The postmaster was, like so many other wizards, an elderly man and rather spindly. He had a terrible accent, as if he had spoken a few too many incantations in his time. In addition, he occasionally started his sentences with a sound like he was clearing his throat. "Ckhello, young man. Can I help you?"

Eric tried to steady his expression and tone. "Are you the postmaster, sir?"

"Tha's what it says on the door, sonnyboy. Now, you need help, or you just enjoy disturbing busy people?"

"Um, I'm sorry. How long have you been working here?"

"Since before Dumbledore had a beard. I wasn't postmaster then, but you didn't ask that."

"Do you remember someone named Evelyn Sable?"

"Who wants to know?"

"I'm Eric Sable – her son." He straightened up to the wizened man,

The postmaster paused before backing away from his work. He then stood and began shuffling towards a largish set of files. "Avery Pyginwhol; an' yes, I remember your mother. A quiet woman who never went out much. She was polite, though, and never too busy to help a stranger. That might be what finally did her in." He paused in his steps and peeked back at Eric. "Oy, sorry 'bout that."

Eric took it in stride. "That's ok. Was there a Mister Sable?"

"You stand in front of me an' ask me that? Of course there was a Mister Sable. If there weren't, I wouldn't be talking with his annoying son, now would I?" Avery turned to smile and pat Eric on the arm. "Just teasing, kid. Fact is, nobody ever saw Mister Sable, and I call him that loosely. There was no address they were having mail forwarded from, so I'd say they were trying to start a new life."

"Where did they live?"

"On the outskirts. It's a quiet hut away from everything. Very cozy – she had a little garden and everything. It was so cute."

"Who lives there now?"

"Nobody. It's too far away from the center of town, and it's bad luck owning a house after the last tenants were murdered. They usually end up haunted."

"Haunted?" Eric suddenly had an idea.

"Tha's what I said. You hard of hearing? Here!" He handed Eric a scrap of paper. "It's a map to get there from here. Now, be a nice boy an' let me get back to work." He turned back to his desk, but jerked his head up suddenly. "Oy! If you see your mother's ghost, tell her she still owes a Sickle for a postage fee."

Leaving the post office, Eric met up with Dorian, who was flanked by two Slytherin girls. The first was Lenora, who waved a cheery hello to him before taking his arm. The other seemed rather attached to Dorian, who introduced her. "Eric, do you know Tylena Vrye? She's a third-year Slytherin, too."

Eric remembered Tylena. She kept to herself, seeming to have an ability to avoid the notice of her housemates that Eric lacked. "Good to see you again."

Tylena smiled shyly. "Thank you. We were off to the Three Broomsticks for drinks. You are coming, right?"

Before Eric could respond, a sudden shiver bolted up his spine. In a sudden panic, he shrugged Lenora off his arm and looked about frantically for a window. Unfortunately, every glass window was stained, warped, or a thick waterglass. All of it was useless for visions.

He tore across town to the one place that could help him. Bursting through the door of Dervish & Bangles, his eyes darted about until he found a rack of crystal balls. His eyes shot across the shelf until one small crystal, barely an inch and a half in diameter, caught his eye. The image inside was warped, but clear enough to recognize a hooded figure in a grove of twisted trees.

Naomi was in the Forbidden Forest, and the sun had set.

Not taking time to explain, Eric grabbed up the crystal, snatched the first broom he saw, and bolted out the door with a clerk hot on his heels. "Here – you've got to pay for those!"

As Eric arced up towards the forest, he shouted back to the store. "I will, honest!"

As he flew high above the thick woods, he heard many sounds he wished he hadn't. Several creatures were on the move in the evening twilight, and most didn't like wizards. In desperation, he decided to try the crystal. His anxiety rose, however, when initial efforts to generate an image proved futile. Suddenly he noticed that when he held the crystal in his cupped hands, it formed an eye, and with a moderate amount of painful stretching, he could see through it.

Concentrating on his lost friend, he began to search again. This time, there seemed to be a glow, which shifted into an image of her, surrounded by a pack of werewolves. Closing the crystal in his hand, he shot off to where the image came from, carefully snaking through the twisted branches as quickly as he could. Soon he found himself face to face with the scene in the crystal. Naomi was holding the pack at bay with some fairly effective repelling spells, but they were closing in on her.

Throwing caution to the wind, Eric swooped into the midst of them, striking two with repelling spells before jumping off the broom, sending it crashing into a third. His fall was less than perfect, ending up face first in a pile of mulch. Looking upward, he could see the werewolves circling around him, each beginning to howl his or her own particular tone. However, none of the wolves openly attacked. Rather, they circled in an arc, closing slowly in on them but leaving a small gap facing Hogwarts.

Eric couldn't believe his luck, but wasn't about to question good fortune. Grabbing up Naomi, he began to bolt for the school. "What in the world are you doing out here?"

"I wanted to be alone, and I thought werewolves only came out during full moons."

"Those are cursed werewolves. This is a pack of true werewolves, who can transform anytime." Cutting sideways to an open cave, he pulled at Naomi's cloak. "In here!"

The cave was deep, wide, and without any major features, other than a scattering of rather large bones. Eric drew them to the side of the cave and leaned against the wall. "We'll be safe for the moment."

"Are you sure?" The cave entrance was already showing several wolves sniffing and pacing back and forth.

As if to answer her question, a low growling sound came from deep within the cave, prompting Eric to hold her tightly against the wall. There was a great shaking as a titanic mass of fur and muscle rushed before them, howling at the trespassing beasts. A flurry of snapping teeth lashed out at the intruders before the pack moved away, crying in disappointment.

Finally, the great beast turned back to the cave. It was a gigantic mastiff with three heads, all of which were turned towards the cowering students. In response, Eric began to sing. "Oh, the keeper to the wood did go, and with him he did carry a bow, and for all to shoot at the barren doe – she's among the leaves of green-o." Naomi made a face which clearly indicated that she didn't think that Eric could carry a tune in a bucket. The effect, however, was the desired one. Although the beast didn't totally settle down, it seemed to accept Eric and Naomi as friendly, and not as invaders.

"Naomi – this is Fluffy. Don't touch him, don't startle him, and don't make any sudden moves."

"Well, that's a start, but how do we get back to Hogwarts?"

"Hagrid always checks on him around nine o-clock, to make sure he's tucked in. If he's not, that means that there's something going on in the forest that should be looked into."

"Like a wandering pack of werewolves?"

"No, actually that's normal. For that matter, that's why Hagrid got Fluffy in the first place. He was bred to hunt and to defend against werewolves. As long as he's here, they won't come too close to the school. They only came to the den tonight because they were following prey." Eric suddenly turned and looked her over. "You weren't injured, were you?"

"No, but thank you. If you hadn't come along, I'd probably be dead, or worse." She settled onto one of the more comfortable patches of the wall. "How did you know I was in trouble?"

Eric checked his pocket. Drawing out the crystal, he checked it against the bright moonlight outside. Thankfully, it wasn't damaged. "I'm afraid Professor Trelawney is right – I am clairvoyant. I sensed you were in trouble and I came to help."

"How did you get to your broom so quickly, if you were in Hogsmeade?"

Eric grimaced. "That wasn't my broom. I'm afraid I just destroyed a new purchase. Hopefully, it was a Cleansweep close-out. If it was a Nimbus, I'm doomed."

"Well, it was a rescue. Maybe they'll be merciful." Naomi shuffled again, then leaned up against Eric. "Do you mind? I'm sort of tired."

Eric shifted so she could settle comfortably against his shoulder, then decided to doze off while they waited. Either Hagrid or the dawn would be here soon enough, and either would suffice.

Hagrid did arrive, collecting the two of them and escorting them back to his hut. Word was sent to Dumbledore as to where they were and the happenings of the evening. Eventually, they were brought into the main hall. At the far side of the hall, Eric could see several of the instructors talking with the clerk from Dervish & Bangles. Although he initially seemed upset, his tone settled as the conversation continued. Eventually they broke up, with the clerk remaining by the door while the instructors moved towards Naomi and Eric. In addition to Dumbledore, there were Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, which didn't bode well for the two of them.

Dumbledore was the first to speak to them. "I trust that there were no permanent injuries?" Both Naomi and Eric shook their heads. "Good. Then we can get on with disciplinary actions. Fifty points will be taken from Ravenclaw in response towards a student being off grounds without permission. I trust the experience grants guidance regarding why the Forbidden Forest is to remain forbidden. In addition, fifty points will be taken from Ravenclaw in response to Eric's extremely rash actions. I trust you do have the money necessary to pay for a small crystal ball and a Cleensweep Five?"

Eric breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Yes, sir." It would mean draining most of his account, but at least he wasn't in a position where he couldn't keep his word. Even at the original selling price, he could afford it.

"Good. Although the storeowner was most upset at your presumptive exit, he has come to appreciate the situation, and will accept full payment for the items taken, leaving it to the school to deal with punishment. I expect you to offer a proper apology and your appreciation for his generosity.

"In addition, you will each be serving a week's detention, the manner of which will be determined later. Also, Eric is barred from the winter student's visit to Hogsmeade. I trust you will make good use of the time, so that you will be more available for the spring visit.

"Finally, to Eric Sable, for pursuing all needed actions to preserve the well-being of a fellow student and accepting the consequences, I award fifty points." Dumbledore straightened up. "I trust that's enough dispensation for this evening. I am rather tired. If you will all excuse me."

After waiting for the clutch of professors to break, Eric and Naomi went over to the door where the clerk was waiting. They offered their apologies, with Naomi explaining that everything was her fault. The clerk was indeed as understanding as Dumbledore had suggested. "As long as you pay for the merchandise, there's no real harm done – but I can't have this go unpunished. It sets a bad example." The clerk reached into his coat, then drew out a small pewter claw. "By the way, as long as you're buying the crystal, you might as well get the stand, too."