AN: So, a new story just after the other. This too was an idea I needed to get out. I will try to update them both, one then the other. But honestly, there's too few Harry/Ginny with a werewolf Harry. Well, I am doing my part to fix that.
Warnings: language, graphic depiction of violence, graphic sexual situations.
Enjoy, read and review!
Harry Potter had enough. It was one thing when the Dursleys insulted him, humiliated him or treated him as if he was worth less than dirt. But he would not have them insult his parents. He knew now from what he had been told from various people of the wizarding world that his parents were good people. Well loved, well respected. Everyone spoke highly of the late James and Lily Potter.
So when Aunt Marge came to visit and she and Vernon Dursley, unfortunately his uncle, spoke ill of his parents he- quite literally lost it and blew her up like a balloon.
After he did the deed, he went to retrieve Hedwig's cage and his trunk before making his way outside. He was done with this place. He didn't care if he was going to be expelled or if he got yet another chance. Privet Drive was officially dead to him.
He kept walking down the street, not really thinking about where he could go. If he was completely honest with himself, he really had no idea what to do now. The consequences of his underage magic- accidental or not- where still unknown to him, he had yet to get a letter telling him off or telling him about his expulsion from Hogwarts.
Despite his earlier bravado and anger he was shuddering at that thought. Looking up at the night sky he had to admit that being expelled from Hogwarts would be something that he couldn't handle. Even with all the life threatening dangers he had to suffer in his first two years, it was still his favorite place in the world. He may be famous in the wizarding world but once the students in Hogwarts got over the fact that he was the Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, wizard extraordinaire... well, after the first few weeks he could feel how people would treat him like they were treating the rest of the student body. He was glad about it since he hated the spotlight so much.
His 'little' adventures with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, kept reminding the students of Hogwarts of his special status but those things thankfully blew over fast once the summer holidays hit.
Except for last term, his second year. He felt saddened for Ginny, the youngest Weasley sibling. She was so excited about finally being able to join her brothers at Hogwarts only to feel neglected by them so much, that she literally poured out her soul into Tom Riddle's cursed diary, which was smuggled into her school books by Lucius Malfoy. She ended up being possessed by Riddle, who made her open the Chamber of Secrets and free the Basilisk that was kept there. Fortunately no one was killed but the experience still left the usually lively- at least according to her brother's she was lively when she wasn't busy being shy around him- redhead heavily traumatized. So, Harry felt he would do right by her to include her when he wrote to his friends. He offered her to write him about the events if she needed to- an offer, which she readily and happily took. The positive side effect of the exchanges with Ginny was that he actually got to know her. Not the shy redhead who had this hero-crush on him, who stuck her elbow in the butter-dish, who sent him that rather embarrassing poem on Valentine's Day. He got to know the Ginny Weasley who was a little prankster like her twin brothers Fred and George, who was just as passionate about Quidditch as her brothers and him, but no one ever bothered to ask her to play with them. So, she would just sneak out at night to fly on her brothers brooms. He got to know the Ginny who was sarcastic and witty, cared about her academics and still had horrible nightmares. He liked that Ginny.
Startled out of his thoughts by a noise, he looked towards the alley it came from. "Who's there?"
A low growl came from the alley, making Harry walk backwards and lose his footing, tripping over his trunk. He scrambled back to his feet, taking out his wand as he spotted a set of yellow, savage looking eyes. Stepping out of the shadow into the street and now illuminated by a street lamp was a hulking figure that made Harry pale in an instant. The hand holding his wand was shaking violently, he glanced back at the night sky and saw the full moon. If he was correct in his assumption then that beast in front of him was a werewolf. What else could it be? Bipedalled with thick, dark grey fur, hands with wicked looking claws, a shorter snout than actual wolves but still there. The pointed canine ears. And then those teeth; long and sharp. Predatory.
Before Harry could really react the beast was upon him, charging with a speed he simply couldn't match. A clawed hand collided with his side, ripping into his flesh and hurling him to the ground. His vision blurred, both from the tears and nausea the pain brought and the fact that his glasses were now lying a few feet away from him in the middle of the street. He turned on his back, his wand still clutched tightly in his hand. Trying to point it at the beast proved pointless as one heavy hand pushed his right arm down. He looked up, staring right at a snarling snout.
So, this is it. Not Voldemort is the one killing me, but a Werewolf. Great. I'd rather a killing curse hit me than this, though.
He howled in pain when the teeth sank into his shoulders. Then he blacked out.
Alastor Moody had seen a lot in his life, but the reason he was called here was something new. Werewolf attacks were few and far between anyways but for one to happen in a muggle town was troubling. It just seemed too random to be random.
"Sir, do we know anything about the victim?" His trainee, Nymphadora Tonks asked.
"Nothing." He answered gruffly. "Keep your wand out, cadet. Constant-"
"-vigilance. I know." She smirked at him, her wand at the ready.
They kept walking for another minute when they spotted the site of the attack. "There." Tonks pointed at the shattered glasses on the ground and a trunk that obviously popped open during the attack.
"Did you see an owl somewhere, cadet?" Moody asked.
The trainee scanned the area and any high grounds she could see, but there was no sign of any the nocturnal birds. "No, sir. Why?"
"Owl cage." Moody pointed at the destroyed cage.
They kept scanning, Moody's magic eye already locking on various thing, giving the experienced auror an idea of the situation. Still, he gave his cadet a few moments so she could assess things by herself.
"Boss, a wand!" Tonks rushed towards it, close at an alley, and pocketed it in the inside of her robe before gasping as her gaze fell upon something at a dark alley. "Boss, here!"
"Lumos." Moodys wand illuminated the dark alley and they both frowned at the sight. A young boy was lying on the ground, his clothes bloodied. He had several bite marks they could make out. Shoulder, hip, biceps. They didn't know how long he had been lying there already but it was obvious he lost a lot of blood already. He was white as a sheet, his breathing irregular and shallow.
"I'll send a patronus to 's," Tonks announced, ready to cast.
"Wait!" Moody suddenly interrupted her.
"Sir?" She asked, confused as to why he would stall her when it was obvious that the young boy was in dire need of help.
Moody limped towards the boy, kneeling with a grunt. After brushing the sweaty hair away from the boy's forehead he started cursing wildly. "Call for Dumbledore. Now!" He barked at his trainee.
Not questioning her boss, she sent the patronus before turning back to Moody. He was already applying the mixture of powdered silver and dittany on bite marks, cutting the clothes open with a knife to check for more.
"Cadet, collect Potter's belongings and bring them here."
Tonks was on her way to the trunk before stopping dead in her tracks, turning back to her boss, eyes wide as saucers. "Potter?!"
"Go!"
Bleary eyes opened before snapping back shut again. The bright light sent a searing pain into his head. He groaned, his throat parched and body sore.
He heard the sounds of movement, and felt something poke his lips. "Mr. Potter, you need to drink."
He opened his mouth a bit and realized that the thing poking his lips was a drinking straw. He took a few sips before letting the straw drop, his head back down on the pillow. He tried to open his eyes again, this time the light seemed to be dimmed. Someone must have closed the curtains around the bed he was lying in. He was grateful.
"Do you want your glasses, Harry?" A new voice- kind, soft and familiar- said.
"Yes, please." He managed to croak out.
He felt someone slip the glasses back on his face. They felt different.
"I took the liberty of getting you a new pair. Your old pair was unfortunately irreparably destroyed during your attack."
Harry looked at the source of the voice. "Professor?" Harry furrowed his brows. "Where am I? What happened?"
A sad expression, visible albeit fleeting, appeared on the headmaster's face. "A couple nights ago, after you left your relative's house...you were attacked, Harry. Viciously."
Harry tried to remember and slowly the memories came back. That beast. The bites. Harry slowly reached with his left arm to his right shoulder, pulling down the gown he was wearing with trembling hands. There were scars of the bites. "It was a werewolf. Wasn't it, Professor?"
"Though it saddens me immensely, you are right. And it was the most vicious. Fenrir Greyback."
"Am I...? I mean..." Harry couldn't ask it. It sounded too ridiculous, even in his head.
Dumbledore nodded. "You are infected with lycantropy. I am sorry, Harry. You are a werewolf."
All he could do was nod numbly. After a few moments of staring numbly at the ceiling he turned back towards his headmaster. "Am I expelled? After blowing up my Aunt, I mean."
Chuckling, the headmaster smiled at him. "I have seen to it that the ministry closed both eyes on that matter. You are still welcome at Hogwarts."
"But what about my, you know...my situation?"
"Don't worry, Harry. One of your father's best friends was a werewolf and was quite a well liked student. To be fair, no one aside from your father's closest circle knew of his condition but we found solutions." Looking at Harry with a kind but serious expression, Dumbledore spoke earnestly. "We have solutions for situations like this, Harry. Don't worry."
Looking at the clock, Dumbledore got up. "Now, in a few moments the friend of your father's I mentioned will be here to talk to you about your situation. And Harry," Dumbledore fixated Harry with a piercing look. "do not, under any circumstances, mention your lycantropy to anyone aside from your closest friends. We didn't take you to 's for a reason. Werewolves are not treated kindly in our society. We cannot begin to guess how they would react if they found out that you are infected."
Gulping, Harry nodded. "I understand, sir. Umm, aside from Ron and Hermione, can I include Ginny in this?"
Amusement was clear in the old wizard's eyes. "Why, yes. I can imagine that young Miss Weasley would be delighted about your trust in her. I am sure she feels a connection to you after the events of last term. But now I must take my leave." He was about to get out, before turning around again. "When Madam Pomfrey clears you to leave, you can use the floo in my office to the Leaky Couldron. I asked Tom to have a room for you ready. Your belongings are already there and your lovely owl is waiting for you. The password for my office is chocolate frog. I will see you in a month."
A werewolf, he thought. I am a bloody werewolf.
With a sigh, Harry wondered why he couldn't just once catch a bloody break in his life. It was enough already that he had to deal with Voldemort every year. Then there was the seemingly random hatred Snape had for him. Add dealing with Malfoy every day to that, then it already became enough drive him nutters. Now he was a werewolf. Great.
After Dumbledore left, Madam Pomfrey gave him another blood replenishing potion, since he apparently lost a lot of blood. She said he could leave first thing next morning since his wound had healed nicely and the potion would have finished its effect by then.
Now he was waiting in bed for that werewolf friend of his dad's to arrive. He was nervous and wondered what he would be like. He would be the first person of his parents past that Harry would get to know who was actually close to them.
Hearing a low murmur Harry looked towards the entrance of the hospital wing to see a tired and ragged looking man in cheap and patched up robes talking to Madam Pomfrey. She pointed at Harry's bed before returning to whatever it was she was doing.
Harry stared at the man, who looked at him with a sad expression. "Harry..." he began. "You look...you look just like James. But you most definitely have Lily's eyes."
He pulled a chair to Harry's left and sat down. "My name is Remus Lupin. How much did Dumbledore tell you?"
"Umm...he told me that you are a werewolf...and that you were close with my dad."
Lupin nodded. "And both is true."
"What was my dad like?" Harry blurted out. "How did he find out? How did he react?"
Lupin smiled at Harry. "I promise we will talk about these things. We will, after all, see a lot of each other during your third year."
Harry's eyes got wide. "Are you-"
"I didn't tell you anything." Lupin said with his hands held up and a small wink. "I don't have a lot of time, Harry. I have a lot of things to prepare. I really want to get to know the son of one of my best friends and I really want to be there for you as much as I can. But right now all I can offer for you is to answer any questions about..." He trailed off. "I still can't believe that you got bitten." He said with a sad whisper, his eyes shimmering. "I don't wish this upon anyone, but least of all you." Pinching the bridge of his nose, he looked at Harry's sad face. He took the boy's hand in his own. "Anything, Harry. Any questions you have, any way I can help you deal with this, I will. It is the very least I can do. I promise, you will not be alone with this."
Harry nodded, choking down the lump in his throat, instinctively clasping his hand tightly around Lupins. "Does it hurt? The changing, I mean."
Lupin nodded gravely. "I won't lie to you. It is one of the most painful things one can experience, especially when you are young and when it is the very first change. You feel...every bone, joint, muscle...how they change and shift by a force you can't control."
Harry paled while Lupin gave him a bitter smile. "Won't do me or you any good if I sugarcoat this. Sorry."
"No, I just...I am scared." It came out in a whisper and he hated to say it but he couldn't help it. He was scared like he never was before. He'd rather face Voldemort every month at full moon than this. "What about...when we change. Are we...you know, ourselves?"
Lupin shook his head. "No, Harry. Once the transformation is complete...the beast is in control...if you can call it that. It is a raging beast, without compassion, without empathy. It attacks any human in sight." At Harry's horrified expression, he continued. "Of course you can take precautions. For me, it was a secret passageway underneath the Whomping Willow that led into the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. I spent my transformation there until your father and our friends became animagi." He chuckled as Harry immediately perked up upon hearing just this little from his father. "He was a stag. A rather magnificent one too, if I may say so. They spent my transformation with me in their animagus form. It was more bearable that way." He cleared his throat, before continuing. "There is also another precaution. But this one is extremely difficult to make and therefore rather expensive. It's the wolfsbane potion."
"What does it do? Do you use it?" Harry asked.
"I use it whenever I can. As I said, it is extremely difficult to make and could be disastrous if it is not done correctly. And it is expensive. werewolves are usually unemployed, since no one wants to employ us." Harry could detect a hint of bitterness in Lupin's voice. "You have to drink a goblet of the potion every morning for seven days preceding full moon. After your transformation, when you took the potion conscientiously, you will have your human mind. Without the potion that is not possible. With it, you will be nothing more than a calm, slightly weird looking wolf. I usually sleep the transformation off in a safe place with wolfsbane."
Harry let out a shaky breath. "Sounds better than going all nutters on random people I guess..."
Lupin laughed at that. "Most definitely. Professor Snape will provide you with the potion, Harry. When the time comes, we will go to the Shrieking Shack together."
Harry nodded when a sudden thought came to him. "I still have more than a month until the summer hols are over! There will be a full moon!" He said urgently, his heart hammering in his chest and his stomach in tight knots at the thought.
"You will be staying at the Cauldron until September 1st, so I know where to find you when the time comes. The headmaster and I have it covered Harry. Don't worry."
For whatever reason, Harry believed him. Remus Lupin had something about him that made Harry feel safe, that made him feel that he could trust him with his life. With every passing minute Harry could understand more and more why his father was so close to this man. "Thank you, Mr. Lupin. I really appreciate it."
"No need to thank me, Harry." Lupin replied with a fond smile. "And you may call me Remus." With a sigh, the older man got up from his chair. "As much as I'd like to stay with you, I have to go now. You know, Harry...you may look like your father but you have a lot of your mother in you. You have the best of them both." He stood there awkwardly for a moment until Harry opened his arms. He took the invitation and gave his best friend's son a heartfelt hug. "You'll get through this too, Harry. And you are not alone in this." When they separated, Lupin smiled down at him. "I'll see you soon, Harry."
"See you, Remus."
Harry arrived at the cauldron via floo and tumbled out of the fireplace. He was helped up by feminine hands and when he looked to see who those belonged too he had to raise both brows. In front of him was a pretty woman in her early twenties with a purple robe and bubblegum pink hair.
"Wotcher Harry!" She greeted him cheerfully.
"Uhh, do I know you?"
"Well, I know you. Gimme a moment, yeah?" With that, she talked with Tom, the owner and barkeep of the Leaky Cauldron, and came back to Harry with the key to his room. She put her hand on his back and pushed him up the stairs and led him to his room. Upon entering Harry was immediately greeted be a hoot that made him grin widely.
"Hedwig!" He held his arm up for her to land, an invitation which she accepted gladly. He fondly stroked her favorite spot on the top of her head. "How've you been, girl?"
She gave another hoot and fondly nipped his finger. "I missed you too."
"One smart bird you have there, Harry. She was here before we were. Professor Dumbledore said she's yours, so we let her be."
"Thank you." Harry answered. "But seriously. Who are you?"
"Oh, yeah." She smiled sheepishly. Then she turned and put a silencing charm and privacy charm on the room. "I'm Tonks. Auror trainee. Alastor Moody- my boss- and I found you after you got attacked. Our werewolf alarms notified us of an attack." She sat down on his bed and motioned for him to do the same. "Look, Harry. My boss and I are loyal to Dumbledore. We believe him when he says that You-Know-Who ain't dead yet. We also don't think that all werewolves are savage beasts. But we know what people out there think. So for your sake, we kept quiet and called for the Prof."
"Thank you!" Harry said earnestly. "You saved my life!"
"Oh, tosh!" She waved it off with a slight blush. "But if anyone asks: nothing happened to you. My boss, Dumbledore and I already covered that werewolf alarm thing, Dumbledore said he took you in after that incident with your aunt and covered that underage magic thing. Nothing left for you to worry about, got it?"
"Got it." Harry confirmed.
"Good." Tonks grinned at him. "Now, I've got to go. See you around, mate!" She waved at him before leaving.
Harry looked at Hedwig who now perched on top of the wardrobe. "She's weird, girl. But I like her."
The next few weeks passed in a blur for Harry. His birthday came and passed and he again got lots of presents. From Ron he got a professional cleaning kit for his broom, from Hermione he got new seeker gloves, from Hagrid a book that tried to eat his face and, which came as a pleasant surprise, from Ginny a new set of quidditch shin guards.
He used the free time and freedom he had to work on some homework. A lot of his free time was spent at Fortescue's and he became good friend's with him, as the man knew a lot about the witch burnings, which was a topic of one of his essays. The free ice cream helped too.
Harry also bought himself a new wardrobe. After the events that led to him running out of the Dursley's home he felt disgusted every time he looked at himself in the mirror, wearing their fat son's old clothes. He went out to London to get himself some muggle clothes- but not before he asked the lady working there for help- and then he got some robes at Madam Malkins'.
Occasionally he would stop by at Quality Quidditch Supplies to look at the new Firebolt but decided against buying it. He was still more than adequately equipped with his Nimbus, so it wasn't necessary.
Closing in to full moon, Harry became increasingly more nervous and gittery. He didn't know what to expect and the way Remus described the transformation Harry was scared like never before.
When Remus finally woke him up one morning and poured him a goblet full of the potion it finally really sank in what he had become. He stared at the potion for the longest time until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" Remus asked him.
Harry answered with a shrug at first. "I don't know. This just...makes it real."
The older werewolf gave him a squeeze with a sad smile. "I understand. Believe me. I really wish it wasn't."
All Harry could do was let out a long sigh. He knew he couldn't change it. Lycantropy was not something like a cold that you could heal. It was something he would have to live with for the rest of his life. Might as well start now.
Giving Remus a shaky smile and a nod, they clinked their goblets against the other.
"Cheers." Lupin said with a smirk.
Getting it all down in one go, Harry had to fight to not empty his stomach off the foul tasting potion. He coughed and dry heaved a couple times before giving Remus a teary-eyed and unbelieving look. "I have to drink this bloody stuff another six times this month?!"
Laughing loudly, Remus just shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry Harry, but yes. It's not one of my favorite drinks either."
The next six days passed by and sooner than Harry would have liked it was time for full moon. He felt week already and his muscles, bones and joints ached as if they knew what was to come and prepared for it. Harry also realized that his eyes were more sensetive to light, that his smelling and tasting senses seemed enhanced and all these enhanced senses were giving him a headache.
As dusk was rapidly approaching Remus picked Harry up and, after making sure that Harry had his overnight bag prepared, flooed with him to Dumbledore's office.
They were greeted by the headmaster but there was no time for more than a quick good evening, sir.
Remus led him to the Whomping Willow and picked a long twig to poke the knot, which let the tree come to a standstill.
They went down the tunnel and finally reached the Shrieking Shack.
"Harry, you will have to undress or pretty much everything you wear will tear. Also, put your glasses in your bag for protection."
Harry nodded, though pretty embarrassed that he would have to go starkers.
"If you feel more comfortable, there is another room in the back." Remus pointed out. "But I'd rather be with you for your first transformation."
"No, it's okay. Let me just put my stuff in the back room." Harry said and went there to undress. He put his glasses between a set of clothers and then went back to the center of the Shack. Remus was already ready.
"It is time." Remus said softly. A moment later he convulsed.
For Harry it was the worst pain he ever felt in his life. No broken bones or basilisk venom or touching Quirrel came close. Every nerve ending was on fire, ever muscle. He let out a shout as he saw before his eyes how his hands got bigger and claws appeared. His body felt as if a million needles pierced through his flesh as his skin got covered with pitch black fur. He let out a guttural scream as his face developed a snout, trashing against the wall, his claws digging into the wood and scarring it as he sank into his knees. Another scream escaped him, this one sounding deeper and more canine as his insides shifted and changed, his spine and ribcage readjusted. After what seemed like hours it was finally over. He was still panting, but to his ears it seemed foreign. The deep sound he made with every breath didn't sound like the Harry he was used to.
He shakily got up, bracing himself against the wall. He looked over at Remus and his canine yellow eyes widened a bit at the sight. In front of him stood a towering humanoid wolf in greyish dark brown fur, with large clawed hands and canine back feet. The broad chest and strong thighs, accompanied with the short snout full of lethal teeth would make anyone take a step back. It was simply intimidating.
Remus motioned for him to follow and after a moment's hesitation Harry did just that. Walking on those kind of feet would take some getting used to, but so be it. He would have to eventually.
Once outside Remus went on all four and charged towards the forest. Though walking only on his hind feet was something he struggled a bit at first but running on all fours came almost naturally. He soon caught up with the larger wolf and together they explored the forest.
His animal instincts delighted in the freedom and his enhanced sight and smell made it easy for him to navigate. He darted around like a puppy, following this sound and that smell. After quite some time he heard Remus call for him with a deep bark and he followed it immediately. Once they were both out Harry could sense why he was called. It was time to become human again.
Once they were human again and changed back they went back to the Cauldron. Remus accompanied him up the stairs to his room and they both sat down on his bed.
"So...?" Remus began awkwardly.
Harry pretty much knew what he wanted to ask so went for the straight answer. "I could really do without the changing thing..." He and Remus both chuckled at that. "But...I don't know. With the potion it was like...being me in a different body. It's weird to say it knowing just what we are...but I actually had fun in the forest..." Harry finished sheepishly.
"It's not weird at all."
"It's just...if the world would know just how effective that potion is..." He shrugged helplessly. "But it's also a dangerous line, isn't it, Remus? I mean, just one missed potion, one mistake brewing it..."
"I know, Harry. But think of what you said before: if the world would just understand how much the wolfsbane potion helps...one can only hope that some day that time comes." Getting up from the bed he walked towards the door. "I have to leave now Harry. Use the time to rest until your friends will be here."
Harry got up and have Lupin a hug. "Thank's, Remus. For being there I mean."
"Anytime, Harry."
Soon it was time for his friends to be here. He sat at Fortescue's, eating his ice cream and reading his DADA book, when he heard a shout.
"Harry!" He turned around and saw Hermione walking towards him. He got up from his seat and gave her a hug.
"Hey Hermione, how've you been? How was your summer?"
"Oh, it was so exciting! My parents and I first went to Paris. We visited the Louvre there and the Eiffel Tower. After that we stayed the rest of the time in Nantes. You know, people usually go to more popular cities in France but Nantes is such a delightful city." Hermione kept on gushing as Hermione joined him for an ice cream and Harry just listened. He had to admit, being alone all the time here, as freeing as it was after the time at the Dursleys, got boring and lonely real quick.
"But enough about me! How about you Harry? What did you do? And what are those new clothes and glasses?" Hermione eyed him speculatively. "I have to admit, you do look smart in those and anything is better than your cousin's hand-me-downs."
Harry blushed a little. "Well, uh, thanks I guess." He stammered, knowing it was a neutral compliment from Hermione as they both pretty much filled in as surrogate siblings for each other. Still, it was nice to hear things like that since he rarely was complimented for his looks. "And I kind of blew up my aunt with accidental magic. So I came here, stayed here all the time." He shrugged. "And uh, well. Something happened. But I'm waiting for the others so I only have to tell it once." Harry cleared his throat.
"Harry, are you okay?" Hermione asked, now with worry. "And what do you mean with 'others'? Who else are you waiting for other than Ron?"
"Most of the time, yeah. And, well...Ginny." Harry's cheeks started to blush furiously and he had no idea why.
"Hmm," Was all Hermione said and her eyes narrowed a bit, analyzing him.
"Oi, Harry! Hermione!"
"Thank Merlin," Harry muttered under his breath as he turned around to see the Weasleys come to greet them. He shook hands with Arthur and Percy, got a bone crushing hug from Molly and man-hugs from Ron and the twins. Then came Ginny, who gave him a shy smile and throwing caution to the wind, he gave her a quick hug which made her blush a brilliant red.
He then turned to Arthur and Molly, who both looked at him with raised brows after the exchange with Ginny. He thought best to ignore the rest of the Weasleys. "Umm...Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley...could I borrow Ron and Ginny for a bit? I want to catch up with them and Hermione. We would join you later if that's okay?"
"We could just have lunch at the Cauldron for the time being?" Mr. Weasley spoke to the rest of the family, who all agreed.
"Yeah, that would work." Harry smiled. "We are upstairs in my room when you are ready then."
With that the group walked back to the cauldron, with the eldest Weasleys staying downstairs for lunch as the two youngest followed Harry and Hermione upstairs to his room. As they entered, Harry immediately locked the door.
"Okay, Harry. Spill." Hermione stood there in the middle of the room, arms crossed over her chest, foot tapping impatiently.
"Yeah mate, what's going on? And why'd ask if Ginny could come?"
Ginny just threw her brother a venomous look.
"Um, because I thought she would appreciate being included. I don't think she enjoys it to always be stuck with your parents with you, Hermione and me going Merlin knows where, Fred and George disappearing and honestly, who wants to hang with Percy?" He glanced at Ginny and felt oddly pleased with himself as she threw him a beaming smile. "We are the closest to her age, so..." He merely shrugged awkwardly.
"Thank you, Harry. I really appreciate it." The redhead girl smiled at him.
"That's so thoughtful Harry!" Hermione gushed. "I'm really proud of you. And another girl in our group would be so nice!" The bushy haired girl sat next to Ginny and pulled her into a quick hug.
"Yeah, alright, whatever. So what's going on with you? Why'd you drag us up here when there's food down there?" Ron pointed towards the door.
"Okay." Harry nodded. He sat down on the floor, facing the other three, who sat on his bed. "Did you guys hear about a recent werewolf attack? Last month?"
"Yeah, dad told us about it yesterday. In Little something...somewhere..."
"It's Little Whinging, Ron." Harry helped him.
Hermione gasped. "That's where your family lives, Harry!"
"Blimey!" Ron shouted. "Did you see it?"
"Yeah." Harry nodded. "Up close, really."
He glanced at Ginny, who remained quiet, up until now. "It bit you, didn't it?" She whispered.
The other two stared at him. "Please tell me that isn't true, Harry." Hermione urged him.
Harry just gulped audibly, before answering in a shaky voice. "It is. I...got infected. With lycantropy."
His vision suddenly went red, as a little cannonball, that smelled like spring flowers, with incredibly strong arms hugged him. "I don't care about it Harry! I won't turn on you!" Ginny said. When she pulled away from the hug, she looked him in the eyes and gave him a smile.
Never knew Ginny had such pretty eyes...like chocolate...or caramel, Harry mused as she went to sit back on his bed.
"And you two better don't turn your backs on him either!" Ginny threatened Ron and Hermione, but only really narrowed her eyes at Ron, who looked slightly pale.
"Of course not! I would never do that." Hermione exclamed. "Besides, I am sure there is something to help you with, Harry. I will definitely do some research."
"Mate..." Ron spoke up for the first time since Harry's revelation. "I'll stand by you with this, but...I will need some time to get used to this. This is really huge and well..."
"I can understand that, Ron." Harry nodded, but couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
"When did it happen, Harry?" Ginny asked.
She has a sweet voice, too. "Umm..." Harry cleared his throat. "Mid-July I think."
"That's..." Hermione began before suddenly her eyes got wide. "That means you already had a full moon, Harry! Did you find somewhere safe?"
Harry nodded. "I was brought to Hogwarts by the Aurors who found me," Harry began, "and Dumbledore introduced me to a close friend of my dad's who also happens to be a werewolf. He helped me a lot and we spent my transformation in the Forbidden Forest and the Shrieking Shack."
Ron perked up at that. "The Shrieking Shack? How...?"
"There's a secret tunnel underneath the Whomping Willow that leads there. Apparently he spent his transformations there when he still went to Hogwarts."
"So that's why everyone says it's haunted..." Ron mused.
"How was it?" Ginny asked with a blush. "The transformation I mean."
Harry smiled at her to show her it was okay. He wanted- no, he needed to share this. Remus was a huge help, but it was something else entirely to share this burden of his with his closest friends...and the newest addition who was very close to becoming part of that circle of friends. "It was the most horrible and painful thing I have ever experienced in my life and getting beaten be the Willow will always be the better option than having to change again." Harry said bluntly. Like Remus said: no point in sugarcoating it.
The other three paled at that description.
"Is it really so bad?" Hermione asked in a shaky voice. "I mean, I can understand if you say it's extremely painful but...so painful?"
"I promise you, Hermione...not even Malfoy is someone I'd wish that upon. Not even Voldemort. And he is the one who killed my family."
"Blimey..." Ron muttered.
"Remus said it's worse when it's your first and when you are still young but it's never not extremely painful." Harry shrugged. "And Hermione," the bushy haired girl looked up. "About that research...there's not really anything you can do. The best would be the wolfsbane potion but I already know about it and took it."
"Oh? What does it do?" Hermione asked.
"It helps to keep your human mind when transforming. For me it was like...I was still me but in a different body with different instincts. You are not a wild beast anymore."
"But that's amazing!" Hermione clasped her hands excitedly. "Will you get it in school?"
"Snape will make it for me and Remus." Harry nodded. At their questioning looks, Harry added. "He only hinted at it but I think he will get a teaching position. Probably DADA."
"Well...looks like Dumbledore got it all figured out." Ron added.
"Yeah." Harry nodded.
"We will stay by you, mate. Don't worry. Just...give us some time to adjust to this."
Smiling, Harry nodded again. He just hoped it wouldn't take too long for them.
AN: I edited this. Sorry about that whole bunch of spelling mistakes and stuff. I wrote this on my mobile after waking up after working night shift. The result was, well, to be expected I guess. And for whatever reason, after saving my documents the word ' ' just vanishes. Weird stuff. I hope it will be there this time.