AN- Big Thanks to my lovely Beta Reader, DarkNorseLady. You're the best!
Ch 2- The girl who lived
She had been wandering in the darkness when she first heard it. Someone somewhere was singing.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
Although she didn't recognize the voice, she couldn't help but feel at peace. Something about this woman's voice reached to Hermione and calmed her every fear.
And carry you down into sleep
Hermione felt her instincts take over as she moved closer to the voice. She still wasn't sure where she was, but she knew she needed to find the woman singing.
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
As she moved closer, she could feel someone gently stroking her hair. The gesture was so foreign, yet very much the same as when her mother would run her fingers through her unruly locks. Turning quickly she saw there was no one behind her, but touches continued. Rather than being afraid, Hermione was even more determined to find this woman.
And carry you down into sleep
Something about this woman's voice made Hermione confident that she was going to protect her. It was sometime later when Hermione finally saw a small light. She knew that is where the woman would be. Picking up her pace she moved toward the light.
"It looks like she's beginning to wake up, Fen."
Hermione's eyes fluttered open; it took her a moment to realize she wasn't in her bedroom. She looked over to see two people she didn't recognize.
The first was a small woman with blonde hair pulled back in numerous braids. Hermione thought she looked rather beautiful.
The woman had a calming air about her, when she reached out to gently stroke Hermione's cheek, Hermione couldn't help but lean into the tender touch. She must have been the woman who was singing.
The other person was a large man. He was bigger than anyone Hermione had ever seen. He had long brown hair and scruffy hair on his face. For reasons she didn't understand the word alpha came to mind when she looked at him. This man was very intimidating, but she felt safe, she knew he wouldn't hurt her.
After taking in the two people in the room, Hermione finally spoke. "Wh-who are you? Wh-where am I?"
"You are safe little one," the woman smiled,"My name is Calia, this is Fenrir, and this is your new home. You were sick, but we took care of you. You're ok now." After another moment of silence, she continued, "What's your name little one, and how old are you?"
"My name is Hermione, and I'll be five on September 19th. If this is my new home, does that mean you're my new mum?"
"I'd like to be, is that ok with you?"
Hermione drew her eyebrows together, deep in thought. She was surprised to realize it was ok with her. She merely nodded before asking, "What happened to my other mummy?"
Calia bit her lip and looked at Fenrir. "Now is as good a time as any," he whispered.
"Well, your mummy and daddy had to go back to your old home. Remember how I said you were sick?"
Hermione nodded.
"Well to make you better I had to do some magic. Now it wouldn't be safe for you to live with them anymore. One of you could get hurt."
"Magic?" Hermione perked up; her interest was quite evident. "What kind of magic?"
"Well Hermione, we are werewolves, and now you are too," Calia held her breath, waiting for Hermione's reaction.
The small girl just stared at her for a moment. "Does that mean we eat people?" Hermione's eyes were wide and her nose crinkled in disgust at the thought.
Calia let out her breath, and Fenrir chuckled beside her. "No little one that's just a myth," seeing the relief on her face he added, "We eat what we hunt, deer mostly but we get the occasional squirrel or wild boar. We also grow fruits and vegetables. So there is no people eating here, unless you misbehave of course," Fenrir added with a wink. Hermione's giggles filled Calia's heart with hope.
It was another week before Calia and Fenrir felt Hermione had healed enough to meet the rest of the pack. Fenrir watched as Hermione buzzed with nervous anticipation. It was less than an hour until the celebration and the ceremony that would formally bond her into his family. Sensing his eyes on her, she stopped her fidgeting and leveled him with a solemn look.
"Once I have been officially bonded with you and mum, should I call you Alpha or will you be my Papa?"
"Which would you rather call me, little one?"
Hermione scrunched her face up in thought before she finally responded, "I think I'd prefer to call you Papa. You would be my Papa, after all, right?"
"If that's what you want, little one, that's what I'll be," Fenrir gently smiled at the young girl before continuing, " You may call me Papa within the safety of our pack. But Hermione it's vital that you remember to any outsider you must not refer to me as anything other than your Alpha. I have many enemies, and I would never want someone to think to hurt you as a way to get to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes Papa, I understand," Fenrir was taken by surprise when the small girl launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his legs. Unsure of how to respond, he lifted his hand and patted her on the head.
The pair was soon interrupted by Calia entering the Hut. "Love, they are all ready," Calia then bent down to eye level with her daughter. "Are you ready to meet everyone? They are all very eager to meet you." Hermione gave Calia a small nod, and the woman stood up gently taking Hermione's hand and leading her out of the hut, closely followed by Fenrir.
Once outside the hut, Hermione was overwhelmed by the group that stood before her. There were at least 25 people, and they were all gathered around a massive fire. It looked to Hermione that there was a deer roasting for the feast. Once they were closer to the light, Fenrir stepped in front of her and Calia and began to speak.
"Good evening everyone. As you know Calia and I have taken a new pup into our home. Now that she is well enough we feel it is time to officially welcome her into our pack and bond her into our family. Hermione, come forward," she was gently ushered forward by Calia. Once she was in front of Fenrir, he noticed how this small girl who showed no fear within their hut had her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her. He gently placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hermione you became a member of our pack the day Calia bit you, and she also began the process of bonding you into our family. All that is left is my part, it will hurt a little bit, but I promise the pain will last only a moment. May I have your wrist, little one?"
Hermione looked up and saw Fenrir gently smiling at her, as he kneeled down to her level. He will not hurt me. I am safe with him. She slowly raised her arm, and he gingerly took her small hand in his, and slowly raised her wrist to his mouth. Fenrir bit down on her little wrist, just hard enough to leave a mark over Calia's. He then proceeded to gently lick the mark, sealing it the same way Calia had before. Hermione winced in pain as a jolt flashed through her. She felt a strange tingle in her fingers and toes as the magic bonded her to Fenrir. He was now her papa.
"Hermione, my daughter, I want you to know that through this bonding you have my vow to protect you with everything I am. You will never want for anything as long as it is in my power to give it to you," Fenrir then turned to the crowd. "Let me proudly introduce you all to my daughter, Hermione Greyback."
She was taken aback by the howling the erupted through the crowd, but it wasn't long before her instincts took over and she was howling right along. Much of the rest of the celebration was spent with Hermione shyly hiding between Fenrir and Calia as the pack members came up to meet their newest member.
Hermione quickly fell into a routine within the pack. She spent the next several days helping her mother with gathering vegetables in the morning and playing with the other children in the pack in the afternoon. The evenings were family time. After dinner she would spend time with her mum reading, Calia was blown away by how advanced Hermione already was and her eagerness to continue to learn.
She also frequently spent time in the evening wrestling with her papa. He was proud how well she had taken to life in the pack, and for such a small girl she was surprisingly strong. Hermione had also moved into her own bedroom within the hut, but Fenrir often found her wedged between him and Calia when he awoke in the mornings, and he couldn't find it in himself to care.
Three weeks after the bonding ceremony, the night before her first full moon, something happened that would once again change Hermione's life. The night had begun like many of the past few weeks, she had wrestled with her papa and had even managed to get onto his back and seemingly gotten the advantage before he flipped her over and tickled her into submission. Then she curled up in her favorite lumpy green chair with her mum, and they read the next chapter in Charlotte's Web.
"Hermione, love, it is time for bed," Calia lovingly stroked Hermione's wild curls.
"Mummy, can I please stay up for one more chapter? Then I promise I will go straight to bed," she put on her best pout and nearly had Calia convinced.
"No love, you know tomorrow is your first full moon. We will have to be up early to prepare; you need a good night's sleep."
"Please mum? We won't get to read tomorrow, just one more chapter?"
"Hermione, listen to your mum. It's time for bed; there will be plenty of time to read later," Fenrir's stern voice came from the corner of the room. He crossed the room and plucked the book from Calia's hand, turning to carefully place it on the shelf. He had no sooner turned around than the book went flying back across the room and landed in Hermione's lap.
Fenrir and Calia locked eyes, both sharing similar shocked expressions. They only broke their gaze when they heard Hermione's heartbroken sobs.
"I'm sorry papa. I didn't mean to; I only wished I could read a little bit longer," her shoulders shook as she continued to cry.
"Don't cry little one. This is a great thing, it means you are a witch like mummy," Fenrir spoke softly as he dropped to his knees before the chair. He moved the book to the small side table before taking Hermione's hands in his, "Look at me, little one." When she complied he continued, "This is wonderful, there is nothing to be sorry about, you are going to be a strong witch, and do many great things just like your mum."
"I couldn't be happier to learn this, love, I am going to teach you so much, and when you are 11 we are going to get you a wand, and so many books! Until then I will just teach you the basics," Calia tightened her hold on Hermione and dropped a kiss into her curls. "Your papa and I are going to make sure you get the best education we can give you; I promise you that. But now it is time for bed."
Feeling pacified Hermione nodded, and stood from Calia's lap. Before going to her bedroom, she turned and pulled Calia into a tight hug, before doing the same to Fenrir.
"Good night mum. Good night papa. I love you both," Hermione quickly made her way to her bedroom and was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Calia woke Hermione up earlier than usual the next morning. She smiled as a very grumpy little girl wiped the sleep from her eyes. "See little one; I told you that you would need your sleep."
"Mmmph," was Hermione's only reply.
Calia reached down and scooped her small daughter up, burying her face in Hermione's wild bed hair as she began to speak softly to her. "Love, you need to wake up, there is much to do today. We need to get you fed and washed up. Then you can play with Dolphi and Farkas for a few hours," she laughed when she felt Hermione perk up a bit, "but after lunch, you have to come with me so you can see what your boundaries are tonight. I can't have my little wolf running off and getting hurt can I?" Pulling back Calia looked into her daughter's smiling face. "Once those are set we have to cook for the feast before moonrise."
"What's for breakfast mummy?" Hermione stretched and let out a big yawn.
"You'll have to go see; papa is already in there, if you don't hurry there might not be any left." Calia laughed as Hermione's eyes went wide before she jumped from Calia's arms and ran toward the main room of their hut.
Later that night Calia sat with Fenrir at the main table of their pre moonrise feast. Her eyes watched Hermione, she was dressed in a thin cotton dress, made special for full moons, the fabric was infused with magic and easier to mend.
Hermione was oblivious to her stares; she was much more focused on playing with Dolphi, a small three-year-old girl with bright green eyes and fiery red hair.
Fenrir could sense the anxiety his mate was feeling, wrapping his arm tight around her he leaned down, "Calia is everything alright?"
"I'm fine Fen. Just worried about Hermione," she glanced up at him, "Tonight is going to be her first change, she doesn't know what to expect. What is she resents me for turning her? I know she's taken to us and the pack like she was born here, but I can't help but worry. What is she is angry that I didn't tell her about the pain of changing?"
"There is no reason to worry Cal. Do you remember your first couple times changing?" She shook her head no, "See, the memory of the pain doesn't last. Once she has some experience and understands how to embrace the change, she'll be fine. Until then all you can do is offer her the comfort only a mother can bring."
"You're right. There is no use worrying, she'll be fine."
"Of course I'm right, Love. We've been together for nearly 25 years; I would think by now you knew that I am always right." Fenrir gave Calia a cocky grin and winked, causing her to snort indelicately. "Did that sound come out of my proper little pureblood witch?" Fenrir cocked his eyebrow.
"Oh, haven't you heard? I haven't been a proper pureblood witch in a long time, seems the big bad wolf corrupted me," She smiled fondly at him.
"Big and bad? Damn right little witch, and don't you forget it." Fenrir pulled Calia into his lap and silenced her quiet giggle with a bruising kiss. The clearing of a throat caused the couple to break apart. "This had better be important," Fenrir growled.
"Uh-uh, Alpha. I-it's only m-m-minutes to m-moonrise. I th-thought you m-might want to know since this is your p-pups first moon." Fenrir watched as the slight man stared at the ground, shuffling from side to pity on him, Calia reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
"Thank you, Ivan; I will see to her," Calia rose to her feet and made her way over to Hermione. "Hey there little one," she kneeled down to the girl's level, "It's time to go over to your boundaries, remember where they are?" Nodding Hermione moved to follow Calia over to where she was to stay during the moon. "Ok Hermione, this isn't going to be pleasant, but I promise the pain doesn't last, and it'll get better. Now come here to mummy and let me hold you." Hermione shakily walked into Calia's waiting arms. Less than a minute later the moon rose.
The young werewolf's pained cry broke Calia's heart. She offered what support she could, stroking her daughter's hair and whispering soft, encouraging words. Before long she felt herself being to tremble and she knew it was only moments until she changed as well. Calia winced hearing the first of Hermione's bones crack, as they broke to reshape. By this time she herself was beginning to change and had to set her girl gently on the ground beside her.
Calia's change was quick and painless due to years of practice, she looked over at Hermione's broken shaking form and whimpered. Gently she nuzzled her, she continued to offer her comfort, and soon the transformation was complete, and Hermione was silent. Calia took this moment to take in her daughter's new form, she was tiny, with a mess of brown fur that didn't look too different than her usual crazy mane. Calia did note that Hermione's eyes were different from the rest of the wolves in their pack, instead of the amber color so prevalent within the wolves, Hermione's eyes upon changing became a pale grey, with a touch of seafoam green near the iris.
Having enough time to recoup from the pain, Hermione jumped up and began to sniff around. Before long a giant wolf entered their clearing, he had shaggy black fur, but true to his name he also had a thin strip of grey running down the length of his back. Upon him approaching, Hermione lowered her head and took a submissive position. Fenrir sniffed her slightly before affectionately nuzzling to her. This was all the confirmation she needed to pounce. She was soon rolling on the ground beneath the great wolf as her mum watched on from a small distance away. After the third time, Hermione managed to get onto his back and chew on his ears; there was a howl in the distance. Fenrir quickly rolled Hermione to the ground before picking her up by the back of her neck and settling her with her mother. He briefly nuzzled Calia and playfully nipped at her neck before giving a howl of his own and darting from the clearing.
Now tired, and with no one to play with, Hermione curled up to her mother and spent the rest of the night snuggled close and asleep.
Fenrir watched with an amused look on his face as Hermione danced around the main room of their hut. It warmed his heart to see his daughter so full of laughter. He had to suppress a laugh when his ever clumsy girl stumbled and landed right on her behind.
"Ah, fuck that hurt," Hermione said, gently rubbing her hand on the tendered area.
"Hermione! What in Merlin's name did I just hear you say?" Fenrir didn't think he had ever seen Calia move so fast in all their years together. In seconds she had the young girl off the floor and was ready to properly chastise her when Hermione spoke again.
"But Papa says it. In fact, he said it three times while you were out gathering vegetables today."
Calia's head turned to Fenrir, and her eyes narrowed. "Oh, does he? Fenrir Greyback we discussed this, you are to watch what you say around her. I will not have that kind of language in my home."
Fenrir was at a loss for words. All he could get out was a mumbled apology and a promise to watch his language in the future. Once Calia was back across the room, he turned his attention back to his daughter. She was watching him cautiously, obviously nervous she had angered him by giving him up to her mother.
Fenrir cocked his head slightly to the side and gave her the best feral grin he could muster. He began to slowly stalk closer to her. "You little one are a traitor if I have ever seen one, do you know what we do to traitors Hermione?"
Seeing the look on her papa's face Hermione's eyes widened and she began to back away. She soon found herself tripping backward over one of her dolls and once again landing on her behind. Fenrir took this as an opportunity to pounce. He quickly had his daughter scooped up into his arms, and he was mercilessly tickling her.
"Please Papa," she begged between giggles,"Please stop. I am so sorry."
"I will stop under one condition."
"Anything," Hermione now had tears running down her face from laughing so hard.
"Ok little one, you have to give me a big hug, and promise to remain my little girl forever."
Hermione threw her little arms around Fenrir's neck and nuzzled close. "I promise Papa."