So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 80 A Werewolf's Tale

Greyback was already on the move with some of the stronger looking werewolves. Greyback despite being in human form tore open a human’s throat. Remus looked away – this was the Greyback that he had always been told about. But he remembered that Greyback wasn’t just killing humans for fun – he was protecting his small family. The fight was quick and brutal, and the humans were forced to retreat.

 

Greyback and the other werewolves made their way up the dunes and onto the open-top cliffs. Greyback looked around for his mate and child, but they were nowhere to be seen. Remus had a sinking feeling because he had to have ended up in the hands of the Lupins somehow.

 

‘Where’s, Romula?’ demanded Greyback.

 

An elderly Indian werewolf shook her head, ‘I’m sorry … Romula was in front of me … she should be here …’

 

Greyback made his way back towards the beach, hollering for Romula so much so it almost sounded like he was howling. Then Greyback found her lying still on the ground. The ground under her was red as her blood seeped out of her.

 

‘Romula,’ whispered Greyback.

 

Greyback pulled up her shirt trying to see what was wrong. Remus felt sick he could see what had happened immediately – a slashing curse that had cut open her stomach. Greyback tried to put pressure onto the wounds … but it was too deep, she was losing to much blood too quickly, and Greyback knew that.

 

‘Romula, stay with me,’ begged Greyback.

 

‘Fen … rir,’ Romula said voice coming out faint and tired. ‘Rem … they took … find … Remus … Remus …’

 

‘Don’t talk,’ Greyback said. ‘You have to stay alive so we can find him together.’

 

‘… Remus …’

 

‘Please, don’t leave me,’ begged Greyback.

 

‘Find … Remus …’

 

And that was Romula Redfur’s last words. Remus could see the light go out of those once amber eyes. Greyback clutched Romula close to his chest and howl out of grief, pain and rage at the loss of the entirety of his family.

 

Remus found himself feeling sick as the image faded. His mother’s last words had been of him. Begging her mate to find him and when Greyback had found him again Remus had been unwilling to listen. How many of those who loved him had Remus hurt?

 

‘Merlin, it’s no wonder he hates wizards,’ Minerva said darkly.

 

 

 

 

As the image shifted itself Remus found himself looking at himself this time eighteen-years-old. An older Greyback whose hair had gone silver in the almost twenty years since he had last seen his son sniffed the air hope in his amber eyes and a smile on his face as he took in his stolen son.

 

‘I am Remus Lupi-‘

 

But before he could finish what he said Remus found himself being embraced by the most feared werewolf of all time.

 

‘Remus, you’ve come back,’ Greyback said.

 

Remus remembered this, the confusion – why was Greyback hugging him? and then Greyback had explained everything. And Remus had been confused and terrified, it had felt like he was falling. Then Dumbledore had calmly sat down and told him that Greyback was tricking him. The lie had been so much more pleasant that he had believed, and he had trusted Albus Dumbledore not to lie to him.

 

‘He told you, didn’t he?’ Flitwick said.

 

‘I … I … didn’t believe him,’ Remus said voice cracking.

 

 

 

 

The image shifted once more, returning to a very familiar place – Godric’s Hollow. Remus could see the Halloween decorations still on the walls. Remus swallowed he knew when and where they were – Godric’s Hollow, 31st July 1981 – the day of Lily and James’ deaths.