Chapter 5 Part 1
Betrayals and Losses
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker

Author's Note: This is broken into three segments due to information and size. Enjoy {EckoStalker}

"Hello; Alexis." drawled a mischief laced voice behind her. Before she turned around, Alexis Whyte knew whom her stalker was.

"Malfoy..." Alexis countered, casually turning to face Draco and the Dynamic Duo - Crabbe and Goyle. They were face to face, standing in the midst of the courtyard. Alexis sneered at him knowing they had been following her ever since the Great Hall. Dark was fast approaching - along with the icy cool that accompanied it on these late winter nights. I was only a week before classes started again, but Alexis was still a tad bit surprised Malfoy hadn't encountered her earlier.

"Surprised are we?" Draco taunted, noticing the uncomfortable glint in Alexis's eyes. "Not a bit." She lied - she was a bit nervous - not having her companion Artimis Callabella with her to back her up. She was always good at keeping Draco in line, She thought wistfully, remembering that she was away at her Dad's place. Draco leaned against the wall while Crabbe and Goyle slowly positioned themselves behind Alexis. She waited for his expected comment.

"You know, I still don't approve of that idea of a joke you pulled on us during the feast on Halloween." Alexis couldn't help but smirk. She and Artimis agreed to let Alexis put a love potion in all three's goblets, then dressing Crabbe and Goyle up as girls while they slept. It was pretty interesting effect when they walked into the Great Hall, all three practically drooling over each other and Draco "Pimping" with his two new "Lady friends". Even Snape grinned a little at that.

"In fact, I'm getting pretty fed up with all your little pranks." He continued, glaring at Alexis. She was starting to get a bit worried. Draco stood up and casually walked back a few steps facing the forest; " I think I do the whole school a favor by getting rid of you." Alexis frowned and stepped toward him in aggression. Draco then whirled around, drawing his wand. "Stupefy!" was the last thing she heard before she feel back unconscious in to Crabbe and Goyle's waiting arms.

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Draco leaned over Alexis, checking to make sure everything was in place. He then pointed his wand at her still form, whispering, "Ennervate!"

Alexis blearily opened her eyes, the cold biting through her robes. She looked up, noticing Draco's evil grin. Suspicious, she tried reaching for her wand but found she couldn't move her arms. After a few more tests, she found she couldn't move any of her limbs.

"Comfortable? Good!" Malfoy sneered, Crabbe and Goyle snickering stupidly. Alexis looked down, seeing the end of a broom sticking out under her tied feet.

"What the hell?" she growled, struggling wildly.

"No use. Those are some pretty strong knots."

She looked around more closely, realizing they were in an open field at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"You damn lunatic! Let me go!"

"I think not. We decided to treat you to a nice joy ride through the woods. Maybe you'll enjoy it enough that you'll stay!" Draco laughed, clearly enjoying his moment of glory. Alexis glared at him, partially in fear, partially in anger.

"You'll be expelled or even worse when they find out."

"Who said they had to find out?" he parried, then continued, feigning sorrow and ignorance," Oh no Professor Dumbledore, we tried to stop her. She thought it would be a wonderful experience. No one knew she was going to get lost." He faked a tear, and then burst out laughing. Draco gestured to Goyle, who stepped forward, lowering her and the broom to a horizontal position. Alexis struggled uselessly as Draco raised his wand.

"Have a nice trip." He swished his wand and the broom bucked, breaking out of the holding spell and careening lightning fast towards the looming darkness of the Forbidden Forest.

At the first jolt of the broom, Alexis's heart almost stopped, and she stared in frozen horror as she drew near the trees. If she could get past the howling rush of the freezing wind roaring past her ears, she'd have heard the trio laughing hysterically at her plight.

She entered the woods, snow stinging her exposed face, as she tried to scream. She shot dangerously past many blurred forms of tree trunks and limbs, but her voice was stolen from her by the literally breathtaking speed of the jinxed broom. Miraculously, the broom steered itself clear of all obstacles-Alexis vaguely wondering why Draco would go through such cautions. Trembling, a red haze overcoming her vision, she desperately prayed that she'd live through this.

For almost the length of an hour, Alexis traveled in this state, eyes watering, lungs burning, and her hands and feet going numb with the cold and the tightness of her bonds.

Maybe it was fate, maybe luck, or even a chance of someone watching over her, but relief from the ride-from-hell came soon after in the form of a tree branch. Heavily laden with snow, it had cracked, falling at the precise moment Alexis passed under it. She gasped as it hit the broom, knocking it off course. It wobbled crazily for a moment as the end nicked a tree as it passed, allowing the broom to do a nosedive into the hard forest floor. With a loud crunch, the broom ride ended, a flurry of soft snow falling silently around her.

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Alexis looked up, shaking snow out of her eyes, trembling with fatigue. The broom had snapped into several unrecognizable pieces, but Alexis was still tied, knowing that Draco wouldn't grace her by leaving her wand wit her, she decided to turn to her Animagus form. She concentrated hard, focusing on her chosen animal. Sharp, gleaming fangs grew, along with her hair. Her body lengthened and thickened, drawing even tighter the cords around her limbs. When she was finished, a brilliantly white wolf lay in her place. Alexis reached down, tearing the cords with her teeth while straining and busting the ropes around what once were her wrists. Rolling aside, she quickly turned back.

Standing up carefully, she found she was only sore and slightly bruised, generally unhurt. She gazed around curiously at the endlessness of expanse of trees. A bit panicked, she turned several times, trying to figure which way she flew in. She was afraid to call out, knowing all too well what lurked in this place. She sat down in hopelessness; shivering in the snow, ready to start crying. She dwelled on a thought for a few moments - coming to a conclusion. Resolved, she pulled herself up, looking up past the treetops and locating the North Star. She'd have to lay the wizard part aside and focus on her learned muggle skills of surviving in the wilderness. Knowing no one would find her deep in the uncivilized woodlands, she took in what she hoped was the path to help.

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Draco sat in the Slytherin common room, cozily enjoying some Butterbeer left over from the holidays three days before. He was delighted with himself for his plan with Alexis - though he had to perfect his fibbing talents all too soon.

When Alexis hadn't returned to Gryffindor Tower, some were worried. The annoying Weasley twins went to Dumbledore, and he conducted a search of the school grounds, which were still progressing. Soon, students were questioned of her whereabouts, one being Draco. He let slip he saw her heading towards the forbidden forest with a broom and backpack, but nothing more. Hagrid and Lupin - knowing the outskirts of the timber expanse fairly well - searched vainly for any signs and were still scouring the dreaded place. Yep, Malfoy was content. Well, that is until Artimis stalked in.

He sat up, ready to welcome her with a comforting hug, but was met with and angry scowl so intense, he cringed. "Where is SHE?" she said in a deathly, low voice.

"Artimis, whatever do you mean?"

Artimis yanked him by the collar and slammed him into a wall. Several other Slytherins looked up in alarm, but soon dismissed it as another one of their usual brawls.

"Where the bloody hell is she!" she yelled in his face. "You never liked her. You always said crap about getting her back. I know her - enough to know she wouldn't get up and leave for good without saying anything!" She was furious; and he knew it all too well.

"I... I... um..." he stuttered, trying to piece together his story.

"Bullshit!" she yelled, throwing him to the side. "I swear! If I find out you had anything to do with this, I'll make your life a living hell!"

With this, she stalked out of the room, intending to visit Dumbledore, the one who informed her, and ask to help.

Draco gingerly stood up' staring fearfully after her determined stalk. Yes, he was scared - because, knowing Artimis, she would find the connection between him and Alexis's disappearance very soon.

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Friendly overtures to the leader weren't working out to well. She was a human, he was a wolf. Plain and simple. The rest of the pack lies off to the side, lolling in the untrodden snow gleefully. Alexis sat back on her heels, vainly trying to find some way to earn the pack's acceptance.

It was the third day traveling in the forest, and she was half starved and freezing cold, the regular school cloaks just not cutting it.

The first day out, she had walked about a mile before collapsing in exhaustion. She didn't know how she was to survive without food - knowledgeable of the fact that there weren't many edible game animals to hunt in this particular reservation. So she curled up, trying to keep warm, and immediately fell asleep.

She had awoken to find a large black wolf with gleaming yellow eyes staring her in the face -totally unafraid due to the fact that he had never before encountered a human- curious and panting. She remained still, but the wolf soon tired of her and roused his pack of about six other animals and started slowly off. Alexis hesitated as a thought struck her. Wolves hunt. Hunting means food.

So, here she was, trying to gain enough trust with the wolf pack to be allowed a piece of their occasional victim.

Weak with hunger and numbness, she had to resort to one thing. She had been reluctant before to travel on that way, for if someone did happen upon her, they would probably run off in fear or even shoot her. But now this was a matter of survival.

Alexis went and hid behind the bushes, so as not to frighten the pack, and preceded to transform into her Animagus form.

As soon as she was in control, she trotted out towards the pack leader, slowly and being as submissive as possible. The leader walked stiff legged at her, unafraid but wary nonetheless, and started by sniffing noses. After a close inspection, the leader wagged his tail, a sign for the rest of the pack to come and meet the new member. Presently, the entire group loped off into the woods, with Alexis trotting happily behind.

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Artimis was going ballistic. It's been two days since she heard the news, and there was still no sign of her. In her own special opinion she didn't think they were looking hard enough. Artimis was lonesome, and bored for that fact. Also worried - too much for her liking. When, if, she comes back, I'll beat her to within and inch of her life! She shouted to herself. Soon she took long strolls through the edges of the Forbidden Forest - going in farther each time. Once, she thought she saw Professor Snape searching ahead of her, but she wasn't too sure.

Artimis decided to organize to her own damn search party with the Weasley Twins and the rest of the Prankers, but there was more security nowadays. Everyone was unnerved by the missing Alexis, Draco more so than most, especially around Artimis. She was suspicious of him, but had no proof of anything. He seemed to avoid her a lot and was a bit more jumpy than before the event. It was annoying the heck out of Artimis.

Once she tried talking to Professor Lupin, but he was just as clueless and worried. He was one of the only teachers she enjoyed talking to, but this was getting hopeless.

"I have to ask you Artimis. Please do not go looking for her. It will make matters worst for people if you get lost too. They'll find her sooner or later. Promise me." spoke Lupin during their conversation. Artimis remained quiet, looking at the ground. "I can't promise that Professor. I know if you would let me look for her I could find her faster than all you guys. We have a link, a bond! And for all I know she is out in the snow dying and you are telling me to sit here, take notes and pretend that nothing is wrong. BULLSHIT!!!!!" She said getting angry, tears welling in her eyes.

Professor Lupin leaned over her and embraced her. She cried into his shirt, grabbing fistfuls. He kneeled down and looked her in the eyes. "Artimis, Please, Promise me."

"Okay" she mumbled, leaning back into him as he patted her head.

"I can't hear you." Lupin commented softly.

"Okay" Artimis stated looking up at him, tears rolling down her check. Lupin released her, nodded gravely and turned to enter his office. Artimis also left, but knowing fully well she wasn't just going to sit there. A few more days, that's all she needed.

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Alexis was enjoying her life as a wolf. Game was a bit scarce, but at least she did get to eat. She knew she should be concerned about returning to Hogwarts, but she had a feeling that they were generally heading that way. Besides that, why should she worry? She had a warm wolf body to curl up next to during the cold nights, and greater protection from the pack.

Alexis was a bit worried though. It was getting harder to hold her human part. The wolf's senses and instincts were so overwhelming. She could see a rabbit in the bushes while it was pitch black at night, and the sounds were amazing. The slightest rustle or miniscule crunch couldn't get past her ears. And everything had a new smell, things she thought never had a smell were fantastically alluring. Man! Artimis is missing out! Artimis. Her friend. She stopped in mid stride' remembering her trusted human companion. She felt the tug of loneliness and gazed around in confusion. The leader, sensing her anguish, turned to find out what was the matter.

It had numbered three days since this new female joined them, and they had adopted her joyfully. She seemed to enjoy it, so what was the problem? The leader thought in his wolf sense. He nudged her gently with his nose, the rest of the pack gathering around, nudging and licking Alexis comfortably, urging her to go with them using short barks and yips.

The wolf's instinct for other wolf companionship won the battle raging in Alexis's head. Slowly, her Animagus form was taking over her inexperienced mind. Had she been older, in good health, and more in sync with her talent, Alexis might have been able to conquer such feelings and ignore the creature's instincts. But she was too young and desperate for company, and gave in to the drive.

They continued traveling, unknowingly coming ever closer to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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Tonight. I'm going tonight. Artimis thought, resolved upon her choice. The days now numbered twelve since Alexis's disappearance. She stared out into the wilderness - pretty much ignoring Hagrid's lecture on unicorns. I can't wait any longer. She might even be dead. She told herself, a knot of sorrow building in her chest. This was the last class of the day, with about four more hours of daylight left. She waited, growing impatient as the class droned on. Suddenly she sat up straighter, glimpsing something in the darkness of the trees.

A pair of yellow eyes and an outline of a great shaggy head were turned towards her. Artimis roughly shook her head, then looks back; the creature now replaced by a small pure white wolf. No way. It can't be... she wouldn't...Artimis glances behind her, seeing if anyone else had noticed this. When she looked back, the wolf was gone.

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Alexis knew this place. Somehow, she knew. She sniffed around some of the trees, hoping to pick up a familiar scent. The leader seemed interested in this place that was full of the two-legged creatures called 'Man'. He never encountered any other humans besides the strange white haired one weeks before. But Alexis was scared to let the pack stay here for some reason. Nearby, A whole group of them stood near a box like structure, talking in their strange tongue. Stranger still, Alexis knew most of those words. The leader had caught the attention of one of the individuals and both were staring intently at each other. Alexis wanted to leave, NOW. She pushed the leader towards the woods, affectionately, watching the pack follow her lead. Then she looked back, locking eyes with the tall, black haired female. Entranced by an uncanny familiarity, Alexis was fighting the urge to run out to this human. When the female jumped up and broke the gaze, Alexis took off, all her wolf senses tingling with alarm and caution. No, She did NOT like this place, and she tried expressing this to her adored leader. But for some odd reason, he remained, scouring the grounds beneath the safety of the forest, while Alexis followed in agitation and fear.