---Ditto the last disclaimer.---

Chapter 9: Lunatielle

Things had settled down for now. Fights between the Gryffindor and Slytherin students seemed to have died down as well. There were a multitude of battles fought over the happenings in Potions class. Slytherins found themselves bound and gagged in unused classrooms. Gryffindors were subjected to Banishing charms at every turn, suddenly losing their robes and undergarments in the middle of a crowded hallway. Ravenclaws had their books stolen and locked away in the dungeons. Hufflepuffs were hexed at random. House rivalry had spun out of control.

The professors were absolutely seething. Professors McGonagall and Snape took to scouring the halls for any inordinate activity. Finding anything out of place, the offending students would receive an immediate 20 point deduction in House points and a week's detention with Filch. Everyone seemed to be on short fuses. Students at each other's throats. The professors at the students' throats. Oddly, the one who most would assume to be the baron behind the discord, one Ronald Weasley, was often nowhere to be found.

No one really seemed to noticed. The tense hustle and bustle of Hogwarts became a torrent of unrest with the mounting hostility. People were too busy watching their own backs to pay much attention to each other. The only place in the castle lacking the surly atmosphere was the musty, lichen-scented library. He was often found by Madam Pince tucked away in a small library annex, cradling the most voluminous texts he could find. She would have to remind him of curfew otherwise she would find him sprawled out, cuddled with the oldest of tomes. She absolutely cringed at the thought of such treatment of her books.

This time, however, instead of waking him and sending him to bed, she summoned a stretcher and carted him off to the hospital wing. His appearance had been whittled down to a semblance of near-death. Worse, his glamours had faded during his much needed nap and on top of that, the full moon was three days away. Luckily, a rather loud firecracker went off in the hall, courtesy of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, that snapped him from his rest. He sat up, swaying as the stretcher lurched onward. Silencing his shoes, he stood and ran full speed back to his dorm, hoping Madam Pince didn't turn around.

o0O0O0o

"Well, if it isn't the Weasel."

Ron kept on walking.

"Don't tell me you've finally started following the Mudblood's advice and now you're ignoring me." Malfoy continued, dissatisfied with Ron's lack of a response.

Ron continued on his way to Gryffindor tower, he had other things to worry about, like his next dose of Wolf's Bane Potion. Reaching the Fat Lady's portrait, he muttered the password and sauntered into the common room.

"Ronald!" Luna shouted while waving him over to the small gathering of friends. He inwardly shouted, 'Bloody hell, not now!' Nevertheless, he continued and ultimately joining Luna, Neville, Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Dean, and Seamus.

"Oy, what's up?" he spoke in what was a welcoming tone.

"Just wondering where you've been all this week. Ginny was about to assemble the search party," Seamus joked. Ginny blushed.

"I was in the library," he said, and the room seemed to drop all noise.

"The library?" Dean broke the silence first. Then came Neville.

"I think Hermione's finally rubbed off on him."

"Actually, she's rubbed off on Harry," Ron voiced suggestively, noting the blush in his best friends' cheeks. The other broke into chuckles.

"Why the sudden interest in reading, Ronald?" Luna asked, her voice shockingly concrete once again.

"Um, new hobby? Either way, it's not like it's gonna hurt, especially with my marks," Ron replied, sounding unsure of himself.

"Uh-huh..." Ginny replied, a bit skeptical.

"Well, it's not like I can work for the Ministry any longer." Ron snapped, though not in any hostility.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Hermione asked. Ron's thoughts screamed, 'Fuck!'

"After what they've done to Harry, what they've tried to do to Dumbledore, and after meeting Umbitch, and Fudge, the last thing I want to be is one of their Aurors," Ron replied, a little satisfied with his own answer.

"Well, what do you plan on being?" Neville chimed in.

"I dunno, maybe a Spellbinder. I've gotten good at charming things. I'm pretty sure Fred and George could use another set of hands in the shop. I could create talismans and such for Harry. Maybe create emergency Portkeys for the D.A.," Ron offered. Luna shifted closer to him.

"And people tell me my stories of the Crumpled Horned Snorkack are outlandish. What brought about this change, Ronald?" Luna asked, still frighteningly concrete and now, sarcastic.

"A nightly stroll through the forest," Ron answered, smiling. Luna turned away.

o0O0O0o

It was an hour until sunset, and already he could feel the pull. He was a little scared. He was always scared. But right before the full moon, his anxiety seemed to crest. He sped through the empty hallways, as if being chased. He darted around corners and dove up flights of stairs hoping he'd be in time. His heart thrummed as he began to pace the empty corridor, and finally he wrenched the door open. Hastily, he slammed, locked, warded and silenced the door. He turned then took his place on the bed.

"Hello Ronald," came a voice, near the couch. Eyes cast down and hair covering her face, she shifted her weight on her toes nervously.

"Shit!" Ron bolted off of the bed. "Luna! You have to go." Waving his wand feverishly to dismantle the wards and unlock the door, he didn't notice the Luna approach him. She snatched his wand from his hand and replaced the charms with her own.

"Luna, what the hell are you doing! You have to leave now," he nearly yelled. His voice trembled at the thought of her being trapped with him. She didn't answer.

"Luna, give me my wand, before-" a sob shook Luna, effectively cutting off Ron's rant. Slowly, she began to undress. Ron's panic increased tenfold.

"Luna! What the hell are you doing!" he choked. She began removing her undergarments. She didn't look up once, but Ron could smell the tears on her cheeks.

"Luna?" Ron asked, chancing a step forward. Luna's gaze remained fix on the floor. "Luna?" he tried again.

She closed the distance between them, grabbing him roughly around the collar, and whispered angrily in his ear, "I'm sorry."

She slammed him bodily against the door, then began to shred every last piece of clothing he wore, screaming all the while. He tried to respond, to stop her, but his body wasn't receiving any of the messages from his frantic brain. When she had finally relieved him of the last scraps and rags, she pressed herself to him and nuzzled his neck.

"I didn't know what I was doing. I couldn't control it anymore. Wolf's Bane an-and calming draughts did nothing. I got loose. I-I'm sorry," she spoke, her voice thick and panicked. She began kissing the side of his neck and his face feverishly. Ron just continued to listen and stare out in shock, unable to move, but feeling every kiss like an electric bombs.

"You were lying there. I didn't know how I knew you were there but I did. Why there? You woke up, and I screamed at myself to stop and then you screamed and...I tried. I did. I tried to run the other way. I did. But I couldn't. Then I started to move and you ran. And I jumped. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry," she began sobbing against him, choking endless apologies into his chest.

It took a moment for her words to sink in. He flinched for some unknown reason, then looked down at Luna. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her hair stuck to her cheeks as she shook in misery. He should've been angry, towering over her, and cursing her, beating her to a bloody pool. But he couldn't. His arms moved as if on their own and lifted her gently, bridal style, seeing as how her knees were starting to fail her. Ron brought her to the couch and sat them both down.

After what seemed like hours, Ron replied, "It's not your fault. Hell, I should be thanking you. I finally filled out my clothes. I'm can eat twice as much as normal and not gain an ounce. I can see, hear, taste, smell, feel, and think better than I ever could. And now, I've got a naked girl in my lap. This week rounded out nicely," he joked. Luna looked up to him, tears still in her eyes.

"I couldn't be angry with you even if I tried. I know how you feel, and I'd rather have ripped this room apart than cause you more pain. At least, I now have a someone to go through this with," Ron continued, pushing for his trademark optimism. Luna shivered, and a fire erupted in the fireplace, instantly warming the room. "I just have one question. How did you know that I was going to be in the Room of Requirement?"

Luna sobbed before answering, "I don't know. I just did. It was like in the forest. I knew you were there and here. I just did. I..." She almost started sobbing again, but she then felt Ron's arms tighten around her.

"Quiet. We will have no more tears. I said it was fine. There will be no more apologizing over things you can't control. I am a werewolf, and I know two others who are close friends. There's nothing more to it. I forgive you. There is nothing to be sorry for. So - Fuck!" he felt the heat rush through him. Luna eyed him curiously before she felt it as well.

They tumbled from the couch, landing on the floor screaming bloody murder. Their eyes landed on each other. Though in almost blinding pain, they both wanted to see what the transformation looked like. It was horrifying for the most part. Ron's let out a low growl as his fangs pushed themselves into place. White fur crept it's way out of Luna's skin and her fangs slid in as well. After a final scream from Ron, his tail growing in, they lay on the floor panting, waiting to stand and ascertain each other.

They never got the chance. Before Ron could stand on his shaky legs, Luna growled then pounced. His breath was torn from his aching lungs while Luna forced him to the ground. Once again, Luna found herself fighting to regain control, but her instincts were too strong. She lowered her jaws to the back of Ron's neck, who stopped struggling altogether. As the jaws clamped shut, he whimpered and fire raced down his spine. His body went completely limp. She growled in satisfaction. Licking at his neck, she moved to the nape of his shoulder and nuzzled before giving a short lick . Ron whimpered again, somehow knowing what was to come. Luna bit down, hard and blood filled her mouth. She felt something of herself emptying into the werewolf under her.

Dawn approached and Luna collapsed, finally releasing her less then gentle hold on Ron's neck. Ice crept up their veins and the change back to "normal" commenced. They moaned the night's completion as the pain subsided to a dull ache. Finally, Luna nuzzled into Ron's hair and began to easily slip into slumber. Ron felt drained, he couldn't move if he wanted, which he didn't want to. His eyes slammed shut as he listened to the Luna's contented sighs.

She kiss the back of his neck, sending lightning coursing through him, and growled, "Mine," before falling asleep.

Ron nodded, though sleepily replied, "And no first date?"