Don't Fear the Reaper

Chapter One

Disclaimer: I am not the genius J.K. Rowling. I own nothing.

A girl was wandering in a forest late one night, lost in her own mind. As she pondered matters of great significance, the moon made its way slowly from behind dark clouds. Its kind light shone down on her face, illuminating her creamy skin and conflicting features. For she had the most luscious, full red lips you can imagine yet her long eyelashes could not hide her piercing blue eyes of an electric hue. As the moon fully cast off its shroud, it revealed the rest of the girl and her surroundings, bathing them in warm moonlight. The slim maiden's dark chocolate tresses fell all the way to her lower back, slightly covering her garments: a short black skirt with many folds, a white button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, a loosened green and silver tie and the odd addition of a beat up pair of black and white converse.

An ominous howl sounded throughout the forest causing the girl to glance around her with unease. Perhaps realizing that taking a stroll in the Forbidden Forest alone wasn't in fact such a smart idea, she changed courses and began to hasten in the direction of the castle.

However, as she was swiftly making her return to the safety of Hogwarts, a dark shape came hurdling toward her. Its long, hairy limbs stretched as it galloped at the girl whom seemed to have frozen in mid-step. She recognized its shape as that of a werewolf with icy terror. She blinked and then set off at a mad pace, zigzagging around the trees in a futile effort to escape the sudden danger.

Suddenly, a striking stag and a black hound flew toward her and the monster. The canine tackled its cousin and wrestled it in the moist dirt of the forest floor. The werewolf howled with fury as it was hindered in its hunt; the prey was escaping!

Meanwhile, the stag had approached the fleeing girl at a sprint and stopped in front of her. He turned his neck toward his back, as if motioning for her to climb on. The maiden, used to insanity, took the encounter of a highly intelligent buck in stride. She hoisted herself onto his soft hide and bent over, wrapping her slender arms around his neck. The deer then tore off toward the edge of the forest. His passenger was jostled around quite a bit as he dodged brush and leapt over any obstacles that were foolish enough to get in his way (for example, fallen trees…)

The stag came to an abrupt halt at the perimeter of the Forbidden Forest, and the girl slid off his back with shaking knees.

"Thank you," she said to her rescuer sincerely. The girl just knew that the creature understood her.

But the threat of magical beasts wasn't over just yet it seemed. For through the trees bounded the gangly wolf, followed narrowly by the hound. The girl clapped a hand over her mouth, muffling her scream, as the monster careened toward her with purpose and thrill. The stag positioned himself in front of the maiden but it turned out his protection wasn't necessary. For the murky haze had cloaked the moon and the monster was transformed into his natural shape: a skinny, very non-threatening teenage boy who also happened to be completely naked. Oh my.

"Remus Lupin," breathed the girl in revelation, staring wide eyed at the kid. They were in the same year even if they claimed rival houses. The two animals, realizing that the game was up, transformed into two boys the whole school knew of: Sirius Black and James Potter. They were exceptionally handsome, both sporting black hair and large egos. Well- it would be hard for them not to, considering nearly every school girl at Hogwarts was in love with one or the other. The Slytherin in front of them, on the other hand, claimed indifference toward any of the marauders.

"What should we do, Sirius?" the boy with the bed head asked, glancing between his two friends and the girl who had endangered everything in less than an hour.

"Fuck, shit, bloody hell," Black muttered in a rare moment in which he did not have all the answers, "We could wipe her memory. Or permanently bind her mouth shut-no, no that's no good."

"Or I could simply keep the memory of such events strictly to myself. Don't worry, I haven't many friends and even less intention of exposing any of you," the girl spoke quietly but without timidity. The two boys glances of hesitation, after all- Alaysia Grimsly was a Slytherin from an ancient bloodline. Her family was associated with families like the Blacks and Malfoys, thus they weren't exactly predisposed to trust her.

"Look, I promise I won't tell anyone. Now, if you don't mind I'm going to go to bed," she declared tiredly.

"Erm, you're actually kind of bleeding I think," James told her. Alaysia bowed her head and surveyed herself with dismay. Her legs and arms had been torn up by the bramble throughout the forest, her skirt had been ripped in several places and her once crisp white shirt was rumpled and in tatters.

"Well, I now give off the appearance of a rape victim. Fan-freaking-tastic." Sirius snorted rather inappropriately but Alaysia half-grimaced, half-smiled at him. But not to be deterred, the girl set off with a little wave over her shoulder, before the moon could cast off its veil.