November 25, 2015, Full Moon

I've been a werewolf my entire life. It's in my genetics. When I was one, I began small scale transformations. I'd grow a little fur, growl a little, bite my tongue and lip with my sharp teeth. When I was five, I transformed into a full-fledged werewolf every month. When I was six, I was legally allowed to receive and make use of Wolfsbane potion. When I was ten, I realized that wolfsbane potion while cheaper now, due to insurance, was still as far along as it was when my dad used it.

At the age of eleven, I went to Hogwarts and took a great liking to potions, specifically medical kinds. I began researching why certain ingredients were used in potions, and what they did. By the end of my second year I had begged my potions professor into giving me private lessons, considering that I was top of my class, and eager to learn. In my fourth year, I was taking an OWL level potions course, with rigorous homework, all my fifth year classmates looking down at me. I passed with flying colors. The next year, I was assigned a mentor named Timothy Mill to help me expand on my learning.

Within a few months, Timothy had taught me how to make wolfsbane potion. In the two years between then and now, I've helped Timothy perfect it. The first batch came out in the beginning of my sixth year, and it merely improved the taste. While Timothy doesn't believe me, I say that that was our best improvement. The next couple reduced the number of times you have to take the potion. Previously, you had to remember to take the potion all seven days before the full moon, or the potions effects would not show up. Within a potion or two, or nine, we were able to limit that down, to only having to take a potion the night of. The potions effects will then last for the entire night, allow consciousness the entire time, make the transformation time shorter, and allow for quicker healing afterwards.

Three days ago, I finally completed a new wolfsbane potion, which I will be testing to night, in the Shrieking Shack. On normal moons, Madame Jackal allows me to transform in my own room, next to her office. However, if I'm testing one of Timothy's or my potions, I am required to go to the Shrieking Shack.

That's where I am now, waiting for the moon to rise, so that I can see if my potion works.

The potions that I've created, is completely different from all other Wolfsbane potions that have ever existed. I took a different root that the one that Tim and I have been using for years, and perfected it to the best of my ability.

I've ran over the math at least thirty two times, and the science at least forty. Then I made the potion during the three hours after my last class, and before curfew, skipping dinner for the sake of science.

I then owled Timothy a copy of my ingredients and properties lists, and waited for him to give me the okay to use the potion. His response was a quick 'tell me how it goes.' I hadn't told him what I was working on, so I think he was trying to get it through his head that a seventeen year old did this. Either that, or he's okay with me accidentally scratching myself to bits for the sheer purpose of learning from my mistakes.

About an hour ago I took my potion and came down through the Whomping Willow, to the Shrieking Shack just like my dad had done before me. Now I await the moon. Hoping that my potion works. If it does. I will go back to my classes tomorrow as normal. Nothing will have happened tonight, other than a young man, sleeping the night in a 'haunted' shack. If all goes well. I won't transform.

Eventually, the potion will be for sale, and Timothy will gain more publicity. Seeing as I'm in school, Timothy and I agreed early on that it would be best if I was an anonymous helper. This way Timothy would not get all the credit, I wouldn't get jipped of my work, and no one would know that the boy sitting next to them in classes was a werewolf.

The press took a strange liking to the fact that co-creator of the 'The Greatest Medical Advancement in Years' wished to remain anonymous. They have deemed me the 'Potions Master' and now are searching for my identity.

No one in my family knows, other than my grandma. And no one at school knows other than Professor Mumps (potions) and Madame Jackal (healer.) I intend to keep it that way until school lets out. No one needs to know.

There's now a distant light, upon the horizon. I can see the moonlights glow, and feel a slight tingle emitting from my bones. I squeeze my eyes shut, afraid of the pain, and wait for five minutes before finally bringing up the courage to open them.

I see the moon peeking above the horizon, surrounded by stars, and glowing brightly. I smile.

"I miss you dad." I whisper.