The hunt part 2

Ron stepped out the doors to the grounds. For a moment he was momentarily blinded. Last night it had become unusually cold and the world had turned white overnight. With the sun reflecting off the snow the glare was too bright to look at for too long. He stepped out. With the temperature as hot as is was at this hour he guessed the snow would be melted by lunch. He looked longingly at the snow oh how he wished Harry and he would be friends again if even just to enjoy what nature had brought for this short time. Reverently he walked out to the lake. He had spent the last two days trying to figure out who had sent him on this wild goose chase and this was the last clue. Or at least he hoped it was. It was the only reason he was awake and ready before he usually even got up. There it was a dark brown barn owl. It was watching him intently. Ron held out his arm and the owl fluttered to it, landing a little clumsily on his arm. It stuck out its left leg. As soon as it was free of its burden it took off to the owlery. Ron looked at the envelope with mixed feelings. He wanted to rip off the top and get the ending of this pointless chase and yet… What if… though this thing was annoying him, it had taken his mind off of Harry. Which had become a great relief since Harry was now pursuing Nani like a lap dog. The sad thing was that Nani seemed oblivious to it. Ron sighed it would come sooner or later might as well get it over with. He tore open the envelope.

Dear Ron.

I know you must be very anxious to know the end to this Hunt. Like all Hunters you have been smart in you actions and have not aroused suspicion which is clever. There is one more task you must do. The next full moon, meet me near Hadgrid's hut closer to the forbidden forest. I will be there. If you do not show up I will understand. See you there.

Your ever growing closer friend

Ron sighed it was breaking another rule. He had gotten luckily the last couple of times his 'friend' had sent him to do a task which required breaking a rule. He was almost positive that the luck would soon run out. He walked back into Hogwarts and went to breakfast.

Nani watched Professor Lupin. He had quickly become her favorite teacher. He always seemed tired and drained but it did not affect his teaching. He always kept her attention along with the rest of the class. Today was no acceptation. This was there second day with working with the Bogart. Nani already knew what her greatest fear was. Knowing what it was she wasn't about to show the rest of the class especially since he was in the class. He hadn't touched her or confronted her since that weird day. But she wasn't about to push her luck. She had asked Lupin if she could be excused from having to do these lessons. He had reluctantly agreed to give her private lessons. Tonight would be the first lesson and now she didn't know if that was going to be any better. She watched as one by one all the students went up. All of the students showing everyone the fears in their lives.

Ryan was next. He stepped up in front of him stood a bloody version of her. Nani almost fainted. The version of her in Ryan's fear was horrible. She was a bloody mess. Her clothes and skin torn and she was sure she could see bone in some places. Her eyes were filled with fear and hurt. Ryan couldn't utter the words to rid the class of the vision of her. Nani was now staring at Ryan. If he only hadn't known about Malfoy this wouldn't be his fear. This was her fault. Lupin quickly stood in front of the boggart as he had yesterday when Harry was up. He muttered the spell and the boggart went back into the drawer where he had been keeping it.

"That's all for today class I know this is the last class of the day so go enjoy yourselves. For a second no one moved but then slowly picking up speed they hurried out the door. All of them threw glances at Ryan and Nani. Lupin looked at Nani and Ryan. They had stayed behind without being asked. They were both just staring at each other both feeling shame. Lupin walked up to Ryan. "Nani will you excuse us for a moment?" Nani nodded her head and looked down. Ryan and Lupin walked over to the office. "Ryan I know about you. Are you afraid that you are going to afflict that on her?" Ryan nodded his head.

"It scares me professor."

"I know Ryan I know." He patted him on the back. Maybe you and the boggart should have some privacy next time. I don't think we should be scaring others with that image and I especially don't want Nani to see that again. Meet me here tomorrow night we will work on it then." Ryan nodded his head this was punishment he wanted for once.

Ryan walked out of the office and looked at Nani. Her eyes were haunted and looked like she was on the verge of tears. When she saw him she walked towards him. When she was close enough to him she wrapped her arms around his neck. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. She was shaking slightly and he could hear her fighting back the tears. "This is all my fault I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." He let go and took her by the shoulders.

"Look at me Nani." She did not being able to resist. "That wasn't your fault. You're not the one who should be sorry. I am. I didn't know that it was going to be that bad."

"You shouldn't have been there that day. You should have been doing something else. If you had you wouldn't have had to worry about it." He shook his head.

"I would rather be filled with this fear then you being… mistreated." She no longer tried to hold back the tears. They were falling freely now. Lupin watched them. There was no mistaking the special connection between these two. He didn't want to interrupt the moment these two were having but he needed to make sure she was ok. He cleared his throat. "I'll wait for you."

"No I'll see you in the common room." He nodded then walked out of the classroom.

Lupin pulled the chair out for her she nodded her thanks and sat down. He walked around to the other side of the desk. "So how are you?" She shrugged.

"I don't know." She admitted. "How would you feel?" Lupin got a far away look in his eyes. Then he shuddered remembering something from the past. She broke his trance. "I just wish that he didn't have to worry about me." Lupin nodded his head in agreement.

"No one wants to see their friends hurt and no one wants their friends to worry about them. But then you two are more than friends aren't you?" She smiled but it was strained and forced.

"I don't know sometimes I wish it was and then others I feel like he is keeping something from me and I from him. It is creating a gap in our friendship but that doesn't mean we won't be there for each other." Lupin nodded.

"I guess I will see you tonight." Nani swallowed the lump in her throat. Tonight was going to be interesting.

Breath Nani you can do this. Breath you just have to breath. Who are you kidding? You're going to die. No, no your not just breath. Turn around this is going to create more problems than you need. No you have to do this. If you don't do this you'll never get over it! JUST BREATH! Nani was past the point of crying. She was hysterical. She walked up the stairs and just stared at the door. She reached out and touched it but did not have the will power to push it open. She took a deep breath and turned around. She took to steps and then turned around again. For the next five minutes she did this debating with herself. This was crazy yet so crazy it could work.

The door opened and out walked professor Snape. She stopped pacing and stared at the ground. There were only a few people who intimidated her and this was number two. "Nani," He nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Professor Snape. How are you?" She asked. She could hear the fear in her voice and immediately was angry with herself. Snape wasn't mean to her in fact he had been very good to her compared to most of the students. Yet he was a professor. Therefore he was to be treated with respect.

"I'm fine." He was talking to her again. "Are you here for professor Lupin?" The name was said with venom. Nani nodded her head. "Well I hope you have a good night." He walked down the hall.

She watched him go then turned towards the door. It had been left open and Lupin saw her clearly. No turning back now. She walked in. "Hello professor." He smiled at her but his face was deathly pale. She hated this. He always looked sickand she hated having to think that he would just die on her right there.

"Let's get started then shall we." He walked over to the drawer. "You remember the spell right?" She nodded and stood at ready. What she saw however was what she had expected. In front of her stood Malfoy. He was just starring at her. But the fact that he was this close to her. She couldn't remember the spell but for some reason she didn't need to. She thought back to when she had scared the crap out of him when she had seen the wolves. She started to laugh. Just the memory of his face a lone had given her so much joy. So much satisfaction that she had just left him there. That satisfaction was enough to not kill him. She realized something. She wasn't afraid of him. There was nothing scary about him. He was like any other guy here. He was scared and all she had to do was fight back. She smiled and stepped towards him. Just as she suspected he stepped back. Unsure what was happening. Then he changed again.

This time she staggered backwards. Harry Potter was standing in front of her. He held a sword but didn't look like he was going to kill her. The sword already had blood on it. Along with long black fur. She let out a cry. He killed them. He killed them. She couldn't help but stare at the sword. Then without taking her eyes off of it she back peddled out of the room. Once the door was shut she was free of the spell. She turned and ran out towards the front of Hogwarts. Once she reached it she ran to the forest. Upon reaching the safety and cover of the forest she changed into her wolf form. She ran to her pack crying to them the whole way there.