A/N: Not so many reviews the last few times, oh well, I hope it changes. I really want to thank AtadObsessive (I hope I got your name right! ;P), you're support has been great. Please enjoy the next chapter!
Remus did not feel well all up until Wednesday. He did not want to argue with Madam Pomfrey about the potion, but he was sure that was the root of his problems. On top of feeling nauseous, he also shook and had breathing problems. He began to cough and wheeze. James, Sirius and Peter did not seem to notice as much. James was back to normal and with that, all of his ego.
James had suffered nothing but embarrassment when he had come off of his broom. He had a huge bruise on his bottom. Fortunately, Madam Pomfrey had managed to get rid of it, although not before the whole quidditch team had found out.
James and Sirius were even planning pranks again. It seemed everything would be back to normal in time for the full moon. However, Remus was not. On top of his new found sickness, he did not look good. Even Peter noticed that Remus was very peaky. He seemed slimmer in a small amount of time, probably because he had given up eating anything solid for the past few days.
On Wednesday morning, all four boys went down to breakfast. Remus was in his usual mood on the day of the full moon. Tired and unresponsive. The day provided many hurtles for the boys. Steering Remus through a crowd proved very hard. Finally at lunch, Remus decided to go to the hospital wing and wait until that night. Madam Pomfrey received him and let him have a nap in one of the beds.
At five o'cloak Remus woke up, ate some yogurt and decided to go out. Madame Pomfrey took him outside. Remus was usually fine before the rise of the full moon. Despite his quite, subdued moods, he would not feel sick or upset. Instead, he remained optimistically stoic. Not tonight. Tonight Remus felt as tight as a piano wire. He felt unwell and unwilling. He felt too tired to submit. However, on this matter, he did not have much of a choice.
"How are you feeling?" Asked Madam Pomfrey as they walked on the lawn. Remus did not reply. He felt that if he opened his mouth, something might happen. The gums of his teeth and his fingers were tingling. He had not eaten anything solid for quite awhile and even if he tried he would not succeed. Remus' stomach felt like a tight knot. He had broken out into a cold sweat a long time ago and had never really recovered.
Remus and Madam Pomfrey walked through the quidditch pitch. The grass seemed to be damp, however from what, Remus was not sure. They reached the Whomping Willow at the far side of the castle. Its mad branches thrashed around viciously. It was a frightening sight. Madam Pomfrey began shuffling around for a large stick. Remus glanced up at the sky. The sun had not yet set, but it would in less than an hour. The sun was casting shadows on the tree, making it look more terrifying than usual. Pomfrey found a stick and ventured up to the malicious tree and prodded a rather large knot at the base of the willow. The tree ceased all movement instantly. Remus approached the large trunk and stood before the hole that marked his path.
"I'll see you in the morning, Remus," whispered Madam Pomfrey. "I'll be here on time." Remus nodded in understanding. Madame Pomfrey smiled warmly. Oh, how he wished he did not have to enter. However, fate was inevitable. The hour of destiny loomed. Remus smiled back at Madam Pomfrey, but he was not happy. He was morose and upset. Madam Pomfrey recognized it and felt it deeply in her heart.
Remus stepped into the hole and started down the long, dark and lonely tunnel. He felt claustrophobic against the walls of the tunnel. It twisted and turned and went on for what felt like miles. Remus steadied himself against the walls as he walked through. He could smell damp earth and see the roots from various trees coming out and twisting in an effort to get some moisture. He felt light headed and unwell, but he knew he had to make it to his destination.
Remus knew he would not be alone for long. At about midnight James, Sirius and Peter would venture out of their dormitory under the guise of James' invisibility cloak. They would sneak out of the castle and approach the Whomping Willow. One of the boys would touch the knot with the stick that had been discarded by Madam Pomfrey hours before. They would sneak down the tunnel, leaving the invisibility cloak and the Maurader's Map hidden in the bushes. All three boys would approach the door that muffled shrieks and screams and blocked them from sudden attack and death. Sirius, most likely, would open the door and the three boys would disappear and in their place, a stag, dog and rat would take their place. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would regale the moon with their silly antics and mischievous conduct.
Remus reached the door at the end of the tunnel and opened it. It creaked with unfortunate familiarity. Remus stepped into the chilly room and atmosphere. He felt sick again as he breathed in the dust and sad fumes of past experiences. He walked through the house, feeling its morose environment emanating off the walls. He walked up the stairs and sat down on the bed. He was only wearing shorts and a tee-shirt so he was feeling a little chilly.
He lay down on his back and closed his eyes. The moon would rise in about half an hour. He could feel the chills in his blood. Waves of adrenaline coursed through his system. Every muscle in his body was tense. His mind was tired and begged for sleep, but none would come. None would come until it was over. A perpetual cycle that would only cease at death or cure. Which ever came first.
Remus must have fallen asleep because the next thing he felt was a tremor all along his arms. He jumped out of his bed just in time for another. Remus felt the sudden shiver in his chest cavity first, then it emanated out to every pour in his skin and every nerve in his body. He tried standing up just as the third, more intense tremor caught him. By the fourth he was shaking uncontrollably. He buckled to his knees and hugged his trembling body for as long as it was his. Then, it came. The searing feeling of alien blood within his veins. His heart was pumping painful toxins that extended to the tips of his fingers. He could feel every pain, hear every sound, taste every foul flavor of malady and hurt just before he lost his ration to the moon.
Poison cursed through his veins. He could feel pain rush to every corner of his body. This was the first step, just before the physical transformation. Remus braced himself for the hardest part of his transformation. His skin was on fire. It felt like it was burning off. Distantly he could hear a scream that was his own.
Hair began to sprout on his face and arms. He could feel his neck growing longer and his hands and feet curling into themselves. His face was almost becoming swollen, his mouth elongating into a snout. His eyes also began to change. His vision became worse and worse. The pain became more and more intense until…nothing. He could feel, hear, see, taste and smell nothing. There was nothing there. It was serene silence just as Remus lost his consciousness, to usurping instinct.
Remus awoke. He could not see. He could not feel. However, he was aware. Something had struck a feeling inside him that tolled along-side his human behavior. He was happy. He was at peace. A tranquil feeling washed over him. He did not have to worry. He did not have to care. His consciousness was coming back, but then it was lost. Remus tumbled back into an empty state. He was aware, but not as much. Something had changed. He could not do what he used to and he was feeling distressed. He closed again. Falling into the unconscious condition, never to be bothered again.
Something tugged on his mind again. Something pulled him out of himself. He was feeling again. He was not being restrained. Remus was using his own mind and body. He was becoming himself once more. He felt liberated, though pained. It took a lot to fight a ferocious nature that was not his own. He felt a lot of pain that he was only mildly aware of because of his state.
He could rest now. He could settle his thoughts and feelings…when he woke up.
A/N: Just a note on the transformation: I read somewhere (probably a Remus Lupin site) that transforming into a werewolf is like having one's skin burn off, I tried to get an element of that in this, but I didn't want to steal the cool idea :P
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Bye for now! Updates might get more frequent in the future!