Just a Kiss in the Moonlight

Disclaimer: Starving artist here, I don't own anything especially not Harry Potter.

Warnings: SLASH, flamers to the left, reviews bring updates people. :D they make me happy. Happiness breeds inspiration, you know. Also, this story will move a bit slower than the Shades of Gray fic, as there's less typed up on it, I just want to know what everyone thinks so far!

CHAPTER ONE

Harry, Ron, and Hermione along with Neville and Ginny all traded nervous glances between themselves and their Head of House, waiting for them. Ron sent a mourning glance at his food, knowing it would have to be left behind,

"Come now, the Headmaster is waiting." McGonagall scolded them and they rose to follow her.

"Hey, Harry," Ginny whispered, watching to see if McGonagall was listening.

"What?" Harry asked over his shoulder, peering about the nearly empty hallway. It was the first day of fall break, and his friends had stayed behind to help with Harry's loneliness. They were the only Gryffindors in the castle, that weren't alumni.

"Remember how you said this year was going to be a normal one?" Ginny hissed and he nodded, remembering how he'd said that just this morning in the Gryffindor common room. Nothing had happened yet, there was nothing to do, everything was quiet. That was what Harry and his friends wanted, just one blissfully normal school year.

"You jinxed it mate," Neville whispered and Harry nodded, he knew he had.

"Stop that. There's no such thing," Hermione admonished them, "we could be getting called to the Headmaster's office for any... did you see that?"

"See what?" Harry said, drawing his wand and looking about. He hadn't seen anything and judging by the looks on their faces no one else had either. Hermione scowled as they walked along behind the Transfiguration professor, watching over her shoulder carefully.

"I think we're being followed. I could be wrong, but I've seen it a lot over the past week- just a flash of- something. I don't know." Hermione whispered. Harry was crestfallen. He'd felt the eyes on him specifically over the past several weeks and even at the Durseleys. He'd thought he was simply paranoid.

"You know, now that you mention it..." Ginny said, frowning, "I thought I saw something lurking in the forrest during Lupin's class. He kept looking too, but nothing was ever said." Remus Lupin was their new Care of Magical Creatures professor, which they all found appropriate, considering. Hagrid had been gone on order business for months now.

"I think you're all bonkers." Ron said, rolling his eyes as they neared the gargoyle statue and it lept aside without the password for the cat animagus. She turned suddenly, wand drawn, eyes shifty and cat like. She looked spooked, staring into the hallway behind them.

"To the office, now children! GO!" She snarled, advancing down the hallway. However, they didn't budge. They were all far older than their actual ages and drew their wands, following. "I said go." she whispered, glancing into an empty alcove. She was quickly ignored.

"Not to mean offense ma'am, but we're on break." Ron said, grinning lopsidedly, "we're not technically students."

"Technically you are on these grounds Mr. Weasley and will do as I say while here." McGonagall snapped, but her expression spoke of fondness for the group. "I suppose I'm just imagining things anyway." she sniffed. Afterall, there was nothing there. She swiftly turned and gestured that they enter the office with a gesture before leaving.

Once they were all seated, frightened by the grave look on Dumbledore's face, and the lack of offer for anything- not even tea, he spoke. Remus Lupin and Severus Snape watched on from the shadows of the room, their expressions grim and even more frightening to the group of students.

"I'm afraid, ladies and gentlemen, that we have a very serious problem. Werewolves have entered the school."

"What?!" Hermione cried, glancing to Remus who nodded his agreement.

"I'm afraid so Miss Granger, and the largest difficulty is that we can not find who it is. They have been... sniffed out, so to speak, by Professor Lupin. Whoever it is, is very clever indeed, not being found out at all. Severus was sent to work before he was found out by Voldemort, on working with the wolfsbane potion. An attempt to control the dark creatures. We also found that there are large quanities of silver having been stolen from Gringott's. Most likely another attempt to control the creatures. If Voldemort has gained control... well, you all know the consequences." Dumbledore said, shaking his head.

"Why haven't they attacked?" Neville whispered, eyes wide.

"How many?" Harry croaked.

"According to Professor Lupin there are currently four werewolves, all with their own distinct smell on the grounds as of right now, counting himself. They have not attacked as of yet, Mr. Potter, because they have been unable to reach their desired target- one of you."

"Most likely Harry," Ron groaned, dropping his head into his hands. The Headmaster nodded,

"it seems Harry, that the DA you started has served it's purpose here. We believe the wolves cannot get close enough, as you are always together. They are all most likely waiting to get you completely alone."

"Why haven't we been warned of this until now?" Ginny growled, crossing her arms. Werewolves were serious business and she sounded for the world like her mother.

"Because we thought, for a moment, that perhaps it was just student's- changed and hiding their secret. It wasn't until Severus was found out," he paused allowing them all to remember the day the Potions Master had been found floating in the lake, barely alive, as he had tried to crawl back to school and fell in. Luna Lovegood, who had found him, still paled in his presence. "and the silver went missing, along with the scents Remus picked up... well, we put two and two together and began watching after all of you. The professors have more than once caught you being followed, but were never able to catch up. It seems that these wolves are faster than even our Remus."

"They're younger." Remus said, shrugging, "and new, I'd say six months into their transformations."

"And," Dumbledore paused for effect, "they did not leave for the break. They are all still here."

"But that narrows it down, does it not?" Harry whispered. There couldn't be more than fifty students that stayed for the break, all of the years and houses put together.

"Only if they stayed on as students, Potter, and are not lurking in the Forbidden Forrest." Snape snapped, looking agitated. Harry made a small oh with his mouth, that made sense. Werewolves, even in their wizard or witch form, were comfortable and at home in the forrest. Not many creatures dared to attack one.

"B-but," Harry whispered, realization hitting him, "I think... I think they were at the Dursleys. I felt like I was being watched... and here. I've been alone, a hundred times, and I'm sure we all have...why haven't they attacked?"

"Therein lies the confusion and the problem Potter." Snape said, rolling his eyes. "if we would just follow through with my idea, Albus..."

"No!" Lupin snarled, pushing away from the wall and glaring at the Slytherin, "we're not putting the children in danger!"

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE A WEREWOLF BY NOW?!" Snape roared, leaning into Remus' face to growl. The werewolf lowered his head in shame, turning red.

"What plan? What's Snape talking about?" Harry said, turning back to the Headmaster.

"Severus would like to use you as bait, Harry." Dumbledore replied, watching the confrontation closely. It was a week before the full moon and Remus was dangerous right now, they all knew that. There was an outcry of protest from the other students but Harry ignored them, turning to Snape.

"And you can stop them? From hurting me?"

"I can, Potter. Between Albus and myself, we are more than capable of stopping a small pack, let alone three pups." Snape said confidentally, glowering at Remus.

"I'll do it." Harry said, causing the Potions Master's head to snap up in surprise, eyes pinned wide. But, only for a moment, then, he nodded.

"Harry!"

"No!"

"You could get killed!" Remus roared, staring at him.

"I said," Harry snapped, "I'll do it. I was hoping for a better time to spring this on everyone but over the summer... I had a lot of time on my hands. So, I studied, to become an animagus." He glanced over at Neville, hoping the only other animagus in the room would stay quiet. He had sent Harry the books to learn how for his birthday, in memory of Sirius. Harry had been touched, especially by the note saying that Neville had been interested too. So they had corresponded, both taking control of their inner critter. Neither revealed their own until they returned to school and they had been happily galavanting about the grounds since.

"That would be helpful, would it not, Remus?" Dumbledore asked, as if he'd known this the whole time- when Harry had told no one. He eyed the old man suspiciously, suspecting that somehow... somehow, he did know. The twinkling look he gave Neville confirmed Harry's suspicions.

"That's beside the point! There could be more! They'll kill him, and the other children- it's. not. safe." Remus argued, bewildered.

"Headmaster! Surely you're not considering this!" Hermione cried, huffing and looking close to tears. So did Ginny. Ron was spluttering and red faced.

"I'm afraid I am, miss Granger. There are a little over fifty students here, they must be protected. At first I was hesitant... but now that Harry's confirmed my suspicions... well, it could work. It has a high probability of being successful."

"Alright." Harry said, standing and turning to face the angry Severus Snape, "what do I do?"