Bad Moonlight

"BAD MOONLIGHT"

Chapter three-The Second Kill

I was holding my breath without even realizing it. I knew Ron had shut his eyes beside me. I also shut my eyes. I felt a burst of air by my legs and felt my robe billow slightly.

Deciding to look, I opened my eyes. The werewolf had galloped right past us, oblivious. I silently thanked my father for the cloak.

I nudged Ron.

"It went past us. Let's get back to Gryffindor Tower. We can't help Pansy," I said, swallowing waves of nausea. I tore my eyes away from Pansy.

"Bloody hell," said Ron weakly beside me. "I hope they get that potion ready soon. I just want 'Mione and Ginny back."

"I know. So do I," I said, quietly.

I missed Hermione badly, as well as Ginny.

We headed back to the tower. We went to bed.

The next morning at Breakfast, Hermione and Ginny were sitting at the table, but no one was sitting near Hermione. Ginny was talking with Fred and George. Whispers went around the hall and looks were cast at Hermione. She looked pale and her hair was tousled. Ginny looked up as we approached.

I carefully sat down next to Hermione.

"Hi. How are you feeling?" I asked tentatively.

Hermione raised her eyes to mine.

"I can't remember what happened last night. All I remember is seeing you sitting beside my bed. Then I draw a blank," said Hermione picking at her food.

"Do you know what's going on?" asked Ron, looking at Ginny strangely, like she was a bomb.

"No. I don't know what's happening to me," said Hermione as tears formed in her eyes.

"Hermione, this is going to sound unbelievable, but you're a werewolf," I said.

Hermione's face drained of all color.

"Oh my God. I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you guys that it was me who was attacked in the dungeon. Professor Dumbledore had assured me that they'd have it under control. I spoke to Professor Snape last week. That's when I was in the dungeon. I had asked him about an ingredient for the potion we did in class. When I came out of the class, this thing attacked me! I'm so scared, Harry! What if I kill someone?" sobbed Hermione.

Her dark brown eyes were filled with tears.

"Pansy Parkinson was attacked last night. We saw it," said Ron quietly.

"My God...I could've killed her...I'm a killer," whispered Hermione.

I wrapped my arm around Hermione's shoulders. I pulled her close and hugged her tightly. She hugged me back tightly.

"It'll be okay. Professor Dumbledore told Ron and I that they're working on a potion right now to help you and Ginny,"

Hermione pulled back from my embrace.

"Ginny? You mean Ginny is one also?" she asked.

Ron and I nodded.

"Ginny is a werewolf too? She must've been the one that attacked me last week!" said Hermione as anger flared in her dark brown eyes.

She stood up and went over to Ginny.

"You," said Hermione angrily.

"Me?" asked Ginny startled.

"You made me like this!" growled Hermione.

Ginny stood up.

"Like what?"

"A monster!" snarled Hermione.

To my surprise and shock, and probably much to everyone else's, Hermione grabbed a handful of Ginny's shoulder length auburn hair and scratched Ginny's face. The two of them began fighting and rolling around on the floor in the aisle between the Hufflepuff and our table.

"Cat fight!" someone yelled from the Slytherin table cheerfully.

Hermione and Ginny were still fighting. Hermione punched Ginny. Ginny retaliated.

Percy and Penelope Clearwater rushed to break them up. Percy pulled Ginny away, and Penelope pulled Hermione away. Hermione's blond/brown curly hair was tousled; her robe was askew and there was a small cut on her lower lip, which bled from Ginny's punch.

Ginny's auburn hair stuck out on the ends; her robe was torn slightly at the shoulder and hung down; her right eye looked like it was starting to become black and blue. Both of them were glaring menacingly at each other and looked like they could kill each other.

Hermione was fighting Penelope's grip. Penelope had her arms around Hermione from behind, and Percy was holding Ginny's wrists and his back was to Hermione. Ginny was fighting to get around him also.

"Stop it you two!" said Percy angrily.

"Let me at her! Let me at her!" shouted Ginny, still fighting to get around him.

"She made me a monster!" shouted Hermione, also fighting.

"Ten points from Gryffindor!" snapped Percy.

"Percy, bring Miss. Weasley to my office and Miss. Clearwater? Bring Miss. Granger to Professor Sprout," called Professor McGonagall.

Penelope and Percy went separate ways while Ginny and Hermione still spat at each other until each was out of sight of each other.

Professor Dumbledore stood up. As quick as a flash, the Hall got silent.

"We have some terrible news. Another student was attacked last night,"

Everyone was looking at each other.

"Pansy Parkinson of Slytherin,"

The Slytherin table was solemn. A few of the girls began sobbing. Even Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were white and nervous looking.

"As the curfew was enforced, I would like to know if there is anyone that knew why Miss. Parkinson was out after the curfew to come forward. He or she will not be punished,"

Everyone looked around at each other once again.

Then, a girl stood up at the table and cleared her throat.

"She was meeting me, Professor. I asked her to help me with an essay,"

"Thank you, Miss. Evens. That has helped us immensely," said Professor Dumbledore softly.

The girl sat back down looking pale and scared.

"I must enforce the curfew once more. No one after seven o'clock is allowed outside his or her common room, for any reason. If you must contact one of us," said Professor Dumbledore, gesturing to the professors sitting on his left and right. "I would suggest sending two sparks out the window. I will make sure each professor is able to see it. That is only to be used in case of a dire emergency and any evening classes will be canceled."

Professor Dumbledore sat back down and the Hall regained its noisy chatter.

I looked at Ron.

"Blimey, I never saw Hermione fight like that. She's pretty good," said Ron gravely.

I knew he couldn't say a joke now if he tried.

"Yeah. But the question I have is, who was the original werewolf that attacked Ginny?"

Hermione returned to Gryffindor common room later on, but it was to collect her books.

"Hey, where are you going?" I asked.

"Professor Sprout wants to give me this herb that's supposed to stop the transformation. I'm to stay in the hospital wing under her supervision. Professor Snape is going to be making a special potion also, but it takes three days to make," said Hermione biting her bottom lip as she stuffed her textbooks into her bag. "Ginny is also going to be in the wing. They're going to magically restrain us."

"Then you'll be okay in three days then?" I asked hopefully.

"They don't know, Harry. Between the potion and the herb, they hope that it will curb the transformation," said Hermione fearfully as she swung her backpack onto her shoulder and faced me. She looked terrified and her eyes were red, puffy and bloodshot. I felt awful for her. She didn't ask to become a werewolf. I didn't care. She was still my best friend and I wasn't about to abandon her. Not now, or ever. I threw my arms around her and hugged her. I rested my chin on her shoulder and pressed my face into her hair.

"We're here for you, 'Mione," I whispered.

"I'm scared, Harry. I'm really scared," whispered Hermione pressing her face into the curve of my shoulder.

"I know, but we're here for you...Ron and I," I said as I pulled back from the embrace and kept my hands on her shoulders. "Just you mind that."

I glanced up at Ron, who nodded fervently

She turned to Ron. He awkwardly gave her a hug. When he pulled back, Hermione gave us a nervous smile before heading out of the common room.

I sighed and stared after her.

"She'll be fine...both of them," said Ron reassuringly.

"I hope so,"

_______________*****************_______________

Draco Malfoy stepped out of the Slytherin common room. He didn't care about some stupid curfew. Knowing Harry Potter, he was also out wandering the corridors also. Him and that Weasley. Granger was a werewolf, more than likely if she was attacked, which, Malfoy found totally hilarious. He hated Granger, Potter and Weasley. They turned his stomach. Potter was such a 'celebrity', Weasley was as poor as dirt, and Granger was a goody-goody who made sure she followed the rules.

The corridors were silent as he crept toward the hospital wing. Suddenly, he heard voices. He ducked into an empty classroom and closed the door slightly, so there was a small crack. He peered out.

Professor Sprout was walking with Professor McGonagall. She was carrying a goblet with a smoking liquid in it.

"This is the potion Severus made. Mixed with the herb, it should stop the transformations. Unfortunately, it takes three days to become ripe. We're going to have to restrain Miss. Granger and Miss. Weasley in the interim. Thank God I've got my wand handy incase..." said Professor Sprout.

"They looked like they could kill each other," said Professor McGonagall. "And so have I."

"I can't believe something like this is happening here," said Professor Sprout.

"I agree," said Professor McGonagall quietly as they passed the classroom where Malfoy had been hiding and disappeared around a corner. Malfoy slipped out of the classroom and slowly crept after them, careful to keep his ears and eyes open for any of the teachers. Although, Malfoy doubted any of them would be walking the corridors when a supposed 'werewolf' was on the loose. He chucked to himself thinking of the time Weasley tried to curse him and it backfired, causing Weasley to cough up slugs in their second year. It still brought Malfoy some joy to think about it.

Suddenly, the corridor got eerily quiet. Abnormally quiet. Malfoy froze as he heard heavy breathing and grunts coming toward him from the end of the corridor. He froze. It was getting closer and there were no classrooms to duck into. He saw a large shadow fall across the floor. If it was a teacher, he would be in big trouble, or if it was Filch with that annoying cat of his. He still remained motionless. Then, the person came into view. Malfoy's jaw dropped in horror. It wasn't a person...it was an animal standing on two legs. As it drew nearer, Malfoy saw that it was covered in grey fur, had long thin ears with fur on the tips, a long thin snout, and menacing jaundice eyes that looked like a cats with vertical pupils. It looked six or seven feet tall. But it looked more like a wolf standing on its hind legs. The arms of the creature was the same length as a humans and it had paw like hands and feet with long dark nails curled into claws. Malfoy got a scent of a dog that hadn't bathed mixed with gasoline. It raised its head to sniff at the air with a black wolfs nose. Then, it lowered its eyes to stare right at Malfoy. It pinned back its ears and pulled back the top lip of its snout exposing white canines and incisors and snarled at him. Malfoy began slowly backing up. It dropped to all four paws and took a step toward him. He turned on his heel and began running. He could hear it galloping after him.

He looked over his shoulder. It was galloping after him at a speed he never thought possible.

He turned a corner sharply and his legs went out from under him. He slid, his legs went sideways on the floor and he landed on his hands. He quickly scrambled to his feet and continued to run, just as the creature turned the corner and also slid. Malfoy saw a closet. He ran straight for it, yanked open the door and ran inside, closing the door behind him. He pressed his back against the door and breathed heavily. He heard the creature gallop past the door.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Geeze, that thing is real!

He thought as his heart pounded in his chest. I wonder what Potty thinks of his best friend being a freak.

Knowing Potter, he's probably trying to help that Mudblood. If it were Malfoy, he'd put it out of its misery. He wouldn't want a best friend that's a freak of nature.

He pressed his back against the door again, trying to catch his breath.

At that moment, a gray fur covered arm burst through the door, grabbing a hold of Malfoy's robe. Malfoy cried out and tried to break free of the grip, but the paw like hands had inhuman strength. The next thing Malfoy knew was, It pulled him backward through the door with one violent yank. The door fell in splintered planks on the floor.

All Malfoy saw was jaundice colored eyes and the gleaming canines and incisors coming toward his throat.

___________****************____________________

The next morning at breakfast, Ginny and Hermione were not there. It didn't surprise me much as they're probably kept a close eye on. I nonchalantly glanced toward the Slytherin table. Malfoy wasn't sitting there at his usual seat.

I nudged Ron.

"Hey, Malfoy's not at the table," I whispered.

"So? Maybe Ginny or Hermione got to him last night. It was a full moon," said Ron, half jokingly.

"Ron, I'm serious," I said.

"So am I. Since when did you start worrying about that git?" asked Ron, surprised.

"I'm not. I could care less, but all the same. What if Ginny or Hermione did get to him?"

"Then Professor Dumbledore would announce it today, no?" asked Ron.

"What if they don't know about it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

Ron's face drained of all color.

"Then they wouldn't. Hey, I'm confounded. Why is it we're allowed to go to class during the day with no escorts from the teachers, but at night we can't go out?"

"Because the werewolves only strike at night. Ginny and Hermione are their normal human selves in the day. It's just at night that they change and only on full moons," I said. "You remember what Professor Lupin said in our third year, right? He explained all of that."

"Oh...yeah. Sorry, 'Arry," said Ron blushing.

We ate, and watched Professor Dumbledore closely. He was talking with the other teachers.

Half way through breakfast, he still hadn't stood up.

When breakfast was over, Ron and I were convinced that no one knew if Malfoy had been attacked or not.

During our break, we decided to hit the library to read up on werewolves. Ron looked up from his book, Werewolves: The A-Z Guide.

We were looking up an alternative to the herb, just in case it wouldn't be ready in three days.

"Harry, I think you should read this," said Ron, pushing his book toward me.

"Why?" I asked, not liking the tone in his voice as I took the book from him and read where he had been pointing.

"Just read it,"

I began reading the paragraph aloud softly:

"In some cases, the werewolf, or werewolves, can be stopped by the Laxen Herb. But in others, the only way to stop it is a silver bullet, or if the original werewolf is killed. That normally breaks the curse. However, there is an exception to those three methods...if a young girl is scratched or bitten and changes on the first full moon, which is notably rare, then the werewolf who scratched or bit her must be killed by the silver bullet. This suggests an extremely powerful werewolf and the Laxen Herb has no effect. The bullet is the only way to stop it. Ordinary spells have no effect on it.

The last alternative is to kill the original werewolf. A plain silver knife can be used. Once the original werewolf is killed, the curse is broken and the person is set free."

I looked up at Ron.

"If Ginny is the original werewolf, then..." my voice trailed off.

"We're not killing Ginny," said Ron firmly.

"I know. I don't want to even think of that. But we've got to pray that that herb works,"

Malfoy still hadn't turned up for dinner either. Now we knew something had happened to him. I checked my watch. It was six o'clock. The curfew didn't start for another hour.

"Let's go find Malfoy," I said.

"Why? Are you off your bloody rocker?" asked Ron, staring at me like I was crazy.

"Ron, no one probably knows where he is. We've got to find him," I said as we stood up from the table.

"I don't know why you care about that git," muttered Ron.

"I don't, Ron! But something happened to him!" I said, angrily.

"Okay, okay," said Ron as we left the Great Hall and headed up to the second floor, where the hospital wing was.

We began searching every empty classroom. We turned the corner and searched some more until we saw the closet. There were wood planks lying on the floor which had made up the door. I threw my arm out in front of Ron.

I nodded toward the closet. We cautiously approached it and peered inside. There, lying on his back with several deep scratches across his chest, was Malfoy. His throat had also been torn, and he had been mauled beyond recognition.

Immediately, we contacted Professor McGonagall. She was upset that no one had even thought of looking for him until we had come along, but was more upset that another student had been killed. We asked her how Hermione and Ginny were doing.

"Well. We should know tomorrow when the potion is ready. Then, they will be given it and supervised. If the potion worked, they won't change and should start to seem like themselves,"

Later that night while Ron and I sat in the common room, we were playing a game of Wizards Chess. We looked up as the portrait hole opened and Neville came in.

"Neville? You're not supposed to be out at this hour! The curfew!" said Ron, looking at me.

"Oh, is it after the curfew? I had no idea," said Neville.

Everyone's used to his poor memory, but the way he said that sent chills down my spine.

"Neville? Are you okay?" I asked.

Neville suddenly smiled evilly.

"I killed Malfoy, Pansy and Madam Pomfrey. I hid in the wing,"

Ron and I looked at each other.