From the Eyes of the Werewolf

Detention with the Slytherins

Peter is here...

Peter is here...

Remus ran over the words again and again in his mind as he stared at the words scratched out so quickly on the chalkboard. What did it mean? Why did Sirius write this? Why would Sirius even dare to mention Peter's name? And why would he say that Peter was here? It was unbelievable and quite disturbing; it seemed to Remus it only showed how addled and detached from reality Azkaban had made the man who had once been his friend.

Snape stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his fingers lightly rapping on his forearm. He waited for Remus to offer an explanation while casting a most vicious look in Remus' direction. Dumbledore, as well, waited for Remus to collect his thoughts, but he was polite enough not to stare at him.

After an uncomfortable silence, Remus admitted, "I don't know what it means."

"Convenient, don't you think," Snape said with a hiss, "that he chose your classroom to post his message."

"Well, one thing is for certain," Remus said. "He seems to know I'm here."

"Obviously!" Snape bellowed. "What is this Lupin? Some sort of secret code the two of you have worked out? You and your little band of troublemakers were always sending secret messages to each other. Is this how he's been communicating with you this entire year?"

"Severus," Dumbledore interrupted calmly, "I think it would be best if Remus and I could discuss this on our own. Would you be so kind as to excuse us?"

Snape was fuming, his nostrils flaring, but he knew better than to challenge Dumbledore. With a furious glance at Remus, Snape strode from the room.

"Now, perhaps we can discuss this more rationally," Dumbledore said, looking over his spectacles at Remus.

"I honestly have no explanation. I don't know what this means nor why Sirius Black would even say such a thing. We all know what happened to Peter."

"Unfortunately, yes. Perhaps it isn't the message itself that is important. Azkaban is a terrible place and most men go mad after a short time of being in the constant presence of the dementors. It is indeed likely that Sirius has fallen victim to this madness and this message is the proof."

Remus nodded in agreement. "True. That might even explain the curious events that occurred in Gryffindor Tower earlier this evening." Remus looked back at the writing and a thought suddenly occurred to him. "In what position is Ron Weasley's bed?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"His bed? Where is it located? Is it next to the door?" Peter's bed was the one next to the door. If Sirius thought that he saw Peter...

"I'm not certain," Dumbledore said curiously. "What are you thinking?"

"If Sirius has lost his mind, perhaps he mistook Ron Weasley for Peter...although they look nothing alike...but even still, the mind can play tricks on you. And the room was dark."

"Are you suggesting that Sirius thought he saw Peter Pettigrew up in Gryffindor Tower and that is why he didn't continue with his supposed attack?"

Remus turned to look at the older man. "Is it possible?"

"Anything is possible." He sighed and turned toward the door. "My dear Professor, I recommend that we call it a night. It is very late and there is much work to be done come morning. We will be making sure the castle is more secure than ever and I will need your help is setting up some new defensive charms. I also suggest that you erase the message and be certain not to mention it to anyone. We don't want the students getting word that Black has been in the classrooms as well."

"Professor - " Remus took an anxious step forward, not knowing just what he was going to say, but knowing what he should say.

"Yes?"

"About the security of the castle..." Remus cleared his throat in nervousness. "I think I might know how Sirius is getting in."

Dumbledore lifted his in eyebrows. "Oh?"

"Yes. You see, when we were students...we...well...we snooped around a lot." Remus felt his face grow hot. "We spent many a night out of bounds, wandering the halls of the castle."

Dumbledore chuckled. "I'm not surprised."

"I suppose many students go looking for secret passages and what not, but you see...we actually found them." He paused as Dumbledore squinted at him. "We found several secret passages, all of which Sirius knew how to get in and out of easily. Now, I have gone looking down all of these passages since his first break in and I have seen no sign that he is getting in through any of them."

"I agree. Mr. Filch has done a fine job himself in making sure all the passageways are protected. Sirius Black must be getting into the castle by some other means."

"I've considered a few options - dark magic being one." Remus took a deep breath. " But we also must consider that if he's not using a secret passage, then that leaves only one other option."

"The front door," Dumbledore said quietly.

"Yes. It's the only other way he could be getting in."

***

Security around the castle was heightened. Dumbledore had given assignments to all the members of the staff. Everyone holding a class outdoors was to escort students across the grounds. Filch was to place extra attention on all secret passageways into the castle, just in case. Flitwick was in charge of making sure the front doors could recognize Sirius Black by showing them the picture from the Daily Prophet.

Remus felt somewhat better having admitted to Dumbledore the fact that Sirius did indeed know all about the secret passageways, but something still nagged at his mind. Padfoot - Remus still hadn't told anyone that Sirius was an unregistered animagus. Yes, the front doors would be able to recognize Sirius Black...but would they recognize Padfoot?

But on the other hand, Remus was starting to wonder if Sirius would even be able to perform the animagus transformation. If he had gone mad after all those years in Azkaban, and all the evidence pointed that he was most certainly mad, then how could he manage such a complex spell? After all, it was so dangerous that the Ministry kept tabs on everyone who even attempted the transformation. Having spent so much time around the dementors, Sirius was bound to have lost control over his mind. It would almost certainly kill him if he tried to transform under those conditions. Remus reached the conclusion that Sirius couldn't possibly be using his Animagus skills to get into the castle...but he still should have at least told Dumbledore about Padfoot. Remus tried to push away his guilt over holding back this secret by concentrating on other matters.

For one thing, he had a detention to supervise. In Defense Against the Dark Arts class on Tuesday, he informed Mr. Malfoy and his cohorts that they would be needed Thursday evening and were to meet in the Great Hall for the punishment. He also instructed them to dress warmly and bring their dragon hide gloves with them.

The fifth year class had been studying resistance to curses this year. A few weeks ago, Remus had noticed that a small group of Murtlaps had made a home at the edge of Hogwarts Lake. The growth on a Murtlap's head, once pickled and eaten, will provide a resistance to certain curses. They would prove to be an excellent lesson if he could catch enough for the whole class.

On Thursday evening, a disgruntled group of Slytherins marched coldly into the Great Hall where Remus waited patiently. Crabbe and Goyle seemed, as ever, unwilling to say much of anything and hung behind Flint and Malfoy, obviously in deference to them. Marcus Flint managed to look more unpleasant than ever, and also remained silent. Only Draco Malfoy offered a very cold "good evening, professor" to him.

"Gentlemen. Thank you for showing up right on time."

Marcus Flint, a tall and gangly fellow sorely in need of a good dental potion, gave him a sneering smile, and asked brusquely what they were to be doing for Remus that night. Remus raised an eyebrow at him slowly, and Marcus did take the hint that his own head of house would have taken 10 points for that tone of voice, but Remus settled for Flint looking very slightly chastened. He then explained to them what the task was for the next few hours. With a sneer on his face, Draco rolled his eyes as he listened to Remus. "You will assist me in capturing several Murtlaps from around the lake," Remus began. "They resemble rat-like creatures, but with a rather peculiar growth on their heads. Do watch your step while at the edge of the lake as the Murtlaps will bite you if you accidentally tread on them," he warned.

Draco huffed and folded his arms indignantly. Ignoring him, Remus continued, "We will also need to collect some crustaceans for them to eat. Dead or alive - they have no preference."

"Mucking around in the lake? What kind of detention is this?" Draco grimaced.

"The dirty kind, so I suggest you roll up your sleeves and wear those gloves for protection." Remus didn't wait for a retort. He turned and led the students out towards the lake.

From behind him, Remus could hear Draco complaining. "He should have told us we would be getting dirty. That mud will ruin my new robes. But I suppose Lupin doesn't have a care about things like that. His robes are so old and torn that a bit of mud might actually do them good."

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.

Once they reached the lake, Remus sent the students to different areas around the lake where he could keep an eye on them. It was easier to catch Murtlaps if you were alone, so he needed the students to spread out. He himself started looking for some crustaceans, leaving the more difficult task of catching the Murtlaps to the students.

Remus paused every now to watch the students as they tried to do their work. Crabbe, while trying to dodge a rather pesky Murtlap, had fallen into the mud and was absolutely covered in grime. Goyle tried to help him to his feet but only ended up joining him in the mud when he slipped and fell in, too. Marcus Flint let out a yelp and jumped into the air when one of the creatures tried to sink its sharp little teeth into his over-sized foot. Draco was the first to actually succeed in capturing one of the creatures. He stuck out his tongue in disgust as he pulled it out of the mud and held it out at arm's-length while mud dripped off its wet body. Slowly the students got the hang of catching the Murtlaps and Remus paid more attention to gathering up the food for them. He whistled a bit as he waded through the water looking for his next victim.

About a half hour had passed when Remus felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Something wasn't right. He glanced around the lake at the students, checking to see that they were all accounted for. Another Murtlap was chasing Crabbe. Goyle was placing his recent capture in the container Remus had supplied. Flint was trying to wash some mud off his hands before moving on to his next creature. But where was Draco?

Remus turned to look around at the surrounding area. Draco had wandered over to a far wall where he was sitting down resting. But there behind him, through the trees, Remus could make out in the shadows the unmistakable form of a dementor looming towards Malfoy. Remus watched almost in slow motion as Draco turned to look up at the black figure, gasped, and tried to run away. The dementor must have come through the gate earlier and was now heading straight for Draco. Instinctively, Remus darted towards him as fast as he could, holding his wand out in front of him. Draco fell to the ground and covered his head as he screamed for help.

As he neared Draco and the dementor, the familiar pounding in his chest started and he could hear the howl of the wolf from so many years ago. He could feel his skin ripping under the force of the wolf's teeth. Focusing on the present and Draco, Remus reached the wall, pointed his wand at the dementor and yelled, "Expecto Patronum!"

A large, silvery dog charged at the dementor, pushing it back and away from Draco. Remus could still hear the wolf snarling in his ear, but the sound was fading fast. Panting, heart racing, Remus fell to Draco's side as the dementor headed back through the gate and to the other side of the wall. Draco was trembling, his hands covering his head protectively.

"Draco, are you all right?"

Slowly, Draco rolled over onto his side and tentatively looked up at Remus. Terror filled his face. "Is it gone?"

"Yes, it's gone. Are you all right?"

Draco sniffed and wiped at his eyes. He looked over his shoulder checking to see that the dementor was indeed gone. "Those things..." Draco looked Remus in the eyes and then quickly back down at the ground. "It was...awful..."

"You don't need to explain it to me, Draco. I know." Remus searched in his pocket and found a chocolate frog.

"It was cold..."

"Yes. That happens." He handed the chocolate over to Draco who took it unquestioningly.

"And I saw...I saw..." Draco sniffed again, keeping his eyes downcast. He nibbled on the frog as an excuse not to explain just what he had seen.

"Dementors make you relive the worst experiences of your life. For one so young, I don't expect you to have had too many awful experiences to relive. But then, you were effected quite badly."

Draco shot an angry glance up at him. "What are you saying?"

"I'm simply saying that no one can know exactly how a dementor will effect you. We can sympathize, but my worst experiences are certain to be very different then yours."

"I have a wonderful life," he said, sitting up and brushing down his mussed hair. "What I saw...wasn't really all that bad..."

"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?"

Again Draco's head snapped around so he could send a piercing glance at Remus. "My family is one of the wealthiest, most respected wizarding families in history. My father is a very powerful man and I hope to follow in his footsteps!"

Remus nodded silently, never taking his eyes off Draco. "That might be true, but whatever it was you saw doesn't have to have anything to do with your family."

"I never said it did!"

"Then why are you defending your father to me?"

Draco paused. After a moment of silence he stood up and brushed off the dirt form his robes. "Look, it's none of your business what I saw."

"No, it isn't. But maybe now that you have experienced a dementor first hand, you'll have a better understanding of just how cruel your joke at the Quidditch game was. Harry has lived though some very traumatizing moments. Based on what you felt tonight, I'm sure you realize now just how badly they effect him."

Remus waited as Draco pondered what he had said. The silence was thick and Remus knew Draco was feeling some guilt for what he had done. "Don't worry, Draco. I'm not going to make you apologize to Harry."

"I'm not going to apologize to him!" he said quickly.

"I don't expect you to. But I do expect you to stop making fun of him for his own troubles with the dementor."

Draco had turned away from Remus. "His troubled life isn't my problem. So what if You-Know-Who killed his parents!"

Remus took a step closer to Draco and very softly said, "Draco, is there nothing in your life you wish you never had to face?"

Over his shoulder Draco spat out his answer. "Of course not! I already told you, I am a Malfoy; there is nothing we NEED to fear!"

Remus sighed and walked around to face him. "You know, Draco, it takes real courage and strength of character to admit our fears. That's one thing that impressed me so greatly about Harry. He not only was willing to admit his fear, but he willingly faced it head on."

Remus started walking away when Draco asked, "What do you fear, Professor - poverty?"

Remus froze in mid step. To tell him anything but the truth would be hypocritical. Didn't you just tell him that it's a courageous thing to admit your fear? With a heavy sigh Remus said, "No Draco." He turned to him slightly. "I fear loneliness. But the two often go together...so in a way, I suppose I do." Remus couldn't keep his mind from pulling up images of all the people that had once been so close to him, and then had been taken from him; his parents...his friends...Katie. Katie was still alive at least, but he could never have a real life with her.

Remus started walking back to the lake and soon Draco was walking next to him, his head hung low. Remus knew that the conversation had affected Draco in more ways than he was willing to admit. Before they reached the other students, Draco said, "Sir, my father would have demanded to know what could have possibly scared me. But you still haven't asked me what it was I saw. "

"I am not your father, Draco. As you stated earlier, what you saw is your personal business. But if you ever want to talk, my door is always open."

The detention continued without event. They were able to capture more than enough Murtlaps, so Remus decided he would offer some to Snape to keep in stock. Once all the creatures were caged properly, Remus led the students back to the Great Hall and dismissed them to their Slytherin dungeon. But just before Draco rounded the corner of the Great Hall to disappear out of sight, he paused and gave Remus a respectful look. Remus almost had to do a double take, but he could have sworn he saw Draco smile politely before he left.