Behind the Mask

Chapter 5 - A grieving werewolf and a tingling scar

So here is where my story really begins. Harry had been sent to his relatives, for the summer holidays after his fifth year at Hogwarts, to renew the protection that the blood of his aunt and cousin gave him.

As always he had made a big fuss about wanting to stay at Hogwarts or at the Order's headquarters. At that time I did not understand why he refused to go to his relatives. I thought he just wanted to cause a scene to show he was above the rules, the rest of the students had to follow, like the spoiled celebrity I thought he was. If only I had known then how wrong my assumptions about him were, but to my shame I was as clueless as the rest of us.

I stayed at Grimmauld place during the summer, only occasionally flooing back to Hogwarts to get some books from my quarters or to brew a potion that needed to be made within the safety of the special security wards my potions lab was equipped with.

In his will, surprising as it was that the mutt had had enough brains to write one, Black had left the house to the Order and the only permanent occupants, residing there at this time, were Lupin and me.

Because we were in lack of a house elf, Kreacher having ran away as soon as his master was dead, Molly Weasley came by almost daily to cook and attempt to clean the house, even if it was a lost cause. The layers and layers of dirt, dust and cobwebs that had gathered during more than twelve years of neglect, wouldn't entirely yield to her cleaning charms. The house would have never become the sunny, homey place she wanted it to be, too much dark magic had been performed in it. The blood that had been spilled in the confines of these walls would always leave some traces of its existence behind, though they weren't visible ones.

Lupin wasn't the best company of course, even if I had been actually comfortable around the werewolf, something I was most certainly not, after what had happened at the Shack when we were in school together. Black's prank could have been fatal for me if Potter hadn't intercepted, and all just because Potter's lapdog hadn't liked the fact, that I had been in love with the same girl as his best friend.

Remus Lupin and me had been something like friends before this occurrence, I had tutored him in Potions and he, in turn, had helped me with Defense. We did get along quite well when he hadn't had his annoying friends in tow.

When the two of as were alone I saw a whole different side of him, one he usually did not show in public. During our tutoring sessions he transformed from the laughing and joking prankster into a quiet, thoughtful boy, who was highly intelligent and had a natural talent for teaching. Because of him my DADA marks increased remarkably.

After the attack, during which I discovered that he was a werewolf, I couldn't stand to be near him anymore and I had told him that in a rather crude way.

Although I logically knew that it was Black's fault and Lupin could have done nothing to prevent it, I was always reminded of the mortal fear and helplessness I had felt when he was attacking me, whenever I saw that last remaining marauder.

What had happened at the end of Harry's third year didn't help the matter either, it had reminded me too much of that fateful night and I was relieved that Lupin left Hogwarts afterwards. I hadn't been comfortable at all with Albus' decision, to let him teach at Hogwarts despite his condition and I couldn't refrain from being secretly gleeful, because I was proven right. I was barely able to restrain myself from telling the Headmaster 'I told you so.'

This summer I had been reluctant to stay at Grimmauld Place with the werewolf being there too, but the wards at the school had to be strengthened over the holidays, in case the Dark Lord would decide to attack Hogwarts, so I had no other options.

As things were, I hardly ever met Lupin during the first three weeks of the summer. He spend most of his time in the master bedroom he had shared with the mutt, grieving for his fellow canine and only coming out of the room if absolutely necessary to eat or take his wolfsbane during the full moon.

On this occasions I couldn't refrain from seeing his red rimmed eyes with the deep shadows beneath them and the general lousy state he was in. He must have really loved Black, even if I cannot think of a reason why someone could have loved that arrogant and stupid bastard.

As I discovered later, Black had been Lupin's mate since they were seventeen and due to the fact that once a werewolf has mated, he is bound to stay with his chosen mate until one of them dies, not even the years during which they were separated could destroy the feelings they held for each other.

Lupin had thought that Black had betrayed the Potters but he had still loved the idiot, not trusted him, but loved him. It must have been very difficult for him, being alone for so long. No wonder that they were back to behaving like a bickering, married old couple, as soon as Lupin had discovered that Black was innocent.

But now that the bastard was gone for good, and Lupin was alone once again, the former DADA teacher was almost good for nothing, rarely speaking more than one word at a time and annoying the hell out of me with his languidness about everything that happened around him. It was as if a major part of the werewolf had died with his beloved dog.

It was on a late afternoon in the third week of the holidays, when the scar in my palm, a reminder of the oath I had sworn to Lily, began to tingle. That had happened before, whenever Harry Potter had been in life threatening danger, so at least once a year since he had reached the age of eleven. I hastily got up from the kitchen table where I had been eating dinner, knocking over the teapot in my haste to reach the fireplace and call Albus.

As I approached it, the Headmaster was already there, talking with Lupin and sounding more worried than I had heard him in a long time.

'Albus, tell me what that stupid brat has got himself into this time,' I demanded to know.

'I do not know yet, Severus, my dear boy. The wards I put up at Harry's home, alarmed me only minutes ago that something is very wrong with him. I came here to meet Remus and Arthur. As soon as the latter arrives, we will go straight to Privet Drive to investigate what is happening there.' The twinkle that normally inhabited the Headmaster's eyes was absent and his face held a grave expression. 'I am afraid there is the possibility that Death Eaters are involved,' he said, sadly shaking his head. 'Have you heard anything recently that would indicate that Voldemort was planing to attack the boy?'

'No Albus, I am sorry but I have heard nothing about such plans.' The tingle in my scar had become more intense, like tiny needles being repeatedly shoved into my bare skin.

'I thought that no Death Eater could enter Harry's home because of the protection from his relatives' blood?' Lupin asked, seeming to be pulled out of the stupor, he had spent his life in for the past weeks, by his concern for Potter.

'They cannot enter the house or apparate into its direct surroundings, but if they were to catch Harry outside the warded area, I'm afraid there is nothing there to protect him. However, before I left him with his relatives, I told Harry not to leave the house in any case, until someone of the Order came to pick him up. So we shouldn't have to worry about this scenario occurring,' Albus said.

I levered a disbelieving gaze at the Headmaster, didn't the man see that his golden boy Potter was not one who followed orders or sticked to the rules? He was headstrong and stupid, just like his disgusting father had been. Albus didn't react, at least not in a visible way, but I knew he had noticed, nothing escaped that man's attention. He kept on talking:

'Also there exists a small loophole which I wasn't able to find a counterspell against. If someone inside the house were to invite the Death Eaters in, they would be able to enter.' The Headmaster frowned. 'But I do not think that his relatives would be foolish enough to actually do such a thing. I have sent them a letter to warn them of what could happen if they let any strangers inside.'

At this moment the fireplace blazed with green flames and Arthur stepped out coughing. 'Albus, I came as fast as I was able to, without raising suspicions at the ministry. The letter you owled me didn't give a reason why you wanted to meet me in such a hurry. So, what's going on?' He asked, his voice hoarse from inhaling too much floopowder and soot during his travel.

'I'm afraid there is something happening at Harry's home, Death Eaters might be involved so it wasn't save to mention it in a letter in case the owl got intercepted,' the Headmaster replied.

The eldest Weasley looked at him dumbstruck, apparently shocked by this revelation. 'But...but the wards, you said it was save for him there, otherwise I would have insisted to have him stay the summer at the Burrow, you know that Molly and I think of him as one of our own children.'

'Please, could we discuss that later? You are wasting time we don't have. We have to get to Harry as soon as possible, he could get killed otherwise if we aren't there to help him. I can't loose him too. I just bloody can't.' Lupin's voice steadily increased in volume until he nearly shouted. He had to be more distressed then I assumed, to raise his voice in front of the Headmaster.

'I am sorry, Remus, my boy. I know how important Harry is to you. We will apparate in an instant,' Albus said, then he turned to address me: 'Severus, I am afraid you will have to stay behind, in case there really are Death Eaters there, your cover would be blown and you are too valuable to our cause to risk that.'

'But...' I was about to tell him that I had to go there, cover be fucked, my oath entitled me to do so. But he interrupted me: 'If you would be so kind to meanwhile arrange a bedroom for Harry and contact Poppy to come here immediately, that would be very helpful. We will hopefully be back soon.'

'But...' I tried again but he wouldn't let me finish my sentence. 'Sorry, Severus but that will be the last word in that matter. Will I have to actually have to order you to stay here?'

'No, Headmaster.' If gazes could kill, Albus would have dropped dead on the floor at this instant. The tingling sensation in my scar was getting more painful by the minute and I knew from experience, that I wouldn't have any peace until the brat wasn't in danger anymore.

The three men disapparated instantly and left me standing alone in the bloody headquarters. I hated staying behind and helplessly having to wait for what news they would bring. I stared at the spot they had just vacated for about a minute, before I sighed, straightened and walked up the stairs to prepare a room.