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Lunaticus Book Three: New Moon Rising	By : JBankai89 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Remus Views: 12595 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry Potter, I gain nothing from this but a way to pass the time.

Chapter List
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A/N: SURPRISE! Early update cuz I'll be busy on Friday. Next update will be June 23^rd
Chapter Eight – Jealousy

Harry stared.

Of all the things he had expected to see when he'd left the wizarding world behind, Remus had not been anywhere in the equation. Harry had been quite certain that he would never see him again.

And yet, here he was, saving his life—again.

When the creature had stopped twitching, Remus straightened up and turned around with a small smile on his face. He looked the same as ever, save for the fact that he looked bigger than Harry remembered—his shoulders were a little more broad, and some of the lines of age upon his face seemed to have faded a little. Harry had only just had enough time to take in the sight of the dark bloodstain upon the sleeve of the well-worn cardigan when his vision was suddenly obscured by the large form of Ulrich all but lunging at him.

“Harry!” Ulrich cried as he dropped in front of the submissive and drew him close, immediately scenting him for injury, “are you all right? Are you hurt?”

Harry squirmed a little in the suffocating hold, but Ulrich did not let up, and merely pressed Harry more firmly against his chest, as though terrified that Harry might disappear if he let go.

“Ulrich,” Harry began, but Ulrich's hold on him didn't slacken at all. “Ulrich, I'm fine, don't make a fuss,” Harry tried to push him back, but in Remus's presence, Ulrich's dominant tendencies that he usually made every effort to dampen at Harry's request surged to the forefront, and he held Harry close in a clear show of claim. Harry did not feel ashamed of being with Ulrich like this in front of Remus (he deserved to feel hurt after everything he'd put him through, as far as Harry was concerned), but he still strongly disliked being treated like a possession, instead of a person. “Ulrich, please, let go, I'm fine.”

His words did not seem to be reaching the dominant, and so Harry tried a different tack—he arched up a little in the tight embrace, and kissed him.

Time stood still.

Harry had kissed Ulrich before, of course, but the kiss this time did a number of things all at once: it snapped Ulrich out of his Possessive Mate state of mind, and it showed Remus without the shadow of a doubt that Harry had moved on from him.

When they broke apart Remus was gone, and the weapon that he had used had been left behind. Ginny was still sitting next to them, a suggestive brow arched, which caused Harry to flush slightly.

“As charming as it is watching you two snog,” she said, “I think I'd like to go home now.”

“Sorry,” Harry replied with a sheepish grin, and disentangled himself from Ulrich to stand up and help Ginny to her feet. Thankfully, without Remus hanging around, Ulrich's domineering tendencies seemed to have calmed somewhat, though he still stuck very close to Harry's side.

For the moment, Harry ignored Ulrich's attitude while he helped Ginny. She still seemed to be a little unsteady on her feet, but at the same time she seemed frustrated by her own weakness. She nodded her thanks and pulled back from Harry, despite the fact that Harry could see her wobbling a little as she stood there, and he found the urge to roll his eyes.

“Let me take you home?” Harry asked, and Ginny nodded a little, her jaw set and Harry moved to walk her a little farther away from the corpse of the Soul Eater, but he found himself stopped short by a pair of hands at his waist. Blinking in confusion, Harry turned his gaze up to Ulrich, but his expression was unreadable.

“Let me come with you,” Ulrich said. Something in his tone made it sound less like a request and more like a command, and Harry momentarily debated brushing him off and simply taking Ginny home himself, but something about the look in Ulrich's eyes told Harry that he wasn't about to get rid of him that easily, especially not so soon after his encounter with the Soul Eater and Remus's surprise guest appearance. Ulrich, who was always so sure of himself, now looked nervous, though Harry couldn't pinpoint exactly why, or what he may have done to warrant such an expression on his courting partner's face.

“All right, fine, just...” Harry trailed off, uncertain what he wanted to ask of him. He shook his head, and with Ulrich still holding onto him, he took Ginny's hand and Disapparated.

~*~

The trip to and from the 'little' flat that Ginny shared with Malfoy took less than thirty seconds, (though to Harry it seemed less like a flat and more like a small-scale mansion) but having Malfoy bite his head off (interspersed with Ginny and Ulrich getting properly acquainted by trying to keep their respective partners from coming to blows) made it feel much longer. When the pair returned to the edge of the territory, Harry could have sung his relief.

“I will never in a million years understand what she sees in that git,” Harry grumbled, rubbing his arm where Malfoy's hex had just missed him, but had still managed to singe the shoulder of his jumper. The move drew Ulrich's attention to the near-wound upon his sub, and Harry narrowed his eyes when he saw the dominant's lip curl back. “Don't you fucking dare, Ulrich,” Harry said grumpily, “things are bad enough without you attacking the only Malfoy heir...” he trailed off as his thoughts jumped back to Remus's sudden appearance.

More than his hasty disappearance following Harry's show of affection to Ulrich, Harry had to wonder why he had come in the first place. Had he followed Ginny? Had he been hiding out in the forest, waiting for Harry to appear? Had it been mere coincidence?

No answers came to him, and the memory of his presence had unsettled Harry more than he would have liked to admit. He was drawn out of his thoughts by Ulrich's tall frame draping over him as he was drawn into a gentle embrace. His back was pressed against Ulrich's chest, and the dominant's hands moved to rest at his hips.

Harry rested his hands over Ulrich's larger ones, and he shivered a little as he relaxed against him. The edge of Ulrich's nose tickled the side of his throat, and Harry jumped a little in surprise when he felt a wet tongue trail along the column of flesh. It was not a sexual action; Harry could feel that it was the equivalent of a kiss or hug in the wizarding or muggle world.

“We better get back,” Ulrich murmured reluctantly, “Alpha will want a report on a Soul Eater being so close to our borders.”

“All right,” Harry replied, feeling slightly disappointed. These quiet moments with Ulrich had been few and far between, and every time they got close to going a little bit further, Ulrich would back off. Harry couldn't quite understand the attitude, but didn't push it, and instead took the dominant's hand and allowed Ulrich to lead him back home.

As they got closer to the territory, Harry began to pick up on a particular scent, and at first, he could not pinpoint exactly what it was. It made his skin both crawl and hum at the same time, and whatever it was, it seemed as though Harry was not the only one who had picked up on it. He heard Ulrich growl softly, and his hand tensed over Harry's as he inched closer to him protectively.

Harry was on the cusp of asking Ulrich what exactly he was smelling when they passed into the territory's main congregating area, and both Harry and Ulrich froze in dual shock.

Across the clearing, standing there and talking with Greyback, was Remus.

“What the hell is he doing here?” Harry hissed, and following his words he let out a soft yelp of surprise as Ulrich pulled Harry flush against his chest, and he glared over his head at the other dominant. Harry yanked himself out of Ulrich's hold, and his sudden move drew Ulrich's attention back to him, his eyes wide with surprise. “No, don't you dare,” Harry growled, “if you start pulling that Jealous Werewolf bollocks with me when Remus is around, I will kill you, I swear.”

“But he—”

“—no,” Harry interrupted, his voice firm. “I'm with you now. No matter what Remus is doing here, that won't change anything. Do you seriously think I'm that shallow, that I'd drop you at the earliest convenience?”

“Well, no...”

“Then there is no need for you to start that possessive dominant...thing. I won't have it. I'm not some...some...toy you and...others can fight over. I'm a person. I won't have you treating me like that.” Harry crossed his arms and glared at Ulrich, all but daring him to contradict him. After the last year he'd had, Harry refused to become that person again, no matter what he stood to lose by that decision.

Ulrich glared right back, his teeth gritted in frustration, clearly fighting with his instincts to drag Harry away and claim him properly. After almost a full minute, Harry watched his shoulders sag as he gave in.

“Fine,” he muttered like a sulking child, “you win.”

Harry frowned at him, but did not miss the worried, insecure look in the dominant's eyes, and he immediately reached forward to take his hand in an effort to reassure him that he wasn't going anywhere. Ulrich's fingers tensed around Harry's, just as Remus stepped away from Greyback and made a beeline for them.

Ulrich instinctively tugged Harry closer to him, and though this attitude still deeply bothered Harry, he did not allow himself to react to the show of claim. Instinctively, he knew that fighting it now would come across as a weakness to the other approaching dominant. It still irked him, but Harry also did not want Remus to think that there was anything casual about his relationship with Ulrich.

Harry watched Remus continue forward as though he had not noticed the move, a very uncharacteristic gleam of confidence in his eye that Harry had rarely seen. Harry swallowed nervously, and pressed himself closer to Ulrich, who immediately wrapped an arm around Harry's waist.

“Harry,” Remus said as he stopped before them, completely ignoring the other dominant as he spoke, “I can't apologize to you for what I have done—what I have put you through. But these last weeks without you...” he paused, his expression shifting to one of deep anguish, and it took several seconds for Remus to find his voice again before he continued. “There is nothing I can say that can make this right. I've hurt you, and there is no forgiving that.”

“Then why are you here?” Harry asked coldly while he moved to rest his hands on Ulrich in a clear acceptance of the contact, and he watched the confident gleam in the older werewolf's eye begin to waver.

“I cannot simply say that I am sorry,” Remus explained, “I need to show you that I mean it. Greyback has agreed to let me into the pack again, taking up the role as the pack Omega. My penance, as it were, for treating you in such a shameful and reprehensible manner.”

His eyes flitted briefly to Ulrich and narrowed slightly, then without another word, he spun on his heel and walked away as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

~*~

By nightfall, it appeared as though Remus's intent to prove to Harry that he had 'changed' was at least partially genuine.

He had not left the territory, but neither did he approach Harry again, or even look at him. He kept to himself, attended to the various menial duties that Alpha assigned him diligently, and never offered up a word of complaint.

Harry couldn't decide whether or not Remus's decision to completely ignore him was a good or bad thing. At the same time, he was fairly certain that Remus's distance may have had something to do with Ulrich's near-constant presence at his side.

Despite the dominant's promises to reign in his possessive tendencies, Harry could see that he was finding it difficult for him to adhere to Harry's request that he not be treated like an object when Remus was around. Ulrich stuck close to him, checked up on him frequently when he was unable to keep an eye on Harry at all times, and had pulled Harry into an intimate embrace right in front of his students and scented him, which had been more than a little embarrassing, while his pupils giggled at his clear embarrassment.

At the dinner circle, Ulrich had insisted on fetching Harry's meal, and sat very close to him as they ate. Remus wasn't eating; as omega he had to wait for everyone to finish before he was allowed his share, but he kept to himself. The one time he dared look up, his eyes caught Harry's, and the action was quickly met with a low, warning growl from Ulrich. At first, Harry wasn't certain Remus would have been able to hear it over the noise of the circle, but the way his gaze quickly dropped, Harry supposed that he must have.

Remus did not look at him again that evening.

As the dinner circle dispersed and Remus was finally allowed to eat, Ulrich's hand found Harry's, and he tugged him to his feet. Harry was happy to follow the beta's lead, and Ulrich shifted his grip to wrap an arm around Harry as he led him away from the bustle of the main area of the territory to a space closer to the cabins, where they could be alone.

“Harry?” Ulrich said, his tone so vulnerable and uncertain that Harry found himself startled into silence. He couldn't remember ever hearing the beta sound unsure of himself before.

“Yeah?”

“Would you...I mean, would you like to come to my cabin tonight?” he asked in a very small voice, and Harry's eyes widened a little in surprise at the request. “We don't have to do anything,” he added quickly, “I just...I sort of liked the idea of you being nearby...tonight.”

Harry could all but hear the reason for the request in his stance, tone of voice, and facial expression. He felt it too—the unease Remus's presence had caused for both of them, the uncertainty that Ulrich felt over Harry's feelings for him—all of it.

As Harry stood there, a twinge of guilt lanced through him. He had been so busy being pushy about not wanting to be treated like an object, like someone's toy, that he had completely failed to remember that he wasn't in the wizarding world anymore. He had new rules to play by, and to be so dismissive of Ulrich's possessive attitude had probably added to the dominant's anxiety, instead of taking away from it.

Keen to do some damage control before Ulrich's uncertainty worsened, Harry reached out and took Ulrich's hand, while he offered him a small smile.

“Just let me get a change of clothes and my toothbrush, yeah?” Harry said, and Ulrich's face immediately broke into a dazzling smile.

~*~

“Ooh, a sleepover with your new beau?” Tavish trilled as Harry finished explaining himself and tucked a clean set of clothes under his arm. He flushed a deep scarlet at his friend's words, and the reaction was met with an impish grin.

“It's nothing like that,” Harry explained, though Tavish's grin merely widened when Harry's flush did not recede at all. “I think he's a bit freaked by Remus being here, that's all.” Tavish raised an eyebrow. “No, seriously, that's all.”

“Uh huh. Sure.”

Harry stepped out of the Sub House less than ten minutes later, his face still a little warm from Tavish's teasing, and immediately almost collided with someone who had been standing just outside of the house.

“Damn, I—” his apology for his clumsiness was halfway out of his mouth before he caught the scent of the person and realized who had been loitering outside of the Sub House. He gritted his teeth and took a large step backward. “What do you want?” Harry asked coldly, and Remus flinched a little at his tone.

“I came by to apologize,” Remus replied simply, and despite the physical show of submission—the bowed head, the soft tone of voice, there was still an edge of claim to his body language that made Harry very uneasy. “I didn't mean to cause you any distress—”

“Then why are you here, Remus?” Harry interrupted with a frown, “you being here is distressing to me. I am trying to get over you—to move on. And you being here, seeing your face every day, how would it not be upsetting, after what you did?”

“Harry,” Remus said, his tone pleading as he lifted his gaze and stared into Harry's eyes, “I'm sorry. I want to fix things, I want—” as he spoke, he had lifted his hand, extending it towards Harry, and he instinctively jumped out of reach of the appendage.

“Don't touch me, Remus,” Harry growled, “there is nothing to fix. Everything we had, everything we were, you destroyed. What I want, more than anything, is for you to leave me alone. Am I being clear?”

Too shaken by Remus's sudden appearance, Harry did not even wait for a response before he turned and bolted towards Ulrich's cabin without looking back.

Every new werewolf instinct that he had screamed at Harry letting the perceived threat out of his sight, but he refused to show his unease by looking back, and instead wove through the cabins and over to Ulrich's as quickly as he could.

Harry had never been to his cabin before, but it was easy to find. As beta of the pack, Ulrich was entitled to certain privileges—being the second to eat after the alpha and his mates, assuming a leadership role when Alpha was elsewhere—and larger living quarters.

His cabin was almost the same size as Greyback's, and stood about ten feet from the short incline where the alpha's quarters resided. It was made of the same wood as all the other cabins in the territory, and as Harry approached it, his nose twitched as an acrid smell filled his senses, and though it was strong, the smell of the fresh scent markers did not unnerve him, but instead put him more at ease. No matter how desperate Remus was to redeem himself, Harry was fairly certain that even he would be reluctant to cross scent markers as strong as these.

Still panting a little from his short run, Harry crossed into Ulrich's claimed space, and rapped his knuckles once against the door. It swung open at once, and Ulrich was already beaming at him.

“Harry,” Ulrich said warmly, “you don't need to kn—” he stopped short, and Harry saw his gaze darken.

“Nothing happened, Ulrich,” Harry growled, already feeling as though he had no more patience to deal with this Jealous Werewolf behaviour. “We talked—argued, more like—that's it. If you start up this jealous spouse bollocks I will actually kill you.”

Ulrich paused and regarded Harry curiously, as though uncertain whether or not he was bluffing, but in the end he seemed to decide to not entertain his curiosity, and stepped aside to let Harry in.

Strangely, the cabin turned out to be both very different to Greyback's and exactly the same as his all at once. Pushed into the corner of the space was a thick mattress layered with furs and woven blankets; a shelf had been affixed to the wall nearby that held a stack of clean clothes, and piled haphazardly on the ground next to the bed were a number of well-worn paperback novels as well as an oil lamp. The fire pit was built high and ignited, washing the cabin's interior with a warm, comfortable light, and Harry could see a narrow, dark passageway that he assumed led to the toilet. It all felt very homey.

Harry was distracted from looking around the cabin further by the feeling of his clothes being plucked from his hands, and he looked up to see Ulrich smiling warmly at him. He stepped away from Harry long enough to stack his clothes alongside his own on the small shelf, then closed the distance between them, and Harry folded himself into the dominant's arms. The moment Ulrich's warmth and scent enveloped him, he immediately felt a little calmer.

“I'm sorry about today, Harry,” Ulrich murmured softly, and pecked his lips lightly, “Remus being here...I don't like it.”

“And you think I do?” Harry asked, “Ulrich, I want to be with you. Every time I see Remus, it's like there's a knife in me, and it's being twisted. I just want to get over him and move on, but...”

“...but he won't let you,” Ulrich finished for him, and Harry laughed softly.

“Yeah, something like that. I know he wants me back, but it's way too late for that.” At his words, Ulrich's arms around him tensed a little, and he turned to lead Harry to the fireside. It was only after they had settled down, Harry sitting between Ulrich's legs, and the dominant's arms wrapped around Harry's middle, holding him close when he finally spoke again.

“Would it upset you terribly if I said that I refuse to let him have you?” he asked, and Harry laughed softly.

“For once, no, I don't think that that's terribly upsetting,” Harry replied as he leant back into the embrace, enjoying the comfort that Ulrich's presence offered after the stresses of the day. “I know I've been kind of...well, a bit of an arse when it comes to certain...er, aspects of werewolf culture,” he paused and frowned a little as guilt over his attitude settled itself in the pit of his stomach. “I'm sorry if I've made it difficult, it's just that after everything with Remus, it's hard to willingly let someone else take the lead.”

“It's hard,” Ulrich agreed, “but I do understand why you feel that way, Harry. What my instincts demand of me is no excuse for acting in a way that makes you uncomfortable.” Harry closed his eyes when he felt a soft kiss tickle the back of his neck, “but I want you to be happy, not uneasy, so I am trying.”

Harry turned in the embrace, and arched up to kiss Ulrich gently. It bothered him a little how their shared kisses, while nice, and pleasant, they carried none of the fire or passion that kisses with Remus always had. But unlike with Remus, Harry genuinely felt as though Ulrich would never do anything to hurt him, and that was a great comfort.

When they broke the kiss, Harry settled into the embrace with a contented sigh; the peaceful silence that fell between them was warm and cozy, but even with such a perfect little moment between them, Harry hated how it still felt like something was missing.

He refused to think about how the thing that seemed to be missing was Remus.
A/N: June 26^th is the one-year anniversary of me posting this fic, hands down the longest piece I have ever written. I'd like to do something to commemorate it, and so the choices are companion piece or early update. Let me know in the comments which one you guys would prefer, and if you have any particular requests for a specific topic you'd like to see in a companion piece, let me know :)
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Lunaticus Book Three: New Moon Rising