[HP] Of Werewolf and Man 8-11
Previous Chapters: [ 1-3] [ 4-7]
Of Werewolf and Man
8.
Fifteen minutes into the potion making process and Harry knew why the twins were so worried. The parchment needed enlargement as the writing were cramped together and miniscule, which turned out to be over a feet long - by which time even Hermione was gaping.
With little than twelve hours to spare Harry and Hermione read and re-read the instructions, planned out their work and figured that each person would monitor (and stir, as it needed constant stirring) the potion for three hours at a time, while the other worked on the next step. Despite his unwavering hatred for Snape, he wondered how the man was ever able to pull it off by himself, and by the end of the whole stirring process both Harry and Hermione where exhausted.
“It’s nothing like I’ve ever seen,” Hermione commented, which was saying a lot in Harry’s opinion.
He dug out a mug in Lupin’s kitchen and poured the potion into it, remembering it was how Lupin drank it the first time he saw it. Some familiarity could certainly boost his confidence, as he had already asked a very irritated Hermione for the thirty-first time if the potion was authentic and not some extremely poisonous dose described on the instruction parchment should anything go wrong.
“Yes Harry, look at it, it’s disgusting.” Hermione rolled her eyes in a fashion not unlike Ron’s, before collapsing onto the sofa. “I’m exhausted. You take it down to Professor Lupin and say that I send my best regards.”
Harry nodded and proceeded downstairs, careful not to let the contents of the mug spill. He approached the basement and could instantly feel the tinge of magic surrounding it, the wards are obviously very strong.
Carefully setting the mug aside, he took a step into the ward and it seemed to accept him. Harry eyed the lock and waved Alohomora at it. The door creaked open, and he was utterly surprised.
“What in the name of Merlin are you doing, Harry?”
He was met with a familiar hoarse voice, as Lupin stood up in the corner and stepped out of the shadow, his face pale with incredulity.
“How did you get pass the wards? Do you even realise how dangerous - what if I had - ?!”
Harry watched his professor splutter and saw that the man had fear in his eyes, not fear because of Harry, but fear because of himself, a look that mixed self-disgust and weariness. He decided not to say anything but simply walk out of the door, feeling the magic on his skin once more, picked up the mug and walked back in. Lupin had regained his posture as he expected, and stood rigidly studying him, frowning as he did so.
Harry shrugged as he saw Lupin was looking at the door incomprehensively. “It just… let me in, somehow. I did use Alohomora to open the lock, though…”
Lupin looked thoughtful. “Maybe it’s because the wards were designed to let James in, and you are his son…” he sighed in resignation. “Do not do it again, Harry. Be thankful that due to the appalling weather, moonlight have not had as much of an effect on me.”
Upon realising that Lupin had accepted his presence and, to some degrees, intrusion, Harry tried to conceal a smile. “This isn’t exactly a home visit, sir.”
Lupin surveyed him. The man had retreated to the corner and into the shadows, where his expressions are dim, undecipherable. Harry walked closer and held out the mug, still hot with its semi-fluid contents, and smiled.
“Regards from your ex-students, sir.” He grinned as Lupin’s eyes widened marginally.
“I thought I caught an air of the potion before you came in,” the man whispered in a barely audible voice, “But… how this is possible - you didn’t - Knockturn alley?”
“I tried,” Harry sat down cross-legged facing Lupin, “Or rather, Fred and George tried, but no… he got us the ingredients and we made it ourselves.”
Lupin’s eyes have grown so wide it positively looked as if he was going to transform, but Harry reassured himself that the rationale within was still very much Remus Lupin indeed.
“But - that’s - ”
“Hard work, yes,” Harry yawned involuntarily, and apologised. “Thirty six hours of hard work, actually, but then again we are talking about Hermione… oh sir, please just make sure we did everything right,” he finished by glancing at the mug in uncertainty.
Lupin continued to stare at him blankly for a few more seconds before sniffing the potion and tasting it lightly. Then he pulled a face. “Disgusting as ever.”
Harry beamed. Lupin drained the contents of the mug in one go and slumped against the walls with a heavy sigh, his eyes closed, expression uncertain. Then his hands found Harry’s and squeezed them lightly.
“How can I ever thank you - ” he began, but Harry squeezed his hands back and cut short just in time.
“Don’t say that. You sound like Mrs. Weasley.”
Lupin chuckled, his voice still groggy but appeared to be in better spirits than when Harry first came in. Harry also noticed that the man hadn’t let go of his hand.
“Guess I will be able to make your birthday after all,” said Lupin after a moment of silence, a smile evident in his voice. Harry felt his mood instantly being uplifted as he turned to face the man.
“May I ask for my present, then?”
Lupin raised an eyebrow. “What do you want, Harry?”
Harry pondered. He knew Lupin had little or no money, and the last thing he would want to do is to ask Lupin to go down to Diagonal Alley and buy something in wrapping paper. He thought for a moment, absent-minded staring at the ceiling, fingers stroking Lupin’s hand, which was warm albeit slightly rough.
“I want to have a proper duel with you,” Harry said finally, smirking.
Lupin blinked. “A proper duel.” He repeated the words flatly, eyebrows raising.
“Yes, maybe out in the open, just around the house, since I can use magic legally now…” Harry tilted his head, “I just happens to think that you’ve been really lenient with me in training, that’s all, sir.”
Lupin glanced at him sideways. “Then I suggest you go and have a proper duel with Professor Snape,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Hell no!” Harry started, pulling back his hand instinctively and watched the man laugh, a pleasantly hoarse sound filling the small room. He couldn’t help but to smile and notice that as Lupin laughed the premature lines on his face lessened, the weariness that his handsome feature bore went away and made him look years younger. Again the odd fondness began to pour into his heart, not just a fondness for James his father or Sirius his godfather, but something more - of this man who bore no direct relation to him whatsoever, yet cared for him like any other and was the lasting one standing out of the four Marauders in this war, torn yet proud.
“So I understand that you want to have a proper duel with me on your birthday?” Lupin wiped his eyes, smile still lingering on his lips. Harry nodded.
“Granted,” he said mildly, patting Harry on the shoulder before giving him a gentle shove. “Now go. I’ll be there on the 31st, wands at the ready.”
Harry slept roughly that night, his dreams littered with images of werewolves in the forest, howling under the moon, and as he walked closer he could see one of them had grey eyes and a subtle gentleness within, almost pleading as the wolf turned towards him, and whispering the word ‘Harry’. He tossed and turned and saw himself following the wolf into an ancient building, where Voldemort stood with a circle of Death Eaters, each faceless and wand raised, green jets of light directed at him - He stood paralysed, wanting to scream but no sound came out, he was sure he was going to fell until he saw a brilliant white light erupt before him, a Patronus, saving him from his downfall.
Yet he was so sure, after he had woken up and sat panting on his bed, that he did not produce the Patronus spell.
The next day he went down to the basement again, much to the surprise of the werewolf, almost ready to transform.
“Harry, it’s too dangerous for you to be here,” said Lupin almost exasperatedly for the twenty-sixth time, “I can transform any minute and - ”
“You had the potion, you will be harmless,” Harry insisted, slumping on the floor exhausted from the day’s reading Hermione had given him. “Besides, my father was there for you. Sirius was there for you. I want to be as well.”
Lupin’s face went blank, and after a few minutes he rubbed his face wearily. “But you are not them, Harry,” he said quietly, avoiding Harry’s gaze.
Harry shrugged. “I know, but my point is…” he stole a glance at the man before continuing in an under breath, “Hermione’s trying to make me do all the washing up for the potion we made…”
He could’ve sworn Lupin snorted softly as he added innocently, “It reminded me of doing detention for Snape.”
This time Lupin let out a laugh that was genuine. “You adolescent child,” he waved as in mock disgust, “You remind me of the countless times I’ve failed to persuade James and Sirius out of doing something dangerous.”
Harry grinned cheekily, took it as his invitation to stay and glanced around the room. “Hmm, can’t we make it more pleasant here, sir?”
Lupin peered at him. “I’m not conjuring Firewhiskey for you no matter what you say,” he deadpanned.
Harry sniggered softly. “Wait till tomorrow then I can. It’s freezing in here, can’t we at least have a fire?”
Lupin extended his hand and Harry gave him his wand. A werewolf did not need a wand to do damage, after all. With a lazy flick that Harry had seen so many times, a old and battered fireplace appeared on the back wall.
Harry examined the logs, those looked as if they had been there since day one yet no one had made any use of them. He silently cast Incendio and flames erupted, chasing away the chilling paleness in the room.
Lupin was observing him, smiling. “You are getting better at this,” he commented.
“What, casting a fire spell and hope that Voldemort would burn to death?”
Lupin gently slapped Harry’s hand as he offered him to nudge along closer to the fire.
“It might help if I’m an Animagus,” said Harry regretfully, “but I guess there’s not much I can do about it now, is there?”
Again the man shook his head mildly and mouthed ‘too dangerous’. Nearer to the fireplace Harry could see Lupin’s face, which was even paler than before, with sweat drops forming around his temple. He frowned.
“Harry you need to go,” snapped Lupin suddenly, his hand curling into a fist. The words came through his clenched teeth, as moonlight suddenly shone into the room from the miniscule and battered window, Harry instinctively took a step back as he saw the pained expression on the man’s face.
“Go, get out, I’ve never transformed in the presence of a human and I could - arrgghhh…”
Harry saw his transformation once and he did not need telling twice that it was happening again. The man was clearly restraining to retain his human mind, but the physical changes were too appalling, too painful, and he remembered something about werewolf’s heightened senses especially towards humans -
“GO! GOOOO - !!”
Harry seemed to paralyse momentarily as Lupin waved him away, his pupils narrowing rapidly and a long, horrible non-human snarl followed. It is now evident that the werewolf had lost partly his mind, as the glare Harry received no longer bore any resemblance to Lupin’s gentleness.
He began to back away, slowly at first, eyes fixed on his teacher. The transformation was a struggle, even more so than what he had witnessed last time, as Lupin fought hard to keep some level of consciousness on his behalf. He felt suddenly hopeless. He had promised to stay and help, but he couldn’t do anything. The days when the three Animagus could hold their best friend down was long gone.
Or has it?
Heavy pants filled the basement as moonlight tore through the flames. Harry saw the paleness burning on Lupin’s now fur-covered skin, and without a pause pulled out his wand.
He thought he saw a glint of surprise in those wolfish eyes before he mustered all his strength and shouted,
“EXPECTO PATRONUM!”
9.
Hermione and Ron were both sitting in the kitchen when Harry entered, half panting, his heart still thumping from what he had done. Before any of his friends got up to greet him he slumped onto a chair.
“Harry? Are you alright? Where have you been?”
Ah, the classic threesome question. Harry smiled wearily. “Down and under.”
Hermione and Ron exchanged a glance. As usual, it was Hermione who spoke up, in one of her suspiciously lecture-like tones. “You know, Harry, you really shouldn’t visit him… even after he’s had the potion.”
Harry sighed wearily. “Don’t you think I’ve been put through this before?”
Ron patted him on the shoulder. “He’s got a point,” he said fairly. Hermione didn’t look convinced.
“What happened? You look pale. Did he - ?”
Harry shook his head, wiping his eyes, trying to will away the stubborn images of an agonising werewolf that was once so gentle. It stayed no matter how hard he rubbed his temples.
Upon realising both his friends were staring at him in concern, he answered, “I gave him my father,” then buried his head in his arms.
He could hear a small ‘oh’ coming from Hermione accompanied with a ‘huh?’ from Ron, and silence fell once more.
Harry closed his eyes. As he performed the Patronus charm the images he saw collided with his nightmare, and he was almost certain that the Patronus which saved his life in his dream wasn’t his own. The animal jumping out of his wand tip was indeed his father, Prongs the Stag, whereas in his nightmare it was a suspiciously doggish creature.
Perhaps it was Sirius. Perhaps he missed him too much in his inner conscientiousness that it had came back to him to save Harry from his inner demons.
Half of Harry wanted to go to sleep, the other half resented as he knew the nightmares would return. He didn’t have a chance to speak to the other Order members, not even Lupin, and since the nightmares did not represent any new plan of Voldemort’s, it would have to wait.
“Harry. Harry, don’t fall asleep here.”
Hermione pressed a hand on his shoulders, and Harry raised his head wearily. She looked quite anxious.
“You probably need some rest, but there’s no one around at the moment except us,” she bit her lip and hesitated, “and something just came through by owl post.”
Confused, Harry followed his friends into the living room, where a medium-sized potion lay on the table. He peered closer through the clear glass and immediately recognised the semi-liquid, mucky-coloured content.
“Wolfsbane?”
Both Hermione and Ron were looking at him in mixed anticipation and fear. Harry frowned deeply.
“But - was it Fred and George?”
Hermione shook her head. “I’ve already contacted them using the Floo and they said that they were absolutely certain that even in Knockturn alley they couldn’t get it anymore, it has been prohibited, after Voldemort wanted each of his werewolves to be as violent as possible. They went to so much trouble to get the ingredients, too, without making it look too suspicious…”
Harry did not take in the last part of her words as his mind began swirling quickly. The selling of Wolfsbane potion was prohibited. A very delicate and time consuming potion to make. No one except the Order members knew that a werewolf lived here.
“Snape,” he said suddenly, the spat out sound making all of them jump. Harry turned to look at his friends. “There’s no other explanation.”
Ron looked sceptical. “But that git killed Dumbledore - he wants us dead!”
Harry snorted. “He probably does, this could well be poison.”
Hermione was biting her lips again while Ron screwed up his face in disgust and muttered curses under his breath. Harry surveyed the potion for some more time when the front door creaked and a familiar cluck cluck cluck came through.
“Professor Moody!” Hermione exclaimed, instantly cheered up as an experienced Order member approached.
Moody clucked closer, his magical eyes spinning 360 degrees rapidly, much to Ron’s discomfort. “Poor fella’s down at the basement, I see I see… what’s this?” both of his eyes settled on the potion the three of them were examining, and a grunt of surprise came out of his throat. “Wolfsbane.”
Hermione looked uncertain whether she should be relieved or afraid, and Harry stared on blankly while Moody scanned his eyes through them.
“Impressive, very impressive indeed,” Moody’s eyes came to fix on Hermione, who flinched involuntarily. “If I recall correctly there has been a ban on this potion lately due to Voldemort’s doing… how you managed to produce this, however, is beyond me.”
Harry cleared his throat. “We didn’t make this potion.” He paused as Moody glanced sharply at him, “Well we did, but Lupin already drank that one, and this is a second one.”
He knew by the confused look on both Ron and Moody’s face that he wasn’t making any sense. “Hermione, you explain.”
Harry sat while Hermione was positively interrogated by Moody, step by step and detail after detail starting from the moment Harry’s pulled out of that fireplace clutching the instruction parchment in one hand and the ingredients the other, to right where they sat, Hermione talking in an urgent whisper, Harry and Ron listening blankly.
Finally Moody finished his questioning with a ‘hmph’ and pulled out his wand, alarming an edgy Hermione, but only ran a few spells silently over the potion.
“No detectable curses on the bottle,” he grunted, picking up the potion and examining further. “Looks authentic.” He turned the bottle upside down, his normal eye narrowing. “No message. No label. No nothing.”
Harry exchanged a look with Hermione that said ‘exactly’. Moody finished examining and carefully slid away the potion in his cloak. Before any of them could protest, he barked: “I’ll take care of it, you go off to sleep,” and clucked upstairs.
Harry slept badly that night, the nightmare returning only more vividly. Stitched across his mind was the image of Lupin, half-transformed yet still human, crying out in agony.
He sobbed, his scar hurting every moment of his existence.
The next morning, or noon rather as he slept through till one o’clock, Harry found Ron slapping him on the face gently to wake him up, a small bottle of potion in his hand.
“Here, Hermione says drink this.”
His dry lips touched the content in the bottle and he immediately recognised the bitter-sweet taste as a headache relief potion. Harry silently thanked Hermione for it.
“Happy 17th, mate,” Ron’s face came into focus, grinning widely, oblivious to all the troubles in the world. “Fred and George reckon you should come downstairs first so we can introduce you to the adult world…” he smirked at the suspicious look on Harry’s face. “I hear Professor Lupin’s got something planned for you later, so we are gonna make sure you get some fun at least.”
Harry went downstairs ten minutes later to find the living room empty except his friends and the Weasley twins. He raised an eyebrow as everyone greeted him with wide grins and anticipation.
“Where are the…others?” He looked around, “the adults?”
“Adults?” Ron wrinkled his nose, “We are adults. You are too, considering.”
Harry was about to roll his eyes when Fred and George piped up in a chorus, “Adults? Oh no! Ronnie! When did that happen?”
Ginny burst out in laughter. Ron flushed a deep shade of red in the wake of Hermione, and batted away the caring hands of his brother furiously. “Sod off,” he mumbled.
Harry rolled his eyes. “No, be serious, where are the others?”
“Try not to get too serious even if you are now of age,” Fred patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll leave us behind… the Chosen One.”
“I will get serious and take advantage of the fact that I am now legally of age if you don’t stop calling me that,” Harry replied sweetly, his hand advancing towards his wand pocket. Fred jumped back in mock horror while Hermione harrumphed.
“They had an Order meeting in the morning and have been gone since then,” she said, her arms crossing in a Mrs. Weasley-like fashion. “No one will tell us what’s going on, only that ‘we should be prepared’.”
“Prepared? You lot too?” Harry turned on her, surprised. He was greeted by a collection of frowns.
“Oh, you see, I asked this when I was down with Lupin yesterday…” he quickly explained, eyes scanning the room. Everything seemed normal, no decorations, no presents around the fireplace - he silently wondered why he had expected so much after all those years at Dursleys, and shrugged to himself.
Hermione bit her lip. Harry noticed that she seemed to be doing that quite a lot lately. “Well, we - me and Ron, that is - kinda thought they were looking into the potion… but no, oh dear. We should be prepared.” She trailed off, and before any of them could raise questions, disappeared upstairs.
Harry lost his third game of Exploding Snaps and was forced by the twins to drain down his fourth mug of Firewhiskey when Hermione returned, eyes bright and expression wild.
“They are back,” she said breathlessly, stopping only to cast a disapproving look over the already tipsy Ron. “Honestly, it’s only two o’clock in the afternoon you know.”
“It’s - hic - Harry’s - hic - birthday! He’s seventeen now you - hic - know!”
Hermione pursed her lips while Ginny made a noise that sounded suspiciously like ‘McGonagall!’. “Exactly, which is why I think the Order have something prepared for him - for all of us.”
The room fell silent as all eyes were fixed on Hermione, interrupted only by Ron’s occasional uncontrollable hiccup (“sor - hic - rry”). Hermione gave each of them a significant stare before announcing, in the words none other than Harry Potter himself,
“A proper duel.”
10.
When the Order members returned around four o’clock, they found Harry, Hermione and the Weasley children sitting in the living room each with a Defence Against Dark Arts book in hand, flipping and muttering jinxes and counter-jinxes under their breaths.
“Wotcher Harry, sorry I’m late,” as the rest of the Order stopped in the doorway to examine this bizarre situation, an unaware Tonks burst out of the fireplace and immediately tripped over half a bottle of Firewhiskey they had abandoned on the floor. Quite a few eyebrows were raised, including her own. “Been drinking, have we? Taking advantage of adulthood already? Or is that eighteen? Ah I never cared anyway,” she finished with a shrug.
Lupin, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat. “Nice day, Tonks.” He greeted pleasantly.
Tonks turned and beamed at the sight of the others. “Well not quite actually, I was caught in the middle of a blizzard… managed to duck into the Leaky Cauldron in time to make it, though.” She took out a parcel under her cloak and winked at Harry, who rose to get it and dropped the book he was reading in the process.
“What’s this? Remus isn’t making you study on your birthday is he?” she looked enquiringly at Lupin, who managed to plaster a good-natured smile on his face.
“In fact, Tonks, it is just what I - we - had in mind for him - them.”
Before Lupin managed to finish, all of the children suddenly swooped up and drew their wands, shouting simultaneously: “Expelliarmus!”
Tonks ducked just in time as several jets of red light came in her direction, before Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, Kingsley and McGonagall deflected the curses in lazy flicks of wand, also simultaneously.
“What - Harry! Remus! What’s going on?!” Tonks picked herself up from the floor, eyes widening in shock and disbelief, wands instinctively drawn and raised.
“Constant vigilance,” Harry replied calmly as Moody harrumphed.
Lupin quickly explained the idea of a ‘proper duel’ to Tonks before finishing to turn to look at Harry, a gentle yet wicked smile upon his lips. “Looks like I’ve taught you something and you’ve passed it along, Harry.” When Harry nodded and grinning in return he added, “However, as you’ve asked - we are here to give you a proper duel.”
Harry was beginning to wonder what was so special about his choice of words when the truth dawned on him, the gathering of the Order member, his coming of age, the proper duel -
“Oh God,” he swirled to look at Hermione, who gave him a ‘I told you so’ glance. A sudden surge of panic began to deposit in his stomach, “I thought it was a one on one!”
“It won’t be when you lot face Voldemort,” Moody barked suddenly, making them jump. “Remus persuaded us that it is time for some real action, for all of you.”
Harry gulped. He had not been prepared for this, not up against five experienced wizards in the Order, two of which were his teachers, the rest Aurors. He glanced around and could tell from everyone’s expression - apart from Hermione’s, who was fidgeting in mixed fear and anticipation - that they weren’t prepared for it either.
Five minutes later they all stepped outside into the garden and wards were drawn up to conceal underage magic for Ginny and Hermione, as well as prevent Muggle neighbours from noticing. Despite it being in the late afternoon, the sky was dark with storm clouds and light rain showered on their heads.
“Can’t you at least make us dry?” asked Ron sourly, the effect of Firewhiskey evidently wearing off.
“Try asking Voldemort for small comforts,” replied Moody, assuming his position casually.
Harry quickly cast Impervius on his glasses and cautiously studied their imaginative enemies. Professor McGonagall stood furthest, her lips thin and pursed together to from a ‘Detention, Potter’-like expression; Kingsley and Tonks stood at opposing sides and closed them in between while Moody covered their backs; and Lupin, though looking tired from the transformation, were smiling as he always did, standing at the front.
“Some birthday, mate,” commented Ron in a desperate attempt to remain in control, and was greeted with a nervous ‘uh-huh’. Hermione was whispering something fervently.
“- Now remember, if we do this collectively even the simple curses can become much more powerful, Okay? Just remember to look out for each other.”
“Easier said than done,” said Ginny, shivering. Harry wondered whether it was from the rain or the intimidation. He raised his wand.
“Let’s get this over with, good luck everyone, expecto patronum.”
A brilliant white stag erupted from his wand and swooped forward, taking the Order members by surprise. During the split second in which the grown-ups were blinking and their wands lowered by a fraction, several Disarming Spells were being shouted and missed their target by mere inches.
“Very good, very good!” Lupin commented, amusement evident in his voice. “Incarcerous!”
Harry could feel ropes springing out of the air and tightening around him before Hermione’s classic “Finite incantatem!” freed him once more. He addressed his thanks by turning and blocking a Stunning Charm coming her way.
Inches from them Ron were waving his wand fanatically though no sound or curse came out, as Moody’s Silencing Charm had its effect on him and Ron was never good at non-verbal spells. Harry deflected a Stinging Hex for him just as Ginny came to the rescue, muttering the counter-curse and Ron blurted out “Tarantallegra!” much to the dismay of Fred, who happened to be in the way of Ron’s target-less wand pointing.
“You - idiot - we - are - on - the - same - SIDE! Finite!”
As George and Ginny roared with laughter, Hermione quickly sent a Trip Jinx towards Tonks, who were advancing their way. The jinx missed her as she ducked and tripped over a branch on the ground in the process, resulting in another round of laughter, this time from the members of Order themselves.
“All is well that ends well!” Harry commented, his face lit up considerably as his eyes caught Lupin’s, both laughing. “Wingardium Leviosa!”
Lupin seemed surprised by his choice of spells, and didn’t bother to draw up a shield as the spell hit him square in the chest. The man immediately floated into the air in a fashion that reminded Harry of his incident with Aunt Marge, and laughed at that. Tonks, having picked herself up again sent a Leg-Binding spell towards Harry, who faltered and broke the spell sending Lupin crashing down to the ground.
“Oh no - arresto momentum - sorry!”
Lupin was saved from serious head injury as the Slowing Spell worked on him and he regained his graceful posture soon enough, smiling broadly and sending a series of silent curses along Harry’s way.
“Wha - protego! Ouch!” Harry managed to deflect two using the Shield Spell but the third slipped through, sending him crashing back and knocking out Ginny.
“Enjoying the challenge, are we?” said Ginny through clenched teeth, sounding amused while Harry scurried to get off her. She stuck her arm out and derisively sent her best Bat-Bogie Hex towards the former DADA professor, causing a chorus of ‘ooohhh’s from her brothers. Just as Harry paused to watch (rather expectantly, he might add), professor McGonagall closed in and waved diffindo at them, ripping Harry’s already mud-covered shirt. Harry lowered his head instinctively to survey the damage, thereby missing another jet of red light coming his way from Moody.
“Not working together as well as the younglings, are we?” Moody observed, his magical eye spinning faster than ever as Hermione and Ginny rapidly cast Stupefy at him in collective effort. Harry couldn’t help but notice that nearly everyone was wearing a broad grin as if someone had cast a Cheering Charm, clearly enjoying themselves.
The duel was becoming increasingly intensified as the Order members were shifting around forming unrecognisable ranks, sending silent but also unrecognisable curses along their way. Harry suspected that these curses were not half as damaging as they would be if a Death Eater cast it, yet it was intimidating and powerful enough to be - Harry chuckled silently as he repeated these words - to be categorised as a ‘proper’ duel.
Soon enough Ron became a victim to Moody’s Stunning Spell and fell to the ground, much to the horror of Hermione, who rushed over and urgently whispered “Enervate!”
Harry, who turned around just in time to catch a glimpse of Kingsley’s raised wand, managed to shout “Petrificus - ”
“HARRY!”
Harry felt a jerk at his hand as his wand escaped him, and saw a series of multi-coloured light coming from his side as Moody broke free of Hermione’s control and joined Tonks. A whine of panic surged to his head, he had not known how to perform wandless magic, and it was nearly impossible to summon the wand in the dark -
“Protego! PROTEGO! IMPENDIMENTA! Harry, take mine!”
Ron shoved his wand into Harry’s hand as Hermione and George hurried to cover him, Ginny and Fred at Harry’s side.
“Collective effort! EXPELLIARMUS!”
Tonks was knocked back and took Kingsley with her, Harry did not pause to survey the damage as he hurried to harden his grip Ron’s wand and cried “Lacarnum Inflamarae!”
Flames burst around them in a circle, breaking off visual contact with the other members of the Order. The sound of fire crackling and heavy breathing filled the air for a moment as the children took a brief break and the Order members were mildly surprised by the change in situation, until Lupin’s calm voice penetrated through:
“Aguamen-”
Harry had been expecting this and raised his wand just in time to cast a Drought Charm, the inward sucking of air met the jet of water erupting from Lupin’s wand and cancelled the effect of both spells. He could see the flicker of Lupin’s smile behind the flames and couldn’t help but smile in return.
“Had enough?” Professor McGonagall piped up, her voice crispy but not unkind. She had been the least active of all today, Harry wondered whether it was a Head of House thing or it was just because none of her students had also dared to fire a curse at her.
The children held their breaths, unsure whether it was a cue to relax or not. Moody let out a bark of laughter.
“Constant vigilance indeed!” he lowered his wand and distinguished the flames easily, before tucking it away. “Let’s call it a day, shall we? It is the boy’s birthday after all.”
A whoosh of long held breaths fill the air as the children collapsed onto the ground, panting.
“Really, some birthday, mate.” Ron rubbed his eyes as Harry handed him back his wand, “next time, I’m not sure I would accept your birthday invitation…”
“Sorry,” muttered Harry, also panting as Hermione and Ginny collapsed beside them. Fred and George were singing and swaying to some sort of National Anthem,
“And Order saves our gracious Harry, long live our gracious Harry…”
“Oh shut up,” said an irritable Harry, suddenly feeling sore all over. He mentally reminded himself that Lupin was indeed a true Marauder hence could not be underestimated, as the man walked over and extended his hand.
“Nice work Harry, nice work to all of you.” Lupin smiled as he pulled Harry up, “Come on, we have some real birthday treat lined up.”
They followed Lupin into the house and each received an elegantly performed Hot Air Charm to dry off their robes, and a pat on the back from the Order members. Ron and Hermione apologised to Tonks for knocking her over on several occasions but was waved off good-naturedly. Ginny and the twins were polishing over their wands and discussing appropriate lyrics in the God save Harry song. Harry leaned over to Lupin and whispered,
“Thanks, professor.”
Lupin chuckled. “Well, it was what you had asked, was it not?”
Harry rubbed his eyes. “I’m just glad that you didn’t invite Snape to this.”
For a brief moment he thought he saw Lupin’s expression falter into concern, but before he could see closer, Lupin was smiling again.
“Happy 17th, Harry.”
They followed Lupin into the living room, where the rest of the Weasley family stepped out of the fireplace, beaming.
“Oh Harry! Happy birthday! And look at you,” Mrs. Weasley surveyed Harry’s ripped shirt disapprovingly before fixing it with a flick of her wand. “What happened?”
“Explanations later, Molly, let’s give the boy what he deserves.” Moody growled from behind, exchanging a glance with Lupin. Before any of them knew what was going on, they waved and chorused,
“Finite incantatem.”
The room suddenly filled with decorations, food, drinks, games, and a large banner with glittering letters reading “HAPPY 17TH BIRTHDAY, HARRY POTTER” as a golden light swept across, lifting the Invisibility Charm along with it. Harry’s face lit up as he saw Lupin glancing at him, evidently satisfied with himself.
“A little something,” said Mrs. Weasley fondly, and Harry knew that she had been the one to put up all these decorations and making a nice fuss over things. He went over to hug her tightly, bringing tears to the kind woman’s eyes.
“Don’t…you’ve grown so much…oh Harry…”
The rest of the Order watched, smiling solemnly while the twins began softly singing the Wedding Marches.
“Here comes Harry, our new adopted brother, oh the Boy-Who-Lived in our house -”
“Excuse me Mrs. Weasley,” said Harry sweetly, pulling out of her embrace and turning around to smack the twins on the head. “There. Where were we?”
People laughed, and the Party was a full-on within a few minutes. More members of the Order either stepped out from the fire to take a brief drink or poked their head through for a word of congratulations, and soon the room needed magical enlargement as more and more guests came.
“Let Harry do it, let Harry do it!” Ron shouted excitedly, “He’s of age!”
“What a privilege,” commented Hermione. Harry was unsure whether she was been sarcastic or genuinely envious, but decided not to care as a mixture of Butterbeer, Firewhiskey and Oak Matured Mead went to his head.
“Engorge - no, sorry - Engorgio!”
Lupin, who had been leaning against the wall sipping his wine suddenly flopped onto the floor as the wall retreated behind him, revealing extra space. Harry laughed and apologised half-heartedly, walking over to pick the man up.
“Y’all right, professor?”
Lupin elegantly got up and dusted his robes. “Remus, Harry. If you indeed recognise me as your professor I doubt you would’ve done that without a warning.”
Perhaps it was the warmth in the room, or maybe it was the alcohol making him feeling grown-up, at that moment Lupin did not look like his professor at all. Instead Harry went over and wrapped his arm around the man’s shoulder (realising Lupin was in fact quite a bit taller than him in the process), commenting a bit too loudly for his own good, that Harry liked Remus Lupin, professor or not.
Luckily the room was too loud for anyone to register what the birthday boy had said, only Hermione was giving an oblivious Harry meaningful looks. Lupin tensed briefly before relaxing and slapping Harry’s back gently,
“You are drunk.”
“Nope, I’m sober,” Harry swayed and beamed broadly at the man. “Best birthday ever, sir, I’m really glad you are here. That hideous potion making has paid off!”
With that Harry went over to join his friends and began chasing mashed potatoes across the table, leaving a slightly taken-aback werewolf, quite unsure of how to react.
11.
Harry’s coming of age also marked that July was replaced by August, by which time it seemed that the Dementors had decided to take a universal holiday and sunlight shone down on every corner, the temperature soaring to over thirty-six degrees Celsius.
“Oh what is that old bastard up to again?” Harry complained, fanatically fanning himself. “It feels like there are a herd of Hungarian Horntails breathing down at us.”
Lupin only smiled amusedly and conjured ice-cream out of the thin air. “Nice thought. If I didn’t know better I would’ve assumed you eavesdropped on the Order meetings again.” When Harry raised his eyebrows Lupin explained, in a more rueful voice, “Voldemort is in fact planning to capture the dragons and using them to his advantage.”
“Along with every other magical creature in the world,” Harry snorted. “I wonder when he’s gonna make a move on Hagrid’s Blast-Ended Skrewts.”
Lupin looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or not, and compromised by taking a bite on the ice-cream. Harry flapped his shirt desperately and felt like wriggling on the floor, the heat was penetrating. Lupin surveyed him.
“I reckon I can teach you some useless spells as well,” the man said with a casual shrug. “frigulus.”
The room cooled immediately and Harry felt like doing a double-flip. “That’s wonderful! Teach me that.”
Lupin showed him the incantation and the wand movement. “Don’t overdo it or it’ll start to snow,” he said. “The weather’s bizarre enough as it is.”
Harry grinned as he practised the spell silently, and snowflakes began to drop from the ceiling. He glanced at Lupin, who was only wearing a loose muggle T-shirt, and smiled sheepishly. “Oops. Fancy an early Christmas?”
Lupin shook his head in resignation. “Let’s go outside, we could use a bit of sunshine.”
They stepped outside and was nearly swept back by the heat wave. Harry hastily settled down on the front porch, muttering frigulus under his breath and pulled Lupin close.
The Lair was once again empty, Hermione had gone over to the Burrow, where the Weasley family were keeping up appearances as they could not risking the Dark side finding out where the new Headquarter was. Kingsley and Tonks were trying make use of the chaotic Ministry while the others did secret rallying for those who were uncertain which side to follow. There hasn’t been a lot of attacks, however, which baffled Harry, as on the surface nothing seemed wrong except the outrageous weather, then again they were in England.
“So what’s the latest plan?” after a moment he turned to Lupin, asking only half-heartedly. He suspected that whatever the Order was up to it didn’t involved him, and even as he was now of age, he was still excluded from those meetings.
Lupin glanced at him and reminded him that his ice-cream was melting before answering, “Hogwarts will still open this September.”
“Oh.” Harry wasn’t sure whether he should be relieved or not, as he loved Hogwarts and going back to it would be like going home, but that would mean he would be again hidden away in an old and protected castle, not able to fight as he was taught this summer -
“ - but not for you.” Lupin finished quietly.
Harry stared. “Sorry?”
“I’m sorry, Harry… but it seems that they - we - have decided it is best for you to not to go back to Hogwarts. Well, at least not go back to have your normal lessons, as there are more urgent things at stake.”
Harry’s eyes widened marginally as the words sank in. Lupin was studying him, his expression mildly of concern. “Are you alright by this?” he asked cautiously, “I’ve managed to persuade them that if you really want to go back, you can, but use instead of taking NEWTs the teachers would give you special training sessions like what we are doing now.”
Harry swallowed. “Are you going to teach me though?” he had hoped the answer would be yes, that somehow they could find a way for Lupin to go to Hogwarts again, just like in his third year. But he knew it was a difficult task as the Board of Governors along with the rest of the school already knew of his werewolf status. It didn’t surprise him when Lupin shook his head slowly and rather ruefully.
“I wish I could,” the man gave him a small smile. “You are making enormous progress, your father and Sirius would’ve been proud.” Pausing, he added in a smaller voice, “I’m proud.”
Harry managed to smile at him in return before launching himself into a hearty hug. Lupin’s scent surrounded him, the warm clean smell of wilderness, slightly sweaty due to the weather. He felt the man’s arm tighten around him.
“You’ll be OK, Harry. I promise.”
Harry thought Lupin was shaking slightly, and the embrace was so tight it became painful after a few seconds. He didn’t let go, instead hugged the man tightly in return, swallowing the lump in his throat.
Eventually Lupin regained control and eased gently, turning away from Harry, blinking back the tears. Harry pretended that he found the empty ice-cream cone intensely interesting for a few minutes before he decided it was safe to look up again. Lupin was smiling gratefully.
“I take it that you do want to go back to Hogwarts,” he said, “I’ll have a word with Minerva in this case.”
Harry blinked. “Er,” he began uncertainly, “how - what will I be doing if I didn’t go back to Hogwarts?”
Lupin surveyed him silently before replying softly, “You stay here with me.”
Harry’s expression went blank for a split second, before a wide grin broke out and stretched from side to side. Lupin looked surprised yet uncertain at the same time.
“That’s great! I’ll stay!” Harry declared excitedly, “- if that’s OK with you, of course.”
Lupin chuckled darkly. “Harry, why would you want to stay with - well,” he lowered his gaze, “you will regret it when everyone else is going back except you, stuck in this place -”
“No, I want to stay,” said Harry more forcefully than he had intended, his expression oddly determined. “I believe I stand a better chance against Voldemort when I’m with you, Remus. Sir.”
Lupin smiled, this time slightly more cheerful than last. “We’ll see, Harry. We’ll see.”
Harry was just about to open his mouth to press further when a doggish-like Patronus swooped in front of them.
“Tonks,” Lupin stood up warily, “Order meeting. Harry, get back in the house -”
He was interrupted when the Patronus stopped in front of Harry and nudged him lightly before going back to Lupin. Harry raised an eyebrow as Lupin’s words hung in mid-air, mouth half-open.
“Hmm.” finally Lupin’s jaw closed with an audible clack, “Looks like they’ve requested your presence at this meeting as well, Harry.”
Harry was not given a moment to think before Lupin grabbed him by the arm and Apparated, his insides being squeezed and released as he landed on top of the man.
“Ow - I’m sorry - are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Lupin got up gracefully and helped Harry up, “I should’ve given you a warning. It’s a long walk up to Hogwarts, too.”
“Wait, Hogwarts?” Harry scurried to his feet, following Lupin out of the corner and realised at once that they were in Hogsmeade. The streets were bustling as usual, the shops open with crowds moving in and out, but there were far more Aurors wandering about to make this a casual weekend scene. Lupin conjured up a large cloak and covered Harry up quickly.
“Bear with me,” the man whispered urgently, wrapping an arm around Harry’s shoulders and guiding him towards Honeydukes. They slipped past the crowd and went upstairs, taking the secret passageway into Hogwarts.
The tunnel was still damp and dark just like last time Harry had visited it, and by the time they resurfaced on the third floor, Hogwarts, both Lupin and Harry were relieved. The castle looked pretty much the same except empty at this time of the year, the portraits on the wall gazed down at the strange pair curiously as they made for Headmistress’s office.
“Oho! If it isn’t The-Boy-Who-is-Going-to-Kill-The-Dark-Lord and the werewolf!”
“Shut up,” Harry snapped instinctively, more annoyed by the rude comment about Lupin than the new title he just got for himself. Lupin seemed unaffected by this, rather said pleasantly,
“Good day, Sir Cadogan.”
The mad knight that once guarded the Gryffindor common room in Harry’s third year appeared to be visiting his fellow portraits, and had drawn out his sword at the sight of Harry’s company.
“Stop! Fight! Show your worthiness!”
Harry opened his mouth but closed it again, rolling his eyes. Lupin smiled.
“Please leave Harry alone, good Sir, or I’ll have a word with that Wolfhound hanging near the North Tower, I think he rather enjoyed your company last time you entered his portrait.”
Harry silently laughed at the mad knight’s horrified expression and gave Lupin an appreciative look before they reached Headmistress’s office.
“Fudge Flies,” said Lupin serenely. Harry choked. Lupin merely looked at him.
“Our compliments to a certain Fudge,” he said.
Harry could’ve sworn he saw Lupin winking at him before they entered the office, where almost all the Order members were present, their expressions wooden.
“We came here as soon as possible,” Lupin closed the door behind him as Harry pulled off his cloak. “Harry’s here as you had requested, Minerva.”
Professor McGonagall nodded his acknowledgement curtly before gesturing for them both to sit. Harry chose to sit closely by Lupin on the empty couch, leaning forward as the other man did so, both excited and nervous as it was his first time at an Order meeting.
Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and peered at Harry, her expression of mild concern.
“Harry, you are to understand that the reason we called you here is that no one else can possibly do what we are about to ask you to do,” she said rather restlessly, to Harry’s surprise. He stared. Professor McGonagall looked stern yet quite nervous as she opened her mouth:
“We need you to visit Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, Harry.”
For the first few seconds Harry thought he had misheard the Headmistress, as his own mouth hang half-open in the air and eyes marginally wide. He could even hear his neck creaking as he turned to look at every other person in the room, Kingsley, Tonks, Moody. They were all looking at him in a mixture of sympathy and regret.
Finally he whirled around to Lupin, whose expression was also indecipherable, yet he gently slipped a hand into Harry’s, squeezing him in reassurance.
“But - how - why - ?”
Harry had forgotten that since Sirius died the place was legally his, and could not deny that he wanted to stay away from that place for as long as possible - it was a reminder of Sirius’s grim childhood, of what and why he died. He felt a mixture of emotions began to swell in him, making his eyes prick slightly and hastily looked away, squeezing Lupin’s hand tightly in return.
“We don’t want you to stay there, Harry,” said professor McGonagall quietly, avoiding his gaze. “You have to understand that since - since both the owner and the secret keeper had - gone, you are the only person remaining on our side who can bypass the wards.” She paused and added sincerely, “and we wouldn’t ask if it isn’t absolutely necessary.”
Harry nodded. He could not think of a word to say, only to clench his fists and taking Lupin’s fingers with it in his sudden explosion of emotions. The warm and soothing hand that was pressed against his didn’t object to the almost painful squelching, and didn’t pull away even as the owner of these hands began to speak.
“May I ask to come along with Harry, Minerva?”
Harry was not surprised at Lupin’s volunteering, but was surprised when professor McGonagall nodded her agreement.
“We need to visit the place as soon as possible, before Voldemort takes control by force.” There were some uncomfortable shifting in the room but she ignored it, “We were only informed of this necessity twenty minutes ago. It would be best if you two could go immediately.”
“What are we going for?” Harry asked, his voice determined as he let go of Lupin’s hand. He felt oddly comforted by the thought that Lupin was coming with him, not only because he was a powerful wizard and could watch over him, but also he out of all those whom sat in the room could understand Harry’s feelings, for Sirius, for Dumbledore, for Grimmauld Place.
It was Moody who answered his question. “A message left by Dumbledore.” His magical eye was fixed on Harry, “He left instructions on how to get to this message, and we have decided that it is of vital importance.”
“Like - like how to destroy Voldemort?”
The room was silent, and Harry could tell by the looks on everyone’s face that he had a good guess coming. Dumbledore obviously suspected something was going to happen to him, and was definitely not the kind of person who would leave his last message on paper. He turned to glance at Lupin, who was frowning, the grey mist in his eyes thickening as he lowered his chin onto his heads, evidently deep lost in thought.
“O - OK,” he cleared his throat, attempting to be brave. “So I go to Grimmauld Place, we get the instruction, then we figure out how to kill Voldemort. Excellent.”
Everyone smiled humourlessly at him, yet replied good-naturedly in a chorus, “Yes.”
As Harry descended those marble stairs he couldn’t help but wonder when he was coming back to this magnificent place, if he would be coming back at all. He shook his head and hurried out to the gate, his tutor following silently in his wake.
TBC