Werewolves at Hogwarts

Chapter 34

Professor McGonagall and Madame Pomfrey came to escort the four werewolves down to the Pack Hall, as they insisted on calling it these days. At the doorway, Andy turned and barred the way, Malcolm at her shoulder. "I'm sorry Professor; this is as far as you can go. If you put human scent into our area when we haven't had any Wolfsbane potion, it will drive us all totally mad by the end of the night. I don't even know how we are going to cope with the scent of house elves all over everything."

"Very well Miss Path, I don't think you can get into any further trouble tonight. We'll be back in the morning to check on you."

"Goodnight Professor, Madame Pomfrey, and don't worry, we'll be fine." Andy smiled reassuringly and shut the door.

There was a stirring of clothes behind them and Andy turned on her toes a wide grin on her face. "Are we all here? Who has the parchments? Oh thank you Henry! If you want a Gryffindor secret kept safe, give it to a Slytherin! What do they say? Are they still yet? It will have to be soon, we only have an hour before Moon."

"Slow down Sweetbriar, we have a confirmed set of coordinates but there may be a problem. According to the papers, both of them are in the same place." Chandler held out the sheets for Andy to compare.

"Has any one any thoughts, anyone? Ideas, wild speculation even?"

"It occurs to me that one way to really screw up a life is to curse someone. And if you have one werewolf, why not let him turn the other prisoner into a werewolf too," Henry said apologetically.

Malcolm snarled but Andy held up a hand. "If you are in the business of turning perfectly innocent werewolves into potion ingredients, it would make sense to increase your trade goods and get rid of an inconvenience at the same time. So, where are they?"

"Near as we can figure, they are in Devon on the coast, near Wellmouth Bay," Liam Jones said helpfully.

"I have family down there," Andy remarked casually as she counted noses and did some calculations. "Alright Chandler, you lead the Shacklebolt party, I'll lead the Lupin party. Mary, Lisa, Porter, Liam, Theowyn, you are with Chandler. Rose, Paul, Charlie, Henry, Lucille, Malcolm, you are with me. If we apparate as a circle, wands out, and if we each have a hex ready just in case, we should be okay. Chandler, take Mary, Rose take Paul, Henry, take Charlie. We go on the count of three, people."

~~*~~

Luanna opened her door and smiled nervously over her shoulder at the man who followed her in. She was nervous, as he moved differently now that moon was only an hour away, padding in a long swinging stride that was distinctly predatory. Even his smile seemed wider and toothier, but she knew it was just her imagination as he dropped his duffle bag down by the couch.

"This is home, such as it is," she offered, swinging her hands in a circle. "The bathroom and bedroom are through there, kitchen and living room here. Do you want some coffee?"

"No but water would be nice, and meat if you have it. I need some protein to compensate for the change."

"Okay, how do you like your steak?" she asked as she hurried to the kitchen.

"Er, raw, in chunks, in about an hour and a half," he murmured apologetically as he ghosted up behind her, making her jump nervously. "I knew I should have stayed at Auror headquarters."

"But they were going to put you into a cell!" Luanna turned quickly, a slightly horrified look in her eyes.

Drajan grinned. "Yes well, I didn't much fancy that bit either," he confessed sheepishly. "Look, I had better warn you that Transition is a noisy process and you need to set up a lot of silencing charms all around the room. It's not pretty to watch either, so I can do it in the bathroom, if that's easier for you."

"No, the bedroom would be more comfortable for you, no corners to knock yourself out on. Look, why don't we both just relax and take it one step at a time," Luanna asked, spinning to lean back against her kitchen counters. "You turn the charm levels down and I'll stop acting like a blushing virgin bride, okay?"

The werewolf went off into fits of laughter as he padded out of the kitchen and into the bedroom to lay in his own charms on floor, ceiling and walls. Luanna propped her shoulders on the doorway to watch him prowl and investigate, an amused smile curving her lips as he sniffed and prodded rather like a curious canine. He caught her smile and shrugged depreciatingly, following her out into the sitting room where she handed him a glass.

"Try that, see if it helps," she murmured as he sniffed curiously.

"It's good, what is it?" he asked as he licked the inside of the cup clean much to Luanna's amusement. Judy was right; he had one very long tongue!

"It's a mixture of beef tea and sports drink," she told him as she poured more and flipped on the TV which made him jump and turn as fast as an adder. "Sorry, I like to watch the Muggle news; it keeps me up to date and sometimes offers clues to our problems."

"By all means, watch the TV," he said, his eyes glazing, his mouth hanging as the TV sucked him in.

Luanna shook her head and guided him to the couch before settling beside him, one eye on the clock. TV often affected Wizards like a mesmerism machine.

~~*~~

The brown bird stared back at him, its intelligent golden eyes blinking slowly as it held out its leg to him. Shacklebolt stared back, wondering if he was hallucinating, or had finally gone mad with fear. Deciding he possibly had not; he slowly reached out and plucked the parchment from the owl's leg.

"Sorry, I don't have a treat for you," he muttered, the bird hooting most understandingly before it took off and swooped out of the barred window.

As the first bird left another swooped in silently and landed beside Lupin, who hadn't moved for at least an hour. It pecked at his hand, trying to get him to take the parchment from its leg but the werewolf was unconscious, possibly dead.

"No, he's not dead or the owl wouldn't deliver," Kingsley said aloud, the bird turning its head to look at him. "Here, come here and I'll give it to him as soon as he wakes up."

The bird pecked Remus' hand again but got no response so it came over to Kingsley and allowed him to take the message before it left.

Shaking his head Kingsley moved slowly until he could bring his hands together and unroll the parchment of his letter. His jaw dropped when he read the sender's name, a sentimental tear escaping when he thought about his little girl whom he was never going to see again. "Ah Baby, how come you thought to write me a letter?" he asked the ceiling, blinking hard.

Dear Dad

Andy said writing never hurt anything so I thought I would write and tell you I love you and that we are still looking hard for you. Mum won't let me leave school and join in the hunt because it might be dangerous, but we thought that was crazy. She also said Dads like to keep letters from their kids, so put this in your pocket, please, just for me.

So, how are you? I hope they are not being nasty to you but that's a vain hope, I suppose. School is really strange at the moment because Professor Lupin has disappeared too, and everyone is worried about him. Professor Snape didn't come back from holidays either and so the werewolves have no Wolfsbane potion. Paul was sort of frightened about that but Charlie said it would be fine, and we all put in a couple of chocolate frogs for them so that they would recover quicker after transition.

Tomorrow I am going to be celebrating a fantastic prize that I am winning tonight so bear up; you might be in time to see us win it. I am hoping our efforts will not be in vain and I am sending you all my love and best hope.

Hugs and Kisses

Mary

Kingsley folded the parchment very carefully and put it inside the remains of his under robes. At least he would have something of his daughter with him when he ceased to exist. Unrolling Lupin's letter, he smiled at the bold writing and looping capitals. This writer was very confident and full of themselves, probably female but dominant enough to be male.

Dear Alpha,

Hold on to this parchment as it contains a lot of hope and best wishes for your safe return. We're doing alright even though Paul is a bit frightened of changing without the Wolfsbane. We decided that adults are so slack about things kids think are important, so the Gryffindors have been giving us chocolate frogs.

We infer from the rumours that they are trying to turn you into potion ingredients but it won't happen, you have too many people wishing you good Karma for that to come about. As I said, keep this close for good luck.

Fondest regards from

The Hogwarts Pack.

"It will take a bit more than good Karma to get us out of this one, Lupin," he muttered but folded the parchment and floated it to land on Lupin's barely moving chest. "Only an hour to go, old man, and that's it for us."

~~*~~

The twelve students arrived at the coordinates in two circles of six, all facing outward, all ready to fight if they had to. Mary let out a squeal as she spotted her father attached to the wall with chains. He raised his head and stared, giving it a little shake as if he didn't believe his eyes at first.

"Oh Merlin; it's true!" he gasped surveying the party of twelve.

"Dad!" Mary flung herself at her father's chest and he tried to wrap his arms around her but the chains dragged his hands flat against the wall again.

"Here, let's see what we can do with those," Chandler grinned, hitting them with a Finite incantatem which turned them into loose string, which was easily cut away.

Kingsley wrapped his arms around the daughter he thought he would never see again, unabashed tears pouring down his face. Chandler's team stood around with goofy grins on their faces as the reunion grew lachrymose until Andy yelled for Chandler to get his arse over there.

"Oh shite; is he even breathing?" Chandler asked as he crouched beside the mangled remains of their DADA teacher.

"He's still alive, but only just. Henry, did you get the potions I asked for?"

"Of course," the Slytherin said passing over half a dozen vials. "I wish I had taken more but Madame Pomfrey came back too soon and Snape only had a few on his shelves."

"We did healing charms last week, we could try those," Theowyn said, moving to the other side.

"Every bit will help. He has to go through transition and it may kill him yet," Malcolm stated flatly as he cast his own healing charms over his Alpha.

Kingsley rose and allowed Mary to help him over to the badly damaged werewolf. "You'll have to heal his internals first, forget the outsides. What potions do you have? Good, fill him as full of the fortifying potion as possible and get some water into him if you can. You, Chandler, can you cast Acclaro? Good lad, do it. Ouch! He's well busted up internally but, thank Merlin, he is a werewolf or he would be dead meat by now. How is the time?"

"Thirty minutes to Moon," Paul said carefully.

"Right, what is your name lad? Alright Charlie, I want you to concentrate very hard on the end of your wand, you other boys too. When I tell you, I want you to will all your healthy energy into Professor Lupin. Not you older ones, just the little ones, you too Mary. Ready? On the count of three, will hard, one, two three!"

Mary, Charlie, Liam and Paul screwed up their faces, concentrating with all their might until they each staggered and nearly fell over. For a second there did not seem to be any real result but then Remus drew a deeper breath than he had been and sighed softly.

"Good, that helped. Alright, we're going to have to get him to a werewolf proof place so he can change without hurting himself or others," Kingsley said but was over-ruled by the blonde girl who put her hands under Lupin's shoulders while her dark friend took his legs. "What are you doing? We have to get him...."

"Chandler, apparate Charlie, Henry, you take Paul. Rose, you and Lisa help us with the Alpha. The rest of you get Shacklebolt to safety but leave one of those bits of parchment hidden somewhere so we can all come back in the morning and catch the bastards. On the count of three, one, two, three, go." The massed apparation vanished with a loud crack leaving Porter blinking at Shacklebolt.

"She's very good at organising and stuff," Porter commented as the older man seemed a little shocked to be left out of the plot. "Okay Theowyn, you apparate Mary and guide Liam, I'll apparate Auror Shacklebolt. Where should we go to, sir?"

Shacklebolt laughed, taking the young man's arm. "Auror headquarters, take your mark from me." The last five vanished with a slightly smaller pop.

~~*~~

Ron was sound asleep in Harry and Ginny's spare bedroom when the alarm charm on his wrist went off. He was awake instantly, wand in hand, foot on the floor a few seconds later. By the time he reached the bedroom door, Harry was there, dressed and ready to move. Grunting agreement, he took Harry's shoulder and they apparated into bedlam at headquarters. Half the day shift had been alerted by the charms and all the nightshift were in the dayroom, exclaiming and patting at Kingsley Shacklebolt who looked exhausted and filthy but definitely alive.

"Alright you lot, settle down!" Ron roared, causing a lowering of the volume. "Kingsley! Good to see you in one piece, but how is this?"

"Would you believe my daughter wrote me a letter?" Shacklebolt laughed, giving his daughter a one armed hug.

Mary grinned up at her father and hugged him back. "It was Andy's idea really. She tricked Professor Flitwick into charming some parchment then we wrote letters and had the post owls deliver them. Our halves of the parchments gave us the coordinates and we just apparated in." There was a profound silence then a babble of voices, all declaring that that was not possible until Mary stamped her foot. "Well if it's not possible then we aren't here and nor is Dad, and Professor Lupin is still dying in the dungeon."

"What's wrong with Remus?" Harry demanded louder than the rest of the babble.

"Good Godric, Harry, what are you doing here?" Kingsley said in astonishment. "Oh, that's right; Lupin is your Godfather, isn't he. I'm sorry, Harry, but the news is not good. They beat him very badly and broke just about every bone in his body except his spine and arms. They wanted him to Turn me tonight then they were going to kill us both for potion ingredients tomorrow. However, his impossibly bossy students turned up and they rescued us both. They took Lupin back to a safe place but I wouldn't guarantee he would last the night. Although, if you had asked me yesterday, I would have said he would be dead by now, so maybe he will survive."

"I have to check on him," Harry said, turning around agitatedly, trying to find Ron.

"Harry, no, you can't! They will have transformed by now and without the Wolfsbane, they will destroy you or Turn you too," Ron reminded him, giving him a little shake. "Wait a minute! Let me make a fire call and I'll see what can be done. In the mean time, we had better get your report Kingsley and see if we are any closer to catching these bastards than we were?"

~~*~~

Luanna sat on the couch reading aloud, her hand idly stroking the soft red fur of the huge, fang filled head lying in her lap. Every so often a long pink tongue raked over her other wrist and the bloody enormous red animal would sigh in contentment, his tail beating languidly.

When Drajan had risen and hurried off into the bedroom, Luanna had been apprehensive - not to say down right terrified - of what would happen, but ten minutes then fifteen minutes had passed without result. Finally her curiosity had gotten the better of her good sense, and she had poked her head into her bedroom. A huge pile of fur lying on the mat beside her bed had resolved into an animal that was bigger than a pony. He wasn't so much the tan of a bloodhound in colour, but the bright, vibrant red of a red setter, shining and healthy, and so much of him it was overwhelming.

She didn't think she made a noise but his head came up and he blinked deep amber eyes at her before yawning widely. That had been frightening, confronted by a mouthful of huge white fangs, more than a normal wolf could fit in its jaw, and all very sharp and glittery. Then he stood up and was as tall as her shoulder, as long as her three seater couch and ... he was wagging his tail. Luanna had laughed, and he had swaggered over to her with the same confident gait of his human self, and nudged her shoulder before laying his head on it, and sinking her at the knees.

"Hey! Take it easy, Drajan, you're way bigger than me!" She tentatively stroked his fur and found it to be soft and silky on his neck and chest, rather coarser on his back. "Are you okay in there?"

He had yipped and wagged his tail a little harder, following her around as she folded his clothes neatly and replaced them in his duffle bag. She made herself a pot of tea and gave him a bucket of water when he tried to put his head under the tap. Of course he'd flipped water all over her and she'd splashed him back, their silly mood lasting through the preparation of the meal. Finally, sitting on the couch with her book, Luanna had begun to read to him, as it seemed like the right thing to do. They were both thoroughly relaxed when the fire turned green and Ron Weasley stuck his head in, and pulled it back hurriedly as the werewolf snapped reflexively.

"Whoa! Hey! Take it easy! Luanna, are you there? Listen, can you bring er ... your friend, down to headquarters, there have been some developments." He eyed the huge animal who was now sitting on the rug staring at him with his tongue hanging out. "Are you feeling alright?"

Keen Nose yipped and panted, then calmly scratched his neck with his back leg making Ron wince. Luanna smacked his shoulder as she passed to get changed and he followed her into the bedroom and made himself at home on the bed. Ignoring him, Luanna slipped her red robes over her jeans and shirt then stuck her tongue out at him when he chuffed. Yipping again, he nudged her over to his bag and pawed at it until she opened the flap and poured the contents out onto the floor. He nudged a beaded metal chain with a badge and a miniature wand suspended on it and nosed at it until she slipped it over his neck where it snuggled down and was all but lost in the fur.

"What's that, your official collar and badge?" she asked and he nodded very deliberately. "I know you can't do magic just now but you do know how Apparating works, don't you? If I hang onto you we should be able to do a side along quite successfully. Are you ready then? Let's go."