Lycanthropy

Chapter 1


He had them cornered. His victims cowered in fear, huddled together against the wall that imprisoned them. Three of them… A boy, looking about ten years old, with his arms rapped protectively against two younger girls, possibly his sisters. He could sense, no, taste, their fear, and he loved it. The bloodlust, the hunger… He loved it all.

This isn't right…

He approached the children slowly, being the stalking creature that he was.

No! Stop!

They were so close… Only a few feet away.

Please… Stop…Don't hurt them.

He fed off their fear; he could easily pick one of them off but the smaller girl seemed the best choice. He got down, into a striking position, and then he lunged and sunk his teeth deep into the neck of his victim, the young girl. The warm blood gushed into his mouth; the taste was, in his opinion, the best part. He could feel the life draining from the girl until…

"NOOOOO! LET HER GO!"

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Ron Weasley bolted straight up in bed, sweating and breathing hard. He looked down at his hands, which were trembling tremendously. He had had the exact same dream for months now, and each time, he could remember it with more and more clarity. Ron wiped the sweat from his brow and laid back down. Why these dreams plagued him he did not know. Maybe they were trying to say something? Or maybe trying to warn him? Ron sighed; they were probably just one of those nightmares that decided to linger around longer. After all, his nightmares were most likely the result of Voldemort returning.

Ron thought back to last year, when Umbridge had the school under a bulky iron fist. He chuckled softly when he remembered Fred and George's little retaliation. This year is bound to be better. Sixth year… Ron yawned and rolled onto his side, closing his eyes and drifted into a much needed deep and peaceful sleep.

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Ron, Fred, and George all greeted Harry as they always did when he entered their house. It was getting near the end of summer and school was only three weeks away and despite Moody's "reasoning" with Vernon, Harry was more than happy to stay with the Weasley's. Hermione was going to meet them at Diagon alley in a week so in the mean time, it was just Harry and Ron, or as Fred and George put them, the guinea pigs.

"So Harry, how were the Dursley's treating you?" Asked Ron as he and Harry carried their brooms outside.

"I was fed and they ignored me, which was fine with me." Harry shrugged. Being ignored was probably the best thing that could happen to him at the Dursley's, considering that this time he was fed right.

"So Harry… What do you reckon this year will be like? I mean with You-Kno… Voldemort… Back and all?"

Harry focused on the ground in deep thought. "I… Don't know. But you know… I bet Hermione would have a good idea. She's read enough enough history books to know what the school is like when stuff like this happens."

Ron laughed to quietly himself at that comment. He could picture Hermione lecturing him on what he shouldn't do because of things that had happend before in his mind.

They both stayed out for hours, practicing their flying skills and catching a ball back and forth in the air. The sun was beginning to set when Harry began heading back to the The Burrow. Ron was going to follow about an hour later, wanting to get in a little more practice before dinner, that and Harry had offered to let him use the Firebolt, which, was an offer he could not pass up.

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The sun sank below the horizon and Ron finally landed with a soft thud on the ground. He swung the Firebolt over his shoulder and yawned, a days practice was very tiring. He grabbed the big leather ball they were tossing around and tucked it safely under one arm. Yawning, he began the way home, thinking about what kind of good foods would be for dinner. Ron stopped abruptly just as he made his way into the thin woods that surrounded the clearing he had been playing in. The hair on his neck stood on end as he scanned the area carefuly.

"Eheheh… Must be my immagination." Ron assured himself, "I mean… I didn't even hear anything, right…?"

He began to jog briskly but in his slight rush his foot got caught under in an uncovered tree root sending him flying face first into the dirt. When he hit the ground his arm was sliced open by a sharp rock that had its point sticking straight up into the air. The Firebolt rolled several yards away. Ron rolled onto his back, holding his wound only to see the tall dark inhuman figure standing above him. He saw its jaw open as its head rushed towards his head. He held his already injured arm in front of his face and felt the teeth sink into his upon wound. That's when he yelled, as long as the air in his lungs would let him. This made the creature release its grip on him and run off. After every inch of air he had was depleted Ron felt himself getting woozy, most likely from the blood loss. This is a dream. He told himself. Nothing else… He closed his eyes and slipt out of consciousness.

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Ron…

Ron…

"Ron! You okay? You awake?"

"Fred! Leave him alone."

"But mum, he isn't hurt that bad, he just got cut a lit-"

"Enough! Out!"

Ron groaned a bit. He looked to see his mother staring worridly at him.

"Ron! You okay?" He looked over to see Harry also watching him.

"I'm fine…"

"What happened?" This time his mother was asking the question.

"I was trying to hurry back and I fell and then a rock or something cut my arm open…" The rest had to be a dream. It didn't happen.

"Alright. Come to breakfast when you're ready. But no more Quidditch practice! I want you to not use that arm until it's completely healed!" And with her motherly instructions made clear, Mrs. Weasely left the room.

"What a lame story. I never knew someone could get hurt so bad from just falling over." Fred said as he walked back into the room. "I never knew my ickle Ronny was such a clutz." He teased.

"Yeah, yeah…" Ron sat up in bed and looked at the bandage on his arm. "Well at least on it's on my left arm." He swung his feet over the bed and stood up. "Well, I'm hungry. Let's go to breakfast."

Harry and Fred both agreed and the three left for the kitchen.

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Ron watched Harry, Fred and George dart through the air on their brooms. Harry had at first been reluctant to leave his friend out of the fun but Ron had insisted that he go. Besides, Harry would probably have extra sympathy on the train when the snack cart rolled by. He grinned as he thought about all the chocolate frogs he was going to eat.

After about an hour Ron began to think back to the events the night before. Maybe it wasn't a dream? He thought to himself. No… If it wasn't a dream that would mean… Wait… What if it was just a normal big dog? Yeah… That's it, even it it wasn't a dream, it was just a big dog. He nodded his head and agreed with himself, there no way something like… That could happen to him.

"Hey Ron! We're heading in!" Harry's yell jolted Ron out of his deep thought. He looked over to see his brothers and friend waiting patiently for him. He got up and headed over.

A dream…

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Righty-o then. That's the first chapter and I know… It's short though the next one will be bigger. But anyway, please review. Reviews are good. Flames are good too. Anyway, the next chapter should be up soon.