Remus the Wolf is vaguely aware of something moving near him. He turns and flicks his ears, then lifts his nose toward the sounds. He moves toward it slowly, toward the shadows of an empty house, and he can just make out the shape of the observer.
It's another wolf.
The other wolf is as curious about him as he is about it, and as he moves closer to the shadows, the other wolf whines excitedly. He moves slowly, cautiously, forward, and the other wolf moves just as cautiously toward him. As it passes out of the shadows and into the moonlight, Remus sees the other wolf is beautiful; blond fur shot through with white, and stunning yellow eyes. The other wolf inches closer and closer to him and his heart pounds; he knows it is unlikely that this being will attack him, but...this is the first time he has met another wolf like this, and the first wolf he's met in the White City. He's never realized how much he's needed this interaction until now.
The other wolf is clearly male and clearly very interested, and Remus smells no fear from him nor anxiety, so he ventures a little closer himself. Suddenly, before Remus can react, the blond wolf rushes forward and pushes him with a white-tipped muzzle, then turns and runs. He runs only a little way, then looks back at Remus. Remus gathers his wits and runs for the other wolf, who turns and runs toward the park. Remus runs as fast as he can, and when he reaches the park the other wolf is waiting for him. The other wolf leaps playfully toward him, then turns and runs toward Ye Olde Shoppe Row. They pass The Chocolate Cat, The Wandering Minstral, an empty shop, Handy's Crafts, Paisley's Popcorn, and two more empty shops, then they veer away toward one of the Muggle Quarters.
After several minutes of more running, they reach a little nook in some overgrown bushes, covered by two overgrown trees. There is powerful magic here keeping the bushes and trees just so, and Remus sees tight bundles of things tucked under the bushes. He comprehends then that this wolf is like him, and that this little nook is his home. The other wolf is laying down on his side, and watching Remus closely. He makes a gesture that most humans think means shake, but actually means come lay down beside me, and for a few moments, Remus is tempted. But he can't...he sniffs the ground guiltily, whines, then turns to go. If he sleeps here with this wolf, Tonks will never forgive him.
Now that he's cognizant in his wolf form, he has no excuse to not come home.
There are sounds behind him but he forces himself not to be curious, though when he hears not a whine but a voice, filled with desperation, he stops and looks back. The man has wrapped himself in a blanket and is holding a hand out toward him. "No, wait, please don't go! Please stay with me a while, just a little while..." Remus the Wolf is confused. Is this man a fellow werewolf, or an animagus? It doesn't matter really, either way the man is alone and in need. Remus steps closer to him, and he looks closely at the man's face. He's attractive, and looks to be about his own age. There's something familiar about him, about his frizzy blond mane and marvelous yellow eyes...
He sits down, and when the man puts a blanket around him, he notices the scars on his chest. He looks away for a moment, until he can push the bad memories of his own attack out of his mind. "Can I...may I touch you?" Remus moves a little closer and nuzzles the man's trembling hand. "You can't shift on your own can you?" he asks, then turns slightly and pulls a leather pouch out from between two bundles. From the pouch he pulls a small vial, and Remus recognizes the fine artistry of the etched glass and stopper. "The Silhouettes give me this, it helps me when I have trouble," the man says softly, then pulls out the stopper. "Please, have some, I promise it won't hurt you."
He cups his hand and pours a little potion into it, and Remus licks it up quickly. He pours just a little more, and after Remus finishes it, the man stoppers the vial and returns it to its place. It only takes a few minutes for the potion to do its work, and Remus finds himself sitting on a large patch of very soft grass, in a nook in some bushes, naked except for a blanket. The potion leaves him with a very pleasant feeling, one he would never have otherwise, and he thinks he must speak to Bea about this potion. His thoughts, though, stop abruptly when his eyes settle on the man sitting opposite him.
He can't believe it.
"Layne Merrick?" The other man brushes a tear away with the back of his hand and shakes his head slightly. "Remus? Gods, it's been so many years..." They don't speak for some time, just stare at each other as their memories surge to the surface. "Where have you been? I wondered what happened to you for a very long time, Layne. I...feared the worst..." The yellow-eyed wizard sighs sadly. "Well, things were a little strange when we were in school, remember? After I was expelled--" Remus gapes at him with wide eyes. "Expelled?" Layne nods. "Yeah...I had a run-in with two of your friends, and I put one of them on his ass. He told Dumbledore that I attacked him. Of course," Layne says, "Dumbledore didn't believe him...who'd ever believe a Hufflepuff attacking a Gryffindor? But," he shrugs, "James Potter being who he was, the Headmaster had to be seen to do something."
Remus feels slightly affronted. "What do you mean, James being who he was?" Layne smiles that winning smile Remus remembers surprisingly well. "The Pure-Blood son from a wealthy family...plus being the golden boy that he liked everyone to think he was. And here I was, not popular with anyone even in my own House, couldn't play Quidditch to save my life, regardless of the fact that I was also Pure-Blood from a wealthy family...Potter was the hero, remember? Ah, but then," he says unaccusingly, "you were right there down in it...you never saw it from our point of view. I was part of a very small minority who hated the lot of you." He winces. "Well, not you Remus, I don't recall anyone hating you, but James, Sirius and that awful toad Pettigrew. How he got sorted into Gryffindor I'll never understand."
Remus looks away for a moment. "Me either." He sighs and looks at Layne and grapples with himself, with his own feelings, trying to find some kind of comfortable place within himself to address the other wizard's feelings without alienating him. "I know you were close to them, Remus, but they weren't great guys. Not to those of us who weren't 'in the club'. I'm sorry." Remus flounders; helplessly he says, "but they did have a good side, they did do good things..." Layne nods. "Tell that to Severus Snape, and the rest of their targets." They look at each other for just a second, then Layne drops his gaze. "I saw a lot of things that you didn't. I'm sure James told you that Severus hexed or jinxed him first a number of times, but from what I saw, that was only the case twice. And I was there that day. There were a few 'puffs and one or two Ravenclaws that saw what James did to Severus."
Ah yes, the day Remus wishes he could blot out of his mind permanently. The day he truly hated his two best friends...
"Ultimately, that was what led to my expulsion." Layne offers Remus some dried meat and he takes it, then he continues. "I confronted Sirius about it and told him that what he and James were doing made them just as bad as Avery, Mulciber, and the others they hated. I told him that none of us had ever seen Severus do anything to anyone, and that he and James were just bullies. James only heard part of what I'd said but decided to put his two knuts in anyway, even after Sirius told him to mind his own business. James wouldn't shut up, so I told him that the only reason he was chasing that Evans girl was because she was friends with Severus Snape, and that was when he drew on me. But," Layne shrugs, "I was quicker. And my spell put him right on his ass. What made him even madder was that Sirius laughed at him."
Remus rubs his face and actually manages a half-grin. "I remember that...Sirius told me some of that. I never believed you attacked James, but you were gone before I could ask you what happened." Layne nods. "Dumbledore told me there were other options, but I told him just to expell me. It would look better for my family; my parents were planning on fleeing before the Dark Lord put any more pressure on them to join him. It worked out for the best, for us at least." He sighs and meets Remus' eyes directly. "I disliked James Potter, but I was sick about what happened to him and Lily Evans. They didn't deserve that." Remus swallows his last bit of dried meat hard and looks at him slightly shocked.
"You knew?" Layne nods. "I'd come back. About a year or so before they were murdered. I wanted to fight. My parents were safe, my sisters and brother were safe. I needed to fight, I couldn't stand the thought that people I knew were fighting and dying while I hid...I couldn't stand it." Remus laughs weakly. "You sound like Sirius." Layne laughs as well, then asks, "how is he?" Remus stares at him blankly. "What?" He blinks and catches his breath, and Layne suddenly feels very cold. "I...I haven't really been...in the World, really...after Greyback infected me, I realized that staying in my wolf form made my life far less painful. I was already an animagus, already a wolf, so I just stayed shifted. I miss a lot though, living in the 'now' of wolf-thought. In fact," he says quietly, "one of the last things I did as a human was...bring Severus here to Sanctuary City. I don't remember much after that..."
It's another wolf.
The other wolf is as curious about him as he is about it, and as he moves closer to the shadows, the other wolf whines excitedly. He moves slowly, cautiously, forward, and the other wolf moves just as cautiously toward him. As it passes out of the shadows and into the moonlight, Remus sees the other wolf is beautiful; blond fur shot through with white, and stunning yellow eyes. The other wolf inches closer and closer to him and his heart pounds; he knows it is unlikely that this being will attack him, but...this is the first time he has met another wolf like this, and the first wolf he's met in the White City. He's never realized how much he's needed this interaction until now.
The other wolf is clearly male and clearly very interested, and Remus smells no fear from him nor anxiety, so he ventures a little closer himself. Suddenly, before Remus can react, the blond wolf rushes forward and pushes him with a white-tipped muzzle, then turns and runs. He runs only a little way, then looks back at Remus. Remus gathers his wits and runs for the other wolf, who turns and runs toward the park. Remus runs as fast as he can, and when he reaches the park the other wolf is waiting for him. The other wolf leaps playfully toward him, then turns and runs toward Ye Olde Shoppe Row. They pass The Chocolate Cat, The Wandering Minstral, an empty shop, Handy's Crafts, Paisley's Popcorn, and two more empty shops, then they veer away toward one of the Muggle Quarters.
After several minutes of more running, they reach a little nook in some overgrown bushes, covered by two overgrown trees. There is powerful magic here keeping the bushes and trees just so, and Remus sees tight bundles of things tucked under the bushes. He comprehends then that this wolf is like him, and that this little nook is his home. The other wolf is laying down on his side, and watching Remus closely. He makes a gesture that most humans think means shake, but actually means come lay down beside me, and for a few moments, Remus is tempted. But he can't...he sniffs the ground guiltily, whines, then turns to go. If he sleeps here with this wolf, Tonks will never forgive him.
Now that he's cognizant in his wolf form, he has no excuse to not come home.
There are sounds behind him but he forces himself not to be curious, though when he hears not a whine but a voice, filled with desperation, he stops and looks back. The man has wrapped himself in a blanket and is holding a hand out toward him. "No, wait, please don't go! Please stay with me a while, just a little while..." Remus the Wolf is confused. Is this man a fellow werewolf, or an animagus? It doesn't matter really, either way the man is alone and in need. Remus steps closer to him, and he looks closely at the man's face. He's attractive, and looks to be about his own age. There's something familiar about him, about his frizzy blond mane and marvelous yellow eyes...
He sits down, and when the man puts a blanket around him, he notices the scars on his chest. He looks away for a moment, until he can push the bad memories of his own attack out of his mind. "Can I...may I touch you?" Remus moves a little closer and nuzzles the man's trembling hand. "You can't shift on your own can you?" he asks, then turns slightly and pulls a leather pouch out from between two bundles. From the pouch he pulls a small vial, and Remus recognizes the fine artistry of the etched glass and stopper. "The Silhouettes give me this, it helps me when I have trouble," the man says softly, then pulls out the stopper. "Please, have some, I promise it won't hurt you."
He cups his hand and pours a little potion into it, and Remus licks it up quickly. He pours just a little more, and after Remus finishes it, the man stoppers the vial and returns it to its place. It only takes a few minutes for the potion to do its work, and Remus finds himself sitting on a large patch of very soft grass, in a nook in some bushes, naked except for a blanket. The potion leaves him with a very pleasant feeling, one he would never have otherwise, and he thinks he must speak to Bea about this potion. His thoughts, though, stop abruptly when his eyes settle on the man sitting opposite him.
He can't believe it.
"Layne Merrick?" The other man brushes a tear away with the back of his hand and shakes his head slightly. "Remus? Gods, it's been so many years..." They don't speak for some time, just stare at each other as their memories surge to the surface. "Where have you been? I wondered what happened to you for a very long time, Layne. I...feared the worst..." The yellow-eyed wizard sighs sadly. "Well, things were a little strange when we were in school, remember? After I was expelled--" Remus gapes at him with wide eyes. "Expelled?" Layne nods. "Yeah...I had a run-in with two of your friends, and I put one of them on his ass. He told Dumbledore that I attacked him. Of course," Layne says, "Dumbledore didn't believe him...who'd ever believe a Hufflepuff attacking a Gryffindor? But," he shrugs, "James Potter being who he was, the Headmaster had to be seen to do something."
Remus feels slightly affronted. "What do you mean, James being who he was?" Layne smiles that winning smile Remus remembers surprisingly well. "The Pure-Blood son from a wealthy family...plus being the golden boy that he liked everyone to think he was. And here I was, not popular with anyone even in my own House, couldn't play Quidditch to save my life, regardless of the fact that I was also Pure-Blood from a wealthy family...Potter was the hero, remember? Ah, but then," he says unaccusingly, "you were right there down in it...you never saw it from our point of view. I was part of a very small minority who hated the lot of you." He winces. "Well, not you Remus, I don't recall anyone hating you, but James, Sirius and that awful toad Pettigrew. How he got sorted into Gryffindor I'll never understand."
Remus looks away for a moment. "Me either." He sighs and looks at Layne and grapples with himself, with his own feelings, trying to find some kind of comfortable place within himself to address the other wizard's feelings without alienating him. "I know you were close to them, Remus, but they weren't great guys. Not to those of us who weren't 'in the club'. I'm sorry." Remus flounders; helplessly he says, "but they did have a good side, they did do good things..." Layne nods. "Tell that to Severus Snape, and the rest of their targets." They look at each other for just a second, then Layne drops his gaze. "I saw a lot of things that you didn't. I'm sure James told you that Severus hexed or jinxed him first a number of times, but from what I saw, that was only the case twice. And I was there that day. There were a few 'puffs and one or two Ravenclaws that saw what James did to Severus."
Ah yes, the day Remus wishes he could blot out of his mind permanently. The day he truly hated his two best friends...
"Ultimately, that was what led to my expulsion." Layne offers Remus some dried meat and he takes it, then he continues. "I confronted Sirius about it and told him that what he and James were doing made them just as bad as Avery, Mulciber, and the others they hated. I told him that none of us had ever seen Severus do anything to anyone, and that he and James were just bullies. James only heard part of what I'd said but decided to put his two knuts in anyway, even after Sirius told him to mind his own business. James wouldn't shut up, so I told him that the only reason he was chasing that Evans girl was because she was friends with Severus Snape, and that was when he drew on me. But," Layne shrugs, "I was quicker. And my spell put him right on his ass. What made him even madder was that Sirius laughed at him."
Remus rubs his face and actually manages a half-grin. "I remember that...Sirius told me some of that. I never believed you attacked James, but you were gone before I could ask you what happened." Layne nods. "Dumbledore told me there were other options, but I told him just to expell me. It would look better for my family; my parents were planning on fleeing before the Dark Lord put any more pressure on them to join him. It worked out for the best, for us at least." He sighs and meets Remus' eyes directly. "I disliked James Potter, but I was sick about what happened to him and Lily Evans. They didn't deserve that." Remus swallows his last bit of dried meat hard and looks at him slightly shocked.
"You knew?" Layne nods. "I'd come back. About a year or so before they were murdered. I wanted to fight. My parents were safe, my sisters and brother were safe. I needed to fight, I couldn't stand the thought that people I knew were fighting and dying while I hid...I couldn't stand it." Remus laughs weakly. "You sound like Sirius." Layne laughs as well, then asks, "how is he?" Remus stares at him blankly. "What?" He blinks and catches his breath, and Layne suddenly feels very cold. "I...I haven't really been...in the World, really...after Greyback infected me, I realized that staying in my wolf form made my life far less painful. I was already an animagus, already a wolf, so I just stayed shifted. I miss a lot though, living in the 'now' of wolf-thought. In fact," he says quietly, "one of the last things I did as a human was...bring Severus here to Sanctuary City. I don't remember much after that..."