She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Fenrir Greyback

With a crash, I landed on the dark living room floor of somebody's house. I jumped quickly to my feet and looked around me, to find out where I was.

I couldn't really see very much and, just as I was debating whether or not to transform into my wolf, because I was panicking, I heard voices from nearby.

"It sounded like someone coming in by Floo Powder," A man's voice said. "Probably just an accident, but you can never be too sure…"

"Oh, be careful…" A woman's voice said, and I heard footsteps approaching the room.

Trying to arrange myself so as to look as unthreatening as possible, and well aware by now of the fact that I was wearing my nighty, I waited until they'd come in and the woman had switched on the light.

The man's wand was raised but, when he saw that it was just a very sooty, night-gown-clad sixteen year old girl, he lowered it slightly. "Who are you?" He asked me.

I was instantly alert. I didn't want to tell anybody my name, because of the whole 'Death-Eaters-are-after-me' thing, so I just said: "Oh, umm…sorry about all this…" These were, clearly, not Remus' parents, and I glanced around me in confusion. "I…I think I missed a grate…or something. I'm looking for Remus…"

The woman's face brightened. "Ah, but he lives near to here! You mean Remus Lupin and his parents, correct?" I couldn't see her face but, clearly, she knew Remus and his parents.

I felt myself relaxing. "Yes. I'm a friend of his from school."

The woman beamed. "Ah yes, I went to Hogwarts. It's a fine institution. My daughter, Nymphadora, will be attending there in a few years."

Nymphadora? Alarm bells began ringing in my head, as I eyed the woman. "Your name isn't Dromeda, is it?"

She looked surprised, and moved into the light, and I bit back a gasp at this older but, nonetheless, kinder version of Bellatrix. "Why, yes it is. Ah, you must know my sister, Bellatrix, then?"

"We've met." I said, so shortly that Dromeda and Ted Tonks exchanged a glance, as he came hurrying back into the room wearing his overcoat, and he handed me a long pair of silver robes that looked like dress robes.

"Here, put these on and I'll take you to the Lupins," He said, as I pulled the robes on over my nightgown, gratefully. I didn't really want to go outside in my nighty.

To Dromeda, I apologized. "I'm sorry. I just don't get along with Bellatrix that much." I decided not to mention that she'd tried to torture me.

To my relief, Dromeda smiled. She had a kind smile, not at all like Bellatrix's cruel one. "It's alright. Have a safe journey."

I nodded, and followed Ted Tonks out of the house, my mind reeling – the Tonks family lived near the Lupins?

And, suddenly, I remembered something – Remus was supposed to marry Nymphadora when they both grew up.

I came to a halt out on the road, and gasped.

"What's wrong?" Ted asked, turning around and regarding me with an expression. He seemed shocked to see my face sp pale, and he hurried back to me. "What's the matter?" He took my shoulder.

I had started shaking.

The thought of Remus with someone else…the thought was horrifying…it made me feel nauseous, made me feel like I was going to collapse.

I couldn't imagine it…couldn't visualize it…

Didn't want to.

My Remus…with someone else…

I think I was having trouble breathing. It was supposed to happen. Remus was supposed to marry Tonks (Nymphadora) and have a baby with her, Teddy Remus.

But, no…Remus was mine…

But…I had Sirius…

But Remus was mine too…wasn't he?

Ted looked worried. "Are you alright?" He asked me but, just as I was about to answer, a high-pitched scream echoed from the house behind us, followed by a horrible cry, almost like a snarl…the snarl of a wolf…

There was an explosion.

"NYMPHADORA!!" Ted screamed, and pushed past me, running into the house and I could hear his wife's cries, hear Nymphadora's screaming…

I just stood there, frozen, not knowing what was going on.

I heard a yell, and what sounded like a howl…

And then someone came flying out of the second-storey window…a man with whiskers…a horrible-looking man, he looked part monster…he was wearing black Death Eater robes…he had someone with him…

A little girl, with bright blue pigtails, and she was screaming, she didn't want to die…

He would kill her. He would, and he'd enjoy it. I knew he would.

And suddenly, I regretted leaving my wand at the Potters'…

"Tonks…" I whispered, because that's who I knew her as. The one who would marry my Remus…

The man was running with her, dragging her into the trees that lined the Tonks' property, and suddenly I was running after him, shouting his name.

"FENRIR!!" I screamed, in a terrible voice.

The werewolf, who craved blood even when it was not a full moon, stopped, just as I transformed, and I was fully in my wolf form by the time he turned, and I attacked him.

I sank my fangs into his neck, as he let out a howl that sounded far more wolf-like than Remus' ever had, and he dropped Tonks. She scrambled up, staring at us in shock.

Growling, I sank my fangs into Fenrir Greyback's face, not caring if he knew I was an Animagi, just angry enough to kill, because he had tried to kill a child. An innocent child, who hadn't even gotten her wand yet.

"Bloody wolf!" Fenrir snarled, and threw me aside, so that I yelped as I hit a fallen tree branch. "I won't let a senseless animal deter my mission!" So, the man with the rasping voice did not know, did not know that I was really a human. He hadn't connected my voice with my change into a wolf.

That was good.

Fenrir began to head toward a terrified Tonks, who was staring at him in horror, but I jumped up again, and jumped onto his back, sinking my teeth into the back of his neck, and he half turned, his wand was out, a bright flash…and suddenly I was lying on the ground, bleeding from the chest.

I howled in agony, as Fenrir said: "Damn wolf…was supposed to be simple, the Pax girl was supposed to be there…"

'Oh no…so it WAS because of me…they're watching me…' I thought in misery, whimpering as I struggled to my feet, and he regarded me with his ugly, werewolf-like face.

He raised an eyebrow. "Can't believe some stupid animal's got this much spunk…hmm, might not be an animal after all, could be an Auror…" He raised his wand. "I'd better kill it, before I rip apart your throat, girlie…" He added, looking at Tonks, who gasped. Her face was wet with tears.

I growled, the hackles on my back standing up, as I limped toward Fenrir, preparing to strike. I didn't know if I'd be able to get that far – Fenrir Greyback was extremely strong, even when he wasn't a werewolf.

I should have known.

Fenrir raised his wand, and sent me flying back into a tree, and I didn't think I'd be able to get up again this time, because I was bleeding profusely now.

Fenrir cocked his head to one side, as I struggled to get up. "Hmm…definitely human-blood…smells sweet, too…" he licked his lips. "Very sweet…hmm…"

"Fenrir!" Shouted a terrible voice, and Remus Lupin crashed into the glade, wand pointed directly at Fenrir, and I felt a stab at my heart. Remus, no, what if he kills you! Oh, Remus, no! But I couldn't get up.

I could only watch as Fenrir recognised Remus. "Ah…Lupin…my creation…"

"I am not yours." Remus said coldly, not taking his eyes off of his fellow werewolf (I know, it's horrible to link those two together). "Leave Nymphadora alone." He hadn't seen me yet, he didn't know I was here. But he would soon. I couldn't let him get hurt for me.

Fenrir smiled evilly at him. "But I do so love children…to taste her sweet blood on my throat…after I get rid of you of course, that is." He added, and quickly raised his wand.

With a sharp, wolf-like bark, I forced myself to my feet and sprang at Fenrir, knocking him down with the force of it, as I sank my jaws into his neck again, tasted the horrible, warm blood in my mouth, felt myself get thrown off of him, knew I was bleeding terribly now, I might not make it…

Fenrir stood up, and raised his wand. "Time to finish this…" He began, just as we heard voices screaming.

"NYMPHADORA!!"

"REMUS!!"

"Damn!" Fenrir snarled angrily, and glanced quickly at me again, before he turned on the spot, and Disapperated, vanishing as Remus ran to me and flung himself to his knees at my side.

"Emma!" He gasped, gathering me in his arms. "Everyone's coming – can you transform!?" His voice was shaking. I opened one eye and saw his face was pale – his eyes were unusually bright.

I didn't know if I could – I was bleeding heavily, I didn't know what reaction my human body would have to my wolf-form injuries. Whimpering, I concentrated with all my might and, then, I felt Remus' arms tighten around me and so I knew I must've done it, as he muttered: "Oh my God, Emmy…what were you doing? Why did you come here tonight? Em…my Emma…"

"Remus," I gasped, keeping my eyes tight shut. I felt terrible pain in my chest and arms, but not as much pain as the Cruciatus Curse had caused me. "My Remus…my partner…"

"Emma…" Something cold and wet dripped onto my face – Remus was crying. I felt terrible.

"The wolf…she's really a girl?" I heard Tonks say, and I thought she was edging closer to where Remus held me in his arms.

"Yes, Nymphadora," Remus said, and I could feel his whole body shaking. "But you mustn't tell anyone."

"I won't." She promised.