Chapter 12
Harry stared at the wound in horror. "Oh crap," he whispered.
"Am I infected?" Hermione squeaked.
As they all watched, the wound slowly began to heal. The skin closed, leaving no sign there had ever been a wound."
"That's not normal," Harry said eyes wide.
"No it's not," Ginny said stepping towards Hermione. "How do you feel?"
"Fine," Hermione said wonderingly. "I feel fine."
A snarl drew their attention back to the cage of shadows. Remus's face was lengthening. His teeth had extended into fangs. "What the?" Harry snapped. He poured more power into the cage. The shadows solidified into bars of solid matter.
The still changing werewolf threw himself against the bars. A bolt of pain shot through Harry's skull. He stumbled, the cage wavering for a few seconds. Remus snarled again, the sound like ripping cloth in the silence of the hallway.
Ginny thrust a hand towards the werewolf. "Stupefy," she shouted. A bolt of red light flew from her palm and struck the wolf between the eyes.
The wolf shook its head, its upper lip curling. Gleaming white teeth flashed as it bit through the shadowy bars trapping it. The cage of shadows shattered with a boom like thunder. Harry grunted, falling to his knees, clutching his head.
The wolf, seeing an injured target, lunged for him.
"No," Hermione shrieked. Leaping forward, she slammed a fist into the werewolf's skull. There was a sickening crack and the werewolf's skull caved in from the force of the blow.
The werewolf yelped in agony and fell to the floor, unmoving.
"Thanks," Harry groaned, climbing to his feet. Reaching into the shadows, Harry withdrew a length of silver chain. With a flick of his wrist, the chain wrapped tightly around the werewolf, binding it from head to toe. There was a sizzling sound as the silver burned into the werewolf's skin.
"Is it dead?" Ginny asked.
"Considering it hasn't changed back, I'd say no."
"Where did you get those chains?" Hermione asked.
"Conjured them from the shadows," Harry said. "They won't last long, but they should last until morning. Ginny, we need Dumbledore. Go and tell him what's happening."
"I'll go with her," Luna said. "Are you and Hermione going to be alright here?"
Hermione flexed her fingers. "We'll be fine." There was a crack as the wolf's skull regenerated. Hermione kicked him viciously in the head. There was another crack and the werewolf yelped.
Harry's lips twitched. "I think we'll be fine."
As Luna and Ginny walked away, Harry turned to Hermione.
"Are you alright?"
"I think I need to talk to my Mum once this is over. I need to know what's happening to me. I've always been strong, but healing from a werewolf's bite? That's not normal."
"I'll be right there with you," Harry said squeezing her shoulder."
Hermione smiled. "Thanks."
The hallway spun suddenly. Harry reached out to steady himself against the wall.
"Harry?" Hermione said gripping his arm.
"I'm fine," Harry said brushing hair out of his face. "I'm just a little dizzy.
**HPSM**
"Thank you," Dumbledore said with a sigh as he locked the door to Remus's office. "I fear what might've happened if you three were not here."
"Don't mention it," Harry said eyeing the door as the wolf began growling again.
"What will happen to Mr. Lupin?" Hermione asked.
Dumbledore removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm afraid there is nothing I can do for him. His employment here will be terminated. I don't know where he will go next, but there is no way he will be able to continue teaching at Hogwarts."
"But it wasn't his fault," Hermione said outraged.
"I am aware of that Ms. Granger, but there is nothing I can do. As soon as I release the lockdown, I have no doubt there will be students that rush off to send letters to their parents. He won't even be able to finish out his term here."
"If he could learn control," Harry began.
"But he won't," Dumbledore said tugging at his beard in frustration. "I've tried to tell him that the wolf is part of him, but he won't listen. British wizards teach that the werewolf is a dangerous beast that cannot be controlled. It is going to be terribly difficult to break that notion. While they fear the beast inside them, there is a higher chance of something going wrong."
"What would you suggest?" Hermione asked.
"I know your Mother is the head of the department of Supernatural affairs," Dumbledore said. "Is there anything she could do to get him a job?"
Hermione shook her head sadly. "Not while he fights the wolf. If he was willing to learn control, then she would definitely higher him."
"I was afraid of that." I'll talk to him tomorrow before he leaves. Perhaps I can convince him to seek help to control his wolf."
"Good luck," Harry said. "Mum said he can be very stubborn."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Quite. Come, I'll escort you back to the flu so you may return home."
**HPSM**
Remus groaned as he awoke. It felt as if someone had used his head as a football. He tried to sit up, but winced in pain and flopped back to the floor.
A cool hand touched his forehead and the pain slowly ebbed. Remus blinked at the woman standing above him. Her black hair seemed to absorb the light and her blue eyes glowed like two tiny balls of St. Elmo's fire.
"Who are you?"
The woman clicked her fingers and a shadowy construct of a chair appeared behind her. She sat down, seeming to float in midair. "That is not of importance."
"How did you get in here? This castle is protected by some of the strongest wards in the world."
"I am older than this castle. Come to that, I'm older than England. The power I wield is far more potent than wizard magic."
"So what do you want?" Remus climbed to his feet and sat down in the chair behind his desk.
"To talk," the woman said.
"About?"
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
Remus's forehead wrinkled. His confused expression slowly turned to horror. "No," he whispered. "What have I done?"
"Nothing," the woman said.
"Nothing?" Remus blinked at her.
"You were stopped before you could hurt anyone."
Remus let out a sigh of relief. "I'll have to leave Hogwarts."
"Yes," the woman said. "If you would learn control, your transformations would not be so painful or exhausting."
"The wolf cannot be controlled."
"So you have been told, but what you have been told is a lie. The wolf can be controlled. You aren't merely human anymore. The wolf is a part of you, not unlike your arm. What you are doing is tying one arm behind your back."
"Don't you think I've tried to control the wolf?" Remus snapped. "It can't be done."
"Stop whining," the woman growled her blue eyes flashing. "It is not all your fault. You never had anyone to teach you control, but you have to stop feeling sorry for yourself."
"I was bitten when I was eight," Remus growled. "I never asked for this."
"People never ask for bad things to happen to them, that's just part of life. The question is what are you going to do about it? Are you going to feel sorry for yourself forever or stand up and do something with your life? You have the brains and magical power to do great things, but you can't use either if you spend all your time hiding because of your lycanthropy."
Remus stared at the woman. "Who are you?"
"Someone that wants you to be the best you can be."
The woman held out a hand. "Come with me. I'll take you somewhere you can learn what you need."
Remus hesitantly took her hand. The woman stepped backward, fading into the shadows.
Remus stepped with her, both of them disappearing from the office. As they vanished, a piece of parchment fluttered down onto the desk.
**HPSM**
Dumbledore knocked on the door again. His heart was pounding. Why wasn't Remus answering? Had he already left? He slowly opened the door and stepped into the office.
Everything looked clean and neat. All of Remus's books were on his shelves. There was no sign a struggle. Dumbledore frowned. Where was he?
"Remus?" he called. "Are you here?"
Looking around the office, he spotted a lone slip of parchment in the center of the blotter. Curiously, he picked up the parchment and began to read.
Albus:
First, I want to thank you for hiring me to work at Hogwarts this year. Being back was the best thing that's happened to me in a long time.
I hate to leave you in a bind for defense again, but I've finally learned that I can't control the wolf by myself. I need training to learn control. Until I do, I am a danger to everyone. If possible, I will return to teach defense when I am more sure of myself.
I'll be in touch.
Remus Lupin
Dumbledore smiled. Perhaps there was hope for his former student yet.
**HPSM**
Rebecca Granger ran her fingers through her bushy brown hair. She sighed and leaned forward in her chair, her brown eyes fixed unblinkingly on her daughter. "What do you mean you want the truth?"
Hermione scowled at her Mother. She hated when her Mother was trying to be secretive. It usually meant whatever she was hiding was pretty big. "I want to know why I heal from a werewolf bite. How am I so strong?
Rebecca winced. "I wondered how long it would be before you began asking questions."
"Please," Hermione said clasping her hands together. "What's wrong with me?"
Rebecca's eyes flashed. "Listen to me," she said firmly. "Nothing is wrong with you. You are special. That's all. You're an amazing young woman and I'm sure you will do great things."
"But what am I?" Hermione nearly wailed. "It's not natural for a young girl to be as strong as I am. I crushed a werewolf's skull with a kick. Does that seem normal to you? Hell, I bet I'm stronger than most adults."
"He healed," Rebecca said dismissively. She glared at her daughter. "And I'll thank you not to use that type of language in front of me. I raised you better than that."
Hermione flushed. "That's not the point."
"I know it's not, dear," Rebecca said softly. She sighed. "Have you ever heard of the human chimera?"
"The what?"
A Human Chimera," Rebecca explained patiently. "A human with more than two people's DNA in their body. It usually occurs when one twin absorbs the other inside the womb."
"Did I have a twin?"
"No, you were created. Like I said, you are special. The ultimate merger of science and magic."
"You make me sound like a mad scientists experiment."
Rebecca smiled wanly. "In a way, I guess you were."
"So I am a freak?"
Rebecca held up her hand. "No, let me start from the beginning. You know that my pregnancy was very difficult, don't you?"
Hermione nodded hesitantly. "Yes, I heard you and Daddy talking. You said it was a miracle that you carried me to term."
"And it was, but we did give things a little help. Our scientists developed a serum that combined genetic material of a werewolf, vampire, goblin, and others. The serum" was injected directly into the embryo in hopes of increasing your chances of survival."
Harry spoke for the first time. "Why was this serum created in the first place?"
"Back then, most of our agents were mundane humans with no super human or magical talent whatsoever. We needed a way to even the playing field. When I heard that the scientists had a vial of the serum ready for testing, I jumped at the chance. I knew it may be the only way Hermione might survive."
"So I'm some kind of monster hybrid?"
"No," Rebecca snapped. "We didn't inject you with all of the genes of these creatures. The serum was designed by isolating specific genes. You are still my daughter, just with a few added benefits. The strength of the troll, speed of a vampire, and the magic of a goblin. Not to mention you have the regenerative healing factor of a werewolf."
Hermione's head was spinning. "So essentially, you've created a new version of Frankenstein."
Rebecca's eyes lit up. "That's exactly right. A new and improved Frankenstein. I like it."
Hermione pushed her chair back. "I've got to go. I need time to think."
"Hermione," Rebecca said standing up.
"NO," Hermione said tears filling her eyes. "I'm a freak. What other genes did you give me? What are the long term effects?"
Rebecca stepped out from behind her desk and placed both hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Listen to me, above everything else, you are my daughter and you are a powerful witch."
"What other genes were in the serum?" Hermione asked.
"I don't know," Rebecca said. "I was desperate. the doctors told me that you probably wouldn't make it to term. The serum was our last resort. We only had enough for one injection, so we just had to hope it would work."
Hermione stepped back out of her Mother's grip. "Did you do this to anyone else?"
"No," Rebecca explained. "When the head of the department found out what we'd done, they shut down the project. You are the only result of that program."
Hermione jerked open the door. "I'll talk to you later Mum. I need some time for myself."
Rebecca watched the door slam closed before burying her face in her hands and beginning to sob.
Harry stared at the crying woman helplessly. What could he do to help?
**HPSM**
Morrigan stood over the fallen soldier, glaring down at him. His leather armor was spattered with mud and blood. At sight of the blood, her anger rose. That was the blood of her people, the people she'd sworn to protect. She raised the bronze sword above her head. "This isn't a magical weapon, but it should be enough to end your life, mortal."
"Please," the man whimpered. "I don't want to die."
"No one wants to die, but that is the plight of mortals everywhere. They die. Even my kind die, eventually."
"You are a monster," the man choked, spitting out blood.
Morrigan's blue eyes blazed. "I am what life and circumstance have made me." She brought the sword down, plunging the blade deep into the man's chest.
**HPSM**
Lily blinked, the image of the dying soldier fading. She stood in the middle of a bustling street in London, only a few blocks from DOSA's headquarters. "I have to figure out what's happening to me," Lily whispered wiping sweat from her forehead.
The Morrigan's rasping voice spoke in her mind. "It's almost time."
Lily jumped. What was that? Was she imagining things? Sighing, she shook her head. Whatever was happening now, she didn't have time to waste. She had to get back to Harry.
