It had been three days since Ron had helped Lupin, and he found that he was still having difficulty coming to terms with it. A life long curse, one that he had fully believed would be the death of him, and not a death that would happen at a ripe old age, had been lifted in a matter of minutes. Years of studies and potions and the closest they had ever come to taming the werewolf within was with Severus Snape's wolfsbane potion. And now Remus Lupin was no longer a werewolf, no longer cursed by the moon, no longer to be feared by the public or even his friends. He was a free man. A smile broke free on his lips as he bent and dug a piece of wood from under the snow, snapping it in half to make it easier to carry.
The morning after Ron had awoken after a four hour nap in his chair, not complaining once about how absolutely stiff his neck must have been. He had trudged outside, looking worse then was normal for him, and he had spent the next hour sitting on his rock and watching Forge as the creature lay resting under the branches of several large trees. Lupin had been itching to ask him more questions about how he had done what he had done, but he honestly didn't think that the flaming haired boy even understood. Instinct had driven him, like it had driven him in so many other situations since the emergence of his powers, and Lupin was thankful for it. Then Ron had told him about how he had learned, in history class, that a chaneller named Galindral had somehow amassed the loyalty of an army of werewolves. Ron had never understood how he had done it, but he had always wondered how a chaneller, who only stole and gave energy, could accomplish such a thing. Making the connection that night had been simple. Ron thought he should have been able to figure it out sooner, as though his gift was something that came with a text of instructions complete with example.
Turning these thoughts over in his mind Lupin began trudging the short distance back to Ron's shelter. He was just wondering what time Ron would be coming back to their abode when he heard a sudden sharp cry and the loud, unmistakable, beating of heavy wings. He threw his gathered wood to the ground without a thought and raced to the clearing that surrounded their home. The hair on the back of his neck was standing to attention and he burst into the space to see what was wrong; he had never heard Forge cry out like that before, and it couldn't be good. He arrived just in time to see Ron half sliding, half falling from the dragon's back, and then stumbling to his hands and knees as he failed to catch himself. Lupin paid no heed to the dangerous creature with six deadly ends, and raced over to his friend, kneeling down. The scent of blood was strong in the air, and he noted that it had left a trail on the dragon's thick hide where Ron had slid down it.
"Ron! What happened? Where are you hurt?" He demanded, reaching out and pulling back at the last second, not wanting to scare his easily agitated friend.
"I'm fine, s'just a scratch." He muttered and went to push himself up, only to stifle a cry and hug his torso.
"And I'm the new head of the Ministry of Magic. Ron, let me help you."
"Congratulations on yer promotion." He wheezed and pulled himself together enough to struggle to his knees, using Forge's rib cage for aid. The dragon's piercing eyes were staring at Ron as he moved. "I'm fine."
"You're not." Lupin retorted and, hoping Ron wouldn't react too badly, he reached under the younger mans shoulders and helped him to stand upright. Other then a slight jerk Ron didn't react, which spoke volumes to Lupin about how much pain he must be in. Now that Ron was standing he could see the tears in his jacket, and the blood soaked shirt beneath it. He didn't panic as he half dragged half carried Ron to the shelter and struggled to get them both through the narrow door. Despite his skinny frame he was a heavy man, no doubt from all his outdoor activities and Lupin was out of breath as he gently lay him on the cot and pulled the jacket aside.
"I'm going to have to remove the jacket." Ron simply nodded with his eyes closed and sat up with Lupin's help, shrugging out of the heavy brown material. It was tossed to the floor and forgotten as Lupin carefully eyed his charge, seeing the pressed lips and the slightly green pallor. He jumped up and ran the few steps to the 'cooker' grabbing the only pot they had as well as the filled bucket of water. He sat them beside the bed and pulled his wand, warming the water. A moment later he turned the tip of the wand into a magical knife and looked at Ron's ruined shirt.
"I'm going to cut your shirt off." For a moment he thought that Ron might actually protest, but the action was stalled by a gasp of pain and Lupin set to work regardless of any possible protest, carefully pulling the flimsy material out from under Ron's back and surveying the damage done. There were three gouges that ran across his stomach and around his right side, ending just shy of the back. Lupin summoned a few moderately clean shirts from the end of the bed, sterilized them as best he could with a spell, and then began to carefully mop up the blood.
"Ron, you need a healer."
"No good. Not. Enough. Energy. To get. There." The red head replied between breaths, astutely not looking down at his mangled torso.
"I can bring one here."
"No." There was no arguing that matter, at least not at the moment. Lupin dipped a clean shirt into the water and very delicately wiped around the edges of the wounds. They looked awfully familiar.
"Ron, are these wounds from a dragon?"
"What else?" He ground out, shying away slightly as Lupin cleaned but not fussing about the treatment. Lupin didn't know what else could have gotten the boy, Ron himself had gone on for an hour about the creatures he had encountered in the forest, and had very carefully drilled it into Lupin's head that he had even been injured by some of them. It had been his way of warning Lupin not to wander off alone.
Lupin refrained from comment as he cleaned, carefully inspecting each slice. They weren't very ragged, so whatever breed of dragon that had attacked Ron had very sharp claws, or perhaps a tail. When the blood was mopped away as best as the wounds would allow Lupin finally saw the scars that mottled the pale young flesh. It took a moment for him to comprehend what he was looking at even though he had expected their presence at Ron's shyness to change in front of him. Once the shock wore off he glared at them with vehemence for only a moment before forcing himself to ignore them. They were there, and he could do nothing about that fact. Now was not the time to begin his daily cursing of Giles McTagert, may he rot in Hades, nor was it the time to feel hatred or sadness and it was definitely not the time to ask about them. He doubted there would ever be a time when he could ask about them, and he was fairly positive he didn't want to know any of the details anyhow.
The wounds hadn't disembowelled Ron, thank Merlin, but they had torn through his stomach muscles like tissue paper. Lupin frowned at the gaping wounds. He wasn't a healer; he didn't know what kind of spells could help with this beyond basic first aid. He didn't even how to properly dress such wounds to keep them clean. It was at that moment when Hornblend and Howlite came charging through the door to them to land delicately beside Ron's wounds, looking and pointing and frowning as they spoke quietly to one another. Moments later Howlite disappeared and Horns looked up at Lupin, his red eyes glowing. After a few moments he determined that the creature simply wanted him to continue his ministrations as Ron's breathing evened into an magically induced sleep. Lupin did so without complaint, heating the water even more to hopefully stave off infection.
Once clean he gently pressed several make-shift bandages to the wounds, noting that the bleeding had almost completely stopped. Fascinating, with wounds this severe they should have bled until there was nothing left in his veins. He pressed the bandages down a moment and then wondered if he should cast a spell to hold them in place, seeing as they had no form of tape. A moment later, however, the whip that Ron usually kept carefully hidden began snaking up from his bare arm, over his shoulder and then down his chest. It loosened its grip and slid down and around, engulfing Ron's torso in several loops before resting over the bandages in several places and tightening slightly to keep the pressure. Lupin removed his hand and stared at it in wonder, noting for the first time how the whips copper and black cord looked like the actual tail of a dragon. It was modified of course, seeing as it could flatten itself out and it could stretch or compress its length considerably. Its deep red and copper coloured handle had wrapped securely around Ron's right shoulder, looking absurdly like a mesh of armour. No doubt his brothers will be absolutely fascinated by it when he comes home Lupin thought fondly. Though I doubt they'll get much time with him once Harry has him back, that man is going to be as stuck to Ron like this whip.
"What did you get yourself into this time?" He muttered quietly into the still room, watching Ron's sleeping face. It was easy for Lupin to determine the facial characteristics the boy got from his mother and his father, and those that were his own. His slightly longer then average nose was from his father's side, though most of his siblings had managed to avoid that trait. And the tanned face from months under the sun was dotted with freckles that made him appear even darker then he was, while his wrapped chest practically glowed in its paleness. There was dirt along his neck and embedded deep under his short (no doubt chewed) fingernails, and his hair was beginning to flatten to his head. He hadn't washed it in four days, and seeing as they had very little soap left Ron was probably holding off as long as possible. Lupin's eyes traveled along the pale right arm where the whip usually lay, and his eyes rested on the bangle that was locked around the wrist. The flesh beneath it was slightly swollen and redder then was healthy, much as it had been the entire time Lupin had been here. He wondered how Ron had hurt his limb, and why it hadn't healed yet, but he was drawn away from his musings as Ron groaned slightly and then fell silent.
Even in sleep Ron didn't relax, though this time the pain in his body most likely had a lot to do with that. As Lupin sat silently and watched, occasionally dabbing a cool cloth across his flushed forehead and tipping a teaspoon of water through his lips, he noticed every grimace of pain in the crinkles around the eyes and the tightening of thinned out lips. He lost track of time as he sat vigil, heating the room and waiting in fear that an infection would start. He noted that his energy level were dropping rapidly, especially as he was feeling wide awake, and was glad to know that Ron's body, while not under his command, was taking energy from wherever it could to help begin its healing. Lupin began keeping an eye on his own energy, knowing that if he had to he would leave the hut to recuperate. Ron's family had been reminiscing one night how tired they had all been while waiting for Ron to recover after the battle with Voldemort, and they had deduced that he had been borrowing the energy he had needed from them without knowing. Lupin gladly gave it to him, but he was not going to risk both their lives by remaining in place too long and being drained completely. Who knew how much energy Ron might need?
It must have been six hours later when Howlite banged into the door and rushed in, letting the cold air follow her before Lupin could raise his wand and close it with a quick flick of the wrist. He stared as she dropped a vile no larger then his thumbnail (and subsequently one third of her body mass) into his hand. He lifted it to inspect tiredly, looking into the murky brown liquid and not seeing any label. He looked at her and Hornblend as their tiny wings fluttered behind them, creating a blur of light as they darted about in agitated circles and watched him. Hornblend made a motion as though he were drinking from a cup, and then pointed at Ron commandingly. Lupin didn't question the action of slowly pouring the unknown substance into Ron's mouth and massaging his throat so that the young man swallowed it all. He found that he trusted the fairies to do what was right by their friend.
He left the shelter shortly after to sit on Ron's favourite rock outside and stare up at the stars. It was cold, and he was exhausted, and before he knew it he had slipped into sleep leaning against the slightly ice covered rock wall, glad that there were no trees growing from its face where he was sitting. He awoke to the first rays of sunlight, finding himself wrapped in the heaviest blankets that Ron had. He looked down at the ugly brown and yellow chequered pattern in wonder, before flinging it off and rushing into the shelter. How could he have fallen asleep so easily when Ron had needed him! He marched to the injured mans bedside and kneeled down, looking over him carefully.
Whip still remained coiled around the bandages, but there was no blood marring them that Lupin could see. He gently placed the back of his hand on Ron's forehead and was relieved when there was no feverish heat to be felt. As he was pulling his hand away Ron frowned in what looked like annoyance and turned his head away.
"Go 'way mum, 'm fine." He muttered before sighing and falling silent again, his head turned away from Lupin and his arms hanging limply by his side. Lupin looked over and saw Hornblend dancing about in the larger then normal fire, playing with the flickering flames and coaxing them into creating more warmth. His partner was no where to be seen and Hornblend flew over to Lupin a moment later and stood on his knee, looking up questioningly
"Thank you for the blanket." No doubt without it Lupin would have been a frozen wizard long before then. The fairy grinned widely and then turned to face Ron, sitting down where he was. Lupin sighed and remained still, taking up his bedside administrations once again. The only thing that moved him over the next seven hours was to try and check Ron's bandages (which Whip refused to move off from), to regain his energy away from Ron, and to take care of more personal matters. Lunch had come and gone by the time Ron's haunted blue eyes opened, and he looked up at Lupin in confusion, trying to see through his thick, sleep coated lashes.
"Don't move, you've been injured." Lupin ordered immediately, fearing the boy would reopen his wounds.
"What…" The dry voice broke off into a brief coughing fit and Ron groaned, lightly wrapping his arms over his bandages. Lupin handed him a mug half filled with water and he drained it greedily, handing it back with shaking hands. He looked down at himself, staring a moment at the bandages before he realized that his chest was in fact bare. He reached to the thick pullover that Lupin had been using during his stay here and dragged it carefully over himself, effectively cutting off Lupin's line of sight. They both knew it was a pointless action, but if it made Ron feel more secure then Lupin didn't mind at all. Staring at the scars all morning and wondering exactly how they had been caused wasn't healthy anyway.
"How long have I been out?" Ron tried again, and looked relatively pleased that he had strung the words together and made sense as he looked up at Lupin.
"Almost a day. You gave us quite the scare." Ron looked over to see that his fairy friends were both perched on Lupin's knee and watching him carefully. He smiled weakly at them before giving up on the action and slumping back down on his pillow, where they promptly flew into his mess of hair and settled in.
"Sorry." He muttered tiredly and prodded carefully at the blanket. "Thanks fer, ummm, patching me up. I don't suppose I would have made it without yer help."
"It wasn't just me. Forge brought you home and Howlite brought you some form of medicine." Ron nodded and closed his eyes tiredly, before snapping them open again as though he was afraid to rest. It was unnatural how blue his eyes were at that moment, they were as stunning as Harry's own green ones. "It's okay Ron, you need to rest."
"Forge? He was okay?"
"He seemed to be, though I admit my attention was focused elsewhere."
"Stupid git almost got 'imself killed coming after me." Ron grumbled, his face turning a slightly angry shade of red as he remembered back to exactly what had happened.
"I'm sure he felt the risk was necessary."
"Whatever." Ron tried to roll away but froze and grimaced in pain.
"We need to check your wounds Ron, see how they're doing."
"They're fine, no need to bother. I'm sure you've got other things you could be doing."
"Not really." It was apparent that Ron, awake and in control of his faculties, was no longer interested in cooperating with Lupin, nonetheless Lupin didn't want to leave just yet. So instead he went to prepare some food. When he turned back Ron was fast asleep again, a tiny snore occasionally tickling the back of his throat, his fairies singing lightly above him. When he next awoke it was to find Lupin asleep in the very spot Ron had rested while waiting for him to awaken from his werewolf ordeal.
000000
Ron stood over the table that held the warm bucket of water and looked towards the door briefly before stripping out of his loose t-shirt. It was four and a half days since his confrontation with the dragon, and he was relieved to finally be able to be out of bed for longer then fifteen minutes at a time. He looked down at his stomach and glared at the bandages that were pressed tightly to his skin, hating the fact that he had been caught so off guard as to have needed them in the first place. He wished, not for the first time, that he still had his ability to sense the presence of others around him. He had only had the skill for a little over a year, but he was still trying to adapt to its loss, even after all this time.
"All right Whip, you can come off. I need to have a look." He ordered gently and tried not to squirm as the object tickled his sides while loosened and hung loosely over his narrow hips as though it were a belt that didn't work. Carefully he pulled the shirt-turned-bandage away first from his top wound, biting his tongue to keep from crying out as the dried blood and other healing bodily fluids pulled sharply at his flesh. He threw the material aside and prodded around the edge of the wound, surprised at how it looked. Despite how severe the cut had been, it was now over halfway healed; new pink flesh was pulling around the edges of the wound and it had mostly closed off from the inside out. It still hurt like a bludger, but it was no longer endangering his life or his ability to move about.
He carefully pulled off the other two and saw that they were in the same condition. There was no bleeding, no sign of infection, and it the muscle was pulling itself back together nicely.
"Unreal." He muttered to himself dipping a fresh shirt into the bucket and cleaning it before finding the large sterile shirt that Lupin had left out and pressing it over the wounds again, waiting a moment as the whip once more snaked around his torso and pinned the garment into place. "Useful aren't you." He stated softly and then slowly pulled another shirt over his head before moving back to the bed and wrapping the blanket around his shoulders. It was still and quiet all around him, as the fairies had followed Lupin on his wood gathering expedition and Ron was once again refusing to allow a fire to be lit during the day light.
He sat quietly and stared at a spot on the wall that was crumbling a bit, and he wondered if he should bother repairing it, seeing as he would probably be leaving soon. He didn't want Lupin here much longer, though his presence had been a relief. It was becoming too dangerous in these mountains, and Ron didn't want to think of what might happen if Lupin was left alone and a dragon attacked. He could apparate of course, but only if he had enough time to pull his wand and think of some co-ordinates. He looked over at the door as he heard Lupin push it open one handed and walk in carrying a heavy load of sticks. Neither said anything as he went and dropped his load in its place along the wall, puttering about a moment as he straightened it up and looking at Ron. He tried not to squirm as the sharp eyes looked him over quickly, making their own assessment before turning away and noticing the used bandage/shirts lying in a pile on the floor.
"How are your wounds?" He asked with his usual soft voice.
"Fine. They'll be healed fully in two days I should think."
"It's incredible that you can heal this fast, another person would not have been so lucky."
"I doubt another person would have been walking alone in dragon territory with an insane wizard about." Ron muttered and glared at his blanket shrouded knees.
"Tell me what happened Ron." Lupin magically heated a mug of water and dropped a tea bag in it. He held it to Ron who shook his head negatively. He didn't want to tell Lupin what had happened, he had been avoiding it these last two days by pretending to be asleep, though he was sure Lupin knew he wasn't. What had happened was that Ron had been an absolute dolt and hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings. Oh no, instead he had been thinking about his family, something he normally avoided with a vicious stubbornness, and wondering how they were, if they even missed him at all like Lupin insisted. This was the problem with having a friend about, they tried to convince you that things weren't as bad as they actually were, and then a person allowed themselves to become hopeful and lose their common sense. The frustration that Ron felt bubbling inside him must have shown on his face as Lupin looked slightly more worried then before.
"Ron?"
"It was a stupid mistake, honestly, an absolutely idiotic trap to run into." He huffed.
"A trap?" Oh, right, he supposed he should really try and explain things rather then venting about happenings that the professor couldn't possibly follow.
"I was distracted, and walked into a field without checking it properly. I was half way across it before I felt that damned dark energy surround me and that bloody wizard appeared from nowhere. He's a big bloke too, I never noticed it before." It was true, the wizard was almost as tall as Ron, but where Ron was lanky he was widely built. Ron suppressed a shiver at the feelings that had run through him as the man had appeared, draped in his heavy brown robes with the hood obscuring most of his face.
"What did he want?"
"Offered me a chance to join him and his cause." Ron glared darkly at the ground, feeling the pull of his healing wounds as he shifted slightly. "And here I had thought the war against Voldemort had been vanquished for good."
"Voldemort." Lupin sat straighter in his seat, his eyes flashing dangerously. "What about him, he's dead."
"Apparently you know that, and I know that, but the tart up in the mountains has no idea. He thinks he's been spending the last ten years perfecting his dragon army for the final battle. He thinks Voldemort's still alive, and he's planning on joining him."
"Does he hold any true dominance over the dragons?"
"The one who snuck up behind me seemed to think the arse was all right." Ron puckered his lips in annoyance, stoutly ignoring the headache that had been beating his brow since his first encounter with the insane wizard. His eyes haunted Ron the few hours he slept, waking him silently in a cold sweat. Ron had not dreamt since he had killed Harry, his sleep, what little of it he took, were his moments of retreat. In sleep he could escape the pain, the memories, the feelings that were sometimes so overwhelming that he had to stop what he was doing and calm himself. This Dragon Lord had somehow permeated his only escape, and it was always the eyes that caused the most fear to course through him.
"I take it you didn't tell him Voldemort was dead."
"I might never have been the most intelligent bloke back in school, but cut me some slack." Ron defended hotly, feeling his frustration begin to boil to the surface. "The last thing that village reject needs to know is that his life ambitions were shot to hell two years ago! I've no idea how many dragons he's got licking his boots and having him suddenly start attacking people in an insane rage is not something I would like to deal with sooner then necessary!" Confounded, stupid, annoying bloody headache! Just go away! He thought angrily, pressing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger to try and relieve the pounding.
"Relax Ron, I wasn't implying that your intelligence was lacking, I just need to know the details." Lupin logically intoned, deflating Ron's annoyance drastically. The red head looked over to watch the pale man a moment, feeling stupid for his outburst. He felt like he was back in school and all he could do was keep getting into trouble. Now, however, was not the time to dwell on how he felt, and it looked like Lupin was planning on heading back to Dumbledore to tell him of this newest revelation. He didn't like that idea at all, but he was a realist, and he would never contemplate holding a man against their will…unless they were Death Eaters.
"I don't know much Lupin, the git only had one dragon in the area so there was no way for me to count his masses." And it was a good thing there was only one dragon as well, because when Ron had been split open he had been knocked breathless and was in too much shock to even think about how to react. So much for having such great powers when simply being knocked to the ground completely immobilized him! If Forge hadn't dropped from the sky like a fireball from the heavens and practically obliterated the attacking dragon when he had Ron wasn't sure what kind of hell he'd be in now.
Fortunately when his saviour had attacked he had startled both the dragon and the wizard, sending the wand wielding maniac to the forest for fear of his deadly tail and melting fire. Ron had been absolutely astounded, as he lay on his back gasping for breath, as the creatures had battle furiously with claws slashing and teeth tearing. Forge had been smaller then his opponent, but the other dragon barely got a bite in as he was left lying limply on the ground. Forge had leapt to Ron and lowered his neck enough for Ron to understand that he wanted him to crawl on. Had he not been bleeding to death and in shock he might have questioned the logic of such actions, but instead he had pulled himself up and painfully crawled on, throwing his leg over the shoulders with some difficulty. Whip had snaked out and wrapped around the thick neck, latching onto Ron's other wrist and effectively securing him to the creatures back. Ron didn't remember the ride, he only remembered that they just escaped before the evil wizard got over his shock and prepared to curse them.
"If he wanted you to join his cause, then it means he fears you enough to truly do battle."
"I think he's too insane to fear anyone." Ron muttered.
"Ron, I need to warn Dumbledore about this, and I don't think the note will get the severity across."
"Fine. I'll give you the coordinates for the nearest town that you can apparate to. I don't think you could make it to the wizarding village in one jump. They'll have muggle transport to take you the rest of the way." Ron refused to look up as he said this, not wanting to look at the man who had been his only human companion in the last year. He tried not to think of how he had finally become accustomed to his presence, and even to this hole in the mountain he called his home. He would have to pack up after Lupin left and find a new dwelling, a new country even, to hide. The thought made him more tired then he cared to admit.
"Ron." Lupin spoke up quietly, and Ron clenched his jaw, knowing what he was going to say even before he said it.
"What is it?"
"You could come with me."
"I can't."
"Ron, you being a chaneller isn't the evil that you have convinced yourself of. It can do just as much good, even more good, then it can evil. We know this, your family isn't afraid of you, and Dumbledore will not allow that idiot Fudge to throw you into Azkaban. We want you to come home Ron, your family needs you, they haven't been the same since you left."
"I never mattered that much, they'll be fine without me."
"Ron!" Lupin looked aghast and Ron felt stupid for letting that last thought slip, even if it was how he felt. He had a large family, sure he would be missed, but there were others that would no doubt squeeze away his place at the table, and with the twins being so loud, and his other siblings having their own positive characteristics, Ron would just be a dark smudge on the family tree. The only person that would have truly missed him would have been his best friend, seeing as Ron had been his only family. The most important person in Harry's life, that's what Dumbledore had called him when he had been selected as the prize for the second triwizard task. Ron smiled, not knowing how absolutely lacking in warmth it was, and not caring.
"Ron, you always were one to underestimate yourself, but don't underestimate your family. They love you, and they miss you terribly." Ron didn't know what to say to this, so he did what he had always been good at and avoided the subject.
"You'll be best off leaving tomorrow at first light. I don't think this Dragon Lord," he spit the title with venom, "will wait much longer for his attack."
"We need you on our side Ron. Harry needs…"
"I'm not going to run off." He snapped harshly, cutting off whatever Lupin had been about to say about what Harry would have wanted. Ron had been his best friend for seven years, he had been a Gryffindor, he knew what Harry would have wanted, and he knew what he expected of himself. After everything he had been through, one more battle was hardly anything, and maybe at the end he would find peace. "This is as much my fight as anyone's, perhaps even more. This wizard targeted me, and I'm not about to let that go. He wants a fight, and he'll get one, but first I need to know more. I'll scout the mountains and find what information I can, and I'll send it to you, but who knows what will happen beyond that."
"Who knows indeed." Lupin sighed, and moved back towards the door, thinking hard. Ron pretended not to watch him as he quietly slipped out into the dwindling sunlight. Howlite and Hornblend had disappeared sometime the night before, leaving his side for the first time since Forge had flown his worthless hide back to this home. Ron closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling the energy of the rocks and ground around him, but holding it at bay so that it wouldn't overwhelm him. Tomorrow he would take Forge and go scouting, but for now he needed to rest. No doubt Lupin wasn't happy with his decision to not return, but there was nothing else to be done.
TBCWell, I hope you're still with me after the title change!
Thanks for the reviews!
Joruby, to answer your question: Ron channelled the werewolf 'energy' through his body and dispersed it into the ground through his feet. I suppose he would have become at least partially wolfish in this situation, but only if he hadn't released the energy that he was wielding. Thanks for the review!
And, to answer several statements: No, Lupin isn't a werewolf anymore! Isn't that great! I mean, I had to leave him with at least some of his wolfish characteristics (senses) but other then that he's free! I figured he'd suffered long enough ;)
I'm really glad you all thought the description of the scene with Ron and Lupin during the 'change' was good! You know how you see something in your mind and then trie to put it into words? Yeah, that was one of those situation…actually this whole story has been I guess.
Harry lvr, by Tom Riddle I meant Voldemort…I think…yeah…yeah that's what I meant! And sorry, but I hate giving away spoilers. I know you love it, but I just can't! It goes against the suspense :P
Catc10, I'm glad you're happy!
Scribhneoir (it always takes me three tries to spell your alias right!) Yes! Insecurities perfectly portrayed! Wicked! And the fairies…gotta love the fairies!
Anyway, you might have noticed my responses are a bit weird this time around…sorry. I'm really tired and I just had a bad shift at work. Ah well. Hope you are all doing well! And (to the 100+ of you who are following this story and not saying anything about what you think) I look forward to your comments! I appreciate the feedback!
Next Update: September 13, 2005
I can sense that you're going to enjoy that chapter…Yeah, I really think some of you might :) Mwa ha haaaaa