Chapter Three
Werewolves and Lycans, although considered to be the same, are vastly different in many ways. For example Werewolves are restricted to shifting only during a Full Moon, Lycans can shift at will. For this reason Lycans are considered more dangerous and are more feared by the general public than Werewolves.
Second Genders have different effects on Lycans and Werewolves as well. For a Werewolf their second gender is just as much a part of them as their personality is. For a Lycan however, their second gender is just that. A gender. It affects very little in their day to day lives.
One such difference is that Alpha Werewolves require an Omega mate whereas an Alpha Lycan does not. There are-
“There you are.” James looked up from Harry’s essay he took the other day and looked towards the door of his office where he saw Lily walking towards him. “Remus told me you left yesterday?”
“I was going to tell you, but when I got back you were with Severus then we didn’t see each other until later that evening and I couldn’t find you before I left..”
“Severus and I are talking about a new potion to help the aftereffects of the shifting during a Full Moon.” Lily told him, “I think it’s almost ready to be tested, maybe the next moon or soon after.”
“Sounds brilliant.” James said, setting the essay down on his desk, “Well I guess I should tell you all what I did yesterday.”
“Yes, what was so important you had to leave after only two classes?” She asked moving around his desk to sit on the edge of it.
“Well a few days before the weekend if you remember I got a letter from a student that goes to Kreasiara Institute. It was for a Magical Families class project.”
“Let me guess, another person who wants to do an essay on Harry?” Lily asked with an eye roll, “I hope you told him absolutely not.”
“No, he didn't want to do a report on Harry. Actually he took a Bloodline Test to find his closest magical family and it turned out it was the Potters.”
“Oh that’s neat. So like a distant cousin or something to the kids?”
“Well that’s the thing.” James said, rolling his chair back to stand up, “The Potters always kept track of their family members, even the ones they casted aside or disowned or just left. Most of the Potters have died or have moved to other countries. For one to just appear like this is weird.”
“Everyone has family they don’t know about.”
“No Lily this was different. The letter he wrote to me mentioned he was adopted and the name at the bottom of the letter was Harry so I-”
“James you didn’t.” Lily said, interrupting him as she stood up folding her arms.
“I had to know Lily.”
“James, stop.” Lil said standing and moving to the other side of the desk, “It’s time to put this to rest.”
“I went to meet him yesterday-”
“James, you have got to stop this.” Lily argued, resting her elbows on the desk and her head in her hands.
“If you’d just listen to me Lily-” James tried as he took the essay and test in his hands to show her some type of proof.
“I’m tired of listening to you about this James!” Lily shouted, turning to him, “I’m tired of you only focusing on Harry who is Dead! He is dead James! Nothing you do is going to change that!”
“But he’s not Lily! Just look at the papers it’s-” Lily took the papers from him and for a split second he thought he won.
“If you want to go play house-” Lily snapped as she tore the papers, “with some orphan boy named Harry -“ Another tear, “that’s your prerogative, but don’t expect me-” another tear, “to pretend he’s my son too. My dead son. Harry is dead and the sooner you accept that the better.”
By the time she was finished the papers were in pieces on the ground as she stormed out of the room. James stood there staring at the pieces of the essay and test.
“Dad?” James looked away from the torn pieces to find his best friends and his two kids standing in the doorway. Charlie stepping into the room first.
“Oh hey you guys. How long have you been standing there?” He asked, glancing at Sirius and Remus only to see slightly guilty faces.
“Long enough.” Ariel said.
“They heard her yelling and didn’t want to leave.” Sirius told him
“I think all of Hogwarts heard her yelling.” James said, swallowing around the lump in his throat before he grabbed his wand, “Reparo.” He whispered over the pieces watching as it was repaired then he grabbed the papers and set them inside a drawer.
“Did she really destroy a student’s work?” Remus asked
“Sort of.” James said, cracking a half hearted smile, “I’m not actually hungry, why don't you four go get some dinner together instead. I have to go to the Manor to grab something anyway.” James said, grabbing his outer robe from the back of his chair.
“But dad-”
“It’ll be fine Charlie, how about you me and your sister go out for lunch together this weekend okay? Just the three of us?”
“Ooh can we go somewhere new?” Ariel asked
“Of course. Have fun with your dogfathers.” James said before he hurried out of the room ignoring the indignant shout of Remus claiming he was not a dog that always made the kids laugh. This time was no different as Sirius and Remus were experts at breaking the tension James and Lily inadvertently cause around the kids.
***
“Uncle Sirius?”
“Yes Ariel?” Sirius asked looking up from the menu to look towards her.
“Do you think Harry is really dead? That dad should…stop?” Sirius pressed his lips together then opened his mouth to respond, but Charlie beat him to it.
“Of course not Ariel. Harry is alive somewhere.”
“Well hold on Charlie. We don’t know anything about Harry and his…situation.” Sirius said hesitantly, wetting his lips as he looked at both of the kids, “Harry could be alive, but he could also not be alive. We just don’t know.”
“He is alive. I know he is.” Charlie argued
“How do you know?” Remus asked, setting his water glass down.
“I- Well…” Charlie bit his lip as he played with his fingers, “I never told anyone before, but I can feel it.”
“Feel it?” Sirius asked, narrowing his eyebrows together.
“Remember when I was like four or five and mom had to send a patronus to you guys during the full moon because I was in so much pain?”
“You remember that?” Sirius asked shocked, “We figured you were so young you wouldn’t remember it. I remember James not even thinking as he shifted from Prongs to himself that night. Luckily Moony was so out of it he didn't care about the human.”
“I didn’t for a while, but then I got this phantom pain in my leg and it happens every so often. Then I get like…echos of emotions, it’s hard to explain, but I know it’s from Harry.”
“So that pain?” Sirius asked
“Was Harry’s.” Charlie said
“Why didn’t you tell us about this before? Or tell James?” Remus asked
“I didn’t know how to and I didn’t feel like it was needed. It didn’t help in any way. It didn’t tell me where he was or anything. Just what he was feeling sometimes and it was only echoes and it wasn’t all the time.”
“What sort of emotions?” Sirius asked leaning forward, “Hurt? Fear? Hate? Anger?”
“I think the one I’ve felt the most is…Pride and every now and again I’ll get this tightening feeling in my leg. Most of the time I can ignore it or won’t even notice it.”
“Is it nearer to the Full Moon?” Remus asked
“Yeah. It’s always like the day of or maybe before or after it.” Charlie said watching as Sirius and Remus shared a look between them, “What? Why is that important?”
“In the mid to late 80s there were a series of attacks causing an increase in werewolves, 1988 was the worst year recorded with an average of three new wolves per a month.” Remus told him, “Harry was most likely attacked by a werewolf that night.”
“So he’s a werewolf? That means he might be registered at the Ministry right? It’ll explain why he didn’t go to Hogwarts.” Charlie said
“But Remus went to Hogwarts.” Ariel said
“I'm not registered, I was very lucky in that regard and still am. Most people aren’t as lucky as I am.” Remus said, “My parents were as supportive as they could be and I had amazing friends who helped protect me when they learned the truth. And I have two amazing god kids.” Remus winked at her, making her roll her eyes.
“I’m not ten anymore Moony.” Ariel said, “You don’t have to tell me how amazing I am all the time. I already know.”
Sirius choked on his water, spitting it back into the cup as he laughed looking over at his husband.
“Don’t you just love teenagers Moonpie?”
“Unfortunately I love these two.” Remus said, shaking his head, “Charlie we’ll need to tell James as soon as we get back. Maybe we can go to the Ministry this weekend and ask about a list of registered werewolf minors in 1985.”
“Okay. He won’t be mad at me will he? For not saying something sooner?”
“No, of course not.” Sirius said, “You know your dad. He only likes to look at the good news. It’ll be okay, but from now on tell us if anything else happens okay?”
“Okay.” Charlie said, nodding
******
“James, where the hell have you been?” Sirius asked, walking towards James as he headed towards the castle from the grounds, “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“I had to do something. Why is everything okay?” James said, pulling his cloak tighter to his body to fight the chill in the air.
“Charlie has something to tell you.”
“Is he okay?” James asked stopping to look at Sirius alarmed
“Yes of course he is. Just come on.” Sirius grabbed James’ arm and walked with him to the family suite where Remus and Charlie were waiting.
“Where the hell have you been?” Remus asked
“I had to do something. You could have told me at breakfast you wanted to speak to me during lunch.” James said
“Well we would have if you had sat down long enough to let us. Where were you last night when we got back from dinner?”
“What is this fifty questions? I was at the Manor looking for something like I said I was going before you four left. I had assignments to grade this morning so I took my breakfast to my office where all of you know its location. You all also have a means to contact me any minute of any day. So if no one is dying or dead, why are we here?”
“We may have found a way to find Harry.” Sirius said with a grin though that quickly fell when James just stared at them looking confused, “Okay not the reaction I was looking for, but that’s okay you’re probably in shock.”
“What?” James asked
“We think Harry is a werewolf.” Remus said, pulling James towards the couch and pushing him to sit.
“Wait…you think- you know what? No. I want to hear this continue.” James said, shaking his head.
“Remember that full moon in 85 when Charlie woke up in pain? Lily sent a patronus panicking and you had to leave?” Sirius asked
“Yes. Healer Webley said it was growing pains. What about it?”
“It wasn’t growing pains, it was a Twin Telepathetic Connection. Most if not all twins share a special connection, but some twins can accidentally turn this connection into something more. Especially with strong emotions and at a young age it’s just not so well known. Harry was probably attacked by a wolf that night and because he was so young he accidentally transferred some of his pain to Charlie.”
“And we think this…why?” James asked
“Ever since that night I’ve occasionally gotten these phantom pains in my leg on or near the full moon. I’ve also gotten echoes of emotions that aren’t mine.” Charlie told him
“You’ve been feeling Harry for years and haven’t said anything?” James asked
“I…yes.”
“Okay so let me get this straight.” James said standing up running his hands over his face before he looked at his best friends and son, “You think Harry is a werewolf because he may have gotten hurt during a full moon night and may be getting pains during or near a full moon.”’
“Yes.” They all said together.
“Okay. Well despite how glad I am to know not everyone has given up on Harry being alive, this idea…is not what I was hoping for.” James said
“Look, we know it’s not what you were hoping for. No parent wants their kid to be a werewolf, but-”
“No Remus, that's not the problem here. I wouldn’t care either way nor would that change anything, the problem is that you’re wrong. Harry isn’t a werewolf. Look, I have a class in five minutes so we’ll continue this conversation this weekend. After I take my kids to this Ballycastle Bats themed restaurant for lunch.”
“No way really!” Charlie shouted excitedly
“Yes really. Just us three remember? Come walk with me, I'll tell you more about it.” James said walking towards the door, Charlie following behind him quickly leaving Sirius and Remus standing there confused.
“That was weird right?” Sirius asked
“Very weird.” Remus confirmed
We’ll ask Charlie about it later.” Sirius said
“Yeah definitely.”
Later that day on the way to dinner in the Great Hall they stopped Charlie to ask him about James’ behavior.
“Did he say anything to you?” Sirius asked as his Godson tried very hard to pretend he wasn’t about to lie, in any other circumstance it’d be amusing, but not today.
“No. Nothing. Just things about the restaurant. Speaking of food, I'm starving bye.” Charlie said quickly escaping. He grabbed Ariel as she rounded the corner and pulled her with him whispering something in her ear.
“We’re going to that restaurant right?” Remus asked
“Oh definitely. Something isn’t right and it’s not just his lying skills because man those are horrible.”
“I know…where did you go wrong, Pads.”
“I was too easy on him I think. I didn’t correct the cute tells when he was a child like I did with Ariel.”
“I remember when she used to play with her hair when she lied.”
“I know it was adorable, but so telling.”
“Come on, let's go eat before James takes all the good stuff.”
*******
Sirius and Remus got to the restaurant before James did and got a booth near the back to watch the door. The restaurant was more of a pub style place, Ballycastle Bats merchandise and old uniforms hanging on the walls. Near the restaurant was a Merchandise store and just within walking distance was the Ballycastle Bats Quidditch pitch.
“So…why this place?” Sirius asked his husband as he looked around.
“It’s Qudditch?” Remus guessed, “Isn’t the Bats one of James’ favorite teams?”
“In the top five I think. It’s a neat place, definitely more of a teen hangout when it’s off season I think. What school is that uniform for?” Sirius asked, looking over at a booth filled with teenagers in emerald green robes with navy blue inner lining and gold accents.
“A rich school. Look at the colors.” Sirius laughed, covering his mouth with his hand.
“All they’re missing is purple.” Sirius said, making Remus laugh before sobering suddenly.
“There’s James and the kids.” Remus said, nodding his head towards the door.
“Now we just wait to see what they’re doing. Maybe try to eavesdrop a little.” Sirius said, watching as James talked to the host at the front putting up four fingers.
“Is he meeting someone else here? He just asked for four seats.” Remus said
“Are we horrible friends for doing this?” SIrius asked
“What? No, of course not. We’re good friends for doing this. At least that’s what we’ll be telling ourselves when we hide the fact James is probably meeting a divorce lawyer without Lily’s knowledge. I just don’t understand why he is involving the kids and not us.”
“Divorce? Really?”
“Well what’s your thoughts?”
“A mistress- no wait he wouldn’t do that to the kids or Lily. I don’t know, Moon, but a divorce?”
“Lily just yelled at James for wanting to believe their son is still alive. Come on Sirius.”
“True.” Sirius conceded, “I guess the kids are old enough to be involved though.”
“Yeah but what about us?”
“He’ll tell us when he’s ready?” Sirius guessed shrugging.
“I guess. Well while we wait for the lawyer to show up let’s look over the menu and order. I'm hungry.”
“The Ballycastle Burger looks good, but so does the steak.” Sirius said minutes later
“Oh I know. We may have to come back here to try different dishes.”
“Are we doing appetizers?” Sirius asked
“What kind of question is that?”
“Just checking.”
“We always get appetizers Sirius and-” Remus suddenly cut himself off, making Sirius look up at him only to find him staring at the door.
“Remus?”
“Sirius, we need to leave.” Remus said, closing his menu.
“What? Why? What’s going on?” Sirius asked, turning to look at the door, he didn’t know what he was expecting, but a teen boy that looked too similar to James and Charlie to be a coincidence was not it. Before he could stare any longer Remus turned him around, “Is that…that’s Harry.”
“That’s not all.” Remus said his body tense as he gripped the menu tight in his hands and his eyes going more amber by the second.
“Remus? What’s going on?” Sirius asked, alarmed.
“We need to leave. Immediately.” Remus said, a growl was working into his voice, something Sirius had heard only a few times in their almost thirty years of knowing each other.
“Okay let’s go.” Sirius said, closing his menu and standing up, but Remus suddenly grabbed his arm and yanked him onto his lap. Before Sirius knew where he was Remus was kissing him deeply, taking his breath and thoughts all at once. Remus pulled away taking a deep breath.
“Not yet.”
“I am so confused. You never kiss me in public like that. Not that I’m complaining you should definitely do this more often, but why-”
“Not yet.” Remus repeated glancing behind Sirius before he relaxed, “Come on. Leave some galleons at the table and let’s go. Now.” Remus said standing up, pulling Sirius up with him.
“We’ve only ordered water -” Sirius cut himself off at the sharp look Remus gave him, “Nevermind. I’ll pay for the water I guess.” Sirius said, pulling out his coin pouch.
Remus nodded then headed out of the restaurant and waited for Sirius to join him only a minute later. He grabbed Sirius’ arm and pulled him down the path.
“Wait Remus! What is going on?”
“Not here, come on. We need to go to the Cabin.”
“The Cabin? Why the Cabin?”
“Privacy Sirius.”
“Oh I like where this is headed already.”
“Not for that.” Remus snapped pulling Sirius down an alley between two stores, “You need to apparate us I’m too distracted.”
“Okay.”
It took a minute, but soon they were entering their Cabin they bought in 1980. They only visited nowadays, moving into Potter Manor in 1981 after the attack.
“What the hell was that?” Sirius asked once they were in the living room, Remus sitting down in the chair with his head in his hands.
“Harry is an Omega werewolf.” Remus told him
“And?”
“Sirius. Harry. Is. An. OMEGA. Werewolf.” Remus emphasized looking at Sirius who just stared at him, “Think about it.”
“Think about what? So what? Harry is an omega- No.”
Remus pressed his lips together, nodding.
“No.” Sirius said pacing the space between the chair and the coffee table, “but…he can’t! He’s- He- You’re wrong.”
“Sirius, trust me I wish I was. I wish I was mistaken, but we don’t just accidentally smell a mate and be wrong about it.”
“But…no.”
“Harry is our mate.” Remus told him making Sirius interlace his fingers on top of his head.
“But I don’t want him to be our mate.” Sirius whined.
Not a moment later he was slammed into a wall by a growling werewolf. Remus immediately stopped and took a step back, closing his eyes.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. Are you okay?” Remus asked
“I’m fine and it’s okay. I didn’t mean it like that, but I also don’t mean that to mean anything- I’m just going to stop talking actually.” Sirius said
“I’m sorry.” Remus said
“Moony I’m fine. Trust me. The least of my problems is you pinning me against a wall.”
“Moony is just…close to the surface.” Remus told him
“I figured. Besides Harry being the Omega means you’ll be more protective. Besides Moony probably took that as me rejecting Harry and that’s not what it was. It’s okay. I’m fine.” Sirius said walking Remus back to the chair and sitting in his lap, “I promise I am fine. Stop apologizing. Lay back, let's cuddle.”
“If we fall asleep we’ll regret it in the morning.”
“It’s okay. We can regret it together now lay back.” Remus leaned back against the chair back, Sirius laying on him tucking his head under Remus’ head, “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.” Remus said with a sigh.