July 15th, 1993
The soft sound of rain was all she could hear in the pitch black, the musty smell that hung in the air was enough to dull her other senses. Just how long she'd been locked down in this cold, entirely unforgiving, dungeon was anyone's guess. Her captors often came and went, staying only as long as it took to get what they wanted, A series of men and women with a consistent enough fluctuation that memorizing their faces was near impossible.
Not long after her initial kidnapping they had stripped everything away from her, anything of value had been taken. her wand Had been snapped in half, the locket her mother had given her for her thirteenth birthday thrown out into whatever landscape was beyond the cellar doors, her shoes had been taken with the explanation she'd have no use for them and her hair had been sheered off, leaving a dark, patchy mess of shaved hair which eventually started to reform before they'd shaved it off again.
Every single aspect of her was ordinary, not that you'd be able to identify any details given the state of her body. Her skin was dirty and layered with splotches of ash and grime, signifying it had been a while since she had last bathed. Violent red scars littered her chalky skin, evidence of her illness.
Something faint cut through the sound of the pouring rain, though what exactly it could be was unknown, perhaps a stray animal had wandered too close? If that were the case there was a chance it wouldn't survive long.
"That way-Check down-Bombarda-" the sudden explosion startled her, shooting up with wide eyes as heavy footfall reached her ears. Her captors had made sure to silence her years ago, though not being so cruel as to cut out her tongue, they had cast a silencing charm to ensure she was kept quiet.
"Lumos." Brilliant silvery light assaulted her eyes as the wizard inched closer. "Seren?" with what little strength she had she rattled the chains securing her to the wall. They had called it a safety precaution, though she had ripped them plain out of the wall her first transformation in captivity which is when her cell had been implemented.
the silvery light was now in her face as the wizard knelt down, "Seren Price?" she did her best to nod as the man lowered his wand. "Did you find her?" A voice from above called down the stone steps, the ragged rise and fall of the girl's chest was considered a good sign, "Yes, I've found her. She's in pretty poor shape."
Her eyes fixated on the man, he had scars across his face and slightly grayed brown hair, but his eyes were what caught her attention, A kind and captivating blue. "I'll be quick." Raising his wand again he blasted the chains securing her wrists and ankles before disengaging the lock.
"My name is Remus Lupin, am I alright to move you?" she gave another weak nod, "I'll need a bit of your help, do you think you can sit up for me?" gingerly he worked on getting a hand under her back, helping to shift her into a sitting position, "There we go, just take it slow, that's it."
Once she was sat up he slid his other arm under her knees, lifting her off the ground. "You're doing well." He smiled, carefully readjusting her as he walked back towards the stone steps and out of the cellar. "That's a good girl. We're going to get you somewhere safe."
Distant shouts could be heard from the manor as he instructed her to hold onto his jacket, completely unprepared for him to disapparate.
"She's Catherin's daughter?" Catherin had been a few years his senior when he'd been a student at Hogwarts. Dumbledore nodded gravely, warm brown eyes fixing on the sleeping girl "She is all the best parts of her mother. Though she was inevitably sorted into Ravenclaw and has a remarkable pentient for knowledge, she exhibit's a kindness and loyalty akin to those of Hufflepuff house, just as Catherin did." Remus looked at the sleeping girl; Healers had done what they could to clean her up after they'd arrived at St. Mungo's but since then she'd been unresponsive.
"She's quite resilient, it's remarkable." There was a soft hum in the room as silence settled between the two men, Dumbledore seemed to mull over the subject matter in his mind, "Seren is an incredibly kind young girl, but calling her remarkable, well it doesn't quite do her justice." Another Healer interrupted their conversation to administer a second dose of calming draught.
"Apologies, I'll be quick." Both men gave a nod as the healer did what was needed and quickly departed.
"I suppose you're right." the conversation shifted, "I asked you along on that raid because I felt that you were the best choice for the assignment. You know the adversities and injustices that those who are…different, can face in our world."
"Albus?"
"I'm not asking much of you, Remus, I just think you would be the best equipped to help her. You're more alike than you know."
"Is she…?" there was a twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes, "I see." Dumbledore rose to his feet, "Can I trust she is in good hands?" Remus finally let his eyes drift back to the sleeping girl, her ragged breaths fell more steady now and her face was relaxed.
"She'll sleep through the night, but a friendly face when she wakes may do a world of good." Deep brown hair had been sheered close to the scalp in places, but it seemed to be growing back in thick, curly tufts in stark contrast to the sallow skin clinging to her emaciated frame. A smatter of dark freckles dotted her cheeks across the bridge of her nose and just under the ridge of her eyes, a trait he remembered Catherin having when they'd been in school.
"Surely you don't expect her to attend Hogwarts this year?"
"I can think of no safer place for her than within the halls of Hogwarts, However, if it's any peace of mind, I've set up a private room for her, she will be able to adjust as she needs and hopefully, eventually reintegrate into the dorms."
"Albus, I've agreed to take on the position of Defense against the Dark Arts Professor, but I am not a therapist."
"I'm not asking you to be. All I am asking is your abundance of kindness." Dumbledore moved the bedside curtain aside, leaving Remus and Seren alone in the hospital room.
July 19th, 1993
Days later found Remus back at St. Mungo's the new Hogwarts term still weeks away. He had mulled over Dumbledore's words and decided he would do his best to see his former mentors request through, but the problem lay in that Seren Price may not cooperate with him. what did he do in that scenario, he couldn't force his help on her.
"Hold her down!" heartbreaking screams filled the ward hallway and Remus felt his pace pick up as he rounded the corner.
"Let her go!" the staff had pinned Seren down to the floor, and she was thrashing about in an attempt to throw then men and women off of her "You're only making it worse." He gave them a look and one by one they withdrew their hands, allowing the teen a bit of space. As he stepped closer, piercing green eyes met his gaze as she scrambled to her feet, sprinting away from him. He quickly gave chase.
Remus noted that she had some speed for someone who'd spent the better part of two years in captivity and it made him wonder if she'd attempted escape before they'd chained her down. She threw a cart of potions ingredients to the ground in an attempt to slow him, however, he dodged around it whilst debating using the leg-locker jinx, but the small voice in his head told him that spelling her would do him no favors in earning her trust.
"Seren!" he watched her duck around another healer, "Out of the way!" healers from this ward dodged out of the way as he gave chase, finally rounding a corner leading to a dead end. "Seren." She wheeled on him; eyes wild with panic as a low, guttural growl escaped her tiny form.
"Sir, we have to sedate her." One of the healer's, A young man with a mop of red hair, came up behind him but he rose a hand, silencing him. Turning his attention back to Seren he kept his hands where she could see them.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Seren. I'm your friend." Taking a few steps forward did little to calm her down and he was stunned as she lunged forward, screaming at him in warning. Her body was hunched over like a wild animal, as if daring him to come closer.
Just what had transpired during her captivity? Keeping his hands up he took another step forward, "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to help." She growled again, getting ready to lunge once more.
"Easy…" the closer he got the further against the wall she pressed herself until he was in front of her, "There's a good girl." She kept her eyes trained on him as he sat in front of her, "See, I'm your friend." There was the faintest hint of a change in her expression, from anger to confusion before she finally relaxed, her eyes now keen on his face, more specifically the scars across it.
The two sat and stared at one another "Can you talk to me?" she shook her head, her eyes training on the healer at the end of the hall, letting out another feral growl.
"No. none of that." It had briefly crossed his mind that two years of transformations as a werewolf locked in captivity, shackled and caged like a wild animal, could lead to her having a more feral disposition. But he had thought better of the theory given she had seemed docile when they'd found her. He often considered himself a patient man in most cases, however, if she had become Feral, it was possible she would present a challenge for which he was not ready.
Fixing her with a startled glance he stilled as she suddenly positioned herself inches from his face, tilting her head this way and that as she inspected him closer before motioning from herself to him. The intoxicating smell of Lilacs and Vanilla flooded his senses, likely the shampoo the staff had used when cleaning her up.
"Same?" his breath caught in his throat, his Lycanthropy was not typically a subject he discussed, and certainly not with strangers, but he nonetheless nodded to confirm. "Friend."
"Yes, I'm a friend." he confirmed, and what she did next made him panic, snatching his hand she pulled it towards her, resting it against her face, he felt a tremor run down his spine as a residual warmth seemed to wash over him.
"How about we return to your room?" she shook her head, "You really should let the healers look at you. you could have hurt yourself."
"Stay?" he seemed hesitant, and especially given their current interaction, "Stay?" her eyes flicked from his face to the healer once more. Now he understood, to her the healers were the same as those who'd taken her. Finally, he gave her the answer she wanted.
August 1st, 1993.
Over the course of the next two weeks, Remus had made it a priority to visit frequently, he would bring whatever odd thing he thought she would find interesting, finding she had a fascination with magical trinkets, including the pocket watch his father had given him as a present.
As things started to come back to her, she would tell him stories about her time in school before she had been taken, though never anything of what she had been subject to during the two years she was missing, which was fine, she'd talk about it when she was ready.
"Are you ready to leave? I've spoken with the front desk and they'd informed me we can get you checked out." he'd received word they'd had to sedate her only once, but she had made strides in her recovery so they were confident in discharging her. He'd been busy moving things from his cottage to his new office at Hogwarts and had found some of his old things from when he'd been a boy packed in dusty old box. Picking out what he thought might fit her he folded it and put it into a paper bag for her to change into, however he had grossly underestimated how thin she was and his old clothes hung loosely off of her.
"If you'll just sign here." There were still a few lingering issues with Seren, but overall, she seemed to be getting her mind back.
"I've set aside some wolfsbane for the both of you seeing as the full moon is coming up, at Dumbledore's request." Remus gave another nod as the healer passed over a small wooden box.
When he looked back to his side he'd noticed Seren was gone. "Seren?"
"She's over by the doors, I think she's watching it rain." His eyes followed where the young boy was pointing and sure enough she was sat on the floor watching the rain through one of the windows.
"Do you like the rain?" her head spun quite quickly, clearly startled, "Right, well I've signed your discharge paperwork so we can leave when you're ready."
"Where?"
"Well, we'll need to go to Diagon alley to get your books, a new wand and a new Uniform." She looked like she wanted to say something, but perhaps she thought he'd be angry. "You can be tell me what's on your mind."
"School robes are itchy… I don't like the sweaters." He'd often thought the same thing when he'd been in school, the heightened senses made them almost unbearable close to the full moon. "Well, there's always sleeveless, I've seen a fair few students about in them." She gave a nod and got to her feet.
"Are you ready to go then?" she seemed to think, her eyes still fixated on the window, "Yeah…" carefully he took her arm and they were gone, reappearing just outside of the leaky cauldron, when he let go of her arm he half expected her to double over, as most unused to the method of travel did but instead he was met with a curious sight, she had her head turned up, watching as the heavy storm clouds rolled overhead.
"The April showers brought naught but gloom, and as may flowers slowly begin to bloom I sit here and ponder where life led me to wander on the road leading back to you."
"Who wrote that?" he'd read his fair share of magical and muggle poetry alike, but he'd never heard this before.
"It was a poem my mother used to read to me on rainy days." There was a ghost of a smile on her lips, that warm feeling from before had returned.
He'd recalled his time in the first war, not long after Voldemort's first rise to power, he'd fought alongside Catherin Price, he imagined not long after Seren's birth. "She was a remarkable woman, your mother, she had a fighter's spirit and it reflected in every battle. We fought together in the first war; you know." Catherin had been killed the night Seren had been taken, a cruel and merciless killing at the hands of Voldemort's death eaters who had tracked her to her small cottage in the Oxford corridor.
"Come on, let's get inside. You'll catch your death if you stay in the rain too long." Gently he guided her into the leaky cauldron, motioning for her to sit at one of the tables while he went to set up a room with Tom.
The Alley was mostly emptied when they stepped onto the cobblestone path, "Are you okay?" her eyes scanned all the shop windows and signs reflexively. "I think we should get your wand first seeing as it can take a bit for a wand to choose you."
She'd given no inclination that she'd heard him, instead choosing to fixate on the few people strolling up and down the alleyway, it wasn't until the bell above Ollivander's door jingled that she seemed to snap out of her thoughts.
"Ah, Remus Lupin, what brings you into my shop, wand need a tune up again?" the elderly man's gaze fell to the young witch observing some knick-knack on one of his shelves, "Seren Price…" she made no movement to acknowledge the wandmaker who's eyes flicked between his patrons., "I heard that the Auror's had found her, truly heartbreaking what she endured."
"She's a brave young woman, and quite quick on her feet." He chuckled, remembering having chased her through the psychiatric ward of St. Mungo's, "We're here to find a new wand for her. It would seem her last one was snapped in half."
"A new wand, eh?" Ollivander seemed deep in thought, "Let's see what we can do—Don't touch that." Seren's attention finally shifted to the old wizard, her hand falling back to her side, "This way please." Ollivander motioned for her to step behind the counter as he wandered into his back room, re-emerging moments later with several wand boxes.
"We'll start with this this, a larch wand. It is nine and one-half inches long. The core consists of dragon claw." Gingerly he passed over the wand urging her to test it out, watching in horror as box after box began falling off the shelves.
"Perhaps not." He took the wand from her, setting it aside, "Perhaps this, a rune-inscribed oak wand. The length is just shy of ten inches long. It has a core of Salamander heartstring." As soon as the wand touched her hand she dropped it, pressing her closed fist to her chest. "No." Ollivander picked up the wand from the floor, setting it aside.
Wand after wand had been put in Seren's hand yet none had taken to her, "You were particularly difficult to match when you first came into my shop as well. Willow, 13 ½ inches, with a Unicorn hair core, A rare find indeed in this day and age." He seemed to mull over something before disappearing into the back again, re-emerging with a dusty box.
"It's very uncommon I match a Juniper wand, but maybe…just maybe." Seren stared at the wand as he passed it to her, a gentle calm washed over her as the wand reacted, "Juniper, 9 ¼ inches with a phoenix feather core and a supple flexibility." Lupin had passed over the money Dumbledore had left for her supplies.
"It's always a pleasure to match the Price family, they have a particular proclivity for light magic. Your grandmother was a legilimens, did you know?" Seren only shook her head as they left the shop.
Gathering the last of her supplies the two found their way back to the Leaky Cauldron where Remus met his most difficult challenge. "You need to eat something." She stared defiantly at the plate in front of her, he'd ordered something small, not wanting to overwhelm her with a plate of food she'd not be able to finish.
"Not hungry." He had always considered himself a patient enough man, but now he felt it wearing dangerously thin. Teenagers could be vexing on the best of days, and she was certainly that. She'd barely said anything since their arrival earlier.
"Can you please just try?" she once again turned her attention to the plate in front of her, "You're…persistent."
"I'm looking out for you. Now, eat." Carefully she picked up the fork, bringing the sausage link up to her nose to sniff at it, "It's not poison." She flashed him an annoyed look before taking a small bite, chewing and swallowing. He couldn't help but chuckle as she practically attacked the plate.
"Slow down or you'll make yourself sick." She looked up at him sheepishly, slowing her pace,
"Quite an appetite for such a young lad. Is he your son?" Remus looked to the Witch at the table across from them, "No, but she is staying with me temporarily until school resumes."
"My apologies, I just assumed because of the haircut. What house is she?" he was about to answer when Seren stopped the conversation, pushing the empty plate away from her and turning to frown at the woman.
"My, she's quite impolite. My condolences." Hearing this, Seren scowled before snatching the room key off the table and taking off upstairs.
"Seren!"
Running a hand through his hair he sighed, "If you'll excuse me…" before climbing the stairs.
