Running With Wolves

Chapter 8: What Happens in the Early Morning

Chapter 8: What Happens in the Early Morning

Mum and Dad,

The first couple weeks have been fantastic. The full moon was a little rough, but no worse than usual, and it's always nice to have my friends visit me in the hospital wing, usually with chocolate. The teachers have all promised us loads of homework and they've certainly delivered, but I'm getting through it all right. Sirius, James and Peter are doing well also, though James and Sirius did manage to land us all in detention the first day back.

Security here has tightened because of You-Know-Who, but don't worry about me. There's nowhere safer than Hogwarts, Dumbledore would have made sure of that, and it hasn't interrupted school. All in all, I'm doing well, though I miss you.

Love,

Remus

Remus stared at the letter he had just taken half an hour to compose. There was nothing else he could think to add. He couldn't tell if the letter sounded too cheery, but he didn't want to make his parents worry, or think that there was anything wrong. Before he could change his mind, he slipped it into an envelope and sealed it, standing up from his table in the common room.

Sunlight peaked through the curtains. The window was cracked open and a cool breeze filtered in. The only sound was the distant call of birds and the rustle of leaved from the trees outside. Someone's cat leapt onto the scarlet armchair beside the dying fire and settled down, mewling contentedly. Otherwise, he was completely alone. He stood and stretched, rolling out his neck and taking a deep breath.

The corridors were as empty as the common room. Or at least they should have been. As he came around the corner he nearly ran headlong into Professor Lunly.

"Remus!" said Lunly. His voice was cheery in a tinny kind of way that made Remus' eyebrows draw together. "What are you doing awake so early?"

"I was um... I was sending a letter to my parents," he replied, raising the letter to show Lunly.

"Good, good. Your parents are well, are they?"

"Er, yes, I think so."

"Ah, good."

"Professor, what are you doing on the seventh floor?"

"Hm? Oh, nothing of importance. How was the first full moon?"

"It was fine—er—no worse than it usually is. I mean... yeah." He finished lamely. Lunly hardly seemed to notice.

Listen, I noticed you seem to have a little falling out with your friends. You don't seem to talk to them as much. Are you all right?"

"Oh, yes, it's fine. We're all fine." Lunly stopped walking and put a hand on Remus' shoulder, staring at him down his nose.

"Really, Remus? You can tell me the truth you know. I want to be able to help you."

"I promise, we're fine. And I appreciate it, but I really don't need your help." Lunly looked at him with those intense eyes for another few seconds. The hairs on the back of Remus' neck stood on end. Then Lunly broke eye contact, and Remus pulled away from him. They had reached the owlery.

To Remus' dismay, Lunly followed him inside, and watched him while he ushered an owl down from a perch near the ceiling, tied his letter to its leg and carried it to the window. Remus held the bird out on his arm. It spread its wing, flapped for a few seconds and flew away, its weight pushing Remus' arm down.

Remus barely managed to look at the professor again as they left the owlery. He gave Lunly a weak smile and started down the stairs. Lunly's footsteps echoes after him.