Splatters of Red and Gold

One Last Moon

The end of the year was coming fast, the race for the house cup was growing intense.
Aravyn sat in Herbology, as Sprout instructed the proper way to extract pods from attacking wood stumps.
Suddenly a great clap of thunder was heard, rain began to patter down upon them.
Then there was another seeming boom of thunder, but it continued on, into view came an army of Centaurs thundering towards them.
Sprout brought her wand in a circular motion around her head. A small ball of light flew away and a moment later, Dumbledore stood before the class.
A large centaur slowed to face Dumbledore. "A war is coming, Albus!"
"Indeed it is Firenze, that does not, however, explain why you are here!" Said the Headmaster calmly.
"The Giants of the North and the Acromantulas are restless, often storming the land of the Centaurs." One of the centaurs stamped impatiently.
"What do you mean by coming to me for it?" Dumbledore asked.
"We want you to control the other creatures of the forest!" Snapped another centaur.
"That is not my place, in the forest," said the headmaster. "Madam, would you please lead the class into the castle?" Asked Dumbledore.
Suddenly Aravyn was being pulled away, she grabbed Sirius' hand to stay with him.

Later that day Sirius said, "what do they mean by 'war is coming'?"
"You know who, he is building an army, Witches, Wizards, Beast; whatever or whomever he can convince to join him," Lily said, stirring her tea with her wand.
"Yeah, my parents are in this group called the Order of the Phoenix," James said. "I plan on joining too, when I'm out of here."
"I agree," Aravyn said.
Rain pattered down harder, making dull tunk sounds on the glass in the transfiguration room.
"Mr. Potter! I suggest you pay attention in class or I may assign you homework before the end of term!" McGonagall snapped at the back of the class room.
Lily had already managed to turn her feather pillow into a bird that was zipping around the room, tweeting. Aravyn flicked her wand and her pillow turned into another small bird, joining Lily's in the rafters.
"H-how did you do that?" Sirius asked, gawking. Aravyn rolled her eyes and moved closer to Sirius to help.
"They are pretty cute aren't they?" James whispered to Remus, who gave him an incredulous look. Almost as if he was about to hit him upside the head.
They days ticked by ever slowly towards the end of the school year. Ravenclaw had pulled ahead in the race for the house cup, not that many people minded anymore.
Remus, once again, like every month, was growing terribly pale and sickly. It was the night before the last day of term, James, Sirius, Aravyn, Peter, and Remus trekked down to the Womping Willow, paralyzing the great tree and taking the path beneath it.
The moon was hidden in the shadow of clouds but that did not stop the slow transformation from human to wolf.
The howling went on the night, hours after hours of pained whimpering and blood curdling howls. Only when Remus was carried, wrapped in a blanket, back up to the Gryffindor Dormitory, where Aravyn, Peter, and Sirius were packed and dressed.
They watched as Lily slowly traced the scratches on Remus' face with her wand, each one disappearing.
"Thank you Lily," he mumbled. Lily waved him off.
"I will always be there for you, every month! You remember that, alright? Anytime, when we are all grown up, and you need some help after a rough night, you call me, alright?" Lily asked. Remus just chuckled.

The train left later that day.
"Where are you going to, Aravyn?" Lily asked her.
"I'm not really sure actually, me real mum and dad are dead, I can't go back to the British isles," Aravyn shrugged.
"You could come home with me!" Lily offered.
"The muggles wouldn't like another witch in the house would they?" Aravyn smiled, looking at her friend. Lily's smile faded.
"I guess your right," Lily shrugged.
"What about with me?" James asked. "Sirius will be there with me too, my parents shouldn't mind," James smiled and Aravyn looked questioningly at him.
"You sure, mate?" Aravyn asked.
"Positive! It'll be fun! My mum will be thrilled! She's always wanted a daughter!" James rolled his eyes then winked at her.
They got off at King's Cross station an hour later, Aravyn holding a trunk with all of her possessions. Her brother had decided to leave with a few of his Ravenclaw friends.
James led Sirius, who had grabbed Aravyn's hand and led her through the crowds.
When the caught up with James he was being embraced by a middle aged woman with chocolate brown hair streaked with grey, and a pair of glasses on her head.
A tall man, with greying hair was standing there watching.
"Sirius!" The woman pulled him into a bone crushing hug.
"Mum, dad, this is Aravyn, she doesn't have a home to go to, I told her she could share ours," James said nervously.
The greying man and the kindly woman looked over Aravyn, who had gone slightly red.
"Look at her! She is so thin!" Mrs. Potter crooned. Aravyn was suddenly wrapped into a bone crushing, but warm, hug. "I've always wanted a daughter!"