Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

 We traveled back down the winding tunnel with Harry, Ron, and Sirius up front, Hermione in the middle, and Pettigrew held by Lupin and I with our wands sticking into his back.

"Sorry about the bite!" Sirius began apologizing to Ron, "I usually have a sweet disposition as a dog... but I got a bit carried away..."

"A bit? A bit?! You almost tore my leg off!" Ron cried out as he limped with Sirius and Harry carrying him out. I snorted softly and shook my head, "So I guess my question is answered," I muttered to Lupin who turned his attention over to me, "Which one?

I rolled my eyes, "The one I asked you that day when you taught Harry the Patronus charm?" Lupin nodded slowly, "Ah, yes, that one..." He chuckled.

"Which leads me to my next one–"

"Oh dear..." Lupin muttered under his breath. I gave him a moment, and then I asked, "Has he always been so sassy? Or did that come with age?" Lupin let out a loud and short laugh, "Haha! Well, to answer, yes he was always this way, but it seems his witt has gotten better."

Neither of us spoke for a moment, and Lupin piped up softly, "You know, I must apologize for my behavior towards you... When you had found me when I was 'sick', truthfully the night before I had transformed, and was still trying to deal with the sickness on the other end. It honestly frightened me, but I never should have taken that out on you."

"See? He's crazy! Boy, you should understand then–!" Pettigrew scurried out of his thin mouth.

"Shut it!"

"Quiet!" We both sharply spoke to him, he once more coward under our glares. We continued our pace out where the light hit the tunnel. Harry, Ron, and Sirius made it out finally and set Ron on the grass. I shrugged, "It's water under the bridge..." The starlight hit my face, it was finally bright enough to see properly, "I'm just glad it's over... As for you," I turned my attention to Pettigrew when we finally stopped outside, and I shoved my wand in his throat, "You know it all makes sense now, the case, the puzzle I couldn't put together. All along it was you that was the missing link, and I'm glad the Potters will have their final peace!"

"You know..." Lupin muttered. I pulled my wand a bit away from Pettigrew's throat, "I remember when you had pulled those books from the library. You seemed to have no idea where life would take you..." I glanced back and forth between him and Pettigrew, "It seems you have a spark in you, in the last hour you've turned from someone terrified of everyone to someone ready to handle the world. I can safely say I'm proud of you Ozwald..." I began to tear up, "Since you've asked so many questions to me, I have one for you. After Hogwarts, what will you do?"

That was a load; not only off of my chest because throughout my entire life, not one, not even my friends, told me they were proud of me for something, but also because I hadn't given any thought to it practically all year. Now we were at the end of the road. I let out a deep and long sigh through my lips, "I um..." I wiped my face, realizing tears had slipped down them, "I'm not sure... I think... I think I'll stick with what I've known. I want to be an Auror... or a Lawyer. I'm not entirely sure yet."

"Those are wonderful ideas," Lupin smiled brightly at me, it seemed so warm and inviting. To think that I was so quick and eager to not believe in him, yet here he was believing in me. Looking back, he believed in me the entire time. I had to focus on something else or I would have started bawling, so I took my gaze from him to Harry and Sirius, who stood to the side and talked quietly amongst themselves as they stared up at Hogwarts. Harry smiled brightly as he spoke with Sirius, my chest warmed at the sight, "You know that's the first genuine smile I've seen him have all year... Even the one he gave me when I told him I'd help him study for his finals he wasn't nearly as happy even then..."

Lupin takes a moment and turns to the two, "I agree... It's good to see him like that... It reminds me of Lily..."

The air was gentle and the creatures were calm. Even Willow only swayed in the wind. All seemed well. The moment was ended quickly, "Harry!" Hermione yelled, pointing to the bulbous illuminated moon, the clouds dispersing and casting a brighter light around us. It was beautiful. I hummed, and in my stupor I hadn't realized that things were turning for the worst. Lupin grunted and choked on his breath, his eyes pointed right at it. He began to tremble. I finally realized what was happening. No... No no... please. Sirius gasps and rushes over. When will this night ever end?

Lupin dropped his wand with several choked gasps, his body began to seize up. The moment his wand hit the ground Pettigrew leapt forward, grabbing the wand, and rose it up. Harry shot a charm at Pettigrew, knocking the wand out of his hand. Pettigrew waved with a snicker and quickly transformed back into a rat. I didn't know what to do. Do I stop Pettigrew? Do I help Lupin?

"You didn't take your potion did you, dear friend? It's only flesh Remus!" Sirius hugged his torso tightly, "What matters is this heart!" He patted Lupin's chest, "This heart here!" Lupin howled in pain. I gasped and ran for them, "Professor–!"

"Stay back!" Sirius yelled, "I don't want anyone hurt!" Sirius was struggling as Lupin grew and grew in size. He groaned out, his groans turned to growls and he flicked saliva. He threw Sirius with a screech and huddled in on himself. Why didn't take his potion, "The potion..." my eyes widened. I scrounged through my bag, I forgot I even had it on me. A while ago we made Wolfsbane and I had put it in my bag, and I never took it out. Although I wondered at this point if it was too late. If only I could have asked Professor Snape, if only I knew, I would have helped the Professor stay on top of taking his potion.

"There you are, Potter!" I seriously needed to look into Divination as a career. Professor Snape had woken up and was clutching Harry by his collar. Lupin snarled and stepped forward. Snape's eyes widened and flipped around, pushing the three behind him. He raised his claws to hit Snape. Another dog leaped onto him and bit his shoulder.

"Sirius!" Harry pushed away from Snape and ran forward. I had to take my chance, "Professor! I have the potion!" I held up the red liquid vial, "Will it do anything?!"

"It's near impossible, but it could at least calm him down for the rest of the night!" That was it then, I needed to get him to drink it somehow.

"Perfect!" I rushed over to Harry, hearing Snape yell out for the both of us to get back over to him, but my feet moved without me thinking. Harry stopped and launched a stone, throwing it at Lupin's head. It bounced off of the top of it. He paused in his assault toward Sirius and swiveled around, his beady eyes met ours and he growled lowly, making his way over to swipe at Harry. There was no way I could let him do it. I blacked out, and all I knew was when I came to I was on the beast's back trying to get the bottle open and get the liquid down his throat.

So close, so very close. He thrashed around harder and harder until He took ahold of my shirt and tossed me over his head, making me land on a stone with a thump to the back of my head. The last thing I saw was him standing overhead, his teeth were the only things in view. This was it. This was how I would die, and it all faded to black. There was no pain, no light, nothing, but the howls of a wolf echoing in the distance.