Journey Into The Whomping Willow

                                    

                                          
Nothing to say except enjoy :)
-J
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Astrid POV
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The floor was cold, damp and slightly muddy. I crawled as fast as I could through the passage, submerging myself into darkness. The cries of pain grew louder and echoed eerily through the passageway. I got to the end of the passage, hitting my head as I stood in a hurry. I rubbed the spot it had hit, I walked and instantly ventured up the stairs, each one creaking as I went. 
I slowed as I reached the top and held my wand out, ready. I listened intently outside the door, but everything had gone silent.
I pushed open the door and to my horror saw a bloody and beaten professor Lupin shackled up against the wall. I put my wand away and hurried towards him. "STOP!" he yelled. "Don't come any closer!" 
I stopped instantly and watched him in shock. 
"What happened, who did this to you?" I demanded. 
"You need to leave now, Astris. Just go. You're gonna get yourself killed!" His face was strained, and tear stained. 
"I'm not leaving." I was panicking, but the confidence and calm of my voice shocked myself. 
His voice turned quiet and his face contorted as he pleaded. "Please, go. You can't see me like this I'm a monster. I'll kill you!" He spat out the words, pain etching on his face.
Every muscle in his body tensed as he began to scream his last plea in pain. "GO! Please! I have little control over it once I've transformed!" 
I stuck my ground, his eyes met mine and I felt a pull at my heart strings seeing him like this. 
Suddenly his pupils dilated, and his tense body began to morphe in front of me as his tortured screams filled the room. I stood in utter shock at the scene before me. Professor Lupin was a Werewolf.
I backed away slowly into the corner, trusting that the chains would do their job. My head was telling me to run but my legs wouldn't budge an inch as my heart was telling me not to leave. I couldn't imagine the guilt he would feel if he changed back and realised I was gone, not knowing what became of me or if he hurt me. I decided I would wait out here until he changed back. 
I sat in the corner and watched as he struggled and resisted against his chains. His claws were scratching every inch of his body and face. I could see now where the scars that captivated me came from. Sadness over came me as I realised the nature of the curse that had taken over his body. 
The Werewolf made a desperate effort to reach me, but to no avail. The chains wouldn't give. I curled into a ball on the floor, facing him and just watched, feeling utterly helpless. I felt my eyes sting and begin to water. I couldn't watch him in pain. Occasionally he would look at me and stop hurting himself, at these moments I knew I was looking into the blue eyes that had pleaded with me less than 10 minutes ago. 
I layed there for what felt like hours just watching him before I was able to shut my eyes and finally drifted into a light, restless sleep. 
My dream was dark. Me and Remus were out in the school grounds, walking inches apart talking and laughing, his hand on my arm. I felt overwhelmingly happy.
All of a sudden the ground morphed and I was shackled to a tree. The moon appeared from behind the clouds, spreading a blue wash across the grounds.
I was forced to watch again as his painful transformation overtook him. I was screaming, crying desperately to get to him and ease his pain. I made eye contact with his new form before it tilted its head into the air and let out a howl. I screamed in synchrony with him, both sounds echoing through my entire body.
I awoke suddenly, my lungs and throat burning, and my head wet with sweat. It felt so real.
And then I remembered it was. My eyes flew open. A bruised, bloody Remus Lupin gazed upon me with watery eyes. 
I slowly got up onto my feet and approached him with care. 
He didn't speak. He didn't look me in the eyes. 
I grabbed my wand and raked through my mind for spells that could help. I started attempting to heal some of his smaller wounds. I was no healer, but I did my best. The silence was killing me. I crouched down to where he was sat, and undid his shackles. 
His wrists were bruised badly. I reached forwards to take his hand and he instantly pulled them from my grip. He broke the silence.
"Why did you stay" 
He avoided my eyes still. 
"I knew you would panic when you changed back and saw I wasn't here. I didn't want you to worry." I replied. Taking his arm again and attempting to reduce the bruising. This time he didn't resist. 
"You shouldn't have stayed. I turn into a Werewolf  in front of you and you were worried about the guilt I would feel? I could have killed you." He spat, but his anger quickly disaperated and his voice quietened, "But thank you."
I looked up at him for the first time in minutes. His face was badly scratched. I placed my hand carefully on to his cheek. He closed his eyes. We were inches apart and I felt a sudden urge to kiss him take over me. My heart was racing as I leaned forwards, however I decided against it and by the time his eyes opened again I was back attending his wounds. He watched me intently and brushed back a hair that had fallen over my eyes. I coughed and we both sat up straight not realising we had been leaning into each other. Remus' eyebrows knitted together in confusion.