'I'm going to kill that asshole!' Merton snarled after he had seen my shiny red cheek the next morning.

'Merton, clam down.' I said in barely more than a whisper

'No, I'm sick of it,' Merton growled 'These blokes thinking they can lay their fucking hands on you!'

'Shouting isn't going to fix anything,' I sighed 'I'll just have to grin and bare detention.'

Merton let out a frustrated noise, and I pouted up at him, I had never seen him angry before, he was practically shaking with rage.

'I'll go get you a calming draught.' I said, and made my way out of the cubical, but turned back at the sound of the curtain

'Merton, no!' I cried as he marched towards the hospital doors, his wand in hand 'I'm going to give that bastard a good hiding!'

I chased after Merton through the corridors, pleading with him to not do what he was about to do, ignoring the surprised students in passing.

He burst into the Great Hall with me in chase, and stormed towards the high table where Amycus could be seen talking with his sister Alecto.

'Merton, no!' I cried as he grabbed the shocked Amycus by the collar, hoisted him up and slammed his fist into his yelling face.

'Think you can touch my girlfriend and get away with it! Fucker!'

'Gerroff-me-!' Amycus snarled, and growled as he was pushed to the floor, Merton now on top of him.

'Think-think you're something special do you?' spat Amycus, Merton's fist hovering mid-air 'Opens her legs to anyone that one, better watch out you don't catch anything.'

Merton let out a guttural snarl, but before he could land another punch, they were forced apart, Merton fell to the ground in a heap and I hurried towards him, Alecto had her wand raised, looking incensed as she helped Amycus stand up right.

'You're in for it now!' Alecto screamed 'CRUCIO'

Merton cried in agony and writhed on the floor 'NO, NO STOP-PLEASE.'

I was wrenched away from my squirming boyfriend

'Don't get yourself caught in the line of fire.' it was Neville who was holding me back, with a shocked Luna and Ginny behind him.

'Please-please stop-please!' I plead, watching him twisting and turning in pain.

Alecto's wand shot out of her hand, I turned to see who had done it and Snape had appeared with a wide eyed Ravenclaw girl in toe.

Neville let me go and I lowered to my knees, cradling Merton in my arms as he twitched furiously.

'Morris, take your husband to the hospital wing. Alecto, Amycus, with me.' Snape ordered

Amycus shot us a death glare as he held his bleeding nose...

'Back here again.' Merton grumbled once he was back in a hospital bed.

'Madam Pomfrey just needs to check you over.'

His head shook

'S'fine,' he grunted 'most of the pain's gone.'

Merton's hand gripped my arm as I began to cry

'Mara-come home-' Merton plead 'Please, don't stay, not with those psycho's here.'

I wiped my eyes on my sleeve

'M-maybe I should.' I sniffled 'But not yet.'

Merton groaned

'Christmas, I won't return after Christmas.'

He gave me a look of relief.

'Good.' he said with a sigh 'Then we can focus on being a family again, yeah?'

I nodded and Merton rose into a seated position, where he pulled me in a tight embrace.

'I'm sorry for losing it,' Merton breathed 'I just-I just can't stand anyone laying their hands on you. It isn't right.'

I hiccoughed as more tears dropped down my cheeks, and I gripped onto him even tighter, until Madam Pomfrey came bustling in, declaring Merton fit to leave.

Ginny, Luna and Neville were all sat in the hall outside, and rose when they spotted us.

'Mara, is everything alright?' Ginny asked, looking genuinely concerned

I glowered, and pulled Merton by the three before he could reply.

'Mara, wait-' Ginny called, but I ignored her.

'That was kind of rude, Mara.' said Merton

'They're the one's who ditched me, I don't care what they have to say.'

Merton frowned but said nothing more on the subject.

I walked hand in hand with him until we reached the bridge, ignoring the staring gazes in passing.

'Mara-' Merton began 'come with me. Come with me now, whilst you can.'

My head shook

'Merton, please don't do this,' I replied 'I said I won't return after the holidays, I promised.'

Merton pouted, but kissed me back as I pressed my lips onto his.

'See you soon.' he said, shook his head and turned away from me, walking towards the boundaries before disappearing from view.

Fresh tears leaked down the corner of my eyes, and I wiped them before turning towards the castle, where fear rooted me to the spot upon seeing Snape, Amycus and Alecto standing in the doorway waiting for me, and I braced myself before walking towards them...

I was in the Headmasters office once more, Snape was staring at me in thought which put me on edge, and I was right to feel that way, for, at once, the office vanished from view.

Image after image was flickering from my mind, the memories of Greyback so vivid it felt as if it was happening all over again, then pictures of my pregnancy popped up and the birth with my family surrounding me, and Harold cropping up as we talked in the Forbidden Forest.

I felt a sharp pain to my knee, Snape's office came back into view and I realised I had fallen to the floor, gasping in fear.

I dared a glance up at Snape, who looked unfazed by seeing all he had seen in my mind.

He pressed his fingers to his jaw in thought.

'Amycus, Alecto, search the forbidden forest for a black fox, with particular markings on it's back.'

'What for? Amycus demanded

'I believe Harold Morris has been infiltrating the castle's grounds as a fox, I am unsure if he has returned however from his quest to find Greyback.'

Both Carrows looked surprised

'Right, we're on it!' they both turned and left the office, and Snape watched as I pulled myself up onto my feet and wobbled onto the chair.

'So...I was right in thinking you were lying to me.'

'I had to-' I said, looking back up at Snape 'I had to, to protect them, to protect Artemas, if Greyback finds out, he'll take him from me and turn him into a werewolf, I know it.'

Snape considered me for a moment and I watched as he rose to his feet and turned towards Dumbledore's portrait.

'So, you knew about this, did you?'

Dumbledore cast a sad smile down at him and nodded.

'Of course,' Dumbledore replied 'I had to do my best to protect Miss Morris and her family.'

Snape pinched his nose in apparent stress and turned back towards me.

'You still harboured a fugitive, Morris.'

'I couldn't help it,' I frowned 'my dad just kept turning up.'

Snape returned to his seat and stared at me in thought.

'You may leave.'

I shot a surprised look at Snape

'What-that's-that's all?' I asked 'You're not going to punish me or something.'

'Detention with Professor Carrow will suffice enough,' Snape replied 'go.'

I rose to my feet and turned towards the exit, feeling glad Snape didn't see it fit to punish me even more.

Though I wondered why he didn't.