Gryffindor common room morning. The Fat Lady has been replaced by a painting of a tiny knight Sir Cadogan.

Stalking a bare stretch of grass as his pony grazes nearby, he brandishes his sword wildly as a group of Gryffindors regard him warily.

"Who dares challenge Sir Cadogan! Back, you scurvy braggarts! You rogues!"

Seamus frowned. "He's barking mad!"

"What d'you expect? After what happened to the Fat Lady, none of the other pictures would take the job". said Dean Thomas.

"But he keeps changing the password. Twice just this morning! I've taken to keeping a list".

As Neville holds up a wrinkled piece of parchment. Harry, Ron and Hermione begin to exit.

"Farewell, comrades! If ever you have a need for a noble heart and steely sinew, call upon Sir Cadogan!"

"Yeah, we'll call you... if we ever need someone mental". Hermione slaps Ron in the arm. "What? He's a tiny knight inside of the painting, he can't hurt us".

"No he can't. He will ask someone to do that".

"Who? Snape?" Hermione rolled her eyes. "That greasy git is mental. Why are you always hanging around with Snape".

"I didn't! Who told you that, Ron". She is eyeing Harry, Harry shrugs. "Well, who told you?"

"In this castle ears, eyes are everywhere Hermione".

"So I noticed. For me it is not mine or Snape's problem if the painting, or the ghost saw me and Snape together. You know Snape's never like anyone.. of course he's trying to point something out I didn't do".

Harry nods agree. "Hermione's right. Come on Ron. There's nothing you need to worry about, it's like you're jealous of Snape's relationship with Hermione".

"Me? Jealous? To Snape! I'm not.. why should I".

Hermione shakes her head unbelievably, turns her feet and walks away. Harry and Ron then walk to Lupin's classroom.

Later. Lupin's classroom. Hermione wasn't there in Lupin's classroom. Students are talking until..

SNAP!

Snape posies his wand, pulls down a screen as he walks over the blackboard, turns ..

"Turn to page 394".

As the students eye Snape with guarded curiosity, Malfoy finishes scrawling something on a bit of parchment and balls it up in his hands.

As he opens them, a moth flutters from his palms. Harry slid his hips on the right a bit where Snape walked.

"Excuse me, sir, but... where's Professor Lupin?"

"That's not really your concern, is it, Potter? Suffice it to say your professor finds himself incapable of teaching... at the present time. Turn to page 394".

Snape waves the moth away and a slide show begins. An ancient woodcut of a horrific beast flickers at the front of the room. Ron frowns down at his book.

"Werewolves?"

"Sir, we just learned about red caps and hinkypunks. We're not meant to start that for weeks".

"Quiet!"

Snape bloody doesn't know where'd Hermione come from. As he enters and talks with Harry he never sees a bushy brown hair sit beside Harry. Harry's sit alone until Hermione suddenly appears beside Harry.

"When did she come in? Did you see her come in..." said Ron to Harry. Harry shrugs.

"Now, which one of you can tell me the difference... between an Animagus and a werewolf?"

As the class stares mutely at a slide of an attacking werewolf, Hermione waits desperately for someone to respond to Snape's question, the moth flutters by Harry.

SWAT!

He pins it to his desk. A tiny cloud of moth dust mushrooms into the air and Harry lifts his palm. Malfoy's parchment has reappeared.

"No one? How... disappointing".

"Please, sir. An Animagus is a wizard who elects to turn into an animal. A werewolf has no choice. With each full moon... he no longer remembers who he is. He'd kill his best friend. The werewolf only responds to the call of its own kind".

Malfoy lets out a low howl.

"Thank you, Mr. Malfoy. That's the second time... you've spoken out of turn, Miss Granger. Are you incapable of restraining yourself... or do you take pride in being an insufferable know-it-all?"

Ron whispers to Harry. "He's got a point, you know".

"Five points from Gryffindor!" To the class. "As an antidote to your ignorance, and on my desk, by Monday morning... two rolls of parchment on the werewolf, with emphasis... on recognizing it".

Students gasping, disappointed over Snape's who give them homework to do, include Harry.

"But sir It's Quidditch tomorrow".

"Then I suggest you take extra care, Mr. Potter. Loss of limb will not excuse you". Snape stares in his eyes. "Page 394".

As Snape turns away. "The term "werewolf"... is a contraction of the Anglo-Saxon word "wer"... which means "man," and "wolf." Werewolf, man-wolf. There are several ways to become a werewolf. They include being given the power of shape-shifting... being bitten by a werewolf..."

Harry stares at the parchment. Malfoy has drawn a crude caricature of Harry in his Quidditch robes being struck by lightning over and over. Malfoy sniggers with Crabbe, Goyle and Pike. Harry glances down at the drawing once more and we hear a true rumble of thunder and a stitch of lightning.

Later. Hogwarts library. Snape found Hermione sitting at the end of the corner beside the window.. reading. Her hair is still wet because of the heavy rain, lightning in the Quidditch pitch.

A Quidditch game Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff.

Snape approaches her while others are not available around. "Miss Granger?"

"Stop right there!" Snape stops, his eyes blinking. "Insufferable know-it-all? You ask the question and I answer. What's wrong with that?" Snape was about to talk, she cut him. Gather her book. "Never mind!"

Hermione walks past Snape. He was stunned, chase her in the corridor. "Miss Granger! I ask you to stop!" She didn't, Snape grabbed her arm. "STOP!" She pushed him away from her.

"If you ask about Harry. He is still in the hospital wing. You can see Harry there".

"I'm here to ask about YOU. Dumbledore sent Dementor straight off".

"I know. Doesn't mean you have to grab my arm, I'm your student and you are the Professor. You hurt my arm!"

She screams. Snape lets her go, he watches her walk away. I was trying to be nice..

"Severus my boy. There's a rumor that says `` you grab Miss Granger's arm in the corridor". Dumbledore asks him. "Well I didn't say anything but it is inappropriate.. they think you and Miss Granger had something in common like a relationship. Minerva is furious and I'd say no".

"I try to be nice to her, Headmaster. She hadn't listened to me carefully. I was wrong to grab her arm, I can't stand when she walks away.. I need her to hear me out!"

Dumbledore chuckles. He walks to Snape's collection jars. "I admire your work, Severus. Have you visited Me? Potter?"

"Should I?"

"I sent Dementors off. Curiously.. searching for Black".

"I've told you Black isn't by himself, someone must've helped him enter the castle. He must be here somewhere we couldn't notice him".

"Is that accusing my boy?"

Snape shakes his head, "I know you won't believe, and I know who".

Midnight. Moments later. Snape wandering around the castle. Students are asleep. He walks in the corridor, his eyes looking up at the sky.

Full moon.

And then Snape hears a sound from the bushes near the woods. He follow the sound and found Lupin's who look confused.

"Lupin.. how odd to see you here". Snape sneering poises his wand at him. "Feeling unreal?"

"I was walking, Snape. Will you please lower your wand".

Snape kept his wand under his robes. "Under the full moon.. how wonderful. Or you tried sneaking around the castle, and brought someone.. valuables that Dementors are waiting for a kiss".

"I don't know what you are talking about, Snape. Is it true you.. Miss Granger?"

"Don't try to change the topic, Lupin".

Lupin giggled. "Miss Granger is a talented girl I've seen before. She reminds me of Lily's".

"Don't you dare mention her name right in front of me!" Snape snarled. "Nothing had to do with you".

"I was wrong, I guess. If you excuse me.. I need to go to bed". Lupin walks past Snape. "Goodnight, Professor".

Lupin walks back inside the castle. After that, Snape follows.