Every wolf needs a moon
By Talia-Rose
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter so don't sue me. This story is set during the Marauders time at Hogwarts. I'm sorry that the story is skipping through a lot of their final year of school but I wanted to focus on Sonya's change. And it's offical, the university year has started. I'm now a law student majoring in international law and political science.
Chapter Seventeen: Betraying love.
Professor Dumbledore entered Hagrid's hut only to be greeted by the man's worried pacing. "What ever is the matter Hagrid?"
"They've not come out of the forest yet. It's almost dark and I don't know if I should go in there after them." He muttered, pacing back and forth in front of Rybe's stand.
Snapping her beak, the hawk started preening her feathers and ignored the two people talking. The bird was totally unaware of how much trouble her owner had been causing those around her.
"Calm down Hagrid. Who are you talking about? Who has gone into the forest?"
Hagrid frowned, "Why Sonya Delcot and Sirius Black. He ran in after her but that was after I told him what happened."
"What happened?" Albus asked.
"She came running towards me looking all upset and without saying a word, pushed past and ran into the forest… she… she changed into a wolf and raced off. The young Sirius Black came up moments later and wanted to know where she'd gone, what had happened. I told him and he ran in after her saying that he had to make sure that she wasn't hurt and that she didn't hurt anyone." Looking at the Headmaster, Hagrid was stunned to see the pale and troubled look on his face.
Turning around, Dumbledore hurried out of the hut and down the steps. "Oh no, it's happening."
"What's happening Headmaster? Is something wrong with Sonya?" He followed the older wizard.
"Yes, there is something very wrong with Sonya. She's dealing with the Delcot family gift and the curse that goes with it."
Understanding dawned and Hagrid paused. "Headmaster, do you mean to tell me that dear Sonya suffers from the same thing as Belinda Delcot did?"
"So it would seem."
"She always struck me as such a nice girl, I never thought that she would be the one damned to suffer that fate. Should have seen it." The gamekeeper of Hogwarts School sighed, shaking his head sadly.
Turning to look at him, Professor Dumbledore frowned. "How did you know about Belinda's curse? You weren't around during her time here. I doubt that you had even been born."
"She was Ravenclaws' raven. There were times when she would come here to hide away. Sometimes she even changed back into her human form but that was then I took the time to make hot chocolate for her. The smell of hot chocolate always made her want to be human again but never for long. Belinda was a lovely lady, really polite…. She was a lot like Sonya in some ways." Hagrid shrugged, not realizing that what he had said was of any real significance to the situation.
"She would return to her human form sometimes in your company? Hagrid! You realize that what you've just said could change everything for Sonya? If she knows that she'll be able to turn back sometimes, she might not take this so hard. Your words bring us all hope!"
Covering his mouth, Hagrid wasn't sure if he should laugh or say nothing. "You didn't know she would turn back sometimes? She very rarely said anything but she did tell me all about the curse. I was terribly upset when she died because she taught me a lot about acceptance."
There were several shouts and Dumbledore turned around to see James, Remus and Lily running towards them. Hagrid shook his head and smiled faintly when Lily started shouting at the Headmaster.
"Lily!" James cried in worry, "Don't you realize who you're shouting at? That's Professor Dumbledore!"
She shot her boyfriend an angry look. "Keep out of this James, I'm very much aware of who I'm shouting at and that's why I'm shouting at him. He told Sonya about this bloody dark side to her gift! If he'd waited until later on in the year, Sonya might not be acting so crazy at the moment. She can't handle all the stress, it's just to much for her."
Dumbledore smiled sadly at Lily. "And what would it be like if I hadn't told her? Have you thought that she might be a lot worse if she didn't know what the cause of all her troubles was? At least she knows what is wrong and that it isn't just her."
Remus growled, "But that's exactly what's wrong! She knows and therefore she has given up on hope! She thinks that there is no way that she will be able to get past it and doesn't care what happens anymore because she thinks that by the end of the year, she'll have changed permanently."
"Now you listen here Remus Lupin! Don't you dare start giving up on her. Belinda used to come back sometimes… never for too long but she came back nonetheless. If Belinda could, then Sonya will be able to." Hagrid snapped angrily at the boy.
They all looked surprised at what he said and James murmured. "There's a chance that she'll be able to come back one day? She'll be able to change back sometimes? But… but that wasn't written down in the diary you gave her Professor Dumbledore!"
"The important question is, does Sonya know about this? She was so angry this afternoon and I hope that Sirius has been able to find her and calm her down somewhat. I sent him after her because he would be able to catch up with her… sometimes their minds think alike." Moony looked to the ground. "And I didn't think it would be a good idea if I was the one to chase after her."
"What did she say to you Remus?" The Headmaster asked cautiously.
"She was angry with me because I wouldn't help her… in that way. You know what I mean. Her words were so harsh and I believe that she broke up with me. Sonya said that there was no way that our relationship could work out because of this gift."
Lily's eyes went wide and she crossed her arms. "What's gotten into her mind? Has she lost the plot completely already? I don't believe that she could say that to you Remus… she's told me how much she loves you."
He shook his head sadly. "Love doesn't always conquer all. This is one situation that I don't think love will be able to help along. Besides, our love would be doomed anyway because of what I am and what she is."
"That's a load of nonsense Remus Lupin and you know it!" She snapped.
"Is that Peter coming this way?" Professor Dumbledore asked, pointing up the hill towards where a lone boy was walking in their direction.
James bounded off towards him, "I won't tell him anything. He doesn't need to know that we're all worried about Sonya's sanity when his mother has been really ill. I hope she's better now."
"I'm not sure I believe that his mother is really sick." Lily muttered. Like Sonya, she didn't trust Peter and couldn't understand why Remus, Sirius and James put up with him all the time.
Even though he was always involved in their Marauder pranks, Peter wasn't privy to the "Big Secret" as they dubbed Sonya's gift. He knew that she was a wolf Animagus because she had joined them occasionally on the nights of the full moon. Glancing down at Hagrid's hut, Peter turned to James curiously.
"What's going on down there?" He asked.
"Sonya's throwing a tantrum and Sirius has taken her into the forest for a run. Nothing to worry about actually. Professor Dumbledore turned up a little while ago to talk to Hagrid and now we're all talking about NEWTS." The Head Boy replied with a shrug. "How's your mother?"
Peter shook his head, "She's a bit better but I don't know how much longer she'll last. Hopefully I won't have to go and see her again before the end of term… school's almost finished and I don't need any more interruptions."
"I know what you mean Wormtail but I'm sure your mum will be fine. Why don't we go back to the common room and see if that sixth year girl that you like is there? Maybe she'll go out on a date with you if she knows that your mum is sick…."
Casting another glance back at the group down by Hagrid's hut, James walked up towards the castle with Peter. 'I hope everything is all right. Sirius will make sure that Sonya doesn't get hurt and that she doesn't hurt anyone else but I'm not sure I'd trust his intentions if I was Remus.'
Dumbledore studied Remus thoughtfully, "Why hasn't Peter been privy to what Sonya has told the rest of you? He knows that she's an Animagus I assume."
"He knows that she's an Animagus but he believes that she's just a wolf Animagus. Sonya doesn't trust him for some reason but it's her secret so we trust her judgment when it comes to that matter." Remus replied rather bitterly. "Some times I wish that we didn't trust her judgment because she has a tendency to make some pretty stupid choices."
"Wait, what's that coming out of the forest there?" Hagrid pointed towards the Forbidden Forest where Sirius was helping Sonya walk along.
They both looked rather tired and bedraggled though there were no signs of any obvious injuries to either. Remus rushed over and helped his friend support the girl between them.
Lily eyed Sonya suspiciously, as if she knew something had happened in the forest. "Thank god you're alive Sonya! And you of course Sirius."
Sirius kept an arm around Sonya's waist and glared at Remus, "I'd stay back from her at the moment Moony. She's still very angry with you."
"I can talk for myself thank you Sirius." She murmured, lifting her eyes to meet Dumbledore's gaze. "I suppose they ran to you when I threw my little tantrum? Figures they'd panic."
He shook his head at her. "Actually Sonya, I didn't know about it until Hagrid told me that you'd run off into the forest. I came down here for a cup of tea and a chat with Hagrid only to discover that you and Sirius hadn't come back and it was getting dark. Which it still is."
"Curious. Rather curious. Since they didn't panic and go running to you, can you please explain why Remus and Lily are here waiting for us?"
"We were worried when you didn't come back as soon as we thought you would." The red haired girl snapped, annoyed that Sonya wasn't displaying any signs that she was glad to see them.
Hagrid stared at her for a moment, seemingly unmoved by her behavior. "I said earlier Professor, she's just like Belinda in many ways. This behavior isn't anything unusual from one like her."
Frowning, Sonya moved her gaze from Dumbledore to Hagrid and spoke quietly as she did so. "You knew my great aunt Belinda? But how could you have known her? She became a raven long before your time I thought."
"Well you see, there was something that not even the Headmaster knew about Belinda Delcot. Though she succumbed to the Delcot curse, she still was able to return to her human form. She would often fly in here and change into her human form. I'd always make sure that I had hot chocolate ready for her because that's one of the things that drew her out of it." He smiled at Sonya. "See, it's not all that bad. You could stay here at Hogwarts and live in the forest. I'd look after you really well… always wanted a pet wolf."
"She was able to turn back at will! Why didn't she stay human then?" Sirius growled.
Dumbledore sighed, "She was able to change back occasionally but she wasn't able to stay human for very long. At least, that is what Hagrid told me a short while ago. I'm afraid that I didn't know about this Sonya, otherwise I would have told you."
"Why was she able to change back sometimes? That shouldn't be possible." Her face had drained completely of blood and Sirius gripped her tighter in fear that she was going to collapse.
Remus stared at Sirius and the look of attentive concern that was on his face. "There's bound to be a good reason as to why she could do that. Obviously is isn't as impossible as you thought it was Sonya." 'Something happened between them in the forest. Sirius was never openly like that towards her before when I was around. He normally behaved like the devoted lover only when they were alone together. Never when I was around.'
Glancing up at the sky, Professor Dumbledore clapped his hands. "Come now students, it's getting dark. We should all be making our way to where we should be."
Lily and Remus followed him directly, leaving Sirius to help Sonya walk along. Continuously glancing over his shoulder at them, Remus caught the small smiles they kept exchanging and the looks they gave each other. There was something entirely suspicious about the situation that he didn't like but he didn't want to find out what it was. His heart gave skipped a beat when the two of them stopped to look back at the Forbidden Forest which was already shrouded by shadows. Sonya was leaning heavily against him and Sirius had one arm around her waist though he was trying to make it look like he was holding her up.
'She betrayed me with Sirius….' The thought suddenly dawned on Remus and in that moment, he was sure that his heart had broken in two. 'If she has, I'll never forgive either of them.'
"Hurry up you three. We're going to be late for dinner!" Lily called, standing just outside of the doors into the castle.
Sonya snapped away from Sirius as if she'd realized what she was doing. Stumbling along on her own, she left the black haired boy standing where he was – staring out at the forest. Walking past Remus, she kept her eyes trained on the ground by her feet because she didn't want to meet his accusing gaze.
"You're one of my best friends Sirius Black and I want the truth from you. Do you love Sonya?" Remus crossed his arms and glared at Sirius.
Turning around slowly, Sirius stared at Remus in shock. "That's a silly question to be asking me Remus. You know what I think of this and how I feel, so there is no need whatsoever to be asking me about it."
"Something happened in the forest, what was it?'
"Nothing happened in the forest. I tracked her down and we had a rather… doggy fight that I won. Then we sat there in the forest and talked. Sonya cried a lot because she knows that she's nearly out of time. But nothing happened and I don't see what your problem is." He replied.
Remus growled, "You're lying Sirius and I know it. Something happened and it involved Sonya betraying me with you. If I find out that that was indeed what happened, I'll never forgive either of you."
Sirius watched the other boy spin about and storm off into the castle. He felt guilty for lying and for what he had done but he would never ever tell Remus what had happened. 'For a glorious moment in time, she chose me Remus Lupin and it isn't something I'll ever forget. You might have her love but I had her in my arms.'