Chapter 1: Twilight becomes the Dark
The sun was shining bright as a gentle breeze blew and shook the leaves above Hermione Granger's head on a warm summer afternoon in a park not far from her home. The warming rays of the sun danced through the foliage and gave her enough light to read, yet a large amount of shading to shield her from the heat. It was the summer before she would start her fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and she was trying hard to enjoy the time alone before she was sent off to stay at the Order's headquarters for her safety.
"Hey Hermione." A gentle voice floated on the breeze as she looked up to see deep blue eyes looking down at her. The brunette smiled as she tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
"Took you long enough McHale." Blue eyes rolled at the greeting as the girl sat down next to her friend. Hermione giggled and set her book down on her lap as she watched Jade crossed her legs and sighed.
"Hey, I've got better things to do this summer than hang out with a kid." The girl teased with a smirk as she put her hands behind her head and leaned back against the tree. Jade McHale was a full three years older than Hermione, but that didn't stop them from becoming good friends almost three years ago when Jade had scared some boys that were bullying the young brunette while she was at the library. From that day on they had bonded over their love of knowledge and the fact that the older girl's family had moved into a house six doors down from Hermione's that same year from America. The brunette suddenly snapped out of her reverie as she noticed blue eyes looking at her intently which caused her to blush slightly under the intense gaze. "You've grown up nice Hermione. When I met you, you were this bushy haired, plain looking girl, now look at you. Your hair's calmed down and even though you don't wear make-up, you're very pretty. Puberty did good huh?" The brunette blushed even more as she averted her gaze back down to the tome in her lap to try and hide her cheeks with her wavy hair. "What are you reading anyways?" Jade leaned over to try and see what her friend was so enthralled with.
"O-oh, uhm…The Complete Works of Shakespeare." The brunette stuttered as Jade's black hair brushed against her neck as she leaned over more. "I'm half way through Macbeth, have you read it before?"
"Fair is foul," The dark haired girl said as she sat back against the tree and closed her eyes. "And foul is fair." She smirked before glancing down at Hermione who sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Of course you've read it." Hermione smiled to herself as she closed her book and stretched her legs out in front of her. "What haven't you read Jade?"
"A lot actually," The girl sighed as she looked up through the tree leaves. "A lot of Greek epics and mythology mainly, I like learning about that kind of stuff. So I guess you could say I haven't read a lot of mainstream things, I like old literature. So, you're leaving soon aren't you? To go back to that boarding school of yours right?" Hermione gasped slightly as she looked over at her friend and sighed heavily letting her head droop.
"Tomorrow actually." A somber look crossed her face as she looked down and began pulling grass from the ground as blue eyes widened slightly. Apparently Jade wasn't aware her friend would be leaving so soon. "I told you about the boy that…that died last year didn't I?" Jade nodded slowly as she watched her friend fidget with the green blades between her fingers. "I haven't really talked to my friends about it, but I'm kind of nervous to go back after that happened." The dark haired girl just sighed and ran a hand through her hair before laying her arm lazily over Hermione's shoulders.
"If I know anything for sure Hermione Jean Granger," She said softly as she stared off into the blue sky cheerily. "Is that you're very brave and can get through almost anything with time. I know it's scary after something like that happens, but you've got your friends there and I'm sure they'll up the security now. Try not to worry too much yeah? If you'd like I can try and come visit sometime and I'll still write of course." The brunette froze as she listened to Jade's calming voice. It would be impossible however for the girl to visit since Hogwarts was only for witches and wizards.
"I'd like that." Hermione whispered as she smiled to herself. "Just remember to give your letters to my parents, but you know how my school is with visitors, they're a very private school after all."
"Well if you ever need to talk you know my address." Jade joked as she ruffled sun kissed curls playfully. "How come you're leaving so much earlier this year?"
"I'm going to stay with my friends for a week before we go back." She really wanted to tell the girl about what was going on, but getting her involved, only being a muggle, could be detrimental to her safety and Hermione couldn't imagine putting her friend in that kind of danger. "What are you doing now that you've graduated from secondary school?" Jade sighed and pulled a crushed pack of cigarettes from her jacket pocket before she flipped one out and lit it up. Hermione scrunched her face and frowned at her friend who just gave her the 'what' look before shrugging her shoulders. "I thought you quit?"
"Don't look at me like you're my mother Hermione." The dark haired girl said as she took a drag on her cigarette before exhaling the smoke in the opposite direction of the brunette. "If you had my parents you'd know why I started up again, but I don't know about education. Obviously mother wants me to go to University, but I would kind of like to take a hiatus and travel y'know? Before I have to lock down and get serious about school. Oh by the way," Jade rifled through her other pocket and pulled out a small rectangular box with a blue bow on it. Brown eyes looked at it nervously as she glanced up at her friend who took another puff from her cig and blew out again. "I got this for your birthday since I don't know where I'll be come September, I know I usually give my gift to your parents to send to you, but I wanted you to open this one before you left."
"This is for me?" Hermione asked quietly as she timidly took the box from the blue eyed girl who just smiled as the cigarette drooped lazily in between her lips. She examined the box carefully before slowly pulling the bow off and opening it. A gasp escaped her lips as her hand flew up to her mouth to try and stifle it. "Jade, this is beautiful!" In the box laid a simple silver chain with a pearlescent crescent moon attached to it. The brunette picked up the chain delicately and examined it carefully.
"It's part of a set." Jade said gently as she took her smoke in between her fingers, and with her other hand pulled out a pendant she was wearing that was a waxing moon. "You see?" She leaned over and placed her pendant against Hermione's and they fit perfectly to form a full moon. "They're like friendship charms, so in case I'm off in some exotic place when you get back next summer you won't forget me, ok?" The brunette smiled brightly as she slipped the necklace over her head and continued to inspect the charm between her thumb and forefinger.
"I love it!" She squealed as she looked up at Jade with optimistic brown eyes. "Thank you so much!" Without thinking she leapt forward and wrapped her arms around the taller girl who tensed, but wrapped an arm around Hermione's waist and returned her embrace gently. "One more thing though," The brunette said as she pulled back and plucked the half smoked cigarette from Jade's other hand before snuffing it against the rough bark of the tree. "Promise me you'll quit, please?" Jade smirked as she closed her eyes and nodded.
"I guess since you're leaving soon I can try for you." The taller girl could only smile kindly as she watched her young friend's face lighten up and she hugged her again. The girls spent the rest of the afternoon in a similar manner just watching people in the park and talking about their future plans, or Jade would just lie on the grass next to the brunette as she continued to read. It was odd for Hermione to have found a friend that didn't mind spending time with her while she read or studied and she missed Jade dearly when she was at school since her friends only wanted to study with her when they needed help. As the day dragged on the sun began to set and the brunette sighed since it was a signal that she should be headed home. "I'll walk you home." Ever since the day that Jade had protected the brunette in the library those years ago she had always been overly protective, but not in an over bearing way which Hermione appreciated. Jade stood and brushed the grass from her legs which were clad in denim shorts that showed off her long legs before offering her hand to the shorter girl.
"You know," Hermione said as she took said hand and the older girl pulled her up easily. "I'm not twelve years old anymore, I can walk myself home."
"Well then I'll walk with you." Jade answered smartly as she raised an eyebrow at the younger girl playfully. "Now that you're all grown up and such." They often jabbed at one another playfully and it was an odd comfort for Hermione as she just scrunched her nose at Jade and stuck out her tongue. "Very mature Hermione." The blue eyed girl chided as she gently elbowed the brunette.
"Oh like you're the queen of maturity." The shorter girl retorted as they made their way through the park to the street the led them both home. "If I recall you still sleep with a stuffed wolf, so I don't think you can be poking fun at me."
"Hey, Snowflake is very important to me." The dark haired girl argued as she folded her arms over her chest and huffed slightly. "I've had him ever since I was a little kid so don't give him a hard time." Hermione giggled as they turned a corner and her house came into view. "Well I guess this is good bye until next summer yeah?" A deep sorrow suddenly washed over Hermione as she realized this may be the last time she sees her friend for a very long time if anything else happened this year and again she flung herself forward and hugged the taller girl tightly. "Hermione…"Jade sighed and smiled before wrapping her arms around the shorter girl's waist gently.
"Promise you'll stay safe if you do travel ok?" Hermione whispered as she squeezed her eyes shut and felt Jade nod.
"Only if you promise to stay out of trouble at that school of yours," Jade replied gently as her arms tightened a little around the brunette. "Don't go getting into any trouble you can't get yourself out of you hear?" Hermione nodded as she slowly pulled out of the embrace and sighed before looking into blue eyes.
"Thanks again for the gift Jade," She said as she looked down at the charm again. "I really love it."
"I'm glad." Blue eyes smiled warmly at her as she tucked a stray curl behind Hermione's ear. "Take care of yourself will you? If I hear you're in any kind of trouble at that school I will find you and bring you home ok?" The brunette smiled and nodded as the street lights flickered on and Jade waved as she turned to leave. "Have a good year at school Hermione."
"I will," Hermione yelled as she waved back. "I'll see you soon Jade, don't forget to write!" The taller girl waved her hand over her shoulder and looked back momentarily with a smile on her face as she walked down to her own house. The brunette sighed as she watched Jade's figure fade into the growing darkness and then she turned and walked into her own house.
"Did you have a good day hunny?" Mrs. Granger asked as she looked up from her book and smiled warmly at her daughter. "What did you do?" Hermione sat down on the couch next to her mother and sighed heavily as she stared at the TV. Her father was watching the news and also reading the paper, a talent that most fathers seemed to possess.
"I did, it was perfect weather today." The teen answered as she stretched her arms and a yawn escaped her mouth. "Jade and I spent the day hanging out since she wants to go traveling soon and with things being sort of uneasy at Hogwarts, I don't know if I'll be spending a lot of time home next summer." Her parents already knew all about what was going on at the school and luckily they trusted their daughter enough to make rational decisions.
"She's such a nice girl." Her mother chimed as she shut her book and set it on the coffee table. "It's too bad that you can't tell her what's going on."
"It's for her own safety, mom." Hermione answered as she ran a hand through her wavy hair and sighed heavily. She did wish she could tell Jade more, but with Voldemort back in action it was best to distance herself from many of her muggle friends. "I'd hate to have her dragged into anything because she's my friend." Her mother sighed and her dad mumbled something about weirdly shaped clouds. "I think I'm going to make sure I have everything packed though and then head to bed." She stood up and pecked her mother on the cheek and hugged her father tightly before making her way up the stairs. In her room, her trunk was already half packed as well as her school bag and all her books were stacked neatly on her desk. Those were the last thing she had to put in her trunk before she left. She started folding some clothes that were on her bed and placing them neatly in the trunk along with some extra paper and her journal. Hermione sighed heavily as time slowly passed and soon it was past midnight as the girl finally finished packing. She exhaled loudly as she sat on her bed and finally felt the effects of fatigue making her eyes droop. Suddenly there was a tap at her window and she sat up with a jolt, her wand drawn defensively. Another tap, and another as she inched towards her window and looked out after dimming the lights in her bedroom. When she looked down she saw Jade standing below her window tossing rocks.
"Jade?" Hermione whispered sharply as she opened the window and poked her head out. "What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you." The dark figure hissed back as she looked around anxiously as if someone was following her. "Can I come in?"
"I'll go unlock the door." The brunette said as she went to shut the window.
"Don't bother 'Mione." Jade whispered as she started climbing the white trellis that went up the side of the house. Hermione was shocked at how easily the dark haired girl climbed up the framework and pulled herself through the window.
"Jade what is going on?" She gasped suddenly as her friend's face came into view and she saw a dark purple bruise on the left side of her face along with a swollen eye socket. "What the bloody hell happened to you?!"
"Keep your voice down will you?" The older girl shushed as she sat down on her friend's bed and rubbed her face gently. "It's just a bruise."
"That's more than just a bruise Jade." Hermione scolded as she sat down next to her and brightened the lights in her room. Blue eyes squinted with the lighting and winced at the pain that assaulted her eyes when she squinted. "Tell me what happened, please." Jade rolled her eyes and averted her gaze to the ground.
"My dad," That's all she said as she clenched her fists and her jaw. She didn't want to make eye contact with the girl next to her who was examining her face carefully. "Do you have some ice or something? Or Ibuprofen even?"
"He did this to you?" The younger girl knew that Jade's father wasn't the most affectionate man, but in all the years she had known the girl he had never hit her or her friend's mother. The most she knew as that the man had a temper. Hermione gently caressed her friend's cheek to trace the pattern of the bruise. Nothing was broken as far as she could tell, but there was a lot of swelling so she left momentarily to the bathroom and grabbed the medicine and a glass of water. "What happened, can you tell me?"
"I'm sorry Hermione." Jade whispered as she shut her eyes and sighed in exasperation. "But it's a family matter that I can't discuss with you. Let's just say, I might have deserved it." The taller girl accepted the medicine and threw it in her mouth before taking a long drink of the water. "I just need a place to stay tonight, is it ok if I stay here?" Hermione tensed slightly at the thought of Jade staying in her room. They had stayed the night with each other before, but never in the same bed and she didn't want the girl making her way downstairs to stay on the couch. She couldn't say no though to her best friend in the muggle world.
"Of course you can." She answered finally as she went to her closet to pull out an extra pillow. Jade was already taking off her shoes and green flannel shirt when Hermione turned around before throwing the pillow on the bed. Thankfully the brunette's bed was a queen and big enough to accommodate the both of them. "Do you need anything to sleep in?"
"No," Her friend answered as she laid back on the bed with her hands folded behind her head. "I'll just sleep in this." Hermione sighed and nodded. Jade's family was nice enough, like her, the older girl was an only child as far as she knew and was decently close to her parents, but they held on to a very conservative family hierarchy that often found the blue eyed girl in trouble since she was never one for rules. Jade never spoke ill of her parents though, even after coming into Hermione's bedroom with half of her face bruised and battered. "Let's just go to sleep, you're finished packing, yeah?" Brown waves bobbed as Hermione nodded and dimmed the lights again before joining her friend on the bed. She laid on her side for a while processing Jade's expression in the dark as the moonlight reflected in deep cerulean orbs making them glow.
"Hey Jade?" The brunette whispered softly as if afraid to interrupt the older girl's thoughts.
"Yeah Belle?" Jade had taken to calling her Belle when they had met since she was being bullied while reading like Gaston had done in the story, but the younger girl never understood why Jade thought herself to be the beast. She wasn't anything like the beast in the story, if anything she was the complete opposite other than her occasional teasing.
"Are you going to miss me?" Hermione didn't know why her thoughts were manifesting into words without her consent, but she never knew why Jade wanted to be her friend. The girl was older, very smart, and for a lack of better words, stunning to look at, though very modest with her appearance. "I mean, while I'm away and if you leave." The bed shifted slightly as the creaking of springs cried out into the night as the blue eyed girl rolled to her side to face her young friend.
"Of course I am Belle." She whispered back with some concern swirling in her blue orbs. "Why do you ask? I always miss you when you leave." The brunette began to fidget under the intense gaze as she looked down at her hands. "I'll probably miss you more now that I don't have school to distract me."
"I'm worried you'll go off and travel and I won't ever see you again." Hermione squeaked as she looked up and locked eyes with her friend again. "I mean, you'll be nineteen in December and I'm still just a kid in all reality." A smile broke across the elder girl's lips as her arms reached out and wrapped around the girl next to her. Another squeak as Hermione was pulled against Jade's chest and then a soft sigh as she breathed in her scent of cotton and chamomile.
"You're a silly girl my Belle," Jade soothed as she rested her chin on the brunette's head gently. "We will see each other again. Even if I'm away and you don't come back, I'll find you remember? I told you I would."
"But how?" The brunette whispered as she pulled away to look into blue eyes. "How will you find me? All you know is that my school is in Scotland."
"How much more do I need to know?" The older girl asked with a smirk. "I also know at least one of your friend's names and when you're supposed to be home for the summer, not to mention where you live." She chuckled as feather tipped fingers brushed Hermione's bangs away from her eyes. "You were the first friend I made when I moved here, don't think that I'd forget about you so easily just because you might not come home for a summer." Hermione's face scrunched in thought, she wanted desperately to tell her friend the truth about her life and her school. Another chuckle as Jade playfully grabbed Hermione's cheeks. "You're going to give yourself wrinkles at such a young age. Don't worry 'Mione, things will work out, now try and get some sleep ok?" As if on cue the brunette released a drawn out yawn and was suddenly very exhausted from the day. Jade smirked and watched as her friend crossed her arms in front of her before leaning into the older girl for comfort. She lazily draped her arm over the younger girl's waist as she tucked the other under her head for support before she drifted off to sleep.
x-x
Number 12 Grimmauld Place was a rather dreary building with very dark colors and dusty floors. Hermione was sitting in the room she shared with Ginny and absentmindedly twirled her pendant in her fingers as she waited for Harry to arrive. Most of the Order was already there, not to mention Professor Snape which was a surprise to all and not a good one mind you. Even though he was part of the Order, that didn't seem to change his demeanor towards anyone in the least, which was very discouraging.
"You'd think the git would at least be more civil." Ginny complained as she looked through her school books and began practicing some basic charms. "I mean, we're not even in school yet and he sneers at us like we've already blown up the dungeons, honestly." The brunette grinned at her friend.
"He's just an unhappy person Gin," Hermione said gently as she stroked Crookshank's back gently. "Can't really expect him to act any different to us can we?" The red head sighed heavily and hung her head.
"No I suppose not." At that moment Ron burst into the room with a large smile on his face. "Ron! You could at least knock, this is the girl's room!"
"Sorry bout that." He said goofily as he stood in the doorway. "But Harry's just arrived, thought you two would wanna say hi, was I wrong?" The girls stood immediately and shoved past the tall boy to make their way down stairs. "Guess I wasn't." The three made their way down the creaky stairs to find Harry standing with Mad-Eye, Tonks, and Kingsley.
"Harry!" Hermione cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "It's so good to see you! How've you been?"
"Blimey Hermione," Ron said as he rolled his eyes and made his way towards his friend. "Let the man breathe. All right, mate?"
"Grand," Harry said as he hugged his friend and then Ginny who was rather quiet with the boy. "How about all of you?" Before they could answer Mrs. Weasley came out of the kitchen and hugged the bespectacled boy tightly as Remus followed her.
"Harry my boy!" She exclaimed as she pulled back and took his face between her hands. "You hungry? You look a bit peaky, but it will have to wait till after the meeting, off you go." Remus nodded at him before he caught sight of his God Father who smiled warmly at him. Suddenly there was a loud crack and the twins appeared out of thin air next to Molly who chastised them accordingly and shooed them away. The four teens, including Fred and George made their way up the stairs.
"I wish we could sit in on that meeting." Ron grumbled as they halted at the landing at the top of the stairs. "What do you think they're on about?"
"Do you want to find out?" Fred said with a mischievous look on his face as he held up a very human looking ear with a long tendril that attached to another ear. Hermione watched as they lowered it down in front of the kitchen door and muffled voices could be heard coming from the ear Fred was holding.
He's too young…Molly Weasley was saying, they were only getting bits and pieces of the conversation since the ear was only a prototype. After what he went through last year….More muffles as George tweaked the tendril to turn the ear more towards the door.
The boy is old enough to know what he's going up against. This time it was Sirius's voice that they heard and Harry tensed slightly knowing for sure they were talking about him. He's my god son, I know what's best for him.
He's just a boy. Molly said again more firmly. He doesn't need this kind of worry on him right now before he goes back to school.
If I may, Snape's lazy drawl could be heard and then all of a sudden there was static and screeching. Brown eyes looked down to see her orange cat pawing at the ear before biting it and shaking it in its mouth.
"No Crookshanks!" Hermione hissed as she tried fruitlessly to shoo her cat away. Finally the cat tore the ear with a mighty yank and ran off with the ear in his mouth. "Bad Crookshanks." The boys gave her a pointed look and she just sighed. The cat had a mind of his own after all. Soon after the door opened and Harry went down to try and talk to his God Father. Hermione, Ginny, and Ron went down to the living area and sat on a dusty sofa to wait for their friend.
"So what did you do this summer 'Mione?" Ron asked as they watched the fire crackle. The brunette sighed as she thought back to yesterday when she had left home. Jade had woken up early and disappeared after leaving a note on Hermione's pillow that the girl packed away with her trunk.
"A lot of reading." The girl answered as she fidgeted with her necklace again. "Hung out with my friend a lot since I don't know when I'll be seeing her again."
"No surprise you were reading." Ginny giggled as she tucked her legs under her and straightened up against the arm rest. "You talk about your friend a lot Hermione, are you worried about what will happen because she's a muggle?"
"Very." Hermione answered as she ran a hand through her brown waves and sighed heavily. "I really wanted to tell her the truth because I don't think she would've minded either way, but to put her in danger like that, or if they found out I had a close friend other than my family. I'd hate to get her involved when she essentially knows nothing." Both red heads nodded as they listened to their friend.
"Is she nice?" Ron asked trying to switch the subject from grim to light. "I mean, you always talk about her ever since we were young, but I don't think we've ever seen what she looks like or how she acts. So what is she like?" The brunette rose momentarily and disappeared up the stairs. Ginny shrugged at her brother who was giving her a confused look until a few seconds later, the girl returned with a leather bound journal in her hands. She sat down between the two again and opened it up to the very back cover. There, taped neatly to the leather, was a picture of her and Jade from a year ago when they had gone to London together to go shopping.
"This is Jade." The girl said quietly as she showed her friends the picture. "She's American as you know, but very well-mannered despite that."
"She's a looker isn't she?" The red headed boy said with his mouth hanging open. Hermione just rolled her eyes and Ginny shot him a look. "What? I'm just saying."
"Anyways," Hermione continued as she shut the journal and held it close to her. "We've been good friends since I was twelve."
"How old is she?" Ginny asked as she leaned back against the sofa.
"She's eighteen," The brunette answered as she sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "She'll be nineteen in December. She wanted to travel this summer, so I guess that's good for her safety, but I don't know when I'll see her again." A sadness overtook Hermione suddenly as she thought about not seeing her friend again for a while and she took a deep breath to try and shake the feeling.
"I'm sure you'll see her again soon 'Mione." The red headed girl said as she draped her arm over her shoulders. "Once we save the wizarding world all will be well again." Hermione laughed at her friend's optimism and nodded. That's how she had to think. Or else how were they going to win this war?
x-x
Jade sighed as she sat in a pub sipping on her beer in New Castle. It had been a few months since she left home and went on her own to try and join a resistance in the war. Her mother had been strongly against it, but her father, always the honorable man, had encouraged her to seek out relatives in the north that could help her and in turn found her grandfather on her father's side in Penrith. Now she had reached a dead end trying to find her cousins and was trying to pick up the trail again after a short break. The clocked chimed ten o'clock and Jade sighed as she left some money on the table and was on her way again. The October air was chilly in the night as she walked the streets back to her hotel at a local inn and pulled her coat tight around her shoulders. There were so many smells in the air that it was starting to toy with her senses until she caught a particularly strong scent that had been following her for the past couple blocks. She feigned like she was lost as she turned and looked at street signs and noticed a tall hooded figure a few yards behind her. His stench was foul and burned her nose as she turned down the wrong street before ducking into an alleyway. The stalker fell for her ruse and came to a dead end as she barred his way back to the street.
"You're not a very good lurker." She said sarcastically as she folded her arms over her chest. "I'd think a Death Eater would have more sense than to follow someone like me out in the open where I could smell you. So what do you want?" The figure lowered his hood to reveal a dark haired man with a scraggly beard and shallow eyes.
"To recruit you of course." His deep voice was raspy as a smug smile grew on his face. "We've been very interested in you since we learned about your heritage, why not join us? It took a very long time to find you again after you fled the country."
"You sure you'd want a half breed like me in your ranks?" Jade said smugly as she eyed the man carefully. "I think I'm better suited for the resistance in my opinion." The man laughed as he drew his wand and pointed it at the dark haired girl. "All you wizards, relying on those silly little sticks to use your magic." Suddenly her hands started to glow with a pale blue light and the figure in front of her staggered back slightly. Her eyes glowed neon blue as she glared at him with a smile on her face. "I don't need anything like that to use mine."
"Stupefy!" The man yelled as Jade extended her hand and with a smooth motion back with her arm, deflected the spell completely. The Death Eater growled at her as he threw hex after hex at her that she easily deflected. "How is this possible?" He asked shakily as she feigned a yawn and a smug smile formed on her lips. Finally she raised her hand and extended it with her palm facing him as the blue light shrank to encompass her palm.
"Fluctum Ignis." A column of fire erupted from her hand and engulfed the man who barely had time to shield himself before another spell flew his way and he was disarmed. Another silent spell bound his arms and legs as he fell to the ground with a thud. "You know, next time someone decides to come after me, I hope they're better prepared."
"We will find you again!" The man spat as he struggled against the chains that held him. "You will join us!"
"Strong talk for a man who just got beat by a girl." Jade smirked as she rolled up the sleeve of his left arm before taking his wand and let it hover over the mark. "The only reason I'm letting you live is so he can kill you himself for your failure." She pressed the tip of the wand to his mark and it started to writhe. She stood and smiled smugly before apparating away with a crack. She appeared in a field outside a large house in the middle of the country where warm lights were glowing invitingly as she made her way through the darkness. As the door opened to greet her, an older man stood waiting as she brushed past him.
"How did it go?" He asked shakily as he shut the door and she hung her jacket up on the coat rack by the door before kicking off her boots.
"Oh you know Grandpa," She said with a sigh as she plopped down on a plush recliner and closed her eyes. "Another day, another Death Eater who tries to turn me. Have we made any head where on where the resistance is?" The elder man just shook his head as he moved into the kitchen. There was some clanking before he came back out with a tray holding some tea and a couple rolls that Jade took graciously. "I guess that's a good thing since if they were easily found they wouldn't be much of a threat."
"We think there is a branch in Northern Scotland." The man said as he sat on the sofa across from her. "I think that's your best bet if you want to find them. The Order that is." Jade sighed heavily before taking a sip of her tea. Hermione was in Scotland, she often wondered how her dear friend was doing in these darkened times. She absentmindedly began to fiddle with the pendant around her neck as she thought about the brunette and continued to be lulled by the warm tea and conversation with her grandfather.
"Do you think I'll find any other clans up that way?" Jade asked quietly as she stared into the raging fire that was warming her face. "I mean… there's more forests that way yeah? Maybe I'll run into some of my cousins."
"Possibly." The older man said as she took a drink from his scotch glass. "There are a few enchanted forests up there, there's bound to be a lycan pack around. Although, you know how secretive our society is Jade. Don't be surprised if they don't welcome you with open arms."
"I know grandpa." The blue eyed girl answered with another heavy sigh. "I just wish they would help more. I can't believe so many of us here are neglected to aid in the war."
"It isn't our fight young one." He answered wisely as his silver eyes locked with her blue orbs. "Regardless of who is in control, we will continue to live our own lives. The wizarding world has very little knowledge on our kind and says we're wiped out. How silly of them to make assumptions without looking don't you think?" Jade nodded solemnly as the warmth began to relax her bones. "Your cousin is living in Scotland you know, perhaps you should pay him a visit. He might be able to help."
"I might do that." Jade said quietly as she finally shut her eyes and fell into sleep. Her grandfather smiled and laid a blanket over her as he took her cup and kissed her affectionately on the forehead.
"You may only be half lycan my darling," He whispered soothingly as he took her mug from her hands. "But your human half makes you so much stronger than some of us could ever dream of being. It makes you care so strongly when you find something to care about and fight to protect that what's dear to you. Sweet dreams child."
x-x
After the scare of Harry almost being expelled and him getting over being mad at Hermione and Ron for leaving him out of the loop with information from Dumbledore, the year started as normal as it could after the death of a student. Seamus had given Harry a hard time, saying he and Dumbledore were lying and that was the first time she had seen her friend's temper rise so high. It was beginning to worry her with all the personality changes she had been seeing in him lately. It was the end of November now and Dolores Umbridge had officially began taking over the school to the dismay of almost all the students, minus a few Sltherins who were her right hand. They had just had their meeting at the Hog's Head Inn where they discussed forming a group to learn about defensive magic since Umbridge didn't want them performing any kind of spell or hex.
"You think we'll get caught?" Ron asked as they crossed the covered bridge where a light dusting of snow had fallen.
"Who cares?" Hermione chimed as a smile spread across her face. "It's rather exciting isn't it? Now we need to find a room where they won't catch us."
"Yeah that'll be tricky I think." Harry said as they reached the heavy doors into the castle. "Tell everyone to keep an eye out for an abandoned classroom or anything of that sort where there isn't a lot of traffic from other students or teachers."
"I'll make sure everyone knows." Ginny said as they entered the warmth of the castle and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. "This is really happening isn't it?" Harry nodded as he looked at his friend's younger sister.
"This needs to happen." The brunette said as they reached the moving stair cases and waited patiently for one to give them a path to their house. "They can't keep us from learning to protect ourselves, especially after what happened last year." The four teens finally got to their house and spoke the password to enter to find the common room scarce of people. The girls headed up to their dorms to change their clothes that were damp from the snow before they headed off to dinner. As they entered, there was a dark brown, horned owl waiting for them with a letter attached to its leg.
"It's from your mum and dad." Ginny said as she handed the envelope to her friend. The red head disappeared into her own dorm momentarily as Hermione kicked off her snow boots and opened the letter. She scanned it hastily, reading about her parent's business and how the weather had been acting out of whack lately, but no mention of Jade except for a month ago when her mother had mentioned she had stopped by to tell them she was leaving. Hermione's heart dropped as she reached the end of the letter that said 'still no word from Jade, I do hope she's ok'.
"I hope she's ok too mum."