Semper - Fred Weasley

Chapter XXVII

„Kreacher is doing as he is commanded,“ and after bowing to Sirius again, he disappeared.

Sirius cautiously walked over to Fred and couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Remus lying in front of him with his eyes open.

„Remus? Can you hear me?“ He sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand.

„Why isn’t he reacting, why are his eyes open?“ asked Fred, who was now sitting next to Penny again and cradling her tightly in his arms.

Sirius brought his hand to Remus' neck and felt for a pulse.

„He doesn’t have a pulse,“ he stammered and looked uncertainly into Remus' eyes, which were now alive again, he didn’t blink, but his pupils reacted to light.

None of the three people in the room understood what was happening in front of their eyes, what a weird game they were witnessing.

After a moment the first members stepped in including Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Mad Eye and Tonks.

"What’s so important?“ Mad Eye asked, walking over to Sirius while Bill and Charlie looked at their brother and Penny in concern.

„Penny was with Remus and all of a sudden she screamed and said he had moved. He has no pulse but his eyes are responding. We don’t know what’s wrong with him.“

„That’s not possible.“, Bill mumbled, looking just as puzzled as Charlie.

Kreacher entered the room followed by Madam Pomfrey, who immediately rushed to Remus. Sirius explained again what had happened and for the first time in their lives the men saw the experienced woman speechless.

She turned and looked at Penny.

„Get her out of here. I don’t want anyone here. Sirius you can stay.“ Fred obeyed and scooped Penny into his arms before leaving the room with his brothers.

„What’s happening to him, Poppy?“ Sirius asked as she began examining Remus.

„I’ve never seen anything like this,“ she whispered, waving her wand over his body.

„Interesting. That’s incredible,“ she murmured.

„What?“

„I’m not sure, but part of him is alive.“ she looked at Sirius and saw a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

„I need more time,“ she continued, and Sirius nodded without letting go of Remus‘ hand.

After what felt like an eternity to Sirius, she put her wand aside.

She opened her bag and pulled out various vials, she skillfully mixed up a potion and gave it to Remus.

And then the impossible happened. Remus‘ chest heaved. And it lowered, the process repeating itself in a steady rhythm.

He was breathing.

„What- how’s that possible? He was dead. He – he – I’ve checked his pulse – he was dead.“ Sirius stuttered, unable to take his eyes off Remus‘ chest for fear he might be dreaming and when he looked again, it was all over.

„I don’t know what Rubina did to him, Sirius. And I’ve never seen anything like it. But it’s possible. I’ve read about it. Sirius, the part of Remus that died was the werewolf,“ she said and the world stopped.

As much as Sirius tried to understand her words, they didn’t get through to him.

„I do not understand.“

„I guess nobody examined him when you brought him here?“ Sirius shook his head. „I thought so, because then they would have found traces of aconite in his blood,“ she said.