What I Learned in 7th Year
Disclaimer: This all belongs to the very talented J.K. Rowling
Chapter 6:Alone"Hermione I need to talk to you." I called knocking on her door. I knew it was early but I had to get going. When she didn't respond I knocked harder, "Hermione!" As I pulled my arm back to bang on the wooden door it clicked open and a very bedraggled and groggy Hermione met my gaze.
"What," She croaked bitterly.
"I'm leaving for the day and I had to let you know. Now clean up and meet me down stairs, I have to tell you a few things. Also bring any letters that you want to send to your friends." I said and turned to walk away. In about fifteen minutes she was downstairs looking much more alert.
"Sorry about earlier, I don't wake well." She said sitting down with some scrolls in her hand.
"I noticed," I said giving a chuckle. "But enough of this teasing. Today I have to go away, I'm not sure if you have noticed but the full moon is tonight and I don't feel that I can stay here. I also must go deliver these letters. I'm not sure when I will be back, it might be tomorrow or maybe even the day after but I will be back as soon as I can. Now you are not to open the door if someone does get through the gate. They won't be able to open it with a simple 'Alohamora'. It takes you to open it manually and willingly. If your being forced it will tell and not open. It's amazing what Dumbledore's done to this place. Well there's plenty of food left for you to eat. Try not to burn the house down and there are a few emergency portkeys to Hogwarts just tap them with your wand and say 'Temieo' and it will leave in 10 seconds after the spell is placed. I believe that's it, just give me your letters and I'll be on my way."
"Okay Professor," Said putting her letters down on the table.
As I slipped them into my pack and headed towards the door she called out, "Professor!"
"Yes Hermione?" I said turning around to face where she was standing. She ran up towards me and pulled me into a tight hug. I was shocked at first but then put my arms around her and returned the embrace. I couldn't remember ever being hugged like this by anyone but my family and their hugs were missing all of this care and worry. She broke away seeming to realize what she was doing.
"Stay safe Professor," she said quietly backing away a few steps.
"Thank you Hermione," I said and headed outside into the cool November air with just a memory of a warm embrace and a caring smile to keep me warm.
As a cool breeze ripped the still air I reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. As I looked upon the castle I gave a deep breath. I had only told Dumbledore that I was coming and I was apprehensive of what everyone else would say and of seeing Harry again. As I walked up to the double doors I paused wondering if I should really go in, but then I remembered the look on Hermione's face when she saw the first batch of letters I brought and pushed them open. As I walked into the Great Hall I saw some familiar faces heading into the Great Hall.
"Harry! Ron!" I called. They turned around looking for the cause of their names. When they saw me Harry came at me in a sprint and Ron followed but slower.
"Remus!" They both cried in unison! As Harry reached me he threw his arms out in a embrace. He wasn't ashamed and neither was I. I had become like Harry's father this past year after Sirius, well, We'd just become really close. Even though it had been a while, it hurt. When he let go Ron came up for a quick hug but not as long or with as much emotion as Harry's.
"What are you doing here?" Harry asked happily.
"Well I had to see the head master and I have letters from Hermione to deliver."
"From Hermione! Really?" Ron said excited.
"Yeah," I said and dug in my pack and pulled out her letters. "Here go take this to Ginny and these are yours. I have to go see the Headmaster now and I'll find you before I go if you want to send a reply back. Which I might mention she would love. See you then," I said handing them their letters and walking off to find the headmasters tower.
"Ah, Remus. It's good to see you again." The Headmaster said sitting down at his desk. "I trust you and Ms. Granger are doing well?"
"Of course we are sir. I just came mostly because I do not feel that it is safe for me to go through with my transformations so close to her."
"Very wise Remus, you always were the scholar out of the marauders." Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his clear blue eyes.
"Thank you sir, I think." I replied. "I do need some more wolfsbane before I leave though."
"Well I'm sure Severus would be more than happy to share some of his stock with you. Just head down there and pick up as much as you need."
"Thank you Albus," I said as I slung my pack over my back and headed out the door.
"Take good care of Hogwarts' little girl Remus." He called to me as I headed down the gargoyle stairs.
As I headed down the path to Snape's dungeons I wished that he wasn't the only one who could make this for me. Facing him for the potion was almost as painful as the transformation itself.
As I reached his door I paused and took a deep breath. 'Okay here we go.' I thought. And knocked on his office door.
"What do you want?" A voice came from inside.
"I need to see Severus." I replied.
"Come in." The voice came back frustrated as the door clicked and opened on its own.
"Impressive Severus. But I suppose you can't be offered to open the door your self." I said coolly entering the room.
"Ah, the werewolf returns. What does it want? Poisons? Children to feed? Someone to play fetch with?" He said getting up from his messy and crowded desk and striding over to meet me.
"O very funny, Snivellus," I said bitterly. I rarely used the name and it brought a sharp pain to my heart just thinking of all our happy days before Lily and James died. "You know I need the wolfsbane potion."
"Oh of course. The potion to help the poor wolf stay happy." He said bitterly going over to his cabinets and pulling out a few bottles. As he thrust them into my hand he muttered, "To make Albus happy. Now leave lycan." I grabbed the bottles out of his hand and walked quickly out of the room.
Snape had always hated me. I don't know why, maybe it was because I had hung out with James and Sirius and they were horrible to him, but he did. And now that I was the last marauder after Harry's temper flared last year and Peter was killed, it gave him a sense of happiness and got me a sneer and a smirk every time I was near him.
As I strolled through the hallways back to the Great Hall to meet Harry and Ron it got considerably warmer with each step. I soon reached the Great Hall and entered to find it almost completely deserted. Alone at the Gryffindor table sat Harry, Ron and Ginny all hunched over writing. As I came near I gave a big cough behind Ron and laughed as he jumped and whirled around.
"Hello, I see you are all writing replies back to Hermione." I said still chuckling.
"Really, I never would've guessed," Ron said sarcastically.
"We're almost done just wait a moment." Ginny said re-reading over her letter and sucking on the end of her quill. After waiting for a few minutes I began to get impatient.
"Are you done yet?" I asked interrupting the silence.
"Yes," Harry said gathering their letters and shoving them at me. "Happy?"
"Sorry but I have to go. It's getting late and you know tonight's the full moon." I said Harry got up and pulled me into a quick hug.
"Take care," He said smiling as Ron came up for an embrace followed by Ginny. "We'll miss you."
"Thanks guys, and I'm sure that Hermione will love your letters." I said then turned and headed outside.
As the night came near I stopped eating. All of your strength is very easily drained due to lycanthropy and before my transformation if possible, I liked to eat as much as I could. But now as it began to grow dark I dragged over my pack and searched through it for the potion. As I pulled out a bottle I popped it open and drank it as quick as I could. Wolfsbane has the worst taste of most potions you will ever take and burns horribly on the way down.
Before I knew it the darkness grew and I ripped my shirt of and settled down into a long night of Hell.
Flashback
"Sleep is the best remedy for lycanthropy. When turning into the wolf most find it easier and less painful to try to sleep through it and through the night. Though it is easier you will go through night in dreams filled with whatever emotions the wolf is feeling." Remus read while waiting for his transformation to take place
Normal
As the moon came through the clouds Remus went through the painful transformation of lycanthropy finally falling into a deep sleep.
The wolf raced through the forest, reaching the edge he stopped and looked around. Spotting her he lopped over. There was a gray wolf. Her fur was streaked with brown and black and was blowing softly in the breeze. As he approached she turned and stared, with dark chestnut eyes. After sniffing each other she turned and ran playfully through high grass giving a howl to follow. As the wolf followed he felt his emotions flow for this female. Soon they reached an end, a ledge facing a clear, black sky and the bright, full moon. As she stopped near the edge he came up beside her.
The sky was romantic but soon a howl split the quiet air. As they turned to face the intruder a black wolf met their eyes. He was sleek and black with gorgeous green eyes. He came softly lopping up to them. When he was only a few feet away he stopped giving me a low growl of warning. The female walked over to him and nuzzled him. After a few moments they left me there going into the forest. Watching their retreating backs I turned back to the moon and let out a mournful howl.
As the wolf in my dreams howled I woke up and a howl escaped from me. Feeling mad at the wolf of Harry stealing Hermione away from me I began to bite myself to calm down. He had come a taken her away and it could just as easily happen in my normal form.
' Who were you kidding Moony? You're just an old, horrible, wolf. No one loves you and no one wants to stay with you long.' I thought as I continued to bite myself. 'You don't have any chance with Hermione. Harry is a hero, he'll get her. You're dirt old and no one would want you. Now that Sirius and James are gone your all alone. You're all alone. All alone." As he thought this the wolf threw back his head and let out piercing howls throughout the night.
A/N: Hey! Sorry it took so long to update! I know this chapter is so sad but I promise that it will be good for the plot liine and for some fluff later on! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! Thanks a lot to all the people who have and to these people that have reviewed loyally.
Alenor: You're a great reviewer thanks! I'll make sure to update for you!
Blue-fuzzy: I don't know why he has streaks, I just always thought he would...
megzzy6688: thanks a lot for reviewing!
