Of Werewolf and Man

here's some vanishing floors for Vellouette!


"A Wolfsbane Potion," repeated Fred and George in unison, their voices flat.

Harry nodded. "And, well, some ingredients and an instruction book to go with it, if you can, please."

The twins exchanged a look indecipherable before locking Harry's eyes again, this time their face full of concern.

"Erm," remembering what Lupin had said, Harry added awkwardly, "you can always take money out of my Gringotts account if things get too expensive… I know with the war, business can't be booming and all…"

"Did he bite you?"

Harry stared. "What?"

"Lupin," Fred pointed a finger at the direction where the man had gone minutes ago, "did he bite you?"

Harry blinked at the strange question, then realised and laughed. "No, no! The potion's not for me! It's for Remus."

The twins exchanged another look, this time out of curiosity. Harry explained simply, "Snape used to make the potion for him. And it's very expensive to be purchased."

George snorted softly. "I can't believe Dumbledore gave Snape the chance to poison Lupin every month… and yes, it is quite expensive."

"But, you know us, Harry," Fred announced brightly, patting Harry's arm. "There's nothing we can't get for The One!"

"Shut up or I'll tell Ron about the garden rat you cooked in his soup – and you told him - what was it, penguin meat?"

"A rare delicacy indeed - " Fred began sweetly, but was cut short by a loud shriek as a hole suddenly appeared in the ceiling and Ron came crashing through.

"ARRRRRGGGGGH - "

Fred eyed his little brother, who was lying on top of a broken teapot, eyes squeezed shut, shouting and waving fanatically as if Aragog stood before him. George, who was much more practical, took a step closer and slapped him in the face.

"Hello to you too, brother," the twins said pleasantly when Ron finally jolted up and opened his eyes.

"How – what – Harry – I – Fred? George? Did you - "

Harry bit down a laugh as Fred answered most innocently, "We were just having small talk with the Boy-Who-Lived."

"But! I was in the bathroom, and the floor just fell open – it looked like a blackhole! I thought that was it!" Ron's eyes darted around the room as if making sure he wasn't in the afterworld, much to his brothers' amusement.

"Ronald, Ronald," George began, "You are living in the Lair, get used to it, little brother."

Ron opened his mouth to retort, and closed it when he saw Hermione bouncing off the stairs.

"I heard a scream, and then you weren't there – oh Ronald! Whatever happened?"

Ron tried to regain his posture despite the large tea stain on the back of his shirt, and stammered, "um, well, the floor vanished, so I fell through."

"Right on top of Harry's breakfast," supplied his brothers.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Hermione sighed as she surveyed the damage, "Shall I cook you some more, Harry?"

Harry waved his hand just as Ron blurted 'what about me?' and declared that he was full. He gave a final wink to the Weasley twins before retreating upstairs to the quietness in his bedroom, where the owner of the Lair patiently waited.

"It usually takes half a week out of my life," said Lupin abruptly, upon Harry's entering. He sat near the window, staring at the sky – it was once again gloomy and sunless, the shape of the moon hung loosely in the clouds, almost round. Harry noticed that the fireplace was once again in the room, a sign for conversation. He waited for Lupin's explanation, although he thought he knew what the man meant.

"Before there was Wolfsbane Potion, it usually took 4 to 5 days… 2 days before full moon, then 2 days after." Lupin conjured another chair next to his, indicating Harry to sit. As Harry obeyed silently, Lupin glanced at him:

"How much do you know about werewolves, Harry?"

Harry gulped. "Um, not as much as Hermione," he admitted in a small voice.

Lupin smiled, not unkindly. "You might have to deal with us in due course, seeing how circumstances have changed."

"You mean, I will have to deal with them," asserted Harry stubbornly, his gaze unwavering. A faint shimmer passed Lupin's eyes, as the man placed a hand on Harry's lap, gently expressing his gratitude.

They fell silent for a while, after which Lupin spoke up. "Nonetheless, you still need to know how do deal with minions of Lord Voldemort… perhaps more so than you need for your exams."

Harry shrugged. "I'm not worried about that at all."

"Which part? Voldemort, or exams?"

Harry smiled. "Neither. Not with you around, sir."

An oddly proud feeling filled his chest as he spoke these words, a feeling so wonderful and acute that Harry felt compelled to verify himself. When Lupin silently vanished the fireplace, Harry was ready and on his feet, wand raised, Expelliarmus on the tip of his tongue.

"Constant vigilance indeed, sir."

Lupin looked amused.

As full moon approached, subtle changes began to take place on Lupin. Harry noticed the man was increasingly pale, sick and remorseful. He wondered whether Lupin admitting his fatal flaw was also the effect of the full moon, seeing that the man usually kept his true feelings to himself. The wolfish characteristics were also increasingly evident, on several separate occasions Lupin was able to tell Harry's presence before he even finished climbing the stairs and recite what Harry had ate as he entered the room.

"Today is the last day that you will be safe with me before full moon," announced Lupin mildly on the 26th of July. "I won't transform tomorrow, but the animal instinct will be too acute, especially if we are duelling."

Harry nodded and blurted out, "what if you have the Wolfsbane potion?"

Lupin smiled. "It'd make it slightly easier, and then I'll just have to be away for a maximum of 2 days." Seeing Harry's light scowl he added, "Don't worry about me, Harry. It's just that after the transformation, without the potion I will be weary… from being attacked by myself, of course."

Harry silently wished the twins would hurry up and bring him what he had asked, before it's too late. His insides cringed at the idea of Lupin scratching and biting himself, helpless and desperate in the form of a wolf, alone in the basement –

"- Harry?"

He started, realising that his mind had wandered off and now Lupin was eyeing him in concern.

"You look scared," Lupin said, "What's wrong? Is it because you have never been this close to a werewolf transformation before?"

Harry shook his head. "No, I've seen you transform, remember? It's nothing."

Lupin continued to survey him for a few minutes, then walked to the door. "You may go," the man said softly, his voice laden with desolation.

Harry stopped in the doorway, turned and tried to say something comforting, but could not produce a sound. He met Lupin's calm yet suppressed gaze and held it for a while, trying his best to produce a smile. Lupin smiled back, mild and polite as ever, but this time with a hint of sadness. Harry felt a sudden urge, a pain that shot through his heart, that could only be eased if he had done something – so he walked over and gave the man a tight hug.

"You'll be fine," Harry whispered against Lupin's chest, his voice muffled, almost pleading. Lupin gently hugged him back, rubbed his neck and hair, then let go without a word.

Hermione looked up in surprise as Harry came trotting down to the living room, panting.

"Harry? Your training session's over a bit early today, isn't it?"

Harry didn't stop to look at her or reply, but instead shouted,

"Fred and George Weasley, Diagonal Alley."

He tossed the Floo powder and poked his head into the fireplace, trying to ignore the dizzy sensation as Fred Weasley's face spun into view.

"Good afternoon, Harry," said the redhead pleasantly, handful of cheese sandwich. "Snack?"

"Er, no, thanks," Harry lowered his voice hurriedly, "listen, about the thing I asked you to get -"

George Weasley came through the door at that moment and positively lit up at the sight of Harry's head poking in the fire. "Harry! To what do we owe this pleasant surprise?"

"Wolfsbane potion," said Harry simply.

The twins exchanged a look again and George's face fell slightly. Harry waited anxiously for the answer as Fred got up and started pacing the room:

"You know Harry, it's a very complicated potion and not a lot of people has the skill or the patience to make it."

Harry felt his heart racing. "So?"

George bent down in front of him, scowling lightly. "Nowhere in Diagonal or Knockturn Alley actually sold the potion, but we were able to get you the ingredients - "

"- and the instructions." Fred pulled out a piece of crumbled parchment from the shelve, while George went to the cupboard.

Harry paused for thought. "How long will it take to make this potion?"

"Exactly thirty-six hours, literally," said Fred, handing the parchment to Harry. "I mean, literally. You can't leave the potion to brew for itself, you have to do something to it almost constantly. That's why people usually aren't really bothered… and if something goes wrong, doesn't matter how little, things can get wrong. Very very wrong."

Harry quietly figured out that he had at least 48 hours before the transformation would take place, and smiled. "I'll manage," he said.

The twins actually looked worried as George hesitantly handed him the ingredients needed. "Harry, you were abysmal at Potions," reminded Fred.

"Maybe," the smile turned into a smirk when Harry nodded a quick thanks and goodbye to the twins and retreated.

Hermione looked just as worried when Harry pulled his head out of the fireplace, glasses askew, a piece of old parchment in one hand and a bag of suspicious potion ingredients in another. Harry grinned at her.

"What would you do, in order to help the person who called you the brightest witch of the year?"


A/N: Double chapter in one day! It's because I don't have school :)
Don't forget, reviews equals more updates! x)

Next chapter: The Wolfsbane potion is almost ready, and so is the transformation.