To Be A Werewolf - The Completed Series
written by Dora Scamander
In the depths of the Forbidden Forest lies a sparkling remnant of the magical Philosophers Stone, said to grant a wish to the one who discovers it. But there are other things in the forest... Xanthe Wilder has never fitted in. And being a werewolf doesn't exactly help. But with her loyal friend Aster and the help of some other mysterious companions, can Xanthe free herself from her dark secret before it's too late?
Last Updated
05/31/21
Chapters
16
Reads
420
The Wish
Chapter 12
I felt movement under me - gentle rhythmic rocking. My face was resting on thick soft fur and everything felt like a dream. I opened my eyes.
I was on Silvereye's back again - the forest was moving past me at a fast pace, but somehow slowly at the same time.
The sunlight - morning sunlight - was shining onto my back and I felt warm and drowsy.
"Xanthe, lie still. We are almost there." It was Silvereye.
"It's over?"
"It is over. Dawn has come and you are human again." The soft words were said so kindly - it was like Silvereye cared about me - cared about me almost like a brother.
Don't be silly. He's a wolf, and you're a human, I told myself.
Half wolf, said a voice inside my head.
"Did I hurt anyone?" I asked, my heart beating faster.
"The pack received a few scratches, but we were able to keep you under watch without any further injury."
I felt a lump in my throat. "You were controlling me? To keep the others safe."
"The assistance of other animals often helps werewolves in their monthly form. We knew we had to help you."
"I'm sorry."
"None of this is your fault. You do not need to be sorry. You are a werewolf, but that is about to change."
I realised we had stopped. But I did not get off Silvereye's back immediately. "Thank you." I said, and clasped my arms tighter around his neck. "Thank you - for everything."
Silverye nuzzled my hand gently. "I should thank you, too. The archaeologist is gone. Our forest is safe."
"He's gone?" I said, hardly daring to believe it. I hadn't seen anything for myself, and yet we had accomplished the job we were given?
"When you changed form, the wizard took fright and attempted to escape. He had seen our kind before - you know we do not like to attack humans, but I think the sight of a werewolf was enough for him. And your friend fired off many, many spells after him which I think must have discouraged him completely. He came out the forest as a sort of half jellyfish." He laughed softly, and I laughed with him.
After a minute that seemed like an age, I slowly slipped off his back and looked around.
We had come into a beautiful clearing. The morning sunlight shone down onto the soft green grass, which was speckled with little blue flowers that looked like stars. The only tree in the clearing was a huge oak that towered up above the other trees surrounding the clearing. Its light green leaves spreaded beautiful viridescent colour everywhere, and it's branches reached out and up as if to greet the sky.
As if something was guiding me I walked towards the tree, and saw, in the centre of the trunk, a small round hollow. The hole of the hollow was covered over by an intricate design of roots which had formed in a pattern over the hole. As I stepped closer the roots parted, twirling and spinning as they retreated.
In the hollow on an oak leaf there sat a small red stone, about the size of my finger nail.
"The wishing particle." My words were barely audible.
I turned back and looked at Silverye, a million thoughts suddenly whirling through my head. "Is it right for me to do this? Do I deserve it?"
"You deserve it, Xanthe."
"But -" My voice choked, "There are so many other werewolves in the world - why should I get this?"
"Yes, there are many werewolves in the world. But this Wishing Particle isn't going to just stop that. You know it. I know you are an orphan, Xanthe. You want a family. The Particle will take that into account. And I believe that the Wishing Particle would choose you. Because it wouldn't just accept anyone." He paused. "Take it. You will not have to say anything. Just think, and let your heart choose."
I picked up the stone.
I was on Silvereye's back again - the forest was moving past me at a fast pace, but somehow slowly at the same time.
The sunlight - morning sunlight - was shining onto my back and I felt warm and drowsy.
"Xanthe, lie still. We are almost there." It was Silvereye.
"It's over?"
"It is over. Dawn has come and you are human again." The soft words were said so kindly - it was like Silvereye cared about me - cared about me almost like a brother.
Don't be silly. He's a wolf, and you're a human, I told myself.
Half wolf, said a voice inside my head.
"Did I hurt anyone?" I asked, my heart beating faster.
"The pack received a few scratches, but we were able to keep you under watch without any further injury."
I felt a lump in my throat. "You were controlling me? To keep the others safe."
"The assistance of other animals often helps werewolves in their monthly form. We knew we had to help you."
"I'm sorry."
"None of this is your fault. You do not need to be sorry. You are a werewolf, but that is about to change."
I realised we had stopped. But I did not get off Silvereye's back immediately. "Thank you." I said, and clasped my arms tighter around his neck. "Thank you - for everything."
Silverye nuzzled my hand gently. "I should thank you, too. The archaeologist is gone. Our forest is safe."
"He's gone?" I said, hardly daring to believe it. I hadn't seen anything for myself, and yet we had accomplished the job we were given?
"When you changed form, the wizard took fright and attempted to escape. He had seen our kind before - you know we do not like to attack humans, but I think the sight of a werewolf was enough for him. And your friend fired off many, many spells after him which I think must have discouraged him completely. He came out the forest as a sort of half jellyfish." He laughed softly, and I laughed with him.
After a minute that seemed like an age, I slowly slipped off his back and looked around.
We had come into a beautiful clearing. The morning sunlight shone down onto the soft green grass, which was speckled with little blue flowers that looked like stars. The only tree in the clearing was a huge oak that towered up above the other trees surrounding the clearing. Its light green leaves spreaded beautiful viridescent colour everywhere, and it's branches reached out and up as if to greet the sky.
As if something was guiding me I walked towards the tree, and saw, in the centre of the trunk, a small round hollow. The hole of the hollow was covered over by an intricate design of roots which had formed in a pattern over the hole. As I stepped closer the roots parted, twirling and spinning as they retreated.
In the hollow on an oak leaf there sat a small red stone, about the size of my finger nail.
"The wishing particle." My words were barely audible.
I turned back and looked at Silverye, a million thoughts suddenly whirling through my head. "Is it right for me to do this? Do I deserve it?"
"You deserve it, Xanthe."
"But -" My voice choked, "There are so many other werewolves in the world - why should I get this?"
"Yes, there are many werewolves in the world. But this Wishing Particle isn't going to just stop that. You know it. I know you are an orphan, Xanthe. You want a family. The Particle will take that into account. And I believe that the Wishing Particle would choose you. Because it wouldn't just accept anyone." He paused. "Take it. You will not have to say anything. Just think, and let your heart choose."
I picked up the stone.
