Fate of Fangs, Claws, and Hearts | Marauders Fanfic / Part 1

50 - Every Choice Has Consequences

The hospital wing really should introduce a subscription service for regulars.

...

Remus' POV:

The night of the full moon had passed, and consciousness slowly returned. My body ached, dizziness clouded my thoughts - though such sensations were hardly unfamiliar. It felt as though only moments ago my eyes had closed, but in truth, hours had slipped away. Hours in which I had roamed the Forbidden Forest as a monster. A small part of me was relieved to remember nothing; ignorance spared me from reliving it. Yet, the worst aspect of this memory void was the gnawing uncertainty - had I hurt someone?
The absence of the metallic taste of blood and the sharp throb of injury suggested no further altercations with Phil. Yet, the fear of harming my friends lingered, prompting me to examine my hands as my vision steadied. They were caked in dirt, but otherwise unmarred.
I sat on the forest floor, the cold seeping into me until a cloak was draped over my shoulders. Grateful, I pulled it close, not out of shame for my exposed state - werewolf transformations had long since stripped me of such modesty - but for the warmth it provided.
»How are you?« James crouched beside me, his voice steady as he helped me to my feet.
My legs, unsteady beneath me, trembled as I brushed dirt and debris from them. »The same as always,« I replied, exhaustion thick in my tone.
I glanced around the dim forest. The eastern sky had begun to shift, the faintest hint of grey creeping through the darkness. Dawn was still hours away, and the winds, though no longer biting, left me cold. The cloak was drawn tighter around my frame as my mind wandered to practicalities. My shredded clothes would undoubtedly be nearby; repairing them with magic was a small solace.
»Where's Padfoot?« I asked, noting the absence of Sirius. Only Wormtail and James stood nearby. James mirrored my concern, scanning the forest before offering a helpless shrug.
»He disappeared.«
»Disappeared?« The word felt wrong in my mouth - utterly uncharacteristic of Sirius. »What do you mean, disappeared? Did something happen?«
»No, it's not what you think,« James assured me quickly, though his gaze remained restless as he oriented himself. My fingers curled instinctively, the dizziness ebbing as I forced myself to focus.
»Padfoot!« James called out, his voice cutting through the stillness. »Are you out there?«
For a moment, there was no reply, and dread began to settle over me. Searching for a missing Sirius in the aftermath of a full moon was the last thing I wanted to face. But then, faintly, a response: »Yes, we're here!«

We?

The question barely formed in my mind before rustling in the underbrush caught my heightened senses. Two figures emerged from the shadows - Sirius, with Phil stumbling just behind him. Her gaze was fixed downward, her steps hesitant. Confusion prickled at my thoughts; what was Sirius doing with her?
As Phil lifted her head, the answer began to take shape. Her eyes were red, tear-streaked despite the absence of fresh sobs. She looked hollowed, as though she carried a weight she wished desperately to shed.
»What happened?« James asked, his concern mirroring my own.
Sirius glanced at Phil expectantly, an unspoken nudge to speak. His expression was unusual - was that compassion?
Understanding?
It was hard to reconcile with his earlier words that evening. Yet, people could change, even Sirius. My gaze shifted to Phil, who appeared to be grappling with her thoughts, searching for the right words. Then, haltingly, she began to speak.

Phil's POV:

The full moon was over, and I was human again. Something my father always claimed I could never truly be. Yet, I wanted to try - try to be human, even if it meant breaking under the weight of it someday. That's why I had followed Black through the forest after the full moon. I had expected him to call me foolish, to mock my decisions. Instead, he told me you don't choose your family, and he seemed to mean it.
Soon, I would have to tell Dumbledore about my encounter with my father. I would also have to tell the boys standing before me. Not that they needed to hear it from me - Sirius would surely relay the story if I didn't. So, the choice was mine to make. It struck me, oddly, that Black had once again become "Sirius" in my thoughts.