Chapter 37

Ari's POV

"…which is why it is believed that werewolves still live in the Forbidden Forest today. Any questions?"

I raise my hand high in the air, clearing my throat when Professor Tate acknowledges me. "Professor, how many werewolves are living in the forest?"

He shakes his head as he answers. "It's unknown if there are any werewolves living in the forest, let alone an actual number of how many. Their current inhabitance there is merely speculation."

I nod, glancing over at Landen, Freddie and James with a mischievous smirk. They all reciprocate my smirk before Professor Tate announces the end of the lecture and dismisses the class. Landen, James, Freddie and I all rush into the corridor and convene next to a suit of armor, where James the first to speak. "So when are we going to going to head into the forest?"

I shrug my shoulders while looking around at all of them. "How about tonight?"

Freddie shakes his head while Landen and James nod. "I can't tonight. I'm studying with Roxie tonight and I can't get out of it at all. You lot go ahead though and let me know what you find!"

I glance around at James and Landen then shrug my shoulders as I agree to comply with Freddie's request. "Alright fine, but you're really going to be missing out."

Freddie returns my shrug as he waves to us and walks away. James smirks as he calls out after Freddie, "HAVE FUN AND STUDY HARD!"

Freddie throws up an arm to let James know that he received the message before he disappears around a corner into another corridor. Once he's walked out of view, Landen, James and I begin our planning of tonight's adventure.

(Break)

"Jamie, you've got the invisibility cloak?"

James groans as he replies, "Yes Ari! I had the last two times you asked and I have it now! I have the map and I have my cloak so you can stop checking!"

I roll my eyes, a small smirk playing at my lips as I poke my head out of my room and look at James, who is sitting on the couch in the Head's common room. "You better watch yourself, Potter… There's nothing stopping me from coming out there and jinxing you into next week, you know…"

He looks over at me and grins deviously as he picks up a wand and twirls it skillfully. "There is if I have your wand…"

I internally kick myself as I scowl at him and exit my room, marching across the common room and snatching my wand from his hands. "If we end up finding a werewolf, I'm giving you to it as a sacrifice…" He lets out a chuckle as I flop down next to him on the couch and groan. "Where the hell is Landen?"

The moment the question leaves my mouth, the portrait that leads into the Head's dorm swings open and Landen clambers in breathing heavily. "S-sorry I'm late! I got detention in my last class and just finished serving it…"

I hop up off the couch, pulling James up with me as I do, and nod my understanding as I push Landen and pull James out of the common room. Once we get out into the corridor, I release the boys from my grip and allow them to walk freely. We sneak our way through the corridors in silence, all lost in thoughts about what we might find in the forest.

The last time I ventured into the forest at night, it was to save Al from my dad and it ended up being a trap. Who knows what we might find in there tonight…

We're almost outside when we inadvertently run into Ashlynn and Monroe, who are smiling and laughing. As soon as they see us, their smiles fade, only to be replaced by scowls of displeasure. Ashlynn leans over to Monroe and loudly says, "Looks like the slag is back… Two boys now instead of one!"

I roll my eyes and sigh dramatically. "Ladies, I thought we were over this namecalling shit…"

Landen smirks as he quietly says, "Clearly not…"

Monroe laughs bitingly at Ashlynn's comment before she turns her attention to James. "Jamieboo, I know we've had our differences in the past, but I'm more than willing to take you back despite the fact that you completely shattered my heart. You know I'll always love you."

James' eyes widen as his discomfort with the situation grows. "I… Uh… We… No… I-"

I step forward and cut him off, clasping my hands together as I try to save James from the situation. "Well, although this conversation has been sufficiently awkward, we really should be going so, if you two would please move yourselves out of the way…"

Monroe ignores my request and continues to look at James, who continues to stare at her with a shocked expression on his face, and repeats her previous statement. "You know I'll always love you, Jamieboo…"

James shakes his head, clearing himself from the stupor he was in and responds as nicely as he can. "Monroe, you are a complete nutter and we are never going to get back together… While you may always love me, Merlin help me, I do not return the feelings at all whatsoever."

Monroe's face contorts into one of complete and utter pain, which almost makes me feel bad for her, before it changes into one of pure rage. "James Sirius Potter, I will make you regret this day!"

Landen and I have to stifle the urge to laugh as James rolls his eyes as he murmurs, "Not as much as you've made me regret the day I first met you…"

Monroe flies into a frenzy when she registers what James just said, angrily lunging at him, only to be held back by Ashlynn, who is quietly attempting to calm Monroe down as Monroe screams and swings her arms and kicks her legs in an attempt to injure James.

Landen, James and I take a moment to take in the scene in front of us before using Monroe's angry screams as a cover to sneak outside. Once outside, we break into a sprint toward the forest, only slowing down when Monroe's screams have become inaudible. As the three of us bend over and attempt to catch our breath, Landen chuckles and says, "Wow, mate… Just… wow."

James manages a laugh as he nods his agreement. "I know, mate. She really is bonkers!"

I smirk at James before saying, "And now she's got it out for you!"

He scowls at me before glancing over to the forest. "I'd rather deal with a werewolf…"

My smirk turns into a grin as I stand upright and pull out my wand. "Well then, Jamieboo, you're in luck! We just happen to be hunting for werewolves tonight!"

James and Landen both pull out their wands and nod to me, grins spread across both their faces as we make our way toward the forest. Once inside the tree line, we light up our wands and, after casting wary glances around, we march ahead, deeper into the forest.

The first ten minutes in the forest are fine but, the moment I hear a branch snap, I let out a gasp and grab James' arm as my head whips around to look for the source of the noise. It takes us a moment of looking around, but we eventually realize it was me who broke the branch so I release James' arm and continue to lead on, ignoring the continuous snickering I can hear coming from James and Landen behind me.

After walking through the forest for almost an hour, jumping at the sound of every snapping branches and bush rustling, we decide to take a break. We all lean back against different trees and wipe the perspiration off our faces before Landen speaks up. "I don't think we're going to find anything here…"

I breathe out a sigh and voice my agreement. "I don't think so either. I was really hoping we would though!"

James clears his throat and asks, "What exactly were you planning on doing if we ended up finding a werewolf out here?"

Landen smirks and adds, "Good question, mate! I mean, you practically ripped James' arm off when you broke that branch! I can only imagine what you would do if we found an actual werewolf…"

I roll my eyes as the boys laugh, picking a stick up off the ground and heaving it at Landen, who dodges it and sticks his tongue out at me. "Shut it you gits! I don't know what I'd do…"

My stick falls to the ground, rustling some fallen leaves on the ground as it does. Immediately after the stick rustles the leaves, a louder rustling sound emits from a bush behind Landen, which causes all of us to quickly jump up off the ground and hold our wands out in front of us defensively. We stare at the bush for a moment before hearing an ear piercing howl echo throughout the forest. I look over at the two boys and grin as I say, "…but there's only one way to find out, huh?"

I can see that both James and Landen are about to protest so, before they can talk me out of anything, I take off in a sprint toward the area where the howl seemed to originate. I can hear the boys following behind me but, rather than wait for them to catch up, I continue on, hurdling over exposed roots and ducking under low hanging branches, completely consumed with the need to find the source of the loud howl.

I hear the sound of heavy movement off to my left so I push off a tree and front of me and change my course so that I'm following the new sound instead. As I chase the noise, I manage to stumble on a few exposed tree roots, cursing loudly when I get tripped up.

After chasing the noise for a bit, I decide it's time for another break since I've lost the noise completely and I'm utterly exhausted, a stitch in my side beginning to form from the constant running. Finally the boys catch up to me, both breathing heavily and shooting me dirty looks as they rest against a tree and attempt to catch their breath.

James, after he feels he's adequately caught his breath, looks up and says, "How about you warn us the next time you want to-"

I hear leaves rustling again so I hold up a finger to silence him so that I can hear more clearly. I hear the noise again so I grin at him as I quickly say, "I'm running again!"

I break into another spring, quickly running after the noise, letting my eyes dart around in every direction with the thought that I might catch a glimpse of something as I do. I hear another howl, but this time it's behind me. I look back and immediately regret it when I feel something aggressively hit me against the exposed side of my face, sending me crashing back down to the ground and knocking my wand from my hand as another loud howl rings out throughout the forest, this time closer to me. I can feel a bit of blood trickling down my face as I quickly search around the forest floor for my wand, internally cheering when I find it. I jump up off the ground and gasp when I come face to face with one of the sources of the howling.

Oh man! Do yall think Ari found her werewolves? How do you think Monroe is going to make James regret rejecting her? So many questions! Haha

I would like to apologize for the length of time that it took for me to get this chapter posted and I hope that you lovely readers felt that it was worth the wait! I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions about the chapter! Really, I would! They totally keep me motivated to write and post faster! :)

I would also like to thank the amazing people who left a review for the last chapter, the people who added this story to their alerts, and the people who have been reading this story from the beginning. I absolutely appreciate yalls support and really want yall to know that. :)

Thanks!

-Tx :)