Lone Traveler: Professor of Defense

It was Tuesday, 18 November 1975, and Remus Lupin was led by Poppy Pomphrey to the Shrieking Shack for his monthly transformation. While Sunset was early, the Moon was calculated to become full at 11:28 that night.

Knowing how the variations might cause the change early, it was only 4:30 when Remus left Hogwarts.

Moonrise was actually closer to 4:30 PM – only the fact that the sun wouldn't set until after 5:00 made it safe to start so late – a few other things made the change a fickle thing.

Still, by 5:00, Remus was undressed and waiting somewhat patiently (as patiently as he could) for the change to happen.

At 5:08 PM, Sunset, and with Moonrise having already happened, the moon was full enough for the change to begin. As normal, Remus felt the pain as his bones broken and reset into a different form.

By 5:09, a Werewolf occupied the Shrieking Shack on the border of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The residents of Hogsmeade shuddered – the resident ghost was starting early tonight. Silencing charms would be the order of the night.

At 7:00, the remaining Marauders stealthily made their way outside and Peter, using his small size, found the knot which stilled the immature Whomping Willow (it was only a few years old and even if it was magically grown, it was still young).

Moony paused in his howling when he heard a sound in the room. Cocking his head, he stood up and walked over to investigate the small scratching sounds. He found … a rat.

Moony huffed at the small creature, wondering why it was there. The rat, rather than running, raised its nose and started squeaking at him. Moony cocked his head. Putting his nose down, he sniffed at the small creature. Instead of a random smell, however, Moony smelled something that actually known to him. To his joy, this new creature smelled like his human half's pack member – but different.

With a playful bark and a tail wag, Moony greeted the small creature.

Then the creature ran off toward the door. Curious, Moony followed. When they got to the door, instead of it being covered it was open slightly. Moony was taken aback when another canine entered his domain.

He was about to protest when the new canine woofed at him and wagged his tail as though greeting him as pack. Moony cocked his head and sniffed – and found the scent of another pack member! Following the canine was an even larger creature. Checking with his nose, the last one smelled of the last pack member.

Moony had been feeling very lonely, which was why he was howling in misery. His new barking was anything but sad as he found pack members had come to visit.

Anyone who had ever seen a werewolf would have been shocked to see the large creature gamboling around three other creatures of various sizes as though he was a playful puppy.

For a few hours, Moony did something that he had never done before – he played. He mock battled the other canine, played hunter and prey with the small creature and also played mock games with the larger creature that looked like prey but was not.

At one point, the small prey rode the large prey around the room and the two canines made efforts to jump high enough to catch it.

The only limitation the four had was the small space available.

It was close to midnight and the four animals in the shack were taking a break. Into this flew a phoenix, followed by a second one.

Moony had been the first to hear the wing and was watching as they arrived.

Both perched on different things higher in the room. The unknown phoenix trilled toward the four creatures.

Moony, listening, cocked his head at the sound. For some reason, Moony had expected pain when this bird sang but felt none. When the second phoenix started trilling in unison, all four creatures listened to the song.

None noticed as they each fell asleep to the lullaby of the phoenix.

Moony suddenly jogged awake. Looking around he saw the other three animals that had come. He also felt the change that indicated his monthly existence was coming to a close. Unlike usual, he felt no real sense of loss as this happened – as though he knew he would be back.

The other three animals had stirred at the sounds of his whimpers – it was still physically painful.

They watched as the werewolf disappeared and wall that was left was …

Sirius Black changed back and cried out, "Remus!"

Remus, who normally was in complete pain and deep exhaustion after the change, sat up. "Sirius!" He looked around. "You guys came!"

Sirius grinned. "We said we would. How are you doing?"

Remus moved to try to stand up to retrieve the clothes he had on a shelf. He stretched around. "I feel shockingly good – normally my entire body is screaming in protest right about now. What happened?"

Sirius shrugged even as James and Peter turned back as well. Peter said, "I bet it was the Headmaster's phoenix and his friend."

Remus, who didn't remember his time as a wolf clearly, was the confused one. "What is this about?"

James nodded in agreement. "About midnight, the Headmaster's phoenix showed up with a second one. We'd been horsing around for a few hours and were taking a break when they showed up and started singing. We all fell asleep – including wolf you."

Remus was shocked. "That should be impossible. Werewolfs are dark creatures – phoenix song shouldn't have done that. It should have made the wolf uncomfortable or in pain."

Peter shrugged. "The wolf you – we have got to come up with a better name – anyway, Wolfy cocked his head as if confused but didn't seem in pain at all."

Sirius barked a tired laugh – it was about 4:50 and moonset had just occurred – and said, "Wolfy is wrong. We need something else."

James though about it. "Moony – since he only comes during the full moon."

Peter and Sirius looked at each other. Sirius replied, "Moony it is! Remus Lupin of the Marauders is hereby forever after designated Moony! Long may he howl!"

Remus rolled his eyes. "If I'm Moony cause I'm a wolf, that makes your dog form … Snuggles." Remus had a mocking grin.

Peter and James laughed loudly at that even as Sirius pouted. "Nooooo! My form is far too cool for her name … Snuggles." Sirius shuddered and then paused. "Snuffles might be okay since I kind of snuffle when I smell things as a dog."

The other three grinned. "No. If we used that around other people, girls would think we're all poofters," Peter said. "He's a dog but he walks kind of quiet – pads on his feet like most big dogs. Padded Foot."

James snapped his fingers. "Padfoot. One word. We'll limit to one word names."

Sirius thought about it and grinned. "Padfoot! I like that." He turned toward the shortest of them even as Remus moved to dress. "What about Peter?"

James thought about it and shrugged. "I can't think of a good name for a rat. Sorry Peter."

Remus considered it as he pulled on his outer robe – it was November after all. "Well, he's got these great big whiskers."

Peter gave a disapproving look. "Oh, yeah. That will make the girls run wild: Here comes 'Whiskers!"

James rolled his eyes at Peter. "Yeah, like that's such a problem for you."

Peter was confused. "What?"

James gave Peter a mock harsh look. "I've been chasing Lily Evans for over four years. Her sister shows up and you got her locked up in a few weeks – less than a month! Let me tell you – I've been tempted to prank you a time or two just out of jealousy on getting the girl so quick."

Peter was about to protest that it wasn't like that … but he couldn't. As soon as he started he could only grin. "Sorry. I guess you just don't have the same charm I do."

Sirius and Remus both laughed at that. "Seriously – I wasn't trying. We just clicked. It helped me she didn't have a lot of self-esteem but we're fixing that – did you see how she looked this past weekend?"

Sirius nodded. "A little makeup goes a long way. And the more she smiles, the better she looks."

Peter nodded. "Exactly. You've got to stop trying so hard oh Great Stag with the Many-Pronged Antlers."

James pouted. "Fine oh Small Rat with the Wormlike Tail!"

Sirius and Remus, who were watching the two, looked at each other and then cried out together: "Prongs and Wormtail!"

James and Peter, who had not been paying attention looked at their fellows. Both tried to protest the names but Sirius finally said, "You don't get to choose your own nicknames so your own vote doesn't count. And it's two to one for each nickname: Therefore the Noble Order of the Marauders now includes: James Potter, also known as Prongs; Remus Lupin, Moony; Peter Pettigrew, Wormtail; and, finally, the most sexy of them all, Sirius Black! Also known as – Padfoot!"

Finally the two shrugged and accepted the names. They all set up a (quiet) cheer – it was just 5:00 in the morning.

The four Marauders quietly made their way out of the entrance to Hogwarts' grounds via the Whomping Willow once the knot hat been depressed once more. Remus would make his way to the Infirmary, as he was expected to, and the others would go back to their dorms.

As the group went inside, they all looked around and saw no one. They quietly crept until they hit the stairs and then suddenly, they heard a voice which stopped them cold. The looked up to the second floor and saw a twinkling Albus Dumbledore.

A few hours earlier

Albus was sitting in his office enjoying a lemon tart. It had been a long day and he had finally gotten through the majority of his backlogged parchments that he needed to review.

Feeling he deserved a treat, he called for Floxy to bring him a lemon tart. If he was truthful with himself, he would have admitted that he needed no real reason to ask for a lemon tart – he quite enjoyed them.

Suddenly, there was a knock on his door.

After a quick check, he called out, "Come in, Garrick."

His Defense Professor was smiling as he came in. "One day I'm going to figure out which of these smoking devices you have tells you who is at the door and then I'm going to tweak it to fool you as a prank. I'm just warning you now."

Albus gave a small grin as he motioned Garrick to a seat. "Minerva has been curious for years and has not figured it out. I believe I am safe for the nonce."

Garrick chuckled. "Good evening, Albus."

"Good evening. What brings you to my office so late at night?"

Garrick paused and then said, "Well, you need to decide how to handle a delicate matter with three of your students."

"Oh? Which students?" he asked curiously.

Garrick smirked and said, "James Potter, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew."

"Just the three? The fourth isn't included?"

"Well, to be truthful, what they've done has much to do with their friend Remus, but only these three actually have to be … handled properly."

Albus sat back and said, "And what about them needs be handled?"

"Well, they've gone and done something which has some legal ramifications." The man's smile gave nothing away.

"What laws are we speaking of?"

With aplomb Garrick replied, "Laws regarding the registration of certain types of magical skills."

"And the skill they involved?"

With a serene smile Garrick replied, "Animagus transformation."

Albus was shocked silent for just a moment. Finally he said, "Whaat!?"

Garrick laughed at his response. "I know. Three fifteen-year old wizards who have not yet sat their OWLs have achieved a stable animagus transformation."

"Why would they do such a blasted risky bit of magic so young? There are soooo many ways such things could have gone wrong." Albus was, in truth, a bit worried. Animagus training was not something to work on as a whim – it took real dedication and had many risks.

Garrick sighed. "Well, for them it was a matter of loyalty. Apparently they learned long ago of their friend's condition. And through research they found that a werewolf does not attack other animals unless threatened – they are only dangerous to humans. Other animals – even animagii – are immune from being cursed through a werewolf bite. And, not wanting their friend to suffer unnecessarily, they worked their collective arses off and finally got it stable. Right now the Shrieking Shack plays host to the playful bunch."

Garrick took a mirror from his pocket and placed it on a second chair before expanding it. Looking into the mirror, Albus could see the image of his werewolf student frolicking around in the shack with a large deer, a black dog – which looked quite Grim-like to be honest, and a small rat. For ten minutes or saw he watched as the animals quite enjoyed mock battles and small games in their animal forms.

"Remarkable," was all he could finally say in the end. He then looked at Garrick curiously. "Why do you have this mirror?"

Garrick shrugged. "I am in charge of Defense this year. A werewolf in the neighbourhood was a bit of a concern. I took steps to ensure there were no safety issues. You probably never noticed that the creature wards had been strengthened this summer – no transformed werewolf can make it onto the Hogwarts Grounds proper. Those four could spend the night running through the Forbidden Forest for example and there would be no chance of Lupin rushing the grounds even if there were students out and about. I made certain – just like I took steps to prevent Hagrid's acromantulas from being able to come onto the grounds." Garrick gave him a serious look. "I take my responsibilities quite seriously."

Albus was a bit surprised. He knew that Garrick had been on the team to correct and strengthen the wards but had not perused every single detail. In hindsight – it was something that Albus himself should have considered. "You do – and Hogwarts is thankful for such diligence. But what do you think should be done about those three?"

Garrick smirked. "Well, if they had been the immature idiots that they were in the past, I would have said come done on them like a ton of bricks. But, in this case, their efforts were for the most pure of purposes: Comfort of a friend. And while it is frowned upon, it isn't illegal for a minor to become an animagus. I get the idea that those three might become interested in Magical Law after graduation – at least Potter and Black. And Pettigrew has been much better since he became your cousin Petunia's tutor – you might have noticed the dearth of pranks in bad taste this year. The four are growing up finally. So – I recommend making them register at the ICW and you approving them as being on the restricted list as long as they plan on working at the Ministry once they graduate. If they don't they will have to register on the public list in Britain upon graduation. That ensures all the laws are taken into account."

Albus considered the man's words. In one thing, he was entirely accurate: The Marauders had matured much this year. The pranks that were played no longer had that malicious edge to them that had worried him so. And they had even, in their own way, assisted a Slytherin with a problem. And he could not fault their reasons if his Professor was accurate in his suppositions.

He decided: He would find out.

"What do you suggest for tonight?" he asked Garrick.

"Send Fawkes to sing them to sleep around midnight. From what I know, moonrise is 4:48 or so. So by 5:00 or 5:15 they should just be ready to start sneaking in. Catch them, have them checked by Poppy, check over their transformations with Minerva, and then tell them they have to register – and then throw them the bone of registering with the ICW. They will need parental permission, but once that is done, send them to Geneva a week from Saturday. Have Eileen supervise them and she can bring Severus and their solicitor to register his potions that have only been registered in Britain so far. And if they are really good, allow them to bring dates." Gary grinned. "Peter I am certain will ask Petunia, I can get James to settle down enough to ask Lily nicely, Lily's friends can go with Sirius and Remus, and since they helped that Slytherin girl, you can tell them they have to get her as Severus' escort."

Albus looked at his Defense Professor. "Aren't we meddling in their lives a bit much with all this?"

Garrick shrugged. "It's not a Machiavellian plan we're hatching Albus – we're just having fun. If we were potioning them, or giving them confundus charms to do the same, that would be kind of evil. Here we are just stirring the pot and watching what happens. I think they will all quite enjoy themselves."

Albus gave a small smile. "It would be somewhat fun. I only worry about Mr. Black's parents – I do not feel they will allow him to act as he see's fit with this."

"Don't ask them – ask Arcturus Black, the Paterfamilias, to visit. After telling him what you found out about Phineas and his actions this past summer, have Sirius talk to him while he's here and get his permission from his Grandfather. With magical families, you know the Paterfamilias' word is actually stronger then his own parents decisions."

"Do you think Sirius can get his Granfather to agree?"

Garrick gave Albus a smirk. "Give me a few days to get Sirius ready and watch much of Britain's problems with the Black family disappear."

Albus looked skeptical. "And how will you do that?"

"I'm going to get Sirius to out-Slytherin the whole lot of them. Sirius will be unassailable as the Black Heir when I'm done – and you know how much he despises the Pureblood Supremacy bullshite. The Blacks will become, if we do this well, the greatest supporters of bringing down this Dark idiot who calls himself a Lord."

"Already I hear that some support him," Albus admonished.

"But you have the knowledge of how to fix that."

Albus was confused. "How?"

Garrick rolled his eyes. "Stop trying to hide the facts to keep people safe. What was Voldemort's birth name and what is his true Blood status?"

Albus gave Garrick a piercing look. "This was not information that I thought was known to very many at all."

Garrick gave Albus a serious look. "I know. And why you've been hiding this is confusing as all hell to me. You know how much purebloods despise Muggles. And yet you've kept his paternity a secret? I understand that you're not that petty – but this is Politics, Albus. Keeping silent only helps the idiot hoodwink Purebloods into thinking he's one of them. Let's expose him as the hypocrite he is. Anyone who knows you knows that your objection to him has nothing to do with his parentage and everything to do with a dislike of Dark magic. But you aren't dealing with people with your morals. Are you?"

Albus sighed. "No. You make good points. I just despise using such methods."

"Your grandfatherly persona is great when dealing with people who respect wisdom gained through long experience, but now you're dealing with people who only respect power. Knowledge is one power. Use the power you have – it is not inconsiderable."

Albus nodded. "Very well. But if this blows up, I am blaming you."

Garrick grinned. "I can accept that."

And so, at 5:00, Albus Dumbledore placed himself on the second floor, waiting for his students to sneak in. And, just on time they did so.

He waited until they had started the first climb before stepping forth.

"Good morning, boys. Not exactly following curfew, are you?"

Albus barely withheld the grin at their surprised faces.