Black Veils

Chapter One – The Unholy

21/12/15

1:09 am

You send your children to war

To serve bastards and whores

So now you know

You created me

On the day that you were born*

After everyone somewhat recuperated from the shock of seeing Hermione's spirit, whispers broke out creating a quiet cacophony of sound. Harry and Ron simply stood there staring at their best friend's body. Ron's face was set in grim determination, but Harry could see the slight tremor working its way through his friend's body. Ron was beyond shocked.

"Hey, mate," Harry whispered, "maybe we shouldn't burn the body."

Ron looked at Harry as if he had just proclaimed that he was shagging Dumbledore. "You think?"

Harry gave a sheepish smile in reply. He gently took the torch from Ron's hands before putting it out on the slab of cement at their feet.

"Harry, NO!" a voice shouted from not far away. Harry barely had time to distinguish where the shout had come from before he was grabbing Ron and jumping down from the dais.

A great 'whoosh!' signaled that the torch had made contact with something flammable. Harry stood in stunned silence as Hermione's body went up in flames. Ron slowly turned his head toward Harry, then fainted.

"Oh my gods, what have I done?" Harry collapsed to the ground next to his redheaded friend and dropped his face into his hands.

"That was lacking so much intelligence, Potter, that I would have believed it were Longbottom up there." A snarky voice stated in Harry's ear, the warm breath causing a mild shiver to trail down his spine.

"Shut up, Snape." Harry mumbled into his hands while trying to ignore the way that voice made his whole body heat up.

"I suggest you watch your tongue, boy!" Snape straightened from where he had bent to speak to Harry. The shiver did not go unnoticed. 'Interesting,' he thought.

"Now, now, Severus," Dumbledore interrupted what was sure to become a nasty argument. "Mr. Potter has just had a severe shock."

"Shock, or no, he will respect his professors."

Harry jerked his head up so fast that he was sure to have gotten whiplash. He hadn't heard that voice in a very long time. As a matter of fact, he'd thought he would never hear that voice again.

"Moony?" Harry stared wide eyed at the last member of the infamous Marauders. "I-I thought you were dead."

"It will take more than a fight against an Alpha to put me down, Cub." Remus Lupin smiled at his adopted godson.

"What happened, Moony?" Harry asked as he prodded at Ron, trying to wake him.

"We will talk later, Cub. Right now, we need to get Mr. Weasley to the hospital wing and treated for shock."

"Ah, Remus!" Dumbledore twinkled madly at them both. "It is good to see you made it back in one piece!" 'How in Merlin's name did he make it back in one piece?' Dumbledore thought in astonishment. 'Greyback should have devoured him!'

"Yes, Headmaster, I'm sure it is," Remus answered with an amber glint in his eyes. His wolf was still riding at the surface after his battle with Greyback. He had no patience for the old coot anymore. The man had basically sent him to his death. Had Greyback not been trying so hard to get Remus to join his pack, it's doubtful that Remus would have survived.

"As charming as it is to have the wolf back," Severus snarled, "perhaps we should clear everyone out of here and figure out what has happened." 'Stupid, idiotic, sexy werewolf just had to return.' Snape thought to himself. 'Wait- sexy? Where in Merlin's name did that come from?'

"Ah, Severus, good to see you again," Remus mumbled. He refused to look the man in the eye. The last time they had spoken, Remus had informed Snape of his mate status- and been thoroughly rejected by the dark wizard. He couldn't look at him for fear of Moony simply taking what he believed to be his by right. Remus would never forgive himself if he forced Severus.

"Moony?" Harry asked as he prodded harder at Ron. "I think we might need to get Ron to the hospital wing in a hurry." Harry's magic had been spiking since Hermione's spirit had appeared, and it was only getting worse in his worry over Ron.

"Of course, Harry." Remus was just about to cast a levitation spell to float the redhead to the hospital wing when Ron suddenly went into convulsions.

"Oh, no!" Harry whispered, "Not again!" His magic spiked once again, reaching out towards his best mate. This was the exact same thing that had happened to Hermione. She had been fine, but fainted in shock when she walked in on a private party between Harry and his crush.

"What do you mean, Harry?" Remus asked worriedly as he levitated the thrashing body of Ron and began to run for the hospital wing with Harry running at his side.

"'Mione-" pant "did the-" pant "same thing!" Harry was having a difficult time keeping up with his old professor as they ran. The werewolf's speed was too much for him to match for long, though he tried his best. No other words were uttered until they reached Madame Pomfrey's domain.

"Madame Pomfrey!" Harry shouted with what little breath he had left. "Madame Pomfrey!"

"I'm right behind you, Mr. Potter!" The matron snapped as she hurried into the room. "I saw what happened. Now, please explain to me what you were trying to tell Mr. Lupin on the way here."

"H-how did you keep up?" Harry said in surprise. He was no layabout, lazy wizard, not with the way he had been training, but damn! Remus was fast!

"Healer's secret," Madame Pomfrey smirked. "Put him on the bed over here, Mr. Lupin. Mr. Potter, now explain." Madame Pomfrey began waving her wand over Ron casting different diagnostic spells with a frown that seemed to become deeper and deeper with each one.

"We don't really know what happened," Harry began. "I was with someone and 'Mione walked in on us. The next thing I know, she'd fainted in shock. I brought her to you, remember?" Harry was twisting his hands anxiously in his robes, wrinkling the fabric hideously.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with Mr. Weasley?" Madame Pomfrey was still casting at Ron and only seemed to become more confused.

"Well, 'Mione did the same thing that Ron just did!" Harry exclaimed in worry. His magic was beginning to spike dangerously. His hair was floating around him in a nonexistent wind. "One minute, she's just laying there, and we tried to wake her. Used an enervate and everything! Then, the next thing we know, she's convulsing! Like Ron..." Harry trailed off as his hands continued to twist deeper into the fabric of his robes as he watched the mediwitch run several more scans over Ron. "Is he going to be okay, or am I going to be at another funeral?" A sob bubbled up his throat and escaped against his will.

"Harry-" Remus began, but was interrupted by the headmaster.

"Mr. Potter, I need you to come with me."

"Can't it wait, Professor?" Harry looked at Dumbledore with disbelief. 'How the hell does he expect me to just leave while Ron is dy-' he cut that thought off before it could fully form.

"No, it can not." Dumbledore refused to give in to the pleading look on Harry's face. He had to get the boy out of the hospital wing, or his plans would all be for naught.

"Headmaster, surely it can wait until Mr. Weasley is stable." Remus said in defense of Harry's right to be with his best mate at a time like this. He knew that wild thestrals wouldn't have been able to drag him away from James or Sirius had they been in this state.

"I am sorry, my boy, but it can not wait." Dumbledore replied sternly. He ignored the rising wind and flash of lightening outside the infirmary windows. "You must come with me this moment."

Harry stood from the chair Moony had pushed him into upon their arrival. He clenched his teeth against all of the things he wanted to say to the headmaster. None of them remotely pleasant.

Clenching his teeth, Harry said firmly, "No."

"Mr. Potter- Harry, this is not up for discussion." Dumbledore had lost the irritating twinkle in his eyes. He was becoming less and less amused with the boy's defiance.

Remus quietly watched the byplay between the two men. Dumbledore was in for a rude awakening if he thought Harry would leave Ron right now. The amount of magic coursing through the air, coming from Harry, was becoming stifling. There was something definitely going on here, and he knew that it was big.

"Sir, with all due respect," Harry said through his teeth clenching so tight that his jaw was beginning to hurt, "I am not leaving Ron until I know he will be alright. And if you disagree with me, then too bad."

Remus felt his skin tingle at the increase of magic that had been swirling through the room. He knew Dumbledore had gone too far this time. He stood back and watched his cub proudly as Harry stood up for himself. In Remus' opinion, it was about time. Dumbledore had always had an unhealthy interest in Harry. It was something that Remus and Sirius had discussed often, but had never found a reason for it.

"It is not a matter of disagreement, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore appeared to be clenching his own teeth now. 'What the hell was the matter with this boy? Doesn't he realize that he has no choice, but to do as I tell him?' "You shall come with me right now."

During the whole battle of wills between the two powerful wizards, magic had began accumulating into a dense cloud around them. It was almost suffocating to the others in the room. Madame Pomfrey was extremely concerned about this because it was interfering with her diagnostic charms.

"Gentlemen, you will either calm down, or leave. I can not get a decent reading with all of the magical debris you are radiating between you." Her no nonsense tone brought Harry back to himself.

"I apologize, Ma'am," Harry responded and called his magic back to himself. He hadn't meant to leak like that. It just seemed to happen whenever he got angry, upset, or excited anymore. "Is Ron going to be okay?" His worry was palpable.

"Mr. Weasley is showing the same set of symptoms that Ms. Granger went through." The matron answered sympathetically. She knew that this was not what the boy needed to hear. "Can you tell me anything else about what happened with Hermione before she was brought to me?"

"N-no," Harry gasped and slumped back into the hard chair. He was going to lose his only other friend. Sure, there was Neville, Ginny, and Luna, but Harry hadn't gone a single day of his Hogwarts career without either Ron or Hermione, or both, by his side. He didn't think he could go on without both of them. Losing 'Mione was bad enough, but Ron too?

Remus put a hand on Harry's shoulder in sympathy. He wanted to pull the boy into his arms to comfort him, but there was still an almost unpleasant amount of magic radiating from Harry. Remus was afraid to set the boy off anymore than he already had been due to the situation and the headmaster's demand.

"It's not fair!" Harry wailed suddenly. His magic picked back up and began to toss things about the room. "It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!" He screamed to no one in particular. He was pulling at his hair and tears were streaming down his reddened cheeks.

"Stupefy!"

Harry slumped down off the chair to the floor, barely missing hitting his head as he fell. Remus just caught him before he hit the floor and propped him back into the chair. He glanced over at the person who had had the nerve to stun his cub. His glowed amber before he quickly looked away.

"Thank you, Severus." Dumbledore nodded at the Potions Master. "Now, I shall take Mr. Potter up to my office, and we shall work out what has happened here." He lifted his wand to cast a levitation charm when Madame Pomfrey gasped.

"You will do no such thing!" The hospital matron stated as she began running diagnostics on Harry. She was concerned with the sudden lack of magic coming from the teen after all of the leaking he'd been doing recently. She gasped again as she turned back to Ron, once again running the same diagnostics. "Oh, my!"

"What is it woman?!" Snape snapped as he began pulling vials of potions from the many hidden pockets in his robes. Leave it to Potter and his imbecilic friend to cause such drama. It seemed as if the teens weren't happy unless someone was dying. He sighed quietly to himself. He knew better than that. The Potter boy would never intentionally hurt anyone, even the greasy bat knew that.

"It appears as if Mr. Potter has come down with the same ailment as Mr. Weasley. You all must leave. NOW!" Madame Pomfrey was doing her best not to panic. Whatever was going on here appeared to be extremely contagious, and she needed to quarantine the boys.

"Now, Poppy," Dumbledore tried his grandfatherly voice to soothe the upset witch.

"Now nothing, Dumbledore, you old coot! Get out! Get out right now!" The healer shouted in the old man's face. 'Why can't he simply do as asked for once?' she huffed to herself.

"What is it, Poppy?" Remus questioned quietly. It must be something really awful for Madame Pomfrey to shout at the headmaster like that. He'd never seen her like this before. His worry for his cub increased.

"They have contracted some kind of magical contagion. I can not tell what it is, except that it is extremely contagious! Now, all of you out before I decide that you will be locked in quarantine with these two!" Pomfrey was casting spells at the windows to lock out any owls. She had already conjured a magic proof barrier between the boys and the rest of the room after levitating Harry to the bed next to Ron.

Dumbledore immediately gave up on his plan of taking Harry to his office. He was out the door before either of the other men in the room could respond. 'I am not going to die because of those stupid children who do not know how to listen! What were they thinking? They had to have done something Dark in ignorance to have such an outcome! And something will have to be done about Lupin and Pomfrey. This had to be covered up. The wizarding world couldn't know it's savior was in such a state. Severus will not be a problem.' With those thoughts, Dumbledore hightailed it back to his office. He needed to contact the Order and let them know that the Chosen One was dying. 'Damned brat! Now, he'd have to find someone else to take over the prophecy. Hmm, Longbottom perhaps. He was born at the end of July...' He snorted to himself as the hospital wing door slammed shut behind him.

Severus turned to exit the room when was suddenly grabbed by his arm in a fierce grip. He jerked his head around to stare at the offending hand. His eyes followed the hand up the arm to the face of the man who had taken hold of him and growled, "Unhand me this instant, Wolf."

Remus almost did as he said because Severus' voice was cold as ice. Then his eyes flared amber again, and he smirked. "You can't leave, Severus." Remus purred in his ear. Severus shivered in arousal. 'No, it wasn't arousal! It was revulsion! Yes, revulsion! He hated the wolf! And when had he gotten close enough to whisper in his ear?'

"I most certainly shall." Severus ground out through his teeth. He made to shake off Lupin's grip on his arm, but was unable. 'Damned werewolf strength.'

"No, you can not." Remus still hadn't let go, and had not intention of doing so any time soon either. "I have a theory that it is Harry's magic that has caused this- contagion."

"Mr. Lupin?" Madame Pomfrey cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"From what I was told when Hermione got sick, she had found Harry in a compromising situation with someone, and his magic lashed out in surprise. Just now, at the funeral when Harry accidentally set fire to the pyre, his magic lashed out again."

"And it just happened again." Severus whispered in horror. "Are we all going to die because the so-called Chosen One can not control his abominable magic?!" Severus was furious. And terrified. Most definitely terrified. 'I have spied for well over two decades against the darkest wizard of all time and this is my repayment? To die because of a child's magic? Where is the justice in that?'

"After what happened at the funeral, do you really believe that they will die?" Remus asked in disbelief. 'Everyone had seen Ms. Granger literally rise from her body. What no one knew was how. Was this how it started? Was it really Harry's magic doing this? What exactly was going on?'

"What exactly happened at the funeral, Lupin?" Snape asked in suspicion. He had been there, and hadn't noticed anything odd other than the girl's spirit rising from her body. 'Does the wolf know something the rest of us don't?'

"I'm not sure, but I believe that Harry's magic is changing them." Remus wasn't exactly positive on how to explain his theory, but he was going to try his best. "It appears as if it takes a deep shock to start the process, such as Hermoine finding Harry with someone unexpected, and Ron watching Hermione's body catch fire. The shock seems to be the fuel, if you will, to Harry's magic, the fire. What I haven't figured out yet, is why."

"Lovely story, Lupin. Now release me this instant." Snape wiggled his arm trying to, once again, dislodge the werewolf's grip.

Remus blinked at him once, then let go. He hadn't realized that he'd still been holding onto the man.

"Mr. Lupin, I believe that to be a valid theory, but I do not know how to treat this ailment. I've treated them for shock, but it doesn't appear to be working." Madame Pomfrey stated sadly. She didn't want to lose another child like she Ms. Granger. She blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes at the thought of Mr. Potter no longer being here for her to coddle when he was injured. 'Merlin knows the boy needs it.'

"I don't think you can treat it." Remus replied as his eyes darkened back to their natural color when Moony was docile. The wolf inside knew this was his human's expertise and there was nothing he could do to help his cub. "I believe that it must run its course. After seeing Hermione's spirit, I think that it may be a metamorphosis."

"A metamorphosis?" Madame Pomfrey eyes lit up suddenly. "You mean like a caterpillar when it becomes a butterfly?"

"Yes, I do. I believe they are changing into something else." Remus could smell the hope rising in the matron. It was swelling within himself as he explained his theory.

"Impossible! Witches and wizards do not go through a metamorphosis!" Snape interjected sourly. 'Who had ever heard of such a thing?!'

"Actually, Severus, they do. It's just usually when they come into the inheritances at seventeen. It's not quite the same as what Mr. Lupin is suggesting, but it is possible." Madame Pomfrey said as she ran another diagnostic on each boy. Both bodies were slowly shutting down. Mr. Potter's magic had all but gone, and she couldn't even detect a hint of magic from Mr. Weasley any longer.

"We simply have to find out what they are changing into, and why, so that we can be sure to assist in any way possible. There could be other children affected besides Harry's closest friends. I suggest getting Mr. Longbottom, Ms. Lovegood, and Ms. Weasley here as soon as possible so that they may be watched closely." Remus said with finality.

"Metamorphosis?" Severus questioned under his breath. "I wonder..."

"What is it, Severus?" Remus latched his hand onto Snape's arm again. Snape didn't bother trying to remove it this time. He knew the werewolf wouldn't let go until he'd heard what Severus had to say.

With a put upon sigh, Severus replied, "The Dark Lord has been researching something similar. He called it the Unholy..."

A/N: Please review if you like the story so far. Song lyrics at beginning of the chapter is "The Unholy" by Black Veil Brides.