Disclaimer: I own nothing, the rights to Twilight and Harry Potter belong to Stephanie Meyer and J. K. Rowling respectively.

**Daybreak**

CHAPTER TWO

"Information Overload"

"My brain is going to explode."

Ron's announcement called the impromptu meeting to an abrupt halt.

They were seated in a wide, spacious dining room, around a large, antique table. Bella, Edward, and Renesmee were seated on one side, along with four other members of their family: Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper. Harry and Hermione sat on the other side of the table, flanked by Draco and Ron.

"I – is he serious?" Esme asked nervously. One of her hands vaguely patted Carlisle's arm. She glanced around the room, but her family was just as confused as she was.

Hermione sighed. "He's not serious," she said. "This is his way of saying that – well, that this is crazy."

"Crazy indeed," Draco murmured, watching as Harry scribbled violently on the sheet of paper in front of him, muttering to himself.

Carlisle smiled kindly, his eyes crinkling in the corners. He had the calm presence Hermione normally associated with Medi-Witches, which fit into his claim that he worked as a muggle doctor. Still, she couldn't shake off the uneasiness she felt around this many supernatural beings.

"I understand this is a confusing situation for all of us," Carlisle said. "Learning about a community of wizards and witches that exists parallel to our own community is quite shocking. Not to mention what appears to be different species of vampires within the genus."

Hermione nodded. Next to her, Harry suddenly slammed down his pencil, and looked up. "Okay," he said, taking a deep breath. "I think I've got it all."

"Thank Merlin," Ron sighed. "Can I get a condensed summary?"

Harry laughed. "This is the condensed summary. Now," he addressed the vampires across the table, "correct me if I get anything wrong, or if I'm missing any pertinent information."

He picked up the sheaf of papers in front of him. Clearing his throat, he began to read. "So, you are a coven of vampires. Carlisle, you created Esme and Edward. And two others named Rosalie and Emmett, who are currently living as a married couple in New Zealand." Carlisle nodded. "Jasper and Alice were created by other vampires, but separated from their creators and joined your group. Edward created Bella, but before she became a vampire, she and Edward had a baby…Renesmee?"

Renesmee nodded. "Right, and I'm half vampire, half human."

"You all drink animal blood instead of human blood, too, is that correct?"

There was general confirmation from the vampires. Hermione watched tensely. She would be lying if she said her hand wasn't firmly attached to her wand, under the table. She listened attentively as Harry went on to outline what they had been taught of the Volturi, the vampiric world's rulers.

While she listened her attention wandered, her gaze dancing around the room, until suddenly, it was trapped by fierce brown eyes.

Hermione froze, caught in intense eye contact with Jacob. The werewolf had refused a seat, and was stationed by the door. He leaned against the doorjamb, arms folded and a fearsome scowl on his face. As Hermione watched, his scowl deepened. He tilted his head toward the door, maintaining eye contact, before silently ducking out of the door.

"…you move around every few years. The last place you were living was Forks, Washington, in the U. S. Now, you have a semi-permanent abode here in muggle Kent."

Hermione stood. All of the vampires startled, and the one they called Jasper was on his feet in a flash.

"Harry," she said, "do you mind if I get a breath of fresh air?"

Harry's eyebrows furrowed in concern. Behind him, Draco raised a challenging eyebrow. "Of course not," Harry said. The vampires across the table all agreed, Jasper slowly sitting down once more. "I was just going to begin going over the Wizarding World with them. Hurry back, okay?"

"Okay." Smiling thinly, Hermione made her way out of the room, and made her way to the nearest exit.

Outside, she took a moment to breath in the crisp night air before looking around. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the greenery, stepping off of the Cullens' porch and padding across the grass. She knew she hadn't misread Jacob's signal. He had left, and for some reason, he wanted her to follow.

As she slowly approached the edge of the forest that surrounded the Cullens' abode, her head was on a constant swivel, searching for the tall werewolf. Hermione was on edge, her wand out. Jacob had the air of someone who was more comfortable in the woods than in a home, and she knew that he could be watching her, right now, and she'd never know unless he showed himself.

She had just reached the beginning of the forest proper when his deep voice startled her.

"I don't know your name," he said. Hermione jumped, and searched for the source of the sound, wand out. She finally located him, a few steps into the forest, leaning insouciantly against a tree.

"Hermione," she said, cautiously moving towards him. She lowered her wand to her side, and observed him where he stood. "And you're Jacob."

"I am," he said, eyes glittering. "Walk with me."

They began to meander through the woods.

"So," Hermione said. "You're a werewolf."

"Shape-shifter is more accurate," he said. "I don't rely on the full moon to shift, and I have control of myself when I do. Besides, werewolves are extinct."

Hermione barked out a laugh, cutting it off short before she risked offending him. "What are you talking about?"

"The Volturi," he said carefully. "They hunted down all of the werewolves, and killed them."

Hermione shook her head. "No, they didn't. Werewolves still exist, unfortunately, in the Wizarding World. Although, we are trying to diminish their numbers with the wolfsbane potion, and outreach programs, and…" she trailed off at the look of utter confusion he was giving her. "And, you don't understand any of that, do you?"

Jacob shook his head. "No," he said, "but I do know one thing." He moved closer to her, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "You need to get out of here, Hermione. You need to get back to your Wizarding World, where none of us can find you." His breath stirred her hair as he whispered, eyes darting around their surroundings.

"Why?" she whispered back, hand tensing around her wand.

"Our world isn't safe for powerful creatures," he said quickly. "You need to get out before the Volturi know of your existence."

Hermione shook her head. "How would they know?" she questioned him. "We won't tell them, and the Cullens said they are estranged – "

"You and your companions just spent the night with the Cullens," Jacob said darkly. "The Volturi will know by sundown tomorrow."

Hermione's eyes were wide, as she looked up at Jacob. "Why?" she asked in a small voice. "Why are you telling me this?"

Jacob snarled. "You think I'm here by choice? Do you think, that if I could decide for myself, I would abandon my pack for a coven of bloodsuckers?"

"Vampires," Hermione corrected automatically.

"Whatever," Jacob said, backing away from her with his palms raised. "The point is, no matter what they say, no matter what they do, I can't leave."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't understand."

"I'm bonded," Jacob sighed. "To Renesmee. It's a werewolf – well, my sort of werewolf – thing."

"Like…a mate?"

Jacob nodded, turning away. "That's why," he said. "That's why I can't leave. I have to put up with being their pet wolf, I have to put up with following her every whim, I have to put up with the smell – "

"The smell?"

Jacob laughed, the sound painful to Hermione's ears. "The smell," he agreed, collapsing into a sitting position on the forest floor. "The smell."

"Jacob, I – "

She was interrupted by the distant sound of the Cullens' door opening. Jacob's head shot up. A moment later, the vampires and wizards joined them.

Harry was laughing as Edward set him down, Draco's mouth in a thin line as he escaped Esme's clutches. Ron looked a little green as he tumbled off of Carlisle's back. The three had obviously been introduced to the lightning fast travel the vampires had mentioned.

"Hermione," Harry said. "It's almost dawn. We should be getting back."

"Right," Hermione said, clearing her throat. "Of course."

Somehow, in their wanderings through the forest, she and Jacob had reached the very edge. Draco, Ron, and Harry said their goodbyes to the vampires, who sped off back to the house.

"Jacob?" Renesmee asked, lingering behind a moment more. She grabbed Jacob's hand possessively. "Are you coming?"

"Give me a second," Jacob said, making eye contact with Hermione. "I want to make sure they actually leave."

Renesmee giggled, patting his cheek. "Of course you do. I'll see you back at the house." With that, she disappeared, speeding in the same direction the others had went.

Harry, Ron, and Draco were already out of the forest, waiting for Hermione.

"Hermione?" Ron called, squinting back at the forest. He could barely see Hermione where she was hovering just within the treeline.

"Coming!" she called back.

Jacob smirked. "You'd better go, witch," he said. "File your report on the creatures in the woods."

Hermione smiled half-heartedly. "Will I – I mean, we – see you again?"

He shrugged. "I'll ask Alice," he said bitterly. "She'd know better than I would." He offered Hermione a small smile, before he pivoted on his heel and started back towards the Cullens' home.

"Jacob."

The quiet sound of her voice stopped him in his tracks. He turned around. The witch was standing at the edge of the forest. The soft light of daybreak illuminated her figure, making it appear as though she were glowing.

"Jacob, you deserve better." Her voice was soft, almost inaudible. So quiet that if he didn't have his heightened hearing abilities, he wouldn't have heard her.

He could feel an aching pain in his heart, like he was being ripped in two. And Jacob knew his every emotion was being displayed on his face. Bella always said he wore his heart on his sleeve.

Jacob's shoulders shook as he responded. "I know."

Then he phased, and melted back into the forest.

a/n: Review:)