Disclaimer: I own nothing in life only the laptop I wrote it on. JK Rowling and her stupid opinions can suck my Trans supporting balls.
Tuesday February 29th 1971
'Come in', Minerva called, answering the knock on the door. She was just finishing grading papers outlining the difference between fur and scales and the added complications that can bring to the transfiguration process. The standard was fairly high overall but there were some repeated errors, especially around the notion rats tails and where fur changes into skin. It seems most students were quoting the same text and completely misunderstanding the passage, obvious evidence of cheating but no matter. She made a note in her book to revisit the chapter with the 3rd years tomorrow and jotted down a more suitable text to recommend.
The door edged open and the small first year poked his head in. He smiled nervously but didn't say anything.
'Ah Mr Lupin', she said, putting down her quill and tidying up the essays. 'Are we ready to go?'
'Yes Professor', the boy said quietly, waiting patiently in the doorway.
'Excellent. Madam Pomfrey said she would meet us at the entrance hall as usual. Have you no cloak Mr Lupin?' She looked down at the boy as she fastened her own cloak over her shoulders. The winter was on the way out but there was an unmistakable chill in the air and the boy was wearing a only a pair of muggle trousers and a jumper.
'Oh…' he replied timidly, looking down at himself as though he hadn't even noticed what clothes he put on himself. 'I'm not – I mean I won't need – I didn't want to…' he stammered quickly before taking a breath and saying. 'I'm not that cold tonight'.
Minerva paused for a moment and gazed down at him. Such a small boy. She had been stunned when Professor Dumbledore had called her into his office the evening after the sorting.
"The Lupin boy!?'' she exclaimed, ''Lyalls son?''
"Quite." Albus said, readjusting the sorting hat into its case for another year.
"Oh…" Minerva sat on the edge of the chair faintly. "Since when?"
"Since the boy was five.'' Albus replied, sitting back in his own chair. 'It seems Lyall's outspokenness against the lycanthropic community did not go… unnoticed''
''But Remus was only a child! What ruthless savages would harm an innocent boy!?''
Albus's eyes shone regarding the Professor sadly. It was rare to see her stern composure slip. She cared for the children so deeply that seeing any of them hurt, even when they were not under her care angered her more than anything. The mark of a true teacher.
"Revenge." Albus remarked softly. "What crueller torture then turning Lyalls son into the 'soulless, evil' monster he so desperately hates."
'Cowards.' Minerva spat viciously. 'Hurting an innocent child. It's a miracle he even survived! Monsters! Lyall was right, soulless to do such a thing to a young boy.''
''Alas that is why we must keep his condition hidden, the prejudices are difficult to overcome even in the best of people''.
Minerva looked up, shocked. ''I didn't mean Remus!', she said sharply. ''He's done nothing to deserve this!''
'And yet, he is the one who must suffer the consequences.''
Minerva sat up in her chair and glared into the headmasters eyes fiercely. ''I will not allow any more harm to come to the boy. He is in my house now. He is under my protection.''
Albus smiled. ''I am sure of it Minerva. Both Lyall and Hope have done as much as they can to protect him thus far. They are trusting us to keep up that protection at all costs. You are his Head of House so I am relying on you to keep an eye on him. Madam Pomfrey has also been made aware of his condition and will care for any medical needs that may arise. Aside from us three, and of course Master Lupin himself, I do not see why anyone else on the staff needs to be made aware of the full extent of the condition, I believe it is better for the child that way. However, I imagine some leniency and excuses may need to be made on some occasions, Pomona Sprout was very considerate in not asking questions about planting the Whomping Willow although the same might not be said for some of our other staff.''
''I will deal with the staff.'' Minerva replied, standing and straightening her robes. She had resumed her usual, immovable composure. ''I assume arrangements have been made for the… nights in question''
''Yes. There is passage to a safe house out on the grounds, I will have Pomona show you how to access it. The first full moon is the 15th I believe…''
''I will organise it will Poppy and Mr Lupin. He will be safe with us.''
''I have no doubt Minerva.''
The three walked briskly down the usual route towards the Whomping Willow. It would have looked a strange sight if there were anyone to see it. The deputy head, the Matron and a small first year walking along the shaded pathway at dusk. There were walking tight into the wall under the castle, the pathway hugging the parapets until it reached the stone arches, then the trio cut off the path and across the unmarked grass towards the Willow.
Remus was rolling his shoulders, stretching his neck as though trying to undo a knot somewhere deep in his muscles. He winced.
''Everything ok dear?'' Madam Pomfrey said stopping to look concernedly down at the boy. The sky was still a dusky pink and the top of the sun still visible over the tops of the trees, they had time yet.
The Matron put her hands on the boys shoulders. ''The full moon hits at 4am tonight, he'll be changed its at its brightest…'' she muttered to no one, examining him
''I'm fine!' Remus growled, shrugging the nurses hands off his shoulders. ''Leave me alone.''
Madam Pomfrey scowled. ''It's just, this one might be a little bit more intense given the timing – ''
''I'm fine!'' Remus yelled again, balling his hands into fists and glaring at the nurse as though he was trying to set her on fire. ''Let's just get this over with.''
He stalked angrily away from them towards the tree. Madam Pomfrey went to run after him but Minerva put her hand out on her wrist. ''He's ok, '' she said quietly to her, ''give him a minute''.
Minerva followed Remus down the path to where he had stopped just out of reach of the Whomping Willow. She stood beside him, both looking out at the sunset on the horizon.
''Sorry Professor'' Remus said quietly, although the anger was still hot in his voice.
''Quite alright Mr Lupin.'' McGonagall answered kindly. They let the silence of the apology hover in the air for a second.
''Does it hurt?''
The question was not one McGonagall expected. She looked down at the small boy puzzled. He was still looking at the sky though she could see the flushed anger still hot on his neck. It made a ragged scar more vivid on his skin.
''When you change into an Animagus? Does it hurt?'' Remus asked quietly.
Minerva sighed. She had been asked what it felt like to change into her feline form a hundred of times from curious students, but this question was different.
''No…'' She replied thoughtfully. ''The first time was… odd certainly, but I can't say it that it was painful.''
Remus still didn't look up, although Minerva had a feeling that this answer wasn't the one Remus was hoping for.
''…Mine hurts….'' He said quietly.
She sighed. The boy was so small. She had heard awful stories of lycanthropic change throughout her transfiguration career. She had studied its metamorphosis effects, how to bones elongated, how the muscles twisted and contracted, how the skull broke in two to make space for the snout. The little accounts there were compared it the Cruciatus curse, though that curse only gave the illusion of pain. Lycanthropy rearranged your entire anatomy. There was no illusion.
Her jaw clenched, she tried not to think about it. About Remus. About what having to suffer such agony month after month must do to a person.
The silence was so heavy it felt as though it was pushing down the sun. Only the tip of it was visible over the trees now.
''I can see in the dark.'' Minerva said finally.
The boy looked up suddenly, a stunned expression on his face.
''Not perfectly, mind you. Certainly not as well as when I'm in my cat form, but it does come in handy when I'm patrolling the corridors.''
Remus gawked up at the stern professor. He was quiet for a while, then replied. ''I can smell people sometimes… Especially around a full moon. It's like everything gets a little… louder. My senses get sharper.'' He grimaced, as though trying not to think about it.
Minerva looked down at him. ''That sounds useful? Better reflexes are always an advantage to a wizard. Remind me not to duel you during a moon.''
Remus looked at her puzzled. ''I never thought about it like that before…''
''Sometimes, it is our differences that define us, not separate us.'' Minerva said softly, placing a hand on Remus's shoulder. ''Now, come along, it's getting late. I think I could stretch my legs a bit.''
She caught Remus's eye and gave him a mischievous wink before pulling the familiar muscle in her abdomen and dropping into animagus form. The Whomping Willow loomed above her but being so small it was easier to see the route to the knot. She began forward, leaping easily over the first branch and under the canopy. A sharp breeze whistled through her whiskers on the left side of her cheek, she jumped instinctively, arching over a second branch which had zoomed towards her. Looking left, saw the thick tree limb pulling up towards the trunk. In two bounds she leapt onto it and skirted up wood. The branch lurched suddenly to the right and the cat had to bear its claws not to be thrown off. She sensed another branch over to her left and jumped quickly over to it and used the momentum to launch herself on to the main trunk. She twisted in midair so that she was facing towards the ground and using her claws, skirted down the bark to the knot in the tree. The Willow froze and the cat landed softly on the rocks at the tunnel entrance.
Minerva stood up, growing back to full height in a second. Remus was grinning wildly, the anger forgotten about.
''That was brilliant!'' he said brightly.
''I don't know what you're talking about. Now now, come along!' Minerva said sternly, guiding the two spectators into the tunnel.
''Did you have fun?'' Madam Pomfrey giggled to her as she passed.
''Oh hush!'' Minerva said, although she couldn't quite hide the smile from her voice.
A/N:: Something short. Thank you for reading it!