Chapter 11 – Full moon

A/N: Ahh, well it's been quite a while now, and I'm terribly sorry for not updating in such a long time. So, for all those wonderful people who are still out there and willing to forgive for taking months to post a chapter – here's the answer to the cliffhanger that everyone yelled at me for…

 

*          *          *

Hermione let out a startled scream when she saw the werewolf leap towards her in a blur of fur and claws. Any normal girl probably would've fallen backwards in fright, leaving her neck vulnerable to the sharp white teeth of the werewolf. But Hermione Granger was not an ordinary girl, and this was not her first (nor would it be her last) encounter with magical dangers.

Pulling her wand from her sleeve, she twisted to her side as quickly as she could, avoiding the wolf's attempt to bite the soft flesh under her chin. Nonetheless, she received a cut to her side, deep enough to distract her for a few precious seconds.

"Stupefy."

The wolf shuddered and jerked for a second as the spell from Severus Snape's wand hit it in the back. Hermione took the chance to make a mad dash for the fireplace, ignoring the stinging at her side. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she told herself that when the adrenaline wore off, it would hurt like hell, but by then, she had already reached the burning flames.

'What do I do?' Hermione suddenly thought. 'Go for help or call for help?'

Her brain worked in slow motion as she decided that stepping into the fireplace would mean leaving Snape to deal with the werewolf alone, something she didn't intend to do. A handful of green powder later, Dumbledore's face appeared. Taking in the situation in less than five seconds, he was gone again. Hermione let out her first sigh in the ten minutes of meeting a full-fledged werewolf.

By now, Snape had fired almost a dozen 'Stupefy's into the werewolf, but seemed reluctant to cast anything stronger. And the mild shocking spell cast into the tough fur of the werewolf could only keep it paralyzed for so many seconds at a time.

"Hermione. We need something to contain him. A bolted cage." He decided, and then added: "Stupefy."

Hermione didn't take the time to wonder why her Potion's Professor had just called her by her first name. Or why he was speaking so softly, with all traces of Snape arrogance disappeared.

Instead, she picked up a small, metal statue from Professor Lupin's desk and, with a quick twist of her wrist and a short spell, had transfigured it into a metal cage that surrounded him, and was firmly bolted to the floor.

'Large enough to keep Professor Lupin in,' She thought suddenly, as it struck her that this wasn't just an animal in front of her - it was Professor Lupin. She then also realized how upset and guilty the man would be over this incident, when the moon faded and he changed back. She sighed again, this time not out of relief.

The door to Professor Lupin's Office swung open almost forcibly, though neither the hand nor wand of Albus Dumbledore touched it. No more than a few steps behind him stood a grim Professor McGonagall and a somewhat frightened Madame Pomfrey. 

"That's enough Severus." The Head Master finally said, raising his wand. Remus Lupin remained still in the metal cage, baring teeth that dripped with saliva and blood.

Hermione felt sick to the stomach.

"Poppy," Dumbledore continued in the calm tone that seemed to be both placid and fearful all at once. "Please attend to both Miss Granger and Professor Snape in the infirmary."

Hermione turned to face the nurse so that she would not have to look at the animal she knew as a kindly teacher and friend. Pomfrey took her arm and swiftly led her out, similar thoughts in mind. And after a quick word with Dumbledore (which Hermione didn't quite catch,) Severus Snape followed obediently with a quick flick of his robes and a familiar snarl on his lips.     

*

"I'm quite sure I'm perfectly fine, thank you!" Hermione finally cried out, as the nurse took her temperature again for the fifth time in one hour.

"You can never be sure with werewolves…" Pomfrey said, and Hermione mimed her, moving her lips though no sound escaped, and the nurse, now inspecting for bruises around the back of her neck, could not see. "All dangerous claws and poisonous teeth."

Snape on the other hand, lay lounged on the hospital bed opposite her in quite a relaxed manner. He too, was unable to leave the infirmary – despite his rude remarks and constant threats – until both Madame Pomfrey and Albus Dumbledore were certain that neither had any magical injuries that could be contracted from werewolf claws.

Glancing up at just the right moment, he caught a glimpse of Hermione exasperatedly rolling her eyes at an over the top nurse. He smirked.

At last Madame Pomfrey left the room and left her alone, and Hermione let out a relieved sigh, only to have it cut short when the woman returned with two flasks filled with a dark blue liquid.

"Before you speak, drink this." She said, handing Hermione one flask, and walking over to give Snape the other. "If you don't feel any different after an hour, that is, if you're still feeling fine, you're free to go."

The nurse left, leaving Hermione to stare at her flask, wondering what it was. Then she remembered the man across from her was a Potion's Master.

"Professor – "

"It's a potion that speeds up the effects of other magical potions or, in our case, diseases..." Snape answered, though she never did ask a question. "It usually works in the time span of forty minutes, and an hour will give Poppy sufficient time to verify that we are, of course, not sick." 

"Of course," Hermione echoed, slowly draining the sickly sweet liquid. "That's not very pleasant," she remarked.

Snape's face held the same distasteful expression as he placed the flask onto the table.

"I see you agree, Professor."

"I've taken that potion many times before. It's very useful. Foul, but useful."

There was a silence, in which Hermione adjusted her sitting position. The cut that had been in her side only moments before was now a faint scar. Hermione knew that the lingering effects of the healing spells used on it would mean even the scar would not be visible after a few more minutes.

Turning her thoughts back to the present, Hermione bit her lip, preparing for the worst….

"I'm sorry, Professor."

Snape opened his eyes and sat up, surprised. "What?"

Hermione grit her teeth. "I said I was sorry."

The Potion's Master looked confused, but a faint smirk started to grow on his lips. "For what exactly, Miss Granger?"

"Obviously, the Wolfsbane Potion didn't work. And I can only guess that my involvement had something to do with it."

By now, the smirk was no longer faint. "Incorrect, Miss Granger. In fact, quite the opposite. The Wolfsbane Potion itself is flawed."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Which means what?"

"If one had been studying the lunar calendar, they would've noticed that tonight is a full moon eclipse. Occurrences like these would undoubtedly affect the Wolfsbane Potion's effects on a being directly connected to the moon."

"A werewolf," Hermione added unnecessarily. She leaned back against the bed head. "How long did you know this Professor?"

"I still don't know why a full lunar eclipse has this effect," Snape said quietly, then added, "but I suspected something."

"And you went to see Professor Lupin," Hermione guessed, "and found him untamed."

Snape glared at her sharply, then his face softened slightly and he nodded. Suddenly, it seemed like pretenses weren't as important as they used to be.

You've gone soft, he told himself. You've let your guard down. Put too much trust in one place.

*          *          *

A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews, even those who threatened to sic large, dangerous animals on me – thanks so much for reading… and don't forget to tell me what you think.

Thanks to FandomAvenger for pointing out my Voldemort spelling error in chapter 6, and thanks to Mixed Martini new beta..!