SILVER LINING

CHAPTER ONE-DISTURBING BEHAVIOR

"Hey, Stephanie? Did you do Professor McGonagall's essay yet?" asked my best friend, Ron Weasley.

"Yes," I said my lip twitching. "I gather you want to copy it?"

Ron's ears turned pink as he blushed.

"If you wouldn't mind,"

I grinned and shook my head. I reached into my bag and pulled out my essay.

"Honestly," said a voice from the Gryffindor entrance to the common room. "He'll never learn."

I looked up. It was my other best friend, Hermione Granger, accompanied by my third best friend, Harry Potter.

Ron continued to blush but his hand was outstretched.

"Some of us aren't exactly 'school blessed' if you know what I mean," I teased her.

Hermione looked ruffled but then grinned nonetheless.

I put the essay into Ron's hand.

Ron began copying it.

Harry came over and sat beside me. I had been sitting at the table writing a letter to my mum. My eagle owl, Myra, was perched on the chair beside me. She extended her wings and then neatly folded them against her body.

"How's your mum doing?" Harry asked softly as he peered at me with his emerald green eyes that were behind a pair of thin black-rimmed glasses.

I sighed. "Much better though. The doctors say plenty of rest and liquid. At least mum won't be having any more problems,"

"What exactly did your mum have done again?" Ron asked looking up from his essay.

"A hysterectomy," Hermione said glaring at Ron. "That's when they take out the female..."

"That's enough," Ron said covering his ears.

I just snorted and returned to my letter.

"The main thing is she's okay," Harry said softly.

He put a hand over mine briefly.

I felt a tingle running down my spine. I've been friends with them for six years now. I've recently started having feelings for Harry as more than a best friend. My name is Stephanie Ross. I'm 17 years old with shoulder length light brown hair with blond highlights and honey brown eyes. I was wearing the Gryffindor uniform and robe which consisted of a gray skirt, a white V-necked shirt that was under the V-necked gray sweater vest. Along the neckline and hem was the maroon/gold piping of Gryffindor's colors and the black robe with the Gryffindor crest. The girls wore skirt and the guys wore gray slacks. I had pulled my hair into a ponytail but some of the shorter strands had come lose and hung down against my cheek. I had small gold hoop earrings in my ears and I had applied light pink eye shadow and clear lipgloss.

Hermione was the bookworm, while Ron and Harry were in-between. Ron almost never studied but Harry tried his best and usually got good grades...except in Potions with Professor Snape.

Me on the other hand, I sucked at Potions and Hermione helps me much to Snape's demise.

I had a good sense of humor but could be serious as well. I guess that's why the three of us get along so well. Our personalities seemed to click.

But there was something I've never told them...a dark secret that filtered down through my family for ages.

"Steph?" Hermione's voice cut through my thoughts.

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked at her.

"What?" I asked.

Hermione gestured to the letter I was writing. I glanced down at it and realized I had absentmindedly torn it to shreds.

"Whoops," I said grinning.

Harry was studying me.

"Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. I guess I didn't like the way the letter was coming out,"

I pulled out a new piece of parchment and began again.

That afternoon, we began heading to class.

"Hey Shit-for-Brains," Malfoy called to me jeeringly. "Did you remember falling asleep last night? You're just as bad as Neville."

"Hey," Neville Longbottom said scowling at Malfoy as he passed us heading down the stairs to Charms class.

"Shut up," Harry snapped at him.

"She's got a worse memory problem then Longbottom does," Malfoy snickered. "I just hope she remembers to wipe herself. But I have gotten a whiff of..."

Malfoy didn't even finish his sentence as I lashed out and grabbed him by the throat. I put my face close to his.

"I wouldn't piss me off, Malfoy," I said smirking. "You never know what appendage I might rip off with my bare hands."

Hermione, Harry and Ron stared open mouthed.

"Try it," Malfoy jeered gasping for breath.

I flexed my right hand.

"Should I start with Mr. Winky?" I asked preparing to grab him in the groin.

"Stephanie," I heard Hermione whisper behind me.

I let Malfoy go.

"Just a friendly reminder," I said brightly as went to take another step when Malfoy shoved me from behind.

"STEPHANIE!" I heard Harry yell.

I sailed through the air and landed on all fours gracefully at the bottom of the staircase.

I jerked my head up and stared up at Hermione, Harry and Ron looking terrified. Malfoy was laughing.

My whole body tensed up as I prepared to lunge for Malfoy, but Hermione, Ron and Harry hurried down the stairs and helped me to my feet blocking me from lunging.

"Are you okay?" Ron asked concerned.

"I swear to God I want to get that prick," Harry hissed as Malfoy continued to head up the stairs.

"Harry," Hermione said scoldingly at the use of his language.

"I'm fine," I replied as I felt my body relax and I stood up. "Sometimes my temper gets the better of me. Sorry about that."

"That was awesome the way you landed...like a cat almost," Ron said beaming. "Thankfully, you weren't hurt."

"Yeah," Hermione said nodding looking a bit shaken up about Malfoy shoving me.

"Too bad none of the teachers saw it," Harry muttered.

"MALFOY! 50 POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN FOR PUSHING MISS ROSS DOWN THE STAIRS! HOW COULD YOU!" Professor McGonagall's voice bellowed angrily.

"Looks like you got your wish," Hermione grinned at him.

"Are you okay Miss Ross?" Professor McGonagall asked concerned as she hurried down the stairs. She was dressed in emerald green robes and a matching hat.

"I'm fine. Thanks," I said softly.

She nodded and continued on her way.

Hermione, Harry, Ron and I headed to Charms class.

We learned the Gulliv Charm which was used to help a witch or wizard when he or she was lost in the woods. It was almost like the Four-Pointer Spell, but this one also used a protective shield around the witch or wizard.

Hermione and I managed to get it on the first try. Poor Neville had a hard time though as usual.

After that, we headed to History of Magic, and Transfiguration.

That night, we headed back to the common room.

I flopped down on the couch and leaned back against it. I stretched my arms above my head causing the vest and shirt to rise up a bit and become taut against my chest.

"I don't know what got into Malfoy," Hermione said shaking her head. "He's never actually tried to cause us bodily harm."

"Maybe he likes Stephanie," Ron suggested blushing. "You know, because he always picks on her."

"Then he must be in love with me because he also picks on me remember?" Harry said rolling his eyes.

"Right," Ron said his ears turning pink again.

"He's just a miserable person," I said. "Who needs an enema once and a while."

Harry and Ron burst out laughing.

Hermione just shook her head.

"Still...there's a reason," she mused staring thoughtfully at the crackling fireplace.

She snapped her finger.

"I got it," she said excitedly as she turned to face us. Ron was sitting next to me on the couch while Harry and Hermione were sitting across from us in large comfortable chairs.

Hermione's face was reflecting the orange glow of the fire but I could see excitement in her eyes.

"Didn't you smack a quaffle at him during a game of Quidditch last month?" Hermione asked.

Harry and I were also on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He played a Seeker while I played a beater, replacing one of Ron's brothers, George and Fred who left last year.

"Yeah, but that was an accident," I said. "Angelina and Katie were having a hard time scoring so I was able to smack it to them after Slytherins' Beaters lost possession of it. I wasn't aiming for him intentionally...although it would've been hilarious if it had knocked him off his broom."

Ron grinned and nodded agreeing with me.

"Yeah, but we all know what a liar and sore loser Malfoy is. He's probably got a grudge against you now," Hermione replied.

I sighed. "He's such a pansy,"

At that, Harry and Ron rolled with laughter.

Even Hermione giggled.

"I'm off to bed," Ron said. "You coming Harry?"

"I'll be right there," Harry said.

Hermione and Ron said good-night to us before heading to the dorms leaving Harry and I alone in the common room.

"I really can't get over Malfoy shoving you down the flight of stairs," Harry said quietly staring into the fire.

"I know, but I'm okay," I said reassuringly.

"But how did you land like that? It's almost in-human," Harry said turning his eyes onto me.

I swallowed.

"It was probably just luck, Harry,"

Harry studied me.

"There's something you're not telling me. I can feel it," he said.

I got to my feet.

"I'm fine okay? There's nothing going on with me that you don't already know of, okay?" I said in a firm tone.

"Sure," Harry said as he too got up. "I just thought that since we were best friends we wouldn't keep secrets from each other."

With that, he headed to the boys dorm.

"I want to tell you," I said quietly to myself. "But I'm not sure this is the right time."

I glanced out the window. The moon was high and full.

I cried out and dropped to my hands and knees.

The creature walked the halls sniffing the air eagerly. It stood about seven feet tall and was covered in thick, black fur. The ears were long and pointed; the eyes were jaundice and scanned the hall for the slightest movement. The snout was long but thick and the canines and incisors gleamed in the torch lit hallway. It had human-like hands and feet, but there were thick nails that curled into claws.

The legs were muscular and covered with thick fur as well. It was walking on its haunches like a human but there was nothing human about this creature.

It could see color, but faintly. It could distinguish shapes and make out the hallway. The sense of smell, hearing and sight were very sharp. It froze as it turned a corner. A first year boy was walking along munching on a cupcake. The creature crouched down on all fours and slowly began stalking the boy, keeping to the shadows.

The boy stopped walking and listened. So did the creature.

After a few moments, the boy shrugged and continued to walk down the corridor. The creature following close behind.

The boy stopped walking again and turned around. He saw a pair of glowing jaundice eyes in the darkness. He screamed and tore down the corridor.

The creature galloped after him, leaping onto the wall and running along the wall knocking pictures off their hooks. The boy turned another corner so sharply that he lost his footing and finally regained traction. He continued to run full speed down the hallway.

He turned to look back at the creature. It was now running on the ceiling. The boy yanked open a closet door and flew in, slamming the door shut behind him. He was breathing heavily as he backed away from the door, completely terrified. His back hit the closet wall and he listened carefully. There was silence outside now.

He frantically looked around. There was a vent in the ceiling but that was about it.

He moved his eyes back onto the door.

There was still silence out in the corridor.

About three minutes later, he felt something dripping onto his shoulder. He turned and looked at his left shoulder. There was a clear liquid that was sticky and gel-like.

He slowly raised his head to the ceiling. Two hairy arms broke through the vent and pulled him upward.

He screamed and his legs thrashed as teeth sank into his neck. Blood began gushing and dripping onto the floor.

After another minute, he stopped thrashing and the creature let him go. He fell to the floor with a thud.

Hermione woke to the faint, but clear sound of a inhuman howl echoing throughout the castle.

She swore later on that something entered the girls dorm that was very large, and smelled like a dog that hadn't bathed in weeks. She had kept very still and hidden beneath the covers.

The next morning, I awoke in my bed in the girls' dorm. I felt completely refreshed as I yawned and stretched.

Hermione was already up.

"Hey," she said brightly to me.

"Morning," I said cheerfully. "Sleep well?"

Hermione bit her bottom lip.

"I swore something huge came into the girls' dorm last night. It smelled like a dog that hadn't bathed in weeks," Hermione replied.

"Are you sure it wasn't Gena?" I asked glaring at the seventh year girl.

She never showered and often smelled of B.O. People tease her and pick on her often. But it was her attitude that people didn't like. She thought she was 'it' because her father was the head Auror at the Ministry of Magic. So she flaunted herself around like a bigshot. That resulted in me getting a glare back from her as she pulled on her robe.

Hermione scowled.

"No. This smelled different than a human,"

I shrugged. "I see no difference,"

Gena angrily threw her pillow at me. I caught it.

"Gena? I would be careful if you want me to shove this someplace where Madam Pomfrey wouldn't be able to remove it magically," I said tossing it back to her.

Some of the girls' snickered as they began leaving the dorm.

Gena scowled at me again before following the other girls out.

"Did you hear or smell anything funny last night? And no more Gena cracks," Hermione said firmly before I could open my mouth again.

I frowned.

"No actually. I'm a sound sleeper. I could sleep through a nuclear bomb and not be woken up,"

Hermione nodded.

"Well, I'm starved!" I said brightly.

Hermione and I began heading out of the dorm and down to the Great Hall.

Harry and Ron were already sitting at the Gryffindor table.

"Hey," Ron said cheerfully.

I took a seat beside Harry and Hermione took a seat beside Ron.

"Morning," I said. "It's a lovely morning isn't it?"

"Oh yeah," Harry said

I scanned the rest of the Gryffindors. I noticed the first year boys were looking a bit nervous this morning.

"What's with them?" I asked gesturing with my head toward the first years at the very end of the table.

"Dunno," Ron said. "They look like they've seen a ghost."

Just then, Professor Dumbledore arose from his seat. The Hall immediately quieted down.

"I have some rather distressing news," he began in a grave voice. "Early this morning, a first year Gryffindor was found in the third floor corridor closet. His throat was torn out."

"Good Lord," Hermione breathed looking pale and upset.

"We don't know what caused this," Professor Dumbledore continued. "But as of now, I'm issuing a curfew. No one is to leave their common rooms after 8 P.M.."

I sat, completely stunned.

"Stephanie?" Ron's voice said.

"Huh?"

"The announcement is over," he said. "Time to eat."

I glanced down. I realized Professor Dumbledore had finished talking but I seemed to have zoned out after hearing about the 8 P.M. curfew.

There was food on the table. Everyone had started eating.

I began helping myself to some eggs, sausage and pancakes. Ron and Hermione began talking amongst themselves, but I felt Harry's eyes on me the whole time.