Hunter and Prey

Hermione was silent all the way home. Louise tried several times to engage her daughter in conversation but received only monosyllabic replies. Clearly, she was thinking about something or possibly sulking though she had grown out of that habit as soon as she had learned to read. Hermione roused enough to thank her mother for the lift and ask to be left alone so she could have a nap. She would call, she promised.

After waving goodbye, Hermione waited until the Volvo was out of sight before aparating away. There was someone she needed to talk to and he would not be at all pleased to see her. He had never been pleased with her in all her years at school but if there was a potion that could be devised, he would be the one to devise it. So she went to Hogsmeade and thence to Hogwarts to ruin Professor Snape’s evening.

In the festivities to mark the end of the War, Severus Snape had been conspicuous in his absence. He resumed his teaching post at Hogwarts as well as the position of Deputy Headmaster. The shrewd money had it he would take over when Headmistress McGonagall retired. As the school day had only just finished, Hermione went to his office first and found him in. She was surprised when he was not after he opened the door.

“Ms Granger.” He stood back to allow her to enter which was as gracious a welcome as he ever gave. “Minerva has spoken to me.” Snape gestured at a chair then sat down himself. The rigours of teaching yet more simpletons was more taxing than he liked. He noted that Hermione too was not in the pink of health.

“Then you know why I am here.” She sat down and handed him a list. His eyebrow rose; it was a print-out not a scroll. “Yes, I know, standards are falling everywhere. You will observe however the script is regular and neat.” Hermione did not quite know how to address him. She kept expecting if she looked down she would see her school uniform. “I have been doing some reading.”

“So I see.” Professor Snape perused the list; Sanguinous, Partumsempre, the most recent developments in coagulating charms and more. Ms Granger had been quite thorough. But that was to be expected. “Very few of these will combine successfully with wolfsbane, which I am sure you know would have to be included.”

“So my reading has led me to believe.” While she had done a considerable amount of research on werewolves as part of her work at the Scientific Magical Studies Department, she had dealt only cursorily with procreation. Her focus had been on stopping them not making more so now she had to run to catch up. Hermione sagged back into the chair. Pique had brought her here but it was fast dissipating. That feigned nap sounded like a very good idea.

“I had a visit from Madam Pomfrey as she anticipated you speaking with me.” Snape set the list down and steepled his fingers. She had not come to him to hear condolences so he did not give any. “There are possibilities, particularly if you have dispensation from the Ministry for use of the Dark Arts.” He verbally underscored the last part. War hero or not, his reputation was poor and he would not risk what remnants he had for her sake. “Madam Pomfrey’s advice is sound.”

There was something in his voice that stopped Hermione from launching into a diatribe on the theme of ‘why I won’t cross my fingers and wait for the bad thing to hopefully go away of its own accord’. He would not be impressed by histrionics, doubtlessly asking her to leave in his spare, corvine way. So she was terse.

“Both Madam Pomfrey and the doctor whom I consulted this afternoon assume I will eventually miscarry.” Hermione kept her voice even as though she was discussing the weather. “I am not prepared to abide by that assumption because if it is not the case, I am left up a certain creek without a paddle.”

“Indeed.” The ghost of a smile twisted Snape’s thin lips. He picked the list up again and reread it in silence. “This is a start. However, I will need both written permission from the Ministry and access to samples of fresh werewolf blood.” He lifted his gaze from the paper. He had heard about her divorce. The Weasleys were hardly a wealthy family but the absence of her husband’s income from flying about on a broomstick would be noticeable. “You should also discuss with Minerva funding for this project.”

“I can pay.” Hermione thought about that thumping cheque from the newspaper. “I would prefer to contract you privately. The less this is in the Prophet, the better.”

“This project is going to take time, of which you have less than I.” Snape’s gaze dropped to her stomach significantly. “If you make an official donation, I will be able to use school hours. I have one or two Advanced Potion students who are not completely useless, who I will be able to use as assistants.”

“I take your point.” She conceded. “I am on medical leave so I won’t be allowed access to the Lycanthrope Holding Facility but Basingly is Acting Lead Researcher. He’ll give you all the help you need.” Hermione was on the point of rising to leave and paused. Snape had dealt with Fenrir Greyback during the War, even fought alongside him. “He’s going to hunt me down, isn’t he?”

“Without doubt.” Professor Snape said grimly.