Later that day in the Great Hall, students were buzzing with the news that Professor Lupin had left. Grace heard a few older students mutter about it as they passed between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, and she had hadenough. She's been listening to people talk about himallday. Not just Slytherins, who did nothing but say nasty things and joke, but other people from the other houses, including her own, say and whisper prejudiced and ignorant things and Grace wastiredof it.

"He could've bitten anyone in this school!"

"How could they let someone so dangerous be a teacher!"

"He always seemed so nice! I guess you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover."

"Can't believe they let amonsteraround children-"

That was when Grace had hadenough. She balled her hands into fists as she stood up from her place between Harry and Neville, who along with Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the Twins, paused their eating to look at her. Grace pushed the on the table away, creating a clear space, not caring if things got knocked over. Fred and George grinned as they watched her and eagerly helped create more space on the middle of the table for her by sliding everything further down. She took a deep breath and climbed to stand on the top of the table.

"OI!" She shouted, gaining the attention of everyone, including the teachers.

"Miss Black! Get down this instant!" McGonagall shouted from the teacher's table as she stood up.

"Now, now, Minerva, perhaps it is exciting news," Dumbledore smiled whimsically at her.

"Shut your fat Gobs!" Grace shouted, sending a heated glare to the Slytherin table. "Professor Lupin is the kindest, sweetest, funniest, smart, andgentleman with thebiggestheart! It doesn't matter if he's awerewolfor agiantor the giant squid! He is the best Defense teacher we've had, and will be the best teacher we willeverhave!" The Great Hall went deathly silent as every eye looked up at her. She turned and glared at the Ravenclaw table, at Marietta Edgecombe who Grace had heard call Remus a monster, then her icy gaze turned to the Hufflepuff table, and a few of them looked away in shame as they too said mean things about their teacher. "So, if any of youpillockshave anything bad to say about Professor Lupin, then you can come to me and say it to my face! And if you don't want to know what you lookbald, then you can keep your nasty, prejudiced, and judgmental comments to yourself!"After a few seconds of silence, Grace nodded. "Thank you for your time. You may continue."

When she stepped down, she moved all the food back to its place, then piled some of it on her plate as if nothing had happened. She reached for her goblet and paused when she noticed everyone's eyes on her. Hermione stared at her in shock, her mouth hanging open. Neville gaped like a fish out of water, his lips trying to form words as his mouth opened and closed. Ginny looked at her in awe. Ron blinked at her repeatedly, looking completely stunted. Fred and George were both grinning wildly. Percy glared at her, and was about to open his mouth to scold her but Fred stuffed a buttered roll in his mouth. Then there was Harry, who looked at her in awe with a large smile, and she felt her heart skipped because it was a look as if she was the only person in the room.

"Gracie, we have to admit," Fred started, leaning over George.

"That we are absolutely," George continued, leaning over Ginny, who protested and tried to push them out of her space so she could eat.

"Tremendously,"

"Spectacularly,"

"Astonished,"

"And proud,"

"We very much like this new side of you,"

"And wonder where it has been all this time,"

"We also must wonder if we have been of influence of you,"

"But nonetheless, we are happy to see our sweet, quiet, little Gracie-racie,"

"Being bold, and starting a ruckus,"

"And creating monumental scenes."

"We couldn't be more proud," they finished at the same time.

"Perhaps we should've taken more notice of the quiet ones, Fred," George turned to his brother, who was nodding.

"Yes, it seems the quiet ones are the ones we need to look out for,"

"Sneaky little lot they are,"

"But dead useful and full of surprises,"

"Wonder if she'll let us pick her brain?"

"Only one way to find out for sure, George," Fred and George turned to her but Grace rolled her eyes and went back to her food.

"You're brilliant," Ron whispered, his lips spreading into a smile.

"Are youmental?" Hermione hissed, leaning across the table to scold her.

"No, I'm quite right in the mind, thank you." Grace nodded and sipped her pumpkin juice.

"What in the world were youthinking?!" Hermione hissed. "Do you have any idea-"

"I was thinking that I'm sick and tired of hearing people say nasty, awful things aboutmy uncle!" Grace cut her off. "None of these hoopleheads had a problem with him before, but suddenly they do? It's disgusting how they're talking about him and treating him all because he's a werewolf."

"Well...werewolves do have a bad-" Hermione started but stopped when she noticed the chilling glare from Grace.

"And so it's okay to lump them all together under the same umbrella?"

"No! That's not what I meant-"

"A werewolf is a beast that an innocent person isforcedto change into! They're people too!"

"Yes, of course-"

"They haveno choice! Not a single one has ever asked to be bitten and infected with lycanthropy!" Grace continued, her voice growing louder. "They never ask to be looked at, whispered at,fearedbecause once a month, they turn into somethingagainst their will! Do you know how many jobs my uncle has had to take that was far below what he's worth to make ends meet, all because of the fear and prejudice that the wizarding community has all because of ignorance?Werewolves are people, too, and it's the conditions that the wizarding community sets that shape them! Forcing them to live underground to steal food because they can't get jobs to support themselves!

"They have no choice but to turn, and then finally someone was genius enough to be able to create a potion that canhelpthem retain their human selves during a full moon when they transform, and what happens to it? Its priced so ridiculously high that they can't afford it! The wolfsbane potion is so beneficial and helps werewolves so much, but they can't have access to it! It's a vicious cycle within this world and it's absolutely disgusting! Do you know what it's like having to watch someone you love, someone who has been like a father to you,struggleevery day! Taking odd jobs with low pay, that was is below them just to get food on the table? To buy clothes! To justsurvive!Then to finally have a job that he loves, a job that he excels in only to be forced to resign because of the fear, and prejudice of our community!

"No! You don't! No one in this blasted school does! Because the wizarding world looks at werewolves as if they're scum, that they're dangerous and monsters! They're people too! They deserve a chance too! They deserve the same things the rest of us have!" Grace shouted, her voice echoing against the walls of the Great Hall. She slammed her hands on the table as she stood up. "And yes, some werewolves are awful people, but look at the conditions in which they're forced to live! The environment in which the wizarding world has set! The lies, the fear, the prejudice! It's no wonder a lot of them are bitter and hate us! I can't fault them because I hate us too! No one gives them a chance!No one!" With that, Grace stormed away from the Gryffindor Table, and out of the Great Hall.

Grace ran, and ran, and ran. She finally reached a little alcove near the astronomy tower. It was a little balcony that over looked the grounds. She found this place in her first year, she had gotten lost and stumbled upon it, and its been a place she would go to if she couldn't go outside. Grace slid to the floor in the corner of the balcony, bringing her knees to her chest and she cried. She hated how people were talking about Remus, as if he didn't have feelings, and she hated how the wizarding world looked at werewolves.

"Gracie?" she looked up and saw Neville leaning in the arch way. Neville was the only person who knew about the little alcove, since he was with her when they found it. Neville sat down perpendicular to her, resting his back against the stone balcony. "I'm sorry Professor Lupin lost his job," he told her softly.

"He didn't lose it, he resigned-"

"I know," he nodded. "I'm sorry he felt like he had to... He was a really good teacher..." he added and Grace sniffled, resting her chin on her knees.

"That night... when I was ten," Grace started, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "It was a full moon..." Neville turned and stared at her with wide eyes. "We lived in the country, surrounded by a forest, and that's where Remus would have his transformations. Mum is a skilled potioner, so she makes the wolfsbane potion for him. He didn't want her to at first, saying it was too expensive, but Mum didn't care, we were never struggling. That night, I knew he had his potion, Iknewhe was himself but I couldn't let him go through another transformation by himself, I justcouldn't," she sniffled, and wiped the tears that were falling down her cheeks away. "So, I snuck out, and I was going to find him. I knew the potion made him a little sleepy because it made the wolf sleepy... but I just wanted to keep him company, talk to him or something, you know?" she scoffed, wiping her eyes.

"But...I-I didn't know there was another werewolf in the forest," Neville's eyes widened and he stared at her. "It chased me, and...and it almost got me, but I kept calling for Remus, and he heard me because the next thing I know, I saw him and this other werewolf fighting so I ran and hid, and watched as Remus tried everything to protect me and...and the other werewolf didn't make it," Grace's voice cracked as she closed her eyes and she cried. "Remus was already so tired because of the potion, I knew it took everything he had to keep fighting... he did it for me, to keep me safe and...and I know the other werewolf didn't know what they were doing, Iknowthat, and it made everything so much worse! He was so angry with me..." she whispered, shaking her head, and hiding her face in her knees.

"Gracia Venus Black!" Remus' voice echoed through the house. Grace jumped from where she sat at the kitchen table, with two mugs full of hot chocolate. "What were youthinking!?What have we told you about going outside on a full moon!" he shouted as he staggered into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry!" she cried, but Remus glared at her. "I – I didn't want you to be alone!"

"Do you haveanyidea what happened tonight!? Do you know evenunderstand?!"

"Ye-yes!"

"No, I don't think you do!" Remus shook his head as he ran his hands through his hair. "Your mother and I have told you, time and time andtime againthat outside is off limits during a full moon!"

"But you had your potion-"

"BUT WHAT IF I DIDN'T!?" Remus shouted louder, making her jump. "What if I didn't have the wolfsbane potion, like that other werewolf? Hm? I could havehurtyou! I could've bitten you! Orworse!" His voice got louder, and she shrunk in her seat. "That werewolf had no idea who they were! They were driven on pure instinct and that instinct is to bite or kill! Do you know what I thought when I heard you scream?" He asked and she blinked away the tears. "DO YOU?" she shook her head. "I thought you were hurt! I thought you were bit and there was NOTHING I could do to help you!"

"But you came-"

"Yes, I came," Remus nodded, cutting her off. "I came and saw another werewolf about to attack you! One, I can handle, Grace. Two, perhaps... but what would have happened if there were a pack of them?! Do you know what would have happened if there was!?" Grace shook her head. "They would've attacked and killed me, Grace, and then they would've moved to you, tearing you apart! Or if they noticed I was protecting you, they would force me to watch them kill you! Notturnyou, butkillyou!" Grace's lips trembled as she sniffled, guilt eating her up.

"Do you know what it would've done to me to have seen that?" he whispered, crouching down in front of her. "It would've killed me, Gracie. I would never be able to live with myself if somethingeverhappened to you! By my hands or another, I would die if something happened to you! I love you more than anything."

"I love you too..." she whispered in a small voice.

"Do you understand what I had to do tonight, Grace?" he asked her, taking her hands in his. She nodded. "Do you?" he asked again, and she nodded.

"You hurt them to protect me," she whispered, and Remus rolled his lips between his teeth, and he shook his head.

"No, Gracie," he whispered. "I did something that I never wanted to do, and you saw something you should've never had to see at your age. Grace, that werewolf... they're dead," Grace's lips trembled again as the tears started cascading down her cheeks again, and she saw the pained look in Remus' eyes. "Do you understand what happened tonight?" he asked her again, and she nodded slowly. "I would doanythingfor you, because I love you, I love you as if you were my own daughter, and I do not regret what I did because you're safe," he told her. "But understand that actions have consequences, Grace. What happened tonight, canneverhappen again, do you understand?"

"I understand," she whispered.

"And you know I love you?" he asked gently, and she nodded, "but I'mverydisappointed in you."

"I don't want you to go through it alone," she whispered, and he gave her a small, sad smile.

"I know-"

"Can't you turn me too?" she asked, and Remus stared at her in horror. "Please!Please turn me too so I can stay with you, so you won't ever be alone!"

"What's going on?" They turned and saw her mother standing in the door way, looking at them with fear. "Gracia, what are you talking about?"

"I want to be a werewolf too!" Grace said, looking from her mother to Remus. "You won't have to do full moons alone anymore!"

Remus stared at her, and blinked away the tears that formed as he shook his head. "No, Gracie," he whispered. "I wouldneverwant you to experience this."

"But-"

"No," he shook his head, squeezing her little hands gently. "You can't be a werewolf, sweetheart. I know you don't want me to be alone on the full moon, and knowing that warms my heart," he gave her a small smile. "But I'm fine, and I'll continue to be fine. Coming home in the morning to you waiting for a cuddle with a bar of chocolate, is all that I need, it's all that I want. Never think you need to do more than that, alright?" he asked her and she nodded. Remus smiled softly at her, and brought her hands to his lips, giving them a light kiss. "Now it's time for you to go to bed, alright?" she nodded and stood up from the kitchen chair, then she wrapped her arms around Remus' neck. He smiled sadly and returned her hug.

"I love you, Remus," she whispered. "I'm sorry I disappointed you," she continued. "And I'm sorry I scared you, and I'm sorry that I made you do the bad thing... I won't ever do it again, I promise."

"I know, little niffler," he whispered and squeezed her tightly before pulling way. "I forgive you."

"He's my favorite person," Grace whispered, sniffling. "I just wish people could see that werewolves are people too."

"Maybe," Neville started as he reached over and took her hand, squeezing it gently, "one day, when we're out of Hogwarts... we can make things better for them."

"Really?" she asked him, and he nodded, giving her a small smile. "Why?"

"Because I like Professor Lupin," Neville answered with a shrug. "He's kind, and finding out he was a werewolf didn't really change how I felt about him," he continued. "And also... because of you."

Grace felt herself smiling at him, and she squeezed his hand. She missed Neville and felt guilty about not being around as often this year, but Neville understood. Neville always understood, she never had to explain herself to him. He was always right there when he needed her, just like she would be right there with him when he needed her, too.