Chapter 24

- Fallen Friends -

Teddy had watched helplessly as his friends had run into the room, casting spells in all directions. He hadn't had the chance to tell them about the state of the moon in the night sky outside.

As they fought he stared out at the window, towards the moon in the sky. He didn't fight the pull of the glowing orb, instead he embraced it and clenched his teeth through the pain. It took all his energy not to groan.

His vision blurred for a second, then cleared. From the reflection in the window Teddy could see his own eyes, no longer green but a violent yellow, staring back at him. Fangs as well as claws grew from his mouth and fingers. His back arched and he fell to the ground.

He could no longer here fighting from the other room, but he couldn't move to check. He just laid in a tight ball on the smooth floor under the light of the full moon that stretched down the hall like a carpet of light. Holding his arms close to his chest he closed his eyes. Every muscle in his body hurt, but he never complained. He knew his father's transformations were far more painful than his.

The familiar tearing of clothing filled his ears along with the thundering beat of his heart. A small moan escaped his lips until finally the pain stopped.

Lying amongst torn clothing, a Werewolf laid huddled. Werewolf Teddy was bigger with age, but still not the same size as the average Werewolf. Still, he towered above the Death Eaters whom he crept up behind after spotting his friends tied together against the wall.

Teddy had never seen his lycanthropy as a curse like his father, or an illness. But he'd never truly seen it as a gift either. To him it was just a part of who he was. But on that night, as Werewolf Teddy glanced at his reflection in a mirror, he saw himself as one thing... a weapon.

A sound, like roaring thunder rung from his jaws causing all the Death Eaters to take a fearful step back. Bellatrix's grip loosened and Hermione ran to her friends untying them. Werewolf Teddy extended to his full height. He could feel a power flowing through his veins. Is this how other Werewolves felt during full moons.

He neither hated nor loved the feeling.

Raising his long arm, he swiped down at the Death Eaters, spotting Draco fighting with Harry for the wands he held in his hand. Mr. Malfoy's eyes were stuck on Werewolf Teddy, but Bellatrix turned around towards the escapees. "Get them! Ah!"

The teen Werewolf has barreled through the crowd of dark witches and wizards, causing them to fall to the ground. He came to a sudden stop in front of the group, his claws scratching the floor. Lucius winced.

As the Death Eaters stood up he howled viciously, sensing the others standing behind him. "Stupid Halfbreed!" Bellatrix hissed like a snake.

If Teddy could've talked he would've replied, 'It's Quarter-breed, actually.' But instead he growled low and threateningly, taking a step further in front of his friends. A hand was touching his arm and he recognised Arkie's scent, but he continued to stare at the Death Eaters. Bellatrix was still gripping her knife, but Werewolf Teddy took a quick protective step in front of the group as she threw it.

Then suddenly... Crack!

The unexpected apparition had left a sick feeling in Arkie's stomach as she landed on the ground which was strangely rough and wet. As the wind whipped past her face she realised she was lying on her back in the sand of an empty beach in the middle of nowhere.

She took in two large breaths of the salty air, trying to swallow down the sick that threatened to come up. A grunt left her mouth as she turned around in the sand onto her belly, watching as the others appeared around her, falling face first in the wet sand.

Hermione let out a scared shout before Ron helped her to his feet. "Hermione." Harry panted. "You're all right. We're safe. We're all safe."

But Hermione was staring past Harry at the small, limp figure lying by a sharp rock that poked out from the sand. Harry limped off to Dobby, but by the time he reached the little house elf, his eyes were blank and lifeless. On his hairless scalp there was a large red gash exactly where his head had hit the rock.

"Dobby. No, just- Hold on." But it was too late. Harry's fingers went to Dobby's eyelids, gently guiding them down making the elf look like he was stuck in a deep sleep. But the silence was broken by Arkie's gasp. She was staring past Dobby at another large limp figure lying in the sand, a sharp object sticking out from between the ribs.

"Teddy." He voice was soft but her footsteps were heavy on the sand as she ran over to the injured Werewolf. The others watched as she crouched down beside him. "Teddy, it's me. Please open your eyes." A mixture of tears and ocean spray covered her cheeks, leaving a salty taste in her mouth.

But he didn't reply.

Her head sunk down, resting on the creature's shoulder, her arms wrapped around his chest avoiding the knife carefully. Her mouth opened in an ugly cry and her body shook as she sniffed loudly. Suddenly, there was sound. A small animal whimper. Looking up her golden eyes met a single yellow one. "Teddy. I'm here, I'm here."

She shuffled backwards as the Werewolf's eye closed again. She waited patiently, watching as her boyfriend's form changed. Colour returned to his skin, his jaws shortened along with his ears, his large claws sunk back forming gentle fingers. The last thing to change was the glowing of Teddy's eyes. "Hermione." She said, turning around.

Hermione riffled through her bag, before throwing her a long travelling cloak. Arkie caught the cloak, wrapping it around Teddy's body. She heard the sand crunch as Hermione bent down beside her. "Now, Teddy this is going sting a bit." She said, wrapping her hand around the dagger that'd sunk itself in his side. Nodding to Hermione and looking down at Teddy's face, his eyes closed again, preparing for her to take out the knife.

Shink!

"Ahhh!" A bloody scream roared along the beachside, loud enough for the residents of the cottage in the distance to look out the door. Tears stung her eyes, but she held them back, helping Hermione to heal Teddy's wound by pouring a funny smelling potion on top then wrapping it up.

Teddy bared his teeth in anguish.