A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Word count: 1201

Lavender stretched, her joints popping as she moved. She could feel the ache in her legs from running the night before. The shift back hadn't been bad, it was now just a part of her, but running through the forest for most of the night, that had been exercise no matter which form she was in.

"You want coffee?" a voice asked from her kitchen. Lavender groaned, forcing herself to sit up. In doing so, she nearly fell off the sofa she'd been laying on. Quickly regaining her balance, she looked around and realized she was not, in fact, in her own flat. Her face burned with embarrassment as she realized she must have gone home with someone. Throwing the nappy grey blanket off herself, she realized she was dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of pink silky knickers. She did not own such a pair of knickers and knew for fact she'd left her own clothing in her flat on the back balcony.

"Um, sure?" she answered, realizing the person was waiting for her to speak. Shakingly, Lavender rose to her feet and stood there, surveying the room. There was a fireplace with a golden teapot sitting on the mantle. The word 'Floo' was scrawled across the pot in lime green cursive lettering. Lavender felt a small burst of relief. If there was floo powder here, whoever she'd gone home with was at least a member of the wizarding community. They also hadn't already murdered her for being a werewolf, so there was that as well.

"I forget how you take yours, black or with cream?"

Lavender's eyes moved towards the doorway, to the movement of someone walking.

"Black, two sugar," she answered, watching as the person walked into the room carrying a tray with two mugs, a small pitcher of cream, and a bowl of sugar.

"Right, I've started breakfast, if you're interested," Padma said, setting the tray down on the coffee table in front of the sofa. Lavender sank back onto the sofa and brought the mug to her lips. The smell perked her up a bit, making her feel safe in a way she couldn't describe.

"Sounds good, anything sounds good," Lavender laughed, pretending her stomach wasn't gurgling at the prospect of food. She knew she'd eaten last night, some sort of meat, she couldn't remember.

"I wasn't sure if you wanted to stay or floo home," Padma explained. Lavender nodded. She could have flooed home, eaten the sandwiches in her fridge. She always made sure there was food prepared for when she got home after a moon night. But something warm sounded even better, and a small part of her didn't want to leave Padma. It was hard to find company, especially since most of the world still saw werewolves as less than and evil.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember last night," Lavender blurted out, her face flushing again as her eyes drifted over Padma's body.

"Don't be, you were exhausted when I found you naked on the edge of the woods."

"What were you even doing there? It's remote," Lavender said. She deliberately picked a remote place to transform, somewhere where she couldn't hurt anyone.

"What would you say if I told you I was looking for you, for the creature you became on those nights?" Padma asked. Lavender looked down at her mug. The idea of Padma looking for her, for the wolf, she could get hurt!

"You could have gotten hurt," she said, her voice sharp with worry. Padma nodded.

"The scones are done, I'll be right back," she said, slipping from the room. Lavender poured herself another cup of coffee, watching the brown liquid swirl in her mug. Padma had been looking for her, but why? Lavender hadn't spoken to Parvati in years, since the battle when Lavender had been turned. Parvati hadn't been able to deal with her best friend being a monster. Lavender hadn't ever even really been friends with Padma, hadn't seen her since they'd left school.

"I've got blackberry, strawberry, and plum jam, plus butter," Padma announced, walking back into the room.

"Why were you looking for me?" Lavender asked, taking a scone and slathering it with jam. She took a bite, while looking at Padma.

"Because, I needed to see for myself. You've heard the rumors going around the ministry?"

"As much as I try not to," Lavender answered, her heart sinking slightly. She knew Padma was talking about latest anti-were legislation. She also knew Hermione was trying her hardest to fight it.

"I wanted proof that you weren't a monster, that people with your, " Padma paused, "condition, aren't monsters."

"And?" Lavender asked, tilting her head slightly. What had Padma seen? Had she seen Lavender stalk her prey, grab a bite to eat, howl at the moon?

"And I didn't see it. I didn't see anything that resembled a monster. I saw a witch who did everything she could to make sure people were safe. You went away, somewhere isolated, you smelled me, saw me a few times, didn't attack me once."

"I saw you, as the wolf?"

"Yes, you did tackle me, rip my shirt a bit, But you didn't even scratch me, Lavender."

"I still don't remember. I usually don't."

"Do you remember kissing me, after moonset? I'd lost sight of you for a bit, found you pretty much asleep and helped you up. You muttered something about how I couldn't tell my sister and kissed me."

"Um, wow. No, I don't...I should...I don't know."

"Lavender? I know it didn't mean anything, that it was just a response to everything. I can forget about it, if you want me to?"

"No! I mean, thank you for trying to help me out, Padma, for realizing I'm not some monster. I can't... I can't be in a relationship with you, with anyone, even if I wanted to. I could hurt you! I could kill you!"

"The wolf didn't though," Padma pointed out. "Maybe the wolf approves?"

"Maybe," Lavender said, biting her lip slightly, her mind whirling at the possibility of having someone in her life, someone who wasn't afraid of her what she became, someone who obviously cared about her.

"You don't need to say anything now, we can just finish breakfast and you can head home. Keep my clothes, they look so much better on you," Padma said, laughing softly. Lavender felt her face flush slightly, a feeling starting to awaken in her. The idea of having someone, of being with someone. She liked the idea, and if Padma was willing, willing to deal with the danger...

"Right, I'm always a bit, you know, after the moon. How about we meet back up in a day or two? Grab lunch or something?" Lavender offered.

"Sounds good," Padma answered. "Just owl me the details!"

Lavender nodded. The pair finished their breakfast in silence, each stealing glances at the other.

"I'll see you then, Padma," Lavender said, giving Padma a smile before stepping into the green flames of the fireplace.

"See you then," Padma echoed, causing Lavender's heart to flutter, knowing that if Padma was willing, that maybe, she'd finally found someone worth the risk.