They had been at Hogwarts for a month, Harry and Ron had long forgotten the incident with the Holy Water. Life was back to normal.
It was a Friday and classes had just ended. Harry, Ron, and Hermonie were sitting out by the lake enjoying the view, when a shadow fell over them.
"Ah," a familiar and very unpleasant voice said behind them. "It's Potter, Weasley, and the mudblood."
Harry, Ron, and Hermonie stood up and turned to face Malfoy, Crab, and Goyle.
"How nice of you to come over here and dirty our air." Harry retorted.
"Always a pleasure Potter." Malfoy retorted, then a confused look crossed his face as he realized what he had just said, "Hey!" he yelled, but the three of them were laughing too hard to hear him.
Gritting his teeth, he raised his wand Crab and Goyle raised their fists.
"What's this? Fighting?" Snape stepped between the groups.
"They started it, we were just trying to defend ourselves." Malfoy quickly put in.
"Detention Potter, Weasley, and Granger." Snape said, he was only too quick to give it to them. They knew it was useless to argue with Snape. Anything they tried to say would just get them into worst trouble.
Snape swept away, Malfoy, Crab. And Goyle on his heals. The three of them looking back and laughing.
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The three of them sat in the Gryffindor common room, waiting for midnight. They were serving their detention today with Hagrid. Ron was proving his lack of brains by poking Crooshanks repeatedly in the ribs, trying to see how long it would take to get him mad. It didn't take long and soon Ron was shrieking in pain as the fluffy animal chased him around the common room.
Harry was forced to end the entertainment when he realized they only had five minutes to get to Hagrid's hut.
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"What are we doing today?" Harry asked Hagrid a few minutes latter.
"There's a werewolf lose in the forest, tonight's the full moon so where're all going to be traveling together for safety reasons."
"Why do we have to go after the werewolf?" Ron asked.
"Because we can help it." Hagrid explained. "With the potion that Lupin uses."
Hagrid grabbed his crossbow and the four of them started into the forest.
"How are we going to find it?" Harry asked.
"Like this." Hagrid said and through back his head giving a loud howl. Somewhere in the forest and answering howl was heard.
They were about half a mile into the forest when they first saw the werewolf.
It came running out of the forest and leaped at Harry. Harry ducked and the wolf disappeared into the forest on the other side of the path.
"Come on," Hagrid said, "Theirs a clearing around that bend, lets try to get there before it comes back."
They got to the clearing and waited. Nothing happened. They waited for about fifteen minutes before they heard a sound in the bushes. Turning they saw the beast coming into the clearing.
"Right, get behind me now, don't panic, and whatever you do, don't try to run." Hagrid directed them.
But before they could follow Hagrid's directions, the werewolf leapt at him. Hagrid hadn't been ready and he fell back. His head hit a tree and Hagrid fell to the ground motionless.
The werewolf turned and grinned at them.
"Uh oh." Harry said, it was all he could get out before the werewolf leapt again. Harry dived out of the way and Ron who was right behind him was blown backward at the werewolf landed on his chest.
"Ron!" Hermonie cried, she grabbed her wand but in her panic she fumbled and dropped it. Harry was still trying to get up. Both he and Hermonie could only watch as the werewolf raised its claw ready to tear out Ron's throat.
'No!' Hermonie thought in her mind.