Chapter twelve kicks in the heart and kick starts

They emerged from the tunnel Athena slowly walked along her head was dizzy again Hermione Harry and Sirius were in front of her, with Remus Ron and Pettigrew ahead out of the shadow of the whomping willow

A cloud suddenly shifted, Remus Ron Pettigrew and now Snape who had collided with Remus were all bathed in moonlight.

Athena froze her breathing quickened moonlight was just peering through the branches of the tree and she stood between two thin slices of moonlight one touch and she'd be gone.

Sirius threw out an arm to stop Hermione and Harry

Athena watched Remus his limbs began to shake, and then it hit her why Snape had gone to Remus's office why Remus was very harsh to Pettigrew.

"He's not safe!" she screamed, Sirius stared at her wide eye "he hasn't taken his potion!"

"Athena did you?" he shouted back

She nodded her head

"Run" said Sirius "run! Now!"

Harry went to move forward "leave it to me-RUN!"

Remus was snarling away as he began to change.

Athena began to take of her robe she pulled off her converse and waistcoat, she ran forward

"Athena no!" shouted Hermione as she ran past, Athena was bathed in moonlight now but she didn't stop running until her arms where around Remus's waist holding his arms down as she began to change along with him.

Remus's clawed paws broke free of the chain attaching him to Ron and Pettigrew, he dropped his wand.

Athena snarled as her transformation neared she was thrown from Remus's back just as Sirius transformed into a dog and snapped at Remus's face. Remus lashed out as Athena rolled to a stop and stood up a fully transformed werewolf.

Sirius was now bleeding with gashes across his muzzle as he snapped and snarled at Remus who knew not what he was doing.

Athena howled, and Remus's head turned at once to look at her.

She ran for what it was worth, and what were worth it were the people's lives back in the grounds as she ran towards the forest she felt Remus follow her.

She made it to the forest as Remus caught her sinking his teeth into her leg, he wanted to hunt her and he'd caught her.

But there was the snapping of a stick nearby and Remus's attention was caught by that snap and the smell of humans as he howled and ran in the direction.

Athena whimpered in pain she didn't look down at her leg because she couldn't because she slowly drifted into darkness.

The moon had set, as she screamed in pain the final stages of her shift back to human complete. She screamed again and crawled towards the trees she hadn't made it far into the forest last night, she crawled on her front the twigs and dirt scratching her skin.

She looked up her face was stained with tears from the agony that was flowing through her body.

There lying on the grass was her grey robe, she reached out her fingers closing around the fabric she pulled it over herself and slipped her arms inside the sleeves, she rolled on to her back and did up the buttons to cover the worse of her leg, she felt the un-coordination in her body how much blood had she lost? She began to crawl towards the castle again but stopped she didn't have the strength.

There were shouts and suddenly people standing around beside her

"Get her onto the stretcher" it was Poppy's voice

Hands gently lifted her up from the hard ground who did they belong to? "What's the extent of the damage?" that was Minerva speaking and she sounded worried

"well there's blood still coming through her robes" said Poppy the world was moving now "so I'm worried how much blood she's lost Athena can you hear me?"

Athena heard her she just wasn't sure if they could hear her so she tried to speak "Remus…" was the first word past her lips

"Don't worry about him now" said Poppy soothingly "it's you who's been hurt"

"Minerva make sure the minister doesn't see this" Dumbledore was speaking she heard their footsteps on stone floor so they must be in the castle

It seemed it be taking ages to reach the hospital wing but she heard the familiar thud of the door opening when she finally fell into darkness again.

Waking up in the hospital wing is never good at Hogwarts because you know something terrible has happened to you, either quidditch related or spell related even potion related.

Athena was lying on her back when her first thoughts were that she was staring at the white rafters above so she was on Poppy's ward, next she felt very, very heavy limbed like something was weighing her entire body down well that's what happened when you skeleton reforms twice in the period of ten hours.

Next was the fact that her left leg very extremely numb like it wasn't quite there yet. She tried to sit up but the pain that erupted from the side of her left thigh made her gasp and drop gently back onto the pillows. She seemed to be surrounded by pillows.

"You're awake" Athena lifted her head to see Poppy at the end of her bed "don't try to move you're leg is still healing"

"How bad?" Athena covered her eyes with her hand

"very bad" said Poppy and she came and took Athena's pulse "you lost a lot of blood, we had to give you a few blood reforming potions then stitch up the wound and try and heal it as much as we could, but we couldn't heal it completely you've got stitches and you're not allowed to strain them!" her voice was threatening now

Athena uncovered her eyes "ok…" she turned her head to the side and saw all the potions on the bedside table, but then she noticed the empty chair and the person lying on the bed next to her "how long has he been here?" she asked suddenly worried trying to sit up but unable to because of the agony in her leg

"He appeared just after we got you leg stitched up" she replied, Athena groaned loudly

"He'll blame himself" she said shedding a few tears

"He hasn't left you're side" said Poppy. Athena saw that she had tears in her eyes too but she held them back like a professional "I'm going to give you a sleeping draught you're leg needs time to heal and you will only fuss if you're awake" she moved round to the other side of the bed and took the purple potion off the side "drink this"

Athena downed it in one "if he wakes up tell him-" she yawned hugely " he's not to b-b-blame himself-" she sunk deep into the pillows "tell him I love him…" she fell asleep on the last word her hand hung over the bed like she was reaching out for Remus.

Poppy tucked the blanket around her gently moving her hand back onto the bed. She turned her attention to Remus he'd been sat on the bed ever since he'd arrived but his condition had won the battle when he'd dropped off to sleep, she took a blanket off one of the other beds and covered him up that startled him and he sat up dazed his brown hair sticking up at funny angles, he looked at Athena eyes wide

"Did she?-" he began

"Yes" said Poppy nodding her head "a few moments go she woke up, she said you're not to blame and she loves you, but you need rest too Athena will be fine why don't you go and find some food and get a few more hours sleep"

He slowly nodded but didn't move as he watched Athena.

Poppy went to her office and watched them from the small glass windows, Remus leant over and kissed Athena's forehead. He reached into his pocket and drew out a piece of parchment that he'd wrote on earlier leaving it leaning against one of the potion bottles, then he walked form the ward shoulders hunched as if he was in pain.

A shadow fell across them and they all looked up to see Hagrid smiling down at them.

"know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night" he said "I mean black escapin' again an' everythin'- but guess what?"

"What?" they all pretended to look curious

"Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin celebratin' all night!"

"That's wonderful" said Hermione she gave Ron a reproving look when he was close to laughter

"Yeah…can't've tied him up properly" said Hagrid gazing around happily at the grounds "I was worried this morning' mind…thought he mighta met professor Lupin in the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night…"

"What?" said Harry quickly

"blimey haven' yeh heard?" said Hagrid his smile fading "er-snape told all the slytherin's this mornin'…thought everyone'd know by now…professor Lupin's a werewolf, see. An he' was loose in the grounds las' night. He's packin' now o' course"

"He's packing?" said Harry alarmed "why?"

"Leavin' isn't he?" said Hagrid looking surprised at Harry "resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can' risk it happenin' again an' poor Athena she knows nuthin'"

"Athena?" asked Hermione "what about Athena?"

"She's a werewolf too yeh know? Don't tell anyone though" said Hagrid alarmed at himself "but she tried to lead Lupin away from the castle got herself hurt though'"

"Is she ok?" asked Ron none of them had seen Athena yet

"No, she's in a bad way Ron" said Hagrid sadly "but her and Lupin seemed' real close an all'"

"I'm going to see him" said Harry at once

"But if he's resigned-"

"-Doesn't sound like anything we can do-?"

"I don't care. I still want to see him. I'll meet you back here"

"he left?" said Athena she sat up ignoring the horrified gasp from Poppy as she tried to get out of bed "I need to talk to him!"

Poppy took hold of her arm and restrained her "he left you a note. Athena calm down or I will sedate you!"

Athena grabbed the note off the bedside table and unfolded it.

Dear Athena

I'm so sorry, for what I've done to you. I know you'll say that I wasn't to blame but I am. It was my fault I didn't take the potion unlike you and then I hurt you, while you put your life on the line. I know that if I was any other man than the monster that's inside me then I could give you everything you wanted a home and a family. But I am a monster a monster that has almost killed you.

By the time you read this I will have resigned and will be leaving the schools premises, please take care of yourself and listen to Poppy there's nothing you can do, everyone knows what I am but not of you, you're young and beautiful and I don't disserve you.

I love you more than words can say but I must give you up for your own sake. We won't see each other again but take care and know that I have been there for you and I hope that you remember me as I will always remember you my love.

Remus

Athena shook her head, her hand over her mouth the tears falling down her cheeks "he's gone and he's not coming back" she gasped when a sob broke through

Poppy tried to comfort her but didn't know what to do "it'll be ok-"

"Leave me alone!" sobbed Athena falling back onto the bed

Poppy stepped away from the bed and hurried into her office.

Athena listened and waited for the lock to click it did and she sat up wiping those stupid tears away, she would have to hurry if she wanted to stop him.

She moved quickly but carefully off the bed and moving very quickly with a limp that pulled at her stitches moved down the ward and out the door.

Poppy looked up through the window at Athena's bed which was empty, she'd been tricked; anger bubbled up in her as she unlocked the door and hurried form the hospital wing.

Athena hurried through the corridors towards the main entrance the halls were empty it was lunch time so everyone would be in the great hall.

She heard the chatter of voices as she passed by the great halls open doors. She heard someone call her name but ignored it as she hurried across the stone floor still in her shorts and t-shirt with a great white bandage around the top of her left leg.

She pushed open the front door and there he was just walking down the slope towards the gate

"Remus!" she called. He froze and turned slowly to look at her she stumbled her way down the steps. He dropped his suitcase, and coat and ran to help her.

"Athena, get back inside!" he said trying to turn her round and her push back up the steps

"NO!" she shouted thumping her hand against his shoulder "you promised! You promised you wouldn't leave me!"

"I'm sorry" he was crying also "I have to go"

"No you don't!" she grabbed hold of the front of his robes "you won't do it again, you can stay! You can stay!" she couldn't say anymore as she broke down in tears against his chest

He stroked her back like he always did "I have to go, not just for me, or the children, but for you, I can't hurt you again!" he pushed away holding the top of her arms and looked into her blue eyes

"I'll never forgive you!" she threatened now "and I'll never stop loving you!"

"I will never stop loving you too!"

The front door opened and Poppy, Filius and Minerva stepped out on the steps they all froze when they saw the two lovers.

Remus scooped Athena against his chest minding her leg and kissed her with as much passion he could muster and as much sorrow he could release.

Her hands were in his hair her tongue twining with his when he pulled away she shut her eyes she couldn't watch him walk away.

He picked up his suitcase and coat before walking further to the gate not looking back he couldn't look back at her broken face.

Athena opened her eyes and saw him almost at the gate "REMUS!" she screamed for him but he didn't turn back around and her heart finally broke and she fell to her knees

He wanted to turn around to be with her but as he walked under the gate he knew that he'd never have her again.

Minerva watched the scene and watched Athena break down and dashed off the steps to the girl who was on her knees in the dirt sobbing

"Let's get you inside" she said kindly lifting the girl

"No-no, he'll come back!" she cried and she cried as her and Poppy helped Athena to the hospital where she finally stopped crying and stopped talking because she knew he would have come back by now.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Dumbledore sitting up behind his desk and looking at the piece of paper in his hand

"I'm sure" she said confidently "I want you to take my letter of resignation in good spirit"

Dumbledore placed the letter on his desk "why are you leaving?" he asked.

"It says in the letter-" Athena began

"I want to hear it for myself please" he sat back in his chair with a determined face.

Athena breathed slowly "staying here with be agony for me, there are too many memories already" she said sadly "plus you know me Albus, never in the same place for long- you're lucky you got six months out of me"

He sighed also "reasonable answers" he mumbled.

"Yes they were, and they were truthful" she said pulling gently at her pony tail.

"Where will you go?" he asked casually

"I'm going to stay with some friends" she said nodding "they can give me a secure job and a roof over my head"

"Tom and Pier would welcome you with open arms" he said. Athena rolled her eyes, of course he would know she was staying with them "plus I will know where to find you"

Athena looked up and saw the hidden message in Dumbledore's sparkling blue eyes "he still doesn't know where I am" she said "plus I move about a lot, so he can't track my whereabouts"

"I would appreciate it, if you would try to stay where I might contact you" he said "so the Leaky Cauldron is one place I can find you, other places like your old flat and maybe Nymphadora Tonks apartment"

Athena stood up, if she had to run from her farther she would run, Dumbledore knew that, but unless it was necessary he didn't want her to disappear, like before.

"I'll do my best" she said "thank you Albus, thanks for everything" and she backed out the office.

It was the knock at the door that really ticked her off by then not only has she lost three t-shirts and a pair of pants but the shoes he'd given her had made her so upset that she didn't even consider packing them. Instead she threw them under the bed and thought maybe someone else would find them and they'd like them.

Athena went to the door and wrenched it open, standing there was Harry, Ron and Hermione "we heard you were leaving" whispered Hermione sadly.

Athena leant her head against the side of her door, she had wanted to leave quickly and without anyone knowing "I don't want to work here anymore" she said to them

"Why you were a great teacher" said Ron determinedly "you and Professor Lupin are two of the best we've ever had"

Athena stifled the sob that was about to break through her chest, the sound of his name was horrid "yes well unfortunately Ron, I can't stay in my job, I'm sure you all know that I'm a werewolf, and I can't take the risk of been caught teaching"

Hermione stepped forward "we'll miss you" she said, her eyes were damp

"I will miss you three too" she hugged Hermione like a sister "but you'll see me around again" she smiled but it was only half a smile.

Harry nodded and said "take care of yourself" but as the trio turned to leave Harry stopped and pulled a package out of his backpack "Professor Lupin said to give you this, he found them" Athena took the package her hands trembling she hoped they didn't notice

"Thank you Harry" she said, and waved goodbye to them all. Once she closed the door she carefully opened the package and there were her three missing t-shirts and knickers, of course she'd left them in his room. The tears were about to leak through again when there was another knock.

Athena threw the clothes into her open suitcase and answered the door to wheezing Mr. Filch "yes?" she said

"You wouldn't happen to know what happened to the two hundred year old vase that sat there?" he pointed an old wrinkled hand at the empty alcove and pedestal.

Athena bit her lip and leant backwards, the vase sat on her mantelpiece with the flower "yeah it's here" Filch looked shocked at her words.

Athena went to the fireplace and took the sunflower out of the vase, and stared at it for only a moment before throwing it onto the fire to burn. She thrust the vase a Filch "there you go"

Filch spluttered "old antiques of the castle aren't yours to take-" he leered

"Well it won't happen again because I resigned this morning" she said slamming the door shut in his face. Now the tears burst through.

"Take care" said Minerva hugging Athena tightly "any trouble you get, I want you to owl me at once, understand?"

"Yes, yes ok, stop smothering me" she pulled free "thanks for everything" she said to Poppy, Pomona and Filius. "I'll let you know when I've settled" she added and waved goodbye as she walked to the gate. It was a relief to have no dementors lurking behind the pillars, sucking the happiness that had temporarily filled her. The sun was bright over head the sky was blue and everything- and she didn't know how long it would last- seemed good in life. Athena pushed open the gate and walked casually down the dirt track into Hogsemead, where she took one final look at her best home ever. Holding onto her suitcase and backpack she apparated.