The Space Boy and The Red Head

38 - A Sad Squirrel

Saturday - 1st June 1996

Fred paced around the dormitory, Lee felt his headache worsen with every turn Fred made.

"Would you please just sit down" he groaned, rubbing at his temples. He tried closing his eyes to ease the tension behind them but it didn't work.

Fred halted, shooting an angry look at his friend. Running stressed hands through his hair, messing it up. Right now George was having breakfast with Apollo, who'd been getting sicker and sicker on the run up to the upcoming full moon. Lee and Fred suspected that the stress from the last few weeks had made him more susceptible to the changes this time around.

"He's barely able to stand by himself, Lee. And he still doesn't know that I know about the whole werewolf thing." He stressed.

"And you're worried about him. I get it Fred. I do. But there's nothing we can do but support him until tonight. Then I'll go in, try distract him and let Madam Pomfrey do her thing in the morning." Lee talked him through the plan.

"But he's worse than usual. Did you see how sore he was today?" Fred sat on Lees bed with a hmph. Face falling from its tense position to defeat. "And I can't even really help properly, cause then he'll know that I found out"

"Would it be so bad if you told him? I mean he was so nervous you'd react badly, it'd be a massive weight off his shoulders if he knew you were cool with it" Lee pondered.

"He can't find out. I want him to feel comfortable enough to tell me himself. And right now is not the time anyway. I'm scared he'd go all quiet again" he thought for a moment "Plus, I don't want him to feel pressured into telling George. But he really needs to do it soon, I hate keeping things from my brother, I'll be getting grey hairs at this rate from the stress alone. Old before my time they'll say"

Lee chuckled at Fred's antics. "I'm sure you'll be the worst old man ever. Telling awful jokes, probably have a bowl of prank sweets to trick all your visitors. You'd be the grandkids favourite relative though" Lee envisioned what old age might look like for each of them in their group. Feeling a pang of sorrow when he tried to picture Apollo old and greying, knowing how unlikely it would be for a werewolf to make it to retirement age.

"I reckon we'll still all be friends too. Causing chaos in a retirement home together" Fred chuckled to himself.

The rest of the day dragged on for the group. Having to assist Apollo a lot more than usual, carrying him around the castle and tending to his thundering headache. Bright lights and loud noises were agony to him, not to mention the physical pain that screamed from his bones.

Lee had, with Cormac's help, taken Apollo to the dungeons early. Helping him to lie down and get as comfortable as possible. Hoping maybe he'd be able to sleep a little before the change occurred. Fred had promised Lee to cover for them incase George wanted to go snooping, like the twins had last time. So Lee sat, bushy tailed, waiting for Professor McGonagall to come and go, so that he could sneak in and occupy a very blood thirsty wolf. Lee was a little bit nervous that the wolf would be especially dangerous tonight, seeing how much it was affecting his friend all week.

And Lee was right to be nervous, in fact he should've been more scared. The change was worse than last time. Apollo had been coughing up blood even before it started, but now the stone walls were painted red. Metallic scents clung to every surface. The wolf roared and reared. Thrashing violently in its chains. Lee had almost been too slow on occasion, only narrowly avoiding its sharp claws that would easily tare him to pieces. It shredded its own skin time and time again, biting and ripping at its own flesh with its razor like teeth. Lee was terrified all night. Not just for Apollo as he had been last time, but for himself. He finally understood why Apollo had been so scared to let him in again, why he often called himself a monster. It was hard to see the viscous beast in front of him as anything but that right now. Hard to imagine that somewhere inside it was his best friend. It snarled and snapped like an animal possessed.