Remus slowly approached the table and picked up the small red bottle that contained the red parentage potion. He had to know once and for all – he had spent so many years running from the truth. Now for once he had to be a Gryffindor, like Sirius, and face all that terrified him. On the side of the bottle was a piece of parchment with the neat handwriting of Severus Snape.
Place one drop of your blood in the potion, shake well and leave for sixty seconds and then pour onto the other side of this parchment. This potion will reveal the last four generations of your family tree – Muggles will not appear.
Remus did as the parchment instructed and watched as writing began to appear:
Fenrir Greyback - Romula Redfur
Remus Fenirson
Remus gulped slipping down to the floor – it was all true all of it. He was Fenrir Greyback’s son. Remus felt a bubble of laughter slip out of his throat. No wonder his pa-no wonder the Lupin thought him as a monster if he was that beast’s son!
Remus didn’t know how long he sat on the floor as every truth he had ever believed turned out to be false. But when he looked again, he noticed that he was almost a year older than he had thought he was. That had the hysterics on him again – was everything a lie?
But then he remembered what Greyback had told him about the source of the rumours about him biting children. He supposedly bit born-werewolves to stop the Ministry of Magic from treating them as feral beasts because werewolves who had once been human did have one more right than born werewolves – the right to live.
Remus pulled up the sleeve of his upper left arm where the pale silvery stretch marks of his bite mark could easily be seen. Sirius had once remarked that it was rather a tame mark for a brutal werewolf mauling, that he had been lucky it hadn’t been worse. Remus had been furious at him for that remark when that damned scar had damned his whole life. But could it really be a bite from … from … from his … Remus took a deep of his father … from his father to keep him from being executed?
Remus’ eyes caught the silvery bottle containing memories. Maybe that would hold the answers to all of his questions. But he didn’t have access to a Pensieve. Dumbledore was the only person he knew who had one and he was gone but maybe Professor McGonagall still had access to it.
/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/
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.
‘Thus, Filius will have possession of it,’ Minerva pursed her lips. ‘Although, he may not share it with me … I missed several discrepancies that I should have seen. I trusted Albus too much. Would you be averse to me joining you?’
Maybe that would be a good idea. Remus knew that what he was about to see was going to be hard. And, after all, having someone who was less emotionally invested in the truth would be a good idea and Remus could think of no one better than Minerva McGonagall.
‘I think I would like you to be there,’ admitted Remus.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Flitwick agreed to allow them to use the Pensieve as long as he could accompany them so if there were any … irregularities he could report them to the Aurors. Remus wasn’t hugely comfortable with this agreement, but Minerva appeared to trust Flitwick and Remus trusted Minerva, so Remus didn’t argue too strongly against her.
They arrived in a mountainous region somewhere. There was snow on the ground so it was probably winter. A village of mismatched tents, caravans and self-built wooden lodges was evident. His eyes immediately went to Fenrir Greyback whose hair was still dark brown. Greyback perked up, sniffing the air carefully, gathering some other werewolves and moved quickly to the edge of the forest.
There was a young curvy woman probably not much older than twenty, wearing old, slightly torn jeans and a baggy faded sweatshirt and had mousy brown hair exactly the same shade as Remus’ own. Her amber eyes looked wild and scared as she stumbled into the werewolf village. Remus swallowed was … is … was he looking at his mother?
‘Hello … my pack … the hunters … they’re all dead … they’re all dead …’
The young werewolf was obviously distressed as she collapsed looking exhausted and completely spent, tears cascading down pale cheeks. Greyback kneeled down beside her and helped her to her feet.
‘My name is Fenrir Greyback – Alpha,’ Greyback said voice shockingly gentle. ‘You are safe now.’
‘I’m Romula Redfur,’
The image shifted. They were now in a woodland clearing and there were now leaves on the trees, but it still looked frosty so was either only a few weeks or at least a year later. Romula looked cleaner and her handknitted clothes had the distinct well cared for look. Greyback on the other hand looked injured; his arms was in a sling made from old cloth, and he was bleeding from a wound above his eyebrows.
‘You have to be careful!’ Romula said amber eyes glowing brightly. ‘We won’t last without you! I won’t last without you!’
‘Yes, you will,’ Greyback said. ‘You are strong. You survived the destruction of you pack … spent weeks on run on your own. There is nothing you can’t survive.’
‘What if I don’t want to survive without you,’ Romula said quietly.
Greyback crinkled his eyebrows looking confused at Romula Redfur’s words. Remus couldn’t tell if he really was that obtuse or if he was concussed. Romula sighed put down the cloth that she was using to dab at Greyback’s injuries.
‘You’re an idiot, Fen,’
Romula amber eyes bright and passionate then took Greyback’s bearded face in his own hands and pulled him into a kiss. Greyback was hesitant but then leaned into the kiss. When they pulled apart, they were both smiling.
The image shifted again. They were in a canvas tent with sun shining through. Romula was smiling looking so very different from the scared, fragile young woman who had fallen before Greyback’s knees when everyone she knew had been taken from her. Remus could practically feel her happiness.
‘I love you,’ Greyback said.
Romula was practically glowing, ‘I love you too, Fen.’
Greyback smiled.
The image shifted once more this time they were at a sandy seashore on a stormy winter day. Fenrir was surveying the area when Romula came up to him. She looked scared and was holding herself differently.
‘Fen, I’m pregnant,’ Romula said amber eyes tense.
Greyback positively beamed as he pulled Romula into his arms, ‘that is fantastic.’
An almost hysterical laugh came out of Romula’s mouth, ‘look at us … we’re barely surviving … we’re being hunted. And it will be worse for a wereborn-‘
‘When they transform for the first time, I’ll bite them,’ Greyback said. ‘No one will ever know they weren’t born human!’
‘But what if we’re caught before they take human form?’ asked Romula. ‘What if we are killed? This is not the world I want to bring a wereborn cub into-‘
‘Do you want to get rid of it?’ asked Greyback gently.
‘No,’ whispered Romula. ‘I just want them to be safe.’
Greyback was quiet for a moment, ‘do you remember a couple of weeks – the meeting with the wizard.’
Romula nodded.
‘He’s goes by the name of the Dark Lord Voldemort he is waging a rebellion on the Light fools in charge. He has requested an alliance with the werewolves. Naturally, I was not interested in fighting a wizard war,’ Greyback sneered. ‘But he might be able to change things for us … to make a world our child can be free in.’
‘Do you trust him?’ asked Romula.
‘He’s a wizard,’ Greyback said dryly. ‘But I believe him.’
‘Do you think he can do it?’ asked Romula.
Greyback chuckled, ‘the wizards fear his very name, the Ministry is on their knees. Only Albus Dumbledore stands between him and the downfall of the Light but even he is losing ground every day. So yes, I think he can.’
Romula was quiet, ‘if we join him and he loses the Ministry will further restrict us.’
‘They’re already doing that,’ Greyback said.
‘And, if we do nothing we will continue to be hunted and killed,’ Romula said.
‘But if we join him there is a chance that we can bring about a world where our children can live free,’ Greyback said quietly.
Remus was reeling – Greyback had joined Voldemort to make a world that he could live in! It was crazy and insane … but could he really blame them? Romula who had lost everything to wizards? And Greyback who feared doing the same.
‘Wait Greyback joined You Know Who to give his child a chance in life?’ Minerva said shocked.
‘He’s not the only one,’ Flitwick said. ‘The Ministry has been discriminating against non-humans for so long … there is so much anger … and the Dark Lord gave them respect, gave them a voice, gave them hope. And quite frankly was better than the alternative. Many grieved when he fell. I know that my people were silent allies back then due to the way the Ministry treats them.’
Remus gulped as the scene shifted again, they were in some sort of cave. A large dark grey wolf was pacing around her and as he howled Remus could hear others howl in the distance, celebrating the birth of a new werewolf. A dark red wolf was lying on the floor as a bright white cub suckled from her (Remus’ fur had been white until he was thirteen and it had suddenly turned grey-brown).
Then as the first rays of morning light trickled through the cave, he saw the two adult werewolves shift back into naked human forms. Remus looked away embarrassed but knew that pack werewolves had less of an issue with nakedness than humans did. Saw clothing as a way to keep warm rather than decent.
Romula gathered her new-born white furred cub into her arms as he continued to suckle none to gently. Greyback quickly joined his mate looking at the white furred cub with astonished eyes as he carefully sniffed Romula.
Romula rolled her eyes laughing, ‘I’m fine, Fen. Do you want to meet you son?’
Romula gently handed the new-born cub to his father who held him so carefully in large hands like he was afraid to drop him. Remus was sure he could see tears forming in the old werewolf’s eyes. Remus found it hard to look at; his parents – no, the Lupins had never looked at him like that. They had only ever looked at him with disgust, fear and hate.
‘Remus,’ smiled Romula.
Minerva gasped and stared at him. Flitwick, however, gave him a considering look. Remus studiously refused to meet Minerva’s eyes. Remus still had no idea how to feel to all this. Everything he knew was a lie.
The scene shifted once more. They were in a forest on a rainy grey dawn. Greyback’s pack was still shifted. He identified the dark red wolf that was his mother’s werewolf form. At her feet was the small white fluffy form of Remus Lupin which as the sun rose, he like the rest of his family shifted into the form of a crying baby. Greyback picked him up and held him to his chest.
‘His first transformation,’ smiled Romula.
‘He looks like you,’ smiled Greyback.
‘They really loved me,’ Remus said softly.
‘They’re your parents,’ Flitwick said quietly.
‘That doesn’t necessarily mean anything,’ Remus said softly.
‘It does to them,’ Minerva said softly.
Remus couldn’t argue with that point.
‘He doesn’t seem like the monster that he has been described,’ Minerva said. ‘I wonder what happened to him.
The scene shifted they were in the same forest, but it was dry, and the sun was setting staining the sky orange. Greyback was sat with his younger self in his arms looking very grim. Romula was holding one of his little hands.
‘We have to do this,’ Greyback said.
‘I know,’ Romula said eyes hard.
Greyback placed his mouth around his jaw around little Remus’ arm and bit down so as he transformed, he was still biting Remus. The little cub howled in pain as his father let him go. Both his mother and father licked the wound clean.
‘What was that about?’ demanded Minerva.
Remus grimaced, ‘wereborn are considered diseased creature – the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures will put them down. By biting me they can claim I was human-born and then turned into a werewolf.’
‘So, he was protecting you?’ Minerva asked.
Remus nodded.
‘I wonder how many other wereborn he has done that to,’ Flitwick said darkly. ‘It would certainly go some way to explain his reputation for biting children. I wonder how many of those children are wereborn protected by Greyback.’
‘He told me that in the war,’ Remus gulped. ‘I didn’t believe him about anything. I should have listened.’
The three of them fell silent as the scene move once again. They were on a pebbly beach on a bright spring day. Greyback was foraging for cockles down towards the sea front. Remus looked around for his mother before spotting her towards the caves where she and other members of her packing were setting up their base. Then a shout came.
‘HUNTERS!’
‘TAKE THE CUBS AND MOVE TO THE BACK UP DEN!’ Greyback shouted.
Greyback was already on the move with some of the stronger looking werewolves. Greyback despite being in human form tore open a human’s throat. Remus looked away – this was the Greyback that he had always been told about. But he remembered that Greyback wasn’t just killing humans for fun – he was protecting his small family. The fight was quick and brutal, and the humans were forced to retreat.
Greyback and the other werewolves made their way up the dunes and onto the open-top cliffs. Greyback looked around for his mate and child, but they were nowhere to be seen. Remus had a sinking feeling because he had to have ended up in the hands of the Lupins somehow.
‘Where’s, Romula?’ demanded Greyback.
An elderly Indian werewolf shook her head, ‘I’m sorry … Romula was in front of me … she should be here …’
Greyback made his way back towards the beach, hollering for Romula so much so it almost sounded like he was howling. Then Greyback found her lying still on the ground. The ground under her was red as her blood seeped out of her.
‘Romula,’ whispered Greyback.
Greyback pulled up her shirt trying to see what was wrong. Remus felt sick he could see what had happened immediately – a slashing curse that had cut open her stomach. Greyback tried to put pressure onto the wounds … but it was too deep, she was losing to much blood too quickly, and Greyback knew that.
‘Romula, stay with me,’ begged Greyback.
‘Fen … rir,’ Romula said voice coming out faint and tired. ‘Rem … they took … find … Remus … Remus …’
‘Don’t talk,’ Greyback said. ‘You have to stay alive so we can find him together.’
‘… Remus …’
‘Please, don’t leave me,’ begged Greyback.
‘Find … Remus …’
And that was Romula Redfur’s last words. Remus could see the light go out of those once amber eyes. Greyback clutched Romula close to his chest and howl out of grief, pain and rage at the loss of the entirety of his family.
Remus found himself feeling sick as the image faded. His mother’s last words had been of him. Begging her mate to find him and when Greyback had found him again Remus had been unwilling to listen. How many of those who loved him had Remus hurt?
‘Merlin, it’s no wonder he hates wizards,’ Minerva said darkly.
As the image shifted itself Remus found himself looking at himself this time eighteen-years-old. An older Greyback whose hair had gone silver in the almost twenty years since he had last seen his son sniffed the air hope in his amber eyes and a smile on his face as he took in his stolen son.
‘I am Remus Lupi-‘
But before he could finish what he said Remus found himself being embraced by the most feared werewolf of all time.
‘Remus, you’ve come back,’ Greyback said.
Remus remembered this, the confusion – why was Greyback hugging him? and then Greyback had explained everything. And Remus had been confused and terrified, it had felt like he was falling. Then Dumbledore had calmly sat down and told him that Greyback was tricking him. The lie had been so much more pleasant that he had believed, and he had trusted Albus Dumbledore not to lie to him.
‘He told you, didn’t he?’ Flitwick said.
‘I … I … didn’t believe him,’ Remus said voice cracking.
The image shifted once more, returning to a very familiar place – Godric’s Hollow. Remus could see the Halloween decorations still on the walls. Remus swallowed he knew when and where they were – Godric’s Hollow, 31st July 1981 – the day of Lily and James’ deaths.