Author: Mosh
Fandom: Harry Potter

Title: Overcoming Fear
Pairing: Remus/Draco
Rating: PG
Summary: Remus takes Draco into the forest to train.
Disclaimer: These boys belong to J.K Rowling. No money being made, no copyright or trademark infringement intended.
A/N: This was written while at a fandom meet up in London, in which I mentioned this pairing, and Glockgal offered to draw art for me. The picture she drew is beautiful, and linked to within the story - G rated, so it's safe to look at in public. :)

Note: You may not archive, re-post, or alter any of my stories without my permission. Please contact me first. Thanks!

"This is a load of rubbish," Draco said, managing to force the words past the lump that was clogged in his throat. "I don't see how this is going to help me."

Remus walked towards him, the shadows from the trees animating him as he moved. Close up Draco could see the dark rings beneath his eyes and the smile wrinkles at the corners. "Draco, that mark there, on your arm? That's an irrevocable invitation for Voldemort to contact you."

Draco winced.

"You're going to have to get used to hearing his name." Slowly, Remus reached up and pressed his palm against Draco’s brow. Draco pursed his mouth and tried not to pull away, suppressing the fearful flinch he was so ashamed to admit was real. "He will weed out your deepest fears and use them against you if you're ever captured," Remus continued. "That's why we're doing this. That's why you're training with me instead of one of the others." He pushed lightly, a firm, warm pressure against the frown on Draco's face. "If we're going to work together for the Order, you're going to have to overcome this. Look, I know you and Harry don’t get on."

Draco huffed.

"But," Remus said, "I see parallels between you, in some ways. I was wrong about him, too, that Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson with the Boggart - you remember, I'm sure. I thought his worst fear would be Voldemort."

Draco held his composure this time, with some effort.

"Though that wasn’t his Boggart’s form at all, the same with you… which surprises me to no end, considering." Remus leaned in close and spoke softly. "Since when, Draco?"

Draco averted his eyes. "Since I was very young. I found a book in my father's library about dark creatures once and..." He cleared his throat. "And it gave me nightmares."

Remus smiled sadly. "Then let’s sort this out, shall we?"

Draco looked up at him, up at the warmth of Remus’s eyes, the sincerity. He nodded slowly, at a loss for what else to do. "All right."

Remus’s hand left a warm imprint on Draco’s forehead as he stepped back a few paces and picked up the shuddering brown sack that was lying on the Forest floor.

"When you’re ready," Remus said, clutching the string tie at the neck of the bag.

Draco raised his wand, squared his shoulders, and nodded again.

Remus untied the restless brown bag and stepped back, a mass of tangled fur arching out of the opening with a loud snarl.

"RIDDIKULUS!"

The werewolf stopped in its tracks and let out a dismal howl as it began to morph grotesquely into a new, familiar form. And the creature that stood before Draco then had grey streaks in his hair and warm brown eyes - a man, not a beast.

"I did it," he said, face paler than normal and hands shaking.

"You did," the real Remus replied, sounding very surprised. He stared at the Boggart shape of himself, amazed. Maybe he was getting through to the boy after all. Clearing his throat, Remus regained his concentration. "Now, let's do it again."

~Fin~