The Snake Skinned Lioness (part 1 of 2)

A Bad Moon Arising

 Contrary to popular belief, werewolves don’t always like to be in the centre of a pack-like crowd. That was the conclusion Remus Lupin had come to while he sat at the edge of the Null and Void welcome party and watched his friends hare around and generally bother people. The full moon was tomorrow and after telling McGonagall that they were still sure about the needlessly complicated plan, Lyra thought it would be good if they blew off some steam. Which was true but this wasn’t what made Remus less nervous. Honestly, he had no idea how she was dancing in the middle of the floor like no one was watching when anyone with half a brain could see that most people were. Surely her own heightened senses were bothering her too right? He questioned himself but didn’t get to think it through before Sirius came bounding over.

“Lupin! You came and here I thought you were gonna hide in the library forever,” He teased kindly, and Remus couldn’t help but laugh with him. Sirius Black was easily the most infectious person he’d ever met, the boys mood seem to overflow and envelope everyone around him until they were as hyper as he was. It certainly had had that affect on him the first few nights in their dorm when they were up to silly o’clock trying Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and daring Pettigrew into trying a vomit flavoured one. Remus was glad he’s accepted him without any question when he’d told him he would have to go home once a month with Lyra to check on his mother; if Sirius’ joy was this catching he dreaded to think what his anger about living with a half-breed monster like him might do. James had believed him too having seen what Lyra could heal after Lily had broken his nose and she’d won her and Black’s bet.

“Lyra dragged me.”

“Ah and here I thought it was my charm that brought you here,” James cackled behind Sirius’ shoulder and before long he was dragged up on the dance floor alongside them as they danced beside lyra and Narcissa. Needless to say when Remus woke the next morning he had one hell of a head ache and a smile on his face. If all of Hogwarts was going to be like this he might just be able to pull this off.

Before they made their excuses and made a show of leaving Lyra had eased his headache off over lunch. He hadn’t been impressed by the cooing noises or love hearts being made behind their back as Lyra’s glowing fingertips rubbed his brow into release, but he’d loved her revenge when James and Sirius’ hair turned green, and silver and they dashed off to get a counter curse from Madame Pomfrey. Even Lily had been impressed by that one, the red-headed girl chuckling evilly at their plight and winking at the witch beside him. So, it was a grinning pair of Gryffindors that climbed up the hill to the Shrieking Shack on that Saturday afternoon before his transformation was due to start only to be met by a dour looking Dumbledore who was activating the runes that would keep them safe. The headmaster didn’t appear to appreciate their frivolity. His frowning features certainly put a dampener on their spirits and that was before they went inside, and the situation began to feel very real. The shack’s upper floor was littered with blankets and dust and the windows weren’t much better as they were barred and magically sealed from the outside. Remus could feel his wolf rile up at the thought of being confined all night here and he could see the same strain on lyra’s face when they were left alone until morning. All that was left for them to do now was wait for the moon to rise.

Lyra watched Remus pace and decided against telling him that she hadn’t managed to get Slughorn to give them an extension on their potions homework. She could read the pain in his movements as the curse began to build in the cooling evening air and the wolfiness of his scent was only getting stronger. She didn’t think it would be long now.

“Huh.” She said out loud as Remus turned to one of the barred windows. He looked at her.

“What?”

“You smell more wolfy the closer the moon gets. It makes sense actually.” Lyra’s smile was crooked as he rubbed his neck and giggled- it was always good to see him laugh.

“What do I usually smell like then?” He asked, his curiosity piqued.

“Like a boy. And old books and chocolate. Its nice actually much better than how Peter smells anyway.” Remus shook his head and looked up at the ceiling. It was nearly here. He could feel it like a buzz in his bones that electrified everything he tried to do until he didn’t recognise it anymore. His and the wolf’s thoughts were merging, the difference was getting harder and harder to find and the pain in his bones was stabbing at what he did find. I hope you don’t hate me after this, he pleaded.

“I can imagine, someone should tell him what a shower is!” Lyra bit her lip, her eyes aglow.

“True but then they would have…” She was cut short as Remus doubled over in agony as his limbs started to stretch. His face elongated, his screams turning to growls right in front of her as she watched his new paw like feet tear through his shoes. She gaped at him at his pain and all she could think was how the hell has he been doing this all this time? Only when the transformation was complete could she function enough to change her own form. The tall sandy coloured werewolf loomed over and bore his teeth over her neck daring her to resist. To challenge him. To give him something to chase but she resisted and instead pinned herself as flatly as she could to the floor and waited. It felt like forever. His hot drool slid down her neck as he growled and pinned her in place. His teeth held her at the scruff of her neck inches away from tearing her throat open and the finally he relented and hauled her to her paws. They nuzzled each other to show no hard feelings and set about sniffing the room. As the night drew to a close and the wolf grew tired he growled menacingly any time Lyra strayed away from him until he finally fell asleep and shifted back into her friend. Albeit her very naked friends. With her eyes screwed shut and a blanket in her mouth, Lyra draped it over him and settled in her lion form behind him sharing her body heat with the trembling boy until a teacher came to take them to the hospital wing. Lyra downed the Dreamless Sleep draught Madame Pomfrey gave her and fell asleep in the chair beside Remus’ bed in minutes gratefully.