The days after March's full moon passed by in a haze for Remus. Two girls had died in his arms the morning after the full moon. Seeing their eyes lose focus, feeling their bodies grow cold, and watching their faces set in death had broken something fundamental in his soul. Food had lost its taste. The elements felt like nothing against his face and body. Everything felt mechanical, from the way he set and reset the wards on his hut to the way he ordered the others around to cook and keep the encampment afloat. The children had done nothing to deserve their deaths. Their father had stood up to Fenrir just days prior, and Fenrir had taken his revenge by slaughtering father and daughters. Remus spent the morning burying their small bodies after speaking with Andromeda. He hoped that Andromeda would be able to succeed in reuniting the remaining children with their parents.

True to his word, the only reason he'd stayed in the encampment was to look after their welfare. His attempts at convincing the other werewolves that there were better options than Fenrir and Voldemort had fallen on deaf ears. His only hope lay in reuniting the werewolf children with their parents before they were radicalized, too.

"Father?" Wally called him out of his stupor. "Remus?"

"Yes, Wally?" Remus sighed.

"What do you want us to do?" Wally asked. "We finished our chores."

Remus looked at the children's hut. It had seen improvements in the last few weeks, but it was still rudimentary in its creature comforts. The children had been assigned to improve it as they saw fit, which had resulted in charming, but failed measures. Remus had assigned older werewolves to help, and the children now had a waterproof shelter, but little else had been improved.

"Go play, Wally," Remus ordered. "Tell the others to play as well."

"Thank you, fath-Remus," Wally caught himself. The boy turned on his heel and ran off to tell the other werewolf children. Although Fenrir had told Wally and Denys to refer to Remus as their father, and call him as such, Remus refused. He would be called by his first name only, no matter what Fenrir told the children.

"You are a good father," Salome, the teenaged werewolf, said. "Wally and Denys are lucky to have you."

"I am not their father," Remus said. "I am happy to lead and teach them, but I am not their father."

"They don't have one anymore," Salome said quietly. "Neither do I."

"Is your father dead?" Remus asked bluntly, regretting his tone immediately, as Salome's eyes filled with tears.

"He may as well be," Salome said. "Fenrir told me he and my mum didn't want me anymore because I was a werewolf."

"How long has it been since you've seen them, Salome?" Remus asked kindly.

"I lost track of time," Salome said sadly. "I don't know how old I am anymore."

Remus furrowed his brow, trying to remember the day. "If I'm not mistaken, today is 7th April, 1997. How old does that make you?"

"I turned 14 in February, then. I've been here since before I could get my Hogwarts letter."

"I am sorry to hear that. I'm sorry you weren't able to go to Hogwarts."

"Maybe I'll learn magic another way."

"Perhaps someone can teach you, once you have a wand."

"Only you and Fenrir have wands," she said with disdain. "Why does he let you have a wand?"

"I can do magic without a wand," Remus said, as Salome's jaw dropped. "It would be useless for him to keep the wand from me, except for the most complicated spells. As they are quite useful for the encampment, it benefits us for me to have my wand."

"You think I could ever get a wand one day?"

"I certainly hope so," Remus said, clasping his hands together.

"You buried the Morris girls. Why?"

"It's the proper thing to do when someone dies," Remus said. "I never thought I would have to bury children."

"Fenrir doesn't bury them."

"I don't want to know what he does with them," Remus said, bitterly; he suspected the horrors kept within Fenrir's cabin were meant for no one else to witness.

"Salome, do you know what the other children's surnames?" Remus asked suddenly.

"I'm not supposed to say."

"I'm your beta. Tell me," Remus insisted. He hated using this reasoning, but it was one of the few ways he could effectively get information he needed.

"Mine was Midgen, but I think I told you that once. David's was Tuttle. Denys and Wally were Wakefield. Annie was Schmidt, and so was Hugh. They are brother and sister. Elias, Kellan, Norman are the older boys. I think they are my age. Elias and Kellan were Watson and Norman was Tremblay."

"Those two don't stay in the children's tent, do they?" Remus asked.

"No, and neither do Camellia or Janie," Salome said. "Camellia and Janie were moved to Fenrir's cabin right before you got here. Camellia was Jenkins. Janie was Schofield."

"Let me repeat that back to you," Remus said, concentrating. "Salome Midgen, David Tuttle, Denys and Wally Wakefield, Annie and Hugh Schmidt, Elias and Kellan Watson, Norman Tremblay, Camellia Jenkins, and Janie Schofield."

"Are there any other children you know of?"

"Not unless Fenrir brings them back."

"Does he ever bring children back outside the full moon?"

"Yes."

"When was the last time he did that?"

"Before you got here. It was winter. That's when he brought David and bit him the moon before you got here."

"Thank you, Salome," Remus said. "Please go watch the children." Salome nodded and went to tend to the children playing in the woods. Remus stood up, joints aching, and went to his hut. He rifled through his satchel, and found parchment. Working quickly, he wrote down all the names Salome had given him.

He then reached through the satchel to find the emergency ration of Muggle and Wizarding money. He had enough Knuts to send a letter through a post owl, but he would have to wait until Fenrir was out of the encampment to make a move. For now, he would have to wait.

…

Remus came into luck a few days after getting the names from Salome. Fenrir had informed him that the Dark Lord was calling upon the Death Eaters for an update on a mission that had been assigned to a young Death Eater. Remus felt uneasy, half-wishing that he could have gone with Fenrir to learn of the mission, but he had committed to getting the children out of the encampment. He would be useless if he died at Voldemort's hands; he might be able to save ten children from being indoctrinated by staying behind.

When Fenrir left the encampment, Remus took his opportunity and Apparated nearby the Muggle village he used to work in, in order to find the Muggle post. He decided it was safest to use the Muggle post on his charmed letter, so that it would be harder to intercept by unfriendly hands.

He walked into the village and was immediately taken aback, as the Muggles around him began avoiding him and giving him suspicious glares. He was accustomed to the treatment among Wizards who knew he was a werewolf, but not among Muggles, who knew little of his background. Remus looked down and realized the reason for his suspicious nature; he was in tattered, muddied clothing. His beard was long, bushy, and unkempt. It was matted and muddy, as was the rest of his hair. Remus realized he must look homeless to the kind people of the village, but he wouldn't be able to clean himself without arousing suspicion at the encampment, so he would have to enter the post office as-is, and leave as-is, much to his dismay.

He entered the village post office with his enchanted letter, and braced himself for the conversation ahead.

"Good morning," Remus politely greeted the postal worker.

"Get out," the postal worker spat.

"I'd like to send a letter, please," Remus said. "It's quite urgent."

The worker eyed Remus suspiciously but beckoned for him to come near the till.

"I would like to send this letter," Remus repeated. "Is it possible for it to be received by tomorrow?"

"Three pounds will do it," the postal worker said. "You have that?" She looked at him dubiously.

Remus handed the requested funds to the postal worker. She processed the transaction, much to Remus' relief.

"Is that all?" Remus asked. It had been years since he'd used the Muggle postal service.

"Unless you have another letter to send," the worker said shortly.
"Thank you," Remus said graciously. "Have a lovely day."

He was able to Apparate back to the woods outside the encampment, feeling triumphant at finally getting the names to Andromeda.

"You look pleased with yourself," Petra said coyly as she saw Remus enter the encampment. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere you need to know about," Remus said harshly.

"You disappear after every full moon. Where do you go?"

"Again, nowhere you need to know about."

"I think I know where you go," Petra whispered. "Looking for a mate, aren't we?"

Remus considered the options before replying. "Yes," he lied. "I am looking for a mate," he gritted through his teeth.

"None of the wolves here have caught your eye."

"No, and I do not want to wait any longer for my – he shuddered – 'plaything.'"

"Salome spends time with you," Petra said. "Why not her for now?"

"I have made myself clear on the matter," Remus said coldly. "I have no interest in children."

"Ah, but she has become a young woman, Remus. She does well with your children, Denys and Wally. Surely you would like to give her more children?" Petra suggested.

Remus bit back bile again at the idea of mating with the teenage werewolf and providing her with more werewolf 'children,' courtesy of Fenrir Greyback.

"I am happy with what I have," Remus lied. "Denys and Wally are enough for me."

"You shall present them to the plaything as hers?" Petra offered.

"Sure," Remus lied again. "I'm sure she'll be delighted."

"Ah, so she will be more than a plaything," Petra noted. "I see why you are waiting for her. She will make a good beta female for you, then, if she cares for you as well."

Remus flinched slightly at the notion that Dora should be anywhere near the werewolf encampment. He hoped she would never see the camp or be associated in any way, and that Andromeda had kept their agreement to save the children to herself. The further Dora stayed away from him and everything he associated with, the better. He would keep her safe. He would always keep her safe.

…

It was the night of the April full moon. Springtime had arrived, and with it, the snow had melted, so that the ground was no longer frozen, but rather, muddy. The werewolf children had been enjoying sloshing through the muddy puddles. It lifted Remus' gloom slightly to hear them laughing and behaving like children. He hoped Andromeda would come through soon and help him remove the children from the encampment.

"Lupin," Fenrir rasped. "Special assignment tonight for me."

"Oh?" Remus looked up at the vicious alpha werewolf.

"Enemies of the Dark Lord will be punished," Fenrir smiled, baring his filthy, bloodied teeth and fangs to Remus.

"Shall we expect you any later tomorrow morning, then?" Remus asked.

"I will return at my usual time," Fenrir said. "Petra tells me you disappear after the full moon and return."

"Looking for a mate," Remus lied. "I have a lot of…energy to be released."

"None of the wolves here satisfy you?"

"No," Remus lied. "I have needs that cannot be fulfilled here."

"Your little plaything can?" Fenrir sneered.

"She's a Metamorphmagus," Remus explained. "She can look any way I want her to." He hated himself for saying this aloud, but it was one of the few ways he could think to explain his reticence among the female wolves at the encampment.

"Quite a prize you'll be getting as my beta," Fenrir growled.

"Indeed," Remus said flatly. "I'll keep our pack together tonight, as always."

"If all goes well, I'll bring back a few more children for you," Fenrir promised with a smirk. "The changing plaything will enjoy the children, won't she?"

"Yes," Remus said through clenched teeth. "Allow me to check on my own, Fenrir. They need a talk from their father."

Fenrir slapped Remus on the back with his claws. "You make a fine beta, Lupin," he rasped.

Remus turned on his heel and went to where the children were playing.

"Denys, Wally," he called. The boys, covered in mud, ran into Remus' midsection, as he winced from the aching muscles of the moon ahead.

"We're sorry, fa-Remus," Denys said. "We didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's quite alright, Denys," Remus replied. "How are you two feeling?"

"Everything hurts," Wally whined. "Is it always like this?"

"Yes," Remus said. "Sometimes potions can help. One day I hope I can get them for you. For now, you must know the moon will rise soon. You and the other children should undress and prepare for the moon."

"Okay," the boys said in unison, as they ran back to the other children and informed them of the moonrise.

Remus himself went back to his hut to leave his wand, clothing, and other effects behind. He had dutifully taken his Wolfsbane Potion each moon since February; while the actual moons had become bearable, what with the company of the other werewolves and his ability to keep his human brain intact, the transformations were still painful. With a heavy sigh, he unwarded and re-warded the hut wandlessly as he stepped into the night, naked and cold, to await the full moon.

The night passed quickly. With the help of the Wolfsbane Potion, Remus was able to successfully avoid the temptation of the female werewolves in heat. He chose to spend the evening keeping the young werewolves at bay. They were full of energy, and Remus experienced his own sort of joy at being able to run freely with the children.

By morning, Remus was exhausted from a night of keeping the youngest werewolves under control. He transformed back into a human as the moon set. He felt the bones shorten, the fur grow back into the skin, and his muscles tear back into their human position. His teeth grew back into his skull, his face contorted, and finally, the tail grew up into his spine. With one last lurch and contortion, he was back to his human self and lying in a pile of mud.

As was habit, he scanned his body for injuries. With the Wolfsbane, he anticipated few injuries, and was pleased that his body, while exhausted physically, bore only the usual cuts and bruises from romping in the woods. He began stirring, and looked up to see the other werewolves stirring as well. Remus stood up, wincing and grimacing, and began the limping walk from the woods to the main encampment so that he could dress himself. He un-warded and re-warded his hut wandlessly, and he dressed himself in his muddy, shabby robes. His body screamed for a shower; it had been months since he'd taken a hot shower. The best the werewolves had were rainstorms, and even a freezing rainstorm seemed appealing at the moment.

As Remus stepped out of the hut, he braced himself for the screaming. The last two moons, Fenrir had brought two children with him as additions to the pack. The last two had died in Remus' arms, and the first two were being referred to as his "children." He hoped that this time, as Fenrir had been assigned a task by Voldemort, they might avoid adding more children to the pack.

The screaming began just when Remus expected it, but to his surprise, it had nothing to do with Fenrir. He looked up at the encampment to find nearly two dozen Ministry officials in the middle of the encampment, binding every werewolf with ropes.

Remus panicked. Ministry officials had found the encampment somehow, and he was beta. With Fenrir absent, he would be the one incriminated for the sorry state of the encampment, in addition to the kidnapped or murdered children.

"Is there a Remus Lupin here?" a Ministry official with a deep, baritone voice called. Remus looked up to see the familiar form of Kingsley Shacklebolt in the middle of the encampment.

Screaming werewolves pointed directly at Remus, shouting that he was beta and would thus be responsible for the pack. Remus stowed his wand in his cloak and lifted his hands in surrender as he walked towards Kingsley Shacklebolt and the other Aurors. As Remus grew closer to the Ministry officials, surrounded by bound werewolves, Fenrir Greyback Apparated, alone, to the encampment. He took one look at Remus, in apparent surrender to the Ministry, and before the Ministry officials could bind him as well, he grinned evilly at Remus and Apparated from the encampment again.

"Fuck," Remus muttered, as Kingsley approached him with magical shackles.

"Alpha was here!" one werewolf shouted.

"Fenrir! That's our alpha!" another werewolf screeched at the Aurors.

"SILENCE!" Rufus Scrimgeour's voice bellowed throughout the encampment. "We are aware of who that was. We expect full cooperation as we recover the kidnapped children."

With a flick of his wand, Scrimgeour silenced the cries of the bound werewolves.

"This Lupin?" Scrimgeour looked between Kingsley and Remus. Kingsley still held the magical shackles.

"I am he," Remus admitted, hanging his head. He offered his wrists to Kingsley.

"No," Kingsley's deep voice said. "Rufus, allow me a few moments with Mr. Lupin."

"Make it quick," Scrimgeour said. "We have eleven children to find." Remus' heart skipped a beat; he might be imprisoned or worse for being at fault for the children's kidnapping or abuse, but the children were going to be rescued!

"Mr. Lupin," Kingsley said in a low voice. "Is there a place we can speak quietly?"

Remus nodded, and gestured for Kingsley to follow him to his ramshackle hut.

"Come in," Remus said shamefully, opening the dilapidated structure to Kingsley.

Kingsley cast silencing and privacy charms on the hut before speaking.

"You're not going to be arrested," Kingsley said quickly. "Not if I can help it." Remus' entire body felt on edge; a trip to Azkaban wasn't the way he expected his life to end, but it would be worth it for saving whoever he could.

"I have to record this and present the memory in a Pensieve," Kingsley said quietly. "If you cooperate this will be painless for both of us and I'll get you back where you belong." Remus nodded gratefully, and gestured for Kingsley to continue the interrogation.

"What is your name?" Kingsley began.

"Remus John Lupin."

"What is your role in this camp?"

"I am beta, or second-in-command."

"Who is alpha, or first-in-command?"

"Fenrir Greyback."

"Was he present at this camp this morning?""

"Yes."

"Where did he go?"

"I have no idea."

"In his absence, are you the leader of the encampment?"

"Yes."

"I am told, from a trusted, anonymous source, that your role here is more than it would seem," Kingsley said.

"Can you elaborate on the role you assume I have been in?" Remus asked carefully.

"Our anonymous tip tells us you have been trying, without success, to reunite the kidnapped children of this encampment with their rightful parents. Is this true?" Kingsley nodded gently at Remus.

"Yes."

"Why have you not come forward to the Ministry sooner?" Kingsley mouthed "Fenrir" at Remus.

"Fenrir Greyback. He is a vicious leader and would have killed me, the others, or even the children, for exposing him."

"Very well. Have any children been killed as a result of your actions?"

"No. I tried to save them. We lost two in March."

"Can you look at this list of missing children and tell me if the names are familiar?" Kingsley gave Remus a parchment, listing the eleven children he had identified the prior month.

"Yes. I can identify each one of these children."

"If we recover the children, can you positively identify them for the Ministry so that they may be reunited with their parents?" Kingsley mouthed "yes" at Remus.

"Yes."

"Very well. Let us see if the children can be found and identified," Kingsley said. He furrowed his brow and then produced a silvery strand from his temple, indicating the memory that would be presented to the Ministry.

"Remus, you're going to be alright," Kingsley smiled softly. "We have several sets of anxious parents waiting to be reunited with their children. You've done a brilliant job here."

"I couldn't save the two Morris girls," Remus said, hanging his head. "I failed them."

"Remus, you saved the Wakefield boys and have kept the children from further abuse. I am sure of it. Fenrir attacked another child last night," Kingsley explained. "Montgomery boy, only five years old. His mother wouldn't help the Death Eaters. Fenrir fled the scene as soon as he saw Mrs. Montgomery. She blasted him away, and tried to save the boy, but he died at St. Mungo's. All of this is Fenrir's doing, Remus. You did the best you could."

"I didn't do enough," Remus lamented, holding his head in hands.

"You may not have gotten the adults, but those children have a chance at life again, and you gave it to them," Kingsley said gently. "Come, help us identify the children, and we can go from here."

"Okay," Remus agreed.

They exited the hut and came face-to-face with several Aurors holding frightened werewolf children in ropes and chains.

"Remus! Help us, please!" called Salome.

"Remus, please, you're our father now!" cried David.

"We will be Lupins now, help us!" Hugh shouted.

"What are they on about?" Scrimgeour demanded. "Are you claiming to be their father, Lupin?"

Remus bit the inside of his cheek and rubbed his eyes. Though he appreciated that the children would be returned safely to their parents, it was just after a full moon, and he was exhausted.

"I am not their father," Remus said plainly. "It's a concept Fenrir relished in as alpha. I can tell you more about it, but for now, please let me help you identify them."

The other adult werewolves around the bonfire began screaming and yelling in protest. Calls of "traitor!", "spy!", "wizard!", and "liar!" were coming in choruses around the bound werewolves.

"SILENCE!" Scrimgeour screamed, casting Silencing Charms once more on the protesting werewolves.

"First, is it possible to unbind the children?" Remus asked in exasperation. "They've suffered enough. They aren't criminals."

"They're still werewolves," said an Auror Remus recognized as Dawlish.

"They're children, please," Remus begged. "A magical barrier is enough."

Scrimgeour rolled his eyes at Remus' request, but cast a charm to create a magical barrier around the werewolf children, while simultaneously removing their ropes and chains. Once the children were unbound, the oldest boys attempted to run through the barrier, but they fell back against the artificial bubble the Aurors had created.

"Which one's which?" Scrimgeour demanded of Remus.

"What will happen to them once I tell you?" Remus asked, while Scrimgeour gave him a glare. "I just want them safe, sir," Remus added.

"As soon as you identify them, one of the Aurors will take them to the Ministry, where their parent or guardian will be waiting for them," Scrimgeour explained quickly.

"I'll start with the oldest, then," Remus said. He pointed towards the eldest boy and said, "Norman Tremblay."

Norman was likely fifteen or so years old, and already a burly teenager. He was resisting the barrier strongly, and an Auror had to stun him first, scaring the other werewolf children.

Remus spoke through the magical barrier, telling the children, "If you are calm, there will be no need for stunning. You will be safe, I promise." The youngest werewolf children calmed down, but the oldest boys and girls remained apprehensive and aggressive.

Remus sighed but continued identifying the children. "These two boys are Elias and Kellan Watson." Again, two more Aurors stunned the boys before Apparating with them to the Ministry.

"This girl is Janie Schofield," he pointed at the older werewolf girl, who had likely been mated with Fenrir. She was growling at the Aurors, and she, too, was stunned before being Apparated to the Ministry.

"This girl is Camellia Jenkins," Remus identified the other growling, aggressive girl. Another stun, another Apparition. Now, only Salome and the younger children remained. They were all terrified.

"Can I enter the barrier and speak with them?" Remus asked. "I think they will go more willingly if I help."

Scrimgeour exhaled impatiently, but allowed Remus to go through.

"Hello, all," Remus said gently.

"Are you abandoning us?" Salome asked plainly.

"Are they going to hurt us?" Annie asked.

"What's happening?" David worried aloud.

"Everything will be alright," Remus assured. "You're going home to your parents now."

"They want us?" Salome asked incredulously.

"They're alive?!" Wally asked excitedly.

"I'm not sure if they are all alive," Remus said carefully. "I have been assured that your parents or guardians will be waiting for you at the Ministry. Someone will be there for you."

"Will you be there if our parents don't come?" Salome asked defensively.

"I'll ask, Salome," Remus said kindly. "For now, it's time to go." He exited the barrier and continued with identification.

"The oldest girl is Salome Midgen," Remus said. Salome was apprehensive, but went willingly with the Auror, and did not need to be stunned. This seemed to reassure the other children, much to Remus' relief.

"These two," Remus pointed to Annie and Hugh, "are the Schmidt children, Annie and Hugh." Remus gave them a reassuring smile and they too went willingly, if not apprehensively, towards the Auror waiting for them.

"This young lad is David Tuttle," Remus smiled, beckoning for him to come forward. David waved goodbye to Remus before going off with another Auror.

"The two boys remaining are Denys and Wally Wakefield," Remus said.

"Can we say goodbye?" Denys shouted from the magical barrier.

Scrimgeour huffed angrily again, but allowed the delay. The magical barrier was removed, and both boys came running into Remus' midsection, as he tried to hide the wince.

"You were a good fake dad," Wally said, smiling up at Remus, whose eyes watered slightly at the praise, before turning the children over to the next Auror.

"What would you like me to do next?" Remus politely asked Scrimgeour, who eyed Remus with a look of disdain.

"Do you know if any of the other wolves are registered?" Scrimgeour asked.

"I am," Remus said. "I haven't a clue about the others."

"We'll get them registered now," Dawlish announced to Scrimgeour. "Proudfoot, Savage, and I will manage."

"I'll manage the situation with the child werewolves at the Ministry with their parents," Scrimgeour said scornfully. "Shacklebolt, you're on Lupin." Kingsley nodded, as the other Aurors went their separate ways to either register werewolves or return to the Ministry.

"Mr. Lupin, why don't you gather your things and come with us to the Ministry?" Shacklebolt offered, turning to Remus. "You are already registered, and you may be able to help the parents or guardians of the werewolf children manage their children's lycanthropy."

"Of course, Auror Shacklebolt," Remus replied with a weak smile. "Do you mind terribly if I go home and properly shower before I present myself? I shan't be long."

"You better, Remus," Kingsley said quietly. "You look like shit."

"I feel like it too," Remus admitted.

"Go on, then, and tell Tonks and Dumbledore you're alive," Kingsley said. "I'm sure they'll both want to hear from you."

Remus nodded gratefully and returned to his hut to get his things. He then joyfully Apparated to his cottage in Yorkshire, eager to shower and shave for the first time in months.