The first thing I noticed was the smell. Damp, earthy – like the way the tunnel had smelt the day that Sirius and Remus helped me to escape from Hogsmeade. But this was no tunnel. Instead of the still, stale air I remembered, there was a cold wind that mercilessly breezed over my body, making me shiver through my thin, cotton top.

My body ached all over, which wasn't helped by the fact that I seemed to be caught underneath something incredibly heavy. I opened my eyes slowly, ignoring the painful pounding of my head, to find myself staring directly up into the very same pair of animalistic, yellow eyes that I had dreaded ever having to meet again.

I froze – the fear rising up in me; overflowing like a goblet filled with too much water. This couldn't be real. It had to be some sort of nightmare, it just had to be.

"Hey there, Princess," The raspy growl of Fenrir Greyback's voice drifted down to my disbelieving ears as he leered above me, his knees positioned on either side of my waist and the weight of his solid body pressing down on my stomach, making it painful to breathe as he pinned me to the ground by my arms.

All pain dispelling itself from my mind, I began to panic. Was I going to die? Or if it didn't get that far, would I be bitten and turned into a Werewolf like Greyback. Why else would I have been brought here? I knew that it must be punishment for me refusing to side with Voldemort.

Greyback sneered at me, his fanged teeth bared in a sinister grin as his instincts sensed my fear, and he ran his sharp fingernails down the side of my face, relishing in it. I trembled under his touch as he continued moving his fingers down to trace the scars on my neck that he had left there the first time we met.

"Well, aren't these pretty," He leant down to breathe in my ear, his breath warm and sour as it ran across my face. It was then that I realised that I had been holding my own breath, not daring to make any small movement. The only sounds were the wind howling in my ears and the sound of my heart pounding furiously in my chest, beating the words "danger, danger" against my rib cage.

I thought of Sirius, and what he had told me about Greyback – that he was a Werewolf. That one thought terrified me more than any other. Werewolves were wild creatures – they viciously held no regard for human life. And here I was, at the mercy of the worst one of the bloodthirsty creatures.

I thought about reaching for my wand to blast Greyback off of me, but remembered that it would still be lying untouched underneath my pillow where I had put it before I went to sleep.

"Back off, Greyback. You'll have your chance," The low voice of another man echoed somewhere nearby.

Greyback lifted his weight off of me and at once I was able to breathe a little easier. I watched while he skulked back into the shadows before I managed to push myself, rather unsteadily, into a sitting position.

I closed my eyes tight and attempted to Apparate – but with no luck. I tried again and again but each time failed to move. I could physically feel some kind of invisible barrier weighing down on me, preventing me from going anywhere.

I studied my surroundings, and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I found that I was indeed, surrounded by a close circle of trees in a small clearing. My first guess was that I was somewhere in the Forbidden Forest. Somehow, the clearing looked vaguely familiar to me. I felt as if I had been here before, though I couldn't recall when.

A small light appeared in front of me – radiating from the tip of a wand, startling me as it illuminated its owners face.

"We missed you in Hogsmeade," Emelio Travers spoke – his voice low and welcoming, as if he was conversing with an old friend "You really should have stuck around – It would have saved me a lot of trouble."

"What are you talking about?" I questioned, eyeing the dark-skinned man warily as I attempted to stumble to my feet. It was then that I realised that Greyback and Travers weren't the only ones with us in the clearing. Behind Travers, all cloaked in dark hoods that pulled down over their faces, were about a dozen other people. I could only assume that these were other Death Eaters, and that more than a few of them were my old friends.

"You see, the Dark Lord has ordered for your death," Travers replied unpleasantly – his demeanour shifting from falsely pleasant to downright irritated as he let out a cynical laugh "Unless, and this is the good part, you join with us in his rebellion."

I narrowed my eyes at the man, not moving an inch as he stood in front of me – staring down at me through eyes that were black as night.

Travers surveyed me, searching for an answer. I merely shook my head defiantly in response, which didn't seem to please him much as he scowled while raising his wand, and with a small flick my body convulsed and I screamed in agony at the feeling of my skin being scorched with fire and my insides being pulled in every which direction.

It lasted only a few seconds, and when it stopped I fell to a heap on the damp ground below me, gasping for breath and trying to recollect my thoughts.

Dry leaves crunched under Travers heavy boots as he knelt down beside me, and I whimpered lowly as he grabbed a fistful of my hair and tugged my head back roughly so I was forced to look up into his menacing eyes.

"You've caused me more than enough trouble, girl." He spat, pushing me by my head so that I fell back once again. I took in a deep breath – If he was going to kill me, there was nothing I could do about it. I thought briefly about my sister, Serenity, and about my parents. How I would die never having the chance to reconcile with them.

Travers stood, offering a cold, calculating smile "Your father is a Healer at St Mungo's Hospital," he said, as if reading my mind.

"You already knew that," I answered him, trying to steady my trembling voice.

Travers lifted a single finger to interrupt me "But what I did not know when we first met is that he's not just any ordinary Healer, is he?" he posed the sentence as a question, but I knew that he already knew the answer.

"No, Victor Cortez is St Mungo's Chief Healer. Healer Cortez approves and oversees every single case within the Hospital. Isn't that right?" Travers asked, though I made no move to answer.

It was the truth, and Travers knew it. For the past seven years my father had been the Chief Healer at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Ailments and Injuries. He was the best Healer the hospital had – and no surgery was approved nor potion administrated, nor patient discharged without his consent.

"You see, Alexandra," Travers continued, his voice now composed "The Dark Lord was extremely unhappy after finding out this little piece of information, seeing as how you had slipped away from us and all. He believes having a man in such a position as your father supporting our cause, would be extremely beneficial."

It was then that I realised what this was all about. If Voldemort could get my father under his thumb, then any injuries gained on his side could easily be patched up and discharged without the Ministry gaining any knowledge. Not to mention they'd have access to an endless pile of important medical supplies.

"If I had my way I would have been content with just killing you," Travers confessed dangerously "Fortunately for you, the Dark Lord thinks I'm being too hasty. He's thought of another use for you."

"My father would never support him – he doesn't believe in Pureblood supremacy." I argued, knowing that if he had a choice in it, my dad would never willingly agree to help with this matter.

Travers let out a low chuckle "Yes – that is what I was afraid of. However, if we had, say, the daughter of the Chief on our side. Well, perhaps he could be persuaded."

"I don't speak to my father – he wouldn't take the bait," I countered stubbornly, though I knew it would be no use. If Travers was at risk of being cast down by Voldemort, then I'm sure he would do anything to get back into his good graces.

"I've heard differently," Travers remarked, waving a hand for one of the cloaked figures to step forward. The Death Eater did as was commanded, removing his hood to reveal the unmistakable platinum blonde hair and cold eyes of Lucius Malfoy.

"Rumour has it that you and young Lucius here used to be rather close," Travers taunted, and Lucius' stony expression remained unchanged "He assures me that your estrangement from your blood-traitor family relates to incidents concerning your Mother – and that your Father would very much care about the safety of his precious, little girl."

I gritted my teeth together, damning Lucius for bringing my family into this. He knew almost everything there was to know about us, and now it seemed that Travers would exploit this fact and use it against me.

I hesitated, fearing that what I was about to say would end with Travers using the Cruciatus Curse on me again. But as scared as I was, I couldn't give myself up to them.

"There's nothing you can say to make me join you," I spoke in a whisper.

Travers didn't look too surprised at my answer "That's too bad – it would have made things so much easier if you had decided to join with us willingly," He spoke, raising his hand once more so that Greyback, looking much too happy for my liking, stepped forward.

"Well, perhaps your old friend, Fenrir, can change your mind," Travers threatened, turning to point a commanding finger at Greyback.

"I'm warning you now, dog – keep that great, ugly trap of yours closed. We don't need any more of your kind running wild and free."

Greyback growled at Travers in response, looking very much like his fun had been spoilt. He shrugged his dark coat off from his shoulders and dropped it to the ground beside him. I took a few steps backwards as he watched me hungrily, his eyes shining fervently through the darkness.

I noticed as nearby most of the cloaked figures removed their hoods, and lit the tips of their wands to see better through the darkness. And that's when I saw them – Bellatrix, Rodolphus, Evan, Severus, Rabastan and Regulus. They were all there, stony-faced and silent. Every one of my old friends come to watch my punishment and do nothing about it.

The moon was starting to peek above the tips of the trees surrounding the clearing, adding more light to the scene. Bright and full, it illuminated the ground below, bathing it in moonlight.

And that was when Greyback began to transform – and I understood why, out of all nights to bring me here, they had chosen this one.

I watched, my mouth open in horror as the bones of his spine began to shift and arch in such an extreme angle that he was forced to fall to the ground on all fours. Thick, grey fur began to spread along the skin of his back as his nose and mouth protruded into a long snout – his fanged teeth gnashing wildly and hungrily. His strong arms and legs changed quickly, bearing great paws with sets of deadly looking claws.

He leaped at me the second the transformation had completed – his wild, yellow eyes the only thing that bore any resemblance to the man he had been mere seconds earlier. Before he reached me I noticed a coil of rope spring from the side and wrap itself around the wolf's snout. I guessed it must have been Travers taking extra precautions on his no biting rule. Whatever it was, Greyback was momentarily deterred by the rope and I took the chance to fling myself to the side, out of his path, and pushing myself back to my feet, continued at full sprint towards the edge of the clearing.

I thought that perhaps if I could make it past the trees I could try and find somewhere to hide myself in the darkness from the beast who was hunting me. At that moment, it was the best idea I had. I ran as fast as I could, my bare feet aching as they ran over the various sticks and debris that littered the ground. I could feel Greyback on my heels – his speed giving him a clear advantage over me.

Seconds later I made it to the edge of the clearing, only to be flung back by some sort of invisible wall. I landed on the ground at Greybacks feet, who had skidded to a halt behind me. My stomach dropped as I saw that the rope which was previously binding his mouth had been ripped through by his sharp claws. I didn't even stop to think before I was on my feet again, dashing away from the wolf. But he was much too fast – he took a swipe at me with one of his large paws and I let out a cry of agony as his claws, as sharp as blades, pierced through the flesh of my leg.

I tried to run, but was reduced to a mere stumble as the pain from my leg shot up the length of my body. I fell to the ground, wincing as I landed on my stomach, though not hesitating for long before I began grasping around on the ground in front of me for anything that I could use in my defence.

Greyback was running again, his hulking weight shaking the ground as he took another great leap at me. My hand landed on something hard – a branch that had fallen down from a nearby tree, the tip of which was protruding sharply from where it had broken off. It was sharp enough to be used as a weapon, at least.

I turned, just as Greyback was bearing down on me, and thrust my weapon up at the wolf with as much force as I could. It pierced through his shoulder, but not before he had the chance to take another swing at me – this time his claws slashing through my thin top and the skin of my stomach.

The wolf let out a great howl of pain as scarlet drops of blood began to trickle down from his wound. My eyes brimming with tears, I curled myself up, trying to stifle the pain that was now scorching my abdomen. Dark patches of red soaked through the front of my white top, covering my hands as I pressed them against my wound to try and stop the flow.

Greyback let out another pained howl and I instantly snapped back into survival mode. The smell of blood would no doubt send him into a frenzy – but I didn't see how I could possibly fight against him injured, and without my wand. I wiped my eyes dry and pushed myself wearily to my feet, balancing my weight on my uninjured leg.

The creature was balancing on his hind legs, and with his powerful mouth had managed to snap off the end of the branch that had been protruding from his shoulder. However, the tip was still lodged in his flesh – the dark blood surrounding it matting his fur. He dropped down onto all fours, visibly wincing as his injured shoulder took the weight of the fall. He sniffed the air – once, and then twice – and his large ears perked as he searched for the source of blood.

Greyback fixed his hungry eyes on me – his mouth open, baring his killer teeth – and I knew that if he could get his claws into me again that this time he would bite. Travers could clearly not control the animal – he stood to the side, watching the battle calculatingly, as if he had resigned himself to letting the beast take me and was planning his next excuse to Voldemort.

The wolf was pacing slowly around the edge of the clearing opposite me, eager to pounce, yet a little wary after I had proved I wasn't completely defenceless. I searched the ground around me, still bent and clutching my stomach in pain, for anything that might help me again. But I couldn't see anything through the darkness but crumpled leaves and twigs, both of which wouldn't help me much against a Werewolf.

The group of Voldemorts servants were still watching the fight, silently, their eyes darting back and forth between Greyback and myself, not knowing what would happen next. There were a few older wizards I didn't recognise. Bellatrix, the only Witch present other than myself, was watching me with a look of pure resentment – as if in her mind, this was exactly what I deserved.

I glanced over the rest of my fellow House mates, briefly, knowing that none of them would help me now, even if they wanted to. With Travers and the other Death Eaters there, it was too big a risk. I understood that, though it didn't help me feel any less bitter towards them.

And then something caught my eye, and a small glimmer of hope lit up within me because a few feet from where the Death Eaters where standing, laying amongst an ordinary pile of twigs, was a wand. I chanced a quick look in Greybacks direction – who was still pacing back and forth, whether determining his next move, or waiting for mine, I didn't know.

The wand was lying closer to me than Greyback. He was much faster than me, I knew that – but getting to that wand was the only chance I had of surviving him. I waited until his back had turned the opposite way before I moved. Greyback had lurched in the same direction almost immediately, his mouth curled into a deadly snarl – he was ready to bite. I took a painful dive to the ground, seizing the wand and instantly feeling the power of it running through me.

It was my wand – I knew simply from the way that it felt in my hand that it was mine. But how it had gotten here baffled me. I was sure that it would be lying under my pillow where I had left it.

Before I had the chance to defend myself, Greyback had launched himself on to me, throwing me to the ground with his weight. I struggled beneath him – his powerful paws had me pinned down by my shoulders, my wand lay uselessly in my hand at my side.

Greyback snarled down at me – streams of hot saliva dripping down over his fangs. I gagged at the overpowering smell of blood and sweat that radiated off of him. His threw back his head, preparing to attack, and I knew that I had only seconds to think of some way to save myself.

I couldn't move my arms, but my legs were very much free. With all the force I could, I kicked my foot up into the wolfs soft belly, winding him for the briefest of moments so that his hold on me relaxed slightly and I managed to raise my wand arm and shout "Sectemsempra!"

The most powerful spell I knew – taught to me by one standing in the clearing himself – struck Greyback across the chest and he recoiled, whimpering.

"Where the bloody hell did she get that wand!" Travers was shouting furiously in the distance at the other Death Eaters who all looked as utterly perplexed as he was at the appearance of my wand. But right then I didn't care so much exactly where the wand had come from, I was just grateful enough having it in my possession.

Greyback was on his feet again, poised and ready to strike. I held my wand tightly – confident now that I could bring the beast down. He stalked towards me slowly, his injuries visibly affecting his speed. From the corner of my eye I could see Travers lifting his wand at me and without thinking I turned to cast a shield charm to deflect his unseen curse.

In an instant I was hit by Greybacks weight – the air was knocked out of me as I was thrown to the ground under him. Before I could raise my wand to fight back, I heard a loud howl, this one strangely not emitted from the grey wolf on top of me.

Greybacks ears perked up for an instant until a streak of brown fur flew past me, knocking Greyback to the ground. I sat up, my eyes becoming blurry and unfocused as I strained to see what was going on. I could see now that the brown blur had been another wolf, which was now locked in a vicious battle with Greyback, the two of them clawing and biting one another. The brown wolf was much smaller, and the shape of Greybacks body looked grossly distorted compared to it.

My head began to spin as I watched the animals – a kind of drowsiness taking over. I looked down at my body. Most of my lower half looked like it had been bathed in blood. The top I was wearing, once white, was now covered in red and brown splotches and the length of the left leg of my pyjama pants was wet and sticky – the thick red liquid running down over my foot.

All of a sudden, I felt the barrier which had been bearing down on me earlier lift, and a series of new voices seemed to enter the clearing – yelling and shouting. I held my head in my hands for a moment, trying to refocus my vision. When I looked up again I thought that I could vaguely make out the shape of Professor Slughorn in the distance. I thought I must be a bit delirious from the blood loss – what would my Potions Professor be doing in the middle of the Forbidden Forest?

A flash of green light whizzed past me and I desperately tried to keep my eyes open to make out what was going on. I had no idea if I was still in danger or not. All I knew was that the spinning of my head was making me feel increasingly nauseas.

I tried to push myself to my feet, still grasping my wand in my hand as if it was my lifeboat, but I fell back down at once. I could hear a voice which I could have sworn belonged to Professor McGonagall shout "What on earth are you doing here, Potter?" and the animated reply "The same thing as you, Professor!"

I felt weak – I began to shiver violently as the adrenaline started to leave my system. In a haze I could make out figures running back and forth in front of me, and then a distressed voice beside me.

"Alex! Merlin, what have they done…"

"Sirius…" I breathed, barely having the strength to even speak his name. But I knew it was him. He had come – and I knew now that I was safe.

Sirius knelt down beside me, his dark hair in disarray, and gently took me in his arms to lay me down on the ground.

"I'm here, sweetheart," He answered, his voice laced with anxiousness. I winced and let out a low whimper as I felt something soft being pressed against the wound on my stomach, and looked down to see he had taken his sweater off to stem the blood flow.

"It's okay – I've got you," He shushed me, running his hand over my forehead before turning and shouting shakily "Professor Dumbledore! I need help over here."

I let my eyes close – I felt so drowsy, so weak…

"Alex, don't close your eyes," Sirius' voice drifted down to me unsteadily "Look at me."

Sirius' hand was on my shoulder, shaking me gently and though I didn't want to, I forced myself to open my eyes. The picture above me was blurry, but I could make out the worry in Sirius own grey eyes. Maybe I was dying – I had lost so much blood, I felt like slipping into a deep sleep and never waking up.

"Where else does it hurt?" Sirius asked as a flash of purple robes appeared on the other side of me, and a pair of quick hands removed the padding from my stomach to study the wound.

"My leg," I answered quietly, recognising the sapphire gaze of Professor Dumbledore who, still wearing his nightcap, pressed the sweater back against my stomach, instructing Sirius to hold it there while he rolled up the bottom of my pants to assess my leg.

"These wounds are much too severe for Margo to heal," Dumbledore spoke, his voice low and steady "We must move quickly to get Alexandra to St Mungo's – I'm afraid time is not our friend tonight."

A/N:Hi everyone! So, um, what did you think? I had a lot of different ideas for how this chapter could turn out, but decided that this was the best course of action.

This chap is a bit shorter then usual, that's just because I wanted to have it end exactly where it did, and I didn't really want to drag it out too much.

Please leave a review and let me know what you thought of it! I really just want to know if you think the whole fight with Greyback was realistic? I kinda went with the notion that Greyback has at least some self control when he's transformed.

Also if there's bits where you're thinking like, wow how did that get there? Or why did they show up? Then never fear! All will be explained next chap =)