In the Shrieking Shack
Lily had an uneasy sleep. She dreamt of kissing a gingerbread man who was counting his gold then turned into a frog. There were also three fiddlers playing a lively jig and she dreamt that she dance with a. a something! She couldn't remember. But then something interrupted that dream. She saw a woman, beautiful and looked like her except she had black instead of copper hair and gray and deep-seated eyes. She was running to the great hall followed by a child who looked like her but with straight hair. The child tried to catch her but in vain. Then the dream faded away just as it had come. Then she had her foolish dream again of dancing with something and the three fiddlers now playing a sad song. She woke up and she remembered no more.
Later that morning, she saw Professor Sinclair staring absently towards the Forbidden Forest as if waiting for something. She seemed worried with her face in deep thought.
Remus walked slowly in the darkened corridors. Looking at his watch, it was already half past 6. He felt as if all energy had been drained from him. He felt weaker than usual during full-moon. And a feeling of unrest was troubling him. It was a good thing Lily was with the others on the Hogsmeade trip or she would've suspected a lot. Suddenly, from a dark corner someone grabbed him.
"Sirius! For god's sake, don't scare me like that.!" He wearily said.
The other spoke in hushed tones: "I'm sorry. I had to tell you this so you would not think ill of us." He sounded very sad.
"What is it?"
"It's James. He doesn't want us to go in Hogsmeade with you. I tried to talk him out but he's still insanely jealous of you and that Evans girl." Sirius explained hastily.
"There's nothing between us!" Remus pointed out.
"Yeah. I know. But he doesn't see it. If you still want us to be with you, stay away from her!" Sirius was now agitated.
"Tell James there is nothing between us! And if he wants to fight me, don't include Lily with it. "
"She isn't worth being fought for! Is she so important to you that you would burn old friendships just to be with her?"
"I do not want to severe any friendships, either old or new! It's just that she understands something in me. I can't really explain."
"Does she know of you being a werewolf?"
Remus sighed. "Not yet."
"Do you intent do tell her?"
"I -I'm not so sure.." His voice trailed off.
Sirius shook his head. "I'd go with you near the hospital wing. They might be already looking for you. Then I'll go away. We won't visit you. I'm so sorry." He sounded unusually regretful.
"It's all right." Remus replied and then the both of them trudged towards the hospital wing.
Lily saw them talking to each other, both distraught, most especially Remus. When Sirius wore a grave frown then led him to the Hospital Wing, she feared that he might harm Remus. She must know where they went. No doubt Potter was behind all this, she thought. So she thought of how she could trail after them. Of course! She must hit the weakest link! Peter Pettigrew. She did not expect where her curiosity will lead her.
Walking to the Gryffindor dormitory, Peter was absorbed in his own thoughts. To his great surprise, someone grabbed him by the collar and they went in a dark corner.
"Wh -what do you w-want?" he stuttered nervously. When he saw Lily's face, he was relieved. Then she pointed her wand at him, he was mistaken. This meant trouble, he thought.
"Tell me where are you taking Remus tonight?" she prodded him with her wand. "Speak."
"I don't know what you are talking about!"
"You know and you're hiding it from me. Do you remember the last curse in Defense class?"
"y-yeah?So?"
" I know how to perform that one, so you better not try to lie to me. I could tell. Speak quickly!" she threateningly pointed her wand at his forehead.
"p-please don't hurt me!" he squealed.
"I wont if you just answer me!" she hissed.
"I really don't know what are you saying! Remus is only leaving for-" he almost slipped
Lily's eyes narrowed. "Got you. You know what is planned for Remus. My patience is running out. Answer me, Pettigrew." She said this to threaten him but inside she was afraid that someone might see them.
"Remus is to be found in the Shrieking Shack. But please don't go there! Please! You'd harm yourself! He'd be fine there. Sirius and James wont do anything to him. You're badly mistaken!" he quickly answered. Cold sweat dripped from his skin.
She stubbornly ignored the few last statements. "How can you go there?"
He whimpered and refused to talk. So she scorched a part of his robe. "Alright! There's a path. The statue of the old witch in this corridor. Say Dissendium and crawl in the opening there. You'll be in the cellar of the sweets shop." He said.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded vigorously.
Lily left him shaking and frightened. So a few hours later, he went to have dinner in the great hall to comfort himself.
The tables were decked with foods of many kinds as well as candies and sweets. The ceiling showed the sky above which was scattered with a few clouds and the moon shone brightly in its roundness. Jack o' Lanterns lit with candles inside floated eerily above them, smiling in a strange way. He sat in the corner of the Gryffindor table and began to eat.
Not much later, Sirius and James sat beside him and ate in silence. James could not help but notice that he was trembling and sweating though the weather was cold.
"Peter," he called out to him but Peter almost jumped out of his seat, causing him to tip his goblet onto the table. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." He laughed nervously.
"What do you mean nothing happened? You're as twitchy as a rat and a part of your robe is burnt and you say its nothing?" Sirius spoke in sardonic tones. "C'mon. Spit it out."
"E -Evans, she went to the Shrieking Shack. She doesn't know why Remus is there. I tried to warn her b-bu-but-" his stammering was stopped as James gripped his robe angrily with a frightened look in his face.
"You told her the way to Hogsmeade!!! Tried to warn her? You should've stopped her!!!" James said through clenched teeth then hurried down the hall, not bothering to finish his dinner and Sirius close behind him.
"Where do you think you're going? And why are you so fucking concerned for a girl that cost you to burn bridges with Remus? It 's her fault if she would get bitten by Remus!" Sirius said as he caught up with James.
James turned around so suddenly and almost shouted: "It's either Remus or Evans would die in that place! Remus could die if Evans tries to curse him when she sees it! Evans could die too if Remus wont recognize her! He wont bite her, he'd kill and eat her! Are you with me or not Sirius Black?"
Sirius smiled grimly at James. "You are so frigging insane, James Potter. But I'm with you in this crap."
Both of them broke into a run but smiling now, knowing that they had each other to rely on. But they did not notice the cold gleam of gray eyes following their path.
A knock sounded in the headmaster's office, then almost inaudible steps. Without turning around Albus Dumbledore greeted his guest. "Good evening, Lucian."
"Headmaster, you know what is to come tonight?" Professor Sinclair spoke in a quite imperceptible voice.
"Yes, yes. The students will be safe sleeping in the Great Hall tonight." He answered.
"Are you sure they would be safe?" she asked once more.
"Undoubtedly. Now, take your dinner. I'll be following shortly. And Lucian, you worry yourself too much. Nothing is going to harm you while you are in the school. Don't bother going to the Shrieking Shack. I'll see to it myself that Remus Lupin would be safe."
She said nothing then the door closed silently behind her. She went to the Great Hall and saw Peter Pettigrew eating alone and looking twitchy. She thought that he never ate alone and without his companions. Suddenly, she thought that maybe they were outside the building. Slipping unnoticed, she decided to go to the Shrieking Shack. In a swish of her black cloak, she was gone.
Everybody was enjoying the desserts when the headmaster rose from his seat and demanded everyone's attention. "Tonight, you would not be sleeping in your dormitories but her in the Great Hall. I must insist that you must all be in bed in here by 11 o clock. The faculty will see to it about that." He finished, which left the students to a loud murmuring.
Professor Mcgonnagal approached him. "Albus, Lucian is missing. Do you suppose-":
Dumbledore said quietly "She wants to make sure that unnecessary deaths will not occur. Clearly, I was right about choosing her as our Defense teacher."
Professor Mcgonnagal breathed deeply. "Do you think she could handle it by herself?"
"She knows what she is doing,. And we'll be there if she falls." He replied.
After what seemed hours of walking in darkness with only the light of her wand guiding her, she bumped her toe on cold stone steps. She broke into a relieved smile. At least she knew she was near her goal now. By now, her feet were already complaining against the cold and her eye hurt in squinting in the semi-darkness. Her head hit something hard. This must be the floor, she thought. She heard no noise from above and she opened it cautiously. Thankfully, She went out unnoticed by the people and the vendors in there. She walked slowly in Hogsmeade, under the creaky boughs of the skeleton branches of the trees.. People passed her by without giving her a second look. That was good, she said to herself. She made her way to where lesser and lesser people were until she was alone in the street. A freezing wind rose and scattered leaves noisily. She was frightened but dared not to show it. It cleared the sky that showed a full moon. She felt comforted that at least she had light. A heavy sense of dread settled on her stomach as she approached the Shrieking Shack. It was notorious for the haunting that happened there during full moon. No wonder no one was there and why Black and Potter chose to bring Remus there.
Very slowly she opened the door, making it creak muck louder than she liked. "Remus?" she whispered. "Are you in here?" No one answered so she stepped inside. Much of what was there was wrecked and there were many signs of violence in there. She shivered and looked carefully. The moonlight came in beams through the cracks on the roof and she was scared. Maybe a ghost was really there. She shook her head. It was no time for silly nonsense.
"Remus?" she called out again. Her foot stepped on a twig and made her jump. Then she saw it. It was too late.
A few feet in front of her was a werewolf. Its growls were guttural and hungry and the yellow eyes eyeing her with unmistakable greed. She backed a few steps but it went forward too, making no attempt to lose its prey. She tried to grab her wand from her pocket but it slipped from her trembling fingers. The wolf stepped on it, barring her from her hope of survival. Run! She commanded her legs but they were padlocked in place. Cold sweat beaded her forehead and her heart beating fast and noisily.
As if the werewolf could hear her heartbeat, its ears twitched excitedly. In one leap, it lunged for her. She managed to get away in time and she ran. The wolf followed her so she tried to throw a wooden chair to it. It did hit him but only increased his anger and pursued her more. She did not know how but she managed to evade the monster and round and round inside the small room she ran. She couldn't get to the door because if she did, the werewolf would manage to kill her. Where was Remus? She thought frantically. Then her eyes widened in realization. Remus? She looked at the werewolf but stumbled on the wooden floor. Her foot bent under her and a sharp pain shot up her leg. Horrified, she knew she was sprained. This was her end.
The wolf took steady steps before her and with one fluid movement, lunged for her. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping for someone to save her. She waited for the bite to come.
It didn't.
She opened her eyes and saw a bear-like dog matted with rich thick black fur fighting the wolf, wrestling with it. A few moments later, her most unlikely savior arrived.
With his hair in wild disarray and thick eyeglasses framing his frantic hazel eyes, it was unmistakably James Potter.
"Petrificus totalis!" he aimed his wand at the feral monster and then it ceased moving, seeming petrified. James now rushed to her huddled figure. "Are you alright? Did something happen to you? Evans, answer me! Damn it!!" he held her by her small shoulder. He couldn't help but notice the way, her pupils were dilated and he could feel her fast heartbeats. Her startling green eyes wide open, he could almost see the fear reflected in it.
She did not think. Her body acted out on its own. One moment she was huddled in the corner with James in front of her. Then the next , she threw herself on his chest and cried. She flailed her hands weakly at him but he didn't seem to be hurt. Why she cried? She did not know. It might have been fear. It might have been relief or joy. or something else.
James was taken by surprise. Leaning on him was actually the girl who hated his guts so much. But their arguments or whatever there was dissolved like cotton candy soaked in water. He looked down an her. She felt so fragile in his hands, like she was made of delicate china and her long tresses waving on her back. She was trembling too and he could feel her heart beating against his chest. For some uncanny reason, his own started to beat wildly too. Stop it! He should not be acting like this. He should not! But instead of stopping, his stomach made a small flip-flop as she raised her head. A moonbeam shone on her and both her eyes glistened with tears, looking at him with a strange light. Those amazingly exquisite eyes. He wondered if he would be able to see them in another girl besides her. But no, it would only be hers. His arms moved around her hesitantly then enclosed her still shaking body, thinking of what could calm her down. Weird, he thought. There was something comfortable in holding someone in your arms. Warmth coursed inside him and they were so close to each other. He did not want to let go of her.
She didn't feel his embrace. Unconsciousness suddenly took her and she went limp and quiet in his arms.
Suddenly alarmed, he broke his embrace and looked at her. He knew this expression. She was unconscious but not asleep. He felt for her pulse. Fortunately, it was still there. But disquiet grew in him.
Sirius, still in his dog form, who was standing outside the door sensed something odd and sniffed warily. It was odd that everything to be so dully quiet. No wind stirred the trees nor any insect sang. Only the dead silence and the eerie glow of the moon that was slowly being swallowed by the clouds. He let out a long howl that resounded in the night. Then he heard it. Something like a horrible grumbling of many trolls and the hurrying scurry of barefoot and metal-clad feet. He saw nothing. Then the entirety of the moon was swallowed in darkness. Fear went in him and he rushed to the shack.
James was surprised as Sirius went back, now in his human form.
"Something is out there." He warned James. " I fear it."
"I can feel it too." He replied in a quiet tone. They sat in silence for a while.
Without warning the door opened wide and someone was there. Both of them whipped their wands in unison and faced the being.
It's hand went in silver flames and illuminated her grim and stoic face.
"Professor Sinclair?" Sirius muttered and a sharp chill went down his spine.
Lily had an uneasy sleep. She dreamt of kissing a gingerbread man who was counting his gold then turned into a frog. There were also three fiddlers playing a lively jig and she dreamt that she dance with a. a something! She couldn't remember. But then something interrupted that dream. She saw a woman, beautiful and looked like her except she had black instead of copper hair and gray and deep-seated eyes. She was running to the great hall followed by a child who looked like her but with straight hair. The child tried to catch her but in vain. Then the dream faded away just as it had come. Then she had her foolish dream again of dancing with something and the three fiddlers now playing a sad song. She woke up and she remembered no more.
Later that morning, she saw Professor Sinclair staring absently towards the Forbidden Forest as if waiting for something. She seemed worried with her face in deep thought.
Remus walked slowly in the darkened corridors. Looking at his watch, it was already half past 6. He felt as if all energy had been drained from him. He felt weaker than usual during full-moon. And a feeling of unrest was troubling him. It was a good thing Lily was with the others on the Hogsmeade trip or she would've suspected a lot. Suddenly, from a dark corner someone grabbed him.
"Sirius! For god's sake, don't scare me like that.!" He wearily said.
The other spoke in hushed tones: "I'm sorry. I had to tell you this so you would not think ill of us." He sounded very sad.
"What is it?"
"It's James. He doesn't want us to go in Hogsmeade with you. I tried to talk him out but he's still insanely jealous of you and that Evans girl." Sirius explained hastily.
"There's nothing between us!" Remus pointed out.
"Yeah. I know. But he doesn't see it. If you still want us to be with you, stay away from her!" Sirius was now agitated.
"Tell James there is nothing between us! And if he wants to fight me, don't include Lily with it. "
"She isn't worth being fought for! Is she so important to you that you would burn old friendships just to be with her?"
"I do not want to severe any friendships, either old or new! It's just that she understands something in me. I can't really explain."
"Does she know of you being a werewolf?"
Remus sighed. "Not yet."
"Do you intent do tell her?"
"I -I'm not so sure.." His voice trailed off.
Sirius shook his head. "I'd go with you near the hospital wing. They might be already looking for you. Then I'll go away. We won't visit you. I'm so sorry." He sounded unusually regretful.
"It's all right." Remus replied and then the both of them trudged towards the hospital wing.
Lily saw them talking to each other, both distraught, most especially Remus. When Sirius wore a grave frown then led him to the Hospital Wing, she feared that he might harm Remus. She must know where they went. No doubt Potter was behind all this, she thought. So she thought of how she could trail after them. Of course! She must hit the weakest link! Peter Pettigrew. She did not expect where her curiosity will lead her.
Walking to the Gryffindor dormitory, Peter was absorbed in his own thoughts. To his great surprise, someone grabbed him by the collar and they went in a dark corner.
"Wh -what do you w-want?" he stuttered nervously. When he saw Lily's face, he was relieved. Then she pointed her wand at him, he was mistaken. This meant trouble, he thought.
"Tell me where are you taking Remus tonight?" she prodded him with her wand. "Speak."
"I don't know what you are talking about!"
"You know and you're hiding it from me. Do you remember the last curse in Defense class?"
"y-yeah?So?"
" I know how to perform that one, so you better not try to lie to me. I could tell. Speak quickly!" she threateningly pointed her wand at his forehead.
"p-please don't hurt me!" he squealed.
"I wont if you just answer me!" she hissed.
"I really don't know what are you saying! Remus is only leaving for-" he almost slipped
Lily's eyes narrowed. "Got you. You know what is planned for Remus. My patience is running out. Answer me, Pettigrew." She said this to threaten him but inside she was afraid that someone might see them.
"Remus is to be found in the Shrieking Shack. But please don't go there! Please! You'd harm yourself! He'd be fine there. Sirius and James wont do anything to him. You're badly mistaken!" he quickly answered. Cold sweat dripped from his skin.
She stubbornly ignored the few last statements. "How can you go there?"
He whimpered and refused to talk. So she scorched a part of his robe. "Alright! There's a path. The statue of the old witch in this corridor. Say Dissendium and crawl in the opening there. You'll be in the cellar of the sweets shop." He said.
"Are you sure?"
He nodded vigorously.
Lily left him shaking and frightened. So a few hours later, he went to have dinner in the great hall to comfort himself.
The tables were decked with foods of many kinds as well as candies and sweets. The ceiling showed the sky above which was scattered with a few clouds and the moon shone brightly in its roundness. Jack o' Lanterns lit with candles inside floated eerily above them, smiling in a strange way. He sat in the corner of the Gryffindor table and began to eat.
Not much later, Sirius and James sat beside him and ate in silence. James could not help but notice that he was trembling and sweating though the weather was cold.
"Peter," he called out to him but Peter almost jumped out of his seat, causing him to tip his goblet onto the table. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." He laughed nervously.
"What do you mean nothing happened? You're as twitchy as a rat and a part of your robe is burnt and you say its nothing?" Sirius spoke in sardonic tones. "C'mon. Spit it out."
"E -Evans, she went to the Shrieking Shack. She doesn't know why Remus is there. I tried to warn her b-bu-but-" his stammering was stopped as James gripped his robe angrily with a frightened look in his face.
"You told her the way to Hogsmeade!!! Tried to warn her? You should've stopped her!!!" James said through clenched teeth then hurried down the hall, not bothering to finish his dinner and Sirius close behind him.
"Where do you think you're going? And why are you so fucking concerned for a girl that cost you to burn bridges with Remus? It 's her fault if she would get bitten by Remus!" Sirius said as he caught up with James.
James turned around so suddenly and almost shouted: "It's either Remus or Evans would die in that place! Remus could die if Evans tries to curse him when she sees it! Evans could die too if Remus wont recognize her! He wont bite her, he'd kill and eat her! Are you with me or not Sirius Black?"
Sirius smiled grimly at James. "You are so frigging insane, James Potter. But I'm with you in this crap."
Both of them broke into a run but smiling now, knowing that they had each other to rely on. But they did not notice the cold gleam of gray eyes following their path.
A knock sounded in the headmaster's office, then almost inaudible steps. Without turning around Albus Dumbledore greeted his guest. "Good evening, Lucian."
"Headmaster, you know what is to come tonight?" Professor Sinclair spoke in a quite imperceptible voice.
"Yes, yes. The students will be safe sleeping in the Great Hall tonight." He answered.
"Are you sure they would be safe?" she asked once more.
"Undoubtedly. Now, take your dinner. I'll be following shortly. And Lucian, you worry yourself too much. Nothing is going to harm you while you are in the school. Don't bother going to the Shrieking Shack. I'll see to it myself that Remus Lupin would be safe."
She said nothing then the door closed silently behind her. She went to the Great Hall and saw Peter Pettigrew eating alone and looking twitchy. She thought that he never ate alone and without his companions. Suddenly, she thought that maybe they were outside the building. Slipping unnoticed, she decided to go to the Shrieking Shack. In a swish of her black cloak, she was gone.
Everybody was enjoying the desserts when the headmaster rose from his seat and demanded everyone's attention. "Tonight, you would not be sleeping in your dormitories but her in the Great Hall. I must insist that you must all be in bed in here by 11 o clock. The faculty will see to it about that." He finished, which left the students to a loud murmuring.
Professor Mcgonnagal approached him. "Albus, Lucian is missing. Do you suppose-":
Dumbledore said quietly "She wants to make sure that unnecessary deaths will not occur. Clearly, I was right about choosing her as our Defense teacher."
Professor Mcgonnagal breathed deeply. "Do you think she could handle it by herself?"
"She knows what she is doing,. And we'll be there if she falls." He replied.
After what seemed hours of walking in darkness with only the light of her wand guiding her, she bumped her toe on cold stone steps. She broke into a relieved smile. At least she knew she was near her goal now. By now, her feet were already complaining against the cold and her eye hurt in squinting in the semi-darkness. Her head hit something hard. This must be the floor, she thought. She heard no noise from above and she opened it cautiously. Thankfully, She went out unnoticed by the people and the vendors in there. She walked slowly in Hogsmeade, under the creaky boughs of the skeleton branches of the trees.. People passed her by without giving her a second look. That was good, she said to herself. She made her way to where lesser and lesser people were until she was alone in the street. A freezing wind rose and scattered leaves noisily. She was frightened but dared not to show it. It cleared the sky that showed a full moon. She felt comforted that at least she had light. A heavy sense of dread settled on her stomach as she approached the Shrieking Shack. It was notorious for the haunting that happened there during full moon. No wonder no one was there and why Black and Potter chose to bring Remus there.
Very slowly she opened the door, making it creak muck louder than she liked. "Remus?" she whispered. "Are you in here?" No one answered so she stepped inside. Much of what was there was wrecked and there were many signs of violence in there. She shivered and looked carefully. The moonlight came in beams through the cracks on the roof and she was scared. Maybe a ghost was really there. She shook her head. It was no time for silly nonsense.
"Remus?" she called out again. Her foot stepped on a twig and made her jump. Then she saw it. It was too late.
A few feet in front of her was a werewolf. Its growls were guttural and hungry and the yellow eyes eyeing her with unmistakable greed. She backed a few steps but it went forward too, making no attempt to lose its prey. She tried to grab her wand from her pocket but it slipped from her trembling fingers. The wolf stepped on it, barring her from her hope of survival. Run! She commanded her legs but they were padlocked in place. Cold sweat beaded her forehead and her heart beating fast and noisily.
As if the werewolf could hear her heartbeat, its ears twitched excitedly. In one leap, it lunged for her. She managed to get away in time and she ran. The wolf followed her so she tried to throw a wooden chair to it. It did hit him but only increased his anger and pursued her more. She did not know how but she managed to evade the monster and round and round inside the small room she ran. She couldn't get to the door because if she did, the werewolf would manage to kill her. Where was Remus? She thought frantically. Then her eyes widened in realization. Remus? She looked at the werewolf but stumbled on the wooden floor. Her foot bent under her and a sharp pain shot up her leg. Horrified, she knew she was sprained. This was her end.
The wolf took steady steps before her and with one fluid movement, lunged for her. She closed her eyes tightly, hoping for someone to save her. She waited for the bite to come.
It didn't.
She opened her eyes and saw a bear-like dog matted with rich thick black fur fighting the wolf, wrestling with it. A few moments later, her most unlikely savior arrived.
With his hair in wild disarray and thick eyeglasses framing his frantic hazel eyes, it was unmistakably James Potter.
"Petrificus totalis!" he aimed his wand at the feral monster and then it ceased moving, seeming petrified. James now rushed to her huddled figure. "Are you alright? Did something happen to you? Evans, answer me! Damn it!!" he held her by her small shoulder. He couldn't help but notice the way, her pupils were dilated and he could feel her fast heartbeats. Her startling green eyes wide open, he could almost see the fear reflected in it.
She did not think. Her body acted out on its own. One moment she was huddled in the corner with James in front of her. Then the next , she threw herself on his chest and cried. She flailed her hands weakly at him but he didn't seem to be hurt. Why she cried? She did not know. It might have been fear. It might have been relief or joy. or something else.
James was taken by surprise. Leaning on him was actually the girl who hated his guts so much. But their arguments or whatever there was dissolved like cotton candy soaked in water. He looked down an her. She felt so fragile in his hands, like she was made of delicate china and her long tresses waving on her back. She was trembling too and he could feel her heart beating against his chest. For some uncanny reason, his own started to beat wildly too. Stop it! He should not be acting like this. He should not! But instead of stopping, his stomach made a small flip-flop as she raised her head. A moonbeam shone on her and both her eyes glistened with tears, looking at him with a strange light. Those amazingly exquisite eyes. He wondered if he would be able to see them in another girl besides her. But no, it would only be hers. His arms moved around her hesitantly then enclosed her still shaking body, thinking of what could calm her down. Weird, he thought. There was something comfortable in holding someone in your arms. Warmth coursed inside him and they were so close to each other. He did not want to let go of her.
She didn't feel his embrace. Unconsciousness suddenly took her and she went limp and quiet in his arms.
Suddenly alarmed, he broke his embrace and looked at her. He knew this expression. She was unconscious but not asleep. He felt for her pulse. Fortunately, it was still there. But disquiet grew in him.
Sirius, still in his dog form, who was standing outside the door sensed something odd and sniffed warily. It was odd that everything to be so dully quiet. No wind stirred the trees nor any insect sang. Only the dead silence and the eerie glow of the moon that was slowly being swallowed by the clouds. He let out a long howl that resounded in the night. Then he heard it. Something like a horrible grumbling of many trolls and the hurrying scurry of barefoot and metal-clad feet. He saw nothing. Then the entirety of the moon was swallowed in darkness. Fear went in him and he rushed to the shack.
James was surprised as Sirius went back, now in his human form.
"Something is out there." He warned James. " I fear it."
"I can feel it too." He replied in a quiet tone. They sat in silence for a while.
Without warning the door opened wide and someone was there. Both of them whipped their wands in unison and faced the being.
It's hand went in silver flames and illuminated her grim and stoic face.
"Professor Sinclair?" Sirius muttered and a sharp chill went down his spine.