Werewolf Hunting

This is my first legibile attempt at a long story. Thanks to Amber-is-a-little-bit-random who gave me the initial ideas for this story (in other words she said: Have a tunnel and that Mad Eye Moody bloke and someone gets kidnapped!) I just took it from there… let's see how it goes… (Title may still be subject to change)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the HarryPotterVerse… only this plot. OH! And my lovely character Boewyn whom I made up with my own brainage…

Chapter Two: Recruiting

Moody made his way through Knockturn Alley. A large hooded travelling cloak ensured that no-one could identify him, the last thing he wanted was to be seen in Knockturn Alley when he wasn't on official Auror business. He walked past several stores that were advertising things that were distinctly dark. Most people ignored him, going about their own secret business. Much of Knockturn Alley was based on secrets, it was often said that Knockturn Alley was were the miscreants went. All the people who had secret and hidden business, all those people who needed to hide from the rest of the wizarding world went there.

Moody knew that that wasn't completely the case. People did hide there, but not all the misfits in society. All the true misfits, freaks and all-round miscreants went somewhere else, somewhere that was much better hidden and attentive to their 'needs'. Various people tried to get his attention, including a woman who appeared to have a tray of fingernails around her neck. He ignored every one of them, his attention focused on a grimy tavern at the end of the street. Moody finally reached the tavern, looking up at the sign which proclaimed the tavern as the Veiled Wraith. With a reluctant sigh Moody entered, the pub dank and dark, the air stale. It was mostly empty except for a few occupants hunched over tables pouring over what drinks they had. Moody swept both eyes around the room, quickly registering the fact that the man he was looking for wasn't there.

I had hoped he would be in here. Damn him.

Moody sighed and began to make his slow way across the pub, ignoring the occupants and the bar tender, who was watching him lazily yet cautiously. He reached a door set to the left of the bar and admitted himself the room beyond. He didn't expect the barman to stop him - anyone who went in there had to know where they were going or else they wouldn't go in there. Once in the room he had a swift look around, it was empty. There was no furniture in the room or anything else for that matter, no candles or paintings or windows. Except… there was a door frame on the far wall… with no door. Moody walked over to the frame. On the wall in the frame some strange markings were carved. Moody couldn't read them, he had a feeling there were few people who could. He drew his wand and pressed the tip against centre of the middle marking. There was moment where nothing happened and then… a bright flash of light, once which nearly blinded the Auror. As he blinked to clear his vision, sounds reached his ears. A low tangled murmur of voices, laughter, singing, and music. Finally he could see again and before him where a wall had been only moments before had been a wall, was a tunnel. The sounds were coming through it.

Moody began to make his way down a slope, the floor which looked wet and slimy was in fact rough and his boots gripped it like tarmac. After a few moments the slope flattened out and became flat, darkness and cold crept around him, clinging tightly to his body. He suppressed a shudder. An Auror he was, but there was something about this darkness that was unnatural, something that gave him the creeps - it was artificial darkness. A light began to shine from the far end of the tunnel getting brighter the closer he got. Finally he reached the end, revealing a street. An abnormal light above imitated the daylight which this street never saw, unlike Knockturn Alley now far behind Moody, this street was fairly bright, lively music played and songs were sung. Moody's magical eye focussed on a man standing a few meters to his left, taking in his tall, thin frame, pale skin and long fangs protruding slightly over the mans lower lip – a vampire. Moody's eye rolled over the rest of the street, vampires, werewolves, banshees and various other non and part human creatures walked along the street openly. Here they had no reason to hide from wizards and muggles alike. A small smile tugged at Moody's lips, this was the real hiding place for misfits, freaks and miscreants. This was the underground.

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The Underground was a home to those who are faced with the prejudices of the everyday world. Non-human and misunderstood humans alike retreaded below the surface where they could live free from the hatred they faced from wizards. Vampires, werewolves, banshees, ghouls, ghosts and anything else they were humanoid in shape and mind gathered together to seek peace and friendship amongst each other. Here they were all the same, despite their breed, race and background. Here different races were friends with each other, ignoring what they looked like on the outside, seeing only what was inside. One such pair of inter-race friends sat in the Dancing Dragon, a small pub in The Underground.

Boewyn stared into his drink, brow furrowed in concentration as he thought, raking his brains as he struggled to focus.

"Anything yet?" Slurred a voice from somewhere in front of him, he looked up into the black eyes of his drinking companion, a vampire who went by the name of Markus. Both of his eyes were unfocussed and slightly watery. Boewyn thought for a moment as he pondered Markus' question.

"Nup"

"Right" Markus muttered and went back to staring into his own drink. Boewyn too looked down, contemplating the situation. The reason they drank, was to forget, however today they had been drinking for so long they had forgotten whatever it was they had been trying to forget and now were spending their time trying to remember what it was they had forgotten so they could forget it. They had been at for nearly an hour or two now and were having no luck. A door opened on the far side of the room and a cloaked figure entered, unnoticed by the two men sitting at the table. Which only lasted until a hand thumped itself down onto the table between the two men, causing them to jump in surprise.

"Typical" muttered the stranger, then reached out and grabbed Boewyn roughly by the shoulder, Boewyn could only gasp a "hey!" before he was dragged rather forcefully out of the bar and into the street where he was forced headfirst into a barrel of freezing water. Moody grinned nastily while he held him under for a while then dragged him upright again. Boewyn coughed and spluttered for a bit then tried to focus on his attacker. Moody examined him for a while, then made a dissatisfied sound and dunked Boewyn's head back into the water. After a few more dunkings, he dragged the choking and spluttering man back into the pub and dumped him back into his chair. Markus watched them thoughtfully then rose unsteadily.

"I'll leave you too it." he muttered and staggered over to the bar to ask if maybe he knew what it was he and Boewyn had forgotten before they could forget it.

Moody took the vampire's vacated seat and waited for Boewyn to gain his composure.

"What the hell was that for?" Boewyn demanded fiercely.

"I needed to talk to you, and there was no way I was going to try and do that without a hint of sobriety somewhere." Moody replied smugly. "The last thing I want is to try and have a conversation with a drunk."

"Why the hell do want to talk to me?" Moody's explanation hadn't made Boewyn feel any better.

"I need help to track a werewolf, and as much as I hate to admit it, as an ex-werewolf hunter, YOU would be the best person to help me." Moody said slightly sourly.

"Y'know I don't so that kind of thing anymore, Al. Guess you'll just have to find someone else to help you." came the reply, this time it was Boewyn who was smug.

"I don't want it dead Boewyn. I just need to find him." Moody informed Boewyn exasperatedly.

"And why would an Auror want to 'just find' a werewolf?" questioned Boewyn.

Moody drew his wand and cast a silencing spell around the table where they were sitting, Boewyn raised an eyebrow questionably.

"A young werewolf by the name of Remus Lupin vanished in Hogsmeade yesterday. I've taken it into my hands to find him, however I can't find a werewolf on my own and you know as well as I the majority mutual feeling towards werewolves in the normal community."

"And you want me... to help... you..." Beowyn asked slowly

"Yes" said Moody shortly, he had a feeling he knew what was coming next. Boewyn laughed unnervingly for a bit and then stoped suddenly staring emotionlessly into Moody's eyes.

"And what's in this for me, Al?" Moody sighed; he should have known Boewyn would want something in return.

"I'll pay you"

"How much?" Boewyn demanded shortly.

"At least 50 galleons. Depends on whether or not we find him." And if he's still in one piece when we do.

Boewyn contemplated this for a bit, picking up his glass from earlier and downing what was left. That done, he rose to his feet determinedly.

"I'll do it."

Moody nodded "Good"

Boewyn rose to his feet and walked over to the vampire he had been drinking, a few short words later he walked back over to Moody.

"Let's go, Al"

"Right" Moody rose himself and walked with the ex-werewolf hunter to the door. "And stop calling me, Al" He ordered as an afterthought.

"Not a chance, Al"

Authors Note: Yay! Chapter Two! I rather like this chapter... ok I just Boewyn. I hope people are enjoying this story...

Once again, please ignore all grammatical and spellingual errors... unless they are big major mistakes. Then please let me know.

Reviews are appreciated but y'know... if you don't wanna... that's ok... I guess :( Cries