Canis Lupus: Redux

Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me but the wonderful J.K. Rowling and last I checked that wasn't the name on my driver's license. So I'm making no money, all I have are student loans, and an ornery cat who thinks driving me bonkers is his lot in life.

One last note: I’m sure I’ll get things wrong on occasion, please, if you find something I’ve done wrong that you just need to nitpick on, send me an email and I will fix it. I can be reached at: thedarksynfullegend@gmail.com

Much love to my friends who listen to me rant and rave, my betas the CelticMuse and Darkwatch, and most of all to those of you who take the time to read and review my stories. Thank you.

Warnings: Action Adventure, Angst, First Time, Romance, Slash
Timeline: Set after Book Five: Order of the Phoenix. Canon until then.

Italics – thoughts.
. . . italics – flashback
. . . Bold italics – dream/fantasy sequence
Bold Text - Journal or Paragraph entry.

Summary – Harry has been working on becoming an animagus to spend the full moons with Remus now that Sirius is gone. Unfortunately he becomes stuck in his animal form and no one knows what has become of the young wizard. Fortunately, one Severus Snape comes across Harry and decides to adopt the stray. Harry sees a completely new side of his most hated Potions Master.

Author's Note: This story was posted before but I left the readers wondering and it was irking me that I didn't expand on scenes that needed it, and a few more things were pounding in my brain that needed to come out. So for all the readers who read, left reviews and commentary...and finally finished a year later...this one is for you.

- The Dark Synful Legend

Chapter Eight - Secrets and Traitors Revealed

The Burrow was a hubbub of activity that morning, Arthur had contacted several individuals of the Order of the Phoenix and they were presently on their way. The six Weasley children, minus Percy were seated at the long dining room table eating breakfast, Hermione had finished her food and was presently watching Ron who was still stuffing his face with more bacon. She was worried about her friend, "Ronald! Don't you ever stop eating? Honestly!" She snapped, "your best friend is missing!"

Ron looked up at his girlfriend, his mouth full of bacon as he reached for a biscuit, "I'm hungry." he muttered while swallowing what was in his mouth.

"Our friend, our best friend is missing and you are stuffing your face." She responded, flipping open her copy of the Daily Prophet.

"What about you? You're reading the paper."

"Do shut up and eat your biscuit." Hermione replied burying her nose in the paper just as she heard voices in the living room. Closing the paper as quietly as possible, she went to the doorway in order to eavesdrop.

The figures that moved through the house had the same look in their eyes, worry, horror and shame. "Hermione, you may as well come out, I can smell you from here."

Blushing at being caught so easily and wishing she had Harry's invisibility cloak she walked into view and sat down on a small ottoman. "Professor Lupin."

Remus chuckled, "Hermione, I'm not your professor anymore. Remus is fine." the werewolf said.

"Is there any news of Harry?" Hermione inquired softly.

A sigh was her answer and that sent Hermione's panic into overload. "Wait, I wanted to ask you a few questions. Tonks said that you called Harry's relatives and spoke with his Aunt."

Hermione nodded, "She said that he ran away, but that isn't like Harry. Not the Harry I know, something happened in that house." She said and there was a glint in her brown eyes that spoke of her determination to discover exactly what it was.

"Do you have any idea of where he may have gone, where he felt safe?"

She thought for a long moment, "Nowhere besides Hogwarts, that's what he told me first year, he told me that he wasn't going home, not really...I didn't understand him then but I think I understand now, Hogwarts is his home."

The fireplace flared green and several figures stepped through the floo and into the Burrow's living room. Seats were taken and Hermione watched as Molly ran upstairs sobbing with Ginny hot on her heels to help her mother. "Hermione, will you go help Ginny tend to Molly?" Arthur requested and after the young witch made her way upstairs was a silencing charm put up by Moody.

"What did you discover Arthur?" came the obvious question as Kingsley ran his hands over his bald head.

"First off, the abuse was real. There was a cupboard beneath the staircase, they talked about him like he was a thing. Not even a person. They called him a freak in front of me and my wife." Arthur responded, his voice laced with stress. "She...she obliviated their memories so they had no recollection that Harry even lived in the house, she saw it as justice as Harry would probably not want his relatives harmed in any way."

"Well, they have been." Kingsley said, not looking at anyone for the moment as the things he had seen in that house came back to haunt him. There were gasps all around as Kingsley began to report what he had seen at the remains of Number Four Privet Drive.

"Oh God, we have to find Harry." Nymphadora Tonks said, presently her hair was in messy black locks like Harry's.

Minerva held up her hand, to quell the subsequent shouts that had started to occur. "I know where Harry is, but I promised him I would not tell anyone." There were protests, but the stern expression on her face never wavered. "However, in light of the circumstances I will. He is at Hogwarts."

Remus was the first one to speak, "Why didn't you say something earlier? Does Albus know where he is?" He inquired, "and speaking of, why isn't he here?"

"Molly didn't want Albus to know and quite frankly, I have to live with her." Arthur said tiredly "She is upset and I am going to make sure she is not more upset by all that is happening now. Who did it, Kingsley?"

"It was Bellatrix."

More eyebrows raised as that little tidbit of information was shared and Alastor Moody spoke, "Minerva, where is Harry now?" His hands were folded atop his staff as his magical eye whizzed around in its socket.

"He is safe, with Professor Snape."

"SNAPE?!" the twins cried out in alarm.

Tonks blinked, "wait, that dog that Snape adopted, that was Harry?"

Minerva nodded, "Yes, apparently Harry tried to transform into an animagus. I'm assuming to spend time with you, Remus, during the full moon." Minerva started as she pulled out a few pieces of parchment with her notes on them. "However, something in the initial transformation threw him off and he is now stuck in his animal form, his magical core was depleted but I think it is beginning to re-stabilize. I believe that a catalyst will be needed to bring him back to his normal form."

"What sort of catalyst?" Kingsley's deep voice asked.

"I don't know, for I'm not sure what the catalyst was in the first place Kingsley." She responded, "But for the moment, Harry is safe and he saved Severus' life."

"How so?"

"How much do you know about what Severus does for the Order of the Phoenix?"

~*~

Back at Hogwarts, Severus had purchased a pair of jogging pants and a matching black t-shirt. "I think you need to get out more and work on those muscles, and I need the exercise. So, lets go for a run." He said, as he held out Harry's harness. With a soft whurf, Harry rose from his usual spot before the fire and padded over to Severus and stepped into the harness watching as Severus clipped his leash to the front. They left his quarters together and headed towards the massive front doors to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The sun had risen and cast its golden glow over the grounds, making the Forbidden Forest sparkle with the dew that lingered on the treetops. Harry paused and looked up at Severus who detached his leash when they reached the grand doors of the school. On Severus' feet were black and white trainers which Harry had never even dreamed he would wear. Rubbing his dogs ears, Severus grinned, "You can lead."

Harry howled happily as he took off at an easy lope. Severus kept up with him letting Kyrian take the lead in their run. Harry decided to do a slow lope around the Black Lake and Severus kept up at a slow jog. He paused for a few moments, sniffing the ground as he tilted his head back and let out a long, mournful howl. The Potions Master watched the long line of Kyrian's throat as it was thrown back and the sound that left his throat was filled with pain and Severus couldn't figure out why. But what was more amazing to Severus were the sounds that came from the depths of the Forbidden Forest. Howls, screeches and even the neighs of the Thestrals filled the air, joining in to Kyrian's song, there was something different about Kyrian, Severus could see that now, but he wasn't sure what it was that his companion had.

Choosing a seat on a nearby log, Severus listened to the spine-tingling song which finally began to subside and he pulled an apple out of his pants pocket that he had carried in case they didn't make it back to Hogwarts in time for lunch, though this was simply a snack. He glanced over to see that Kyrian was looking up at him, "Hm?" he inquired, and there was a yip in response, "Oh, this? I did not bring you a snack." He said as he lifted the apple to his mouth and took a hearty bite with a resonating crunching sound. Harry whined loudly before he leapt up and snatched the apple right out of Severus' hand before turning and running back towards the castle. "Bloody Hell! KYRIAN!" Severus shouted as he raced after his wayward pet.

~*~

When they returned to Hogwarts, the doors were opened wide and Harry paused sniffing the air currents. There was something in the air, something sinister, something very wrong. Looking up at Severus, Harry whimpered and then trotted down the hallway in the opposite direction, Severus watched as the fluffy tail disappeared around a corner before heading towards his own chambers. Harry paused at a junction and placed his nose to the stones as he sniffed, taking in the various scents. There was one that was annoying him and he zeroed in on it like Hedwig with a mouse, he traversed the corridors the scent getting stronger and suddenly Harry had the thought of the Marauder's Map but he couldn't use it in his current condition and pressed onwards. Suddenly a flash of brown skittered across the hall before him and he KNEW that form. The sound of the small clawed toes, scrabbling for purchase on the flagstone floors was unmistakeable.

A growl of anger and rage filled Harry's throat as he lunged at the rat who barely managed to squeak in fear and tore off town the same corridor with Harry hot on his heels. Harry was not about to let him out of the sights of his blue orbs and scrambled after him nearly losing his balance rounding a corner as his paws went out from under him. Snarling in frustration as the rat managed to find a small niche to hide in, Harry howled digging at the crack with his paws. He didn't know if there was a way out of there for the rodent, but he was going to stay here a little longer and wait it out. Harry's growls had finally subsided, and he paced before the niche waiting though his patience was wearing thin. After an hour had passed, Harry decided to leave and padded down the hallway willing himself to take each step away from the one who ultimately betrayed his friends and his parents but as he turned the corridor, he stopped whipping around his senses on alert.

Peter Pettigrew who had been sent to Hogwarts as a spy to find out what they really knew about the disappearance of Harry Potter slowly crept from the niche as there had been nowhere else to go, his nose was twitching as he sniffed the air currents wondering where that large canine had gone. As quiet as he possibly could, he made his way down the corridor turning the corner he let out a terrifying squeal of alarm but it was too late as a paw pinned him to the ground and a howl left the throat of his attacker. Peter squirmed and thrashed as he tried to get away but to no avail as the dog had him significantly trapped. Harry tilted his head back and let another spine-tingling howl leave his throat and this time he could hear several footsteps coming in response to his call.

Remus and Minerva walked through the front doors of the school together, talking in depth about Harry and his current condition. Remus wanted to see Harry again. "You're telling me that Snape is looking after Harry?"

"Yes, Remus, and taking good care of him from what I can tell. The two of them are inseparable." Minerva was saying, "they go for walks together, I also believe that Harry has been helping Severus in his lab. And of course, Harry did save Severus' life."

Remus flushed at that statement for Minerva had brought along a pensieve and shown the entire Order, minus the Weasley Twins what had happened that night when she had seen what Severus went through for the Order of the Phoenix and told no one. Remus' respect for Severus Snape had gone up ten fold at that memory. Anyone who endured that much to gather information deserved it. He paused when they came to a junction for Minerva had been leading him down to Severus' chambers and spoke, "Wait. Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"A howl." Remus said, turning abruptly on his heel and heading in the opposite direction. Together they hurried through the school until they found the copper colored husky who had something trapped under its paw. "Hello Kyrian." he spoke, his eyes speaking volumes.

Minvera scowled, "Now, Remus I told you this is..." before she could say another word Remus held up his hand effectively silencing her. And she got the message, "Kyrian, what do you have there?"

"A very special rat." Remus responded and Harry barked joyfully. Remus pulled his wand and had anyone been looking at Peter would have seen he winced. He threw the spell silently and suddenly Peter Pettigrew was there, and Harry snarled, biting his ankle so the man fell and could not get away. "Hello Peter."

"Merlin's Balls!" Minerva said sharply, causing both Harry and Remus to look at her in shock. "Sorry." she said, flushing like a schoolgirl. "He's supposed to be dead! Sirius Black supposedly killed him."

"No, Minerva, that is what he wanted us to think. Turns out it was Peter who betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort, not Sirius. And now we have the proof that he's alive and well and more importantly that Sirius was innocent." Remus continued, noticing the look of satisfaction shining from the lupine orbs.

Peter was whimpering and clutching his ankle, for he was in too much pain to transform back and try and escape. "he was so powerful, R...Remus. You...you would have done the same."

"You're weak, Peter, you always have been. I would have died, Sirius would have died before he betrayed his friends and sooner or later you're going to pay the price for your betrayal." Remus replied casting a full body bind on the man before handing him over to Minerva, "You might want to get some Aurors down here, get his full statement under veritaserum, I'm going to get acquainted with Kyrian for a bit."

"I think that both you and Kyrian should come with me, for I'm sure you both want to hear his answers." Minerva replied. Remus and Harry shared a look then followed after the Head of Gryffindor House who was white-lipped with fury that one of her house had done this.

Remus leaned down and rubbed at one of Harry's ears as he spoke, "its good to see you, and thank you."

Harry licked Remus' hand in response as they reached McGongall's office and the door shut behind them with an audible click.

~*~
Author's Note - I was in a mood and decided for all the wonderful reviews to give you two chapters today!!!! YAY!!! go me! So keep those reviews up and coming!

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