Game Changer ♠ Remus Lupin

Nineteen: She Seemed a Thing that Could Not Feel

"You treacherous snake!"

I moved my head to see who spoke with such fury only to see Mad Eye striding to me in his heavy boots. His face was creased in an angry grimace, his lips tightly pressed together, both his real and artificial eyes focused on me.

His cane shot into the air to point at me. "I'm damn curious what you have to say!"

The curtains around Mrs. Black's portrait fell and the woman started shrieking at the same time others poured into the hallway. I was surprised to see the Weasley's with both twins, as they rarely let the boys visit the place, but behind them I noticed a big purple hat and knew Dedalus was also there, and of course, Tonks was right next to Moody. Only Sirius moved from behind him to shut the portrait.

"Get out of here!" commanded Sirius over the noise, unable to silence the woman with Moody's yelling.

The small crowd reluctantly moved back to the dining/meeting room, leaving me stunned with Sirius.

"You're in trouble," he said quietly after pushing the curtains close. His eyes met mine only for the quickest moment. "Just don't do anything stupid."

I blinked, surprised by the warning just as much as by the whole bizarre situation. As I followed Sirius, I quickly went through all the bad things I have done during my stay. Was there something wrong with the notes I gave Dumbledore? This couldn't have been it, any mistake would've been called out sooner. Was it about my quiet war with Tonks? I couldn't have made it that obvious, could I? I still sucked at wandless magic, but for Moody to act like that? Well, maybe it was needed for some important thing...

My thoughts evaporated as soon as I walked into the dining room. Dumbledore sat at the head of the table, as always, looking in my direction, at me, but his eyes were somewhat absent. At his right there was Snape, sneering at me from across the room. Arthur and Molly sat next to him, looking between themselves and their children. Tonks was between Moody and Dedalus, shooting me a malicious stare.

Sirius moved to take the place on the right side of the table, and the only other vacant chair was at the foot of the table, left for me, just so everyone else would have a good view of my face when they spit on it.

And then there was Remus, sitting across Sirius and on my left side, unnecessarily rigid or maybe just nervous from reading the room, looking at his hands folded in his lap. By the sole reason of him not daring to look me in the eyes, I understood I somehow was in deep shit.

"I was made aware of an unusual and highly hazardous affair concerning security of the Order and stability of our operation," Dumbledore spoke, looking left and right. "Does everyone know what happened?"

While the table filled with soft affirmative murmurs, I cleared my throat.

"I've no idea what's going on," I admitted.

Tonks scoffed, making Sirius' head snap toward her. She slightly moved her chin higher in response to his glare.

"Alastor, would you...?" asked Dumbledore.

Moody still had that ugly grimace on his face, but was clearly content it was him that told the story.

"Someone," he accentuated, "broke into the Ministry. Specifically into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

He looked at me as if expecting some sort of reaction, but I did not lie when I said I had no clue what it was about. I gave him back the stare he was giving me.

"Every Auror in the Department was infected with some sort of disease," Tonks added through her teeth. "St Mungo's is yet to report any specifics."

So that was what made them so hostile. I actually understood where they were coming from, with me being away for half a day, but it still stung, the fact that all of them were so quick to jump on me.