Hello everyone, while this is a submission for the reserve league over on the QLFC, it is also my first WIP and will be an eventual Fremione however it will be a long slow burn. I haven't got a posting schedule so chapters will be posted as and when they are ready, so I hope you can have patience. Thank you as always to the amazing TheOnlyCeeCeeJ for betaing this. I do not own any rights to Harry Potter; they belong to J.K. Rowling.

Prompts used:

· 1. Blankets

· 10. Bleeding heavily

· 15. Full moon

Word count: 2533

The full moon beamed high up in the cloudless night sky down upon the group that stood near the Whomping Willow, its branches swaying in the slight breeze like the creeping arms of a would-be attacker ready to ensnare its next victim. The trio watched on in horror as Professor Lupin screamed in agony, hunching over, and the transformation beginning with no one able to stop it.

"Remus, you need to fight it, please mate," Sirius said, trying to help his best friend by keeping hold of him but Remus pushed him away, the throes of the shift taking over as he collapsed to the soft grass that was washed pale by the moonlight. Bones snapped and muscles tore and expanded until there wasn't a man on the floor but a sandy haired almost emaciated wolf laying there, whimpering helplessly.

Hermione saw Lupin's plight and felt for him, she knew she should stay behind Professor Snape with Harry and Ron where it was as safe as it could be, but she felt the need to try and get through to her Professor, even if it meant risking her own safety in the perhaps foolish attempt. She slipped from behind Professor Snape, dodging his grasp when he tried to reach for her, ignoring the calls from him, her friends and Sirius telling her to get back, that it wasn't safe.

She knelt down in the grass so that she was eye to eye with the wolf, with Lupin.

"Professor Lupin, it's Hermione. I won't hurt you, neither will the others, we're friends and want to help you," she said, reaching out slow and carefully to touch his fur. When he didn't growl or snap at her, she breathed a sigh of relief and stroked slowly. "You can fight this, Professor, I know you can, you have to try, please."

She paused in her ministrations when she heard a howl in the forest that seemed foreboding in the darkness, her body went cold with fear as she watched the wolf listen and then look at her, his muzzle pulling back to show sharp glistening fangs. There was no time to move back or run, for one minute he was staring at her, the next she was on her back with the wolf on top of her, his weight pinning her to the floor as his teeth ripped into her shoulder. She screamed out in agony as white hot pain lanced through her shoulder and around her body, like she was burning from the inside out. She felt so weak and wanted to close her eyes but the pain kept her conscious. She did what she could with her free arm, punching the wolf feebly not that it had any effect on him, he wouldn't let go. She thought that was it, until a black mass of fur pummelled into the wolf knocking him from her, then it and the wolf were gone, running into the depths of the forest. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out in pain, she felt so cold and didn't have the strength to move, yet she heard Snape's unmistakeable monotone voice shouting for Harry and Ron to get back here but they didn't listen and she presumed they had run off into the forest too. The last thing she saw and felt before she lost consciousness was being lifted up into Professor Snape's arms, with his onyx black eyes looking at her.

"You foolish girl," he said, looking at her unconscious form in his arms before he hurried towards the castle, knowing she needed medical attention and soon, otherwise she may not make it. The recklessness of Potter and Weasley racing off after that black dog and the wolf was another thing, but Granger was his main priority right now. He'd seen another girl once give Lupin that kind of kindness, Lily. She was no longer here, but Hermione was and he wasn't about to have her death on his conscience too. She may be an insufferable know-it-all, but the answers she gave in class were refreshing though he'd never admit such a thing, otherwise the staff would be thinking he might actually have a heart and be going soft.

Severus couldn't believe Lupin had been so stupid as to not take the Wolfsbane Potion, being tired and stressed was no excuse, especially now that a student had been bitten. If he had his way, Lupin would be kicked out of Hogwarts. He wasn't fit to be a teacher, not with what he was, what he couldn't control.

The sight of the blood staining her jumper told him that she was bleeding heavily. He raced up the steps and into the castle to be met by Minerva, who had been on nightly patrol. The older witch's face blanched when she saw Hermione's limp body in his arms.

"Severus, what…"

"Lupin shifted and bit her when she foolishly tried to talk to him. Potter and Weasley are in the forest, they ran after Black and Lupin. I need to get her to the hospital wing, Minerva, she's already lost a lot of blood," he stated, concern and worry clear in his voice.

As they made their way to the Hospital Wing, Minerva found the portrait of Phineas Nigellus Black halfway up one of the staircases and informed him of what had happened, asking him to tell Albus. Phineas nodded before vanishing from his portrait.

When they reached the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey seeing the state Hermione was in rushed them into a room off from her office which was for the more serious patients. She had Severus lay Hermione on the bed and asked what had happened. When she had all the information she needed, she pulled a curtain around the bed with Severus waiting outside, while Poppy and Minerva worked on getting the jumper off Hermione so that Poppy could assess the true extent of the werewolf bite to Hermione's shoulder.

"The bite has torn through the shoulder muscle but it can be mended, though there is nothing I can do about the infection apart from make her comfortable until this full moon has passed," Poppy stated, casting Tergeo to clear the blood before working on cleaning and bandaging the wound.

Once Hermione was covered by a few blankets, Poppy opened the curtain to find Severus and Albus there.

"I want to stay," Severus said.

"Severus, I need you to go and find Potter and Weasley, they may need help. Then I'd like you to go and see Aidan McGregor, we're going to need his help with young Miss Granger when she shifts."

Severus looked at the headmaster wanting to argue but he didn't. Instead, he simply nodded. The McGregor wolves were a peaceful clan that had lived in the Forbidden Forest for over a hundred years but he still wasn't happy about them being involved. Try as he might, he'd grown fond of the young witch and wanted no more harm to come to her, though her life from here on out would change dramatically. Looking at Minerva and Poppy, he said, "Take care of her." Then he was gone, his black cloak billowing behind him.

When Severus was gone, Minerva met Albus' gaze, while Poppy made notes on medical charts.

"She reminds him of Lily, doesn't she?" Minerva asked.

Albus nodded. "She does, though I never expected him to be protective of her, he watches over Potter but it seems he will watch over Miss Granger too."

"Are you sure about sending for Aidan, Albus?"

"Yes, my dear, he's the best chance Miss Granger will have. Remus will not be able to manage to teach her, he'll be undoubtedly wracked with guilt when he realises what he did to her," Albus said, touching her hands with his, squeezing them gently.

"I know, Albus, I'm just worried about her," she replied, she cared about the young girl lying unconscious in the bed. She knew that Hermione's life had been considerably changed and only time would tell whether she would be able to adapt.

When Hermione awoke, she found herself in what appeared to be a hospital bed, but on closer inspection she realised she was in a room in the Hospital Wing. She tried to sit up but the searing pain in her shoulder stopped her and tore an agonised scream from her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. She found her shoulder was bandaged and she had a cotton t-shirt on. Clearly Madam Pomfrey must have dressed her when she was unconscious. Her shoulder felt like it was on fire. Her scream brought Madam Pomfrey to her, a sleeping draught in her hand; she gave Hermione it and helped her lay back down. "Rest dear… just rest… let your body heal."

The next time she awoke, Hermione didn't know how long she'd been asleep for, but found Professor Snape in a chair by her bed, dozing.

"Professor?" she said, groggily.

He looked at her with those onyx black eyes, relief washing over his features that she was awake. "Miss Granger, I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"My shoulder hurts, but my body doesn't feel like it's on fire anymore."

"That's good dear," Madam Pomfrey said, entering the room with Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore behind her. "Since I gave you that sleeping draught, you slept for two whole days. You'll have needed it."

Hermione was stunned. Before she could try and figure things out, Professor Snape said, "What you did was very foolish. Brave, but foolish. I expect it from Potter and Weasley but not you."

Hermione met his gaze, not knowing what to say. "I'm sorry, sir."

"Severus, give her a break," Minerva admonished her former student, but knew he'd only said it because he cared.

"That said, do you remember what happened?" the Headmaster asked, looking at her through his half-moon glasses.

"Professor Lupin… he was a werewolf and he oh no… he bit me didn't he…"

"Yes, my dear, I'm afraid he did," Professor McGonagall said sadly, walking to the other side of the bed and holding Hermione's hand in hers, to give her some comfort.

"That means I'm a werewolf, doesn't it?" she asked, already knowing the answer even when the Headmaster nodded.

"Yes, Miss Granger you are, but while your life from this day forward has changed, Hogwarts is your home and we are going to help you every step of the way, I assure you. You are safe here," Albus said before adding, "As for Professor Lupin, he is in Madam Pomfrey's office and would like to see you."

"Like hell he will," Severus snapped angrily, getting out of his seat and walking into the office to find Remus sat by the desk. "You! Do you realise what you've done to her? Why couldn't you have just taken that fucking potion?" Severus exclaimed furiously. He couldn't believe the nerve of the sandy haired man. Covering the distance between them, he pulled Remus up from his seat and slammed him against the wall, punching him. Hearing the cartilage snap in his nose gave him some satisfaction, he wanted him to hurt for what he'd done to Hermione, she may have been foolish in trying to help but she didn't deserve to be what Remus was.

"Severus, that's enough!" Dumbledore boomed, separating the two men, with Poppy going to Remus and casting an Episkey to heal his broken nose and stop the bleeding.

"Thank you, Poppy," Remus said quietly before turning his gaze upon Severus. "Merlin knows I should have taken that potion and I'm sorry that I didn't, I'm sorry for what I did. I'm going to have to live with that knowledge for the rest of my life. I'll see Miss Granger to apologise then I'll leave." Meeting Dumbledore's gaze he said, "My resignation is on your desk, Albus, I can't continue teaching, not after this."

"Where will you go?" Minerva asked, feeling sorry for him.

"I'll stay at Grimmauld Place with Sirius for a while, he'll need the company."

Minerva nodded and they let him go into Hermione's room, shutting the door behind him while Severus glared daggers at his back, yet he was glad he'd be leaving.

Hermione had heard the majority of what had happened in the office and sat up gingerly, grateful for the plumped up pillows behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw Professor Lupin enter the room.

"Professor Lupin."

"Hello, Hermione, may I sit?"

Hermione nodded and Remus took the seat by her bedside, his eyes meeting hers. "I am so sorry for what I did to you, I wish I could take it back…" he said, his voice filled with sadness and regret at what he'd done to her.

She touched his hand. "It wasn't your fault, it was an accident, I know my life is going to be different now but I forgive you, Remus. You're not a bad man," Hermione said, knowing in her heart that it truly wasn't his fault; he'd acted on instinct not maliciously, so how could she ever blame him.

"I've handed in my resignation, I'll no longer be teaching here at Hogwarts, but the Headmaster has been in touch with someone that will teach you about being a werewolf."

"You're leaving because of what happened, aren't you?"

He nodded solemnly, she may have forgiven him but he couldn't forgive himself, he didn't know if he ever would.

"Can I write to you?"

"Yes, you can, the Headmaster will give you my address," Remus answered, a sad smile on his face. He stood up and squeezed her hand gently. "Goodbye, Hermione, take care of yourself."

"Goodbye, Remus," she said, watching him leave.

Professors McGonagall, Snape, the Headmaster and Madam Pomfrey came in afterwards.

"Are Harry and Ron alright? Do they know? Can I see them?" she asked, already wanting to see her friends.

"Yes they are, Miss Granger, the night of your attack, your friends went into the Forbidden Forest and ended up saving Sirius Black's life from Dementors. They spent a night in the Hospital Wing but made a full recovery and have been asking about you," Albus said before continuing, "they know about your condition."

"I see," Hermione said, sighing. She was glad that they were alright but couldn't believe they'd been reckless running into danger without a care, it seemed. Yet, as much as she wanted to see them, she was worried what they'd say knowing what she was now.

"Why don't we get you something to eat and maybe a shower if you're up to it," Madam Pomfrey suggested.

Hermione's stomach grumbled at the mention of food and she blushed. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea, then can I see them?"

"Yes, then you can see them," Professor McGonagall said.

When the professors and the headmaster had left her room and Madam Pomfrey had gone to speak to a house elf, no doubt to bring food to her room, Hermione wondered about what Remus had said, who it would be that would teach her about being a werewolf and when would she meet them?

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I'll see you all soon with the next chapter,

S. Lowelle x