Author’s Notes: I forgot how much fun this is! I’m continuing to finish my old stuff but I’m also really enjoying writing some new stuff. This here is kind of a bridge chapter because like chapters 8 and 9, parts of it I wrote ages ago, while other parts I wrote recently. And chapters 11 and 12 are all new! Please enjoy!
The Willow Part One of Three: A Highly Amusing Joke
On most nights, when James Potter left the castle after hours, which happened quite frequently for one reason or another, he would do so sneakily. He would wear his Invisibility Cloak, he would move though the castle slowly and carefully, trying not to make a sound and attract the attention of nearby teachers or caretakers. Even once James had safely made it to the deserted grounds he would not increase his pace greatly, not wanting the cloak to flap around his ankles in the light streaming from the castle windows, in case anyone looking out caught a glimpse of his shoes. No, sneaking out was an art, and on most nights he would have practiced this art with the astonishing ability that only comes from years of experience.
Tonight was not one of those nights.
James Potter was sprinting across the castle grounds. His Invisibility Cloak was tucked safely away in his trunk in Gryffindor tower. Exactly how many people could see him running across the sweeping lawns, well lit by the full moon on this very clear night, was of absolutely no concern to him. And in any case, any one who happened to look down at him now might only have seen a black blur given the speed at which he was moving.
James had almost reached his destination when he heard faintly, as though from a great distance, a murderous howl, coming from the direction of Hogsmeade. His heart, which had been pounding in his throat all the way across the grounds, stopped. For a moment, it forgot to beat. Then, as though it suddenly remember what it was supposed to be doing, it started up again, working at double pace. And James, trying to ignore the whine of panic in his head that said he might be too late, sprinted onward.
An hour before, something else was black and blurry, but it was not a lone figure sprinting across the castle grounds. It was the remains of what had been, moments before, an almost completed Transfiguration essay.
Peter swore as the glass of water had been trying to turn to wine cracked and leaked all over his homework. He snatched the essay off of the table but it was too late, the water had seeped into the parchment and several paragraphs of black ink were running together. Wand still in his hand, Peter tried desperately to remember the incantation that would restore his homework to the state it was in ten seconds before. But as small drops of cloudy black water dripped slowly onto the table, he found himself at a loss.
–Padfoot,†he said. –Padfoot, help me!â€
Sirius wasn’t listening. It was just Peter and Sirius sitting together in the common room. James had detention and Remus had already left to meet Madame Pomfrey. Tonight would be the first full moon since December that Peter, Sirius, and James would not arrive at the Shrieking Shack before Remus did. They had discussed it on Monday, after Slughorn had awarded James a week’s worth of detentions, how they would make it work. They had considered leaving James behind, but James had loudly objected to that plan, pointing out that they wouldn’t be able to leave the Shack without him. They thought about Peter and Sirius going first and James coming after his detention, but the problem was that with only one Invisibility Cloak, they really all needed to go at the same time. So they had decided that it would be best for Peter and Sirius to wait for James and leave for the Shack as soon as he was out of detention. Hopefully they would make it to the Shack before Remus transformed, but if they didn’t, they would still arrive in plenty of time to stop Remus from doing too much damage to himself and still have most of the night for their excursion.
But Peter had really been hoping to finish this Transfiguration essay before they left.
–Padfoot! What spell do I use to get water out of parchment?â€
Sirius didn’t answer. He had stood up and was pressing his nose against the tower window, carefully scanning the castle grounds. Peter took his parchment and went to join Sirius at the window.
–I’m sure Moony will be fine, Padfoot,†Peter said.
Sirius did not take his eyes off of the window. –Not Moony…†he muttered. His brows contracted in concentration. –No it’s…†is voice trailed off, and then, –Aha! There you are.â€
–What?†Peter asked.
Sirius turned away from the window, a grim smile on his face. –C’mon,†he said to Peter, and started striding toward the portrait hole.
–But Padfoot!†Peter said desperately, following Sirius and holding out his paper.
Sirius turned back. –Oh for Merlin’s sake, Wormtail!†he snapped, snatching the essay out of Peter’s hands, pulling his wand from the pocket of his robes, and quickly performing the spell to fix it. –There!†he said, tossing the essay back onto the table their school things were piled on, –Now come.â€
Sirius crossed the common room and left through the portrait hole, Peter in tow. Peter followed Sirius down through the castle to the Entrance Hall and through the oak front doors.
–Should we have brought the Cloak?†Peter asked.
–We won’t be out for long,†Sirius answered.
Sirius seemed to know exactly where it was he was headed. He quickened his pace. Peter, with his much shorter legs, was practically running to keep up. It wasn’t until they were around the greenhouses that Peter saw what they were headed towards: Snape. He was standing by a tree, peering around the side of it, clearly wanting to see something and not be seen.
Peter looked out across the grounds in the direction Snape was looking, and immediately spotted the object of Snape’s intrigue. Remus was crossing the grounds with Madame Pomfrey. They were heading for the Willow, and Snape was watching them walk, his face alive with curiosity and malice.
Peter reached for his wand, ready, not to curse Snape himself, but to back up Sirius if he needed it. To Peter’s surprise however, Sirius did not draw his wand. Instead, he grabbed Peter’s wrist to stop him from raising his wand and shot him a look of meaning. Peter could tell from the glint in his eyes and the small smile on his face that Sirius had a plan. Obediently, Peter put his wand back into his pocket.
–Stay here,†Sirius whispered. Peter nodded and Sirius walked away. Peter hid himself around the corner of the nearest greenhouse to watch Sirius approach Snape. He had no idea what Sirius was planning, but he knew that, whatever it was, it would be good. Sirius and James always came up with the most brilliant ideas to humiliate Snape. Peter was more than happy to assist them.
Sirius walked stealthily up behind Snape, who was so engrossed in watching Remus and Madame Pomfrey, he didn’t notice Sirius at all. Sirius got as close as he could behind Snape without risking actual physical contact.
–Boo,†he whispered in Snape’s ear. Snape jumped violently and almost fell over. Sirius backed away from him, laughing. –Oh, I’m sorry, Snivelly. Did I disturb you? I should know better than to do that when you are busy sticking your freakishly large nose where it doesn’t belong.â€
Snape recovered himself from his surprise. –Sod off, Black.â€
Sirius ignored him. –Although, you should know better than to spy on people.â€
Snape managed a small sneer. –I was wondering where your friend was going with the nurse. You know, he’s gone an awful lot, that Lupin. Most people think he’s just ill, but,†His sneer grew wider. –some of us wonder if there isn’t a bit more to it.â€
Peter felt a twinge of fear. What if Snape found out about Remus? That would mean big trouble.
Sirius seemed rather unconcerned. –Do you?†he asked.
–Yes,†Snape replied, –we do.â€
–Imagine that.â€
Snape was clearly suspicious of Sirius’s lack of fear. He turned to look out into the grounds again. –They seem to be heading for the Whomping Willow.â€
Snape turned back to watch Sirius for a reaction. Peter was suddenly very glad he wasn’t out there with Sirius. Peter knew that he would not have been able to keep the panic he had felt at Snape’s last words out his face, but Sirius, he admired, had the talent to keep playing it cool.
–But of course,†Sirius said casually.
–Of course, what?†Snape pressed him
Sirius looked at Snape as though he was surprised Snape had to ask. –But, surely you know,†he said. –Surely you know the secret of the Whomping Willow?â€
Snape’s expression was blank, unreadable.
Sirius paused for a moment, waiting for Snape to speak. When he continued to stare, Sirius said, –Well, I’ll admit I’m surprised. Not many people know about the Willow, but I would have thought that you at least would have figured it out by now. You have a habit of snooping, Snivellus. Surely you’ve realized there’s something more to the tree than what meets the eye - quite literally in the case of that Gudgeon kid.â€
Snape couldn’t keep the hunger and curiosity out of his face. –And I suppose you know the secret?†he asked.
Sirius smiled. –It really is quite easy, Snivellus.†He moved closer to Snape, lowering his voice. –All you have to do,†he whispered loud enough that Peter could still hear, –is prod the knot on the trunk. You can use a long stick to do it so you don’t get hit. Prod the knot, and the tree freezes. Then you can get into the gap in the roots.â€
Peter felt his jaw drop. He saw that Snape’s had done the same.
Sirius turned and walked away from the dumbstruck Snape, back towards Peter, calling over his shoulder, –Glad I could add a little to your knowledge of Hogwarts. Have a lovely evening.â€
He came back around the corner to where Peter was hiding.
–Padfoot,†Peter whispered, –why did you do that? Now he knows! Now he is going to find out Moony’s secret!â€
–Calm down, Wormtail,†Sirius told him as they turned to walk back towards the castle. –The game has only just begun.â€
–I’ll be back for you in the morning,†she said, closing the door behind her.
Remus wasn’t even sure why she said this anymore. Hadn’t they been doing this for over four and a half years now? He would have thought they’d got the hang of it by now. Yet every full moon, as she left him alone in the Shrieking Shack, she felt the need to reassure him that she would be back for him in the morning.
Like it would help. Like Remus could even think about the blessed morning when his mind was so all consumed with what was to come in the night. From where he was standing at the moment, the morning seemed years away. But maybe it was better, that she give him this hope. Even with the horrifying prospect of the horrifying night that loomed horrifyingly in front of him, he had but one small promise that, whatever happened, morning would eventually come. It was the small ray of sunshine in the Pandora’s Box that was the full moon. True, his transformations had become much more bearable since his friends had come to join him, but he still didn’t much enjoy the agonizing pain of transforming nor the surrender of his mind to the wolf.
Remus shivered. He hoped his friends would arrive soon. The less time he spent alone with the wolf, the better.
Even though he could feel the moon moving ever closer, he couldn’t help but smile to himself as he thought the adventures of the last few full moons. He remembered how shocked he had been when James had first suggested they try leaving the Shack. But then, over the next few days, while enjoying the easiest moon full recovery he had ever had, his shock at the idea had faded away. He thought about what he could remember of their full moon together, of seeing them there, Padfoot, Wormtail, and Prongs, of feeling the ache of loneliness inside of the wolf ebbing away, of the chase, of the companionship, and of the fun. All the memories he’d had previously from the full moon were vague but terrifying flashes of pain, bloodlust, and fear. Now he had memories, almost as clear as his human memories, of happiness and of friendship. And now they could make more memories outside of the Shack, exploring the grounds, going deeper into the forest than they ever could with just the Invisibility Cloak, and maybe even into Hogsmeade. He knew it was selfish, he knew it was reckless, but he wanted those memories so badly. He wanted more wonderful full moons.
It had taken very little for James to talk him around after that. Remus could tell that James was surprised with how easy it had been. But James was right, there had been enough yelling, enough fighting, and enough pointless worrying. His friends had been right every step of the way, and if Prongs and Padfoot were so confident that they could keep Moony in check, he would just have to trust them. He had agreed and they had immediately started making plans.
Figuring out how to get out of the Shack had been difficult. The openings, both the one between the Shack and the tunnel and the gap in the Willow’s roots, were designed to be too small for a werewolf to fit through. Sirius could just barely squeeze though when he was Padfoot, but there was no way that Moony would ever fit though, and no way in hell that Prongs ever would. Peter had suggested that they just blast the openings and make them wider, but besides creating the additional risk that Moony might one day slip out without them, Madame Pomfrey was sure to notice something like that.
Sirius had been the one to figure out the solution, and James, being the best at Transfiguration, had performed the necessary spells. He had transfigured the openings to become wider, but only when he, and only as Prongs, came near them. Now Moony could only get out when accompanied by Prongs, and Madame Pomfrey would be none the wiser.
And so Moony had been set free. He had escaped the Shrieking Shack, his monthly torture chamber, and gone to explore a new world outside of bloodstained and scratched walls with his three friends, the dog, the stag, and the rat. And Remus had gotten his memories.
And at least he’d had some injuries to show to Madame Pomfrey after leaving the Shack. The bite marks around his neck where Padfoot had restrained him and the bruises on his side where Prongs had antler-butted him, while not as bad as his usual injuries, had at least given the matron something to fuss over.
He sometimes felt guilty about betraying Dumbledore’s trust and leaving the Shrieking Shack. Dumbledore had let him into Hogwarts when no other headmaster would have done so. Dumbledore had created this place, the tunnel, and everything, to keep him safe and to keep others safe from him. Dumbledore had trusted him. Without Dumbledore’s trust, he would have nothing.
Remus was nervous. He was more nervous than he had ever been in his life. More nervous than an eleven-year-old boy should ever have to be.
–There’s no need to be nervous, Remus,†Fay Lupin said sweetly. It was a lie; there were plenty of reasons to be nervous. –He’s a very nice man, Remus. You know, he taught your father and me when we were at Hogwarts. You shouldn’t be worried about meeting him, dear. I’m sure he’ll like you.â€
–What if he doesn’t?â€
–He will.â€
–But what if he doesn’t?â€
–Are you ready to go, Remus?†John Lupin asked as he entered the living room.
–He’s just a little nervous,†said Fay. He was considerably more than ‘just a little’ nervous.
–You shouldn’t be,†John told his son. –Everything will be alright.â€
More lies. They were not helping him. Partly because they were lies, and partly because meeting Dumbledore was not the thing Remus was most worried about. Dumbledore could have been the nicest man on earth with the sun shining out of his every orifice. It didn’t matter. If Remus couldn’t go to Hogwarts, Father Christmas couldn’t have let him down gently.
Well, the sooner they got going, the sooner he would know. –I’m ready,†he told his father.
–Are you leaving?†A six-year-old girl with light brown hair pulled back in pigtails stuck her head into the living room.
–They are,†Fay answered her.
Kytalin sped into the room and threw her arms around her brother’s middle. –Good luck, Remus.â€
–Thanks,†he said, hugging her back. He needed all the luck he could get.
–Do you want to go first?†John asked his son. Remus shook his head. –Alright,†John said. He walked to the living room fireplace and took a jar off of the mantle. He unscrewed the lid, took a pinch of powder from inside, and threw it into the grate. Emerald green flames sprang to life from nowhere. John stepped into them and shouted, –Hogwarts; Headmaster’s study.†He was gone.
–Good luck, sweetheart,†Fay said, hugging her son. When she pulled away, Remus could see that she was unsuccessfully trying to arrange her face so as to conceal her doubts from him. It did nothing for his nerves or his mood. She gave him a pinch of powder and he imitated his father: throwing the powder, stepping into the flames, and shouting his destination.
Floo powder was always an uncomfortable way to travel. However, having used it many times before, Remus wasn’t bothered by the journey. What bothered him was the prospect of what bad news might lay at the other end. Ever since he had overheard his parents conversation about writing to Dumbledore, Remus had been trying to follow his parents advise and not get his hopes up. He had failed dismally, and now he was faced with the possibility that all his dreams might come crashing down around his ears. Oh yes, he had reason to be nervous.
Remus almost fell out of the fireplace in the Headmaster’s study, but he managed to catch his footing before he could make his entrance memorable by smacking his face into the office floor. He steadied himself, hastily brushing away residual soot, and saw his father shaking hands with a very tall wizard with long silver hair and bread wearing burgundy robes with gold lining. At the sound of Remus’s appearance, both wizards turn in his direction.
–Ah, and you must be Remus,†said the tall, silver haired man, smiling at him. He walked to Remus and offered his hand. –I am Professor Dumbledore.â€
–It’s very nice to meet you, Professor,†Remus said politely, shaking Dumbledore’s hand. There was something about Dumbledore’s encouraging smile seemed to put him at ease.
–And you, Remus. I must say, I have been quite looking forward to meeting you ever since I received your father’s letter.†He looked at John. –Why don’t we all sit down and make ourselves a bit more comfortable?†Dumbledore suggested. He swept over to his desk and sat himself down behind it while Remus and John took the two chairs set in front. Remus couldn’t help but look around with curiosity. Dumbledore’s office was a bright, circular room with lots of spindly instruments sitting on delicate tables. He momentarily forgot why he was there and why he was nervous and wanted to ask what the instruments were for. He didn’t get the chance.
–Now, Remus,†Dumbledore began. Remus forced his gaze away for the shiny instruments and looked at the professor. –In your father’s letter,†Dumbledore continued, –he expressed that he was concerned your name might not be on the list for this coming year’s class of First Years. He said that his concern stemmed from the fact that you are a werewolf.â€
John flinched. Remus pretended not to notice.
–Yes sir,†Remus said quietly. Dumbledore’s bright blue gaze was starting to make him feel nervous again. He had the impression he was being x-rayed, and he wasn’t fond of it.
–Upon checking the list, I saw that your name was, indeed, missing, despite you being of the proper age.â€
Remus felt his heart sink to his stomach. Was this going where he thought it was going?
–Looking back at school records, it seems that no werewolf has ever made a class list since as far back as is recorded.â€
Remus’s heart sank into his gut.
–I feel that this is a serious injustice to you, not to mention werewolf children of past generations, and I am anxious to do all I came to rectify the situation.â€
Remus heart rocketed upward so fast that it completely bypassed his chest and head, and came to rest somewhere in the air about three feet above him. –You mean it, Professor?†he blurted out.
–Remus,†said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles, –if you want to come to Hogwarts, I see no reason why you shouldn’t.â€
Remus’s floating heart now had a cane and top hat and had broken into a lovely and very well-choreographed tap dance.
–Thank you,†said John, standing up to ring Dumbledore’s hand. –Thank you so much, Professor! Thank you!â€
Dumbledore smiled. –It is always a pleasure to help insure that student can come to Hogwarts.â€
Remus remembered that he had not stood, nor had he shaken Dumbledore’s hand again and thanked him over and over and over. But remembering how he had felt at that moment, he could imagine that the look on his face was all the thanks Dumbledore needed.
–Now, there are obviously a few matters we need to discuss before Remus can come to school; security matters and such,†said Dumbledore.
–Of course, of course,†said John, resuming his seat and looking happier than Remus had seen him in a very long time.
–Now,†said Dumbledore, his tone more frank and business-like, –Remus will need to be isolated at the full moon, naturally, and I personally feel that the farther away from the school he is, the better.â€
–Do think he should come home?†John asked.
–Not quite that far,†said Dumbledore. –I was thinking more along the lines of Hogsmeade.â€
–Where’s that?†Remus asked.
–It’s the village just outside the school,†his father explained. He turned back to Dumbledore. –Where exactly in Hogsmeade were you thinking?â€
–Well,†Dumbledore mused, –that is the question, isn’t it. And I do have an idea.†His eyes were twinkling again. He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a small bag. –May I offer you a lemon drop?†he asked the two sitting before him.
–A what?†asked John.
–A lemon drop. It’s a type of Muggle sweet I recently discovered and have grown quite fond of.â€
–Grandpa Turner always has them when we come to visit,†Remus reminded his father.
–Does he?â€
Remus nodded.
–Would you like one, Remus?†Dumbledore asked, offering him the bag.
Remus looked at his father. –Go ahead,†John told him. Remus reached into the bag and selected a lemon drop.
–Thank you, Professor.†He put the candy in his mouth.
–You are welcome. John?†He offered the bag to Remus’s dad.
–No thank you,†John said.
Dumbledore set the bag on his desk. –Back to the matter of the full moon then. As I was saying, I think Hogsmeade would be the best place for Remus to go. However, posing a threat to the residents of the village would be no better than to the students. My idea is that we set up a location in Hogsmeade, but make it so that location can only be accessed from Hogwarts.â€
–How would you do that, sir?†asked Remus.
–How would you feel about a tunnel or a secret passageway?†Dumbledore asked.
–That would be okay,†said Remus.
Had he known then how long the tunnel was going to be, or how dark, he might have been a bit less quick to answer.
–We would set up a place, a building of some sort, and we would make sure that no one could get in or out without use of the tunnel or passage. We would obviously put some kind of security over the entrance to the so that no overly-curious student accidentally wanders in. It is, I think, the best we can hope for; you will have complete privacy at the full moon and you will run no risk of hurting anyone from the school or village.â€
–If only we could make it so I didn’t hurt myself,†Remus muttered before he could stop himself.
Dumbledore sighed and looked at Remus sadly. –I sincerely wish that I could make it so.†And Remus knew that he meant it. –Now, Remus, before we say more, I feel that I must warn you that there will be some people who will not want you at Hogwarts. There will be students who will not want you with them and parents who will not want you with their children.â€
He didn’t sugar coat it, but Remus was okay with that. Pretending prejudices against werewolves didn’t exist or minimizing them would not make them disappear. –I understand, sir.â€
–I will also, undoubtedly, have to deal with some less-than-cooperative people at the Ministry. Your coming to Hogwarts was not greeted with great enthusiasm when I pitched the idea there. However, I made it very clear that the topic was not up for debate. I am Headmaster here, and the Ministry does not have the authority to choose which students may come to Hogwarts. That decision is mine. Even still, we might find some who will try to challenge us. I don’t want to put you out; I just want you to know the truth of what might come. It is my opinion that the truth is generally preferable to lies.â€
–Yes, Professor.â€
–But in this case, that might not be so,†Dumbledore continued. Remus was confused. –Remus, with so many out there who would do their best to make your life difficult, I think it would be wise if the nature of your condition were kept between only us and some members of staff. Were members of the student body or their parents to discover it, we might well find ourselves in over our heads where even I can’t help us. So, when you come to school, I want you to keep the fact that you are a werewolf a secret, you understand?â€
Yeah, because he had really been planning to walk in on the first day wearing a sign that said, –Hello, my name is WEREWOLFâ€.
–I understand.â€
–You may, if you find someone you can trust, want to confide in them. This you may do, but I ask you to be very careful about who you choose.â€
Remus remembered doubting that he would ever trust anyone that much. Although, he hadn’t trusted his friends to begin with. They had had to find out on their own.
–Yes sir.â€
–Excellent. Now, apart from those in whom you confide, we will do our best to make sure that no one else becomes wise to your situation.â€
Unless of course they figure it out for themselves.
–I must also have you promise that, while you are at school, you will follow any rules we lay down for yours or other’s safety, however irksome they might be.â€
–I promise.â€
That promise had gone to hell in a hand basket the moment James, Peter, and Sirius started their Animagi transformations. He had lost count of how many of Dumbledore’s rules their nighttime excursions had broken. Not to mention general school rules and Ministry laws. Guilt stirred in his stomach again.
–And we must both promise ourselves that we will do all in our power to make sure that no innocent person is ever harmed at your hands. As I said, there will be many who will think it is unsafe for you to come to Hogwarts. We must not give them reasons to think they are right.â€
There, at least, was a promise he had managed to keep. Well, so far…
–I would never hurt anyone, Professor, I swear!â€
–I know you would not intentionally, Remus, but we must guard ourselves against foolishness and carelessness. As a close friend of mine likes to say, ‘constant vigilance’.â€
–I promise, sir.â€
–Well then,†said Dumbledore, –that seems to be that. We will be in touch later to work out the details.†He stood and walked around the desk. Remus and his father stood too.
–It is nice to see you again, John,†Dumbledore said, shaking hands with Remus’s father again.
–And you, Professor. I can’t tell you how thankful we are,†said John.
–And Remus,†Dumbledore said, turning to him, –I believe we will be seeing each other in the very near future.â€
Remus beamed from ear to ear. –I can’t believe I actually get to come to Hogwarts.â€
–Well, you might want to start believing it before you get on the train to come,†Dumbledore chuckled. He walked Remus and his dad to the fireplace. –Oh, wait one moment,†said Dumbledore. He walked back to his desk and pulled something else from the desk drawer: an envelope. –You’ll be wanting this,†said Dumbledore, walking back over and handing it to Remus.
Remus took it and realized that it was his Hogwarts acceptance letter.
–Thank you, Professor,†he said. And he knew that Dumbledore knew that he was thanking him for more than the letter.
–Enjoy the rest of your summer, Remus.†Dumbledore offered him a pinch of powder from a small bowl on the fireplace mantle. He took it, gave Dumbledore one last beam, and was on his way home.
Remus really did fall out of the fireplace this time. His face smashed into the living room carpet, but he took no notice whatsoever. He was up in a flash and dashing to the kitchen.
–I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts
I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts
I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts!â€
He burst into the kitchen, yelling this at the top of his voice, and his mother jumped and almost dropped the glass she was holding. –Goodness, Remus,†she said, setting down the glass, –you gave me a-–
–I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts
I’mgoingtoHogwarts!â€
Fay squealed like an excited little girl and ran to hug her son. –He said yes? He said you could go?â€
–HesaidIcouldandI’mgoingtogoandhesaiditwouldbeokayandIgettogo!â€
It was like a sugar high. Remus was so happy and excited, he was quite incomprehensible.
–Oh honey!†Fay said, starting to cry happy tears. –I’m so proud of you!â€
John Lupin entered the kitchen.
–Remus is going to Hogwarts!†he announced.
–I know!†said Fay going to hug her husband.
–Kytalinwhere’sKytalin?IneedtotellherI’mgoingtoHogwarts
andshewillbesoexcitedbecauseI’mgoingandIgettogotoHogwarts
I’mgoingtoHogwarts!â€
Remus dashed up the stairs to go find Kytalin in her room.
–I told you so,†Fay whispered, still holding her husband.
–What?†he asked.
–I told you writing to Dumbledore was a good idea. I told you it might work. I told you so.â€
–Yes,†he said, kissing her forehead, –I suppose you di-–
–He’sgoingtoHogwartsHe’sgoingtoHogwartsHe’sgoingtoHogwarts
He’sgoingtoHogwartsHe’sgoingtoHogwartsHe’sgoingtoHogwarts
He’sgoingtoHogwarts!â€
–I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts
I’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’m
goingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwartsI’mgoingtoHogwarts!â€
Kytalin and Remus came running into kitchen yelling these unintelligible phrases respectively. Then they chased each other, still yelling, all around the house.
–Remus, Kytalin, calm down,†Fay said reprovingly as they flashed past.
–Oh, let him celebrate a little,†John said. –He deserves it.†He beamed.
–Hey John,†Fay whispered, holding her husband a little closer, –guess what?â€
–What?â€
–Our son is going to Hogwarts.â€
Remus smiled as he remembered that day. He remembered how it had taken over half an hour before he and Kytalin had stopped screaming and running and dropped to the floor in sheer exhaustion. He remember how his mum had beamed for days and how his dad had said that he was proud of him; something he’d said a rare few times in his life. He remembered how the summer had seemed to drag on and on as he counted the days to September 1st.
And now he was here. He was here in the place that had been built for his use. The dwelling at the end of the heavily guarded tunnel in which he was to transform, away from the people he could potentially harm. He was a student Hogwarts, and he actually had this building to thank for it. Oh, and Dumbledore. He had Dumbledore to thank as well.
A shiver ran down his spine; a shiver much too familiar. It was here. He didn’t need to look to know it. He could feel it. And then the pain. The bone crushing - quite literally - agonizing pain. He could feel his body beginning to change. His back arched and his shoulders hunched. His limbs shook violently as they too morphed into the wolf. Hair was sprouting everywhere.
He could feel his memories slipping away. He no longer knew or cared what had happened the day he had been accepted to Hogwarts. The wolf knew nothing of love or happiness. It only knew hunger and violence. Dimly, in the back of what was left of his human mind, he realized that his friends had not made it before the change and he hoped that they would come soon. Then it was gone. The last bits of his self slipped away as the wolf finished its physical and mental transformation.
The werewolf stirred, restless, seeking the taste of human blood.
This was never going to work.
Black had surely been having him on for a laugh. Black was trying to get him close enough to the tree to be squashed flat. Why was he out here? Why was he ignoring the instinct that that told him this was a trap?
The answer was simple: he was curious and he wanted proof. This was his one great opportunity to find out exactly what Potter and his precious friends were up to, and he was not going to waste it. He might not know what lay beneath the Whomping Willow, or even if there was a beneath the Whomping Willow, but the only way he could find out was if he explored for himself.
The Willow froze. Someone was coming out. Severus shrank into the shadow of the Forest on the rapidly darkening castle grounds. He could see the figure clearly but could not make out who they were. It was only once the figure was safely out of the range of the Willow’s branches and the tree started to move again that the figure was caught in a patch of moonlight and Severus could see her. Madame Pomfrey.
He had, of course, seen her walking Lupin out into the grounds, but he somehow wasn’t expecting her now. She had come from the Willow, the place he was trying to penetrate. Black had said that very few knew the secret of the Willow. That had implied to Severus that it was the source of secrets. However, it could be all that secret if the school nurse was in on it. Severus weighed the information in his mind: if she could get into the Willow, what was down there couldn’t be dangerous. That seemed a logical conclusion. Maybe the secret lay past the Willow, in a place Madame Pomfrey didn’t know about. The Willow was just a starting point.
If the Willow was safe, he could venture below and assess the situation from there. He would still be safe from whatever Black had in mind, but he would have gained useful knowledge.
And so it was settled. He was going to attempt to enter the Whomping Willow using Black’s instructions. What’s the worst that can happen?
Maybe that wasn’t a thought on which he should be brooding. He had many theories about why Potter and his friends saw fit to frequent the castle grounds in the dead of night. Some were more sinister than others. But he wasn’t really doing anything risky, unless you counted be out after hours risky, but detention didn’t much frighten him. And if Madame Pomfrey could enter and exit the Willow safely, Severus was confident that he would too. Well, here goes nothing.
Striding from his hiding place on the rim of the Forest, Severus crossed the now black and deserted grounds to the Willow. He stopped just short of the branches’ reach and thought through Black’s instructions: take a long branch, prod the knot on the trunk, the tree will freeze, and you can enter through the roots.
A long branch. Severus felt the ground around him. There were many branches on the ground, but they were much to short to reach the Willow. Severus felt the ground around him for almost two minutes before it hit him. He let out a snort of self-disgust. Why did he need a big stick? Was he a Wizard or not? He took out his wand and used it to levitate a stick. He sent it soaring to the Willow in the place where, he had remembered from his daytime visits to the Willow, there was a knot.
It took a few prods to find the right place. The tree froze, just like Black had said it would. Wasting no time, Severus hurried forward to the tree lighting his wand.
And there it was. You would never see it at a safe distance, but it was there all the same. A large gap in the roots of the Willow revealed an ominous entrance into a completely black tunnel. Carefully, Severus squeezed through the gap and dropped into the tunnel.
On, and on, and on the tunnel went. Nothing around him but dark earth, rocks, and roots. Nothing between him and the pressing blackness but the tip of his lit wand. Severus could feel his heart pounding against his ribs. Every step he took he expected to see something, anything. And with every step he took and there was nothing, his excitement and his fear increased.
Keep going, he urged himself silently. I can’t turn back now. I have to be getting close. I have to know what’s down here. If only there was something, anything, besides this black tunnel…anything to break the stillness and the silence…
–Snape!â€
Severus had never had a heart attack. But he was pretty sure that this must be what it felt like. Something, or someone, very far away was calling his name.
He paused, straining his eyes, glaring around in the tunnel, trying to get find a clue as to what was going on. But he saw nothing, nothing, but more dark tunnel.
–Snape!â€
The voice was louder now, nearer. This time Severus registered that it wasn’t coming from further inside the tunnel. It was coming from behind him, back the way he had come.
–Snape!â€
Someone had followed him into the tunnel. Someone was chasing him. So, doing what seemed to be the only logical thing to do when being chased, Severus ran.
–Snape!â€
He ran further, deeper into the tunnel. But ground was uneven and the light was dim, and whoever was behind him was moving faster. He could hear the voice getting nearer.
–Snape!â€
Closer, closer, and…wait. He knew that voice.
–Snape!â€
Loathing filled every fiber of Severus’s soul, leaving no room for fear or any other emotion.
–Snape!â€
–Sod off, Potter!†Severus called back over his shoulder.
–Snape, stop!â€
Potter was getting closer. In addition to his voice, Severus could now here hear his pounding footsteps coming up behind him. Severus tried to move faster. His head scraped against a low part of the tunnel ceiling. Cursing, Severus touched his head and felt a small dribble of blood falling from his hairline.
–Snape, stop! Please!â€
–Turn around, Potter!†Severus roared. Ignoring the scrape on his head, Severus charged forward, but it was too late.
–Snape!†Gasping and panting, James Potter came hurtling down the tunnel. Feeling he had no other options, Severus turned around to face him.
–Go back, Potter,†Severus said through gritted teeth.
Potter stopped about five yards short of Severus. He too was holding his lit wand, and by it, Severus could see that he was completely winded.
–Snape…†he breathed. He put his hand against the tunnel wall and leaned on it, still gasping and panting.
–Go away, Potter,†Severus growled.
–Snape…we have to…get out of here,†Potter gasped.
–It’s a little late to be covering up your secret now,†Severus’s lip curled up into a smirk. –Black’s already spilled, and I’m not going anywhere until I’ve seen what’s at the end of this tunnel.â€
–You don’t…understand…†Potter continued.
–Don’t I?†Severus asked. –You’re here to stop me before I see what it is you’ve all been up to. Because you know I’ll tell Dumbledore and you know you’ll be expelled.â€
–It’s not…safe…here.†Potter seemed to be exhausting every last bit of his remaining energy trying not to collapse onto the tunnel floor.
–I’m not falling for it, Potter!†Severus spat. –I’m going to see what’s at the end of this tunnel, and you’re not going to stop me!†And Severus ran.
–Snape!â€
Potter, it seemed, still had some energy left. He could hear Potter once again pounding down the tunnel after him. Severus pointed his wand over his shoulder and fired a trip jinx.
It seemed to have found its mark. Severus heard Potter swear and his footsteps stop as he tumbled to the ground. But he wasn’t down for long.
–Impedimenta!â€
Potter’s return fire barely missed Severus. Severus quickly shot several more jinxes back at Potter in succession, but he heard Potter yell, –Protego!†and knew that none of them had hit.
–Impedimenta! Stupefy! Stop!†Potter yelled in frustration. But Severus was gaining ground and the spells only hit the tunnel walls.
Severus sent his own Stunning Spell back at Potter, and Potter had to leap aside to dodge it, crashing into the tunnel wall and falling to his knees. Severus cried out in victory, but it was premature.
–Impedimenta!†From his position slumped against the tunnel wall, Potter’s aim was true. Severus felt himself stop dead in his tracks, rooted to the spot by the invisible forces of the spell. But for all his gusto, Potter’s spell had been weak. Even as he heard Potter get to his feet and come ambling towards him, Severus felt the invisible bonds starting to wear.
Potter was getting closer. –Snape, we have to get out of here! We…â€
With every last bit of strength Severus had, he pulled his wand arm from the invisible bonds and pointed it at himself. –Finite!†he gasped.
Potter was feet from him when the spell released and Severus once again took off down the tunnel. Potter swore and fired more hexes, which Severus deflected and returned in kind.
–Snape! Dammit, stop!â€
But Severus would not stop. He ran as fast as he could, firing repeated jinxes over his shoulder. Behind him he could here Potter’s jumble of hexes and profanity. Severus ran and ran.
–Snape, stop!†There was a desperate, pleading note in Potter’s last cry. Unexpectedly, the ground beneath Severus’s feet started to slant upwards. Surprised, Severus stumbled slightly.
–Snape!†Potter was gaining again. Severus ran, he sprinted, he very nearly flew up though the tunnel. Just ahead he could see dim light. He had made it!
Severus charged for the light, now hurtling down the tunnel at such speed he wouldn’t have been able to stop if he wanted to. There was an opening at the end of the tunnel and something beyond it was moving. But Potter was just behind him, and he wasn’t sure if he would make it.
No more than ten feet from the opening, Severus felt a hand grab the neck of his robes. And it was only just in time. Any later, and Severus would have gone barreling onward and very likely would have crashed into what was at the end of the tunnel.
He choked slightly as the collar of his robes pulled into his throat and he came to an abrupt halt.
Severus Snape stared in horror. In the opening at the end of the tunnel he could see the silhouette of a huge beast. Potter’s hand had stopped him from colliding with the beast, but it had still heard them, it could still smell them, and it was turning to face them.
Yellow eyes, murderous, horrible, yellow eyes pinned Severus where he stood. Fangs, so many fangs, long and sharp, glistened in the dim light of Severus’s illuminated wand. Claws, massive and deadly, dug into the ground. A low, menacing growl, loud as thunder, shook the ground and caused Severus’s bones to vibrate.
It was a werewolf. It was staring directly at Severus, and it was getting ready to pounce. Beneath the growling, beneath the horrible whine of panic in his head, Severus managed to hear one loud, clear, terrified shout.
–Run!â€
To be continued…
Author’s Notes: Yay! My first evil cliffie! Reviews are always appreciated!