Disclaimer: I do not now, nor will I ever own any rights to Harry Potter.

Hi all. It's been a while! This story is rated R for language and adult situations. I put special warnings at the top of especially R rated chapters. Please don't forget to review. They are all much appreciated! Hippie

A Matter of Trust

"Thank you." Remus said to the potion master as he handed him a vile. "I appreciate it more than you know each full moon."

"Don't mention it." Snape answered gruffly as he watched Lupin pack his bag. "Dumbledore has told you it's no longer necessary to go to the Shrieking Shack each cycle."

"I know that Severus. I just feel more secure not being around people." Remus replied.

"That's what the Wolfsbane is for." Severus insisted coarsely.

"Yes, well.....Thank you again. Good bye." Remus said pleasantly, though he was eager to get away. He gave a smile and Disapparted with a small pop.

"Good bye. Enjoy the moonlight." Snape said disdainfully when Lupin had gone.

When Remus Apparated in his usual room at the Shrieking Shack he sank tiredly down to the bed. He pulled the vile of Wolfsbane from his pocket and uncapped it gently so he could inhale it. One could never be too careful when dealing with Severus Snape. They were by no means friends and Remus always had the nasty suspicion that Snape would like nothing more that to poison him.

This particular full moon will not be it though, he thought after he decided it smelled normal. He choked down the horrible tasting Wolfsbane and lay down to stretch out on the bed.

He knew the potion was supposed to make him safe during his transformation but he came here every full moon just to be sure that no one had a chance to get near him. He'd almost killed a man once who had happened to come across him one night in the forest and he'd vowed to be locked away from people as a precaution.

He still carried around the guilt of that night from so many years ago. The young man had lived, luckily, but Remus could not get the sight of mangled limbs from his sight every time he closed his eyes.

He felt the familiar desolation start creeping in and as always found himself begging for night to fall so his pain would be taken away and replaced with a different kind. Remus took a deep breath and willed himself to go to sleep.

He always had trouble sleeping but when he finally did fall asleep he was plagued by restless dreams that would wake him and leave him feeling as if he hadn't slept at all.

This time however, he was woke with bone deep throbbing shooting through his body. Remus sighed with resignation as he transformed from normal wizard to a cursed beast. He was a werewolf.

Ariana made her way up the path as quick as she could with her bundle of firewood. She'd ran away from her old life to make a new one and had slept in the forest for a couple of days but had decided that no one lived in this old decrepit house. So she had snuck in and had been staying here ever since. She didn't know if she was breaking any laws or not so she thought it best that no one know she was here.

Ariana locked the door behind her and made her way over to the fireplace. She shivered with cold and willed her hands to be steady as she lit the fire. When it finally caught she sat as close as she could to it, basking in it's warm glow. It was fall so the nights were chilly and the days were still mild.

Her stomach growled and she forced herself to ignore it. She didn't have any food in the house and she didn't have any wizard money to buy any. But she hadn't eaten in three days so she was going to have to do something.

A noise upstairs caught her attention and made her heart leap into her throat. She quickly stood but immediately felt faint due to the quick movement and sank down to the hearth again. Ariana listened carefully as she heard whatever it was pacing back and forth over the floor making growling noises.

She tried to slow her quickened breath as she thought quickly. It's just an animal of some type. Let it stay up there. It's not bothering me now and I'll hear it if it tries to come downstairs, she reasoned. It sounds like a angry dog and I don't have the strength to deal with it tonight. Ariana threw another log onto dying embers and lay down in front of the fire to sleep.

When she awoke the next morning she stretched languidly for a moment before getting up. Ariana grabbed her bag and made her way to the stream she'd been bathing in everyday. She was almost out of toiletries now also. I have got to find a job, she thought resolutely. And something to eat.

After she'd cleaned up Ariana decided to walk a little way to see if she could find anything to eat. Fifteen minutes into her trek she found a little house with a garden in back. She snuck into the back yard and began picking whatever she could reach, though guilt clawed at her for stealing.

When her bag was full of produce she made her way back to the stream to rinse it off so it would be fit to eat. She had strawberries, tomatoes, and corn. Ariana was starving so she ate a couple of tomatoes and some of the strawberries as she made her way back to the house. Stopping in front of the door, she remembered the dog upstairs.

I really should go see if it's injured or anything, she thought as she stood at the bottom of the stairs.

Remus heard footsteps on the stairs and opened his eyes to find the sun rising. He looked down and found his body almost back to normal. He willed the transformation to hurry up and watched with relief as finally his werewolf paws changed back into his human hands.

Stealthily, he crossed the room to stand behind the door with his wand at the ready.

"Doggie?" He heard a soft female voice call.

Remus listened curiously. What dog?

"Come on out. I won't hurt you." She continued.

He heard doors opening and closing until finally he knew she was on the other side of his door. He felt himself tense as the door creaked open.

"Come on sweetie. I want to help you." She said as she walked into the room.

Remus tackled the intruder roughly and heard her scream as he pinned her to the floor with his wand pointed at her heart. She was breathing rapidly and erratically he noticed as he held her captive.

"Drop your wand." He ordered.

"I haven't got one." She said through gritted teeth. He looked down and saw he was probably sitting on her wind pipe and couldn't get a good breath. Good , he thought.

"What do you mean you don't have one?" He asked in disbelief, not expecting that at all.

"I don't own one." She replied.

Remus lifted himself off the ground but still kept his wand trained on the woman. "Are you a witch?" He demanded.

"Yes." She answered as she sat up. Sort of, she added to herself.

He watched her brush her long auburn hair out of her blue-green eyes to look at him warily. He took in her modern flare leg jeans, sweater and sneakers and found himself doubting that very much. Wizards don't dress like that. She looks like a muggle.

"Who the hell are you?" He interrogated and watched her swallow nervously.