A Threat
March 1st, 1972
The morning light streaming through the windows of the Transfiguration classroom was bright, but Remus’s mind felt foggy. His body still ached from the transformation the night before, and he was barely keeping up as Professor McGonagall lectured about human transfiguration.
“Mr. Lupin,” McGonagall’s sharp voice cut through his haze.
Remus startled, realizing she was standing directly beside him.
“Come with me,” she said briskly, her lips pressed into a thin line.
The entire class turned to watch as he stood, his heart pounding. James shot him a questioning look, but Sirius gave him a reassuring nod.
“Bring your things,” McGonagall added.
Remus grabbed his bag, his mind racing as he followed her out of the classroom. Had something happened? Was it about the moon?
McGonagall led him up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore’s office, where the stone gargoyle leapt aside at her whispered password. The headmaster was waiting, seated behind his cluttered desk with his usual calm expression, though there was an unmistakable seriousness in his gaze.
“Ah, Mr. Lupin,” Dumbledore greeted him, motioning for him to sit. “Thank you, Minerva. That will be all for now.”
McGonagall gave a curt nod and left, the door clicking shut behind her.
Remus sat down, his palms sweating. “Is… something wrong, Professor?”
Dumbledore sighed, folding his hands on the desk. “There was an incident last night during the full moon. A werewolf attack in a nearby village.”
Remus felt his stomach drop. “Was… was anyone hurt?”
“A child,” Dumbledore said gravely. “She survived, but only just.”
Remus’s hands gripped the arms of his chair tightly. “Do they know… who it was?”
“No,” Dumbledore said, his blue eyes fixed on him. “But given Greyback’s history, we cannot rule him out.”
The room fell silent, the weight of the name Greyback hanging between them.
Dumbledore leaned forward, his tone gentle but firm. “You must understand, Remus, this is a delicate situation. While I have complete faith in the safety measures we have in place here at Hogwarts, I believe we need to take additional precautions.”
“Precautions?” Remus echoed, his voice barely above a whisper.
“To ensure your safety and that of your classmates,” Dumbledore explained. “You will remain at Hogwarts—this castle is the safest place for you. However, I am implementing nightly check-ins. Every evening, you will meet with either myself, Professor McGonagall, or Madam Pomfrey.”
Remus nodded numbly, though the words “your safety” rang hollow in his ears.
“I am not saying this to alarm you,” Dumbledore continued, his gaze kind. “But if Greyback is involved, it is crucial that we remain vigilant.”
That night, as Remus sat in the common room, a school owl fluttered through the window and landed on the arm of his chair. Tied to its leg was a letter, the familiar handwriting of his mother instantly recognizable.
He untied the parchment and unfolded it, his hands trembling slightly.
Dear Remus,
We just received word about what happened last night. Your father and I want you to know that we trust Professor Dumbledore completely and believe he will keep you safe. Still, we are so worried, love. We wish you didn’t have to carry this burden.
We’re so proud of you for staying strong through all of this. Please don’t let your fear get the best of you. You’ve overcome so much already.
Write us soon. We need to know you’re all right.
All our love,
Mum and Dad
Remus reread the letter twice, his chest tightening with a mixture of guilt and gratitude. He knew his parents trusted Dumbledore, but he could sense their underlying worry. It mirrored his own.
“Everything okay?” Sirius’s voice startled him.
Remus looked up to find Sirius, James, and Peter hovering nearby, concern etched on their faces.
“Yeah,” he said quickly, folding the letter and tucking it into his pocket. “Just a letter from home.”
James flopped into the chair opposite him. “You’ve been acting weird all day, mate. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Remus said, forcing a smile.
Peter looked skeptical. “Are you sure? You’ve barely said a word since McGonagall pulled you out of class.”
Remus hesitated, the weight of his secret pressing heavily on his shoulders. He glanced at Sirius, who gave him a slight nod, as if to say, It’s your choice.
“It’s nothing,” Remus said finally. “Just… family stuff.”
The other boys didn’t press further, but as they began talking about Quidditch and upcoming assignments, Remus found himself retreating inward, the letter’s words echoing in his mind.
For now, he would follow Dumbledore’s instructions. He would make his nightly check-ins, keep his head down, and hope that the storm brewing on the horizon wouldn’t reach him—or his friends.