mhalachai | FIC: Inevitable 42: Bad Moon Rising

Last chapter of my vacation! Sadly, we'll be going back to weekly, not daily updates. I'm as broken up about it as you are.

Anyway, let's go out with a bang!*
(* no actual bangs were harmed in the writing of this chapter)

Inevitable Forty-Two: Bad Moon Rising
by Mhalachai
Note: The chapter everyone's been waiting for!

~~~~~~~

The sun rose early on the day of the full moon, but Harry was already up and ready to confront the day. He had showered and dressed before anyone else even stirred. By the time the first wereleopard stumbled into the kitchen, Harry had loaded the table with a huge breakfast.

"What are you doing?" Gregory asked, slumping into the first chair he could find. "Did you invite more people over? Are we feeding a horde?"

"I couldn't sleep," Harry admitted, setting a plate of sausages on the table. "Why are you so tired?"

Gregory grumbled something uncomplimentary toward his employer. "Jean-Claude had me and Stephen on the late shift. I only had three hours of sleep."

"So why are you up?"

"There's food," Gregory said, as if Harry was extremely stupid.

"Food?" came another bleary voice. Zane loped into the kitchen a step ahead of Cherry. "I like food."

"Really?" Cherry said dryly. She appeared to be more alert than her pardmates, and gave Harry a wink as she headed to the coffee maker. "I never would have guessed.

Zane made a face at her. Amid her giggles, Harry pulled a pitcher of orange juice out of the fridge. He almost crashed into Anita as he went to put it to the table. "Oh! Hi, Anita."

She glared half-heartedly up at him. "Are you responsible for this brouhaha?" she asked, taking the mug of coffee Cherry handed her.

"Yeah," Harry said, too wired to be put off by her tone. "Want some orange juice? Fresh squeezed."

Micah, who had just entered the kitchen, peered into the pitcher. "How early were you up?" he asked. "That's a lot of juice."

Harry shrugged, almost slopping juice out of the pitcher to the floor. "The juice was easy. The rest just sort of happened."

Anita shook her head. "You're the only person I know who could make a meal for ten and say it 'just happened'."

Nathaniel appeared from around the door, braiding his hair. "Do I need to remind you about your first full moon?" he asked Anita, giving her a smile.

Anita blushed and buried her nose in her coffee cup. Harry looked around at the wereleopards all trying to hide smirks. "What did she do?" Harry asked.

"Not much," Anita said. Zane snorted. Giving him an evil glare, Anita continued. "I went for a ten-mile run and then washed everyone's cars."

Harry perked up. "We could go for a run after breakfast, right?"

"If you want," Nathaniel said. He patted Harry on the shoulder as he passed by. "Just so you know, these energy spurts are going to keep going all day. If you start to crash, don't fight it, okay?"

Harry nodded. He was aware that he wasn't acting normally, but he felt so energized that he didn't care. It was like a Quidditch adrenaline high, mixed in with the world's best sugar rush. He felt better than he had in weeks.

"Come on, Harry," Nathaniel said, taking Harry's hand and pulling him over to the table. "You need to eat, too."

"Eat lots," Gregory advised, looking up from his plate of eggs. "You're less likely to start eating people that way."

The grin slid off Harry's face. "Eat... people?" His energy bubble pricked, he let Nathaniel push him into a chair. "I'm not going to eat anyone, am I?"

"No, you're not," Anita said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He leaned against her, taking reassurance from her presence. "We're going to be with you all day. Tonight, we'll go to the Lupanar, where we're all together. No humans."

"We'll be sticking to you like glue all day," Micah added. "So even if you do change early, we'll be able to keep you from hurting anyone."

"Okay." Harry moved away from Anita and stared at the empty plate on the table. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but how was he going to keep from hurting people when he was a werewolf? Remus never could.

Harry frowned. That first night in the woods, with Bellatrix, Jason had changed into a werewolf, but hadn't attacked Harry, or the helpless Anita. And those other times...

"Something wrong?" Micah asked.

"Huh?" Harry mumbled, his mouth full of food. At some point, he'd loaded his plate up and began eating, and hadn't even noticed. Was he losing time, or was he just preoccupied? Swallowing hard, he said, "Am I always going to be a danger to people?"

"Not at all," Micah said immediately. "For the first few months, you probably won't recall a thing on the night of the full moon. But then you'll start to be aware of what you're doing. You can control the beast, even on the full moon. You won't be able to stop slipping your skin, but you'll be yourself in there."

"Why are you asking that now?" Nathaniel asked. "What's on your mind?"

Harry took another mouthful of food. "Remus, my werewolf friend, he still can't control the wolf. Not like you're talking about," he said.

Anita and Micah exchanged glances. "How long has he been a lycanthrope?" Micah asked.

"A long time," Harry said. "He was while he was at school with my parents. So when he was younger than me."

Gregory's head snapped up. Harry now had everyone's attention. "Wait, he still can't control the wolf?" Gregory demanded. "Why the hell not? Even Stephen can control the wolf, and he's like the most submissive werewolf there is."

Harry narrowed his eyes at Gregory. "Don't talk about Remus like that!" he exclaimed, suddenly very protective of his former teacher.

Gregory put his hands in the air. "I was just saying."

"Harry," Micah said, pulling Harry's attention back. "Gregory does have a point." He waited until Harry slumped back down before continuing. "Stephen is not an alpha, and he does have a very good handle on his wolf during the full moon. It's a bit surprising to hear that your friend does not."

Harry pushed a rasher of bacon around his plate, aware of everyone's gaze on him. "Maybe it's different. Remus was really young when he was infected..."

"Stephen was nine," Gregory said flatly.

Anita whipped her head around. "Nine?" she exclaimed. "He was infected when he was nine years old?"

"Yes." Gregory hunched over, making it very clear that he didn't wish to continue the conversation. Anita set her cup down with a clatter and went around the table. She awkwardly placed her hand on Gregory's head. The wereleopard sighed and relaxed against the contact.

"Sorry about that," Anita said gently. "I didn't mean anything."

"I know."

"Harry," Micah said, pouring some more juice into his cup, "Is your friend an alpha?"

"I..." Harry frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You said he didn't have a pack," Anita said. "Is he a dominant personality? Or is he more submissive?"

Harry had to think about that. In the time it took him to devour the remaining food on his plate, he'd run over everything he could remember about Remus. "I just don't know," he finally confessed. "I probably wouldn't be able to tell. I mean, I was a kid and he was an adult, right?"

"I'm not even sure if Harry would be able to answer," Nathaniel said. He pulled his legs up on the chair and wrapped his arms around his knees. "With Harry's personality, he may not even notice."

"What do you mean?" Anita asked.

Nathaniel opened his lavender eyes wide, the picture of innocence. "Harry's such an alpha personality that he probably wouldn't notice the little differences between alpha and submissive characteristics in the adults around him."

Gregory nodded agreement. "We are better at it."

Anita looked between Gregory and Nathaniel, slightly lost. "I've got a good judge of character, and I don't think anyone's going to accuse me of being submissive."

"It's not the same, Anita," Cherry spoke up. "Those who aren't as dominant spend a lot of time watching the others, to see what's going on, who's angry, who would be the best protector." She stared into the depths of her glass, as if looking for an answer. "The dominant ones only do that to see where everyone is, or if they think someone might be vulnerable. It's not an all-time thing."

"I..." Anita's voice trailed off, a trouble expression on her face.

Zane hastened to jump in. "She doesn't mean it like a bad thing, Anita," he said. "And you are always looking out for us." He flashed a sharp smile at her. "Promise."

"He's not," Harry said suddenly.

"Pardon?" Micah asked, while Anita tried to recover.

"Remus. He's not really dominant, not like Anita or you," Harry said. "There was this time, when he was with my dad and Sirius, and... well, something happened, and he seemed not to like it, but he let it happen."

Harry had just remembered what he had seen in Snape's pensive in his fifth year during the failed Occlumency lessons, when his dad and Sirius had tormented Snape after their OWLs. He didn't want to think about it, but he had to. Something part of him just knew that Remus's behaviour was important.

Face flaming, because he knew what it felt like to be at the centre of a circle of bullies, Harry said, "It wasn't a nice thing, right, and Remus knew it, but he also never stopped them."

Nathaniel scooted his chair around the table until he was sitting right next to Harry. "It's hard to stand up to people more powerful than yourself, Harry."

"But that doesn't make it right," Harry snapped. He dropped his head to his hands, energy leaking away, leaving him lethargic.

"Did he ever talk about other werewolves?" Anita asked, mercifully changing the subject. "Or how other werewolves he knew reacted to the change?"

Harry couldn't even manage to shrug. "I don't know if he knew any other wolves."

"You know," Micah said slowly, "Most werewolves can't be solitary. There's the occasional lone alpha out there, but most crave pack contact. That might have something to do with his control."

Anita, however, did not appear convinced. "What about other wizards who are werewolves?" she asked. "Have you met any others?"

Harry didn't answer until Nathaniel poked his arm. "No." He made himself lift his head. "But the books at school, they're all full of how werewolves are dangerous creatures."

Anita smiled unhappily. "Ask Richard to show you what drivel the school board had in its textbooks ten years ago." She drained her coffee. "Speaking of which, I need to call him. You guys going to be okay until I get back?"

Harry let his head drop to the table when she was gone. He wanted to keep thinking about Remus, but all his thoughts kept turning to the physical sensations around him. The smell of the bacon mixing with the strong coffee; the hard chair, even the scratchiness of his shirt against his skin.

"Come on, Harry," Nathaniel said. "We're going for a run."

"Now?" Harry mumbled. "Can't we just sleep?"

"Not a chance," Nathaniel said, pulling Harry to his feet. "Gregory and Zane can clean up the kitchen. You're going to run off all that food."

"I'm going to fall asleep," Harry said as he stumbled toward the front hall. He was vaguely aware that Micah was right behind him.

"So we'll go slow," Nathaniel said, laughter in his voice. "You'll feel better, I promise." He handed Harry his trainers and pushed the teenager onto the bench. "Now, lace up your shoes."

"For someone who's supposed to be meek, you're awfully bossy," Harry complained, but he did as he was told.

"I spend too much time around Anita," Nathaniel said with a grin. Micah laughed at that. "Come on, last one to the dam has to clean up after lunch."

Just as they were about to leave, the front door opened and the other half of the pard spilled in. Micah grabbed Noah's shoulder and pulled him right back out the door, Harry noticed distantly.

As soon as he was outside, all of those thoughts seemed to fade. The sun was hot, there was a slight breeze that carried the scent of some far-away flower, along with the smell of petrol and oil from a passing car. The colours were too bright, too real, and Harry knew that the only thing that would make it real would be to run.

So he ran.

~~~~~~~~~~

I was stretched out on the couch, Cherry on one side and Violet on the other, when the boys got back from running. Merle, Micah's main bodyguard, who had been in the kitchen swapping old war stories with Claudia, came out as soon as the door opened.

Harry didn't even wave or take off his shoes, just stumbled upstairs. Nathaniel gave me a smile and made a bee-line for our bathroom. Micah shook his head, and came over to me.

"How was the run?" I asked, kissing him gently on the lips.

"Great," he said, dropping back to the carpet. "Noah was the only one who managed to keep up with Harry for the first few miles."

I looked over Micah's head, to where Noah was conferring with Merle. Noah stood six foot two, with really long legs. He used to be a track star in high school, before he was infected. "Harry was going that fast?"

"He was." Noah's voice was surprisingly soft. "He started lagging after a bit, but he wanted to keep on going. I told him that if he kept on like that, he'd be too tired for tonight."

"Not that he listened," Micah said.

The shower upstairs turned on. "How can you guys be so energetic about moving around today?" Cherry asked sleepily. "It's hot out."

Noah pulled off his sweaty t-shirt. "It's a challenge, to not be out-run by someone who's not even changed for the first time yet," he said.

Violet stirred at my side. "Does anyone want some iced tea?" she asked, her manner hesitant. Violet was the most submissive person in the pard like Nathaniel used to be before I started making him be more outgoing.

"Yeah, I'll go help," Noah said, trailing her into the kitchen. Merle watched them go, then looked back to Micah.

"Harry out-raced you guys, or you let him out-race you?" Merle asked.

Micah leaned against my legs. "I decided to let him burn off his energy on his own," he said, voice going a little cold. "Nathaniel and I could have caught up if there was any trouble. Noah was right with him the entire time."

I frowned. Why was Merle staring at Micah like that?

"No matter what you might think," Micah continued, "I have no problem with keeping an eye on Harry today, or any other day."

"He's wolf, not leopard," Merle said stiffly. "He's not our responsibility to take care of. The Ulfric infected him, and the Ulfric should be here, not Noah and you and Nathaniel."

Micah stood up. "Merle, I want to talk to you about this outside." I watched as Merle turned around and stalked out the front door. Micah looked down at me and gave me a reassuring smile. "I'll be right back."

"The hell you will!" I hissed. "How long has this been going on? Did you know about this before?"

"Anita, I'll handle this." Micah's tone brooked no argument. I have no idea why I didn't follow him, demanding answers, but I just sat on the sofa, open-mouthed, as Micah went after Merle.

I looked at Cherry, who was all of a sudden very intent on watching the television. "Did you know about this?" I demanded.

Cherry, looking quite miserable, said, "I know Merle's been worried about the pard."

"Cherry..."

"He doesn't like how a lot of Micah's time is taken up with Harry these days," she continued. "I guess having Noah go out made him say something."

"But I'm spending way more time with Harry than Micah is." For some reason, I felt hurt that Merle was thinking about Micah, not me. I was supposed to be his Nimir-Ra.

"But you're the Lupa, too, and so Harry's technically your responsibility," Cherry pointed out. She gradually met my eyes, and gave me a nervous smile. "Merle know that."

I was still smarting when Harry stumbled down the stairs. He'd put on dry clothes, but his hair was still wet. I noticed right away that he'd left his glasses somewhere. He seemed like more of an adult, without those glasses hiding his eyes.

"Hi Anita," he said sleepily. I didn't have time to say anything when he dropped onto the empty spot on the couch beside me, curling up into a ball on his side and resting his cheek on my thigh. He let out a happy sigh and fell asleep almost at once.

I sat frozen. I didn't know what to do. I'd never had a young man suddenly drop his head in my lap, Jason excluded, and fall asleep. Cherry was no help at all, as she simply leaned back against the cushions and started flipping channels.

Violet came back out of the kitchen, carrying a large pitcher on a tray with glasses. She set the tray down and sat on the carpet at my feet, not minding the sleeping boy at my side.

Noah spotted Harry and grinned. "I'm going to go use the shower upstairs," he said, and bounded from the room. I was left on the sofa, one hand hovering over Harry's wet hair. He was completely relaxed in unconsciousness, and his head seemed very heavy against my leg.

Cherry settled on a late morning talk show. I didn't really pay attention to the screen. Once I became accustomed to Harry's weight, I let myself start to think about tonight. Micah and Merle seemed so convinced that Harry was going to change into a werewolf, but something Nathaniel had said this morning made me wonder. So far, Harry was acting exactly like I had on the first full moon after Gregory accidentally sank his claws into me. The energy spurts, the craziness with the beast, the changed eating habits.

There were things that Harry was not doing, however, that a new lycanthrope should. He hadn't gone catatonic with blood lust. He wasn't smelling or hearing as well as he should. And, I noted as I carefully touched his cheek, his temperature wasn't spiking. Next to me, Cherry was burning up, normal for her on the day of a full moon. Harry's skin was human-normal.

The more I thought of it, the more convinced I was that Harry would not shift into a werewolf. Not enough to lay anyone's life on it, but almost. Lucky kid, I thought as I ran my thumb over his cheek. He'd been through enough in his life. He didn't need this added complication.

Nathaniel padded into the living room on bare feet. He'd changed into his most ragged pair of shorts and nothing else. As usual, the sight of him caught my breath in my throat. He smiled when he saw my reaction. He loved that he could do this to me.

He came right up to me, and leaning down, kissed me. The kiss wasn't as gentle as it was with Micah, and I felt his desire, through his lips and his tongue. I almost fell into his kiss, but made myself pull back. He left me gasping.

"What the hell was that?" I demanded when I could talk again.

He grinned cheekily at me. "It's the full moon."

"Which is why you know I won't kiss you," I pointed out.

Cherry leaned over. "Oh really?"

I blushed as red as a fire-engine. "Never mind," I snapped. "Nathaniel, help me get Harry off me."

"Why?" Nathaniel asked, squeezing between me and Cherry.

"Because it's not right," I sputtered.

"You've got clothes on," Nathaniel said. He coaxed me to sit back and lean against him. "Besides, he just wants to be near pack. You're the only person who's anywhere near pack in this house."

"I guess," I grumbled. I didn't like it, but it was the least complicated thing I could do. Right now, I didn't really want complications.

After about half an hour, I began to get nervous. Micah and Merle still hadn't come back inside. I couldn't get up to go check on them, trapped as I was by various bodies pressing against me. When the door finally opened my head snapped up.

Merle walked past the living room entrance without a word. Micah shut the door behind them and came over to me. "What?" he asked in response to my my glare.

"Is everything okay?" I demanded.

Micah nodded. "Everything's fine," he said. The certainty in his voice calmed me, although I wasn't sure why.

"Good," I said. Now wasn't the time to ask questions, but I told myself that I was going to get answers before the night was over.

Claudia made an appearance in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. "Anita, I'm leaving now," she said.

"Okay," I said. "Good luck with the full moon."

"Thanks." Claudia was always very economical with her words; trust that a full moon wouldn't change that. "I'll be here tomorrow for the party." She paused. "And Rafael will also come."

Rafael, the king of the wererats, was an old friend of mine. I'd saved his life, and he'd provided the manpower to save mine time and time again. He was not, however, much for socialization. "Why is he coming?" I asked.

Claudia raised an eyebrow. "He didn't say. Will it be a problem?"

I glanced with Micah. From the expression on his face, he didn't get it either. "No, he's always welcome here," I said. "I guess we'll see you tomorrow."

Claudia nodded and continued on her way out of the house. I absently brushed Harry's drying hair off his face as the door closed.

"It's going to be okay," Nathaniel said. I looked up at him. "Tonight. No matter what happens. It'll be okay."

"Promise?" I whispered.

Nathaniel kissed my cheek, then put his head on my shoulder. "I promise."

It was the most reassuring I'd heard all day, and for just a moment, I let myself believe.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry sat in the backseat of Anita's jeep, sandwiched between Noah and Nathaniel on the way to the Lupanar. He had never felt so nervous in his entire life, not even when he'd been called in front of the entire Wizengamot to explain using underage magic when Dementors attacked in Little Whinging.

Just stay calm, Harry tried to sooth himself. One minute at a time. I can't do anything to change what happens tonight. If I shift, it happens. If I don't, well, that happens too.

"Are we there yet?" Harry blurted out.

Micah laughed. Over his shoulder, he said, "We'll be there soon enough. Just try and relax."

"Right." Harry sat back and managed to be quiet for half a minute. "Why are the wereleopards coming the Lupanar?" he then asked.

"Because we always go the Lupanar," Nathaniel said. "This way, Anita doesn't need to be in two places at once."

"Oh." Harry frowned. "But don't you get into fights? Like cats and dogs?" Before anyone could respond, Harry went on. "I don't know about cats and dogs, but Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, used to chase after Ron's rat, which wasn't really a rat at all but--"

"Harry," Anita interrupted, "if you don't shut up, I'm going to come back there and sedate you, understand?"

"Yeah," he grumbled, sinking back between Nathaniel and Noah. Nathaniel was shaking with silent laughter, which Harry wasn't really sure was necessary.

"Don't mind her," Nathaniel said in a soft voice. "You're going to do fine."

"What's it like, again?" Harry had to ask. He couldn't sit quietly with only his own thoughts. Not now.

Nathaniel put his arm over Harry's shoulders, like a brother might. "It's like there's a part of you inside, that no one's ever seen and that you have to keep hidden, comes out. And it hurts, but it's real, you know?"

Harry nodded. "Does it keep hurting after the change?"

"No, not at all," Nathaniel said reassuringly. "It's like you've got a brand-new body, one that can't ever hurt or grow old or be sick. You're more than you ever thought possible, but it's still just you."

Harry let out a wavering breath. "Sounds nice."

"It's what we are."

They rode the rest of the way in silence.

Anita turned off the paved road and the jeep slowly rumbled along the gravel path until it reached the meadow Harry had been in a few weeks before. The place was packed with cars, and with people. People was greeting other people, slapping backs or giving hugs. A couple was locked in a passionate kiss until, as Harry watched out the window, Jamil dragged the couple apart and pointed them in the direction of the Lupanar, through the woods.

"Here we are," Anita said unnecessarily. She turned off the jeep and began checking her weaponry.

Micah pulled his shirt off over his head, leaving him in a pair of cut-off shorts. "All right, everyone, let's find Merle and the others, and head in together."

Noah opened his door and slipped outside, undoing his shirt. "I think I saw Caleb," he said, tossing the shirt back into the jeep. "Want me to go get him?"

"Sure," Micah said. Noah weaved his way between the cars, until he disappeared in the twilight.

"Do I.... do I have to take off my clothes?" Harry asked. He really didn't want to be getting naked quite yet. Not in front of the others. Or Anita.

"You can leave them on until the change, if you'd like," Micah said. "We always bring extras in the cars just in case."

"But you should give me your wand and your glasses, once we get in," Anita added. She pocketed another clip of bullets. "The glasses are just a pain to get replaced, and, well, your wand..."

"Once we're in," Harry agreed. He got out of the jeep into the warm evening. The sun had just set in the west. Looking to the east, where the full moon would soon appear, all Harry saw were huge hills, almost big enough to be mountains. "When will it happen?"

"We've got some time yet," Micah said. He slapped Harry on the back and urged him onward. "Time to go."

"Brilliant," Harry muttered sarcastically, but he went with Nathaniel, Anita and Micah toward the forest. He saw the rest of the pard gathered together, near a large oak. He recognized everyone there, with the exception of a tall, beautiful woman lounging against the tree. She looked him up and down as if determining if he'd be any good to eat, in the way that Melanie, the lamia, did whenever Harry was at the Circus of the Damned.

"Elizabeth," Anita said, her tone threatening.

The woman, Elizabeth, glared heatedly at Anita, but then bowed her head. "Nimir-Ra," she said.

"Everyone's here, let's go in," Micah said. He didn't say anything, but Noah stepped between Elizabeth and Anita.

Harry hadn't known there was a wereleopard he hadn't met in St. Louis. No one had ever mentioned Elizabeth, and Harry spent most of the walk to the Lupanar watching Elizabeth's back. She was dangerous, he knew instinctively. She walked like a predator, utterly angry at the world. Sort of like Snape, Harry's mind supplied. They walked nothing alike, and this woman was a million times better looking than that greasy git, but still, the similarity was there.

Harry wanted to know where she came from, why she made Anita so upset, why Nathaniel stayed far away from her. But he couldn't ask.

"Hey, Harry!"

Harry turned around and was promptly tackled by Jason. Harry managed to push the man off of him after a few seconds of rolling around in the dirt. "What the hell was that?" he demanded, climbing to his feet.

"Come on, it's the full moon!" Jason said, bouncing around like a happy puppy. "It's great, isn't it?"

Anita shook her head. "You're like a kid on a chocolate binge," she said. "How are you?"

Jason grinned at her, his face barely visible in the dying light. "I'm great!" He pulled on Harry's arm. "Come on, let's go!"

"Go on," Micah said. "We'll see you there."

Harry didn't have a change to say anything before Jason yanked him into the woods. He didn't think, he just followed Jason as the blond sprinted over the forest floor. There were others running, but not many. Harry just let himself enjoy the sensation as they ran.

Soon, too soon, they spilled out into the clearing of the Lupanar. Jason guided Harry around the flaming torches to the empty stone throne. "You stay here," he ordered good-naturedly. "First-timers have to be here."

"Why?" Harry asked suspiciously. This was Jason, after all.

Jason grinned. "Because this is where you stand," he said, as if it was obvious. "Sylvie will be over in a minute."

Jason made as if he was going to dart away. Harry panicked and grabbed Jason's arm. "Wait!"

"Hey, it'll be okay," Jason said reassuringly. "I'll be right back, okay?"

Harry stood by the throne, feeling very alone. People kept glancing toward him, and Harry was very glad that he had kept his shorts and shirt on.

After a few minutes, Paul and Suzanne emerged from the growing crowd and came toward Harry. Harry gave a small wave as they approached.

"Hi, Harry," Paul said. He sounded as nervous as Harry felt. "How are you?"

"Doing okay. You?"

Paul nodded. Suzanne gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, then backed away. "I'll be right here," she promised.

"So, um, why are you over here?" Harry asked to fill the silence.

"Suzanne said this is where you have to stand when it's your first time," Paul said. "Not sure why. Maybe they're going to make us dance like chickens."

"Chickens?" Harry echoed, incredulous. He was not dancing like a chicken, no matter what Richard said.

"I don't know," Paul said. "Something like that, like an initiation. They made us do it on my volleyball team in high school."

"That had better not be it," Harry muttered.

They watched the werewolves arrive for a little while. After the pard had arrived in the clearing, Paul asked, "So, how many times have you changed?"

Harry gave him a look. "What kind of change?"

"You know," Paul said, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Shifted accidentally?"

"Um, I haven't," Harry said slowly. Even in the darkness, he could see the uncomfortable expression on Paul's face.

"Yeah, well... yeah." He turned away a bit from Harry.

Harry had no idea what he'd done to offend the man. All he wanted right then was for Jason to come back over, so he'd have someone he knew to talk to. He was sick of all the werewolves looking at him like he was on display.

As if in answer to his silent plea, Sylvie appeared out of the darkness. "Hello, you two," she said. Harry smiled shyly. "Ready for tonight?"

Looking as if he was headed for his own execution, Paul nodded. Sylvie let out a sigh and stepped closer to him. Paul flinched when Sylvie laid her hand on his arm.

"You don't have anything to fear tonight, Paul," she said soothingly, warm power radiating off of her. "You're with the pack tonight. You are not alone."

Paul shuddered. "Thank you," he whispered.

Not letting go of Paul, Sylvie turned to Harry and held out her other hand. "And how are you doing?"

Harry took the offered hand, feeling power rush over him as if he'd stepped into a warm bath. "I'm good," he said. "Don't know if I'm ready."

"You'll be fine," Sylvie said. "Both of you will be fine."

Sylvie stayed with them as the numbers of werewolves continued to grow, until Harry was driven to ask, "How many werewolves are there in St. Louis?"

"Almost seven hundred," Sylvie said. "We are as strong as we have ever been."

"We?"

Sylvie smiled. In the torchlight, it made her look fierce. "The Thronnos Rokke clan."

A wave of motion swept across the gathered werewolves, who all turned to look at the stone throne. Appearing as if by magic, Richard stood on the stone steps, an armed Anita at his side. "We are here!" Richard shouted in greeting. Everyone stopped talking. "The Thronnos Rokke Clan is here, and we are not alone!"

From above came a rush of wind, and Jean-Claude dropped from the sky to Richard's side. Everyone gasped.

Richard didn't flinch when Jean-Claude landed, which made Harry think the vampire's dramatic arrival had been planned. "Tonight, of all nights, our power is strongest! Our clan continues to be strong and protected!"

A few shouts of agreement came from the crowd. Harry noticed that people were beginning to disrobe, but he made himself watch Richard.

"We have two new packmates!" Richard continued. He pointed toward Paul and Harry. "We have lost one of our number, but our enemy has been destroyed!"

A mournful howl went up toward the sky. Clay, Harry realized. He's talking about Clay and Bellatrix.

"Tonight, we welcome the moon. Tonight, we reveal our true selves!" Richard turned and flung his hand toward the mountains, where the first hint of moonlight was beginning to glow.

Anita left her place by Richard's side and dashed across to Harry. "Give me your glasses and wand, hurry," she said, holding out her hands. Harry tore off his glasses and gave them to her, then fumbled in his pocket for his wand. Beside them, Paul began to convulse and doubled over. Sylvie pulled him away from Anita and Harry.

His vision a little blurry now, but nowhere as near as bad as it was supposed to be, Harry saw Jean-Claude arrive at Anita's side. A wave of motion swept over pack and pard. The clearing was full of the sound of bones cracking, clothing tearing, and gradually, muttered sounds from animal throats.

Harry saw none of it. He'd turned around and stared at the eastern hills. He watched as the glow of moonlight became a sliver of light, then as more and more of the large glowing orb was revealed as it drifted slowly higher in the sky.

He was bathed in moonlight, surrounded by shifted lycanthropes, and he didn't change.

A bitterness as large as anything he'd ever felt consumed him. He wasn't going to change. He wasn't a werewolf. He didn't belong here.

Bitter tears burned in his eyes as he sunk to his knees and dropped his head into still-human hands. He didn't belong here.

A warm body pressed itself to Harry's side, and something cool was placed in his hands. "Harry, put these on," Anita said softly. Dimly, Harry slid his glasses back on, then stared back up at the offending moon. It wasn't beautiful now. It was just an object, one that had taken his last chance at a family away. He didn't belong with these people. He hadn't realized until then, but he was so tired of being alone.

"Shh," Anita said, hugging him close. "It's okay."

"It's not okay," Harry said dully. "I should go. I don't belong here." He closes his eyes in desperation. "I can't even become a werewolf the right way. I'm never going to belong anywhere."

"That is not true," Jean-Claude said softly. He knelt in front of Harry and placed his hand on Harry's chest. "You have the wolf. I feel it in you."

"Like Anita," came a growling voice. A huge wolf-man padded around Jean-Claude. Somehow, Harry knew it was Richard. "You've got the beast like she does, you've felt it. I've felt it."

Harry blinked at Richard. "But..."

A large black leopard padded up to them. It rubbed its head against Anita's leg, then leaned in and licked Harry's face.

"The wolf lives within you, Harry, and it always will," Jean-Claude said.

"And you belong to us," Richard said in that painfully low voice. "No matter what happens, you've been part of the pack since you killed the witch."

"See?" Anita said. "It's going to be fine. You're still Damian's grandson; nothing can take that away. Like it or not, you're stuck with us."

"That's okay," Harry whispered. It was more than okay. As wolf howls rose to the sky, mingled with the screams from the leopards, Harry felt his troubles falling away. The animal in his chest rumbled its approval, at the moon and the pack and the potential of a good chase on the fine night air.

As Richard reared back and bayed up at the moon, Harry thought to himself, I belong here. As clear as if in a prophecy, Harry knew now what he had to do. He had to go back to Hogwarts, write his NEWTs and stop Voldemort, not necessarily in that order, and learn all he could to help the pack.

Then, one day, he'd come back to St. Louis, to the Thronnos Rokke clan, and this new family he had.

With his pack around him, Harry threw his head back and howled defiantly at the full moon.

...tbc

Current Mood: jubilant

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

From:

houses7177.livejournal.com

Guh. You've knocked this one out of the park. Harry's yearning, his excitment about truly belonging, then how everything dissolves.

Yet he's not alone.

Beautiful. *sniffle* If the story ended here, I'd cheer. I don't want it to, mind you, but the growth you've forced on Harry is really wonderful to read, and I like the hopeful tone of the ending. Yes, I know it'll get more complex and really rather disconcerting for all involved in the future, but knowing that he got this far...well, it fills me with warm fuzzies.

From:

mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com

Even at Hogwarts, Harry's not really a part of things. The Weasleys may try and make him part of the family, but as we've seen in OotP and HBP, Harry will not let himself accept that.

With Ron and Hermione pulling closer together, he's once again being left out in the cold. In Inevitable, I'm going to pretend that Hermione and Ron hooked up in Sixth year without any of that horrible Lavender stuff.

I>If the story ended here, I'd cheer. I don't want it to, mind you, but the growth you've forced on Harry is really wonderful to read, and I like the hopeful tone of the ending.

I think it's a god tone to send Harry back home on. He's come to a realization about his life and his place in it, so he will be able to go back and be that person. A stronger and more adult person.

Yes, I know it'll get more complex and really rather disconcerting for all involved in the future

You betcha! I think that you will enjoy it. I know I sure plan to enjoy writing the more HP stuff. I've got some great ideas to incorporate things we learned in HBP into the story (keeping in mind that this story is not HBP complainant, as Dumbledore's undeadness proves)

Look at me ramble.

mhalachai was here

FIC: Inevitable 42: Bad Moon Rising

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