Remus was lying on the couch, his arm resting on an Ancient Runes book and his legs curled by his side. James was on the floor, drooling on his Muggle Studies homework. The fireplace was lit—which was good, because Remus was freezing. He wrapped the blanket more tightly around his body and sat up blearily. There were students in the common room, and they were all casting nasty looks towards the sleeping James Potter.

Remus sat up and stretched. He felt awful, just as he always did on the day of the full moon….

Wait.

It was the day of the full moon. And Remus had slept until…

"What time is it?" he asked a random fifth-year.

"Seven-thirty."

It was the day of the full moon, and Remus had slept until seven-thirty. He'd never done that before. He jumped off of the couch, ignoring the horrible aching in his joints—fire shooting up his leg that made him visibly flinch, bubbles popping behind his eyes, a head rush that made his vision go colorful—and shook James awake.

James blinked sleepily and half-heartedly shooed Remus away. "S'it Christmas?" he mumbled.

"Er… no."

"Then why are you so excited? Let me sleep."

"I'm going to…" Remus hesitated, suddenly realizing that he couldn't freely speak of the full moon or the Hospital Wing. Not with so many students in the common room. "Breakfast," he finished, emphasizing the word more than usual. "I'm going to breakfast."

"Ohhh… breakfast." James was wide-awake now, and he too seemed to remember what day it was. "Let me walk you down to… breakfast."

"Thanks."

With that, Remus let James help him into a more stable standing position, and the two of them managed to walk, mostly unnoticed, to the Hospital Wing. Remus tried his hardest to look like he was just a normal person, with working joints, with legs that did not ache and skin that did not prickle, and with a head that was firmly on his shoulders instead of feeling so wobbly that Remus often feared it would topple off entirely. It was difficult, but Remus had had plenty of practice pretending such things. "I slept, James," Remus whispered excitedly as he stumbled down the corridors. "I slept!"

"Amazing," said James. "It's almost as if sleeping is a basic human function."

"Oh, you know what I mean!"

James grinned. "Yeah, I do. Congrats, mate, even though I'm not really sure it was your doing. I think it was the Ancient Runes. It's a very boring subject. Conked you out like a light."

"Sure, sure. Or maybe it was your fifth story about Quidditch."

"Oi!"

Remus could not stop smiling, no matter how much it hurt his jaw.

They arrived at Madam Pomfrey's door, and James knocked politely without even being prompted. Then the door opened, Remus was transferred from James to Madam Pomfrey, and James left to work on whatever "project" he was doing with the rest of the Marauders.

But this time, Remus wasn't even lonely. He was far too excited and well-rested to be lonely. "I slept last night," he informed Madam Pomfrey.

"Good. Now you're going to sleep more." Madam Pomfrey shoved Remus onto a bed, handed him a mild Sleeping Draught, and Remus was asleep once again in mere seconds.

It was only seven-fifty, and it was already a pretty good day, all things considered.

Madam Pomfrey shook him awake around one in the afternoon. "Remus," she whispered. "We have a problem."

Remus opened one eye and immediately noticed that someone else was in the room. Both eyes flew open, and Remus tried to sit up so quickly that his head slammed against the headboard; except he couldn't quite sit up, not in this state, so he flopped back onto his pillow, thoroughly embarrassed and horribly fatigued. "Mr. Ragfarn?" he squeaked, looking at the man standing in the corner.

Ragfarn nodded. "Obviously," he said.

No, thought Remus. This must be a horrible dream. Absolutely not. He is not here, not in my Hospital Wing, not where I'm supposed to be safe. No. But Remus didn't say any of that, of course; instead, he merely cleared his throat in a pitiful sort of way, and managed to say something along the lines of, "Erm… how are you doing… sir?"

"I'm well, thank you."

"Right. Okay." Remus could feel his face turning even redder than it already had been. He cast his gaze towards Madam Pomfrey, who looked mildly confused.

"Do you know this man?" she asked Remus.

"Er… yes. He works at the Ministry, and sometimes he…"

"I can speak for myself, thank you," said Ragfarn. Then he turned to Madam Pomfrey. "I work at the Ministry of Magic," he said. "They tend to put me with the Werewolf Registry every year. Among my dismal list of responsibilities is Registering werewolves as a case worker, and this one—unfortunately—is a frequent. I Registered him two years ago, the year before that, two years before that, and his first time."

"Right… yeah," said Remus. It made him feel a lot less human whenever Ragfarn talked to him, and even less so when Ragfarn talked about him as if he were not even there. Remus tried to jump in, as if to remind them that he was a human with reasoning and speaking abilities, and not just an animal who happened to be in the room. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop stuttering. "I… I mean, it's… it's been a while, but yeah—yeah, I know him. Generally."

"You don't know me all that well. It's not as if we're friends."

"Oh… er, yeah. That's what I—that's what I meant." Remus was sweating a bit now, and he felt a bit like he was about to be sick. He didn't like being surprised on the full moon. He already felt terrible, and the added stress was getting to him.

"Calm down," said Ragfarn with a massive eyeroll. "I only wanted to talk to you about something. Ministry's sent me."

"About what, sir?"

"Werewolves. Greyback's threatened a former classmate of yours, and the Ministry thought it best to ask you about it."

"Because all werewolves are telepathically connected, is that right?" asked Madam Pomfrey, and both Remus and Ragfarn gaped at her unexpected harsh words.

"You should probably stay out of this," said Ragfarn.

Madam Pomfrey's nostrils flared ever so slightly. "Remus Lupin is in my care and shall therefore be receiving my help," she said snootily. "For the time being, his business is my own. Isn't that right, Remus?"

Remus hadn't been expected to be addressed, but he was very thankful for it. It made him feel a little more human to be included in the conversation at every possible moment instead of being spoken over like a dumb animal. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey," he said.

"Now, what exactly does the Minister believe that Remus has done?"

Ragfarn shrugged. "Remus Lupin is a werewolf, and there's a werewolf uprising. He's the only known werewolf in the area, and he had direct contact with the threatened. It's just common sense to check in."

"No, it's not, because Remus is a fine student who has never hurt anyone in his life."

"I'm not saying anything otherwise," said Ragfarn, though it was clear that he didn't believe it. "I'm only saying that he needs to be questioned. Now, I have some Veritaserum here, and I'd really appreciate it if you took it without complaining, Lupin…"

"You are not giving him Veritaserum on the day of the full moon!" cried Madam Pomfrey.

"It's just a precaution."

Madam Pomfrey was growing hysterical. "Remus is my patient! Mine! And you are not to antagonize him! Leave!"

"It's a precaution."

"I don't care what it is or isn't!"

"It's a matter of national security."

"So?"

"Ma'am, a war is happening right now. There have been terrorist attacks left and right, and the Ministry must tighten our policies in order to keep them under control. I'm sorry that we have rules intended to keep you safe, but that's the way it is."

"It doesn't make sense, though! I can vouch for anything Remus says. He has an alibi. He has witnesses all over the school."

"You can appeal to the Ministry if you want, but he won't be back in time for the full moon, and the Ministry is sworn to protect the human population no matter what."

"Are you threatening us?"

"I'm only giving you your options."

"Yes, and they're all terrible and immoral!"

Madam Pomfrey's hand was resting on the headboard of Remus' bed, and Remus tugged on her sleeve. He was too tired to shout. "Madam Pomfrey," he mumbled, "you should probably… calm down. A little. I mean, he is a Ministry official, and I am a werewolf, and I don't want to… to step out of line."

"That's why I'm doing the stepping for you," said Madam Pomfrey, but she did calm down after that. "I would go talk to Albus Dumbledore if I were you," she said, turning to Ragfarn and speaking in tone of voice that was both strained and polite. "I'm sure he can get this sorted."

"I was really hoping that this would be a short visit," Ragfarn complained. "Fine."

"Do you need directions?"

"No. I still remember from my Hogwarts days—back when Dippet was headmaster. Are you sure I can't just administer the potion here and now? I'm a busy man."

Madam Pomfrey stretched her lips into a forced smile. "You know, when students give pointless and obviously fake excuses, I tend to kick them out of the Hospital Wing," she said. "You should probably leave, Mr. Ragfarn."

"Fine, fine," said Ragfarn, and then he left.

The Hospital Wing was quiet once more. Remus turned to Madam Pomfrey, who was still staring at the empty doorway.

"This is a problem," he said meekly.

"Yes, it is. Does everyone treat you like that at the Ministry?"

Remus did not see it fit to lie. "More or less."

"Hm." Madam Pomfrey was trying not to pity Remus, and it was quite obvious. She wasn't really succeeding, no, but at least she was trying. "You know, Remus… if he comes in again, you may need to physically restrain me so that I don't tie him to a bed and force-feed him every unpleasant potion that I possess."

"Start with the Skele-Gro," said Remus. "I never liked that stuff. It tastes like James' Quidditch gear on a hot day."

"And you know what that tastes like because…?"

"Well, heightened senses. I can taste it in the air. It's so rancid that I'm pretty sure everyone can, too."

Madam Pomfrey laughed. "I envy your sense of humor," she said sadly. "If someone treated me like that—if everyone treated me like that—I wouldn't be nearly as calm."

"It's… it's not so bad."

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "If you say so. You may go back to sleep, Remus. Professor Dumbledore and I will work it out; I promise."

Remus wanted to protest, but he was asleep before his head had even fully settled on the pillow.

He woke up once again, and this time, it was Dumbledore calling his name.

The lights were bright, and Remus couldn't help but squint at the shadowy figures that were Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, and Ragfarn (who was, unfortunately, still there). "S'everything okay, sir?" he mumbled in Dumbledore's general direction.

"It depends on your definition of the word." Dumbledore was as calm as ever, which was comforting. "It is still the full moon and you are still a werewolf, I'm afraid, so I would not consider things 'okay' if I were you. But I do believe that Dav Ragfarn and I have worked something out."

As Dumbledore spoke, Remus managed to open his eyes all the way with minimal pain. His whole face felt puffy. "I'd like to sit up, Madam Pomfrey," he murmured, and Madam Pomfrey rushed to his side to help. Remus could see Ragfarn perfectly now, and Ragfarn was observing Remus with apparent distaste. Remus trained his eyes on Dumbledore instead, who was the picture of serene contemplation. "So what have you worked out, sir?"

"Dav has decided that Veritaserum is not necessary for an informal questioning, isn't that right?" asked Dumbledore, and Ragfarn slowly nodded, contempt in his every feature.

"How? I mean, why?"

"I simply pointed out that, if the Ministry uses Veritaserum, then they must be under the impression that it works. The Ministry, therefore, must take anything you say while under the influences as truth. But I've taken a look at your file, Remus, and they do not take everything you say under the influence of Veritaserum as truth. In fact, Dav is under the impression that werewolves can suppress the effects of Veritaserum rather sufficiently."

Remus remembered the last time with the Veritaserum—Orion Black had asked if Remus had hurt anyone on the full moon about a dozen times, hoping to get an affirmative answer, but Remus hadn't been able to give it to him. After the interrogation had finished, however, Orion had still refused to believe Remus.

"And, if Veritaserum is useless," Dumbledore continued, "then, logically, there is no reason why a Ministry official should use it on you without parental consent. Veritaserum is used on a necessary basis, as outlined in wizarding law. If the Ministry will not take your previous statements at face value, and if a confession is not exclusive and time-sensitive, then Veritaserum is not necessary in the least… and is therefore illegal."

"Oh," said Remus.

Dumbledore smiled. "Unfortunately, Dav still has to ask you some questions," he said, "but, seeing as you have alibis, it shouldn't take very long. Will it, Dav?"

"We'll see," said Ragfarn. He pulled a pad of parchment and a quill out of his bag, and the quill wrote on the parchment all by itself as Ragfarn spoke. "Have you been working with Fenrir Greyback?" asked Ragfarn dully.

"No."

"Have you hurt anyone on the full moon?"

"No."

"Have you been safely contained on the full moon for the past six months?"

"Yes."

"The past year?"

"Yes."

"Your whole life?"

"Yes."

"Have you ever had any contact with Voldemort?"

"No."

"Fenrir Greyback?"

Remus paused. "You've already asked that," he said slowly. Even when not under the influence of Veritaserum, he did not want to lie… but he definitely didn't want to tell Ragfarn that he'd been bitten by Greyback.

The situation was difficult. When Remus' father had Registered Remus after the bite, he'd told Ragfarn that the werewolf who had bitten Remus was unknown. And, at the time, it had been. It had been impossible to recognize Greyback based on the wolfish figure that Remus had only seen for a split second. Remus' father had had his suspicions, of course, since he'd insulted Greyback only a few days prior. But they hadn't been certain—so why tell the Ministry, who believed that werewolves bitten by Greyback himself were more prone to being exactly like him?

But then Greyback had showed up in Remus' room the following month, a couple of days before the full moon, and had confirmed to Remus' father that he had indeed been the werewolf that had bitten Remus. The Lupins were certain now that it had been a personal attack from Greyback himself.

Remus' father had kept his certainty from the Ministry, though, because telling them with Remus in the room would have meant that Remus would have found out, too. For a long time, Remus' father had been absolutely intent on keeping the identity of the werewolf from Remus, as well as the reason that Remus had been bitten. After all, telling Remus the story would mean that Remus would have known that it was his father's actions that had led to the worst event of his life. Remus' father hadn't told Remus what had happened until the beginning of the summer before Remus left for Hogwarts for the very first time.

The question hadn't come up since then, even when Remus had been under the influence of Veritaserum the year prior—but here it was, prominent, terrifying, and impossible. If Remus answered "no", then he'd be lying to a Ministry official, and he could get into big trouble for that. If he answered "yes", then he'd be confirming that his father had lied to the Ministry for years—either that, or he'd have to tell Ragfarn that his last contact with Greyback had been recent, and that wouldn't look good at all.

"You've already asked that question," Remus repeated when Ragfarn did not respond.

"No, I asked whether or not you were working with him. Didn't ask about contact."

"Why do you need to know contact if you already know that I'm not working with him?"

"Just answer the question."

Remus sighed and decided to lie. "We don't know which werewolf bit me, sir," he said slowly. "It could have been Greyback, so I don't want to answer either way." It was a near truth—certainly more truthful than saying no. Wasn't it?

"Other than that?" Ragfarn prompted.

"I mean, maybe I've seen him in the streets or something, though I think I would have recognized him if I had. But, other than that…" Remus twiddled with the blankets and shrugged. He hadn't answered the question, so he technically hadn't lied.

"Other than that…?" prompted Ragfarn again, and then Remus had to lie for real.

"No," he said. "To my knowledge, I've not had any contact with Fenrir Greyback."

Ragfarn looked at Remus scrutinizingly for a moment, and Remus worried that he hadn't bought it. But then he sighed, and Remus knew that he was in the clear. "I know it was Greyback who bit you, even if you're unwilling to accept it," said Ragfarn. "Don't know if your dad's told you, but he had a bit of a run-in with Greyback just before you were bitten, and it wasn't pretty."

"I've heard," said Remus stoutly. "But we don't know for certain. He could have delegated someone else to do it, even if it was targeted and not just a freak accident."

"That's not really Greyback's style. But if you say that you haven't had contact with Greyback since then… well, I suppose I have to believe you, don't I? Though I suspect that your answer might have been different under Veritaserum."

Remus did not respond. Yes, his answer would have been different under Veritaserum, but Remus wasn't about to say that.

"I'll just be on my way, then," said Ragfarn. "But, Remus, if you ever have something to tell me…" He smiled and slipped Remus a small card. "That's my business card," he said, as if Remus had no idea what a business card was. "It has my address on it. You can Floo me if you ever find the need."

Remus had no idea why he would ever want to Floo Dav Ragfarn, but he didn't argue. Ragfarn was just trying to get him to give him more information in whatever way possible, and Remus wasn't going to do that—not in a million, billion years. "Thanks," he mumbled.

Ragfarn wasn't moving, so Dumbledore looked in his direction pointedly and said, "Goodbye, Dav. Good to see you again."

"Right, yeah. You too." Ragfarn waved, and then he stalked out of the Hospital Wing, slamming the door behind him ever so slightly.

Remus waited until his footsteps had completely faded before turning to Professor Dumbledore. "I lied to a Ministry official," he said, panic lacing his voice. "I'm going to be in so much trouble."

Dumbledore smiled and placed a hand on Remus' right shoulder. "It was the right decision," he said gently.

"But… but I…"

"Your father has been lying for years, has he not? All you did was confirm his story."

"But…"

"Just a moment, please," interrupted Madam Pomfrey. "What exactly did Remus lie about?"

Remus sighed and looked at the floor. "I didn't want to have to tell you," he mumbled. "I've only ever told one person."

"John Questus," guessed Dumbledore, and Remus nodded. "Ah, I see. How did he take it?"

"He didn't care… not really. He was just curious."

"I'm lost," said Madam Pomfrey. "What exactly is going on?"

Remus sighed again and looked at the ceiling. Maybe it wouldn't hurt so much if he said it quickly. "I was bitten by Greyback as a child," he said. "I told Mr. Ragfarn that we weren't sure... but we're sure."

Madam Pomfrey nodded. She didn't seem surprised at all. "How did you know, then?" she asked.

"Well, that's the other thing I lied about. He came into my room the month after and tried to recruit me, which means that we've definitely had direct, aware contact."

"Oh."

"I didn't know it was him until a couple of years ago. Dad wouldn't tell me. I'd always thought it was a Ministry official or something."

"I see." Madam Pomfrey's face was unreadable for a moment; suddenly, she smiled. "I must admit that I had guessed a long time ago," she said apologetically. "It was rather obvious."

"Obvious?" said Remus, stricken. "What do you mean?" It was a common old wives' tale that werewolves inherited traits from the werewolves that had bitten them. Did Remus have anything in common with… no, the thought was unthinkable. "What do you mean?" Remus repeated, even more panicked this time.

"I spend a lot of time with you. Your body language when you talk about Greyback is a bit of a giveaway. And then there's the fact that you were quite young, and Greyback targets children."

"Oh," said Remus. "Yeah. That's why I was surprised that Questus hadn't guessed."

"He was much less emotionally observant."

"That's not true. He could practically read my mind."

"I suspect," said Dumbledore softly, "that the idea that werewolves become something like those that bit them was still present in the back of John's mind. He was rather prejudiced at the beginning of the year, I remember, and it takes a while for such things to fade. I imagine the thought was so surprising simply because he couldn't imagine that you had anything in common with Fenrir."

"Oh," said Remus again. "Yeah, he told me a little about that. The prejudice, I mean. Professor… this is unrelated, but that thing with the Veritaserum…? Does it apply always? Can I use that argument in January, too?"

"Unfortunately, no. I am a very influential person, Remus, and the Ministry doesn't want a scandal. But when I am not present, I'm afraid there is nothing you can do. Especially not when Ragfarn can appeal directly to the Minister for Magic with little to no hassle."

"That's what I thought," said Remus. "Well, it's all right. It's manageable, most of the time. But it would have been pretty awful today, right before the full moon…."

"I understand entirely. It was unacceptable. Now, I do believe Madam Pomfrey wants you to go back to sleep—I can see it in her eyes, and also in the fact that she is currently preparing you a Sleeping Draught. Relax, and good luck tonight. And Remus?"

"Yes?"

"You may want to write this down for your Arithmancy project."

Then Dumbledore was gone. Five minutes later, Remus was asleep once again, and he almost wished he could stay that way for at least a month. Sleep was a gorgeous, beautiful thing, and Remus wanted to appreciate it to its perfect fullness.

AN: My health has been wonky lately, my excess chapter supply is running too low for comfort, and I find myself unable to put out two chapters per week comfortably. As such, I will be decreasing the chapters-per-week to one (for now!). I'll be posting a chapter every Wednesday evening-ish, EST!