RUNNING WITH WOLVES remus lupin

O13. 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃'𝐕𝐄 𝐆𝐎𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐇𝐔𝐑𝐓

𝐓 𝐇 𝐈 𝐑 𝐓 𝐄 𝐄 𝐍

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SLOWLY, ELODIE REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THE WHITENESS OF THE HOSPITAL WING BLINDED HER EYES. She immediately sits up and looks around. To her horror, there was chaos around the hospital wing.

She heard two loud sets of footsteps. As well as shouting voices. "Professor, please, let me go!" Penelope's high, panicked voice echoed the wing. Making Elodie's stomach turn over.

"Mine, Elodie... mine, mine..."

"I need her, please, don't make me-" Professor Lupin's voice was desperate and pleading. "Stop it, you're hurting me!"

"Remus, you must leave right now!" Madam Pomfrey's voice boomed throughout the hospital wing.

"Give me Elodie!" The words became more fierce, almost dangerous. Soon, Elodie sees Penelope struggle her way through the door. Professor Lupin tailed behind her. Suddenly, a hand was at Penelope's throat, while she squirmed and struggled, gasping for breath while her fingers clawed feebly at the offending limb, her eyes wide with fear.

"Professor, please don't!" Elodie's eyes instantly widened. Before she knew what was happening, the wild, almost feral eyes of the werewolf found her. For a moment from where they were frozen, just staring at each other. Suddenly, she felt calm. Why aren't I scared?

Without him noticing, his hand removed itself from Penelope's throat. Time seemed to freeze as the two stared at each other, the surprise in both of them rendering them into a state of momentary shock. Elodie shuffled to try to get off the bed and take several slow steps forward; her sudden movement seemed to break the spell. Lupin rose slowly and rushed at her.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Madam Pomfrey yelled as she pointed her wand at Professor Lupin.

"No!"

"Ms Ashcombe, step back."

Elodie scrambled backward, startled by the intense, near-mad look in the other man's eyes. He was completely immobile.

She looks over to see Penelope on the floor. Seemingly gasping, being able to breathe again. "El," she heard Penelope say softly. She quickly rushes over to her best friend. Soon, Elodie was next to Penelope, who was laid out on the floor.

"Penny?" she asked in uncertainty.

Penelope was crying. "Why did he do that?" She asked her voice hoarse. The panic in her voice terrified her. Elodie hated to see her best friend in pain like this, and she hated the fact that she could do nothing to calm Penelope.

She was caught up with being worried about Penelope. She didn't notice Madam Pomfrey walking over to them. "I need to get her on a bed, step back, please, Ms Ashcombe."

Elodie nods. "Is Penelope going to be okay, Madam Pomfrey?" She asked anxiously.

"She's fine, dear. She'll just need rest. Her throat will probably be soar," she replied.

She looks over at her immobile professor. "Why did he do that? What's wrong with Professor lupin?" She asks Madam Pomfrey, confused.

"Professor Lupin seems to have found his mate." She tilts her head in confusion. "His... mate?" What does that even mean? His mate?

"Ms Ashcombe, pay attention. I'm going to relay sensitive information..."

She jumps at the sound of madam Pomfrey's loud voice. But nods stiffly.

"Professor Lupin is a werewolf." She says slowly. A- a werewolf? But that can't be true... Elodie then remembers the things people have said about him. Those were just rumors... Weren't they?

"...And it seems you are his mate."

Her eyes instantly widened. "What does that mean?" She asks quickly.

"Your Professor Lupin's mate, Ms Ashcombe. He attacked Penelope because she was keeping you from him." She pauses. "You see... First, he would've felt compelled to find you. Find you, keep you, and protect you..." Madam Pomfrey grimaced, and Elodie was feeling a mix of emotions.

Keep her? He would want to... keep her? That sounded odd. "You've probably felt strange emotions upon locking eyes for the first time..." She continues. That's why? "He brought you here because you fainted. But he didn't take too kindly when I suggested you needed space."

"If he would've gotten to you, he would've taken you.."

"Taken me where?"

"He currently sees everything as a threat to your safety. It's most likely because of the full moon that happens in three days."

"But he is not himself, The mate claim is based in Primal Magic and instinct and all that, but the magic itself comes from the desire to protect." She paused, looking at Elodie. Seemingly trying to analyze Elodie's emotions. Truly, she's confused at what happens now.

So i'm his mate... What should I do now?

"So what can I do about it?" Her voice carried a faint tremor to it. She was scared... Not necessarily of him.

"Nothing, dear, there's nothing you need to worry about" Madam Pomfrey grimaced again, "I'll inform the headmaster, and Everything will go back to normal for you too girls," She looks down at Penelope.

She can't help it, she's worried. So she asks, "What'll happen to him?" The matron sighs.

"He'll get possessive, angry... most werewolfs kept from their mate usually go mad." Elodie gasps.

"Since the full moon is near, he was more determined. As you saw, he got violent, not to you, but to those close to you. These situations tend to get out of hand pretty fast." Elodie frowns again.

"I've alerted the headmaster. He'll be here momentarily."

Sets of footsteps could be heard as her head of house, Professor Mcgonagall, joined by the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. They soon approached them.

Then Professor Snape entered as well. The headmaster then spoke up. "Well, Poppy, what seems to be happening?" The matron scowls at the use of her first name in front of students.

But she says nothing. She simply points over to the immobile Remus Lupin. Mcgonagall gasped as the headmaster sighed. "Well, we surely have a situation on our hands..."