Primoris Oraculum Duo (First Prophecy Two)

Chapter 39

Harry had settled into reading a couple of chapters of History and then an advanced lesson in Charms. Remus had promised that they would practice the application of the lesson later and then go down to the beach. Harry found himself looking forward to that, remembering only one trip to the beach when he was very young. Dudley had buried him up to his nose in sand and Uncle Vernon had only made him dig Harry out when the tide had begun to come in and threatened to drown him. That thought made him apprehensive about the water, but he decided that it would be safe enough if he stayed well back from the waves.

Severus stayed in the makeshift Potions lab. He came out once when it was time for his dose. Harry could see that the man was twitchy and in a foul temper. He was very glad not to be having class with him. He doubted that Severus would be as patient as Remus was being. He knew the man cared for him and that it was the withdrawal that was making him mean, but he had no wish to test his limits at the moment.

After lunch, Remus and Harry practiced Charms and Remus reviewed him in some of the defensive moves they had gone over before. Harry quickly regained his rhythm with using his wand. As they were packing a bag of snacks to take to the beach, Severus emerged from the lab. He was dressed in the traditional male garb of the area; a long tunic and covered head wear. Harry stared at him for a long moment and Severus raised an eyebrow at him. Remus emerged from the kitchen, and eyeing Severus, he asked, "Feeling better then?"

"I need to obtain a few ingredients. I believe a walk is what I need, besides." His expression challenged them to question him.

Remus shrugged. "You might pick up some food supplies if you're going into the village. A few fresh vegetables would be good with dinner."

Severus turned without reply and left. Remus shrugged when Harry looked at him in question. They gathered their own gear and began the walk to the beach.

As they walked, Harry asked, "Will he be okay? After the withdrawal?"

"He should be back to his charming self by next week." He glanced sideways to Harry and decided to tell him what might be happening at the next full moon. "Severus is making an extra large amount of the Wolfsbane this month."

Harry looked at him quickly and then back down at the rocky path. "Why?"

"When he was the beithir béimneach, he could not be stopped merely with defensive and offensive spells. His mind was not his own when he was first transformed, and we could not make our counter curses effective until he was weakened. The only way we could think of at the moment it was all happening was for Albus to make it possible for me to attack him as a beast myself. He cast a full moon spell on the chandelier. I was not fully a werewolf and I retained my sense of purpose." He looked at Harry to see how he was reacting thus far.

Harry kept walking and he asked, "So, you fought Severus?"

"Yes. Once he was weakened, we were able to cast our counter curses. It was only after all that that we realized you were missing. Now, though, we have to be prepared for the possibility that not only I will be affected by the full moon, but Severus as well. It could be that I did not transfer the werewolf curse to him, since I was not fully transformed. It could be that even if I did, the curse was nullified when you gave the counter curse that changed him back from the beithir béimneach."

Harry walked silently for a bit and then asked, "Is this why you are both in a hurry to finish getting him off the pain potion?"

"Yes. It would be better not to have that variable if we don't have to deal with it."

"So, what will happen if you both change now?"

Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Severus is making the Wolfsbane. We know it works to make me safe from the change, even if I am still weakened and surly. We hope that it will work the same for him. But we will make sure that you are safe that night. We will set the wards stronger, even though no one but Albus knows about this place."

Harry had no answer to that. They had tried to make him safe before and their efforts had failed. His mood darkened with the thought that both of them might be unable to offer protection at the same time.

Remus noticed Harry's withdrawal from him as they walked, but wisely kept quiet. He waited until they got to the beach before speaking again. "Look. The sand is very smooth. I'll set our things up here and you can go for a swim if you like."

Harry gave a brief nod and walked on towards the water. Remus thought that he would at least get his feet wet, but Harry stayed well back from where the waves came rolling onto the shore. When he came back a few minutes later, he threw himself down on the blanket that Remus had spread.

"The sand is hard to walk in."

"Remus grinned, "I know. It'll be great exercise when we run. We start tomorrow morning."

Harry looked at him and narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"So you'll be in top shape when we go back. You need to build up your physical strength as well as your magical strength."

Harry took a resigned breath. He hadn't planned on expending that much energy. In fact, he'd much rather do nothing. Remus seemed to read those thoughts, because he said gently, "I know that you don't feel motivated to do all these things right now. But we won't let you just waste away the days. Our purpose in coming here was so that you could have the solitude you need to heal; not become a recluse. While you heal, you'll be keeping up and staying ahead in your school work and defensive and offensive training."

Harry leaned down to rest on an elbow as he gazed out at the water. "I don't even know where I am."

Remus smiled and gestured to the water. "That is the Mediterranean Sea. I'll get out a map when we get back and show you exactly where we are. Of course, the villa is unplottable, as it's Albus's. The villagers see it as a quite run down farm."

They watched the few sunbathers and swimmers for awhile and Remus motioned to the water again. "A dip in the water would feel good, don't you think?"

"I can't swim. Only Dudley got lessons. My experience at the beach involved him burying me and letting crabs pinch my ears. Uncle Vernon only made Dud dig me out when the tide got to my face. If some other people weren't looking at him, he probably would have let me drown."

Remus made a strangled noise, as if choking back a curse under his breath. "I know how to swim if you want me to teach you. We have plenty of time for you to decide."

Harry nodded silently, thinking to himself that it wasn't likely that he'd want to ever go into the water, any more than he wanted to take runs on the sand. Just walking on it seemed to suck his feet down and make him feel as if he suddenly weighed twice as much.

He laid there as long as Remus did, thinking that it would be time to go back whenever Remus decided it was. He even dozed a bit in the sun, the sound of the surf a soothing drone.

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They went back to the villa when it was time to be thinking about dinner. Harry helped Remus gather up the blanket, snack bag and umbrella before they walked back up the sloping grass-covered dunes to the villa.

When they got back inside, they were both surprised to see Severus in the kitchen already, cooking, no less. When he caught sight of their startled faces, he raised his chin and quirked a brow. "Need I remind you, Mr. Potter, that cooking is quite like potions?"

Harry remembered back to the outdoor grilling conversation at the Grangers during the previous year. "But that was Mr. Granger showing you how men cook …with fire."

"I felt like preparing dinner, since the two of you saw fit to stay at the beach for hours."

Harry could tell that Severus was teasing, even if his tone was sour. Remus was looking concerned, so Harry went over to the pans on the stove and pulled up a lid to sniff at the contents. "You must have been desperate to have fixed this stuff."

The black eyebrow climbed higher and black eyes glittered dangerously. "I'm not certain that there will be enough for you, Mr. Potter."

"Good." Harry hid a grin by turning towards Remus, who looked alarmed at Harry's words. Severus narrowed his eyes with a growl and raised the stirring spoon in mock threat.

Remus finally realized that they were bantering and he felt a relief that Harry was comfortable enough to do that with Severus, and that Severus was willing to lower his usual guardedness to let it happen. He observed Severus for a few moments and it appeared that he was getting through this latest interval with more success than the previous one.

They all began the work of preparing the table and the settings for dinner. When a sudden whining sound broke the silence, Remus and Harry both looked up. Severus continued to stir the contents of the pot, ignoring them. Just as Harry was setting the silverware down, the whining sound came again, this one longer and not possible to ignore. Remus saw the smirk on Severus's face as Harry looked around the room.

Harry scanned the room and his eyes fell on a box in the corner. It was shaking slightly, and the whining had turned into high-pitched yelps of distress. Remus caught the look that Severus gave him and he stood back to let Harry approach the box alone.

Harry knelt down next to the box and cautiously pulled back a flap. A black and white ball of fur made a leap up the inside of the box before falling back down inside. Harry sat down on the floor and tipped the box into his lap. A very happy puppy wiggled out and began to jump up to nip and lick at Harry's face. Laughing, Harry picked the puppy up and hugged it to his chest, letting it lick him in excitement.

After a few minutes, Harry looked up at Severus. "Where did he come from? Can I keep him? What's his name?"

Severus raised an eyebrow and Remus saw him struggling to subdue a satisfied smirk. "A man in the village was giving him away. It's the last of a litter and was the smallest one. He was willing to let me have it as he thought it was deformed."

Harry held the puppy up and looked it over. "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing. It's part Crup. The tail gives it away, but Muggles would see it as being a deformity."

Harry then noticed that the very end of the puppy's happily wagging tail was forked. The puppy was desperately trying to lick Harry's face and Harry pulled it close again. Remus sat down beside Harry and the puppy tried to give him the same treatment. Harry let Remus hold him and the puppy stopped wiggling when Remus gave a short growl. Its ears pricked up and he cocked his head at Remus. After running his hands over the little body, he said, "He's healthy enough. Crups are often smaller than their Muggle-bred counterparts. This is a half-breed?"

Severus nodded. "It appears so. The mother was not a Crup."

Harry looked from one man to the other and asked, "What's a Crup?"

Severus answered, "A Crup is a magical dog similar to a Jack Russell terrier. They're hard to find because Muggles usually see the forked tail and either put them down, believing they are deformed, or they dock the tail. Either way, the magic goes undetected."

Harry pet the now calm puppy. It sat contentedly under his hand, curled in the space between his crossed legs. "Will you let me keep him?"

Severus looked at him seriously for a long moment. "He will be your responsibility. Crups tend to imprint on one master. He is a baby and will require your care to train and feed him properly. This will, of course, be in addition to your other responsibilities."

"Alright," Harry readily agreed. "What is his name?"

Severus and Remus looked at each other before Remus answered, "You get to choose his name. The owner generally does."

Harry had a look of wonder on his face and he smiled at the puppy. "I get to name you … you're mine … I've always wanted a puppy …"

Severus watched him for a few minutes and then said, "Put him in the box and come eat dinner."

"I'll just hold him."

"You will not. He must learn his place is not at the table and not begging for table food. Put him in the box while you eat."

Harry reluctantly turned the box back upright and put the puppy into it. He immediately set up a distressed cry and tried to climb out. Remus folded the box top flaps together and cast a silencing charm. Harry kept looking at the shaking box all throughout the meal and as soon as he was finished, he took the puppy out into the garden.

When Remus and Severus looked out later, Harry and the puppy were laying in the grass, almost nose to nose. Harry was petting him and the puppy was looking back at him with adoring eyes.

Remus said quietly, "That was brilliant. I never would have expected you to be the type to like puppies … given our history." He glanced at Severus in question.

"I am not what you would call fond of animals … given my history," he said pointedly. "But when I saw him, I knew it was a Crup. I knew Harry was having a hard time talking about his ordeal, and that by your report, he is suicidal. I felt nothing would be lost in attempting to shift his focus outward. My plan is that he will be responsible for the care and training of the dog, but only after he has completed his assignments from us each day."

Remus nodded thoughtfully. "The dog might even be useful in the long run. They are renowned for their fierce loyalty. Some have shown magical abilities that they used to protect their owners in a crisis. A half-breed may not be magical, but I'm willing to bet he can be trained to protect."

Severus looked at Remus. "Perhaps he will make a better bed companion than Prongs or you."

Remus flushed, his jaw tightening. "I would never hurt Harry."

"I know that, Lupin. I am concerned about Harry depending on the physical comfort he gets from you there. It doesn't seem appropriate."

Remus glared for a moment before letting his shoulders slump. "I know. The wolf den mentality doesn't translate well to human behavior."

Both of them stood there, lost in thought, as the sun set.

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Harry was much more willing to get down to work the next morning. He fed and played with the puppy briefly and then placed him back in the box with the silencing charm in place. Every once in awhile, he would glance over and smile at the puppy making obvious bids for freedom, barking and whining, but soundlessly.

Remus lectured briefly, but had Harry mostly reading and then actively discussing the chapters he read in History. Harry found it much less tedious than the usual droning and boring lectures from Professor Binns, and he agreed with Severus that History was useful as a means of seeing strategy in retrospect and examining the possible value the strategy could have on the present.

Harry spent some time in the lab with Severus and followed his instructions in brewing a healing salve. Harry noticed that he was surly and kept placing a hand up to his temple, so he was determined to do his best to make a perfect end product. His perseverance paid off when Severus held the finished sample vial up, examined it closely and then gave him a brief nod. Coming from the Potions Master, that was praise enough.

After lunch, Remus took Harry and the puppy back down to the beach. Harry and the puppy ran on the beach, Harry throwing a stick and the puppy bringing it back. His joyful barking and jumping made them both smile. When they settled onto the blanket under the umbrella, the puppy promptly fell asleep.

Harry was looking at the dog with concern and Remus assured him, "He's just a puppy. He'll wake up ready to go again in a very brief time. Have you thought of a name yet?"

Harry nodded. "I was going to ask you and Severus what you thought about the name Jack."

"If that's the name you choose, then it will be fine."

"I just thought he would like a say, since he got him for me."

"Yes, he got Jack for you. But he wanted you to choose the name."

Harry nodded again, "Okay. Jack it is."

Severus put in only a brief appearance at dinner, pushed the food around on his plate and then abruptly left the room. Harry looked at Remus who explained, "The intervals between these last doses are getting longer. His body is begging for relief and he is fighting to stay away from asking me for more."

"Do you have more?" Harry asked.

"Only enough to get him through the schedule of decreasing doses. He knows he can't have more. It's just hard for him to not blame the person holding it for not giving it to him. These next few days will be rough."

True to the prediction. Severus was extremely short-tempered and agitated over the next days time. Harry spent any time away from Remus and classes with Jack in the garden. Once, he entered the kitchen to see Severus and Remus shouting at each other behind a silencing charm. Severus was red-faced and furious, Remus standing calmly straight, his hand behind his back clutching his wand. Severus looked over, and seeing Harry's distraught face he spun on his heel, disappearing back into the potions lab. The slamming door dissolved the silencing charm and Remus pocketed his wand. Walking over to Harry, he said gently, "It will be over soon; this is likely the worst part."

Harry looked down where Remus's wand rested. "Would you have used that on him?"

"If I have to keep him from harming himself or one of us, I will."

Harry looked at him for a long time before nodding his head and walking back outside, Jack on his heels.

At breakfast two days later, Severus sat down and sighed. "I apologize for all the upheaval. I believe I am through it now."

Harry got up and came around the table. Looping his arms around Severus's neck, he hugged him hard. Severus looked at Remus in surprise at this unexpected gesture from Harry. When he leaned back to look at Harry, Harry said, "I've been missing you."

Severus blinked, for once at a loss for an appropriately sarcastic response. Rolling his eyes, he squeezed Harry's hands where they rested on his chest. "I've missed you, too."

Harry sat back down, and over breakfast he told Severus about what he was learning in History and Charms. He added in where he was in his Potions readings, so Severus would know he was ready for the practical application. Wiping his mouth quickly on his napkin, he jumped up and snapped his fingers at Jack. The puppy had been obediently waiting at his feet while he ate, and now happily followed Harry out the door.

Severus looked to Remus in question, and Remus explained, "He knows he has to finish his morning duties with Jack before he starts lessons. He's really very good with his training and Jack is obviously very smart and willing to learn from him."

Severus picked up his cup of tea and went to the window to look out. Harry was standing with Jack at his side. The puppy was wiggling wildly in anticipation, his eyes glued on the stick in Harry's hand. Harry held his other hand palm down toward the dog and then threw the stick across the garden. Jack wiggled even more, the tail wagging madly. Harry waited only a few seconds and then raised the restraining hand. Jack raced across the garden and grabbed the stick in his mouth. When he dropped it at Harry's feet, Harry knelt and rubbed his head, praising him. The two repeated the routine several times before Harry simply threw the stick and allowed Jack to catch it almost before it landed. The training appeared to be over when Jack finally brought the stick back, but kept it under his paws as he laid down in the grass panting. Harry laughed and sat down beside him, petting and praising all the while. His back was to the house, but Severus could see that he was talking to the small dog from the way his shoulders moved and the way the dog kept his attention on his face.

Remus came up beside Severus. "They've grown close very quickly. He talks to Jack all the time when they're together. I don't know what he says, but he's more relaxed now than he has been."

Severus was silent for a few moments as he kept watching. Then he looked at Remus. "Jack? Why did he name it Jack?"

With a shrug, Remus replied, "I suppose because he looks like a Jack Russell terrier, although Harry hasn't said. He was concerned that he should get your approval before settling on a name and I assured him that you would want it to be his choice."

"Thank you. I was concerned that he was depending too much on my approval as well."

They watched as Harry sat talking to Jack, but then sat back down at the table before Harry knew they were observing them. When Harry came back in, Severus said, "If you are ready, we can begin your potions brewing first, as it will take the day to brew. Classes will may be done in between the times necessary to stir or add ingredients."

Harry put Jack into the bigger box he had found and waved his own wand over it as he said the silencing charm. Remus smiled, "Good, you've got the charm down now."

Harry smiled back at Remus and then looked at Severus expectantly. "I'm ready."

Severus gave him a long, intense look that Harry returned calmly. He was Occluding Severus, but it looked effortless and not as if Harry was hiding his true feelings. Nodding, he led the way to the lab.

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The next few days passed easily; Harry seeming to be a willing student of the two men, following directions immediately and without fuss. It was almost too perfect, as Remus and Severus discussed after Harry went to bed.

Putting his feet up on the table and sipping at a cup of tea, Severus commented, "He's afraid of something. He hides it well, and with any other teenager I'd believe he was simply doing as he was asked because there is no one else here to misbehave with. But Harry … he's been so angry recently … this sudden turn about is a concern."

"Jack could be the reason. Perhaps he's afraid we'll take Jack away if he doesn't do his work. You did say that the dog was his responsibility." He looked at Severus with serious gold eyes. "Tomorrow night is the full moon. I'll be fine, if a little out of sorts, with the Wolfsbane. Have you thought what you might do to prepare?"

"I'll put up stronger wards on the door to my room. I feel that we shouldn't take a chance that the Wolfsbane will work on me. My plan is to have you secure me in the room, the dose of Wolfsbane at hand. If I feel a transformation occurring, I'll take the potion. That way, we will know if I am to transform, as well as know whether the Wolfsbane will help."

"You should talk to Harry beforehand. I told him about why what happened and why we will both be preparing. He seemed to accept it, but …"

Severus eyed him with speculation. "But what?" When Remus didn't answer right away, Severus sighed impatiently. Gulping the last of his tea, he said, "Come Lupin; you haven't been this reluctant to state your beliefs before. What's on your mind?"

Remus looked at him silently for a long time before speaking. "Albus told me about the physical healing connection that the two of you shared in the past. I understand why it wasn't possible for you to heal him while you were in the cursed state. Albus also told me about the First Prophecy."

"I expected that he had. What of it?" he asked impatiently.

Remus looked at him with raised eyebrows. "I was wondering why, if you are the 'sentinel of the mind', that you haven't thought to try and use the healing connection in a more psychological way. Could you not try to help him in that capacity?"

Severus stared at him with his mouth open and eyes narrowed. Suddenly jumping up, he paced the room, hands behind his back. After doing this for a long while, he turned to Remus.

"Lupin, I may have misjudged you, yet again. Your logic astounds me, and what's more, I am astounded that I failed to think of this myself. I'll return shortly."

He turned to the hearth and grabbed the box of floo powder. Throwing a handful into the flames, he shouted for Dumbledore's office. Without another word to Remus, he stepped in and was swallowed up in a flash of green.

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A/N:

I needed to review what the prophecies actually said and I thought you would all like to have them here, as well. It helps not to have to go looking for it!

The First Prophecy by Cassandra Trelawney concerning Snape (First Prophecy):

The one in darkness will turn to shrouded light.

He will be sentinel of the mind of the light and find true release for darkness past.

Forging of the bond will create a united remedial power of radiance so that what may be lost will be saved.

Other worlds will be preserved through the amity of the two, then hostility will split them before the ending brings peace.

The Prophecy by Sybil Trelawney concerning Harry (canon):

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies... and the Dark Lordwill mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives."

Thank you everyone, for reading, for your encouragement, and for the lovely reviews! Miss Muse said to tell you they were very satisfying and she plans to have Harry set to rights soon as a reward for your efforts!

Thank you to logicalquirk, my fantabulous beta!

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