I had an idea for Artemis but it wasn't a prompt in the LDWS comp. So here it is!

Prompt: Artemis

Goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, the Moon, and chastity.

Title: A Belated Apology

Rating: T

Word count: 500

Warnings: N/A

She sniffed and crouched low in the moonlight, peering through the brush. Rearing back on her haunches, she smelled her prey. Saliva pooled in her mouth. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. Muscles trembled like a compressed spring and released as she launched into the cool night air.

Jaw wide and claws bared – a flash of light blinded her.

And then nothing.

The cold metal shackling Hermione's limbs roused her, and a jagged stone dug into her cheek but she feigned sleep in her unfamiliar surroundings. In addition to the dank mold, she detected two masculine scents. The first she knew intimately, being the recipient of his bite. The second was unknown.

Heart racing with fear, she tried to keep her body from tensing and struggled to Occlude.

"She's awake," Greyback growled. Hermione opened her eyes to see the werewolf chained, sitting against the opposite wall. "I haven't done anything to your mother, Malfoy."

Her former classmate leaned casually against the dungeon door, arms crossed.

"I know that Fenrir. It's nothing personal."

Hermione pushed herself up to a sitting position, quietly assessing the strange dynamic, calculating her odds for escape. Malfoy sauntered towards her corner of the dungeon.

Whether hunting for prey or searching for Death Eaters, the rise and fall of the moon flowed in her blood. Her skin prickled with excitement as her transformation neared. If Malfoy ventured too close, his entrails would slither to the floor before he found his wand.

"Then why keep me here with the Mudblood scum?" She blinked in disbelief as Malfoy squatted in front of her, vanishing her restraints. Greyback choked in rage. "Are you fucking her? The Dark Lord will have you flayed!"

Wary, she narrowed her eyes. "What is this, Malfoy?"

"About seven minutes more you'd say?"

Her body hummed, ready to release the beast within. "You have Wolfsbane?"

"No," his lips twitched, and motioned in Greyback's direction. "I used it all on him."

Chains scraped on the ground as Greyback struggled to stand. "You can't!" his voice echoed in the chamber. "The Dark Lord will–"

"Think you've gotten yourself killed on the hunt," Malfoy winked at her. "Which wouldn't be far from the truth. I'll let you out at dawn, Granger."

"Why?"

"A demonstration of loyalty. We're changing sides."

"You spoiled piece of shit. The Dark Lord–"

Hermione spoke over Greyback's empty threats. "They won't believe–"

"My cousin knows. Told me to prove myself."

She took the unfamiliar outstretched hand as he helped her stand. From the slip of his fingers against hers, he didn't consider her even remotely dirty.

"Did I hurt you?"

She rolled her neck, body tingling on the edge of transformation. "Your stunners aren't that good."

"My stunners are excellent." He raised an eyebrow. "Hard and penetrating."

She snorted as Draco walked backwards towards the dungeon door.

"Why me? Why this?"

He tilted his head, "An overdue apology for my behavior in school?"

Hermione shifted her gaze to Greyback's horror-struck face.

And cracked her knuckles.