Chapter Twelve: Letters and Rescue:

Harry was writing a letter to his aunt Marge, the only relation of the Dursleys he got along with at all. It was ironic really that this was the same aunt he had blown up accidentally, it seemed while she was flying over Little Whinging she had realized all she had been told about Harry was a lie. She had gone home that very night and did not speak to her brother for two weeks. Then she had set out to write Harry. That had been harder than she would have thought and only this year had a letter from her finally got to Harry. She had apologized for how she had treated him and really did wish to be close to him but understood if he wanted nothing to do with her. Harry had written back apologizing for his blowing her up.

That had opened the floodgates and she had taken an interest in what he was doing. It seemed she did not share her brother and sister in laws view on magic at all. She found it interesting and felt there was a reason why some humans had magic and some did not. She felt terrible about how she had been taken in by the lies of her brother and how horribly she had treated Harry. Harry was just glad she did not see him as a freak and was willing to start over. He learned that his cousin Dudley was not getting along with his parents as he did not agree with a lot of their views. He had stayed the summer with his aunt and had a great time working taking care of her dogs and going to shelters to help shelter dogs.

Dudley it seemed had changed a lot. In fact he had included a letter with the one that aunt Marge had sent to him. Harry read it and grinned, Dudley had become very patriotic and was thinking of joining the military and becoming a pilot or something like that. The pictures that Harry had of him were impressive, gone was the fat snobbish boy, in his place was a stocky, clearly in good shape young man. Without the fat folds he had a neck and there was something in his eyes that definitely was different. He had a more honest look about him and he looked truly happy, something that had been lacking in family photos with his parents.

Dudley apologized for how he had treated Harry and this made Harry feel humbled. Dudley was reaching out and Harry would not shove him away. He took up his quill and paper and started a letter to his cousin. It was while Harry was writing his letter McGonagall came into the common room looking pale and worried. By her side was Sirius and he walked over to Harry relieved to see him there and hugged him. Harry was surprised and he knew something had happened. He looked up at his godfather and wondered just what was going on.

"I am so glad you are safe." Sirius said.

"I have been here most of the afternoon Sirius." Harry said. "What happened?"

"Mr. Malfoy and Remus Lupin were kidnapped on the edge of the forbidden forest." McGonagall said looking strained.

"What?" Harry asked. "How and who?"

"We are going to find out." Sirius replied walking to the portrait hole Harry right by his side. "As Remus has a tracing band on him Severus should be able to track him down."

"I want to come." Harry said stepping out into the hall. "I want to help."

"You are not going." Came the voice of Severus who stood just outside the door. "Still wanting to play the hero are we?"

"Stop it Severus, this is not needed now." Sirius growled at Severus.

"I am a professor here and he will stay put!" Severus snapped at Sirius.

"Draco is my friend!" Harry said before he could stop himself getting Severus to look at him curiously. "He would do the same for me, I know it."

"Harry you cannot go." Severus said and he held up a hand as Harry tried to protest. "You are needed here, in fact I have just the job for you."

"Scrubbing cauldrons sir?" Harry said insolently.

"Do not test me boy." Severus said silkily. "I need you to watch Max, keep him happy can you do that for me?"

"Yes sir." Harry said.

"Good, mutt come with me." Severus said to Sirius

"Yes Vampire." Sirius said making a rude sign at Severus.

"I have a collar and muzzle."

"You started it."

"I will finish it."

"I hate you."

"Childish Black, then again you do not have a brain."

"Greasy Git."

"Dumb dog."

The banter ended with McGonagall coming out of the Gryffindor common room and glaring at the two grown wizards. Dumbledore came up carrying Max who was talking to the old headmaster intently. Dumbledore put the boy down and Severus told his son that Harry would look after him and to behave. Then he left with Sirius to get "his" werewolf and his godson. Harry took Max into the Gryffindor common room knowing full well what Severus was doing. By having him look after Max it would keep him from going off on his own and getting into danger. The Gryffindors looked down at the small boy and at once studying and such was forgotten as the students vied to see how to entertain the small boy.

"So what shall we do with the Shrimp?" Ron said.

"Ron that is not nice!" Hermione snapped.

"We could play marbles." Max said.

"You are on mate!" Harry said.

"I must warn you I nearly always win." Max said.

"Bring it on then!" Harry replied.

The game was one that the teens enjoyed with the small boy though they did not win against him. No they did not and he ended up with some rare and prized marbles when all was said and done. Harry liked Max as he was a smart and good friend and had a great since of humor. Max kept the teens busy while Severus and Sirius went after Remus to rescue him.

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Meanwhile Remus woke cold, chained like a dog and naked. The nightmare for the wizard had just begun as when he opened his eyes and looked around he saw Grayback sitting by a fire poking it with a stick. He turned and grinned nastily at Remus and Remus felt his blood run cold. This could not bode well for him he was sure of it. He knew Grayback was going to try and break him and he knew how he would do so. He hoped at least Draco was not hurt, he could not bear if the boy was hurt because of him. He knew Grayback wanted him not the boy but Draco was a bonus for the evil werewolf.

"So glad you chose to join us." Grayback said.

"Where is the boy?" Remus asked him.

"You know I was surprised when your parents did not throw you out after you became mine." Grayback replied softly. "You were tainted by the Wizarding world, eating the scraps given you, forced to beg for work, for respect and for your life."

"At least I am not a murdering monster like you." Remus said quietly. "You have lost most of your pack, you are finished Grayback, I will kill you."

"Idle threats pup, it is time you realize you are mine." Grayback said walking over and yanking the chain around Remus' neck forcing him to his feet.

"I am not yours!" Remus snarled.

"Oh yes you are the pet of that potions master Severus Snape." Grayback said looking his captive over in a way that made Remus feel dirty. "Wonder what you have to do for him hmm?"

Before Remus could answer the evil werewolf drug him from the room and down the hall. He was going to force Remus to kill in cold blood , the only way Remus would be his. Grayback raised his wand and cast an Impero at the werewolf binding him to his will. Remus relaxed and Grayback allowed the chain to slacken as Remus was fully under his control. He made the other werewolf walk down the dusty and decaying hall of this tumbled down house to a room and had him enter. Draco was there, thankfully still fully clothed but bound with chains. Grayback removed the chains on Remus, and ordered him forward.

"Kill the boy." Grayback snarled at Remus.

"What?" Draco said looking up into Remus' eyes. "Professor Lupin you cannot, this is not you!"

Help me stop him. Remus sent the thought to Draco.

How can I sir? Draco thought back as clearly as he could.

You have your sliver knife?

It will harm you sir.

You want Grayback dead?

Grayback should have realized that Lupin was a far better wizard than he was. Grayback's Impero was not strong enough to tame Remus. Remus moved forward so that Draco could feel his breath on his neck, the boy slipped him the knife and Remus turned in a howl of anger, pain and fury. He threw the knife getting Grayback square in the chest. Then he saw red and with a inhuman howl he tore into the other werewolf. It was not a pretty sight and Draco turned away and closed his eyes as Remus ripped Grayback apart…

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Severus, Sprout, Flitwick and McGonagall broke through the wards of the old house with what looked like a small army. Leading one team was Charity Burbage, the other team was lead by Narcissa. To say Narcissa was mad would not do it justice, she was beyond mad, beyond furious as her one and only child, her baby had been kidnapped. The witches and wizards tore through the old house, Narcissa using a silver tipped spear to execute several lower ranking werewolves of Grayback's pack.

Severus ended up with his hands full with two werewolves. He grunted in pain as one got him in the shoulder and he was thrown into the wall. Sirius came in and impaled one werewolf with a silver tipped spear and Severus rallied and got the other one in mid-leap. He got up wincing slightly in pain as he did so. Both men ran out and behind Narcissa who had taken out a werewolf of her own. She was looking for Grayback and if she got her hands on him no-one was going to stop her from what she would do to him. Draco staggered from a room to her right and into his mother's arms.

"M-mother?" He said looking up at her as she looked him over.

"Yes, I am here, where is that filth Grayback?" Narcissa demanded.

"I-I don't think we have to worry about Grayback Narcissa." Came the faint voice of Charity. "Remus has taken care of that problem."

"Oh God." Sirius said turning very white as he saw what Remus had done. "Oh Remy."

Narcissa entered the room to find a naked sobbing Remus over the now mutilated body of Grayback. He was covered in blood, the blood of the dead werewolf before him. Severus came in and saw what Remus had done and made the witches leave the room. He cleaned Remus up the best he could and wrapped his cloak around the other wizard. He led him out and it was clear Remus was in shock. Severus found a fireplace, activated the floo to the hospital wing at Hogwarts and drug Remus though. Poppy came up and seeing the condition of Remus ordered first a hot bath. Severus watched Remus as he was concerned, he knew this could push the other wizard over the edge and cause him to kill himself.

"I-I lost my head, I was just g-going to get him with the sliver knife, but I saw in my mind all those he has killed." Remus said sobbing. "I snapped, I-I you saw."

"I did, Remus you did what everyone has wanted to do for a long time." Severus said wincing as he helped the werewolf get out of the tub, dried off and into a pair of shorts. "You had a right."

"A right? Severus only God has the right to choose who lives and dies." Remus said.

"You had no choice, Draco would not be here if not for you." Sirius said coming into the room. "Moony you had no choice."

"I am a monster, I s-should be p-put down!" Remus sobbed.

"No, you are no monster." Severus said.

Both wizards helped led Remus back to the hospital wing. Poppy saw he had a few bruises and cuts but it was the palm of his right hand that really worried her. It was burned so badly that there was no skin on his palm left. She went to work on it frowning, this would take a long time to heal. Remus whimpered but did not cry out in pain and when she was done she had him get into a night shirt and get into bed. Severus went to sit by him but Poppy had not finished with him either. Sirius sat by his friend concern on his face for the suffering Remus was going through now.

"Okay let me see." She said standing before him.

"I am fine Poppy, just a scratch." Severus said.

"Let-me-see-now!" She snarled. "Or I will stun you and see anyway."

"Can I watch?" Sirius said trying for a joke.

"Shut up mutt." Severus growled.

"Now Severus." Poppy said threatening him with her wand.

Severus sighed, he had gotten clawed by one of the werewolves and he needed to get taken care of. He would have scars, he had not been bit, even if he was vaccinated so he would not turn. He removed his clothing to his shorts and let her tend to the claw marks on his shoulder. He gave her a withering look as she shoved a night shirt at him and pointed to a bed. Draco was led into the hospital wing by his mother, Charity and McGonagall. He hated the fuss and was going to really whine when told he had to stay here tonight.

"I should be expelled." Draco said once he was checked up and put to be. "I went into the forbidden forest, on my own."

"Taking after the golden boy are we?" Severus snapped at him.

"Professor Lupin came, if not for my mistake…"

"Grayback is dead, be grateful some good came from this." Severus said.

"Some good sir? Professor Lupin is in shock from what he had to do to save me." Draco said. "He may not recover!"

"I will take you over my knee in the morning." Severus said. "That what you want me to do?"

"Yes sir." Draco said.

"Well Severus he does have Black blood in him, we are not known for brains most of the time." Sirius said.

"Only the males." Narcissa shot at him. "You need to tend to Remus, he is not doing well at all."

Remus was still crying and huddled on the bed. Sirius looked at his friend with a haunted look of pity and sympathy. He knew what would help and he walked to the bed, turned to Padfoot and jumped up to lay by his friend. Charity felt a pang of sympathy and on impulse she sat down by Remus. She rubbed his back in small circles and began to talk to him.

"I know how you feel." She said. "I too have had to kill, he never gave me a choice, the wizard I had to kill."

"How do you live with yourself?" Remus asked quietly.

"Well there was no choice, you had no choice in what you did. You either killed him or he would have killed Mr. Malfoy."

"You saw what I did, I enjoyed it!" Remus said tears wetting his pillow. "I am a monster."

"Did you really enjoy it?" Charity asked.

"No, no not deep down." Remus said quietly.

"It will take time to heal, it hurts like hell but I promise you are not alone in this." She said, "I am here, I will comfort you."

"Why?" Remus said looking at her. "I am a bloody werewolf!"

"A small problem, but the monster does not rule you, remember that." She said. "You are a good man, yes man because that is how I see you."

She smoothed his hair back from his face and tucked him in. Severus fell asleep by her as Poppy had just given him a dreamless draught. She walked up to Remus and did the same for him. Next it was Draco's turn and he dared fight it as he was fed the draught. Narcissa would stay the night curled up on a bed by her son and Charity stayed by Remus as he had taken hold of her robes and would not let go. Padfoot stirred a few times in his sleep and finally Charity fell asleep in her chair by the poor man…

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Having Aunt Marge write Harry might not be out of character. We simply don't know fully what she really was like, she had been taken in by the lies of her brother and sister in law. I like to think that when she found out the truth about Harry she was at first shocked then wanted to know more. Maybe it was not just the threat in cannon of Sirius Black that Harry gave to his aunt and uncle but threats from aunt Marge she would be checking in on the boys to see if they were being treated right, well mostly Harry.

As for Remus killing someone, yes he is very capable to kill but he is a gentle soul and would feel badly after. Silver would hurt him this badly causing horrible burns. He will have those scars on his hand for life and the wounds will not heal up as quickly as normal wounds on him would. He has a few scars but those are from Grayback or the rare time he ended up touching or being touched by silver.

So thank you for reading and as always I only get paid in reviews!