Howl at the Moon
There was staring and seclusion,
A fine tuned way of motion,
A face wrapped for a suitor,
The sound of hearts pumping at the same beat,
Coming 'round the corner,
In almost all directions,
A sense of heat that I couldn't bare to touch,
No, I couldn't bare it.
It's not your fault so please stop your crying now,
It's not your fault so please stop your crying now,
Please stop your crying now,
Woah,
Woah.
Hermione was to be confined in the hospital wing until after her first full moon.
She didn't like nor really agree with it but Dumbledore seemed to have agreed with Madam Pomfrey's sentiments and therefore postponed a more substantial shopping trip until she was better, and in the mean time provided her a catalog so that she may place orders by owl post. Sitting up right in the bed she lazily thumbed through the glossy pages not really paying much mind as her thoughts drifted away from her.
She can change the future and that both excited and scared her. So many lives could be saved but her versions of Harry and Ron will never be and she would miss them fiercely. Especially Harry who was her brother of the heart. She briefly worried on how the duo were fairing on their own before shaking her head to clear the thoughts. Those thoughts did her no good since they technically hadn't happened yet.
"Hermione?"
Hermione perked up and tearing her gaze from the catalog turned to see a pretty red head make her way over to her bed side chair. Smiling at the friendly face she greeted "Hey Lily."
"I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?" the red head asked gesturing to the catalog in Hermione's hands.
Hermione snorted, "No. I'm dying of boredom."
"Still won't release you huh?"
Hermione sighed, "Nope they refuse to release me until after the full...moon.." she trailed off just ash she realized on what she said. 'well. Fuck me.' she thought 'I didn't want to let that secret out so early.'
"Full moon?"
"Forget I said anything." Hermione laughed nervously "I think I'm still a little out of it."
Lily eyed her suspiciously before realization dawned, "Merlins beard." Lily breathed bright green eyes widening in shock "You were bitten weren't you?"
Hermione reached out and grabbed Lily's hands lacing their fingers together. "Please don't tell anyone."Hermione pleaded.
"I wouldn't tell a soul. I promise."
Hermione sighed with relief. "thank you."
"Can I...can I ask how it happened?"
"While I was running from death eaters a werewolf caught me." Hermione began releasing her grip on Lily's hand to tentatively brush her fingertips across her gauze covered shoulder. "He dragged me out into a clearing that was surrounded. I – I thought I was going to die." Hermione swallowed thickly. "But luckily I managed to get away."
"You've been through so much."
"But I'm lucky."
Lily barked out a hollow laugh "And how is that?"
Hermione grinned at her then flashing perfectly straight teeth. "I'm still alive."
Lily leaned over in her chair to wrap her arms around the curly haired brunette. "You are the bravest person I know. Trust me that is saying something. I know the Mauraders."
Hermione felt a pang in her chest, "The Mauraders?"
Lily pulled away from her then smiling as she explained "Just some idiots that like to call themselves that. Don't worry you'll meet them soon. They are in Gryffindor too."
Just as they settled back down and Lily began to tell her about her classes and provided Hermione meticulously taken notes for classes that they knew they would share did the soft spoken mention of Lily's name startle them both.
There limping into the Hospital wing was a tall young man in Slytherin robes. Black beetle eyes shinning with hope and sadness as they stared intently on the red head. Hermione's eyes widened as she took in his long greasy hair and hooked nose. This was no other Severus Snape.
"Snape." Lily greeted coldly surprising Hermione as she watched the friendly red head morph into someone cold and mean.
"Lily...I..."Swallowing nervously Severus slowly limped his way toward Hermione's bedside where Lily sat. "I...Are you...Are you hurt?"
"As you can see Snape I am perfectly fine." She snapped "I'm actually visiting a sick friend so if you don't mind."
"O-Of course." Severus muttered wilting at Lily's harsh treatment he changed course and limped away toward Madam Pomfrey's office to seek treatment. Hermione noticed burn marks on his legs and raised an eyebrow. Some one jinxed Snape and she had a good idea on who that would have been.
Once Snape was out of sight Lily let out a long suffering sigh. "I'm sorry about that."
"Who was that?"
"That's Severus Snape. He's not a good guy."
"That sounds like a long story."
"Oh it is."
"If you needed to talk about it I am here to listen." Hermione offered, "After all you listen to all of my woes."
"Well...Severus and I used to be best friends."
"Really? What happened?"
"He called me a mudblood."
"Did he mean it?"
"What?"
Hermione looked at the startled and confused look on Lily's face before carefully picking her words.
"Well, I'm not going to assume that I know him very well, however from the way he looked it seems like he didn't mean what he said. I've been called mud blood myself a lot since I have entered the wizarding world." she took a deep breath "I learned the difference between people that have the intent to mean it and to those who only follow their father's or friends orders." Hermione's mind drifted to Draco and how he would bite the word out to her at any chance he had like a curse. It took her until about sixth year before she realized he never truly meant it.
"I don't think that is his case." Lily began before she broke down and told the whole story. About how the Mauraders were bullies and how at the beginning she absolutely hated them and the way they treated Severus. As Lily explained Hermione's heart broke a little more for Severus Snape.
"Once that vile word left his mouth I knew he could no longer be my friend." Lily explained sadly. "He was too far gone with his Slytherin friends."
"I don't think that was the case Lily."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean. You came across him during probably what was his most embarrassing moment. I know you were only trying to help but having a girl defend him against five boys probably embarrassed him further and he said it out of anger. Did he seem remorseful afterward?"
Lily nodded, "He slept outside of Gryffindor tower."
"People who mean it are usually not so remorseful Lily."
"But, he said something really awful! Some words you can't take back."
"True. But if you're friendship really meant that much to you, you wouldn't have let it go that easily."
Lily sighed, running her fingers through her vibrant red hair. "Do you think I should talk to him?"
"Only if you think you should."
Lily nodded, "I think I've been bull headed enough." Standing she glanced at Hermione once more. "I just want you to know Hermione, I have only known you for a few days but I already think of you as my best friend."
Hermione's heart clenched at the words, her eyes burning threatening tears. "Thanks Lily. I really needed that, just so you know I already think of you as my best friend too."
They hugged again and Lily left to seek out Severus in one of the other hospital beds. Hermione settled back wondering if maybe that one talk already impacted the future.
After all, The way Hermione understood it, during her time Lily never forgave Severus.
Remus felt like he was crawling out of his skin.
He's been restless since they found the injured girl. The girl whose name Lily told them was Hermione.
Hermione. A beautiful Shakespearean name.
Sitting in the Great hall surrounded by chatter and his friends he was completely consumed with thoughts of her and what it meant to have another werewolf in the school. How would his inner wolf handle it? Would they be allowed to change in the same safe place? Would they get along?
"Hey Moony you alright? You barely touched your dinner." Peter asked his face furrowed in concern.
" He's just thinking about that bird again mate." Sirius replied as he grabbed a piece of bread and started buttering it. "If I didn't know better I'd say our Moony has a little crush."
Remus rolled his eyes "I saw her for all of two seconds while you and Peter took her up to the hospital wing with us."
"What? Don't believe in love at first sight?"
"Not with what I am I don't."
"Merlins saggy balls Moony!" Sirius exclaimed around a bite of mash "You're a great guy! Any girl would be lucky to have you. Besides from what we overheard she is the same as you."
Remus opened his mouth to retort but was interrupted by James storming into the Great hall right behind Lily.
"Lily you can't be serious!"
"She can't be. I'm Sirius!"
James glared at his best friend before turning back to the red head who was trying to fill two plates with food.
"I am James. Sev and I had a really good talk..."
"Wait? Snivilus?" Sirius asked in surprise "Why in the bloody hell would you talk to him?"
"Exaclty!" James yelled, "He's scum Lily! Did you forget what he called you?"
"No I didn't!" Lily snapped back "Those are words he can never take back! And he is aware of that! But after talking to Hermione about what happened and why I've been avoiding him she helped me realize..."
"Hermione?! That random stranger we found half dead on Hogwarts grounds? You're taking advice from her?"James asked in disbelief and outrage
"And what's wrong with that?" Lily asked turning around to face him, hand on her hips and eyes narrowed in anger.
"She doesn't know him." James hissed.
"Prongs you need to calm down." Remus growled eyes flashing from forest green to amber.
"She's fraternizing with the enemy again Moony! And this-this Hermione is filling Lily's head up with stuff she has no business doing!"
"Prongs, shut it you're putting your foot in your mouth." Sirius hissed, eyeing Remus wearily as their friend began growling softly.
"James Fleamont Potter! Whether you like it or not Severus and I are friends. Just as Hermione and I are friends. If you don't like it or can't at least tolerate it then maybe we shouldn't be together anymore." Lily hissed,
James looked completely taken aback his hazel eyes widening in horror at what Lily just implied.
NO! Lily please...I didn't mean it I just..."
Lily ignored him as she turned back to the plates she was fussing with only minutes before. She grabbed them before turning back she sighed, "James, you need to think before you speak sometimes. Sev royally screwed up and he's been made aware of that. We'll never be what we once were but he has been a dear friend to me for so long he deserves a second chance. For me to at least try. And Hermione is all alone here. If you even knew a fraction of what she has been through you wouldn't be talking about her like you were."
"You really disappointed me James. I'm not breaking up with you but I AM mad at you." With that Lily walked away both plates in hand toward what was presumably the hospital wing.
"What did I just do?" James asked collapsing into an empty seat next to Sirius.
"Acted like a complete wanker." Peter supplied helpfully
Remus sat quietly as he tried to process his weird behavior. His wolf didn't care for what James said about Hermione and for the first time in a long while Remus didn't feel as if he was in control.
"Look mate I am with you about snivelius here, but you just got the girl. You can't try to control a witch like Lily." Sirius explained turning back to his food and helping himself to the desert that appeared. "You need to let her make her own mistakes and then be there for her."
"Sirius is making a surprising amount of sense." Peter commented
"Hey!"
"You're kind of a dog." Peter continued with a smirk at the inside joke "And are usually all about getting back at snivelius."
"I just hate any tosser that can hang out with the Malfoys and Lestranges. He'll be joining the death eaters before the year is over. Mark my words."
"Maybe." Peter said, " But Lily's a big girl she can take care of herself. Besides, she's got us when things get rough."
"I need to apologize to her." James declared,standing up abruptly. Sirius and Peter both shot their hands up grabbing an arm and tugging James back down into his seat. "Give her space to cool off Prongs." Sirius stated "And you, Moony you've been quiet. Anything bothering you?"
"I dunno Padfoot. I've just been on edge."
"I've noticed, I also noticed when James brought up Hermione your wolf didn't like it."
"What?" James asked turning his attention to his werewolf friend.
"That obvious huh?" Remus asked with a dry chuckle. "I really don't understand it myself. Since a few days ago I've been completely on edge. It doesn't help that I haven't seen her since we first found her. It's almost like...like the wolf is aware there is another."
"Is that a bad thing?" Peter asked
"I honestly don't know yet."
"Well then, there is only one way to find out." James declared, "We'll have to go up and visit her in the hospital wing!"
Remus found himself nodding in agreement. While he was terrified on what could happen him waiting around for the girl to be released wasn't getting him anywhere.
"We'll go tomorrow." Sirius suggested, "Give Lily that time to vent and cool off."
James grumbled as they all laughed while Remus's thought drifted back to the strange girl up in the hospital wing.
Hermione.
A/N: Chapter 3! This is turning into a bit of a slow burn. I hope you guys don't mind! If you have questions or concerns about the story just give me a PM.
R+R