It's. About. To go. DOWN. Are you ready?

Chapter sixteen: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot & Prongs

Do you ever feel like a side character in someone else's story? Like you are on the bench and have to wait and see how the game plays out, but you can't just run into the field saying 'hey guys! I want to play too!' You are not supposed to be in the game. You could spoil the outcome.

That is how Alicia felt after all her exams were finished on Friday afternoon. She had waited patiently until Michelle, Sophia and Elena had done their DADA exams. Michelle had challenged the witch, and she was indeed as precise and powerful as Alicia had thought, but still Michelle had bested her. Elena, in her nervous state, had decided to challenge Remus as well, but found out quickly that she had made a mistake. After a breakdown they had offered her a second chance. She had chosen one of the Ministry men and had taken him down within ten minutes. Sophia had taken the safest route by choosing the easiest option, but she had won too. No one had challenged Dumbledore, and Alicia was sure he was disappointed.

After all the tension of the last week started to dissipate the girls had taken the afternoon to chill by the lake. They weren't the only ones, it was a nice warm spring day. Alicia had taken some time to talk to the merpeople and save a swimmer from an aggressive grindylow. Before it would become too much of a show Alicia said her goodbyes and went to Hagrid.

It was going to be a terrible evening, she was sure of it. First off; the brilliant and beautiful Buckbeak was going to be slaughtered. Alicia was afraid Hagrid would insist on watching and she was not sure the poor man could ever recover from that. Second off; she wasn't a fool. Sirius was going to make his move tonight. He had asked about the execution, and she knew it would be significant. What that meant was, that at some point she had to walk away and stop interfering. Would he stop the execution? Was he going to show up in Hagrid's house? Alicia didn't know, but the moment she sensed something odd she needed to leave. Even if that meant leaving Hagrid…

'Knock knock.'

'Who's there?' Hagrid opened his massive front door. It creaked heavily. 'Oh, it's you. Come in, I've put the kettle on.' Alicia walked in and looked around. The house was tidier than usual. At least there were no humps of meat on the table covered in flies, or questionable substances in cauldrons over the fireplace. The table was only decorated with some pots and a set of mugs the size of Hagrid's hand.

'Tea? Figured you would be drinking something stronger,' Alicia said absent-minded. She looked out of the window. In the middle of his garden, in stark contrast to the orange pumpkins, was the Hippogriff in question. Buckbeak was chasing away some crows who bothered him.

'I'm saving that for later,' Hagrid said with a sigh. 'Best to have a clear mind when…well when they come.' Alicia just nodded and stopped looking at the victim of today. Hagrid prepared the tea and handed her mug over. They sat in silence for a while. It was hard to express these emotions in words.

'I'm taking it you tried everything to change the mind of the Committee?' Alicia said softly. Hagrid sniffed. 'Me, and Hermione and the boys. They looked in all the books, tried writing letters and all that. Brilliant they are, but there was nothing we could do. Simply because Malfoy was on the case.'

Alicia remembered everything Lucius Malfoy had tried to do to Hagrid last year. 'That man ought to be brought down a notch. Problem is that hardly anyone is capable of that. I guess corruption will always be a part of politics. That is one of the reasons I don't want to work for the Ministry.'

Hagrid just shrugged and sank back in a depressed state. There were so many things she wanted to say to this poor man who had meant so much to her in the last seven years, but she just didn't know the words for it. So she decided to place her hand on his. He looked up, first at their hands, then at her. There were tears in his eyes. He looked so tired. Yet he managed to smile at her, and she knew he understood what she was trying to say. There was a moment between them that was impossible to put in words.

Then there was a new knock on the door. Hagrid's face changed as he feared the arrival of his guests. He suddenly looked quite lost. He quickly wiped away the tears before bellowing: 'Coming!' The door opened, Hagrid said some things for a moment and in came three familiar faces. Alicia was partly happy to see them, but it was also her first red flag. Harry would play a part in everything that would happen tonight. How she wished she could just tell him.

'Hey guys,' Alicia said, trying to sound chipper. They greeted her back with the same faked enthusiasm. Only Ron seemed a bit more animated as he asked her: 'is it true? My brother Percy keeps saying that you bested Professor Lupin on your exam!'

Alicia smiled shyly. 'Yeah that is true. Guess it is the most exciting piece of gossip of the day.' They sat down and waited for Hagrid to get them the tea. Alicia gave Harry a quick look, wondering whether she should run into the playing field. He caught her staring.

'Everything okay?' he asked kindly.

Silence fell for a minute. 'Yeah, I'm fine.'

'Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?' Hermione asked hesitantly.

'I-I took him outside,' Hagrid started, spilling milk over the table as he tried to pour with his shaking hands. 'He's tethered in the pumpkin patch. Thought he ought to see the trees and…and smell fresh air…before…'

He trembled so bad that his hand slipped and the milk jug fell to the floor, where it shattered. Hermione offered to clean it up and searched for another jug in the cupboard. Alicia jumped in to clean the floor with a quick spell and guided Hagrid back in his seat. 'You should sit down now.'

'Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid? Dumbledore-,' Harry started.

'Dumbledore tried,' said Hagrid. 'He's got no power to overrule the Committee. He told them Buckbeak is alright and all, but they're scared. You know what Malfoy is like…threatened them I suspect. But it'll be quick and clean, and I'll be beside him…'

'I'm not too sure you should, Hagrid. That image will stay with you forever. I know all about your gentle heart. I don't think you can take it,' Alicia said softly. Hagrid sniffed. 'So what? I should just walk away? Leave Bucky alone?' Alicia shook her head. 'No, you can stay. But just don't…look.'

'We can stay with you,' Hermione offered, her back still to the group as she looked in the cupboard. Alicia was pretty sure she was hiding tears. 'No way. You're going back to the castle. I told you, I don't want you watching. You shouldn't be down here at all. If Fudge or Dumbledore finds you…Harry will be in big trouble.'

Alicia visibly shivered. Oh Harry, when he comes…just listen to him…

She was so lost in thought that she missed Hermione opening a jug and screaming at the content.

'Ron! I don't believe it…it's Scabbers!'

Ron just stared. 'What are you talking about?' Hermione carried the jug over to the table and turned it upside-down. With a lot of squeaking, a big rat came sliding out onto the table.

'Scabbers!' Ron shrieked in disbelief. 'What are you doing here?'

Alicia took a good look at the rat right in front of her. The creature looked ill, like it was on the brink of dying. He was missing big patches of fur and he was also missing…

Wormtail was called Peter Pettigrew. His animagi form was a rat.

I know who I need to take to get to him, but I don't want to hurt anyone.

A toe. The rat was missing a toe. It looked at Alicia for a moment and the look the creature gave back was too intelligent for a rodent.

Ron was now holding his pet rat up and got startled quite a bit as Alicia nearly fell off her chair as she backed away from the table. Everyone was staring at her now.

'Are you okay, Alicia?' Hagrid asked, his attention currently gone from the dawning moment. 'Are you afraid of rats? Scabbers doesn't hurt anyone,' Ron assured her.

Alicia was just violently shaking her head. Tears started to form. 'I'm trying very hard to stay calm right now.' It came out in a squeaky voice. The others looked confused. 'You don't seem very calm,' Hermione observed.

Alicia's eyes landed once more on the rat. This man is the real murderer, the real prisoner of Azkaban. It should have been him, so Harry could have had a godfather and an uncle who would care for him like he was their son. Remus and Sirius could have been happy for the last twelve years, if it wasn't for this rat.

'Believe me, I'm calm,' Alicia whispered between her teeth. 'I need to be.' Before anyone could ask another question, she knew she had to leave. This was the reddest flag she was going to get. This was why Sirius had asked, because he had figured out that Peter was Ron's pet. And Ron would be where Harry would be…

'Listen,' she said directly to Harry. 'Soon you will understand my odd behaviour. And depending on the outcome of tonight, you might want to hit me in the face for my choice right now. But I just can't interfere. This is not my story.' Harry listened intently. In fact the whole house was quiet. 'I'm going to leave now. I'm sorry Hagrid, but you have to do this alone. Please, whatever you do…don't look.'

Without more explanation than that, she took the back door and was gone.

Tonight couldn't get any more chaotic. After a tiresome day of judging exams, even having to duel a handful of them, being stuck in meetings about grades and all the while feeling exhausted, Remus couldn't catch a break. He was currently hurrying down the stairs. A part of his mind still couldn't believe the name he saw on the map…

He was so disoriented that he ran into someone. 'Excuse me,' he said without looking.

'Remus?'

He looked up when he heard his name being spoken so softly. It was Alicia. 'Alicia! I'm sorry I don't have time. I need to get to Hagrid.' Alicia looked down. 'I think the execution is already performed.'

He sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. 'I'm sorry, it's not about that. It's…I saw a name on the map. Inside Hagrid's house, and then outside with Harry, Ron and Hermione. The map is never wrong!'

'I know.'

At first it sounded like she was agreeing to the map not being wrong, but her expression told another story. 'What do you mean? What do you know?'

Alicia couldn't look him in the eye. She looked squirmish…guilty. 'Remus I know what name you saw. I found him too. I'm actually running away from it now.'

He was not expecting that. 'Why running away? You could have-,' She was quick to respond. 'Yes but I shouldn't. This is not my story, Remus,' she said with pleading eyes. 'I wish I could help, but tonight is not about me. Follow Wormtail. I think you already know where to go. There will be a lot of information tonight. Please listen.'

She started to move but Remus stopped her. 'Did you…see him? Did you see Padfoot?' All she did was stare him down. There was no need to confirm it with words, he could see it in her eyes. Where she had disappeared to that one day. Why she couldn't tell him…why didn't she tell him?

'You should have told me,' he said. He was starting to get angry. Alicia, his Alicia, had spent the day with a possible murderer and she hadn't told him? All she did was pry his hand from her shoulder. 'It is not my story.' Then she walked on quickly.

Remus stared after her for a moment, feeling conflicted. He was definitely angry with her, but there was also respect. Respect for her choices. Maybe she was right. Maybe he should be the one to confront Sirius, not her. He had been scared of this moment for some time. He might even admit that he had nightmares where Sirius was in his animagi form, biting on the corpses of James and Lily. But now…maybe it wasn't him. The man with the answers was close. Or well, the rat.

'In all my years in this school, I have never seen a student look so depressed on the evening after the exams!' Michelle exclaimed through the Ravenclaw common room. It was very quiet in the common room. The Gryffindors were once more hosting a party and this time almost everyone was invited. At this point there were a couple of first years sitting in a corner, and Michelle, Alicia, Elena and Sophia in their usual spots in front of the fireplace.

Alicia had been a miserable wreck ever since she entered the room. She wasn't in the mood to talk. She knew a lot was happening right now. She cared about everyone involved – apart from Wormtail – and was scared about the outcome. She knew Harry would be furious once he found Sirius. Would he be mad enough to kill him? Would Remus? What if they didn't listen? What if Peter escaped before Sirius could prove anything?

And what if it went right? They got Peter, he confessed and everyone stopped blaming Sirius. Would Sirius and Remus kill their old friend? That would haunt Remus forever… Alicia exhaled deeply.

'You can't be worried about your exams, can you? You must have done great,' Elena asked carefully. The girls didn't know what was going on, but it was clear they were walking on eggshells around her tonight.

'Of course that's not it. What got you so sad Alicia? You can tell us,' Sophia said kindly. Alicia looked at her friend, the one who had the most trouble with talking about problems. Sophia had never been unkind, but she was just very bad at listening and understanding. No one blamed her, but no one really talked to her either. Alicia appreciated her trying and told her a half-truth.

'You should have seen Hagrid's face,' she said emotionally. She hadn't expected it would hit her so hard, but in reality it had. Hagrid was so beyond help, and Alicia had hated to see him like that. 'He is so lost. He has the kindest of hearts, and Malfoy decided to stamp on it. It's so unfair…' she was actually starting to cry now. The girls grew quiet, worried looks plastered on their faces. 'Life is so unfair. The innocent ones will always be blamed and beaten so that the liars can thrive. We are living in a world of prejudice and I'm so sick of it.'

That's it. That was the core of her sadness. Prejudice because Sirius came from a pureblood family so he must have been a Death Eater. Draco Malfoy got hurt so Buckbeak must be vicious. Remus was a werewolf so he must be a monster. She was dating a teacher so she must be crazy.

She dabbed furiously at her tears. 'I'm not even sad, I'm mad. I'm so done with lying and pretending. It's the end of the year anyway. Why should anyone still care?'

The girls looked confused. They were about to ask her more when the room was suddenly bathed in white light. One of the first years must have opened the enormous curtains. The moonlight was spilling in.

'Wow! The full moon is so beautiful tonight!' the girl told her friend. Alicia sighed in frustration and turned in her chair to face the young girls. 'The full moon is tomorrow,' she said agitated.

'Uhm, I'm pretty sure it is tonight,' Elena said with her eyes facing the moon. Alicia got up from her chair and walked over to the window. 'Does it matter?' Michelle asked. The young girls had taken Alicia's hostility personal and had disappeared into their dorm.

'T-tonight? The full moon is…tonight?' Alicia stammered. She opened a window and in came a gush of wind, together with an ominous sound. The sound she dreaded to hear…a howl.

'Shit!' Alicia exclaimed. She was already turning and ready to sprint to the door, but her path was blocked. Three girls were standing there with their arms crossed and serious looks on their faces.

'You are not running out of the castle again. There is still a murderer out there which you seem to forget,' Michelle told her like a mother would tell her daughter not to go out at night. Alicia looked at them individually, wondering if this was a joke. 'Guys, I don't have time for this! A friend needs help-,'

'Ha! Of course! That is your excuse for everything isn't it?' Elena said, looking similarly stern. 'There is always a mysterious friend in need.'

'Well there is!' she exclaimed, thinking of a way out. She simply knew that Remus had gotten the date wrong too. He had told her that the full moon was on Saturday. So he was about to wolf out in front of Sirius…Harry…Ron…Hermione…

'Who is it then? We need a name,' Sophia told her.

There was just no time. She looked at Michelle, hoping she would help her out. Her expression didn't change.

Alicia sighed. 'Alright fine. It's Remus.'

Sophia and Elena looked at each other. 'Who is that? I don't know anyone by that name.'

'No it does ring a bell. A distant one. Hey isn't that the name of Professor Lupin?' Elena helped out. 'But you don't mean him…do you?'

Once more she sighed deeply. A second howl could be heard from outside. Alicia turned back to the view past the windows, hoping to see anything moving around.

'Oh my god he is a werewolf,' Michelle whispered.

Alicia turned around to see Michelle looking pale and ready to fall over. 'Professor Lupin is a werewolf. That's why he is sick. That's why you want to go. Do you seriously intent to run out there and stop a werewolf?'

'That is not possible, they would never hire a were-'

'Why would you care to help Professo-,'

'Please tell me you have more common sense than tha-,'

'Okay stop!' Alicia yelled as they were all talking at the same time. They stopped and looked at her. She needed to go. A good stunning truth would get her out of here. Exams were over, right?

'Yes, he is a werewolf. And yes, I'm going to help him. I will be careful, I have helped him before. You are not going to stop me, because I know there are people out there right now he could hurt. He would never forgive himself if he bit someone. So I'm going now, and if any of you says a word about this to someone else, I will come for you and hurt you. He is not a monster, he doesn't deserve to be fired. Clear?'

They were indeed stunned into silence as Alicia had hoped. She touched their shoulders quickly and then ran to the door.

'One more question!' Elena yelled after her in the otherwise deserted common room. 'Why you? Why are you the one to help him?'

With a hand on the doorknob, there was really no cell in her body that wanted to lie. She smiled to herself.

'Because I love him.'

It was like a dream, only crazier. The party of people who were walking down the tunnel towards the Whomping Willow couldn't have been more unlikely. Remus was chained to a human version of Peter Pettigrew, who had finally confessed to his crimes and thereby cleared Sirius' name. On the other side of Peter was Ron, who had his leg in a splint and was hopping along quickly, wanting it to be over soon.

Behind these three was Severus, unconscious and floating along by Sirius' wand who was behind him. Harry and Hermione made up the rear. The cherry on the cake was the ginger cat who had been working with Sirius and was now leading the way.

'Sirius,' Remus started as he looked back behind him. Several people had cast the Lumos charm and the blue light made Sirius look even paler than he was. 'I need to ask you something.'

Sirius bowed his head. 'What is it Moony?'

There was no way to be discreet about this. He could pretend the others wouldn't hear, but there was no other sound in the tunnel. 'Did you…get a visitor? In the time you were in the Shrieking Shack?'

For the first time since he had found his old friend again, he saw him smile. It made his features look younger and more handsome. In other words; more like the Sirius he knew.

'Oh yes I did. We had a lovely time,' Sirius told him. Remus gave him a warning look, but it only encouraged Sirius. 'I learned so much. Even after all the talking you did tonight, you still have quite the story to tell.'

The others were silent, probably wondering what this was about. 'I'm not telling you anything. I just need to know…that this person wasn't in danger.'

'No, she wasn't.' Remus flinched when he let slip that it was concerning a she. 'Maybe at first, but she knew just how to talk to me. After a while she was convinced of my innocence and helped me. Brilliant, she is.'

Remus nodded and decided to stop talking. He knew the three students were giving him odd looks but he tried to ignore them. Peter was still trembling, possibly not listening at all.

'Hey Moony?'

'Yes?'

'I'm proud of you.'

'Shut up Padfoot.'

Nobody talked for the rest of the walk. Sometimes the tunnel would get so narrow that the three of them had to go through sideways. It was an uncomfortable walk fitting an uncomfortable day. He couldn't even imagine himself lying down in his soft bed. It seemed like another life to have that comfort.

They clambered out of the tunnel. Hermione's cat probably pressed the knot on the tree. The grounds were very dark by now, the only light came from the castle in the distance.

'One wrong move, Peter,' Remus warned him as they continued walking. He had his eyes fixed on the castle and wondered what it would look like to enter the school in this formation. However, something was nagging him. A thought in the back of his mind, something he should have remembered.

A cloud shifted. Remus looked down at their shadows who were visible in the bright moonlight.

Oh yes. That thing. That is what he should have remembered. Snape had told him when he had arrived in the house. He was a day off in his calculations. All the stress of the exams had made him sloppy. I'm such a fool.

He stopped abruptly and felt the floating Snape bump into him. The fiery pain settled in his bones and skin. He started to tremble.

'Run! Now!' Sirius said somewhere behind him. He was aware of panicked screams around him but there was nothing he could do right now. The transformation wouldn't take too long. He stopped sensing what was going on around him as his mind fell into darkness…

There were probably things she could have done to make everything easier. Like bring a broom to fly on, or maybe some help. But Alicia was completely blinded by the thought of Remus slashing at Harry, or Ron or Hermione. She was running down the hill past Hagrid's house as fast as she could. The Willow wasn't too far from here…

There were people on the hill next to the tree. She found Ron, Hermione and Snape. Snape was floating above the ground and seemed unconscious.

'Hermione!' Alicia yelled. 'Are you okay? Where is Harry?'

Hermione was so startled to hear her voice that it took her a moment to answer. 'Alicia! What are you doing here? Harry is…well he went into the forest.'

'I need to help Professor Lupin. He turned, didn't he?' she said while catching her breath. She hadn't stopped since she darted out of the Ravenclaw tower and now started to feel the stitch in her side.

'You knew? You knew he was a werewolf?' Ron said accusingly. 'Why did you two not tell anyone?'

The two girls locked eyes. 'He deserves better,' Alicia said. 'Where is he now? Is Sirius with him?'

'You knew about Sirius too?!' Ron yelped. 'Why didn't you say anything to us! At Hagrid's, you could have told us what you knew!'

'No I couldn't have Ron!' Alicia screamed back, making the red-head curl up tight on the floor. 'If I had killed your rat in Hagrid's house you would never have known why! You would never have believed Sirius! And you would really not have believed or trusted me if I told you I had already seen Sirius and had helped him! Now tell me…where is Remus?!'

That seemed to shut him up. All Ron did was point in the direction of the forest. 'He ran off in that direction.'

'Alicia it's too dangerous!' Hermione pleaded. Alicia was already jogging onward. 'But Harry is down there too! Someone should save him!'

Without waiting for a reply, Alicia made her way down between the trees. Everything was brightly illuminated by the moonlight. The clouds had disappeared completely. It was easier to make her way across the grounds like this. But how would she find a werewolf in the woods?

The first thing she found was a small crook of the Black Lake at the bottom of a hill she was standing on. Down there she could see two people. It looked like Harry and Sirius. The lake was crowded by hundreds of dementors, all closing in on the two wizards. She had almost set off to run down the hill when she heard a sound coming from the trees.

'Alicia Doreen,' a voice said behind her. She was met by the sight of a brilliant being stopping in front of her. His body was like a horse, but he had a human torso and face.

'Bane!' Alicia exclaimed. Bane was sided by two other centaurs she had seen before but couldn't remember the names of. 'Bane I need your help. My friend is in the woods, but he is dangerous.'

'We know. The werewolf. He is causing a lot of trouble. Many of the centaurs remember him from days long past, but he was never so intrusive. He is trying to kill many creatures,' Bane told her.

'I will stop him. Can you bring me to him?'

Centaurs were too proud to allow you to ride on their backs, but Alicia didn't mind. She could run the entire night if she had to. She had enough motivation. They brought her to a clearing where there were tents and little houses build. She had been allowed into the centaur camp only once, and she knew what a great honour it was. Now however, the camp was wrecked and a huge wolf was the reason. Alicia looked down at the wolf and realised this was the first time she saw him. His fur was light brown like Remus' hair. He was much bigger than a regular wolf, like Sirius was bigger than a regular dog. When he turned around she could see his amber eyes. They were mad and wild.

A centaur at the edge of the camp was raising his bow, ready to strike at the wolf.

'No!' Alicia cried. The centaur looked at her and lowered his bow. 'Daughter of Vela, I understand you don't want any creature harmed. But this werewolf has threatened my family. If it wasn't for me, they would be dead. I must stop it.'

'Son of Corvus, I understand your reason. But this werewolf is also someone I love. I can't let you hurt him. I will lead him away from your camp and keep him occupied until he transforms back to a man. Is that satisfactory for you, my friend?' Alicia knew how to speak to them. She had been invited to talk with multiple centaurs over the years. They always called her 'daughter of Vela', because that was the constellation that was brightest on the day she was born.

Ronan, for that was his name, took the arrow out of the string. 'If you wish, it will be so. I do not intend to harm your loved ones.' Alicia made a deep bow and thanked him.

So, this was the easy part. Now all she had to do was occupy a werewolf for six hours. Great.

She carefully stepped into the clearing. The wolf had its back turned on her. He had found food supplies and was rummaging around, looking for meat.

'Moony?' Alicia said with a squeaky voice.

The wolf snapped its head around and bared its teeth. The deep growl that came from his throat was enough to make her want to cry and fall down on her knees. But she had to be brave.

'Moony, I know you can't understand me, but there is one thing you need to do for me,' she said slowly. She had her wand out in one hand. The wolf growled and stepped towards her. She twisted her wrist and made a rock fly up from the ground and hit him right between the eyes. It wouldn't hurt him, but it would anger him.

'Catch me if you can,' Alicia told him with a smirk. The wolf growled in anger and jumped off from the ground. Alicia turned the floor temporarily in a trampoline and jumped high and far away from the reach of his jaw. She started running, the wolf hot on her heels.

She zigzagged through the trees and kept firing spells over her shoulder. Of course the wolf was faster, but she kept throwing confundus charms at him. It wasn't enough to stop the beast but it slowed him just a bit.

'Second time today I need to best you Rem!' She yelled back. 'Although I rather fail my exam than this time!' a mad laughter escaped from her. In a very strange way this was exhilarating. Being chased by a giant, incredibly dangerous creature who tried to eat you. After all the adventures she had had so far with magical creatures, this was by far the most dangerous one. 'I'm just building up my resume here! Dragons won't be a problem after this!' She laughed again but in doing so missed a root sticking out of the ground. She fell down hard. In her mind she could hear Michelle tell her this was going to happen. That one day she would be reckless and get killed. Alicia was really scared, but knew she had to act quickly. There was a second in which she could turn around and face the wolf that was jumping on top of her, jaw open and ready to bite.

'Protego!' Alicia screamed with all the energy she had in her. She held onto her wand with both hands and made a shiny shield cover her completely. Moony bounced off the warding and was flung to the side. She had put so much strength in the charm that he was temporarily stunned.

She scrambled back to her feet and ran into a small clearing with a rock cliff on one side. With her back to the cliff she started weaving spells. She used all the protective spells she had used on the Shrieking Shack to make this clearing a prison as well. But the problem was that this time she had to deal with the wolf. Moony had to be in it before she sealed it off.

She wasn't done yet when he got back on his paws. He looked a bit dazed but no less threatening. Because she was doing these spells verbally, the wolf was attracted to her. He stalked her in the shadow of the trees. All she could see were two big, amber eyes.

'Protego Maxima,' she continued calmly. Moony growled and jumped forward. In the last moment she used the same trick as she did in her exam; she enlarged a rock and jumped up on it. She launched herself at the cliff, where she had seen a small ledge. She kept her back flat to the rock and held her feet up out of reach of the snapping jaws of the wolf. She continued the spell work.

Moony kept trying to grab her, but he couldn't find footing against the steep slope. Finally, she had finished her work. There was a safe bubble around the clearing, giving Moony some space to walk around. The work had exhausted her. In her fatigue she nearly slipped down. Moony was down there, ready to bite her ankle and drag her down. She snatched her foot away just in time but made herself fall forward. She slit across the soft back of the wolf and landed on the rocks. Alicia winched as she felt several places where she was bleeding from.

But the cuts and bruises were nothing compared to the werewolf who was turning around. She scrambled away again but this time she wasn't fast enough. He had landed his big paw on her leg and the nails were sinking into her flesh.

'Aaaaargh! Moony stop!'

It was a feeble attempt at salvation. She knew Remus couldn't hear her. She knew he wouldn't stop. Only one bite and it was over…

Moony advanced on her, his huge head hanging over her. Alicia wished with everything in her power that there was a way out.

Her prayers were heard. An arrow landed on the ground just next to her, embedding in the earth between the rocks. Moony was distracted and she could pull herself out from under his paw. Bane was back, and he was challenging Moony from the edge of the clearing. Moony let go of his pray and advanced on the centaur. Alicia watched, holding her breath…hoping her spell work was good enough…Just before the wolf could hit Bane, it ran into an invisible field and fell backwards.

Alicia felt hands on her upper arms and saw a female centaur that was helping her stand. They got out of the clearing. The barrier was made for the wolf, so everyone else could go in and out.

'Thank you,' Alicia panted. She had trouble standing on her injured ankle. 'You saved my life.'

Bane came up to the two women. 'You are very brave, daughter of Vela. Mad, perhaps too.'

Alicia laughed. 'I sure am.' Bane looked at the wolf who was trying to break the barrier. 'It will hold?'

'Yes. And I'll continue to make it stronger throughout the night,' Alicia assured him. 'He won't hurt anybody anymore.' The female centaur gave her an odd look. 'You intend to stay here the entire night? Shouldn't you go back to the other wizards and witches?'

Alicia shook her head fiercely. 'He will transform back by sunrise. I will not leave him alone for a second. Not until he is safe again.'

Bane laughed. 'Like I said; brave and mad. I will let someone come to you with herbs against your pain and food and water. Will you require anything else?' Alicia shook her head. 'Nothing else, but some herbs would be great. It really stings.'

The two centaurs left her and she sat down against a tree. Her ankle was stinging and throbbing. She finally inspected the rest of her body and found cuts on her hands and arms, one big gash on her elbow running down her arm. Her knees were scraped and her shins bruised. She also felt blood trickle down her temple. After some healing spells on her minor injuries she tried to do something about the claw marks on her ankle. Odd enough, anytime she tried to heal it, nothing happened.

She looked up at the werewolf. He was getting calmer now, realising he had nowhere to go. She thought about Remus' face, and the scars running over it. That's when she remembered that werewolf inflicted wounds couldn't be healed by healing charms. She looked at her ankle. There were three gashes on the side, and she realised she would carry the scars forever. Remus wasn't going to like that.

Another centaur came back later with the supplies. He helped her with the herbs who would at least soothe the pain. She thanked him, drank some water and ate some food. Then she strengthened the barrier again, but Moony was no longer pouncing on it. He was drinking water from a small stream coming down the cliff. Then he curled up and went to sleep. Alicia tried to stay awake, but every once in a while she felt herself slipping into a comfortable rest…