Chapter Twelve: Werewolf Problems
The day after the test was a full moon. Kiara had recovered from the exhaustion and wished Harry well for the night run. She wouldn't accompany them as she wanted to plan Harry's summer schedule. Harry hugged her before going outside with Remus and Hermione. Sirius was waiting outside the Shrieking Shack for them. Harry had been hit by a spell that day in DADA but since it didn't appear to do any damage he had shrugged it off and forgotten about it.
The moon rose and Hermione and Sirius transformed as Remus did. Harry also tried to transform, and now he found out that the spell had indeed done something, it had bound his animagus ability! He couldn't transform. Then he heard the worst piece of news yet.
: Padawan, Remus forgot to take his potion. He's not safe. Transform and come back to the castle, let Sirius handle Moony tonight:
: I can't, Master, Hermione's transformed and so has Sirius but that spell I was hit with today, it's bound my animagus power. I can't transform: Harry was now close to panicking, he knew that an out of control werewolf could kill him, no matter what his skills were. He turned back to the situation to hear a growl from Moony.
: Master come help, Moony's got my scent and Sirius and Hermione won't be able to stop him: he sent through the bond. He heard a brief : Oh shit, I'm on the way, just hold on and don't let him bite you: before Kiara cut the connection. Harry pulled his wand and dodged the first attack from the werewolf.
Tawny jumped in front of him, only to be sent crashing to the ground by Moony. Sirius met the same fate. Moony then turned his attention fully on Harry, and sprang at him, only to be brought to the ground by Shadow, who had arrived seconds before. Harry watched in fascination as Shadow and Moony fought. When Shadow was thrown against a rock though, Harry knew that unless he did something, he was either going to end up dead, or a werewolf himself, and if either of those two things happened then Remus would be killed. He aimed his wand at the wolf, and waited.
"Stupefy," he said quietly but forcefully. Moony shook his head but came at him again. Harry cursed and then had an idea. 'Sorry, Remus' he said in his mind, before Transfiguring a six metre wide circle of grass around him into silver.
Moony landed on it and promptly leapt straight up into the air with a howl of pain. Harry levitated him with the Force, while he swiftly conjured an extremely strong muzzle and a titanium chain. He then levitated Moony over to a patch of grass and set him down. The werewolf shook its head and growled, but couldn't bite Harry due to the muzzle. Harry then enervated Padfoot, Tawny and Shadow and they came and lay down beside him.
Moony looked up after a while and whined slightly. Padfoot and Shadow growled at him, telling him off in canine language for attacking one of the pack's cubs. Moony then looked at Harry, who was holding the end of the chain, and whined, pulling slightly. Harry got the idea of what the wolf wanted and stood up.
Harry, followed by Padfoot, Shadow and Tawny, set off across the grounds, with Harry walking Moony on the makeshift leash. The werewolf was still dangerous but Harry transfigured a piece of wood into silver and every time Moony tried to lunge at him, he would tap the werewolf on the nose. After a few encounters like this, Moony subsided and allowed Harry to walk him. This continued until sunrise, when Moony changed back into Remus. They were inside the Shack, and Remus was quite confused to finding himself wearing a muzzle and leash.
"Er, can someone tell me what happened last night?" he asked tiredly.
Harry smirked. "Well, Uncle, you transformed but you'd forgotten the potion so you weren't safe. Sirius and Hermione tried to control you as I couldn't transform due to that spell I got hit with in DADA but they couldn't. You and my master fought when she arrived to protect me. You knocked her out and then advanced on me….."
Harry finished the story and at the end Remus was gaping at him in shock. "You mean to tell me that you walked Moony on a leash and not only that but you muzzled him as well?" Harry nodded and then inspected the burns on Remus' nose, hands and feet due to the silver. Remus shrugged him off saying that he would be fine. He then flopped to the floor with a groan, and submitted to being levitated to the Hospital Wing so that Madam Pomfrey could treat the burns. Sirius, Hermione and Kiara were also treated for the various gashes and wounds they'd suffered while trying to control Moony during the night.
The doors to the Hospital Wing then burst open. McGonagall stalked down the aisle, coming to a stop in front of Harry's bed. She was annoyed that Harry had risked his life like that and was also shocked to hear how he'd dealt with the situation. She did admire his cool headedness though, and admitted that the transfiguration was good. Kiara cut off her lecture by tiredly stating that none of them could have helped Harry as they were knocked out so he did what he had to. This took the wind out of McGonagall's sails somewhat and she calmed down.
The rest of the day was spent recovering. They were all fully recovered by evening which was a good thing as the Ministry chose that moment to make an entrance.