Slifer- I'm not even in this chapter!

Alchemic Design- I know. You come in in the next chapter.

Slifer- But...why am I here if I'm not in the chapter?

Kurumi- Alchemic Design owns nothing but the plot, me and Slifer, and the other demons! Read and review!

Alchemic Design- Why, thank you for doing the disclaimer, Kurumi!

Chapter 1

Commotion Around the Corner

"Fang! What's wrong wid yeh? Git down from there!" Hagrid said, knocking the big boarhound away from the door. Fang whined and jumped back up on the door, barking a little. The hound was tense and nervous.

Hagrid yelled at the dog a few more times before finally just deciding to ignore him. He went about making his breakfast, though occasionally shooting his pet a curious look.

Fang ignored Hagrid and began scratching at the door, growling a little.

Hagrid was dumbfounded. Fang had never acted this way. It was confusing for the half-giant. He made up his mind and reached for his crossbow.

"C'mon Fang. Let's go see what yer all uptigh' 'bout." Hagrid opened the door of his cabin; the boarhound squeezed through before the door was completely open and ran across the grounds, disappearing into the Forbidden Forest.

"Fang! Wait up yeh great coward!" Hagrid yelled, jogging towards the forest.

He followed the dog deep into the forest until Fang suddenly gave a whimper and turned back to Hagrid.

"No, no yer not goin' back. Yeh stinkin' cowardly dog. Lead the way."

Fang gazed at his master for a moment then turned and slunk, with tail tucked between his legs, over the ground.

Hagrid followed. Fang led him into the center of the forest, to a clearing near the spiders nest. Hagrid saw the black form laying on the ground and approached it cautiously. It was a wolf, a black wolf.

He poked it gently with his crossbow to see if it was just asleep. Receiving no movement from the animal, he circled around it.

It was dark in the forest, no matter what time of day, so Hagrid couldn't see exactly what damage the wolf had. He did, however, see that the animal was laying in darkly colored mud.

"Poor thing…" He muttered, bending down and picking the wolf up gently.

Fang growled lowly, eyeing the 'wolf' with jealousy.

Hagrid got the wolf back to his cabin without trouble. His breakfast forgotten, he had immediately went to work after seeing all the damages the animal had sustained. Fang paced up and down, continually growling. He was nervous around the 'animal' that his master was taking care of. He could tell that the wolf wasn't normal.

Hagrid, upon further inspection, realized that the wolf was a she-wolf; a lone she-wolf.

"Wolfs, 'specially she-wolfs, don' often go wanderin' 'round 'lone. Wonder what made 'er leave 'er pack…She an ou'cast, 'erhaphs. Poor thing, tis bad ter be in the Forbid'n Forest 'lone. I'm surpris'd she dinnit git ate by Aragog an' 'is fam'ly." Hagrid murmured to Fang as he worked on the she-wolf. He finally noticed Fang's continuous growl.

"Aw Fang! Cut it out! Quit yeh growlin'!"

Hagrid finally got the she-wolf fixed up. A broken leg was set and had a splint on, bandages were around her middle so as to keep the three broken ribs in place, and numerous gauzes and whatnot littered her body. It wasn't the best 'doctoring up' but it would do, especially since Hagrid didn't know that many healing things and Madam Pomfrey point blank refused to heal animals.

The black wolf showed no signs of waking up soon, so Hagrid's day went about as usual; thinking of new lessons for the coming years Care of Magical Creature class, wondering who Dumbledore was going to appoint as new DADA professor, and caring for the wolf he'd found.

That night, Hagrid went to bed worried because the wolf, or 'Sheela' as he'd been calling her, still showed no signs of waking up. Unbeknownst to him, however, the wolf had been awake for quite a while, just hadn't moved.

Kurumi raised her head cautiously after the half-giant began snoring.

Ow… the thought ran across her mind as she struggled to rise. Her muscles were cramped from laying on her side all day. A small whimper escaped her. Hagrid shifted in his sleep, causing Kurumi to freeze. She relaxed after she was sure that the half-giant was dead asleep.

Sheela huh? Do I really look like a 'Sheela' in this form?

A low growl came from the corner of the room, near the door. Kurumi had forgotten about the half-giants dog, Fang.

Kurumi froze again, her blue eyes staring into Fang's black ones. A low snarl sounded deep in her throat. Fang's upper lip curled back and he answered the silent challenge that the she-wolf had called.

I may not be able to use my powers to their fullest yet, but I'm more than powerful enough to confine this dog.

Fang crouched low, preparing to leap at the she-wolf. Kurumi struggled to a standing position, whimpering as her broken ribs moved slightly. Just as Fang leapt towards her, there was a dull flash of light and then a strangled cry of surprise, and Fang fell just short of Kurumi, a muzzle made of what seemed to be grass around his strong jaws and his paws tied together also with what seemed to be grass.

If a wolf could smile, Kurumi would be smirking. She walked slowly to a spot in the cabin that the moonlight didn't reach and lay down. Eyes half closed, she dozed.

The next morning Hagrid woke up earlier than usual.

"Fang?" He looked around, not seeing Fang nor the she-wolf. "Sheela…?"

"I assure you…my name is not 'Sheela'." The cold feminine voice spoke from the shadows. Movement followed, but the speaker didn't come out into the open.

Hagrid grabbed for his crossbow and aimed it at the shadows.

"Who are yeh an' what do yeh wan'? Step inter the light!"

Hagrid heard an irritated sigh then the woman stepped up. She regarded him with cold blue eyes.

"Happy?"

Hagrid was at a loss as to what to say. The woman before him was, to put it bluntly, gorgeous. She had long black hair, a slightly tan complexion, and eyes are deep a blue as you could get. She had an air around her that demanded respect, and Hagrid was reminded deeply of Professor Dumbledore. He looked over her again and for the first time noticed two black wolf ears sat perched atop her head and then saw a black wolf tail wrap around her leg. He swallowed nervously.

"Well, half-giant?" Kurumi snapped; animalistic demons, like herself, didn't like magical things.

Hagrid snapped out of his reverie and went back to his cautious self. He nodded.

"Who…what are yeh?" Hagrid looked around, "Where's Fang?"

"Who I am and what I am is of no importance to you. As for your dog…" She pointed to a spot behind Hagrid. Hagrid turned and let out a roar of rage when he saw Fang struggling against the…grass muzzle and ropes.

"What'd yeh do ter 'im!" He yelled at Kurumi.

"I simply tied him up. He tried to attack me last night. I had to defend myself." Kurumi said calmly, as though there wasn't a half-giant yelling at her and brandishing a crossbow.

Hagrid's face suddenly cleared up quite a bit.

"Sit down. I'm callin' Profess'r Dumbledore…'e'll fig'r out what ter do with yeh."

He watched the strange woman carefully as she gingerly eased herself into the chair he'd pointed at. She hissed in pain and grabbed her side; her broken ribs shifting again.

Hagrid scribbled a letter quickly; a letter that Kurumi could read upside-down:

Professor Dumbledore,

Please come down here immediately. Important.

Bring McGonagall, Snape, and Madam Pomfrey.

Hagrid

Kurumi watched silently as Hagrid fished an owl from a coat pocket and gave it the letter. The owl clutched the letter tightly in its beak and flew out an open window.

Hagrid sat down heavily, still aiming the crossbow at her.

"I'd appreciate it if you would kindly put the crossbow down. You possibly saved my life. I'm not going to harm you."

Hagrid looked confused for a moment.

"How'd I 'poss'bly save yer life? I've nev'r met yeh 'afore in me life." He paused, then asked, "Can yeh let Fang go?"

Kurumi sighed.

"You found me in the forest." She said in an explanation. "And no, I cannot let your dog go. He doesn't seem to think much of me."

Hagrid gazed at her and muttered, "Wait 'til Profess'r Dumbledore git's 'ere."

Kurumi opened her mouth to say something, but was cut short by a gentle knocking on the door.

"Hagrid?" A masculine voice, edged with wisdom, came from behind the closed door.

"C'min, Profess'r Dumbledore, Snape, McGon'gall…Madam Pomfrey." Hagrid said, shooting a glance to the door as it opened.

"Hello Hagrid. I received your letter and came as fast as I could. What seems to be the-ahh…" Dumbledore caught sight of both Fang and Kurumi.

"Who're you?" A greasy haired man spat, glaring at the wolf demon.

Kurumi's eyes hardened. "You need to learn how to speak to your elders." She said in reply, her ears pinned against her head, effectively hiding them.

"Elders? Why I'm twice your age Miss!" Snape sputtered. Dumbledore's hand on his arm quieted him down though. Dumbledore drew up three extra chairs and sat down in one. Snap and McGonagall sat down in the other two. Madam Pomfrey hovered in the background.

"What did you mean, Miss? Everyone in this room is older than you, you know."

Pomfrey spoke up hesitantly, "She may have a case of amnesia, Headmaster."

"I assure you, human, I have not got a 'case of amnesia'. I am your elder. Respect that."

Dumbledore touched Kurumi's arm lightly. "Explain."

Kurumi glared at Dumbledore.

"Listen 'bumblebee'," She started, then sighed. "You do not want me as an enemy. I don't know where I am. All I know is that I was chased by Death-Eaters and that stupid werewolf Greyback! Perhaps you should be the one explaining something to me."

Dumbledore nodded while everyone else looked at Kurumi with interest.

"I see. I will answer your questions if you will answer mine." He paused, waiting for a nod, and continued when he got one.

"I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." He stopped and pointed to the woman sitting in the chair on his right. "Minerva McGonagall, deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration professor." Again he paused, "Severus Snape, Potions professor." He pointed to Snape, who barely inclined his head. "The charming woman standing behind me is Poppy Pomfrey, Hogwarts medical witch, and you've already met Rubeus Hagrid, Gamekeeper; Keeper of the Keys and Grounds, and Care of Magical Creatures professor. The Death-Eaters…they work-"

"For Voldemort. I know. I want to know why they were chasing me…and why they pulled back after I 'got too close' to Hogwarts. And, come to think of it…why'd the forest seem almost alive?" During Kurumi's questions, her ears had popped up.

Pomfrey uttered a slight exclamation, McGonagall muffled a scream, and Snape glared at the demon. Dumbledore looked faintly amused and Hagrid said nothing.

"I do not know why the Death-Eaters were chasing you, Miss. But I am the only person Voldemort has ever feared, so it is natural that his followers fear me as well. The Forbidden Forest, however, is alive, in a way…Have all your questions been answered?"

Kurumi nodded slowly, thinking. She was brought back down to earth when Dumbledore clapped his hands.

"Good. Now. You will answer my questions. You are a demon, no? A wolf demon at that. I am right, aren't I?"

Kurumi nodded.

"Good. I thought as much. How did you happen to be in the human world? Why were you not in the demon world? What is your full given name? Why do you think the Death-Eaters and Greyback were chasing you? And…why would it be unwise for you to by my enemy?" He finished, sounding thoroughly confused.

Kurumi was silent for a long moment, her hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of her sleeveless shirt. At long last she began to speak. Her voice came out strong and cold.

"I am called Kurumi…When in the human world, I often take on the surname 'Alysdane'…"

"Alysdane…a family name worthy of recognition. Pureblood wizards with demon origins…correct?" Surprisingly, it was Snape who spoke.

"Correct." Kurumi said, nodding her head. "The family…Alysdane, healed me when I was injured as a pup. I lived with them for a few years, learning much of your magical customs. The named me as part of their family using my given name and their family name. They did not care that I was a wolf demon." Her gaze rested of Dumbledore. "Bumblebee…I am one of the strongest demons in the two worlds. A superior S class. That in itself is why it is unwise to make me your enemy. My reasons for being in the human world are my own, as are my reasons for not being in the demon world." She paused, collecting her thoughts. "As for the Death-Eaters…they want me as one of them. Though how they know of me…I know not." Another pause, then she looked at 'Bumblebee' with a hard, calculating expression. "I have answered what I feel is appropriate. Now I ask your medical witch for a favor."

Madam Pomfrey paled slightly, but came forward.

Kurumi stood slowly, she was taller than the medical witch by a lot, almost as tall as Dumbledore himself.

"Hagrid saved a she-wolf from near death by setting a broken bone and healing what he could. I ask you, medical witch, to finish the job he started." Kurumi said.

Pomfrey looked fearfully to the Headmaster, who nodded. She turned back to the demon with a determined and caring look in her eyes and raised her wand.

No one but Dumbledore noticed Kurumi's slight flinch at the sight of the wand, but Dumbledore knew why she flinched.

Animalistic demons, by nature, hate anything to do with magic, He thought.

Endnote-Please review! This chapter was fun to write! Thanks!