Werewolf
Chapter Six
Harriet's Point of View
When I received Danielle's letter, telling me that Orla Quirke had found out I was here, I was very worried, but I had to put it out of my mind, because I had my own problems - namely, the lunar cycle. It was the full moon that night. When classes finished for lunch, Professor Snape came to bring the Wolfsbane potion to me as usual. He rarely said anything to me, and that afternoon was no exception. I could tell from his expression that he was in a particularly bad mood, although he had a faint twisted smile on his face. He placed the goblet on the table, then swept out of the room before I had a chance to tell him about the danger than Danielle's letter had just warned me of. Not that I expected him to be much help, anyway.
I knew that I should drink the steaming potion straight away, so I walked over and reached out to pick up the goblet. If I hadn't already been worried, I would probably have realised before my hand even made contact with the goblet. As it was, I was surprised when I touched it, and suddenly had to withdraw my hand from the burning pain in my fingers. Silver. I called Snape every name I could think of, seeing as he wasn't there to hear it. No wonder he had been smiling like that. This was his idea of a joke. How funny - give the werewolf it's Wolfsbane potion in a silver goblet - I don't think so.
So what was I supposed to do now? If I'd had all my school stuff with me, I could have used my protective gloves, but they were at home. I was locked in at all times, so I couldn't go and tell anyone either. So I tried to wrap my hands in my bedsheet, and pick up the goblet, but the sheet was too thin, and I my hands still blistered. I didn't know how I was going to drink it, but I knew I had to while it was still warm. I needed that potion, to feel safe and in control.
In the end I resorted to lapping the potion out of the goblet, using my tongue like a dog would. It tasted even worse than usual, because I couldn't gulp it down in one quick swallow. I tasted every drop of the disgusting thing. As I was drinking it, Professor Snape came in again.
"I've come to collect the goblet, werewolf." He said. "Oh dear, drinking it like a dog are you. or should I say like a wolf?"
"My name is Harriet, professor, not werewolf." I said, choosing to ignore his second comment for the time being.
"It makes no difference to me what they call you." Sneered Snape. "Dumbledore made up his mind far too long ago that werewolves were 'human' and nothing to be afraid of. I can't change his mind now, but to me you're just an animal, and would be much better destroyed. The only thing stopping me from handing you over to the Committee myself is that I won't break Dumbledore's trust, and I won't lose my job."
"Well, I certainly hope you will when I tell Dumbledore about what you have said and done to me today." I retorted. I had completely had enough of Snape by that point. I was stressed anyway, after Danielle's nmews, and suffering from whatever the lycanthropic version of PMT is. I was fed up of living in that stupid tower room, where I had lived for literally months. It was then that I decided I was getting out of Hogwarts, and I was going to do something.
As soon as Snape left the room, I picked up a magazine from the floor. It was 'Teenage Witch Weekly'. Not something I'd actually buy, personally, but Danielle knew how bored I was, and so she had sent it to me. Besides, it was actually going to be useful. I opened it to page 27, which was full of magical hair-colouring instructions. Under normal circumstances, I would never dye my hair, especially not blonde, but I needed a disguise.
"Eurgh!" I shuddered, looking in the mirror. Bleached hair did tend to look a bit on the yellow side, and even using magic, this was a perfect example. But the good thing was, I didn't look at all like myself, which wasthe idea, of course. I took off my glasses as well. I intended to go back to London, to try and change the Ministry's minds, so that I would be able to live a normal life.
Before leaving, I carefully performed the complicated Disillusionment Charm that my mum had taught me. Then I opened the windowm and carefully squeezed out, with my broom in one hand. Now, I don't usually have a problem with heights, but hanging from the window of a medieval stone tower is pretty terrifying, even when you're used to flying. So I was very relieved to get going on my broom.
Everyone had always said I was a good flyer, and I would have tried out for the Ravenclawb quidditch team if I'd been at school as normal. I didn't suppose that I'd ever have a chance to get on the team now, even if I did go back to school soon. OK, so Danielle had accepted me, but that didn't mean anyone else would. I was out of practice at flying, but after a few minutes was back to normal, and ready for the long, long flight to London.
I knew it was crazy to go back. It would be too much to expect to escape a third time, if I was caught again. But despite knowing this, I was convinced that these risks had to be taken, that it would be worth it if it worked.
I flew all afternoon, but then reluctantly decided that I had to land and find somewhere to spend the night. I found a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere, which had obviously been empty for some time, so I smashed a window and climbed in. It took me a while to go around and check that it was completely secure, but then I was ready, so I sat down on the bare, dusty floorboards to wait.
The waiting was always the worst part. When you have nothing to do except to wait for the agonising pains that you know will follow soon, it's not easy to think about anything else. I knew this transformation would be particularly bad. The wolf had been chained since September by the Wolfsbane Potion, and it would try to make the most of its one night of freedom. July's transformation had been especially violent for this reason, which is probably why I had escaped and killed. I only hoped that wouldn't happen this time.
It was a clear night, so I noticed the silvery light shining through a cracked windowpane. I shuddered, and tensed up, as I felt fur growing on my hands and face, then quickly spreading. I heard the cracking noises, and more painfully, felt them, as the bones in my legs broke, contorted and reformed. After that I don't remember anything.
I am conscious for longer and longer as I get used to it. When I was younger, I passed out before the bones had begun to change, I only lasted until they started to break. I am afraid that one day I may feel everything, right up to the elongation of the skull. I hope this will never happen.
In the morning I didn't really feel like doing anything, after that sleepless night, but I forced myself to move. I flew for most of the morning, then finally arrived in London. Once I had removed the Dissolusionment Charm, I went into the Leaky Cauldron, expecting gasps and screams when I was recognised, but there was none of that. A few people looked up when I entered the room, but not for long. I walked straight through the bar area, out to the bins at the back. Trying not to think, so that I wouldn't chicken out at the last moment, I tapped te bricks with my wand, and the gateway opened.
Chapter Six
Harriet's Point of View
When I received Danielle's letter, telling me that Orla Quirke had found out I was here, I was very worried, but I had to put it out of my mind, because I had my own problems - namely, the lunar cycle. It was the full moon that night. When classes finished for lunch, Professor Snape came to bring the Wolfsbane potion to me as usual. He rarely said anything to me, and that afternoon was no exception. I could tell from his expression that he was in a particularly bad mood, although he had a faint twisted smile on his face. He placed the goblet on the table, then swept out of the room before I had a chance to tell him about the danger than Danielle's letter had just warned me of. Not that I expected him to be much help, anyway.
I knew that I should drink the steaming potion straight away, so I walked over and reached out to pick up the goblet. If I hadn't already been worried, I would probably have realised before my hand even made contact with the goblet. As it was, I was surprised when I touched it, and suddenly had to withdraw my hand from the burning pain in my fingers. Silver. I called Snape every name I could think of, seeing as he wasn't there to hear it. No wonder he had been smiling like that. This was his idea of a joke. How funny - give the werewolf it's Wolfsbane potion in a silver goblet - I don't think so.
So what was I supposed to do now? If I'd had all my school stuff with me, I could have used my protective gloves, but they were at home. I was locked in at all times, so I couldn't go and tell anyone either. So I tried to wrap my hands in my bedsheet, and pick up the goblet, but the sheet was too thin, and I my hands still blistered. I didn't know how I was going to drink it, but I knew I had to while it was still warm. I needed that potion, to feel safe and in control.
In the end I resorted to lapping the potion out of the goblet, using my tongue like a dog would. It tasted even worse than usual, because I couldn't gulp it down in one quick swallow. I tasted every drop of the disgusting thing. As I was drinking it, Professor Snape came in again.
"I've come to collect the goblet, werewolf." He said. "Oh dear, drinking it like a dog are you. or should I say like a wolf?"
"My name is Harriet, professor, not werewolf." I said, choosing to ignore his second comment for the time being.
"It makes no difference to me what they call you." Sneered Snape. "Dumbledore made up his mind far too long ago that werewolves were 'human' and nothing to be afraid of. I can't change his mind now, but to me you're just an animal, and would be much better destroyed. The only thing stopping me from handing you over to the Committee myself is that I won't break Dumbledore's trust, and I won't lose my job."
"Well, I certainly hope you will when I tell Dumbledore about what you have said and done to me today." I retorted. I had completely had enough of Snape by that point. I was stressed anyway, after Danielle's nmews, and suffering from whatever the lycanthropic version of PMT is. I was fed up of living in that stupid tower room, where I had lived for literally months. It was then that I decided I was getting out of Hogwarts, and I was going to do something.
As soon as Snape left the room, I picked up a magazine from the floor. It was 'Teenage Witch Weekly'. Not something I'd actually buy, personally, but Danielle knew how bored I was, and so she had sent it to me. Besides, it was actually going to be useful. I opened it to page 27, which was full of magical hair-colouring instructions. Under normal circumstances, I would never dye my hair, especially not blonde, but I needed a disguise.
"Eurgh!" I shuddered, looking in the mirror. Bleached hair did tend to look a bit on the yellow side, and even using magic, this was a perfect example. But the good thing was, I didn't look at all like myself, which wasthe idea, of course. I took off my glasses as well. I intended to go back to London, to try and change the Ministry's minds, so that I would be able to live a normal life.
Before leaving, I carefully performed the complicated Disillusionment Charm that my mum had taught me. Then I opened the windowm and carefully squeezed out, with my broom in one hand. Now, I don't usually have a problem with heights, but hanging from the window of a medieval stone tower is pretty terrifying, even when you're used to flying. So I was very relieved to get going on my broom.
Everyone had always said I was a good flyer, and I would have tried out for the Ravenclawb quidditch team if I'd been at school as normal. I didn't suppose that I'd ever have a chance to get on the team now, even if I did go back to school soon. OK, so Danielle had accepted me, but that didn't mean anyone else would. I was out of practice at flying, but after a few minutes was back to normal, and ready for the long, long flight to London.
I knew it was crazy to go back. It would be too much to expect to escape a third time, if I was caught again. But despite knowing this, I was convinced that these risks had to be taken, that it would be worth it if it worked.
I flew all afternoon, but then reluctantly decided that I had to land and find somewhere to spend the night. I found a dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere, which had obviously been empty for some time, so I smashed a window and climbed in. It took me a while to go around and check that it was completely secure, but then I was ready, so I sat down on the bare, dusty floorboards to wait.
The waiting was always the worst part. When you have nothing to do except to wait for the agonising pains that you know will follow soon, it's not easy to think about anything else. I knew this transformation would be particularly bad. The wolf had been chained since September by the Wolfsbane Potion, and it would try to make the most of its one night of freedom. July's transformation had been especially violent for this reason, which is probably why I had escaped and killed. I only hoped that wouldn't happen this time.
It was a clear night, so I noticed the silvery light shining through a cracked windowpane. I shuddered, and tensed up, as I felt fur growing on my hands and face, then quickly spreading. I heard the cracking noises, and more painfully, felt them, as the bones in my legs broke, contorted and reformed. After that I don't remember anything.
I am conscious for longer and longer as I get used to it. When I was younger, I passed out before the bones had begun to change, I only lasted until they started to break. I am afraid that one day I may feel everything, right up to the elongation of the skull. I hope this will never happen.
In the morning I didn't really feel like doing anything, after that sleepless night, but I forced myself to move. I flew for most of the morning, then finally arrived in London. Once I had removed the Dissolusionment Charm, I went into the Leaky Cauldron, expecting gasps and screams when I was recognised, but there was none of that. A few people looked up when I entered the room, but not for long. I walked straight through the bar area, out to the bins at the back. Trying not to think, so that I wouldn't chicken out at the last moment, I tapped te bricks with my wand, and the gateway opened.