Seymour awoke late the next morning, his mind instantly awash with memories of the previous night. He could still picture the beast's snarling eyes vividly, Malfoy's terrified expression and Snape's sneering glance of contempt... and Luna, her parting kiss before leaving for her dorm.
He pushed himself up off his mattress wearily, stumbling over to his trunk to fish out his robes from the tangled mess of Quidditch gear and old copies of the Quibbler. He shot from the bathroom to the portrait hoping to catch a late breakfast before the mornings lessons. He clattered down the chilly corridors desperately trying to wrestle his transfiguration textbook into his already bulging bag. He stopped when a voice beckoned him from the passage leading towards the west wing of the castle.
"Seymour."
It was Professor Goodwin. He gave Seymour a wry smile as he peered at the boy's bag, a small rip creeping along the seam where his book was crammed.
"Professor?" Seymour skidded to a halt and approached his teacher. The professor's eyes were punch purple and hung heavy. He looked exhausted as if no sleep had passed between himself and the night before.
"Can I have a moment?" He requested and before waiting for an answer turned and walked slowly down the passage leading to his classroom. Seymour frowned but followed behind entering the empty room. Professor Goodwin sat on one of the desks with his arms folded. "Close the door please." He nodded. Seymour did so and leant on the desk next to his teacher.
"I wanted to talk about what happened last night." The Professor's tone was relaxed and he smiled at his student.
"Yeah... Sir about that I..."
"I believe you." Professor Goodwin straightened up and fixed him with a hard stare.
"You do?" Seymour's eyes widened and he gave his teacher a sceptical look.
"I do." He repeated rising from the desk and beginning to pace the aisles. "Unless you'd like to change your story?" He asked with a grin.
"No, no. It's just... why?"
"Why not? I don't believe that you or Luna are prone to telling tales and after years of experience I find I've grown awful astute at reading people."
"But then sir what is it?"
"I have absolutely no idea. Having not seen the creature myself I really couldn't begin to guess." He wandered over to the window overlooking the forest. "But it is my responsibility as a teacher of this school to take its students safety and wellbeing very seriously." He clasped his hands behind his back and breathed in deep. "So why don't you tell me everything from the start. From the first sighting."
And Seymour did as he was asked. The attack by the Black Lake, the sighting at the Quidditch game and the events of last night Seymour left nothing out and Professor Goodwin listened intently.
"... and now Snape has used a spell that means I can't even go near Luna outside of lessons let alone talk to her. The slimy git." Seymour finished letting out a frustrated grunt before realising who he was talking to. "Sorry Sir." He added sheepishly.
Professor Goodwin chuckled and nodded. "Sounds very gittish indeed." he agreed before remaining silent for a moment, thinking. "The fact your spells have an effect on the creature means it's unlikely to be any sort of illusion. Mr Malfoy could be lying, he is known for it... especially if he has something to do with it."
"Maybe..." Seymour said but he still felt sceptical about it.
"Anyway I don't think you and Luna running around the castle hunting this monster is a particularly good idea." He noted adding quickly, "you've done well together but if this thing is real then I think it's best if you're not left to fight it alone. Seymour I want you to promise me that if you spot this beast again that you come find me immediately. Do not under any circumstances attempt to take it on by yourself." There was no hint of arrogance in his voice just genuine concern. "I've faced this stuff before. We stand a better chance of stopping this if we work together. I will be telling the same thing to Luna of course so please Seymour promise me you'll do this."
"I promise." Seymour couldn't argue with the logic and felt having a trained ex-Auror on their side would not be the worst thing in the world.
"Speaking of Luna. She'll be ok won't she?" The teacher asked giving him a sympathetic look. "I've noticed that she doesn't really have many friends in her year and now what with Snape..."
"Oh don't worry sir Luna will be fine." Seymour was fairly sure of this. "She may not be on everyones wave length but there are still others, Harry Potter for one and then there's Marie."
"Marie?"
"Yeah she's besotted with Luna." He chuckled. "Probably even more than me. No wait I didn't mean I... it's just..."
The Professor grinned again and shook his head. "Snape really has done you a great misfortune hasn't he?"
Seymour could feel his cheeks flush but laughed. "Anyway if you're looking for Luna she's probably with Marie down by Hagrid's."
"I think I'll avoid Hagrid's for the time being. The last time I paid him a late visit I got so drunk I... anyway I'm sure I'll bump into her before our next lesson but in the meantime do me a favour and try to keep yourself and Miss Lovegood out of trouble... as hard as that may be." He smiled and patted him on the shoulder.
"It's a perfectly valid question." Alice grumbled on their way out of their Transfiguration lesson.
"Stop harassing the boy." Lloyd argued and shot Seymour a consoling look.
"Look Alice nothing happened we just didn't realise the time that's all." Seymour replied having spent the entire lesson dodging Alice's bombardment of judgemental looks and questions on why Seymour had returned back to the common room late yet again last night. Having missed breakfast he hadn't had much time to explain.
"I'm just worried that's all and I'm not harassing him Lloyd, I'm his friend."
"Ok so its friendly harassment then."
"I'll give you harassment in a minute!"
"You're on your own Sey."
"Thanks Lloyd."
At that moment Robin came clattering down the hall, dragging his bag along the floor behind him.
"Oh my god Muggles are boring!" He moaned evidently referring to his Muggle Studies class. "I know what a blasted vacuum cleaner is. It does not need its own chapter in a text book and definitely doesn't require a 30 minute discussion."
Alice sniggered and chirped happily. "Well you did insist on taking the easy option Rob."
"Oh Alice I don't care if it's you. I'm just happy to be out of there." Robin swooned dramatically and wrapped his arms around her waist dragging her back. "Moan all you want just don't make it about toasters or the evolution of the telephone."
"Anyway..." she grumbled pushing Robin's face away with the palm of her hand. "Come on Sey, fess up. What happened last night with you and Luna." She continued, her sharp gaze unrelenting.
"If I tell you will you please let it drop and say no more about it." Seymour asked in defeat knowing he'd have to explain at some point if he were to ever get any peace.
"Of course I will."
"I bet she won't."
"Shut up Robin."
"Come here." Seymour ushered them aside and into the nearest empty classroom, shutting the door behind them.
He then began to tell them about the events of last night, Lloyd's eyes widening with every word and Alice's tutting of disapproval getting louder with every line.
"Seymour Turner I really don't know why you keep -"
"Yes Alice I know, I know. Your beginning to sound more and more like a teacher you know?" Seymour frowned at her.
Alice beamed at him before realising this was not a compliment and opted for one of her tried and tested looks of disapproval.
"Scary stuff though mate." Lloyd added.
"Very. And now Snape's made it impossible for me to see Luna at all outside of class which makes things a lot worse considering..." he was toying with the idea of not mentioning the next part but he was so pleased with the fact he couldn't help himself. "Me and Luna are well... you know?"
"Deranged?" Asked Robin.
"Together."
"What?" Robin shot up from the desk he was leaning on.
"Oh Seymour!" Alice clasped her hands together and let a huge smile run across her face.
"You are joking?" Robin continued.
"You old dog." Lloyd chuckled patting his friend on the shoulder.
"It just sorta happened." Seymour could feel his face going red but was relieved to finally tell his three friends.
"I don't believe this!" Robin threw his hands into the air in dismay.
"What? Calm down Rob you must have known I-"
"I will not calm down! First you tell us some crazy story about you and Luna chasing some imaginary creature around the castle and now you're telling me you're snogging the maniac!"
"Robin!" Alice glared at him.
"Alice people are laughing at him. You know they have been but this... this will make it ten times worse."
"Robin I don't care if they're laughing." Seymour said feeling his heart sink as he surveyed his friend's reaction.
"Well you should. And what about us? A friend to the boyfriend of the freak. Might as well brand us social pariahs for life!"
"What did you call her?" Seymour went strangely quiet his hands shaking.
"She's gonna get you killed if you carry on. She'll have you believing Filch is a vampire next and the only way to catch him is to let him drink your blood or something. Oh man Malfoy's gonna have a field day with this." Robin kicked one of the stools aside and slammed his hand onto the desk. "I can't just sit back and watch her drag my friend into her insane world of nonsense."
"Friend? Are you joking? All you've done from day one is put her down and ignore her. No friend of mine would do that to the girl I -"
"The girl you what? Don't make me laugh Sey. I'll give you two weeks of being laughed at by the entire school before you chuck the deluded moron."
Seymour didn't even realise he was moving until his hands had grasped Robin's collar and he was pushing the boy up against the classroom door.
"Don't say one more word about her!"
Robin's front momentarily faltered before he pushed Seymour back hard in the chest slamming him into the desk behind.
"I'll say what I like! Don't pretend you even give a toss about what I think anyway!" Robin's voice cracked slightly but it buzzed with anger as he wrapped a hand around his friend's throat.
Alice rushed forward and tried to get in between them but the scuffle pushed her backwards. She stumbled over the fallen stool and crashed her back into the corner of the desk before falling to her knees.
"STOP!" Lloyd grabbed Robin with one hand and pushed Seymour back with the other. "Robin just go!" He half pleaded but a force that was foreign to his voice sharpened his words.
Robin's eyes flickered towards Alice who was pulling herself back up. He stepped back letting his arms fall slack at his sides. "I'm sorry Alice." He then shot his eyes back onto Seymour who was breathing heavily. "Fine. You do what you want but I'm not sticking around to watch you crash and burn." He flung a discarded textbook across the room in anger and stormed out of the classroom, rattling the frame as he slammed the door shut.
The next few weeks at Hogwarts were some of the worst Seymour had ever spent at the castle. Not being able to see Luna was bad enough but now Robin wasn't talking to him and did all he could to avoid being in the same room as each other. Alice did her very best to get them back on reasonable terms but with neither seemingly willing to make the first move she announced that until they both had grown up and stopped acting like little boys she would be taking no further part.
"But he's a complete arse. You heard what he said." Seymour pointed out during a busy potions lesson.
"Yes he is, what he said was horrible but he is sorry I know he is. He's just being Robin, you know what he's like. He can be as blunt a hammer sometimes but he always regrets it afterwards." Alice replied softly.
"Oh well that's ok then. He can say what he likes then as long as he feels bad about it afterwards."
"I didn't say it was ok." Alice pointed out wearily.
"No Alice, he's gone too far. If he wants to apologise then fine but I've nothing to be sorry for."
"Are you and Robin still not talking?" Luna asked having returned from the stock cupboard with a handful of toad eyeballs. "What is this all about?"
"It's nothing Luna really. How many eyeballs did it say again?" Seymour quickly changed the subject. Potions was one of the few classes where he got to spend any time with Luna and he wasn't going to waste it discussing Robin.
"Two I think and why are you avoiding the question?" Luna asked casually.
"He's good at that isn't he?" Alice joined in giving him a stern look.
The two girls nodded at each other and turned to face him.
"So Lloyd what were you saying to me earlier about not being able to help Alice with her Runes homework because you'd be too busy in the greenhouse over the weekend?"
Lloyd fumbled his eyeball and dropped it onto the floor where it was squished loudly by Colin Creevey's passing foot. He glared at Seymour who mouthed the word sorry but didn't interrupt when Alice turned towards him with eyes of disappointment and an argument poised on her tongue.
"So Luna have you spoken anymore to Professor Goodwin about you know what?"
"Only once last week and I went to speak to him yesterday but his office was empty." She replied sinking onto her chair and pressing up against him.
"What about Malfoy. Do you really think he could be involved somehow?"
"I don't think so but the full moon's coming up so maybe we should keep an eye on him."
"Seymour could you get me another jar of eyeballs?" Lloyd asked with a pleading look as he leaned further away from a nagging Alice who was stressing how hard she was finding her Runes class and how grateful she would be for his help.
Feeling guilty Seymour obliged and rose from his seat.
"I'll come with you." Luna announced and got up to follow him.
The cupboard was dusty and cramped due to the masses of oddities that packed the shelves. Once they were inside Luna breathed a sigh of relief. "Finally." She rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck pushing him back towards the shelf of dragon scales. She leaned upwards and kissed him softly, the scent of flowers and fresh grass invading Seymour senses making him feel light headed.
"So this is why you wanted to help?" He asked, running his hands over her back and onto her waist.
This was a rare side of Luna that he only saw occasionally being as they were being kept apart and he never saw it coming which made it all the more exciting.
"It's just so difficult to find some decent time alone. Don't you agree?" She explained with a coy smile. "And what better way to get back at Snape than to start snogging in his own stock cupboard right under his very nose."
They both laughed trying to stifle themselves so that no one would hear.
"Think of the points we'd lose for this." He pondered pulling her face towards his and letting her warm breath tickle his nose.
"So awful. So terribly unruly." Her voice trailed off as his lips met hers again. Being apart for so long during the week only made these few moments more intense, more vital and while it added to the fun it only served as a reminder of how good it could be if they had all the time in the world.
He ran his thumb over her lip peering deep into her eyes which swam hazily, slightly out of focus and sultry. To be this close, this intimate with Luna who was normally so placid and calm, to witness this Luna, the Luna that no one else knew about made Seymour's heart beat ferociously. This was the Luna that scared him the most in the best way possible.
She ran her hand through the back of his hair pulling it lightly, pushing herself forward for another kiss.
"Don't worry Professor I'll get them." Robin announced loudly dashing into the cupboard which made the two of them pull part quickly. He was followed instantly by Professor Snape how looked disgruntled with his student.
"Mr Swink I am quite capable of fetching my own ingredients." He said sternly, stopping still when he saw Luna and Seymour.
"Quite right sir." Robin replied but quickly reached for the nearest jar of rat tails, handing them to his teacher. "Just thought you looked a little tired, putting up with such a noisy class. It must be really-"
"Shut - up." Snape cut in wearily looking throughly bored. He eyed the other two students and sneered. "Surely you two have something better to do than hang around inside my store cupboard? What with your pitiful cauldrons boiling over out there."
Seymour grabbed the jar of toad eyes from the shelf and glared at his teacher who didn't look away.
"Anything else I can get for you sir?" Robin asked loudly motioning towards the stacked shelves.
Snape looked at him with great derision in his eyes.
"No? Well then off we all go. Busy, busy, busy." Robin made to leave and caught Seymour's eye. For a brief second he thought he saw a grin come across his friend's face before he exited the cupboard and made his way back to his cauldron which was hissing loudly and turning a sickly shade of green.
As February reached its late stages along with it came a spate of unseasonably clear days though the chill still keeping the evenings cold and quiet around the castle grounds. Seymour trudged across the castle lawn keeping a tense eye on the fading light in the sky knowing the fated full moon was due within the next few hours.
He hadn't had the chance to catch up with Luna since yesterday in their Defence lesson when she mentioned she was going to spend the day with Marie down by Hagrid's cabin. Being a free period he had little to do so spent a few hours with the Quidditch team for late night practice before heading across the castle to meet Alice and Lloyd in the library to finish up some homework.
A low rumble of thunder whispered somewhere far off over the mountains and the smell of rain was starting to permeate the air. A cluster of dark clouds creeped on the edge of the horizon forcing the high moon's glow over the grounds to dim. A few windows in the castle lit up in reciprocation and Seymour quickened his pace hoping the library would provide a warmer reception than that of the Quidditch pitch.
He froze however when the sight of someone frantically running across the castle lawn towards came into his eye line. The image of Luna would normally send a surge of excitement coursing through his blood but only the cold hand of dread clutched his stomach as he took note of the fear that stained her features. He felt his mind lurch as he turned and sprinted towards her. She was breathing heavy and grasped onto his robes. She looked up at him her eyes wide and searching.
"I was too late! Seymour I don't know what to do!"
He held her shoulder trying to keep his hand steady. "Luna what do you mean. What's happened?"
"It's attacked a student. The beast has killed someone."
He took a second for her words to fill his mind before breathing in deep and letting her arm go. "Where? Who?"
"I don't know but there's blood and signs of an attack."
"Show me."
Luna grasped his hand and dragged him over the deserted lawn towards the back of Hagrid's cabin. A clear space of ground that years ago used to house Buckbeak Hagrid's Hippogriff came into view in the dim light. Luna was correct, a struggle had clearly taken place. The fence that ran along the edge of the forest was smashed in two and was covered in a light smearing of blood. On the ground near an old water trough lay a black Hogwarts robe again coated in a spatter of blood. Drag marks ran across the dirt on the floor, blood spots here and there and one drag line leading out of clearing and into the thick trees of the forest.
"I came back here after leaving with Marie this afternoon to collect my bag I'd left and…" she motioned towards the carnage.
"We need to tell someone." Seymour peered into the forest but could see no sign of movement.
"Yes. I was going to when I ran into you."
"Hagrid?" Seymour suggested making towards the cabin's front door.
"He's not in."
"He's not? You don't think…" he cast a worried glance to the blood stains and crushed fence.
"No he said he was going into Hogsmeade this evening. He took Fang with him."
"Ok. Professor Goodwin then. He said to come find him if anything happened."
Luna nodded. "Let's be quick. We might not have a lot of time." She grabbed his hand again and took off running towards the castle.
The corridors were quiet and they didn't run into anyone until they bumped into the last person Seymour expected them to see.
"What are you two up to?" Robin blinked and backed away as Seymour came up to him grabbing his jacket.
"Rob have you seen Professor Goodwin anywhere? We need to find him."
"No. Why what's wrong?" He looked puzzled and frowned at them.
"Someone's been attacked by the creature."
"Oh come on. Is this a joke?" He eyed them sceptically and took another step back.
"Seymour we don't have time for this." Luna cut in calmly but not removing the urgency from her expression.
"You're right. Sorry Rob but if you don't believe me then I need to go."
Robin stood there for a second studying his friends panicked expression his frown still lingered but his eyes softened. "Ok I'm coming."
"Rob you-"
"Don't argue. If you're serious then you need all the help you can get." He joined Luna who was already further down the corridor and they both looked back at him.
They all took off running towards their Defence class hoping they would bump into any teacher along the way but the cold had evidently kept most inhabitants of the castle inside their common rooms or the library.
They approached the classroom door and crashed through it only to find it empty and silent. A small lamp in the corner of the room was the only source of light and cast a warm glow across the vacant tables and chairs.
Seymour let out a cry of frustration. Robin made for the office door and tried the handle. "Locked." He announced crestfallen.
Luna walked across the room and caught sight of a book on the desk at the head of the classroom. She held it aloft showing it to be the Professor's journal. "He can't have gone far. We must have just missed him."
Robin gave the office door a kick for good measure and turned towards the two of them. "What now?"
Seymour cast his eyes out of the window looking for signs of life in the grounds below. "I don't know. Dumbledore maybe? What do you think Luna? Luna?" He turned his head to face her but she wasn't listening. She was still standing at the head of the class looking down at a piece of paper she had taken from the notebook.
He walked up behind her and peered at the photo in her hand. "That's the photo I told you about last time remember. That's the Professor's daughter."
Luna turned her head slowly her eyes shimmering in the lamp light. They blinked once, then again as if she only now had registered what he was saying. She held the photo up to his eye line her hand trembling slightly. The two students happily beaming back at him.
"Seymour this is not Professor Goodwin's daughter." She explained taking her shaking finger and pointing to the blonde haired girl in the photo. "This is my mother."