Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 49

Moving Too Fast

Remus paced in his rooms, too upset to read and unable to sleep. Normally the day after the full moon he only wanted to sleep, but today every time he closed his eyes he heard the screams that had come from the barn and smelled the wolves feeding on blood. He wanted to get a Daily Prophet and see if he could find any mention of a missing witch but had heard the Headmaster's unspoken warning not to leave the castle. When he could no longer take the silence of his room, he grabbed his robes and left, angry with Albus and no longer caring, he headed to Hogsmeade.

Rosmerta didn't like the day before Christmas. She rose early, unable to sleep and started to bake, filling the Inn with smells of yeast and cinnamon. Today she doubted that more than a handful of guests would stop in, even with the holiday close at hand, people were staying indoors as more and more went missing. She heard the bell over the door and smirked, knowing that no matter what the weather or how bad the times Aberforth would he here for his morning meal. Glancing at the clock, she wiped her hands on the apron and went out to greet him.

"Eating in here today," Abe grumbled as he stalked into the kitchen and took a stool at the counter. "No point walking back and forth just for me."

"Business down that much at your place?" she asked, levitating the teapot and two cups in front of him.

"Nah, will always be drunks looking for the next drink." Aberforth held his cup in both hands as if to warm himself in the already too hot kitchen.

They both looked at the back door as Remus came in, stomping snow off his shoes and trying to grin. "Thought I would stop in and see if you have any work that needs doing."

"Remus?" Rosmerta hurried to him, grabbing his face with one hand and yanking it to each side. "Now what have you been up to? Don't tell me Poppy let you out like this. My gods, child, someone sees those eyes and…"

"Leave him alone," Aberforth commanded. "He ain't his brother."

She dropped her hand and turned to the oven, hiding her face in the pretence of checking on the sweet rolls.

"I can come back," Remus said, backing up to the door. "I was wondering, though, if you have today's Prophet."

"Out front," Rosmerta said, turning back to him. "Go ahead, I have enough to feed the whole town, you may as well eat."

"Thanks," he muttered, going into the dining hall and finding the paper. He pushed his food around, unable to eat, reading the paper from front to back, looking for some mention of the missing witch although he knew that unless she had been taken earlier in the day it would be too soon.

"Remus?" Rosmerta put her hand on his shoulder, pulling him back from his concentration. "I could use some help taking this stuff down to St. Mungo's. I have way too much and figure they can always use it for their…"

"No," Remus stood quickly, remembering Rhea did the same thing each year. "I think I'll head back up to school. I could use the study time."

Shoving his hands in his pockets, he started the walk back to the castle, his eyes watching the pavement, deep in thought. As he was passing the Hogs Head, he saw a group of men standing outside, complaining that the pub hadn't opened yet. He thought about telling them that Aberforth was down at Rosmerta's when he looked up and saw Greyback.

Stepping back into the doorway of Honeydukes, he watched and tried to burn their image into his brain. Not one looked familiar, not one wore robes and not one had so much as a decent pair of shoes. Greyback was dressed in wizard's robes, the rest in the clothes of plain workers.

Remus pressed back into the doorway as far as he could and still see the men. He saw what looked like the youngest of the group looking up and down the road, pointing out things to the others and laughing. A Muggle, Remus thought, but then wondered how he could see the magical place that should be hidden from his eyes. The longer he stood and watched, the more convinced he became and finally when Aberforth came, and let them in for a drink and the warmth of the fire, he stepped out of the shadows, pulling his hood over his head, and hurried back up the hill. He needed to see Dumbledore and if he had to, force him into doing something.

"We can't be sure they are werewolves. There could be a number of reasons they were in town with Greyback," Albus argued.

"They are Muggles. I know that as sure as I am sitting here. They can see it…they can see everything. It's because they are magical creatures now. Headmaster…I am sure of it. More sure than I have been about anything."

"Will you allow me to have your memories?" Albus asked stalking to one of his glass display cases and collecting a vial.

"If I have your promise that…"

"My promise? You overstep your bounds, Mr. Lupin." The Headmaster said evenly.

"I…I'm sorry sir, but if you had been there, if you had heard her…I can't pretend it didn't happen."

"No one is asking you to. We must make sure that they are as you say, and if there are more we need to find them as well." He set the vial down on the desk and pulled his wand, turning to Remus.

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Remus spent the rest of the holidays in the library or walking alone outside. At meal times he sat as far away from the other students as possible and avoided all conversations, feeling older and no longer worried about the coming exams or who was dating who and why. Twice he saw Lucius Malfoy on the grounds, each time with one of the seventh-year Slytherins and only stepped back into the shadows to watch.

When an owl came during the morning meal and dropped a letter in front of Remus, he was surprised to see to it was from Lucy. Ripping open the envelope, he eagerly read the short note, telling him she would be in London the coming day. He leaned back in his chair and frowned, then looked up to the dais where Albus sat watching him closely. He nodded to the old man and left the Great Hall, going directly to the Headmaster's office where he was soon joined by Dumbledore.

"Look at this," Remus said, shoving the note at Albus. "It's not from her. I know its not. She would never send an owl here, and she would never tell me she was going to be in London like this."

"Do you recognise the handwriting?" Albus studied the missive in the light by the window.

"No, but…no…I just know…she wouldn't…she wouldn't word it that way…not as if she were just coming for the shopping and say we could meet for tea…its not like her."

Albus studied his face and nodded, walked to the floo and fell to his knees, speaking softly and giving orders to someone to travel to Germany to check on Miss Spencer. Standing up slowly, he turned back to Remus, waving him to the desk.

"We will know shortly if she is well. I am also taking the liberty of assigning someone to watch her," Albus said, peering over his glasses. "Do not alarm yourself. She will have no knowledge of it."

"What about the letter?"

"We have no way of…"

"Not that, I think I should show up and see who sent it, and if it's a trap we can turn it on him."

"That would be most unwise, Mr. Lupin. However, as to our previous problem I have discovered the identity of the poor unfortunate woman you encountered last night." Albus pushed a copy of a Ministry report across the desk.

"That's her," Remus tapped the picture paper clipped to the report as his eyes scanned the form, "she looked older, but I know that was her."

"An old student of mine," Albus sighed deeply. "She had been missing from her home for two weeks before the incident."

"Two weeks?" Remus swallowed hard. "She must have known what they planned."

"Yes, I imagine Greyback would have delighted in her fear."

"I'm going to London. With or without your approval," Remus said, softly, running the pad of his thumb over the face in the picture. "She at least deserves that much."

"The one thing has nothing to do with the other."

"I think it may," Remus frowned. "I could tell the difference in each man's smell. With a little practice, I think I could identify them by it. If they smelled me, and I am sure they could, it wouldn't be hard to think they could tell who I was."

Albus sat quietly, considering what Remus had just said before nodding his head and leaning forward. "Many of the unfortunates that find themselves with your disability have left this world, finding it easier to live with Muggles. A great number of Muggles have also been infected, more so as of late."

"So, it is possible that someone I've come across recognized me, and if he did…he knows where I live."

"Rhea will be moved before the day is out," Albus said, standing. "For now I want you to retire to your rooms. If you are going on a trip tomorrow, I want you well rested. Understand, Mr. Lupin, that you will have an escort."

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The next morning found Remus walking through the shops at Piccadilly Square, watching not the goods in the windows, but the passers-by and sales assistants. He had been at it an hour when he heard familiar laughter and found James and Sirius in the next aisle, browsing though the latest record albums.

"Fancy this," he said quietly, standing behind them and looking over their shoulders.

"Blimey, Moony," James laughed, slapping him on the shoulder. "What are the chances of us all getting free at the same time. You are brilliant?"

"I thought you two were in hiding," Remus asked, looking around for someone watching them, feeling uncomfortable.

"Mum thinks we are in Diagon picking up a few things for school," James laughed. "When we got your letter we couldn't just pass it up."

"My…there was no letter. We need to get out of here," Remus yanked James' arm and pulled him towards the exit. "Where's Wormtail?"

"He owled, he can't make it until later," Sirius said, following behind. "He should be there any minute now."

"Where?" Remus demanded as he pushed open the door and they stepped out to the busy street.

"The Cauldron. Hey, come on now, it's you that was late," James complained, pulling away from Remus. "What the fuck climbed up your arse?"

"Listen," Remus said, running his hand through his hair, desperately searching the crowd on the sidewalk for one of the Order members. "We've been set up. You two get the fuck out of here. I'll find Peter."

"We'll go with you," James said firmly.

"No," Sirius said nervously, "Come on Prongs, you need to get home. I'll go with him."

"Not alone," Remus cautioned. "James, let him go with you. It's a fair way to the apparation point."

"He's right, Prongs," Sirius said, sliding his hand in his pocket, fingering his wand.

Remus watched them disappear into the crowd as he continued searching for whomever Albus had sent to watch him, finally seeing Arthur Weasley leaning against a building looking back at him. He nodded at Remus and put a finger to his lips, then looked toward where James and Sirius had disappeared, indicating, with another nod, Frank Longbottom who was sauntering after them.

Feeling somewhat better, Remus turned to make his way to the Leaky Cauldron, knowing it could take longer than he had.

"Got a taxi waiting," Moody's voice cut into his thoughts as he grabbed Remus' arm and he yanked him to the curb. "Not much of a candidate for the Order if I can walk up on you unnoticed."

"We have to get to Peter, he is at the Cauldron," Remus said in a rush.

"Nope, Alice is picking him up as we speak." Moody opened the back door of the taxi and pushed him in. "You know what's going on?"

"No…I got a letter…I was supposed to meet someone here. I know it's a ruse, but…they all got one. I talked to the Headmaster about it."

"That Pettigrew kid, Potter's Mum saw his owl and got hold of the letter. Suspicious she was, good thing that."

"Who would want the four of us together? I mean, if someone meant harm, wouldn't it make more sense to pick us off by ourselves?"

"Don't know about that," Moody grumbled as the taxi sped away. "We got a stop to make. Now you just wait till I explain before you go getting all upset."

Remus snapped his head up to the front, looking out the windscreen and saw the driver veer to the left whereas he knew the way to the Cauldron and they would have normally have gone to the right.

"The Ministry? You are taking me to the fucking Ministry?"

"Yup," Moody leaned back and scowled at Remus. "I call it that myself sometimes but your Mum hears that and I don't care how all grown up you think you are…"

"The Headmaster said she was going to be hidden…"

"She is lad," Moody sighed. "Don't go worrying about her now. You need to know what's going to happen when we get there..."

This time the Ministry was much more careful with their procedures. Making sure that a Healer from St. Mungo's was present for the examination, they did not send him away until the papers were signed and filed, and Remus' birth certificate changed to reflect his new status as creature. At that point, Remus was informed that as a non-human he could no longer seek medical care at St. Mungo's and was given a list of vets that he could see for any injuries.

They led him to a small windowless office where they gave him a pamphlet that contained the rules werewolves were under, and sat in one of its two chairs as a clerk nervously read aloud. He watched as she squirmed on the chair across the table from him, occasionally lifting her eyes to meet his and was sure he saw her sympathy.

He reached across the table and laid his hand on hers. "You don't have to do this. I know the rules and I could read that myself."

"I am sorry," she whispered, looking at the closed door nervously. "This is wrong. I am so sorry."

"It's okay," he said softly, finding it strange that he should want to reassure her. "It's nothing I wasn't expecting."

"Mr. Lupin," she whispered, leaning forward. "Don't lose your temper. Please. Your file has a note about last time and if you do it again…if you do it again they can…they can restrain you."

"I know," he chuckled.

"It's not funny," she said seriously. "There are those that want all werewolves exterminated."

Remus stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Are we done?"

"Yes." She stood and nodded, handing him a form. "Have your sponsor sign this. It just says he or she will be responsible for you during your transformations."

He folded it and put it in his pocket as she told him his wand would be waiting at the rear entrance and that he was no longer allowed to use the visitor entrance in the front. After slowly walking to the back hallway, he followed the signs to the entrance she had spoken of, aware of the wizards that averted their eyes as if ashamed to look at him, and the ones that openly stared, tossing out rude remarks, not caring that he heard.

A big beefy man sat next to the door, a box of wands thrown haphazardly into a box next to his feet. Grabbing one, he tossed it to Remus with a smirk, informing him that since he was not human the wand would not matter. Remus stood calmly, and lifted his hand, muttering a quiet Accio as his wand flew up and smacked against the palm of his hand.

He stood up straight and tucked his wand into his waistband, lifted his chin and nodded curtly to the guard before pushing the door open and stepping out into the sun. Stopping, he lifted his head to the sky and welcomed the cold as he breathed heavily with closed eyes, calming his nerves and making certain that he did not let full light into his pupils. He smiled as he began to walk back to Diagon Alley, thinking of Rhea and all the years of training she had drilled into him, knowing he would not have survived if she had not.