Disclaimer/Notes: I don't own Harry Potter, or the fine 12 year old that plays him (ew.... really, REALLY ew...) Here's the next chapter, hope you like it.

Hermione was skipping, yes, actually skipping, to class the next day.
"Eh, Hermione?" Ron caught her attention, trying to keep up with her.
"Yes, sugar lumpkins?" Hermione asked.
Ron looked surprised at this, then again, who wouldn't be? "Why are you so happy today?"

*becuase ronnie dearest, don't you know where we're going? we're going to see the most beautiful man ever made who teaches the most wonderful class i've ever taken! a man who's smart and handsome and i think he's funny, yes, he's made jokes in class before, and he's handsome, much more than lockhart, oh yes, much more, and he's so....OOH!*

"Oh, I don't know," Hermione replied, working very hard to conceal the secretive smile sliding across her face.
"Whatever," Ron muttered.
Hermione could feel her heart start to leap as they entered the classroom.
"Hi Professor L-" she started and stopped. She was not staring into the adorable face of Remus Lupin, but rather the most decisively unadorable face of Severus Snape. Hermione was about ready to gag.

*good grief, i think i'm going to gag* (A/N: that's what i just said)

"Well, Miss Granger, why the warm welcome all of a sudden? Snape said, with a smirk on his face. *of course, all he does is smirk. jackass*
Ron spoke up. "Oh, I could answer that, Professor. You see, last night-"
Hermione stuck an elbow deep into his ribs, which not only shut him up, but actually cut off his air supply for a brief moment. Once he got his breath back, he filled her ears with a bunch of nasty comments about Snape. Hermione wanted to skiv off, which was a first for her. Usually, she loved her classes, but Snape made everything worse. Who wanted to stare at his ugly mug all hour?
The rest of the class seemed to share her opinion as they sat down before class started. And Harry seemed absolutely ready to die when he dashed into class ten minutes late. Hermione felt like killing someone while she sat there and listened to Snape rant about Remus's disorganization.

*who gives a.....darn....about whether or not he's organized? at least he washes his hair, you slimy git. oh, that hair, he's got better hair than lockhart.....sigh....*

Hermione snapped back to earth and found that Snape was still droning on. "Today we shall discuss werewolves," said Snape.

*werewolves? what the.....heck....are we studying those for?*

"But, sir," she said, "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start hinkypunks...."
Snape did not listen to her. He just gave her another stinging insult (which were giving more of a sting with each new one she recieved) and demanded that the class turned to page 394. Hermione felt better knowing that the rest of the class hated him just as much as she did.

*i hope remus isn't ill for too long. not only can i NOT put up with snape twice a day, potions AND dada, it's just too much. plus, i have to see my remus again... oh dear lord, `my remus'?!?!?! what the....heck....was that?! this needs to stop....or not....PAY ATTENTION HERMIONE! this is class time, daydream later. pay attention to grease guts over there*

"...the werewolf suffers his affliction, or, illness, I guess you could say," Snape was saying, pausing as though he was waiting for something, "once a month. Every month."
Hermione only listened half-heartedly as he went on about werewolves.

*yeah yeah, two rolls of parchment, by monday? please, i'll have it done by tonight.....recognize and kill werewolves....whatever....when are we actually going to run into a real werewolf? whatever.....*

*~*~*~*~*~later that evening~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione sat down in her usual seat in the library. She sighed as she pulled the heavy book onto the table, "The Complete Guide to Werewolves and Their Habits". She had a funny feeling as she took out her parchment, like she was being watched.

*i think i'm being watched* (A/N: really, ya think?!)

Hermione looked up, but didn't see anyone....anyone besides Snape, who was lurking around the non-fiction section. He caught her eye, and looked back up at the books.

*any decent professor would have at least nodded in recognition. oh wait, i said decent, didn't i?*

Hermione began to skim over the text of the book. "The werewolf can be recognized by a pale complexion, will often have circles under the eyes, and will mysteriously disappear once a month, during the full moon." She restated this and wrote it down.

*is it my imagination, or is snape coming closer? oh well, what else is there, i need two rolls.....*

"Do not be surprised to find the werewolf in suspicion using an illness as an excuse to escape during a full moon. This provides enough cover to keep visitors away, and their sickly reputation will cover for their complexion, shadowed eyes, and tired behavior."

*somehow, this all sounds very firmiliar. too firmiliar. wait a minute.....another minute.... one more.... OH MY GOD*

Hermione looked up from her reading. Professor Snape had been watching her, but immediently turned back to the books with a small smile on his face. Hermione did not know, or care, that he was smiling because of the look of shock and horror painted across the girl's face. He knew she knew.

*no, it can't be. it's impossible! no! not... lupin.... how...?*

Hermione's thoughts were in disarray (a/n: as you can clearly see from above) as she hurriedly searched her back pack for her day planner. She flipped it open to the part where she wrote down her assignments every day. Her heart sank as she looked over her notes.

"September 20, DADA, research grindylows, Prof. Lupin ill..... October 23, DADA, answer chapter questions, Prof. Lupin ill, have assignment ready for his return to class...." And now, in November, sick again. Hermione leaped out of her seat and dashed to the lunar calendar hanging over the astronomy books. Oddly enough, Snape was waiting around the corner, but she was in too much of a hurry to notice. She did, however, notice with despair that every date that Lupin had been sick was during the full moon.

*no, this just can't be, that poor man. my god, there's a werewolf here. here, at hogwarts. is this allowed? does dumbledore know? of course, he knows everything. doesn't he know how dangerous this is? oh my god, a werewolf....*

Hermione leaned her back against the wall and put her head in her hands.
"I figured it would be you," Snape said, suddenly at her side. She looked up from the floor. For once, Snape wasn't smirking. He wasn't exactly smiling, but there was something more gentle about his expression. "Of course, you would be the one to discover the big bad wolf."
Hermione let this thought settle a moment. "He's not bad," she said quietly. "He's never hurt a student, he's always kind to us," she shot a look at Snape that should have been more understated, "and he's a marvelous teacher."
Snape gave her a puzzled look. Hermione could feel her cheeks go red.

*oh shut up you dolt! this is NOT midnight confessions with snape!*

"It's just a matter of time, Ms. Granger," Snape whispered. "What happens when he does bite someone? What if it's you, or Potter, or Weasly?"
"He would never!" she said, indignantly.
"No, Remus would never, but the wolf most certainly would," Snape quietly replied. Hermione was beginning to see his point. "What you need to do now," he quickly continued, "is tell your friends, and have them tell your friends, and before you know it, Hogwarts will be safe again. Just make sure you get the news out."
"Why don't you just do it yourself?" Hermione asked. Revelation hit her as soon as she'd stated the question. "Because Dumbledore won't let you. He's a smart man....and he's right." Snape leaned back, his eyebrows raised at her defiance. "If Dumbledore hired him, then he must trust him. And he must have the...situation...under his control. I wonder, did Dumbledore say you could lead the students on?"
"It wasn't mentioned in the agreement," Snape said, his deep dislike for her surfacing again.
"I also wonder, was that tatoo on your arm mentioned in the agreement?" Hermione asked.

*ooh, why did i say that?! you're in trouble now, girl! he doesn't know that you know about that! well, he does now. haha, look at that expression on his face. this is great, i ought to blackmail people more often*

"How dare you?!" he spat.
"The way I see it," Hermione calmly continued, "if the students have a right to know about Lupin's secret, they have a right to know about yours, too."
Snape's face twisted with fury. "Fine, Granger, have it your way! But don't blame me when one of you is ripped to shreds by...by... that monster!" He stormed away in rage, with a mutinous sock in hot pursuit.
Hermione was still furious when she left the library an hour later, after completing her essay. The nerve Snape had, trying so purposely to reveal Remus's secret like that! She walked right by him as he battled with a large knitted sock outside the library.

*let the socks have him*

Hermione flung herself onto one of the couches in the Griffyndor common room.
"What's the matter, Hermione?" Harry asked sleepily.
"Nothing, not really," she said, gazing into the fire. Was it her imagination, or did a howl come rolling through the window just then?
"Oh, okay," Harry said, yawning and curling up in one of the big chairs.
Hermione's gaze shifted through the window. The full moon stood out prominently in the dark sky.

*and i thought i had problems before, being in love with a professor! now, i'm in love with a werewolf on top of it! parvati's right, i need better taste in guys. i should at least try to stick to my own species from now on. but, who's to say i don't still feel the same about him? do i? yes, i do. damn*
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N hope you liked it. I know that was long and boring, but try to bare with me. confrontation in the next chapter.