Author's Note:

I know, I'm a horrible person, we established this in chapter 138, but things have to happen this way, don't they?

I was going to post this yesterday but it was my birthday so, I voted on going to bed early because dude, 32 is just depressing LOL.

Thank you to Bex for the idea of using the tune of Pop! Goes the Weasel — very creepy, I hope.

Reviews and Comments: To Uipo: Definitely motherfucking Umbitch, she ruins everything! To rbear1231: I agree, Umbitch definitely doesn't deserve to win. Sorry you feel that Umbitch is nothing but a writer's punching bag and you no longer consider this story worth reading. I think it's about to get better, but I guess you miss out. To darkhk: Yes lol. To Guest: I know, Umbitch sucks! Poor Remus indeed. To scrappy8: Thank you! To Steelcode: I didn't say no more heart attacks, and yes would be awful to get Sirius back only to lose Remus, wouldn't it? Thank you! To mdauben: Maybe a little. Yes, we do hope this toad is stopped! To Paola1991: Kill Umbitch in the most painful way possible and save Remus? Well, we will have to wait and see, won't we? To Taraimperatrice: Thank you! It is unfair and we will have to see how Sirius, Tonks, and Harry handle it! To coloredwords: Thank you! I also hate that woman, she is definitely very vile. I love that you said Umbitch in Harry Potter trivia! To be fair, it's a much better name. It is outrageous! Thank you!

To Ana: You think Bellatrix should torture Umbitch? Interesting. Thank you for saying I've kept Umbitch as still the most hated character, I definitely try. Poor Remus, this is a lot for him. Thank you! To : Haha, we can only hope Umbitch will die slowly and painfully. Thank you! To Guest: Ha, you thought this was going to be a happy fic, but here I am torturing Harry by taking one father away from him after another? Well, I have to keep you on your toes. To josht1987: Being evil is fun. Thank you! To PolarWriter95: Thank you! To KittenWithAnAx: Ha, I'm sorry I leave you wondering so much. As to Umbitch returning to teach in fifth year? Wait and see. Thank for saying my fic is one of the best. To Guest: Thank you. If I kill Lupin off you will never read another word I write? Noted.

To fons19: Yes, she is crazy. Thank you! To Hinny FTW: Thank you! I love knowing I sent chills down your spine! And yes, if Remus is executed, Sirius and Tonks are not going to take it well. To Millie072: Thank you! Umbitch is definitely overstepping her bounds! Things are definitely heating up! To Cantodeembalar: What about a trial indeed? Questions will get answered soon. Thank you! To midnitewanderer: I'm sorry that you caught up in time for this. I love that your head is spinning though. Thank you! To AKBookGirl: I love that you almost punched your iPad! Remus definitely doesn't deserve this! Sirius definitely knows Harry is keeping something from him. Thank you! To pottermum: Ha, I will take it as a compliment that I made you hate Umbitch even more. Thank you! To geekymom: Thank you! Umbitch being bitten by Greyback would definitely be poetic justice!

To x-shadow-x-kisses-x: Ha, I am grateful you didn't throw your phone against the wall, but I do appreciate the sentiment. Thank you! To Moony The Sheep: Thank you! I love knowing I've brought more hate about Umbitch! To Wolf's scream: Yes, Bellatrix will definitely know Peter double crossed her. And no, things don't look good for Remus. Thank you! To .puentes: Thank you! To LeglessFishOnRollerskates: I love that you hate Umbitch even more! Thank you! To supersandman86: Yes, she has definitely made a very serious enemy. Thank you! Yes, Newt Scamander did petition the bill, but he will not be appearing. To annagardner11: Thank you! I will do my best! To azphxbrd: Thank you! I hope Remus is saved as well! To alix33: Thank you! To Guest: Ha, yes here comes the corkscrew twist on this coaster ride — well said! Remus is definitely in trouble! Thank you!

To AntiCreator: If I allow Umbitch to execute Remus you will have to stop reading? Good to know. Happy I've filled you with such dread. Thank you! To LilyAlice5: Thank you for being in love with this story! I love keeping you on a rollercoaster and motivating you to come bak each week! To HufflepuffGirl100: Thank you so much! I love that you say I keep the characters so real! To aj613: Thank you! I know. To Claire Fraser: Why am I doing this? Well, it fits with where my plot is going, pulling the heartstrings is just a side benefit. To Guest: Umbitch thinks she has that kind of power, which is basically the same thing. Thank you! To speedsONEandONLY: Everyone is a little shook by what just happened. It should be interesting. Thank you! To Icantthink0faname: Does anyone not hate Umbridge? Thank you!

To Jmcglynn522: LOL, yes, fun Umbitch indeed! Thank you! To DisneyGirl1991: I appreciate you trying not to kill me. Sirius and Tonks are definitely not going to take the news well, neither will Harry. And you want Tonks to kill Umbitch? Thank you! To SoCalGirl28: You want Sirius to kill Umbitch? Interesting. To Bosma18: Umbitch does deserve death, this is true. Thank you! To Sledge46: I love that the hate for Umbitch is growing. It makes me smile. Thank you! To Jpink3125: Thank you! Yes, I know, Remus should be saved. To Bigmike33321: I read your review while out with friends and literally laughed out loud at the table, so thanks for always looking at the positive side. Yes, at least Remus got some good sex before his death LOL. Thank you! To odysse: Thank you for catching up and thanks for despising Umbitch (we all do). Thank you!

Thank you to my Beta — SilverStarwolfe!

My posting schedule: Every Tuesday or Wednesday (usually the latter) and sometimes on the weekends.

As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!

Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE:

The One With the Wolf in the Cage

Remus was in complete shock.

Of all of the ways that he had imagined the Ministry of Magic discovering that he was a werewolf; forcing him to register and forcing him to be tracked and monitored for his behaviour… he had never imagined that he would be executed for it — nor would it happen so quickly.

The sound of Umbridge whistling the familiar children's nursery rhyme with her own disturbing wording about his fate made him shiver slightly as he was pulled away by the guards in such a way that it was enough to make his stomach plummet in fear. She couldn't really order him to be executed without proof, could she? He had never once hurt anyone in his werewolf form.

But he had come close.

He remembered waking up the morning after he had ripped open James' abdomen as a stag when he had tried to stop him from attacking someone on the grounds. He remembered seeing the scars on Sirius from when he had torn into him, desperate to be free and he had fought against his friend's defences. And he remembered how he had almost attacked Snape once before James had pulled him back. He could hurt them. He knew how dangerous he was.

And maybe, just maybe, this really was for the best.

Kill the monster, he thought.

The words echoed in his head, her whistling hum still heard in the halls.

All around the Ministry halls,

The secretary chased the monster.

The monster thought that he had won

'Til pop, she killed the monster!

The silver shackles burned his skin and he winced at the pain of it. He had always wondered if silver truly could hurt him as outlined in the myths and as it burned into his skin, he could almost feel his skin melting away where the shackles stood; he knew now that it had more than just a basis in fact.

He was led to a portkey station that took him to the rocky cliffs of the island in the North Sea. It was only upon landing there, the cold wind and rain hitting his face, that he started to realize that this was it.

This was how his life was going to end.

He was shoved into a small rowboat, the rain beating down on them and one of the guards sneezed his distaste before climbing in with him. They rowed slowly, wands propelling the boat forward towards the dark fortress that seemed to rise out of the rocks. Mist and fog surrounded the fortress and the feel of melancholy and despair that washed over them as they approached was enough to make Remus shiver.

The boat crashed into the rocky shores and the guards dragged him to his feet. They levitated him face down, arms and legs hanging over his body like a spider. The silver shackles clinked as he floated between the guards up the narrow path and through the thick iron doors of the fortress.

The doors closed behind them with an echoing bang and the sounds of screams and moans echoed throughout the fortress. Stairs went straight up the middle, zig-zagging across and back and forth, each cell covered in iron bars, floor, walls, and ceiling all made of solid rock and stone.

The guards shoved him into the first door on the left, which looked like an office, and the guard there lifted his head once the door was closed. He had a Patronus of a rabbit running around his office, making the room feel visibly happier and warmer. He put his paper down and nodded at the guards.

"This the werewolf?"

"Yes, Sir. Remus John Lupin. Senior Undersecretary Umbridge demands that he is to be Kissed immediately upon his arrival."

"She does, does she?"

He moved around the desk to grip Remus' chin in his hands. "He hardly looks like a dangerous criminal."

"Umbridge's orders, Sir."

"Yes, yes," he said waving the man off. "The Dementors are doing their rounds, but once they've finished, I will call one of them into the execution room to take care of it. In the meantime, you may bring the prisoner into the execution room and provide him with a last meal."

He turned Remus' face in his hands and sighed.

"I hate execution days," he muttered and turned back to his paperwork as the guards removed Remus from the room.

~ ASC ~

By the time that Harry left the Great Hall, he was running at full speed to the hospital wing. He almost crashed right into Sirius as he rushed inside.

"Hey, Harry, where's the fire? You feeling okay this morning?"

"Uncle Sirius! They're going to arrest Uncle Moony! You have to stop it!"

"What?" Sirius asked, his eyes wide. "What do you mean?"

"They were just here in the Great Hall, looking for him! Dumbledore said that he had already resigned and left the school!"

A wolf Patronus burst through the wall of the castle and Sirius' eyes widened when it spoke in Tonks' panicked voice.

"Remus was arrested and brought in to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I've been suspended and ordered to stay away. Kingsley just sent word to me that Umbridge had him removed from the premises and had guards immediately escort him to Azkaban."

Sirius paled as the Patronus disappeared.

Harry grabbed his arm. "Uncle Siri, why is he going to Azkaban?"

"He never registered himself as a werewolf and it's against the law. I need to get to the Ministry."

Harry watched as Sirius took off running to McGonagall's office to use her Floo. He looked over at Zee, eyes wide. "Is Uncle Moony going to prison?"

Zee shook her head. "Something about this isn't right, Harry. I'm sorry, I have to go! Stay here!"

She hurried off after Sirius with Lady Godiva on her heels and Harry's hands shook at his sides. There had to be something that they could do. He couldn't have saved Sirius only to lose Remus…

He couldn't have.

~ ASC ~

Ginny watched Hermione get up to go after Harry and she swallowed slowly, stopping herself from doing the same. She thought there had to be something that she could do to help before she moved down the table to where Percy was sitting. She slid onto the bench next to him.

"Professor Lupin is the best teacher that we've ever had."

Percy looked down at her. "I agree, but being an unregistered werewolf is a crime, Ginevra."

Ginny only gave him a piercing stare. "Can you blame him for keeping it a secret when you look at how he was just treated?"

Percy sighed. "I didn't say that it was right or that I agree with it, but that's the law. When people don't follow the law, chaos ensues. No one is above the law, Ginevra."

Ginny glared at him. "I refuse to let him resign for something so incredibly stupid! We need him here! No one cares that he turns into a werewolf!"

Percy smiled at her. "I admire your gumption, but what do you suppose we do, start a petition to keep him here? We don't have any power."

Her eyes lit up and she smiled brightly. "Exactly that! And not just a petition, Perce, but words of praise and encouragement! You can start! As Head Boy, what you have to say on the subject of his teaching here would hold considerable weight." She grabbed his hand and tugged him to his feet. "Come on!"

Percy smiled at her, the determination in her blazing eyes made him proud. "We have to do it right, Ginny; nothing can be amiss."

She only smirked at him as he led her to the Head Dormitory. "Why else do you think I came to you in the first place?"

Percy's eyes twinkled in excitement. "Good. I know exactly how to start."

~ ASC ~

Sirius arrived at the Ministry of Magic only minutes after speaking to Harry and was surprised to find Kingsley in the atrium.

"King! Where's Remus?"

Kingsley shook his head. "Umbridge ordered him to be taken to Azkaban and Kissed upon his arrival."

"WHAT?" Sirius exploded, his eyes wide in horror.

Kingsley nodded. "The Minister of Magic agreed with her sentiments, given the circumstances, and they took him away… or at least she's claiming he has. There was nothing I could do to stop him being taken, Sirius. But maybe we can stop the execution."

Sirius glared at him. "Get me a portkey to the North Sea, now."

"Sirius, there's —"

"NOW!"

Kingsley nodded and led him to the Department of Magical Transportation. Walters and Agent Barrow were already there, arguing with the transportation officer.

"We need to get to Azkaban immediately," Agent Barrow was demanding. "There has been an uncalled for execution and we need to stop it!"

Sirius nodded at them. "I'm coming with you."

"As am I," Kingsley said from behind Sirius, making him turn and smile. "I should have done more to stop Umbridge from allowing him to be taken. Remus is a good man and I'm not giving up on him."

Agent Barrow nodded and within minutes, the four of the them were flying through space and time and landing haphazardly on the rocky shores of the North Sea, the looming dark fortress of Azkaban Prison rising up from the sea in front of them.

They climbed into the row boat and Sirius shivered. "I never thought that I'd be back here."

Kingsley put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"What time is it?" Sirius asked, turning to Agent Barrow.

Agent Barrow looked at the pocket watch hanging from his robes. "Half past nine."

Sirius nodded. "We have time. The Dementors don't finish their rounds before eleven."

Walters shivered under the spray of the water as the boat moved them towards the fortress. "That's almost reassuring."

"It is," Sirius told her, his eyes on the fortress ahead. "Executions won't happen until rounds are complete."

Kingsley swallowed, nodding as the boat lurched forward.

It took them ten minutes to arrive on the shore and another five to get up to the front doors. Kingsley immediately pushed forward into the main office and demanded that they be taken to the execution room.

Sirius' heart was pounding in fear, but he let out a breath of relief when he saw Remus shackled to the chair in the middle of the room — alive.

"He's been ordered to be Kissed, Shacklebolt, I can't disregard a direct order!" The man behind him was complaining.

"You can and you will!" Kingsley ordered, coldly. "I am Head Auror and no one will be executed without first earning a fair trial and this man was not even properly interviewed before being taken from my interrogation room and brought here!"

The guard seemed to cower under Kingsley's stare and he nodded. "Yes, Sir."

Kingsley noticed the shackles and swore. "Remove those at once!"

"Sir, he is still a prisoner!"

"Yes, he is. Now, remove them at once!"

The guard snapped his fingers and two prison guards moved away from the walls to unshackle his silver chains.

Sirius moved to kneel in front of his friend, gripping his chin in his hands. "Rem? Moony, you okay?"

Remus nodded, weakly, the silver at his wrists and ankles had cut him to the bone. "I'm to die today."

"No," Sirius told him, sternly, holding his face in his hands. "You are not. You did nothing to warrant an execution. Nothing."

Remus' eyes were blank when they stared at him. "You've been a good friend, Padfoot. But I've told you for years, I'm a monster and now the world finally knows it."

His head drooped down and he slid into unconsciousness from the pain. The silver had clearly gotten into his bloodstream as his gaze had been very disoriented before he'd passed out.

Sirius stood up, his hand on Remus' shoulder. "This is unacceptable."

Kingsley nodded, his eyes on Remus who had passed out in the chair. "I agree." He turned to look at Agent Barrow. "I want him locked in a holding cell on the main floor. His execution has been put on hold for the time being. No more silver shackles. Winters, if one hair is hurt on Lupin's head, I will give you to the Dementors myself, am I clear?"

The main guard Winters paled considerably. "Yes, Sir."

"Take him away."

Sirius gripped Remus' arm when they levitated him, his eyes wide and Kingsley called his name.

"Leave him, Sirius. The holding cell on the main floor is the best place for him now. I'm going to order two of my best Aurors to come guard him. You need to call an emergency assembly of the Wizengamot. Walters, stay with Lupin and get him to talk to you. The more information we have the better."

"I can tell you anything that you need to know," Sirius told her. "I've known him since we were eleven years old and he's the most gentle soul that I've ever met. He would never hurt anyone willingly."

"How long have you known he was a werewolf?"

"Since I was twelve," he said, simply. "He's my best friend. I'll take whatever punishment you deem fit, just… he doesn't deserve to die."

Walters nodded, her eyes sad. "We'll work it out, Lord Black. Call an emergency meeting."

Sirius hated leaving Remus in that cold, damp cell, but he knew that Kingsley was right. They couldn't just break him out of prison, they had to go through the proper channels; they had to do this right. The important thing was that Remus' execution was delayed.

Now he just had to get him the hell out of there.

~ ASC ~

When The Evening Prophet arrived that night at dinner, Harry's stomach plummeted when he read the article on the front page.

WEREWOLF ARRESTED AT HOGWARTS?

WHAT KIND OF FREAK-SHOW WILL HOGWARTS HIRE NEXT?

He grabbed the paper from Wood's mail without asking and unrolled it to read, his eyes wide in horror.

Remus Lupin, 34, is a dangerous werewolf. He was arrested earlier today for crimes of hiding his lycanthropy from the Ministry of Magic and taking on a teaching post at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry without informing staff or students. After the fiasco last year with Gilderoy Lockhart, accused of countless cases of fraud, the rape of minors, and the obliviating of innocent people — a werewolf seems to be the next logical step for Albus Dumbledore.

The dangers of having a werewolf as a teacher are countless and Ministry officials work to reassure parents that students will be checked carefully to make sure that Lupin hasn't infected anyone with his disease.

"Lycanthropy is a dangerous and a sickening disease," Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge told the Prophet this afternoon. "This is part of the reason why I wanted to implement Bill 426-A17 so, that individuals like Lupin, can be monitored, watched and ultimately contained. Werewolves are extremely untrustworthy and the fact that two escaped Death Eaters from Azkaban happened to arrive at Hogwarts on the same full moon where Lupin was loose on the grounds? That's not a coincidence. Werewolves were always well known supporters of You Know Who which means that Lupin was obviously behind the breakout last August and has been harbouring known criminals. He was tried and his execution was ordered."

Ordered, but not carried out.

Head Auror Kingsley Shacklebolt has apparently stopped the execution order for Lupin, demanding that a trial be given and claiming that Senior Undersecretary Umbridge denied Lupin a fair trial before assigning execution orders. Lord Sirius Black followed Shacklebolt's orders and called an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot Assembly for nine o'clock tonight, something that hasn't happened in over twenty years. We will have to wait and see what the outcome of the Assembly is to determine Lupin's fate.

He threw the paper down on the table angrily and Wood looked at him surprise.

"You okay, Harry?"

"No!" he said, angrily. "This is bullshit! Professor Lupin is not some criminal that needs to be carted off to Azkaban and executed! He's the best defence teacher that we've ever had!"

Wood nodded solemnly. "I can attest to that. He's the best defence teacher I've had in my seven years here. They won't execute him, there's no way that that's legal without actual evidence that he murdered someone."

Wood's words did nothing to reassure him.

Hermione tried to calm him down and offer him support, but nothing she had to say on the known werewolf laws, execution charges, and the Ministry of Magic made him feel any better. Even the news that Neville had finally woken up, didn't cheer him up as much as it should have.

But he offered a small smile to his friend as he sat on the edge of Neville's hospital bed.

"You all right?"

Neville nodded. "I feel like I've been trampled on by an army of Hippogriffs, but I think I'm all right. I heard Ron saying something about Professor Lupin being arrested? What the hell happened?"

Harry nodded, anger rising again. "He was! It's completely ridiculous and no one will tell me what's happening!"

"I'm sure that as soon as someone knows something, you'll know," Neville told him, trying to reassure his friend.

Harry nodded, dragging his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, Nev. I'm so worried about Uncle Remus and I should be focused on you, I mean… you were kidnapped by Bellatrix Lestrange and tortured!"

Neville shrugged, his face flushing. "It's not something to brag about, I was stupid. I don't know what I was thinking jumping at her like that. I know how lucky I am to be alive."

"What happened after you, you know, Disapparated?" Ron asked from the bed beside him.

Neville stared at Ron's leg. "Your leg going to be all right?"

"Yeah, should be healed by tomorrow. Your arm?"

"Madam Pomfrey said that it should be good by tomorrow as well," he said with a smile. He closed his eyes for a moment and let out a slow breath. "She hit me."

Harry's eyes widened. "She hit you?"

"Slapped me, really, and she cut my cheek with her nails. Then she licked the blood… and she was loving it, I could see that. She laughed."

Hermione grabbed Ron's arm and her voice was quiet as she spoke. "Madam Pomfrey said that you had been tortured."

Neville nodded, his face pale. "She used it on me twice, the torture curse. It's the worst thing that I ever could have imagined. It was like I was inside out and my body was being stabbed everywhere and being burnt alive at the same time. I… to think my mum and dad were under that for hours… it's a miracle that they even survived at all."

Harry put his hand on Neville's knee. "You were so brave, Nev."

He shook his head. "I spit at her and I called her a bitch. The last thing I remember is hitting my head against the wall and blacking out. How did I even get here?"

"Pettigrew brought you back," Ron said as Harry nodded next to him.

"Why?"

Harry shrugged. "We don't know, but he brought you back. Do you know where he took you?"

Neville shook his head. "No. It was a house. It looked like it was abandoned, but I wasn't paying attention to much else."

Harry nodded. "Well, you're back now and you're safe. That's what's important."

"Thanks, Harry. I think that I just want to try to sleep some more. I'm really tired."

Hermione stood up and leaned down to kiss his cheek. "If you need to talk, Neville, about anything…"

Neville smiled gratefully at her. "Thank you. I think I'll be okay. Is my gran still talking to Dumbledore?"

Harry nodded. "I think so because she didn't come back yet. Do you want us to stay with you until she does?"

"I'm here," Ron said with a smile. "Nev and I will be fine. You and Hermione try to mirror-call Sirius and find out what's happening." He passed the mirror back to Harry. "I forgot to return that."

"Thanks."

They said goodbye and headed out into the hall just as Mrs Longbottom approached the hospital door.

"How is he?" she asked eagerly.

"Tired, but okay," Harry told her. "He's incredibly brave, Mrs Longbottom."

Mrs Longbottom nodded, her eyes sad. "So were his parents." She closed her eyes for a moment. "Sirius has ordered an emergency meeting of the Wizengamot Assembly for tonight to deal with the Lupin arrest. Don't worry about what the papers are saying, Harry, this will all be taken care of in some way or another."

She squeezed his shoulder in reassurance before hurrying into the infirmary to be with her grandson.

Harry and Hermione slowly made their way up to Gryffindor Tower. They had just taken a seat in the common room when Harry recognized Persephone outside of the tower window and he jumped to his feet to let her inside. He recognized Zee's writing and he eagerly opened the letter, desperate for any news. His eyes widened as he read her words aloud to Hermione:

Harry,

Remus was arrested in Hogsmeade this morning and brought to the Ministry of Magic. The woman who is behind the push of Bill 426-A17 is trying to use his case to make an example of why her bill should be pushed forward through the Ministry. She tapped into some unknown political power through the Minister and had Remus removed from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and delivered to Azkaban and ordered to be Kissed upon arrival.

Sirius and Auror Shacklebolt stopped this from happening!

Remus is currently being held in a holding cell under Auror guard within Azkaban Prison. Sirius has used his rights as a Lord of the Wizengamot to call forth an emergency assembly meeting for nine o'clock tonight strictly to deal with Remus' case. Werewolf Support Services is speaking to Remus in Azkaban to try to get his full story. I am working with Agent Barrow of the Beast Division to give him an example of Remus' character. The Werewolf Registry is also taking notes.

Think positive thoughts. We have to trust Sirius on this matter and please know that we are doing everything in our power to keep him safe.

Love,

Zee

Xoxox

Harry read and re-read the letter over and over, his eyes flashing in anger. They had tried to have him executed? The paper hadn't been lying!

Hermione carefully extricated the letter from his hands, her eyes pouring over it. "Oh, Harry!"

"Bollocks!" he exclaimed, glaring at her. "How can they even allow this happen? He's not a bloody monster and they're treating him like he's a criminal!"

"It sounds like Sirius is going to try to put a stop to it," Hermione said, her eyes terrified. "He has that kind of power, doesn't he?"

"In theory, but he has to get the majority of the Wizengamot to agree with him," Harry told her, his hands in his hair. "He's only one person!"

"Harry!"

He looked up as Ginny came through the portrait hole with Percy behind her. "Harry! I have something to show you!"

"Not now, Ginny," he said angrily, his eyes moving back to the letter in Hermione's hands.

"Harry," Percy said, crisply. "We wanted to show you first before we present it to Professor Dumbledore."

Harry looked down at the parchment that Percy presented to him and he sighed, accepting it. But then his eyes widened as he read the content.

PETITION TO BRING PROFESSOR REMUS LUPIN BACK

As Head Boy, I have had seven years of great experiences here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and with those seven years of experiences, I've also had the pleasure of working with many different professors. No professor quite deserves my praise like that of Professor Remus John Lupin. He is intelligent, patient, and kind. He is extremely helpful, always there to listen and to assist. His office door is always open to those looking for help. He offers extra assistance, tutoring, and personal training sessions with his students to make sure that they are learning the material to the best of their abilities. He is an amazing and inspiring wizard who I only wish I could be as great as in my chosen field.

The fact that he is a werewolf is completely irrelevant to his skill and prowess as an incredible Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Hogwarts will be truly remiss without him.

Percy Weasley, Head Boy

Below this was a list of student signatures with other thoughts and quips about how great Lupin was and how much the school benefited from having him around and how much Hogwarts was going to miss him. Of the two hundred eighty students in the school, two hundred and sixty-eight had signed.

"If you and Hermione sign it that's two hundred and seventy signatures," Ginny told him with a smile. "We're going to get the professors to sign too before we present it to Professor Dumbledore."

Harry looked up at her and Percy in surprise. "This is… this is amazing, thank you! This must have taken you…"

"All damn day?" Percy said with a laugh. "Yeah, it has. But it was Ginny's idea and we've spoken to everyone in the school. Only ten people refused to sign it, which I think is a pretty low number over all."

Harry's eyes met Ginny's chocolate ones. "You did this?"

She smiled at him. "We want him back, Harry."

"Ginny, Percy, you definitely need to get that to Dumbledore. The Ministry is trying to get Remus executed and maybe this petition can be used as evidential testimony of his character," Hermione said quickly.

"Executed?" Percy asked in alarm. "That's preposterous! They don't have the right to execute a man simply because he turns into a werewolf!"

Harry snorted. "Doesn't seem to matter much to them actually."

Percy listened as Hermione explained the article in the paper and what Zee claimed Sirius was trying to do and he nodded in understanding. "She's trying to use him as a scapegoat to get her bill across. If she has enough backing, it is possible. If there's a Wizengamot meeting tonight, Penny and I will both attend as Youth Representatives to the court and we can present the petition. Come on, Ginny, we need to get this to Dumbledore."

Ginny hopped up from her seat and smiled at her brother. "Agreed. Let's go."

~ ASC ~

Tonks was pacing the living room of her parents' home in Shoreditch, her hands in her short bubblegum pink curls so often that they were standing on end.

"Dora, you're going to leave a path in the carpet," Ted joked, lightly.

Tonks ignored him, her hands still in her hair.

Ted stood up, putting his hands on his daughter's arms and tugging her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, cradling her head to his heart. "It's okay, darling. It's okay, just let it out."

Tonks wasn't sure if she had been waiting on the words or for her father's embrace, but the moment that he spoke, the tears fell and she expelled great heaving sobs. Ted rubbed her back soothingly, kissing her hair. It was almost five minutes before she caught her breath, her fingers fisting in her father's shirt.

"Daddy," she whispered.

"Shh, my lovely Auror Dora, it's okay. Sirius won't let this happen."

Tonks' eyes met his, a small smile on her lips for his stupid rhyme, and he kissed her forehead.

"Remus is a good man. They aren't going to execute a good man on bogus charges or the entire Ministry of Magic is going to go up in flames. There's too much at stake with this."

Ted held her close as the front door opened and Andromeda came inside.

"I spoke to Sirius. Umbridge is trying to claim that Remus helped orchestrate the Death Eater escape back in August and snuck them onto the Hogwarts grounds in some feeble attempt to cause harm to the students of Hogwarts. Him being loose on the grounds is merely an extra crime to his name," she explained, putting her purse on the chair and moving to embrace her daughter.

"Did you see King?"

"Yes, Pixie," Andromeda said, affectionately, gently brushing her daughter's hair back. "He told me that he might need you as a witness and that Sirius has some insane idea to prove Remus' innocence."

She nodded, her eyes still brimming in tears. "Whatever he needs. I can't… I can't lose him; not like this!"

Andromeda kissed her forehead and her cheeks, her eyes on her husband. "The Wizengamot is meeting in an hour. You need to freshen yourself up. If you are called in as a witness, I'll have you looking nothing less than your best. Your father and I will be with you the whole time."

Tonks nodded and did as her mother instructed. She would be ready and she was going to fight tooth and nail at the assembly tonight.

Remus was not going to be executed.

She wouldn't let it happen.

~ ASC ~

McGonagall stepped into the Gryffindor common room that night and the chatter stopped almost immediately. Her eyes moved around the common room before landing on Harry.

"Mr Potter?"

Harry jumped to his feet, his eyes wide. "Professor?"

"Come with me."

Harry nodded, glancing back at Hermione who only smiled at him reassuringly. He followed McGonagall to her office where she handed him the tin of Floo powder.

"Sirius is waiting for you at the Ministry of Magic. I don't know what he has planned, but he swears that you are to be a vital witness to Remus' defence."

Harry nodded and grabbed a handful of Floo powder in his hand. "Okay."

McGonagall squeezed his shoulder. "Good luck, Harry."

Harry stepped into the fireplace and dropped the powder before calling out 'Ministry of Magic' and disappearing into the green flames. He shot out of a black stone fireplace and landed in the main atrium. His eyes searched the room for his father, but he found Zee hurrying towards him instead.

"Where's Uncle Siri?" he demanded.

Zee took his arm. "He's down in the Wizengamot Chamber. Come on."

Harry followed her down the hall and to the lift where he was brought to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and then led to the Wizengamot Chamber. When he entered, he saw that the room was already full. Tonks sitting with Ted and Andromeda in the visitor area. Zee urged him to sit next to Tonks and Harry immediately put his arm around her. Tonks rested her head on his shoulder, squeezing his arm in thanks.

Most of the Wizengamot was present by now and a few minutes later when the clock struck nine, Dumbledore rose up from the front.

"My lords, my ladies, members of the House, I welcome you to this emergency Assembly of the Wizengamot."

Lord Mackelbee raised his wand. "Were we really dragged here tonight over the ordered execution of a werewolf?"

Some protests erupted around the court and Dumbledore sent up red sparks to stop the chatter.

"Quiet down! This is more than the execution of a werewolf. CWM Shacklebolt, would you like to start?"

Kingsley stood up, his plum Wizengamot robes open to reveal his Auror uniform. "Thank you, Chief Warlock. As you know, I am Head Auror and as the head of my division, I take my job very seriously. I work for justice, I work for the law, and most importantly, I work for our community. I refuse to allow a man to be executed simply because he has claimed to be a werewolf. There is no proof that this man has ever harmed a single soul. There is no proof that this man helped Death Eaters escape — and there is no just cause for Senior Undersecretary Umbridge to use him as a scapegoat in a last ditch effort to force Bill 426-A17 to the forefront. I believe that's unacceptable."

A small witch raised her wand and Dumbledore nodded her forward. "Chief Warlock, my name is Elizabeth Walters and I work for Werewolf Support Services. Mr Lupin has been unjustly treated here and I would like to plead his case with the help of Agent Barrow from the Beast Division of the Department of Regulation and the Control of Magical Creatures."

"Of course, Miss Walters. Agent Barrow, if you may?"

Agent Barrow stood up, his eyes on Dumbledore before moving to address the court. "The topic of werewolves has been a big discussion in the last year or so and I know many of you are tired of hearing about the rights of these creatures especially in light of the influx of werewolf attacks over the last four years. Werewolves are beasts in every sense of the word, but they are also men and they are also women and it is the witches and wizards that they are that is on trial here, not the beasts that they become."

"But are they truly considered a witch or wizard when they turn into a beast?"

Dumbledore stared down the woman who spoke. "CWM Norton, a werewolf is most certainly a human being in every sense of the word."

The courtroom was oddly quiet after Dumbledore's words and Agent Barrow cleared his throat. "I'd like to ask the Azkaban Guard Winters to bring Mr Lupin into the courtroom now."

The backdoor to the chamber opened and a large iron cage, cross-checked in iron square bars was dragged into the chamber. Remus was sitting inside, his back to the square bars and he was staring at his hands.

"Mr Lupin is a wizard," Agent Barrow continued as the cage was locked into place in the centre of the chamber. "And as a wizard, he is hailed with certain rights and freedoms that this assembly must grant him."

Sirius raised his wand and rose to his feet. "I'm the one who asked for this meeting to be held tonight. Remus Lupin has been my best friend for over twenty years. He's a brother to me. I have never known anyone with a kinder disposition than the man you see sitting in that cage before you. He is a wizard and he is a werewolf, but to me he has always just been Remus. He has never hurt anyone in his life and he lives in constant fear that one day he will because of something that happens to him, not something that he willingly chooses. I have told him time and time again that he is incapable of hurting anyone just for the sport of it and that just because he is a werewolf doesn't make him a monster. He doesn't have it in him to hurt anyone." He glanced up at the clock as he spoke to the room at large. "The moon rise is set to occur in twenty-two minutes, I am going to prove to all of you why this man, this werewolf, is innocent. Auror Shacklebolt, if you could please open the cage."

Kingsley nodded and unlocked the cage. Remus simply stared at him, his eyes full of emotion, unsure of what was happening. His wrists and ankles were burned raw from the silver earlier that day and his clothes wrinkled and dirty from the prison cell.

Sirius moved down to the centre of the room. "I'd like to present to the court my two witnesses, Auror Nymphadora Tonks and my son, Harry James Potter."

Chatter erupted amongst the Wizengamot at the names and Harry and Tonks moved towards Sirius. He put his arms around both of them as he continued to speak.

"Many people don't know this, but werewolves are very much like real wolves and they have packs. They travel in packs where they hunt together, eat together, sleep together, and live together in harmony. Werewolves often have the same thing, often living together in safety from those that wish them harm. It's only part of the reason why the wolf packs don't associate with our community. But a wolf pack does not necessarily mean other wolves. It means family." He leaned in to kiss Harry's temple and whispered, "Get in the cage with Uncle Moony."

Harry nodded and moved to his uncle, running into his arms to hug him tightly.

"Harry, get out of here," Remus instructed, his voice angry.

Harry simply hugged him tighter, only making way for Tonks when she hugged Remus tightly as well. They both sat on either side of Remus in the cage as Sirius continued his spiel.

"Albus Dumbledore is a great wizard. He knew that Remus Lupin could have the opportunity to be a great wizard one day, but at four years old, four years old, he was bitten by a murderous werewolf named Fenrir Greyback." There were gasps at this. "Now that's a dangerous bastard and most of you recognize that name. Greyback attacked him, bit him, and abandoned him to his new fate as punishment to his father, Lyall Lupin, who tried to have Greyback arrested for his crimes, but the DRCMC believed Greyback to be innocent at the time, and ignored Lupin's advice. Greyback took revenge out on Lupin by attacking his four-year-old-son and cursing him with the same fate. Remus was a child, forced to undergo a terrible transformation. Dumbledore, knowing full well that he was breaking the law himself, gave Remus the opportunity to go to school and to make friends; to have the life that he deserved, an innocent in this, and every month during the full moon, he would ensure that Remus was brought somewhere safe to transform so that he couldn't harm others. But for those of you that don't know, being locked alone meant that he often harmed himself."

Sirius' eyes were on his friend now, his grey eyes staring into the whiskey coloured eyes of his friend.

"When I was twelve years old, me and two of my friends discovered that our friend Remus was a werewolf. We couldn't help but notice that he disappeared a few nights every month and his excuses were always that, excuses. We confronted him about it; about lying to us with this big secret and he told us that he understood if we never wanted to talk to him again. He told us that he understood that he was a monster and that he would ask Dumbledore to be given a different room. We were shocked. He was the kindest boy that we had ever met. He was smart and sarcastic and he always made us smile. We didn't think that he was a monster. In fact, we wanted to find a way to help him. And we did. The three of us learned how to become Animagus so that our friend wouldn't have to be alone during the full moon. In our animal forms, he couldn't hurt us; couldn't infect us, and we could offer him the comfort and support that he needed and stop him from hurting himself. He never asked us to do this. We offered. We were reckless with it, but we were kids and we protected him and each other above all else. He trusted us and he never once tried to hurt us. We trusted him and to this day I would trust him with my life and the lives of those that I loved in a heartbeat."

Sirius turned away from Remus' tortured gaze to the chamber at large. "Even at his worst, he knows his family and this is why I will prove to you, his innocence." He looked at the clock and smiled. "Two minutes to moon rise."

He transformed into his giant dog form and padded into the large cage with Remus, Harry, and Tonks — and Kingsley closed the door behind him; locking them in.

End Author's Notes:

Just a reminder of the Wizengamot Members and people present at the trial:

Albus Dumbledore (Chief Warlock)

Lady Amelia Bones (Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement)

Lord Cornelius Fudge (Minister of Magic)

Lady Dolores Umbridge (Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic)

Lord Pius Thicknesse (Undersecretary to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement)

Lady Augusta Longbottom (Lady Cumbria)

Lord Tiberius Ogden

Lord Aaron Mackelbee

Lord Lucius Malfoy (Lord Wiltshire)

CWM Griselda Marchbanks

Lady Lucretia Dettweiler

Lord Marcus Bulstrode

CWM Kingsley Shacklebolt (Head Auror of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement)

Agent Walter Barrow (Beast Division, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures)

Agent Elizabeth Walters (Werewolf Support Services, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures)

CWM Kendra Norton

Nolan Winters (Head Guard of Azkaban Prison)

Thanks for reading and please review!