"Let's go. We should head in," said Hagrid as he strung his giant crossbow and strode into the shadowed edge of the Forbidden Forest.
"Speaking of which, Hagrid," Severus's shoes pressed against the damp fallen leaves, producing faint crunching sounds, "do you know why Professor Dumbledore allows werewolves to stay in the Forbidden Forest?"
Previously, he had always thought the tales about werewolves in the forest were nothing more than tricks used by professors to scare new students, to warn them not to enter the woods.
"It'd be nice if we had a dog right now..." Hagrid muttered something completely out of context, pushing aside the branches blocking the path with his thick arm. "Oh, you were asking me something."
"This is everyone's Forbidden Forest," he turned his head belatedly, blinking in confusion, his tone like he was explaining something utterly obvious. "Not just for wizards."
"I mean," Severus hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath, "having werewolves living right next to the school, isn't that unsafe for both staff and students?"
"Not all werewolves are the same, Severus." Hagrid waved his crossbow. "Some of the ones in the forest aren't ordinary werewolves. Dumbledore doesn't mind them living here. We've coexisted peacefully for a long time.
"But two nights ago, while I was feeding the, well, patrolling, I suddenly heard howls and fighting sounds from the werewolves."
"When things quieted down, I thought I'd take a look," Hagrid continued, his voice carrying an unusual note of worry. "But I was driven off by a few of the usually mild-mannered ones." He sighed heavily. "I didn't even get to see Lyka..."
"Who's Lyka?" Severus lifted his wand, scanning the surrounding darkness. The tip glowed, illuminating moss-covered stumps and twisting roots ahead. "And besides, the full moon's long gone, why would they still be acting up?"
"Their leader. A... very special werewolf," Hagrid said vaguely. "Anyway, Dumbledore thought it best we investigate, to make sure they don't pose a danger to Hogwarts."
"I still don't understand," Severus said as he brushed away thorny branches in front of him, "what do you mean by 'special werewolf'?"
Hagrid stopped, turning around and snapping several low-hanging branches in the process. Under the moonlight, his expression was uncharacteristically serious.
"The werewolves in the Forbidden Forest aren't ordinary, Severus." His voice dropped low. "They're friendly toward wizards, and some of them... well... show more werewolf traits."
"What do you mean?" Severus pressed.
"Well, just what I said..." Hagrid scratched his beard with his free hand, struggling for the right words. "Some of them... even when it's not the full moon... have wolf features, ears, tails, things like that..."
"I remember Dumbledore saying," he gestured awkwardly and continued after a pause, "it's caused by a blood curse. If a person's been bitten by werewolves several times and somehow, maybe unfortunately, survived, the blood curse can accumulate. The power of the curse deepens. It's something called a 'half-lycan' state."
Hagrid's words made Severus think of Nagini, still hidden in his robe. The same blood magic, the same progressive beastification as the curse deepened.
But another question surfaced. He frowned. "Wait, why would they get bitten multiple times? From what I know, werewolves only attack humans."
Dobby suddenly perked his ears up, letting out a faint clicking sound.
Hagrid motioned for them to keep moving while lowering his voice, anger audible in it. "Those werewolves, they side with wizards. Their own kind sees them as traitors. Some of the extreme ones bite them as punishment."
"So they're shunned by their own kind," Severus said, comprehension flickering in his eyes, "and discriminated against by wizard society for having werewolf traits."
"Guess that's about right." Hagrid tilted his head. "Anyway, Dumbledore letting them live deep in the forest makes sense, as long as they don't cause trouble. Their leader, Lyka, is one of those werewolves. Dumbledore saved her himself."
The three fell silent. Only the sound of their footsteps and the rustling leaves accompanied them.
The ground grew damp, the air thick with the scent of moss and rotting wood. They skirted a huge fallen oak, and faint running water could be heard ahead, there must be a stream nearby.
Suddenly, a piercing howl broke the silence. It wasn't a normal wolf's howl, it carried the tone of human agony.
"Dobby heard it!" The house-elf's ears twitched violently as he squeaked, "That way!"
Hagrid immediately raised his crossbow, eyes scanning around warily. Severus held his wand ready, while Dobby stuck close to his side, guarding his flank.
They advanced cautiously toward the direction of the sound.
"Here," Severus crouched, his wandlight falling upon a pool of dark red blood, with several tufts of chestnut-brown fur nearby.
"The blood is fresh," he noted, seeing chaotic footprints and drag marks on the ground, signs of a fierce struggle. "They can't be far."
After about two minutes of moving forward, Dobby suddenly stopped, his long ears twitching. In a voice barely above a whisper, he said, "Something's ahead!"
A faint moan drifted from the front. Closer this time, clearer.
The three exchanged a glance, then carefully crossed a small earthen mound ahead.
Moonlight filtered through the treetops, casting light upon the clearing by the stream: a figure lay curled at the base of a tree root, trembling like a wounded animal.
It was a girl, or had been. Now, she was covered in blood, with two pointed wolf ears sprouting from her chestnut hair, and a fluffy tail dragging behind her. Her nails had begun to curve and thicken, her fingers contorted in pain.
Nearby, another body lay on the ground, also bearing obvious beast-like features; closer still, the bare torso of a man lay face-down in a pool of blood, motionless, with a terrible gash across his chest.
"Lyka!" Hagrid shouted, "What happened to you!"
Before Severus could stop him, Hagrid had already rushed over.
Fortunately, no other enemies were present. The injured werewolf girl didn't attack, she only weakly raised her head, amber eyes lighting briefly when they recognized Hagrid.
"Hagrid," she rasped, her breath labored, "Fenrir Greyback and his pack attacked us. Some of ours joined them..."
"Greyback?" Severus asked sharply. "He's here?"
If that savage monster, known for biting and infecting as many as possible, was in the forest, then he was surely acting on Voldemort's orders.
"Yes," Lyka nodded, wincing. "He found us, he wanted us to serve the Dark Lord-"
Her voice choked off, a painful cough bending her double.
"Treat her first," Severus said, realizing her injuries were far worse than they appeared. He pulled three vials of his own healing draughts from his robe and glanced at the other two figures. "Are they both enemies?"
"The one without a shirt is," Lyka answered, casting a worried look at the more wolfish one. "The other's an ally."
Severus went to check the one with the stronger beast features, casting a silent Severing Charm at the other lying in blood. No response, the man was clearly dead.
Under his healing spells, Lyka's companion began to stir. Severus pressed a vial into his hand.
"This is yours," he said, walking back to Lyka. "Strong restorative potion. Try it."
Lyka eyed the vial warily, nostrils flaring. After Hagrid gave a confirming nod, she took it and told her companion, "Wait. I'll go first."
She tilted her head back and drank. Almost immediately, her tense muscles loosened; the wounds across her body began closing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"Drink it," she told her companion, then turned to Severus, offering a straightforward smile. "Thank you. Lyka Lupa, werewolf."
The other werewolf also drank. Their complexions improved, though their injuries would take longer to heal completely.
"Right," Lyka struggled to stand, only to fall back again. "We still have-"
Her words were cut short by Dobby's sudden shriek: "Someone's coming! Many! From the southeast!"
From afar came the sound of many feet trampling leaves, mingled with low, guttural growls. Hagrid instantly grabbed the two weakened werewolves as if they were chicks. "We're going back to the castle, now!"
"No!" Lyka fought to break free, her tail bristling in alarm. "Our companions, they're trapped in the camp-"
"Too dangerous!" Hagrid's tone turned uncharacteristically firm. "We need to find Dumbledore first!"
"No need," Severus said calmly, his wand already raised toward the sound. "They're here."
Hagrid set Lyka and her comrade down and lifted his crossbow.
The bushes rustled violently. Five or six figures emerged from the darkness.
Leading them was a half-man, half-wolf creature. His yellow eyes gleamed in the dark; uneven fangs jutted from the corners of his mouth.
"Viktor," Lyka said coldly, glaring at the newcomer with hatred. "You brought them here."
"Lyka, you can't blame me!" Viktor's voice cracked, his eyes gleaming with madness. "I finally realized, we'll live better under the Dark Lord! I'm done rotting in this forest!"
Lyka wanted to retort, but before she could, several ragged figures followed Viktor into the moonlight.
Severus's gaze immediately fixed on the man in front, a tall, lean figure with tangled gray hair and beard, his scar-covered face twisted in a cruel grin. His filthy fingers bore long yellowed nails.
A rank stench came from him, a mixture of dirt, sweat, and blood.
"Greyback," Hagrid said, leveling his crossbow. "You shouldn't be here. This is Dumbledore's ground."
"Oh, Hagrid, no one else with you?" Greyback grinned, revealing sharp teeth, slowly and disgustingly licking his lips. "You think that toy will help you against me?"
His voice was strange, hoarse, grating, like a growl scraping against stone.
"I see. So Dumbledore isn't here." Greyback turned to Lyka, cruel delight glinting in his eyes. "As for you traitors... tonight will be your last."
"Coming to Hogwarts really was a fine errand," his gaze shifted greedily to Severus, his voice rasping like sandpaper. "What a surprise bonus. I do so love children, their flavor is exquisite, exquisite..."
He picked at his front teeth with a long yellow nail while sneering at Severus. "I could save you for dessert, sweet child..."
"I only find you disgusting," Severus said coolly, his face twisting with open contempt as he looked at Greyback.
"I only hope your bones prove harder than your tongue," Greyback snarled, spreading his arms wide to show his filthy fangs.
"Dobby," Severus whispered, "get ready to take them away."
His lips barely moved; his voice was low enough for only the elf beside him to hear.
The house-elf clutched his robe tightly, ears trembling.
Greyback took a step forward, his pack fanning out behind him.
Several looked uncertain, hesitant, perhaps unwilling followers.
"Hand over that traitor," Greyback growled, pointing at Lyka, "and maybe I'll let you die quickly."
"Is that so?" Severus replied evenly, eyes locked on him. He knew werewolves were resistant to most spells, but the Killing Curse was equally deadly to all creatures. The problem was... he'd never cast it on a human before.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A jet of green light flared, striking straight at Greyback's horrified face.
"No!" he roared, grabbing a nearby werewolf and dragging him into the line of fire.
The spell hit. The werewolf collapsed instantly.
At the same time Severus shouted, "Now, Dobby!", and Nagini slid free from his sleeve.
The house-elf seized both wounded werewolves' hands, and with a sharp crack, vanished.
Greyback's enraged roar shook the trees around them.
Hagrid loosed an arrow, striking a lunging werewolf squarely in the shoulder.
Greyback drew his own wand, the blinding green of another curse flashing toward Severus.
Two more werewolves were almost upon him now; Severus could smell the stench of blood and carrion on their breath.
He twisted aside, sweeping his wand. An invisible wall burst into being, deflecting their claws, though the impact still forced him back several steps.
A streak of green light grazed past one werewolf's ear, making him flinch and retreat from Severus instinctively.
"Attack!" Greyback bellowed. "Anyone who retreats dies!"