Author's Note: You know, writing disclaimers may suck but it's a whole lot better than getting sued. So here I am telling you that I own nothing you recognize. Now the stuff you don't know from the Harry Potter series, that's all mine…hehe!

Chapter 11 New Things Are Learned

Alex opened her eyes tentatively and looked around. She was in a Hospital Wing bed with a crowd of people gathered around her and another bed. Turning her head, she saw Harry with his eyes closed.

"She's awake!" Ron said with a look of relief on his face.

"How do you feel?" Angelina asked.

"I'm-ouch!" Alex gasped as she sat up. The whole left side of her was sore and covered in colorful bruises. "Well, I'm fine except for my left side. Good thing I'm right-handed."

"You fell from eight feet in the air," George said, shaking water from his eyes. Alex noticed that every person looked as though they had taken a shower with their clothes still on.

"Yeah and just before you fell, this silver fox came out of your wand," said Fred.

"It wasn't a fox," George argued, "It was a wolf!"

"Anyway," Alicia cut in, "It was just after you fell that the silver thing vanished and then Harry fell too. Dumbledore helped him land softly, since he was higher up than you, and forced the dementors off the field."

"It was scary," Hermione said, sitting on Alex's bed and hugging her gently, "I've never seen him that mad."

"What happened to the match? Are we going to reschedule it?" Alex asked.

"No, we finished it," George said grimly.

Just then, Harry groaned and sat up. He saw Alex in the bed next to him and raised a bandaged hand. "Hey Alex."

"Hey Harry, how are you feeling?"

"Sore all over, you?"

"Just my left side is sore, but I fell from eight feet in the air. What about you?"

"I was going for the Snitch and I fell, must've been a hundred feet. Did we win the match?" Harry asked, looking around at his housemates. Alex looked too and saw everyone's relieved expressions fade to sadness at the question.

"Diggory caught the Snitch after you fell," Alicia said gently.

"He tried to call it off when he saw what happened but he won, fair and square," Angelina said.

Alex and Harry stared, completely stunned. Alex closed her eyes and leaned back, groaning quietly. She couldn't believe after everything she and Harry had been through, they still lost the match. But the bad news didn't end there.

"Where're our brooms?" asked Harry, his voice muffled slightly because he put his head on his knees.

"Katie's stayed in the air because it wasn't as high up," Ron said slowly, "But Harry, yours was so high up and it was very windy, and it, um…"

"Oh Harry, it hit the Whomping Willow," Hermione said, holding up a blanket with splinters of wood in it. Alex remembered Harry and Ron telling her about the tree last year. It would attack anything that got near enough.

Madame Pomfrey came over and told everyone to leave. Just before the twins left, Alex called them back.

"How upset is Wood?" she asked.

"Pretty upset," replied George.

"But not with you two," Fred said quickly, seeing Harry and Alex's faces, "Just at our luck. He said you both did wonderful jobs. No, you were bloody brilliant! That was a great match. Try and rest, you look like two people about to keel over."

They left and Alex laid her head down. She ate the chocolate the matron gave her and thought that if she ate another piece she'd pop. Suddenly, Alex remembered what she had heard this time when the dementors came, her father's murder. Rage filled Alex up and she stopped eating.

"Why does this always happen?" she spat angrily.

"What always happens?" Harry asked, confused by this sudden outburst.

"Every time something good happens to us, Voldemort comes along and ruins it!" Alex said, putting down her chocolate, "He's the reason we're here, he's the reason why the dementors affect us more so than the others!"

"We'll get though this Alex," said Harry supportively, "We always do."

"He killed my father, a Muggle who couldn't have defeated himself if he tried," choked Alex, wiping her eyes furiously, "My father died to give me and my mum a chance."

"And we'll make them proud," said Harry.

Alex nodded with a smile and finished her chocolate, then fell asleep.

…...

"Are you sure you want to do this, Alex?"

"Of course I am, Hermione. I spent all day yesterday in the Hospital Wing and I need to do my work."

Alex and Hermione were taking up two tables with their books and papers. It was Sunday morning and Alex had just been released from the Hospital Wing. Hermione said she would help Alex finish the Defense Against the Dark Arts essay.

"Hey look here," Alex said, "It says, 'There is no cure for lycanthropy but, in the last fifteen years, potions have been discovered to help the infected keep their mind during the transformation. The most well-known of these is wolfsbane, a vile drink that takes two months to brew and is taken twice a day.' Looks like Lockhart was lying again last year."

"Very interesting," Hermione said distractedly as she flipped through her notes and looked at Alex's first draft, "You misspelled lycanthropy…twice."

"There was a full moon on Friday, cow tipping night."

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, finally paying attention as she frowned.

"Back in Montana," explained Alex, "We had a neighbor who raised cows. Every Friday night that had a full moon was cow tipping night for the local teenagers. They would dress in black and try and tip all the cows in town before the sun came up. I don't know what they found fun about it, but they all seemed to enjoy it.

"One time, a group of them were stone drunk and came to our house instead. We raised horses and they couldn't tell the difference. Poppy, my grandfather, came out in his pajamas with a shotgun and they tried to run for it. Now, these people were so drunk that they were tripping over each other and not making much progress. My Poppy caught them and Grammy, my grandmother, gave them a good thrashing."

Alex chuckled at the memory but Hermione looked appalled.

"Did your grandmother get in trouble?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Are you joking?" Alex laughed, "Everyone was afraid they'd get thrashed if they pressed charges."

Hermione smiled at this and they finished the werewolf essay, leaving to hand it in to Snape. Alex tried to get Hermione to do it for her, seeing as their last meeting wasn't so great, but Hermione didn't want to go alone. They reached the entrance of the library and saw Professor Lupin walk by the door, not even noticing them. Once he was gone, Alex let out a soft whistle and shook her head.

"Man, he looks terrible. Just when I thought he was getting better, he does a complete turn around."

Suddenly, Hermione's eyes went wide and she ran back to where they had come from, Alex following.

"Hey, where are you going? I thought we were finished in here!" Alex asked.

Hermione ignored her and banged her bag on the table, taking out her notes, muttering to herself as she did, "A full moon on Friday…not in class… vile potions…pale…scars." She turned to Alex and said, "Do you still have those notes on the potion Professor Lupin drank?"

"Yeah, hold on," Alex rummaged through her bag and pulled it out, "Right here. Hermione, what's going on? You look so nervous."

"Bear with me Alex," said Hermione in a shaky voice, "I have a hunch, and I hope to Merlin I'm wrong. Find a book on advanced potions and bring it here."

Alex nodded and went to the potions section. Pulling down several, she laid them on the table and Hermione skimmed through each one. Finally she found what she was looking for. Her eyes flashed across the page and she looked totally in shock.

"Read the last paragraph aloud, softly so only we can hear," she whispered.

Alex took the book and read it in a soft voice.

"Wolfsbane is a potion used to help a human bitten by a werewolf during the transformation process. This very complicated potion takes two months to brew and has a horrible odor and taste, looking like a grey, bubbly mixture when brewed correctly. It must be taken twice a day during the week prior to the full moon for it to be fully affective and sugar makes it entirely useless. The cauldron must be washed thoroughly after use for it leaves a residue that gives off a smell that makes anyone nearby weaker in both mind and body."

Alex was silent as she read it over and over again. She even looked in another book and read about wolfsbane. Finally she took the books back and sat in a chair, staring off.

"It makes sense, all of it," said Alex quietly and trance-like, "He's gone the day of a full moon or looks like crap when he is in class, the potion is exactly like wolfsbane, and his patronus. Remember it was an orb? I think it was a full moon instead. And I bet those cauldrons Snape made me clean were from when he made the potion!"

"What should we do?" Hermione asked, practically shaking all over, "Should we tell someone?"

"The staff must know," said Alex, coming out of her trance, "That's why Snape's making the potion. And if we tell any of the students, they'll tell their parents and force Professor Lupin to leave."

"But maybe he should go. I mean," added Hermione quickly when Alex's head snapped toward her, "What if he missed a potion and bit a student?"

"Hermione," Alex said in forced calm, "Does Professor Lupin seem like the kind of person who would do that?"

"No, you're right. But what if-?"

"Hermione!" Alex snapped, "Professor Lupin is the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had! So what if he's different? I can't imagine him as anything like we see in horror movies."

Hermione nodded and said, "Should we tell him what we know?"

"I don't think so," Alex sighed, "The less we say, the better. It'll be just between us."

"What about Harry and Ron?"

"Ron's been raised to think werewolves are not only evil, but real threats to society," said Alex, "And Harry can't keep a secret if his life depended on it so he'll end up telling Ron. They're so close, just like us."

So then and there, Alex and Hermione made a promise not to say a word about their teacher's "little problem" as Alex said good-naturedly. By this time, it was too late to turn in the paper so the two girls went back to the common room and saw Harry and Ron. Ron had Scabbers in his hands and was trying to feed him the rat tonic.

"Maybe I can help," Alex offered and Ron handed the flailing Scabbers over, "Come on buddy, this'll make you feel better."

Scabbers flailed even harder and tried to bite Alex's fingers. Finally, Alex shoved the tonic into the rat's throat and handed both back.

"He doesn't talk to me," she commented, "When he squeals, I can't understand him."

A tap on the window made the four Gryffindors jump. Alex had to look hard to see her ebony owl sitting outside. She got up and opened the window, taking the letter from his beak.

"From your uncle," Monty said.

"How is he?"

"Tired looking, this case is taking a lot out of him. He said it was important so I flew as fast as I could, I'm beat."

"You better stay with me tonight," said Alex and opened the letter.

Dear Alex,

The case is coming along and I think we have a chance. Unfortunately, I have something grave to share. Orion ran away the end of September. I did not write sooner because we were hoping to find him, but it's been almost two months. I am so sorry to tell you this because I know how much you loved him. Keep up good sprits, there is always a chance he will come back.

Write to me soon,

Best wishes and love,

Uncle Monty

"What is it, Alex?" Harry asked.

"My dog ran away," Alex said, staring off into another world, "I can't believe it."

"You had a dog?" Ron asked and received a hard glare from Hermione.

"I rescued him this summer," explained Alex in a hollow voice, "I thought he liked it with us, we had so much fun together. But I guess this explains why I saw him in the stands."

"You saw a dog in the stands?" Harry asked.

"Or at least, it looked a hell of a lot like him. I need to go to bed, see you all tomorrow."

She walked up to her dormitory and sat on her bed. After a moment, she pulled out her sketchbook and flipped to her drawing of Professor Lupin in the moonlight. Chuckling at the dark irony of this picture, she shut the book and placed it in her trunk. No one could see what she had drawn, in case it helped stimulate the idea that Professor Lupin was a werewolf. Sighing, Alex got ready for bed and fell asleep. That night, she dreamed of a big, black dog bounding toward her but never getting closer, no matter how loud she called to him.

"Alex, wake up!"

Alex jumped and fell off and onto the floor. All the girls were in their pajamas and staring at her.

"What? Was I snoring? Because I swear you all are just hearing yourselves," Alex said as she got up and stretched.

"No, and I don't snore," Maggie said snootily. Maggie was short with blonde hair and dull blue eyes. She wanted to be in Slytherin but was instead put in Gryffindor. Because of this, she was always very nasty to her roommates.

"Yeah, you just breathe so loudly that you break the sound barrier," Lavender muttered.

"You were twitching in your sleep," Hermione told her in a whisper as everyone else started getting ready, "And muttering a lot."

Alex didn't answer and got ready for class.

…...

Alex, Ron, Hermione, and Harry were going to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom last period and stopped outside the door.

"I refuse to go in there if Snape's teaching again," Ron said as he pulled his bag higher on his shoulder.

Alex went over and opened the door a crack. She looked in and saw a very sickly- looking Professor Lupin, but Lupin none the less. Grinning triumphantly, Alex opened the door all the way.

"It's all right," she said happily, "He's here!"

The rest of the class heard this and ran in cheering. Then came the questions.

"Professor Lupin, do we really have to do the essay?"

"Why did Professor Snape make us do a three foot essay about something we never covered?"

"Are you going to leave again? If you do, we'll gladly take Binns instead of Snape."

"Wait a moment," Professor Lupin said and looked confused, "What essay did Professor Snape assign you?"

"A three foot essay on werewolves and the lunar cycle," Parvati told him.

"No, you don't need to do the essay," Lupin said, "I'll talk to Professor Snape about it."

"Are you feeling better, Professor?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, thank you, Hermione. Now, everyone take a seat and let's start the lesson."

Everyone realized, and Alex knew fully well, that Snape had no chance at this job while Lupin was around. After an amazing lesson, the bell rang and Professor Lupin told them they had no homework from him.

"I think you all suffered enough. Alex, could I have a word with you please?"

"Go on you guys," Alex told the others, "I'll meet you in the common room later."

Harry and Ron nodded and left. Hermione hesitated and hugged Alex as though she would never see her again. When the door closed, Alex sat on the desk in front of Lupin's desk and cocked her head.

"Is something the matter, sir?" she asked.

"Professor Snape told me about your detention and why you got it," the professor said seriously.

"Oh," said Alex, frowning.

"Oh indeed. Alex, you can't disrespect a teacher, no matter how annoying they may be. And you most certainly can't jinx them. Do you know you could be expelled for that?"

"Not if it was self-defense, sir," Alex returned, "And I realize I was disrespectful, but so was he. He called Hermione "an insufferable know-it-all", which is sometimes true and everyone knows it. But he shouldn't have said that in front of everyone."

Then Lupin did the most unexpected thing: he laughed. It started as a chuckle and turned into a full out laugh.

"Sir? Professor Lupin, are you all right?" Alex asked, concerned for his sanity.

"Yes Alex," he said as he calmed down, still chuckling, "You just sound exactly like your mother."

"Sometimes I wonder if that's a good thing," said Alex, "The only reason Snape hates my guts is because I'm so much like my mother. He…He did something, something that I've never seen before."

"What happened?" Lupin asked, suddenly becoming stern.

"No, nothing like that!" said Alex, sensing what Lupin was thinking and shuddering at the thought, "It was like he opened my mind and pulled out memories for me to relive. I saw my grandparents' dead faces and heard my mother screaming, just like when the dementors get near me. At the match, I heard my dad," Alex paused and took a deep breath, "He told my mum to take me and leave, knowing he'd never see either of us again. I tried to fight them but when I fainted, my patronus died too."

"I'll talk to Professor Snape. What he did was wrong and I'll make sure it never happens again. As for the dementors, I could teach you how to fight them, as well as other spells that could be useful."

"Really? Professor Lupin, you have no idea how happy you've just made me," Alex said with a huge smile, "Thank you so much!"

"I'll see you Friday after dinner then?" Lupin said with a small smile.

"You bet! Thank you Professor Lupin and get better soon, you still look a bit peaky."

Alex ran all the way to the common room and sat with Harry and Ron.

"Everything all right?" Ron asked.

"Great, I'm not in trouble," said Alex, "Where's Hermione?"

"Doing her homework over there where there's room," Harry pointed to a large pile of books and Alex could just see Hermione's bushy hair.

Alex finished her homework and helped Ron and Harry. She then said good-night and fell asleep with a smile.

Author's Note: Hello readers! How did you like the chapter? I know that the POA book never mentions how Hermione found about Lupin being a werewolf so I thought I would fill in that gap. What did you all think of it? Did you like how each girl reacted? If you read Remembering the Past: A Marauder's Tale, you might remember how Elizabeth reacted when someone was nasty to werewolves. Since Alex is her niece and her mother felt the same way as her sister, I thought it only proper for Alex to agree with them.

Speaking of my prequel, if you haven't read it yet I would HIGHLY suggest doing so before you finish this story. You may still understand what's going on if you don't, but it will make a lot more sense if you do. :)

Now for the next chapter update. Don't worry, it will still be done in a timely fashion but I thought I would give you a few tidbits since you all have been so supportive with this story. The next chapter will contain a birth, a story of death, and Alex will learn some new and startling information. That's all I'm gonna say on that. Hope that helps get you all excited for the next update! :D

As always, many thanks to my reviewers, alert-ers, and favorite-ers. You all rock and brighten my day! If you haven't reviewed, I would love to hear from you so please take the time to review. As Aileen Autarkeia can tell you, the review button is well trained not to bite. ;)