It had been five days since Harry had first awoken from his coma. During that time he hadn't done much, sleeping most of the day. He was glad that he wasn't alone in the hospital wing, he was also thankful that it was Remus in there with him. He still loved the werewolf; being so close to him just made the feelings stronger. He hated it; he knew his ex-professor could never feel the same way about him. It seemed he was doomed to a life of misery and unrequited love.
This morning had started as any other, he had been cleaned and had all his bandages renewed before Madam Pomfrey decided to leave him alone and move onto Remus. The poor man seemed to have cut half his body open during the last full moon. Harry lay there watching Poppy at work; he also enjoyed the chance to gaze at the werewolf's perfect body. Sure he had scars but then who didn't? He wasn't one to talk, he was covered in them, he doubted he'd be able to kneel for a long time; his knees were still very raw despite all Poppy's magic. Harry decided to just lie there and watch Remus, it was the only real chance he had, as the other man was too busy to notice him staring. After being treated Remus was able to get up and get dressed and sit on Harry's bed whilst they talked. They spent many hours talking about life, school, the Marauders, Sirius' old pranks - during which they would always both break down in tears.
It was on this day though that Remus was finally released from the hospital wing leaving Harry alone again. Harry hated the loneliness. It gave him far too much time to dwell on recent events, in particular Sirius' death. He decided he should write down that prophecy from the centaurs, only he didn't remember all of it. It had been something about Mars, but what? Harry groaned in irritation and at that moment Ron and Hermione came in to visit him. He was glad to see them; it lent a certain amount of normalcy to his life. Hermione heard the groan and immediately came over quizzing Harry about it. He told them both about his dream whilst in his coma and how he had been told to remember this prophecy yet he couldn't remember much of it at all. Hermione had got a distant look in her eye before rushing off to the library. Ron and Harry just exchanged amused glances and played a game of wizard's chess.
It was after many hours that Hermione returned with a great idea of how to jog Harry's memory. She had grabbed Professor Lupin on her way back and he had promised to help. Now the three of them stood around Harry's bed with their wands pointed at him muttering strings of what sounded like Latin. Harry glowed a bright orange before collapsing on the bed. He woke half an hour later with a fully restored memory from his episode in the coma. He immediately repeated the prophecy and Remus wrote it down:
Mars shines brightly in your future, this is dimmed somewhat by the passing of a large asteroid. Jupiter is unusually distant and Saturn appears to be hiding something.
They all looked at the completed prophecy and frowned. Hermione commented on the uselessness of Divination and how it was so inaccurate, yet Harry disagreed. After all he was the subject of a prophecy concerning Voldemort so he knew that they could come true, so he tried to work out what it could all mean. Ron had dug up his Divination book and had worked out that each planet stood for either someone born in that sign or an event that occurred under the sign. Feeling encouraged by this they all plotted their birth charts to find that Remus was the only one of the people they were close to who was born under Mars.
Harry was excited "Mars burns brightly in my future, so Remus, you must stay close to me for awhile and lend strength, I worry about the asteroid though."
"Don't worry about that, I know enough about Divination to know that it won't be a physical blow or anything most likely our relationship shall be overshadowed by something, probably Sirius' death, don't you think?" Asked Remus
"You're probably right, Remus, thank you. So what about Jupiter?"
"Well I think that would have to be Sirius, as he is born under the planet Jupiter, so he is unusually distant, well duh, he's dead. How much more distant do you want to be?"
"But Remus doesn't that suggest that maybe he isn't dead, if he's just distant, maybe he didn't die? I don't want him to die" with that Harry burst into tears. Remus held him and comforted him whilst the worst of the tears passed.
"Nobody wants him dead, but we can't dwell in dreams and forget to live, Sirius wouldn't have wanted that."
"No, he wouldn't. Thanks Remus"
All had been going well for the next two weeks before the day that Remus decided Harry was well enough to hear the truth about his parents and him. Remus had dreaded this moment. He hated seeing Harry upset or angry and most likely this would make him both. Resigned to what he had to do and still angry at Dumbledore for leaving it to him, Remus went into the private room where Harry had been moved to and sat down and told Harry everything. Harry was speechless at first before demanding to know how long Lupin had known.
"Harry, Dumbledore only told me while you were in your coma, I haven't had that much time myself to get used to it, a bit of understanding would be nice!"
"How could you not have known, you could have at least told me about you and my Mum!" Harry was breathing heavily and felt his chest constrict as he wondered once again who he was.
"Harry, that was ancient history and I honestly thought you didn't need to know, it was over long ago and she married James, I had no idea that it had been a cover up. I never even knew she was expecting! How do you think I feel, I was lied to by my best friend and my ex, who was carrying my baby!" Remus was by this stage getting livid, he was furious at Dumbledore and annoyed that Harry wasn't more understanding, it was after all a week before the full moon. Have some pity!
"I've been lied to my entire life, I didn't even know anything about my so-called parents til I was eleven! Have you any idea how that felt? I thought they were killed in a car crash. They put me through Hell, Remus, 11 years I had no idea I was loved by anyone, no friends nothing!"
"Harry, believe me, if I had known what you had gone through I would've taken you from them years ago! I didn't know, and I am a werewolf, the ministry wouldn't let me near you!" By now both men were red in the face and looked like they were about to explode.
"I hate you, I do, I hate you, I hate everyone, this world sucks" Harry yelled before slamming the door behind him. Remus collapsed in his chair and cried for the first time since Sirius had died.
Harry was stalking the corridors radiating anger. Once again everyone had lied to him! Dumbledore had lied to him! After everything that had happened the previous year Dumbledore still lied to him! He hated the man!
That had been a week ago now and Remus was getting ready for another full moon. So much had happened in the last month, he had a son, who was also the one person who couldn't stand to be around him. It upset Remus no end to get the cold shoulder from Harry, but he understood why. He had been angry too when he had found out. Harry had said some hurtful things to Remus and he was very upset about it. He longed for Sirius, he'd have comforted him. Told him everything was alright. But it wasn't Harry was mad at him, his Harry, his mate.
Hang onmate? Since when did that happen? Sirius is my mate, damn wolf. I can't even think for myself now!
It was 7pm and Remus was lying in his rooms at Hogwarts thinking about everything that had happened. The wolf was contributing his two cents worth too! He had decided that Harry was his other mate and nothing would dissuade him, much less his human counterparts hang up with incest. He wanted his mate! Stupid Human! So once again Remus was cutting himself. He hated the full moon, but nothing could prepare him for what was about to happen.
Hermione who was getting sick of his coldness towards Remus had visited Harry. She had already been to see Remus to find out what it was all about and now she was determined to tackle her stubborn friend. She had come into his room, put up a locking and sound proofing spell and had let her friend have it!
Harry, after having his ears attacked for hours by a very angry Hermione had promised to go and apologise to Remus.
Harry went straight to Remus' office after checking the Marauder's Map to ensure the coast was clear. It had been and Harry had crept into the office silently and made his way to the professor's private rooms. He was not prepared for what lay on the other side of the door.
Remus had been angrily throwing himself against the brick fireplace when his door had opened and his mind just went blank. He smelled human and that was the last thing he knew.
Harry had entered the door and was attacked by a fully-grown, rather angry werewolf who had pounced on him pinning him to the floor. Harry was scared stiff. Why, oh why hadn't he checked the phase of the moon? How daft could one be? It was then that Harry's life was irrevocably changed, Remus bit him, and he was now a werewolf!