Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Challenges and Assignments): Assignment 8

Celtic Studies: Celtic Deities

Task #12: Write about a battle.

Beta: Angela (CinderellaAtTheBall)

"It'll be alright, Rem," Hope Lupin said, trying to soothe her only child. "Just go into the woods and transform, and come back in the morning."

"I don't want to!" Remus wailed, big fat tears making their way down his cheeks. "I don't want to go into the woods again!"

"Tell you what, Rem. I'll walk you there, okay? But you'll have to come back by yourself."

"Why?" Remus sniffled, shifting on his mother's lap.

"Because you're a big boy, Remus! Four years old already! You can walk without Mum, can't you?"

"But it's s-scary out there!"

Hope sighed. "Okay, Rem. I'll walk you back this time, but eventually you'll have to come back by yourself. Deal?"

"Yes, Mum!"

Walking back into the place where he had become a werewolf - Mum had explained the term - was not a very nice experience. At least Mum was walking beside him, holding his small hand. He trembled, shaking with anticipation and fear.

"Don't be scared, Rem," said Mum. They walked further and further into the woods, past the place where the man - Fenrir Greyback, Mum told him - had attacked Remus. It was really, really dark now. At least Mum would walk him back.

Hope stopped abruptly, and Remus blinked, startled. Ahead of him was a large clearing, with a few trees and bushes. Other than those things, it was completely bare, with loads of empty space.

"Here, darling," Hope said softly, placing her hand on her son's shoulder. "It'll be all right."

She glanced one more time at her son, concern shining in her soft brown eyes, before she walked away, heading back to Lupin Cottage.

Transforming hurt.

A lot.

Hair sprouted everywhere, and Remus actually got his arm tangled in a few strands (yes, he knew how stupid that sounded). His head lengthened, which made his neck feel like it was being stretched (it was) and his features were changing, his nose becoming a snout, mouth widening and teeth sharpening -

His hands curled into clawed paws, landing on the ground with unnecessary force. The ground shook, a few small craters appearing. Fear snaked down Remus's spine. It was bad enough being scared of transforming into a feral, dangerous animal. He did not want to add 'falling into a hole in the ground' to his current worries.

His shoulders hunched as his body lengthened, stretching his skin uncomfortably tight. He felt as if he were trapped inside a body too small for him.

The wolf reared, and howled.

Stop it!

Why should I? the wolf asked, its voice mocking. This is my natural form.

It's not mine! Remus struggled, but there wasn't much he could do at the moment.

It is my natural form, and that is what matters.

No - it - doesn't! Remus yelped. I'm the owner of this body! Not you!

On days that are not the full moon, perhaps. But on the full moons, I am in charge.

You're not!

Oh yes, I am. See, you are fighting against my control even now, refusing to admit that I am at the top now.

Stop lying!

But even as Remus said that, he knew that what the wolf had said was the truth. He didn't like not being in charge of his own body. He was fighting the wolf fruitlessly for control.

The wolf laughed. Remus wouldn't say it was evil, but it definitely wasn't nice or good. It sounded like the laugh of someone insane watching their enemy suffer.

Fight me.

What?

Fight me, the wolf repeated. If you are truly in control, you will win.

Now, wait a sec -

For the second time that night, the wolf reared, and howled at the moon hanging innocently above.

Trying desperately to regain control, Remus scratched the wolf, forgetting, in the heat of the moment, that the wolf's body was his body. He shouted in pain, but it came out as a spine-chilling howl.

Yield.

What does 'yield' mean?

It means submit.

Mum says submitting to someone who's making you do something is bad.

It doesn't matter.

The wolf howled again - what was up with that? - and shrieked (can wolves shriek?) so loudly that Remus's ears would probably never be the same.

Submit.

No!

I could hurt you, hurt you and your puny little family, the wolf taunted. I could kill you all. Wolves have no mercy.

I won't let you!

You cannot stop me.

I can!

Fight me, then.

"Oh my god, are you okay, Rem? What happened, darling?"

Hope Lupin darted into the clearing, concern in her eyes.

"Wolf...fought...control...wanted to kill."

Hope blinked, and hoped that she had heard her son wrong. "Kill, Rem?"

"Yes," Remus blinked. "He wanted to kill you."

"What did you do?"

"I...I fought him. He wanted control."

"Say that again, please."

"I said, I fought him. He wanted control." Remus repeated, wiping his sweaty forehead.

"YOU FOUGHT HIM?"

Remus flinched back, and Hope immediately felt guilty and ran to comfort him. "I'm not angry, Rem, I swear. Just...be careful next time, alright?"

"Yes, Mum."