Author's Note: So, for some reason I didn't have all of chapter five saved on my USB... and rewrote more than half of it. Rather than wasting it, I'm choosing to post this alternate version of the chapter. Please review and tell me which I should move forward with. I might try to merge them. Ugh. Help, yo.
Cue Chapter 5
Hermione moaned softly, stretching as she woke. She smiled, feeling the weight of Michelle's arm around her. It had been nearly two weeks since they had eaten dinner with Pansy and Draco. In those two weeks, Hermione had spent nearly every night at Michelle's apartment. In the dawn night, Hermione rolled over in the ginger wolf's grasp and looked at her lover. She was growing rather attached to the other woman and it scared her a bit.
Michelle was, in Hermione's mind, quite a catch. Not only was she beautiful, more handsome really, but she was an Oxford graduate, a musician able to live on performances and lessons and someone who understood the intersection of the muggle and magical worlds. There wasn't much else Hermione wanted in a woman. Obviously, she wanted to be treated well and Michelle treated her like a queen.
The wolf in question shifted in her sleep, moving until her head was on Hermione's stomach. Hermione's smile faltered and her body tensed slightly.
"What's wrong, love?" Michelle moved Hermione's shirt up and spoke with her lips against the witch's skin.
"There's a Hogwarts reunion this weekend," Hermione said.
"Are you nervous about it?" Michelle looked up and rested her chin on Hermione's stomach.
"Yes and no. It's… silly." Hermione looked away.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Michelle asked gently.
"I've… gained weight since school."
"Were you a skeleton in school?" Michelle sounded incredulous.
"No. I was thin, fit. Well, not quite fit, but certainly not…" Hermione trailed off.
"Not what? You aren't fat, Mia." Michelle pushed herself up and sat beside Hermione. Running one hand down Hermione's stomach, she said, "You have curves. That's a good thing. Honestly, I wouldn't be nearly as madly attracted to you if you were skin and bones."
Hermione looked unsure, "Really?"
"Really. I like a woman I can hold onto," Michelle rolled over on top of Hermione and kissed her.
Hermione responded happily, her fears settled for the moment.
"Is the reunion the kind of thing you bring your girlfriend to?" Michelle asked.
"Yes," Hermione blinked, "I suppose it is. I've never been dating someone this time of year that I was serious about. Do you want to come along?"
"I do. I'd like to meet some of your friends. Besides, I'll get to see Pansy and annoy Draco with any luck." Michelle grinned and Hermione was reminded of her wolf form.
Shaking her head, Hermione pulled Michelle down for another kiss.
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"Mikey, isn't it time to get ready for Jack's game?" Hermione looked over at the other woman, who was revising a new song.
"Is it? Balls, it got late. Okay, let me throw my shoes on. Do you want to take my bike or your car?"
"I'll drive if you can direct me to the field. I'm excited to see Jack play." Hermione grabbed her keys and organized her notes from work quickly. The two moved to Hermione's car and drove to the field.
"I'm not sure who all is going to be here, but Jack's games are typically a family affair. You're bound to meet people," Michelle said, as they parked. "You've already met most of my pack, except for Ari and Sean's wife Anna."
"Sounds good, love." Hermione locked the car and the walked out to the sideline of the field. Hermione saw a group of brown- and red-haired men and women standing together with a young boy of maybe seven or eight years. She recognized the bartender, Ari, from Twist the night she'd first met Michelle. "Hey, Mike, why did Ari call you 'alpha' the night we met? Pansy told me Sean and his wife were in charge of your pack."
Mike looked confused for a moment, before replying, "Oh, that's right. Ari was behind the bar the night we met. I'd forgotten that. Well, it's a joke, him calling me alpha. I don't like it much actually. I find it disrespectful to Sean and Anna." Michelle shook her head, "Even with them being older than me, if I had a mate when our pack formed I probably would have been alpha. Some, including Ari and Patrick, think I should have been anyway."
Hermione nodded as a few of the assembled Brandons began to notice their approach.
"Oy! Mikey! What lottery did you win?" Ari called. A few of the others chuckled.
"Shut it, Ari!" Michelle called back. Once they were close enough to avoid shouting, she continued, "Ari, Anna, Robert, Daniel, Jane… this is Hermione Granger, my girlfriend."
Anna stepped forward and took a slightly surprised Hermione into a tight hug. "Welcome, dear. Sean has been going on about the beautiful woman Mike had at the Charlie's show. Now I see what he was talking about."
Blushing, Hermione smiled and shook hands with Ari, Rob, Dan and Jane. "Nice to meet you all."
"This is our full pack, the London Calling," Sean said, ruffling his son's hair. "And this is our pride and joy, John Brandon, Jr."
Jack knocked his father's hand away and stepped forward. "Hello Hermione, I'm Jack." He extended his small hand to her.
Hermione shook his hand and smiled. "Pleasure, Jack."
A whistle blew across the field and Jack quickly made his exit to join his team. Hermione and the Calling took their seats on the worn bleachers, with Michelle and Anna flanking her.
Michelle leaned off and said, "I'm glad you're here, babe. You've met the whole pack now." She motioned to the row in front of them. "You've met Ari before. Rob intends to be a bachelor for life. He's celibate for spiritual reasons. I'll explain more about that later. Daniel and Jane got married almost six months ago. We're expecting her to be pregnant any day now."
Hermione nodded and took Michelle's hand. "Why are you named the London Calling?"
"It's a song reference; a tribute to the pack band. The majority of our pack plays or sings." Michelle said, lacing their fingers together.
"Well, I won't be able to add much to that, but I like listening to music," Hermione said, laughing.
Michelle smiled broadly, "Oh, we'll teach you."
Anna nodded, joining their conversation, "She's right. I couldn't sing and Sean taught me now. I'm not brilliant, but I can carry a tune and harmonize. Now that I know what that means, that is."
Hermione shook her head, "Learning I can do. I've never really tried to sing, but I'd like to learn the guitar or piano." She looked back at Michelle, who nodded happily.
"We can arrange that."
