Chapter Eleven: Full Moon Friends
"I hear that you and Lily are becoming good friends."
"Yeah, Rems. But she could never replace you, my wolfie."
"Ha ha very funny"
It had been three years since Seda had found out about Remus's werewolf problem. She had since perfected the spells to become an Animagus, and regularly went with Remus to the Shrieking Shack to be with him during his transformations. She still spent time with Regulus, more so out of school than in, and she still chatted with Sirius, also more out of school than in it. She was becoming really good friends with Lily Evans, who shared a room with her. Poor Lily was the object of James Potter's affections. Still, the person she spent the most time with was Remus.
"Bloody hell, has this tunnel gotten longer?"
"No, you're just shrinking."
"Yeah, like having your head scrape against the top of the tunnel is any better."
This night was like any other full moon night. The two would travel to the shack before the moon rose and wait until Remus began his transformation. After the change they would wander about. A giant white tiger and a werewolf trotting along together made quite an odd pair. She would keep him in line and keep him from hurting himself or anyone as best as she could. Then they would transform back and return to their dorms.
As they reached the opening to the Shrieking Shack, Remus experienced a shudder of pain.
"Are you alright Rems?"
"What do you think?"
"You don't have to be so bloody mean."
"Sorry Seds. It's just this time of the month."
"Hehehe I understand more than you know."
Remus paused to look at her, "Now that's just gross."
"Hey you brought it up."
They shared a laugh as they climbed the stairs into the shack. As they reached the top, Remus was hit with another wave of pain. This one caused him to grab a hold of an old table corner, alerting Seda that something was wrong.
"Here why don't you come sit down Rems."
She guided him to one of the chairs and gently settled him into it.
"You don't have to be so overly motherly to me."
"Well, you're my friend so I want to take care of you."
"But why do you insist on coming down here when it is so dangerous for you. I mean if you get caught..."
"Bloody hell Rems, are you going to try to talk me out of coming down here AGAIN? When will you get it through your head that no matter what you say I am going to accompany you down here?"
He sighed. Then was hit by another wave of pain. His transformation began as soon as the pain ended. His skin stretched and contorted. Fur began to sprout from his body. He doubled over howling in pain. Seda ran to his side and put her arm around him. A tear came to her eye as she spotted the green moonstone she had given him last year. Finally the beast broke free of its fleshy cage. The monster she was holding onto threw her across the room. Thinking quickly, Seda was in her white tiger Animagus form before she hit the wall.
The werewolf snarled and leapt at the tiger. The tiger jumped away barely missing the outstretched claws of the rabid creature. The werewolf pursued, snapping his dripping maw whenever he got close to her. The tiger became a white blur pouncing around the squeaking shack. Whenever he would get too close she would hiss, swat, and bound away. A while later the werewolf had the tiger backed up into a corner, cutting off any escape. She hesitated as he slowly stalked his prey. Then, in a flash, white and mousy brown collided in a raking, slashing mass of flesh. Her claws extended and ripped into the beast's shoulder. He growled with pain and sent the tiger flying through the air, smashing a chair, and sliding into the wall.
Her physical pain was nothing compared to her emotional pain. She couldn't help but remember that this was one of her closest friends. But this was not the case when the enraged animal inside of him broke free. With every ounce of strength she had left, the tiger pulled herself onto her feet. The werewolf approached her, shoulder bleeding heavily, with his snarl showing his razor teeth. The tiger reared back and smacked him across his snout, ripping the flesh. With that the wolf let out such a howl of pain and backed away. Whimpering, he started his way up the stairs and the tiger followed.
In the bedroom upstairs, the werewolf was licking his wounds. She approached cautiously. He looked up and her and whimpered. She settled down behind him. He emitted a low growl. She licked the wound on his face, and he yelped in pain. The tiger purred quietly, calming the whining beast. They curled up and drifted into sleep.
The sun had not appeared in the sky when the two woke. Seda immediately attended to Remus's many wounds.
"Sorry 'bout the shoulder, Rems."
He chuckled. "It's not so bad." Then he stopped to ponder, "Unless it will get you to stop smacking me in the head if it is worse."
She stared at him with a smirk on her face, "I have no clue what you are talking about."
He winced as Seda rubbed a healing salve on his shoulder wound.
"Oh, stop being such a baby, Rems."
"Let me rip a hole in your shoulder, rub that bloody stuff in the wound, and let's see how you feel."
She chuckled, then saw the gash across his cheek, and gasped. She tenderly reached up and smoothed some salve on the torn skin.
"That's going to be a nasty scar."
"Well, Seds, at least I'll have something to remember you always."
"That's not funny."
They stared at each other, and then burst into laughter. Remus got fully dressed and hobbled towards the door.
"Well we should be heading back."