You're worried that this might be another uprising?"

"No. But I do fear that this Dragon Lord is a very real threat. It is extremely suspicious that nobody has been aware of his presence until now."

"How did Remus happen upon this knowledge then? Romania doesn't strike me as a country he would spend too much time in."

"Indeed, but it would appear that something there has caught his eye." Finding a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher hadn't been too difficult, though the substitute lacked the geniality that Remus bestowed upon his students. What had surprised her, though she never said, was that Dumbledore had so easily allowed for their professor's sudden absence. He had been gone a long while.

"Do you know what he found up their Albus?"

"I do not, though I have my suspicions."

"I'm assuming, with your worries over this new threat that you'll want to cancel the summit?"

"No, no, not at all. I see no reason why this should interfere with Hogwarts at all. It is an outside issue, but I do think it needs to be looked into."

"Of course. Is there anything else?"

"Not at the moment Minerva, although if you happen to remember anything that may be of use about Richard, please let me know." She nodded and stood gracefully, heading out of the interesting office and to her next class. In the halls the children who had no classes lazed about, some nodding at her in greeting as she passed by. She spared them a moments nod and small smile, seeing no reason to ignore them, before walking into her silent transfiguration classroom. The heels of her practical dress shoes clicked loudly as she past the students desks and sat behind her own. It was fifteen minutes later when the first of her students began trickling through her doors and she had yet to even search for her lesson plan. Shaking herself out of her memories, banishing the images of the children she had taught so many years before as they had laughed and teased the Ravenclaw boy, she turned to her current task. She would dwell on Richard Yorkshire later, just as she would no doubt begin to dwell on all the other students who had been pointlessly tormented by their class mates. She loved the students of this school, but at times they could be so cruel without realizing the effects their actions might take.

0000000

Ron watched Lupin carefully as the quiet man sat and drank his tea, reading a book and looking quite content. The energy in the room, however, was different from the professor's air of tranquility, and as Ron watched him he noticed how his hand clutched at the chipped mug, painting his knuckles a stressed white. He took another sip of tea and Ron found his eyes lingering on the mug, imagining what it might be like to taste a liquid that was not just water.

The last food run Ron had made (he had almost injured his back carrying all the food he had purchased back) he had made sure to buy some tea for his guest. He may have grown up in a large family, but his mother had taught them all good manners along the way, and making sure his guest was comfortable was one of those lessons. Ron wasn't doing all that much to ease Lupin's time there, but he had decided that the man could at least enjoy a customary cup of tea. Ron, however, wouldn't allow himself to relish in the drink. He had not indulged in much of anything since he began hiding in these mountains, and he figured that that was how prison might be: lacking in small comforts.

The tea, however, was not the issue this evening and Ron reluctantly looked away from the mug and Lupin's white knuckles. The issue tonight was that it was the full moon. Ron's stomach had been in knots the past two days as it had approached, even though he no longer had anything to fear from it. Frustrated he stood and walked quietly to the door, opening it slightly to look out at the clearing and the trees beyond. The sky had just fallen dark, it wouldn't be long now before Lupin's transformation, and Ron dreaded its approach. He had seen Lupin turn before, back at Hogwarts, and it had been horrible then as well, but at that time Ron hadn't had to sit in one place and wait for morning to arrive as a mindless beast pulled at his restraints and howled in rage.

Lupin had warned him the first time around that he lost all semblance of humanity when he went without wolfsbane, and at the moment Ron was wondering why the man was going to put himself through it again when he could simply go back to Hogwarts and have Snape brew him a batch. Ron was far from blind and he saw how much it bothered Lupin to lose his control. He hated how the man was imprisoned by the wolf, how he had no control, despite his best efforts, over the beast; how he was indebted to others to make potions for him that would allow him to remain sane. Ron really hated Lupin's entire situation, he always had, but now it bothered him more then before. Now he understood what the man was truly going through.

"Pavlov's dog." The professor muttered and Ron cocked his head in question, not turning away from the door.

"What?"

"I was just comparing us to an experiment a muggle performed years ago, involving a dog."

"Well, I suppose I can recognize your possible comparison with a dog, but I'm not sure what else to think of it." Lupin chuckled lightly and Ron stood a bit taller, pleased that he had somehow made Lupin laugh even though he had no idea why.

"The experiment involved training the dog to react to outside stimuli without thought. Every night Pavlov would feed his dog and notice that the beast would drool upon the sight of food, so he began ringing a bell every time he fed the animal. The dog learned that when a bell rang it meant he was going to be fed, and he would therefore begin drooling even if no food appeared. Action and reaction."

"So you're comparing us to a drooling dog?"

"I'm comparing us to its training, yes. I've spent years anticipating the moon, I've learned to fear it like no other, and simply thinking of its approach has my body wound tighter then a spool of rope and my stomach in knots. You don't react much better then I." Ron looked back out at the sky, not wanting to continue the conversation. It took him several moments to realize that he had begun rubbing his sternum, right over the scar that Giles had given him and he quickly dropped his hand to grip the side of the door. His scars ached, they always did when the moon was out, even the ones that left no visible mark on his skin. Behind him he heard Lupin shuffling about, and then the heavy chains Ron had found (on Lupin's demand) were rattling into existence. He whirled around and stared at the man in sudden panic as he heard the chains sliding along the hard rock floor. For a moment he thought he would pass out simply from the fear of the sound, his breathing hitched in his chest and he saw stars and heard laughter echoing in his head before the panic attack subsided. Lupin had paused halfway across the room and was watching Ron carefully. Ron felt his face flush in response and was irritated that, with his animalistic eyesight, Lupin could no doubt see it.

"Are you okay Ron?"

"Fine." He snapped and moved over to the table, sitting down and poking at Howlite as she slept curled up in a t-shirt he had let the fairies keep a long time ago. She reached out and slapped at his finger before rolling away from him. He stretched his finger out again but stopped just before he could annoy her some more and pulled back. It would do no good irritating her tonight, because then she might leave and he wasn't sure he wanted to be alone to witness Lupin as he hissed and snarled in the corner of the room, wrenching at the chains that he would magically secure to the wall for the evening. Ron ignored all the sound coming from behind him with a stiff back, and only turned around when Lupin called his name softly and held out his wand for Ron to take. He had already secured himself to the wall.

Ron walked over to him and gingerly took the wand, placing it hurriedly beside the resting fairy, who he suspected was wide awake and simply trying to give them an air of privacy. He turned back and watched as Lupin lowered himself to the ground and leaned against the wall, covered only in a really old pair of black pants. His pale flesh goosebumped all over and Ron glared at him.

"You could at least wrap yourself in a blanket."

"Then you'd loose a perfectly good blanket. I'm fine." Lupin insisted, but refused to look up and meet Ron's gaze. It made Ron angry that Lupin was so embarrassed about this entire situation, it wasn't his fault that a werewolf had attacked him as a child! Without thinking Ron instinctivly crossed the small space again and sat down directly in front of the man, only a foot away. Lupin looked up, no doubt startled by his sudden appearance and closeness, and the fear he had been holding at bay was easy for Ron to see in his eyes.

"Ron? You can't sit this close to me! You know it's dangerous."

"I only know what you tell me Lupin, and seeing as you're the one chained to the wall you don't have much say in the matter." Anger sparked in the deep brown eyes and Ron stared into them searchingly, but for what he didn't know. He was waiting, waiting for something, but he wouldn't know it until it happened.

"We had an agreement Ron, you are to come no closer then two meters."

"I know, and I'm sorry I'm breaking it. This will be the only time, I swear."

"Ron, so help me if I hurt you I will not be able to live with myself. Don't you understand? This isn't something that you can control!" Lupin was panicking now, and Ron sensed the energy around him begin to intensify. Lupin turned his head away and broke eye contact, and Ron reached out to gently grasp his stubbly chin and pull him up to look in his eyes again.

"I need to see your eyes Lupin."

"Why?" The normally strong and silent man was almost pleading now, desperation taking hold of him, but he held Ron's gaze none the less, staring at him. Confusion had replaced the fear in his eyes.

"I don't know." Ron struggled to answer, gazing deep into the brown orbs, seeing only light and warmth. This was nothing like looking into the dead blackness of the wizard at the waterfall. "I don't know why, but I want to help you Lupin, and I need to see your eyes."

"You can't help me Ron." He pleaded quietly, and Ron felt him gently try to pull his head away. He refused to let go of his face, feeling the warm flesh of his jaw heat his fingers. Lupin didn't think Ron could help him, and Ron was suddenly sure that he could.

"I can." And there it was! Ron stared into the eyes and he saw the briefest flash of gold as the werewolf within began to take over and start to transform the shape of the pupils. The first thing to change in any transformation was the eyes. Ron felt his own eyes flash in response and he lifted his right hand to Lupin's forehead and quickly placed his left on Lupin's chest. The could feel the energy around the man as his body absorbed it from the earth around him, giving him the boost he needed for the change. He could practically feel the energy of the full moon course through his friend's veins, and Ron slowly, extremely cautiously, reached out with his own powers and latched onto the very energy that was trying to engulf Remus. He closed his eyes.

In his mind he could see tendrils of blue creeping in to mingle with a striking pale yellow energy, and then he selectively tied his energy signatures to the yellow ones and began pulling them back into himself. They didn't want to come, they had spent years attaching themselves to this body, imbedding themselves into the very cell structure that built him, but they were not natural, they hadn't been born within him. With a slight tug they suddenly came loose and followed the blue energy chords easily. The energy flowed into Ron, through his arms to his chest, to his stomach and then legs, the down through his feet and into the rock of the mountain. There were some strands that Ron could sense he was missing, but he couldn't see them easily and instinct was telling him to stop searching and retreat from the energy signatures that built the body before him

He felt himself pull away, physically, and he gasped harshly into the heated air surrounding him as he plunged into their reality. The air soothed the aching burn in his chest and he was relieved as the pressure that had been building in his lungs dissipated, leaving him dizzy but otherwise feeling fine. He opened his eyes, wondering what had just happened, and saw Lupin sitting slumped against the wall, staring at him through absolutely exhausted eyes.

"Lupin? Are, are you okay?" He went to reach out to rest a hand on the man and jerked back as he realized what he was doing, what he had done. He had reached out and grabbed Lupin, he had attacked him! Oh god, Lupin was dying! "Lupin! Answer me damn it!" He scooted closer on slightly numb legs and hovered over the pale man, looking over him frantically but afraid to touch him for fear that he would do even more damage. "Lupin!"

"Ron, Ron, it's okay. Ron, I'm here, I'm awake, I'm okay Ron, are you listening? I'm okay!" Ron looked up to meet the brown eyes once again and shook his head, wondering how he had missed Lupin answering his question the first time. The professor looked shaken and unnerved, but he was alive, and breathing.

"I think, I think I should get you to a healer."

"I don't need a healer Ron, I'm fine." He lifted a hand to Ron's shoulder and Ron jerked away without thinking, only realizing his action when sadness crept into the eyes below him. He felt his face flame in embarrassment but he didn't apologize as he looked over the man before him.

"Lupin, what just happened?" Curse his voice for sounding so unsure and pathetic. He should know what happened, he did know what had happened, but he needed to hear it from the man himself. Ron stared incredulously at him, still chained to the wall and panting a bit heavier than was normal.

"I think, Ron, that you just helped me." Lupin suddenly looked down at his hands and lifted them from his lap, turning them over in the air as he inspected them. "Ron, I'm still human."

"You always were human Lupin."

"No but, why? I feel…" He trailed off as he ran his hands over his face and then through his hair as though discovering them for the first time, and Ron sat and stared, shocked. Lupin looked up at Ron and smiled, he smiled so wide Ron thought his face might split in two. "I feel different, changed, like…like I'm finally me again, I'm finally a whole person." He stared at Ron in slight shock, still grinning inanely. Ron didn't think he'd ever seen Lupin look so…giddy.

"How Ron? How did you do this?" Ron jumped to his feet and moved to the table, reaching out for the professor's wand and noting, offhandedly, that Howly wasn't where he had left her.

"I don't really know Lupin, I just," he handed the wand to the man and watched as he quickly freed himself and stood. "I just felt that I could. You had a second energy signature within your cells, I've been sensing it since you arrived but I didn't realize until now what it was. Your curse was ingrained within you, but it wasn't natural. I extracted it…" He trailed off as Howly and Horns suddenly flew into the room and danced around first his and then Lupin's head, and he grinned as they went to play in the werewolf's…in the professors hair, tugging at it in glee and laughing as the man happily tried to gently bat them away.

Ron was having a bit of difficulty coming to terms with Lupin standing before him as a human, and he went and sat down on the roughly hewn stool that Lupin had carved only two days before. Lupin walked quietly to the cot and sat heavily, the exhaustion that Ron had seen before was starting to replace his elation.

"I can still see clearly in the dark" he stated, patting his face once more as if to make sure it was still there, still human. Then he lurched forward to the door and looked out, seeing the full moon, for the first time since he had been a child, with human eyes. He turned back and looked at Ron.

"I couldn't see everything, I couldn't get it all."

"That would explain why I can still smell you as easily as before."

"Is that your way of telling me I need to bathe?"

"I would never imply such a thing to my host." He moved again and this time practically fell onto the cot. Ron had refused to let Lupin sleep on the floor when he had arrived and it had become a rule that Ron would only ever sleep in the cot if he was sick, or Lupin was not in the shelter at all. Ron watched him carefully as he sank into the covers, and then he turned his deep brown eyes on him.

"You've helped me in a way that I can not even begin to explain. Thank you." Ron shrugged and looked away, feeling uncomfortable with the gratitude that was being directed at him. It didn't seem right that Lupin should be grateful that Ron had somehow chased off his curse, if anything Lupin should have expected it. Ron had a lot of sins to pay for, and this, while wonderful, would not come close to atoning what he had done to his best friend.

He looked over to see that Lupin had fallen asleep right where he lay, no doubt absolutely knackered from what he had just gone through. Ron watched him sleep the entire night and well into the next afternoon, waiting for him to awaken and prove that he was, in fact, okay. When he finally awoke, it was to find Ron slumped in his chair, facing the cot, his eyes closed and a light snore emitting from between his lips. Ron didn't notice as the man gently tucked a band of loose hair behind his ear, before heading outside for the rest of the afternoon.

TBC

Well, how do you like this new aspect of Ron's abilities?

Harry Lvr, interesting theory! Now you'll have to wait and see if it's right ;P As for the question of Ron using his abilities more and more: You're absolutely correct that I originally had him hating and fearing (and consequently trying to avoid using) his powers. However, when something is so natural it eventually becomes impossible to avoid, especially when it does prove beneficial in the end. Think of it as having a third arm: it's there, and if you don't use it, it just gets in the way.

Thank you so much for the reviews! What would I do without you!

NOTE: The title of this story will change to "WAYWARD SON" next upload/ Thank you.

Next Update: September 11, 2005