Chapter 8: The Cure.
4th, August, 1998.
The men were just chatting about the last few memories when Ginny and Hermione walked in.
"Mum chucked us out of the kitchen," Ginny explained before sitting down next to Harry, "she said she had more than enough help."
Hermione sat next to Ron.
"Hey Gin? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Harry asked suddenly.
Ginny nodded and they went over to a corner of the room where Harry put a privacy spell around them.
"Whats up Harry?"
"I've been thinking remember what Death said about changing people into Lycans?" she nodded "I think we should ask Remus if he wants to be changed. It is defiantly better than being a werewolf and he wont have to suffer like he usually dose. He wont have to worry about being dangerous as well." Harry explained his theory.
"That would be a brilliant idea, but obviously only if he agrees. We will have to explain that he needs to relax and welcome the virus into his body, though." Ginny agreed, they returned to the group.
"Remus?" Harry asked nervously. Remus looked up from watching Teddy play with his toy wolf. "Me and Ginny were thinking. We think we know a remedy to the werewolf curse." he said slowly.
Remus cocked his head to the side in confusion, "Really?" he asked after a moment.
"Yeah, you see when Death was here just before you guys returned he was explaining something's about our virus that we called Lycan." Ginny explained, "One of the things he told us was that our virus will over rule any illnesses, curse's or dissease's including the werewolf curse." she said.
"The only difference is that with you being a werewolf you would need to relax and welcome the virus otherwise your curse will fight back and it may cause you to lose your human mind forever. What we were thinking was that if you agree you wouldn't have to worry about being dangerous and you wouldn't have to suffer as much." Harry explained.
Remus was silent then looked up at them again, "You would do that for me?" he asked hopefully.
They nodded.
"Your like an uncle to me Remus. Just as much as Sirius has been a godfather to me." Harry replied giving Remus a hug.
"You don't deserve to suffer Remus." Ginny added, "Your too nice. Do you want a bit more information before you decide?"
Remus was quiet for a few minutes then he nodded, "I think it would be a good idea to have all the facts before I decide." he said.
"Well," Harry started, "there's obviously the physical aspects, were stronger," he said flexing his muscles, "were supposed to be faster, but we haven't checked that out yet, were also supposed to have better reflexes and senses, that's why I don't need to wear my glasses anymore." he explained.
"Our virus also removes any scars left by the Lycanthropy." Ginny added, "Me and Harry have a soul bond and are classed as 'Life Mates' so if we want to change someone we have to bite them together, we are also very protective of each other apparently we haven't been through a full moon yet were just going on Death's information." she explained, "On the full moon it is still a forced transformation but we have our human minds, its also painless apparently, but the wolf is still slightly stronger we will either have to hunt some small animals or find something that would keep a wolf busy or we might become restless and start chewing on things, like the furniture or we may be destructive apparently. Death said we have to read up on natural habits of wolves as some of them are valid but we don't know which ones are or not yet."
"We have accelerated healing powers too. This power apparently heals any small cuts in seconds. With larger injuries taking a few hours, according to Death." Harry said taking out his wand and putting a small gash about an inch long on his hand without so much as wincing and watching fascinated as it glowed softly and was fully healed in seconds. "Cool," he said. "I wasn't entirely sure if it would work or not." he explained. "Also our diet will be more dependent on meat like steak and beef. We can, as you have seen, also change at will. That's the basic stuff we know we will find out more as we look into it more but that's all we know for now. Death said the only disadvantage was the cravings for raw meat around the full moon and that's not overly bad. We're not dangerous at all in general." he finished.
Remus was silent obviously thinking very hard. Eventually he looked up to find Harry and Ginny waiting patiently.
"I think," he started hesitantly, "that it would be nice to not have to suffer anymore and I won't have to worry about accidentally biting someone. I agree with you I think if you are willing to change me into a Lycan then I will take your offer." he said.
Harry and Ginny nodded, "Yes we are willing. The thing is we don't know how much it might hurt or when to do it." Harry admitted.
"Well pain isn't a problem for me I've been dealing with werewolf transformations since I was four so I'm used to pain." Remus said.
"How about we do it after dinner?" Ginny suggested.
The two men nodded just as Molly called, "Dinners ready!" everyone went through to the kitchen with Harry getting Teddy from his playpen.
After dinner everyone was relaxing in the living room.
"Remus?" Harry asked after making sure Teddy was asleep for his nap, "Do you want me and Ginny to change you now?" Remus nodded, he had explained to everyone what was happening over dinner, and he and Dora followed Harry and Ginny out of the room and up the stairs to one of the guest room's that was put in when the Burrow was rebuilt after being destroyed during the war.
"Remus it may be best if you lie on the bed," Remus did what Harry had suggested, "do you know what you have to do?"
Remus nodded nervously, "I have to relax and welcome the virus into my body." he said.
"Good. You know what your supposed to be doing then, so I'd recommend doing it." Ginny said making him chuckle and nod. Dora took his hand and he relaxed a bit more then finally completely relaxed. "OK now shall we start Harry?" Harry nodded and Ginny changed into Misty.
"Remember to stay relaxed Remus," he warned "or this might feel like more than a little painful." Harry changed into Shadow looked at Misty and nodded once.
At the same time both wolves moved over to Remus and Dora and at the same time both bit into Remus's arm then backed away leaving two bite marks that were already starting to heal, they then changed back into human and watched as Remus's face and whole body stayed relaxed as if he had fallen asleep.
After five minutes of this Remus opened his eyes and looked around, "I think that's it." he said slowly, "I felt the virus enter my veins, It was like fire for a minute or two then ice for two minutes then it went back to normal about 30 seconds before I opened my eyes again. I didn't fight it at all."
"There is one way to find out, stand up please," Harry said, Remus did, "now focus on turning your body into that of a wolf."
Remus closed his eyes again and a minute later a large 6 foot 3 tawny wolf with white marks on it's back and legs and softly glowing blue eyes, was standing where Remus was.
"Yup it worked." Ginny commented conjuring a mirror and putting it in front of the wolf who looked at it's reflection curiously.
"That was faster than I was expecting." Dora commented, the wolf nodded in agreement.
"I think your planning on keeping 'Moony' for this form's name aren't you?" Harry asked, the wolf nodded.
Ginny vanished the mirror and said, "Right come on then. Moony I'm sure Padfoot has attacked you by jumping on you and licking your face I think you owe him some revenge dont you?" Moony nodded and let his tongue hang out in a wolfish grin. Moony then tried to walk towards the door but tripped and fell with a yelp.
"Hold on, Gin? I'll use Shadow until Moony gets his footing, can you make sure no one is coming."
she nodded so Harry changed back into Shadow and went over to Moony.
Moony looked grateful and leaned against Shadow until he got his balance back then he tried walking again and only stumbled twice before he got the hang of walking on four legs.
Shadow turned into Harry again, "That was quick but I suppose It's easier for you so let's go. I'm going to stay as Shadow and I'll walk in just after Moony dose. Tell them we will both be down in a minute, that Moony is just getting his footing." he said, "That will give you a chance to surprise Sirius, Moony." he added to the wolf as the women left, "When you want to change back focus on becoming human again." Harry added before changing into Shadow once more and nodding towards the door.
Moony nodded and walked towards the door with Shadow following, both moving silently until they were outside the living room door where they heard Dora finish explaining that Moony was getting his footing and that Harry was with him, then Moony trotted into the room at a slightly faster pace than walking and leaped onto Sirius's knee and started attacking Sirius with slobbery wolf kisses from his tongue. Everyone burst out laughing.
Moony then got off of a shocked Sirius and went over to his wife who was having a fit of giggles at her cousins fate.
Shadow walked into the room from where he had been watching and changed into a laughing Harry who said, "You can change back now Remus." through his laughter.
Moony changed into Remus again. Remus grinned at Sirius.
"What was that for!" Sirius demanded.
"That, Padfoot, was revenge for all the times you have done it to me and Prongs." he replied grinning at James who was laughing at Sirius.
Once everyone had stopped laughing Lily asked, "It worked then? I don't know if you noticed but your appearance has changed." Remus frowned and Andy who was closest conjured a body length mirror for him.
Remus was now 6 foot tall his eyes had turned into their old clear blue colour that they were before he was turned into a werewolf by Greyback. There were no scars over his forearms, wrists, hands, face or neck that he could see and he had a bit more muscle on him he looked like he was a professional runner, similar to Harry, he looked healthier too.
"Oh yeah, this is the first time I've been human since I first changed into a wolf." Remus explained as Andy vanished the mirror again and he sat down between his wife and mother-in-law.
"OK it's only 6 o'clock." Harry said looking at his watch "Why don't we watch two more memories before bed." everyone agreed and turned toward the pensive as Harry added the next memories.