Disclaimer: It all belongs to J.K. Rowling, only the original plot and characters are mine. No money is being made.
Summary: A howl tears through the crisp night air. The boy cowers in terror. The hunt is on.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay between updates: life has been hetic lately! And here is the conclusion ladies and gentlemen.
The Bite of the Werewolf – Part Two
The afternoon drew on, the sun sailing across the blue sky to dip beyond the western horizon. The bluely haze changed subtly to a sheen of golds, oranges and pinks. Into this perfection came a more ominous note, converting the harmony to a sour tune.
Sensing this mutation the tall man bent down, clasping the top of his coat close to his neck. His footsteps were hurried, kicking up a slight dust on the loose stone path he travelled. Soon the sun would set and he had to collect Remus before that happened. Today the moon was destined to rise only minutes after the sun went to her rest.
Abruptly the scenery changed. Startled the man slowed, glancing around him in confusion. What was going on? In the distance a bird released a shrill cry, shattering the unusual hush. Jonathon drew back alarmed at what he saw. A mist was creeping over the landscape, crawling ever nearer his position, obscuring features as it passed.
Knowledge burst into his chest with the painful alacrity of a knife wound. This was no ordinary mist, no ordinary fog, for the white cloud was now very thick and floating in the atmosphere. This was meant to slow him down, delay him from reaching Remus. How he knew this Jonathon could not understand, but he did, and a panic settled into his soul.
Yet all he could do was come to almost a halt, as the fluffy sheet threw a pall over his vision. Jonathon was forced to edge forwards, peering into the undulating body as it surrounded him in a world of damp iciness. Time was everything, but haste was unattainable. Jonathon struggled onwards, his focus on the boy he promised his sister he would protect.
0-0-0-0
Remus anxiously gazed out of the window, searching with increasing desperation his uncle. There was still no sight of him. Remus paced the classroom nervously, brain awhirl with black scenarios.
His uncle should have been here over an hour ago, his mother was not responding to his telephone calls and the sun was rapidly sinking. The boy understood that he had to be home before the full moon ascended, but it seemed that if he waited for his errant uncle he would not be able to keep his promise.
The sun disappeared, the scarlet glow remaining for an eerie moment. Twilight descended. He could stay no longer. Decision reached Remus Lupin squared his shoulders, and clutching at his rucksack straps with white knuckles, he raced off into the glowing world, racing to reach home before evil caught him.
0-0-0-0
Fenrir Greyback stretched out his aching legs, positioning himself close to the shrubbery. His pack had dealt with the pesky Muggle so there was no reason to fear an interruption of plans from that quarter. Another pack member had contacted him only a minute ago to report on the boy's position. He was coming.
A hungry grin plastered on his face Fenrir Greyback crouched down, waiting for the transformation and his quarry.
0-0-0-0
The cotton clung to his arms and legs, pouring into his mouth and down his throat, suffocating him with its freezing embrace. Battling the effects Jonathon gave a particularly powerful surge of energy, darting forward into… into a clear environment. Gasping with relief Jonathon stumbled a few paces, bending over, hands on knees as he regained breath.
Then as he straightened his eyes registered the complete darkness, only broken by the stars and one other object. The full moon hung, pinned to the obsidian mantle of sky, its fatness radiating smugness.
A chill dread settled in his heart. How long had the moon been up? The twilight was entirely gone, but that could mean anything. Scared and determined Jonathon felt a new certainty enter his numbed mind.
Remus was no longer at the school. Remus would have gone directly when he realised that his uncle was not coming, trying to uphold his promise to his mother about being indoors ere the full moon rose in the firmament.
His nephew was now somewhere on the perilous path between here and home, between danger and safety.
Brushing off the remaining clinging strands Jonathon began to run. The uttermost need drove him causing Jonathon to run as if the Devil himself was snapping at his heels.
0-0-0-0
Remus Lupin breathed through his nose to try and keep his stamina up. In front was the lonely stretch of country lane he had to journey to reach the relative safety of his house. Trembling with fright and tiredness he approached warily, sick to his belly.
Entering the semi-tunnel of trees and hedges Remus winced as the light became almost nil. The only illumination now came from the fat moon whose silvery rays penetrated the gloom. Everything looked distorted in the ghostly light, demons reaching out to seize him. The end of the path was swallowed by the darkness.
Thoroughly unnerved Remus dashed down the path, feet producing too much noise for his liking. Then the stillness of the night was broken by a long rising cry, which pierced the air as an arrow from a bow. Coming to a shuddering halt Remus peered about fearfully – what creature had made that noise?
To his straining ears a steady growling became apparent, intensifying in volume until it seemed to be emanating from behind the bush nearest to him. Frozen Remus stared in the direction of the fearsome sounds, eyes glued helplessly to the grey spot.
The leaves shook as if some great beast was pushing its way thorough the resisting branches. Then, in the pool of moonlight, Remus Lupin saw what was causing the racket and his blood congealed in his veins.
The creature wasn't big it was gigantic. A long pointed snout sniffed the air, as if it was scenting him. A massive body sleek and long tapered to a bushy tail. Powerful muscles could be seen rippling under the furry coat. Athletic legs cumulated in huge paws decorated with razor sharp claws.
It was impossible to define the colour of the fur in the grey background, but Remus Lupin knew at what he was gazing. A werewolf. The burning golden eyes focused on him confirmed that fact, an all too human gleam to the glowing pools.
A mouth opened displaying long pristine white teeth, coated with saliva, the werewolf using a pink tongue to lick his chops. Then the yellow eyes met his brown and Remus Lupin was terrified at what he saw in them.
Out of the pits shone malice so strong it tore the very oxygen from his lungs. This being meant to kill him he was sure. Understanding he couldn't reach the tortured human within Remus Lupin crouched down, picking up some of the loose stones.
Under the watchful gaze of the werewolf he rose slowly. At the last possible minute he flung his dusty package, shooting away into the dreadful night, unheeding of the furious screams.
Even the most courageous man will run when he knows the Devil's minion is aboard and he is its prey. Remus Lupin fled into the night, racing away from the monster, which howled in delight at the pursuit.
The hunt had begun.
0-0-0-0
Jonathon skidded to a halt as the wavering howls of the beast filled the night air. The terrible cries could surely only come from a demon and not some animal of Earth?
Shaking off the intruding consideration Jonathon changed direction, heading to where the nerve-jangling bellows originated.
0-0-0-0
Remus ran blindly, chest screaming in torment at each breath he took, the air blades to his weary lungs. Leaves slapped him on the face as he pushed past the overhanging braches, cuts flowing freely. Feet became entangled in roots and dead litter. The darkness was complete.
Behind him Remus could hear the thundering destruction of the beast, its howls and grunts rising in volume as it gained. Sobbing in abject terror he stumbled on, begging silently for mercy, for someone to come and save him.
No one answered his pleas. Instead he burst through the next set of bruising trees to emerge on a road devoid of life. Brilliant moonlight highlighted the blackness.
Slowing as his legs began to give way to the utter exhaustion and despair he felt Remus staggered down the concrete surface aware that he could go no further, that the beast would easily catch him in the open – and the worst thing? He could not risk going back to the wood, as he knew not from which direction the werewolf would appear.
Weakly he came to a halt, slumping to the ground, barely able to breathe. Twisting around he was in time to witness the hulking form of the man-wolf loom over him.
It had been on his heels all along. It had been playing with him as a cat does with its captured prey.
Remus closed his eyes against the rising tears as he realised that there had never been a chance of escape.
Hot air blew over him as the tearing teeth engulfed his shoulder. Molten white pain shot up to his head and he screamed at the torture.
Then… suddenly… a bang ripped apart the night.
Shouting drifted through the fog of pain. The iron jaws released their deadly grip. Gentle hands were touching him.
Overcome by his agonising ordeal Remus welcomed the abyss.
0-0-0-0
A room of blinding white edged with even whiter sheets – an incandescent glow that gradually faded to a more tolerable brightness.
Remus stirred weakly, the blurry lines beside his bed resolving into sharp focus. An exhausted smile tugged at the white lips, for there on the table stand stood a vase of beautiful flowers, the mixed blues, whites and yellows blending to form a wave of heart-lifting colour. His favourite flowers, each stem a study in perfection, three different species of Lupin. He wondered what was the celebration.
Feebly turning his head he gasped at the stab of pain, which flashed, fiercely up his left shoulder, travelling up the left side of his neck. His movement and subsequent cry had alerted the sleeping figure by the stark bed that now awoke, releasing a joyful sob when they found him conscious.
"Oh, John!" cried the woman in low tones, "he is awake!"
There was the sound of hurried footsteps then his father loomed into view, a healer beside him. They both wore serious expressions tinged with sadness. Dread coiled in Remus' belly and he struggled to speak – struggled to remember.
Strong hands raised his head, pulling him upwards, arranging pillows so he could sit up with aid. A cool glass of clear water was pressed to his mouth and Remus drank, suddenly terribly thirsty. Finished he slumped back, muscles weak as putty, head straining to answer the increasingly worrisome question: why was he in hospital and why did the three faces staring at him look so grim and fearful? Remus had the sinking suspicion that the two were connected.
"Do you remember what happened?" asked his father in low gravely tones.
Remus closed his eyes as the gentle voice encouraged his memories of the recent past to surface.
Darkness with only the round moon granting any illumination. The blood freezing howls echoing all around, sounding as if they came straight from hell. Then the low, menacing growls – a massive, slinking shadow drawing nearer. Then…then bright yellow eyes of pure evil gleaming in the sliver-white light. Lips drawn back over long, sharp white fangs dripping with saliva. Excruciating pain, a shout, and then utter blackness.
Opening brown orbs full of tears Remus stared up into the questioning faces.
"I'm…I'm…I'm a werewolf aren't I?" he whispered in horror and not a little denial. Pleading eyes begged his parents to tell him that the awful truth was in actual fact a lie. The grief stricken features told him otherwise. Feeling a build up in his chest of clashing emotions Remus shrank back on the pillows, small face grey with knowledge.
His uncle appeared at his father's left shoulder face drawn with remorse. Blue eyes met his and the amount of anguish and self-recrimination in the once lively eyes staggered Remus.
"I am so very sorry Remus," he whispered, "I am so very sorry that I didn't reach you I time. I – I was too slow. Forgive me." He broke down crying in terrible misery.
Appalled at the change in the once strong man Remus blurted,
"There was nothing you could do surely Uncle? Why blame yourself?"
A bitter smile.
"I was meant to protect you nephew – instead I not only allow you to get bitten but permit that monster to escape. What is the point of winning gun man of the year when I can't even shoot my intended target dead?"
Jonathon turned to leave, broken with guilt. Remus cried after the retreating man,
"Uncle Johnny! Please… you'll come back? I need you… Please don't go, don't abandon me when I need you most."
Squeezing his eyes shut Jonathon gasped past his tears, "I'll return, but now I have matters to attend to Remus. Bye."
"Bye," replied Remus in a small voice.
Remus stared after his uncle until he disappeared from sight, shifting his gaze then to his father who also looked contrite.
"I'm sorry son," rasped his father. "I'm so very sorry. It is all my fault."
Remus could not understand for the life of him why his father should assume responsibility for this tragedy. It was not as if he had told the werewolf to bite him! Bewildered he watched as his father turned inquisitive eyes on the healer, hope and desperation intermingled in his voice as he asked – pleaded, "Is there nothing you can do? Nothing to lessen the pain of transformation?"
The healer gazed steadily at John, sorrow evident even as she answered.
"There is nothing that modern medicine can do Mr. Lupin. Werewolves are very much on their own. I am sorry."
His mother's sobs increased in volume, her song of despair filling the ward. Remus struggled to come to terms with the brutal cold truth of his predicament. Feeling tears well up in his eyes he quickly gazed out of the window, fighting to keep his demeanour.
An hour passed and the healer simply waited, allowing the family to regain some sense of control as they adjusted to the terrible, life-shattering news. At last Remus closed his eyes, at peace with his condition, accepting that further denial or fear of the facts would not benefit anyone – especially his well being – in the long run.
He fixed glassy eyes on the watchful healer, a tint of wolf gold already blending into the beautiful brown, as if he could change her words by will alone.
The healer observed the wrought features of the boy, which reflected the woe of his parents, yet which held a serenity that neither of his parents could attempt to master at the moment. When he beckoned her she answered. Once bending down he breathed, his voice barely reaching her ears, "Am I a danger to my parents?"
She had to answer him, even if her words caused him distress.
"Yes, especially tonight. It is the last night of full moon so we must all be careful."
He nodded then moved his head so that his lips brushed her cheek.
"Show me."
The words held strength in them that she was astonished to hear. How could he be so strong so soon after such a dreadful event? Shocked at his valour she fetched a mirror, tenderly removing the bandages so that he could see the reflection of his injuries. Remus never flinched; instead an almost severe expression flowed onto the grey face, brown-gold eyes seizing hers with their indomitable spirit.
Steadily, as if his words were coming from far away, he addressed his weeping parents and guilt-ridden father.
"Mum, dad?" John and Mary glanced up at their son who seemed to be floating in another world.
"You must go soon. The moon shall be up soon-" a peek out of the window confirmed this statement, "-and I don't want you to witness my transformation."
"But son!" protested his father.
Remus cut him off. "No, daddy. I am scared, but I have to do this alone – I, I couldn't bear it if I knew you were both watching lost in pain and fear. Please, daddy, take mum home. I'll be fine. Tomorrow is another day and we can talk then."
The healer closed her eyes. How could such a lovely, brave boy be bitten?
A silent agreement reached the parents got up, bidding their son goodbye with tearful farewells, entrusting their son's care to her.
Golden eyes met hers, canines rapidly becoming fangs, hair lengthening. A mouth bristling with teeth opened to reveal a very pink tongue.
"Get me away from herrre," came the growl. "I can't hold on for much longerrrr…"
Alarmed at the speed of the transformation Sally Green hastened to the boy, scooping the child up into her protective arms. Within moments they had the boy secured in a padded room, curled up on himself.
0-0-0-0
Inside the dull room Remus dug his nails cum claws into the soft material as the change swept his body.
Very soon the screams began.