The Infirmary, Hogwarts...
Remus Lupin had been no stranger to ending up in the infirmary after the onset of the full moon. Snape had been too weak to even protest both his and Hermione's assistance after his first transformation. There was no more doubt about how the events of the attack affected him. The Potions Master was indeed a werewolf but he was one that Lupin had never seen before. Legends were told among the wolf-kind about something called the Hounds of Hircine but he had never before seen one with his own eyes. The Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor wondered if Severus Snape had been one of Hircine's chosen.
Hermione looked over at him from the bed Madam Pomfrey placed her in. She had been physically alright after the attack but the old Med-witch insisted she stay for observation. Especially, when the concerned young witch told her that Snape had licked her wounds clean. From what Hermione gathered about known facts from werewolves, their saliva transmitted the disease of Lycanthropy. She figured the old witch was being cautious but she had not felt any of the onset symptoms of the disease since she arrived. No fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms at all.
Lupin had wondered about that as well. Surely Severus would have turned her by now as his saliva had been introduced into the witch's bloodstream many times over. Still, Hermione didn't show any of the telltale signs of change. She looked to be her regular self and quite healthy considering the battle with the giant spiders.
Snape had still been out cold.
It was probably for the best. Lupin knew the dour wizard would be furious when he found out that he had been infected with Lycanthropy. He would be even more furious when he found out what he did to Hermione Granger. If noting that eating dead spiders wasn't enough to make him angry in the process. The sheepish werewolf nodded off to sleep. His body had been thoroughly taxed in the wake of his transformation.
Beast mind:
The Female was near. Her scent was unmistakable. She was warm and tasted familiar. The dog wasn't too far behind either. She understood him. No mortal had ever taken the time to understand the beast but she had. The fleshy prison had caged him once more but soon he would have the keys to make a return. The father had been pleased with the hunt and Luna's song had filled its heart to bursting. The night was glorious and he was free at least for a time. It had been pleasant to sink his teeth into those wretched spiders. The crunch they made on the way down had been entertaining.
Snape made a speedy recovery after getting his much-needed rest. His obsidian eyes sprang open and he took in the sight of Hogwarts' infirmary. He saw Lupin sleeping not far from him in one of the formerly empty beds. A rage filled him that he had no real name for as he sat up. The mangy werewolf had infected him with Lycanthropy.
Hermione had opened her amber eyes in time to see Snape get off the bed and make his way over toward a sleeping Lupin. She quickly scrambled from beneath the covers and got to her feet. She could tell Professor Snape had not been about to offer Lupin a warm hello. Snape had been faster than she anticipated and he seized the sleeping Lupin by the collar of his shirt and threw him into a nearby wall.
"Mangy beast." muttered the irate Potions Professor.
Lupin's eyes sprang open when his thin frame hit the wall in the back of the room. He couldn't believe how strong Snape had gotten over the past few weeks. In seconds the Potions Master had been in front of him with an enraged glare and fury-burning obsidian eyes. The Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor had no real means of defending himself from the irate wizard's wrath.
Hermione thought fast and placed herself between Snape and Lupin.
"Professor Snape," she said. "Attacking Professor Lupin isn't going to help your situation."
The irate dour wizard stared down at the young witch.
Her soft warm hands had been pressed firmly against his exposed lean chest. Lupin watched the curious expression file across the Potions Master's face before he took in her scent and pulled away. Hermione watched him intently. The wolf in him had not yet calmed despite him being in human form. His body was going through rapid shifts as if man and beast were warring with each other for control. His beast blood boiled and his heart was pounding thunderously in his chest.
Hermione had not known what to make of the scene.
"Professor?" she said cautiously.
"Step away from him, Miss Granger," said Severus in a dangerous tone.
Hermione did as she was told sensing that it had not been a request. No sooner had the young witch moved away from Lupin, it seemed that Snape's heart rate began to return to normal and his rage all but dissipated.
Lupin's eyes widened. it appeared that Severus had not liked the idea of Hermione being around him even when they were both in human form. Then again Severus had always been protective of the students when it came to Lupin's werewolf status. The Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor considered that maybe Snape's protective streak was heightened by his beast blood. There was no doubt that his aggression certainly was.
"Severus," said Lupin. "P-Perhaps we should speak with Dumbledore."
A low and feral growl erupted from Snape as his thoughts drifted to The Headmaster of Hogwarts.
"That won't be necessary," he replied still with a growl deep in his throat.
"Professor Snape, he has to make accommodations for your werewolf status," said Hermione.
Snape turned his gaze on her.
"It will be in everyone's best interest to keep their mouths shut about my so-called werewolf status," he replied.
Hermione was about to say something along the lines of protocol but realized Snape's work for the order depends on the element of surprise. Perhaps this too could work out in his favor.
"I-I think you may be right," she said coming to the same conclusion he had. "But I still think you should speak to Professor Dumbledore."
Snape said nothing more and left the two of them to venture into the floo. He had better things to do than stay in the infirmary with Lupin and Hermione Granger.
"T-That went well," said Lupin.
Hermione shook her head.
"Are you always this cheerful about near death?" she asked.
"Not always," replied Lupin. "Y-You think we should tell him about the spiders?"
"You ate them too as I recall," said Hermione turning to face the sheepish-looking werewolf.
"Well, I am accustomed to eating unsavory things," said Lupin. "Have you seen what comes from the kitchen lately?"
Hermione shook her head.
"Are you going to tell Dumbledore about Professor Snape?" she asked changing the subject.
"Of course," replied Lupin. "The man's more of a danger to the students here than I."
"What do you mean?" asked Hermione.
Lupin looked at her meeting her amber eyes with a serious expression.
"I don't think Severus is an ordinary werewolf," he said. "He is born of beast blood via the blood moon."
"I thought all werewolves were made the same way," said Hermione.
"No," explained Lupin. "Not all...some of us are created via saliva and transmit the disease from person to person via a bite...the full moon is the only means of transformation and Wolfsbane potion is the only way for us to control the actions of the beast pre-transformation."
Hermione listened intensively.
"I recall much of what occurred when Severus transformed," said Lupin. "He looks nothing like any of the werewolves I have known...not even Greyback comes close to his appearance."
"Then what is he?" asked Hermione.
At that moment Albus Dumbledore entered the infirmary.
"I'm afraid Severus has become what the werewolves speak of in terms of legend, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore in a pleasant tone. "A Hound of Hircine."
Lupin's eyes widened at the mention of this.
"H-How can that be possible?" he asked stunned. "I-I was the one that infected him."
"But as you so cleverly explained to Miss Granger, it was not your bite that transformed him but rather your blood," explained Dumbledore. "When he fought you somehow your blood seeped into his wounds and caused the transformation...had he not been weak from the attack he would have turned the night it happened."
"H-How do you know all this?" asked Hermione.
Dumbledore turned his attention to the young witch still smiling pleasantly.
"Well, I am Headmaster of Hogwarts dear girl," he replied.
Lupin shook his head.
"You knew," he said still in disbelief. "You knew, what Severus was before I came to you."
"I knew that he had lost a great deal of blood and the open wounds meant the possibility," said Dumbledore. "Nonetheless Hircine is said to choose his hounds...if not then the Potions Master would simply be mortal with wolf tendencies."
"Hounds of Hircine are unruly creatures," said Lupin. "They live for destruction and do not require a full moon to transform."
"So the legend says," said Dumbledore. "But I have reason to believe that this is not the case with our Potions Master...he seems to have taken quite a liking to you, Miss Granger even as a beast...quite a curious thing is it not?"
Hermione didn't seem to understand any of this.
"What are you saying Professor?" she asked.
"What I am saying Miss Granger is that you...and you alone seem to have some ability to communicate with Severus," said Dumbledore. "His beast form did not go on a rampage, he did not go after any of the students but instead chose to protect you from Hagrid's spider's children."
"I-I guess that is a bit curious," said Hermione agreeing at last.
"I am afraid Severus has the right idea about his werewolf status," said Dumbledore. "It must not be known outside these walls and even still when our guests arrive?"
"Why for the Tri-wizard tournament of course," said Dumbledore. "A year from now Hogwarts will take on two other schools for the chance to win the most trying wizard games of our age."
"And what of Severus?" asked Lupin.
"He has been able to adapt to much of the course of his young life," said Dumbledore. "Help him as best you can but let him seek his own path...he can be quite stubborn when he wants to be."
Lupin nodded.
"Miss Granger," said Dumbledore turning his attention back to her. "I trust that I have your oath not to speak of Severus' condition to anyone aside from myself and Remus, especially not your friends Harry and Mr. Weasley."
"You have my oath," said Hermione.
Dumbledore seemed satisfied when magic swirled around Hermione and himself sealing the oath he required.
"Well then good day to you both," he said pleasantly.
"Good day." Lupin and Hermione replied in unison.
The sheepish werewolf made his way back toward his empty bed and climbed in. He had still been exhausted from the previous night's antics. Hermione made her way toward her own empty bed still thinking about Snape in the process. She had no idea what "A Hound of Hircine" was but she had a feeling that many of the werewolves feared it based on Lupin's reaction. It seemed to be much more powerful than a common werewolf and she wanted to know more about them. She made up her mind to venture into the library and seek out every book on the werewolf legend come morning.
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Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...
Snape stumbled as he entered his quarters. His lungs burned and his heart raced. Sweat had been pouring off him and he felt ill. His muscles ached and had been hard to move. Every second seemed to drag on as he made his way into his bedroom. The dour wizard lay in the center of his large black four-poster bed and looked up at the ceiling. He had been a werewolf. After all these years of avoiding such a fact since his days at Hogwarts, he was now a snarling man-hound just like Lupin.
Beast mind:
Rage filled the snarling creature as it looked out the windows of it's fleshy prison. It wanted out. It wanted to be free. The scent of the female had been strong as it recalled how soft and warm her small hands had been against it's ebony fur. Her taste still lingered on it's tongue. She had been much better than the spiders, the hideous things weak in their attempts to beat it when brute strength was all that was needed to rip them apart. They wanted the female. His female and there was no way that was going to happen. Her amber eyes seemed to dance like miniature brown moons in her pretty little head. She gave off a faint song as well in the glow of her magic. The beast wanted nothing more than to roll around in her scent all day and let her rub him everywhere. She feared for him. He had not known anyone who would bother to do such a thing but she had. He could smell the old one getting close. The old one had been hard-hearted and he had no time for the beast. So the beast went away. Back to the darkness of the man cave below the castle. Just another weapon to be used in this war between flesh.