Chapter 23 - The Creeping Shadows
It wasn't until the following morning when they arrived for breakfast only to find the tables empty apart from jugs of pumpkin and orange juice did the other students begin to raise something was wrong.
"'Ere, what gives?" exclaimed Seamus as he stood behind his seat staring at the empty table. "Hermione, you haven't gone and given the House Elves clothes now have you?"
"No I haven't!" huffed Hermione folding her arms across her chest whilst glaring at the young Irishman as he sat down at the table whilst Harry and Ron exchanged a smirk over the top of her head,
"Hey guys, isn't that Lupin up there talking with Hagrid?" asked Katie as she took her seat next to Dean, her gaze focused on the top end of the hall.
At once several of the other Gryffindors either raised themselves slightly from their seats or leaned back into the aisles to get a better view.
"Here, you're right!" exclaimed Dean. "What do you reckon he's doing here?"
"Maybe Dumbledore's given him another job," suggested Colin.
"Don't be silly Colin," sighed Lavender. "Lupin's a werewolf! Dumbledore's not going to employ him now he knows that."
Almost at once Harry felt Hermione tense up in anger at Lavender's prejudicial remark but before she could speak Seamus beat her too it.
"So? So is me Uncle Dougal!"
"Wait a mo," said Ron holding up a hand. "You've got an Uncle whose a Werewolf?"
"Yeah," confirmed Seamus with a nod.
"Cool," murmured Dean.
"But isn't he dangerous?" exclaimed Parvati nervously.
"Well, he's not much fun around full moon," admitted Seamus. "But as long as he takes his potion he's fine!"
"His potion?" replied Lavender curiously.
"Aye, Wolfsbane potion," said Seamus. "Makes him pretty much docile although Auntie Muireann keeps the basement door locked and a Muggle shotgun handy just in case but he's never tried anything yet."
"And Lupin's the same," added Harry quickly. "Honestly Lavender, do you think Dumbledore would have let him through the school gates if he was dangerous?"
"I…I suppose not," Lavender grudgingly allowed.
Harry was just about to say something when Dumbledore's voice filled the hall.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, could I have your attention please?"
At once the hall fell silent and every head turned in the direction of the top table where Dumbledore stood.
Ron turned back towards Harry and Hermione with a frown on his face and leaned in towards them.
"Is it just me or does Dumbledore look tired?"
Now that he could see the Professor in the daylight Harry had to admit he'd seen the Headmaster look better and by the expression on Hermione's face she thought so too.
Dumbledore meanwhile cast a look around the hall before he began to speak.
"To start with I would like to apologise for the delay to breakfast but I have a few announcements to make but to make up for that you're first lessons for this morning are cancelled."
Here he paused as a murmur filled the hall as the students exchanged puzzled looks. After all, lessons weren't cancelled for no reason. The Headmaster now gave a small cough to regain every attention and cast a look around the hall before speaking.
"I regret to announce that last night Lord Voldermort and some of his supporters where successful in breaking some of the wards that protected Azkaban prison and gained entry to the prison and released the inmates!"
This time the murmur was a lot louder and the exchanged looks ranged from alarmed to fear and Dumbledore now had to raise his arms and call for everyone's attention before the noise abated.
"Firstly," he said slowly. "I want to assure you that the school and Hogsmeade are both safe and will continue to remain so, so please do allow yourselves to be worried about this news. Secondly, the rest of the staff and myself have decided that we will attempt to keep school life as normal as possible so for the moment at least Quidditch and Hogsmeade visits will continue as normal."
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea," murmured Hermione softly as a small cheer arose from mainly third years who'd never been to Hogsmeade before.
"Well I guess it's kinda the reverse of what Harry said about Lupin isn't it?" said Ginny. "He wouldn't let us out of the gates unless he figured Hogsmeade was safe.
"She's right," agreed Neville and Hermione was forced to give a small nod although she still looked a little unconvinced.
"Finally," said Dumbledore raising his hands for silence. "Some of you may recognise a familiar face at the table this morning in the form of Professor Remus Lupin. For those of you who weren't here during his term with us Professor Lupin taught DADA, a role he will now resume for the first, second, third and fourth years whilst Professor Gringle will set up a more intensive curriculum for the upper school. Furthermore any student not doing N.E.W.T's. DADA but who now wishes to take up the subject may do so by informing their Head of House. However, for now I have delayed you're breakfast for too long and for that I once more ask your forgiveness and hope that I have not entirely ruined you're appetites."
And with that plates loaded with bacon, eggs, sausages and stacks of toast alongside bowls of cereal and porridge appeared whilst at the same time the owls who'd been waiting patiently in the rafters swept down into the hall and those students who received the Daily Prophet were quickly surrounded by their friends desperate to hear more information about the previous night!
"What does the paper say 'Mione?" asked Ginny from the opposite side of the table where she was sat between Neville and Dean.
"Let's see shall we?" murmured Hermione as she unfolded the paper and began to read.
Despite the fact that the Ministry's statement on the events at Azkaban hadn't been released until very late the previous evening so much of the Prophet seemed to be devoted to it with interviews with all sorts of wizards and witches that Harry found himself briefly wondering if someone in the Prophet office was skilled in Divination and had been able to plan for all of them in advance.
"Well, at least most of them seem to be supporting how the Ministry have handled this," said Hermione as she flicked through the paper. "Oh good grief! They've interviewed Umbridge of all people!"
"Let me guess, she's not supporting Dad on this?" snorted Ginny as she looked up from her plate.
"No she's not," replied Hermione reaching for a slice of toast as she continued to read. "Oh honestly! What a load of nonsense!"
"What?" said Harry looking up from his bacon.
"She says that if he'd still been Minister, Fudge would have deployed the entire Auror division to Azkaban to prevent Voldermort taking the island!"
"On yeah, that would have been a bright idea! Give Voldermort the chance to wipe out every Auror we've got in one go and turn us all into sitting bloody ducks! Stupid old cow!" snorted Ron before shooting a look first at Ginny and then Hermione before a puzzled expression crossed his face.
"Aren't you two gonna say anything?"
"What about?" asked Ginny looking towards her brother.
"Well, I just called Umbridge a stupid old cow and you guys didn't say a word! You're usually all over me for something like that!"
"That's probably because for once they agree with you," said Luna as she slipped in beside Ron placing a kiss on his cheek. "And so do I for that matter.
"You do?" replied Ron looking rather surprised.
"Absolutely," agreed Hermione with a grin. "The old trout really needs to be taught a lesson in keeping her trap shut!"
"Hermione!" exclaimed Luna and Ginny both grinning at their friend whilst Harry chuckled in amusement.
"You really don't like her do you?"
"No I don't," agreed Hermione. "The only people I probably hate more than her are the Malfoys!"
"That I can understand," agreed Harry with a nod.
"But what about Vol…Vol…Voldermort?!" stammered Lavender.
"Oh, I hate him certainly," agreed Hermione. "But I don't really think of him as a person, more as something that should be scrapped off the sole of my shoe!"
Here Lavender and Parvati both stared at her with a mixture of horror and admiration whilst Harry looked at his girlfriend with a broad grin.
"So how long do you reckon we're gonna have to wait before Voldermort makes a move," said Seamus wincing slightly as he said the Dark Lord's name.
Harry was about to say he didn't know when Hermione spoke up.
"Halloween," she said looking over at Seamus. "Think about it, it's one of the biggest days in the year for the wizarding community. What better time to make an impact!"
Here the others nodded or exchanged worried looks with each other.
"What do you reckon he'll hit?" said Dean anxiously.
"Diagon Alley probably," replied Ron. "Or maybe the Ministry."
"Maybe," allowed Hermione albeit with a doubtful expression. "The only thing is that the Aurors have tripled patrols in Diagon Alley since the first attacks and as for the Ministry, well I seriously doubt the Death Eaters will be able to waltz in like they did last year! No, Voldermort's going to want to hit an easy target that will make a big impact!"
"So what is he going to attack then?" asked Parvati, her dark features clearly paled with feat to which the only reply Hermione could give gave her dorm-mate was a shrug and a worried look of her own.
"No idea and that scares the hell out of me!"
***
The rain that had been steadily falling since before breakfast continued throughout the day and only served to make the atmosphere within the castle even more gloomy and not a single student could be seen walking around the corridors alone much as they had at the start of term.
Thankfully the Marauders had their training to take their minds off worrying about Voldermort and so after dinner left the Great Hall and started to make their way up to the Room of Requirement where they found Gringle standing outside the room wiping his glasses on his robes.
"Evening you lot," he said as he slipped his glasses back on.
"What are you doing out here sir?" asked Hermione curiously at which Gringle gave a small cough.
"Well unfortunately Sybil…I mean Professor Trelawney kept walking in on us, Professor Hedges nearly got her at one point so I figured as this isn't exactly my best subject I'd keep guard so to speak until you got here after which we could fix it so that she couldn't open it."
"You can do that?" asked Hermione, her eyebrows disappearing into her hairline. "Seal the door I mean!"
"Oh, I wasn't talking about magic Miss Granger," said Gringle quickly. "I was going to jam it shut."
"'Ere, hang on," said Ron slowly. "What was Trelawney…"
"PROFESSOR Trelawney Ron!" said Luna quickly.
"Sorry, Professor Trelawney doing round here? We're a fair distance from her tower."
"Well, I didn't hear all the words but she was apparently singing a rude song about Delores Umbridge," chuckled Gringle causing grins and smirks to appear on the Marauders faces. "Either that or she was trying some sort of weird curse! Anyway, come on." And with that he pushed the door open and allowed the Marauders to walk through the doorway…
…And into a wooded clearing which at one end had three large circular targets set up whilst at the other were stood Hedges and Stoutbridge both of who were wearing broad smiles that caused Gringle to shoot them suspicious looks as he stepped into the room and closed the door before rolling a large stone in front of it to make sure no-one else could walk in.
"What are you two grinning about?" said the DADA Professor as he walked over to the group.
"Nothing," said Stoutbridge innocently.
"Nothing at all!" added Hedges. "Really Thaddeus, you are far too suspicious of us at times! You always seem to think we're up to something!"
"Oh really?" replied Gringle raising an eyebrow. "And this from the pair who made all the suits of armour break into a conga line every time old Pringle tried to polish one of them!"
"Now hold on!" said Hedges with a broad grin matching the one Stoutbridge was wearing whilst the Marauders shook with laughter at the mere image of the suits of armour dancing around the castle. "We all know Pringle never caught who was responsible!"
"True," allowed Gringle. "But I would happily bet five galleons that you two were top of his list of suspects!" Here he turned to Harry and the others with a wry smirk. "In took Professor Bandicoot six months to finally stop all the suits doing the conga and even then they still do the can-can when Pringle did try to clean them! Some of them did actually shake themselves to pieces before the spell finally wore off!"
"Classic!" hissed Ron quietly to Harry as he leaned against his shorter friend. "Absolutely bloody classic! The twins would have loved to pull that one on Filch!"
"Anyway!" said Gringle after everyone had calm down slightly. "I think we'll start with a demonstration. Abercrombie, you're up!"
"Right," said Hedges and stepped up to a marked line on the earthy ground and pulled an arrow from his quiver and started to load the arrow before slowly drawing back the bowstring whilst raising it so the tip of the arrow was aiming into the air.
"What's he aiming at?" said Ron. "He's gonna miss the target by miles!"
"I don't think so," said Neville with a shake of his head and as the teenagers watched the bow slowly lower until suddenly the arrow shot across the clearing and hit the third target almost dead centre.
"Bloody hell," exclaimed Ron softly whilst Harry gave a low whistle. Hermione and the girls looked pretty impressed to.
"Well now," said Hedges lowering his bow and turning to the Marauders. "Mr Longbottom, I take it you're Uncle Roland's taught you a thing or too so why don't you come and show the others how it's done?"
"Alright sir," said Neville as he moved over to the Professor whilst the others watched on with interest as he now copied Hedges's actions until he released the arrow which shot straight towards the target and struck it dead centre at which a deep low "Mooooooo!" filled the air causing Neville to yelp and the rest of Marauders all to jump whilst Hedges gave a roar of "Bulls eye!" whilst Stoutbridge grinned broadly.
"I knew it!" sighed Gringle heavily, albeit with a wry smile. "I knew you wouldn't be able to resist having a little joke! Alright you lot, break into pairs and we'll get started."
***
Harry quickly discovered that while he was quite adept at wielding a sword, handling a bow and arrow didn't come quite as naturally. In fact, if Harry was being honest with himself he wasn't particularly good although this didn't really bother him in the slightest.
Ron wasn't doing much better but unlike Harry he was allowing himself to get frustrated and began cursing earning him a dug in the ribs from Ginny who was his partner for the evening.
But whilst Harry and Ron weren't having much luck the girls were faring considerably better especially Luna who had taken to the bow as if it were second nature but even she couldn't come close to Neville who even managed to out-shoot Gringle and Stoutbridge.
"Stone the crows!" muttered Stoutbridge as Neville hit another bull. "You didn't charm the arrows did you Bramble?"
"Nope," replied Hedges with a smirk. "Why? You're ego hurting mate?"
Stoutbridge merely grunted whilst Gringle and the Marauders exchanged grins.
***
The lesson ended just after nine and the Marauders left the Professors to pack up.
"Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow," said Luna as they reached the fifth floor.
"Yeah, I'll be along in a bit," added Ron and with that he and Luna headed down the corridor towards Ravenclaw tower.
"Well, that's Ron gone for half an hour," sniggered Ginny causing the others to grin before Harry turned to Hermione.
"I was thinking of going to see Moony, wanna come?"
Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully for a second and then shook her head.
"I'd like too but I really need to get some work done on my Arithmancy project, Vector wants it in on Wednesday, but you go if you want."
"You sure?" asked Harry at which Ginny threw her hands into the air.
"How is it you boys never understand a girl when she says yes?" she growled before pulling out her wand and aiming it at Harry. "Now go and see Lupin or I'll hex you right now!"
"Better not argue with her mate!" chuckled Neville whilst Hermione smirked. Harry meanwhile grinned broadly.
"Okay, okay!" he said throwing up his hands in mock surrender whilst meeting Ginny's gaze and seeing the mischievous twinkle. "I'm going!" And quickly placing a kiss on his girlfriend's cheek he turned and hurried down the corridor towards the staff quarters.
***
It turned out however that Harry wasn't Lupin's first visitor of the evening as just as he was about to knock the door opened and Harry found himself face to face with Professor Dumbledore.
"Ah, it would seem you are in demand tonight Remus," said the Headmaster turning to Lupin who smiled warmly at Harry.
"So it would seem," replied the Lycan. "Come on in Harry."
"Well Remus," said Dumbledore as Harry stepped past Lupin into his room. "I shall see you in the morning, goodnight and goodnight to you Harry."
"Night Professor," called Harry whilst Remus merely gave a nod and they watched the older man start down the corridor Harry had just come up before Lupin closed the door and turned to Harry with a wry smile.
"Well, I have to admit this is a bit of a surprise."
"Professor?" replied Harry with a puzzled look on his face.
"Well, I'd have thought you'd have been spending you're free time with you're girlfriend," chuckled the Werewolf with a chuckle at which Harry felt his cheeks go red.
"Oh, you eh, you heard about that?"
"Indeed I did," replied Lupin, his eyes twinkling. "Minerva was more than eager to inform me that I owed her five galleons when I arrived,"
"Oh," murmured Harry weakly, his face going even redder causing Remus to laugh and place a hand on the young wizard's shoulder
"I was just going to make myself some tea, would you like some?"
"Please," replied Harry with a weak grin at which Remus's smile widened.
"Good, make yourself comfy then and I'll put the kettle on," he said and walked over to the small stove that stood in the corner whilst Harry took a seat and looked around the room. Lupin's grammar phone stood in one corner of the room next to a book case that carried a mix of DADA books and Muggle novels whilst on the wall above the fireplace hung
"So Harry," said Remus as he lit the stove and placed the kettle on top of it. "I hear you're a Marauder now as well."
"Albeit an official one," said Harry with a shrug.
"I have to admit, I always wondered how James and Sirius came up with that name," admitted Remus. "So how's the training going?"
"It's tough," admitted Harry. "But if it means we're ready to face Voldermort when the time comes it'll be worth it."
"Well, you couldn't have a better teacher than Thaddeus Gringle," offered the Lycan with a smile.
"Yeah, Dumbledore told us he'd taught DADA when you guys were here," said Harry at which Remus nodded.
"Final two years," he said. "Its odd though, when I met Gringle last night he was…," here Lupin hesitated as if looking for the right word.
"Older?" offered Harry with a grin causing Lupin to meet his gaze and then chuckled.
"I was going to say different but older is probably better. I mean, I haven't seen the man in person since I left Hogwarts."
The two spent another hour talking before Harry left leaving Remus alone with his thoughts.
Gringle certainly seemed different to how he remembered him but then as Harry had said it had been over twenty years since he'd last seen his former DADA Professor and hadn't HE changed a lot himself in those years?
Plus there was the fact that Dumbledore seemed quite satisfied that Gringle was exactly who he said he was. After all, on arriving from Azkaban Remus had been required to drink a vial of anti-polyjuice to prove his identity (he could still taste the vile liquid even now) and Dumbledore had told him that all the staff were now submitted to regular checks to make sure any of Voldermort's supporters couldn't infiltrate the school again.
Remus sighed and looked in the mirror.
"You're getting paranoid in you're old age Moony," he grunted.
But he still couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling something wasn't quite right!