Unknown Location South Of Moonfall Pass, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...
Hermione Granger struggled to keep her composure amid the glaring eyes and exposed teeth that surrounded her. She had hoped Severus wasn't off chasing some werewolf bimbo while she was here trapped with these monsters all looking to use her to get revenge on him for the murder of Greyback. Lupin had been powerless as a sheepish Hogwarts Professor despite being ferocious as a werewolf. Tonks had been bound beside him not afraid of these wolves or their intent given she had seen Snape's aggressive streak when it came to Hermione.
"This one is the mate of the alpha." growled on of the beast looking men pushing the bound witch toward the circle of snarling half-beasts. "She smells of him."
Another werewolf moved toward her taking a whiff of her scent before licking his lips.
"The mortal is ripe for the picking." he said as his dark eyes glowed rather hungrily.
"What is the meaning of taking us captive?" asked Hermione not expressing her fear as she glared into the eyes of the gray haired leader.
With a snarl, the biggest of the werewolves leapt from his makeshift throne and stood glaring rather murderously at her for having the audacity to meet his eyes when even the strongest of man-beasts could not.
Forengar Greyback growled noting the insolence from the young witch as he sniffed the air around her.
"So...you are the one he beds." he said in a deep anger filled tone. "Such a fragile little thing, how can you withstand the thrusts of a so called Alpha?...surely he'd break you into a heap of bones with each encounter."
"We get on well enough." replied Hermione not liking how this elder wolf was speaking of her relationship with Severus.
"I can only imagine." growled the elder Wolf. "Such a pulsing thing...I can hear the quickening of the blood rushing through your veins...yet you stand here trying to hide your fear."
"I do not fear you." said Hermione truthfully. "But rather what the Alpha will do to you should he reach this place."
"The Alpha...the one called Severus Snape...was he not the one that slew my son?" asked the Elder wolf.
"Your son brought his passing upon himself." said Hermione still unafraid of the glaring man-creature before her.
Forengar growled enraged.
"HOW DARE YOU INSIST MY SON DESERVED TO BE SLAUGHTERED BY A WHELP!" his voice boomed. "FENRIR WAS WORTH A THOUSAND OF YOU SOFT SPINE CREATURES!"
The enraged elder wolf raised his hand to swat the mouthy witch as she glared back at him not at all respectful of the sacred werewolf traditions. The sheer audacity that non-werewolf blood witches had dared to journey to Moonfalls Pass further increased the elder werewolf's rage.
A deep and feral growl resounded from the shadows as Forengar found himself face to face with Severus Snape following the wizard-beast jumping to the rescue of his mate.
Snape had moved so fast that one could barely see him like a shadow cloaked in ebony he stood between Forengar and Hermione. His eyes alight with a glow of rage beyond his control.
"YOU DARE RAISE YOUR HAND TO THE MATE OF AN ALPHA!?" he asked baring his teeth which were rapidly becoming like that of the wolf.
"He shifts in daylight." said one of the one lookers amazed.
A group of the waiting wolf clan had been impressed noting none of them would be capable of defeating Snape in his terrible were form.
"Severus." said Hermione knowing all too well that if he gave in to the bloodlust there wouldn't be a werewolf army to rally to Dumbledore's side. "Severus this is not what we came here for."
Snape ignored her seeing red as Forengar attempted to strike him.
"You murdered my son!" he shouted. "FOR THAT YOU WILL PAY WITH YOUR LIFE!"
Were-Snape growled catching the elder off guard with a series of well timed strikes crushing his ribs on one side and sending him flying into a nearby hut. The onlookers charged into the fray feeling the need to protect their injured leader.
Snape made short work of them clawing and slamming several of them before inching toward Forengar.
Before he could end the miserable sod's life he was interrupted by a wolfish Shaman whom had come from inside one of the numerous huts in the surrounding village.
" Si vos es vere dulcis alpha et loqueris ad senem lingua." he said stepping forth and meeting the harsh gaze of Snape.
He had been a small man, shriveled in his old age and about as yappy as a miniature dog.
"Quid habes recti ad me interrogandum catulus leonis?" asked Snape in the same language as the shaman.
The other werewolves began to murmur.
Hermione looked at Lupin whom had noted her confusion.
"He said what right do you have to question me whelp." the sheepish DADA Professor said. "It was in reply to "If you are the alpha speak the old tongue."
Everyone watched Snape noting the tense way his muscles ripped and his body seemed poised for attack.
"Bow." commanded the Potions Master angrily.
Against their will, every werewolf in the vicinity found themselves bowing to him.
"BOW LOW!" commanded Snape snarling at his apparent lessers.
Even Forengar found his belly low to the ground.
Hermione made her way over toward her lover hoping to stay his hand in terms of executing Forengar Greyback.
"Severus stop this." she said looking a bit concerned. "Please."
The Potions Professor growled once more then turned his attention to his witch.
"A-Are hurt?" he asked struggling to regain his composure.
"No." she replied showing him there had been no lasting damage. "Please let them go...we came for an audience not to harm them."
Snape scoffed as he shifted back into the full appearance of his mortal self.
"As you wish." he said.
Draco had been struggling to move as had Lupin given Snape's range of influence.
Tonks had been impressed as far as Snape's apparent sway over the other werewolves went. She had never witnessed anything so impressive since joining the Order of Phoenix following her final year at Hogwarts. Snape released his hold on the other werewolves as they each glared at him mesmerized as to how he obtained such a phenomenal power.
"Thank you." said Hermione knowing how difficult it was for him to forgo his blood lust.
Snape pulled the witch close to him glaring at the other wolves as they trembled in fear of him.
He probed her mind to find the most bold of them whom had taken it upon himself to even suggest he could have his way with her. The Potions Professor quickly approached him and took it upon himself to break his spine.
The swift rage behind the move cause the remaining werewolves to think better of ever challenging Snape again.
Hermione had allowed this given she had hated the insane creep from the beginning and Severus had left him alive which was a good deal more than he deserved.
"Tractus ad caelum canis in carne Hircine." said the shaman eyeing Snape carefully. "What will you have us do elder?"
Snape stepped forward allowing Dumbledore's wishes to flow from his lips in the hopes of swaying the werewolf army to the old fool's cause.
"The one called Dumbledore requires your assistance in the upcoming war."he said stifling his temper. "He requests that you assist him in the battle against the dark lord."
Forengar snorted.
"You ask us to side with wizards given your arrogant treatment of our kind for centuries." he said bitterly.
"The treatment of your kind was due to brutes like your son attacking children and stirring the public opinion against you." replied Snape narrowing his eyes at the elder wolf.
Forengar growled not at all liking the shift in power as Snape advanced.
"You are not of our tribe and the mere presence of beast blood within you is little more than an accident." he huffed.
"He speaks with the voice of the father." said Lupin stepping forward.
"And you are the cause of this twisted creature being here in our sanctuary." said Forengar angrily.
"Had your idiot son left me alone when I was a boy none of us would be having this conversation." replied Lupin no longer afraid of Forengar's dominance.
The lines of succession were clear as far as he could tell.
"I do not need your permission to demand the Wolven counsel rule in favor of Dumbledore." said Snape through gritted teeth. "I was merely attempting to preserve the tradition."
"There is no tradition when faced with right of purpose." said the shaman. "Hircine wills this and we shall follow his chosen no matter the course, such is our nature."
"Do you hear yourself...this is nothing more than a wizard applying trickery to gain favor." growled Forengar angrily.
Snape's eyes glowed red briefly causing the cheeky werewolf to tremble in fear.
"He is the hound of Hircine." said Lupin in a clear tone. "The father had chosen him for this purpose and I was the vessel that brought him to our world."
It seemed good enough for the shaman as he noted Snape's glowing gaze.
"Either way, he is the head of the clan." he said. "We will follow your orders Severus Snape."
The other wolves appeared to be in agreement not wishing to invoke the wrath of Hircine.
Forengar growled and stormed off noting he had lost the ability to command his own people after centuries of leadership. His son's murderer was not going to gain a foothold in the wolven counsel so long as he drew breath.