Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 20

Blood Brothers

Remus sat at the end of the long house table. He had missed classes the whole day and showed up at the hall for dinner only to see the older years sitting in groups. He was nervous about what Sirius would tell the others, or if his secret was safe. His stomach rolled as a wave of fear washed over him, causing him to push back his plate and take shallow breaths.

"Here." Lily Evans tossed a sheet of parchment on the table as she lifted her leg to step over the bench and sit next to him. "I heard your mum was sick again, so I took notes for you. Professor Slughorn just had a review today, and the rest didn't really cover anything new, just History but if you read the book you know it already."

"I sometimes think Binns holds lessons all summer." Remus tried to joke.

"Maybe he teaches the ghosts. You know, like Myrtle," she said, nodding and gave a small laugh. "Listen, move on down the table, you don't have to be alone. Sit with us."

"Nah, I'm waiting for James. He usually makes it down first."

"Then I better get going," she sighed. "He is such a prat, you know? He's been teasing one of my roommates because of the accident in transformations last week. He thinks he's perfect or something."

"He's just like that. I don't think he means anything by it," Remus shrugged.

"Yeah, well I don't care how much money he has or how old his family is, he doesn't have any right to go around like he is above everyone else. If anyone is likely to expect special privileges, it would be Black."

"Sirius?"

Phineas Nigellus Black was his Great Grandfather, or maybe Great-Great, anyway, he was Headmaster here, and that alone would give him bragging rights, but I bet he hasn't even told you.'' She stood up and climbed back over the bench. "If you change your mind you're welcome to join us. Bring Peter, just dump that Potter idiot."

"Thanks, but I think I'll wait here," he muttered to her back as she walked away.

He knew James teased. He had felt the boy's cutting tongue himself more than once, and Peter sometimes would stay back from the joking and teasing, looking at James fearing he would be next. Then the next day James would start talking with them, pitching in and helping them make their beds because his was already done with his own, or sharing his Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans or chocolates his mother had sent him by morning owl, all angry words and teasing forgotten.

Sirius had shown James and Peter his new books, and passed around the book on werewolves. In the Astronomy Tower as they lay on the floor the last night of term after the feast, he had even announced his Animagus form would be a wolf. Laughing and punching Peter in the arm and bragging that even in his animal form he could beat his arse.

"Why would you want to do that?" James snorted. "I want to be something grand, not a wolf."

"I don't know." Sirius rested on his elbow. "I thought I could keep Remus company. It may be fun to run the woods and have every one afraid to follow."

"You want to be a wolf too?" Peter sat up and looked at Remus oddly. "I didn't think anyone would ever want to be one of those."

"Idiot," Sirius laughed and rolled his eyes. "He's already werewolf, he can't be a regular wolf."

"Go on," James sat up. "You did it? You can change?"

Remus scrambled to his feet glaring at Sirius. He had lied, he had told. Now everyone would know, and Dumbledore wouldn't let him come back. His breath came in short gasps, he stepped backward, knowing that James and Peter would start with taunts and barbs, before telling him to get out. His chin began to tremble as tears filled his eyes.

"Now whose the idiot, Potter? He's a werewolf, a real one, right?" Peter said proud to catch on to the truth before James.

"Yeah, right kid?" Sirius smirked. "Sit down will ya? Ya look like you're going to cry or something. Don't be such a sissy."

Remus stepped back to where he had been sitting and lowered himself back to the floor, looking from face to face, then seeing Sirius smile, he relaxed enough to start breathing evenly.

"You're shitting me," James tried to keep his voice steady as he looked at Sirius and back at Remus.

"Is that what happened down on your farm? Gramms said not even a stupid Muggle farmer could fall off a loft like that. Said it sounded more like your mum pushed him or something. Then when she heard you had a new father she said…"

"Take it back," Remus jumped back up and clenched his fists. "My Mum never did no such thing! I saw it! Mum was in the house!"

"Thought you said you fell too?" James stood with Remus, unsure what to say, watching Sirius who just sat with his eyes on Remus, a small grin playing on his mouth.

"Didn't mean I thought it too, it's just what she said." Peter pouted. "Anyway, it don't make no difference to me. My Mum tries to hex my dad all the time."

Remus watched James sit back down and studied him carefully. "The Headmaster says if it gets out I have to leave. He hushed it up so I'm not registered and Mum said if I have to register it's like I'm not a person anymore."

"What do you mean not a person?" James questioned.

"I can't go to school, or live near other people and they … they do things. Like they have this potion but some of it isn't good and even St. Mungo's don't use it because if it's a bad batch, or the person that brewed it doesn't like people like me … it would kill me."

"They have to go down to the Ministry and have a yearly check, only it's not a Healer, it's a vet," Sirius said, still watching Remus. "What ya say Peter? Should we keep his secret?"

"Yeah, sure… I already said I don't care. Remus? Was your dad a werewolf too?"

Remus shook his head, and sat back down in the circle. "Greyback killed him, but he got two of them before he … that's when Greyback got me, then my Mum came and I think it was getting light… and… I don't know. I woke up in St. Mungo's and the Headmaster came and sorted things out for me."

"James?" Sirius didn't need to ask the question, it already hung in the air.

Potter reached in his pocket and dug out a penknife. "Give me your hand."

Remus saw Sirius sit up and grin, waving Peter closer and pulled out a penknife of his own. He jabbed the tip of the blade into his index finger with a wince, then did the same to Peter. Holding his hand out, Remus allowed James to draw blood, and then he saw him turn the knife to his own finger.

The four boys each held up their index fingers and grinning pressed them together. It was a childhood ritual older than memory, taken by boys both Muggle and magical for generations to seal their bond. Remus grinned and began to answer their questions, excited to at last be able to talk about himself and share his story.

.

.

Minerva stood on the landing, listening to the boys and wondering what she should do. It was too late in term to give detentions for breaking curfew, and if she were to order them back to their room, they would know she had heard them.

She heard Remus' voice, and for the first time heard his uncontrolled excitement. He was such a quiet boy, reserved and shy with others his own age, always afraid of discovery. Now here he sat like any other twelve year old, sharing stories with friends, even bragging a little at what he went through.

She heard James' acceptance without teasing or threatening to take the information to the Headmaster and felt a surge of pride in her house. Never would she have thought Potter capable of the compassion she could hear in his voice, and his gently leading questions.

Peter, she thought. Poor Peter with a family at odds, unwanted, and about to spend the summer tucked away at a distant cousin's house. He needed the last night of term to be happy, to give him some fond memories to take with him. She snorted knowing that his nose would be buried in books learning how to change into his Animagus form. Studying always came hard for him, but not due to lack of trying. Once he understood the concept, she knew his magic would let him change quickly and easily. She thought that if he were first, his pride might lend him the confidence he so sorely lacked.

The sorting hat had placed Black in Gryffindor. At the time, Minerva had questioned the decision and had gone as far as to take her concerns to Albus. Now, after hearing how he orchestrated the revealing of Remus' affliction, she smiled and turned to go back downstairs. If Phineas did not also have a portrait in the House of Black, she would have delighted in telling him the story of his Great-Great Grandson befriending a werewolf and outing him in a very Slytherin way. No, she thought, the hat had put him exactly where he was needed.

The next morning the four boys packed and promised to owl each other through the summer. Sirius walked with Remus to the train, Peter and James following close behind, James teasing Lily Evans who had bought so much in Hogsmeade she could no longer carry her backpack but dragged it behind her.

"Leave her alone," Severus' voice sounded behind James.

"What's it to you?" James smirked.

Severus handed Lily his backpack, then struggled to hoist her's up on his back. "Find a compartment. I'll pick it back up when we get to London."

She nodded and giving James a dirty look scampered off to do as Severus asked, glad to have help having been worried that she would break the presents she had cramped into her bag.

"Git," James sneered. "Leave it to the Slytherin to butt in. Did you get a look at his hair? It looks like he slathered something on it."

"Come on," Remus said nervously, not wanting to spend the whole day on personal traits of the Slytherin students, knowing Potter hated them over most other houses. "If we don't find a compartment we will have to share."

"What's the matter with you?" James sneered. "Your time of the month? You sound like a girl."

"Watch it…"Sirius started.

"I am joking!" James laughed. "Come on Moony, let's find that compartment."

They found one empty and soon had stored their carry cases, owls and backpacks and opened the sack of candy that James brought for every trip. Remus no longer hurried to take his position by the window and for the first time felt free to join in the horseplay, pushing James into his seat as the train lurched as it pulled out of the station.

"Cut it out Moony," he laughed. "Grab my bag from under your seat Peter. I nicked something I got to show you."

Sirius scooted to the edge of his seat waiting to see what James had, while Remus leaned back, at odds at wanting to see but knowing it was wrong to steal. He eyed Peter who easily picked up the bag and tossed it to James.

"Where'd you get it?" Remus said uncertainly watching James pull out a book.

"McGonagall left it in the Tower. She must have been up there and set it down. So it's not like I really nicked it, more like I found it." James justified having what he held in his hands. "It's old, I think it was hers, see… notes in the margins and everything."

"For changing? No shit!" Sirius reached out and grabbed the book. "Look at this, no wonder we couldn't get it right before. James, you don't just change into any old thing, you have to pick the one you want and once you start the change you can't change. It's not like you can flip back and forth."

"What?" Peter blanched. "Let me see that." He grabbed the book from Sirius.

"It's like transfiguration," he mused. "See told you I really had whiskers… only there's more to it. This whole bloody book is on how to do it."

"So what whiskers were you going for?" Remus asked grinning.

"Shut up Remus!"

James started laughing. "What did you think about? A fox? Nah, you wouldn't be upset to be a fox. I know, a squirrel like a girl would do. Peter the sissy squirrel, or maybe a cute little shrew."

"Was not," Peter threw the book back. "A rat, okay, I thought of a rat because I just wanted to get the whiskers right."

Remus reached and grabbed Peter's arm, as Peter jumped up, afraid his friend would next hurl himself at James. "It's a good animal, really it is." Remus reddened seeing Sirius' smirk. "You can get into really small places, and hide if you have to."

"Yeah," Peter said smugly. "A rat isn't so bad. I would rather be a rat than a sissy cat like McGonagall."

"What are you going to do this summer?" Sirius asked looking at Remus. "We need to practice changing, what about you?"

"You remember that spell I showed you? The one I learned when John took me hunting? I thought I would make him teach me the rest of it. I bet he knows a ton, he is an Auror and all."

"The spell will only work if we know where the person is. Took us for ever to find that bloody owl and we knew it was there." James laughed. "Some spell, we will know when McGonagall is coming and will run smack into her getting away."

"Yeah, well my Dad, I mean John, John will tell me how to do it, that or Moody. They are both Aurors you know," Remus said proudly.

"Alastor Moody?" Sirius frowned. "You know Moody? My father says he's not to be trusted, not that my father trusts any Aurors, but Moody less than most."

Remus shrugged. "He's always been okay to me and my Mum. He helped us, you know the night Greyback came. He's a friend of my Mum's"

"He knows about you?" James asked.

"Yeah, he calls it my furry problem," Remus grinned. "Really, he's okay."

"Is he the one that looks like they sewed his face on wrong?" Peter asked.

"Gross," James laughed. "He hasn't turned you in?"

"No," Remus said, looking from face to face. "He's not like that I tell you. He even calls the Headmaster by his first name."

Sirius sat back and grinned. "Wait until I tell you how he really lost half his arse. I heard it from my Dad, and it wasn't how he wants everyone to think it was."

"Yeah?" James grinned.

"Yeah, seems he had this witch, only she was married already. Told Moody they were separated, but no one told her husband…"

The rest of their trip was spent listening to Sirius and James share stories about Moody's loss of body parts. They soon turned their stories to the Slytherin house and began to compare notes on Malfoy and Mulciber, two families Sirius was quite familiar with. Peter told of his own father's invitations to the grand manors, and bragged about his family's rise in social standing now that his dad had switched political parties.

Remus grew quiet as the train approached London. These names were not part of his circle. They were names his mother said to be wary of. He saw Sirius nervously watch James and cringe when Peter mentioned the one named Riddle. He made a mental note to ask John who these people were and if they were the same ones the Headmaster warned about. He turned to see darkness beginning to fall outside the compartment's window and sighed, knowing his time of freedom was almost up.

The Hogwarts Express made its way back to 9 ¾'s just as it was completely dark, the boys still talking and joking non-stop. Remus stood at the window and looked for his Mum. Finally seeing her standing next to John, his arm around her shoulder, he felt a fleeting pang of loss, and wished it were his father standing with her, waiting for him to come home.

John saw him first. His face breaking into a wide smile as he tugged Rhea down the platform toward the car Remus was in. Remus waved through the glass as he proudly pointed out his new father to his friends, and smiled back, waving to his mother.

.

.

When the train had pulled out of the station in Hogsmeade, Minerva had gone straight away to the Tower to make sure they had found the book. Sighing in relief, she turned to seek out Albus. Remus had made it through his first two years but if he were going any further, they would need a new plan, a plan that would not put Madam Pomfrey in danger, a plan that would ensure the students' safety.

"You do know what you are suggesting?" Albus scowled and peered over his spectacles. "We would not only be harbouring a werewolf, but hiding three underaged and unregistered Animagi."

"They will do it anyway Albus, you know they will. We can either put a stop to it, although I don't know how, or we can make sure they are safe."

"We can stop it easily, Minerva."

"You have as of yet been unable to stop Black from even raiding the kitchen, or curtailed Potter's midnight broom rides," she scoffed. "You will not take this away from the Lupin boy. He does the best he can. Have you seen the condition he comes back in every month? Have you seen what he does to keep himself from leaving that damned hole we shove him through, into a shack without a door or a window? It breaks my heart to see such a bright child suffer so. And if you think for one moment you can stand up to Rhea then you are delusional." By the time she was done with her rant she was leaning over the desk, shaking her finger at Albus' face

He chuckled and popped a sweet in his mouth, sucking it silently until Minerva pulled herself up, brushed her robes off and calmly sat. "Now that you have made your position clear my dear, you must allow me to share my thoughts."

"Please, none of your platitudes."

"No," he laughed at her. "Remus and I had a long talk earlier this year. I find he has reached a certain … let us call it a certain maturity … well beyond his normal years. He will, if not this summer then surely in the spring, most assuredly want to answer to a different type of call. A call I would prefer he not satisfy."

"I read his file Albus, I cannot say I approve of giving a child vitex at such a young age.

"A wolf, Minerva. We are not giving it to a child, but to a wolf, a wolf that in the wild would be quite old enough to form his own pack. If his new friends can keep him otherwise occupied, I will agree with you that we should perhaps allow this. They must not know they are being watched. The fear of discovery is a much sterner warning than you or I could deliver. Let them … sneak. If I remember my student days, third year boys are very good at sneaking. They will not venture far if they are worried of discovery."

"And in the meantime you will continue to allow your mediwitch to ply him with Monk's Pepper?"

"In the meantime he will be dosed with certain teas that include not only Vitex agnus-castus but certain healing properties. Wolvesbane is not safe, and until such time that a proper potion can be found, and brewed by someone I trust I will not risk it. Nor will I trust what the Ministry offers to their …" he waved his hand, unable to say aloud what he meant to.

"Half breeds? Animals? Beasts? Is that the division werewolves are now regulated under?" She sighed and stood. "They have a summer and my notes. I am sure that young Mr. Pettigrew will be able to accomplish his mission. He had chosen a rather small creature."

"Dare I ask?" Albus chuckled.

"A rat."

"Quite useful in tight places and knotholes in willows do you not think?" Albus peered over his spectacles and grinned.

"You old codger! You suggested it!"

"I merely mentioned in passing one day, I believe it was in the halls and he happened to overhear my conversation, that a rat's whiskers were by far the most sensitive. Wonderful creatures rats. Did you know they are one of the few animals that have the capacity to laugh when tickled?"

"How long have you known of their plans?" She lifted her head and sniffed down at him.

"All boys dream of doing something not done before," he said, popping another sweet into his mouth. "It is not just our young Mr. Lupin who is broken, Minerva. If it were, this would not have gone on for as long as it has. However, I do believe it will be most beneficial for Mr. Potter as well. He too needs to learn he is not who he sees when he looks in the mirror, and learn how to live with others."