Remus wasn't supposed to be nervous about the new law. He wasn't supposed to be stressing over it. He was supposed to do what Professor Questus had told him to do and control his emotions, just like a rational person might.

But, for Remus Lupin, what was supposed to happen rarely did. He wasn't supposed to be nervous, but he was.

He paced for four hours before Madam Pomfrey stopped him. "You're stressing about the laws, aren't you?" she asked.

"They were put into effect today," he said patiently, thinking that perhaps she didn't fully realize the scope of the problem. "I'm breaking the law being here. And the Ministry doesn't take kindly to werewolves who break the law. I could be punished pretty severely."

"Dumbledore will take care of it," she said. "Lie down and try to go to sleep."

Remus sat down; he immediately got a head rush. "I feel terrible," he admitted.

"That's to be expected. It's the stress. I told John that he shouldn't come in and tell you about the law on the day of the full moon..."

Remus shrugged. "I'm pretty sure it's not the stress, Madam Pomfrey. I'm pretty sure it's the fact that I'm a werewolf and it's the full moon."

"Yes, well." Madam Pomfrey's lips twisted as if she couldn't decide whether to smile, frown, or say something else. "Close your eyes."

Remus pulled the covers to his neck and obeyed, but his body felt twitchy and it was hard to sleep.

Twenty minutes passed.

"I can give you a Calming Draught," offered Madam Pomfrey, but Remus cut her off.

"No, thank you. May I write to my parents?"

"You need to sleep, Lupin."

Remus sighed. "Okay." He paused. "Madam Pomfrey, did you know that there's a lunar eclipse tonight?"

Madam Pomfrey nearly dropped a potions bottle. "There is?"

"Yes."

"Does that... affect anything?"

"Sometimes," Remus admitted, closing his eyes. "I can get a little more... violent. But not all the time. It depends, I guess—Dad thinks it's the placebo effect and that it doesn't actually make a difference at all. Magic doesn't make any sense. But I figured I should tell you just in case."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and opened her mouth to say something else—before she could, however—Remus sensed Questus at the door. "Madam Pomfrey, it's Professor Questus!" he said, cutting her off and then profusely apologizing for doing so.

"Oh, brilliant." She rolled her eyes and moved to let him into the infirmary. Remus listened intently, even though he knew that it was probably bad manners to eavesdrop.

"I have news," said Questus.

"Good news?" asked Madam Pomfrey.

"It's not bad news. Let me in, please."

"Fine." Both Questus and Madam Pomfrey entered the office, and Remus sat up straight.

"What is it? Can I stay?" he asked, the words flying out of his mouth before he could even process them.

Questus grinned. "Careful, there. You looked for a second like you were going to fly away out of anticipation." Remus blushed a little bit and looked at the floor, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. Questus had a way of being intimidating, even when he was only teasing. "There's no definite answer quite yet," Questus continued. "Dumbledore's still arguing with the Ministry, I believe. But he did manage to convince them to hold off on putting the law into effect. So, as of right now, you are not breaking the law by being in this school."

Remus let out the breath that he didn't know he'd been holding. "That's good."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Madam Pomfrey stalk up to Professor Questus and give him a stern look. "You've said your piece," she snapped. "Now leave; it's already three o'clock and Remus has to be at the house at six. And he hasn't napped yet. He's been awake all day."

"Doing what?" asked Questus, clearly curious. "You look ill enough that it doesn't seem worth doing anything."

"I can't sleep; I'm all twitchy," Remus explained. "So I've been walking around and reading and revising and things."

"Yes, you're twitchy because you're stressed!" Madam Pomfrey shot a furious glare at Questus. "You should have waited until morning!"

"It was Dumbledore's orders," said Questus, shrugging. "Complain to him, not me. He's a lot better at dealing with stupid people than I am, anyway..."

Remus interrupted cautiously before the argument could get ugly. "I'm not twitchy because I'm stressed," he told Madam Pomfrey. "I'm twitchy because the full moon is tonight."

Madam Pomfrey threw her hands into the air and sighed dramatically. "I give up! Get out, John! Remus, you need to sleep! And John, I don't want another update until the stupid law has been repealed!"

Remus listened to Questus' footsteps fade and obediently shut his eyes. He was not sleepy.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Remus listened to the clink of bottles and rustle of bedsheets as Madam Pomfrey moved around her office, still angry. He opened his eyes. "You're not mad at me?" he asked, unable to wait any longer.

Madam Pomfrey seemed startled. "Oh! I thought you were sleeping. You're sure you don't want a Sleeping Draught?" Remus nodded. "I'm not angry with you, Remus. I'm angry with Professor Questus."

"Why?"

"Same reasons as always. He's unsympathetic, you're sensitive, and it's my job as a matron to protect you both physically and emotionally."

"I'm not sensitive!"

Madam Pomfrey patted his hand. "Of course you're not."

"I'm not!"

"Very well. Here, take a Sleeping Draught. You'll feel better tomorrow if you've had some sleep today, I promise."

Remus accepted the Draught with some reluctance, and suddenly his problems went away as he fell back onto his pillow and let the gentle rhythm of sleep absorb him completely.

"Remus? It's time to go."

Remus roused himself and blinked sleepily. "Any news about the law?"

"Not yet, but I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will fix it."

"You don't know that," said Remus, accepting his transformation robes and pulling them over his head. At this point, he didn't care if Madam Pomfrey was watching. The woman literally changed his clothes for him (albeit magically) after the full moon. It had taken a while, but he was more or less comfortable now.

"He's repealed unfair laws before. There have been students in the past who were brought before the Minister on trial. Professor Dumbledore always fixes unfair rulings. The Ministry listens to him; they're afraid to lose his support. I understand your concern, but it really is unfounded. He's Albus Dumbledore."

Remus nodded. "I'm not worried," he lied. "I never expected to stay here long anyway, so either outcome is fine. Better leave now than someone finding out about... about me."

"I have no doubt that at least one of your friends wouldn't mind and would remain your friend in spite of it," said Madam Pomfrey, which was absolutely ridiculous. "They're troublemakers, to be sure, but they're all nice boys."

Remus didn't understand why she couldn't see that they came in a package. If one hated him, they all did. James and Sirius were the best of friends, and Peter had chosen them over Remus before. There was no way that all three of Remus' friends would completely accept him. Chances were low that any of them would even consider it. But Remus was in such pain that his every limb felt like it was being hacked off with a rusty blade, so he didn't say that. He opted for the short argument, instead. "Professor Questus doesn't think that they'll stay my friends," he said, realising too late that invoking the name of Questus was a terrible mistake.

"Professor Questus," said Madam Pomfrey, and Remus could nearly see the smoke coming out of her ears, "is an irredeemable pessimist who thinks of nothing but himself, Dark magic, and war. Don't you dare take anything he says to heart; you'll be destroyed from the inside-out. Come along, now. You're wearing your transformation shoes?"

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey."

"Good." She took his arm and gently helped him out of bed, and then they made their way to the Shrieking Shack. Remus was shivering violently. "Is that from the cold?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"Yes."

"And the Heating Charms that Professor Dumbledore cast on the house worked?"

"Of course."

They were silent for a bit. There wasn't anything to say, really, to a woman who knew that he was going to be a terrible, dangerous beast within a few hours.

"Lupin, I need you to promise me that you won't worry," said Madam Pomfrey, breaking the silence. "It helps when you don't."

"I'm not worried," said Remus. "Really, I'm not. It's Dumbledore. He'll work it out."

"Good." They reached the Willow, and Madam Pomfrey levitated a stick into the knot—nonverbally, as she always did. Remus, who still couldn't cast a nonverbal Shield Charm, was very jealous. "Do you want me to stay with you?" she asked after they had crawled through the tunnel. "I don't mind one bit."

"No."

"I think it would help..."

"No."

"Very well." She gave his arm a final squeeze and then turned to leave. "Good luck, Mr. Lupin. And don't worry."

"I'm not worried one bit," said Remus, forcing a smile. "See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

Then she was gone, and Remus sat on the dusty floor and thought.

Thinking, as he discovered, was a very dangerous thing to do when one was trying not to worry.

He thought about going back home. He thought about never seeing his friends again. He thought about the loneliness and only his parents for company. He thought about visiting the Registry three times a year. He thought about Dumbledore going so far out of his way to argue Remus' case. He thought about how much trouble he was forcing the teachers to go through, just by existing.

How could he possibly go back home, after getting a taste of what it was like to be normal? Why had he even come?

Remus had lied to Madam Pomfrey, as he was wont to do. He was very worried.

It was about thirty minutes later when Remus sensed someone coming through the tunnel into the Shrieking Shack. He froze. It was Professor Questus.

"Professor!" he said, starting so violently that he nearly toppled over. "You're not supposed to be here, I'm dangerous, I could hurt you..."

"Oh, stop your self-pitying drabble. You are an eleven-year-old werewolf and I am a trained Auror."

"Key word being werewolf!"

"Key word being Auror. I'll be out in a few seconds. I just wanted to tell you that..."

"No! Get out now!" Remus was aware that he probably sounded like either a child or a madman, but either was preferable to hurting someone. He stood up quickly—too quickly, judging by the second headrush of the day—and backed away. "Out! Please!"

"Calm down, Lupin. Goodness. The law was repealed. I figured you should know. That's all I have to say."

Remus stared at him, wide-eyed. His back hit a wall, and he stopped backing up. Odd—he hadn't even been aware of his limbs moving. It was an occupational hazard of being so ill that he could hardly stand. "Professor," he pleaded, "please go away."

Questus rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I'm leaving. Didn't realize it would bother you so much, seeing as the full moon doesn't rise for some hours..."

Why was he still here? Why was he still talking? Didn't he realize the seriousness of the situation at hand? Remus was a living, breathing werewolf on the brink of transforming, and here Questus was just talking... Remus wasn't sure what happened, but suddenly the armchair was in the air.

Questus looked up. "Impressive bit of accidental magic. Nonverbal, too. And also mildly terrifying. Okay, fine, I'm going."

Remus squeezed his eyes shut and clutched his chest, trying to stop the horrible shaking. When he opened them, Professor Questus was long gone.

The armchair fell to the ground with a clatter, and that's when the words finally sank in.

The law was repealed! Remus could stay at Hogwarts!

And he had also borderline-threatened a teacher.

He wasn't really sure what to think, but eventually decided that, all things considered, it had been a pretty good day.

Dumbledore called an emergency staff meeting that evening in Hogsmeade, and Poppy and Minerva arrived together, wearing matching knit hats and giggling like schoolgirls.

"Why are you two in such a good mood?" asked Questus. "I've never seen McGonagall giggle before, I don't think."

"The law was repealed; I think I've cause to be happy," said Poppy eagerly. "Remus has been stressing about it all day—which is entirely your fault—and I've been trying to tell him that it'll be all right. But I was worried, too. I didn't know it would be all right. I don't think any of us did."

"I've had a long few weeks," said McGonagall. "I need to forget it all. Large glass of mulled mead, Rosmerta. And I like your hair today."

"Black and Potter giving you trouble?"

"They rode broomsticks to Hogwarts!" Minerva's good spirits were suddenly gone. "They could have died! They could have led other first-years to their deaths!"

"And that would be an awful shame, since a mistake like that would cost the ever-talented James Potter his place on the Gryffindor Quidditch team next year," murmured Poppy, and Minerva swatted her arm. She laughed. "Minerva couldn't even bear to ban him from bringing his broomstick to school. He'll make the team next year, I know it."

Filius Flitwick laughed. "That boy is bad news for Ravenclaw's chances."

"Ravenclaw never had any chances to begin with, Filius!"

"And Gryffindor has none for winning the House Cup. What was it? Less than twenty-five points in total?"

There was a large amount of laughter as Minerva turned up her nose. "Anything could happen."

Questus, who was evidently bored of the freindly House rivalry, changed the subject. "Surprised you came, Pomfrey," he said.

Poppy took a sip of Butterbeer. "And why are you surprised? I've never missed a staff meeting in my life. They're the highlights of my year."

"First, you're angry with me."

"Pish-posh. I'm always angry with you."

"Second, you have a prior commitment tomorrow."

"I've cared for Remus before. I'll be fine."

"Third, it's not called 'the Shrieking Shack' for nothing."

Poppy set down her Butterbeer with a clink. "I... forgot."

"You mean...?" Minerva's voice trailed off. "He's in the... right now?"

Questus rolled his eyes. "Well, obviously. Seeing as he's a werewolf and it's the full moon. He can't very well use his dormitory. I thought you'd stay in today so as to avoid hearing anything you don't want to—and I must say, I was quite looking forward to a staff meeting without Pomfrey."

Poppy didn't even grace the insult with a response; instead, she turned to look out the window. It was a clear night, and the moon was visible in the sky. She checked her watch—seven-forty-five. "I'll be fine," she said. Then she wrinkled her nose and laughed. "Fine? I sound like Remus. He says that all the time. Where's Dumbledore, by the way?"

"At the Ministry, clearing up a few final things with the law," said Questus. "Left directly after he called the staff meeting. He'll be around."

"What's all this fuss about a law?" asked Sidus. "What was the law?"

"Prohibiting werewolves from doing some basic things," said Questus. "Leaving the country. Being romantically involved. Going to school."

"Remus said that he's the only werewolf in Britain who goes to school," Poppy said heavily. "He was very upset that the Ministry was targeting him."

Filius cast her a disturbed glance. "As anyone would be. That's not right at all. I didn't even think about that."

"No worries," said Questus lightly. "Dumbledore got it repealed. I told Lupin just now."

"Just... now?" Poppy gave him an odd look. "He let you in?"

"No. Was pretty weird about the whole thing. Almost dropped an armchair on my head."

Poppy looked as if she was ready to kill someone. "You can't just stress him out right before a full moon! He's sensitive about such things! I can't even imagine how distraught he was!"

"He wouldn't be so sensitive if you'd stop coddling him."

"I'm not coddling him, you idiotic..."

Suddenly, there was a cracking noise, and Dumbledore materialized in the chair next to Minerva. Silence fell over the pub—even Rosmerta, who was in the back and well out of earshot. "Good evening," said Dumbledore. "I trust everyone is doing well?"

"He just... John just went and talked to..." Poppy spluttered.

"Remus Lupin, yes, I know. I asked him to."

"You... you can't...!"

"I thought it best that Remus know. He deserves to know as much as possible, since it concerns him significantly more than it does the rest of us."

"But... but why him? Why John? Why not me? I've led him down there every time!"

"I was in close correspondence with John throughout the whole debacle. Furthermore, John is a highly-trained Auror. I thought that Remus might be more comfortable around someone who has experience fending off transformed werewolves." Dumbledore turned to Questus. "Was he?"

Questus snorted. "Nope. Right irrational about the whole thing. I was telling Pomfrey: he almost dropped an armchair on my head."

"You didn't have to do that!" said Poppy, her face turning pink with anger. "You didn't have to go over there at all, I mean! He told me he wasn't worried!"

"He's a very good liar," said Questus. "You said yourself that he's been stressing all day." Then, to Dumbledore: "How did it all go, then?"

"It was difficult," said Dumbledore, stroking his beard. "Werewolves have been... shall we say... dehumanized. It has gone so far that the Ministry is incapable of feeling an ounce of sympathy for an eleven-year-old schoolboy. They think that... John, are you still doing duelling lessons with him?"

"Of course."

Dumbledore kept stroking his beard, lost in thought. "Yes... that is wise, given the circumstances."

"Wait." Poppy stopped them, looking a bit insane. "At the risk of sounding even more mad than I already do, I can't believe that you're actually..." And then she was cut off by a distant sound coming from the Shrieking Shack. She went white.

"I told you that you couldn't handle it," said Questus. "Didn't I tell her?"

But it wasn't just Pomfrey. Most of the teachers were frozen. Dumbledore sighed and cast a Soundproofing Charm on the pub. "I trust Rosmerta has heard nothing about Remus' affliction?"

"No, we've been careful and she's been in the back," said Questus. "Honestly. We all knew this would happen."

"That's him?" whispered Pomona.

"No, it's Peeves. Of course it's him," said Questus. "I'm sure he wouldn't want everybody making such a big deal out of it. Pull yourselves together. It's not like any of you are getting your bones ripped apart and reformed anytime soon."

"Sensitivity, John," Dumbledore chided. "But you're correct. The last thing he wants us to do, I'm sure, is make a scene. I called the staff meeting mainly for the purpose of informing you about the law and warning you that there's no telling whether it will happen again... Poppy, are you quite all right?"

Poppy shook her head furiously. "I need to go to the lavatory," she said briskly. She stood up so quickly that her chair nearly clattered to the ground behind her and was gone an instant later.

Minerva shook her head and followed her. "I'll check on her."

"Honestly," Questus said again. "Keep going, Dumbledore."

"We need to discuss his place at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.

Now Questus started to blink rapidly. "You are not expelling him because of this. Absolutely not. After all the work you did to keep him in, after all the accommodations we made, after all the good it's done for him, we are not throwing him out. I'm surprised at you for even considering the notion, Dumbledore. I can't believe that, after all you've said..."

"I'm not planning on expelling him," said Dumbledore, looking slightly amused. "Only asking your opinions. Confidentially, if you wish. I didn't realize that stereotypes were so ingrained into people's minds, and I didn't realize how much work it would be to keep his place. I know now that I may have taken on a little more than some of you were prepared for, and I never did ask any of you how comfortable you were with the subject. I'm not expelling him, of course. He's a bright child who deserves a chance to learn. This isn't even about him so much as it's about society, you understand. But I do want to know if there's anything I can do for you as you... adjust your mindsets. It was very irresponsible of me to take on a challenge so large without consulting any of you; I understand that now. John, I assume I already know your position on the matter?"

"Obviously. That boy is the only competent one in his year."

"Good. Pomona?"

Pomona Sprout hesitated, her face an odd shade of grey. "I'm working on it."

Questus rolled his eyes again. "Working on it? How difficult is it to treat someone as human? Really?"

"Not everybody is like you, John," said Dumbledore, his voice—for the first time—bordering on sharp. "Is there anything I can do?"

"May I speak with you later? Privately?" Pomona asked.

"Yes, of course. Kirsten? I know you've been having problems."

Kirsten Craff's face was a wooden mask. "I don't have problems. I just don't want him here. I have a child going to school in a few years, and I don't want him learning alongside a werewolf. Werewolves are dangerous. It's a known, Ministry-approved fact."

"Yeah?" said Questus, furious. "How? He's eleven, he's average at magic, he's the most horrible duellist I've seen in a while—well, he's only a first-year, but still—and he memorizes 19th-century poetry for fun, that oddball. He's not going to be hurting anyone anytime soon..."

"John! Calm down!" said Dumbledore. "Everyone is entitled to their opinion..."

"Even wrong ones?"

"Yes, even wrong ones. Kirsten, I can assure you that he is incapable of hurting a soul. And he won't even be in your son's year. Perhaps he won't even take Arithmancy..."

"He'd better," Questus grumbled. "Kid's brighter than all of Hogwarts combined..."

"Do you know what?" Dumbledore stood up suddenly. "My only goal is to ensure that Remus has a comfortable life at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is intended to be a safe haven for learning—social skills and life skills as well as academic. It is supposed to be a pleasant, fun entry into the wizarding world. It cannot serve as such if half of you are scared of a student—neither for you nor for the student. After arguing with the Ministry all day about Remus Lupin's status as a person, I refuse to let the same thing happen in my school.

"If you have a problem, come find me privately. I promise that there will be no judgement as to how you were raised and your current beliefs. Whatever they may be, I am sure that we can work them out so that the next generation of wizards and witches does not grow up to be as horribly prejudiced as ours. And Remus will not experience what I have today until he has a stable group of people who will defend him and is old enough to deal with it. That's all I have to say. Staff meeting dismissed."

Dumbledore Apparated away, and silence enveloped the pub once more.

Filius laughed nervously. "I haven't seen him that angry in a while."

"Nor have I," said Questus. "Has reason to be. It makes my blood boil, how stupid some people can be..." He cast a pointed look towards Kirsten, who crossed her arms tightly.

"I didn't think you were going to take such a strong view on the subject, considering your thoughts last summer," said Horace Slughorn curiously.

"He reminds me of someone," said Questus, shrugging. "My sister. She never finished Hogwarts, either. Anyway, I'm going back to the castle. It's been a rather long day."

And for Remus Lupin, who was now prowling the Shrieking Shack on four paws, it was going to be a rather long night.

AN: I'm back! Every-other-day schedule is officially beginning once again!