Rescued

A Long Night For All: Remus

"Why do you have to go?" Harry looks up at me, with Bambi eyes that would melt anyone's heart.

"Harry, cub, I have to. It's full moon." I had explained to him before that I become a wolf sometimes. It didn't change anything between us, and for that I am glad. More than he will ever know.

"Can't I come with? Please? I don't want to be alone!" Harry's eyes are filling up with tears. I kneel down so I am at his level.

"Harry, uncle Padfoot will be with you. I will be gone for just one night, and you'll see me when I wake up in the morning." Harry nods, and rubs his eyes. "Can I have a hug before I go?" I ask, and spread my arms wide. Harry smiles and rushes into them. He grips me tight before I finally set him down.
"All right. Go find Uncle Padfoot now. Uncle Moony has to go bye-bye." He turns around reluctantly and hops to the living room. I hear a shout of farewell from Sirius. I reply quickly, and then I leave.

I apparate many miles from any sort of civilization. I am in a forest, a good place to be. I check my watch-midnight in five minutes. I have nothing to do except sit and wait.

The crickets chirp and I hear the quiet rustles of animals settling down. I feel my arms beginning to snap and break, and I know it is time. I stand up. My bones are breaking and shrinking. My mind is slowly changing to the monster it is during the horrid full moon. I scream in agony. Then I, Remus Lupin, am gone.

I awake, panting and sweaty, an hour later. My body aches and screams for water and rest. I stumble to my clothes and pull them on. The I wearily apparate home.

"Remy?" Sirius calls as I knock on the door.

"It's me."

"You know what to do." Sirius says gravely.

"I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, and live with Sirius Orion Black, and Harry James Potter."

"Good." Sirius opened the door and I wearily stumbled in. "Sorry I couldn't be with you, Moony," he started.

"Shut up, I was just fine. Could you get me something to drink?" I sighed and leaned back in my armchair. Sirius sighed as well and flicked his wand. A bottle of butterbeer and two glasses zoomed from the kitchen. I sipped gratefully at the cold drink. "Where's Harry?"

"Oh, he's in his room. Refused to go to sleep until you came." Sirius got up. "Harry?" He called. Soon we heard the pitter patter of little feet racing down halls and down stairs.

"Moony!" He squealed and jumped into my lap. I set the butterbeer down and hugged my godson.

"Hello, Harry. I came back, see?" Harry nodded and snuggled in my coat, which I had forgotten to take off. I glanced at Sirius. He was smiling, but a little envy sparked across his face. "Oh, come on. You got him all evening." Sirius smirked.

"I know." He didn't say anything more. I was absolutely exhausted from changing and running around the woods.

"Harry? Why don't you go play with Padfoot? Uncle Moony has to go to bed." Harry giggled and hopped over to Sirius. He seemed so much better. I said my good nights and retired to my bedroom upstairs.

I was woken by a piercing scream. I got up and rushed out of the room, shrugging on a bathrobe as I ran. The sound was coming from Harry's room. "Harry?" I called, softly. He was sitting up, sobbing. The lion on the wall purred when I walked in. Harry looked up at me with those emerald eyes, glistening with tears.

My heart melted and I hugged him. "Did you have a nightmare?" He nodded silently into my pajama shirt. "Want to tell me about it?"

"T-the Dursleys. " Was all the terrified voice of my godson said. And that, I think, was all I needed to hear.