June was coming to an end and with that Summer Solstice was closer than ever before. Preparations for the Handfasting were in full swing. Every nook and cranny of the huge estate was inspected and cleaned. Even with the help of house elves it took a long time. All because for three days Castle Black will be hosting each and every Dark inclined witch and wizard of England and even some very important guests. Preparations were decided to keep as secret as possible with notable guests taking every precaution possible while travelling. Hydra was very anxious about the whole thing. She always preferred smaller gatherings. However she decided she will not be intimidated. She still had that dress she bought in Russia and she decided she would wear it at some point.

Unexpected happened two weeks prior to the event. Hydra was not even out of bed yet when she was accosted by all the ladies of the Castle Black. Cassiopeia and Callidora with Black sister in tow were now sitting on her bed staring at her with a maniacal gleam in their eyes.
"Ladies, what is the meaning of this?" Hydra asked
"Ah Hydra dear it is time! We talked and talked about it and finally came to a conclusion. There will be a lot of important people at the Handfasting. You need to be impeccable! Think of the backlash if you flounder!" Cassiopeia said.
Narcissa and Bellatrix stood near the door trying very hard not to laugh. They were failing miserably.
"Hydra we love you but how many etiquette lessons have you actually had? Be honest!" Bellatrix said, stepping closer to her.
Hydra did not answer. Not because she was ashamed but because she could not remember. Her silence was met as a sigh of compliance to whatever plan they concocted.
"Right, for the next two weeks forget about your precious duelling or ever challenging potions. We have a schedule for you. Here, take a look." It was Callidora now who was thrusting an elaborate piece of parchment into Hydra's hands.
According to the schedule there will be around six hours of etiquette drivel every day with some breaks of course. Hydra was about to protest but suddenly the door opened and Melania entered with Dorea.
"Oh you are already here! Marvellous! I prepared all the books in the library. We can start any time." Dorea addressed everyone except Hydra apparently and wasn't that rude Hydra thought. She was about to protest but after assessing the situation realised she would not win this. She slumped onto her pillow, closed her eyes and asked Lady Magic for strength.

Tom Marvollo Riddle woke up on the same day in the best of moods. It was not the first time it happened. He felt renewed and was thrumming with energy. For the last two weeks he was sorting through his memories no matter how painful and humiliating it was. He also was planning and scheming. He wrote to many of his previous acquaintances not only in England but all over Europe as well. In his madness he focused solely on England and forgot that he made a lot of connections while travelling. Now he could utilise them for their mutual benefit.

Albus Dumbledore woke up with a headache. It was a common occurrence for him as of late. He worked diligently on building up his Order. He recently added ten new members all of whom were recent graduates. Nine of them were from Gryffindor of course and Emmeline Vance was from Ravenclaw. However she was friends with Marline McKinnon and he was able to get his claws into her. They were talented fighters and he was quite happy with the new additions. However his headache did not lessen from this positive occurrence. Peter Pettigrew disappeared around two weeks ago and nobody was able to find him. Surprisingly

his friends while visibly shaken were mourning him not the way he would have liked. More to it he needed Peter for his ploy to work. Oh he knew Peter was a Death Eater with a certain tattoo on his arm. Albus was sure he would succeed without him but he liked his plans to be elegant. His money was dwindling so he needed access to Potters' fortune sooner than later. Situation with Remus was troubling as well. He recently noticed that his eyes were more often amber during the meetings instead of usual brown. His inner wolf was angry at something. Albus thought maybe it was because of Peter. Everyone mourned in different ways. But something told him it was not the case.

At least he had six Lords and families that affiliated with them on his side. With his additional seat most of which were gifted to him after the defeat of Grindelwald they had the majority most of the time.

Rabastan, Rodolfus and Bella woke up happier than ever before. They were already at Black Castle helping with preparation for the Handfasting. There was no news from the Dark Lord so they patiently and maybe a bit apprehensively waited for anything from him. Bellatrix never felt more whole in her entire life. She had nightmares but it was nothing compared to switches in personality she had before. Lestrange brothers could not believe that their beloved was now whole again. They met while they were children and gravitated towards each other ever since.

All other members of Black family were in high spirits as well. Everyone hoped that it was the beginning of a new era that would hopefully allow them to reconnect with Lady Magic again. James and Sirius were ecstatic because their friend Remus was now with them spying on the Order.

- Flashback -

Remus was walking up the stairs towards Dumbledore's office. He was forever grateful that the Headmaster let him attend Hogwarts. He was always ready to help and agreed to any mission the Headmaster gave him. He knocked on the door and was let in.
"Good evening Albus."

"Remus, my boy. How good that you came. How are you today? Would you like some tea?" "Yes, please. And everything is fine, Albus." He sat in the armchair across from the Headmaster looking pale and haggard.
"Well, if that's the case I have a task for you. My sources told me that a new pack was formed recently that consists of young werewolves. They broke from Greyback's pack and I suspect we can sway them to our side."

Hearing about Greyback, Remus flinched. He heard a lot about that particular monster. It was common knowledge among the Order that Greyback preferred his victims young. "Where exactly are they located?"
"In the woods not far from Inverness." Albus looked at Remus internally recoiling from being in close proximity to the half-breed. He hated ghastly beasts because they were extremely hard to control. The only reason why he managed to put compulsions on Remus was easy access to him when he was really young and while his inner wolf was not mature enough. He decided long ago that when he will rule over muggles and wizards alike he will get rid of nasty half-breeds. To him they were unnatural abominations.

"Remus I know it was a full moon just a couple days ago but I need you to find them quickly, my boy. You never know when the news will reach Voldemort."

"Of course Albus." It was all Remus said not even thinking to argue with him. He was exhausted but he will have to endure.
They quickly said their goodbyes. Remus exited the Castle and apparated first to his flat in Knockturn alley to gather things for the upcoming task. The tricky part was to pack everything in so much waxed paper that when he hid his bag in the woods it would still be relatively dry after. It did not take him even an hour to pack. He wanted a cup of tea before his departure but he ran out of everything and the meagre money he had was going to be spent on the rent in the upcoming month. He was unemployed at the moment living off money James and Sirius gave him when they saw each other. But they were busy recently with what he did not know. He was so anxious over it and he really needed the money but of course he could not do anything. Finally he finished all his preparations, went to the apparition point and was off.
After a couple of days wandering through the forest Remus found the pack. He walked towards the opening where they were sitting around the fire praying that they were at least not going to hurt him too much. He knew he must do it for Albus. He stumbled a couple of times making noise on purpose to alert them that somebody was close. When he was in the opening they of course were on their feet grouped together ready to defend themselves. When he stopped in front of them all one could hear was the crackling of the fire.
Suddenly the short muscular guy at the front who was probably an Alpha started laughing. "Oh this is priceless. So the old fool sent his lapdog to sway us to the Light side." Everyone started laughing at that. Remus was so scared. This was not good. He had a whole backstory that he prepared but now it seems they somehow knew who he was. The pack circled him still sniggering at their Alpha's comment.
"Tie him up, I'll talk to him after we finish the meal." Remus was very weak and was outnumbered so he did not even resist. He was tied up and thrown to the ground near the fire so they all could see him. They finished eating rather quickly and Alpha turned his gaze onto remus.
"I was told you would come. Greyback knows all about you. Do you know it was him who bit you?" Remus' heart almost stopped after that. He never knew and he did not want to know. "Yes it was him. However, do you know why he did it? No you don't know I can see it. You are a fool Remus Lupin. You were sick. After your father died you were infected with the same disease that killed him. Your mother who was also on the deathbed wrote to Greyback in hopes that he will save you. The transformation gave you strength to overcome it. I suspect your mother passed away shortly after."
Remus was in shock. Why were these people lying to him? They knew he was in Order surely they did not expect to recruit him. He of course did not believe a word they said. He knew they were going to dispose of him soon and was thinking about his friends and other Order members.
" Lift him up so he is seated." Came the order from Alpha.
Now Remus could see all the members clearly. They all were relatively young, maybe in their mid twenties. However they looked so much better than him. He was twenty years old but looked like he was around mid thirties. He did not know why.
Alpha came close to him with something that looked like documents in his hand. Remus was baffled. He had no idea what was happening.
"Greyback knew you were coming. The old fool is so predictable sometimes. So he gave me a little something to show you."
Documents turned out to be a record of a couple of closed Wizengamot meetings where Albus Dumbledore voted in favour of the law that would make werewolves to register within

the ministry. Remus could see the seal of the Wizengamot on the papers so they were genuine. He felt like was being split in half. He tried to think what it meant exactly but his thoughts were just screaming to him that the papers were fake. His mind was not his at that moment.

"Kisha, give me the flushing potion." The woman quickly gave the potion to alpha.
"We are well prepared for this" Remus was too weak to fight him and soon he drank the potion. He started to throw up immediately.
"So my dear Remus tell me who is drugging you? What did you drink last and with whom?" Remus was covered in sick. He was still bound and could not even wipe his face. He remembered that cup of tea in Dumbledors office. The realisation made his thoughts ever messier than before. It must have been Albus who gave him laced tea. His inner voice however screamed at him that it could not be. Remus was far from stupid. In fact he was an extremely talented wizard with vast knowledge from all his years at Hogwarts. He realised that split thoughts were a symptom of very strong compulsion.
"Let me go. I need to get to Gringotts. I think I might be under compulsions."
Surprisingly they let him go. When he went back to the place where he hid his belongings he started to think that it was of course not true. He was not under any compulsions, Albus was leader of the Light faction. He would never do something like this. As soon as he noticed those thoughts he started to panic. If they will take over he is not gonna get to the bank. Talking aloud to himself helped. He was saying one thing only. "I need to get to Gringotts." He probably looked like a madman muttering to himself but it did not matter.
It was fortunate that it was night time and the bank will be thankfully empty of people. He realised he will spend his last money on the test however it did not stop him.
Muttering to himself, with the hood up he walked down Diagon Alley with one idea in mind. Get the test done.
Goblins were surprisingly obliging. So much so that they took him straight to the healing chambers. Later he asked them why and the answer was relatively simple - he looked so sick that they did not need an Inheritance Test to see that he needed healing.
In the end Remus went to his flat and went to sleep straight away. He was horrified with the results of the test goblins done on him in the healing chambers. He was drugged from the moment he sat foot in Hogwarts. The web of compulsions was so strong it took four goblin healers to break it. It targeted his inner wolf of course and there was a block on his magic as well. Everything had a magical signature of one and only Albus Dumbledore.

James was at his cottage with Lily. It was a fine morning and they were eating breakfast when suddenly there was a knock on the door. It turned out to be Remus and they were pleasantly surprised, inviting him in.
"Remus what are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be in Scotland?"

" Yeah well it did not go too well." Remus was still standing in the hallway clutching his Gringotts results in one hand.
"What happened?" James asked. Lily came from the room and was curious as well. "You need to read this." He gave them the results straight away.

What surprised him however was their reaction. There was no surprise or denial. James and Lily glanced at each other silently conversing like only a couple can do.
With a decisive nod James looked at Remus. " Remus, I want you to visit my mother and father. We should go right now. Do you have the time?"

Remus was a bit surprised but complied. "Yes, I have the time. We can go if you insist." They used the fireplace and flooed to Potter manor.

"James, is that you?" Dorea came straight away from the sitting room to meet them.
She hugged everybody and looked at them with question in her eyes.
"Mother, is it possible to call father as well? We need to show you something" James spoke with all seriousness he could muster to show how important the situation was.

"Of course." They were off to the study where they found Charlus neck deep in his work. WHen he noticed them he smiled warmly at them.
"Boys, you are on time. Dinner is going to be served soon." He hugged them as well. "Father, we need to show you something. These are the results of Remus' cleansing from Gringotts." He gave the documents to father and watched how his face fell. Melania looked at them as well and her eyes were alight with anger and fury.

"We need to go see Lord Black. He will explain everything to you Remus. You are not the first to suffer from Dumbledore."
They flooed to Castle Black straight away. After showing the results to Arturus Remus was told everything. He was speechless. Having all his friends there helped of course. He decided to spy on Order like Sirius and James already did.