Remus Lupin and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 19: Halloween Night

  [AN: The dialogue that happens in front of the Fat Lady's portrait is straight out of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and belongs to J.K. Rowling; I'm using it to reframe the scene from Remus' point of view. No copyright infringement is intended]  

Food was getting dodgy for his stomach as the moon expanded itself by slivers, tugging ever harder at the wolf, but he still managed to enjoy some of the feast. He felt himself dimming, bit by bit as the exact hour of the decade old betrayal crept ever closer. Flitwick, seated next to him, seemed to notice this and engaged him warmly in conversation. "So, being a Professor have worn you thin, has it, Lupin?"

"Hah, not that I had noticed. Unless you've realized something I haven't," he added and held his hand between them, as if checking it's translucence. The little man's vigor had always been oddly infectious.

Flitwick laughed out loud. "No, getting even more solid, I'd say. Any stand out students?"

He thought a moment, then hid a smile. "There are indeed a few, but maybe one that stands out a little farther than some, in some respects."

"Granger is indeed a very bright child."

"A Ravenclaw, actually, and I was thinking more of standing out in a crowd...."

"Ah, so you've met Miss Lovegood!"

They chatted amiably about her unique presence and accessories, then the food, which Professor Sprout joined, then the Quidditch cup and ended meandering onto the topic of bookshops before the ghost's Halloween performance interrupted them. Remus called quits soon after dinner when he checked the time and realized with a start that the hour of Lily and James' murder had quietly come and gone. He hadn't been quite sure what he would have done in any case; stand at attention? Throw himself upon his armchair in a faint? But to have it pass by so unseen...

He was rising to leave when a Gryffindor student came barreling back into the Hall and charged up to the staff table, gasping. "Professor Dumbledore, come quick!" The uncertain fear in her voice prompted the remaining Professors to hurriedly rise as well and Remus found himself beside Snape and McGonagall, following Dumbledore's long, swift strides.

The crowd at the end of the corridor to the Gryffindor Common Room parted and Remus and McGonagall exchanged a look of concern before it became apparent what the backup was. "What in the name of--" she gasped and Remus just stared in confusion. Shreds of the Fat Lady's portrait hung off in ribbons and bits of the actual frame we're scattered about, some of them a ways down the hall. She was gone. This seemed too savage for a prank, too thorough to be an accident. The faces of students turned to them in a wave, each reflecting fear, doubt, uncertainty, questions.

Dumbledore was already there, already looking to them as they approached with a grave expression. "We need to find her. Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

She nodded, but before Dumbledore could continue, Remus felt the breeze from something brush by his head and the unpleasantly delighted voice of Peeves caroled, "You'll be lucky!"

All eyes turned to him and Dumbledore said, easily. "What do you mean, Peeves?"

The poltergeist deflated a bit at his direct attention, but answered in a simpering voice, "Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful." His grin widened malevolently. "Poor thing."

Remus looked back to Dumbledore's face, which, for the moment, was unreadable. "Did she say who did it?" He probed

"Oh yes, Professorhead. He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see."