I know this is super late…but I decided to add this chapter. It wasn't originally planned so I hope it's okay. Last chapter to be posted tomorrow! Leave me some love!

Chapter 5 - Explanations

Harry was sitting a bit uncomfortably in the Headmasters office. He was feeling uncomfortable party because of the way he had treated the Headmaster the last time he had seen him, but mostly because of the discussion they (he, Snape, Dumbledore, and Kingsley Shacklebolt) had just had. He had told them of everything that had been going with Remus in the past weeks and for some reason Snape hadn't stopped glaring at the Headmaster since.

Kingsley had left about a half an hour ago to get Remus out of Number 12. Harry supposed he would be taken to St. Mungo's but he hadn't really asked. They had been sitting here in silence for all that time and just as he was about to ask if he could go, Dumbledore started speaking.

"I am very sorry, Harry, that you had to endure such treatment; especially from someone who was entrusted with your care."

"Yes." Drawled Snape, cutting the Headmaster off before he could say more. "Sorry you may be, but it seems to be a recurring theme in Mr. Potter's life to have to put up with mistreatment from those he should be safe with."

He pierced the Headmaster with a fierce look before continuing. "The fact is; you have blatantly ignored the counsel of others when they've disagreed with the advisability of placing this boy with both the Dursleys and the Wolf.

"The Dursleys were horrible, despicable people. You assured us all that such a measure was unavoidable, and truly, it was; as disgusted as I am to acknowledge that it is true. Why did you, then decide, to put the boy in another situation where he could be mistreated? You had to have known what could have come of that. The very real danger that he was being put in. I, for one, want to know why you agreed to this ridiculous and hazardous course to begin with!"

Harry just sat there watching as his usually calm professor became progressively louder and louder until the last sentence was practically shouted. Harry was sure that if the man's robes weren't in the way he would have seen him stamp his foot! As funny as that thought was, he didn't laugh. He wanted to know the answers to those questions as well. He wasn't sure what the deal was with werewolves and their mates but obviously Snape had known and so did the Headmaster.

"I wanted to do the best thing for both of them, Severus." The Headmaster began softly. Harry was aggravated that he was being talked about like this but assumed he would get more information if he just kept quiet and let the two men talk between themselves. "Harry needed a new home and Remus had just lost the only family he had left. They needed each other, Severus."

Snape huffed through his nose. "That might be true Headmaster, but you knew that there was a great chance the Lupin wouldn't take the help the boy's presence would give him; that he may give in to his Wolf's anger, and hurt the boy instead."

"What are you…?" Harry started to ask. He was thoroughly bewildered by this point. How could his presence have helped Remus? Was the treatment he received deliberate or not? Did every Werewolf go through this if they lost their mate? And if so, he could understand why Snape had warned him. He didn't get to ask his questions, though, because the Floo flared just then and the tall, broad form of Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped into the room.

"Headmaster, Severus." He acknowledged the men in his deep, calming voice.

"Harry I can safely say your unpleasant summer is at an end." He said as he sat down in the armchair next to Harry.

"As you know, I was just at Grimmauld Place." Harry's heart skipped a beat. Had they arrested Remus? He wasn't sure if he wanted that or not. Remus had hurt him, yes, but was it something he could have help? Did it really matter? He was so conflicted! Those emotions must have shown on his face because Kingsley quickly continued.

"He was not arrested." Harry was simultaneously relieved and anxious. "He was taken to St. Mungo's before he was even regained consciousness after his transformation last night. He's being kept in a private room where he is going to receive the help that he needs. No need to worry."

"He's getting help?" Harry asked in a small voice. Kingsley nodded slowly once. "Does that mean… he didn't really want to hurt me?"

Kingsley looked at Dumbledore and Snape briefly before addressing Harry again. "What do you know about Werewolves and their mates, Harry?"

"Well, Professor Snape told me that werewolves could be dangerous after they lose their mates, but that's all."

Kingsley shook his head and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he looked directly at the Headmaster.

"You should have told him all this all ready. You sent him to Remus without any real understanding of what could happen."

"An honest mistake, I assure you. I was counting on Harry being able to help Remus through his mourning. I don't mean that as a criticism!" He hastened to add when he saw the furious look from Severus, the disapproving look from Kingsley, and the guilty look from Harry.

"It wouldn't have been a conscious thing on your part, Harry. Your very presence should have been enough to help Remus. I honestly don't understand why it did not and I am very sorry for that my boy. Very sorry indeed." Harry looked up at the Headmaster and realized that he truly was sorry. He looked devastated at his mistake, and very very guilty.

"I don't blame you for what happened, sir. You were giving me what you knew I wanted and I was really glad to be going with Remus this summer. I didn't believe Professor Snape when he warned me before the term ended and I really should have listened to him." He sent Snape an apologetic look; the man nodded in return.

"I should have contacted someone when he first started acting strangely but I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt…"

"Bloody Gryffindor." Snape swore under his breath.

"… and so I waited. Maybe if I had more information it would have changed things but it's too late for that now." Harry gave the aged man a small smile to show that he was forgiven. "I would like to know what's going to happen to Remus and if this was something he could have helped."

Harry wasn't sure if the answer to the last question was going to change his all ready jumbled up feelings, but he wanted to know anyway. He was frightened about the answer, but as Snape had just said, he was a 'bloody Gryffindor.' He would get through this.

"All right, Harry," Began Kingsley lifting his foot up to rest one ankle across his knee. He sat back and let his elbows rest on the arms of the chair. "First let me tell you a little about werewolves and then I'll tell you about the relationship they have with their mates." Harry nodded.

"Werewolves are pack creatures. You all ready know this." Harry nodded his head even though he knew it wasn't really a question.

"Let me give you a little background. Before the discriminatory stance the ministry has taken in the last 50 years, werewolves were able to get jobs just like anyone else. Most werewolves were adults. Children weren't usually bitten because it's not under usual circumstances that children are out after dark with out their parents. It is especially unusual because the moon doesn't usually come out until well after nightfall. Most people in the wizarding world are aware of the moon cycles and try to stay inside on the evening of the full moon."

"But, wait," Harry interrupted. "What about the muggles? Aren't some of them bitten as well? They wouldn't know about the full moon. And how are children bitten if their parents are so conscious of the moon cycles?"

"Let's take those one at a time. It is true that muggles get bitten from time to time." Kingsley began in a slow, measured voice. He looked at Dumbledore and Snape and got a nod from Dumbledore before continuing. "It isn't widely known and very rarely published in books, but these Muggles never survive being bitten."

"What!" Harry exclaimed. "Why?"

"They lack magic. It's the same reason why Muggles can't get Dragon Pox. The venom in a werewolf bite travels through a human's blood and, without going into exactly the technical reasons, a person's magic eventually absorbs all the venom and the two are intertwined. It's why some of the wolf's characteristics are seen all throughout the month. Examples being eye color, strength, sense of smell. All of those things change because the magic of the person bitten is inundated with the venom. It actually changes those things about the person.

"Muggles don't have magic so the venom isn't absorbed by anything and their organs quickly die as a result of the venom. Very nasty, and one of the reasons Voldemort was so interested in the werewolves." Harry had only a moment to be completely horrified before Kingsley continued.

"On to your next question; the reason why magical children have been bitten more frequently then adults in the past 25 years or so, is that a werewolf by the name of Fenrir Greyback targets them. He uses different means to lure them out of their homes on the night of the full moon and attacks them. Sometimes he even takes the Wolfsbane potion so he can get inside a home to massacre the entire family."

"Fenrir Greyback was a werewolf who was a follower of the Dark Lord, Potter." Snape cut in. "He was just recently captured and kissed, but while he was alive he believed in biting children and raising them to be like him. Heartless murderers. He was the one who bit Lupin, in fact. He would win their affection and turn them against wizards and witches. Even if they eventually came to realize his lies they still stayed with him."

"Why would they stay with a person who had hurt them and lied to them? Someone they knew was wrong? That doesn't even make any sense!" Harry cried.

"Werewolves bond with their packs after they are together for a time and develop trust in each other." Dumbledore explained patiently. "Once those bonds are created they can only be broken in death. While the pack member can leave the pack, there is such a feeling of loyalty that they usually never do this permanently. This can doubly true in regards to the alpha of a pack, which Greyback was."

"Greyback used this bond to his advantage and trained all those in his pack to despise the race of Wizards. He perverted the pack bond into something horrible, and that is why many stayed with him for so long." Snape finished.

"Okay." Harry said after taking a steadying breath. "So what does this all have to do with Remus?"

"Remus is a completely different case. Usually when parents find out their child has been bitten, they willingly gave the child to one of the many packs in the UK. Whether it's because they want the best for their child or because they don't want to live with the stigma of raising a werewolf depends on the family, but almost all of them are given to one pack or another.

"Remus' parents were different. They decided to keep him and, as you know, he eventually went to Hogwarts.

"The important part of this is that Remus was never part of a pack." Kingsley continued. "Not until his friends became animagi and they formed their own. A pack bond life long, as I've said. Once a werewolf joins a pack and bonds with the other members it can never be broken. It's an instinctual and gradual act, but it is very strong."

"Finding a mate is much the same way." Kingsley stopped for a moment to make sure Harry was still paying attention. "The only difference is that there is a ritual done to connect them. It is also a lifelong bond and werewolves usually find mates within their own packs, just as Remus did with Sirius.

"Because of the bond mates share, when a mate is lost the werewolf becomes depressed, angry, and extremely volatile. It's like losing an essential part of themselves, and while that is very hard for the human part of them to deal with, the wolf part is inconsolable. If the mate was murdered or died in anyway besides natural causes the wolf will want vengeance on all those he sees as responsible.

"And no Harry," Kinsley reached over and laid his hand on the boys shoulder in comfort. Harry was looking so guilty and miserable that he couldn't help it. "If he had truly blamed you, he wouldn't have been able to even see you without trying to permanently harm or kill you."

Harry relaxed a bit at that statement but then couldn't help but ask, "Then why did he hurt me? He blamed me for Sirius' death constantly and he was always so angry. If he didn't blame me then why did do what he did?"

"It's because the first few months after the loss of a mate, a werewolf needs to be around his pack. It helps his wolf to stay calm to be around others he has bonded with. Without at least one pack member's presence, a werewolf will lash out and hurt anyone around him. They become mad, start acting irrational, and become even more prone to violent outbursts. If left in that state for too long they can go feral." At Harry's questioning look he explained further.

"It means that the werewolf stays in that state of madness and violence. Most werewolves that go feral are executed. Greyback was feral." That made Harry feel quite sick, Kingsley was oblivious and so kept talking. "Remus had no pack left to sooth him and in his grief, it seems like, he slowly let the wolf take over and influence his actions."

"He wouldn't have been able to hurt you if you had been part of his pack, as I thought you would be, my boy. Dumbledore started. "You are the son of one of his pack. It was my mistake to assume such a thing."

"So what are you saying?" Harry just wanted some clarification. It seemed like they were saying it wasn't truly Remus' fault, but he wanted to be clear.

"He knew what happened last time Potter." Snape started.

"Severus…"

"No Albus! He needs to be told and you two will only dance around it." He turned back to Harry and crossed his arms over his chest.

"As I was saying, he knew what happened last time, he knew you weren't part of his pack, and he still agreed to take you. He most likely thought that he could control himself, that he wouldn't hurt you, and when he found out different he locked himself up in his room." Harry looked at him with dawning understanding.

"So, those first few days…"

"He was trying to stay away from you, presumably to keep you safe. Admirable, yes, but still foolish. He should have contacted someone immediately to come and get you. He was aware of the danger to you but seemed unable to relinquish you for some reason." Snape was saying all this in his usual emotionless way, but Harry was grateful for the honesty.

"He said he was keeping me there with him because it was what Sirius would have wanted."

"That is probably the reason." Kingsley said after a slight pause. "He wouldn't have wanted to disappoint his mate. He made the wrong decision though. He may not have had full control over his actions, and had to have gone quite a bit mad, but in the beginning, he chose to keep you with him. He could have, and should have, sent you elsewhere when he realized that your presence wasn't going to help him. He probably told himself he could resist his violent urges, but he should have known better. He did know better. This is not the first time he has had to deal with losing Sirius. He may not have truly meant to hurt you, but he could have prevented it. That's the truth of the matter, Harry."

There was silence for a number of minutes before Harry was able to speak. "I don't know how to feel about this. You're saying that his reactions were normal for grieving his mate without his pack, but that he knew he was a danger to me, but kept me with him anyway." Harry was sure he was more confused now than he was before. It couldn't just be a simple yes, it was his fault or no, it wasn't his fault. It had to be all convoluted. That seemed to be the perfect word to describe his life since entering the wizarding world. Convoluted.

"What about now? He still doesn't have his pack." Harry asked. He didn't want Remus to be executed, no matter how mad and hurt he was.

"The Healers at St. Mungo's are more than competent enough to set Remus back to rights, Harry." Dumbledore said softly. Harry looked up at the man and could see the proud glint in his eye. He wasn't sure why the Headmaster was looking at him like that but it made him feel a little better.

The meeting ended soon after that with Harry refusing to press charges but not wanting to have anything to do with Remus. At least until he figured out how he felt about the man. He was angry, resentful, hurt, and sad. He still couldn't help but love Remus, even with all those negative emotions befuddling his brain and heart. He knew that the man hadn't honestly wanted to hurt him, but his bad decision did result in that happening and Harry was, frankly, tired of being hurt by those who were supposed to take care of him.

It was decided that his guardianship would be signed over to Snape as soon as Remus was coherent and amiable to do such a thing. Until then he would be staying with Snape at Spinners end. At least that was what Harry had assumed until they had actually arrived at Snape's house.

They had barely stepped out of the floo when Snape had spun around and addressed him. "Your birthday is the day after tomorrow. We're you aware of this?"

Harry was too taken aback to answer right away and Snape, of course, took advantage of that.

"Since you seem to be too dimwitted to answer I will assure you that I am correct and your birthday is the day after tomorrow. I am perfectly aware that you and I are not on the best of terms, no matter how cordial we have been to each other since the last week of last term. Bearing that in mind, I have arranged for you to spend the next two weeks with Longbottom. You will return here on the 12th of August and we will spend the rest of the remaining weeks of vacation at Hogwarts getting ready for the next school year."

Harry just gaped at the man. That was such a… nice thing for Snape to have done. He closed his mouth and realized that Snape was standing in front of him looking extremely uncomfortable. Harry's mouth began to slowly curl up into a cheeky smile, but before he could say anything Snape composed his features and he looked, once more, like his normal austere self.

"Say one word, Potter, just one, and you will spend these two weeks pickling a variety of the most disgusting potion ingredients I can find instead of spending it with your bumbling friend." He even tacked on his customary sneer.

Harry made a great show pressing his lips together and making his eyes as wide as possible. Snape gritted his teeth together so hard Harry was sure he could hear them cracking.

"Get your things before I change my mind. Go!"

Harry hid a smile as he scrambled to get his trunk from beside the fireplace. It was good to know that some things stayed the same. Even if it was Snape being a crotchety bastard.

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