Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 15

Three Agreements and an Animagus

Rhea could not sleep for any longer than an hour at a time without Marcus' voice waking her, leaving her gasping for air and shaking. Her eldest that had left home for the safety of his brother, his brother that she had put in danger when she allowed him … no, she thought, pushed him … to attend Hogwarts.

She should have listened. She should have demanded that he have a private room, or put in a different house, not to share a room with Black. One word, one slip of the tongue, one sideways glance when his family was around, and Remus would be lost. Black. She wanted to vomit. Black, a name so closely linked to the current crimes against anything not of traditional wizard values that the mention of it in public caused voices to drop and witches to look over their shoulders. Black.

She lifted her hand to give a final wave as the Hogwarts' Express began to build up steam, lumbering out of the station, straining to be free of the city and to pick up full speed. She turned on her heel to look for an apparation point. She intended to arrive at Hogwarts and be gone, long before the train reached its destination.

"Mrs. Lupin?" A sandy haired woman with large green eyes smiled at her. "Remus' mother?"

"Yes," she said hesitantly.

"I'm sorry. I know we have not been introduced properly. I am James' mother, your son's roommate's mother."

"Mrs. Potter," Rhea put out her hand and felt it gripped warmly.

"My James speaks very highly of him."

Rhea laughed and put her left hand over the woman's right that still clasped her own. "Why do recommendations between eleven year old boys sound somewhat suspicious to me?"

"No more suspicious than planning on learning magic beyond their years." Mrs. Potter laughed. "His father said he tried the same thing when he was sixteen."

"The Animagus spells?" Rhea nodded, attempting a small smile.

"Lordy, yes," Mrs. Potter laughed. "Little Peter grew whiskers and was quite proud at his accomplishment. I hear your son can turn his eyes?"

Rhea nodded, feeling the platform beginning to lurch. "He, he tries but … he's not very good at it yet."

"James' father tried while we were at Hogwarts. Seems the boys thought they could sneak into town and see some of the local girls, but the girls reminded them that unless a squirrel could carry its change of clothes they should just stay home."

"Ouch," Rhea chuckled. "A girl or his modesty."

"Times are changing," Mrs. Potter sighed. "Nowadays I think they will be after the girls and damned their modesty."

Rhea reddened hearing the witch's language and looked nervously around. "Forgive me Mrs. Potter, but I am in somewhat of a hurry."

"Forgive me," James' mother said. "I speak what is on my mind more often then I think first. Don't judge James by me, he is more like his father."

"The father that chased after the local girls?" Rhea smirked, and raised her eyebrow.

"Exactly. He's going to be a handful when he gets older, him and Sirius, and looking the other way pretending he's not growing up isn't going to serve him. I'm against him learning how to walk into town on four legs instead of two, but I also know if I tell him not to, he will do it before the sun sets."

"How well do you know the other, this one called Sirius?"

"He's a good boy. Quiet, sits back and watches, worrisome at times."

"How so? Forgive me for asking, but…"

"Not at all, I understand completely." She frowned and thought before answering. "Mrs. Lupin what are your political affiliations?"

"My? I am not sure I understand." Rhea wrinkled her brow and studied the witch's face.

"There is a … a trend, to return our world to its more traditional times. From what I hear of Remus, he is being raised in a rather … old-fashioned way and already knows a fair amount of magic. Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with that, I just ask because I need to know who my son is spending time with as well."

"Remus' father was a farmer. When he died, I chose to try and keep Remus to his roots. Only that."

"I see." Mrs. Potter pulled Rhea closer to the pillar that was behind them, looking around to make sure they were not overheard. "Sirius Black comes from a family loyal to the traditionalist party. His father has made it known that his sons will have places of importance in his … political party … but Sirius seems uncomfortable with it."

"He is a child. What could he possib…"

"You need to understand that these values, as they call them, would eliminate your son from attending Hogwarts, working in this world, and would in fact be aimed against witches such as yourself."

"What?" Rhea laughed nervously.

"Remus told James that his father was a Muggle. My dear, in these time you must tell him not to mention this to others. I have already had a talk with the boys, including Peter, but … just tell him."

"He is not ashamed of his father. He will never deny…"

"Heavens, there, I've done it again, put it badly. Mrs. Lupin, here in the cities, in Diagon and even Hogsmeade, there are people who will hurt one such as yourself or Remus. I only want to warn you."

"What do you mean, such as Remus?" She wanted to throttle the woman, make her hurry up with the story, and run to get Remus.

"Muggle lovers, mud-blood, blood-traitors."

"You … you talking of the Blacks?"

"Yes," Mrs. Potter nodded. "Sirius is a little … wild, but a good kid. I don't think the boy has it in him to hate that way, but … he is young and although he may never intentionally hurt anyone, small boys do talk. I would never dream of telling you to deny his heritage, just don't offer it up."

"I see." Rhea looked at the other witch uncomfortably.

"Good. Any time you want to talk just send an owl." Mrs. Potter reached out and touched Rhea's arm. "The boys always spend the summers together, this year they want Peter and Remus to come as well. Shall I tell them we spoke of it?"

"I will think about it," Rhea muttered.

"Well, I am off, remember, just owl," James' mother turned and walked back up to platform ten, disappearing through the pillar.

Rhea hurried to Hogwarts to advise Albus of the boy's intentions. He seemed to find humour in the planned antics of the first years and chided Rhea on being overly concerned. He told her stories of other students and some of the spells that had gone awry, assuring her that Hogwarts was the best place for a first year to experiment.

She would not leave until he agreed to keep an eye on the Black boy, and to let her know if there was any hint of trouble. She trusted no one where Remus was concerned, but right now, Sirius and his family least of all.

From Hogwarts she walked to the Three Broomsticks, soliciting a promise from Rosmerta to keep an eye on him, explaining her concerns, and her fear that if they managed to sneak into town he would not have any protection near. They sat together in the kitchen, Rhea leaving through the back door, not wanting anyone to know that she and Rosmerta had a connection, in case that connection was discovered.

Rosmerta sat alone after the witch had left. It was still hard for her to see Rhea and not want to cry for Romulus. She sat alone, and looked at his picture thinking about first year boys. She didn't feel that she needed to worry about them sneaking into town this year, she doubted that they would have the gall to try, but by second year she was sure they would. She grinned and shook her head knowing they would think it safer to come under cover of night, forgetting that the shops closed at dark, and at that having to try their luck at the Hogshead. It was almost a rite of passage, the older boys daring the younger years, the younger thinking they were the first to be so brave.

She picked up her shawl, pulled it tightly around her shoulders and headed down to see Aberforth.

"Been a long time since you been here other than a Saturday night." He frowned at her. "Don't tell me you be taken to drink in the daytime."

"I couldn't wait to see your ugly face." She sat up at the bar with a smirk.

"Last time I had a witch in here to see me, took her upstairs and showed her a lot more," he chuckled.

"Must have been before my time," she sighed and jokingly batted her eyes at him. "I know you only have eyes for me."

He chuckled, and looked up at her from under his brows, "Spit it out girly, what you want now?"

"I need to have a promise from the only person in this whole bloody town I can trust to keep a secret. Aberforth, I need you to know something, something that could mean a boy's life. He's a good boy, and worth the secret, but you have to know if the Ministry finds out you will be in trouble for not reporting him."

Aberforth threw up a silencing spell, and grinned at her. "Now that makes it seem worthwhile."

"The only ones that know this secret live up at Hogwarts."

"Albus?"

"Yes, and Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and of course his mother."

"If this is about that Malfoy brat that broke into Honeydukes last…"

"No, not Malfoy. Abs, I need a promise. An oath."

Aberforth looked around the dark room and sniggered. "See anyone you want to hear the oath?"

Rosmerta shook her head and pointed to the bottle of whiskey he had on the bar next to him. "You can give me a glass of that."

Reaching down under the top of the bar he brought up an identical looking bottle. "Not unless you are drunk already and can't tell the difference."

She raised her eyebrow at him and laughed. "It's true. You old cheat, you do ..."

"Enough about me." He grinned and poured her drink. "You have my oath."

"You remember Romulus," she said softly, looking down at the counter.

"Aye."

"He was a good man, Aberforth. Whatever else you thought of him, he was a good man."

"Never said he weren't, Rosie."

"You never liked him."

"Never like anyone that would live off a witch." He frowned at her. "Always thought there was a story came with him."

"An old story. One filled with family grudges and Greyback." She locked her eyes on his waiting to see his reaction.

Silence spun as he looked away and began to wipe glasses, yet unused, setting them back down carefully before picking up another. Rosmerta took her wand and passed it over her hand, exposing the wedding band she still wore, invisible to all eyes but hers. She waited until he nodded and placed his hand over hers, before she again passed the wand, and hid it again.

"I'm sorry, Lassie," he said softly. "I knew it myself. You were sort of … not here ... that night he were taken, but its good to hear you say it."

"It's why he was killed and why he lays up in the old cemetery and why Greyback went back and took his brother."

"A boy?"

She nodded and wiped at her eyes. "Not yet in Hogwarts when he did it. Just a lad."

"Not yet in Hogwarts. I gather my brother figures into this somehow."

"He's let him in."

"Fucking idiot," Aberforth spat out. "Never did give a damn about protecting what is his to protect."

"No," Rosmerta said louder than she planned, looking around to make sure the silencing spell held. "Your brother tested him, made sure it was safe."

"Ain't no werewolf safe, Ministry is right in calling them animals."

"You gave me your promise!"

"I promised to keep the secret, not change my ways."

"His roommates think he is an Animagus. They plan on learning to change with him and sneaking into town."

Aberforth's lip curled up, he tried to fight it but finally gave into the laughter. "Dumb shites."

"Ab," Rosmerta sighed.

"What friends he got that can do it?"

"Pettigrew, Potter and Black."

Aberforth's eyes locked on hers when he heard the names. He nodded and started to wipe the counter.

"May be worthwhile, just to see the Black family brought down a peg. Pettigrew will do it if he has half the magic his old man had, don't know about Potter."

"You think they can do it?"

"Maybe. Until they see this boy of yours only does it at the full moon and rips their throats open."

"Ab," she sighed again.

"What you want me to do?"

"He needs a place to run if he is found out, someone to watch him."

"Won't do it Rosie. I'll keep an eye out. I'll let you know, but he ain't free to run in here."

"Abs?"

"Look round Rosie. Type of wizard comes in here would be the first to pull his wand. They wouldn't see the child, Rosie, they would be killing a wolf."

"But you will watch?"

"I'll watch. I'll watch, Rosie, but you understand this. One move toward one of ours on a full moon and I will take him out myself."

She nodded, and knew she would do the same. She would see the wolf, and save the soul of the boy.

"His name is Remus. Remus Lupin."