Juliet was running in circles. The forest was dark and she had no idea where she was. The only light was from the full moon which was barely showing through the trees. She stopped to catch her breath and realized that she was shivering. She wrapped herself in Sirius's leather jacket and slowly spun in a circle trying to figure out how she was ever going to get out of the forest. When she stopped she was facing a large black dog. She almost didn't notice it. It's dark fur was blending into the darkness that surrounded it. She jumped when it started barking. But it's eyes were focused on a spot just behind her. She had to cover her mouth to mute a scream when she heard a low growl behind her. The dog started to run then it attacked the creature standing not ten feet away from Juliet.
Juliet started to run, she silently thanked the dog that had very likely saved her life. Juliet became aware that there were footsteps behind her. She turned terrified of what she was about to see. It was a large white stag. It took a few steps toward her then turned and walked in the opposite direction. Juliet followed it, unsure whether it had been the stag's intention. Suddenly she saw the vast castle in the distance and was flooded with relief. The stag turned to face her then ran off.
Juliet took a few steps toward the castle when she heard a moan. She turned to see what it was when she heard that terrifying growl. Staring right at her was a large grey werewolf. She couldn't move. Although everything inside of her told her to run, she couldn't. The werewolf slowly approached her. She took a step backwards and tripped over her long dress. She hit the hard cold ground and the wolf was standing over her growling. Tears were running down Juliet's cheeks, she felt around her and found what she was looking for. She picked up the large rock and hit the werewolf in the face. She stood and ran as fast as she could. The wolf was suddenly on her, she grabbed another rock to fight it off but she saw a flash of white and it was gone. She turned to see it pinned to the ground by the stag that had lead her to the castle. The world was spinning. Juliet felt the ground move from beneath her and everything went black as she collapsed onto the forest floor.
"Juliet, are you okay?" she hard a voice ask.
"Get her to the castle" she heard someone else say. She was lifted and everything started to spin again.
Juliet woke up in the Gryffindor common room. She could hear voices whispering from the corner.
"Will she be okay?" it was Lily
"She should be fine, he didn't bite her, just scratch her up a bit" Sirius responded
"She did quite a bit to him too" James said
"She should be in the hospital wing" Lily said sounding worried, "you all should"
"Were fine Lil, were use to it" James laughed
"It's never this bad, he's getting worse." she said
"Why don't you go to bed Lily, it's almost morning, and sleeping in class is simply unacceptable" Sirius said in a taunting tone.
"You guy's should be the ones to get some sleep, It's been a long night."
"Fighting Mooney couldn't be nearly as bad as going to Slughorn's little party." Sirius said laughing.
"You know some of the finest students to ever graduate Hogwarts were part of the 'Slug Club'" retorted Lilly.
"We know" Said James "You tell us constantly"
"I don't see why you refuse to go, your head boy and. . ."
"And he has great expectations blah. . .blah . . . blah . . ." Sirius mocked. " now off to bed with you"
"But what about Juliet"
"We'll take care of our sleeping beauty, now go."
"But. . ."
"Go!" the two boys replied in unison. Juliet assumed she had listened because there was no more debate. Soon James could be heard snoring and Sirius walked over pulled a chair close to the couch Juliet was laying on.
"You can go to bed" she said in a strained voice
"You're awake" he said surprised "how do you feel?"
"Fine" she said sitting up and realizing how un-fine she actually felt.
"Lily healed you a little but there is only so much a wand can fix. Now lay down you look like you're going to be sick." he put his hand on her shoulder to softly push her down.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" she asked suddenly
"I'm always nice"
"No you're not. You're usually a self centered jerk."
"Don't we get pissy when we're in pain"
"I'm not in that much pain"
"Liar, nothing hurts like a scratch from a werewolf, especially a mad one."
"What makes you such an expert" said Juliet noticing blood dripping from a large cut on the side of Sirius' face. "Are you okay?"she felt bad for giving him such a hard time, he was obviously in as much or even worse pain then she was.
"I'm fine, now tell me where it hurts" he said taking on a mock doctor like tone.
"Mostly on my side" she said pulling down her blanket to see a large tear in her gown and bandaging already on the wound. Her light pink dress was covered in crimson blood and black and brown dirt.
"Lily bandaged you up a bit." said Sirius glancing at her nearly fully exposed midriff. "where else does it hurt."
"My arm" she lifted her right arm which bore a large cut which did not appear to be caused by the werewolf.
"That's it"
"Well my head hurts a little but besides that I'm pretty good" she answered.
"You're sure"
"Well my whole body kind of aches" she said getting annoyed with all his questions.
"That's normal, your body is tying to get rid of the poison" he said choosing to ignore the annoyance in Juliet's voice. "The poison is. . ."
"I know" Juliet had paid enough attention in DADA to know that a werewolf's claws had poison to weaken it's prey. Besides the initial weakness (and allowing a werewolf to kill you) it was harmless."I think I'm going to go to bed" she said sitting up.
"Only if you can make it up those stairs by yourself. I can't go up there" replied Sirius
"No one will know if you-"
"It's not that I'm afraid of getting in trouble. I physically can't go up the stairs. They turn into a slide if any guy tries"
"But I've been In your room"
"It's a trust thing" Sirius shrugged. Juliet looked at the girls' staircase and decided that there was no way of her getting up it by herself. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you sleep in my bed. James is down here, I'll kick Peter out of the room, he won't fight with me, and Remus is asleep I'm sure, but it's not like he'll try anything."
"I can't do that, it's your bed, you shouldn't have to-"
"I'm not going to leave you down here. If you go to my room at least I get to sleep on the couch." he said making her smile
"Fine" she said and he lifted her.
"I'm sorry." he whispered as he climbed the staircase.
"For what?" she asked confused. He hadn't been the one to attack her.
"I should have just let you go to he party."
"But you didn't know."
"But I should have." It didn't make since to Juliet but she was to tiered to ask any more questions. She was asleep before he laid her on the bed.
