Mmmm… we're looking at some Bolton-ish torture here. Not too bad, though. Carry on.
Spellbound I am, I am
The wizard has enchanted me, enchanted me
Spellbound deep in my soul, in my soul
In my heart burns a sizzling fire, a sizzling fire
Spellbound I am, I am
The wizard has enchanted me, enchanted me
Spellbound in my heart's root, my heart's root
My eyes gaze to where the wizard stood
Eivør
She hoped each bite that went into his mouth would be his last. Wizards didn't choke though, at least not often. A simple wadiwasi-ex would get rid of the offending food and Professor Dumbledore wouldn't go down so easily. Hermione looked down at her plate as the Headmaster stood up, bid Minerva a good evening and made his way towards the Gryffindor table.
She knew he was standing in front of her, waiting for acknowledgment. She knew better than to be a brat and ignore him. He was, in a sense, an alpha at the school.
Hermione's head shot up and she saw that the old man didn't hold much of a twinkle in his eyes. Neutrality of expression was key as Hermione held her gaze on the headmaster's face.
"Ah, Miss Granger. How are you this fine evening?" Professor Dumbledore asked, pulling a packet of lemon drops from his pocket, offering the candy to Harry and Ginny, and as if in afterthought paused to hold the bag out to Hermione who shook her head before he pocketed the sweets. Hermione refrained from gagging at the citrus and sugar scent.
"I'm quite well, Professor. How are you?" Hermione responded. 'I hope you die in your sleep tonight,' she thought, gripping her fork in her hands beneath the table.
"Ah, I find that I've become a tired old man. Too much worry, I suppose." He turned to the black haired boy next to her, "Harry, I hope that you have remembered the conversation we had the other day."
Harry looked surprised but nodded, "I have, sir."
Dumbledore twinkled at the boy and Hermione narrowed her eyes, "Good, well then I must bid you three a goodnight." The headmaster bowed then left the Great Hall in a swirl of magenta robes with Hermione staring after him before she rounded on Harry.
"What conversation?" She asked.
Harry picked at his food, pushing the mashed potatoes around his plate. "I'm meeting him tonight, I think we're going to look for a you-know-what. Because that's what I need right now… to potentially injure myself or die because that will help everyone."
"Merlin, I hate him," Hermione muttered, bringing her hands back onto the table "manipulative old man!"
"Mione!" Ron exclaimed, not hearing what she said but noticing the fork in her hands was now bent and twisted into a useless shape, "what are you doing?"
Hermione looked down at the fork and then back up at Ron. He was alone on the other end of the table, completely Lavender-less.
"Uhm… practicing?" Ron's ears went red. Hermione shoved the fork in her bag, turning to Harry and Ginny, "I'm going to go and study. I'll see you later. Goodluck tonight, Harry."
Harry nodded, though his face appeared ashen as he thought of the meeting he was to have with Dumbledore. The offered lemondrops were only a reminder from Professor Dumbledore to be on time. "Bye, Hermione."
"I'll be up in a bit, Hermione. Maybe we can study together."
"That would be nice, Ginny." Hermione turned, her hair flying about like each strand had a life of it's own, and stalked out of the Great Hall.
It was Dumbledore's fault that she felt like this. Well, Dumbledore and Greyback's fault. Between the two of them she was a cauldron of emotions. Every night, she went to bed angry, thinking of the loss of her parents and Dumbledore's involvement. Mornings were nearly worse; waking up in a sweat after dreaming of a possessive werewolf was a huge distraction that lasted throughout the day. She couldn't eat enough, and certainly couldn't concentrate on her studies because all she thought about were the promises he made. He probably wouldn't be keeping them though, after the stunt she pulled.
Soon enough though, the Alpha would be coming for her, either to mete out punishment or bring her into the pack, or worse. Hermione shuddered at the thought of being surrounded by Death Eaters, torturing for whatever transgressions they believed she'd done. Malfoy would probably watch too, laughing the entire time while she endured Merlin only knew what.
Footsteps came up behind her as she paused on the first floor landing. Shutting her eyes with a groan, she inhaled the scent that she knew so well; broom polish, grass, and Lavender Brown's god awful perfume.
"Mione?" Ron asked softly, "can we talk?"
Hermione looked ahead, nodding after a moment and turned to face Ron.
"What do you want to say?"
Ron shuffled for a moment, "I just… I'm sorry. I'm an arse. I haven't been there for you during this time and it's probably been difficult. I'm sorry, Mione."
Hermione stared at him, startling the boy when her eyes flashed white for a moment before sinking back into their natural brown. "Let's walk," she said, turning away from him and going down the hall to the first floor girls bathroom.
"Um… alright." Ron walked next to her, "do you want to find somewhere to sit?"
Hermione glanced at him, flashing a smile his way, "no, we're going to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom."
Ron groaned, "really? I've spent enough time there to last a lifetime." The redhead slowed his pace, "is our conversation going to be that private?"
Hermione stopped and looked at him, "unless you want to have it out in the middle of the corridor where everyone can hear… then yes, it is going to be that private."
Ron huffed, "Fine." Hermione beamed and led the way to the toilet.
Luckily Myrtle wasn't there flooding the place, making it easy for Hermione to talk to Ron. She cast a muffliato and a notice me not spell then pivoted to face Ron as soon as the door shut.
"So, you've apologized for being a prat," she snapped, "why? Why this sudden change of heart?"
"Because you look like shite! I see Harry and Ginny trying to support you, but it isn't enough, is it? You're one of them and it makes you sick." Ron snapped back, "Mione, let me help you. I'm an arse. A complete and unmitigated arse, but I still want to be your friend."
Hermione glared up at him, eyes glistening with tears, "where were you when I changed? Where were you when I found out that I'm an Alpha and fucking Greyback's mate? Where were you when Dumbledore decided to make my parents disappear?"
"Hang on, mate? Dumbledore did what?" Ron reached a hand out to her shoulder only to have Hermione shrug away from his touch.
"Yes. Mate. As in, wizards don't properly study or even work with werewolves to find out the actual workings of their culture. I could have died, Ron Weasley, on my first change. But I didn't. Now I'm bound by pure instinct to a man who eats children. And yes! Dumbledore! My parents are… somewhere that he deems safe because he's worried about me eating them. But I have complete control over myself! So if I seem a little off, that should explain it!" Hermione shook in her fury.
Ron spent a few seconds doing a very good impression of a goldfish starved for water before he actually said something. "Mione, I'm… gods. I'm sorry. Did Dumbledore really do that?"
Hermione, now openly crying in frustration, nodded, "yes, and he's been treating me like a second rate citizen. Or a child that doesn't know which end is up. He hates me."
"Is it because you're a werewolf?" Ron whispered, reaching out again to touch Hermione's shoulder.
Hermione was silent for a moment, looking past Ron and into the bathroom mirrors. She did look a bit like shite, her hair was in a tangled mess, bags under her eyes. Merlin, she looked a bit like Remus."It's… I think it's complicated but yes." She wasn't about to tell him what she'd done. His sudden interest in her was suspicious but if he were being genuine, then she would be ruining everything by telling him that she was indeed, a murderer.
Ron engulfed her in a hug, "I'm on your side, Mione. Even if you don't tell me everything."
Hermione snorted into his shoulder, "what about Lavender? Still keen on her?"
Ron's lips curved into a smile, "Are you jealous, Granger?" Hermione pushed him away and shook her head.
"Like I'd ever be jealous of her. Take her. She's yours. Just… get her to stop going on and on about your shagging exploits with Pavarti. It's nauseating."
"You sound like Ginny."
"Well, she is one of my best friends." Hermione tucked a curl behind her ear.
"Am I still one of your best friends?" Ron asked, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. Hermione looked at the floor. He could be, but he had to earn her trust again. She couldn't even fathom his reaction if he knew that she, Ginny, and Harry were spending time in the Chambers that were a few stories beneath where she was currently standing. He would probably blow a gasket. It would be even worse if he knew that somehow they were all being influenced by the Dark.
Though, if he did prove to be a true friend, maybe at some point he would see where they were coming from and maybe even join them in translating Salazar's library. Though Ron would probably follow Ginny's lead and enjoy hacking at the basilisk with the swords Pip had provided.
Hermione looked back up at Ron,"you've got a bit of time to work off to get back in that boat, Ron. But I'll let you have the opportunity."
Ron beamed, engulfing Hermione in a warm hug, "I'll do my best, Mione." Hermione smiled then inhaled his scent and started coughing.
"What?" Ron asked, askance. Hermione stepped away, waving her hand in front of her face.
"You really need to get Lavender to stop wearing that perfume. It's so pungent it makes me want to vomit. Drives Remus mad too but he's too polite to say anything." Hermione said, coughing for clean air.
"It's her favorite, though," the redhead protested.
"I'll put the money up for you to get something more refined. Maybe even a muggle perfume because that wizarding one is foul." Hermione went to a sink, turned the tap on and splashed water on her face. "Better. Shall we go to the common room?"
Ron nodded, hefted his satchel over his shoulder and followed Hermione out of the bathroom.
"Wait… Mione. What do we do about your little… mate problem?" He whispered. Hermione's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
"Shh! There's nothing to be done for it. Trust me." Hermione turned away, looking around to see if anyone else was in the corridor. They had gotten lucky this time, "c'mon. Let's get some studying done."
Ron followed after Hermione, wondering what exactly she wasn't telling him.
"I can't believe you, Granger. You were alone with Ron. I thought better of you than that," Lavender snapped, flinging her blonde hair back over her shoulder, "I never thought you'd be such a whore. Trying to go after another woman's man."
The chit had been ranting for the last twenty minutes, while Ron looked on with red ears. Oh, he'd tried to calm Lavender down with reason but it wasn't happening. Hermione, despite the thin thread of patience that she tried to wrap herself in, wasn't having any of it. She kept one eyebrow raised in surprise as she looked at the ranting witch, waiting for her to exhaust herself by spouting false accusations.
Finally, red in the face, Lavender paused before she spoke again, "do you have anything to say for yourself?!"
Hermione shook her head, "no. I think you should trust Ron though. He obviously cares about you and you shut him down when he tried to tell you what happened. You didn't listen and instead continued to attack me. Now you've got to mend that bridge with him."
Picking up her book bag with a huff, Hermione stalked out of the room and to the library. There was still an hour before curfew and if she actually got some studying in without unnecessary interruption from her housemates, she would be stunned. The library was deserted with the exception of a few Ravenclaws studying near the restricted section. Hermione made her way to the back of the library, sitting down at the table and began to pull her notes from the bag.
Lavender was the classic hormone driven teenaged girl; quick to assume, territorial, easily upset, and vicious when it came to taking people down a peg. Too bad she was in the wrong. The more Hermione thought about the girl's behavior regarding Ron, the more Hermione thought about Fenrir.
"Am I like her? Merlin, please don't let me be like her. I can't be. I don't like Fenrir." The Wolf inside her protested, practically snapping it's annoyance. "I can't like him, the only things I know about him are that he is… he's… a child eater. He's incredibly good looking. But he eats people. So do you though. Well, one time. It was necessary though. You're alive. Merlin though… he's also a good kisser. I still can't believe I kissed him. He also offered to find a private tutor for me. That was kind of him. He was gentle with me but the things he said." Hermione shivered, crossing her legs and doing her best to focus on her revising.
Thudding footsteps echoed off the stacks to the right, making Hermione look up to see Ron. "Did Lavender apologize?" She asked as she set down her ink and quills.
Ron shuffled his feet, "No, she's miffed. She's even more miffed that I came after you," he said with a sigh as he sat down across from her.
Hermione tore her attention away from her transfiguration notes and raised a brow at the redhead. "Don't you love her?"
"Well, yeah. I love her but I'm trying to mend bridges and I feel awful for how she flew off the handle like that." Ron looked down, "neither of us have been very nice to you."
Shaking her head, "Ron, you need to go upstairs and… try to get her to see that we aren't anything more than friends. She's going to be more than miffed if you stay here any longer. I wish I–OW!" Hermione reached down into her pocket and pulled out a burning coin.
'Death Eaters in the castle. We're up at the Astronomy Tower. -H'
"Shite," Hermione said, slamming her hands down onto the table and reaching forward to gather her things back into the satchel. She stood up abruptly, nearly knocking back her chair.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, standing up to go with Hermione. She paused in her mid-stride and looked at him then shoved the satchel into his hands.
"Stay here. Really… just stay here." Hermione patted him on the shoulder, doing her best to not have a melt down in front of Ron, "I'll be right back." She hurried out of the library, leaving Ron and one charmed galleon on the table behind her.
The corridors became a blur of portraits, stone, and tapestry as Hermione rushed up to the seventh floor. This was not what she needed right now. Once she was closer to the Astronomy Tower, she slowed, casting a Notice-Me-Not charm over her head, muffling her footsteps, and masking her scent. She seriously hoped that neither Fenrir or Bellatrix were there that evening. Or Dolohov… gods, she hadn't considered him as an issue either until this point. He'd tried to kill her last year and she'd been so pissed at Dumbledore that she didn't notice him last time she and her friends encountered the Death Eaters.
She was stronger though and certainly smarter when it came to wielding a wand than when she was at the Battle at the Department of Mysteries. Hermione tightened her grip on the wooden handle of her wand and took a deep breath. She could smell Harry, the lemon drop scent of Professor Dumbledore, and the faint smell of decay.
The rest though… she couldn't smell the Death Eaters, bringing her to the conclusion that Fenrir was with them and waiting for her. She huffed at the trap set and slowly opened the door to the Astronomy Tower.
"Do it, Draco! Now!" Bellatrix shrieked. Panic filled Hermione as she ran her way up the steps and onto the tower. She could smell Harry beneath the astronomy platform and changed her direction, slinking beneath the metal mesh to watch what was happening above. Dumbledore was there, backed against the low stone wall while Draco held his wand out in front of him. The young Slytherin's arm shook as he turned the wand slightly.
The air shifted next to Hermione, and she could feel the warmth emanating from her best friend. "You got my message." His whispered voice sounded relieved. Hermione lifted her wand, casting a muffliato on the area around him and nodded.
"I was in the library. I had to get away from Lavender. Ron's attempting to make nice with me and she thinks that means cheating on her. Let me under the cloak." Harry lifted the cloth, bringing her into the close confines.
Dumbledore was saying something to Draco, trying to calm him down from the action he was about to take.
"Harry, they're going to kill him," whispered Hermione.
Harry nodded, "I know."
The witch looked at her friend, "are you alright with that?"
Harry rubbed the bridge of his nose, "I… I'm not sure. It's because of him though, that I was left in an abusive home. I could have lived with Sirius. I miss Sirius." He looked at Hermione, his eyes bloodshot and his skin pale.
Hermione squeezed his hand, "I miss him too, Harry. But… I want the headmaster dead."
Harry kept quiet for a moment before nodding his head, "what he did… taking your parents away… I guess he has a track record now for creating orphans."
Hermione's heart clenched in pain, "we don't know if they're dead or not." Harry nodded and pulled Hermione into a hug.
"We'll find them."
Above them, the fate of Professor Dumbledore was in the hands of Death Eaters.
"He doesn't have the courage," said Fenrir, his voice making Hermione look up, "let me do it my own way." The masked werewolf moved forward, entrancing Hermione with each step he took. Merlin, she was screwed and the simple action of him moving made her legs clamp together. It took all her willpower to not climb the man right then and there. Irritable at her lack of control, she looked back towards the other Death Eaters.
"No," Professor Snape, stepping in between Fenrir and Dumbledore. Hermione's eyes widened in surprise at the last thing she'd been expecting.
"Why Severus, are you volunteering?" Bella asked licking her lips and bouncing on the balls of her feet. Professor Snape fixed Bella with a cold stare, his eyes burning into the witch, demanding her silence.
"Severus, please," pleaded Dumbledore. The potions professor raised his wand towards the headmaster, causing an irritated Hermione to become irate.
"Like hell you're just going to make it easy!" Hermione snarled, coming quickly up the steps, glaring at each one of the Death Eaters. "Draco Malfoy, you get your arse back up front and do what you were told to do!" Hermione reached Professor Dumbledore and slashed out with claws, catching the professor by the face, "where are my parents?"
Professor Dumbledore didn't move for a moment, even going as far as ignoring the blood now trickling down from the tears in his flesh, then he spoke"I see you've chosen your side, Miss Granger. It's such a shame too. You were always a bright light. You still have good in you, don't let yourself be ruined." The headmaster nodded towards Greyback, "don't become like him."
"It doesn't bloody matter what you think of me. You've manipulated us. All of us. Harry has no figures to look up to and now neither do I." Hermione pointed her wand at the professor, "where are my parents?"
Behind her she could feel the excitement building; Bellatrix was panting like a voyeur, Snape was silent, only the slightest inhalation of breath indicating that he was watching the scene unfold. The others were silent as well but it was Fenrir's reaction that unnerved her the most. Pleasure radiated from him, practically patting her on the back with a murmured 'good job'.
"This is your mate, Fenrir. Why don't you handle this?" Professor Snape finally said, pulling Hermione behind him. She snarled at the Professor, and the other Death Eaters as Fenrir wrapped a strong arm around her, hauling her against him. The Wolf leaned down next to her ear.
"Still yourself and watch," he whispered, making her shiver.
Hermione kept her gaze forward, "Draco has to be the one to do it." The blonde looked at her in surprise, "I've told you how I feel, Malfoy. Do it."
Fenrir stroked Hermione's side as she stared at Draco, "seriously, just… just do it. He isn't going to tell us what he did with my parents."
"We'll see about that," murmured Draco, facing the Professor, "Headmaster, where are Granger's parents?"
Professor Dumbledore remained silent.
"Very well." Draco flicked his wand and the Professor began screaming. Bellatrix cackled, jumping up and down like a pogo stick while clapping her hands. Hermione stared at Draco in shock as he applied the curse like an expert. The boy that she'd punched in the face in third year, that she'd taunted a few months ago, the one she thought was a coward, was proving her wrong. Horrified, Hermione pressed back into Fenrir to stave off the unearthly sounding wails the Professor was making. Fenrir grinned beneath his mask as the She-wolf pushed herself into his chest, a shudder of revulsion going through her. He leaned down next to her ear.
"You'll get used to it, She-wolf. Killing is in your blood," he murmured.
"Killing," Hermione said softly as Dumbledore writhed on the ground, "I have no problem with killing. It's the torture that seems to affect me."
"Don't you want to find out where your parents are?" Fenrir asked as Draco lifted the curse and knelt next to the headmaster.
"Yes," Hermione bit out. She sneered at the headmaster as he looked up at Draco.
"Draco, you are still good… don't do this. Go to the Order, they can save you and your family."
Draco ignored the Professor and tilted his head, "where are Granger's parents?" Professor Dumbledore sighed in resignation as he looked at the young Slytherin.
"The Granger's are gone and no mortal will ever be able to find them," murmured the Professor. Hermione felt her mouth open but couldn't hear the screams of sorrow coming from her throat. Like being in a vacuum chamber, Hermione couldn't hear anything. She felt the pounding of her heart in her chest and the blood rushing through her veins. She certainly felt when Fenrir and Professor Snape restrained her, and she saw the green light come from Draco's wand, hitting the headmaster in the chest as he stood up, staggering against the wall. Sound came rushing into her ears as the old man toppled off the tower falling to the grass below.
"MURDERER!" She screamed when Fenrir and Professor Snape released her, rushing to the edge of the tower while Bellatrix danced behind her, clapping her hands and professing her undying familial love and pride for her nephew. She could see Dumbledore's body at the base of the tower, twisted in awkward angles. Snarling, Hermione spit once off the tower, hoping that the saliva would land on the headmaster.
A hand wrapped around her arms, gentle though insistent that she move. Hermione looked up into Fenrir's face. "We've much to discuss, She-wolf. Give me your wand." He held his hand out.
"Not bloody likely. Clearly I've things to be doing like arranging a fucking funeral!" She jerked out of his hold, rushing past the Death Eaters, only to be suspended in midair by a wave from Fenrir's wand.
"Let me go, Greyback," she said softly, her glare piercing the other wolf like a dagger.
"I think not. After the stunt you pulled last time, I believe it's time for you to fall into line." Fenrir waved his wand and she was thrown over his shoulder, growling all the while.
"Oh, does the widdle She-wolf think that she's all big and bad?" Bellatrix giggled as Fenrir took Hermione's wand from her, smacked her on the arse, and pocketed the wand.
"You even breathe wrong in my direction, Lestrange, and I'll eat your intestines." Hermione growled as they passed the spot where Harry was hiding. Hermione looked in that direction for a split second, willing Harry to stay put. Of course it was unlikely that he would, as he was the classic Gryffindor. Still, Hermione could hope.
"Easy there, She-wolf. You and Bellatrix have unfinished business, but it won't be settled tonight," said Fenrir as he tried to get her to sit still. Hermione was having none of it though. Bellatrix taunted her all the way down to the Great Hall, where she began to blow up the house point hourglasses. Hermione kicked at Fenrir as the windows were shattered by the insane witch; she needed to get away. She knew that if Fenrir removed the spell masking his scent that she would be done for and that was something that she wasn't ready to have happen just yet.
As the glass came falling down around them, the doors of the Great Hall blasted open to reveal Pip in all his elf glory, screaming a battle cry while wielding two long daggers. Behind him stood the Order, wands at the ready.
"Oh for fucks' sake!" Snarled Hermione. Bellatrix raised her wand, causing the entrance to explode around the Order as they charged in, Ron among them. Hermione used the distraction, slithering down Fenrir's back and biting him clean on the arse. The werewolf howled and dropped Hermione onto the ground. She crawled away from him as the skirmish ensued, ducking spells and hexes in order to make her way towards the doors that would lead her outside.
She vaguely heard the screams of Bill Weasley and the howl of Fenrir as she got to the door. A searing pain shot up her leg, fading into a blood pounding throb. Hermione glanced down at her ankle to see blood blossoming over her skin and a piece of glass protruding from her flesh. Growling, she ripped the glass out of her skin, watching as the flow of blood began to ebb. She didn't have her wand, but her skin would take care of itself, she just had to leave before Fenrir could get to her. The werewolf was going to be livid this time.
"Pip!" she cried through the din of spells sizzling off the walls. The house elf appeared next to her, blood splattered onto his face and a blade raised to protect himself.
"Pip is here, Mistress!" the elf said, grabbing Hermione's arm.
"Get me out of here."
Pip nodded, apparating Hermione out of the Great Hall and onto the lawn outside the entrance. "Mistress, what do I do with the wolf?"
"Nothing, just keep everyone from killing one another. Don't let the Death Eaters take any prisoners." Hermione moved to stand, wincing as her injury protested.
"Mistress must heal! Pip will find the potions!" The elf turned back to the castle but Hermione grabbed him in time.
"No! Just… I can't stay here. Greyback is too close and I don't know what he's got planned but he isn't happy with me. I can assure you. Go and help the others. I will call for you when I'm sure that it's safe. Alright? And please, keep Harry safe." Hermione wiped the perspiration off her face, "ok?"
Pip stared at his mistress, slowly nodding, "Pip will do as Mistress asks. Pip is loyal to the Nathair." The elf bowed and disappeared in time for the whole front of the castle to be engulfed in a black cloud of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. Through the black, Hermione saw the Death Eaters emerging, shooting spells into the darkness behind them. Among them was Fenrir, his lips curled into a snarl and his face covered in blood. Hermione turned, limping as fast as she could into the forest.
The howl that erupted behind her sent chills into her bones. She moved faster, enough adrenaline coursing through her to minimize the pain. Breaking into the trees, Hermione made a beeline for the thicker woods. Ducking into the brush, she moved while she heard the sound of boots disappear entirely to become paws against the dirt. Hermione's wolf came forward, shredding the clothing around her as she ran away from the raging Alpha. Her paws touched the soil, kicking it up behind her. Tripping over a root that was stuck out of the ground, Hermione winced as her wound reopened. A yelp ripped from her throat as she found herself planting her paws into the sediment, trying to regain traction before falling.
Growling reached her ears, making her look up. The slightly yellowed fangs, exposed by a snarling Fenrir greeted her vision. Hermione snarled back, moving to go up on all fours. Fenrir snapped at her, trying to keep her down. Hackles rising, Hermione nipped at Fenrir's chin and that was all that it took for the Alpha wolf to try and pin her to the ground. Hermione went for his neck, making Fenrir practically lay on top of her to get her to stop moving.
Hermione changed back, noting his warm fur against her bareskin. "Let me up! Now!" Fenrir glared at her, his face morphing back into a very angry looking man. He scowled at Hermione.
"She-wolf, you've disrespected your Alpha more than once and you will be suitably punished," he bit out, pressing her into the dirt with his arms.
Hermione growled at him, "my Alpha? Ha! You have to earn that! Just like you have to earn me!" She pushed at his arms and bucked her hips up to dislodge his weight. Fenrir grunted at the force, taken aback at her strength. He narrowed his eyes, renewing his grip on her and disapparated.
Hermione kept fighting after the pull of apparition landed them in a meadow encompassed by trees. "Let me go!" She ripped her hands free from him, moving to run away only to find that her surroundings were completely unfamiliar. She turned and looked at Fenrir.
"Where the bloody hell are we?"
The werewolf took a step towards her, "Ulbha, Ulva to those that don't speak the language. We're home."
Hermione took a step back as Fenrir summoned two wands from thin air, "I'm taking this damn cloaking spell off both of us." He waved his wand, then hers and she was impacted with the scent of him. Anger, relief, and hidden beneath the scent of forest and spice was desire. Hermione practically melted and the reaction made her livid. She continued to back up from Fenrir, her mind going through an escape plan while her wolf begged her to stay. Ulva was on the western coast of Scotland, and it was an island… and this island didn't look like anything in her geography books from primary school.
She spun, looking at the trees, a startled yelp escaping her lips when Fenrir threw his head back and howled. Merlin, she wanted to join in but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She just couldn't. It would be giving in. Her surprise turned to horror when hundreds of howls answered his, filling the night with a chorus that would make the bravest of idiots freeze in his tracks.
Slowly, glowing eyes appeared through the trees, attached to shadows of varying sizes. Wolves emerged from the forest, slowly stalking towards the two alphas. Each wolf kept their head lowered as they entered the clearing and Hermione found herself backing up towards Fenrir.
"They've come to greet you," whispered Fenrir.
"There are so many," she responded, nerves filling her voice. The last thing Fenrir needed was for her to take flight when the leaders of the packs had come to pay their respects to their new queen. He put a firm hand on her shoulder, daring her to push him away.
A brown wolf approached, creeping through the grass with caution as he reached Fenrir. The Alpha was relieved to see his second in command, the man was an amazing tracker but also capable of calming even the most fearful wolf and that was what Hermione needed right now. Fenrir wasn't about to deal with her insubordination in front of the now it was enough that she'd remained beneath him for those few seconds in the Forbidden Forest.
"Caelen," Fenrir rumbled. The brown wolf nodded, turning into a man with a thick beard and a wicked gleam in his eyes. Hermione pressed into Fenrir further still staring at the wolves. "She-wolf, this is Caelen, my beta and second in command. Caelen, this is Hermione."
Jolted out of her stupor, Hermione looked at Caelen. "Hello." Her voice was soft as she extended her hand out, not knowing what else to do in order to not look like a fool. Caelen looked at her, tilted his head and grinned. He gripped her hand and shook it, then bowed his head towards her.
"My Queen, it is a pleasure to meet the one who survived the Alpha's bite. Welcome to Ulva." Hermione stared at him, then at the surrounding wolves as they each took human form, one by one bowing to her. All were completely naked, save paintings that adorned their skin in swirls and hexagons.
"Welcome home, Hermione." Fenrir whispered, digging his claws into her shoulder. Hermione gaped. She was in deeper trouble than she ever imagined.
