Revelation

REVELATION

CHAPTER 12-THE BEGINNING

HARRY.

The ghosts continued to close in around Hermione.

"NOOO! LEAVE HER ALONE!" I yelled.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light. I couldn't see Hermione anymore or the ghosts.

When the bright light vanished, I couldn't believe my eyes.

We were standing by the lake with the entire class. Hagrid was talking about Marwizjols...the beginning of the year. Hermione was standing next to me and so was Ron.

Hermione and I looked at each other.

"What happened?" she whispered looking around.

"I don't know," I said awed and confused. "Maybe when the ghosts were going to kill you it threw off time or something?"

Hermione looked just as confused and puzzled as I was.

Hagrid went on about the Marwizjols.

"Don' be afraid. Marwizjols don' harm anyone," Hagrid said.

"That's not what I heard," Malfoy replied snickering. "They have killed people."

Hagrid looked flushed. "Oh yeh, if they're provoked and hungry. But don' worry. Dumbledore fed 'im this mornin'"

"Dumbledore approved of this?" Parvati asked nervously.

Hagrid nodded.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Ron said nervously staring at the shimmering surface of the lake. "And what happened with the giant squid?"

"He's afraid o' the Marwizjol fer some reason," Hagrid replied frowning. "Don' know why. They're the same size an' all."

"I can't imagine either," Malfoy said sarcastically.

Once again, I saw something familiar break through the surface of the lake. A short while later, Malfoy spoke again.

"I can't believe Dumbledore approved of this," Malfoy said. "I don't think my dad will be pleased to know there's a dangerous animal living in the lake on the grounds. The squid was bad enough."

I knew Hagrid was going to ask "Who can tell me about Marwizjols?"

Hermione looked at me and then didn't reply.

"Who can tell me 'bout Marwizjols?" Hagrid asked beaming as if he couldn't understand why everyone was so terrified.

He has no idea what is going to happen. This time, I won't let it. I thought.

When no one answered, Hagrid himself began explaining about the Marwizjols.

Then, thunder clapped above and lightning lit up the sky. A light drizzle began falling and the air took on a chilly and damp feeling. I tightened my robes around me and shivered.

This is it! I thought.

Just then there was another clap of thunder. I looked out at the lake. The Marwizjol was getting nervous because of the storm and was splashing its tentacles. I could see the whole thing in the middle of the lake. It wasn't happy.

"He's jus' nervous 'bout the storm. Nothin' ter worry 'bout," Hagrid said.

By now, most of the students were far away from the shoreline and they were hugging themselves as it got even damper to the point that our breaths were coming out in puffs of steam and a small amount of mist hovered across the lake.

The Marwizjol moved slightly closer to the shoreline.

I reached out and grabbed Hermione just as the tentacle shot out and went to grab her by the ankles.

Hermione landed on top of me.

The tentacle slapped around on the surface for a bit. Finding nothing, it retracted back into the lake.

"Good Lord! If Harry hadn't grabbed Hermione, it would've grabbed her!" Lavender cried looking upset.

"Are yeh alrigh', Hermione?" Hagrid asked worriedly as I let Hermione up.

"Yes. I'm fine," she replied throwing me a relieved and grateful look.

"I think we should head back to the castle," Hagrid said slowly.

"Good idea," Malfoy snickered.

We began heading back to the castle.

Relieved, Hermione, Ron and I headed to Gryffindor tower to change into dry uniforms and robes.

While Ron and I were changing, I looked at him.

I felt warmth in my heart toward him as I looked at him. I never realized just how much we would miss him and the image of what happened to him flooded my memory for a moment.

Ron looked up.

"What? Do I have a booger or something?" he asked frantically checking his nose.

"No. You're okay," I said grinning.

He shook his head and headed out to the common room.

I found Hermione in the common room next. Ron told me he had to go the bathroom. He left the common room, leaving Hermione and I alone.

I sat down beside her.

"What on earth happened? All I remember is the ghosts closing in," she said looking at me.

"I really have no idea. But it's like you got a second chance or something," I replied.

"Yeah. That could be it," Hermione said nodding. "It was so good to see Ron again though."

"Yeah it was," I said quietly. "I reckon we should tell him what happened?"

"I don't know if he would believe us," Hermione said slowly. "But we can certainly try."

I looked at her. She looked at me. We both broke into a grin.

On impulse I reached out and grabbed her face in my hands. I brought my face closer until our lips met. I kissed her gently and softly. She returned the kisses the same way.

We pulled back shortly, our breath sawing in and out in rhythm.

"I love you, Hermione," I said.

"I love you too, Harry," she grinned.

Shortly after that, Ron came back into the common room. Hermione and I looked at each other.

"Ron? Can we talk to you?" she began.

"Sure. What's up, Hermione?" he asked sitting across from us.

Hermione and I looked at each other and took a deep breath.

Then, Hermione launched into the entire story.

Ron listened with a blank expression on his face. When Hermione was finished, we waited for Ron to reply.

"So...Hermione drowned, was able to see spirits who wanted to kill her, plus the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was a werewolf?" Ron said slowly.

Hermione and I nodded.

Ron sighed.

"Wow. I don't believe it. And now you say when the ghosts surrounded you, there was a bright light and then you were returned back to the first year as if nothing happened?" Ron continued.

We nodded again.

"Do you believe us?" I asked slowly.

Ron looked up at me.

"Sure. Why not? You two have never lied to me. I have no reason to doubt you," Ron began.

Hermione and I looked at each other and grinned broadly.

"Do you think it's over?" Ron asked.

"We hope so," I said.

"But there's one thing," Hermione said slowly.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Professor Solaris," she began. "Is still the werewolf."

"What are we going to do about it?" Ron asked.

"Go to Professor McGonagall...what else?"

So, the three of us headed to Professor McGonagall's office.

She was writing a letter when we entered the office.

"Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter and Miss Granger. What can I do for you?" she asked looking up as we entered.

"We know something about Professor Solaris," Hermione said choosing her words carefully.

"What would that be?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"That Professor Solaris is a werewolf," Hermione finished.

For a moment, Professor McGonagall looked stunned, and then realization dawned on her face.

"I don't know how you found out, but I'm glad you told me. I've realized something funny about her as well, but it was more pronounced than it was with Professor Lupin," she said finally.

"What can we do?" Ron asked looking pale.

"Well, unfortunately, we can't just go up to her and say, 'Hey Professor Solaris, we know you're a werewolf'. We're going to have to wait a bit," Professor McGonagall said. "There has to be evident proof. Not just words."

Ron, Hermione and I looked at each other. We understood.

"Do not say a word of this to anyone," Professor McGonagall said.

We nodded that we understood.

Then, we turned and left, heading back to the common room.

HERMIONE.

I really could not understand what had happened, but I was grateful just the same. Maybe it really wasn't supposed to be me who that happened to. Maybe it was meant for someone else.

But now, the question remained...how were we going to get Professor Solaris?

Ron was just toying with the hem of his robe and Harry was leaning forward with his elbows resting on his thighs staring at the floor. Just then, the portrait entrance opened and someone stepped through. Ron, Harry and I jumped to our feet.

It was Professor Solaris.

"So, you three know my little secret, huh?" she asked smiling.

The three of us looked at each other shocked.

How'd she know that we knew? I thought.

"You're probably wondering how I know you knew," Professor Solaris said as if reading my thoughts.

"First, I can read your thoughts. I'm not a Verit werewolf. I'm a Lycantor werewolf. So, Miss Granger, I guess this comes to you as a shock not knowing there were actually three kinds of werewolves," Professor Solaris smirked.

I looked at Harry. He looked just as confused and shocked as I was.

"Lycantor's can read minds as well as manipulate," Professor Solaris continued.

She began pacing the common room. Harry, Ron and I stood very close to each other, moving around in a circle as a group as she paced around us like a shark swimming around a probable meal.

When she looked at us again, her eyes were different. They were jaundice, but had vertical slits as pupils like a cat.

"So now, the question is...what do I do to you three?" she growled.

I was genuinely terrified. I began remembering something I read on Lycantor Werewolves vaguely. They were more evil and deadly than the Verit and Malox werewolves plus they were ruthless.

Then, Professor Solaris began changing.

She dropped to her hands and knees and stared at the carpet. Her back lengthened as new vertebrae formed. Her robes split in half as her chest expanded. Dark grey fur grew all over her body; her hands and feet lengthened into hand-like paws with deadly claws where the fingernails and toenails should be. Her ears stretched and tapered off into points; her nose and bottom jaw pulled forward into a snout. White canines and incisors slid down under purple lips. Her legs bent into haunches. Before long, Professor Solaris was gone and all that remained was a wolf. I easily glanced out the window. It was a full moon.

The wolf stood easily up on two legs. The arms were held out in front of it with the claws extended as if it was going to grab one of us. The ears were pinned back and it snarled. It raised its head to the ceiling and opened its jaws. A loud, inhuman howl escaped from its throat. Harry and I clamped our hands over our ears.

Ron stood, completely transfixed. I saw a thin trickle of blood flowing from Ron's right ear.

"RON! COVER YOUR EARS!" I screamed.

Ron didn't seem to hear. The wolf continued to howl for a moment before it stopped and closed its jaws, looking at Ron. Harry and I looked at Ron terrified. I grabbed Harry's arm as the wolf stepped over to Ron and grabbed him by the throat.

"No!" I screamed.

The wolf turned to me and snarled warningly.

I went to grab Ron, but with its other hand-like paw, it backhanded me. I skidded on my butt a few inches from the force. Harry grabbed me and pulled me to my feet.

"She's going to kill Ron!" I cried. "Again!"

Harry pulled out his wand and aimed it at the wolf but it knocked the wand from his hand leaving a few small scratches on his wrist.

The wolf snarled again and opened its jaws. It clamped them around Ron's throat and bit down.

Ron let out a gurgle and blood stained the collar and front of his robe and uniform.

I screamed again and Harry wrapped his arms around me to prevent me from lunging at the wolf.

At that moment, the portrait entrance opened and Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape entered.

Professor Dumbledore threw a knife with a silver handle at the wolf. It lodged itself into the wolf's back. The wolf let Ron's body drop and howled in pain. Before long, it dropped to its side dead.

Professor McGonagall rushed over to Harry and I.

"Are you two okay?" she demanded.

Harry nodded and I was too upset and sick to my stomach to even nod once.

"How'd you know where to find her?" Harry asked.

"We checked her office. There was note to herself. 'Go to see Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter to kill them'. I say, not very bright for a werewolf," Professor McGonagall said shaking her head.

"Was that a silver blade?" I asked, finally finding my voice.

"No. Titanium," Professor Snape replied. "Lycantor werewolves can only be killed by titanium. Silver just goes right through them."

"I'm sorry about Mr. Weasley. We will alert his family at once," Professor Dumbledore said gently as he came over to us.

I nodded, feeling a lump of tears in my throat all over again.

"Let's go. You can sleep in the Hufflepuff tower for now as I know you do not feel like sleeping here. Am I right?" Professor Dumbledore asked kindly.

We nodded mutely in unison.

The next morning, Professor Dumbledore made the announcement about Professor Solaris and that not to worry, the next teacher will be thoroughly screened.

Harry and I ate our breakfast in silence, missing Ron sitting with us and joking about the food and Malfoy.

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were talking amongst themselves at the Slytherin table as if not a care in the world.

Harry and I wished we could be like that again, but it would definitely take some time before we would.

Then, we went back to the Gryffindor common room. We still had the rest of the year again but thankfully, no ghosts or werewolves anymore.

As Harry and I headed to class, he suddenly turned to me.

"Are you wearing any perfume?" he asked tilting his head.

Odd. I was wearing perfume but it was faint. I thought.

"Yeah. It's Keyot by Spell and it's very faint. How'd you know?" I asked surprised.

"I can smell it a mile away," he grinned.

THE END.