Chapter Eleven: Extraction

At exactly midnight, both Hermione and Severus watched as their friend transformed from something human to something animal. It was entirely gruesome as his flesh tore and stretched and his bones realigned to accommodate his new form.

Severus took several calming draughts that night. Hermione never thought Severus would be the nervous type, and she hadn't ever seen him behave this way before, but she knew that this must have been a huge fear of his.

Severus took out his wand and approached the door to the room Remus was in. He knew Remus was locked and chained, but that didn't ease him much. He opened the door cautiously and looked around. The werewolf was struggling to move around. He reached his wand out and cast Lycanthrocorporatus. Instantly the werewolf froze and Severus thanked god that Hermione found such a spell.

He lightly stepped his way around the werewolf and gently prodded him to assure he was indeed asleep. He took out his syringe and poked it into the hairy wolf. Blood came flowing into the needle. Severus took only as much as would be needed, ensuring that he didn't hurt his friend any. He stepped away with the blood in his hand and didn't hear the rustling behind him. Hermione, on the other side of the door, stood frozen.

Severus turned around to stare down his fear once more. When he saw only feet on the floor, he knew something was wrong. For what seemed like hours, he raised his vision to that of the angry werewolf. The chains still held him down, but Severus would need a miracle to get out of that room alive. He didn't move a single bit and stared directly into the cold black eyes of werewolf/Remus.

"Hermione." He uttered the only thing that came to his mind. She moved from her spot, but only slightly. She didn't know what she would do to save him. She couldn't kill Remus, but she had to save Severus. Tonks would never forgive her for killing her husband, nor would Severus for that matter, but she didn't think she would be able to save him if she didn't use a really powerful spell. Finally, after many seconds deliberation, she flung the door open and flashed her wand.

It was hours later when Severus finally awoke. He was lying in the infirmary, a light warmth resting on his chest, and something soft and brown blocking his view. He reached his hand up curiously to move it away when whatever it was, stirred awake.

"Severus!" She gasped and he hummed lightly.

"Did I get the blood?" She nodded lightly. "And Remus?" Severus felt himself involuntarily cringe.

"I had to save you."

"Is he okay?"

"He is hurt." Hermione's head hung low. "I had to cast a form of the cruciatus curse to save you." She began to sob gently beside his bed. He placed his hand on Hermione's and squeezed it gently.

"You saved his life and you saved my life. If we are able to make this potion, which I have every confidence in, you saved Charlie's life too." He said quietly.

"Madame Pomfrey said that the combination between the curse and his loss of blood, may lead to a delayed recovery. She almost had to put him in a c-coma t-t-too." Hermione was now crying against Severus' chest where she was sleeping last night.

"I know he will be fine."

"But will he ever forgive me? I used the cruciatus." Severus was absently running his fingers through her hair.

"He will." He was feeling really sick to his stomach, but he held back the vomit he knew was coming. Hermione continued to rest on his chest, shaking involuntarily. "Has Nymphadora been informed?" His stomach continued to roll.

"Yeah." Hermione said quietly and heard Severus' stomach rumble. "She understood why I had to cast the spell, but I think that she will hate me if he doesn't make it out of this." She sat up, her eyes red with tears. "Are you feeling well, Severus?" His face turned pale as he finally felt his defenses giving up. Hermione knew what was coming and conjured up a bowl for Severus.

"Thank you." He muttered after he felt he had finished with his bout of nausea.

"I would give you a nausea potion but it would in-"

"Interfere with my blood-replenishing potion." He finished, so confident with his observation.

"No." Hermione shook her head and he looked at her curiously.

"Then why can't I take the potion? The only other thing it reacts badly with is Wolfs-" He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. "Hermione?" She turned away, afraid to look into his eyes. "Hermione, did he bite me?" He was serious as she had ever heard him. She nodded her head vigorously and ran from the room, tears in her eyes again. He sat up and looked over his body. Sure enough, below his right knee, was a small nip, but none-the-less, a werewolf bite.

AN: Sorry again... that took forever. College sucks.