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I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).
Hogwarts
“And so you came to me, Potter, with a ‘completely theoretical problem’ for homework? Don’t make me laugh. We are in the same classes, with the same teachers. If it was homework, I’d already be working on it! No, this is not theoretical. So spill.”
“Ah, well… yes. You’re right. It’s not actually theoretical. But it’s very important, I can’t bring it to the professors, only Dumbledore knows about it, but I think he’s content to keep it… um… controlled.”
“So? If it is controlled, it’s not really a problem, is it?”
“It could be a problem if there’s a slip. Or if somebody messes with it. And the consequences would be very bad.”
“Bad for whom?”
“Look, this is secret. No one on the school knows, apart from Dumbledore, myself, and… three other, one of them is the affected.”
“It’s Lupin, right?”
“How did you..?”
“I have eyes, Potter. Your little band of miscreants has only four members. You’re not here for help for yourself, Black has access to your family resources, and Pettigrew would be spinning tales of woe to get sympathy. Lupin is the only one left, and he is the type to rather keep on suffering in… relative silence rather than ask for help. And the ‘How did you..?’ just confirmed it.”
“I need your most solemn promise you’ll keep this in absolute secret.”
“Of course I will. I have no wish to get anybody in trouble. I promise, on my magic, that I’ll keep the secret of Remus Lupin condition. Now, let’s get to work. I will need to gather a lot of information, analyze it, and try to devise a solution. You realice I’ll demand some concessions later on, don’t you?”
“You really believe you can cure lycanthropy? Because if you really can, I’ll not haggle too much.”
“Isn’t that what you want?”
“Well, yes. But I wanted your advice to help us achieve Animagii forms. A werewolf doesn’t harm animals, just humans.”
“I’ll need everything you have on Animagus, Potter. I’m getting an idea.”
“I can tell… you’re tapping your chin… you only do that when you start to crack a problem.
“Shut up and get me the books.”
“I don’t understand. I am already changing into an animal! A bloody vicious one! Why do I have to do the Animagus preparatives? Everybody knows weres can’t become Animagii!”
“Remus, old buddy, that’s not the reason. We don’t expect you to become an Animagus. What we want is for you to follow all the steps of the ritual, but not all the way.”
“Then why must I do it?”
“I know werewolves can’t be Animagii, you know that, Dumbledore knows that, Sirius and Peter know that. But if the arythmancy is right, and I don’t believe it’s wrong, the only one who doesn’t know that is the one we need to believe it can be done.”
“Who?”
Potter leaned forward conspiratorially. “Who else?”
“Okay, Remus, this is it. Time for you to meet your animal spirit. Tonight is the full moon, so we had to time this part of the ritual carefully. I’ll lock the door once you drink your potion, no sense on taking unnecessarily risks.”
“Do you really think this will work?” Remus examined the potion vial once again. “I mean, this hasn’t been tried before.”
“No one had thought of this before. If it doesn’t work, you won’t be worse than now, but if it works as we think it will…”
Remus smiled wanly, “it it works, I’ll be free of the curse.” He drank the whole potion, the grimace was unavoidable. James went out the reinforced room, and Remus heard the locks, latches, chains and wooden bar snap into place. Followed by the feeling of raising hackles that told him the physical locks had been supplemented by magic.
He took his clothes off, folding them carefully and setting them at a corner of the room. Then he laid down on the floor. The lights went off, and he was surrounded by Stygian darkness.
Remus focused on his breathing, just as they had practiced. Soon, he was drifting into an unusual state of awareness. His nose told him he was not in an enclosed stone room, but in an old forest. He could feel the trees, the grass, the cold fog. And even the moonlight.
It was the very picture of serenity.
Except…
Except for the wolf’s presence. He could feel it somewhere near, prowling, walking silently around him.
But instead of anger or pain, he felt curiosity.
Remus stayed immobile, controlling his breath, his sense of time and bitter experience told him it was time. The time of the wolf. The full moon shone in the sky.
The moment he had feared since he had been bitten by Greyback years ago. The moment he would become a blood thirsty monster.
Except…
He felt the change begin. As always, the skin of his arms rippled, but this time, he didn’t try to resist.
The wolf came closer, its head down. Sniffing softly.
Remus kept still.
The moon shone over him, and he could feel it’s light all around him.
But there was no pain.
There was no anger.
There was only the smells of the forest, the light of the moon, and the wolf.
Remus felt each change as it happened. His fingers and toes were the first thing to change, then the arms and legs were covered by coarse fur as they changed onto the wolf,s body.
And still, Remus was there.
In the eye of his mind. Remus Lupin stood up.
Next to the wolf.
Both facing ahead.
At an unseen sign, but broke into a playful run, jumping over obstacles, splashing on poodles, enjoying their moonlit hunting ground.
They ran until they could not run anymore.
Not fleeing, not hunting.
Just running because they wanted to run.
When they stopped at last, the wolf laid down, its tongue lolling out its mouth. Remus dropped on his knees and hands, panting just the same.
“Remus?” The voice of his friend came muffled through the door. “Are you okay? Can I open the door?”
The young werewolf opened his eyes and looked around, there was light again. He checked himself quickly. There was no wounds on his skin. Just scars. Old scars.
He raised his head and laughed in relief.
“I’m better than ever, James! It worked! Oh, Merlin on a bicycle! It worked!”
“I want you to tell me everything, Lupin. We will need to make a lot of tests to be sure the treatment worked and that you are not a danger anymore.”
“I’m at your complete disposition. You have no idea how much I owe you.”
“Maybe not, but I still will need your concessions. Marauder’s honor and all that.”
“Whatever you want! If I can give it, it’s yours. Heck, if you want a servant or something like that, I’ll agree.”
“Not that much, Lupin. I just want for you and your buddies to stop harassing Sevie.”
“That’s it?”
“A private apology wouldn’t be out of place.” Lily Evans grinned.
Author Notes:
Yep. Remus Lupin is now in control. He is not exactly an Animagus, but the wolf believes he is. However, he is restricted to change during the full moon, but retains his mental faculties.