Chapter 17 – Wolf bonding
The following week passed by with Olivia hardly noticing a thing because she was still in such high spirits. She had all but forgotten the phrase that was bothering her at the end of her birthday; in fact she even forgot that Professor Lupin had said anything to her. The fact that today was Friday which made tomorrow Saturday and Halloween didn't dampen her spirits any. In fact the whole school was excited for Halloween to just get there, well everyone except Professor Lupin that is. The following day happened to be a full moon as well as Halloween and not only was he afraid for himself but for Olivia as well.
Because Remus was a werewolf Olivia was a half wolf, but he wasn't sure if she would change or not. Dumbledore had explained that she had never changed before because she was away from a magical area and therefore all of her magic was hidden. But now that she was in a magical area her magic was slowly but surly showing its self. Remus had decided to watch his daughter carefully especially now that the full moon was the following day. They all thought that if she changed she would change this full moon because of Dumbledore's discovery of her sharpened senses. But all they could really do was wait and watch.
* * *
Olivia entered the great hall full of spirit Friday morning followed by three less exited students by the names of Harry, Hermione and Ron. They all sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to stock up on their energy for the day. As Olivia looked over the food that was on the table she found herself drawn to the sausages, so she helped herself to about half a platter of them.
"A little hungry there?" Harry joked.
"Have you seen your plate lately…or better yet Ron's?" Olivia retorted. "This is actually small compared to what I normally eat."
"I know but still you took half a platter of sausages."
"I dunno I always have pancakes or French toast and I really feel like eating sausage."
"Alright I was only kidding with you." Harry surrendered holding his hands in the air. Olivia just simply smiled back at him.
A ragged and starved Remus Lupin made his way into his seat at the head table with his ever present dog snuffles at his heels. Remus fed Snuffles a plate of bacon, sausage, and French toast, while he got himself a plate of sausage and bacon. As Remus ate he surveyed all the students and stopped when he came across the foursome he was looking for at the Gryffindor table. He smiled a sad smile as he realized that Olivia was eating a plate of sausage like him instead of her normal French toast or pancakes.
* * *
The rest of Friday went by without much event but Saturday left much to be desired. Olivia woke up with a slight headache and a ravenous appetite. She downed more sausages and bacon then she ever thought she would in her life and she was still slightly hungry when the left the great hall.
By lunchtime Olivia's headache had developed into a migraine and even though she had goon to Madame Pomfrey she still didn't feel any better. Olivia had also become a little moody and luck for her the boy's noticed and began to tease her for it.
"Aww poor Olivia…are you PMSing?" Ron asked innocently.
"NO!" Olivia barked "that was two weeks ago…and besides I won't be PMSing anytime soon."
"Why?" Hermione asked interested
"I found an, oh so lovely spell in one of the spell books I was browsing through…it's a very helpful book…I'll show it to you later." Olivia responded
"So then what's got you in a bad mood?" Harry asked with genuine concern for his friend in his voice.
"I don't know…I was fine earlier but all the sudden I feel like shit."
"Well did you over eat at breakfast?" Hermione offered
"No…I-I was still hungry afterwards." Olivia sheepishly replied she usually never ate that much.
"You were STILL hungry?" Ron asked amazed.
"Maybe it's because you ate only meat." Harry suggested
"I don't think that's it…" Olivia began but was interrupted when Hermione gasped.
"What's wrong 'Mione?" Ron questioned.
"I've just thought of something…it's a full moon tonight." Hermione stated.
"So 'Mione that only Professor Lupin." Ron pointed out.
"Yea but she's acting like he does when it's the day of the full moon. Do you remember when he used to get really moody yet tired sometimes during class and the next few days he'd be out?...Well that's because it was the day of a full moon. We have to talk to Dumbledore he might know what's going on."
"So you're saying that Olivia might be a werewolf?" Harry asked a little unsure
"Well I'm not sure but it's a hunch." Hermione replied
"Well if I am then how come I've never felt like this on a full moon before?" Olivia challenged.
"I-I …I don't know…let's just go see Dumbledore."
* * *
"Good Afternoon Mr. Weasley, Potter and Ms. Granger, Stanton. To what do I own this much unexpected visit?" Dumbledore greeted as Ron, Harry, Hermione and Olivia entered his office.
"We're worried about Olivia." Harry stated.
"What causes you to worry about Ms. Stanton?"
"She's acting like Professor
Lupin." Ron answered
"I'm afraid I don't understand your meaning." Dumbledore replied.
"They think I'm a werewolf because I'm dizzy, I have a migraine and because I ate only sausages and bacon this morning for breakfast." Olivia supplied getting the hint that subtleness wasn't working.
"A lot of bacon and sausage." Harry added
"I see…and why do you say she's acting Like Professor Lupin?" Dumbledore asked causing the students to figure it out by themselves.
"Because it's a full moon tonight and she's been like this all day and Professor Lupin acts this way when it's the day of a full moon." Hermione supplied sounding like her normal textbook self.
"I have a question." Olivia voiced.
"Yes Ms. Stanton?"
"How can I be a werewolf if I've never felt these symptoms on a full moon before in my life…and I haven't been bitten by a werewolf."
"Good question Ms. Stanton but I believe in order to answer that question you'll need a lot more answered as well and I'm afraid that I neither have the knowledge nor the permission to answer all of your questions but you may ask Professor Lupin about that tomorrow once he has had time to rest." Dumbledore answered truthfully.
"Thank you Professor." Olivia replied knowing that the conversation was over and leading the other three out of the office behind her.
The four Gryffindor's walked silently to their common room taking in all that they weren't directly given.
* * *
Remus Lupin entered Professor Dumbledore's office a little worried with Snuffles right behind him.
"I came as soon as I got your owl Headmaster." Remus announced as he took a seat in front of the professor. Sirius changed back into his human form and sat down next to Remus.
"I'm worried about Olivia."
"What's wrong with her?" Remus questioned
"She has the same symptoms as you Remus …although I am not sure if she will change, the symptoms may be all she has."
"I noticed that she had, had some but I did not notice all." Remus supplied
"Sirius do you think you could calm a first time wolf if needed?" Dumbledore asked looking at the other man.
"Yes…I do believe that I could handle it why?" Sirius retorted
"I'm going to ask you to keep an eye on Olivia for the remainder of the evening…IF she does happen to change I will need you to clam her and lead her out of the castle and down to the Shrieking shack with Remus." Dumbledore instructed
"But what if they attack each other…I don't think I can take on both of them." Sirius asked concerned for them all.
"Even in wolf form I will recognize her as my own cub and will do nothing to hurt her…She'll be safe with me. Besides I'm taking the wolfsbane potion again." Remus replied with a sad smile playing across his lips. He had really hoped that his girls wouldn't get his curse.
"Will we run the risk of her attacking you though?" Dumbledore voiced.
"I do not believe so she'll be too scared to really do me any harm and snuffles here should be able to keep her pretty calm if she did try anything."
"So it is settled then. Sirius you will follow Olivia around and keep her safe…Yes Remus what would you like to ask?"
"If one …has …it…do they…both have it?"
"I do not know but I'm sure it will all be answered in time." Dumbledore answered in all truthfulness.
* * *
For the rest of the day Remus Lupin walked around wondering about his daughters and whether they had the same monthly curse as he had or not. He was at a loss for what to do, he still had a few hours to kill but Sirius had immediately gone to follow Olivia around. Remus didn't mind really that Sirius left to go watch Olivia; he was just a little lonely now. After walking aimlessly around the castle for a bit he decided to head back to his quarters and read over some of the essays that he had to grade.
* * *
As the night slowly wore on Olivia began to progressively feel worse and worse. She began to think she was hallucinating when she noticed a big shaggy black dog following her everywhere but was relieved when Harry, Ron, and Hermione saw the dog as well. Before the Halloween feast the trio made Olivia lay down and take a nap which they deemed would make her feel better. After much fighting Olivia finally slipped into a fitful sleep.
"Olivia…Olivia?" Harry said trying to wake Olivia up without scaring her half to death. He shook her a few times and that seemed to work as she began to stir. Snuffles, who was at the foot of Olivia's bed, saw that Harry had not succeeded in waking Olivia up so he took it into his own hands.
"I'm up! I'm up!" Olivia exclaimed sitting straight up after snuffle's bark had echoed throughout her silent room.
"It's time to go to the fest Olivia…are you feeling better?" Harry asked
"Yea…thanks, I actually do feel better."
"Good…I'll wait outside with snuffles while you get ready."
"Ok…thanks Harry." With that Olivia stood up and pulled Harry into a thankful and friendly hug.
Once Olivia was ready the four and Snuffles headed down to the great hall for the Halloween feast. The hall was decorated with its usual floating bats and gigantic pumpkins and the smell of cinnamon filled the air. Olivia smiled despite the lurch her insides gave. She sat down at her normal spot and moderately filled her plate when the foods appeared. For although it felt like the inside of her body was being rearranged she was still a little hungry.
Snuffles sat right behind Olivia watching both her moves and what she ate carefully. He noticed that she was now reaching for anything but meat, which he thought was odd. Then just as Olivia was turning around to offer snuffles some food her body lurched and she crumpled under the pain. Snuffles leapt up and caught her as she fell to the floor fainting from the pain.
Fearing that she was going to change Snuffles headed out of the great hall with Olivia on his back. He headed straight for the shrieking shack hoping that Remus hadn't lost himself completely to the wolf so that he could still converse with him.
"Rem…you still there?" Sirius asked telepathically
"Yea Si…I'm here but not for long…what's wrong with her?"
"I think she's changing…she's been getting worse all day and she just fainted in the hall…from pain I think…I'm bringing her to you now."
"NO!...don't Sirius…it's not safe"
"But Rem I thought you said that you wouldn't attack your own cub?"
"But she hasn't changed and she won't"
"Why not?"
"Because she's not…just get her to Poppy…"
With that Remus left and the wolf dubbed Moony took his place. Sirius quickly changed his paths and carried the teenage girl up to the hospital wing.
"My dear what's all this about?" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she saw a black dog trot in with a student on its back.
Sirius carefully changed into his human form making sure to still hold onto Olivia.
"Sirius?!"
"It's alright Madam Pomfrey…I'm innocent remember."
"I know but still you gave me a fright…what happened to her?"
"She's a half wolf and we weren't sure whether she would change or not so I've kept a close eye on her all day because I can control her in my dog form. She fainted from pain at the feast and I though she would change so I started to bring her to the shack but Remus told me that she wouldn't and that I should bring her to you." Sirius explained all in one breathe.
"Lay her down I'll need to give her modified wolfsbane to take away the pain but other then that she should be fine."
Sirius sighted in relief to hear that Olivia would be alright and watched as Madame Pomfrey busied herself getting the potion for Olivia.
* * *
Olivia awoke with a headache again but this time it was a slowly dieing one instead of the growing one she had yesterday. She slowly opened her eyes so as to not to disturb her head and when she did she was not greeted with the familiar red she saw every morning she woke up. She saw instead a pure white ceiling, now that she thought about it she never remembered even leaving the great hall let alone getting back to the tower. Olivia wanted to know where she was but it hurt too much to move her head so she opted for speech instead.
"Where am I?"
"Hospital wing." A groggy male voice to her right responded.
Olivia didn't know why but the voice sounded strangely familiar. She really wanted to see who else was here with her but she really wanted to know why she was there.
"Do you know why I'm in here?" Olivia asked her mysterious neighbor
"For the same reason I am" The voice responded
"Who are you?"
"Remus Lupin…at least that's who I think I am."
"Professor Lupin…what's going on? Why don't you know who you are?"
"Calm down Olivia…you're hurting my head."
"Sorry Professor"
"Nah its ok…it doesn't really hurt right now but I was trying to save you from hurting your own head too much."
"How did you know my head hurt?"
"Everyone's head hurts after the wake up from taking wolfsbane, whether it's watered down or not."
"What?"
"Olivia you know that I'm a werewolf…right?"
"Yes…but what does that have to do with me?"
"You are a half wolf…you don't change like I do but you feel the affects of it before hand, then when it's actually time to change all you feel is immense pain. Madame Pomfrey gave you wolfsbane to ease your pain. I take it to make my transition less painful and to make my wolf form tamer."
"Oh…but Professor…"
"Please call me Remus…at least when we're not in class."
"O-ok…but Remus how did you know that I was a half wolf?"
"Because Olivia…I'm your father…"
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YES I am EVIL….it's a cliffy but fear not oh faithful readers another chapter will be posted in another few hours since I have tomorrow off as well. So how will Olivia react to finding out that Remus Lupin is her father???????????? I dunno but you gotta keep reading to see. So now once again I'm getting to the good part (or at least what I consider good.) Anyway I need to give a shout out to J.London for helping me a little with this chapter even though she really didn't know what she was helping me with. Anyway it's late and I'm tired so……ENJOY!
Please….REVIEW! (P.S.- Suggestions are helpful too!)
~Autumn