Hey there, intrepid readers!
In response to a few reviews, I realise that my spelling and grammar isn't really up to scratch in some sections; I have a good reason for this! (Really, please believe me! I love the English language as much as you guys.)
I wanted to get this story out to you before my holidays ended, and having a Beta who would pick up all my silly errors would take much longer to get updated. I am still open to any comments about improving sections of this, so keep that constructive criticism coming!
Enjoy the show... the SECOND LAST chapter! My, how time flies...
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Snape had outright refused for Hermione to accompany him and Lupin on any 'outings'- mainly because they involved meeting possibly dangerous werewolves and presenting them with the cure, some of whom would be untrusting or unwilling to accept it. She understood, of course; but it didn't make the waiting any easier. Instead of working on their cure at night, she was catching up on some medical potions for Madame Pomfrey and waiting for him to return. It was beyond frustrating, but at least he gave her the report without editing- as far as she could tell.
There were some near misses, but so far all of Remus' contacts had accepted their offer and were prepared to take the cure at the next full moon. However, it soon became evident that they weren't getting all of those afflicted- many went into hiding, or weren't even registered.
"If only we had a Ministry list." Hermione sighed. "We could be missing dozens..."
"Those who are already cooperating have sent the word out, so hopefully it spreads."
"I'm still not sure that was a wise decision." Hermione frowned. "If they tell the wrong people or if someone sees through your tricks and glamour..."
"...then we're in trouble." He said bluntly, his hands never ceasing in his preparations for another burn ointment. "I'm well aware of the risks, Hermione. But if this is going to have any effect at all, we need to take a few risks."
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be classed as 'Gryffindor stupidity' in any other situation?"
He glared at her, but she was undeterred. "I must say Severus, you have been losing your mean streak."
He snorted. "To you, that may be. Try telling that to Weasley later."
"What did you do?" Hermione asked cautiously, knowing an admission when she heard it.
"I merely reminded him to mind his own business."
Hermione couldn't get anything else out of him all evening.
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Wednesday March 13th
She could tell Ron was in a bad mood, sitting low in his chair in classes and generally being sulky all morning. Harry didn't know what was wrong with him either, something that prodded Hermione to investigate herself.
"You've been down all day; what's bothering you?" She asked as kindly as she could, sitting next to him in the Common Room.
"Nothin'."
"Come on, Ron... you can tell me."
Snort.
"Please?"
He looked at her with a ferocity that surprised Hermione. "If you really want to know, your precious Potions Professor has banned me from Quidditch for two weeks."
"What? Why?"
"He caught me doing something he didn't want me to do." He mumbled.
"Such as?" Just tell me, damn it!
"Helping Lupin with something."
That wasn't what she expected. "Details?"
"Not on your life." He snapped, launching himself from the couch and sprinting up the stairs before her jaw could even drop in shock.
"What was that about?" Ginny came up with Harry in tow, noting the look of astonishment on her face. "What's he done now?"
"I haven't the faintest idea." She admitted. "He won't explicitly tell me why, but Snape banned him from Quidditch for a week for it."
"Wow. I mean, he didn't even get Detention? Just the Quidditch ban?"
"I've noticed that he hasn't been giving out as many detentions as he used to." Harry put in. "Mostly House Points or evenings with Filch or something."
"Well, we are brewing a lot." Hermione said quietly. "He probably doesn't want to waste time." She didn't think it wise to mention that the cure was actually finished, and that Snape was actually out of Hogwarts most nights peddling it to werewolves. The fewer people who knew, the better.
"That still doesn't solve why Ron was punished." Ginny frowned.
Hermione pursed her lips in thought. "I think I have an idea..."
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Hermione's theory proved by the events of the next day, in Defence Against the Dark Arts. She surreptitiously observed how Lupin was acting around the class in comparison to Ron and herself. Having learnt a little of human body language from her sessions with Snape, she noted how his jaw tensed around them, and he often flickered his eyes in their direction before pulling them away quickly.
It didn't take a genius to know that he was uneasy.
But why?
She mulled it over for the rest of the day, with only half-baked conclusions. On a whim, she looked at Ron playing chess with Seamus, obviously deep in thought. Making sure that no one heard her, she said faintly, "Legimens."
Nothing happened.
Concentrate, Hermione. "Legimens." She whispered again, wand in hand.
Suddenly, his mind was open to her- at first it was difficult to control, but then she managed to calm herself as Snape had mentioned in one of their discussions. She carefully dredged up the right memory, from a few weeks earlier...
"I'm worried too, Ron." Remus was saying, the words echoing around the empty classroom. "The way she reacted upon his return was strange, to say the least. But I'm not sure..."
"I can help, sir!" He insisted.
Remus thought on this. "Very well. Follow her, but for Merlin's sake don't let Snape anywhere near you. Who knows how he might react..."
"...he shouldn't react at all, if they're only making Potions like they claim."
"You never know. Slytherins are prone to overreactions."
"I'll be careful, Professor." Ron promised. "It's for the best."
Flash.
Ron pulled the Invisibility Cloak closer around his shoulders, but Hermione could see through it in the memory-state.
"Surriptio." Ron whispered, pointing at a stone wall that Hermione couldn't identify. He laid his ear against it, his breath coming in a mist. She assumed, then, that they were in the dungeons- and he was spying on them.
A movement to the side made both Hermione and Ron spin around. Coming forward from the shadows, Snape stepped into the corridor. With barely a glance and two non-verbal spells later, Ron was at his mercy.
His eyes were furious, and Hermione knew that she didn't need to see this.
Hermione carefully extracted herself from his mind, noting with satisfaction that he had hardly felt her intrusion. He shook his head slightly, as though a fly was buzzing, before getting back to his strategy.
"Hermione? You kinda zoned out there..."
"I'm fine, Lavender." She said vaguely, smiling in the girl's general direction. "Just a little tired." She quickly moved to her rooms after class, needing some space to think.
So... Lupin and Ron had conspired to follow her, monitor her movements and association with Snape. It didn't come as a complete surprise; what did, however, was Snape's reaction. He had only given Ron a week's suspension; he could have been expelled for having an Invisibility Cloak alone.
She was, however, furious at Lupin. She punched her pillow ferociously, gritting her teeth and imagining all the horrible things she should do to him... didn't she expressly tell him to stay off her back? Who did he think he was anyway! Just a jilted suitor. What right did he have to question what she was doing with Snape on the nights that he wasn't out with Lupin and the Potion? His suspicion is right, though... you are 'with' Snape. But that still didn't excuse it... She was fuming for a while before drifting off to sleep, dreams of vengeance in her mind's eye.
**
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"Why'd you let him off?" Hermione asked Snape as soon as they were alone.
He knew who she was talking about, but he wanted to hear her say it. "And who might that be?"
"Please, Severus. Since when did Ron get special treatment?"
"You call a Quidditch ban 'special treatment'? It was the most appropriate punishment, and I don't have to give anyone my reasons."
He felt Hermione's frustrated gaze on him, but he kept his eyes fixed on the scroll in his hands.
"If you insist." Hermione said finally, the concession surprising him. "If you can't be honest with me..." She left it hanging ominously. He sensed a storm coming from the fiery woman, so he lifted his head.
"Hmm... a back handed attempt to coerce the answer out of me. I give you credit for trying." He shifted in his seat, forming an answer. "There were several reasons, actually. The main one being that I need all my Detention time to be with you, so that is no longer a favourable punishment. Secondary to that, however, I was under the impression that you believed my punishments were too harsh upon your friends."
"Yes..."
That I showed unpardonable favouritism towards my own House."
"Yes...?"
He shrugged, finding the uncertain gesture surprisingly easy. "So I decided that you would most likely react badly to extreme punishment."
"Usually, yes. But what Ron was doing..."
"... was morally questionable."
"It was more than that! I actually wouldn't have minded the legitimate use of power in this situation which may have affected our relationship."
Snape frowned. "I can't believe I'm defending a Weasley, but he may have just been curious in his own stupid, thoughtless way."
Hermione's brown eyes went wider. "You think he was acting on his own?"
"Why, do you have a reason to believe otherwise?"
Hermione stared at his soundlessly for a few moments before nodding curtly. "I know who put him up to it..." She waited, knowing that he would draw the right conclusion.
Snape put two and two together.
"This time, I really will kill that meddling werewolf!" He hissed, rising to his feet and grabbing his cloak. Anger bubbled up inside him, but he kept it in check; revenge would be sweet...
"Severus!" Hermione barked, stopping his momentarily with a hand on his. "As much as I would like to see you laying into Professor Lupin-"
"Then let me go, Hermione..."
"-he's not actually at Hogwarts right now."
Snape narrowed his eyes, but he saw that Hermione was telling the truth. "Curse that mutt to Hell and back." He growled, casting his cloak unceremonially on a chair. "When he gets back..."
"When he gets back, I give you free rein." Hermione said with a touch of venom in her voice. "Considering I would most likely be expelled for what I have planned for him."
Snape was both pleased and unnerved to see the fury in her eyes. Now he knew why she had developed such a reputation...
No one should cross Hermione Granger.
**
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"I've been expecting you." Snape's voice floated out of the darkness, causing Lupin to jump. He spun around and saw the Potions Master sitting in a chair by the fireplace, looking quite ominously settled.
"What in the world, Severus- lurking in my chambers?" He said in bewilderment. "What do you want?"
"I come on behalf of one Miss Granger, actually." He said idly, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. "She would be most grateful if you were to desist in following her around, and to call off your tame red-headed ape."
Lupin collected himself, slowly depositing his bags on the floor and facing him. "Come now, Severus... late night rendezvous? It's not the Cure anymore, so what is it?"
"None of your business, Lupin." He rose from his seat, a black menacing shadow. "Let's make this absolutely clear..."
Ten painful (and relatively sickening) minutes later, Lupin was repeating after Snape in a subdued voice. "I will keep my muzzle out of Hermione's life unless she so desires it, I will call off Weasley, I will only contact you in relation to the Potion, and I will..." He shot a hurt look at Snape before finishing the dictation, "... I will find myself a spine."
"Excellent." Snape sneered. "I will hold you to that... have a good night, Lupin." The feeling of triumph as he walked out of the werewolf's room was sweet.
Hermione would be thrilled.
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Saturday April 6th
"How are you feeling?" Snape asked again anxiously.
She sent him a withering look. "Normal, as usual. The usual peaky pre-moon feeling, honestly. Can I go now?"
Hermione rubbed her wrists where there had been some fairly hefty chains moments before, thinking with relief that the Cure had worked for her as well. Snape had been intolerable, though; he wouldn't leave. His concern was touching, but now on the verge of too much.
Lupin too, she had heard (only through Snape, as she was only allowed contact with Lupin in class, a restriction which she followed gratefully) that Lupin's cure had lasted another moon without needing a booster. It was great news, hopefully that could be sustained over long periods of time- or even for a lifetime, Hermione was praying.
The moon was still high in the sky, but she could tell that the wolf consciousness was asleep; it didn't feel the urge to assert itself, mentally or physically.
After once again reassuring Snape that she was fine, and accepting a brief squeeze of the hand, she made her way back to the Dormitories.
Hermione felt slightly surreal to be walking back to the Tower in the full moonlight, but she guessed it was stranger for Lupin and the long term werewolves. A wicked thought entered her mind; she changed her track from her Head Girl rooms to the common room.
It was buzzing as usual, not as rowdy as it got some nights, but still deep in merriment. She entered the room, looking around for her friends.
Neville was the first to see her; with a startled squeal, he dived behind the sofa, valiantly dragging Ron down with him and ignoring the protests as drink was spilled. "Hermione!" He squeaked.
Ginny's jaw dropped. Harry's wand was out instantly, on guard. Ron peeked over the back of the lounge, his eyes wide and frightened beyond his wits.
"Grr." She growled, bearing her teeth, causing another strangled cry from Neville.
She threw back her head and laughed, only explaining it to them after savouring the expressions on their pale and cautious faces.
A very Slytherin move; obviously it was a trait that she could very well get used to.
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