Chapter Seven:

Recap:

"I am a werewolf."

End Recap

"...And?" Kagome asked, shocking Remus with her blasé tone. Inwardly, she was wondering if this "werewolf" was just another way to say wolf demon. Probably.

"I really thought you'd be more shocked..." Remus said, still a bit stunned and unable to form a good response.

"Oh. I'm sorry. AND?" (Anyone who knows where this is from gets a cookie!) Remus sweatdropped.

"You're really okay with it?" He asked, sniffing the air discretely so that he would know if she lied to him. Nope. Clean as a whistle. "I transform into a monster every full moon, and YOU DON'T CARE?"

"Honestly? I would be afraid but you just don't seem to me like a bloodthirsty, savage animal. Or are you hiding something?" Kagome asked, peering at him suspiciously.

"If I wanted to kill you, do you think I would tell you that I'm a werewolf?" Remus deadpanned, feeling some relief at her non-reaction. Some of his relief must have leaked onto his face because the next thing he knew, Kagome was smiling.

"Good. At least you don't look like a frightened rabbit anymore." Remus' eyes widened. Him? She was worried for him?

"W-What?" Kagome sighed and looked up from her papers.

"I'm never gonna get this done. Look, it's natural to feel worried about another's reaction, but to be anxious about it to the point where your health and mental capacity is in danger is something that you shouldn't do. Who cares about what others think? You're only going to see them for another year or so and after that, you're never gonna see them again."

Remus was silent for a moment. "You're really strong." Kagome smiled sadly.

"No. I've just given up on pleasing others." She sighed and looked down at her pitifully empty parchment. "You want to give me some help with this?" Kagome asked, using the dreaded puppy-eyes.

Remus twitched, but eventually gave in to the deadly art. "Sure."

But in the end, he found that he didn't mind all that much, as he scanned through the numerous papers surrounding them as they laughed and talked.


"Ooh look Padfoot, our little Moony's growing up!" James whispered excitedly, pretending to wipe away a proud tear. "Flirting with girls, I'm so proud of our little baby boy."

Sirius grinned at his friend, elated that Remus was actually talking to someone outside of their group and Lily, but as he watched the two of them, so comfortable together, he felt something inside of him twist. Maybe it was something he ate...

"What are they doing?" James squinted at Remus and Kagome, leaning over the desk and peering at something very closely. Remus seemed to mutter something and Kagome laughed, her face settling into a mischievous expression. She quirked an eyebrow at the boy sitting next to her.

"Should we?" she asked him, smirking almost evilly.

"Should they what? Should they what?" Sirius murmured, pressing himself so close to the door it looked as if he was trying to melt through it.

"I don't know...it seems kind of cruel..." Remus muttered, but he was smiling.

Kagome gave him an answering smile. "Don't think I can't see it in your eyes."

"Hm..." Remus had on an expression of contemplation.

"You know you want to..." Kagome sang quietly so that Madame Archer and her assistant Pince wouldn't swoop down on them and kick them out of the library.

"Oh, alright." He finally agreed, sighing. Kagome scoffed.

"Come on, don't act like it's such a burden; this is gonna be fun."

"Okay, okay." The werewolf waved his hands in surrender.

By now James and Sirius were pressed so closely to the door that they looked like a part of the door itself. Well, a really bulky and misshapen door.

"What's going on?"

"What's going to be fun?"

"Prongs, shut up," Sirius hissed, trying to listen to what Kagome and Remus were whispering about.

Then Remus started to lean towards Kagome, and the two were about to hyperventilate. It was quite obvious what was about to happen. Wide-eyed and frozen, James and Sirius didn't blink, breathe or remotely move in case it would alert the two sitting side-by-side as to where they were.

Closer, closer...

"Mrs. Norris is coming!" Peter's voice right behind them made them jump and whip around. As if in slow-motion, they fell backwards having lost their balance when they turned and crashed straight into the doors that had been holding them up.

With a bang, the doors flew open and James and Sirius fell in a heap on the carpeted floor of the library with Peter standing over them, too stunned to do anything. As they untangled themselves cursing, two shadows loomed over them and they looked up sheepishly. Remus stared at them amusedly, a smile on his lips while Kagome just stood there with an eyebrow cocked, as if she knew this would happen.

"You're right," Remus directed at Kagome, "That was fun."

"If only we had a camera of some sort..." Kagome trailed off. Then she asked Remus curiously, "Are there any magical cameras?"

"Yes, they record moving pictures instead of stationary ones like the Muggles have."

Kagome sighed. It would be nice to buy one, but she currently had no money, and she was relying on the Headmaster for her material needs. Even if she didn't particularly trust the man it didn't mean that she would take advantage of him; that would be like taking advantage of Santa Claus.

Slowly she drew out of her thoughts and stared down at the embarrassed duo currently sprawled at her feet, even though they were trying their darndest to try and straighten themselves out. "Well...not that this hasn't been fun, but I need to go and rest, so have fun making out with the floor." Kagome gave a smirk and walked away, her homework and textbooks cradled carefully in her arms so that she would be less likely to drop some of them.

The Marauders were left staring after her until she disappeared around the corner and James and Sirius realized that they were still on the cold ground. The halls echoed with their curses and Remus' laughs.


Kagome ascended the staircase carefully with her cargo and gave herself a mental pat on the back when she didn't drop anything. But then, she took another step and crashed right into what felt like a wall.

"Son of a..." the girl groaned from her position on the cold stones. She looked up and felt an expression of distaste paint itself on her features. Great, it's Blondie, she thought with a roll of her eyes.

Said Blondie gave her the patented Slytherin sneer. "My, my, what's this? A little lion out after curfew?"

Kagome sighed and picked up her things, annoyed at having spent so much energy to keep them from falling only for them to fall out of her hands anyway. "What so you want, Blondie?"

"I am merely upholding the rules and regulations set by the Headmaster. As a prefect it is my duty to catch all those who feel as if the rules are below them," he drawled. Kagome had no doubt that he was referring to the Marauders.

Finally gathering the last of her possessions, Kagome stood and made a move to walk by Lucius but he would get in her way every time she would try to pass him. Finally after several of her attempts were blocked she sighed and gave up, looking at the Slytherin with a resigned look.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing out?" he asked, leaning down so that he was eye-to-eye with the girl. "Midnight rendezvous with a special someone?" The uncaring tone he used made it perfectly clear to Kagome that he couldn't be bothered either way.

"Yes. You caught me. I was out there passionately making out with my significant other and decided to lug ten pounds of books and papers with me on my way back," Kagome scoffed, pushing past the prefect. "Give me a break."

"Hey-" Lucius grabbed her arm in an attempt to stop her, but sadly, he used his left arm. His forearm brushed her hand and with a shock, he was thrown back, while Kagome was thrown forwards.

She turned back and stared at him with wide eyes. He rubbed his head, trying to get rid of the headache that suddenly pounded against his skull and glared at the slip of a girl that was only a ways away from him.

"What did you just do?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "What was that?"

"I should be asking you that. Attacking a prefect is punishable for-" Kagome disregarded his words and strode towards him quickly grabbing his arm. Simply to say, in his surprise Lucius was unable to stop her from shoving his robes back and revealing a tattoo of a skull and a serpent just above his left wrist.

Kagome reached out a finger but when she touched it, black sparks repelled her finger in a crackle of dark magic. Unceremoniously, she shoved his arm in his face, hissing, "What is this?"

Lucius, however, was frozen. She had seen the Dark Mark. Dumbledore would know that he was a spy for the Dark Lord.

It was pure habit that made Lucius raise his wand and whisper, "Obliviate."

Kagome felt something slam into her mind and then everything went dark.


"Kagome, Kagome?" Kagome opened her eyes only to immediately shut them when she was blinded by bright lights.

"What's going on?" she slurred, raising a hand to cover her eyes and possible alleviate the headache she was feeling.

"Well, at least you're up."

Lily's familiar voice cut through her pounding brain and the girl sat up when she realized she had no idea where she was. Too late, she also realized that headache plus disorientation plus fast movement equals pain.

"Ugh..." Kagome groaned.

"What happened to you?" Finally opening her eyes, the miko shook her head and tried to sort out her thoughts. She was lying on a couch in the Gryffindor common room fully dressed and she had no freaking idea as to how she got there.

Searching through her memory Kagome remembered going to the library, talking to Remus, leaving and then only pain. What had happened?

And how had she gotten back?

Sudden nausea overtook her and she bent forwards, cupping her mouth. With one hand with the other went down to try and settle her stomach.

"Are you okay?" Lily asked, concerned.

"Mm-mm." Kagome could only mumble weakly against her clammy hand.

"Okay, that's it. I'm taking you to the Hospital Wing." Hauling the ill girl off the couch, Lily grabbed an arm and slung it over her shoulders, supporting Kagome. They made their way slowly across the school, avoiding trick stairs and doors before finally reaching the infirmary.

With both hands full, Lily had no choice but to physically kick the doors open, making them slam loudly against the walls on either side and startling Madame Pomphrey. "What in Merlin's name is going on-"

"It's Kagome, miss. She feels sick." Well, perhaps sick had been an understatement as Kagome had gone slightly green and couldn't stand on her own.

"Oh, dear. Set the poor girl over here, Miss Evans." Lily did as the healer instructed, her shoulders screaming in relief as the heavy burden was lifted off. Madame Pomphrey fluttered around the girl, casting one diagnostic spell after another. Occasionally, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she muttered to herself. She turned around and nearly crashed into Lilystraighten out Remus stared at them amusedly while Kagome had an eyebrow cocked, as if she kenw this would happen. , looking quite shocked to still see the young girl present.

"Miss Evans, I think it would be best if you went off to your classes. It seems that Miss Higurashi is having a bad reaction to some magic. I must go fetch the Headmaster..." The last part was said as more of an after-thought and she briskly strode out of the room, ushering Lily out as she did.

"Why has Miss Higurashi been exposed to dark magic...?" Lily gasped when she heard Madame Pomphrey's muttered question.

Dark magic?