Princess of the Night

Remus and Rhea

October 31, 1988. Seven years had passed. Seven long years since Voldemort's downfall. Seven long years since the World's worst tyrant was defeated... Seven long years since Remus Lupin had lost all his friends in the span of just 24 hours... The werewolf, presently seated in the kitchen of his modest home, where he lived all alone, was reflecting on the events of that one night. That hated night. James and Lily were killed by Voldemort; Peter was blasted to pieces; Sirius had betrayed them all... and was now in Azkaban.

Sirius Black. The dark haired lady-killer who was his friend - NOT. He was Remus' friend at some point, or so Remus thought... Sirius had sold out James and Lily, and Harry, to Voldemort. What Sirius had done was bothering him. He would never have believed it, but Sirius had accepted, they told him. Sirius wanted to show his loyalty to his master... He had accepted in public that he had killed James and Lily; and he was sent to Azkaban without a trial. They told him how he had killed all those people with one single curse, how he had blasted Peter to pieces, how he had laughed like a maniac... They had to tell him, because he didn't know. They had to tell him because that night, that fatal night, was the night of the wolf. He knew nothing until after everything had happened. And when he did, it was too late. Way too late.

Remus Lupin hated his life for being so unfair. He had always hated it before he joined Hogwarts. But at Hogwarts, he met his true friends. Friends who cared for him, friends who he could share with. Friends who understood what he felt. Hogwarts was the only place where he was treated just like everyone else. It was the only place where people didn't give a damn about him being a wolf once a month. Oh yes, he loved Hogwarts... How could anybody not like the place? Hogwarts was his home for seven years... Seven, long, fun-filled years.

But the last seven years were hell. He had no friends, no job, and no money. And he was a werewolf. What more reason did he need to not live? He didn't have a family - his parents were long dead and he was never quite a looker for any girl to near him... But he couldn't kill himself. No. He wasn't brave enough to attempt suicide. But suicide isn't the only way to death for a person like him, and he knew it. And he knew, that the wolf was lurking beneath, waiting for his chance to come out. He had been continuously suppressed for over three years now... Suppressed with Wolfsbane. Remus never had the money to buy the potion - it was more than costly! And he was too awful a brewer to brew it himself. But Dumbledore had it made for him every month by his "excellent Potions Master", as the old man puts it. And Remus had had extremely peaceful moons ever-since.

But this month, he had not had a single batch. The vials which had been sent to him were all there, un-opened, un-touched. And tonight was the full-moon... And if Remus was not much mistaken, and he was pretty sure he wasn't, it would be a violent one. A very violent one. Of course, he wouldn't die. No. But if he continued doing the same for a few more months...

The full moon rose high into the sky, and Remus Lupin was no longer in charge of his body for the rest of the night. The star-less sky was filled with shrieks and moans and the moon had an evil grin plastered on its face.

***

Every month of the year has a day, when the population of a community of part-wizards increases - the day after the full moon. And today was no different. And among those innocent newcomers, those pitiful souls who battle through the night to achieve either a violent death or a cursed life, was a seven year old girl, lying in a special ward in St. Mungos', presently asleep. There was no-one and nothing around her bed, not even a flower vase. But outside her ward, stood a group of people.

"But this is insane!" Healer Sirona Matt was furious. "You want to throw out your own daughter because she was bitten? You won't take her in, though she shares your own blood, just because she shares her body with a wolf? Mr. Rhodde - she's your daughter!"

"That - thing- is no daughter of mine! I'm not endangering the lives of my wife and my kids for her sake!"

"What!? Mrs. Rhodde," she turned to the girl's mother, "surely, you want her to live with you?"

"No. I agree with what Allen said. We're not taking her in. She wasn't born to us. Our kids are more important to us."

"Will you not think about it again?"

"This is our decision. You can send her where you like, we don't care." And Mr. and Mrs. Rhodde just turned back and walked away. They walked away, leaving behind an angry healer; they walked out of the Hospital; they walked away, leaving behind a confused child, sobbing silently in her bed.

***

"Remus?" It was 11 in the morning, and Remus was in his kitchen. He was horribly wounded and was bleeding badly, aching all over. He was in a position to drag himself into the kitchen only about an hour ago. Presently, he was sipping some coffee, mixed with fire-whiskey, when someone apparated into the kitchen.

"Remus! Wha- Bu-" Minerva McGonagall was dumbfounded at what she saw. Yes, she had expected Remus to be a bit unwell, but this was a nightmare!

"Minerva..." Remus said weakly. He was surprised. He hadn't expected any visitors today, least of all his ex- Transfiguration professor. He tried thinking up some kind of an explanation, but Minerva was too fast for him. Her eyes fell on the Mantelpiece, where a number of vials of Wolfsbane were kept.

"You didn't take your Potion the entire month? What were you thinking, Remus Lupin?" She was practically screaming.

"Minerva, it's not like that! I- it's just -"

"Just what? Remus, what is happening? Why have you done this to yourself? You did this on purpose, why? Remus, I- I'm shocked you - I never imagined - !"

"I- I can't stand to live this life anymore." Remus looked down. He couldn't face her. Not when she was this furious.

"What? But-" She opened her mouth, tried to speak, closed her jaws tight and swallowed. She took a deep breath, and then spoke again, her tone stony and business like.

"Professor Dumbledore wanted me to bring you to Hogwarts because he needed to discuss something important with you. He sent a portkey, because he thought you wouldn't be in a position to floo there. But obviously, you're in no position to travel anywhere. I will ask him to come down here. "She threw some floo powder into the fire and a few seconds later, Dumbledore appeared into the kitchen. He took one look at the werewolf and instantly knew what must have happened. But he didn't speak about that just then.

"Good morning Remus." Remus nodded. "I have come to ask for a favour. Last night saw another innocent victim -" Remus raised his head to look into Dumbledore's deep blue eyes. "- a seven year old girl. Her family has disowned her - she has no relatives. I want you to adopt her. Looking at your present state, I'm sure it will do well to both of you."

And they left, Dumbledore and McGonagall. Remus couldn't stop them. He can't say no to Dumbledore - he shouldn't. But adopting a child...

***

"Hullo." Remus extended his hand to the shy girl who had just entered his house and was staring, looking around. "Hullo." Remus repeated. The girl just stared back at him with big, blue-black and hypnotizing eyes. She looked back when the door closed behind her, after the man in mid-night blue robes and the really long beard had come in. He kept his hand over her shoulder.

"You'll be living here now. Do you like it?" She nodded. She looked at Remus again. "I'll be taking care of you." he said. "I'm Remus," he bent down and extended his hand again, which she shook now, "what's your name?"

"Ariana Rhodde. But everyone calls me Rhea."

"Hullo Rhea. You can call me Moony."

"Remus, Rhea, I should be leaving now. I hope you'll get along with each other. We'll meet tomorrow." And Dumbledore apparated out of sight.

"Um - why don't you come in and sit down?" Rhea nodded. They walked into the living room and sat on the very old, but clean sofa. Remus didn't know what to do or what to say. He had never dealt with small kids before, except once when he was trying to help James bathe Harry while Lily was out shopping...

"Err - so, um - would you like anything to eat, Rhea?"

"No." she shook her head. She opened her mouth to speak again, but this time, her voice was shaking slightly.

"Umm- Moony?"

"Huh?"

"Can I ask you something?"

Remus sighed. He wasn't totally unprepared for this - of course he had expected this, given the girl's background. But still, one does hope certain things don't ever happen...

"Yes?"

"Are werewolves bad? Am I bad? Is that why mum and dad didn't want me anymore?"

Remus took a deep breath before he spoke. "No, my dear child. Werewolves are not bad - we're mis-understood."

"We? Are you...?"

"Yes. I'm a werewolf as well. I- I was bitten when I was three..."

"Three?! Did- did your parents-"

"No. They didn't have this misunderstanding most people have. A werewolf is a human being for most of the time. During full-moons, the wolf takes control of the body. YOU are still there, but you can do nothing but watch... The human has no control over what the wolf does... Anyway, I want you to know this - after wolfsbane was invented, transformations are much more bearable. You only transform physically; but you have full control over your actions..."

"Then why didn't the werewolf who- who bit me," she bit back a cry, which Remus thought, was a lot of self control from a child that young, "why didn't he take wolfsbane then?" She looked down and started sobbing silently. Remus got up and sat next to her. He put a comforting arm around her shoulder and she started sobbing uncontrollably, and hugged him.

"Shhh, Rhea, calm down. I know it's difficult...."

"Now mum and dad don't want me either! Why didn't he take Wolfsbane? Why?"

"Rhea, I know you're very young, but try to understand what I'm telling you, ok? Not everyone can afford wolfsbane. People who are werewolves - people like us - hardly get jobs. So the question of buying the potion is far off... And it's a difficult potion to brew - not many people can make it. I can neither make it, nor buy it. It's only because of Professor Dumbledore that I get the Potion every month... He gets it made for me... But all people are not as lucky as that... You understand, don't you? Don't you, Rhea?"

"Ye- yes..." She tried to stop crying, but tears kept pouring from her eyes. "But it's difficult."

"We all know it's difficult. But imagine how difficult it must have been for the man inside the wolf to see everything happening, but be able to do nothing about it. Imagine how difficult it must be for him to know that he has turned the life of a little girl into hell. I would kill myself if anything of the sort ever happened."

Rhea looked up at Remus with tear filled eyes. She had lost her home, and was sharing her body with a wolf. She hadn't thought about anyone else until now. And when she did, it occurred to her that one day, she might turn someone else into a werewolf. What would she do then?

"I promise I'll learn how to make Wolfsbane, and I promise I'll never bite anyone."

***

It was a week since Rhea had arrived and Remus was already attached to her. She was a loving child, and once she had gotten over the initial period of pain and shock, Remus learnt that she was almost always cheerful and smiling. Rhea was enjoying herself as well. She enjoyed the company of her new guardian, and was really glad he was a good cook.

"Moony?"

"Hmm?"

"This full moon? Where will we, um, transform?"

"In the attic. We'll go in there and bolt the door from the inside to not let the wolves escape..."

"But, I thought the Wolfsbane...?"

"We're not taking wolfsbane this month. This will be your first, er, transformation as such. It might be slightly poisonous to take wolfsbane for the first time without knowing the true nature of the wolf. I suggest you go without the potion for at least 2 months... I'll do the same as well. You need to know why it's so bad... I wish you were older, but we can't help it." And all through the speech, Remus looked directly into Rhea's eyes and never once blinked. He wanted her to believe him. It seemed strange, that this little girl, a complete stranger till about a week ago, was now an important part of his life. She gave him a purpose to live, and, in return, he gave her a home.

But with Rhea's arrival, Remus had other things to worry about. Until he was alone, he had to take care of himself only. Now, he had the additional responsibility of Rhea. This would mean he needed more money. He hadn't inherited anything, and he had no permanent job. Now, he would have to look for one. But wasn't that the one thing that was next to impossible for him? Of course, he was well qualified. He had graduated from Hogwarts with 5 Outstanding NEWTs and 4 Exceeds Expectations. If he was normal, he would have been in the ministry. Or even better, he would have been allowed to pursue his Healers' degree after Hogwarts, and he would have been in St Mungos' by now - that had been what he had always wanted to do... But he wasn't normal. No. He was a werewolf, and werewolves can't become healers! Oh no! Healers save people's lives, but werewolves, well, they're just there to kill and infect, aren't they? How CAN they make decent healers?

They had turned him down, though he had an excellent academic record. Remus had, of course, expected this. He had come to learn, very early in life, that only his true friend would look at him, and not the wolf. Infect, he would have been definitely surprised if he had been accepted at St Mungos'. So, obviously, he had another option in mind - to work in a Joke Shop. His friends had of course approved of it - why wouldn't they? - and he spoke to Zanew Zonko, the owner of Zonko's Joke shop. But he failed yet again...

He had applied for a job at the ministry, but, well, he was a werewolf, wasn't he? But he has survived all these years by doing all sorts of odd jobs. He even worked for muggles a bit - always using magic and getting the work done faster and better when they weren't looking. He even used to write articles for Daily Prophet once in a while to earn a few Galleons, but that was before Dolores Umbridge entered the ministry.

Now, he'll have to look for a job. He can't depend on Dumbledore for everything - his pride won't allow him to do that! Perhaps Florean, quite a good friend of his, might be able to get him a job in Diagon Alley. Or maybe he could help out Madam Malkin at her Robe shop... He should try Hogsmeade as well, the Post office might want his part-time services maybe? He should get some sort of a job, even if it lasts only for a week or two... He just had to. He had to take good care of Rhea.