Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Disclaimer still the same as before...



The following week went past very quickly for Hermione, who tried to get back into her normal routine of studying hard and being the know-it-all Gryffindor. Despite what had happened, she found this to be quite easy. Aside from a few nasty comments and whispers, the majority of the school basically accepted what had happened and tried to support her.


It was on the eve of her departure that she finally confided in Harry and Ron about her having to leave. She felt bad for not telling them before, but knew it would save most of the arguments that Ron, especially, would put up.

"WHAT?" He screeched, causing several of the students in the vicinity to jump. "How can they expect you to leave school?"

Taking a deep breath, she tried to explain it to him.

"Ron, it's not like its forever. It's just for a week and a half. After that I'll be coming back here. And I'll only have to do it for a few months, and then I won't have to go at all. It's like Professor Lupin said, it's for the best. This way I won't be a mindless maniac attacking the other students.

"Believe me, I don't like this any better than you do, but after thinking it over, I have to agree with him. I don't want to take any chances. Plus he said there were other side effects that aren't published in any of the books that I need to know and to be able to control. This is the best way for that to happen."

She looked at Harry who still hadn't said anything. He gave her a small smile to let her know that he understood and he wasn't going to make this any harder on her than it all ready was.

"But, if you leave," Ron started, "how are we going to be able to study right and make sure all of our homework is done correctly. You always fix it for us."

"Ronald Weasley!" She said indignantly. He had the grace to blush and give her a cheeky grin.

"No. It's just that, well, I'll miss you." He said, turning even redder.

"I'll miss you too. But this is something that I have to do. Please let it go."

So for the rest of the night, they studied a little bit, and talked about anything and everything else before finally calling it a night and heading to bed.

The next day, Hermione woke bright and early. She had the rest of the day to spend with her friends before she had to leave. Lupin said he'd be there to pick her up after dinner. Deciding to have everything ready, she packed her trunk and all her school stuff that she would need before heading to the showers.

After getting dressed, she went down to the Great Hall to meet Harry and Ron

They spent the day lounging out by the lake. When they were inside, Hermione read a book while Harry and Ron played a game of Wizard Chess. They tried to get her to join in one game, but she refused. That was one thing she wasn't very good at, and she didn't like losing at anything.

Hermione had her first real problem when they were heading down for dinner. Half way to the Hall, they ran into Malfoy and his cronies.

"Well, well, if it isn't the scar head, weasel and the mixed breed," Draco drawled. "If you weren't bad enough just be being a Mudblood."

"Shut it, ferret." Harry said. Ron clenched his hands into fists, ready to go at Malfoy.

"Ignore him." Hermione said, trying to get them to keep moving. She grabbed both their arms and started pulling them away. They got about ten feet away when Malfoy called again.

"Don't get to comfortable here, Granger. Once my father has a talk with Fudge, they'll be throwing you out for sure. Then there'll be nobody to protect you. You know what they do to mixed half breeds like you. You've heard of their reveries. You'd be quite the prize there. A Mudblood with wonderful healing capabilities. They could play with you for days."

Before Ron or Harry had a chance to move, Hermione had Draco pinned against the wall. She sniffed the air around him, remembering her conversation with Ron in the Hospital Wing.

In a voice more growl than human, she said, "That might happen, but until then, I'd watch myself if I were you. I just might get lose and come after you. You keep saying how your blood is better than mine, and this close to the full moon, it smells awfully.....tasty."

Ron and Harry stared at her and Draco in shock for a moment before their faces broke out into huge grins. As they started to walk away, Hermione called over her shoulder. "Malfoy, you might want to go change your pants before you go eat. They seem to be a little wet."

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch, with her best friends telling everyone at the Griffindor table what went down. While eating, she received an owl telling her that they wouldn't be leaving till morning.

All too soon it was morning and time to go. After a tearful good-bye, Hermione was standing just out side the gates with Lupin, her things shrunk and put into her pocket. With his arms around her, he apparated them to his house.


A/N: The end of this chapter. Don't know how soon I'll have the next one out. I'm starting midnights this week. Sometimes I hate work. Anyway. Thanks for the reviews. Their much appreciated. And I apologize if there are a lot of typos. My word processor decided to take vacation. lol.