The prank
Remus awoke to pain as he always did after a full moon, but it felt more intense this time like something bad had happened in the night. Sitting up slowly he heard commotion from behind the curtain around his bed, he knew he shouldn’t stand and look at what was happening as he was meant to stay in bed until the afternoon at least, but he felt it was important for him to know for some reason. So he struggled to stand using the chair by his bed for support and reached for the curtain to pull open.
The curtains were ripped open letting the bright morning light shine through into the relative darkness of his area, revealing the shadowy figure of Madam Pomfrey.
“Ah, Remus, you’re up. Good, perhaps you should go to your dorm for the rest of the day.” She said in her no nonsense manner, picking up his robe and placing it around his neck and over his shoulders.
“What has happened?” He said stumbling along beside her as she walked him to the door while also turning his head back to see a curtain covering the back of the room and at least three beds.
Hushing him she got him out the door and said “Go to your dorm someone will come explain what has happened this afternoon but for now you need your rest.
He made his way to his dorm confused knowing he normally is kept in the Hospital Wing all day no matter how much he begs to leave, but this time he was sent away the moment he got up. Whatever happened must be pretty serious.
_
Remus awoke to the sound of someone walking across his room, he could tell they were trying to be quiet but with his hearing it was basically impossible. Sitting up and stretching in the dark he pulled his curtain back with a smile expecting to see one of the boys, only for the smile to drop when he sees Professor McGonagall opening Sirius’ bed curtains and seeing she had clearly opened Peter and James beds too.
“Mr Lupin, I was just looking for you. I didn’t know which bed was yours.” She said after turning towards him. “Could you get dressed and meet me outside the common room. There is something that we need to discuss.” She stated and giving him no chance to respond she turned and walked out of the room shutting the door behind her.
As he was dressing he noticed more wrapped areas of his skin than he normally has after a full moon, so he thinks whatever has happened must be to do with his night being more active than usual. And he saw the room is almost exactly the same as before he left last night as if the boys didn’t even come to find their books for the days lesson.
He thought it was a bit strange, but not uncommon as they often didn’t take books to their classes anyway.
Walking into the common room he saw it was mostly empty which was normal for a Friday, seeing Lily and the other fifth year girls sat at a table was unusual though as they had a lesson at this time on Fridays but he thought maybe that professor let them off early as they had already had the O.W.L exam for the class they should have now.
He couldn’t help but over hear the topic of their conversation, as he walked to the exit of the common room, was a group of students getting injured while out of bed last night but he thought it could be the other boys and they were caught on the way back in. As they are usually scratched up a bit.
Professor McGonagall was waiting outside of the common room and as she saw him exit began walking down the corridor, he followed in silence trying to conjure any memories he had of the night before to figure out what had happened.
Doubling his efforts when they walking directly past the entrance to McGonagall’s office and began the walk, that Remus was very familiar with, to the Headmasters office.
Taking the seat he was directed to Remus sat and watched as McGonagall went and sat on the other side of the desk next to Dumbledore’s empty chair.
“What’s going on, Professor ?” He said into the silence of the room.
“We will be explaining as soon as the Headmaster arrives.” She said. At that moment the door at the top of the stairs opened and Dumbledore walked out then down the stairs and across to sit in his seat.
“Remus my boy, how was your sleep?” He said in his overly joyous voice.
“Good, Professor. Wha-“ He was cut of by the Headmaster clearing his throat before he spoke again.
“Now I know you are aware of something that happened last night. And I first want to inform you that no one is seriously injured.” Remus was glad about that but it didn’t make him any less anxious about the situation. “Also that Mr Potter and Mr Pettigrew will not be in trouble for their part in the events of last night.”
This did not help calm Remus’ mind, as all he could think was that they were caught coming out to see him, and he was concerned why the headmaster had not mentioned Sirius yet when he knew they would have been together.
“As for Mr Black it will be up to you and the other student involved in the incident to decide on whether he will be punished.”
Remus’ brain suddenly stopped functioning, time seemed to come to a halt, he struggled to breathe for a moment, as he thought about the implications of what was just said.
Sirius had done something serious including another student and himself this was not good seeing as he was a full werewolf last night. Sound was foggy in his ears as the headmaster continued.
“It seems Mr Black thought it funny to inform another student of how to get past the Weeping Willow.” Remus took in a slow breath trying to keep himself calm. He knew Sirius was petty but to tell someone how to get to the Shack he transformed in was horrible, and he probably didn’t even realise how bad it could be if he was seen.
He hoped whoever it was didn’t go and that if they did he hoped he didn’t bite them, he wouldn’t wish his curse on his worst enemy. Before he could open his mouth to ask, like he read his mind the Headmaster spoke again.
“Now this student was not bitten as I know you must be worried about but he did see you towards the end of transforming.” Remus took another deep breath. “Now I have spoken to him and Mr Snape will not be revealing details of this story but he has told me he wants Mr Black severely punished.”
Mr Snape.
Severus Snape.
Sirius had told Severus Snape how to get to him while transformed. He could barely keep his calm gripping the arms of his chair so tightly they began to splinter.
“Now it is up to you, of course but I would recommend him getting detentions only as he learned his lesson. As for Mr Potter and Pettigrew it seems they found out what Mr Black had done they went to stop him getting scratched up while doing so, Mr Pettigrew then brought Mr Snape to the Hospital wing as he had hit his head falling back from you and Mr Potters rather impressive animagus form.”
“Now your friends were spoken to and it seems they agree Mr Black should be punished but as I said the decision remains up to you.”
The silence after Professor Dumbledore finished speaking stretched and became awkward while the teachers let Remus think over all he had been told.
Remus didn’t think he could ever see Sirius again but he knew he couldn’t force him to leave Hogwarts as he would then be left with James and Peter who would hate him for it.
Thinking about Remus thought he should leave as he couldn’t cope being at Hogwarts without his friends and he knew Snape would never be able to live in a castle with a student he knew was a werewolf after he was almost bitten.
“I think- Well um- I think Si- he should be punished severely with uh- detentions for the rest of the year.” Looking up from his lap he saw Dumbledore had he a proud smile on his face.
“But, I want to leave Hogwarts be-“ He began to explain when the headmaster cut in.
“Leave, Remus, whatever do you mean the situation is resolved is it not.”
“No, I don’t think I can ever see him again not after this, and I don’t think Snape will be able to cope with me being here. So I want to leave.”
“But what of your O.W.L examinations that you have left.” McGonagall said looking concerned. Then turning to Dumbledore. “Perhaps, if he is certain about leaving he could take his remaining exams in a private room. Then he could leave but-“
“Yes, that perfect. Anything I just want to leave and be done with this place.” He interrupted her to say.
“Well if you insist Remus my boy. There is a room you can take your exams in already if you wish too. We can go there now for the exam you should be taking today, and a House-Elf with gather your things to a room you can stay in between exams.”
Remus was grateful of the understanding being shown so agreed and stood to follow the professors.
_
The exam had gone well, as had the following days exams which he did finishing his last exam before the other student had because he did them all it the space of two day in stead of spread between two weeks.
Leaving Hogwarts and walking to the gate with Professor Dumbledore was surreal as all other student where either in classes or exams.
Dumbledore had finally let up on trying to convince him to stay after using every free moment he had to try keep him there, and just walked silently beside him.
Once out the gate Dumbledore gripped his arm and suddenly he felt as if he was being squeezed through a tube, then opening his eyes and seeing he was near the orphanage he grew up in.
Dumbledore then gave him a letter in a sealed envelope and told him it was for the matron, and he gave Dumbledore a letter for the boys he knew he would never see again. He took it with a sad smile before he apparated away.
Remus was alone again and the first thing he did was find a place to sit and he carefully opened the letter for Matron, which explained that the year finished early and the next year was optional, reading those word makes Remus smile sadly as he know it is untrue.
Next the letter suggests enrolling him in muggle school so he can have more opportunities when he becomes an adult.
Carefully placing the letter back into the envelope and doing his best to reseal it, he began the short walk to the orphanage.