Vernon's eyes bulged.
He stared at the word "werewolf" as his body trembled so violently that the taxi driver almost thought there was an issue with the engine or the fuel system.
Vernon wasn't a wizard, but he knew what a werewolf was—one of the most widely known mythical creatures, frequently depicted in films. Following Dudley's obsession with movies, he had learned quite a bit about them.
His first reaction, however, was relief.
Thank rlin he hadn't let Lupin ride in the sa car as Petunia and Dudley—the two most precious people in his life.
Then—
Panic.
His hands fumbled for the silver ring on his finger.
"That won't help," Harry pressed down on his hand.
Vernon froze.
"I'll explain when we get ho," Harry reassured him, gently pushing him back into the passenger seat.
The twenty pounds they had initially paid wasn't enough.
Vernon had to cough up over a hundred more for both taxis.
Back Ho
Once inside, Vernon led everyone into the living room.
He barely had ti to sit down before jumping back up, his eyes darting between Harry, Lupin—who sat obediently on the couch—and Sirius, who was roughhousing with Dudley.
"Harry, you need to explain this to ." Vernon pressed his fingers against his forehead, his voice laced with frustration. "What the bloody hell is going on?"
"As you saw in the car," Harry said calmly, "Uncle Remus is a werewolf. He'll likely need to stay here for the next month."
"Silver doesn't affect werewolves. While silver powder and dittany can heal their bite wounds without leaving scars, they don't prevent transmission."
Vernon took a deep breath, remaining silent.
For the first ti, he wanted to trust his nephew—but he needed a good reason to.
Sirius and Dudley stopped their wrestling match and turned to listen.
Petunia had gone to the kitchen to prepare so snacks.
"People call lycanthropy a curse," Harry continued, explaining mainly for Vernon—but also, perhaps, for Sirius. "But in reality, it's more like an illness. A cursed illness."
Sirius nodded. "We studied it before. What was it called—wolf syndro?"
"Rabid Wolf Syndro," Harry clarified. "Think of it as an infectious disease—one that spreads through blood and saliva."
Vernon inhaled sharply.
Dudley hesitated, holding a biscuit near his mouth but suddenly unsure if he should eat it.
"Relax. Under normal circumstances, a werewolf's blood and saliva aren't contagious," Harry reassured them. "It won't turn you into a wolf. The most you'd get are a few... wolf-like traits."
Vernon latched onto that detail. "Wolf-like traits?"
"Like preferring rare steak," Harry nodded. "And being a bit more aggressive."
Vernon paused, muttering, "That's... not much of a difference. That describes half of Britain, really."
"But you ntioned infection. How exactly does it spread?"
"I need to ensure my family's safety."
Harry patiently explained, "Only soone already transford into a werewolf can pass it on through a bite."
A bit of a mouthful, but Vernon processed it.
"But transformation isn't sothing a werewolf can control," Harry continued, picking up a biscuit. "That said—there's no need to look so terrified, Uncle Vernon."
"Uncle Remus only transforms on full moons."
"The rest of the ti, he doesn't suddenly change at random."
Vernon, who had been this close to panicking, visibly relaxed. "You're sure he won't turn at other tis?"
"I swear." Harry raised his hand solemnly.
Sirius did the sa.
"Then you're keeping him here to cure him? Is there even a cure?" Vernon asked, grabbing a biscuit himself.
Sirius looked at Harry in surprise.
"Cure Remus?"
How co I didn't know about this?
"As of now, no," Harry admitted, shaking his head. "There's only one potion that helps ease the transformation's pain."
Then, glancing at Lupin, he corrected himself.
"Or rather, it amplifies the pain—so the werewolf remains conscious during the full moon."
"So they're fully aware of what kind of monster they beco."
Lupin lowered his head with a sigh.
This was the most painful part of his life.
"You can fix this?" Vernon asked.
Harry shook his head. "Not necessarily. But I have to try."
Vernon didn't respond imdiately.
He rubbed his chubby chin for a long mont before finally sighing. "Fine, fine. He can stay."
"There are already two freaks in this house. One more won't make a difference."
Sirius whooped. "*Mr. Dursley—no, Vernon—you're fantastic!"
Vernon sneered.
Lupin gave him a grateful look.
"But!" Vernon threw out a word that made everyone—except Harry—tense.
"Take him elsewhere on full moons."
"We are a normal family. We can't have the neighbors knowing there's a werewolf in our house."
Lupin imdiately reassured him, "I promise—I'll leave before the full moon."
Vernon huffed. "Now, about sleeping arrangents. Are you putting him with Harry and Dudley?"
"Dudley and I can share!" Dudley suggested enthusiastically. "I have tons of gas I want to play with him!"
Sirius hesitated.
"I can sleep in Sirius's doghouse," Harry said simply.
"No, Harry, you don't have to do that," Lupin objected. "I can sleep in the living room. Or if space isn't an issue, I could—"
"I'm an Animagus," Harry interrupted.
"My doghouse is already prepared."
He tapped his pocket with his wand.
With a whoosh, a gold-and-red doghouse flew out and landed on the floor.
"You're an Animagus?!" Sirius gaped. "When did you learn?!"
"June 7th?" Lupin searched his mory, then quickly pinpointed the date. "There was a thunderstorm in the Scottish Highlands that day."
Harry nodded. "That was the day."
"What's your Animagus form?" Sirius's eyes glead with excitent. "Jas was a stag—yours should be similar, right?"
Harry just smiled.
Then he raised his wand—
His body twisted and shrank—
And a white wolf curled up on the bed.
Dudley and Vernon were unfazed—they had seen Sirius transform plenty of tis last sumr.
Sirius, however, was ecstatic.
"A big dog!" Sirius jumped onto the couch in excitent. "Harry, this is brilliant! Godfather and godson—both Animagi—and both dogs!"
"Mr. Black!" Petunia's voice sharpened.
"You still have your shoes on!"
"You are not standing on my couch in shoes!"
Sirius quickly kicked off his slippers and cast a Scouring Charm to clean the couch.
Lupin, on the other hand, studied Harry seriously.
"No, this is clearly a wolf."
"It's a dog!" Sirius retorted, hands on his hips. "Look at the fur! There aren't white wolves! But there are white dogs—like Bichons, Silver Fox Terriers—"
"Does Harry look like either of those?" Lupin scoffed.
Sirius hesitated, tugging his hair. "Big breeds—big breeds! There's the Samoyed, the Pyrenean Mountain Dog—uh..."
That was all he could think of.
Lupin smirked. "You barely know two, and do either resemble Harry?"
Sirius had no counter. He gritted his teeth and doubled down. "Hey, Remus—Harry can't be a wolf! Jas was a stag, I'm a black dog—"
"But I am," Lupin interrupted flatly.
Sirius scoffed. "You're a werewolf. That's different! Werewolves aren't actual wolves—just humans with wolf ears—"
Lupin said nothing.
He simply raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum."
A silver wolf leapt from his wand and settled beside Harry.
Side by side—
Nearly identical.
Sirius was devastated.
He collapsed onto the couch.
After a long pause, he clutched Harry's paw and murmured sadly, "Harry... what's your Animagus form?"
Harry shifted back into his human form.
"A wolf."
Sirius stared blankly.
"How is it a wolf?" he muttered. "Harry, how could your Animagus be a wolf?"
Lupin crossed his arms and smirked at his Patronus.
For once—
He felt great.
Vernon and Dudley exchanged puzzled glances.
They still struggled to understand wizards.
Petunia busied herself in the kitchen, quickly preparing dinner—the usual British trio: fish and chips with peas.
The only exception was Lupin's plate, which held an almost untouched raw fish.
Lupin hesitated, gripping his knife and fork, unsure what to do.
Harry flicked his wand, casting a food-related charm.
Oil and flour flew from the kitchen, transforming the fish into a cooked dish.
"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Remus may be a werewolf, but he still eats cooked food," Harry stated plainly.
Petunia froze. "Didn't you say he prefers raw at?"
"That's only for humans bitten by transford werewolves," Harry clarified. "Apart from full moons, Uncle Remus is just like anyone else. Just don't let him accidentally bite you."
Lupin's eyes widened. "Harry, I would never randomly bite soone! If anything, you should be warning Sirius!"
Sirius, who was in the middle of biting into a fried fish, looked up innocently.
"If he bites you, you don't even need a rabies shot," Harry added. "I always carry dittany—it'd heal instantly."
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