ааааааааRose nodded. "Yeah, I think I saw that. The drawing of Professor Snape was particularly amusing."
аааааааа"Oh, those were Fred's," George said, sighing. "He was a good one for a quick caricature. He said it was all in the hook nose."
ааааааааJames asked, "So how's business been?"
аааааааа"Oh, really excellent. Ever since we bought out Zonko's, we've been rolling. They had a pretty loyal clientele, you know. I've even considered making this Weasleys' flagship location instead of the shop at Diagon Alley, but Ron says I shouldn't. He says the original location is still the best."
ааааааааRose looked around appreciatively. "I bet Ted loves working here. This place is right up his alley."
аааааааа"Yeah," George agreed. "It's good having him around. He's a hard worker and he has some great ideas for some new products. Some of those new Every Flavor Beans were his ideas, although even I drew the line at a flavor called 'guanomole'. The blighter's been no use to me today, though. These Hogsmeade weekends are like a family reunion for him. He's been in and out all day doing who-knows-what."
ааааааааThere was a loud snap. James and Rose turned to see Cameron shaking his finger violently, trying to dislodge something that had apparently clamped onto the end of it.
аааааааа"You snapped it, you bought it, my friend," George said jovially as he came out from behind the counter. "Just kidding, really. Those are the finger snapping Galleons. Always a laugh, those. Just lay one on the ground and wait for any unsuspecting person to come across it."
аааааааа"They sure look real," Cameron admitted as George pried the fake coin off his finger. "Up until the point that it chomps on you, I mean. That's, er, great. Thanks."
аааааааа"If you like those, you'll love our Disapparating knickers bomb," George said, leading Cameron to another shelf. "Now with an expanded effectiveness range of three meters! Great for parties."
ааааааааAs James browsed around, he peeked through the backroom curtain and saw Ted sitting on a pile of crates. Lately, he had taken to using his Metamorphmagus skills to change the appearance of his hair again, just as he had when he'd been a baby. He had made it quite long today. It hungin dark curtains, partially obscuring his face. James thought he looked a bit like the long-departed Sirius Black.
аааааааа"Hey, Ted," James said. "How's everything?"
ааааааааTed looked up, although James still couldn't see his face. "Oh. Hi, James. It's all right."
аааааааа"How's practicing for the National Quidditch Team coming?"
аааааааа"Hmm?" Ted said. "Oh yeah. It's all right, I guess. I've been really busy here at the shop, but other than that, yeah, it's fine."
аааааааа"Ted," James said, slipping past the curtain, "er, what's going on?"
ааааааааTed's voice was strangely flat. "What do you mean?"
аааааааа"I mean with Petra. I know it's none of my business, butЕ"
аааааааа"What do you know about it?" Ted asked, a little sharply. "I know Metzker's all in a tizzy about it, and the rest of the Gremlins are probably talking it up, but I didn't think you'd be in on it too."
аааааааа"In on what?" James asked, stopping just inside the backroom curtain. "Look, IЧ"
аааааааа"Whatever everyone is saying, it's all rubbish, James. You lot just need to leave Petra alone, especially Metzker. And you can tell him I said so."
аааааааа"Ted," James began, but he didn't quite know what else to say. Ted stirred, climbing to his feet.
аааааааа"I see you've got Dolohov with you. You're still chumming around with him, eh?"
ааааааааJames looked hard at Ted. "You mean Ralph? Er, yeah. I guess. Why?"
аааааааа"Oh, no reason, really. After all, it wasn't his people that killed your parents."
ааааааааJames shook his head. "Ted, youЕ you can't blame Ralph for that. He wasn't even born then. His father was just a kid when the battle happened."
ааааааааTed sighed wearily. "Don't tell me who I can and can't blame, James. Look, I'm sorry I brought it up. I'm not in a very good mood tonight. Maybe you and Rose and your friends should get back to the tunnel. It's getting dark."
ааааааааJames nodded slowly. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He turned to go, and then looked back. "See you later, Ted."
ааааааааTed waved. "See you around, James. Be careful."
ааааааааBy the time the quartet came out of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving a fierce orange and purple sky behind it. Quickly, they made their way back toward the Shrieking Shack. The protective fence around the property had long since fallen into disrepair. James led the way through the same break in the fence they had used earlier in the day. At the top of the hill, the ramshackle Shack stood in black shadow, looming ominously.
аааааааа"I was really hoping to get through this part before it got dark," Ralph said fervently. "I can't even see the front door."
аааааааа"It's right there," Rose said, lighting her wand and pointing it. "Just like we leftЕ itЕ"
ааааааааRose's voice trailed away as her wandlight played over the front of the Shack. In spite of her words, the door didn't, in fact, look exactly as they'd left it.
аааааааа"I thought we pulled the door closed again," Cameron said curiously. "Didn't we pull theЧ"
аааааааа"Yes, Cam," James interrupted. "We sure didn't leave it like that."
ааааааааThe front door had been shoved open so far that the top hinge had broken. It leaned awkwardly inside its frame. Beyond the entry was impenetrable darkness.
аааааааа"Does that look like someone was going in, or coming out?" Ralph asked, trying to keep his voice even.
аааааааа"What does that matter?" James asked.
аааааааа"Well, for one thing, it tells us if we were followed or if we're walking into a trap," Ralph answered reasonably.
ааааааааCameron asked, "Who'd try to trap us?"
аааааааа"Nobody," Rose replied firmly. "Come on. It's probably just an animal or something. Let's just get this over with."
ааааааааShe climbed onto the sagging porch and shone her wandlight into the dark doorway. James clambered up next to her, his heart pounding. Together they walked through the doorway with Ralph and Cameron following close behind. The interior of the Shack had obviously been disturbed. Some of the old furniture had been shoved aside, leaving scrapes on the dusty floor. Worse, the stairway leading to the cellar looked all wrong. The doorway was splintered and bowed, and the stairs beyond seemed unusually steep.
аааааааа"Wait," James said, grabbing Rose's arm. "This isn't right. Look down there."
ааааааааAll four students hunkered and peered down the rickety staircase. By the glow of Rose's wand they could clearly see that the room below was virtually gone. Broken hunks of wall and sections of collapsed ceiling choked the stairs, completely blocking them.
аааааааа"How could that have happened just today?" Ralph asked breathlessly. "I mean, it held up for twenty years and then decided to come crashing down right after we came through?"
аааааааа"Maybe we dislodged it somehow," Cameron reasoned.
ааааааааJames shook his head. "No, someone did this on purpose. Someone knows we're here and is forcing us to go home by another route."
ааааааааCameron looked at James, smiling quizzically. "Why would anyone do that?"
аааааааа"Because they want to keep us out of the tunnel," Ralph answered in a small voice. "Because the tunnel is part of Hogwarts."
аааааааа"Come on," Rose said quickly. "If we hurry, we can catch up with some of the other returning students."
ааааааааCameron looked alarmed. "But we'll get caught when we go back," he exclaimed. "Professor McGonagall will see us coming back with the older students! We'll get in trouble!"
аааааааа"Let's seriously hope that's the worst that happens, Cameron," Ralph said, following Rose back out of the decimated front door.
ааааааааAs quickly as they could, the four retraced their steps back along the High Street. As they walked, James could occasionally see the spires and turrets of Hogwarts castle, looking teasingly close against the darkening sky. A cross street at the end of town seemed to angle in the right direction. James led the troop down it, toward a stand of intervening forest.
аааааааа"This doesn't look right, James," Ralph worried. "Isn't there a path that leads straight through to the castle?"
ааааааааJames answered, "Yeah, we have to be getting near it. Watch between the cottages."
аааааааа"I wonder where everyone else is at," Cameron commented, looking around at the narrow, deserted street. A dog barked nearby, and something squeaked in the cooling wind. "Shouldn't there be other students heading back along this route?"
аааааааа"Hogsmeade weekend officially ends at dusk," Rose said quietly. "They were already heading back by the time we stopped in to see George."
аааааааа"What was that?" Ralph suddenly asked, spinning on his heels to look behind him.
аааааааа"What?" James whispered, his hair prickling.
ааааааааRalph's eyes darted over the street. "IЕ I thought I heard something behind us."
ааааааааRose shook her head. "Get hold of yourselves, you two. It was probably just a dog or something."
аааааааа"I heard it too," Cameron said. "It came from over by that alley."
аааааааа"Come on," Rose said firmly, pulling the bigger boys by the sleeves. "You're spooking me out, and I was spooked enough already. Let's go!"
ааааааааA few minutes later, the side street turned a sharp corner in the wrong direction. James peeked between the cramped cottages, looking for some sign of the castle.
аааааааа"There's a little footpath," he said. "It winds back through some trees."
аааааааа"Is it the path to the school?" Ralph asked.
аааааааа"I don't know. But it's going in the right direction. Let's give it a go."
ааааааааJames led the troop between the cottages, past a tiny fenced garden, and into the darkness of a stand of trees. The trail wound between bushes and tall grass.
аааааааа"Boy, this is just getting worse and worse," Ralph said quietly. "I thought the whole point was for us to never be alone?"
аааааааа"We're not alone," James said as he plodded further along the path. "We have Cameron with us."
аааааааа"And whatever was following us back there," Cameron added cheerfully.
аааааааа"Cameron!" Rose said warningly.
ааааааааJames was growing increasingly worried. The path was winding deeper into a stretch of forest that separated Hogsmeade from the grounds of Hogwarts. The trees blocked the light of the dusky sky, reducing the path to a dim patchwork of shadows. Occasionally, James thought he heard thesound of footsteps along the path behind them or further ahead of them, but he determined not to call attention to them. He pulled out his wand and illuminated it, holding it up as high as he could. The wandlight starkly lit the nearby trees but only made the deeper depths seem all the darker by comparison. No one spoke for several minutes as they walked. Finally, thankfully, the path turned toward a thinner patch of trees. Through them, James could see the indigo of the evening sky and the pale yellow face of the full moon.
аааааааа"Look," Rose said, pointing, "just beyond the edge of the trees, I think that's the main gate! I can see the silhouette of the two boars!"
ааааааааJames squinted. He didn't have his glasses with him, so he couldn't quite make out the distant shapes in the darkness.
аааааааа"Yeah," Ralph said, "I see it. Wow, that's a sight. Come on!"
ааааааааAs the four students trotted forward, the trees parted overhead, revealing the night sky and a scattering of stars. The moon shone its pale yellow light all round. Sure enough, the ancient wall and the open gates stood nearby; the two famous stone boars arched their backs at the sky, baring their tusks. James breathed a great sigh of relief. In a few moments, they would be safely within the grounds of Hogwarts again.
аааааааа"Heh," Cameron laughed nervously. "See? I told you there would be a great adventure! Wait until my dad hears aboutЧ"
ааааааааCameron's voice cut off as a noise of running feet approached swiftly. The boy turned to look back, his face curious. Something large and dark loomed out of the darkness, flying low over the ground.
ааааааааRose screamed, lunging backwards and reaching for her wand. Ralph and James ducked as the figure hurtled over them. It landed on the path between James and the gate, skidding on the dirt and turning back to face them. A low, ferocious growl came from it and it began to advance.
аааааааа"Stupefy!" Rose called, pointing her wand, but it was too dark to aim properly. The red bolt struck the ground in front of the creature, lighting it for an instant. James saw teeth bared along a narrow snout and bright, terrible eyes.
аааааааа"It's a wolf!" he called, scrambling backwards. The wolf responded to his voice with a loud snarl. It lowered, coiling close to the ground, and then pounced. James covered his face, shielding himself from the teeth and claws, but instead of being mauled by the beast, he was knocked roughly aside by it. Then, directly behind him, there came the noise of a violent struggle and a scream of pain. It was Ralph. James scrambled to his feet, reaching for his wand. With a gasp, he realized he'd dropped it when the beast had attacked.
аааааааа"Stun it, Rose!" James called.
аааааааа"I can't!" Rose cried, pointing her wand wildly. "I can't tell them apart! If I Stun Ralph, it'll kill him!"
ааааааааThe wolf rolled with Ralph as he wrestled it. It seemed to have his wrist locked in its jaws. It shook its head violently, tearing at Ralph's arm. Ralph screamed again, trying to kick the enormous beast off of him.
ааааааааWithout thinking, James lunged at the creature. He threw his arms around the matted fur of its neck, pulling as hard as he could. Suddenly, intensely, James' phantom scar burned. He squinted against it, willing himself not to let go of the wolf's neck. The beast scrambled and thrashed, still not releasing its grip on Ralph's arm. James could feel the muscles pulsing beneath the wolf's fur, could smell the dank smell of its pelt. Suddenly, it got a paw on James' chest. It dug in its claws and swiped, tearing ragged strips in James' sweatshirt. He felt something hot and sticky immediately soak into his shirt, but there was no pain. Instead, the pain in his forehead throbbed and pulsed, distracting him. The wolf thrashed again, knocking James loose. He scrambled after it, but it was too fast. The paw swiped, barely missing James' face.
ааааааааSuddenly, there was another voice calling out. "No, Ted! Stop! This isn't the way! Let him go!"
ааааааааJames rolled and got to his knees. He looked around wildly, squinting past the throb in his forehead, and saw a tall figure lunging onto the wolf. James was too stunned to immediately recognize who it was. The newcomer pulled at the wolf's ears, forcing it to release its grip on Ralph. The beast flailed its head back and forth, snapping.
аааааааа"Stop this, Ted!" the newcomer cried, and James finally recognized it was Petra. "You don't know what you're doing! This isn't the way to fix things! Not here, not now!"
ааааааааThe wolf lunged mightily, hurling Petra off, but it didn't renew its attack on Ralph. The beast snarled at him, and then leapt away, snapping and slavering its bloody jaws. It seemed confused, almost as if it were at war with itself. Finally, it threw back its head and howled, long and loud. It chilled James' blood because he could sense the humanity in that howl, almost as if Ted's voice was buried under it, crying out in anguish and despair.
ааааааааPetra climbed to her feet and slowly approached the great wolf. Remarkably, she knelt next to it and stroked its fur. She spoke to it quietly, soothingly.
аааааааа"Ralph!" Rose rasped, dropping next to the big boy. "Are you all right? How badly are you hurt?"
ааааааааRalph moaned and rolled over, struggling to his knees. James scrambled over to him.
аааааааа"I think my arm's broken," Ralph said with remarkable blandness. "It feels all loose and hot."
ааааааааJames could see the mangled mess of Ralph's wrist. Blood soaked through his shredded sleeve. "Ralph," James exclaimed, "you look awful!"
аааааааа"You look pretty horrible, too," Ralph said. "Are all your guts still inside?"
аааааааа"I think so, er, I hope," James replied, looking down at his bloody chest.
аааааааа"Let me look at your wrist, Ralph," Petra suddenly said, kneeling next to him. Ralph held it up. Petra gingerly peeled back the torn fabric of Ralph's sleeve, revealing his forearm.
аааааааа"Artemisae," she said, touching her wand to the cuts and punctures. "That'll stop the bleeding until we can get you to Madam Curio."
аааааааа"What are you doing here, Petra?" James asked as she turned to examine his chest.
аааааааа"I was walking back by myself," she answered. "I was just coming up the path when I saw what was happening."
ааааааааRose was trembling visibly. "ButЕ how did you know that the wolf wasЕ wasЕ"
"It's a full moon, Rose. And Ted and IЕ we talked a lot. He told me about hisЕ condition."
ааааааааPetra performed the same technique on James' scratches, which, she assured him, looked a lot worse than they were. Finally, Rose and Petra helped James and Ralph to their feet.
аааааааа"Where'd the wolf go?" Ralph asked, shaking. "Is it gone?"
ааааааааPetra nodded, looking back toward the forest. "He's gone."
ааааааааRose gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. "What about Cameron?" she said through her fingers.
ааааааааA cursory search found Cameron lying on his face in the grass, the bag from the newsstand covering his head. He had a very large, muddy paw-print on his back but was otherwise completely unhurt.
аааааааа"What happened?" he asked woozily as they dragged him upright. "I think I fainted. Did I really faint? I missed the whole thing!"
ааааааааJames sighed, finally feeling some pain in his chest as the wounds stiffened. "We'll tell you all about it later, Cam. Let's just get back to the castle."
ааааааааLimping and bloody, the group of five made their way through the gate, heading toward the welcome glow of the castle windows. After a minute, James trotted back, holding one hand over his chest. He looked around for a few moments, cursing under his breath. Finally, he found his wandin a tuft of grass. He tucked it into his jeans pocket and ran back, yelling for the rest to wait up.
ааааааааIn the dark distance, somewhere between the gate and the village of Hogsmeade, a wolf howled a long, sorrowful note.
16.UNEXPECTEDCONFRONTATIONS
Just as Cameron had feared, Professor McGonagall was awaiting the returning students. She sat in a portable chair with a cup of tea and her tartan shawl, a long parchment across her lap. Petra climbed the portico steps first. McGonagall looked up as Petra came into the light.
аааааааа"You're rather late, Miss Morganstern. Yours is the last name on my list. Perhaps you'dЧ" the professor's voice cut off as she saw the others climbing slowly up the steps. Her eyes widened, immediately taking in James' bloody shirt and Ralph's mangled wrist. She leapt up, spillingher tea.
аааааааа"Mr. Potter, Mr. Deedle, what in the world is the meaningЕ," she began, and then stopped herself. "Miss Morganstern, please collect Madam Curio from the Great Hall and ask her to meet us immediately in the hospital wing."
аааааааа"It was aЧ" Ralph began, holding his wrist in front of him.
аааааааа"Some sort of wild animal," Petra interrupted. "It came out of the woods while we were on our way back. It's all my fault, Professor. It probably smelled the half corned beef sandwich I was carrying home from Madam Puddifoot's. I should've known better."
аааааааа"We'll determine who should've known what later, Miss Morganstern," McGonagall huffed, herding the troop toward the hospital wing. "For now, please hurry! Madam Curio!"
ааааааааMadam Curio met them shortly after their arrival. She clucked her tongue as she gave James' chest a cursory look, and then turned to Ralph.
аааааааа"Miss Morganstern, you did a very satisfactory job halting the bleeding on these boys," she proclaimed in a businesslike manner. "Would you be so kind as to assist me? By the time my nurses arrive, we'll probably be finished. Hand me that bottle of Arthroset and that box of Dermamend bandages, please. And perhaps you'd be so kind as to clean Mr. Potter's wounds?"
ааааааааPetra scrubbed her hands and filled a basin. James hissed through his teeth as she began to gently sponge off his scratches.
аааааааа"You mustn't tell anyone about Ted," Petra whispered as she worked. "The world isn't a very forgiving place for werewolves, even half-werewolves like Ted."
аааааааа"I know," James answered quietly. "He told me about it last year. But he wasn't transforming then. He was just getting really restless and hungry around full moons."
ааааааааPetra nodded. "He still doesn't transform very much. He's only got half the blood of a werewolf. If he'd been a full werewolf, I'd never have been able to talk him out of attacking Ralph. He only looks fully lycanthrope because he's also a Metamorphmagus, like his mother."
аааааааа"You mean he purposely transforms himself to look like a wolf?"
ааааааааPetra shook her head, but more out of confusion than denial. "It's very complicated. I don't think he really means to. Usually, he can control it, but when a full moon comes, part of Ted reallywants to change into a wolf even though his father's blood isn't enough to force the physical change. Since he's his mother's son though, he can transform himself. And the more upset he is, the harder it is for him to keep it under control."
ааааааааJames sighed, and it hurt his chest. He was about to ask why Ted had only attacked Ralph, but he knew the answer already. Ted had made it very clear when James had talked to him earlier in the day. Ralph was a Dolohov, even if he hadn't formally taken the name, and it was a Dolohov who'd taken Ted's parents away from him. Quietly, James asked, "Do you think it was Ted that destroyed the tunnel entrance in the Shrieking Shack?"
ааааааааPetra shrugged slightly. "It might have been. HeЕ he had reasons to be upset today. I'm afraid I reminded him of his loss, although it wasn't what I meant to do. I just needed to talk to him."
ааааааааJames studied Petra's face, but he could tell that she wasn't going to say any more. Truthfully, James didn't want to talk about it any further. His forehead still throbbed worryingly, and what he wanted to do most of all was simply rest.
ааааааааMadam Curio insisted that James and Ralph spend the night in the hospital wing, sleeping on the wonderfully charmed beds. Neither boy minded, since it meant breakfast in bed the next morning. It also postponed the inevitable meeting with the Headmaster, whereupon they would have to explain their unsanctioned misadventure. James' chest had been bandaged rather densely, but he could tell that the werewolf's slashes were already healing swiftly. They itched as the skin knitted together. Living in the wizarding world was a remarkable thing, he thought. Nevertheless, despite all their magic and potions, he reminded himself that Grandfather Weasley had still died of a stupid heart attack. James would have gladly dealt with weeks of slow, painful healing if the alchemists who'd invented Dermamend Skin-Knitting Bandages had spent their time instead working on a magical cure for heart attacks.
аааааааа"What are we going to tell Merlin?" Ralph whispered to James the next morning as they ate their breakfasts in bed.
ааааааааJames shook his head nervously. "The truth, I suppose. Except for the part about Ted. Like Petra said, as far as anyone else is concerned, we were attacked by some wild animal. That's all."
ааааааааRalph shuddered. "I thought he was going to rip me to bits."
аааааааа"It sure looked like he wanted to," James admitted. "Ralph, Ted wasn't in his right mind. He was all wolfed out, half because of his dad's werewolf blood and half because of his mum's Metamorphmagus blood. I mean, like Petra said, he was still Ted inside, but without any of Ted's self-restraint. He wasn't really trying to kill you. He was trying to avenge his parents. You're just the closest thing he has to somebody to blame."
аааааааа"I know," Ralph answered sadly. "Really, I don't blame him. But still, does this mean I'm going to turn werewolf too?"
аааааааа"No," James replied. "Ted isn't werewolf enough to fully transform without using his Metamorphmagus abilities. He definitely isn't werewolf enough to spawn any more werewolves. You got off lucky."
ааааааааRalph nodded thoughtfully. "Still, I think it'll be pretty awkward next time I see him. How do you get along with someone after they nearly ripped your arm off with their teeth?"
аааааааа"Deal with that when the time comes, Ralph. We've got enough to manage at the moment."
ааааааааLate that morning, Madam Curio pronounced James and Ralph fit to go back to their dorms, although they'd have to return the next day to have their bandages removed. No sooner had they left the hospital wing than they met Rose.
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