Chapter 79: Veritas*

Part I

30 May 1980

Whinfell Forest, England

No. No.

Please no.

It was the only thing Remus could think of.

No.

Because there was no way this was happening, no way that Fenrir fucking Greyback was standing before him now after all these years. Remus' knees threatened to buckle, but Hermione's grip held him in place. He hadn't noticed her arms tightening around him.

No.

His mind fractured, trying to reconcile the image of the Greyback of his memories and the one who grinned at him now.

A growl from the pits of something primeval, angry and hungry. Jaws dripping with saliva that trailed on his carpet and the toys he didn't pick up from the day before. Paws the size of his head with claws jagged and sharp. And those eyes…

Remus blinked. His vision shuddered, the memories flashing against the man before him. He was just a man—just a man, a dirty, bearded, wild-eyed man, but just a man. And Remus couldn't understand. He started to shake with rising adrenaline.

Run.

His stomach clenched. His muscles flexed on their own accord, commanded by something deeper within him.

No.

Run.

Remus closed his eyes. Moony scratched at the surface, trying to reach him, trying to reach the top. No, please. I'm not like him. Remus shook his head. This was Greyback's doing. It had to be. He was—he was influencing Moony to try to take over. Remus had to fight, had to fight Moony, keep him at bay, keep the monster away. He had to keep a hold on his humanity, his soul, his heart. He couldn't let Moony in, couldn't let Greyback win.

Let me out. Set me free.

No. You're the monster. The monster's here. I can't—I can't. Mum, please, help me. Remus pushed and shoved at the pieces of Moony he dared touch, his thoughts touching on the nightmares that had plagues him for years. He threw as much as he could as far as he could and patched the crumbling wall back together again. Stay out. Stay out. Stay out.

You fool. Moony's voice came as a whisper and then faded, covered and muffled by all of Remus' efforts.

Remus breathed in. It was shaky but he told himself he was stronger now, and with Hermione so close he was. Strong. Capable. Protective. He gripped Hermione back and straightened his legs before leveling a glare at his maker. His hands still shook at his side.

"Greyback."

Remus expected the werewolf to attack, to spit in his face or to yell at him. What he didn't expect was laughter. Pure, unadulterated, joyful laughter.

"Oh, Pup." Greyback clapped his hands together, his eyes alighting as Remus' lip curled at the moniker levied on him. "Look at you, huh? What are you doin' so far from home, lad? You come lookin' for me?"

He started to circle Remus, making it a few steps to his side before he stopped, blinked and took in a deep breath. The grin that split across Greyback's face widened, his unnaturally sharp teeth all on display as he licked his lips. His eyes, rimmed in gold, narrowed in on Hermione. He looked back to Remus.

"Oh, Pup." He sounded—and Remus couldn't believe it—proud. Greyback threw up a hand to grip Remus by the back of the neck, strong enough to keep him in place, but not enough to wound. Remus shuddered under his touch, his stomach churning and threatening to revolt. Greyback shook him lightly all the while laughing deep laughs that brought a chill up Hermione's spine. "Do you see this?" Greyback shouted out.

Remus watched in horror as one after the other, werewolves started appearing from behind trees to step further into the clearing. Seven in total joined them, and if they were paired with Greyback, Remus and Hermione didn't stand much of a fighting chance. Remus' eyes darted about them, trying to look for anything that could be useful to know, but his mind kept slipping, slipping away from him. As Hermione shifted against him arms, he could only hope she was faring better.

"Do you see what he's brought me!" Greyback's breath came hot across Remus' ear. "My Pup and his own little wolf at his heels. The prod'gal son returned." Greyback pulled Remus' neck to kiss him harshly on the head before throwing his own back to let out a howl.

The other werewolves joined in, shouting and hollering and howling, but Remus could only hear Greyback. It was deep and oddly melodic and it echoed something inside Remus, leaving behind an uneasy emptiness. It was haunting, literally, a sound that had haunted him for years, keeping him awake into the small hours of the night with wide-eyes trained on warded windows. For a terrifying moment, Remus almost thought to throw his own head back and join in the song. He clenched his eyes shut, bile burning at the back of his throat as he focused on the feel of Hermione, her touch across his arms. He tried to move closer to draw on her scent, but Greyback held him firmly in place. He was all-encompassing, overwhelming. Remus started to pant.

"This one took the bite years ago, but he was lost to me. Minglin' about with wizards and pretendin' at another life. I thought he was a lost cause, a failure of my own, but look at him now. Huh? Let this be a lesson to you all. You can try an' fight it, but nothin' is stronger than the call of the wolf." Greyback pushed himself away from Remus, turning only to nod sharply at a few other werewolves. "You'll be stayin' for a while." It wasn't a question. "We've catching up to do, you and I."

The other werewolves moved to take Remus and Hermione's things, grabbing roughly and pushing and snarling when Hermione wouldn't release her beaded bag. Remus stood frozen as his wand was taken from his side, paralyzed under Greyback's gaze, a child being punished for something he didn't understand.

"Good boy," Greyback laughed, slapping him roughly on the shoulder. "Can't believe you're fuckin' here, Pup. And with this little thing? Can't say I've ever been prouder. Let's get you both to camp, huh." Werewolves fell in line behind and beside Remus and Hermione, leaving nowhere to run. Greyback's smirk grew as fear flickered in Remus' eyes. "Welcome home, Pup."

Greyback's Camp, Whinfell Forest

The walk to Greyback's camp was tense and quiet. Greyback talked all the way, but the rushing in Remus' ears drowned it all out, white noise broken only by the smallest of noises from Hermione at his side.

"Remus," Hermione whispered, pulling on his sleeve. "Are you okay? Say something. Tell me you're okay. Please."

Gods, but she was looking to him with worry and care, and he just—he just couldn't. He opened his mouth, but nothing would come out. He just didn't know, what to do, what to say. Fear gripped his throat in silence. His hands shook at his side and his heart beat wildly in his chest.

She kept trying to call to him, in a whisper for his ears only, but Remus was lost inside himself. Years and a lifetime practically had passed since the time he'd seen Greyback last and Remus felt once more like a boy of four, watching a thing of nightmares crawl from the darkness through his bedroom window.

Remus.

"No." Moony's voice had shocked Remus out of his memories so harshly he shouted aloud.

"Remus?"

"I—"

"Is he in your head? Is he getting to you?" Hermione's eyes frantically searched his.

Remus looked away. "He's trying to take over. He wants control. I can't—I can't."

"You can fight it. The pull, his voice, I know what it feels like. I know it's strong, but you can fight it. It's hard and you won't want to, but you can."

Remus.

No. I will fight you.

She's not talking about me.

I said no.

And he pushed Moony down, rebuilt his cage, focused his energy on keeping the monster at bay. This was something he knew, something he could control. He could control his monster, the monster within. He still had that power. He could still be good. Be good. He could keep him out, keep the wolf out, lock it away. Don't let him in. He held the door shut and pushed all his mental weight against it, willing the beast to relent, to surrender, to leave.

He was panting from the mental strain by the time they made it to Greyback's camp. Remus barely registered the scattering of tents, small fires and piles of supplies. There were more people, more werewolves. The air was thick with their scent, but he barely noticed. His skin itched, his blood burning in his veins. He tried to think of ways to escape, to get him and Hermione out of there, but every time he pulled his mind somewhere new, Moony was there to scratch at the cracks.

Remus.

No. Stay out. Go away. I can't let you in.

I can help.

No.

"Pup, come 'ere."

Remus blinked. They were in an open tent now, large enough to host a dining table that had seen better years, piled high with meats and fruits and wine. Remus blinked again. He looked at Hermione who was already staring back at him, confusion and wariness swimming in her eyes.

"I said, come 'ere, Pup. Sit by me."

He couldn't have known what it would feel like, despite the times Hermione had tried to explain. Greyback's voice reverberated through his bones, shaking Moony's cage. A pull, sharp and barbed, skewered through Remus, cutting roughly through his willpower and taking a tight grip on his mind. He flinched at the blow and his mind went blank. A lifetime repressed, pushing any and every wolven feeling aside, he never had a chance of fighting. Hermione watched in horror as Remus moved, fast as he could, to take up the seat at Greyback's right hand. She felt the thick, golden rope of their bond slip through her hands at a single command from his Alpha.

"Good boy." Greyback's smile was predatory as he turned it on Hermione. "Now, who's hungry?"

It was eighteen minutes before Remus regained himself. Tears crowded his eyes as he finally felt back in control of his body. He blinked hard, punishingly, before looking to Hermione.

Gods. Fuck. His heart fractured. She was handling Greyback on her own as he sat there like an overstuffed chewtoy.

"—just traveling. We didn't know you were here. We didn't come looking for you."

"Fate then." Greyback smirked as he licked the length of the knife in his hand. Hermione scowled. Greyback's eyes darted from her, and he jerked his head to side, motioning to someone who stood just outside the tent. "Delaney, be a love, I think our friends here need more wine." He drained his own cup and sat back in his chair.

A woman walked in, eyes bright with a smile sent Greyback's way before grabbing a skin of wine from down the table. The cordiality turned Remus' stomach. Didn't she know they were prisoners?

"Delaney?" Hermione's plate remained untouched. "You're from the MacTire clan, aren't you?"

The woman's eyebrows raised and she turned to Hermione. "Aye, I was. And how're you knowing the MacTire clan?"

Hermione glanced toward Remus. "We've visited them recently. They mentioned corresponding with you. They were under the impression—" Her eyes darted to Greyback, preoccupied with picking his teeth with a chicken bone, but she nonetheless lowered her voice. "They were under the impression you needed some sort of help? Right, Remus?"

Remus thought he nodded.

"Ha," Delaney laughed, stepping behind Hermione to pour an overflowing amount of wine into Greyback's glass. "'Course they did. That's half the reason I left the clann. A bunch of busy bodies if you ask me."

"You left the clan?" Hermione's eyes moved back to Greyback. "Completely?"

"I keep in touch a bit, when I can, but yes, I left." Delaney shifted on her feet to stand a bit taller, lifting her chin. "I don't claim them anymore."

Hermione's eyes widened. Remus furrowed his brow. Whatever he'd missed, Greyback clearly understood as he winked at Hermione and bit at the air. Hermione's eyes flew to Remus. Her mouth opened to say something, but Greyback spoke first, his hand coming down roughly to grip Remus' forearm.

"Delaney's just refilled your cup, Pup, don't be rude. Take a sip."

Remus closed his eyes. Greyback was toying with him, playing with his food. The command came light, the faintest brush, and yet Remus felt his body lurch almost immediately to grab the glass of dark red wine. His mind pounded against his skull. He brought the glass to his lips. It turned sour on his tongue.

"And your plate. Eat up."

Remus took a tentative bite. The meat, hot and fragrant in his hands, turned rough and dry in his mouth. His jaw clenched and he stared at Greyback. "It's not real."

"Isn't it?" Greyback laughed at him.

Remus' eyes passed over the spread before them, his eyes catching on the folding corners of shoddy glamours. It may have looked like fresh meat and produce, but in his hands, it was dried and salted, preserved by people who didn't know where their next meal would come from.

"Got somethin' to say about what I'm so graciously providin'?" Greyback spoke as he tore through mouthfuls of food. "Nothin'? Must still be hungry, then. Go on, Pup. Wolf it down."

Remus could only hope Hermione looked away.

The second Remus came back to himself, he closed his eyes. He could feel the weight of food in his stomach, the grease and spit around his mouth, the crumbs under his fingernails. A painful bubble rose in his chest. His breath came trembling out of his mouth and when he breathed—Strong. Capable. Protective. Hermione.

She was there, at his side, knelt by his chair with a napkin in her hand cleaning his face and hands. Greyback was suspiciously quiet, but Remus would bet anything he was watching the two of them interact with some kind of twisted curiosity. Fuck, he needed to get out of there, needed to get Hermione out of there. He needed—

"That's enough." Greyback's voice was loud. He didn't use the pull, but he was no less commanding. Remus felt Hermione stiffen at his side. "Pull yourself together. It's time to meet the pack."

Remus opened his eyes but refused to look at Hermione. He knew she was trying to find him. He could feel the warmth of her gaze tracking his face, but he couldn't. She settled for standing at his side with a hand on his shoulder. Remus reached for a goblet of water, swigging it down to wash away the taste of shame.

"Your pack?" Hermione spoke beside him, her hand tense against him, pulling almost as if she needed added strength. It was only because Remus knew her so well that he heard the slight tremor in her voice. "Did you turn them all?"

Greyback chuckled, low and slow. Dangerous. "Some. Not all."

"But they all follow you?" Hermione took a moment to breathe. "They all claim you."

Remus could almost hear the saccharine grin spreading across Greyback's face. "They're all mine."

Hermione's hand tightened on his shoulder.

"They willingly stay with you?" Remus couldn't help the words.

"Oh, Pup, I have so much to teach you."

Fuck, he was missing something again. Something important. What had Hermione said? Claiming? Fuck. Like the claiming ceremony at Castle MacTire? What did that have to do with Greyback? Here and now, what did that matter?

"As much as I'd love to sit and chat. I'd hate for you to miss the evenin' entertainment." Greyback's chair stuttered against the dirt as he pushed it back, reaching across the table for a bottle of wine. He cracked it against the edge of the table, splintering wood and drawing blood from his hand as the neck broke apart. He licked at the fresh cut where blood mixed with wine before drinking straight from the bottle. "Come on then."

They didn't follow so much as turn around, Remus still in his seat. Greyback stepped out from under the cover of the open tent and spread his arms wide.

"Pack," he began, because of course they all lingered around the tent to get a look at what they'd dragged in. "Tonight you're all in for a very special treat." Greyback turned back to Remus, walking the few steps to grab ahold of his shirt and wrench him to his feet. Hermione let out a sympathetic yelp beside him. "This here's Remus Lupin."

Remus had never hated the sound of his name until that moment.

"He took the bite as a mere boy. What were you, five? Six? Eh, you get the point. Just a little thing. And who'd have known what he'd become? Huh? Me. That's who." He gripped Remus by the neck, pulling him until they stood together forehead to forehead. Remus felt as Hermione was pulled from his side.

"My Pup. My prodigal son. Born to take the bite, eh? Just like me. You think fate would've let this slip us by? No. Remus and Fenrir. Wolves of legends. We were born for this, you and I."

Remus was going to be sick.

"You know I almost went for Lyall." Greyback spoke for just Remus, but loud enough for the others to hear. "And then, there you were. Remus fuckin' Lupin. You think Lyall knew what he was temptin' when he gave you that name? I mean, come on, how was I supposed to resist?"

Greyback stepped back and whistled in the static air. From the crowd stepped a man, big and burly. Wide and angry looking. Easily a head taller than Remus.

"You may have returned to my side with the makings of your own pack, no less, but for everythin' that you are, Pup, you're still an outsider." The other wolves started to shift, forming a ring to trap Remus, Greyback and the newcomer inside. "You'll have to earn your place back in this family, prove you're willin' to bleed for it. Show me who you've become in our time apart."

The other man sneered at Remus and fell into a slight crouch. His hands raised into fists as he shook out his arms.

"You want me to fight?" Remus' lip curled, his hand itching to break Greyback's nose. He shook his head, managing to take a step back. "You're fucking crazy. I don't even have my wand."

"You don't need a wand, Pup." Greyback smirked at him and shoved him back into the center before falling back into the crowd. "Fight."

Fucking fight, Remus.

His vision went black. His jaw felt loose. The pain bloomed slowly after.

Fuck.

Yeah, fuck. Fight, Remus.

The second blow came quickly after. His stomach. He doubled over and caught a knee to his nose. That was three. The crunch made his chest turn and teeth shiver. Like nails on a chalkboard. His upper lip was wet.

Get up.

Remus caught himself and stood before he realized he'd listened to Moony.

Wait, no. I can't.

His face again. Clipping his eye. Tears burned in the bridge of his nose. He stumbled and spat out what he hoped was only blood.

Fight, Remus.

His vision was blurry and black and full of crystalline stars.

It will hurt less if you let me in. Let me fight.

Yes. Yeah. Fuck. I have to fight. I have to fight you.

No.

It took five hits to bring him down.

When he regained consciousness, he was once more being tended to by Hermione. He breathed in and something reawakened. Strong. Capable. Protective. And yet he couldn't help but feel broken.

"Please." He didn't know who he was calling for.

"You'll do better next time."

"No!" Hermione. "He's not fighting again. We're leaving. Come on, Remus." Hermione wrapped her arms under his own and pulled, trying to heave his deadweight up.

"Oh, I don't think so, pet," Greyback growled. "You take a step out of here and I'll eat you alive and make him watch."

Remus pulled on Hermione to make it to his feet.

"Stay down. You can go off and lick your wounds, but you're staying here."

"No. Please." Remus fought to keep his footing, his mind frantically searching for that other link, the safe one, the warm one, the one that made him feel whole. He could almost touch it, almost taste it. "Please."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Greyback tutted as he stepped up to grab Remus' face, yanking him from Hermione until all he could see was the monster. "Oh no, Pup, that won't do. You're mine again. And I told you to stay."

The command blew the fight out of Remus, clearing out his mind and body like a duststorm, leaving behind only what Greyback wanted. A shudder passed through the others in the camp as if hit by the residual blast. Hermione's knees quaked as even she felt a bit compelled by the pull. She blinked and it was over, but looking at Remus, blank faced with hooded eyes, the real fight had only just begun.

June 1980

Greyback's Camp, Whinfell Forest

"Never let it have control, Remus. You're stronger than you know, love. You can keep it out. I believe in you, Remus."

"I know it hurts, love, but it's almost over. Remember who you are, Remus. Hold on to that. Don't let it have control."

"They're taking a chance on you, son, and you're not going to waste it, right? Right. They're lucky to have you. You're smart and brave, and they'll all love you. Just like us. But you'll be careful, right? Don't let it have control."

"Stay away from me! You don't understand. I'm dangerous!"

"I'm too dangerous."

"This isn't a game. You all could get hurt."

"I'm dangerous."

"You did this for me? All this, for me?"

"He's dangerous. Moony's dangerous. I can't let him have control."

"I'm so sorry. Fuck, I'm so sorry."

"Did it scar? And you swear I didn't bite you? Solemnly swear?"

"I'm just tired, so fucking tired."

"You can't cut it that close next time. I can barely hold onto my control. He's dangerous."

"What happened?"

"Are you okay?"

"What happened last night?"

"Did I hurt anyone?"

"I don't remember anything."

"Is everyone okay?"

"What happened?"

"Snape, listen—"

"How many times do I have to tell you, Pads? This isn't a fucking joke. This is my life. I'm a fucking monster and I'm dangerous and the next time you pull some shit like this, someone's going to get killed or worse. And it won't be your fault or anyone else's, it'll be mine."

"I'm dangerous."

"Remus!"

Don't let him in. You can't let him in. Keep him out. Fight him off.

"Moony!"

She calls.

Keep him out.

You can try.

"Remus!"

Why can't you leave me alone? Just leave me alone.

To do what? Rot here at your master's feet?

What?

Do you even know where you are, Remus?

"Professor, please. Please, open your eyes. Remus, Moony, anyone? Hello? Gods, please, Remus. Snap out of it, please! Moony, are you there?"

"Remus, come 'ere, Pup."

A pull. Sharp and brutal.

"Remus, please."

A whisper, and another pull. Soft.

She's calling you back.

He could feel him, the wolf within. He was so close, surely it couldn't hurt—

I can't let you have control.

You're fighting the wrong fight. A fool's errand. A waste. I'm not the one you should be fighting. I cannot fight him alone, not while you're—

I can't let you have control.

"Now, Pup."

Distracted. The chains that bound his mind pulled him forward, and he was lost again.

"—ever leave his side, do you, pet?"

"No."

He blinked. Trees. Sky. Ground. A hand clutching his. Too tight, but enough to sharpen the vision of his eyes. Hermione?

Eyes found his. Shock, fear, concern. Hope.

"Are you okay?"

Those eyes filled with tears and he was pulled into a hug. For a moment, it's all he felt. Strong, capable, protective. He blinked. He remembered.

"Hermione, what's going on?"

"I'm okay. You're okay. We're safe for the moment. We're in the tent, but we're at Greyback's camp. Try not to move too much, you're still healing. I'm having to do this wandless so it takes a bit longer." She spoke as if she'd given this speech a hundred times before. "He's—Merlin, Remus, it's barbaric. I can't—You're not here most of the time. You're—He's got in your head. He's manipulating your bond or something. I've never seen anything like it. I—" She gripped at his hand, grounding them both against the other. "He's making you fight, Remus. You—you don't seem to remember, but he's making you fight his other followers. He's keeping you worn down and weak so you can't fight him, but you must keep fighting. Okay? Remus, are you listening?"

"I'm so tired." His eyes started to flutter.

"Remus, wake up. Listen to me, just a moment longer, okay? I know—I know it's hard, and I know you're tired. But keep fighting him. You are fighting him, right?"

"I'm fighting him. I can't let him take over. I'm not supposed to let him have control."

"That's right. That's right. Keep fighting okay. I'm trying to find a way to get our wands back and then I'll get us out of here. I promise. Just keep fighting."

"I won't let him have control." The words slipped lazily from his mouth and he slept.

The next time he came to, Remus noticed three things. First, his head was throbbing and an ache consumed his entire body. There was a bruising pain to his ribs that promised a story. The second thing he noticed, however, sent a shiver up his spine. The air was thick with feeling. Fear, desperation, and a dark, coppery smell flooded his senses. Something familiar there. Remus racked his memory and froze when he found it. His eyes instantly found her.

Then, Remus noticed the third, a ringing in his ears that matched the throbbing in his head. He blinked, but the ringing drowned out whatever vitriol Hermione was spitting at some strange man. Who is that? She spun around to face Remus. Did I say that out loud?

In an instant she was by his side, her hands finding him. Her lips moved quickly, in prayer or in curses, he couldn't tell.

"You're bleeding," he spoke as he noticed the cut running jagged across her cheek.

"Get up, Pup. You're not finished yet."

Hermione turned to face the speaker. "He's done."

Who is that?

"He'll be done when I say so. Now get up. Time to go again."

Remus stood. What? No. I don't—I don't want to.

"Come 'ere, Pup. Show's not over."

He was slipping. His eyes rolled back in his head. Why is this happening?

Remus.

No. No, not you.

Remus, you need to fight him. I can't do it alone. I need you. We need each other.

I can't.

You must.

How is this happening?

You command our Pup. You think there's no one who can command you?

But how?

You have no experience with the bond. You fight me at every moment and now you want to understand?

Why did he do this to me? Why me?

"Okay, Pup, once more with feelin' this time, yeah? I wanna see you fight."

Remus.

I can't let you have control.

Then we will suffer.

He was alone in the dark. It was nighttime he thought. He hurt. Everything, all of him, it all hurt. And he was tired, but he was lucid, or as lucid as he'd been in a few days. He should have woke Hermione, but something in him stopped.

Moony?

Yes, Remus. The response was so immediate, he shivered.

What is happening to me?

You're fighting the wrong fight.

I am?

And you're losing. But not fast enough.

I don't want to lose. I don't want you to have control.

So you've said. But you won't have a choice.

This thing he's doing, this power over me—It's because he bit me, isn't it? He's commanding me.

Like you can command our Pup.

But, it's stronger with him. Because he bit me, right? He's stronger.

Is he?

You said I was losing.

You are. But I wasn't talking about him. Let me out, Remus. Let me out. Set me free. Unbind me. Unshackle me. I can be strong enough for the both of us.

You're dangerous.

So are you.

Promise me. Promise me you won't ever bite anyone.

Promise me.

Why?

This power he has over me? It's disgusting. It's—

Dangerous?

Yes.

In the hands of he who wields it.

It would be no different in ours.

And yet.

Promise me. Swear to it. You won't bite anyone.

Go back to sleep, Remus. You need your rest.

9 June 1980

Greyback's Camp, Whinfell Forest

"—mus, wake up! Moony! Remus!"

His head lolled to the side, his eyes blurry. He was tired. Just let me sleep.

"—you runnin' to? My Pup's stayin' right here where he belongs, ain't that right? I don't think—"

Figures passed his face like molten sun spots. Was it hot? He couldn't tell. He was trying to breathe. How did that work again? His body must have figured it out, but he couldn't remember.

Wake up.

He blinked. His vision shuddered. Was that Hermione? What was she doing here?

"—stop. Let go of me!"

Hermione. Bile rose in his throat. Something twisted in his gut and he jolted. His shoulder was stuck. No, not stuck, there was a hand there gripping him tight.

"Oh, I don't think so, pet."

That voice. A shudder ripped through Remus as he remembered where he was. Everything sharpened. He blinked. Two werewolves at his side, holding his shoulders. A couple more spotted around to his left. In front of him, Hermione, held trapped in the arms of some wolf he couldn't name. And Greyback, toothy grin on his face as he gripped Hermione's chin between his thumb and forefinger.

"You know, I've been wonderin' what it was about you that made him finally embrace his true nature, but I get it. You've got some fire in you. Somethin' animal already. Prob'ly couldn't resist takin' a bite." He lunged at Hermione, snapping his jaws before chuckling to himself at her recoil. "A fine mate for you, Pup. I approve."

Bite?

Remus' stomach roiled. Something clawed at his mind.

Wake up, Remus.

No. No, push it away. I'm supposed to push you away. Go away. He was so tired. The clearing blurred, sound burgeoning to an underwater echo.

"You know, I wondered if you'd ever crawl your way back, Pup. But I thought you'd come weak and lonesome. But fuckin' hell, look at you." He looked around at his other followers and laughed. "Well, you may still be weak, but the beginnin's of your own pack? If I didn't know any better I'd think you were lookin' to be a threat. But no. No, see I know you, Pup. I fuckin' made you. And now you've come home."

Wake up, Remus. This isn't your home. This isn't your pack. Look at Pup, our Pup. That's our home. That's our pack. Fenrir may have bitten you, but he didn't make you. Wedid that. He has no claim on us. Sever it. Break it. Fight it off. Your Pup is in danger. Wake up.

"But I'm not foolish, now am I? I need some fuckin' loyalty in my pack. And I don't take chances, even if you're a bit o' me, Pup. No, see here, this is an opportunity. To prove your loyalty to me. So what d'you say?" He grabbed Hermione, palming the side of her face to push her head aside to expose her neck and shoulder. That shoulder. "You've had your fun playing Alpha, but you're home now. I'll take it from 'ere."

Alpha?

A faint callback to dusty books in the Hogwarts library. The world surged again. Remus' limbs fell limp. He blinked, trying to push on clarity, trying to struggle against the arms that held him. "Let her go, Greyback. She's already a werewolf. You don't have to bite her. Let her go."

"Oh, Pup, 'ave you not been paying attention? I may not be her maker but—" Greyback bared his teeth, bending down to scrape against the skin of Hermione's neck. She struggled, kicking at his shins, but he took it all. "I can still make her mine."

Mine.

What?

That's my bite. Mine. MyPup. Give me the reigns, Remus. Let me in. Let me protect our pack.

"No, please!"

Greyback ignored Hermione's cry, his attention now focused solely on Remus. "Did she struggle like this when you bit her? She's a loyal thing, isn't she? I imagine you just had to give her some sweet little words and she bared her neck and everything." He turned to Hermione. "Didn't you?"

Remus couldn't help but close his eyes at Hermione's whimper. Greyback just grinned, toothy and wide, and raised a hand to grip her shoulder. His nails were long and uncut, jagged in their growth, and he dug them into Hermione's skin, breaching the thin fabric of her shirt. She cried out in pain, amplified through the eternal tenderness of the scars she bore. Remus lurched forward, but the pair of wolves at his side held him back.

Let me out. Let me go. Let me free.

No.

You cannot do this alone.

I won't let you free. I won't be like him.

You fool. We are not him. Look at our pack of two compared to his of many. You don't even know how strong we are.

No.

We can work together. I can help you. Let me show you what I can do.

Greyback laughed, pulling his hand back from Hermione's shoulders, leaving red spots of blood to dot her shirt. Greyback looked at his fingers and the traces of Hermione's blood left behind and drew the pad of his thumb across her cheek, smearing the faintest mark on her skin. Her eyes darted to Remus, so quickly as if she was afraid Greyback would move the moment she looked away. It was so quick, but to Remus, a lifetime.

Gods, her eyes. She'd started to cry, tears silently falling from her lashes onto the dirty ground below. When Hermione lifted her chin and looked at him, Remus found himself wishing her eyes were younger and softer, brighter. But they weren't. They were hardened, and dim, and scared, and they were looking at him with the most terrible expression of hope. And for a moment, he wasn't standing in this godforsaken clearing, but sitting with Hermione, on the dusty floor of the Shrieking Shack, promising her his heart.

"Hey, hey, it's okay. I know it's scary. If you weren't scared, I'd be worried. But I promise you're going to be okay. I'll be by your side the whole time. You're stuck with me for every full moon now. I won't leave you. I promise."

A promise to a stranger, but it had felt so easy, so right, so meant to be.

Mine.

Because of course, it was. Because Hermione had never been a stranger, not to him.

"I just feel like it's going to be different with you. I mean you understand."

Hermione turned back to Greyback, a renewed fire borrowed from something she'd seen in Remus. Her brows lowered, her gaze sharpened. Greyback let his head fall back and laughed. Then, his voice broke, an echoed depth pulling it down as his body sort of rippled, expanding in place, altogether becoming something more monsterous.

"He made me into his image. He made me a monster, too."

"You are not a monster, Remus. You are just a man. A wonderful, beautiful, kind, intelligent man, but just a man. And I know sometimes you forget, but I will always remind you. For as long as you need, I will remind you."

"I'll always need you, Pup."

He'd called her part of his soul.

Moony?

A new voice, more imagined than real, but in that moment, it was all it took. Pup was calling. She needed him. Moony howled and railed against the bones of his cage. Remus stared on in horror, shackled by the men at his side, forced to watch Greyback loom over Hermione with the same jaws that ruined his life.

"You can never let them have control. Never!"

He took in a breath of her—strong, capable, protective—and let go.

A terrifying, animalistic growl tore through Remus, his body almost electric with the noise and power. He threw off the werewolves at his sides. It was almost underwhelming how easy it was for Moony, tossing them away like discarded clothes before running to Hermione. The grasp at her waist loosed, the werewolf behind her stepping back in fear or deference or indifference. It didn't matter. Hermione lurched forward, arms outstretched to find Remus. He pulled her into him, not even glancing to Greyback. A burst of uncontrolled magic shuddered around him. Someone in his peripheral fell to their knees. Someone else was yelling. Remus' eyes were clear for the first time in days and he felt like he was seeing and smelling and feeling for the first time. Everything was so loud, but the second Hermione hit his chest, it all just fell away.

Strong. Capable. Protective.

"I don't like Hermione. I mean, no, I do, of course I do, but not, you know, like that. She's like, er, like a part of me. Last night proved it, right? I'm protective of her. There's some kind of bond there. It's like she's mine, you know?"

"I mean pack bonds, right? Don't you feel them? I've got them with Prongs and Pads and Wormtail. It's stronger with Pads 'cause he's canine too, I think. And with you... I mean, can't you feel it?"

"You are bound to us by blood and honor." As Lachlann spoke, he drew the blade along the jagged curve of the bite, reopening the wound before turning the blade on himself, slicing into his palm deep enough for the blood to drip like rain on the stone floor beneath him. "And by this oath, you bind your soul."

"Sometimes I think you have part of my soul."

"May this bond never be broken, and may it endure for all time."

Remus spared a glance then, looking at Greyback with the shadow of broken chains in his eyes, and disapparated them away.

Chapter Title Translation: *The Truth