So it's been awhile but I got around to writing the next chapter. Had a Harry Potter marathon yesterday. They're all so little in the first movie and I miss the old Dumbledore actor, too bad he died. So I actually looked up the moon phases from 1979 for this chapter so I could put the actual day and they actually have them on the internet. And I just realized how cool I am for doing that but I don't care. Enjoy.
They had minutes. If that. One slight shift of the merciful cloud cover overhead would kill her.
Lily could feel his arm shivering violently under her hands as they hurried along the road away from Godric's Hollow and she knew that it wasn't from the cold. She could feel the anxiety and fear through his skin and his cloak. Sweat beaded his brow and like her, he stared up at the sky as they stumbled forward. He would control himself for as long as possible but they both knew that if she couldn't get him safely away, and then get herself away from him, Remus would never be able to forgive himself.
How could they have forgotten that december third was full moon?
But even as she wondered she knew that it was her fault. If she hadn't run away, if they hadn't all been preoccupied with her own safety than Remus would have been safely hidden away somewhere, perhaps with his three best friends keeping him company, with no worries that someone might get killed, no danger's to Lily and the other villagers, or even to Remus himself.
She tripped on the gravel road and went down on one knee. Remus caught her and hauled her back up with difficulty, his muscles tensed.
"Lily, you have to leave me. Go back!"
His voice was desperate, his eyes frightened at what he was capable of doing, but also of being left alone. And if she did leave him? There was no knowing what could happen. If the werewolf was to turn back to the village it would be horrific.
But if she stayed?
"I can't! I have to get you away from here!"
"Lily, I can't hurt you!" His voice broke, the fear overwhelming it. "How could I have forgotten?" He tore at his hair in frustration and worry. "If you don't go I could kill you!"
They were wasting precious time. She grabbed his arm once more and again began to pull him towards the trees that seemed so very far away and held no guarantee of safety. What seemed like miles of open countryside stretched between them and the allusion of safety. They continued to run, but Lily noticed that Remus was slowing, his muscles tightening convulsively beneath her grip as he fought to contain the beast within. He was fighting for control, but if the clouds were to shift then it would be no good.
" Remus, Can you apparate?" she asked, hopeful that the situation could be easily resolved, but he shook his head. "Not like this. It's impossible. I'm just barely human."
"We could do side-along. " Her voice rose an octave as she spoke. "Go to the shreaking shack or somewhere secluded- "
"No, It's too dangerous. We might have time here because of the clouds but if we were to apparate somewhere else we may not! We can't risk it. You have to go back, Lily. There's nothing you can do for me. You have to protect yourself."
She ignored the comment, knowing they were both wishing that Padfoot and Prongs would come, the only way to ensure that no human's were in danger. Hopefully they would be back at the house soon, they would realize what had happened.
She shivered as the icy winter wind tore through her light clothing. Snowflakes dotted Remus' hair and clothing and her own.
"We have to keep moving" she told him determinedly, looking around, back towards the trees that they were aiming for. She knew that there was no way that they would make it but she would take him as far as she could and then she would apparate to safety and find James and Sirius. if only she too were an animagus.
She felt Remus' arm go rigid in her hands and she looked back at his face, seeing her own look of horror reflected in his dark eyes. They looked up at the sky simultaneously as dim moonlight fell over the countryside around them, throwing shadows over her friends face. Their time had officially run out.
"Remus?" she asked cautiously.
"Lily, GO!"
He yanked his arm from her grip and shoved her away as his limbs began to shake. "GO!"
But she could barely manage to back away as she stared at him, transfixed. She had never witnessed his transformation before and it was so mesmerizing, so different, so much more than all the times that she had seen James and Sirius becoming their animal selves, because the thing that he was becoming was no longer Remus in any way.
His head and body had begun to lengthen. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting from his skin, his hands and feet curling into clawed paws as the werewolves body burst from his clothing. There was no hint of the man in the small, round, shiny black eyes that squinted at her menacingly. The creature reared, snapping it's long jaw, revealing long, sharp fangs and letting out a hair raising snarl of animalistic fury. She froze, unable to run and unable to reach for her wand.
"LILY!"
The sound of hurried footsteps and pounding hooves reached her ears. She managed to stumble backwards a few more steps and turned just in time to see Sirius transforming, just as a large stag tore past her, nearly knocking her off her feet as it face the threat, drawing the werewolves attention away from it's intended prey. Prongs reared momentarily onto his back legs, forcing the larger animal to back away slightly, growling low in it's throat as the stag advanced, antlers lowered threateningly.
She felt something yanking the back of her shirt and she turned to see the big, bear like dog, with it's teeth sunk into the fabric of her clothing, attempting to drag her away from the animals as they faced off in the middle of the lane. Padfoot released her and motioned his large, shaggy head towards the village and the relative safety that it offered. She had to go. Padfoot and Prongs were perfectly capable of handling the situation. There was nothing left for her to do.
The dog left her side and joined his friend, herding the werewolf towards the trees that Lily had been aiming for. The snow began to fall thicker and faster as she watched them go, arms crossed over her chest, but she barely noted the cold or the swirling crystals around her. As the trio reached the shelter of the trees she saw the stag pause and look back at her, standing tall, waiting. She watched him for a beat, then she waved and dissaparated.
An instant later she stood at the hedge around her home. She spun on and stared out over the country lane where she had just been standing, that she couldn't even make out through the snow and the forest beyond but there was nothing to see. Even if Prongs hadn't already followed Padfoot into the trees the snow was falling too thick for her to see much of anything. In the sky the moon was just barely distinguishable through the heavy downfall.
The door to the cottage hung open on it's hinges, the falling snow swirling into the house and melting in the warm air before even managing to settle on any surface. She slammed the door shut for no reason, though it made her feel slightly better and threw the locks into that it made any difference. Anyone who came to Godric's Hollow looking for them would not be hindered by the kind of locks that muggles used and yet she felt safe there anyway. No one knew they were there who shouldn't and the cozy house seemed so far beyond the part of her world where death eaters lingered, where she was in any danger, where death was not only a possibility, but a probability for those who chose to defy the dark lord.
She stepped over the boxes and luggage in the entrance hall and moved through the living room, creating a warm, crackling fire with a wave of her wand. The magical blue flames flickered merrily, throwing heat that penetrated her thin, sodden clothes.
She dug through a trunk that had been abandoned at the foot of the stairs and found a pile of clothing buried under a great many books. She ignored everything else, switched out her jeans and shirt for a pair of James' sweatpants and one of his t-shirts and curled up on the couch in front of the fire, listening to the whistling wind beyond the walls and the crackling of the flames.
****
She heard a door slam and brisk footsteps crossing the floor. A burst of cold air hit her face and she turned her head deeper into the pillow, attempting to get back to her dream.
"Shove over."
Lily felt her legs being nudged unceremoniously out of the way to make room for someone else on the couch. "Leave her alone, Padfoot" she heard James say.
She yawned and stretched, opening her eyes and throwing her legs back, over Sirius' lap. He groaned. She glanced around and noticed faint sunlight struggling to light up the room as the snowstorm continued to rage against the daylight. Snow drifts had piled themselves high against the window and over everything in sight through the frosted front window. It was almost beautiful if not for the cold.
James sat with his back up against the couch just beside her head and Remus stood over the fire wearing an old, rather ragged looking cloak, staring into the flames. They were all soaking wet, radiating a chill throughout the room that sent a shiver up her spine. She unfurled herself from the couch cushions and sank to the floor, curling into James' welcoming arms. He sighed with relief as he pressed his icy palms against her bare skin, burying his flushed face against her neck, making her gasp as if someone had put ice down her shirt..
"Mmm!" he said.
"Oh, you don't mind then?"
She turned to look at Sirius just as he stretched out his legs and pressed his bare feet against her other arm. With an angry hiss she snatched up one of his abandoned shoes and shucked it at his head. He laughed, dodging the missile and jumping to his feet.
"I'm starved. Nothing like an adventure and a little danger to get my appetite going."
James pulled away and stood, following his friend into the kitchen in search of something filling. She followed him to his feet but crossed the room to stand next to Remus, holding her hands out over the warming fire and glancing sideways at her friend. He was a mess.
"You look like crap."
He gave a small smile and ran a hand over his face.
"I've looked worse." He reached out a hand and touched her arm lightly as if he was afraid she might pull away.
"Lily, thank you. You put yourself, and the baby in danger to get me to safety. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there, I wouldn't have been able to control myself for so long on my own and I probably would have killed someone." He paused and shut his eyes for a moment. Lily noticed the dark circles under them, the pale tone of his skin. She reached out and squeezed his hand tightly, reassuringly.
"And I could have killed you. James and Sirius told me what happened. I shouldn't have been so stupid, I should never have let that happen. I'm so sorry Lily. If they hadn't shown up when they did..." He shook his head. "I could have killed you" he repeated softly.
Didn't know how to end this so it kind of just stops. Next chapter should be coming pretty soon.
