THE VEIL
Chapter 7
16th January 1976 – Messer's Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs
Just like that Hermione was back in the grey. She cried in anguish, her heart feeling more bruised as the grey swirled around her. The whispering faded away to nothing as she curled herself into a tight ball, her sobs racking through her. No she didn't regret the life that she saved; she was scared of the feelings that were churning through her for that life. The grey darkened around her but she had shut her eyes to it all, the grey reminding her too much of a pair of silver grey eyes.
Hermione came awake slowly. She knew wasn't in the veil anymore. A deep growl to her right snapped her eyes open wide awake. The room was dark, draughty and in disrepair. A pair of yellow eyes stared at her through the darkness. Hermione sat up slowly, her eyes adjusting to the darkness she began to make out shapes in the darkness; broken dresser, slats over the window and small silver beams of light shining through onto a crouching form. Werewolf. The Shrieking Shack.
Hermione's heart stopped then began thudding loudly in her chest. The wolf's ears twitched at the sound. My, what big ears you have she thought as terror swiftly chilled her veins. She saw his muzzle bare its teeth and growl at her again, shifting the weight on its paws. My, what large teeth you have, her traitorous brain continued to recite in her head. She couldn't move, almost entranced by the yellow eyes. Knowing where she was, he would be upon her before she reached the door. She heard movement below and watched as the werewolf turned at the sound, the hackles on his back rising, its deep growl rumbling around the room.
Another growl echoed through the house. The werewolf began to move towards the door, treating her as no threat. A bark made her jump out of her skin and a whimper escaped from her. The sound stopped the werewolf. He turned back towards her, stalking forwards slowly. The wolf now had her completely trapped. Silent tears slid down her face. Another bark shattered through the house, and growls grew louder. Hermione flinched, whimpering again.
Behind the wolf a black shadow crept through the doorway. The werewolf sniffed and turned sharply. The growls erupting from both canines rattled the windows. The black dog snapped at the wolf as it began edging around the room to reach her. Hermione could only look on in horror as the wolf lunged itself at the dog. As the wolf lunged, a stag burst through the door, head down charged, catching the wolf tossing him against the wall. In the moment of confusion the dog had slipped past the wolf biting the hem of Hermione's skirt and pulling her. Her brain was still not cooperating to get her to get up into action to flee the room. Hermione's eyes still locked on the stag which was now keeping the wolf cornered. The dog whined, and pulled her skirt again.
Tearing her eyes away and finding the exit clear, adrenaline kicked in and she scrambled to her feet. The dog seeing that she was moving let go of her skirt running around her pushing her to the door causing her to stagger forwards. Her movements were not lost on the wolf, which howled and tried again to make a break past to hunt her down.
Finally finding her voice she screamed, running almost blindly as tears ran freely. She bounced off the wall at the top of the landing by the stairs. Her feet stumbled on the stairs and the sounds of scuffling and barking and loud thuds became louder as the wolf tried to break free of the room. Hermione looked over her shoulder, as the wolf got free and roared. Her actions caused her to miss a stair, falling clear down the last five steps, her head smashed into the wall. Everything went black.
Peter morphed into existence next to Hermione's prone form, grabbing her arm and pulling it over his shoulder, lifting her up. He looked briefly at the top of the stairs and watched as Sirius in his dog form leap onto Remus, attempting to distract him away from Hermione and Peter. Readjusting her as best he could, Peter dragged Hermione, towards the tunnel. Struggling with the weight of her as he was so slight meant it was a painfully slow process, sweat beading on his forehead. Behind him the sound of running was getting closer. With a burst of adrenaline he tightened his grip on Hermione, staggering faster towards the tunnels exit.
"Pete!" James voice called as he ran down the tunnel catching up with his friend easily. James a good head and shoulders than his friend scooped up Hermione easily out of Peter's arms, cradling her against him, as they kept moving down the tunnel. The sounds of barking and howls behind them urging them on faster.
"Better change" James grunted to Peter, who dashed ahead shrinking until a rat ran on in place of the boy, with the mouse brown hair. James emerged nodding to the rat that had his front paws on the knot of the whomping willow. As soon as James was clear of the branches the rat bounded after them, morphing back into the form of Peter; he jogged alongside as they made their way to the castle.
"Will Sirius, be OK?" he panted. James looked at his friend and slowed his pace a little.
"Yeah," he replied heavily, "He had Remy, distracted enough that I could follow and had a temporary shield at the entrance in case the wolf changed his mind."
They slowly climbed the steps to the front entrance; and sneaking back into the castle. By some miracle they managed to avoid the patrols as they wended their way up to the Gryffindor common room. Even luckier were they that there was no one in the common room as James, now struggling a little with Hermione deposited her onto a couch by the fire as gently as possible, before collapsing onto the floor himself leaning against the arm, exhaustion replacing the adrenaline.
Peter ran up to their dormitory room, coming back down with a basin of water and a cloth, setting it down and gently began cleaning the cut on Hermione's forehead. James looked over to Peter and smiled wearily, "Peter, you are a bloody hero, you know that? Shifting to human in the presence of a werewolf on a rampage! Wait - change that you're not a hero. You are bloody crazy!"
Peter slid down next to him, having finished all he could in cleaning up the cut replied, "Well I couldn't just leave her," stretching out his legs before him.
"But what in Godric's name? She wasn't there one minute and then there she was. Just lying there on Remy's monthly bed," Shaking his head in disbelief of the nights events.
James just nodded silently, remembering what Sirius had said about his "mystery princess" flitting in and out of his life, he knew his best friend didn't make it up but, seeing it happen when there was a werewolf on the loose, well that was something that took a little to digest, added onto the fact that she now potentially knew their secret. A groan from the couch pulled the two boys from their thoughts as Hermione moved her hand to her head to feel the tender bump that developed. She looked around slowly recognising one of the two faces that her slightly blurred vision focused on.
"Harry!" She gasped. Hermione clutched her head at the thumping pain from her fall, groaning again she shut her eyes struggling to remember what happened before she was knocked out. The boys looked sideways at each other, James mouthing to Peter, "Who the hell is Harry?" who mouthed back "How should I know?"
It all came rushing back, and she sat bolt upright eyes wide in fear.
"Your safe now Hermione. Easy now, your head was bumped pretty hard." James soothed as he watched her eyes unfocused slightly and swayed. He eased her back down and her eyes fluttered closed, passed out.
"Do you think we should take her to the hospital wing James? She doesn't look good." Peter asked, staring at Hermione's pale face.
James frowned, "I don't think that is a good idea, Petey; unless you want to explain to Minnie and Dumbledore why there is a girl who doesn't go to school here ended up with concussion on the school grounds, on the full moon." He settled back down thinking. Peter grabbed James's arm, struck with an idea, "How about we procure what he need to help her? Bring the hospital wing to her per say?" James nodded at the plan but made no move to get up, his limbs heavy. Scrambling to get up, Peter looked down to James, asked urgently, "Where's your cloak?"
James pointed to the dormitory door, head rested back against the arm, replied "In my trunk – no wait, it'll probably be in Sirius's I think he had it last, when he was trying to sneak into Ravenclaw's common room."
James watched as Peter dashed back up the stairs to their dorm room. Coming back down the stairs James watched his friend don the cloak and disappear from view.
"Be back shortly," Peter's voice sounded, the portrait opening and closing as if on its own accord. James sighed and looked around. The common room really was not the best place to be in when people started to wake up. Groaning he stood, gently lifting her and carrying her up the stairs to their dorm room.
The first thing Hermione noted was when she came to consciousness the pain in her head had dulled to a manageable ache, opening her eyes she found herself staring at the canopy of a four poster bed. Feeling her head again her fingers came into contact with a sticky substance. Pulling her hand away, she realised it was a healing balm. The second thing was the hushed talking between four males, bickering.
"I refuse. If you call me that I will blow your bollocks off." Hermione recognised James voice. Three other voices sniggered.
"Oh come on Bambi! Sulking about it won't change the fact you're trying to call me, Lassie." Sirius replied, growling the last word.
"But why would I want to be called Bambi? His mother bloody died in the first five minutes of the film." James argued.
"I wish my mother died after the first five minutes of being home." Sirius grumbled. Hermione chose this moment to sit up, pushing herself back against the headboard for support.
"Well good morning princess," Sirius smirking at her. He was sitting, gazing at her from the foot of his bed leaning against one of the posts. His legs were propped up against the other, with a sketch book opened on his lap and a pencil tucked behind his ear.
"How are you feeling?" James asked concerned. He, Peter and Remus, all sat on the bed on her left.
Hermione smiled faintly, "Much better, thank you."
James shoved Peters shoulder, "He is the one you should be thanking. I'm still undecided whether it was the bravest or stupidest thing you have ever done."
Sirius snorted. "Definitely the Stupidest."
"Maybe stupid and brave" Said Remus quietly.
He had a blanket around him, knees drawn tight across his heard, staring at Hermione with a haunted expression. They lapsed into silence; Sirius had taken his pencil from his ear and started drawing. As the silence began to strain Remus drew a breath; "Hermione," he asked tentatively, "How much do you remember from last night?"
Hermione looked down at her hands. From her own past she knew them and what they were; three animagus and a werewolf. She heard the tales of most of their escapades on the full moon. However, her own memories of last night were rather hazy. Mostly from after she bumped her head, she had no real recollection. Looking back up, all three were watching her, waiting for her answer. Turning directly to Remus she whispered "Enough."
Remus groaned drawing his head to his knees. "This day can't be happening" he moaned. Peter patted him on the back gently comforting his friend.
"When you say enough..?" James asked His brow creased in a frown, leaning forward slightly his gaze not leaving her face.
Her eyes moved to James, "I know what you are," She said softly, "What you all are."
James stood up swearing, he began pacing, kicking his trunk, "Fuck!"
Hermione looked back down at her hands, she spoke softly. "Remus, I don't blame you on what happened last night."
Remus looked up his eyes now red rimmed and his cheeks wet "I could have killed you!" He cried, "I'm a Monster!"
Hermione pulled her feet over the edge of the bed and stood up. A wave of dizziness threatened to knock her back down and Peter's hand shot out to steady her. She moved and sat where Peter had just vacated looking at Remus's quivering form. Combing a hand through his hair, "I have a friend that is a werewolf." She spoke quietly, just to him, gently letting her fingers slip through his hair.
"He is one of the kindest, compassionate and intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure to meet." Remus's body had stopped trembling. She continued to comb her fingers through his hair.
"You are not a monster Remus. You never have been. Torturing yourself over what may haves, and the what if's will not help anyone, least of all you. Transforming into a werewolf once a month does not stop a man for the rest of the month. Nor should it stop you."
Squeezing his shoulder gently she looked up, noticing that all three were watching her. Sirius had his head turned to the side, as if considering something. She stood again, this time the dizziness made her legs buckle. Four pairs of hands caught her, and helped her back to the bed, tucking blankets around her getting her some water, books and in Remus case, pulled out a block of Honeydukes chocolate to share.
"Wow. Hermione, do you realise that until today Remus has NEVER shared so much as a square of chocolate?" Sirius asked taking a bite straight off the block instead of breaking off a piece, causing the others to protest of Sirius slobbering on the whole bar.
"Really?" she asked as she nibbled the piece she had been handed.
"Yep, threatens pain of death if we are even caught in the vicinity of his stash." Peter added.
The boys had settled around her, enjoying the easy companionship. Remus had pulled out homework and was working on it, on his bed with the lion's share of the chocolate. Peter was reading from a text book, occasionally making a note on a piece of parchment. James was sprawled on the floor tossing and catching a tennis ball, humming softly. Sirius, stretched at the foot of her bed continued to draw. Hermione had a suspicion it was her as he kept glancing towards her as he worked.
He glanced up at her again. She raised a quizzical brow, asked "What is it Lassie? Timmy stuck down the well again?"
The others burst out laughing, Hermione joined in as Sirius growled, "My nickname will NOT be that stupid dog!"
James sat up taking off his glasses to wipe tears from his eyes. Putting his glasses back on, he looked up at his friend.
"Well we should all agree on something. We have been stuck on this dilemma longer than who would kiss Marlene McKinnon first." He said.
"Don't remind me. I can't believe I lost that one to Remy." Sirius groaned, leaning dramatically back against Hermione's knees, she had drawn up to support the book she had been idly reading.
"Wasn't the only thing I beat you at with her either." Remus declared, not looking up from his notes. His cheeks tinged pink slightly, and grew worse when he glanced at Hermione, who didn't know whether she should be scandalised or amused. Peter focusing on the original issue, "Well what if we all write a name and have Hermione pull one from the hat for each of us?"
Hermione swallowed hard. They were going to entrust her with the choice of the nicknames they grew up with. She squirmed a little; she could not be in control of that power. Names were powerful. And these nickname in her past were extremely powerful. However it didn't seem to Hermione that she had a choice on the matter. Parchment was passed around and quartered by each of them. Each had scribbled a name, one for themselves and one for each of them. Sirius summoned their school hats directing names according whose name was on the lining of the hat. Once everyone had added a name, the hats moved towards Hermione, her eyes widening in panic. This could not be how they each got their famous nicknames she thought absently. She tried to think back if anyone had asked the future Remus and Sirius about it, and finding that, no; no one had or that they never disclosed their nickname origins. Noting that all four of them were waiting on Hermione she took a breath and plunged her hand into the first hat, which happened to be for James.
She felt for the parchment and drew a shaking hand out holding a folded square. Her hands shook as she attempted to unfold the paper. She was about to be the one to give Harry's dad his nickname. She felt sick to the stomach. She looked at James, who looked so much like her best friend, before reading the name written in neat script on the paper.
"Prongs," she whispered, letting out a huge breath of air she didn't realise she was holding.
"Prongs" She repeated louder, she handed the paper to James.
"Beats Bambi!" He grinned.
She took a deep breath and plunged her hand into the next hat, this time for Peter. Her hands still shaking she pulled out another square of paper. Unfolding it she read the name. She reread it.
"Well?" Peter asked eagerly.
"W-wormtail." She croaked out. Peter's face fell slightly as she handed the square to him, he had hoped for something more spectacular.
Two down two to go, Hermione reached into Remus's hat. Remus gave her a smile of encouragement as she pulled out another square. She dropped the parchment onto her lap as she tried to open it. She picked it up and opened it. Sighing out a smile she looked up at him.
"Hello Moony. It suits you."
Remus summoned the paper over and read it before looking at Sirius, "Had to be you didn't it?"
Sirius sat up smirking, "Not me mate, The Princess hath decreed it to be so."
Hermione blushed slightly and reached into the last hat. She had gone slightly pale, this cannot be the way their nicknames were picked, she thought, as she pulled out one last piece of folded parchment. She unfolded the paper looking at the name on it.
She looked up at Sirius and grinned, "Oh Lassie, who's a good boy?"
The others fell about laughing.
"WHAT?" He shouted. He rolled over snatching the parchment from her lap, reading it as she dissolved into giggles.
"Padfoot. It says Padfoot, you devious little witch." He glared amusedly at Hermione as they all dissolved into laughter again. Sirius standing coughed for attention.
"And so, let it be noted that we are now Messer's Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs. So it is decreed, by the fair and gorgeous Princess Hermione." He bowed extravagantly before them, the others politely breaking into applause.
"Actually she technically decreed you as Lassie." Remus said amusement in his eyes as Sirius growled again, "Over my dead body."
Hermione immediately stopped laughing her face going white as a sheet as she stared at Sirius. Laughter faded as the others noticed Hermione's reaction. James stood up, gesturing to Remus and Peter, "Lunch?"
The other two nodded, waving quick goodbye disappeared out the door. Remus shut it quietly behind him as Sirius moved to lie next to Hermione, resting above the covers, head resting on his hand.
"So I am guessing, that the bump on the head is not the reason you're shaking like a leaf?" He asked frowning slightly. Hermione slowly shook her head, her hands were twisting painfully. Sirius moved his free hand over them stilling her movements, pulling one to his lips kissing her each of knuckles softly, eyes locked on hers; his thumb rubbing lazy circles on the back of her hand. When her trembling stopped, and some of the colour came back to her cheeks he sat up, her had still against his mouth.
"Rest princess." He spoke softly to her knuckles, his breath caressing the back of her hand. Hermione's other hand came up to her mouth covering a yawn.
She settled into the pillows. She watched him as he moved and settle back at the end of the bed, picking up his sketch book and continue to draw. Sighing Hermione fell into a deep sleep.
Night had fallen when Hermione awoke again. An arm around her waist pulled her closer to another slumbering form; she opened her eyes to find Sirius nuzzled against as he slept. Moonlight washed over his features; his face as peaceful and carefree as he was when he was five, when she first stumbled out into his past. Hermione slowly moved a hand up and combed away a lock from his face; caressing his face as she did so. At the touch he rolled his face into her hand, a moan escaping from his lips. The sound mingled with a whispering that drew slowly around them, the wind ruffling the curtains and their hair. Hermione sighed and leaned forward as the wind swept her into the veil. Sirius awoke with in an empty bed and a feeling of soft lips on his forehead. He rolled on his back and stared at the canopy, wishing to the moon that she would stay.
