Curiosities
September 6th, 1971
Sirius woke up Monday morning expecting to see Remus, but he had still not returned from the Hospital Wing. This didn’t make sense to Sirius, as it seemed Remus had a minor stomach bug. It’s not rare to catch, and it could be healed in a day with the right potions. Maybe Remus was embarrassed about the incident; after all, he did vomit in the middle of class, in front of everyone, and got it on Sirius.
Sirius was taunted about the Potions incident all weekend. The Slytherins were relentless about it, reminding Sirius of it every chance they got. It appeared the first-years had told the rest of the house about it because several older students were also taking part. Sirius was not too bothered by it and responded with a taunt of his own.
“Did you get vomited on too, Lestrange?” Sirius asked Rabastan one day, “Or is it just your inability to shower?”
Perhaps it was better Remus was hiding in the Hospital Wing; Sirius did not think Remus would be able to handle the taunting well.
Sirius, James, and Peter headed to Charms, expecting Remus to turn up mid-way through. He did not turn up in Charms or History of Magic. Though Sirius thought it was smart, Remus skipped the latter, as Sirius wanted to hurl himself out the window out of sheer boredom within five minutes.
They went to lunch, and still no Remus.
“Alright,” Sirius said, slamming down his sandwich. A piece of tomato flew and hit James in the face. “This is getting ridiculous!”
“We should visit him,” James suggested, wiping tomato out of his eye, “Ask him what’s up.”
They headed to the Hospital Wing, expecting to see Remus. However, they were met with shut curtains around his bed and an angry Madam Pomfrey.
“Mr. Lupin is not permitted visitors; go back to your lunch!”
“Hang on,” James interjected, “We’ve been visiting him all weekend!”
“He was permitted visitors then.” She replied, trying to shoo them out.
“Why aren’t we allowed to see him now?” Sirius asked indignantly.
“That is none of your business, Mr. Black. Now please, return to your lunch!” She shoved them out of the Hospital Wing.
“What was that about?” Peter asked.
“I don’t know,” said Sirius, “But something’s not right.”
During Herbology, they handed in their essays (which Sirius and James had scrambled together the night beforehand), and Sirius noticed James’ handed in two.
“Please tell me you’re not obsessed with Herbology and Quidditch; I can’t handle any more of this!”
“It’s not obsession if it’s meant to be,” James replied, “I have Remus’ essay. He actually put effort into it, and he seems like the type who thinks school is important.” He shrugged, “Poor blokes been stuck in the Hospital Wing all weekend, might as well help him about a bit.”
Professor Sprout announced they would be growing dittany themselves over the next two weeks and paired them off. Sirius was left to work alone during this period, however, and Remus would join him when he returned.
Sirius spent the rest of class flinging balls of dirt at James, but he could not help but wonder about Remus.
Why was he still in the Hospital Wing? If he had a stomach bug, it should’ve been healed by now. Perhaps it was taking Remus a bit longer to fully recover. He didn’t look very strong and was very short and skinny. The only other word Sirius could think of to describe Remus’ physical appearance was frail. Even so, he got sick on Friday. If it had taken him a bit longer to recover, he should’ve been back by now.
Sirius doubted Remus was milking it to stay out of class. He started their Herbology essay the day it was assigned. During one of their Hospital Wing visits, Remus asked them to bring parchment and his Potions book so he could get started on his essay. And why was Remus suddenly not allowed visitors? Sirius could find no excuses to explain the sudden change.
Sirius shared his ideas with James and Peter during Transfiguration.
“You’re right; it doesn’t make sense,” Peter responded.
“Maybe he vomited again?” James suggested, “Maybe Madam Pomfrey wouldn’t let us in so she could clean up the vomit.”
“He’s not allowed visitors over a little vomit?” Sirius asked, “All she had to do was vanish it, and clearly, none of us are phased by it. I certainly don’t wish to be covered in vomit again, but seeing or smelling it isn’t gonna give me flashbacks.”
“Maybe he just got really nauseous again, and neither of them wanted a repeat of the first time,” Peter suggested.
“Yeah, but there’s a bin next to his bed. If he felt like he was gonna vomit, all he has to do is lean over or get someone to hold it for him!” Sirius retorted.
James opened his mouth to respond, but Professor McGonagall noticed they were off-task.
“Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Pettigrew!” She yelled, causing them all to jump, “I hope you have all successfully transfigured your match into needles if you feel the need to be gossiping!”
“Me and Sirius have!” James said indignantly as they held up their needles.
Professor McGonagall seemed impressed. “Well, you two may have, but Mr. Pettigrew has not. Amuse yourselves as you would like, but do not cause a distraction to your fellow housemates! Oh, and 2 points to Gryffindor each for your successful transfiguration, boys,” She added. “It is very rare I have two students achieve a full transformation so soon.”
“Hey, Professor,” Sirius asked, deciding to take advantage of her good mood, “Would you happen to know what happened to Remus?”
Professor McGonagall got stern again. “He is ill, as you know. I suspect he will be back soon.” She turned and went back to her desk.
Sirius turned to James. “Worth a shot.”
“After class, we’ll go to the Hospital Wing.” James said, “If she doesn’t let us in again, we’ll know something is up.”
James, Sirius, and Peter headed down to the Hospital Wing. James and Sirius had minor cuts on their arms as they spent the rest of class stabbing each other with their needles. They were the only two who managed to make any difference to their matches.
Celeste Greengrass walked out of the Hospital Wing as the three boys arrived at the doors.
“Afternoon, Black.” She greeted.
“Greengrass.” Sirius nodded. The three moved past her, but she stopped Sirius.
“Mind if I have a word, Black?” She asked. “Alone.” She added, looking pointedly at James and Peter. James gave Celeste a suspicious look.
“I’ll be there in a second.” Sirius waved James and Peter along. Celeste waited until the pair had entered the Hospital Wing to speak.
“You have to write to your parents, Sirius.” She said, looking directly at him.
“Says who?” Sirius asked, crossing his arms.
“Anyone with a brain!” Celeste exclaimed. The urgency in her voice unsettled him a bit. “I don’t know if you thought by not writing to them they wouldn’t find out about your sorting-”
“I’m not stupid; I knew they would find out!” Sirius interrupted.
“Well, Narcissa told Druella, who told your Mother and Father, they’re absolutely livid-”
“You see, that’s the best part about Gryffindor, Celeste!” Sirius said, and he almost meant it.
“It’d be great if you stopped interrupting me!” She said sharply. She took a breath, “Regulus wrote to me. He didn’t think you would listen to a letter, so he asked me to tell you. If you don’t write to your Mother or Father soon, they’re going to show up to Hogwarts.”
Sirius paused for a moment.
Fuck.
That wasn’t even on his list of how they would react. He expected a howler, but Loki had not brought any letters from home at all.
If there’s one thing he despised in the world, it’d be his Mother or Father at Hogwarts.
“That’s…” Sirius hesitated, “overdramatic.”
Celeste rolled her eyes. “Yes, coming to Hogwarts because your son broke a tradition is overdramatic. But trust me. Nobody wants to see Walburga or Orion Black at Hogwarts. Please tell me you’ll write?” Her voice softened. “Even if it’s just to one of them?”
Sirius thought for a moment. His Mother and Father punished him differently; his Mother had an explosive temper, and his Father used Legilimency. If he sent his Father a letter, he wouldn’t be able to use Legilimency on him….
“Alright,” Sirius replied, “I’ll write a letter.”
Celeste breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you. Don’t make me warn you again.”
Sirius grinned, “No promises.” He entered the Hospital Wing, where James and Peter were waiting by the doors.
“What was that about?” James asked as they walked further in.
“Ah, same old same old,” Sirius waved his arm, “wanted to know how I got into Gryffindor.”
“They’re gonna have to get over that eventual-”
Madam Pomfrey appeared from her office, looking in a better mood than she was previously, “What can I help you, boys, with?”
James responded, “We wanted to visit Remus-”
She got stern again. “I’ve told you, Mr. Lupin is not allowed visitors! Now go back to your common rooms!”
“We visited him all weekend!” Sirius said indignantly. She was literally trying to shove them out of the Hospital Wing.
“Circumstances have changed!” She exclaimed, “Return to your common rooms before I call Headmaster Dumbledore!”
“What,” James said, after she succeeded in shoving them out, “is her problem.”
“You’d think we betrayed her and got her entire family murdered,’” Sirius said, dusting off his robes.
“You know, what if something bad really did happen,” Peter suggested hesitantly, “Like, what if Remus is in St. Mungo's right now, and we’re not supposed to know.”
They all hesitated for a moment.
“That’s-” James began, “That’s actually plausible.”
“I say we head to St. Mungo's right now, then,” Sirius said. “If he’s there, we’ll see what’s wrong.”
“Yeah,” James said, face set. “I’m tired of being screamed at by Pomfrey.”
“Guys,” Peter said hurriedly, “We’re not allowed to just leave-”
“Rules are made to be broken,” Sirius said, walking in no particular direction.
“What if we asked Headmaster Dumbledore?” Peter suggested, causing James and Sirius to stop. “He’d know for sure what’s happened to Remus!”
“That’s-” James began, “Not a bad idea. Where’s his office?”
Peter hesitated. “That’s a very good question I don’t have the answer to.”
Sirius thought they must’ve walked around the entire school. It was nearly dinner-time, and they still hadn’t found Dumbledore’s office. Sirius swore they passed the same portrait at least five times.
“Okay,” James said, pausing in front of a gargoyle statue. “A map would be helpful.”
“A map would’ve been helpful five years ago, James-”
“Do you boys need help with anything?” A voice asked, interrupting Sirius. They all turned around, and Sirius knew immediately who it was: Headmaster Dumbledore.
“Yes, actually-” James said, “We were wondering where Remus went-”
“Ah,” Dumbledore said, “Come with me to my office; we will discuss where it is more private. Cauldron cakes.” The Gargoyle moved aside, revealing a spiral staircase. They followed his lead up the stairs, glancing at each other as they went.
The top of the staircase led to a large oak door, which revealed Dumbledore’s office. Sirius had imagined it as a mirror image of his Father’s study, but it was the opposite. Unlike the bare walls and surfaces he was used to, Dumbledore’s office was very cluttered. The walls were filled with many portraits, both empty and occupied. There were shelves filled with various books and little tables with magical instruments, some that Sirius recognized and some that he didn’t. There was a lunascope on one of them. A large desk sat close to the wall, and the Sorting Hat sat on a shelf behind it.
Dumbledore sat down behind the desk. “You are curious as to what has happened to Remus Lupin?”
“Yes,” Sirius said, “He vomited in Potions last week and hasn’t come back from the Hospital Wing yet. We were visiting him all weekend, but now Madam Pomfrey won’t let us in. We were worried that he was transferred to St. Mungo's-”
“Ah,” Dumbledore interrupted, “I can assure you, Remus is safely in the Hospital Wing. I was there a few hours ago myself; he was sleeping. I can not pinpoint the exact reasons for your inability to visit him, but I daresay it is because she is rather-” His mouth twitched, “protective of those in her care.”
“We’ve learned that,” James said. Sirius looked over; for the first time since Sirius had known him, he looked nervous. Dumbledore’s mouth twitched again at James’ comment, “Alright, sorry for,” he hesitated, “interrupting you.”
“There is nothing to apologize for,” Dumbledore responded, “It is admirable that you three have expressed care for your fellow housemate with so little time to get to know him. Before you depart, Sirius, I would like to speak with you for a moment. James and Peter, you may wait for him outside.
Shooting a nervous glance at James, and James and Peter giving one back, the pair walked out of the office, leaving Sirius and Dumbledore alone.
“I daresay you have a small idea as to why I wish to speak to you?” Dumbledore asked.
The answer came to Sirius immediately, “Family?”
Dumbledore nodded, “You are correct, I-”
“I don’t believe in all that.” Sirius interrupted, “Blood purity. I know it’s all garbage.”
Dumbledore’s eyes were twinkling. “I have suspected, from your friendship with Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Pettigrew, and your sorting, that you did not share their views. I called you here to ask you a similar question, but alas, different.” His eyes stopped twinkling. “I need to know, have you heard whispers of a Dark Lord, or perhaps, Lord Voldemort, among your family and others?”
Sirius somehow both knew exactly what Dumbledore was talking about and had no idea at the same time. He’d heard many other pure-bloods and family members discussing a Dark Lord, particularly Bellatrix, who seemed to be planning to join him. Sirius had overheard Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa talking about him one night in August. Narcissa had mentioned that Lucius was planning to join him after he graduated from Hogwarts, and Andromeda was pleading with Bellatrix not to join him. Bellatrix had responded that Andromeda needed to learn what was best for their family and that Rodolphus had already joined him, and Rabastan was planning to.
None of them knew that Sirius and Regulus had overheard.
“Yes, I have,” Sirius responded, “I’ve heard Bellatrix talking about him; she’s planning to join him; she might’ve already had. She said Rodolphus Lestrange had already done it, and Lucius Malfoy and Rabastan Lestrange were planning too.”
Dumbledore sighed; he looked almost disappointed. “Thank you, Sirius. It is imperative I know who is being recruited. Have you the names of others who have vocalized their plans to join him or expressed support?”
Sirius hesitated for a moment; he had to think about this one. “I don’t know any more specific people who support or plan to join him, but I know families who I’ve heard rumors about.”
Dumbledore nodded, “That is sufficient, continue.”
“Avery, Nott, Selwyn,” Sirius hesitated, “That’s all.”
Dumbledore sighed again, “Thank you, Sirius. You have been of immense help to me, though I fear I am not surprised with the names you have given me.”
“Sir,” Sirius asked, “Is this Voldemort or Dark Lord, whatever he’s called, a threat?”
Dumbledore seemed to love sighing. “I wish to tell you otherwise, but I believe that our young should know the truth. Yes, Lord Voldemort proposes a real threat to us, one bigger than our world has ever made before. I suspect he will make his public appearance any day now. It is imperative that this threat is made known before it is too late and that those in vulnerable positions, such as yourself, are prepared for what faces us.”