Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 31

She Brought What?

Remus fell into his schoolwork, and for the most part stayed back in the school when his three roommates snuck into town or up to the Astronomy tower late at night. During the full moons, he woke each time worse off than the last. Deep scars covered his forearms that Madam Pomfrey tried repeatedly to erase, but to no avail. Twice he had bitten his thighs so deeply that he'd missed two days of classes while he was laid up in the infirmary healing.

During the holidays, he opted to stay at Hogwarts rather than return home, not wanting to listen to John and his mother pleading for him to learn the Muggle subjects Dr. Gramm had suggested. He was surprised to see Snape sitting in the Great Hall next to Mulciber, the first morning that he went down for breakfast, expecting to be sitting alone.

He nodded a greeting and sat down the table as far as he could, a little put off that the Headmaster had seen fit to have breakfast set up on only one table.

"Thought you would be running home to Mummy," Mulciber sniggered. "I take it she doesn't get sick during the holidays."

"She's doing better," Remus muttered.

"What is wrong with her anyway?" Snape questioned.

Remus thought of Mrs. McCann. "Cancer. She … her treatments make her sick."

"Cancer?" Snape looked up from his plate. "That can be nasty. Slughorn said there is a potion that makes you feel better while on the treatment. He is going to let me brew it."

Remus shrugged and shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Yeah, well she takes a couple but she still needs help when she takes it."

Snape leaned back and watched Remus carefully, observing the way he avoided looking at them or meeting their eyes. "Quit lying, Lupin. Are you sure its not you that is sick? Something contagious?"

Remus grabbed a couple of pieces of toast and sandwiched his scrambled eggs between them, then stood and swung his leg over the bench as he stood up. "Yeah, something contagious. Maybe I should spit on you."

Mulciber sniggered, "Go ahead, and find out how fast my wand is."

Remus gave them a cold look and turned his back on them, expecting to feel a hex and not caring, only needing to get away from them. Damn Slytherins, he thought as the memory of Tiffany crashed into him again. Heading for the library, he found himself drawn to the Muggle bookshelf and ran his fingers over the spines, looking for anything to take his mind away from where he was. Not wanting to study, but to lose himself in a world still foreign to him, a world Tiffany would have known. Finally selecting a book, he slid to the floor and began to read.

.

.

.

"You stayed the whole holiday?" Peter asked as he threw his backpack under his bed.

"You could have come home with me," James chided him. "Mum would have had you. She let Sirius stay a few days."

"I needed to catch up on my lessons," he shrugged. "I miss a lot when I'm in the infirmary every month."

"Did you see the notice by the Great Hall?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, I don't understand why we all have to go. I finished my Muggle studies last year," James said, sulking.

"I don't know," Remus interjected, "some sort of self protection it said. We are scheduled after dinner. I checked the list."

"Who is giving the talk? All it said was a guest speaker is coming," Peter asked.

"If we are lucky Dumbledore will do it." James laughed. "He always passes out sweets and if he loses track of what he is taking about it'll be an easy hour listening to his stories."

After they ate the evening meal, they headed for the Muggle Study classroom, jostling down the hall, pushing each other ahead. They saw Professor McGonagall waiting by the door with a clipboard, checking off each student as they entered.

"Good evening, Professor McGonagall," James said politely. "Are you giving the lesson?"

"No, Mr. Potter. A Miss Umbridge from the Ministry will be talking to you. I strongly suggest that you do not test her patience."

The four soon found they were expected to pay attention, as a short witch dressed in pink assigned seats in different parts of the room. Remus took his seat, sliding as far to one side as he could to avoid sitting too near Snape who was sitting to his left.

"Joy," Snape said with a sneer.

"What are you doing here?" Remus scowled. "Thought Muggle raised got a pass."

"Are you are admitting that you don't know everything, Lupin?"

"Yeah, right," Remus muttered. "Don't you ever give it up?"

"No," Snape spat, and turned to the front of the room, ignoring Lupin.

Delores Umbridge slowly walked to the front of the room snapping the students books closed as she did and instructing individuals to sit up smartly.

"The sooner I have your attention I may begin, and the sooner we will be done." Her nasal, high-pitched voice cut the air and Remus cringed at the sound. Glancing to his left, he saw Peter make a gagging face and grinned.

She clasped her hands in front of her breasts and smiled, letting her eyes take in the class until she was sure she had everyone's attention.

"Our Ministry, in another show of support for our precious youth, finds it necessary to bring you information from the outside world. A world, I am sad to say, that is changing and taking up even more decadent ways. It is no longer safe for you, our future leaders, to walk alone when visiting Muggle establishments, and extreme caution must be used when entering their cities."

She paused for effect, the silence of the room broken by the sound of James' yawn. She strode to his desk and pulled her wand, blasting him in the face with a spray of cold water.

"Is that better, my dear?" she purred. "Awake now are we?"

"Yes, umm, yes," James stammered, pulling himself up to sit rigidly in his chair.

"As I was saying," she paused, turned in a circle taking in each face again, "you must learn to be vigilant. Muggle children are being lulled into a false utopia, a utopia of drug-induced fantasies. Their youth destroyed and their futures thrown away for a few hours of unnatural bliss.

It has come to the attention of the Ministry that our own youth are becoming seduced by their dark and wicked ways. Today, I, with the approval and blessings of our Ministry, will show you how to identify that which you should avoid."

Remus hazarded another look around the room as Umbridge had her back turned, and saw James trying to wave his wand under his desk, attempting to get the drying spell high enough to hit his collar. Peter sat with a wide grin watching his antics, then drew his own and sent a spell across the room to James. Remus sought out Sirius, and finally found him in front and to the right of him, where he sat slouched down in his seat, his chin resting on his chest, drawing circles on the desktop.

"The first item we will discuss," Delores turned towards them, holding up the offending substance, "is cannabis."

Remus saw Sirius' head snap up and a lopsided grin cover his face. He looked back at James and saw him sitting with his wand stopped in mid-air as he stared at Umbridge.

"Psst, Remus…" Peter whispered. "What is that?"

Remus shrugged and looked back at Umbridge, watching Sirius out of the corner of his eye. He then became intrigued as Umbridge preceded to not only explain how the hemp was used, but its preparation by dying and the different chopping and crushing techniques that could be applied. As she launched into the effect on the mind and body, he could have sworn he heard Sirius moan.

As she turned to the desk behind her, Sirius shot a look at Potter, waggling his eyebrows and smiling. Remus saw the exchange and swallowed hard, knowing by the look on Sirius' face what he planned.

"This is also made from the cannabis plant," Umbridge held up a lump that was dark brown in colour, squeezing it to show how pliable it was. "However, known as hashish it is much stronger, and although it can be used the same way as cannabis, you must exercise caution as Muggles have been known to put it in their food. It is very dangerous, and much stronger then cannabis prepared to be smoked. At one time, the Ministry considered using it on certain…convicts, to calm them, to take away their aggressions. We however, have much more humane ways of dealing with our problems."

Remus let out a snort, as he thought of the Dementors that kept the inmates in line at Azkaban, and wondered what she meant by humane.

"I see we have someone who does not believe me." She laid down the hashish and walked to stand in front of Remus. "Well young man? What do you have to say for yourself?"

"You said humane. How do Dementors figure into that?" he said. "How can you defend…?"

"Out," she pointed angrily at the door. "I will report your attitude to your Headmaster. He will make sure you do not criticize the Ministry again. Do you understand me?"

"Yeah, and you better check out the herbology books. Nothing in cannabis is physically harmful anyway," Remus stood and looked down on Umbridge, seeing her step back as he towered over her. He smirked, thinking of all the things he wanted to say and then turned to walk out of the classroom.

Umbridge stood tapping her wand on the palm of her hand watching the gangly youth walk away. Something did not seem right with him. Something seemed … off. She tipped her head to the side and studied his gait… "Young man, come back here."

Remus turned and looked her full in the eyes as Peter began to cough in an uncontrolled fit, standing from his seat and gasping for air, clutching the desk and slipping to the floor, hitting the floor with a thud and a groan.

"He gets like this," Sirius jumped up. "We have to get him to the infirmary. Quick."

James hurried to help Sirius, putting one of Peter's arms around his shoulders as Sirius grabbed the other. "The door, Lupin, open the door," Sirius shouted as they rushed Peter out, Remus hot on their heels.

"Merlin's sake, Lupin," Peter said as soon as they were safely around the first corner. "Why'd you look right at her like that? I could see your eyes from where I was."

"She irritated me," Remus muttered. "You heard her. She's crazy. Even Moody says the Dementors should go, and he has sent more up to Azkaban than anyone"

"Maybe so," James said, "but you got to watch it. This whole term you've been off. You got to chill out man. You're going to get caught and tossed out on your arse."

"Come on," Sirius grinned. "I got just the thing."

"You didn't, right?" Remus hurried to catch up as Sirius headed up to the tower.

"Didn't what?" Sirius said innocently.

"Nick that stuff, when she put it down to yell at me."

"I'm wounded. How could you think I could nick something right out in the open like that?"

"Because it seemed like the thing to do when everyone was watching her yell at me," Remus could not keep the grin off his face.

"I prefer to think that I saved her from a dangerous substance."

"You would," James said with a smirk. "She will know it's one of us."

"Nah, McGonagall would be proud at how useful her transfiguration charms are. Umbridge won't know for a couple of hours."

"Ya know, Remus," Sirius matched his pace to Remus'. "What she said, about the hash, you should try it."

"For what? To scare away the Dementors? Or use it to make them brownies."

"For your furry problem, it would take the edge off. We can try putting some in a piece of chocolate. Take it with you, and right before you change you could eat it. It… it makes… well not that I would know, but it makes things… mellow. It takes away the fight."

"But you wouldn't know?" Remus called back over his shoulder as he headed up the stairs.

"No," Sirius laughed, "well, I haven't eaten it. But yeah, you know the whole smoke it thing."

Sirius fell on his knees as soon as they made it to the tower, pulling out the cannabis and a small pack of papers. "Bloody nice of her to bring the papers," Sirius looked up at Potter. "Parchment is too heavy."

Remus looked at Sirius and then at Potter, who shrugged his shoulders and held his palms up in a don't look at me stance. Kneeling down next to Sirius, he soon felt the other two join them.

Sirius rolled the cannabis expertly, twisting the ends of the paper and holding it up for approval. "Now, it's not like the cigars, you inhale it. Take it down into your lungs and hold your breath as long as you can before you let it out."

He lit it and took a deep drag, holding it out to Remus with a grin as he fought to keep his teeth clamped shut and the smoke in his lungs. Remus took it and held it gingerly, looking from it to Sirius.

"If I throw up I am aiming for your head." He sucked on the end and let the hot bittersweet smoke fill his lungs, surprised at the sting on his tongue and in the back of his throat. He held his breath as long as he could, when suddenly a warm gentle wave washed over him.

"Good one," Sirius slapped him on the back. "Sometimes ya got to do it a few times before your feel it."

"Feel what Mr. Black?" Moody stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest glaring down at the four boys.

"My goodness," Peter jumped up. "I'm late. I have to get going."

"Late?" Moody roared. "You aren't late boy, you're screwed!"

Remus watched as James and Peter scooted back and sat by the wall, following Moody's pointed finger. He found it funny that Potter had nothing clever to say and started to chuckle.

"Hey Black, ever think he would be speechless?" Remus said not even aware of Moody's angry glare.

Moody yanked Sirius and Remus up by their collars and pushed them hard, sending them into the wall. Then pulling his wand, he waited until Sirius moved and sent out another blast, slamming him back again.

"What's the matter, Black? Cat got your wand?" Moody quipped, blasting Sirius back again when he refused to stay still, then smirking as Black slid to the floor exhausted and sore from the struggle. "Okay, Lupin, your turn. I can see there is no way to reason with him."

"What I do?" Remus stood up to the old wizard, lifting his chin and planting his feet apart.

"You just killed your friend you bloody fool, what do you thing just happened? Black here couldn't even get his wand out of his pocket, couldn't even defend himself! Did you help? Did you step up to stop me? No? Why? I know you boy, I know you would have stepped in front of him and stopped me, but you didn't"

"Ah Moody, he wouldn't want to hurt you," Sirius grinned.

"Bloody fool is what you are." Moody bent over and swept up the cannabis and hash, sticking it in his pocket.

"Wasn't me that couldn't get his…"

"Shut up, Lupin. Your eyes are a dead give away right now. You want to walk down those stairs and have everyone know what you are. Bloody fools, thought better of you."

Remus fought to clear his head as he frowned at Moody. Reaching down he pulled Sirius up and turned back to the Auror. "It was my fault. They thought I could use it, during the change."

"What?" Moody thundered. "We don't need a stoned wolf running around the hills. You stupid no account… Black, you put any more ideas in his head and you will answer to me. He gets out after smoking or eating that and he will be running right up to some hunter. Just pull your wand and kill him, it's not as messy."

"I didn't…yeah, okay… I get it," Sirius hung his head meekly.

Remus snorted out a laugh and put his hand over his mouth seeing Moody's glare. "Sorry, I thought he was joking."

Moody reached in his pocket and pulled out a vial. "Here, one swallow should do it."

Remus drank, feeling the world slow down before he handed it to Sirius, who tipped it up and took two swallows before handing the bottle back to Moody.

"Sorry, Moody," Remus said with a sigh.

"Works a little quicker than mead, hey?" Moody chuckled.

Remus blanched as Sirius began to fidget.

"A bit," Remus said meeting Moody's eyes. "So, you knew about…"

"Course I did boy." He turned to Black. "Now we have a problem. That Umbridge bi…witch wants the castle searched. I wouldn't care if your arse got hung out to dry but we can't have him down there with his eyes dilated like that."

"I'll do it," Peter stood up and grinned as he started to pull off his robes. "I'll take it back and put it under the desk. Maybe she will think it fell."

"Umm, Peter… you know Auror Moody?" James swallowed hard watching as Peter continued to strip. "Peter… you're not registered."

Peter looked up from the ground, where he was in the process of pulling off his trousers. "Fuck."

Moody put his head back and laughed. "If Hogwarts survives you four I will be surprised but I am not sure Dumbledore will."