CHAPTER 23: DEMON
(Remus POV)
Despite being a werewolf, as well as being a Gryffindor, Remus Lupin possessed a strong, but calm and calculating personality. He is not easily angered, nor is he easily panicked. Perhaps this is the reason why his beast side found it hard to influence him, and was unable to take 100% control even during the full moon, when he is forced to change into his beast form. The calm, patient human side dominated the impulsive, animalistic, wolf side.
The moment they entered the train compartment, however, the wolf inside him started growling, trying to take over even though it wasn't full moon, even though they were in human form. But it was not because the wolf was feeling hungry, looking for a prey, nor was it feeling murderous. The truth was, the beast inside Remus was trying to take control because…
It was feeling nervous and threatened. The wolf side of his being was on its guard. Rarely were Moony's human and wolf side at an almost complete agreement, and it was never a good sign. Remus' two sides even contemplated on leaving the compartment at once (although the wolf had a half-mind to pounce on whatever the threat it sensed was), yet Remus was unable to do so, for the moral and caring side of his human self prevented him from doing so, despite the danger he was sensing, for his friends were there.
On one side of the train compartment stood Remus, along with Alice, Lily, and Wormtail. On the other side of the room was one of his other best friends Sirius Black, aka Padfoot. Near the center of the compartment, on the floor, were the raven-haired gi…boy named Severus Snape and the white-haired girl Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya, in an…awkward…position. And on one corner of the room, in an odd sitting positioning…was an unmoving James Potter…
-BREAK-
(Remus POV)
Having an analytic mind, Remus, considering his friend Wormtail's testimony, and what he had seen, was instantly able to form plausible theories on what had transpired. There were a number of possibilities, and after a very brief amount of time Remus' brain landed on one in which he was convinced…and Remus did not like it.
James, whether on purpose or not, must have entered the room where Snape and Emiya were in, whatever they were doing (Though Moony guessed, based on the position the two were in when they entered the room, they were making out.). Prongs, seeing them, went into a fit of rage and anger (They must have been snogging or something...!), mistaking the white-haired girl for Lily, as the two had a most uncanny resemblance, the only clear distinction was the color of their hair. And for someone who did not know about Emiya beforehand, they would have quickly mistook her as Lily who changed her hair color.
Remus was not sure which side attacked the other first, but it was clear who the victor was. However angle Moony looked at it, no matter how much he tried, he could not help but be sure that James was the one mostly at fault, having undoubtedly starting the whole thing. Still, even though Remus was sure it was the case…
That was cruel, thought the werewolf to himself, feeling a chill.
Yes, it was cruel, really, very cruel. And what really bothered Remus was the fact that Snape, while ev… he was the way that he is, would never have even thought of such a torture. He hexes, he jinxes, but Severus Snape, while very intelligent (The werewolf could not deny this fact.), always caused physical injury…
This time, however, it was different. James was bound, disabled, but aside from that, he was physically unharmed. His hair was not falling, his nails were not growing, his eyes were not bulging, he was completely unharmed, physically. However...
Mentally, his friend Prongs was definitely not okay. He was being made to go through a psychological, not physical torture.
The immobile James Potter was probably placed under a Full-Body-Bind-Curse, and he was unable to move even his eyes, only his mouth. However, no voice was coming out of it, which meant that he must also have been placed under a Silencing Spell. Normally this would not have been much of a problem, but the way he was positioned…
Prongs was dumped to a corner, in such a way that he would have a full view of whoever was occupying the train compartment, and, in effect, any and all things that they were doing. (And the center, where Snape and Emiya were doing whatever they were doing was the one at the most perfect angle, thought Remus.). Moony shuddered, as he imagined how James must have felt, to see Snape, the person he hated the most in the world, doing Merlin knows what, with the girl James undoubtedly believed to be Lily. Knowing how much his friend Prongs fancied her (He's crazy in love with Lily!), for James, it must have been worse than any of the other pranks and curses Snape had thrown on him put together. Still…
This was not his style, thought Moony. There could only be one other mastermind.
Glancing sideways, Moony saw Padfoot approaching Prongs, stiff-as-a-board-looking and unmoving. Normally Sirius would have roared in fury. While Remus knew that Sirius would undoubtedly prioritize helping James first, he was really loud, and he should have been shouting foul words and insults at the greas-raven-haired young man by now, but he wasn't. Instead, Sirius, undoubtedly in a turmoil of emotions like the rest of them (Peter and Alice were also most likely silent because of the two identical ladies), silently approached their messy-haired friend.
All these were processed in a span of a few seconds.
Remus Lupin, despite his turmoil of thoughts and emotions, knew what had to be done. He wanted to say something, to resolve the situation himself, but someone else spoke before Remus was even able to speak.
"Sev, Ilya," said a familiar voice coldly.
"That's Mr. Snape and Ms. Emiya to you, Ms. Evans," replied the strikingly similar voice to the one which just spoke, in a similarly cold tone.
Lily Evans, the girl with dark red hair had moved forward, now standing in front of Remus and the others, face to face with the girl who was identical to her in almost every way, except that she was a bit paler, and had silver-white hair instead, their emerald eyes, also strikingly identical, locked upon each other…
Suddenly, however, Remus Lupin felt a shockwave that almost made him fall to his knees. It didn't feel like a spell, but more like a hostile intent, and apparently the rest of the people in the room did not notice it. The wolf inside of him now growled angrily, and was now desperately fighting its way to the surface…
"So you felt that…" began a cold voice. "Then please give me a good reason, as to why I should let you live, demon?" The werewolf could hear the gasps coming from his friends.
Remus Lupin felt shocked. The hostile intent was directed at him. There was no doubt about it. The girl called Ilyasveil von Einzbern-Emiya had now removed her gaze from her almost double Lily Evans, and her emerald green eyes were now locked upon Remus Lupin…no… at the beast that was now roaring inside him…
-BREAK-
(Severus POV)
In the past month, Severus had experienced a lot of shocking and surprising occurrences in his life. He was living in a world of magic, yet the things that Ilya showed and taught him still shocked him greatly. Magecraft…Magic Circuits…Reality Marbles… even though he was living in a world of magic, these were still new to him...
At the moment, however, two major events that did not have any relevance to spells and casting had unfolded, and was unfolding before him, as these were a bit more on the personal side, all in one day.
First, his confession. In the time they were together, Severus had developed feelings for Ilya. It was something beyond his control, but there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't help it. He had fallen in love with her. And by the miracle of it all, their feelings were mutual, and thus his confession was accepted. No one could describe how happy Severus felt in his heart. And to top all that, Ilya was going to Hogwarts as well. They will not be separated.
Still, there was something else that was bothering Severus, something he seemed to have forgotten, that was nagging at him from the back of his mind, and it wasn't James Potter or the Marauders at all. And in one instant, that certain something that was bugging him had now occurred…
An encounter with his former best friend Lily Evans.
Before Ilya had arrived, Severus could only see two paths in front of him. The path to serving the Dark Lord, and the path to continuing his friendship with Lily. No, he never even thought about it that way. He thought that he could have it both ways, but he was mistaken. His infatuation with the Dark Arts had cost him the only friend, the only family he had in life. If it wasn't for Ilya, Severus was sure that he would either be a Death Eater by now, or else died of a broken heart.
Before Ilya came, Lily Evans was, as far as Severus was concerned, his first family, there was no doubt about that. The raven-haired boy had thought that he was in love with her, but knew now that it wasn't true. To Severus, Lily was actually like a friend and a little sister, who needed him, who depended on him. Severus simply wanted Lily all to himself. He simply did not want anyone to take Lily from him.
At one point in time, Severus was Lily's only support. He was both her friend and protector. However, as time passed, and Lily found more and more friends, her world no longer revolved around the raven-haired boy alone, and she relied on him less and less as the years progressed. And as she needed him less and less, Lily drifted further and further away from him. Months before he called her former best friend a Mudblood, Severus already knew that Lily had already taken a liking to James Potter. He could tell from her reaction whenever she was with him, her best friend at the time, and feeling bitter because of it, the word slipped out eventually and she left him. Lily no longer needed him.
Ilya, however, was a different case. True, their first encounter wasn't exactly what anyone can call pleasant. At first, Severus did not like having her around, as the white-haired girl, who looked and sounded exactly like his former best friend, made him recall painful memories. As time passed however, he eventually opened up to her.
Ilya had actually been Severus' support. Thanks to her, the raven-haired boy had once again a reason to keep on living. However, that was not all…
The white-haired girl had a sad life. True, Ilya did tell Severus about it on the first night they met, but she actually had no intention of burdening the raven-haired boy with it, and she had not brought it up since. As Severus remembered, the girl was actually planning to commit suicide, and he could tell that she was serious about it. Had Severus not invited Ilya to her house that day…the raven-haired boy didn't even want to think about it.
Severus did not know how it happened. He knew he was intruding, but he had unintentionally seen some of the white-haired girl's memories, and they were painful. Abandoned in frozen hell where vicious beasts lurk, hungry, cold, alone… Losing every person who had ever meant anything to her, whatever the cause, forced to eat by herself hoping they would return, something which was not possible, crying all the time, all alone in the world… Yet she never bothered Severus with it. She had never once asked for his help. Yet she in turn, was giving him his support. Ilya did what she could to help Severus. She even risked her own life to save Lily, knowing that her death would wound him deeply.
Yes, Ilya had a sad life, but that was over now. It was all in the past. They were in the present. Severus is her lover. She was not alone anymore.
It no longer mattered to Severus now that Ilya looked so much like Lily. Ilya was Ilya, and that was the end of that. Severus was in love with her, and in turn, Ilya was in love with him…
Still, Severus thought that there was something he had to do. He needed Lily to forgive him. Forgive him for all the wrongs he had ever done to her in the past, so that that weight would be lifted off his shoulders, and they would both be able to move on with their lives, at peace with each other.
"Sev, Ilya," said the red-haired girl in a cold voice. Although their voices were similar, Severus could now easily tell Ilya's and Lily's voices apart.
"Lily?" he gasped.
Now's my chance, thought the raven-haired boy to himself
The situation at hand may be awkward, but Severus knew that this was as good a time as any. Lily was cold to him, but after all, that was to be expected. They were in a train compartment, and Lily was there. However…
"That's Mr. Snape and Ms. Emiya to you, Ms. Evans," he heard Ilya reply, her voice also chillingly cold.
Severus felt his mind freeze as he heard his girlfriend speak. The only time he had heard her speak with this much cold hate and fury before was when she was facing the Death Eaters in Diagon Alley, who were picking on the innocent…
-BREAK-
(Severus POV)
Severus could only watch as the two identical girls, his former best friend Lily, and his girlfriend Ilya, stare coldly at each other, emerald eyes upon a strikingly similar pair of emerald eyes. Severus could feel the chill, as the temperature of the room seemed to drop a degree with every moment that passed.
Oh, no, Merlin! What should I do? thought Severus to himself.
This was troubling. He did not know how it came to be, but from the short exchange of words that transpired between the two, Severus could tell that they were acquainted (not just during the night of the attack on the Evans), and not in a good way.
As Severus observed, the dislike visible in his former best friend's emerald eyes, (which seemed to be even greater than her former dislike for James Potter and her current dislike for Severus himself), was only matched by the cold hatred that was clearly visible on Ilya's own emerald pair.
The air was chillingly tense, as if a blizzard was brewing. Then, Ilya broke off the eye contact, and for a moment that lasted less than a second, Severus felt relieved, but then…
As Severus' Magic Circuits had already been awakened, he has now become more sensitive to sudden changes in the air around him related to magical energy, or prana, as Ilya called it. And thanks to that instinct, he had felt it. Ilya had activated her Magic Circuits, and sent a wave of energy, not at Lily…but at Remus Lupin…
Lupin suddenly cringed, and Severus observed that the werewolf's knees buckled. Then…
"So you felt that…" said Ilya, in a cold voice, who, as Severus observed, was now focusing her attention on Remus Lupin. "Then, please give me a good reason, as to why I should let you live, demon?"
As she spoke, Severus felt a gentle rush of prana from Ilya aimed at him to get his attention. Then he saw Ilya's mouth three words at him…
Guard the rear…
Severus was shocked, utterly confused. Ilya was definitely planning to do something with the people in front of her, particularly Remus Lupin, though the raven-haired boy didn't know what or why. And the serious look she wore on her face made the raven-haired boy really worried. However…
"Trust me," he heard Ilya whisper, in a voice that only Severus would be able to hear.
Those two words were enough, as Severus activated his own Magic Circuits, as he silently, and wandlessly, cast a Shield Charm behind himself and Ilya, unnoticeable by the others, ready to maintain it and continuously cast it, as insurance, in the direction of James Potter and Sirius Black, as the latter pulled out his wand, about to cast a countercurse on his friend.
Whatever happened next, Severus was sure that Ilya would not kill any of them. She had, after all, saved their lives once before…
-BREAK-
(Remus POV)
Remus Lupin was a calm and calculating individual with an excruciatingly long patience. Thanks to that, it was rare for anyone to anger him. One of those few times he felt anger included the time when Padfoot had tried to lure Snape to him during full moon. Well, it was partly because he was afraid that the Slytherin would die, but it was more because Remus did not want to kill anyone, as well as his fear of the repercussion his best friend would have to go through had he succeeded. If James had not stopped him, Black would have hurt himself badly, undoubtedly getting expelled and it might even land him on Azkaban, and Remus did not want to see his friends hurt.
Still, at that time, it was Remus' human side that was angry. Moony could tell, he could tell that the beast inside him was disappointed, as it sympathized with the dislike he held for the man. It was the same with how Remus felt about Greyback, as both his human and wolf side agreed on that matter: both sides wanted said werewolf, their own kind, dead. This time, however…
Remus Lupin felt his beast side rumbling furiously inside him. There could only be one possible reason for this, and it was the presence of the white-haired girl.
"Demon?" said the werewolf, trying to keep his voice calm, but a growl in it was noticeable. "What do you mean?"
"It is as I said," replied the white-haired girl, her voice cold and serious. "I was asking you why I should let you live, being what you are, demon…no werewolf… they're both the same to me anyway…"
The chill emanating from the white-haired girl increased. She was serious… dead serious…
"You are a threat. A danger to everyone around you. You carry with you a curse, a contagious one at that. You have a side to you that will not care, that will not give a second thought to who it hurts, as long as it is able to do what it wants… and you will eventually end up hurting or killing your friends."
Moony was shocked. Every word stung. Every word hurt. The girl knew. The white-haired girl knew. Severus must have told her.
Remus wanted to respond, but found himself unable to do so…
What's happening? thought Remus, feeling panicked and desperate, an uncommon circumstance for someone like him.
For Remus could now feel the wolf inside him desperately trying to get out, sensing the hostility directed at it. He remained silent, as he struggled within himself to keep the beast in check. It was not easy…
"So then, demon, have you now thought of an…" the white-haired girl was saying.
"If you're talking about him being a werewolf, we don't really care, he's our friend," squeaked a voice.
Remus was surprised, as the first one to speak for his defense was neither the loud Prongs nor Padfoot. It was Wormtail, and though he was shaking, he pulled out his wand.
"THAT'S RIGHT! MESS WITH MY FRIENDS AND THERE'LL BE HELL TO PAY!" roared a dog-like voice on the other end. It was Padfoot, and he was furious. He also had his wand out. Beside him, on the floor was an unconscious James Potter.
"How dare you…"
"Who do you think you are…"
Lily and Alice also pulled out their wands, both of them glaring at the white-haired girl.
The sight of his friends, ready to defend him, gave enough strength to Remus Lupin, to give them a small smile.
"Thanks guys," said Remus weakly, feeling in a fleeting moment of joy, that his friends will stand by him no matter what, but such moments…
"WHAT THE HELL?" Remus heard Sirius roar,
"What's happening!?" Peter squeaked.
"Ugh!" he heard two females voices cry out.
To Remus horror, he saw his friends drop their wands, as each of them, one by one, fell down to the floor, panting, as if something heavy was put on them… then he himself fell to his knees, as the same spell, whatever it was, was undoubtedly placed on him as well.
The beast inside the werewolf took the human's shock as an opportunity and took control. While Remus was still fully conscious, he no longer had any command over his body.
"So you finally decided to come out then, demon?" said the white-haired girl in a monotonous chilling tone.
"MMMMRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!" Remus felt his mouth move on its own, making an animalistic growl, as he stared the white-haired girl straight in the eye.
Moony wished that this wasn't real, that this was all just a dream…but it wasn't. For the very first time in his whole life, the wolf managed to take over, even though he was still in human form.
Merlin, no! the werewolf's human side thought to itself, trapped, helpless, unable to control the body which was now his own prison.
He knew what could happen. He knew what his beast side was like. It will attack anyone, any human in sight… He was now standing on all fours. His wolf side was indeed powerful. It was still confused, apparently. Although he could feel the pain from the spell, Remus found that it could still move the body despite that fact…
Then, he saw Peter, panting on the floor, and the wolf inside him felt a sudden excitement, as it positioned his body, ready to pounce… Remus knew what was to come…
"Someone…RRRRR….please…RRRR…before I hurt my friends…please…KILL ME!" cried out Remus before the human finally lost consciousness, in a desperate bid to save his friend from the demon inside him…
MMMRRRRRRRR, the wolf growled.
-BREAK-
(Alice, Peter, Sirius, Lily POV)
It was useless, whatever they tried to do was useless. They could not pick up their wands, they could not get up, they could not move. Try as they might, the spell that was placed upon them was too strong.
They could do nothing but watch their friend helplessly, as the monster inside finally took control, rearing its ugly head.
It was all the white-haired girl's fault. It was the same conclusion they had in their heads. They will make her pay for this, (as well as the greasy-haired Slytherin Severus Snape beside her)if they could. However, it did not change the fact that they were helpless, useless, at the moment.
Then, the wolf looked around, and focused its attention on the prey closest to its proximity: Peter.
Peter wanted to scream for help. His friends wanted to scream at him to get away, but they couldn't. They were struggling just to breathe, just to keep themselves conscious. Then…
"Someone…RRRRR….please…RRRR…before I hurt my friends…please…KILL ME!"
They heard the desperate cry of their friend. Remus was still in there. He did not want to hurt them. He did not want to kill them. He did not want them to die. Given time, he might just be able to regain control of himself but…
"I see, so that is your answer," said a cold voice that sounded exactly like one of their friends (like hers), Lily Evans.
It was girl who, save for the hair color, looked identical to her (Lily Evans), and she wore a cold, merciless look on her face.
"Very well," said the white-haired girl, and as she did so, their friend Remus was slammed to the ground, as the force of the pressure on him was increased, and although it prevented him from pouncing on Peter…
No! thought Peter.
She wouldn't! thought Alice.
There's no way… thought Lily.
DAMN BITCH! roared Sirius in his thought.
The white-haired girl began to chant what was undoubtedly a spell, in a chilling and frightening monotone.
I kill, I give life. I injure, I heal.
Mmmmmrrrrrr?…..The wolf-Remus' eyes widened.
There are none who escape from my hands.
There are none who escape from my eyes.
May it be so that you are shattered.
Mmmmmrrrrrr! The wolf-Remus started struggling to get up, despite the difficulty…
I welcome the defeated, the aged.
Surrender to me, learn from me, obey me.
May you be at rest.
Do not forget the song, do not forget the prayer, do not forget me.
I relieve you of all burdens.
May it be so that there is no deception.
Retaliation unto forgiveness, betrayal onto belief, despair unto hope,
darkness unto light, death unto life.
May you rest in my hands. Let there be mark of your sins.
MMMMRRRRRRRRR!
Eternal life is found only in death.
In one last desperate bid for its life, wolf-Remus managed to somehow overcome the spell and got up, and gave out a desperate howl…
AWOOOOOOOO!
Forgiveness is before you, and so my incarnation vows.
The wolf, focusing on the source of its torment, positioned itself, then sprang, charging at the chanting white-haired girl…
But hit something like an invisible wall, and was thrown backwards.
The werewolf's four friends could only watch in horror, helplessly, as Remus Lupin slumped to the ground, still and unmoving….
"May God have mercy of this soul" the white-haired girl finished, just as another voice roared at the top of its voice, with a mixture of fury and despair.
"NOOOOOOO! MOOOOONNYYYYY!" roared the voice of James Potter, as the messy-haired boy charged towards the two people standing in the middle of the compartment...
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Well, there you have it, another chapter out.
Later then, people...