Chapter XXI - Moonlight
The two weeks to full moon were quickly gone. Ellie thought that she would be frightened by then, but she seemed to be calm as a martyr waiting for her time to come. Her reaction surprised Remus, and surprised her as well. And so, by the end of it, instead of avoiding the subject, they were now able to talk about it with no fear, as a mere fact of life, much like eating or sleeping.
Ellie seemed to have fallen into such a resigned state that Remus finally understood she had measured all the risks a long time ago, when she decided to make the potion seriously, and that she now faced it as nothing more than a consequence of following that path.
A few hours before sunset, Remus was talking to her about how painful it was the transformation and how he hoped that the pain reliever would work.
"I don't know what I'm going to do now." he said "And with the Daily Prophet advertising that you are one too... It will not be easy for you either."
"Don't worry." she said smiling "As soon as I'm sure we have settled that the potion makes you safe and how to drink it, I'm planning to distribute my potion to every werewolf that wants to try it. I have no other ambition beyond it."
"That is very noble of you" he said, deeply moved.
"I was planning on having children... but now I'm not sure I can." she said. "We can always try." Remus replied in the sweetest voice. "I really think I'd like to have a pack of children howling in the house."
Ellie actually smiled.
***
Now they were both transforming, they didn't find it essential to be in one room. Even if anything went wrong, they wouldn't hurt each other, and so they were free to walk around the house. Ellie decided to lock every door that could let them leave the house, as to prevent any accident. They locked the windows as well.
When they spotted the sun nearly setting, they took off their clothes and kissed longely. Then she gave him her hand and they waited.
Hands in each other, looking pale, they watched the last sun rays illuminating the room and slowly going away. The moon should be rising any second.
Ellie could feel her heart bumping hard (any second now) as if trying to shoot away from her ribs (any second...).
Then Remus trembled. Not the usual panicked and painful shiver, but just as if a cool breeze had past their warm bodies. Then he kissed her hands, and she could feel a soft beard growing and his nose cooling. His hears began to grow. He was actually smiling just before his mouth grew sharp teeth and a wolf's mouth took place. In less than no time, he was standing in his hind legs, his paws in her hand.
Her hand...
Her hand?
Her hand!
What was she doing with her hand?! She should have a wolf's paw by then! She should be standing on her hind legs, just as he was! She should have a hairy face and wolf's hears!
Maybe, she thought, male werewolves transform first. Any second now it will be my turn.
But it became clear, as minutes passed by and they anxiously waited, that she wasn't going to be more of a werewolf than Perseus!
Remus realised it as well. And he was so pleased and so filled with joy he was barking, chasing his tail, dancing in his hind legs and licking Ellie's stunned face. He seemed just a happy dog enjoying treats instead of a fully grown wolf. He ran all around the living room, howling what seemed like a happy song.
But Ellie was still very confused. Why wasn't she transforming? Why was she still human?
She had been bitten, she remembered only too well. Why didn't it affect her, then?
The two weeks to full moon were quickly gone. Ellie thought that she would be frightened by then, but she seemed to be calm as a martyr waiting for her time to come. Her reaction surprised Remus, and surprised her as well. And so, by the end of it, instead of avoiding the subject, they were now able to talk about it with no fear, as a mere fact of life, much like eating or sleeping.
Ellie seemed to have fallen into such a resigned state that Remus finally understood she had measured all the risks a long time ago, when she decided to make the potion seriously, and that she now faced it as nothing more than a consequence of following that path.
A few hours before sunset, Remus was talking to her about how painful it was the transformation and how he hoped that the pain reliever would work.
"I don't know what I'm going to do now." he said "And with the Daily Prophet advertising that you are one too... It will not be easy for you either."
"Don't worry." she said smiling "As soon as I'm sure we have settled that the potion makes you safe and how to drink it, I'm planning to distribute my potion to every werewolf that wants to try it. I have no other ambition beyond it."
"That is very noble of you" he said, deeply moved.
"I was planning on having children... but now I'm not sure I can." she said. "We can always try." Remus replied in the sweetest voice. "I really think I'd like to have a pack of children howling in the house."
Ellie actually smiled.
***
Now they were both transforming, they didn't find it essential to be in one room. Even if anything went wrong, they wouldn't hurt each other, and so they were free to walk around the house. Ellie decided to lock every door that could let them leave the house, as to prevent any accident. They locked the windows as well.
When they spotted the sun nearly setting, they took off their clothes and kissed longely. Then she gave him her hand and they waited.
Hands in each other, looking pale, they watched the last sun rays illuminating the room and slowly going away. The moon should be rising any second.
Ellie could feel her heart bumping hard (any second now) as if trying to shoot away from her ribs (any second...).
Then Remus trembled. Not the usual panicked and painful shiver, but just as if a cool breeze had past their warm bodies. Then he kissed her hands, and she could feel a soft beard growing and his nose cooling. His hears began to grow. He was actually smiling just before his mouth grew sharp teeth and a wolf's mouth took place. In less than no time, he was standing in his hind legs, his paws in her hand.
Her hand...
Her hand?
Her hand!
What was she doing with her hand?! She should have a wolf's paw by then! She should be standing on her hind legs, just as he was! She should have a hairy face and wolf's hears!
Maybe, she thought, male werewolves transform first. Any second now it will be my turn.
But it became clear, as minutes passed by and they anxiously waited, that she wasn't going to be more of a werewolf than Perseus!
Remus realised it as well. And he was so pleased and so filled with joy he was barking, chasing his tail, dancing in his hind legs and licking Ellie's stunned face. He seemed just a happy dog enjoying treats instead of a fully grown wolf. He ran all around the living room, howling what seemed like a happy song.
But Ellie was still very confused. Why wasn't she transforming? Why was she still human?
She had been bitten, she remembered only too well. Why didn't it affect her, then?