L Y C O P H O B I A

2. After Snape's Lesson

A/N: (915 words); Enjoy! 💜

Hermione, who is known around school as being the brightest witch of her age, really lives up to her reputation. Today she has figured out one of her teacher's biggest secret.

Professor Lupin is a werewolf.

She'd had been suspicious, but it wasn't until Snape's lesson and the research for his homework that she had been sure, it all linked together.

Professor Lupin was always sick before and after the full moon. At times he almost looked like a corpse, thin, eyes deep in the skull with dark circles underneath, pale skin. He looked in a lot of pain, like every movement hurt. And he probably looked as dizzy as he felt; she had seen him get up, and immediately sit down again and take his head in his scarred hands.
He always took the day off before a transformation too.

Talking about scars, Remus had a lot. His body was littered with them. She felt sorry for him, she could absolutely believe the amount of bullying he might have gone through. Students could be so mean to each other. After a transformation - she had checked the lunar charts - he always came back with another scar added. Harry said that he had seen him in the hospital a time or two as well.

His boggart was a full moon. That's right! All the other students thought it was a crystal ball but.. Why the hell would a professor be scared of a crystal ball? Maybe he is scared of the future and it symbolizes it? Because of that Hermione isn't entirely sure, and she definitely doesn't want to accuse him falsely.

Last but not least, the morning in the Hogwarts express. It was the first time they'd seen him, and the first thing they noticed was how tired and worn-out he looked. She had checked the lunar cycle again, and indeed, the night before was a full moon. It was perhaps a bit scary to realize that the same tired, old looking professor had been a dangerous beast a few hours before.

She had no issue with this though, Lupin is a great teacher, nice to everyone, and gives interesting classes. It certainly isn't that he's as dangerous and risking as many students' lives as the previous two teachers. Based on this, she had decided not to spill his secret. Hermione knew well enough what that would mean for him; he'd be fired, and probably never find another job again, mainly because of the strict acts around werewolfs. And by the looks of him, he needs every sickle he can get.

She did decide to go confront him about it. Tonight's the full moon, if she's quick enough she can speak to him before his transformation. She wants to get this off her chest as quick as possible, and maybe if he's tired, he'll admit faster.

With that in mind, Hermione made her way to the defense against the dark arts classroom, though she wasn't sure if she'll find Lupin there, it was quite after dinner and students were supposed to be going to their dorms around this time, meaning professors might not be in their classrooms. She decided to try anyway and knocked on the closed door.

It took a while, Hermione got worried if he wasn't there it all, but suddenly came a tired voice, "come in!" She recognized it as Lupin, though it was softer and he sounded exhausted, and entered the room.

The professor seemed surprised to see her here.

"Yes, Hermione? You're not supposed to be here at this hour. Is something the matter?" He asked, worry clouding his eyes as he cautiously came closer to her.

"Please professor, I just had a question." She said quickly, she knew it was late, and if he really was a werewolf...

"Is it urgent?" He was now leaning on a desk, with an acceptable distance between them. He was visibly tired, leaning against the desk because he was too exhausted to stand on his own.

"Um, I guess? Please, sir!" She practically begged him with her eyes, she needed to know.

"Well then, ask away, Hermione."

She took this as her cue to ask what she had so desperately wanted to know for sure.

"Professor, are you..," she paused and took a deep breath, Lupin looked at her suspiciously, "are you a werewolf?"

Remus seemed visibly shocked by her question, he certainly hadn't expected that someone would've figured it out so quickly.

"I don't-" he started, but he knew it was too late. "Hermione, please get out." He pointed towards the open door. She started resisting, trying to get him to admit.

"Get out! You don't want- I don't want you to see me like- ... As a monster. Please, just go." His voice got softer the longer he spoke. He sounded utterly defeated. Hermione nodded, knowing that she got her answer and turned to leave. Before she was completely out of the room, she turned around and said:

"I don't think you're a monster, professor."

With that she took her leave.

She didn't notice how the professor turned around and knocked the still 3/4 full vial on the ground out of frustration. She did not see how Lupin locked the door behind her, put up silencing spells, and started crying. She also did not see - nor hear - how he, after crying for a few minutes, started screaming as the transformation began. She did not see the beast he had become.