Serena trudged sullenly behind her professor, dreading what would happen in the next few minutes. Remus glance back and caught her expression. Smiling encouragingly, he said "Trust me, it gets easier." She managed a weak smile in reply, and was grateful when he took her hand and patted it comfortingly, before leading her onwards towards their designated clearing.

The night darkened, and Serena suddenly became aware of how scary the forest was. She jumped as a creature scuttled across her foot, and eerie screeches and yelps came from the surrounding trees. The light of Remus' small lantern seemed like a matchstick flame compared to the all-encompassing dark. Shivering, she hurried on into the small patch of grass that was to be her shelter for the night. The stars lit the clearing dimly, and she relaxed slightly, as there was the feeling that no real evil could come there.

"Except for the fact that I'm about to bring it here," she thought bitterly, as Remus came towards her holding a bundle of thick chain. Obediently, she allowed herself to be handcuffed, then sat with her back against a tree, while Remus tied her to the trunk, and used an Unbreakable charm on the chain. She watched as he did the same to himself using magic, and then together they waited in tense silence as the forest whispered and rustled around them.

Slowly, inevitably, the full moon rose above the treetops. As soon as the first sliver of light fell upon Serena's face, she felt an excruciating pain all over her body, as though hundreds of thousands of pins were pricking her skin. Looking down, she saw coarse hairs sprouting from the back of her hand, and whimpered as her fingers shortened into sharp claws. In wave after wave of unbearable aching pain, her hair and clothes disappeared, her nose and mouth lengthened into a snout, fur grew all over her body, and her entire bone structure changed to that of a ferocious beast.

She flopped over as the pain suddenly stopped, breathing heavily. A moment later, she realised her breath was coming in low growls, and she jumped, if it was possible, but a clinking sound reminded her of her captivity. Almost instantly, she was filled with a terrible anger, and she thrashed wildly, slashing at her bonds with four sharp claws, roaring and howling with rage.

Half an hour later, she gave up the fight, and slumped to the ground, growling in suppressed anger. A sudden flutter in the tress made her prick her ears, and her acute sense of smell told her a brown owl was taking off. That second, the forest came alive to her. She was aware of everything, from the galloping of unicorn hooves to the skitter of a rodent five miles away. She sensed the other werewolf close to her, and her hackles immediately rose, territorial instinct coming through, but a part of her brain told her it was useless to attack. She strained at the chains again anyway, ignoring the voice in her head. She longed to be free, to feel the wind in her fur, to taste the night air, to hunt…and to kill.

In that moment, the last shred of humanity fled from her body, and pure, predatory instinct took over. Serena had become a werewolf.

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The next morning, Harry picked mournfully at his egg in the rather empty Great Hall. As usual, the decorations were spectacular, with a twenty-foot fir standing regally in one corner, and real, sparkling icicles hanging in mid air. The ceiling did not imitate the sky outside, (which was rather grey and wet) but depicted a whirling snowstorm, with flurries of flakes disappearing as soon as you reached out to touch them.

"Cheer up Harry - you have to eat something or you'll be starving when we go to Hagrid's, the sort of stuff he cooks. Besides, it's nearly Christmas! Encouraged Ron through a mouthful of toast.

"Harry, I know you must be hurting, but please trust me when I say I think Serena is being as honest with you as she can."

"What do you mean – do you know something about it?" Harry looked up sharply.

"No Harry, calm down, it's just the way she looked when we saw her." When he still seemed confused, she added "Girly Instinct."

"Can't argue with that," shrugged Ron, digging into his third slice of bacon.

Harry sighed and nodded in agreement, picking up his fork.

After wrapping up as warmly as they could, the three friends set off for Hagrid's cabin. During their walk, the light drizzle that had been falling since the night before turned into flakes of snow, falling gently at first, then harder and faster until a full on blizzard raged about them, blanketing everything in a thick carpet of glistening white.

Eventually, they ploughed through the accumulating snowdrifts by the hut and banged on the thick oak door. It opened and a blast of heat rushed out to warm their frozen faces.

"My word, what are you three doin' trekkin' all out 'ere in this weather?" exclaimed Hagrid. "Come inside 'afore yeh catch yer death."

They stepped gratefully into the cosy hut, and were greeted by Fang with large slobbery licks. Removing their soaking outer layers, they laid them by the fire to dry and curled up in comfy chairs with mugs of steaming cocoa.

"Rock cake?" asked Hagrid eagerly. "I've 'bin practicin', I think they're getting' pretty good now."

"No!" they all cried in unison.

"I mean, thanks Hagrid, but we've just eaten," finished Harry hurriedly and the others nodded emphatically. A fleeting disappointment crossed the half giant's face, but then he lowered his huge bulk into an armchair opposite, and beamed at them.

"So what've yeh been up to eh? Barely seen yeh all year – hows the studying for OWLs coming along?"

"Harry and Ron shot each other a look as Hermione launched into a detailed description of how she was finding the work much easier than she had expected, but she was not going to let her guard down and lose points by slacking blah blah blah. However, the conversation soon moved onto more enjoyable topics such as Quidditch and the Christmas decorations, and, inevitably, Draco and Sîan (they chose not to mention the previous night's outing). After Hagrid's initial shock, he eventually came to terms with the possibility that not all Slytherins are entirely evil. Promising that he would attempt to see Draco especially in a different light, the conversation moved on, though Harry and Ron were not entirely approving

Fortunately, once the matter was out in the open, the rest of the visit passed very pleasantly, and Harry, Ron and Hermione were reluctant to leave the warm fireside, even though the blizzard had ended and the snow was coming down gently again in large, soft flakes.

Eventually, the y said their goodbyes and trudges out into the ankle deep snow. There they stood for a while, contemplating whether to go back to school or on to Hogsmeade. They decided on the latter, as everyone needed to buy Christmas presents, it was nearer, and they all wanted a Butterbeer to warm their stomachs. However, the short walk through the snow seemed very much longer and colder than it ought, and once they arrived in the small village, they decided to go straight to the Three Broomsticks. Finding a quiet corner, they sat down with large mugs of the warming drink, and began to thaw their frozen limbs for the second time that day.

Just as they were nearing the bottom of their Butterbeers and dreading going back outside into the cold, Draco Malfoy entered the inn. Surprisingly, he was not accompanied by his usual cronies. Catching sight of Hermione, he broke into a smile and headed over to their table, but hen he saw Harry and Ron, and his face fell. He quickly replaced his disappointed expression with a smirk and went to sit at the bar alone. Only Hermione noticed his entrance, and told Harry and Ron she would be back in a minute, before going to join him.

"I though this was supposed to be a "just us day," said Ron through his teeth.

"So did I," growled Harry, glaring at his friend and his archenemy.

To both boys utter amazement, five minutes later, the couple got up and left the pub without a backwards glance.

"So much for her coming back," muttered Ron, staring into his drink to hide his disappointment, but Harry hardened his features.

"Come on, we don't need her," he said, getting up. Ron sighed and drained his mug, before following Harry outside.

The two boys spent the rest of the afternoon shopping for Christmas presents, though both were rather reluctant when it came to buying one for Hermione. They knew it was petty, but each felt betrayed by her departure, though they tried not to let it show through their gifts.

Harry was having trouble finding Serena a present, and though they had been shopping for hours and were frozen stiff, he just hadn't found anything quite special enough. Ron wondered why Harry was making such a big deal of it, especially since Serena/ Sîan was shamelessly lying to him. He eventually decided that Harry had taken Hermione's advice and was trying not to worry about it. His numb toes then reminded him of just how cold he was and he managed to persuade Harry to give up and come back tomorrow. They headed back towards Hogwarts, and the sun sank below the horizon, tingeing the crisp snow with rose pink.

Suddenly, something glittering in a shop window caught Harry's eye, and he stopped for a closer look, before breaking into a grin and hurrying inside the tiny jewellers. A couple of minutes later, he came out again, carrying a small black box. Ron raised an eyebrow at him, but Harry just grinned and carried on walking.