Chapter Three
Remus Lupin lay curled on the floor in Dumbledore's office. His body shook with pain tremors, and his hair was plastered down with sweat. His eyes were clenched tightly shut, and there were bruises on his thin face. A stain was growing on the carpet from blood that was dripping slowly from some hidden wound.
A wrinkled and age spotted hand came down and gently stroked his head. Lupin cringed violently away from the touch, and a chuckle broke the tense silence.
"You know this training is good for you, m'boy."
Lupin responded with a soft growl, and tried to scramble to his feet. Instantly, Dumbledore's visage changed from that of a concerned grandfather to very, very angry. His light blue eyes darkened and lost their playful sparkle, and he slowly raised his wand.
"CRUCIO!"
Lupin's thin frame was thrown across the room by the force of the unforgivable, and his head cracked against a cabinet. A howl of pain echoed through the office, like the cry of an injured wolf, before Dumbledore finally lifted the curse. Lupin lay on the floor, his body twitching from the residual magic.
"I forgive you for that slip up. You should be grateful to me for doing this. How else would you be able to fight for the light? If you want to be able to do good, to protect the wizarding world, you have to train for it. If you can withstand this, facing Voldemort and his Death Eaters will be easy. You may leave now."
Lupin struggled to his feet and left the room as quickly as he could. Descending the spiral staircase, he meandered through the empty halls in a daze. During the summer, when no students were about, Hogwarts was a foreboding place. Lupin wandered into the entrance hall, and sank to the floor at the bottom of the stairs. He buried his face in his hands, and began to rock slowly back and forth on his heels.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming up the stairs from the dungeon. Springing to his feet, Lupin attempted to run back up the stairs, but his concussion from hitting his head made him dizzy, and he fell, sprawled on the steps. He heard the footsteps speed up, and he curled into a tight ball, trying to protect himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the surprised and concerned face of Severus Snape. Lupin made one last attempt to get away, but only succeeded in hitting his head again. There was a flash of red, a burst of pain, and then everything went black.