AN: Alright first of I just want to say…Sorry for this taking so long in coming! Not completely happy with this chapter but it will just have to do for now. Hope y'all still enjoy it…
Second, to slowburn I'm glad you like it and as for looking favorably upon Sirius you've got to remember Harry is in a depressed angsty teenager that everyone else has against. He knows that Sirius cares but he's also not really had any adult on his side before either, so he's got that against him, Harry not Sirius. I love Sirius, and this is one where I want to portray Harry as a slightly disturbed teenager…I hope….I have no intention of portraying Sirius negatively at all as a whole just from Harry's mind point at this time….Hope that helps, and thanks so much for the review!
Thirdly, if anyone has an idea that I could play with I would greatly appreciate it. Been having some massive writer's block and hoping someone out there knows the cure….Hope y'all like this chapter and continue to stay with me after it. Cheers to all!
He Is Not One of Us
Chapter Eight
"Enough, Remus, if you keep out of my way, I'll let you stay but that mutt must leave! I will not have fleas and dog germs all over my patients, dragons are bad enough!" Pompfrey glared at the werewolf in front of her, who lifted his hands in surrender.
"Understandable but you might find it too late for the dog to leave," Remus added pointing over Pompfrey's shoulder. The older witch spun around to find Snuffles whimpering as he curled up at Harry's feet on the bed, huge sad gray eyes locked on the sight of Hermione gently running her fingers through Harry's hair as silent tears ran down her cheeks. Pompfrey sighed in defeat as she went around to the other side of the bed.
"Alright, but you stay there; Ms. Granger, I must ask you to step out I need to see the damage," Pompfrey sighed once more at the vehement shake of the young witch's head. The Healer banished the rag of a shirt to see more of the black and blue markings but they didn't concern her right then. No, all her energies were held by the half inch slowly seeping holes down Harry's front. Quickly she began to magic potions into his stomach, cringing slightly as the wounds began to sizzle.
"Why is it doing that?" Hermione asked her worry evident in her voice.
"A Horntails' spikes have a venom in them much like a Basilisk, that is the potion forcing it out. Unfortunately I cannot do anything for the fractured skull, ribs, or blood loss until it is out of him," Pompfrey answered as she watched the last of the putrid acid-like substance seep out to be banished away with quick motions she sealed the holes leaving small scars, then began to magically reset the broken ribs with sharp cracks. Pompfrey narrowed her gaze at Snuffles at the whimpers but then quickly reknited the skull together.
"I need your assistance, Miss Granger,"
"Anything, Madam Pompfrey," the matron gave the young witch a small smile.
"I need you to pour these down his throat while I hold him up. Be careful to massage his throat gently so he will swallow them. One by one, please,"
"Yes, ma'am," Hermione murmured as she took the two vials of dark red potion. She waited for Pompfrey's nod and then began the process of getting Harry to swallow them.
"Very well done, Ms. Granger; now all we can do is wait for him to wake up. I'm sure he will be out for several days though," Madam Pompfrey stated as she turned her attention to the markings all over his body. The group jumped at the sudden grandfatherly voice behind them. Hermione tensed as she spotted the Headmaster along with McGonagall, and Snape coming closer to her Harry. She kept her gaze on the ancient looking wizard as he bent down next to Pompfrey to peer closely at the tattoos.
"Ingenious, truly ingenious," Dumbledore murmured as he absently ran his hand down his long beard. Hermione narrowed her red rimmed brown eyes at him.
"What is, Albus?" McGonagall asked as she came up to stand next to Remus while Snape went to stand next to Hermione, only a dog noticed the slow movement of the Potions Master's hand come up to gently lay on the young witch's shoulder and the subsequent relaxation of the girl. Snuffles twitched his nose at the sight but didn't do anything.
"Ms. Granger, have you been teaching him runes?" Dumbledore asked instead of answering his deputy, his blue eyes twinkling merrily.
"I showed him the basics last year," she answered tightening her grip on the limp hand on the bed.
"I see, as for what it is, Minerva, these are runes and elemental lines. Quite advanced really, and must be first etched into the body by a loved one for protection and sacrifice. It's an ancient druid ritual that has long gone into ill favor. However did you find it, Ms. Granger?" Dumbledore asked as he looked again into her eyes, only to step back slightly at the fiery anger within their depths.
"I didn't, sir," she nearly growled out to the terse look coming from her Head of House.
"Ms. Granger," McGonagall started but was stopped by a hand from the Headmaster.
"Will it hurt him?" Remus asked quietly before anyone else spoke up. He kept his gaze on Harry's prone figure.
"No, he is well on the mend now. I believe that was the largest being he has attempted and it took a great strain on his magic but other than that he will be fine. I dare say he has acquired a new tool against Tom. But I believe it is time for scores and as he is indisposed…"
"I will take them in his place," McGonagall added to his nod of a head.
"Excellent, Severus anything to add?"
"No," he stated as he glanced over the boy's unconscious form and gently squeezed Hermione's shoulder before turning to follow the other teachers out. Pompfrey shook her head slowly as she then began to bustle about.
"Very well, Ms. Granger, I will be moving him to the Hospital Wing once everyone has cleared out. You may wish to go and see your friends to tell them about Mr. Potter here," Hermione looked up to glance from Remus, Snuffles and then to the Healer.
"Madam Pompfrey, there are very few that will be told, and I'm sure they will be waiting for us at the Wing doors. I'm not leaving him," she stated, she lifted Harry's hand up to her cheek as silent tears ran down them. Madam Pompfrey let out a resigned sigh before she then began to bustle about checking up on her other patients, her annoyed murmurs the only noise for awhile. Hermione jumped slightly at the sudden voice across from her, she jerked her head up to stare into haunted gray eyes than quickly looked around her to see curtains in place.
"What are you doing? You could be seen?" she whispered heatedly as she turned back to the runaway convict. Sirius smirked slightly but it didn't remain on his face for long as he looked down at his godson.
"I just needed to ask you a question; Hermione then I'll turn back. How long have you been chummy with Sniv…Snape?" Hermione gaped at the man in front of her, eyes blinking slowly.
"What are you talking about?" she managed as her mind went over everything that had happened. Sirius arched an eyebrow at the young witch silently until Hermione let out a sigh.
"It's not what your perverted mind could come up with, Sirius. Since this whole damn school started calling Harry dark Professor Snape has…has tried to help him. He's not been the kindest but he has been able to help Harry. I don't know why he's suddenly started being this way and I really don't care. He's not blatant with the change of course, but…Sirius, since Professor Snape's been talking with him he doesn't consume himself with THAT type of magic. Please, don't make a big deal out of this with Harry. He needs you, Remus, and Professor Snape," she pleaded as she reached over to grasp Sirius' hand to squeeze it slightly. Sirius glanced away from her to Remus who nodded. He let out a puff of air as he ran a hand through his hair much like his godson that made Hermione smile softly.
"Thank you, Sirius, now change back before Madam Pompfrey comes back and opens the curtains more than she should," she ordered a soft smile taking away any venom that could be there. Sirius mock-saluted her before he turned back into Snuffles and jumped back up at the foot of the bed to curl back up. The three remained in silence just waiting for word that they would be moving to the Hospital Wing soon.
NLFWGW
"Did you see the size of that thing?" Neville murmured as he gaped at the open hallway in front of the Medical Wing even as he paced back and forth while the Twins slouched against the wall.
"Aye,"
"Big beastie, though"
"We must admit to a curiosity,"
"Over those wicked looking,"
"Marks on his arms," the twins remarked in their normal migraine inducing rhetoric. Neville glanced over at them with a shake of his head.
"There is that," he muttered as voices began to come up the corridor towards them. Lifting his gaze up he found Madam Pompfrey levitating a stretcher with his friend on it being followed by Professor McGonagall, but what threw him off was the fact that his previous Defense professor was with them with the biggest shaggy black dog he had ever seen bookending Hermione.
"Is he alright?"
Neville could only assume that it was Fred as the two stood up from the wall, looks of their own worry taking over their usually grinning faces.
"He is on the mend, gentlemen. Now if you will excuse me," Madam Pompfrey stated as she brushed past the teenagers with her patient being followed by their Head of House. Neville stepped up to Hermione to simply open his arms to her giving her an open invitation. He may have been the shy wallflower and in all honesty he still was but when it came to his friends he could lift mountains. Hermione instantly left Remus' arm to swamp Neville, silent tears streaming down her face. Neville held her tightly as he glanced up to his old professor, Remus simply nodded with a soft smile and he knew Harry would make it.
"Harry will be alright, Hermione. Madam Pompfrey will have him fixed up in no time, he may be a bit moodier for a few days but then he'll be trying to escape her domain,"
"Oh, Neville," she murmured into his shoulder.
"Exactly my Dark Lady, our revered dark lord will be back on his feet teaching,"
"Our moronic wanker of a brother,"
"Manners in no time; you'll see," the Twins chorused with matching grins on their faces as she looked up at them. She chuckled slightly at them before straightening up and brushing away her tears. She glanced over to Neville's shoulder to see his robes now stained with her tears.
"I'm sorry Neville, let me fix that," she stated bringing her wand up and cleaning his shoulder before the teen could say otherwise.
"No harm done, Hermione. Professor Lupin, I didn't expect to see you here," he added as he looked back to the werewolf.
"I wanted to show my support for Harry today. Though I'm a bit concerned about the new name for him and you, Hermione; is there something you haven't told me?" Remus asked to receive a sigh from the young witch.
"It's nothing new, Professor, just these two being themselves. The whole school believes that since Harry is a 'dark wizard' then I'm his 'dark lady' apparently and they refuse to see the serious side of things," Hermione answered with a pointed look at the twins who broadened their grins at her.
"Seriousness is merely,"
"A by-product of boring-ness," Fred looked over at his twin.
"That sounded better in our heads," they both echoed. Remus tried to hide his grin while Padfoot barked in his own doggy laughter. Neville snorted with a shake of his head.
"Boys…though if you behave Madam Pompfrey may let you stay for a little while to see Harry for yourselves," Hermione sighed beginning to head into the Medical Wing, but paused when she realized that Remus and Padfoot weren't following.
"You're coming aren't you?"
"We'll be along shortly, we want to check a few things first," Remus answered with an encouraging smile for her. Hermione stared at them for a moment before nodding her head and stepping inside. Neville and the Twins followed after a quick farewell to their favorite past professor. Remus glanced down to see his old friend already heading away from the doors and to the opposite end of the castle.
"Wait up, Padfoot, you're not exactly the calmest of…dogs when it comes to Severus," he announced as he quickly trotted up to walk next to the dog to see the pointed best glare that a dog could give.
"Well, you're not," Remus affirmed while Padfoot rolled his eyes and continued on towards the dungeons. The two remained silent as they made their way through the halls once more; steadily they began to fill up with students from the emptying Great Hall. Many of them spotted Remus and called out their acknowledgments with a wide grin and others stared at him with openly anxious faces at the fact that he was a werewolf and in the halls once more.
"Professor Lupin! Wait, please!" The pair paused as they turned back to see the youngest Weasley bursting from the throng of students to stand in front of them.
"Miss Weasley, how are you but I must say that I am no longer your professor," Remus stated with a kind smile at the young redhead, but she merely waved her hand in dismiss of that fact.
"You are the best that I've had so far, though I will admit Professor Moody is good but he creeps me out," Ginny added with a sheepish pale blush darkening her cheeks.
"I will admit to a familiar feeling of creepiness myself around him, but I think you were curious to something else though, weren't you?" Remus added, the ending drifting off as a faint smell fluttered through his nose. It was so familiar yet; he couldn't quite remember where he had smelt it before. He jerked back to attention at the timid hand on his arm.
"What? Yes, just all the smells distracting me, smells like dinner was good," he grinned at her to get a soft chuckle from her.
"Always is, Professor, but I was wondering how Harry is doing? Was planning to go up myself but I'm sure as a Weasley I wouldn't be welcome," she added drifting off herself at the end as she thought about her stupid older brother.
"Ginny, the twins are up there right now and I'm sure that the only Weasley on their list as it were is one Ronald Weasley. Go on up and check for yourself, but he's fine now," Remus continued to see a big smile spread across her face and a quick nod before took off down the way they had come.
"Thank you, Professor!" she cried over her shoulder. Remus shook his head before turning back to his own way where again the lingering familiar scent brushed past him though it was stronger.
"Do you smell that? I can't place it, you?" he muttered to his "dog". Padfoot sniffed the air a few times but then shook his head before taking off towards the dungeons. Remus sighed before chasing after the ex-convict turned dog.
SSSBRL
"Alright, Padfoot, now I want you to behave and remember what Hermione said earlier," Remus muttered as he paused before knocking on the door. He glanced down at the dog as Sirius huffed at him. "I mean it." Padfoot merely rolled his eyes and scratched at the door. Remus quickly knocked to receive an abrupt enter. Padfoot head butted the door for it to open being followed by Remus once more.
"What do you two want?" Severus sneered as the door closed with a snap. Remus bowed his head at the sight of Sirius glaring at the Potions Master.
"What was that in the tent? What the hell is going on in this place?" Sirius growled as he leaned forward across the desk into Snape's face.
"What Sirius is wondering is why are the Weasley Twins going around calling Harry and Hermione a dark lord and lady?" Remus interjected calmly as he put a hand on Sirius' shoulder, pushing him back and forcibly sitting him down in one of the chairs. Sirius opened his mouth to retort but came up short at the sudden movement coming from the other side of the desk. They stared as Snape began to pace with a hard glint in his dark eyes.
"I assumed Potter and Granger told you already of what is going on here, but apparently I misjudged things," Snape muttered.
"Harry doesn't talk about much of anything anymore; we get regular letters asking about this spell or that book, but nothing in regards to school life. Hermione has told us that the school once more has gone against him and that Ronald has joined them this time. To be quite honest we get more from her than Harry," Remus added as he glanced over to his friend.
"Harry's asked me for some of the books from the Black library, well he didn't use those exact words but he knew of my family's leanings in magic and asked if I knew of any books that could help…I…I sent him one of the more grey books that my family owned…" Sirius murmured with wide eyes.
"I believe it is where he found the ritual that you just witnessed the after effects," Snape nodded his head as he sat back down at his deck after returning from a cabinet next to a door leading to his private rooms. The two remaining Marauders jumped slightly at the thunk of a bottle on the wooden desk, they gawked at the half empty bottle of Firewhiskey and three glasses that Snape was filling.
"I will admit to being a bitter man able to hold a grudge and I admit to still finding you both a sore point of my past; but I will not allow the past to repeat itself. So I will say this once and only once. One month ago I began to hear mutters in my fourth year Gryffindor and Slytherin potions class that were rather disturbing even to me, they went along the vein of Potter being a dark lord,"
"Harry's always fussed about the Slytherins…"
"It wasn't just my Slytherins, Black; some of the more cruel obscenities came from Weasley, Finnegan, and Thomas. The only two in the entire class that weren't of the Neutral families that were on Potter's side of things were Longbottom and Granger. I also spotted a few books that I know to be darker in nature in his bag…I have managed to draw him away from delving completely into that particular nature of magic but I will not dare to hope that I was able to steer him away completely. Albus' infernal lack of senses have nearly driven me mad because he just simply refuses to see that this is one test that he shouldn't push Potter into lightly."
"Are you saying that just because someone put Harry's name in the Goblet everyone is turning against him and calling him a dark lord and Harry is starting to believe them?" Sirius' voice reached a higher octave as he gaped at the Potions Master.
"It's not just this tournament, Black, I've listened to the other older students going on about Quirrell turning up dead at the end of his first year, his parseltongue ability, and he was apparently spotted at some point helping you escape last year, and let's not forget about Moody' s Unforgivable lesson where he was able to throw off the Imperious curse that Moody put on everyone," Snape retorted as he knocked back his glass of firewhiskey as Remus and Sirius grabbed their glass and repeated the gesture.
"It probably doesn't help that Harry isn't anything like what they've been brought up to believe their Boy-Who-Lived should be like," Remus murmured as Snape nodded his head in agreement. The three fell into silence as each had minds full of random thoughts.
"Hermione said Harry needs all three of us…so what are we going to do now?" Sirius asked, breaking the silence. Snape lifted his gaze from the red and gold liquor that danced with its fire to locked eyes with the white sheep of the Black family.
"We don't abandon him and make sure that Hermione Granger doesn't get hurt in all of this mess, because if she gets hurt then there will be no stopping him," he stated. Sirius glanced over to Remus then back with a curt nod of his head.
"Agreed," Remus added.
