AN 1: Do you notice anything you've seen before? Yes? Well you'd be right. Severus's part in this first chapter is exactly what is in Cursed and then part of Chapter 2 for that story.

AN 2: Pictures-Please go to my deviantart account www dot deviantart dot com /stormwolves and click on the following pictures: Beast Snape Family and Forever Rule.

AN 3: Posted here as I am not entirely sure it will be available on Potions and Snitches but is an answer to the following challenge:

Werewolf's Pack by Mogadorian_Wolf

Summary: Snape and Harry are werewolves. However you want to make this happen. Maybe they were both bitten by Remus in Harry's third year or maybe Snape was bitten in his fifth year and Harry another time, or maybe Harry was born like that in a sort of Darkest Powers AU (which I'd be thrilled if you decided to do).

Must Have

Remus helping Severus care for Harry. If you're doing a Darkest Power AU, he doesn't have to be a werewolf, but he has to be able to interact with Harry and Snape in their werewolf form.

Perspective from a changed werewolf.

How they became a werewolf. It doesn't have to be in vivid detail. A brief sentence could work.

If a longer piece, it must have more than one perspective. I.E. it can't all be told through one character's eyes.

Bonus if

Severus and Remus have another cub they're caring for like Ron, Hermoine, OC, Ginny, Luna, etc. (It can be more than one)

If one if the other cubs is close to Harry's age (it can be a few years difference)

If you explore the werewolf mythos more than the book

Remus and Severus are a couple (especially if they become so through the course of the story)

AN 5: This is my first time, I think, doing a multi POV story so bare with me as I'm new at this.

One: Bitten Runaway

Remus's POV-February 16th 1965

"I can't believe them!"

"Lyall, Remus is in bed. You'll wake him."

"Sorry dear," spoke a bass voice as they faded into silence, two pairs of footsteps traveling down the hall to the master bedroom where followed the opening and closing of the door. In another bedroom, a child no more than four years of age quietly closed the door and walked in stocking feet back to his bed where he climbed back in, his mind swimming with confusion at what father was speaking of, but exhaustion won out and the child succumbed to sleep. Little did the Lupin family know, their lives would be changed forever because of Lyall Lupin's actions the previous night.

A figure stood within the shadows outside the Lupin house watching as the lights went out within the home and then moved forward on heavy feet across the ground to a window on the first floor, a window where he had seen the woman of the man who had spoken out tuck a child into bed. The window was locked, and the figure's lips curled back over his teeth as a low growl of frustration escaped him. He forced his way through the window, being careful not to break it and alert the family before squeezing through the window and landing on the floor in a crouch. Outside the moon was slowly beginning to appear from behind the clouds, the figure looking around the room and making his way over to the bed where the boy was sleeping peacefully, his light brown hair plastered to the pillow, breath light and even.

He turned his face to the moon as it moved further from the clouds, rising within the dark sky, the stars hanging like millions of candles suspended above the earth, and allowed the transformation to take hold. It didn't take long, though it was painful, even for someone such as him and soon where a man had been stood a grayish-black wolf with tawny markings in his pelt, piercing lime-green eyes staring out of his skull. The wolf opened his jaws, glimmering drops of saliva dropping from the wolf's mouth as inhaled the scent of prey. He would have his revenge on Lupin and what better way than turning the man's son into the very thing he hated? This was his reason for being here tonight, after all the man had insulted him and the rest of his kind. This man being none other than the infamous werewolf and man-eater, Fenrir Greyback.

The wolf swung his head towards the boy, his body following the motion of his head. The child continued to sleep on, his dreams peaceful as any child's should be, his eyes shooting open as pain erupted all over his body. Something heavy was on him, pinning the nearly five-year-old child to his bed and as his eyes opened, he saw a large wolf looking at him, its lime-green eyes staring at him hungrily and with a hint of maliciousness. The child's eyes widened as the wolf bit down, a mangled scream of fear and shock filling the air but this only excited the wolf and he could feel it tearing into his skin.

Footsteps came running down the hallway and towards his room, the wolf looking up as a stunning spell was cast at the wolf who raised his head and turned to look at Lyall Lupin, blood dripping from his jaws. "PAPA!" Remus screamed as the wolf jumped away from the bleeding child, another set of footsteps coming to a halt behind Lyall. "Don't," said Lyall as he held out an arm to protect his wife before casting another spell at the wolf. The wolf snarled in anger as it was hit with a cutting curse, Lyall stepping into the room and firing off a barrage of spells which forced the wolf to flee. Lyall rushed towards the window as Hope ran into the room to comfort her terrified and shaking son but the wolf had vanished into the darkness. Lyall turned back to his wife who held their son to her chest, blood staining the sheets and Hope's nightgown, a grave look on the man's face. He walked over and sat on the other side of his son, putting an arm around his life and stroking his son's hair. "My boy. My poor boy."

Severus's POV-May 13th 1976

Severus looked at the letter in his hands and smiled. His Lily wanted to meet him tonight and talk to him and apologize for how she had acted. He opened the letter again and scanned the contents.

Severus,

Please meet me tonight by the Whomping Willow. I want-no-I need to talk to you old friend.

Lily

He folded the letter and put it in his pocket before slipping out of Hogwarts and across the ground to the Whomping Willow. Briefly he wondered why Lily had chosen to meet at night and by the dangerous tree, but his thoughts of doubt disappeared as he spotted Lily's scarlet red hair up ahead. He quickened his pace, glad for the chance to be alone with her. He missed his old friend and knew he was a fool for saying that word to her. However, this night would not be like he imagined. This night would change his life forever.

"Lily!" Severus shouted as he ran up to her.

"Sev," Lily said hugging him. "Thank goodness that you came! I was worried you would ignore my letter after I stormed off the other day."

"Lily, I wanted to apologize for you calling you a…that word. It was wrong of me but I can't apologize for liking the Dark Arts. It's just a different branch of magic after all. Some wizards have a light core and others a dark core. Does it make a person evil if their core is dark and they practice the branch of magic that is easiest to them?"

"It's still evil Sev," Lily said. "I can't accept you studying the Dark Arts. It goes against everything I believe in."

"So why did you want to meet me out here if you were only going to patronize me?"

Lily frowned and Severus realized he had made another error. "I figured Potter and Black wouldn't be here to bother us. But if you can't accept me then I have no choice," Lily said.

"Lily?" Severus asked as he saw her raise her wand and point it at him.

"Stupefy!"

Severus didn't have time to move as the red light hit him in his chest. He fell back and tumbled down a hole that had opened between the roots of the Whomping Willow. The tree sprang back to life as the hole closed and left Severus in the dark. Lily why did you trick me?

Above ground Lily suddenly began changing and Sirius Black threw off the silver invisibility cloak. It fell to the ground as he doubled over in laughter. Beside Sirius, a boy began to appear from Lily's body and soon James Potter stood there in the moonlight. A rat scurried away from the knot near the roots of the tree and transformed into a fat boy with a pointed nose and watery eyes. These three boys were part of the infamous group known as the Marauders. They lived to prank and bully people and their favorite target was Severus Snape.

"Polyjuice is amazing," James said with a laugh. "Now we can get rid of the wolf and Snivellus."

"Did you see his face when you stunned him?" Sirius asked.

"Not me Padfoot. Lily stunned him."

Peter laughed with his two friends. "We'd better get back."

"Good idea Wormtail," James said. "Padfoot get my invisibility cloak." Sirius picked up the cloak and handed it to James who pocketed it. "Let's go."

The three friends walked back to the castle and made their way up to Gryffindor Tower where they went to bed. In the tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shack, Severus groaned and opened his eyes. He hadn't heard the conversation above after he had fallen into this tunnel. :Lumos,: Severus whispered as he sat up and tried to get his bearings. Before him was nothing but darkness. Above was a dangerous tree he had no idea how to get past. "Guess there's no way to go but forward."

Severus walked down the tunnel and hoped he could find a way out. He couldn't see anything with the dim light of his wand but thought he heard movement up ahead. Maybe Potter and Black are down here, and I can get them expelled! Those two were the bane of his existence.

He suddenly stopped as he heard something up ahead. He was halfway through the tunnel when he heard heavy footfalls coming down the tunnel towards him and what sounded like sniffing. Severus licked his lips and stood still, hoping that whatever it was didn't find him. No such luck.

Remus had transformed into Moony and had left the trapdoor open for his pack to come in and keep him company, but it had been an hour now and there was no sign or scent of them. Without his pack to calm the wolf, Moony had taken control and slipped back into the tunnel in an attempt to head to the Forbidden Forest where he could run underneath the moon. Moony hadn't run in a long time and hated being cooped up in the shack.

Moony made his way down the tunnel and stopped as he caught the scent of a human. He breathed deeply and trotted down the tunnel, saliva dripping from his fangs. Both the wolf and the human boy had no idea this was a trap. Moony's friends were not loyal to him at all.

Severus was horrified to hear the shuffling coming closer. He was frozen to the ground in terror as the thing in the darkness came closer. Then the animal appeared in the dim light of Severus's wand and he saw it was a werewolf. Severus had read about them in Care of Magical Creatures during his third year at Hogwarts. Moony stared at Severus and let out an eerie howl.

The monster's howl brought the Slytherin back to his senses and he turned and began running. Moony felt a tingle of excitement at the fear emanating out of his weak prey and took off after Severus. "Help!" Severus ran as fast as he could but tripped on a rock and fell to the ground. His wand slipped out of his hand and rolled away from him. He had no chance of finding it in the dark. Moony was on him in a flash and bit into his arm, making Severus scream in terror. Lily, he thought as tears pricked his eyes.

Moony let go in order to bite the boy's neck and Severus took the chance to scramble to his feet and run blindly in the darkness. He could feel his blood dripping onto the ground as he ran. Severus could hear the monster behind him and then heard the snap of his wand breaking as the monster stepped on it. He felt the ground change and a slight breeze in the distance and guessed he was approaching the slope he had tumbled down. But as he began scrambling up Moony grabbed his leg and dragged him back down before he sank his fangs into Severus's shoulder. He let out a howl of triumph at catching his prey. Then Severus knew only pain as he screamed in terror before blacking out.

When Severus came to three days later, the first thing he saw was the startling whiteness around him. Around his bed was a curtain that had been drawn to give him some privacy, rain pattering gently against the windowpane as dark clouds floated outside, the clouds heavy with rain that waited to be unleashed upon the Highlands of Scotland. The fifth-year student appeared even paler than his sallow complexion already made him, obsidian colored eyes blinking slowly into focus. Footsteps came towards him and the curtain was drawn back by a worried Madam Pomfrey. "Stay still dear. You've just suffered a terrible ordeal," said Madam Pomfrey as she turned to call to someone else.

Severus could hear voices from close by and a few minutes later three pairs of footsteps came towards him. One he was surprised to see as he didn't think he cared at all for a snake, given the number of times Severus and countless others had gone to Dumbledore about the Marauders bullying other students that they didn't like, particularly those in Slytherin and Hufflepuff Houses who gave the most complaint, these three individuals being his Head of House, the Headmaster and Matron. Such complaints were, of course, swept under the rug and not spoken of or, to the knowledge of the students complaining, never resolved. So, the students learned not to say anything and bear it or retaliate against the Marauders but of course they had a habit of sneaking around the castle and getting into all sorts of trouble. It was obvious to everyone that the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, at least, favored the Marauders and would let them get away with anything though the other professors had a soft spot for the Gryffindor Golden boys as well. "Ah my boy! You're finally awake."

"What happened?"

"I was hoping that you could tell me my boy," said Professor Dumbledore. "You've been out for three days."

The frown on his face only deepened and he again tried to sit up, only to bite back a cry of agony as pain laced across his chest and left shoulder. "Easy Mr. Snape," said Madam Pomfrey. "How are you feeling?"

"M…may I have some water?"

"Of course," said Madam Pomfrey and she turned to retrieve a pitcher of water from her office and a glass, her heels clicking sharply over the stone floor. Both professors conjured chairs, Dumbledore's an overstuffed arm chair of coruse that was purples with gold stripes causing Severus to visibly cringe at the ghastly choice of colors and shake his head at the Headmaster's eccentricities.

"Mr. Snape, would you care to explain why you were out of bounds last night on the full moon?" questioned the Headmaster as he sat down, peering over his half-moon spectacles at Severus. "You know it isn't allowed for students to be outside the school grounds at night."

"Lily," Severus whispered.

"Pardon?" Professor Slughorn piped up as he sank heavily into the conjured chair and watched one of his brilliant students.

"It was Lily," said Severus. "Lily she…she sent me a letter last night to meet her at the Whomping Willow." He watched his professors look at each other, Professor Slughorn's face twisted into disbelief while the Headmaster seemed angry. "Will someone tell me what is going on?!"

It was Dumbledore who turned to respond to him, his face becoming calm again though Severus flinched at the anger visible within the man's eyes. "I'm sorry my dear boy but I'm afraid I have some grave news. You were bitten last night during your time outside by Lupin. I'm sorry."

Harry's POV: June 6th 1994

"Sirius!"

"Harry no!"

"Help get Snape and Ron back to the castle! Go!" shouted Harry without looking back as he raced off for the sounds of snarling which was followed by a yelp as a big black dog was thrown down the hill and away from the wolf. It wasn't even a wolf, more a deformed half-man and half-wolf creature with little to no fur on its otherwise bare body but for the fuzzy tuft of fur on its head and neck. A rat scurried through the grass on its way to leave the beast that had been unleashed this night upon the grounds of Hogwarts as the full moon appeared in a formerly cloudy sky, casting its glow upon the earth and the occupants within. Foolishly, as his most hated professor might say, the scrawny tween rushed into danger, shouting and waving his hands to get the werewolf's attention. "Hey! Moony!"

The creature turned its head towards the prey that charged so willingly towards it, amber eyes flickering towards the three other occupants hiding beneath the tree. Its nose flared as it turned its eyes on the downed Potions Master and made a step towards the bigger of the prey. "Depulso!" A beam of white light came from Harry's wand and hit the werewolf in the side, knocking it away from the professor and his friends, the wolf snarling in anger as it was taken by surprise. "Stupefy!"

The wolf dodged the spell and turned its attention to Harry as he hit it with another banishing charm, knocking the wolf off its paws. Having enough of being hit by a prey that fought back, the wolf let out a howl and began running for Harry who turned and headed away from the school and his friends. The fleeing prey triggered the wolf instincts to hunt and it took off after Harry as Hermione pulled out her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa," she said as she pointed her wand at her professor and friend, beginning the long trek back to the castle and hoping that Professor Lupin didn't turn on the students. However, Professor Lupin wouldn't be the only one to change that night….

Harry could feel the hot breath of the wolf on his heels as he ran towards the Forbidden Forest, hoping that he could lose the wolf within the trees, hear the thundering of paws shaped like hands racing along the ground behind him. A scream from somewhere behind him caused him to falter in his steps and turn slightly only to meet the gaping jaws of the wolf as it pounced and knocked him to the ground. Harrys' cries mingled with those of Hermione's, the thought somewhat belated, as the wolf ravaged the young boy. He tried to reach his wand, but it had been knocked out of his grasp and he couldn't get to it. Under the full moon, blood ran that night.

June 13, 1994

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

He let out a scream as he was knocked to the ground, his wand flying from his hand in shock as pain laced up his arm at claws tearing through skin, the force of the hand striking his arm causing it to break on impact. Head whipping to the side, his glasses flew from his face seconds before he hit the ground and now the blurry form of the werewolf was upon him, its hot breath blowing into his face, pushing his hair back from his forehead like a wind had blown through the air. "Moony stop! It's me…Harry!"

But the wolf didn't hear him, instead it pinned him down and sank its teeth into his shoulder, claws ripping through his chest and causing pain to lace through his body. He could hear the wolf's heavy breathing, but the wolf was blurry before him without his glasses. Struggling underneath the wolf, his feet and hands punching and kicking the wolf where he could reach, the wolf raised a clawed hand and roughly smacked his head to the side, claws digging into his tender skin around his eye and causing immediate pain in his left eye. I'm going to die here, he thought to himself. Guess my luck has run out.

In the aftermath of the nightmare, he awoke with sweat on his face, the blankets tangled around him. He strained his ears, listening for the sound of his uncle's footsteps, but the house remained silent. A relieved breath escaped him, and he fumbled for the clock on the nightstand, the numbers glowing green which read 3:30 AM. Harry winched and grasped his shoulder, his fingers clenching as a spasm of pain shot through the affected muscle. He didn't need a mirror to see his appearance, he had seen it before after coming home from Hogwarts only a few days ago when Aunt Petunia had screamed when he walked through the door and sent him to clean himself off, protesting his uncle's anger at the freak wasting good water.

Since that night he had been having the same dream over and over, the night when everything had gone pear-shaped and he had lost not only his godfather but his chance at having a home away from the Dursleys. On the train ride home, he hadn't spoken to Ron or Hermione, eventually having left the compartment they were in his trunk and Hedwig's cage, joining Neville and Luna in a compartment where Harry sat in silence for the rest of the journey. They had only inquired if he was alright and when he said he was just tired, they had left him alone. Unlike Ron and Hermione who tried to get Harry to talk about what had happened after he had foolishly run away from then and Professor Snape.

Knowing that he wouldn't be able to sleep, Harry began to disentangle the blankets from his person and stood. Opening the door of his bedroom as quietly as possible Harry left his room and headed down the hall to the bathroom, turning on the light and then entering. According to the Headmaster, there was nothing that could be done for the claw marks on his body nor the bite to his shoulder. The wounds would scar, and the virus of lycanthropy had spread during his days in the hospital. His world was now half in darkness, the blow to his face by Moony rendering the tween blind in his left eye. Instead of a bright green color, the eye was clouded, dulling the color. It was a disconcerting experience for the twelve-year-old that had, for many years, been able to see if not perfectly better than he was now.

In the mirror his face stared back at him, the scar over his left eye having two lines on either side of another line that went through his cataract and tore the lens. It had been repaired thankfully by magic, but the damage was done. He was grateful for Madam Pomfrey keeping Hermione and Ron away from him, grateful for the fact that they had both survived and his screams mixed with the howls of Remus had served to bring help from the school. Harry, however, was unsure what he could say to them. It had been suggested by the Headmaster that he not tell his friends about his lycanthropy and Harry had agreed for he was not certain his friends wouldn't look at him with terror now.

Harry worried his bottom lip the next morning when he woke up again as soon the sun rose to prepare breakfast for his relatives. Because Harry had been unconscious, and Ron had an injured leg there was no magically going back in time for his godfather whose body had found the next morning, drained of its soul by a hoard of dementors. Of course, it was impossible for anyone to go back in time, otherwise people may have tried it already. That had been a hard blow to Harry and he had been speechless at the realization that he would never get away from the Dursleys. Since he had gotten back home, though he didn't really see it as home for how could it be when his relatives held no love for him and he them, he had been thrown into the same routine as before Hogwarts; a list of chores a mile long and expected to be unseen and unheard by his relatives. His trunk was locked in his old cupboard along with his broom, Hedwig's cage resided in his room and his invisibility cloak, the Marauder's Map and the photo album Hagrid had given him were under a loose floorboard underneath his bed.

His thoughts trailed to the next full moon when he would turn into a werewolf. Admitabley he was scared of it happening, just the idea of turning into something like Remus frightened him. He wasn't sure how Remus coped with it every day of his life and felt sorry for the malnourished man, even though he didn't know his professor all that well. Though there was animosity and a certain dislike, okay hatred, towards each other within the Dursley household he certainly didn't want to harm his relatives or turn them into werewolves. But how was he supposed to protect not only himself but also his family from being ravaged come the next full moon?

"BOY!"

As Harry turned, a meaty hand connected with the side of his head, knocking him for a loop. He put his hands out to catch himself, one hand going on the hot burner, the smell of burning flesh reaching his nose and wafting through the room as that same hand held his hand in place. Harry's vision went in and out of focus for a moment as he tried to get his bearings, the heat sizzling into his skin serving to right him and he struggled to get away from his uncle. "Uncle Vernon please! It hurts," Harry begged as tears came to his eyes. His struggling proved a futile endeavor, all it did was cause him to burn his hand more the more he struggled and tried to pull it away from the electric coil.

He staggered back as his uncle laughed and walked off, leaving his nephew to cradle his hand to his chest. Dudley came thumping down the stairs, the sound grating on his ears as he turned the burner off and began placing pancakes onto four plates along with over-easy eggs and thick slices of bacon. Harry only placed half a pancake, one bacon strip and a poached egg on his own plate since his relatives never fed him much when he was home from school. Nobody really understood Harry's need to go slow after nine weeks of starving at the Dursleys when he got to Hogwarts and he was too ashamed to admit much of his homelife to anyone. Sure, Uncle Vernon smacked him around on occasion, he had to wear Dudley's castoffs, he was starved and verbally abused but they had never done anything sexual with him for which he was grateful, and it could be a lot worse. For all his uncle's threats of throwing him out of the house, he had never done so, and Harry knew he should be grateful that he wasn't trying to survive on the streets.

Harry got the plates to the table and set them down before going to get his uncle's coffee and pouring that into a mug carefully before carrying it back to the table and setting it before his uncle. The rest of the day passed in a blur as Harry methodically did his chores but when it turned evening he had come to a decision. The only way to protect his family from himself was to leave, even if it meant not contacting his friends and abandoning the wizarding world. He couldn't put anyone in danger because of him.

Harry had bandaged his hand earlier that evening when he had gotten a chance to sneak into the Dursley house after his relatives had gone out for dinner. He released Hedwig from her cage and stroked her feathers, her amber eyes looking at him with intelligence no owl should possess. Hedwig was too recognizable and if he wanted to remain hidden then he had to abandon Hedwig or release her into the wild. "Hedwig, it's been great knowing you. You've been a true friend to me when everyone else turned on me in second year."

"Hoot."

"I wish I could take you with me girl but you're too recognizable…ouch."

"HOOT!" Hedwig fluffed up her feathers and stared reproachfully at him as she nipped one of his fingers.

"I know that you're the prettiest owl out there," said Harry, thinking Hedwig was quite vain, "but if you come with me then people will know where I am and be able to bring me back here. I'm going to turn into…into a monster next month and don't want to hurt my family or my friends."

"Hoot. Hoooooot!"

"Even if they hurt me I don't want to see them turn into werewolves or killed by me. I'm already a murderer thanks to leading to Sirius's death and killing Quirrel. I don't want to kill anyone else, not even Uncle Vernon. It's why I have to leave, and I have to abandon the wizarding world which means…" His breath hitched in his throat as he swallowed the lump that suddenly formed and withdrew from his first friend. "It means you have a choice. You can either go to Hermione or Ron or you can go into the wild and be free of human influence and control where you can be safe," said Harry. "It's your choice girl."

"Hoot," Hedwig replied she turned her head to watch Harry move to the door and open it. With the bars back on his window, the owl couldn't fly out, but she didn't want to leave her human either, not when she had been his faithful friend for three years. He needed friends, even if he thought himself a danger to everyone, she knew this better than anyone. Her human was so stubborn though and refused to see the bigger picture or logic in having people at his side who he could trust. Hedwig though could understand also her human's reluctance to put herself in danger though she was sure that she could easily fly out of each of her human when he transformed into a werewolf but knew that if he harmed her, even accidently, he would never be able to live with himself. It was a hard decision for the owl as pet and human stared at each other before Hedwig turned and flew out of the doorway and down the hallway to the master bedroom before flying an open window and off into the night.

Harry turned to watch Hedwig fly down the hallway and into the Dursley's main bedroom. He followed to close the window behind her, watching her until she was out of sight. Turning away, Harry made his way to the closet where he knew Vernon kept some Muggle pounds hidden away and pulled out enough cash that could buy him a few meals before heading back to his room. Lying on his stomach when he had entered his room, he reached under his bed and pulled up the loose floorboard with his fingers, pulling out his invisibility cloak, the map his dad had helped make and the photo album given to him at the end of his first year at Hogwarts. Along with that he pulled out a backpack that someone had forgotten in the playground on Magnolia Crescent and stuffed his photo album, the map and the money inside it with a couple changes of clothes. Zipping it up, he slid it onto his shoulders and stared at his wand, running his fingers over the holly wood. Closing his eyes, he put his other hand on the wand and snapped it in half, the sound echoing loudly in his ears as tears once again slid down his face. Grasping both broken pieces of the wand, he snapped the two pieces of wand wood again and dropped them on the floor before slipping his invisibility cloak on, the broken wand and reddish-gold feather lying on the floor. I can't return to Hogwarts…the wizarding world will crucify me if they find out I'm a werewolf, he thought to himself as he began making his way downstairs and stepped out in the back garden. Somewhere within the air, Hedwig faltered as the bond tying her to her human broke and the memories of her being captured by wizards as a fledgling and trained for postal service dissipated like the wind, leaving only wild instincts. The owl faltered for a bit in the air before righting itself and flying on, none the wiser.

"This home is no longer my home," Harry whispered to himself as he stared at the house that had been his prison for thirteen years, the young teenager then turning to hop the fence and began trudging down the street of Privet Drive. Behind him, the wards that had been keeping him and his family there to the house, unintentionally feeding off of Harry's own magic and barely holding on thanks to the lack of love within the home from Harry to his relatives and them to him crumbled and shattered.

June 27, 1994

It was two weeks before anyone realized that Harry Potter was missing from Privet Drive. The Dursleys, upon arriving home later that evening and discovering the boy had left home rejoiced and immediately burned the boy's trunk and school books, ridding themselves of that freaky business that had plagued their lives for so long. Seeing the fire in the backyard, the ruddy owl's cage having been thrown into a trash bag and put in the garbage can, Arabella Figg had finally seen fit to alert the Headmaster. She hurried home without stopping to speak to Petunia or Vernon, such horrid people that they were, and upon entering made her way to the living room and threw in a pinch of floo powder. The flames turned green and she called for the Headmaster's office. Professor Dumbledore was sitting in his chair doing some paperwork for the upcoming term and trying to figure out who he could hire as a new DADA professor since Professor Lupin had retired. He turned at the sound of Arabella's voice, having placed the woman there to keep an eye on Harry for him after leaving the toddler there thirteen years ago.

"Ah Arabella. How may I help you this evening?"

"I don't have time for pleasantries Albus. May I come through?" Arabella questioned.

Albus's smile disappeared at the seriousness of the squib's tone. "Of course, Arabella. The password is chocolate frog."

Arabella rolled her eyes at the magical sweet being a password, the Headmaster had a serious sweet tooth but she nodded and removed her head from the flames. A minute later she had tumbled onto the stone floor of the Headmasters office and stood, brushing herself off. "Lemon Drop Arabella? Tea?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked as he gestured for the woman to take a seat.

"No thank you," said Arabella. "It's about Harry."

"Harry?" questioned Dumbledore, leaning forward in his chair. "What about him?"

"I haven't seen him for two weeks now. At first, I thought perhaps he was sick and the Dursleys were keeping him in the house to recover and get well but this evening when I was coming back from the grocer, I smelled wood burning and saw the Dursleys burning Harry's trunk and those horrid hand me-downs he was given," said Arabella.

Now the aged Headmaster was concerned. "Thank you Arabella. I will inform someone of the matter. By any chance, did they appear angry or upset that Harry is missing? Did they given any indication of where he was?"

"No Headmaster. I'm sorry, I didn't think to ask but they seemed happy about him being gone. Said they were glad the freak was finally out of their lives."

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with anger as he heard the news. Had he made a mistake thirteen years ago by placing Harry with his relatives? He had thought that Petunia would welcome the chance to take in her nephew and care for him, not abhor the child. He saw the woman through the floo as she returned home and then summoned Severus to his quarters. He would have done it himself but he had things to do and so he needed to send someone who would get the information from the Dursleys. He just hoped the man would do as he was told for once, otherwise he wasn't sure who could find the boy.

Snape Home, Cokeworth

The Snape family were just sitting down to dinner the flames turned green and the Headmaster's face appeared within the fireplace. "Severus are you there?"

Severus momentarily excused himself to get up and go into the living room where only fireplace was within the home. "Headmaster, we were just getting ready to eat," said the dour Potions Master.

"I'm sorry Severus but as I said I must speak with you. It's about Harry Potter."

"What has that insufferable child done now?" questioned Snape, earning a stern look from his employer. "Fine Headmaster, I'll be right over." Dumbledore nodded and withdrew from the fireplace before once more seating himself behind his desk. Severus, on the other hand, muttered about stupid Gryffindors and made his way towards his family home where he informed Aella he may not be back for dinner and told the children to mind their mother. He then grabbed his traveling cloak and headed back into the living room where he called out the password for the Headmaster's office and stepped on through, stepping gracefully from the fireplace and taking a seat in front of the desk.

"Ah my boy. Lemon Drop?"

"No thank you," said Severus. "Just get to the point Albus."

"Harry's missing and I need you to go find out where he is."

Lupin Cottage, Yorkshire

The last of the true Marauders, that traitor didn't count, nursed a bottle of brandy as he stared into the flames of the tumbledown derelict cottage he had purchased with his meager salary after graduating from Hogwarts. A two-story stone building with a chimney in the western side of the cottage provided the only warmth within the home. After he had resigned from his position as Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Remus had returned to his home. It was only recently that he had gained an addition to his household, a young pup when on a trip to Germany where he had gone to seek help for his condition. Remus had failed to find a cure for his condition of course and now with his supply of wolfsbane potion run out, was once more going through painful transformations. Thankfully his property was warded against Muggles and he could run about in his wolf form without fear of harming anyone.

The pup was likely around Harry's age and Moony had fought with him to bring the pup home after finding a village of werewolves slaughtered but for the pup who had been injured and lying underneath the bodies of an elderly wolf who had snarled at Moony but told him that wizards and hunters had done this to their village. The elderly wolf had then passed when Moony had given his consent to take the pup and care for it as their own. Remus, had of course, been startled to see the child the next morning but Moony had insisted the child be brought home. The pup was alone and needed someone, since its human refused to let its cubs live with it. Remus had argued that Severus had his own family and pups to take care of and couldn't be living with him to which Moony had grumbled and said a wolf needed to be with its pack.

There was a knock on the door and Remus frowned as he turned to the door and rose from his chair, making his way to the door and opening it to be met by Severus Snape. "Se…" A fist landed in the other wolf's jaw as he was knocked to the ground.

"I've wanted to do that for ages for what you and Lily did to me," said Severus. "Get…" he stopped and sniffed the air, detected the scent of another wolf and a child at that within the cottage. His lip curled into a sneer as he stared down his hooked nose at the timid man. "Why is there a child here? Did you seriously go and ruin someone else's life?" he hissed.

Remus gingerly rubbed his jaw as he stared up at his cub. In his head Moony howled at seeing Sherlock and felt happiness at having part of his pack here…now he just had to find the boy he had turned a few weeks ago and his pack would be complete. Remus pushed back the wolf's thoughts and shook his head as Severus whipped out his wand and pointed at the pathetic excuse of a man before him. "No…I found…Moony found her. I went to Germany for a bit to see if there was a cure for this curse," he said. "But there was nothing. Instead I found a village of werewolves…everyone…. everyone was killed but for the pup and an elder wolf who told me that wizards and hunters had attacked the village, killing everyone. Moony…he wouldn't leave the child to die there and made me bring it home."

Severus wasn't sure whether to curse Lupin or not. "He needs pack," spoke Sherlock, the black wolf's yellowish-green eyes staring at him out of the darkness. "A wolf needs its pack to survive and cope with the strain of the curse."

"I suppose you need me to help you care for the pup then," growled Severus, "since you've never raised a child in your life."

"How can I look after a child? I'm a danger to everyone around me. After what I did to you…to Harry…"

Severus frowned and motioned Remus to get up, the other wolf doing so. Seeing the look on Severus's face, Remus frowned in concern. "Severus, what is it?"

"Harry's missing."

Next Chapter: Severus and Remus go to Privet Drive where they have words with the Dursleys and discover Harry's broken wand, a mental intrusion in Petunia's mind reveals things that throw Sev for a loop and Harry searches for a place to hide while he tries to plan his next moves, all while trying to ignore the growing aggression he feels within as his birthday and an inheritance looms closer.