Chapter 22: The Ever Moody Prince

Fourth Year started off with hype for the up-coming Tri-Wizard Tournament. It was a well known fact that Hogwarts was to host it this Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic had in previous years. The returning champion from Durmstrang Institute had been none other than Viktor Krum. A boy Snape had heard a great deal about if Professor Igor Karkaroff's ranting were anything to go by. It unnerved the Potions Master to see the Tri-Wizard Games Champion taking such an interest in Hermione Granger. She seemed to be falling into the pitfalls of the late bloomer. On occasion he caught her looking at both Weasley and Krum with a strange sort of admiration that had been alien when it came to her previous personality comparison.

The longer the games went on the more Snape found himself wanting to rip both Weasley and Krum apart.

Potions Class had been moved into it's advanced stages and as such the work became harder and more defined for the former 3rd years. Harry Potter had become even more of a nuisance than in previous years and Dumbledore's concern over the boy's name being placed in The Goblet Of Fire meant Snape had to work overtime to ensure the petulant child's survival.

His idea to use Potter as bait was more so for his own good than Potters. Lucius had confided in him that he believed the dark lord may be returning sooner than anyone would think. Never on to play the fool, Snape began to play his part accordingly. Although Dumbledore's plan to do such was simply to realign himself with those he despised most in the world, even above House Gryffindor's Marauders.

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Snape's Quarters, Slytherin Dungeons, Hogwarts...

The first thing Hermione noticed when she returned to Hogwarts was that Snape seemed more than a bit different. There were aspects to his wilder nature emerging that he had been unable to keep hidden, his hair grew in length and became more wild. He had taken to growing his facial hair which caught Hermione off guard the first time she saw him. He wore the same ebony robes and Victorian style frock coat that had become something of a trademark for him right along with the black trousers and dragon-hide boots.

His obsidian eyes had a kind of wild flare behind them as well. When the bushy haired witch got back to the school she had not believed that she could find herself attracted to her Potions Professor, not even in the least but seeing him for the first time in three months proved to be a compelling aspect to venture along those lines.

Much like before Snape and Hermione went to work on their Love Bizarre plant. Surprisingly, it had become vibrant green during her absence. She made note of the changes having to do with Snape and his now frequent mood swings. He sat at his desk grading parchments and making notes on various potions he had been working on since she had been gone. He appeared to be upset with her to some degree.

The young Gryffindor witch ignored it and continued making notes on their plant.

"Where did you do?" he asked in a gruff tone.

Hermione sighed.

"It was summer break, Professor." she said. "I went home to my family."

Snape let out a wild growl and continued scribbling.

"Everyone goes home for summer break at the end of term and you know it." she said annoyed with his increasingly possessive behavior.

"You were suppose to be here." growled Snape.

Hermione sighed again.

"I suppose we aren't going to get any work done." she said. "I see you another day."

She got to her feet and before she could make it to the door Snape had been up from his desk and had her pinned against his wall. A low warning growl erupted from deep within. His eyes flashing a hint of danger.

"Are you trying to provoke me, witch?" he asked through gritted teeth.

"N-No." said Hermione recalling just how dangerous Snape could be if his wolf side gained control.

"D-Do not move." he said grasping the wall behind her. His fingernails clawing at the gray stone in apparent desperation.

Hermione took a breath and recalled how she handled this situation before hand.

"Talk to me Professor." she said. "Tell me what you feel."

Snape sighed still grasping at the wall.

"You know what I feel." he replied trying to keep from pressing his straining body into the young witch before him.

"Were you angry that I left?" she asked.

"Y-You left..." he managed through heavily clenched teeth and an expression of pure rage that conflicted with constantly building desire. "You left me."

Hermione took her time and tentatively reached out pressing her hand to Snape's ebony clad chest.

"Too...young." he said in a breath. "I want...need to claim..."

"You can't Professor." she said softly.

"I-I know." he replied gripping the wall tighter and digging his fingernails into the surface of the stone as if they'd suddenly become claws.

He let out a whimper akin to a dog's when it's near a bitch in heat.

Snape looked at Hermione with longing behind his obsidian eyes. He took one of his rather large calloused pale hands and gently stroked her exposed arm. A growl once again rumbled from him.

"So soft." he said in a near on trance. "So warm..."

The rapid beating of the young Hermione Granger's heart as Snape's hand remained in contact with her exposed flesh had gotten his attention. He could hear the blood rushing to places that she had not even known existed. He smiled rather eerily as he caught a whiff of apparent female arousal. She had been young, but due to puberty her body worked just as a woman's did whether she wanted it to or not.

"Hmmm." said Snape as the malice flickered behind his eyes.

"Professor." said Hermione not at all comfortable with the sensations running through her body.

"Run along little Gryffindor." he said pulling away from her albeit painstakingly.

Hermione didn't need to be told twice. She gathered her things and made her way to the door while Snape made short work of a calming draught potion he created. It brought the beast under control and he resumed his grading. He did everything he could to ignore the tightening in his trousers. The last thing he needed was for the wolf to get control of him and he go chasing after her. Oddly enough it was the thrill of chasing after the young witch that seemed to excite the wolf more.

Their little arrangement would hold as long as the wolf was amused it seemed.

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Later...

Life for Hermione Granger had seemingly gotten back to a relatively normal pace with all the excitement of the Tri-Wizard tournament and the prospect of dating Viktor Krum. Ron Weasley remained the insensitive jerk he had always been making Hermione second guess her apparent attraction to him. Snape stood by brooding all the while knowing that he should not interfere with the young witch's life but the wolf in him would not conceded to another having his witch so easily.

Combating numerous fits of jealously, Snape ended up cornering an elated Viktor Krum following his night at the Yule Ball with Hermione. The Potions Professor swept out of the darkness and pinned a highly startled Viktor by the collar. The dark eyes of the infamous Tri-Wizarding champion met those of the enraged dour wizard.

"So Mr. Krum." said Snape in barely disguised rage. "Why the sudden interest in Hermione Granger?"

Viktor had not understood why Snape would be interested in the courtship of a couple of students but answered honestly.

"I vind ver very interesting." he said with the accent of the Muggle movie Dracula. "I intend to pursue her affections."

"Over my dead body." snarled Snape as his obsidian eyes glinted.

Viktor became confused by his behavior.

"P-Professor...Snape is it?" he asked. "Vhy are you so interested in Her-mion-eee?"

Snape tightened his grip on Krum's collar without meaning to effectively choking the young wizard.

"Listen to me very carefully, Miss Granger is off limits." he snarled in a dangerous tone. "Find yourself another witch."

Viktor looked defiantly into Snape's eyes.

"Vhat if I do not vant another witch?" he asked with rage flickering behind his own dark eyes.

Snape leaned down so that Viktor could see the wolfish canine teeth that made themselves known in the heated exchange.

"I don't think you want to push this Mr. Krum." he said still in a dangerous tone. "Stay away from Hermione Granger."

Having made his point Snape let Viktor drop to the ground and made his way toward the dungeons. Leaving the younger wizard to scramble to his feet massaging his neck in a bid to ease the pain of being strangled.

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A couple weeks later...

Viktor Krum ended his romantic pursuit of Hermione Granger much to the young bushy haired witch's surprise. She didn't seem all that effected by his change of heart as she had been more interested in Ron Weasley. Snape made a note to put an end to the red haired wizard's meddling as well. The Potions Professor and Lupin had continued to go out on their nightly hunts when the full moon was at bay just to keep Snape from possibly killing one or all of the students as his frustration continued to build. The plant's results had been promising in the form of a new love-potion he had begun brewing. If all went according to plan during the testing phase he would begin actively manufacturing it, of course Hermione would get 50% of the residuals. She had after all discovered the plant.

As the days passed Snape became strangely moody when it came to teaching his classes. Hermione had been visiting him like usual and they sometimes passed through the day on a high note but the wolf appeared to be growing bored with their current arrangement.

This had been a sign that things did not bode well for the young witch.