Cast Aside

Plans and Stories

Chapter 20

A/N: Dear all,

I don't have anything to say for myself other than, I'm sorry the muse fled me. Between the family drama resulting from my grandfather's death, a new baby, trying to homeschool my two oldest and discovering I am madly in love with crocheting, I just haven't been able to get it up to write more than a few words. I prefer to write a few chapters ahead of myself so that I can make changes, but I decided to just go for it. I know what I want to happen and how this fic will end, I just need to WRITE it. I have decided to follow the advice of every author I've heard talk about it and just force myself to write a little bit every day. I just re listened to chapter 19 and the rest that I've got done and am all shoulder pats over how much I like it. As an apology, I am going to update two chapters today to tide you over until I manage to complete a couple more. I have 20-23 done, so I should feel comfortable adding 22 and then 23 shortly. Please send all the comments, they remind me I really should spend some time working on this rather than the 3rd crochet project this week. (for real I'm obsessed, my husband says I need to start selling stuff to pay for my new hobby.)

Love you all and thank you so much for all the Kudos and comments since I've last updated.

Stephanie

They met at a different pub, but Severus looked the same, if a bit more on edge. His leg bounced anxiously as he sat in another corner booth, waiting impatiently for them to join him. Once George slid in beside Hermione and inside the bubble of the muffliato, he sighed irritably.

"Well, you both look perfectly fine. Why did it take you so bloody long to answer me?"

George gestured to his shoulder. "Hey, I very nearly died. You said something about Greyback claiming a kill? He probably meant me."

Eyeing him wearily, Snape tapped his fingers on the table as if counting. "It wasn't a full moon at least... but it's only two days out now. Did he maul you or was it only a bad scratch?"

Crossing her arms, Hermione frowned at her former teacher. "What does that matter? It wasn't a full moon. He might be more sensitive to certain smells and like his steak overly rare. Don't look at him like some kind of monster, Severus."

A crooked and inappropriately timed smile at her response quirked the corner of George's mouth. He knew the issue of werewolf rights had been a thorn for Hermione since the end of Lupin's term as their professor. But she was right, he wasn't really a werewolf, not any more than Bill had been.

"It matters..." He sneered at her. "Because Greyback isn't like other werewolves. Have you ever met someone he's attacked before?"

"Yeah. My older brother."

"And, was he bitten or scratched? Do you have any idea when in the lunar cycle it happened?"

The intense look Snape was giving him along with the fact that as a Death Eater, he'd likely spent more time around the beast than most made George pause. Frowning, he thought back to the night Dumbledore had been killed. He hadn't been there, not until after with his family in the hospital wing. "He was scratched... across the face." Unsure, he slowly shook his head. "I don't know about the moon. That was the night you killed Dumbledore." Snape looked uncomfortable at the mention of his future, but didn't comment. "I didn't even think about it."

Sighing, Hermione took his hand under the table. "It was a waxing crescent. I only know because I was worried about your brother too but didn't want to intrude. Remus told me."

"I see." Snape looked a bit ill. "The Dark Lord likes to make use of his pet, though I've only seen it once. I think it gives him some kind of sick pleasure to torment wayward purebloods by tainting their blood and given what I learned about his own blood status from you it makes sense. Plus, it keeps Greyback happy. The full moon was three days away last night and you never answered me so I'll assume you were bitten. No, you're not a werewolf—lucky for you—but you may find your symptoms quite a bit more intense than your brother's."