Harry Potter: I became Snape

"Come on, we should head in," Hagrid said, cocking the massive crossbow in his hands before striding into the shadows at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"Speaking of which, Hagrid," Snape's shoes crunched softly on the damp fallen leaves, "do you know why Professor Dumbledore allows werewolves to stay in the Forbidden Forest?"

Until now, he had always assumed the tales of werewolves in the Forest were just a professors' ploy to scare first-years into staying out of the woods.

"It'd be nice to have a dog right about now…" Hagrid muttered absently, his burly arm pushing aside obstructing branches. "Oh, you're askin' me somethin'."

"It's everyone's Forest, isn't it?" He turned back, blinking in confusion, his tone suggesting he was stating the most obvious fact. "Not just for wizards."

"I mean," Snape paused, taking a deep breath, "having werewolves living so close to the school isn't exactly safe for the students or staff, is it?"

"Not all werewolves are the same, Severus," Hagrid said, waving his crossbow. "Some of the werewolves in the Forest aren't your typical sort. Dumbledore doesn't mind them livin' there. We've always gotten along fine."

"But the other night," he continued, "when I was out feedin'—er, patrollin'—I heard howlin' and fightin' all of a sudden."

"I was goin' to check it out once things settled," Hagrid went on, a rare note of worry in his voice, "but a few of the usually mild-mannered werewolves chased me off from a distance." He let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't even get to see Lyka…"

"Who's Lyka?" Snape asked, holding his wand aloft, its glowing tip illuminating the moss-covered stumps and twisting roots ahead. "And the full moon was ages ago—why would they be acting strange?"

"Their leader, a… very special werewolf," Hagrid said vaguely. "Anyway, Dumbledore thinks we need to investigate to make sure it's not a threat to Hogwarts."

"I still don't understand," Snape said, pushing aside some thorny bushes. "What do you mean by 'special werewolf'?"

Hagrid stopped in his tracks, snapping a few low-hanging branches as he turned. In the moonlight, his expression was unusually grave.

"The werewolves in the Forest aren't ordinary, Severus," Hagrid said, his voice hushed. "They're close to wizards. Some of them… well, they've got more werewolf traits."

"What does that mean?" Snape pressed.

"Well, just what it sounds like," Hagrid said, scratching his beard with his free hand, searching for the right words. "Some of them… they've got wolf traits even when it's not a full moon. Ears, tails, that sort of thing…"

"I remember Dumbledore sayin'," he continued, gesturing awkwardly, "it's because of a blood curse. If you get bitten by a werewolf multiple times and—lucky or maybe unlucky—you survive, the curse builds up. It deepens, turnin' into somethin' called 'half-wolf transformation.'"

Hagrid's words reminded Snape of Nagini's situation, still hidden in his robes. Blood magic, beastly traits growing stronger as the curse deepened.

But another question arose. "Wait," Snape said, puzzled. "Why would they be bitten multiple times? As far as I know, werewolves only attack humans."

Dobby's ears suddenly perked up, and he let out a soft "Eep!"

Hagrid motioned for them to keep moving, lowering his voice as he explained, anger evident in his tone. "These werewolves are friendly with wizards… they chose to side with us, and their own kind see them as traitors. Some of the more extreme werewolves bite them as punishment."

"So they're shunned by their own kind," Snape said, a flicker of understanding in his eyes, "and discriminated against by wizarding society because of their werewolf traits and identity."

"Somethin' like that, I reckon," Hagrid said, tilting his head. "Anyway, Dumbledore lettin' them live deep in the Forest makes sense, as long as they don't cause trouble. Their leader, Lyka, is one of those werewolves. Dumbledore saved her way back when."

The trio fell silent, their footsteps and the rustling of leaves the only sounds accompanying them.

The ground grew damp, the air thick with the scent of moss and rotting wood.

They skirted around a massive fallen oak, and the faint sound of running water hinted at a nearby stream.

Suddenly, a piercing howl tore through the air, not far off. It wasn't an ordinary wolf's cry—it carried a human-like scream of agony.

"Dobby hears it!" the house-elf squeaked, his ears twitching violently. "Over there!"

Hagrid immediately raised his crossbow, scanning their surroundings warily. Snape held his wand in front of him, and Dobby stayed close, guarding his side.

The three moved cautiously toward the source of the sound.

"Here," Snape said, crouching down. His wand's light illuminated a pool of dark red blood, beside which lay a few strands of chestnut-brown fur.

"The blood's fresh," he noted, observing the chaotic footprints and drag marks on the ground, evidence of a recent struggle. "It can't be far."

After about two minutes of walking, Dobby suddenly froze, his long ears twitching. "Something's ahead!" he whispered, barely audible.

A faint moan came from up ahead, closer and clearer this time.

The three exchanged a glance and slowly pushed past a small mound blocking their view.

Moonlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating a clearing by the stream. A figure was curled up at the base of a tree, trembling like a wounded animal.

It was a girl—or at least, she used to be. Now, she was covered in blood, with chestnut-brown hair framing two pointed wolf ears. A bushy tail trailed behind her.

Her fingernails curled outward, and her fingers were clenched in pain.

Nearby, another werewolf with pronounced beastly features lay on the ground. Closer still, a bare-chested man lay motionless in a pool of blood, his chest torn open with horrific wounds.

"Lyka!" Hagrid exclaimed. "What happened to you?"

Before Snape could stop him, Hagrid rushed forward.

Fortunately, no other enemies were around. The injured werewolf girl didn't attack; she merely lifted her head weakly, her amber eyes flashing with a hint of relief at the sight of Hagrid.

"Hagrid," she rasped, breathless, "Fenrir Greyback and his pack attacked us. Some of our own joined them."

"Greyback?" Snape asked, instantly alert. "He's here?"

If Fenrir Greyback—the most savage werewolf alive, who took pride in biting and infecting as many people as possible—was in the Forbidden Forest, he was likely acting on Lord Voldemort's orders.

"Yes," Lyka nodded, wincing in pain. "He found us, demanded we join You-Know-Who—"

Her voice broke off as a fit of agonizing coughs made her curl up tighter.

"First, let's heal you," Snape said, noting her injuries were worse than they appeared. He pulled three vials of his own healing potion from his robes, glancing at the other two figures. "Are they both enemies?"

"The shirtless one is an enemy," Lyka said, casting a worried look at the werewolf with more pronounced features. "The other is one of us."

Snape immediately checked the werewolf with beastly traits and cast a silent Severing Charm on the other body in the blood pool, but it didn't react—clearly beyond saving.

Under the effect of a healing charm, Lyka's companion slowly stirred. Snape handed him a potion vial.

"This is yours," he said, turning to Lyka. "A powerful healing potion. Try it."

Lyka eyed the vial warily, her nostrils flaring.

At Hagrid's nod of reassurance, she took one and said to her companion, "Wait, I'll drink first."

She downed the potion, and almost instantly, her tense muscles relaxed slightly, her wounds beginning to heal at a visible rate.

"Drink," she told her companion, then turned to Snape with a friendly look. "Thank you. I'm Lyka Luppa, werewolf."

The other werewolf drank the potion as well. Their faces looked much better, but injuries this severe would take longer to fully heal.

"By the way," Lyka said, struggling to stand but collapsing back down, "we still have—"

Her words were cut off by Dobby's sudden squeal: "Someone's coming! Lots of them! Southeast!"

The distant sound of chaotic footsteps and low growls echoed through the trees. Hagrid swiftly scooped up the two weakened werewolves like they were chicks. "We've got to get back to the castle! Now!"

"No!" Lyka struggled desperately against Hagrid's grip, her tail bristling. "Our companions… they're trapped in the camp…"

"Too dangerous!" Hagrid's voice was unusually stern. "We need to find Dumbledore first!"

"No need," Snape said calmly, pointing his wand toward the approaching sounds. "They're already here."

Hagrid quickly set Lyka and her companion down, raising his crossbow.

The bushes shook violently, and five or six figures emerged from the darkness.

The first to appear was a half-man, half-wolf. His yellow eyes glowed in the dark, jagged fangs protruding from his snarling mouth.

"Viktor," Lyka said, glaring at him with hatred. "You led them here."

"Lyka, don't blame me!" Viktor said shrilly, his eyes gleaming with madness. "All this time, I've realized we'd be better off under the Dark Lord's rule! I'm done with this rotten forest!"

Lyka opened her mouth to retort, but the others—ragged figures—stepped into the moonlight behind Viktor.

Snape's gaze locked onto the one in front: a massive man with long limbs, his gray-white hair and matted beard tangled together. His face was scarred, his mouth curled into a cruel smile, and his filthy fingers sported long, yellowed nails.

Snape caught a whiff of a pungent odor from him—earth, sweat, and… blood.

"Greyback," Hagrid said, aiming his crossbow directly at Fenrir Greyback. "You don't belong here. This is Dumbledore's territory."

"Oh, Hagrid, no one else around?" Greyback sneered, revealing sharp teeth and slowly, sickeningly licking his lips. "You think you can take me with that little toy?"

His voice was strange, unlike anything Snape had ever heard: a rasping, grating growl.

"I see Dumbledore's not here," Greyback said, turning to Lyka with cruel delight in his eyes. "As for you traitors… tonight will be your last."

"Coming to Hogwarts was a fine job indeed," he added, his gaze greedily settling on Snape, his voice like sandpaper. "What a pleasant surprise. I do love children. They taste so good, so good…"

He raised a yellowed nail to pick at his front teeth, leering at Snape. "I'll make you my dessert, sweet child…"

"I find you rather disgusting," Snape said coldly, his face twisting in disdain as he looked at Greyback.

"I hope your bones are tougher than your mouth," Greyback said, spreading his arms to reveal filthy, pointed teeth.

"Dobby," Snape whispered, his lips barely moving, voice low enough for only the house-elf to hear. "Get ready to take them away."

Dobby nervously clutched Snape's robes, his long ears trembling.

Greyback took a step forward, his pack fanning out behind him.

Some of them looked reluctant, their eyes flickering—likely forced to join.

"Hand over the traitor," Greyback said, pointing at Lyka. "Maybe I'll let you die quickly."

"Is that so?" Snape said calmly, meeting Greyback's gaze. He knew werewolves were resistant to most spells, but the Killing Curse was lethal to any creature. The problem was, he had never used it on a person…

"Avada Kedavra!"

A green flash lit up Greyback's horrified face.

"No!" he roared, grabbing a nearby werewolf and shoving them in front of him.

The curse struck, and the werewolf crumpled instantly.

"Now, Dobby!" Snape shouted as Nagini slithered out from his sleeve.

The house-elf grabbed the two injured werewolves' hands and vanished with a pop.

Greyback let out a furious roar that shook the surrounding trees.

Hagrid fired an arrow, striking a lunging werewolf in the shoulder.

Greyback drew his own wand, and a blinding green light shot toward Snape.

At the same time, two other werewolves closed in, so near Snape could smell the blood and rotting flesh on them.

He dodged swiftly, waving his wand to conjure an invisible barrier that deflected their claws, though the impact forced him back a few steps.

The green light grazed past one of Greyback's companions, who flinched and instinctively backed away from Snape.

"Attack!" Greyback bellowed. "Retreat, and you die!"

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