Disclaimer: Not mine.

His Calling

Chapter 52

Becoming More

Remus used the sights he had seen along the train tracks to apparate back to the coast. Once there, he waited until dark and crossed the water, landing in Dover both depressed and exhausted. What little money he had saved he used to splurge on a meal in a real Muggle restaurant. Walking, until he could go no further, he took a jog off the road and found a plot of ground protected by bushes where he laid down for what was left of the night. Twice he woke as sounds form the road became too loud to sleep though and long before dawn, he was again on his way. First apparating to Diagon and then up to Hogwarts he made the walk from the gates up to the Headmaster's office.

"Headmaster? Do you have a moment?"

"Mr. Lupin, what a surprise." Albus leaned back in this chair, peering over his spectacles at Remus. "I thought you would be enjoying your freedom from our rules. Imagine my surprise when your signature took down the wards on the main gate. As a former student, you are of course welcomed, however you need to be cautious as your presence here may also be traced. During the summer, you need not worry. However, when students here, the new regulations will keep you from being in close vicinity to the young."

"I saw Lucy," he admitted, sitting down opposite Albus at the desk, choosing to ignore a discussion about laws and restrictions. "She took me to her mother's place in the mountains. I…"

"You must be careful. I know you are aware to the restrictions that have been placed on you concerning travel."

"As I was saying…her mother is not what you think. I recognised a distinct odour. It was faint… and no doubt old…sir, Greyback has been there. There are others I …"

"Could you tell how long ago this occurred?"

"No. It is a small cabin. Two rooms and a loo. One bedroom and a common room for cooking and living. According to Lucy it's been closed up for over a year, but it is possible her mother has been there since and she just doesn't know about it."

"Could you discern any others?"

"Other then her mother and Greyback …there were others…but faint…older…I don't think I could recognise them again. There's a shed there that's being used. I think you can guess for what. One other thing…the cabin is well stocked. Even Lucy was surprised and the amount of tins in the cupboards."

"What else?" Dumbledore leaned back tiredly.

"Lucy has not seen her mother for over two months. I believe her, and I believe she has no idea of what the shed is used for. Lucy can't make it to the cabin on her own. Headmaster, if someone were to ask me where Greyback's safe place is…I would say start looking there."

"When was the last time you visited the woods on your monthly forays?"

"Two months," Remus muttered, looking down at his lap, knowing that two months ago would have still had him under strict orders not t do so. "There is something else, Headmaster. Lucy said she has written to me once a week since term started last year. I did not receive one. Her owls are being intercepted. "

"I want you to contact Mr. Moody. He will be training you." Albus opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a Muggle ballpoint pen. "Carry this with you at all times. It will not raise undue attention if you are detained by the Ministry but will bring you to a safe place in case of an attack or injury. Use it only if you must, Mr. Lupin."

"Train me?" Remus left the pen on Albus' desk, making a point to push it back. "I won't use it. Any place I hide I will be putting someone else at risk. I'd rather take my chances."

"Moody is certain of your individual duelling skills, and thanks to John and Rhea you work well in pairs. However, if you are to join us, I must be assured you will be able to work well in a battle."

Remus remembered the fight on the hill outside of his mother's house, and the almost fatal error John had made. Nodding that he understood he made his way out of the office and headed back to the gates. From there he apparated to Hogsmeade, planning to sleep in Rosmerta's bloody cellar if he must.

"You look like shite," Rosmerta commented as he walked in the backdoor and slumped into one of the kitchen chairs. "Out of school not a whole summer and you look this bad I hate to think what you will be like a year from now."

"I am starving," he grinned. "I thought my girl would fix me up with something to eat and give me a bed for a few hours for which I will scrub floors like a Muggle if she wants."

"After you shower. You don't come in here looking like that and expect a hand out and to climb on my clean sheets. Off with you now. Use any room on the third floor."

"Thanks." He headed up stairs hearing her call out to him to throw his clothes in the hall so she could clean them and to stop banging his heels against the risers.

Once he had showered and found clean clothes setting out on the bed, his old ones already picked up from the hall, he climbed into bed naked and was asleep before he had time to think of anything more than how utterly exhausted he was. Not only did he sleep through lunch, but tea as well and only woke to Rosmerta's hand on his forehead the next morning.

"You are burning up," she announced. "Bloody hell boy, where've you been?"

"I just need to sleep," he croaked, his throat raw and sore.

"Sleep? It's already tomorrow. How long have you been feeling poorly?"

"Since you woke me." He pushed her hand away and sat on the edge of the bed, dragging the sheet with him to drape around his waist. "I'll be fine. I just need a minute."

"You need a…potion…I'll…" she stammered, trying to think of who could help.

"I won't see a vet," he spat, pulling a blanket over his shoulders. "Just let me rest. I left my wand in my trousers and it's bloody cold in here."

"Wait here," she stood and frowned at him. "Do I have your word you won't leave?"

He shot her a glare before rolling back to the bed and pulling the blankets snugly around him. He fell asleep again, waking up when a breeze of cold air washed over his body and the sound of Moody's voice called his name.

"Bloody hell, man," he sputtered, reaching for the sheet. "Leave me some decency."

"What he say?" Moody turned to Rosmerta frowning.

"Don't know. Sounds worse than he did earlier. See what I mean? Sounds like he's trying to talk around a mouth full of mush and he has that rash. "

"Bring up a pot of tea," Moody said, digging a vial from his pocket. "This should fix him right up. Healer said tastes right nasty and he should have plenty of fluids once it goes down."

"I'll bring up something he can swallow. I have pea soup made up."

Moody helped Remus sit up and poured the vile tasting concoction down his throat. "Didn't know exactly what you have so this is sort of a one cure for all."

"Remus?" John Dawlish said from the doorway as he pushed Moody aside and hugged Remus warmly, then sat on the edge of the bed, slapping him on the back. "This old fool here said this was official Ministry business and he needed a backup. Told them Rosmerta had a guest that wouldn't pay up that I knew from way back. Merlin, you look like bloody hell."

Remus put his hand to his throat feeling the pain slip away. "Mum? How is she doing?"

"Missing you and worried. She…I can't tell you where she is. We set her up in a safe house. I'm sorry lad, but it had to be done. Moody here is trying to set up a meeting…you need to be patient." John reached out and ruffled Remus' hair. "I know, I shouldn't be doing that any more…damn its good to see you son. We heard about your grades and your mum is still dancing on the ceiling. She is proud of you and wants me to tell you how proud Anthony would be."

"Thanks," Remus muttered, yanking the sheet closer. "I need to get dressed."

"Remus?" John frowned up at Moody, not sure why Remus did not seem pleased they were there.

"If they send someone else Ro will be hauled in. I have to get out of here," Remus muttered in way of explanation.

"He's right," Moody spat, tossing Remus his clothes and standing out of the way as the younger wizard made it to the loo.

"You need to rest and get some food in you before you go rushing off." John talked to the closed door to the loo.

"I feel better," Remus yelled out. "Nothing some food won't fix."

"Talked to Albus, I did." Moody shouted.

"Yeah?" Remus opened the door and stood buttoning up his shirt.

"Says your arse is mine for a time."

"Didn't think you were that kind, Moody. John? Why didn't you ever tell me about his…"

"Don't you go talking like that boy. I'll have you know that I…"

"That's enough," John said laughing.

"What happened to your eye?" Remus said, a smile playing on his mouth. "Someone's husband catch you peeking in the keyhole?"

"Getting a new one," Moody grumbled, tugging his eye patch further down. "Got someone working on a right nice one."

"Someone is making you an eye? I hope it's not the same person that made that old leg you had so much trouble with."

"Damned Healers said nothing they can do."

Remus looked at John, saw his shrug and slight shake of his head, and knew it was a closed subject. "Sorry, Moody."

"Remember this." He lifted the patch and showed Remus his empty eye socket, pleased to see the grimace on his face. "Never go off with fools that think they can fight because they haven't spelled off their own foot yet. You make sure you know who has your back. You hear me? And you make damned sure to keep your partner's back. You forget that and you'll be at the end of my wand."

"That scar on your cheek, you get that at the same time?" Remus asked innocently as John let out a bark of laughter.

"None of that," Moody muttered. "She said she wasn't married."

"Good, Merlin, Moody. You keep this up and I'll be visiting you in a jar up on Andromeda's shelf. There isn't much left they can take off." He smirked at looked down at the front of Moody's trousers. "Course if you lost something else it may bode well for the rest of your parts."

"Remus, we have some…training situations set up." John started quickly before Moody had time to toss a response. "Different settings, different…problems that you'll encounter. Gideon and Fabian will be helping, as will Arthur Weasley and…do you remember Frank?" John waited until he saw Remus' nod. "He and his wife will be helping out as well. You will meet the rest in time."

"Before we start you need to head back up to Hogwarts and tell that old gimp to swear you in," Moody grumbled. "He makes the rules then tosses 'em out when he don't want to use 'em"

"We'll contact you as soon as we are ready. Don't go running off where we can't find you," John said, heading for the door, stepping aside as Rosmerta carried in a tray.

"I don't know where I'll be yet…No, Ro, I'll stop in from time to time…but I won't stay here."

He ate his lunch and drank the second vial Moody had left, listening to Rosmerta's warning about sleeping on the cold damp ground and not eating. She rolled up a blanket and shrunk it down, tucked it into his pocket and chided him on not using proper spells. They both knew any spell he cast could be traced, and that unless he really needed something he would leave his wand in his pocket. Once done, he gave her a hug and set off to talk to the Headmaster.

His training was brutal. Moody did not spare him and if asked, Remus would have said he had in fact made it harder, often putting him as the lead and not the back up where new members belonged. Moody set up scenarios in which members of the Order, unknown to Remus, were the enemy and already in place as the Order apparated in, duelling even before the full contingency of the Order had arrived.

It was in Andromeda's yard that what could go horribly wrong was driven home. He had arrived with Moody, four mock Death Eaters already in place. The only information they had was that a Muggle family had been attacked and the cry for help had gone out to the Order. Remus' feet touched down with Moody at his back, knowing no other back ups were available, and it would be two against four. Not a good thing in a normal fight, but going in blind without knowing the location of the four was dangerous and often fatal.

Suddenly a fifth Death Eater opened the back door and called out, causing Remus to spin and shoot off a hex so fast he did not register, until too late, that the Death Eater held a small pink haired child by the hand that was yanked around and used as a shield. The yard was suddenly quiet, as the mock Death Eaters took off their masks and put away their wands.

"You teach him better or keep him home," Marlene said in disgust.

"What the fuck you doing boy? Working for the monster! Fuck it all! Few more like you and we may just as well roll over and queue up to have our balls cut off," Moody yelled, making even the other Order members cringe.

"Sorry," Remus muttered, looking at Nymphadora who happily held out her hand and ran off with the shiny galleon that Dorcas Meadowes had dropped in her hand for playing her part.

"Sorry would still have killed a child," Alice said calmly. "Moody, do it again, and again after that. If he is too thick headed to learn by that time take him home."

The second time Remus was watching for the child, each time he raised his wand he hesitated and let a curse hurl out of the Death Eaters wand, putting the entire squad in danger. Moody raged at him, and pushed him to the other side, making Frank take his place to demonstrate.

"First boy, look around. You are at a private residence. You have to assume there are Muggles and children, it comes with the territory." Frank explained as he took up position in front of Moody. "Second, it's the surprise you are after…not the kill. Not when other lives are in danger. If we were on a battlefield you throw to kill…here…you throw to stop…to stop them and get the civilians out. It's enough to throw them off their feet, surprise them, make them leave."

Frank nodded to Moody that he was ready and the two began again. Frank heard a noise, and saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, without turning to see who was there, he tossed out a spurt of water hard enough to knock the Death Eater and child to the ground. Remus smiled to see Andromeda scream and sputter, slapping the mock Death Eaters hand and kicking her in the shins.

"I get two for that!" she huffed to the laugher that followed the display. "You didn't say I'd get all wet! Mum's going to be right pissed."

"Here," Remus squatted down in front of her and used a drying spell. "Guess it's my fault anyway."

"You need a shave." The little girl reached out and ran her hand up his cheek, raking against the stubble of his beard. "Mum shaves Dad and even Mr. Moody. He has scars on his face, see? Mum says if she cuts him, it can't make him look worse but she does it real good and only cuts a little. You want me to ask her to fix you up so you don't look so bad too?"

"Umm, no…that's okay," Remus said uncomfortably, looking up at Moody. "You really need to get a hobby, Moody. She's been around you too much."

"Nymphadora!" Her mother stood in the door calling her in for lunch. "Remus? Remus Lupin? As I live and breathe..."

"It's been a while." He stood and greeted her.

"I should say." Andromeda hurried across the yard and gave him a hug before scolding Moody. "Why didn't you tell me who you were training today? And you, Remus, get into the house and get something to eat. You look like someone moved out of that jacket."

"I…not today," he said to the sounds of apparation as the rest of the Order members left, leaving only him and Moody behind. "You need to talk to Moody here before you invite me in."

"Whatever are you…Alastor?"

"You sure boy? It's your call."

Remus looked up to the house and saw the little pink haired girl holding open the door and waving to him, remembering the last conversation he'd had in the kitchen. "Yeah, yeah I think it's time. And, Moody, the Headmaster says there is a meeting tonight. Tell him…tell him to speak to the Order…tell them everything…I won't join until it's voted on. They deserve to know."

"Some may not…"

"I know, but they have to know, they have to trust me." He turned back and studied the grizzled wizard's face. "I won't ask any one to die defending my back that wants me dead and I won't have anyone breaking one of those bloody laws not knowing it. They have the right to know…and to refuse to fight with me. But Moody, let them know that with them or without them, I am going after Greyback."

"Greyback? Not by yourself! Better than you have tried that and only lived long enough to run into the woods with that beast," Andromeda scowled. "Alastor, tell him what happens if he tries this foolishness."

"Can't nothing happen to him that hasn't already been done woman."

She turned and studied Remus, her hand at her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. "Oh my gods, Remus…no."

"I'll be…"

"You'll be going no place," she whispered, stepping close to him and pulling him into a hug. "I should have guessed. I should have known. I always wondered why Rhea never kept in touch, why they lived out on that damned farm on land no on else wanted. I should have known when Sirius brought you here that first time. He always was bringing home stray animals."

Remus pulled back enough to lean down and kiss her cheek chuckling. "I'm not sure how you meant that about I think I'll let it go for now."

"I…" she stammered…"I meant nothing by it, Remus. Truly."

"You once said that werewolves were…"

"I was once two years old and pissed my knickers. Are you going to hold that against me too?"

Remus let out a bark of nervous laughter and saw Nymphadora standing in the door waving her hands and jumping up and down, her hair a flaming mass of vibrant reds and yellows.

"Oh good, Merlin," Andromeda hissed, starting up to the house, dragging Remus by the hand. "She wants me to sort you out."

"Umm, Moody?" Remus followed Andromeda reluctantly, calling back over his shoulder.

"I never argue with a witch, learned my lesson." Moody rubbed his left ear, a small smile playing on his face as he turned and walked away, leaving Remus at the mercy of Andromeda and a pink haired kid that wanted him shaved.

As Remus sat in the kitchen, his face covered with lather and a pink towel draped around his shoulders, Andromeda gave him a Muggle shave, instructing him on how to avoid the scars and how to hold the old-fashioned straight edge razor. Nymphadora leaned her elbows on the table, her heads resting in her hands studying his face.

"Look better kid?" He chuckled when he was done.

"No." She shook her head and wrinkled her nose.

"Sit back down and let her trim that hair." Ted laughed as he came into the room. "Sorry I didn't make the practice. How'd it go?"

"Flunked, he did. I got kilt three times and only paid for two," Nymphadora summed it up before her mother shooed her off to bed.

Ted scowled and sat down as Andromeda began cutting, going over the practices step by step and drilling him on standard procedures, coming up with examples and keeping at it well into the night. Finally, not being able to think clearly, Remus stood to go, only then realizing what Ted had done.

"Thanks," he grinned. "At least I can stop worrying about the meeting. It should be over by now."

"Remus, some of the members were turned down twice before they were accepted. Don't take it as an insult if they think you are too young, or too inexperienced."

"Or too much of a wolf?"

"That too," Ted admitted. "I am afraid there is that too. It is wrong, but not at wrong as saying nothing and then leaving you to fend for yourself if the battle gets rough. Everyone has to trust the others, trust with no hesitation, no thought as to it. Not just say it aloud because its right…they have to mean it. Albus even spells the ballots if it gets down to the final passage. Tonight should be just a show of hands."