The Wolfsbane Potion
Hello, my faithful readers! I'm glad you still read this story, even though the chapters are pretty long. As for me, maybe I wouldn't have so much patience. Thanks a lot.
Here's the new chapter. I'm really a sadistic person, poor Remus...
Well, I had to do some adjustments in this chapter. My guinea pig, who read this chapter some time ago, told me that there was a part she didn't consider to be necessary for the story. So I deleted two pages of the text. Ouch! It was really painful. But she was right. I didn't like very much that part either. And therefore I'd like to dedicate this chapter to her, she really helps me a lot. And I'd like to thank to Windy, too, for all her comments. Thank you very much!
To all of you: I wish you a lot of fun with the chapter!
Chapter Five: The Wolfsbane Potion
Remus made himself a cup of tea and walked out to the garden. It was a sunny morning, birds in a near forest were singing, rabbits were playing hide-and-seek in the high green grass.
The house Remus lived in was situated two miles away from the last houses of the outskirts of London. Sirius had bought the house years ago after they had finished the school. Sirius had needed a place where lots of things had been going on while Remus had rather preferred a place where no people had lived and where he could have gone through his transformations peacefully without any fear of attacking anyone. Sirius had found this house, not too far from overcrowded London, not too near to any human dwelling. He had bought it from one old Muggle lady who had believed she had been a witch and who had wanted to move to her son in Edinburgh. It was Remus who had gone to Gringott’s to change wizard gold into Muggle money, because as for Sirius, Muggle currency was something beyond his comprehension.
Remus liked the surroundings. The small house was situated in the midst of the countryside with meadows as far as the eye could see and a forest nearby. The only thing connecting the place with the civilization was an old road winding over the land.
A small paradise in the big world, Remus laughed for himself.
Thirteen years he lived alone in the lonely house, had room only for himself, slept alone in a bed for two. Sirius wasn’t there anymore. Sirius couldn’t return. Mustn’t if he didn’t want to be caught.
After his escape from Azkaban the Aurors had come to search through the entire house and its surroundings three times. The last time even Lucius Malfoy himself had turned up.
“Do you have an idea where Black could be staying at the moment?” he had asked and had looked around, disgusted by the simplicity Remus had lived in.
“No,” Remus had answered politely. As for the time being, he really hadn’t known where Sirius could have been.
“You were friends during your school years, weren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve heard you met him at Hogwarts last year,” Lucius Malfoy had gone on in his interrogation.
“I did,” Remus had agreed.
“He escaped. Haven’t you got any idea how?”
“No, Mr. Malfoy. As for that moment, I wasn’t in a situation to pay any attention to Sirius Black’s doings, if you know what I mean,” Remus had answered calmly.
“I do,” Lucius Malfoy had said, and he had given Remus a look as though he had been talking to filth. “Thank you for your time,” he had said with pretended politeness. He had called off the Aurors and they had finally left.
No, Sirius couldn’t return. If Remus wanted to be with him, he had to go to a foreign house, spend time in a foreign room and sleep in a foreign bed. The reward for that all was a familiar embrace of familiar arms, a familiar situation bringing familiar feelings. Pleasant familiarity, that made him happy.
Remus sipped from the tea. Above the treetops of the forest he could see two black spots coming nearer. Two owls landed in the garden. One of them brought the Daily Prophet, another one delivered a letter. “Remus Lupin” was written on the parcel. He recognized the handwriting right away. He opened the letter with eagerness and started reading:
‘Dear Moony,’ he watched the elegant lines of every single letter, ‘I had to leave, Harry needs me. Dumbledore advised me a good shelter. Buckbeak’s with me. Take care of yourself and don’t worry. Padfoot.’
So Sirius had left Grimmauld Place... No foreign house, no foreign room, no foreign bed... No pleasant familiarity anymore.
Remus sighed heavily and walked into the spacious kitchen. The morning sun was shining inside through glass doors. Remus had a beautiful view to the garden full of small spring flowers, but he wasn’t interested in it at the moment. He opened the newspaper, looked through the pages and folded it again. Suddenly, he didn’t know what to do. Not knowing where Sirius might have been made him feel even lonelier. He missed him.
Days were flowing in their lazy rhythm one by one, strangely similar. News in the Daily Prophet were uninteresting, Remus read merely the articles concerning the Triwizard Tournament and Harry. There was nothing about Sirius what in this case meant he was all right.
The night of the next full moon came. Remus locked the front door and made himself sure the glass doors to the garden were safely closed, too. He went upstairs where he entered one of the two rooms.
The room was completely empty without any furniture. Many scratches were covering the walls and the floor. Remus locked the door, letting a key in a lock.
He sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall. Through a window opposite he could see shining stars on the dark sky.
He waited.
The change began.
A familiar cruel pain overcame his trembling body. He heard his own cries turning into howling of a demonic creature.
Where’s the dog? the thought crossed his mind while he was doubled up in pain.
And finally, everything was over. The house was silent again.
Where’s the dog?
The wolf stood up and listened carefully. No sound was coming inside through the locked door.
Where is he?
The mind of the beast was as clear as never before.
The black dog, his rightful companion, wasn’t with Moony anymore.
The wolf howled sadly.
He had to go after the dog. He had to find him.
The wolf wanted to open the door. The big paws tried to turn the key in the lock, but it was useless, the door was safely closed. The desperate beast used his fangs and finally after a very long time, his effort was rewarded with liberty.
The wolf ran down the stairs right to the front door. It was locked, too. No key was in the lock.
The wolf wasn’t willing to give up. He had to get out. He had to find the dog.
Through the glass doors in the kitchen the big world was calling its wild child. The wolf howled for the last time and started running against the doors. The sound of breaking glass cut the silence of the night.
The wolf whined with pain, sharp shards cut the silvery body in many places. Dripping blood coloured white daisies to red.
Moony was free.
He knew where he had to go. He didn’t know how, but he was sure he had to go north. The dog was in the north.
And Moony set off for his journey.
After running a few miles he reached a small town. He merely wanted to pass by, but he noticed something moving in the high grass. Someone was there not far away from the place where he was standing. A human?
Bloodthirstiness crept silently into the mind of the werewolf. Slowly and quietly, he approached a human child, a girl with a tiny pet in her arms. The pale starlight illuminated the smooth skin covering the tender flesh. Through the veins of this human child sweet blood was circulating. The whole thing looked extremely tasty.
The girl noticed the beast and froze on the spot. The pet in her arms gave a funny squeaking noise resembling to barking of a dog.
A dog...
Where’s the dog?
The thought hit the werewolf with the urgency he couldn’t resist. He turned around and vanished in the darkness.
The dog is in the north...
Moony ran a lot of miles through forests and meadows without any rest. The thought of the dog hurried him far, far away from home. It seemed there was nothing that could stop him, until...
... until he reached the riverbank.
Dark wild waters, whirling and bubbling, roaring and raging, were promising nothing less than death. Moony felt the danger, his instincts of an animal warned him. Should this have been the end of his journey? No, he simply couldn’t accept it. He wanted to see the dog. He had to. He couldn’t give up.
And the beast jumped...
The dark waters roared with rage and imprisoned the creature under their surface. Moony had to use all his strength not to get drowned. The river gripped him and without forgiveness it was carrying him away. He fought with the wild element, because he, too, was wild. The instinct told him what to do and the wolf swam for life. He had to follow his desire...
The roaring river didn’t want to let him go. He was its prey; it wanted his life as a price for his impudence. And a strong wave threw the silvery body against a sharp rock.
Something cracked silently and the wolf gave a painful whine. The water element pulled him under the surface again. He reached the bottom.
The dog... He had to find him...
Moony fought madly both the water and the pain. He felt tired, but he had to survive. His eared head appeared on the surface.
The bank was close. He had to reach it; he was as wild as the river...
And finally, he managed.
Exhausted, he sank on the muddy ground. He survived...
He took a deep breath and tried to stand up. He felt a great pain in his chest; his legs were trembling.
But the dog... He couldn’t rest. He had to go...
He made a step, then another one. At first, he walked slowly, but then he quickened into a trot.
The sky on the east took a light shade. Orange light peeped out from behind the hills and stroked Moony with its cruel hands.
The creature howled and fell down on the ground, unconscious...
Remus woke up. His entire body hurt. He had lots of scratches and cuts, but the worst was a burning pain in his chest. It looked like a broken rib.
He was in an unknown land totally exhausted and wet. For Merlin’s beard, how did he get there?
He was breathing heavily, unable to move. He knew he should Apparate home, but he didn’t have enough strength. He felt absolutely helpless and lost...
The memories of his night journey were coming back to him very slowly, so he was just lying there and waiting until his mind cleared again.
The first thing he had to do was getting home as soon as possible and having his injuries mended. So simple and still so difficult.
Slowly, he stood up. The broken rib made him the first painful reproach.
He had to Apparate. If he hadn’t been successful and got splinched, he could have found himself in a mortal danger. It was extremely risky, but he had to give it a try at least.
The Apparition cost him his last strengths. He managed to appear right in front of St. Mungo’s, but he collapsed almost immediately after entering the hospital. When he woke up, he found himself in a clean room. He felt no pain, no scratch or cut was to be seen anywhere on his body. He was perfectly healed, he felt just tired.
A young healer walked in, giving him a warm smile.
“Oh, you’re awake. How do you feel?” she asked.
Remus smiled back. “Thank you. I feel much better.”
“That’s good. We fixed your rib up and healed all other visible injuries. If there’s anything else we can do for you, just tell.”
“Everything’s all right. Thank you for your kindness.”
“You’re welcome,” she smiled again.
“May I go home?” asked Remus.
“Of course, if there’s nothing more troubling you,” answered the healer.
“Actually, there is...” said Remus thoughtfully.
“What is it?”
“Do you provide the Wolfsbane Potion here?”
He could glimpse a hint of fear and pity in the healer’s pretty face, but she realized she was a professional and gave Remus one of her long-trained professional looks.
“There are very strict and complicated rules. And it is very expensive, too. An afflicted person has to be registered in our database and to come here every month the day of a full moon. There’s a healer taking care of him or her. The ingredients, preparation and other costs connected with the treatment patients have to pay themselves. It is much cheaper if you can prepare the potion yourself, because the most expensive is a professional preparation,” explained the healer.
“Thank you for the information,” said Remus with a sad smile.
He left St. Mungo’s and returned back home. The only damage was made to the glass doors. He found his wand and repaired them. After doing that he found a piece of parchment and a quill and started writing a letter.
After a couple of days he got the answer:
‘I talked to Severus. You are awaited here the day of the full moon. Albus Dumbledore.’
Month passed and the awaited day came. Remus didn’t need to pack; it was just one night. The next day he was supposed to be back. He took only some necessary things with him as his wand, ingredients for the Wolfsbane Potion and some money.
He left the house and Apparated from the deserted road.
He appeared not far away from Hogsmeade. The village looked calm, everything was as ever. Remus didn’t enter the village; he turned around and set off right for Hogwarts.
He could see students having their classes outside – third-years had Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, first-years were training on broomsticks with Madam Hooch, fifth-years were entering one of the greenhouses with Professor Sprout following. Everything was as he remembered.
He reached the castle, walked into the Entrance Hall, climbed the marble staircase and continued to Headmaster’s office.
Dumbledore welcomed him and offered Remus a chair in front of his table. Remus thanked and sat down.
“I talked to Severus. He’s ready to teach you how to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion,” said Dumbledore and watched Remus over his half-moon spectacles.
“I’d be very grateful to him,” said Remus quietly.
Dumbledore smiled. “We just need to solve one more thing,” he said, “and it is where you are going to spend the night.”
Remus looked at him with hope. “I was thinking about the Shrieking Shack.”
“No, Remus, I think it is not very good idea. The Shrieking Shack was silent for years. I don’t think it should be awoken.”
Remus nodded and said nothing.
“I have got another idea,” said Dumbledore and his eyes glittered. “There’s a cave hidden in a mountain near to Hogsmeade. You can stay there during the night. The Wolfsbane Potion will help you to go through the time of the transformation without any harm. And you won’t be alone.” Dumbledore winked at Remus. “There’s someone who will keep an eye on you.”
Remus gave Dumbledore a shy smile. “He’s there, isn’t he?”
“Yes, Sirius is there. I have already informed him you would come for a visit tonight.”
“Thank you.” Remus stood up ready to leave.
“Be careful, Remus. Both of you,” said Dumbledore in the end and released him.
Remus went to dungeons where he was to meet Severus Snape. He was given a disgusted look. The Potion Master frowned and beckoned Remus to follow him into an empty Potions classroom.
“I hope you have got all your ingredients with you,” he said in an unfriendly tone.
“Yes, I got them yesterday in the apothecary.”
“Very well then. We can start.”
The recipe was more complicated than any recipe Remus had ever seen before. He had to follow the instructions step by step and moreover to withstand Snape’s vicious remarks during the preparation of the potion. Snape was watching his work very carefully and time to time he added his comments.
Remus was determined to learn the complicated potion at any costs. He silently endured Snape’s bullying with a calm smile that made the Potion Master even angrier. He knew that Snape was still bearing a great grudge against Sirius and him and that he couldn’t forget Sirius his successful escape last year.
“I told you it has to be colourless. What is this colour?” barked Snape and gave Remus a hateful look.
Remus peeped into his cauldron. “Dark blue,” he said innocently.
“Dark blue! If you drank this...whatever it is... you’d be as good as living dead! Make another potion and make it properly! Even the slightest mistake could cost you your miserable and good-for-nothing life!” Snape scolded him, but Remus noticed he was pretty pleased he had a reason to insult his pupil like that.
Without a word Remus started preparing a new potion. He was extremely cautious; he didn’t want to give Snape another reason for telling him off.
Snape watched him carefully with a piercing look of his black eyes and didn’t say anything. As for Remus, it was a good sign.
The finished potion had a slight green colour shade.
“What’s this, Lupin?” asked Snape with disgust. “Are you really so stupid that you are not able to follow clear instructions? Even that clumsy Longbottom boy would do better.”
“As far as I’m concerned, Severus, as a Hogwarts teacher you shouldn’t speak about your students in such a tone,” said Remus sharply.
Snape’s eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
“Shall I try it again?” asked Remus after a while.
“No,” Snape grunted. “I don’t have as much time for you as you think. This one,” he pointed to the cauldron with the greenish potion, “shouldn’t do much harm.” He sized Remus up with his look. “No, I don’t think it would cause any harm.”
“Is it safe to drink it, then?” asked Remus cautiously.
“I didn’t say that. I merely told it wouldn’t have caused any harm.”
“I understand,” said Remus with a smile.
“There’s nothing funny, Lupin,” reacted Snape. “Although I don’t know what may happen to you if you drink this stuff, I know perfectly well what will happen if you don’t. And I can assure you I’ll be the first in the row to hunt you.”
“I understood. Thank you for your time, Severus,” said Remus coldly and helped himself with the potion.
It was more disgusting than the potions Snape had used to prepare for him last year. Something was wrong, he could feel it.
“Good night. See you next month,” he said to the Potion Master and left the classroom as quickly as he could.
Snape just snorted haughtily.
Remus stormed out from the castle. It was already dusk; he lost too much time with being bullied by Severus. Some students who recognized him greeted him with broad smiles, but he only raised his hand to greet them back and hurried out from the school area. He had to get to the cave Dumbledore had mentioned before something bad could have happened.
Weakness spread into his limbs. Suddenly, he felt dazed and strangely empty. His mind was filled with nothing than mist. He didn’t know why and where he was running. He didn’t even know where he was. His heavy body was falling into darkness. Nothing mattered anymore.
Padfoot was watching the darkening sky where the first stars were already twinkling. His huge black hairy body was nearly unnoticeable in the shadows of the trees around. He was waiting for someone who wasn’t coming yet. Uneasiness crept into his heart.
He was too impatient to wait any longer. Something went wrong and he wanted to find out what it was.
The black dog ran past the village, taking the course to Hogwarts. Not far away from the last houses he spotted a big silvery animal lying on the ground. It didn’t move, it looked like dead.
Padfoot came nearer. He recognised the body in the grass illuminated by the pale moonlight. A small whine came out from his mouth. He checked whether there had still remained some life in the silvery body.
The eyes of the wolf were closed tightly, but he wasn’t dead, he was still breathing.
Padfoot looked around. No man, woman or child was to be seen.
“You’re giving me a really hard time, Moony,” said Sirius quietly and looked around again. Everything was silent.
Very slowly and cautiously he outstretched his hand to the wolf’s head. Nothing happened. He touched the soft silvery hair. The wolf still wasn’t reacting. He raised the creature’s head. No sound, no movement.
“Don’t do this to me,” whispered Sirius. He fought his worries.
He found himself in a dead end. He couldn’t leave Moony there nor he could stay there with him. The only possibility was to bring him to the cave.
Sirius lifted up the heavy wolf’s body, hoping Moony wouldn’t wake up until he would reach the shelter. He couldn’t afford to think about what might have happened if someone had spotted him. He didn’t really care at the moment.
By Merlin’s beard, what had actually happened?
The wolf gave a small whine.
“No, Moony, not now, please...”
He had to stop several times. Sweat was pouring down his forehead; he was gasping of effort.
The wolf didn’t wake up.
After a long time he finally managed to get back to the cave. Buckbeak gave him a curious look and then didn’t care about Sirius and his burden any longer.
Sirius laid Moony to the farthest corner of the cave. The wolf whined again, still not opening his eyes.
“Wake up, Moony. You’re safe now. Wake up,” Sirius was whispering into the beast’s ear. No reaction.
“I’m human. You can tear me, bite me or kill me, whatever you want, just wake up!” he went on desperately. Panic started overcoming him.
“Remus! For Merlin’s sake, you idiot! Don’t scare me like this!” he said angrily, but it didn’t help either. The wolf was lying still, breathing shallowly.
Sirius stopped his attempts to make him open the eyes. Wordless, he was stroking Moony’s soft hair, waiting for dawn.
When the first rays of the sun peeped into the dark cave, the wolf’s body tensed. The beast started whining with pain, but his eyes stayed closed. Sirius was holding Moony in his arms fighting his fear.
A few minutes later Remus, panting, opened his eyes at last.
“Hello,” said Sirius softly, but Remus didn’t seem to hear. He looked tired and sleepy and before Sirius could do or say anything, he had fallen asleep.
“Keeping you secrets, huh?” asked Sirius bitterly.
He pulled out his wand and transfigured one of the stones lying in the cave into a soft mattress. He laid Remus on it and let him sleep. He sat down on the stony floor himself, waiting.
Hour by hour was passing and nothing changed. Remus was sleeping and he had apparently bad dreams. Sirius was sitting by him like his guardian, watching his sleep, not knowing what he should do. Just Buckbeak seemed carefree, looking for worms and insects.
The midday approached. Sirius stood up and went to peer out from the cave. After a while he spotted a barn owl flying right to him with a package fastened to its legs.
“Bless you forever, Harry,” muttered Sirius as he was unbinding the package full of delicious Hogwarts food from the bird’s legs. He started eating greedily.
More then an hour had passed since the owl mail had arrived. A quiet moan came from Remus’s direction.
“Padfoot!” he whispered in a pleading tone.
“I’m here Moony,” said Sirius, who was sitting by his side. His heart was pounding wildly. He took Remus’s hand. “Moony... Remus... Wake up!”
But Remus still didn’t want to open his eyes. His breathing was shallow and quick, cold sweat glistening on his forehead. He made a painful face.
“I hate you, Sirius Black,” he said with effort as though in a bad dream.
Sirius let go of his hand. He felt as though someone had stabbed him right into his heart. He was staring at Remus in disbelief.
What happened, for heaven’s sake? Why did Remus say such a thing? Was it really a bad dream? he was asking himself over and over, but the only one who could give him the answer was Remus himself.
It was late afternoon when Remus finally woke up. He looked around, confused. Sirius was sitting by his side, saying nothing. Buckbeak rustled with his large, strong wings.
Remus rubbed his eyes. “Still full moon?” he asked hoarsely, looking puzzled.
“It’s afternoon, stupid,” Sirius said sharply.
“Afternoon? Did I oversleep?”
“Yes.”
Sirius would have liked to say more, but words didn’t want to come out from his mouth. He was happy Remus was finally awake, and also angry. And hurt.
Remus tried to sit. He felt dazed; the world was spinning before his eyes.
Sirius saw his friend didn’t feel well, nevertheless, he didn’t help him.
Remus looked at him. “Padfoot!” He smiled wearily. “So I managed...”
“You didn’t,” Sirius gave him a sharp look.
“Didn’t?”
He could see a big surprise in Remus’s face.
“But how...?”
“I brought you here.”
“You did?” Remus was still too tired to think clearly. “What happened?” he asked, perplexed.
“That’s exactly my line! What happened to you, Remus? I know you were going to see Snape yesterday, weren’t you? Why?”
Remus’s expression rapidly changed. Memories were coming back to him with their full power.
Sirius could see something was wrong. He sat down on the mattress beside Remus.
“Tell me, Moony, what’s going on?” he asked. “All what I know is that you were to spend the night here in the cave after drinking the Wolfsbane Potion. Why did you need it so desperately that you came to Hogwarts just to end up poisoned by Snape?”
Remus looked at him with a bitter smile. “I wasn’t poisoned by Snape. I did it myself.”
“Yourself!” cried Sirius. “Are you mad?”
“Don’t shout, Sirius, please! I’ve got a headache.”
Sirius gave him a frowned look. “Speak!”
“OK,” said Remus quickly. “I want to learn how to make the Wolfsbane Potion on my own. Snape teaches me. Yesterday, it was my first lesson. I made two potions and I screwed them both up.”
“That git made you drink that stuff?”
“I could choose. And I chose.”
“Poison yourself! Are you insane?” Sirius exploded. “I’ll kill him when I meet him and then I’ll give a lesson to you!”
“Calm down, Sirius. Nothing happened, or am I wrong?”
“You are completely wrong! I said I’d brought you here. But you were already transformed! Do you think a dog would bring you here?”
“Transformed?” Remus looked puzzled again.
“Yes. And you were as good as dead. Lucky me and lucky you.”
Remus could see Sirius was really mad and according to his words he had a good reason for it.
“This time you really messed the things up,” he said a little calmer and stood up, not giving Remus a single look.
“I’m sorry. I owe you a lot,” said Remus humbly.
“You do,” Sirius switched to a cold tone.
“Thank you for everything.”
“Remus,” Sirius addressed him with a sadder voice than Remus would have expected. “Why do you hate me? What have I done to you?”
“Hate you? How did you come to such an idea?”
“You’d said it a while before you woke up.”
“Did I really say that?” Remus asked suspiciously.
“You did really say that.”
“I didn’t.”
“You did!”
“Why would I have said such a thing?”
“I don’t know. You tell me.” Sirius was staring at Remus, waiting.
“Did I really?” asked Remus, unsure.
“You did really. Did something happen to you? Something that concerned me?”
Remus was looking at Sirius and his face went paler, pain and sorrow in his eyes.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “I almost did something dreadful.”
Sirius leaned to him. Taking his hand, he looked into Remus’s eyes. “Tell me everything,” he said softly.
“Last month I escaped from the house. I found the way out.” Remus took a deep breath. Sirius waited for him to continue. “I met a Muggle child, a girl. Sirius, I nearly bit her. I was thinking about her as my prey!” His voice broke. He covered his face with his hands.
“Calm down, Moony,” said Sirius gently. “You said ‘nearly’. You didn’t attack, did you?”
“No.”
“That’s good, isn’t it? Calm down.” He took Remus into his arms. “Now I understand why you needed the Wolfsbane Potion. But how were you able to leave the house, anyway?”
“I managed to unlock the door of the room and I broke the glass doors,” answered Remus, feeling calmer in Sirius’s embrace.
“Tell me everything,” Sirius encouraged him.
“I tried to cross the river and I nearly drowned.”
He felt Sirius stiffened.
“Why did you want to cross the river?”
“You are asking too much...” said Remus wearily. “I wanted to get north.”
“North?” Sirius pulled him away and looked into his eyes. “You went after me?”
Remus nodded. He made a guilty face.
“That girl had a dog. That’s why I didn’t hurt her.” He smiled shyly.
Sirius hugged him tightly. “You’re a fool. The biggest fool I’ve ever met.” He gave Remus a small kiss. “I’m sorry. I made you dependent on me. It’s all my fault.”
“It is not!” said Remus irritably. “Do you know why I don’t want to tell you things like this? It’s because of your stupid habit of blaming yourself.”
“And wasn’t it true?”
“No. I should’ve been more careful, that’s all. After I’ll learn how to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion on my own the problem will be solved, I hope.”
“Don’t dare to get poisoned again.”
“Yes, the lesson was too bitter,” Remus chuckled. “I’ll do my best next month, I promise.”
“Didn’t Snape bully you?”
“Yes, he did. But I didn’t care. I can understand him. He’s still mad at both of us. And don’t forget his old grudge... So much wrath, I do pity him.”
“You are truly a good guy,” said Sirius and kissed him.
Next month Remus came to Hogwarts determined to do his best to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion. Snape watched his work very carefully, but he didn’t say a single word, which Remus considered to be a good sign. When he finished, Snape peeked into the cauldron and his lips narrowed even more.
“Drink it and get lost,” he said.
Remus filled a goblet standing nearby on the table and drank the hot liquid. The taste wasn’t what it exactly should have been, but at least he didn’t have that unpleasant feeling something was wrong.
He took his things and was about to leave when a cold voice stopped him.
“Where’s Black?”
He turned around and looked at Snape. “Excuse me?”
“Where’s the criminal?”
It was more than clear that if Snape couldn’t have found anything wrong on Remus’s potion, he sought something else to bully him.
“The black criminal?” asked Remus stupidly.
“Don’t make a fool of me! Where is he?” barked Snape.
Remus gave him a broad smile.
“Severus, you know perfectly well I would never tell you, knowing or not. Goodbye,” he said calmly and left Snape alone with his anger.
He walked from the school area to Hogsmeade. There, under a big oak, a huge black dog was waiting for him.
“Hi, Padfoot,” Remus stroked his head and the dog wagged his tail.
Together, they climbed to the cave. Buckbeak was busy with worms and insects as usual and he didn’t pay much attention to them.
The night was calm. After the transformation Moony curled up in the corner. Padfoot lied down beside him, putting his head on the wolf. The silver beast gave a quite growl, but did nothing to prevent the gall of the dog
They were sleeping like that until the sunrise.
“What do you say to proper breakfast?” asked Remus after he finally recovered from the change. “We can go to the Hog’s Head. I think Aberforth would have nothing against a dog in his pub.”
“Are you inviting me for a date?” asked Sirius with a boyish smile.
Remus laughed. “You can call it like that if you want.”
The man and the dog went down to the village.
The Hog’s Head was almost empty so early in the morning. Remus got a free room and he ordered something for breakfast.
When the barkeeper, who brought the meal, left the room, Sirius changed back to a human. He started eating greedily while Remus was watching him.
“Why don’t you eat? Aren’t you hungry?” asked Sirius, bewildered.
“No, that’s not it. It’s just funny to watch your table manners.”
“Sorry.” Sirius felt a little ashamed. “I didn’t have a proper meal for more than a week.”
“Bon appetite,” Remus laughed.
He let Sirius eat everything to the last crumb.
“That was good.” Sirius lied down on a narrow bed, satisfied. “But some dessert would be even better.”
He looked hopefully at Remus.
“Dessert you like?”
Remus bent over him and gave him a wet kiss.
“I want more,” said Sirius and made him lie down beside him on the bed. There, body on body like sardines in a can, yet enjoying the closeness, Sirius started kissing Remus’s lips with passion. His fingers were wandering over Remus’s body, searching for a chance to get under his robes.
Remus sighed of excitement when he felt gentle touch on his bare skin.
They’re kisses became wilder, hotter, more passionate. Warm palms longed for touching the naked skin of the other body. The noise of desire and pleasure echoed in the small room.
Someone knocked on the door.
It was just a moment and on the bed there was sitting confused Remus and a panting dog.
Remus opened the door. The barkeeper was standing there. He glanced around the room, noticed the dog lying on a crumpled blanket on the bed, nor a pinkish colour tone in Remus’s face could escape his attention. He made an uninterested face and handed Remus a parcel.
“This has just arrived. For you,” he said.
Remus took the letter. “Thank you.”
“Just one more thing,” Aberforth had said before Remus could have closed the door. “The walls of this house are rather thin.” After saying that he left.
Remus sat down on the bed beside Sirius, who turned back into a human, and opened the letter. He started reading.
“I’ve been sacked,” he said after a while.
Sirius took the letter from him and read it. “I’m sorry,” he said.
“The owner of the shop I worked in knew what I was. He was looking for a reason to give me the sack for a long time.”
“Aren’t you disappointed?”
“No. I knew he’d do it sooner or later. I’ll find something else.”
Sirius tried to kiss him, but Remus pushed him away.
“Didn’t you hear? These walls are thin.”
“And therefore you don’t want to kiss me?”
“I do,” Remus laughed and kissed Sirius. “But that’s all,” he added with a smile. “Did you see Aberforth’s look?”
“No, I didn’t notice,” said Sirius.
“I think that up from today I’m known not just as a former Hogwarts teacher and a werewolf, but thanks to you also as a zoophile. My reputation is getting better and better, I daresay,” he said, rather amused.
“You are a zoophile. And so am I,” laughed Sirius and forced Remus into another passionate kiss.
So zoophile, Remus, huh? Well, that was about their animal side...
I'm really glad that also Dumbledore and Snape took part in the story.
When I was discussing this chapter with my guinea pig, she asked me why Remus had said he had hated Sirius. You know, he hated the very thought of his beloved one that made him escape from the house. As an animal, his mind was of an animal, too. And he longed for his friend's presence, so he ran away. And it was the same thought that made him to leave the little Muggle girl alone and not to attack her. I don't know if you can still follow me... XD Rather complicated...
Thanks for reading the chapter, see you in the next one!
Preview: Sirius and Remus live together. Their happiness can't last forever, because of Sirius's betrayal...
