Disclaimer: I own nothing!

A/N: Sorry…My love of Charlie/Hermione has shown through a bit, but this is still Bill/Hermione. I'll get there! Just a note: none of my werewolf knowledge is based on anything published; it's all from my head, so if you want to correct me, know that it's not researched. I mean, come on; I'm talking werewolves here…Let me have my fun!

Bill was sitting in his favorite chair by the fire when his fireplace roared to life.

"Bill?" Charlie asked tentatively.

"Come on through, Chas," the older Weasley replied sullenly. In all honesty, he wasn't sure why he had resolved to talk to Charlie about his relationship with Hermione. It wasn't any of Bill's business.

But you need her! the voice inside of him demanded.

Not if it causes problems with Chas and Hermione, I don't, he thought. He'd only had the week prior to get to know Hermione Granger at all; it had not been enough time to fall in love. However, the wolf inside did not look for love; its desires were purely carnal. The worst part was that once a werewolf mated, it was until one or both of the mates passed on. Also, too many times in the cases of full werewolves, a non-were mate died at the hands of his or her were-mate. Fleur had had a taste of this particular blood lust, but luckily, he wasn't transformed enough to do a lot of damage.

Bill looked up as Charlie stepped out of the fireplace, thankful, as he sniffed the air, that Charlie had washed Hermione's scent off of him. At least I might be able to focus!

Charlie poured himself a drink and took a long pull before sitting down across from his brother. "What's bothering you, mate? You looked as if you could have run me through tonight at Mum and Dad's."

"How long have you been shagging Hermione?" Bill didn't know where the blunt question had come from, but he was thankful it had been asked. Charlie looked shocked.

"What makes you think I'm shagging Granger, Bill?"

Bill growled at Charlie's ignorance. "Gods, Chas, my sense of smell increased tenfold after my attack! I bloody smelled you two all over each other this afternoon! I thought Hermione herself had walked up behind me until I caught a whiff of dragon dung and pipe tobacco, both of which I easily identified belonging to you. So…" Bill posed the question again, "how long?"

"Since a couple of weeks after she and Ron broke it off. Three weeks maybe." Charlie narrowed his eyes. "Why the fuck do you care?"

Bill sighed. "Personally, mentally, I don't. However, the wolf inside wanted to tear you apart this afternoon."

"And Hermione?"

"Let's not, okay Chas? I just wanted to warn you that I'm battling myself right now. You know what that means, right? That I'm responding to her like this?"

"You're claiming Hermione?" Charlie answered hesitantly.

Bill shook his head. "That's not an option. I, or Victoire and I, will be here at Shell Cottage, and Hermione's visits will be limited, if not stopped immediately, for her own safety. I'd stay away as well, if I were you."

Charlie looked worriedly at his brother. "Bill…"

"Bye, Charlie. My Floo will be turned off after you leave tonight, and the owl has been ordered to bring all mail here."

"You can't cut us off like that! Hermione loves that little girl like she's her own!"

Bill stood and growled once again. "Goodbye, Chas. I hurt Fleur because of this monster inside of me; I refuse to hurt you or Hermione. Leave; I'll let you know when it's safe to come back."

Charlie nodded and turned to leave, but before he left, Bill called out one more time.

"Chas, I don't know how serious you are about Hermione, but all I ask is that you don't tell her about this. I don't want her worrying for Victoire, and I don't want you two to even consider giving up something you two might have together just to make me happy. Bluebell and I are safe here, and I'll be at Sunday dinners at the Burrow on days Hermione has to work. But take care of her; she's a special lady."

Stepping through the Floo, Charlie shook his head. "You have no idea."

"I just don't understand, Ron. Why did he block me from his Floo?" Hermione was distraught. It had been two weeks since the Sunday Bill had determined that he could no longer be within lunging distance of Hermione Granger, and since that night, Hermione had not had access to Victoire. It made no sense.

Ron shook his head. Bill had not really talked to him last Sunday at the Burrow, but he could see that something was up. His brother had improved with his daughter, but according to everyone he'd talked to at his parents', Bill was going at it alone.

"Hermione, I'm sorry I've been out of touch for the last couple of weeks. Work has been hectic, and when I'm not on a case, I'm…well, I'm chasing down leads on Harry. I had no idea that Bill had blocked his Floo. Can't you apparate to Shell?"

Hermione shook her head. "His wards have been modified. Ron, he's keeping me out, and I don't know why!"

The redhead looked down into his cup of coffee. "So, you two haven't had a row of any kind? Bill's always been a hothead; all of us Weasleys can be when provoked, but that's just it: we have to be provoked. This doesn't make sense."

"Maybe he'll be at dinner on Sunday. Molly owled me yesterday to make sure I was coming, and I don't have to work. You said he was there last week?"

Ron nodded. "He was. He wasn't in the best of moods, but he was there for a bit. Only spoke to Dad, Mum, and myself. Didn't even look Charlie's way, and…"

Hermione held up her hand. "Wait. You said Bill didn't speak to Charlie? But they're almost as close as Fred and George always were!"

"I know! Charlie moped around a bit, but he left immediately after dinner, as did Bill and Victoire. Shortest family dinner I've been to in a while."

The healer leaned back in her chair and thought for a moment. Why on earth would Bill be mad at her and Charlie, unless…? "But that doesn't make sense either…" she whispered.

Ron's eyes narrowed. "What doesn't make sense?"

Hermione realized she'd spoken her thoughts aloud. "Nothing; just brainstorming," she stammered.

"Liar," Ron smirked. "You know something! I can see the gears moving in that bushy head of yours!"

"Fine, but you're not going to like it…"

"Hit me, love." Ron widened his eyes, waiting on Hermione to continue.

She took a deep breath. "Since about two weeks after you and I broke up, I've, uh, taken on another lover."

"Another lover," Ron repeated monotonously.

"Yes, Ron, as in, I'm sleeping with someone, but it's not actually a relationship at the moment. It's sort of a 'we'll take it when and where we can get it' type thing."

"So, do I know this bloke, and what does he have to do with Bill?"

Hermione ran her hands through her hair. "As for the second question, that's what doesn't make sense. However, you do know the guy. It's Charlie."

Ron stood quickly, drawing looks from other restaurant-goers. "Charlie? My brother Charlie? What the hell, Hermione?"

"Sit down!" Hermione hissed. Ron shyly looked around and sat back in his chair.

"My brother, Hermione? How the fuck did this come about?"

"Well, one weekend I was staying at the Burrow, and Charlie was there as well. He asked me how you and I were doing, I told him the truth, and things escalated from there."

Ron looked doubtful. "You began fucking my brother because you told him you weren't with me anymore?"

"Look, for both of us, it's a rebound thing, Ron! A way to get over one relationship and prepare ourselves for another! We know that we don't love each other, and I know that Charlie will never leave Romania for good. I'm happy with what we have for now." Hermione was trying to keep her voice low; the old ladies at the next table were having to strain to hear what she was trying to say.

"Fine, but what does this have to do with Bill?"

Hermione shrugged. "No clue, but isn't it strange that just after Charlie and I finished shag…ah…talking to each other at the last Sunday dinner I was at, Bill suddenly wants nothing to do with either of us? He somehow found out about it, and he's not happy!"

Ron lifted an eyebrow. "If that's the case, do you think Charlie knows about this?"

"I don't know. He came by Saturday night, but didn't stay long. He didn't say anything then."

"And I thought my life was fucked up! Gods, Hermione, maybe we should have just stayed together and worked something out!"

Hermione put her head in her hands. "You don't know how many times I've thought about it, Ron."

Bill was at a crossroads. On one hand, his relationship with his daughter had never been better. He was finally getting the hang of the fathering thing, and Victoire seemed ecstatic to see her daddy each and every morning. However, she was also more and more desperate to see her "Miney," and she wasn't the only one.

The eldest Weasley brother had no idea how the petite brunette had appealed herself to his inner wolf so quickly, but she obviously had. In less than a month, Bill found himself wanting to call her, to come see Victoire, of course, but to also come see him.

When he'd started back to work, he had taken his daughter to his mother, telling her that should Hermione stop by and have any dealings with his daughter, she needed to have her bathed for him before he returned. It would not bode well to have his daughter smelling like Hermione Granger when he was so on edge from not being around the young healer for so long.

Bill sighed and looked at the calendar on his wall. It had been almost a month since he had last seen the brunette, and he was feeling the effects. Ron was coming to spend a month with him next week, and he had offered to keep Victoire a couple of days out of the week to give Molly a break. This also ensured that Hermione could not just drop in and see her without him knowing about it.

Charlie had been extremely cold to Bill, but Bill preferred it that way for now. Obviously, the younger Weasley had taken great lengths to shower if he knew he would be seeing Bill, washing the scent of his lover off of him. They spoke few words at the few Sunday dinner Bill attended, and Charlie left immediately after the meal. The last dinner, he didn't even show up.

His secretary poked her head in. "Mr. Weasley? You have a visitor."

"Who is it, Gretchen?" Bill asked distractedly.

"It's a…" but she was cut off before she could finish. An angry Hermione Granger stalked through the door and turned.

"Thank you, Gretchen. I'll take it from here." With that, she shut the door.

Bill stood, already warring with his other self. "What the hell, Granger? Who said you could just barge in here…?"

"I didn't really ask you, did I Weasley?" Hermione fumed. "Just like I didn't ask to be cut out of your daughter's life. I'm not going to sneak around the Burrow to see Victoire, and even though he would, I'm not going to ask Ron to bring her to see me while he's keeping her next month! I want to know why the hell you're keeping your daughter away from me! What the hell did I do?" The girl, no, woman, looked close to tears.

"Hermione…it's…complicated. I didn't have much of a choice in the matter. I…"

"Was it because I've been sleeping with Charlie?" she blurted, then widened her eyes. She hadn't meant to let that go.

Bill growled slightly at the mention of her activities with his little brother. "I don't give a fuck what you do with my brother."

Looking at him intently, her eyes lost the surprised look and took on a more intense glare. "Really, now? Is that why you look like you could tear him apart, hmm?" Walking up to him, she asked, "Or do you want to do that to me? Why do you care so much, Bill? I want to know."

In fact, Hermione knew more than she was letting on. She, of course, had researched, and had found that werewolves need a mate, especially if they have a child. Also, she had found that once the were has found one, it's not up to the human side any longer; he must give in to his other nature, or the consequences could be dire. Thinking of this, she allowed the pheromones pouring from Bill to slowly envelope her, and as he moved toward her, her last coherent thought was a silent, wandless spell to lock and silence the room behind her.

Bill growled again as he approached her. "What about Charlie?"

"Charlie was just a fling for me, Bill. He knew it. He told me that you needed me more, but I was so hurt that you were keeping Victoire from me…" However, she couldn't continue because Bill had pushed her back against the door and effectively shut her up by kissing her, forcing his tongue inside her mouth. Hermione moaned, knowing that although Bill needed this, she wouldn't have kicked this man out of her bed anyway.

Bill backed up suddenly. "We can't do this here. It could get…"

Hermione nodded. "Come on; my flat is in muggle London. I can apparate us."

"No; it'd be best if we were out at Shell. Let me go first and take down the wards, and you can follow in a couple of minutes." Bill quickly apparated out of the office, leaving everything behind. Hermione waited a couple of moments before following.

As soon as she appeared, Bill grabbed her and took them both up to his room, ripping off Hermione's clothes as he went. Once in the room, Bill threw the half-naked Hermione down onto the bed and jumped on top of her, kissing her neck before moving down her body. The brunette shuddered as she felt him reach her skirt; a growl reverberated up from his throat as he muttered, "This has to go." The piece of cloth was ripped off of her, leaving her in just her bra and panties.

"Bill…your clothes…"

"I'll get there. I'm taking care of you first; I don't know how this will end, love," Bill ground out. Hermione understood. Depending on how desperately Bill's wolf needed her, she could end up black and blue by the end of the night.

"Where's Victoire?"

Bill stopped at his daughter's name. Even when faced with the prospect of bodily harm, Hermione still cared about his daughter. "She's spending the night with Ginny. We have the place to ourselves," he commented.

He bent back down and resumed his ministrations, lightly biting Hermione's nipple through the fabric of her bra. She sucked in a breath as she felt Bill reach behind her and gently unclasp the undergarment, freeing her breasts for his viewing. A sound reminiscent of a purr sounded from his throat, and Bill dove in, sucking on her right nipple, sending waves of pleasure down through her body, driving her crazy with desire.

This was different than with Charlie; they had rarely had time for foreplay. It was usually just meet, fuck, and kiss goodbye. Even Ron had never taken this much time, although now Hermione knew why. Bill's caresses moved over to her left breast, and the intensity was just as strong here.

"Merlin, Bill. I…I need you now." The power of the impending coupling was driving Hermione insane. She knew it was his body preparing hers for what was to come, but she also felt as if she didn't have him now, she'd lose control of herself.

Bill smirked up at her. "We'll get there, love. Relax." Hermione watched his hair fall over his face as he kissed down her body once more, his tongue tracing her navel, finally landing on her underwear. He grabbed these with his teeth and pulled down, allowing her to kick them the rest of the way as he moved back to sample her core.

The moment he smelled her raw arousal, however, Bill was lost. Hermione was just waiting on this moment to come; she knew it was just a matter of time. Bill jumped up from the bed and ripped his shirt off, allowing buttons to fly everywhere. His pants were gone next, along with his underwear. Suddenly, he was back on top of her, his breathing heavy. Hermione's breathing, however, became shallow as she felt his hard member on her stomach, pulsing with each heartbeat.

Bill suddenly reached down and kissed her roughly, simultaneously moving so he could push himself inside her just as uncouthly. Hermione couldn't stop the scream that was forced into Bill's mouth as she felt his thick cock invade her. Bill took advantage of her open mouth and pushed his tongue inside, effectively silencing her.

His thrusts began slow, allowing her, unbelievably, to adjust to his girth, but they quickly began to speed up, taking her breath once again and requiring her to hold on to her lover for dear life. Bill buried his head into her neck, his hands up around her back and latched onto her shoulders as he pounded into her.

Hermione felt her orgasm building; the roughness of Bill's thrusts and the pheromones in the air were having an odd effect on her, and she couldn't seem to get enough of the wild man on top of her. She reached up and bit down on his ear just as she felt his teeth sink into her shoulder, effectively marking his territory.

A week ago, she would have been affronted to have been called someone's territory, but now, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else. As she felt the blood from his bite run down her shoulder, she suddenly erupted in the strongest orgasm she had ever experienced, yelling out her lover's name as he continued to propel himself inside of her. At once, he tensed, and she felt strong spurts of his seed fill her. Bill collapsed on top of her, knocking the wind from her, but also giving her a strange sort of comfort.

Hermione ran her hand through his hair, and she traced the scars that marred his otherwise beautiful face. This man would be hers as long as she lived, however long that would be. She couldn't help but feel a shudder of excitement run through her. This was going to be a wild ride.

Halfway around the world in Juneau, Alaska, a raven-haired wizard packed up his belongings (again) and looked back at the small room in the hotel he had been living in the last few weeks. Juneau had been pleasant, and the people were amazing, but he needed some warmer temperatures.

Or at least another warm body…he thought. He sighed. That was one of the reasons he had left to begin with. He no longer fit into the world he loved so much…with the people he loved. However, the more he searched the globe, the lonelier he felt. He guessed it didn't help that he covered his magical signature everywhere he went, but damn it, he didn't want their pity. The Weasleys, Hermione…Ron. They didn't understand anymore.

Harry Potter was on a mission, and this time, the presence of Hermione and Ron would only hinder him. He had to find the rest of himself, even though he somehow knew that his other half could only be found where he'd left it: in an old, ramshackle house held up by magic and little else.