HOGSMEADE: This Isn't Really That Difficult -- Spring 1997

I saw that they all went to St. Mungo's, which was good and bad. I had gone out as if I was going ot meet them there -- at least that's what i told dumbledore. Instead, I returned to Hogsmeade. To the Shrieking Shack. Something was gonna give... and it was not going to be me or the Lupins. It was going to be my father. I swear that this was going to be the last thing he did. I didn't have many aspects of the wolf my father so longingly wanted me to have, but I had enough to make my blood pressure rise and my senses heightened enough to know that he was still there. I didn't see him, but I knew he was.

"You better come out where I can see you," I warned, surprised at how menacing my voice sounded.

The Healers took Remus away and others got the other three situated in a private waiting room. When they returned only one Healer spoke. "We have him stable... he's through this door in a private room. He's lucky to be alive... must be one hell of a fighter," the healer said.

I stood up when the healer came in. A huge wave of relief that they got him stable. " when can we see him?" I asked. I just wanted to be near him. I needed to know. Our kids needed him.

I stepped from the tree line and applauded my son. "Bravo... bravo... you left your own flesh adn blood here? For them? And then you come back... This must be one hellof a performance for you, my boy," I said, sneering at him. It was night. And I was prepared. Little did my son know, but I controlled the wolf enough now that as long as it was night... i could let it escape and i could change. It was called evolution. I was sure the Lupin boy would be able tod o that... it almost seemed like he was changing during the fight. If only I could influence him to embrace the inner nature.

The Healer smiled. "You can see him now and you can stay with him as long as you want," she said to my mum. The healers then left us alone to go be with him. We walked in and it almost brok emy heart to see my dad hooked up to all of these machines. They had a fluid IV bag along with a blood bag that they were pumping into his system. But the beepign of the ECG was like music to my ears. It sounded strong and steady... which was perfect.

I held onto our kids hands as they went to one side as I went to the other. I walked over and made sure I didn't touch anything. I leaned over and kissed Remus' forehead. " Hi honey." I said while  Iwas trying not to cry. I pulled a chair over and stayed beside him and I took his hand.

This was going to end tonight, one way or another. I was not going to be threatened by this beast ever again. "We're done. I don't care if I have to live in a cardboard box, I will never be back under teh same roof as you. I will never be back for you. I never want to see you again or even to call you Dad. You don't deserve that title. You deserve the title everyone has already given you: monster. You're an animal... I alwasy tried to give you the benefit of a doubt throughout these years... but you've proven that you're nothing better than the monster everything knows you are."

I heard them... my kids and Chloe. I couldn't really open my eyes, the lights were already piercing through my eyelids as it was. At least it seemed they were. I was throbbing all over. My entire left side of my torso was on fire -- remarkably like when he had bit me the first time. I squeezed the hand that was in mine, I wasn't sure who it belonged to. "At least it's on the same side... so I have still just the one scar," I said hoarsely. I was surprised at how much that took out of me. I didn't trust myself to chuckle at my attempt to brighten the mood... breathing hurt let alone a laugh. I did, however, try to give them at least my half smile. I wasn't sure if I pulled it off or if it looked more like a grimace.

I grinned evilly at my son. That was how he wanted to play it, was it? Well... I could handle that. I lurched towards him, but he seemed prepared and he hit me in my jaw. That only made me land atop of him and we fell to the ground. He was an excellent fighter and though he didn't have the whole wolf behind him, he acted like it.

I, however, transformed into the wolf and saw teh fear flash in his eyes. I howled and went after him. I jumped on him and felt a searing pain as my jaw landed on his arm. I changed back into a human and saw that he didn't bring a wand with him... he brought a knife... my son stabbed me. Of course, I didn't think it hit anythign vital, but I wasn't sure. I looked at Ayden and realized he had slipped off. He wasn't far... but I needed to fix myself up. I wasn't sure if I had gotten him... I hoped I did. The sad fact of it was, I was a little saddened that he had actually hoped to kill me. My own son... I just wanted to maek him like me. I wasn't expecting him to turn on me. We were flesh and blood.

I had stabbed my father... with a knife coated in a potion that would either kill him or cure him. My mum and I had been working on it before she passed. I kept working on it, but I didn't have any fresh blood cells to see if it would heal the blood cells or make it all the more worse. My shoulder ached as I ran quickly back to the castle. I needed to get cleaned up and grab clothes for the Lupins. I splashed water on my face and saw that I had a cut on my eyebrow and that my eye was going to be black adn blue for a little while. My shoulder on the opposite side was ripped up, but I honestly couldn't tell you if my dad bit me or just scratched me. It all happened so fast... I found a couple of bandages because I did not want to go to Pomfrey and covered it up for the time being. I got changed into some different clothes and went to Gryffindor Tower, hoping someone would let me in to grab things for Will and Lucy. I figured I'd grab some of Will's things for Mrs. Lupin because I didn't think Lucy's things would fit her.

I waited about five minutes before someone exited. I told them quickly what I needed and they let me through. I had to convince one of Lucy's friends to get a change of clothes for her while I grabbed some of Will's things (after a couple guys showed me what was his, of course). I thanked everyone and rushed back out. I felt like I probably should have told some of the other students who were close to teh Lupin family, but it wasn't my place. They would know in due time.

When I arrived at St. Mungo's they directed me towards where Professor Lupin was. I saw them all sitting by his bed... and he looked bad. No matter how my potion worked, my father really wouldn't be able to harm anyone else... in that way at least. I knocked on the door as I slowly entered. "I brought some different clothes," I told them, glad I did because they were all still covered in blood.

Relief spread through me when I heard my father's voice. It was weak and hoarse, but it was still there. I barely had time to roll my eyes at what he said when there was a light knock on the door and Ayden stepping inside with a bag of clothes. I hadn't realized how worried I was about him until I saw him again. I knew he was alright; I saw him in the Hospital wing... but when he disappeared, I was afraid that he went to Fenrir. For a moment I thought that maybe Ayden was like his father after all... to abandon me like that seemed like something his father would've done to his mother in a time when she needed him. I smiled and stepped around Will and hugged Ayden. I didn't care what Will thought of my boyfriend choice... I didn't care if they all hated him right now. I didn't; I loved him. And he was so kind to bring clothes for everyone!

I saw a cut on his face that I didn't notice him get before, but I was so focused on Dad I could've easily missed it. I wanted to know what had happened with Dumbledore and everything during the time he went missing, but decided it could wait. I didn't know about anyone else, but being covered in Dad's blood was not my first choice in what to wear. I grabbed my clothes out of the bag adn went to the bathroom and washed up the best I could in a sink and got changed, grateful that he had grabbed more comfortable clothes.

I smiled to dad, and turned when Ayden came in. "Thanks man." I said with a slight smile. Taking the shirt that I had gotten. The one that wasn't covered in blood. I moved out of Lucy's way as she went to hug Ayden. " Good to see you're all right." I said. Then turning back to my dad.

I squeezed his hand when I felt him squeeze. I lifted his hand to my lips and gave it a kiss. I was so relieved to hear him speak. I looked over to Ayden as he walked in. " Thank you." I said to him.

I smiled a little at both of them. "How is everyone?" I questioned. I hadn't seen if Will had been hurt more than superficially or how bad Remus was. I just knew that they got everyone taken care of while I was talking to Dumbledore. I heard the bathroom door open and I felt Lucy's hand in mine shortly after. I was really worried about them. I was hoping that I would be able to track my dad enough to know what my potion did to him - no matter the outcome.

Alright... I did not like how weak I was or that I was in such bad condition. So what did I do? I acted like a typical man and like I didn't hurt so bad. I needed to see that my family was okay, not just hear them. I opened my eyes and blinked against the lighting and found the button to sit the bed up a little bit more. "You all are acting like I'm gonna keel over on you or something," I said, starting to already regret that I had sat up. Oh well... I wasn't going to move now. My gaze moved from Will to Lucy to Ayden to Chloe. My wife seemed to be okay, just stressed. I saw the worry in her eyes. Lucy looked a little frazzled and I couldn't tell if her shoulder was okay... she had a few scrapes on her face from falling as well. Will looked like he had gotten in the on fray. But was at least still standing. And Ayden...well, I wasn't too sure about his being here. Though I was glad to see that, though banged up, he was okay. I did not, however, enjoy the fact that him and my daughter were holding hands.