July Moon
“All I’m saying James is that we can’t just be running around this moon.” Sirius admitted, his own voice dropping low in disappointment.
“He’s right, it’s too dangerous out there.” Lily agreed, her voice stern.
“But what if we just stay within the boundaries Mum set,” he pleaded, his eyes panning to Remus.
His face remaining stoic, his lips forming into a firm line as he shook his head.
“No, it’s too dangerous. I’ve sensed something lurking nearby recently, and it’s not something friendly,” he warned, his gaze meeting Clem’s across the table.
Her own eyes had been fixed on the novel Remus lent her, listening silently but not breaking her focus.
“The moon is tonight though, I’m sure if we just stick together we will be fine,” James begged, his eyes growing wide under his rimmed glasses.
“Prongs, enough,” Remus warned, Clem flicked her focus for a moment at the change of tone.
Lily placed a hand on James’ shoulder, “He’s right, I don’t think I’d be able to sleep tonight if I knew you guys were roaming around like that.” she admitted, heeled footsteps knocked at the door.
“James, dear,” Euphemia called softly before popping her head into the small room.
“Can we talk to you all for a moment?”
They exchanged worried glances before nodding slowly, she gave a reassuring smile before opening the door wider to let herself and the others in. Moody, Fleamont, and Dumbledore following behind her.
“Remus,” Moody nodded, his glass eye flicking around.
“Sir,” Remus responded curtly
Clem placed a gentle hand on Remus’s stretched out on the table.
“We need to discuss your…” Dumbledore paused, “cycle,” he continued.
As Dumbledore trailed off, the room fell into an uneasy silence. Remus’s expression tightening with every word, his gaze flicking to Clem’s when he could. She gave him a reassuring squeeze as Dumbledore continued to speak. Sirius shifting uncomfortably, his eyes narrowing in concern.
Moody cleared his throat, his voice gruff as he spoke.
“We’ve noticed some unusual activity near the boundaries, Remus. It’s not safe,”
Remus nodded grimly, his shoulders aching. “I understand, but what choice do we have?”
Fleamont stepped forward, his brows furrowing in thought.
“We’ve been discussing a few options. We can try to fortify what we have, have a few Aurors on lookout tonight-”
“No,” Remus interrupted, his voice stern. “That’s a suicide mission, if I get a scent of them, I could… No”
Fleamont sighed deeply, folding his arms and nodded. “Had a feeling that would be your response,”
Dumbledore cleared his throat, “the other option, is for you to stay here, inside. We’ve prepared a room for you.”
Remus pressed his lips into a thin line, his gaze flickering between the members in front of him.
“I don’t like that option much better,”
“It’s only for tonight, Remus,” Lily interjected gently, her eyes soft. “I’m sure they’ll do what they can to make it bareable.”
They all nodded softly at Lily's words, “Everything will be monitored and under control, Mr. Lupin.” Dumbledore smiled softly, his lips just barely curling under his growing beard.
“Now, with that out of the way,” Fleamont perked up, “we will be having another Order meeting tonight, you all are welcome to join…” Sirius’s and James’s eyes lit up at the invitation, almost unable to hide the smiles peaking on their lips.
“We will make sure to start it before sundown,” Euphemia added, her eyes meeting Remus’s who only gave an awkward smile. The Aurors made their way out the room quietly, allowing the friends to recontinue their conversations.
The clock struck nine, the atmosphere in the Potter home was heavy with tension. Euphemia’s face was etched with worry as she led the way down the narrow hallway towards a secluded part of the house. The Maruaders following behind her along with Moody, the sound of his limp echoing the hall. Remus walking besides Euphemia, his own limp more intense than usual, his bones creaking with every step. Euphemia stopped in front of the solid oak door, darkened with age and covered in intricate carvings. She turned to face everyone, her voice gentle but firm.
“Remus, dear, this is where you’ll be staying. We’ve done what we can to ensure your safety and comfort. I hope it’s better than the shack James was telling me about, truly sounded dreadful…” her voice trailed off.
“Thank you,” he spoke softly, his eyes growing dark and lifeless as he looked at his friends squished into the hallway.
Sirius’ eyes concerned and filled with unspoken emotion as he patted Remus’ shoulder, “see you in the morning, mate.”
Remus hummed a response, Lily and James giving soft smiles and ‘good nights’ before following behind him. Clem waiting patiently behind the rest of them, trickling away one by one. She gave him a small smile, her eyes tired as she looked up at him, her arms wrapping around his waist and squeezing him softly.
“I’ll be right here when you wake up,” she said, her voice muffled in his chest. Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath, allowing himself to relax into her.
“I know,” he replied quietly, kissing the top of her head.
She crained her head upwards, her chin locked on his chest. “Try to be careful while you’re in there.”
He gave a tired smile, leaning down to kiss her softly. “Of course,” his bones screamed as he stood with her. “You should go, I can feel it wanting out,”
She nodded, her face growing sad, turning away from him and heading down the hall.
“Clem,” he called out, his head peaking out from the padded door
“Hm?” she replied, turning towards him
He paused for a moment, his stomach in knots, his throat restricting his voice. “I love you,”
Her face grew hot instantly, a smile forcing itself on her lips, “I love you,” she replied before turning back towards the quiet chatter.
Sirius and James sat on the couch, discussing strategies and ideas in attempts to distract themselves.
“We should rig Snivellus’s potions kit with a stink pellet,” James suggested, his voice forcefully cheerful. “He’d never know what hit him.”
“Don’t think it’s smart to prank a death eater, James.” Marlene spat, her voice a mix of teasing and sharpness.
Moody, stationed by the window, was busy reinforcing the protective enchantments surrounding the house. His eye spinning constantly, scanning for any signs of movement beyond the boundaries. His gruff voice breaking the silence as Clem sat down next to Lily who has anxiously playing with her fingers.
“Mckinnon is right, James. Don’t do anything childish when you get back to school, it won’t be taken lightly anymore.”
Euphemia sighed softly as she placed the tray of tea and sugar down onto the wooden table in front of them, her hands shaking slightly as she poured the hot liquid into the china teacups.
“James, please for once try and be better than your father was,”
“Hey,” Fleamont whined, crossing his hands over his chest. “Even I knew when to be serious,” he retorted.
“I hate locking him away,” Sirius slumped into his chair further, his usual cool demenor now etched with worry. “Me too,” Clem added quietly, her eyes flicking towards Moody hunched by the window.
Euphemia handed out the cups of tea, her face softening with a forced smile. “Let’s try to stay calm, Remus wouldn’t like everyone worrying over him.” her tone smooth and peaceful despite the atmosphere around her feeling like a ticking time bomb.
The group sat in silence, sipping their tea, the warmth of the drink doing little to ease the chill of fear that hung in the air. The clock ticked loudly, each second stretching into an eternity.
Downstairs, Remus paced the small room, his senses heightened. The moon’s pull was strong, he could feel the itch of the wolf building in him. He continued to take deep, steadying breaths, trying to focus on his friends, the sound of their laughter, comfort he feels around him.
His ears perked up at a faint noise outside. He cautiously moved closer to the door, listening for movement or chatter around him. The forest surrounding the home was dark and still, but he knew his ears weren’t playing tricks, he heard something, a whisper of something lurking just beyond the trees.
Back upstairs, Sirius’s head snapped up from its daze, his keen senses picking up on the same sounds. “Did you hear that?”
James froze, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah. I heard it too.”
Moody was already heading towards the window, the grip on his wand tightening. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”
“No, we are coming with you, we signed up for this too,” James protested, grabbing his wand from the table.
Moody turned quickly, his eye swirling before meeting all of their gazes, filled with determination and slight apprehension. “No.” his voice stern, “go upstairs, all of you.”
“We can help,” Lily interjected, her wand now drawn from her pocket.
Moody’s stern face was more terrifying than usual, illuminated by the light from his wand. His eye swilved to focus on Sirius, his expression hardening. “I won’t risk your lives. You’re not trained for this. Now, get upstairs.” James opened his mouth to argue further, pushing up his glasses as he did so. But Euphemia interjected, her voice firm as she spoke.
“Listen to him, upstairs, now.”
Clem nodded, her cup of tea glued to her chest, her eyes shifting to the stairwell where Remus was. “What about Remus? He’s vulnerable.” Fleamonts eyes softened slightly before speaking from the doorway.
“We will take care of him. Just stay out of sight, and watch over each other.”
The group exchanged worried glances, but eventually, they nodded, backing away towards the stairs. The sounds of approaching footsteps growing louder, the tension in the air thickening.
Sirius clenched his fists, frustration and anxiety etched on his face. “We should be out there, not hiding away.” James placed a hand on his shoulder, his expression grim behind his frames.
“We have to trust them, come on.”
The group retreated to the upper floor, gathering in a tight circle in one of the bedrooms. Lily’s hand trembled as she reached for James’s, squeezing it tightly. “We’ll get through this,” she murmured, trying to reassure herself as much as the others.
Downstairs, Moody, Fleamont, and the other Order members prepared for the inevitable confrontation. The house was fortified with every protective charm they could muster, the air shimmering with the strength of their magic.
Moody positioned himself by the front door, his magical eye never ceasing its restless scan. “Stay sharp,” he ordered, his voice a low growl. “We don’t know how many there are.”
Sirius slammed his fist on the dresser in front of him, causing the others to jump. “We should be out there, you know, helping.” his voice growing louder in frustration.
James nodded, his face set, “I know. But we have to trust them, and I don’t want to get on Moody’s bad side, he scares me.” his voice growing softer the longer he spoke.
A sudden crash echoed from downstairs, Clems heart racing as she gripped her teacup tighter, the liquid sloshing dangerously close to the edge. “What was that?” she whispered.
“They’re here.” Marlene said quietly, her face pale.
In the room below, Remus's pacing turned frantic. The sounds of battle outside his door only heightened his anxiety. He could feel the wolf pushing to the surface, the transformation imminent. He slammed his fist against the padded wall, a growl escaping his lips. “Hurry,” he muttered to himself, knowing he couldn’t hold it back much longer.
Another loud clash followed, and the sound of magic bouncing on the walls. “Hold the line! Don’t let them breach the wards!” Moody barked, his voice echoing upstairs to the others.
“I can’t take this, I’m going out there.” Sirius’s jaw clenching as he spoke.
Marlene grabbed his arm. “We have to stay put. They need us out of the way, we’d cause more harm than good right now.”
A sudden howl pierced the air, muffled but still audible, sending chills down their spines. Clem’s eyes widening as she looked towards the locked door. “Remus…”
Lily squeezed James’s hand tighter, her knuckles turning white. “He’ll be okay. They won’t let anything happen to him, they promised.” In the small room, Remus’s transformation was nearly complete. His body contorted painfully as the wolf took over, his mind slipping away. He let out another anguished howl, his human consciousness fading.
Upstairs, the group could hear his howls, each one a dagger to their hearts. Sirius leaned against the wall, his face twisted in helpless rage. “We have to do something,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. The minutes felt like hours as they waited, the sounds of battle below growing more intense. Every now and then, a flash of light would illuminate the darkened windows, casting eerie shadows across their faces. The sounds of deflected spells and shouts of curses only growing more frequent, followed by crashing. Euphemia broke off from the Aurors, rushing upstairs banging on the door.
“James open the door!” she shouted, her voice concerned and urgent. Shoving her way through the door she locked it back up quickly, her eyes relaxing slightly to see them all still safe and unharmed. Her hair was now unkept, her face gleaming slightly with sweat. “Everyone needs to gather their things, quickly.” she instructed, her voice trembling slightly as her composure faulted.
“But Remus,” Clem protested, “I’m not leaving without him, we aren’t leaving without him.” she corrected. Downstairs, Remus could hear the hurried movements and muffled voices, his mind still clouded by transformation. He let out a low growl, a mix of frustration and sorrow, knowing he couldn’t be with his friends in this moment. Moody reappeared, his face stern. “The portkey is ready,” he announced, holding out an old, worn boot. “It’ll take you straight to Hogwarts.”
Euphemia ushered the children towards the portkey, her heart aching with worry. “Stay together and look out for each other. We’ll send word as soon as it’s safe.”
Clem glanced back one last time, her eyes lingering on the door where Remus was. “Tell him we’ll be back,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
“I will,” Euphemia promised, giving her a reassuring smile. Sirius, James, Lily, Marlene, and Clem all touched the portkey, feeling the familiar pull behind their navels as the magic whisked them away. The comforting surroundings of the Potter home vanished, replaced by the grand, familiar halls of Hogwarts. As they landed in the entrance hall, Professor McGonagall was there to greet them, her face a mix of relief and concern. “Come along, all of you,” she said briskly. “We’ve prepared rooms for you in Gryffindor Tower.” her black robes whiping behind her.
The dark summer night sky now growing lighter as the sun began to rise, peering through the endless windows and arches of the school. The group all sitting waiting anxiously in the common room, hoping for any source of news on the Potters and Remus. Their faces pale with worry, eyes fixed on the entrance, hoping to see familiar faces walking through the door.
Lily held James’s hand tightly, his fingers tracing shapes on the back of her hand slowly, the two of them finding comfort in having each other close. Sirius paced anxiously back and forth in front of the fireplace that was unlit for once, causing slight unease in the unfamiliarity of it. His fists growing tighter balled at his sides. Clem sat quietly, her head resting on her knees, her eyes spacing out on the brick wall, thoughts consumed with worry for Remus and the Order. Mary and Marlene squished in the loveseat, Marlene watching as Sirius paced.
“Sirius, hun, sit down. Take a breath,” she spoke quietly,
“Take a breath? Remus is out there somewhere, who knows if he’s hurt, or dead!” He snapped, his neck sharply turning to face hers. Her face growing warm with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.
“Sirius,” James’s tone pricked with warning. Sirius groaned, slamming a book onto the ground.
“I need a smoke.” the door slammed shut behind him
Clem sighed deeply for what felt like the first time in days, “Me too,”
“Clem,” Lily began,
“Lily, please. Just don’t, right now.” she snapped, pushing her hair back tightly, closing her eyes. “I just need this right now, I can’t breathe in here.”
The tension grew strong by the second, the air feeling as if it was growing thin. Clem began to make her way towards the door, McGongall appearing on the other side as it sung open.
“Professor,” Clem perked up, the others standing up behind her. “Any news?”
McGonagall gave a reassuring nod. “The Potters are safe,” her eyes darting to James for a moment, “The order managed to fend off the attack. Everyone is alright.”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group, their tense postures relaxing slightly.
“And Remus?” Clem’s voice was barely above a whisper, her eyes avoiding McGonagall’s gaze.
McGonagall’s expression softened. “He’s here, just arrived at the gates. Madam Pomfrey is tending to him now. He will be open for visitors in the morning.”