Prologue
"Shh!" I hissed, waving a hand towards the Whomping Willow, branches sweeping and creaking violently in the wind, shadow growing rapidly as the sun set. "Come here, guys!"
I heard loud growls and galloping mixing in with the howls of the wind behind me. I turned around. A large, black dog was bounding after a stag and a rat, barking happily.
"James! Sirius! Peter! Now!" I shuddered as growl ripped its way through my chest. I threw a glance at the quickly darkening sky. "I don't have much time left."
Immediately, the animals looked at me, their eyes full of intelligence. Obediently, each one came towards me, but by the time they reached my side, they were not a dog, stag, and rat, but my three best friends, James, Sirius and Peter.
I felt their scents tug at my insides, awakening something primitive. Something I was struggling to control. And truth be known, it was scaring the hell out of me.
"I don't know how I let you talk me in to this," I whispered, only to find my voice barley audible above the wind. Sirius ignored me, instead turning to Peter.
"Go, Pete." He commanded. The dark outline against the horizon that was Peter remained rooted to the ground, however.
I leaned closer to Peter. I could see he was gaping at the Willow, its dark shadow thrashing madly in the glow of the silhouette . I could smell his fear so strongly I almost tasted it on my tongue. I shuddered again, forcing down the rumble building its way up my throat like bile.
James patted Peter on the back.
"Come on Pete. Just like we practiced. You can do it." He said kindly, pushing his glasses farther up his nose and shivering slightly in the November air.
Peter looked from James, to Sirius, and finally to me. When his eyes met mine, I nodded in encouragement. He smiled, although it seemed more like a grimace. I imagined how scary looking I must be right now.
Looking back to his destination straight ahead, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to hurtle toward the Whomping Willows' murderous branches.