Chapter Text
Getting a flew call late in the evening was not something one Severus Snape Potion Master expected a late December evening. Disgruntled and weary, sleep didn’t come easily most nights, if ever they had, and he had just been in the middle of reading a potions periodical on vesper seething venom and used of quails in sleeping drought, and the endangerment the subspecies of those ingredients.
Still even with the going ons about with the so called Hogwarts monster the call was decidedly frantic and Poppy Pomfrey was one to usually keep a leveled head. Shrugging on his black robe and sliding his wand in his sleeve and potion kit in his pocket he entered the flew calling the infirmary, normally he would use the exercise and sweep through the halls startling student but it seemed a direct route was needed this time. Also no point as most of the miscreants would be in bed by now.
“Severus! Thank goodness you are here finally”
“Poppy, what seems to be the trouble” wringing her hands together she blurted
“Well that’s just it Severus, I don’t rightly know, I though for sure it was a human animal transfiguration incident by botched potion but this seems to have gotten much more complex, I’ve already requested Minerva look on she came by earlier then left to find Albus it seems she can’t do much more than i have ”
He swept through the drawn curtain and blinked
Sitting hunched in on herself was Hermione Granger only this version had a set of ears and tail, Merlin what had the little know it all gotten herself into now.
“Miss Granger”
She started and looked up into his eyes a guilty expression on her face as well as a hint of fear, those eyes he had known before to have been a chocolate brown, now however they gleamed eerily with a golden light, and slitted pupils, much like that of a
“I’m sorry sir!, I didn’t mean for this to happen, I did everything correctly I truly did, I just put the wrong hairs they were supposed to be human hair of course in the polyjuice potion but they were-
“cat hair” he deadpanned stopping her rambling. So a bungled polyjuice potion incident, he was actually somewhat impressed or would be if she hadn’t failed so miserably at the execution of it. What in Merlins name could the girl even need polyjuice potion for? mischief, something with the Potter brat involvement no doubt, Severus sighed internally now he knew exactly where his lost boomslang had gone, at least it wasn’t some nefarious plot, the girl had been lucky not to have blown herself up! Where could she of even brewed the damned thing!
This should of been easily fixed though, it should of completely disappeared within the allotted time, so why did she still has a tail and ears, and those eyes, her nails also seemed to be pointed and he bet 20 galleons if he looked into her mouth he would find sharper canines.
Her tail swished with an anxious energy. -Her bloody tail.
He took his wand out and ran a diagnostic, as well as a few dispelling charms,
“I cleared her system completely as you can see, no potion contamination present within her body, before her body was covered in fur as well as other distinguishable cat features her nose and face was more feline and she had whiskers she even had paws... all that went back to normal after the potion extraction “
poppy explained
He finished her thought “ however her readings show normal as if this is how her physiology had always been, as if she was born with pointed ears and a tail” It wasn’t a good thing. It meant they couldn’t be altered or be removed. Had it been tried a severing of her tail for instance could cause paralysis to her spine and ridding her ears could cause possible deafness her genes had essentially been spliced, reconfigured.
“Do not move Miss Granger” he held the drape open for Poppy.
They stepped out and he cast up a muffulato the girl didn’t need to hear this just yet.
“We tried everything Severus, Minerva fears it is a permanent transfiguration, something in her latent genes perhaps, and if that’s the case. Bringing her to Saint Mungos might open up a rather... sticky situation if she is reported, I’m sure you know of the view of the creature statute within the ministry... they could force her out of Hogwarts... and she’s so bright Severus the most I’ve seen in years, it would be such a shame for that to happen to someone so young so much aptitude just over a simple potions incident!“
Simple potion this was not polyjuice potions are volatile and took painstaking concentration to brew, even his 6th years NEWT class had trouble with that particular brew, but Poppy spoke true, being within his own class Hermione Granger while her insistent hand waving was obnoxious, she perhaps was the most competent brewer of her year this incident not withstanding.
“Where is Dumbledore? He grumbled, because of course he would be no where to be found when he was most needed.
Poppy shrugged
“Out, Minerva also hasn’t been able to get a hold of him, I sent an owl but I have yet to get a response”
He pinched the bridge of his nose
“Wonderful”
“Severus what do we do, we can’t keep the child here, the minute word gets out of her ‘condition’ it will spread like Fiendfyre through out the school, then it would only be a matter of time before the board of directors know, they would force her out of Hogwarts!
If she was lucky that would be the only thing, to face expulsion. Severus knew of all what could happen to her, the world was a dark place of this Severus understood vividly. The underground magical market teeming with filth for the young and innocent, eager for fresh blood. kin kind those with animal attributes especially neko-kin? was perhaps one of the most sought after, outside of Veela and even they had more rights than those of the kin kind. No the minute it was known in the ministry, she would be kidnapped then would be bought then sold, then, used. He grew ill thinking it.
He wouldn’t allow it, not if he had the ability to help which he did. He may not be the nicest of men, he was cruel and spiteful any of the students that he taught would probably say so, but even with all that, he would do all he could to help.
He had been researching for the the Dark Lord ironically for a way to hide the dark mark from detection. Which begged to question why the dark wizard thought it was a good idea to brand his followers in the first place if he wanted them to stay hidden. The man may have been a genius when it came to magic and the dark arts but he was also a raving megalomaniac with a penchant for Gryffindor like postering when it suited him.
Over the years with him gone even though he no longer was required to continue anything for the Dark Lord he had thought it prudent to continue his research into it. About eight years ago he had created something. That Something he had on his person at all times, as it did hide the dark mark signature rather well, if not make look like it disappeared completely, not that many would ever see him without his robes on. He still had his notes, through the potion would take some time to brew, and he would have to find something better, a ring perhaps, maybe a necklace?
“I understand poppy”
He touched the thin inconspicuous black band around his wrist. He had come to rely on it,
“I may have the means, I would need to test it first, I will need to speak to her”
She nodded and gestured to her office
“I am going to see if I can contact Minerva again, be gentle with her Severus her life is about to take on a drastic change”
He nodded of that he had no doubt. he stepped back under the curtain.
“There is no way to change me back, is there”
The words were spoken softly as a matter of fact, not a question. the expression on the girls face was serious and resigned but those large golden eyes slowly filled with tears.
He felt old looking down at her, she was so young he wondered if this transformation would end up stunting her growth, only time would tell.
“You are correct, your mishap has at this moment fused with your own genes as what we have seen, this unprecedented and unfortunate occurrence, one I am sure you are aware would not of happened if you hadn’t created polyjuice potion in the first place” He trailed off now was not the time for blame and punishment. That could always come later.
“listen very carefully to what I am to say next, Miss Granger you are now in a rather precarious position one it is prudent that you heed my warning explicitly, you must keep absolute secret what has happened to you, the consequences could be dire if you do not”
She swallowed heavily and nodded
He stood still a second before taking a seat near the bed to be more eye level. To appear more friendly? She shifted nervously her ears twitched all about on her head, but she looked directly at him.
“You are an advocate for the downtrodden, like house elves yes? You have learned of their race being enslaved, well Miss Granger house elves are only one such creature like that within the wizarding world. there are humanoid creatures like what you seem to be now be, called kin-kind, neko-kin in your case. they are more known in Asian countries, and they do not have rights like a normal witch of wizard, under the registry of the ministry they are considered nonhuman dark creatures. should you be found out Miss Granger, your rights to even study magic and have a wand may very well be revoked, Neko kin are incredibly sought after because of how rare they are.... at worst Miss Granger you could be caught and sold, made into a slave to a wealthy pure blood wizard”
The paleness in her skin looked to be nearly transparent in the light, even with the glow of witch lights surrounding her. The hospital always looked yellow in the evening hours. Those golden eyes lit in horror, it wasn’t an expression he ever liked to see on one so young, maybe he could of said it a bit more delicately, but this was not something he could tiptoe around, something this serious.
“What do I do?” Her voice was soft but didn’t waiver,
keeping a brave face even now little lion or would that be kitten now?
“You hide your new features and you will read, I will send you some books, use discretion when reading them, so no one asks questions, you will learn better about what could happen to you and about neko kind , and if need be a fail safe will be put in place should you be “found out”
He really hoped ‘that’ didn’t happen, at the moment he didn’t know anyone that he could safely say he trusted to “own” the little witch.
“who else has seen you like this, that you know of?”
The young witch took a deep breath and let it out. As if to center herself, and why wouldn’t she Snape you did just drop of dung Bomb of massive proportions on her. You ignorant sod.
“Ron, Harry, Myrtle, Professor McGonagall Madam Pomfrey and now you sir”
Dumbledore will know within the hour” he murmur to himself. it was too many, Potter and Weasley were a lability even if they were her friends, a caustic remark from one of those boys could be her undoing and with how volatile he had seen Molly’s youngest son be... too much of a risk. Their memories would need to be modified. And blast it all a bloody ghost. Wait did that mean she was brewing in that bathroom! How she could brew with the shrieking of that in her ear... damn it all He could only hope she’d keep silent, maybe a quick chat to the bloody Barron on the prudence of discretion would be advised.
“Sir, how do I hide. My features, are there spells or a potion?, how do I-
He reached over and held out the thin black band he always carried on his wrist.
“For now you will wear this upon your wrist, it should hide your features, well enough for now, I will try to procure or create something better something safer more well hidden at a later date”
Cautiously she took the bracelet in her hand, then slipped to over her wrist, there was a shimmer around her for a few moments then her ears that were atop her head were no longer visible, instead her regular human ears were back, and her tail that had been visible tapping anxious at the the infirmary bed also seemed to have gone, she looked down at it then up in shock and grinned through her tears, her eyes where no longer glowing and her slit pupils were rounded again.
He let out a small sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure what he had expected, the charms he had placed on it were very advanced, protection from being taken off all except the wearer, another was an avoidance hex those that saw it disregarded it, the illusion charm was to show those around them what they wanted them to see, for now it would have to do until he made something else, something more coined to her actual furry little problem.
“You will wear this at all times, and never ever take it off, or until such time that I have something better for you to use but even then, only in my presence”
She nodded her head hurriedly
They are not gone Miss Granger only hidden, you will need to be careful not to have your head touched, find a way to hide your tail.. that it isn’t noticeable... you need to make sure to imagine yourself as you were before, I’ll-
Dumbledore stumbled in then
“Ahh Severus it seems that I am not needed after all? All fixed then!” Severus glared at him from his sitting position, but stood at his entrance
“Yes Headmaster everything has been fixed” he really didn't try to cover his sarcasm then.
“Wonderful I will leave you in Severus’s capable hands then Miss Granger have a good evening” he look pointedly at him for a split second before cheerfully waving goodbye to the young witch.
Then he was gone in a flourish.
He would need to see Albus before the night ended, a report would need to be made and a plan. He hoped that Albus wouldn’t use this against the girl, the headmaster so liked his pawns where he could watch them
My capable hands indeed if i fail in this... No!
He turned to look back at her.
“You will rest here for the night, in the morning I will have two books delivered to you, you are to read the passages I select for you, you will come see me when you are finished. My office hours are between 7 and 9 Sleep Miss Granger”
He left.
Hermione could only stared after him.
TBC