Author's Note: Here is Chapter 10! I am kind of excited about this chapter. I honestly did not intend on solving this mystery this early on in the game, but I figured that you all deserve it. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

My eyes flew open as the scratching noises and low growls emanated from beneath the trap door. I slid off the couch and backed into a large shadow cast by a towering armoire in the corner of the room. My heart beat fast and my stomach was turning over itself in knots. What exactly was trying to get in here? I heard the trap door bang against the floor as it was forced open, and something large crawled through it. I remained as still and quiet as I could as the thing paced around the room, sniffing everything as it walked by it. A slight draft blew by my face and I recognized the scent immediately: werewolf. I peeked out from behind the armoire to catch a glimpse of the thing. The optimistic side of me hoped that it was just Uncle Remus making a late appearance, showing up to keep me company after all. I recognized quickly, however, that this speculation was far from the right one.

The werewolf growled louder as it came closer to me. How was I supposed to expect that it would not catch my scent? After all, I had already caught some of his already. It knocked over furniture, ripping cushions and pillows in its wake. It inched slowly closer to the spot where I was hiding. What was I going to do if it found me? The real question was when it found me. A long, snarling snout inched its way right in front of my face, and I did not have time to think. I raised my enormous, clawed paw and smacked the werewolf's face as hard as I could. A loud yelp came from its mouth as I darted past it, trying to somehow find a way to escape this beast.

I headed for the trap door that led to the tunnel out of the Shrieking Shack. Surely it was easier to get away from something if you were not in a cluttered, old house that was like a bloody obstacle course. I nearly made it out before I was tackled to the ground. Claws started swiping at me as I tried to regain my footing. I found a paw as it intended to scratch me and I caught it in my mouth, biting down hard. The wolf let out a howl and I was able to get up. I tumbled down through the trap door, already panting. I could barely understand what was even going on. Not too long before I gained my balance, the other werewolf tumbled in after me. I bolted down the tunnel, eager for something that was not closed in and tight. I could make an escape in the open air. As I galloped through the passage, my pursuer was hot on my heels. I could feel its hot breath coursing down my back.

I barreled through the hole that exited beneath the roots of the Whomping Willow. I tiptoed around to the other side of the tree, waiting for my shadow to burst through the hole. I heard the tree creak, and move as I leaned against it. Then it made a violent jerk, and I heard another yelp. I watched as the werewolf was slung fifty-feet away, hit by an enormous branch of the tree. It started moving again, this time toward me. A limb hammered down on the ground in front of me as twigs scratched my skin on its way down. Now I understood why the tree needed to be frozen before you could even hope to approach it.

My mind raced as I had to make an exit plan. At first I thought about heading up the hill, toward the castle. That would not do, as I was in werewolf form and I was sure somebody was bound to notice a werewolf walking on its hind legs through the castle. Then there was the direction toward the lake. That was an easy decision. It was deemed the Black Lake for a reason. Even if I was an amazing swimmer (even as a werewolf), I could be grabbed by a giant squid or merpeople and never be seen again. That was completely out of the question. The only option left was to go forward, toward the Forbidden Forest. I darted away from the tree, dodging flying limbs and branches as it heaved itself around like a giant, monstrous fly swatter. I heard a growl from behind me and I knew that the other had gotten back to its feet and was following me into the woods.

I ducked trees left and right as I dashed through the forest, trying to evade my tracker. This scene felt eerily familiar. It reminded me of the vision I had the last full moon of running in the forest. Except this time, I knew exactly from what I was running. I saw through the canopy of the trees that the sky was not as dark, and the stars were fading against the sky as it turned to a lighter, pearlescent shade of blue. It was twilight. Not too long from now, it would be sunrise. I heard a long howl as I continued to run. This time, however, the howl did not sound like the werewolf chasing me, but far more familiar. I slowed down in distraction, trying to place the direction where I had heard it. In my diversion, I was tackled to the ground once more. Our teeth clanged together as we fought and rolled around on the ground, each of us constantly trying to gain the upper hand. Now that I was as close as I possibly could be to the beast, I knew exactly what Remus was talking about last month when he talked about what he smelled. The scent of savagery and viciousness emanating off of this creature was overpoweringly pungent, as if they were barely tame in human form, let alone in werewolf form.

Instead of letting this animal get the best of me, I decided to use its ferocity to my aid. I allowed it to fill my nose, then fill my body. It awakened something inside me that was brutal, and almost scary, but felt so good. I pounced forward onto my attacker, snapping my jaws in its face, desperately trying to sink my teeth into its jugular. I was in the mood to kill. I swiped my claws across its face, leaving four distinct scratches in its skin that trickled with glimmering blood that appeared to be made of rubies. I desperately wanted to taste it. I bared my teeth again, ready for the bite that would kill, when I was knocked off of my opponent by a third party. Another werewolf, this one a familiar, gentler face, knocked me to the ground, and the feeling of fierceness was gone. When I realized the hole it left inside me, I was terrified. I never wanted to feel that way again. Remus cornered the both of us, snarling and baring his teeth, warning us not to move. I obeyed out of orders, but the other werewolf obeyed out of sheer pain and tiredness. I looked over and saw that I had really caused some damaged, as the ground beneath where it lay was beginning to soak in blood.

Tiny rays peeked over the hill and peppered the forest floor with specks of light as it poked through the leaves of the trees. I saw Remus transform into a human, then I heard the sound of crying and whimpering. A girl was writhing on the ground, her face in her hands as she continued to bleed. Remus darted over to her.

"Let me help you," he said, and he brought her hands away from her tear-stricken, bloody face. I recognized her in an instant. Though her hair was as bushy as mine was now, she was unmistakable, and even Remus noticed as he took in her appearance. "Cassiopeia?" He said, stunned. She tried to stand up, hoping to run away from all of it, but she was too wounded to bear her own weight.

"Remus," a deep voice came upon us. I looked up and saw an enormous centaur towering over the three of us. I recognized him as Megorian, the leader of the herd, the one who I visioned being attacked last full moon. He looked down at the girl on the ground. "A foal. She looks badly injured," he said as the rest of his herd stood behind him. Remus nodded.

"Yes, she is a student at Hogwarts. Please take her to the castle, and notify Dumbledore immediately of the situation." Magorian nodded and picked Cassiopeia off the ground, draping her across his back. After they had gone, trotted out of the forest toward the castle, Remus looked at me admonishingly. "What the hell were you doing in the Forbidden Forest? You were supposed to stay in the Shrieking Shack!" I could barely process what he was saying. I was in shock at what had just happened.

"I was in the Shrieking Shack," I finally said. "I was just falling asleep when she barged in and attacked me like some wild animal." Remus rubbed his neck as he paced around. He had not been expecting this at all, I could tell. "So this is what came up? You were patrolling the forest with the centaurs instead of keeping me safe?" I said with a tone of anger in my voice.

"I thought you were safe. I had no idea she could smell you all the way in Hogsmeade."

"Well you thought wrong." I stood up and brushed myself off. We started to head toward the castle, out of the forest. "So, you know Cassiopeia." Remus exhaled deeply. "I am sure you noticed a certain likeness between us. Who is she?" I asked sternly. I figured that now was as good a time as any, having just been attacked by my doppelgänger who just so happens to be a werewolf as well. It seemed all too uncanny.

"I do not think I am the one who ought to be telling you," he said.

"Then who ought to be telling me?"

"You should ask your parents."

Author's Note: I think we all know what is going on here. Well, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! I cannot say when the next update will happen, as I have a busy next few weeks. Tomorrow I am catching a plane to my brother's graduation from the Navy, then I take my licensing exam a few days later, then I move into my new apartment, and then I start my new job. So yeah. Busy, busy, busy. But MAYBE if you guys are extra sweet and favorite, follow, and review, I will make an extraordinary effort to quench your thirst with another installment! May the odds be ever in your favor.