DEDICATED TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF MAGIC ENFORCEMENT (plus Kat)

Christmas at Hogwarts was cold but with some bonuses; most everyone would leave and each meal was hotter. Alexander, Jared, Amara and Kate would stay at Hogwarts, even though the Floo Powder could bring them to and from their homes in a matter of minutes.

"So is it possible to get a real answer out of you today?" Jared asked Amara, trying to sway her.

"I'm not telling you what to get me!" Amara responded, sitting with Xander and Kate. "So how are you two?"

"I had a rough night. Someone was impeding on my study time." Kate looked over at Xander.

"I see. So and you, Xand-man?" Jared asked, joking.

"Guess." Alex finished a bottle of Butterbeer. "Here comes your sweetheart, Kat." Everyone looked over and saw Harry Potter with his two close friends walking to them.

Harry sat across from Xander, next to Kate.

"The sky is falling." Harry looked directly as he said it firmly.

"Then you'd better pick it up." Xander's cold voice made Harry smile. "What do you want?"

"Dumbledore has called a meeting of the Order. He said I should tell you that we meet in the Potion Dungeons." Xander looked over to Jared, who nodded. Then he passed two other looks to the females.

"When?" As Jared questioned, three owls flew and sat in front of their masters.

"Xander, where's yours?" Hermione asked.

"It's a long and tragic story. So I am just guessing but does that mean it's time?" Amara giggled.

"Yup, let's get going."

The Dungeon smelled of musk and rosemary. Harry led the way, followed by a stiff-jointed Alex. The rest were lagging a bit but still with their friends. As Xander and Harry were walking Hermione asked Kate:

"So what happened to his bird?"

"They say it was an accident but some stupid muggles ripped off its wings in front of Xander. He used his magic so that they felt the pain… then the Ministry stepped in and revoked him of his wand. He wandered to Egypt… sorry, I was rambling." Kate bumped into Xander.

"We stopped, Kat." Xander said. "Cast." He demanded Harry. Harry tapped his wand four bricks up and two to the right.

"LEMON SHERBERT!" Harry yelled thrusting his wand into a keyhole. Amara whispered what he just said into Jared's ear and both snickered. Xander told them to quiet down as they entered the musty Potions classroom. Xander bowed to Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall. Harry sat in one of the circular chairs. Each person sat coupled except Kat who sat next to an empty chair.

"Please sit down." Dumbledore's hoarse voice was barely a whisper.

"No thank you, sir. I always leave a seat for the fallen Sable." Dumbledore understood.

"This meeting was called to tell you, Harry, that Alexander, Katelyn, Amara and Jared were all admitted to the Order of the Phoenix." Harry lowered his head and shut his eyes. "Also to say that Voldemort has started preparing a Death Eater army."

"Sir, I thought he already had one." Hermione put her arm around Harry and Ron.

"Unofficially, yes, but this army is pure-blooded wizards from the dead." Xander stated, interrupting what Dumbledore was going to say. "Isn't that right, Headmaster." Albus again nodded. "So what good are we?"

"It's general is the late Headmaster of yours." Minerva McGonagall replied.

"Perfect. He bugs us when he's dead too!" Jared smirked.

"This isn't a joking time, Heru." Xander snapped. "Why is this a concern of mine?"

"With your… skills it would be easier to track the undead hordes." Remus Lupin stepped from the shadows. "Am I wrong?"

Xander growled. "You are correct, wolf."

"I'm not alone there." Lupin shot. "Sir, the sun is beginning to set, shouldn't the children be getting to bed?"

Xander huffed for a second. "We should be getting rest. First, where is this army heading?"

"Devonshire." Xander nodded and left. Kate followed with Amara and Jared barely behind her.

There was a howl in the night. Katelyn and Amara knew who it was but the rest of the dormitory was fast asleep. Katelyn thought she knew Xander like the back of her hand. Why then, didn't she know why Xander wouldn't leap at the chance to kill Ugresi again? The question prodded at her while Amara snored. She sat up and walked to the window, a stealthy hunter stalked the grounds below her view. It was a wolf but not of the ordinary kind. It was the true wolf form of a lycanthrope. It was rumored that a wild pack lived in the Forbidden Forest but the thing under the window was domesticated and whimpering. Kate opened the window and magically levitated to the grounds, her wand at the ready and a cloak wrapped around her nightgown. Surprisingly, the night was warm and her feet were accustomed to the frozen soil. The tame wolf jumped onto her, pinning her to the ground, and began to licked Kate's face.

"You seem happy to see me." Kate giggled. "Did you forget to take the opium cigars that Dumbledore gave you?" The dog shook his head slowly. "Then why be the wolf?" There was the sounds of bones gnawing as the fur faded to show who was the Werewolf. Kate was still pinned to the ground.

"I thought you'd be in bed and I find it pleasant to run wild at least once a month." Alex kissed her cheek.

"You are not in dog-mode. That is less cute and more…" Alex brought his head back down to her lips, just before she could finish. "… Uncomfortable." Alex smirked and shifted back to the wolf stage of his lycanthropic blood. Alex kept her on the ground. "I'll leave my cloak down here because I dislike the caught of you running naked under my window." Alex seemed to smile as he ran off into the Forest. AS went back to her room, the lonely howl seemed to say "Merry Christmas, my Kat."