The Marauders and the Arenotelicon

It was a startled Gryffindor Common Room when the portrait door swung open and Albus Dumbledore stepped through. He looked around with a bemused expression. "Amazing how little things change," he said to no one in particular. His light blue eyes alighted on Remus and he smiled slightly. "Mr. Lupin, may I speak with you in private for a few moments?"

Remus had crept out from beneath his covers earlier in the evening at James' urging, Peter's pleading and Sirius' apologies. He'd been half-heartedly been playing Exploding Snap, purposefully letting Sirius win while James coached. Now, summoned by the Headmaster himself, Remus could feel the entire common room's occupants staring at him as if he were some strange being that didn't belong.

"Yes-sir," he said haltingly, getting up from his chair and walking on unsteady legs toward the older man.

"You're not in trouble, so don't look so shaky," reassured Dumbledore with a laughing gaze. He bid Remus to exit first with a beckoning hand and Remus stepped through the portrait hole with a nervous backward glance at his friends. All three were staring at him in wide-eyed concern. Dumbledore stepped through after him and the portrait of the Pink Lady swung shut.

Silently, Remus followed Dumbledore down the long corridor and into an empty classroom, where Dumbledore again motioned Remus in first, and charmed the door with a wave of his wand. "There," he said with a knowing smile, "no eavesdroppers to hear our conversation."

Remus swallowed nervously, wondering if he was going to get into trouble for missing class that afternoon. Deciding to explain before Dumbledore tore into him, Remus began to babble, "I'm sorry I missed classes this afternoon, Headmaster, but my friends shook me up. They thought that I'd been -"

"Abused. Yes, they brought their concerns to me right after you left the Great Hall at lunch," Dumbledore interrupted. "I assured them that I would check into the matter immediately. We shall have to have a care with you if you're going to accumulate friends who are so keen-eyed, Mr. Lupin."

Remus blinked, stunned.

Dumbledore smiled at Remus' expression. "Do not be angry with them. If only so many other children who are abused have such friends with the courage to question and report such possibilities. There might be less of children growing old before their time in this world. However," Dumbledore raised a hand to forestall Remus making a comment, which he certainly was about to do, "I do remind you that skipping class, no matter the reason, is frowned upon. I will let it slide, and gladly, this once, but you must strengthen your resolve, Remus. This will not be easy, this secret that you keep, for any of us. I, Madam Pomfrey, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid can only help you so far. You must do the rest, I cannot stress it enough."

Remus nodded, his gaze sliding to the floor. Dumbledore raised Remus' chin with an index finger and his blue eyes were warm with kindness.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Remus, nothing at all. You are a clever boy with much to recommend. That the hat placed you in Gryffindor proves that you are more than just clever or brilliant. You are brave and willing to face a great danger not only to yourself but also to others for the sake of something you want. Many would call this foolishness; others would call it courage. Whatever it is, you have it. Embrace it. Make it work in your favor, not against you."

Remus' brown eyes widened and he nodded once as if mesmerized.

"If, and this is a big if, Remus, if we succeed in this experiment, think of the door that we can open for other werewolves. How many like yourself are denied a single opportunity that could give them the life they otherwise would not have in our society? If you cannot think selfishly, then think of that and keep your wits about you." Dumbledore smiled a teasing smile. "You may be in Gryffindor but you come from Ravenclaw stock. Some of that keen intellect is there, so use it to your advantage."

"Yes, Professor," breathed Remus. He thought quickly, his mind rapid-fire going through ideas, discarding them one after another. "May I ask," he hesitated and then took the plunge. "I'll need to learn magic that's not in class, to help my, um, masquerade. Probably advanced magic? How-?"

Remus' question stumbled to a stop when Dumbledore handed him a note. He glanced down at it and read:

Madam Pince,

Remus Lupin has my express permission to gain access to books within the Restricted Section for a special project that he is undertaking under my personal instruction. Please allow him access to the Restricted Section during normal library hours and during the holidays.

Albus Dumbledore

Remus was bemused. "Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

"I suggest you start tomorrow then and be ready with at least two charms to help your physical problems following transformation by next month?" The headmaster uncharmed the door and swung it open. "Off you go then, and don't forget that you should be due for a potions quiz soon."

Remus stared at the purple ink of his special permission slip for a moment more and then grinned. "Yes, sir!" His voice was definitely more upbeat and Dumbledore couldn't help but laugh.

"Go on, then, young Lupin," he encouraged and Remus darted out the door and down the hall.

"Higgledy piggledy, open it up!" Remus demanded at the portrait.

As she swung open, the Pink Lady snapped, "And you're welcome!"

The common room studiously ignored him openly, while surreptitiously watching him from behind books or with veiled looks. Remus practically skipped to his three friends, who had the same wide-eyed expressions as when he left with Dumbledore.

"All better then?" asked Peter timidly.

"Much," said Remus decisively. James and Sirius exchanged looks and shrugged when it was obvious Remus wasn't going to clarify. The game of Exploding Snap continued. Remus defeated both Peter, Sirius and James soundly the rest of the night.