The Full Moon

Author's Note: I don't own Harry Potter!

Several days went by, full of exploring, helping Fiona with her potions, watching magic, and playing with Sirius as Padfoot. Harry loved making the funny colored potions, but he noticed that Moony seemed to be getting sick. This worried him.

One morning, Aunt Fiona told him too pack some clothes and whatever toys he wanted to bring with him to the Burrow. She said he was going to stay there for a few nights.

"Is this because Moony's getting sick?" Harry asked as she helped him pack a small bag.

Fiona paused in her packing "Yes, Harry, it is."

"Can't I stay here, I can stay out of the way, I can help!" Harry protested.

"Not this time, Harry, I'm sorry. But it's just not safe."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, confused.

"Well, you see, Harry, when Moony gets sick it's very contagious and dangerous. He sort of turns into another person when he's sick." Fiona tried to explain without telling the whole truth "Do you understand?"

Harry sighed and nodded sadly "I guess so."

"Are you all packed, pup?" Sirius asked, walking into Harry's room "Ready to spend some time with the Weasleys?"

"Will Moony be okay?" Harry asked.

Fiona and Sirius shared a glance and Sirius joined Harry on the floor "Of course he will be, Harry, he's got Fiona and I to look after him."

Harry nodded and picked up his bag.

"Ready?" Fiona asked.

Harry nodded again and followed his Godfather out the door and downstairs.

Sirius picked him up and stepped into the fireplace, calling out "The Burrow!"

At the Burrow

"Hello, Harry, Sirius!" Molly Weasley squeezed the life out of the two boys "Come in! Are you hungry? I just finished making breakfast. Would you like to join us? We have plenty."

"Thank you, Molly, but I'd better get back." Sirius smiled.

"Oh, are you sure you won't even stay for some toast?"

"No, no...okay, I can't say no to your food, Molly." Sirius threw his hands up and laughed.

"Wonderful!" Molly led them into the kitchen and got out some plates "Now, I've talked to the boys and Ginny about treating Harry like a normal boy. I think the boys understood but Ginny's still a little starstruck."

"That's alright, I think Harry understands that. Don't you, pup?"

Harry's mouth was full of bacon but he nodded "Mm-hmm."

Molly and Sirius laughed at his silliness.

"Good," Molly said, still chuckling.

The Weasley children came downstairs in a rush, joined the breakfast table, and started to eat anything they could get their hands on. Ron was scarfing down pancakes, Fred and George were devouring pieces of toast, and Bill and Charlie were wolfing down bacon. Ginny and Percy were eating apples a little more daintily.

Suddenly, Ron noticed Harry and Sirius sitting at the table with them and choked on his pancakes.

"Harry Potter!" Ron's mouth was still full and bits of food spilt from his lips as he tried to talk.

"Ronald! Do not talk with your mouth full!" Molly scolded her youngest son "And we talked about this, Harry is coming to stay with us for a few days. And you will treat him as a normal boy."

"Sorry, Mum." Ron ducked his head and went back to his food, sneaking peeks at Harry every now and then.

"Molly, is there somewhere I can speak to Harry alone?" Sirius asked.

"Of course, the sitting room is empty." Molly gestured to the door, "Right this way."

Harry followed his Godfather through the door and into the Weasley's living room.

Sirius knelt down in front of the little boy "Listen to me, Harry, I love you very much and I'm gonna miss you these next few days, but I'll see you soon, okay? Moony will be fine, so will Fiona and I, we're used to helping him when he gets sick. So you don't need to worry. And if you need anything, just ask Molly. She's happy to help."

"I know, I'll be alright." Harry sounded much older than his seven years "It's only for a days anyways."

"I know that, pup, but I'm still gonna miss you." Sirius pulled Harry into a tight hug "I love you, kiddo."

"I love you too, Paddy."

"Paddy?"

"It's your nickname." Harry said matter-of-factly "You know, cause you're Padfoot. Um, Paddy? Are you crying?"

"No." Sirius choked out, quickly wiping away his tears "Be a good boy, okay, pup? I'll see you in a few days. I promise."

Sirius hugged his Godson one more time before stepping into the fire and shouting "Lupin House!"

That night

Remus's transformation was beginning. His back arched and he screamed in pain. His hands lengthened into sharp claws, his eyes slanted and turned yellow, hair covered his scared body, and his cries of agony soared to the heavens.

He was locked in the basement of Lupin House. In front of the door leading to freedom was a black dog and a white wolf. The wolf in Remus snarled and lunged at the two creatures but they dodged and the dog leapt onto his back, forcing him down. The wolf growled low and soft, warning him not to attack again.

Remus had taken the wolfsbane potion but the wolf wanted out. It wanted to tear his friends limb from limb and feast until they were nothing more than bones. Remus howled and screamed. He could not, would not, let the wolf out. He was strong enough to keep his carnivorous desires at bay.

But the wolf reared its ugly head and roared, tossing the black dog off itself. The dog smacked into the wall but hopped up again before the wolf could pounce. This time the white wolf jumped on the werewolf and knocked him away from the dog. The two tussled and fought, the white wolf almost winning but being smacked aside by a vicious slap from the werewolf's claw.

This went on all night, the black dog and the white wolf taking turns taking on the beast in the basement. Finally morning came and Remus began the painful transformation back into himself. He shrieked and screamed and scratched at himself with his slowly shrinking claws. Before long he lay gasping and panting on the floor, blood surrounded his aching body.

Fiona and Sirius transformed back to their human selves.

"Siri, can you get him upstairs?" Fiona asked "I'll get the doors."

"Of course." Sirius had a scrape above his left eye and winced as he brushed his hair out of it.

"Oh, no!" Fiona said softly "Are you okay? I'll help you clean it as soon as we get Remmy upstairs."

"I'm fine, Fi." Sirius assured his friend "Let's take care of Remus first."

He lifted his friends' light body and carried him up the stairs, through the halls, and into his room. Sirius placed Remus on his bed and covered him with a soft, light blanket.

Fiona got to work healing his various injuries and pouring potions down his throat.

"No..." Remus muttered, waking up "Don't want..."

"Don't be a child, Remus. You need these potions. They'll make you feel better." Fiona told him gently "Now go on and drink it."

Remus reluctantly gulped down the potions and allowed his sister to heal him.

"Good." Fiona set down the small bottles of potions "That's all for now. I'll give you some more pain relief potion in an hour."

Remus nodded sleepily, shut his eyes, and began to snore.

Word count: 1263 words
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Love,
The Author