AN: Setting the Stage.

AN: Modified slightly so the whole story takes place in the Trio's 7th year

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~*~ It Begins ~*~

Hermione Granger stalked down the cavernous corridors tugging at the collar of her robes. She had not been made Head Girl in her final year but was not overly disappointed at missing that honor. She knew she had broken too many rules in her younger years with her two best friends. She was confident her marks, OWLs, NEWTs, and apprenticeship efforts with Minerva McGonogall would more than make up for that lack. Besides, with the way things were going this year was going to be It in the War against Voldemort.

A few students glanced by at the stalking upper student curious. They weren't used to seeing the prim know-it-all Gryffindor Prefect uncomfortable, for any reason, as she looked now - flushed, hurried, quick to anger, irritable.

In the past few days, since the start of the school year, she had bitten the heads off anyone who dared to inquire including her closest friends, Ron Weasley and Harry Potter. The only ones safe from her wrath were the staff who were at a loss: Hermione Granger was not prone to fits of moodiness or temperamental explosions. Some of the students who had suffered from her suddenly biting tongue were Slytherins. Being Slytherins they were not about to let things go.

Pansy Parkinson glanced over at Millicent Bulstrode and Emily Walters. She was reasonably certain between the three of them they could take down know-it-all Granger before the mudblood could even have her wand out.

"I want her to bleed!" Pansy hissed with a sadistic gleam in her hard eyes.

Unfortunately for the Slytherins they made the mistake of underestimating our heroine.

Any cat lover knows it is dangerous to corner an angry feline. It is ten times more dangerous to corner an angry Gryffindor lioness.

Fifteen minutes later the three Slytherins were in the Hospital Wing being treated by the mediwitch for several deep lacerations. As per procedure Poppy Pomfrey summoned the House Heads in question, Professor Severus Snape and Professor Minerva McGonogall.

As soon as Pansy caught sight of the Slytherin House Head she began babbling.

"Professor Snape! You have to get the Headmaster to expel Granger! I swear she's a werewolf! She had claws and gold eyes! She scratched us!"

The two other girls quickly added their babbling assent and support.

"She had real claws!"

"Like a tiger!"

"She looked crazy!"

Severus Snape stared at his students then at Poppy. Understanding his silent plea the mediwitch quickly cast a sedative charm over the three teens.

"Morpheus Somus!"

Minerva McGonogall pursed her lips confused and skeptical.

"What is this Poppy? Is it true? Did Hermione Granger attack these girls? It's not some wild tale these Slytherins made up?"

Poppy shook her head, her expression very solemn.

"The students who brought them here were Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Miss Parkinson provoked Miss Granger verbally and drew out her wand. However before she could cast a hex Miss Granger attacked her physically." Poppy shrugged helplessly. "Miss Welsh said Hermione's hand was curved like a claw as it struck and a second later the lacerations appeared and began bleeding profusely as most facial wounds do."

Severus glanced at the lacerations on the three girls. They were long thin pink lines that would heal without scars. Almost clean, surgical in nature. He glanced up at Poppy.

"Are you sure Poppy? These look as though they were made by a knife. Miss Welsh did not see Miss Granger hold a blade, or a wand?"

"Severus!" Minerva huffed ready to defend her star pupil.

Severus glared at the Transfiguration teacher but was cut short by the next few words.

"Severus is right to be concerned Minerva."

"What?!" Both teachers turned to Poppy.

"What did you find Poppy?" Severus asked softly.

Poppy waved at the beds behind her.

"Miss Parkinson's scars were caused by claws. I found a fragment of claw inside one of the lacerations." She held up a vial containing a fragment of ivory colored material. "It is undeniably feline though proportioned for a humanoid."

The teachers stared at the mediwitch horrified.

"You mean Miss Granger is a werecat?!" Severus asked increduous.

"I'm not sure." Poppy admitted. "I need to do a more indepth examination before I can say anything." She glanced at Minerva who nodded shakily.

"I'll send Miss Granger down immediately and inform the Headmaster. Severus, would you please owl the parents and reassure them?" Minerva asked.

Severus nodded. "Of course." He glanced at Poppy. "Do you need any special diagnostic potions?"

Poppy shook her head. "Not until I have an idea of what to look for."

The Potion Master nodded. "I'll be in my office until ten tonight. Minerva, you better make an announcement in your Common Room or her friends are going to come demanding to know what happened to Miss Granger."

The Griffindor Head sighed at the thought of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and invisibility cloaks. With that the three staff members went their separate ways.

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TBC...

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AN: I made up the spell Morpheus Somus - roughly translated dream sleep? My latin sucks.

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Cheers!

Sarhea