"I can't believe our luck!" Aster said. "Well done, Xanthe."
I shrugged. "You've done more than I have."
"Now we can safely say that no magi-archaeologists will be ruining our chance of finding the particles for ourselves!" Aster's eyes were alight. "We can start searching soon enough."
I suddenly remembered something, and stopped in my tracks. "Have you seen Romulus today?"
"Not today, but he was around last night, remember?"
"Yes, but I haven't seen him today - I've been so busy, but he usually comes with me around the castle at this time."
"He's probably just gone for a run around the grounds, it's nothing to worry about." Aster went to the nearest window and looked outside. "See? He's -" She froze.
I ran to the window and my gaze surveyed the scene below me. Two fifth year boys and girl, holding their wands above them. In the air, wriggling madly and yelping, was my dog.
I ran. I ran, pumping with adrenaline, through the castle and out to the grounds. My wand seemed to act of it's own accord. Three spells flew out of it, knocking the fifth years to the ground. But now Romulus fell too. He stumbled to his feet and then, to my complete bewilderment, ran into the forbidden forest.
"Romulus!" I yelled. "Rom, come back!" But he was gone.
I didn't think twice, just followed him. Down the slope, past the fifth years, into the forest.
I was expecting to hear Aster's voice behind me, calling me back, but I didn't. So I kept running, pushing past bushes and tree branches, stumbling on roots. I could hear my dog ahead of me, and I kept calling to him, but still he did not come. Then I stumbled again, and for the second time in a few days, I knocked my head and fell unconscious.

* * *

A wet nose was nudging my face. I opened my eyes, and Romulus licked me. I smiled, but then remembered everything, and shocked, sat up. "Rom! Why did you lead me here?"
He didn't respond, of course, only licked me again.
Suddenly I stiffened. I had just become aware of the presence of living creatures sitting all around me. Slowly, I looked around.
Surrounding me were a pack of beautiful, huge and silvery wolves.
I gaped. Romulus wagged his tail, as if to tell me everything was all right. The circling wolves did not move. I took a long deep breath. Then, in an attempt to keep calm, I asked Romulus, while watching the wolves out of the corner of my eye - "You know them?"
Romulus wagged his tail and then trotted up to the nearest wolf. It was a lot bigger than him, with beautiful blue eyes and shining fur. Romulus bounded about it, but the wolf did not seem irritated. It wagged its tail just like a dog, and then came slowly towards me. I sat there, frozen as the wolf drew closer and closer. When it was only a foot away it put its snout forward and sniffed my hand.
Almost immediately a strange thing happened. At the contact between me and the wolf, a voice appeared in my head.
Do not be afraid. We are the Moon Wolves.
I gasped. I suddenly remembered something Hagrid had told me one day long ago, when we had had a conversation about werewolves.
"When two werewolves mate," He had said, handing me a rock cake, "They produce a litter of little wolf pups, clever as a human. I saw 'em once, in the forest. Beau'iful creatures they were, too."
I had not thought about it before. But there was no other explanation. I was the meeting the pack, and communicating with them too! I could feel my heart beating, but I was no longer afraid.
"Thank you," I said back to the wolf, hoping he could understand.
It bowed its head and then retreated. Another wolf got to its feet and then bounded into the trees, beckoning for me to follow. I got to my feet, and then suddenly a wolf was at my side.
Ride, it said, touching its nose to my hand.
Spellbound, I slung my leg gently over its back.
And then we were off, a pack of silvery wolves, a dog, and a girl.