Sirius' Choice

Chapter Six: Rejoining the Pack.

Whimsical Firefly

Author's Note: A reasonably quick update. This should keep people happy until I can next update (in a week or so. I have two more exams left). This chapter focuses mainly on everyone's favourite werewolf.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all identifiable characters belong to J.K. Rowlings.

James closed his book with a decisive snap, causing the other three to look up at him.

"It's time."

Remus closed his eyes and nodded with a look of forced cheerfulness upon his face. "Alright then."

Sirius closed his book and sat up straight. "Do you want me to walk you down to the infirmary, mate? Or will you be alright?"

"I'll be fine," said Remus with a slight smile.

Peter then grinned. "Guess we'll be seeing you later then."

Remus laughed. "Guess so." And with that he left the common room.

James watched him go with a thoughtful look on his face, and then turned back to the others. "I don't think he realizes," he said softly to Sirius and Peter.

"Realizes what?" demanded Sirius. "That it's full moon? Because you know Prongs, I think he would have figured that out by now."

James gave his longtime friend a quelling look. "I don't think he realizes that it's harvest moon tonight."

Sirius' olive face drained of all colour. "Bloody hell."

Peter looked between the two of them for a moment and then said "What? I don't get it."

James sighed. "It's like this Wormtail. I'll explain it in simple easy to understand terms. It is harvest moon. This means that…"

"Simple and easy to understand terms, Prongs."

James laughed and then continued. "It means that the moon is closer to the earth than normal, and it'll pull more strongly on Remus' blood."

Peter nodded with his brow furrowed. "Which means what?"

Sirius gave his friend an incredulous look. "Which means that his transformation will be more violent than usual. Which means that he's going to be more difficult to control than usual."

"Oh," said Peter, his face draining of colour as well.

"Exactly," chorused James and Sirius in unison.

James surveyed the opulent common room before collapsing next to Sirius. "We're just going to have to be…"

"…Really, really careful. And not let Moony out of our sight for a single instant." finished Sirius.

The three boys nodded in silent agreement, before getting off the soft scarlet lounges and making their way out of the common room down to the Whomping willow.

Sirius looked up at the moon and smiled. During his years in Azkaban the moon had been one of the few things he had been able to see from his cell window it had kept him sane. He had remembered Moony and Prongs, and running free with them on nights such as these.

And tonight Padfoot would run again with his pack.

Sirius frowned slightly. He wouldn't be running with, per say. More trailing along behind and simply remembering what it had been like to be young and free. He looked up at the overly large and yellow moon before transforming into his Animagi form.

Lifting his shaggy head up to the moon he howled into the cold night. Padfoot would run again…

Remus heard a low howl split the dusky evening as he made his way towards the Shreiking Shack, and shivered.

Soon that would be all he was reduced to. No, he berated himself, they'll come and it'll be fine.

But his inner cynic laughed derisively. It's a harvest moon, moony. Surely you're not so overcome with your humanity that you've forgotten what that means.

With a gasp, Remus swiveled on the ball of his foot to see what lay behind him. Sure enough there was the moon in all of it's large orange glory. His heart started thudding loudly against his ribcage as he watched the moon entranced by it's light. His mind drifted to his worst memories of his life so far.

That was the thing he never told his friends. The transformations always had a similar effect to a dementor, and he relived his most vivid and terrifying memories. Over and over, until the transformation was complete.

He screamed as he felt his skin change, and as he changed he saw a group of death eaters gather around a group of helpless children. A cool, chilly voice intoned, "Kill them. Kill them all". A group bowed obsequiously and then yells of 'Crucio' and "Avada Kedavra" were intermixed with terrified screams and laughter.

He was hiding somewhere and watching from above where the dark figure couldn't see him.

But this is not my memory! Remus realized and began to fight the reliving. He was transported to another unfamiliar place. A dark room with high ceilings and lavish furnishings. It should have been beautiful and yet it was terrifying, and he was scared, with his heart beating rapidly against his chest.

He was looking up at the ceiling when the door creaked open and a tall man with hooded eyes came into his line of vision.

"That was a very stupid thing that you did there."

Remus found himself shaking. He knew there was a punishment, somewhere.

"The consequence is the same as always," said the man coldly, lifting his wand. "Crucio".

Remus screamed as he felt his spine re-align itself and then he howled to the moon, knowing that his human grip on his body had left him.

This was what it meant to be alive! The night was his own.

"He's changed." Came a soft voice from outside his room. "Let's go."

There were people? People! His appetite whetted, Moony jumped the door, to no success. But there are people! People!

Kill, ravage, tear, hurt, bite, snarl, snap! People! Bite!

No people. Why are there no people? Now there are animals… Padfoot. Packmate, friend. They were here!

The door was barreled over by a large black dog, but Moony was ready for him. With a snarl he leapt onto the dog, and aimed for the neck. The dog dodged his attack and pounced on him before he landed.

Moony snarled but submitted to the other animals superiority in the pack. Getting back onto his paws he shook himself out and went to greet the other members of his unconventional pack. Prongs was mighty and awe-inspiring, as Moony looked up at him. And the rat. He wanted to eat the rat, but some urgent voice said that he couldn't, and he heeded it. For now.

If he got hungry though…

Padfoot bounded down the stairs, followed by Moony and Wormtail, as well as prongs at a more sedate speed as he walked down the stairs.

Moony followed his pack through Hogsmeade. He didn't know where they were going, but there were people! More people.

The desire to bite and taste blood returned as their scent grew stronger. Padfoot tackled him and another round of play-fighting ensured. Once he and his pack had left the village, Moony calmed down some. Now it was just him and his pack, and this time, this night, this place was their own.

He howled to the moon, his sister and his friend. For only she could set him free like this. Padfoot joined in and they serenaded the moon as Prongs stood guard and Wormtail squeaked.

Padfoot soon grew bored with this though and began to walk through the forest. Moony once more trailed behind his leader. Except… that smell. It was… Human!

Blood… Moony glanced up ahead and began to race off in a new direction. Padfoot didn't hear and didn't follow. He was finally and truly free, and the wolf in him rejoiced.

Now the person… about a mile away. Moony sped up as the scent grew stronger, until there it was.

Human. Tall and willowy, female to judge the scent of it. He wanted her blood tonight, for her blood ran strongly, he could sense it.

He began to circle his target and wished briefly his pack was here. But they found this nowhere near as fun as he did, and so he went it alone. The human had no idea he was here, and Moony celebrated inwardly. Bite!

He leapt for the humans jugular, and was rewarded with a scream… but he didn't make contact, at least not with her.

A large shaggy black dog collided with Moony, and blocked him from the woman. The two creatures rolled, interlocked and snarling at each other, until they came to a stop, with the black dog atop of him.

…Padfoot?

With a growl the black dog nipped him and clambered off, but continued to circle the animal. Moony whined uncertainly. It looked and smelled like Padfoot, but it couldn't be. Padfoot was away, somewhere else.

The dog lifted it's shaggy head and howled three times, and Remus surfaced briefly in Moony's psyche to realize that that was the warning signal that the three had established a while ago.

So it was Padfoot!

There was a crash behind him and a midnight dog emerged from the bush folled by a dark stag. Moony whined again. That was Padfoot… but Padfoot was still behind him as well.

Moony watched as the two Padfoot's faced each other and began to circle, growling. Then with a sudden whine the other Padfoot ran from the clearing grabbing the girls hand as he went.

Moony watched them go and felt a brief pang as he realized that he wouldn't get to bite tonight after all, but that thought was curtailed as Padfoot tackled him.

The rest of the night was spent in play-fighting and exploring the forbidden forest.

Remus woke slowly and gave a dry cough. Sirius stood leaning against a wall with his hands in his pockets and head down, whilst James sat slumped over against the wall.

James heard him cough and looked over at his friend with an unreadable expression. Dread and nausea fought for dominance as Remus realized that something had happened, and that it wasn't good.

Bracing himself for the answer, "Did I bite someone?" he asked in a voice little over a whisper.

James and Sirius immediately looked up with denials on their lips. "Of course not!" said Sirius vehemently. "It's all good, you were just a bit more…"

Sirius and James traded a look which Remus saw.

"A bit more difficult to control?"

Sirius nodded ruefully. "We weren't really expecting you to be that bad. Are you hurt? You may have a few nasty scratches."

Remus stood up warily. "Nope, the occasional bruise, but that's to be expected."

James and Sirius looked relieved at Remus' answer. "Time to go back to school," said James, pushing himself up off the ground. "Peter went ahead. I think it's harder on the rat than the rest of us."

Sirius laughed. "Yes, such a tasty little morsel..".

"I don't, do I?" asked Remus in a horrified voice.

James and Sirius burst out laughing and ushered their friend out of their room and towards the sick bay.

"Are you sure you're alright?" inquired Lily in a worried tone.

Tess laughed softly, and held up her bandaged wrist. "I'm fine! The only damage I got was this, and that was from the dog saving me."

"I can't believe that they'd have such a dangerous creature around the school, though," said Lily, for what was about the fourth time that morning.

Tess shrugged. "It was my fault. I shouldn't have been in the forest last night."

Lily fixed her friend with a look, but didn't ask why she had gone. She had a fair idea as to why. Better to let Tess say it in her own time than to try and force it out of her now.

Tess opened her mouth to say something, but both girls were interrupted by the sming-creak-clip that was the infirmary door opening.

"I'll go see who it is," murmured Lily to Tess. Tess shook her head and got up with Lily and walked out the curtain.

A worn and battered Remus was stumbling in with the help of James and Sirius, neither of whom looked all that healthy.

"What happened?" gasped Tess. Remus looked up to meet her gaze and his eyes widened in recognition of something. Then, to the surprise of everyone, he fainted onto the floor.

"What happened?" someone gasped, and Remus looked up to see Tess, looking beautiful and oddly familiar. Then his eyes traveled down to the strapping on her hand.

Something in the depths of Remus' mind lurched, before his world turned black.

- - -

Human. Tall and willowy, female to judge the scent of it. Short dark hair flowed around her pale face as she turned towards him.

'Don't do it,' yelled Remus, but his voice had no effect on the wolf's psyche. 'Please!'.

The wolf jumped and lunged, and Remus closed his eyes to block out what he knew must happen next.

But he didn't make contact, or at least, not with the girl. A shaggy black dog tackled him from the side, and with relief Remus ffelt the wolf's mass thrust over to the side.

Padfoot?

The dog lifted it's head and let out the warning call that the three had established long ago. So it was Padfoot! Remus rejoiced that his friend had found him.

Prongs, Wormtail and… Padfoot? Remus shook his head and peered from one shaggy black dog to another, trying to spot a difference.

There wasn't one.

The two dogs began to circle each other, and Remus watched. It was like a mirror image except not, as one would wag their tail in a different part, or one would growl out of time with the other. Apart from that though, there was no difference.

The Padfoot closest to him, suddenly turned and grabbed the hand of the forgotten woman and dragged out of the clearing. As she was dragged away, Remus was able to get a clear glimpse of her face.

- - -

Remus' eyes flew open. "Tess?" he croaked in bewilderment. He heaved himself up and looked around the empty hospital wing. No one else was there.

Then he remembered the most baffling section of his dream.

Two Padfoots?

AN: Another chapter over! This has been posted unbetaed for an extremely selfish reason: It's my birthday on Monday 13th. And lots of reviews would be a really great birthday present…

That was a not-so-subtle hint.

Anyway, thank-you time!

PhiloNysh: Lol, I checked your profile, and your Australian! (Sorry, I'm Aussie too. Always nice to find another Aussie along for the ride).

Geminia: Yep, you're hyper! I might not actually have to sacrifice anyone… guess we'll all see as time goes on.

Lady of the Dragons2: I don't think I'll write an AU Harry fic. Not until I've finished this one, anyway, and that's going to be awhile in coming. It's an idea anyway, Thanks!

Sweet 16 Movie Buff: You're a bit off track. Death let Sirius go back to when Edana died, which was a term before he finished at Hogwarts (so, seventh year). He was sent back to change things so that it didn't end up as bad as it was in the canon for Sirius and Harry. He hasn't been given a 'second-chance' exactly: he's still the same age as he was when he fell through the veil, he's not fully re-living it. More re-watching, and trying to change things here or there. I hope that helped, although knowing me you're probably more confused than when I started explaining. Oh well, just read and enjoy, and keep asking me questions.