A/N: Hehe... I'm giving you guys a special treat today: TWO chapter updates instead of one! Don't you love me?

Anywho, thanks so much for the reviews! I couldn't believe it when they just came pouring in... Now do it again! Cookies in advance! (::) (::) (::)

So, the reason I decided to post two chapters is that this one here is extremely short and is pretty much just filler. *sigh* It needed to be done.

Disclaimer: As much as I love Harry Potter, the credit all goes to the Goddess of Writing, Ms. J.K. Rowling herself.

If someone had told Remus that Liz and her brother would show up on his doorstep uninvited, exhausted, bloody, and terrified the night after the full moon, he would never have believed it.

The night had been rough; the wolf had bitten its side over and over in frustration, and his abdomen was covered in deep, painful puncture wounds that refused to heal. Even the best healers could only do so much for cursed wounds.

He was drifting off into a much-needed sleep when he heard a pounding on the front door. He yelped and tried to sit up, his muddled thoughts jumping to the conclusion that the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was coming for him, but then he heard a voice.

"Please, please, we need help!"

His eyes widened. What on earth was Liz's little brother doing out here, all by himself, so early in the morning?

Mrs. Lupin rushed to answer the door, gasping when she opened it. "You'd best get inside,' she said. There was a muffled groan and several labored footsteps, then the creaking of the sofa as someone sat on it.

"Mum?" Remus called hoarsely.

"Go on," a girl- Liz?- croaked. "I'll be fine."

Remus' mother hurried into his room."Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine, but who-?" his dry throat caused him to burst into a hacking cough. His mother helped him raise a glass of water to his lips.

"Don't you worry about it," she said gently. "You need to sleep. You've had a rough night."

"But Liz-"

"Shh. Just go to sleep. I promise she'll be fine."

Liz gratefully accepted the blanket and mug of cocoa from Remus' mother, but she didn't drink. Her stomach was churning, and her hands shook so much that some of the hot liquid sloshed over the rim of the mug. Chris, however, drank his greedily, gulping the cocoa down in several seconds. Liz cupped her hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into her numb fingers.

"What happened to you two?" Ms. Caitlin asked as she came out of Remus' room. "Elizabeth, you look like a half-drowned cat, your back is all scratched up, and you, Christopher, your ankle looks like it's been sprained!" As she spoke, she rolled Chris' pant leg up and inspected his ankle, clucking disapprovingly. Liz was strongly reminded of Madam Pomfrey. She tapped it with her wand, muttering something unintelligible. Chris winced, then sighed with relief as his swollen ankle shrank to normal size.

"It's much better now; thank you," he said.

"You're very welcome, but do you realize what last night was?" Ms. Caitlin looked at Liz and winced. "Of course you do. But why on earth-?"

"Greyback," Liz choked out. She began to tremble.

Ms. Caitlin had gone white. "He didn't- he didn't-?"

"he didn't bite us," Liz whispered, "But he almost did." A hot tear rolled down her cheek. "I managed to convince him that I'm a w- a- you know, and he tied me to Chris because he wanted me to b- b-" she had to set her mug down when she began to shiver violently.

"And where-?"

"About a mile back east," Chris said. He sneezed four times in rapid succession, sending water flying from his hair.

"Oh, I'm so sorry- let me get that-" A wave of Ms. Caitlin's wand, and they were suddenly dry again.

They'd been forced to wait in the tree until the moon finally set, at which point Liz Stunned the werewolves, giving herself and Chris enough time to make their way back to the ground and run. It wasn't exactly easy. It had rained in the middle of the night, soaking the two of them to the bone and making the tree precariously slick. Chris had slipped on his way down and had landed on his left leg, twisting his ankle at an unnatural angle, but he somehow managed to hobble along at a fairly steady pace.

Liz, however, was in even worse shape. They were both worn out from the terror and the sleepless night, but she'd also spent much of the night being sick, even past the point of her stomach emptying itself. Fatigue, hunger, and the onset of a post-moon migraine took its toll, and she collapsed only a few feet away from the tree. Chris, barely able to walk himself, somehow managed to haul her to her feet and together, they were able to stumble to the road and to Remus' house.

"If it weren't for Chris, I'd probably be..." Liz trailed off, unable to end her story.

Ms. Caitlin drew them both into a hug. "I'm so glad you're safe,' she said. She released them and held Liz at arm's length, studying her. "You look like you could use some food," she said. "Let me get you something to eat, and then I'll contact your parents."

Liz nodded wearily, feeling her eyelids droop. She was safe. Chris was safe. Greyback was no longer a threat.

She yawned widely, barely aware of Chris' cheerful voice as he dug into whatever food had been brought over. It was just nice to finally be able to sleep.

Remus woke from a fitful dream to hear several voices in his parents' bedroom. His mind was still hazy from sleep, and it took him a while before he could properly hear what they were saying.

"...miracle neither of them were bitten, of course, but Fenrir Greyback around here-"

"That's what worries me. He's already gotten..."

"But Remus..."

"Mum?" Remus called, struggling to sit up. The voices immediately stopped, and Remus heard his mother hurrying through the kitchen to his bedroom.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, putting a hand behind his back and helping him off the pillows.

"About as well as can be expected," he said dryly. "Who came in earlier? It sounded like Liz and Chris..."

His mum chose not to answer, focusing intently on changing his bandages.

"Remus?" He startled when he heard Liz's voice. Her slight form appeared, silhouetted in the doorway. "May I come in?"

"Sure," he called. His voice sounded raspy, and he suddenly became aware of his dry throat.

She moved forward, a small but anxious smile on her face. "How are you feeling?"

Remus had to suppress a sigh. Was that the phrase of the day, or what? "I'm fine, but I could ask you the same question. How did you and Chris end up all the way out here?"

"That's... erm..." Liz shuffled her feet, suddenly looking like she expected to be hit. "I'll tell you later."

"Elizabeth!" Remus flinched as Mrs. Auberey's voice rang through the sitting room. "Where did you get off to? You're coming home right- oh!" She had peered into Remus' room looking for her daughter and caught sight of Remus. He shrank away from her horrified gaze, knowing he must look like hell. He was immensely grateful when Liz stepped in front of him.

"Yes, mum," she murmured. She gave Remus an apologetic look before allowing her mother to lead her out to the fireplace.

Remus looked at his own mother. "What did happen?"

Mrs. Lupin sighed and rested her hands in her lap. "Do you know who Fenrir Greyback is?"

Remus swallowed. Greyback, the werewolf who gave all werewolves a bad name, who was renowned for his disturbing cannibalistic tendencies, who was the prime culprit behind all the bitings in recent months? "Yes," he whispered. "He didn't-?"

"he didn't bite either of them," his mother said, "But it was close. They were lucky; Greyback is not one to let his prey get the better of him." She hesitated, biting her lip. "Remus, there's something I've been meaning to-"

"Caitlin!" Mr. Lupin said suddenly. Remus jumped. He hadn't seen his father come into the room. "I told you I don't want this discussed."

His parents stared each other down for a long time. Finally, Remus' mother sighed and got up. "Fine. But he needs to know sometime." She looked back at Remus. "If you need anything, I'll be in the kitchen, love."

Remus and his father were left alone in the room. Remus braced himself for some harsh word, some gesture of disgust, but all his father said was, "Sleep well, son."

Maybe the world has gone mad, Remus thought as he lay back against his pillows. Dad acting as though I actually exist... but what was mum trying to say? Does dad know something about Greyback? He didn't ponder these questions for long, though. Exhausted from the rough night, he soon drifted into an uneasy sleep.

A/N: Not really much to say but REVIEW! Hugs to you guys, and I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Also, I haz found a new fandom. Mortal Instruments is now number four on my favorite book series list. There's something wrong with my brain- I have the innate ability to latch on to the characters who are lycanthropic (before even realizing their condition) and get way too attached to them. Whyyy?

Reviews will be replied to swiftly! (Unless you review while I'm asleep. In that case, you will hear back as soon as I'm awake.)

Until next time,

-Dndchk