Chương 99: Chapter 99: Inner Demons (3)
Catherine ambled along, oblivious to her surroundings. The rush of adrenaline she felt upon encountering Adrian Borealis and the unexpected abduction to the Hog's Head Inn was now dissipating, leaving her feeling drained and disoriented.
She was at a loss with Carter Thorne's behaviour. For over two years, he had been unyieldingly strict and harsh with her, but suddenly he had transformed into a compassionate and understanding mentor. The girl couldn't shake the memory of him comforting her as she wept over her lost hair; for a fleeting moment, she had felt secure in his presence. Yet now, he was the one dragging her off the street, deducting points from Gryffindor over some made-up rule, and talking about Adrian Borealis as if he was his personal idol. Additionally, he had offended her on her looks, which had become the way they were under his watch.
'Is he already a spy or just a wannabe tool for House Borealis?' – the witch pondered, her fingers instinctively searching for the braid that was no longer there. She had always twirled her hair when anxious or lost in thought, and its absence seemed to impair her cognitive abilities to a certain degree.
'In any case, he doesn't know who I am, or he would have delivered me straight to the Duke's hands right there and then. Instead, he took me away as not to embarrass him or try to attack someone in front of Borealis. He didn't know I was actually holding my wand ready in order to protect myself. While his ignorance serves me well for now, I must tread carefully around Thorne and not allow him to notice anything unusual. He's not an ally, that's for certain!' – reasoned the girl, veering towards The Three Broomsticks.
It seemed that everything was back to normal, with no aristocrats in sight except for her and Greg, who were enjoying ice cream nearby with Lily, Frank, and a group of fourth-years.
'I need to tell him about that.' – she thought briefly before being roughly shaken by Remus, who appeared out of nowhere, looking extremely distressed and worried.
"Flame! Where the hell have you been? Do you know how much you scared me?! Why did you vanish like that?" – he asked in a rare display of intense emotions.
"I'm sorry, Moony!" – the girl apologised sincerely – "I never meant to frighten you or disappear in the first place."
"I don't understand! What's wrong with Professor Thorne?! This behaviour is so erratic!" – exclaimed the young wizard after Catherine briefly recounted the story of her disappearance, conveniently omitting the part where she had her wand ready in her hand.
"According to his own words, he wanted to ensure Duke Adrian Borealis gets the best impression of Hogwarts. Maybe he hopes to be noticed by him or something." – said the young witch, attempting not to reveal too much knowledge about aristocrats and their affairs.
"Then, he needs to get in line." – the boy chuckled grimly.
"What do you mean?" – asked the girl, surprised.
"Well, you missed it, but after that guy entered the store, it was like the whole Slytherin House appeared out of thin air. I have never seen them so excited. Once he exited the building, they were all bows and curtsies, but honestly, he looked at them like they were dirt on the alley he was walking on." – Remus explained with a hint of satisfaction, then added – "Lucius Malfoy even went ahead and introduced himself. I have never seen him so subservient. It was mind-blowing. Naturally, the Duke didn't pay him any attention; he just nodded and got back to his car. Malfoy looked as if he had been slapped. I bet he had never even dreamt of someone ignoring him like that. I don't know why he would expect any different, though."
Catherine looked at Moony, taken aback. He rarely spoke so strongly about anything. This was something new she had somehow missed before.
"I didn't realise you harboured such a disdain for aristocrats. You seemed at ease with McMahon." – she remarked casually.
"I don't hold anything against Greg, but he hardly behaves like an aristocrat." – Remus explained, his amber eyes filled with sorrow – "I know you don't like him very much, but he's actually very helpful and friendly. Yet, that might change once he fully embraces his family's legacy. When I was… attacked, my parents spared no effort to find a cure. At one point, my father heard whispers that an aristocratic family possessed knowledge of a remedy for the werewolf curse. He pleaded at their doorstep, offering his life in return, but they refused even a meeting. That's the true face of the aristocracy everyone reveres and admires!"
"I'm so sorry, Moony!" – Catherine almost whispered, embracing her friend tightly, her mind racing – "Was it Greg's family that treated your father so callously?"
"I honestly have no idea. He never told me, and it doesn't really matter. Knowing the names of those with the power to cure me is futile when they refuse to share the knowledge" – shrugged the young wizard.
'Werewolves can be cured? Who would hoard such knowledge? I hope it's not my family! I understand Remus's animosity toward aristocrats. But would he resent me too? I must discover whom his father approached. Perhaps I can offer a permanent solution for Moony.' – Catherine thought frantically, feeling strong determination.
"The moment I leave you alone for a while, I find you in each other's arms. Do you have something to tell us?" – Sirius' annoyed voice startled the two friends.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot I needed to ask for you permission before hugging my friends!" – Catherine immediately retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she flashed a mocking smile at the rest of the group who had just arrived.
"And you have the nerve to call me desperate!" – chuckled James, patting his sullen classmate on the back – "Don't mind him, Flame, he's been on edge for the whole trip to Hogsmeade. At least his mood matches the manure smell he exodes!"
"It's not funny! I showered twice!" – snapped Sirius, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment and frustration.
Catherine fought the urge to laugh, realising her friend was very prideful about his appearance, and hurting him wasn't her intention. Instead, she took a deep breath and quickly grabbed his hand, smiling wickedly.
"Don't be sulky, Sirius! I will be by your side regardless of the dung stench!"
James leaned over to Remus, whispering amusedly. "Does he realise she's only doing that because of those Dragonfire Delights he apparently promised her?"
"Probably not but let him live in his own happy world." – the other boy grinned, watching their friends stroll down High Street, coincidentally towards the location of the Honeydukes.
***
Remus Lupin's usual school breaks weren't something he truly looked forward to. Though he loved his parents, spending time with them had become daunting, especially in recent years. The painful loss of his sister, Caelia, had left a bleeding wound that could never truly heal. With each passing year, the ache seemed to deepen. The family's financial situation was dire, his father constantly away in search of any kind of job, often resorting to ones that were likely illegal. His mother, meanwhile, drifted between sleep and hallucination induced by powdered Gleamroot crystals or smoking Frostfire herb. Additionally, if Remus happened to be home during a full moon, the atmosphere became almost unbearable.
That's why the young wizard gladly accepted the plan to stay in school for Easter break, along with James, Sirius, and Catherine, the latter adamant she didn't want her parents to see her without any hair. As always, Peter's mother insisted that he came home for every holiday, so he departed together with most of the Hogwarts students.
The weather had been splendid the whole week, with abundant sunshine and a gentle breeze, allowing the Gryffindors to spend nearly every moment of the day somewhere around the school grounds. While Remus felt a bit anxious about not finishing as much schoolwork as he had planned, he also couldn't refuse the chance for some carefree time with his friends, who hadn't even thought about homework, and finished everything in the last minute. The boy couldn't help but envy them a bit. Despite considering himself above average as a student, he couldn't rival either James and Sirius or Catherine, who was usually very diligent compared to the boys, yet was in principle capable of excelling with much less effort in every subject.
However, even the happiest times came to their end, and for Remus, it happened on Sunday evening before the start of the new term. While the buzzing students were returning fresh from their vacation, he was patiently waiting for Madame Pomfrey to accompany him to the Whomping Willow once it got dark enough so nobody could see them.
"In the Astronomy reference book, I read that this month, it's going to be a Super moon. It shouldn't be as dreadful as a Blood moon, but if my observations are correct, your transformation might be more challenging than usual." – Catherine cautioned him the day before.
Even without her warning, Remus could already sense the looming dread of the impending full moon. Saturday night, he couldn't sleep at all, tossing and turning in his bed, ending up drenched in cold sweat. Despite his gnawing hunger at breakfast, the food on the Gryffindor table held no allure for him. He was restless the whole day, and when the sun finally began to set, all his senses sharpened painfully, while his mind was slowly slipping into an ominous fog.
The boy faintly felt the school matron, pushing him towards the door. As they walked through the dark school corridors, Remus could discern the subtle movements of living beings—students congregating in the Library or the Common Rooms. He swallowed hard, struggling to suppress the tremors coursing through his body.
By the time they reached the Whomping Willow and Madame Pomfrey cast a Freezing Charm to immobilise the vicious tree, Remus' pupils were already dilated, his muscles contorting in agonizing spasms. Half-conscious, he staggered through the underground tunnel leading to the Shrieking Shack. Each step was an excruciating battle against the encroaching darkness. Finally, collapsing onto the grimy floor of the building, he gasped for air, the weight of the transformation bearing down on him with merciless intensity.
It was completely dark inside, yet the young wizard was already able to see clearly without any light. Lying among the rubble, Remus felt tears streaming down his face. He was desperately clung to his last remnants of his human consciousness, knowing that battle was futile. Suddenly, a silver ray of moonlight pierced through the boards, covering the front windows of the house.
Remus felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath his feet, plunging him into a dark abyss. His body convulsed violently, fur sprouting everywhere. His hands morphed into deadly claws, his face contorting into a wolf's muzzle with sharp teeth. Fury surged within him as he realised, he was trapped inside the loathsome house.
Driven by the untamed instincts of the werewolf, he thrashed about the premises, slamming against the walls in a frenzied bid for escape and to satisfy his primal urges. Despite his youth, his body pulsed with ferocity, and he yearned for release from his overwhelming needs. The beast bit into his own thigh, seeking the warmth of vital blood, the taste of life fuelling his insatiable hunger. The moon called to him, and his brethren awaited deep within the Forbidden Forest. Yet, Remus was imprisoned, separated from his prey and kin by wizards who should have cowered before him, not ruled over him.
A heart-wrenching howl pierced the silence of the sleeping village of Hogsmeade, echoing under the frigid April moonlight.
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