Hope of the Phoenix (17/?)
Rating: PG 13
Pairing: Remus/Petunia
Disclaimer: see previous chapters; I'm feeling lazy
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed! There are only a few more chapters ... probably...until I will have finished Part One of the Phoenix Quartet – so this part of the story will begin to wind down over the next few chapters ... I expect Part One will probably be about 21 chapters total ... but then there's parts two, three and four to look forward to! More on that later ...I have to finish part one first! On with the story!
Chapter 17: Waxing and Waning
When Petunia reached the kitchen the next morning, the first thing she noticed was that Hedwig was eating her breakfast! Dratted pigeon! Despite being forced to use owls occasionally, Petunia still did not like animals. Why couldn't wizards just use the post like everyone else? The postman at least didn't eat other people's breakfast.
"Petunia, dear," called Molly as soon as Petunia had entered the room. "There's a letter here for you from Harry, he must have sent it out last night. Hope the poor dears are all right – the trouble they get into..." She turned her attention again to the bacon that she had sizzling on the stove.
Petunia reached over and nervously took the roll of parchment from Hedwig's leg. She unrolled it carefully. Harry's untidy scrawl greeted her, edging every inch of the parchment. He told all about what was going on at Hogwarts, Quidditch games, interesting spells he was learning, things he had done at Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione... but it was the postscript that caught her eye.
"P.S. What is going on with you and Professor Lupin? Hermione said that you to were dating, but I said that was ridiculous...I mean, you and Lupin? Hermione pointed out all the pictures of you two together in the photo book you gave me, and then pointed out you two were awfully close this Christmas, and gave that "Harry, you're being an idiot" look. Don't know if you've seen that look, but she's very good at it, so I just thought I'd ask. Your nephew, Harry."
What was going on with her and Lupin? She wasn't sure anymore. After her talk with Molly, she knew she wanted to continue their relationship, but she had no idea how Remus felt. Would he be willing to continue their relationship after she had hurt him, for a second time?
Petunia kept herself busy that morning working on some of the final preparations for the fake conference she was planning, in order to trap the Death Eaters. She had found that planning a fake conference took just as much work as a real one.
Late in the afternoon, as the sun was preparing to slip over the Western edge of the world, and the street lamps were beginning to be lit on the quiet streets, Snape arrived at the door.
"Here," he said to Petunia the moment she opened the door. "See Lupin drinks this directly", shoving a steaming goblet into her hand, "I don't have time to baby-sit your pet werewolf." Then, with a snap of his fingers, he disappeared from the doorstep.
She hurried up the stairs, and knocked on Remus' door. She crept in, and found him looking out the window. He turned and glanced at her as she came in. She held out the goblet.
"Snape said you should drink this." He gave her a small, half-smile, then rose and took the goblet from her. She restrained a giggle at the funny face he gave as he drank it. He shook himself as he finished.
"Guh. Disgusting. I don't think there is a more disgusting potion than the Wolfsbane ... not that I should complain. I'm lucky that Severus makes it for me at all." He moved to sit back down on his chair, and Petunia shifted uncomfortably.
"It makes me safe, you know." He said suddenly, still looking out of the window, watching as the last rays of the sun peeked over the distant buildings of London.
"What?" She wasn't expecting this. What did he mean; it made him safe? Did he mean safe, safe?
"The Wolfsbane. Dumbledore wouldn't let me stay in the house if I was dangerous. Percy said last night that you'd been trying to find a safe way to stay with me during the transformations...Snape probably doesn't teach the Wolfsbane in Potions, it is quite dangerous and difficult; so Percy probably didn't know. It allows me to keep my mind."
The sun now dropped behind the last of the buildings, and Remus stiffened in his chair. "You'd better go," he said suddenly, "the moon will rise any second now."
Petunia left the room, and headed back down the stairs towards the kitchen. She wished Molly and Arthur hadn't gone out to dinner with Bill and Fleur that night. She considered going out, taking the Underground to Percy's flat...but she wasn't sure exactly where in London it was. She didn't want to be alone in the house while... while... while Remus was going through that.
Sitting in the dark, underground kitchen, she remembered that night, as a girl of twenty-one, when she had discovered her boyfriend was a werewolf. Petunia walked slowly up the path to Remus' house, being careful not to spill the hot chicken soup she was carrying. Remus had called earlier that afternoon, telling her not to come over that evening, as he was sick. Poor boy. Wouldn't he have a lovely surprise when she fed him soup and looked after him... there was such a nasty flu going around ...she was sure he would love it.
Suddenly, a horrific howl that seemed to freeze her blood tore through the air. It was the scream of a man in terrible, terrible pain. She dropped the chicken soup as she covered her ears with her hands, barely noticing as the bowl shattered all over the walk. Looking up, she saw Remus, her beloved Remus, staggering around his living room, his mouth open in the same mind- shattering scream she had just heard.
She started forwards. Her Remus was hurting; she had to go to him. Just then, through the living room window, she saw his body tremble – hair sprouted from his jaw and arms, his face and body elongated, his fingernails became claws, his legs took on the strength of the wolf, his clothes split and were thrown aside, the scream of the man became the howl of the wolf. She turned, and fled towards home before he could look at her with eyes that didn't see her, with the eyes of a hungry predator...
Petunia stood up suddenly from the kitchen table. She would not be frightened off this time. She would do what she should have been willing to do before. Walking determinedly up the stairs, she reentered Remus' room. She felt a questioning lick on her fingers, and looked down into the curious face of a wolf.
"Hello Remus," she said softly. She hadn't been able to bear canines since watching her boyfriend turn into one all those years ago, and those hellhounds of Marge's hadn't helped, but this was Remus, even if he was slobbery and furry. Sitting down in the chair Remus had so recently been sitting in, she stroked the fur of the wolf curled at her feet, and feeling slightly silly, began to talk.
Remus slowly came to himself. His whole body ached, not only from the transformation, but also from spending the night on the floor. He felt bony legs sticking into his stomach, and looked up to see Petunia sleeping softly on the chair. Her hand had fallen, from where it had been stroking his head, to the edge of the chair.
He got up slowly. Leaning over her sleeping form, he kissed her cheek gently. He was greeted by blue eyes the colour of pale forget-me-nots, and a smile like the summer sunshine rising over the mountains. With one, tired arm, she pulled him down beside her on the chair, and they slept away the morning, as the sun crept into all the nooks and corners of Grimmauld Place, and the suburbs of London.
That evening, Hedwig arrived at the Gryffindor common room. Along with the progress of the planning of the conference, and the details of life at Headquarters, Harry found the Postscript.
"Dear Harry, Hermione is right. I am dating Remus again. I hope you don't mind. And haven't you learned yet, that the woman is always right? Hope to see you soon. Love, Aunt Petunia"
Harry quickly hid the paper in his Potions notebook. The "I-told-you-so's" from Hermione would be unbearable.
Rating: PG 13
Pairing: Remus/Petunia
Disclaimer: see previous chapters; I'm feeling lazy
A/N: Thank you to all who reviewed! There are only a few more chapters ... probably...until I will have finished Part One of the Phoenix Quartet – so this part of the story will begin to wind down over the next few chapters ... I expect Part One will probably be about 21 chapters total ... but then there's parts two, three and four to look forward to! More on that later ...I have to finish part one first! On with the story!
Chapter 17: Waxing and Waning
When Petunia reached the kitchen the next morning, the first thing she noticed was that Hedwig was eating her breakfast! Dratted pigeon! Despite being forced to use owls occasionally, Petunia still did not like animals. Why couldn't wizards just use the post like everyone else? The postman at least didn't eat other people's breakfast.
"Petunia, dear," called Molly as soon as Petunia had entered the room. "There's a letter here for you from Harry, he must have sent it out last night. Hope the poor dears are all right – the trouble they get into..." She turned her attention again to the bacon that she had sizzling on the stove.
Petunia reached over and nervously took the roll of parchment from Hedwig's leg. She unrolled it carefully. Harry's untidy scrawl greeted her, edging every inch of the parchment. He told all about what was going on at Hogwarts, Quidditch games, interesting spells he was learning, things he had done at Hogsmeade with Ron and Hermione... but it was the postscript that caught her eye.
"P.S. What is going on with you and Professor Lupin? Hermione said that you to were dating, but I said that was ridiculous...I mean, you and Lupin? Hermione pointed out all the pictures of you two together in the photo book you gave me, and then pointed out you two were awfully close this Christmas, and gave that "Harry, you're being an idiot" look. Don't know if you've seen that look, but she's very good at it, so I just thought I'd ask. Your nephew, Harry."
What was going on with her and Lupin? She wasn't sure anymore. After her talk with Molly, she knew she wanted to continue their relationship, but she had no idea how Remus felt. Would he be willing to continue their relationship after she had hurt him, for a second time?
Petunia kept herself busy that morning working on some of the final preparations for the fake conference she was planning, in order to trap the Death Eaters. She had found that planning a fake conference took just as much work as a real one.
Late in the afternoon, as the sun was preparing to slip over the Western edge of the world, and the street lamps were beginning to be lit on the quiet streets, Snape arrived at the door.
"Here," he said to Petunia the moment she opened the door. "See Lupin drinks this directly", shoving a steaming goblet into her hand, "I don't have time to baby-sit your pet werewolf." Then, with a snap of his fingers, he disappeared from the doorstep.
She hurried up the stairs, and knocked on Remus' door. She crept in, and found him looking out the window. He turned and glanced at her as she came in. She held out the goblet.
"Snape said you should drink this." He gave her a small, half-smile, then rose and took the goblet from her. She restrained a giggle at the funny face he gave as he drank it. He shook himself as he finished.
"Guh. Disgusting. I don't think there is a more disgusting potion than the Wolfsbane ... not that I should complain. I'm lucky that Severus makes it for me at all." He moved to sit back down on his chair, and Petunia shifted uncomfortably.
"It makes me safe, you know." He said suddenly, still looking out of the window, watching as the last rays of the sun peeked over the distant buildings of London.
"What?" She wasn't expecting this. What did he mean; it made him safe? Did he mean safe, safe?
"The Wolfsbane. Dumbledore wouldn't let me stay in the house if I was dangerous. Percy said last night that you'd been trying to find a safe way to stay with me during the transformations...Snape probably doesn't teach the Wolfsbane in Potions, it is quite dangerous and difficult; so Percy probably didn't know. It allows me to keep my mind."
The sun now dropped behind the last of the buildings, and Remus stiffened in his chair. "You'd better go," he said suddenly, "the moon will rise any second now."
Petunia left the room, and headed back down the stairs towards the kitchen. She wished Molly and Arthur hadn't gone out to dinner with Bill and Fleur that night. She considered going out, taking the Underground to Percy's flat...but she wasn't sure exactly where in London it was. She didn't want to be alone in the house while... while... while Remus was going through that.
Sitting in the dark, underground kitchen, she remembered that night, as a girl of twenty-one, when she had discovered her boyfriend was a werewolf. Petunia walked slowly up the path to Remus' house, being careful not to spill the hot chicken soup she was carrying. Remus had called earlier that afternoon, telling her not to come over that evening, as he was sick. Poor boy. Wouldn't he have a lovely surprise when she fed him soup and looked after him... there was such a nasty flu going around ...she was sure he would love it.
Suddenly, a horrific howl that seemed to freeze her blood tore through the air. It was the scream of a man in terrible, terrible pain. She dropped the chicken soup as she covered her ears with her hands, barely noticing as the bowl shattered all over the walk. Looking up, she saw Remus, her beloved Remus, staggering around his living room, his mouth open in the same mind- shattering scream she had just heard.
She started forwards. Her Remus was hurting; she had to go to him. Just then, through the living room window, she saw his body tremble – hair sprouted from his jaw and arms, his face and body elongated, his fingernails became claws, his legs took on the strength of the wolf, his clothes split and were thrown aside, the scream of the man became the howl of the wolf. She turned, and fled towards home before he could look at her with eyes that didn't see her, with the eyes of a hungry predator...
Petunia stood up suddenly from the kitchen table. She would not be frightened off this time. She would do what she should have been willing to do before. Walking determinedly up the stairs, she reentered Remus' room. She felt a questioning lick on her fingers, and looked down into the curious face of a wolf.
"Hello Remus," she said softly. She hadn't been able to bear canines since watching her boyfriend turn into one all those years ago, and those hellhounds of Marge's hadn't helped, but this was Remus, even if he was slobbery and furry. Sitting down in the chair Remus had so recently been sitting in, she stroked the fur of the wolf curled at her feet, and feeling slightly silly, began to talk.
Remus slowly came to himself. His whole body ached, not only from the transformation, but also from spending the night on the floor. He felt bony legs sticking into his stomach, and looked up to see Petunia sleeping softly on the chair. Her hand had fallen, from where it had been stroking his head, to the edge of the chair.
He got up slowly. Leaning over her sleeping form, he kissed her cheek gently. He was greeted by blue eyes the colour of pale forget-me-nots, and a smile like the summer sunshine rising over the mountains. With one, tired arm, she pulled him down beside her on the chair, and they slept away the morning, as the sun crept into all the nooks and corners of Grimmauld Place, and the suburbs of London.
That evening, Hedwig arrived at the Gryffindor common room. Along with the progress of the planning of the conference, and the details of life at Headquarters, Harry found the Postscript.
"Dear Harry, Hermione is right. I am dating Remus again. I hope you don't mind. And haven't you learned yet, that the woman is always right? Hope to see you soon. Love, Aunt Petunia"
Harry quickly hid the paper in his Potions notebook. The "I-told-you-so's" from Hermione would be unbearable.