James laid in bed looking at the strange werewolf-wizard sleeping on the small sofa, sprawled across it like a rag doll. He'd been doing so since he'd woken up, and his mind caught up to the fact he was still in bed, warmed by the blankets and his back only aching slightly. James ran the events of the night before through his mind yet again.
The wizard-werewolf was far more pleasant in appearance than his master, even if he did look like he'd been run ragged since-forever. He was clearly, very, very lonely. It was no wonder with no pack of his own. James had never heard of such a thing. Then again, most of the things he knew about his kind he'd be pleased to see disproved, but living without a pack just seemed unnatural. They were werewolves after all. They lived in packs.
It was sad for the other werewolf, but advantageous for James. The werewolf might not have the power of a pack to back him up, but he did have a wand. He was a werewolf and a wizard, although it didn't make much sense to James. His master always held wizards in a slightly higher regard than muggles, but concerning the pack, he only allowed some wild magic. Their magical abilities, if they possessed any, were never trained. His master-
Greyback. The name of the leader of the pack he had once belonged to was Greyback. Not master, not anymore, not ever again. Realization began to sink in as James felt a bubble of happiness swell inside of him like he hadn't felt since he had been taken by the cruel and nasty werewolf.
He looked at the strange werewolf on the sofa. He had taken him in, given him food, and even let him have a shower and cleaned his wounds. It seemed like he wanted nothing in return. Of course he would want something in return, James was not stupid, he knew better than anyone the cost of submission. Although, this time he wasn't too concerned about it.
The odd werewolf had treated him with kindness James hadn't known existed amongst their kind. H said he denied his baser urges. James was reasonably sure that meant that if he behaved, he'd be treated well, and that was more than he could hope for.
James slid out of bed silently and tip-toed over to his new master. He had always hated doing this with Greyback, but this time he didn't mind as much. This master deserved to be served well. The sprawled position of the man made it easier for James to kneel between the man's legs and unbutton his trousers.
He'd gotten the second button undone, and had barely got started on the zipper when he heard a startled cry above him. He suddenly found himself falling off the sofa and landing his bum on the floor. Habit and shock had James on his knees instantly, down and his palms upwards in supplication, without looking once at his new master. He hadn't even started yet.
"Jamie?" that soft kind voice asked above him, but James didn't react; he knew better than that. INstead, he gnawed on the inside of his cheek wondering what he'd done wrong, and more importantly how he could make up for it.
His master said in a gentle tone, "Come here."
James looked up warily to see him patting on the sofa next to him. His master allowed him to sit on the chair the night before, sleep in the bed, and now the sofa. Obviously, the ban on use of furniture, other than closets, had been lifted. Still, James wasn't eager about it. He knew all about traps. Just because his new master reminded him of a father instead of a master, didn't mean James couldn't still be very mistaken about everything.
When he got to the soda, he sat down gingerly and kept his eyes on his hands, keeping his hands in his lap.
A hand touched his shoulder. The master gave another gently command, "James, look at me."
James followed his command. The master looked kind, but serious at the moment too.
"I thank you for the gesture, but you are never ever to do that for me again. It's not something I want you to do for me. Your far too young to be doing things like that anyway. You're never to attempt to do that for me again. Is that clear?"
James murmured obediently even though he didn't really understand, "Yes, Sir. I'm sorry, Sir."
Mis master sighed deeply before giving him a sad smile. He cupped James' cheek and James couldn't help but lean into the caress, almost shamelessly.
"I need to leave now for a bit, but when I get back you and I need to have a talk, alright?" His master was still caressing his face and making no motion to move. There was a somewhat expectant look on his face, and it took James a moment to realize he was waiting for a reply. James wasn't completely sure what his master meant, but he gave him a small nod nevertheless.
Unfortunately, the hand disappeared as his master stood up and walked towards the low burning fire, but the sad smile didn't.
He said pleasantly, "I'll be back in half hour." before flooing out of the small home to somewhere unknown.
James sat on the sofa and stared into the fire.
Several thoughts came to him all at once. His new master left him alone. HIs new master had rebuked him and had left him alone. He'd let his master down, and yet this master had touched him, kind and gentle. James let out a sigh. His new master might be kind and gentle, but he was also so bloody confusing. He had said they'd talk, so that was probably a good thing. James didn't think his new master meant it as code for other things. James let the realization sink in for a moment that he wouldn't have to do that ever again, and felt an odd pang at the thought. He was good at it, he knew that much, it was one of the few things James had been allowed to do.
James wondered how he could please his new master now. He thought back to his father, suppressing the dull ache that it always caused, and tried to remember what the man had wanted him to do sometimes. A thought came to him as James looked around the cabin appraisingly.
Cleaning. Yes, the house could use it, and James could do it. His father had mostly used magic in the upkeep of the house, but on Saturday mornings James had been put to work the muggle way.
"You should always know how to do things the muggle way, so that you never take the gift of magic nor the gift of servitude for granted. His father had said that many times, yet James only remembered it now. James knew for a fact he'd never take anybody serving him for granted, not that it was ever likely to happen.
James glanced at the fireplace again, and the clock above it caught his eye. It read: Meat time/ James thought was a stupid mistake on a clock, but he acknowledged that met would be nice; just as long as it was cooked properly.
But first, there was cleaning to be done. He went about finding a bucket and rag underneath the kitchen sink. He even found an old bottle of muggle cleaning fluid. He set out to the bathroom with his rag and bucket remembering an old memory of a television commercial where a woman danced as she mopped the floor.
By the time James finished cleaning the bathtub, he decided cleaning was a nice chore. He hadn't really thought much of anything as he cleaned, and it calmed him down. He hadn't even realized he needed it. He concentrated so hardly on cleaning he didn't hear his master coming back through the floo and calling out for him.
James got the living daylights scared out of him when he heard a soft cough behind him just as he wiggled out of the bathroom as he finished the floor. James looked up at his master over his shoulder as his heart pounded in his chest.
"Thank you for this." His master said with a lopsided grin, "I'm not much when it comes to cleaning, but I didn't think things had gotten that bad. Now come on, I think you've done enough for one day."
His master put the parcels he had been carrying down on the counter and started unpacking them. James waited for a moment until his heart slowed down a little. His master looked pleased and was even softly humming a tune. His master was slightly tone deaf. James immediately jumped to help unpack when he realized he'd been standing like a sack of potatoes.
As he reached for one of the un-opened boxes, his hands were swatted away, and he looked up at his master with a hurt look. He felt a little insulted, but it couldn't hold up against the smile his master gave him.
"Go sit down. You've already done more than enough." James was told with his master's voice filled with amusement and not reprimand. Somewhat bemused himself, James sat down and watched his master put things away. One parcel remained conspicuously untouched, and James wondered what was in it. Not that he'd ask or show any curiosity, but he still wondered.
"You should have stayed in bed or something instead of doing all that work on an empty stomach." His master scolded lightly without looking at James. He tapped the kettle with his wand and started rummaging through the counter cupboards.
James looked at his master's back in a mild state of shock. This werewolf was his Alpha and his master, yet he kept acting like his father used to. Greyback had made it clear that werewolves didn't copy the pathetic human familial ways. The Alpha was the lord and master unless you were the highly valued Beta, you didn't think for yourself. Everyone else lived to serve, especially the Omega.
James' master cried out, "Aha! I knew I still had one somewhere." He gave James a triumphant look holding up an ordinary frying pan.
"Now, I figured pancakes for this morning, but if you'd rather have eyes I've got it covered, or toast, or grapefruits. Maybe toast and grapefruit would be best; your stomach won't be able to handle something too hefty yet, but first tea. One should never leave the house without having a cip. Well, unless one runs out of it the night before like I did-"
James' shock and confusion grey considerably at his master's rambling. His master was definitely acting like a father, like a human even. He didn't act like James' father who had never run out of tea or misplaced a pan, as far as James could remember, but still. His master was just so bloody confusing.
He liked his master. He had felt safe with him almost from the moment he had woken up in his house, and he wanted to please him, but didn't know where to start. He had thanked him for cleaning, which was unbelievable and unnecessary, yet he had also scolded him for it. HIs master had given him choices for food, which was unbelievable and unnecessary too, yet he had decided for him. James came to an outrageous decision.
He looked up at his master and boldly interrupted his Alpha, "Master, Sir."
HIs Alpha stopped mid-sentence, his expression changing into something unreadable, but clearly not good. James still decided to continue while lowering his eyes respectfully, "I'd like toast and grapefruit, Sir, and maybe we could have pancakes for lunch, Sir."
His master heaved a deep sigh and James knew he shouldn't have opened his big mouth. It was almost funny that talking about food would land him in trouble with his new master, not a day after it had done the same with Greyback.
"I think that sounds lovely."
James was almost knocked out of his seat by those words. He honestly didn't understand his Alpha. He didn't dare to look up.
His master was busy again, and soon a mug of tea was placed in front of James. This time James didn't hesitate and picked it up immediately, only the burn of the hot mug reminded him that it couldn't be drunk yet. He felt a hand lightly ruffle his hair, "Careful, that's still hot."
Tears suddenly sprang into James' eye because that had been exactly like his father. Suddenly, James felt enormous grief for his father and the life that had been taken from him. He tried to blink away the tears and focus on the piece of fruit being placed in front of him, but it was no use. The tears fell and James curled up in his chair.
His master crouched down beside him and tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. Not thinking about acceptable behavior or anything but that this stranger, his new master, had shown him nothing but kindness James flung himself at the man. Knocking them and the chair over in the process. He landed with his face on his Alpha's stomach.
James was lifted in strong arms and carried to the sofa, and settled on his master's lap. All he could do was clutch onto his shirt and cry, while his back was rubbed and soft soothing words were spoken into his ear.
He cried when he had been with Greyback, of course he had. It was quite difficult not to when he kept beating and humiliating him until he cried. But that had been the only times, as often as they were. He had not cried for his father, never like this, not when Greyback had shown him his father's mangled body, not when Greyback locked him in the closet, not when memories came to him. He simply didn't until, now, and he couldn't seem to stop.
If anything, his master's tenderness only made it worse, bringing back even more memories.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
The question was asked louder than all the nothings had been, and it barely penetrated James' brain . James shook his head in denial, but words poured out of his mouth despite his desperate wish to keep everything to himself.
"Papa told me to hide. But he came and he clawed Papa to pieces." James said between sobs, "He found me the next day and he showed me my papa's body and told me that was the glory of the world. The pack, they took me away and I saw the village and the pack was everywhere. They showed him all the bodies and-"
James buried himself into his Alpha's chest wrecking big sobs once more.
"It's alright, Cub. It's alright."
The words were comforting, but not helping stop the tears or the words one bit.
"He bit me. He told me that he couldn't accidently maul such a prize. He told me I was a toy for him and the pack. He always told me that-"
James let his words trail away, finally able to control his mouth, if not his tears. He had never felt so ashamed in his life, and yet he felt better too.
After what seemed like an eternity James began feeling more calm and the tears lessened. HIs master caught his chin and tilted his head upwards using the other hand to wipe away the last of his tears. He gave James a serious look, "If you ever want to talk about it again, that's fine, and if not that's fine too, alright?" He said softly.
James nodded hesitantly, unsure how to act after that entire display, and confused about his master even more.
"Now, we'll have breakfast and then we'll have to talk about some other things, Come James was gently edged off his lap and towards the kitchen table.
He found he needed little encouragement when he spotted the mug of the, now cold, tea. He scrambled onto his chair and grabbed the mug with both hands, and he downed it in one go. A tall glass of juice was put down in front of him, and before James even started his fruit he downed that glass as well. He looked up sheepishly at his master. James was having a field day breaking every possible rule about proper pack behavior. The other werewolf only gave him a soft smile, tapped James' empty glass with his wand to refill it, and took a bit out of his toast. Strangely enough, James had been expecting that much. Perhaps he was starting to understand his new master.
Picking up his spoon to dig into his grapefruit, James wondered what it would take to make his new Alpha angry, but he cut those thoughts off short. It would be ridiculous for a start, and James doubted he wanted to actually see his Alpha angry. For all the gentleness and friendliness, there was an undercurrent in his master that James did not want to see brought to the surface.
His master spoke suddenly, "Greyback was the one to bite my as well." James kept his eyes on his food as he spoke, "He'd been alone that night, so my family managed to chase him away. If they hadn't he would have taken me to raise me himself too. As it stands, I'm a complete and utter disgrace to our kind. A pathetic excuse not worthy of our proud heritage."
The last words were spoken with such venom that James looked up, surprised to see a look of pure hatred, which transformed into sadness as the two locked eyes.
"Tell me, Jamie, who am I?"
The question took James by surprise, but he knew the answer.
He replied proudly, "You are my master, Sir."
The smile wasn't as brilliant as he wanted and expected, in fact it turned even more sad than before.
"I was afraid of that." His master said, his entire tone downtrodden. Annoyingly confusing Alpha, of course he was James' master.
James' feelings must have shown on his face because his master raised his eyebrows at him and even chuckled a little.
'When Greyback told me what a pathetic werewolf I was, he meant every single aspect of what, according to him, it means to be a werewolf. I was bitten when I was eight and raised by my parents. I don't have the same outlook on being a werewolf that he does. If anything my outlook is as much opposite to his as it possibly could be. Do you understand."
James answered politely even though he didn't completely understand, "Yes, Sir." He was quite sure his Alpha would start the talk now and he really wanted to understand that werewolf. Both for the sake of his position in this two-wolf pack and simply for his sake.
"I consider myself a human with a very serious, very lethal illness, that affects every aspect of my life. Thankfully, I've never eaten or bitten another, but every full moon I'm scared that it will happen."
A silence fell and even though he was still looking at James, he had the distant feeling his Alpha's mind was elsewhere. James finally found something that would please his Alpha, and he had Greyback to thank for it.
He said quietly, 'I've never eaten or bitten anybody either, Sir."
Another frown.
"He kept you locked up." his Alpha stated. His voice an odd mixture of disdain and relief.
James nodded. "It's hell isn't it?" Waking up covered in scratches and bites because the wolf just has to get at something; wants so badly to be free."
James nodded again and shuddered. He might not be able to remember the nights, but the days after were always painful.
"In school, I had a pack and with them I was able to run freely through the nights-"
"You went to school? With werewolves?" James interrupted surprised Greyback had never said anything about that he would love to set his teeth into 'Dumbledore's precious charges'. James knew of Dumbledore, his father had always praised the man, always praised the school he ran. Howtarts or Pigfarts or something like that. He couldn't remember the name, but it always made him giggle. His Alpha smiled at his question, a small smile, but definitely amused, not a sad smile anymore.
"Yes, I went to school, but no, I was the only werewolf there. At first, the Headmaster was the only one who knew, but then I made friends. When they found out they didn't cast me said, but helped me. It was a good ten years." His Alpha glanced at the clock and James followed his eyes. It read: Pack bonding.
"They made me that clock for my seventeenth birthday. We used to make all kinds of things, or James, the one I mentioned, and Siris did at least. Peter and I just played with them."
James thought about those words. They didn't make sense. HIs Alpha was an Alpha. Not just because between the two of them he was obviously older and more powerful, but he also smelled like one. The scent wasn't very strong though, and James remembered how long it had taken him in the forest to place it. Still, his Alpha made it sound like he had been a beta and that couldn't be. Greyback had always been very clear about that.
"Sir, weren't you the Alpha of your old pack?" James dared to ask.
"Ah, no. I think that honor went to Sirius. At that point I really didn't care about that. I was just happy to have friends, packmates, and I wanted to keep them. So even when they did things I didn't like, I still went along with it. So back then I wasn't an Alpha."
"BUt-" James started only to shut his mouth again.
"I've denied the more wolfish part of myself. As I said, I deny my baser urges and I consider werewolves humans with an affliction. But I can't deny that I have sharper senses than most around me, or that I tend to view relationships in terms of power, no matter how much that goes against my principles. Aside from turning into a bloodthirsty raving monster every full moon it is the aspect I detest most. The instinct to submit or dominate. Do you understand?"
James wanted to say that he did, but he couldn't. His Alpha had said everything before, but put together like that James had difficulty following him.
"No, Sir, I don't."
"What do you not understand?"
James thought about it, finishing off his cold piece of toast.
"You sound like you hate us, Sir, yourself, our kind. Like you agree with the humans who want to see us dead."
The small gentle smile faded into a frown more serious and more severe than anything James had seen so far, and he wondered if he'd crossed some line. But then. thankfully, the expression softened again.
"What has Greyback taught you about werewolves?" He asked.
James was quite certain that was not the answer to his question from before.
"We are proud creatures, top of the food chain. Humans fear us, as they should. Humans are nothing but our cattle." James tossed out a few of Greyback's teachings.
"See, I don't believe in any of that because I believe I am human. Yes, I am-afflicted with lycanthropy, but that does not change who I am. I still have my soul, my mind, my emotions. I do not consider anybody I cross in the street as food. I do not need it to survive and giving the world free range to bite and kill would make me nothing more than a common murderer and that I refuse to be."
It wasn't the no eating or biting humans rule that bothered James, or the fact is Alpha thought of himself as human, even if he didn't quite get it. No, it was the part where his Alpha said he denied everything else about being a werewolf.
What if his Alpha didn't have a pack because he didn't want one? What would he do with him Did he hate James?
His Alpha asked, "Jamie? James, are you alright?"
James said in a very tight voice, "No, Sir." This was getting stupid; he would not start crying again, he simply wouldn't.
"Come here." His Alpha, or whoever he was, ordered in that damned soft and gentle tone of his. James found himself in his lap with his head against his shoulder once more.
"What's wrong?"
"You hate me, and you don't want me." James spluttered out between sobs, thoroughly ashamed. He wanted to stay with this man who didn't act like a master, but rather like a father, odd as it was. For this Alpha, he would do anything, bear his stomach, please him in any way he asked, simply anything.
"Oh, shuch, Cub." the werewolf murmured into his ear, rubbing his back gently, "I don't hate you. I will never hate you."
Even through his crying, his heart leapt at those words, but the unsaid didn't escape James. He leaned backwards so that he could face his Alpha, but did not try to move out of the loose one-armed embrace. His Alpha wiped away his tears and cupped his cheek.
"But you don't want me?' James asked. It came out like an accusation.
His Alpha sighed deeply, reached around James and drew back, handing him a glass of juice. James accepted it gratefully, but kept his eyes on the werewolf waiting for his answer. Although he figured the pause was enough of an answer. He held his breath as the other werewolf started to speak.
"I would love for you to come and live with me" His Alpha said and James let out a sigh of relief, even though that clearly wasn't all, "But there are some things we need to talk about."
James let out an impatient huff at that. What has they been doing then?
His alpha chuckled, "I'll need to ask you a few questions, alright?"
James nodded. His Alpha cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Do you have any relatives where you could go and live with them? Your mother, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins?"
"No, Sir." James answered shaking his head, "My mother and sisters were killed when I was a baby by the evil wizards and You-Know-Who." He whispered the last part, as his father had always done, and saw his Alpha's eyes widen at his words, "My mother was a muggle."
HIs Alpha said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Cub."
"And my father said we were all that was left." James continued shrugging off the condolences.
"What was your last name?"
"My last name was Matthias, Sir." James said apprehensively. If these questions meant that he would be sent away to live with people he'd never met, he'd rather not answer them. He wanted to stay with his Alpha.
HIs Alpha's eye widened even more at that, "I knew your father."
James eyes widened at the statement, "He was in my house at Hogwarts."
Hogwarts that was the name, and despite everything James couldn't help but giggle. He shook his head at his Alpha's questioning look, instead he urged him on.
"Pappa was a Gryff-en-door, right?" HIs father had told James about the school many times.
"IT's pronounced Gryffindor, but yes, he was. He was in his fourth year when I started though, so I never got to know him well. I did speak to him at the trails and he was completely broken up." His Alpha's face turned thoughtful, and James wondered what he was thinking about.
"I never knew he was the victim of a werewolf attack." He said slowly after a minute of silence.
"Sir, you're going to send me away, aren't you?" James asked after another silence, studying the glass of juice in his hands. He'd love to talk some more about his father and other things, but there was no point in delaying the inevitable.
His chin raised and he looked into his Alpha's eyes once more. They were filled with hope and a bit of sadness.
"I can't make any guarantees, Jamie. This situation is not easy. Not many people know of my affliction, but it's difficult to keep a job with my affliction, so I'm not a very wealthy man."
James didn't see any concern there.
"I spoke with an acquaintance of mine this morning and she agreed to meet with us this afternoon to look at your wounds and get you checked up, if you're up for it. I think we should speak with Dumbledore to discuss things further, but I haven't been to Hogwarts in a long time. I've been on my own for so long. We'll just take it slowly for now. We'll have to go shopping and get you clothes and everything."
James wanted to smack himself for even doubting his Alpha. He said everything was going to be fine. James was going to stay. They were going to go out, get him checked up, and go shopping. James felt warmth and gratitude he had thought impossible.
He put his glass behind him on the table. James closed his eyes and bared his Alpha his neck. James never felt so confident in submitting. For the first time, he chose to and it felt liberating to do so. With everything his Alpha had told him James was sure he didn't need to do this, but that was exactly why he did do it. His Alpha had asked for nothing, had only been giving, so James could at the very least give him this.
He heard his Alpha sigh deeply, and waved for a moment, afraid he would be rejected after all. BUt then he gathered all his courage and leant into the other werewolf.
James himself sighed in relief as his Alpha nipped his neck sharply and licked the bite with his tongue before pushing James away from him slightly.
His Alpha said solemnly, "Thank you."
James felt elated until he looked at his, truly his, Alpha. He wasn't looking nearly as happy as he should be.
"James." he started and the serious note was not gone and James wondered how the hell he had managed to displease his Alpha with his offer. He had accepted, hadn't he? Damned confusing Alpha, "I want to get one thing very straight. I am your Alpha and you are my Beta, but I am not your master and you are not my slave. Understand? I'll care for you, protect you, and teach you as long as you want and need, but you will not be serving me. Understand?"
And there his Alpha went again. James wanted to point out that his Alpha was his master and that of course James would serve him, but he figured it was a lost cause. Instead his Alpha had to go and act father like once again. Not that James minded it, not in the least, but it did go to show that being raised with one's own kind was better. At least there he had learned proper ways of werewolves and he was glad he could start to show that their ways weren't all bad. Even if James had been taking great liberties already. He'd be the best Beta any Alpha could have wished for , suddenly realizing his Alpha had made him a beta, but in a pack of two that didn't really count for much.
Still James was very, very happy and he nodded in agreement.
"Alright, so you can call me Remus and dispense with the sir."
And James had finally figured it out. His Alpha wasn't as much confusing, although he was that too, as he was confused. He was expecting James to call him by his first name. Well, that would never happen in the next million years. James might have been stretching the boundaries a bit, but he wouldn't go as far as break them entirely.
His Alpha apparently picked up on his resistance.
"What would you like to call me then?" He asked a bit warily, before adding hastily,"Except Mr. Lupin, I'm old, but not that old."
"I could call you Alpha, Sir?" James offered. He thought it more respectful than master actually, more personal too.
"Well, it isn't master or Mr. Lupin, at least. But I would really like for you to try and grow comfortable with Remus though." His Alpha said with a wry grin before he pushed him nudged him off his lap.
His Alpha got up and picked up the unopened parcel from the counter and handed it to him. James accepted it with wide eyes.
"You can't very well go into town in my old pajamas, now can you? So go and put them on and we'll be off."
James opened the package, almost reverently, and took out the contents. A pair of black cotton trousers, a green t-shirt, a green jumper, boxers, socks, and a pair of trainers.
"I hope it all fits, but it should be enough for the next few hours at least." His Alpha added as he gave James a gentle push towards the bathroom.
James wasted no time in getting ready. He quickly did his business before dressing himself. The clothes were a bit big, but when he looked into the mirror he barely recognized himself. He looked like a normal kid, well kept and everything, instead of a cast-off he had always been with Greyback.
How much a life could change within a day.
James smiled proudly at his reflection, ran a hand through his hair, which was actually looking more like his real blond color once again, and left the bathroom strutting proudly.
"Ah, goo they fit." His Alpha said approvingly as he looked James up and down,"And you can still grow into them."
James could feel himself glow.
"Now, we're going to floo into my acquaintance's workplace directly. She doesn't usually work with children, but she's a good person. How old are you anyway?"
That was a good question, James thought.
"I'm nine, Sir, I think."
His master gave him a proper smile, "Only two more years left before Hogwarts then."
James liked his proper smiled the best.
His Alpha threw an arm around James' shoulders and tossed the floo powder into the hearth. James watched the flames flare like he hadn't seen in many moons and stepped into them with his Alpha.
No RL/DM. This is familial. Taking a bit of a different route than the original.