Paws 3-Disappearance

"Paws 3-Disappearance"

It's been a whole year since the horrible fiasco in the Potions dungeon. We were now in 6^th year. I thanked my lucky stars over and over again that I wasn't expelled. If it had been up to Snape, I would've been. My mother recovered fully. She was back to normal. The doctors had caught the tumor in time. If they hadn't we would've lost her. I couldn't've handled another death. Ron, Harry, Hermione and I were sitting in the Gryffindor common room, just relaxing. Ron and Harry were playing a game of Wizards Chess, and Hermione and I were writing an essay for Transfiguration class on why Transfiguration was dangerous if not done properly. Two parchments worth. She and I were sitting at one of the tables. I put down my quill and stretched raising my arms above my head, the front of my jumper becoming taut across my chest. My birthday was coming up. I was born in January. I was actually a few months older than Ron, Harry and Hermione.

"OK. I'm done," I said, as I then rolled up my parchment.

"Already? I've only got three paragraphs," said Hermione stunned.

"Here. Want to copy?" I asked, gently pushing my parchment toward her.

Ron and Harry looked up, grinning.

We all knew Hermione despised copying and looked down on it.

She frowned and paused.

"Just copy some things. Change the wording around a bit," I offered.

Hermione shook her head.

"No. It's OK. Thanks Lucy," said Hermione as she got back to her essay.

"Blimey, Lucy. You almost had her turn over to our side," Ron grinned.

Harry laughed.

"Just because I don't approve of copying, doesn't make me some kind of goody-two-shoes," Hermione bristled at them.

Ron was silent, obviously biting his tongue.

"Hermione. It's OK. I don't approve either. I just thought it might help you get done quicker," I offered, eyeing Ron meaningfully.

"I appreciate it. I'm sorry, Lucy. I didn't mean to snap," said Hermione apologetically. "I'm just tired I guess."

"No problem," I said, softly.

"Listen, I'm going down to the library. Want to come?" asked Hermione as she stood up, taking her essay with her. I guess she was going to finish it in the library.

Her bushy dark brown hair was fluffed around her shoulders over her robe and jumper, framing her dark brown eyes.

"No thanks. I think I'm going to sit here and not budge," I grinned.

Hermione nodded and headed out of the common room. The portrait in front of the entrance way swung open and she disappeared into the corridors.

I got up and headed over to Ron and Harry. I sat down in between them, watching the game.

"You've got to stop giving her a hard time," I said, quietly to Ron.

"What? I didn't do anything!" said Ron, surprised.

"Hermione's straight forward attitude has gotten you three out of a lot of situations," I said.

Hermione told me about all the times she, Ron and Harry got into a lot of trouble and danger.

"She's right, Ron. We owe Hermione a lot," said Harry, softly.

"I know. I reckon I should go apologize," said Ron, quietly as he got up, abandoning the game. He too, disappeared out into the corridors, leaving Harry and I alone. I took Ron's seat.

I stared into Harry's green eyes. I needed to tell him my background. I felt bad enough that I kept being a Wolf Animagus a secret from them, but my background? That was starting to eat at me now. I didn't mean to be so secretive. I guess I was just worried that they wouldn't like me. I was totally self conscious. I was worried about what people thought of me. I was still horrible at Potions, even though Hermione tried to help me. But Ron, Harry and Hermione were the only three that showed me kindness when I first arrived at Hogwarts. I owed it to them to come clean. I knew they were different than the others. I especially was worried about what Harry thought of me. Why? Why was I feeling like this? It was a strange yet exciting feeling. I tilted my head slightly, watching him.

Harry looked up.

"Lucy? Are you OK?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. Just deep in thought," I said, smiling.

He smiled back.

[God he's so cute...Whoa. Where is this coming from?]

"Listen. I really need to talk to you," I said, seriously.

"Sure. About what?" asked Harry as he gave me his full attention.

"First of all, my birthday's coming up. Next month. I'm really 5 months older than you three," I said slowly.

"So? That doesn't matter to me, Ron or 'Mione," said Harry.

"Good," I sighed relieved. "Secondly, about my father? Remember I told you that he swerved to avoid hitting an object in the road?"

Harry nodded.

"Professor Snape was right. My father did drink alcohol. He turned to it after he got a case where a little girl around 3 was found dead a mile from her home. Some wizard kidnapped her and tortured her. The wizard performed the Imperius curse on her and made her jump from a 120-foot bridge that over looked a stream. Her body hit the jagged rocks below. My father was one of the Auror's that were sent after this wizard. When he arrived at the spot where the little girl was, she was unrecognizable. Her body was resting in such an unnatural way, she looked more like a lump of torn meat than a little girl,"

I felt tears forming as I explained this to Harry. Harry's green eyes were filled with shock, sadness and disbelief.

"My father had to turn away. He and 5 other Auror's found the wizard a few days later. When he came home, he would have nightmares about that poor little girl. He couldn't deal with it. Plus, he had a lot of work from the Ministry of Magic on top of it. He snapped and turned to alcohol. That night we found a suicide note on the TV. He deliberately drove down that ravine. When the police did their inspection, they found out that the car had to have been going at least 60. My mother and I had to deal with all kind of letters. Grief letters and even hate letters...'Your father was right to kill himself...He was nothing but a drunken fool who thought he could stop evil wizards, no one can...' My mother and I were close to moving and changing our names. Then, I learned that I was a Wolf Animagus. I found out when I was 12. It took me three years. So I'm technically new at it. When I told my best friends at my old school, they treated my like some kind of disease. That's why I was so nervous to tell you guys. I thought I'd get treated the same way. Then, when I bit you, I felt like I earned the right for people to fear me. I didn't trust myself when I got angry. Suppose I get really angry and end up hurting one of you? I couldn't live with myself. When you remained friends with me, I was shocked. But I'm really glad," I smiled as the tears streamed down my cheeks. "I've never had best friends like you three. I just didn't want people to hate me."

"You are not a bad person, Lucy. Far from it. Your father couldn't help what he did. I guess he felt that was the only way to deal with it, but that was no reason for people to go agreeing with what he did. People can be cruel. You should see what Rita Skeeter wrote about Hermione and I in our fourth year. It was all over the school, but we ignored the people who made fun of us. With you, that's different. This was your own father. It's a lot harder," said Harry kindly.

"Thanks for understanding. It was a little hard for me to come here, but I made the three best friends a girl could ever want," I said, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

Harry grinned.

Later on, Ron came back into the common room, but not Hermione.

"Where's 'Mione?" asked Harry.

Ron shrugged.

"Maybe she's still in the library doing her essay. You know Hermione,"

As the day wore on, Ron, Harry and I were getting worried. By the night time, we were panic stricken.

Hermione had not shown up for any of our classes. Nor was she at dinner.

Professor McGonagall called the three of us into her office.

"Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Davis. I had some very bad news," said Professor McGonagall, her hazel blue eyes were filled with grief behind her glasses. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun. She was dressed in dark green robes.

"We can't find Hermione," said Ron anxiously.

"That's what I have to talk to you about. Miss Granger has disappeared,"

My heart nearly stopped.

"Dis-disappeared? What do you mean?" asked Harry. Panic could clearly be heard in his tone.

"She was on her way to visit Hagrid. Hagrid had informed me that she had asked him yesterday to meet with her tonight. She never made it to his hut," said Professor McGonagall, seriously.

Ron, Harry and I looked at each other nervously.

"That's weird. Hermione never mentioned it to us. That's not like her," said Harry quietly.

"Hagrid has no idea why Miss Granger wanted to meet with him. Do any of you have an idea?"

We shook our heads solemnly.

Professor McGonagall exhaled.

"Also, Professor Dumbledore asked me to ask you, Miss Davis, if you would care to help look for Miss Granger,"

"Me?"

"He says you're the only person that can track her down. He explained everything to me, Miss Davis. Don't worry," said Professor McGonagall, seeing the nervous expression on my face.

Ron's face lit up.

"Blimey! Of course! Lucy is the only person that could track 'Mione down quickly enough!"

Then, Harry's face lit up.

"Yup! What about it Lucy? Up to doing some tracking?"

I looked at Ron's and Harry's faces. They were filled with hope. There was no way in hell I was going to not go! Hermione was my best friend also. I was sure she would do the same thing for one of us.

"Absolutely," I grinned.

"OK. You two I want in the Gryffindor common room. Wait there until we return," said Professor McGonagall to Harry and Ron.

"We want to come along also," said Ron, firmly.

"Hermione's our best friend too. We want to help," Harry added.

Professor McGonagall's eyes twinkled briefly behind her glasses.

"Very well. You three follow me," said Professor McGonagall as she led us down to the Great Hall, where Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick and Professor Sinistra were standing, along with Professor Dumbledore.

"Ah. Miss Davis. You made it," said Professor Dumbledore, in his soft, kind voice.

"Yes sir," I smiled meekly.

"OK then. What do you need?"

"Something of Hermione's," I replied.

Professor McGonagall turned and hurried back up to the Gryffindor dorm room. She came back down 5 minutes later with Hermione's sweater. I held it, yet hesitated.

"It's OK, Lucy. They all know. You're safe," said Professor Dumbledore. "I must apologize for betraying your trust like this. But a student is missing and you are the only person that can find her and bring her back safely."

"It's OK, Professor. I understand," I said.

They patiently waited. I handed the sweater to Ron and then dropped to my hands and knees. I changed into the wolf. My hands and feet changed into paws; gray and white fur sprouted all over my body. My nose and mouth pulled forward and flattened into a snout; white canines and incisors slid down under purple lips. My ears grew into triangular shaped erect wolf ears. My legs bent into haunches. A tail grew at my rear. My eyes changed into a jaundice color. I then went over to Ron, who hesitantly held his right hand out which was holding the sweater.

"It's OK, Ron. She didn't mean to go to bite you the last time," said Harry, glancing meaningfully toward Professor Snape, who just stood with his usual expression.

I sniffed Hermione's sweater. Immediately, I got her scent. I whined and then trotted toward the front doors, my paws bouncing over the polished floor in rhythm. I paused by the door and looked back at the teachers, Ron and Harry.

"She's got her scent!" said Harry excitedly.

They all hurried after me. The minute they opened the doors, I took off galloping like a rocket. They all had to run to keep up with me. My ears were pinned back, my jaws partly open as my long red tongue lolled out of the corner as I galloped across the grounds and into the Dark Forest behind Hagrid's hut.

Every once and a while, I stopped to sniff the ground to make sure I still had Hermione's scent. There was a thin mist floating 2 inches off the ground and snaking around tree trunks.

The teachers, Ron and Harry were still running after me. Suddenly, Hermione's scent got stronger. I picked up a little more speed.

"I think she may have found 'Mione!" I heard Harry gasp.

I saw a pair of feet behind a bush. I galloped right over to them. It was Hermione. She was lying on her back, one arm draped over her stomach, the other stretched out. I stood over her and sat on my haunches right next to Hermione, waiting for the others to catch up. Hermione had dirt smudged on her jumper and robe.

"Miss Granger!" cried Professor McGonagall as she and the other teachers reached her.

I panted and watched them intently.

Professor Dumbledore kneeled down beside Hermione.

"She's OK. She was just unconscious,"

He gentle shook Hermione.

"Wha--?" asked Hermione as she groggily came to.

"Are you OK, Hermione? What happened?" Ron demanded.

"I was walking toward Hagrid's hut, when someone came up behind me. I managed to get a glimpse before I conked out," said Hermione, as Professor Dumbledore and Professor Sinistra helped her up. She wiped the dirt smudges off her jumper and robe.

"What did he look like?" demanded Harry as he grabbed her and hugged her after Ron.

"You," said Hermione surprised and disbelievingly.

"Me? But that's impossible. I was with Ron and Lucy the whole day," said Harry, shocked as he looked from Ron to me.

"Yup," Ron agreed, nodding.

"I believe you. It's just that the person really did look like you," said Hermione.

I went over to Hermione and sat on my haunches in front of her, looking up at her. She looked down at me. She dropped to her knees and threw her arms around my neck, burying her face into my fur. I just stood, patiently. But at the same time, I got a scent off of her that somehow didn't match the one on the sweater.

"Thanks, Lucy. If you hadn't found me, I don't know how long I'd be in here,"

I felt her shuddering.

She released me and stood back up.

"As long as you are alright, Miss. Granger. That is the main thing. Professor Snape? Would you mind checking the grounds for a bit?" said Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Snape nodded and began heading toward the grounds to look it over. We all began heading back toward the castle after Professor Snape. I trotted along side Hermione protectively. I kept my eyes locked ahead, looking for anything suspicious. We headed across the grounds and met Hagrid, who was standing outside his hut.

"Did yeh find 'Mione?" He asked anxiously.

"Yes, Hagrid. She's is OK," said Professor Dumbledore, kindly.

Hagrid's face lit up when he spied Hermione.

"Oh thank God! I thou' yeh were gone!" Hagrid cried as he hugged Hermione.

"I'm OK, Hagrid," said Hermione as she blushed when Hagrid released her.

Hagrid's dark beetle eyes moved onto me.

"Where'd she come from?"

"Hagrid, we'd really like to get Miss Granger back into the castle. I'm sure she's tired and wants to rest," said Professor Dumbledore kindly.

"Oh sure. Yeh'd better go, 'Mione. Glad yeh're alright. Yeh scared us 'lot," said Hagrid.

We all began continuing to the castle. Once we were all safely back inside, I changed back into my human self.

"OK. I want the four of you to go straight to Gryffindor tower." said Professor McGonagall, as she came toward us from the Great Hall. Dinner was over and the students were all in their dorms or common rooms by now.

"What about dinner?" asked Ron, as his stomach gave a loud growl.

"We'll send it up to you," said Professor McGonagall firmly.

"OK," said Hermione as the four of us headed to Gryffindor tower.

Harry and Ron paused before going toward the boys' dorms. They both looked at Hermione like she was going to disappear right then and there.

"I'm OK, you two," said Hermione reassuringly.

"If you're sure," Ron said.

Hermione smiled and then before they knew it, she gave them each a hug. Ron was blushing. Harry hugged her back tightly before releasing her. They glanced back at her before heading into the boys' dorms. Hermione and I headed into ours.

"How'd you find me, though?" Hermione asked me.

"I got your scent off one of your sweaters. Oh crap. Where is it?" I asked, looking around.

Just then, Professor McGonagall entered the girls' dorms carrying Hermione's sweater.

"Oh. There it is," I said, relieved.

Professor McGonagall handed Hermione the sweater.

"I want Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss. Davis to keep an eye on you for a while. No wandering around the castle late. While you change classes, stay with those three," said Professor McGonagall.

"I will," said Hermione.

Professor McGonagall headed out of the dorm.

"Ugh. I am pooped," I said, heading toward my four poster bed.

Hermione didn't answer. I turned around.

Hermione was standing, her hands clasped behind her back. She had an expression that sent chills down my spine.

"'Mione?" I asked, tentatively.

"I'm not Hermione,"

She grinned evilly.

I froze.

"What do you mean, 'you're not Hermione?'" I asked slowly.

"Exactly what it sounds like, Lucy. I'm not Hermione. I'm someone you feared once before. But I will tell you one thing I am certain of...I will kill Harry Potter,"