Disclaimer: Not mine.


His Calling

Chapter 42

Birthmarks and Distinguishing Features


"Is that her?" Black hung out the window and waved at Lucy who only looked at him coldly then tried to ignore him as she searched the windows.

"Wow." James pushed him back to take a look. "You said she was pretty but she's a knockout."

"Let me see," Lily quipped, shoving James to the side. "Oh…well, yeah. I guess."

James smiled and looked back over his shoulder at Remus who was already pulling down his knapsack from the overhead. "She's jealous."

"Am not," Lily huffed, swatting James' arm. "I guess she looks good if you like that kind."

"Your mum is here, Potter," Black muttered. "Tell her I have something to do. I'll make it to Godric's on my own."

Remus pulled open the compartment door, ran down the aisle, then jumped out onto the platform, scooping up Lucy and spinning her around.

"I missed you," he laughed.

"Did you?" She smiled up at him. "Could have fooled me. Not one letter."

"You forgot to give me your address and I wasn't sure…" he started to explain, and saw her grin. Without thinking, he leaned down and captured her mouth with his, grabbing her shoulders and holding her tightly.

"Woot! Way to go Lupin!" James called form where he now stood on the platform, and earned another slap on the back of his head from Lily.

"We should get out of here," Lucy whispered, looking beyond Remus' shoulder, seeing the smirks they were getting and hearing the laughter.

"Sorry." Remus swallowed hard, thinking she was mad at him, but was secretly proud to have just kissed her in public.

"For the kiss or the…never mind," she laughed, seeing him try to sputter out an answer.

They exited platform 9 ¾, finding Rhea and John waiting in the main lobby. Lucy shyly, stepped further away from Remus, seeing a look of disapproval in Rhea's eyes and feeling the tension that filled the air. She told Remus she had just happened to be in the city, and stammered a hasty goodbye, quickly leaving him to look after her as she all but fled from the station.

"What was that about?" Remus stepped back from Rhea, avoiding her hug.

"Things have changed," she muttered. "Where is your trunk?"

"I left it up at school. Mum, what happened?"

"Not now." John stepped forward and grabbed Remus' knapsack. "We have an appointment at the Ministry. Best get a move on. We can explain later."

"About me?" Remus asked, not attempting to move forward.

"Yes." John raised his eyebrow and peered at Remus, trying to judge the boy's reaction, but seeing only a calm flatness in his eyes. "We were told this morning. We didn't have time to warn you."

"So it starts."

"Yes." John said uncomfortably. "Are you okay boy?"

"Who told them?"

"We don't know, not for sure," Rhea stammered. "Who do you know that could have told them? Not your friends and we had the Headmaster's promise that the Snape boy wouldn't say anything."

"So, that leaves Lucy. Is that what this was all about?"

Rhea worried her lip and turned toward the way out hoping to find a taxi. "Come on, if we are late they could fine us more than they already have."

"Answer me… was it Lucy?" Remus felt his throat close and his hands start to tremble. He shoved them in his pockets, keeping his eyes lowered as he felt his tears begin.

John followed Rhea silently, leaving Remus' question hanging unanswered. He ran after them, grabbed John's shoulder and yanked him back, forcing him to look him in the face.

"I don't believe it. She wouldn't have done that," he pleaded, his voice cracking. "She just came to meet the train. If she turned me in she wouldn't have done that."

"We didn't say she did. We just know that someone did, someone close enough to know you. Someone that may have something to gain."

"What would she gain? You saw her! She came to see me home. What would she have to gain?!"

"Nothing, nothing but her uncle's farm and…"

"Rhea! We don't know who told," John thundered at Rhea. "You are grasping at straws, it could be anyone."

"Then why Lucy? Why blame her?"

"We will finish this at home," Rhea spat. "Let's get through this and then we can talk. Right now nothing is making sense."

"Your mum has a point," John muttered, raking his hand through his head. "We have to get there before they come to collect you. They will know the train is in."

Remus nodded glumly and followed them outside. Once they found a taxi, they sat silently, Rhea looking straight ahead, unseeing, afraid to talk for fear of bursting into tears. Remus picked up her hand and bought it to his lips, kissing it, he sat, not letting it go, willing her to relax, and praying that she was wrong.

As soon as they entered the lobby, Moody strode up to his left, leaving John walking on his right. They guided him to security where he had his wand weighed, catalogued and taken from him and a yellow badge, containing the letter W, pinned to his chest.

Remus swallowed hard and kept his eyes to the floor, aware of the stares he was getting, and aware that the space in front of him cleared as he walked forward with an Auror on either side, as if his very presence was a contamination.

"Doing good boy," Alastor muttered as the door to the lift opened. "Don't think about it."

Remus stepped forward to enter, stopped by John's arm. Waiting until the car was completely empty, they entered and let out a breath of relief as the door slid shut behind them.

"You are not allowed in confined spaces with civilians," John spat, unable to look at Remus, instead standing looking up at the small white numbers that indicated the floor they were descending to.

"Don't let it bother you," Moody tried to chuckle. "Aren't but a few witches I would want to be locked up with anyway. One up on floor four, one over at St. Mungo's and my witch."

"I don't think you would still have a witch of your own if you got locked up with the other two," Remus snorted. "Now that I think about it, I am surprised you have a witch at all."

"That's why I am in here with a wolf and the ugliest Auror I know. I make her feel sorry for me."

"I thought we had to go up to registration," Remus managed to choke out, nervously watching the floor indicator going down and not up.

"Werewolf Registration is … you are not allowed up there. Too many people," John said, finally able to lower his head and look at Remus. "Listen, everything I told you over the holidays is true. I thought it best not to worry you about the details."

"Nothing to worry about no how," Moody grumbled. "Just tell 'em what they want to hear and let it go. Try to bait you, they will…don't fall for it, don't get all uppity and know it all. Just be yourself and you'll do fine."

Remus nodded, hearing Moody's voice so sure and confident he knew he was lying. "Good try," he sniggered.

"Been practicing. Promised that mother of yours I wouldn't let you get all scared."

"Good, you had me worried there for a moment." Remus grinned as John rolled his eyes. "Don't worry about me. Bloody hell, what can they do to me anyway? Pass another law? Make my mum scare off my girlfriend?"

Moody reached out and slapped the emergency button, bringing the lift car to a sudden and complete halt. "Have you fucked her boy?"

"What?!" Remus sucked in his breath, and spun around to look at John, seeing him waiting for the answer as well.

"It's a capital offence," John said, watching Remus' reaction intently.

"They can cut them off if you did," Moody said darkly. "Now, you let me know fore I go opening this door down there."

"No," Remus sputtered. "She's not like that, and what the fuck do you mean they can cut them off?"

"Figure of speech." Moody reached over and set the car in motion again. "They use a sterilization spell the first time. Don't do any surgery until you are older and know how to counter the hex."

"Holy Merlin," Remus swallowed hard and looked up at the numbers, showing they were almost at the destination. "Dad?" Remus pleaded as the lift stopped. "I don't want to do this. He's joking, right?"

He felt John's hand on his back and felt the older wizard lean into his ear. "Remus, listen. It will be over sooner if you just don't fight it. We can get out of here and go home. All they can do today is fill out your registration and then send you to St. Mungo's for an exam."

"Where's Mum?"

"She isn't allowed down here."

"Come on boy," Moody quipped and stepped out, waiting for Remus to follow. "You've been through worse than this. I remember a man that gave up his life to get you this far and that witch up there buried him because of it. All you need to do is fill out some papers and let them give you a once over."

"Dad?"

"Right here," John said softly. "I can't take you the rest of the way."

"Dad? I…why…?"

"He broke the law hiding your arse, he has to see the cashier and pay up. Now, come on… we're late." Moody took off down the hall, leaving Remus to watch John step back into the lift, and the door close.

"In here." Moody opened a door and jerked his head to the room beyond it, then whispered urgently as Remus passed him in the doorway. "Don't fight 'em, lad. Don't let 'em get to you and no magic, whatever you do …no magic."

Remus stood in a green tiled room, devoid of furniture. The only fixture was a Muggle style bulb hanging from the ceiling, well beyond his reach. There was a door opposite the one he had entered, and confused if he should go forward, or wait where he was, he decided on the least frightful of his options and stayed put.

After a few moments, the far door opened and in walked a wizard in a white coat, and an assistant, wand at the ready, pointing it at the middle of Remus' chest. Remus' took an involuntary step backwards, putting his arms up, palms outward in the universal sign of surrender, blanching at the look on the young assistant's face.

"I don't have a wand," Remus said softly. "Really, you can put that down."

"Gordon," the wizard in the white coat spat. "I told you these things are smarter than most give them credit for. Now, put that thing down until we need it."

"You won't need it," Remus tried to joke it off, managing a sheepish grin.

"Better not wolf. Now, strip."

"Umm...What?"

"I said strip. You do understand English."

"Here? I thought I went to St. Mungo's for an exam."

"Do you see a changing room? No? Yes, right here."

"Umm," Remus swallowed hard and began to tug off his jumper. "Can I ask you why?"

"You can ask anything you want," he laughed.

"We ain't answering to your kind," Gordon snorted. "Right, doc?"

"You are a healer?" Remus asked the wizard in the white coat.

"Vet," he smirked. "Mr. Flannigan to you. Of course, you can call me Sir, Master… Your Lord…I hear your kind likes the Lord."

"No," Remus felt lightheaded as he finished pulling off his jumper and tossed it to the side.

"It's not a secret that you all work for him. We want to know what you know."

"Me? I…I don't know anything."

"I told you to strip."

"Sir, I…I was told I had to Register. Nothing in the directions said anything about a strip search."

"No? You can read?" He turned back to Gordon and raised an eyebrow. "How about that? He can read. Real scholar we have here."

"Yeah," Gordon snorted, "fucking waste if you ask me."

"Do it or we'll do it for you," Flannigan said flatly.

Remus clenched his jaw shut and thought of Moody standing outside of the door. The knowledge of the grizzled Auror watching over him gave him what he needed and he managed to strip and to stand naked in front of the two strangers.

"Turn, slowly." Flannigan pulled out his wand and summoned a clipboard. Taking notes on what he saw, he told Remus to stop as he examined the bite mark, measured the dimensions, and drew a sketch of what he saw. "Must have been young. So you weren't born this way? Some bitch didn't push you out?"

Remus shut his eyes and fought not to respond, continued turning, finally returning to the position in which he had started.

"No birthmarks," Flannigan muttered, making a note on the clipboard. "Only distinguishing feature…bite mark, shoulder…nothing extraordinary. Gordon… get the marker."

Remus squatted down to pick up his boxers and trousers, stopped by Flannigan's sharp command to remain standing. Feeling exposed and humiliated, Remus bit back tears and rose to his feet, again standing still. He watched as Gordon left the room and waited, not knowing what was coming next. All too soon, Gordon re-entered the room carrying a long, thin metal stick that twisted into a circle with the letter W in the middle.

Recognising a branding iron, he stepped back, trembling and afraid. He darted to the door behind him, yelling for Moody, tugging on the knob, and cursing. Finding the door warded, he turned in time to see Gordon pull back his arm, his fingers curled into a fist.

He woke alone, sprawled out on the floor, a sharp pain radiating from his inner thigh. Groaning and rubbing his jaw, he sat up and spread his legs to inspect the small brand, high on inside of his leg. He reached out for his clothes and struggled into them, pulling the fabric away from the small mark the best he could. Hissing as he stood, he staggered, almost falling, before regaining his balance.

The door beyond was open. Without thinking, he limped into the next room and found a table and chair. On the table was his registration form. He sat and completed the questionnaire, and watched it magically disappear when he attached his signature, and then laying his head on the table, he tried to think but soon lost the fight as he slipped back to sleep.

The sound of heels on the tile floor brought his head up quickly. Licking his lips, he brought his hands up and scrubbed his face.

"Mr. Lupin," the Headmaster said softly. "This part of your registration is over. You are safe now."

"What are you… how …" Remus tried to focus on the voice, unable to make out the Headmaster's features.

"They drugged you." He scowled, his voice belying his calm. "Did you at anytime fight them? Honesty is important here, Mr. Lupin."

"I… I remember…," he whispered, looking up and finding Albus' eyes. "They branded me. Like an animal."

"Mr. Lupin, did you fight them?"

"No, I ... I don't think… I wanted to leave, I wanted to get out…I tried to get out," his voice cracked and he felt hot tears of shame course down his face. "He hit me…I don't think I …no I didn't … they branded me."

"They had no right to question you without a solicitor."

"Wolves don't qualify for one." Remus tried to stand only to fall back into the chair. "Remember? Only humans are granted that privilege."

"Until you are registered you are still human. They branded you prior to that."

"What does it matter?" Remus spat.

"It matters, Mr. Lupin, in the fact that they did not follow procedure. It matters in the fact that we fight them every inch of the way. It matters that we make it as hard as we can for them to do this, and it matters that they see you a human, as what and who you are. Now, follow me."

Remus shook his head and pulled himself up by the edge of the table, took two steps and landed face down on the floor. "Fuck."

"Yup, Albus…that's the one." Moody stomped into the room and yanked Remus' head up by the hair, quickly gave him a wink and let his head fall again.

"You drugged my client, Mr. Flannigan. In doing so you have nullified these proceedings." Albus clasped his hands behind his back and peered over his glasses.

"He is a werewolf, and as such will not be one of your…your causes Albus."

"He will very much be one of my causes, as will all those who need a place in this world. Now, I am removing the child and…"

"Child? That thing is a cold-blooded killer. He will rip out your throat and eat you for lunch! His kind should be exterminated, not coddled!"

Moody pulled Remus to his feet and started walking him to the door, supporting his weight and muttering about fools and their arses. Remus felt his stomach lurch and fought not to vomit.

"Stop," he panted. "Let me down."

Moody lowered him to the floor before lifting one eyelid and studying Remus' face. "What did they give you?"

"I don't know."

"Albus," Moody called back over his shoulder. "Better hurry on."

Albus hurried over to the pair, his robes rustling and disturbing the air around Remus who sucked in his breath as a blurred vision of stars and crescents swirled in front of him.

"Pick him up, Alastor, we need to return to Hogwarts," he said evenly. "I will meet you there, I have unfinished business. If Poppy is in doubt she may check with Hagrid. I fear it is an animal tranquilizer."

"I couldn't get to him. Him all calling me and yelling at the door and the sons of bitches warding me out," Moody muttered, picking up the now unconscious boy and hefting him over his shoulder. "Thanks for coming, Albus."

"His parents?"

"In the Lobby. His mum is hysterical and Dawlish is threatening to call the Daily Prophet."

"Go," Albus turned back at the vet scowling.

Remus woke in the Hogwarts infirmary the next morning. He had a splitting headache and a thirst that he could not quench. Finishing off his third glass of pumpkin juice, and downing another glass of water he sighed and swung his legs over the side of the bed, wincing at the sharp pain he felt on his inner thigh.

Pulling his waist band out he tried to see if the blistering burn was getting worse or starting to heal when he heard Madam Pomfrey's tisking.

"It won't heal if you keep poking at it."

"I'm not, but it hurts like hell."

"Fools," she spat. "Even when you brand a calf a good vet takes away the pain. It is but a little spell. I am sure one Hagrid will know."

"Not a chance," Remus muttered, standing up and looking around for his clothes. "My mum has an old vet wand. I'll do it myself."

"Oh no, you get back in that bed. The Headmaster put himself out on a limb for you. You at least owe him the courtesy of waiting for him before you go running off."

"Not now." He dressed in front of her, not caring if she saw him naked one more time, only anxious to get out of there. He started to run through the infirmary and down the hall, hearing his footfalls echo against the silent stones. His breath caught in his throat and his vision blurred through his tears. He reached the gates and apparated, landing hard, falling on his knees and sobbing, crying hard, remembering the last time he had felt this.

"Tiffany," he sobbed aloud, confusing Lucy's face with Tiffany's name. He knew that he would risk her life if he saw her again, and knew that if he did not, he would lose his own. He lifted his head and looked up at the darkening sky, wishing for a full moon to take away his mind, wanting to forget and run free, to feel the cool grass under his feet and to know, just to know that the wolf was in control.

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