Wolf in You

Chapter 9.

Sirius lay on the floor in the Department of Mysteries within the Ministry of Magic in a daze. He had made it back through the veil. He was going to miss James and Lily but he needed to be there for both Remus and Harry. He pushed himself up off the floor and stretched before making his way out of the room and the Department. Once in the corridor he transformed into his animagus form, Padfoot, and makes his way stealthily out of the ministry; avoiding all wizards. Once he had seen Fudge, the Minister of Magic, around a corner talking to Lucius Malfoy. He had quickly hidden around a corner, not wanting to be spotted. He had concealed himself behind a statue of a wizard; he didn't notice whom. As he was crouching hidden; - it was moments like these he was glad that his animagus form was black, - he overheard snippets of the conversation between Fudge and Malfoy.

"Minister, am I correct in saying you want me to go to Hogwarts to teach?"

"Yes, Lucius. Dumbledore is one man short after the sudden and suspicious death of Filius Flitwick. I believe he has Remus Lupin, that filthy werewolf, to teach charms and I want you to go and teach Defence against the Dark Arts, which is vacant as usual. I was hoping that while you were in the castle you could keep an eye on Dumbledore for me, I believe he is plotting to overthrow me. Will you do it?"

"Yes, Minister. Is there anything in particular you want me to look for, such as evidence of his plans? I would need to go into his office for those, you realize? I would of course be willing to do this for you and the Ministry, however, I would appreciate something in return."

"I give you permission to use anything necessary to find out all you need to know."

After hearing this Sirius made good his escape and managed to find another way out. Looking back afterwards, he was never sure how he had managed to get out undetected, but at the time he was so thankful he hadn't given it a second thought.

Once outside the ministry building, Sirius began to slowly make his way north, towards Scotland and Hogwarts. His journey was broken at nights when he hid in caves or bushes and managed to eat what was available. One night he had struck lucky when he found a butcher throwing away some off-cuts into a bin – Sirius found himself having a banquet! After a week of wearisome travelling with mainly rats to eat Sirius reached the caves outside Hogsmeade. He decided to spend the night there before cleaning himself up a bit and making the last part of his long journey to Hogwarts. After a fitful night sleeping, he found a small stream and washed his face and hair before transforming once more into Padfoot and running around the village and past the gates and into Hogwarts.

After making it to Hogwarts safely Sirius encountered his first problem, how to get in. He felt like banging his head against a wall; what will he do now? It was at this precise moment that Professor Trelawney appeared at the castle doors. Sirius was amazed; he had heard from Harry that she rarely left her tower yet here she was in the front hall standing at the door. Sirius seized his chance and slipped through the door past her. Unfortunately, she spotted him and mistook him for the Grim and promptly fainted. He chuckled to himself; some people have no stomach! Leaving poor Trelawney where she was for someone else to find, Sirius headed up the staircase and towards the Headmasters office. Once standing outside the gargoyle he prayed it would let him in – he had no idea what the password was and was hesitant to transform back in case someone came along and recognised him. So he just sat there in a quandary when suddenly the Gargoyle moved aside and Dumbledore appeared. Sirius saw his chance and ran past the headmaster and up the stairs, hoping Dumbledore would follow him without cursing him in the back. Dumbledore saw the black dog run past him and up the stairs and for curiosities sake he decided to follow it. Heading back up the stairs he entered his office to find the dog sitting in front of his desk. Once he sat down the dog transformed back into Sirius.

"Sirius, welcome back. I thought I might see you here soon. I wasn't sure, nobody knows much about that veil, but I felt you might escape it. Now do you mind if I just ask a quick question to verify your identity?"

"Sure, though I can assure you I am really me."

"I'm sure you are. What happened prior to the events occurring on Halloween 1981?"

"I'm assuming you're referring to James and Lily's deaths. They wanted to make me secret keeper but I felt that was too obvious so I talked them into making Peter their secret keeper, not realizing at the time that he was a spy for Voldemort. He told the bastard the location of Godric's Hollow and Voldemort went and killed them, but was unable to kill Harry as Lily had died to save him. After rescuing Harry from the burning house and giving him to Hagrid, along with my motorbike, I went in search of Peter. I found Peter and confronted him but he tricked me and blasted the street apart killing 13 muggles and then he cut off his finger before escaping through the sewers. I got arrested and taken to Azkaban."

"Thank you, Sirius. Now I suppose you wish to see Remus and young Harry? As it happens they are both in the Hospital Wing at present, Harry is recovering from a six week coma and other recent events. I'll leave the rest for him to tell you."

"Thank you," What has happened to Harry? Six weeks is a long time to be in a coma! James was right, Harry does need looking after. "Albus,while I was at the Ministry I overheard a conversation between Malfoy and Fudge. Fudge has told Malfoy to keep an eye on you as he believe you are plotting to overthrow him."

"Thank you for that information, Sirius. Malfoy is no doubt the one chosen by the Ministry to fill the DADA position, I imagine you've heard about Filius' death, apparently his own wand got out of control and cursed him. Quite sad. I have asked Remus to cover Charms but that left the DADA position as vacant. So Malfoy will be coming to teach, very interesting. This promises to be an eventful year! Now if you could change into Padfoot you may visit Harry and Remus. You have been cleared of all charges but at present I believe it is best if your return is kept as quiet as possible."

"Alright, Thank you again Albus."

With those departing words Sirius transformed into Padfoot and left the Headmasters office to make his way stealthily to the Hospital Wing. Approaching the doors of the Hospital Wing, Sirius used his nose and weight to push the doors ajar. He gazed into the room and beheld a sleeping Remus. His eyes widened as he saw Harry all tucked up neatly in is bed. Pushing the doors open fully he entered the room. His lithe form gently slid up onto Harry's bed. Harry started as he dozed as he felt a wet nose nuzzle his cheek. His eyes fluttered open and he saw the blurry black form before him.

"What? . . " he choked out softly. Sirius transformed himself back into his human self.

"It's me, Harry, Sirius." Harry thought he must have been dreaming still, and he smiled faintly and whispered, "I miss you, Sirius."

Sirius smiled in relief, his tense brow now relaxing in joy. He reached out and brushed a stray hair out of Harry's eyes. Harry's eyes flew open at the touch, his dreamy state shattered back into reality. His mind raced. It can't be. It can't.

"You're, you're dead!"

Sirius frowned again, shocked and distressed that his own godson didn't recognise him.

"No Harry. . ." his voice was soothing and had a sense of urgency in it, "It's me. I've come back. Dumbledore let me see you."

Harry's heart raced still, but he gazed at this familiar stranger slowly, "Dumbledore ."

"Yes, Harry. Think about it, no one but me could get into Hogwarts without Dumbledore stopping them."

Harry still looked cautious, his secret desire to be reunited with Sirius winning slightly over his logic which was screaming 'Death Eater. Death Eater'

Sirius obviously noticed this struggle and took advantage of it. "Remember the Shack, Harry? You wanted to kill me . . and the Whomping Willow . . and the motor cycle , the order, Kreacher and Snivellous", his eyes welled with tears, as he thought of James, "Harry, you've got to believe me!"

Harry slowly began to realise that this was a dream come true. It was Sirius. He opened his mouth to shout for joy when suddenly a heavy form pounced on Sirius, knocking him off the bed and pinning him to the floor. Remus was wild, half in terror and half in burning rage, that a Death Eater was impersonating his dead companion. His eyes were yellow, as the wolf blood pulsed through his veins. He raised a hairy palm, nails now sharp and deadly. He paused, ready to strike a deadly blow. "Who sent you? How did you get into here!"

Sirius lay totally submissive, once more his voice was soft, "Moony, mate please calm down"

At the mention of 'Moony', Remus' temper flared. His whole form unbelievably resembling his wolven alter ego. Thought the moon fill or otherwise was nowhere in the sky.

"How DARE you!" he bellowed "not my friend. Never my friend you sinister son-of-a-bitch!"

Now Sirius was getting frightened, he spluttered, "Remus!"

The scene was tense, and neither party noticed the familiar shadow cast over Remus, and an equally familiar wise voice of Albus Dumbledore spoke calmly, as he polished his spectacles.

"Good to see you two catching up!"

Remus looked up at Dumbledore with an expression full of confusion, anger and hope. Dumbledore saw the hope and continued, "Remus, this man is really Sirius. He has managed to escape the veil. Shouldn't you be welcoming him back? Also, do you really think he would have gotten this far into the castle without me being able to detect him and finding out who he was? Now, I shall leave you three to catch up. I shall see you later." With that parting comment he left the three alone.

"I didn't think, I just heard someone talking and felt protective of Harry so I attacked. I'm sorry Siri. Are you alright?" Remus said as he got to his feet.

"Yeah, I can understand why you reacted as you did. I'm glad you were protecting Harry. Speaking of Harry, what's this I hear about a coma?" he asked, slowly getting to his feet with Remus' help. He went across and sat on Harry's bed. Harry tried to get up but Remus rushed across and pushed him back down.

"You shouldn't move, you know that! Sirius, sit up closer so he can see you, he has to stay flat on his back."

"Why, what happened?" Sirius asked concerned, "Also, why was he in a coma? What have I missed?"

"Harry, do you want to tell him or shall I?"

"I will. Get comfortable Sirius; you are not going to like any of this! After I returned to the Dursley's at the end of the school year I was pretty depressed – you had just died and I blamed myself. No! Don't interrupt! I spent the first two weeks in my room, moping, I would have continued too, but Uncle Vernon decided I wasn't being useful enough so he made me a long list of chores to be done each day. If I didn't get them all done, and I never did – the list was always impossibly long! – I got beaten up with his leather belt. On my birthday I received an exceptionally long list of chores and that night I was victim to the worst beating yet, and he, he, he, um, r-raped m-me. I was unconscious for a bit and woke up back in my cupboard and everything hurt. The next thing I knew I was here."

Remus situated himself on the other side of Harry and continued the story; "I rescued him from the Dursley's. I felt that something had happened to my 'pack' and working out that it was probably Harry as you were gone, I went and pounded on the Dursley's door. I was pretty angry. Once the door opened the smell of blood and semen assaulted my senses and I lashed out. I found Harry and came back here."

"Well," sighed Sirius, "that explains the coma. Wait til I get my hands on Dursley, he won't know what hit him! How dare he hurt MY godson! What about now, why is he flat on his back?"

"Ah, that is a long story. Whilst Harry was comatose I found out something. Dumbledore has been keeping a secret a secret for 16 years. Harry is not James' son. He is mine. The marriage between James and Lily was done to protect the unborn Harry and me. Lily knew that the Ministry would kill the child of a werewolf so she married James. I had no idea, I was ropable!" Smiles sheepishly, "I yelled at Albus and stormed out of his office, I haven't really spoken to him since. I can't believe he kept the knowledge of my own son from me! I missed out on so much of his life. He should never have been left with the Dursley's. That was also done to protect Harry and I. Anyway, once Harry woke up and recovered a bit I told him. He was angry and didn't speak to me for a few weeks." The tears in the werewolf's eyes had welled up during this last bit as he remembered the rift and how he had felt. Sirius swapped sides and hugged Remus. He then asked Harry, "What happened next?"

"Hermione saw that a rift had developed between Rem and I and came to me one day and gave me an ear-bashing I'll never forget!" He grinned ruefully, rubbing his ear in remembrance, "She can be highly persuasive. Anyway, after that I went straight to Remus' office to apologise, but I never checked the phase of the moon. As soon as I opened the door I was attacked and ended up here."

"Are you alright? I should have been here for you! And for you, Remus! How much longer do you have to stay flat, Harry? Has Madam Pomfrey said anything?"

"A day or two more. It's a lot better now than what it was. I'm ok, I had to deal with a certain someone's guilt but I managed to successfully convince him it wasn't his fault. Have you noticed, Sirius, how stubborn he can be at times?"

"Oh yes, you should've seen him during our days at Hogwarts. If he didn't like something or felt guilty it took an age to convince him otherwise."

"I'm glad you're back Siri, I really missed you" Remus said, still d in Sirius' arms.

"I missed you both as well. It's what saved me; I needed to get back to you both. Apparently only a real genuine need would let me escape the veil."

Harry yawned and grinned at thew two before saying, "I'm tried. I'm going to sleep. Don't get up to any mischief while I'm asleep Remus," he said grinning cheekily.

"Brat. I'll have you know I'm always well behaved."

"Yeah right, Sirius has told me otherwise, Night." With that he shut his eyes and fell straight to sleep.

Remus turned to Sirius once he noticed Harry was asleep and pointed back to his bed so the two men moved before Remus asked, "Exactly what have you been telling him?"

"Um, nothing, it was a while ago anyway. So how have you been? How are you coping, honestly?" Sirius asked as he moved so that he was cuddled up to his mate.

"Alright, much better now that Harry and I are talking again. Having him avoid me was dreadful. I've really missed you. When I first found out about Harry being my son, I got angry at you – I thought you'd lied to me too!"

"I would never lie to you about something like that, you should know that by now. I never knew, I can't believe James never told me, he was my best friend! That's a pretty big secret to keep – and it affected Harry's life! I'm still rather shocked by it all!"

"Hmm, poor you. Coming back in the middle of everything. I'm sure James never meant any harm. He probably did what he thought was best. They must have been terrified of the Ministry – Poor Lily having to cope with a pregnancy as well as fear for her unborn child. I wish I had known!"

"There's no point worrying about it now. I never even knew you two were involved."

"We weren't, it was just one night when I was staying over at James' house and Lily and I got drunk together. Harry is the result. I never felt anything for her as I had already found my mate, you."

"Anyway, I'm sure Lily did what she thought was best. She was very brave. I'm just sorry I wasn't here when you needed me."

Remus smiled, snuggling closer, "You're here now. For that I'm eternally glad!" Leaning over he locked lips with the Animagus. "Hmm, you taste weird. Have you eaten anything?"

No, not really. I just wanted to get here. I should go and shower as well as eat something decent."

"Go, shower. You'll feel a lot better afterwards. I'll send for Dobby to bring you some food. Go!"

"I'm going, I'm going. No need to push! See you shortly!"

Sirius left the room and Remus could hear the shower running. He laid back and rested. His mate was back! Yet in a way he wished he wasn't. He had just found something so special with Harry. He knew that Harry was his other mate, he reflected on that. Werewolves were weird creatures he thought. How could he continue with Harry with Sirius around? He'd be furious – of that Remus was certain. He lay there troubled by his thoughts and wondering what to do next.