Chapter Forty-Four: Human Wolf Brother

Remus was walking to defense against the dark arts class, Sirius' arm draped over his shoulder his face close to Remus' as he whispered plans for James' birthday. James made a big show of trying to hear which resulted in Sirius mock attacking him. So they were all smiling and laughing as they entered the classroom, Remus relieved none of his friends had figured out his birthday was on the 10th. As they walked into the classroom, Remus having been forced to sit next to them ever since he had told them his suspicions about their professor, he felt something was off.

It wasn't until he sat down between James and Peter that he realized what precisely was off. He jumped out of his seat all eyes going to him and went dark red making a big show of dusting off some nonexistent prickly item in his seat before sitting once more heart hammering. In a large covered up cage at the front of the room was a large wolf, he knew it instinctively just like he knew it was no ordinary wolf.

"I have a special treat for you, today class. Of course, you have the older classes to thank but I figured there's no harm in all my students benefiting. After all, we have been covering a lot of dark creatures and while we won't get into werewolves in detail for awhile I figured a practical demonstration would make a more...lasting impression." If Professor Blavtnik didn't have the whole class's attention before he certainly did now. A chorus of gasps and scraping chairs as people either learned forward or back, echoed around the class. Then the cage was uncovered and intelligent gold eyes were staring directly at Remus.

Thump, thump, thump went his traitorous heart. He had to calm down or one of his friends would notice, but he realized everyone was staring at the wolf.

"Anger. Cage. Human brother. Help. Cage bad, cage bad." Remus nearly toppled out of his chair. He blinked a few times never looking away from the golden eyes that stared at him. He had to be going insane, but the words in his head were becoming clearer.

"You hear me."

"Yes." He thought back hardly daring to breathe. He briefly caught Professor Blatvnik asking the class if this was a werewolf or regular wolf.

"Release me." Remus inhaled sharply as the wolf laid down in the cage never looking away from Remus but nodding its head towards the door merely requiring opposable thumbs to unlatch.

"I can't." The wolf seemed to huff.

"I know human-wolf brother. Cage is bad though."

"Yes, it is." Remus thought back feeling sympathy for the wolf, after all, he sort of knew what it was like.

"My father was like you." Remus couldn't believe it. He had never heard anything about werewolves having any children let alone wolf children. It left him feeling sick.

"Where is he?"

"Dead."

"I'm sorry. Where are you from?"

"Forest." The forbidden forest, Remus felt a chill run up him. He vaguely heard Lily finally being called upon and responding logically that the wolf was normal even with the slightly shorter than average snout and tail which looked a bit peculiar because it wasn't a full moon and the wolf wasn't being aggressive.

"Incorrect Ms. Evans. This was a trick question. It is neither a regular wolf nor a werewolf." Remus forced himself to stare away from the wolf going cold when he realized Professor Blatvnik was staring right at him.

"It's the result of two werewolves mating on the full moon. They create quite fittingly, a beast, the only difference is that it supposedly has high intelligence. While oafs like Hagrid may believe such a thing. I think this is a clear example of why a werewolf is a beast and nothing else seeing as they produce one. All of you remember this for the future. Class dismissed."

"But Professor there's so much time left."

"Do you want me to unleash this beast upon you." Their professor snapped sounding downright hostile. No one else complained and chairs began scraping. The wolf stood on its paws again making the girl closest to it scream and several boys raise their wands in mock bravado.

"Don't leave me." Remus wanted to cry, scream, and puke all at once. He felt James nudge him, hard.

"Come on mate I know it's cool but I'd rather not get eaten today." James laughed but sounded a bit uneasy, none of them 100% sure or not if their professors' threat held any truth to it or not.

"I can't. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I can't." He thought back frantically.

"Get Hagrid." The wolf commanded him though it finally looked away and bowed its head in a gesture of respect that left Remus dazed.

"Geez Remus come on!" Sirius grabbed him and James pushed and they finally managed to get him outside of the classroom and away from the wolf, though Remus had a strong desire to return to it. No, not it, her, Silverstream, named because of her affinity for running in steams bathed silver in the moonlight, even as a small pup. He wasn't sure how he knew this only that he did, images of a small wolf pup dashing through reflected moon water flashing briefly through his head.

He had to save her because he wasn't sure if Professor Blatvnik would simply release her or not. The thought of him hurting her made him feel physically ill. Hagrid, he had to get to Hagrid, quickly!

"Guys I have to study with Lily." He shouted already taking off running. He ignored their questioning shouts which became jeers about his "girlfriend" and he took off bolting through the halls with detention earning speed.

"Lupin slow down or that will be a detention." He heard Professor McGonnagal call to him from across the hall beginning to become crowded with students. Remus didn't slow down and nearly tripped over a third year, jumping across the pile of papers he caused her to spill with an apology.

"Mr. Lupin last warning if you don't slow down there will be detention for you." His head of house shouted though she sounded more concerned than angry, he hardly cared. He had received a detention from Professor McGonagall and even the prospect of sitting alone in detention with her was less scary than failing to save Silverstream. Really trying not to dwell on how he knew her name as she had never told him, he flung open the door and sprinted down the ground at a neck-breaking speed.

"HAGRID!" He shouted loudly his whole body slamming hard into the gamekeeper's door as he tried to stop. He choked back a sob slamming his fists against the door again. He nearly hit Hagrid as the door opened and instead toppled onto the floor, or would have, had the gamekeeper not caught him with a strong hand.

"Remus? What's the matter yer not usually so worked up." Hagrid responded only mildly concerned, almost sounding amused. Remus didn't care if it was suspicious that he cared so much about a werewolf spawn, nor did he stop to consider the fact he should use "it" instead of "she" he just rushed to tell Hagrid before it was too late.

"Professor Blatvnik has one of the forbidden forest's wolf in a cage and he might hurt her." He shouted tears streaming down his face.

"You have to help her!" Hagrid's eyes went wide and then a dark expression crossed his normally gentle features which caused Remus to feel a stab of fear before he reminded himself it wasn't him the gamekeeper was mad at.

"That's why e wanted directions for the forbidden forest? I'm going to ave a word with Dumbledore. ALBUS" The gamekeeper's voice boomed angrily across the grounds. And just like that, the headmaster appeared taking in the two of them with twinkling eyes though he didn't smile.

"What's the matter Rubeus? You may want to set Mr. Lupin down now." He responded mildly and Hagrid seemed surprised to find he had a child in his hand. He set Remus down who nearly buckled feeling ill and weak. Dumbledore steadied him with a gentle hand on his shoulder, though he kept his eyes on Hagrid who quickly explained what Professor Blatvnik had done.

"I see. I will have a word with him immediately. Do not worry Hagrid, Silverstream will be returned unharmed to her home." Professor Dumbledore responded assuredly. He never looked at Remus besides an initial glance and was gone as quickly as he came. Remus was both relieved Dumbledore reacted so quickly and a little upset the headmaster hadn't met his eyes.

It almost seemed intentional and after shaking off Hagraid's profound thanks, the groundskeeper not even questioning why he had been so upset, he pondered on why Dumbledore hadn't even said 'Hello Mr. Lupin.' Every time Remus had seen Dumbledore in the halls, which was quite often though brief, he was greeted by the headmaster. Perhaps it was him reacting quickly for Silverstream's case but Remus couldn't help feeling the Professor was upset at him.

Perhaps he was upset because of how careless Remus had been. So he worried if this was the case and if he had somehow given himself away during class, remembering Professor Blatvnik's eyes on him which made him shudder. It wasn't until he reached the common room to find Dorcas, James, Sirius, and Peter all recounting their most recent wonderful prank in which Severus was only one target, that Remus wondered how Dumbledore had known the wolf's name.

"And they'll be smelling like daisies for weeks won't they Potter?"

"Absolutely and several of them have vines coming out of their a….."

"I assume you four aren't openly admitting to a punishable offense that was committed yesterday?" Kingsley asked in his deep and disapproving tone. Dorcas grinned but shook her head.

"Course not Kinglsey. We are merely discussing what hypothetically would have caused plants to sprout from the Slytherins...ahem..extremities. Besides first years never could pull of such a thing" Which most likely meant Patricia had helped this time. James and Sirius hid their snickers behind their hands, amused by Dorcas' boldness in addressing the ever strict Kingsley.

Ever since Valentine's Day in which Dorcas had discovered her love for pulling pranks she had been occasionally helping with plans, as well as Patricia when she wasn't busy. Unlike the younger boys, who were all still struggling to hide their laughter, Kingsley did not look impressed, scrutinizing the four unruly Gryffindor's a moment longer before shaking his head and walking away.

"Go on then, tell us what happened next." Exclaimed Jeremiah Cattermole, one of the three boys on the seventh floor across from their dorm. It seemed the whole of the first years were in the common room, usually dominated at this time and day by the older students. It was an odd site but not the first time the boys had gotten together. Though with no birthday he could think of coming up, besides his own, he wondered how they all came to be here.

Gary Thomas elbowed Jeremiah in response.

"He's getting to it! Give him a second will ya."

"Oi Remus come over here," James called suddenly spotting him.

"Come back early from snogging Lily have ya?" Sirius teased and Remus felt himself go red. It was one thing to have his friends teasing him about it when it was just them, but another thing to tease him about it in front of the other first-year boys, who were now gawking at him with a sort of reverence. He was just grateful that Dorcas was the only girl, knowing that despite being Lily's best friend she wouldn't say anything, not one to spread needless gossip and drama.

"Sirius we are just friends." He protested loudly, a bit of irritation in his voice. Sirius shrugged but his expression suggested something was bothering him, but what that could be Remus didn't know. He only hoped his friends had bought his excuse about meeting up with Lily.

"Thought you were going to be busy for a while?" Peter asked innocently.

"Couldn't find her."

Dorcas turned to him and he knew she knew meeting up with Lily was an excuse.

"She must have forgotten, she's been up in our dorm writing the paper on the property of mandrakes." James and Sirius groaned. They had clearly forgotten all about it, Herbology often being deemed too 'boring' for them.

"Well come here and help us plan James' party," Sirius called impatiently. Remus almost laughed, James' birthday was on the 27th, nearly a month away.

"Shouldn't James be gone for this then?" He responded amused trying to meet Sirius' eyes but found the boy had already looked away. He was definitely upset about something.

"I'm not gonna let you tossers mess up the preparations." Gary laughed in response to that. Remus knew that he had been trying to hang out with James and Sirius more, practically idealizing them as much as Peter for their evergrowing ease with communicating with the Quidditch team, but never seemed successful.

Sirius had outwardly stated when James pitched the idea of letting him hang out that five was too many and four was a perfect number. To which James had jokingly said they'd just swap Gary, who was much more well mannered, with Sirius, which resulted in another pillow fight. Remus often felt bad for the house-elves who always had to replace their pillows.

James grinned at Gary always liking the attention and stuck his tongue out at Sirius.

"See it's not a ridiculous idea."

"Yes, it is." Sirius shot back with mock outrage.

"Absolutely ridiculous." Remus assured James.

"Peter?" James ventured, used to Peter always taking his side. However this time the boy seemed hesitant and didn't answer causing James to groan.

"Fine. But if you lot botch it up I'll be really cross about it." He huffed and stormed off. So Remus spent the next two hours, two whole hours in which he should have been doing homework dragged into a useless discussion about what type of cake to get the house elves to make and what activities to have.

Sirius loved birthdays as much as he loved any excuse to throw a loud rowdy celebration which he never got at Grimmauld Manor. Remus finally was able to slip away when Dorcas and he began arguing about whose birthday party between the two of theirs had been better.

"Remus wait." He stopped surprised as Gary approached him, never exchanging more than a few words with the boy before.

"Everything ok?" He asked wondering if Gary Thomas had broken another quill and needed one of Remus' loaned to him again.

"Yeah, I was just wondering ...well, how do you do it?" Remus blinked surprised having no idea what Thomas meant. His confusion must have been clear because Gary hurried on.

"How do you stay such good friends with them? I mean Peter follows them around but you aren't with them as much and you hardly ever join in on the pranks, and yet they still seem to like you so much." He explained quickly in one breath. Remus wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or just amused.

"I mean it probably has to do with the fact that I'm in their dorm. We aren't really super close or anything… It's just…. I don't know." He finished lamely and Gary looked disappointed and a bit upset, no doubt feeling Remus was hiding some secret skills to himself. The disappointed boy quickly rushed back to the small group who was now wondering if they could sneak brooms into the common room. Remus shook his head and climbed the stairs nearly forgetting James was waiting in the room.

"Oh good! Have you come to tell me all the plans?" James asked eagerly.

"No. Though I'm sure you can get Peter to later." He teased going to his bed. He couldn't believe it wasn't bedtime yet, he had been feeling so tired lately, even without the moon being high in the sky.

"Great idea. I'm sure he'll tell me loads." Remus rolled his eyes but said nothing taking his already completed paper on mandrakes out of his bag to review it. A silence fell that James seemed to find uncomfortable, he and Remus were not often alone together.

"Do you ...want to play a game of exploding snap?"

"No, I'm looking over my herbology assignment."

"Oh, bloody hell I haven't done that yet." James groaned. "I meant to do it right after defense against the dark arts but then we had that really cool but weird class."

"Do you want me to help you?" Remus cut in before James could ask what he thought about the wolf. James quickly agreed and an hour past in which Remus succeeded in avoided the wolf topic. Until Peter and Sirius came back in, the later clearly annoyed.

"Remus you were supposed to help!"

"I didn't have any good ideas."

"Bollocks you always have good ideas!"

"Lay off him Sirius he was helping me with my paper and didn't want me to be all by myself up here. Unlock SOME people he's a good friend." James said, immediately coming to Remus' defense.

"Fine, I'll just send back your expensive present." Sirius shot back and James had to admit defeat. Since James was already on Remus bed, once more they all piled onto it and soon the topic Remus had been so desperate to ignore was brought up again.

"That wolf was so cool though."

"Nah, I thought it was lame. Pretty sure Professor Blatvnik was lying about the whole bloody thing." Sirius retorted.

"Yeah maybe, but I swear it was staring right at me," James said thoughtfully. Remus flinched and was very glad Sirius, James, and Peter all habitually gave him more space than they gave each other by now. They didn't seem to notice, but he didn't think he could keep up this topic much longer without letting something slip.

"If only you could get Patricia to stare right at you." He teased lightly and was oh so glad when the topic changed. He convinced himself he only imagined Sirius' sharp gaze on him for a moment.