(7)Wolfsbane, Garlic & Chocolate

Remus stepped out of his own fireplace, shook off the ash like a dog & then sank into the nearest chair. "Good Merlin! Why'd you push her away?!" He thoroughly regetted his outburst but it was to late now. "Now she'll really hate you, if she doesn't already!"

Remus tried distracting himself with chocolate, but for once it didn't work. He tried some tea next & finally, ended up tackling a garlic clove! Nothing worked. He returned to his chair & stared at a picture of the four of them together, trying not to look at Peter. If Merida ever found out what I did, she'd kill me! Remus tried to shake it off. He had a Full Moon tonight & should be focusing on that.

Merida didn't know how long she had been asleep, but it was somewhere in the afternoon when she finally pulled herself off the bed & headed downstairs. Without realising it, Merida began putting together the Wolfsbane Potion; perhaps sub-conciously, she was expecting him to return. She replayed over & over the conversation that morning but eventually gave up. She just couldn't figure Remus out this time.

Merida lay on the sofa, wrapped up in her Father's black fur cape. She fiddled with the clasp, a silver snake against a dark green leaf faintly outlined with gold. The Snape crest.

It was Sirius's voice that pulled her back to reality. "Mommy? Is that supper?" He pointed her towards the kitchen & the pot of Wolfsbane.

"No," Merida smiled at Sirius's relieved expression. "It's just a Wolfsbane Potion."

"Whatsa Wolfsbane Potion?" Sirius had finally abandoned the "Why? but now he was stuck on the "What?" or, in his case, "Whatsa?"

Not again! Merida mentally cursed herself. "It's to help werewolfs on Full Moon!"

"How?"

Dear God! I can't believe you gave me a future English Teacher!! Merida tried to explain as patiently as possible, which was nearly impossible for a Snape! "It helps in keeping control & with the pain. It hurts a lot!"

"Why?"

& we're back to the "Why?"!!! Merida had no intention of getting caught in another English class game; neither did she think it appropriate describing in detail, the rather violent effects of lycanthropy to a small boy, so she turned his attention off the "Why's?" & "Whatsa's?" & back to his friend next door. "So, how's Jessica?"

"Fine, can I stay there for supper?" Sirius finally dropped the English subject! (For now, at least!)

"OK," Merida agreed & then remembered something. "Stay until tomorrow morning alright?"

"Why?"

"For the love of everything, Sirius!" Merida groaned. "WHY do you like asking WHY all the time?!"

"I dunno!" Sirius shrugged.

Merida pulled Sirius close & looked firmly into his eyes. "Look, do not return to this house in the dark!" she warned, just in case she could get Remus to return. "& stay inside Jessica's house while it's dark & BEFORE you ask why, I'll tell you; it's a very evil night so just stay inside! Now get over there before it gets dark!"

"OK!" Sirius, for once, had sense not to ask one worded questions!

Merida let out a sigh of relief once he left. She knew he'd be safe at Jessica's house. Her mother would never let her child out at this time of month either, so she'd look after Sirius. The Saunder's were also a pureblood wizard family, with Mr. Saunders somewhere in the Order. It was quite possible, Sirius & Jessica would end up going to Hogwarts together. Being alone again, Merida went back to brooding over her dilema.

She pulled the cape over her again, tracing the snake with her finger. "What the hell's wrong with you, Remus?!" Merida asked herself aloud. "If it's not Harry, not our age difference, not the fact we used each other, then what is it?!" Merida stayed on the sofa all afternoon, almost sulkily! And then, she began to figure it out! And the more she figured it out, the more she realised what Remus was probably thinking.

"Now to find him before sunset!" Merida sighed & marched over to the fireplace. "Priori Destination!" The fire rose up & spelled 'Lupin Estate, France.' "France? So that's the faint off accent he has!" she stepped inside.

Merida half-rolled out into the living room & tried to clean the ash off as best as possible. Then she got up & looked around for Remus. The living room was full of Marauder pictures. On the mantle of the fireplace, were three prism objects, one was shaped like a deer, complete with horns, one was a wolf howling & one was a dog. Merida was quite sure that there used to be a rat shaped one that was probably destroyed. On the table were four boxes of chocolates----but of course!----one of which was open & half empty.

Entering the kitchen, Merida found a trail of something that looked like white paper. On closer inspection, it turned out to be-----garlic coverings? Remus was standing at the window, waiting for sunset. "What are you doing here, Merida?" Remus glared at her with fully amber eyes. Moony was already begining to wake up.

"I've made some Wolfsbane at home," said Merida. "We should go now!"

Remus----or Moony rather, growled softly. "You really shouldn't be here!"

"I'm fine, Moony," said Merida. "I've got Mystique! But I need Remus at home so he can have some Wolfsbane."

"It's too late! I'm almost fully awake! Besides, Remus can't see you again!"

"I need to speak to Remus NOW, Moony!" Merida spasmed!

The wolf within Remus was so startled by her abruptness that he allowed Remus to take over. Get rid of her, Remus! She SCARES me!

That's Snape temper for you, Moony! Remus laughed out loud. "You picking on my wolf-half?" he teased. "Fighting with Moony is never good."

"Why is he showing up so early anyway?" Merida asked.

"I thought I was alone," said Remus. "So I was letting him take over. That way, when the moon is up, it'll happen more quickly & get it over with!"

"You talk to him?" Merida had over-heard the silent conversation. "& he talks back?"

"Yeah, he talks back alright!" Remus agreed. "He's as tempermental as a Snape! It's a symbiotic relationship!" Remus pulled Merida over & pushed her hand in just below his ribs.

Merida could feel a long lump if she pressed in hard enough. "What's that?"

"That's Moony!" said Remus. "The clump of Lycan-cells!"

Remus! She's touching me! Moony panicked.

No you idiot! She's touching ME! Remus sighed.

"Do you two always fight so?" Merida tried not to laugh.

"I keep him under tight control now," said Remus. "Though it drives me crazy at times having another entity in my head! Now really, Meri, you should go!"

"I have Mystique with me," said Merida. "But we still have time to get the Wolsbane. Sirius isn't home tonight anyway!"

"Merida I.......I shouldn't---" Remus began.

"What's wrong, Remus?" Merida gave him one last chance to redeem himself.

Remus heaved a heavy sigh. "It's just------nevermind!"

Merida closed her eyes for a moment. "It's because you-----murdered my Father, isn't it?"

Remus stared out the window. That was precisly it! The Prophecy! The force making him do it! Everything! How im blue blazes did Merida figure it out?!

"I noticed stuff from day one," Merida answered his unspoken question. "Just after we were together! It started then. I heard that conversation between you two about you being an Alpha & I heard the threats from both of you. After that, it just got worse & worse & then.....well Dumbledore explained the Prophecy!"

"Oh dear Merlin! You know of the Prophecy?!" Remus let out a soft puppy-whine.

"Remus," Merida sighed & gazed into his amber eyes. "Harry & I FOUND that Prophecy & showed it to Dumbledore!"

"You found it, yourself?" Remus couldn't believe what was happening. "& Harry knew of it?"

"Yes, we did!" Merida nodded. Remus was looking really worried now. "I don't know why you were chosen over Father. Maybe it's because it had to do with Harry dying! A girl can only get so close to her Father!"

"Perhaps," Remus stared at the floor. "But I really didn't mean to! Sure, we were at each others throats all the time, half the time literally, but I never really wanted to take your father away from you------!"

"Remus, it's alright!" Merida tried calming him. "I know what the Prophecy said, remember? Now," she laughed a bit. "let's go get the Wolfsban. We have about half an hour left-----& what's with the garlic?!"

"Oh---er--!" Remus smiled sheepishly. "It's only instinctive now, but it had to do with vampires. During the old wars, werewolves feasted on garlic to make their blood poisonous to vampires. Now, we tolerate each other to put it mildly, but wolves still like garlic!"

"I should say so!" Merida glowered at the bulb. "You're eating it raw!"

"It's really good! You want some?"

"No!" Merida half-laughed.

"Suit yourself," Remus pulled off another peice. "Hmm, I wonder what chocolate-covered garlic would taste like?"

Yuuuuk! Merida felt REALLY sick all of a sudden! "Remus!" she half-snapped. "Could we just get your Wolfsbane?!"

"Alright!" Remus noticed Merida was looking a little pale. He pulled her close to him. "Are you alright?"

"I was fine unitl the moment you mentioned chocolate-covered garlic!" Merida groaned, glaring into his eyes.

"Sorry!" Remus lied on purpose, teasing her.

"Not forgiven!" Merida hissed.

"Ohhhh!" Remus whined, pretending to be hurt.

"Remus, your enough to drive a woman crazy," Merida sighed. "You know that, don't you?"

"It's---a Maruader thing!" Remus teased, as he got into the fireplace.

"Oh really?" Merida put her hands on hips & waited for him to disappear. "Yeah & about being a Marauder........!" She thought about Sweethe--er--Padfoot & immediatly, all the pictures were void of a "Black" dog! Merida entered the fireplace & tumbled out into her living room.

"Yes, really!" Remus caught her & swung her around into his arms.

"Figured as much!" Merida wait for him to let go. There was a long pregnant pause. "Remus? The Wolfsbane?"

"Errr---right!" he let her go & headed for the kitchen. Merida followed slowly. Both were suddenly feeling awkward around each other. Remus downed the Wolfsbane in too gulps, screwing up his face against the "delicate" flavor! Just in time too. "Oy, it's been nearly five years since I've tasted that!" Remus growled, stepping towards Merida......& into a ray of moonlight shining through the window. Pain. Blinding pain, spread through him. Remus screamed & collapsed to the floor.

"That was close!" Merida scolded herself. "Too close!" She changed into an Artic wolf & waited for Moony to appear.

Moony whined as a soft muzzle nudged him. Expecting Padfoot, Moony jumped to his paws, tail wagging furiously. Wait one cotton-picking minute! Padfoot was black &-----er----male! Moony sniffed Mystique over, slowly working towards the tail. A female? This was new......&.....interesting.....&....& exotic &-----painful!!! A white tail had connected with his eyes, making them sting! Merida decided it was better her & Remus worked that out first before Moony & Mystique got to close. Right now, they had enough with getting over losing Harry.

Moony spent the night chasing Mystique all over the house. Most unwilling female! However, Moony had never been around a female wolf before & he was going nuts! He was over-excited & bouncing around, whining like a puppy. No that's wrong! At this point, a puppy had more maturity then Moony!

I thought she scared you, Moony!

You didn't tell me she could turn into a wolf, Remus!

Oh! Good! Grief! Leave her alo--OW!! She bit us! See?

Finally, dawn arrived! Mystique decided it was safe to get off her tail---she'd spent the most of last night sitting on it! Merida returned to herself & tended to Remus. He only had three large wounds on him & all were from a fed-up Mystique trying desperately to literally keep Moony off her back!

"Sorry Remus!" Merida half-laughed. "No less then what you deserved!"

"Hey I TRIED controlling him!" Remus growled, lying down on the sofa with a soar expression. "It's been a while since Moony had someone with us, but never had he had a female with him!"

"He was all over me!" Merida snarled.

"SOR---ry!" Remus snapped. A minute of silence past while both pouted. "& what about us?" Remus suddenly asked.

"Well, I most certainly think we should get together BEFORE our animals do!" Merida sighed. "& you did tell Harry you'd look after us if something happened. But I don't think Mystique could handle Moony. He's to excitable!"

"He's just inexperienced," said Remus.

"Must be wierd being a virgin yet not being one!"

"Well, I think Padfoot got to him a few times!" Remus half-laughed. "But who knows for sure!"

"Padfoot's a dog," said Merida. "He was just asking for dominance, trying to be an Alpha!"

"HA!!" Remus scoffed. "You haven't met Sirius Black! He'd used that as a cover-up of course, but I'll never beleive him!"

"I suppose so!" Merida refrained from mentioning Sweetheart! "You feeling better?"

"Yeah a bit!" Remus sat up. "Better then on other Full Moons!"

"Maybe Mystique could watch over Moony again," said Merida. "but as a PANTHER! Not a wolf!"

Remus suppresed a laugh & gave Merida a half-worried look.

"What?"

"Nothing!" He kept his eyes on her & slowly, finally, leaned in for a kiss.

"We're doing it again!" said Merida, somewhat shocked, after he pulled away.

"What?"

"Taking advantage of each other!"

"How?"

Merlin sakes! He's as bad as Sirius! Merida tried to ignor it! "Well, we're both feeling very lost without Harry & we're using that loss to take comfort in each other!"

"I suppose you're right!" Remus sighed. "But I like it when you take advantage of me!" he suddenly teased.

"So do I!" Merida said.

"OK, let's try this again!" Remus was begining to get as playful as Moony. Or was this Moony shoving Remus aside to get his paws on her?

"Are you sure?" asked Merida.

"It IS a little soon," Remus admitted. Moony don't you dare! She's mine!

& you are mine Remus!

Remus tried ignoring the wolf. "Maybe we should...just...!" He pulled Merida into another kiss.

The doorbell rang!

Moony made Remus growl loudly. "Not now!" Remus snarled. Merida laughed at him. The bell rang again. "Can I get it?"

"Just so long as you hang on to Moony!" Merida warned.

"I will!" Remus marched to the door as it rang again. "I'm trying to have a special moment with Merida & the bloody door decides to ring itself off the bell! I'm coming you fool!" Remus muttered as it rang again. "& Merlin, you're going to regret it!" He yanked the door open. "NEVER!! Interupt a werewolf when he's----Lucious Malfoy?!"