Chapter 9: The Lover

Hermione's stay at Juliette's house was cut short from a week to two days, she wasn't complaining though. She was ready to return back to Lupin Manor and be with her family. On the second day, July 5th, there was a knock on the Granger's door. Hermione ran down the stairs in excitement and smiled as she opened the door to see her Uncle Severus waiting for her.

"Juliette, I'm leaving!" Hermione called out before she walked out of the house with Severus. "I take it that you're ready to return home?" Severus asked as he shrunk her luggage that was waiting outside. Hermione gave him a look that made him look away. "I take that as a yes. Hold onto me." Severus said after he placed her luggage in his pocket. Hermione walked over to him and grabbed a hold on his cloak before they disapparated.

The next thing Hermione saw was her house, a beautiful white manor that was seated on the hill ahead of them. A huge smiled crossed her face as she looked up at the place she had been dreaming about for years, she was finally home. "Come along Hera." Severus said now walking up the path towards the house. Hermione shook her head to clear her thoughts as she followed her uncle up the slopping hill.

Once they reached the top they were met with a wondrous sight. There, on the other side of the Manor gates stood the Lupin Family. Hermione broke into a run upon seeing them. As she neared the gates she could see the smiles upon all of their faces. "Mum!" Hermione cried out as she opened the gates and was enveloped into a hug.

"Hera." Ambrosial whispered as she held onto her daughter for the first time in four years. "Welcome home sweetie." Remus said as Hermione was released from her mother's arms and into his. Hermione looked up at her dad. "It feels great to be home." Remus smiled back before he motioned for them to return to the Manor.

After the happy family entered the manor, the time was spent catching up with each other. Hermione went to sleep that night with a full, content heart and a smile on her face. But Hermione's happiness did not last long, on her fifth day back home she received a letter from her boyfriend, Viktor.

"Dear Hermione,

I know we've talked about this before and that you've made your opinion very clear, but I feel that we need to discuss it again. I don't like the fact that you're friends with known magical creatures. For instance, your Defense against the Dark Arts professor who is known as the Hogwarts werewolf, and your recent Herbology partner, the Ravenclaw vampire.

I know you keep telling me that they would never hurt you, but how can you be so sure? I know that your professor is a very nice man, and to be honest I'm not that worried about him hurting you, it's the vampire that I'm scared of. I'm sure that he wouldn't think twice if he had the chance to hurt you, even bite you Hermione. Please, please, please listen to me for once. Please don't hang around him anymore; I don't want to see you get hurt.

Love Viktor"

Hermione stared at the letter in anger. How could he think that her father and friend would hurt her, he didn't even know them. While Hermione was reading Skylar had walked into their room and was reading over her shoulder. "What a jerk." She said after Hermione crumpled the letter into a ball and threw it angrily across the room. "I hate him." Hermione whispered before she walked over to her desk and got out a few sheets of parchment.

"Dear Viktor Krum,

I'm not changing my opinion of my professor or my friend. I know for a fact that they will never hurt me. Since I know you can't accept my decisions, then you should know that I can't accept you anymore.

Goodbye,
Hermione Granger."

Once her letter was finished she attached it to her owl and watched as it flew off in the direction of Bulgaria, before she turned back to Skylar. "It's over." Hermione said as she walked over to her bed when she sat down gently. "You knew it wouldn't last, didn't you?" Skylar asked as she sat down next to her. Hermione nodded her head. "Well just don't worry about it. Krum's head was stuck so far up his Quidditch career that he wouldn't have had time for you anyway." Skylar said as she wrapped her arms around her sister.

The twins sat like that for awhile until they were called for dinner. Neither of them made a big deal about what had happened. The next month flew by as the family continued to repair the damage Hermione's separation had caused. It was nearing September 1st, the day that Hermione, Skylar and Tawny would be returning to Hogwarts. Ashwin had graduated in July and was now working at the Ministry of Magic, in the Department for the Regulation and control of Magical creatures; sub-division beasts, specialty department of Dragons.

On September 1st, Hermione, Skylar and Tawny were taken to the train station by floo powder. Once there, they parted ways. Tawny went to find her fellow Ravenclaw friends while Hermione and Skylar found Harry and Ron waiting for them near the train. The group of friends boarded the train once Lavender arrived and made their way towards Hogwarts.

Once there they sat through the sorting ceremony and the welcome feast. As they were leaving the Great Hall Hermione mentions to Harry and Ron about her and Viktor's breakup, and just like she had thought, they were happy to hear about it. The next day the Golden trio along with the rest of Gryffindor house and the Ravenclaws had Transfiguration first period. Hermione, Harry, Ron and Lavender found a table together in the middle of the class.

Professor McGonagall was teaching them a new spell which, when cast incorrectly, caused Ron to grow a long red mustache. This caused Hermione to begin laughing and so, in turn, Ron made fun of Hermione for being a know-it-all. After transfiguration Hermione left the others as tears slid down her face and made her way to the Gryffindor common room, where she was stopped by her friend Deacon Thompson.

"Hermione, please don't pay any attention to your friend. He doesn't know what he's talking about." Deacon said as he wiped away some of her tears. Hermione looked at Deacon, wondering why Viktor thought he was capable of hurting her when he's never been anything but nice to her. "Thanks Deacon." For the next few weeks Hermione and Deacon grew closer until the finally admitted that they were dating. It was nearing September 19th, Hermione and Skylar's 16th birthday, and Hermione was getting more and more agitated as the days went on.

On September 16th Hermione began to wonder if her relationship with Deacon was healthy. Earlier that week Hermione had been talking with Harry when Deacon came up and pulled her away from him before he accused her of cheating on him. He then pulled his hand back and slapped her hard across the face. Unfortunately, Harry didn't see any of their confrontation.

A week had passed after that and the accusations and beatings had only gotten worse. On September 19th, Hermione and Skylar met up in their parents chambers to celebrate their birthday; it was also the day the Guardian spell expired. As they sat around the dinner table all conversation stopped as Hermione closed her eyes in pain. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it stopped. Hermione raised her head and looked at her family's faces, they were shocked. Slowly Hermione raised her hand to her hair and pulled some into her line of vision.

Instead of her bushy brown hair or her curly black hair, she was holding a clump of straight white blonde hair. She could only guess that instead of her blue eyes looking back at her family, they were light and amber. Somehow she had the eyes and hair of her werewolf form, Hera. "What's going on?" Hermione whispered before her family stood from the table quickly. "It's the full moon." Skylar said, backing away from her. Upon hearing this Hermione clutched her head in pain. Ambrosial noticed this and lead Skylar and Tawny to the attached kitchen, where they could still see Hermione, but not be in danger.

Through the open windows Remus and Ashwin looked out and watched as the full moon moved out from behind some clouds. As Hermione lifted her head up, ready for the change to start, she was confused when she saw Rune and Emery looking at her from the window. It didn't take long after that for Hermione to feel the sensation of her bones rearranging themselves, but then Hermione screamed out in pain. The soothing tingle that normally went down her back was replaced with skin ripping spasms.

Upon hearing Hermione scream Ambrosial ran back into the dining room. What she saw brought tears to her eyes. Hermione was now standing in the middle of the dining room, tearing at her skin in a maddening attempt to free herself from it. "MMMOOOOMMMMM MMMAAAKKKEEEE IITTT SSSTTTOPPPP!" Hermione screamed out in pain before another spasm washed over her small frame, causing her to fall to the floor.

Ambrosial couldn't move, there was nothing she could do to help her daughter and knowing this tore her heart in half. "Calm down sweetie, it will be over soon and you'll never have to go through this again. I promise!" Ambrosial cried out as Hermione tore the flesh from her back and arms, allowing white fur to grow through.

Rune and Emery were standing in the corner of the dining room whimpering as they watched Hermione and Ambrosial in pain. Hermione screamed out again as her bones were forcibly popped out of place before they began to arrange themselves into the form of a wolf. Tears continued to fall from Hermione's eyes as her muzzle and ears started to lengthen and grow fur. Soon Hermione's screams and cries turned into whimpers and howls from Hera. It appeared that Hermione's transformation was complete.

Rune and Emery walked over to Hera slowly before they backed away again, Hera's head had risen off the floor and was growling at them. Hera slowly lifted herself up from the stone floor and stalked towards them, growling low in her throat. It was obvious that she was challenging her father and brother into a battle of dominance, a fight that would decide who would become the new alpha leader, the leader of the pack.

It wasn't long before Hermione and Emery's mental battle was over and she moved over to the current alpha, Rune. The battle between them lasted much longer than the previous one, but nevertheless Hera defeated her father, and in less than one hour she became the new Alpha wolf at Hogwarts.

The rest of the night was uneventful. Skylar and Tawny were allowed back into the room and the family continued on with the birthday activities as best they could. They ended up leaving the dining room and going into the living room, where the wolves laid down on the floor in front of the fire as Skylar, Ambrosial and Tawny curled up on the couch.

The next day Hermione was given her birthday presents that she wasn't able to open the night before. From her parents she was given the Lupin family ring, something everyone else already had, with a large H carved into the sides, both signally her name and position in their house. From Ashwin she received two encyclopedias, one on potions and the other on magical creatures. And from Skylar and Tawny she received a set of black robes with false silver details.

After Hermione opened her presents, she left her parent's chambers and started walking to the Great hall. Halfway there Hermione was pushed to the floor. When she looked up she expected to see Deacon standing above her, but instead, Draco was sneering down at her. "Watch where you're going Mudblood!" Draco said as Hermione picked herself up off the floor. As she was about to walk away from him, he grabbed onto her wrist. "Granger, what's that?" he asked, now pointing at her new ring.

"It looks like a pureblood family ring…" Draco continued not letting Hermione answer him, he then looked up at her, his eyes widening slightly. "Congratulations Draconis, you're the first one to connect the dots." Hermione said taking her wrist from her cousin. "You… you just can't be her." Draco said quietly as he took a step back from Hermione. "You don't really believe that do you? I mean, it does explain why Skylar was so adamant about being my friend." Hermione asked him but after seeing his face she realized he still didn't believe she was his cousin.

Hermione shook her head as she pulled down the collar of her shirt low enough that the circle of burnt skin around her neck was visible. "Do you remember when Hera was burned by a necklace you're mother gave her?" Slowly Draco nodded his head, looking at the skin in front of him. "Tell Narcissa that even though I can't wear the necklace I still have it; even if it's locked in a jewelry case I never open." Hermione said as Draco continued to stare at the discolored skin before him.

Draco remembered back to when he was little and his mother was so upset that the gift she had gotten Hera had burned her. Draco looked into Hermione's blue eyes, "Cousin." Hermione nodded her head in acknowledgement. This was too much for Draco; he backed up into the wall behind him and slid down it. "What does this mean?"He asked from the floor. Hermione looked into his icy blue eyes before she spoke, "It means that until I let you know you will treat me no different. You must treat me no different." Draco nodded his head.

"But, you will leave Skylar and Harry alone. They are happy and blessed by the family, so it's in your favor to leave them alone. And while you're at it, tell your house to leave them alone as well." Draco looked up at her. "What if they don't listen to me" Hermione smiled, "Don't play with me Draconis. We both know that you're the Prince of Slytherin House." Here Hermione paused, her eyes turning amber. "And if they don't… well let's just say they better not leave their dormitory after dark." Draco looked away as Hermione smiled and walked away.

Later that night Hermione met Deacon in the courtyard, just like they had planned. And like usual, he accused her of cheating on him. But instead of his fist slamming into her, she felt something much, much worse. Deacon had grabbed her wrist and dug his fangs into it. Hermione stared in shock as Deacon drank from her, and once he was finished he looked up at her both surprised and disgusted. "Why didn't you tell me you were a werewolf?" He asked before he slapped her across the face.

Hermione kept her head turned away in shame and fear while Deacon's hold on her wrist tightened, until Hermione felt him dig his long fingernails into it. She cried out as she felt his nails hit her bone. She didn't see the sadistic smile on his face as he pulled his nails out and licked the blood off them; instead she was staring at her freely bleeding arm.

"Don't keep things from me Hermione. It only makes it worse in the end." Deacon said before pulling her in for a kiss. Hermione let him kiss her while she screamed inside. Once he released her Hermione looked back down at her arm. The bleeding had stopped and scabs where now forming over the nail marks. "See, no harm done." Deacon said after the scabs had disappeared. Hermione quickly turned to look at him and she had to hide the disgust that filled her at the site of him. Deacon smiled and they continued their date without any more problems.

The rest of September past quickly and it was nearing October 10th. Once again Deacon accused Hermione of cheating on him during one of their dates. Unfortunately, instead of hitting her or even biting her, Deacon decided to punish her in a way that would never fade away. He drug her to the Room of Requirement and proceeded to rape her.

After Deacon left Hermione in the Room of Requirement, she got dressed and made her way to the Gryffindor common room, where she walked in on Ron and Lavender kissing. This along with what had just happened was too much for Hermione. She ran out of the room crying. The only person that noticed her hasty departure was Harry.

The next few days were horrible for Hermione. Wherever she went Deacon would be watching and waiting till they would meet again so he could punish her for anything he wanted to punish her for. On October 16th Harry received a letter from Sirius, who wrote that he would be coming to visit later that night and stay the rest of the weekend. And just as he said, Sirius showed up that night for dinner with the Golden trio, Skylar and Lavender in the Great Hall.