Chapter 5: Truths and Goodbyes

Hospital Wing – Morning

Harry and Hermione hurried through the stone corridors of Hogwarts, their footsteps echoing loudly in the otherwise empty hallways. The shock of Snape's cruel exposure of Professor Lupin's condition still weighed heavily on them, but there was something more urgent—they had to tell Ron.

When they reached the hospital wing, they exchanged a quick glance before pushing open the doors. Ron sat up in bed, looking healthier but clearly bored, fiddling with a copy of The Daily Prophet.

As soon as he saw them, his face brightened. "Finally! Took you long enough. Did you bring me food?" he asked eagerly, eyes scanning their hands. "Pomfrey's practically starving me in here. I need something decent!"

Harry and Hermione exchanged confused looks. After everything that had happened, Ron was focused on food?

"Ron," Harry started, a little breathless from their dash through the halls, "did you hear what happened in the Great Hall? Lupin… Snape… he told everyone Lupin's a werewolf."

Ron blinked, then shrugged. "Yeah, I heard," he said, shifting in bed. "Figured something like that would come out sooner or later. But seriously, did you bring me anything?"

Hermione stared, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Ron, Snape exposed Lupin to the entire school! The students are writing home to their parents—Lupin's being forced out!"

Ron gave another shrug, his voice taking on a darker edge. "Yeah, well... werewolves are dangerous, Hermione. You know that." His voice turned harder, surprising them both. "In fact, they're all monsters. Every single one of them. It's a mercy to their once human souls to get rid of them—to slaughter them before they can hurt anyone."

"Slaughter them?" Harry echoed, his voice hollow.

"Yeah," Ron said firmly, sitting up straighter. "All werewolves eventually snap. It's not if—it's when. Look what happened with Lupin. We were this close to being werewolf food when he went out of control the other night. If it weren't for—" He stopped, not knowing the full story of how they escaped. "It's just what's best. People get hurt otherwise."

Harry felt the blood drain from his face, his stomach churning. Slaughter them... Ron's words echoed in his mind like a horrible drumbeat. The conversation blurred as his mind latched onto Ron's words. Werewolves. Dangerous. Monsters. Not like us...

He couldn't listen anymore. Without another word, he turned and stormed out of the hospital wing, ignoring Hermione's desperate call after him.

Hermione caught up with Harry outside the hospital wing, her breath coming in quick, frustrated gasps. "Harry!" she called, grabbing his arm. "I can't believe him—how could he say those things?"

Harry stopped but didn't turn around, his shoulders tense. "What if he's right?"

Hermione frowned, stepping in front of him. "What?"

Harry met her gaze, his eyes clouded with doubt. "What if he's right?" he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. "What if I'm dangerous, too?"

Hermione's heart sank. She had seen Harry worried before, but this was different. His fear was raw, palpable. "Harry, no. You're not dangerous. You're—"

"A werewolf," Harry finished for her, his voice trembling. "A freak. Who would love a freak like me?" He spat the word freak as though it were a curse, his voice filled with self-loathing.

Hermione's heart twisted at the word, and without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, pulling him close. Harry tensed for a moment, but then, almost as if he were too tired to fight it, he leaned into her embrace.

"I'll always be here for you, Harry," she whispered fiercely into his ear. "You're not a freak. You'll never be alone in this. I promise."

Harry closed his eyes, but the doubt gnawed at him, refusing to let go. He clung to her, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on him—his fears, Ron's words, the bite. "I don't know who I am anymore," he whispered hoarsely.

Hermione held him tighter, her voice soft and trembling, her breath warm against his neck. "You're Harry. You're good and kind, and that's never going to change."

Just then, Harry thought he heard her whisper something else, so quiet he wasn't sure if he imagined it: "I can love you."

His heart skipped a beat, but he couldn't be sure if she'd actually said it, and the moment passed so quickly that he didn't dare ask. He was too afraid of what the answer might be. Instead, he let himself sink into her embrace, drawing strength from the one person who had never left his side.

They stood there in the corridor, wrapped in each other's arms, as the rest of the world faded away. For the first time in what felt like forever, Harry allowed himself to feel just a sliver of hope.

Lupin's Office – Later that Morning

Lupin's office was a somber sight when they entered. His trunk sat in the middle of the room, half-packed, with books and robes strewn around the floor. The soft flicker of the fire added a melancholic warmth to the otherwise quiet room.

Lupin looked up from folding a set of robes as Harry and Hermione stepped inside. He offered them a tired but kind smile. "Harry, Hermione. I wasn't expecting visitors."

Harry stepped forward, his voice tight with emotion. "You're really leaving?"

Lupin sighed and nodded. "Yes. It's better this way, for everyone."

"But it's not fair!" Hermione burst out, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow. "You've done nothing wrong!"

Lupin smiled sadly, though there was a trace of acceptance in his eyes. "It's how things are, Hermione. People fear what they don't understand." He paused, his gaze lowering for a moment. "And… I'm just glad I didn't hurt anyone during the last full moon."

Harry and Hermione exchanged an uneasy glance. He doesn't know—the unspoken thought hung heavy between them. Lupin had, in fact, bitten Harry that night, but neither of them had mentioned it, and it was clear that Lupin remained blissfully unaware that he had infected Harry with lycanthropy. The weight of that knowledge made the silence in the room even more oppressive.

"I don't care what anyone else says," Harry said quietly, breaking the silence. "You're the best teacher we've had. None of this is your fault."

Lupin's smile was warm, though tinged with sadness. "Thank you, Harry. That means a great deal coming from you."

Lupin walked over to his desk and retrieved the Marauder's Map, holding it out to Harry. "This is yours now," he said softly. "But use it wisely. I don't want to hear about too many late-night adventures."

Harry took the map, his throat tight with emotion. "I'll take good care of it. I promise."

As Harry looked down at the map, the flood of memories that came with it washed over him—memories of his parents, of Sirius, and of Lupin. This was more than just a tool; it was a piece of his family's legacy.

Lupin studied him for a moment longer, then stepped closer, pulling Harry into a fatherly embrace. "Your parents would be proud of you, Harry," he whispered. "Don't ever doubt that. You've grown into a remarkable young man."

Harry's throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. He clung to Lupin, feeling the weight of his words. Would they still be proud if they knew what I was now? the thought nagged at him, but he didn't voice it. He just nodded, not trusting himself to say anything more.

After a long moment, Lupin let go, turning to Hermione with a soft smile. "And you, Miss Granger, have been just as remarkable. You've both made me proud to be your teacher."

Hermione blushed slightly, blinking back tears. "You've taught us so much, Professor. It's not fair that you have to leave."

"It's not," Lupin agreed quietly. "But we don't always get what's fair in life."

Hogsmeade – The Next Day

After stepping off the carriages in Hogsmeade, Harry and Hermione spotted Professor McGonagall standing by the station entrance, watching the students with a stern but thoughtful expression.

"Have a good summer, Professor," Hermione greeted politely, while Harry gave a respectful nod.

"Ah, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter," McGonagall acknowledged with a slight smile. "I trust you're both ready for a well-deserved break?"

As they walked closer, Harry noticed a travel bag resting near her feet. "Professor, are you… riding the train back with us?" he asked, surprised.

McGonagall followed his gaze and nodded. "Yes, I'll be accompanying the students this time. It seems that Black managed to escape the Ministry's custody a few days ago, and extra precautions are necessary."

Hermione stiffened at the mention of Sirius, but she kept her expression neutral. "Of course, Professor. Thank you for keeping an eye on things."

McGonagall glanced between them, her sharp eyes missing nothing. "I trust the two of you will stay out of trouble this summer," she said with a hint of amusement, before adding in a softer tone, "Take care of yourselves. And Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, I wish you both a very good summer."

Harry and Hermione exchanged a brief glance, feeling a sense of foreboding, but they nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Professor."

With that, they boarded the train and found a compartment before it left the station, settling in for the long journey back to London.

As the train rumbled along the tracks, the door to their compartment slid open, and Draco Malfoy sauntered in, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle. His face twisted into its usual sneer as he looked at Harry and Hermione.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famous Harry Potter," Malfoy began, his tone dripping with disdain. "Still the hero of the hour, I see. How does it feel, Potter, always needing to be saved by someone else?"

Harry clenched his fists but remained silent, his eyes narrowing at Malfoy. Hermione sat beside him, quietly bracing herself.

Malfoy continued, his voice growing more malicious. "What's it like, Potter? Knowing that no matter how many times you play the hero, you'll always be the pathetic little orphan who couldn't save his own parents?"

Harry's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, refusing to rise to Malfoy's bait.

"And Granger," Malfoy sneered, turning to Hermione now. "Still playing sidekick to Potter's little adventures, are you? Always the smartest, never the bravest. You must feel pretty lucky that he keeps you around."

He paused, his eyes glinting with malice. "But then again, what else could you expect from a filthy little Mudblood—"

Before Malfoy could finish, Harry was on his feet, moving faster than anyone could react. He grabbed Malfoy by the front of his robes and, with a sudden burst of strength, physically threw him out of the compartment. Malfoy flew backward, landing hard on the corridor floor, the sound of his impact echoing through the train.

Crabbe and Goyle stood frozen, wide-eyed with shock, as Harry stood in the doorway, breathing heavily. "You don't ever talk to her like that," he spat, his voice low and dangerous.

Malfoy lay stunned for a moment, his face flushed with humiliation and fury, but before he could gather himself, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the corridor.

Daphne Greengrass, a Slytherin with a reputation for being cool and composed, was walking past at that exact moment. She looked down at Malfoy sprawled on the ground, one eyebrow raised in surprise. "Malfoy," she said coolly, "I would've thought a Slytherin would have more dignity than to act like a Gryffindor."

Malfoy scowled, his face reddening further as he struggled to his feet. Daphne, unimpressed, shot a glance at Harry and Hermione inside the compartment, her expression unreadable. "Maybe try not to embarrass the House any further," she added pointedly, before continuing down the corridor without another word.

Malfoy glared after her, then shot one last furious look at Harry and Hermione before storming off, Crabbe and Goyle trailing behind him like shadows.

Harry and Hermione exchanged a look, still processing what had just happened. Without saying anything, they sat back down in the compartment, the tension slowly ebbing away. Neither of them brought up Malfoy again.

In a different compartment, Ron and Ginny were sitting together, deep in conversation about Quidditch tactics for the upcoming season. Ginny animatedly described her favorite moves from the last match, her hands moving through the air as she illustrated a particularly tricky maneuver.

As they continued their conversation, Luna Lovegood sat quietly across from them, her gaze fixed dreamily out the window. She seemed oblivious to the lively conversation happening beside her, her mind lost in thoughts that were far from Quidditch or anything else happening on the train.

Her fingers absentmindedly played with the edge of her robes as she stared out at the passing countryside. The fields and forests blurred together, but in Luna's mind, she was far from the Hogwarts Express.

I wonder when my Alphas will finally claim me, she mused, her thoughts drifting like the clouds. I hope it's soon. I don't want to be alone forever.

Her expression remained serene, as if the thought didn't trouble her deeply, but the quiet yearning behind her wide silver eyes was unmistakable.

In the background, Ron and Ginny continued their lively chat, completely unaware of Luna's internal musings. Luna, as always, was content to stay in her own world, though the thought of her Alphas lingered in her mind, soft and persistent like the wind outside.

King's Cross Station – Later that Day

The train slowed as it approached King's Cross, and Harry blinked awake to find Hermione asleep on his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile faintly, a mixture of emotions swirling inside him. He gently shook her awake.

"Hermione," he said softly, "we're here."

She stirred, blinking sleepily before realizing where they were. Stretching, she sat up and glanced out the window at the familiar sight of Platform 9. "Back to reality," she mumbled, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes—a spark of anticipation that Harry immediately noticed.

"Not for long," he whispered under his breath.

Hermione caught his words, meeting his gaze for a brief moment. It was in that shared glance—a silent understanding—that Harry felt the weight of the secret plan they had concocted together. They hadn't told Ron or anyone else yet, but the thought of it made him feel a small surge of hope. If everything went according to plan, this wouldn't be a summer like all the others.

As they gathered their things, Harry's heart felt heavy, knowing he still had to endure the usual parting at the station, where his uncle would be waiting. But the knowledge of what they had planned kept his spirits from sinking too low.

Hermione smiled at him, a reassuring glint in her eyes as they walked side by side through the bustling crowd. "Remember," she whispered, her tone playful yet filled with intent. "One day at a time."

Harry nodded, his lips twitching into a smile of his own. "One day at a time," he echoed.

The weight of the summer ahead, of the Dursleys and everything that had happened, suddenly felt lighter. Soon, he would be away from Privet Drive—and with Hermione.

For now, the details of their plan remained unspoken, a secret between the two of them, but knowing there was a way out gave Harry the sense of freedom he had longed for. Whatever happened next, he wouldn't be facing it alone.

As they stepped off the train and into the chaos of the platform, Harry felt something he hadn't felt in a long time—a quiet sense of hope.

AN: So originally I wasn't going to post this chapter today but with the recent news I changed my mind. Rest in Peace, Dame Maggie Smith. You were the best Professor McGonagall we could ask for. Here is some Review responses since the last chapter:

To FlowerChild: Keep reading and find out.

To bruins35: It will be a small harem. It will be focused on their Pack dynamics. Also I hope this is a little better on length. It was difficult making the chapter longer.

To decadenceofmysoul: Thank you for coming back again and reviewing.

To Ora1168: I will definitely continue this story. Just wait and see what plans the Duo have and what adversity they will endure and overcome.