It was well into the night. Around eleven. Darkness covered the grounds. Squinting I could see the enough of the definition of shapes to navigate myself. I had left a library book I was using to study, at the beech this afternoon. Professor Trelawney had told us to expect rain tonight and just as I was settling down for bed I remembered the forgotten book. I slipped out quietly and didn't tell Lily or Marley where I was going. I would be back before they even realized I was gone. Though I was really nervous. I was a prefect. And sneaking out after curfew was against school rules. But I couldn't let that book get rained on. It was imperative for my studying. I saw the outline of the tree. I sprinted towards it. I was about to pick up the book when I heard a noise from behind me. I turned and froze. There was a Wolf. Huge, gray, and bony. Flanked by a stag and a great black dog. I screamed. There was a loud squeak and a scurry of a rat. I turned and ran abandoning the book. There was a loud snarl from behind and something slammed me to the ground. The wolf was on top me, pinning me to the floor.
He growled his teeth bared. I was whimpering. But when I looked at the wolf's eyes they were brown. Warm brown. They were Remus's eyes. He scratched my side with his huge paw and snarled again. I felt the warm blood on my side and the pain that went with it. There was a galloping sound behind me and a second later the dog and the stag had knocked the wolf off me. I unsteadily got to my feet. There was barking and snarling. I could see the dog and stag trying to control the wolf. There was a pop and rushing towards me was Peter. Running as fast as his 'not exactly fit body' would take him. " Dorcas!" he said loudly panting. There was another snarl from the wolf as I saw it disappear into the forest. My hand flew protectively to my side, where blood was flowing onto my shirt. The black dog ran towards me and a second later Sirius had appeared in front of me. He had transformed from the dog. He was an animagus. "Doe are you ok?" he asked running towards me. I didn't answer. I was still scared and stunned. " Jesus….Doe" He said. His hand going to my bleeding side. " JAMES" he yelled, still holding my side. The stag disappeared and James appeared in its place. So he was an animagus too. " James quick, Moony scratched her" Sirius said. James started walking over. I yanked Sirius away from me. Moony was what they called Remus. I had heard it a million times. I was terrified. I clutched my side and ran from them. My long black hair sprayed out behind me as I ran.
" DOE!" they called. I ignored them and kept running into the castle. Once inside the doors, I quietly walked to the prefects bathroom. " Password?" the painting of the dancing goblins asked. " Petrifus" I said trying to ignore the pain in my side. The painting opened and I climbed into the bathroom. I held my side under one of the taps and rinsed of the blood. The water stung.
Once the access blood was gone. I saw four deep scratched on my side. I left the bathroom and made my way back to the dormitory. Where I ripped of my shirt, wrapped my side with some gauze I had brought from home, and crawled into bed.
The next morning I woke up as usual. Lily, Marley and Mary didn't seem to notice that I changed while they were still getting up. I didn't want them to see the wrapped up injury. I didn't want to have to talk about what I saw.
We went to breakfast early, and finished before I saw James, Sirius, Remus or Peter. I was being extremely quiet. I wondered whether my friends had noticed. " Ugh, Doe guess what our first class is" Marley said sadly.
" Divination" I said unhappily. " The worlds dumbest subject" Mary added.
" Here, here" Lily said smiling. We ducked out of the great hall and headed to North Tower, where Divination was held. The room was stifling. We took our normal seats at our table of four. A few minutes later, I saw the trapdoor open and students piled in. When I looked back again, I saw James, Peter, Remus, and Sirius looking at me. Remus looked really disheveled. His hair was uncombed, his robes were wrinkled and he had bags under his eyes. Sirius hit in the arm and nodded towards me. Remus looked towards me. I turned away and took out my book, clearly avoiding them. The class droned on. I pretended to be my usual self. Deciphering Lily's dream with an apparent ease. When the class ended, I told the others to go on without me.
" You ok?" Mary asked. " Yeah I'm fine, Just got to ask Professor Trelawney a question." I said. " If your sure" Lily said and they departed. I knew the real reason I let them go ahead was to not get stopped by any of the boys.
So I waited a moment, pretending to pour out the tea leaves and then headed down the silver ladder. When I got to the landing I let out a small gasp. All four of the boys were waiting for me. " Doe" , I started moving backwards. " Doe stop" Sirius said. " Just talk to us for a minute ok?" James said. " Please" Peter squeaked. I stopped but I didn't say a word. " How badly are you hurt?". It was Remus who spoke now. I didn't answer. " I'm sorry. It was me, I assume you figured that out. I'm so sorry Doe, really I am" Remus said. His voice cracked. " Its fine" I said. " No its not. I was foolish. I hurt you" he said. " Not badly" I said trying to assure him. " I didn't bite you did I?" He asked his eyes wide with fear. I shook my head. " Show him the scratches." Sirius said. " Really that's not necessary" I said. " Please Doe, I need to know" he said. His eyes were pleading. I sighed and pulled my shirt up just far enough to show him the four deep scratches, still scarlet on my pale skin. Peter gasped. James and Sirius's had looks of confusion on their face. Remus looked horrified. " II-I did that to you?" he asked his hand over his mouth. I pulled my shirt back down. " I'm bringing you to the hospital wing" he said reaching for my wrist. " No" I said stepping back. " Madam Pompfrey will no what they are and you'll get in trouble". " I deserve it" He almost shouted, his expression angry. " No you don't, it was an accident"
He stared at me for a moment and shook his head " I am so so sorry, forgive me please, Though I understand if you don't. I'm horrible". "Your not" I said. " But if you want, you can make it up to me by walking me to Transfiguration" I said with a slight smile. " Sure, I mean yeah, Yes" he said. " Good" I said putting my bag on my shoulder. We walked down the hallway, next to one another. James, Sirius and Peter right behind us. " So you know our secret, Meadows" James grinned. " What are we going to do with you now?" Sirius asked. " I guess you'll have to kill me" I said smiling. They laughed. " You are ok, right?" Remus asked. We were at the door to the Transfiguration classroom. " I am" I said. He smile at me, I returned it and pushed open the door. Professor McGonagall was already speaking when we entered. But as she spotted us, she lowered her spectacles and pursed her lips. " What I would like to know" she said, " Is why five fifth year Gryffindors , two of which are prefects, are 10 minutes late to my class" she said. I looked to the floor. " Traffic in the corridor" I offered. She frowned. Behind my the boys laughed. " To your seats please" she said stiffly. I walked over to my empty seat next to Lily. " Hey , why were you late? And why were you with James Potter and his friends?" Lily asked me.
" Oh um… they stopped to chat after divination" I said ominously. And before Lily had a chance to ask another question., Professor McGonagall began speaking again. At one point during the lesson, I looked over and caught Remus's eye. He grinned at me and I blushed furiously.