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Chapter III Of Crossers and Werewolves
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The following incidents happened at the last two weeks of the gang's seventh year at Hogwarts. What happened to Lupin before he popped into I Hate Everything About You?
**FLASHBACK**
Same shit, different day.
Life wasn't always that bad for Remus Lupin. His youth had been a fast, spinning blur, full of color and vibrancy. He used to have fun back when he was still in Hogwarts, mainly because those hundreds of books stacked in the library could not quench his thirst for knowledge. He was fond of learning, and each page he turned revealed to Lupin more horizons to discover. Aside from that, one could never forget the constant breaking of rules and late night adventures when you're with the Marauders.
Too bad he was the last of them. Hadn't they all sworn to never leave each other? Except for that rat-faced Wormtail. He could rot in hell for all he cared. But those silly pacts and promises, clever meetings and antics at the Shrieking Shack… The mere memory of those days was enough to give him a hard shove and get on with his life.
But of course, being different wasn't much help either. Once a month, Remus Lupin would change when the moon is full and shined with all its glory in the vastness of the night sky. It did help that he keeps his mind during the transformation, otherwise the scars and bruises that appear the mornings after would have no explanation and serve only as a remembrance of his monstrosity.
But tonight was one of those nights. He glanced up at the sky as he took his usual night walks around the neighborhood. The pale moon was still hidden behind the dark clouds, and he knew he would lock himself again in the huge cage he had built for himself. But for some, unexplained, reason, he walked further and missed the street he was supposed to turn to, Grimmauld Place. It was like his feet dictated his head, step by step as he was guided by some invisible force, whispering in his ear, "Keep going…"
The streets of Muggle London were much different at night. Men were killing each other outside clubhouses, and the women wore fewer clothes than they had in the day. Older people who slept on the sidewalks were heating their palms by the fire, courtesy of a lighter and a trashcan. Everything smelled of…"pot", as the Muggles call it.
"Hey, Wolverine, you want some of this?" A woman's loud voice called out to Lupin.
He spun around as the women's friends shouted in laughter. Of course, Lupin was recognizably hairy this time of the month. The women were wearing different kinds of sparkling braziers, with skirts hiding hardly anything at all. Cigarettes were burning between their fingers, and the woman who had called him was grabbing her breasts.
"Go home, ladies," Lupin said hoarsely, and continued walking. Their screeches faded in the night.
Finally he reached a deserted neighborhood, where he could see stray cats rummaging through the trashcans lined up in the streets. One of it looked straight at Lupin, its yellow slits taunting "Freak, freak, freak…." Lupin smiled and planned to eat it next month.
And then he stopped right above a sign that says "THE MEDIUM IS IN. SKEPTICS ARE WELCOMED." Two Muggles who hadn't noticed him were talking in fast, hushed voices while they exchanged thick plastic bags. Lupin stared at the sky once more, and saw that the moon was still out of sight. Not believing it himself, he turned the doorknob and let himself in.
* * *
Sirius Black was careful not to make a sound. Not that it mattered if they heard him or not. What was the worse they could do to him anyway?
He remained sitting on the floor, minding his own business as he strained to hear a conversation between two spirits and a Crosser. The spirits wore ancient robes, thick and lavish, with big diamonds and jewelries on the edges. People's social status was known through their robes in the past, and judging from their attires (One in blue and another entirely in gold) they were pretty high up there. Sirius could hear nothing but randomness, and he could find no connection with the words he had managed to let his ears absorb. "Dragon… Stella… time… near… life… Granger…"
He watched through the curtain of his black hair that the two spirits were growing tired from the ramblings of the Crosser. "Get back… everything's in order!" They seemed to say, and began to float to another direction. This was his chance before the Crosser would go back to the World of the Living.
* * *
The tiny room smelled of jasmine and cinnamon, stinging Lupin's extra sensitive nose. Two couches and a coffee table served as a waiting area, which he thought was pointless because he was the only customer there. Lupin's heavy boots pounded on the floor as he passed by the doorway, just as a colored man stepped inside the room, wearing shorts and a checkered polo, buttons undone.
"Hullo, there," he said with a slightly different accent.
Spanish, Lupin thought. "Hullo," he answered back. A round table for two was in the middle of the space.
"Oh, you've come here to contact the dead, no?" he said as he wiped his hands on his shorts and sat down on one chair. Lupin hesitated. He was a teacher, for Merlin's sake. This was stupid of him. "Please, senor, have a seat."
Lupin shook his light brown hair away from his eyes and sat down. "Thank you," he said gruffly and stared at the man.
"My name is Antonio," the man said as he cracked the bones of his neck. "Don't worry, a lot have come here confused, seeking for answers, and I try my best to give my customers what they want."
Lupin stared at the mole on the left side of Antonio's eyebrow. "Can you really speak to the dead?"
Antonio smiled. "When I was a kid, my grandmother died, but we were a long way from her house. My mother started crying, and I wanted so bad to make her happy. I called out to my grandma again and again, and suddenly, I was out of my body," he laughed, a gap between his two front teeth visible. "I could not believe it at first too, compadre, but I was in a different place, and I saw her… then she left… then came back…" Antonio bit his lip. "Next thing I knew I was back in my mother's arms. She thought it was a blessing."
"What did you do?"
"I don't know," he shrugged. "Said I was speaking in a woman's voice, looked all funny and stuff, and that I spoke about instructions to family heirlooms that I couldn't have known. Still don't know, anyway. That stupid bitch left me and my father with all her inheritance and left us here to rot."
Lupin nodded, laying his hands on the table. "I lost a very dear friend of mine just recently, and I would like to know if Crossers like you really does exist, until now."
"What did you just call me?" Antonio laughed. "Don't be talking about, 'really does exist', we're real, fool!" He pumped his fist on his chest. "This ain't witchcraft or any of that bullshit. Can't believe someone would even make that stuff out."
"Yeah, I know," Lupin said. "Unbelievable."
"So, let's get on with business, shall we?" Antonio rubbed his hands together. "I'm afraid it's a 'Cash Now, Dead People Later' policy here. Some people shit talk me into saying it didn't work and want their money back. But I'm telling you now… Mr…?"
"—Moony."
"Mr. Moony, I never screw up."
Remus Lupin handed him the right amount of Muggle money before leaning across the table. "Now let's see what you can do."
"I need a name, Senor," said Antonio.
"Sirius Black."
* * *
The Crosser gagged with his eyes wide open as Sirius' arm entangled around his neck. Sirius was surprised himself, expecting his arm to go right through the stranger. But laws of the living were altered in this current place.
"Speak, Crosser," Sirius whispered against his ear. "What is your purpose for coming here and why are you speaking to the ancients?"
"Gah! I-I d-don't know—Aurgh!"
"Who are you and who is paying you to cross our line?" Sirius' arm clamped tighter around his neck. "Better answer fast, boy, you don't want to get stuck here."
"Jonathan!" the young man gasped for air. "The Order of the Dragon came to my place…"
"What was the message they wanted you to convey?" Sirius growled. "Now don't make me ask twice."
"T-They want me t-to tell the ancient s-s-spirits about a… a—"
"—A what?"
"A book!" Jonathan screamed, sobbing. "Please, don't make me stay here…"
"What about this book?" Sirius insisted.
"It's called Aris, Luna et Stella," the Crosser replied, forcing his tears to go away. "They wanted the ancient spirits of the Order of the Dragon that they have found it, delivered to a girl named Hermione Granger, but it is still not with them."
Sirius Black? Mr. Moony searching for Sirius Black?Even in the Spirit World he was hearing things. "Why do they want it?" Sirius yelled, almost having sympathy for the Crosser. Why did that book sound so familiar, most especially the name Hermione Granger?
"It gives instructions about the annihilation of the muggles and half-bloods, the redemption of the wizard kind from other races and species," the Crosser squinted, trying hard to remember everything that has been said to him. His left arm was beginning to grow limp. "A Dragon shall lead us to this victory, and he shall become the greatest wizard of all time. The book shall give powers unimaginable to the Dragon who will rule our world, free from the scum of lowly creatures."
"Sounds like this Order of the Dragon is a group of crazy ass-wipes," Sirius grumbled to himself. "Anything else, Crosser?"
"No more, sir, I swear!" Jonathan pleaded. "They just kept laughing at the fate that was planned by the sun, the moon and the stars. Muggles and half bloods shall be wiped out."
Sirius Black… Sirius Black….
His godson was a half-blood. Harry. Harry Potter. He was not safe, didn't he have a muggle friend… Hermione Granger! "Very well, Crosser, go back now. You're useless here," He roughly let go of the young man, and Jonathan stumbled on the ground.
"Thank you, thank you," he whimpered, before he vanished and went back to the world of the living.
It all came back now. Aris Luna et Stella. The reason why his Animagus form was a dog. He remembered it, back in their sixth year at Hogwarts, the Marauders had wandered to a deserted alley at Hogsmeade, very much like Knockturn Alley when they noticed a book lying on the ground like it had been abandoned by its owner. Lupin was drawn into it because of the rich colors of the cover; a picture of a bright sun burning in the center, a moon in its crescent form at the corner and stars burning in different directions.
"You'd better put that were you found it," Wormtail had said.
"Oh come on, Peter, let him have it!" Sirius laughed. "It's as good as his anyway."
"Finder's Keepers," James said as -a-matter of-factly.
Later that same week, at the Library, Sirius had asked Lupin to help him with his Potions assignment. He had been intrigued by the title of the book Lupin carried around since that day at Hogsmeade. "Aris, Luna et Stella," he read and looked up to Lupin. "What's it mean, Moony?"
Lupin sighed, as if bored. "It means Sun, Moon and Stars," he explained. "It's pretty interesting, you can get an idea for your…" He looked around and spoke in a much lower voice. "—Form."
"Right, right," Sirius nodded as he grabbed the book, his Potions textbooks left forgotten.
Sirius had wondered what had happened to the book afterwards Remus had probably sold it to someone else for a price, he was always the entrepreneur, the brains, in the Marauders.
Mr. Moony searching for Sirius Black!Sirius finally turned around, aggravated by the broken record voice. When he did so, he felt his heart jump from his skin, if it was still inside his chest, that is.
"Moony?" Sirius gasped.
"No, senor," The Remus Lupin look-alike replied. "I believe your friend has something to say to you."
* * *
It was well over five minutes and all Antonio did was create a mantra or some kind of chant with Sirius' name on it. The candles have made it stifling hot in the room not to mention suffocating Lupin with its irritating scent. Tiny little beads of sweat were forming on Antonio's head, but he still won't give up.
"I'm afraid I need my money back, sir," Lupin began to stand up.
"Por favor, senor!" Antonio exclaimed. "This has never happened before. It usually depends on the spirits of the other side, if they only open up their senses once more. Mr. Moony to Sirius Black," he said in a deep, melodic voice. "Sirius Black… Wait a minute, am I calling the Sirius Black? The one who—" He paused as Lupin shot him a look, and Antonio was quite positive he saw a beast in his eyes. "Well, can't do any harm to me now, can he?"
"Look, thanks for the help, Antonio, but I think this was a mistake—"
"Emotions play a role too, Mr. Moony. Sometimes they block other elements from reaching up to them… especially elements or entities not from their world."
What emotion could Sirius be feeling now? Boredom? "Give me my money back, Antonio," Lupin said as he grabbed his coat from the coat hanger. Outside the moon was slowly showing its face. "You seriously wouldn't want me to get it from you," Lupin said urgently, digging the Wolfsbane Potion inside his pockets. "I said—"
BAM! Lupin was suddenly thrown to the wall, the potion somewhere on the floor. "What the hell are you doing?" Lupin yelled, prying Antonio's fingers from his shoulders. But the Spanish man looked at him with dark, blank eyes.
"Moony? Is it really you?" came Sirius' voice.
* * *
Lupin stared in disbelief. This man was a stranger he had met only tonight; yet, the voice coming from his mouth was what he had known forever. "Padfoot?" He drawled.
"Listen to me, Moony," said Antonio, still gripping Lupin's shoulder tightly. "Do you remember the book where I got the idea of becoming a dog? Aris Luna et Stella? There's more to it than stupid stars and constellations! It's a map of some sort, no one really knows for sure, but Hermione has it, and it's not safe! Something is about to happen… Dumbledore… Gryffindor's Ghost…"
Lupin tried to absorb everything Antonio said, but he was shaking all over. This was beyond reason. He couldn't believe it. Sirius was actually speaking to him, giving him instructions and new facts. His ears had a photographic memory anyway, he would worry about it later. Out of the corner of his eye, the moon had begun to rise. Lupin saw the hairs on his arms multiplying in amazing rate.
He grabbed Antonio's arms. "Padfoot, let go now," He growled through his gritted teeth, his breathing becoming ragged. "I'm changing…" A split second later, Lupin fell on his knees, then twisted all over the floor. His eyes caught sight of the Wolfsbane Potion and drank it greedily.
"I'll come back, Moony, I'll be back…" whispered Antonio, then he shook his head, as if getting leaves that have fallen to his hair. "What'd I miss— holy fuck, what's happening to you Mr. Moony?"
"GET OUT OF HERE, ANTONIO!" Lupin screamed, the words coming out like a creature's language. "LOCK THIS ROOM AND GET OUT OF HERE!"
Panic-stricken, Antonio made a few whimpering noises and made a dash for the door. Lupin had enough strength to Obliviate him before a werewolf's haunting howl echoed in the pale moon's light.
* * *
One week after…He knocked on the massive wooden door before he heard a faint "Come in!" from inside of the room. He turned the doorknob and stepped inside the huge circular room, and a phoenix greeted him with a warm smile.
"Ah, Remus, how nice of you to pay me a visit," Albus Dumbledore said from his desk, apparently having a conference with Professor Flitwick who nervously bobbed his two tiny feet on the chair.
"Good day, Professors," Lupin bowed and turned directly to the Headmaster. "I'm afraid I have important news to tell you, privately, if you must."
Albus Dumbledore smiled. "Very well. The seventh year students will be having their N.E.W.T.'s tomorrow, and I believe I need one more teacher to be their proctor for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Would you do me the honors, Lupin?"
The Headmaster had that knowing smile again, the smile Remus Lupin had learned to trust and not question. "It will be my pleasure, Professor."
**END OF FLASHBLACK**
* * *
Present time…~*~
"We were there, Harry, we both saw it! He nearly choked Hermione to death—"
"I know that, Ron, but he let her go—"
""Only after his face went all… twisted! He's gone mental, Malfoy. I don't see why we even have to be in his house!"
"Listen to me, Ron! Do you seriously think that he would hurt Hermione? Call me crazy, but I don't think that was Malfoy back there…"
"You're right. He's worse—"
"Either way, I think you shouldn't have hit him in the face."
"Oh, and this coming from a bloke who almost killed him at
school?"
Hermione kept her eyes closed and listened to her bestfriends quarrel. She had
been awake even before the fight began, but she refused to stand up from her
bed. So there she was, her back to Harry and Ron as they tried to make sense
what happened that day. Meanwhile, the events played in her mind like a broken
record, focusing on Draco's distant gray eyes as his cold fingers clasp around
her neck, tighter and tighter…
"—Not to mention costing us our License! Do you know how long it would take for us to apply again? Six months!"
"Get a grip, Ron, we did Apparate back to the Atrium. And keep you're voice down if you want to complain the whole day. She's resting," Harry added as he peered out the window. The sky had suddenly transformed from a bright flow to a gloomy gray, wrapping the Manor with its dark shadows. Moments later the gods roared violently; thunder and lightning descending to the earth.
The door to their room slowly creaked open, and Draco Malfoy stepped upon the carpeted floor. Harry and Ron turned around and acknowledged his presence.
"So what did they say?" Harry asked, referring to the security guards that had escorted them to the Malfoy Manor.
"Nothing," Draco shrugged. "Just let us off with a warning."
"Are they gone now?"
"Yes," Draco murmured and walked over to Hermione's bed.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ron suddenly yelled, marching towards him, but Malfoy was faster. He drew his wand from this pocket and lazily aimed it at the redhead.
"Weasley, I am seriously getting tired of your ass bitching around," Draco drawled, keeping his arm straight and leveled. "You take one more step and I'm going to turn you into a plastic figurine and leave you out on the sun."
"You do that, Malfoy, and you'll be begging for death when I'm through with you," Harry growled, and Draco slowly turned his head. A wand was pointed right across his heart.
Lightning flashed and a powerful thunder rumbled across the sky. Big raindrops splattered continuously on the window, and Ron stood frozen on his ground. His eyes glanced back and forth at the two wizards, neither showing signs that they were not putting their wands anytime soon.
"Well," Malfoy snickered, leering at the two Gryffindors. "Looks like we've got ourselves a situation here."
"I don't see anything funny about this, Malfoy," Ron gritted his teeth.
"You forget, Potter. You do so much as take a hair out of place, my house-elves will come for you," Draco smirked. "They'd kill for their master."
Harry remained calm, though his emerald orbs glowed with contempt. "What happened at the Atrium, Malfoy?"
The young master studied him for a while as a blank expression surfaced on his face. "I didn't mean to hurt her," Draco finally said, his voice low and unreadable.
Harry strengthened his grip on the wand. "What happened at the Atrium?" he repeated.
"I don't need your help, Potter—"
"Wasn't planning on giving it to you—"
"Then it's none of your fuckin' business!" Draco shouted.
"What you do to Hermione is!" Harry yelled back, his fingers trembling with fury.
"I DON'T KNOW, ALRIGHT!" Draco roared, striding over until the tip of Harry's wand touched his heart. "THERE WERE VOICES EVERYWHERE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST CONTROL OF MY FUCKIN' SELF! I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL I WAS DOING!"
Outside, the rainstorm was getting worse and Ron involuntarily took a step back. That was the first time he saw Malfoy lose his temper since they were at Hogwarts.
"You think I'm crazy, don't you?" Draco raised his eyebrows, pressing his chest further into Harry's wand. Would he take his mother's footsteps soon? "Go ahead. You want Hermione safe? Let's see if you can do it."
Ron held his breath as Harry licked his lips. After what seemed like an agonizing moment, Harry finally lowered his wand. "Just because you hear voices doesn't mean you're crazy," he muttered, glaring at the Malfoy.
"Coward." Draco shook his head. "So you know everything now, huh, Potter?" He walked over to the door, flinging it so hard that it hit the shelf on the other side of the wall. "You could stay here if you want, but I'm sure it's best for all of us if the two of you left immediately."
"Don't worry, we'll go and bring Hermione with us as soon as she wakes up," Harry growled, looking over his shoulder to Hermione's sleeping form, her back to the three wizards.
"She's already awake," he said flatly, a playful smirk curved around Draco's lips. "She never sleeps like that, on her side."
"How the hell would you kn—" Ron began, and then stopped short. "Spare me the details. I don't wanna know."
Draco ran his fingers through his hair and paused before leaving the room. "The last thing I wanna do is hurt you, Hermione. Believe me." Then Malfoy closed the door with a loud band.
"The nerve of that son of a bitch," Ron muttered angrily when he left. "He didn't even say 'sorry'!"
"Hermione…" Harry said gently as he knelt on the floor by her side. She had been awake, sobbing softly the whole time. "We have to go if—"
"I'm staying, Harry," Hermione whispered, staring at the wall behind him. "I know Draco didn't mean it."
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I'm sorry it took so long to update! And I hope this is long enough for everyone! Haha, Until next!