Disclaimer: How many times have we gone through this? I own nothing that you recognize, for Merlin's sake!

Chapter Summary: Harry realizes the difference between other werewolves and Moony.

A/N: Hiya guys! 53 reviews for the last chapter! Wow! -Grins-

Here is your awaited chapter 22. I've been real busy lately with school starting on Monday. –Sighs- But I made sure to get this out before then, cuz after Monday my posts won't be once a week, mostly likely once every two. I know, I know you all don't want to hear that, but I thought I'd be up front with you from the start. –Smiles Slightly- Anywho, you all didn't come here to read this sooo...

Chapter 22: The Difference in Werewolves

-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-

-During the time Harry and Ron were playing with Amber-

"Sir, why didn't you tell us that it had been Xantos who had attacked Harry?" Remus voiced, asking the question that had been eating away at him and Sirius for a while now.

The Order meeting had ended a few minutes ago and all the members had already floo'd home. The only remaining people in Dumbledore's office were Sirius, who was standing by a chair next to Remus', Remus, who was sitting across from Dumbledore, Snape, who stood indifferently at the back of the office in the shadows staring listlessly out of the window, and Dumbledore himself who sat comfortably behind his desk.

The ageing Headmaster sighed and closed his eyes, resting his chin on his steepled fingers. He knew this question had only had a matter of time to come across, and he was hoping to teach his old students something by answering it.

"Mr. Black," addressed Dumbledore, catching the man by surprise even though he had been adamantly awaiting Dumbledore's response to the question. "If I were to tell you that I knew the exact location of Peter Pettigrew, which sadly I do not, what would you do with that information?"

Answering a question with a question was something Dumbledore took to doing often, Sirius and Remus knew all to well, but this one threw them off. What would they do? Remus fell into contemplative silence, but Sirius answered without hesitation, on impulse, and needless to say, without much thought to the matter.

"I would go hunt him down, and, in kinder words than I'd personally like to put it, utterly kill the bloody traitor."

"And leave Harry behind while doing so," Dumbledore stated sadly, looking as though he had expected such an answer, as he opened his eyes to look directly into Sirius'.

The Black's mouth fell open and looked, as well as felt, as though Dumbledore had just slapped him. He had not thought about what he would do with Harry if he went out to take revenge on that Rat, but he certainly had not planned on just leaving his Godson behind! Sirius opened and closed his mouth as though wanting to respond to Dumbledore's statement, but seemed to have lost his ability to speak. Snape, who still remained unnoticed to all but Dumbledore at the back of the office, curled his thin lips into a sneer, at Sirius' reaction to Dumbledore's words or at what he saw through the window, none would know. Remus remained quiet through his former Headmaster's and his best friend's exchange and decided not to speak just yet, having realized where Dumbledore was going with this, and knew that it was something the older wizard wanted the two of them to take to heart.

"N-No, of course I wouldn't leave him!" said Sirius, thunderstruck, finally regaining himself as well as his voice.

"You certainly wouldn't be thinking of taking the young child on such an escapade." Dumbledore smiled his overly annoying smile, and Sirius all too suddenly felt a surge of guilt in his gut. Guilt for being selfish, for having a brief moment where he had not cared about anyone or anything other than himself no matter the consequences.

He slowly lowered himself in the chair he had been standing next to, not trusting himself to speak another word. He felt as though he had betrayed his Godson's trust in him, even if Harry was not there to be the wiser of it, and even though it was exclusively with his thoughts. That, in and of itself, made Sirius feel all the worse. He would never, ever, think solely of himself again. He would not, could not, do that to Harry, to Prongslet, or even to Remus, he vowed to himself.

"That…would be why, then, Sir?" Remus inquired, taking a fleeting glance at Sirius before returning his gaze to the Headmaster.

"…Yes, Mr. Lupin, I did not tell you that day that it was Xantos because both of you would have dedicated your time and efforts into hunting him down the minute I had said so, until you caught him. It was for Harry's benefit at the time that I said nothing; he needed you, and still does," Dumbledore explained solemnly.

"That, Headmaster, is not far from the truth," stated Snape lazily, speaking for the first time since the end of the Order meeting, making his presence known to Sirius and Remus, who both whipped around almost instantly at hearing his drawling voice. Sirius felt bursting to say 'What's that supposed to mean, Snape?', but Remus beat him to the punch.

"And what, Severus, would that be meant to suggest?" he asked, dispassionate, but Sirius did not miss the cold undertone in his voice that could easily be missed if you did not know Remus as well as Sirius did. Snape sneered maliciously at the werewolf.

"Just as it sounded, Lupin, or does it not matter a lick to you and Black that your precious Potter just entered the Dark Forest?"

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Harry's eyes snapped shut, expecting the worst. A few seconds passed in the darkness where the only thing Harry could hear was the hungry breath on his neck, but something happened that confused Harry to no end. The hot breath that had been on his neck, left, and the new momentary eerie silence was replaced with the sound of sniffing, causing Harry to hazard opening his eyes.

Why's he sniffing the air? Harry thought to himself baffled by this odd behavior, but glad the werewolf's attention had been sidetracked. Then Harry heard it, two noises that completely broke the still silence and gave him back his lost hope, the sound of voices desperately calling his name, the sounds of twigs consecutively snapping, and leaves crunching beneath feet. But his momentary hope was short-lived when he felt the anger stemming off from Fenrir in waves, and could not stop fear from spreading through him once more.

Padfoot…Moony… Harry thought, trying to keep a hold on the hope that he would be rescued, but it was slipping from his grasp faster than he was able to maintain his hold on it. Fenrir's grip on Harry's wrists tightened painfully, and Harry bit his bottom lip to stop any noise from escaping him, he knew it would only bring the werewolf's attention back to him faster than would be preferable. A twig snapped loudly to Harry's left, and both the heads of Harry and Fenrir whipped to look in the direction, but it being pitch black in the forest Harry could not see if something was there or not, though he had a fleeting feeling that Fenrir could. Those golden eyes had been so animalistic. However he was able to sense another emotion coming from that area, though he could not decipher it.

Harry doubted he would get out of this situation alive, but if he was going to be killed, he was not going to make it easy. Especially now that he knew he would be found eventually, alive or dead, as it were. Not caring about the consequences any longer, and not caring that he had been feeling lightheaded ever since having slammed Fenrir into a tree with his powers, Harry took a deep breath - as deep as one could with a werewolf atop them - , and yelled the first name that came to mind.

"Padfo-" His own gasp of pain cut him off mid-word, for Fenrir had just dug his atrociously long yellow nails into Harry's delicate wrists, dangerously close to drawing blood. A sob escaped Harry's lips; he could not control it any longer. He was terrified, his wrists throbbed painfully from the pressure, and he just did not know what to do anymore. He felt helpless as his held back tears finally found their way slowly onto his soft cheeks. Fenrir chuckled amusedly as Harry's sobs threatened to rack his tiny form, and an emotion of utmost fury, from Harry's immediate left, burst into life. It almost made Harry want to shrink away from it, but for some reason he did not...he was not scared of it. It oddly gave him a sense of safety, though he could not tell why. A menacing growl came from the direction the emotion was coming from.

"Black…" Fenrir snarled, as though having just realized something. Harry's eyes snapped shut again the instant he felt sharp piercing teeth at his throat; this was it, he knew it. But before Harry could register in his mind exactly what was going on around him, a powerful force tackled Fenrir roughly off him to the ground with a loud thud. Harry could not see but he could hear the rolling, growling, punching, biting, cursing, yelping. Shocked by what happened, Harry quickly scrambled to his feet gasping for the extra breath that had been denied him when the werewolf had been on top of him, but regretted getting up almost instantly because he was attacked with another fierce bout of dizziness that almost threw him back to the ground. Harry did his best to maintain his balance, which paid off once the dizziness died down, but never leaving completely. A crash was heard then a sound Harry did not recognize before two voices shouted,

"Lumos!" Two wand tips ignited the area they and Harry were currently in.

To say Harry was stunned to see Fenrir and Sirius facing each other, wands outstretched, panting, glaring daggers at each other, was an understatement. He felt joy rise in him at the site of his Guardian, but dread equally rose with it as he thought about Padfoot's well-being.

"Big mistake, Black, you'd have had much more chance of survival if you had stayed as a dog," Fenrir jeered.

"And you'd have had a greater chance at seeing tomorrow, Greyback, if you hadn't picked my Godson as your next meal ticket," Sirius growled, a look in his eyes that Harry had never seen before in anyone's. Fenrir took a brief glance at Harry, a smirk playing at his lips, which sent a shiver down the boy's spine. Fenrir made a slashing movement in the air with his wand in hand that made the hairs at the back of Harry's neck stand up, but Sirius was quick to counter it with own of his own that immediately initiated a seemingly endless round of spells that both men shouted at each other. From Crucio and Stupefy to Protego and Reducto.

It was when a spell had been directed at Harry, and Sirius had barely been able to deflect it in time that the 24-year-old anxiously shouted for the young boy to run.

"B-But what about-!"

"Please, Prongslet!" Sirius insisted desperately as he deflected another hex and sent one in turn. Harry did not want to leave Padfoot but he did not want to disobey him either, so, with new tears welling up in his eyes, Harry turned and ran as hard as he could. The light that was the wand tips disappeared as he left and he was reunited unwillingly with the darkness. The only sound Harry could hear now was the sound of his own feet every time he brought one down, one after the other as he ran. Harry had felt like he had been running for forever when a new light burst into his vision again, nearly blinding him and reawakening his dormant dizziness as he came to an abrupt stop because of it.

The light dimmed slightly, and the Potter heir vaguely registered Dumbles lowering his wand, as his head spun and he struggled in vain to keep upright. His knees buckled beneath him, the fatigue the day's events would cause anyone had finally reached peaking point in little Harry, but he did not hit the ground. A pair of arms instinctively wrapped themselves around him protectively, and Harry involuntarily tensed at the action.

"Harry!" exclaimed a familiar voice worriedly, the person on their knees, their arms wrapped around the small boy. "Harry, are you alright?"

The young Potter tried to register what was going on, he felt like if his head spun any more he was not going to be able to stay awake, but he did register one thing...that voice was Moony's.

Moony… Harry thought hazily to himself as he attempted to relax his body - he was safe, he realized, before another thought planted itself stealthily in his mind.

Werewolves. Werewolves…Moony.

And with that thought, Harry struggled as hard as he physically could to free himself from Remus' protective embrace. He pushed and he squirmed, which was about all he could do with his current amount of strength, but it got him nowhere. Remus would not release him.

"Harry, talk to me! What's wrong?" Remus whispered calmingly, rubbing soothing circles into Harry's back with one hand and holding him in place with the other.

"…Let me go…" pleaded Harry softly, whose voice sounded cracked.

"No, not until you let me help you," Remus stated firmly, yet gently at the same time. He got no reply.

As Harry's dizziness ebbed away, he could not help but want to let Moony help him, to hold him, to comfort him, to tell him everything was going to be okay. Moony was a werewolf, though; Harry's mind seemed to scream it. But the Potter's heart told him a different story, one that reminded him of the Moony he knew, of the Moony who had cried at his bedside in the hospital, the Moony who had said he loved him and wanted no harm to befall him, the Moony who had actually turned into a werewolf and had not hurt Harry in the slightest. The Moony whose emotions now carried no ill-will toward him, an ill-will that had never and would never be there, just…unconditional warmth, affection, caring, Harry slowly came to recognize.

This was Moony, not Fenrir, this was Moony.

Remus could not help but feel confused by the way the young child was acting, not to mention slightly hurt that Harry did not want his help. He had been sure Sirius and he had formed a bond of trust with Harry, but now it seemed it had somehow broken.

"Harry…" Remus murmured softly…sadly, running a hand through the boy's silk-like black hair. And surprisingly, the boy's small form relaxed into Remus' embrace and tentatively, as though worried Remus would mind it, wrapped his small arms around the Lupin. Harry's body was trembling something terrible. Remus was quick to realize the boy was crying, and swiftly held the Potter a little tighter, while he continued rubbing soothing circles onto the boy's back.

"Will you talk to me now?" Remus inquired gently. Harry nodded weakly into Remus' robes, which were now getting wet with the tears he had finally let flow.

"Padfoot's…fighting alone…with Fenrir…" Harry hiccupped. Remus' eyes flashed with worry. Ron had told them he and Harry had come face to face with a monster, but it being Fenrir Greyback had been the last thing Remus would have thought of. He looked up at Dumbledore, who had remained silent as he watched Remus together with Harry. The Hogwart's Headmaster nodded knowingly before proceeding in the direction Sirius, in his Animagus form, had gone. Remus meanwhile, checked and double-checked his charge for bite marks. There were none, thank Merlin.

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"Poppy, I am fine," Sirius insisted, trying to get up for the umpteenth. "They're just scratches, I swear!"

"Codswallop, Mr. Black, now sit still," Madam Pomfrey replied sternly as she pushed Sirius back onto the bed. Remus stifled a laugh and Sirius shot him a dark look. If anyone hated trips to the hospital wing, it was Sirius. He hated being bed ridden and treated like he was going to break if anyone came to visit him. He remembered all too well his many undesired visits when he was in school. He had thought he had been rid of this overbearing witch when he had graduated, but here he was yet again. The world was cruel, and fate was laughing at him.

"Come on Padfoot, it's just a potion and some healing spells," Remus chuckled.

"You drink it and see how you like it!" Sirius retorted, irritated. Remus shook his head, smiling.

Sirius' appearance was not the prettiest sight at the moment. To say the least, he looked like he had been hit by a train. That was nothing to say for the werewolf responsible. ...The werewolf in question had managed to get away in the end, but not without receiving the worse end of Sirius' wand.

Ron sat tiredly on a hospital wing bed opposite Sirius' watching the adult man's refusal of healing with amusement in his young blue eyes.

Ron had run into Sirius, Remus, Dumbledore, and Snape as he made his escape from the forest. It was only then that he realized Harry was not with him anymore. Sirius and Remus had looked worse than worried at the sight of him alone. He had given them a rushed explanation of what had happened to him and Harry, leaving out the blasting the classroom door open part. Dumbledore had had Snape bring Ron back to the castle while they continued their search for Harry.

Harry currently lay asleep in a bed next to Ron's. Madam Pomfrey preformed a few basic healing spells, on his minor cuts from running through the forest and bruises from being manhandled by Fenrir Greyback, after she had checked him over. She could also easily tell he was not only exhausted physically, but magically as well, which she said she could clear up with a potion once he awoke from his slumber.

The Potter had fallen victim to fatigue in Remus' arms on the way back to Hogwarts, before Sirius and Dumbledore had caught up with them. Sirius had wanted to hold Harry in his arms, but Dumbledore had told him he was in no condition to be holding a child. He had said Sirius was not, despite Sirius' belief, indestructible and had been hit with a hex that had broken a few of his ribs, and that he needed medical attention immediately, as did Harry. Sirius had not been to keen on going to see Pomfrey for his medical needs, but here he was, forced, as he would say.

"Poppy, please!" Sirius begged again, earning him nothing but a whack on the head from her. "Ow!"

"Be quiet, Mr. Black, and let me do my work," she ordered exasperatedly. Ron giggled and Remus had to look the other way to hid his grin. Sirius glowered from one to the other as Madam Pomfrey waved her wand, saying a few choice words that easily closed up many cuts on his arms, and face, and a slash across his chest, as well as cleared up the blood that had been on him. His bruises would, of course, have to be dealt with salve, which he insisted he could do on his own, without Pomfrey's help, thankyouverymuch.

"Fine! Are you at least willing to take your potion? Your ribs won't possibly heal fast enough if you don't."

"Okay…okay," Sirius sighed begrudgingly before taking the offending vial and downing it in one gulp, making a face that earned another giggle from Ron.

"Will you stop laughing at my misfortune?" Sirius asked him with a mock glare. Ron giggled more and shook his head 'no'.

"Now, now, it's getting late. No more talking, my patients need rest," Madam Pomfrey demanded, pointing at all of them in turn.

"But I wanna-!" Sirius protested.

"What you want is of no concern to me, Mr. Black. You are to stay in that bed until I give you the permission to get up," Madam Pomfrey told him firmly, though she had a small smile playing at her lips. Sirius leaned back into his pillows, groaning at this pronouncement.

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Xantos sat in the Dark Lord's study, idly flipping through a book he had pulled out from one of the shelves. A loud 'pop' in front of him was the only reason he had to lazily lift his head to see who it was, as only Death Eaters could apparate in and out of this place. He was greeted with a sight that could only make him smirk. It was not everyday you saw Fenrir Greyback at his worst.

"Do not say you warned me, Potter, because I'll…" Greyback growled but was cut off.

"You'll what, exactly?" Xantos inquired with mild curiosity as he set the book aside, and stood up to his full height. Greyback looked like he wanted to answer that, but decided against it.

"Forget it, I…need you help," Greyback rasped reluctantly.

"Obviously, or you wouldn't be here," Xantos sneered. Greyback glared at him.

"You're the only one who knows advanced healing arts," the wounded werewolf admitted reluctantly. Xantos rolled his eyes and motioned for Fenrir to sit, as he whipped out his wand.

"This wouldn't have happened had you listened to me," Xantos grinned derisively as he waved his wand over Fenrir.

"Things would've gone much better had I not run into your cousin," Greyback snarled.

"Don't tell me he put you in this condition," Xantos chuckled, waving his wand again and saying a few words in Latin. "He's not old enough to be doing serious damage."

"Well he's old enough for something. Anyway, no, this was Black's doing. Not that I left him for the better, either."

"Ahh, well, in that case, consider yourself lucky," Xantos stated waving his wand a final time, closing all Fenrir's wounds and healing the fractured bones.

"Heh, and why would I consider myself lucky? I didn't get to have any of Potter."

"Because the Dark Lord would put you through much more for doing anything to the Potter boy, at the moment anyway, than Black could ever make you go through," said Xantos indifferently, stowing his wand back into the pocket of his robes.

"Your concern touches me," replied Greyback sardonically.

"I would hope so," Xantos smirked, seating himself across from the werewolf.

"...You know, when you told me that boy could use fire, I was sure that was all he could do."

"That was stupid on your part then," Xantos sighed, malice shinning in his hazel eyes.

"How was I supposed to know the boy could control the blasted wind?"

"Wind, eh? Now that's something. See? Your little trip wasn't in vain after all. Hehe..."

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Harry groaned as he blearily opened his eyes, but could see hardly anything. Not for the lack of light, for there was plenty, but for his lack of glasses. He reached over to the nightstand and easily grabbed them, putting them into place. He took in his surroundings and sighed.

The hospital…again, he thought to himself. Moony sat asleep in the chair next to Harry's bed and Harry could not help but smile softly. Moony might be a werewolf, but he was different, Harry knew it. He looked to his other side, expecting to see Padfoot, but saw no one. Padfoot was not there. The first thought to enter Harry's head was, of course, the worst. Padfoot must have lost to Fenrir! Tears stung Harry's eyes at the thought as he looked desperately around, but only saw Ron in the bed next to him, fast asleep. It was then that he noticed the furry black something lying at the foot of his bed. Curiosity getting the better of him, as it always tended to do, Harry pulled his covers off and crawled to the end of his bed and touched the thing. It was soft! And…it was breathing?

Ohh, it's a doggy! Harry noticed, finally seeing the snout and ears. It's pretty! Harry thought to himself as he stroked the dog's fur a second time, which caused its ears to twitch. The shaggy black dog opened its mouth and yawned wide as it opened its eyes and looked around tiredly before resting its blueish-grey gaze on the Potter, who gasped in surprise.

"You have Padfoot's eyes!"

The dog seemed to look at Harry incredulously before realization passed over him. He had never shown Harry his dog form before! With a soft pop, the dog transformed back into the Padfoot Harry knew, sitting cross-legged in the same spot, grinning goofily. The Potter heir's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates at the sight before him, and he did not even realize that his mouth had fallen open.

"Surprised, kiddo?"

Harry seemed to have lost his voice. He wanted to exclaim about how wicked it was that Padfoot was a dog, but the happiness that Padfoot was just alive did not let him go off on it.

"Aww, come here, I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" Sirius inquired affectionately as he scooped his shocked Godson up and into his arms and placed him on his lap.

"You're...you're alive!" Harry squealed happily wrapping his arms around his Godfather's neck and holding on like his very life depended on it. Sirius laughed good-naturedly as he ruffled Harry's hair.

"Of course I'm alive, kiddo! You think I'd ever leave you?" Sirius grinned. Harry smiled widely and hugged Sirius again before finally releasing him and allowing himself to be brought back down to his Godfather's lap. Sirius wrapped his strong arms protectively around the Potter heir, who contentedly rested his head on Sirius' chest. The two passed a few minutes in silence; just enjoying each other's much missed company. In the end, it was Harry who was first to break the pleasant silence between them.

"We're all different...aren't we?"

"What's that mean?" Sirius inquired with a soft smile.

"Well...us. You, and me, and Moony. I'm different than other wizards, cuz I can do magic without a wand. You're different too, cuz you can turn into a dog! And Moony, well, Moony's a werewolf," Harry explained, wrinkling Sirius' shirt in his hands. The Black could not help but chuckle a bit at this.

"We're just a 'different' kind of family, then, eh?" Sirius asked, grinning. Harry smiled and nodded.

"Padfoot...are you mad at me?" Harry inquired out of nowhere. Sirius sighed at this question, knowing it would come; it was in Harry's shaped personality.

"I'm not...mad at you, Prongslet. I was worried. You could've been killed yesterday."

"...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"I know you didn't, kiddo. I just want you to know from now on that if Moony or I tell you not to do something or tell you to stay somewhere, we don't do it for the heck of it. If it were my call, I'd let you touch anything and go anywhere you wanted to! But there are dangers in the world that you don't know about yet, and it's because we love you that we tell you not to do some things," Sirius explained to his young Charge. Harry nodded understandingly. "Now, as for that door..."

"I'm sorry..."

"I know, and it's okay. You won't do it again, m'sure," Sirius stated, knowing Harry never did something that got him in trouble, twice. Let alone do something that would get him in trouble. It was not in his persona.

"Mr. Black! You are in no state to be holding your Godson!" came Madam Pomfrey's exasperated shriek as she bustled down the hospital wing, in their direction.

"Poppy!" Sirius whined. Harry giggled into Sirius' shirt.

"Do not 'Poppy' me, Mr. Black. Now put him back down and return to your bed!" Madam Pomfrey ordered strictly, her hands on her hips. Sirius sighed resignedly, detached himself from his Godson, and walked gloomily back to his bed.

"Good. Now then, this is for you, Harry dear," she smiled, uncorking the potions vial she had in her hand before handing it to the young Potter. The emerald eyed boy obediently drank it, and was amazed, once again, at the wonders it worked. He felt a lot better than he had yesterday!

"Right. I would like to keep you an extra day, but I think you would be fine going home tonight if you truly want to," Madam Pomfrey sighed.

"That's good to hear," Sirius grinned. Madam Pomfrey huffed, annoyed, before returning to her office.

"Did...Fenrir hurt you Padfoot?" Harry inquired timidly.

"Naw, I'm good. Poppy over exaggerates all the time. Didn't hurt me a bit."

"...Okay."

"Harry...you know Remus isn't like Fenrir, don't you?" Sirius asked from his bed, sitting up a little straighter. "That he'd never do something like this to you."

"For a bit...while I was in the forrest...I wasn't really sure." Harry admitted softly. "But, I'm sure now. Moony is Moony. He and Fenrir are...different...I can sense it."

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A/N: There you have it! No cliffhangers or anything! Lol. –Grins- And no killing me. –Smiles- I hope you all liked it, because I'm pretty sure it's going to be the last chapter of Harry as a 4-year-old. I'm planning on skipping him a few years now. I might do just one more chapter with him as 4 before skipping, but I'm not sure yet. Just debating it for the moment. What do you all think?

Anywho, for those who wanna know, my other story "The Beginnings" will hopefully be updated before this week is out. I want to get it up before school starts on Monday. I hope you R&R that as well as review this chapter! Can't wait to hear your opinions!

Until next time...

-Japanime