Chapter 9:
Shadow of the Moon

I'm being followed by a moonshadow - Cat Stevens

Angel's mind was fixed on his upcoming transformation; it was almost time. Lupin was waiting for him. Yet Angel stood in the shower, ice cold water splashing his face and running down is skin. Lupin had assured him that everything he was going through today was normal, everything Angel felt would be intensified; not only the pain and anger he had felt prior, but all sensations, emotions and impulses. This was to be expected, especially during the day of the first transformation. Yet, this was the third shower Angel had taken today.

Angel put on his robe and stepped out of the bathroom.

Standing in the bedroom, deep in conversation were Lupin and the red-haired man. When they noticed Angel, Lupin said, "Angel, I would like you to meet someone. We must be quick though, he only has a moment."

"This is Odin McCallister, the man who saved you from Voldemort's wolves."

Angel rushed forward, extending his hand. Odin, rather than extending his, made a very slight bow of his head closing his eyes for a second and then looked back up. Angel recovered quickly and returned the greeting in kind. Then, without notice, suddenly turning around, Odin rushed from the room.

Lupin smiled at the confusion on Angel's face, "That's just Odin's way."

During their nightly discussions, Lupin had talked about Odin. He was the man of wizarding myth. Seems Odin was a very old soul who roamed the countryside, many times with the wolves of the area. Through the years he also befriended those men who had become werewolves, Lupin among them. Through Lupin, Odin was introduced to the Order and its fight against Voldemort.

Lupin had explained what happened the night of the attack. Voldemort had his DEs and followers looking for any way to attack the Order members or their families. During last full-moon, his werewolves were out in force, looking for an opportunity. Odin and his brother werewolves patrolled the area during that time. Angel had come upon Rufus, one of the brother werewolves. Rufus tried to scare Angel back to the house, to safety, but only led him to Voldemort's wolves. Angel had been badly injured before the 'brothers' could free him. Yet if not for Odin and the 'brothers', Angel would have died.

Odin and the brothers would be patrolling again tonight. They would stay as far away from Angel and Moony as safely possible, but their scents would still be strong and carry into the lawn.

Lupin smiled encouragingly and he led Angel into the hallway and off towards the cellar.

"Hey bonehead, wait up!" Liam came running behind him and soon was walking alongside. He teasingly punched Angel on the shoulder, smiling at him.

Angle glared at Liam. He knew well that Liam was trying to make him laugh, help him through this, but he was driving him nuts! Liam had been like a shadow today, telling jokes, poking fun at him and singing stupid songs. He even short sheeted his bed last night and put a picture of Professor Snape on the bedside table. Seems Professor Snape was upside down in the frame saying, "Mr. Greyson what have you done? One trillion points from Gryffindor!" Liam was now walking beside them whistling the tune from that muggle TV show Francesca had told them about.

"Thank you Liam," smiled Lupin, "but it may not be wise to bother Angel too much at this time."

Liam would be present at the transformation.

The morning after Angel was bitten, Liam waited outside Angel's bedroom door, listening. He confronted Lupin just outside the threshold, insisting that he, Liam, be with Angel during his transformations. Lupin gladly agreed. Liam would be there tonight in case something went wrong. Also there would be times Lupin could not be present when Angel transformed and he wanted someone to be there as friend and support in his absence.

Unbeknown to Angel, Lupin had chosen the cellar room so in the event something went wrong, they would be separated from the rest of the house and from the world outside. Lupin did not want Angel to know that something could go wrong.

Angel shivered as he walked into the room. It was cold, dark and dank. The floor and walls were dirt, covered with a thin film of water, probably from the moisture in the air. There was no furniture in the room; it was empty except for a large sheepskin blanket on the floor in the center of the room. Lupin smiled, "From your mother. It will cushion you during the transformation."

Angel and Lupin undressed and handed their clothes to Liam, who carefully folded them and placed them in a corner. It was only then that it really hit Angel that Lupin would be transforming as well. Of course he knew this, but with his own transformation taking up his thoughts, Angel hadn't given much thought to Lupin. He began to panic, he didn't know if he could handle seeing Lupin transform as well.

Lupin sat down on the blanket, "Come, Angel," he said softly, yet firmly, "It's time."

His emotions intense but confused, Angel felt anger at Lupin. He was drawn to him, yet he attempted to rip himself away from his influence. Yet he also felt love for him. Angel looked imploringly at Liam, his eyes screaming, "Help me, do something, anything!" Liam's eyes answered soothingly, "It will be all right, Angel. I'm here." When Angel continued to stare, cemented to the spot, shaking, Liam ran to him and held him. "Shhhh. Angel. I'm here. Shhhh."

"It's time, Angel," said Lupin more sternly. Liam kissed Angel's forehead and backed away from him, sitting on the floor against the wall. Crawling slowly across the floor, feeling the damp cold through his knees, Angel finally crawled to the center of the blanket and took his place beside Lupin.

"You may have noticed that your thoughts have become a bit foggy. That is normal." Lupin put his arm around Angel, "Soon you will feel it pulling." If Lupin had not been holding him, Angel thought he would have run from the room. He wanted to yell to the world that they were wrong, a mistake had been made, it wasn't him, he shouldn't be here. He again looked over at Liam, whose eyes were still telling him it was OK.

Then it began. Lupin quickly pulled away from him and moved off the blanket onto the dirt floor. Angel felt as if something inside was literally being pulled out of him. Everything inside him was shifting. Bones were elongating, reforming, muscles stretching……Pain. More painful than he ever imagined, more painful than the attack. He pushed hard against the blanket trying to keep the beast within, but it kept coming. His eyes were shut, full of tears. His voice changed, deepened and he let out a loud growl. Then everything stopped. The pain was gone.

It was not until his growl was returned, that he opened his eyes. A brown and grey wolf was standing beside him, looking down…….Moony!

Angel stood up and shook himself with excitement, feeling new muscles. He looked back over his new, muscular body. His fur was jet black with a hint of blue that showed only where light shone on it. And he had a tail, a tail! This was wonderful! He stood, staring as he wagged it vigorously.

A nudge from Moony stopped this play. Everything was fine. It was time to romp in the yard. Moony again nudged Angel, indicating that he wanted Angel to follow.

Liam laughed, "You look just like Moony's shadow!." And he echoed teasingly, "Moony's shadow…Hmmmmm…. Well 'Shadow it is. You sure don't look like an Angel."

"Hey Shadow! Time to play!" Liam opened the door and Moony bounded out, Shadow behind, Liam running to keep up. As they sped through the hallway, Shadow was aware that everything looked different, sharper, more intense. The light from the torches seemed harsh and hurt his eyes. Smells were so strong and pungent he felt ill. Sounds seemed to be racing each other across the room. He had to get away or he would go crazy.

Moony led Shadow through the entrance hall, stopping in front of a large tapestry hung from the wall. Liam, gasping for breath, took out his wand and pointed it at the tapestry, "Alohomora". The tapestry began to move as if being blown in a gentle breeze. Moony, waiting no longer, ran behind the tapestry and into the night. Liam, smiling at Shadow, pulled the tapestry back. Shadow felt the moon pull at him, singing a sweet melody, urging him to come and dance. Shadow was unsure, slowly moving to the threshold, only his face outside.

The darkness that replaced the harsh lights was soothing. Moony was standing in the distance, wagging his tail, inviting him to come out and play. Shadow ventured a bit and walked outside. He turned to feel the wind blowing through his fur and then, unexpectedly, without a thought, he lifted his head to the moon and howled! This was wonderful!

He began to run towards Moony but was distracted. The scents were overpowering, almost alive. Sight and smell had no boundary, so that a scent may be brown or orange or red. The plants seemed to be giving off their own light, independent of moon shine.

Shadow found himself following an orange smell until it crossed a brown smell. He then followed the brown one. In fact, there were so many smells crossing one another, he was soon running in circles. He only quit when something hit him. It was Moony, who growled, telling him to stop. Then Moony nudged him, indicating that Shadow should follow.

Moony chose a scent and began following it. Even though they crossed other scents, many more interesting than the one they were following, Moony kept following the same scent. He stopped only when the trail led to the edge of a creek. Shadow knew he would have to learn concentration…….but not now!

He wagged his tail and nudged Moony! Running quickly away.

Moony quickly ran at Shadow, knocking him down and then moving away. By the time Shadow was on his feet, Moony was running back and forth, wagging his tail, inviting Shadow to play. Shadow bounded forward and joined him.

The night was pure enjoyment. They raced each other, chased whatever came along(always hoping for a cat) and wrestled. The only break came when Moony stopped abruptly, nose in the air, peering into the woods, listening intently. He seemed to think something was there, though a few moments later he was again playing.

Although he would never have believed it, Shadow didn't hate this. He felt ease, at peace, part of everything; not separated and alone. He could no longer discern where objects ended and others began, everything flowed together as one. And the bond between Moony and Shadow intensified, almost fusing their souls together; brothers, but much more than brothers. So close, no uttered word could describe it.

And Liam sat on the step outside the threshold , watching through the night.