Chapter 3: A Werewolf's Senses
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
A/N: Thanks to all for the many positive reviews. They are certainly appreciated and is basically accelerated the pace my writing. Keep 'em coming, I can't get enough.
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Remus Lupin arrived with a faint 'pop' between the garages of Number 6 and Number 8 Privet Drive in the quiet neighbor of Surrey and promptly widened his stance and withdrew his wand. His head swiveled as he looked around and his nose took in a hard draw of the surrounding air. Now satisfied that the area held no immediate danger for him, he stood up straight and holstered his wand on the back of his forearm. 'Moody would be satisfied with that entrance,' he thought and chuckled to himself. He walked from between the garages in the same casual posture, but his eyes betrayed his true state of alertness. He approached the empty front porch at Number 4 Privet Drive and abruptly froze but didn't change his posture.
"Good morning, Tonks," he spoke in an even voice.
A female voice replied from the chair to his right, "How'd you know it was me? Dung's listed on the schedule for today, I only covered for him at the last minute."
The werewolf's face broke into a wide smile, "Three words—Chanel No. 5. I caught your scent from the street."
"I guess I don't have to verify your identity then, do I?"
"No, I think we've covered that." Remus answered in a light voice. He took a chair next to the voice. His facial expression fell before speaking. "How's he been, Tonks? Tell me the truth."
Tonks' mood became subdued as well. "Not good, Remus. He hasn't left the house on any of my watches, and Mrs. Figg says she hasn't seen him leave the house at all. What's worse is the Dursleys have left him completely alone."
"Yeah, that's about the only thing that Harry has mentioned in his letters. But that would be a good thing, right?"
"You don't get it, Remus. I mean they literally 'left him alone.' The Dursleys left on a vacation the morning after Harry arrived. Aside from Harry, the house is empty."
"WHAT?!" Tonks audibly started in her seat and accosted him for being loud enough to cause a scene. Remus proceeded in a voice that was quieter but no less harsh. "You mean they've been gone for how long? Almost two weeks now?"
"'Fraid so. And Harry isn't handling things well, I'm afraid. He's quiet as a church mouse during the day, but he's been waking up in the middle of the night, screaming. My guess is that's he's having some pretty rough nightmares. It's not uncommon to see his bedroom light come on at three or four o'clock in the morning for a few minutes and then see him staring out the window until after sunrise. He doesn't look good, Remus."
Lupin took a deep drawing breath, ran his fingers through his hair, and gave a desperate sigh, "Oh for the love of Merlin, Sirius. What have we done? James is probably rolling over in his grave right now." He took another deep breath and put on a brave face. "Thanks for the information, Tonks. At least I won't be shocked when I go in to talk to him."
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Harry sat in the kitchen of the Dursley home, his fingers wrapped around a full cup of now ice-cold tea. A knock at the front door registered subconsciously with his senses, but his conscious thoughts completely ignored it. If he were to look from his seat in the kitchen he would've seen the distorted figure of his visitor knocking through the sandblasted glass of the front door. Again the figure knocked. No response. After another pause, the door opened slowly.
A tentative voice broke the eerie silence as the door closed, "Harry?"
Again, not so much as a finger twitch in response.
The visitor must've seen the boy's prone figure at the table, because the perceptible sound of footsteps grew steadily in volume until the visitor stopped directly across the table from the young man and then slowly sat down.
A dry, raspy voice devoid of life came from Harry's mouth, addressing his visitor, "Why are you here?"
"I… I came to check on you. Your letters haven't been very helpful."
Harry's voice rose in a more agitated tone. "My letters were perfectly clear. I'm fine and the Dursleys aren't bothering me. Nothing else needs to be said."
"You're anything but fine, Harry. You don't look well. And you're obviously not feeling well. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were the one that was dead instead of your godfather!" The visitor's voice spoke with growing conviction, getting louder with each sentence.
Harry's head drooped for a minute prior to re-engaging his voice. "It doesn't matter. That will happen soon enough. You should leave now before you become the next target."
"Harry, what are you talking about?" A pregnant pause ensued.
Harry lifted his head eyes and locked eyes with the werewolf in a soul-piercing stare. The voice that came was hauntingly abrasive and dismissive. "Good bye, Professor. You are no longer welcome here for your own safety. I lead a cursed life, and I will not have another person die just because they knew me. Leave now." The boy's gaze stayed on the lycanthrope for a minute before dropping back down to the teacup in his hands and not another word was said. The scraping sound of the chair legs on the tile floor, the attenuating footsteps and the click of the door latch signaled the visitor's departure from the house.
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Tonks heard the door close and looked up from beneath her cloak. "So how did it go, Wolfie?" She asked the question, but she already knew the answer. Extendible ears have uses other than causing mischief.
"Not well at all," came the depressed reply as Remus Lupin sat down in the chair he previously occupied on the porch. "He looked absolutely frightful, Tonks. But I'm not sure which was worse: how looked or what he said."
"That bad, eh?"
"He wasn't just pale. He looks worse than I ever have after a full moon. It's obvious that he hasn't been taking care of himself. His hair looks oily and matted and reeks like he hasn't seen the shower since he got here. I'm pretty sure he's not eating and is probably dehydrated, too." The werewolf took in a labored breath and then went on. "But his eyes. Oh god, his eyes." With the next sentence, his voice finally broke and the tears came. "The last time I saw such eyes was when I saw Lily laying on the floor of the nursery in Godric's Hollow on that fateful Halloween night. Those eyes have haunted me for fifteen years, Nymphadora. I almost wanted to die when I saw them again tonight."
Remus took a steadying breath and slid his hands slowly over his face. "Harry told me to leave and basically not come back. He said it was for my own safety. And he's convinced himself that he's going to die."
Tonks voice was soft and reassuring. "I'm sorry, Remus. I know he looked bad, but even I didn't expect this. Look, I don't care if Harry's supposed to stay here for his own safety or not, this can't go on. He won't make it. Go to Arabella's and floo-call Albus straightaway. See if we can get Harry out of here."
"Thanks for the advice, Nymph. You're right, this won't do. Just make sure you call me at the Leaky Cauldron if there's any change."
"Will do."
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A/N: I have just completed Chap 4, it appears to be almost twice the length of any of the previous chaps. I am proofing it now and will probably post on Monday or Tuesday. Who knows, a few reviews might not result in a Monday Morning edition. Evil grin