Chapter 64: The Wolven Lair

The Lair, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...

Chills went down Hermione's spine as she found herself enveloped by Snape's ebony clad arms. His towering height and tension riddled body had been comforting in this strange land of were-beasts. The curious witch had known little about these half-blood creatures outside of cautionary tales and full on reports of barbarism. The most impressive example of what a werewolf had been was Severus himself and he was nothing like these strange looking tribal men. They seemed to age without end grouping together like that of an outcast family and hunting as mortals do. None had the power to shift away from the light of the full moon despite some being stuck between the blood lust and the world or mortals. Severus had been different in every aspect and infinitely more powerful with Hircine's backing.

"Something the matter witch?" he asked taking in the scent of jasmine from her unruly hair.

"I've never seen so many werewolves in my life." she said seemingly impressed by her surroundings.

"This is only an out post." said Snape amused by her impression. "The Wolven Summit is where the vast majority of them are gathered."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock.

"Y-You mean there are more of them?" she asked turning to face her wolfish lover.

Snape nodded.

"Indeed." he replied in his usual Professor tone. "Thousands by my last count...there are possibly some whom had broken from the faction and hunt in smaller packs like the Frostmoon clan...but they all convene at the Summit...it isn't referred to as a werewolf army to terrify the wizarding public witch."

"I..." she began unsure what to say to this.

"It will be fine." said Snape nudging her neck and causing her to moan softly in the process. "It was a very brave and compassionate thing you did today in saving these stragglers."

Hermione smiled as she leaned her head against his ebony clad chest.

"We need them to fight against...you know who." she said amending saying the despot's name for fear of causing Severus pain.

"I could have compelled them to do anything." he replied rather smugly. "I have to admit being given access to power is a thousand times more satisfying than being a servant in the dark."

"Severus." said Hermione meeting his gaze.

"Not to worry witch." he said with a smirk. "You still hold my reigns...but I have to admit if you were not...things would be vastly shifted by now."

The strange red glow behind his naturally obsidian orbs had returned briefly then faded.

"Have you eaten?" asked Hermione changing the subject.

"No." replied Snape in an emotionless tone.

"Let's get you fed." she said.

Snape stopped her for a moment wrapping his arm around her belly in a possessive fashion and proceeded to devour her lips in a heated kiss.

"When this war is over..." he began only to find himself interrupted by a fight between Draco and another member of the clan.

Hermione sighed as Snape released her and raced over toward his ward.

Draco's aggression was just as ruthless as Snape's as he pounded the weaker werewolf into the ground bordering on killing him. Snape had been infinitely impressed. Hermione's eyes widened.

"DRACO DON'T!" she shouted.

The sweat blasted sleek blond wizard looked over at her before growling viciously at the cowering foe.

"Next time you'll think twice about badmouthing my father." he said viciously before getting to his feet and dusting himself off.

Draco came toward Snape whom in a strange wolfish way patted the boy's head and allowed him to proceed toward a place to cool down. The werewolf that dared to challenge him was still on the cold hard ground amid mud and dust nursing his broken ribs after being slammed by the far superior werewolf Draco Malfoy.

"Boys will be boys." said The Potions Master before making his way toward the meal line.

Hermione couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. Draco Malfoy was a lot more imposing with his werewolf abilities than he had ever been in the past. It had been all too clear to the worried witch that the junior Malfoy was only down playing his beast nature in her presence. Of course he wouldn't dream of attacking her but Ron and Harry were another matter.

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The Lair, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...

Night had fallen and the werewolves delighted in the white glow of the moon. They each looked up at the sky, shirtless and silent as they listened to the song of Luna. Tonks and Hermione had been privy to the strange events and it was even more astounding to see a shirtless Lupin and an equally shirtless Snape wrestling as the spectators made bets.

Tonks noted the numerous scars along Snape's ripped pale flesh.

"He must have endured pain for ages." she said almost feeling sorry for the normally cantankerous wizard.

Hermione sighed nodding in agreement.

"Living in the shadows wasn't easy for him." she said.

"I don't believe it was easy for Remus either." said Tonks noting how comfortable Lupin seemed to be in this place.

Snape slammed the sheepish werewolf into the mud and he rolled to his feet chuckling as he allowed himself to relax despite being out at night.

"It's the first time I've seen him this at ease since I've known him." said Hermione observing the casual play between were-beasts.

Draco had been among them racing toward Snape as well only to find himself slammed into the mud.

It seemed the Slytherin was having the time of his life splashing and rolling about with the other werewolves.

"This is a place of healing." said the shaman standing beside the two witches and watching the younger Weres play.

"What do you mean by that?" asked the amber eyed witch turning to meet his gaze.

"The Alpha and his creator were old enemies were they not?" he asked.

Hermione had been stunned that the small man knew so much.

"In this place...we are as one...a family...a clan." he continued taking a moment to meet the gazes of both witches. "All of us."

He smiled at Tonks and walked over toward her.

"You carry the seed of a peaceful future." he said.

Tonks looked at him strangely as he clasped his hand along her flat belly.

"This one will not be were but shall embody the spirit of his father." he said before walking away.

Hermione looked at Tonks seemingly shocked by what the shaman had said.

"Tonks are you...?" she began.

"No." replied the confused witch. "I don't...at least I don't think so...besides he should really be checking you given how many times you and Snape go at it."

The amber eyed witch smirked.

"I would have been pregnant long ago if it were not for contraception charms." she replied looking over at Snape finding herself lost in how his muscular pale form was slick with sweat and his breathing became ragged.

Tonks burst into a fit of giggles.

"So..." she said enjoying the shift in topics. "What's he like?"

"It depends." replied Hermione with a sigh. "Some times he's sweet and gentle...and other times...when he's on a possessive streak...he's aggressive and insatiable."

"From what I saw in the tent, you wouldn't have had it any other way." said Tonks smiling.

Hermione's cheeks turned red.

"It's a little late for embarrassment now." said the giggling older witch. "Snape's a grade a stud and any witch that can take what he dishes out is impressive in my book."

"Sometimes I wonder about you Tonks." said Hermione doing a bit of giggling of her own.

Tonks shifted her attention toward Lupin.

"If I am...pregnant...how am I going to tell him?" she said in a serious tone. "He's always been so dismissive of the possibility for fear of harming the child during one of his transformations but with Snape around him, he's been in better control of his animal urges...you'd think he'd be able to live a semi-normal life."

"Well, no matter what happens, Severus and I will support you." said Hermione hugging the usually less sentimental witch. "I'm sure Severus and Harry will be able to speak with him...get him to see that this isn't necessarily a bad thing...even with the war being the way that it is...it's nice to have some hope for the future."

Tonks seemed contented by her words.

"I..I don't suppose it's too soon to ask you to be godmother?" she asked.

Hermione smiled.

"I suppose I could...manage that." she replied. "I'd be honored."

Snape came racing toward the two witches and scooped Hermione into his arms.

"Mmmm." he purred crushing his pale lips into her soft pink ones.

"Severus!" said Hermione giggling. "Put me down."

"Not on your life." he replied carrying the young witch toward their given hut.

Tonks got a look at the barbarian version of Snape as he carried Hermione over his shoulder toward the hut. She barely had time to comment before Lupin arrived leading her back toward their respective hut.

Draco continued to busy himself with mud wrestling all challengers given more to his ambitious nature than his mortal need for sleep. As the peaceful villiage of hard working werefolk rested the glow of ruthless red eyes had taken in the peaceful location.

"S-S-So...this-s-s is where they hide." hissed the voice of Voldemort as he stood cloaked in shadows atop of a large boulder.

"It is indeed." replied Forengar Greyback. "The one you call Severus Snape was among them...an Alpha gifted by Hircine."

"Is-s-s-s that s-s-s-so?" asked Voldemort seemingly intrigued by this news.

A twisted smirk filed across his serpentine face beneath the darkness of his hood.