Lupus Mutatio
Chapter 3 : Human
Remus Lupin flinched when he heard loud noises from the other side of the door, vaguely wondering what the wolf was doing and how it would affect his body when he returned to his original form.
He thought about the first friends he had made in such a long time. How was he going to keep this from them? He didn't want to think what would happen if they ever found out. They would most definitely abandon him and try to kill him like all the others had.
His thoughts slowly gave way under the ominous silence, which was only broken by the noises from the other side of the door. The noises died down, and after what seemed like days to Remus, he was allowed to regain his own consciousness. The wolf was locked in the cage he was previously in until the next full moon.
The first thing Remus realized as he awoke was the incredible and excruciating pain he was in.
What did the wolf do to his body?
He attempted to move his arm…then his leg….something, anything. Why couldn't he move? No, please. Don't let the wolf have paralyzed him.
His common sense kicked in just then and he remembered that he would not be feeling such pain if he were paralyzed. Suddenly, he wished he was, indeed, paralyzed.
How was he going to get back to the school?
Would Madam Pomfrey even take care of him? She seemed like a nice enough woman the preceding night. What now? Now that the wolf had shown what it did to him on these nights. Now that she would know the reason his father put the manacles on the wall in his prison at home.
Remus pried open his eyes and gazed at the arm laying directly in its sight. He sobbed at what he saw. His left arm was mangled beyond his own recognition. Would he ever be able to use it again?
What would Sirius, Peter and James say when they saw his injuries? He knew the arm was only the first of them. What about his legs? Would he be able to walk? Or would he have to wait for one of the teachers to come and retrieve him?
Would he be missed if he died of blood loss right here and now, especially if they knew the abomination that he was? Only one way to find out.
He opened both eyes and, with a new determination, pushed himself into a sitting position with his unmangled arm. After enduring great pain and numerous long breaks, he eventually made it to his feet with the help of a smashed table's leg. He would use this to his advantage, to ease his pain even a little bit on the way back to school.
Remus opened the trapdoor and, after taking the first step onto the stairs, fell the rest of the way down.
After laying there for an undeterminable time, he reached toward the staircase and pulled a neatly folded set of clothes close to him. He pulled on the robe with extreme unease, deciding to leave the trousers and shirt for another day when he could actually put them on without collapsing from pain.
He decided to not pull his injured arm through the sleeve, fearful that it would cause even more harm to it, not to mention the pain he would be in. It caused exceptional agony when it was still, and he distinctly remembered the torture it was to move, even a centimeter.
Using the table leg once again, he slowly rose and allowed the robe to fall to his ankles. The left shoulder of the robe slid down to reveal bruised skin and deep claw marks.
He limped lethargically toward the exit that was quite a ways from where he now stood and desperately wished that someone would come to fetch him. No one would, he knew.
It must have taken him a few hours at least, but he reached his destination. One step at a time, he told himself.
Now, to get past the Whomping Willow. He located the knot just outside the exit and pushed against it. This would immobilize the tree's thick flailing branches for up to ten seconds. He must be quick, and not trip. He is doomed otherwise. Waiting the ten seconds for the tree to begin flailing again, he took a few deep breaths and pressed the knot again.
Then, he ran for his life…or rather, limped as quickly as he could away from the tree. His life depended on it. He needed to get back to the school, so that the mediwitch could heal him.
In the house, he decided that since he only lived until he died, that he would use those days to his best advantage. Which currently meant getting better and wreaking havoc with his new friends. He would keep his secret, but still didn't know what he would do if they found out, and probably wouldn't know unless this event came to pass.
Once out of the tree's reach, he fell to his knees, exhausted. He winced as he felt every bruise on his body protest to the agitation. Breath was now shallow and far to quickly spent.
No! Remus was determined to get to the castle. He would not die here! He would not die now! If his body wished it, he would die in the school's hospital ward on a nice warm bed.
Pushing himself back into a standing position, he trudged forward, stumbling often. He smiled slightly when the school came into view.
It had taken him most of the day to reach this place and it was now twilight. Lights came on in nearly every window of the castle, creating a beautiful spectacle. Remus supposed that everyone was at dinner and no one would see him slip in and head immediately to the hospital wing.
He pushed at the large wooden door leading to the Entrance Hall, but it wouldn't budge. No! Not now! Don't do this now! He was desperate to get in so he pushed and pushed, but to no avail, and finally collapsed against the door.
Remus banged lightly on the bottom of the door, far too lightly for anyone human to hear.
Please help me! I don't want to die here!
No words came from his lips; he could not bear to hear his own voice at this moment. Salvation came in the form of the Hogwarts groundskeeper. The large half-giant lifted him gently and Remus allowed him to do this with no resistance.
He would die in a bed, as he wanted. With a relieved smile, he allowed himself to fall into a deep, healing sleep.