Just Around the Riverbend

Okay kids, it's been a little over a week. *Frown*

Citten
angeles
Voracious Reader
alina
margaritama - Oooh...You had a very good guess there, poppet, but you misread one of the runes. The second one on the top was eihwaz(yew tree), not sowilo (sun). God, but I loved your description of the runes as a whole. Good thinking.
Serin Blackmoon
loisa
Dawn- Very, very nice, buttercup. That is exactly why you won. Such detail and foresight. Email me your prompt at Kooldragon400@yahoo.com, and I'll get it up ASAP. 3000 words are all yours...

fatladysinging
drorah - good guess, but you really only gave me the meaning of the runes, not why I would choose them. You had an interesting point of balances, but not a reason to rhyme of 'why?'
lilashannah
Jennifer


Okay, dear 'Dawn' won the contest, but I did like the creativity shown by the other two contestants.

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He hurt. There was so much pain that he actually wanted to gnaw his own limbs off. Damn Potter, the stupid ponce. Letting himself be taken over by the Dark Lord like that. Sigh... he couldn't really blame Potter. Stronger men than a broken twenty year old had fallen to the Dark Lord's power, and he had fought rather valiantly when he could.

But that didn't make him stop hurting. He put his head down, and covered it with his large paws, whimpering softly to himself.

Hours later, Phelan lifted his head gingerly and felt a whimper leave his mouth. Hmm...he was still the wolf, unable to change back. He concentrated a moment, before he gave it up as futile. He was stuck like this for at least a little while longer. Just freaking dandy.

The warm scent of breakfast tickled his sensitive nostrils, and he gingerly put weight on his long lupine legs. There was an initial twinge in his back left paw, but with slow maneuvering he was able to stand from the large pillow he'd been placed on, and walk a bit.

One of the Infirmary beds had been moved, and he'd been placed on his cushion behind a privacy curtain. he poked his nose out first, and whiffed eagerly to see who and what he could smell. He smelled the sharp scent of antiseptic first and foremost, but he could also smell the unique scents of the people he knew. He could smell Daisy, Lucius, Hermione, Tom, Severus, Cole, and Madam Pomfrey.

He ventured out from behind the curtain, his fluffy tail swishing languidly.

"Well, that's something you don't see everyday."

Phelan turned, to see a stranger staring at him with mirthful, rainbow-colored eyes. He looked familiar. Wait! That was-

He snarled, going down on his front paws ready to strike. A sharp pain on the top of his head distracted him, and he looked up to see an angry phoenix pecking at him. He whined and flattened his ears to his head, darting underneath the nearest bed.

"It's all right, Fawkes. He was just protecting his friends. Come on out, wolf, Fawkes won't bother you again."
Phelan poked his head out from under the bed, and stared hard at Sirius Black. The man was supposed to be dead. Of course Phelan hadn't known what had happened, him being unconscious at the time. His ears stood straight up when he heard the soft steps of Madam Pomfrey entering the room.

"Mr. Greyback! Get out from under Mr. Potter's bed immediately!" she said sharply. Phelan slinked out from under the bed; his ears flat again under the stern glare of the Mediwitch.

"Wow...scaring werewolves now, are you Madam Pomfrey?" Sirius asked jovially. She gave him a hard stare, and he backed down immediately, before looking down at Phelan and winking.

Phelan lifted his nose and sniffed again, before his gaze rested on the bed Daisy was occupying. She had a tray sitting on her lap, and she was shakily trying to shovel some eggs into her mouth. She looked up and smiled at him, putting down her fork.

"Hey there, cuddly." she said. Phelan heard Sirius snort, and if werewolves could blush, he would have at that moment. As it were, he lifted a paw and put it over his nose and whined. Daisy laughed, and then winced. Phelan's ears perked in concern. "It's nothing. I'm just a little sore from the stupid Cruciatus." she said. Phelan whimpered again, and plodded over to her bed. He rested his head on the edge of her mattress, right near her side, and then leaned forward and stole a piece of her bacon off of her plate.

She laughed again, and petted his head.

"Okay, Helen, no stealing from other people's plates. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey will send for you a plate if you ask nicely." she said. Phelan turned and looked at Madam Pomfrey. She looked down at him, and raised an eyebrow.

He went back on his hind legs, and drew his front paws up to his chest. He pressed his ears back and whimpered, his yellow eyes catching the light in what could only be described as a ‘puppy-dog’ expression. Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes.

"I'll take that as a 'please.'" she said. Phelan was enjoying a large plate of bacon and sausage a few minutes later. He eyed the fluffy mound of eggs suspiciously. He wasn't sure how his digestion would handle eggs right now. He looked around as he ate, taking in the condition of the other inhabitants.

Snape was in a bed in the far corner, dressed in a hospital gown and tucked into the soft infirmary blankets. Cole was asleep at his side, his hands clutched firmly in the blankets lest he be removed while he slept. Snape’s face was heavily bruised, and his breathing was labored. The Blasting Curse had nearly crushed his nose, and had cracked his cheek bones in several places, and dislocated his jaw. He had two cracked ribs, and several lacerations from the cutting hexes.

Tom had taken up residence in a chair on the other side of Daisy, but he was asleep. He had only suffered a few bruises from landing hard on the floor with a pregnant woman on top of him. Hermione had apologized profusely, but Tom had merely waved it off. He assured her that while he was a Slytherin, the moment of Gryffindor-type bravery had been refreshing and educational.

Hermione was resting in a bed on the other side of Harry, with Lucius asleep on the other side of her, his hands encircling one of hers in case she needed him in the night. There was really nothing wrong with her other than the fact that Lucius had very nearly gone into hysterics when she suggested they could go home for the night. Madam Pomfrey and Hermione had managed to calm him down with a bit of Calming Drought in his tea and the assurance that Hermione would stay at Hogwarts for the night.

Whereas Snape had been nearly fatally wounded physically, Harry was rolling towards death’s embrace magically. His head had been wrapped in a clean white bandage that was already being soaked through with blood. Madam Pomfrey had spotted this, and was busy changing the dressing. Harry's famous lightning bolt scar had split open, and was bleeding freely despite Madam Pomfrey's attempts to get the blood to clot. His magical reserve was frighteningly low, as a good deal of it had inadvertently gone to expelling the corrupted soul from his own.

Sirius sat next to him, his colorful eyes watching Harry's face for signs of alertness or pain. He heard a deep whimper, and tilted his head. That wasn’t Harry…He turned his head to see that Snape was breathing much more heavily, and his left arm was being held firmly against his chest. He’d heard Madam Pomfrey mention that the Dark Mark had become inflamed and was bleeding lazily around the outline.

Sirius took a last look at Harry’s face, before he stood from his seat. A small whistle called Fawkes to his shoulder, where the Phoenix nipped affectionately at his ear. He walked to the edge of Snape’s bed, noticing that Cole was already starting to stir.

Severus gave a low, tortured moan, and his head thrashed from side to side.

“Don’t….don’t ask it of me, Albus…” Severus choked. “I cannot…” Snape moaned, and Sirius heard Poppy give a small gasp. Fawkes had filled him in on a great many things while he had been reviving him on the stone floor in the Department of Mysteries. He knew of Snape’s supposed ‘betrayal’ of the Light, and his killing of Dumbledore. Fawkes didn’t blame Snape, and Sirius felt any begrudging hatred of the man surprisingly gone. He knew of this man’s trials and pain…and he felt sympathy for him.

Cole had opened his eyes by now, and was watching his father warily. Cole reached forward and brushed his father’s sweat-dampened hair off of his face, and Severus’ pained expression lightened a bit.

“Albus…my friend…you c-cannot leave me…” Snape muttered.

“Papa. Ba deem.” Cole cooed softly, and pushed his hands against his father’s chest. “Nye mare.” Cole pushed more firmly on his father’s chest, and suddenly Severus sat up with a gasp. Cole would have fallen off of the bed, if a curious werewolf hadn’t followed them, and caught Cole in his paws. Cole looked up at his furry rescuer. “Doggie!” he laughed.

Severus let out a tortured cry, and looked around desperately.

“It’s all right, Snape. You’re safe…” Sirius attempted. But Snape took one look at him, and his entire face was morphed into shocked, horrified sorrow.

“Oh God! I’ve died and gone straight to hell!” he said. Sirius wasn’t amused.

“You’re not dead, you snarky bat!” Sirius snerked. “You didn’t cross the veil, I came back! Bloody, half-witted….it’s all those Potions fumes….” Sirius muttered. Snape got himself under a semblance of control, and looked over the edge of the bed, horrified again to see his son petting a fully transformed werewolf.

He reached down and snatched his son, ignoring the fiery agony in his ribs. Phelan looked up curiously, only to receive a fist to his snout for his efforts. He yelped loudly, and backed away. At a safe distance he began to grumble angrily, and swiped at his muzzle with his paw. He maneuvered the claws awkwardly, and gave Snape the animal version of the finger.

“Greyback?” Snape asked, still clutching his son to his chest. Phelan stuck his tongue out at the Potions Master, and then loped back behind his privacy curtain.

“How are you feeling Severus?” Madam Pomfrey asked. Severus patted Cole’s back absent-mindedly.

“Like hell warmed over.” He conceded, and fell back against the pillows with a groan. Cole twisted in his father’s grip, and took Severus’ face in his small hands.

“Ba werd, papa!” he said, and patted his father’s cheek affectionately. Severus conceded a small smile to his son, and ruffled the cloud of black hair on his head. Cole squawked in annoyance, and clapped his hands to his head. “No! Ba papa!” he said, and smacked his father’s hand.

“Quite the adorable little tyke.” Sirius commented, and received a cold glare from Severus.

“I don’t know how you managed to con your way back to this side of the veil, but if you talk to me once more, Black, I'll be sure to send you back where you belong." Severus hissed.

“I know it means nothing to you, Severus…but I’m sorry.” Sirius said softly. Fawkes made a soft crooning sound, and with a short flap of his wings, he glided to the bed that Severus was in.

"Birdie!" Cole cooed. Severus watched wearily as Fawkes waddled up the covers to come rest right in front of him. His twinkling blue eyes reminded Severus of a friend long passed. Fawkes leaned forward a bit, and spread his magnificent scarlet wings, enveloping Severus in what could only be called a hug.

Fawkes smelled of air and clean smoke, but most of all, he smelled...Merlin bless him...he smelled of lemons. Severus didn't realize he was crying until Fawkes pulled back and used the tip of his wing to dash away the tears. He crooned softly to the Potions Master, and Severus' head snapped towards Sirius.

"He says to forgive you." he said, sounding suspicious and a bit angry.

Sirius smiled. "Fawkes picked up quite a bit of wisdom from his old Master." he said. Severus frowned.

"So he has a new one, then?" he asked. Sirius nodded, and whistled softly. Fawkes looked at him, before promptly fluffing out his tail feathers and making a nest of the Potions Master's lap. Sirius cleared his throat. "He...chose a new Master in me, but he's still quite a stubborn old chicken." he said fondly. Fawkes began to preen Cole's hair, and Cole giggled at the ticklish feeling.

A commotion at the door distracted them, and Lucius jerked awake when the Infirmary doors were slammed open. Kingsley was walking with a crimson-robed Auror, who had a disturbing mixture of glee and disgust on his face.

"Mr. Greyback, are you here?" Kingsley called. Phelan loped out from behind his privacy curtain, and the Auror gasped. Phelan sat down a few feet from the Minister, watching the Auror with distrust clear in his yellow eyes. "Mr. Greyback I have bad news..."

"What kind of bad news?" Daisy asked, sitting up straight in her bed. Lucius watched from his perch on his chair. The Auror stepped forward.

"Due to violation of the Ministry Restriction of Werewolves passed in 1693, whereas it is a crime punishable by death for a Lycanthrope to bite a human, Mr. Greyback is under arrest. Due to his special circumstances, he will be given a trial taking place no later than the next full moon. If Mr. Potter has contracted Lycanthropy, Mr. Greyback is to be immediately put to death. If Mr. Potter is clean, Mr. Greyback will face sentencing for his bite."

"It was self-defense. Harry was possessed by Voldemort!" Daisy cried, watching with satisfaction as the Auror flinched. Kingsley sighed.

"I apologize, child, but the law is the law. We must see if Harry was contaminated when he was bitten. Phelan attacked as a fully transformed werewolf, but there was no full moon. That's the only reason I was able to even get him a trial. If it had been night-time, he'd already be dead." Kingsley said softly. Daisy looked to where Lucius rested, and saw the angry gleam in his eyes, but he shook his head at her. If they tried to fight now it would be worse for Phelan.

The Auror produced a collar and lead from his pocket, and Phelan flattened his ears and growled.

"Don’t, Mr. Greyback. If you fight it will only looks worse. Show your self-control. I have confidence in your innocence." Lucius said. Phelan looked at Lucius, before he looked at Daisy. She'd already buried her face in her hands and was crying, her shoulders jerking. Sirius was watching with a disturbed look on his face, and Severus looked neutral. Tom's powder-blue eyes were open and watching, and Hermione had even woken up, and was watching him.

"It's okay, Phelan. We'll help you, but you have to help yourself." she said gently. Phelan's tail drooped sadly, and he approached the Auror slowly. The Auror knelt, and fastened the thick metal collar around his neck, and clipped the lead to it. Then, with a flick of his wand, Phelan felt the restrictive pressure of a muzzle. he panicked a bit, and began to try and wrestle the muzzle off.

"Mr. Greyback, it's just a precaution. Please calm down." Kingsley said. Phelan stood for a few moments, his chest expanding and contracting quickly with panicked breaths, before he lowered his head and whimpered.

“Wait! Let me say goodbye!” Daisy cried, and put her breakfast tray aside. Madam Pomfrey expelled an annoyed breath, but knew she couldn’t stop Daisy from shuffling quickly to Phelan’s side. She knelt stiffly, and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his fur. “We’ll get you back, Phelan. I love you so much, and I want you to be good, and strong, and brave, okay?” Daisy said in his ear. He draped his front paw around her in a semblance of a hug. He cursed every deity that he knew, depressed that he couldn’t give her a goodbye kiss. She pulled back a little, revealing that she had been crying into his fur. She leaned forward, and kissed the top of his furry head. “I love you.” She said aloud. The Auror sneered at them slightly, before he pulled on the lead, and Phelan walked dejectedly behind him, and out of the Infirmary. When the doors shut again Lucius looked at Madam Pomfrey, who had watched in stony silence.

"When is the earliest we can tell if Mr. Potter is infected with Lycanthropy?" he asked. She pursed her lips, thinking.

"At least two weeks for the curse to make itself known. They'll test him next full moon to see for sure, but we can test him in a couple weeks." she said.

Lucius glared at the closed doors of the infirmary, before he felt Hermione's small hand touch the side of his face. He turned to her, and noticed the worried look on her face.

"We'll get him back. If it takes a revolution and a miracle to do it, we'll get him back."
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Aww....not Phe-phe.....poo....

And no, I still haven't forgotten Bella, I promise she'll reappear next time. Anyway, I hope you liked the chap, and you find the time to review this one...