Title: The Wolf in You
Rating: R
Summary: Response to Werewolf Challenge. Harry is all alone after the events of his traumatic fifth year but everything is about to change. How will Harry cope . . . .? Slash RL/SB/HP
A/N: This is my very first fanfic, though I have been reading for a long time. This is in response to Tia Evans' Werewolf challenge – Go check it out in her Bio! I apologise in advance if I don't update regularly, but University is very demanding. Happy Reading. Also, if anyone would like to Beta for me, it would be greatly appreciated, just click on the link in my Bio.
Disclaimer: I'm only posting this once so pay attention! None of this is mine; it all belongs to the lovely J.K. Rowling. The main plot idea isn't even mine; it's Tia Evans' so really the only thing mine is the subsidiary plot. Go figure.
A/N: This is a repost, I've made some changes to fit in with my plot later on, I spent the last few days working out the plot to Chapter 12 so all I have to do is type it all up, in between essays and exams. So sorry in advance for irregular updates.
Chapter One.
July 1996
It's cold.
No, scrub that – it's very cold.
Also Black and that wasn't meant as a pun on my name either.
I have no idea where I am or how I got here. The last thing I remember is Bellatrix – my traitor cousin, firing a curse at me. When I woke up I was here.
Did I mention it was cold?
Sirius was, for the first time in his life, lost. He had no idea what to do or where he was. How he wished that someone was here to help him, at least to give him a hint of what was happening. Gods, how he missed Remus! Sirius had been alone, stuck in Grimmauld Place, unable to help with the continuing war against Voldemort. He had to sit by and watch whilst Harry and the others went out and fought, knowing that he may never see them again. Voldemort knew how to use Avada kedavra after all. Every time he had to watch Harry and Remus leave it was like a part of him was being ripped out and trampled on. He hated it.
'And now', thought Sirius, 'I'm improving things so much because I'm not even there'.
Sirius drifted off into his thoughts. 'Wonder if anyone misses me? Apart from Harry and Remus, I bet Snape is celebrating. Horrible greasy git. Wonder if this place really is the afterlife? If so, the images I had of it were so wrong! Where are the fields of green grass and trees with wild animals jumping around? This place is so unwelcoming, and cold!' Sirius drifted off into sleep.
A few hours later he awoke feeling even colder, 'I thought it couldn't get any colder' he grumbled to himself. Sirius had lost track of how long it had been since he was in the Department of Mysteries. As time passed at its slow speed Sirius had time to dwell on his life, Remus, Harry, losing Lily and James and his years in Azkaban. He missed Remus and Harry like crazy; he felt that somehow he'd failed Harry as he hadn't been able to save him from the attack at the Ministry. That didn't even compare though to how he felt about leaving Remus. He loved that old werewolf with his whole heart. He worried about how Remus was reacting to his disappearance and whether there was any way out of this cold place to try and find him again, to reassure him that everything is all right. At least he hoped it was. Soon enough Sirius dosed off again, however this time his rest didn't last long as he was haunted by images of Azkaban and he soon awoke drenched in sweat and colder than ever.
How he wished he could get out of here.
Lost in his thoughts he didn't notice the sounds around him change, until he heard the unmistakeable sound of hooves, not just any hooves but stag ones. Turning around he tried to peer into the bloom all around his trying to locate the source of the noise when a white stag appeared directly in front of him. The stag stood there watching him before transforming into James Potter. A rather angry James Potter, to be precise.
"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be looking after Harry, remember? Your godson? You shouldn't be here!"
Sirius' confusion gave way to anger as he bellowed back "It wasn't my fault! I don't even know where here is! So if you'd care to explain?"
James calmed down a bit, ruefully admitting, "nothing is ever your fault is it, Padfoot? As for where you are, you're dead."
"James Potter, you know you're not supposed to say anything, he can't stay here and the less he knows about this place the better" An irate Lily Potter called out as she approached the two men.
"I know Lils, but he's my best mate, I can't help it."
"I know, just be more careful, ok?"
"Yeah" The two kissed. Sirius coughed loudly.
"Hello, have we all forgotten me? What am I doing here? How can I get back? You know I have to. Harry and Remus both need me, especially Remus; you know what happens to a werewolf without its mate."
"Calm down, Paddy, Your answer should be here shortly. Ah, here he is, Padfoot, this man will get you back, but you must do what he says, ok?"
His only answer was a grumble. Sirius had never been one for following orders.
The strange figure, who had an uncanny resemblance to the Headmaster at Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore, gave Sirius a long assessing look.
"Well, we'll have to do something about you, now won't we? Hmm, well I suppose the only choice is to send you back the way you came. Ok, Sirius, to get back you must go back through the veil. That is how you got here. You fell backwards through the veil. Normally the veil is used to get rid of prisoners when Azkaban is overcrowded, the overflow is sent through the veil – never to be heard of again. Worse than the Dementor's Kiss really. How you came to be here is a mystery, for quite frankly you shouldn't have been anywhere near the veil. It is supposed to be locked up in a top secret department in the Ministry of Magic. But, that is beside the point; you can't stay here any longer. Now to get back you must want to go back, you have to focus on all the reasons why you should go back. Beware though; the veil will not want you to get through so you must fight it by quelling any self-doubts you have. Now I must be off, good luck" With that he disappeared and Sirius just stood there, shocked.
Eventually he mumbles "I thought twelve years in Azkaban was bad, being sent through that veil, never to return would have been awful"
"Hey, Calm down. The important thing is to get you back where you belong. Now go"
Sirius was shoved, none to softly in the direction of the veil. As he approached he felt all his old fears about not being a useful part of the Order resurfacing. Also his greatest fear, not being able to protect the ones he loves from danger. Sirius brushed this latter thought aside as he was determined to get back so he could do everything within his power to get back and save Remus and Harry from the wrath of Voldemort. In front the coldness was broken by a wisp of wind, floating on an imaginary breeze. Reaching out Sirius fell through the veil and landed on the cold, stone floor in the Department of Mysteries. Getting up he heads out to find those that he loves the most.
A/N: Please review. I'm sorry for any errors. I hope to get the next chapter out within a week.