Chapter 57: The Master's Bidding

Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Nothing had been quite the same for the junior members of the order of phoenix. Harry had become more and more obsessed with bringing down Voldemort to the point of isolating himself from everyone as if he had been in this battle alone. Ron was interested in dating and since he had made the Qudditch team, he was more so into his own self image and whatever attention he could muster from the other girls at Hogwarts. Hermione had heard he was currently dating Lavender Brown. She didn't see it as a big loss as her studies and her relationship with her werewolf Potions Professor had taken up the majority of her time these days. She spoke to Harry in passing but his feud with Severus kept him at a distance most of the time.

Tonks and Lupin would venture out now and again hanging out with them during and after the full moon which only seemed to annoy Sirius Black given he spent a good deal of time stuck at The Order Of Phoenix Headquarters. Hermione kept her distance from the old sod if only to keep Severus from killing him. The days seemed to pass in a blink resulting in some combination of study and the young witch waking up to find herself in Severus' bed only to rush out at the early hours of the morning to avoid being found out.

It was always apparent that Dumbledore knew about their physical relationship, of course he had been the reason for it. The rest of the staff had been oblivious to it mostly given how careful they had been. Draco remained in Severus' quarters given his wolfish tenancies, he had become almost as cranky as Severus during the full moon.

Severus had been pulled in several different directions mostly because of his various commitments to the two most powerful wizards in the wizarding world as well as to his witch.

Things seemed to quiet on the home front for a while but that was before Harry started having the strange serpent dreams. Hermione knew next to nothing on how to assist her best friend but she attempted none the less. Ron had done his best to assist Harry despite being met with the cold shoulder and angry yells for him to mind his own business, it was all to obvious for everyone that Harry Potter was experiencing a shift in his persona.

Classes seemed to go by in a blink as more work began to pile up and Hermione threw herself into it head first. It was nice to focus on something other than her growing anxiety over Harry and Severus' shifting situations despite it only being for a short time.

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The Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Severus Snape did his best to keep from fuming as Dumbledore gave him yet another life threatening task. The Potions Professor had been well aware of the intent his current employer had for him following the events of Lupin's attack and why he bound him to Hermione Granger of all people.

The twinkling blue eyes of Albus Dumbledore had been focused rather intently upon the younger wizard.

"We cannot risk the dark lord forming a deeper alliance with the werewolves." said Dumbledore stressing the danger of the situation.

"So what do you wish for me to do about it?" asked Snape with an arched brow.

"You are the only werewolf capable of uniting the warring beast factions." said The Headmaster. "You alone speak with the voice of Hircine."

"I have other obligations to see to in case you have forgotten." hissed an annoyed Snape despite himself.

"And I am sure you will do your utmost to see them through." replied Dumbledore not in the least deterred.

"You ever stop to think that you ask too much of me old man?" asked Snape.

"I would not have asked this of you if I had believed you incapable of succeeding Severus." replied Dumbledore.

Snape did not need the old fool to stroke his ego with a half-arsed compliment.

"And what am I to do with the girl?" he asked as if uninterested. "I have no doubt of her company being forced upon me given how much you value holding my leash."

Dumbledore seemed pleased at the idea.

"I believe Miss Granger, Remus, and Tonks will be most valuable in assisting your efforts...and since Draco cannot be out of your presence given his brash nature, he is to accompany you as well." said Dumbledore seemingly pleased with himself.

"And what of Mr. Potter?" asked Snape.

"You leave the matter of Harry Potter to me." he said. "For now, I require you to gain the werewolves favor in the upcoming days."

"Miss Granger's absence from the school is to be excused then?" he asked.

"Mandatory Field research with her Potions Professor out to be a significant enough excuse to tide the inquisitive nature of the students here." said Dumbledore.

Snape rolled his eyes, clearly the old sod thought of everything.

"If there is nothing else Headmaster." he said.

"That will be all Severus." said Dumbledore moving toward his desk.

Taking his leave, Snape made his way back to his quarters to ready himself for the up coming trip.

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Snape's Quarters, Hogwarts Castle, Wizarding World...

Amber eyes had not left the sight of The Rivermist Plant as Hermione Granger documented every shift of their leaves and spontaneous color change. The focused witch had been so engrossed in her work that she had not paid any attention to the prowling Severus Snape as he entered the Ingredients room closing the door firmly behind him.

She let out a gasp when she felt the evidently worked up wizard press his eager form against hers.

"Severus." she said losing herself in his touch.

A smile filed across the sallow pale face of the seemingly determined wizard.

"It's about time I got you alone witch." he growled as he crushed his pale lips into the exposed flesh of her neck.

"We've both had busy schedules." she replied gripping the table as Snape continued to push his body into hers.

"Hmmmm." he purred licking her neck before nibbling at her neck once more causing her to moan.

"Draco..." she began.

Snape grunted thrusting his hips into her bent form.

"The boy is out with his friends for the moment...he can take care of himself for at least an hour." he growled.

Hermione noticed the strange red glow coming from The Rivermist Plant. It seemed to be reacting to the heightened pheromones Severus was releasing.

The Potions Master's lustful obsidian gaze fell on the plant as well.

"It appears the plant reacts to Werewolf pheromones." he said with a wicked smirk. "I believe this matter requires further investigation...The Headmaster did after all put me in charge of your current project."

"What?" asked Hermione hearing something along these lines for the first time.

Snape chuckled rather darkly for a moment.

"Apparently you, Lupin, the strange morphing girl, Mr. Malfoy and I are to take a little trip to meet the other wolves." he said kissing Hermione's neck once more. "Your involvement is strictly due to research."

"And does this research have to do with the reproductive aspects of a werewolf...because it seems to me that the course is quite promising." she replied as he wand-lessly spelled away their constricting attire and positioned himself behind his willing witch.

In a savage thrust he gripped her hips and continued to pound into the warmth he had come to relish since his affair with the insufferable know it all began. The fact that this was mostly due to Albus Dumbledore's meddling made it all the more twisted in terms of his mind's eye. Hermione gripped the table scattering her parchments as Snape continued to obtain his fill of the young witch's trim.

"Severus..." she said in a breathless moan.

Snape clawed at the table leaving behind his bestial marks as his pace increased.

The Rivermist Plant shifted from red to white to pink to crimson as if trying to document the werewolf wizard's passion in the wake of their act taking place beside it.

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An Hour Later...

Snape let out a deep howl as his release washed through him and his witch whom had been pinned against the table amid the scattered parchment and weeping from the force of her desires getting the better of her. Breathing rather ragged, Snape bit at the flesh of her neck effectively leaving a mark and punctuating his passion with a final thrust into her depths before pulling away leaving her drenched in a mix of sweat and the scent of their frantic coupling.

Snape's lengthy raven hair had been soaked as he slicked it back from his face. It had curtained around his face in the wake of his antics with Hermione. He kissed the witch on her exposed back and proceeded to spell them both clean and replace their collective attire.

"The Rivermist Plant seems to react to you the most." she said struggling to catch her breath. "You've caused five color changes in the last hour."

"Seven." replied Snape catching his breath and kissing her once more.

Hermione turned her attention to the plant and noted the new golden hue.

"I apologize for losing control." he said spelling a pain potion toward her.

"It's been a week." said Hermione drinking it down despite the bitter flavor. "I suppose it's to be expected given your brutish nature...but would it be too much to ask for you to get back to the more gentle aspect of love-making?...you don't need to claim me every time Severus I'm already yours."

Snape smirked at his beautiful young lover.

"I promise you witch...once this business with the Werewolves is over, I will make up for the beast's lack of charm." he replied kissing her as himself and the overwhelming sense of aggression had faded.

"I love you." said Hermione stroking his sallow pale cheek.

"I love you too." he replied meaningfully. "And I meant what I said about the upcoming need to prepare for this trip."

"So I've heard." said Hermione with a small smile. "You think Draco will behave himself?"

"My godson has no choice in the matter." he said. "Neither does Lupin for that matter."

Hermione smirked before kissing him once more.

She turned her attention toward gathering the parchments he had scattered and collected them in order for her research. Snape readied himself for the trip as well collecting much needed potions and ingredients for the journey. He had not been too thrilled about having Lupin along despite their current standing being tolerable but he was pleased to have both Hermione and Draco's company. His standing in terms of Nymphadora Tonks had been neutral as she was an adept student and a clearly capable addition to the Order of Phoenix.

For the moment the beast within had been sated as far as it's lust had gone and Severus could once more attend to matters deserving of his full attention, Like the need for the Werewolves to follow his instruction against The Dark Lord.

They had been lacking major leadership since the death of Greyback, at Snape's own hands months prior.

Now was the perfect time to bend them to the will of the father.