AN: So sorry you guys for the long waits on all my updates, life just gets in the way and all that and I found myself in a flurry of Fleurmione for a bit, but here is an update for Against the Grain FINALLY. I hope you all enjoy it :) And ignore my typos and stuff I will get to them later, I just was in a hurry to get this chappy up :D


Chapter 4: Defected

Hermione hadn't spoken to Jade since the day she'd viewed the Pensieve and she wasn't really up to talking to anyone. She had been doing her chores normally for the past two days with Cale and Jade hadn't pressed to train her or speak to her since then. Now, it was Saturday and Jade was out in the back yard training by herself as the two girls were doing laundry. Hermione watched the woman momentarily as she folding clothes and narrowed her eyes as she watched Jade close her eyes and breathe deeply before holding her hands horizontally in front of her chest, palm above palm. The brunette sighed as she watched her 'Mistress' concentrating before a small blue light manifest in her between her hands.

"You haven't spoken to her in a while." Cale mused as she folded a shirt and laid it on top of Hermione's pile. "I'm honestly surprised you haven't gone on strike." The brunette just sighed as the young blonde giggled at her expression and the reluctance of Hermione's brown eyes to leave Jade's figure. "She did apologize, you know."

"I know." Hermione shook her head and lifted the pile before pushing the door open with her back, heading towards the stairs to put them away. "I just can't get over the fact that she was right and Ron was intending to betray us. It's just a lot to take in." Cale nodded as Hermione disappeared through the door and the blonde moved to the window to see Jade walking towards the house.

"I've just gotten an owl, Cale." The raven haired woman said calmly as she wiped her forehead on a cloth and Cale handed her a damp towel for her face. Jade wiped the back of her neck and sighed before walking through the laundry room and into the kitchen. She got a glass of water and groaned before pulling the call order out of her pocket. The Snatchers had found another camp full of rebels and Jade was supposed to head the siege with Dolohov and MacNair to go retrieve them. It wasn't one of Jade's most favorite things to do, but it was her job and she needed to do it to stay on Voldemort's good side. "I'll be leaving in a few minutes, could you get my traveling cloak ready for me at the door?"

"Of course," Cale bowed her head as Jade thanked her and walked out of the kitchen towards the stairs. "I'll be waiting for you by the door, Miss." Jade sighed as she walked up the winding stair case and pushed her door open to see Hermione putting clothes away. The brunette paused and gasped softly as Jade's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the young woman.

"S-sorry." Hermione stuttered as she hung the last dress shirt up in Jade's closet and cleared her throat. "I thought I'd have this done before you got finished outside."

"I got called out on a job." Jade answered as she walked over to her bureau and pulled fresh undergarments before grabbing her robe on the door to her storage closet. "Don't mind me, I'm just going to shower quick so I won't interfere with your work." Hermione looked down at the floor as she rubbed her arm nervously and Jade passed her to walk into the adjoining bathroom. She heard the spray of the shower as the door closed and the brunette let a sigh escape her lungs as she left the bedroom, making her way back downstairs. Cale was in the entry way with a heavy, black leather cloak on her one arm and a glass of fire whiskey in the other.

"She drinks a lot, huh?" Hermione mentioned as she stood next to the blonde teen and noticed she had a rather troubled look on her face. The brunette's brow furrowed before Cale shook her head and sighed.

"You just see her drinking a lot because she's stressed." The blonde muttered as she handed the drink to Hermione. "I'm worried, she hasn't been out on a hunt in months."

"You're worried she'll get hurt?" Hermione tilted her head slightly as the blonde next to her once again shook her head and sighed.

"I'm worried she'll get carried away." The brunette was about to ask with what, but they heard footsteps coming down the stairs and Hermione gasped softly to see Jade, hair cascading over her shoulders and blue eyes hardened as she pulled on her forearm holster for her wand. She'd never see the woman look more intimidating than at that moment and she wasn't really sure why. She was dressed in straight fit, dark blue jeans and black button up shirt, but there was something different in the air around her as she approached the two servants. Hermione flinched when Jade took the glass of fire whiskey from her and downed it in one gulp, grimacing as she exhaled, shaking her head.

"I don't know if I'll be back today." Jade muttered as she took her cloak from Cale's arms and slung it over her shoulders. She clasped it tightly and sighed, holstering her wand to her left forearm. "While I'm gone, don't let anyone in the manor, do you understand? Not even Voldemort himself." The blonde nodded as she bowed her head and Jade released a heavy sigh. "Take care of each other in case I don't come back." Hermione paused slightly as she watched Jade turn and wrap Cale into a gentle embrace. The Death Eater then pulled away and glanced down at Hermione before bowing her head slightly.

"Please be careful, Miss." Cale whispered as she watched the raven haired woman take a few steps back and nod before disapparating. The blonde sighed as Hermione put a gentle hand on her shoulders.

"I'm sure she'll be ok, Cale." Hermione whispered as the blonde nodded and cleared her throat. "She's strong, she'll be back."

x—x

Jade was standing on an outcrop above a small home where the supposed blood traitors were hiding out. Her blue eyes were narrowed as she stared down and blocked the wind from her hair and sighed, hearing the other Death Eaters approaching behind her.

"Ready for this, McHale?" Dolohov asked as he slapped her on the shoulder in excitement and stared down at the house. "We hear that those red headed Weasels are down there right now, this will be a big score for us."

"Yes." Jade answered firmly as she glanced at Dolohov and saw Scabior with two Snatchers behind him. She raised her arm at a right angle, her palm open before closing it and she saw Dolohov smirk before being consumed in thick black smoke. The Snatchers started laughing hysterically as they ran past her and slid down the cliff to join the Death Eater who had just left. The Death Eater sighed before closing her eyes and taking off towards the house where screams were echoing in the air. Jade crashed her way through the roof and when she opened her blue eyes again, she was staring at three of the Weasley children huddled in a corner, wands drawn on Snatchers as Dolohov stood back with a smile on his face, tapping his wand to his shoulder in case the Snatchers needed assistance.

"Well, well, well," Scabior said as she stepped forward and inspected his prey. Jade recognized the girl with blazing caramel colored eyes glaring at the followers of the Dark Lord. "Looks like we found ourselves some Weasels. Now why don't you be good little kids and drop your wands."

"Over our dead bodies." There was an older man, hair grungy and pulled back in a ponytail as his grip tightened on his wand and he gritted his teeth. Jade drew her wand and easily disarmed the three Weasleys. She caught the wands easily in her hand and pocketed them before walking past the Snatchers and looked at the three red heads. "We'd rather die than go with you!" The Snatchers and Dolohov laughed as they raised their wands and Jade held her hand up for them to cease.

"Scabior," She said coldly as she eyed the tallest of the red heads who was giving her a death glare. "You and your Snatchers can leave, I think Dolohov and I can handle this since they're unarmed." The head Snatcher gave her a skeptical, almost surprised look as he glanced at Dolohov, looking for a reaction. "I don't believe he is your superior, Scabior."

"R-right, mum," The man stuttered as he bowed his head slightly and nodded to his companions before they disapparated away.

"Was that wise, McHale?" Dolohov asked, keeping his wand trained on the three blood traitors. "There are three of them."

"And I have all of their wands." Jade said holding patting her pocket and shrugging her shoulders. She waved her wand and the three Weasleys were bound in heavy chains. "Lead them out, Dolohov, I'm going to search the place. The man nodded as he pointed his wand towards the door and the red heads reluctantly started to move.

"Wait outside the house, Dolohov." The man nodded as he followed the prisoners out of the house and Jade began to search the house for any evidence on any more Order members. There wasn't much to the house. There were two black couches, a recliner and a small kitchen, not much, but more than enough for three people to survive. What she didn't understand, is why there weren't more wards on the safe house or protections spells to keep them out of sight. "It doesn't really make sense." Jade muttered as she found a picture of the Weasley parents and dropped it on the ground, breaking the glass. She had to admit, the ones that were on the run were clean, they never left a trail. As Jade was about to exit the house, she heard high pitched screaming and ran out to see the girl writhing on the ground and Dolohov casting the torture curse.

"Think you can sneak up on me, bitch?" The Death Eater hissed as Jade ran forward and grabbed his arm to stop him. "What the fuck, McHale?!"

"What in the name of Merlin is wrong with you?" Jade growled as she threw his arm back and stood between him and the girl. "Did you feel so threatened by a girl in chains without a wand that you had to torture her?" Dolohov just sneered before shrugging his shoulders.

"She attacked me." He said calmly as he glanced over Jade's shoulder at the girl on the ground trying to catch her breath. "I had to teach her a lesson." The Death Eater snarled before pushing the man back and turning to help the red head to her feet. "You're too soft, McHale. Just because you have those mudblood pets of yours doesn't mean you have to treat the other blood traitors with such consideration."

"Watch your tongue, Dolohov." Blue eyes began to glow as she got the prisoner to her feet and stalked towards the other Death Eater. "We need to take them to the Ministry before you torture them." The man rolled his eyes and scoffed before pointing his wand at the girl again. "Stand down."

"Make me." Dark brown eyes narrowed as Jade growled and Dolohov pulled away before turning his wand on her. The raven haired woman pulled out her own wand and got in dueling position.

"You don't want to do this." The woman hissed as the elder man smirked and chuckled. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I've wanted to knock you off your high horse for months now." The man spat as he flourished his wand red light flew at her and she parried easily. "Once I kill you, I can have your position and your mudbloods." Jade clenched her jaw before sending a quick succession of curses that he blocked. "Hit a nerve, did I?" In her rage, Jade let her guard down before taking a cutting curse head on. She ignore it before feeling her bones crack and muscles stretch as she hunched over, a loud roar escaping her lungs. Dolohov scowled before sending hexes at her that tore at her flesh and she growled before her shift was finished, a large white wolf stood on its back legs snarling at the man. Jade was losing a large amount of blood as she lunged at the man who stumbled back and dropped his wand.

"You think you're more powerful than me?!" Jade growled as she held the man down with a massive clawed paw on his chest. His breathing labored from the weight she was pressing on him. "What did you think, Dolohov? That Voldemort would put me in charge because of my intelligence?!" She roared to show her point before clamping her jaws around his neck and tearing away fiercely. Dolohov screamed, which turned into gurgling as he choked on his own blood and Jade glared down at him with glowing blue eyes. "You're nothing, and you'll die nothing." The wolf backed away, standing on its hind legs before she slowly began to shrink back to her normal form. She straightened her shirt and wiped the blood from her face before turning to stare at the Weasleys. With a snap of her fingers, the chains fell from their forms before Jade noticed how much blood she was losing. "You three should get out of here."

"Wh-what?"

"GO!" The Death Eater roared as she held her hand tight to her chest to try and stop the bleeding of the deepest wound to no avail. The three Weasleys didn't need to be told thrice as they high tailed it out of there. Jade's vision was going a bit hazy as she tried to walk back towards the small shack and she didn't notice the young girl had stayed back. When she did notice, her bloody hand was on the door knob and blue eyes glanced over her shoulder to see the girl advancing with her wand drawn. "I save your life and now you're going to kill me?" Jade chuckled as she closed her eyes and felt her body weaken. "I suppose that'd be the smart thing to do."

"I suppose it would." The red head muttered as she shook her head and flourished her wand. Jade expected pain, or at least the killing curse, but when neither hit her, she opened her eyes again to see the blood slowly returning back to her body. "You saved us, and I'm grateful, but if I see you again, I will kill you." The girl turned back to where her brothers had escaped and paused before glancing back at the Death Eater. "That spell won't last very long, you really should get to a hospital." Jade pressed her back against the wooden door and slid so she was sitting on the ground. The blood had returned, but that didn't mean her strength was back and she felt her eyes getting heavy.

"Just a short rest." She sighed as she watched the girl disappear in the distance. "For just a second."

x—x

Cale was pacing the den downstairs as the clock chimed midnight and she let out a heavy sigh as Hermione watched the blonde move anxiously back and forth. It was unlike the McHale to come home late even though she had given fair warning she might not be back that day. But she was more than capable of taking care of herself, that's why it worried the girl so that her mistress hadn't returned home by now.

"Cale, I'm sure she's fine." Hermione tried to calm the young blonde as she gently grabbed her wrist to stop the girl from pacing. "It was probably just a large raid."

"She never comes home this late." Cale muttered a she shook her head and her eyes darted up to the clock for the umpteenth time. "If she is, she usually sends word. This isn't like her."

"Is she really that ritualistic?" The brunette queried as the young blonde sat down with a huff on the arm chair in front of the fire. "She lets you know everything?"

"Miss is very meticulous." The younger girl confirmed as she worried her lip and sighed. "Maybe something went wrong. What if she's hurt? What is she's dead?!" Hermione stood at that moment and knelt down in front of the distraught teen before gently placing her hands on her shoulders to try to stead her.

"I'm sure she's not dead." She soothed as Cale closed her eyes and shook her head. "Maybe, maybe they didn't find anything? Or maybe the refugees got away. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation for her lat-" Suddenly, the door was pushed open and it banged against the wall. Hermione's head snapped around as Cale sprung to her feet, practically sprinting towards the door. The brunette rose and followed suit before clasping her hands over her mouth.

"Jade!" Hermione had never heard Cale speak Jade's name before. There, lying a bloody mess, was Jade. Her wheezing echoed in the foyer as the blonde kicked the door shut and knelt down next to her Mistress. "Hermione, get some hot water!"

"N-no…" The raven haired woman grunted as she clasped a bloodied hand on the young girl's shoulder. "No…call…c-call for S-Severus." Hermione flinched at the name of her old professor. Cale looked up at her with pleading hazel eyes that were overflowing with grief.

"Get the water anyway." Hermione nodded before rushing to the kitchen, she glanced back to see Cale gently lie Jade on her back before rushing into the den to floo Snape. The brunette was shaking as she rushed into the kitchen and grabbed the nearest basin to fill it with steaming hot water. It was taking too long, if only she had her wand. Finally, the basin was full and she grabbed a cloth before moving as fast as she could without spilling the water.

"You're not healing properly." The brunette froze as she heard the heavy droll and saw the mass of black kneeling down in front of the bleeding woman. "Your wolf isn't enough it seems."

"Like I bloody didn't notice!" Jade hissed before wincing and grabbing her sides as more blood rushed from her wounds. Hermione shook her head as she approached and kneeled down next to the lycan. "I don't know what the fucking fool hit me with."

"Dolohov did this?" Snape asked, not even acknowledging Hermione's presence. "Why? I mean, I know you two don't get along, but was he really dense enough to attack you on his own?"

"I think that question answers itself, Severus." The lycan rolled her eyes as much as she could as the old professor's wand moved over Jade's body, a dim orange light emanating from it. "I killed him." Snape stopped momentarily before shaking his head and sighing.

"How will you explain that to the Dark Lord?" He asked harshly as the wounds that peppered the blue eyed woman's body began to seal slowly, the bleeding finally halted. "He won't be pleased."

"I'll tell him exactly what happened." Jade's voice was faltering slightly as she closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "He wanted my position, my status with the Dark Lord. That's why he attacked me." Snap closed his eyes as he sat back on his knees and ran a hand over his aged face.

"And you're ready to let him have your memory," The man asked softly as she rubbed his forehead. "If he asks for it?" Jade just nodded, her eyes still closed as Cale ran a hand through her hair to remove it from her face.

"She needs rest, sir." The blonde said as she glanced up at him and he nodded, standing before looking down at Hermione who was running a damp cloth over Jade's face. She felt his eyes, that feeling that someone is watching was intensified as she chanced a glance up and narrowed her eyes when they met his. There was a thick animosity that passed between them before he wrinkled his nose and spun on his heel towards the fireplace.

"I will be back tomorrow morning to check on her." Snape said as he grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into the grate. "Make sure she doesn't die." Cale nodded as Hermione continued to glare before the man was engulfed in green flames.

"She's feverish." Cale shook her head as she looked up at Hermione who was still wiping the blood from Jade's face. The woman looked calm in her state of sleep, but Cale was right, her temperature was far beyond what was normal and it almost burned the younger witch to tough her skin. "We need to get her into some cold water. She has a naturally high temperature because of her wolf, but this is too high."

"Go prepare a cold bath, Cale." Hermione said finally as she set the cloth back in the basin and stood. "I'll try and levitate her up the stairs." The blonde looked at her curiously before Hermione nodded and she raced up the stairs into Jade's room. "Ok, Jade, let's see if your lessons were worth all the training." Hermione stood and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in before exhaling slowly, extending her arms out in front of her with her palms up. She felt her magic coursing through her as she tried to concentrate on lifting Jade's body off of the floor.

There was a slight pressure on body as she opened one eye to see the lycan's body hovering a few inches off the ground. She smiled before lifting her a bit more and slowly, very slowly, moving her towards the stair case. Hermione had to be slow. She could feel the flow of her magic ebb whenever she lost the slightest bit of concentration. Jade's head was lolled back as her arms and legs dangled, knocking into stairs occasionally when Hermione would adjust her height. Cale stepped out of the bedroom as the brunette reached the landing.

"Hermione," The younger girl whispered as she watched Hermione slowly move her mistress towards the room. "How are you doing that?" The strain was becoming too much as brunette sighed and Jade dropped the six inches she was hovering to the ground with a soft thud. Her body instantly felt drained and she leaned against the banister for support. Cale moved forward and slipped her arms under Jade's shoulders. "Take it easy, Hermione. Wandless and silent magic takes its toll on your body physically, that's why Miss was training you. I can get her into the tub, why don't you just relax for a second."

"No," Hermione shook her head as she blinked her eyes free of the haze and moved forward slowly. "No, I can help." She slipped her arms under Jade's knees and helped Cale carry her into the bathroom.

"Don't worry about her clothes," The blonde muttered as she tried to lift Jade higher over the edge of the clawed, copper tub. "We just need to get her cooled down as soon as possible." Hermione huffed as they hoisted the lycan up and dumped her into the cold water. "I'll go get some ice from the freezer." Hermione knelt down on the floor, arms folded on the edge of the tub as she tried to catch her breath. Jade's head was lain back against the tub, her lips parted as the water sloshed around her.

"You'd better not die." She muttered as she brought her hand up and pressed the back of it to Jade's forehead. The lycan was still burning up, her skin looked normal until one touched it, then it was like placing your hand in fire. "I told Cale you weren't dead. You showing up a bloody mess doesn't really help, you know." Jade gave no answer as the blonde's hurried steps could be heard approaching. Cale entered with a large bucket of ice and dumped it into the tub. There was a light steam that rolled off the surface as the ice mingled with the now warmer water and Cale sat down with a heavy sigh.

"She never liked Dolohov." Her voice was a whisper, an exasperated sigh as she ran her hand through her golden locks and closed her eyes. "Miss has never gotten on with him, always said he was in it for the wrong reasons."

"Is there a right reason to be a Death Eater?" Hermione asked curiously, and a bit sarcastically as she tucked a curl behind her ear. Cale chuckled softly before shaking her head and running her fingers through Jade's raven locks.

"I don't know." She answered as she admired the lycan's face. "Miss…Jade, she was never outwardly cruel like the others. She never wanted the power the Dark Lord bestowed unto her and she didn't want to be his right hand in all of this. All she ever wanted, she once said, was to live a life where she wouldn't have to sleep with one eye open." Hermione lifted her head slightly to see Cale cup her hand and submerge it in the icy water before letting it cascade over the Death Eater's forehead. There was a slight pang of jealousy as brown orbs watched the blonde so tenderly tend to the lycan, but no matter how slight, it was still jealousy. "I want that for her, I want her to live a peaceful life."

"There is much to do in order for that to happen." The brunette sat up and stretched her back, hearing a faint pop as her spine cracked. "Maybe if she would've joined the Order she wouldn't have to look over her shoulder all the time."

"If she had," Cale sighed as she smoothed Jade's hair down. "She'd still be watching out for Death Eaters. He wanted her, Voldemort, I mean. He wanted her for his ranks. So even if she would've joined the light, they would've found a way to make her join the dark." Hermione nodded as she turned her attention back to the tub where the ice was already melting. Jade looked so young when she slept and in reality she was. "She told you she was only fifteen when the Dark Lord called on her?"

"How old is she now?" Hermione asked quietly as she following the angles of Jade's face. "She can't be much older than I am."

"She'll be twenty-three in December."

"She's so young." The brunette continued softly as she furrowed her brow and sighed. "So she's been a under Voldemort's thumb for almost eight years." Cale nodded before sitting back and sighing.

"The real dilemma now is," Cale ran her fingers through her loose locks and smirked. "How are we going to get her out of the tub?"