Disclaimer: I don't own any characters.

Chapter 27

It was obvious. He had done it. He had been walking around for days with the goofiest smile on his face. It was only odd because it was weird not to see his trademark smirk and also because he was trying very hard not to brag or look too smug, Piper had warned him.

Finally after a few days of silence they, being Harry, Ron and Hermione, couldn't stand not knowing anymore so they approached Draco in the hallway after class making sure no one saw and proceeded to bombard him with questions.

"You did it, didn't you?"

"What was it?"

"Was is big?"

"Did it hurt?"

He whistled loudly to get their attention and they abruptly stopped talking.

"Bloody hell!" he said annoyed. "If this is how you treat your friends I think I'd rather stay your enemy. Don't you people ever do anything normal, like ask questions one at a time?"

The trio looked a bit sheepish but Hermione couldn't contain herself. Her eyes were shining with anticipation and he couldn't ignore the look on her face.

"Fine!" he said exasperatedly. "But keep your mouths shut."

"We're not daft, Malfoy," said Harry calmly.

"Yes, I did it. No, it didn't hurt and it wasn't big."

"Malfoy, stop stalling and tell us already," snapped Hermione.

"Imabat," he mumbled.

"What?" they said in unison.

"I'm...a...bat," he hissed, not wanting anyone to overhear.

"Really! That's incredible. I thought it might be something like that," Hermione began to ramble.

"Ignore her. She does that a lot," said Ron clamping a hand over Hermione's mouth effectively shutting her up, until she bit him that is.

He pulled his hand away cursing softly.

"Serves you right," she huffed.

"Anyway, congrats mate," said Harry looking at his watch. "Come on Ron, we're gonna be late for Divination. See you guys later." They both sped off towards the North Tower.

"What's your problem?" asked Draco.

"What do you mean?"

"When Potter mentioned Divination you looked like your cat for a second," he smirked.

"Do you have to notice everything?" she asked feeling annoyed herself.

"Yes," he answered pompously.

She decided to answer, realizing that it was the perfect opportunity to gain some of his trust. She told him exactly what she thought of Trelawney and her predictions and how she had walked out of the class and dropped it.

"As far as I'm concerned she can take her crystal ball and stick it you know where."

He snorted.

"It's not funny! Do you know how many times she's predicted Harry's death? That old bat's a fraud."

"I resent that bat comment," he said.

They looked around surprised to find themselves outside. They had been walking as they were talking not really paying attention to where they were going.

He looked around, making sure no one saw them and made his way towards the big oak tree.

"I never thought I'd live to see the day when perfect Granger skipped a class," he drawled, stretching out under the tree.

"As if I ever would. This is my study period," she said sitting next to him.

He stiffened beside her.

Will he ever get over this whole pureblood, muggle-born thing, she thought.

"Looks like you won't get much studying done today," he said, tone odd.

"Why not?" she asked halfway through pulling out her book.

He grabbed her face with one hand and turned it towards the forest, other hand already drawing his wand. Her hand immediately flew to her wand when she saw what was there.

It was big, hairy and obviously man-eating. It let out a roar and bounded after them on all fours.

Screaming, the two teens ran for their lives.

It chased them once around the lake before they ran towards Hagrid's hut. They pounded on the door and all but knocked it down but no one answered, and when they tried to get in they realized it was locked. Not even alohamora would open it.

They turned around and it was there, fangs bared.

He heard Hermione's unmistakable whisper. "Werewolf?" she asked puzzled.

Draco, however, was not in the whispering mood. "It's the middle of the day!"

His yell agitated the beast and it sprung forward and sunk its huge teeth into Hermione's wand hand.

She let out a blood curdling yell that surely could have woken the dead as the blood began to pour freely from her hand.

Draco did the only thing he could think of...he transformed and went for help.

Right after biting her, the beast had fled back into the forest. Hermione was now on her knees in front of Hagrid's hut cradling her bleeding hand. Eyes squeezed shut in pain, she had not seen Draco transform.

"He left me," she whispered, crying. "He really left me."

She was staring to feel dizzy. It was hard to focus and her body felt heavy. In a matter of seconds she had fainted.

Draco flew non-stop until he found the sisters' window. He screeched and rapped at the window with his tiny claws until Paige appeared and let him in.

He transformed back. "Granger...animal...bite...hurry!" he panted.

They orbed outside and ran towards Hagrid's hut. They found her looking pale from loss of blood and unconscious. Draco grabbed her wand and they orbed to the hospital wing.

"I'll stay here with her, you go and find the others," said Paige.

He hurried out of the room and headed up to the Divination classroom. Out of breath again by the time he reached the North Tower, he simply had to open the door and give the two half-asleep boys a significant look and they were up and out the door before Trelawney even noticed they were gone.

"What happened?" Harry asked as they rushed down the spiral staircase.

"It's Granger. We were attacked and she was bitten?"

"By what?" asked Ron, concern coating his tone.

"How the hell should I know? It came out of the forest. She apparently thought it looked like a werewolf, but in broad daylight?"

"Where is she now?" asked Harry.

"Hospital with Paige."

When they got there, Hermione was not looking any better. In fact, she looked worse. She was even more pale and appeared to be sweating heavily. Blood now seeped through the bandage that was covering her mangled hand.

Madame Pomfrey was bustling about the bed of the still unconscious girl when she noticed the three boys standing there.

"Is she okay?" asked Harry.

"Not yet. I've given her a potion for the blood loss and another to help re-grow the skin that was lost. We'll just have to wait. Professor Matthews asks that you meet her in her office right away," she answered hurriedly and returned to Hermione's bedside.

They headed out and made their way to the sisters' portrait. Once they reached the door it was already open and they rushed inside to find them in the living room.

Harry shook his head briefly before sitting down. Ron gave him a questioning look but he just shook his head again.

They sat across from the sisters and without any questions being asked, Draco began to explain what had happened. Once he was finished, he couldn't help but notice that they looked very worried.

"Paige, get the book," said Piper.

"Wait you don't think..." began Phoebe.

"It has to be."

"But in broad day light?"

"Someone could have done a spell to change its habits."

"Is that even possible?"

"I guess we'll find out."

The boys looked on interestedly. When Paige got back with the book, Piper flipped through the pages impatiently then stopped and turned the book to face Draco.

"Is this what you saw?" she asked.

Draco, seeing the beast, ripped the book from Piper's hands.

"Yeah, that's it. A wendigo? What the hell is that?" he asked looking up. He noticed each of them had a small smile on their face. "This isn't funny," he said incredulously.

Ron nodded in agreement, while Harry just looked at the book, eyes shining hungrily.

"Of course we don't think it's funny," said Phoebe quickly.

"Yeah, we're just proud of you, that's all," added Paige.

"Why?" he asked very confused.

"Remember the first time you tried to look at the book and you couldn't touch it?" Piper explained.

"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything? I'm touching it now."

"Exactly," Piper said.

Before Draco could respond, the Book suddenly soared out of his hands and landed with a loud thud on the floor.

"Bloody hell!" Ron yelled as the book narrowly missed his head.

"What happened?" asked Piper.

"Maybe the Book changed its mind," Paige offered.

"No. The book didn't change its mind," said Phoebe, all traces of a smile gone. "Evil tried to touch it."

"What? Who? When?" Piper asked frantically.

Phoebe said nothing but slowly turned to look at Harry.

He looked at them one by one with an extremely annoyed look on his face.

"Harry?" Piper asked uncertainly.

He looked her dead in the eyes and she saw that they were empty. After what seemed like an age, he winked and his body went limp.

"What the hell just happened?" she asked rushing over to Harry, who was already starting to wake up.

The first words out of his mouth were, "Get Dumbledore."

Paige immediately went to the fireplace and flooed to the Headmaster.

"You okay, Harry?" asked Ron, and Harry nodded slowly.

Draco, on the other hand was very confused. "Wait...Potter, you're evil?"

"No," he said softly, but firmly.

"Then why couldn't you touch the book?" Draco challenged.

"It was Voldemort. He was possessing me."

Draco visibly paled. "You mean he saw me here...with you? Merlin, I'm a dead man!"

"Draco, calm down," said Piper. "We won't let anything happen to you. You know that."

Dumbledore had just arrived with Snape at that time. "She is quite right, Mr. Malfoy. You are safe here."

He held back a scoff and instead sent a questioning look at Snape, who simply shook his head.

"Harry, tell us what happened?"

"It was Voldemort, he was possessing me. I tried to fight him, but he was too strong," he said hanging his head.

"Harry, listen to me," Dumbledore began firmly, "You have nothing to be ashamed of. If you tried, that is all that matters."

"Yeah, I mean he even fooled my empath powers," said Phoebe.

Dumbledore nodded. "Now, do you know when it started?"

"I think it was right after we came into the house, so he didn't hear the password. I could feel him trying to get in and I tried to clear my head but it was too late. When he tried to take the book and it didn't work he got mad. That's when Phoebe noticed. I think when he got mad he wasn't concentrating as hard. He lost focus and that's when I pushed him out."

Snape had a look of disbelief plastered on his face, but Dumbledore looked very pleased.

"Well done, Harry. You found his weakness and used it to your advantage. You should be proud."

"But why didn't my scar hurt?" Harry asked, finally voicing what had been bothering him. "The last time he possessed me I thought my head was going to explode."

"Perhaps he found a more useful way to do it," said Snape finally speaking up. "If you let out a yell every time he possessed you, it would be quite obvious, wouldn't it?"

"Um, I hate to interrupt," said Piper suddenly. "But we have another serious problem on our hands. Hermione was bitten by a wendigo, which believe me is not fun. The wendigo is only supposed to come out on the day before, of and after the full moon which means that someone very powerful was somehow able to change its habits. If we don't find it and vanquish it soon, Hermione will become one."

A panicked silence filled the room until Paige spoke up. "Does anyone else find it a little weird that minutes after Hermione gets bitten, Voldemort decides to make a guest appearance?"

"It could be a coincidence," said Phoebe.

"Or it could be him checking up on his handy work. Think about it. Who else would be powerful enough to make a wendigo attack during the day, when it's supposed to be human by the way, and so far away from the full moon."

"And what exactly would he have to gain from turning Miss Granger?" asked Snape.

"Maybe nothing," said Phoebe. "Maybe he's just trying to distract us."

"The seal," said Paige suddenly. "He's trying to make us forget about the seal."

"I think that we need to have an emergency Order meeting," suggested Dumbledore. "I will contact some of the others and if it's alright with the sisters we will meet here on Saturday."

They nodded their consent.

"We can't forget about Hermione," said Harry finally starting to feel less drained.

"We won't," Piper assured. "We'll do a tracking spell, find it and vanquish it. It'll be fine. I turned into one and I ended up alright."

All the wizards in the room just stared.

"Okay," said Phoebe clapping her hands to snap everyone out of it. "I think we should all go check on Hermione."

Her and Snape were the first to leave followed by Piper, Paige and Dumbledore, with Draco, Harry and Ron brining up the rear.

"Aren't you afraid someone will see you with us?" Ron asked, unable to keep the slightly harsh tone out of his voice.

"What does it matter? As far as the Dark Lord knows, you're my new best friends so I'm screwed already. Do you have any idea what they'd do to me if they caught me?" he suppressed a shiver.

"Nothing half as bad as they'd do to me," said Harry trying to cheer him up.

"Good point," he said smirking, and walked ahead.

"He's impossible," whispered Harry to Ron.

They were almost at the door of the hospital when they hear the unmistakable scream of the nurse.

No one wanted to believe the scene that lay before them. Madame Pomfrey was running towards the door with the wendigo, formerly known as Hermione, running after her full speed.

Before a wand could be drawn, Piper had froze the "Hermendigo."

"Please tell me that's not Hermione," Ron said, voice high and squeaky.

"She shouldn't have changed this quick. It took me a day or two and it's only been what? Half an hour?" Piper mused.

They put the Hermendigo in a full body bind and chained her to the bed, making sure she was secure.

The nurse had only agreed to watch her after taking some calming potion.

It was decided that the sisters and Snape would go into the forest after the wendigo right away. They took a couple of hairs from the Hermendigo for the tracking spell and vanquishing potion and set to work right away.

Within an hour the potion had been finished and they had located the wendigo inside the forest.

Standing at the edge of the forest, bright purple potion in one hand and wand in the other, it was an understatement to say that Snape felt pretty stupid. Phoebe, on the other hand, felt just as awkward. Being the only one without a real offensive power, Snape had urged her to bring her wand. He had been able to teach her a few simple spells in a matter of minutes and she had to admit she like the ability to be able to have more than one power, so to speak.

"Before we go in I think we should have a plan," said Piper. "Okay, if anything attacks I'll freeze it and we run. If it's something we can't handle, Paige will orb us out. If it's the wendigo, fire at will. Got it?"

They nodded.

One by one they entered the forest.