Horrible Timing
As the embrace broke, a scuffling sound interrupted the moment. The tension in the air shifted abruptly as Peter Pettigrew, still trembling on the floor, let out a whimper. The noise cut through the fragile peace, and Sirius, standing nearby, turned to him with barely contained fury.
“Shut up!” Sirius spat, rushing forward to give Pettigrew a sharp smack across the face. “You don’t get to make any noise after everything you’ve done!”
Pettigrew flinched, curling into himself even further. The sight did nothing to calm Sirius’s rage, his lips curling back in a snarl as he loomed over the man who had betrayed them all.
Remus, still standing by Harry, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, his expression softening. “Come on, Harry,” he said quietly.
Harry nodded, casting a quick glance at Sirius and Pettigrew before following Remus out of the Whomping Willow tunnel. The cold night air greeted them as they emerged into the open, a welcome change from the tense atmosphere in the tunnel.
Behind them, Hermione was already helping Ron sit down on the grass, his face pale as he winced in pain from his injured leg. Sirius, dragging Pettigrew by the scruff of his neck, led him over to where Ron and Hermione were sitting.
“I’m sorry, kid,” Sirius said, his voice rough but sincere as he glanced at Ron’s leg. “That dog form’s a little harder to control sometimes.”
Ron grimaced but nodded, trying to play it off. “It’s fine. Just… a bit sore.”
Remus hesitated, standing beside Harry, his expression suddenly nervous. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Harry had seen before, one that always meant Remus was deep in thought.
Remus dropped his hand to his side and turned to Harry, looking at him with a mixture of concern and hope.
“Harry,” Remus began slowly, his voice quiet but serious. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
Harry blinked in surprise. “What is it?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Remus sighed softly, glancing away for a moment before meeting Harry’s eyes again. “Are you happy… living with the Dursleys?” He paused, his tone gentle, as if treading carefully. “If there was another option for where you could stay, would you want it?”
Harry’s eyes widened in shock. The Dursleys? Happy? The words didn’t even belong in the same sentence, and Remus’s question caught him completely off guard. His heart started racing, and for a moment, he struggled to find the right words.
Remus continued, his voice quieter, almost tentative. “I was thinking… if you’d like… you could live with me this summer.”
Excitement shot through Harry’s chest, but he tried to play it cool. He didn’t want to seem too eager or let Remus know how terrible his life with the Dursleys had been. He smiled, shrugging as if it didn’t mean the world to him.
“Well, the Dursleys… they don’t really like me much,” Harry admitted casually, trying to downplay the truth. He didn’t want his dad to worry. “But… yeah. I’d love to live with you.”
Relief flooded Remus’s face, and he smiled warmly, a weight visibly lifting from his shoulders. “Good,” he said softly, his voice full of affection. “I’d like that too, Harry.”
Harry’s heart swelled, and for the first time in a long while, he felt something like hope—a real, solid hope that things might get better.
Remus gave Harry’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, his smile lingering. “Go check on Ron,” he said, his voice light and reassuring. “I’ll help Sirius with the rat.”
Harry nodded, still feeling that bubbling excitement in his chest. He walked over to where Ron and Hermione sat, his mind already racing with the possibilities of what life with his dad would be like. Behind him, he could hear Sirius and Remus talking in low voices, preparing to deal with Pettigrew.
As he approached, Hermione looked up from where she knelt beside Ron. She gave Harry a curious glance, her eyes sparkling with concern and curiosity. "What did you talk about with Professor Lupin?" she asked gently, trying not to intrude but clearly dying to know.
Harry couldn't help but smile, his excitement bubbling to the surface. "He asked me to stay with him this summer," he said, unable to keep the joy out of his voice. “I’m going to live with my dad.”
Hermione’s face lit up, and before Harry could say another word, she launched herself at him, pulling him into a tight hug. "Oh, Harry, that's wonderful!" she exclaimed, squeezing him in excitement. "I'm so happy for you!"
Harry hugged her back, grinning ear to ear, but their excitement accidentally jostled Ron, who let out a groan of pain from his injured leg.
“Oh, sorry, Ron!” Hermione quickly pulled away, her cheeks flushing with guilt.
Harry immediately stepped back too, wincing. "Yeah, sorry, mate. Didn’t mean to bump you."
Ron waved them off, wincing but trying to downplay it. “Don’t worry about it,” he grumbled, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "I'm happy for you too, Harry. That’s brilliant. No more Dursleys. That’s something to celebrate."
Harry smiled at his best friend, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the night air. "Yeah, no more Dursleys," he repeated, savoring the words.
Just as Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sharing the quiet joy of the moment, a commotion erupted nearby. Sirius and Remus were struggling to keep hold of Pettigrew, who was squirming and thrashing in a desperate attempt to escape.
“Get off, you rat!” Sirius snarled, tugging Pettigrew’s arm roughly.
Harry's attention snapped to the scene, his eyes narrowing in concern. Before he could react, Hermione’s voice cut through the noise.
“Harry... look at the sky!” she said in a horrified whisper.
Harry’s heart lurched, and he quickly turned his gaze upwards, confused. The night had been mostly cloudy, but now the clouds were parting, revealing the one thing they all dreaded—a full, glowing moon.
Horror filled Harry as the realization hit him. His blood ran cold. His immediate instinct was to look at his dad.
Remus was standing frozen, his eyes wide and fixed on the rising moon, as if transfixed. His wand slipped from his trembling fingers and clattered to the ground, unnoticed. His entire body began to shake violently, and his breath came in ragged gasps.
“Dad…” Harry’s voice was barely a whisper, fear gripping his chest.
Sirius, who had been focused entirely on keeping Pettigrew subdued, suddenly noticed Remus’s condition. His face paled, and he rushed to his friend's side, abandoning Pettigrew. "Remus!" he called, panic edging into his voice. "Remus, did you take the potion? Did you take the Wolfsbane?”
Remus’s body hunched over as he shook, trying desperately to fight off the transformation. His voice was strained, almost guttural as he managed to grit out, “Severus... was supposed to get it to me tonight.”
Harry’s stomach dropped. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now. Not here.
In the chaos, no one noticed Pettigrew until it was too late. The rat-like man, seizing the moment, snatched up Remus’s fallen wand. A malicious grin spread across his face as he pointed the wand at Sirius and Remus, his eyes glittering with cruelty.
Harry reacted on pure instinct.
“Expelliarmus!” he shouted, his wand flashing.
The spell hit Pettigrew with perfect precision, sending Remus’s wand flying out of his hand and skittering across the ground. But instead of panicking, Pettigrew smirked at Harry, a sickening grin that made Harry’s blood boil.
“Goodbye, Harry,” Pettigrew sneered before his body morphed and shrank, fur sprouting as he transformed into his rat form. With a quick scurry, he disappeared into the night, vanishing among the tall grass before any of them could stop him.
“No!” Harry shouted, but his attention quickly snapped back to his dad, who was still shaking violently, hunched over, and struggling against the inevitable transformation.
Sirius was frantic now, grabbing Remus’s shoulders. “Remus! Remus, stay with me! We have to get you out of here before—”
But it was too late. Remus’s gritted teeth and shaking frame told Harry everything he needed to know. It was starting, and they were out of time.
Harry’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the horrifying transformation unfold before him. His dad—Remus Lupin—was hunched over, breathing heavily as the full moon bathed him in its silver light. For a moment, it seemed like Remus was fighting it, his body shaking with resistance. But then, the inevitable began.
Remus’s spine twisted unnaturally, a sickening crack filling the air as his back arched, and his body began to lengthen. His clothes ripped apart, the fabric unable to contain the growing mass of muscle and bone. His skin stretched grotesquely as his bones shifted beneath it, pushing out into new, terrifying shapes.
Harry’s breath caught in his throat as he saw Remus's arms extend, his fingers elongating into clawed, animalistic hands. His legs twisted and reshaped, the shoes tearing open as elongated feet with sharp, vicious claws emerged. His entire body stretched and contorted, taking on a more lupine form with every agonizing second.
Remus’s face was the last to change. His nose and mouth elongated into a snout, skin pulling tight as thick, matted fur sprouted across his body. His teeth lengthened into razor-sharp fangs, and his eyes—those familiar, kind eyes—were swallowed by the yellow gleam of the wolf’s gaze. His ears pointed and shifted, furred over, as a growl built deep in his chest.
Harry felt frozen in place, horror rooting him to the spot as the creature growled and flexed its powerful limbs.
Then, with a sudden, brutal motion, the werewolf threw Sirius aside as if he weighed nothing. Sirius was sent hurtling through the air, crashing to the ground with a sickening thud.
Harry’s stomach churned. Dad… His mind couldn’t reconcile the terrifying monster before him with the man who had just moments ago been standing with him, talking about their future.
Before Harry could process what was happening, a new figure emerged from the base of the Whomping Willow, disheveled and seething with rage—Snape.
“How dare you attack me, Potter!” Snape spat, storming over to Harry with furious strides. His hand shot out, grabbing Harry’s arm in an iron grip. “Do you know what you’ve done?”
But Harry’s mind wasn’t on Snape or his accusations. His attention was fixed on the looming form of the werewolf—his dad—whose breathing had deepened, eyes fixed on them, a low, menacing growl rumbling from its throat.
Snape hadn’t yet noticed.
“Listen to me!” Snape hissed, still gripping Harry’s arm tightly. “You—”
The growl grew louder, a deep, guttural sound that cut Snape off mid-sentence. His grip loosened as he finally turned around, his eyes widening in surprise and horror as he saw the fully transformed werewolf staring them down.
The werewolf’s lips curled back, revealing a maw of sharp, deadly teeth. Its claws flexed, ready to strike.
Snape’s face paled, his fury evaporating in an instant. Without a word, he pushed Harry behind him, moving to shield him, Ron, and Hermione from the creature. His black cloak swirled around them as he spread his arms, his body tensing as he positioned himself between the werewolf and the students.
“Stay behind me,” Snape ordered in a low, tight voice, his wand raised defensively. The fear in his eyes was unmistakable, though his movements were controlled.
Harry watched in horror as the werewolf—his dad—fixed its glowing yellow eyes on them, teeth bared, claws flexing. Just as the beast lowered itself, preparing to pounce, a black blur shot forward.
Sirius, in his animagus form, had leapt into action. The enormous black dog charged at Remus, snarling and barking furiously, throwing himself against the werewolf with all his strength. He bit into Remus's shoulder, trying to throw him off balance.
Remus roared in fury, slashing at Sirius with his massive claws, but the dog was quicker. Sirius bit down on Remus's arm, drawing a painful yelp from the werewolf. Then, just as the creature swiped at him again, Sirius released his grip and darted away, circling around Remus, drawing him away from the others.
Harry's heart raced as he watched his godfather and his father engage in a vicious battle. Sirius lunged again, raking his claws across Remus’s side, leaving a deep gash. Remus howled in pain, his eyes flashing with fury, and lunged at Sirius with full force. But Sirius was faster. He bolted away, trying to lure the werewolf further into the shadows.
Remus roared and gave chase, his powerful body tearing through the grass as he pursued Sirius. The dog, though swift, seemed to be struggling to keep the distance.
Harry couldn’t just stand there. He had to do something. His feet moved before his brain could catch up. Shaking free from Snape’s grasp, Harry darted after them, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
“Harry!” Hermione shouted, her voice panicked behind him.
“Potter, no!” Snape bellowed, making a desperate grab for Harry, but Harry was already too far ahead. His only focus was on his dad—and Sirius.
As he ran, the scene before him shifted in terrifying clarity. He saw Remus throw Sirius through the air with terrifying strength, the black dog disappearing into the tall grass with a heavy thud. The silence that followed sent a chill down Harry’s spine.
Then Remus turned. His glowing yellow eyes locked onto Harry, who had frozen in place, breathless.
The werewolf’s body tensed, and Harry saw its nostrils flare as it scented the air. Then, slowly, it began to move towards him, its massive paws sinking into the earth with every step, a low growl rumbling deep in its throat.
Harry's blood ran cold as his dad started to stalk him.
He was terrified, every instinct in him screaming to run, but his legs wouldn’t move. He could barely breathe, let alone think. His wand felt heavy in his hand, utterly useless against what was coming toward him.
The growl grew louder. Harry could feel the ground tremble beneath him, could hear his own heartbeat roaring in his ears. He knew he should run, do anything—but he couldn’t move.
Dad… please… don’t… Harry thought, barely able to hold back the panic rising in his chest.
As Harry stood paralyzed, staring into the eyes of the werewolf, a sudden, haunting howl echoed from deep within the Forbidden Forest. It cut through the tense silence like a knife, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Remus paused, his ears perking up at the sound, a flicker of recognition passing through his wild gaze.
The growl faded, and a tense silence enveloped them, the air thick with uncertainty. Harry felt a strange mix of hope and fear. Would the howl pull Remus away? Would it be enough to break the bond of instinct that kept him locked onto Harry?
After a heartbeat, Remus’s gaze shifted, momentarily breaking away from Harry, as if he were listening to something far away. Then, with another howl ringing out through the trees, he turned on his heels and bounded toward the forest, his powerful legs propelling him effortlessly into the shadows of the trees.
Harry stood there for a moment, shock coursing through him. He could hardly comprehend what had just happened. The immediate threat of his father—the wolf—had vanished into the darkness.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught movement in the grass. Sirius, in his dog form, slowly stood up, favoring one paw, a low whine escaping him. With great effort, he limped away from the scene, leaving a trail in the tall grass before collapsing back down.
Harry’s heart raced as he rushed closer, desperately trying to make sense of it all. In a swift motion, Sirius transformed back into his human form, a look of pain etched across his face. He stumbled to his feet, unsteady but determined, and began to stagger away, moving toward the edge of the clearing.
Harry followed closely behind Sirius as he staggered toward a small, secluded lake, hidden amidst the thick trees of the Forbidden Forest. The moonlight shimmered across the surface of the water, creating a hauntingly beautiful reflection that contrasted sharply with the chaos that had just erupted. Every footfall felt heavy, weighted down by the overwhelming dread coiling in Harry’s stomach.
When Sirius finally collapsed onto the ground, Harry’s heart dropped. “Sirius!” he shouted, panic surging through him. He sprinted forward, falling to his knees beside Sirius's still form, fear gripping his heart like a vice. His hands trembled as he shook him gently. “Wake up! Please!”
Sirius lay unresponsive, his chest rising and falling slowly but not enough to quell the rising panic within Harry. Frantically, he pressed his fingers against Sirius's neck, desperately searching for a pulse, willing himself to feel even the faintest sign of life. The seconds stretched into an eternity, and just as hope began to slip away, he felt it—a weak, unsteady beat.
But the cold air prickled at the back of his neck, making him aware of something far more sinister approaching. He turned to see a flower nearby, its delicate petals now glistening with frost, a clear sign of the Dementors’ presence. A chill swept through the air, sending a shiver down Harry’s spine as dread pooled in his stomach. He could sense the encroaching darkness, like a storm rolling in from the horizon, and it filled him with an instinctual fear.
The hair on the back of his neck stood up as he heard the ominous rustling of cloaks drawing nearer. Harry scrambled to his feet, heart pounding furiously in his chest. “No… no, not now!” He couldn’t let them take Sirius, not like this.
“Expecto Patronum!” he cried, raising his wand high, desperation spilling into his voice. He summoned every ounce of joy he could remember, focusing on the times they shared—every laugh, every moment of warmth, the feeling of belonging that had just begun to take root in his heart. A silvery mist erupted from his wand, slowly forming into a faint, flickering figure. But the light it emitted was weak, sputtering like a candle in the wind.
The Dementors advanced, relentless and terrifying, their cloaks billowing around them like shadows come to life. Harry felt the weight of despair pressing down, a suffocating blanket of hopelessness that threatened to swallow him whole. The hollow sound of their breaths sent waves of panic coursing through him, and he instinctively took a step back, fear constricting his throat.
He could see the lead Dementor drawing nearer, its ragged cloak lowering ominously. A sense of dread washed over him, and he realized it was preparing to deliver the kiss, to suck away everything he was, leaving nothing but an empty shell.
But then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a figure at the edge of the pond, partially obscured by the darkness. Who was it? Harry squinted, desperate to make out the silhouette, but the shadows obscured everything.
Suddenly, a magnificent stag Patronus burst forth from the trees, its antlers glistening like silver in the moonlight.The stag thundered toward the Dementors, its majestic form radiating a brilliant light that pushed back against the oppressive gloom. The creatures hissed and recoiled, their inhuman faces contorted in fury as they were driven away, scuttling into the depths of the night.
But as the stag fought valiantly, Harry felt the chill of the Dementors still lingering, clinging to him like a shadow. The world began to spin, the edges of his vision blurring as exhaustion tugged at him, beckoning him into a dark abyss. He fought against the overwhelming urge to succumb, desperation fueling him.
Just as the light from the Patronus flickered, casting a hopeful glow through the clearing, Harry’s vision dimmed further, colors merging into indistinct shapes. He could barely keep his eyes open as the last echoes of the world around him faded away.
With one final, desperate gasp, he succumbed to the darkness, his consciousness slipping into the void, the last thing he heard being the faint echoes of Sirius’s voice and the triumphant roar of the stag as it chased the Dementors away. Then everything faded to black.