CHAPTER 3:

LUPIN

The week continued in a similar vein. Now that Harry had the support of the Duke, he began setting up a laboratory and makeshift living quarters in the Chamber of Secrets. And that was a welcome escape from Draco's taunting, once he came back from being treated for the injuries he sustained after pissing off Buckbeak. But Harry simply glared at him, and Draco, perhaps sensing that something considerably more powerful than him was nearby, even if only subconsciously, began to tone it down. If only Harry could do the same thing to Snape, but after trying, the man instantly deducted points for his insolence.

Then again, he had little time for either of them. Regaining his memories as Henric put things into perspective. Draco, for all his power and influence through his power, was little more than a little boy who wielded power with little finesse, and was little more than a bully. Snape was also little more than a bully, albeit one whose mentality had never truly grown up, and who despised Harry for being James Potter's child.

This wasn't to say Harry didn't want revenge against them. They just weren't a priority, and they had better pray that he didn't make them one. The Dementors, Sirius Black, figuring out how to reunite with Miranda and the others he cared about in Romania, those were more of a priority.

The Duke's discussion about Sirius Black's circumstances had him wondering what was going on. On the one hand, there was no real reason to doubt Sirius' guilt, save for the betrayal being utterly out of character for him, according to the Duke. On the other hand, there were parts of the story that didn't add up, aside from his shocking swerve of betrayal. Like Pettigrew's remains: surely more of him could be found other than a single finger? Most known spells that could cause an explosion would have left more remnants than a finger.

It was thus in a somewhat disquieted mood that Harry came to his first DADA lesson of the year. He'd refrained from speaking with Professor Lupin until now, hoping to beard him after the lesson. And it was certainly an interesting one.

In hindsight, Harry was glad Lupin did not have him face the Boggart during their first DADA lesson. He wasn't sure what he would see, but it wouldn't be pretty. Voldemort, perhaps, or something that had recently jumped to near the top of his fears list, namely Dementors. Perhaps even Daniela, turned into a vampiric bug swarm, trying to eat him.

In any case, after the lesson was finished, Harry made his excuses with his friends, and stayed behind in the staff room where the confrontation took place. Professor Lupin noted this, and after the other students left, he asked, "Is there something you need, Mr Potter?"

"Yes, Professor. I'd like some answers, please."

The ragged man sighed. "If it's about not letting you face the Boggart, then…"

"No, no…it's probably a good idea. Don't want any panic if Voldemort or a Dementor comes out," Harry said.

"Oh. Well, that's…pretty much the reason why. Well then, what can I do for you?"

"…I know you knew my parents, Professor. I heard about it through a mutual acquaintance, one I met in Diagon Alley. I believe you met him before? The Duke?"

After a moment, Lupin sagged. "The Duke, huh? I see. I'm surprised you've met him, actually. The Duke and I have known each other for years, but I know he moves in rather shady circles. Then again, he helped me find work at very difficult times, so I can't complain too much. Yes, I knew your parents, Harry. I knew them very well. I…suppose you'd want to know why I couldn't raise you."

"That would be nice, yes. The Duke said you have a condition that prevented you from raising me. Instead I was left with the Dursleys. You do know I was left with them?"

"Dumbledore told me as such when I asked. I thought it was a big mistake, but…in the eyes of the Wizengamot, I'm an even worse guardian than Muggles, all due to my…condition. Harry…if I do tell you, you are not to tell anyone else, got it? Not a soul."

"Only if it threatens those I care about."

"I promise, it won't." After a moment, Harry nodded. "…I'm a werewolf."

Harry stared at Lupin in astonishment. That was it? He remembered the Lycans that were the failed experiments of his aunt into the Cadou. But he had already learned that the wizarding world had its own equivalents.

However, already, he could see why Lupin wouldn't be allowed to take care of Harry. Even if Lupin was a man of good character, it'd be hard to take care of a child when you turned into a wolf monster every month. The practical aspects of ensuring a child was safe during that time of the month would be daunting. And even if, say, you could find a babysitter at those times, what about, say, keeping a job?

"…I presume you are not a danger to us?" Harry asked.

"During the full moon, I take a potion to limit the effects of the change," Lupin said. "Wolfsbane potion. It's a rather complicated potion that I can't brew normally, but Professor Dumbledore ensures I have a steady supply while I am a teacher here."

"…I'll take your word for it," Harry said. "Are werewolves treated so badly, even law-abiding ones?"

"Very. Voldemort had many werewolves under his command," Lupin said. "And even before then, they were treated badly, even those who tried to do good. And before your parents died…I was under suspicion as Voldemort's spy within their circle. As you can imagine, it hurt to be suspected, and after all was said and done…I needed to get out of Britain for a while. The Duke helped me find some work, and without him, I may not have survived until now."

Harry considered this. Eventually, he came to a decision. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now, Professor. I'm not saying this to be cruel or anything, but I think the Dementor, honestly, knocked some sense into me."

"Yes, you seem rather mature for your age, Mr Potter. I suppose that's a good thing."

"…Maybe. The Duke also told me about Sirius Black, what he did to my parents, at least in broad terms. Just so you know, I'm not going to go haring off after him. I'm not stupid, what can a teenaged wizard not even on his OWLs do against a more experienced one? But…I want to know why he did it first. Why he turned on my parents."

"…So do I, Mr Potter."

Silence settled on them briefly, before Harry broke it. "Oh, by the way, I heard that you can repel Dementors with something called a Patronus Charm. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't like the thought of those creatures giving me so much grief. Do you know how I can learn? If you're too busy to teach me yourself, I'm willing to self-study."

Lupin had been looking at him in surprise, before shaking his head. "No, no, it's fine. I may be…out of commission due to my condition at times, but I'm more than willing to help you learn it. In truth, I owe your parents a great debt many times over for their kindness, even after I was under suspicion. Helping you learn this is the least I can do. I will warn you, though, casting a Patronus, even without a Dementor affecting you, is difficult. It's considered beyond NEWT level, and most wizards cannot cast it. We'll have to arrange things carefully, though. I believe Professor McGonagall said that you were on the Quidditch team?"

"Yes."

"Your father would be so proud of you. And your mother too, especially given how you wish to broaden your mind on your own initiative."

"Yeah, well, I sat on my laurels for the last couple of years, and it didn't end well. The Dementors were a wake-up call for me…"


He deflected the questions from his friends afterwards. He did agree with them that it had been the best DADA lesson they had had in all their years at Hogwarts. Then again, the bar had been set pretty low by their previous teachers. One had been a stammering fool who turned out to be Voldemort's Trojan Horse, and the other was a vacuous idiot whose only skills were Memory Charms and a clever ability to exploit the fame of others.

As for Lupin himself, Harry had mixed feelings. On the one hand, he could understand Lupin's reasons for not approaching him. Even a well-meaning werewolf would be treated with contempt by Petunia and Vernon. He had enough perspective from his previous life to know that he could understand Lupin's feelings of resentment at his treatment.

Of course, Harry also felt that the man seemed to be too self-pitying. It wouldn't have hurt to send a letter, though he was sure the Dursleys would have confiscated them. And he was sure the man would be repulsed if he knew Harry's true nature.

So for now, Harry decided to keep Lupin at arm's length. On cordial and even friendly terms, but that of a teacher he was on good terms with, than as someone who, if it weren't for Voldemort and Sirius Black, would have been an honorary uncle. He wanted to be sure he could trust Lupin first.

Not that he could trust Ron and Hermione with this. He trusted them, true, but they hadn't lived two lives. They would not understand. They might even think it dark magic. Oh, Hermione might understand if she allowed him to explain, but she also had this authority worship going on. She'd probably tell Dumbledore, McGonagall…and Harry wasn't sure how much he could trust any of the staff here. At least with something like this. Especially after the Chamber of Secrets fiasco last year. Who's to say they wouldn't view him in the same light as the Diary of the Warlock Formerly Known as Tom Riddle?

Still, the weekend was coming up, and that would be his opportunity to head back home. He still needed a means of covering for his absence, but the Duke said he had something for that. He seemed to be somewhat coy about it, but then again, the Duke delighted in being coy much of the time. Harry knew that the rotund merchant had been at least centuries old even by the time Henric first met him, as he made references on occasion to having known the likes of Shakespeare, Baron Munchausen, and the Prince Regent who would later become George IV. Given the girth of the last one (George IV had, after all, once been cruelly but accurately nicknamed the 'Prince of Whales'), he could believe that.

But what would he find when he got there?


"Potter has changed. And not for the better. There's something different about his attitude, I know it, and my Legilimency shows me little."

"Hmm. Perhaps the Cadou has awoken, thanks to that Dementor on the Hogwarts Express. According to Gellert's notes, the Mutamycete can effectively retain the soul and memories of those infected by it. If that is true…well, it would be troublesome for my plans for his true nature to be outed."

"Your plans, perhaps."

"Need I remind you of what you owe me?"

"You do nothing but!"

"Then you should know to heed me. Remember who had our mutual friend take in the object of your desire and mould her to your liking. I know you go to visit her."

"And I don't see why you don't have her sent after Black. He could ruin everything we have worked for. She could track him down."

"And what if she is exposed? That could make things worse. No, better to let Fudge's stupid decisions work in our favour, for a change. Lupin believes Black to still be guilty. Whatever reason Black had to escape Azkaban, it will mean his demise."

"And what of that Miranda woman? If we act against one of her creations…"

"Our mutual friend knows her. She is obsessed with reviving her daughter. Her power is confined to one small village in a remote corner of Romania. In all likelihood, she won't care, especially if our mutual friend smooths things over. Don't worry so much. I have planned for every possible contingency. Just continue observing him in class. If he does become a problem, then I will figure out how to deal with it…"

CHAPTER 3 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Harry's discussed matters with Lupin, and there are lots of plots a-happenin'.

Anyway, this is the last of the initial posting. Rest assured, there's quite a few chapters left to be posted, but this is my contribution to Halloween, apart from my oneshots. Hope you've enjoyed it so far…

No numbered annotations this time.