Roses and Riots | f. weasley

Chapter 17: Innocent

Remus and Harry helped Ron out of the Shrieking Shack and back to the castle grounds, which Ron complained about every step of the way. Hermione followed, after Emilia signalled to her to go ahead.

Pettigrew was detained with the body-bind curse, and Snape was still out cold, but Emilia waited for Remus to turn to her.

He looked at her sadly as she put her wand, which had been on the floor after he'd disarmed her, back into her belt.

She crossed her arms and gave him a pointed look and he smiled at her, "you look like your mother when you do that."

She raised her eyebrows at him, "how long did you know Sirius was innocent?"

He sighed, "only about two days, as soon as I put the pieces together I smuggled him food and an old jacket."

"You didn't tell me," she said coldly.

Remus sighed, "Emilia, you sometimes seem to forget that you're only fifteen, you shouldn't have to deal with these things-"

"You know better than everyone, Remus, that I've already dealt with more than most people," she countered.

He stared at her and then bowed his head, "I know that, and I'm only trying to prevent you from experiencing more sorrow than you already have. I'm sorry for hiding this from you, but know that I only had your best intentions at heart."

She looked at him, and at how sincere his gaze was, and then she walked forward and met him in an embrace.

He held her tightly and kissed the top of her head, "go to the others, I'll handle Peter."

She let go and followed the others out of the Shrieking Shack, and when she climbed out she saw Harry standing with Remus, and once she saw that Hermione and Ron were safely together, she walked over to them.

"Emilia," Sirius said, almost wistfully, as she stepped up next to them, "how you've grown."

"Maybe you've just shrunk," she answered without thinking, his familiarity and warmth seeping through his haggard appearance.

Sirius chuckled and then his expression turned sombre, "I was just saying to Harry that, maybe in a while, when this all blows over, the two of you, Remus and I..."

"Harry, Emilia!" Hermione's urgent shout made them turn around.

Emilia's heart dropped as she saw the full moon in the sky, she ran over to Remus and grabbed him by his arms, "Remus, did you take your Wolfsbane potion tonight?"

Remus stared blankly at her, and as she watched his pupils dilated fully. Fear rose in her throat and she gasped, "he hasn't taken it, he's not safe!"

Remus was transforming into a werewolf.

Sirius pulled Emilia away from Remus' changing form and she felt her eyes fill with frightened tears as she watched the man who had been like a father to her cry out in pain as his teeth lengthened. At this time of the moon cycle, she would've been staying at the Burrow, or with Minerva McGonagall when she was younger, so she'd never in her life seen him transform.

Sirius pleaded with Remus, trying to get him to snap out of his transformation but it was no use, and while Emilia was distracted by Remus, Harry attempted to stop Pettigrew from turning back into a rat and escaping, but he was too late. Pettigrew disappeared, and then Remus transformed.

His skin turned grey and his limbs and nails lengthened, and he grew to at least seven feet high, and then a long snout and ears appeared, and he was no longer the Remus she knew and loved.

"Emilia!" Sirius roared, "get out of here! GO!" But then, the werewolf swiped at him and sent Sirius rolling into the undergrowth with a grunt of pain.

The werewolf turned to stare at them, and Emilia stepped forward, ignoring the cries of protest from her brother and their friends.