Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, BELONGS TO JKR
The Magic of the Night- Yes Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw get similar duel training. I'm glad you like Narcissa, and I think everyone has traits from all four houses, look at Harry!
Not the Arrival We Expected
Remus, James, and Sirius had all left Defense thoroughly excited. All three of them were imagining a year filled with fun. They're minds were fast at work, that they even forgot to continue their stalking of the teacher. When they reached the dorms, they were still babbling about defense lessons. The fifth and sixth years were doing a similar sort of training, and were just as excited as the seventh years. The fifth were learning their owl spells as well as reviewing the past four years, and wouldn't do as much duelling as the upper years. The sixth years were going to incorporate learning non-verbal spells into their training. They could be heard babbling about different spells they could use, or items they could bring. The fourth years watched on with envy. The first years were studying basic spells and charms for protections. The second years were doing much the same with some additional dueling training and recognition of monsters. The third years were learning to deal with dark creatures. The fourth years were learning more complicated spells and strategies for duelling, and would not get to the actual duels until much later in the year. Only the sixth and seventh years would be bringing in other teachers and classes into their training. Harry was trying to finish the year curriculum for every grade as soon as possible, so that he could try and do some extra training for each year, knowing that they may not get a great teacher in the following year, especially during the war.
Remus smiled a strained smile. Even the excitement of the defense lessons couldn't take away the stress of the full moon. He looked out the window; the sun was still up in the air. The crisp autumn winds were blowing in. Winter was coming early this year, meaning the moon would rise earlier. He watched Sirius and James discuss how best to use the Invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map.
"I've got to get going," said Remus, sighing as he got up. His homework laid spread on his bed, untouched.
"Oh, right, Pomfrey's taking you down?" asked James sympathetically.
"Yeah," said Remus indifferently. He looked out to the window, and sighed.
"We'll come down and join you a half hour after the moon sets, don't want Pomfrey almost catching us like last time," said James, shuddering.
"Alright, I'll see you then," said Remus dully, leaving. He heard the two carry on their discussion, laughter filling the hall way.
The walk from Gryffindor tower to the Hospital Wing was torturous. Sometimes Remus wondered if anyone truly understood how much being a werewolf sucked. James understood the difficulties of being a werewolf much better than Sirius. Fifth year was proof of that. Yet, sometimes he thought both of them just treated the full moon like an adventure. This afternoon, for example. Sirius was looking forward to the full moon! Sirius really was insensitive at times.
However on the bright side they hadn't abandoned him in his time of need. They really were true friends. It was just that anger and depression that was making him feel this way. He needed to snap out of it. It had been way too long since a full moon meant pain and loneliness. It had been too long since he could remember going without friends. Hogwarts had really been everything he'd ever dreamt off, and besides that one major slip-up, nothing could take away the miracle that Hogwarts had been to him, even his own lycanthropy.
He stopped outside the Hospital Wing, took a deep breath, and walked in. He could feel the strain of the moon tugging at his bones. The transformation was soon. Pomfrey was busy fussing over some second year Ravenclaw who had an accident while flying on his friend's broomstick. Remus smiled at the little boy, who looked upset at the fussing he was getting.
"Remus! I'll get you set up right away," called Pomfrey, giving the second-year one last look over before mournfully letting him go. The boy looked at Remus with gratitude, before fleeing lest Pomfrey change her mind.
"Alright Remus, let's get going," said Pomfrey, giving Remus her full attention.
Ginny's eyes widened at the sight of Teddy and Victoire barrelling at her just as she was about to leave. Then a bright white light surrounded her as she felt Teddy and Victoire on her legs. All her excitement and anticipation had vanished. When she opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was two small burs attached to her as she lay on the ground.
"Teddy? Victoire?" shrieked Ginny, as she tried to sit up. Both children moved off of her, their eyes wide with fear.
That's when Ginny took in her surroundings. This was not Hogsmeade.
"Auntie Ginny?" asked Teddy, uncertainly, as Victoire dived behind him.
"Ginny, are you okay?" asked Hannah, as she sat up, having landed with a thud. Her blonde hair had escaped her messy bun, and she was now retying it up in a ponytail. She brushed her bangs back, and looked in shock at Teddy and Victoire.
Ginny however, was looking around in shock. They were by Hogsmeade alright, howver, they were far from it. Hannah too, looked terrified, having realised their situation. Smith looked around, taking in every detail like he was supposed to during Auror training.
"Oh bloody hell," he cursed, "Were in the Forbidden Forest."
"B-b-but why is this place the most dangerous?" asked Hannah, her green eyes wide with fear, as she scooped Victoire into her arms, and held her close. Ginny was giving Teddy the same treatment. Smith had his wand out, looking around warily for any sign of danger.
"Let's not find out, come on," said Smith, nodding to the women, who had their wands out and at the ready. Off in the distance, they heard a howl, an eerie, chilling sound.
"Werewolf," croaked Ginny, looking at the moon.
"Quick, before he catches our scent," said Hannah, as the five stumbled away from the howl. Then they heard the barks. The group of animals was close, close enough for their scents to be caught.
"Shit, get back," he told the woman, looking towards the trees in the direction of the howls and barks.
A few minutes passed, then they heard the crazed howls and barks of the wolf; it had their scent. Smith was already reviewing any spells of use, as he told the women and children to get out of his way. He heard Ginny muttering a spell. Not risking looking back, he transfigured a rather large broken branch into a boulder when he heard the paws of the wolf beating across the ground, rushing to the prey.
"Damn," he said, wheeling around to see a large brown wolf, with thin amber eyes, glaring at him, the wild look haunting his face. His snout was thinner than a regular wolf, and his tufted tail snaked behind him. A large black dog, resembling a grim bit onto the hind leg of the wolf before it could pounce. A large, tawny stag appeared and began butting at the chest of the wolf, as the wolf struggled, trying to get away.
"Get going," hissed Smith, as he tried to determine the best spell in this situation. He couldn't risk stunning the dog or the stag, and his Animagus training was still not perfect, he couldn't risk trying to transform and becoming a werewolf. His mother would never let him out of the house ever again. She had already been adamant about his Auror training, and now this mission.
The wolf turned on the dog, and began to attack, desperate to reach Smith. The stag, was trying to back the wolf away using its large antlers. The wolf was desperately clawing at the stag while attempting to fight it's way to the human. Smith levitated the boulder, ready to back the wolf away when it broke free.
"SMITH!" shrieked Ginny. He turned to see her flying slightly above him, Teddy strapped securely to a broom. He admired her quick thinking. Hannah had Victoire on the other broom.
"GO!" he yelled. Her brown eyes were wide with fear. He saw a steely resolve entering her eyes, and knew he had to get her away. "TEDDY IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY!"
"WATCH OUT!" shrieked Hannah, as the wolf jumped away from the stag's antlers, having escaped the dog, and started barrelling towards Smith. He threw the boulder with a flick of wand at the wolf. The wolf howled as it struck and he heard the sickening cracks of ribs and bones, and Smith winced, knowing fully who the werewolf must be. He had lost control of the god-damned boulder. It had been a stupid idea. Shit.
"The wolf struggled to get up, as the dog bared its teeth at Smith. The stag gave an angry glare at Smith, before rushing to the werewolf's aide.
"I'm sorry, I really am," said Smith, trying to approach Remus and help. Suddenly he was jerked into the air by his ankle, causing the dog and stag to look at him in shock.
"Let's go," said Hannah. Ginny had used levicorpus spell to raise Smith into the air and levitate him out of the Forest.
"I'M SORRY!" cried Smith, as he saw the dog help lift the wolf using the boulder. He grimaced, and supposed it was lucky he didn't use too much momentum, otherwise Remus would be dead. Then again, it was his stupid boulder. Shit.
James and Sirius had managed to get the very injured Remus back to the Shrieking Shack by morning. When Remus transformed, his screams rang in their ears. Most of his bones were broken, and his body had bruises and cuts. He looked horrible. Sirius ran to get Pomfrey, hoping that Remus's shallow breaths indicated he was going to be alright. If Remus wasn't a werewolf he'd have been far worse off.
"Remus," said James, transforming back into a human. His glasses were slightly askew on his face, and his messy black hair splayed across his forehead. His hazel eyes taking in Remus's battered appearance. Who the hell were those people? They'd had kids with them!
"Remus, please, hear my voice," said James, urgently.
"Where is he?" asked a deep male voice. James looked up to see Professor's Potter and Locke came through the door of the Shrieking Shack, followed by a nervous looking Sirius.
"Where's Pomfrey?" asked James, as Professor Locke immediately began looking over Remus.
"They were closer, saw my panic, and, well, ya," said Sirius, running a hand through his hair, nervously.
"How'd this happen?" asked Professor Potter.
"Erm," said James nervously, unsure of how much to tell.
"Look, I know Remus's condition, and I can guess how you were with him, so what happened?" asked Professor Potter nervously.
"We were in the forest, and these people were there, looked like a family, the guy had a boulder and hit Remus when he lost control," babbled Sirius quickly.
"A family?" asked Professor Potter, shocked.
"They flew off on brooms," said James angrily, why was he so concerned about the family? Remus was dying!
"I'll have Dumbledore look into it, how is he Neville?" asked Harry, bending down to look over Remus's wounds.
"Several broken ribs, internal bleeding, his left thigh is cracked and dislocated, the bone has broken through the skin. The left leg is broken in several places. His right thigh is broken in several places and slightly dislocated. His kneecap is broken. His left arm is broken in several places as well. His intestines are bleeding and so is his appendix. His stomach is ruptured slightly, and he's lost a lot of blood. Any normal creature would be dead, but his lycanthropy probably saved his life. His collarbone avoided damage, and his heart and lungs are still intact. Get a stretcher," said Neville grimly.
"Got one right here with me," said Harry, as the two men gently levitated Remus onto the stretcher.
"Let's get going before the hallways fill up," said Neville, guiding the stretcher out of the willow. The two teen boys followed as Harry brought up the rear.
The march up to the hospital wing was a silent one. The hallways were deserted and the castle empty. The portraits gaped at the sight of Remus. The after-effects of the transformation always made him look ill, but now, he looked dead. They weren't even attempting to be subtle. Many portraits were running alongside and barking questions.
"What happened?" cried a monk as he ran beside them.
"A major injury, inform Dumbledore, anyone," said Harry, as several images ran throughout the castle to spread the news and inform Dumbledore most likes.
Soon enough, even a few ghosts had come along to ask questions. Nearly-Headless Nick accompanied them on their silent march.
"Remus! Oh dear what's happened to him?" asked Nick, shocked at the sight of one of his favorite Gryffindors.
"Injury, were going to the hospital wing," said Neville, rushing.
"Let me accompany you," said Nick, joining their march hurriedly.
The Fat Friar had been barked away by Sirius. When they entered the hospital wing, Madame Pomfrey was already preparing for him.
"What happened?" asked the matron, her eyes flooded with worry and her jaw dropped at the sight of Remus.
"It's a wild story," said Harry, as they laid Remus onto a bed.
"Tell me later," said the matron. She raised her wand and began running immediate diagnostic tests. She cast summoning charms, and potions were flying her way. Her brow was furrowed as she ran through the tests.
"Will he, I mean," asked Sirius, his eyes wide with shock and fright.
"I don't know. Let me see how well I can get him, he may need treatment at St. Mungo's if anything," said Madame Pomfrey, a tear escaping her eyes.
Dumbledore appeared from the fireplace then. His bright blue eyes had lost their twinkle, and his face was set in solemnity. He looked at Remus, and then at Sirius and James trembling in fear for their friend, and he then settled for Harry.
"What has happened?" asked Dumbledore.
"Apparently a family was in the Forbidden Forest. Remus was there last night, and the male of the family, in fear of attack, sent a boulder at him," said Harry, "James and Sirius got him back to the Shrieking Shack by dawn."
"Will he survive?" asked Dumbledore, looking directly at Harry, confusing James and Sirius, since Harry had not diagnosed Remus at all.
"He has to," said Harry softly. "The injuries are grave, and his condition must have saved his life, due to the enhanced strength, speed, and other powerful help his condition provides."
"And the family?" asked Dumbledore.
"They got away, but are probably in Hogsmeade," said Harry.
"I don't think they were trying to kill him," said Pomfrey, as she rushed her diagnostics. "The boulder should have crushed his windpipe and heart, caused damage to the organs and lungs, but judging from the speed of the boulder and the swing, it caused major injury, probably a sleight of hand or panic, otherwise it was meant to just brush him aside, cause some abrasions, however, the person in question panicked and sent it too quickly at the wolf."
"I'll send word to the people in Hogsmeade to keep their eye out for the family, what did they look like James?" asked Dumbledore.
"Two women, one had blonde hair, and the other red, she looked familiar, the boy was probably our age, he was blonde too, but smart, and experienced or at least calm dealing with werewolves, in fact, he seemed to you know, not be frightened. He was sorry for hurting Remus. He didn't even try to stun. They had two kids with them, a little girl and boy. The girl was blonde and the boy had dark hair. I couldn't see their faces clearly, and they flew off on broomsticks," said James.
"The man wanted the women and kids out, and the women looked scared. The red head used spells while flying, she was probably an expert flyer," added Sirius.
"I see. Well, you two can stay here with Remus, sending you to class in this situation would not help to alleviate your concerns, and I doubt you'll learn much anyways," said Dumbledore, nodding to Harry to follow him. Neville and Poppy were busy fussing over Remus. The two walked away from the Hospital Wing, and James and Sirius headed over to help.
"Damn it," said Smith, as they landed outside the castle gates. He turned to see the women and children were frightened. He had panicked, and most likely severely injured Remus. Damn it. Mrs. Potter had dropped him in an unceremonious lump on the ground when they landed. He saw the women fussing over the children. Damn it. He saw Mrs. Longbottom looking at him with concern.
"What happened? Will he survive?" she whispered, as Victoire was being checked over by Mrs. Potter.
"His lycanthropy will help heal those wounds faster and keep him up, but when he transforms back the healing will take longer than normal because his immunity will be low, and he'll most likely suffer and the healing will take longer," said Smith, as Mrs. Longbottom's eyes widened.
"Oh sweet Merlin, poor Professor Lupin," she said, looking at the castle in shock.
"Let's get going," said Mrs. Potter, lifting Victoire up, as Mrs. Longbottom scooped up Teddy. Smith shrunk the broomsticks and placed them in his pockets. The five trudged into Hogsmeade. Their nerves frazzled from their run-in with a werewolf, a werewolf they cared about.
They trudged slowly through the town. The children ended up falling asleep against the women. However, the adults could not relax. Remus was somewhere out there and he was most likely dying, all thanks to their interference. They came to a full stop at the first inn they found at dawn. It was called The Hogsmeade Delight.
"Welcome, how can we help you?" asked a bosomy brunette woman, appearing from the bar. She had bright brown eyes that she caked with purple eye shadow.
"Hi, were travellers, my name is Hannah Smith, this is my little brother, Ashford Smith, and my friend Ginevra. These children are ours," said Hannah quickly, sensing Ginny's distraught emotions and Ashford's guilt.
"We don't usually get visitors around this time o' year," said the brunette, her caked eyes narrowing.
"We were attacked by Death Eaters, thrown out of our homes, needed a place to go, and we know Dumbledore could help," said Smith, gaining his confidence back.
"Alright-y, I'll get you all set up," said the woman, her attitude softening, "My name's Shelly-Anne, I'm the landlady here, and if you cause any trouble, I got plenty of friends in the ministry, it's seven galleon a night a room, and I spect you'll pay by the night. Welcome to Hogsmeade."