Disclaimer: Not Mine

His Calling

Chapter 26

Third Year Begins

Remus spent the rest of the summer on the farm. He had worried about Rosmerta's inference that she would tell his mother about his day in Hogsmeade, but as the days turned to weeks, and it was time to return to school he had put it to the back of his mind. It was lonely now, without his friends, a feeling with which he was unfamiliar. Since the attack on the ridge, Rhea did not allow him outside, nor was Sirius allowed to visit due to his parents objections. James was likewise locked away and even Peter kept at home not even allowed his owl. John was moody and hard to talk to, refusing Remus' repeated requests to go fishing.

Rhea had let Remus go to Mr. Tonks' house and visit with Moody twice, and had once even joined him just to see the pink haired baby that seemed to take delight in spitting up on everyone. Remus wrinkled his nose and pushed her away, as the women oohed and aahed over the wonderful scent of new babies. He caught Moody's grin from the corner of his eye and knew it was one of those girly things.

He watched the wizard strap on his new wooden leg, hoist himself up and lurch across the room. At the kitchen door, Moody reached out and grabbed the jamb, trying to stay upright only to crash down, landing on his still swollen stump as the wooden leg skittered away.

Remus was already on his feet, running to stop the fall, when Ted's arm yanked him back.

"Want a rag while you're down there old man?" He said lightly. "Meda was going to wash that floor later but seeing as how you are already down there you could help her out."

"Fuck you, Tonks."

"Nah, got company," Ted laughed and pushed Remus back down on the sofa, shaking his head. "Watch your tongue, we got young ears here."

Moody had managed to rise onto his hands and one knee as he looked back into the sitting room under his arm, his arse up in the air, his wooden leg splintered and broken lying next to him.

Rhea moved closer to Remus and patted his hand. "Leave him, he doesn't want help." She made the pretence of smoothing his hair while she whispered into his ear.

"Why?"

"Because he is prideful, stubborn, egotistical, paranoid, and delusional and … did I miss anything, Alastor?" Andromeda called to the man that was still crawling across the kitchen floor.

"No, Meda," he called back over his shoulder as he reached a kitchen chair and started to pull himself up. "That about covers it."

"Good, did I mention stubborn?" Meda laughed.

"Boy, bring me that damned leg." Moody sat huffing for breath on the kitchen chair.

Moody inspected the pieces after Remus picked them up and handed them to him. Shaking his head, he pulled his wand and repaired it, strapped it back on and looked up at Remus who was watching him intently. "This is what that damned St. Mungo's did. They call that thing a leg. It's not a leg it is a lump of fire wood."

"Nah, to soft for firewood," Remus grinned.

"Let me look at that thing," Rhea squatted down in front of Moody, pulled up his trouser leg, and tapped on the wood.

"Ah Lassie," Moody grinned widely. "It's been so long since a pretty one has been on her knees feeling my woo…"

"Alastor Moody!" Rhea jumped up turning red, then seeing his face could not help but laugh. "My son is sitting at your elbow, watch that tongue before you are looking for a new one of those as well."

"One more word and you will be back upstairs." Andromeda fought back her laugh as she stole a glance and saw Remus' face as red as his mother's.

"Better listen to her," Ted coughed into his hand. "That wood will soon be thrown in the fire."

"Shut up Ted," Rhea smirked. "You are just giving him another chance, and Merlin knows he doesn't need any encouragement."

"So," Moody frowned and nodded to his leg, "you know anyone can do better? Meda here said your first husband worked in wood. I thought maybe you kept in touch with his old mates."

"He didn't do this kind of thing, no one does any more," Rhea leaned her shoulder against the wall and folded her arms as she thought. "I don't know, Moody, no one wears peg legs anymore. Why not just get … you know… one of the newer ones… like the Muggles wear."

"The metal right?" Remus leaned over the table to see Moody's face better. "You still want to work and the metal throws off the magic."

"Good Merlin, give it up," Ted said.

"Nope." Moody glared at him. 'I got my knee. If I had lost that I'd give it up, but I can still use my knee, it's all I need."

"Mum?" Remus bit his lip. "Remember that old picture? The one at the museum we saw? The guy that had his leg bit off by the shark?"

Rhea looked at him quizzically, a smile tugging at her lips. "An Auror does more than walk around looking pretty, Remus. Not that Moody here can ever look…"

"What guy got his leg bit off?" Moody interrupted, waving off Rhea.

"You need more than a picture," Ted sighed. "You need to see how they fit it to the stump."

"And you need a hard wood, Remus is right about that," Rhea mused, then seeing his face grinned. "Say it and I'll hex you."

"Ted?" Andromeda said thoughtfully. "Molly made that clock, remember? She transfigured models first and then carved the hands. Maybe she could transfigure a model of his…"

"Stump," Moody supplied. "Call it what it is, Meda."

"You will see her at the meeting tonight, you can ask her then," Andromeda offered.

"You and Ted should come with me," he grumbled.

"No," Ted nodded to Remus, silently telling Moody to shut up about the meeting. "I'll have Frank collect you."

"Remus?" Rhea called to him. "It's time we got back, got goats that will soon be hurting."

"Goats?" Moody turned and looked at Remus. "You milk goats?"

"Umm," Remus felt his stomach fall. "Yeah, sometimes."

"So I thought," he smirked. "Now run along boy, fore your mum tells you twice."

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At last, it was time to head up to Hogwarts. John refused to let him travel down to London just to ride the train. Attacks on Muggle families had increased. Hardly a day went by that the Daily Prophet did not run a story on the front page about another atrocity wreaked on some unsuspecting and ill-prepared family. Every morning John would watch him cast his Patronus, instructing him on adding a voice to the shimmering wolf.

"Keep practicing," he had said. "Most can't even make a full corporal Partonus at your age, so don't be disappointed if it takes a while."

Remus did keep practicing, often he would sneak down to the barn and work all afternoon, wanting to please John with his accomplishment, only to fail each time he tried. He made one last attempt the morning he was due to leave for Hogwarts. Being too excited to cast a Patronus, little lone use it to send a message, earned him John's disapproval and a lecture that he must learn to clear him mind.

Once they were ready, Rhea waited by the front door to bid him goodbye, nervously watching him put on his robes.

"You remember to see Madam Pomfrey first thing," she said. "She wants to try a potion."

"What kind of potion?"

"It's up to you, Remus." She looked a John over his shoulder. "It's a new potion … a new… wolfsbane."

"That's what St. Mungo's wanted…"

"No," John walked over to them and put his hand on his shoulder. "We won't ever let you use theirs. The Headmaster has personally vouched for this potion. He seems to think it will let you … let you keep your memory, your mind. Even as a wolf you would still be you."

"Like Peter? You know, when he is a rat?"

"Exactly like that," Rhea nodded. "We didn't want to try it here. I want the mediwitch there just in case."

"In case?" Remus said nervously.

"In case it isn't strong enough, or so strong it puts you to sleep. She needs to note your reactions in your file."

"Remus," John grabbed his shoulders and turned him to look at him. "You are growing. She will adjust it to your weight and … age, taking into account the ... age of the wolf. It's important to do this right."

"Yeah, I guess," he nodded. "Will it still hurt?"

"I'm afraid so, son." John slapped him on the shoulder. "Someday, maybe when this bloody war is over and St. Mungos's gets their head out of their arse they will come up with something better, but for now, this is as good as it gets."

"Now, don't get upset with Madam Pomfrey and her pictures. We did this, me and John." Rhea said firmly, putting a bag of galleons in his pocket. "This goes to the infirmary. I am having the potion sent there. You make sure you don't lose it now."

"Wow." Remus put his hand over his pocket and felt the heft of the bag. "Where'd this come from?"

"Don't worry about it boy," John chuckled seeing his eyes get big. "Just make sure it all gets there."

Remus nodded and gave his mother a hug, squeezing his eyes shut as she kissed his cheek. "Ah…"

She cupped his face and grinned. "Third year, just think, you almost didn't go, and here you are a third year."

He pulled her hands from his face and tried to smile. Turning away, he rushed out the door and up to the property line where he waited for John, and looked sadly back at the house. He had felt her hand when he pulled away. Had felt the smoothness of her finger where her wedding ring should be. He slid his own hand into his pocket and held the bag tightly, part of him wanting to shove it back, knowing how much it cost, and part of him wanting a larger bag, to ensure he never lost his mind again.

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He walked up to the infirmary, his shoes clicking against the stones and echoing in the empty halls. He had begged until John had agreed to bring him early enough to see Madam Pomfrey before the sorting rather than missing most of the ceremony again, sitting as she ran between him and Snape. He wondered why the Slytherin had to report the same as he did. Unless Snape was a werewolf, it didn't make any sense to him.

He sat swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, waiting for the mediwitch that had been unprepared for his early visit, and had left him to get her diagnostic wand, which she had left in her chambers. His eyes kept going to the two files that sat on the nightstand. He looked at all the pictures on the wall and tried to wait patiently, but again his eyes fell on the files.

He could hear the sound of the thestral pulled carts and figured Madam Pomfrey would be waiting at the steps to snag Snape in his yearly attempt to dash into the Great Hall. He could take it no longer. He jumped up and flipped open the file.

He saw pictures, something like the pictures in his files, but these were marked with small circles and lines. He frowned and flipped through them, reading the dates and could not understand how they went back before what should have been their first year. Leaning closer to the file, he turned the pictures over and again started through them, this time reading the accompanying reports.

"Mr. Lupin!" Madam Pomfrey angrily ripped the file from his hands and clutched it to her chest. "How dare you? What right do you…?" She turned from him, her hands shaking as she put the file down before turning back, her smile again in place.

"I expect your compete silence on this matter," she said as she pointed to the bed and indicated for Remus to take his position on the edge.

"His dad does that?"

"Mr. Lupin, I will not discuss another student with you," she said crisply, as she leaned over and peered in his ears.

"Yeah, but it's not like … like he is sick, or there is something wrong with him," he whispered. "That isn't right. Peter says his dad smacks him round, but not like that."

"Mr. Pettigrew gets a well deserved paddle. On occasion his … father … may…," she sighed and stepped back looking at him. "What Mr. Pettigrew does to Peter is wrong, what Mr. Snape does is an abomination."

"Can't someone stop it? He is only a Muggle, you could…"

"Only a Muggle, Mr. Lupin?"

"I didn't mean it that way, I meant… can't Snape stop him?"

"He is his father, Remus, and as sad as that is, he is the only father he has known."

"You think he…do you think he loves him?"

"Mr. Lupin, we have said enough, both of us. I must insist this goes no further."

Remus nodded, then reached in his pocket and plucked out the bag. "Mum said this is for my medicine."

"Thank you, Mr. Lupin." She took the bag and tucked it in her pocket. "And since you will be serving detention later this evening for prying into my personal files I see no reason to keep you now. Run along, your friends should be just arriving."

"Yes, Madam." He slid to the floor and began to run to the hallway.

"Mr. Lupin, do remember what is said here goes no further."

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Remus skidded around the corner, nearly colliding with Severus. Pulling himself up and stepping to the side to let the quiet Slytherin pass he nodded in greeting, studying his face and feeling like he needed to say something.

"Hi, Snape. She's waiting for you."

"You weren't on the train."

"Nah, wanted to get through this and go to the sorting," Remus let his eyes run over Severus' face then travel to his hands, looking for proof of what he had just seen in the boy's file. "She's letting me come back after the sorting. Maybe she will let you wait."

Severus looked down the hall at the infirmary door and slowly back to Remus. "What else did she tell you?"

"Nothing, just that I could wait and come back later," Remus looked down and shoved his hands in his pockets, knowing it was too close to dusk, and the light too dim.

Severus saw Remus' face redden and the way he looked down at the floor, kicking the stones and avoiding his eyes. Feeling uncomfortable, he stepped away from the Gryffindor and headed down to the infirmary, feeling Remus watching him as he continued.

"Hey, Snape," Remus called to him. "Was Lily on the train with you?"

Slowly turning around, Severus scowled at him. "What's it to you?"

"Just wondering."

"You leave her alone, and tell those creeps you sit with to leave her alone."

"Hey," Remus snorted. "Get off it. It's not like I won't see her, she's in my house ya know."

"Yeah? Well you can tell that James Potter for me to lay off her. If I hear he is pushing her around again I'll take care of him myself."

"He doesn't mean it. He talks like that to everyone." Remus swallowed hard, remembering how cutting James' tongue could be.

"Tell him I don't like it, no one likes it," the taller boy said, then turned and walked slowly to the infirmary.

"Arse," Remus muttered under his breath when he knew the Slytherin was far enough away not to hear.

Running to the side door, he saw Peter step out of the cart, followed by James and Sirius. He waved to them and waited until they made their way up the path before going back in and finding a place at the table.

"That Snape arsehole was on the train," James grinned. "Evans was down in the Slytherin compartment with him. Then something Mulciber said must have pissed her off cuz she switched to ours and started out on how evil he was."

"She didn't say evil," Peter laughed. "She called him a git."

"She likes Snape and she calls Mulciber the git?" Remus smiled. "I just saw him and he says we should leave her alone. Seems he doesn't want us talking to her."

"Really?" James grinned. "Shove over, here she comes. Hey, Evans!" he called as she walked by.

"Hi, Lupin, Black, Pettigrew," she nodded to each, ignoring James.

"Ah, that hurts," James laughed. "Come on, sit down. It's the sorting and we should sit in our years."

Lily looked down the table, not seeing another space to sit, except up front where the first-years would be, and with a shrug she sat down next to Remus.

"So, Evans," James smirked, "where is your boyfriend?"

"He is not my boyfriend," she looked at him coldly. "We grew up together and he is nice to me, a lot nicer than some."

"I didn't know that," Remus turned to look at her oddly. "I thought his mother was a witch and you were Muggle. I thought you met him on the train."

"She is, only … she doesn't use her magic. Severus says his dad doesn't like it. He lives at the far end of the same town."

"Why not?" Remus asked.

"Because he's a Muggle," James said, leaning back in his chair. "They are scared of us."

"Not too scared," Sirius smirked. "We got Evans here, and Remus' dad was a Muggle. He couldn't have been too scared, after all he shagged her."

Lily stood up as Remus leaned over the table, ready to hit James with his fist. She grabbed Remus' arm and pushed him back into his seat.

"Don't you ever stop?" she hissed at James. "At least Severus isn't crude."

"Shut up, James," Remus spat.

"Ah, come on. I didn't mean it like it was a bad thing. They got married is all I meant. He couldn't have been too scared if he married her."

Remus looked down at his plate then stood up, swung his leg over the bench and climbed back into the aisle. "I'm not hungry. I am going to check if the trunks are up in the rooms yet."

"Remus?" Peter stood up to join him, shooting a look at James. "I'll come with you. It's a while before the food comes anyway."

"Meet you up in the tower?" Sirius asked, frowning at James. "We'll nick a plate for you."

"Way to go," Sirius said after they had walked away. "You really need to cut it out around him. You know how he gets."

"Acts like a sissy sometimes, especially around Evans. He knew I was joking."

"Yeah, well… maybe not. Just watch it, okay?"