Beasts of the Forest
A/N: First Harry Potter fic, hopefully it's good. And yes, it is short. I wanted to end it where I did specifically. And no, it's not written as well as it could be. That's not just your imagination.
...:)
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Nope, the one who does is the genius J.K. Rowling :)
With the Invisibility Cloak that had once belonged to his father strewn over his head, James had found that never before had the school been so open to him.
It was the easiest way to find his friends and arch-rival-slash-best-friend Scorpius Malfoy (if only to tease him about his most recent crush) and to sneak around the school after-hours.
Would his mother ever have his head if she knew.
He found his way outside through an old passageway that he, Scorpius, and the Hufflepuff Porenia MacDoogle had discovered in their first year.
The full moon beat down on him with its gorgeous, glowing light. It was a star-filled, cloudless night. Absolutely beautiful.
James was practically bouncing beneath the cloak as he went by the lake and toward Hagrid's hut. What fun it would be to spook the great half-giant! Of course, he wouldn't do that. The man was a great friend and tea partner. But, the thought seemed to keep the bounce in his step at least.
He closed his eyes and started thinking of his classes. How they were going and such. He seemed to be good in all of his classes. Potions, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts he was the best in. He normally passed those tests with 100%. Herbology was okay, but he didn't have the calm touch that Porenia had, that was required for such plant-work.
Before long, he found himself crunching on top of dead, autumn leaves. He opened his eyes and found himself lost amid a rather large group of trees. Looking up and turning around, he searched for his way back. But… no matter which way he went, he wasn't getting himself any closer to Hogwarts or freedom.
A howl sounded in the distance, but James wasn't anymore bothered than he had been. He didn't realize what the full moon meant. All he knew was that there were already regular wolves in the forest.
He spun around once more, his heart pounding. How could he have gotten lost? Honestly! He'd been here enough times! (Detention instructed on him by one old-but-active Argus Filch.) He tore the Cloak off of his head… maybe he could see better. Yeah… maybe the Cloak's magic was blocking his sight! Slinging it over his shoulder, he turned once more, deciding that the castle was in that direction… and found himself face-to-bark with a tree. "Merlin's beard… what am I thinking? All right, calm down Potter… calm down…" he muttered aloud.
"Interesting prey, isn't it?"
James screamed and fell backwards. The Cloak slipped to the ground. Looking around, he saw a pack of creatures—they looked somewhat like wolves, but far less hairy. Yes, there were five of them. Five… what?
"Yes, yes it is. Do you think it's one of those students from the school?" asked a gray-furred creature.
"If it is, it's an awful far way from school. Aren't you, morsel?" a black-furred animal purred stepping closer to him and sniffing his ear.
James whipped out his wand. "Don't touch me!" He pointed the oak with dragon heartstring core at the beast. It just laughed and pawed the wand away. It fell limply out of the soon-to-be-victim's hand.
"Come now, Nikki. Don't do it now. We've got to… give chase, you know." The gray-furred beast chuckled darkly.
An orange-furred creature giggled highly. "Now, Durrago, don't we need to get a good scent if we're going to give chase? It's a good idea. This one even looks like it'll be fun." It stepped forward and sniffed him as well.
James forced himself to stand and turned to face the creatures. All five of them laughed as the other three that hadn't sniffed him lunged forward. He tripped over a root. "Please…"
The gray-furred beast, Durrago, howled a laugh. "Get up, you pathetic human. We've only got the night to do this. Here, now, get your wand and your… cape and start running. It's not fun unless you run."
"Don't want it to be fun." James snarled weakly. He watched in amazement as the five backed far away, forming a serious arch around him. It also gave him enough room to get to his wand, Cloak, and get away from there. He stood, still watching all five creatures that were sitting calmly. He crept to his wand and Cloak, stooped, and lifted them off of the ground.
"Well? Unless you want to be our prey right now… run. Get outta here." Durrago commanded.
James gulped, stood, and started running. He didn't even know where he was running to, as long as it was far away from there. After a few minutes, a howl went up in the air, and he knew that the crazy beasts were after him.
He took off, like mad.
He stumbled over roots, was hit by branches, and found his way through the forest with many a scrape and scar. But, he couldn't get to Hogwarts. Where could a school of that size possibly be?
Pounding on the earth alerted him to the beasts' approach. Glancing back, he saw them, maybe 20 feet away.
'No…'
And for another thing! What were these creatures? They'd mentioned something about the night. And they looked something like wolves… then, a thought occurred to him… of course! He'd already read ahead in his Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and in The Monster Book of Monsters. He'd seen pictures of the wolves behind him… werewolves! Looking at the moon confirmed it; the beasts were only out for full moons.
'Werewolves… MERLIN'S BEARD, WEREWOLVES! I'm dead I'm dead I'm dead!' he screamed silently. But no… he'd be like his dad… he wouldn't go down without a fight! He couldn't! As soon as he was in a large enough area of clear for him to work with, he'd turn and attack! And it'd be marvelous; his father would be proud that he'd fought off five werewolves all on his own!
That is… if he managed to do it.
Soon enough, they were breathing down his neck, yipping excitedly, focusing on him. Dammit, why couldn't a clearing appear to save him? Goddamn! Was that really too much to ask for?
Thinking desperately, he threw his Cloak over him, hoping that it'd hide him.
"Wait, where'd it go?"
Yes! It worked! Surely James was safe now!
"That doesn't matter! We can hear him and smell him! Just because they've never done this before…" snarled Durrago.
'…Shit….'
He spun around, flung his wand up, and cried, "Protego!" the werewolves yelped as they struck the sudden shield in front of him. And, proud as he was that he'd used that spell successfully, he knew that it wouldn't last long. He had to get out of there before the beasts came after him again! He took off, deeper into the forest.
It wasn't long after that that the wolves escaped the shield and came after him. Snuffing angrily but at the same time cheerfully, they scented him out. "Didn't I—Tell you—that this one would be fun?" the orange one panted.
"Yes… you did! This is great!"
They started barking excitedly.
James almost screamed.
Before he knew it, he was deeper in the Forest than he had been in his life. He had to stop before his lungs just ran straight out of his body, and placed his hand on his chest. He gasped for breath.
"I'm screwed. I'm so screwed. Well, James, this is what you get for being curious…" he decided. "If I get out of this, Mom's gonna kill me…"
"Got him!"
A gigantic weight struck his chest and knocked him onto his back. He was soon staring into the black, soulless eyes of a white-furred werewolf. "This is gonna be good," it snarled.
"Let go of me! Get off!" James yelped loudly, thrashing.
"There's nothing you can do. You die tonight, kid." Claimed one of the wolves in the background. It sat to watch the scene and brought its paw up to lick it.
"No!" James continued thrashing until the black-furred abomination stepped on his feet. It giggled. "Best show in years." It confirmed.
The other three nodded.
The white wolf on top of him tilted his chin up, revealing his throat, pumping with blood. It petted his neck, seeming to just adore the feeling of the blood rushing just beneath his paw. James squeezed his eyes shut.
Then, teeth bared, it lunged.
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