Harry and Aline sneak out of the castle unnoticed. It's far too easy. Everyone is sleeping or just exhausted from partying after the end of the dragon task to even remotely care about their absence. It helps that Harry's got a magical cloak the makes him invisible. As he wraps it around Aline's shoulders, she shivers in the cold of the castle.

"We will retrace our steps," she says when they're out. "We can find them..."

"If only we had Remus here. He'd know."

Aline swallows. "We might not have Remus, but I think I can do the job."

"You mean, sniff them out?" Harry smirks.

"Well I am a werewolf." Aline smiles. "Sometimes my skills come in super handy. One time, Ellie wanted to find some leftover snacks Remus hid from us, and I used my nose to find them." She suddenly frowns, shaking her head. "Right."

"We will find Ellie and Gabrielle. I promise," Harry says reassuringly. "Your nose...does it smell out a person?"

"I...think so," Aline says non-chalently. She's been hunting plenty of times, and can confidently track down hares and deer so she's pretty sure she can track a werewolf's main prey...

Muggle children.

"If I just smell something of hers for a second, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to find her..." Aline takes out a hairtie of Ellie's and gives it a quick whiff.

Her head fills with all sorts of colors and designs, like she can see what Ellie's scent looks like. It's her favorite color, purple, and there's a bit of mischevious spirit in there along with some playfulness. It's Ellie alright. When she sniffs the air around her, it's the like the scent has created a path for her to follow. She doesn't know how else to explain it, besides her intuition leading her where to go.

"This way," she says, confidently leading Harry on.

-x-x-x-

They come to a very rough and covered part of the Forbidden Forest-tons of trees and other magical plants grow around it, hiding the voices and howls of wolves. They're here, Aline knows it.

"Werewolves," Harry says.

"Yes." Aline takes off her satchel. "Harry I have a plan, I need you to trust me."

"I trust you. But I still need to make sure you've thought this through."

"I'm going to go there. By myself. And I need you to stay here and gaurd my back."

Harry's eyes grow wide with fear. "Not with the pack out! The only way they'd accept you is if..." Harry goes silent, suddenly understanding. "You. And the Werewolves?"

"Remember when I mentioned my sister and I going missing? Yeah." Aline swallows the need to explain more but the look on Harry's face suggests he's put two and two together. "And I won't need magic. However..." She hands him a small pouch with the vial of Wolfsbane. "I won't be taking this tonight, but I need you to keep this on you in case something goes wrong and I...lose control."

"And what if that doesn't help? I'll need backup."

"Then you can call for Professor Snape?"

"Snape?!" Harry all but cries.

"Yes. I need you to send for him. Remus says you know how to conjure up a Patronus."

"Since last year-"

"-well you can use it to send a message to Professor Snape. He will know instantly where to find us and what to do." She sighs. "But its a last resort."

"You think you can reason with them?"

"It's the only choice I have."

"Hope that's true," Harry grumbles. "Won't want anouther detention from Snape again."

-x-x-x-

Aline steps into the moonlight and her skin tingles as the light of the full round orb awakens every single hair on her body. It begins to grow out and transforms into a thick fur coat.

Her eyes grow wider and she sees the world sharper, clearer even. Her body arches down into the familiar canine stance and her paws hit the soil. Her breath grows heavy and her sense of smell awakens even deeper.

It's been so long since she's become a wolf, and it feels liberating. It's exactly as Remus describes it: the best and worst of feelings in the world. Aline is alive again.

She needs to get Ellie and Gabrielle. Her need amplifies as though its part of her instint, her nature. For wolves, family is everything.

Aline stalks into the pack's settling spot in the clearing of the forest. Her body shivers as she feels the eyes of the first wolves bore into her. She's not wanted back here. But that won't stop her from trying.

"Little mutt is back," this is Silvereye.

"I smelled her," Sharpnose barks out. The two wolves circle her, sniffing her and looking her up and down. "She smells like human."

"She does."

"Get away!" This is the bark of Tail-less. "The Head wants to see her. Greyback summons her."

The wolves part as Aline follows Tail-less to the head of the pack who is lying in the middle, gnawing at a large bone. It's Greyback, the largest grey wolf in the pack. His single tooth is the size of her finger and as sharp as a butcher knife. His paws are like two giant claws, and his eyes shine like orbs in the moonlight.

"Come closer," he growls, picking a piece of meat out of his teeth.

Swallowing down the bubbling feeling in her gut, Aline strides over, placing one foot in front of the other.

"I knew you'd be back," Greyback says contentadly. "Did those wizard children find out the truth of who you were?"

Aline shakes her head. "No."

"Then you just miss us. Your real family."

"Ellie is my real family."

"Ah, the little Human girl," Greyback says laughing. "She was just of age to turn. Sadly, so young."

"So, where is she?"

"How should I know?" Greyback says non chalently. The other wolves laugh. "Why do I need the human girl?"

"Because you want to prove a point?" Aline says. "You want to show others not to mess with the pack."

"Smart cub." Greyback steps forwards, sniffing her. "You would have made a fine wolf yourself, with more training and less of that ridiculous Wolfsbane Remus loved to take. Face it, your nature is a wolf."

The other wolves howl in unison. Aline knows she is outnumbered. But she's got one thing that Greyback doesn't.

"How about we play a game," she says.

"A game? I like games," Greyback says slowly.

"If I find Ellie by the end of the night, you will let her and Gabrielle go."

Greyback grins. "And if you don't."

"I'll join the pack forever..."

The other wolves look to their boss, seeing if he'll scare at this suggestion. But it's all child's play to Greyback. Aline knows he can't refuse a barter.

"Deal!"

Aline swallows. "You need to give me one hint."

"Fine," Greyback says. "The French girl is hidden where the webs are thick. Your little sister, where the horse and the man come together."