A Song for Severus ~ (Not Update, but Edit)

Chapter 83 ~ The Ministry Makes an Offer

Remus and Eloise both sat on Rubin’s bed, leaving Mr. Mennings to stand uncomfortably before them.

”Now, what is this ‘offer?’” Eloise demanded, frowning at the Councilman.

”Well, it is quite a generous offer, Mr. Lupin, for someone with your…your malady,” the Councilman began.

“I’ll be the judge of that, Councilman,” Remus replied evenly.

Mennings was taken aback by this. He had heard Lupin was very quiet and retiring, someone they most likely could manipulate because he never wanted any trouble. But the wizard didn’t sound very retiring to him. He sounded challenging.

”Well, we would like for you to turn the body of Fenrir Greyback over to myself and the two Aurors, and in exchange…”

Mennings pulled a rectangular piece of parchment out of the envelope.

”In exchange we are willing to give you ten thousand galleons,” the Councilman said, “That’s a fortune for a werewolf.”

Remus and Eloise looked at each other.

“And what will happen to the rest of the reward?” Eloise asked him.

”It will be used by the Ministry,” he said shortly.

What they did with the rest of the money was none of their business. They should be glad to get a chance to take ten thousand galleons.

Remus shook his head.

“No, I think not, Councilman,” the wizard said, “The reward is a million galleons. I’m entitled to the full amount.”

Mennings turned red.

“What would a werewolf do with so much money?” he demanded.

”Whatever he likes,” Eloise snapped at the Councilman, “You don’t seem to realize that we are werewolves for only one night of the month. The rest of the time we are as human as you are, and have needs and dreams like anyone else. Just because you people choose to focus on what happens to us once a month and use it to keep us down doesn’t make our needs any less than yours.”

”The Ministry is worried that you will use the money to…to push for legislation for your own gains,” Mennings said.

Remus gave him a rather toothy grin.

”Ah, you mean financially back politicians who will make changes in the laws concerning werewolves…you know, that’s not a bad idea. It is an election year…isn’t it? I bet Ursula Gabbingsworth would be an excellent Councilman…or even Minister of Magic,” Remus said, then looked at Eloise, “What do you think?”

”I think that sounds wonderful,” Eloise replied, looking at Mennings who blanched.

“You should be worried. The laws are unfair. Period. We deserve the same rights as everyone else. That we are werewolves should make no difference,” Eloise said to him, “If you are really concerned about your seats, then change the damn laws and stop trying to take what Remus rightfully deserves!”

”Ooh!” Rita cried out in glee, “Oh this is great…just great! Offering Remus a pittance because they don’t want him to use his money to make changes. Front page, Bilbo!”

“I’m willing to offer you twenty-thousand galleons,” Mennings said.

Both Eloise and Remus shook their heads.

”Thirty? Forty? You have to admit forty thousand galleons is a lot of money,” the Councilman said rather desperately.

”Not compared to a million galleons,” Remus replied, rising, “I think this discussion is over, Councilman. I will not accept anything less than the full reward.”

”You’re making a mistake, Lupin,” Mennings snarled.

”It’s mine to make,” Remus said, walking to the bedroom door and opening it, “I will be at the Ministry tomorrow to claim the reward. Good night, sir.”

Mennings looked at Eloise and Remus once more, then stormed out of the bedroom and through the crowd. He let himself out.

Rita was grinning ear to ear when Eloise and Remus emerged from the bedroom.

“Well, I’ve got my story for tonight,” she gushed, “I’ll be going now. See you on the front page, Remus. Come on, Bilbo.”

Rita and Bilbo left quickly. She had to get the story written before the deadline.

Eloise and Remus joined their guests. Remus walked up to Ursula.

”Thank you so much,” he said to her gratefully, “If you hadn’t shown up, things could have become ugly.”

Ursula nodded.

”We suspected the Ministry might try to get to you before you turned in Fenrir’s body. Now that they know you are being protected, they won’t try this again. Do you mind telling me what their offer was?” Ursula asked.

The FOW president’s expression grew blacker and blacker as Remus and Eloise shared what Councilman Mennings offered them, then laughed as she heard she would make a good Council member.

”I’d have them hopping all right,” she said, “They’d never have a quiet moment.”

”Maybe you should consider running,” Eloise said thoughtfully, looking at Remus, “You would have backing now, and I’m sure Rita Skeeter would keep you in the news.”

The other FOW members began pressing Ursula to go for it.

”Now, now. You’re all getting ahead of yourselves,” Ursula said to them, “I don’t know a thing about politics.”

”That’s why you’d be perfect. You’d be a representative of the people. All the people,” Remus said, warming to the idea.

Murmurs of agreement rose up around her. Ursula gave a wan smile.

”First, let’s get you settled, Remus. Then we can talk about other things,” she said, “I do think you need to erect some kind of protection around the farm so no one can just pop in and surprise you.”

Remus nodded.

”That is a good idea. I’ll ask Albus to come help me. He’s a wizard at that kind of thing,” the werewolf said.

Ursula and the members of FOW stayed for another hour, then departed saying they had an early day at the Ministry and would be there to support him. Remus and Eloise thanked everyone and walked them out, watching them disapparate.

After they all left, Remus placed a very strong impenetrable ward around the farmhouse and returned inside with Eloise. He found her in the bedroom removing all the bedding from Rubin’s large, soft four-poster bed.

”We need fresh bedding,” she said, going to the closet and removing clean sheets and pillowcases, “but I think we should move Rubin’s bed into the guestroom and get our own as soon as possible.”

Remus watched her silently as she made up the bed.

The moment she finished, he strode up to her and took her in his arms.

”How did I ever live without you?” he asked Eloise softly.

Eloise gave him a smile.

“I don’t know, Remus,” she replied.

”I didn’t,” he said firmly, tightening his hold on her, “I didn’t live at all until you came into my life. I just…existed. If it weren’t for you, Eloise…I’d be skulking in the shadows someplace, hoping no one would notice me. Thank you.”

”Oh Remus,” Eloise breathed, kissing him soundly until he let out a growl.

”Let’s go to bed,” he said.

“Oh, are you sleepy, Remus?” Eloise asked him.

He gave her a wolfish grin.

”Not a bit,” he replied, kissing her again.

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MINISTRY ATTEMPTS TO STRONG ARM REMUS LUPIN

Last night, Councilman Broderick Mennings and two Aurors from the Department of Werewolf Control tried to force their way into the newly acquired home of Remus Lupin. A confrontation ensued and was barely thwarted by the appearance of Ursula Gabbingsworth and several members of FOW, the organization determined to acquire full rights of citizenship for those afflicted with the Malady.

Councilman Mennings demanded Mr. Lupin hand over the body of Fenrir Greyback to himself and the Aurors in exchange for ten thousands galleons, stating that amount was more than enough money for a werewolf. Mr. Lupin refused.

The Councilman cited that the Ministry did not want to give him the million galleons for fear he would use it in the political arena to cause changes in the laws concerning werewolves. Mennings then offered more money to Mr. Lupin, ending his offer at forty thousand galleons, which was also refused.

The council member then stormed from the premises warning Mr. Lupin he was making a mistake in not accepting the Ministry’s offer. Mr. Lupin will arrive at the Ministry to claim his full reward today.

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Below the article, was a photograph of Remus and Eloise standing in the doorway with the Aurors’ wands trained on them. Suddenly Mennings and the startled Aurors turned and stared at the camera with shocked expressions on their faces, then one Auror descended threateningly, shouting something. Under the moving photograph was the caption:

”Caught in the Act.”

The crowd waiting and chanting outside the Ministry had grown to about two thousand people, many driven to the site because of the front page article in the Daily Prophet. That the Ministry would do something so underhanded enraged the public, and they all came out in force to make sure that Remus Lupin collected his reward. There were outcries from the crowd calling for the Council to step down.

About one hundred Aurors were on hand, standing on the Ministry steps eyeing the shouting, chanting mass of people.

“They’d better give Lupin his money,” one Auror said to another, “Or we’re going to have a riot on our hands.”

”They’ll give it to him. After that Prophet article, they have no choice if they want to keep their seats. And they still might lose them,” his comrade replied.

Inside the Council chambers, Mennings was being browbeaten for his mishandling of the situation.

”How could you let yourself be caught on film, Broderick? You have to be the most inept, irresponsible…” Joseph Graham hissed

“Why didn’t you go then?” Mennings shot back at him, “I told you all this was a bad idea. You have no one to blame but yourselves! Ten thousand galleons. What idiot would accept that in lieu of a million?”

”He’s a werewolf, Mennings,” another council member seethed.

“He’s a fucking man, Jennings, who turns into a werewolf once a month! Once a month! He lives the same as we do,” Mennings retorted, “They all do. Maybe they’re right. Maybe we need to relax the laws and not punish them for being werewolves but for actual crimes!”

“What? You mean let them loose on society?” Jennings shot back at him.

”They’re already part of our society, you idiot! Didn’t you read the Skeeter woman’s column about Fenrir Greyback? If the laws had been fairer, he probably wouldn’t have become the killer he did,” Mennings said, sitting down and pulling a handkerchief from his inside robes pocket and wiping his forehead with it.

“Those laws have been on the books for centuries,” another Council member said, “Put in force for society’s protection.”

“Ennis, there hasn’t been an actual werewolf attack outside of Fenrir, for many, many years. You have to admit they are law-abiding, even when transformed,” Mennings said.

”Listen, this meeting isn’t about laws concerning werewolves, but what to do about Lupin,” another council member said.

Mennings leveled his eyes on the wizard.

”You are sadly mistaken if that’s what you believe this situation is about, Charles. This is just the beginning. Did you see that crowd out there? Those are not only FOW members, but ordinary citizens. The same people who vote us in and out of office. The mistreatment of people with the Malady is out in the open now. No one knew or cared before, but now the public’s conscience has been pricked. This isn’t over…not by a long shot. We’re going to have to address the laws sooner or later and if we want to keep our seats, it’s going to be sooner. Where is the Minister?” Mennings said.

“He’s not going to be here. He said we have to handle this mess since we created it. He’s very angry…there are going to be repercussions, you can be certain of it,” Jennings said sullenly.

“Just like him to separate himself when he should be standing with us,” Charles griped.

”If I could separate myself from this fiasco, I would,” Mennings muttered, “I say draw up the check and give it to Lupin. That’s all we can do. If we don’t, I guarantee that crowd won’t be satisfied with just chanting…they might tear the Ministry down to the ground.”

The members of the Council continued to argue among themselves until an Auror burst into the chambers breathlessly.

”He’s arrived,” the wizard panted excitedly, “Remus Lupin is outside, and he has the body of Fenrir Greyback with him!”

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Outside the Ministry, you could have heard a pin drop. Remus, Eloise, Albus, Hermione and Severus had apparated to the very front of the building.

”No back door for you my boy,” Albus said to Remus, who was dressed in his usual worn robes and run-over shoes. Fenrir’s body and head were bound tightly in a sheet. Severus held his wand on the huge body, levitating it.

Every member of the crowd had his or her eyes glued to the immense body, the only sound that of frantically popping flashbulbs as photographers took photos. Everyone was silent as Remus walked to the base of the stairs and looked up at the Aurors.

”Do I need to enter the Ministry through the werewolf entrance?” he called up to the closest wizard, who shook his head.

“No, Mr. Lupin, you can enter through the front door,” the Auror replied nervously. The crowd would have protested if the man who killed Fenrir Greyback was sent around back.

The werewolves in the crowd cheered, and the cheer was picked up by the rest of the crowd as the group walked up the stairs, Eloise on Remus’ arm and Severus moving Fenrir’s body along. Two Aurors held the doors open as they entered the Ministry building.

They were met by another sober Auror

”Please follow me to the Council chambers, Mr. Lupin” he said politely, leading the way down the long corridor and opening a pair of double doors wide, “Please go in. The Council is waiting.”

Remus and Eloise entered first, followed by Albus and Hermione, Severus bringing up the rear, Fenrir’s body floating level before him. The Council sat stoically at the long podium, every eye on the wrapped body.

A long table had been set up at the front of the chambers. A Ministry coroner stood next to it, his wand at his side. Severus floated the body to the table, lifted it slightly, maneuvered it over the slab, then let it drop with a heavy, meaty thud that made the council members jump in their seats. The Potions Master smirked slightly before joining Remus and the others.

“This is going to be quite entertaining,” the wizard thought as he stared at the Council, “Quite entertaining indeed.”

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A/N: Thanks for reading.