Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters or the stories, but I do own Eileen Pierce and her pet kneazle Mephistopheles! I also own Lucas Beowulf, Page Beowulf, Cheryl Applegate, Winnifred Miller, and any other random characters that appear in the story that were not originally in the Harry Potter series, since it's no fun if I don't have my own characters to play with. Enjoy!
Chapter Four
Time flew by and before anyone knew it, they were nearly a month into the first term, busy with essays and studying. Eileen and the twins had gotten back on friendly terms again but decided it was best not to hang out when they were feeling particularly prankish.
It was the last day of September, a cool and cloudy day, most of the students were outside after school playing and enjoying the swift breeze. Eileen sat on the bench beneath the tall oak again, quietly keeping to herself and reading a book far too advanced for a girl her age. A group of girls were hovering around the opposite side of the courtyard - most likely gossiping about things, while a small gang of boys lounged around the archway back into the school and messed with random 1st years that walked past. It seemed like a normal, relaxing evening but something about it made Eileen unsettled.
Finally becoming too disturbed to study anymore, she got up and strolled across the courtyard and out into the grounds, a windy updraft rustling her hair and robes as she walked along slowly and aimlessly. She made her way across the rolling hills down to the low field Hagrid's cabin resided in, journeying past it toward the far side of the schools grounds to watch the sun set over the mountains. She made a wide birth around the disgruntled whomping willow tree that had a habit of attacking any who approached it, cautiously crawling over a pile of rocks and perching herself at last on the highest boulder.
Setting her bag down and letting out a contented sigh, she pulled her knees up to her chest, hugging them tightly as she admired the sunset and let the mixture of oranges and reds melt her thoughts away. The sky shifted from reds to pinks and purples before growing darker, as if trying to paint a beautiful landscape while someone came along behind it filling in the colors with black. Just as the sunset turned a dusky plum, a rustling came from down below her, setting her reflexes into action as she flattened herself against the rock.
Peering over the edge of the stone, she saw a hunched figure battle its way toward the stump of the tree, leaning over and seeming to crouch over the roots momentarily. The tree came to an abrupt stop and the figure disappeared under the ground mysteriously, leaving Eileen with an intense curiosity to follow. Grabbing her bag and jumping from her perch, she hurried to the tree before it could regain its composure and stared down at an unnoticed hole beneath its trunk. Frowning, she crept into it and slid down into a dark corridor, inching slowly down the passage for a few feet before hearing a sickening howl echo from the opposite end of the tunnel. She froze, fear striking her like a lightning bolt as her heart raced madly in her chest, wishing her to turn around and run away when she realized who it was. But her curiosity got the better of her and she moved forward, rounding a corner and peering into the darkness warily. A faint light glowed at the end of the tunnel and she started down the length toward it, finding a rickety ladder that led up to a hatch. Easing the hatch up a bit and peeking her head up through the floor, she found herself staring in the sitting room of some dilapidated building. All around her, remnants of old furniture littered the hardwood floor, smashed beyond repair and recognizable shape.
A crash sounded in the next room and she lowered herself back into the tunnel a bit, her eyes barely above the edge of the floor as she heard the scuffling grow closer to her location. Suddenly, a wolfish head appeared around the corner of the doorway a few feet away, its nose sniffing the air curiously before turning to stare at her. With a gasp, Eileen whispered, "Professor...?"
Before she had time to duck, the creature lunged forward, lashing out with a clawed hand and catching the edge of her bag along with a clump of her robes. Slamming into the hatch as she was pulled into the room, Eileen let out a scream as she went flying across the room and crashed into a pile of broken furniture.
Scrambling desperately to her feet, she reached for her wand but didn't get to it in time before Lupin was upon her.
He lunged forward, catching her arm in his mouth and sinking his teeth in, making to break it.
"AH! STUPIFY!" She screamed without her wand in hand.
As if hit by a train, Lupin went flying, crashing into the wall just feet from the hatch and yelping in pain.
Taking this chance to escape while he was down, she dove for the hatch, lifting it enough to slip through and tumble awkwardly back into the tunnel, her bag remaining behind in the room with the werewolf. Not stopping to think, she broke into a run and headed straight for the entrance under the tree. Scrambling desperately, she broke out into the night air and took off across the grounds, her heart pounding faster than her feet on the grass.
She entered the school and thundered through the corridors toward Snape's office, stumbling a few times in her extreme anxiety to find safety. Slamming into his door, she pounded on it eagerly, calling out to him in a hoarse voice as she slid to the floor on her knees. He wasn't back from dinner yet and her legs were too tired to carry her any further, feeling quite hopeless and vulnerable. It felt like hours before she heard the echo of footsteps approaching, their pace quickening when her body was noticed huddled at the foot of the door.
"Eileen! Bloody hell, what's happened to you!" Snape exclaimed, his eyes locking onto the rugged gash in her robes.
"I...I followed...professor..." Eileen muttered, trying to regain her strength in order to stand but not finding her body cooperative.
Opening the door, Snape lifted her into his arms and carried her inside, setting her down on the edge of his desk and removing her outer robe. She didn't protest as he striped her sweater vest off, revealing a gruesome looking gash between her shoulder blades that was slowly staining her white shirt red.
His eyes widening, he said, "He attacked you..." He then grabbed her arm and ripped the sleeve back, seeing the deep bite mark in her skin, "You fool, do you know what this means!"
"Will...will I turn into a werewolf too?" She muttered, swaying slightly from the trauma and blood loss.
"Yes! What on earth would inspire you to follow Lupin? I thought you knew he was a werewolf by now!" Snape scolded her harshly, steadying her before sweeping around the desk and into a back room, clattering around for a moment before returning with a few jars. He yanked her over and opened a jar, sticking his fingers in and producing a gooey substance that he rubbed over her wounds on her back.
Moaning, she clutched at his waist to keep from falling off the desk as he tended to her gash with swift skill, using random other plants and mixtures to cleanse and heal it as best a werewolf-related injury could be healed.
Finally, he pulled her back up and held her at arm's length, saying, "You could have died! He didn't take his potion yesterday or today, no doubt he was out of his mind!"
"He did seem rather...savage..." Eileen wobbled, wincing as Snape tended to the bite mark on her arm next. It was painful but she was lost in thought, the experience being frightening and yet...oddly exciting, not like her experience fighting the Acromantulas. She snapped out of her trance when Snape said, "Stay here, I'm going to have a word with the headmaster about this."
"No, please! I don't want to get professor Lupin in trouble, it's my fault it happened!" She begged, grabbing his sleeve and nearly toppling off the desk in her desperation.
"You have no idea what's happened, do you? You've been infected, it may not feel like it now but you'll start becoming aggressive, savage, lashing out at people - " Snape snarled.
"I do that anyway, what does it matter!" She shouted, looking frustrated, "Severus, I'm just fine, I don't need any special treatment just because my curiosity got the best of me. I deserved it; it'll be another reminder of things I shouldn't do..." She muttered.
He turned on her, grabbing her by the shoulders roughly and saying, "This is nothing to take lightly, Eileen! You're a threat to every student here, if you scratch someone, even by accident - "
"Then I won't touch anyone! Nothing's changed, Severus, I just have another reason to distance myself from anything I care about so leave me alone!" She shrieked, pushing him away and grabbing her garments before running to the door.
"Eileen, wait!" Snape tried to stop her but she slammed the door in his face, running as fast as her weak legs could carry her.
She managed to get to the top of the stairs before falling and dropping her clothes, trying to stand again to no avail. Behind her, she could hear Snape hurrying to catch up to her and gave all her effort to stand and run. Stumbling, she managed to get around the corner and fall precariously into a suit of armor, knocking it over and sprawling out beside it.
The raucous attracted the attention of several students wandering out of the great hall and they stared at her in wonder, her disheveled appearance making it look like she'd been molested. Just then, Snape appeared around the corner and started toward her but stopped when he saw the crowd gathering, his heart sinking at the disapproving glares they were giving him.
"Somebody get the headmaster, Snape's attacking a student!" One of the guys shouted, attracting more attention to the situation.
Unable to move, Snape stared at Eileen regretfully and hissed, "Miss Pierce, get up!"
But Eileen didn't move, her head still reeling from her ordeal with Lupin, having hit her head several times along the way.
Finally, McGonagall hurried out of the great hall followed shortly by Dumbledore, both rushing over to Eileen in shock. Kneeling, McGonagall helped her to sit up as Dumbledore said to Snape, "Severus, explain."
"I...it's not what it looks like, Dumbledore." Snape even sounded guilty of something he didn't do.
"And what would that be exactly?" His voice was sharp and oddly alarming, his eyes burning into Snape as he stared at a crack in the marble floor.
"Miss Pierce, are you alright? Come now, stay awake..." McGonagall spoke with a concerned tone, holding her upright as she examined her for signs of a concussion.
"It...wasn't..." Eileen muttered, falling against McGonagall's chest weakly.
"I didn't do anything to her!" Snape said in a harsh whisper, the weight of the students' watchful gazes making him feel cornered as he pointed to her clothes, "Look."
Both teachers gazed in horror at the rips and tears that could only have been made by an animal.
Gasping, McGonagall said, "No..."
"Yes." Snape said gravely.
"This is most unfortunate..." Dumbledore gazed down at her before returning his attention to Snape who looked like he was close to running away if the crowd didn't disperse soon.
"Right then, nothin' ter see here! Off ter bed, almost curfew! Put tha' camera away, Creevey!" Hagrid had been watching for a minute before taking it upon himself to send the children away, guessing this was a private matter not suited for curious minds.
When the last stragglers had been shooed away, McGonagall beckoned him over and he picked Eileen up with great care, looking at Snape with a curious concern that made him uncomfortable.
"Well then, I think it would be best if we took this matter to my office. Miss Pierce seems in fine enough order to join us before she sees the nurse, if everyone will follow me" Dumbledore swept off down the hallway with Hagrid letting Snape go first, making sure he didn't try to disappear on them.
They made their way up the spiral staircase and sat around in the extra chairs Dumbledore produced, taking his position in front of his desk.
"Now, please explain everything that has happened, Severus." Dumbledore asked Snape who looked like he was fighting to stay calm as he kept glancing at Eileen seated on Hagrid's knee in a groggy state.
"Lupin attacked her, she followed him when he went to the shack." Snape grumbled, looking up at Dumbledore.
"Why was she running from you?"
"I threatened to bring it to your attention but she was...less than compliant."
"As you should have, this is a very serious situation." Dumbledore nodded.
"Many of the children said that you had...molested Miss Pierce." McGonagall added.
"That's a lie! I would never do such a thing!" Snape exclaimed, leaping out of his chair and assuming a defensive stance, "I was treating her wounds when she got upset and ran off! I couldn't stop her in time!"
"Calm yourself, Severus, you have no need to defend yourself. It was a simple misunderstanding, we will clear things up with the students in the morning." Dumbledore attempted to calm down the potions master who was by now seething with rage, "Now to the pressing matter at hand, professor Lupin's involvement."
"He should be fired for what he did!" Snape snapped harshly.
"Severus, please!" McGonagall hissed.
"Could you tell me how the incident occurred?" Dumbledore inquired in a firm voice, trying to keep things organized.
"She didn't go into too many details, just that she followed him." Snape explained, still upset.
"Then perhaps it is time to ask her personally. Hagrid?" Dumbledore motioned to Hagrid who tapped her lightly to wake her.
Wobbling, she looked up and around, her mind in a haze from the concussion. She caught Snape's eye and he glared at her momentarily before looking away at some random shiny object sitting nearby on a table.
"Miss Pierce, can you tell us what happened this evening?" Dumbledore asked calmly, moving closer.
"I...I followed professor...Lupin..." Eileen moaned, rubbing her head painfully.
"What happened?"
"I walked down a long hallway. I heard him screaming...no, he was howling. I saw a light and opened this...hatch...in the ceiling. There was a room, it was...it was a mess. Then I heard him coming and I...I didn't move fast enough, he caught my bag and pulled me into the room."
"Oh!" McGonagall gasped, looking quite alarmed.
"I tried to get to my wand but...he grabbed me, so I had to resort to using my magic without it. I managed to force him off and get out of the room but...I might have hurt him."
"And then what happened?" McGonagall joined the interrogation, fidgeting in her chair as Dumbledore paced.
"I fell down the ladder and hit my head...then I ran. I just ran. I didn't stop until I got to Severus' office...I mean, professor..." She mumbled, trying to correct her reference.
"And then?" At this, Snape glared at Dumbledore as if he hadn't believed his version of the story.
"Then I waited for...for professor Snape. He came and took me in his office and...and he healed my wounds. Please, sir, don't blame professor Lupin, I shouldn't have followed him...he couldn't help it!" Eileen begged weakly, teetering on Hagrid's knee before he put his hand out to steady her.
"No one is blaming Lupin, it was an honest mistake. You weren't aware that it was a hazard to follow him, though I might advise you in the future not to follow people down anymore holes without knowing what lies on the other side." Dumbledore said, ceasing his pacing and walking toward her.
"Actually, sir...I did know." Eileen confessed and McGonagall glared at Snape in shock, saying, "Severus! We agreed not to tell the students!"
"I told her nothing about his affliction, she figured it out on her own!" Snape hissed at her, taking offense to her assumption.
"I could sense it, something about him..." Eileen whispered, "Sadness...distance...caution. The way he spoke about things also told me that there was something he was suffering from...seeing him hiding away at the full moon only helped me to my conclusion faster."
"She is a right bright one, ain't she, Dumbledore?" Hagrid chimed in.
"Yes, she is..." Dumbledore sunk into a lapse of thought momentarily before saying, "Though she has a long way to go when it comes to wisdom. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do now, she has been bitten by Lupin in his werewolf form, she will soon have to join him."
"Oh, my dear child..." McGonagall felt a great sorrow for Eileen's new plight.
Eileen just hung her head as Dumbledore let out a sigh, "I think were done for tonight. I would like to meet with you again tomorrow to further address the issue at hand, with professor Lupin's presence, naturally. Hagrid, if you will take Miss Pierce to the hospital wing, I believe an overnight treatment will do nicely."
Together, everyone stood and turned to the door, ushering toward it as Hagrid led the way with Eileen in his arms again. Glancing over his shoulder, Eileen gave Snape one last longing gaze before they descended the stairs and went their separate ways.
