A/N: If the last chapter seemed a bit short then we apologise but this chapter should make up for it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except what I made up myself!

Chapter 12

Over the next few weeks, everyone (even the last years) were very intrigued by the Whomping Willow. They had even started a competition to see who could get the closest to the tree without it striking them. It wasn't too long before someone nearly got hurt. It was a bright, sunny day and everyone was outside enjoying the breeze.

Suddenly people started cheering near to the tree as Davey Gudgeon, a Ravenclaw fifth year with light brown hair and hazel eyes, appeared. He seemed to be making his way towards the Whomping Willow, lapping up the cheers as he went. He bent down low and crawled some of the way.

"He's going to do it!" a girl shrieked, as she watched on eagerly. He was only a centimetre or two away from the trunk when suddenly 'THWACK!' a branch came hurtling out from the left and just missed Davey. 'THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK!' Now the tree was in full throttle it was angry for sure.

Davey, sensing he was in danger of being hurt, started to get up off his knees and run for it. However, he didn't manage to run five steps when the tree managed to hit him. He flew into the air and all the girls gasped whilst the boys watched on helplessly.

"RUN DAVEY RUN!" someone shouted. Davey, who was in mid-air, thought it very stupid advice. How could he run? He was flying through the air. Before he could think about the advice anymore he landed on the ground, far away from the Whomping Willow.

He breathed a sigh of relief along with several others. Soon people had surrounded him.

"Did it hurt being hit?"

"You were soooo brave!"

"You were so close. I bet that if it had stayed still a little while longer you would have touched the trunk for sure!"

"Well done!"

"Oh my! You're hurt, I think we better get you to Madam Coo." His friend Simon Felton helped him to his feet and helped him inside the school.

"Poor Davey, did you see how close he was. And the Whomping Willow nearly took his eye out! He had a very lucky escape!"

Among those who watched were James, Sirius, Remus and Katie. Remus gave a sigh of relief as yet another person tried to touch the Whomping Willow and get to the Shrieking Shack. He returned back to his book only to be disturbed by Katie, James and Sirius' constant chatter.

"Did you see it?" asked Sirius excitedly.

"No Siri, I didn't" replied James sarcastically.

"He was soooo close and imagine if the tree had actually taken his eye out! That would be a disaster!" Katie said.

"For you or him?" asked James smiling a know all smile. Katie smiled back and said "Why would it be a disaster for me?"

James and Sirius exchanged glances and began laughing at Katie's puzzled face.

Suddenly James stopped laughing as he saw who was coming towards them. It was Peter Pettigrew. Now James was sure that he was following them everywhere.

"Hi James!" Peter said looking nervously as Katie, Sirius and Remus stared at him.

"Err.. Hi Peter, what are you doing here?" asked James.

"Just thought I'd come and join you," he said sitting down on the grass.

"Well I'm sorry but we're just leaving. Enjoy the sun!" and with that James, Sirius, Katie and Remus headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room leaving Peter alone.

By now it was getting quite dark and Remus had to make yet another excuse to leave his new friends. If they were suspicious they didn't say anything.

"I've got to go to the toilet. See you later guys" he said.

"Ok, meet you back in the Common Room" said Sirius. Remus made his way to Professor Dreamstone's office. He decided to knock on the door. There was no answer. He waited for a few minutes. "Where is she?" he whispered angrily. By now he was beginning to worry. He couldn't stand there forever now could he? He would have to go by himself.

He walked quietly down the steps and out onto the school grounds. He passed Hagrid's hut and saw that he was making a fire. Just before Remus had even passed Hagrid's hut the bright full moon glared down on him. Suddenly he began to change and lost all thoughts and feelings of himself. All he knew was that he was a werewolf and he was hungry.

Remus ran into the forbidden forest howling as he went. He could smell the food but he couldn't see it yet. He ran deeper and deeper into the forest and stopped when he heard human voices.

"Jupiter is bright tonight" said one of these humans.

"So is Mars" replied the other. As they approached where Remus was they stopped in their tracks.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes, I think we better go" both of them hurried away but what was odd was that neither of them walked away like humans. Instead the galloping of hooves could be heard. Remus ran out and started to chase them. He was hungry and they were food.

Meanwhile back inside the school grounds, Professor Dreamstone was looking for Dumbledore. She finally found him wandering in the corridors and rushed immediately to him.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she cried. Dumbledore turned around and smiled as he saw her but it soon disappeared as he saw panic in her eyes. "Professor Dumbledore! Remus Lupin is missing!"

"Missing Ingrid?" Dumbledore said.

"Yes, I went to my office and waited there for a few minutes thinking that he was just late. I went into the common room and James, Sirius and Katie said he had gone to the toilet about an hour ago" she paused for breath and Dumbledore said "we must find him quickly!"

He strode to staff room and summoned up as many teachers as possible. "You know it's dangerous so I would like Professor Spinner-Webb and Professor Moon to look in main school. Professor Dreamstone and Professor Kondola to check around Hagrid's hut. And the rest of us will search the forbidden forest and the rest of the grounds." The teachers grabbed their wands and left the room behind Dumbledore.

This was exactly what he had been afraid of when Remus had entered the school. But he knew the risks. He made his way out of school when Hagrid came running in.

"Professor Dumbledore! Professor Dumbledore sir!" he cried.

"Yes Hagrid" Dumbledore replied.

"I 'eard an 'owlin' noise righ' outside o' me hut and so's I thoug' I'd take a look at wha' it was'. I looked outa the window and I saw Remus Lupin runnin' twards the fores'"

"Thank you Hagrid"

Professor Dumbledore quickly went to the forest. Every one step Hagrid took Dumbledore took two. He reached the forest and turned back towards Hagrid. "Please tell the others that Remus is in the forest Rubeus. Tell them to come out here at once." Hagrid did as the older man asked and stepped into the forest.

"HOWLLLL!" Dumbledore stopped and took out his wand "Lumos" he said and a bright light glowed from the end of his wand. He carried on walking in the direction of the howl and it wasn't long before he found Remus Lupin. He began shouting spells but most bounced off him with barely a scratch.

Soon the other Professors joined Dumbledore and together they managed to stun the beast. Kondola levitated Remus towards the Whomping Willow.

Daylight was breaking through the dark night sky and the moon began to fade away. Gradually Remus changed back into himself and he began to stir.

"What's going on?" asked Remus, looking confused.

"Don't worry Mr Lupin. I think we had better take you to the hospital wing." Replied Professor Dreamstone. They led him away from the Whomping Willow and back towards the castle.

Madam Coo came quickly and attended to Remus. Dumbledore sat and watched, then asked her to leave. She stared at him as if he was mad but decided she'd better leave.

As she closed the door Dumbledore began talking to Remus. "Remus, tonight you did not transform inside the Shrieking Shack. Instead you went into the forbidden forest and wounded a centaur. Fortunately you didn't harm him too deeply and so he will live. Now, I want to ask you why you didn't wait for Professor Dreamstone?"

"I thought I could go to the Shrieking Shack as I've done it before. I'm sorry." He said, not looking directly at Dumbledore who sat and listened to him explain.

"That's alright Mr Lupin. Next time I suggest you wait for a teacher. I will now leave you to return to full health and bid you farewell." He closed the door leaving Remus to think about what he had done.

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