Kyle stepped off the train and he saw his parents right away. His mother pulled him into a huge hug and she almost immediately noticed his new scar on his face and she looked like she was going to cry as she stroked it. His father picked up Kyle's suitcase and patted Kyle's shoulder a few times and then they were off to their car to head home. His parents were overly excited to have him back and hit him with question after question. How were his grades, did he make any friends, did he have fun, did he keep out of trouble, etc. he answered everything to the best of his abilities, though Kyle chose not to mention his striking of a girl and the chaos that swirled around his first transformation at hogwarts.

Finally the arrived home and once inside Kyle told his parents to sit at the dining room table and he opened up his suitcase and pulled out one of his robes with the crest of Gryffindor on it and he sheepishly handed it over to his mom ”Not Slytherin material it looks like. Sorry” he saw his dad look disappointed but his mother immediately started with how it was ok and they didn’t care what house he was in. What mattered was him being the best and having great marks. He didn’t have the heart to tell her how he struggled with charms and he just felt more guilty.

A few hours passed and after eating, bathing and talking it was time to go hit the hay. He was bummed out he didn’t get a chance to hang out with Duke, but there would be plenty of time. He had all summer after all. For the first time in months Kyle found himself in his bedroom and he saw the silver and emerald decorations, his Quidditch posters, and his random Knick Knacks. With a heavy sigh he threw himself onto his bed and stared intently at the ceiling. He felt sick to his stomach, his mother had charmed the ceiling to look as if he was looking at the night sky and he saw a false moon. With a pained look Kyle turned onto his side and put a pillow over his head.

...it was good to be home...

—————————————

A few weeks had passed and he got back into his routine, he would wake up and have breakfast then immediately leave and meet up with Duke and get into trouble. They would fight, break into empty buildings, explore off limits places. Get into trouble like the good ol days. Finally one morning his woke up and felt like he was going to be ill, the hairs on the back of his neck stood tall and he felt like he would attack the first person who looked at him wrong. And he knew it was time again. He wouldn’t leave his room and he stopped going out to meet up with Duke. His parents told the other boy some story but he was sure Duke didn’t buy it.

Kyle sat in his room with his back against the wall, bludger bat in hand. He had his eyes fixed on the window outside and every now and then would bang his head back against the wall as he banged the bat on the floor in a sort of Rhythm. He was ready for the moon to pass.

Coming home had proven to be more nerve wracking then she had expected. Of course she was happy to see her mother waiting for her on the platform, finally home for longer then just winter holiday. Although she'd yet to even speak a word about anything that had happened in the forest to anyone aside from those directly involved. Much less had she spoken to her mother about what had happened even during the fire at the Blossom Ball.

In spite of the heat, when the girl stepped off the train, she was clad in a warm jumper over her sundress, sleeves pulled over her hands as she clung to her belongings. Her only response when her mother asked about it was that it had been so cold on the train.

How she'd been sorted into Slytherin was hardly a secret she'd bothered to keep from her mother. While she was sure the woman was disappointed, she certainly wasn't upset about it, having even taken the blue satin lining in the caplet cloak she'd made for the girl before leaving and exchanging it for a lovely emerald green.

All the same, it was still odd to be home. The routine of it was harder for her to fall back into. She'd become so accustomed to constantly having people around her, having something to do, or a place to be, that it was harder to find herself content with actually being by herself. It truly surprised her that she might miss the endless chatter that she'd learned to tune out into background noise. Even having her own room again, a place where she could close the door and not have to worry about anyone barging in... felt colder and lonelier then she remembered.

_______________________________________________

The summer continued on painfully slow. With all the time in the world and no one to spend it with, Illowy found herself doing little more then studying, practicing her music and working on her art. She'd become determined to master drawing and painting people as best as she could before the end of the summer. However that simple routine was disrupted when her mother had to leave suddenly for a business trip for the Ministry, explaining to her that she needed to pack her things and that she was going to be sent off to stay with her family in Cork for a few days.

The child packed a small duffle of her things, including some of her drawing supplies as her mother ushered her into the fireplace. It wasn't often her mother was set away so suddenly, but whatever it was, it must've been important; her mother certainly wasn't the typical sort to get frazzled. At least this way, she'd be doing something interesting. She would get to see her cousin, though she wasn't sure if he even wanted to see her after their last interaction.

Dressed in a simple flowered skirt with a loose linen button up with sleeves far too long that was tucked in and a belt cinched around her waist, she allowed her mother to fuss over her for a moment. The woman smoothed out the hair from her face, draping the caplet around her daughter's shoulders and reassuring that the girl had everything she needed, "Now then, remember your manners, keep out of your auntie and uncle's way, and please try not to fight too much with your cousin, Llily." the woman recited. It was always the same speech when she went to Cork.

"I know, Mum. Don't worry, I'll be fine." Illowy assured. With one final goodbye, her mother gave her a handful of the floo powder. Traveling via the floo network had become far more second nature to the child then anything else, "My Auntie and Uncle Derook's house." she spoke clearly before she dropped the powder and allowing herself to be engulfed in the green flames.

When the light faded, she found herself standing in the fireplace of her relatives.

Sean and Katlin gave each other looks when they received word that their Niece was going to be spending some time with them. Normally it wouldn’t have mattered because Illowy was always a treat to have and had a positive influence on Kyle...or at the very least mitigated the trouble he got into when she was around. But tonight was a full moon which meant Kyle was going to be restrained in their shed like he was every night of the full moon and they were worried about her seeing the transformation. Deapite this the DeRooks were never ones to turn away family and decided to reluctantly receive Illowy.

When the girl arrived it was Sean who was standing by the fireplace, his hands rested on his hips and a friendly smirk worn on his face. ”Hello there Illowy! Always good to have you, hungry or thirsty?” Sean then stepped forward and pulled the girl into a hearty hug.

Upstairs Kyle heard the sounds come from the fireplace and then his father talking to someone. With a scowl he rose and wandered out of his room and halfway down the stairs when he noticed it was his cousin that had arrived. With an audible groan he turned around and when back to his room and slammed the door

With a sigh Sean rubbed the back of his neck and looked towards the stairs before turning back to Illowy ”Don’t mind Kyle. He’s grumpy cause he...got sick during the summer. Should be right as rain in a few days”

The moment the girl stepped out of the fireplace, she could feel in the air that something was off, even as her Uncle pulled her into a warm hug, "Hey, Uncle Sean." she smiled before giving a shake of her head to his offer of food or something to drink, "No, thank you, I ate before I came."

Pale eyes swept around the front room, catching a quick glimpse of her cousin when he poked his head down the stairs. Illowy started to open her mouth to greet the boy, but she wouldn't be given the chance. He barely took half a look at her before groaning and retreating to his room, marking his abrupt exit with a slammed door that made the girl flinch.

The Slytherin looked back to her uncle. The air almost thickened again with more tension as Uncle Sean tried to play the incident off. The excuse was weak in her mind, but something told her it would be wise not to press for the truth right now. So much for getting to hang out with Kyle. He's back to his sour puss ways, she thought to herself, "I'm gonna take my stuff up to my room and get settled." she spoke softly, readjusting her bag on her shoulder and starting towards the stairs.

This house was like a home away from home to Illowy, and she wasn't afraid to make herself fairly comfortable. The child went up to the guest room she normally stayed in, putting her things away neatly and quietly as her mother had instructed her to always do when staying in someone else's home. She couldn't shake the strange tension that permeated throughout the home, though. Normally, she felt so warm and eased being here; but this visit.... a foreboding was lacing itself through the house. Illowy tried to shake it away as she dug through her backpack and found her sketch book and a pencil.

Ky
Hey, Uncle Sean said you weren't feeling good. If you feel up to it later maybe we can go walk and get some ice cream tonight? Mummy gave me some money for it.

~Magpie

Little could the girl know of what was actually happening behind the closed doors of the Derook household. Illowy liked to think that her family didn't keep secrets from each other; then again, maybe she ought to throw that idea out the door with how many secrets she seemed to be keeping herself these days.

The snake made her way to the boy's door, trying to creep as quietly as she could. Even if she'd only seen him for a moment, it was long enough to catch that familiar look he had in his eye. It was the same glint of anger he'd had the night he'd shoved Isaac and hit Marla. He completely refused to open up to her then, but maybe, with the bribe of ice cream, she might be able to get him to talk to her?

Illowy shoved the folded up paper under his door before childishly scurrying as quickly as she could back to her room, shutting the door and retreating to her bed. Hopefully this visit wouldn't be a total bust. Maybe Kyle was prone to being pissy, and a troublemaker, but she'd been truly looking forward to spending some time with him for the first time this summer.

When the door slammed behind him Kyle began to pace around his room, getting more on edge. Not only had he been avoiding Duke the last few days now Illowy was here. He rubbed his face and made his way to the window overlooking the backyard and his eyes rested on the work shed that had been redone to be his cell during full moons. Reinforced metal walls, think wrought iron bars over the windows, a heavy solid door with a lock and on the inside it was empty except for a set of manacles to place around his wrists and ankles so when he turned he could be restrained.

There was slight noise from his door and he turned around ready to ream somebody when he saw it was just a note pushed under the door. With a huff he walked over and scooped it up. She wanted to go get ice cream. Really? As if everything was ok between them? They still hadn’t even made up from their last exchange during the school year. Kyle crumpled up the note and dropped it on his desk before walking over and dropping himself on his bed



Katlin knocks on the door and waits to hear from illowy before opening the door. ”hello Illowy dear. Sean is taking Kyle for a walk so they can talk. Maybe some fresh air will help him perk back up” she offers the girl a pleasant smile and holds up a photo album. “your mother tells me you are a Slytherin, I have so many stories about Sean and I when we wore the Emerald and Silver” Katlin sat down on the bed and invited Illowy to sit with her, she was hoping to keep the girl occupied while Sean dealt with Kyle.

Outside Sean lead Kyle towards the shed and used the metal key undo the lock before opting the door. With a scowl Kyle headed inside, hating he needed to locked away like a dirty secret. I’m almost complete silence Sean led Kyle to his spot in the back of the shed and secured his wrists and ankles inside the Manacles. ”I’m so sorry Kyle...just try to sleep and things will be better in the morning.” Kyle scoffed and gave his dad a spiteful look ”things aren’t ever going to be better. Just go” a look of hurt flashes across Seans face and with a heavy sigh he turns and leaves the shed. Locking the heavy door behind him.

Illowy sat on her bed for a time, staring at the door, wand twirling nervously through her fingers as she waited... and waited... and waited. No response. Maybe she shouldn't have expected anything in return. After all, their last exchange hadn't ended well, and they certainly hadn't spoken, much less made up since. Part of her had hoped it might be like every other fight they'd had; where even if apologies weren't exchanged, the problem was dropped and there was an unsaid understanding and forgiveness and they then moved on from it. She supposed whatever this was, it wasn't as simple as moving on, but getting Kyle to actually talk to her about seemed like an impossible feat.



Illowy still sat on her bed, only now she was working in her new sketch book, having finally filled and replaced the old one. A knock came at the door that jolted her from her thoughts, "C'm'in." the girl sat up a bit, wondering if it might've been Kyle, but it was only Auntie with a photo album in hand.

"Sean is taking Kyle for a walk so they can talk. Maybe some fresh air will help him perk back up."

"Oh..." Illowy pressed her lips in a tight line.

The woman sat down on the bed, starting on about Slytherin and her time in school. Granted, this was hardly what Illowy wanted to know about right this instant, but she didn't mind. She admired her Aunt, nearly in the way she admired her mother. The two women were so vastly different, sometimes it was hard to believe they were even sisters. Auntie Katlin was so much more 'out-there', then her mother.

Closing her sketchbook, Illowy moved to sit beside her Aunt, looking over curiously at the photos as they played out their scenes, oblivious to what was going on right outside her own window in the work shed. Her mother, Rose, often only talked about what she learned at Hogwarts and the few school events she attended that happened between times of chaos during the war. She never took interest in the extracurricular activities aside from being Head Girl of Ravenclaw.

Auntie Katlin's photos seemed to reflect an actual life and an experience at Hogwarts in spite of everything; and as much as the girl idolized her mother, she couldn't help but lean towards favoring having an experience more vivacious like her Aunt had.

By the time the pair had finished the album, it was getting late. The long summer sun was finally starting to set on the evening. Her aunt would leave, and Illowy wouldn't be able to help but peak outside her door and down the hall towards Kyle's room, only to find the door still shut tight. She supposed whatever walk or talk he and his father had had simply hadn't been enough, and with a sigh she retreated back again to get ready for bed.

Hair and teeth brushed, face washed, and changed into simple tank top and pajama pants, the girl climbed into bed. Nights were still difficult for her, though. Wrought with images of demntors and flashbacks to the darkness of the Forbidden Forest made sleep a terrible companion. The girl kept her bedside lamp on, using the light to aid her as she continued to work on her drawing from earlier, hoping that eventually she'd wear herself out enough to fall asleep soon. Perhaps everything would be right again in the morning.

Sean threw the door open and entered the kitchen. He rubbed his face and grabbed a bottle Whiskey from the cabinet and sat and dining room table. He took a swig and let out a heavy sigh. He sat there for a time alone, frustrated. Eventually Katlin comes down the stairs and pulls up a chair next to Sean. She laces her fingers with his and leans her head on his shoulder and the two of them just sit there in silence together.

———————

Duke has a look of anger on his face. For the last few days Rooks parents have turned him away again and again and what does he see tonight? Rooks dad locking him up in some makeshift dungeon. What the hell was even going on? With a determined look he steps out of the bushes and runs towards the shed and tries the door but it’s locked. Duke scoffed and reached into his jacket and pulled out two bits of metal and sets about picking the lock. As a Squib you had to learn how to do things with your hands since you didn’t have magic to lean on. A few minutes passed and then he heard a click and the heavy lock hung loose. Duke grinned ”Easy as pie”

——————

Kyle was sitting on the ground of the shed, head hanging as he stared at the manacles around his wrists and ankles. He almost felt as if this was just setting him up for a future in chains. Then he heard noises coming from the door and when he looked up he saw the cocky look of his best friend ”Christ Rook, the hell is going on?”

Kyle’s heart dropped into his stomach ”Duke! Get out of here you don’t know what you are doing!” he spoke frantically and tried to scoot backwards but since his back was already to the wall he couldn’t.

Duke Rushed forward and started to work on the manacles as well ”I don’t know what’s going on but I’m getting you out of here Rook. My ma will get ahold of the ministry and we will get this sorted alright?”

If didn’t matter how much he struggled or tried to tell Duke to knock it off because he just kept trying to free him from the manacles. Finally the last one came undone and there was nothing to stop him from running wild. It a last ditch effort Kyle rose to his feet and shoved Duke hard back away from him. ”you gotta get out of here man! You don’t understand! You cant-...can’t just...oh no...”

A silvery light gleamed in through the windows as moonlight crept through the darkness as the night was finally upon them. Kyle let out a pained yell as it felt like acid began to pump through veins and his body was wracked with pain. As his bones broke and his muscles tore all he could hear were his own screams before his mind and vision went black. Kyle was gone

——————

Duke slipped over the log as he quickly scrambled over it in a panic. He was running as quickly as he could, but he heard the sound of the werewolf rushing through the woods towards him. Trying to think quickly Duke looked around trying to find someplace to hide and he notice a tree with a hollowed out base and he rushed towards and hid inside, his lungs burned as he struggled to catch his breath.

The beast crested the hill, it’s claws digging into the log. It arched his back and reached its face towards the sky as it let out a long howl. It’s prey was close, and soon the beast would have it. It was only a matter of time.

Everything felt painfully quiet, the only sound filling her ears being the soft brush and scratch of her pencil against paper as the girl draw. Even her mind felt numbingly quiet, eyes growing heavy as she laid down her pencil for just a moment to lay down her head. The girl had nearly drifted off when a sound caught her attention from outside. It sounded like arguing, possibly from people out on the street? She laid very still, trying to hear, but it wasn't clear.

Maybe it was the fact that nothing of interest had happened all summer and she was dying to witness something, even if it was just an argument. Maybe it was some other intuition telling her she needed to be anywhere but in that room; even Illowy couldn't be sure as she slid out of bed and slipped on the ballet flat shoes she'd worn that day, grabbing her wand from the nightstand just in case. A natural skill of the child's was how quietly she could move, and it was no trouble sneaking past her family; the pair sitting quietly in the kitchen, nursing themselves the Irish way. Silent feet led her out the door undetected and into the front garden.

Quietly, she girl tried to follow the sound of the voices, but for the moment, they stopped... all she knew the next moment was a scream that completely shattered the silence of the night and made her blood instantly freeze in her veins with terror.

There was a jarring sound of claws on metal, chains being rattled away with little struggle, then fading sound of feet pounding the ground going towards the trees. The scream stuck in her though. This might've been the one time the girl truly listened to her gut when it told her that was Kyle's scream. The girl rushed around towards the back of the house, the garden fading out into trees. In the bright moon light she could see two forms. One of a boy, and on his heels... a werewolf. She'd know such a creature anywhere given who her Aunt and Uncle were.

"Auntie! Uncle Sean!" she screamed, her voice not even sounding like her own to her ears.

Her mind any body shifted to autopilot, just as it had the night she'd witnessed the dementor attack. She was all hands and feet as the girl raced towards the scene, not even waiting to see if the two Aurors even heard her. There wasn't time to know if they heard her as she ran as fast as her legs would take her, breaking into the darkness of the forest; willingly reentering into her own nightmare. Trees seemed so dense the full moon was barely penetrating it, but there was no time to focus on that now. She had to find him. She was sure Kyle was in here and he was in trouble.

She had to find him before that monster did.

The beast finished it’s howl and pushed its maw into the dirt and sniffs as it tries to find the trail of its prey. The unfamiliar hunting grounds was throwing it off, and the multiple scents of different animals were distracting. Finally though, it found the scent from shed. The beast knew where it’s prey was. With a vicious snarl it tore down the hill and towards the tree that Duke was hiding in. The boy saw the wolf charging towards him
And with a terrified yell he dove out of the tree just as the beast pounced and clawed at the bark.

Duke ran from the beast, his heart pounding hard in chest, threatening to leap out into the night air. His limbs burned, his lungs ached and he was surging with Adrenalin. Why didn’t Rook tell him? They were best mates, nothing would have changed that. They had each other’s back always, no matter what, that was the deal. Then his foot stepped on a rock half covered in leaves and his ankle rolled and Duke went down hard with a grunt. In an act of desperation he grabbed a branch and got back to his feet, but his ankle was sprained or something because it wasn’t supporting his weight.

The Beast slowly rounded a tree and stalked towards its prey. It was limping, a branch I it’s hands. The prey was speaking, something about the beast knowing it, that it didn’t want to do this, to snap out of it. But the beast didn’t understand. All it knew is it was hungry, and this was the first real hunt it’s ever had. With one last snarl the beast tensed, and then pounced.

—————

Sean and Kat sat in silence as they heard their sons screams come from the back yard and while their hearts hurt they knew there was nothing they could do for their sun. In the morning they would comfort him, give him his space, let him rant. Whatever he needed. But tonight all they could do was be there for each other and try not to let the howls and snarls drive them mad.

It was Katlin that heard Illowy call out and with a slight sigh she rubbed her husbands back and went upstairs to see what the girl needed. When she got to the room and she found it empty her heart dropped in her stomach. ”Sean! Check the shed! Hurry!”

Without hesitation the Trained Auror shot to his feet and bolted out the door straight for the shed and to his horror the door was wide open and neither their niece or their sun was anywhere to be found. ”Get our Wands! We need to find them quick!”

—————

The woods were eerily silent. The birds and other creatures had gone quiet and there was almost a strange calm. Then breaking the silence was a wet sound, with occasional crunches.

The beast has caught its prey. It tried to put up a slight fight but there was nothing it could to do to stop the attack. Now, it was time to eat. The flesh was delicious and the bones gave a satisfying crunch with each bite.

As the beast ate a cloud drifted slowly out of the way and the moon shined through the branches and illuminated the gruesome scene.

Another scream echoed through the woods that only sparked the girl on faster, trying to find her way through the darkness, following any sound that might lead her to her cousin's aid. The woods seemed alive at the three of them raced through the trees, disturbing the sleeping creatures of the forest. The sounds of crying birds, flapping wings, scurrying feet, it all masked any faint sounds she might've been looking for.

Then, all at once it all seemed to stop. The woods became as silent as Death itself. Carefully, quietly, the girl continued her wandering. Something was panting... crunching... smacking wetly. Blood cold, she dared close in on the sound, keeping low in the brush and close to the shadows as the moon finally found it way through the canopy.

Pale eyes piercing through the shadows, she could see it. The beast. Its fur seemed to nearly glow in the moon light as it kept it's back to her. Air caught in her throat like a tacky lump of glue, as though her body were begging her to hold her breath for fear of being found over a puff of air. Against her better judgment, her eyes traveling to the pile of rubies and garnet it was bent over; that being the only fitting way to describe the horrible sight before her.

The girl clung the tree she was hiding behind for support. Her chest pained like her heart might give out then and there, tears fell down her face and she had to force herself to resist the urge to vomit. She was too late. She'd failed to save him. She'd failed to even give him a hope that someone might be coming for him, coming to help him. Illowy pressed a hand over her mouth to force back any audible cries that might dare spill from here with the beast so close.

She had to get out of there and find her Aunt and Uncle before the creature caught sight of her as well. Perhaps, as sickening as it sounded, it would be too distracted now to even notice her going. Slowly, the girl released her hiding place, inching away. Somewhere she'd once read that you should never run from magical creatures. That it attracts their attention.

Whoever said that never had a hungry werewolf less then fifty feet away from them.

Usually silent feet betrayed her. A branch cracked beneath her heel and her head snapped towards the creature. Just as she turned her head, she froze. It's blue eyes blazing into her. For a moment, it was as though time stopped, giving her spare seconds to examine the beast. Its bright, pale eyes full of anger, hunger... fear? Its fur dark and shaggy, but lacking in a series of scars along it's shoulder and... Kyle had a scar like that on his face...

"Kyle..." she breathed before breaking her sight away as primal instinct took over to carry her away as fast as humanly possible.

Run. Do not look back.

It was him. She was sure of it now. The poor soul who had become the meal was not Kyle. But how had this happened? How come he never told her? Why had her Aunt and Uncle not told her? Her mind was going as fast as her feet seemed to as she prayed she was making distance from her cousin. However, something in the way the ground seemed the rustle and quiver behind her warned her differently.