A/N: Hmm. I won't pretend I'm not a little bummed at the lack of response for the last chapter. Hopefully that will change! *hint, hint*

I'd like to say thanks to IAmRemusLupin, who spent the last week listening to me ramble about my fic and providing some ideas. Thanks!

Anyway, not a whole lot to say, except PLEASE REVIEW! They really do make me smile like nothing else! Okay, I'll stop yapping.

Disclaimer: I'm just playing in Rowling's sandbox. I actually don't own anything.

Liz paced restlessly around her bedroom, alternating between fuming over her Charms block and desperately trying to think of a powerful memory.

Almost the rest of the summer had passed and there had been little word from any of her friends. Sirius was, according to James, unable to send any letters and was forced to communicate via mirror. James himself was bored out of his mind without his comrades-in-troublemaking, and Peter was rather lonely with only letters to keep in contact. In the meantime, Liz had made very little, if any, progress on her Patronus. Of course, it had been hard to concentrate on that when she was so miserable. Her head pounded terribly, but that small compared to what else was plaguing her. Her mum finally declared that she wasn't a little girl any more, and had dragged her out to get what Liz thought of as self-imposed torture: Bras. The dreaded B-word that made even adults snicker or blush.

It wasn't just that, though; Liz had shot up several inches over the past few months, and was now taller than her mother. As far as she could guess the next time she'd see the boys, she'd be taller than them, except maybe Sirius. Cosequently, she would soon need to get new clothes that didn't show off a good four inches of ankle.

Growing up sucked.

Liz's pacing faltered when she was distracted by a rapping at her window. A large Great Grey owl was perched on the ledge, a letter clamped in its beak. Liz vaguely recognized him as the Potters'. She hurried to let the owl in, then hastily dug out some owl treats from her desk.

"Here, I'll trade," she said, holding out the treat. The owl dropped the envelope on her bed and took the proffered food, nipped her affectionately on her finger, then fluttered over to Athena's perch. She edged over to give the larger one more room.

Liz tore the letter open eagerly, hoping it was an invitation to come over. It was.

Liz,

It's been awfully busy here at the manor. Dad's been tied up with those Death Munchers and mum's been rushing about the country, 'making arrangements' she says. it's been too quiet here without the rest of you lot.

Luckily, I've been given permission to have everyone over for the rest of the summer. You will come, won't you? Of course you will.

Cheers!

-Buck

(Is that a good nickname? Sod it, Sirius is better at this than I am. I'll see what he thinks.)

"Mum!" Liz yelled, flinging open her door and rushing downstairs. "Mum, James just sent a letter asking if I can visit for the rest of the summer! I can go, can't I?"

Mrs. Auberey set down her book and drummed her fingers on the sofa. "I don't know, Elizabeth. I'm not entirely sure if I want you to go over there again."

"What?" Liz cried. "But you let me go back at the beginning of summer!"

"That was just for a day, though. You'd best stay here until September. It's too dangerous."

"Mum!" Liz wailed. "Why can't I go?"

"Because, Elizabeth, I don't want a repeat of Christmas Eve!"

"But Remus and James and-"

"I said no, and I mean it."

"Mum, I-"

"Elizabeth Grace, you only have two weeks of summer left, surely you can wait to see your friends until then?"

"Argh!" Liz flung up her hands and stomped back to her room, slamming the door behind her.

"Young lady, you've just lost your reading privileges,"Mr. Auberey called from his office.

"FINE!" she screamed.

"For the rest of the summer," he added. "Now stop yelling in the house."

Liz threw herself facefirst onto her bed, furious. She'd been looking forward to going to James' house all summer, and now, she wasn't allowed.

"It's not fair," she whined into her pillow.

She could have blamed her mood on the approaching full moon, but she'd been stuck in the house for almost the entire summer, and the cabin fever was showing. She and Chris were rarely allowed outside, and even then, it was only in their backyard with their mother keeping a close eye on them, which took away all the fun. Liz knew it was for their safety, but she was fed up of having to be so cautious. She couldn't be the best dueler in her year for nothing, could she? Surely she could fend for herself if she needed?

Liz rolled off her bed and parted the curtains, peering into the woods behind the house. A warm breeze ruffled the leaves, and several puffy clouds drifted across the sky. it was too nice a day to stay inside.

If she ventured deep enough into the trees, she'd come across Remus' house after several days of walking, but she wasn't planning on going that far. She just needed some time away from her overbearing parents.

Liz packed a small knapsack with a supply of snacks, a compass in case she got turned around, and a bottle of water. Filling up the bottle was particularly nerve-wracking, as she was sure her mum or dad would hear the tap, but neither of them said anything. Perhaps they thought she was just getting a drink. Liz carefully screwed the lid on, stuck it among the snacks, and crept back to her room. She grabbed her wand from her bedside table and stuck it in her belt.

As she was opening the window, the door behind her creaked. Liz whirled, certain she'd been caught.

"Where are you going?" Chris asked, one hand on the doorknob. The other held a pair of shoes.

"Nowhere," Liz said quickly, mentally smacking herself for not being able to come up with something better.

"Well then, can I come, too?"

Liz paused. It would be nice to have company, but she didn't want to have to keep an eye on her brother. There was safety in numbers, but Chris didn't have his own wand, and he didn't know the first thing about dueling. But... he'd been stuck inside all summer, too. This could be their one last chance to have some fun before war broke out.

She grinned. "Okay. But shh." She put a finger to her lips. Chris beamed at her and carefully shut the door.

"I'll go first," Liz said, looking at the two-story drop beyond the window. Sure, there was a birch tree that grew almost right against the house, but it was a three-foot jump away from the window. She ducked through the window, perching precariously on the ledge.

She briefly thought that it would be easier to cast a Cushioning Charm on the ground below, but she wasn't sure of her ability to do so successfully.

She jumped, grabbed hold of a branch, and swung toward the trunk. Wraping her legs around it, Liz waved cheerfully to her brother. "Come on!"

Chris' face paled, but he nervously clambered onto the sill, gauging the distance.

Liz held out her hand. "I'll get you, I promise."

Chris leapt. He managed to snag a limb, gasping as his hands slipped. Liz lunged for his arm and grabbed hold, hauling him to safety.

"There," she panted. "See? Piece of cake."

Chris' eyes were huge, but he was grinning like mad. "That was so cool," he said.

Liz grinned back at him. "Come on." They scrambled down the trunk and disappeared among the trees.

Remus snuggled under his quilt, burrowing into the downy cloths and away from the chill outside. It had been a wonderful day. He and his parents had spent a good part of it playing in the snow, and Remus was certain there couldn't be a better way to spend his last week as a four year-old.

He reached out for Felix, seeking the kitten's soft, thick fur, but his fingers encountered only air. Puzzled, Remus opened his eyes and looked around. Felix always slept next to him, taking up more space than he had any right to. Where could he have gone?

As Remus tried to think, a sharp yowl pierced the night, and he sat bolt upright in bed.

"Felix?" he called softly. There was another screech, then silence.

Felix was outside, and he was in trouble. Remus stuffed his feet into his slippers and hurried from the room, not even taking the time to grab a cloak, or get his parents.

It was freezing outside. Fat, white flakes drifted down from the sky. The snow-covered ground, illuminated by the full moon, shone like polished silver, and the falling snow seemed to bring an eerie silence to the night.

"Felix?" Remus said uncertainly. A chill ran down his spine, a chill that had nothing to do with the frigid air. Something wasn't right.

He didn't pay much attention to the large, heavy footprints that lead away from the house, and even if he had noticed, they could easily have been mistaken for his dad's.

Remus peered into the trees, taking a few tentative steps into the shadows. He was certain Felix's cry had come from in there. There was no alternative.

He was only five paces into the woods when he heard it: a deep, menacing growl that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. There was a snapping of undergrowth behind him as something lunged, its growls becoming a snarl. Remus didn't even have time to look before the beast clamped its teeth on his shoulder, and a searing fire ripped through his body.

He screamed.

The torture was unending. Jagged claws raked against his back, his arms, his sides, gouging into his flesh. And all the while, its teeth never let go, embedded in his shoulder.

"MUMMY! DADDY! HELP ME!"

But whether or not help would come, he didn't know. The pain was too much, and he felt himself beginning to slip away, losing his grip on conciousness as his blood seeped into the snow.

"AAGHHH!" Remus fell off the sofa, screaming and thrashing, trying to escape. An ink bottle slid off his lap and smashed on the floor.

"Remus!" His mother hurried over, getting rid of the shattered pot with a flick of her wand. "What happened? Are you alright?"

Remus put his head in his hands, breathing deeply. he had to remind himself that he was safe at home, that it was just a nightmare.

He hadn't had such a vivid nightmare for years; in fact, the last one was several nights after his friends found out he was a-

He couldn't even think the word to himself.

His mother held him close. "It was just a nightmare,' she said soothingly, stroking his hair. "It's not real."

"No, it wasn't," he croaked. "I thought I outgrew that dream, but-" he cut himself off, his voice trembling.

His mum gave him a sad look, but said nothing. There was no need. The nightmare had plagued Remus ever since he'd been bitten, forbidding him to escape the memory of the attack.

Remus flinched and pushed his mother away when her hand brushed against his bitten shoulder. He realized he was shaking.

"Do you want to talk about it?" his mother asked.

"N-no. I should get back to my homework. I c-can't believe I fell asleep..."

"You've been working hard, perhaps you should take a break-

"No, mum. I'm fine."

She looked at him for a long time, but must have decided it would be best not to press the issue. "If you want to talk about it, just say so." She waited for a moment, but when Remus didn't say anything, she got up and left.

His head ached terribly. There was no way he could finish his Transfiguration essay in this state. Before he lay back down, Remus glanced at the clock. He still had three hours left before he'd have to go out to the shed.

Hopefully, the nightmare wouldn't affect his transformation much.

Liz's head was pounding. She and Chris had long since drank the last of the water, and her mouth was dryer than a desert. It felt almost like it did in the hours before the full moon rose...

"Chris?" she said suddenly. "What day is it? The seventeenth, or the eighteenth?"

"Eighteenth," he answered. "Why?"

Liz cursed and looked up at the sun. It wouldn't be long before it started sinking below the horizon.

"We have to start heading home now," she said. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize- I thought it was tomorrow-"

"What's tomorrow? Or, today?" Chris asked, hurrying to keep up with her quickened pace.

"Full moon," she answered grimly. "And we're not being caught out in the woods after dark. Not if I can help it."

Chris swallowed and tok her hand. "Aren't we going the wrong way?" he asked suddenly.

Liz stopped. For a terrifying moment, she thought he was right, but she realized why he was asking.

"Nah, we're taking a shortcut, of sorts," she explained. "We went in a bit of an arc, and came from back there-" she pointed behind her. "So the fastest way home is this way."

"Don't you think we should go back, though?"

Liz eyed her brother. "Why? It'll take longer."

Chris nodded in acknowledgement. "Yes, but... we know that way is safe.

Liz snorted. "Please. "Chris, I only want to get home as a precaution. I really doubt there's anything in here."

Chris didn't look so certain, but he followed at a trot, glancing around anxiously as they hurried along.

After about an hour of forced walking, Liz's head hurt so much that she could barely think straight. She was actually forced to rely on Chris to lead, as it was all she could do to keep putting on foot in front of the other. It was a good thing she'd decided to let him tag along.

Suddenly, Chris stopped, sniffing the air. "Do you... smell something? Like rotten meat?"

Liz shrugged and rubbed her eyes. "Probably just some dead animal that we can't see. There's nothing to-"

She yelped as a pair of hands lifted her up under her arms and threw her over a shoulder. Chris yelled as he was presumably grabbed as well.

"Chris!" Liz yelled, pounding the man's back. "Let- me- go!" her efforts only seemed to amuse him.

There was an unpleasant squeezing sensation, and Liz realized with a new jolt of horror that they were Apparating. She tried to yell, but her lungs wouldn't cooperate.

Then, suddenly, she could breathe again, and immediately resumed struggling.

The man holding her chuckled. "Two little piggies, all alone in the woods and far from home? We got lucky tonight."

"That we did, Fenrir," the second man rasped. Liz's blood turned to ice.

"F-Fenrir G-Greyback?" she stammered.

"Heard of me, have you, girlie?" Greyback said, cold amusement in his voice. Liz flinched as his nails dug painfully into her back. "You'd best get used to the name."

"What are you going to do to us?" Chris demanded.

Liz twisted around, shaking her head, trying to warn Chris to shut up, which the werewolves seemed to think funny.

"This one doesn't seem too keen on us," Greyback said. Liz continued thrashing. "Oh? What's this?"

"No! That's-!"

"Interesting." Greyback pulled Liz's wand from her belt and rolled it between his fingers. "You hate werewolves, don'tcha, girlie?" Liz's mind raced, trying to figure out how she was possibly going to get them out of this mess.

"What kind of a question is that?" she snapped. "One bit me two years ago- what do you think?" She silently prayed Chris would play along.

The men were silent for a moment. "Where's the bite?" Greyback finally demanded.

Liz thrust her arm to the side, hoping she could pass it off as a cub bite. "I think it was just a kid, it was really small," she said.

She cringed when the other man roughly grabbed her arm and twisted it to better see. Her wrist flared with pain, and the man nodded. "That's a werewolf bite, alright," he said.

"Don't touch me," she spat.

"Feisty," he snickered. He grabbed her jaw and turned her head to face him. Liz found herself looking into a rugged, scarred face with deep-set amber eyes peering out from beneath bushy eyebrows. "And yeah, her eyes have gone yellow, too."

Liz gulped. That meant they only had a few minutes, maybe half an hour, before they would be...

Her stomach lurched at the thought of Chris suffering the same fate as Remus, and she threw up. She allowed herself a grim smile of satisfaction when some of the vomit landed on Greyback's coat.

The satisfaction was short-lived, however, when Greyback's nails scratched her back again. "Still getting past the sickness? We've all had that, but it's no excuse to go ruining my coat."

He threw her to the ground, and Chris joined her a moment later. They were in a small clearing in the woods, with a small campfire burning in the center. Three shabby tents of rags and scavenged cloths were strung up between the trees, making a crude camp. It smelled, if it was possible, even worse than Greyback himself.

"Diane!" Greyback called. "We're back."

A woman, so thin she looked almost skeletal, emerged from one of the makeshift tents. "It's almost sunset," she snapped. "Where have you-?" Her eyes fell on Liz and Chris, and she smiled horribly. "Two more for the pack?"

"Just one," liz said, her voice trembling. "I've been bitten already, but please, just let my brother go."

The three stared at her, then threw their heads back and positively howled with laughter.

Liz and Chris exchanged frightened looks. They could be anywhere at this point, so even if they managed to escape the camp, they would only have avoided their fate temporarily. Without somewhere to go, they would be run down and bitten. Without somebody to hear their screams, they'd probably be killed.

"It'll be okay," Liz whispered,hugging her brother. She felt terrible, though. She'd been so stupid to ignore her parents' warnings, and now, she and Chris were going to pay for it.

She was jerked out of her thoughts when she heard footsteps approaching. Greyback had found a length of rope. All hope of running was lost if they were going to be tied up.

"Arms," he said curtly. He knotted the rope around Liz's wrist and tied her to Chris. Liz almost breathed a sigh of relief, but had to remind herself that she was supposedly doomed to bite her own brother.

"Please, don't..." she whispered.

Greyback smiled, showing his yellow, pointed teeth. "Don't worry, girlie, you're young. You shouldn't hurt him- much." He ruffled Chris' hair, smirking when the boy cringed away.

"Our parents are going to be looking for us," Chris said shakily. "We'd normally have Liz locked up by now..."

"Look, kiddo," the unnamed man snarled, "Even if your parents cared enough to come looking for you when there's a good chance your sister will have eaten you-" Liz flinched. "They'd never find you in time. We're thirty miles west of where we found you, and they'd have to search the whole forest-"

Liz's head snapped up. "You said west?" she asked, interrupting the man's speech.

"Open your ears, that's what I said," he growled.

Chris looked at Liz. "Do we run? he whispered.

"Not yet," she whispered back. "But once I get a wand and a sense of direction..." It was a flimsy hope, but it was the only one they had. They would have to run, find a tree, and hope neither of them fell out when the werewolves tried to reach them. After that... she'd have to figure it out if it ever came to that.

She edged to the left, trying to see the sun through the dense branches. West was right behind them- and the sun had almost set.

Liz's heart was pounding as she leaned towards Chris. "Once I get a wand, we're going to run, right behind us. I'll need you to find a tree we can climb, because I'm going to have a hard enough time running as it is. Get ready. We only have a few minutes."

He nodded and shifted his weight so his feet were under him.

The man and the woman had retreated to their tents, probably to undress so their scavenged clothes wouldn't shred. Greyback, however, came over to Liz.

"See you in the morning," he said, leering at them. He reached out with one claw, trailing it down her cheek.

Liz spat in his face.

"You little-!" Greyback rubbed his eyes furiously. That was all the distraction Chris needed. He reached around Greyback and snatched Liz's wand from his belt.

"RUN!" Liz bawled.

There was a chorus of screams as the moon began to rise.

They sprinted through the darkening woods, Chris leading, Liz firing spell after spell over her shoulder, knowing she couldn't stop, only slow the beasts.

Hot, heavy panting could be heard behind them, and Liz yelped when she heard a snarl.

"Impedimenta!" she yelled, aiming for the sound. There was a yip of surprise and she knew she'd bought some time.

"Liz, there's a tree- there-" Chris gasped, pulling at the rope that bound them.

They would only have one chance, and they'd have to do it together- or else they would be caught.

As they drew closer, though, Liz almost stumbled. It was the lowest branch they'd seen, but it was at least ten feet above their heads. They were done for.

"Chris- I'm sorry-" she gasped.

"Jump! When I say-"

"What?!"

"NOW!" Chris yelled. Liz didn't have much of an option. She leapt.

There was a tingling sensation in her feet and she and Chris shot up towards the branch, managing to catch hold and scramble to safety, while three slavering beasts hurled themselves at the tree.

"Chris! You used magic?" Liz said, stunned.

"Accident," he mumbled. "Let's go higher." He shot a terrified look at the ground.

"Lemme get rid of this first," Liz said. She tapped the bindings with her wand. "Diffindo."

When the severed rope fell to the ground, the werewolves attacked it, fighting each other for the human scent.

Fear lending them strength, the children hauled themselves up, leading to a protest of angry howls.

Once they were well out of reach, they braced themselves between boughs, neither talking.

After a while, Liz broke the silence. "I am so- I'm so-" she put her face in her hands and began to sob. "I'm so sorry."

Chris patted her arm, but said nothing.

Liz wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Her back stung where Greyback had scratched her, but she felt she deserved it. Leading her brother into danger was her fault. She had to get them safely home.

"Stay here," she ordered before moving higher. "I'll be right back."

She climbed until she had passed the tops of most of the other trees. Emerging into the moonlit night, she looked around, seeking a gap in the trees. If she was right...

The moon illuminated the trees, giving them the appearance of being leafed in silver. There! Where there was a ribbon of darkness- a road. It would only take them ten minutes to reach once morning came.

Hope swelled in her chest, and more tears- this time of relief- streamed down her face. Hastily, she made her way back down, but was forced to take short breaks as waves of nausea hit her.

It took her a moment to speak once she reached Chris. "There's a road some ways over there," she said, pointing. "We'll set off first thing tomorrow. if I'm right, we'll be home in time for lunch."

Chris' eyes shone, and they both broke down, hugging each other tightly.

Far below, the werewolves continued to savage the tree, howling in frustration at the humans that were just out of reach.

A/N: Totally wasn't expecting Greyback to show up so early, but it actually worked for what I have planned. MWAHAHAHA!

But wow, this got dark really fast.

Not much to say but review, please! I'll give you cookies! HEre! (::) (::) (::) Chocolate chip!

Chapter five will be up in a week.

Until next time,

-Dndchk