SILVER LINING

CHAPTER THREE-TORN TO PIECES

The bell rang ending Charms. Harry flew out of the classroom and didn't even look back.

Hermione and Ron came up to me.

"What is going on?" Hermione asked looking stunned. "I've never seen Harry act like this before."

"He found something out about me that I really wish he hadn't," I said quietly hugging my textbook against my chest.

"You aren't really a boy are you?" Ron asked grinning and blushing at the same time. "Cause if you are, that really wouldn't bother me."

I chuckled softly.

"No...I'm afraid it's much more than that. I'm sorry. I can't tell you just yet. I promise I will though," I said feeling even more miserable.

"That's fine. You tell us when you're ready okay?" Hermione said putting a hand on my shoulder. Ron nodded as well.

I managed a grin. "You'll never guess who was nice to me,"

"Malfoy," Ron said snickering.

"Goyle," I replied.

Hermione and Ron's jaws dropped.

"You're kidding!" Ron cried.

I shook my head as the three of us began heading back to the common room for a half an hour break before we headed to Care of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts. There was supposed to be a new teacher arriving this afternoon to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hagrid taught the Care of Magical Creatures class.

"He actually ended up standing up for me," I continued as we entered the common room. "Malfoy was being a prissy ass as usual but Goyle stuck up for me. I had to admit, it was a nice change."

"Wow," Hermione said looking impressed. "Goyle's almost never nice to anyone."

Then, she broke into a knowing grin that Hermione was well known for. "But I'm guessing it was because he likes you."

"Eww," Ron said looking disgusted. "Imagine Goyle liking Stephanie."

I put my hands on my hips.

"What? I'm not pretty enough for someone to like me?"

"No!" Ron said looking flustered. "I mean that I never thought Goyle would actually have human emotions."

"Ron," Hermione began in her no-nonsense tone. "He is human. Just because you think of him as a monster because he hangs out with Malfoy doesn't mean he doesn't have real feelings."

"Exactly," I added. "He said that he didn't think I was a...well, you know."

Ron's eyes widened.

"Blimey,"

Hermione's grin broadened. "I think he has a crush on you,"

I felt myself smiling as I took a seat on the couch. Hermione sat beside me while Ron sat across from us. Harry was no where to be seen.

"I just feel to awful about Harry," I said quietly. "I really hate having him mad at me."

"He'll come around," Hermione assured me. "Just give him some time."

"I hope you're right," I said pinching the bridge of my nose.

We began heading out to the grounds for Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid was standing in front of a paddock.

"Aw man," Ron moaned. "I hope its nothing that will take my arm off."

"I'm hoping it's a Brexil," I said happily.

"Knowing Hagrid..." Ron muttered.

I spied Harry already standing talking to Hagrid. My stomach flip flopped. He glanced at Hermione and Ron before returning to talking to Hagrid. My stomach sank like a pebble in a pond.

Hermione put a comforting hand on my shoulder before turning to Hagrid.

"What are we learning about today, Hagrid?" she asked pleasantly.

"Wolliumps," Hagrid beamed gesturing to the paddock.

Wolliumps were creatures about the size of dogs except they had horses hooves and blue and white fur. Their ears were like a dogs and they had the facial features like a dog but their tails were like a horses'. They were harmless really. Basically like sheep but their fur was used in potions to cure pneumonia.

I saw Ron breathe a sigh of relief.

The Slytherins were standing on the other side of the paddock. I realized Goyle was standing away from them, looking at the Wolliumps sadly. Malfoy and Crabbe were snickering and pointing to Goyle.

"Mind if Goyle joins us?" I whispered to Ron and Hermione.

Hermione looked like she'd hesitate, but then shook her head. Ron looked a bit apprehensive though, but he too, shook his head.

I walked calmly over to Goyle.

"Why don't you stay with us?" I asked softly.

Goyle's face lit up when he saw me, but then his expression darkened.

"Are you sure your friends won't mind? After all, I'm not exactly on their good list,"

"It's okay. Trust me," I said.

So he and I began walking back toward Hermione and Ron when all of a sudden, I felt something sharp and hard thrown at my back.

I cried out and my body momentarily bent backward before I turned around. It was Malfoy. He had thrown a heavy rock and was holding another one, larger this time, in the palm of his hand.

"I say," Malfoy said in a false Scottish accent. "This one just keeps coming back for more."

"Leave her alone," Goyle spat at him.

"And this one," he continued in the same accent gesturing to Goyle. "Thinks of himself as a Doctor Doolittle, talking with the animals and Mudbloods!"

"Tha's enough, Malfoy," Hagrid said angrily.

Goyle and I just glared at Malfoy before we turned around again and continued to walk toward Ron and Hermione.

Suddenly, Goyle cried out and fell forward. He wasn't getting up. Malfoy had thrown the rock at the back of his head.

I whipped around so fast that my hair smacked Ron in the face.

"You really are on for making me angry," I growled feeling my temper rising.

Malfoy just snickered.

"Malfoy, 50 points from Slytherin," Hagrid snarled. "And I want you ter return ter the castle. I don't wan' either you nor Crabbe here."

Malfoy bowed as if given an honor before he and Crabbe headed off.

Once Malfoy and Crabbe had been gone for a bit, Hagrid turned to me.

"Why don' you and 'Ermione take Goyle up to the hospital wing?"

Hermione and I helped Goyle to his feet, but he was still out cold.

"Oh yeah," Harry called stiffly. "Be careful Hermione...she might turn around and dog you."

Hermione glared at him.

"I don't know what your problem is," she began in a cold tone as well. "But as far as I'm concerned, she's our best friend and I'm not turning my back on her."

With that, we continued toward the castle.

Goyle snapped out of it and Madam Pomfrey put a special salve on the small wound on the back of Goyle's head.

He was sitting upright on a cot. I was sitting next to him and Hermione stood at the foot leaning on the footboard.

"That was really brave of you to stand up to Malfoy like that," Hermione said.

I could tell that she impressed with Goyle, but didn't trust him fully just yet.

"Truthfully, I hate him," Goyle admitted. "I hate him for tormenting Stephanie and Harry. But I was afraid to stand up to him."

"Why now?" I asked.

"I don't know really," Goyle said thoughtfully. "I just had it with him I guess. Calling Stephanie that M word and just being really disgusting."

"Well, you certainly have my respect, just not trust fully," Hermione said.

"I understand," Goyle said nodding.

"I swear to God I want to get him back so badly," I said angrily clenching my fist at my side.

"He's not worth it," Goyle said seriously. "His father is so powerful it's beyond hope."

I can think of one way, I thought, but didn't voice it.

"You're right," I sighed.

Once Goyle was set, we left the hospital wing.

We began walking down the corridor.

We ended up bumping into Harry and Ron.

Oh great. Harry's going to start on me more, I thought miserably.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked keeping his eyes on Goyle.

"Yeah," Goyle replied nodding.

"Ron told me how you've been standing up for Stephanie," Harry continued. "That's really nice of you."

Goyle just nodded.

Harry's eyes moved onto me.

"Can I talk to Stephanie in private please?"

"Sure," Hermione said as she and Ron continued up the corridor. Harry stood in front of me. I folded my arms over my chest and waited.

"I'm really sorry I gave you such a hard time," he said quietly. "I had no right. I mean, I understand why you couldn't tell us right away, but I wish you hadn't tried to hide it like that or lied."

"Would you have liked me to come right out and say what I really am?" I demanded. "The first time we met? I would've scared you off!"

"Not really," Harry said peering into my eyes. "We knew one in our third year."

I sighed.

"It's not that simple," I said sadly. "I'm a bit different."

"How can you be different? I mean, there's three kinds of them right? The Verit, Lycantor and Malox,"

I smiled.

"That's true...but there is a fourth unfortunately. One that you rarely hear of,"

Harry was watching me intently.

I sighed. I was going to have to tell him the truth. I only hoped he would keep it a secret until I was ready to tell Hermione and Ron.

"Come to the library," I said taking his arm. "We'll talk."

So, Harry and I headed off to the library.

Once we were there, he and I sat across from each other. I pulled out my family picture and held it. I was going to tell him everything, and then explain the family picture.

"You see, those three types walk on all fours, right?" I asked.

He nodded.

"My kind don't. We walk on two legs.

He still look nonplused, so I continued.

"Lycantor's have been known to walk upright, but not very well and only for a short time. My kind walk upright like a human being. We're generally family orientated and very protective, agile and cunning," I said.

Harry nodded that he understood.

"Our kind have been around longer than the Lycantor's, Malox's and Verit's," I continued. "We've been around for thousands of years dating back to the medieval times. We're called the Advair's."

(This is the name of an actual asthma medicine. LOL)

I opened the family portrait and showed Harry.

It showed four wolves with me standing in the center. The wolves were standing upright. They had gray fur around the head and a cream color around the eyes, muzzle and lower extremities. Their eyes were a deep jaundice/gold color. They stood about 8 feet tall.

They had human hand-like paws with long, razor nails, and they walked on the balls of their feet. The feet also looked like humans with five digits but had the same deadly nails on them as the hands. A wolf like tail protruded from the backside. It also had the same cream/gray color fur mixed together.

"This is exactly what I look like when I change," I said. "These are my family members...my mum and dad and my sisters, Robin and Ellie."

Harry studied the picture.

"My God," he breathed.

Then, he raised his eyes to me.

"The first year that was killed..." he whispered looking scared.

I shook my head.

"No," I said firmly. "It wasn't me. Another thing we posses is the ability to remember everything when we change. I was no where near the third floor. I was on the fifth."

"Then there is another one here," Harry said as realization dawned on him. "Could it be one of the others?"

I nodded. "There's definitely another one here, but I can't say for sure,"

I leaned forward.

"Please don't say anything to Ron or Hermione just yet. I'm not ready to tell them just yet. I told you because you saw the picture. I had to explain everything,"

"Sure," Harry said nodding. "I won't say anything."

I smiled.

"I appreciate it,"

I checked my watch.

"It's time to head to class,"

Harry and I stood up and left the library.

We entered the Transfiguration class. It was the last class of the day. Everyone was eager to get it over with and just be able to relax.

Once the class was over, we all eagerly left and headed to the common room.

Around 9 o'clock, we all headed to bed. I slid under the covers and fell asleep fast.

Around midnight, I felt the familiar pang and I slid off the bed, landing on my hands and knees.


The creature walked up the corridor, excitedly sniffing the air. It was in one of the many open bridges that connected to each part of the castle. It's breath came out in puffs of steam from its nostrils as it picked up a scent. Blood.

It began salivating as I tracked the smell to a girl sitting in the library reading a book. It easily dropped to all fours and slipped into the library unnoticed.

It stood up behind one of the bookshelves and watched the girl closely. She stood up, carrying the book and then approached the opposite bookshelf where the creature was hiding. She placed the book back and then stretched.

The odd thing was there was no visible wounds on her body, yet the creature distinctly smelled blood. She began coming toward the bookshelf where It was hiding.

The girl wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Ugh," she said frowning. "What is that awful smell? Did Madam Pince leave something in here?"

She began looking around, trying to find the source of the foul odor.

Then, the creature stepped around the bookshelf. The girl screamed and backed up into the shelf behind her. The creature snarled and pushed the shelf forward. It toppled into another one, causing a chain reaction. Books fell and landed splayed on the floor.

The creature lashed out with one of its hand like paws at the girl. It caught her on the arm, just where the arm meets the shoulder, severing it.

The creature advanced on her.

On the third floor, a second creature was walking the halls. Its ear flicked forward when it heard the commotion downstairs. It stealthily trotted downstairs to where the library was. As it entered, a strong metallic smell invaded its nostrils. It sneezed and surveyed the room. It was topsy-turvy. Bookshelves were lying down with books all scattered around. Then, its eyes moved to the center of the library.

A body was lying there on its back. As the creature approached, it realized it was a girl. She had been torn to pieces...literally.

The next morning, I awoke feeling refreshed, but the image of the girl was burned into my mind.

I caught up with Harry before we met up with Hermione and Ron.

"I saw the girl last night," I whispered. "She was literally torn to pieces!"

Harry looked pale and sick to his stomach.

"Did you recognize her?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said swallowing. "It was Alison Dawes...a third year Slytherin."