Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me in any way, shape or form. This story is just something I've done for my own entertainment.
A/N: I'd like to take this time to thank you guys for the positive reviews. Nothing negative so I'm taking that as a good sign.
Chapter 7
"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget."
1997:
Lupin lay in the roots of an old tree. There was a pain in his lower back from lying on a knot in the trees wood. Lupin tried to move but his body ached from running all night and he gasped as spasms rocked his legs and arms. He clutched his pulsing right side and his hand came away red and wet. Blood, he was covered in it. His white skin had smears of dried blood plastered everywhere. His body shook from cold and sobbing. Mist surrounded him like a blanket and he wished for his abandoned clothes at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Lupin sat up and hugged himself. He glanced around but the mist had become so thick he could barely see ten feet in front of his face.
Where were the werewolves that had hunted him all night? Fear was tearing at his mind, making him think slowly as he tried to search the darkness for gnashing teeth to come for him. Trees glistened with wet and the sky was a dark gray. It looked like it had recently rained and leaves dripped perspiration. Lupin sniffed the air, someone was coming. He stiffened and looked into the suffocating close trees directly in front of him. Suddenly Lupin noticed two spots of yellow, like the eyes of a cat staring back at him from between two branches. They blinked and Remus tensed for a fight but they disappeared, now he could hear shuffling and the undergrowth shifting. Branches snapped as a black-cloaked figure stepped from the swirling mist. They had come for him at last. The cloaked man stood before Lupin and extended his hand.
"Remus." The voice was cold and sent shivers down Lupin's spine. The man removed his hood. "You have returned Brother, have you finally accepted your fate? Do you truly wish to remain with the Brotherhood of the Moon this time?" Once, after Lily and James had died and he believed Peter dead and Sirius a traitor Lupin had gone to the Forbidden Forest and joined this group of werewolves.
They were a pack, and refused anything human. They rejected their human shapes and could change into a wolf at anytime, which Lupin could not do because he was the type of werewolf who rejected his wolf shape. The pack was very selective and only allowed the strongest of wolves run with them. The only reason Lupin was allowed this access to this select group was because he had evaded them through the night. He had survived where few others had not, for a second time. Lupin glared up at the man in front of him, his face was wolfish, yellow eyes stood out from the white skin and his hair grew thicker than an average humans. The signs of a werewolf who didn't want to be return to human form. This was a different leader than Lupin remembered which meant that this man had killed him. If he refused, he would be killed as well.
Lupin shuddered. All he could think about was the terror he had felt when he had stumbled across another wolf in the forest. He'd approached the wolf, thinking it alone, but others had stepped from the trees, encircling Remus. He'd tried to run but one of the wolves gouged his side and Remus had barely escaped, they could track him by the smell of blood.
He hung his head at his nakedness and whimpered. Even though the full moon was gone, his eyes remained yellow. His hands were clawed, forever half transformed. He looked up and met the other half wolf's eyes. He could never return to Tonks like this, only half a man. Not to mention what he now remembered had happened with Hermione. He was disgusted with himself.
I deserve this.
"Yes… Brother." Remus barely managed to whisper. The man standing over Remus leered in triumph as Remus grabbed his hand.
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Still 1997:
Dear Harry,
Have you heard from Hermione lately? I'm starting to worry about her. Pig just comes back with the letters I send her. Hopefully you've heard something.
Also I thought you should know that Tonks came to the Burrow hysterical. Remus has been missing apparently since the last full moon which was more than a week ago. Thought maybe you'd heard something? Can't wait for you to come for the wedding!
Ron
Harry reread the letter but it still said the same thing. Something was off, first Hermione had disappeared and now Remus. Harry paced his room in frustration. Worry was coursing through his blood, forcing him to move about randomly. He touched his scar that hadn't burned in a while then moved to his desk. He attempted to sit but his legs itched for him to keep walking. When he passed Hedwig's empty cage he considered cleaning it again but he'd already done that twice yesterday. Finally Harry collapsed on his bed and tried to take a nap, he wasn't sure how much longer he could go without going stir crazy.
Should I go to Hermione's home?
This would be the place to start if he wanted to find Hermione, and now Remus. If Remus really had answered Harry's request and gone to find Hermione. He was reluctant to do this though, he was still under age and under the protection of his mother's blood in Petunia's house and if he left, using magic, unsure if he would return by the time he was seventeen, then the protection would be broken.
He half expected the loud pop of disturbance that Dobby created when he Apparated into his room. Harry stared at the tiny elf and sat up. "Dobby!"
"Hello Harry Potter sir!" Dobby bowed and Harry waved impatiently.
"What is it Dobby? Have you heard something?" Harry leaned forward and watched the elf anxiously.
"Yes sir! Dobby had a hard time leaving the castle sir, much to do during the summer. But Dobby has come at last! One week ago, Dobby heard howling of a werewolf outside, near the Forbidden Forest." Harry nodded eagerly. "Dobby recognized Harry Potter's friend Remus Lupin. He entered the forest and changed. Dobby followed him sir." Dobby began to wring his hands.
Harry jumped up. He paced the floor again and gestured wildly. "Where has he gone Dobby? I have to find him!" Harry moved about his room in agitation. He knocked his hand against his dresser and he cursed. He shook it to stop the burning and barely heard the elf's next words.
Dobby shook his head. "No, no, no! Harry Potter cannot go looking for his friend!" Harry froze, and stared at the elf. Dobby was quite shaken, his eyes wide with terror. "Harry Potter's friend has joined the pack of werewolves that resides in the Forbidden Forest! It is much too dangerous for Harry to go there!"
Harry could hardly believe it. "Werewolves? He's joined werewolves? What are you talking about Dobby? Remus can't stand werewolves, they're dark creatures! Remus isn't like that!" He ignored the throbbing in his hand and turned to look at Dobby. He noticed the elf's obvious fear and began to worry.
"But sir! Harry Potter's friend is unrecognizable! He is only half transformed! Half wolf!" Dobby squeaked and put his hands over his eyes. "A most terrifying sight!" Dobby looked back at Harry. "No. Dobby cannot let Harry see his friend this way."
Harry wanted to shake the elf; Dobby always went about trying to help Harry the wrong way. "but if that's true then it's even more reason for me to save him! Come on Dobby I must save him!"
The elf's ears drooped and he looked at Harry sadly. "Harry Potter is a most noble wizard."
"He's my friend Dobby, you must understand." Harry began picking up things around his room; he'd need his wand and food if he was going into the Forbidden Forest. Once he was sure he had enough clothes he ducked out and took food from his Aunt and Uncle's kitchen. They were out and wouldn't even notice he would be gone. He hadn't really left his room since coming there this summer. "Alright Dobby." Harry said as he came back into his room and threw everything into a bag. "Take me to the Forbidden Forest."
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1997:
Dobby stood next to Harry at the edge of the woods. Sick with worry, Harry had finally convinced Dobby to take him in Side-Along Apparation to Hogsmeade and walk with him to Hogwarts.
"Harry Potter cannot go in there sir!" Dobby's eyes widened in fear as he stared into the gloomy forest.
"I have to Dobby! Tell someone where I've gone. Tell them to come help me!" Harry ordered the elf. He felt awful about it, Dobby had always been kind to Harry but he needed to find his friends. Maybe Remus had learned where Hermione had gone. If he truly had joined the werewolves and Harry couldn't convince him to return to Tonks then Harry could at least ask him about Hermione.
"Then Harry Potter must know. The group of werewolves is called the Brotherhood of the Moon. They reject their human side completely! They will not be happy if Harry Potter, any human, tries to find them."
"I'll be careful Dobby. I just need to speak with Remus. I'm sure he'll speak with me." Harry looked into the thick trees and shuddered. He knew the forest was full of unspeakable evils but he had to find his friends, his friends were the only things he had in the world. It was part of being a Gryffindor; his loyalty (and bravery) wouldn't allow Hermione to remain lost.
Dobby remained at the edge of the woods as Harry pushed through the branches of the nearest trees and headed into unknown dangers.
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Still 1997:
Harry tread lightly. He'd been walking for most of the day through the forest. He hadn't come across anyone yet, not even Grawp or the centaurs but night was drawing closer and he still didn't have any clues as to where Remus was. A branch snapped under his foot and he froze in fright. Over the snapping of the twig he was sure he'd heard something. He cocked his head toward where he'd heard the noise and held his breath.
There was the sound again and Harry carefully moved forward. He adjusted the weight of his bag and went along, foot over foot, silently. He'd definitely heard voices ahead of him and he didn't want to be noticed just yet. He got down on his knees and crawled beneath an incredibly large root. Dirt smeared on his hands and knees but he barely noticed, he needed to get closer to hear what those voices were saying. His hand hit against a branch which snapped beneath the weight. He held his breath and listened for the voices to cease. They didn't. Harry inched forward, being much more careful this time.
Harry noticed a glowing light ahead of him, between branches and he inched forward cautiously, the glow looked like it came from a campfire but he doubted it was a family of muggles that were camped out in the middle of the Forbidden Forest.
He army crawled underneath a bush and glanced into a fire lit clearing. A large bonfire dominated the middle and around it sat people who looked human... but weren't. Their eyes shone yellow, and their hair seemed to spread across their bodies more thickly. One reached forward to grab a stick and Harry saw his claws. And most had black robes and used the hoods to cover their faces. They gathered in a large circle and Harry gulped. There must have been about fifty. He would never be able to walk among them without being caught. He scanned the many faces for Moony...There! Harry sucked in his breath. Moony looked almost twenty years younger than the last time he'd seen him. His face glowed with youth and his hair was thick and brown without any patches of grey. He no longer hunched but stood tall with pride. But he had changed in bad ways too. His hands were larger and his fingernails had been traded for claws. His eyes were a sickening yellow color and he was paler than ever. Harry looked away. Harry wanted to sob with regret for not coming for Moony sooner but he had had no way of knowing what had become of Moony. But he held his tongue and got comfortable. He'd have to wait a long time for a chance to save Remus.
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1976:
Hermione tapped her quill aggressively against her paper and glared at the blank page. She had wanted to start this Transfiguration essay early but it looked like she'd never be able to come up with anything to say. It looked like studying in the library was going to be a waste of time once again. Annoyed she set her quill down and glanced up at Sirius who was sitting across from her. He quickly looked back down at his paper when she glanced at him and Hermione rolled her eyes. "I thought you said you were actually going to study Sirius." She raised her eyebrow but he stared down at his blank paper stubbornly.
"I am."
"No. You're not.
"Hermione." Sirius looked up and smirked. "I was not staring at you."
Hermione rubbed her temples and glared at Sirius."Oh really?" It was driving mad the way he would beg to study with her but would just end up staring at her the entire time.
"Really." There was silence while Hermione sighed and went back to blank essay. Then, "Did you know you have this cute little wrinkle in your forehead when you're concentrating?"
Hermione growled and went to smack Sirius upside the head but James sat between them just at that moment and she didn't get the chance. "So guess what!" James looked excited and Hermione was distracted from exacting revenge on Sirius' irritating habits. "I asked Lily if she would be joining us at Hogsmeade tomorrow and she said she'd think about it! Isn't that great?" He went back and forth between his friends but Hermione looked tired and Sirius looked…well he was staring at Hermione.
Sirius chuckled but Hermione looked at James in concern. "That doesn't really sound very promising James."
"Hermione! That's the nicest way she's ever said no before! I'd say its progress." Sirius was now snorting with laughter but James tenaciously ignored him. He looked at Hermione for support instead and she tried to give him an encouraging smile.
"That's great James." She looked at Sirius for back up but he was still laughing. "Would you like me to say something to her?" Maybe she could convince Lily to come with them or risk depressing James.
"Sure Hermione. Hey Sirius! Stop snorting, maybe your animagus should have been a pig."
Sirius immediately stopped laughing and glared at James. "At least I have a date to Hogsmeade." Sirius smirked as he went back to pretend writing his essay and James looked cowed but Hermione looked pissed.
"Excuse me?" She stared at Sirius in disbelief but he was still cheerfully jotting away at his fake essay. "I sincerely hope you're not talking about me."
"Of course I am Hermione." Sirius stared back up at her. "You and I are going, Remus and Doriana, and now I guess Lily and James. Peter is always just there anyways…" He trailed off.
Furiously Hermione stood up. "Forget it!" She grabbed her blank piece of paper and quill and stomped out of the library before Ms. Pince could kick her out for yelling but Sirius was right behind her. He'd grabbed his stuff in a hurry and papers were falling behind him in an absurd looking bread crumb trail.
"Hermione where are you going? You forgot your transfiguration book!" Hermione considered ignoring him but she couldn't just abandon a book. She sighed.
"What Sirius?" She'd gotten about halfway back to the Gryffindor common room but now she forced herself to turn around and face Sirius. She folded her arms over her chest angrily and glared him down but he continued to smile in an infuriating way.
"Your book." He held it up but papers flew everywhere and he bent to pick them up. Sighing Hermione knelt down and helped him. "Thanks." He said cheerfully when all the papers were picked up. Despite her anger Hermione smiled at his childishness. "So…why don't you want to go with me?"
Hermione groaned and glanced behind, she wanted to leave and not ever have this conversation but Sirius was really nice to her, she couldn't just be rude for the heck of it. "Listen…Sirius. I'm really very flattered but…" She looked apologetic but there was no way it would ever work out. "Sirius. I came back twenty years… In the future, you're so much… older." Sirius still looked confused. His forehead was scrunched in confusion and he had his head cocked like a…well a dog. "Ugh!" She wanted to smack his dumb, adorable head. "You're just like a little puppy! It's infuriating!" Sirius perked up and she could imagine his little tail wagging. "Sirius! In my time you're almost forty!" He cringed. "And I'm seventeen. It's just…well it's weird." Hermione sighed and brushed her bangs back. She couldn't look Sirius in the face at the moment so she had no idea Sirius was smiling sadly.
"Hermione." Sirius said her name very softly and Hermione blushed. "Who fucking cares?"
Hermione was startled and she looked at Sirius shocked but he simply shrugged, his facial expression very determined. "W-what?"
"I said who fucking cares? So what if in the future I'm old. I'm also dead so I don't see what the big deal is." Hermione's jaw dropped. "In all honesty Hermione. I like you because you're different. You're a challenge, it's interesting." He shrugged again and Hermione wanted to respond to this but she was still stuck on what he'd said before.
He grabbed her elbow and dragged her into the nearest empty classroom. The door squeaked shut and before Hermione could protest he stood in front of it so she couldn't leave. He looked down at his shoes and took a deep breath. "I don't usually do this Hermione… but I really like you." Hermione's eyes widened. Her tongue was still tied though so she couldn't answer him. "But you need to lighten up. I can see how stressed out you are and seriously," he grinned. "it's not healthy. So just go on this one little date with me, have some fun and in the 'future' I swear I won't give you any grief for it." Hermione looked at Sirius in shock. She couldn't help agreeing with him on some points, she was stressed, but going on a date wasn't going to fix that…Was it?
Hermione rubbed her arm and scuffed her shoe across the floor. She couldn't say no without hurting his feelings, and if he promised it would be the only one. "Oh alright." She tried to push him out of the way but he hugged her instead.
He took a deep breath in and smelled strawberries and mint before grinning. "I promise you'll have fun Hermione." She shoved him away and nodded in agreement.
"Thanks Sirius." Then she ducked under his arm and disappeared down the hall before he could remind her, he still had her book.
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Sirius fell onto his bed and sighed heavily. Hermione's book fell on the floor next to him and he buried his head into the soft down-feather pillow.
"Did you catch her?" James said absently as he folded some of his school robes to put in his dresser. Remus glanced up from his own bed and watched Sirius doubtfully.
"Oh James, I can see why you like Lily. It's so much more fun when they don't like you back." Sirius chuckled as James grumbled before throwing his dirty robe in the basket and putting on pajamas. Remus smiled.
"Lily likes me." James pulled his sheets down and jumped into his bed.
"Yeah she just doesn't know it yet." Remus added as he fluffed his pillow. Sirius laughed heartily.
James glared at Remus but finally sighed. "Maybe you're right." Sirius and Remus looked at each other in disbelief. "Maybe I should give up." Peter gaped at James.
There was silence for a while as they tried to imagine a James that didn't constantly moon over Lily. It was almost impossible. "But…James? She finally said 'maybe'." Remus stared at James in horror.
Wait a second-
"Shit!" Remus looked around for a clock. "Shit shit shit shit SHIT!" He shouted as he began throwing random robes on and scrambling to find his prefects badge.
Everyone was now looking at him in doubt; it looked like Moony had finally lost his mind. "I have to guard the corridors tonight with Doriana. Help!" The boys jumped from their beds and helped him find his Prefects badge. Peter pulled it out from under his bed and Remus found a pair of clean robes. "Bye guys!" He shouted as he sprinted out the door and his friends shook their heads in laughter.
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After apologizing profusely for being late Remus was distracted as he walked the halls with Doriana. Even though he politely answered her questions, half his head was back in his room where Sirius had been saying he liked Hermione.
He only likes her because she doesn't like him…maybe Doriana only likes me because I don't like her?
Moony watched Doriana's long hair swish behind her as they walked and although he thought she was very pretty, he couldn't see himself ever liking her. "Doriana…" But he needed to get Hermione out of his head. She was driving him insane.
"Yes Remus? " Doriana acted nonplussed but when he looked over again he could see her looking at him hopefully. Her blue eyes were wide with anticipation.
He sighed. "Tomorrow… the Hogsmeade trip. Would you like to go with me?" He asked this in a rush and he worried he'd have to say it again if Doriana hadn't heard him. But when he looked at her, her cheeks were flushed and she was smiling brilliantly.
"Of course!" She said breathlessly and Remus smiled.
That wasn't so hard.
But quietly he wondered what Hermione would think of him going with Doriana.
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When Remus came back to the common room it was very late and so he was surprised to find Hermione sitting by the fire. "Hermione!" She jumped and yelped when he called her and she blushed.
"Sorry, you scared me." She brushed her hair away from her face and Remus resisted the urge to grab her hand like he'd seen Sirius do.
"Are you alright?" He realized now that it was very strange for Hermione to up so late and that she seemed confused, she didn't even have homework out to work on, she'd simply been sitting alone.
Hermione sat back down and nodded. "Yes of course." But even to herself she could hear the quiver in her voice.
"A-a-are you sure? Maybe I coul-"
"No it's fine." Hermione cut him off and he stood awkwardly next to her. Finally he sat down and stared into the fire with her.
He wanted her to talk to him, but in order for that to happen, he'd need to open up to her first.
"You know." He started. Hermione was silent, she didn't look up but she did glance at him out of the corner of her eye. "I thought I wouldn't be allowed to come to Hogwarts." It was one of the things that really bothered him, still did, but it was hard for him to speak of it. It was also the only thing he could think of.
Hermione sighed. "Yes, you told me." It wasn't actually that Remus had told her, it had been Harry but it didn't really matter. "In the future." She said when she noticed his surprised look.
Remus smiled. "I'm glad I know you in the future. I'm glad I know you now actually."
"Yes… I'm glad too." But she didn't sound happy. There was something…
"Why did you come back into the past?"
Hermione groaned and covered her eyes. Her elbows landed on her knees and she rubbed at the headache pounding on the bridge of her nose and temples. "Dumbledore. He died. I thought I could save him. But I messed up. I ended up here."
Remus brushed his hand through his hair but it stuck out. "Some things happen for a reason. Fate you know." He thought this hopefully.
Fate that we are here at the same time. He glanced at her.
"But you see! That's the thinking that landed me here! I thought that I hadn't returned the Time-Turner for a reason. But everything's topsy-turvy now! I've ruined everything! What kind of future am I going to go back to?" Remus hung his head when he thought of Hermione leaving, the Marauders liked her, liked having Hermione around.
Remus didn't understand completely but he could see Hermione was distraught. "Hey… It will be okay." Hermione sobbed and Remus watched in horror as her shoulders began to shake. "Hermione what's wrong?" He reached out hesitantly and touched her shoulder. With a quick movement Hermione sat up and hugged Remus who tentatively hugged her back. She cried into his shoulder for a while then sat back.
"Oh Remus. It's not just the future, I may be stuck here forever!"
Remus eyes widened and he imagined Hermione staying with the Marauders and himself forever. It wasn't horrible but then he realized Hermione didn't have a home to go to during holidays, no family. "But why?"
Hermione shook her head and Remus finally gave in and brushed some of her hair behind her ear, Hermione didn't notice. "My memories, I'm losing them, slowly but…I've noticed holes, gaps in things. Things that bother me, things I once knew. My brain feels like Swiss cheese. Holes missing." She shuddered and Remus hugged her again. This time Hermione was the one who was surprised but she gratefully accepted his embrace.
"It'll be okay." Remus wasn't sure how things would be okay, he said this to comfort Hermione but she nodded into his shoulder and stopped crying. Remus ignored the scent of strawberries and mint coming off her and tried to hold her tightly. "I promise."