Just Around the Riverbend

I-Will-Change-the-World, Dey10, Dawn, Cilly, April, HarryGinny4Eva, angeles, Katina, Loisa, Labibliographe, Drea1256, JadeLucky

Well guys. This is it. The end of the road. The bottom of the pudding cup. The deep end. The...erm...well the last chapter. I've finished it finally. It took a while, and there was much blood, sweat, tears, and other bodily fluids we won't mention, but it all lead up to this. The final moments. ENJOY.

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Danny pulled his head back, his teeth glittering with blood. Then he immediately tried to jump the fence. An unseen force grabbed his back paw and slammed him into the ground again. He whirled on his restraint, angry that it could not be seen. But he looked up and saw the furious, grieving face of Lucius Malfoy.

"Incarcerous duro!" Lucius barked, his voice breaking. The chains bound the werewolf in place, holding his limbs in a way that made it impossible for him to flex and break them. "Crucio!"

The wolf didn't howl, it screamed. Every nerve was lit on fire, and it felt as if every bone were breaking and being filled with boiling lava. Lucius cast the curse again with a shuddering breath, watching with perverse pleasure as the werewolf foamed in agony.

A hand grabbed his arm, and he looked into the pale, almost fearful face of Severus Snape.

"You have to get a hold on yourself, Lucius! You need to get Serena out of here. She needs to go to St. Mungos." Snape said softly. Lucius took a shuddering breath.

"But she'll be-"

"-It doesn't matter!" Severus barked. "She's going to bleed out on the ground if you don't help her. And I swear to Merlin, Lucius, that if you let my niece die because of petty revenge I will find a way to poison you. And I'm a Potions Master...my poisons are creative." he added with a hiss. Lucius actually shivered, knowing the truth in that statement. "I'll take care of this monster."

Lucius was given a small nudge towards his daughter, who lay on the ground. She wasn't crying or screaming as someone should with such an ugly wound on their leg. She was squirming and gasping, presumably from the curse working its way into her system. She caught sight of him, and gave a sob.

"Daddy!" And he melted. He had been afraid that the bite would have already made her different somehow. But with that one word she shattered the illogical fear and he collapsed on his knees beside her, scooping her into his arms. She cried then, great gasping sobs that tore his heart into pieces. He stood with her firmly in his arms, and walked towards the fence. He used a levitation spell to float him and Serena gently over the fence, and as soon as his feet touched the ground he turned on the spot and Disapparated.

~~

Snape glared down at the bound werewolf. Danny glared back at him with murder in his eyes. The wolf struggled against the chains, but could not break them.

Severus jumped when something brushed his leg, and he looked down to see Phelan standing at his side, his front paws red and his muzzle stained with blood nearly to his ears.

"Would you like the honor, Mr. Greyback?" Severus asked softly. Phelan flattened his ears to his head and snarled, but then he shook his head. He pointed with a paw to where Daisy had fallen. Tom was already on the other side of the fence assessing the damage as best he could. "Very well. Attend your wife. I'll take care of this beast if that is satisfactory?" Phelan gave a swift nod, and then loped quickly to the fence and jumped it with illogical grace. Snape sheathed his wand, and reached for the pistol on his hip.

"Do you know what is in this gun, animal? The only bullet appropriate for werewolf hunting." he said. Danny's brown eyes widened, and he struggled anew against his chains. Severus pointed the pistol at a slightly exposed area on Danny's chest, and fired the weapon.

The wound itself was ugly, but not lethal for the large wolf. What was lethal, however, was how the silver bullet immediately began to eat at his insides, slowly dissolving his heart and killing him with satisfactory sluggishness.

~~

Tom gently rolled Daisy over after checking to make sure she had no broken bones or a concussion. She stirred and opened her eyes.

"Serena? Serena!" she panicked. Tom shushed her gently, and Bazzie made a deep, soothing humming sound in the back of her throat.

"Serena is at St. Mungos now, Daisy." he said. Daisy began to cry.

"I tried. I tried so hard to protect her and he got her anyway." She buried her face into Tom's shoulder. A soft whimper made them both look up.

Phelan looked quite a sight. He had a long claw mark going across his back left flank and his face and paws were stained with blood. He'd torn the small werewolf to shreds.

"I'm going to take her to St. Mungos, Phelan. Is that okay?" he asked. Phelan whimpered again, and then nodded.

"I love you, Phelan." Daisy sobbed. Phelan opened his mouth as if to reply, and then closed it with a snap when he realized he couldn't speak in this form. He instead put a paw close to his chest, and then pointed to her with it.

~~

Sirius growled in satisfaction when he felt the werewolf's neck snap beneath his teeth. He limped away from the wolf, a hideous gash down his back making it difficult to move.

He heard Fawkes' pitiful crooning, and went quickly to his fiery familiar. Fawkes' wing was bent awkwardly, and a bite mark was obvious under the mussed feathers. Sirius changed into his human form and knelt beside the bird.

"Fawkes, my friend. Oh, Merlin save us…” he whispered, reaching out to touch the injured phoenix. Fawkes gave a warble, and with understanding Sirius pulled back. Fawkes curled in on himself, burying his head under his good wing. His crimson red feathers began to glow brightly, like coals in a hot fire, and smoke rose off of the bird in white plumes. Then, with an almighty ‘whoosh’, the great bird caught fire. The flames were so bright and hot that Sirius had to cover his eyes and pull away.

After a few moments the light faded, and Sirius looked at the pile of ashes in front of him. He gently reached out and brushed the warm ashes aside, revealing the small, naked phoenix in the sooty remains. He pulled a knut from his pocket, and transfigured it into a small bowl, scooping the phoenix and his ashes into the container.

Baby Fawkes opened his stubby, pale gold beak and made a small whistle.

“Don’t worry, my flame-broiled friend. I’ll care for you.” Sirius said softly. He nearly dropped the bowl when the deceitfully sharp beak shot out and pricked his thumb. “Ow, you baked chicken!”

~~

Remus watched as the others slowly disappeared from the battlefield, leaving only him, Phelan, and the corpses of the four werewolves that they had to kill to survive. He could smell the seared flesh from Danny being shot by Severus. The long-legged werewolf lay in its last dying breaths from Remus gutting him with his claws. The wild-eyed wolf had been taken care of by Sirius, and he’d seen a spray of blood as Phelan had ripped the small werewolf apart.

But Remus was not without his injuries. Half of his left ear was gone, ripped off by his opponent, and he was sure that bone was exposed beneath the blood on his right foreleg. He couldn’t blink the blood out of his right eye due to a cut that kept on bleeding, and he was sure his tail bone was cracked. He whimpered and collapsed on the ground.

He felt Phelan’s presence a few moments later, and the large wolf joined him on the ground, his silver paw covering one of Remus’ white ones as he laid his large head down on the ground, his tufted ears drooping sadly. Remus shifted closer to the powerful Alpha, safe and content in his presence as the moon bathed them in soothing beams.

~~

Daisy sat in her hospital bed, nervously awaiting the Mediwitch to bring back the results of her health scan. She was trembling with a mixture of anxiety and terror. She was afraid that her baby…the physical manifestation of the love that she and Phelan shared...was gone.

Tom sat in the bed beside her, holding her hand as one might a sister or a close relative. And she was more like a sister to Tom than he had ever had before. There was no romantic feelings between them, and he was genuinely worried about her and the baby as he absent-mindedly ran his thumb over the back of her hand. Bazzie was sitting on Daisy’s lap, her head resting calmly beneath Daisy’s other hand.

It was only when Bazzie pulled her head out from under Daisy’s trembling palm and raised her blind gaze towards the door that Tom sat up a bit straighter. A Mediwitch dressed in powder blue robes bustled into the room, a chart in her hand. Daisy gave a nervous whimper, and felt Tom squeeze her hand gently.

“So? What’s the diagnosis?” Daisy all bit whispered. The Mediwitch flipped one of the pages in the chart.

“Well…”

~~

Phelan nearly bowled over three Mediwizards as he ran through the halls of St. Mungos. He actually leapt over a young apprentice who had dropped her notes, and twisted between people left and right as if he were dodging spells. The bandaged gash on his side throbbed angrily as he pushed himself, but he ignored the pain. He reached the room in record time, rounding the corner and dashing through the doorway.

Daisy was sitting on the bed, talking with Tom. Tom was still in his battle gear, looking quite hot and uncomfortable. Bazzie was settled around Daisy like a serpentine scarf, her own wedge-shaped head resting on Daisy’s black hair. She flicked her tongue when Phelan entered.

“Phelan!” Daisy called excitedly. Bazzie slithered off of Daisy just in time, as Phelan rushed to her and pulled her into a poignant hug, nuzzling his nose into her hair and sobbing softly. Daisy hugged him gently, whispering soothing words to him. But Phelan pulled back, his face ashen and sick looking.

“Daisy…don’t lie to me…how’s the baby?” he asked, almost fearful of the answer. But Daisy grinned broadly.

“The babies are fine, Phelan.” She replied. Phelan let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, but then paused almost immediately. Wait….wait, what?

“Uh…b…..babies?” he asked. She nodded, and took one of his hands in hers.

“We’re having twins!” she said. The exhaustion from the previous night finally took over, mixed with blood loss, pain, stark relief and shock.

Bazzie tilted her head. Master...he doesn't look so well...

Phelan fainted.

~~

Lucius sat in the pristine room at St. Mungos, watching the small sleeping child on the bed. She’d been ensconced in a room about an hour after arriving at the hospital. The werewolf bite had been cleaned and bandaged, and she’d been put there until the curse took complete hold. That would be several days from now, and until then her magic would inadvertently try to fight the Lycanthropy curse until it was overwhelmed, making her a very sick child for a few days.

They’d applied balm to her angry red bottom, and Lucius’ fury had snapped several glass instruments nearby when he’d been told the extent of her injuries. The Mediwizard on duty had threatened to kick him out if he didn’t control his temper and his magic, and Lucius had merely apologized and assured them he would replace what he had destroyed.

Serena stirred, her tawny eyes opening and looking around frantically. Lucius was at her side in a flash.

“D-Daddy?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly.

“Yes, ‘Rena, it’s Daddy. How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Much better. Where’s mama?”

“Uncle Severus went to get her for you, love. She should be here-”

“You get out of my way this instance, you insufferable cow!”

“-Right now.” Lucius finished, looking up as Hermione rounded the doorway like a shot.

“My baby!” she cried, immediately going to the bed. She was torn between scooping Serena up in her arms and minding her obviously bandaged leg. She settled instead for leaning over the girl, smothering her face in kisses and smoothing her fine blonde hair.

After a few moments Hermione was satisfied enough to pull back and gaze down at her daughter. Serena looked much happier now that her mother was there. But then a worried look crossed her face.

“What is it, love?” Hermione asked softly, gently reaching out to smooth Serena’s hair again. Serena intercepted her mother’s hand, holding it with both of her smaller hands. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You shouldn’t touch me now, mama. I’m….contanimated…” Serena said seriously. Hermione frowned, and pulled Serena into her arms.

“So? You’re still Serena Nicole Malfoy, my daughter, daughter of Lucius Bane Malfoy, sister to Draco Cepheus Malfoy, sister to Cassiopeia Jane Malfoy, niece of-”

Serena interrupted her with a nervous giggle.

“Okay, mama, okay! I get it!” Serena laughed.

“You’re still my baby.” Hermione added, and kissed Serena’s forehead.

At that moment Severus entered the room, Cassiopeia in his arms and Cole trailing behind him with a worried look on his face. Cassie took a look at her sister on the bed, and then looked towards her uncle Severus, her head tilted.

“’Rena ‘ick?” she asked. Cassie had started speaking, but her ‘s’ sounds were nonexistent, as if she just ignored the letter altogether. “’Rena ‘ick?” she asked again.

“Yes, child, Serena is sick. Her leg is hurt.” Severus replied.

“Make better, Uncle ‘Evera.” She said. Severus winced slightly at the butchering of his name.

“I cannot. It’s a bad…boo boo…and will take a long time to get better.” He added, completely horrified with himself for having to use that terminology. He heard Cole suppress a small snicker. Cassie frowned and then looked stern.

“Make ‘Rena better, Uncle ‘Evera. Make ick go ‘way!” she growled. Hermione had stood from her place at Serena’s side, and surprised Cassie when she gently took her from Severus’ arms. She brought her to the bed, laying her gingerly at her sister’s side. Cassie looked at the white bandages on Serena’s leg, and then up at her sister’s face. “’Ick, ‘Rena?” she whispered.

“Yes, Cassie. I’m sick now. Like Moony. Like Uncle Phelan. I…I feel it. It’s something different, like I have another conscious that can speak. Like...like Jiminy Cricket from Pinocchio! I can’t hear what it’s saying, yet, but the feeling is strong. Like…like I’ve changed.” Serena said, unable to express what was happening.

“Oh Serena. Everything will be all right.” Hermione said softly, watching between her husband’s face and Serena’s. Lucius looked exhausted and heartbroken, his cool blue eyes shining suspiciously. “Nothing will change, love.” Hermione tried to assure her daughter. But Serena only looked up and gave a small smile, her golden eyes uncharacteristically clear for someone her age.

“Oh mama…everything will change…”

~~

In the next several years, as Serena got used to her transformations and learned to welcome the wolf, the Wizarding World’s political agenda was turned upside down. From the day she had been bitten, Lucius fought twice as hard for Werewolf Rights as he had in the past. Within a year Werewolves could no longer be publicly discriminated against, meaning Serena could stop walking in the middle of her family if they went about.

Six months after that all persons with Lycanthropy were allowed to open/reopen vaults in Gringotts and hold private property in their own name.

As the two year mark approached Lucius finally pulled through a neat bit of legislation that allowed werewolves to hold steady, well-paying jobs. And once hired, they could not be fired as a result of their Lycanthropic sicknesses. They were legally allowed up to four days a month to prepare for and recover from the full moon.

But it was very close to the three year mark that Lucius pulled through his biggest act yet. After years of working and fighting, as of April 18, 2007, it was finally legal for anyone carrying the Lycanthropy curse to attend and/or teach at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A timely law, too, because that May a young werewolf by the name of Samuel Coyne, affectionately called ‘Sammy’ by his friends, received his Hogwarts letter.

It would also allow two other young lycans to attend, but they would not have to worry about it for another nine years. Two brothers by the name of Zachary and Cordell Greyback would take the school by storm when they attended, but for now they were happy at home with their mother and father, and their cousin Serena, who joined them when they Transformed.

Phelan rose in the ranks of the Aurors in record time, becoming a respected and mostly feared member of the force. His partner, Tom, was his backup, but more importantly he was many times the brain when Phelan was the brawn, and the cleverness when Phelan supplied courage. Bazzie became a decorated member of the Auror Corps as well, wearing with pride the medallion she received for tripping a Dark Wizard as he was casting a deadly spell at the Minister of Magic.

Daisy, though she became a stay-at-home mother, continued to work with plants. Through her and Neville Longbottom's tireless work, they were able to resurrect a handful of plants long-thought to be extinct through barely viable seeds. The resulting Potions and Herbology breakthroughs were enough to make sure that both families never wanted for money for quite some time.

Teddy Lupin went to Hogwarts a year before his friend, but once Nicholas Snape joined him, the two became as legendary a couple as the Marauders. They blew up so many classrooms and turned so many students strange colors that they had their own cabinet in the new caretaker’s file. Severus and Remus had to come up to the school so many times that they finally agreed to reclaim their roles as Potions Master and DADA teacher, respectively. Their sons grew up to be legendary Potions makers, with Cole surpassing even his father for Youngest Potions Master in Britain.

James Sirius Potter and his sister, Isabella Lynn Potter, would later in life become a great historic discovery team, and would go so far as to dually take over the post of History of Magic which had been stagnant so long.

Harry wrote children's books about his life, affectionately called the 'Larry Notter' Series. They sold in both the magical and Muggle world, and were eventually made into a movie franchise. Imagine that. Bella was his constant friend and companion for the rest of their days.

Sirius eventually settled down with a nice witch, a beautiful home maker who loved to spoil him and her entire extended family. Fawkes approved of her greatly, but Sirius liked to tease and say it was because she could find the right spot just under Fawkes’ wing that made him go completely limp with pleasure. Fawkes pecked Sirius. A lot.

Fawkes courted Daisy’s owl, Agtne, and they had several Halfling chicks that took the wizarding world by storm with their unique blend of sentience and snark. And pecking. They tended to peck people who annoyed them.

Draco married Ginny Weasley after falling in love with her fiery free spirit and unique look at life. She gave the Malfoy family four children, three sons and a daughter before she and Draco agreed mutually to call it quits. Lucius enjoyed every single one of his grandchildren.

Serena graduated top of her class, her own grades topped only slightly by her mother years ago. Cassie was a quiet and gentle soul who made well enough, but eventually settled down to be a stay at home wife for one of her childhood friends, one Teddy Lupin.

Hermione and Lucius became as formidable a team in the courtroom as they were in the bedroom. They became legal representatives for the werewolf people, and even for those who could not afford proper representation.

And through it all Lucius realized that had it not been for a young Half-Native American witch that dropped herself onto his doorstep many years ago, that his seriously interesting, exciting life would not have been possible.

And sometimes, though the waters of life may be choppy, it’s impossible to guess exactly what lies just around the riverbend.

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Start end credits here, folks. All right. This story is over, but I've been working on another that I think will be great. It's not a Lumione, or even a Dramione. Here it would be a general, but it's quite a killer. I'm still trying to get my muse back on track with The Unseen, and I know I owe Dawn a 3000 word ficlet.

All in all, though I'm sad this is over, I'm also glad I was able to draw it to a good, solid close. i hope to see more of you guys soon.

Good luck, good night, and good stories.