Short short ficlet
Nov. 1st, 2003 03:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarotgalShort fifth-year transformation Sirius/Remus ficlet.
It's untitled (sorry, I suckith at titles) and it's PG13... though really only G in my mind as I don't think there's even any kissing involved.
It's a little rough, still (could use a bit of polishing) but it's short enough to share on LJ so I thought I would do just that.
She stood over him nervously for a moment, then shoved a handkerchief into his hand. “I know you can’t use this once you transform, but in the meantime…”
He nodded, lifting it to his nose at once and wiping. “Thak you Badab Bobfrey.” He blushed at his congestion and sniffled.
Madam Pomfrey always tried hard to show little emotion or favoritism towards him, but it was difficult when you had a student like Remus Lupin you were supposed to look after for a few days every month without getting attached. The boy’s condition yielded additional concerns as well, including a proclivity to always catch whatever happened to be going around the school. She had never seen him so sick and miserably right before a transformation, however. It was usually the week afterwards when he caught the colds or flus or sore throats. “Take care of yourself now,” she said pathetically, when all she really wanted to do was swoop down and give the boy a huge, motherly hug. But her professional demeanor prevented this.
Remus nodded. “Thak you. Add dod’t worry. This isd’t the first tibe I’ve tradsforbed sick. I dow how to hadle byself.” This was true as well. He had transformed once with the stomach flu and another time with bronchitis. The wolf had not cared for either, but had taken it easy just the same, allowing him to sleep most of the night for a change.
She gave him a sympathetic smile and left, securing the trap door lock from the outside, locking him in. Remus could feel the last rays of the sun on his skin, even though he was securely inside. It wasn’t long before the moon would rise for the night. Perhaps if he started out asleep it wouldn’t be quite so bad? “ehh-IHHHTchhh! Ehh-IHHKshih!” He snuffled into the handkerchief and wiped his nose. Then trudged up the stairs to the bedroom. The four poster was badly beaten, blankets torn to pieces, the wood scratched to the point of splintering. He wondered why they’d left it in there when they’d been removing furniture. But he supposed it was so big that there wasn’t much point in moving it, even with size-reducing spells and transfiguring it into a breadbox or something. Maybe they just wanted to give Remus something to lie down on in times like this, right before or after his transformations.
Remus pulled a tattered gray piece of blanket around him and let his head rest against the pillow-less bed. It was pounding terribly, but there was nothing he could be given to combat it, not in the form he would soon be in. Not much was known about medicating a werewolf. The magical community was either in a state of perpetual fear or hatred about werewolves and no respectable healer would be caught purposely trying to make their lives better. What was known, however, was that most medicinal potions and remedies either made their wolf forms violently ill, or killed the werewolves the moment they transformed for the month, never to transform back. Remus was not about to take that chance for a mere head cold. “ehhh-IHHHShhehh! ehhh-IHHHTChiii! ehhh-hehhh-eh-IHHHKshuhh!” Even if it was probably a little more than just a mere head cold.
“Moony?”
Remus jumped with a yelp, sitting back up in bed. “Sirius!” he hissed, hand to his heart. His breathing was racing, his body trembling with surprise. “You albost scared be to death!”
Sirius hung in the doorway, his charming smile working its way over to Remus to calm him down. “Aww, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was possible to sneak up on a werewolf.”
“Ha!” he said, weakly. “The bressure id by head is boudig id by ears, add by dose is so cobletely stuffed ub I could’t catch a sedt right dow if by life debeded od it.” He sniffed in demonstration, a bit of a squeak was all that could be heard, as no air passed through. He rubbed the hanky at his nose. “Besides, I told you all I wasd’t feelig ub to ad advedture todight. I thought you three wered’t cobig.”
“We’re not,” he said, hands tightening their hold on the wood of the door molding. “It’s just me. And I wasn’t coming for the adventure. Just to… just to make sure you were all right tonight.” He smiled sheepishly, looking away from Remus. “That just made me sound utterly pathetic, didn’t it?”
Remus nodded. “Good thig for you that I habbed to have ad affidity for utterly bathetic at this secod.” He patted the bed next to him. Sirius bounded over enthusiastically, not yet in dog form, but Remus didn’t notice the difference. Had Sirius a tail in his normal, human form, it would certainly have been wagging.
He put his arm around Remus and rubbed his hand up and down the boy’s upper arm, warming him a little. “I want to stay with you tonight, every moment, taking care of you all I can and being with you when you transform back in the morning.”
“Sirius,” Remus breathed. Their relationship as slightly more than friends was a very new one, not quite even a week old yet, and neither really knew exactly where it could lead. They hadn’t even told James or Peter about it yet, or done much more than kissed when they were absolutely sure no one was watching. “Badab Bobfrey—”
Sirius finished for him, “Will have to get used to seeing it, because I don’t want to ever leave you again. And now that we figured out the animagus transformation I don’t have to.” He guided Remus’ head to his shoulder and tightened his hug. “And don’t even think about protesting that I’ll catch your cold because I really couldn’t care less about a few sneezes when it means spending the whole night with you.” He stopped and took a deep breath, eyes closed tightly. “Because, when you’re ready of course, I want to spend the whole night with you in bed when it’s not a transformation night.”
Silence met this statement. Terrible, doubtful silence. Sirius risked opening one eye, squinting, peeking at Remus. “Am I moving too fast for you?” he asked, nervously, biting his lip.
“Dot at all, Badfoot,” Remus said, smiling, embarrassed at his stuffiness still. “I’d like that very buch, ac…tually.”
Sirius tensed. “You going to sneeze again?”
Remus shook his head, pulling away and jumping off the bed. Better not to give the wolf a tangle of blankets he had to fight his way out of right away. He motioned to Sirius to stay where he was, and Sirius transformed at once, his eyes still as soft, worrying and comforting, even in his dog form.
The transformation began, slow at first, then speeding up. There was howling and growling as Remus’ body twisted and turned, writhing in pain. Paws were hands used to have been, a snout where there had been merely a nose and mouth. A tail, fur, claws and sharp teeth on what used to be a skinny, weak human boy.
The wolf pulled itself up on shaky legs. Then his head snapped to the side. “ihhshh! ihhhshh!” It sneezed, looking up miserably towards the dog on the bed.
Padfoot jumped down, landing deftly on all fours. He walked over to the wolf and began licking the side of its face. Remus froze for a moment, then tilted his head to give Sirius a better angle. Instinctually, he made to return the gesture but then remembered at the back of his mind that he was sick. But Sirius nuzzled him, pushing him to do it, and Remus did with a bit of a whimper.
Then Sirius plopped down on the floor, his great big, black form stretched far, even when curled a bit as he was now. Remus circled him three times, sniffing his rump, pawing at his side. Then he curled up against the dog, nuzzling his hot, dry nose into the dark blank fur. As Remus the wolf rested his head on Sirius’ warm, furry side and closed his amber eyes, Sirius swung a large paw up and rested it on Remus’ back to keep him close. With a few gentle nips and some more licks, Remus fell asleep as he so very rarely did as a wolf.
*
Morning came, as it always did, but there was no light in the Shrieking Shack. Madam Pomfrey found Remus on the bed in a room on the second floor, curled up in the blankets with Sirius Black stroking him affectionately. Sirius explained that he’d snuck in to see Remus this morning, just after dawn. Just the same, she said she’d need to draw some blood to be sure he hadn’t been bitten, and he agreed to this.
“Remus,” he whispered softly, pulling Remus’ soft brown hair back from his ear. “Time to wake up.”
Remus woke, sniffling and coughing with congestion. Madam Pomfrey had brought another handkerchief along, but Sirius already had one out, holding it to Remus face for a blow. Sirius insisted on carrying Remus back, and the boy drifted back to sleep in his arms as he did so, Madam Pomfrey leading the way with wandlight.
She noticed, as she tucked the boy into his usual cot in the hospital wing, that he had significantly less injuries than usual this time. And she noticed the way he and Sirius held hands, fingers intertwined, as Sirius dozed off in a chair beside his bed, purposefully skipping breakfast to stay by Remus’ side. Well, if she couldn’t show favoritism and care for the boy the way she wished she could, she was glad at least that he had found someone who could.
title suggestions would be appreciated, even though I know it's pretty short. Just something that hit me last night when I was trying to sleep and thought I'd share once I got it out.
I'm off to go raid Best Buy and take in a hockey game!
It's untitled (sorry, I suckith at titles) and it's PG13... though really only G in my mind as I don't think there's even any kissing involved.
It's a little rough, still (could use a bit of polishing) but it's short enough to share on LJ so I thought I would do just that.
She stood over him nervously for a moment, then shoved a handkerchief into his hand. “I know you can’t use this once you transform, but in the meantime…”
He nodded, lifting it to his nose at once and wiping. “Thak you Badab Bobfrey.” He blushed at his congestion and sniffled.
Madam Pomfrey always tried hard to show little emotion or favoritism towards him, but it was difficult when you had a student like Remus Lupin you were supposed to look after for a few days every month without getting attached. The boy’s condition yielded additional concerns as well, including a proclivity to always catch whatever happened to be going around the school. She had never seen him so sick and miserably right before a transformation, however. It was usually the week afterwards when he caught the colds or flus or sore throats. “Take care of yourself now,” she said pathetically, when all she really wanted to do was swoop down and give the boy a huge, motherly hug. But her professional demeanor prevented this.
Remus nodded. “Thak you. Add dod’t worry. This isd’t the first tibe I’ve tradsforbed sick. I dow how to hadle byself.” This was true as well. He had transformed once with the stomach flu and another time with bronchitis. The wolf had not cared for either, but had taken it easy just the same, allowing him to sleep most of the night for a change.
She gave him a sympathetic smile and left, securing the trap door lock from the outside, locking him in. Remus could feel the last rays of the sun on his skin, even though he was securely inside. It wasn’t long before the moon would rise for the night. Perhaps if he started out asleep it wouldn’t be quite so bad? “ehh-IHHHTchhh! Ehh-IHHKshih!” He snuffled into the handkerchief and wiped his nose. Then trudged up the stairs to the bedroom. The four poster was badly beaten, blankets torn to pieces, the wood scratched to the point of splintering. He wondered why they’d left it in there when they’d been removing furniture. But he supposed it was so big that there wasn’t much point in moving it, even with size-reducing spells and transfiguring it into a breadbox or something. Maybe they just wanted to give Remus something to lie down on in times like this, right before or after his transformations.
Remus pulled a tattered gray piece of blanket around him and let his head rest against the pillow-less bed. It was pounding terribly, but there was nothing he could be given to combat it, not in the form he would soon be in. Not much was known about medicating a werewolf. The magical community was either in a state of perpetual fear or hatred about werewolves and no respectable healer would be caught purposely trying to make their lives better. What was known, however, was that most medicinal potions and remedies either made their wolf forms violently ill, or killed the werewolves the moment they transformed for the month, never to transform back. Remus was not about to take that chance for a mere head cold. “ehhh-IHHHShhehh! ehhh-IHHHTChiii! ehhh-hehhh-eh-IHHHKshuhh!” Even if it was probably a little more than just a mere head cold.
“Moony?”
Remus jumped with a yelp, sitting back up in bed. “Sirius!” he hissed, hand to his heart. His breathing was racing, his body trembling with surprise. “You albost scared be to death!”
Sirius hung in the doorway, his charming smile working its way over to Remus to calm him down. “Aww, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was possible to sneak up on a werewolf.”
“Ha!” he said, weakly. “The bressure id by head is boudig id by ears, add by dose is so cobletely stuffed ub I could’t catch a sedt right dow if by life debeded od it.” He sniffed in demonstration, a bit of a squeak was all that could be heard, as no air passed through. He rubbed the hanky at his nose. “Besides, I told you all I wasd’t feelig ub to ad advedture todight. I thought you three wered’t cobig.”
“We’re not,” he said, hands tightening their hold on the wood of the door molding. “It’s just me. And I wasn’t coming for the adventure. Just to… just to make sure you were all right tonight.” He smiled sheepishly, looking away from Remus. “That just made me sound utterly pathetic, didn’t it?”
Remus nodded. “Good thig for you that I habbed to have ad affidity for utterly bathetic at this secod.” He patted the bed next to him. Sirius bounded over enthusiastically, not yet in dog form, but Remus didn’t notice the difference. Had Sirius a tail in his normal, human form, it would certainly have been wagging.
He put his arm around Remus and rubbed his hand up and down the boy’s upper arm, warming him a little. “I want to stay with you tonight, every moment, taking care of you all I can and being with you when you transform back in the morning.”
“Sirius,” Remus breathed. Their relationship as slightly more than friends was a very new one, not quite even a week old yet, and neither really knew exactly where it could lead. They hadn’t even told James or Peter about it yet, or done much more than kissed when they were absolutely sure no one was watching. “Badab Bobfrey—”
Sirius finished for him, “Will have to get used to seeing it, because I don’t want to ever leave you again. And now that we figured out the animagus transformation I don’t have to.” He guided Remus’ head to his shoulder and tightened his hug. “And don’t even think about protesting that I’ll catch your cold because I really couldn’t care less about a few sneezes when it means spending the whole night with you.” He stopped and took a deep breath, eyes closed tightly. “Because, when you’re ready of course, I want to spend the whole night with you in bed when it’s not a transformation night.”
Silence met this statement. Terrible, doubtful silence. Sirius risked opening one eye, squinting, peeking at Remus. “Am I moving too fast for you?” he asked, nervously, biting his lip.
“Dot at all, Badfoot,” Remus said, smiling, embarrassed at his stuffiness still. “I’d like that very buch, ac…tually.”
Sirius tensed. “You going to sneeze again?”
Remus shook his head, pulling away and jumping off the bed. Better not to give the wolf a tangle of blankets he had to fight his way out of right away. He motioned to Sirius to stay where he was, and Sirius transformed at once, his eyes still as soft, worrying and comforting, even in his dog form.
The transformation began, slow at first, then speeding up. There was howling and growling as Remus’ body twisted and turned, writhing in pain. Paws were hands used to have been, a snout where there had been merely a nose and mouth. A tail, fur, claws and sharp teeth on what used to be a skinny, weak human boy.
The wolf pulled itself up on shaky legs. Then his head snapped to the side. “ihhshh! ihhhshh!” It sneezed, looking up miserably towards the dog on the bed.
Padfoot jumped down, landing deftly on all fours. He walked over to the wolf and began licking the side of its face. Remus froze for a moment, then tilted his head to give Sirius a better angle. Instinctually, he made to return the gesture but then remembered at the back of his mind that he was sick. But Sirius nuzzled him, pushing him to do it, and Remus did with a bit of a whimper.
Then Sirius plopped down on the floor, his great big, black form stretched far, even when curled a bit as he was now. Remus circled him three times, sniffing his rump, pawing at his side. Then he curled up against the dog, nuzzling his hot, dry nose into the dark blank fur. As Remus the wolf rested his head on Sirius’ warm, furry side and closed his amber eyes, Sirius swung a large paw up and rested it on Remus’ back to keep him close. With a few gentle nips and some more licks, Remus fell asleep as he so very rarely did as a wolf.
Morning came, as it always did, but there was no light in the Shrieking Shack. Madam Pomfrey found Remus on the bed in a room on the second floor, curled up in the blankets with Sirius Black stroking him affectionately. Sirius explained that he’d snuck in to see Remus this morning, just after dawn. Just the same, she said she’d need to draw some blood to be sure he hadn’t been bitten, and he agreed to this.
“Remus,” he whispered softly, pulling Remus’ soft brown hair back from his ear. “Time to wake up.”
Remus woke, sniffling and coughing with congestion. Madam Pomfrey had brought another handkerchief along, but Sirius already had one out, holding it to Remus face for a blow. Sirius insisted on carrying Remus back, and the boy drifted back to sleep in his arms as he did so, Madam Pomfrey leading the way with wandlight.
She noticed, as she tucked the boy into his usual cot in the hospital wing, that he had significantly less injuries than usual this time. And she noticed the way he and Sirius held hands, fingers intertwined, as Sirius dozed off in a chair beside his bed, purposefully skipping breakfast to stay by Remus’ side. Well, if she couldn’t show favoritism and care for the boy the way she wished she could, she was glad at least that he had found someone who could.
title suggestions would be appreciated, even though I know it's pretty short. Just something that hit me last night when I was trying to sleep and thought I'd share once I got it out.
I'm off to go raid Best Buy and take in a hockey game!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 02:57 am (UTC)I loved the third person commentary of Madam Pomfrey, her concern just intensifying the squidgy feeling (squidgy = good) that I got throughout the snippet. At first I was surprised that Sirius allowed Madam Pomfrey to find him with Remus, but it really was a nice way of showing how comfortable Remus' friends must have been with him and his condition. Also implying, by her lack of surprise, that a few of them had been found there before.
The interaction between the two pups was lovely. Young love, sigh. Sirius direct, but shy, revelation of what he wanted, when he wanted it, was very much within his character - and adorable, I might add.
I think you did a wonderful job, tg - and deserve your team to win tonight in reward. :) Which one are you rooting for? I know you're a fan (I learn so much from fanfiction) of the Sabres (le sigh) and, I think, Capitals, but I only know that the former is, or rather was, playing tonight. Excellent game, even if they did not completely trounce the Senators - they out played them, imo. I was having flashbacks to a few years back, before they, err, began to suck. Twas refreshing. ;)
But back to the fic - wonderful. More! Please. :)
~Circe
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 06:15 am (UTC)I loved the third person commentary of Madam Pomfrey, her concern just intensifying the squidgy feeling (squidgy = good) that I got throughout the snippet.
I liked bookending the fic with her. I honestly think she knows more about some things that go on in the school than Dumbledore. And she's darn good about keeping her mouth closed. (Whereas Dumbledore goes and blabs which students grew beards for trying to go through the age line, etc.) And I can really see her sympathetic side-that she shows towards Harry with the dementors, and then after the dragons, etc. and can really see her taking to Remus for all she has to do with him. But she's definitely the "observer" type. Which makes it fun to start and finish with her.
At first I was surprised that Sirius allowed Madam Pomfrey to find him with Remus, but it really was a nice way of showing how comfortable Remus' friends must have been with him and his condition.
This is very true. :-)
Also implying, by her lack of surprise, that a few of them had been found there before.
Oohhhhh whoops. That I was not actually going for. I wanted this to technically be the first instance of her actually finding others there. I guess I did a poor job with that. But no matter! That's what editing is for.
I did sort of want it to be the first time she sees someone in the shack with Remus. Though I expect that they do visit him in the hospital wing afterwards quite a lot. And I'm sure she knows that he told them and is glad to see they're okay about it. This is just a step beyond being just "okay". You're right. She should be a heck of a lot more surprised than I wrote her. Thanks for the observation and sorry for giving you the wrong impression there.
The interaction between the two pups was lovely. Young love, sigh. Sirius direct, but shy, revelation of what he wanted, when he wanted it, was very much within his character - and adorable, I might add.
Yeah *G* That's totally Sirius. And I honestly can't see him being shy about his feelings towards anyone but Remus... and maybe James (and maaaaaaaybe Peter... if he has to). I think it's nice for him to be able to care and respect others so much that he's afraid of hurting them by being his normal wild, say-anything self. And I'm sure he wouldn't want to botch things up with Remus so early in their relationship.
I think you did a wonderful job, tg - and deserve your team to win tonight in reward. :) Which one are you rooting for?
Well, my Caps lost *sigh* But it's nice to hear it wasn't TOO badly. Considering they have been doing SO badly lately!
The game I went to was actually one in the ECHL (a step down from the AHL, even) It was like watching hockey in slow motion *G* But it was a great game and they won 6-4, and played really well. So it was lots of fun!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 05:31 am (UTC)The little details of a new relationship between Moony and Padfoot were so cute. Perhaps a sequal with Sirius catching it? *G*
~Annalisa
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 06:22 am (UTC)Yeah... I really love Madam Pomfrey. I really do think she knows more about some things in the school than even Dumbledore knows. And she seems very buisness-like but also highly sympathetic. She's a very interesting character. I've read some good femslash with her and Hootch that sort of warmed me up to getting to think about her character more.
I think I'm going to spruce this one up a little bit more first. I'm getting stuck with sequels. I have about... let me count... 8 sequels waiting to be finished right now... and they're going REALLY slowly. So I don't want to commit to any more... I have a feeling sequels just aren't agreeing with me right now. But I hadn't counted on writing this in the first place... so I don't intend to speak for my muses... :-)
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 05:55 am (UTC)This was about the "sickest" I have ever seen you write him! It broke my heart! Remus, who would do anything for anybody, having to go down that cold tunnel into the Shack and lay alone in a bed, sick and tortured with the transformation besides...sneezing his precious little head off!
But, just when you are about to think that no one can do anything to help Remus, Sirius arrives and he can help, because he has been with Remus-the-boy and Remus-the-werewolf and he loves every part of both of them. It is wonderful to imagine how gentle Sirius can be with the boy he loves. To think of him turning into the dog, cuddling the sick little werewolf, staying near him all night to give him the safety of knowing he is not alone if he needs anything. To imagine him the next morning, still there, carrying his beloved still-sick friend out of he shack. Very moving!
I wish I had good suggestion for a title. I know it struck me how this night they were spending together was "The First of Many Nights" they would sleep together, but I am not sure if you can make that fit, or even of you *want* that to be the "point" of your story. Anyway...even untitled, it is sweet and memorable. Thanks for sharing it!
Patti
no subject
Date: 2003-11-02 06:31 am (UTC)Ug... thanks for reminding me. I still owe Sharon comments on that story. Gods, I love her writing. I'm the worst with feedback!! lol
But yes *G* hard to resist a cute Remus *G*
This was about the "sickest" I have ever seen you write him! It broke my heart! Remus, who would do anything for anybody, having to go down that cold tunnel into the Shack and lay alone in a bed, sick and tortured with the transformation besides...sneezing his precious little head off!
Awwwwwww! Poor little guy! You're so right. I really do feel sorry for the characters as I write them, but at least most of the time I know it's only going to be temporary. Much different when I'm reading and don't know where the story will go *G*
But, just when you are about to think that no one can do anything to help Remus, Sirius arrives and he can help, because he has been with Remus-the-boy and Remus-the-werewolf and he loves every part of both of them.
I've read a lot of "first time" stories where the dog and wolf get it on before Sirius and Remus ever do in human form- just because of the deep attraction and instincts. But I like to think of it all happening simultaneously. Just something that they acknowledge is growing on all levels.
It is wonderful to imagine how gentle Sirius can be with the boy he loves. To think of him turning into the dog, cuddling the sick little werewolf, staying near him all night to give him the safety of knowing he is not alone if he needs anything. To imagine him the next morning, still there, carrying his beloved still-sick friend out of he shack. Very moving!
Isn't it though? heehee *blush* Thanks. I really loved that imagery, myself. I'm a sucker for good nuzzlings. Oddly enough, I just wrote a nuzzling Jedi scene this morning around 4... maybe that's where this more "furry" nuzzling grew from :-) But, yes, Sirius is so strong... I can see him wanting to protect and care for Remus every second, wanting to spare him all discomfort possible. And not letting anyone- even Remus- tell him differently.
I wish I had good suggestion for a title. I know it struck me how this night they were spending together was "The First of Many Nights" they would sleep together, but I am not sure if you can make that fit, or even of you *want* that to be the "point" of your story. Anyway...even untitled, it is sweet and memorable. Thanks for sharing it!
No, that's PERFECT! Oohhh I like! I do owe it another edit or two... to clear up some confusions and *maybe* spell the end out a little bit more. I don't know why I bother summarizing so much and then still putting in dialogue... one or the other... a combination doesn't work so well. But no, that title is lovely- and it does reflect the point of my story. First thing that popped into my mind was "One Night" which is a terrible title I used for a SW fic. I was definitely thinking night-related. Ohhhhhh I really like that, though! Thank you!!! :-) Much!!! Can I hire you to come up with all my titles for me? ;-)