The Forbidden Forest was completely silent. No leaves were stirring, no animals moved among the trees. It was as if the Forest was waiting for something. Then a small sound was heard the hesitant tread of a creature who was almost beyond help.
The huge black dog was concentrating only on putting one foot and then the other in front of the other (well, he would be if he was in his human form) his breathing was very labored and he was limping on one hind leg. He was so gaunt that "skin and bones" would be a compliment. It was a miracle he was even on his feet. All he knew was that he had to get to Hogwarts, there was a very important message he had to deliver. Even more important than the one that had brought him this way three years hence.
The creatures of the Forest stared at the dog, but none stepped forward to harm him. This was a creature to be respected, they knew. One of the werewolf's pack. The creatures of the Forest had long ago made a pact to never harm a member of that pack.
Why? You might ask, as most of the creatures in the Forest were evil and wouldn't think twice about harming any of the students from Hogwarts that chose to cross their paths. Well, from the moment that the four members of the werewolf's pack had first set foot inside the Forest, they had been watched. The bond that had been obvious and the trust that the pack showed their leader had told the creatures that nothing should break them apart. At least not the creatures of the Forest.
The laboring animal had no idea that he had a bodyguard of the normal pack of wolves on either side of him for he could not think on anything but keeping on his feet, for he knew that should he fall, he would never get up again. The tracks in the snow were bloody as the frozen ice cut into his paws.
He looked up and saw that at last he was coming to the edge of the Forest and could see in the distance the castle. His heart beat faster and he tried to go faster, but that was a mistake for he hit a patch of ice and his feet went out from under him and he knew no more.