Chapter 11: Night Effects

The Library, Hogwarts...

Hermione had not been out of the infirmary long before she ventured off to the library and scoured the shelves for every book she could find on Werewolf legends. The young Gryffindor witch had been disappointed when she found that there was only one that could be of use on the subject but read it extensively nonetheless. It was a book called Conquest of the Mysterium by Lennox McDuff. It was an old worldview on the mysterious Hounds Of Hircine that once plagued the land before magical tamers did away with their might. McDuff incidentally was one of those tamers. In the text, it stated that Hircine had been what was known as a Daedric Prince and is often referred to as "The Father of Man-Beasts because he gifted the world with Lycanthropy. Hircine a master hunter and an honorable one at that is said to choose who would become his hounds and the recipient of his gift would have no choice but to obey his every command. A great many chosen saw their Lycanthropy as a curse, incurring the wrath of Hircine for their ungratefulness. Others relished in the advantages the gift brought over their mortal brothers and hunted freely. Even among these so-called hounds, a few were chosen to be what is referred to as Alpha hounds.

The Alpha hound has command over other man-beasts with authority that rival Hircine himself. Alpha hounds are extremely rare and are the most powerful and feared of the entire werewolf species. They retain human intelligence and lead with the heart of a wolf and strength beyond comparison. Most Alpha Hounds assert their own free will, as is their right given to them by Hircine for being his champion hounds.

Hermione couldn't believe all that she had read. Professor Snape had seemed to be a truly powerful werewolf and it was quite possible that he was indeed an Alpha Hound. The Potions Professor certainly seemed to have a good deal of control over himself the night of his transformation. The inquisitive young girl finished up her reading and made her way to the great hall. Harry and Ron would be on their way to breakfast by now.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The Great Hall, Hogwarts...

Hermione Granger had been taken by surprise when she entered The Great Hall and Professor Snape had not been in his usual seat. Lupin had been present and working silently through his meal but seemed just as curious about the Potions Master's recent tardiness. Hermione continued on to her seat and sat down beside both Harry and Ron. Harry had still been worked up about finding Peter Pettigrew. Now that he knew the truth about the slimy rat being the reason for his parent's murder, and Sirius being framed for 12 long years, having to spend them in Azkaban he wanted revenge. Ron had been trying to talk him out of it. The redhead wizard had wanted no more part in the power play between Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew. The events of that night during the full moon had been quite enough for him.

He had been scared enough to actually want to attend class more often and be a "regular bloke" for a while. Hermione found herself agreeing with Ron about this given what happened with Snape and their own near-death experience with Remus Lupin.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The Gryffindor Table...

"I'm telling you, Ron we need to find Pettigrew before he does something else terrible," said Harry his green eyes blazing with fury. "I'm not going to let him get away with what he did to my parents and godfather."

Ron sighed.

There was no point in arguing the matter further once Harry made his mind up. They learned that two years ago.

"Alright Mate," said Ron turning his attention back to his breakfast. "Just let me eat first."

Harry turned his attention to Hermione who had been more or less distracted by Snape's empty seat at the staff table.

"What about you, Mione?" asked Harry.

Hermione turned her attention to her green-eyed wizard.

"I'm sorry Harry, what were you saying?" she asked.

"Are you in?" asked Harry. "About finding Pettigrew?"

Hermione knew that it would have been wiser to just let Dumbledore and the others handle everything but Harry had never really been content to just sit on the sidelines and there was more than a chance of him getting both himself and Ron killed with his recklessness. They wouldn't last a second outside Hogwarts without her.

"Of course," she replied lifting her fork to her mouth as she began to eat her breakfast. "I should have hoped that went without saying."

Harry gave her a brief grateful smile that faded from his face as soon as the door to the teacher's entrance opened and none other than Professor Severus Snape strolled in looking a bit under the weather by normal standards. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, his clothes draped off his tall, lean form like that of a Muggle tent during camping and his face had been scruffy with five o'clock shadow.

"Wow," said Ron stunned. "And I didn't think it possible for the greasy git to look any worse."

"Ronald," said Hermione chastising him for his manner.

"I'm just saying the bloke's seen better days is all," said Ron. "Not that they were much better than today in Snape's case."

Snape made his way toward his seat between Minerva McGonagall and Albus Dumbledore.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The Staff Table...

The older wizard studied him with twinkling blue eyes.

Lupin had wished to speak with the hardly adjusted Werewolf, but Snape had simply glared at him hatefully.

"Severus?" said Minerva stunned by her colleague's appearance.

"Rough night," he said scanning the table for meat.

"I should say so," said Minerva still not over the shock. "Given how you look."

"I think we've covered that," said Snape. "Now can we all eat in peace?"

The rest of the staff tried their best not to stare at the dour wizard as did the entire student body who had already been terrified of him and his appearance this morning had not made that standing any better.

Snape ate his meat in relative silence.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The Slytherin Table...

The vibrant gray eyes of Draco Lucius Malfoy had been on Snape from the moment he entered The Great Hall. The junior Malfoy had never seen his godfather in such a state before and it was the cause for concern. He made a mental note to address the matter with his Head of House later in the day. At the very least he felt obligated to discuss the matter with his father once breakfast was over.

"What's wrong with Professor Snape?" asked Pansy Parkinson as she leaned near to Draco.

"I have no idea." replied the young albino blond. "But I'm going to find out and when I do my father is going to hear about this."

Draco continued to watch Snape whose obsidian eyes fell on him.

"He has been acting rather strange the past few weeks," said Blaise Zabini eating some of his eggs. "One might think he's losing his touch."

"He's fine," growled Draco annoyed at the suggestion of weakness on the part of his Godfather. "It was probably just a late grading night."

"Yes," said Blaise in a bored tone. "Probably."

Draco rolled his eyes and returned to his meal. He really needed to know what was going on with his godfather and he hoped whatever it was would be under control soon to stop the wagging tongues in Slytherin house at least. The last thing the dour wizard needed was the other death eater poking around in his business.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

The Staff Table...

Snape's bloodshot obsidian eyes flicked over to the Slytherin table. He had known his students were watching him. They always did. Some for guidance, others for concern, and a few looking for signs of weakness to report back to their death-eater parents desperate to outrank him in the eyes of The Dark Lord.

He kept his composure and finished his meal despite his appearance. Thought the late night had been attributed to his raging hormones. He had taken quite a few showers before he appeared for breakfast this morning. Waking up with his bed soaked from release after being locked in a deeply sensual dream had not been a factor to him since he had been a teenager.

The problem was quite embarrassing, to say the least, and he had been alone.

Given his age and the stresses of both his job and the upcoming war he supposed he should have been in awe that he could still operate like a randy six-year student, but whom the sensual dreams that invaded his weary night had been about would not allow him to coast pleasantly through them.

"Severus," said Albus Dumbledore studying Snape with his piercing blue eyes.

Snape turned his attention to the Headmaster. He had not known that he had been absently chewing through a piece of rare steak and staring rather blatantly at Gryffindor's table, more specifically at Hermione Granger.

"Yes?" asked Snape recovering.

"Are you feeling okay my boy?" asked Dumbledore. "Perhaps you should go and lie back down for a few hours...from what I hear you've been having a rather rough time of it these past few weeks."

"I'm fine Headmaster," Snape assured the older wizard. "I simply have to do a bit of adjusting."

Lupin's dark eyes fell on the dour wizard and he ate his meal quietly.

"Of course," said Dumbledore in a pleasant and knowing tone.

He turned back to his meal as did Snape and Lupin.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Later...

The Corridors, Hogwarts...

Severus Snape had been making his way toward his office. Remus Lupin had gone out in search of him. The werewolves met in the corridor. Lupin had not known what he could do for Snape but his guilt-heavy heart made it impossible to leave the situation alone. He had created the Hound of Hircine that was lurking beneath the surface of the dour man and in turn, felt responsible for him. Severus had no idea what being a werewolf was like and it was surely breaking him in two to have a war brewing within himself against the raging beast that wanted freedom. Lupin had known it all his life since he had struggled with Lycanthropy as a child.

"Severus," said Lupin. "We really need to talk."

The dour wizard whirled around on the sheepish werewolf.

"I thought I told you that I do not need anything from you," he said bitterly. "I told you before that you've done quite enough werewolf."

Lupin sighed.

"Severus, I know the change hasn't been easy for you," he said. "It's never easy on any of us...the trick is to deal with it as best you can."

Snape narrowed his eyes at the Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor.

"The day I take advice from you is the day Sirius Black apologizes for being the arrogant, selfish, prat that he's always been...in short of apologizing for his very birth," said Snape bitterly. "I do not need your assistance, I want nothing more to do with you, we are merely colleagues by some fluke gesture by Dumbledore to keep me from getting the Defense Against The Dark Arts position...the bottom line is Lupin, I hate you...I have always hated you and your little Marauder friends and that is not going to change because your foul wolf blood just so happens to have dripped into my wounds."

"I understand," said Lupin sadly. "But being a werewolf requires more than you are allowing yourself to have...I mean being apart of a pack...having a place to belong..."

"What makes you think that I would ever want to consider the likes of you to be remotely close to being a...what is the term "pack-mate," asked Snape bitterly. "I can take care of myself thank you very much...Perhaps you should concern yourself with your mangy mutt friend and his reckless attempts at dispensing information to Potter before he is meant to know it."

"Severus, I told you before that I apologize for my behavior when we were children," said Lupin. "But that was then and this is now... whether you want to believe it or not...you need my help."

A low growl erupted from deep in The Potions' Master's throat. His obsidian eyes blazed with a hatred that few knew he possessed.

"Like hell I do," said Snape in a dangerous tone. "Or do you not recall what happened the last time I needed your "help".

Lupin's eyes widened.

"Severus that was different," he said.

"Was it?" asked Snape enraged now. "I was 13 and you just walked away...like it never happened...so why would I ever see fit to trust your "help now?"

Shame filled Lupin at Snape's words and he looked down at the stone floor below. His humble nature only served to enrage Snape all the more. The urge to rip the inferior dog's throat out had filled him and he stepped back. It wouldn't do him any favors to murder one of Dumbledore's precious Gryffindors in the corridor.

"I make no excuses for what I've done," said Lupin.

"You assume I care one way or the other," said Snape. "I warn you for the last time Lupin...stay the hell away from me."

With that Snape made his way toward the Slytherin Dungeons, a billow of angry black robes swayed in his wake.

Remus watched him go. His mind took him back to that night that made him just as much a bully and coward as his friends in both his own and Snape's eyes.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Some Time Ago.....

The Corridor Hogwarts Castle....

It had been late. The cool breeze of the night air had been upon Young Remus' neck as he made his way down the dark corridors. His keen ears picked up the faint sound of laughter followed by frightened and pain-filled shrieks. Confused Remus made his way toward the source of the sounds. He kept going until he reached a door where he picked up the distinct tones of Sirius Black and James Potter's voices. He opened it and was treated to the sight of a stripped and bloodied Severus Snape who had been crawling toward the exit in a bid to get free of them.

"Padfoot, Prongs what's going on here?" asked young Remus looking at his friends.

"Nothing much Mooney," replied Sirius with a charming Smile. "Just caught Snivellus here walking about with Lily."

James glared down at Snape. His dark eyes filled with such hatred.

"What have we told you about talking to Gryffindor girls, Snivellus?" he asked.

Snape groaned when he felt James whip his wand and a spell struck him in the stomach.

Young Remus looked down at young Severus. The young Slytherin had been beaten pretty badly. His pale face was swollen and he shivered from being stripped down to his worn old boxer shorts. His thin pale frame had been in such a state that one could see both his ribs and his spine through his skin.

The raven-haired boy's obsidian eyes caught him and he pleaded with him.

"P-Please." said young Severus, clearly at the end of his rope and desperate. "Please help me."

"Can you believe Snivellus is asking Mooney for help?" asked James turning to Sirius with a grin.

"Mooney is a true Gryffindor," said Sirius proudly. "And a Marauder, no way he'd lower himself to assist Slytherin scum like you...in fact I think you should receive further punishment for the insult...don't you agree James?"

"Indeed I do, Padfoot," replied James Potter.

Snape had not taken his eyes off Young Remus. Of the four of them, he always seemed to be the most compassionate and quiet. He had been undoubtedly different from his friends and it was this difference that Snape had hoped to appeal to if only out of desperation. There was no one else to turn to with Lucius gone and the other Slytherins avoiding him like the plague due to his Half-Blood status.

"P-Please...help me," said Snape reaching out to Remus with a trembling pale hand.

Young Remus took one look at young Severus Snape and then back at his friends. They had expected him to be above lowering himself to assist a Slytherin. They had expected him to either walk away or join in as they brutally exacted their revenge upon the raven-haired boy who no one ever wanted to defend aside from Lily. Which had been more from obligation than anything else. Young Remus had been the only werewolf he knew of attending Hogwarts. He had lived a relatively sheltered and solitary existence prior to that and feared his werewolf side more than anything.

Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew accepted him without question and not only knew about his transformations but were able to be in his presence whenever they happened to reduce his loneliness significantly. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate them. Especially over someone like Severus Snape whom they felt a strong dislike.

After considering the ramifications of what disagreeing with his friends would mean, Young Remus made his decision. Even as Severus Snape's pale hand reached out to him.

"Do what you will." said the young werewolf and turned his back on the poor Slytherin boy.

He didn't seem all that surprised that Remus had not wanted to help him. No one ever did other than Lucius and Lily, but they could not be everywhere. In truth, Remus Lupin might have surprised him immensely if he had assisted him. It might have given him the perspective that not all Gryffindors were bad but alas, none ever seemed to live up to the so-called virtues of their house.

As Remus left he heard the faint sound of Sirius and James inflicting more punishment on Severus Snape for his "disobedience of the rules".

"You can expect more of the same every time I see you anywhere near a Gryffindor girl," said James' voice.

There was a low groan of agony from young Severus most likely following a sharp magical blow to his stomach. Merlin forbid Sirius and James actually lower themselves to lay an actual hand on the poor boy. At least not while wands seemed to do the trick much more effectively.

"Nice one, James," said Sirius laughing at the young Slytherin's misery.

Young Remus had been delivering papers to Madam Pomfrey when he saw Severus Snape the next morning. One of his eyes had been swollen shut and his right arm was broken. There was some bruising around his collarbone and he had not been permitted to leave the infirmary for nearly a week.

He had refused to see Lily for a time and had not been eating according to what Madam Pomfrey had been discussing with Headmaster Dumbledore. He simply lay in bed staring at the ceiling. His bruised pale chest rose and fell beneath the white comforter that had been draped over his thin body.

What had been the most jarring had been the lack of concern on Dumbledore's part as well as the lack of sentiment from anyone else. When other students got hurt or sick there were always tons of get-well cards and even balloons accompanied by numerous visits. Severus Snape had none of those. Or at least not until Remus caught sight of Lucius Malfoy making his way through the infirmary.

It softened the young werewolf's guilt to see that at least one other person cared for the raven-haired boy. Severus had never been the same after that. He had always expected something to jump out from behind a tree or from beneath a rock. One could hardly blame the boy for his late cemented hatred against all things Gryffindor as well as Marauder.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

The Corridor, Hogwarts Castle...The Present...

Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor Remus Lupin sighed sadly.

"I am so sorry, Severus," he said still looking off in the direction in which The Potions Professor had gone. "I should have helped you that day and I will regret not doing so for the rest of my life...but you need me now...more than you ever did then and I will not turn my back on you a second time."

Having made a silent vow to himself to look after the newly transformed werewolf despite his antics, Remus Lupin made his way toward his own office.

He had his work cut out for him if he was going to prove himself to Severus Snape.