Once again: The plot of this story is based on JKR's Harry Potter series. Our plot weaves in 2 new characters: David Murray and Elizabeth Fawkes. While Lizzy is an addition, Dave replaces Seamus Finnigan. It also incorporates ideas borrowed from the White Wolf storyteller game system. Please also see the disclaimer at the bottom of this chapter (we won't mention which game it is here as it will give away a big surprise, but it is wicked fun to play). Many new characters will appear in following chapters which are our characters based on the game system we played. Our plot weaves around the original plot of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. We own only our own characters and our plot. All other characters and the original plot belong to JK Rowling. Please don't sue us! :) Part 2 of the disclaimer: All gaming terms, references, settings and characters relating to Werewolf: The Apocalypse are owned by White Wolf (Martyn, Macha, Dave, and Lizzy are our own characters however), no copyright infringement is intended. BTW, we are not making a penny off this.

We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge our good friend, Jason. He created Amadeus and the Werewolf chronicle from which our characters, Martyn and Macha, were based. Without his creative input, Martyn and Macha, and their subsequent development, would never have existed.

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The Lord, the Lady, and Luna

Chapter 11: I Wonder What It Tastes Like!

After a grueling weekend of training, an exhausted Dave returned to Hogwarts. It was just before dinner on Sunday. Dave and Martyn stepped out of the Umbra into Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Ah, David! Welcome back. I trust you had an interesting time?" the Headmaster spoke.

"Yes sir. If you don't mind, I'd like to go drag myself to my bed. Oh yes, I was wondering if it would be possible for me to have my own room, it would make getting in and out of the umbra a lot easier, not to mention the fact that I could be confined if I get particularly nasty."

"We will discuss that tomorrow. Come here for your Defence Against the Dark Arts class instead of the library."

"Yes sir. I'll see you next weekend if everything is ok here, Martyn," Dave said.

"Until then, David. Professor, I wish to have a word if you don't mind."

"Not at all Martyn," Dumbledore replied, "Run along David, I'm sure your friends are wondering all about your weekend and what errand I had you do for me," he finished with a wink. Just after Dave left the office, Martyn turned to Professor Dumbledore with a smile.

"He really is something. He tells me that he is fairly advanced in both Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts classes."

"Well to say he is advanced is an understatement. He wrote his first year exam for Defence class in September and to say he did well is a gross understatement. He is doing independent work at this point and I am sure that by the spring, he will be able to pass second year exams in that class. As far as Charms goes, it is a bit of an odd mystery. His father was very adept at transfiguration. David is very good here, but is phenomenal at charms."

"I think I may have a clue as to why his spell casting is a bit more advanced and a bit more powerful. He seems to be able to channel his spiritual essence into his magic. By using Gnosis he can increase the power of his spells, but that is not all it does. Magic does not generally affect spirits, but if he can combine his Gnosis with it, it becomes a deadly threat to them."

"That will be helpful in defending the school from banes and the like. I will see that he practices as much as possible." Dumbledore offered Martyn a glass of wine before he continued, "Will he be going to the Caern every weekend?"

"Especially right now, it is very important that he do so," Martyn replied, "We have a month to teach him how to control himself, before the moon comes into his auspice again. I'm sure you wouldn't want him to frenzy."

"You are quite right. I would really rather not lose any of my students."

"I thought so. With each lesson David learns, he learns self-control. This should help him temper Luna's gift to him. I must apologize Professor, but I have urgent business at the Caern. I will give you weekly progress reports on David's development. As of now, he knows the Rite of Talisman Dedication. He also has the spiritual gifts Heightened Senses, Resist Toxin, and Razor Claws. We have also noticed that he has an extraordinary amount of rage." Martyn turned to leave, then turned back to Dumbledore, "Oh, before I leave, don't try to force him to eat vegetables. It appears he's like me and cannot digest them. Also, discourage others from staring at him for too long of a time, the wolf shows strong in him. Until next Friday, then, Professor?"

"Yes, and thank you, Martyn," Dumbledore replied just before Martyn stepped into the mirror.

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Meanwhile, back in Gryffindor Tower, Dave approached the Fat Lady.

"Good evening, ma'am," he said to her as she awoke from her nap,

"Hello, young man. Password?"

"Exhausted!" Dave replied. The portrait swung open and Dave stepped through.

"Hi Dave," Lizzy called from her seat at one of the tables, "How was your weekend? We heard you were doing some sort of errand for Professor Dumbledore. It must have been something difficult, you look exhausted." Others also greeted him from various places.

"Hi Elizabeth," Dave replied, "I am. I think I'll go right up to bed."

"Hey Dave," Dean called, "Did you hear what happened on Hallowe'en night? The troll that got in? It tried to attack Hermione."

"What?" Dave exclaimed, "Is she ok?" Dave started looking around. He saw Hermione sitting at another table with Harry and Ron. "Hermione, are you ok? I'm really sorry I wasn't there to protect you or anything. I did go and look..."

"It's ok, Dave," Hermione replied, "I'm perfectly fine. It never hurt me and Harry and Ron came along and knocked it out with its own club." It took a bit of convincing on Hermione's part, but eventually Dave relaxed and wishing everyone a good night, went up to bed.

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At breakfast the next day, Dave seemed reserved. He ate quickly and left before the others to go to Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall noticed that Dave was there early and let him in the class, wondering why he wasn't with his friends.

"I wanted to talk to you alone, Professor," Dave said to her as he entered.

"Very well, Mr. Murray. What's troubling you?"

"I figured out why I'm so good at Transfiguration. It seems I was born to change."

"What do you mean, Mr. Murray? I know your father was very good at Transfiguration, but somehow I get the impression that that is not what you are referring to."

"You're right, ma'am," Dave replied, "Did you know my Mom?"

"I met her at your parents' wedding, but didn't have the opportunity to become acquainted with her."

"Well, you see, my Mom wasn't exactly human. And well, neither am I."

"What do you mean, Mr. Murray?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"Like my Mom, I'm a Fianna. And while I don't know what her auspice was, I was born under the full moon. That means I'm an Ahroun, Luna's warrior," Dave replied.

"That means you're a..." McGonagall began.

"Yes," Dave nodded, "I'm a Garou. Professor Dumbledore and now you are the only two who know. He's arranging for me to have my own room because I'm still learning to control my rage and at least there, I can be confined on the odd chance that I might frenzy. I've already done that once and I didn't like it."

"How long have you known about this and what do you mean you've already done it?"

"Hallowe'en night, I had my first change. I was out looking for Hermione, taking her some food and trying to cheer her up. I noticed how full the moon was. Then I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I turned and looked and saw what I've been told since is a Black Spiral Dancer. It started walking towards me, grimacing, and that's all I remember until I woke up in Professor Dumbledore's office."

"I assume Professor Dumbledore is keeping an eye on you?"

"Two eyes, actually," came Professor Dumbledore's voice from the doorway, "David, will you excuse Professor McGonagall and myself while we have a discussion about school matters?"

"Am I in that much trouble, sir?" Dave asked.

"No David, you are not in any trouble," Dumbledore replied with a smile. With that, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall went into her office and Dave sat down at his seat to wait for class to begin. They emerged shortly afterwards, with Professor Dumbledore wearing a rather sheepish look. Apparently, Professor McGonagall had chastised him. Dumbledore left just as the rest of the class arrived and took their seats. Transfiguration class proceeded fairly normally. Next class was Defence Against the Dark Arts. As Lizzy and the others proceeded to Quirrell's classroom, Dave went up to Professor Dumbledore's office. Dave paused in front of the gargoyle.

"Hmm," he murmured, "I wonder what it is this time...'bubble gum'...hmm, guess not...Mars bar...nope...I know...gummy bears!" With that last, the gargoyle moved aside to let him in. Dave went up the stairs to Dumbledore's office and knocked.

"Come in," he heard Professor Dumbledore's voice from the other side.

"Professor, I was wondering if I could go home for an hour or so, via Portkey."

"What do you need from your house?" Dumbledore asked.

"I'd like to get my father's journals. I thought you might like to read them. I was also wondering if I could bring a musical instrument with me."

"Which would that be?"

"Guitar. It'll keep me occupied when I'm by myself," Dave replied.

"Very well. A guitar is not likely to disturb your fellow housemates. Of course, unless you cast a silencing charm on your room, I must ask that you do not play after curfew. Now, for your Portkey." Dumbledore got up, took a small bottle out of his cabinet, waved his wand over it, and handed it to Dave. "This will take you to your house and back again."

"Thank you, Professor," Dave said and took the Portkey. "One, two, three." With that, the Portkey transported Dave to his manor house. Within an hour, he was back in Dumbledore's office, carrying a box of books, as well as an oddly shaped case that Dumbledore knew contained a guitar.

"Ah, David. That was fast," Dumbledore greeted him.

"Yes sir. Here are my father's journals. I think they might help explain where I get some of my ideas from. Such as how I react to certain professors."

"Ah yes. Now, David, we have about fifteen minutes left before lunch. Can you tell me why your spells are considerably more powerful than that of most wizards your age?"

"Well, I started spell casting since I was four or so, and Uncle Mad-Eye drilled proper techniques and such into me."

"True, but what about the spells you've just recently encountered here at school?" Dumbledore asked.

"Um, I'm not sure, Professor," Dave replied.

"All right. Theorize, then."

"Well, there are two possibilities. I'm already more adept at casting spells because I've already mastered the rudiments, the basics, and that's helping me learn the new spells better. The other is that, well, the fact that I'm Garou might have something to do with it."

"Excellent. Actually, both theories apply. Your early practice is undoubtedly helping, but so is the fact that you are Garou. Now, which aspect of your other nature is it that might influence your spell casting?"

"Well, the logical answer would seem to be rage. According to Martyn, I appear to be loaded with it. But I have a feeling that it has something to do with my Gnosis."

"The latter is also Martyn's theory. He feels that if you can indeed combine magic and Gnosis, your magic is likely to be harmful to spirits as well as those in this world. Now, I'd like you to write twelve inches of parchment on the effects of Gnosis on your spell casting. This will not be due until your first ISU class after Christmas break. Here is your next regular assignment. There is a list of books you will be required to read and research. Now, run along to lunch. It's a bit early, but you can take your guitar up to your new room."

"Thank you Professor," Dave said as he left the office to survey his new abode. After leaving his guitar in the room he headed down to the grand hall to get an early start on lunch. Fifteen minutes after Dave started demolishing the stew, the others began to file in.

"Hi Dave," came Lizzy's voice from the crowd. "How was DADA?"

"Not bad, I made a trip home to get some books... Crikey! I gotta go, I'll see you in class Elizabeth," Dave shouted as he ran from the hall.

Dave entered Potions class huffing and puffing just before the bell rang. Noticing Dave entering, Snape sneered and said,

"A pleasure you could grant us with your presence, Lord Murray." Everyone, expecting fireworks to erupt, ducked. Oddly enough, Dave, carrying a book handsomely bound in red leather, just took his seat and never said a word. Class progressed normally with Snape throwing insults in the Gryffindors' direction. It did seem to many that Snape was trying to bait Dave into a reaction to get him punished. Dave got even however, at the end of class.

"This stuff doesn't smell too bad," Dave said with a bit of a sardonic smile and just loud enough for the professor to hear, "I wonder what it tastes like?" Before Snape, Elizabeth, or anyone else for that matter could do anything, Dave took a sip.

"Mr. Murray, what are you doing?" Snape bellowed from the front of the class, "Crabbe, Goyle, put your potions down this instant!" Snape gave Dave a strange look. It was a mix of horror, pity, surprise, and concern all rolled into one. "Did you not pay attention to the instructions, that potion can make you violently ill."

"It didn't taste that bad," Dave replied, "In a strange way, it was kind of pleasant. Here is my sample for marking." After exchanging looks with Snape and leaving his sample for marking, Dave walked back to his desk and continued, "Oh well! No point wasting the rest! Bottoms Up!" And with that, drank the remainder of the potion. Lizzy and Hermione looked worried out of their minds. Dave winked at them before Snape bellowed,

"Mr. Murray, get to the Hospital Wing immediately!"

"What for Sir?" Dave asked with that same sardonic smile. The veins in Snape's temples were visibly throbbing. "I should be suffering effects by now if I was..." Dave stopped short in a fit of coughing while doubled over in what looked like excruciating pain. Snape, Lizzy, and Hermione dashed to help and all reached him at about the same time. Just then, Dave looked up and smiled sardonically,

"Only Joking!" and left before he received the wrath of the Potions Master. Ron for his part could not stop laughing and even after the bell had sounded, could be found giggling all the way to Charms.

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This is our last post till after the holidays. We want to wish you and yours a very joyous, and safe Holiday Season.

Keith, Edith, Pierce, Kalvin, Zane, Zsanett, and Brandy the Love Dog!

PLEASE REVIEW! We'll Love you (Sorry I can't help but throw a rhyme in somewhere!)