Chapter 32: The Unrelenting Fury Of An Alpha

Ebony fur glistened in the light of day as the werewolf form of Severus Snape took off into the forbidden forest. The were beast happened upon an unsuspecting Umbridge pointing her wand at Harry Potter while the werewolf known as Fenrir Greyback, dangled Hermione by the neck over a nearby water fall. Tears streamed down the bushy haired witch's cheeks as she tried her best to hold on to her Gryffindor courage. Greyback snarled happily as he sniffed the struggling witch. The toad-faced witch Umbridge smirked at Harry Potter.

"You see Mr. Potter." she said relishing her moment of triumph. "You see what happens when you tell lies?"

"No one is lying to you." said Harry defiantly. "Let Hermione go!"

"You are in no positions to make demands Mr. Potter." said Umbridge in her usual shrill tone. "I am the high inquisitor here...and soon as you are put in your place and I do away with that wretched dungeon bat Snape all order shall be restored."

"Snape's going to kill you." said Harry glaring at Umbridge.

"I quiver with fear Mr. Potter." said the toad-faced witch. "CRUCIO!"

Harry Potter was struck with jolt after jolt of incredible pain. His screams were picked up by Sirius Black who raced toward his godson. Were-Snape emerged from the trees and swiped the fat toad across the face leaving a nasty scar along her jaw as she drew back in fear. Blood spilled everywhere as the ebony beast looked into the green eyes of Harry Potter who froze not sure if he was glad to see the creature that nearly killed him or not.

The wolf whimpered slightly and licked Harry's face in a bid to check if he was alright.

"I-I'll be fine." the boy said petting Snape along the snout. "S-Save Hermione."

At the mention of his witch Snape turned his attention to a snarling Greyback who had been puzzled as to why this strange wolfish creature had control over it's pack members.

"So." said Greyback with a smug grin despite his apparent fear. "You are the one who forced them to disobey me."

Were-Snape simply snarled viciously at the wolf holding his witch.

Greyback noted the connection.

"Oh she's your plaything." he said in a casual manner. "I apologize I didn't realize...then again your scent is all over her."

"GIVE ME THE FEMALE!" shouted the beast in a deep and dangerous tone.

Greyback had been stunned that it could speak. He had been even more stunned that he found himself moving to comply with the creatures wishes. Hermione Granger found herself back on solid ground after being dangled by the neck over the violently rushing waters.

She scrambled to her feet after she was thrown toward the brutish wolf.

"BOW!" commanded Snape enraged.

Greyback snarled angrily as he bowed before the wolfish creature as if under compulsion of a curse. The humanoid brutish werewolf glared at the ebony were-beast in a mix of awe and contempt. His blue eyes bright with the aspect of nearby prey. He snarled as Hermione made her way over toward Harry Potter. Were-Snape got a look at the blood dripping from her cheek via a scratch made by Greyback.

"YOU DARE HARM THE FEMALE!?" shouted Snape still very much enraged in his wolf form.

He had been well on his way to causing harm to the other werewolf when he felt the sudden jolt from a wand throw him into a nearby bit of trees. Snape crashed through them injuring his side as one of the broken fibers pierced his flesh. He let out a howl and attempted to get to his feet but found himself stopped by another sharp blow cutting into his flesh.

"Stupid filthy beast." said Umbridge annoyed as she touched her hand to her bloodied cheek. "If I had my way I'd have you all exterminated."

Snape snarled at her as did Greyback.

She turned her attention to both Harry and Hermione.

"As for you two." she said. "You are both going to disappear tragically at the hands of this brutish thug and no one will be any the wiser...before you know it every one will be clamoring for my policies to be enacted all over the wizarding world."

Harry rolled his green eyes.

"Like your going to get away with this." he said defiantly.

"Oh I am Mr. Potter." replied Umbridge with a cheery little smirk. "You will be sorely missed, you are after all the closest thing the wizarding world has had to a celebrity since...well me."

"You've gone absolutely mad." said Hermione not understanding this indignant witch at all.

"You know I have never seen the appeal of you Muggle-Borns...absolutely no magical lineage and yet you think you can fit into our world." said Umbridge. "You're are all just pathetic little creatures really."

She flicked her wand and captured Hermione in a gust of magic.

"What are you doing?" asked Harry frantic.

"What does it look like I'm doing Mr. Potter?" asked Umbridge in a shrill tone. "Killing two birds with one wand."

Before Harry could utter a retort both he and Hermione were flung by the magical pull from Umbridge's wand over the water fall. Snape broke free of his confines and leapt over the falls after them. Umbridge smirked as she watched all three of them disappear into the abyss of the rushing foam of hard white water.

"Good riddance." said Umbridge as she glared murderously at Greyback and started making her way back toward Hogwarts and back to putting things right.

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Beyond The Falls...

Were-Snape managed to get a hold of both a drowning Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. The beast maneuvered among the jagged rocks and brutal water careful to keep both youths afloat. They had been unconscious when the beast dragged them out of the rushing water and onto the river bank and subsequently passed out from exhaustion.

As the minutes passed Snape reverted back to his true from and the pale Potions Master had been sprawled out naked and damp from the river as his apparent wounds from Umbridge continued to bleed. Hermione Granger had been the first to awaken coughing up water and trying to get as much air into her lungs as humanly possible. She made her way over toward Harry who had also begun coughing. He had lost his glasses in the fall and could hardly see a things, possibly for the best considering they were accompanied by a completely naked Severus Snape.

"Are you okay Harry?" asked Hermione patting his water soaked back.

Harry nodded still coughing up water.

Hermione tried to gauge their surroundings but he was nearly dark. She could only hear the sound of the nearby river and faint whimpering. The bushy haired witch turned her attention to the sprawled out Potions Professor who had reverted back from his werewolf form and had been badly injured.

"SEVERUS!" she said rushing to his side. "Severus please wake up."

Harry had been confused for a moment as to why his friend was referring to Snape as Severus and why she seemed to so comfortable with him being completely naked in her presence. He chalked the naked part up to thinking the man's health being at stake more important than embarrassment over his state of dress.

"Is he?" asked Harry watching the frantic witch lean her head against his chest to hear his breathing.

"No." she said more annoyed that he would suggest such a thing. "He's going to be fine...we just have to heal him."

She patted her person in a bid to search for her wand. It took her a moment to realize Umbridge had confiscated it prior to their ending up in the forbidden forest.

"Shit!" said Hermione in frustration.

Harry arched an eyebrow at her.

She turned her attention to him.

"Have you got your wand Harry?" she asked. "I don't remember Umbridge taking yours."

Harry patted himself down in a bid to search for it.

"I-I'm sorry Mione." he said sorrowful. "I-I must have dropped it when... she attacked me."

Hermione looked down at Snape. He seemed to be in a really back way and it was clear that he hadn't had his wand on him. It was most likely back at Hogwarts.

"Severus." she said stroking his bare chest as she had done on countless occasions upon awakening next to him.

He let out a low groan.

"Severus, I need you to wake up love." she said in his ear.

"Her-mi-on-ee." he said from his lucid state.

"That's right." said Hermione continuing to stroke him. "Wake up, you've been badly injured and we don't have our wands to help you."

Snape opened his eyes feeling the all too familiar sting of agonizing pain.

"Ahhhh!" he shouted coming around.

"I'm so sorry to have to do this to you love." said the bushy haired witch. "But I need your help to identify which plants to make a healing potion for you."

"W-Where...is Potter?" he asked.

"Right here." replied Harry not wishing to look upon the naked Snape.

Snape turned his attention to Hermione.

"A-are you hurt?" he asked in a serious tone.

"It's nothing." she replied. "Just a scratch."

Snape wiped away the small trail of blood from her cheek.

"It's you that I'm worried about." said the bushy haired witch. "That thing's stuck in your side."

Snape growled as he felt the part of the tree through his split open flesh.

"We don't have much time before sundown." said Hermione.

Snape whispered all the plants they needed to collect and where to find them to make a mild healing salve. They weren't any where near the expertise or the cauldron to make a potion.

Hermione and Harry set to work acquiring all that was needed and followed Snape's instructions to the letter. The dour wizard had been well on his way to passing out by the time they got it ready in time. Hermione attempted to distract Snape while Harry managed to pull the part of the tree out of Snape's body so that salve would help close the wound.

"AHHHHH!" shouted the Potions Professor.

The removal caused him a bit more blood loss than anticipated and he blacked out once more. Hermione sat down next to Snape as did Harry. They managed to collect wood for their campfire for the night as Snape wasn't going to be able to be moved as weak as he was.

"Umbridge is going to get her's for this." said Harry enraged as he thought about all that's happened.

"Yes she is." agreed Hermione looking over at Severus and stroking his sallow pale cheek.

Harry caught the innocent caresses and familiar way Snape and Hermione behaved in front of each other. He dismissed it as her trying to comfort a sick man considering all he had done to save them. He thought it an extraordinary kindness on Hermione's part and an unusually respectable thing on Snape's. After what he did for Professor McGonagall.

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Elsewhere...

"Do you see them Padfoot?" asked Lupin.

Sirius Black glared over the end of the falls in frantic rage.

"NO!" he shouted trying to combat the thought of Harry possibly being dead. "I CAN'T SEE A DAMN THING WHAT DOES YOUR NOSE PICK UP?"

"I'm getting nothing." replied Lupin looking around just as frantically. "Perhaps we should turn in..."

"MY GODSON IS NOT DEAD!" said Sirius furiously cutting him off. "KEEP LOOKING!"

"I didn't say that he was Padfoot, I was simply suggesting we try this again in the morning." said Lupin.

"THAT BLACK-HEARTED BITCH IS GOING TO PAY FOR WHAT SHE'S DONE!" shouted Sirius trembling as the rage continued to build inside him.

"Agreed." replied Lupin as he escorted his uneasy friend back toward civilization. "Don't worry...we'll find them."

Sirius gave the waterfall one last once-over look and nodded as Lupin lead him away.

"You just hold on Harry." he said softly. "Just hold on."