Chapter 86: The Bolstering Of The Ranks

The Black Family Manor, 12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...

The street had been littered with the askew forms of three bodies as both Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy landed hard against the rain slick asphalt. Not far from seemingly unconscious couple, there had been another body, the ebony werewolf Severus Snape had also been out cold and there was evidence that he might have broken a rib or two during the fall. He had not made a single sound as the heavy raindrops poured down upon him and the Malfoys in the wake of their exposure to the cold and rainy weather in the muggle world. The crack of thunder had shaken the three houses and had gotten the attention of Hermione Granger as she sat staring out the window in search of what she believed to have been her mate. There was an aura...one of deep purple that had gotten her attention as she looked out side amid the numerous drops and the gloomy darkening sky and she was on her feet and out of the door before she could even bother to put a coat on.

Her water blocked eyes had not stopped her from making out the aura not far from two downed figures in the middle of the rain slick street.

"SEVERUS!" she shouted rushing toward him and getting the attention of everyone in 12 Grimmauld Place.

She had dropped to her knees beside the injured werewolf and cradled his large head in her lap despite the sheer size of him. Tears streamed down her cheeks that were quickly washed away by the rain. She placed her hand on his massive chest, noting he had still been alive and that he was breathing although it had been shallow. She noted the two other bodies not far from him equally banged up from the landing but alive none the less.

Remus Lupin had rushed from the house as soon as he noted the three bodies. He moved to carry Narcissa Malfoy into the house and lied her unconscious form onto a nearby sofa before rushing through the rain to get Lucius Malfoy with Arthur Weasley's reluctant assistance. Lupin and Hermione tended to were-Snape knowing all too well that he needed to have calmed before they put him in the house, but they needed to keep him out of the sight of the muggles.

It had been a task that was easier said than done as a muggle family pulled up along the side of the road.

"What's going on here?" asked the eldest male of the group, he had been driving a classic automobile.

He had been a rather wealthy fellow and quite plump when one looked at him. Lupin tried to get a hold of his own wolfish instincts as he addressed him.

"I'm terribly sorry sir...but I'm afraid you need to be moving along...this area is in use." he said trying to sound as natural as possible.

"What's the meaning of this nonsense...can't you see that it's raining?" grumbled the man. "I have to get my family in for the night."

"Well that's all completely understandable..." began Lupin as the heavy drops had began seeping through his flimsy attire.

"Daddy what's that?" asked one of the two young girls sitting in the backseat as she pointed out the window.

The eldest daughter screamed as she found herself looking at the layed out form of the ebony werewolf.

"It's a bloody werewolf!" shouted the man's wife in terror.

"IT IS A BLOODY WEREWOLF!" agreed the now terrified wealthy man.

Lupin rolled his eyes at the muggle's reaction.

Their hysterics had been upsetting the beast that dwelled within him and he growled as he leaned towards the car.

"ALRIGHT MOVE ALONG NOTHING TO SEE HERE!" shouted a familiar voice.

Lupin turned to see Tonks venturing out in the rain with what appeared to be a megaphone and all around had been bright white lights as if strategically placed.

"What's that?" asked the driver more shaken than usual. "Extra Terrestrials next?"

Tonks made her way toward the car pushing her speechless lover out of the way as she spoke into the megaphone.

"WHY ARE YOU...PEOPLE DISTURBING MY SET?" she asked with conviction.

"I beg your pardon Miss?" asked the man confused. "Y-Your set?"

"I'm shooting a film here...what did you think the bloody werewolf costume was for?" asked Tonks as if she truly had been a pretty upset director.

"A film?" said the man as his muggle brain began to rationalize what had been before him.

He turned toward his family almost too happy to accept such a reality.

"It's just a film...a horror film." said he said happily.

"At least it was until you interrupted my shot." hissed Tonks still rather convincingly.

Lupin sighed and gave them a few gold coins to keep them happy for the time being. If they were questioned their story would be hard to prove given the bad weather and the lighting.

"Here...take your family somewhere nice for the evening...we'll have this scene wrapped up in no time." he said shoving a couple of pounds into the man's hands.

"T-Thanks you." he said finally believing them to have been the real deal. "S-sorry about your shot and all that...bye now."

It appeared to be all it took for him to start up his engine and take off into the night leaving the witch and wizard to see to Snape.

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Middle Of The Street, 12 Grimmauld Place, Muggle World...

Hermione stroked her wolfish lover's ebony furred cheek as she continued to see to him. She had been unable to sleep since she had forced him to leave in the wake of finding out that he had been the reason for the death of Harry's parents. At the moment, she simply settled for holding him close to her. After a few more moments of her endless sobbing...the ebony wolf started to come around snarling in the wake of his transformation reverting. Hermione still held the naked wizard in her arms as both Tonks and Lupin rushed over to get them inside the Manor before muggles arrived.

Lupin and Arthur Weasley carried the soaked wizard down to the basement after Hermione had done the modest thing and transfigured his ebony trousers back on his weary body. Molly Weasley and Ginny were seeing to Narcissa Malfoy and had set the ailing witch up in a nice extra bedroom. Both Arthur and Lupin had already done the same for Lucius Malfoy in the same bedroom.

Harry Potter had not liked the idea of sharing Sirius house with Snape but the Malfoys were just as bad in his eyes. He opened his mouth to protest to the new additions and found himself on the receiving end of a stinging hex from a not so sympathetic Hermione, especially when Severus had been hurt due to her own folly.

"If you insist on acting like a child Harry Potter than we will all treat you like one." she hissed. "Severus has done more than enough to look out for you and you are going to start acting like you're grateful...while it is tragic that your parents were killed when you were just a baby...that doesn't give you a license to act like a complete arse whole toward whomever you wish!...Now Severus is staying and so are the Malfoys now get use to it!"

Tonks smiled from the top of the staircase where she had journeyed in the wake of the flying hexes.

Hermione turned her attention to the smiling witch.

"Tonks I trust you and Mrs. Weasley can handle everything from here." she said. "I must see to Severus."

Tonks nodded in understanding as Hermione made her way to the basement just as both Arthur Weasley and Lupin took their leave of Snape.

Harry Potter had not known what to say as his best friend rushed to be at the side of the Potions Professor. He had thought he had won her back from the greasy git but it appeared he was mistaken.

"Oh grow up Harry." said Tonks finally fed up with his antics herself. "More than just you is fighting this war and there are quite a few people who have been fighting it since you were in diapers...show some respect and act like we aren't just waiting our time on you...you may not like Snape but he is quite right about you as he's always been...you are just like your father and godfather combined may they rest in peace...but enough is enough...this entire house is not going to be miserable because you want to have your way...Hermione doesn't deserve it and neither does Snape for that matter...selfish little sod..."

the annoyed witch stormed off but not before placing a warding charm on all available exists in case the spoiled brat decided to be extra dramatic that evening.

Everyone had enough to deal with as it was but the good news had been that the ranks of the Order of Phoenix had been significantly bolstered with the addition of The Malfoys.