The Lambs

6. Finding Safety

August 6th 1998 | That Night

His mind was reeling. There were moments when all of the information he had been told came to the forefront of his mind and he was able to understand it, just for a moment. But once understanding dawned, shock pushed its way into his head and then he wasn't able to think at all. There were also times when he didn't try and think, or remember, because whenever he thought about what Draco said, a sudden overwhelming dizziness came over him and it was all Harry could do not to fall over. It was too much. Too strange and too new, and it was all over him, inside of him. Draco's words crashed over him like a tidal wave, dragging him under and drowning him in the terrifying finality, the promise of what would happen.

He was turning into a Werewolf!

Of all things, a werewolf. An elf, or a Veela or maybe a Vampire, he could handle, but he hadn't even known that werewolves existed and in two weeks he would become one. Completely, and wholly. He would no longer be human.

He would no longer be Harry.

"It won't be as bad as that," Bill Weasley said, as if he could read Harry's thoughts. "It really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to believe, you know."

"Yeah?" Harry said snidely, "And I bet you're next in line to get bitten, aren't you?"

Bill gave a soft sigh, and turned his face away. In some ways Harry was so much like his father. He didn't take 'change' very well, and he could be as stubborn as hell. But he was a strong, brave person, much like Queen Lily, and Bill knew he would survive this. If anyone could take such an accident and work it to their favour it would be the Prince. The redhead smiled to himself, ignoring the angry glance Harry threw him, and he wondered what it would be like if the Elementals and the Werewolves could somehow unite. It would be rather nice to have Charlie home again, and Draco would to have Harry as a friend again.

"What are you thinking about?" Harry said, unfolding his arms from where they had been across his chest. His face was open and curious, rather than the angry, bitter mask it had been moments ago.

"You'll do great things, you know," Bill said softly, looking Harry in the eyes. "You'll be a King I'd happily die for."

"I'm not going to be King. I'm a wolf now remember." Harry's lips curled back into a snarl, and Bill could see his teeth had already lengthened into sharp-pointed fangs. He wasn't wearing his glasses anymore either, and his brilliant green eyes had taken on an amber tinge. They looked more yellow than green now, but his glasses had usually hidden the colour.

"You'll be a great King, someday, you'll see," Bill said. He mentally put an end to that topic of conversation. There was no point urging Harry to unite the two fractions at present. Harry still was not comfortable with the idea of Werewolves, let alone with being one. He smiled; let Harry see for himself how well the two sides could get on together. "Why aren't you wearing your glasses?"

"They hurt my eyes," Harry said softly. "And Draco broke them."

"He never said what he told you."

Harry looked up at him and scowled. "It's none of your business." The dark hair boy said after a short silence. "But he told me the truth."

They had been walking through the forest outside of Hogwarts for an hour and a half. They were almost halfway to Hogsmeade, and Bill soon became more attentive to his surroundings. They further away from Hogwarts they got, the denser the forest became. They would come upon the wolves soon.

It was another ten minutes before someone walked out from between the trees. His red hair was like a beacon and Harry grimaced at the wide smile that crossed the werewolf's face. "BILL!" Charlie cried and ran to his brother. They embraced while Harry watched with a sad, lonely feeling gnawing at his heart. He suddenly, overwhelmingly missed Draco, despite being mad at him when he left home.