So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 80 A Werewolf's Tale

 

Remus found himself in Minerva’s home feeling very much like he was a teenager again being sent to his Head of House’s office after the Marauders were caught in one prank or another. Then he could never imagine being friends with Minerva McGonagall, but they were. It was she who made sure that he got out of bed, wash, ate something and continued to have a roof over his head in the early days after James and Lily’s death when just getting out of bed seemed to be too difficult to do most day.

 

‘Do you know what happened to Dumbledore’s Pensieve?’ asked Remus.

 

Minerva raised her eyebrows, ‘why would you need that?’

 

‘An … old friend has given me memories which may change my perception of …’ Remus trailed off unsure of how exactly to explain everything.

 

‘That old friend wouldn’t be Sirius Black,’ Minerva said dryly.

 

Remus gaped slightly at her.

 

Minerva gave him an amused look, ‘honestly, I read the Prophet – I know the theory that Black may not be all he was painted, and with everything else that has been uncovered it did make a certain amount of sense for Dumbledore to … get him safely out of the way.’

 

Remus swallowed, ‘do you really think that he would do that?’

 

Minerva fixed Remus with a sharp look, ‘I had a visit from the Aurors, Kingsley has left me with a lot to think about. Albus has been my friend since before you were born, to know that he was not the man I thought he was … so I hope not but unfortunately my biased hope does not change what he did.’

 

Remus nodded, ‘I … I think I’ve done something terrible.’

 

Remus once more thought of James begging for his and his child’s freedom. What if Remus had listened? Would James be still alive? Would Harry have grown up happy and loved? Or would Voldemort have destroyed any Light in them both?

 

‘I need to know the truth no matter how terrible,’ Remus declared.

 

Minerva nodded, ‘well then you should know that the Pensieve does not belong to Albus, but Hogwarts – it was created by Rowena Ravenclaw and Godric Gryffindor.’

 

It always amused Remus how people thought of Godric Gryffindor as simply a warrior, all brawn no brains despite him being accredited with the creation of the Sorting Hat. In fact, Gryffindor was one of the finest Master enchanters of the age, competing for Ravenclaw for being the best in the land. Helga Hufflepuff on the other hand was less specialised preferring to be competent at all areas of magic but Masters of none. Salazar Slytherin was probably the best warrior of the time able to combine areas of all magic to aid him on and off the battlefield.