Chapter Two: A Talk in the Tower
Albus Dumbledore smiled when Remus walked into his office. "Have a seat, Remus," he told his former employee. "I trust that it was easy for you to enter the school?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall escorted me in," Remus answered, moving toward the indicated chair. The pictures of the former Hogwarts headmasters and –mistresses gazed at him, curious. He nodded to them politely before addressing Dumbledore again, frowning. Something about the room bothered him. He felt his hackles rising; there was a scent here that he knew from some distant memory but could not quite place. What wasn't he seeing? "What did you…?" The words died on his lips when he spied the cause of his uneasiness.
Severus Snape strode from the window toward another chair before the headmaster's desk, unable to keep a sneer from his face at the sight of his old enemy. Remus stared, making note of Snape's pronounced limp, then turned toward Dumbledore, who read the question in his grey eyes and told him, "Severus is here because his job overlaps with yours."
Remus nodded and sat stiffly, fighting to maintain his focus as Snape's familiar, angry scent reached him fully. It brought back memories from a long time ago, memories that he wanted to forget. "What is this job you have for me?" he asked the headmaster, more brusquely than he had meant to.
Dumbledore waited for Snape to have a seat also, and said, "Remus, you are aware that Severus has been acting as the Order's spy among Voldemort's ranks. However, unfortunately, Severus' allegiance was doubtful in Voldemort's eyes from the beginning. He received a tip, which confirmed his suspicions as to where Severus' loyalty lies, and—"
"He tried to kill me," Snape interrupted bluntly. He continued, "I'll never be rid of the limp."
Remus was unable to conceal his pity for the other man when he said, "I'm sorry about that, Severus."
Snape's sneer became more pronounced. "Keep your sympathy," he spat.
Remus shrugged apologetically. Dumbledore cast a warning glance in Snape's direction. "We have no spies with Voldemort now," Dumbledore stated. "None that are on the inside, in any case."
Remus raised his eyebrows, beginning to realize what he was being asked to do. "I'm the new candidate for spy."
Dumbledore leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk and forming a triangle of his fingers. His blue eyes were piercing. "Apparently, Voldemort is planning to enlist the help of both vampires and werewolves in this Second War."
"Despite how unpredictable we are?" Remus asked, incredulous. "He's taking a great risk, for both himself and his Death Eaters."
"He has never been known for his concern for his followers," Dumbledore reminded Remus. "And he believes himself invulnerable to attack, which, perhaps, he is."
"Still," Remus mused, slightly disturbed, "it is incalculably dangerous if anything went wrong…and plenty could. Werewolves…we are not dogs, to be tamed and set to work."
"Why should he care?" Snape cut in quietly. "He thinks that he cannot be hurt, and the vampires and werewolves could tip the balance in his favor. He knows that a lot of your kind are angered by the treatment wizards normally give you."
"Remus," Dumbledore said gravely, "Voldemort is going to approach you, perhaps not soon, but at some point. He realizes that it will be risky, knowing your affiliation with me, and with the rest of the Order; he may even know that you were part of the original Order. But he will come, because he believes that you may hold a grudge."
"A grudge?" Remus asked, confused. "Why?"
"You resigned from your teaching post here two years ago due to circumstances surrounding your condition, but Voldemort was told that you were fired."
Remus nodded slowly. "He thinks I might be bitter because I was discriminated against by the very person who was supposed to be on my side. I'm to agree to his offer to join him, then?"
"Yes."
He glanced sidelong at Snape, who was watching him intently, dark eyes cold and calculating. "You'll want to agree as soon as the terms are set down," Snape advised quietly. "He'll trust you if he thinks your decision is instinctive, the product of two years of brooding. If you ask for time, it immediately opens the door to the possibility that you are awaiting orders from an outside party. Of course, if you refuse, they'll try to kill you on the spot to prohibit you from spreading information to their opposition—namely, us."
Dumbledore, too, was watching him. "Are you up to it, Remus? It is an extremely risky job, probably the most risky we have. Your correspondence with us will have to be minimal and cautious. You won't be allowed to write Harry," he added thoughtfully. Remus wondered how Dumbledore knew that Harry was in contact with him.
"I don't anyway," he replied, choosing not to elaborate.
"Your response is not expected immediately; but we will have to know sooner rather than—"
"I'll do it."
Dumbledore sat up abruptly. Remus could sense his surprise; even Snape looked startled by his rapid decision. Regaining his quiet control, Dumbledore told him, "Please, Remus. I would like you to have time to think about it."
"Impulsive choices," Remus said. "It's a requirement, isn't it? And I have nothing to lose by agreeing," he added, looking down at his hands, folded neatly in his lap.
"You will be forced to receive a Dark Mark. It will be spread among the wizarding community that you have turned if news leaks about the Dark Lord seeking the aid of werewolves and vampires." This came from Snape, who had an odd look in his eyes. Remus was uncertain whether it was regret, sorrow, or some other emotion.
"I know," he said, very quietly.
Dumbledore studied him. Remus continued to look at his hands. "Very well," the headmaster said heavily. "If you are sure that this is all right." Remus nodded, climbing to his feet and meeting the headmaster's gaze evenly.
"I will be careful in my reports to you." He turned to Snape. "Have you any further advice for me?" Snape considered this.
"Tread softly," he said finally. "The Dark Lord can sense lies, as animals can sense emotions. However, if you can manage half-truths, the truth will mask the lie. If you can, look him in the eyes while reporting. It will gain you what little trust he holds for the followers that have not been in Azkaban these past fourteen years."
Remus nodded again. "So be it," he said, and walked from the room without a goodbye.
Still in the room, Snape turned to Dumbledore. "I distrust his integrity."
Dumbledore appeared to be taken aback. "Severus, you disappoint me. I did not believe that your boyhood dislike would play a part in this. Remus Lupin is one of the most honest people I know. I trust him with all of our lives," he informed his employee sharply.
"My 'boyhood dislike' does not carry over to this; Lupin was always the most tolerable of the four, in my opinion. I realize that he is one of the most honest people you know. That is why I trust him, and why I do not trust his integrity. Will he be able to lie to the Dark Lord, to pretend to be one agent when he is really another? And will he be able to control himself when the full moon comes and the Dark Lord decides to instruct him to kill someone?"
Dumbledore sighed. "All of those are good questions, Severus. I myself have asked them. But after much consideration, I sincerely believe in Remus' ability to do this."
"But at what price? Will he have to sacrifice himself to complete his job properly?"
"There is always something to be paid," Dumbledore replied, his age and weariness showing in his face for once. "And I truly hope that this will not be too large a price."