Revelation II-Lycantor

REVELATION II-LYCANTOR

CHAPTER FIVE-CRESCENT MOON

I waited until nine o'clock to head down to the grounds to meet Annabelle.

I grabbed my hooded cloak and pulled the hood up over my head. The cold wind blew blowing out the hem of the cloak and exposing my legs. A shiver ran up my spine. I had visited Harry before leaving and just told him I was going to talk to Hagrid.

He nodded.

I could smell snow in the air. It probably was going to snow soon.

It was probably around 32 degrees. I hated the cold. I preferred the Fall more.

I reached the grounds and saw a cloaked figure standing by Hagrid's cabin. It waved at me to come over. I headed over to the figure.

Annabelle slowly raised the hood to just above her eyes.

"How is he doing?" she asked.

"Not good. He attacked someone in his sleep and a Matorin," I replied.

"Then the medallion is not working. We will need something stronger," Annabelle said. "I have brought this."

She pulled out another medallion only this time, there was a wolf imprint on it.

"This was given to my mother from a priest in Transylvania 4 years ago. It worked but my mother never wore it," Annabelle said. "It should definitely work for you until a potion could be made."

I nodded and took it from her.

"Do I need to wear this or him?"

"Him," she replied. "Just tell him it was a gift from Hagrid."

I nodded.

"Thanks,"

"You welcome. Have faith," she said and then began to head toward the Quidditch pitch.

I then headed back into the castle and up to the hospital wing.

Harry looked up at me. Visiting hours were until ten so I had about an hour with him.

I pulled a chair up and sat beside him next to the bed.

"Guess what? Hagrid gave this to you as a get well present," I said cheerfully as I handed him the medallion.

"Really? Cool," he said as he reached for it then hesitated. "What's with the wolf on it?"

"It's just a good-luck thing, that's all," I replied as casually as possible.

He took it from me and put it around his neck.

"Nice," he said. "I'm starting to feel better now though."

"That's good but we should wait and see what Madam Pomfrey says," I said smiling.

"Why? I feel as fit as a fiddle," Harry asked tilting his head.

I paused.

What if I argued with him? Would he show the violent behavior? More than likely. I thought.

To my total relief, Madam Pomfrey entered the hospital wing.

"Well now, Mr. Potter's fine to go," she said cheerfully.

"Thanks Madam Pomfrey," I said gratefully.

I really was nervous to argue with Harry not knowing if the violent tendencies will come out.

Harry eagerly got up off the cot and stood beside me.

"Well, let's go," he said.

We headed out of the hospital wing.

About halfway up the corridor, Harry pulled the medallion off his neck.

"What are you doing?" I asked, forcing the panic and fear not to show in my voice.

"It's very heavy around my neck," he replied. "I'm going to keep it in my pocket for a bit."

I wanted to say, "But you can't! Otherwise you'll change", but I knew he would think I was pulling his leg.

"Sure. That's okay," I said forcing a grin.

He grinned back and we headed back to the common room.

Ginny was sitting reading and looked up.

"Oh. Hey! How are you feeling?" she asked Harry.

"Better," he said. "I'm going to get my Firebolt and head out to the pitch for a bit before our next class."

He headed to the boys' dorm and a few minutes later came out with his Firebolt over his shoulder and left the common room.

I sat beside Ginny.

"So how'd the meeting go with Annabelle?" she asked.

"She gave me a medallion, a different one, but Harry was supposed to wear it. He took it off his neck," I said sighing.

"Oh boy," Ginny said looking at her calendar.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Tonight is the crescent moon!" she said raising her eyes to meet mine.

I froze.

"Oh my God," I breathed. "That means tonight..."

Ginny nodded gravely. "What can we do?"

"Nothing without that medallion around his neck. It'll be useless," I said quietly.

Harry came back about a half an hour later looking happy and carefree.

"That was a good time," he said brightly. "Let's head to class!"

Harry and I headed to Charms, Transfiguration and then Potions last. I nervously watched him for any signs that he might be starting to change.

As we were leaving Potions, he suddenly cried out and doubled over, wrapping his arm against his stomach.

"Harry?" I asked alarmed. "What's wrong?"

"A sharp pain just shot across my stomach," he winced. "Maybe it was something I ate?"

"Maybe. Nevertheless, we should get you back to the common room to lie down and I'll see about Madam Pomfrey giving you an Oris Potion for the stomach."

"I'm fine now," he replied standing upright again.

I looked at him curiously.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure,"

I nodded, but still studied him closely.

We headed back to the common room and then around nine o'clock, headed to bed.

"Night Harry," I said.

"'Night Hermione," he replied.

We went to our dorms.

Around midnight, I couldn't sleep for some reason. I woke up abruptly and sat up, staring into the darkness. Gentle snores coming from the beds told me that the others were sound asleep.

I couldn't explain what I was feeling, but there was definitely something wrong that I couldn't put my finger on it.

Silently, I crept out of bed and out of the girl's dorm room. I entered the common room and to my surprise, I found Harry there.

"Harry! What are..." My voice trailed off as I approached him.

He was on his hands and knees staring at the floor of the common room.

"Go away, Hermione...something is wrong with me," he said.

His voice sounded rough.

"Then let me help you!" I said as I started to approach him again.

"NO. Get back," he said.

I stood back, behind the couch and watched in horror as he started changing.

His back lengthened and narrowed; dark grey fur sprouted all over his body and his chest expanded, straining the material of his uniform and robe.

The uniform and robe fell off in halves. His body was now covered in the dark grey fur. His ears stretched and tapered off into points; his nose and jaw pulled forward into a snout. His legs bent into haunches; White canines and incisors slid down under violet lips. His eyes changed into a jaundice color. His hands and feet stretched and resembled paws but were also human at the same time. I stood, shaking violently.

Harry was gone. All that was left now was the wolf.

The wolf stood up on its hind legs and shook its head from side to side. It was definitely over 9 feet tall and it towered over me. The ear tips almost reached the top of the ceiling. The wolf raised its head up at the ceiling and opened its jaws. A loud, inhuman howl escaped from its throat.

I clamped my hands over my ears.

I quickly glanced out the window. Sure enough, a crescent moon hung in the midnight sky. Stars twinkled joyfully.

After the wolf finished howling, it lowered its head and closed its jaws and then the jaundice eyes turned to me.

I froze and felt a scream forming in my throat.

The wolf took several steps toward me. I was too frozen to move and shut my eyes waiting until the wolf would strike.

Nothing happened. I chanced opening my eyes. The wolf's face was right in front of mine, inches from it.

The ears were pricked forward and it seemed to be studying me. Then the next thing I knew, the black, cold, wet nose was pressed against my neck and I felt it sniffing at me.

I forced myself not to scream because I didn't know if it would attack and I didn't want to do anything to provoke it.

It sniffed at my hair, neck and clothes. It smelled like a dog that hadn't bathed in weeks and the breath smelled like blood and gasoline mixed. It was quite nauseating.

It continued sniffing at me until it reached the front of my skirt. It was the 'time of the month' for me and I prayed it didn't do anything after smelling the blood.

Oddly, it nudged me in my midsection forcing me to take a few steps back.

Then, Seamus came out from the boys' dorm.

"Holy shit!" he cried.

At that, the wolf stood up again and turned its head toward him, the ears pinned sideways and it snarled at him.

The wolf knocked me down and walked toward Seamus. Seamus cried out and took off out of the common room. The wolf continued to follow him right out into the corridor. I could hear Seamus screaming for help. His voice echoing up the corridor.

I got to my feet. By now, several students had come out from their dorms and were crowded in the common room, whispering amongst themselves as to what was going on.

"What's happening, Hermione?" Neville asked in a small voice.

"There's a wolf loose in the castle. It's after Seamus," I replied not wanting to tell anyone that it was actually a werewolf and that it was Harry.

"Someone should go and get Dumbledore!" a first year cried terrified.

"It's out in the hall chasing Seamus. Hopefully he'll be able to get to one of the teachers!" I said. "We really should all go back to our dorms and stay there. It will be much safer as the wolf can't get up the stairs to the doors."

Everyone nodded, but looked terrified all the same. They all began heading back into their dorms, all clutching their wands.

"Please be okay Seamus," I whispered to myself.

SEAMUS.

The creature was right behind me. It dropped to all fours and was galloping after me.

"SOMEONE HELP ME!" I cried turning a corner and almost lost my footing.

I regained my balance and continued. The wolf followed close behind. I turned another corner and found an empty classroom.

I grabbed the door and flung it open. I lunged into the classroom and then closed and locked the door behind me.

I was out of breath and bent over putting my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I didn't hear it anymore outside.

I had no idea what a wolf was doing inside the castle. I knew that last semester, Professor Solaris was a werewolf, but she had been dealt with. Where did this one come from?

Suddenly, two hairy arms burst through the door and wrapped around me, pulling me backward through the door.

I was pulled against the beast and the next thing I knew, a set of jaws was clamped around my neck. I felt the warm rush of blood and then darkness swallowed me up.

HERMIONE.

THE NEXT MORNING.

I had sat down on the couch with my wand out and ready but ended up dozing off. I woke up abruptly and looked around.

Harry was leaning against the portrait entrance frame. He was naked.

Quickly averting my eyes, I pulled off my robe and threw it around him.

"Are you okay?" I asked alarmed.

"What happened?" he asked groggily.

"You changed last night and took off after Seamus," I replied.

"Did I kill him?" Harry asked looking scared and sick.

I noticed blood on his chin and neck.

"There's blood on your chin and neck," I replied.

Harry felt where the blood was.

"I'm not wounded...it's not my blood," he said going pale.

"Go get changed," I instructed. "I suggest going back to Professor Dumbledore. He might know something to stop the transformation."

Harry nodded and quickly headed back into the boys' dorms.

A few minutes later, he came back fully dressed in his robe and uniform.

"Let's go to breakfast then to Dumbledore," I said.

He nodded and we headed down to the Great Hall.

We sat down at the Gryffindor table. Ginny was sitting beside me.

"Hey Harry," she said brightly.

"He had another episode last night," I whispered to her.

"Oh no," she said looking upset. "Are you going to go back to Dumbledore?"

I nodded.

"There has to be something to totally stop this," I said. "For now Harry, why don't you put the medallion on that I gave you?"

"Because I don't want to," he growled suddenly. "Stop hounding me about it."

I looked at him shocked. "Okay fine,"

He began eating his breakfast hungrily.

I knew that medallion would be our only chance, but he wouldn't wear it. What could I do?

About twenty minutes into breakfast, Professor Dumbledore stood up and silence filtered across the Hall like a wave.

"I have some disturbing news," he began gravely.

Whispers went around curiously.

"There has been another killing," Professor Dumbledore continued. "Seamus Finnigan of Gryffindor."

The Gryffindors looked pale and sick. Neville put his head down on the table after crossing his arms on it.

"How'd he die Professor?" Dean Thomas asked swallowing.

"He was found in the left wing corridor in front of the Charms classroom. His throat had been torn out,"