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Severus POV

Severus sat in his quarters, angrily drinking firewhiskey by the fire. He was livid. He had followed the Golden Trio to the Whomping Willow that night. Only to find out that Sirius Black was there, hiding in the Shrieking Shack. He would have killed the mangy mutt himself, but that bloody Potter had turned his wand on him.

However, as much as that angered him, that was not what had the potions master in such an irate state. After he was disarmed, he came to mere moments later. He overheard the conversation taking place between Harry, Lupin and Black. He still despised the animagus for all the pain he'd caused Severus in their school days. But as he continued to listen, his hatred towards him regarding Lily's death slowly ebbed away. Instead it was replaced by complete rage towards that dirty rat in Ronald Weasley's arms.

Once the rats true identity had been revealed, Severus was angry with himself for not realizing the red-headed boys familiar was actually that coward, Peter Pettigrew. After the group had left the Shrieking Shack, he was ready to Avada the son-of-a-bitch himself. But by the time the professor reached them, he discovered that Peter had escaped once again.

However, Severus didn't have time to think more on the subject of the beady-eyed, sorry excuse for a wizard. Before he could reprimand Potter fully, he heard an all too familiar sound. Turning, he found that he was mere feet away from a transformed Remus Lupin. He instantly stepped in front of his three young charges, who seemed to be petrified where they stood.

Not thinking twice about his own safety, despite the fact he was shaking in his dragon hide boots, he threw himself in front of his frightened students. His hand reaching back and around to Hermione's back as she grasped his shoulder in fright. The touch of her hand seemed to burn right through his cloak. He had filed this thought away for later, as he frantically looked for a way for them to escape. When, suddenly, a howling sounded in the distance. Causing the transformed Defense teacher to run towards the sound, giving them a chance to escape.

Severus' mind returned to the present, shaking off the memory from earlier that evening. He put down his glass and walked to his bedroom, removing his clothes and collapsing into bed.

Hermione POV

Hermione lay in bed, staring at the ceiling of the girls dormitory. Her mind was racing and sleep was alluding her. She had known for a while, the truth of Professor Lupin's secret. Ever since Professor Snape had substituted for him in Defense class.

Hermione's eyes narrowed at the memory of that day. It had upset her more than she cared to admit when Professor Snape had purposely ignored her. Her hand waving in the air, waiting eagerly to answer his question. Granted, she shouldn't have spoken out of turn. But it had hurt when he sneered down at her and called her an insufferable know-it-all.

Moving on from the memory, she thought about the drama that had unfolded a mere few hours before. She had discovered the truth of Professor Lupin's lycanthropy already. But to see the proof before her very eyes, was something very different indeed.

Hermione's busy mind wandered to Professor Snape. She couldn't help but admire how he bravely put aside his own safety to protect her and her friends. She recalled how his touch on her back had caused butterflies to flutter violently in the pit of her stomach.

That was hardly the time to be thinking things like that, she grumbled to herself. Despite that thought, her mind continued to think about her handsome potions professor. "Oh, not this again" she moaned aloud. But Gods, he really was handsome. Not to mention brave, and intelligent, and-

Hermione's conscience abruptly put a stop to her schoolgirl musings. Having a crush on your professor, who is nineteen years older than you, might I add, is entirely inappropriate, she scolded herself.

She sighed to herself. Besides, it's not like he would ever see you that way. You're an insufferable little know-it-all, remember? she thought bitterly to herself. At least the term is over now. You should take the next three months as an opportunity to get over this silly crush of yours. She groaned and turned over, trying desperately to get some sleep.

A/N: Sorry it's so short, but I wrote it late. Then had issues uploading the chapter on here. As the chapters go on, I will try to make them longer. :)