The nd y deeply immersed in dreams, while midnight had gently touched the world—softly and quietly singing its song of hidden secrets.

  Menie and Dippet had both settled down in the shallow grass and watched the countless fireflies dancing around their tent. They looked like tiny stars.

  Luna and Tom, on the other hand, were a little bit apart. Both would have preferred to go deeper into the forest, where they could love each other far away in the darkness of the night. But for some reason, Menie had already grown restless this evening; something did not sit right with her, and so under no circumstances did she allow Luna to leave the protective shields around their camp tonight, much to Tom's displeasure.

  While Menie was just putting a cherry into her mouth, Luna whispered almost inaudibly. "And? Have you thought about the Hallows?"

  He remained silent. Then he gently tucked one of her absurdly long strands of hair behind her ear. "Oh, my little moon..." he whispered softly. "I understand you. I understand why you want to dissuade me from what I am doing and what I still intend to do... I understand it."

  She looked at him silently, a quiet plea lying in her aquamarine blue eyes, while his rested darkly upon her. "Please...", she breathed now, infinitely quiet. "Please do not destroy our world once again. Kill me if you must, but please - please do not destroy again what you and I love so achingly."

  For a moment, he did not know what to say. She meant every single one of her words. Carefully he touched her face, then pulled her close to him. Her warm body snuggled tightly against his.

  "You know very well that I will not kill you - cannot kill you," he murmured into the night. He no longer knew what to say... but then, without thinking about it, he whispered. "I will try - I promise you, Moon - I will try to achieve my goals even without this bloodbath," his words faded into the vastness of midnight - a promise for eternity - their eternity.

  A loud howl made the small group jump.

  "Was... was that a werewolf?", Menie whispered choakily, turning to the Director, who y only a short distance beside her. He looked up in surprise.

  A moment of silence passed before the howling rang out toward their camp again... it was coming closer. The Director and the young teacher were quickly on their feet. Menie had drawn her wand, just like Tom. Luna and the Director looked expectantly into the darkness. The night was overcast today, making it virtually impossible to discern anything.

  A loud cracking broke through the dense undergrowth - coming closer and closer. Then, all at once, the monster stood directly in front of the protective shield of the small campsite - the creature of the night looked around searchingly, as if it had caught a scent, stretching its snout into the cool night wind. Its eyes were a piercing yellow, as if it could see everything. As if nothing remained hidden from it. Death emanated tangibly from it.

  Luna could not help but think back to Fenrir Greyback.... a cold shiver ran down her spine. But fortunately, they were completely protected here. They could neither be seen nor heard, and the barrier could certainly not be breached; Dippet had seen to that.Seconds passed and felt like an eternity. From the depths of the forest, another howl reached them. Menie shuddered. "There are more of them...", she breathed in horror.

  "Do not worry, Miss Menie," the Director reassured her. "They are 'passing through,' if one might put it that way. And we are fortunate enough to witness this spectacle," he winked at her encouragingly.

  "You are something else, Armando!", the young witch huffed. "I am dying a thousand deaths once again."

  A soft ugh escaped the Director's mouth. The werewolf ran back into the darkness of the forest, following the howling of the other. Menie exhaled audibly. "Thank Merlin he is gone," she breathed with relief.

  "Now! After that fright, I invite you all to a round of cards!" Dippet announced beamingly, while Tom, as so often, rolled his eyes; Luna agreed enthusiastically, and Menie thought to herself what nerves the Director must have to think of pying cards now. And so midnight quietly and secretly departed from the world's stage while the small group was busily pying.

  Only when the wind picked up noticeably and rain was in the air did they retire to the tent for the night.Menie and Dippet were already blissfully slumbering as the rain shed against the tent. Luna still y awake - having to think over and over again about Tom's words....

  Quietly she padded out of the room in her thin, long summer dress. Carefully she peeked into Tom's room...

  "Luna!" his voice rang out softly. Quickly she hurried to his bed, where he y naked as always. Without another word, Tom pulled Luna to him under the thin bnket. She y close to his chest, listening to the beating of his heart.Just as Tom was about to draw her into a sensual kiss, he paused....

  "Do you hear that too...", he whispered quietly.

  Luna listened into the rain-shed night.... but at first, she could hear nothing unusual... but then she heard it too...

  The cold night wind pressed against the tent walls - carrying unholy voices across the forest and the nd....

  Somewhere hidden in the dark depths of the forest stood a figure, entirely shrouded in bck, ancient and powerful....