I Am Wolf

The three family members landed in the middle of a forest. Immediately Hermione went into a panic attack and huddled on the ground. “Remus” Severus said softly “She was attacked by Greyback in a forest.”

The werewolf looked down on his daughter and watched her trembling in fear. He laid down beside her and began whispering in her ear. “Hermione, tonight is not going to be an easy night. The only assurance I can give you is that no one will be here but us. There’s no chance of harming anyone when we change. Every month we rent a portion of land from a muggle for hunting. We keep the area warded against entry and exit. They are specified to only allow certain signatures to apparate in. Within the next five minutes, the wards will seal again and will not open until morning.” He explained. “But tonight is your first change and that will be the hardest of all. I wish I could take this away from you, but you know I can’t.”

Hermione nodded at the explanations. Remus knew she was a woman of logic and didn’t want to be coddled. She needed facts to come to her own conclusion.

She knew the change would be the hard part. She also knew if she didn’t know about the wards, it would be much worse. She was already fighting it, if she knew people would be in danger she would have fought for them. Something in her was trying to get out and she didn’t know what to do about it. Release it? Or keep it caged?

“You can’t fight it- it will hurt much worse. I also can’t give you anything to help you. This has to be all you, or it will hurt the same next time” She heard his voice getting deeper and inhaled his scent again. The wolf was coming out.

Suddenly fire shot through her body and she screamed, her back arching. She rolled over onto her stomach, hands grabbing the dirt as she felt bones begin to break. “Oh gods!” she cried out.

Cracks could be heard reverberating through the section of forest for a half hour. She couldn’t help but fight the change. The pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced and her natural response was to fight. Every bone that snapped had to snap back to a different position. Her jaw cracked, radiating pain through her head and ears. Her skin burned and itched before she felt warmth flowing over her.

Then there was no more thought.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A black falcon watched from a branch above the clearing.

As the new wolf lay on the ground trembling with exertion, a grey wolf walked into the clearing. He observed the brown furred pup and padded forwards to sniff her out. Hearing, and feeling, the approach, the brown wolf’s head snapped up and she growled menacingly at the approaching creature.

She stood slowly, cackles raised, to ward off the newcomer. Still weak, but cautious, she lunged at the grey wolf only to be knocked aside like a ragdoll. Her mouth opened in a snarl and snapped at the older wolf. He lunged and caught hold of her throat, biting down enough to cut off air, but not to pierce skin.

She whimpered under his jaws. Once released she sniffed the newcomer, allowing him to do the same in return. The scent was familiar, yet strange. She bowed her head, placing her muzzle between her front two paws. The grey wolf bit the nape of her neck in acknowledgement.

When released, she stood and sniffed the air, howling loudly when she caught the scent of something that made her salivate. Before she could think about anything, she was running through the forest, grey wolf by her side, falcon flying above them- far enough to keep out of danger, but close enough keep them safe and know where they would be when morning came.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Severus Snape changed back to his human form to wake the family sleeping on the ground. The run last night was good for the both of them and they would both be exhausted. He carried over their clothing and woke Lupin up first. They had an hour before the wards went down and the portkey activated.

“Remus” he said softly, touching the man’s shoulder lightly.

Lupin grunted awake “How much time?”

“An hour.”

Lupin got up slowly and began dressing. “How was she? Everything go okay?”

“She did well for a first time. The initial change was hard, as was the change back. Harder than I’ve ever seen. She needs more rest, but we need to leave. I’ll give her some pain potions when we return.”

Lupin nodded, then crouched down beside the girl. “Hermione” She rolled over moving to his scent while still sleeping, moaning with the movement. “Hermione. You need to wake up and get dressed. When we get back you can go back to bed, okay?” She slowly opened her eyes to a proud smile. Suddenly she remembered where she was and her state of… undress.

Seeming to have read her mind, Severus handed her clothing to Lupin, keeping his head turned. She started getting dressed, wincing and letting out a hiss of pain in the process. Hearing her hiss, Lupin spoke up “The first time is the hardest. I know I keep saying that, but it also goes for the healing. You’re not even a month old. Usually healing is ingrained before the first turning. Your body has been through a lot these past couple of days.”

“Remus, we have to go”

Lupin leaned down to help Hermione up, but she let out a small cry of pain as her legs gave out. He caught her, but was still not at full energy himself. Severus took the slight witch in his arms, shocked to feel her arms wrap around his neck. “Stay awake Miss Granger.” Hearing the Professor voice, she popped her eyes open and picked her head up.

Lupin held out the portkey for the others. “Ready?” They touched it together, feeling the familiar tug behind their navels before landing unceremoniously in the kitchen of the Burrow. Severus still had Hermione in his arms and she landed in his lap, while Remus landed sprawled across his legs.

“Good your back.” They heard a woman’s voice say. They all looked up to see Poppy Pomfrey standing with her hands on her hips, ready to give them a tongue lashing. “Well? Get upstairs you lot!”

They all jumped into a standing position. Remus headed upstairs while Severus spoke to the nurse. “Poppy, could you please bring up a pain potion?” she nodded, looking worriedly at the once again sleeping Hermione. “They usually have a month to get used to it. She had barely a day.” With that he turned and headed back up the stairs.

Severus laid Hermione down beside Remus. Immediately, she curled up into her father, putting her face in the crook of his neck and breathing deeply. “We’ll let her sleep. Poppy is bringing more potions.”

With that, Poppy knocked and came into the room. Remus woke Hermione slowly, continuously speaking words of praise and comfort. “You did so well last night Hermione. Come on take some pain potion. That’s a girl.”

She was fast asleep again before the nurse even left the room.

Remus looked up at Severus. “Did you stay up all night?” Severus nodded “Come on then” he said putting his hand out and pulling the man down to the bed. Hermione’s brow furrowed and she began to back towards the professor, only to return back to Lupin’s neck. Seeing her confusion, Severus moved closer behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She visibly relaxed and he raised an eyebrow at the wolf laying on her other side. 

“She senses you as Family as well. Me more so than you, but she still has an instinct to move towards you.” Severus nodded at the explanation, laying down behind her.

He placed his arm across the girl, resting his hand on Remus’ hip. “Everything will be fine.”