DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, that's JK Rowling's creation.
Author's Note: I'm not even going to apologize for the 4 year delay between chapters. Like all good things, they get done when they get done. ;-) Thanks for sticking with me this far. No idea how soon chapter 7 will be finished or published.
Re-Awakening - Chapter 6
The next two days passed quite quickly - Harry went about his day-to-day life and Remus dutifully reported back to Headmaster Dumbledore. The old coot wasn't very happy that Remus had procured the wolfsbane potion from another source, but Remus insisted that he trusted it completely. Albus had tried to draw the memories of the wolf's visit with Harry, but could not get past his natural shields. In the end he relented, but promised Remus that he would not be alone on the full moon.
"I'm going to check on Harry," Remus announced as he walked out the door of Arabella's house. The unnamed order member who was recently stationed there for security only grunted in reply. It was obvious to Remus that he was neither trusted or liked, and the further away he was, the better. He didn't know the man, just that he was in Albus' good standings. Remus chuckled to himself, he could still smell the man's fear from two blocks away. If it came down to it, Remus doubted the man could protect himself from the wolf. His fear would paralyze him.
He didn't bother to knock on the door when he got to Harry's house. He knew that the Dursleys would not be home. Vernon had booked an immediate vacation out of the country when Harry had told him that the werewolf - oops! - wizard friend would be here during the next full moon. According to Harry, they had packed their things and been gone within half an hour. It was even funnier when you took into account that he'd only told them this at lunch earlier that very day.
"Hello, Harry!" the older wizard greeted as he opened the bedroom door. Harry's face lit up in a smile and Remus found himself engulfed in the boy's arms. He enjoyed the feelings the boy radiated briefly before wondering what was going on.
"Harry," he asked, "what's all the excitement for?"
The boy looked into his eyes, smiling.
"Tonight I get to set you free!" he responded. "It's the greatest gift I can give you, and I'm looking forward to it!"
Remus smiled. "You're making it sound like you can lift my curse!" he joked.
Harry only smiled again. "Let's go!" he whispered, and before Remus had a chance to react, they were gone.
It was a weird sensation, so unlike apparating and nowhere near as nasty as portkey or floo travel. The room around them faded into a forest clearing. It was much darker in the forest than it had been in Little Winging. A quick sniff of the air had told him why: they were in the Dark Forest, next to Hogwarts.
"The Dark Forest, Harry?" Remus started. "Are you insane? Dumbledore will sure know you're here. He'll find us immediately!" He was worried, he couldn't believe the boy would be this brazen or foolish.
While looking around the clearing he spared a glance to Harry and saw him smiling.
"We have nothing to fear here, Remus. No human is allowed here. Besides, this location is deeper than even Dumbledore dares to venture into the forest. James, Peter, and Sirius never found it because even in theiranimagus forms, they were still human. Had you ever run this far in, you would have found a sanctuary from humans as a wolf. You and I are here tonight because we need a witness, one with some magical powers.
Remus was dumbfounded. In all his wanderings, he'd heard of a hidden glen, The Sanctuary Clearing, the refuge to all non-humans. He'd honestly thought it a myth that the hopeless spread to give them strength to make it through the curse of the full moon. He never imagined, not even in his wildest dreams, that he'd find any place like it in his entire life. He'd always dismissed it, just accepting that he'd have to live in fear when the moon came around to taunt him.
He was roused from his musings by the sound of hoof beats. He turned to Harry first and saw the boy nod back at him, then toward the source of the sound. He saw a familiar centaur emerge from the trees on the far side of the clearing. The male centaur did not look happy.
The centaur drew his crossbow and nocked an arrow before speaking.
"Why have you called me here, Harry Potter? I have to time for jokes. You were warned that any humans caught inside this forest will be dealt with however we see fit." The centaur took aim and fired at the young vampire.
Before Remus could react, Harry had transformed and snatched the arrow out of the air. In the blink of an eye, he was standing before the four-legged beast, his eyes burning with rage and the air around him charged with electricity.
"I came in peace, Bane," he roared. "I told you exactly why I would come and you agreed. Are you going back on your word?"
Remus flinched and backed away from Harry. This was not the form or voice Harry had used with him. This one spoke of raw power, of war, and of battle. The centaur paled, dropped his bow and knelt at the Regal Vampire's feet.
"I am sorry, my Lord," he began. "When I saw you standing there as Harry Potter, I thought I had been deceived."
"I do not deceive," began Harry, "and I do not lie. I have asked you here to witness the release of this werewolf from his bonds of servitude. After this, you are free to go back about your life. Do not question me again, Bane!"
The centaur bowed again and remained silent. Remus watched as the two began to look skyward. The sun had finally set and the stars were beginning their heavenly voyage. The lady moon had not made her appearance yet, but he could feel her creeping beneath the horizon, taunting and teasing the wolf within him. Soon, she would show her harsh beauty and bring the monthly torture with her. It was quite the paradox, Remus mused. He really did think that the moon was one of the most beautiful of all the night sky's inhabitants. Unfortunately, the Gods of Fate had made his time with her unbearable. The wolf in him always struggled to run free, but his humanity did its best not to let that happen. The wolf was that beast with him he only dreamt of controlling. He knew that should the twain ever meet, they would complement each other, the human striving for order, and the wolf reveling in chaos. Both were strong, smart, and beautiful in their own way, he supposed, but it was their deadly struggle that made them ugly.
Remus felt his muscles twitch and strain before he saw her. He had glanced to Harry before he saw the Lady of the night sky behind him. He fell to the ground screaming; the pain of this transformation was worse than any he'd felt before, including his first. It felt as if he were being split in two. He lost his mind to the wolf inside as the bones in his body started breaking to accommodate the change.
The moment that Harry felt the transformation start in Remus, he shifted into his first natural form, the one the wolf was enthralled to. He moved to stand between the werewolf and the moon. He knew that what he was about to do would cause Remus more pain than he had ever felt from this curse, but it was the only way to release him. It would leave the two of them completely drained, but the end result would be worth it.
When he heard the bones start to break and re-form, Harry reached out with his mind. He called out to the wolf and forcefully pushed the human back. As the transformation progressed, the human retained his form and the wolf seemed to sprout from within, not unlike a cub bursting forth from the womb. For a few moments, it was difficult to tell where the human ended, and the wolf began. The screams of the human were joined by an agonized howl as the heads separated.
As quickly as it all started, it was finished.
On the ground in the middle of the clearing lay a large majestic black wolf, patches of white fur sprinkled across its muzzle, head, and tail, showing its age. Not far from it was the human body of Remus Lupin, curled up into a fetal ball. Both looked thoroughly exhausted, panting in their states of unconsciousness. Separately, both were beautiful - a stark contrast from the twisted figure that emerged once a month.
Harry walked forward and knelt in front of the pair. He fed his own energy into them, the change immediately apparent. Slowly, the accelerated age dissolved from the both of them, Remus' hair darkening to the golden-brown it once was, the wolf's fur turning back to the pitch black of a healthy adolescent pup. He stopped as the last strands of age disappeared from each and sagged as the loss of energy threatened to overtake him.
"Wake up," he called.
Slowly, two pair of eyes opened - one yellow and one light brown. They shook their heads in the same manner as they both tried to shake the fog of sleep from their minds. Harry chuckled softly, it only made sense that after so many years together, both man and wolf had adopted many of the same mannerisms. Both beings in front of him yelped in surprised as they saw each other separately for the first time.
Harry's breath hitched. This was the most important part of the release. If there was any hatred between the two, it would result in a battle to the death. Any animosity between the two would result in an outcome almost as bad, for they would turn away from each other, both losing a huge part of themselves in the process, and neither obtaining happiness ever again. He smiled as they both seemed to be assessing each other. This was a good sign because most negative reactions happened within moments of the first sighting. The best solution, of course, was a friendship between the two; from this they could accept the other's existence and live in harmony together.
Both looked to him as if asking his permission for what they so obviously wanted to do next. Harry nodded and felt a tear roll down his face as Remus and the wolf went to each other, the prior enveloping the latter in a big hug. Remus was laughing while tears streaked down his face, and the wolf's tail wagged madly while trying to lick the human's face. It was almost as if two long-lost brothers were meeting for the very first time.
As the love between the two grew stronger, the air around them became more and more magically changed, its tendrils touching everything nearby, feeling out the surroundings. The light grew brighter, filling the space around the meadow until it was too bright to stare into. Harry had to divert his eyes as the light pulsed, flashed, then died away. When he opened them again, he saw the lone body of his father's friend kneeling in the clearing crying tears of joy.
Remus wiped his face with his hands to clear his eyes. It was the most intense feeling of joy he could remember. He couldn't help himself as his smile stretched from ear to ear. He let out a savage but joyous yell, continuing until his lungs ran out of air. His cry seemed to go on forever. He opened his eyes and looked to the Lady Moon, her beauty shining down on him, caressing his face. He could feel her smiling at him, happy to no longer cause him any pain. She truly was the most beautiful object in the heavens. He knew that from this night forward he would treasure the sight of her.
He looked to the boy - no, man - who had made this all possible for him. Harry looked rather exhausted, but happily so. Remus walked over to the kneeling Regal and extended his hand to help him up.
"Thank you, Harry," he said, drawing the younger wizard into a firm embrace.
"You're welcome, Remus," Harry responded. "It was the least I could do for you. Of course, freeing you from the bonds of servitude seems to have had a bit of a positive side effect, too!" he had a knowing grin, and his eyes were glowing with warmth.
Remus was astounded. "You knew this would happen all along!" He accused.
"It was the only way I could release the reins of slavery," he replied, squeezing tighter before releasing.
"Can you do this to others, Harry?" the werewolf asked.
Harry's smile faded a bit as he answered, "Unfortunately, no. A Regal may only take one servant. Most do not give up their true servants. They can still control werewolves in their natural form, but only their servant will remain obedient and loyal when they are in their human form."
Remus was a bit puzzled with some of this information. Did this mean that the first werewolf they reveal themselves to became their servant?
"No," Harry said, answering Remus' unspoken question. "It is very much a conscious decision to take a servant, thus the reason why most regals do not willingly release them."
"How did you-" Remus began.
Harry blushed. "Normally, I can't read your mind or hear your thoughts, but it seems we now share a bond thanks to your merging with the wolf.
Remus thought for a moment. He could feel the wolf within. It was now truly a part of him, not fighting for control of his body. He no longer needed to hold it back because we was both the wolf and the man; chaos and order; strength, power, and mind. For the first time since becoming a werewolf, he realized that he had all the strengths of both; his vision, smell, and hearing were sharper than before. He was more aware of his surroundings and his magic! It was unbelievable how powerful his magic had become. He could actively feel the connections his magic had with the earth, grass, trees, and the forest as a whole. He followed one of the stronger threads and found it leading to Harry. He could tell what the other was feeling and thinking but had no idea what brought it about.
"When the two of you accepted each other, the love you had started a magical chain-reaction. At first it was just centered on each other, but as it grew, it started feeling out the environment you were in. Things you had a stronger connection with before, have now become a bond of sorts. You're more aware of your surroundings now due to your bond with the forest. That one formed because of all the time you've spent in here. The bond between us happened because of our strong trust and friendship. I do find it somewhat amusing that you unconsciously refused to form a bond of any sort with Bane." Harry said.
Remus was surprised that he'd forgotten about the centaur. Bane was standing in the same place he'd first arrived, his features impassive and unreadable.
"Thank you, Bane," came Harry's voice. "Your witness to this event has been noted and appreciated. I release you from your duty."
With a slight nod and bow, the centaur turned around and trotted back into the dark depths of the forest.
"What was his part in this, Harry?" Remus asked.
"He was needed as an impartial witness, Remus," the boy replied.
"Do you really trust him to keep this secret?" Remus wondered aloud.
"The centaurs may not like the humans after what they've been through, but they hold honor above all else. He is a wise being and knows the privilege he has been afforded. As he is bound by honor; he will not share this with anyone.
"Do I trust him to keep our secrets? Yes, I do," Harry replied.
"Why do you think it was that I did not form a bond with him?"
Harry answered, "It's his deep-rooted belief that Centaurs and Werewolves - if not all races - should not mix. Your magic detected that and stayed away."
Remus frowned, puzzled. He looked up at the setting moon before asking, "You mean... I'm not cured?"
The young Regal smiled sadly at him. "I wish I could tell you such, Remus, but the truth is that yes, you are still a werewolf-"
"Oh," Remus interrupted. This was not the answer he wanted to hear. His head sagged as he felt his happiness drain and his tears return. "I'm still a monster then."
Harry drew his friend into a tight embrace. He passed feelings of love and hope to his friend before speaking.
"You didn't let me finish," he said as he pulled back slowly, putting his hands on Remus' shoulders.
"Yes, you are still a werewolf, Remus, but your internal struggle for control with the beast inside is over now. Having become one with the wolf has freed you from the pain of the curse, so to speak. Your bite in wolf form will still pass on the curse to others, so you'll need to be careful with that. However, your transformations after tonight will be much less painful and you'll keep your mind in wolf form. I'm sure you've realized by now that you still have the wolf's strengths in human form. I think that's a fair trade-off, don't you?"
The sudden hug took harry by surprise. If it weren't for his strength as a vampire, he certainly would have collapsed under the strength of his friend, who'd lost control of himself, sobbing. He slowly lowered the two of them to the ground making himself comfortable has he held his friend. He felt the barrage of emotions pouring from the older wizard. It was not a cure by any means, but it was more than Remus had had to be happy about for a long time.
Eventually Remus realized that they were on the ground, and while not letting go, laid out and put his head in the Regal's lap, looking out to the horizon. The colors were starting to change, getting brighter as the sun awoke from its slumber. As the suns first rays warmed his face, the hope of a better life warmed his heart.
He heard harry speak again when the sun had finally cleared the trees. "We must be getting back, Remus," he said. "We have been gone about ten hours now."
Remus smiled as he got to his feet. It was very nice to be able to get up after lying down for so long and not have every muscle in his body screaming at him in pain. He was amazed that the night had passed so fast. Without wolfsbane, the nights usually seemed to take forever when the wolf was constantly on the hunt. With the potion he could curl up and go to sleep, but either way the outcome the next day was the same: pain.
"Come on," the boy said to him as he took his hand. "Let's get you back to Mrs. Figg's place."