Chapter 8: Plight Of The Moon-Born

The Defense Against The Dark Arts Classroom, Hogwarts...

Remus Lupin had been dreading the coming of the full moon for days now. Not only did he have his problems with his transformation nearing and needing Snape to prepare the Wolfsbane Potion. He also needed to talk to Snape about his suspicions about him being infected with Lycanthropy. It was highly likely that the Potions Master would need a potion as well given what was about to occur. The sheepish Professor had not known what kind of state Snape would be in given that he had recently returned from a death eater meeting. While it was true Voldemort was yet to return in the flesh and show his face directly, the order didn't doubt that the despot had other ways of communicating with his servants given how he was able to be in Hogwarts via former Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrell during Harry Potter's first year and possess Ginerva Weasley via his diary during the boy's second year.

It was clear that things were beginning to heat up in the brewing war between the dark and light factions of the wizarding world. Lupin sighed as he continued to grade the rows of parchment on his desk. He had to find a way to reach Severus before the next full moon or neither one of them would be in any condition to see reason. Not to mention the added danger of the other man possibly becoming a werewolf and not having taken the Wolfsbane potion, he would be a danger to all around him, especially the students.

Still, convincing Severus Snape that he need help was easier said than done. There was a lot of bad blood between him and the dour wizard and most of it had been from when they were children.

"Severus, why must you be so bloody difficult?" asked Remus with a sigh. "Can't you see that I am trying to help you?"

Having pushed the thought of the stubborn Potions Master down again Remus finished off his grading. He would seek out the stubborn man again and hopefully get him to understand the danger he was in. As well as the dangers he placed those around him in the closer it got to the night of the full moon.

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Potions Classroom, Hogwarts...

Snape had never felt better since his awakening in the infirmary weeks ago. His instincts had been sharper, more fine-tuned than he recalled and his ability to smell even the faintest scents proved very useful a time or two. His keen hearing could pick up conversations from vast distances in the castle and his diet had more or less shifted to massive amounts of rare meat and plain water. Students had whispered about the strange changes in the already feared Potions Professor, none more concerned about his condition than Harry Potter, and Hermione Granger.

"All I'm saying is that Ron is right, Snape has been acting weird these last couple of weeks," whispered Harry to Hermione as they worked on their potion.

Hermione tried her best to ignore her friend's suspicious rambling and concentrate on her potion. It was a fairly complex brew consisting of Nirnroot and Histcarp. The brew called for only a pinch of ground exploding carp to activate the ingredients.

"Snape's been eating a lot of rare meat lately...just like Ron said," whispered Harry. "And suddenly he has heard just like Remus."

"Harry, I'm trying to concentrate," said Hermione turning her attention back to the potion.

She had noted the changes in The Potions Professor as well but she was far too busy with her classwork to compare notes about Snape. She was dealing with highly reactive ingredients. She always knew that Snape was watching her like a hawk and would love to catch them for any little slip-up. Unlike Harry, she had no desire to get on the man's bad side. She felt terrible enough for what happened the last time she didn't put her foot down when it came to her friend's antics.

"Mione, are you even listening to me?" asked Harry. "Snape could be a werewolf...can you imagine who the first person he'll come after would be?"

Hermione had been so distracted that she put a bit too much of the exploding carp into the brew and the cauldron bubbled. Before she could let out a gasp Snape had come from his desk and scooped her up in his arms, covering her with his ebony-clad form before the contents exploded in what would have been her face.

The bushy-haired witch's eyes widened grateful that Snape reacted the way he did. She rested her head against his chest unaware that a piece of the cauldron had cut her above the eye. She had been shaken pretty bad from the accident and he thought it best to get her seen immediately on the off chance she breathed in some of the fumes.

"Fifty Points from Gryffindor for carelessness, Miss Granger," he said. "Another twenty from Gryffindor for causing a distraction during an assignment Mr. Potter...next time I suggest you close your mouth and concentrate on your work."

Harry looked down at his feet. He had not seen how fast Snape had arrived at the table. Before he could get a word out to warn Hermione, Snape pushed him out of the way and grabbed the young witch seconds before the explosion. The green-eyed wizard had not missed the burn on The Potions Master's arm that seemed to be from wayward ingredients.

"All of you clean your workstations...I will escort Miss Granger down to the infirmary," instructed Snape. "I want two rolls of parchment detailing why one should not distract their partner when brewing a potion...and it better be on my desk before you are dismissed for the afternoon."

After a few collective groans, Snape left the students to their tasks and carried Hermione through the corridors. He had not been sure how badly she had been hurt but something in him made it so that he was reluctant to take chances.

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Elsewhere...

The female was back. Her scent was unmistakable. She was small and frail compared to the beast that dwelled behind its fleshy prison but for some reason, there was a strength in her that had not been seen. The urge to tear her apart had not left but intensified. The scent was powerful and the beast found itself wishing to roll around in it. Its heart thundered in its chest at the prospect of tearing into the female's soft warm flesh. If only it could get out of its fleshy prison.

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The Infirmary, Hogwarts...

Snape brought Hermione into the cold room and sat her on an empty bed. His ebony robes had been warmed where her small frame had been pressed against them and her scent lingered. He turned his attention to the young witch. She had not been badly burned but the potion did cause her skin to become irritated in certain areas along her right arm and right side.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" asked Snape in an emotionless tone.

Hermione looked at him with tear-filled amber eyes but she refused to cry despite the pain that seemed to make its way through her slender body.

"I-I will be fine sir," she said bravely.

"Foolish girl," said Snape taking in the scent of her fear. "That potion was hot enough to melt the flesh from your bones."

He pulled himself away from her in a cold manner and went to fetch Madam Pomfrey. Hermione found herself feeling a little saddened that he had drawn away from her. She had not been alone in the infirmary once Snape returned with Madam Pomfrey at his side. The old Med-witch immediately set to work giving her pain potion and rubbing salve onto the wounds. Snape walked out without a backward glance and headed toward his classroom.

He had not been in a very good mood and he had Harry Potter to thank for it. For some reason, Hermione being injured seemed to bother him more than it should have.

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Later...

After another death eater run Snape found himself badly injured, mostly due to LeStrange's ignorance. He had been hit with a former Order Members spell and it nearly crippled him. Fortunately, Lucius had arrived and lent him some assistance. The senior Malfoy had even brought him back to Hogwarts where he was found by Hagrid and taken to the infirmary. Snape had been unconscious during the trip of course. Having expended all of his energy to keep from dying in front of the low levels. Once he felt Lucius apparate with him away from the lessers he lost consciousness.

Severus Snape awoke on the following day of his stay in the infirmary feeling as if he had not eaten in months. Poppy had brought him several plates of steak all rare and various jugs of water. The med-witch thought it strange that he had taken such a bazaar liking to bloody meat as part of his diet but she was familiar with what becomes of some victims of the werewolf. A high diet of meat, especially rare was not uncommon. Snape forked through his steak as if it were going to get up and run away from him, snarling into each bite. He had not recalled a time when he was particularly this aggressive before. Poppy said nothing as she went about with her usual infirmary business.

Remus Lupin made his way into the infirmary. He had been aware of Snape's condition and it only served to prove his earlier theories right. Even if Dumbledore had made light of what Lupin thought of Snape's situation, he made it a point to investigate further. As he approached Snape, the dour man seemed to tense up exhibiting much more aggression than the Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor had ever seen from him since that night in the corridors.

Upon seeing Lupin, Snape suddenly launched himself off the bed knocking over his food tray in the process. The younger professor found himself pushed rather violently up against a nearby wall with Snape snarling before him as he held his collar in a death lock. Lupin's eyes widened at how much strength Snape had seemed to gain since the attack.

"S-Severus calm down," said Lupin trying to be diplomatic.

"As you can see I am a long way from calm Lupin," said Snape snarling rather viciously at him.

"Look... I know you are upset with me about what happened that night and I am truly sorry," said Lupin.

"You mangy beast," said Snape in an eerily calm tone despite his apparent aggression. "You could have killed Potter and his little friends and all because you didn't have sense enough to take your damn Wolfsbane Potion!"

"Severus, there is nothing that you can say that I haven't already berated myself for," replied Lupin. "I know very well what could have happened."

The werewolf caught the strange foreign scent from before. It was all too clear now that it had been coming from Snape. Snape seemed to have caught a scent as well. A familiar scent that he came to associate with the werewolf. It was a tale tell sign of absolute fear and wet dog and a hint of something else, something very familiar that seemed to make his blood boil in his veins.

"Miss Granger was near you?" he asked oddly.

Lupin nodded.

"S-She wanted to ask me some questions about your condition," he replied evenly.

Snape seemed to be having difficulty with the knowledge of Lupin's presence being anywhere near the young witch.

"My condition is no business of hers," he said acidly. "Nor is it yours for that matter."

Lupin saw a flicker of malice behind The Potions Master's obsidian eyes.

"Severus, I believe that you are going to need my help in the coming days," said Lupin. "More than you realize."

"I need nothing from you werewolf," replied Snape tightening his grip on Lupin's collar. "You've done quite enough already."

Unable to say more Lupin simply raised his hands in submission as before when Snape had him pinned to the wall in the corridor. He had not known why he feared the dour man. It was as if he was meant to and he had no control over it. Even more strange, Snape seemed to be jealous of his connection to Hermione.

Snape let out a low growl and let the younger wizard fall to the floor below. He stepped back and made his way toward the floo. He had not wanted to stay another minute in the blasted infirmary. Lupin watched as Snape went through the floo back to his private quarters. He had a feeling things were about to get interesting in the next few days according to the moon's cycle.