The Collision Theory | Remus Lupin

70. A Bark Isn't Worse Than The Bite

I must be dreaming.
I have to be dreaming.
Animagi? Fucking Hell. I'd be less surprised if I found out that Dumbledore was Father Christmas.

"Colloportus," I whisper, flicking my wand at the door, and dare a rather crap shield just in case, "protego duo." 

The scuffling and crashes from the other room dim reassuringly, and I can only hope that Moony doesn't sniff me out and attempt to kill me. The room around me is bare save for a wardrobe and a ripped up armchair, and shafts of moonlight fall through the open window. I tiptoe to the window to get a look at any possibilities for an escape: with a risky swing, I could grab the lip of the roof, and use the window pane to push myself up. Or, seeing as I am not actually superman, fall to my immediate death.
Great.

*

Some time later- an hour, three? I don't have my bloody watch- the house becomes dead silent. I must have dozed off, because as I uncurl from my spot in the corner, all of my joints groan and ache. Ignoring my freezing limbs, I go to creak open the door, straining my ears for any sound.
Silence.
The house is empty, save for my own breathing. It's best if I just go back, and come back in a few hours, maybe get some sleep. The floorboards creak under my feet as I descend the stairs, and I get to the trap door without a problem, "Alohamora."

The handle floats for a second, then drops aimlessly with a thud, "Shit."

James' spells must have not worn off yet. I try again, but to no avail, and the only other option is through the front door. It's better than Moony coming back and ripping me to shreds. I open the front door, struggling with the weight of it as it opens, and step out into the calming cold night air. The relief is only temporary however, as a rustling to my right makes me jump out of my skin. I hold my breath, pressing back into the door frame as I listen out for a sound. A yipping sound comes from the darkness ahead- the clouds really have found the perfect time to cover the moon.
Then, a howl. Short, low, bone-chilling.

"Oh f-" I bite my lip to stay silent, stumbling back into the house as three huge figures bound towards the house. A dog, a stag, and a wolf. I swear the dog sees me, because he barks in my direction before nudging Moony almost playfully. But Moony isn't interested; his nuzzle is in the air, sniffing for something, for me. The dog is more insistent, tugging on the fur at Moony's neck. Moony growls, and claws at the dog in one swift movement. Chaos ensues: the stag rears, and then shoves Moony's side, subsequently separating the two canines. The werewolf tries to maul the stag, but the dog pounces, pinning Moony down. It's a scramble of fur which seems to last hours, but the dog ends up scrambling out of the wolf's jaws, black fir glistening with what is undoubtedly blood. He makes a run for the door, and Moony tries to follow, but the stag gets in the way, and before I know it, a large black dog has collided with me, "Alarte Ascenda-"

"Novak!" The dog, in the flash of an eye, turns into Sirius on top of me, and he claps one hand over my mouth, and kicks the door shut with his foot., "You were about to send me into the air?!"

"You just attacked me as a dog!" I cry, shoving him off of me, "And Jesus Christ you're bleeding!"

He nods, as if not quite taking in the statement, before turning his attention back to the matter at hand, "You need to go back upstairs, it was stupid coming down."

"I thought I'd be better off-"

Sirius shakes his head frantically, ushering me towards the stairs. I don't protest. "Too late for that, you need to go."

"What about you?" I look back over my shoulder as I hurry up the stairs. Moony is scratching at the door now, and the wood creaks under his weight.

"This is karma," Sirius grins, though it is plainly forced, "I'll be fine, we'll all be fine."

He thunders down the stairs, and the last I see of him is his back, and the patch of red that is slowly seeping through the grey fabric of his shirt.

*

I don't want to die.

Words repeated over and over until I want to scream them. I know I can't however, otherwise the guy I date will break open the door and maul me to death. 

"Colloportus," I whisper again as hooves and paws pad up the stairs. Something bangs against the door, shaking it hard enough for dust to fly up. The air tastes thick of my own fear. I suck in another rattled breath. Tears prick my eyes.
There are more bangs, bangs that make the floorboards under my feet shudder. It's when I do something I haven't done for what seems like forever. I pray, "Allakh, pozhaluysta, zashchiti menya."

Another bang ensues, and I can barely contain a yelp, and hurry to the window to prepare for the worst. The screech of claws against wood threatens to choke me. I listen, waiting for my cue to do the impossible and climb out of the window. No bangs.

There's more scuffling though, and it gets a little distance- the boys have gone back into the other room. 

"Thank you." I crumple- literally crumple- to the floor, the exhaustion taking over me. I shake so hard it feels like I won't ever stop, and sob between heaving breaths like a bloody child. My chest hurts and I fight the impulse to throw up by curling in on myself where I'm seated.

"Lin?" I haven't even noticed the door open, but I'm quick to get my wand out. It seems my spells have faded.

"Peter," I choke out, dropping my wand to the floor. He kneels in front of me, taking my hands, they feel cold in mine, and his pale face gleams with sweat in the moonlight, "Peter, I really messed up-"

"You didn't."

"Sirius wouldn't have got hurt if it weren't for me," I squeeze my eyes shut, the floorboards have started swaying under me. 

I'm glad when Peter pulls me into a hug, it grounds me, "Lin, it was going to happen, trust me. It's not the first time and it won't be the last. The truth is, I don't know what's going to happen now. What Black did..."

What Sirius did.

His reckless stupid big mouth.
He would't do this, just go about telling people about Remus.

Something must have happened.

I bury my face into his shoulder, balling my fists into Peter's jumper, "Pete..."

"Yeah?"

"You're a bloody animagus."

"Aylin, no offense," He laughs, "but sort out your priorities."