"Alright, class, don't forget to meet here in the astronomy tower at midnight to witness the very rare full moon eclipse, but make sure to use the inside stairwell, do not go outside." said Professor Estrella to the class. "It is mandatory for your grade, anyone absent will have to do a very lengthy make up assignment." He added.
Remus groaned, usually he would already be with Madame Pomphrey, but he had to explain to the professor that he would be absent. He wore black sunglasses and every noise pained him.
"Class dismissed." Professor Estrella said.
"Professor, may we have a word?" Remus asked pained.
"Por supuesto!, anything for my best student." the Professor said gleefully. Estrella looked up and noticed Remus's aviator sunglasses and general discomfort. "Are you feeling alright, Remus?"
"No, that's what I have to talk to you about. I'm leaving in a few minutes to a muggle doctor that treats my severe migraine disorder once a month. Here's my note from Professor McGonagall." Remus said trying to be as convincing as possible. Estrella squinted his eyes in confusion.
"Ah, yes, I remember you were absent for the last two observations of the full moon as well." Professor Estrella responded.
Remus didn't respond Oh no, he's suspicious of my absence.
"Surely, you can reschedule right? I mean this type of eclipse only occurs every two years." Estrella stated.
"No, it has to be tonight. I'll do the make up assignment for you right away." Remus rambled.
"No, no. Don't worry about it. I have a feeling you'll be occupied tonight and for a day or so." Estrella said with a kind expression.
"Thanks . . ." Remus said awkwardly. Yep. He definitely knows. Remus started to leave the observation deck.
"Oh and Remus, I'm truly sorry that you must go through this . . . migraine disorder . . . my best friend in Brazil had the same disorder. Don't worry, it's our secret." Professor Estrella said with a smile. Remus left and was on his way to the hospital wing when he turned the corner and ran right into Professor Malfoy and fell to the ground.
"Ah, Mr. Lupin. You should watch where you are off those ridiculous glasses at once!" He snarled.
"Sorry Professor." Remus took off his glasses.
"My God, it looks like you haven't slept in days. Preparing yourself for today's duel, are we?" He questioned.
"No, Professor, I'm not feeling well and I'm heading to my doctors' in Liverpool with my parents." Remus said as he was rising to his feet.
"My class is in 5 minutes, surely your muggle doctor and your muggle mother can wait a bit longer. Plus, I believe my nephew was looking forward to dueling you a second time. Come along." said Professor Malfoy as he dragged a whimpering Remus through the halls.
When they reached the classroom, Remus collapsed in his desk from exhaustion. He covered his eyes and ears in pain. James, Peter and Severus cautiously approached him.
"Remus, aren't you supposed to have left for your doctors already?" James asked as he sat next to him.
"Professor's making me duel Malfoy first." Remus groaned.
"That's totally unfair, you've been suffering from migraines all day." Severus said.
"I have a feeling that Professor is taking advantage of your weakened state and plans on letting his cherished nephew get revenge for humiliating him the other week." James said. Remus moaned and nodded.
"Alright, class. Today we have a duel between Remus Lupin and Lucius Malfoy." Professor Malfoy announced. Lucius proudly walked to the dueling table with Domante. "Mr. Dom - MAHN - Tey, is it? Are you Lucius's second, incase he cannot complete the duel, though that is very unlikely."
Domante nodded sinisterly. Professor Malfoy looked to Remus who was still sitting down. "Mr. Lupin on your feet!"
"Come on, Professor, he can barely stand!" James screamed.
"Then you will be his second after he quickly loses?" Professor asked.
James rolled his eyes and nodded. He and Severus helped Remus up to the platform and Remus retrieved his wand. Lucius and Remus bowed to each other.
"Begin!" Professor yelled.
Lucius quickly casted petrificus totalus but fortunately Remus was able to cast a shield to protect himself. He then cast a flock of small sparrows and sent them to attack Remus but once again was able to create a shield around himself. Remus beginning to become exhausted caught his breath bending over to his knees!
"Fight back, Half-blood!" Lucius screamed. "Relashio!" He yelled as suddenly his sleek black wand released a jet of red fiery sparks.
Remus's eyes widened and he screamed "Aguamente Maxima" And a jet of white water shot from his wand like a fire hose. The jet of fire and water met in the middle and caused the water to boil and steam. The two boys held their ground for a solid fifteen seconds.
"Finish him, Lucius!" Professor Malfoy screamed. Lucius screamed "Stingumonous" and the red sparks released from his wand transformed into dozens of tiny black stingers. They traveled quickly through the jet of water and penetrated Remus's arms and legs and neck. Remus haulard in pain and dropped to his knees. It was like being stung by 20 bees at the same time. He gave another scream and Sirius, James and Peter rushed to his side.
"Professor! Lucius injured Remus badly, he broke the rules of the duel!" James screamed.
"I make the rules of the duel and a few bee stings is not so bad. You can man up, right Remus?" Professor said as he gently kicked Remus lying on the ground in Peter's lap. Remus just stared at the disgusting professor. "You, Pettigrew. Take him to the hospital so he can go to his silly little muggle doctor." Peter and Sirius helped Remus to his feet and Peter started walking to the infirmary.
"And you, Mr. Potter, are you ready to take your weak friend's place?" Professor Malfoy asked in a snarly tone. James nodded and sarcastically bowed to a smirking Lucius.
"Begin!"
"Stingumonous Maxima!" James screamed (before Lucius could even wave his wand) and fifty stingers shot out of his wand and stuck all over Lucius's flesh, including his smug face.
"Enough! 50 points from Gryffindor and a weeks' detention for you Mr. Potter!" screamed Professor Malfoy.
But James didn't care about the punishment as he watched Lucius cry in pain. He and Sirius stormed out of the room and headed after Peter and Remus who had reached the infirmary.
Remus was lying on a bed and Peter was plucking each stinger out of his flesh carefully.
"What are you guys doing here?" Remus asked. He looked at the clock, it was already 3:58 in the afternoon. He started to worry because of the winter months, the sun would set extremely early tonight - at only 4:30.
"To see you, of course!" James said.
"You should have seen what James did after you left. He sent stingumonous maxima and gave Lucius a couple singers to the face." Sirius said while laughing. Suddenly Madam Pomphrey brought a swollen Lucius into the room on a wheelchair and laid him next to Remus.
"Looking good, Malfoy." James snarked.
"You'll pay for this, Potter!" Lucius answered.
Remus watched madam Pomphrey look at her small golden pocket watch and gasped. "Potter, Black, Pettigrew, out now! Remus needs to leave for his appointment."
"I didn't see your parents waiting, I thought you said they waited in here until you came?" James asked suspiciously. Remus looked panicked to Madame Pomphrey.
"They're . . . outside. You three, leave!" She sternly said. The boys said goodbye and left.
"Mr. Malfoy, I will return in a little bit, after I escort Remus to his parents outside." Pomphrey said as she helped Remus into a wheelchair and wheeled him outside. She helped him walk to the whomping willow and paused to talk to him.
"I really must be getting back to Mr. Malfoy. You're friend, Potter really did a number to him. I can trust that you'll lock yourself up just fine tonight, right?" she asked. Remus nodded and they parted ways. Finally he reached the shrieking shack and was about to close the door when he was shocked to find a man sitting on the edge of the bed facing away from him.
Remus retrieved his wand and said "I don't know how you got in here, nor who you are, but it would be in your best interest to leave now, sir." He looked to his watch, 13 minutes till sundown.
"You don't recognize me, Remus Lupin?" The man said in a low raspy tone.
"How do you know my name, sir?" Remus questioned.
The man slowly stood up and turned around. He had short dark blond hair, a fit build, and charismatic sapphire blue eyes that would have made him look approachable, if he didn't have a nasty scar that reached from his right ear across to his nose. He was young and wearing a blue expensive suit.
"I thought my brother and I would share some similarities, though I know I got the good looks." He chuckled
"You're . . . you're Frederick Greyback." Remus stammered.
"I'm glad that we could finally meet, muzzle to muzzle." Frederick said with a crooked smile.
Remus raised his wand and started to say "Petrificus-" but was cut off with Frederick's sudden "Expelliarmus". Remus's wand went flying and rolled under the floorboards.
"Now, now Remus, can't we play nice?" Greyback asked with a smile.
"You murdered my friend!" Remus screamed.
"Ah yes, I do remember that - I remember everything from being a werewolf. Believe it or not, I have complete control. What was her name, Kathryn?" Greyback explained as he walked closer to Remus.
"Don't speak her name, you monster!" Remus shouted as he winded up a punch.
"Incarcerous!" Greyback said calmly. Ropes appeared from mid air and confined Remus. "I remember Katelyn, how she tasted. I was always one for dark meat." Greyback whispered in his ear.
"What do you want from me?" Remus whimpered.
"I would like nothing more than to tear you apart." Greyback responded as he sniffed his hair. Remus gulped. "But don't worry for now. Big brother promised that you were to be his." he said grudgingly. "However, I do get to go after the rest of your friends tonight. Peter, Sirius, Severus, James, and Lily." Remus winced at each name that he mentioned. "They'll all be in the astronomy tower at exactly midnight, right?"
"Don't you touch them!" Remus shouted.
"Or what? You'll protect them. No, no my dear boy. You'll be stuck in here all night. I better get going. It's nearly sunset." Greyback said as he headed for the door. "Oh and Remus," He said and Remus looked up infuriated. "It was a pleasure meeting you. You remind me of myself at your age." He smiled and slammed the door. The ropes fell to the ground and Remus went to open the door, but it was locked. He pounded on it shouting for anyone. He bent down to retrieve his wand but the transformation began.
My friends are going to die tonight and there is nothing I can do to help.