OK, I know what you all are thinking! And I am sorry to update sooooo late. Really! But what can I do, school's been really busy and so has life. I had to go for some programming competitions (BTW, I won!) and some other stuff. Also, I know that this chapter is short and unsatisfactory and truly, I haven't read even once after writing it. Just my guilt eating away at me, telling me to update, so, I did. For some time, I was hit with writer's block but I am alright now, with fresh ideas on how to proceed to where I want this story after a few chapters. Please don't hate me!

Thank you all those who reviewed and added me to their alerts or favourites. It's really flattering! Sob sniff! Ok, enough with the mushy stuff, on with the story now!

Chapter 6

An Evening at the Park

A very loud howl filled the silent night atmosphere, chilling Hermione's blood. She started backing away from the nightmare unfurling right in front of her eyes. The bloodshot eyes of the five werewolves were fixed on her. Their mouths lathering and fur standing on end, Hermione was surprised she was alive by now…

Her body started acting of its own accord, for a few nanoseconds, she did not know what she was doing. Stowing away the squealing and yelping puppy in her bag behind her back and backing away hastily from the monsters in front of her was when finally her mind took over.

Till then, one of the werewolves was already rushing towards her, and, as fast as she could, she cast a shield on her body so as not to be scratched or bitten and then turned her wand towards the diabolic creature who was about to leap over her and cast a spell to bind him. Ropes bound him and he started thrashing about in his bound state which made her sure that it would not be long till the ropes would hold him. She sent a shower of red sparks in the sky, even though it was not a symbol that she needed help because the other' wand must have alerted them by now, but because she was worried that they had not come yet, she was not sure how long she would be able to keep herself unscathed.

By then, two werewolves had rushed to the first one and freed him of his bounds and the other two went after her again. Soundlessly, she sent a stunning spell at the first but it did not seem to have any effect on the beast except to slow him down slightly. She tried another spell to slow him down but it did not affect him at all. Hermione was at her wits end. She dare not turn her back to the danger and try to run in case they leapt at her.

It was not that Hermione did not know any spell to protect her. Quite the contrary, anyone who even slightly knew her could tell you that if there was anyone who had the ability to be able to learn and master spells with a prodigious speed, it would be her. But that was defense against human beings! Not monsters!

She tried again and hit a conjunctivitis curse at the werewolf's eyes. The night, which was by now already filled with snarls and growls of the five beasts now overflowed with howls of certain pain and anguish, emitted by the werewolf nearest to her, which provoked the four others to leap at her simultaneously…

This was sure death! Whatever Hermione had wanted in life, it was never a messy death which was now assured! Hell, she hadn't ever thought of death, she was too young! There were so many books left for her to read, so many places to visit, so many things to do, she still had to feed her goldfish, become the head auror, make her country proud… No, she wouldn't die!

With the agility of a seeker that would make Harry proud, she constructed a magical barrier in front of her The werewolves collided with the magical wall almost comically and snarled at her when they realized that they could not get to her. Almost cracking a grin at the scene and her current situation, she backed away a bit more and felt something hard behind her, she was trapped between a huge tree and her own shield, which, though still strong would surely wear down in a little while… She may have been too scared to do anything else or think anything else but there was one thought which did not leave her mind at all… Where the heck was Draco Malfoy when you needed him?

Meanwhile…

Draco was about to contact Smith after returning from checking over Granger when his wand started vibrating, violently! He knew that one of his teammates was in trouble, mortal trouble by the look of the vibrating wand. He prayed to god it wouldn't be the one, who he had a dark suspicion, would be in trouble but the fate was not on his side today. His fears were confirmed when his wand emitted five pink sparkles. Hermione Granger was in a difficulty…

The wands of the two others would have been alerted already, and with this thought in mind, Draco sent a patronus with a message for Potter, informing him to apparate to Hermione's position. Having done that, he himself turned on the spot but at the time he was supposed to disappear into thin air, he faced a block! Surprised, Draco tried again but could not get through.

Suddenly, he heard two pops behind him and turned to see Arun Raoul and Terry Boot looking very tense and worried.

"We cannot apparated to her position Draco!" Arun broke the silence and moved towards Draco.

"I know, I tried it too. Whoever is attacking her must have put up anti apparition wards on the area of that blasted park!" Said Draco as he once again tried to apparated and failed.

"I just hope Hermione's alright." Boot replied to Draco's dark prediction which made Arun try to apparated again as well. Draco was suddenly worried, not for the girl herself but how it would seem, telling his boss that he had got his teammate, someone who he was in the process of training killed on her first case. His mind went into overdrive… Within seconds, the blond came up with a plan of action.

"Listen guys, we try to apparated as near as we can to Granger's position, and then start increasing the distances. These wards can't be spread over a very wide area otherwise they would have attracted the attention of the Misuse of Magic Department. Let's do it, on the count of three… One, two, three."

The three men apparated with faint pops and appeared almost together a few feet away from the gate of the park. Nodding to each other, they ran towards the park gate. Draco was about to blast away the gate when behind him, he heard four more pops. Draco heard Potter command Matthews and Longbottom to stay near the gate as lookout for any more trouble as he blasted the lock on the gate and heard Blaise, Arun, Potter and Boot run after him. The five of them suddenly stopped as they heard three long and bone marrow chilling howls which could belong to no other creature except werewolves…

They ran forward and saw five werewolves, one bound, one howling in agony and three others trying to attack a silvery white defense shield which protected a lonely girl. Draco could see the shimmering shield slowly, but surely giving away to the pounding heavy paws and claws. He knew that throwing any spells at them would be useless, having been in such a situation before but a little reversed. At that time, there had been five people surrounding one werewolf which they overcame with a considerable amount of effort. This time, it was Hermione bloody Granger trapped with five werewolves. Draco had always wondered whether there was something that attracted trouble in little do-good-Gryffindors. Harry Potter being the prime example and the trapped witch not far behind on that list. Whatever the matter, Draco was sure that it would not be easy for six people (considering whether Granger would be able to attack, if she didn't then it would be five people) get rid of five werewolves. Draco was suddenly glad that Potter decided to leave his bumbling fool (read Longbottom!) at the gate. He would be nothing but a liability but was sure that Matthews would've been a help. Well, he thought, you can't have the world!

Draco looked over at Potter who stared back at him. This was how they communicated, understanding each other's plans perfectly. "5-C, from the back," was all he said and Draco nodded, turning back urgently and whispering the plans to the rest so as not to attract attention of the beasts. He could see the worry in the eyes of his team mates, even Blaise but it was most evident on Potter's face and his eyes seemed afraid, not for his own life but for Granger's. They quickly took up their positions in such a way to take the werewolves by surprise but, to Draco's dismay, the wind changed its direction. The wolves slowed down as well and sniffed the air, slowly turning in the directions of their position. Heck with the plan, they needed to act now!

"Fuck the plan!" He shouted at the top of his voice, "move, NOW!"

Almost instantaneously, spells shot out from five different wands. The werewolves leapt towards them dodging the spells and the aurors spread apart, trying to get better aims. Draco moved right as a werewolf landed almost in front of him, jaw snapping and drooling. He almost got his arm bitten off before the werewolf fell to the ground, mid leap, bound in shackles made of silver and struggling as hard as he could. Draco had always been great with that spell. He looked around and saw that the rest were having trouble with the three other werewolves, as no spell was affecting them… He bound forward, slowing down the wolf that was about to mangle Blaise's pretty, head, Draco would surely be thanked later for saving his best friend's precious hair!

Potter had run over towards Granger and somehow, blasted the werewolf still at her shield away from his path. Her shield by now had gone down and she almost collapsed as he reached out to her. He snorted and looked away to where Arun and Boot were fending off a wolf using fire. Draco aimed a spell at the creature but missed as it was too fast and jumped out of the way. Potter, having already bound one, was trying to help him. Finally, all of them surrounded the only beast left unrestrained and managed to bind him but they were unable to silence his howls which tore into the night before Blaise hit him with a sleep inducing spell right in his eyes.

Panting heavily, Draco wiped his brow which was covered in beads of sweat. "That's a job well done!" He said to his team mates who nodded appreciatively. He heard a whimper and looked around and saw Granger in Potter's arms. She was trembling and he was soothingly rubbing her back and head trying to calm her down.

"I thought I was about to die!" she said hysterically…

"Pity you didn't!" Draco replied cruelly. After all, this was what he was best at. And moreover, the little bint deserved it, hadn't she told him that he was being dumb when he was trying to look out for her…

"Malfoy! Can't you give it a rest!" Potter's eyes flashed behind his glasses as he stopped Granger from replying scathingly by turning her back in his embrace and soothing her anger and fears, holding her close.

"Draco, don't…" This time, it was Blaise who said that as he walked over to the slightly trembling girl. "Are you alright Hermione?" He asked her as she stood beside Potter.

"I guess so. Just scared a bit. Actually, I was scared a lot five minutes ago!"

"Don't worry, anyone in your position would have been!" He replied kindly. Granger smiled back at him. Draco had had enough of the sappy situation!

"Hey Draco, what to do with these guys?" Arun came to his rescue. He had been stacking the wriggling body of the beasts together.

"Yeah. We should jus-"

"Wait!" Granger cut in, "I want to try something."

"What precisely?"

"Just give me a second. I'll show you…"

She walked over to the bound werewolves who eyed her like dinner walking towards them willingly. If she unbound them, Draco had no doubt what would happen to her. No, even she wasn't stupid enough to do something so dumb and fatalistic. But, who knew what nobility went into the minds of Gryffindors. If she died, the blemish on Draco's reputation as a chief auror would be in shambles. The blemish of the death of a trainee dying on a field mission under his supervision would never be washed away. Draco would be damned before letting her do something like that. He took out his wand, tense in his hand. Ready to handle any sort of dumb situation that she would create.

Granger went towards the first werewolf which she had bound and raised her wand. Then, continued to move it in a very complicated motion. Her wand emitted a golden brownish light which engulfed the writhing form of the werewolf in front of her and Draco, in spite of himself, lowered his wand to watch the spectacle, and so did everyone else. The werewolf cried out in visible agony and for a moment, Draco thought that the muggle born was torturing the creature, not that it did not deserve it but such a deed was so out of character for her. But, when he saw the fur shrinking back in the skin of a large rugged body and face becoming a bit human like, did he realize that she had turned the monster in a human being.

The man glared at the people present there and spat at Granger's feet. Before Draco could do anything, Potter and Blaise caught him by his arms and collar and held him back roughly as he tried to lunge at her again. Arun had pulled her back and now faced the rough uncouth man who, a few minutes back had been a werewolf, along with the other aurors. Draco commanded Boot to call Sarah Matthews and Longbottom. Next, he turned to the three men who had begun questioning the bound male, who was snarling at them and growling at Granger ever so often even in his human form. "Guys, stop it, we have to move. This neither time, nor place for a questioning session. The anti apparition wards may go down any time and who knows what happen then if some of their friends decide to pay us a visit." Draco saw the others realize that he was talking sense. By now, Matthews and Longbottom had come to the scene of crime, with amazement and not shock in their eyes, telling Draco that they must have been briefed about the situation by Boot on their way.

"You're right Draco." Blaise, always the voice of reason backed away and picked up a heavy looking rock and touched it with his wand, muttering under his breath. The rock glowed blue and Draco knew that it had been transformed into a portkey. Arun and Potter levitated the werewolves and the snarling man and bound them magically to the portkey. Everyone gathered around the rock, Granger took out something from her bag, and Draco saw it was the same puppy which she had been holding earlier. He rolled his eyes at her in disbelief and she glared back defensively, holding the soft and tiny, licking creature closer to herself. He could not believe she still had it with her. Really, he would never be able to understand how her mind worked.

And with that last thought, all of them touched the portkey and feeling a tug behind their navel, were whisked away back to the assured safety of their department, with a full intent of working out the mystery presented to them which was getting deeper and deeper every step…

Sorry for any spelling or grammatical error. Anyways, right now I am too sleepy to care. Do review, it makes my day. All types of reviews are welcome. Feel free to point out any mistakes but please review!!!