Harry returned to school the next day, after finally getting to meet Sirius for breakfast. He hadn't wanted to go back so soon, but he didn't have a choice. Remus didn't want him missing any more classes, and things were suspicious enough already. He was sure he would be greeted with a plethora of questions upon his arrival, but much to his surprise, Ron and Hermione didn't question his absence. They asked if everything was right with Sirius, and then let the matter drop.

Harry was spending less and less time with them as the term dragged on. He was constantly looking for an excuse to slip away and meet Luna, so much in fact, that Ron was starting to grin that annoying knowing grin whenever Harry said he was going for a walk.

"You like her," he said once. "You like loopy Looney."

Harry had refused to dignify that with an answer, but he thought it better for Ron to think that's what it was than suspect the truth. It was bad enough without people going on a witch-hunt.

As wolves, they explored the parts of the forbidden forest they had never dared venture into before. She even showed him the place where Thestrals grazed, but didn't let him get close enough to disturb them. The Umbral side of the forest was even more fascinating. Everything was so much more alive, and there were whirlpools of colour everywhere, exploding and morphing chaotically. Luna said that it was because of the high magical disturbance. They didn't stay long, however. The amount of magic in the air made it too unstable to explore.

It was after one of those expeditions in the forest that Harry returned to his dormitory to find some unexpected visitors. It was quite late, and he had expected Ron to be asleep as usual. He was in for a surprise, however. Ron was sitting on his bed, staring at the floor miserably and looking like he really didn't want to be there. Hermione was sitting on Harry's bed, looking uncomfortable, but determined. Two more people were in the room, one was Dumbledore, staring serenely at the door as it opened, and the other McGonogall, her arms folded, and looking as strict as ever.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

There was an uncomfortable silence, before Hermione spoke.

"Harry, this is an intervention," she said.

Harry laughed bitterly.

"An intervention?" he said. "I'm not on drugs. Do they even have those in the wizarding world? What's wrong with you... Ron?"

He looked at his best friend of four years, but Ron wouldn't even look him in the eye.

"Harry, your friends are worried about you," Dumbledore said.

"Oh yeah?" Harry glared at his friends. "So they decided to betray me?"

"This is for your own good, Potter," said McGonnogall.

"Harry, we just want to talk to you," Dumbledore said. "We know you've been through a lot. We don't want to pressure you into doing anything you don't want to do."

"Yeah right," Harry felt his voice rising now. "Like you believe anything I say. So it was all a lie then, was it Ron? Being chummy and pretending you understood everything, only to go around and stab me in the back!"

"Stop talking to him like that," Hermione said. "He didn't want this at all. It was my idea."

This was the first time this year that Hermione had stood up to him. Harry felt as if she had slapped him in the face like she had done Malfoy in their third year.

"I figured as much," Harry said.

Hermione's eyes filled with tears, but Harry turned away. He was too angry to feel sorry for hurting her.

"Harry, I think you're making a big deal out of this," Dumbledore said. "Your friends have your best interests at heart. I think they have proven their friendship to you today, by realising you need help."

"I don't need help," Harry snarled. All four of them, even Dumbledore, looked a little taken aback as his rage surged.

"Harry, it's only a potion..." Hermione started.

"I'm not having this conversation," Harry turned around and slammed the dormitory door shut. He stomped down the stairs and flung the portrait hole open. Then he walked through the halls of Hogwarts, simmering with rage.

"Potter!"

Harry hadn't even realised he'd reached the dungeons. He was right outside of Snape's office.

"What?" he snapped. But Snape didn't seem at all intimidated.

"In my office," he said. "Now!"

Harry didn't know why he complied. Maybe he thought he was in enough trouble already, having just walked out on the headmaster. Maybe there was something commanding enough in Snape's voice that made him do as he was told. Wolves tended to follow the Alpha.

"Potter, you're a fool," Snape said. "Sit down."

"So you just asked me in here to insult me?" Harry asked. "Just tell me what I did and give me dentention. Then let me go."

"Let's see," Snape said. "What you did... Well, you shot your mouth off in front of non-kin wizards. You've barely been controlling your rage during the full moon phases, and I'm well aware that you're treading on dangerous Umbral territory with your crescent moon friend."

Harry's jaw dropped at this. Snape was demonstrating knowledge only kin would know. But surely...

"You're kin..." he stuttered.

"Spot on," Snape sneered. "You'll want to be more careful, Potter."

He placed a potion on the desk.

"But you' can't be kin," Harry said. "You hate me... and you told everyone Remus was a werewolf!"

"Probably, and yes I did," Snape said. "But it would have come out eventually. We decided this way he would have an excuse to leave."

"But you gave him a potion," Harry said.

"Stop being clueless, Potter," Snape said. "No potion can cure lycanthropy, because it's not a disease."

Harry let it all sink in.

"Now, you've made a right little scene there in Griffindor tower," Snape continued. "We'll have to fix that. You'll tell Dumbledore you're sorry. You'll drink your potion like a good boy."

"I'm not drinking any potions," Harry said stubbornly.

"Pay attention, cub," Snape said sternly. "The potion does nothing. At most, it soothes your nerves and stops you being a walking rage bomb."

Harry stared down at his feet thoughtfully.

"Why didn't Remus tell me?" Harry said.

"Why indeed," said Snape. "Would it had made a difference to you, Potter?"

"Probably not," Harry admitted. "You hate me anyway. It's not like you'd help me."

"You are a cub. I am kin," Snape said. "Of course I will help you."

It suddenly dawned on Harry why Snape had gone out of his way to save Harry's life so many times.

"Like my parents," he said quietly.

Snape snorted.

"Your mother, maybe," Snape said. "Your father wasn't kin. He had no idea what was going on until you were born and she started talking about baptising you."

Harry gaped. He was a little annoyed that Snape knew so much about his history, when nobody else had found it fit to tell him. Then he realised that he'd never really asked. He'd always just assumed.

"And you're to stay out of the Umbral forest," Snape said. "You have no idea what dangers lurk there."

"I think I know more than you think, thanks," Harry snorted.

"Do you?" Snape stood up. "You think because you've seen a few bane spirits and a tainted werewolf, that you've seen it all? You haven't seen anything until a Nexus Crawler has ensnared you, or you've fallen into a drattosi's lair, and watch it eat your friends bit by bit, until the last thing you feel before you die is it's putrid hot breath as it sinks you into its mouth. Or until you've met the possessed, who grow saws for arms and spew poison that can kill you in minutes--"

"Possessed?" Harry asked incredulously.

"So Remus didn't think it fitting to tell you about 'fomori'?" Snape asked. "Well you won't be laughing then, because let me tell you, it doesn't just happen to men, it can happen to werewolves too. And if it finds your weakness, it can offer you whatever your dream is. And then it'll slowly strip you of your sanity, of your autonomy, of your life, until you'll nothing more than a shell that houses it."

Harry's eyes widened suddenly.

"But no, Remus would only have taught you how to kill efficiently," Snape said. "You're a full moon child, after all. You shouldn't have to know more than that. Drink your potion, Potter, unless you want to end up like your godfather."

"What do you mean?" Harry's eyes snapped back up towards Snape.

"Don't you remember, that night in the shrieking shack?" Snape said. He was obviously enjoying taunting Harry, even though he as kin was sworn to protect the cubs, it didn't mean he had to like them. "He raged, and Pettigrew escaped. If he hadn't lost himself to the beast, Pettigrew would be locked up somewhere, and Sirius would be a free man..."

"No, Remus wouldn't..." Harry said. But then he had seen it with his own eyes. Remus had almost attacked him. He hadn't been himself.

"He came into the nation too late," Snape said. "He never learned to control his rage fully. That's why he'll never hold rank. He's a ronin really, and everyone knows it."

Harry slowly picked up the potion and drank it.

"Good," Snape said. "It can happen to the best of werewolves, Potter. Be careful. And Potter..."

Harry put the goblet down and looked up at Snape.

"Yes?"

"Get the hell out of my office."