June 1994

As Venus Black slept, she dreamt of werewolves and dogs and men turning into rats. When she awoke, the world was too bright. The sunlight shone through a window above her, dazzling her and making her blink.

She could hear hushed voices, but couldn't see anyone as some partitions made of white fabric had been pulled around her bed.

"She should wake up soon," Madam Pomfrey was saying. "I've stopped all the bleeding and treated the wounds. The best thing you can do for her is to be there when she does."

Venus noticed that her legs were wrapped tightly in clean white bandages and hurt quite a lot. She didn't try to move, her body felt heavy and exhausted.

Someone came around the partitions, and Venus saw the worried faces of Andromeda, Ted and Dora.

"You're awake?" Andromeda hurried to her side when she spotted that her daughter's eyes were open.

"What happened?" Venus demanded, "Where's Black? Harry, Ron and Hermione?"

Her family didn't answer. They settled themselves tentatively down in seats beside her.

"What happened?" Venus asked again.

"Let's not worry about that right now," Andromeda said smoothly. "How are you feeling? Does anything hurt? Are you tired? We can get Poppy to give you a sleeping draft if you want to sleep-"

"Dromeda, stop," Venus said. "What happened? Did they get Pettigrew? Where's Black?"

"Black escaped," said Dora, worry evident all across her face. Her hair was a pale mousy blonde, she looked smaller without her usual vibrant hair colour. "But don't worry about it, Ve, we'll get him."

"What? No, he's innocent!" She scrambled into a sitting position, wincing as she jogged the wounds on her legs. "Ask Remus, even Snape heard- Peter Pettigrew is alive, he -"

"Calm down, Venus," Ted said smoothly, placing a tentative hand on her shoulder, then seeming to think better of it and withdrawing his hand back to his own lap.

"I'm fine!" Venus complained. "What happened? Where's Pettigrew?"

"Peter Pettigrew died almost thirteen years ago," said Andromeda. "Don't worry about any of that now, the Ministry will get Black, he won't come for you again."

"But Sirius didn't do anything wrong!" Venus' voice grew hysterical. The pain and the confusion were overwhelming.

"Relax, sweetheart," said Ted, "you'll reopen your wounds."

Wounds. That was an old word, Venus hadn't had wounds since Walburga had died. She could feel a steady throbbing pain in her legs, which she tried her best to ignore.

"What happened?" Venus frowned. Her head was groggy, she couldn't remember much of what had happened after they had left the Shrieking Shack.

Andromeda let out a stifled sob and pressed her hands to her lips to quiet it. Ted shot a concerned look at his wife.

"You don't remember?" He asked.

Venus shook her head, which made her dizzy.

No one spoke; Ted didn't seem to have the words to explain what had happened.

"It was a full moon," Venus said eventually after she sorted through her thoughts.

Silently, Ted and Dora nodded. Andromeda was too busy trying to stop herself from crying.

"And Lupin hadn't taken his potion," said Dora simply, her face a mask of stress and worry. Venus had never seen her sister look at her like that.

"Did he... did I get bitten?" Venus managed. The pain in her legs told her all she needed to know, and the memories had come back in full force. The feeling of those strong, powerful jaws around her ankle before the wolf was ripped away. But she needed someone to say it aloud for it to be real.

"Yes," Ted choked.

"Am I ... Am I a werewolf?"

Andromeda's sobs intensified, and Ted put an arm around his wife. No one answered her question. She supposed she already knew the answer. Miserably, she settled back down into her pillows and stared up at the ceiling.

It seemed that Ted and Andromeda didn't know what to say. Dora and they held a silent vigil around Venus' bedside for most of the day. The only interruptions to the silence were when Madam Pomfrey bustled into the cordoned-off section of the room around Venus' bed to redress her wounds or administer healing potions. It seemed she had slept until well past noon the day after the full moon. The Matron assured her that Harry, Ron and Hermione were all quite well and had been released before she woke up.

Madam Pomfrey assured them all that Venus would be fine. She used Remus as an example, which only darkened the mood around the bed.

Venus wasn't upset with him, but her parents were. Every time the Matron mentioned his name, Andromeda cried again, and Ted tutted.

"I expect that you'll be well enough to walk out of here tomorrow," said the Matron as she administered a balm that stung to the bloody pulps that had once been Venus' legs. They were crisscrossed with angry red scratches, apparently some of the worst ones had cut straight down to the bone. The worst one of all was on her left ankle, where she could count the teeth that had sunk deeply into her skin.

"They'll scar unfortunately," Madam Pomfrey had begun wrapping fresh bandages tightly around her legs. "But I'm certain that they'll all heal as best they can."

Venus didn't say another word, and when evening fell, she accepted the sleeping draught without protesting.

As she slept, the adults made plans.

"She'll come straight home with us in the morning?" Andromeda asked Dumbledore, who had just arrived to check on Venus after spending a good proportion of the day dealing with the fallout of the previous night.

"If that's what you want," Dumbledore nodded.

"And he'll be gone next year?" she demanded. She spoke in a haughty voice, which she had learned as a child, normally got her what she wanted.

"Remus Lupin has resigned," Dumbledore said. "He has asked me to tell Miss Black that he would like to see her when she's ready."

Ted made an indignant noise, and Andromeda let out a horrified gasp.

"If he thinks we will ever let him near our family again-"

"Venus will need support," said Dumbledore. "Whilst I understand you will find it difficult to forgive him, he is the only werewolf we know and is offering to help Venus learn how to manage her condition."

"Difficult to forgive?" Andromeda repeated. "Difficult to forgive? He's ruined her life forever!"

"Lycanthropy, whilst a horrible condition, is something that she will have to learn to live with," said Dumbledore. "It is Venus' decision as to whether she accepts the help offered to her. Severus has agreed to brew her Wolfsbane potion every month, and we will take every precaution possible when she returns to school."

"So she can come back?" Dora asked.

"Of course she can come back," Dumbledore nodded. "But it must be kept quiet. The faculty will be notified of course, and unavoidably, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger already know, but have sworn to keep the secret. Venus' place at this school depends on her ability to keep her secret. I'm afraid that if it gets out, I will have no choice..."

"We understand. Albus, thank you," said Ted.

"You are welcome to stay with her overnight, Poppy will make up some beds if you wish to sleep."

*

July 1994

Venus,

I am on the run, but if you try and send me a letter, an owl should be able to find me.

I feel as though we did not get the chance to speak properly when we first met, and for that I am sorry. I hope that one day we have the chance to know each other.

If you need anything, know that I will always be there. I am so sorry for what happened, I know it is my fault, if I had been quicker, then it never would have happened. I don't expect you to ever forgive me for this, but I retain hope.

Sirius

Miss Venus Black,

Please find attached your exam results from your second year at Hogwarts School. As you will know, in your third year you are able to select a minimum of two, maximum three additional subjects to study. I have attached the course guide.

Please finalise your options by no later than August 20th.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Venus,

Are you okay? Harry said that you were there the night Professor Lupin got loose in the grounds and that you're fine, but you got hurt? Please write back soon.

Ginny

Dad says you can come to the Quidditch World if you still want to?

Venus,

I'm certain that you're furious at me, and you have every right to be so. I do not come to you asking for forgiveness, I will never forgive myself for what I have done to you. I come offering what help I can to try and rectify my own mistake.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Remus

Miss Black,

I will leave this decision up to you, but as your teacher, I must follow protocol, as I have become aware that you have been infected with Lycanthropy. I have attached a form which will register you as a werewolf to the Ministry. You must fill this out when you turn seventeen, but are welcome to do so earlier if you decide.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

MINISTRY OF MAGIC OFFICIAL DOCUMENT

NOTICE OF REGISTRATION AS A WEREWOLF

Please complete this document in BLACK ink and return it to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

First Name:

Middle Name(s):

Last Name:

Previous Names:

Date of Birth:

Blood Status:

Father's Full Name:

Father's Blood Status:

Mother's Full Name:

Mother's Blood Status:

Infection Date:

Please circle YES/NO in response to the following questions.

Are you at the time of completing this form, an underaged wizard? YES/NO

If YES to the above, do you live in a wizarding household? YES/NO

Would you like to be enrolled in the ministry's full moon protection policy? YES/NO

If NO to the above, please describe in detail the precautions you will take on the full moon:

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please be aware, due to recent legislation, werewolves in Britain are not permitted within a ½ mile radius of St Mungo's Hospital or Hogwarts School.

Signed

Gethsemane Prickle

Head of the Department and Control of Magical Creatures

Signed

Venus,

Are you okay? You never responded to Ginny's letter, and we're starting to get worried. Please write back.

Mali

Venus,

I know you have not asked for my advice, but due to the approaching Full Moon, I feel obligated to offer it.

The transformation itself is the worst part, I promise, but it will get better, and you will learn to manage it.

Whilst the Ministry advises you to lock yourself up, I have found that this only leads to self-injury. If possible, I tend to angle towards a remote area, I frequent the Brecon Beacons or the Yorkshire Moors. These locations will allow your wolf to follow its natural instincts. I promise, if you embrace it, then it will be better for you.

Wolfsbane potion is exceptional, however, I myself didn't like it. I advise you to see what works best for you and trust your own instincts.

I am sure that Madam Pomfrey will be more than willing to assist with any healing you require. Wounds you inflict upon yourself will heal but leave scars, I often treat them with Muggle remedies combined with some healing potions.

Always here if you should need me,

Remus.

Venus,

I'm getting worried. Mali wrote to you a week ago and hasn't heard back. I wrote to your aunt and she said you're okay, but we're really worried. Please write back.

Ginny