Howl at the Moon

Tonight, we fly away so high.
Our first full moon sky.

I'll breathe you in,
I won't let you down,
I won't hold your back,
I won't make a sound.

I know what scared you the most.

Being alone,
Just like them,
Being alive,
Feeling so...dead.

James and Sirius exchanged glances underneath the cloak as they watched Madam Pomfrey try to console the poor girl. While they haven't been able to hear the whole story they definitely heard enough. Quietly they left the hospital wing and made their way back to Gryffindor tower. Once, they were sure it was clear in the empty corridor they took off the invisibility cloak

"Bloody hell mate." James began "What happened to her?"

Sirius shook his head his mouth set in a grim line "You heard what I heard."

"The Dark lord is really gaining power..."

"All the more reason for us to join the fight once we graduate."

"I don't like this Padfoot, she sounds like she was tortured."

Sirius sighed as he began to climb the stairs that led to their common room entrance. " I don't doubt she was. Hopefully she'll get sorted into our house, we can take care of her then."

James nodded as they came up to the Portrait of the fat lady. " Password?" the painting asked looking bored and irritated at being disturbed at the same time.

"Chocolate Frog."

The Portrait swung open and the pair climbed inside.

"And where have you two been?"

"Lily Flower!" James exclaimed his face lighting up as he went in to hug the girl in front of him. The pretty red head easily side stepped him as she was having none of that and her green eyes narrowed in suspicion as she looked between the two mauraders. She looked to be debating something internally before sighing and said,

"You know what? I actually don't have time for this. I'm suppose to go see the head master." With that she went around the both of them and climbed out of the portrait hole without even bothering to give the two a second glance. "Blimey, Prongs why can't she just once think we're not up to something?"

James shrugged a sappy grin on his face as his eyes lingered where the red head just left. "Because usually we are?"

Sirius snorted knowing his best friend was thoroughly whipped as he plopped down onto one of the overstuffed couches. Most of the Gryffindors already had went up to get ready for bed as it was getting rather late. Only the mauraders and two stray Gryffindors we're still in the common room at this time in the evening.

"Where have you two been?" Sirius turned to grin at Remus as he slowly and what looked like painfully made his way over to sit next to Sirius.

"We went to check out the new bird." Sirius replied easily

Remus raised a surprised brow while Peter from the armchair he was perched on asked "What's she like?"

"Dunno mate. Didn't really get to speak with her."

"Yeah we got up there but then between Dumbeldore and Pomfrey we really didn't get a chance to get near." James added as he plopped down on the other side of Sirius "So all we know is what we saw from under the cloak."

James didn't need to elaborate which cloak he meant to either Remus or Peter.

"And?" Remus asked, curiosity gnawing the inside of his gut. When he saw the bite on her shoulder he had a sneaking suspicion on who had left such a bite. He needed to be sure.

"She was tortured." Sirius whispered between them grimly "We couldn't hear what she talked with Dumbldore about but when Pomfrey came over and listed her injuries...all I can say is that is one tough bird."

"Do you know what happened?"

James and Sirius exchanged a look and then did a quick sweep of the room with their eyes to make sure they weren't being overheard.

"From what we over heard it sounded like it was people that worked for the dark lord." James whispered "And..." James made full eye contact with Remus as he took a deep breath "Greyback."

Remus sucked in a breath as his face paled. He knew it. He knew that bite, that smell...

Wolf.

And that girl is gonna be just like him...cursed.

"What should we do about her?" Peter asked

"Nothing." Sirius replied "She's been through enough as it is. We'll just make sure if that she is sorted into our house she'll feel welcomed."

James nodded, "You should have seen her Moony, I never seen some one get so much bad news and hold it together for so long... She didn't even break down until the very end."

"We'll need to try to meet her officially as soon as possible." Remus muttered, "She's going to need help. I know I can't help much as I am still learning how to deal with being monster – even after all these years but...i can at least let her know she isn't alone."

"Mate you're not a monster." Sirius snapped, "We've been over this."

"Yeah!" Piped up Peter "You're just Remus!"

Remus cracked a small smile feeling warm in the pit of his stomach and also feeling really quite lucky to have friends that won't treat him any differently despite his condition. His thoughts though drifted once again to the strange girl and how at least for now she is all alone.

He resolved himself with his friends around him to change that.

Lily Evans was a smart and practical girl and also was known to be tough as nails. She didn't let anyone boss her around or make her feel any less of a person because of her blood status. She worked hard and played harder. So when Dumbledore brought her into his office and explained about a new transfer student he had also taken in as his ward she was intrigued.

When she was escorted to the hospital wing to meet the new transfer she was confused. Why were they meeting the student in the hospital wing?

And when she saw a too thin girl propped up on a few pillows looking like death she felt utterly ill prepared, and when she got closer to introduce herself she had to fight really, really hard not to gasp or runaway in horror at the girls injuries.

Lily Evans was really quite unsure if she is tough enough to handle this. Swallowing her fear and summoning that Gryffindor courage her house was known for she thrust her hand out and chirped with as bright a smile as she could muster "Hello! My name is Lily Evans."

The curly haired brunette stared at the hand for a moment and nibbled on her lip self consciously before ever – so - slowly reaching out to shake the red heads hand. When she finally grasped the girl's hand firmly to shake Lily couldn't stop the horrified gasp that escaped her then.

There written clear as day in the poor girls arm, MUDBLOOD.

The timid girl withdrew her hand quickly and tucked the arm into her chest self consciously.

"I – Wha – Who?" Lily finally managed to croak collapsing to sit in the little wooden bedside chair. They stared at each other in thick silence bright and intense green eyes meeting whiskey brown. A firm and gentle hand gripped Lily's shoulder causing her to startle and look up into the grandfatherly face of Dumbledore.

"Hermione Granger here has been through quite a lot as you can see Miss Evans, She's going to need a bit of guidance as she gets used to Hogwarts."

Lily nodded dumbly still in complete shock.

"She has also already been sorted into Gryffindor so once she is discharged from Madam Pomfrey's care you'll have to escort her to the seventh year girl dormitories." Dumbledore continued

Lily turned her attention away from the Headmaster as he continued on with what was expected of her. Instead her full attention was now on this Hermione. She was bruised, scared, and looked beaten within an inch of her life. Thick gauze decorated the young girls shoulder and she was thin. Too thin as if she hadn't eaten properly in days. She felt a pang sympathy for the girl in the bed. Slowly and with cautious movements Hermione reached out for Lily again but this time instead of an attempted hand shake she grasped the girl's hand firmly. Lily couldn't help but let her eyes drift once more to the hideous scar on the girl's arm. Mudblood.

Severus. Who used to be her best and only friend called her that once. That meant this girl was Muggle born. Just like she was. The realization hit hard that this was happening. The dark lord was raising. People – Syltherins were talking. This could happen to her.

Suddenly, Lily was afraid and couldn't stop the tears that threatened to spill. Hermione's gripped tightened. Almost as if she knew what Lily was thinking.

"Don't worry." Hermione whispered reassuringly "I'm going to make sure what has happened to me doesn't happen with anyone else. I'll keep fighting."

Lily Evans felt her admiration for the girl in the hospital bed grow at the same time that her heart broke for her. At that moment Lily decided that Hermione had a friend in her for a life time.

A/N: A little short guy to move the plot along! Please R+R