Petunia shifted nervously on Andromeda's large plush sofa, everything was warm and soft in the room not overtly feminine. Petunia had been talking for over an hour and did not know what to say she had told Andromeda everything and was watching the beautiful Woman's quill fly over the paper.
"This is rather a lot, but I have a feeling you have only glazed over the worst of it." Andromeda smiled softly Petunia hung her head slightly. "Now none of that I understand, it will take you time to adjust and get comfortable with me. You have faced something not many would survive, all without Magic to help. Now you find yourself living like a witch, something you coveted in your youth. I would like you to start a journal of your everyday experiences and I think we can leave it there for now. I'm sure you wish to get home." Andromeda said softly standing up Petunia followed her from the office and to the Floo where Remus was waiting, pacing worriedly in front of the Fire.
"Ah see your escort is Here for you I will see you in two weeks then Petunia same time." Andromeda smiled at her nodding to Remus who had stopped out of his pacing to bow his head at Andromeda.
"Thank you Andromeda I will see you then." Petunia spoke softly stepping to Remus' side allowing him to pull her under his arm and into the Floo taking them back to the Manor.
"Welcome back I have this for you." Severus said handing Remus a smoking Goblet who grimaced and slammed the potion it contained.
"Nasty as always." Remus said handing the goblet back.
"Likely the Molly and Aconite mixed. I am looking into alternative solutions. I have even Owled Damocles to discuss it further. Any other adverse reactions I should mention?" Severus asked Remus shook his head negative.
"He gets extremely sick an hour after he takes the potion he gets nauseous and light headed and has to sit and do nothing till it passes." Petunia piped up glaring at the smoking Goblet then up at Severus who looked at Remus. Remus sighed walking over to Petunia and ushering her to sit down in the sitting Room Severus followed looking grim. Remus sat on the coffee table facing her. It had not occurred to either man to tell her what the potion did. Remus sighed, taking her hand in his and looking into her light blue eyes.
"Petunia the potion is supposed to make me sick. Aconite is poisonous extremely so to werewolf's it can kill us, the levels in the potion only make me ill for a while. What you need to understand is the change is extremely painful. My bones break and reform into that of a creature that resembles a wolf but bigger. The ears, tail and fur are the worst part of it; it shreds my epidermis and shoves itself out of my pores. The pain is so bad I pass out and wake up locked inside a snarling raging beast who wants to Hunt and kill. The potion enables me to keep my mind while trapped in the beast's body, so I don't kill anything. I am a monster, Petunia, that is what you need to understand." Remus said sadly standing pulling his shirt up and turning his back to her. "Do you see the Scars, they are the result of me not having the potion month after month I lock myself away and bite and claw at my own flesh because there is nothing else to hurt." Remus added sadly letting the shirt fall and briskly walking out of the room away from Petunia's tears, not able to handle them.
"I think you need to see something Petunia." Severus said, pulling something out of his pocket and setting it on the table in front of her. He unshrunk a large silver bowl and took something from his head and put it inside. "This is what Happens to him. Put your Face in the liquid and watch." Severus prompted her, she did as he asked.
"I… I…. That.." She murmured once the memory played and she looked at him again.
"That is what he has gone through since he was 5, The potion was only discovered a handful of years ago and is expensive to make no one outside of a very well off pureblood family can afford the expense. He is scared, Petunia He would never live with himself if anything happened to you or the Boy's hence his wanting the Boy's at the Weasley's tonight. He doesn't even want you here but he also knows that there will be times I can't be here and he will need help after the transformation. Hell He would lock himself in Azkaban if he thought it could hold him and keep you all safe from him. Hell He tried to get me to help him make an outdoor cage I refused. Petunia not only does he fear what could happen if he hurts you or the boy's he is afraid that that monster in the memory is what you and the boy's will see him as." Severus said sadly, collecting the basin, shrinking it and placing it back in his pocket. He left Petunia alone to her thoughts, No wonder Remus had escaped inside himself the last week his normal jovial attitude turned sad and distant. The only time he would not dwell on the upcoming full moon was when he was around the Boy's. She missed the easy going natural man he had been the day he told Petunia about his condition. Madam Pomfrey was right; he was an extremely caring man, sweet and warm but so haunted. She would do something to show him her appreciation, He has a sweet tooth a mile wide and she had just the Cake to bake him.
Remus sat ashamed to have Run from Petunia but he had to show her what kind of monster he really was. No matter how she warmed his heart tugged at his gut or stirred his nether regions. Severus joined him sitting with his back pressed to Remus' an symbol of trust to the man, trying to show trust to the man who thought he was the monster he became once a month. It was a wolf thing showing affection to an alpha even if Remus was not one he was still the only Wolf in his new Pack and Mooney seemed to like the Gestures from Severus.
"Is she upset?" Remus asked.
"No not when I left a bit taken with everything." The other man said.
"You showed her didn't you?" Remus stated.
"Yes she needs to understand I know Tuni and she can hack it." Severus said leaning back into the other man more knowing Remus could handle his weight.
"I trust you to know better than me but I just could not stand to see her opinion of me change." Remus said.
"You already love her? She has changed a lot. She is nothing like I remember. " Severus asked, not surprised, he too had loved an Evans at one time.
"I think it's deeper, I think much Deeper, I remember feeling the pin pricks at Lily and James' Wedding but she was married already." Remus stated.
"The Wolf Knew then. Interesting.." Was all that Severus replied.
"Got a letter Today Amelia Bones looked into the Records of Sirius' incarceration, Petunia has proof that Sirius swore as Harry's Godfather. He will be given a trial and a chance to tell everyone." Remus said softly.
"I See." Severus' deep voice replied, paused and added more along the lines of how he would have as a teen. "I assume once your best friend has returned you will no longer need me."
"My Best friend is Severus Snape and if Sirius Black wishes to be my friend at all he will have to swallow that pill." Remus said plainly pleased when he felt the deep breath Leave the other man. Severus had trust issues and fear of not being enough just like he did. Remus would not be the kid he had been ignoring the pain Sirius and James put Severus through.
"That will not sit easy with him." Severus said finally.
"Well he will just have to suck it up as it is even if he gets out he has years of rehabilitation ahead he will need the care after being stuck with the dementors for so long. It will just be one of the many changes he will have to accept. You are part of my Pack now Sev you know how much Pack means to me." Was all that Remus could offer the dour man.
"Good I'm growing fond of the boys, It would gut me to part from them now." Severus said softly it was a little known fact that Severus loved kids. And as it was Harry and Dudley loved having the man around when he wasn't acting as the dungeon Bat.
"Come we should get you some Dinner Sev we have a long night." Remus said standing knowing he would not be able to stave off the wolf if he was hungry he needed a blue rare steak pronto. He slug an arm over Severus' shoulders walking back into the Manor.
Where the smell of chocolate filled the air and had Mooney purring like a cat normally dogs and wolves could not ingest chocolate, But Remus and Mooney both loved chocolate. And the heavenly smell pulled Remus into the Kitchen Severus on his heels, where he found Petunia dancing around a large Cake humming as she decorated the large chocolate confection.
Mooney howled wantonly wriggling in excitement. Petunia looked up from her cake spying them and frowned at the pair.
"You two are worse than the boys. I swear it's like having 4 boys. You have ruined my surprise." She put down the piping bag she had been holding and set her hands on her hips glaring at Remus and Severus. Who watched Remus carefully, who's eyes flashing gold and amber. The werewolf growled low a soft reverberation of pleasure, Severus relaxed slightly and cocked his head bearing his throat to the werewolf in a show of submission hoping to ease the situation. Gold eyes surveyed him sniffing his exposed throat, his eyes darting to Petunia hoping she would follow suit. Instead She stepped forward placing a hand on Remus' chest and blinking up into the golden eyes.
"Mooney I know it's close to your time to come out but I would like to speak with Remus please." She smiled at the Werewolf and earned a shocked intake of breath from Severus.
"She does not care for the wolf part of the man." The gravel pitted voice of the wolf stated Remus leaned down bending into Petunia's throat sniffing. Remus forced his body away from Petunia after winning control from the wolf and slammed himself into the wall.
"Get her out of here Severus Mooney wants her she can't stay!" Remus groaned sliding down the wall folding himself in half covering his growing erection. Severus blinked, impressed with Remus self control but he knew taking her away from the house would cause the wolf to go nuts.
"That's not how it works as long as she is here Mooney won't hunt her down and endanger others." Severus said softly. The wolf had not even moved to harm the woman he nodded to Petunia curious what the wolf would do if the woman willingly went to him. Petunia rushed to Remus who struggled to keep Mooney at bay but at her touch Mooney surfaced again gold eyes bore into her blue.
"I am not afraid Mooney I know you would never hurt me, I know you and Remus are one being but I would really like to talk with the man please." She smiled and tilted her head the way Severus had in submission.
"Mooney wishes women to be happy. Her smiles and laugh warm us. Mooney will give man to woman." The wolf blinked and Remus' eyes were once again amber. He grabbed her arms and gave her a shake.
"That was reckless he could have killed you Petunia! Please stop!" He begged, she shook her head and threw her arms around Remus' Neck.
"No You would never hurt me Remus you are Mooney and He is you neither part of you would ever hurt me or the boys. You gave us a new life, a place to call home good friends to turn to. All thanks to you I wanted to make you something special, I know you have a sweet tooth I wanted to show you exactly what you mean to us." Petunia smiled, kissing Remus' cheek and hugging him tight. He pushed her softly away not wanting to hurt her feelings.
"I need to get outside Severus. I can't hold back, the change is coming even though it is not moonrise yet. Help me please!" Remus said standing Severus pulled him out of the kitchen as the first of the snapping of his bones tore a scream from his lips. Petunia raced after them as Severus threw Remus out of the house and started casting a wide spell that covered the first two floors. Petunia ran to the window, her hand over her mouth as she watched the man start the change. Remus withered on the ground in agony she swore she could hear his bones breaking. A hand pulled her from the window and away from the man she had begun to rely on.
"Sev He shouldn't be alone he's in so much pain!" She cried trying to tear away from his grip. Severus pulled her to face him, his dark eyes begged her to see reason.
"No he should have a Pack but his is dead Petunina only an animagus can safely be around a Werewolf. The curse cannot be transferred to another animal, The only member of his pack that is alive is in Azkaban. He would not want anyone to see him like that he deserves that bit of pride at the very least." Severus shook a bit unnerved that Remus had changed so quickly after a full rotation of wolfsbane moon rise was two hours away.
"If I had the courage I would undergo the process and become an animagus myself but as you saw in my memory being face to face with a werewolf terrifies me. I do not have the bravery of his other friend Petunia. The only reason he agreed to let me stay here with you tonight was if I swore I would kill him if he got anywhere near you after he changed. He asked me to be here for as many of his transformations as I can. He doesn't trust the wolf the way you seem to." He shook her a bit trying to get her to see reason.
"Too many people have turned on him out of fear Sev I will not stand for it!" Petunia set her jaw and Arms crossed and for a moment Severus saw Lily Evans and knew he could not argue.
"Petunia it won't be easy, Remus is haunted by what he is." Severus began.
"I don't Care He could have dropped us at Hogwarts and left without so much as another glance. A lesser man would have left three emotionally and physically damaged people to fend for themselves. But not him, he is a good man that did not deserve what that thing did to him. He will see that if it is the last thing I ever do!" She stamped her foot another similarity to Lily.
"You Evans are going to be my death, Alright I will learn to be an animagus, It may take a while it's not a easy branch of magic but if Potter and his friends could do it then so can I. I won't be able to come every full moon but will do everything I can to be here as often as I can." He sighed Just as a pain filled howl filled the air. Petunia started to cry at the sound he was in pain and she couldn't do anything.
"I never thought I'd see the day when you would care about another person." Severus said softly.
"People change Sev mom and dad dieing changed me being with Vernon changed me, Lily, Harry and Dudley changed me. I began to believe I deserved everything Vernon did to me." Petunia sighed.
"One word from you Tuni, I know of a werewolf who would happily help me kill him. Remus adores you and the boys, His wolf listened to you and backed off. That in of itself is nothing short of a miracle, He needs love Tuni if you can't love Remus then just leave him be. Go sleep Moonset will come quicker than you think. I'll help him inside and show you how to treat his wounds." Severus said softly, Petunia hesitated watching Severus pace in front of the Door, instead of doing as he said she fled to the kitchen to finish the cake she had made. Fauna brought her some coffee she sipped lightly watching out the kitchen window.
"Fauna you should take a cuppa to Severus so it will be a long night." Petunia said absently.
"Yes Mistress." Fauna curtsied doing as asked.
Petunia sat at the breakfast Bar sipping her Coffee thinking over what Severus had said about Remus needing love. If any man deserved love it was Remus, he was a warm genuine person, lavished attention on the boy's they were thriving under his guidance, He was patient, kind, intelligent, He exuded strength and power when he was not doubting himself. Petunia had always longed for a man to look at her the way Remus looked at her. She loved how effortlessly he made Magic happen; it made her skin tingle as if she were finally a part of magic.
Everyone had been telling her to open up and let herself heal, she only felt normal around Remus and the boy's. They made her feel special, a part of magic even if she could never wield it. Perhaps it was time to give Molly's suggestion a try and get herself tested in aptitude. She would not be a victim anymore! It was up to her to Make this place a home not just for the boy's but Remus, She did not like the way he acted in the manor. One step at a time Petunia glanced outside seeing the pre dawn soft Blue's peeking from the edge of the world.
The front Door opened with a slam that sent her running to the hall. Remus Hobbled into the house caked in dirt and blood, his clothes shredded . Severus had rushed to his side helping Him Hobble into the house.
"Pain was double it normally is under the potion took all my years of control to hang on to my mind it was a near thing. Mooney wants her, Severus wants to mark her. I have no Idea how he was able to force the change Fucking hurt like Hell." Remus said in a voice thicker and deeper than she had ever heard.
"Very little is known about Werewolf mating Remus; no one knows how the wolf reacts nor the effects of not mating. Your early change could very well be because of your refusal to follow your instincts." Severus said, looking grim.
"I will not allow my instincts to harm anyone." Remus said in a flat tone.
"Remus you can no longer just use your head, you have fully accepted the wolf as such your instincts are now ten fold. You may now have a degree of control over the Wolf. Perhaps even partial change like Greyback, by not embracing this you are crippling yourself." Severus said firmly. Remus blinked recalling the control Greyback did.
"That beast maintains that embracing the wolf leads to greater power, He is a monster in every sense of the word. You wish for me to be like him?" Remus said, his voice icy.
"I'm convinced that if you embrace what you are, you could become more not Man, not beast, Lycan, Volkodlak, I am convinced they are not just muggle stories but lost history of your species. Look at how much of Vampire lore the muggles got right Remus you are no longer a mortal man. You are not bound by the limits of man, you are a kind, warm man I know you would not become like Greyback. If only you would try." Severus stated firmly. Remus blinked at Severus stunned and shifted himself standing without help looking down at his blood covered hand.
Remus remained ramrod straight blinking down at his own hand, a hard crunch and breaking of flesh Remus' hand shifted becoming clawed. He held it up flexing the appendage, Severus smiled watching.
"See you have your mind and his strength. Did it hurt?" Severus asked softly.
"No more than normal, just the bone breaking and reforming my muscularature is doubled if not triple what it normally is. This is bazare." Remus blinked, took a deep breath and allowed his human hand to replace the Calw.
"No Remus, it is you." Petunia said softly stepping closer to the man and taking the hand that had been a claw moments before. "There is nothing wrong with you. You are what you are there is no shame in that and those that tell you otherwise are the ones who should feel shame. This hand has ripped a abuser away from me, this hand has soothed Harry's nightmares, this hand has patted my son on the shoulder given him the strength to be better. It is not what you are but who you are that defines you, Severus,the boys and I know who Remus Lupin really is." Petunia said, holding his hand tight.
"She's right, let the past go Remus. It's time For both of us." Severus encouraged.
Remus looked from the tall potions master to the tiny woman and nodded, what they had told Petunia about healing and moving on from the pain was just as true for him and Severus and come what may he would not betray the faith his friend and Petunia placed in him.