Chapter 4: Chapter 4
Jacob had to admit that he thought this fight would have gone differently then it currently was.
That's not to say he thought it was going to be difficult but he certainly expected more than this.
He had even spent the better part of this school year going into the Forbidden Forrest when he had the chance to slip away, to get into some fights with the Acromantulas living there. If not for their silk and experience fighting multiple enemies that had at least some form of tactics then for the fact that those fuckers needed to die.
Seriously, fuck spiders in general.
But from the very start, it seemed the only thing Lupin could do in this state was charge, swipe and bite. No form of tactics at all, just pure brute force.
Do you know the definition of insanity?
Good news though is that Snape has some smarts to him, because his first priority had been to direct Rose, Hermione and Ron back into the tunnel under the Whomping Willow. His second was to send some ropes and tie Sirius up and throw him into the tunnel behind everyone else.
Which was fair. He didn't know everything and still believed Sirius to be suspect and possibly dangerous, though didn't go beyond incapacitating him.
Sirius disagreed vehemently though as he shouted out to Snape to let him go or help me himself.
No surprise to anyone that Snape ignored him entirely and focused on keeping the students safe.
But back to the matter at hand.
This 'fight' was just plain tedious.
I honestly was feeling a little bad because this felt like picking on a child who didn't know when to quit.
If it wasn't for the fact that I needed as much time as possible keeping him occupied I would have chased him off or knocked him out.
Knowing that this whole thing was going to happen for as long as I did, I had come up with some thoughts on how to help Remus with his 'furry little problem' as he called it, and after all these years I pretty much had a solution ready to go.
Sadly my bite wasn't an option as I wasn't infectious and couldn't turn him into a 'Worgen' like myself.
That would have made things simple.
But no, I had to put some thought into it.
The solution I had come up with was a ritual, a very expensive ritual that had quite a few hard to get and/or rare ingredients.
Some among them including freely given unicorn blood and basilisk venom.
Those were tricky to get, but the real kicker was that I had needed some scans of the werewolf in question in order to fine tune the ritual, which isn't exactly something you can just walk up to said person and ask nicely, since the scans needed to be while he was transformed and not in control of himself.
Hence the current situation.
Having known all this time that this was going to happen, I took the opportunity to place some covert wards around the area in the prior few days leading up to this night, with the sole purpose of getting as much data about Remus' change as possible.
There were of course a few more wards to help in the event Remus was able to get the chance to take a swipe or bite at the others but I was confident that those would end up not needed.
While time consuming, I had his entire attention and I wasn't in any danger of losing it any time soon.
Of course I just had to tempt things because a few moments later the air started to become increasingly cold, as fog started to rapidly roll in. The feeling of dread and hopelessness, while muted, became immediately noticeable.
Because of fucking course the commotion would get the attention of the Dementors.
As Lupin seemed to slow down and notice the changing atmosphere, Snape, realizing the coming danger started casting some form of what I can only conclude is a variation of the Patronus charm's first state, as a wall of pure white fog blocked off the tunnel.
That's new.
Quickly my attention was drawn to the air as what looked like every Dementor that was sent to Hogwarts was slowly circling around and creeping in as Remus started to cower and whine at the encroaching threat that even he knew he stood absolutely zero chance of defeating.
Well this is quite the sticky wicket I seem to have found myself to be in.
With the changing threat, and Remus being incapacitated as he now was, I decided to focus on the looming danger. With a tightening of a fist, I focus on all the positive feelings I could. The realization of the opportunity I was given when I woke up in this world. The joy I felt as I was embraced by the wards of the castle, that felt like a parent welcoming you to your new home. The wonder's of this entire world of Magic.
With a snap forward with said held fist, and a mutter of 'Expecto Patronum', the silvery white, misty form of a giant wolf leapt out from my hand and gave off an aura of love and protection.
Sadly no matter how powerful one might be, no single patronus could forever stop a swarm of this size. Not for long at all at this rate, as the Dementors while slowed down, continue to press in as my patronus grew dimmer and dimmer.
Well that just won't do.
Looks like I'll need to set an example here.
With an increased amount of focus, I cup my claws and slowly drag my hands together, gathering a mass of magic from within, as my patronus condenses inward, gaining brightness and power, before with a grunt I shove my hands apart, and the ball my spell that was once a wolf has become, explodes outward, sending all the horrors away.
Most were luckier than some, as the ones closest to the patronus broke apart into dust and shattered into specs of white light that I can only assume were some of the souls that had been consumed, only for those souls to dissipate shortly after.
Well that was an unintentional surprise for sure.
Hopefully they are able to move on.
Seeing the result of the spell used against them, the remaining Dementors chose to flee rather than risk a repeat, as the air quickly cleared, and the temperature started to return to normal for this time of year.
With a nod, I return my attention back to Remus, who in the preceding moments has seemed to shake off the prior effects and focus his attention back on me.
With a widening stance, I prepare to continue the fight while my ward continues to get the data it needs.
Though after almost a minute of staring at each other, Remus has only stayed in one spot just staring at me.
This is different.
I almost jolt as he slowly starts to pace and I figure things are about to resume, but as time ticks by he just seems to keep slowly pacing back and forth, while occasionally giving my general direction a sniff.
I can't keep the shock from my face, as after the beast seems to come to some unseen answer, his entire posture goes submissive, as with a grunt and growl, jilted and scratchy words come from his throat.
"Strong…. Follow….."
As ironic as times could ever be, it seems that Sirius has somehow only recently been able to break free as he comes crawling out from behind Snape's barrier and tries to what I can only assume come to help me.
Only to come to a halt as he sees his only remaining friend, bowing in what seems like supplication to his transformed apparent son.
At the look on his face I can only defend myself by saying. "Don't look at me, I ain't got a clue what this is about." I finish pointing at the werewolf that has chosen to follow in my footsteps somehow and show a form of speech.
Noticing the new arrival though, Remus immediately stands up and with a growl starts to prowl at Sirius.
With a shot of urgency I bark out. "Stop!"
Surprisingly Lupin immediately listens and with a look at me, backs down and retreats a few steps before becoming docile, seemingly waiting for my lead.
Looking back and forth I can only join Sirius in confusion as the barrier drops and Snape cautiously steps out, Rose, Hermione and Ron following behind him.
The looks they give are understandable as they see myself standing there with a tame werewolf just a few feet to the side giving them a passive look
~}-{~
Well this was a situation I never thought I would be in as everyone cautiously stands around waiting for who knows what as a feral werewolf just lays around staring at everyone else.
"Jacob?" Sirius asks, breaking the tense silence. "Are you okay?"
His concern is touching as he show's that through everything that has happened, my safety is high in his mind.
"Physically, Yes." I answer as I keep an eye on Remus in case of any sudden movements. "I didn't receive any wounds from the fight."
"That's good." His posture relaxes slightly as his gaze shifts back to Lupin. "What's going on with Remus, I've never seen him like this without his potion." He questions as other four watch a dozen feet away.
I give a shrug as I ponder how to bring him and everyone else up to speed on what happened. "I do not know. After the Dementors left his aggression stopped and after a few minutes he growled out some words at me." I turn my head fully back to Lupin as I add. "I think he considers me his Alpha?"
At the word Remus raises his head slightly in my direction. "Alpha…" He repeats causing Sirius to jump back slightly.
"What did he say?" Sirius directs at me.
"You didn't hear him?" I question?
With a shake of his head Sirius says "I only heard a scratchy growl. What did he say?"
"He called me Alpha." I tell him. "I think my casual dismissal of his attacks, and sending away the Dementors endeared him to me?" I half ask, half comment.
By now Rose, and to a lesser extent Hermione, have gotten much closer, as Rose pulls up beside Sirius.
"So is it safe to be around Professor Lupin now?" Rose asks before Snape speaks up for the first time since the beginning of the fights.
"That is not possible." He half snarls, half states. "Without his potions, he is just a wild beast. I would know as I was the one to brew them for him."
Hearing the tone of his words, Lupin's head raises slightly while looking in Snape's direction as if taking offense to his comment and waiting for my lead on how to proceed. Something that Snape seems to notice as his wand raises slightly in his direction.
"I do not believe that will be necessary professor, he seems to be following my directions now and I don't think he will bring any harm unless provoked." I tell Snape on seeing his reaction to Lupin's attention.
His gaze immediately snaps to me. "Oh and I suppose you would know more than I about such a thing." The vitriol in his voice apparent to everyone. "And on that subject, would you care to enlighten us on yourself and why you are what you currently are?" He directs at me, as everyone's attention draws to my coming answer.
With a sigh I decide to accommodate his seeming scorn, as his opinions on werewolves in general are understandable.
"I grew up in an orphanage because my father," I point at Sirius. "was wrongfully thrown in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and because on the night I was born, my mother was attacked and bitten by a werewolf. She died shortly afterwards in a hospital but not before they were able to save me and remove me from her stomach."
Continuing on. "The curse was in her blood, and through that me, but the limited time I was in her, and the fact it was so recent with her not having gone through the change, caused me to not fully be affected by the curse. However I am a Metamorph due to my Black blood," At this I hold an arm out as it rapidly shifts back to normal, before shifting between different skin tones and sizes, before returning back to a furred claw. "and I believe the curse mutated with my ability to make me as you see now."
Finishing up, I continue. "I do not believe that my shape can be considered a curse by the same distinction that werewolves hold." I point to Remus. "Unlike Professor Lupin, my bite and saliva aren't contagious, and I have full control over my actions and when I can change forms, not needing it to be a full moon or even night to become this. As such I believe I hold more similarities to Half-Breed like Hagrid, or half-Veela."
"And how would you know you aren't contagious?" Snape fixes me with a glare. "Have you bitten someone just to find out?" His entire posture screams out his outrage at the possibility that I might have bitten someone just to test a theory.
"No." I am quick to shut down that thought. "While I have never bitten someone or something with the intent to infect them, I have bitten some animals with them surviving with no adverse affects occurring. While animals can't be turned, a werewolf bite would still cause severe reactions and depending on the severity of the bite death."
"Why haven't you changed back yet?" Rose questions from beside Sirius, as everyone takes in my prior explanations.
Pointing at Lupin. "I do not know if Professor Lupin will remain docile if I do, and to make sure he does, I remain as I am."
At the attention given him, Lupin gives a tilt of the head at everyone before he goes back to sniffing the ground and occasionally digging at something.
"On that note though, I believe it would be wise to return to the castle and bring everything that has happened to Professor Dumbledore's attention." I suggest to Snape.
Snape gives a slight snort. "At that, I agree." He nods. "What are we to do about him?" He points his wand at Lupin with a sneer.
"I'll have him go through the passage into the shack and see if I can get him to stay there until morning when he will change back." At my suggestion everyone quickly moves away from the tunnel as I turn to Lupin, who quickly seems to notice the attention on him.
It takes a few moments to work out how to project the desired effect and get my words across. "Tunnel.. stairs.. shack.. stay put…" I point to the opening under the nearby tree, as I growl at Remus, my words seeming to being unintelligible to everyone else and sounding like grunts and growls.
The werewolf seems to give the direction my hand is pointing at, and the hole under the tree a look of consideration, as his head tilts back and forth a few times before looking back at me.
Though after a more moments his head shakes a bit as he growls back. "Stay.. pack.." He draws a few feet closer. "Follow…"
'Well, shit.'
Turning back to the others I fill them in. "It would seem things won't be so easy, so I suggest you all go ahead while Sirius stays back with me and Remus and you get Dumbledore for us Professor."
Throwing out a suggestion. "While you do that, we will slowly head towards the north entrance and wait outside the gates out of sight."
Snape gave my words little consideration before he started to herd the other students back towards the castle without saying a word further.
~}-{~
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