When Narcissa and Remus arrived at St. Mungo's, they found the hospital still and quiet. It was almost five in the evening. It had been nearly twelve hours since they had brought Draco in.

The waiting room was full, to their surprise. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there, with Bill and Fleur, who were clutching hands worriedly. Ron was staring off into space with a pensive look on his face. Hermione's eyes were very red. Harry was standing next to the window, clutching the ledge so tightly that his knuckles were white.

Ginny was the first to see them. "Mum," she called.

Mrs. Weasley turned. Her own eyes were as red as Hermione's.

Narcissa managed one word, "Draco?"

Mrs. Weasley touched her hand gently, "I'm afraid I have some bad news."

The color drained from Narcissa's face, "But – but the Healer said he was going to be all right."

"He was," Mr. Weasley broke in, "But when he woke up – when he found out that he was – and then when he asked for you, and we had to tell him you'd been taken into custody – well, he just sort of gave up." He looked helpless.

Narcissa, trembling, grabbed Remus for support, "He's not dead?"

"No, he's not," Mrs. Weasley replied, "but he's very weak. The healers don't have much hope. It doesn't look good for him."

"I need to go to him," Narcissa said, pushing herself forward.

Remus grabbed her, "No! Think, Narcissa! In another few minutes or so, the moon is going to rise. It's already dark outside. Draco will be turning into a werewolf – and it will be horrible."

"Can't they give him a Wolfsbane potion?" Hermione piped up, rubbing her eyes.

Remus looked at her sadly, "I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. You've got to take it for a day or two before the full moon for it to reach its full potency. No, Draco's going to suffer the full transformation."

He looked at Mr. Weasley, "He's in an isolation room, I assume?"

Mr. Weasley nodded, "The healers thought it best."

"I'm going in there," Remus said.

Everyone stiffened; Remus looked around at them each in turn.

"I'm not going to let him suffer through this alone," he said.

Narcissa's eyes were huge. He managed a crooked smile at her, and then strode determinedly through the double doors to the private wing.

Draco was sleeping when he entered the room. He heard the lock click as the Healers locked him inside. He knew that there wasn't much time – they would both be transforming in a matter of minutes. He would have to be locked in with Draco for the night.

Already, he could see the change in the boy. Draco was not the handsome, vibrant young man he'd been only twenty four hours before. His shining white-blonde hair had darkened to ash, and his skin was a pallid gray color. The wound on his neck had been bandaged, and was no longer bleeding. But Draco looked a year older and frailer than Remus could ever have imagined him. He did not look like the son of Lucius Malfoy now.

Remus reached out and touched the boy's hand. Draco's eyes opened.

"What are you doing here?" he asked faintly, "Where's Mother?"

"You're mother is fine," Remus answered, "She's better than she's ever been."

Draco struggled to sit up, "She's not going to prison, then?"

"No," Remus said, "The Wizengamot cleared her of all charges. Don't sit up – you will exhaust yourself further."

He was alarmed at the rate that Draco seemed to be fading.

Draco's head fell backwards onto the pillows, as if he couldn't stand to hold it up any longer. His eyes had a glazed look to them. They slid in and out of focus. Remus took his hand, hesitantly at first, and then held it between his, the way a father would with his sick son. He had thought it would feel awkward, but now, it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Draco," he said, "I know what you must be feeling."

Draco's breathing was faint, "This time, I think you might be right."

Remus tried to smile at the boy's irony. "You can't give up now, even though I know you must want to."

"They said I was getting better," Draco murmured faintly, "But I – I don't feel as if I am."

"It's going to be nightfall soon," Remus replied, "You'll have your first transformation."

"No," Draco protested weakly, "No. I can't let this happen."

"I'm afraid you don't have a choice," Remus said, "I know you're frightened. I know exactly what you must be feeling. But you have no choice anymore."

Draco closed his eyes, "I can't do this. I just can't."

"Yes, you can," Remus replied, squeezing his hand between his, "And you're going to."

"My mother – "

"Your mother is sitting right outside," Remus told him, "In the waiting room. She'll be here to see you in the morning, when it is safe. But for now, you have to rest."

"You have to promise me – that you'll protect her," Draco managed.

"She doesn't need protecting anymore," Remus replied, "She remembered everything."

From the depths of Draco's gray eyes, a faint light shone. He managed a small smile.

"She – loved you," he choked out.

Remus gripped his hand, "Draco, no. Listen to me. You're going to get through this. I promise you, I'm not going to leave you."

Draco's eyes widened, "What?"

Remus said forcefully, "I promised your father, and your mother, and now I'm promising you. If it takes me the rest of my life, I will protect you. I will stand by you no matter what you do."

"Why are you helping me?" Draco gasped, "Is it just – just because of my mother?"

"No," Remus shook his head, "It is because I remember what it is like – to be seventeen – to be a werewolf – and to think you are alone."

Draco did not say anything else – the moon was rising, the pain was upon him now, and he could not manage to speak. But his eyes showed the gratitude that he could not convey in words. Remus held onto his hand.

And then Draco began to scream in pain. Hairs like knives pushed through the surface of his skin. Remus could feel himself changing as well, although he'd grown so accustomed to the sensation that it no longer bothered him as much as it had. But poor Draco had never endured something like this. He screamed and screamed.

"Hold on, Draco," Remus muttered, putting his head near the teenager's ear.

"Oh my God!" Draco screamed, "It hurts! Oh, please, it hurts so much!"

"I know!" Remus muttered.

As Draco's fingers slid into the palms of his hand, becoming paws, he clawed at Remus' hand one more time, "Don't leave me!" he screamed.

And then he was a wolf, still lying on the bed, still too hurt to fight, too weak to even get to his feet, or to fight Remus. Had he been alone, the mental anguish and anxiety would have been too much for him – he might have scratched and bit himself, or thrown himself against the wall, bashing his head to bits.

But Remus, also a wolf, nudged him down to the floor. Panting with pain, Draco the wolf curled up into the corner, and Remus lay beside him. Draco began to weakly paw the bandages from his neck, but Remus nudged him, licking the bandages back into place. Draco rested his wolf's head on the floor, closed his eyes. Remus rested his own shaggy head against his, and closed his eyes in relief.

When the sun rose, Draco awoke, still lying on the floor, his limbs intact and his body back to normal. Remus, leaning against the wall, was still awake, but so tired he looked as though he might fall asleep himself.

Draco raised his head and looked at Remus. Remus blinked his tired blue eyes and managed a smile.

"Don't worry," he said, "I'm not going anywhere anymore."

Draco managed a tentative smile and leaned up against the wall next to him. His limbs felt as weak as water. Remus seemed to understand. He picked Draco up like a young child and lifted him back onto the bed. Draco's gray eyes fluttered, and he began to slide back into sleep.

"Draco?"

His eyes opened. Remus was looking at him concernedly.

"You have to keep going on," he said softly, "for your mother's sake, if for nothing else. She was willing to go to prison for you. She was willing to die for you. Please," Remus murmured, "you have to go on living for her."

"Promise me you'll stay," Draco replied, not caring if the words sounded childish.

Remus brushed his hair back, "You know I will."

Draco smiled faintly back at him.

Remus strode to the door and threw it open. Unbidden, Narcissa rushed in, over to the bed, and grasped her son's hand.

"Draco? Can you hear me?" she whispered.

Draco's face broke into a weak smile, "Mum." His voice was so faint, Remus could hardly hear it.

Narcissa smiled through her tears and touched his cheek with the tips of her fingers, "I'm here, sweetheart, I'm here. You're going to be all right, understand?" She let out a shuddering sob, "You get well, okay, baby? I love you so much."

Draco smiled faintly up at her.

Then he closed his eyes.