Hello. This is my first story here at Fanfiction. Of course, the rights to Harry Potter remain with J.K. Rowling. You might want to put on some spooky ambience on Youtube while you read this. Hope you enjoy reading this!

22:00 25th May 1998

Millweek Forest, Surrey

The night mist curled around the skeleton trees that stood straight like horrible fingers with dead skin hanging off them. The wind rustled softly through the leaves, as if whispering to each other about the intruders. Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted mournfully. Dead twigs snapped like necks underfoot, as the group of ten, clad in black outdoor clothes, cautiously creeped along the forest path. Footsteps pattered lightly. This was Millweek Forest, in the south of England.

It was the 25th May, twenty-three days after the great battle that had killed so many. They had managed to win the battle that day, but unfortunately someone very dangerous escaped. He was probably the third most dangerous person throughout Britain and he had a penchant for eating meat…raw. The nation had been warned about Fenrir Greyback, the killer werewolf and were alerted to the beginning of a manhunt on the 4th May.

The manhunt had eventually tracked Greyback to this desolate forest, after a local farmer had seen him kill one of their sheep and drag it off. That is why the ten Aurors were here, in this tense, crisp night.

They were led by John Dawlish. A talented man, in his late thirties, and with two young kids he would have rather have been at home with them and his wife. But, he sighed, it was for their safety too he was out here. He would do anything to keep his family safe. That was why he had obeyed the Ministry, when that Umbridge lady had made him do horrible jobs with him. If he had been living on his own he probably would have resigned in protest. Dawlish just wanted to get his men through this safely and capture that werewolf.

Dawlish glanced round at the nine men following, rather warily, in his footsteps. Behind him was his young protégé, Daniel Parker. Parker was kind hearted and eager but, Dawlish found him, slightly naïve. That should disappear with experience, he surmised. Parker was rather handsome with his rusty brown hair.

Just then, Dawlish noticed something that froze him to the spot. Parker almost walked into him. Up ahead, on a slight incline, stood a rickety, old cabin. But that was not which instilled the most fear in him. Oh no, it was much worse than that.

The small windows of the cabin had been boarded up but one of them was uncovered enough so that Dawlish had glimpsed light through it. That meant that someone had put on a light. However, the light disappeared as soon as it had appeared. But it was there long enough for Dawlish to notice a great big silhouette; almost bear-like, he thought.

The others, who were all looking out to the side hadn't noticed anything. Dawlish gulped. "What's up, boss?" whispered Parker.

"There someone in that cabin over there," Dawlish replied his eyes glued to the cabin. Not so much as a plank creaked.

Parker now had his eyes, round with terror, fixated on the cabin. He gulped even louder than Dawlish. Suddenly, his expression changed and he became aware that he was staring. "Well, we better go say hello, right boss?"

"Yep," Dawlish said, heavily.

Parker turned to notify the others, and they walked up towards the cabin. A twig snapped noticeably but it was not from their group. This noise came from the trees. The Aurors' heads swivelled immediately to that area. Eyes scanned the trees but found nothing.

"Must have just been a scared rabbit or something," Parker suggested.

They continued up to the cabin, until they came right up to the door. They were close enough now to smell rotting meat. The stench assaulted their noses. Someone swore. The wood was infected with worms and was crumbling away. The door didn't even reach the floor as there was a hole at the bottom. However, Dawlish and his men could not hear a sound emanating out of the cabin.

Dawlish positioned himself in front of the door so that he would be the first to enter. He tensed a moment, and closed his eyes.

A picture of his wife and kids entered his mind. Their image seemed to give him the courage to give the order: "Simmons, knock in the door."