Werewolf Boxing
The year progressed quickly, and, to my relief, relatively safe, except for a minor infraction with Malfoy and a Dementor robe, but other than that, the last term was shaping up to be smooth sailing, Hermione's cat and Ron's rat notwithstanding. As soon as I heard of their plot to help Hagrid to make a case to try to the hippogriff, I began warning them against it, but they persisted, saying that 'Even if it's hopeless, we still have to try.' I was currently in the library, studying with Luna in a secluded area of the shelves that Madam Pince rarely visited. I stopped mid-revision of a Transfiguration essay, and turned, seeing that it was Hermione and Harry, both looking worse for wear.
"Are you alright?" Hermione waved me off, and spoke quickly.
"We're using the Time-Turner to save Sirius and Buckbeak. Dumbledore's orders." I turned to Luna, who smiled.
"Go on, I'll finish studying without you." After a farewell hug, I followed them quickly to the entrance to the grounds.
"Wait!" I held the backs of their clothes, preventing them from stumbling onto their past selves, and I drew my wand, casting a quick Vanishing Spell over us. We sat, invisible, as Hermione punched Malfoy in the face (at which I held up a hand for a high five for approximately two minutes before remembering we were invisible and she couldn't see me), and they hurried to the hut, outside of which the hippogriff waited. After a tense changeover, we made it out, and were traveling through the forest, night slowly falling, when I heard a low howl.
"Oh no-the werewolf." Hermione whimpered, and I made at split second decision.
"You two, go. I'll handle him." She tried to whisper frantically to me, but I ignored her, shoving them onward. I heard her last whisper, "It's Lupin!" and resolved to end this nonviolently. I found a small clearing along the path, making sure to cut my finger, the scent of blood sure to attract Lupin. I waited, and presently, a grey blur entered the clearing, and paused. It was horrifying, a grotesque man-wolf combination with fur sprouting from seemingly random parts of skin, and a snout that sprouted from a mostly human face. It growled at me, and I lifted my wand, thinking of nonviolent spells. I shot a Body-Bind curse at him, but, sadly, it bounced off. He threw his head back and howled, sending chills down my spine. Quicker than I could react with words, he charged at me, catching me at the waist and slamming me into the ground. I howled in return as at least three ribs splintered, the rest on that side cracked, and I shifted into the dove without thinking, taking flight slowly, as half of my ribcage was crushed. I couldn't keep in the air, however, and landed at the other end of the clearing, shifting back. Lupin turned around, staring at me hungrily. I clutched my side, and my hand came away red with blood. I realised that one of my ribs must be poking through my skin. I swore, and shot a Hardening Spell at him. This one didn't bounce off, but the only effect it had was to harden his right arm into stone, and for him to loose a much louder howl than before. I sighed, leaning to the side opposite my broken ribs to take some of the weight off of them, the pain like a steel bar running down my side. To my dismay, it began to rain, lowering my visibility and chances of flying to zilch. I stowed my wand, and figured I'd have to beat the wolf the only way I could: with my bare hands, if only to delay him enough that someone could hold him off until the morning. I didn't know any healing spells, so I couldn't re-set the ribs until I made it to the Hospital Wing, but I took stock in the fact that if I died, I'd give Lupin one hell of a fight. He growled, and charged, but I was ready, using my Metamorphmagus skill to gain some serious bulk. I ducked under his arms, and lifted him instead, slamming him into the forest floor as gently as I could, my Metamorphmagus ability seeming to go on autopilot, adding and taking away mass where I needed it, and the eyes and ears of the dove aided my senses. I tried to get him into a headlock, but he kicked me off, baring his teeth and growling. It was then I noticed the herd of centaurs watching the fight, forming a circle at the edges of the clearing. Lupin charged once more, but I caught his left arm, spinning him around and into a tree. I stumbled, dazed, and I wrapped my massive arms around his throat, holding him in place as he bucked. His elbow smashed into my unbroken side, cracking a few ribs, and I was jostled against a tree by his movements. The next time I breathed, it was ragged, and I spit a suspicious red substance onto my arm. With a final kick to my leg, he dislodged me, sending me flying across to clearing and into a tree. This time it hurt a lot more, my shoulder and hip popping out of place. I fell to the ground, helpless, and watched painfully as he approached, seemingly savouring the moment. He threw his head back to howl, and froze. I looked up at the sky, and saw that the sun was beginning to peak over the trees. I shrunk back to my regular form, in time to watch the process of the wolf turning to man. The fur shrank and vanished, skin turned back to normal, and the snout shrank back into a human nose, leaving a weary looking Remus Lupin in a clearing, naked. I gripped my wand painfully, and waved it, summoning some clothes.
"Here." He started, and, when he saw me, gasped.
"Oh no, no, no, no. Did I bite you? Or scratch you at all?" I shook my head, and he sighed in relief as he pulled on the clothes.
"Why are you laying on the..." He saw my state, and blanched.
"I need to get you back to Madam Pomfrey, now!" He dashed over to me, lifting me as gently as possible, and I leaned on him heavily, black spots clouding my vision. Blood began to leak from my mouth, and he pushed onward, my vision slowly fading. Before it turned completely black, I could have sworn I heard someone yelling.
-
I sat up in the Hospital Wing, gasping for air, and was promptly shushed by Dumbledore.
"It seems you have a bad habit of waking up here at the end of the school year, Dugan." I smiled, and relaxed back into the bed. He looked at me sadly, and spoke.
"I shouldn't have had you look after Harry, Dugan. It put too much on your plate, so to say, and you were worn thin." I smiled slightly, and he continued after a moment.
"You will be allowed to stay here once more over the summer, as the threat has only increased over the terms, so I'll keep you for a few more years." He beamed at me, and I smiled wider. His expression turned grave, and he spoke quietly.
"Dugan, what you did in the Forest... No man has ever gone up against a werewolf on the full moon and survived. That was very brave of you, and I'm starting to wonder how well you would have done in Gryffindor... Nonetheless, I will award fifty points to Ravenclaw for your services to the school, and permit you to leave the Hospital Wing at this time." He turned to leave, but I spoke.
"Is... Is Lupin alright? And-and Sirius?" He turned, and smiled in admiration.
"Perhaps Hufflepuff?" Before smiling wide and nodding yes to my questions. He left, and was replaced by two people, and a big black dog. The first one dashed to my side, muttered frantically as she looked me over, before drawing me into a hug. I held her like that for a moment, grateful I could embrace her again, and released her after a moment. Luna sank into a chair next to my bed, and threaded her hands around one of mine. The next person stepped forward.
"Dugan, I just want you to know that I am incredibly sorry for attacking you in the woods, I wasn't in control of myself, the transformation-"
"It's alright, Professor. I forgive you." He blinked, surprised, and nodded once before smiling.
"Well, okay then. It's nice to see you awake, and healing." I smiled, before shaking his outstretched hand. He turned, and began walking to the door. When he left, the dog shifted into Sirius Black.
"Thank you for not killing him." I nodded, and shook his hand as well. He bowed a little before shifting back into a dog and trotting out of the room. I hugged Luna to me, careful of the bandaging, and sighed into her shoulder. Maybe this wasn't so bad.