A/N: Alright, here's another long chapter. I don't know why I can't write normal sized chapters for this story. I guess I just get caught up in the storyline. It also might have something to do with the fact that I don't like cliffhangers. I feel like that's like starting a scene in a movie and then just cutting it off and watching another movie. Unless it's done skillful. And not I'm just rambling. So I hope you enjoy this chapter. You should let me know if you do via review. I love look at my phone and seeing that there's a new review for this story. So review!

Disclaimer: So I don't own Harry Potter. Still...


Over the next few weeks, Lily forced Brianna to eat every meal time. Every time they sat down at the table, Lily and Remus was watch her carefully, to ensure that she was indeed eating and not just pushing her food around on the plate. Brianna was doing better. Slowly, her eyes were starting to brighten and there was color on her cheeks again. She was starting to return to the Brianna that they had always known. She wouldn't talk about what happened at Quidditch trials or during that week that she was hiding to anyone. Lily figured that it was because she was embarrassed and she didn't want think about the events. Brianna also didn't talk about what happened when Remus went to retrieve her. Whenever the subject of Remus was brought up, her cheeks would turn red and she would change the topic immediately, and when Remus was questioned he would say that if Brianna didn't want her to know then he wasn't going to tell her. Their secret was maddening.

Yet there were seemingly good results from her disappearance. Brianna was doing fantastic in her classes. When she returned to class, she was still the same quiet girl that didn't speak unless called upon. Yet, her grades were improving. When she was called upon, she confidently answered the question. The Professors were starting to notice and would write notes about in on the bottom of her homework assignments. Good Job, Ms. Chase or Brilliant Perspective on the Topic. Although, she was embarrassed by the praise, she was pleased. She was actually pleased with herself.

"I passed," Brianna said as she bounded into the common room during Free Period. "I passed."

"What?" Lily said looking away from her homework assignment.

"My Xylomancy test," Brianna said, her voice filled with excitement. She bounced on her toes excitedly.

"Congratulations," Lily said with a smile. She had never seen Brianna this happy.

"She ran here to tell you that, Lily," Remus said as he entered the common room. "She's pretty excited about it."

"I see," Lily replied. "I'm very proud of her." She turned her green eyes to the clock above the fireplace and sighed. "Dinner time?"

Brianna groaned loudly. Ever since she'd returned, Lily had been treating her like a small child. Feeding her perfectly nutritious meals. Making sure that she ate those perfectly nutritious meals. Brianna hated it, it was quite annoying. Yet, she was glad that Lily cared enough to do that for her. So she wasn't going to complain. At least not verbally. "Alright, let's go."

On their way out, Brianna grabbed Remus' arm and pulled him along with them. The three of them walked down to the Great Hall together. Brianna in the middle, Remus on her left, and Lily on her right. This felt right. Lily was her best friend and the sister that she always wanted. Everything with Lily was set in stone. She and Remus had also gotten close over the seven years that she'd been at Hogwarts. However, there was never a title for their relationship. They were friends, but there was always something more between them. A spark, and Remus admitting that he cared about her and for her didn't lessen the spark. It confused her, to be honest. She didn't know what to do about his confession, all she knew was that there was a spark, and when she was with him, when he was around, everything felt right.

As Brianna sat down, Lily was ambushed by James, as usual. Instead of being irritated, Lily seemed pleased to be talking to him. There was even a small smile on her lips. When the hell did that happen? She'd only been out of it for a week. Now suddenly, Lily and James were all buddy buddy. That was odd.

"Hey, Bri!" Kendall's voice called to her. Brianna bit her bottom lip as she placed her fork down on the table and turned to her sister. "I'm proud of you, Bri." For a moment, Brianna was shocked. Kendall had never said anything like that before. For a moment, she was happy. "You finally stopped soiling the Chase name and passed a test. That's great." And now she wasn't. "I'm glad you stopped being a slacker," Kendall said as she turned on her heel and smiled.

Brianna turned back to her plate, and began to push her food around on her plate. Remus and Lily looked over at Kendall as she walked to sit with her friends at her house table. Lily would have been shocked, but that happened so often that it was a waste to be shocked about it. Whenever Brianna succeeded in anything, Kendall was always there to tear her down. Always.

"Bri," Lily started slowly as she reached over to Brianna. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Brianna answered quickly. "I'm gonna go to bed. I'm exhausted. Goodnight."

Brianna pushed away from the table and was up and walking out the door before anyone could say anything against it. It wasn't until Brianna was out of the Great Hall that Remus noticed that she hadn't eaten anything on her plate. He gave a frustrated sigh and hoped that Kendall didn't ruin the progress. Yet he couldn't linger on Brianna's issues too much. The full moon was tomorrow night. He had to prepare. Normally, he would have started to pull away from the group, but Brianna was still so fragile, that he didn't want to hurt her by doing so. So Remus had been hiding the fact that he was running on empty for the past two days, and that he was incredibly uncomfortable around people, so that he could help Brianna. He loved her alright.


The next day, Remus was miserable. He woke up in a cold sweat with his blankets tangled around his legs. His muscles were sore. His body was tired. It took everything in him to not vomit on the floor beside his bed. There was no way that he could go to class today. He should just go on to the Shrieking Shack and wait for the rising of the full moon. Normally, he would have done just that, but there was something tying him here. He had to see Brianna to make sure that Kendall hadn't destroyed everything that he and Lily had worked to fix. Then he would go. However, getting up was a struggle within itself. Every time he moved, he felt a new wave of nausea wash over him. Yet, he managed to get out of bed, shower, and get dressed. By that time, he was able to move without the constant wave of nausea. That was something.

As he walked down to the common room, he was surprised to spot Brianna lying on the sofa. She looked over, clearly not expecting anyone to be in the common room. Her lips opened to speak a greeting to him, but when she really saw him she jumped up, much too quickly for Remus liking. "Remus! Are you alright? You look awful!" she told him as she pushed him gently towards the sofa she'd been lying on. Remus swatted at her hand in vain, hoping that she was stop but she didn't. She just sat him down on the sofa and sat herself down on the arm of the sofa. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes," he told her. Brianna jumped up off the arm of the sofa, and she was gone before he could say anything. She was still moving much too quickly. When she returned she had a wet washcloth in her hand, that she placed on his forehead. "Brianna," he said weakly. The cold water felt good against his skin. "You don't have to do this, Brianna," he told her again. "Really."

"No, it's not a problem, Remus," she told him as she sat back down on the sofa.

"Why aren't you in class?" he questioned after looking at the clock.

Brianna chew her bottom lip and looked over at the fire again. "I just didn't feel like going."

"Brianna," Remus said. His tone compelling her to tell him the truth.

"I didn't want to go because Kendall's in that class."

Remus paused for a moment, thinking about the best way to word his question. "Are you afraid of her, Brianna?"

Oddly enough, Brianna laughed. "She's pulled my hair since she was able to consciously control her hands. She's broken vases and blamed it on me since we were little. Then there was a period where she didn't talk to me or even acknowledge my existence, that was while she was doing pageants. I used to think it was just normal sibling behavior, but I started to see it wasn't. I guess the easiest way to explain how I feel about her is that I'm afraid of her. But I guess that I'd rather be afraid of her, than have her hate me." Brianna looked at Remus from her corner of her eye. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you that. You didn't need to know that. "

"No, it's fine," he told her. "You don't need to be afraid of her, Brianna," Remus told her.

"She likes people to be afraid of her. She's a bully. I'm a people pleaser, so I'll do whatever I need to do to keep her happy. Even if it means-"

"That you're causing yourself pain," he finished for her.

Brianna nodded. "Yeah."


After their conversation, Brianna sent Remus to bed, telling him that she'd go to class and get notes for him. He watched as she walked out of the common room, but he had no plans on going to bed. In fact, as soon as he was sure that she was gone, he stood and walked out of the common room as well. The corridors were silent and empty. Everyone was in class. Everyone but him. That's the way he liked it though, it gave him space to think. Sometimes he would think about school work and everything that he had to do. Sometimes he would think about his family. He'd think about how his father was the reason he was what he was. He'd think about how this all could have been avoided. Lately, his thoughts didn't stray to his family or school work. His thoughts would always stray to Brianna Chase. He'd think about her hair. How it was flawless and the color of pure milk chocolate. He'd think about her eyes. How they sparkled. He'd think about her laugh. How it sounded like a million little bells. How it was contagious. He'd think about her. How she was perfect. How she was so insecure that it hurt him.

As he approached the Whomping Willow, he pulled out is wand. After checking to see if there were any students out on the grounds, he pointed at the tree and muttered, "Immobulus." The branches were already flailing about far too much for him to attempt to get close to the knob. He entered the secret passage, and just as he did the branches started to move about again. Remus ran his fingers though his sandy hair and entered the Shrieking Shack. The place was a dank and dark as always. Yet, this is where he would be for the remainder of the evening.


It was eight o' five, when James, Sirius, and Peter walked out of the boys dormitory. James looked in the common room to see Brianna sitting in the same place she'd been on the night of the last full moon. James mentally slapped himself and took a step back into the dormitory. After rummaging through, he trunk James found what he was looking for. The Invisibility Cloak. "It's going to be a tight fit, so you and Peter, can use it until we get out of the common room," James said as he tossed it over his friends. "Stay close." James started down the stairs and into the common room. "Don't you ever sleep, Bri? I'm starting to think that you're a vampire," he teased.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she looked over at him.

"Going to bother, Peeves," he answered quickly. "You know he's giving me a run for my money."

"I see," she replied as she watched him walk to towards the door. It was almost like he wasn't walking alone. He was pacing himself. "James," she called to him suddenly. He stooped and looked over at her. "Tell Remus I have notes for him, will you? He wasn't feeling well today."

"Yeah, I will. Bye, Bri," he said hurriedly as he walked out of the portrait hole and into the castle.


Brianna exhaled softly as she closed her book. She dropped her book on the desk and stood. She ran her fingers through her dark hair, pulling out tangles along the way, and stretched. She'd been inside of the castle all day long, and she needed to get out. It wasn't the best idea, seeing as it was a full moon and there were werewolves inside of the Forbidden Forest. Of course, Brianna wasn't thinking clearly. She just wanted some fresh air. So she started out of the common room and out into the corridors. The castle was oddly quiet for James to be pestering Peeves. That could usually be heard in even the furthest corners of the castle. Yet, the halls were silent. In the silence, she often found her thoughts going to Remus. In the silence she would think about how he was always there for her. She'd think about how she would find him watching her and he's flash her a smile. She'd think about how he helped her with the easiest things. She'd think about how warm his hand felt against her face that night in the Library. She'd think about how close her lips were to his that night. How close she was to kissing him.

A cool breeze pulled he from her thoughts. She sighed as she pushed her hands into the pockets of her jumper. The breeze felt amazing. It cleared her mind. In this moment, the event with Kendall never happened. In the moment, she was still proud of herself of passing that Xylomancy test. She could still see the smile on Remus' face when she showed him the grade on the top of her paper. In this moment, everything was fine.


There he sat whimpering in the Shrieking Shack. His skin grey. His face elongated. His snout wet. Shreds of his clothes surrounded him. The thoughts going through his mind were unclear and jumbled. The wild animal that he had become was talking over. The wild animal that he'd become thirsted. The wild animal he'd become wanted blood. James and Sirius entered the shack in their animal forms, a stag and a black dog, respectively. Immediately, James knew that there was something wrong with Remus, aside from the fact that he was a werewolf. The look in his eyes was more wild than usual. He looked more intimidating than usual. He hadn't taken his potion. The potion that allowed him to maintain his human mental state; the Wolfsbane Potion. Remus hadn't taken it. It seemed the Sirius came to the same realization as well, because they backed out of the room slowly, hoping that they would not catch Remus' attention.

They hoped in vain.

Remus was on his feet within seconds as he approached the animal forms of James and Sirius. Internally, they knew that he wasn't going to hurt them. Werewolves posed to danger to animals, just humans. Sirius snarled softly at Remus in hopes that this would stop his approach.

It did.

Remus lifted his nose to the sky. A breeze has just blown by. It was carrying a scent. A human scent. Sirius picked up on it too. The black dog charged at Remus, hoping to keep him down, but Remus was much too fast for him. Sirius was sent sliding into the wall of the Shack as Remus charged at James. James bowed his head, showing his antlers to Remus, but that did not stop him. He'd smelt a human. He was going to kill whoever he'd smelt. Unless they could stop him. Remus collided with James ' antlers and let out a pained howl. The pain didn't stop him. He pushed against the antlers until James was pushed to the side.

Free. He was free.

Remus took off down the passage way that lead towards the grounds with James and Sirius on his heels. Peter's rat form joined them as they ran down the passage. They were no longer trying to stop Remus, they were trying to reach his victim before he did. Remus had no trouble breaking through the flailing limbs of the Whomping Willow and on to the grounds. The branches slamming into his skin was nothing compared to the thirst that Remus had. He looked back to see his three friends stopped at the exit of the passage as they waited for Peter to push the knob.

This was his chance.


Brianna leaned against the large tree beside the lake. Her dark hair blowing in the wind. In her hand, were a few small rocks that she'd found on her walk over. She tossed another small pebble into the lake, watching as the ripples circled away from the place where the pebble entered the water. She tossed another pebble into the water. And then another. She pushed her hair over her shoulder as she looked towards the ground. There was a figure running towards her.

"Bri," the voice shouted. James. "Bri, you have to get out of here," he shouted at her as he reached her. He was out of breath and panting. "We gotta go," he told her again as he pulled on her arm.

"Why?" she asked as she started to follow him.

Too late.

The howl alerted them to the presence of the werewolf. His small pupils on James and Brianna. Either one would do. Either one would suffice. He came to a stop just before them. Starting them down. James stood protectively in front of Brianna. He wasn't going to let the wolf hurt her. He couldn't. James took a step back and so did Bri. She whimpered slightly, as she clung to James.

"Okay, we I say run, you have to run," he whispered to her.

"What about you?" she questioned quietly.

"Go, Bri. Run," James told her, giving her a push towards the school.

She took his command and took off into the night. Behind her, she could hear James. They couldn't outrun a werewolf. Why would they even think that they could? This was it. She was going to either be killed by this werewolf or be turned into a werewolf. Honestly, she hoped that the werewolf would kill her. Her parents would not have to worry about her or do anything with her anymore. If she were to be turned into a werewolf, that would be one more thing to add to her list of imperfections. Not having the best coordination and involved in her thoughts of death, Brianna stumbled in the dark and fell into the dirt.

As she tried to stand, the werewolf appeared before her and knocking her back down. Brianna let out a scream of fear, but she was not able to move. She was frozen. The werewolf's paw rose and lowered, scratching her face. Another scream, as she brought her arm up to her face to guard it from another attack. The blood from her cheek soaked the sleeve of her jumper. The cut wasn't deep, but it bleed like it was. She could hear James calling her name, panic in his voice. He was trying to get the werewolf's attention. Trying to pull it away from Brianna. The werewolf's paw rose again and he scratched her arm. Blood spilled on to the front of her jumper, and Brianna was starting to feel light headed. The scratch on her face burned from the salty tears running into them. Of course, she was crying Why couldn't it just kill her already? Suddenly, there was a snarl. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a black dog racing towards her. He attacked the werewolf, pushing him off Brianna long enough for James to grab her and cradle her in his arms.

"Hey, Bri," he said as he carried her towards the castle. "Stay with me, alright?" There was no response. "Bri. Brianna. Stay with me."