Chapter 8
Dealing

Angel sat on the steps to the castle, looking longingly across the empty school grounds. Everyone else was eating dinner in the great hall. He loved the solitude, not wanting to be near anyone, he had only spoken to Dumbledore and Lupin since the day of his first talk with Lupin. He had managed to avoid everyone, even Ginny and Liam.

As the wind blew thru his hair and across his face, Angel longed to be flying again, far above everything, not a care in the world. But he knew this was impossible, for now at least. The burning and nausea had grown stronger, but he was dealing. Yet the lack of nourishment was taking its toll. In just a few days he had become pale and thin, losing weight at an alarming rate. True, he was not eating, but the weight was just melting off him. He was weak and often dizzy.

Worst of all was his visit to his mother. When he kissed Cassie and gave her a hug, she started shaking and grasped the back of his shoulders tightly, digging her fingernails into him. Looking up into the air as if talking to someone she screamed, "Nobody! Nobody! He is Nobody!" She looked wild, almost mad.

Lupin rushed into the room and removed Angel from her grasp. He hugged Cassie and she put her arms around him, sobbing almost hysterically, "He's nobody, Remus, he's nobody. Tell them, he's nobody." Lupin told Angel to leave the room.

Since their initial talk, Lupin spent a lot of time with Angel. Although not always with him, he was there when Angel needed him most.

On the way back to Grimmauld place, Lupin assured Angel that his mother didn't mean anything she said, she was under a lot of strain lately. She didn't mean it.

But Angel felt dazed. His own mother, did she hate him this much? Did she think him as dirty and infected, just like most of the wizarding community? Was he loathsome to her? Was he now nobody? He was growing angry, but as he looked over at Lupin, he again calmed. "Well," he thought, "I am now alone. One friend in all the world." And he was happy it was Lupin.

Angel's reverie was broken when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Lupin was standing next to him. "Let's walk."

Angel looked forward to these daily walks with Lupin . They were always very calming and centering. The two of them talked about many things, about Angels condition, of course. But most often they talked about the world, about life in general, about things that Lupin learned in his travels. They were becoming very close, closer than Angel had ever felt to anyone, a real friend, a caring teacher, a brother.

Today the subject had turned to Sirius. "He was a bit arrogant," Lupin said with a smile, "James told Sirius more than once that Siri had asked out every girl in the school by end of fourth year. You should have seen him swagger through crowds of girls to get their reaction. He found it very funny……..But no one had a bigger heart. He would do anything for his friends and those he loved, anything. A prankster extraordinaire, I never saw another like him, but always with a great heart. Siri was the best friend I ever had, closer to me than anyone has ever been.

Angel smiled. He knew the Sirius and Lupin had been much closer than friends.

"And you have so many of the traits that remind me of Sirius, you are definitely his nephew. When I look at you, I see Sirius. You have the same blood flowing through you.

Lupin continued, "In my many readings, I have realized how important blood ties are and that magic is very often tied to those of the same family, and much help can be given by one member of a family to another; help that cannot be given by someone from the outside. I am sure that this tie between you and Sirius will become very important. Nothing certain right now, just something to ponder."

Angel again had the feeling that Lupin wasn't telling him everything, but it was OK for now. They just kept walking.

After a few minutes of silence, Lupin began again, "Angel, you know that in a little over a week the moon will be full. You must be prepared. First thing is to formulate a potion for you to take prior to your transformation. Professor Snape will create a potion specifically for you and specifically for this first transformation."

Angel grimaced.

Lupin quickly rolled his eyes and looked sternly at Angel, yet a second later his face softened again, "Until very recently, no potion was available for the first transformation. The bond between werewolf and human must be completed during this time. Most potions interfere with this. Professor Snape has developed a potion that will help you keep you wits about you, but will allow the transformation to complete. I am very grateful to him for his hard work."

"He will be here to see you tomorrow. And you WILL do as he asks. It is imperative that the potion be correct. Do you understand?"

Angel was now walking quickly, two steps in front of Lupin and didn't answer.

That night Angel's dreams were a twisted mixture of images. Colors shooting from wands, werewolves running through dark hallways, Dumbledore dealing playing cards, Sirius illuminated by flashes of light, Lupin looking at the moon, the familiar whisper flowing through everything and then a howl, a howl that seemed to come from within him.

The following night, Angel had the most vivid dream ever. He felt like he was part of this dream, like he was actually there, looking at the scene. He could see Sirius plainly and stepped forward, extending his hands out in front of him, trying to touch Sirius. Looking down at his hands, he saw he was wearing the black ring his mother had shown him. Rays were emitted from the "B", almost as if there was a fire within. He continued to step forward, but Sirius was getting no closer.

He awoke in a sweat with his heart racing. Looking down, he saw no ring on his hands. "Just a silly dream," he thought to himself. A few minutes later he had forgotten it.Walking With Lupin

Angel and Lupin again walked through the school grounds. "I went to see your mother today. We talked for a long time. Angel, I know that she did not mean what it sounded like." Angel turned his head and began to walk quickly, outpacing Lupin. He did not want to talk about this.

"Angel, you will listen. It is important," Lupin said sternly. "You do not have the luxury of running from the truth. You will listen."

Although he didn't want to hear what Lupin had to say, Angel felt compelled to listen. He slowed and they again walked side by side.

"There are a few things you must understand about your mother. Cassie was a quiet person, happy to blend in with all the other students, to be unnoticed. Your mother has a gift that she would rather not have, that she would rather hide away. She is a seer. She witnessed many tragedies and sorrows. While only a few of these came to pass, she was always in fear of her visions. A few years ago she refused to let this continue and started to block everything out.

She is especially afraid of the Blacks. I am uncertain what she has witnessed, but it must have been very frightening. And she is afraid for you and Claire. She tried to remove the Black influence from you.

Angel, your mother told me that her screams were telling everyone you are not a Black. It has nothing to do with your being a werewolf, nothing."

'Oh, I almost forgot," Lupin reached into his pocket and pulled out the black ring. "Your mother has given you this." Knowing that it would make no sense that Cassie would give him the ring, Lupin said, "OK, she did it with my persuasion. But, it is time that you had Sirius' ring. He is a Black as you are."

Day Before Full Moon

Angel was again sitting on the Hogwart's steps. Everyone was again in the great hall eating. He knew well that tomorrow was full moon and was absentmindedly looking across the grounds again, waiting for his walk with Lupin. He was wearing the ring and was slipping it on and off his finger.

"Hey Bonehead!" came a call from behind.

"Oh no," thought Angel, gritting his teeth. Liam! The last person he wanted to see. "What does he want?"

Liam sat down on the step beside him. He reached over and held Angel's wrist so that the ring was visible. "Yup, 'B' for bonehead."

"Get out, Liam!" Angel growled as he snatched his arm back.

"And now you've just proved it. Quit acting like a bonehead. You won't let Ginny or me come around anymore." Liam's stomach growled loudly. "And you're making me miss dinner too!……. You need to get off it! You can't go it alone. "

Angry, Angel tried to push him away, but Liam deflected the push, slapping Angel's arm in the process. Growing angrier, Angel again tried to push Liam away. "Get away Liam!"

"Or what?...Nope, not until you tell me you're gonna quit acting like a bonehead. Like it or not, you're stuck with me."

Liam teasingly punched Angel in the shoulder. "Bonehead!"

"You'd better quit."

"Or what...bonehead!"

A minute later Angel was on top of Liam, throwing punches, Liam deflecting them as best he could. Angel's jaw was clenched and tears were streaming from his eyes. "OY!" Blood began flowing from Liam's nose where Angel had made contact.

Angel came to his senses. He loosened his hold on Liam. But as soon as he let down his guard, Liam rolled over so that Angel was now pinned to the ground, Liam's blood now flowing onto Angel's robe.

"Good evening," came Lupin's voice from behind them. Angel thought he looked a bit amused. "I could allow this to continue, if you wish." Angel and Liam quickly got to their feet.

"Liam, I am happy to see you are here as well. I was hoping to have a talk with both of you."