Chapter 15
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The sun rose and Remus, as usual, woke up to it. He stretched his arms high above his head and arched his back. He climbed out of bed and got dressed. He was actually excited about tonight's event. Sure, he was worried about Sirius and Cassi's well-being but at the same time he was going to be with his own kind on the night of the full moon.
Always before, Remus Lupin felt he was an outcast. After meeting Gabriel and Cassiopeia he no longer felt his werewolf infection was a curse. Now it was something that connected him to this mysterious society. Tonight he would be one of the many wolves present at the challenge.
The idea of being around so many other wolves was exciting because they would be able to keep him in check. It would be like the old days at Hogwarts with James and Sirius at his side in their animagi forms. The exception was now; he would be surrounded with his own kind.
The unfriendly growling of his stomach reminded him that it was time to chow down. Sirius' room was on the way to the kitchen, he may as well walk with him. So Remus quietly walked down the hall to Padfoot's room.
He knocked twice. There was no answer. Slowly he opened the door to be met with an unslept in bed. He looked further down the hall and noticed that Cassiopeia's room was not far from that of Sirius. Curiously he approached the door. He could hear Cassi's bell-like laughter along with the barks of Sirius.
Remus shook his head in annoyance. 'Why is it that Sirius would get the girl? Did I not spend the last few months with her? Am I so easy to forget?'
So lost in his own thoughts, Remus did not notice the other body walking down the hall towards him. He did not notice until they ran smack into each other.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention. Here, let me help you." Remus apologized quickly as he leaned over to help the mystery person pick up the towels they were carrying.
"It's okay. I couldn't see where I was going with the towels stacked so high," answered an unfamiliar soprano. The woman smiled at Remus and brushed back a strand of loose strawberry blond hair behind her ear.
"I don't believe we have met. I'm Professor Remus Lupin." Remus stuck out his hand in the American fashion of greetings. 'Why did I just say Professor?'
"I'm Philomela, Gabriel's sister. You can call me Phillie." She smiled at him, secretly impressed by the whole Professor title.
(A/N: Philomela is one of the reviewers...hehe looks like she does get to
cheer up Remus! This is why you should review!)
"So why haven't I seen you here before?" Remus inquired as he now stood holding half of the towels Phillie previously balanced unsuccessfully.
"I just got here earlier this morning. Gabriel told me about the Challenge and everyone from the tribes must be present. You will of course be there, right?" She asked with an edge of hopefulness that Remus aptly caught.
"Yes, yes, I will definitely be there." Remus told her as he stacked the towels on the counter of the bathroom where she indicated. "Well, I need to get breakfast. I will see you later tonight."
"Yes, I look forward to it as well Professor Lupin."
Remus left for the kitchen with a new bounce in his step. He completely forgot about his two missing companions as he cheerfully drowned down his orange juice.
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"No! You didn't do such a thing!"
"HAHAHAHA, but you don't understand. You had to have been there to have seen his face. I mean, he was hanging upside down and his grey underclothes, I mean, it was a site!" Sirius tried to get out between bails of laughter. He had been telling Cassiopeia about the various pranks he and James used to pull at Hogwarts.
"Honestly, Sirius, just because you are bored doesn't mean you should be entertain yourself at other's expense!"
"Aw, but now you sound like Remus. He always made us feel like total jerks afterwards."
"That's because you are a jerk." Cassi told him but then she caught the hurt look that flashed within his eyes at her declaration. She hugged him and told him, "but you're my jerk."
"Don't you forget it."
"Hey, Sirius I was curious. Who is Harry?"
"He's my godson."
"Really! Why don't you contact him and let him know you are alright. I'm sure he'd be relieved to know you're alive and well. Why would you be forbidden to tell him?"
Sirius sighed dejectedly. "I don't know why I'm not allowed to contact him. It's the same reason I wasn't allowed to reveal my true form to you until four months had transpired. It makes no sense to me." He sounded very sad and depressing.
Cassi shook her head. She did not like the self-pitying side of Sirius. It seemed unnatural. "Hey mutt, I don't want to hear that tone of voice coming from you."
"Hey! I'm a Grim not a mutt. I'm an omen of death you Vixen!"
"Are you calling me a fox?" Cassiopeia asked insulted. A wolf is so much more impressive than a fox.
"Yes." Sirius replied with a playful grin. Cassiopeia finally caught onto the fact that he had complimented her.
"Alright Romeo, one day you will be too smooth talking for the your own good!"
"I already am and from what I hear it may just be the death of me!" He meant it to be another joke. However, neither of them laughed as the very real possibility of death might come to pass that very night.
The moment of silence hung heavy in the air between them.
"Come one, let's go eat. I can't defeat the big, bad wolf without some nutrition."
They left the room and began walking towards the kitchen. Before they opened the door Cassi stopped Sirius with a hand on his wrist. He turned to her.
"Aren't you worried?" She asked Sirius seriously.
He looked at her with fierce determination radiating from his eyes. "I've been through far worse. I will not fail." She smiled at his self- confidence and decided to place all her faith in his ability.
They entered the kitchen to find Remus lazily twirling his spoon in his bowl with a dreamy look to his eyes. Cassi sniffed the air since her canine senses were starting to become enhanced with the approach of the full moon. She grinned wickedly at the werewolf before her and winked at Sirius.
"Top of the morning Remus! It seems that you met my auntie Phillie." Cassiopeia sat in the chair across the table from the wizard. Sirius plopped down beside her with an identical grin that matched Cassi's.
However, their fun was halted before it began when Gabriel entered the kitchen and sat at the head of the table. The conversation ceased as soon as his somber expression greeted their eyes.
"Why did you not want the rest of the Order to know of your return, Sirius?" Gabriel interrogated.
The animagi glanced at Cassi from the corner of his eye. Gabriel understood his message and justified fear. He was not nearly as confident about proving victorious as he pretended.
"I think I tend to attract too much unwanted attention." Sirius answered truthfully.
Satisfied with the answer Gabriel left the trio.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Scene: Hogwarts)
He had just finished reading the article in the Daily Prophet. He was extremely perturbed. Life simply was not fair. He leaped from his chair and yelled in anger gaining the attention of the mass assembled there for mail call.
"Oh so NOW they clear his name! IT DOES HIM A HELL OF A LOT OF GOOD NOW THAT HE'S DEAD!"
He ran out of the dining hall towards Gryffindor tower. Once again he would pick up the pieces of the two-way mirror he had shattered so many months ago. It had become a habit of his now to simply stare into the shards and hope for better times.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The full moon began it's decent into the night sky. The tribes had gathered in a secluded woods far from prying mortal eyes and ears. A giant circle had formed and in the center stood Sirius, Luther, and Gabriel in their canine forms.
Snuffles was massive. Luther's other form was equally intimidating in size. The great grey wolf simply looked evil. No one in their right state of mind would willingly fight him.
Gabriel led the wolf tribe members into the ceremonial chorus to the moon. Remus stood beside Cassiopeia. They were the only non-natural wolves in the assembly. Another wolf approached his other side as the howling began to subside. The familiar strawberry blond pelt stood next to him and nuzzled his neck with her nose.
'This is weird.' Remus thought to himself. Never in his life has he been surrounded by so many werewolves and they were acting like real wolves. To believe that each of the creatures was a human being during the day was too hard to fathom.
Gabriel left the circle and stood on Cassiopeia's other side. She whimpered slightly as the fight was about to begin. This fight that would determine her future for better or for worst. She buried her face in her paws too afraid to watch.
Her father nuzzled her hard in the back of the head. She raised her eyes to meet hers. He communicated to her that she must watch. Slowly she raised her head to watch the challenge. Her blue orbs locked onto those dark mysterious ones of Sirius. He gave her toothy canine grin.
She would have smiled if it was possible. Instead she stood taller and waited to watch Sirius beat the hell out of Luther.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
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The sun rose and Remus, as usual, woke up to it. He stretched his arms high above his head and arched his back. He climbed out of bed and got dressed. He was actually excited about tonight's event. Sure, he was worried about Sirius and Cassi's well-being but at the same time he was going to be with his own kind on the night of the full moon.
Always before, Remus Lupin felt he was an outcast. After meeting Gabriel and Cassiopeia he no longer felt his werewolf infection was a curse. Now it was something that connected him to this mysterious society. Tonight he would be one of the many wolves present at the challenge.
The idea of being around so many other wolves was exciting because they would be able to keep him in check. It would be like the old days at Hogwarts with James and Sirius at his side in their animagi forms. The exception was now; he would be surrounded with his own kind.
The unfriendly growling of his stomach reminded him that it was time to chow down. Sirius' room was on the way to the kitchen, he may as well walk with him. So Remus quietly walked down the hall to Padfoot's room.
He knocked twice. There was no answer. Slowly he opened the door to be met with an unslept in bed. He looked further down the hall and noticed that Cassiopeia's room was not far from that of Sirius. Curiously he approached the door. He could hear Cassi's bell-like laughter along with the barks of Sirius.
Remus shook his head in annoyance. 'Why is it that Sirius would get the girl? Did I not spend the last few months with her? Am I so easy to forget?'
So lost in his own thoughts, Remus did not notice the other body walking down the hall towards him. He did not notice until they ran smack into each other.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention. Here, let me help you." Remus apologized quickly as he leaned over to help the mystery person pick up the towels they were carrying.
"It's okay. I couldn't see where I was going with the towels stacked so high," answered an unfamiliar soprano. The woman smiled at Remus and brushed back a strand of loose strawberry blond hair behind her ear.
"I don't believe we have met. I'm Professor Remus Lupin." Remus stuck out his hand in the American fashion of greetings. 'Why did I just say Professor?'
"I'm Philomela, Gabriel's sister. You can call me Phillie." She smiled at him, secretly impressed by the whole Professor title.
(A/N: Philomela is one of the reviewers...hehe looks like she does get to
cheer up Remus! This is why you should review!)
"So why haven't I seen you here before?" Remus inquired as he now stood holding half of the towels Phillie previously balanced unsuccessfully.
"I just got here earlier this morning. Gabriel told me about the Challenge and everyone from the tribes must be present. You will of course be there, right?" She asked with an edge of hopefulness that Remus aptly caught.
"Yes, yes, I will definitely be there." Remus told her as he stacked the towels on the counter of the bathroom where she indicated. "Well, I need to get breakfast. I will see you later tonight."
"Yes, I look forward to it as well Professor Lupin."
Remus left for the kitchen with a new bounce in his step. He completely forgot about his two missing companions as he cheerfully drowned down his orange juice.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"No! You didn't do such a thing!"
"HAHAHAHA, but you don't understand. You had to have been there to have seen his face. I mean, he was hanging upside down and his grey underclothes, I mean, it was a site!" Sirius tried to get out between bails of laughter. He had been telling Cassiopeia about the various pranks he and James used to pull at Hogwarts.
"Honestly, Sirius, just because you are bored doesn't mean you should be entertain yourself at other's expense!"
"Aw, but now you sound like Remus. He always made us feel like total jerks afterwards."
"That's because you are a jerk." Cassi told him but then she caught the hurt look that flashed within his eyes at her declaration. She hugged him and told him, "but you're my jerk."
"Don't you forget it."
"Hey, Sirius I was curious. Who is Harry?"
"He's my godson."
"Really! Why don't you contact him and let him know you are alright. I'm sure he'd be relieved to know you're alive and well. Why would you be forbidden to tell him?"
Sirius sighed dejectedly. "I don't know why I'm not allowed to contact him. It's the same reason I wasn't allowed to reveal my true form to you until four months had transpired. It makes no sense to me." He sounded very sad and depressing.
Cassi shook her head. She did not like the self-pitying side of Sirius. It seemed unnatural. "Hey mutt, I don't want to hear that tone of voice coming from you."
"Hey! I'm a Grim not a mutt. I'm an omen of death you Vixen!"
"Are you calling me a fox?" Cassiopeia asked insulted. A wolf is so much more impressive than a fox.
"Yes." Sirius replied with a playful grin. Cassiopeia finally caught onto the fact that he had complimented her.
"Alright Romeo, one day you will be too smooth talking for the your own good!"
"I already am and from what I hear it may just be the death of me!" He meant it to be another joke. However, neither of them laughed as the very real possibility of death might come to pass that very night.
The moment of silence hung heavy in the air between them.
"Come one, let's go eat. I can't defeat the big, bad wolf without some nutrition."
They left the room and began walking towards the kitchen. Before they opened the door Cassi stopped Sirius with a hand on his wrist. He turned to her.
"Aren't you worried?" She asked Sirius seriously.
He looked at her with fierce determination radiating from his eyes. "I've been through far worse. I will not fail." She smiled at his self- confidence and decided to place all her faith in his ability.
They entered the kitchen to find Remus lazily twirling his spoon in his bowl with a dreamy look to his eyes. Cassi sniffed the air since her canine senses were starting to become enhanced with the approach of the full moon. She grinned wickedly at the werewolf before her and winked at Sirius.
"Top of the morning Remus! It seems that you met my auntie Phillie." Cassiopeia sat in the chair across the table from the wizard. Sirius plopped down beside her with an identical grin that matched Cassi's.
However, their fun was halted before it began when Gabriel entered the kitchen and sat at the head of the table. The conversation ceased as soon as his somber expression greeted their eyes.
"Why did you not want the rest of the Order to know of your return, Sirius?" Gabriel interrogated.
The animagi glanced at Cassi from the corner of his eye. Gabriel understood his message and justified fear. He was not nearly as confident about proving victorious as he pretended.
"I think I tend to attract too much unwanted attention." Sirius answered truthfully.
Satisfied with the answer Gabriel left the trio.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(Scene: Hogwarts)
He had just finished reading the article in the Daily Prophet. He was extremely perturbed. Life simply was not fair. He leaped from his chair and yelled in anger gaining the attention of the mass assembled there for mail call.
"Oh so NOW they clear his name! IT DOES HIM A HELL OF A LOT OF GOOD NOW THAT HE'S DEAD!"
He ran out of the dining hall towards Gryffindor tower. Once again he would pick up the pieces of the two-way mirror he had shattered so many months ago. It had become a habit of his now to simply stare into the shards and hope for better times.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The full moon began it's decent into the night sky. The tribes had gathered in a secluded woods far from prying mortal eyes and ears. A giant circle had formed and in the center stood Sirius, Luther, and Gabriel in their canine forms.
Snuffles was massive. Luther's other form was equally intimidating in size. The great grey wolf simply looked evil. No one in their right state of mind would willingly fight him.
Gabriel led the wolf tribe members into the ceremonial chorus to the moon. Remus stood beside Cassiopeia. They were the only non-natural wolves in the assembly. Another wolf approached his other side as the howling began to subside. The familiar strawberry blond pelt stood next to him and nuzzled his neck with her nose.
'This is weird.' Remus thought to himself. Never in his life has he been surrounded by so many werewolves and they were acting like real wolves. To believe that each of the creatures was a human being during the day was too hard to fathom.
Gabriel left the circle and stood on Cassiopeia's other side. She whimpered slightly as the fight was about to begin. This fight that would determine her future for better or for worst. She buried her face in her paws too afraid to watch.
Her father nuzzled her hard in the back of the head. She raised her eyes to meet hers. He communicated to her that she must watch. Slowly she raised her head to watch the challenge. Her blue orbs locked onto those dark mysterious ones of Sirius. He gave her toothy canine grin.
She would have smiled if it was possible. Instead she stood taller and waited to watch Sirius beat the hell out of Luther.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC