A.J RYAN IN THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Outtake 2 - The Shrieking Shack

The full moon was tonight and I knew to come here. The Whomping Willow was thrashing about more and more the closer I stood to it. I cast a spell and red sparks flew towards the knot at the base of the huge tree, it was instantly still. I was followed again, the Weasley twins had been tailing me since I walked through the Entrance Hall.

I climbed through the entry of the passage to the Shrieking Shack and sealed it behind it. I crawled a way through and stopped to listen.

There was a light thud, followed by hastened whispers from back outside. Then there was silence for a few moments, while the message I'd I left on the sealed entry appeared, then low grumblings of protest. I shook my head in amusement and continued on the passageway.

I listened for a few moments before entering the Shack. The giant black werewolf stood on all fours staring at the doorway where I now stood. He would have heard me coming and panicked, but now he saw me, he gave an almost audible sigh of relief and roll of his eyes.

I took a seat on the floor resting against the wall beside the door. I looked back up to the wolf who was still standing, staring in my direction. "You know, I was wondering if you still came here for the transformation. Do you always come here?"

I listened into Remus's thoughts for an answer. He was actually watching me settle there with humour. He trotted over and settled on the ground beside me.

Not usually, just since I've been taking the potion. Should I even ask why you're out after dark? Remus thought with the same humour.

To check on you of course. Also I was wondering what the worst part of being a wolf for a night was? Apart from the actual transformation I mean.

Remus thought back, I think you know, that's why you're here, is it not?

The answer was isolation, segregation, loneliness, all things related to being treated like an outsider. Remus and I kept up a conversation in our thoughts for a while, before I fell asleep using the fury wolf as a pillow. I woke when Remus's transformation back to human was complete.

When I arrived back in the Gryffindor common room early that morning, Fred was sitting on a sofa stirring awake at the sound of the Portrait hole opening and closing.

He sat up straight and rubbed his eyes. "You're back awfully late," He accused, before running his eyes over my attire, "and in yesterday's clothes."

I pointed to the window behind him where the light had started to shine through, "It's actually awfully early."

"It was a full moon last night, were you meeting Lupin? Does your boyfriend know you spent the night with another man?"

He sighed in frustration when I didn't respond. "Thanks for the note you left by the way." He held up the piece of parchment which read, GET LOST F AND G. "Was a nice touch. How did you know we were following you?"

"Heard of a Foe-Glass? They detect when your enemies are close."

"We're not your enemies!" He said affronted.

"A friend wouldn't risk drawing attention to the fact I was out of bounds at night."

"Do you ever answer a question without leading people off track?" There was a slight flicker of humour in his voice.

"If you're allowed to know the answer." I smiled politely and started towards the girl's dormitory.

"Why can't we know if you were with Lupin or not?" Fred called.

I turned back to face him. "I prefer people speculating then knowing where I actually was."

"But I know you were with Lupin."

"Speculation." I answered simply.

"So, is your boyfriend okay with you being out all night with someone else?" He repeated.

I gave a curt nod of my head and entered the dormitory.