Hermione stays over at her grandparent's house together with Ron, Harry and Ginny over summer before the trio starts their training to become aurors. During one exceptionally cold night of July an unbidden visitor comes their way, hunting Hermione and driving her away from safety as he follow her in the darkness, shadowing her like a bird hunts its pray.

Hermione is spiteful and moody: the care she gets at the hospital is lacking, her wound is getting worse by the minute and Ron has still not come to visit after the faithful night where she first learned about her condition. When she learns that she is to be assigned her very own assistant she has mixed feelings, and they defiantly does not brighten when she learns the identity of the said assistant.

Hermione has survived her first transformation, yet something seems different about her when she awakes. She feels even moodier than she has been for the past couple of weeks, she no longer feel the fatigue on her body the same way she used to, and why is Malfoy all of a sudden having such a strange effect on her?

Malfoy’s breaths came in short, broken gasps.

Hermione smiled, her lips parting to reveal long, canine fangs. Then, at the speed of light, she struck.

The limp body of a fallen angel sank to the cold, stone floor.

“I thought you said you wanted me here for some experiment or something.” Hermione said slowly, finally raising her gaze to meet Malfoy’s bluish-gray one. “What if I’m willing to help you?”

"Werewolf Wanted; Thousand Galleons Are Awarded to Anyone With Information Which Will Contribute to the Capture of the Dangerous Lycan on the Loose." the headline read, and underneath followed a picture of a herself she barely remembered.

"Don't you recognize me?" he breathed, and Hermione, determined to not betray a sliver of fear, stared into his eyes. Gray eyes, with splinters of gold. Familiar eyes. "I hear we were quite alike, my father and I. You had the luxury I never had. You got to meet him. Tell me what was he like, Remus Lupin the first? How was he?"

"Anyway," Malfoy continued, when Remus made no attempt on a response. "You're right in thinking that I want something."

"Finally you admit it." Remus grumbled.

Malfoy pretended not to hear, but went on, his attention still upon the wilting, frostbitten rose. "Let her go, Remus."

"Bite me.", Malfoy said from somewhere behind her back.

Had he uttered the two words in his usual voice, icy and scornful, Hermione would have taken offense and left his flat in an instant, but instead the words were carried through the room in a pitiful, humble whisper that would have been nearly inaudible to human ears.