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He rushed through the night, panicked and sweating. He tripped and fell, skewing his cloak, exposing him to the full moon. The creature lurched under his skin, roaring to be freed. He quickly scrambled up, rushing towards the tree, trying to reach the passage before his full transformation. He gasped in pain and fell to the ground as his shin snapped into little pieces and reformed into an unnatural position. He did his best to crawl forward, silently begging and praying to make it in time. His leg broke again, higher up, in his thigh. He was sobbing as he continued dragging himself by his arms which also began snapping and transforming. He had almost made it, dragging under the live tree, his back being assaulted by the whip-like branches slicing his back, when he heard a door slam from the castle and soft but quick footfalls coming towards him, a sweet and sickingly familiar scent following it. His head jerked up from the ground, sweat soaked hair sticking to his pale face.
"No. no, no, no." He could already feel the murderous and ravishing impulses begging him to rip her limb from limb. "Shit." He hissed in pain, forcing himself to his broken feet, biting his lip to keep from screaming in pain. He barely dodged the thick tree branch that came for him, but didn't escape the flurry of tiny switches whipping his battered body. His heightened senses made him aware of every step closer the girl was to being in view of him, prodding him on.
Finally, he collapsed into the passage, falling into the tunnel. He groaned lowly, knowing he wasn't in the clear yet. He couldn't switch with Moony in the tunnel, he'd smell the girl and eat her alive at best.
The girl rounded the corner of the castle and came closer still to the tree. He let out an exhausted sob and grabbed at the dirt walls, grasping for purchase to haul himself up and down the tunnel. He made it halfway when he heard someone drop into the tunnel behind him. His stomach dropped and Moony roared to life, almost seizing control. He only maintained control because he was out of the moonlight, weakening his murderous other half.
Feet patter closer, urging him on. He breaks into a weak run, using the walls to propel himself forward and off the ground.
He isn't sure what to do once he reaches the shack, collapsing onto the ground, but is soon relieved of that decision when a hesitant head peeked into the room, dark eyes shining in the dark. She gasps when she sees him.
"Remus?" It's almost a question, whispered and surprised. "What are you-" She cuts herself off. "Are you hurt?" She steps into the room but stops when Moony snarls at her.
"Leave." Remus snarled with his last bits of sanity, loosing the battle to Moony when the moon shined through a window.
He began fully shifting, the process slowed by Remus's resistance.
She watched as every single bone in his body broke.
She watched as He ripped into Remus's body, angry at his resistance.
She watched as Remus screamed and writhed on the ground.
She watched as he sobbed, begging for mercy, begging her to leave.
She watched as he bled on the ground.
She watched as He won the battle and took control of his body with one last whispered plea.
"Elara." it was whispered, blood and spit muddling the word. "Please." The last word would give her nightmares for weeks. The raged breaths, the terrified edge in his eyes and voice, the force he used. "Run."
She only ran when Moony set His glowing eyes on her, canines bared.
The door slammed on Him, providing little distraction as he simply ripped through it.
Her thoughts were full of Remus. I can't tell the teachers, they'll expel him. I can't go to Hogsmeade, He'll go after the people. I need to go to the forest. Maybe He'll get distracted. The thought was desperate as she jumped from the window and bolted for the tree line, stumbling on roots and rocks. I can't climb a tree they're too big. What can I do? It's midnight, I can't outrun him until sunrise, that's in six hours. I'll be dead by then. Merlin, I should've brought my wand. She was distracted and tripped, hitting the ground, dodging Moony, who had lunged for her. She scrambled to her feet, face to face with Him. "Remus." She whispered, tears of terror clouding her eyes.
Moony growled.
She sobbed and tried to jump away from His next attack but was not successful, resulting in a gash on her back, stretching from her right shoulder blade to her left hip. She screamed, and Moony's eyes dilated, licking the blood from his claws.
The pain clouded her mind but gave her a thought. The Weeping Willow. It will fight him off. A sense of clarity washed over her. I just need to get to the tree. With a new purpose she managed to daze Him with a tree branch across his face, the adrenaline keeping her from feeling what would've sent shockwaves ricocheting through her back.
She ran. Only luck kept her alive. She tripped at the right times and sped up at others.
She cleared the forest and sobbed in relief when the tree came in sight. But that relief was short lived. Moony tackled her right before she made it to the tree, ripping into her abdomen. She did her best not to scream, not wanting to alert the castle, but a pained whimper slipped out. She clenched her eyes shut, ready for the finishing blow, but instead felt the claw that had latched onto her shoulder get ripped out. She slapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her scream, the adrenaline wearing off.
The tree had smacked him off of her.
She painfully rolled onto her stomach, spilling blood onto the ground, and crawled farther under the tree, not knowing Remus had done the same hours before.
She made it to the trunk with only a few whips across her back. She stumbled to her feet and struggled high into the tree, cowering against the trunk, hoping the tree would be able to hold him off for a couple more hours.
Moony left after being beaten by the tree for nearly two hours, but she could hear him snuffling out near the tree line, ready to pounce if she decided to bolt for the castle.
She stayed there for three more hour, thankful for the sun rising early. She managed to use her ripped shirt to dab at her wounds, lightheaded from the blood loss. She wasn't sure how she was going to get into the castle without being seen, still strangely protective over anyone knowing what happened, especially Remus. They'd blame Remus, he'd even blame himself, but it wasn't his fault. He couldn't control it. It was her fault for being stupid enough to come out her in the first place. She hoped it was only an accident that they sent her out the same time as the full moon.
She gingerly dropped to the ground, still paranoid that Moony was hiding somewhere. The night of no sleep and stress had played on her nerves. I'll be fine in a couple days. I just need to get some sleep, and a couple potions.
She managed to slip into the castle undetected and made her way to the prefect baths after snagging her wand from her dorm. She used the password her brother had given her to get in and drew a sperate, smaller bath, so as not to get blood in the main bath.
"Episkey. Episkey. E- shit, episkey." She ran her wand over her abdomen, healing it, and flinching when the skin melted back together. She worked on her shoulder next, repeating the process. It left claw shaped scars, which she rather liked. They made her feel badass. "Now for my back..." She drifted off trying to decide how she was going to do it. She ended up just twisting her arm in awkward positions to reach. It was definitely a patchwork job but it kept her from bleeding anymore. Next, she needed a Blood Replenishing potion and a Pepper Up potion. That should be easy. I'll just tell Madam Pomfrey I had a bad period and need them. With that decided she finished washing the sweat blood and dirt off her body.
She didn't realize how jumpy she was until she had to walk through a crowd of students and flinched every time they touched her. She was also exponentially weak, barely making it to the Hospital Wing without collapsing.
"Hello deary. How can I help you?" She was greeted at the door by the cheerful medic.
"Hi. I had a really bad period and was wondering if I could get a Blood Replenishing potion and a Pepper Up potion." She did her best to look strong enough to stand but her energy was quickly draining.
Just as she was about to respond the doors banged open and a student was rushed past by McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey's eyes widening and she rushed over to help. "You can help yourself, deary!" She called over her shoulder, closing a curtain around them. Elara made eye contact with Remus just before the curtain closed around them, making his eyes shoot open in panic.
Glancing over her shoulder she grabbed two of each potion plus a couple Dreamless Sleep potions. She quickly gulped one of each of the first two and made her way to her dorm where she took two Dreamless Sleep potions after ensuring all of her roommates had already gone to breakfast.
She slept through the day and night, waking early the next morning, before everyone else.
She quickly got dressed and took another Pepper Up potion before going to get a quick breakfast.
Despite not blaming Remus she still wasn't sure what to say to him, so she, regrettably, avoided him for a few weeks. She avoided almost everyone though, so she didn't feel very bad. She couldn't handle her friends' fast movements or sudden noises. She didn't want to have to lie when they asked her why she flinched every time someone touched her, or why she couldn't sleep in the dark, or why she avoided the forest like the plague. However, Remus apparently had had enough and cornered her.
"We need to talk." He grabbed her wrist when she left the Great Hall after dinner and dragged her to an empty hall.
"Remus!" She yelped and did her best to keep up with his long strides.
"I-" He stopped and gulped. "Do you hate me?" He blurted out. "Anyone else I could handle, but not you. I'm sorry. I know I don't deserve to breathe your air or even look at you, but you're my best friend. I-"
Elara snorted. "Don't let Sirius hear you say that. He might try to get rid of me."
"You're- You're not mad at me? Or are you being passive aggressive?"
She shook her head. "I don't hate you. I actually rather like you." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I just haven't known what to say. But, I promise I don't think you're a monster and that you didn't hurt me, I managed to get away before you completely switched."
Remus scoffed. "Nice try."
She blinked. "What? I don't, it's not your fault-"
He interrupted her. "I know I hurt you."
Elara gulped, but stuck to her lie. "No. You didn't."
"Elara." He backed her into a wall, towering over her. She looked up at him. "I remember." He whispered, eyes on her face. "I usually don't remember anything but maybe because I was fighting so much I kept some more control, but I remember." He clenched his teeth together. "I, I can taste your blood."
"Oh."
"I'm so sorry. I don't know how I will but please let me make it up to you. I'll do anything. I just want you to come around more. Even Sirius misses you."
She shook her head. His heart dropped. "No. I won't. Because you've done nothing wrong. I don't blame you so there's nothing to make up." He opened his mouth to protest. "No. I won't."
He nodded slowly. "Ok." He looked like he wanted to add something but hesitated.
"What is it?" She prompted.
"Can I see them?" He whispered.
She furrowed her brow. "See what?"
"The scars. I know you have some because you changed how you dress. You cover more."
Elara blushed. "Oh. Sure." He stepped back to give her room and she began loosening her tie and unbuttoning her shirt. He watched her, never taking his eyes off of her.
He drew in a sharp breath when she slipped the shirt off her shoulders.
In the past week the scars had faded to a very light pink, raised and jagged. There were three claw marks in each place. Curving around her left side, from her belly button just to her side. Sloping around her left shoulder, from her collar bone to her shoulder blade.
He lightly traced them, obvious guilt in his eyes. She saw in and reached for her shirt twisting to the side. "Ok, that's enough."
He jerked the shirt away and spun her around when he saw the edge of the one on her back. "Holy shit."
"Remus, I said that's enough." She tried to twist out of his grip but he tightened his hold on her shoulders. His hands began to shake, she could feel it. "Remus." It was much gentler. He still didn't move until a door opened down the hall.
"Mooooooony! Where art thou?" Sirius banged through the door and exclaimed when he saw him. "There you are! Class is about to start, what- Oh! My bad, man. I'll let you-" He cut himself off again when he noticed exactly which girl he had half naked. "What the fuck, man? That's my sister. My little sister, no less, she's a fifth year. Why-" He, once again, cut himself off when he noticed the five long claw marks stretching down her back. "Elara? What..." He noticed the tears in Remus's eyes and connected the dots. "Oh no." Sirius had noticed both Remus and Elara seemed distant recently but he hadn't figured why until now. "Moony... It's ok. What happened?"
Remus was crying now. Sobs wreaking his body as his hand covered his face. "I didn't mean to. I tried to stop, but instead I just had to watch while He attacked her."
"When was this? Why were you in the Shack, Elara?" Sirius turned to her.
She was buttoning her shirt. "A couple weeks ago."
"Why were you outside that late Elara?" Sirius pressed.
She looked away. Remus looked up now. "That's true. Why were you out? And how did you know where the passage was?"
"I don't want to talk about it." She avoided, snatching her tie off the ground and tried to leave only for Sirius to try to hold her back. She flinched and stepped back quickly, her eyes sharpening into panic.
"Elara?" Sirius stepped closer.
She shook her head. "Sorry, I just- I don't know." She took a deep breath. "I was out there because of a dare. Well, more like a favor. Someone asked me to go through the passage and see what was on the other side, but that I had to go at midnight otherwise I would get caught. I was curious and wanted to help out. But I forgot my wand and didn't want to go back for it. I found Remus hurt and didn't want to leave him but then he started shifting and I just... couldn't look away. I didn't want Remus to get in trouble or hurt anyone so I didn't want to call for help or be loud. So, I used the Weeping Willow. It beat Him off of me until He gave up."
Elara glanced up from where she was staring at the floor, making eye contact with Remus. "He stayed in the tree line so I couldn't leave the tree until daylight."
Remus looked away with a shaky breath.
"I managed to patch myself up and get some potions. I slept for twenty-three hours." She shrugged. "But I'm fine. I even like my scars. They look cool. Just wish I could show them off without getting questioned."
Sirius laughed and shook his head. "Of course you like them."
"You're not fine."
Both Blacks looked at Remus.
"What? Yes I am."
Remus shook his head. "No. You flinched when Sirius tried to stop you and you've been avoiding your friends for weeks. You jump when there's a loud noise and you hyperventilate when it's dark." It was his turn to look up from the ground into Elara's eyes. "It's still affecting you and it's my fault."
"Remus-" Sirius started, but Elara cut him off.
"Go to class, Sirius." She didn't look away from Remus.
Sirius opened his mouth and closed it again, nodding and leaving the hall.
"I went out there because someone told me to. I was dumb. I made that decision. I made the decision to leave my wand behind. I made the decision to stay instead of running like you told me, and for that I'm sorry. I caused you a lot of grief and turmoil because of that." She raised her hand when Remus tried to interject. "No. You can't deny that those decisions were mine to make. What decisions did you make? You decided to lock yourself in a rickety shack once a month so as to keep others safe. You decided to warn me and try to keep me safe. You decided to prolong your own pain to help me. And I did nothing but get in the way. Now, I recognize that you feel guilty so I will forgive you for whatever it is you think you did, but I want you to know that I never, nor will I, ever blame you for being a werewolf. You're my best friend and nothing will change that."
Remus was crying again, trying to muffle himself with his hand.
Elara pulled his head down to rest on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, a hand resting in his hair, hugging his head to her. He loosely hugged her waist, shaking from his cries.
"I'm sorry. I'm so, so, sorry. So sorry." He mumbled this over and over through his tears, all while Elara shushed him and pet his hair soothingly.
"It's ok, love. I forgive you."
Remus' hand lowered under her shirt and back up to trace the scar on her back, hand still shaking. It splayed over her back and then pulled away to only his fingertips and over again. He began pressing apologetic kisses to her exposed collarbone and neck, still mumbling.
He pulled her closer still, leaving tear stains down her neck and shoulder. She kissed his head in reply.
"It's ok. You've nothing to apologize for. It's all forgotten."
He shook his head against her. "I don't deserve you."
She laughed quietly. "Oh, darling, you deserve the world."
After a few moments she tapped his back lightly and pulled away.
"Let's go get something from the kitchens and get ready for our next class." Remus nodded and clasped her hand in his, following obediently.
Once they got their food and sat down to eat Remus spoke up. "Were you scared?"
"Of course." She popped a grape in her mouth. "I was terrified, why?"
"Why didn't you call for help? Dumbledore or McGonagall could've helped."
"I didn't want you to get in trouble. Plus, I handled myself well enough. I also didn't want you to know about anything about what happened, but you kinda undermined that." She laughed slightly.
"I could've killed you." He spoke quietly. "Would've. I tried to."
She shook her head. "No. You didn't. Moony did. You're two different people. He's not even a person. Yeah, He definitely tried, but He didn't succeed, did He?" She grinned. "Now, enough of that. It's in the past."
He didn't look convinced but nodded slowly. "Ok, but one more question. And you have to answer honestly."
She groaned theatrically. "Fine." She drug the word out.
"Who told you to go?"
She sobered quickly and shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It was probably an accident. I don't want to cause any issues."
"No. Tell me." Remus insisted.
"It won't change anything. There's no point."
"What if they do it again? To someone else and I actually kill them. Or turn them?"
She hesitated, seeing his point. "Ok. But you have to promise not to do anything to them."
"Sure." He did not look like he was going to follow through.
"Peter."
There was a moment of silent disbelief until he stood roughly and marched towards the door with Elara scrambling after him. "Remus, wait! Maybe he didn't know!"
"Like hell!" He was halfway to the classroom by now with Elara pulling on his arm, trying to slow him, but he was stronger than he looked.
The door burst open and the sixth year Griffindors and Slytherins looked up at the intrusion. It was during potions with Slughorn and Peter was with the year below his because he failed last year.
Remus zeroed in on Peter, who was at a table with some other Griffendors, and shook a protesting Elara off his arm and punched a confused Peter in the face.
The room was full of gasps and cheers. Slughorn was in an outrage, yelling for order as Remus began assaulting Peter with punches.
Elara managed to get between them and pushed on Remus' chest. "Remus, stop!"
"He tried to kill you, Elara! He deserves everything coming for him." He snarled and was about to forcefully move her when a new voice interrupted.
"He did what?"
They both looked over to see a silently fuming Regulus walking towards a cowering Peter. "What did he do?" His voice was low and dangerous.
"Reg. Nothing. He didn't do anything. It's all a big misunderstanding." Elara hedged.
"He sent her into a werewolf den on a full moon." Remus pulled Elara away as Regulus stalked towards Peter.
"Oh really?" It was rhetorical, and venomous. "Keep an eye on Elara, please, Lupin. Come find me later, you can guess where I'll be." With that he, somehow, apparated away, leaving only a bloodstain on the ground in place of Peter.
Remus threw Elara over his shoulder and sped down the hall, ignoring Slughorn's yells, and burst through yet another classroom door. Interrupting McGonagall's class this time.
"Mr. Lupin, what is the reason for this? And why is Ms.-"
He cut her off locating James and Sirius who were already running down the stairs towards them. "No time Minnie. Let's go boys."
"Remus, I swear to Merlin. If you don't put me down-"
"Not now, sweet. We've got a murder to accompany." With that the three boys and hostage ran their way to the dungeon, Remus filling the other two in on the way.
"Oh fuck. Reg might actually kill him. He's always been protective over Elara." Sirius shook his head. "I can't believe Peter would do that."
James shook his head in agreement and then grinned. "Yeah, but you got him good didn't you, Moony?"
"Almost killed him." Elara muttered, running alongside them, having been put down halfway down the stairs.
"I should've. Regulus better leave some for the rest of us." Remus grumbled, slowing when he heard faint noises farther in. "Which direction is that coming from?"
"How did he even apparate in Hogwarts?" James wondered aloud, looking around.
"This way!" Sirius cheered and ran down a hall. The noises grew as they went, revealing them to be pleas and grunts of pain.
"Reg!" Elara burst through the door to see Peter cowering on the ground, more cuts than the last time and more blood. "What are you doing? You're gonna kill him!" She tried to run forward but Sirius grabbed her around the waist, holding her back by one arm. "Siri, let go!"
"Let him finish. You don't need to watch this."
James stepped forward. "I'll take her. You guys handle him." He gently took Elara from Sirius and led her into the hall, covering her ears as the whines and shrieks of pain started again.
"James stop. They're gonna kill him. I need to stop them." She fought and kicked, trying to loosen his grip.
"They won't kill him. Sirius will keep the other two in check. They're just gonna scare some information out of him and work some anger out."
"It could've been an accident." She whispered, hiding in his chest.
"No. It couldn't have been. He's known for years. He wanted you to be in there when Remus shifted. The only question is why." He shot a silencing charm at the door, quieting the rising screams.
It was probably an hour later when Remus finally emerged from the room, blood splattered on his clothes and face, his nuckles busted and scabbing.
Elara barreled into him, wrapping him in a hug. He rubbed her back and lifted her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and buried her face in his neck.
Remus jerked his head at the door, gesturing for James to help finish up and began walking back to the dorms. He decided to go to the Hufflepuff dorms to avoid McGonagall.
"What's the password?" Remus whispered in Elara's ear, leaning back to look her in the face.
She blinked sleepily and told him.
He repeated it and stepped through, avoiding anyone else since it was so late, almost midnight.
He snuck into her dorm and laid her on the bed, closing the curtains and charming a silencing spell, climbing in with her.
"What happened?" Elara pulled her shoes off and tossed them to the floor, reaching through the curtain to grab a pair of shorts from the chest at the end of her bed.
Remus followed her example and began pulling his shoes off, albeit slower. "Are you sure you want to know? It's pretty disturbing."
She nodded and began unbuttoning her shirt to reveal the sports bra Remus had already seen once that day.
He threw his shoes to that ground and unbuttoned his shirt as well. "He had to kill someone to join Voldemort and thought you were an easy target. So he distracted the boys so they wouldn't go with me and delayed me so I was late getting to the shack. He just chose you because he thought you'd be the easiest since you already trusted him."
Elara paused where she was pulling her shirt off her shoulders and Remus nodded solemnly, discarding his shirt to the floor and working his pants off.
"Oh," was all she got out as she replaced her skirt with the shorts.
Remus, just in his boxers, layed down, staring at the ceiling. Elara snuggled up close to him, wrapping her arms around him and putting her head on his chest, leg over his. Remus twisted on his side and pulled her closer. "I know, sweet, but he won't bother you anymore."
There was a beat of silence, then a whisper," Were you the one to kill him?"
Remus just pulled her closer and waited until her breaths lengthened to whisper back," Anything for you, sweet."