The following Care of Magical creatures lessons consisted of visiting Grawp and spending the hour we had teaching him mannerisms and English. Sometimes the black fox would reappear and sit at my feet as I petted it, I had come to expect to see the fox every lesson. It was a carefree hour spent without judgement from prying eyes.

The gossiping hadn't died down like it usually does over the following weeks, the only thing I looked forward to these days was Care of Magical Creatures.

Halfway through October came the first trip of the term to Hogsmeade, which I woke early on the morning of, and it was proving to be stormy weather.

Filch was standing at the oak front doors as usual, checking off the names of people who had permission to go into Hogsmeade.

'What does it matter if we're smuggling dark stuff OUT.' demanded Ron, eyeing the long thin Secrecy Sensor with apprehension 'Surely you ought to be checking what we bring back IN.' His cheek earned him a few extra jabs with the Sensor.

'Mara.' I turned around at the calling of my name

'Oscar, uh, hey.'

'I'm on duty during the visit,' said Oscar 'mind if I walk with you?'

I was still suspicious of him, but maybe if I played it cool he'd become more comfortable, and eventually confide in me?

'Sure.'

He followed me out into the wind and sleet.

'Bad weather,' grunted Oscar, who, too was covered in layers, his scarf curled around his jaw 'so, how are your classes going?'

'Okay, I guess,' I muttered 'how are your duties? Did your Auror friend give you a break in the end?'

'Oh, uh, yeah,' he shifted uncomfortably 'uhm, Mara...I need to talk to you about something.'

I gave him a sideways glance 'It's about...things, I've been hearing the students saying about you and I'm worried.'

'I don't feel comfortable talking about it here,' I said after a short pause 'maybe we can go to the Hogs Head and we'll talk about it there, more private.'

'Yeah, alright.' Oscar frowned, his eyes surveying me closely.

The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable, I wrapped my scarf over the lower half of my face, the exposed part soon felt both raw and numb. The road to the village was full of students bent double against the bitter wind, once we entered, I noticed Zonko's Joke Shop was boarded up, a bad sign.

We made our way past the shops and towards the quieter part of the village into the Hogs Head, the shaggy haired man behind the counter eyed us suspiciously.

'A butterbeer, please.' I said, and he poured one for me and Oscar.

'Over here.' Oscar followed me to the back of the room after I paid for both our drinks.

'So...' Oscar muttered, and I sighed, my fingers clasping the glass hard so they didn't shake.

'It's true,' I began, and Oscar looked in alarm 'I was attacked by Greyback,' I said in a low tone so only we could hear.

'It happened before we were due back at school, in the manor...' my head shook 'he didn't bite me, nor infect me like the others are saying.'

Oscar's head shook, his face full of disbelief.

'How...did he-did he crucio you? Torture you?'' he suddenly looked angry

'He didn't use magic to torture me...' my eyes closed 'but I don't really want to get into the details, you're still a stranger and you've been acting...never mind.'

A guilty expression crossed Oscar's face and his eyes dropped to his drink, which he took a hearty swig of.

'If I ever get my hands on Greyback.' he snarled a little too loudly, so heads turned in our direction.

I wondered why Oscar seemed-protective-to even care so much, it wasn't his problem.

'Well, Care of Magical Creatures is going well,' I said for a change of subject 'that Fox is very friendly.'

Oscar's green eyes widened in alarm

'He even sat on my lap the other day!'

Oscar couldn't hide the anger on his face, and I thought, perhaps it was just from the news I had confirmed.

'Uh...well...let's finish up shall we?' I asked, downing my drink 'This place gives me the creeps.' I glanced around at the hooded people in the bar, any one of them could have been Death Eaters.

'Right.' said Oscar, he too finished his drink and rose as I did, we wrapped our scarves and coats around our bodies once more and braced for the bitter cold outside.

It was silent between us as we made our way back through the village, but shouting pulled our attention.

'What did you do, go back the night he died and strip the place!?'

'I-no-'

'Give it to me!'

'Harry, you mustn't!'

'Oi! Knock that off!' Oscar hurried forward with his wand raised, and I hurried to keep up with him.

There was a loud CRACK, the sound of disapparation.

'COME BACK YOU THEIVING-'

'Hey! I said knock that off.'

'And what are you doing,' snarled Harry, turning around to face me and Oscar 'taking a student to a secluded pub, I've seen you hanging around Mara like a bad smell, bit weird if you ask me!'

Oscar looked affronted and angry

'I've got it, Oscar.' came a new voice

'Tonks, I can handle it.'

'Go on, move on, I'm sure you've got duties elsewhere.'

Oscar glowered at Tonks

'Fine. And he stormed off, leaving me alone without a word. Sighing, I entered the pub, leaving Harry and the others to it.

The pub was packed with adults and students alike, I ordered a bottle of butterbeer and found myself a table, one, in which unfortunately, had Blaise Zabini lolling on a nearby poll, despite his vein and smug arrogance, his tall stature and features were rather attractive.

The Butterbeer tasted better in the Three Broomsticks that was for certain.

A shadow lingering over me pulled my disdain, and above me stood Zabini, inquisitiveness clear in his slanted brown eyes.

'What do you want, Zabini?' with as much contempt as I could muster.

'Oh, nothing, really,' Zabini smirked 'I've been hearing a lot of talk, mostly from Draco, I thought he was talking a lot of nothing, you know, like usual, and figured if anyone would know what's going on it's the one he's mocking.'

'Why should I tell you anything?' I growled

'So it's true, is it? You aren't denying it,' Zabini retorted 'You were attacked by that filthy mongrel? What did he do? I've been watching you closely and I haven't seen any bites or marks.'

'And how would you know?'

'Well, you've been rolling up your sleeves in the common room, I've seen you stretch for books and there's nothing on your skin from what I have seen.'

I knew I felt that bastard watching me every time I was in the common room, despite my fury my skin burned under his stare.

'So he must have cursed you, I reckon.'

'Are you done?' I snapped 'Will you leave me alone?'

Zabini smirked, he backed away without another word and went back to lolling against his poll. I ran my hand over my forehead in agitation.

Luckily he wasn't as smart as he thought he was, and I downed the rest of my drink, opting to buy another.

'Mara,' it was Hermione, whom Zabini gave a dirty look 'uh, look, Harry didn't mean what he said, he was just angry, he ran into someone he didn't want to see and took it out on you.'

'Oh, uh, it's fine.' I shrugged 'It must look strange in any case.'

'Just a little.' Hermione replied 'Be careful.' and she turned back towards her table.

Only when the warmth and fuzziness of the Butterbeer began to take hold did I decide it time to leave, Harry, Hermione and Ron having already left.

Emerging from the pub, my scarf in my hands ready to wrap, I noticed a familiar little critter standing in the middle of the road.

'Oh, it's you, hello.' I said as I wrapped my scarf around the lower half of my face.

The fox bounded playfully around around my feet and snuggled against my ankles 'You're a little far from home.' he jumped away from me, and seemed to nod it's head in a certain direction.

'You want me to follow you?' I asked 'Oh, er..'

What harm could a fox do, really?

'Well, alright.' I followed the fox a little away from the Three Broomsticks towards the Hogs Head

'Hey, wait up.' I panted, hurrying after the animal, which rounded a corner into an alley 'Jeeze.' I lowered my hands onto my knees, and stretched to full height, where I froze upon seeing a figure.

'Oh er, sorry, I was just-'

'It's really you, isn't it?'

My fingers flexed towards my wand

'Uh, sorry?'

The figure emerged from the shadows of the alley, and alarm hit me at the sight of the familiar man in rags, with matted dark hair and beard I had seen before.

I acted on instinct

'CRUCIO.' the man fell back, screaming, I turned and dashed towards the path to the school, panic erupting inside me, fuelling my race back to safety.