Chapter 12

- Orb of the Night -

"Harry!" Teddy looked at Hermione, wondering what was wrong. She was pointing off into the distance. Teddy's eyes followed her finger until he saw the source of her concern. In the distance a bright light was rising from behind the mountains and clouds. The full moon.

Teddy had completely forgotten. And suddenly a sharp pain appeared in his chest. But it was okay, he'd be fine and so would his friends. He was in full control after his transformation. But suddenly he heard another groan.

Remus was still staring at the moon, his body shaking. Dread his Teddy like a meteor. "Remus, my old friend!" Sirius was running towards Remus. "Have you taken your potion tonight?" But Remus could only reply by doubling over in pain. Teddy could sense Harry running to Ron and Hermione, but he didn't look at them as he found himself on the ground.

His muscles ached as his bone snapped in and out of place, reshaping themselves. "You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! This heart here!" Sirius was holding onto of Remus, who were screaming in pain. "This flesh is only flesh! Remus!"

Remus' wand fell from his hand and Peter quickly picked it up. With a swift flick he threw Sirius away and aimed it back at Remus. "No!" Teddy groaned.

"Experliarmus!" Harry shouted and the wand flipped out of his grip. But Peter simply smiled and waved goodbye. Soon he had disappeared as was replaced by a rat the ran off into the night. Harry made a run for it, but Teddy faced him, eyes glowing, holding up his hand to stop him. "Harry, no-" He growled.

Once more a yell of pain escaped Remus' fanged mouth. Teddy, with much effort, ran over to him trying to help. He didn't know what he was trying to do, there was nothing he could do.

Just before he could reach his father and fell to the floor in pain. His eye sight became blurry as he stumbled to the left. There was the tearing of cloth, animal grunts and then silence.

Werewolf Teddy was lying on his side, panting. It took a while for his energy to return. As he laid there, he tried to find his father. But instead, a Werewolf had taken his place. It was the first time Teddy had seen another werewolf. They looked quiet similar, except that Werewolf Remus was considerably bigger than him.

"Hermione-" She heard Ron hiss quietly and Teddy watched as the frizzy haired girl took a few steps towards the professor.

"Professor?" She said nervously. Werewolf Remus looked up at her, panting tiredly. For a moment Werewolf Teddy's heart beat slowed as he watched intently. "Professor Lupin?"

Suddenly, the large Werewolf's head reared back and he let out a long low howl. Teddy felt a strange sensation when he heard the howl, it was as if his animal instincts were telling him to join his father, who was on all fours and creeping towards his friends.

"Good doggy. Good doggy." Ron was saying, terrified. His broken leg stopping him from running. A familiar figure emerged from the Whomping Willow's tunnel. Professor Snape glared at Harry. "Potter!" He hissed. Werewolf Remus let out a growl and Snape turned around, spreading his arms out protectively in front of the students.

Werewolf Remus' hand raised, preparing to swipe down on them, but a dash of black appeared out of nowhere. Sirius, now in his Animagus form, growled, baring his white canines. Werewolf Teddy's strength was finally returning and he watched as the two fought loudly. There was a high pitched yelp as Sirius was thrown against a large boulder.

Werewolf Teddy let out a whimper as the black dog failed to get to his feet again. Werewolf Remus opened his jaws in rumbling growl, aiming to sink his teeth into the dog's pelt. Suddenly, a rock flew and hit the back of his head. He turned around to see Harry holding another rock defensively.

Grrrr!

Werewolf Teddy's heart raced as he jumped out of the shadows and landed between the two of them. The older Werewolf straightened, having not realised he was not alone in his hunt. Werewolf Teddy stood uncertainly as Werewolf Remus inspected him. He couldn't quite explain it but there was a connection between the two of them, like an invisible thread.

It suddenly became clear to Teddy that the Werewolf, although it was not using words, was talking to him. He understood the meaning of simple gestures and sounds. Such as a twitch of the ear, or a low growl, or how his claws scratched at the dirt. The movements would've been almost invisible to the human eye, but Teddy understood them all. It was as simple as breathing.

"Dad." He said softly, edging closer and closer to him until they were only a few centimetres away from each other.

Werewolf Remus hesitated before responding. "Pup."

Werewolf Teddy's ears pricked up, showing the sense of joy in him. Werewolf Remus sniffed him, before nuzzling him warmly. Suddenly, there was a crack of twig and Werewolf Remus' attention went back to the four humans trying to sneak away. He growled and Teddy thought quickly, once again jumping in front of his path. Werewolf Remus' fatherly, protective attitude was gone and replaced by anger and confusion.

"Humans. Bite." He grunted.

"No, Dad. Friends."

"Move."The Werewolf ordered his pup, but Werewolf Teddy shook his head slightly. "Move!"

To make a point, Werewolf Teddy only walked closer to his friends. Snape watched as the smaller of the Werewolves moved closer and closer to them. He wiped out his wand reflexively. "Reducto!" He said strongly.

"Stop!" Hermione yelled trying to stop him. The spell hit Werewolf Teddy, causing him to be repelled backwards. Werewolf Teddy whimpered as he hit the trunk of the Whomping Willow. He heard a loud growl of anger and a bark. He immediately got to his feet, limping slightly. A splinted had dug into the paw of his front foot but he ignored the sharp pain.

Sirius, still in dog form, had regained consciousness and was attacking the large Werewolf with all his might, until finally the Werewolf ran after him towards the Dark Forest. "Harry, wait!" Hermione cried.

Harry was running after them yelling, "Sirius!"

Werewolf Teddy, hesitated before trying to follow him. But he'd lost sight of him and the wind blew away his scent.

He pricked his ears but all he could hear was a distant whimper and then... silence. His glowing golden eyes peered into the darkness around him, sniffing the cold night air. What had happened? Was Sirius okay? And Harry? What about his father, Remus?

He forced himself to calm down, putting his nose to the ground again. Nothing. But suddenly...

Crack!

He turned around in time to see two figures hide behind a tree. Defensively, he let out a small growl, peering around the trunk. But he stopped. Cowering together was Harry and Hermione. Where'd they come from? He'd last seen Hermione back by the Whomping Willow, there was no way she could've caught up with him. And Harry had been chasing after Sirius and Remus.

"Teddy, it's us. Your friends." Harry said slowly. Werewolf Teddy gave a small whimper in reply, taking a step back to show he meant no harm.

His eyes rested on something hanging from Hermione's neck. A long golden chain with a shining hourglass on the end. He sniffed it, looking up at Hermione. Suddenly, in the distance he heard a long howl. He straightened, looking in the direction it had come from, then glancing back at his friends.

"Go!" Harry said, taking Hermione's hand and running. To where he was running, he had no idea, but he gave a small nod and ran off into the darkness. His ears twitched left to right, following the smallest of sounds. A bark, a crack of a branch, a growl.

Finally, he found the source of the noise by a large lake. Werewolf Remus and Dog-Sirius were still fighting by the lake's edge. Once again, Sirius was getting thrown about until Teddy ran and slammed head first into his father's side. The two Werewolves rolled over in the sand. "Stop!" Teddy pleaded, looking his father dead in the eye.

"Pup. Move. Now!" He panted in reply.

"No. Protect. Friends."

Suddenly, Werewolf Remus raised his head to the night sky. An all too familiar shiver ran down Werewolf Teddy's spine. "Danger!" He sensed.

"Dementors!" His father whimpered.

At that moment black hooded figures flew down from the sky. They paid little attention to the Werewolves and instead flew towards Harry and Sirius, who was now back in human form. Werewolf Teddy was rooted to the spot, he couldn't move. Then suddenly, something was pushing him away. His father was at his side, forcing Werewolf Teddy to move. "Run!"

"No. Friends!" He tried to run to Harry's side, but Werewolf Remis blocked his path. The adult Werewolf looked worried, concerned for his pup's safety.

"Run. Pup. Run!" He howled and Werewolf Teddy once again felt the invisible tether between them, telling him to follow the call of his own kind.

Eventually, the two ran off to the other end of the lake. Werewolf Teddy didn't have time to stop but he could've sworn he saw Harry running towards the lake. But that was impossible! He was already with Sirius by the water's edge. Soon they were further into the Dark Forest.

Usually, during full moons, Werewolf Teddy was always full of energy, as if deep down he'd always longed to run through the forest like he was doing now. But now he was tired and had to stop. Werewolf Remus walked towards him sniffing him to see if he was okay.

"Tired."

"Rest."

Werewolf Teddy didn't need to be told twice. He followed his father to a large tree stump, where they both lied down beside each other. The young Werewolf's eyes closed heavily as he fell asleep to the steady beat of his father's heart.