Change the Future

*HBP 17*

Rory glanced out of the corridor window. There, looming in the darkening sky over the towers of Hogwarts, blazed the chilling symbol of death—a glowing green skull with a serpent twisting out of its mouth like a tongue. The Dark Mark.

Rory looks at Charlie, fear in her eyes as he wraps his arms around her, pulling her into his lap.

She stood frozen, staring. Her fingers tightened around her wand. A voice, low and rasping, cut through the silence behind her.

“Well, look what we have here.” She spun around instantly, wand raised, but she was too late. Standing barely a foot away was a towering, rangy figure, his matted grey hair hung like a greasy curtain over his gaunt face. His eyes were yellow, wild. Fenrir Greyback. The stench of sweat, rot, and blood clung to him like a shroud. Before she could even utter a spell, his hand lashed out like a viper. He wrenched her wand from her grip and flung it across the corridor. It clattered uselessly to the floor behind him. “Oh dear. Someones already had a bite,” he sneered, eyes gleaming as they flicked to the scar on her neck. Rory instinctively backed away, trembling. “But you’ve still got plenty to offer” Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway, fast and desperate.

Charlie buries his head in Rory's neck as he holds her tightly. Remus looks at the screen, horrified of that man being near his goddaughter.

“Get away from her!” came Remus’s voice, sharp and commanding, followed closely by Bill’s. Both wands drawn. Greyback turned, grinning like a predator catching scent of new prey.

“What do we have here? Remus Lupin. Always the noble mutt”

“Step away from her, Greyback” Remus growled, his voice thick with fury. Greyback grabbed Rory’s arm roughly, yanking her against him like a shield.

“She means something to you, doesn’t she?” His lips curled as he leered down at her. “Is this your goddaughter? Little Aurora Potter. I was told not to hurt her, but… what they don’t know won’t matter. Because you, Lupin, caring about her? That’s what’s going to kill her”

“Don’t touch her!” Remus snapped, moving forward a step. Greyback’s smile widened as he hissed,

“Oh, I won’t just touch her.” With brutal speed, he sank his jagged teeth into Rory’s shoulder, right where the old scar ended. She screamed, a ragged, heart-wrenching sound as his claws tore into her side. Blood soaked through her clothes almost instantly.

Lily looks at James, tears falling down her face as he hugs her. Charlies grip around Rory tightens.

“NO!” Remus surged forward, wand raised. Bill was already there, wrestling Greyback off her with brute force. Remus caught Rory as she collapsed, her body limp and trembling. He gently lowered her to the cold stone floor, his hand immediately pressing over the gaping wound on her neck, trying to staunch the blood. “It’s okay. I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” he murmured, barely holding his voice together. In the chaos, Greyback lunged again, this time at Bill. He tackled him with a feral snarl, raking his claws down Bill’s face. Bill went down with a cry, blood pouring from deep gashes.

"No" Molly cries as she watches her son.

Rory, shaking, forced her eyes open. With the last of her strength, she raised her hand and threw Greyback of Bill. The force of it flung Greyback back into the stone wall. He hit it with a sickening thud and crumpled. Her eyes started closing again as she started losing consciousness. Remus was shouting her name and lifting her gently into his arms.

“Rory—stay awake. Come on, baby, stay with me,” he begged, his voice cracking. “Don’t close your eyes. Not yet.” Her eyelids fluttered, so heavy.

“Moony,” she breathed, voice faint. “I’m so tired…”

“No, no. Don’t you dare,” he whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. “You’re going to be fine. You hear me? I’ve got you. You’re safe” Doors slammed open. Tonks was shouting for Madam Pomfrey. Rory looked up at Remus. He was crying. Real tears. “Stay with me, wolf,” he said hoarsely. “Stay with me.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. And then.

“AURORA!” followed by darkness.

"How did he get in the school" Alice says, tears down her face. Draco looks at Rory before looking at the floor. Charlie holds Rory tight as she buries her face in his chest.