Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry potter series, any of its characters, settings, ideas, plotlines or other such things. All of this belongs to the AMAZING J.K. Rowling!

Wolves

Crack

James had always hated appairating, more so than he hated travelling by port key.

Grimmauld Place

The kitchen was a mess, flour having been strewn over every visible surface. Jars had been shattered, the fridge door having been ripped off of its hinges. The table, toppled over, was broken beyond repair.

James ran into the living room, feathers from the cushions covering the floor, portraits knocked off of the walls.

Oh Shit

All was silent, an almost inaudible growl being the only distinct sound. One million questions seemed to start running through James' head. Where was Lupin? Where was Hermione? Was she hurt? Was HE hurt?

James ran towards the stairwell. He was 100% sure that the werewolf had been here, claw marks being deeply imprinted into the stairs. He ascended the stairs two at a time, using the bannister to pull him up faster.

Oh Shit, Oh Shit, Oh Shit.

James stared down the hall, watching as Remus' wolf form attacked the bathroom door. His large body was pushing against it, claws gouging into the wood. James could hear Herminie cries, her reasoning.

"Please Remus," she said "I know you're in their somewhere *sob* please!"

James could almost visualize her shaking body, her small figure huddled up in the corner of the bathroom. His heart ached for her, the desperate cries echoed off of the bathroom walls, her sobs perpetrating his heart like knives. James shook his head, he knew from experience that reasoning with Remus while he was in his wolf form wouldn't work.

Oh Shit, Oh Shit, Oh Shit.

James' heart was beating out of his chest, the taste of blood lacing his mouth. He had bitten his lip a little harder than intended. Remus took a step away from the door before thrusting his body back against it again. The frame shook. James ran, transforming into his animagi as he did. James shook his head, exposing his antlers. The warewolf calmed instantly, as if recognizing the buck's presence. He charged at Remus, hooves thrashing unforgivingly against the floorboards. Remus whimpered, taking a few steps away from the approaching buck.

Moving his body to block the passageway, James prepared himself for the onset of rage. Remus howled, obviously distressed. The wolf snapped his jaws at James, claiming his territory. Growling, the wolf drew nearer. James bucked, much like a donkey, trying to maintain his authority.

Back off Remus!

James was fully aware that Remus could not understand him, animals communicated differently.

Remus growled. His eyes were murderous, obviously not having anticipated James' attack. He stood tall, easily over towering himself. Remus threw his arms around, knocking a vase off of the mantle. The urn came crashing down, shattering into a million pieces as it hit the floor.

James cringed, trying to appear as tall as possible. The wolf lurched forwards, his teeth sinking into one of James' back legs. The buck stomped in protest, his free hoof colliding with Remus' jaw.

BACK OFF

James ripped his leg from the wolf's clutches, skin tearing against the monsters teeth. Growling even louder than before, the wolf attempted to push past him. James blocked Remus with his antlers, the wolf's coat getting snagged. He cornered his friend, pushing him up against the wall. Remus was trapped between antlers, unable to escape.

Remus attempted to wriggle free, wanting nothing more than to attack James. Digging his antlers further into the wall, he was determined not to move. The fight, looking much like a game of tug-of-war, was taking any reminisce of energy James had left. Hermione cried out from the bathroom, her screams giving James the extra boost of adrenaline he needed.

oOo

Hermione was sitting up in the bathtub; her knees huddled to her chest. She began rocking backwards and forwards, tears streaming down her face.

I am going to die

The words haunted her. She was too young to die, she had too much to live for. After all she and her friend had been through, her Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was going to eat her alive. It would be a painful death, she was sure of it.

"PLEASE REMUS," she begged "PLEASE!"

Deep sobs shook her body, making it almost impossible for her to breath. Her face was boiling, her vision blurred with tears.

Oh god, Someone please... save me

She knew Remus was no longer at the bathroom door, he was slowly making his way down the hall. She could hear his footsteps, his loud, thundering footsteps.

Thump

Thump

Thump.

He was making quite a racket, knocking things off shelves, ripping into walls and doors. Oh please, someone, save me. Harry, Ron, Sirius... anyone. James must have seen the full moon by now, there is no way he couldn't have. Why hadn't anyone thought to check the moon chart, that one split second could have saved her life.

Merlin, Please!

Hermione looked up at the window; she had tried to open it before... to no prevail. The stupid thing was jammed.

Thump

Thump

Thump.

Please, someone, save me!

Hermione hugged her legs a little closer to her body. Why was this happening to her? What had she done to deserve this?

oOo

The moon was well past its peak, the sun would be rising soon. Both Remus and James were exhausted, having fought long through the night. James was going to make Remus pay for this, how could he have not checked to moon chart? Better yet, why hadn't James thought to?

He was so mad at himself; all of this could have been avoided had he simply taken the time to think things through clearly.

Remus' back arched, crying out in pain. He was transforming.

The frail man dropped to the ground, eyes wide with fear. Hermione's cries penetrated Remus' eardrums with such force he too cried out. What had he done?

James transformed back, his human form rushing to Remus' side. The man had buried his face in his hands, sobbing harder than James could have ever imagined possible. He wrapped his hands aroung his friend's shoulder, only to have them flung off in frustration.

Remus knew he didn't deserve to be comforted; he had done a BAD thing. Remus didn't deserve to be comforted, he was DANGEROUS. How could he look his son in the eyes again? How could he even be in the same room as him? How could ever look HERMIONE in the eyes again? How could she ever forgive him?

Remus buried himself deeper into his hands, his body shaking uncontrollably. He had hated a lot of people in his life, Greyback, Voldemort... Bellatrix, but there was nobody he could hate more than he hated himself at this moment in time. Remus wished the stone had never brought him back to life, he wished he had never experienced the anguish he felt at this moment. He wish he had never betrayed Hermione's trust, betrayed her friendship. He wanted to die.