Violet Summer: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 43: The Full Moon

 The sight of the Hogwarts castle felt like a newfound relief after all that had happened in the Shrieking Shack. Toni sat closely beside Ron, watching as her uncle tended to his wounds in silence. Hermione stood on the other side, her brow furrowed as she looked at Ron.

Toni's eyes wandered through the group. It was a very peculiar bunch of people, which was no surprise at all. But her gaze came to Harry and Sirius, who stood in an opening, admiring the castle above. She smiled. It warmed her heart to see that Harry had finally found some sense of family and peace. Knowing the truth of it all felt like a weight lifted from all their shoulders. Even her uncle donned a clear look of relief on his face.

Toni's gaze moved to Snape. He was still in a heavy daze as they gathered themselves to make their way to the castle. She felt sympathy for Snape. Though he had been very cruel to Harry without any real reason and had caused a stir today, he was only wanting to do the right thing by Hogwarts and Dumbledore. As stubborn as he was and rightfully deserved his knockout, he wanted to do what was right.

As her gaze watched Snape, suddenly, a cloud moved across the sky. Her body went uneasy, and she curiously glanced up to see the sight of a full moon in the sky. Her entire body shifted, and she turned back, looking for Lupin. He was stalled, as if in a trance of some kind. Hermione was the one to point it out, claiming that Lupin did not take his intended potion.

"Run!" Sirius ordered.

Toni saw as Sirius raced towards Lupin. Her eyes shifted to Harry, and she quickly raced over, grabbing his hand and trying to pull him away with the others, but he couldn't move, he was in utter shock. The sight of Lupin was terrifying. His back began to arch, hair was growing all over his body, his head lengthening. She swallowed hard. She knew what was about to happen. Eagerly, she tugged Harry again, snapping him out of his trance.

"We have to go!" Toni said.

"B-But Sirius-"

"Go! Both of you!" Wolfe sneered, pressing past them. "Toni! You know what to do! Get them to safety!"

But before she could confirm, Toni saw Pettigrew dive down to the ground, reaching for Lupin's dropped wand. She sprang her wand out just as he got ready to use it and expelled it from his grasp. He gave her a sneer, and then suddenly, a grin appeared on his face. Toni and Harry watched as he transformed and suddenly fled. Harry went to chase him, but Toni pulled him back again, her eyes giving him a very firm look.

A howl and a grumbling noise began, and both of them turned to see the werewolf race into the safety of the Forbidden Forest.

"Sirius!" Harry called. He slipped from Toni's grasp and raced towards him.

"Harry! No!" she called out.

Wolfe appeared suddenly from the bushes, panting and out of breath as he rubbed his exposed eyes. He came to and looked around for Sirius. But the sight of Sirius and Harry were long gone. Wolfe cursed and punched the air before him, rubbing back the loose hairs on his forehead. He collected himself, taking a deep breath before turning sharply on his heels.

Toni gaped at him. "Y-You will just leave them? What about Harry-"

"My priority is not with Potter and Black! We have two students back there, vulnerable, and an unconscious professor! We need to take care of them!" Wolfe snapped, his tone so dark she could barely recognize him. "Now, come on."

Toni gave a long last look in the direction Harry and Sirius had disappeared. Her heart pounded at the thought of Lupin on the loose in the woods, Dementors all around, and Harry and Sirius running unprotected. But her uncle was right. Hermione, Ron, and Snape needed their help. She sighed heavily and turned back, following her uncle back to the others.