I do not own Harry Potter, sadly, or the pairings (and the personalities) would be so messed up it wouldn't be Harry Potter anymore... Enjoy!


I sat on the landing of the fifth floor, my fingers tracing the carved leather words Our Family. Remus was really pushing it with me. But a part of me insisted he just wanted to have family back. I didn't know what had happened to my parents.

I didn't want to look at the pictures either. I'd be too angry, too stressed for the baby.

"I've been trying to find you everywhere," a voice said quietly. I didn't look down the stairs where they were.

"I don't want this."

"Then why did you join the pack?" Remus asked.

"No, I don't want this," I thrust the book towards him and he caught it, stunned. "Your parents are dirt to me. Mrs. and Mr. Lupin. They hated me, acted like I was dead. I was going to come back, Lupin, after I got answers, but when I saw the Prophet and how I was said to be killed by Death Eaters, I was so angry. I hated them. I still hate them."

"They died."

"Good," I nodded. "They deserved it."

"House fire. They burned alive my seventh year."

I nodded, not caring, "Still doesn't make me regret it."

"It was Death Eaters. They wanted you."

I did the math, "That was the year I was brought to the pack. They wanted the Alpha's mate. They still do. They want the pack weak. We lost more than half of our pack just four months ago. We're slowly rebuilding."

"Your mate has been looking for you."

He spat out mate like it was a bad word. "I know."

"You're hiding from him?"

"No. I've been waiting for you to take the book. Now I can find him."

"Romula-"

"Don't, Remus. It's too late. You chose to live amongst the humans, repress your nature. I chose to embrace it, and live among my kind. You can't go back now. It's too late."

I jumped off the railing and landed on the toes of my feet on the floor below us. Only a soft thud was heard. Remus sighed and I heard him walking slowly behind me as I made my way to the kitchen, where lunch was being served. Aohdan and Hermione were still talking.

"What about marriage?" Hermione asked, writing everything he said in word-for-word notes.

"Marriage?" Aohdan asked. "We don't have whatever that is."

"Where two people that are destined for each other go before a minister, take vows, and are bound to one another for eternity?"

"Don't have it," I told her shortly, helping Georgiana make sandwiches.

"But you have to have marriage!" Hermione protested

"We mate," Aohdan offered. "It's like that, but we don't take vows or anything else."

"What do you mean its like marriage?" Hermione asked.

I smirked to myself and shared a look with Georgiana and Badra, who were both grinning and keeping themselves busy.

"Well, the werewolf from the age of twelve and up developes a new sense. It's like a sixth sense. We scent someone. And that scent to us is intoxicating and we find we can't be away from them for a very long time. We always know where the person we scent is at. We can feel their emotions. We can sense if they're in danger. And after we get to know them better, we mate with them. It's life-long and we never have another mate. It's until the day we die. We can scent on anyone from Muggles, wizards, to other wolves.

"And that's about it," Aohdan finished.

"What do you mean, though, you mate with them?" Hermione asked, intrigued.

Aohdan blushed a little and struggled with what to say next, "Um, well, its sort of like, um-"

I laughed lightly and on my way to place a plate of sandwiches on the table, stopped to whisper in his ear, "Want me to tell her, big boy?"

"Um, yeah?" he said like it was a question.

"Too bad I can't," I smirked. "You have to or else it won't be a personal bond."

I walked away before he could say anything, but I did see his freaked out expression. "Well, um," Aohdan stuttered and Hermoine waited patiently, not seeming to understand what he was trying to say. "When the wolf is, ugh, intimate with the one they scent..." he winced slightly as she blushed bright red, getting what he was trying to say, "they bite their mate on the neck." As if on cue, Hermione looked towards me and I pulled my sandy hair from my neck, exposing my white scar of Fenrir's teeth. She then turned to Georgiana, who showed hers, and then looked at Badra.

"Haven't mated yet," Badra shrugged, stirring the rabbit soup. So good...

"And Pauline?" Hermione asked Aohdan.

"She's Muggle, mated on by Logan, who's the new second-in-command."

"What if a female wolf scents on a non-were male?" Hermione asked.

"Then the female wolf bites him," Aohdan nodded. "It doesn't change anything. If he's young, he'll be made into a werewolf. If not, then the woman never becomes marked."

"What about you?" Hermione asked, intrigued.

"I've scented, never mated," Aohdan answered truthfully.

Hermione nodded, her sparkle in her eyes losing their luster. "Oh, that's great, for you!" She tried to sound enthusiastic but even I, who was washing my hands, heard the disappointed sigh.

"Yeah, I hope it's great for her too," Aohdan remarked. "She doesn't quite know yet."

"Well you should tell her," Hermione decided, grabbing her notebook and standing. "Thank you so much for telling me about this stuff. See you at lunch."

She was gone before Aohdan could even say another word and he looked at me confused, "What did I say?"

"Aohdan, she thinks you scented someone that isn't her," I told him gently.

He cursed under his breath, "She'll hate me now, won't she?"

"Oh yeah, honey," Georgiana nodded. "Hate your guts."

I threw her a dirty look, "Georgiana!"

"What?" she cried, holding her hands up in surrender. "Do you remember when Logan tried to tell Pauline? And she took it just as Hermione is now. She hated Logan when she found out the truth, but now she's more accepting. They love each other."

Aohdan grimaced, "I'd rather she didn't hate me."

I smirked, "Then I'd tell her tonight while showing her how to wish. Do something really romantic."

"You think it will work?" Aohdan asked hopefully.

"You won't know until you try," I smirked.

Dinner was approaching quickly. I enlisted Fenrir's help in carrying the platters of elk to the table, as well as the roasted pig body, belly up, with an apple in its mouth. The bear took Fenrir, Logan, and Aohdan's help. It was rather large.

"Perfect," I nodded. The ladies then brought in the turkey, ham, and chickens in and set them down in between the larger animals.

Magical ovens cooked food fit for an army, or a werewolf pack the size of twenty-eight.

Molly had brought in bowls of sides, such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and other items. It wasn't until last minute that I brought out the acromantula, everyone already sitting.

A few people blanched at the large spider floating over their heads as it revolved around the table, waiting to be summoned and cut into. It took up way too much table space.

"S-spider!" Ronald whispered.

"No way!" Aohdan cried. "How'd you get that?"

"House elf," I shrugged. "I was talking to myself, he popped away, came back with it ten minutes later."

"It looks delicious!" Declan exclaimed.

We all ate, chatting to our neighbors about the food, Christmas, or just anything in general. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting beside each other, Hermione next to Tonks, who was sitting next to my brother, and then it was Aohdan and the rest of the pack. On Harry's side was Molly, Arthur, Ginny, the twins, and Bill.

"Try it," I insisted to Hermione as she apprehensively stared at the bear, elk, and acromantula on her plate. She was sitting across from me. "It's wonderful. Better than turkey. Tastes just like steak."

She scrunched up her nose as she stabbed a piece with her fork and bit it experimentally. Her eyes widened and she shoved the entire forkful into her mouth. "That's delicious!"

I smiled, "Thanks."

Her lion heart eventually caused the entire Order to try it, and most loved it. Although Ronald and the twins were a little repulsed. They liked it, but wouldn't eat it again.

"Come on," I murmured, pulling Declan's sleeve after I finished washing the dishes. "Wishing time. Go tell all the pack members."

Declan squealed and nodded, running off. Aohdan, who was sitting at the kitchen counter, looked at me. "I'm allowed to bring Hermione?"

"Of course you are! She's an exclusive member."

He nodded, grinning, before hopping off the counter and finding his soon-to-be mate. "Make it romantic tonight!" I called after him.

He laughed from the hall. I was like the embarrassing mother to him. Always did something to cause him to look or act like a fool. I grinned to myself. It always worked.

We gathered in the living room, Hermione sticking to Aohdan's side, unsure of what to do.

"We've all made our wishes," Fenrir said. "Except for one." Hermione eyes widened at being called out and she blushed darkly. "Please, state your wish, Hermione."

"Um," she faltered, not knowing what to say. "I wish that the war will end with very, very little casualties to our side."

Fenrir nodded, "Now if you'll please." I presented the wooden box with a smile, "Take your wish and set it free."

The kids went first and then the teenagers of age. Then us adults. We walked single file line to the open window and blew our wish out of our open palms, into the chilly winter air.

Hermione blew hers out and watched as it rose to the sky and lit up as a firework. I smiled, I really was coming up with the great ideas over here.

"Goodnight to you all," I smiled kindly, lifting Eliza to rest on my hip. "Hermione, thank you for witnessing our tradition. The rest of you, dream of your wish coming true."

People departed after that and soon it was just Fenrir, Aohdan, Hermione, Declan, Eliza and I.

"That's so fascinating," Hermione murmured.

I laughed, tapping her shoulder as I passed, "Get some sleep, dear. It's late."

She nodded, "Thank you so much for allowing me to know all of this stuff. I know you don't exactly allow people to see this stuff."

"We don't," Fenrir said gruffly. Her eyes skittered to over my shoulder where Fenrir was at, waiting for me. "You're the first."

I gave her a kind smile, "Sleep well."

I left the room, so its only occupants were Hermione and Aohdan. Oh, they were going to have a little moment, maybe?

As I started to ascend the stairs, I noticed Hermione quickly following us, her eyes squinting. I set Eliza down and urged her to follow my mate, while I turned and went back down towards Hermione. Fenrir didn't question motives. He probably knew what I was doing.

"Hermione," I said gently. The woman stopped climbing the steps furiously and glared at me.

"What?" her eyes widened in shock, "I'm sorry, I-"

"It's alright," I insisted. "Come with me."

I took her hand and gently pulled her with me to a room I had stumbled upon the first night I was here. The family tree room. "What's going on?"

"You seem upset," I told her. "I know I'm not a good friend, nor close in age, but I do understand some things, especially if its boy trouble. I have to live with the entire pack. I know enough about feelings to know that a simple misunderstanding can hurt someone who doesn't fully understand."

"What do you mean?" Hermione murmured, confusion in her voice.

I noticed the tears welling up in her eyes, "Sometimes, the men that we want are never that far away in the first place. And I wouldn't give up hope."

She was silent a moment, but nodded, "I can tell you anything, right?"

I nodded, a little shocked at the request, "Of course! I'm always here to listen. Comes with the mate."

She cleared her throat and continued uncertainly, "I'm a little confused. I just, there's this boy in your pack, and I know you don't accept outsiders, but ..." she shrugged. "I really like him and he's already scented someone."

I smiled, "Hermione, you need to talk to that person about this, then. I can't answer that. But remember what I said."

I stood and tapped her shoulder in reassurance, "And why do you doubt that he doesn't like you back? Us wolves can't control who we scent, but we can control what we feel to a certain extent."

Hermione looked back at me, wiping her eyes, "Roma?"

"Yes?" I asked from the door.

"Who did he scent?"

"You have to ask Aohdan, Hermione," I smiled softly. "Why don't you go find him? The night's still young."

She took a deep breath before nodding to herself, "A-alright."

I smiled as she left and silently followed her. This was going to be too cute, I knew.

She went to the kitchen, as if on instict, and I knew she was already feeling the bond.

"Hey," Aohdan greeted quietly from the counter. He had a glass of firewhiskey in his hands.

"Hey," Hermione greeted back, sitting beside him. There was a moment of silence and I wanted to strangle her. Say something!

"What are you doing? I thought you headed to bed," Aohdan said softly.

She shrugged, "Wanted to talk to you."

"About?"

"Who did you scent?" Hermione asked suddenly. Way to ease it in the conversation.

Aohdan, who was sipping his firewhiskey choked a second later as he heard what she said and he coughed a moment, "Uh-"

"If you don't want to tell me, that's okay. I just, I consider you as a friend. I guess, you could say. You're really nice to me and you told me so much about your life-"

"I'm going to tell you something," Aohdan interrupted her. I was giddy now, he better do this romantically.

"Okay...?" she was a little unsure of how to continue, but waited for him to say something. Instead he withdrew his wand and held out his palm.

"Hold out yours," he instructed.

She obeyed without a second of hesitation. His wand movement was slow and soon the pink flower started to form out of a soft pink mist. The flower floated above their joined hands and Hermione watched it in fascination.

"Now blow on it."

"What?" Hermione asked, shocked.

"Blow on it," Aohdan repeated.

She leaned forward slightly and blew a gentle breeze from her lips. The leaves of the rose rustled under the man-made wind and turned a purple. She gasped.

"I chose a rose because you smell like fresh roses," Aohdan said quietly. "And I made a wish a few days ago, when the rest of the pack made wishes. It was to tell my mate I scented on her."

Hermione nodded, but her smile was now a small frown. "Oh."

He retracted his hand and gently eased the flower to rest between her fingers, "This rose symbols the scent of my mate. Do you accept the werewolf I am, Hermione?"

Her eyes widened in shock and I suppressed the 'aww' that I desperately wanted to say. "For real?"

Aohdan nodded, his eyes not wavering from hers. "If you don't accept, I will never bother you again. If you don't accept, you and I will be nothing more than friends. If you don't accept, you won't join the pack this summer."

"I'd join the pack?" she gasped. "But I'm still in school and-"

"Alpha has already made arrangements if you accept to attend school, but return to the pack during the holidays."

She bit her lip, "I-I-"

Aohdan nodded, "I understand." He stood and turned towards the door to leave, but Hermione was quick.

She reached out and grabbed his arm, "Wait! You didn't let me finish."

He turned his head slightly, but he didn't look at her, "I think you said enough."

She bit her lip like she was having a battle and stepped in front of him, forcing him to look at her before placing her hands on his cheek, "I haven't said anything," she insisted. She stood on her tippy toes and he eyed her uncertainly. "Of course I accept it. I've liked you for awhile, even though we only shared like two words every other week. And I figured when Roma asked you to talk to me earlier today, I'd have a chance to ask you some questions."

"You talk too much," Aohdan smirked, leaning down and capturing her lips. I smiled to myself and backed up before heading up the stairs.

Match-making should be my day-job.


It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go! Take a look at the nine and ten, glistening once again, with candy canes and silver lanes aglow! :)