Chapter four

The beginning of Hermione Granger's obsession

'Hermione, ever find out more on the white wolf?' asked Harry, that next morning at breakfast. Hermione's eyes popped out from behind a large, dusty old book, which had a cover saying "The Many Howls of A Wolf".

'That's a pretty dumb question,' Ron sniggered, turning away from Hermione so he was not to receive her glares.

'No, I haven't come to a white wolf part yet, mainly about werewolves and gray wolves so far.' She continued to read on, while Ron like always stuffed his face with the food.

'Hm, don't we have Dark arts first? Ask Lupin, he'll be kind enough to tell you won't he?' Ron asked, not knowing whether to go for the toast or the serial. Hermione finally put down her over sized book, and looked towards Ron.

'Hopefully, would be nice to find out about her. After all, he did seem to have a soft spot for her last night when he stopped Snape from killing her.'

'That was pretty obvious though, he's a werewolf maybe?' jotted Ron, ending up going for the toast.

'Yes maybe, but he seems to know a lot more about them then Snape does.'

'Hello guys!' a happy toned voice from behind them rang out. 'How is everyone this morning?'

Hermione, Ron and Harry turned around to see the fifth grade student – Jacs standing behind them with her tree monkey sitting smiling (at Ron) on her shoulder. Hermione gave a disturbed look, before she mumbled a hello and turned back around, while Harry gave her a bright hello and Ron said nothing – and merely looked at the monkey.

'I'm good,' said Harry. 'Would you like to sit down with us?'

Hermione almost swallowed her tongue at Harry's words, and tried to give a look to Harry to indicate to him she didn't want the girl sitting there with them, but Harry didn't seem to pay any attention to it.

'Why not?' said Jacs, deliberately sitting right between Harry and Hermione. Hermione fidgeted about a bit, before looking back to her book, and Ron looked as if he was holding his legs. Jacs then brushed down the sides of her short pure blonde hair, before looking over to the food and taking hold of a tuna bread roll.

'Did you hear about that white wolf thing in the school grounds?' she asked offhandedly, ignoring the book Hermione was reading. Harry nodded almost straight away, before reaching out and getting himself a tuna bread roll. 'I mean I knew it was there, I patted it for god's sake – but I didn't know she came into the grounds. Near that fat thing wasn't she? What's his name? Hagrid?'

'Yeah I did – we were there yesterday when she was attacked by Fang.'

'Really? Cool – she wasn't hurt was she?' asked Jacs, stuffing her mouth with the tuna bread roll. 'Wait I saw her – oh my god how dumb am I! Enlighten me Harry.'

'Only on her right paw,' Jacs heard Hermione say from behind her – cutting Harry off. 'I assisted her with that – I'm sure she'll be alright now though – seeing that Snape and Lupin weren't able to capture her last night – '

'You assisted her?' Jacs said, a sarcastic disbelief tone in her little London accent. 'She didn't bite you?'

'No –' Hermione told her. 'She was all right about it really. She's caused me to become quite interested in the bread though – that's the reason I'm reading about them. I have a good feeling that Professor Lupin will talk about them in our next class –'

'Lupin's a werewolf, isn't it? I use to have a teacher over in Australia who was a werewolf – he was Welsh and he taught… how to do muggle photography,' Jacs cut Hermione off, trying to stop herself from smiling at Hermione's cutness. 'I heard he had a liking to those white wolf things, wonder if he'll talk about them in my Defense against the dark arts class.'

'I'm not quite sure about that,' she heard Hermione say again. Jacs turned around slowly, her eyes in a stationary position. 'You're a fifth grade right? We're sixth grade, this might be above your learning ability –'

'Learning ability my ass,' hissed Jacs, taking her monkey off of her shoulders. 'I can cope with it – if you can, then anyone can.'

Ron tried to cover his mouth from his little giggles, while Harry couldn't help it and sniggered at Jacs words. Hermione continued giving her a deadly stare, not once taking her eyes off of Jacs. Jacs however, picked up her monkey and poked its nose.

'How's my little Mione today?' she perked, continuing to poke its nose. 'In a good mood?'

As she continued poking the monkey's nose, Ron flinched a bit at something. Harry shot his gazes from Jacs over to Ron, and saw him looking under the table, looking like he has just seen a non-Hogwarts ghost.

'Ron, what's the matter?'

'Look!' he squealed, pointing under the table to an enormous black fur ball. Harry raised one of his eyebrows, before joining Ron in looking under the table. Under there, was this big black furry thing, corner-pinning yellow eyes and a flat looking face. It just sat there, looking up to both Harry and Ron.

'Is it a cat?' a terrified voice from Ron was heard. Harry pushed his hand out to touch it, but pulled it back when the cat thing began moving closer to him.

'Ohhh!' they heard Jacs cry. 'That's Bob! He's my cat, he must have been lonely this morning without me!'

Jacs bent down, and pulled the cat up onto her lap before hugging it tight. Ron's terrified look never left his face, while Harry remained staring at the cat. Jacs continued hugging it, rubbing her face into its fur on its head.

'That's a cat?' Ron said, his eyes open wide.

'Of cause it's a cat!' protested Jacs. 'He just likes his food – don't you Bobby?'

Harry gave a bit of a laugh, while Ron remained staring at the cat like it was a spider. The cat then looked back to Ron, and gave him a wink – one that made Ron scream.

'Don't cha just love Bobby black?' squealed Jacs, continuously patting the oversized black cat. Ron kept flinching at the sight of the cat, whiles Harry hesitated to even touch it.

'Is it safe?' he then asked. Jacs nodded brightly and forced Harry's hand down onto the top of Bob's head.

'He's really old,' she went on. 'I got him from a friend when I lived in Queensland - Gold Coast. She didn't like him, so I took him. Pretty sad though - how could you not like this baby?' Jacs picked up the black cat and cuddled it tight, causing Hermione to attempt to move away from her. Harry gave a little laugh, before allowing his hand to freely pat the black furred cat.

'He's so fluffy.'

'I know! I always brush him! Isn't he just glompable?' she asked, continuing to squeeze the daylights out of the cat. Ron gave her a snobby look, before flinching at the sight of the cat's face again.

'Whatever that means...'

'What? Glompable? You don't know what glompable means? It's the best word ever! It means when you run up to something and cuddle it so tight it almost dies! Now isn't that adorable?!'

'Kinda...' mumbled Ron, flinching again at the sight of the black cat. Harry however laughed again, suddenly not noticing the shadow now appearing behind him.

'Smile Harry!' he heard a familiar voice ring out. Harry shot around to see how it was, before suddenly shutting his eyes in great pain. Collin Creevey, the fifth year student with a muggle camera stood behind them, grinning at the four brightly. Harry then smiled at the encounter with the old friend, and greeted him with a welcoming hello.

'Why hello Collin! Good to see you this year - fifth year I presume?' Hermione said brightly, ignoring Bob who was now smiling at her instead of Ron. Jacs on the other hand didn't seem to be smiling, but turned away with her hand over her face.

'Please don't let him recognize me...' she muttered, causing Ron to look down to her with a confused look approaching his pale red-freckled face.

'What's wrong with you Jacs?'

'Argh - don't say my -'

'Jacs!' the now even more joyful Collin exclaimed, shooting his eyes over to Jacs who looked like she had swallowed a sour grape. 'Jacs how are you!? Getting ready for first class? Herbology wasn't it? I'm so looking forward into learning how to breed Buguloisus plants, aren't you?!' he went on, causing Jacs to sigh.

'Yes...'she groaned, her eyes now looking like she hadn't had sleep in ages. 'Yes Collin I can't wait...'

'Oh goodie!' he shouted, causing Jacs' ears to prick. 'Let's be partners in -'

'Aren't you usually partners with Ginny Weasley?' Jacs tried to change the subject. Collin then shrugged a little before allowing his face to remain a bright smile at the sight of Jacs' face.

'I was last lesson but now I wanna be yours this lesson!'

'Playboy aye...?' Jacs hissed sarcastically, not looking back to him. Collin's little laugh caused the hairs on Jacs' head to stand.

'You could say that! Anyway, I'll see you there! I have to go talk to Professor McGonagall about something all right? See you then!' and with that, Collin turned his back on the four Gryffindor students and marched proudly off towards the Professor's table.

As soon as Collin was out of hearing distance, Jacs gave the biggest sigh ever heard to man. Harry looked down to her, a small smile spread across his face.

'Let me guess... you're his new crush?'

'Argh, in every single class, me and Ginny try to escape him... We're so sick of him... he never leaves us be... ask Ginny Ron,' Jacs said, now facing Ron. 'She'll tell you all about him.'

As Harry, Ron and Hermione walked along the corridors on the way to their Defense against the dark arts lesson, Hermione had now become most talkative about the new Gryffindor student – Jacs.

'Completely rude,' she went on. 'There's something wrong with her I'd say. She's always trying to pick a fight with me. Always. No matter what I do or say to her, she always has to say something back to me ten times better. It's like, she's jealous of me or something, like –'

'Like she's trying to let on to you that maybe you aren't the smartest student in the school?' questioned Ron, finishing off what he had left of one of his favourite chocolate chip muffins. 'I don't see anything wrong with her. I reckons she's got a good sense of humor, and she's pretty open minded. And no Hermione, I don't think she's jealous of you, I think you're the one jealous of her –'

'Me, jealous of her?' sparked Hermione, now giving her redheaded friend a deadly stare. 'There's nothing to be jealous of. I have not yet seen any of her work, nor –'

'Hermione's jealous of a fifth year,' Ron sang, as the three friends went to turn the corner. 'Hermione's got competition, Hermione's got –'

'Enough Ronald!' she snapped, holding her fists down by her side. 'I'm not in competition. And even if I was … oh never mind, let's just get to dark arts, I'm sure Professor Lupin will have a surprisingly good lesson today – seeing that this will be his first lesson back. I'm so looking forward to him teaching us again. Now, let's go in shall we?'

Harry nodded at Hermione, and was the first to walk into the dark arts classroom. Inside, nothing much had changed from what it looked like last year – nor did Professor Lupin from when they had last sighted him last night. He stood behind his desk, smiling pleasantly at the arrival of the three students. Still in his same shabby robes, long light brown hair and twinkling blue eyes.

'Take a seat, Harry, Ron, Miss Granger.'

As they took a seat, Harry's eyes glanced over to behind him, where he saw Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle sitting watching him grimly – and Pansy not far away from Malfoy. Harry however ignored the glances he received from the four Slytherin students, and looked up to the front where Lupin was now moved away from his desk, and to the front of the class. Harry sat, and looked up to him, trying to put aside everything else that was floating around his mind.

'I thank you all who signed the form to summon me back first of all,' came Lupin's cheery but tired voice in front of the Dark Arts class, 'and I bid you not to fear of my, werewolf transformations. Professor Snape has kindly agreed once again to brew the potion I need, so yes. I am harmless.'

He paused for a second, and let his eyes float down to a book on Hermione's table, which was the white wolf book. His smirk seemed to grow slightly larger at the sight of the book, and that the fact that she took an interest in them, plus, he felt rather embarrassed for some reason on having to explain himself, and werewolf self.

'I do think we will start off the lesson with a tad bit of history on a creature you may of heard about recently, the White Moonlight Wolf. Commonly known as just "the white wolf". You may of heard a rumor in the school that one has been sighted… and after today's lesson, I'm sure you will understand why some Professors are making such a fuss about them.'

Hermione's eyes brightened up as she heard him say the name. This would for sure give her about all the information she needed. Ron however looked like Lupin's words indicated to him that this would be a very boring lesson indeed – he had heard quite enough from Hermione already.

'There you go Hermione,' whispered Ron sarcastically, 'everything you needed.'

'Oh shut up!'

'The full name of the white wolf, moonlight is usually left out, seeing now that some of them tend to come out during the daylight. Usually, some of them attack when they're hungry, with the rather large fangs they have. Once the white wolf's fangs enter the victim's body, it will die straight away. But it doesn't really tend to kill much, will only kill for its fill. Most of the time though, the white wolf fancies either deer, or sometimes – even humans. All depends on how the human has treated it, it won't go and kill some random human like –some other wolf beasts tend to do.' Lupin almost chocked with embarrassment.

He began to draw a small picture on the white board; a diagram of the white wolf. Harry felt his chin fall into his hands before letting out a little sigh. He thought to himself, this would be a fairly interesting class… if I hadn't already heard a lot of this from Hermione…

'Didn't know that,' whispered Hermione, causing Harry to look up. 'He obviously knows much more about them then me.'

'That's because he is part wolf?' mumbled Ron.

'Oh be quiet.'

'The actual creature is a pure creature, one too beautiful and elegant to kill. If one tries to kill it with say, a bow and arrow, like our grounds keeper Hagrid has, the one who shoots the bow will be cursed for life. Much like if you drink the Unicorn's blood. There is only one way to kill them, and that's a special potion, which you should learn in potions with Professor Snape – that's if, he's up to that yet.' He said to the students sarcastically, causing the side of Harry's lip to curl with an up healing grin, 'Of cause, if you kill a creature like this, you are to be said to be killing two lives.' He stopped there, and then moved back to his desk for papers.

Hermione was sitting on the edge of her seat waiting to hear what was the reason for it, while Harry and Ron had their faces resting in their palms. It was good that Lupin was back, but the sound of his voice and the word wolf was beginning to ring in the ears of Harry and Ron – they had already heard enough from Hermione's new obsession.

'Sir, why do they say this?' blurted out Hermione, who couldn't hold it in much longer. Lupin laughed slightly, and looked up to Hermione with his adorable shimmering blue eyes. He then tried to remain with a staid look, but failed in doing so.

'It is said; a white wolf can take on two creatures. Itself, and one more.' He continued looking at Hermione, until he saw the curiosity in her eyes, which intended that she wanted to know more. But, before she could raise her hand again, Lupin had turned his back and moved towards his desk again.

'Though, even though some witches or wizards are determined to kill this creature, there is no law against it. And because of what powers they have, people think it's fine to kill them. Being scared of their powers and whether they'd attack them or not. Humans attacking the white wolf families are signaling out to the wolves that humans are a threat, and in which, they'd attack them for their own safety. Pretty sad though, seeing that it's such a lovely creature. Each time you kill a white wolf, you're not only killing two creatures, but you're helping them on extinction.'

'Sir, are muggle white wolves the same as the witch and wizard world white wolves?' came Hermione, who Lupin failed to ignore. He turned back around to the curious student, and gave her one of his glompable smiles.

'Ah, no. The muggle white wolf is really an artic fox isn't it? Defiantly not a wizard world wolf.'

'What about, an Animagi, are they able to transform themselves into a white wolf? And fool people?' she continued asking. Lupin however shook his head, and turned his back to her.

'You could try it; although, I wouldn't predict positive outcomes. It is like, a forbidden creature. It is impossible to become one. Even by being an Animagi, transforming yourself into a white wolf could land you dead. It's not possible. No one has ever done it before –'

'Ok, there's been so much talk about, white wolves…' Malfoy's bored voice was heard from a few rows behind Harry. 'It's second year stuff…Never actually seen one in the grounds… it's a pretty boring subject to learn about don't you think, Professor?'

Hermione turned to glare at him, but all he did was give a sarcastic glare back at her. She then could see Pansy in the sides of her eyes; laughing at the face Malfoy had given her.

'It may not appear interesting to you, Mr Malfoy, but I am sure others are keen on learning about them…? And plus, it's now in your exams.' Lupin asked, quickly scanning the class with his pure blue eyes.

There were nods, and some yes's, ones, which made Draco's tongue curl. Lupin's face expression faded off into a pleasant smile again as he watched down at Draco. Draco however, looked up to him; his ice blue eyes pinpointing Lupin's words.

'But I already know about them,' he told Lupin, the tone of his voice actually sounding convincing. 'I know everything there is to know about them!'

'Tell me a fact then,' said Lupin, not too surprised at Malfoy's words. 'Tell me something that makes them special in a –'

'When a werewolf is transforming or detransforming,' Malfoy began to say lazily. 'The white wolf stands there and takes the pain off of them. All they do is think about pleasant thoughts, so the werewolf doesn't have to feel any pain – see, I stated a fact. I can state more if you like? A white wolf's greatest fear is the half moon. Long time ago, dark wolf hunters use to hunt the white wolf for its magical essence, but due to the result in what happens to the wizards afterwards, most now don't do it. But there are still few who do hunt them, usually though they don't know the consequence… also, the other reason the why white wolves fear the half moon is because it is usually the time the pack leader takes on the strongest male or female in the pack, and both fight for leader. Sometimes the strongest female or male doesn't want to fight, but is made to by the other pack members. So I'm saying, every half moon, the leader fights another wolf that wants to be leader. They also travel in packs. Enough information sir?'

Lupin never took his eyes off of him, while Hermione looked at him with disbelief. She then waited for Lupin to correct him, but that correction comment never seemed to come.

'True…' Lupin said, not letting his shock become the better of him. 'Very true Mr Malfoy… I'm rather surprised though; is this the first lesson you've ever had, involving –'

'Yes,' Malfoy droned, 'and I don't read books either. I just know.'

The class now was somewhat quiet, as Malfoy and Lupin continued just staring at one another like mortal enemies. Hermione turned away from Malfoy, a white colour forming in her cheeks. She took a breath, and then turned to both Ron and Harry.

'How did he know that?'

'I don't know, is it true? Or is Lupin playing with him?' asked Ron, turning back around to look at Lupin and Malfoy. Hermione gave a little shrug, before joining his stares.

'I'm not sure… I never got that far…'

'Well…' Lupin continued. 'That is a common fact about them… and it is true that they fight for pack leader on half mooned nights.'

'Yeah… so now that I stated facts, can we get onto something more interesting? Your voice is rotting my brain.'

Behind him, Pansy gave a snorted laugh, followed by fellow members of Slytherin. Hermione, Ron and Harry however continued glaring up the back to the smart smirk planted on Malfoy's face. Harry in particular, feeling raged by it.

'I like to hear student's opinions, but I do wish to inform you, that I am no Professor Snape.' Said Lupin, gently waving his hand in the air and trying not to smile. 'Maybe you'd like to come up here and teach us about the white wolf?'

Some of the Gryffindor students giggled or smirked at his joke, when Malfoy on the other hand didn't get it and sat with his back crouched in his chair like a grumpy old man. He didn't look back up to Lupin, but Harry could tell that in his mind he was rehearsing on how he was going to inform Snape about what Lupin had said.

'Now class, I would like to teach you a new spell. One, which will arm you if you are ever near a white wolf, now seeing that one, has been seen in the grounds. But be warned, this spell isn't one to harm the creature, only to shield yourself from it.'

He picked up his wand from his desk, and held it up to the students.

'The spell is called "Arobackeass". When the eye sees a white wolf, a pleasant feeling or vibe comes over you. It's usually used to lure its pray, but commonly used to make friends.'

'Need a volunteer?' smirked Malfoy, not being able to fight the urge in his body to interrupt again. 'Use Granger, she seems so be madly in love with them, maybe you can shield her smartassness too?'

Most of the Slytherins giggled to themselves, while Draco sat there grinning like an eel. Hermione went red under her checks, as Ron was just about ready to pound Malfoy hard.

'Oh, if I ever see him alone in a dark ally…'

Lupin raised one eyebrow at Draco, and then went back to grinning almost as smartly as Draco did himself.

'Well, seeing that you're the energetic one around here and not to mention the first to speak and the expert of the white wolves, I want you to be my volunteer ok?'

Harry laughed a bit, as Draco's face became paler then it already was.

'You, you want me to go out there, and stand with you? Hah, I don't think so!'

'I am a Professor, and you are a student, and I am not asking but telling you to come out here,' he said slightly firmly, so Draco got the message. 'So? Coming now?'

Draco's frown became deeper then Lupin's now, as he sat back in his chair and shook his head. Behind him Pansy looked as if she was gorking at the way Malfoy spoke to teachers – a gork that caused Ron to turn around with a disgusted look now planted on his face.

'And I said no, what you going to do about it?'

Lupin's eyes remained in the same position, as his face almost seemed amused by what Malfoy was saying to him. He sarcastically moved his hand up to his chin and looked like he was thinking of something to say, which made Malfoy think he was cut.

'Well, first off, I'd be taking, oh say… twenty points from Slytherin? Oh, then maybe I'll ask you do once again obey a teacher's order and get up in front of the class and help me perform this spell?'

Most of the Slytherin students, not including Pansy Parkinson who was literally drooling over him gave black looks at Draco, while the Gryffindors laughed with their friends. Draco, if he could, right now would walk up to Lupin and spit in his face. But, seeing that if he did that it would obviously get him in worse trouble, so he slowly got up and made his way out to the front of the classroom.

'Thank you, Mr Malfoy.' Greeted Lupin, ignoring the bitter look, which was on Draco's face. Harry and Ron seemed to laugh to their selves about seeing Draco up in front of the class, with Lupin, hopping that just maybe he'd make a fool of him self and not be known to be such a funny, smartass anymore.

'Now, take your wand out, and point it at yourself –'

'What are you on about? Pointing my own wand at me? You're mad! No, you're loosing your sanity!' snapped Draco, not taking his wand out and simply staring at Lupin. Lupin's eyes once again stayed at the same level, then shrugged slightly.

'Ten points off?'

'Fine!' Draco all of a sudden pulled his wand out, and began to point it at himself. Lupin grinned slightly as both Harry and Ron laughed again at the sight of Draco, having his wand pointing to him.

'Now, Mr Malfoy, think of something which would make you laugh, something which would bring joy to your life –'

'You shutting up good enough?' asked Draco, with a tint of sarcasm in his fake innocent voice. The Slytherins once again started to laugh at his words, while Lupin raised his eyebrows sarcastically at him.

'If you wanted to know my thought, it would be oh say…fifteen points off Slytherin?'

'Sorry sir…' Draco ended up muttering.

'Good. Now, do as I say and think of something which brings joy.'

Draco stood there with his wand pointing to himself, his eyes closed and a rather annoyed look upon his face. But he was obviously thinking something that brought him happiness, judging by the large smirk drifting across his face.

'I bet, he's prolly thinking about Harry being hurt or something, prolly even being killed.' Whispered Ron across the desk to Harry. Harry nodded slightly, while Hermione watched closely at what was happening.

'Someone's interested…' Ron muttered.

'Shhh!'

Suddenly, it seemed as it Draco's body was dissolving, turning into something transparent. The class seemed to gasp out quietly as they saw his body slowly disappearing. Pansy, who was no longer drooling, looked shocked; like she wanted to run out to the front of the class and pull Draco back from his dissolving. Ron smirked at the sight, and turned back to the front of the room with a proud look over his face.

'Now Mr Malfoy,' Lupin said in a calm, lazy voice, 'if you were to be near a white wolf and it was to attack you, you would now say Arobackeass and then think of the place where you would like to be, not near the wolf.' He said, gently pulling Draco's wand away from himself.

'But sir,' came Hermione's voice, 'why doesn't one just use a transportation spell and a memory forget charm?'

Lupin looked back to Hermione with sparkling eyes and smiled slightly, while Draco did a funny impression of Hermione behind Lupin's back.

'Because, Ms Granger. If creature escapes, which a white wolf has attempted attacking, the exact memory of that creature will stay in the mind of the wolf forever, not even a charm can make it forget. And the wolf has powerful ways of tracking down that creature, and there's nothing the creature can do to stop it. But because we are human, we have spells. The Arobackeass spell also wipes the memory of the wolf of the person who he or she has just seen and attempted to attack. It is the only spell powerful enough for it. This way, the wolf has no idea on what it just saw, the person gets away fine, and you're not hurting the species in anyway.' He told the class, ignoring Malfoy doing impressions of him behind his back.

Hermione raised her hand again almost straight after Lupin had finished talking.

'Also sir, may I ask, when you said if they get killed you're killing two lives, what other things can the white wolf transform into?' she asked, getting small groans of boredness from both Harry and Ron again. Before Lupin answered her question, he jumped around to Draco – scaring the wits out of him and pointed back to his seat. As Harry and Ron chuckled at Draco's face, Lupin seemed amused by Hermione's interest though, and didn't not intend to tell her what she wanted to know.

'Ah, usually it could be white ravens, complete invisibility or sometimes even fog.'

It suddenly came to both Hermione and Harry about last night, how the fog formed over only themselves, Lupin and Snape. Hermione now thought, that must have been her. Harry then also remembered the night before last, when they were in the library, when the fog touched the back of his shoulder. He then looked down to his desk, and remembered how the fog floated up to the window and pointed out the darkness. It then suddenly came to mind; was the fog indicating to the three friends about the sick girl Hermione had spotted?

'Oh, interesting transformations.' She mentioned to him.

Lupin nodded his head and pointed outside, to where there was a faint sight of a half moon. He then turned back to Hermione, looking like his throat was pretty dry from talking.

'Favorite time of the month for one to come out, half moons…you'd be lucky if you saw one though – what's left of them will most likely be fighting for leadership tonight…'

Before Hermione was able to shoot her hand up and ask another question, Ron forced his hand on top of hers, stopping her. She then shot to him an evil glare, and went to ask what he was doing, but he responded with a whisper,

'Hermione… look at poor ruddy Lupin, he looks tired of talking. Just ask him for his book or something.'

Harry couldn't help but smile when he looked up to Lupin. Lupin had looked most relieved that Ron had stopped Hermione from continuing to ask more questions. He then walked behind his desk and took a seat. Harry then looked back to Hermione, who looked confused by Ron's words.

'For homework…' Lupin's now tired voice rang out. 'I'd like it if you were to read up something about sky demons and how to arm yourself against them… as much as I'd like to get you all to write something about the white wolf, I'm afraid they're not in the text books. ('Granger will sir!' Malfoy called out.) You might find one or two books about them in the library… but if you're not willing to read up about them I'm not one to force you. Let me warn you though, next lesson come prepared… sky demons can become quite frightening – and Neville,' Lupin's eyes shot across the classroom to Neville Longbottom.

'Y-yes sir?' he stuttered, almost spilling his little bottle of ink at the mentioning of his name.

'Bring a spare top – or something to cover you… I'm afraid arming yourselves against sky demons can become a tad bit messy.'

It wasn't long before that class had ended, with everyone forwarding out the classroom, except Hermione. When she told Ron and Harry she would be staying behind to talk to Lupin, Ron rolled his eyes and told Harry a brainless slug could answer that question.

Hermione pushed a few strands of her frizzy brunet hair back behind her shoulders, and approached Lupin's desk with her textbooks pressed hard against her chest. She looked down to him, ignoring the overview sheets for the term, which were right in front of her.

'Um, sir, can I talk to you for a moment?' murmured Hermione.

Lupin looked up from his desk and to her, who was staring down at him. He couldn't help but let a little smile fall upon his pale face, as he predicted Hermione's words.

'Ah, Miss Granger, how can I help you?' he asked kindly.

She cleared her throat a little before becoming ready to speak with him as her cheeks became pinker.

'Sir, yesterday, with the white wolf that was seen in the grounds, you know how you and Professor Snape were sent out to kill her? You never did, did you…?' she asked innocently, giving no hints off that she actually knew the right answer. Lupin gave another kind smile and shook his head.

'No, Ms Granger, we didn't kill her. I told Professor Snape it would have been better if we let her live, seeing that she is a white wolf.'

'Oh, that's a relieve.' Hermione moved a bit, looking like she hadn't already known. She then couldn't help but allow her eyes to fall upon a book lying on Lupin's desk, one reading, 'The Founder of the Blue Moon' Printed on the front cover was a picture of a large, full blue moon, then underneath a shadow of a wolf. She then read down the bottom of the book in cursive writing, 'Everything you need to know about this magical white moonlight wolf.' She then took a breath, and looked back down to Lupin.

'You have such a liking for white wolves sir, any reason in particular?' she asked, feeling her heart beat in her chest.

'Oh, it's probably because of maybe something happened when I was a child. Nothing major I'm sure, but it is hard not to love such a beautiful animal.' He said to her, taking a sip of his what looked to be cup of tea. Hermione nodded quickly, and then opened her eyes at him again. She couldn't help but feel that she could tell him about what happened yesterday. Not recapping on what the outcome could be if she told him, she felt her tongue get the better of her.

'Yes, they are. I had the pleasure of touching one yesterday.'

Lupin's eyebrows lifted almost straight after she had finished speaking, and placed down his cup of tea. She took another breath, and looked into his eyes – where she saw a little sparkle.

'Oh? You did? And she didn't attempt to bite you?'

'No sir. She came up to Harry, Ron and I, and looked like she bowed at us before she came over to us. She let me pat her. Then when Fang attacked her, she ran off into the dark forest and – before she got there, I bandaged her paw.' She finished off, having her breathing pace gently go faster. Lupin's blue eyes lit up at her words, then smiled softly.

'Oh so that's what was around her paw… well, in helping her, I'm sure she will do something in return for you. Not common that someone helps a white wolf, but when they do, the wolf always helps them back.'

'You helped her sir, you saved her life. Will she do any thing for you?' asked Hermione; just about on her tippy toes at the thought of the facts she could learn from him. Lupin however shrugged a bit.

'I don't know, maybe she will, if I ever see her again that is.'

'She must, saving a life is a big thing. It will be good too I'm sure.' Told Hermione, her eyes lighting up every time she looked at him. Lupin let out a little embarrassed laugh, before reopening his eyes at Hermione.

'I'm not sure what she couldactually give me…'

'What could she give you? What sort of gifts does the white wolf give?' Hermione continued asking. Lupin didn't answer her straight away. Instead, he looked down to the book Hermione was looking at before, and picked it up. He then placed it in her hands, smiling as he did so.

'I'm sure that book with answer your questions. You can borrow it for as long as you like – just as long as I get it back all right? I trust you because you are one of Gryffindors top students.'

Hermione blushed under her cheeks, before taking hold of the book and giving Lupin a wide teeth-smile.

'Thank you so much Professor! I promise you'll get this book back – thanks so much again!'