Title: Full Moon Rising
Author: daemonwolf
Rating: PG-13
Distribution: ask, and ye shall receive
Notes: Welcome back, kiddies... first a couple of replies:
Paige: As per your request, here, is more.
Final Spirit: Nice to see someone who is as happy about this idea as I am... and thanks for putting me on your fave stories list, by the bye!
: Yet again with the lack of a name? Very well then. Ladies an' gents, from now on, my one and only COMPLETELY anonymous reviewer now has a name. Your name is... Whothehellareyou? (WtHaY? for short)
So! Thanks for the reviews all, now sit back, relax, and prepare to enjoy!
Full Moon Rising
Chapter Three: Encounters with Werewolves Part Two
Middle of Third Trimester
"Watch it, Moony! Lady with a baby coming through—ow, dammit!"
Remus, who was currently squished up against the wall of the entryway to let Lily pass, spun back around to face her, his face the picture of concern for the pregnant woman. "Alright there, Lily?"
Lily grimaced, and pointed to her belly in explanation. "Yeah. This kid's a kicker. That's the tenth time today he's decided to see how much he can make my belly expand with one kick. Ow! Jeez..." She looked at her best friend pleadingly. "Why's it always the women that have to suffer, huh? Why can't you guys take your turn?"
Remus could only smirk at the griping woman as she walked carefully down the steps to the sidewalk outside. "Lily, darling. You know as well as I do that if pregnancy were left to the menfolk, the human race would be extinct within a couple generations. Think of this," he gestured to her distended belly, "as a testament to the strength and fortitude of the woman: she who brings life."
Lily muttered something unintelligible under her breath.
"What was that?"
Lily smiled toothily back at Remus. "Oh, nothing, dear Remus. Come, walk with me. I always find the child less likely to kick when I've been active." She preceded him to the end of the driveway to wait while he locked the front door before joining her.
Remus, for his part, took the opportunity of the long walk up the drive to take in every aspect of Lily—the woman who might've, in a different world, become his own. He couldn't help but ponder what might've been different. There was, of course, the lycanthropy to consider, but had he been able to find a cure, what—he had to stop that train of thought in its tracks, having reached said woman and not about to clue her in on his little fantasies.
Lily, at that point was staring up in the sky, marveling at the sun as it slowly made its way down to the earth. "I'd best make this walk a short one," she commented, still looking toward the sun. "The moon's full tonight, isn't it?" She turned to face Remus.
"Yeah, it is," Remus sighed, and bared his teeth in a grimace. "Damned lycanthropy." Without another word, Remus began stalking up the sidewalk, his arms wrapped around his own body as if cold; even though the night was balmy for July. Lily simply let him be for the time being. Merlin knew how she could get when confronted with some shortcoming of hers, and she wasn't about to try Remus' patience. However, feeling sorry for himself at this point in his life was going too far, so..."Remus, you know I love you, right?"
Remus stopped short, taken aback. His thoughts had once more wandered to the 'what-if' area of his brain, and Lily's simple statement had filled him briefly with so much elation and then left him abruptly as he realized the true meaning of her words. The result was he felt weak at the knees, then was so depressed his knees became weak, and he fell ass-first to the sidewalk.
Lily only laughed a little as she pulled the confused were-wolf up from his ignominious seat on the ground. "I'll take that as a 'no I didn't.' Well, believe it, fur face. I love you, along with the rest of the Marauders." She wrapped her arm around his as they started walking. "And because I do, you of all people should know that I love you for who you are, even when who you are includes fur and fangs." She stopped again suddenly, taking Remus by surprise. "That's why, Moony, there is nothing for you to be ashamed of." She poked him in the chest. "Nothing! We're all of us here for you, so quit feeling sorry for yourself and come walk with me!"
Remus simply stared at her a while, marveling how a woman like her could love and respect him, even in his full feral glory, as one of her best friends and allies. Without a second thought he caught up to her and pulled her into a crushing hug, letting his feelings for her and his gratitude be understood without the use of words. As for Lily, she hugged him back just as hard, trying to be there for him the best way she could.
Suddenly, she got an idea. "Remus?"
He let go slowly and looked at her. "Yeah?"
She grinned up at the taller man. "Do me a favor, would you? I know James would probably be the one to teach our son, but seeing as he only learned because you were able to interpret the 'mumbo-jumbo' he so eloquently calls a book; and you and I both know neither Sirius nor Peter are up for the job," she stopped for a second to breathe. "Will you teach my son how to become an Animagus when he's old enough?"
Remus found himself once again floored by the kindness of his best friend's wife. "Of—of course, Lils. I'd be honored to."
But Lily wasn't done yet. "Will you also teach me? I meant it about wanting to be there for you. I won't be able to for the first few transformations, of course, but as my son grows older I want to be right there with you, Sirius, and James."
Remus smiled. "Alright, Lils, we'll start once that bundle of joy," he poked at her swollen belly, "is on the outside. Merlin help us if you learned how to transform and suddenly gave birth to a litter of puppies!"
Lily ducked her head and headbutted Remus. "Yeah, I doubt James would be too happy with a couple of puppies for children, especially when he's a stag himself. And speaking of transformations," she continued, looking uneasily into the swiftly darkening sky. "We should probably get you home. It's almost moonrise."
Remus took a look himself, surprised at how much time had passed. "Sounds like a plan to me, Lils." He turned around and began moving swiftly down the sidewalk to the Marauders' Hideaway and ultimately, the basement of the house where he would remain until sunrise with the company of Sirius Black and James Potter in their Animagus forms.
By the time the duo reached the sprawling building they called home, the moon was almost halfway over the treetops. Thank Merlin the change doesn't start until the moon's completely visible, Lily thought as she hustled Remus into the house. Midway to the basement, however, Remus stopped, his face contorted in pain. Immediately Lily's thoughts went to James, Sirius, and Peter, but her Padfoot and Prongs were out on Auror duty, while Peter was simply out. Like he'd be any help anyway, Lily couldn't help but thinking, then immediately regretted it, knowing that any help would be appreciated right now. She glanced worriedly at Remus who was still fighting the pain of the transformation to get to the basement.
"Shit," was Remus' eloquent summation of his predicament, and he bolted for the basement door. As he undid the numerous locks, both magical and muggle that would normally keep him from getting out of the basement, his hands began lengthening to paws tipped in razor-sharp claws. His head was also shifting to the muzzle of a wolf when Lily finally caught up to him.
"Dear Merlin," she gasped. The almost-completely transformed Remus glared at her. "No, Remus. Moony..."
The wolf that Remus had become lunged at her, claws extended. They ripped through the material of her pregnancy dress, cutting into the bare skin of her swollen belly. She screamed in both fright and pain as Remus' snout plunged downward, aiming for her belly. In a moment of desperation she covered herself with both arms, only to have them bitten instead. A second scream tore from her throat as the were-wolf raised his head; teeth dripping in her freshly spilled blood. His eyes gleamed in triumph as Lily, grasping at what little presence of mind she had left, searched frantically for her wand, which was presently out of reach in a pocket that had been torn loose and thrown across the room.
The were-wolf didn't have a second chance to attack, however, as a black blur flew across the room and sunk canine teeth into the neck of the were-wolf. The creature howled in pain, but moved continually backwards so he could spin around and pin the dog between the wall and his own body. As both animals hit the wall, the 'wolf began tearing into the dog, ripping fur and flesh to shreds. The dog's whimper of pain was eclipsed suddenly by the scream of a stag and the sound of hooves as it pounded through the house.
Upon reaching the fighting canines, the stag lowered its antlers, positioning them to catch the 'wolf head-on. With a shriek, the monster was stuffed against the wall, held immobile by the stag's ten-point rack.
Sensing his chance, the dog let go his stranglehold on the 'wolf and transformed back into Sirius Black. His startlingly blue eyes grim, he opened the door to the basement and watched as the stag sidestepped, dragging the 'wolf along with him, still caught in his antlers. As they neared the door, Sirius transformed back into a dog and caught the werewolf's hind paws in his teeth, effectively immobilizing him.
Together, stag and dog stuffed the werewolf into the doorway, the stag closing and leaning on the door in order to allow Sirius to change back and replace all the locks on the door.
It was only then that either man noticed Lily.
Covered in her own blood, the once regal-looking woman was a mess, but what really threw both men for a loop was the fact that Lily's stomach was contracting—she was having the baby!
And with that, kiddies, I leave you. Tune in next time for the birth of Harry J. Potter. Au revoir!