~~~DISCLIAMER~~~Don't Don't don't. Durh.
~CHAPTER FIVE~ Forming the pack
Harry began to toss and turn in his bed as the now too familiar nightmare of the debacle at the Department of Mysteries began. He shivered as he found himself walking down the long hallway, feeling as though there were dementors all around him, just out of sight. Then abruptly he was in the prophecy room, and in the blink of an eye, fighting to maintain his hold on the prophecy, and then he heard the familiar words of Sirius as he battled his cousin, Bellatrix Black, and tried to close his eyes, knowing it was hopeless to cry out. He'd tried so many times, and it never changed anything. The red light flashed, searing Harry's eyes which he could not shut, no matter how he tried, and in desperation, he gave a furious wrench of his body, trying to turn around, and the next think he knew, he'd turned and hit the stone wall of the Department. The weird twist to the dream woke him, and he groaned as he awoke, rubbing his nose, which he'd tried to flatten in his sleep, by bringing it in contact with the floor. "Figures..." He muttered.
The present on the dresser gleamed slightly. Almost as if it had been wrapped to tempt Harry. Hermoine, in her room had been sleeping peacefully. Hearing a noise, she stood, and mumbled sleepily. She better check to make sure Harry is okay. He might be having a nightmare again. She knew he had them. Mumbling to herself she pattered over to Harry's door in her big concealing nightgown. Her feet where bare, but otherwise the nightgown was concealing, she didn't knock, not wanting to wake remus or her parents. She turned the handle and poked her head in. "Harry?" she whispered. Not wanting to scare him. "You okay?
Remus awoke almost instantly,ever alert expecially with his sensitive hearing to his 'cub''s distress. He rose soundlessly, and started toward his door, only to stop as he heard Hermione coming out of hers. He stood there for a moment, undecisive, and then went to his rather battered trunk, which he'd bought second hand to replace his suitcase when it had finally "gave up the ghost', and carefully opened the lid. Inside he had a small supply of Dreamless Sleep Potion that Severus had grudgingly given him at Dumbledore's request for Harry. Taking it out, he sat on the end of his bed, allowing Harry and Hermione time to talk, at the same time he allowed himself a chance to better wake up. One hand drifted up to scratch at the thick hair, that was practically "Fur" covering his well-toned torso, another of the advantages that came to being a werewolf, and one that most didnt really ever know about. After all, not many ever had wanted to see a male werewolf undressed, even partially, once they knew what they were, did they?
Harry held in a curse as Hermione opened his door, and climbed to his feet, glad he'd never had the urge to sleep starkers as tugged at the edge of his pajama bottoms. "'Lo 'Mione." He said quietly. "I just had a dream, that's all." Anticipating the most obvious question, he held up a hand quickly to forestall her speaking, and quickly added on. "Not about Voldemort. Well..not directly anyways..it was about...about the Department..." She slipped on into the room, "You okay?" she asked hesitantly, her gaze worried. "I can't say that I know how it feels Harry, cause to be honest I don't, but I am there for you, even if it's to have someone to rage at, or just to listen.." She looked at him. "And Harry, do me a favor, and open your present tonight..I think it will help.."
piritflames_tornsoul: He gave an adorable half-smile at this, and nodded his head slightly. "I know, I'm just not ready to talk about it yet." He dropped the subject, and rose to his feet, tossing the covers that had rolled out of the bed with him back upon it, and padded over to the dresser, to get the present that had practically been sending out "open me" signals or so it seemed to Harry's eager mind. Bringing it back over to the bed, he climbed up and sat cross legged on the middle of the mattress, and patted the end of the bed. "C'mon and sit, 'Mione. I don't bite." Pretty sure that she would obey, he began undoing the ribbon that held his present wrapped, and then peeling back the wrapping paper. When he finally had it completely unveiled, and took in what it was, a shocked look grew on his face, and he lifted questioning emerald eyes to her face. Remus, finding that he was waiting a bit longer than he had expected, rose from his bed and again went to his trunk, this time getting out a sheet of parchment and a muggle invention that Arthur Weasley had gotten him hooked on, a ball point pen. He liked it because of the silence over the scratching that a quill made. Going over to the small writing desk that had been transfigured his first night here, he sat down on the similiarly transfigured chair, and began to write. "Miss Weasly..."
It was a picture frame, about a 6 by 5, it was a picture of them at Sirius's Family Home, now of course, Harry's..The picture showed them moving. It was Ron, Harry, and Sirius, Sirius was playing Harry a game of wizard's chess..they where talking, hermoine remembered when she had snapped the photo. She settled onto the bed. "I didn't know if the picture would upset you, but I know you have so little to remind yourself of him..I just...I just hope that it doesn't make you upset or mad at me.." she looked at him. "I hope you don't mind, I just thought, I thought you needed to remember good times with him too." she looked at her friend, worried she had overstepped her bounds of friendship. But even if it enraged Harry, that too, was needed. He sat there, studying the picture for a long time, running the pad of his index finger over Sirius' figure, and when he looked up at Hermione, tears were streaking down his cheeks. 'I miss him, 'Mione. I mean, I know logically that its not my fault that he's dead, cause Voldemort has tricked lots of people smarter than I am, but he didn't trick you...if only I'd listened to you..." Harry sniffled and wiped his nose on the back of his hand, trying to fight back the tears that were determined to come.
She shook her head "Sometimes, stuff happens for reasons that we don't understand Harry..even I don't understand why Sirius was taken away from us. We can't control everything that happens, and we can't stop everything." She said the words carefully. Looking at him. "You know, I miss him too..we all do, and I know someone who misses him almost as much as you do, if not more." She looked at him, then ruffled his hair and gave him a one armed hug. "Remus..misses him, misses him so much that he's lost..I've seen it in his eyes, just as you have. I think you should talk to him.." She seperated herself. "I suggest trying to sleep, or going over to talk to Remus, you know he won't mind.." She stood, and headed towards the door. "I'm heading back to bed, and Harry.." she looked at him. "It really wasn't your fault..and that's my unbiased opinion. If it was me. I would have reacted the same way. I've seen hundred's of people do many stupid things, but an act of love, no matter the outcome, can never be stupid, just honest, and their's nothing wrong with that." She looked at him, then slid out the door, shutting it behind her, and padded towards her own room.
Harry didn't return the hug,but it wasn't to be rude just more that he was thinking over what she'd said, and he already knew who she was talking about before she'd said his name. However, a part of him was afraid. What if he got close to Remus, and Remus died too? Then Harry would have no link to his parents, no connection to Siri...just then Harry realised with a sudden maturity and insight, exactly how unfair he was being to Remus, he was treating him as an object. Totally overlooking him as a person...just the way..."just the way people treat me..." He whispered. He didnt really even know Remus, other than a few basic facts, and a certain familiarity with him. Determination filled him then, and he looked down at the picture he held in his hands. "No one can ever replace you, Sirius. Just like no one can replace Mum and Dad. Remus is a member of the Order, its possible he may die anyways before the war is over. I'm going to try and be his friend, if he'll let me." He repeated the last sentence, and then scooted off the end of the bed, standing the picture frame upright on his dresser before quietly opening his door and walking to Remus' bedroom. Once there, he knocked quietly.
Remus was just finishing up the correspondance to the youngest Weasley when he heard the knock at his door. Quickly, but quietly and gracefully, he rose to his feet, grabbed his wand from the bedside table, and walked toward the door. By that time though, he'd gotten close enough to Harry that his spell-dimmed sense of smell picked up the familiar scent of his cub, and it was with a smile, yet a bit of apprehension that he opened the door, and looked at Harry. "Come in." He said softly, standing back and allowing Harry into the room. He gestured toward the bed, and then retrieved the bottle of Dreamless Sleep Potion, handing it to the teen. "Severus warns that you're not to take this too often, you can get addicted to it, and it could possibly start losing its affect on you, but we thought...well, we thought you might like the assuredness of being able to go to sleep at night -knowing- you won't be tortured by nightmares and visions.
Harry took the bottle, and smiled at Remus. "Thanks...Moony." He said, watching his old professor's face. When no sign of anger or disapproval came, the smile grew, and he rose to his feet, walking across to somewhat awkwardly embrace the werewolf. When he pulled back, he flattened his hair down over his scar in a reflexive gesture, and bit his lip. "Erm..Pr..Moony..could we...could we be friends? Just Remus and Harry? Not Professor and Student Friends or Both Friends of Sirius friends..." He paused, wondering if Remus understood what he was trying to say, and was relieved when Moony nodded. "I think Moony and Cub will make fine friends." Harry raised a brow. "Cub?" "Well, you're the child of the original pack I had, so quite naturally, my nickname for you became Cub." Harry nodded and tried the nickname out. "Cub..." He grinned. "I like it! Its a lot better than the boy-who-lived." Moony's grin matched his. "And a lot easier to say too.. Now, best you should get some sleep Cub, as should I. We've got an outing to the Zoo tomorrow, I believe." Remus walked over and picked up the parchment laying on his desk, drawing Harry's attention to it for the first time, as he carefully folded it, scribbled a name on the outside and brought it back to Harry. "Send this off with Hedwig, please? To the Weasleys." Harry nodded his head, gave his former professor one last hug, and left the room. He didnt think overmuch of the fact that Remus was sending a letter to Ginny, and after sending Hedwig off, who'd just returned from a hunt, and taking a small sip of the dreamless sleep potion, his last thought before he fell asleep was. "I'm part of a pack...cool."
Harry began to toss and turn in his bed as the now too familiar nightmare of the debacle at the Department of Mysteries began. He shivered as he found himself walking down the long hallway, feeling as though there were dementors all around him, just out of sight. Then abruptly he was in the prophecy room, and in the blink of an eye, fighting to maintain his hold on the prophecy, and then he heard the familiar words of Sirius as he battled his cousin, Bellatrix Black, and tried to close his eyes, knowing it was hopeless to cry out. He'd tried so many times, and it never changed anything. The red light flashed, searing Harry's eyes which he could not shut, no matter how he tried, and in desperation, he gave a furious wrench of his body, trying to turn around, and the next think he knew, he'd turned and hit the stone wall of the Department. The weird twist to the dream woke him, and he groaned as he awoke, rubbing his nose, which he'd tried to flatten in his sleep, by bringing it in contact with the floor. "Figures..." He muttered.
The present on the dresser gleamed slightly. Almost as if it had been wrapped to tempt Harry. Hermoine, in her room had been sleeping peacefully. Hearing a noise, she stood, and mumbled sleepily. She better check to make sure Harry is okay. He might be having a nightmare again. She knew he had them. Mumbling to herself she pattered over to Harry's door in her big concealing nightgown. Her feet where bare, but otherwise the nightgown was concealing, she didn't knock, not wanting to wake remus or her parents. She turned the handle and poked her head in. "Harry?" she whispered. Not wanting to scare him. "You okay?
Remus awoke almost instantly,ever alert expecially with his sensitive hearing to his 'cub''s distress. He rose soundlessly, and started toward his door, only to stop as he heard Hermione coming out of hers. He stood there for a moment, undecisive, and then went to his rather battered trunk, which he'd bought second hand to replace his suitcase when it had finally "gave up the ghost', and carefully opened the lid. Inside he had a small supply of Dreamless Sleep Potion that Severus had grudgingly given him at Dumbledore's request for Harry. Taking it out, he sat on the end of his bed, allowing Harry and Hermione time to talk, at the same time he allowed himself a chance to better wake up. One hand drifted up to scratch at the thick hair, that was practically "Fur" covering his well-toned torso, another of the advantages that came to being a werewolf, and one that most didnt really ever know about. After all, not many ever had wanted to see a male werewolf undressed, even partially, once they knew what they were, did they?
Harry held in a curse as Hermione opened his door, and climbed to his feet, glad he'd never had the urge to sleep starkers as tugged at the edge of his pajama bottoms. "'Lo 'Mione." He said quietly. "I just had a dream, that's all." Anticipating the most obvious question, he held up a hand quickly to forestall her speaking, and quickly added on. "Not about Voldemort. Well..not directly anyways..it was about...about the Department..." She slipped on into the room, "You okay?" she asked hesitantly, her gaze worried. "I can't say that I know how it feels Harry, cause to be honest I don't, but I am there for you, even if it's to have someone to rage at, or just to listen.." She looked at him. "And Harry, do me a favor, and open your present tonight..I think it will help.."
piritflames_tornsoul: He gave an adorable half-smile at this, and nodded his head slightly. "I know, I'm just not ready to talk about it yet." He dropped the subject, and rose to his feet, tossing the covers that had rolled out of the bed with him back upon it, and padded over to the dresser, to get the present that had practically been sending out "open me" signals or so it seemed to Harry's eager mind. Bringing it back over to the bed, he climbed up and sat cross legged on the middle of the mattress, and patted the end of the bed. "C'mon and sit, 'Mione. I don't bite." Pretty sure that she would obey, he began undoing the ribbon that held his present wrapped, and then peeling back the wrapping paper. When he finally had it completely unveiled, and took in what it was, a shocked look grew on his face, and he lifted questioning emerald eyes to her face. Remus, finding that he was waiting a bit longer than he had expected, rose from his bed and again went to his trunk, this time getting out a sheet of parchment and a muggle invention that Arthur Weasley had gotten him hooked on, a ball point pen. He liked it because of the silence over the scratching that a quill made. Going over to the small writing desk that had been transfigured his first night here, he sat down on the similiarly transfigured chair, and began to write. "Miss Weasly..."
It was a picture frame, about a 6 by 5, it was a picture of them at Sirius's Family Home, now of course, Harry's..The picture showed them moving. It was Ron, Harry, and Sirius, Sirius was playing Harry a game of wizard's chess..they where talking, hermoine remembered when she had snapped the photo. She settled onto the bed. "I didn't know if the picture would upset you, but I know you have so little to remind yourself of him..I just...I just hope that it doesn't make you upset or mad at me.." she looked at him. "I hope you don't mind, I just thought, I thought you needed to remember good times with him too." she looked at her friend, worried she had overstepped her bounds of friendship. But even if it enraged Harry, that too, was needed. He sat there, studying the picture for a long time, running the pad of his index finger over Sirius' figure, and when he looked up at Hermione, tears were streaking down his cheeks. 'I miss him, 'Mione. I mean, I know logically that its not my fault that he's dead, cause Voldemort has tricked lots of people smarter than I am, but he didn't trick you...if only I'd listened to you..." Harry sniffled and wiped his nose on the back of his hand, trying to fight back the tears that were determined to come.
She shook her head "Sometimes, stuff happens for reasons that we don't understand Harry..even I don't understand why Sirius was taken away from us. We can't control everything that happens, and we can't stop everything." She said the words carefully. Looking at him. "You know, I miss him too..we all do, and I know someone who misses him almost as much as you do, if not more." She looked at him, then ruffled his hair and gave him a one armed hug. "Remus..misses him, misses him so much that he's lost..I've seen it in his eyes, just as you have. I think you should talk to him.." She seperated herself. "I suggest trying to sleep, or going over to talk to Remus, you know he won't mind.." She stood, and headed towards the door. "I'm heading back to bed, and Harry.." she looked at him. "It really wasn't your fault..and that's my unbiased opinion. If it was me. I would have reacted the same way. I've seen hundred's of people do many stupid things, but an act of love, no matter the outcome, can never be stupid, just honest, and their's nothing wrong with that." She looked at him, then slid out the door, shutting it behind her, and padded towards her own room.
Harry didn't return the hug,but it wasn't to be rude just more that he was thinking over what she'd said, and he already knew who she was talking about before she'd said his name. However, a part of him was afraid. What if he got close to Remus, and Remus died too? Then Harry would have no link to his parents, no connection to Siri...just then Harry realised with a sudden maturity and insight, exactly how unfair he was being to Remus, he was treating him as an object. Totally overlooking him as a person...just the way..."just the way people treat me..." He whispered. He didnt really even know Remus, other than a few basic facts, and a certain familiarity with him. Determination filled him then, and he looked down at the picture he held in his hands. "No one can ever replace you, Sirius. Just like no one can replace Mum and Dad. Remus is a member of the Order, its possible he may die anyways before the war is over. I'm going to try and be his friend, if he'll let me." He repeated the last sentence, and then scooted off the end of the bed, standing the picture frame upright on his dresser before quietly opening his door and walking to Remus' bedroom. Once there, he knocked quietly.
Remus was just finishing up the correspondance to the youngest Weasley when he heard the knock at his door. Quickly, but quietly and gracefully, he rose to his feet, grabbed his wand from the bedside table, and walked toward the door. By that time though, he'd gotten close enough to Harry that his spell-dimmed sense of smell picked up the familiar scent of his cub, and it was with a smile, yet a bit of apprehension that he opened the door, and looked at Harry. "Come in." He said softly, standing back and allowing Harry into the room. He gestured toward the bed, and then retrieved the bottle of Dreamless Sleep Potion, handing it to the teen. "Severus warns that you're not to take this too often, you can get addicted to it, and it could possibly start losing its affect on you, but we thought...well, we thought you might like the assuredness of being able to go to sleep at night -knowing- you won't be tortured by nightmares and visions.
Harry took the bottle, and smiled at Remus. "Thanks...Moony." He said, watching his old professor's face. When no sign of anger or disapproval came, the smile grew, and he rose to his feet, walking across to somewhat awkwardly embrace the werewolf. When he pulled back, he flattened his hair down over his scar in a reflexive gesture, and bit his lip. "Erm..Pr..Moony..could we...could we be friends? Just Remus and Harry? Not Professor and Student Friends or Both Friends of Sirius friends..." He paused, wondering if Remus understood what he was trying to say, and was relieved when Moony nodded. "I think Moony and Cub will make fine friends." Harry raised a brow. "Cub?" "Well, you're the child of the original pack I had, so quite naturally, my nickname for you became Cub." Harry nodded and tried the nickname out. "Cub..." He grinned. "I like it! Its a lot better than the boy-who-lived." Moony's grin matched his. "And a lot easier to say too.. Now, best you should get some sleep Cub, as should I. We've got an outing to the Zoo tomorrow, I believe." Remus walked over and picked up the parchment laying on his desk, drawing Harry's attention to it for the first time, as he carefully folded it, scribbled a name on the outside and brought it back to Harry. "Send this off with Hedwig, please? To the Weasleys." Harry nodded his head, gave his former professor one last hug, and left the room. He didnt think overmuch of the fact that Remus was sending a letter to Ginny, and after sending Hedwig off, who'd just returned from a hunt, and taking a small sip of the dreamless sleep potion, his last thought before he fell asleep was. "I'm part of a pack...cool."