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. 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 Sorcerer's Stone (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.

Kudos to our Beta Reader RemusisMine: aka JAX

Note to all our readers: If you read chapter 2 before the new year, please re-read it. When we originally uploaded it, for some strange reason, part of it was cut off. We've fixed the problem, the chapter's end should make a little more sense now. (If you started reading our story after Jan 1st, please disregard this.) Thanks!

The Lord, the Lady, and Luna

Chapter 23: Unto the Breach

"Elizabeth," Dave called out as he entered the Hospital Wing. "I'd like you to stay here the rest of today and tonight as well. Visit with Madam Pomfrey, maybe help out a bit, or something."

"Sure, Dave," Lizzy replied. "But why?"

"I have a feeling we're going to need you here later."

"Ok, I don't mind," Lizzy said with a smile. Dave smiled at her, then shifted to his wolf form and headed off in search of the trio. He found them fairly quickly, being dressed down by Professor Snape. He spent the rest of the day following them, sometimes in the material world, sometimes in the spirit world. From their conversations, Dave gathered that they were planning to meet in the common room after everyone else had gone to bed.

Later that night, Dave watched from the Umbra, as Harry, Ron, and Hermione came down to the common room, fully dressed. Harry had his invisibility cloak over one arm. Dave, with his hyper-keen sense of smell, already knew that Neville was also in the common room, and watched silently as Neville confronted the others about going out after curfew. He didn't like that Hermione put the full body-bind on Neville, but realised that in this case, it was probably necessary. The trio put the invisibility cloak on after they left the common room, and Dave followed carefully behind, using his sense of smell to track them. The trio reached Fluffy's room without incident, and found that a charmed harp had already put the beast to sleep. As they opened the trap door, the music stopped abruptly, causing Fluffy to rouse. After an instant of panic, the trio dropped, one by one, through the trap door, only just ahead of Fluffy. Unbeknownst to the trio, Fluffy was momentarily distracted by a seven-and-a-half foot tall, vicious-looking, Crinos werewolf. After they were safely down, Dave once again followed in the Umbra. He was impressed by their resourcefulness as they passed each obstacle. They chess match, however, puzzled him. Ron had obviously played Queen's Gambit Declined, but he never sacrificed his queen-side castle. This added a dozen moves to the game before they could win. Dave was, of course, very happy with Ron's thinking and to see that Hermione's pretty toes, along with the rest of her, were not harmed. As Harry and Hermione went on, Dave stepped out of the Umbra to check on Ron. Seeing that he was okay, Dave stepped back into the Umbra, and ran ahead to where Stag was guarding the Stone.

When only Harry entered the room, Dave began to worry about the girl with the prettiest toes in Hogwarts. Quirrell's presence was no surprise to Dave, who had known it was Quirrell ever since the trip into the Forbidden Forest. Dave took possession of the Stone, and at the most opportune moment, when everyone's attention was focussed on the mirror, reached into the material world and slipped the Stone into Harry's pocket. He had a feeling that its magic might help Harry defeat Voldemort, the servant of the evil Wyrm, which had taken possession of Quirrell. Throughout the fight, Dave had to consciously restrain himself from entering the fray. After Harry had destroyed Quirrell's body and the spirit was released, Dave dire wolf heritage could no longer be denied, and he entered the material world in his huge Hispo form, using massive claws and teeth to tear at the spirit's form. It fled, passing through Harry to try and obtain more essence. Dave did not pursue, as his prime concern was Harry's life. As Harry slipped into unconsciousness, Dave shifted to his human form, called Harry's name several times, and when there was no response, he scooped Harry up. At this point, Dumbledore entered the chamber.

"Harry is physically fine, but has suffered a spiritual injury," Dave said. "I'm going to take him to the Hospital Wing the short way."

"I will meet you there," Dumbledore replied. As Dave shifted to Crinos and stepped into the mirror with Harry, Dumbledore picked up the fallen Sorcerer's Stone.

Meanwhile, Hermione struggled into the Hospital Wing under the weight of a barely-conscious Ron. Lizzy hurried over and helped her lay him on one of the beds.

"You know, Lizzy," Hermione said, gesturing at Ron, "I expected him to weigh a lot more, considering how much he eats." Lizzy smiled, suspecting that a charm of some sort must have been used on him.

"Where is Harry?" Lizzy asked, with some concern. All at once, Hermione shrieked, Madam Pomfrey jumped, as Lizzy heard a growling from behind her.

"Right here," came Dave's Crinos voice, which only Lizzy could understand. "Where do I put him?" Hermione stared at the creature in the Hospital Wing in shock and terror, fearing this beast had killed Harry.

"Put him right here, Dave," Lizzy replied, pointing to the bed next to Ron's. Hermione looked at Lizzy, utterly bewildered.

"His physical wounds are superficial," Dave continued, still in Crinos. "It's the spiritual wound he suffered which will take time to heal. Stag says he will awaken when his spirit has been replenished." After a pause, Dave turned and caught a glimpse of Hermione. His heart was warmed, knowing she and her pretty toes were unharmed. This brought a smile to his face. Unfortunately, this did not have the effect on Hermione that Dave desired. Instead of returning his smile, he only succeeded in doubling her terror, making her shiver in fright even more. After a moment of looking down at everyone, he realised what form he was in.

"Uh-oh," was the only thing he said as he resumed his human guise and walked over to the shivering Hermione who was trying very hard to compose herself. A moment later, Dumbledore walked in.

"Professor Dumbledore," Dave greeted him. "I think you need to have a word with Hermione. She saw me in Crinos."

"Very well, David," Dumbledore replied, then turned to Hermione, drawing his wand. He waved it in her direction and said, "Obliviate!" The memory charm removed only Dave's delirium-inciting form from Hermione's memory, without altering anything else. Suddenly, Ron started to stir, and Hermione rushed to sit at his side. As Lizzy continued to help Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore spoke to Dave.

"When everything has settled down here, I would like you to come to my office and tell me exactly what happened," Dumbledore said, with that twinkle in his eye that told Dave he already knew. Dumbledore turned to Ron and Hermione and said, "I am proud of all of you. You have all, and I mean all five of you, have performed beyond what I expected." Hermione blushed, which Dave thought made her look rather cute, Ron, who was barely verbal, gurgled his acknowledgement, and Dave asked Professor Dumbledore for a private word outside. Lizzy was busy tending to Harry's wounds and was only able to give a polite nod in response.

"Sir," Dave began when they were in the privacy of the waiting room. "You aren't intending to award me any house points, are you?"

"Why yes, I was planning to," Dumbledore replied. "I intend to award all of you house points."

"Please don't," Dave begged. "I really didn't do anything special. I only did what I was born to do."

"We all do what we were born to do," Dumbledore said.

"Not everyone does," Dave replied. "And besides, house points are also used to build confidence. Before the trio could leave Gryffindor tower, they were stopped by Neville. He didn't want them to get Gryffindor into more trouble and break rules again. He stood up to them and I think any points you'd give to me would be better awarded there."

"I am aware of what happened, all of what happened, and rest assured, acknowledgement will be awarded wherever it is earned," Dumbledore said, knowing that the letter he would send to Martyn later that evening, would rival even a Galliard's ability to glorify Dave's contribution to the night's events.

Authors' note:

The Wyrm is akin to the Devil, an unholy triad of The Corruptor Wyrm, The Defiler Wyrm, and War, The Destroyer Wyrm. Garou are Gaia's (mother earth goddess) defenders against the Wyrm and are aided by Luna (the moon goddess and Gaia's sister) as well as a host of totem spirits like Grandfather Falcon and Great Stag.