A/N: This was written for severely_lupine who gave me the prompt. I own nothing, JKR owns it all!

Hermione was intrigued. She wondered why Professor Snape had assigned that essay on werewolves. He wasn't the type to do something arbitrarily, no matter what Ron and Harry said. And the look in his eyes. This was personal. So Hermione decided to do what she did best, research.

Her parents had sent her various medical books on her request a while back. She found a couple of things there, Clinical Lycanthropy and Hypertrichosis. The first involved a person who believed they turned into a wolf, and the second was a disorder which affected bodily hair growth. She wondered if maybe these weren't reactions by Muggles to having seen a real werewolf. The trauma could have caused the first, and maybe an incomplete transfer of whatever caused lycanthropy was the reason for the second. She didn't think that Professor Snape would approve of that train of thought, though.

One quote in one book caught her attention, though. "The fear evoked at a werewolf movie is the fear of betrayal, the fear of those we trust and care for transforming into something utterly different and destructive." Oh.

Hermione went down to Potions class shortly after her epiphany. She stayed a bit afterward and caught Professor Snape's attention.

"Sir, may I ask you a question?" Hermione asked quietly, her head down, her posture a bit submissive.

"I take it you mean another question, Miss Granger?" Professor Snape was being as particular as ever.

Hermione took a deep breath. "I know Professor Lupin is a werewolf, sir. Your assignment of the essay just cemented the idea for me. How old were you when he attacked you? Was it his fault? Is that why you hate Harry's father? Its all related, isn't it?" She rushed all of that out, afraid he was going to stop her.

Severus was shocked. This little girl had figured out far too many of his secrets. But, as he watched her attempt to stay steady under his gaze, he was also impressed. Her compassion was evident in her queries. She was not condemning him, rather, she was just trying to understand.

"Miss Granger, you should know better than to ask such a personal set of questions. I am certainly not going to respond to a student about my personal history. Now, if you don't have anything else to ask, leave before I take points from Gryffindor!" Severus practically hissed his answer.

Hermione knew she was right, even if he didn't answer her questions. His response made her want to hug him, and she wasn't sure where that impulse came from. But she was determined to try to get to know this mysterious man.

As her brain was working through this, she looked up, saw the determination on Professor Snape's face, and instead of saying anything else, turned and almost ran for the door.

Severus watched her leave, intrigued in spite of himself, and shook his head. What was it about Gryffindor Muggle-borns that fascinated him so much? Well, she wouldn't be a child forever, he thought. He had some time to figure it out.

A/N: Quote is taken from an article on .com.
Written for severely_lupine who gave me the prompt