Chapter 16

Grace's POV

Our exams came and went. Kaitlyn, Tommy and I spent the week before studying until all hours of the night. I was fairly certain I did excellent on my Defense against the Dark Arts exam, as well as my Transfiguration. Astronomy and Herbology went well. As for Charms and Potions, well, we would just have to see what happened when the grades came out.

Now that they were over, we were free to roam the grounds and have fun outside. All around, people were picnicking, playing with brooms and just hanging around. The atmosphere was so different from normal, everyday life. I loved it. This was what school was supposed to be like. This was fun!

I heard the rumors at breakfast the next morning. Harry, Ron and Hermione had been in the hospital wing again the night before (not that was any surprise), Sirius Black had been caught and then promptly escaped, and Professor Lupin was a werewolf. I had read about werewolves in the library for a DADA project, but never actually expected to meet one. And one was right here, my beloved professor! He was leaving, or so the rumor said. He couldn't be leaving!

'Did you hear?' One of the 4th year boys said loudly, making the whole table look up at him. 'Lupin's leaving.'

The table became a flurry of chatter as everyone began talking about the previous night's events. I was stunned to silence.

'Why is Lupin leaving?' Kaitlyn asked, leaning over the pile of bacon to talk to Dean Thomas, a third year.

'You haven't heard? Snape told the Slytherins this morning. Lupin's a werewolf. He was running around the grounds last night.'

I was staring at him, my brain not able to comprehend what he was saying. 'Last night was a full moon,' Dean clarified, just in case we didn't get the severity of the situation. 'I can't believe Dumbledore hired him knowing he was a werewolf.'

The boys around us started talking, leaving Kaitlyn and I to finish our breakfast. We were quiet. I only know why I was, no idea what had Kaitlyn so silent.

Immediately after breakfast, I left Kaitlyn at the table and raced to his office. My arms were filled with books and I nearly dropped them twice on the way. Why did I have so many books if classes and exams were over? I was trying to get a head start on the next year. I was certain I had barely passed my Charms exam and I didn't want to be in that situation again next year.

'Professor Lupin!' I raced down the corridor towards his office. I hoped it wasn't true. He couldn't be leaving. He just couldn't.

I turned, squared my shoulders and walked into his office. 'Professor Lupin?' I called, scanning the room.

'I was wondering how long it would take you. You even beat Harry.' He emerged from his office with a sad smile. 'Come on in.' I looked around his office and found most of his belongings already packed. The only things left in the room were on his desk, piled about a foot high.

I stepped in and forced myself not to rush up to his desk. I needed to be calm and collected. Mum wouldn't be visibly upset, so I shouldn't be either. Slowly, I walked in and dropped my books onto the chair. 'You're leaving.'

'Grace, I don't have much of a choice. Parents won't want their children taught by… well, someone like me.' He began packing up the things on his desk, tossing them into a large suitcase. It was like he had nothing else to say.

'But…' I stuttered, unable to form a coherent sentence. He couldn't leave. 'You can't leave because of that! It's not even that big of a deal.'

Lupin shook his head, the sad smile still on his face. 'The parents are going to be upset. Your mother is going to be upset. I can't even imagine what she is going to say to me. She trusted me to protect you, and here, I could have injured you at any time.'

'But…'

'No. I am sorry, Grace, but this is what it has to be.' He tossed another book into the suitcase and turned his back to me.

I couldn't believe that he was leaving. He was the first person I met at the school, and the one who told me I was a witch. He couldn't be leaving!

'Are you still going to come around and talk to Mum?' I didn't want him to disappear from my life.

Professor Lupin turned around, a strange look on his face. 'I'm sure I will still come around. Your Mum will need someone to tell her about all the goings on in the magical world. She used to be furious with your father when he wouldn't tell her.'

'You still can't tell me?' I asked, struggling not to get my hopes up.

He shook his head, 'no, but ask your mother when you get home. I'm sure she'll be more willing to talk to you after I've spoken to her. Take care, Grace.' He turned back to the desk and I knew I was being dismissed.

With a heavy sigh, I picked up my pile of books and turned, walking swiftly out of his office. 'Oh, sorry, Harry,' I said as I bumped into him. He turned the corner to step into the office just as I walked out. My books flew to the ground and I quickly dropped down to pick them up.

He knelt down to help and piled the books in my arms. 'My fault. I wasn't watching where I was going.' He paused and glanced back over my shoulder into Lupin's office. 'Were you in there talking to him?'

'Yeah,' I said softly. 'He's leaving.' Unable to stand there much longer without bursting into tears, I forced a smile and turned to walk away. 'I'll see you around.'

I left Harry alone in the hallway and began the long walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room. 'Hey, Grace.'

'Yeah?'

'How are you so friendly with him?'

I looked at him confused, wondering why he would be asking me that question, let alone talking to me. I don't think we had spoken more than ten words the entire year. 'He used to be best friends with my Mum and Dad back in their twenties. He's the one that gave me my letter and told me about Hogwarts over the summer.'

'He was best friends with my parents,' Harry said softly. 'Your Mum's a muggle, right? Who's your Dad?'

'I don't know,' I whispered with a frown. 'All Mum will tell me was that he left before I was born. Lupin can't even tell me anything, because Mum made him promise.'

Harry nodded, 'I'll see you around.'

'Bye.'

Harry disappeared into Lupin's office and I headed back down the hallway. I brushed by everyone, ignoring calls of hello from a few fellow first year Gryffindors. Most of the corridors were empty, but there were a few stragglers from breakfast. Harry's parents were friends with Lupin. My parents were friends with Lupin. It only made sense that Harry's parents and my parents were friends. If Mum wouldn't tell me about my Dad, maybe Harry and I could figure it out together.

'Grace!'

I turned, nearly bumping into an older Ravenclaw who gave me a dirty look. Kaitlyn hurried up to me, her backpack over her shoulder. 'Where did you disappear to so quickly?'

I didn't want to tell her, but she was my best friend. If I couldn't tell her, who could I talk to? 'I went to see Lupin. He's leaving, Kait.'

'I heard. Could you imagine him staying? My mother would never let me come back. You wouldn't have to worry about it; you're mother's a muggle.'

'My mother is good friends with him,' I added softly with a frown.

'Oh, that's right. Does she know?'

I shook my head and together, we headed to the common room. 'No, from what Lupin said, she doesn't know. Yet. She's going to be furious though. He said that she would always get mad at my Dad because he couldn't tell her things. Now, he's doing the same thing.'

'Yeah, you're Mum's going to be furious.'

We gave the password to the Fat Lady and stepped into the common room. The room was filled with people talking and I scanned the crowd, trying to find someone I knew.

What I wanted was the whole story. I wanted to know exactly what happened on the grounds the night before, including why Lupin was leaving. Why would Snape tell the Slytherins about him? Was he just that awful of a man he couldn't beat to keep the secret anymore?

'Hey, I'll be back in a little while. I need to go find Hermione.'

'Why do you need her?' Kait asked, settling down into our favorite spot near the door.

'I… I need to ask her one last question about Charms. I'll be back soon, I promise.'

Leaving Kaitlyn in the chair, I headed back through the portrait hole and toward the infirmary. If she wasn't there, I'd check out the library. If not there, I was out of places to look. Who knew where else she could be?

I tip toed up to the infirmary and paused just outside the door. What if Madam Pomfrey didn't let me in? What if Hermione didn't want to see me?

'Miss Thomas, what are you doing outside the door?' Speak of the devil.

I cleared my throat and tried to stand tall. Just like Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey scared me. 'I… I needed to see Hermione. I have a question about a test question and since she's tutoring me…' I trailed off, hoping to sound sweet and innocent.

'Visiting hours are nearly over. You may stay ten minutes. Five if you are too loud.'

'Yes, ma'am,' I said, stepping quickly passed her and into the infirmary. Hermione was sitting up on a cot near the window. She had a book propped up on her lap. Ron was in the bed next to her, his leg up in a sling. 'What happened to you two?' I asked as I walked closer.

Ron looked up in surprise, but Hermione kept looking at her book. 'Do we know you?' Ron asked, trying to sit up.

'Ron, honestly. You remember Grace. I've been tutoring her in Charms since January. Honestly, you'd think you'd remember something at least.' She finished reading her page, stuck a bookmark in and closed the book. 'What are you doing here?'

'I ran into Harry outside of Lupin's office and I know something happened last night. You three seem to be involved with nearly everything. I thought you'd know what happened.'

Ron and Hermione shared a look. 'I'm sorry, but we can't tell you anything. There's really nothing to tell.'

I raised an eyebrow, trying to think of something to say. 'Really? That's the story you're going with? Look, I'm not going to tell anyone. Professor Lupin is my Mum's friend and I just want to know what happened. He won't tell me and I know my Mum won't tell me. Please, can't you tell me anything?'

Hermione sighed and waved me closer to the bed. 'We can't say much. All we know is that Professor Snape caught Sirius Black last night, and then he managed to escape again. Professor Lupin was out on the grounds with us when he…'

'Yeah, I know. The whole school knows he's a werewolf now. Snape let it slip at breakfast.' I chewed my lip and frowned. 'He's leaving. Probably gone already. He was packing up his office when I was in there and was just about done. Harry went in right after me…' I trailed off. 'So no one knows where Black went? He could still be on nearby?'

'Yeah, but I'm sure the Aurors will find him.' She shrugged and picked up her book again. 'I'll have more time to tutor you next year if you still need it. I changed around my schedule so my class load is a lot lighter.'

I knew the subject was being changed for a reason, but I couldn't figure out what. Rather than argue, I just went along with it. 'Thanks. I probably will still need it. It's too bad we can't practice over the summer.' Standing, I forced a smile and waved. 'Have a great summer, both of you.'

'You too,' they said in unison as I walked out.

What a wasted trip. I didn't learn anything that I didn't already know.

But now I couldn't wait to get home and see Mum. From what Professor Lupin said, she'd probably tell me about my Dad. If only she'd just tell me his name. I can go look him up from there.

Only a few more days and I'd be home. Just a few more.

AN: Thank you to: Jocasta Silver, LadyStrider17, Hi, Olga and Elias, and the_werewolf_gal for reviewing the previous chapter! And thank you to everyone who's added this to an alert or favorite! I always try to reply to your reviews, so if you don't have an account, sign up! :)

I'll leave you with this little snipit from the next chapter:

Remus smiled and squeezed my hand. 'I'll be there, if you want me. But I still understand if you want nothing to do with me. I'm dangerous, Krista.'

'Stop that right now. You do not get to tell me what to do. You are my closest friend and the only one I can talk to about all this. You are not going anywhere.'

He smiled again and visibly relaxed. 'Okay, when do we want to set up this meeting? I'm thinking sooner rather than later…'