© Ariana Veelagrace and Clara Maplewood, year 2000-2001
The Lily Series
Chapter 3
The wolf's jaws locked around her wand and snapped it in two like a twig. Lily screamed in the midst of the jumble of teeth, claws, fur, and flesh. How would she get out of this alive? She felt sharp teeth latch onto her sneaker, not quite sinking through the tough canvas. There was no way to escape, so she jabbed about with the only weapon she had: the broken halves of her wand. Still screaming, she lashed out, point-blank, until she felt the jagged edge hit something. The wolf howled in pain and rage as the wand scratched a deep cut down its face, again snapping its jaws everywhere it could. This time it caught onto a chunk of her robe material and started dragging her down the hallway, leaving a shiny trail in the dust.
Suddenly the wolf's jaws went slack. Its teeth began to dull, and its fur was sucked back into its face like spaghetti. It yelped and scampered into the room that it had come out of. The animalistic whining turned into very human moans of pain. Finally free to follow her instincts, Lily turned around and ran for her life, despite a cut from the wolf's claws on her leg.
"Wait!" A voice echoed down the hallway, making Lily glance over her shoulder even as she ran full-tilt to the exit. A boy, about half a head taller than her, was trying to catch up to her. She kept running. "No, wait!" This time, the voice was closer, and she felt a hand grab her arm. "Did I bite you?" Lily turned around and looked into the concerned brown eyes of a second year boy with a bloody gash down one side of his face.
"What?"
"You've got to tell me: did I bite you?"
She looked at him in confusion. "Your...c-claws got my l-leg, but...n-no."
"Ohh, thank God," he breathed. He released her arm and sank down against the wall in relief. "I could have killed you...or worse." As he glanced up at her, as though giving her a cue to react, she realized suddenly that he was the boy who had run into her at Hogsmeade Station.
"I don't…I…what do you mean, 'or worse'? And…why were you a wolf?" As soon as the question left her lips, Lily was overcome by the stupidity of it.
He smiled a little but immediately winced, putting a hand to the cut on his face. "Sit down," he said wearily, clearing a spot next to him in the thick dust. Lily sat down gingerly. With half a smile, he continued. "Well, I barely even remember it – that's how long ago it happened. I was playing in my backyard, and there was a wolf, and y'know, little kids always think that animals are friendly, but it bit me, and…" He turned uncomfortably away from her. "You get the idea."
She shook her head in bewilderment, but then it dawned on her. "You're…" She fell silent and looked down at her quivering hands.
"Go ahead. Say it." His voice was bitter.
"A werewolf," she said softly.
"That's right."
"But...why did you turn back into a human?"
"The full moon...it must have set. At least it's over for tonight." The boy put his elbows on his knees and his head between his hands, letting out a deep breath. "I guess it might be nice for someone to know other than me and the teachers." His voice shook. "Please don't tell anyone."