Disclaimer: Not mine.
His Calling
Chapter 12
Secrets to Keep
Remus crowded into a small room off the Main Hall with the rest of the first years. He stood near the wall, and was joined by Lily and Severus. Looking shyly at the small groups of students that had taken refuge on the perimeter, Remus knew that they were like him, either from mixed families or from the Muggle world. Students like James, Peter and Sirius pushed toward the front of the first-years greeting friends and confidently approached the door where Minerva stood.
"Did you grow up here?" Lily asked, with her eyes as large as saucers as she craned her neck up at the high ceiling. "Do you have a house like this?"
Severus snorted, and leaned back against the wall. "Yeah, like he looks like a rich kid."
"He could be." She flipped her hair back and pouted at Severus. "You don't know everything."
"Mum and me have a farm," Remus supplied, nervously kicking the ground. "Peter's Grandmother, has a really big house. Not old like this one, but really big."
"Students, may I have your attention please?" Minerva clapped her hands and waited until she heard only silence. "In a moment the sorting will begin. Once you are sorted go at once to your tables and await further instructions."
She opened the door and flicked her wand, magically making the student list appear in front of her to the oohs and ahs of the children standing round the perimeter. Calling out the names, one at a time she pushed them through the door, waited until that one was sorted, and then pushed in the next.
Remus and those standing next to him inched up to the door, waiting their turn, Lily looking at Severus nervously, trying to smile.
"Severus," she whispered, "If we get into different houses will I still get to see you?"
"Yeah," he said, trying to see over her head and get his first look at the Great Hall. "We will have lessons together and all. Why? You scared?"
"A little," she admitted.
Remus turned and nodded at her when Minerva called Lily Evans to be sorted. Severus and he, stood at the doorway, held back by Minerva's hand, until they heard the cheering, signalling Lily was done.
"Mr Lupin, when you are sorted you are to report to the infirmary, and you Mr. Snape are to go as well. Once sorted go to the back of the Hall and wait for a prefect who will be waiting." She put her hand on Remus' shoulder, and none too gently propelled him through the door.
The Headmaster smiled when he saw Remus stumble in. Holding out his hand in encouragement, he indicated the stool that sat in front of the entire student body. Remus swallowed hard and walked to stool, climbed up on it and lowered his eyes.
Standing in front of him, the Headmaster lowered the hat on his head, but before removing his hand, leaned in to whisper to him.
"You may raise your eyes lad, the lights are set to not effect you. This is one room you are safe in."
Remus brought his head up showing a wide smile as the hat fell down covering his head, slipping over his ears and nearly touching one shoulder. He pushed up the rim and twisted his head to look up and try to see where the voice came from.
"My, My," the hat chuckled. "I see you have much to learn and would be served in Ravenclaw. Pulling a fast one on the others I see as well, quite Slytherin in that. However, I see that bravery is what you will teach… Gryffindor!"
Remus felt the Headmaster lift the hat up, and heard the applause from his new house. Looking at the table that was standing and clapping, he smiled as Peter madly waved at him. He started to run to the table, then remembered what he had been told and dashed to the back of the hall to wait for Severus.
"Ah," said the hat. "A difficult one. Smart as any Ravenclaw, but knowledge needs to be used well. You would do well in Gryffindor, and as loyal as any I have seen … but you will be …. Slytherin!"
Severus proudly slid down from the bench, and removing the hat himself, nodded to the Slytherin table and began to walk slowly to the back. As he passed Lily, she grabbed his arm.
"I want to be in Slytherin too," she said tearfully.
"Not now," Severus leaned down to her at the table where she sat, "Don't let 'em see you cry."
She nodded and swiped at her face with her sleeve. She smiled at him weakly and let him go, watching as he walked to the back to join Remus.
"Later," he mouthed to her and hurried away.
Madam Pomfrey put the boys in curtained off areas, separated from each other, and cast silencing spells. She had insisted that Remus have his weight and height recorded, and simple diagnostic tests on bone growth, and notes made of his general health. Hogwarts, or even St. Mungo's, had never cared for a werewolf. She was determined that he would not fall ill under her watch.
Assuring him, that young Mr. Snape had no idea why she was examining him, she told him to say his records had been lost and she was replacing them.
She then went to see Severus. The Headmaster had concerns about the young child's home life, and had insisted that she examine him for recent injuries. Giving him the same story she had given Remus, she flicked her wand and removed his shirt and trousers.
She bit the inside of her cheek to stop what she wanted to say; to appear calm and not let on that what she saw sickened her. Healing the angry red welts that ran down his back and legs, she made notes on his file and redressed him with another flick.
"There," she smiled. "All set. The prefect will be here shortly to return you to dinner."
"It's my business," Severus said, running his sleeve over his wet eyes. "He doesn't hurt me anyway you know."
"Mr. Snape." She lifted his chin with two fingers and scowled at him. "I want you in here after the hols, and after every trip you take home. And you tell your father I said that. You tell him I'm watching."
"Yes, Madam," he grinned, and got down from the examining table. "You won't say anything? I mean, this is like a real hospital, right?"
"No, but there's no shame in it for you." She ruffled his hair. "Now you two go eat. You both need to put some meat on those bones. Now go, and Severus, if you need anything, you come here, do you understand?"
Later that night, Remus unpacked his trunk in the room he would share with the others for the next seven years. He was glad he had the bed furthest from the window and glad to see curtains around each bed. He took in the smell of new clothes as he opened his truck, and stacked his books neatly on his desk, leaving one in the trunk, unsure if it should leave it out in sight of the other boys.
His mother had packed surprises, other than the Muggle book about wolves. He found a sack full of biscuits and one with chocolate squares.
"Peter," he grinned, stood up, dumped the candy on his bed and climbed up to sit cross-legged against the headboard. "Come on. I got plenty."
"I only got apples." James joined them, reaching out and grabbing a handful of sweets.
Remus noticed Sirius sitting on the windowsill, his forehead against the glass, his back to the rest of the room. He nudged Peter as he put another chocolate in his mouth.
"His Dad's going to be pissed," James whispered.
"Cause of him being in Gryffindor?" Peter asked.
"Yeah." James nodded.
Remus took a couple of the chocolate squares and got off the bed, walked to the window and put them down next to Sirius.
"My Mum wanted me to be in Ravenclaw."
"It ain't the same," Sirius sniffed. "Blacks always get in Slytherin."
"Maybe you can make the Headmaster ask the hat again."
"They never do that. Don't you know anything? You stupid or something?"
"Sorry," Remus lowered his eye to the floor and kicked at the rug.
Sirius sighed and turned away from the window. "I didn't mean that."
"I know," Remus muttered.
"It's just … that prat Snape got in. He's not even pure-blood and he got in."
"Lights out firsties!" The prefect stood at the door laughing as they scurried to their beds. "I'll be waking you up the first couple of days and taking you to your classes. After that, you are on your own, and if you know what's good for you, stay put until McGonagall does the bed check."
"Bed check?" Peter groaned. "Sounds like home."
"For the first week she comes up every night, so just wait until she backs off. We don't want her up here every night of the term."
As the prefect headed back to the common room the four new friends groaned and rolled over to try to sleep. Remus laid awake long after he could hear the other boy's even breathing and small snores. Throwing back the covers, he slipped from bed and took up the place where Black had been in at the window, pressing against the glass and trying to see across the grounds.
"You cannot see it from here, Mr. Lupin." Minerva stood in the doorway, a small light emitting from the tip of her wand.
"I thought it would be right here." He pointed from the window and looked up at her tearfully. "I got scared."
"Come," she turned and left abruptly, leaving him to scramble after her.
She stood on the landing between the girl's and the boy's bed chambers and pointed out the window to the willow that could be seen in the distance. "Remember that you can see it from here, however also know that when you do not, it is because the Headmaster has spelled it to be hidden from prying eyes so they do not see it, or who runs to it."
"It's not so bad you know. I can almost make it stop."
"Indeed?" She looked down at the too short first-year.
"Yeah, and Mum said she thinks I am better at it than Marcus."
"Mr. Lupin, you must learn not to speak of him. Not that anyone here would know of him, but by talking about what you must hide, you run the risk of being found out. The Headmaster, and I agree, that some day all this will be moot, that your success will pave the way for others. You have a great deal resting on your shoulders young man. Do you understand?"
Remus just looked up at her and shook his head.
"Why are you here, Mr Lupin?" she sighed.
"Mum says because my Dad wouldn't want less, but that she wouldn't take less and she will hex the Headmaster's nads if he sends me away."
"I see," she felt her lip tug upwards. "You are here Mr. Lupin, because it is your right to do so. However, others in your position have had that right taken away. If you can prove that students such as yourself pose no risk, others will be able to come."
"Is Severus Snape like me?"
"What ever gave you that idea?"
"He had to see the nurse too."
"Many students here have … other … illnesses and conditions that must be monitored. He, as do you, wishes to keep those secrets and it would be wrong of you to delve into them."
"Do you think…"
"Mr Remus, it is well past time you were sleeping. I suggest that you do so at this time."
Running up the stairs he suddenly stopped and ran back down to her. Minerva scowled and lifted her finger to shake in his face when he threw his around her waist, resting his head on her stomach and hugged her.
"You're not nearly as mean as they say," he said empathically, then turned and ran back up the stairs.
"My word," Minerva smoothed her robes and left for her own bedchambers.
The first week went quickly. Remus tried to pay attention to the Prefect and to remember how to count the turns and platforms he needed to use to find his classes. All too often he would stop and stare at the pictures hanging along the walls, politely inquiring the meaning of the things portrayed. Lost in the history of the painting he would startle when he found himself once again lost and unable to find his way.
On Friday, he was once again talking to a Fairy about the tree dwelling she had pointed out to him when he heard footfalls coming toward him.
"Lupin," Severus called him breathless from running. "Which way is the stairs to the dungeon? I thought it was near here."
"I don't know," Remus looked around confused. "I'm supposed to be in history."
"Bloody hell," Severus muttered to Remus' shock. "At least they could hand out maps."
"Gentlemen? I trust you two have a good explanation for being in the hallways during lessons."
"We're lost, Headmaster."
"Mr. Lupin, since you are intent on conversing with the portraits I am surprised you have not asked them to provide you with directions."
"Oh," Remus turned back to the Fairy who giggled and flittered to the next picture, crooking her finger for him to follow.
"Mr. Snape," Dumbledore reached in his pocket and produced a whistle and handed it to the boy. "Professor Slughorn has an agreement with Peeves for our Slytherin students. He allows him to frequent the hallways, and he makes sure they do not blow them up."
"Sir?"
"A lost Slytherin in the hallways will be suspect. If you find yourself lost just one blow will bring Peeves, no one else will hear it."
Severus grinned and blew on the toy. He saw the spirit at the end of the hallway and ran to it, glad to see he had headed in the right direction.
Dumbledore looked after Remus. He needed to talk to the boy without another student close enough to overhear or to be suspicious of a silencing spell. Minerva would give him a detention as a ruse to get him to the Headmaster's office, where he would be sent by floo to the Three Broomsticks to see his mother.
Dumbledore sighed and started back down the stairs. He did not like first-years leaving campus so early in the term. It led to homesickness and long nights for his staff, but with Remus, he worried that it could weaken his resolve. He hoped he was wrong.