Marked

by Aubrey'Snape

In the heat of the Battle of Hogwarts Hermione runs into the path of Greyback and Professor Snape. The consequences of this action will change her, her future, and the way she views the world. Can Ron and Harry set aside their malice and accept the new Hermione? ***Reposted after taking my stories down***

6. Traitors

If there was going to be an indication that Hermione was going to be affected by her new menstrual cycle, walking late into Potions and glaring at him so viciously that he would have been ash if looks could kill was definitely that sign.

Severus watched as she walked into his classroom four minutes late, never taking her furious gaze off of him as she walked to her station and set her cauldron down with a slam. The students in the class were torn between gaping in shock and trying to get away from her as inconspicuously as possible.

"You're late Miss Granger," He said far more gently than he would have before.

"Give me a detention then sir," came her harsh reply. Severus blinked at her a few times before he felt a flicker of anger.

"50 points from Gryffindor for being late, and a detention for your tone Miss Granger, I am your professor," Severus hissed at her, which earned him another vicious glare and a shooting pain down his shoulder. The next 10 days were going to be hell, pure unadulterated hell.

XXxxXXxxXXxxXXxxXX

Hermione cut her ingredients for her potion with much more aggression than was absolutely necessary, but she kept imagining the cutting roots were her slicing Severus' limbs off, starting with his prick. This wasn't a normal period; this was like a period from hell. It felt like someone was taking a knife and just randomly stabbing her in the uterus. She never did understand why her uterus had to throw a temper tantrum every month she didn't impregnate it. Tears welled in her eyes when a particularly horrible cramp caused her to gasp slightly. The feeling of eyes on her made her look up from her work into the concern filled black eyes of her mate. Her classmates were focused on their work so she raised her chopping knife and pointed it at him. He raised an eyebrow at her but turned back to his walk around the classroom, stopping every so often to berate students for blunders and mishaps.

"Miss Granger, your potion doesn't appear to be at the stage it needs to be," She heard from her left but simply hummed her acknowledgement. "Is there a reason you seem to be unable to complete your work?"

Hermione placed the knife down on the table very slowly, before lifting her gaze to meet his, "No professor." She continued to stare at him with slightly narrowed eyes until he rolled his and walked away with a, "You can redo it tonight in detention. 10 more points from Gryffindor."

The rest of class passed with shooting glares from her, and concerned exasperated looks from him while the other students weren't looking. Finally the bell rang signaling the end of class and there was a rustle of movement as everyone packed up to go to their next class.

"Miss Granger, stay behind please," Professor Snape's voice called over the noise. They waited in silence as her classmates filed out of the room, staying silent until the last person had shut the door. Severus looked over at Hermione who was continuing to glare at her table as though it had done her serious insult and sighed gently. "Herm—"

"Don't you 'Hermione' me mister, I had to deal with my body changing, my sense of smell and taste changing, and all sorts of other shit, and now I have to deal with my uterus throwing a bloody temper tantrum because you won't put batty babies into it." Hermione snarled at him, clenching her fists at her side and scowling at him.

Severus started towards her, but when a growl echoed from his mate he stopped knowing not to push her too hard. He withdrew a pain potion and another chocolate bar and placed them on the table next to him. She zeroed in on them as she walked towards the table, but turned her narrowed eyes on him as she slunk over. When she had taken the pain potion, and eaten half the chocolate bar he chanced reaching his hand out to gently stroke her forehead. A sigh of relief escaped him before he could stop it when she stepped into him and pressed her face into his chest inhaling deeply.

"Mmmphfy," he felt more than heard her mumble.

"Pardon me?"

"Okay, you're pardoned." Hermione said cheekily as she looked up at him, a giggle escaped her at his reproachful look, but she sobered quickly. "I'm sorry. My hormones are all over the place, I can't even try to get a grip on them. Why are they so bad this time but not on my other periods?"

"Female bats, especially if they're mates and not born, have a mating session every 6 months that last for 10 days. It's during this time, if we were to have sex, you would most definitely get pregnant. My body, as your mate, senses and shifts during that time to ensure that I am also more fertile." He said it clinically and ignored the faint blush that swept his mates cheeks.

"By shifts you mean—"

"That I am increasingly grateful that it is already my custom to wear multiple layers of clothing." Hermione blushed harder but also laughed at the eye roll that accompanied his words.

"Is it really that bad?" She asked as she gathered her bag.

"I am able to control it," was the only response she got. Severus gave her a quick kiss on the forehead then shooed her out of his classroom. Once she had exited the room, he took a dozen deep breaths, and scowled down at his erection straining happily against his pants.

XxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

When Hermione walked into detention at 7:59 that night, there was another pain potion and hunk of chocolate already waiting for her at her station with a note that informed her Severus was collecting ingredients from the forest. She smirked to herself, it was probably an excuse to get away from her, relieve some of the tension he must be feeling. The smirk faded at the thought that maybe he was actually relieving the tension. She squashed that thought before it could fully form as she remembered something he'd said. Their marks hurt when they were touched by someone other than their mate, so if he was with someone else her mark would hurt right? Almost as if her mark had been waiting for her to have that thought; a pain sliced across her shoulders so powerful that she dropped her knife. Tears welled in her eyes from both the physical and emotional pain that wracked her body. How could he? How dare he? A sound of anger, half between a sob and a chest deep growl, echoed from her body and into the empty room as she spun on her heel and left her half completed potion behind. Fuck him and his detention to hell.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus clenched his teeth against the pain shooting up his leg as he limped through the forest. A hiss of pain escaped him when his mark burned suddenly and painfully but it made him quicken his pace. He could feel blood dripping down his leg drying and sticking to his leg hair. He entered the castle immediately heading towards his quarters. Something collided with him causing him to grunt and stumble back making his leg protest at the sudden movement.

"Watch where you're—" Snarled a familiar voice making him raise an eyebrow.

"Where were you going in such a hurry Miss Granger," he inquired holding his hand out to help her up. She ignored his hand with a growl and stood to her feet jerkily.

"Did you enjoy yourself professor?" The bitterness and hatred lining her voice made his eyebrows raise again.

"Not particularly."

"Well maybe you should find a different girl next time," she retorted hotly.

"A different—What exactly did you believe I was doing Miss Granger?" He hissed, feeling his own anger raise.

"My mark burned, it only burns when you're touching someone else, so what do you think I think you were doing?"

Severus grabbed her arm and dragged her back towards his quarters ignoring her squawk of displeasure and struggles. Once they were inside and he'd shut the door, he began to undo his pants, again choosing not to listen to her, "What the hell are you doing?"

"This is what you felt you foolish girl, I was injured. You're as thick as a first year," He barked at her as he gestured to his bleeding leg and felt no small triumph in her gasp of concern.

"What happened? What did you do?" She questioned as she bustled about looking for supplies to tend to his wound. "Why would I feel you get injured? It's never happened before. Do you feel it when I'm injured?"

Severus let himself be manhandled into an armchair feeling faintly entertained as his mate's shift from furious woman to mother-hen in a matter of seconds. He hissed as Hermione prodded the wound more roughly than he thought was needed, and her slight smirk confirmed it.

"Are you going to answer my questions?" She asked after a few minutes silence.

"They were fired at me so rapidly I didn't catch them," He replied sardonically causing her to poke his leg. "If you don't stop that I'm going to take points for Professor abuse."

Hermione snorted at his empty threat, "I'd love to see you explain that to Professor McGonagall. My first question was why haven't I felt it before?"

"I do not find myself in many situations where I am injured."

"Have you felt it?"

"You are quite klutzy," At her scowl he added, "Yes I have felt it on occasion."

"What did you do to injure yourself?" Silence met this question; it went on for so long that she was worried he'd fallen asleep. A glance up at him told her that he was scowling and there was a distinctly pink hue to his cheeks. "Are you—Are you blushing?"

"Most certainly not. I may have—overestimated my ability to walk in the dark."

Hermione blinked a few times as that sunk in, and then she started laughing. "You mean—you mean you tripped in the dark—and what? Fell on a stick?" His scowl increased ever so slightly making her laugh all the harder. "Oh my god, you fell on a stick?"

"Indeed."

"Now who's the klutz hmm?" Hermione joked causing him to roll his eyes. "When else does the mark burn for you?"

"If you experience particularly strong emotions, such as anger or fear, I feel it."

"Why doesn't mine burn very often?" Hermione asked slightly put out.

"I am very rarely injured, and even more rarely do I experience strong enough emotions for you to feel it. You are young, your emotions and experiences are fresh and sharp compared to mine. I've had time to temper my emotions and not let them run me."

She tried to feel affronted at that but found that it was difficult to; his words were true after all. The last of the wound was healed in silence and the supplies vanished. She looked up at him to see that he had laid his head back and closed his eyes. They shot open however as she settled herself into his lap straddling his legs.

"What are you doing?" Severus hissed in a low voice. Her hands slid around his neck and played with the hair at his nape that made him relax even more.

"Sitting," she said but he was unable to answer as her lips met his. Hermione felt like she'd grabbed a livewire and held on as it sparked and sizzled. She felt his hands come up to her hips, but they didn't push or pull as she expected. His thumbs slipped under her shirt to caress the skin beneath and he opened his mouth to her questing tongue. Their tongues started dancing with each other, the only sounds in the room was their mutual breathing. Severus' hold went from passive to pressing her closer to him and Hermione moaned softly as her core rubbed against the bulge already present in his trousers. She grounded against him instinctively making both of their breathing hitch and his fingers dug into her hips.

"This is unwise," Severus said as he broke the kiss, his breathing irregular. His body was thrumming with the hormones his mate was unknowingly putting out making him achingly aware of how long it had been since he'd been buried deep inside her. The need to claim her, to remind her just who she belonged to was suffocating in its intensity.

"Please, I just—" He felt and heard her say against his neck where she'd buried her face. The tiny kisses and nibbles she was trailing down the column of his throat. The last of his reserve broke away with a growl and he sealed his lips over hers with renewed passion. Their shirts and outer clothes were quickly lost under impatient hands. He felt her shaking hands move to unclasp his pants and free his weeping erection, he shifted to give her more room but a sudden alarm shrieked through the air causing Hermione to jump of his lap.

If he was a man less in control of himself he would have growled in frustration as he waved his hand simultaneously turning off the alarm and unlocking his quarters. "Enter." He had never been so unhappy to see Nott in his entire life, but the stricken look on his face kept him from snapping at his long-time friend.

"There was an attack on the pack, two are dead, several are injured," Nott said without preamble.

"Who—?"

"Leighanna has turned sides; she showed them where headquarters was."

Severus was pulling on his shirt and coat before Nott had finished speaking. He nodded to Nott who shifted into his bat form and took off. He turned to Hermione and leaned forward to give her a quick kiss, "I'm sorry. Let Luna know, I'll be back soon, with Nott." Hermione could only nod before he too shifted and was gone.

Hermione was so distracted as she walked from Severus' quarters to Gryffindor tower that she walked smack into someone.

"Hermione—You okay?" Harry's voice asked her shaking her from her thoughts.

"What? Oh, Harry, yes I'm fine." She replied with a small smile that quickly slid from her face. "Just tired, that's all." They walked beside each other towards Gryffindor tower, and if Hermione had been more aware, she would have noticed the stiffness in the silence between herself and her friend. As it was, she stayed quiet until they reached the common room, and continued to bed with a soft "night Harry".

What were Nott and Severus going to do? Were they going to launch a full scale attack again a woman? Who had died? How many were injured? Were Nott and Severus in danger going back there? Her mind ran in impossible circles trying to answer questions that seemed impossible to answer until her mate returned. A scowl appeared on her face, why had she been left behind? Surely she could have been some help. Instead she was to wait here, like a child waiting for its parent to return. A frustrated huff made itself past her lips and she flopped back on her bed. What a frustrating situation.

XXxxXXxxXXxxXX

Severus and Nott stood at the mouth of the cave feeling exhausted and worn out. They'd flown to the cave to see wreckage and damage to almost the entire mountainside. A new location would have to be found, soon. The other bats had apparently attacked with furious strength and then left as quickly as they'd appeared leaving carnage and wounded behind. Severus had been able to take care of those who were injured and in need of healing potions, thankful once again that he'd thought to grab the necessary potions. It wasn't as though this was entirely unexpected, he had been aware that an attack like this would be attempted as soon as he had taken up the alpha position. You don't simply take charge of a rogue bat pack and expect life to continue on like normal. The fact that Leighanna was the leader of the attack made Severus' blood boil.

"When should we begin to look for a new location?" A semi-familiar voice said from behind them causing them to turn to face Toby. Unlike most of the other bats, he met Severus' eyes head on, making the other man tense and growl before he could stop himself.

"Immediately," Severus replied before turning back to face the countryside that lay below them.

"Do you have any ideas as to where it should be?" Toby asked as he walked to stand next to Severus. To say that having an alter-him around was strange was a vast understatement. Indeed Nott had to admit that having two of them around was odd as well, but there were such clear differences between them that it was like being around two different people who shared looks.

Severus pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to stem some of the headache he could feel beginning to pound behind his eyes. "It will have to be somewhere like this, away from civilization but close enough that we can gather supplies. The mount will need to be structured like this so it will not do any damage to magic it and alter the structure."

"Why not settle in a village?" Toby questioned making Severus roll his eyes and round on him.

"We can't just settle into a village because many of these people stay in their bat form nearly all day, only switching at night. Those that go out during the day to work at the Ministry, have to be careful to do it so that they don't expose or compromise the rest of the pack. Most of them are so wary of people that they haven't been around them in decades. Not only that, but settling into a public area around other humans will allow the elite bats to do more damage. We must stay hidden."

"Why don't you just attack first?"

This time both Nott and Severus turned to stare at him with similar, 'are you retarded?' looks. "We can't just 'attack first' as you so indelicately said because they outnumber us by thirty to one. Some of them were either supporters of Voldemort, or were family of those who were. They aren't school children forming a study club. They are ruthless, well trained, and have honed their skills in order to inflict the absolute most damage." Nott answered this time, his voice and face so hard that the other man took an involuntary step back. Nott forced himself to take a deep breath and relax slightly. "This situation is something that we've only just stepped into, you even more so, it takes time to learn and assess how to handle certain situations."

"Understood. Would you like me to go scout now?" Toby asked with a slightly more subdued continence. His eyes averted in an obvious sign of submission before his leaders.

"Take someone with you, do not land, do not transform, do nothing but scout." Severus ordered waiting until Toby nodded to walk past him back into the cave Nott right behind him.

"Are you still concerned about what we spoke about?" Nott queried, his voice pitched low so that it would not travel beyond the two of them.

"He seems to be loyal, if not a little more challenging than the other males, but he is unbonded and not use to operating in a pack setting. He must adapt. I do not believe he will challenge me for the leader position." Severus responded softly, his own voice low. The pair entered into the antechamber in the cave where the room was bustling with people cleaning both room and others.

"John," Severus called across the room causing everyone to stop and turn to him, the man called walked forward and stood with his head bowed. "Go with Toby to scout, do not transform or land. I want you back in exactly one hour. If you're not back, do not come back." The man nodded and moved to leave but Severus stopped him as John passed him. "Keep an eye on Toby."

"He is untrustworthy?" John questioned, meeting Severus' eyes and holding the gaze.

"Better to be safe than sorry, we've lost enough people for today." Severus replied solemnly. His words were met with a short nod as the other man left.

"Do you think that is wise?" Nott asked lowering his gaze when Severus turned back to him, letting the other man know subconsciously that he wasn't challenging the decision. Nott looked back up when Severus said, "I'm unsure what is wise at the moment."

XXxxXXxxXXxxXX

Hermione entered the Great Hall the next day feeling like she'd run a marathon and then swam across the Great Lake, then didn't sleep. The mirror had showed deep purple bruises under her eyes and a slight puffing quality to her face that she couldn't charm off no matter how hard she tried. Her cramping had started up again as she just managed to fall asleep meaning that sleep was sparse. A quick glance at the head table showed both Nott and Severus in their respective chairs looking tired but unharmed; their heads were bent close together in deep conversation.

Hermione had just started unenthusiastically nibbling on her toast when Harry sat in front of her. He stared at her until she looked up with a sigh. "Well, what is it?"

"I've come to—to tell you that—that—I," Harry stuttered so painfully that Hermione took pity on him.

"That you were an enormous dunderhead and are incredibly thick-headed for causing this to disrupt 7 years of friendship over a petty little dislike that is completely unfounded and not to mention—"

"Hermione, breathe," Harry said with a small laugh. "But yes, to all of that. I'm sorry. Snape isn't a bad guy, and I'll probably never like him but—I miss you being around."

"What assignments exactly are you and Ron behind on?" Hermione questioned good naturedly.

"It's insulting that you would think that I only apologized because—"

"How many Harry?"

Her questioned caused him to slump on the bench with a dejected sigh, "Potions, defense, and Herbology."

Hermione rolled her eyes but shook her head, "I'll help you tonight after classes, but Ron has yet to apologize, he's on his own." Harry beamed at her as he stood from the table and walked to where Ron was sitting. A glare was sent her way as Harry gave Ron her conditions but she pointedly turned back to her plate realizing that she was suddenly more hungry. She grabbed several slices of bacon and ate them in quick succession, before reaching for more.

"I get like that too," A dreamy voice said from next to her. She looked at Luna and smiled gently through her full mouth.

"Good morning Luna," She said once she'd swallowed her mouthful. "How are you?"

"Tired, but I suspect the Nargles are responsible," Luna replied as she placed various food on her plate. Hermione noticed she avoided any meats, choosing instead more vegetarian selections. Luna must have noticed her staring because she leaned closer and whispered, "I'm not much of a fan of meat since—"

Hermione nodded in understanding, turning back to her own plate when a sudden thought struck her. She turned back to her friends and whispered, "Do you get—crazy periods too?"

Luna nodded serenely as she licked a bit of marmalade off her finger. "Oh yes, mine was last week."

Hermione was silent for a minute and then, "But that means that you and Nott—" Her sentence was cut off by Luna's hand over her mouth. Hermione nodded and said, "Sorry. Weird to think about," once the hand was removed. Luna tipped her head in acknowledgement as she continued to munch on her fruit and the two finished their breakfasts in silence.

XxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

The day passed too slowly for Hermione's tastes, though her exhaustion could be blamed partially for that. The muggle phrase, "Time goes slowly when you're waiting for something" rang true to her as the minutes felt like hours. Finally the bell rang for the last class and she hurried towards the dungeons hoping to catch Severus before dinner. She rounded a corner and slammed into someone, dropping onto her butt with an undignified "oomf".

"As graceful as ever Miss Granger," Severus' voice said from above her causing her to throw a dirty look at him as she stood.

"Don't you pay attention as you walk around or does being a bat compromise your vision?" Hermione snapped back as she rubbed her slightly throbbing backside. She looked up in time to see Severus' lip twitch meaning he was secretly howling with laughter on the inside. "I dislike you immensely some days."

Severus responded by looking around them and grabbing her wrist before dragging her into an alcove a little ways up the corridor. Once they were hidden in the shadows their mouths met in a furious kiss that was equal parts passion and assuring the other that all was well. Hermione felt his hands come up to bury in her hair as he gentled the kiss and pulled away, placing a chaste kiss on her lips before pulling away completely.

"What happened last night?" Hermione whispered to him. "How many were hurt?"

"Too many, we have to find a place to relocate," Severus responded to her as he stepped away allowing her to straighten herself. They turned together to walk towards the great hall standing far enough apart to appear to be simply student and teacher.

"Where will that be?"

"Unsure yet, it depends on the locations we come up with."

"What are you going to do until a new place is picked?" Hermione questioned as they descended the staircase into the Entrance Hall.

"Have scouts and tighten security, I will be going back with Nott tonight so don't try to come to my quarters," He said in parting as he walked away from her to enter the hall by the Head Table. Hermione scowled slightly as his back but turned to enter the hall to eat dinner with her mind dancing in circles around the new information.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Hermione and Harry sat by a window in the common room that night, partly so she could keep an eye out on the skies, and partly so she didn't have to see Ron and Lavender sucking face on the sofa. Harry's Herbology essay was so riddled with mistakes and errors that she felt herself go cross eyed.

"How is it, after 6 years of schooling and one year on the run, you are still rubbish at this?" Hermione asked him.

"I wasn't paying attention to herbology while we were on the run," Harry said roughly, his tone becoming hard and tense the way it always did when they discussed the War and the time before it. Hermione studied him over his parchment as he scratched out some sentences he was writing. "I'm fine Hermione; you don't need to stare at me."

"Have the nightmares stopped yet?"

Harry sighed as he put his parchment down and met her eyes. "Some nights, I dream that we're back at the Burrow before everything went to hell, it's nice, peaceful. Other nights I dream that everyone who survived the War, really died, those are the nights I get little to no sleep. I find myself still expecting to get flashes of pain and Voldemort's thoughts."

"That's normal though, 17 years of living with something only to have it disappear would be hard on anyone, and I don't think there's a single survivor who doesn't have those nightmares. You're just as sane as I am," Hermione said gently, echoing the words Luna Lovegood had said in 5th year. She was rewarded with a smile from Harry before he resumed his work on his essay.

XXxxXXxxXXxxXX

Hermione jerked upright as the sound of tapping reached her sleep induced head. She squinted around the room in an attempt to locate the noise but it was too dark to see. A series of taps sounded and she got out of bed to investigate. A quick spell made her wand tip flare with light and she cast it around her room before coming to rest on the window where a bat was clacking its claws against the glass. She hurried over to the window and let the bat in, sighing in relief as she recognized Nott's form.

"Thanks God you're alright, where's Severus?" Hermione asked as she turned to find her bathrobe. It wouldn't do to talk to her mate's best friend in boy shorts and an old Quidditch Jersey.

"Stupefy!"

Hermione squeaked as the unexpected spell hit her and she fell back. The last thing her heard before darkness took her was a female saying "stupid bitch".

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus walked into his quarters, slightly surprised and annoyed to see Hermione sitting there. "I said not to come tonight, I meant all night Hermione." He said tiredly.

"I—I wanted to see you," His mate replied blushing slightly under his disapproving gaze. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist pressing her cheek against his chest. "I was worried, and I wanted to make sure you were alright."

Severus buried his face in his mate's hair and breathed in her reassuring scent before pulling back to press a kiss to her forehead. "I'm uninjured and safe. Were you seen on your way down here?" He felt her shake her head against his lips until she tipped her head back to look him in the eye. He leaned forward as seized her mouth in a kiss, slipping his tongue inside when her mouth opened. Her moan of pleasure into his mouth made his blood rush to his groin with dizzying speed. He slid his hands down her waist to cup her thighs and lifted her. A few steps later he was lowering onto his bed and pressing his body up against hers in a familiar age-old stance. He trailed kisses down her neck, moving his hands to pull her shirt over her head in a quick movement. A short flick of his fingers behind her back and her breasts spilled out for his perusal. The buds of her nipples tightened in the cool air and he immediately applied his mouth to each swell swathing first one with attention before moving to the other one. Her fingers at his throat caused him to pull back so she could undo the buttons but the shaking in her hands caused him to brush them aside to do it himself. He quickly divested himself of the rest of his clothing and watched her hungrily as she stood to do the same thing. The muscles in her back shifted as she teasingly looked over her shoulder at him when she unzipped her skirt. Her pert butt was place in the air enticingly when she bent over to pull her shoes and socks off making his erection throb painfully.

Minutes later they were back on the bed wrapped together as Severus slipped his fingers down to play with her slick entrance, the throaty moan he received made him smirk against her throat where she was kissing and nibbling on the skin. In one swift movement he grabbed his wand from his bedside table and shoved it against her throat, making her hiss in pain.

"Where is my mate," Severus growled out with all of the anger and protectiveness his bat nature had been supplying him since he hugged her. He pulled his head back and watched the familiar beloved brown eyes of his mate shift back to equally familiar blue eyes.

The familiar blue eyes of Leighanna stared up at him, her face blank for a split second before it broke into a sultry look Severus was very familiar with. She reminded him of their state of undress by running her nails down his sides leading to grip his completely flagged erection.

"How'd you know it wasn't her? How'd you know it wasn't your little bitc—" Her taunting sentence was cut off as he dug the tip of his wand deeper into her throat.

"You don't smell like her, you don't have my mark, you will never be her," he snarled out hatefully emphasizing his words with sharps presses against her throat.

"Come on Severus, I can make you feel good," She whispered, her tongue peeking out and tasting his wrist.

Severus let out of furious hiss and shot away from her, he grabbed his pants and shoved himself into them ignoring the hungry look he received. "Clearly you're no longer able to make me feel good. Now, where is my mate?"

Leighanna flounced of the bed her long hair swaying nicely down her back. "Your mate? Your mate who fell for my ploy? Your mate who is such a stupid child that she let me into her room where I was able to incapacitate her? Your mate is pathetic; you deserve someone strong, someone able to fight with and for you, not some slut of a girl hoping to better herself."

Severus opened his mouth to retort but blinding pain shot across his shoulder making him clench his teeth. The pain was more intense than anything he'd ever felt from Voldemort, it felt like his very heart was being ripped from his chest in a mix of heartbreak, pain, fear, and a million other emotions he couldn't sort through. His last thread of patience and control snapped, in an instant he had Leighanna pressed against the wall with a hand around her throat. " . ?" He growled so dangerously that some of the color faded from the woman's face.

"She's perfectly safe—"

Severus tightened his hold to cut off her sentence as well as her breath. "Where?" The pain in his shoulder intensified until he was forced to release Leighanna. A shudder ran through him as the wards of his quarters were breached and forceful magic hit him so strongly that he tensed. The door to his room burst open to reveal his bruised and slightly bloodied mate but she didn't spare him so much as a glance as she stalked towards Leighanna.

"How did you—?" Leighanna began but Hermione waved a hand in the air that silenced her.

"You stupid wretched whore – I escaped from Voldemort's most faithful followers. People more powerful than you, you think that your disgusting ropes would hold me?" Hermione snarled so savagely that Severus felt the hair on his neck raise. She raised her hand and backhanded Leighanna with such force that the other woman fell back into the wall. Severus thought that she was done but instead Hermione stooped to grab the fallen woman by the hair forcing her head back until Leighanna was forced to meet Hermione's eyes. "If you ever come near me or my mate again, I will kill you, do you understand?"

Leighanna's eyes flashed in defiance; when she remained silent Hermione pressed the tip of her wand into the captured woman's throat pressing hard enough that Leighanna recoiled. "I said, do you understand?"

"Yes," Leighanna hissed out, her voice rough from Hermione's wand against her esophagus as well as the awkward angle her head had been involuntary bent into. A gasp echoed around the room when Hermione slipped her wand up and sliced Leighanna's cheek.

"Get out." Hermione stepped away from the other female, who transformed instantly and was gone before something else could happen. Severus stared at the hard tense line of Hermione back and his bat hearing caught the sound of her ragged breathing.

"Hermione—"

"I felt it." Her sharp words were thrown back at him.

"I didn't know—"

"That is such shit and you know it. A person can imitate someone, but a bat's mate will know the difference. You would know the difference," Hermione snarled angrily finally turning to face him with anger etched in every line of her face. The normally calm and beloved brown eyes so full of happiness, were hard edged with hate and fury.

"I couldn't let her know until I could—"

"So you decided to what? Almost fuck her?" Her words were hurled at him with such accuracy that he felt the urge to flinch.

"I will not stand her and listen to your accusations. I did what I had to do." Severus said in a booming voice, his own anger beginning to rise.

"You did what you had to do?" Hermione echoed hollowly. "Was it easy for you? To just fall back into bed with someone willing, while you refuse your own mate."

"You know the reason—"

"I know nothing—I looked it up, dear, I am only extremely fertile in the first 3 days of my cycle and after that a regular potion will work. Were you simply looking for someone to amuse yourself with or did you decide that two witches are better than one? Was I just some distraction to you?"

Severus strode forward and grabbed her arms, roughly forcing her against the wall behind her with a growl echoing from his throat in warning. The man and bat were warring with themselves, the bat half told him to tread carefully, this was his mate, his one chosen partner. The man part was furious for her accusations, old seated words hurled at him transporting him back 15 years in time. His thoughts were abruptly broken at the answering growl that met his. He was shoved backwards with more force than he would have thoughts possible from his mate and her words froze him in his place.

"I am not your mate any longer. I stopped being your mate when you allowed another into your bed. I challenge your claim," She roared out, saying the ancient words that made Severus' heart stop in his chest. Everything in his body was fighting, screaming at him to make things better, to not say the answering words required of him. This was unheard of; this was exactly what generation after generation of bats feared more than anything. His entire existence was breaking apart under the weight of her words even as he opened his mouth to rasp out.

"I acknowledge your challenge, and so withdraw." Pain bloomed through once more through him from his shoulder as his mark burned hot. His eyes stayed on her as she faced him, the pain in her eyes mirrored on her face, telling him that the agony was shared. He hung his head to grit his teeth against the torture when it stopped as quickly as it began.

Hermione fled from his rooms, tears welling in her eyes to make her vision blurry. She stumbled around the corner and into a solid body. Blue eyes met hers much as they had so long ago on the battlefield, catching her just as they did now. Only this time there was a sharp gasp of breath, and she quickly found herself shoved from the hard reassuring body.

"What did you do?" Nott whispered.

"Nott, what-?

"What did you do? Why is your scent different? What did you do?" Nott's words were hissed out in such urgency that she immediately answered.

"He almost slept with Leighanna."

"Wh—why? What? No. How?"

"I—She came to my room disguised as you—" She snapped her mouth shut and raised her wand till it was eye level with Nott. "What did you say to me the first time we met?"

"Hermione—what?"

"What did you say?" Hermione repeated, red sparks flying from her wand.

"Run." His words made her throw herself into her arms and sob.

"She was there, dressed in some school uniform, and he was there in just his pants—they weren't even zipped up."

"Hermione, you—what did you do?" Nott whispered into her hair. "What did you do?"

"I challenged his claim to me, he doesn't want me—"

"What did he say? What happened? Hermione, you must tell me!"

"I told him I challenged his claim to me, that I wasn't his mate when he let that—that whore into his bed. He said—Merlin, he just said that he acknowledged it and withdrew from the challenge."

"He withdrew! Hermione, he withdrew?"

"Ye—yes. Why? Nott what's wrong? What?" Hermione asked, a cold heat suffusing her body as a fear gripped her.

"Did you respond to his withdraw? Did you say anything?"

"No. Was I supposed to? The book—"

"You did this based on a book? Hermione, if you don't respond to his withdraw, if you don't tell him it's acknowledged or ignored. He will die. Bats cannot be without their mates once chosen. Bats mate for life, once they mate, to be unmated is fatal."

"I can't be with a cheater, I don't deserve it!" Hermione argued, furious that she was just meant to forgive him.

"Hermione use your brain. Severus loves you. He loves you Hermione. Do you honestly and truly think so little of his love that you think he'd cheat? Especially with her? She's been after him since school Hermione; she's wanted to ensnare him, so share his power that comes with being born an alpha male."

"She came to my room disguised as you." Hermione said blankly. Her thoughts pinning wildly until they all halted in memory of the shirt the bitch had been wearing. "She was wearing my clothes!" Hermione shrieked out, her mind racing once more. "She planned this. She planned the attack on the cave to draw Severus there, to keep him away from Hogwarts; she planned that as the distraction she needed to get inside the situation." Her body was literally throbbing with the realizations that hit her with the force of a train.

"So glad your brain has started functioning again," Nott said drily, sarcasm and exasperation coloring his tone.

"Oh God—what have I done? Nott, what do I do? I'm such an idiot."

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus watched her run from the room, his withdraw unanswered and felt his gut clench. Generations of biology forcing his body into shutting down, an unanswered withdraws after a challenge was worse than fighting for the claim. She didn't accept his withdraw. She didn't accept. She meant him to suffer. Of course she meant him to suffer. Everyone wanted him to suffer.

He clutched blindly at the bedpost next to him bile rising in his throat, his heart, beats already numbered, hammered running down the last of its movement quickly. How did he get in this position? He swore never to take a mate because of this reason. He swore never to love, never to trust another, because this was the consequence. First his belief that Lily would be his mate, only to have that ripped away by Potter, now this.

A slamming door broke his thoughts and he turned his focus towards the newcomer that dared disrupt his peace, forcing themselves into the last moments of peace. His eyes drank in the sight of his mate standing before him, practically shaking, like a dying man. Had her hair always been that curly? Her eyes always that brown?

"Your withdraw is acknowledged and so—" Her words paused for a moment as tears welled in her eyes, but a glint of determination formed there too. "Ignored." The words sent a wash of cool relief over him before her words caught his mind in their hold.

Fury was back, anger and the fierce protectiveness born from pain, betrayal, and history, "Who is it? Who will fight my claim to you? Who dares mark what is already owned? I will kill them. I will hunt them to the edge of the earth and fight for my claim to you. You are my mate. Mine! You bear my mark, and mine alone. Who dares?" He barked out at her.

"That's right, I am marked," Hermione yelled back as she pushed him for the second time. "I wear your mark." She walked forward and slapped her hand onto the mark he still wore on his chest over his heart, a perfect print of her teeth announcing him as mated to those who knew to look.

"But you wear mine as well Severus Snape, or have you forgotten? .mine." She ground out, her lips pulled back over the elongated teeth that had grown when she issued her challenge. Before he could stop her or she could back out she thrust her teeth into the same mark piercing his flesh. The first taste of blood against her tongue caused her head to throb so painfully it felt like it would crack. His wordless yell reached her ears as though hearing it from under water. Hands grabbed her arms and forced her mouth from him, but her protest died on her lips when he pressed his own mouth to her shoulder.

Severus felt her head fall against his shoulder but was too lost in the wonderfully painful throb in his head and shoulder to care. He needed this. They needed this. It was like a reaffirmation of life, the way her scent and essence flowed across his senses like water. It was like a dying oasis getting rain after a drought. Her presences soothed the cracks, the pain, and life-altering damage done by her challenge. He tore his mouth from her shoulder and pulled her around into his embrace. Their mouths met, their blood mixing in their mouths adding an edge to an already steamy kiss. The pain of their rejoining made them both groan but their mouths stayed locked together. Severus picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist, in an almost perfect mimic of what he had done to Leighanna, but this was his mate. This complex, infuriating, whelp of a chit that pressed all his buttons in the most annoyingly endearing way. He heard her grunt as her back met the wall but he paid the noise no heed as he ripped the clothing that kept her body from him.

"Are you—" He asked, the vague memory of her cycle making his pause

"No, stopped at lunch," She answered back, the words barely out of her mouth when he crushed his mouth over hers. He placed her back on her feet only long enough to rip the pajama bottoms from her body, barely registering that she wore no undergarments. She was back against the wall seconds later, being held in place by his hands. A pause was all that kept him from his destination, but he thrust into her waiting heat before the permission or denial could be given.

Hermione gasped as he thrust home without any preamble, she was wet enough to slick the way, had been since she'd bit him, but the sudden fullness made the noise escape her without thought. He lifted his head up and their gazes locked in a stare that made the air almost seem to sizzle with intensity. His thrusts punched the air from her lungs on each upward lunge but it just made her head spin with arousal so thick she could taste it. The angle was good, so good; the course hairs of his stomach provided enough tickling sensation to her clit to be maddening. The tip of his penis caressed her cervix making her stomach twist and chase desire up and down her spine. His fingertips were digging crescents into her buttocks, the pain-pleasure adding to the experience. She was close, her body tensing in preparation for her release when he was suddenly gone. A whimper of protest was out of her mouth before she could stop it only to be silenced when he manhandled her over the lone armchair that sat in his room. She was compelled around and face first over the arm, complaint dying as he pressed into her swiftly. The new angle freed his hands which he quickly put to use by gripping her hips for leverage as he pounded into her with new ferocity. His fingers reached down to dance across the slickness that covered her lips and clit, the roughness of the pads making her moan. Her hands came up to brace herself against the other arm to press back to meet his thrusts.

Severus wrapped a hand loosely in her hair, giving it a sharp tug to bring her head back as he leaned forward. He was forced to slow his hips to shallow little thrusts, but Hermione whimpered as each one landed a shot right to her core.

"Say it."

"Sev—Severus, please," she pleaded.

"Say it, say it now." He hissed in her ear before he applied his mouth to her shoulder, nibbling so close to her mark that she arched in encouragement. "Say it," He repeated with a little tug on her hair, never lifting his mouth from his nibbles.

"Yours." He growled in satisfaction and released her hair, he nipped her mark sharply as his hips picked back up their pace. Her body once against stiffening as his fingers fluttered over her clit in the most delicious way. "Severus—Please—God—yes, yes," she babbled the whined high in her throat as her climax hit her making her walls clench around Severus' throbbing length so hard that white flashed behind his eyes. One, two, three thrusts later and he buried himself to the hilt in her welcoming body to empty himself into her with a groan. His orgasm felt like it lasted forever, the twitching of her walls sending renewed wave after wave of sensation through his dick up his body blanking his brain out.

Hermione held herself up on shaky leg as he withdrew, only to stumble when he fell into the armchair. His chest was heaving as she watched a trickle of sweat make its way down the side of his face; her observation of the droplet was interrupted when he suddenly turned his head to meet her eyes. She licked her lips to wet them as her eyes flicked down to his own parted lips. His hand came up to cup her face with such gentleness that had tears spilling down her cheeks. She let herself be led to sit on his lap, vaguely realizing that he still wore his pants. His mouth caught the tears that ran down her face unchecked with a tenderness that made her heart clench.

"I love you, Merlin, I'm sorry. I was so stupid. I love you, I love you, I'm sorry," She babbled until his mouth cut off her words. He broke the kiss after only a few moments, but laid his forehead against hers.

"I love you. I love you my Hermione, my mate. No one else. You're my future." Hermione let out a wet laugh and hugged Severus tightly to her.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

"You appear to be upset."

"There are intricacies of being a bat that are sometimes a hindrance, a pain, and often life threatening if misinterpreted." Luna wound her arms around her mate and rested her head against his shoulder blade, she let him talk, there was tenseness to his body that was not there on normal occasions. "Promise me; promise me that you will verify something before you challenge me."

At this Nott turned around to look into the beautiful face of his mate, his heart-holder, searching her eyes for any sign that she wouldn't do it. Her head was tipped delicately to the side, her eyes trailing over his face with such strength that it felt like an actual caress. She tilted her head up, presently her lips at such an angle that he felt almost compelled by magic to press his own against them. The taste of her made his head spin wonderfully, his heart filling with a warmth that he'd long since given up hope for. She was like the sun, powerful in its beauty, but giving life to him that he desperately needed sometimes. His hands cradled her head, her hair spilling through his fingers like liquid, the lavender scent that seemed to come from her very blood was a balm to the tempest that had been raging inside him since he'd run into Hermione.

Luna pulled back gently, and rested her forehead against Nott's lips when he pressed a kiss there. She wrapped her arms around his waist and allowed herself to be enveloped in his familiar scent. He had yet to give her a reason to not trust him, to doubt him even a little; there seemed no reason to start now. The sounds of the night echoed around them, each lost in their other thoughts and yet still inexplicably linked to each other. It was a communication that surpassed words, communication that stemmed from the silence of two people who knew when to ask questions, demand answers, and when to be a rock in the storms of life.

"I promise."

A sigh of relief was her only response.

Hermione lifted her head from Severus' chest where she'd spent the last quarter hour listening to his heart, to the reaffirmation that he lived. Lazy fingers combed through her hair, followed by the tingle of magic every time said fingers would find a tangle. She was loath to disrupt the calm silence the pair had settled into but her mind was thriving with questions.

"Ask your questions before you shake us off the bed," She heard from her pillow, the deep baritone voice was thick with humor as well as deep satiation.

"How did you-? "

"You've positively vibrated when you have questions since you were eleven and wanted to answer my questions in class," Hermione lifted her head to glare at Severus but it held no real heat. She ignored the urge to stick her tongue out at him and instead bite his side causing him to squirm.

"Very well. Why didn't I read anything about the claim mates have in the books I found in the library?" Tensions racketed through her mate's body at her words starting with his face, his eyes narrowed and his lips thinned, until his whole body was as tense as stone. He brushed her off, and stood from the bed, walking away from her ignoring his own nakedness. Hermione opened her mouth to apologize but shut it against when he approached a bookshelf, pulled a book off, and then returned to his previous position.

"This book was passed down through my family every time a new bat was borne; it has all the information on bats, written by bats, rather than the books written by those who only studied them." He explained as he handed her the book, she took it gently and received a raised eyebrow when she didn't start to read it immediately.

"What time is it?" She questioned as she moved into a more comfortable position.

"After midnight," Severus answered her. His voice was slightly muffled causing her to look up only to find his face hidden from her behind his own book.

She settled in and starting reading, giggling slightly when the image of how they must look flew into her head. Two naked people, cuddled in bed, reading their respective books. If you had told her a year ago that this would be where she was today, well, she'd probably suggest a trip to Saint Mungo's. Relaxation began to loosen her body as her mind calmed from the mixture of a warm body, steady breathing, and the comforting scent that seemed to cling to Severus no matter what he did. Her eyelids began to droop and her blinks became longer until her eyes closed and the book in her hand fell onto Severus' stomach.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus winced when his book hit his stomach, and he peered down at where Hermione's read was resting. Her eyes were closed and twitching slightly, signifying that she was dreaming. He picked up the book and placed it, along with his own, on the bedside table then turned his attention back to the witch. Her delicate features were relaxed and softened in sleep, making her seem even younger than her 19 years. Looking this close he could tell where her freckles littered her nose and cheeks, they weren't as noticeable as they had been during the summer months but she hardly spent much time in the sun now. Her wild mane of hair, which had calmed some but not much, was spread across him, the sheets, and her shoulders. The chestnut curls had a pleasing look of blondes, browns, and reds that spoke of both time in the sun and good genes. He carefully smoothed her hair away from her shoulder to reveal the mark he had placed her many months ago. His fingers traced it gently, stilling completely when the sleeping witch stirred. She shifted so the she was laying more on her stomach and less on him; she pressed her face against his side by where his heart lay as though she couldn't bear to be separated from him for even a second.

The throb from his bladder told him that a trip to the bathroom was dire, so he extracted himself as carefully as he could from the sleeping figure beside him, snorting in amusement when some of her hair stuck to his chest hair. She was still fast asleep when he walked back towards the bed, though she had moved to take up most of the space in the double bed. A few nudges and disgruntled snuffles were all it took to retake his place in his bed, and he'd just gotten comfortable when he found the sleeping witch next to him again. She threw her arm over his stomach and pressed her forehead back into his side. Severus allowed a soft smile to part his lips before he closed his eyes and let sleep take him.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Hermione surfaced from sleep to an empty bed and the blankets kicked to the end of the bed. Her sensitive hearing picked up the sound of running water and a sly smile broke out on her face as she slipped from Severus' bed. The door to the bathroom noiselessly opened and she walked to the shower, pausing slightly before shrugging and climbing in. Severus' back was to her but his shoulders remained relaxed. Soap ran from his hair down his spine to disappear in between his butt cheeks. She admired the view, the play of muscles that shifted and moved under his skin, the stark contrast of his black mark against his pale complexion. She reached her hand out and grabbed the soap from the cubby, causing Severus to tense slightly before relaxing again. He turned to face her, his face curiously blank and his eyes once against unreadable. His lack of expression and his countenance said that he was nervous, anxious about their situation, despite having been naked around each other many time before. Her eyes caught and held his as she rubbed the soap between her hands lathering them up before she ran them over his skin. Breath was sucked in when her nails grazed his nipples, causing the buds to tighten and stick out from the black hair that surrounded them. Eyes followed her hands movements as they traced down towards the hardening length that rested between Severus' legs. She ignored it in favor of moving onto his legs, then motioned for him to turn around and started on his back. Severus hummed in his throat when she used her nails to scrubs his back, an action that made his back arch in a move reminiscently alike a cat. Hermione tried to imagine Severus with a cat tail and ears and had to bite her lip to keep her laughter from spilling out.

When her hands moved to his hair, he tipped his head back and made another humming noise. She used her nails to scrub gently at his scalp and marveled at the way the silken strands spread over her fingers like sand. By the time she had completely washed him, his erection was weeping from between his legs and her own center throbbed with desire. The soap was barely rinsed from his body when he pulled her against him and seized her lips in a fierce kiss. She found herself being lifted and pressed against the shower wall with her legs wrapping themselves around his hips. One blind thrust, and then he was sliding into her with a moan that she captured with her mouth. The pace was fast, meant to reach completion quickly rather than the leisurely pace they normally had. Being held up by him and using gravity to assist his thrust meant that he went deeper, his thrusts more shallow rocks that had his stomach rubbing against her clit in a maddening way. Her nails dug into his shoulder blades on their own as her body began to tense, quickly making rushing towards that wonderful crest that would light her body on fire. Kisses and nibbles were applied to her neck and she tipped it back to make it easier, a sharp bite on the sensitive skin under her ear shoved her over the cliff into mind-numbing release. She heard Severus' release distantly over the blood rushing in her ears and the dizzying sensation of her senses returning after her climax. Severus set her gently on her feet and held her elbow as she regained her balance and offered her a rare smile.

"I love you," He said quietly, so softly she almost missed it over the warm water that was quickly raving towards cold.

"I love you too," Hermione replied with a kiss to his lips.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Hermione walked through his quarters and out of his classroom in the clothes she wore yesterday, her mind still humming with the happiness and relaxation that had come from spending the night and lazing around reading his book. She began to braid her hair up as his door shut behind her lost in thought about the upcoming essay due for Herbology when she felt the hairs on her neck raise in awareness. Her heart froze in her throat when her eyes met those of Minerva McGonagall, whose eyes were flicking between Hermione and the closed door behind her.

"Miss Granger, I believe we need to have a conversation," Professor McGonagall said in a cold voice that brooked no argument.

Hermione could only nod and follow the older witch towards the Headmaster study in silence, wondering how she could possibly get herself out of this one and whether she even needed to be worried about that essay anymore.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus had just sat down to grade the first years papers when a harried and harassed looking Minerva McGonagall burst into his rooms with a furious expression on her face.

"I have always wondered if anyone taught you to—"

"You and Hermione Granger will cease your current arrangement," Minerva said over him in a sternly loud voice. Severus froze for a moment, before placing his quill back in his ink and staring at her.

"Miss Granger and I's current arrangement? I have no—"

"I caught her exiting your quarters Severus, do not do me the disservice of lying please."

"And what, may I ask, makes you think we have an arrangement of any kind?" Severus questioned, stalling as he gathered his thoughts.

"She told me," Minerva said simply, as though she were commenting on the recent Quidditch match.

"She told you what?" Severus hissed through clenched teeth.

"She said that you two become involved a few months ago after she sought you out and the developing relationship was her doing. I have yet to decide on disciplinary measures at this juncture."

"She did, did she?" Severus snarled, hot anger filling his body with warmth like a firewhiskey shot.

"Yes, stop this or there will be consequences. Severus you should know better, to sleep with a student, honestly." Minerva accused him; she turned on her heel and left before he could think of a proper response. The slam of his door was accompanied with a sharp twist of pain and hurt through his body so thick he stumbled back into his chair. His one anger battled with the equal and just as powerful rage that was echoing through him from his mate. As suddenly as it began it stopped, followed back the swift tingle of his mark that signified that Hermione had transformed. He stood from his chair again and followed the furious witch out of his classroom, quickly making his way through the castle and out onto the grounds. A tiny spec showed his mate to be flying towards that Forbidden Forest as a speed that would seem reckless in any less experienced of a bat. He watched the tiny bat for a few seconds, before sighing and walking behind a statue to transform.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Hermione stormed from the Headmistresses study in such a fit of anger that portrait's on the wall around her rattled in their frames. Fury and indignation swelled off of her in waves so thick that she could taste them, stark anger and hurt against the happiness that had flooded her just an hour ago. The implications that Severus had abused his position as her instructor made her seethe, not at anger for herself, but that McGonagall thought so little of him. She needed something to work off the anger she felt, something to help her get rid of the spiraling helplessness she was incased in. The thought came to her, such an obvious solution, that she contemplated banging her head against the nearest wall. She rushed through the corridors as quickly as she could without running and as soon as she breathed in fresh air of the grounds she was in the air soaring high into the blue sky.

The feeling of flying would never cease to steal her breath; she couldn't believe that she had hated broomsticks so much when flying felt like this. The wind under her wings made her heart sing her head cleared even as the air thinned, she looked down and saw that she was farther away from the ground than she thought. She flew towards the Forbidden Forest urging her body to go faster, and faster till the landscape was flying by her. A trill came from behind her, carried on the air towards her sensitive hearing and she saw her mate join her in her flight. They twisted around each other in the air, seeming to play a game of tag and dancing around each other as they flew. He was beautiful she thought, more beautiful in this form than as a man. The sun glittered off his wings making the white there shine and reflect the sunlight. The single black mark marred his otherwise flawless wing span, but the black feather had dimmed from pitch black to a shady gray. The only sign left of the dangerous life he had lived not too long ago. He called to her again as he switched direction, flying towards a clearing in the trees and slowly descending. She reluctantly followed him with a mournful glance towards the horizon that looked far better than the ground. They transformed and landed on their feet together, though he was far more graceful than her. She just felt lucky that she hadn't crashed into the ground or landed on her backside. He stood there staring at her with an expression on his face that made her want to apologize, even if she wasn't clear on what she should be sorry for.

"Minerva came to see me," He started and glared at her when she opened her mouth. "Told me that she caught you sneaking from my quarters, and instead of thinking of an excuse with that rather large brain of yours YOU TOLD HER THAT WE WERE TOGETHER!" He roared so loudly that several birds and other animals in the forest took flight and got the hell away. Hermione thought that perhaps they had the right idea, get the hell out of doge, fast.

"I didn't think—"

"Obviously. Do you have any idea the consequences of a student/teacher affair? You could be expelled, and there goes whatever future you could dream of. You are really unintelligent sometimes," He replied hotly, cutting across her sentence.

"The future I dreamed of changed 10 months ago when you MARKED ME AS YOUR MATE!" She screamed back and oh yeah, that probably wasn't a good thing to throw around.

"You are my mate, but I am still your professor. You are still under my protection and under my authority. That didn't change simply because you're sharing my bed, you are my student." He snarled at her viciously and her temper snapped.

"Of course Professor, how silly of me," She said softly, the dead calm in her voice would have had Ron and Harry running for cover with their metaphorical tails between their legs but he just sneered at her. "I apologize for trying to protect your ass."

"I don't need your protection, I need you to use your damned head and look out for yourself. I shouldn't have to babysit you and worry that you're going to crack underneath the pressure of being a student. If you can't handle being my mate, then I will remove your status as such."

"You do that, you could go find Leighanna and fuck her. That's all a mate is right? A little pawn for you to abuse and a hole to use," She screeched at him before turning and taking flight again. The tears that had spilled down her face dried on her face as the wind whisked past her. She heard him yell her name but simply flew faster and soared farther and farther away until she no longer recognized the landscape.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus stared after his mate and felt his anger diminish slightly, burn less hot and less violently. He took several calming breaths to calm himself further and began to think of ways to save the situation. The walk back towards the castle was slow and full of random outbursts of anger, most of them cursing his mate and the other half curing bloody Gryffindor's. It looked like he was going to have to have a talk with the Headmistress about this he'd much rather never speak to any Gryffindor about. That thought alone was enough to make him want to just Avada himself, quick and easy, no more infuriating mates and insufferable know-it-alls.

"Severus, why didn't you say you were going—"

"Not now Nott!" Severus snapped as he stormed through the doors and towards the headmistress's office in a black flurry of anger.

"Someone's grouchy," He heard Nott say from behind him and couldn't stop the growl that slipped past his lips.

He slammed into the familiar study, causing the witch behind the desk and the portrait that hung there to quiet instantly. "The 'arrangement' Miss Granger and I are in will not be ending because she is my mate, it won't and cannot end, unless of course you'd like one or both of us to die." He glared at the witch with a sense of satisfaction on his face at the gaping quality her face had adopted.

"A—A bat? Really Severus, I doubt—" Minerva's teeth snapped together as Severus stood and in the blink of an eye a bat was perched on the armchair where he had been standing. She held back a slightly manic laugh at the sight of a bat being able to glare even if it was as big as her shoe. Another blink and the man was standing before her again. "You're—a bat."

"It never ceases to amaze me how very observant Gryffindor's are. How very astute of you." Severus said dryly.

"But—you have feathers."

"Again, very astute. Apparently somewhere down the line of the bat ancestors, someone thought it'd be a brilliant idea to mate with a firebird, while in bat form, hence giving those who followed, feathers. We're all overjoyed I assure you."

"How did Hermione become attached to you in such a…inconvenient way?"

"Let's just say my bite is worse than my bark."

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

When Hermione finally returned to her room sometime near dusk it was to find Severus already waiting for her. Her anger had long since burnt out leaving only a mild headache and a few more stress marks for her trouble. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought about the things she had said and she turned helplessly towards Severus. Her mate instantly wrapped her in his arms and she allowed his scent to soothe her.

"I'm sorry. Those were horrible things to say, I don't actually think that, I just don't know what I'll do if you get fired and I get expelled or if you get fired and—"

"Hermione, no one is getting fired or expelled." Severus cut across her, his words slightly muffled by her hair.

But I will follow where ever you decide to go even if it—What do you mean no one is getting fired or expelled? What did you do? You didn't resign did you?" Hermione asked frantically, her voice inching up a few octaves as her hysteria mounted.

"No. Calm yourself before you explode my eardrums. I told Minerva."

"You—told. You told Professor McGonagall? You told her that—what exactly did you tell her?" Hermione asked her voice slightly dazed and faraway.

"Everything about our situation since the war, or the overall theory, something's I refuse to tell a Gryffindor. I already have 4 insufferable ones in my life driving me crazy daily, I don't need anymore."

"Oh, so now I'm insufferable," Hermione teased gently, hugging Severus tightly.

"No, I suffer you just fine," Severus replied with so much sarcasm it positively dripped.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she pulled away and silence reigned as she got ready for bed. "I'm so relieved that you're willing to suffer me."

"I apologize as well. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you. Although if you ever do something that stupid again trying to protect me I'll turn you over my knee and give you a proper spanking." Severus ducked as she whipped a pillow at his head, throwing her a reproachful look before he transformed and took off into the night.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hermione stumbled down to the Great Hall the next day, and felt the hardened something that had taken up residency in her stomach lessen at the sight of Severus sitting in his normal seat at the head table. She took her place next to Ginny and Luna, both who mumbled greetings but otherwise didn't speak until Ginny's voice broke through her foggy brain.

"Did you two dye your hair?" Ginny ask, making Luna and Hermione look at her curiously.

"Huh?" Hermione said unintelligently.

"Your hair, it's different, slightly darker and more—black," Ginny replied as she tugged on a strand of Hermione's hair. Hermione gathered her own hair in her hands and stared at the tresses. True enough there was a slight darkened quality to her hair, the auburn highlights standing out in harsher contrast against the darkening brown.

"I didn't charm it; maybe it's just from not being in the sun so much?" Hermione shrugged, hoping it came out believable with no trace of the inner confusion she felt.

"Luna must be spending all the time in the sun then, hers is almost snow white," Ginny commented, pointing at the aforementioned girl across from them. Hermione looked up to study Luna's hair in turn and was slightly surprised to see that it had lightened several shades from the dirty blonde to a gleaming blonde that was faintly reminiscent of the white sands at Shell Cottage. It made Luna's eyes stand out brightly in her face, and made her seem even paler than normal.

Luna's eyes met Hermione's and the silent communication of 'what the hell' passed through them. Hermione shook her head a small amount and Luna's attention turned back to her breakfast in understanding. Hermione turned back to her own breakfast, with a slightly less emphatic appetite but her attention was diverted again when Harry suddenly appeared at her shoulder.

"Hermione, can I talk to you?" Harry whispered into her ear. At Hermione's raised eyebrow he added a "please" that made her nod. Harry dropped a quick kiss to the top of Ginny's head as they passed but didn't pause otherwise. Hermione followed Harry out into the entrance hall and towards the library, her interest and curiosity suddenly piqued.

They wound through the aisles and shelves until they turned a corner to see Ron sitting at a table with books lying in front of him. Hermione swallowed hard when she recognized the books as the same ones she had read after the war when she'd first discovered her new state of being. Anger and frustration well up like a rushing wave but Ron's face makes her remain silent.

"Hermione, I know that I was a right arse," Ron starts, stumbling slightly as he tried to rise from his seat. "But, Harry suggested we read up on this—situation."

"Why?" Hermione questions as she crosses her arms in front of her.

"Because we've been friends for 7 years, lived through a war, and—and our grades really suck," Ron said weakly, his attempt at a joke falling flat when Hermione's scowl deepened.

"I see. So instead of realizing that you two were total dunderheads and treated me like rubbish, you simply need me so you don't fail. No thanks." Hermione snapped, prepared to walk away but was stopped when Harry's set his hand on her arm.

"No, no that's not why. We miss you. Like Ron said, we've been friends for the better half of 7 years, and—we've never let anything tear us apart. We love you Hermione, you're family." Harry pleaded, his eyes begging her to understand.

Hermione did understand. Their fights had happened before, preteens and teenagers living together all the time you would fight. It had happened in third year when Ron accused Hermione of Crookshanks eating Scabbers. It had happened again in fourth year when Ron had been convinced Harry had put his name in the Goblet. Exchanging words so harsh that the rift tore them apart until after the first task where Ron had spent the whole time clutching Hermione's hand. Fifth year brought the many challenges of the DA, Umbridge, Sirius, the Ministry, Sirius' death; all things that added more weight onto Harry's shoulders and caused argument after argument. Sixth year was rife with the same troubles; Hermione's disapproval of the Prince's potions book, Harry's perceived cheating, the death of Dumbledore. Then the war. Which had caused the three of them to fight, compromise, live together and trust one another completely; to simply survive. She understood. She understood that this relationship they had, the friendship that had started in a bathroom defeating a troll and flourished, grown, molded them into the powerful inseparable team they were. Could she let that fall apart, could any of them really survive the world without the solid support they had become for each other?

Hermione's eyes filled with tears, hormones and the buried hurt from Ron's words finally manifesting itself through the hot liquid that spilled unchecked down her cheeks. Harry pulled her gently into his arms, where she buried her face in his shoulder to sob. She felt Ron come up behind her and hug her gently, hesitantly, as though sure he would be rebuffed. Hermione turned and pressed her face to his shoulder, hitting his chest with her fist and sobbing.

"If you ev—ever say those things to me again Ronald Weasley, I'll curse you so badly their canaries will seem ta—tame," She sniffled, but her words caused a slight chuckle from Ron and a gentle kiss pressed to her head.

"Well isn't this touching," A familiar sneer said from behind a shelf, and they all jumped apart as Severus walked into sight. His calm face told nothing of his thoughts as Hermione stared at him, wiping her eyes quickly to rid them of tears, but his eyes were a burning black. They flicked from each other their face, to the books lying open on the table behind them, finally coming to rest on Hermione's. A tingle in her mark told her that he wasn't happy, even if his eyes weren't blazing fiery anger in her direction. "Potter, Weasley, don't you have a class to attend?" He snapped out, causing Harry and Ron to glower at him but they remained silent as they left the aisle, throwing looks back at the two of them.

Hermione stood still until their footsteps faded from hearing range, her bat hearing heightening to ensure that they were gone. "Severus—" Hermione started but her sentence was cut off as Severus lunged forward and seized her mouth in a fierce kiss, the force of it causing her to stumble into the table behind her.

Hermione responded to his mouth instantly, opening under his questing tongue and tangling hers with his. They kissed until Hermione started to feel lightheaded and she pulled back, only to gasp in air as he lowered his mouth to her neck and nibbled on the sensitive skin there. He was inhaling deeply as though—smelling her? He was smelling her, sniffing along her skin with small snuffles, the realization made laughter bubble up in her throat. It was quickly quelled by a moan as he reached between her legs, shifting his fingers under her skirt to find the slick moisture under her knickers. He pulled back to look at her face as his fingers danced across her sex, their eyes locking in a embrace that made her skin tingle and spark.

"You smell like the Weasley boy," Severus rasped out, his voice thick and smooth, it wound its way around her like ribbons. "He feels more than friendship for you, I could feel it."

His words took a long time to penetrate her lust addled brain, and she had to focus enough to gasp out words. "It's—it's one sided—You—you are who I wa—want Severus, only you."

These appeared to be the words he wanted to hear because he suddenly dropped to his knees and buried his face into the flesh between her thighs. She tasted blood when she bit her lip to keep from crying out, but she swiped her tongue across it, relishing in the sting. Her hips were pulled forward and she lifted her butt when Severus grasped her knickers and tugged them down. Pausing long enough to shove them into his overcoat pocket before plunging his face back into her. His tongue tickled her entrance, not enough pressure to satisfy but enough to tease. Her hips bucked as his nose bumped her clit but he pulled back.

"Severus please," Hermione babbled, needing more stimulation than his whispered caresses were giving her. His tongue flicked up to tickle her clit, a feather soft movement that made it throb harder. "Please Severus, please. I'm yours, your mate, just yours," she repeated and nearly cried when he finally applied the pressure she desired. His tongue thrust in and out of her hole before returned to swirl around her clit; she trembled when he sucked it gently into his mouth. A final swirl around her clit as he sucked sent her over the edge into oblivion. Her body convulsed and trembled as he worked her through her orgasm. She was still twitching when he abruptly stood, and plunged into her, pausing only for a second before pulling out and thrusting back into her. Her walls shuddered around him, stretching to take his length and easing his passage with each inward lunge. Her previous climax meant that she was sensitive and her body was primed on the edge of another one as he changed the angle.

She was tense and breathless, waiting for that extra sensation when he leaned close and whispered, "Mine," with an extra hard thrust. He caught her clit just so and she was shoved over, biting his shoulder to keep from crying out. The blood rushed through her veins making her head spin at the delicious shivers, clenching tightly as Severus followed her into oblivion. They stood panting for a few minutes until he pulled out, tucking himself back into his pants and helping her off the table. Hermione looked at him as he seemed to remember where they were and who they were in the building, her heart cracked a little bit as his face became impassive and the air around him came a little colder. His eyes suddenly met hers and something of her fear must have showed because he pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, so tender in contrast to the furiousness of their previous activity.

"You're late for class," He said softly, his face still closed and expressionless. "5 points from Gryffindor and a detention for tonight for an incomplete uniform."

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but the look he shot her kept her quiet. The reason for his abrupt return to professor mode showed to be the librarian who came bustling around the corner a moment later. She was mumbling about students not putting books back when she caught sight of them.

"Professor Snape, Miss Granger," Madame Pince said plainly her eyes darting back and forth between student and professor.

"Miss Granger, another 5 points for failing to put your books away when done with them. After seven years in this institution one would think you'd remember the rules, though you and your friends always did flaunt them."

Hermione did glare at him then and not a fake glare either. The arse had her knickers in his coat pocket and he was scolding her. The softness in his eyes showed that he meant no malice from it but she growled in mock frustration as she flounced past his, brushing against his arm with more force than necessary and out of the library to class.

XxxXxxXxxXxxXxxX

Severus felt like poking himself in the eye with his own wand as the librarian watched his mate storm out of the library, thankful that all her rule breaking with Potter and Weasley at least made her efficient at acting upset. He felt the stare of Madam Pine bore into the side of his head and he turned his most expressionless sneer onto her.

"Was there something you wished to say Irma?"

The older woman looked at him before shaking her head and mumbling as she moved to put away the books on the table. A silent spell allowed him to rid the table and floor of any trace of indecent activity before he turned on his heel and swept from the library.

XxxXxxXxxXxXXxX

It was dinner before Hermione had a chance to catch hold of Luna to talk, and even then it was a short whispered conversation at the Ravenclaw table.

"Any idea why our hair changed?" Hermione whispered to Luna as the other girl filled her plate.

"No idea," Luna whispered back in her slightly dreamy voice. "Ask Snape?"

Hermione nodded, "How're things going with Nott?"

Luna added some sausage to her plate under the pretense of thinking, but her eyes flickered to the head table where Nott's chair was empty. "He's been scouting for a new location for the pack."

"Is he worried?"

Luna gave an elegant one-shouldered shrug, "He hasn't said but I suppose neither has Snape."

Hermione shook her head, "No but we haven't had much chance to talk about the changes. I've got detention tonight," they shared a look and a smile. "So I'll ask about it." She headed back to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to Harry.

"Hey 'Mione," Harry greeted with a smile. Ron nodded at her in greeting, his cheeks full of food.

"What essays are due tomorrow?" Hermione questioned as she started putting food on her own plate. Her appetite appeared to be craving meats as she ended up with steak and kidney pie, flobberworm fritter, and tripe. She noticed that she had ceased eating chicken as it tasted foul which was curious.

"History of Magic and Herbology," Ron said when he had swallowed his huge mouthful. Hermione took a moment to be impressed by his ability not to choke before responding.

"Herbology I can help with but I wasn't at History of Magic today."

"Yeah, is Snape that big of an arse that he chewed his own mate out?" Ron asked tactlessly not bothering to monitor his voice. "OW!" He yelped as two sets of shoes connected with his shins.

"Ron you idiot, keep your voice down—"

"You absolute dunderhead Ronald, shut up—"

Ron gaped at Harry and Hermione as they both scolded him at the same time before broke into a grin. "Merlin, I missed that."

Hermione and Harry rolled their eyes in sync and shook their heads. "No Ronald, it wasn't anything like that. I had to clean up the books someone left behind on the table," She commented pointedly enjoying the twin blushes she got. She took a bit of her steak and kidney pie, chewed, and gagged. "Ugh, this is revolting." She picked her napkin up and delicately spit her mouthful out into it.

Ron took a bite off her plate and chewed it, a confused expression spreading across his face, "That's weird. Mine didn't taste like that."

Harry frowned and took a bite in turn, making a face and spitting his out too, "Neither did mine. Where'd you get that?"

Hermione pointed to the dish that she had dished hers from only to gape at the empty spot where it had been. "But—but it was right there!" She stood up suddenly but swayed as her head spun. Harry reached out to steady her but as soon as his hand encircled her wrist pain burst across her skin and through her head making her cry out.

"Hermione!" Harry and Ron cried out, causing the whole hall to go silent and turn to them. Red began to swim in front of Hermione's eyes as the throbbing in her head intensified tenfold. A warm tickling feeling on her shoulder caused her to reach back and pull her hand away covered in blood. She swayed again this time stumbling back into someone standing behind her.

"Miss Granger," a voice called distantly. She turned her head to see Professor McGonagall standing behind her and Severus standing a few feet away. "Miss Granger, hospital wing."

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Severus was getting ready to take a bite of his food when pain burst across his body forcing him to clench his teeth lest he cry out. His eyes tore across to Hermione who was sitting at the Gryffindor table; she tried to stand but swayed. Another ripple of blinding pain swarmed his body as Potter reached out to steady Hermione, and he was out of his seat when she touched her shoulder and pulled it back covered in blood. His entire world shuddered to a stop at the sight of her blood, immediately understand what it meant. Professor McGonagall was out of her seat and on her way towards her student and he shakily got up and followed.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Madame Pomfrey bustled around Hermione with confidence and accuracy, stopping the poison that was spreading through her system with startling speed. Hermione had fallen unconscious halfway to the hospital wing forcing Severus to carry her the rest of the way. He sent silent thanks that all the students were still at dinner. The throbbing in his body lessened with each passing wave of Madame Pomfrey's wand and disappeared entirely when she poured the antidote down Hermione's throat. Pomfrey gently rolled Hermione onto her side and cut her shirt off revealing a bloody and mangled shoulder. Twin gasps disrupted the otherwise silent wing, and Severus clenched his teeth tightly together. He waited impatiently until the mediwitch had cleaned the blood and gore from the pale shoulder of his mate and he let out a barely audible sigh of relief at the sight of his mark still on the skin.

"Severus, what happened?" Minerva snapped at him, her eyes glued to her young charge when the nurse had finally departed.

"She was given a poison. If it had worked completely, if it hadn't been caught when it had, it would've removed her status," He paused and gave her a pointed look, waiting until she met his eyes before starting again. "It would've rendered her as good as dead, and the person she is linked to completely dead. It's a potion that a person can take if their mate dies. Bats mate for life, for life as in one dies, the other dies unless they can take this. If the healthy person takes this potion, it'll break the mating link and allow that person to live. It's only supposed to be used in that occasion. To use it on a healthy mate, when their mate is also healthy and uninjured, can cause both to die. It targets the mark a mate wears and eats it away, much like Dumbledore's cursed hand." Severus explained gravely.

More silence met his words as the information sunk in, Severus was tense waiting for the inevitable question that would no doubt follow. Sure enough, three minutes later the question was asked.

"Who created such a dastardly potion?"

Severus' gaze met Minvera's, holding it as he said clearly, "I did."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Severus watched as Minerva stared at him, a ticking in her jaw was like the ticking of a time-bomb. If Severus had been a lesser man, and less amused by her reaction, he probably would've backed away quickly like trying to escape from a dangerous feral animal. As it was, he simply started a mental countdown to when Minerva's silence would break and open the flood gates. Sure enough, just as he reached one her anger finally manifested itself in any angry outburst.

"YOU WHAT?" She shrieked. Severus was quite impressed that she could get her voice that high in her age without bursting a blood vessel.

"I created the potion, however I didn't give it to Miss Granger," He replied drily as though speaking to a very slow child, or a Potter.

"Well thank you for that obvious statement. Let's start with the obvious enquiry, who did give it to her and how did they get access to it?" Minerva snapped as she conjured a chair and sat down with much less of her normal grace. Severus arched a brow as she summoned a tumbler or firewhiskey but wisely kept his mouth closed.

"The place we, that is the other bats, were using as a safe house was recently attacked. A large number of things were missing, one such thing was this potion. The attack was orchestrated by a woman named Leighanna, I believe that is the "who" and the "how". However, the question is, of course, how she managed to get it into the castle and how it ended up in Miss Granger's food. The only solution is she must have an elf employed here." Severus explained, his eyes straying to his mate every few seconds as though she would perish while his eyes were elsewhere. The burning pain in his body had all but abated, leaving only a heavy weight in his stomach, a mixture of worry and fear that had taken up residency as soon as Hermione had collapsed.

"There are hundreds of elves in Hogwarts; I doubt we can question them all!"

"We would not have to. The Hogwarts elves are under ownership of the Hogwarts headmistress and her teachers, the one that does not readily obey their commands will be the one."

"How do you suppose we do that?" Minerva asked slightly sarcastically, taking a rather large gulp of firewhiskey and enjoy the burn as it slid down.

"I have an idea," Severus responded but didn't elaborate when the sound of footsteps echoed up the wing as the medi-witch returned.

"Well, she'll sleep for a time, probably wake up tomorrow the poor dear, the poison is all but gone now, the only lingering effects will be nausea and a headache."

Severus nodded in acknowledgement, casting one last look at the sleeping girl on the bed before turning on his heel and leaving the wing. He walked with purpose towards the Great Hall and was pleased to see Nott leaving the hall by way of the teacher's entrance.

"Severus, what happened?"

"Leighanna," Severus snarled his pace not slowing as he walked out of the castle. He paused at the doors when he noticed Nott was not behind him and looked over his shoulder, resisting the urge to roll his eyes at his friend kissing his mate goodbye. The sight reminded him of his own predicament and a fresh wave of fury swept through him.

"What about her?" Nott asked once he'd caught up and they began their trek down the castle grounds towards the Forbidden Forest.

"The raid she led against the pack was focused; she was after more than just revenge. She took the mate breaking potion."

Nott gaped at him for a moment before shaking his head, "But that would kill Hermione! Which in turn would kill you!"

"I don't think she knew exactly what it would do; I doubt it was her intention to kill me as well."

"What are you going to do?"

"Give her what she wants," Severus replied. Any response Nott could have made was cut off by Severus' transformation and flight into the sky, Nott following swiftly after him.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Their journey lasted little more than two hours but by the time they transformed and landed, Nott was definitely feeling the long flight. Severus of course was unaffected, as he shifted and immediately began marching towards the mansion that lay a few hundred feet beyond their location. They had barely stepped through the gates guarding the house when they found themselves surrounded on all sides by bats. One lone bat broke off and transformed, revealing the figure of Leighanna.

"Has your mate died dear Severus?" She simpered as she walked towards him.

Severus struck out in an instant, his hand circling her throat in a crushing hold. The bats all began to swarm but stopped when their leader lifted her hand. "She lives Leighanna, and it is lucky too for if she died, I would have too," Severus snarled, pressing tighter on her throat before shoving her away from him.

"You lie," She croaked, a delicate hand coming up to rub her bruising neck.

"I don't. Maybe you should have paid attention to the instructions on the vial before slipping it into her food. It is to be used on an unhealthy mate, one close to dying, and a healthy one. So that the death of a mate doesn't kill the healthy mate. To use it on two healthy mates will kill both of them in minutes!"

Severus felt a thrill of satisfaction as Leighanna's face paled slightly, but the sneer that covered her face crushed any feeling but hate. "I wouldn't dream of killing you lover, only your pesky mate. With her gone, you'd see what a good mate I am. The potential we have together."

Severus' growl rent the air, causing the bats that were hovering nearby to still, and the hair on Nott's neck to stand up. Nott had the impulsive urge to run, or lay on his back in a death pose, but Leighanna merely giggled.

"You are so powerful Severus, so—fierce. It makes me so hot remembering all the good times we've had." Leighanna said huskily as she circled Severus, her hand trailing across his body in a caress that would have ignited his lust a year ago. Now it simply ignited his anger.

"You are not alpha Leighanna, I am the alpha of this continent, I became such when I killed the previous alpha. The only reason you are alive, is because I am allowing it," Severus growled out resolutely glaring ahead.

"You wouldn't kill me Severus; remember all the times we've had together. We can be good again; you can even keep your mate as a play toy." Leighanna coaxed, pressing her ample breasts against Severus' chest.

Nott clenched his hands into fists; unmated bats had certain pheromones they released when other unmated bats were around. The pheromones were strong enough that even Nott could smell them; he knew that Severus could smell them too and had to be going crazy. It wasn't any wonder than the bats surrounding them followed Leighanna without question; any male bat would tear himself inside out to mate with her. Nott kept his mind firmly on the blonde haired beauty waiting for him at the castle, the wonderful feeling he got whenever he saw her, recalling clearly the way she smelled and felt in his arms. It worked; his blood cooled and his head cleared allowing him to refocus on Severus and Leighanna.

"We will never be together Leighanna, cease your attempts," Severus barked commandingly. "Get your house elf out of the castle and do not try this again. Next time I will not be so kind," He motioned to Nott that it was time to leave; they walked backwards away from the pack and turned to transform. Nott took off into the air, and looked behind him. An instinctual rage swept through him at the sight of Severus bound on the ground in bat form, Leighanna hovering over him in her own form. He sped towards her and slammed into her tiny body, both of them transforming before they hit the ground. Nails scratched at his face drawing blood and causing him to hiss out in pain. Years of having the rule of not hitting women kept him from fighting back, taking the blows and trying to get the furious woman off him. A glint of teeth caught his attention and he panicked when he saw Leighanna lowering her head.

"No! I have a mate," Nott grunted, trying with increasing vigor to get the woman off.

"You should not have interfered with my plan." Nott cried out as he felt the tip of her tooth press against his neck.

Severus finally managed to get the ties loose and transformed, reaching Nott and Leighanna, he grabbed Leighanna and threw her with all his strength backwards and immediately bent over his longtime friend. Blood from the wound was dripping down sluggishly with each pound of Nott's heart and Severus pressed his mouth over the wound. He heard Nott weakly cry out again but refused to respond until all the mating saliva was out of his blood stream. Severus forced himself to keep sucking, the taste and feeling of blood that wasn't his mates coursing into his mouth made him cringe. He removed his mouth and spit out a huge glob of blood before wiping his hand across his lips.

Nott's eyes were closed, his skin sallow and pale against the dark ground. Severus smacked his face a few times only stopping when he got a groan in response. He helped Nott up and held him until the other man gave a weak nod, then stepped away. They finally turned their attention towards the other figures and saw that all the bats had transformed and was standing a few feet away. The two men walked over, Severus leaving Nott's side at the sight of Leighanna's form on the ground. He pressed two fingers to her neck, and hung his head when he felt only stillness.

"Is she dead?" Nott croaked out, stepping closer to Severus.

"Yes." Was the short reply. Severus search her body for signs of wounds, and felt a twinge of guilt when his search revealed that her neck had been broken. The result of the force of him throwing her, the proof of how strong he was even without his magic. The sound of shifting bodies turned his attention towards the people standing around him, all of them looking various shades between anger, heartbreak, and uncertainty. By all rights he could banish them all, condemn them all to death, force them to leave Britain but his raising had taught him to offer refuge.

"You may stay and join the others, but if you choose not to, you will leave. You will leave Britain and join another pack elsewhere." Severus commanded, using the full brunt of his status as leader to face them. A few of the people standing around shifted uneasily, more than half lowered their eyes and stepped forward in surrender, eight or nine transformed and took off. "The choice is yours, take the options presented now." A few more took flight, and the others kept their eyes averted.

"You would offer us forgiveness and refuge, regardless of our part in attacking your people and your mate?" A voice spoke up; a young male appeared to be the speaker.

Severus studied him, meeting his almost defiant glare with his own gaze, "Not all of us were raised with clear views of good and bad." The defiant glare wavered, and finally lowered at his words, the shoulders of the boy falling. "What is your name?"

"Austin."

"How old are you Austin?"

"16."

"Where are your parents?" Nott spoke up for the first time. Austin's gaze shot up to his, shifting to Severus' before lowering again.

"They were killed during the war."

Severus and Nott shared a look, "I will take to you the new location, Nott return to the castle. Your mate is no doubt worried."

Nott had the curious urge to gulp nervously as the flurry of bats shifting filled the air, a moment later, he was gone.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxxX

Nott entered his quarters and stopped at the sight of the familiar blonde head sitting in an armchair. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat. Luna looked around and her eyes narrowed when she saw him.

"Let me explain—" Nott started.

"Let you explain? LET YOU EXPLAIN? Explain why I've been in tears and pain all night? Why my mark has been throbbing? Why it started bleeding? Yes please, explain!"

"You remember Leighanna?" A nod. "Well it goes like this…"

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxX

Severus led the bats to the new location, a mansion that had been kept in his family for years. It was guarded by more than just the steel gates and was huge in its size. The surrounding land was filled with rolling green lawns and a thick forest. Severus transformed and felt the wards ripple around him as he opened the gate and stepped back to let the others in before him. As they walked towards the house Severus' gaze flicked over the many towers that made up the building. It looked rather more like the builder had made several different smaller houses, and then stuck them together. The front of the building was dominated mostly by windows, which were light brightly in the evening darkness. He opened the front door and beckoned the others in front of him then stepped in and resealed the wards.

Directly in front of them was a grand staircase, at the top of which stood a large portrait of Severus's uncle. Footsteps approached him and Toby walked out of the door that lead to the kitchen. He was holding a large sandwich and was chewing energetically, he froze however when his eyes landed on Severus and the group.

"Hof arb dey?" Toby said through a mouthful of food and Severus enjoyed a moment to see yet another difference between them.

"You're not 12, swallow your food then try again." Severus drawled.

Toby rolled his eyes and made an impressive show of swallowing before asking again. "Who are they?"

"Other bats," Severus responded as he began walking towards the stairs and climbing them. The humans behind him followed in silence, all of them either looking around or watching their interaction.

Toby stared blankly at him and raised an eyebrow but shrugged and went back to his sandwich. "Are you two twins?" Austin's voice peeped up from the back of the group.

"No," Toby and Severus replied at once, then glared at each other. "It's a complicated story," Toby retorted with a grin and Severus said, "Not one for tonight either," when Austin's mouth opened again.

"Show them to the various rooms," Severus said to Toby, who gave him a look that was just barely challenging.

"You're not staying?"

Severus shook his head, "Problems at the school." At Toby's cocked head Severus clarified, "It's been handled." He waited for a nod from Toby before turning and leaving the house.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxX

Hermione woke up to a pounding head and the taste of vomit in her mouth; she slowly blinked her eyes open and almost groaned at the sight of the Hogwarts Infirmary ceiling. She wiggled her toes and took stock of the different aches in her body; the most apparent one besides her head was her shoulder. Warmth against her hand made her look down but saw nothing there. Her brow furrowed in confusion until the warmth shifted and a slight snore sounded in the air accompanied by a sigh of breath against her hand. A silent spell and a few moments later revealed a sleeping Severus slumped over on her bed, and she had to bite her lip to keep from giggling at the squished quality of his lips that was caused by his cheek on his hand. Her heart swelled with admiration and love as she looked over him and contemplated how to wake him up. She was just deciding to do it gently when Professor McGonagall entered the hall and slammed the door behind her.

Severus was out of his chair and standing before his eyes were even open. A giggle escaped Hermione at the sight of his hair sticking up slightly on one side and an impression of his hand where his cheek had been resting on it. McGonagall came to a stop in front of Hermione's bed and shot a look at Severus that Hermione's couldn't quite define.

"Severus," Minerva said and Severus resisted the urge to groan.

"Yes Minerva?"

"Have you—resolved the issue?" Minerva asked delicately, her eyes flicking to Hermione who was watching the interaction closely.

"Yes." Severus commented without further explanation but Minerva just nodded and left the wing again.

Hermione watched Severus as he stared after McGonagall, his jaw tensing and relaxing a few times before he turned his attention back to her.

"How're you feeling?" He queried as he sat back down in his previously abandoned chair.

"Like I was hit by the Hogwarts Express then dropped off a broom. What issue was resolved?" Hermione croaked as she struggled to sit up. Strong arms came to her aide and helped her lean against the pillows, Severus then poured her a goblet of water and holding it out to her.

"You were poisoned," Severus explained without preamble.

Hermione gaped at him, not moving until he waved the goblet of water in front of her face, and she finally grabbed it. She took a small sip, then a much larger gulp when her stomach didn't protest. The goblet was emptied before she asked her next question. "With what?"

"It was a mate breaking potion I created. It was meant to be given to the healthy mate if his or her mate was dying to save them from the same fate. It targets the marks mates wear when they're mated. If it's given to a human, the human returns to a full human; if it's given to a bat, it causes the mating urges to be triggered to find a new mate. To give it to a healthy bat, when their mate is also healthy, causes negative reactions. I told you bats mate for life, and the reason why is because when two magical bats mate, or a witch and a magical bat, or vice versa; their magic becomes intertwined. To try to sever that is…dangerous."

Hermione digested this news for nearly 5 minutes before murmuring, "Leighanna."

"Yes. The attack that was staged against the pack was focused, she knew of the existence of the potion but not the workings of it."

"I hate that bitch," Hermione seethed quietly, glaring at the blanket across her legs. "What if she tries again?"

"She won't."

"You sound awfully sure," Hermione said dubiously. She grew suspicious when his eyes flicked away from hers to studying the goblet in her hand. "What did you do? You—you didn't kill her did you? Severus you can't just kill people anymore."

"She attacked my mate, she attacked my best friend!" Severus exploded angrily. The worry and anger he felt before surfacing and taking hold of him. "It was an accident. I threw her off of Nott and the force broke her neck."

Hermione gasped, "I'm sorry." Severus scoffed, he leaned forward and seized her lips in a furious kiss before turning and leaving. "I have class to teach."

"Severus—," Hermione called out but the only answer was the firm sound of the wing door shutting.

XxxXXxxXXxxXXxX

Nott woke to fingers tracing over the still healing mark left by Leighanna and Severus last night. Though it had fully healed with help from magic, Luna had made sure to remark him, several times, to reaffirm her claim. He shivered against the sensation and opened his eyes. The blonde head and blue eyes of his mate greeted him and a sleepy smile spread across her face.

"Mornin'," He rasped, his voice sleep thick and dry. "I'm sorry."

"You already apologized, I forgave you, it's done. Sorry for getting so rough," Luna replied as her eyes traced across the various bruises he bore.

"Are you kidding? That was great," Nott joked. "Rough sex is good sex." His chuckle died in his throat when his mate suddenly straddled him and he was encased in her still slick head. "Ahh—."

"Let me show you how good it can be when it's slow and sweet," Luna teased as her hips began to move. Nott's hands came up to hold her hips and gave himself over to the careful ministrations of his very talented mate.