The Master of Death

Chapter27: Hunters

Harry followed his godfather's line of sight. He was right. There between the trees stood a wolf, cautiously watching them. Yellow eyes glinted in the dark like coals. Its soul was burning with hunger. But there was something different about its behaviour.

Harry wondered why he hadn't noticed him earlier.

The werewolf had been keeping his distance, but now that he'd been detected, he slowly moved towards them.

Remus aura was unmistakable.

Yet there was a new edge to it. The wilderness that was usually so contained within his core had taken over.

Unlike Sirius, Harry would've had trouble identifying Moony only by his looks. It had been ages since he'd seen Remus' werewolf form.

But even though his godfather was barely able to make out the wolfs silhouette in the darkness, he had recognized him.

It was interesting to see Remus like that. His magic wasn't swirling around him, nor did it interact with his surrounding like it usually did when he was human. Harry could still sense it, but it was focused more inward. Confined. Like the blood pulsing in his veins, it ran through his body, moving slowly, almost as if it was asleep. Though it made sense. After all, werewolves didn't need their magic to kill.

Then Remus left the shadows.

He was big.

As a human Lupin was already tall. Even here he was one of the bigger wolves, although he appeared to be leaner than most of the others. Nonetheless, Harry could see his muscles rippling under his brownish fur. Moony was creeping forward with smooth but hesitating steps. His amber eyes were fixated on Sirius. There was wariness visible in his every movement.

If Harry didn't know it better, he would say that the werewolf might even be confused. But that didn't make him seem less dangerous.

Sirius stood like he was frozen. Clouds of steam formed with every exhale as he stared at the wolf. Six feet of cold air was the only thing separating them.

A low growl erupted from Moony's throat.

Sirius swallowed. He had fought against the other werewolves without holding back, but Harry somehow doubted that he would do the same to Remus.

Harry leaned forward without conscious thought. His breath hitched with anticipation. Moony still hadn't attacked, but his stance was clearly that of a predator.

"Sirius, I think it would be better if you changed into a dog," Harry said quietly, his eyes not leaving the werewolf. Nothing indicated what was going to happen. He felt Death's dark presence behind him, his own curiosity mirrored in their bond. Other wolves that had already retreated a bit earlier, now moved closer once more. Harry didn't dare to blink.

The sound of a snapping twig broke the silence.

Moony's ears twitched and for a second his eyes strayed from Sirius. Another werewolf emerged from the shadows behind him. It came closer, angry lines interrupting the pattern of the grey fur covering its muzzle.

While Moony was still distracted, Sirius tried to put some distance between them. Remus attention snapped back to the Animagus before he could even finish his second step.

A snarl ripped through Moony's teeth. Sirius stilled. The other werewolf tensed, and its muscles bulged beneath its fur.

It all happened in the blur of a moment. The foreign werewolf jumped. Moony charged. And where Sirius had been standing was now a black dog.

There was snarling and biting. Teeth digging into flesh. A red smear staining the leaves on the ground. The grey wolf whimpered.

Harry stared at the scene. His mouth stood open in surprise. Next to him, Death was grinning.