Harry Potter and the Body Thief: Chapter 16
I realized I had two chapter 8's and I needed to renumber my chapters. Oops.
Finally, the chapter all you Remus/Sirius fans have been waiting for. Big drum roll! Enjoy!
Rat and Dog
(no cat)
Dumbledore owled Remus and Harry to come to his office. "Why did Misters Fred and George Weasley give me a Body-Bound rodent and tell me to contact you?"
"Peter Pettigrew's animagus form is rat," said Remus. "When Peter and I were students, we -"
"- allowed James and Sirius to get you into trouble," finished Dumbledore. "And?"
"I made this map, so my friends could visit me without getting caught," said Remus.
"I don't think I want to know this," said Dumbledore.
"I'm not a student anymore," said Remus.
"Quirinus, leave," said Dumbledore.
Harry left the office. Remus made the map for his friends to visit him. This was getting curiouser and curiouser to paraphrase Lewis Carroll. Harry wasn't the only one with secrets, and Severus and Dumbledore knew Remus's secret.
Less than a half hour later, Remus came out Dumbledore's office. He was smiling, beaming. Harry didn't know the sad dishevelled man was capable of feeling such happiness. Harry hugged his friend.
Remus hugged him back. "The rat squeaked. Sirius is coming home. Dumbledore is going to let Sirius live with me until the end of the term."
"That's wonderful," said Harry.
"I was cool," said Remus. "When he tried to deny any wrong doing I said, 'I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend eleven years as a rat.'"
"You didn't," gushed Harry.
"After losing my four best friends in a matter of a few days, nothing fazes me. When Dumbledore and I changed Peter into human, I said 'Well, hello, Peter. Long time, no see.'"
"We have to celebrate," said Harry.
"We can over butterbeer when we go over tomorrow's lessons," Remus said. "I haven't seen Sirius in so long. I went to Azkaban to visit at first, but it hurt so much when he would tell me he was innocent."
"You stopped going." Harry walked downstairs to the professor's quarters.
"It hurt so much. If I only knew Peter was alive earlier, so much for be different."
"You can't blame yourself."
"He's my best mate. I should have believed him. Dumbledore is only your boss and he believed you. I let Sirius down."
"He appreciated the times you did visit."
"I visited for me, not for him." Remus walked in front of Harry. "I was selfish."
"He still must have enjoyed the company." Harry walked beside Remus. "You're too hard on yourself. You can't change the past. I want to go back and prevent my parents from dying, but Dumbledore says a time turner doesn't work that way. You can be here for Sirius when he gets home."
Remus muffed Harry's hair. "You're awful smart for a twelve year old."
Harry blushed. "I have Quirrell in here with me." His blush, his rosy cheeks, made him different from the original owner of this body. Poppy commented about his colour being better. Also his raven black hair was no longer limited to his head. He had dark hair on his legs, his underarms and other areas that weren't mentioned in mixed company.
"You can relearn what is in his brain, but your mind is all Harry." Remus put an arm around him. "Let's enjoy that autumn sunshine and take a walk to Hogsmeade for that butterbeer."
---
In three days time, Harry and Hagrid joined Remus to get Sirius. Remus helped a tall frail man into a boat leaving Azkaban. "Sirius, you remember Rubeus Hagrid. This is Inus Quirrell. You remember him as Harry Potter."
Hagrid started rowing the boat across the bay to the mainland.
"I haven't been in prison that long," said Sirius.
"Voldemort stole my body. The man that was using this body before died serving Voldemort," said Harry. "It's a bit older than my original body, but it was only dead a few minutes before I moved in."
"Are you sure he's Harry?" asked Sirius.
"The map doesn't lie," said Remus. "That's how we found Peter. Inus has grown into a fine young man. Lily and James would be proud."
"I teach Defence Against Dark Arts," said Harry. "I'm a bit young, but I battled Voldemort twice and lived to tell about it."
Sirius touched Harry's cheek.
"I have a few scars. The magic Lily gave me burns Voldemort's flesh and/or the flesh of people possessed by him. Ironic, I marked myself." Harry smiled then changed the subject. "Remus teaches Care of Magical Creatures."
Sirius barked - human being barking unnerved Harry - but that was probably the way he laughed. Sirius also slapped his leg. Yes, he was laughing.
"Severus laughed, too," said Harry. "I'm missing something."
"Snivellus laughed," said Sirius.
"He smirked," said Harry. "The closest Severus comes to laughing."
After Hagrid had rowed the boat halfway to shore, Remus said, "I know all your secrets. You can know mine. You know your Latin. Sirius is -"
"Bright," said Harry. "It's the dog star."
"And?" said Remus.
"Lupin is wolf. Those are your animagus forms," said Harry. "Dementors only bother humans; they have no interest in canines. You were sneaking into Azkaban for doggie sex. Gross!"
"Just when you forget," said Remus, "he reminds you that he's twelve."
"You teach?" Sirius had his head leaning on Remus's shoulder and Remus was petting his head.
"He's a good teacher," said Remus. "Dumbledore hired me to watch after Inus. Having a twelve year old teach was Fudge's idea."
"The man is the fool," said Sirius. "Remmie, let him guess. Inus, think Defence Against Dark Arts."
Harry thought a moment. "Remus's nickname was Moony. He took ill a couple days in September and October - 28 days apart. He's a werewolf."
"There's hope for you," said Sirius.
"Severus knows you're a magical creature." Harry read about werewolves in his books. "Do you eat people?"
"No, I take medication to prevent that," said Remus. "Sirius once tried to feed Severus to me and James saved his life."
"No wonder Severus dislikes you more than he dislikes everyone else," Harry said. "Rube, did you know?"
"Dumbledore planted the Whompin' Willow ter keep people from botherin' Remus. I covered fer him." Hagrid kept rowing. "Dumbledore wanted Remus ter get a proper education 'cause Remus was bit young."
Remus scratched behind Sirius's ears. "When we get to Hogwarts, you can spend as much time as dog as you want. You'll be free. No one will chain you, again."
Sirius licked his face.
"You have to try to act human for the guard at the boathouse," Remus said. "You're an unregistered animagus."
Sirius nodded.
"They won't send him back to Azkaban?" asked Hagrid.
"They could," said Remus.
After the boat docked, Remus helped Sirius off the boat and onto dry land. The taller man bent his head slightly under the hood of his Mac. After they had been rowing in the slight rain, it felt a bit silly to take shelter in the little wooden boathouse with its roaring fire. Actually, Hagrid insisted on doing all the rowing. He had the strongest arms, Remus had to comfort his mate and Harry had a weak heart.
The guard gave Sirius a brief glance. "Everything checks. He's free to go."
"He was falsely imprisoned for eleven years and he's free to go," shouted Remus. "I should sue the lot of you."
"Are you a relative?" asked the guard.
"His parents and brother are deceased," said Remus. "I'm sure his cousins would support me - Andromeda Black Tonks and Narcissa Black Malfoy."
"I just work here," said the boathouse guard.
Harry said, "Can we use your floo to get back to Hagrid's hut? Hagrid and I don't have apparation licenses, and it's nasty weather."
Dumbledore let them through. After they were in the hut a couple minutes, Sirius changed into a dog and licked Remus's face. Sirius's tail was wagging - he was one happy black dog.
"Snuffles, you're a good boy." Remus petted the large thin dog.
Dumbledore said, "The house elves will make you something."
"Bring it to our room," said Remus. "We have some catching up to do."
Dumbledore hugged Remus then hugged the dog before leaving Hagrid's hut. Then Remus hugged Hagrid and Hagrid bent down, so Sirius could lick his face.
"Yeh a beaut'," Hagrid said.
Remus and Sirius left Harry and Hagrid in the cottage alone.
"We have the cottage to ourselves." Harry sat on Hagrid's lap and kissed the bushy-faced giant's cheek. "I want to do more than kiss."
"Yeh're twelve," said Hagrid. "It isn't right."
"Dumbledore wants me to wait five years to get my apparation license, but I'm not waiting five years to make love to you."
Hagrid put his arms around Harry. "Yeh love me now; yeh'll love me in five years. Remus waited eleven years fer his love."
"I have these urges," said Harry.
"That's what yehr hand's fer." Hagrid put his hand in Harry's thick hair and rubbed his head.
"I'm physically an adult."
"I was as big as an adult at ten; don't make yeh an adult. Book knowledge isn't experience. Only life give yeh that."
"I love you." Harry snuggled in Hagrid's arms.
"I love yeh enough ter wait. Let's enjoy the fire."
"Why is Sirius like that? Changing into a dog one night a month to keep his mate company wouldn't make him like that. He looks more dog than man."
"Them dementors drain 'way yehr happiness," said Hagrid. "Can't touch no dog."
"Was he a dog most of the last eleven years?" Harry wondered how the other prisoners must have reacted. They probably gave the dog food and left him alone. He was accused of killing a street full of muggles. Everyone in the prison was probably afraid of him. He might have changed back to human only the few times a human guard took a head count.
"Don't know." Hagrid said.
"Hermione says you take on the traits of the body you occupy. Sirius barks, licks people, and rubs his head against Remus. He kept his happiness at what cost."
"Yeh happy with yehrself - yehr hut's a castle."
"Remus and Sirius are together, again. Who am I to say a bad word?"
"I'll get yeh a blanket. Sleep in me hut tonight." Hagrid moved Harry off his lap and onto the sofa. He propped Harry's head on a pillow and put a wool blanket over the young man.
"I love you, Rube." Harry closed his eyes and curled under the blanket.
Finally, the chapter all you Remus/Sirius fans have been waiting for. Big drum roll! Enjoy!
Rat and Dog
(no cat)
Dumbledore owled Remus and Harry to come to his office. "Why did Misters Fred and George Weasley give me a Body-Bound rodent and tell me to contact you?"
"Peter Pettigrew's animagus form is rat," said Remus. "When Peter and I were students, we -"
"- allowed James and Sirius to get you into trouble," finished Dumbledore. "And?"
"I made this map, so my friends could visit me without getting caught," said Remus.
"I don't think I want to know this," said Dumbledore.
"I'm not a student anymore," said Remus.
"Quirinus, leave," said Dumbledore.
Harry left the office. Remus made the map for his friends to visit him. This was getting curiouser and curiouser to paraphrase Lewis Carroll. Harry wasn't the only one with secrets, and Severus and Dumbledore knew Remus's secret.
Less than a half hour later, Remus came out Dumbledore's office. He was smiling, beaming. Harry didn't know the sad dishevelled man was capable of feeling such happiness. Harry hugged his friend.
Remus hugged him back. "The rat squeaked. Sirius is coming home. Dumbledore is going to let Sirius live with me until the end of the term."
"That's wonderful," said Harry.
"I was cool," said Remus. "When he tried to deny any wrong doing I said, 'I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend eleven years as a rat.'"
"You didn't," gushed Harry.
"After losing my four best friends in a matter of a few days, nothing fazes me. When Dumbledore and I changed Peter into human, I said 'Well, hello, Peter. Long time, no see.'"
"We have to celebrate," said Harry.
"We can over butterbeer when we go over tomorrow's lessons," Remus said. "I haven't seen Sirius in so long. I went to Azkaban to visit at first, but it hurt so much when he would tell me he was innocent."
"You stopped going." Harry walked downstairs to the professor's quarters.
"It hurt so much. If I only knew Peter was alive earlier, so much for be different."
"You can't blame yourself."
"He's my best mate. I should have believed him. Dumbledore is only your boss and he believed you. I let Sirius down."
"He appreciated the times you did visit."
"I visited for me, not for him." Remus walked in front of Harry. "I was selfish."
"He still must have enjoyed the company." Harry walked beside Remus. "You're too hard on yourself. You can't change the past. I want to go back and prevent my parents from dying, but Dumbledore says a time turner doesn't work that way. You can be here for Sirius when he gets home."
Remus muffed Harry's hair. "You're awful smart for a twelve year old."
Harry blushed. "I have Quirrell in here with me." His blush, his rosy cheeks, made him different from the original owner of this body. Poppy commented about his colour being better. Also his raven black hair was no longer limited to his head. He had dark hair on his legs, his underarms and other areas that weren't mentioned in mixed company.
"You can relearn what is in his brain, but your mind is all Harry." Remus put an arm around him. "Let's enjoy that autumn sunshine and take a walk to Hogsmeade for that butterbeer."
---
In three days time, Harry and Hagrid joined Remus to get Sirius. Remus helped a tall frail man into a boat leaving Azkaban. "Sirius, you remember Rubeus Hagrid. This is Inus Quirrell. You remember him as Harry Potter."
Hagrid started rowing the boat across the bay to the mainland.
"I haven't been in prison that long," said Sirius.
"Voldemort stole my body. The man that was using this body before died serving Voldemort," said Harry. "It's a bit older than my original body, but it was only dead a few minutes before I moved in."
"Are you sure he's Harry?" asked Sirius.
"The map doesn't lie," said Remus. "That's how we found Peter. Inus has grown into a fine young man. Lily and James would be proud."
"I teach Defence Against Dark Arts," said Harry. "I'm a bit young, but I battled Voldemort twice and lived to tell about it."
Sirius touched Harry's cheek.
"I have a few scars. The magic Lily gave me burns Voldemort's flesh and/or the flesh of people possessed by him. Ironic, I marked myself." Harry smiled then changed the subject. "Remus teaches Care of Magical Creatures."
Sirius barked - human being barking unnerved Harry - but that was probably the way he laughed. Sirius also slapped his leg. Yes, he was laughing.
"Severus laughed, too," said Harry. "I'm missing something."
"Snivellus laughed," said Sirius.
"He smirked," said Harry. "The closest Severus comes to laughing."
After Hagrid had rowed the boat halfway to shore, Remus said, "I know all your secrets. You can know mine. You know your Latin. Sirius is -"
"Bright," said Harry. "It's the dog star."
"And?" said Remus.
"Lupin is wolf. Those are your animagus forms," said Harry. "Dementors only bother humans; they have no interest in canines. You were sneaking into Azkaban for doggie sex. Gross!"
"Just when you forget," said Remus, "he reminds you that he's twelve."
"You teach?" Sirius had his head leaning on Remus's shoulder and Remus was petting his head.
"He's a good teacher," said Remus. "Dumbledore hired me to watch after Inus. Having a twelve year old teach was Fudge's idea."
"The man is the fool," said Sirius. "Remmie, let him guess. Inus, think Defence Against Dark Arts."
Harry thought a moment. "Remus's nickname was Moony. He took ill a couple days in September and October - 28 days apart. He's a werewolf."
"There's hope for you," said Sirius.
"Severus knows you're a magical creature." Harry read about werewolves in his books. "Do you eat people?"
"No, I take medication to prevent that," said Remus. "Sirius once tried to feed Severus to me and James saved his life."
"No wonder Severus dislikes you more than he dislikes everyone else," Harry said. "Rube, did you know?"
"Dumbledore planted the Whompin' Willow ter keep people from botherin' Remus. I covered fer him." Hagrid kept rowing. "Dumbledore wanted Remus ter get a proper education 'cause Remus was bit young."
Remus scratched behind Sirius's ears. "When we get to Hogwarts, you can spend as much time as dog as you want. You'll be free. No one will chain you, again."
Sirius licked his face.
"You have to try to act human for the guard at the boathouse," Remus said. "You're an unregistered animagus."
Sirius nodded.
"They won't send him back to Azkaban?" asked Hagrid.
"They could," said Remus.
After the boat docked, Remus helped Sirius off the boat and onto dry land. The taller man bent his head slightly under the hood of his Mac. After they had been rowing in the slight rain, it felt a bit silly to take shelter in the little wooden boathouse with its roaring fire. Actually, Hagrid insisted on doing all the rowing. He had the strongest arms, Remus had to comfort his mate and Harry had a weak heart.
The guard gave Sirius a brief glance. "Everything checks. He's free to go."
"He was falsely imprisoned for eleven years and he's free to go," shouted Remus. "I should sue the lot of you."
"Are you a relative?" asked the guard.
"His parents and brother are deceased," said Remus. "I'm sure his cousins would support me - Andromeda Black Tonks and Narcissa Black Malfoy."
"I just work here," said the boathouse guard.
Harry said, "Can we use your floo to get back to Hagrid's hut? Hagrid and I don't have apparation licenses, and it's nasty weather."
Dumbledore let them through. After they were in the hut a couple minutes, Sirius changed into a dog and licked Remus's face. Sirius's tail was wagging - he was one happy black dog.
"Snuffles, you're a good boy." Remus petted the large thin dog.
Dumbledore said, "The house elves will make you something."
"Bring it to our room," said Remus. "We have some catching up to do."
Dumbledore hugged Remus then hugged the dog before leaving Hagrid's hut. Then Remus hugged Hagrid and Hagrid bent down, so Sirius could lick his face.
"Yeh a beaut'," Hagrid said.
Remus and Sirius left Harry and Hagrid in the cottage alone.
"We have the cottage to ourselves." Harry sat on Hagrid's lap and kissed the bushy-faced giant's cheek. "I want to do more than kiss."
"Yeh're twelve," said Hagrid. "It isn't right."
"Dumbledore wants me to wait five years to get my apparation license, but I'm not waiting five years to make love to you."
Hagrid put his arms around Harry. "Yeh love me now; yeh'll love me in five years. Remus waited eleven years fer his love."
"I have these urges," said Harry.
"That's what yehr hand's fer." Hagrid put his hand in Harry's thick hair and rubbed his head.
"I'm physically an adult."
"I was as big as an adult at ten; don't make yeh an adult. Book knowledge isn't experience. Only life give yeh that."
"I love you." Harry snuggled in Hagrid's arms.
"I love yeh enough ter wait. Let's enjoy the fire."
"Why is Sirius like that? Changing into a dog one night a month to keep his mate company wouldn't make him like that. He looks more dog than man."
"Them dementors drain 'way yehr happiness," said Hagrid. "Can't touch no dog."
"Was he a dog most of the last eleven years?" Harry wondered how the other prisoners must have reacted. They probably gave the dog food and left him alone. He was accused of killing a street full of muggles. Everyone in the prison was probably afraid of him. He might have changed back to human only the few times a human guard took a head count.
"Don't know." Hagrid said.
"Hermione says you take on the traits of the body you occupy. Sirius barks, licks people, and rubs his head against Remus. He kept his happiness at what cost."
"Yeh happy with yehrself - yehr hut's a castle."
"Remus and Sirius are together, again. Who am I to say a bad word?"
"I'll get yeh a blanket. Sleep in me hut tonight." Hagrid moved Harry off his lap and onto the sofa. He propped Harry's head on a pillow and put a wool blanket over the young man.
"I love you, Rube." Harry closed his eyes and curled under the blanket.