Bad Moonlight

"BAD MOONLIGHT"

Chapter 4-Pinned

"You-You killed Madam Pomfrey, Malfoy and Pansy?" asked Ron in a small voice. "How, Neville?"

"I'm the original werewolf. I hid in the hospital wing and then killed Madam Pomfrey. I attacked Ginny outside. I knew she'd attack another when it was a full moon out. I guess I was trying to spread the joy," said Neville grinning as his eyes changed.

Ron and I jumped up from our seats.

I gripped my wand and I saw Ron had his handy as well.

"I'd put those down, guys. It won't effect me," said Neville as he took a step closer.

"Stand back, Neville," I said holding my wand out in front of me like a sword.

"Relax, Harry. I just want you to become like us," said Neville.

"No way. I want Hermione and Ginny back the way they were," I said angrily.

I couldn't believe it was him. That was like a total shock.

"I'm afraid that that's impossible. As long as I'm alive, they are doomed," said Neville grinning.

I looked at Ron briefly.

I could tell by his expression, he was thinking the same thing.

We can't kill Neville. He's our friend.

I returned my eyes onto Neville. He changed into the werewolf.

Ron and I slowly took a step back. The werewolf tossed its head from side to side and snarled. Its eyes were locked on us. It took a step toward us. Then, something crashed through the portrait hole. It was the other two werewolves. We knew those were Hermione and Ginny. Ron and I looked at each other again.

We were out numbered. This was it.

The white werewolf took steps close to us. We backed up, our wands aimed. The werewolf swiped the wand from my hand and I heard it rolling away underneath a chair. Then, it clamped one of its paw like hands around my throat and lifted me off the floor. My feet dangled several inches and they reached the werewolf's shins.

I stared into its eyes. This werewolf was Hermione. I could see a bit of her dark brown eyes behind that jaundice. She moved her snout close to my face. She growled.

"Please, Hermione. It's me," I whispered quietly.

She pulled back the top lip of her snout, exposing white canines and incisors and snarled. Her ears were pinned backwards.

Neville had come over and tried to yank me from her grip. She turned around and snarling, swiped at him with her right paw like hand. Neville had four deep, long scratches across his face. One ran from his right eye, across his snout.

Hermione put her snout even closer. I felt her sniffing me. Then, to my relief and surprise, her ears pricked forward and she lowered her lip covering her teeth. She then threw me across the room. My back slammed into the wall and I fell to the floor on my stomach. I moaned and shakily got to my hands and knees.

"Harry! Look out!" I heard Ron cry.

I looked up. The grey wolf and Neville were coming toward me. I managed to roll out of the way and in doing so, I grabbed my wand and got to my feet. I aimed the wand at them.

"Ron, go!" I shouted.

Ron looked scared and kept looking at the white werewolf.

"Just GO! Get help!" I shouted again, pushing him toward the now destroyed entrance hole.

Ron took off running past the white werewolf, who didn't stop him.

The two werewolves were advancing on me.

"Stupefy!" I shouted.

A thin jet of red shot out from the end of my wand and hit the nearest werewolf square in the chest. Nothing. It still kept coming toward me. The gray werewolf grabbed me and flung me again. This time, my back hit the mantle piece above the fireplace. I landed on my stomach again. I felt excruciating pain shooting through my body. This time, I had trouble getting to my hands and knees. My body wobbled. Just as the two werewolves were upon me, the white one turned and began attacking them.

I heard whelps of pain from them. I tried once again to get to my hands and feet but fell back down on my stomach. I raised my head slightly to see what was going on. The wolf that was Hermione clamped her jaws around Neville's throat and bit down. Neville let out a brief howl before he fell to his side dead. The wolf body vanished and Neville's human body returned naked. I turned my eyes onto the remaining two that were Hermione and Ginny.

They were still fighting and snarling.

Suddenly, I saw Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape appear at the portrait hole. Ron was behind them.

All three teachers aimed their wands at the two werewolves and ropes shot out from the ends of the wands and wrap around the werewolves' wrists and feet. They both stood tied up.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape came over to me to help me. I was more worried about getting Hermione and Ginny back to normal.

"Professor McGonagall, is that potion ready? Hermione killed Neville! Why isn't she normal?" I demanded.

"The potion is almost ready but we can't give it to them until the morning. The curse has to run its course. After tomorrow, plus with the potion, they should be back to normal," said Professor McGonagall. "My God! Longbottom was the original werewolf?"

Ron and I nodded.

She looked devastated and stunned.

"We've got to get them back to the hospital wing," said Professor Snape as he waved his wand and both wolves rose off the floor a bit like a puppet and Snape began walking out of the common room, closely followed by the wolves. As the gray one passed me, I felt a quick sting on my arm. I winced and looked down. A thin scratch ran diagonally across my arm above the wrist. I quickly covered it with the cuff of my robe.

"Come on you two," said Professor McGonagall as she led us after Snape.

We stayed in the hospital wing all night to keep an eye on Hermione and Ginny.

Once the morning came, the potion was given to Hermione and Ginny, who were now back in their human form. They were still restrained though.

I sat beside Hermione, who was lying on the cot. Ginny was beside her.

"How are you two feeling?" I asked, looking from Ginny to Hermione.

"Like a Blast Ended Skrewt ran over us," said Ginny moaning.

"We just want you two to be okay and back to normal," said Ron putting his hand on top of Ginny's.

"Did we kill anyone?" asked Hermione in a small voice.

I looked at Ron, then returned my eyes onto hers.

"You did, unfortunately Ginny. Ginny killed Neville. Neville was the original werewolf. He attacked Ginny outside and hid in the hospital wing. He killed Madam Pomfrey, Pansy and Malfoy," I said quietly. "But oddly, you picked me up, Hermione, but you didn't hurt me."

Hermione went pale.

"You just flung him across the room," said Ron.

"Malfoy? He's dead?" asked Ginny wide-eyed. "I killed Neville?"

"Yeah. We found him in a closet on the second floor," said Ron nodding. "Mauled beyond recognition and yes."

Ginny began sobbing.

"Wow," said Hermione weakly.

Ignoring Professor McGonagall's instructions on not to go too near Ginny or Hermione, Ron hugged his sister.

"I just want you to be alright, Gin," whispered Ron.

Ginny closed her eyes.

"So do I. I just want to be alright again," she sobbed.

I turned to Hermione.

"Same here," I said as I threw my arms around her and hugged her.

I closed my eyes.

"Thanks, Harry," she whispered in my ear. "I love you."

I pulled back and kept my face close to hers.

"Is that you talking or the wolf?" I asked quietly.

Hermione broke out into a grin that I knew was hers.

"Me, silly,"

I felt my heart pounding loudly in my chest.

"I love you too," I said, smiling.

"Okay, you two. That's enough. I feel sick," said Ron beside me.

We laughed.

We stayed that night also in the wing to make sure Hermione and Ginny were all right. To our happiness, they were back to normal and the curse was broken.

The next day at breakfast, Ginny and Hermione joined us at the table. The students were still looking at them weirdly and some of the Slytherins howled each time they saw them.

Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"I would like to make an announcement,"

The Hall quieted down and rapt attention was given.

"The reign of the werewolf is over. The two students that were attacked are well and back to themselves,"

He paused there as cheers went around the hall.

He continued.

"Unfortunately, in the midst of the reign, a third second student was attacked. Draco Malfoy of Slytherin."

The Slytherin table was once again solemn.

"It is over. Let us not forget those we lost in this horrible and terrifying time,"

Professor Dumbledore sat back down and the feast began.

Suddenly, Hermione nudged me.

"Isn't that weird?" she whispered to me.

"What weird?" I whispered back.

"That the two students that were killed just happened to be Slytherins?"

I frowned. She had a point.

"Yeah. Come to think of it, that is weird. No one from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor was killed, except for Neville. What are you thinking, Hermione?"

I knew her well enough to see her wheels were turning.

"I'm thinking, but I hope to dear God I'm wrong, that this werewolf reign isn't over. Isn't too coincidental that two Slytherins were attacked?"

"Two of most cruelest people. Yeah," said Ron, leaning close. "What's up Hermione?"

"Hermione thinks that the werewolf reign of terror isn't over," I said quietly.

"What? Are you bloody bonkers? Of course it is!" said Ron.

"But it's too easy! Ginny and I are back to ourselves, Neville was stopped and that's it? Two Slytherins were attacked! No one from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, with the exception of Neville, was!" said Hermione.

"She's right, Ron," I said.

"Yeah. It is weird," chimed Ginny.

"Okay! Suppose it isn't over? Who is it? Who do we notice sleeping a lot in class, but seems awake at night?" said Ron.

We looked up and down the Gryffindor table first. Lavender was talking to Parvati, Fred and George were talking amongst themselves, Angelina and Katie were staring googly eyed at boy in Hufflepuff, then looked at each other and giggled. Justin and Seamus were talking with Lee. Everyone seemed to be normal so far.

Then, we scanned the Hufflepuff table. Hermione grabbed my arm.

"What is it?" I whispered.

"Look at that girl, midway down the table," she said.

I followed her gaze.

There was a girl with shoulder length dark blond hair and blue eyes, picking at her food. Then, she looked at her watch, went back to picking, and then put her head down on the table.

Shortly, she looked like she had fallen asleep.

Hermione and I looked at each other.

"That don't mean anything, you two. She could just have tons of work and decided to stay up late," said Ron.

"Ron, come on. You're telling me that with all you've seen, you don't find that suspicious?" asked Hermione, exasperatedly.

"Yes! Okay! It is! Happy?" asked Ron.

"Yes, very," said Hermione happily.

"Alright. What should we do? Spy on her? Tell Professor McGonagall?" I asked.

"I say right now, let's keep an eye on her," said Ron.

Once breakfast was over, we went to our classes.

We kept a close eye on that girl. She was, to our relief, in most of our classes and seemed to try and sleep in each one. Hermione came up with a plan to talk to her, just to see if she would slip and say how she sleeps during the day, but is wide awake at night.

As we were leaving Transfiguration, Hermione nonchalantly went over to her.

"Hi! I'm Hermione Granger, and this is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley," said Hermione brightly.

"I know who you are," said the girl.

"Oh. Right. So, what's your name?" asked Hermione.

"Jeanine Kessington," said the girl.

"I'm so tired. What about you?" asked Hermione casually.

"Yeah, I am too. Listen, I have to go. I've got Herbology next," said Jeanine as she grabbed her things and left the classroom.

"Well that was rude," said Hermione turning to Ron and I.

"Okay, so now what?" asked Ron.

"I say we alert Professor McGonagall right now. Just to keep her on toe," said Hermione as she turned and headed toward the teacher's desk. Ron and I watched as Hermione spoke to Professor McGonagall. McGonagall watched Hermione intently, then nodded.

About five minutes later, Hermione did an about-face and came back over to us.

"Professor McGonagall believes me. She's going to also keep an eye on that girl," said Hermione proudly.

"Hermione, this is the one time I seriously hope you're wrong," I said.

Hermione looked at me with a grave expression on her face. We had no idea that Hermione was right and we'd see just how right she was that night at dinner.

Dinner was a little late that night because Fred and George insisted on setting off Filibuster's fireworks and Dungbombs in honor of the reign being over. I looked at my watch. It was nine o'clock. I looked out of the window. A full moon hung in a midnight blue sky. Stars twinkled cheerfully.

Just then, Hermione grabbed my arm. I looked at her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Hermione let out a whimper.

I followed her gaze.

The girl, Jeanine, was sitting at the Hufflepuff table then, cringing, she slid down under the table. A few people at the table laughed, thinking she just slid off. The Hall was busy talking and laughing and didn't seem to notice anything unusual happening. Then, all of a sudden, the Hufflepuff table hopped, as if it were a frog. The dishes clattered and the goblets of pumpkin juice fell over. The Hufflepuff's were confused as they quickly mopped up the spilled juice. It hopped again. Now, the rest of the Hall watched curious and intrigued as to why the table suddenly began hoping.

Hermione's grip tightened on my arm.

"Harry, I have a bad feeling..." said Hermione quietly.

She was shaking badly.

Then, something broke through from underneath the table in the middle. It stood seven feet tall.