Changes and Secrets

Chapter 17 - Awake

I promise I'm already working on the next chapter (which will be longer). This book is now my top priority. I'm sorry it's so short, but it didn't seem right to continue it from where it is. I will update again as soon as possible >.<

O.o

There were voices murmuring all around him, and he just wanted them to stop. 

"He should have changed back already," a faint female voice said. 

"I know," replied a male voice, closer, but just as quiet. They still hurt his head, though. 

He could discern some other voices, two male and one female further away, but gave no thought to them. He knew he wasn't dead - he'd been dead before. This was nowhere near the same. Much louder, much darker, and much more painful. 

The voices got louder and he whimpered, covering his ears with his paws before blacking out again.

O.o

It was quieter, when he came to the second time. Without the splitting headache from before, he was able to assess his body and surroundings. 

His leg was still painful, but it was the pins-and-needles sensation that reminded him of the Skele-Gro he was forced to ingest in his second year. Maybe Madame Pomfrey had given him some. 

He twitched an ear to listen around him, catching the soft sound of breathing beside him. He noticed the warmth of a hand covering his paw before forcing himself to open his eyes. 

It was dark in the infirmary, the view through the window revealing a dark sky sprinkled with stars. He couldn't see the moon, but that was okay. He could tell it was no longer the full moon. 

Without lifting his head, he looked to his side to look at the man next to him. Remus had his head resting on the bed from his seat next to the bed, in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable position. His hands were wrapped around the wolf's paw, as though the younger would disappear if Remus let go. On second look, he noticed tear tracks running down Remus's face.

Despite every muscle in the wolf's body screaming in protest, he nosed at Remus's hand in an attempt to wake the professor. 

"Mmm..what is't, Snape?" the professor mumbled blearily. 

"I said nothing," a smooth, quiet voice came from the infirmary doors. The wolf tried to cut his eyes over to look, but the Potions Master was out of his field of vision. He huffed in annoyance before letting out a quiet whine. A small gasp came from Snape as the sound of his footsteps rushed closer. The man entered the wolf's view, and he looked up at Snape apologetically. Snape stared in shock for a second before roughly shaking Remus's shoulder. 

"What?" Remus asked again, less groggy and more irritated. 

"Look," the older professor said, albeit a little shakily. Remus sighed, but jumped when the wolf's cold nose brushed his hand again. The DADA professor jerked upright and snapped his gaze to meet the amber gold eyes of the wolf. 

"Harry," he breathed, before promptly breaking down into tears.