The sounds of quills scratching rapidly against parchment made Danica feel nervous. She chewed on her black painted fingernails, something she never does. All the words and questions and answer choices began to jumble together before her eyes, making no sense whatsoever. Her head throbbed. How could she be blanking? She stayed up almost the entire night trying to record and store away as much information as she could. Close to about 4 in the morning, Danica thought she had everything under control and handled. The incident with Harry last night in the common room took its toll for awhile but she remembered that she had more important matters to attend to. So she had to stop day dreaming about his smile. And those blue, blue eyes. She had to stop aching for the sound of his voice.

Danica shook her head as she realized she was doing it again. 'Focus, Dani. Focus!' Pushing her hair back in frustration, Danica looked ahead of her to see Harry tapping his finger against the desk nervously, his leg jittering from underneath. Glancing to her left and right she could see her fellow classmates lose their mind in anxiety just as much as she was. Ron had steam coming out of his ears. His brain had worked overtime.

She filled out the name of the spell that counters Prior Incatato. That one was easy. Remus had taught her that one awhile back when he still trained her at home. Danica missed those days. They'd spend the entire afternoon outside, trying spell after spell, charm after charm until she got them right. She knew she was talented, different than the other young wizards her age. Seeing the look in his eyes and the grin on his face when she accomplished a difficult task made her glow. She lived to make him proud. He deserved it.

So now, after she told him what she did. After she screamed in his face, how could he be proud of her? He probably hated her. How many times must she screw everything up? Knowing he was disappointed, upset with her made her miserable. When she stayed at the Burrow after the showdown, she remembered feeling empty, lost without him. She didn't even want to admit to herself that she did that to him.

Closing her eyes, shaking all thoughts of her werewolf, she looked up towards the front of the Great Hall to where the pinky fluffy monster stood, standing watch over all the 5th years. She had a smug look on her face. Danica guessed she simply wanted them all to fail. Umbridge paced back and forth in front of the swinging pendulum. Time was going by quickly and this test wasn't getting any easier. Muttering to herself in frustration, Danica looked up at the ceiling, begging for a miracle to happen so she could get out of this test. She had almost finished the entire thing. But the few questions remaining made her head spin until she felt motion sickness. Toad face sneered down at her. Danica held back the urge to bear her teeth at the horrible lady. 'Don't let her get to you. She's just a toad fa-'

POP. The sound came from outside the doors to the Great Hall. All heads turned, trying to figure out where the disturbance came from. We waited. But nothing happened. Sadly, we all returned to our tests as Umbridge narrowed her eyes. Under her reign as headmistress, nothing could possibly go wrong and disturb her perfection of the school.

She obviously underestimated teenagers.

CRACK. POP. BOOM. The entire hall shook and the students began to mutter to each other, wondering what could be happening outside. CRASH. CRACKLE. The sounds began to get closer, echoing through the corridors. Danica strained her ears, trying to figure out what all that crackling and hissing was. Umbridge, her brow furrowed and her always fake smile gone, walked hastily down the main isle, her heels clacking against the floor noisily. Who dared disturb testing? Danica could tell you who. And just as the pink fluffy monster passed her desk, Danica grinned from ear to ear, realizing what was happening.

The ultimate plan had just begun.

Swinging open, slamming against the walls of the Great Hall, the doors flew open. Umbridge stopped in her tracks, in utter shock as two red haired twins glided into the room on brooms, hollering as they threw fireworks into the air, the sounds of explosives bouncing off the walls.

"Don't ever mess with the Weasley twins, you old hag!" George and Fred shouted over the noise to Professor Umbridge who stared up at the twins, aghast at the insult. All the 5th year students, save the Slytherins who scowled on their side of the room, instantly got up on their feet, yelling encouragements to Fred and George. Danica ran to Harry and Ron, wrapping her arms around Harry to keep her from falling when she slipped on parts of an O.W.L that got scattered across the room when the twins flicked their wands and sent them all flying into the air. Danica threw her fist in the air, grinning up at Fred who flew by and winked at her. The vibrant colors and the magic shimmering in the air left them all speechless as Fred and George rose higher into the 'sky', triumphant grins on their goonish faces. They were SO getting kicked out. But that was the plan after all.

"Danica!" She looked up, scanning the bewitched ceiling for Fred. "Get everyone outside!"

Danica nodded, grabbing Hermione and Harry's hands, racing towards the exit. "Everyone follow me!" Soon the sound of hundreds of shoes stampeding into the corridors and outside caused the other classes to poke their heads out the door and follow the running 5th years. Danica looked back. And what she saw made her scream in delight, in absolute pleasure. The jaws of a dragon firecracker, sizzling and roaring, crackling and simmering, clamped down onto the small, plump figure of the pink toad face.

"Yes! Victory!" She shouted into the fresh air when Professor Umbridge disappeared inside a thick fog of smoke. Dumbledore's Army, scattered across the courtyard, whooped in the face of their defeat of the headmistress.

Danica skidded to a stop when she almost slammed into Professor McGonagall. The kind teacher who always took a liking to Danica and her friends looked down into the pale face of her star pupil. She smiled. Could this day get any better?

Turns out it did. Everyone pointed, yelling for Fred and George who soared through the air. Their O.W.L's rained down on them, black ink blurred across the hundreds of pages of manila parchment. The stress suddenly lifted off her shoulders, leaving her to scream with all the others who felt the surge of power, of freedom as they created a small riot outside with their leaders in the sky. Hermione clapped her hands as Ron nudged the nearest person and reminded them that those were his brothers. This was a moment to remember. A moment that would go down in history within the pages of Hogwarts textbooks. And Danica felt proud to be a part of it. So as she threw her hands up, screaming 'FREEDOM' into the air filled with the cries of her fellow schoolmates as she stared up into the sparkling W that now covered the horizon, she finally thought things would start to look up.

But she was wrong.

Harry fell backwards and onto the ground, his eyes looking dazed and cloudy. She knew that look. He was seeing something. Something terrible because she watched as the breath caught in his throat and his eyes prickle with tears. The pain, the desperation of a mad man began to creep back into his eyes until his face looked as if he had just seen death flash before his eyes. Like that night when Arthur Weasley was found barely alive because Harry seemed to be losing his sanity. Danica watched, her stomach flipping inside as she felt lightheaded, as Harry struggled to sit up. The breath that tried to leave his lungs was caught in his chest. The sound, the noise, the screaming all died down to a muffled silence. Danica could hear heartbeat in her ears. And as those green eyes looked up at her, she felt her knees in danger of giving out. Harry mouthed a single word, a single name. Danica didn't think this day would come this soon. But now it was here, she had only one choice. Move forward.

"Sirius."

"Harry, are you sure?" Hermione asked breathlessly, trying to keep up with Harry as he stormed up the ever changing stair cases. The others followed closely behind, skeptical of Harry's health as he walked the castle like that of a man who had just lost his mind.

"Of course I'm sure. I don't see how I couldn't realize it before. I had seen that door, the one in my dreams, the day I went to my hearing. It's in the Ministry. That's where I saw Mr. Weasley being attacked." His voice faltered. Glancing at Danica who kept pace with him, he tried to see if she noticed. She pretended not to. "And I'm more than sure that's where Sirius is."

"Just stop and think a minute, mate." Ron said, his eyes looking up at Danica who had barely said a single word since Harry told them something was wrong with Sirius. She raised an eyebrow at him and then turned to Harry who turned around, facing them, the knuckles on his hand turning white as he gripped the railing.

"Sirius needs me."

"Harry, how do you know this isn't a trick or something?" Hermione stared Harry down as if trying to force some of her thoughts into his head to make him think. Nothing worked. He wanted to go, to leave as soon as possible. All these questions, they didn't make any sense. Sirius was in danger. Didn't that mean anything to anyone?

"What does it matter? Am I just supposed to sit back and let him die? Hermione, he's the only family I have left. I'm not going to sit around and wait for it to happen."

"Harry's right. We need to move. Or we'll be too late." Danica chimed in, her eyes scanning her three best friends' faces. They needed to move. Now. Or everything would fall apart and somebody really would die.

She turned on her heels and started jogging up the stairs, hearing Harry follow close behind. He would go anywhere with her. Do anything she asked. Danica knew that. And right now, he just needed to trust her. Danica could tell that he did by the way he didn't even bother to notice that Ron and Hermione hesitated before following.

"How are we going to get there? Umbridge has all the floo networks blocked."

"The one in her office. That's the only one that we can use." Harry answered, sprinting ahead of Danica and turning a corner, running towards Umbridge's office. The image of his godfather on his knees, sweating bullets with agony tearing through his body made him shudder. Nothing was going to stand in his way. Not even Voldermort. He had taken enough family members from him. Sirius would not join that list. Over his dead body.

Danica kicked the door open, sending several of Umbridge's cherished kitty plates crashing to the floor with a panicked meow. She didn't mean to do that intentionally but now that she did it, Danica smiled to herself and shrugged. Might as well.

"I'm going to go to the Ministry. With luck I can make in time." Harry said kneeling down before the fireplace as the green flames began to blaze. He felt the heat of the magic brush against his face, the danger that he knew waited beyond giving him goose bumps down his arms.

"Where do you think you're going without me?" Danica asked, hands on her hip, pushing her lip ring out as shook the black hair out of her eyes. Harry looked up into her gray eyes and he sighed. He knew that he needed Danica. But he didn't want to risk putting her in danger. Fred would never forgive him. He would never forgive himself. Keeping Danica from a fight is nearly impossible. But if something happened to her, Harry didn't think he could take it.

With a glance, Harry nodded and Danica kneeled down beside him, smiling at her small victory.

"Us too. You aren't going anywhere without us, Harry." Hermione said, looking into Harry's green eyes. Ron nodded and put his hand on Harry's shoulder.

"No, it's too dangerous!" He shouted, already moving towards the emerald fire, ready to jump in and race to the rescue of his godfather. Danica nodded, looking up at her other two best friends. Her and Harry going was bad enough. Who knew what would happen within the walls of the Department of Mysteries. Protecting Harry, guiding him is her job. And this is just another part of her job description.

"When are you going to get it through your head? You're not leaving without us." Hermione barked, her tone final. But her eyes softly looked over Harry's desperate face, her golden locks cascading down her shoulders. How could he ever to say no to them? They had been through so much together. Would Harry really expect not to let them tag along? If they didn't come, Harry knew, something terrible would happen. He glanced over at Danica who kept looking up at the door, her eyes scanning the walls full of frightened kittens. She looked anxious. He could go just with her and he would be safe. He trusted Danica with his life. She would take care of him; make sure nothing happened to him as he saved his godfather from the same fate as the best friends he lost long ago.

"Right you are. You aren't going anywhere."

All four of them jumped at the sound of Umbridge's voice. Danica growled.

At any other time this thought would've been acceptable to let cross his mind. But now, when he could've tossed himself into the fires of the Floo Network, he thought of Danica. And that kept him from hurrying to rescue Sirius. He let himself get distracted. So as Danica tried to jump over the desk to buy them some time, Harry could only focus on the scars that he saw from underneath her shirt as she soared into the air, her shirt billowing to show the skin beneath. The ones Sirius had talked about that night at the Burrow.

Danica had followed Lupin one night into the forest during his transformation. She was supposed to be disapparated to Professor Dumbledore's office that night while Remus went through his monthly curse. But she decided otherwise. Danica followed Lupin as he traveled deep within the forest, trying to get far away from humanity. She wanted to help, to truly understand what her only friend was really going through so she could learn to take care of him more efficiently. That was a mistake.

She watched, frightened and in shock as her Remus painfully went through the change. She saw his body twitch and break, reforming into that of a wolf. Danica cringed at the sound of breaking bones and the menacing growls that came from his now canine like mouth. Her Remus vanished before her very eyes. She saw his feet and hands grow longer, the claws retracting. All traces of human sanity left his eyes as they disappeared into pools of black. Sirius said that the howl was the worst thing she had ever heard. It was a howl of agony, of such sorrow and self loathe that she began to cry. The sound of a sobbing girl drew the attention of the transformed Remus. He turned on her, no memory, no recollection that this girl was his pride and joy, his life. Danica exposed her back to him, trying to run far from the monster that inhabited the body of her beloved guardian. And there, Remus found his striking point. He dug his claws into her pale skin, dragging them across her back.

Sirius explained that Remus had seen the scars later in the week while she slept. He said that they looked like someone had tried to tear the very flesh off her. Dumbledore had showed up as soon as Danica appeared late. He arrived when he heard the sound of a screaming child. Able to hold him off, the wise headmaster took her to St. Mungo's where they healed her enough to stop the bleeding and any tissue damage. But they could not make the scars go away. Danica was then sent to live with Tonks and her family. Lupin couldn't even bear to look at her. She had seen what terrible creature slumbered inside her Remus. And he knew it scared her. His biggest fear had become a reality. He had hurt the most important person in his life. He could never take that back. And he could never take back the fact that because of him, Danica shared some of his cursed traits. When someone is attacked by a werewolf who isn't in full wolf form, they inherit some of the werewolf traits. Danica was scratched by a fully transformed wolf.

It all clicked. Harry heard her growl countless times. Sometimes, when she was angry enough, they sounded too animal like to be human. When she lost her mind and fought with Remus out in the snow, he noticed she ran faster than someone with no shoes could have run. Her eyes changed like that of a vicious predator, like that of a werewolf. They got lighter when she was happy, bright and colorful. But when she was pushed over the edge, unable to control herself, her irises grew dark enough to be black. The full moon, each and every one, now that he looked back on it, Harry remembered Danica looking weary and weak. She lost that Danica energy and her body sometimes looked even frail.

Remus Lupin had taken away the one thing that she had wanted her entire life. He took her normality.

Harry was thrown into the chair in front of Umbridge's desk. Danica was tackled onto the floor by Malfoy, wrestling with him, cursing loudly into his face as they rolled about. Ron and Hermione were backed up against the wall, held in place by the Slytherin goons. He tried to stand up, to get them away from here. But as soon as he placed his hands on the arms of t he chair to hoist himself up and onto his feet, Umbridge pointed her wand to Harry's face.

"Sit down, Potter." Umbridge demanded, that desperate look returning to her cold eyes. She had them in her grasps and she wasn't about to let them go till she got what she wanted. Harry squirmed in his chair. Every minute he spent there, under the stare of the toad face, Harry lost another minute away from Sirius. He could be inching closer and closer to death and Harry was stupid enough to let himself get distracted.

Danica howled in pain as Draco threw his fist into her stomach, giving him the opportunity to drag her onto her feet and keep her pinned against the wall. Ron started to shout at Draco, telling him how cowardly it was to hit a girl. He just rolled his eyes and kept Danica's hands behind her back, holding both of her wrists tightly as he shoved her against the wall.

The anger flared up inside of Harry as he tried once again to get up, ready to rip his long term enemy's head off for hurting his girl. She shook her head, her black hair falling into her face as she tried to catch her breath. He slowly backed down into his chair.

Just then more of Umbridge's losers burst into the room, holding Ginny, Neville and Luna captive too. They tried to squirm free but no luck. Time was wasting away.

"Who's in charge of you? Huh? Who organized this? You're going to Dumbledore aren't you?" She asked Harry, leaning down closer to his face where he caught a whiff of her foul breath.

"No. I don't know where he is."

SMACK. Umbridge's hand swiped Harry across the face, she sound of the slap making everyone in the room flinch. A red hand print was left on the side of his cheek, the sting still seeping into Harry's skin. "Don't lie to me!"

Danica growled menacingly, trying to throw Draco off her. She was pissed now. If Draco didn't act soon he was going to be sent to St. Mungo's in a world full of hurt. He drew his wand, pushing the tip into her cheek. He was scared of her. Harry could see it in the way he kept Danica completely immobile. If he made one mistake, she would be all over him. Wise boy.

Umbridge turned back to Harry, her breathing and heart rate obviously escalated. She didn't know what to do next. The professor knew Harry wouldn't talk out of his own will. But then the toad face got an idea. She stood straight, reached over to her desk and put the picture of Cornelius Fudge face down.

"The Cruciartus Curse should get my answers right out of you."

Everyone in the room stopped breathing. Even her goons wondered if Umbridge had officially lost her mind. For a teacher to use an Unforgivable Curse on a student. On the wizarding world's favorite wizard too. Did she really think she could get away with it?

"That's illegal!" Hermione shouted, trying her hardest to get free so she could protect her best friend. Ron stared in horror at Umbridge who started to laugh maniacally, not looking the least bit worried about Azkaban. The soot and burnt powder from the firecrackers caked onto her face as Harry looked up into the singed, burnt hair that flopped down onto her head.

"Silence! I want answers!" she screeched, her voice breaking in panic.

"Over my dead body!" Danica bellowed, her teeth bared in rage as she labored to get free from Draco's grip. She threw back her head, hitting Draco smack in the nose. She broke it, again. As he doubled over to stop the bleeding from his nostrils, she threw her elbow into his stomach, spinning around to knock his feet out from under him with a sweep kick. Malfoy moaned in pain on the floor.

Danica took a step toward Umbridge, ready to approached. She reached inside her pocket, ready to draw her wand and let hell break loose into this tiny room. But Umbridge had the advantage.

She stood to Harry's side, her wand pointed right at him. "You take one more step and all I have to do is say the word and your precious Potter will be shaking in agony."

Danica growled again as she stopped in her tracks. Umbridge scowled, a disgusted look on her face. "Calm yourself, Ms. Lorenzo. I don't want to have to call the Animal Control Unit from the Ministry to come and put you down."

Her face went blank and she stood up from her crouch. Danica looked shocked. She looked in complete surprise. But then it faded as she grew angry again, her pupils dilating as the storm began to brew in her eyes, her back arching as she prepared to crouch forward. "What did you say to me?"

"You heard me." The crazed smile on the fluffy monster's face turned into a sneer as she raised her nose at Danica. "You're a disgrace to the wizarding world. An animal, you are, Danica. Inheriting traits from that mangy half-breed you call your guardian. If it were up to me, you would all be executed immediately. And when the entire Wizarding Community thanks me for my service, I would say I was merely extinguishing a blemish on the face of our world."

Danica began to growl, each time seeming less and less human like. Was this really his Danica? Did she really hide all this until now? Harry understood now. Lupin hated himself for what he had done to Danica. Remus must've seen a lot worse than this. And for him to watch what he created, what he turned his little girl into must've been torture.

"Oh, yes, Danica I know what you are. Attacked by that filthy misfit of society, you took on some of the traits of a werewolf. That day in class when you so bravely stood up for his kind, I knew one of two things. You two were related. So I looked into your records and I found he was your legal guardian. Under medical conditions, it said "Werewolf like traits" So I checked with St. Mungo's and being me, I was able to access the hospital records for both Lupin and you. I know all about his attack."

"You! You told Fudge and he ordered his arrest!" Hermione shouted, the pieces finally coming together in her head. Danica stood there, her lungs expanding and retracting rapidly as she breathed hard, staring Umbridge down. First she had ruined Remus' life with that act that kept him from holding down a job. Then she turned the community even more against him by issuing his arrest. And now, she had revealed her secret to everyone in the room. They all knew now. She was a freak, faulted beyond repair. She was no longer 100% human. But not 100% werewolf either. She was a mix, a breed. Not able to belong to either group left her to look into the mirror constantly and wonder what is so wrong with her. All she ever wanted was to be normal, be treated equally. Not just her but Lupin's entire kind. She had met many of them. Most of them were good people, innocent people that had the misfortune of bearing the burden of a werewolf. Danica could've had all that, that normal life, here at Hogwarts. She had all of that. And now, Umbridge destroyed any hope of that dream thriving.

"It was an accident." Danica muttered through her teeth.

"Either way, he's a monster. The least we can do is send him to Azkaban with all the other animals and criminals that belong there. He's no different. He's nothing but a disgusting half-breed."

Danica lost it. In a blur of speed and strength, Danica pounced onto Professor Umbridge, slamming her into the floor. "I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!"

"Get her off me, get her off me!" Umbridge shouted as Danica held a handful of the professor's burnt hair to hold her head up, pointing her wand underneath her chin. The Slytherins instantly let go of their hostages to rush to the headmistress' aid. Harry watched, amazed as she held Umbridge under her control and held off the squad of goons all at the same time.

"GO, HARRY! NOW!" She screamed from within the pile that had now formed around her, trying to contain her. But he could only watch. He didn't want to leave her here. He needed her.

Knocking Goyle's head aside with the back of her hand, Danica looked behind her and at Harry as she confiscated Umbridge's wands. "I'll catch up. I promise. Now go!"

Ginny grabbed Harry's arm and all six of them burst out the door and into the corridor, the sounds of Danica's struggle dying down as they got further and further away. He felt horrible for leaving her. But in his gut as they sprinted through the bridge and onto the grounds, something told him she would be okay. He trusted her.

"How are we going to get to the Ministry?" Hermione asked, looking back to see if Danica was following them yet. No luck.

"We fly of course." Luna said, her always distant sounding voice making sense for the first time.

So as they took off into the sky, riding on the backs of the creatures that pulled their carriages, their majestic wings spread out and beating the air, flying them to London at surprisingly fast speed, Harry looked back at the castle fading into the horizon as dusk approached. The window that was Umbridge's office flashed as some kind of explosion went off. Fred's light bombs. She was getting away.

Harry smiled, leaning forward to tell his carrier to fly faster. 'We're coming, Sirius.'