[Author's Note] Originally, this was entitled Scarlet Shadows, just some post-GOF ficcy I thought of writing. But upon reading Shinigami5218's version of the fifth book, I was inspired to write one of my own --- I mean, why not? This is just fanfiction, after all, where we fans have the power! *insert Tom Riddle laughter here*
Now, there are some things that might be similar to the other fanfics of this kind, but I hope you don't mind. I am also using some of the hints dropped by the first four books, as well as those by J.K. Rowling herself, and I'm also adding new characters (which I love doing, thank you). However, I will NOT go with the deal that Hogwarts will have a female DADA professor, because I want Remus to teach DADA!
Well, that's it for now, I suppose. I'll be ranting more in the chapters to come, most probably. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this piece of insanity from my clouded mind, and if you would be so kind, please review. This is my first Harry Potter fanfic, please be gentle. And... I don't own Harry Potter; I will own one of the gazillion copies of the Chamber of Secrets (the VCD), though... soon enough. ^__^;;
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
:: Prologue ::
Moonlight Rendezvous
Silver-blue liquid dripped from the neck of a breathtakingly
elegant creature, its slim form embraced by the bright white
blanket of light the full moon so generously provided. It had
long, slender legs; smooth and ivory skin; a lengthy tail that
glittered through the moonbeams; a kaleidoscopic horn; and a
stunning, pearly-white mane.
A unicorn.
It trudged down as silently as possible from the rocky cliff towards a tiny hut situated in the middle of a clearing. It wobbled and fell --- twice, for that matter --- as it struggled to remain upright, so as not to throw off the unconscious young woman that was securely hoisted on its back. Magic, perhaps, kept her that way, and the creature continued to bring her heavy load towards its destination, despite of its injuries.
The girl, too, was strikingly beautiful. She had smooth, pale skin every other girl would envy --- witch and Muggle alike. She had luscious, red lips and rosy cheeks that complemented each other well; long, chestnut-colored hair that was as lovely as the unicorn's dazzling mane; and eyelashes that a Muggle would have to use mascara to get.
Finally, the unicorn arrived at the foot of the dwelling after a couple more falls, and it collapsed on all fours almost immediately in utter exhaustion. It cocked his head to the side slightly to look through the glass-paned window and into the lamp-lit hut --- and it was just in time to see the hairy form of a large animal rise up from within.
The creature inside howled.
Quickly, as if in panic, the unicorn got up, ignoring the blood that continued to flow from the flesh on its neck that was apparently torn open, and it backed off as far away from the domicile as possible. Unfortunately, a massive tree was situated in the way, and it tumbled over the tree's gigantic roots. The girl that was safely strapped onto its back was then sent flying towards a patch of grass even farther away, while the unicorn toppled over with a loud thud. It remained on the ground, still, its gaze transferring from the perfectly round orb that hung in the velvet sky towards the wooden door that appeared to shake at every step of the creature within.
The door slammed open, and out trampled a frighteningly colossal beast --- a werewolf. It looked around frantically for the creature that disturbed his slumber, or whatever it was doing before the other made its presence known, howling as it did so. In no time, it spotted the snow-white form of the injured unicorn at a distance, which was highlighted dramatically by the moon's rays. The predator then advanced, the dried leaves of the nearby tree snapping and cracking at every step...
... but the unicorn vanished.
Lying there, where the unicorn used to, was a woman. But she was no ordinary woman; she was a witch, an Animagus. She was around 35 years of age --- give or take a few years --- injured yet fierce-looking despite of her current condition. She was tall and slim, with long blue-black hair which curled at the edges, and dazzling yet sharp crystal-green eyes. She did not move as the werewolf towered over her; she merely locked gazes with it, as if trying to pacify it. Then, when she felt that they had done it long enough to achieve the desired effect, she whispered, "Remus."
The werewolf's eyes widened slightly, and then, it growled softly, as if in recognition. A few moments later, it bent down and helped the woman up, caressing her wounded neck daintily in the process.
"Luckily for me, you've learned how to brew a Wolfsbane Potion for yourself, and you took it tonight. If you didn't, then I would've been dead, as we both know that I, even as a unicorn, cannot stand up against you in that state." Then, the rather amused smile faded away, replaced by a frown that was evident despite of the shadow the large tree cast upon her as she kept her eyes on the other --- who was not really sunny at what was going on. "Look, I'm really sorry to disturb you! I swear I did not want any of this to happen, but the unexpected just did! Remus, please, you've got to listen to me!"
It gnarled.
"I know that things haven't been going well between us for the past years... but we have to put aside our differences for the meantime! I need you, Remus!" she blurted out, waving her arms around frantically, as the other was apparently uninterested. "I need you to look out for her. Keep her safe, I'm begging you!"
The word her seemed to calm down Remus Lupin a bit, although he still appeared edgy. Even if he was currently a werewolf under the influence of the full moon, he had taken the Wolfsbane Potion, and that potion prevented him from being wild, uncontrollable and irrational, as he was able to keep his mind. He looked at the teenager, who was still unconscious by the patch of grass, and growled an affirmative. Then, he gestured towards the other's bloody neck.
She put her hand over it. "It's nothing," she replied in a tone that told Remus not to ask, but when he grunted in protest, she quickly added, "I know I shouldn't be roaming around at this time --- as a unicorn, most especially --- because you werewolves are on the loose, but I had to bring her here." Then her voice dropped into a nervous tone. "I-I don't have much time, Remus. I-I need to go. I need to be there, b-before the sun rises..."
There where?! Remus wanted to ask badly, but he found himself emitting a snarl instead.
The woman, however, understood what he was trying to say. "I know, here I go again, appearing for a moment and disappearing in the next without telling you my whereabouts, but this just isn't the time! I-I can't explain, I can't tell you... not now, not yet," she said, and she was quivering considerably. "I'm sorry, Remus... I-I have to go."
And before he could stop her, she transformed back into a unicorn and looked at him as if she would never see him again for a few years or so. Then, she walked over to the girl on the grass, licked her cheek affectionately, and then, after shaking her head to make her mane glitter spectacularly as one final goodbye gesture, she disappeared into the dark night --- just as how light fades into the shadows of darkness.
Remus followed her with his eyes until her light died down at the night's mantle of darkness, and then, he growled something in a barely audible voice --- his response to her farewell, most probably.
Selena... until we meet again.