The Marauders and the Arenotelicon

He was angry, an ungovernable rage controlling him. He couldn't leave this dark building and hunt. Tearing up the objects within only gave a small measure of comfort before the urge for blooded violence took hold, causing him to howl in frustration. Sniffing near the door for a possible weakness, the beast froze. A strange scent wafted to him, slight because of the thin access to the outside world.

It was a stench, a familiar stench, though why that would be the wolf did not know. He did know what it represented, another predator, possibly an equal in ability, and it was right outside. The wolf growled warningly and received an answering growl in return. A few measured, deep-throated barks were replied with a higher pitched cry.

In a frenzy of rage, the wolf threw his entire bulk at the door, causing it to shudder on its hinges. Scratching on the other side only further served to madden the werewolf but no matter how many times he hit the door, it held firm. The encroacher of his territory could not be reached.

This was not acceptable.

Upstairs and downstairs the wolf ran, trying windows, walls, and digging at the floorboards while the beast outside taunted him. An hour later, following a beserk fit of unbridled instinctive rage, the werewolf finally collapsed into an exhausted heap. He didn't move. His breathing was shallow.

When dawn broke and the wolf turned to boy once again, the condition did not change.

Remus awoke to gray sunlight filtering into the school infirmary, allowing him to see tiny dust motes floating lazily in the air. He struggled to a sitting position and looked around in confused manner. The actions of the night before were hazy to say the least; they usually were, but he remembered something.

"Madam Pomfrey?" he called hoarsely, grimacing at the rough sound of his voice. The shifting must have been especially painful last night, if his voice was any indication. He must have screamed a lot.

"Ah, Mr. Lupin. You awaken." It was not Madam Pomfrey, but Professor Dumbledore that walked into the long room, filled with several hospital beds. "We were most concerned when you did not emerge this morning."

"Something was outside the shack, sir," Remus began to babble immediately. "I remember it."

Dumbledore looked at him with consideration before nodding. "You remember this before the shift?"

"No..." Remus trailed off, realizing what this meant. "I remembered," he glanced around then lowered his voice, "as a wolf."

Dumbledore's eyebrows rose. "Is this usual for you?" Remus shook his head. "I see. And what exactly do you remember?"

"Another creature outside, it was trying to get to me." He gave a start as an idea hit him. "Could it be what was attacking the sheep?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Doubtful, my boy. Hagrid has quite decided it was merely an overly large and aggressive bugbear. He killed such a one two days ago. Perhaps one of the village dogs smelled you."

"Maybe." Remus wasn't entirely sure. "Am I okay, then? Was I injured?"

Dumbledore smiled comfortingly. "When you didn't emerge at daybreak, Madam Pomfrey grew concerned. She and Hagrid entered to see what had happened. You were unconcious near the door. From its condition, and yours I might add, it looked as if you had tried to get out. Thankfully, all our precautions have worked."

"Thankfully," echoed Remus.

"Madam Pomfrey said that as soon as you woke up, you were free to leave." Dumbledore smiled when Remus struggled from beneath the covers.

"Sir, can I talk to you for a moment?" asked Remus shyly as he shrugged into his robes.

"You are doing so now," pointed out the older wizard with a twinkle and a smile, "but proceed."

"My friends suspect something is wrong with me. I've tried to tell them nothing is wrong, but they accuse me of lying." Remus looked at the floor, unable to meet the headmaster's gaze. "I'm running out of things to say. They are concerned that something's wrong but they won't believe anything I say. I guess I'm not a very good storyteller."

"I see." Dumbledore's tone was neutral.

"James Potter guessed what I am but then he laughed and said it was ridiculous." Remus finally looked up to see Dumbledore watching him complacently. "I don't know what to say or do anymore, sir. Can you offer advice?"

"You act guilty, therefore they think you are guilty," Dumbledore finally said after a long pause. "Act as if nothing is wrong. Do not be so jumpy, or assume they suspect anything even when it is obvious they do. It merely confirms their suspicions. Do not avoid them as you have been. Make a point to be with them and then perhaps they'll accept all of this as an eccentricity." Blue eyes twinkled at him. "That's what I do."

Remus stared in shock. "You mean, you're a -" He couldn't finish the sentence.

Dumbledore began to chuckle. "No, dear boy, I act as if nothing is different about me, when everyone knows I'm just a bit odd. It's fun, you see, to make people think your oddness, your eccentric behavior is just part of you. Keeps them guessing what you'll do next!"

Remus blinked and then slowly smiled. "I see. You mean, you act so..." He blushed. "Silly sometimes because you like to watch people's reactions?"

"On the nose, Mr. Lupin, now off you go." Dumbledore waved him from the bed and down the length of the room. "I believe you have a chapter to read for History of Magic?"