Who: Neville Longbottom and Fenrir Greyback When: Sunset What: Greyback makes his appearance Where: Outside Rating: High for violence Complete/Closed
Neville was frustrated. He'd been sitting out by the gates for two days now and had yet to see anyone. He had a roll of parchment that on one side had the word "HELP" in large dark letters on one side, blank on the other and had an ink pot with a quill by his side, along with his journal. He hoped that if anyone from Hogsmede happened to be walking near the school, for whatever reason, he would be able to make some kind of contact with them, get an auror sent to the school or get a message to the ministry, anything. It was getting dark out and he finally gave up, though he didn't want to go back into the castle yet. It was still close to dinnertime and he knew he wouldn't be able to sneak back in without getting noticed.
He gathered his things and started walking, not really knowing where he was going, though he was doing his best to keep unnoticed, sticking to shadows and avoiding anywhere he could get cornered. He eventually found himself at the greenhouses. He hadn't been there since before he'd gotten sick, before they'd been burnt down. He felt oddly... numb about the whole thing. He turned one of the half burned benches upright and sat down, just staring, not really looking at anything, getting lost in his thoughts.
Two days, that was a lot of restraint on Fenrir's part but tonight he would reward his restraint with a little bit of fun. How lucky for him that his pray was one of the boys who brought him down during the battle of Hogwarts. For two days he watched him, able to figure out he was one of those that might have lost his magic. Only because he never seemed to use it, like other witches and wizards tend to. Only now that the sun was going down did he actually break across the barrier that was between the school and the outside world.
Quietly he stalked him still in human form until the moon rose, that lovely round full moon that could barely be seenthru the clouds at the moment. It was getting dark,but that was no matter, he could smell the boy. Even as his body was going thru the painful transformation that he had learned to love he could smell him on the wind making his anticipation rise even more. As he finished body shaking now covered in the grey fur that he was known for so well, he threw his head back in a deep low howl that was sure to be heard even in the deepest parts of the castle. The hunt was on.
Neville jumped when he heard the howl, dropping his ink pot and journal. That sounded... close. He thought back trying to remember if there had ever been wolves in the forest before, though that sounded much too big to be a wolf. He tried to deny it but couldn't get the thought of werewolves out of his head. He knew BillWeasley was in the castle but didn't think he transformed. He wanted to think logically, try to figure out if it was even a full moon, but his instincts were taking over.
He quickly started running towards the castle, leaving his things behind. He was in better health than he had been but was still weaker than he should have been, especially for that kind of run, and felt himself slowing down.
He didn't go straight for the scent, now mingling with that intoxicating smell of fear that Fenrir loved. No he banked around as the Neville ran for the castle. Couldn't let him get that far now could he? That would spoil all the fun. So he cut him off, standing between the greenhouse and the entrance to the castle. He had to make him run the other way if he was going to truly have fun. No doubt his howl had set the rest of the castle on edge and it just wouldn't do to have professors and the like ruining things now.
Fenrir let out a snarling growl as his eyes peered keenly into the night waiting for the boy to get close enough to see him.
As Neville ran he noticed noise around him. It made him nervous but he kept running anyway, knowing that no matter what, the castle would be the safest place for him to be and if he could just get there he would be okay.
As he got closer he saw something forming not far in front of him; something big, gray, and covered in fur. He didn't care what it was (though he had a good idea), he had no magic and wasn't taking any chances with that. He quickly turned and ran parallel to the building, intending to get to the front entrance.
Oh how he loved it when the pray made sport of it, and Fenrir gave chase with out a second thought. He had all the energy in the world right now and didn't mind if he had to wait for Neville to grow tired. The front entrance was on the other side from where the greenhouse stood so he was quite sure that unless this boy ran daily he would slow down with a beast nipping at his heels.
Barking and growling he moved behind him playing with him like a wolf would a rabbit, darting back and fourth trying to confuse Neville on which was he was going to go or if he was going to continue right behind him.
Neville ran as fast as he could, adrenaline the only thing keeping him going, his legs were exhausted and his breathing heavy, he wanted to stop, but he heard the barking, the growling and it fueled him. He tried to think. He knew he would never make it to the front of the castle this way, he'd slow too much soon and then the wolf would catch up with him. He didn't want to think that it was a werewolf; he didn't want to believe that he was about to die. He tried to remember the castle, and figuring out where he was. He knew there was an alcove nearby, something barely big enough to fit him built into the wall that he hoped would hide him while the wolf was distracted.
He knew it was a risk, if the wolf followed him he would be practically trapped and would have an almost impossible time of getting away. He thought though, if he could get the wolf to keep running, he could double back and hopefully get back to the side doors used for the greenhouses and Care of Magical Creatures classes before the wolf noticed it was chasing nothing and figured out what he'd done.
Fenrir was lost in the thrill of the chase, it was almost felt as good as when he caught his prey, and not often did he get to chase such a crafty wizard. It reminded him of the night he chased Remus, even so young at the time he was quick and crafty nearly outwittingGreyback . Even with his brain in this state, something was changing in his plan. He slowed in his thoughts his growls subsiding for a moment listening for the boys feet in the snow, searching for his scent.
Maybe death wasn't in the cards tonight, but rebirth as Fenrir liked to think of it.
As Neville sat in the alcove, curled to be as small as he could, with his face buried in his shoulder to cover the sound of his heavy breathing he listened carefully for the sounds of the wolf passing. After he heard them he waiting a few seconds before jumping out of the small space and running as fast as he could back towards the doors he'd been headed to before being cut off.
He stopped, the scent having stopped where he stood and a growl of frustration leaked slowly from his throat, maybe he hadn't planned well enough. His head snapped around hearing the feet running in the other direction and he gave a barking laugh as he started in the direction again this time not taking any chances as he dragged his claws against the castle tearing bits of the stone away, before throwing them in the direction of the running. If he could not catch him, he could slow him down.
Neville heard the growl behind him and suddenly felt something hard hit between his shoulder blades and another the back of one of his knees. He screamed and fell to the ground, barely stopping before standing back up and continuing to sprint towards the door. He hoped he hadn't lost too much of his lead and trying to ignore the pain in his knee as he ran, even though he could tell it was slowing him down.
This was his chance as instinct now took over again, he sprang as he heard the boy get up launching himself into the air to pounce.Fenrir never intended to land on the boy completely, he was content with catching his robes which ripped as his claws sank into the fabric like a hot knifethru butter. Letting his large paw like hands get tangled in the shreds as he pulled Neville to him waiting to hear what would start pouring out of his mouth. Would it be screams, or was he proud enough to attempt to beg for mercy. Either way it would be music toGreybacks ears.
He let out surprised yell as he fell back to the ground, his robes caught. He tried to get them off but only managed to tangle his arms in the sleeves as he felt himself get pulled towards the animal. He tried to crawl backward, getting his feet up underneath him. "Get off of me you animal!" he screamed still struggling to get out of his grip. He couldn't deny that this was a werewolf anymore, and it was obviously one that enjoyed the kill. He wouldn't just give in, wouldn't hand himself over.
Drooling jaws snapped at him, playing with him as he caught more robe in his teeth tearing them more along the arms. He put his larger paw down on to Neville to push him down on the ground. Peering at him with large yellow eyes, warm breath pooling from his muzzle as it wafted into the winter air like smoke from a dragons maw. Clearly enjoying the struggle that was being made, he had guts.Fenrir sniffed at him letting the murderous look on his face just grow with taking it in.
Trying to get free Neville tried to roll to either side but the animal was too heavy. His whole body ached and wanted nothing more than to give up, to give in and just let the animal kill him, and if it happened a month ago, he probably would have given in a long time ago. He thought of his friends now, ofDemelza, and Hermione and Luna mostly and knew he had to fight, he wouldn't want to hurt them any more. He thought about how Parvati had been after Lavender's death... he couldn't do that to anyone. He tried to get his feet up against the wolf's stomach to push him off, but his legs were too weak, too tired and he couldn't do it.
The feel of the animal's breath on him as he struggled sparked fear in him and he was reminded of his fight with Bellatrix, from which his face still bore scars. He'd been laying the same way, felt just as weak, and all he could think was that whoever this was had come to finish what she'd started.
When he smelt that fear was when Fenrir struck his jaws which had snapped at Neville's robes now bit into his arm feeling the rush as the taste of blood was on his tongue and he could feel the bone under his teeth snap like a twig. The paw that held him down clawed into his stomach making sure he would stay down and not find the urge to fight again. Pulling back from the arm he tore the skin away splattering blood into the fur of his muzzle, the snow and his victim.
Licking his chops he stared him down again pushing him into the ground trying to expose his neck.
All he could feel was pain, and fear and adrenaline. He screamed, though he didn't realize he'd done it until he heard the echos throughout the night air. He knew his arm was broken, he knew his stomach was bleeding and he knew he had to try to get away, to get free or he was going to be killed. He tried to crawl back again but the pain in his stomach only increased and he realized that the beasts claws had dug into his flesh.
He felt the blood spatter over him and let out another pained scream as his flesh was torn away. He wasn't thinking straight anymore all he could process was, pain, run, get away. He did what he could, a new burst of adrenaline giving him strength he didn't really have. He kicked at the underbelly of the wolf, trying to just get the thing off of him.
One of the kicks connected, not sending the werewolf off of him but jolting him just a bit. His paw loosened up no longer holding Neville down but now just having the paws to either side. He snapped at his broke arm again biting into it as he ripped into the muscle. Tearing away at it as well as the flesh and anything else that had been on top of that. Bits of Neville's robe was now hanging from the beasts teeth as he savored the warm blood that he was swallowing. He started to sniff and lick at him, trying to figure out where his next bite would be, like someone picking over a roast.
Neville let out a roaring scream as the animal ripped into his arm again, feeling pieces of it get pulled away. He noticed the wolf sniffing at him and used it as an opening. He kicked at the wolf again, this time with both legs and connecting hard. And as soon as his feet hit the ground again he pushed back and scrambled away, his broken arm hanging limply at his side and limping on his hurt knee.
He ran straight to the door, hoping the animal wasn't following him too closely.
He got to the door and ran through, using his good arm to shut it behind him and jam a stone he found in the door jam to keep it shut, He lent against it and screamed for help before sliding down it, the adrenaline wearing off and finally blacking out.
He had actually really gotten a good shot, knocking the wind out of him just a little that Fenrir stumbled back just a bit. Shaking like a dog who had gotten too wet in the rain he gave chase only to be stopped by the heavy doors. That did not stop him from clawing and slamming into them enough to break the wood on his side just a little bit. Leaving large cracking indents from where he had swiped at it over and over.
But the door did not scream, the door did not budge and eventually he heard something in the distance that drew him away something he could hunt and kill.