A/N: Thank you soooooooo much for all your reviews! I hope you like this one. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Werewolf, Chapter 10

It was painfully obvious that something was very wrong when Professor Snape came rushing into the Great Hall, screaming bloody murder. Seeing the ever dignified Potions master running, not to mention screaming, was shocking enough, but when he turned, slammed the doors shut and slid the bolt home, people started wondering if the Apocalypse was upon them.

Snape strode down the aisle toward the noticeably empty staff table, oblivious to the bewildered looks he was receiving. Professor McGonagall, the Headmistress while Dumbledore was at Anstierre, was already standing, and the two held a whispered conversation. Minerva paled and gripped the table, as if for support.

"What's going on?" Ron hissed at Harry.

"Dunno," Harry replied.

Snape's news was passed down the staff table in a flurry of hushed exchanges. It was met with incredulity, fear, and in some cases, anger. Anger which seemed to be directed mostly at Snape himself.

Harry and Ron were about ready to burst with curiosity when Professor McGonagall finally decided to let the students in on the little secret. She stood and, with a rather frazzled look on her face, said, "I am sorry to inform you that the Wolfsbane potion Professor Lupin needs in order to retain his human mind on the full moon has malfunctioned."

Gasps echoed throughout the Hall. Several girls screamed softly. But Minerva was not done.

"Tonight, Remus is not your teacher, he is a werewolf, and for your safety and his, you will all be staying here for the night. Please do not panic, this Hall is very secure and I assure you, you are all very safe."

They panicked. Dinner was forgotten in an instant as hordes of frightened students attempted to escape the Hall, forgetting, in their fear, that the werewolf would be waiting for them right outside the door. Draco Malfoy was making vague comments about what his father would do when he found out, and Crabbe and Goyle were crying for their mothers. But all this was lost on Harry, whose blood had frozen at McGonagall's words. He sat in shock for several long moments, and then turned to Ron, who looked just as terrified as Harry felt.

"Hermione," Ron whispered in horror.


Hogwarts' official bookworm was in the library. No surprise there. But you can bet she was surprised when she walked out, toting a full book – bag, and came face to face with a very angry, very vicious, not so cute and fuzzy werewolf. She could tell it was a werewolf by the shape of it's snout and by the tuft at the end of it's tail. Naturally, she screamed, dropped her bag and whipped out her wand, not entirely sure what she was going to do with it.

"P – Professor Lupin?" she stammered, her wand pointed directly at the lean, gray wolf in front of her. The only response she got was a low growl and a glimpse of sharp, glistening canines.

"Oh no," Hermione whispered, her heart in her throat. This was not her dear Professor any more. She backed up slowly, books forgotten, wand still between her body and those teeth. The wolf advanced cautiously, hesitantly. If Hermione hadn't been out of her mind with fear, she might have wondered about this. Werewolves were not cautious creatures. Why was this one not attacking?

Suddenly the wolf leapt forward and with one snap of it's jaws, relieved Hermione of her wand. She yelled and jumped backwards, only to feel the cool, rough hardness of the wall meet her back. She was trapped. Whimpering slightly, she met the golden eyes of the werewolf in resignation and whispered, "I'm sorry Professor Lupin. I'm sorry to do this to you."

Then she closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable.


"I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but that is just not possible! No students are to be allowed out of this Hall until morning!"

"But Hermione's out there!" shouted Harry desperately. "What about her? Is she not a student?"

Professor McGonagall looked at the indignant boys before her sadly and said, "Miss Granger's situation is indeed regrettable. But to make matters worse by letting her two best friends go out and get themselves killed is out of the question! I'm sure Miss Granger would agree with me whole – heartedly, were she here. Now, off with you both!"

But Harry and Ron still looked mutinous.

"Can't one of the teachers go and look for her?" Ron argued.

"Mr. Weasley, as you can see we are rather shorthanded right now," Minerva said, gesturing to the handful of teachers trying to restore order to the Great Hall. "We cannot spare anyone to go gallivanting off in search of one student while there are four hundred here who need protection!"

At this, Harry blew up.

"We're not helpless you know!" he shouted. "We can take care of ourselves! Besides, nothing can get to us in here! We're about as safe as we can possibly be!"

But Minerva just glared at him and said firmly, "Nobody is leaving this Hall tonight, and that is final."

And with that, she turned and joined the other teachers trying to calm the masses.

Harry and Ron looked at each other, anger and despair evident in their eyes. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Ron beat him to it.

"I dunno about you," he said, "But I'm not gonna let that stop me!"

Harry nodded firmly. "I'm with you. Let's get out of here."

"And let's try not to get caught." Ron added with a grin.

"Right." Harry agreed.


Litnor shivered, though not from the cold.

I hate this house, he thought bitterly. But it was up to his master where they met, and Litnor wasn't about to complain.

He crept along until he reached a door issuing cracks of light into the dark and musty hallway. Knocking softly, he heard his master's voice calling him in. Visibly trembling, he pushed open the door and stepped into the fire – lit room. Only fools and madmen weren't scared out of their wits in his master's presence. It was this power that had first attracted Litnor to the Dark Lord, and it was what kept him loyal now. A new recruit, he fancied himself a favorite of Lord Voldemort, as he had already been given a most important mission. It gave him the utmost pride to be able to inform his master that he had been successful.

"Good, good…" hissed Voldemort when he heard how well his plan was unfolding. "You will be rewarded William, when this is over."

Litnor was hard put not to rub his hands together gleefully.

"Thank you master, you are too kind, thank you…"

Voldemort settled himself once more in the large armchair in front of the fire. The room was silent for several long minutes, but finally Litnor gathered the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing him all night.

"M – my lord?" he stammered nervously. Voldemort turned his head slightly. Litnor took this as a sign that he could continue, and asked quickly, "M – master, I was just wondering, what if this Lupin is not up to the task? What if his wounds hinder him enough for them to get an opportunity to strike? What will happen if he fails?"

The Dark Lord gave a thin – lipped smile as he continued to stare into the fire.

"You need not worry, Litnor," he said. "Lupin will have all the help he needs."

"W – what?" Litnor stuttered in surprise.

Voldemort continued to smile.

"Reinforcements are joining our dear Professor even as we speak."

"Reinforcements! But…but how will they get into the castle?"

At this, the snake – like creature in the armchair laughed out loud.

"That, my friend, is where Albus Dumbledore will finally lend us a hand."


Hagrid was having a hard time believing his eyes. Was that really the Headmaster? Being supported by Professor Sinistra and Professor Sprout? Maybe the weak light of dusk was playing tricks on him… But the light conditions couldn't have conjured up the voice that cut through the peaceful silence like a knife.

"Open the gate Hagrid! Quickly!" Sprout snapped. But Hagrid hesitated.

"Thought y'all was at Anstierre, figh'in them ferals," he said suspiciously.

Professor Sinistra rolled her eyes.

"We were, Hagrid! But as you can see, Albus is hurt. Now open the gate!"

But Hagrid was still unsure. He made no move to let them in. Professor Sprout pounded on the magical barrier with her fist and shouted, "Do you want him to die, Hagrid?"

He hesitated, then shook his head.

"Then open the damn gate!"

Finally, the enormous gamekeeper relented. Fishing for the right key in one of his many pockets, he approached the gate. Unlocking it, he swung it open, and the two women dragged Albus inside. Hagrid closed the gate again, then turned back to the three teachers, fully ready to ask what had happened. His words died on his lips. The Headmaster was standing unaided, staring directly at Hagrid with wide, golden eyes. The other two had their wands out, both pointed directly at the gamekeepers chest.

"Oh," he said intelligently.

And then his world went black.


Professor Sprout, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Sinistra bent over the unconscious form of Rubeus Hagrid. The latter was smiling coldly.

"I love Polyjuice Potion."