Wolf

"Wolf"

Chapter three-The accusation

Lily and I sat in Professor Dumbledore's office shaking uncontrollably. I was hugging myself and just staring straight a head. She and I had just run blindly here. Frankly, I don't remember how we got here, and I wondered if she did.

James and Remus burst into the office. "Lily!" James cried as he came over.

Lily jumped up from the chair and threw her arms around him, burying her face into James' chest. I heard her sobbing.

Remus tentatively approached me. "Haley? Are you...?" Remus started to ask softly, but I also jumped up from my seat, went over to him and threw my arms around his neck. I buried my face into his shoulder and sobbed. I felt him slowly wrap his arms around me and pull me close against him. I only hugged him tighter.

Professor Dumbledore had sent for them the minute we told him what we had found.

Sirius soon burst into the office to.

I shut my eyes against the gentle blackness of Remus' robe. I liked being held by him. He just had a calming effect on me. "Are you okay, Haley?" I heard Remus ask gently. I pulled back from the embrace. Remus kept his hands on my shoulders. Our faces were inches apart.

"It was h-horrible! That poor girl's throat was torn, and she had been mauled!" I sobbed.

"Please...sit down," Professor Dumbledore said, softly.

Lily and I sat back down. James and Remus stood beside us.

"Sirius, where were you and the young lady after the dance?" Professor Dumbledore asked calmly.

"Her name was Jennie Anderson. Nowhere. We went our separate ways," Sirius said, looking pale and sick.

"She didn't say she was going anywhere?" Professor Dumbledore asked gently.

Sirius shook his head.

"Very well. You five can go," Professor Dumbledore said, softly.

I felt by body trembling, as I finally was able to release Remus from my embrace. He kept his hands on my shoulders before we all headed out of Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Are you sure you two are alright?" James asked, watching Lily and I carefully.

Lily just shook her head. I think the shock of finding that girl's body was bothering us as well as the manner in which she was killed. "It looked like an animal grabbed her and tore into her like a..." Lily gulped. "Piece of meat,"

"I know. Remus, where were you last night?" James asked casually.

Remus moved his eyes off of me and onto James. "I didn't kill her, James. I know it," Remus replied quietly.

"I know you didn't. We all believe you. We're just curious," James said, softly.

"I was in the Forbidden Forest, but much deeper. Actually, come to think of it," Remus said frowning. "I remember hearing another howl."

"Really? Do you think there's another werewolf here at Hogwarts?" Lily asked aghast.

Remus nodded.

"I bet it's that weird kid," Sirius said promptly.

Suddenly, I remembered that boy running away from the forest with a red liquid on the front of his shirt. "Hey! Lily, remember he was running away from the forest with that red stuff on the front of his shirt?" I asked suddenly.

Lily raised her eyes to mine. "Yeah!"

"Each time I'm near him, I get a strange scent off of him," Remus said.

"You both saw him? Before you found Jennie?" Sirius asked, quietly.

Lily and I nodded.

"Then we're just going to have to have a talk with him," Sirius' eyes darkened.

We began walking back to Gryffindor tower. Lily and James were walking a head of us; James had his arm around Lily's shoulder and held her close. Remus and I were walking side by side. We all were quiet after we spoke about that boy. I was hugging myself as I walked.

I decided to apologize to Remus. I understood how he must feel. It has to be really scary. I cleared my throat. "Remus? I'm so sorry. I understand how you must feel," I said, quietly.

"It's okay. I expected that reaction. I didn't expect you just to go, 'Oh okay' and not have a little trouble with it. I still have trouble with it myself, like the question that always haunts me is 'when I change, will I hurt people I care about?' It's not easy," Remus said, quietly.

"I won't tell anyone. Don't worry. I believe you didn't kill that girl, but all I have to say is that if there is another werewolf, we'd better find out soon or no one is safe,"

We fell silent again.

Lily and James kissed one another before settling into chairs. We had Potions next and I spontaneously kissed Remus on the cheek. "Thanks," I smiled.

Remus smiled back, but I could see him blushing slightly.

In Potions, we all sat together. We were working on a Shrinking Potion. Lily and I shared one cauldron, while Sirius, James and Remus shared another in front of us.

"Well, Remus definitely does have a crush on you!" Lily giggled as she added a caterpillar to the potion.

"I'm feeling the same way about him! He's so sweet! I can't understand why no girl has gone for him," I said, shaking my head.

"Well, no one knows he's a you-know-what except you, me, James, Sirius, Dumbledore and Peter. I think Peter said something last year about skipping this year. Don't ask me why he decided to do that. He's a git for doing so. Perhaps the other girls just think he's weird 'cause he disappears at night when the moon is full," Lily shrugged.

"But he's not! He's the most kindest person I know!" I said, shocked.

Lily winked. "Lucky he found you then, eh?"

I grinned.

REMUS

We heard the girl's whispering behind us. Sirius prodded me in my ribs.

"You are so digging Haley, aren't you?" he asked, grinning.

I kept my eyes on the cauldron and added a bat wing. Not taking my eyes off of it, I replied. "If you mean 'I like her', then yes," I said slowly breaking into a grin.

I knew it! We can see it!" James chuckled.

I turned to James. "Each time I'm with her, my feelings seem to get deeper," I confessed. "She makes me relax and her smile just brightens up my day."

"Awww! Remus has a crushie!" Sirius cooed.

"Shut up!" I hissed.

"Sirius, relax. Remus, what do you mean 'your feelings get deeper?'" James asked.

I sighed. "It feels like what you and Lily have,"

James smiled. "You mean you've fallen in love with Haley?"

I nodded.

"You've got to tell her," James said, softly.

"I'm too scared! What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"Just take a chance. What have you got to lose?" Sirius asked.

"Haley," I muttered. "Look. Just forget it."

Sirius went to reply, but James held up his hand signalling him to keep quiet. I just concentrated on the potion.

HALEY

I just finished telling Lily that I was in love with Remus when the dungeon door opened and William entered.

"You're late," said Professor Travis sternly, her eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry Professor," William said as he quickly took a seat in the back of the dungeon and busied himself with getting his supplies out for the class.

Sirius suddenly turned around in his seat.

"Hey Will. Where were you last night?" Sirius asked.

I caught the accusing tone underneath the casual tone, which he had intended, but it came out differently.

William looked up. "I was in Hufflepuff common room. Why?" William asked.

Was he was actually looking nervous, or was it me?

"You know a girl was killed," Sirius said. "Haley and Lily saw you running away from the Forbidden Forest. What were you doing there?" he asked accusingly.

I didn't think using our names was a good thing. If he was the killer, now he'll be after us.

"Sirius, shut up!" James hissed, as if he was thinking the same thing.

"I was in the common room. Maybe they were mistaken," William offered.

"Yeah. Maybe," Sirius said, turning back around.

Lily and I looked at each other. The bell rang ending Potions. Now, it was off to Herbology.

During dinner, Professor Dumbledore stood up. The Hall became silent. "Now, I'm sure most of you by now have heard that a young girl has been murdered. We did some tests and I can tell you there's a wild dog on the loose here. A curfew will be issued. No one will be allowed to leave the castle under any circumstances!" There was a small buzz around the Hall...whispers mostly. "The curfew will begin around eight PM and continue until eight AM the following morning," Professor Dumbledore concluded.

Lily, James, Sirius, Remus and I all looked at each other. "Wow. We've got a serious problem here," Sirius said, quietly.

"You think?" James said, rolling his eyes.

"Hey, guys. Easy okay? Listen, we've got to find out if there is another wolf around here," I said, leaning forward. "If there is, we've got to get him before someone else is murdered,"

Lily nodded. "Haley is absolutely right,"

Just then, someone burst into the Great Hall. Everyone looked up. It was William his eyes scanned the entire Great Hall until they landed on Gryffindor table. Then, moved onto where Lily, James, Sirius, Remus and I were sitting. He began walking toward us. There was something in his eyes I didn't like.

Triumph mixed with glee. He was holding something behind his back. We all stared back indignantly. "I think everyone in the Great Hall should know Remus Lupin, about your little secret!" William said loudly, and grinned.

Lily and I exchanged worried glances. James and Sirius glared at William.

"What are you talking about?" James asked coldly.

William's eyes twinkled. "I'm talking about him being a werewolf!" he said pointing an accusing finger at Remus.

The Great Hall once again had whispers going around.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Remus said, stiffly. "But you're sadly mistaken."

"Oh am I?" William asked, coyly. "Why don't you explain to everyone why you disappear at night only on full moons?"

"I go for a walk...what's the big deal?" Remus retorted.

I could see him starting to get a little nervous.

"You go for walks only when the moon is full. To me, that sounds suspicious," William said, raising an eyebrow.

"So the moon being full is a coincidence...so what?" James replied. "I've gone for walks under the full moon as well. Am I a werewolf too?"

William's eyes moved onto James. "You're helping the werewolf...all of you,"

After that last word, William's eyes landed on mine. "I've got proof too!" William cried. He moved his left arm out from behind his back. A torn robe was in his hands. "Is this your robe, Remus? I found it by Hagrid's hut,"

I nervously looked at Remus. He met my gaze. Now he was showing his nervousness. William had him.

Remus swallowed. "Yes," he said quietly.

The Hall exploded with talk. "He's a werewolf!" a girl shrieked from the Ravenclaw table.

Professor Dumbledore stood up. "Remus Lupin, I must ask you to please come with me," he said quietly.

Remus looked at me. There was pain in his eyes as he hung his head and went up to the head table. The Hall was still buzzing. I turned around and glared at William. "How dare you!" I slapped him. "Just because Remus' robe is torn doesn't mean he's a werewolf!" I snarled angrily.

William's left cheek was red from where I had slapped him. His eyes moved onto mine. I saw faint glimmer of gold flash across his blue eyes. He grabbed my arm and bent it down. I cringed as he pulled me against him. "Your friend is a monster. You must see that," William hissed.

"The only monster I see is standing in front of me," I replied coldly. "You'll pay for this."

Again, William pulled me closer against him. "No. It's you who will pay!" He went to run his hand up my thigh to the edge of my skirt when I brought my knee up and hit him right between the legs. He wheezed and was bent over.

"I think you just did," I said as Lily, James, and Sirius stood up.

"Touch her again, and you'll have me to deal with," James snarled.

"Same here," Sirius snapped.

"Absolutely," Lily chimed in as the students began leaving the Great Hall. We left as well. "Oooooh! He gets under my skin!" Lily said, angrily as we headed out into the courtyard for a short break before Transfiguration. She began pacing back and forth in front of a large stone fountain. "First of all, how did he get a hold of that robe in the first place? The only way he would get it is if he was watching Remus and that would mean he was outside as well. Secondly, how do you explain what Haley and I saw? Him running out of the dark forest with a dark stain on the front of his shirt,"

"I don't know. But there's a reason he wanted Remus to be blamed and we're going to figure it out," Sirius said firmly.

"Isn't it obvious? He's a werewolf also! I bet you he killed Jennie!" I said.

"Yeah. But we've got to prove it to everyone else," James said.

Sirius came over to me. "Are you alright, Haley?" I nodded.

"Sure? He was trying to cop a feel. What a jerk," James said, watching me intently.

"I'm fine. Trust me. Right now, we've got to help clear Remus," I said, earnestly as I folded my arms over my chest.