Ambrogia

AMBROGIA

CHAPTER SIX-MEGAN'S FLASHBACK

Ron, Harry and I exchanged looks. Another in-human.

"She isn't like Miss Peterson. Don't worry. But Megan's parents were killed," Professor Snape explained.

We had solemn expressions on our faces.

"She has been living with me for the past three years. After her parents were killed, her relatives realized that she was a werewolf. Knowing that I've had experience with werewolves before, they sent her to me hoping that I could cure her. Right now, I'm working on something that might be able to stop the transformation,"

"Then that means you might be able to help Professor Lupin as well," Harry said eagerly.

"Absolutely not," Professor Snape snapped. "I am in no way helping that...mongrel in anyway. Besides, I've only got enough for one person at this time."

At least he seems to care about Megan. I thought. He's not totally cruel and uncaring after all.

Harry then voiced another thing I was thinking.

"Why are you telling us sir?" Harry asked slowly.

"Because I know you three will keep it quiet and try and help her," Professor Snape snapped. "Also, keep her away from Malfoy. I know his father would have a field day with this if he knew a relative of mine was a werewolf."

We nodded. To my surprise, Professor Snape's expression softened when he looked over at Madam Pomfrey.

"Is she okay?" he demanded.

"She's just a little weak but I'll give her a NewNRG Potion to help get her back on her feet," Madam Pomfrey said.

Professor Snape turned to us. "There is a full moon tomorrow night. I will come by the hospital wing tonight and give her a small dose of the potion. If it's good, it should stop the transformation,"

We nodded again.

"You three can stay with her for now. If she wakes up, tell her about the potion," Professor Snape continued before leaving the hospital wing.

"Keep an eye on her for a moment while I go and get an ingredient for the New NRG Potion. I've run out," Madam Pomfrey said as she too left the hospital wing.

Harry and I went over to Megan's bed and sat down beside it.

"The poor girl. That must've been horrible to find out that your parents were killed and to be sent away because of something you couldn't help," I said solemnly.

Then realized Megan and Harry had a lot in common. I fell silent and turned to Harry.

"Sorry," I apologized realizing his parents' death was still a touchy subject for him.

"It's okay,"

At that moment, Megan's eyes opened.

"Where am I?" she asked groggily.

"The hospital wing. Professor Snape is working on a potion to stop the transformation," Harry explained.

"Thank God," Megan said as tears began forming in her eyes. "This curse has caused nothing but heartache. I can't even live with my relatives until I'm totally cured."

We looked at her sympathetically. She shut her eyes.

"I feel I can trust you three. Here's what happened..."

*FLASHBACK-THREE YEARS AGO*

MEGAN

"Megan? Make sure you've got everything!" my mum called as I headed downstairs.

"I do!" I called and hurried out of the house.

Our 2001 silver four-door Volvo station wagon was packed with camping equipment. We were going camping for three days. I couldn't wait and I was really excited.

My dad grinned at me from the driver's seat.

"All ready Megan?" he asked.

"Yes dad. I can't wait," I said as I handed my mum my duffle bag as she loaded it into the back cargo area.

I pulled open the back door behind the passenger seat and slid onto the back bench seat. I closed my door and pulled on my seatbelt.

Once mum secured all the luggage and things, she slid into the front seat and closed her door.

"All ready!" she said grinning.

I grinned back. My mum was so pretty. She had shoulder length curly black hair and these amazing blue eyes. She had a round face with angelic features. She was also the fun loving one. She had a great sense of humor but was very kind and caring. My dad was the sensible one. He always tried to be reasonable about things. He had short, dark brown hair and brown eyes.

Me, I was a combination. I had good sense of humor but also at times was reasonable and sensible about things. I just sat back against the seat and listened to my CD player. I couldn't wait to start sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry next year. It was going to be wonderful. I had all my supplies and things ready. I had gotten the letter last year. My owl, Luke, was staying with my best friend a few blocks away.

My parents were driving to a campsite someplace a little north of where we lived. We lived in Manchester. It was a large site but rural and surrounded by a large forest. I decided to take a nap and snuggled up against the door and soon dozed off.

I was awoken about an hour later. I saw something dark and large bolt out across the back road to the campsite. Dad slammed on the brake, but we ended up hitting the object. It was momentarily thrown up onto the front hood before it slid off. Dad lost control of the car and we went nose first down a ditch. The Volvo bounced down the ditch until the front flipped over and we began rolling down the small ditch.

After about 5 rolls, the car came to a stop on the roof with all four tires pointing up at the sky. I was thrown around and landed on my stomach on what was the roof, but now was the floor. I felt my forehead. I had a small abrasion, which was bleeding.

"Mum? Dad?" I called.

There was no answer. I carefully climbed out of the car by opening the back door. It opened with a creak and I crawled out. When I stood up and looked around, I saw my parents. My dad had been thrown from the car and had hit a tree. My mum had been thrown into the windshield and her body was tucked on the dashboard. I let out a scream and that's when this large animal appeared. It looked like a dog, but yet it didn't. The next thing I knew it bit my on my arm before taking off into the woods. I felt myself becoming light headed as I passed out.

*PRESENT DAY-HOGWARTS*

HERMIONE.

I looked over at Ron and Harry. Ron swallowed and looked absolutely pale.

"That's how I became a werewolf. I heard Professor Snape talking to you," Megan said looking sheepish.

"Blimey. That's horrible," Ron said.

I could see he was starting to become taken with Megan. I nudged Harry and nodded toward Ron.

He followed my gaze and a small grin formed on his face.

"Anyway, please tell us about yourself," Ron said clearing his throat.

Megan snorted. "What's there to tell? I've never had a boyfriend. The boys that I did like called me a 'fat freak' and a 'ugly hag'. Since living with Professor Snape, erm, Uncle Severus," Megan said correcting herself now that Snape wasn't in the room. "I didn't go out much. Uncle Severus told me I could go out as long as I was back before the moon set each month, but I didn't have any friends so why would I want to go out? Originally I was supposed to come here for my sixth year. I had gone to Alamorist Magical Academy for my first five years, then was going to transfer here for the remaining two. When the accident happened, I couldn't attend school because I didn't have any guardians until Uncle Severus came along. That's why I came here this semester. Uncle Severus asked your headmaster and told him all about me. He agreed. Professor Dumbledore is the most wonderful person."

"He is," Harry agreed in an affectionate sort of way.

"I don't think you're ugly or a freak," Ron said blushing.

Megan seemed deeply touched. "Thanks,"

Ron's eyes went down to his black shoes.

Megan yawned. "I'm afraid I'm a bit tired,"

"We'll go. We'll come back and check on you later," I said.

Megan snuggled up under the blanket and sheet and soon dozed off. Ron, Harry and I stood up just as Madam Pomfrey came back into the hospital wing.

"Okay you three. Back to class," she said.

We left the room and began walking down the corridor.

"I know you like her, Ron," Harry said grinning.

Ron blushed even more.

"I think she could use someone like you. I know you'd help her forget her pain," I said softly. "You're just what she needs right now. Poor girl has no self-esteem. I could pick it up immediately."

"Is that a flaw?" Ron asked.

"I don't know. She could eventually think so little of herself that she'll get into bad trouble just to boost her esteem. It might become a problem soon if we don't get her esteem up," I replied.

"What are we going to do?" Harry asked.

"Dunno. She seems to like you. Maybe you could talk to her?" I asked him.

Ron seemed a little put out.

"Listen. Once her esteem is up, I know she'll like you. Trust me. We're trying to help her," I replied gently.

Ron seemed happier after that.

Later on that night, we went to check on Megan. We froze outside the hospital wing when we heard Megan talking with Professor Snape.

"Listen. I hope I didn't seem cruel in class this morning. If I favored you, Malfoy would have a ball with it. I want you to know that in class you will be treated like any other student. But I don't want you thinking that I don't care about you," Professor Snape said.

"I know Professor..."

Professor Snape cut her off. "Uncle. We're not in class,"

"I know Uncle Severus," Megan replied.

To our surprise, Professor Snape actually gave Megan a hug.

Ron actually fainted.

Stifling giggles, we quickly helped Ron to his feet. At that moment, Professor Snape opened the hospital wing door.

"What's the matter with Weasley?" he asked.

"I think he just had too much for dinner," Harry said, hiding a grin.

Professor Snape eyed us, but then seemed satisfied. "Megan is looking for you three,"

We eagerly entered the hospital wing. Megan was sitting up on the cot positively beaming.

"Harry! Hermione! Ron!" she said happily.

"Hi. How are you feeling?" Harry asked softly sitting on the bed next to her.

Immediately she began blushing and stammering.

"F-fine," she said turning scarlet. "Much better than yesterday. But I know that once tomorrow night hits, I will change. This is how I feel before I change."

"Listen. How about if Harry talks to you for a moment? I've got to go to the library for a minute to get a book for tomorrow's potion," I suggested.

"Miss Granger, you don't even know what the potion is yet," Professor Snape replied.

"Right. I want to get a heads up," I said quickly. "Ron? You're coming with me right?"

Ron, cottoning on, nodded.

"Okay. We'll be right back," I said as I grabbed Ron's hand and pulled him out of the hospital wing leaving a confused Professor Snape behind.

MEGAN.

Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing leaving Harry alone to talk to me. Uncle Severus was standing talking to Madam Pomfrey.

"So. Ron was right. You aren't ugly or a fat freak," Harry said gently. "I think you're very pretty. So does Ron."

I began blushing. "Really? What did he say?"

"He likes you. I can tell. We've been friends for a long time," Harry continued.

"He likes me? Really?"

Harry nodded.

"I know Hermione must fight off lots of guys. Does she have a boyfriend?"

"Yeah. Me." Harry grinned.

I broke into a grin too.

At that moment, Uncle Severus came over.

"You can go to the Gryffindor tower for tonight. Tomorrow you are to come back here and take the potion. We're going to have to restrain you though," Uncle Severus said.

He looked pained when he said that.

I nodded.

"Potter, help her out and tell Miss Granger that I expect her to do well on her potion tomorrow since she's got a 'heads up'," Uncle Severus said to Harry.

"We all know she will," Harry replied grinning as he helped me to my feet and out of the hospital wing.

We met with Hermione and Ron a few moments later just outside the Gryffindor common room.

"Hey. She's okay," Hermione said relieved.

"I have to come back here tomorrow to be restrained and Uncle Severus is going to give me a potion to stop the transformation," I replied.

I saw Ron's lip twitch when I replied to Professor Snape as 'Uncle Severus'. I grinned. "I know it's weird for you to hear that I call Professor Snape 'Uncle' but I am related to him,"

"I'm sorry. I know," Ron apologized quickly.

"It's okay," I said smiling.

We all headed into the common room and Hermione and I went to the girls' dorms while Ron and Harry went to the boys'.

THE NEXT DAY.

HERMIONE.

The next day Megan, Ron, Harry and I went to all of our classes. She fit in well and picked up each lesson fairly quickly. Of course, Malfoy was giving her a hard time during Care of Magical Creatures. We were learning about Esolax's, which were about the size of dogs, but had bright blue fur, white eyes, and their tails were like a horses. Their paws were that of a dog, but instead of having three digits in front and four in the back, it was reversed. They were relatively friendly and only when provoked did they bite causing one heck of a rash and wound on the person that lasted two days. The only thing that cures the rash is Rowel's Rash Away salve. For the wound, they use Oelwein's Salve.

"Aww. Is Potty being nice to the other Mudblood too? What a Mudblood lover," Malfoy snickered.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry snapped angrily.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle sauntered over.

"I think I know what use that freak will have. She can scare off the crows," Malfoy laughed.

Crabbe and Goyle snickered.

Ron stepped in front of Harry and narrowed his eyes.

"I don't see any around here Malfoy. You must've done the job already," Ron snarled.

I saw Megan hiding a grin and snort.

Malfoy stepped closer to Ron and lightly pushed him, provoking him into a fight.

"Don't you push Ron!" Megan snarled as she stepped in front of Ron now.

"Shut up, you ugly whore," Malfoy snapped. "Just because you're related to Professor Snape doesn't give you the right to exist."

I could see Megan was reaching breaking point. She shoved Malfoy so hard he actually skidded a few feet on his but on the grass. I thought I saw a flicker of jaundice in her eyes for the moment before she took of running back to the castle.

We apologized to Hagrid and took off after her.

We couldn't find her all day until the evening when we checked the hospital wing. She was restrained on one of the cots. Professor Snape was standing by. We told him what Malfoy did.

"I'll deal with him later," Professor Snape growled. "We gave her the potion. I hope it works."

We all silently waited. I glanced out the window. A full moon slid out from behind silvery clouds. We turned our eyes back to Megan. She cried out and began thrashing around, but the restraints held her. She began changing.

Her hands and feet grew into large paws that held long sharp claws. White fur sprouted all over her body. Her chest expanded straining the Slytherin uniform she had changed into. Her ears grew into thin and pointed ears. Her eyes changed into the jaundice color while her nose and mouth pulled forward into a snout. White canines and incisors slid down under violet lips. The restraints snapped off. Professor Snape held his arms out shielding us. The wolf stood on all fours and shook its body sending the shredded uniform flying.

We were frozen behind Professor Snape.

"Megan?" Ron squeaked out.

The wolf's eyes turned onto Ron. It growled before jumping down off the bed and tore from the hospital wing.