Chapter 4 The Cure

Lupin visited him later, bringing in a tray. He looked worried and said, "Perhaps it would be better if you didn't go Harry. You're still very frail and it'll take a few days to regain your energy."

It was then that Harry knew the others weren't aware he'd been poisoned.

"Oh no, Remus," Harry said and struggled to smile. "I'm going with you. A cure. Imagine that!"

Lupin smiled broadly and for the first time Harry saw even though the man was prematurely aged and tired, he was a good looking man and still young. They talked briefly about the plans to travel to the Rom encampment and Lupin left him to eat his dinner.

Harry sat staring at the food. The potion Snape had given him had helped him feel like himself but he knew he would again start to feel weak.

You're a coward Voldemort! He thought and shoved the tray to the side of the bed in disgust. Only a coward would poison someone. Why don't you face me. Give me a fighting chance!

He tossed the covers aside and started to dress.

They all moved silently down the stairs of #12 Grimmauld Place into the dark night. The street lamps flickered eerily as if the electricity were being shut off. They took advantage of the momentary darkness and walked down the street into the black alley. With a flick of his wand, Snape opened a portal in the grimy brick wall next to an over-run dust bin. Four people stepped through onto a dirt road in the countryside where a coach waited for them.

Harry glanced up at the driver and almost missed the step into the black carriage. It was Hagrid. The shaggy head ducked once to acknowledge he'd been identified. As soon as they were seated, they were off at a dead run, the coach rocking from side-to-side, pulled by six black horses. They were all dressed and cloaked with their hoods covering their faces even though it was a warm August evening. The only exception was Moses who had pulled his hat down over his eyes and dropped his chin to his chest. The end of a piece of straw flickered back and forth in his mouth.

They flew through the night and Harry looked out at the deserted countryside. His mind was filled with so much he didn't notice when they approached a valley. It was dark except for the area that seemed to follow the line of a creek. It was lit by a dozen bonfires, the flames reaching into the endless sky and Harry glimpsed through tall pine trees and saw shadowy figures moving around the fires.

There were dozens of wagons illuminated by the light. As they drew closer he could make out the details. The wagons were magnificent pieces of workmanship. They had scrolled and brightly colored wooden pieces encapsulating the curved roofs. Windows bore shutters with designs on them like little houses on four wheels. They pulled into camp and the crowds of people quieted down and watched.

Harry noticed the men were dressed in almost identical clothing as Moses. All of them wore hats and their particular loose blousy shirts and trousers tucked into high boots. Some of them were barefoot and some wore worn boots. Harry saw that more than half of the men bore full handlebar mustaches and almost all the men seemed to wear the same kind of scarves wrapped around their necks.

The women were dressed differently as well. They wore long flowing skirts that reached the ground. Most were barefoot. Their hair was tied up in scarves, some wore large earrings. They also wore the loose blouses tucked into their skirts. He was even more surprised to see the children either partially dressed, or in some cases very small children were naked.

He stepped down and went up to the front of the coach to talk to Hagrid while Lupin, Snape and Moses walked into camp.

"Hagrid, it's good to see you," Harry whispered as he stepped up on the wheel. His hand was swallowed up in both of Hagrid's large mitts.

"It's good to see you, Harry. Good to see you. Now you take care and come back to us. School starts soon," he said softly. "Professor Snape says I must leave right away, so I hafta go. But you stay safe, now. Bring our Hermione home to us, Harry." The man's eyes were filled with tears. His hands were full of reins leading to the stamping, huffing horses excited and filled with boundless energy. Otherwise, Harry knew the man would have given him a hug that would have left him with bruised ribs.

"I will Hagrid. It'll be alright," Harry said and stepped off. The empty coach pulled away quickly into the black night.

Harry turned to watch with surprise as the members of the camp approached the guests. They greeted Moses as family, but to Harry's surprise they also greeted Snape as if he were also family. Even more surprising was the smile Harry saw on his Potion master's face. He didn't think he'd ever seen Snape smile.

Harry walked slowly into the firelight and was greeted by a dozen men of various ages. Moses was talking quickly and gesturing at Lupin and Harry. The faces changed from surprise, to concern, to smiles again.

He was led into the circle around a fire where many of the older men sat. Moses squatted down and planted himself on a low half-split log he was using as a bench. He gestured for Harry to join him. Lupin sat down with them. Moses proceeded to talk to the group in his own language, stopping to translate as he went along. Snape had disappeared somewhere in the grouping of wagons. Women and children gathered just outside the circle and fifty or more dark eyes watched silently.

"This boy comes to the aid of his friend who is imprisoned," Moses was saying, "He asks for our help. He is also the one prophesized to kill the Kalo Beng." Harry was handed a cup of steaming coffee and he sipped the sweetened liquid and listened. "His friend next to him is roov (a wolf)," Moses pointed with his index finger at Lupin and went on. "He comes to seek a cure." There were several young children outside the circle who cried out when they heard this and were quickly pulled behind the long colorful skirts of the women and quieted.

"We know it is wise to give our hands to help these travelers, but let us also call them friends," Moses said. Harry glanced at his face. "By helping them we help ourselves." The man was looking at the encircled group of men and seemed to be waiting for some kind of response or acceptance of what he was saying. It was obvious he was not the eldest man in the circle and was therefore waiting for some kind of agreement or blessing from the older men.

Heads bent together and Harry stared at the fire as a low mumbling indicated they were talking it over. He was surprised when a figure huddled at the edge of the circle spoke up. It was an ancient crone who's eyes were filmy white, her face was wrinkled like a prune and her natty white hair covered with a long blue scarf. She wore a woven shawl draped around her shoulders and she leaned into the light. She turned to them, raising gnarled hands into the air as she spoke. Her voice was gritty with age and yet forceful and the whole group turned to listen to her.

"The old mother says we should welcome you," Moses said. He got up and handed her a small bag which, Harry saw, contained tobacco. The old woman drew out a long-stemmed pipe, packed it and began to smoke. She continued to talk. Her smoke mingled with that of the fire and the figures who had been spell-bound at the edge of the circle began to move about. Women settled young children into bed rolls underneath wagons. Older children disappeared out into the night and Harry could hear horses neighing and making night noises out in the meadow.

"The old woman says it will be a painful ordeal," Moses said talking to Lupin. "she has only seen the magic done once." Harry pulled his concentration back to the fire. He had been watching the activities of the camp and the people. "You must have someone with you that you trust, who is not afraid. They will face great danger, but it will be a tale to be told around the fire for many years." Moses finished translating and the old woman broke into laughter almost hideous to hear. It was a loud and garrulous.

Harry spoke up immediately, "That would be me. I'll be with him."

"Harry," Lupin said next to him. "If this is dangerous then we won't go through with it."

Harry looked at him and replied, "I thought you said you would like us to be like family. Well now is the time."

Lupin bowed his head, looking at his hands and said softly, "Thank you."

Harry sipped at the coffee and mumbled under his breath, "Honestly Remus, we're likely to get ourselves killed in Azkaban. What difference does it make if there's a little danger involved now?"

They smiled weakly at one another. Moses nodded and the old woman went on. He continued to translate.

"She says it must be done during the day, at noon. That is when the sun will drive the moon away from his soul. The wolf will be forced out into the light which it cannot survive, but there will always remain something of the wolf inside you. She says you will be a human being again and not change anymore. She also says you must place your friend who stands beside you inside your dream."

"Oh, I don't know," Lupin started. "What does that mean?"

Moses smiled, as if he were very amused. "This not a simple task you ask of the drabengo. Are you willing to do what it takes?" he asked.

Harry set his cup down and said firmly, "Yes, he is willing." Harry once again turned to the man. "Remus, I need you by my side and we can't worry about moon phases and changing. It's time to do this."

Lupin nodded once again in resignation.

Moses stood and waited, looking outside the circle. Suddenly, everyone stilled and only the crack and snap of the hot embers from the fire broke the silence. From the shadows two figures stepped forward. A woman walked into the circle being careful to not touch any of the men. At her side was a child. Harry stared in surprise.

The child was fair, unlike the other people in the tribe who had the typical dark hair and dark eyes and brown skin. This child had blond hair reaching his shoulders in fine, wispy strands, his face was long and narrow and he had almond-shaped periwinkle eyes. He was so young he walked awkwardly, like a toddler, but confidently into the circle and approached Lupin. The woman stepped back silently.

Moses turned to them and said, "This is our drabengo, our healer. He will perform the magic."

Lupin shot to his feet and gasped, "I cannot involve a child in this!"

Harry was still sitting and staring at the beautiful child. He thought the boy could not have been more than four years old.

Moses stepped to the child's side and looked down with great affection. "This is Ramond. He is born of a Roma woman. That is his mother," He nodded towards the young woman who had stepped outside the circle, "and the father is a wood elf."

Lupin shivered and he looked down at the child who was staring back with his liquid blue eyes. The child smiled and said with a singsong child-voice, "Where there is fear, I bring peace. You are true and full of compassion. Walk to the edge with me. Where there is doubt, I bring faith." The child took Lupin's hand and smiled up at him with such a brilliant smile that everyone seemed to stop breathing for a moment. There was almost an immediate transformation in Lupin who looked ten years younger. He straightened as if imbued with energy. "Where there is pain, I bring healing," the child said. "If you trust, then there is no fear." Although the words were spoken in the child's soft child voice they were understood by Harry and Lupin.

The child released Remus' hand and turned to Harry. He stepped over and put a small delicate hand on Harry's chest. The eyes crinkled in worry and then twinkled with his smile. "You seek to comfort, rather than to be comforted," he said. "You seek to forgive, rather than be forgiven. Your strength will guide him into the light."

Harry sat stunned and watched as the child turned and left the circle to take his mother's hand and the two disappeared into the darkness. He looked up at Moses, who smiled down at him. Someone handed the gypsy man a fiddle and with a nod he closed his eyes, plucked a string and then began to play. Others suddenly found instruments, drums and guitars. The whole assembly began to sing and several men stood to dance.

Harry felt a hand touch his shoulder. He looked up and saw Snape standing over him. He was hardly recognizable. The man was now dressed in Rom clothes, his hair a light shade of brown and cut short. He placed a hat on his head and gestured for Harry to follow him.

Harry moved away from the crowd and walked through the encampment. Families were gathered around their cooking fires. Children were slowly wandering towards downy beds placed under the wagons and voices dropped to whispers. Snape led him to a wagon near the end of the camp. Harry could smell the fresh scent of grass and could hear horses grazing nearby making intermittent coughing and huffing sounds. They stepped to the end of the wagon and Snape opened the door.

A woman met them at the door. It was the woman whose child had spoken to him. "This is my wife," Snape said. "She will make a potion for you tonight."

The woman climbed down from the wagon and smiled at him shyly and said with a heavy accent, "Chavo, you are ill with this tsitseliba."

"Poisoning," Snape translated. He spoke a few words to her and then opened the door wider and nodded to Harry. Speaking softly, "You need to be inside tonight. You are welcome in my wagon."

Harry was surprised but stepped up the two steps and entered the wagon. It was neatly decorated like a ships cabin, with a small heating stove, a table and chairs and a bed richly draped in brocade tapestry.

The woman followed him and closed the door. She handed him a basin and poured water into it. Once he had washed his hands and face, she handed him a towel and then poured a dark liquid from a pot into a cup. She held a vial with a different liquid than Harry had taken from Snape before. She handed it to him and then stepped around him to pull down the covers on the bed. He drank the liquid. She then handed him a set of pajamas. They obviously belonged to Snape and were long in the leg and too big.

"I come many times in the night," she said. "We must work the poison from your blood. You will be... nasvalo… sick. Wear these clothes and I return." She stepped out of the wagon and called back, "I am Petra. Call out my name if you need me."

Harry stood staring at the door, the pajamas in one hand and the cup in the other. Snape's wife. Snape has a wife, he thought in absolute shock.

…...

Lying in the wagon and staring up at the wooden roof tasted almost like the first freedom Harry felt since leaving the Dursleys. He could smell the wood smoke and hear the music from a few people still up and awake. Most of the kumpania, the grouping of wagons and families, were asleep. It felt comfortable being among these people he barely knew. It was like he'd lived another life and these people had been his family.

Now, he lay in bed in a wagon that belonged to a man he hated. Harry thought about it and shook his head, feeling confused. He thought he hated Snape but the feeling had somehow disappeared. He wasn't sure how he felt about him now, especially after the story he heard; and now he was sleeping comfortably in the man's wagon.

Harry had never been very far from #4 Privet Drive or Hogwarts. There were a number of revelations over the past forty-eight hours he was trying to sort through when it hit him. The pain was very close to experiencing the Cruciatus Curse. He cried out with surprise as much as with the pain. The door opened and the tall figure of his Potion's Master stood against the background of stars. When Harry leaned over and retched, a comforting hand held his forehead and placed a cold towel against his neck.

"You will feel a lot of pain Potter, but Petra is trying to save your life," Snape said again very softly.

Harry looked up and tried to suck air into his starved lungs before he rolled once again and felt the contents of his stomach expelled. It felt like he had eaten glass.

By morning Harry was able to catch a few minutes of rest between episodes. Petra sat next to him and wiped sweat from his face. Just before daybreak Snape stepped back in and talked to the woman before leaving again.

"Am I going to live?" Harry asked her, looking at her for the first time with some interest. She was a woman in her twenties, with long hair curling around her soft heart-shaped face. She had a narrow nose that seemed slightly out of place for the high-cheekbones, although she was still a pretty woman.

She smiled and nodded, "I don't think you die. You need other potion to stop poison."

"I need the antidote," Harry said, understanding her meaning.

She nodded vigorously and said, "Yes. You cannot be strong until you have it. But the pain will not return so soon. You feel better?"

Harry couldn't bring himself to tell her he felt close to death already. He was hoping she was right and that he would start feeling better soon."Thanks," he said weakly.

"You drink something now?" she asked. She held a cup to his lips and let him sip water.

"I have to be up to help Remus," Harry said.

She shook her head to indicate she didn't understand.

Harry pointed to his chest, "Help roov." He hoped he had used the correct word.

At that moment Snape stepped into the wagon. He stared at Harry and took Petra's place. She said something to him quickly and left.

"She says you're feeling better," Snape said.

Harry nodded slowly.

Snape smirked, "Of course you are." He pulled out a vial and handed it Harry.

"You know I don't think I can," Harry pushed his hand back. "I think I've had enough of potions for the time being."

Snape raised an eyebrow. "You know Potter, you're so weak right now that all I'd have to do is hold you down with one hand to pour this down your throat." He held it out again. "If you please." He was sounding more like the potion's professor he knew.

Harry took it and looked at the contents, a milky mixture. "Professor, I have to be able to help, Remus. Will this do it?"

"While you're drinking that I'll fetch Lupin. He's been pacing outside all night long waiting to find out how you are. He'll be in to clean you up."

"Does…does he know I've been poisoned?" Harry asked, wanting confirmation for what he already knew to be true.

Snape stopped at the door and turned to answer, "He and Moses and I are the only ones who know. Drink up." He stepped out into the sunlight and Remus took his place.

….

At noon, they walked through the bustling community of wagons, with children running around them and past them. It was a beautiful and hot summer day and the trees gave off enough shade to keep the camp slightly cooler. Lupin held Harry under the arm to support him.

"Harry, I don't like this," Lupin was saying. "Your ill and getting worse...will get worse. I don't know what they have planned but it can't be good for you and I'm going to stop it."

"No, you're not," Harry argued. "We're going ahead with this. Besides I'm feeling better already." He pushed away from Lupin's support and almost fell but braced himself and stood erect.

Remus stopped, his hands on his hips and frowned at him. Suddenly, there was a loud disturbance in the direction they were headed. Lupin took his arm and they moved more quickly to the edge of the camp and into the open. Most of the Rom people had gathered in a circle and Harry and Remus has to push through to the center. Standing dead center and looking furious was Ron Weasley. In front of him was Snape and just behind, Moses.

"You're not sending me back…" Ron was bellowing. He held out his wand and was pointing it directly at Snape.

"Ron," Harry gasped. "How did you get here? How did you find us?"

Ron spun around and barked, "Tell him Harry, tell him I'm going with you!" He stopped and studied Harry and said, "Harry, you look horrible," and then, "I rode in on top of the carriage with Hagrid and I'm not going back. I'll follow you, I will, but I'm not going back!"

Harry nodded, and whispered, "Alright Ron, alright."

Snape walked over to stand before Ron ignoring the wand pointed at his chest. He wasn't glaring or scowling or even angry. He just looked at Ron and nodded. Harry and Ron were surprised and stole a glance at each other and then Ron lowered his wand.

"Very well. For right now stand aside and stay out of the way, Weasley," Snape ordered.

The circle was once again broken by Petra and Ramond as they approached. The little boy was dressed in woodland clothes and barefoot. Even so, he was beautiful, and even more beautiful in the light of day. He walked up to Severus who looked down on the child and reached out a hand. It was taken very gently and once again Harry was amazed at the smile on Snape's face.

Moses joined Harry and Remus and translated what the child said, "It's time to begin. You and you, Harry, stand here in the center." He motioned for Lupin to stand with Harry in the center of the circle. The people closed in around them.

"If this is going to be dangerous for Harry then we need to stop," Lupin pleaded. "He can barely stand as it is."

Harry took hold of one arm and grunted, "Moses, tell him to proceed."

The child pointed up into the sky. "Look there he says to the west," Moses began, "there where the ghost of the moon rests against the western sky. Look there to the sun where it sits above our heads chasing the moon. The child began to chant something that Harry didn't understand:

A Thiarna treoaigh muid, Solas a tabard nach e a cuartu, Mar bheirean tu maithiunas gheobhaidh muid, he said. The sun was suddenly covered with a dark cloud making the moon stand out against the sky. Remus moaned, his head dropped and Harry turned to look into his face, still holding onto him. He'd seen the transformation before during the night when he and Hermione and Ron had first met Sirius. But now, so close, Harry was amazed at the tortured, wrenching transformation. Lupin snarled and fought to break away. "Get away from me!" he cried.

"Don't let go!" Moses shouted. "Whatever you do, hang on!" The child continued to sing, and Moses looked at him with a wild look on his face and continued to translate, "I will sail with you on the living wind, protect me on my journey, wake my heart, strengthen my soul, give me back my life. Father Moon leave me!"

Harry grabbed Lupin around the chest, clasped his hands together at his back and closed his eyes. There was no way he could stop the teeth from gnashing at him or the claws from ripping at him as Lupin twisted and turned and transformed in his arms.

"The desire will soon die and with it, you become a man who walks on two legs. I am a channel to your peace, I am Innocence," Moses chanted. "By dying, one awakens to life."

Gur bheir gra a tabard na e a fhail, Agus nuair a gheobhaimid bas, Muscailte e muid I mbeatha siorai, the child's hair blew around his face like strands of pure gold at a sudden gust of wind. The moon seemed to stop in its' path and grow larger. Harry dropped to his knees with the now struggling animal in his arms and he could feel the stinging pain of the scratches and teeth marks. He was fast losing his grip.

"Harry!" Ron screamed.

Without notice, Ron leapt to Harry's side and grabbed the wolf and together they rolled on the ground and pinned Lupin in the dust.

"Burning Sun wake thy heart," Moses shouted in response to the child's outburst. "Where there was doubt, there is now faith."

He and Ron struggle to pin the animal down and avoid the fangs and claws. Harry was fast losing his grip, his strength, and close to losing consciousness. Please hurry, he thought in desperation. I can't hold on. He finally noticed a change and felt the body beneath him stop moving. The struggle was ending, the body changing once again. A clap of deafening thunder shocked him into sharper awareness The sun had broken through the clouds and was now burning on the back of his neck. He looked up and coughed the dust out of his lungs. Lupin was laying on his back staring up at the sky, fully human.

"You can let him go now," Snape said. His shadow was cast down on them and Harry rolled to his back and turned loose. He didn't think he could have held a second longer.

"Is it done?" he asked, gasping for air and pushing away the darkness threatening to overcome him.

Moses strolled over and stuck a sliver of wood in his mouth as a toothpick and said casually, "It is done Chavo. Ramond says he is clean now."

"What about these bites and scratches?" Ron asked sitting up. In the last moments he'd also gotten bitten. "Will we end up as werewolves?"

Moses shook his head and replied, "Na. He is clean now and so are you."

They all turned to look at Remus who had not attempted to sit up. He was sobbing silently with his hands over his face.

Harry reached over and gently laid a hand on his chest. The people moved away and finally just the three of them remained on the ground. Lupin sat up and wiped his face with his handkerchief.

Ron smiled at him. Together they helped Harry to sit. They sat in silence in a small circle in the dirt and let the breeze blow over them.

"Time to go get Hermione, boys," Lupin said, gathering himself together. They stood and watched the faint orb of the moon drift towards the horizon.