Times Have Changed

A/N Thank you to my beta and thank you to my readers. I really hope you enjoy this chapter.

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Albus watched as the vixen ran into his room

Albus! Hermione has been bit. Come here immediately. After giving its message, the vixen disappeared.

That’s Severus’ voice. Interesting, Albus thought as he gathered up the items that he would need. He shook his head sadly; things were not going well. First Ron, and now Hermione. There had to be a connection.

Minutes later he arrived at the house with Madam Pomfrey. Pomfrey was shown into the room where Hermione lay, and Albus took Severus aside.

“What happened?”

"It was Weasley. He forgot to inform us that his transformation took sooner than a normal werewolf.”

Frowning, Albus looked thoughtful for a moment. “He transformed before the moon rose?”

“At least an hour before, perhaps more. Hermione went into his room at approximately 8:30 I believe. The time for moon rise was 9:00 pm. From what I saw, he was completely transformed.”

“Is there anything else that I should know?”

“Ron was not infected in the usual way. He told Hermione that he was attacked over a month ago and that the person killed his partner and injected him with something. On the next full moon, he transformed.” Severus looked in the direction of the room where Pomfrey was working on Hermione.

“She is in good hands, Severus.”

"It should have been me. I wanted to be the one that gave him the potion, to secure him, but she insisted.”

“There was no way that you could have known this would happen.”

***

Severus knew that Albus was right, but he couldn’t help blaming himself. If only he had insisted… The door to the room opened and Madam Pomfrey came out, looking worried and haggard. “How is she?”

“She has lost quite a bit of blood. The teeth cut one of the arteries in her wrist, but she should be okay, with time. I have left some Blood-Replenishing Potions and some potions to help with the pain. We just have to watch for infection. Keep an eye for fevers, for swelling, anything that looks abnormal.” She came over to him and put a hand on his arm. “This is going to be hard for her. The main thing is to be there for her. I’ll check back tomorrow, but I am only a Floo away if you need me.”

“Is there anything you need before we go, Severus?”

Other than Weasley’s head on a platter? Severus thought to himself, but simply shook his head.

“We will both return tomorrow to check on Miss Granger,” Albus said. “But please let us know if you need anything.”

"I will, thank you.”

After Albus and Pomfrey left, Severus made his way into the room where Hermione was resting. Quietly, he sat in the chair by her bed and watched as she tossed and turned in a feverish sleep.

I lost Lily, I can’t lose her too, Severus thought to himself. No matter what Albus had said, he blamed himself for what had happened.

Looking at Hermione, he couldn’t believe how pale she was. Even with the Blood-Replenishing Potion, there wasn’t much difference between her face and the stark white sheets that were on the bed. The only thing that kept her from disappearing was her dark curly hair.

His eyes dropped to her right wrist, which was heavily bandaged. Blood was still seeping through the bandages, but the flow of blood was not nearly as heavy as it was. Thank Merlin for Madam Pomfrey. He knew some healing spells, but nothing that was strong enough to heal her injuries on his own.

Now that Hermione was out of danger zone for the moment, his worry was giving way to anger. Why was Weasley so irresponsible? Why didn’t he tell Hermione that he transformed sooner than other werewolves? Surely Weasley wasn’t that stupid as to have forgotten an important detail such as that? Then again, Weasley wasn’t that bright. Perhaps he had forgotten.

He heard moaning coming from the bed, and turned his attention back to Hermione. Her eyes fluttered open and focused on his.

“Don’t try to talk; you need to save your strength,” Severus said quietly. “Are you in pain?”

She nodded slightly, and he helped her to sit up to take some of the potion that Pomfrey had left.

“Is there anything else you need?” he asked when she was laying back down

She shook her head slightly, and it wasn’t long before she drifted back off to sleep.

When Severus was certain that she would be all right for the moment, he left the room, leaving the door open in case she needed him. This was a new experience for him, having to tend to a person who had just been bit by a werewolf. He knew that he didn’t have to tend to her. He could have very well told Pomfrey that he would need her to stay, and chances are she would have.

But the truth was that he was starting to have feelings for her. She was a brilliant witch, and he had been truly impressed with the work she had done these past few weeks. The problem was that he didn’t know how she felt about him. He knew that she’d had feelings for Weasley years ago, but it was obvious from her reaction at seeing him that she knew nothing about him becoming a werewolf.

Could she accept him for what he was? He was almost twice her age. And could he accept her for what she was? She was now a werewolf. He would like to think that the feelings he’d had years ago towards werewolves were now gone. But were they?

Times were different. The situation was different. And only time would tell what the future held for the two of them. For now, he would try and help her get through this and see where the future would take them. They still had a job to do, and now success was even more important than ever.

These were not just nameless people who were affected by this dreadful condition. Now it also affected the woman he may be falling in love with.