Title: Home's the Farthest Way

Chapter: 16

Author: ReeraTheRed

Date: June 13, 2005

Rating: PG13

Our Story So Far: When a semi-cure for werewolfism goes wrong, Lupin is transformed into a woman, and is forced to choose to stay in that form, or lose the benefits of the cure. In the last chapter, Lupin is captured by Baron.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to beta readers Patti, Michelle and Liz.

Author's Note: My take on werewolves is that the ones who are werewolves a whole lot can change to wolf form easily – particularly ones that have been with a pack and don't go crazy. Lupin had very painful transformations because he fought the change very hard, and because he was becoming insane as he changed. After being on the Wolfsbane Potion, and now the cure, Lupin can change easily with no pain. Baron changes easily because he loves being in wolf form.

And I'm sorry, but fight scenes (you do expect a fight scene, don't you?) are not my strong point, so please forgive any shortcomings. Constructive criticism is very welcome!

Thanks so much for the reviews, guys. I so appreciate them!


Chapter 16

Lupin felt a chill of terror run through her as the darkness of Apparating engulfed them. Along with frustration – how could this have happened? She had been captured by two werewolves who she should have been able to handle easily, and now here she was, helpless.

The collar! How did they get something like that? A memory flashed in her mind – the magic dampening amulets at Zonko's Joke Shop. Get enough of them, override the protection and misuse spells somehow, sew them into a tough leather collar . . . Why didn't anyone think of that when they sold the things!

She knew where Baron was taking her - deep inside the Forbidden Forest. I should have taken backup, she thought, no matter what Alex wanted. Or at least contacted someone directly. But she had been so certain she could handle him. She was a witch; with her magic, she could take on Baron himself, if need be. And I am too unwilling to ask for help, the thought came into her head. Too reluctant to involve anyone else in my own problems.

She had written where she was going on the slate. Would someone see it, in time? But they'd be looking for her at The Leaky Cauldron, in London, hundreds of miles away. Even if they guessed what had happened, and where Baron was taking her, the Forest was huge. No one would be able to find her. She was on her own.

I will have to watch for a chance to escape, she thought. Get this collar off somehow, get my wand back. Or better yet, once the collar was off, she could Apparate away in an instant.

The smell hit her nose before they fully materialized – over the cool, wet scents of trees and rotting leaves was something musky, animal - human but not quite. Werewolves, lots of them. The pack.

As her sight came back, she saw them, all around her, huddled around the edge of a large clearing in the trees. Some were in wolf form, more were human. All were naked – their clothes would be stashed somewhere nearby, but they would not wear them here. Clothes were for humans, and werewolves were not human. At least, not according to Baron.

Lupin looked at their faces. Many she knew, many more were strangers – it been at least fifteen years since she ran with the pack. Some were annoyed, some she could not read, but most looked frightened, or hopeless. Baron has called them all here, to see me, Lupin thought. It was not full moon for several more days, most would not be with the pack now. And it was still only mid-afternoon; they would be home, or at their jobs. Baron's going to give them a show. Cold fear ran through her.

Standing here and there, throughout the crowd, but apart, were many large males, wolf and human. Clearly Baron's henchmen. Alex almost ran from Baron's side to join them in the crowd, but he looked more like one of the guarded than a guard. They stood out, not just because they were so much larger than most of the others, but they were not frightened. Their faces echoed Baron's smug arrogance and cruelty. One of them smiled as he saw Lupin, showing fangs. Alex refused to meet her eyes, but looked down, still ashamed.

Baron stripped off his clothes and threw them aside. He let go of Lupin while he did so, and for one, mad moment, she thought, I can run, now. But one glance around the clearing showed guards everywhere. And I cannot outrun Baron, she thought. They would just hunt me down. She might still try to run, if that was all that was left to her, but not now, when they were all watching her. Perhaps she would have a chance later, if Baron's attention were turned away from her. She felt along the collar, but she couldn't find a catch in it anywhere – the leather was seamless. There had to be something, some way to get it off.

Baron stood tall before the crowd, naked, easy in his skin as he always was. "I have brought the traitor!" he shouted, and he grabbed hold of Lupin by her throat, lifting her up so that she had to stand on her toes to avoid being strangled. "The Wizards could not stop me, with all their magic!" Baron shook Lupin once, hard. "They could not protect her!" Another hard shake, her head felt as if it would snap off. Baron looked fiercely at the werewolves around him. "They will not protect you!"

Baron threw Lupin down; she fell hard on the ground. He held up Lupin's wand, high over his head. Lupin found her arms reaching toward it, instinctively. Baron took hold of her wand in both hands, and snapped it into pieces, throwing the bits down to the ground. "Without their wands, the Wizards are helpless!" he shouted. "Without their magic, they are nothing compared to us! And you think to turn to them!"

Lupin looked helplessly at the pieces of her wand scattered on the ground. She wanted to scramble for them, gather them into her hands, but she knew it would do no good. The wand was damaged beyond repair, the wood in splinters, the unicorn hair shredded.

Baron looked down at Lupin where she sat on the ground, and he smiled. The light in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine, and she drew back. He laughed, and gripped her by the collar, hauling her up, and dragging her across the clearing toward a rise at one end. Lupin could make out the tall forms of several of Baron's guards at the top. And something else at their feet.

Baron dragged Lupin up the rise, to the top, and threw her down. She caught herself with her hands, and found herself staring into the face of Delores Umbridge, sitting on the rise before her. The squat woman's eyes were wide with terror, her mouth hung slack, and around her neck was a wide leather collar that must be the same as the one circling Lupin's neck, preventing her from using her magic. Umbridge was shaking and making frightened whimpering noises; she didn't even seem to notice Lupin. There were scratches on her face, and her robes were dirty and torn. How long has she been here, Lupin wondered, and what have they done to her? Lupin knew Umbridge had been taken once before into the Forbidden Forest, by the centaurs. She must be in shock now.

Baron stood in front of them, a mass of muscle, towering over them and the crowd below. "I have captured them both!" he shouted now. "The first traitor to accept the cure, and the Ministry of Magic official in charge of the program!"

What do I do now, Lupin thought. There must be something. But her magic was gone. Her wand had been destroyed. Once again, she clutched desperately at the collar, even though she knew it was hopeless. It had been closed by magic, and only magic would open it.

"I will not let the werewolves be destroyed by the Wizards!" Baron shouted now. "They will make us weak! They want to tame us! Because they fear us! I will not let that happen!"

He looked again at Umbridge and Lupin, and now his eyes had a look of such coldness. Such complete hatred. Then he turned back to his audience, and he said, his voice lower, deeper, yet just as powerful, "I will show you all what I will do to any among you who seek to betray us to the Ministry! And to any Wizard who approaches us!"

He plans to kill us, Lupin thought, and there's nothing I can do about it. He's right, without our magic, we wizards are helpless.

One man in the crowd stood up. "There's no need for this, Baron." Several others stood up with him, wolf and human. A woman's voice cried out, "Baron, we understand, we will not go against you. Let them go." Many others now stood, many other voices spoke now, in agreement. A pretty young woman took a few hesitant steps into the clearing toward the rise and said, with pleading eyes, "Baron, please."

An angry scowl flashed onto Baron's face, and he jerked his head. His lackeys dove into the crowd with flailing arms and flashing fangs, going for everyone, not just the ones who had spoken. Lupin heard screams of pain and fear, and the thuds and smacks of blows hitting home. The crowd rippled like a raging river, splashes of red flying.

Baron watched all from his place above them, eyes cold. Lupin watched as well, frozen in horror. There had been beatings before, in the pack, but nothing like this. Not the whole group at once. Even though they were fewer in number, Baron's guards were so much stronger; the others could not stand against them. And Baron is reminding them of that, Lupin thought. Not even all of them together can stand against him.

It couldn't have lasted more than a minute or two, but it seemed so much longer, until Baron gave a short bark and his guards returned to their places. The crowd went still, except for the faint sounds of whimpering here and there, or a quiet sob. Werewolves were used to physical punishment. They could endure a great deal, and still survive. But there would be no more protests.

Baron smiled, and he stepped forward. All eyes below were on him, the cruel eyes of his lackeys, and the frightened, hopeless faces of the other werewolves.

"And now," Baron said, "we show the Wizards what we think of their offers."

Baron turned back to Lupin and Umbridge, his smile spreading to show his white teeth. His body melted, and grew into an enormous grey wolf near as big as a small horse. He looked at Lupin with raw hatred, then turned his head to Umbridge, and his white-toothed smile grew even wider. He wants me to watch, Lupin thought, in horror.

Umbridge began to shake violently, and her whimpers grew louder, like tiny screams. Her eyes went wide, and she tried to scramble back on the ground, only to be caught by a guard behind her and shoved back. Baron's muscles gathered as he prepared to lunge forward, his mouth opening wide to show long fangs aimed straight for the woman's throat.

In that moment, Lupin realized she still had one power left to her. Her magic was gone, thinking like a Wizard would not help her now. But she was still a werewolf, and no magic collar on earth could stop that.

She changed. Her body exploded outward, bursting through her robes – there goes another set of clothing, an insane little part of her brain thought. The collar still held, though, Dammit! She'd hoped she could destroy that as well, but she could feel it, tight on her neck. But she had teeth and claws, and she shot forward to clamp her wolf's jaws on Baron's throat even as he sank his teeth into Umbridge's shoulder.

The force of Lupin's attack knocked Baron aside, and his fangs ripped across Umbridge's arm until they pulled free. Umbridge screamed, flailing out with arms and legs, one arm striking Lupin in the face. Baron lost his footing and tumbled down the rise. Lupin rolled with him, keeping her tight grip, feeling her teeth sink deeper into his neck, her mouth full of hair and meat and his hot blood, while he rolled onto her, then off again as he hit the bottom of the rise.

Baron screamed, and threw his neck wildly back and forth, trying to shake Lupin free, but she hung on, even as he banged her body against the hard ground, and raked at her with his claws. She felt a searing pain along her shoulder, and another along her flank as his claws dug into her, but still she held on. Was his windpipe in reach? She couldn't tell, and she couldn't see.

Baron fell on her, pinning her to the ground, and only then was able to rip himself free of her jaws. He howled again, from the pain, and lifted his weight for just a moment, but it was enough for Lupin to pull herself out from under him and drag herself a few feet away.

She tried grabbing at the leather collar once more – she couldn't reach it with her jaws, so she tried with her claws, but they didn't even scratch the leather. It was impervious, even to a werewolf. It must have protection spells on it. She was not going to be Apparating out of here.

What was left to her? Fight? She was badly hurt. Baron had wounded her deeply in her shoulder and flank; the pain was agonizing, and those legs were very weak. It's no worse than anything I would do to myself, during the full moon before I was on the Wolfsbane Potion, she tried to tell herself. But she didn't have the madness to dull the pain; it was overpowering, and, worse, she could feel her strength ebbing away.

Baron had recovered himself, though a great trail of dark blood ran down his neck, matting his hair. He lowered his head, his lips pulled back in a snarl. Even as a male, and unwounded, Lupin had never been a match for him, not as a wolf. She had no chance at all in this smaller body. Baron would not accept a surrender; only her death would satisfy him. He had to use her as an example to the others, and show them what would happen to them if they defied him. And it will work, she thought, looking at the faces around her, their bodies still shaking in pain and fear. None of them want this, but they'll all be too afraid to go against him. Baron will win.

Baron leapt forward. She tried to dodge him, but she was too slow, her legs would not work right. Baron opened his great jaws and clamped them down on her shoulder, digging into the wound he'd already made, lifting her up over his head, and shaking her violently. Lupin screamed in pain now, feeling his teeth closing into her like burning flames, until he tossed her to the ground beneath his feet.

She hit the ground hard on her wounded shoulder. She tried to get to her feet, but nothing was working, and she fell back on her side, belly exposed. She looked up, helplessly, into Baron's face as he turned his glowing eyes on her, even as his blood was running down his side. She had hurt him, enough so that he would not play with her anymore, he didn't have the strength. He would end it now.

Baron's lips pulled back, showing his fangs yet again, and she could feel his eyes on her throat. She tried to gather her strength, if she dodged quickly, at the last minute, he might miss her. But Baron was a skilled executioner, she'd seen him on enough forest hunts, there was little chance she'd succeed.

She looked into his eyes, and saw only his hatred for her there. She had shamed him, made him small in the eyes of the pack, and now he would exercise the ultimate power over her. She was held by his eyes, watching them, any movement in them, hoping to see the direction of his strike, but knowing in her heart that it was hopeless, and that she would die here, in the next few moments.

There was a soft banging sound in the air nearby and Lupin could sense a shiver running through the crowd of werewolves around them, and heard them gasp and murmur.

Baron started, and looked up. Lupin turned her head weakly, and saw the tall, black form of Snape standing a few yards away. Her heart skipped a beat. There he was, his pale face and hands floating over his black robes. She had never seen anything more beautiful in her life. She wanted to sing out his name, but instead, only a weak whimper came from her wolf's throat.

Snape looked at Lupin as she lay on the ground, Baron standing over her, and Snape's eyes became as hard and cold as obsidian. He lifted his wand, and a flash of lightening came from it, striking Baron full in the chest, close enough to Lupin's head that she could feel the charge in the air. Baron went rolling over across the clearing.

Snape looked at her, as if trying to say something, but she had lost too much blood and was too stupid to understand – as if she ever could read anything in his face.

Snape took a step toward her, but Baron was on his feet again, racing across the clearing, his eyes locked on Snape's throat. He gathered his legs to spring, but Snape raised his wand in a flash, black robes flying up around him like wings, and another bolt of lightening struck Baron, sending him flying across the clearing. Werewolves scattered to get out of his way, and he crashed against a great tree hard enough to send branches flying and a shower of leaves fluttering to the ground.

But Baron was no ordinary werewolf. He rose to his feet, shaking and unsteady, and managed to bark a command. Instantly, his followers came forward from all around the clearing, even Alex. Those that were in human form changed into wolves as they came, dropping down to all four legs, each advancing on Snape – slowly, though; none of them wanted to be the first one struck by his wand.

Snape turned around in a swirl of black robes, looking at them all. There are too many of them, Lupin thought. He can't take them all on by himself. He will have to Apparate away.

But Snape wasn't Apparating. He can't mean to fight them, thought Lupin. She looked at his face – she knew that angry expression all too well. She'd seen it often enough, so many times, right before Snape would do something stupid and get himself hurt. Severus, this isn't a schoolboy fight, she thought. These are killers! She saw Baron, still standing, though shaky, unable to move. But he was smiling, his eyes still bright, and he leaned forward, eager to see Snape overpowered by the advancing werewolves.

Bang! Bang! Bang! The sounds came like firecrackers, and Lupin saw human forms pop into existence all around the clearing. There was Moody's mane of grizzled hair, and Kingsley just beyond him. Tonks appeared right in the middle of the advancing werewolves, but caught herself instantly and vanished, only to reappear near the others. Then Harry, Hermione and Ron, all together. Lupin felt relief wash over her. Snape had not come alone – he must have summoned help before coming on ahead, to stall until they could all get here.

The wizards pulled together to form a tight circle facing the werewolves. Each raised a wand high, ready to strike.

The wolves halted. It was one thing to advance on one wizard from all sides, quite another to take on a group of them. One wolf took a step back, head down, tail curling between his legs. Another followed suit, and the others looked ready to join them.

Baron barked loudly. He'd had time to recover, and he walked forward to join his wolves, though he was limping, Lupin noted. His wolves drew together around him, as if drawing strength from his presence.

Baron smiled, lowered his head, and growled, flashing his fangs. His little army beside him hesitated only for a moment, then did the same, even little Alex. The wizards were surrounded by a ring of white fangs and flashing, yellow eyes. Baron looked directly at Snape, marking him for his target. The ring of wizards held their wands higher, and Lupin could see sparks start to fly off the tips. Baron's haunches crouched, readying himself to spring, and his followers did the same.

Then Baron turned tail and dashed off into the forest.

His followers started in surprise. They looked at the hole were Baron had stood, then at the wizards with their raised wands, then at each other. Then they, too, ran as fast as they could after Baron, and disappeared into the forest, Alex the last to follow.

"After them!" Moody shouted, and he, Kingsley and Tonks began to run, vanishing quickly into the trees and undergrowth.

There was almost a collective sigh of relief from everyone in the clearing. The excitement that had filled Lupin drained from her, leaving her weak, and her head fell against the ground.

"Remus." It was Snape's voice, close to her ear – when did he get over here? She opened her eyes and could dimly see black in front of her – his robes. He must be kneeling beside her. She twisted her head, and saw his face hovering over hers. He looked even paler than usual, and his hair was all greasy again, she hadn't seen it looking that bad in a long time.

She felt cool hands lifting her great wolf's head and pulling it into his lap. She wanted to lick his fingertips as they dug into her fur and ran along her muzzle.

Then the hands pulled away and Snape unfastened his cloak. She saw it whip out above her, blocking out the sky, and then felt it fall across her body, warm and soft. "Remus," Snape said yet again, "it's over. You can change back now. I've got to get you to a hospital, and St. Mungo's won't take you if you're in wolf form."

She closed her eyes, and changed, her wolf body collapsing back into her human shape. She heard Snape suck in his breath quickly. He must see my wounds, she thought. They always look worse when I'm human. Gaping wounds on bare skin, and bright red blood, no hair to absorb it. The pain was worse now; it always hurt more when she was human. But at least she could talk now. She pulled Snape's cloak more tightly around her. I'm getting blood all over it, she thought.

"Collar," she croaked. "Magic, can't get it off . . ."

Snape touched the collar with his wand, and it sprang open. He gently pulled it away. Lupin could feel her power coming back. It was weak, but she felt a little better. She gathered her strength and managed to pulled herself up, with Snape's assistance, until she was sitting. She wavered, and Snape held her against his shoulder.

It was only then that she noticed the mirror clutched in his hand. He has a mirror, she thought. Hermione gave him a mirror?

And that made her remember. "They broke my wand," she said, feeling tears come into her eyes. "Severus, they broke my wand."

"It doesn't matter," Snape said, softly. "We'll take care of it." His voice was soothing, and he turned her face closer into his shoulder. She felt herself grow calmer. His voice is so beautiful.

She was able to look around now. The other werewolves were standing up, returning to human form, licking the wounds they'd suffered from Baron's men, putting on their clothes. They did not look triumphant, there was no cheering, instead they looked stunned. But not unhappy. More than one face turned to hers and smiled, as if to say, thank you.

We've won, she thought. Baron has been defeated. The werewolves know the Wizards can protect them.

But Baron is still free. No, she thought, Moody and the others will catch him; they're too close on his trail. But Baron has Alex, she thought again. Alex can Apparate. Poor, stupid Alex, he could have left Baron easily, and Baron would never be able to catch him.

"We're going to have to get a lot of people to the hospital," Hermione's voice called out. Lupin saw Hermione kneeling next to the pretty young woman who had been one of the ones to speak to Baron. There was a deep, red gash across her side, and she looked very pale.

"And Umbridge definitely needs St. Mungo's," Ron's voice sounded from the rise. "She's hurt, and she's completely out of it." Ron was standing by Umbridge where she sat, rocking back and forth, clutching her wounded shoulder. Ron waved his hand in front of her eyes, but she did not move. Ron shrugged.

I'd completely forgotten about her, Lupin thought. She'll be a werewolf now. The thought gave Lupin no satisfaction.

"Professor Lupin." This time it was Harry's voice, he was standing close by.

Lupin tried to smile at him.

Harry turned to Snape. "We can take care of the rest of the pack, sir," Harry said. "You can get Lupin to St. Mungo's, and let them know we'll be coming, with a lot more people."

"The Ministry," Lupin stammered out. "Protection, for the werewolves. Until Baron is caught." She started to feel dizzy.

"I'll get Ron to contact his Dad," Harry said. "Don't worry, Professor, we'll take care of them."

"Can you stand, Lupin?" Snape asked in his soft voice.

Lupin leaned against Snape, and gathered her legs under her, but they collapsed when she tried to stand. Snape caught her as she fell, and gathered her up in his arms. Lupin felt even more light-headed as she felt herself being lifted.

"We'll see you at St. Mungo's, Professor," Harry said to Snape.

Snape nodded. Then, with Lupin in his arms, he Apparated away from the clearing.

TBC