I just want to mention all you wonderful people who have read and reviewed my story, thanks so much to all of you

First, I want to say thank you to all the wonderful people who have reviewed this story. A few questions that keep popping up in your reviews is 'When is Harry going to tell Ron and Hermione?' Well, Harry is afraid that they would reject him if they knew, and I know that doesn't make sense but fear isn't rational. They are going to have to discover it for themselves. Lupin and Sirius won't be in this story until the last few chapters, but they'll probably be more so in the sequel, (if you want one?) Someone asked if the Arabella Figg mentioned last chapter was the same one as Harry's neighbour, she's not. Harry's neighbour is an old woman, this Arabella is Sirius and Lupin's age, there's no connection. I nearly have another chapter ready for Vampyre, my other Harry Potter story, and hopefully that will be ready by tomorrow. Originally this chapter was going to be very short, but I have decided to combine two into one. Hope you enjoy!

Katharos

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Harry stumbled along the corridor towards the Gryffindor common room. He ached all over, the healing charms that Madam Pomfrey had used to heal his self-inflicted wounds couldn't immediately banish the pain associated with them, even after a whole days rest in the hospital wing. Harry leant against the cool stonewall and closed his eyes. It was only his second transformation, only the second time he had felt the wolf burst out of his skin, felt his mind slip away, submerged by the brutality within the beast. Dimly, he remembered Madam Pomfrey taking him across to the Whomping Willow, remembered his fear. Was it easier this second time? Harry wondered. Or was it worse because I now know what to expect? He let out a shuddering sigh. It didn't really matter now. He had survived, he had got through it. Now there was a whole month before the next full moon. Harry felt a bitter smile tug at his lips. It didn't really seem that long.

With a sigh he pushed himself away from the wall, continuing down to the portrait hole. He was exhausted, the days sleep might never have happened as far as his body was concerned.

"Goodness me!" the fat lady was staring down at him in horror. "What happened to you?" Harry blinked blearily up at her.

"Nothing," he said shortly. "Hippogriff." The fat lady, looking decidedly unconvinced, swung forward to let him in. A wry smirk appeared on Harry's face as he scrambled through the hole. 'Nothing' was far from what had happened to him. Harry dropped into the common room- and froze. Ron and Hermione were inhabiting the armchair closest to the embers of the fire and they were rather… involved in one another. Harry grinned rather evilly and cleared his throat loudly. Ron and Hermione jumped apart from each other as if they had been shot, faces burning. Harry folded his arms, smirking.

"So, how much is it worth to you for me to not tell Fred and George?" he asked.

"H-Harry!" Ron gasped. "We were… we were just-"

"Kissing?" Harry suggested.

"I-I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said quietly. Harry stared at her in bewilderment.

"Sorry? What are you- Oh!" Harry's eyes widened in realisation- then he burst out laughing. Ron and Hermione looked at him in confusion.

"Harry," Ron said, "Harry!" Harry fought to regain control of himself.

"I'm sorry," he said weakly. "It's just…" He shook his head. "It's so obvious that you two, I mean…"

"You're not jealous then?" Hermione asked, relieved.

"Of course not!" said Harry. He grinned. "That's Ron's place." Hermione laughed.

"That's certainly true," she said.

"Hey-" Ron began. Hermione silenced him with a quick kiss.

"Is that why you've been avoiding me?" Harry asked, suddenly realising. Ron looked uncomfortable.

"Pretty much," he said sheepishly. Harry shook his head slowly.

"You two are my best friends," he said quietly. "I've known for ages that you'd eventually get together, I was getting annoyed at how long it was taking you! I love you both, you're like my family." Hermione smiled.

"Thanks Harry," she said. Ron nodded then frowned

"Oh, I forgot. How are you?" Hermione looked mortified that she had forgotten. Harry smiled at them.

"I'm fine," he said. "Just tired." As if to emphasise his point he yawned. Hermione grinned.

"We really should go to bed," she said. Harry and Ron nodded in agreement, though Ron looked a little disappointed. As they climbed the stairs up to the boy's dormitories though, Ron turned worried eyes on Harry.

"Your not really going to tell the twins though, are you?" he asked pleadingly. Harry just smirked at him.

*******

About half-way through November Harry and Hermione were coming back to the Common Room from the library, Harry had begged for her help in writing a particularly nasty essay for transfiguration. As they entered the common room Ron looked up from his Charms homework, grinning.

"What are you smiling about?" Hermione asked, dropping her bag and going to sit by her boyfriend.

"Hogsmeade weekend," Ron replied, pointing at the notice board which was surrounded by a crowd of excited third years for who this would be their first visit. Harry suppressed a shudder as he remembered the reason why what would have been the first Hogsmeade weekend of the year had been cancelled.

"When is it?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Next weekend," Ron said happily. Harry did some quick maths in his head and breathed a sigh of relief. There wasn't a full moon that night.

"Great," he said. "We can get our Christmas presents then."

"It's a bit early, isn't it?" Hermione asked as three Filibuster Fireworks- courtesy of the Weasley twins- whizzed over her head.

"Yeah," Harry said, ignoring the fireworks- they were a common occurrence in the Gryffindor Common Room. "But who knows if we'll even get another one between now and Christmas?" Ron and Hermione shivered at the dark insinuation in his words. The three friends tried to return to their conversation but the light heartedness was gone as each felt the shadow that was hanging over the wizarding world.

When Saturday came, however, it came with a bright sun and cloudless sky. It was difficult to feel the threat of approaching darkness in such a blatantly cheerful day. Harry, Ron and Hermione travelled down to Hogsmeade along with Fred and George. When they arrived they split up. Harry, Ron and Hermione down to Honeydukes to stock up on sweets, and Fred and George, with clipboards, quills, and serious expressions to Zonko's to, they claimed, 'examine the opposition.'

Hermione had pointed out that they all ready knew Zonko's products off by heart. George had patiently explained that that was from the point of view of a customer, not a competitor. Hermione had looked like she wanted to argue the point but Ron and Harry seized her arms and dragged her off, yelling good-bye over their shoulders at the twins as they headed for the sweetshop.

About half an hour later they emerged from Honeydukes, pockets bulging with sweats. They meandered up the street, just enjoying the rare day of sunshine in November, nibbling on their purchases. Harry and Hermione were daring each other to eat the more oddly coloured Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans as Ron floated along next to them, chewing on a fizzing whizzbees.

"Hey," Ron said in surprise, dropping the Ice Mouse he was holding which squeaked in protest.

"Hey what?" Harry asked, snagging the Ice Mouse and brushing the dust off it.

"There's a big crowd outside the Shrieking Shack," Ron said, pointing.

"Why don't we go and see what the fuss is about?" Hermione suggested. Ron nodded enthusiastically and started off leading the way, seeing the path clearly from his vantage point of a couple of feet up in the air. Hermione followed him and Harry had no choice except to go as well, reluctantly. He had a pretty good idea what the crowd was about.

The three friends reached the back of the crowd, which was composed mainly of the Hogwarts students though there were a few of the local inhabitants as well. Ron- still floating- was able to look easily over the crowd to the sign pinned up on the fence surrounding the Shack.

"The Shrieking Shack," he read aloud for Harry and Hermione's benefit. "The most severely haunted house in Britain has finally broken its twenty year silence. There have been several reports in the recent months of the type of sounds that earned it its reputation nearly thirty years ago once again resound within its deceptively fragile walls." As he spoke Ron had been sinking slowly to the ground and as he read the last word out his feet settled on the ground and he turned puzzled eyes to Hermione and Harry. "How could that be?" he asked quietly. "It was Lupin thirty years ago."

"I know," Hermione said, eyes thoughtful. Harry felt a flare of panic and spoke quickly.

"Someone probably just put a recording inside the Shack," he suggested hurriedly. "For a prank or something." Ron laughed.

"That's certainly something that Fred and George would do," he commented. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Why don't we go down to the Three Broomsticks?" she suggested, pulling her cloak tight around her against the nip in the air. Harry felt a wave of relief that they had let the subject drop.

"Good idea," Ron said, "I could use a Butter Beer." He glanced at Harry. "Coming?" Harry smiled.

"No, I'll let you lovebirds have some privacy," he teased. Ron blushed but didn't argue. Hermione, however, still looked doubtful.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"I'm sure," Harry said. He grinned. "I need to get you your Christmas presents anyway." Ron laughed.

"We'll leave you then," he said. "C'mon Hermione."

Harry turned back to the Shack as his two friends set out back down to the village, feeling the smile slip from his face as he looked at his prison. He could hear various Hogwarts students excitedly discussing the vengeful ghosts that supposedly inhabited the Shrieking Shack. 'That's me' Harry thought, feeling sick. He turned away from the crowd hurriedly, fighting not to run. He moved swiftly, trying desperately to bury the pain the crowd's words invoked, the Darkness inside him that urged him to live up to their expectations.

"No!" Harry muttered. He leant against a shops wall, trying desperately to control himself. Tears pricked at the back of his eyelids. That's not me, I'm not that! Harry shivered and it had nothing to do with the cold air. The beast was inside him all the time, even if it was only at the full moon that it could manifest itself. Tears trailed down his cheeks and he wiped them away furiously. Stop this, Harry told himself angrily, this won't help anything! He glanced back up the hill to the Shrieking Shack and its silent promise. Harry swallowed, remembering what had happened there, what would happen again. Just a few more months, he told himself shakily, clinging desperately to that hope. Just a few more months, then the Wolfs Bane potion will take effect. And maybe Sirius and Lupin will be back.

Harry pushed himself away from the wall, trying to get a hold of himself and glanced at the shop he had collapsed next to. "Magical Jewellery for Friends and Loves." Curious, Harry moved to look in through the window and winced uncomfortably. A lot of the jewellery was silver. Harry frowned, looking over the jewellery available, than before he could stop himself he pushed open the door and entered. Once inside, however, he had to stop himself from running as silver surrounded him on all sides.

"Good day," Harry looked up to see a man with greying hair regarding him expectantly. "What can I do for you?"

"I need a present for a friend," Harry explained. The shopkeeper's eyes twinkled.

"A special friend?" he asked. Harry smiled in spite of himself and the painful prickling sensation that ran over his skin.

"Not exactly," he explained. "Two of my best friends got together just recently and I wanted to get them something special."

"Ah," the shopkeeper smiled and gestured to the counter. "What do you want to get them?" Harry approached the counter cautiously.

"I was thinking one of those with the initials of their names entwined," he said. The shopkeeper nodded and pulled out a tray from underneath the counter. The loose metallic letters stored in it jingled against each other.

"Gold or silver?" he asked.

"Silver," Harry replied promptly. So they'll have a way to defend themselves against me he thought silently.

"And their initials?" the shopkeeper asked, oblivious to the thoughts going through Harry's head.

"'R' and 'H'" Harry told him. The shopkeeper pulled the appropriate letters out of the drawer along with two chains, placed them on the counter and tapped them with his wand. The shaped silver began to glow brighter and brighter until Harry was forced to look away. When he looked back, two silver necklaces lay on the counter, R and H entwined.

"If you wish," the shopkeeper suggested. "I could enchant them so that they grow warm whenever the owner of one of them is thinking of the other."

"That would be great," Harry said, trying to control his desire to leave the shop quickly. The shopkeeper dipped the two necklaces into the small cauldron of purple potion bubbling by the counter, then fished out to boxes and a piece of parchment.

"These are the instructions to activate the enchantment," the shopkeeper explained, handing the parchment to Harry.

"Thank you," Harry said, pocketing it. The shopkeeper glanced over at the clock set next to the cauldron, its single hand was pointing to 'finished'. The shopkeeper lent over and fished the necklaces out of the purple liquid. Harry thought that they seemed to glow with a faint luminescence now. The shopkeeper slipped them into the jewellery boxes and clipped them shut, dropping them into a bag.

"That's nine galleons please," the shopkeeper said. Harry fished nine of the large gold coins out of his moneybag and handed them over. The shopkeeper gave him his bag and called after him to have a nice day as Harry hurriedly left the shop.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he left the presence of the silver, except for the necklaces in the bag he carried. At least he thought as he made his way to the Three Broomsticks to meet up with his friends, Ron and Hermione will be protected from me now.

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Please review! And don't be afraid to criticise my attempts at romance, I'm not very good at it! But don't worry, this story in no way focuses on romance, and there is not a love triangle in sight.