Chapter Five: A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing/ Death XVII
The euphoria of the results lasted for the next couple of days. Mrs Weasley made a cake with congratulations to the trio, and presents for all.
Fred and George, Ron's brothers; arrived when it had all died down. Bringing a large cheque for Mr and Mrs Weasley, and presents for the rest.
"Lupin, my man." Fred said. "How you doing?"
Lupin smiled. "I am great. I have just been on a date…"
There was a sudden clatter if cutlery and a pause of interests filled the air. Lupin reddened, and turned to his plate.
"Who with?" asked Fred. "Is she fit?"
"Can it, Fred." Said Ron warningly.
"Oh, I'm sorry Perfect Prefect Ron…"
George sighed. "It doesn't work does it."
Fred looked crestfallen. "We have failed, for once."
They both sighed and Ron raised an eyebrow.
"We have forgotten to give you your birthday presents, Harry." Fred whispered, after stealing him from another of Hermione's ye ol' lecture.
"What are you talking about? You have already given me a present."
"Well, we found you listening to a CD of mine… so I wanted to buy you this one."
"You didn't have to…" Harry began.
"I know. But we did. Got you a CD player and all."
George smiled. "And, we even made it compatible with Hogwarts, so it even works."
"Don't forget the everlasting batteries."
"And that."
Fred handed Harry a box, and inside was a CD player and a CD.
"A Portrait of an American Family. Marilyn Manson. He is amazing." George said
"That is very true." Fred agreed. "We even saw him in concert. The memories."
Harry was sat in his room working on his Charms coursework, while listening to the song 'Lunchbox'.
"I've got my lunchbox and I'm armed real well." Harry sang quietly. "I wanna grow up, I wanna be a big rock and Roll Star. I wanna grow up, I wanna be, so no one fucks me."
"What are you listening to?" Hermione asked.
"Marilyn Manson."
Hermione eyes widened. "Do you like him?"
"Yup."
"I have almost all of his stuff…" Hermione said. "He is so amazing. Which album you got?"
"Portrait of an American Family." Harry said.
"Can I listen?" Hermione asked.
"Sure."
"Tomorrow we have to go to Diagon Alley." Ron reminded Harry for the fourth time that day. "Oh, and I forgot to give you your list."
Harry sighed and nodded.
"Is he annoying you?" came a voice.
"He means well." Harry sighed. "But you, Ginny. Should know that he does." He turned around to face her.
"Hallo." She said, smiling at him. "You ok?"
"I am. And yourself?"
Harry nodded. "Apart from this stupid shi…"
"Excuse me Ginny, I was sat there." Came an annoyed voice.
"Your too bloody over protective." Ginny said, and left.
"Diagon Alley." Green flames.
"Lupin, you next." Came the voice of Mrs Weasley, fading away as Harry felt like he was rushing around in circles.
He landed on his feet in the Leaky Cauldron.
"You alright, mate?" asked Ron, who had hair everywhere.
"Yup. I am kind of shaken, though… As I hate floo powder."
Ron nodded. "Well, let's see… We first need to get some money."
Harry nodded. "Where is the rest of the party?" wondered Harry. "There should have been here by now."
They shrugged and exited the pub's back entrance and into Diagon Alley.
They entered Gringotts and headed for the main goblin.
"Good afternoon, young Masters." It said politely.
"How may I help you?"
"I would like to withdraw money from my vault, please. My name is Harry Potter."
"Do you have your…"
"Key? I have it here." Harry handed the Goblin the key, and the goblin nodded over at another goblin. "Grindelwald will escort you, sirs."
"And I would also…" Ron began
"If you have your key, then follow Mr Potter and Grindelwald."
"Left, right, bear right…" muttered Harry. Trying to memories the journey.
"Give it up mate… It is impossible."
"Hermione could do it." Harry said.
"She could, hence why I said it was impossible."
Harry shrugged. "What ever you say, Sherlock."
"Who?"
The passed the vaults and were out within half an hour.
"Where to first?" inquired Ron.
"The leaky cauldron… I'm starving.
Harry groaned. "Bloody hell, we ate about an hour ago. Where do you put all the food you eat?"
"I am a growing boy," said Ron smiling wolfing it down.
After the leaky cauldron, and then Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream parlour. Harry then dragged Ron in to the Apothecary.
"I hate this shop. Smells like sh…"
"Harry." Came a voice behind them. Harry turned to see Remus; who looked cautious Ron turned and saw the old professorhe was as scruffy as ever before except it seemed he was trying.
"Hello. Don't worry. I won't attack you again. I'm sorry I did."
"I forgive you. Know, what do you guys need to do? I wanted to show you something," Lupin said, brushing off some dirt on his cloak, his hand centimetres from his wand at all times…
"And what is that? We need to be home soon, the full moon is tonight."
"Doesn't matter, I took a healthy dose of the Wolfbane's potion," said Lupin smiling warmly. To Harry Lupin was the only person he still had left to confide in after Sirius's death…he was glad he had someonea role model adult like Sirius he could talk to in his godfather's place.
"What is this place?" asked Harry, his eyes scanning the alley curiously.
"Looks like a place my mother would murder me if I she knew I was here," said Ron then smiled, "I think I like it!"
"Actually, this is where the wizard law firms are found. Not the nicest of places, and it gets worse… But their offices are wonderful. I have been there so many times, I know every inch of the place."
Something told Harry that the amount of times he had been there was a bloody load of times. Lupin took a deep breath and turned to Harry with warm eyes, it seemed to Harry that Lupin wanted to avoid the information he was to about to divulgebut felt he was adult enough to handle it,
"Sirius left a will, he knew that he could be killed; so he took the precaution of making a will," said Lupin solemnly even though his eyes became wider. Harry cringed at the mention of his godfather but hid it quickly.
"But… how? Wouldn't they snitch? And wouldn't the ministry find out."
"This particular lawyer is a very valuable asset to the order, and he made sure that they wouldn't find out."
They entered a building that from the outside looked like an abandoned warehouse, but the inside was posh as hell.
There was recption area and it was gold and very homely. It reminded Harry of the entrance hall of Hogwarts, but this place was smaller, but nicer.
"Good afternoon, Master Lupin. Mr Smith will be with you as soon as he is finished with his current client."
They sat in the waiting area, and Harry checked his watch. Three o'clock.
At half past three, the receptionist told them to enter an office to the left of the reception desk.
They entered and in the chair sat a very severe looking man wearing a suit.
"Good afternoon, master." He said, he looked like a very dull man and Harry though interested on what Sirius had written.
The three of them emerged later and found that it was already eight o'clock.
"Dumbledore told me that the portkey would be around the on Diagon alley. We have to go, I will change in an hour."
They got to Diagon Alley, and began to search.
Ten minutes passed: Nothing. Fifteen, Twenty, Twenty-five; still nothing.
When it reached ten to seven. Remus was getting worried. He had started pacing and rubbing at his chin as though in a frenzy. When he did something Harry nor Ron never expected.
"Harry. I have something to give to you." He pulled out from his pocket a gun checked it was loadedcareful to not touch the silver in the casket and handed it to Harry, who gave it to Ron who took one look at it and went as pale as a sheet. Remus had his hands on Harry's shoulder and staring at him intently as though forcing him to do what Harry knew he couldn't.
"If I change and attack, please shoot me."
Harry gulpedhis eyes were wide"But you will…" he began but could not finish his sentence so Lupin finished it for him.
"Die… slowly. But it is better."
Ron gulped and handed the gun to Harry, who shoved it back. Neither wanted to be a murdererbut both of them didn't want to die either…
"Take it, Ron. I couldn't." Harry said, a guilty look on his features, "Never"
Ron shook his head if Harry didn't want to do it and he was much braver there was no chance he would "No! You do it Harry."
Harry looked at Ron and with a stern stare at him snatched it off him "Fine then!"
The sun was beginning to set, and the search was becoming desperate.
Lupin was checking out a dust bin, when the darkness was becoming to an alarmingly point.
"I have just around five minutes." Lupin warned. His eyes Harry noticed were beginning even now to go yellow and his hair and alarming silvery grey. "The wolfsbane potion will make me into a calm wolf. I am unsure if there are no other werewolves in the area. See when it is a full moon, people shut their windows, and bolt them. The doors and windows are charmed."
"What has that got to do with anything," asked Harry, trying to by the time.
"If there is another werewolf, then you are in serious trouble, because a cry of a werewolf will alert my wolf instincts" said Lupin and took a deep breath, "and the wolfsbane will not be able to constrict me at all."
There was a silence between the two teacher and student looked at each other sadly.
"This is very unlikely, right." Harry asked, hopefully his mind was set on hope at the momenthe lost Siriushe didn't know what he'd do without Lupin too.
Lupin winked playfully, trying to be positive but it didn't help at all for both sides…
"I don't know, Harry I really don't…" Lupin stopped in mid-sentence. The full moon was apon him. He began to shake, as if he was having a seizure. Lupin fell to his knees as he broke into a set of terrifying spasms. His pupils dilated into his brown eyes, and then the brown was conquered by the demonic red.
"Oh shit." Ron moaned.
The wolf looked at them, but didn't growl or anything… It made a noise that sounded like a yawn… and then it curled up in a ball.
Both couldn't believe what the potion could do from the monster they were almost murdered by three years before and the creature it was now…
"Lupin… or this wolf… looks like a…" said Ron but Harry Finished his sentence
"A dog…"I know Harry whispered.
"Oh look, I found it." Ron whispered back. Pointing at the portkeyHarry sighed, just their luck!
"Well looks like we have to wait… We will be safe… Lupin is just tame now," he said hopefully, but it seemed Harry had jinxed them instead of supported them. As soon as the words had left his mouth, a howl ripped at the peaceful silence.
And from the shadows came a wolf…Another werewolf.
Now it was Harry's turn to say: "Oh shit."
Harry turned to Lupin, who had the eyes with only one emotion—Bloodlust.
"Double: Oh Shit!" Ron moaned as he turned to Harry.
The two werewolves stopped near each other and then looked at Ron and Harry.
"So the left one is Lupin… then right is…" Harry began but
Ron shook his head, but kept his eyes on the two werewolves. "No, stupid, the right is Lupin... the left one is the other one…"
Ron and Harry heard a voice behind them and then a thick layer of fog encircled them.
Then growling; both of the wolves. As if to say: You take the red haired, and I will take the black haired.
One pounced at Ron and the other at Harry. Ron let out a scream of horror, Harry was in complete dissary, unsure of what to say what to think!
"Ron!" he screamed, but he was distracted by the other wolf doing the same as it's brother. Harry and Ron were pushed to the ground pinned and defenceless.
Harry suddenly remembered the gun. He pulled it out, and one of them edged back.
"That one must not be Lupin… He must be the other one… Lupin would not edge away." Ron said.
And Harry nodded, seemed like it was right.
"If you shoot the other then… Lupin will go back to being tame."
"So… I guess I shouldn't shoot this one… as it is Lupin." Harry panted, and pointing the gun at the other werewolf… Who looked – scared.
Harry still wasn't surewhat if he shot Lupin? Did he have the courage to kill the man who taught him loyaltywho wore his heart on his sleeveswho just wanted to be liked above all else in the world? Could he murder a man who would struggle to do the same in this very position?
When suddenly the human glow in the wolves eyes disappeared, the wolf slowly, began to slip forward on it paws, ignoring Ron and the other wofl. His hair stood on the back of it's spine, his blood stained teeth snarled and clamped together, as he pushed the ground beneath his feet, his claws scratching at the stone work. The gun which was still shaking even more violently now as Harry still tried to decide or die…
The wolf however knew nothing of this, as his fierce-some yellow eyes were fixed on the unknown man, fixed on his new prey.
Harry pulled the trigger and the wolf, after being shot; leapt forward… and everything went black.
Harry awoke to shouting of pain. Harry was awake in seconds and found where he was.
"Ron. What happened." Ron was lying against the wall, his hand to his chestit was seeping with claret.
"He bit me, after knocking you out… "
"Who did?"
"Lupin… Who you shot." said Ron, pain was clear in his voice but Harry was sure he over heard him wrong
"I did not shoot him though… I shot the other." Said Harry. Ron shook his head, blood now mixed with tears as he pointed at something not far away from the two boys.
"Look for yourself," he stated and he pointed in front of them and Harry saw a naked Remus… with a shot in his shoulder… and he looked Halfway between the transformation… dead.
"Oh my god!"
Harry had told them the story over and over again… But did they listen? No.
"What is going on with Ron?" Harry asked the healer.
"We have moved him to a closed ward… And we have some news, yes. But I afraid they aren't good."
"Is he going to die?" asked Harry, tears blurring his vision.
"Heavens no, but it is worse in a respect… Depends on you point of view."
"Can you please stop with the riddles and just bloody tell me."
"Mr Potter, are you aware what happens if you are bitten by a werewolf?"
"Yes…" Pause, then. "Ron is a werewolf isn't he."
The healer nodded and Harry fell to the floor in shock.
"Harry, what is wrong with me?" asked Ron.
He could lie, say that everything was fine; he could just knock Ron out every time the full moon was around; or even better, use a memory charm.
"You're a werewolf." Harry said evenly.
"Oh."
"I should have known, since Lupin did bite me… But when I woke up and found myself here and no scar or nothing… I…" Ron looked up at Harry a look of terror and confusion. "Why me?"
Harry couldn't answer.
The night before they were to go back; Harry and Ron took a walk.
"So..." Harry started. The awkward silence was murder.
"Indeed." agreed Ron.
"So…"
"You already said that." Ron reminded him.
"Sorry. I just have nothing to say to you anymore…I just feel so responsible. If I had done something…"
"Why? You can't always be a hero, Harry." Ron said.
"I am no Hero… I just."
"You think you are, everyone's knight in shining armour… It is nice to save people… But to make yourself feel that you are a hero, will they make every mistake much harder and it pisses me off. "
Harry stopped. "What are you trying to say?"
"It was as much your fault as it was mine. You tried to help get out of the situation… But made it worse."
"How did I? You told me that the one that was Lupin was they one I should shoot." Harry snarled. "It was mostly your fault…"
"How was it? You Mr Wonderboy shot him, it was your fault Remus is dead and I have this curse."
Harry glared at Ron. This reminded him of their last fight, back in fourth year; over whether or not Harry had tricked the aging line to enter The Triwizard Tournament. Ron was jealous because he wanted to enter. This was exactly the same. Ron was contradicting himself, he made the worse defence that didn't make sense.
"So this is the real you? You keep all this shit bottled up. At least you have your family… What do I have? No one? You bloody told me that since the wolf that was backing away was Lupin… You told me and I believed you, so I did what I did to make us safe. And so it was your fault as much as it was mine. Get that into your thick skull… and what happened after I cannot imagine how everything is… But I will be there for you; I will… But you are pushing me away… So how the fuck can I help you?" Harry panted as he stopped talking.
"You saying that all my family have done for you, you have no one? So my parents mean nothing, nor Hermione? Me? Hagrid? You are just out for pity... Well go and wallow in your self-pity."
"Ron… When you loose your family… Then you will see… But you have never lost anyone? Have you?"
Ron was silent.
"Didn't think so. You are the one that I should pity, you can't see further than your own big nose. I think you need glasses, and why the hell do I have to waste my time with you?"
Ron glared at Harry and turned and walked away.
"You know you are wrong, don't you!" Harry shouted. "YOU KNOW I AM RIGHT. WHY DID I CHOSE YOU? I BET EVEN MALFOY WOULDN'T STOOP TO YOUR LEVEL?"
And that was the breaking point. Ron growled and turned and ran into Harry, meeting Harry's face with his fist.
"WELL, GO AND MAKE FRIENDS WITH HIM… YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!"
Ron turned and walked away, leaving Harry with a broken nose… But he was defiant and would not give up.
Harry stood up and then grabbed Ron and kicked him. "I am not the traitor. You are!" Ron growled and grabbed Harry and pushed him into the tree.
Ron was about to punch Harry. When Ron stopped.
"When was the last full moon?"
"Two nights ago…"
"And… was it the first night…"
"I don't know, why? "
"You'd better hope not, because I am gonna deck you!" and Ron thrusted his fist into Harry's chest.
Harry threw a punch back and hit Ron in the teeth, knocking him to the ground.
They fought for sometime, neither one giving up.
When Ron could sight of the moon, his eyes widened.
"Oh, shit."
Harry stepped away from Ron… And then looked up… Then sighed with relief.
"It not full." Harry said.
Ron looked up and he too sighed with relief.
"Thank bloody god."
It was six am when Ron was checked out.
"Mr Weasley." Came a voice.
"Yes?" Ron answered.
"I need for you to have a chat with the school nurse, I have just Owled her to expect you after the welcoming feast. Is that alright?"
"Sure."
"Ronald!" came a happy voice. Then lots of people pushing past Harry to hugging Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes and saw Hermione looking green with envy.
"You can hug him you know, just wait." Hermione smiled at him. She stepped forward and enveloped him in a hug.
"Great to see you, Harry." She whispered. "I have missed you."
"Hermione, it hasn't…" but then he noticed the tears in her eyes and he hugged her hard. "What's up?"
"I am scared." She whispered. "Can I talk to you in private?"
"Sure." said a confused Harry.
"I have to ask you something." Hermione said.
"I think I know what it is."
Hermione paused.
"I'm in love with Ron."
"WHAT!"
"So you didn't know?"
