The first week of December brought the first snow with it as well, a blanket of white laid out on the grounds of Hogwarts. Lorelei wrapped herself in a warm cloak, and walked out onto the grounds. She found hereself thinking that the sun on the fresh snow sparkled like diamonds. With a sigh the girl thought that it didn't always look like diamonds...and it wasn't always the sun that shone apon it.

Seven Years Ago

"But I want to go out and see the pritty snow." A ten year old Lorelei whined.

"Linda bee, it's too late now." her mother scolded. "You can go and look at it in the morning."

"But daddy told me I could look at it as soon as it came." Lorelei huffed. "And now it's here, and I want to see."

Her mother scooped her up in her arms, heading for the girl's room. "It will still be there in the morning Belinda dear." her mother told her sternly. "So go to bed, and get some sleep."

"When will daddy be home?" The girl asked.

"Soon, and he's not going to let you go out either." With a 'hmpf' Lorelei turned over, pulling the covers up over her head.

She listened carefully for the sound of the door clicking shut. Listened as her mother's foot steps retreated from beside the door. And listened for the silence she knew, that meant her mum was back in the drawing room at the other end of the house. Lorelei slid out of bed, putting on her slippers, and crept over to her window. Boosting herself up on the sill, she pushed the window opened, to be met with a chill breeze. Lorelei breathed in the scent of the crisp air around her, looking out at the snow that covered the ground.

High above the moon hung full and fat in the sky, lighting up all of outdoors, almost as well as the sun. Lorelei smiled, the moonlight reflecting on the ground twinkled back at her like the stars in the night sky. How she wanted to go and dance among the stars. Biting her lip thoughtfully, Lorelei pulled her robed down from where it hung by her window, and tossed on over her pajamas. She listened once more for any sounds that might say her mum was on her way back. Hearing none, Lorelei slid from the sill, and out into the crisp white snow.

Lorelei didn't pay attention to where her feet carried her, only the moon's pale light, as it sparkled on the ground, as the stars did above. The woods that surrounded the manor house were dark, despite the full moons glow, and inside that darkness, something roamed. Closer and closer, Lorelei moved twords the edge of the woods. Closer and closer the dark form moved from the woods the depths of the woods. A flash of movement from beyond the trees caught the young girl's attention. Eyes wide in wonderment, and curiousity, she crept closer to the tree line.

Inside the manor house, Lorelei's father had arrived home, and was sitting down to a cup of late night tea with his wife. "Is she excited by the snow?"

"It was all I could to to get her to bed." her mother replied. The man chuckled, but it was a short-lived bit of laughter. A nightmarish howl split the night air, sending a chill through the blood. The woman startled, putting a hand over her heart. "I'm so glad I know Belinda is safe in bed."

Lorelei's father nodded, in agreement. Then a panicing house elf came running from the other end of the manor house. "Master Vargus, Mistress Vargus, young Mistress is not in her bed." The pitiful little creature looked up at the two with wide frightened eyes. "Young Mistress's window is open, slippers and robe are missing as well." Panic gripped the couple's hearts as they raced to the young girl's room, nearly knocking the house elf over in their haste.

Another howl split the cold air, this one followed by a child's scream. "Belinda!" her father yelled, leaping out her window, wand at the ready. As soon as he seen the beast standing before the girl, he because shooting curses at it. At first it shuffled forward, until a particularly nasty hex caught it. It turned, a bit stunned, and ran off into the woods. Lorelei's father scooped up the lifeless child in his arms and ran back twords the manor. "Fetch the doctor Rossef." Mr. Vargus called to the house elf, who quickly vanished. When he reappeared, he there was another wizard with him.

Sometime later the wizarding doctor emerged from the young girl's room. "Mr. and Mrs. Vargus." he began. "I have some good news...and some bad news for you." The couple looked at him hopeful. "I was able to stop the bleeding, and your daughter will live. But..." the man let out a deep sigh. "There is nothing one can do about these things. She was indeed bitten by a werewolf." he frowned. "Next month, come the full moon...you daughter will to change into the beast."

Lorelei's mother wailed, an awful sound, sobbing. And through her sobs, cried out she had no child, she was not going to be mother to a beast. Lorelei's father held her in his arms, patting her back, and trying to comfort her. After having to finally sedate the woman with a peaceful dream draught, Mr. Vargus turned to the matter of business. "Speak of this to no one." he told the doctor, dropping a large amount of galleons into the mans hand. The doctor nodded, then disappated from the manor house.

Back to the Present

Lorelei closed her eyes, letting a tear slide down her cheek. She never told her father that she had awakened...never told him she heard her mother's mourful cries. She had still, held out hope that the amulet would make a diffrence. And it did, to her, but not her mother.