August 20, 1996
After dinner that evening Remus and Harry sat together quietly enjoying a game of Wizard's Chess. The professor was by no means of the same caliber as Ron, but certainly could hold his own. Harry found that as usual he simply couldn't compete on that level, but he was determined to try.
"Next week is the full moon," said Remus, changing the conversation away from chess.
"Oh?" Harry asked lamely, not really listening. He was too busy watching his pieces trying to mime what his next move should be.
"Do you think you'll be okay on your own?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Do you think you'll be okay on your own?" Remus repeated.
"Oh yeah, I guess. Are you going to the Shrieking Shack?" Harry asked curiously. He hadn't really thought of Remus's transformations since third year.
"No, I'm afraid that location has been compromised. Besides, it wasn't ever really as safe as I'd like to be anyway."
Harry moved one of his pawns forward two spaces and said, "But don't you take the Wolfsbane potion? I thought you were completely harmless when you take it."
Remus smiled as he captured Harry's pawn and nodded. "I am, but I'd rather air on the side of caution anyway."
"Then where will you go?" Harry asked, beginning to worry a little.
"Don't worry, I'm staying in the castle. Dumbledore is accommodating me by locking me up in the dungeons."
"Can I visit?"
"NO!" Remus said quickly.
Harry was taken aback by the sudden comment. "Sorry for asking…"
"No, I'm sorry, Harry. I know you've seen me transform before, but it's not a pleasant experience. I rather you not see me in the state," Remus explained.
Harry nodded. "I understand, I guess."
"If you wanted, you could have your friends to come for a visit?" Remus inquired. "You could use the company."
"No, that's alright," Harry said quickly.
"Are you sure?"
Harry nodded.
Later that evening Harry found himself in the throes of another nightmare.
"I'm going to kill you for tattling you ungrateful little whelp!" Vernon screamed, his eyes bugging out of his bulging face.
Harry brought up his knee and rammed it into his uncle's crotch. It bought him a moment to escape and he twisted out of his uncle's grasp. He ran across the room and made it as far as the door before his uncle yanked him by the arm back into the room. He then threw the boy against the wall, so that Harry's face was pressed against the peeling paint.
"I'm going to give you a lesson you'll never forget!" he said, slurring his words slightly.
Harry knew that the man was drunk again and wished had steered clear of him earlier. He tried to struggle against him, but having his arm twisted behind him made it difficult. A large hand found its way to the front of his pants and it undid the belt around his waist.
"NO!"
"You'll only make it worse if you fight me…"
"NO! Leave me alone!" Harry yelled, struggling once more. "Please, I promise I'll be good."
"I know you will…"
Harry woke up screaming once more with tears in his eyes. That was the worst the nightmare had ever gotten and he was only now beginning to understand the implications of what it all meant.
He didn't care that he was sixteen years old or that he was nearly an adult. He was upset and he didn't want to be alone. Wiping his face, Harry padded bare foot down the cold stone stairs to the dorm room below his. He knocked on the door and was instantly greeted by Remus clad in pajamas.
"Harry? What is it?" he asked, when he saw that the boy's face was red and blotchy.
"I had another nightmare."
Remus pulled him into hug and it was all Harry could do to hold it together. When he could no longer contain his composure, he let a small sob escape. Remus promptly began rubbing his back and whispering reassurances. He cried until he could cry no more and told Remus a little about what had happened in his nightmare.
When he was calmer, Remus sighed and said, "I wanted to talk to you about this before, but I also wanted to give you some time to deal with everything…"
"Talk about what?" Harry asked, sniffling now.
"We need to press charges against your uncle…"