Thank you to wonderful Beta of this chapter, SongOfStars
Chapter Seven - Showdown
Hermione wasn't sure when the day turned inside out and flipped upside down but it did; she wasn't sure how something like this could have happened and she couldn't help but to blame herself that it did. She knew for weeks what Remus was, what he really was. She knew that the man was a werewolf but she chose not to say anything. Maybe if she spoke up, did something, then she and Ron would not be looking down right now at their friend who was currently fighting for his life. Hermione's eyes were glued to the bandages that covered her friend's body, watching as little spots of red started to show through the white dressing. She couldn't understand why they couldn't just wave their wands and fix what had been done. What was good about being magical if you couldn't use magic to heal someone who desperately needed it?
With a shaking hand and hesitation Hermione reached out and brushed Harry bangs to the side, watching as he flinched from her touch. "It's alright Harry, It's just me. Ron and I are here," Hermione soothed, running her hand down his arm until she reached his hand, wrapping her fingers around his.
"I wouldn't touch him," Ron commented, standing a couple of feet away from Harry.
"Why?" Hermione asks confused before looking up at Ron, a few tears making their way down her cheeks. "Madam Pomfrey said it was alright, as long as we didn't..."
"He's not Harry, anymore," Ron interrupted. "Hermione, werewolves are abominations to the wizarding world, they are no more than monsters. Some even believe they don't have any humanity, capable of doing anything." Ron explained "That's not the Harry we knew, it's not the same person."
Hermione looked appalled "You can't be serious. You have dragons and fairies, hippogriffs, Pixies, three-headed dogs, not to mention the hundreds of other creatures and beings in this world, but you draw the line at werewolves? Was it one too many for you guys to handle?" Hermione spoke, outraged with what Ron just told her.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, you're just a muggle born but here in the wizarding world…"
"Just a muggle born?" Hermione cut Ron off, fuming at the statement. "Is that what you think of me? Just a muggle born who doesn't know anything about your world because I didn't grow up with magic? At least I have more brains than most wizards and witches!" Hermione spat.
"Look here!" Ron yelled "Harry is a…"
"If you say monster, then so help me, you won't wake up for a week!" Hermione threatened.
"You know nothing of our world! Harry will no longer be accepted; he's no more than a halfbreed, just like you are…" Ron paused as he realized what he was about to say.
"Just like you are, what? Finish what you were about to say to me...actually let me. Just like you are a mudblood!" Hermione said, enraged.
"Well you are!" Ron yelled out in anger.
Hermione took a step back, feeling as if someone just stabbed her in the heart. "I thought of all people, you will be the one to never call me that," Hermione spoke, her voice filled with pain.
…
"You should never have brought them here," Severus whispered harshly to Poppy as the two of them stood in the spare bedroom, right across from the bathroom to give the two Gryffindors some privacy with their friend.
"What was I supposed to do? The two of them barged into my Hospital Wing, demanding about Harry," Poppy whispered back.
"Not bringing them here would have been a good option, sending them back to their chambers. Perhaps even giving out detentions to the both of them for barging into your Hospital Wing like a couple of animals," Severus proposed "They shouldn't be here, not now"
"I'm sorry Severus, but I must disagree with you on this. They are the closest thing Harry has to family and if Merlin forbid Harry shall pass from his injuries, then they should have a chance to say goodbye," Poppy explained.
"What do you mean the closest thing Harry has to family? What about his Aunt and Uncle? I'm sure they would be here as soon as the two get the owl saying that Harry been injured. Fretting over the child, no doubt demanding Harry be taken to a hospital and given the best care," Severus scoffed, as if more care can change what happened, not to mention they couldn't take Harry to St. Mungo's due to who the boy was.
"Severus, the last two years Harry has been on death's doorstep and not once did his Aunt and Uncle come to visit or even ask if their nephew was going to be ok. And if you cared to notice, Harry never gets mail from them or even talks about them. In fact, Harry asks Albus if he could stay at Hogwarts after his first year. I have also seen bruises on Harry when he comes back to school. I tried talking to the child, but Harry dismissed it. I brought it to Albus, but there isn't much we can do until Harry opens up. There isn't enough proof." Poppy explained before turning her eyes to the floor.
Severus absorbed the information that Poppy just relayed to him and found it difficult to accept, but if he was honest with himself, he did notice signs of abuse with the boy but he dismissed it, not believing that it would be possible. Who would want to harm the Boy-Who-Lived beside the Dark Lord? But the more Severus thought about it the more he came to realize. He did meet Lily's sister and with how much loathing and hostility she had towards magic he wouldn't put it past her.
Severus opened his mouth, about to ask a question when yelling could be heard from the next room. "...That doesn't sound good," Severus commented before quickly making his way out of the spare room and out into the living room to see Hermione on top of Ron with Ron trying to push her off of him.
Without missing a beat, Severus made his way over to the two, placing his hands under Hermione armpits and hosting her off of Ron who stumbled backwards before getting back to his feet.
"Get out!" Hermione yelled, pushing Snape off of her "Get out! Harry and I don't need you! We will both be better off without you!" Hermione screamed.
Ron let out a huff, grabbing his bag from the chair. "You'll see! You will be sorry soon enough!" Ron said before storming out of Snape chambers.
"I said get out !" Hermione screamed, clearing the tears from her eyes. Suddenly, before anyone could blink, Hermione turned back and ran after Ron. She pounced on his back, throwing Ron forward so hard out the door that he fell and slid down the wall out in the hall.
Ron glanced back in surprise, only to see the door slammed shut so hard that it partly opened once more. Hermione slammed it a second time, made sure it stayed closed, then returned to Harry's side without another word.
"You're right, it was a fantastic idea to invite two teenagers into my chambers," Snape spoke sarcastically to Poppy, needing no explanation to what just transpired in his sitting room.