At around seven thirty, Harry had cleaned up and changed into his daily uniform, and headed downstairs to join his housemates for breakfast. His stomach and ankle were still a little sore, but the episkey spell Missy cast was helpful, without a doubt. At the very least he appreciated that his gait was only somewhat impeded, and that with the following day being a calisthenics day it afforded him an additional day of rest.

"Harry!" Tallulah squeaked as she saw him approach the Horned Serpent table. "I heard about your scuffle with Replogle and his gang earlier. I hope you're all right…"

Harry chuckled softly to himself as he took his seat. "I'm no worse for the wear…"

"I'll say," Ana remarked. "I saw you curled up in a ball beside the jogging track maybe forty five minutes ago… now you look strong enough to yank the antlers off a jackalope!"

Othniel tilted his head. "Wait – those things are real?"

Ana rolled her eyes, then went back to her western omelet.

Tallulah's eyes widened as she pointed toward the faculty table. "Oh look, Professor Lupin's back! That's good to see…" Lupin looked to be his usual self, as he was lost in conversation – even laughing – with Professor Clemente.

The din of the mess hall was abruptly interrupted with a flurry of owls. A particularly large brown spotted owl dropped a rolled-up parchment in front of Ana's plate, which she unfurled without delay:

"24 September 1991

Dear Miss Harrison,

I hope this note finds you well. As such, I formally welcome you to the Horned Serpent Quiz Bowl team – I have complete confidence that you'll be a most worthy addition to our prestigious program.

The first team meeting will be held in my office this Thursday at 4:30 PM. Please be advised that all meetings are mandatory, and tardiness or unexcused absences will not be tolerated. Failure to abide by these standards will result in disciplinary action – up to and including permanent disqualification from the Quiz Bowl team.

If I don't address all of your questions or concerns during the meeting, you may approach me afterwards and I'll be happy to discuss them with you.

Sincerely,

Sen. Prof. L. E. Frye"

Tallulah arched an eyebrow. "Quiz Bowl?"

Ana smiled and nodded. "Yup. Got my first meeting Thursday after class."

"Right on," added Othniel. "Are you excited?"

"Definitely," squeaked Ana. "I've watched last year's competitions… I knew a lot of the answers and it just sort of boggles the mind how often upperclassmen just freeze up and blurt something out without thinking."

"Don't say it can't happen to you, Ana," warned Harry. "You're probably the smartest person in our house… but even talented people struggle with pressure."

Ana sighed. "I know, Harry… outside of the two years I spent on the softball team – I'll pretend they never happened – I don't really have a lot of experience being on an organized team. I know a lot of pressure's going to be on me, but I think I'm up to the challenge."

"You're going to rock it, Ana," Othniel said with conviction. "And I know this sounds kinda weird, but for a girl that's amazing at thinking… you might not want to overthink."

Ana giggled. "You're probably on to something there. And that's easier said than done!"

That Thursday afternoon, Harry, Tallulah, and Othniel paid Professor Lupin a visit during their free period. Although Harry appeared to be unfazed, both Tallulah and Othniel bore apprehensive looks, which was justifiable considering what Anastasia revealed to them earlier in the week.

"Hello, Harry," Lupin said warmly. "I see you've brought your housemates with you this time. Very good." He turned to Tallulah and Othniel. "Hello, Tallulah. Hello, Othniel. Welcome to my humble office… would any of you care for some puckerberry juice? Perhaps a puckerberry jelly roll, a pumpkin pastie or the like?"

"Yes, Professor," the three children replied. Lupin flicked his wrist, and a pitcher of juice poured some of the familiar greenish-yellow liquid in three cups, which floated directly to the children's outstretched hands. He then opened a cabinet, and grabbed a small tray with various pastries and placed it on his wooden desk.

Lupin grinned at the youths. "Help yourselves." The children eagerly began to dig into the pile of goodies.

Tallulah dabbed the corners of her mouth with a napkin once she had finished her pumpkin pastie and drink. She then threw Lupin a somewhat-nervous look. "Erm, Professor Lupin? I've got a rather… personal question for you…"

Lupin nodded. "What's on your mind, Tallulah?"

Tallulah began trembling, and couldn't meet the professor's eyes. "Erm, sir… are you… are you a werewolf by any chance?"

Lupin raised an eyebrow. "Whatever gave you that idea?" To Tallulah's shock, he didn't appear angry – if anything, he almost seemed amused, as if he were resisting the urge to chuckle.

"Your absence on Monday… it coincided with a full moon, and last week Anastasia saw Madam L handing you a potion – a wolfsbane potion I think it's called – I guess she kinda put two and two together."

"If it's true," chimed in Othniel, "your secret's safe with us. We won't tell anyone, honest."

"We don't care if you are," Harry confirmed. "You're one of our favorite teachers… if there's a cure for your condition, we'll help you find it."

Lupin's expression remained impassive. "Your friend Anastasia is quite astute, as always." He made just the barest of nods. "Not many witches or wizards – irrespective of age – would have guessed that." He let his head droop, and let out a small, soft sigh. "It's true… I'm afflicted with lycanthropy." He then turned at Harry and smiled. "I appreciate your empathy, and I wish there was a viable cure for my condition, but as it stands… the only one I know of is suicide…"

"That's the easy way out," Tallulah blurted. "Professor Fontaine obviously saw something in you to get the position of Defense professor… you're worth far more to this school alive."

"I've toyed with the idea of suicide more times than I care to admit," Remus half-whispered. "It's been a rough few years after I graduated from Hogwarts, I assure you… but teaching has renewed my sense of purpose."

"So… how did you become a werewolf?" asked Othniel. "Was it something you were born with?"

Lupin shook his head. "Werewolves aren't born… they're made. Many years ago… when I was even younger than you three, I was attacked by another werewolf named Fenrir Greyback. He has the reputation for being the most fearsome werewolf in the British Isles… his bites and scratches have infected more people – magical and non-magical alike – than any other known werewolf. Unfortunately, not all of his victims have survived his attacks, but it's possible that death may be preferable to lycanthropy."

"Have you attacked anyone?" asked Othniel. "You seem so nice, I can't imagine you wanting to hurt anyone."

"The last thing I want to do is hurt anyone," replied Lupin. "For the public's protection, I've been hidden away each full moon. Even if it was just for a day, it was very lonely not being able to see my friends… a least until they learned how to assume their animagus forms."

"Animagus?" squeaked Tallulah. "Like, transforming into an animal?"

"Precisely," murmured Lupin. "Once my friends learned of my whereabouts every month, the all eventually learned to shapeshift into various animal forms so that I wouldn't have to be alone every full moon… Sirius assumed the form of a large black dog, Roger's was a kangaroo, James transformed into a stag, and…" His voice trailed into little more than a bitter-sounding creak. "Peter took on a rat."

"Why did they have to shapeshift to visit you?" asked Harry. "Did it grant them some sort of protection against your werewolf form?"

Lupin smiled at Harry. "Correct, Harry. Werewolves are known to target humans specifically, as it's exceedingly rare for them to attack other species. By assuming animal forms, my friends were free to visit me without fear of being harmed."

Harry looked his professor in the eye. "I'm going to help you find a cure one day, Professor. You have my word."

Lupin placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I appreciate the sentiment, Harry, but I'm afraid that's going to be next to impossible… even in the magical world."

Despite Lupin's pessimism, Harry remained stoic and undeterred. "It's not impossible, sir. There is a cure out there… I don't have proof, but…I just know it. It may take a long time – years even – but I promise you, we'll find it for you."

"I wish I had your blind faith," replied Lupin with a faint smile, "but if you're right, you'll have my eternal gratitude."

Later that afternoon, Ana knocked on Professor Frye's office door. "Come in," purred the Horned Serpent house head. "Oh good, you're nearly fifteen minutes early for the meeting, Miss Harrison. Please, have a seat in the meantime." Over the next several minutes, the rest of the Horned Serpent Quiz Bowl team assembled in Frye's office for the first official meeting of the term.

Some of the older students eyed Ana suspiciously, and even mumbled amongst themselves before the meeting commenced. An upperclassman, likely a sixth or seventh-year student, mumbled something along the lines of, "what is that runt doing here?" to one of his friends. Ana did what she could to ignore the looks of disapproval from her teammates, but the immediate rejection stung her harder than she ever could have imagined.

After the meeting finished a half hour later, Morgan Doolittle, a squat fifth-year girl with short chestnut hair and chocolate brown eyes, stopped Ana in the hallway. She narrowed her eyes and sneered at the younger girl. "You don't belong on the team, Harrison," she growled. "You're not one of us. You stole a spot which rightfully belongs to one of your elders."

Tears threatened to spill down Ana's cheeks. "But I made the team fair and square," she replied. "Professor Goode said I was good enough to compete."

Morgan's arrogant façade only intensified. "Professor Goode is a Thunderbird. She only put you on the team to improve her own house's odds at winning the Quiz Bowl Cup." She shook her head in dismay. "You're just a little girl that barely knows anything about magic."

"I've studied my ass off to finish top of my class last term," Ana said, as hot, angry tears streamed out of her hazel eyes. "I know a lot more than you think."

"Doesn't matter," spat Morgan. "I think I speak for the rest of the Horned Serpent team when I say that your presence isn't exactly appreciated. If I were you, I'd quit now, and save our house the embarrassment…" Ana stormed off toward the Horned Serpent tower in a distraught state, as Morgan snickered to herself in satisfaction.

Twenty minutes later, a still-sobbing Ana felt the gentle touch of someone's hand on her shoulder.

"Hey there, Anastasia. Is there something I can help you with?"

Ana looked up and saw the smiling face of Missy the trustee. "Oh, hi Missy," she wheezed. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this… apparently my teammates don't think I'm experienced enough to be on the team… one of them even told me I should quit…"

"They're just jealous of you," Missy assured Ana. "Most of your teammates didn't get in until at least their fifth year. I made the team last year – on my third attempt, no less – but I decided against trying out this year as I wanted to more fully focus on my trustee duties." Her smile broadened. "Pay them no mind. You're the brightest witch of your year… and truthfully, one of the brightest in all of the wizarding world. Professors Frye and Goode wouldn't have selected you if they didn't think you had what it took to be a member of the team."

"Morgan Doolittle said that Professor Goode only selected me to improve her own house's odds of winning the Quiz Bowl," Ana murmured. "Regardless if that's true or not, that's just a mean thing to say."

"That's a bunch of baloney. Professor Goode is a Thunderbird at heart, but she's also very impartial," countered Missy. "You really should know better. If you were a Thunderbird, Morgan would say that Professor Goode selected you to give her house an unfair advantage." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Look at me, Anastasia. Morgan's smart, but you're smarter than she is. Way smarter. She's in my year, and she threw a temper tantrum in the dorms last spring when she learned that I was selected as trustee instead of her."

"Thanks Missy," replied Ana. "I wish you were on the team… I wish I had you to back me up."

"I know you do," agreed Missy. "Your teammates might not appreciate you much right now, but you'll prove your worth soon enough."