AN: Hey guys! So yesterday James Sirius Potter boarded the Hogwarts Express at Platform Nine and Three Quarters! I couldn't be prouder if I wrote him myself. (Disclaimer: I did not write him or any of the characters in his world)

More happy news. I have a Beta! A very dear friend of mine has decided to give up a bit of her time for me and you! She's a professional hide and seek player (made it to the Olympics), a classical music enthusiast and an amateur ear model. I introduce the lovely J!

On to the story. .

He'd thought that the worst moment of his life, after that Halloween, had been a few minutes ago when Snape had stuck his hand into his gut and pulled his innards out. Metaphorically. Did Sirius feel like this over the James' and Lily's death? The clawing guilt that itched beneath is skin, making drawing in breath a chore?

He hoped not. Sirius was innocent and Remus was anything but.

Sitting by Hermione Granger's bedside, he realized that the worst moment of his life was the present moment and would be every moment after that. He'd live with it for the rest of his life. Madam Pomfrey wouldn't even look at him after she'd taken him aside.

"When on earth did you bite the poor girl, Remus?" she hissed at him. "One moment she's just recovering from the dementors and the other she's been bitten!" Her eyes were full of hostility.

Remus shrugged. He hadn't taken his last dose of Wolfsbane and his mind had been the wolf's. His puzzlement was overshadowed by his guilt, however. It didn't matter how it happened, it happened.

"Was it Black?" Madam Pomfrey asked, giving him an out. "I don't know if you know Remus, he disappeared around then."

Remus shrugged again even though he suspected that Harry, Hermione and Ron had had something to do with Sirius' escape.

Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and left him alone after that.

He had tried to send Harry and Ron away, but he shouldn't have bothered. So they continued their vigil. Waiting for Hermione Granger to wake up.

Severus entered Dumbledore's office and was invited to sit down. The Headmaster's penseive was on his desk surrounded by the animameter and the moneometer. The delicate silver instruments were puffing blue smoke and even though Severus knew enough to know it meant something, he didn't know what it meant.

The Headmaster steepled his fingers together and looked at Severus expectantly. Those piercing blue eyes did not have its inherent twinkle; it usually annoyed him to no end.

"I'm resigning", he said with no preamble.

Dumbledore didn't seem surprised. Which meant that he was getting predictable.

"You want to hunt Pettigrew", it wasn't a question and Severus just nodded in response.

And from the depths of the pensive rose the loathsome, bespectacled form of James Potter. He realized it was that man's son when it spoke.

"Professor Dumbledore - yesterday, when I was having my Divination exam, Professor Trelawney went very - very strange."

"Yes... her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said ... she said Voldemort's servant was going to set out to return to him before midnight... She said the servant would help him come back to power."

Another Prophecy.

The first one ruined his life, this one was sure to kill him.

"Voldemort", Severus flinched, "is prophesied to rise and Peter is prophesied to help him"

"To believe in a prophecy is to allow it come true, you know that Headmaster"

"And are you going to work against this one Severus? Pettigrew did escape; Sybil's prediction is already in motion. Is your place not in this school keeping Harry safe?"

Severus knew Lily would agree with Dumbledore, he didn't need to conjure up her image to prove it.

"And allow the Dark Lord to rise?" he sneered. "I will not allow this to happen if I can stop it. To assume that Pettigrew has the brains to evade me and revive the Dark Lord is an insult to both our intellects"

Severus knew that Dumbledore was not convinced but he also knew that Dumbledore knew that he could not be moved.

Dumbledore leaned back. "Very well, Severus", he said and sounding weary. "You may go but I shall not accept your resignation. I expect to see you on the 1st of September. Know that if you haven't caught Peter by then, it is probably too late".

Severus did not agree but he knew that they had reached an impasse. He got up and turned to go

"What of Miss Hermione Granger? What are your thoughts on her situation?"

Snape sighed. "There is nothing to be done for her. She will turn the next full moon as sure as I am standing in front of you"

Dumbledore looked troubled as well she should be. Remus Lupin's lycanthropy had a been a puzzle he had obsessed about in school just because he was Potter's friend. On knowing the truth, his prejudices had reflected that of the world around him. But his views had matured as the Dark Mark on his arm had faded.

Lily had known and hadn't cared, he supposed. But Remus Lupin wasn't to be hated because he was a werewolf. The werewolf was to be hated because he was Remus Lupin.

"She is an exemplary student."

"And she is lucky to have you as a headmaster". He scowled. "You did let Lupin have is education here twenty years ago. You made arrangements. You will do the same for the girl".

There was something in Dumbledore's eyes and in his expression. Snape stepped back incredulously.

"She will not be permitted to attend?" He asked, shocked.

"You know their story now. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter. Do you not think Harry and Mr. Weasley will do the same for her as they did for him?"

Snape's brow furrowed. "You are expecting them to become illegal animagi? They do not have the brains for it professor, unless the girl helps them".

"Harry will be in constant danger by being near a werewolf. He and Mr. Weasley will put themselves in jeopardy to be there for Ms. Granger".

"And God Forbid they are in danger from anything else except the Dark Lord". Severus rolled his eyes.

So the girl was to be punished by being friends with the Potter brat. Or punished more, really.

He turned to leave again. "You do as you see fit Dumbledore, deny the girl her education. It is no skin off my nose".

He walked away.

Hermione did not have those precious moments of disorientation when she awoke.

Waking stole her from the dream, and threw her into a nightmare. She'd dreamed of her parents.

Three years in the wizarding world hadn't brought them closer. She was an only child and had not been a very popular girl in school and that meant that her parents had always been the center of her universe.

They'd read to her when she was too young to read herself and she'd fallen asleep to the smooth baritone of her father reading Tolstoy or her mother's lilting tones taking the words on the page of Byron's poem s and bringing them to life around her. As a child she'd never understood half of what they'd read, as a teenager she wished that she could go back to the state of blissful ignorance.. They'd bought her towers of books to replace the friends she couldn't seem to make.

But then Professor Mcgonagall had knocked on her door and her whole life and melted and fused to accommodate a world she'd never known existed. Her parents had been accepting and proud but- they hadn't understood. And she knew now that they'd known of the distance that would inevitably grow between them when they'd learnt of magic and wands and women who turned into cats. And they'd let her make the decision for herself.

Hermione had read their reservations but she hadn't known the reasons why. She'd asked herself then- was this new life worth the end of her old one?

Worth the chance to find a place she'd fit in?

Yes. A million times.

So she had boarded the train, large butterflies revolting in her stomach and met Neville who'd seemed okay, Harry who was famous and Ron who was a bit of a git. She'd met Malfoy and Justin and Parvati and Lisa and Lavender and they all had one thing in common. None of them wanted to be friends with Hermione Granger.

The Know-it-all.

The book worm.

The Muggle-born, who'd slogged to catch up to her wizard reared counterparts.

And Hermione had been forced to conclude that it wasn't magic that kept her from making friends, it was her.

Months of crying in the bathroom had culminated in near death-by Troll.

She suspected that in the start she'd flouted the rules and helped research the stone just because Harry had thought he had to and she didn't want to lose what they had. She also suspected that Ron, eclipsed by his brothers his whole life, went along for the same reasons. You-Know-Who had been a villain in a book, no more real than the White Witch. And then Harry had almost gotten attacked in the forest and the game had become real.

She'd tried to be a good friend to him.

To both of them.

But this past year had been hell, first her cat then Harry's broom. And as a result she'd spent most of this year alone again, in the library, fighting back tears.

Nothing in life came easy, even with magic.

And there were some who believed that she did not deserve even that.

Mudblood, Malfoy had called her.

She was mudblood and the Basilisk had almost killed her.

This world was beautiful and terrible. She had not known more joy and pride than after saving it, nor had she felt such humiliation while being discriminated for something she couldn't control.

"He let me into Hogwarts as a boy, and he gave me a job when I have been shunned all my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what I am."

And now. . . Her gaze fell to the bandage wrapped just below the crease of her right elbow.

A scratch. That's all she'd thought it was when Professor Lupin had attacked. She'd told herself that it was a scratch as she and Harry rode Buckbeak to save his Godfather. They'd broken the rules of time last night; a scratch was a small price to pay for a man's soul.

She sat up and peeked out of the curtains. The room was dark but she could see a figure reclined on a chair beside the bed. A couple of beds looked occupied.

Harry and Ron, she guessed and she didn't know how she felt about that, the details of their last encounter was fuzzy, but they'd upset her and . . . Had she thrown them into a wall?

You wouldn't understand, you might even attack yourself! Don't you see? Professor McGonagall told me what awful things have happened when wizards have meddled with time...

Her eyes fell on the bandage again; she couldn't seem to look away.

It was a scratch, she told herself, but she knew she was lying.

Hermione dealt with facts.

Fact- the wound had been inflicted by a werewolf

Fact-no scratch could have caused such a drain in magic.

But what convinced her more than facts was the look in Ron's eyes the night before (Had it only been last night?), he was scared for her- but also of her. Ron had grown up with the stories he represented what her world would think of her.

Gathering her courage, her Gryffindor courage, she peeled the bandage off gingerly and let out a small moan when the seeping wound came into view.

"Hermione?" somebody shifted and Hermione realized that the man behind the curtain was Professor Lupin.

The monster that bit her.

She didn't know why she didn't want to face him. She was logical and logically Professor Lupin hadn't been himself when he'd attacked. Yet she stayed quiet hoping that he thought she was still asleep.

"I know you're awake and I understand why you don't want to talk to me", he whispered. His voice was rough and she sounded terrible. "I – oh Merlin, I'm so so sorry". He didn't sound like Professor Lupin then, but someone much younger and scared.

"I -" Hermione wanted to reassure him that she didn't blame him but she couldn't get the words out. Professor Lupin's movements stilled at the sound of+ her voice. She was incredibly grateful for the curtain between them and suspected that he was too. "I-you bit me"

Somehow her reassurance got twisted into an accusation.

"I did"

She didn't know what the next step was going to be but Harry solved her problems for her. She'd always been the one to throw herself into hugging Harry, never the other way around. But he leaned in and enveloped her in a hug so gentle that she fought back tears.

Over his shoulder, she could see Ron hovering and finally Professor Lupin slumped in a chair.

"How are you feeling?" they asked each other at the same time.

His brow furrowed, "I'm fine", he said.

"I threw you into a wall" she said apologetically.

He sat at the edge of her bed gingerly, careful to not jostle her.

"I'm the reason you're here" and his shoulders drooped. "I'm sorry I made you go back, Hermione. I'm so sorry" He said.

"You're not" she said before she could stop herself. "You're sorry I got hurt, but you would do it all over again if it meant rescuing Sirius Black" and Harry's guilt was evident on his face. "But you didn't make me go back, Harry" she said, ready to remind him that the fault wasn't his.

"We may have gone back to save Sirius but didn't you save us too?" she said reminding him of the patronus that he cast.

Harry's brow cleared but he still looked uncertain.

"I'm fine", Hermione said again, in case they missed her the first time.

"You're not", Ron spoke for the first time and she looked at him over Harry's shoulder. His blue eyes met hers and she was reminded of the first time he looked at her, really looked at her. It was before he had knocked the troll out with his own club. "Hermione, you're a werewolf", he said bluntly and she felt like somebody had walked over her grave.

"I'm not", she protested.

"It isn't a scratch Hermione" Harry said softly and Professor Lupin buried his head in his hands.

"It's not" she agreed and all three of them looked up at her, confused.

"I'm not denying that I was bitten" she said softly and despite that Professor Lupin twitched. "But I can counteract the effects, can't I"? She asked, looking at Professor Lupin.

"It can't be done" he looked devastated.

"It hasn't been done" she corrected "There is a difference. You've never tried. Professor you were young" she stated firmly. "You weren't old enough to try"

"I was five", he agreed. "But I've lived with it a long time. My father tried all he could to save me"

"That was a long time ago. Lycanthropy is a curse"

"It's a condition"

"And curses can be fought against"

"Not this one"

"Why are you so determined to make me a werewolf?" she raised her voice, irritated.

"Hermione, I already have" he said, his voice low. "I've condemned you to this life; I don't want it to hurt more than it will"

You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione.

"You called me the cleverest witch of my age, Professor. Watch me"

"Enter", Professor Dumbledore called out in response to his knock. "Hello Harry, take seat", Dumbledore smiled at him. He looked unusually grave but seeing the headmaster made Harry feel better than he had felt since rescuing Sirius. It seemed much longer than a night ago.

"I heard from Madam Pomfrey that despite Miss Granger's episode of accidental magic, she is on her way to recovering"

"She is" Harry confirmed, then he hesitated. "Professor, can Lycanthropy be cured?"

"I have never heard of such an occurrence", Professor Dumbledore said apologetically and Harry's heart sank. He sounded exactly like Professor Lupin.

"Hermione-she thinks-she wants to cure it"

Dumbledore looked troubled.

"Miss Granger is a very talented witch. She is also very young"

"You don't think she could do it?" he asked, worried.

"The young see more possibilities than the old, and I am a very old man Harry. However, this kind of hope may do more harm than good"

Harry nodded, perturbed.

"What is done cannot be undone" Dumbledore sighed, "Harry, I called you to extract a promise from you"

"Yes Professor?" Harry was puzzled, what would Dumbledore want him to promise now that the Sirius Black was innocent?

"Promise me that you and Mister Weasley will be nowhere near Miss Granger during full moons"

Harry looked at him, incredulous. How could Dumbledore ask that of him? And how had he guessed already that Harry had been thinking of doing what his father had done for Professor Lupin all those years ago? He supposed it wasn't that for a leap for Dumbledore to think he'd do the same.

"I-" He didn't know what he was going to say, was he going to lie? Dumbledore seemed to see right through him.

"Stay away from Miss Granger during the full moon or I shall have to rescind her admission to this school."

His words were heavy, as if it cost him to say this. Harry's mind was reeling.

"What? You can't!" He said jumping out of his chair and glaring at the older man.

"I don't want to" Dumbledore admitted.

"You – you told us to go back!" Harry yelled.

"I did. I failed Miss Granger" He sounded sad and tired but Harry was furious.

"She's more brilliant than Ron and me! She's -"

"I assure you Miss Granger's many excellent qualities are not lost on me. However I shall not fail you and Mister Weasley as I have failed her. Unlike twenty years ago, Miss Granger's isolation will be absolute."

Harry turned, prepared to storm out. The rage bubbling in him ensured that if he stayed much longer he would be tempted to scream at Dumbledore.

"Your word, Harry" Dumbledore's steady voice stopped him; he had seemed to expect his reaction.

"You have my word", Harry said coldly and slammed the door behind him.

*gasp* a longer chapter and divisions between POVs? I do listen!

So what do you think?

Thanks SydneyStache for a review for each and every chapter! You rock!

Thank you Captain Shamrock, Luv1711, Nigtraze, pianomouse,TCWBE and Bennybabe!

AetheriusStorm and Gruffard- hope this chapter is more to your liking! Thanks for reviewing!

Love and Kisses

BOFM

REV: Okay I'm pissed off at myself for not checking if my POV breaks showed. That was stupid. Thanks AetheriusStorm for pointing it out. Hope this clears it up.