Authors note:

As requested, I have written one more chapter, showing what happens after. This story is now complete.

Thank you for voting and commenting.

Remus Lupin never left Hermione's side. Not even when Madam Pomfrey had ordered him to leave. He simply refused, still standing with her blood on his clothes.

Severus Snape had heard what had transpired at the school. Realising that he was right did not make him feel better. Knowing he pushed it onto Remus made his cold heart ache. He felt remorse, he felt sad, he felt hurt.

Severus made his way to the Hospital Wing to see the aftermath for himself. Dumbledore had sent an owl telling him of what had happened. Indicating that Remus should not be left alone, but Albus himself were busy comforting Minerva.

Before entering the infirmary, Snape took a deep breath, preparing himself for the sore sight. Without his normal dramatic entrance, Severus slowly opened the door and peaked inside. There he saw a blood covered Remus standing in the middle of the room, eyes fixed on a small figure on one of the beds.

"Lupin…" Snape said as he walked in. No response, not even a tiny movement indicating that his word had been heard. "Lupin…" Snape tried again. Same result. It annoyed Snape enough for him to clench his fists into balls. He took a few steps in and finally saw the result of Hermione's actions. Her pale body was laying on the medical bed, covered in dried blood. A magical field had been put up around her. Snape gasped at the sight. He knew the girl was only alive in that moment because of the spells.

"Remus…" Severus said in a low voice. He moved closer to his traumatised colleague. "Remus Lupin, stop ignoring me," he finally said, letting his frustration show. Remus turned not just his head, but his entire body in the direction of Snape. His eyes looked hollow, dead and abandoned. Snape thought he had aged twenty years since he saw him earlier that day. The poor man looked as if he had been kissed by a Dementor.

"I'm sorry, Remus. I truly am," Severus said. He was never the one to share condolences with true feelings behind, but this time he did.

He pulled up two chairs, one for Remus and one for himself. They were placed as close to the Granger girl as possible. "Sit, you look like hell," Severus muttered. With no reaction, he gently dragged Lupin to the chair and pushed him into it. They sat like that for hours. Not speaking a single word, just looking at the girl. Her body was fighting the spells, it wanted to die. Madam Pomfrey had dropped in every few hour to redo some of the spells in hope it would miraculously work.

By night time, Professor McGonagall entered the infirmary. She had finally gathered her emotions enough to go see her Gryffindor girl. Minerva had taken a special interest in Hermione. She was so full of life when she first arrived at Hogwarts. So motivated to learn everything. Earlier that year, McGonagall had come across a time turner and given it to her. She had selected every elective possible, but there simply were not enough hours in a day to fit in all the homework and classes. She had allowed her to use it during the term under one condition. To tell her if things got too much. Hermione herself had to learn to put up boundaries, something she clearly were not good at.

Minerva took one look at Hermione before letting a few tears slip past her eyes. She looked at Severus and Remus. She took a step back in surprise as to see Snape there, but shook it off.

"Remus, my dear. Go to bed - I can watch her during the night. Then you can come back tomorrow if you feel like it," McGonagall offered. Remus let out a pained laugh. "I'm not leaving her again. It didn't go well last time," he said. His voice was hoarse and barely louder than a whisper. For the first time he took his eyes off the student to look at his former teacher. No more words needed to be said. Minerva pulled up another chair and sat down. They stayed like that until the next morning.

Poppy Pomfrey walked in and looked sympathetic at the three teachers cradled around the student. "My dear friends, please go eat something and take a shower - clear your thoughts - and come back later if you want to be here," Poppy said in a somewhat cheerful tone. Snape nodded and walked off. McGonagall looked at Lupin with big, sad eyes.

"Come on Remus," she said, offering him a hand as she stood up. Reluctantly, he took the hand and was hauled to his feet. Taking one more look at Hermione, he left with Minerva.

The following days were difficult for every teacher as the words of what had happened spread like wildfire around the school. Student after student had asked if the rumours were true, student after student had attempted to enter the Hospital Wing but was shot down by the door. No one except Harry, Ron and the teachers were allowed access.

Harry and Ron had dropped by each day once the classes were over, telling her of what they had learned that day. They did not want her to miss out on learning as they knew it meant a lot to her. Sadly, there were no progress in her condition.

Remus sad spent every minute possible at her bedside. He had gone to his classes, not wanting his other students to get behind. Instead of spending time in his office grading assignments, reading up for the next lessons and so on, he did exactly all of that next to Hermione. Dumbledore had made sure that he had everything he needed, so they had set up a tiny desk with a more comfortable chair. Remus was grateful for the gesture.

McGonagall had come by with a plate of food every morning, at lunch and around dinner time. She knew too well that Lupin would refuse to eat with the others as long as he could. He was struggling to face his other students and limited it to lessons only. Minerva being a motherly person, tried her best to take care of her friend and former student. No matter what he was, werewolf or human, he was a good person.

On the seventh day, Hermione's health took a turn. Remus had momentarily dozed off, when alarms rang throughout the room. He jumped up, looking around frantically. It was the magical alarms put up around the student. They were to alarm if her condition got better or worsened.

"POPPY!" Remus yelled with everything he had. Quickly Madam Pomfrey came running in, potions and wand in her hands.

"Step back, Remus - Go get Dumbledore!" she said, pushing Remus out of the way. He stared at the scene with eyes as big as dinner plates, before taking off in a sprint. Running through the halls only stopping at the office entrance to the headmaster.

"ALBUS! OPEN UP!" He yelled. Negative thoughts were roaming around in his head. He was to get the headmaster as he was more powerful than Poppy and she needed power to bring back Hermione. Or, a small hopeful thought appeared, maybe he was to get the headmaster as Hermione would soon wake up.

"What's the matter, Remus?" Dumbledore asked, standing in the doorway to his office. Upon seeing Lupin's panicked state, his rapid breathing, they both jogged to the infirmary. On the way there, they almost ran into Professor Snape. Upon seeing them hurrying towards the Hospital Wing, Snape himself set off in a fast walk.

They all gathered around the bed Hermione was occupying. Poppy was mixing ingredients for a potion in the corner of the room, quickly walking over to them. "She'll be alright. Was awake for a good minute before dozing off," she informed them. They all visible relaxed. McGonagall smiled and hugged Poppy, much to everyone's surprise. She was overjoyed by the news of not having lost a student.

Remus curved his lips into a smile. It quickly disappeared. He thought of what would happen when she woke up for good. Would she be embarrassed? Would she try to end her life again? He felt his breathing getting caught in his throat, his heart was beating just as fast as it did when he transformed. A panicked look overtook every feature of his face. He tried to take a deep breath to calm down, knowing full well what was about to happen. Cautiously he looked around, no one had noticed his distress yet, which he was grateful for.

Taking a few steps back, he fell short of balance and tumbled to the floor. He landed on his buttocks, taking most of the hit with his hands.

"Are you alright, Remus?" asked Dumbledore when he heard the thud. Remus was now in a full state of panic. He couldn't think. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't handle it anymore. The past weeks events came back in an instant.

"Breathe, my dear Remus, breathe," Dumbledore coached as he kneeled down beside him. Remus stared with wide eyes at him. Feeling his body shut down. He was shaking. Shaking badly. He was so weak. Pathetic. His breathing momentarily stopped.

"Lupin, for the love of Merlin. You have to breathe," Snape snapped at the Professor. He too had noticed the sudden downfall. Remus tried to focus on the comforting words of the headmaster as he breathed in and out in small sobs. Everyone in the room knew that it was too late to stop the panic attack, the Professor had to ride it out. And he did.

Afterwards a tint of red replaced the pale skin tone of his face. Embarrassment kicked in at full force, "Oh my… I am very sorry."

No one spoke a word. Remus got a helping hand to stand up by no other than Severus Snape. The man who hated Remus Lupin with all his heart. He had showed the man a different side to the wizard known for his heartless being. Snape eyed the man in front of him with caution. Almost as if checking if he was injured. Shortly after he turned around and left the room. His robes dramatically moved in the small wind from his movements.

Dumbledore supported Remus to the chair and desk provided for him.

"Take a rest, Remus. McGonagall will come by with dinner later tonight," Albus told him. He too left the infirmary, leaving Remus alone with the sleeping student and his thoughts.

Later that very same night, after McGonagall had come by with a bowl of soup, Remus relaxed. He sat back in his chair and just stared at the student. He thought about how creepy it might be if she woke up to him looking at her, but he couldn't help himself. Almost losing her made him protective of her. More than usual. Hermione was good friends with Harry Potter, his best friend's son. That way Remus was naturally protective of her. Ron too.

Suddenly there was a sound coming from the bed. Hermione was turning in her sleep. Remus sat straight up in his chair, following her every movement. Her even breathing, chest up and down, to her eyes flickering open. She was awake.

"Hermione!" Remus said, leaning forward so she could see him. Her eyes were unfocused at first, but upon hearing her name she looked straight into the eyes of Remus Lupin. Her teacher, her mentor, her friend.

She turned bright red in the face at the memory of her actions. Shamefully she turned her back to him, hiding her face under the covers.

"Please, Hermione. Look at me," Remus pleaded. He was so desperate to see her brown eyes. "I can't. Not after what I've done," she cried. She curled up into a ball, taking up as little space as possible. Remus moved to the other side of the bed to face her.

"It's alright. All that matters is that you are alive," he said, smiling at her. Hermione looked up at him, tears threatening to fall over the brim of her eyes.

"Being alive is a chore, not something I enjoy," said Hermione truthfully.