Revelation II-Lycantor

REVELATION II-LYCANTOR

CHAPTER SIX-TOUGH CHOICES

Murmurs went around the Great Hall then.

"What on earth could and would tear out a throat?" a Ravenclaw girl asked.

"Werewolves," Professor Snape answered abruptly. "Someone in this castle is a werewolf."

Now, everyone was looking at each other as if the suspect.

"Not necessarily," Professor Dumbledore began. "There might be a rogue wolf or Sommetril loose."

Sommetril's were about the size of rats. They had a tendency to go for people's throats. I secretly thanked Professor Dumbledore for not siding with Snape.

"There will be a curfew issued at exactly nine o'clock," Professor Snape continued. "No one is to leave their dorms after that."

When Professor Dumbledore was done speaking, everyone went back to their breakfast.

"I wonder what happened to Seamus?" Neville asked leaning toward me.

"I don't know. I hope it's nothing more than a Sommetril," I replied not looking at Harry.

"What do you think Harry?" Neville asked turning to him.

"I don't know," he snapped.

Neville look taken aback.

"He didn't get much sleep last night," I whispered to Neville.

He nodded, but still looked at Harry scandalized.

"I'm going to the bathroom," Harry replied as he got up.

"Okay. Just remember when the bell rings we have Potions," I said softly.

"Relax Hermione. I'm not a bloody imbecile," Harry snapped at me.

"Sor-ry," I snapped back.

Harry just glared at me for a moment before he got up and left the table, dropping his fork onto his plate with a clatter.

I sighed and began feeling tears forming in my eyes.

I missed the old Harry and I wished he hadn't been scratched. This was my entire fault. I should have never gotten him involved in it and I should've fought Professor Solaris myself.

Now, Harry was a monster and had the taste of human blood. What will happen next?

No one knew that it was a werewolf responsible for Seamus' murder. Snape obviously had some kind of feeling or he wouldn't have said that out loud that it was a werewolf.

Professor Dumbledore was trying to buy Harry some time before I knew he was going to have to come clean and tell everyone that Professor Snape was right, even though I knew he didn't like siding with Snape too much. But he was always kept in line and never argued with Professor Dumbledore. Maybe he was a little afraid of him?

For what ever reason, we had to decide what to do with Harry and fast before someone else is killed.

The bell rang ending breakfast. I headed down to the dungeons to Professor Snape's classroom.

As I walked down the corridor, past the Charms classroom, there was a huge hole in the door. I shivered and then got a whiff of something dreadful.

I wrinkled my nose and cautiously stepped over to the hole. Splinters were lying on the floor in front of the door as if something pulled someone out through the door. I was actually able to step through the hole and into the classroom. I saw a tuft of fur stuck on one of the jagged pieces in the door. I felt nausea roll over me.

What happened here? I thought as I surveyed the room.

It looked like a twister had gone through it. Desks were over turned, parchments were scattered all over the floor and there were puddles of a dark red stain on the floor.

I swallowed and then one of the cabinet doors squeaked open by itself where Professor Flitwick keeps extra textbooks and quills.

I jumped from being startled.

I slowly stepped over to the cabinet door and the smell got more pronounced.

What on earth is that odor? I thought pressing the top of my wrist against my nostrils. It's absolutely foul.

I managed to get the door opened. I screamed and jumped back.

Blood dripped down from the top shelf were what looked like a long, thin red bloody snake was. It took me a few moments to realize just what the snake was.

I turned and fled from the classroom and reached Professor Snape's classroom in record time.

I was still sick from what I just saw. Professor Snape entered the classroom.

"Miss Granger? Where is Mr. Potter?" he asked me.

"He went to the bathroom sir," I said, forcing down a wave of nausea.

Professor Snape studied me for a moment.

"Are you feeling well?"

"Actually, sir, no," I replied swallowing again.

"Then go to Madam Pomfrey. When Potter comes back from discharging his bodily functions, I will tell him where you are," Professor Snape said looking revolted.

I nodded and left the dungeon.

I arrived at Madam Pomfrey's. I told her I had an upset stomach. She gave me a Garrick Potion that cures nausea. After I had taken it, I laid down on one of the cots to buy some time. I really didn't want to go back to class and face Harry after what I had just seen.

Could Seamus had run into the empty classroom and the wolf pulled him through the door? But then what about what was in the cabinet? How'd that get there? And Professor Dumbledore said Seamus was found with his throat torn. He didn't say anything about missing internal organs...maybe he didn't want to say. I thought.

I felt the nausea rising again a little bit and took another sip of the potion.

About twenty minutes later, Harry burst into the hospital wing.

"Hermione! Are you okay?" he asked concerned.

Now there's the old Harry.

"I saw something horrible in the Charms classroom in one of the cabinets," I said swallowing.

He looked at me with concern. His emerald green eyes were locked on me.

"What did you see?" he asked.

"I s-saw..." my voice trailed off as I couldn't even say it. All I could do was point to my own stomach.

He followed my gaze and then realization formed on his face.

"Oh," he said softly.

I slumped forward into his arms.

"I just want this nightmare to end," I sobbed. "I should've never gotten you involved. It's all my fault."

"No. It's not," Harry said quietly. "It's no ones fault except Professor Solaris'. She started this whole thing."

I just sobbed into Harry's chest.

"Come on. I'm taking you back to the common room. We'll explain that you aren't feeling well to Professor Binns and Professor McGonagall," Harry said gently as he helped me get to my feet and we left the hospital wing to head back to the common room.

Once in the common room, I sat on the floor in front of the fire that crackled gently. I looked outside. A heavy snow began falling and I could see an already thick blanket sticking to the castle and the grounds. Harry appeared beside me and stretched out his legs.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close.

"Don't worry. We'll get through this. I promise," he whispered.

He kissed me. I kissed him back.

To my surprise, he began pushing me backward onto my back on the hearth rug in front of the fire. I allowed him to.

He was on top of me. He began slowly pulling down my skirt. It pooled around my ankles.

We began making love.

When we were done, I pulled on my robe and uniform again. He was also getting dressed.

"That was wonderful," I said softly.

"I know," Harry agreed.

I smiled.

"It's dinner time now," I said.

Harry and I headed down to the Great Hall.

Professor Dumbledore arose from his seat at the Head table and addressed us.

Silence filtered across the Hall like a wave.

"Charms class will now be held in the West wing in the old Muggle Culinary classroom," Professor Dumbledore said. "Also, please remember that the curfew is still in effect. Tuck in."

Dinner appeared.

Harry dove into some raw roast beef and potatoes. I helped myself to some chicken and carrots.

I watched him and realized that I was going to have to make some tough choices now.

Either I leave him alone and hope that Professor Dumbledore finds a way to stop the transformation and he kills more, or I put a stop to him myself.

I really didn't want to think of the second thing. I would rather fail every single subject and hurt myself than kill Harry.

But something had to be done. I couldn't very well leave him to kill more students.

I swallowed a lump of tears when I realized I was going to have to put a stop to him myself unless Professor Dumbledore comes up with something and I prayed that he would.

Everyone kept sneaking glances at Harry as he gnawed on the piece of roast beef like an animal.

"He's just hungry," I offered giving a fake and cheery smile as Neville watched him with a bit of disgust and confusion.

"Damm right," Harry said between mouthfuls of meat.

I cringed.

Once dinner was over, I decided to try and get a hold of Professor Dumbledore. I managed to nab him before he left the Great Hall.

"Professor Dumbledore," I said swallowing. "I found something horrible in the Charms classroom in a cabinet."

"What did you see?" he asked gently, his blue eyes filled with concern behind his half moon spectacles.

"I found human organs," I said forcing the nausea down again.

"Oh dear," he said quietly.

"I suspect the wolf killed Seamus and then dragged him back into the classroom to..." my voice trailed off.

"That would fit the condition of the classroom," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Is there anything we can do for Harry?" I asked pleadingly.

Professor Dumbledore sighed.

"The only thing that may work is the Medroxy Lupus Arimus potion but I cannot guarantee if it will work thoroughly," Professor Dumbledore said quietly. "There's a fifty-fifty chance that it will."

"But we have to take that chance!" I said. "Who knows if Harry might and will kill again?"

"I know," Professor Dumbledore said gently. "Did Annabelle contact you?"

I looked at him shocked.

"How...?"

"Annabelle contacted me in the beginning of the year and told me what might happen if Professor Solaris scratched Harry or any student. She was concerned that it had happened already and wanted to know the name of the student that was 'infected'. I didn't know until you told me Harry was scratched when the wolf swiped at his wand and left marks on his wrist. I told her about Harry and you and what happened to Ron. She wanted to get in contact with you immediately. I told her that you two were off to Hogsmeade. She met you there, correct?"

I nodded.

"Then she heard about the killing and wanted to give you something stronger to keep the transformation from happening. Harry has to wear that medallion in order for it to work."

"He won't wear it and snaps at me whenever I ask him to," I said.

"Be careful as now he has the mind reading ability. Try to keep your mind clear around him," Professor Dumbledore continued.

"Thanks Professor," I said and turned to leave the Great Hall.

I met up with Harry in the common room.

"Where were you?" he asked. "I was worried."

"Oh. I just wanted to ask Professor Dumbledore a question," I said nonchalantly.

Harry froze and studied me, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"A question. About me right? About transforming?" he said shrewdly.

I swallowed. I didn't want to get him angry.

"Just to see if we can stop it," I said trying to keep my voice friendly.

"So you go behind my back and ask a teacher? Why don't you try asking me first next time?"

"Because you get mad at me every time I suggest it! You won't even wear that medallion!" I said.

"Because I don't want to! I don't have to do anything!" Harry growled.

"Don't you want to stop the transformation?" I asked shocked.

"Actually, no I don't," he replied. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

I just stood with my lower jaw dropped.

"I didn't think so," he said smugly. "Good-night."

With that, the turned and headed to the boys' dorm without so much as a backward glance or look of guilt.

Ginny appeared next beside me.

"What happened?" she asked looking upset and looked from me to where Harry had disappeared.

"Harry. Annabelle gave him a medallion that will stop the transformation if he wears it. He doesn't want to," I said feeling tears forming. "And when I asked him if he wanted to stop the transformation he said that he didn't."

Ginny looked shocked.

"Oh my God," she breathed. "What are we going to do now? Suppose on the next crescent moon he kills again?"

"And more violently," I added.

I began telling her what I found in the classroom in the cabinet. When I was done she looked sick.

"So you think Harry killed Seamus and then disemboweled him in the classroom?" she asked meekly.

I nodded. "How else would you account for the organ in the cabinet?"

Ginny went white.

"Is there anything else that will stop the transformation?"

"Just the Medroxy Lupus Arimus potion found in the Cheviot Hills and the special plant called Oliut that will stop it but those hills are almost at the border between England and Scotland. A good five days' travel time," I replied.

Ginny sighed.

"Which is worse? Traveling for five days or letting Harry roam free?"

"The thing is, if we travel, Harry could have five days to kill too," I sighed. "We can't win and I'm afraid there's only real one solution."

Ginny looked up.

"I'm going to have to kill him myself,"