Disclaimer: JKR is da Goddess. I am merely the little slave sitting on her big toe with my imaginings and my keyboard.
Author's notes: Hehe. Its done. This is the second to last chapter. And there will be an epilogue. I tried condensing it into one chapter, with Harry as the last speaker, but Lupin kept tugging at my heartstrings and I finally gave in. By the end of this chapter, you will hate me, Harry and possibly Dumbledore. I look forward to some nasty flames. lol
Gray. That is the extent of my sight.
How horrid to live in such a blank environment.
Scents and touch. I believe that is all I have left. I just wish someone would tell me what was going on.
There is someone nearby, someone I would swear was James, if it weren't for the stranger scents on him. I can even smell Lily. There is more to him than just them though. A darker scent. It frightens me, truly.
I don't understand how someone can take on so many scents.
I also don't understand why he is so nervous, or why he keeps checking on me.
Me. Look at me. Wasn't it only yesterday that I was just at the Sorting Feast, going into fourth year? But I feel old. I feel so tired. And I can smell my own death.
I am so confused.
The last time I asked for Sirius, the not-James started crying. I don't understand why Sirius would affect him like that.
A crack and the strong scent of sulfur, strong enough I know humans can smell it, fills the room. I quiver, though I try my damnedest not to. Father always told me I had to be strong while I could, because you never know when you aren't going to have any strength to give.
"Everyone is safe." That voice? Do I know that voice?
"Thank you, Professor Snape," the not-James says quietly.
"Don't thank me, Potter. I am only doing this for Dumbledore." With a swish of cloth, I listen to his fading footsteps as they disappear behind a creaking door.
Potter? Maybe it is James? He sometimes smells funny after Quidditch. I think it's because he picks up scents from the locker room.
"James?" I venture.
"Harry," he answers. "My name is Harry."
"But James doesn't have any brothers..."
"I'm his son. James is gone, Remus."
Ha. There's a good one. James having a son. By the tone of his voice, he's older than we are. Maybe he's just a cousin or something. "What do you mean James is gone? Where did he go?"
"MERLIN!" he swears, voice thick. I feel bad that I've upset him, and try to turn over, as if to hide from him. He quiets quickly, wrapping his arms around me, holding me as if I were no more than a child. "I'm sorry, Remus. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. It's just that...Great Godric, I don't want to lose you."
I want to tell him that I don't even know him, why would it matter if he lost me? I want to, but those words are very strong. My belly clenches up, realizing that, even if he means nothing to me, I mean quite a bit to him.
"It's too soon. You're the last family I have left, Remus. It's just too soon..." his voice falls into a whisper, choking on sobs.
I've had time to giggle over 'Professor Snape'. I've had time for the not-James, named Harry, to tell me what is happening, and what happened to all my friends. I keep forgetting bits of the story, and Harry keeps retelling me patiently.
Professor Snape has come in twice to update us on Professor Dumbledore's progress. From what I can discern of that, a man named Percy needs to be found. I don't know why, but I have a feeling he's a bad man. He also needs to be found by Professor Dumbledore before the Ministry workers.
Strange that, all of this seems to be about me.
"Harry?" I ask quietly, after the second time Professor Snape goes away.
He shifts slightly, so he can look at me, I think. "Hm?"
"Why is everyone doing this?"
"We're trying to save you, Remus. We don't want you to leave us."
That doesn't make sense. "But I'm going to die anyway."
"Well...Yes. But, we don't want you to die because someone said you had to," he reasons.
Maybe it's my wolf side, but, what's the difference? I'm starting to think that dying at someone else's hands might not be such a bad thing. It'd be quicker, that's for sure.
"Harry!" I wake up to someone calling. Blinking, I rub my eyes.
Strange...I still can't see.
The warm body next to me lifts itself from the bed, a soft groan of wondering why it was necessary for him to be awake.
"Percy has been found!"
Percy? Sounds familiar, like I'm trying to hold onto a bar of wet soap, the firmer I try to hold it, the more it slips away from me. Maybe I'll think of it later.
"By whom?" the second voice inquires.
"Dumbledore. He's got Percy up in his office. He thinks you should be in on it."
"Thanks, Tonks."
Blankets are pulled up to my chin, hands tucking me in carefully. But I want to know what's happening, struggling, I wiggle free of the cocoon. "Noo!" I whine softly. "Dun leave Remmie."
"Shh..." the male voice whispers. Fingers brush hair away from my face. "Good little boys have to get their sleep."
"For tha Moon?" I ask quietly, and am rewarded with a gasp.
"Oh Merlin...on second thought, why don't you come with me, Remmie?" The blankets are pulled back, and I'm lifted up, cradled in the man's arms. He mutters while he carries me, "I can't believe I didn't remember the full moon was tomorrow. There's just too much happening. I wish Padfoot were still here...He'd make sure everything was right, and he would've remembered too."
"What's Padfoot?"
"Padfoot was...a puppy," he answers quietly. "He was a very nice puppy who loved us very much. He was very cuddly and loved to snuggle with you a lot."
"Why don't I 'member him?" I pout trying to remember when I had a puppy. I've always wanted one, but after Mama went to heaven, we couldn't get one.
"Because Padfoot left a long time ago," the man answers shortly.
"Where'd he go?"
"He went to heaven, where all good puppies go," he sighs.
"Jus' like Mama. Can I get 'nother puppy?" I wiggle in his arms. I know exactly what kind of puppy I want. I was a big black one.
"Maybe, but I don't think you'll ever find a puppy quite like Padfoot," the man coughs, shifting me in his arms. I realize he's crying and I lay my head on his shoulder.
I don't know who he is, but I think he's one of Daddy's new baby-sitters. They always leave when the Moon comes. I guess they don't like the Moon. I can understand too, because it makes you hurt a lot.
Suddenly we stop moving, his voice ringing out, "Ginger Snaps," then a low growl echoes through the area, like the scraping of stone on stone.
"I like ginger snaps," I announce proudly.
"I bet you do. With lots of hot cocoa too."
"Yep! I like choc'lot."
I realize we're going up stairs and really am getting quite anxious. I wish I could see where we are going. When we finally reach the top, all kinds of new smells rush at me. I could sit here for hours wondering what there was to see.
"Welcome back, Harry!" a jovial voice calls. A few other voices echo his greeting.
"Hallo, Headmasters and Headmistresses..." he murmurs. Then a bit more solemnly, "Good evening, Professor Dumbledore."
"Nice to see you are still well, Harry," an old voice answers. "You brought Remus with you."
"The full moon is tomorrow night, isn't it?"
"Yes, Harry," the rattling sigh of response comes. "I had completely forgotten about it myself until Percy here reminded me."
"W-will it be his Final?" the quavering voice above me asks.
"I believe so, Harry. But now, we really should attend to the matter of Percy." I am set down in a big cushy chair. "Because Remus is unable to deal with this himself, I think it is only too necessary that I ask his last remaining relative. Harry, what do you think should be done with Percy?"
"I want him to watch Remus' Final. I want to be there too. And..." he pauses, taking a deep breath, "I want him to see if he can kill him without his wand."
"Perhaps the sword of Godric would help?" the elder voice asks.
"Yes. That has silver in it, doesn't it?" Another pause. "Good. Then if he does, it will be quick."
"What do you have to say to this, Percy?" the elder voice inquiries.
"You are crazy!" the panicked yelp comes. "Why would I kill him then?"
"Because that is the last time he is Remus. Because after that, he will only be in pain. And because that was what you came to do originally," Harry growls.
I know I should be scared, but the wolf says that everything is going to be ok, and I trust him.