"You want us to go in there?" Sirius asked, awestruck.
"Yes," Filch said, grinning evilly.
"What? You can't do that! We'll be killed!"
"You should have thought of that before you and Snape blew up all the cauldrons," Filch replied.
"I didn't blow up any cauldrons," Faith said, crossing her arms over her chest and frowning at the forest.
"This is your punishment for hexing Malfoy, and yours Potter," Filch said. James and Sirius glared across at Malfoy, Snape, Avery and Nott. "And before you ask, Miss Lyrin, I thought you might like to accompany Mr. Black into the forest, seeing as he loves you enough to hex four other students and six cauldrons," Filch said, before turning on his heel and stalking back to the castle. The students glared at each other.
"So what is it that we actually have to do?" Kira asked.
"Weren't you listening?" mocked Avery. "We've got to find plants for Mucliber's potions cabinet." Kira frowned at him.
"Fine, I'll go with Sirius, Faith and Kira. You can go together," James said, starting towards the forest. Malfoy moved slightly and blocked his way.
"I don't trust you, what if you just go back to the castle and leave us to get all the ingredients?" he asked.
"Lucius and I will go with the girls and Nott and Severus can go with Potter and Black," Avery said.
"I will go with Kira," Sirius started, but Malfoy swiftly cut him off.
"It would be cruel to split the girls up, after all, they are the only two," he said, and Avery and him steered Faith and Kira into the forest.
"Don't worry, James, we can defend ourselves, it's not like we're completely useless." Faith said. James and Sirius were left, glaring at Snape and Nott.
"Come on," Nott said gruffly, pushing past James and striding into the forest, Snape at his heels. Sirius looked across at his best friend through the twilight.
"I guess we'd better go," James said. Sirius followed, grumbling.
"Faith?" Kira whispered.
"What?" They were slightly behind Malfoy and Avery, who were striding ahead and not looking at the ground.
"There aren't... werewolves or anything here, are there?" Kira asked, glancing around the trees anxiously.
"No, and even if there were, not that there are, you could defend yourself. Besides, werewolves aren't that bad. You know one yourself!"
"You know a werewolf?" Kira gulped as Avery span round.
"No," she answered, a little too quickly. Faith fingered her wand as Malfoy and Avery stepped towards them.
"Who is it? One of your close friends? Not Sirius is it?" Avery asked Kira, ignoring Faith.
"It's not Sirius!" Kira snapped. Lucius smiled, his friend was always good at getting what he wanted.
"Ah, but you're not denying it's one of your friends. Hmm... full moon tonight, maybe we'll catch a glimpse of him," Avery said, walking around Kira, who stood, tense, watching him warily. Faith tried to make eye contact with her but she wasn't watching. Avery continued, "One of your friends..."
"He is not!" Kira shouted. Avery stopped in front of her, a couple of inches taller, and looked down at her angry, scared face, smiling.
"He? It couldn't be Potter or Black, they're out tonight, and Serverus would have told us by now. Who else is one of your 'friends'?" Avery grinned wickedly and turned to look at Malfoy, the same realisation showing clearly on his face.
"Really Avery, I would have thought more of you. Slytherins are supposed to be cunning," Faith said, mockingly. Avery spun round to face her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he snapped.
"Well, seeing as you're scaring the shit out of my friend," Kira opened her mouth but Faith silenced her with a look, "I'm sure Kira would make up any story. Besides, anyone would laugh if you accused Lupin of being a werewolf. That's such bullshit," Faith said. Avery and Malfoy exchanged glances, and Kira tried not to make her sigh of relief too obvious. However, Avery turned back to her and took her chin in his hand, turning her face to look up at him, reading her eyes. She frowned and lowered her gaze to the ground.
"Look at me!" he said sharply. She pulled away from him but he seized her arm. Faith stepped forward and punched him hard in the nose before grabbing Kira and running away with her. She hid them behind a screen of trees, away slightly from the cries and footsteps of Avery and Malfoy.
"Sorry," Kira whispered.
"Shut up and transform," Faith said. She flew above the white tipped tail of the fox, whose nose was to the ground, trying to pick up a scent of Sirius or James. "Can you find them?" Faith asked anxiously.
"One second," Kira muttered concentrating hard. Suddenly she dashed through the undergrowth, following an almost non-existent path, Faith avoiding branches and trees as her large, eagle wings spanned the air. Kira circled round as they heard voices and sat on the path, Faith perching on a branch not high above her.
Sirius started slightly as he saw the fox, sitting calmly in the middle of the path. Immediately he recognised the faith scar above its left eye and the four white paws. James followed and saw Kira, glancing into the branches to see the familiar dark feather eagle. Kira slipped into the undergrowth at the side of the path as Snape and Nott came into view, grumbling and muttering. Faith remained motionless, her black feathers allowing her to blend in with the dark branches and leaves.
All four started as cries and shouts were heard, and Malfoy and Avery came crashing through the undergrowth, missing Kira by inches.
"Avery! What the hell happened to you?" Nott asked, as Avery clutched his bloody nose. A single black feather dropped to the ground behind them, catching James' eye and he stifled a grin.
"Where are Kira and Faith?" Sirius asked trying to sound concerned.
"Probably ran off to the castle," Malfoy said.
"You lost them?" James cried, stepping forward.
"No. They ran away," Malfoy said.
"Not quite as brave as they made out to be," Snape said softly. Sirius and James glared at him.
"We thought you might know something," Avery said, after Snape muttered the healing charm and his nose stopped bleeding, though remained purple and slightly swollen. "About Mr. Lupin," he said. James looked slightly confused, but Sirius moved round to the other side of the path, blocking Kira's way out.
"What would you like to know?" he asked coolly. Faith silently flew down and dug her claws into Kira's fur to stop her attacking Avery.
"Let me hurt him," Kira hissed.
"He'll guess. He saw too much already," Faith said.
"What?" Kira twisted her head round to face Faith's piercing gaze. "He didn't see anything."
"You're eyes give away too much," Faith said.
"Well, if he already knows..." Kira darted forward but Faith latched onto her, and Sirius once more moved to block her way.
"No! Get him later. If you make a fool of him in front of the entire school... think how he'd react," Faith replied.
"Then what are we going to do? Stay here?" Kira asked. "And can you let go? You're hurting me." Faith retracted her claws, but stayed next to Kira on the ground, ready to hold her back. "You're talons are sharp."
"Sorry, but otherwise they'd have found out," Faith muttered.
"We've heard there's a certain werewolf running around school, and thought you might know something of Mr. Lupin's regular disappearances," Avery said, idly playing with his wand.
"A werewolf? Where the hell did you get that idea from?" Sirius asked.
"The girls, I think it was actually Kira who told me that Mr. Lupin was one," Avery continued.
"Come round," Faith said, pulling Kira away. They transformed and walked through the trees ahead of the others.
"Ah, Kira, Faith. We were just talking about you," Malfoy said, smirking at them.
"Really?" Kira asked, glaring across at them. Faith moved in front of her.
"So, have you found any asphodel?" she asked casually, walking to Nott who held a basket, allowing her hand to brush lightly against his.
"Why don't we look for some?" Nott said, swallowing slightly. Faith took the basket.
"We've been out for two hours already, shouldn't we go back to the castle?" She asked turning and starting through the trees. Nott and Snape followed. Avery brushed past Kira and muttered softly:
"I won't forget." He and Malfoy stalked off through the trees. Kira sighed, and felt Sirius' arm wrap about her shoulders. She leaned into him, closing her eyes.
Please review! I would appreciate any thoughts or critisms you have!