Chapter Three
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Peter's point of view
Peter was in a full blown panic mode now.
"We need to tell someone." He squeaked. "We have to, or both of us are going to die."
"It want's you..." Remus began slowly. Peter's heart dropped, he was sure Remus was about to say that he was going to go home after all and leave Peter with the demon. "The way I see it, you can't be alone until the demon is caught." Peter's heart lifted back up, though still thoroughly terrified, Peter was quite touched that Remus wasn't abandoning him. "I agree with you, come on, we're going to see professor Dumbledore, bring the pictures."
Peter picked up the box and followed Remus out of the dormitories and into the deserted corridors. Remus, the prefect, led him up to the gargoyles, that Peter knew, hid the entry way to Dumbledore's office.
"Fizzing Whizzbee." He said, firmly. The gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside. Remus lead the way up the staircase, which was moving.
"Is he going to be awake?" Peter asked, skeptically.
"He's Dumbledore, he always knows when something's going to happen." Before Peter could respond to this, Remus grasped the gryffin knocker and rapped on the door.
"Enter." Dumbledore's soft voice called. Remus pushed the door open and walked into the room, Peter following close behind him, not wanting to get caught in the staircase alone. Four, spindly legged tables stood at various points in the office, covered in silver instruments, which Peter couldn't even guess the uses of. Dumbledore looked pleased, but not at all surprised to see them. "Well, well. To what do I owe this late pleasure, boys?"
"Sir," Remus began. He hesitated, looking over his shoulder toward Peter, who met his uncertain glance with an equally uncertain one. "We- we ran into something that we think might threaten the safety of the student's here."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
"You did?" He asked. His tones remained gentle and Grandfatherly.
"Yes, sir." Remus answered. He motioned for Peter to bring the box. Peter put the box on Dumbledore's desk and took the lid off. The head master took the first picture on the pile. It was one of the first pictures of the fully formed demon girl.
"While this would be very disturbing to someone seeing this in the present time, it doesn't necessarily mean she is a threat." Dumbledore said kindly.
"With all do respect, sir." Peter piped up, Remus looking at him as though he had never seen him plainly before. "That demon has been following us, for the past three weeks, and tonight it wrote my name on the window with blood, and left a bloody handprint on the inside of the window." Peter showed Professor Dumbledore the picture. He frowned.
"This," He said, "does seem like a threat. I'll take it from here, boys, if you will leave these pictures with me." He finished reassuringly.
Peter and Remus returned to Gryffindor common room in much higher spirits than they had been. If Dumbledore was taking care of it, Peter reasoned, than they really had nothing to worry about. They both went up to the dormitories. Remus, having just finished with a nasty full moon cycle, collapsed on his bed and fell asleep instantaneously. Peter had almost fallen into a welcome sleep, but a loud thump broke him out of his daze. He looked up to see the demon girl crouched on the window cill. Her finger was to her lips in a gesture meaning silence. Peter opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Remus's point of view
He woke up expecting to see Peter sitting on his bed with a bored expression. Instead, he was greeted by Peter's belongings scattered all over the floor, bloody hand prints on the window, walls, floor, Peter's bed, and Peter gone. He screamed loudly and ran straight out the dormitory and common room, for the head master's office.