Cub, Wolf, and Dog

Chapter 4- First Transformation.

The next time Harry opened his eyes, he saw the blurry outline of a sleeping Sirius. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Harry tried to remember what he did the night before; one image of an animal biting down into his flesh came to mind.

Harry brought his left hand up and blindly touched his left side. Instead of soft pink skin there was some rough gauze covering the entire side. He reached sideways and put his glasses on. Once his glasses were back on his face, Harry could notice his surroundings. He was back in his bedroom at home. Harry tried to sit up but he gave a yelp of pain as his side felt sore.

Jumping up, Sirius asked franticly, "Wha'?" before his eyes rested on Harry, "You're finally awake,"

"Yes," answered Harry before having a small coughing fit.

Sirius quickly got up, poured Harry some water and helped him drink it. Harry drank the water as thought it was a life line.

"Better now?" asked Sirius, settling the cup down.

Lying back against his pillows, Harry sighed and said, "Yes. When did I get here?"

"I brought you here two days ago, I found you in your Aunt's yard, bleeding to death,"

"I didn't mean to!" exclaimed Harry defensively.

"You didn't mean to do what Harry?" asked Sirius confused.

"I heard it whining, I thought it was hurt. I was only going to make sure it was alright!" explained Harry.

Sighing Sirius replied, "Harry, are you saying that this animal lured you out into the alley?"

"Yes, I only meant to go see if it was okay. Then it... well it bit my side," answered Harry gesturing to his side, "What was it?"

Sighing, Sirius dreaded answering that question but he replied none the less, "Harry the animal that bit you was... ah... it was a werewolf,"

"What?" repeated Harry.

"It was a werewolf," replied Sirius.

Harry's eyes widened as he asked, "Am I a werewolf then?"

All Sirius could do was nod his head at Harry's question. He doesn't deserve this; he's been through so much, how much more can he take. Thought Sirius.

"Will I be like Moony?" asked Harry quietly, he wasn't really sure how to take this news.

"You will transform every month, yes," answered Remus from the bedroom doorway, "Padfoot, now that Harry is awake, will you go get some sleep? I'll look after Harry,"

"Okay. I'll see you later kiddo," agreed Sirius as he got up and left.

Remus took Sirius' vacated seat and sat in it. Harry had so many questions going around his head that he had no idea where to start from.

"Harry are you okay?" asked Remus, breaking the silence.

Shaking his head Harry answered, "I don't know. I...am.... really confused,"

"Well, why don't you ask what ever question you want to ask?," suggested Remus.

Taking a deep breath Harry asked, "Why did it attack me?"

"That I don't know," answered Remus, "If you remember well, I told you that once I've transformed without the aid of the wolfsbane potion I don't keep my mind and I will attack anyone human,"

"Was it you who bit me?" asked Harry quietly.

"No, Harry. I did not. I was here all night and I didn't leave the house," answered Remus.

"Sorry. Does it hurt?"

"Yes, it does. Remember when I fixed your side? It is like that, only instead of feeling the pain in one place, you feel it all over the body,"

"What is going to happen? Will you send me away?"

"No. We are going to look after you and help you through it the best way we can,"

"What it's going to be like?"

"The days up to and after the full moon, you will feel tired, energy drained. The rest of the month you should feel fine,"

"Will anything change for me?"

"Yes, you will find your senses more alert. As for your strength, hearing, eye sight, you will notice there is a change but those are just the good things. You will not be allowed to touch silver as it is harmful, or some potion ingredients -you will get quiet moody on the full moon as well," explained Remus, he didn't think it was wise to tell Harry about the wizarding prejudiced against werewolves just yet, "Now, is there anything else?"

"Yes. What is wrong with Sirius? He seemed really quiet" asked Harry.

"He is upset that he sent you back to the Dursleys and you got hurt,"

"Oh," replied Harry yawning.

"You just rest Harry. I'll handle Sirius," responded Remus, pulling Harry's covers up.

Harry just let out a contented sigh of being back at home with his somewhat strange family, before falling into a light sleep. Before he fell to sleep though, he caught a glimpse in his mind's eye of the wolf that bit him. It was a deep, brown colour with bright, amber eyes.

Remus left the sleeping child after he had settled. He knew what Harry had seen in his mind as he had himself seen exactly the same after he had been bitten his wolf. At the time, the wolf had been a light brown colour but with age the wolf had turned a silver colour. Closing Harry's bedroom, Remus strode across the landing and tapped on Sirius' door before entering. He found Sirius sitting up on his bed, staring at the far wall.

"Sirius?"

"How's Harry?" asked Sirius.

"He has taken it well -so far- but he wants his godfather's comfort as well,"

"I let him get hurt thought!" protested Sirius, "Now, look what has happened to him! He doesn't deserve me!"

"Sirius, it is not your fault," countered Remus.

"It is! I sent him back there. If anything I reckon the fucking Dursleys set the werewolf on to him!" replied Sirius angrily.

Losing his temper Remus shouted, "SIRIUS BLACK. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT! YES, YOU SENT HARRY BACK THERE FOR PROTECTION. YOU DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A MUGGLE LYCANTHROPE LIVING THERE. YOU DAMN WELL KNOW THAT THE DURSLEYS COULD NOT SET HIM ONTO HARRY WITHOUT GETTING THEMSELVES KILLED! SO IF YOU WANT SOMEONE TO BLAME, BLAME THE PERSON WHO PASSED ON HIS CURSE AND STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP OVER IT. HARRY NEEDS YOU!"

It wasn't very often that Remus Lupin lost his temper but when he did he became a force to be reckoned with. The only time Remus really ever lost his temper was before and a couple of days after the full moon.

"Sorry, but you're right," apologized Sirius a little startled.

"It's okay. I shouldn't have shouted," replied Remus, smiling apologetically.

"I guess you can still calm me down when I'm being a prat, huh?"

"Yep."

Sirius could remember when he and James had kept pestering Remus into letting them see him down to the willow in the third year and Remus had finally snapped at them telling them quiet loudly that he didn't need any help and to just leave him alone.

"How do you think Harry will do in his first transformation?" asked Sirius, pulling his thoughts from the past.

"I don't know," answered Remus, "but I do know that his wolf may try to get my wolf to be his protector,"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, if Harry was on his own, his wolf would immediately class itself as the dominant leader whereas I already am so Harry will kind of be like the second dominant. He would do anything I ask of him," explained Remus.

"What about Padfoot, how will he accept him?" queried Sirius curiously.

"Hmmm..... If it goes how I just said he will see you as an elder, not like me but he would look up to you if I wasn't around," explained Remus.

"Oh, okay, that's fair enough," replied Sirius, "Well, I guess we should call it a night?"

"Night ,Sirius," returned Remus.

"G'night Remus."

Remus got up and left the bedroom. He quickly stuck his head around Harry's door to found him sleeping peacefully. Closing the door, he ambled over to his bedroom. He really wasn't looking forward to the next full moon because it was going to be hard on all of them, especially on little Harry.

***

"Harry James Potter!" exclaimed Sirius from the doorway.

"Yes?" asked Harry innocently.

"Do no try to give me those innocent eyes. Who said you could take off your bandage?" asked Sirius holding up the screwed up bandage.

"Uh, oh" muttered Harry before pulling the covers up over his head.

Harry had been bed bound for four days now, and to say he was bored would be an understatement. He still couldn't stretch upwards without his side splitting and bleeding profusely, and neither could he have Ron around until his side had healed completely.

His senses were just beginning to adjust to their more sensitive ways. Harry had quickly developed his sense of smell and he could distinguish between Sirius and Remus before they had even entered the room. His hearing was a bit slower but if someone talked loud enough downstairs he could determine if it was a man or a woman.

The covers were tugged off his head and Harry came face to face with a rather miffed looking Sirius Black. Harry just smiled innocently hoping that he wasn't in that much trouble.

"You can keep that smile Harry, but I still want to know why you took off your bandage?" repeated Sirius, he tried to look stern but Harry's smile was infectious.

"It was itchy, besides my side is fine, look," answered Harry lifting his top up.

Underneath was a ring from the front to the back of his side. It was a mass of dried blood, a scab and skin it looked really big at the moment due to Harry's small frame.

"I would not consider that to be fine," commented Sirius running a hand gently over it causing Harry to chuckle, "Did I say something funny?"

"No, you tickled me," answered Harry smiling.

"Sorry. I think I'll ask Moony to have a look later, alright?," replied Sirius smiling.

"Alright," answered Harry before losing his smile to ask, "Would my mum and dad have hated me for being a werewolf?"

Harry had been told of the wizarding prejudice against werewolves and when they had to get him registered they had asked Dumbledore to see if there was anyway to keep Harry's lycanthrope a secret till Harry was ready. Luckily, Dumbledore asked the person to keep it a secret and if anyone other than that person looked at the register they wouldn't see Harry's name on it.

"Harry, your parents would have never hated you for being a werewolf. Remember that your dad became an animagus to support Remus," answered Sirius sincerely.

"I can't remember anything of them, only Halloween night," confessed Harry. Sitting on the bed Sirius asked, "What can you remember about Halloween?"

"I remember my mum pleading with Voldemort to spare me and then him laughing and a flash of green light," answered Harry as a trickle of tears ran down his face.

Ever since he had come to live with Remus and Sirius, Harry had refused to tell them what he remembered about that fateful night.

"Your parents were wonderful people, Harry. It doesn't surprise me that Lily sacrificed herself for you to live," admitted Sirius, brushing away Harry's tears.

"How did you meet my dad?" sniffed Harry.

"Oh, well, we were travelling on the Hogwarts express. He was hiding in my compartment from a seventh year for running into him and spilling his bright coloured ink on his white shirt," answered Sirius, laughing at the memory.

"Did he escape the seventh year?" asked Harry laughing.

"Of course! After he came into my compartment the door opened again and Remus entered and after we have introduced ourselves, he agreed to hide James with me. When the seventh year came into the compartment asking after James, we both said we had never heard of him!" explained Sirius.

Harry nearly fell off his bed laughing at the story. It was then that Remus came into the bedroom and quirked an eye brow up at the hysterically laughing Harry.

Shrugging, Sirius chuckled and answered, "I only explained how my, you and James met,"

"Ah, yes! The hiding of James Potter," replied Remus smiling, "It wasn't that funny though Harry!"

"Sorry-it-was-funny," gasped Harry slowly his laughter subsided.

"Moony, I want you to look at Harry's side please," added Sirius.

Remus stepped forward, shoved Sirius out of the way- not literally- and re-pulled Harry's top up to find the bite mark uncovered.

"When did you take the bandage off?" asked Remus feeling the tight skin.

"Um... this morning," muttered Harry.

Sighing Remus replied, "Harry, you were supposed to keep the gauze on for another week,"

"But it made me itch!," protested Harry, "besides, I feel fine and it hasn't bleeded at all today!"

"Bled," corrected Remus, "An you may feel fine but your side isn't fine. Now, I will place another bandage over it and you are not allowed to take it off until I say so," admonished Remus.

Harry nodded guiltily. He didn't like getting in trouble, especially with Remus. He hadn't confessed anything yet, but when Remus had shouted at Sirius Harry had heard every word of it.

"Good, now, wait here," smiled Remus.

Remus left the bedroom and came back a minute later with a healing balm and a clean gauze.

"Roll onto your right side, please," instructed Remus, Harry rolled over and exposed his side.

Remus got a cloth and opened and poured some healing balm onto the cloth then dapped it on Harry's side. Harry flinched at the pain that flared at the touch of his side, five minutes later and the clean bandage was placed over the sore mark.

"All done," commented Remus cheerfully.

Sighing Harry replied, "I don't like bandages. They make me itch,"

"Well, sorry Harry but you need to keep it on," added Sirius

"I know but I don't like it," replied Harry moodily, "Could I read my book then, please?"

"Yes, of course," answered Remus, picking up Harry's story book.

Harry had found a rather easy to read book and had read the first chapter. Immediately he was entertained and asked to keep the book which Remus had said he could.

"We'll be back later, Harry, enjoy your book," replied Sirius as he and Remus left the room.

Harry just nodded as he was so engrossed in his book, he didn't really hear what Sirius had said, he had forgotten about the world around him.

***

The next full moon approached quicker than anyone would have liked it to. The two of them; Sirius and Harry, were currently sitting in the living room, whilst Remus made himself a warm drink in the kitchen. There was still another hour till the moon rose at six.

Over the last few weeks Harry had met Poppy Pomfrey, the Hogwarts' matron and Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts' headmaster. Poppy had come back at the insistence of Remus as Harry's bite didn't seem to be healing; Poppy had reassured both men that it may not heal till after his first transformation.

Dumbledore had come by to let the three of them know that the muggle lycanthrope had died by committing suicide as he remembered what he had done to Harry and felt disgusted with him. He also explained that if Harry did show magical powers he would be admitted to Hogwarts and he would use the shack the same as Remus had done.

Harry had not been able to see Ron during his confinement and had instead grown closer to Sirius and Remus. Also his senses had heightened to the point were one night Harry had cried himself to sleep. Although he wore his glasses Harry sometimes didn't need to wear them. His sense of smell was the most developed, he could not only distinguish between Remus and Sirius, he could also sense their other forms as well.

His hearing had improved that much that he had to admit he had overheard Remus shouting at Sirius two weeks again.

"Sirius?" questioned Harry quietly.

"Yes, Harry," answered Sirius.

"I don't feel to well," replied Harry.

Harry was currently sitting on the sofa, next to Sirius. As the day wore on, Harry and Remus had began to feel the pull of the moon and they both began feeling really ill, like they had the flu or something.

"I know you don't Harry," commented Sirius, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulder, "It will be over soon Harry, I promise," soothed Sirius.

"Sirius!" called Remus from the kitchen.

Sirius quickly got up and entered the kitchen were he saw Remus leaning against the side board doubled over in pain. Rushing over to Remus side Sirius helped him sit in the chair.

"Did you need anything before you transform?" asked Sirius.

"No," answered Remus, "We'll be changing in a minute so go back in there. Harry should be feeling the pull now," explained Remus, scrunching up his face in pain.

"I'll see you in a minute then," replied Sirius.

Re-entering the living room, Sirius saw Harry curled up in a tight ball as his shoulders shook from pain and his silent cries.

"Harry, its okay," soothed Sirius, although he knew otherwise, he began rubbing his godsons back.

"It hurts," mumbled Harry.

"I know, I'm going to transform into Padfoot for you but I'll be right here," replied Sirius helplessly.

All Harry could do was nod as he felt his bones breaking. Once Sirius transformed into his dog form all he could do was watch and listen from the two lycans.

Their bones were breaking and elongating into more canine shapes; muscles were being ripped off the breaking bones and wrapping themselves around the new bones. Harry was trying his hardest not to scream out at the intense pain he was feeling but when the transformation got to his face, all he could do was scream before it turned into a high pitched howl of a werewolf and Harry's human side lost consciousness.

Padfoot sat staring at the young werewolf cub he was a deep brown colour, the cub was panting trying to catch his breath back. Then the kitchen door opened and in walked a grey wolf.

Padfoot stood up and bounded over to Moony his tail wagging happily in greeting. But the werewolf's eyes were fixed on the small cub that had obviously got of the sofa and was sitting watching the scene before him.

Before Padfoot could give any indication of whom it was, Moony had walked over to the cub and stood in front of the cub in a domient manner.

The cub immediately knew that the older wolf was the leader of the pack and the dog was kind of like his second in command. The cub knew that his human side had got the respect of the other wolf and dog human sides; he also knew that he would have to prove himself to be let in the pack. Knowing what to do the cub laid flat on his belly and whined submissively to the older wolf.

Moony quickly glanced at Padfoot who although he couldn't actually smile, Moony sensed that Padfoot was happy to accept the young cub into their pack. Turning back to the cub, Moony let out a series of barks telling the cub now he was accepted, but he was to behave.

The cub was delighted; he had been accepted into the pack. In a fit of happiness the cub launched himself at Moony and began play fighting, soon Padfoot joined in and the three of them spent the rest of the night playing. The two older members of the pack showed the cub the rules of the house that they were in and what he could and could not do.

Round three in the morning the cub, Moony and Padfoot were fast asleep. The cub was sandwiched between the wolf and dog, but he didn't care he had a pack, his pack, his family.

After the moon had set, Sirius had to watch the two people he cared about the most in the world, go through another painful change to change back to human forms.

The two werewolves were laying on the carpeted floor panting for air, Remus managed to pull on some underwear before collapsing on to the chair unconscious. Harry could only a weak smile at Sirius before falling into the blissful arms of blackness.

Sighing Sirius picked Harry up and carried him to bed, then going back down he levitated Remus off the chair and up to his bed. Once the two were settled Sirius went to his own bed, a smile played about his face Moony had accepted Harry as his won. They were now a fully bonded pack and a loving family.