A/N I still don't own Harry Potter. Oh well, on with the show

3

Altered states

The trio looked up at the sound of the apparition in the backyard. Hermione had come downstairs and set tea out for everyone, and they'd settled in to wait around the kitchen table. The fact it was the backyard had all three drawing wands, before a familiar voice called out.

"Minerva?" Arthur Weasley's voice called out, "We're here, though Remus is rather agitated at the moment."

"Stay here," McGonagall told the youths, then called out as she went to the backyard. "Arthur, we're all ok. Hermione is safe, though there's a complication."

"A complication? Is she ok?"

"Yes, but for the time being, can you return Remus and Padfoot to the preserve?" The professor continued, "I expect a visit from the ministry shortly, as we are about to cast spells in a muggle neighborhood. Having a werewolf and an escaped convict around would not be helpful."

"But what about…"

"I will come around tomorrow and explain more." There was a pause, "Yes, I'll explain it to you two as well."

"Very well Minerva," Arthur acquiesced, "Can I at least tell everyone that Hermione is ok? I'm sure they'll be worried."

"Yes, she's fine," McGonagall confirmed, "Just a bit of a scare is all. Tell everyone it was a fit of accidental magic."

"Good, good." Arthur sighed, "Come on you two, she's safe. We'll get more information tomorrow."

Professor McGonagall returned to the kitchen as Arthur apparated Sirius and Remus away. The confused looks on the teens face caused the older witch to pause, then sighed.

"Arthur is a wonderful man, "She began to explain, "But in addition to being Ron's father, he is not the sharpest tool in the shed. As Ron is as yet unaware of either of your conditions, we felt it best to minimize the knowledge."

"So who knows?" Hermione asked softly, "Who knows I'm a freak?"

"NO!" Harry cut her off, "You are not a freak, I don't want you to ever say that again."

Both women turned to Harry at the vehemence in his voice. There was pain there Hermione realized as she looked into his eyes, personal pain. The knotting of his muscles and the white knuckles on his clenched fists was another sign there was a lot behind that statement. She nodded to appease him, but swore to herself she'd find out why later.

"Mr. Potter is correct Miss Granger," McGonagall confirmed, "You both are merely in some unusual circumstances." She too had noted Harry's reaction to the statement. However, having observed the Dursleys personally all those years ago, she had a suspicion why. And if her suspicion was confirmed, not only would Harry be living somewhere else, but one Albus too-many-names Dumbledore would be lucky to still be breathing afterward.

They were starting on their second cup of tea when they again heard the sounds of apparition, this time from the front yard. The teens moved away from the front of the house as McGonagall went to the front door. She got to it as it flew open and a tall, brown haired woman burst in. She had wild hair like Hermione, though more wavy than bushy, a round face and chocolate eyes.

"Professor!" The new woman exclaimed, "Is she ok? Is she hurt? Where is she?"

"Calm yourself Mrs. Granger," McGonagall said calmly, "You daughter is fine. There was an unanticipated effect from the full moon but she did not turn." McGonagall held the woman's' shoulders, forcing her to look at her. "Your daughter is safe, but we need to determine what exactly caused this. She did not turn into a werewolf but she did undergo a transformation."

"What kind of transformation?"

"It appears to be similar to the potion mishap she had second year," McGonagall told her, then looked over her shoulder, "Hermione, Harry, it's okay to come out now."

As the teens came into view, the woman started to sob. Haltingly, she started towards the pair, and Hermione met her halfway. Harry shuddered at the apparent force of the woman's hug, remembering what Hermione's could feel like, then applied it to a full grown woman. He made a note to have Madam Pomfrey, who'd followed Hermione's mum into the house, to check Hermione for cracked ribs.

"My baby," Mrs. Granger sobbed, "My poor baby," she held her daughter tight, crying in relief. Hermione's flattened ears and rapidly flicking tail eased, her ears straightening and tail slowing. Harry grinned for a second as he realized her tail reminded him of crookshanks bottle brush tail, only thicker.

"Mr. Potter," Pomfrey asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Who are you?" Mrs. Granger asked him at the same time.

Turning to Hermione's mum, he introduced himself, "I'm Harry Potter Ma'am. We met summer before last in Diagon Alley for a moment. I was with Hermione when she was injured, and when she sent Hedwig with a note for help I came as fast as I could."

As introductions were made, Pomfrey started casting spells on Hermione, checking what she could. She occasionally cast a spell or two at Harry as well, but most of it seemed to be at Hermione.

"That was rather reckless of you Mr. Potter," Pomfrey scowled at him, "If she had been turning…"

"If she had we'd have dealt with it." Harry turned to the matron, "I made Hermione a promise that no matter what we'd deal with this together. It wasn't an 'if it's safe' promise, it was a 'no matter what' promise. If I knew it meant getting injured again, or even turning myself, I'd still have come. She'd do it for me and I would have, will, and always will do it for her."

"Mr. Potter!" McGonagall exclaimed.

"Sorry professor, but it's true." Harry continued, placing a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "I would be dead by now if it wasn't for Hermione. That's the simple truth. And if I didn't show her the same friendship and support she's shown me, then I'm not a very good friend. I tried to save her that night in the forest, I was only partially successful. So now we will work through it together."

"What do you mean?" Mrs. Granger asked, "How were you only partially successful?"

Harry looked at Hermione, an eyebrow raised in question. Seeing her nod, he turned back to her mother and replied. "When Professor Lupin caught up with us, I saw him first. We'd huddled together, and as he went to strike, I tried to shield Hermione. I wasn't fast enough."

Harry turned slightly, and pulled up the side of his shirt. The puckered red scars of Lupins claws were boldly evident. What was also evident, now that they weren't hidden by bandages as the first few times Hermione had seen his side, were the other scars. Older, but no better healed. Definitely smaller, and definitely older, but still visible.

"You, my baby," Mrs. Granger stammered, awe creeping into her voice. "You tried to shield her? But you would have… you were willing to die for her?"

"Not my first option, but yes." Harry said, "I'd dearly like to live, maybe find out what it's like to have a real family someday... even be loved by them.

"I've got a psychotic maniac after me that won't stay dead but so far I've survived, mostly due to Hermione's brilliance and no small helping of luck. But that night she was there because of me, and if I could save her, shield her from harm, then yes, I would do whatever I could to do so."

"Harry," Hermione sighed, "That's sweet but it was my choice to be there. You are not responsible for me."

"No Hermione," Harry argued, "If it had been anyone else, you wouldn't have been there. You were there because I was there, so I'm responsible."

"Mr. Potter," McGonagall cut in, "Blame is not the issue here. The issue is that you are working through any difficulties together. There are very few who would stand by each other through such conditions. I dare say even Mr. Weasley would balk at this situation."

"Considering his response second year ma'am," Harry said after a moment, "and especially this year, I'm afraid I have to agree with you. He's still my friend, I think, I just don't think he's either of ours best friend." Harry looked at Hermione at that, and she nodded.

"I agree Harry," Hermione added, "Ron is a friend, but he really isn't the most reliable at times. Look at the broom issue this year. Yes, you were mad at me, and rightfully so. But he was madder than you were, especially after we talked about it and I apologized for not talking to you first."

"Broom issue dear?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"Well mum, Harry got a new, top of the line, broom for Christmas." Hermione explained, looking a bit abashed. "At the time we didn't know Sirius was innocent and I thought he may have cursed it and sent it to Harry. I was so sure of myself, I took the broom to Professor McGonagall to be checked… without talking to Harry first."

"Hermione!" Her mother looked at her in shock, "You stole your friends broom?"

"No Mrs. Granger," Harry defended his friend, "She took a dangerous and possible deadly object to be checked before I could do something rash. She was right to get it checked. And she admitted she should have talked to me first but she was looking out for my safety. We agreed to talk more and not let emotions get away from us in the future. Plus she was right, it was from Sirius. It just wasn't cursed."

"I see," Mrs. Granger said, only slightly mollified "Well, if you've forgiven her, I suppose so should I."

"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger," Pomfrey cut in, "I have some good news and some bad I'm afraid."

"Both of us?" Hermione asked, surprised.

Pops of apparition interrupted them.

"Sounds like the DMLE is here," McGonagall said, "I'll deal with them. Please continue Poppy." And she got up and headed back to the front door.

"Yes well," the healer continued, "it seems that your injuries are more unique than we originally thought. It seems, Miss Granger, that the latent remains of your mishap second year had an unusual side effect."

"Madam Pomfrey," Hermione inquired, "I thought polyjuice cleared from your system after you returned to looking like yourself. What remains were there?"

"Well, normally you would be correct. In this case however, due to the, uh, contamination of the potion, we were forced to neutralize the potion, which did not purge it from your system." The matron explained, "Since it was already in your system and a non-human transformation, the lycanthropic infection used it to boost its potency."

"So, basically, she was more susceptible because of her potion mishap?" Mrs. Granger asked.

"A good, if incomplete, summation." Pomfrey agreed, "Miss Granger's prior transformation left an imprint in her magic. When the infection encountered this imprint, it created a cumulative, or boosted, effect leading to a transformation that is no longer lycanthropic. It's feline."

"So I'll start turning into a cat on the full moon instead of a wolf?" Hermione asked, "I'm a Werecat?"

"Yes and no Miss Granger. It appears to be an incomplete transformation, very similar to the one you experienced second year. And before you worry, all indications so far are you will return to normal once the moon sets, unlike second year when we had to correct it ourselves."

"I guess that's not too bad." Hermione pondered, "I won't be a danger to anyone, and I kept my own mind when I changed. Mostly."

"Correct, which brings me to Mr. Potter."

"Uh oh," Harry muttered.

"Oh yes Mr. Potter," The healer confirmed with a small grin, "Uh oh indeed. It appears you are almost as unique as Miss Granger here. Due to the way you two were infected, and the close contact you two had before you were able to get proper treatment, you have also have the modified infection."

"You mean I infected him?" Hermione asked aghast.

"No Miss Granger," Pomfrey assured her, "It was likely when you were mutually infected. The werewolf hit both of you at the same time, probably causing the cross infection at that time. However, Mr. Potter has not previously changed by the effects of the potion on him, so it's harder for the infection to cause changes to him. It is modified though, and I would expect more feline than lupine responses. That said, it is the same infection, and as such, like recognizes like. I think you subconsciously recognized the same effects in Mr. Potter and thus, your urges were subdued."

"So you're saying since Harry has the same infection, he calms the one in Hermione?" Mrs. Granger asked, "That they share some sort of bond?"

"Honestly," Pomfrey said reluctantly, "I'm not sure. Bonds are much more meaningful and tangible in the magical world Mrs. Granger. They are usually detectable and can have far reaching implications. These two are obviously close as friends, so there is almost certainly a bond of friendship there. As for something more than that, this is a truly unique situation Mrs. Granger. To the best of my knowledge, and I will be researching this, nothing like this has happened before."

Hermione looked at Harry with fearful eyes, then snuggled into him as they stood facing the adults. He turned and enveloped her into his arms, whispering reassurance to her. Mrs. Granger looked like she was about to object, before Madam Pomfrey placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.

"Let them be," The matron said quietly, "This is a lot to take in and they are each other's rock. They have been through so much together they are naturally going to lean on each other. Also, they made a promise between themselves the night they got hurt; no matter what happens, good or bad, they'd get through anything that happened together."

"I know but," Mrs. Granger said, "But I'm her mother."

"True," Poppy acknowledged, "But can you understand what she's going through? Or just able to give her empty platitudes? I'm not trying to be harsh, but that young man is the only person in the world, possibly in history, to have even a clue what your daughter is going through. I know you want to comfort her, but he really is the best person to do that right now."

"Madam Pomfrey?" Harry called out, drawing the women's attention back to the teens, "What happens now?"