Chapter 65: The Difference Between A Lord And A Master

The Lair, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...

High in the sky the emblem of Salazar Slytherin surrounded by green mist signaled the well timed assault as the wolf camp became overrun with twisted vicious death eaters. Severus Snape's dark mark burned as he found himself tearing away from his utterly confused witch and clawing at the annoying thing. The distant but familiar hissing filled his ears that had been the work of only one creature, The Despot Voldemort. Through clinched teeth, Snape gripped the covers shredding them instantly as the beast in him warred against the compulsion of the dark wizard.

"Severus." said Hermione concerned for her lover.

"Do not touch me." hissed Snape feeling the burning call of his other master as the wolf in him rebelled.

"Severus you're in pain." she said.

The muscles bulged in the tormented pale form of Severus Snape as he felt himself on the verge of shifting.

"Get out of here...take them...before the dark lord..." struggled the Potions Professor. "Before the dark lord destroys them..."

"Where are we suppose to go?" asked Hermione confused.

"Wolf Summit." replied Snape. "Must...must protect the clan...must protect witch...must obey father."

Snape's body shifted as the cracking of bones and lengthening of flesh terrified Hermione despite having witnessed it before.

He was in so much pain and the whimpers of agony made her burst into tears.

Snape continued to shift into the half-form of a werewolf as he charged out into the open.

Hermione gathered Tonks, Lupin and Draco whom had been whimpering as well.

"We have to get them out of here." she said getting the attention of the terrified group. "The death eaters are out to stop us from influencing the counsel."

"Who did they send to lead the charge?" asked Draco more worried than he had been since becoming a man-beast.

"I don't know." replied Hermione sternly. "But we need to get moving."

"Where's Uncle Severus?" asked the young Slytherin.

"He's going to protect the clan...he already shifted." replied the amber eyed witch.

"This is Forengar's doing." said Lupin bitterly. "Spineless little fool is going to force the Wolf Summit to serve Voldemort...even against the father's wishes."

"Not if we get there first." replied Hermione determined.

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The Lair, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...

The Ebony werewolf known as Severus Snape charged into the field of battle ready to defend his wolfish clan to the death as commanded by the will of Hircine when he noted the familiar scent of one Lucius Abraxas Malfoy.

The blond Senior Malfoy had been tasked with burning down this settlement by the dark lord but the information of Severus being among them was not relayed to him.

"S-Severus?" said the confused wizard peeling away his ivory mask and approaching the rather impressive creature before him.

The glow of Snape's eyes faded and gave way to the obsidian orbs of his usual nature as he advanced upon his brother in shadows.

"What are you?" asked Lucius reaching out his hand and stroking the ebony fur that surrounded the massive creature's body.

Snape noting that this had been Lucius sat before him unwilling to harm the blond wizard despite the pull from Hircine to do so. Lucius was his brother and as a result he was apart of his clan.

The Senior Malfoy examined his wolfish brother and became a bit envious of his new found abilities.

"You know...most werewolves have a thatch of fur to sheath their freakishly large cocks." he said with a smirk.

Snape rolled his eyes nudging Lucius with his snout.

"Do not get any ideas about licking my attire." said the Governor of Hogwarts. "This is expensive suede and I have no time for dry cleaning."

Snape seemed amused by his words.

He trotted about the camp raising his hind leg and urinating on the bushes.

"That's very impressive Severus." said Lucius annoyed. "Now what are you doing here?"

Snape had been about to project his mission into the mind of his old friend when he found himself surrounded by death eaters, none of them had been of the mind for peace given the hatred of werewolves among the wizarding community.

A low growl erupted from Snape as a familiar figure beneath hooded robes approached with glowing red eyes.

"S-S-Severus-s-s." it hissed.

The ebony were-beast known as Snape advanced on the weak little creature before it. His keen sense of smell noted the cursed blood flowing through it's veins and the twisted expression on it's serpentine face lurking just beneath the shroud of the hood.

"Impressive." said the despot the beast knew to be Voldemort. "What a fine weapon you make...and an ideal approach to getting the counsel to side with us in place of that fool Dumbledore."

The despot had held the Potions Master in high regard before hand but from the looks of it, he had detested the sight of the enormous ebony beast before him.

"Now S-S-Severus-s-s be a good boy and bow to your master." insisted Voldemort removing his hood to show off his bald serpentine head and glowing red eyes.

The were-beast Snape refused snarling at the implication that an Alpha such as himself would stoop so low as to bow to a weak flesh creature barely held together by accursed blood magic.

"Bow to your master S-S-Severus-s-s." said the despot once more not at all amused by his servant's defiance.

Lucius had thought the entire situation strange. While Snape had known him, it was clear he knew nothing of his service to Voldemort.

"You dare defy me?" hissed the enraged despot as he bared his left forearm and touched his wand to it.

The result was a shock-wave of indescribable pain that radiated into each dark mark present including the one Snape bore.

The Ebony werewolf's knees buckled but a snort of rage followed by a growl saw to him extending to his full height.

"Bow to me!" shouted Voldemort angrily.

A dark chuckle resonated from deep within the ebony werewolf's throat.

"You wish for me to bow to you...a weakling creature of flesh?" it said in a deep and angered tone. "Being of accursed blood does not make you fit to rule...I am more a god among mortals than you huddled in the shadows of your own failures...I am the hound of Hircine and it is his voice that commands me not a pathetic little serpent like you."

"HOW DARE YOU!" shouted Voldemort furiously channeling his magic to combat the insolent Severus Snape.

There werewolf charged forward knocking Voldemort to the ground and towering over him.

The death eaters watched in amazement as Snape felled the most powerful wizard in the world without raising a wand.

"BOW." commanded Snape as his eyes began to glow from his bloodlust.

The present group of death eaters found themselves hurled to the ground against their will.

"BOW LOW!" shouted Snape noting how even Lucius found himself with his belly to the ground.

As Snape glared at the despot another voice resounded from deep within the beast, one that had not been his own.

{"Look at my power in wonder creature of flesh...I am Hircine Father of Man-Beasts this vessel is mine to command." said the voice of Hircine from Snape's bestial mouth. "THESE ARE MY CHILDREN AND I WILL CHOOSE HOW THEY ARE TO SPEND THEIR TIME...YOUR DEATH EATERS ARE NOW MINE TO CONTROL...WHAT SAY YOU NOW IN CHALLENGE WEAK FLESH CREATURE?"}

Voldemort had been trembling given his fear of death and it seemed quite eminent.

"S-S-Severus-s-s if you are in there...spare your humbled master...it is Dumbledore that seeks to harm you...and control every aspect of your life."

Snape turned his attention to finishing off the despot once and for all when he heard the voice of Lucius in his mind.

"This is not the way brother." he said cleverly concealing his thoughts from the frightened despot. "Let Potter deal with him."

Snape released Lucius from the force of his will and the swift wizard grabbed the despot apparating away with a crack of thunder. The remaining death eaters were released to return with their dark lord trembling in awe of the ebony beast before them.

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The Lair, Uncharted Forest, Unknown World...

Snape had reverted back to his mortal form gasping for breath from the weight of his own powers as he lied back on a make-shift cot. His body was drenched with sweat and his muscles ached from being tense for so long. This would not be the last he would see of the dark lord, and it definitely would not be the last he heard of Forengar.

Catching his breath, Snape forced himself to his feet knowing he had to hurry to make it to the Wolf Summit before his apparent rival did. The little coup he staged here at the outpost was more than enough evidence of his poor leadership skill given he had been sworn to protect those of his clan from any and all dangers and waltzed the enemy right up to the gate.

The thought of the twisted elder wolf being near Hermione and Draco were enough to propel the ailing werewolf wizard toward his the gathering of the man-beasts.

This time he'd slay the unruly elder before every wolf in the nation so there would be little doubt as to whom the rightful leader of this army should be.