Remus's musings were disrupted when a familiar large black dog ran past. Padfoot. Remus drew his wand to call send a Patronus message to Professor Dumbledore when he received the shock of his life.
The large werewolf sprinted around the corner on all fours at a much higher rate of speed then Padfoot managed.
"Bloody hell!" Remus gasped in shock as he brought his wand to bear. The full moon wasn't until tomorrow night! How could a werewolf be out tonight?
The werewolf seemed to hear the soft exclamation. It abruptly came to a stop and turned to face the Defence professor. It rose to stand on its rear legs and seemed to tower over the currently human professor.
With his experienced eye, Remus could see now that it was still an adolescent werewolf not yet into his full growth. Fully grown the werewolf would be even bigger than Fenrir Greyback! Next, Remus noticed the creature's eyes. No sign of the yellow tinted eyes that indicated the lycanthropic madness he'd expected. Instead the green eyes seemed amused.
Remus slowly lowered his wand. Dumbledore never mentioned that he'd accepted another student infected as a werewolf. Why wouldn't he mention it? And after what had happened during their Sixth year, how was Severus accepting it?
The massive werewolf made an odd hurmph that seemed to contain humour and resignation.
It was not until the sound of a barking dog that Remus remembered the first figure. Before he could act, the werewolf made the same hurmph sound before sprinting off in the direction the dog had gone. Before he knew it, the Defence professor was alone in the darkness again without ever casting a single spell.
....
It was early the next morning when Remus Lupin appeared in Professor Dumbledore's office well before breakfast was even served.
"Come in, Remus," the old wizard greeted him. "What brings you to see me so early? Did you have some trouble last night?"
"Well, I spotted Sirius briefly if that is what you mean. But first, why didn't you tell me you have a werewolf as a student? Who is it?"
Dumbledore paused from sipping his tea to peer over the cup's rim. "I'm sorry. Did you say we have a student with lycanthropy?"
"I figured you knew," Remus answered. "Somehow he was transformed last night and chasing Sirius. He stopped when he saw me and I could tell he was on wolfsbane. The human mind was in complete control. I reckoned Severus must be making it for him too."
Dumbledore looked concerned. "I did not know anything about this. Are you sure it is a student? The wards wouldn't allow a rabid werewolf through that was not a student, but one on wolfsbane might be able to pass."
Remus made a small shrug. "I am fairly sure the werewolf was only a teenager based on his size and development. I can also tell you the wolf in me knows he is an alpha."
"I will, of course, defer to your expertise," Dumbledore murmured. "I find it highly unlikely that a student could have hidden such a condition from me for long. A First year maybe?"
"Too big," Remus answered. "He was too old. I would say Third through Fifth year would be the most likely.
Dumbledore bowed his head slightly in acceptance. "Once again I will defer to your opinion. Would you be willing to look into this matter for me? With your background it would be easier for you than any of the other current staff."
Remus nodded his acceptance. The student deserved an education but the school staff needed to know about his affliction. While the student seemed to have managed to maintain control this could be a recent affliction. A novice made mistakes. Most attacks were made by novices or the truly evil wolves like Greyback.
"Now, are you sure our friend was male?" Dumbledore asked. Remus resisted the urge to make a snarky comment. How would he have missed that?
"Yes," he answered.
"Excellent. That leaves us with 57 students within the years you indicated. Anything else you noticed about his wolf form that seemed different to you?"
Remus considered for a moment. "Most werewolves are still men that have taken on wolf characteristics. This one looked more like a wolf that had taken human characteristics. The would usually indicate that the wizard as embraced the lycanthropy, much like Greyback. But they are also usually the ones that abhor taking the potion and he was a bit young to have reached that stage too."
Dumbledore nodded. "Interesting. I shall call a meeting with the House Heads for later today. No danger exists during the day so the need is not immediate. Would you be willing to share your memory of the encounter with the rest of the senior staff? Excellent! Now I suggest we make our way down to breakfast."