All in all, not one of my best Christmas's.

Perhaps if I had just stayed at Hogwarts, none of this would have happened.

Then again, it probably would, if Voldemort intended to give me to Greyback as some sort of sick reward, which he does.

Was there no escape from that wretched cretin?

Apparently not.

The best I could do was pretend it never happened over the next few days, and hope to Merlin that no one finds out about this second attack. It was hard to forget with the constant nightmares from which I would awake in a cold sweat, thinking that monster was still in the room with me, his presence never seeming to leave me alone.

Then there was Oscar.

This whole time, this whole damn time he was my cousin, it was an angering shock to think he was keeping secrets from me all the while, but now that it was out in the open, I was kind of, glad. I actually had family, someone who, who cared about me, it was a strange feeling, since I had been living amongst people who didn't notice me half the time.

Thankfully, however, Oscar did not get into trouble with his department or the Headmaster, he was more than understanding of the situation, and, I had somewhere to live! I wasn't going to be homeless! Was I actually going to have somewhere safe to stay, somewhere Greyback couldn't find me? It was a huge relief off my mind.

It was a good feeling when I arrived home at Hogwarts, although the reception was rather cold and indifferent. Snape was the first person I saw (all the students were returning back to the school through the Floo Network, as a one of to make sure we all got back safely)

'If you plan on procrastinating any longer, Morris-' said Snape, for I was standing at the door for several moments.

'For your questions, yes, it was I whom found you and took you to St Mungo's, it was I who stopped most of your bleeding, and yes, the house elf is safe and well, working back in the kitchens with only a small bump to the head. That is what you wanted to know, yes?'

Shame and embarrassment crept up inside me once again.

'Yes...' I replied 'Thank you, Professor...again, for helping me...'

Snape merely nodded and went back to his work, and I breathed a nervous breath once I was out into the chilly dungeon corridor.

There was no way I was ever going to be able to repay Snape for all his help, and he had done so much for me without any obligation.

I spent the rest of the evening cooped up in my bed with the curtains drawn around the four poster, and didn't emerge until morning, I was finding it difficult to hide my bandaged arm, and only dressed when the other girls were out of the room, looking in the mirror, I made sure to hide the visible bite mark on the side of my neck with my collar all the way up.

There was a commotion downstairs, all the sixth years were jostling around the noticeboard, I hung back, waiting for the crowd to disperse when I moved towards it.

'If you are seventeen years of age, or will turn seventeen on or before the 31st of August next, you are eligible for a twelve-week course of Apparition Lessons from a Ministry of Magic Apparition instructor. Please sign below if you would like to participate. Cost 12 Galleons.'

Apparition huh? This could be good for me, to learn in case I was ever in trouble with Greyback again. I signed my name and made my way out of the common room.

I braced myself before entering the the Entrance Hall, and moved in one foot at a time, clutching my bag strap tighter as my fingers shook.

'Hey! Hey, Mara!'

I turned around at the call of my name, only to see Harry Potter hurrying towards me.

'Oh, uh, hey, Harry, what can I do for you?'

'Well, nothing, really,' said Harry 'actually, I er, wanted to ask you something.'

'Huh?'

'I wanted to know if you knew about something called a Horcrux.' he murmured at the end, and I racked my brains over it.

'Why?' I replied

'Just-research.'

'Horcrux?' my head shook 'No, never heard of it. Is it some sort of spell?'

Harry looked disappointed

'Never mind, then,' said Harry 'look, Mara, I uh, I heard about what happened.'

My eyes widened

'But I haven't told anyone!' he added quickly at my alarmed expression 'Remus told me, he heard-stories and-well-' he shuddered 'Greyback's been bragging about some really disgusting stuff to anyone who'll listen.'

I felt my face burn up, anger coursed through my body

'That-That FUCKER' I growled, surprising Harry and everyone nearby 'That-THAT-that-' I seethed, barely able to contain my rage.

The rage turned to tears, and I cried into my hands.

'Mara!' came Oscar's voice, and soon I felt hands on my shoulder

'What did you do?' Oscar demanded of a stunned looking Harry

'What-nothing! I didn't mean-'

'Mara, come on, we'll get you a calming draught.' Oscar lead me away, leaving a shocked Harry behind.

Madam Pomfrey issued me a draught instantly, and the effects soon took hold.

'How are you feeling now?' asked Oscar, sitting on the bed as I lay in it

'A-A little better.' I wiped my eyes on my sleeve.

'Good.' smiled Oscar 'So, going to tell me what that was about?'

'Oh...well...Harry Potter knows about what happened, what really happened, and Greyback's been bragging about it.' I whimpered

'That son of a bitch.' Oscar growled 'When I get my hands on him-!'

'No,' I demanded 'please, don't do anything that will land yourself in danger, not because of me.'

'I'm going to kill that bastard, Mara, one way or the other, it'll be by my hands!'

I knew there was no arguing with him, his mind was made up and there was nothing I could do to change it.