"So?" asked Alya, "Any gossip?"

"Oh my God," Sinead linked arms with Alya, "You have no idea."

The two of them walked out of earshot of the boys. Once far enough away Sinead launched into a torrent of explanation. She told Alya all about her conversation with Draco and Alya listened with her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide.

"And then he was all "I'm not talking about this with you, half-breed" and stormed off! I was like "Um okay, mate. See if you still think that after your first full moon.""

"You don't think he's transformed yet?" asked Alya.

"Na, he smelled too healthy."

Alya gave a hollow laugh. "Shit."

"I know"

"But I thought the Malfoys were like, pureblood royalty, right in You-Know-Who's inner circle."

"Yeah but I don't think they are anymore," Sinead smirked, "I reckon Lucius was responsible for the fuck up at the Ministry the other week."

"So this is You-Know-Who punishing him."

"Uh-huh," Sinead nodded, "The good old-fashioned turn-his-kid-into-a-werewolf strategy."

For a moment Sinead looked seriously pissed off and a muscle in her jaw twitched, but then she composed herself.

"Come on," she said, "We'd better get back or the boys'll wonder what we're doing."

"Let them wonder," Alya winked, and slapped Sinead's butt as she walked past. Sinead rolled her eyes and followed.

When they got back none of the boys initially asked what Sinead and Alya had been talking about. They knew better than that. For a few moment's Sinead and Alya were even allowed to sit down across the clearing from them, and talk about mundane things like the weather. But Patrick wasn't going to let Sinead get away with that. He stood up abruptly.

"Sinead."

That was all he said and then turned walking into trees.

Sinead sighed. God, he was such a drama queen. Was she not going to get one moment of peace today?

"So," Patrick said, once she had caught up with him, "Anything you'd like to share?"

"Not really, Patrick."

"So you and Alya were just talking about...?"

"Our vaginas."

"Really?" he folded, his arms.

"Yeah," Sinead shrugged, "Our periods just synced!"

She'd pushed it too far.

Suddenly, Patrick had her pinned up against a tree by her throat. She kicked him and fought but he was twice the size of her.

"You need to remember your place," he snarled, baring his teeth.

"My place?" Sinead choked, "Patrick my Dad literally owns you. You think I can't get you killed in a heartbeat?"

"So why don't you?" he taunted, "Is it because you're scared your Father doesn't really give a shit about you?"

"No," Sinead answered a little too quickly.

"Oh, I seem to have touched a nerve," said Patrick, leaning in closer. When they were almost nose to nose he whispered, "Your werewolf is showing."

Fuck. That phrase was the pack's code for when she started to transform outside of the full moon. Sinead made on last ditch attempt to get free when a crack split through the forest and both of them froze.

Then catching the scent, Patrick went back to his cocky self.

"Speak of the devil," he said, and let go of Sinead. She fell to the floor drawing breath and when she looked up he was gone. She got up and walked after him.

Everyone was on their feet when she got back, and was gathering their belongings (which for most was basically a coat and a knife.

Greyback was stood waiting. Sinead picked up her own coat and walked over to him.

"What's happening?"

"I need you all back with the rest of the pack," he said, "I've had a tip off, the Ministry know where we are so we need to move and quickly."

Sinead didn't need telling twice. She grabbed he Dad's arm and caught a glimpse of Tom and Alya pairing up with Jones and Patrick (the only two who could apparate) before she felt a jerk behind her navel and she closed her eyes.

When she opened them they were stood in yet another random bit of woodland, only here there were dozens of werewolves. The other split off and started moving amongst the crowd, greeting others that they hadn't seen in weeks. Sinead watched them, forgetting her Dad was even stood there until-

"Why are your eyes yellow?" he demanded.

She turned to look at him. She thought, and it was a very optimistic thought, that there was something in his grey eyes. Concern? Worry? He definitely had an odd look about him. She couldn't figure it out.

"It's nothing," she said, only thankful that her teeth, at least, where back to normal.

Seeming satisfied that his parenting duties for the day were over, he grasped her shoulder roughly (the closest thing to a sign of fatherly affection Sinead ever got) and then disappeared into the crowd.