Chapter 17: The Friendship Cycle
Remus Lupin woke the next morning exhausted, agonised and alone. He was able to get his stored away clothes on, but barely managed it without collapsing. He practically crawled his way out of the hollow and towards the waiting Madam Pomfrey, but to Remus' surprise, she wasn't alone. Professor McGonagall was there too, looking stiff and concerned. He couldn't imagine why, as nothing was much different to his first two transformations since coming to Hogwarts. He hoped nothing had gone wrong.
"Come along, Mr Lupin. Let's get you to the hospital wing." said Madam Pomfrey, in a maternal voice.
"Once we arrive, Professor Dumbledore and I would like to speak to you about something." said McGonagall, in an uncharacteristically kind voice.
Remus was now getting very nervous. Had Dumbledore decided it was foolish to allow a werewolf to stay at Hogwarts? Did something bad happen last night? He did wonder for a moment before transforming if he had heard some movement. But he dismissed it just before he changed at the rise of the full moon. Was he mistaken and there was someone in the passage with him?
The very thought that he had killed or turned someone made Remus shudder and collapse again. He didn't have the mental or physical strength to rise again, so McGonagall conjured a stretcher and she and Pomfrey helped him up to the hospital wing.
Remus was dazed and filled with fear. When they arrived, and laid him on a bed, Professor Dumbledore appeared as if on cue, and sat quietly beside him in a chair.
"Good morning, Mr Lupin." said Dumbledore pleasantly.
Remus could barely bring himself to look up.
"You look mentally distressed as well as physically distressed." said Dumbledore. "What's the matter?"
"You wished to see me, sir." said Remus worriedly. "Are you going to expel me? Did I hurt someone, sir?"
Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged sympathetic glances, then Dumbledore addressed the boy once more.
"You are not expelled, Mr Lupin." said Dumbledore assuredly. "However, there is an unfortunate matter I need to explain to you."
Remus paled. "If I have bitten someone, I want to be expelled."
"Please let Professor Dumbledore speak, Mr Lupin, so you can get back to calming down and recovering from your transformation!" said Madam Pomfrey sternly.
Remus nodded meekly. He was scared to hear what Professor Dumbledore had to say.
"Last night, you and Professor McGonagall were followed onto the grounds and towards the Whomping Willow by two fellow first years. Messrs Black and Potter." explained Dumbledore.
Remus went from pale to chalk white. He never had a particular liking for James Potter, but he never wanted to kill or inflict his condition onto him. And Sirius…his new friend...he couldn't have done…
"The two boys went into the Willow after you." continued Dumbledore. "Fortunately, before you transformed, and just in time, another student, a friend of yours, Mr Prince caught up to the boys and pulled them back. Sadly, Mr Potter saw you transform at the end of the passage. Luckily, all three boys were unharmed."
Remus exhaled in relief that Severus had been able to save Sirius and James. But then another daunting thought filled his head.
"But my secret is now out." he said morosely. "James will tell the whole school. He's been trying to find out what I was hiding from everyone from nearly the off."
"Mr Hagrid took the three boys to my office the moment they escaped." said Dumbledore quickly. "I ensured that not any of them will ever utter a word to anyone about your condition. I don't doubt that their adventure will soon be school knowledge, but it will only be left to rumour of what was at the end of the passage. As for Mr Potter, he feels very remorseful for how he treated you, and he gave my sincere word that he will keep your secret safe."
Remus was surprised, but relief washed over him once more.
"Thank you, Professor." he said tiredly, but with a much happier tone.
"It's all perfectly alright now." smiled Dumbledore. "Now get some rest, Mr Lupin, and we shall sample the Wolfsbane Potion next month. It's being brewed presently by Professor Slughorn, and soon you will be able to test its effects. Hopefully, last night will be the last night that you cannot control your condition."
Remus fell asleep with a smile on his face a minute after the Headmaster and McGonagall left the wing.
Dumbledore was right.
The news and the rumours of what had happened that night soon spread rapidly across Hogwarts. When Severus went down to breakfast the following morning, he was bombarded most unwelcomingly by many students wishing to hear his version of the events of the previous night.
Lily pulled him free from the crowd, and he saw that Sirius and James were getting the same treatment, though both boys were loving the attention.
Typical, thought Severus.
When Lily sat him down at the Ravenclaw, she sat opposite him on her Gryffindor bench.
"What happened, Sev?" she asked. She looked positively horrified. "You apparently put yourself in great danger trying to help save Sirius and Potter from whatever was down in that Whomping Willow tree!"
"I did." mumbled Severus modestly. He was not used to this attention and, seemingly from many students, admiration.
"What was it you saved them from?" whispered Lily timidly.
"I don't know." lied Severus. "We only heard a roar and saw a shadow, but it was too far away to make out. We just ran for it afterwards."
"But you helped Sirius and Potter. Even after everything that loser had done and said to you. You're a brilliant boy, Sev."
"Only cos you helped me to be." said Severus truthfully, though Lily was not aware of just how much Severus meant that.
Lily hugged her best friend, and Severus hugged her. He was definitely in love with her all over again. Whether Lily was or ever will be, remained to be seen, but he knew he was not going to mess things up this time.
"Hey, Severus." said a voice.
Severus looked over and saw the fourth-year student he had noticed and remembered from the Welcoming Feast walking up to him. It was Frank Longbottom.
"Hi." he replied swiftly.
"I hear you helped two of my fellow Gryffindors, one of which being the son of one of my father's friends. Good on ya, Severus." said Frank cheerfully.
Severus never expected to receive a compliment from a elder year Gryffindor, least of all, the man whose life he nearly put in the danger zone all those years ago after hearing the prophecy.
"T-t-thank you, Frank." he stuttered.
"No need to be shy around me." said Frank. "And no need to be so modest either. James and Sirius have been chatting you up all morning. Everyone is surprised at how much James has changed his tune."
Lily looked delighted. Severus looked gobsmacked. It was odd enough that the old James stood up for his favour in Heaven, but to hear this second, younger version singing his praises was almost too much to comprehend and process.
"This is perfect, Sev!" cheered Lily. "Now there's nobody bullying you."
"I wouldn't say that." said Severus coldly, nodding in the direction of the entrance to the Great Hall.
Standing in the doorway, looking at Severus with revulsion, were Lucius Malfoy and several Slytherin lackeys. Amongst them were fellow first years, Mulciber and Avery.
"Yeah, well, they're clearly Voldemort supporters." said Frank consolingly. "The Malfoys, Mulcibers and the Averys have been purists and Dark Art supporters for generations."
"Are you from a Wizarding family, Frank?" asked Lily curiously.
"Indeed I am." said Frank. "And I am glad to say my grandmother, a Pure Blood through and through raised me the right way. She takes no nonsense about these losers who think Pure Blood is the only blood there should be. She made me proud to be a Longbottom."
"Glad there are some people out there who are Pure Bloods and not supremacists." said Quincey, whom had just joined the group along with Mary.
"There are still many Pure Blood families out there who are good people." said Frank a trifle defensively. "The Potters for instance. Oh, I know James has been a bit cocky, in more ways than one, but at heart, his family are great people. And then there's the Weasley family."
After trying and failing to not blush at Frank's rude joke, Lily spoke up. "Weasley?"
"Yes." continued Frank. "I'm friends with Arthur Weasley. He left Hogwarts two years ago. He loves the idea of interacting with Muggles in fact. Wants to learn all there is to know about Muggles. And his girlfriend, Molly Prewett graduated last year. She was so happy to go out and join Arthur out there in the Wizarding World. I reckon Arthur will be proposing to her soon."
Lily, Mary and Quincey continued to listen to Frank's stories, whilst Severus looked to him with a sense of responsibility.
He knew what Frank's fate would be, should Voldemort and his Death Eaters continued to be on the rise in the next ten to eleven years. He had to destroy Voldemort before then, which was why he planned to search every book he could possibly think of in the library to find out as much as possible about how he made himself immortal using his soul.
His sense of being responsible for Frank's sanity and life was strengthened when he saw a third-year girl with short, yet styled hair run up to Frank, and kiss him gleefully.
"Hey, Frank." she said sweetly.
"Hey, Alice." replied Frank adorably. "Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Alice Moffett. She loves the Daily Prophet."
Alice slapped her boyfriend's arm.
"What did I tell you about using those mean and dumb limericks?" she snapped.
Frank blushed a little under his girlfriend's strict and authoritative tone.
"Sorry, darling." he said in a tone that, to Severus, was so obviously false in repentance.
Alice did not seem to see through it. "Aww, I can't stay cross with my Frankie!"
Frank blushed. "See you guys at the common room. Well done again, Severus." He pulled Alice away, whom waved to the group of first-years with a cheeky but friendly smile.
"That must have been utterly humiliating for Frank." laughed Quincey.
The others laughed too. But Severus' laughter was merely forced. He was feeling somewhat guilty at how friendly the future Longbottom couple were to him, and not knowing that in a different lifetime, he tortured and bullied their as good as orphaned son to the point that he himself, became that poor boy's Boggart. Another haunting thought in his mind was that they had their whole lives ahead of them, but it could be cut short, should people like Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange and Barty Crouch Jr survive as long as they did last time.
"I will save the Longbottoms, and Lily." said Severus to himself, in a promise-like sort of way.
Lily noticed Severus looked a little put out, and summed it down to the fact that he was being talked about all over the Great Hall. There were still lots of people staring at him, James and Sirius. She decided to take her best friend to the safety of the library.
As they, Mary and Quincey made to leave the Great Hall, they were called from behind.
"Oi, Prince!"
James came up to the group, Sirius and Peter Pettigrew bringing up the rear. The latter looked reluctant to be seeing his new best friend acting like he wasn't going to make a fool out of Severus.
"Yes?" asked Severus as civilly as he could manage.
James, rather forcefully, took Severus' hand and shook it vigorously and enthusiastically.
"Again, thanks a lot, Prince." he said earnestly. "If anyone gives you trouble, I'll set them right. Just let us know."
Severus had no intention of asking James Potter to stand up for him, but under the eye of Lily, he nodded silently in thanks.
James had the tact to understand how awkward Severus felt, and turned respectfully quiet. Sirius walked up next.
"Thanks a lot, Prince." he said once again. "You did a brilliant thing helping us back there. Just awesome!" He shook Severus' hand too, but only extended his hand. Severus took it hesitantly. He still couldn't help but think of this Sirius Black as the old one whom never stopped hating him.
Pettigrew said nothing. He just nodded coldly to Severus.
"About that mix-up with Peter and Mary and all that." said James suddenly. "He told me not long after that he did make up the idea that it was you who hit his head, and not Mary. So, I'm sorry about that, and, well, about everything else, really. I don't know why you bothered to help us after I had been such a jerk to you, Prince."
"Well." said Severus, speaking up at last. "Guess I'm just not the sort of person who lets anyone, even bullies, get themselves killed."
He said it with some sarcasm, but it was so well disguised in his sincerity, that nobody noticed.
"Well, good on you." said James.
"Definitely." added Sirius.
"And sorry to you guys too. I shouldn't have been rude to you just cos you were standing up for your friend." concluded James, looking to Lily and Mary in earnest.
Lily and Mary smiled.
"Apology accepted." said Lily.
"Glad we're all on the same page now." said Mary.
After Quincey and James exchanged a handshake with apologies and a newfound respect for one another, Lily led the group up to the library, praising Severus' latest life improvement, while James, Sirius and Pettigrew went to the common room.
As they sat in the common room, James spoke up.
"Guys, I can't help but feel that didn't go too well."
"Well, Severus Prince has been a target of your prejudice for two months, mate." said Sirius.
He and James were somehow back to being friends after their shared experience of nearly getting savaged by a werewolf. Apparently, such an occurrence that could only be kept between them only brought them closer together as opposed to further distancing them.
"I suppose." said James sheepishly.
"Why do you feel bad about upsetting Prince now?" asked Pettigrew timidly, but sternly.
"Cos he saved our lives, Peter." answered James severely.
"From what?" asked Pettigrew desperately. "What could he have saved you from in the root of a tree? Did you actually see something dangerous?"
"No, but we heard it." James partially lied.
"Then maybe it was just a trick from Snivellus!" suggested Pettigrew.
"There's no spell that fakes a roar from a dangerous creature, you idiot!" snapped Sirius.
Pettigrew shrank, looking abashed.
"Trust me, Peter. There was something down there, and if it wasn't for Severus Prince, we'd have been monster meat!" said James in a tone of finality.
Pettigrew didn't dare argue any further. He felt less liked and cared for since James' sudden change in demeanour and he feared losing his only decent friend in the school. He feared everything and everyone. How he became a Gryffindor was beyond him.
Not long after that minor fallout, Pettigrew slipped away to read up on some Transfiguration notes, as he didn't believe James would help him tonight. This was the moment for James and Sirius to speak in private.
"So, what do we do when Remus comes back?" asked Sirius.
"I don't know, but even if he knows that we know his secret, will he forgive us for intruding on him? Will he hate us for spying on him in the first place?" pondered James.
"I say we approach him when he returns from the hospital wing, and we explain to him that we accept his lycanthropy and will keep it a secret." said Sirius.
"I agree." replied James presently.
So, a few days later, Remus turned up to class, but avoided James and Sirius at every turn. They knew now for certain that Dumbledore had informed him of the events of that night, and he was possibly angered or fearful of them.
Lily couldn't understand Remus' sudden distance, particularly around Severus.
"Do you think his mum has died or something?" she whispered to Severus during Charms.
"I don't know." replied Severus, in truth knowing full well what the issue was.
After lessons ended, Remus went off to the library to seemingly study, but was really avoiding the common room. But he didn't bank on being followed by James, Sirius and Severus.
Severus held back when he saw James and Sirius approach Remus first.
"Hey, Remus." said Sirius quietly.
Remus paled more than usual.
Surprisingly, James had the tact and sense to look around to see if anyone was likely to listen in on them. He saw Severus standing around as if waiting his turn. James gestured Severus over to join them, which he did, albeit reluctantly.
Remus felt like the Germans did when the Big Three forced them into signing the Treaty of Versailles. He didn't want to discuss his condition with them, least of all James, even if he was claiming to feel repentant.
"Remus." said James. "I'm sorry I gave you such a hard time. If I had known what you were ill with, I'd never have abused you and made those accusations against you."
Severus was surprised at how remorseful James sounded and could find no smidgen of falseness behind it.
"I'm sorry I went along with James and spied on you." added Sirius. "It was silly of me and I am sorry we invaded your privacy, putting us all at risk."
"And we all vow never to reveal your secret to anybody." said Severus assuredly. "If you want, you can talk to us about it…someday."
Remus finally looked up at them after a discomforting silence.
"Thank you." he said simply.
James and Sirius could tell from that response that it would take some time yet for Remus to truly forgive them for their intrusion and in Sirius' case, betrayal of trust. He didn't feel particularly mad towards Severus. It amazed him that Severus worked out his secret so quickly, and if it wasn't for him, Remus may have killed or bitten his fellow Gryffindors, but he also couldn't face his friend. He feared that when Severus looked at him now, it would be with fear in his eyes, or at least in a different and unpleasant gleam.
Remus left the three behind.
"We tried." said James morosely.
"I say we just give him time." replied Sirius quietly.
The two Gryffindors nodded kindly to Severus before heading back to the common room.
As Severus made his way back to the Ravenclaw common room, looking forward to spending another happy day with Lily, he pondered how things were going for him when it came to friendship in his new life. He had Lily back, as a best friend and maybe one day, much more. But he also made some new friends he never imagined he would have. He befriended Petunia, whose alternate self had loathed Severus from the off. He also befriended Remus Lupin and Mary McDonald even though they were in Gryffindor and played roles in making his life with Lily and James Potter unbearable, and only today, he made another pair of new friends in Frank Longbottom and Alice Moffett. He knew that he was reluctant at first to make new friends, especially in the cases of Petunia and Remus. But now, he knew he must keep their friendships, not just because he had to, but because he now wanted to. He wasn't so sure about becoming friends with James and Sirius yet. The idea of such a thing and forgiving their alternate counterparts was still too painful and impossibly complex for him to consider, but for now, he knew he had friends, and he decided that somehow, he would save the Longbottoms and do everything he could to help Remus.
(Here's Chapter 17 at last. Sorry it took this long. My laptop's hard drive failed and I lost most of my files. So here it is, completed, and I plan to update Chapter 18 on Christmas Day, as a present to all those who have loyally followed my story and its prologue/prequel, The Four Options! Thank you for reading, and I hope you all continue to do so!)