Chapter 12: Pride Dies Hard

Ever since that night, Hermione felt a much stronger bond form between her and Jade. Whenever they were apart, something was pulling her constantly until they were back together. And whenever they were together, they couldn't be close enough. Hermione went back to sleeping with Jade almost every night, either in Jade's room or hers.

They discussed the Oracle Stone briefly every now and again while they were in the library researching on how to get it to sing its song of the future. It was the December fifteenth now and they were leaving on the eighteenth to head back to England for the holidays until after the first of the new year. Hermione thought it best they try harder to crack the mystery behind the stone before they left for break.

"It has to be a specific touch." Hermione said as she flipped through a thick tome. They had been in the library for a couple hours after class, it was Wednesday and she was feeling the stress of the middle of the week starting to get to her. "But it doesn't say what kind, in Ancient Greece it was the Master's uh…sensual touch, but in other cultures it differs." Hermione closed the heavy book with a thud that resounded through the half empty building. Jade was looking through a book across from her on types of mythical stones.

"We will figure it out, 'Mione." She said quietly shutting her book. She ran her hand through her bangs and sat back in her chair. "Do you want to get some fresh air?" Hermione nodded with her head in her hands and stood up.

Jade slung their bags on her shoulder and took Hermione's hand gently. There was a light dusting of snow on the ground and a heavy flurry falling from the sky. The brunette shivered slightly and felt Jade's arm wrap around her shoulders.

"I'm really starting to enjoy that heat." Hermione smiled as she snuggled closer to the lycan girl's body. Jade chuckled softly as they walked through campus with the setting sun. "Although I'm not enjoying the sun setting so soon, it's only five o'clock."

Hermione looked up at Jade when she didn't say anything and started getting lost looking at her girlfriend. The white flecks of snow were sticking slightly to her dark air making it look like stars in the night. Hermione smiled softly at how breath taking her girlfriend was and how in the world Jade ever chose her. Jade glanced over at Hermione and smirked.

"What are you staring at?" Hermione just leaned up and kissed Jade on the cheek. They entered the forest to escape the breeze that was growing in the air. The trees somehow still had some leaves attached to them and the wall of ever greens shielded them from the cold wind.

Jade waved her hand over the ground and cleared a spot of snow before conjuring a thick blanket. She spread it on the spot of dry grass and sat down, looking up at Hermione invitingly. Her blue eyes were glowing softly from the reflection of the snow and the younger witch settled down next to her.

"So, what are you plans for Christmas break?" Hermione asked as she leaned back on her hands and against Jade. The blue eyed girl looked up and watched the snow fall before closing her eyes.

"I'm not really sure." She opened her eyes again and they were dark and ominous staring at the snowflakes dancing in the air. "I used to go with my uncle to his place over break, but," Her eyes closed again and Hermione gently covered Jade's hand with her own and cuddled closer to her. Jade turned and smiled softly at the brunette beside her, but Hermione could still see the uneasiness in her eyes.

"Why don't you come with me?" Hermione asked quietly, she was kind of nervous to ask Jade to spend the holidays with her. It would be a big step in their relationship…past having sex of course. Jade looked a little surprised at the question. "I mean, I've told my parents about you already and, I'm sure if I wrote them they wouldn't mind, but the only thing is that I spend a week with the Weasleys after Christmas." She watched the surprise turn to concern as Jade turned away from her in thought. "I know you and Ron don't get along very well, but I'd still like it if you'd come with me to meet my family and spend more time with Harry and Ginny and Draco even."

Draco had started spending more time with Luna after the war and Luna was good friends with Ginny since Xenophelius Lovegood had sort of lost his mind when Luna was taken. So in turn, Luna would visit over break and Draco would come also. It took a long time for everyone to get used to this, but Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were very accepting once they knew he wasn't and evil traitor, he was just a boy who was forced into something horrible.

"I'll go." Jade answered finally as she lay back on the blanket. She turned her blue gaze up to Hermione's brown eyes. "I'll go for you, but if Ron tries anything, I can't always control myself. Especially when it comes to you." Jade's voice was stern and final, yet soft towards the young witch.

Hermione understood though, the way Ron was acting towards both of them was less than civil and she was sure Jade would love a chance to teach him a lesson again, but she was full of pride and respect. She would never do anything without reason. Hermione smiled and rolled so she was on top of the older girl. The snowflakes that were falling grew thicker and Jade's black hair was almost covered with it. The young witch leaned down and softly brushed her cold lips against warm ones.

"Thank you, Jade." Hermione's breath turned to steam as it left her mouth. Jade leaned up swiftly to closed the space between them and their lips melted together.

A cold hand moved to cup Jade's cheek and hold her closer. Hermione could've sworn Jade was giving off steam with the heat that was warming her hand. The sun sank below the trees, casting a shadow over the girls and Hermione shivered again, feeling the shadow fall on her, along with the temperature.

Jade suddenly rolled her over so Hermione was looking up into blue eyes. The heat soothed her as the taller girl pressed her body flush to her own. For a second, the Gryffindor forgot she was outside and she got lost in the cerulean eyes that were staring down lovingly at her.

"We should get you inside." Jade whispered, touching her forehead gently against cold skin. "You're going to freeze if we stay much longer." She pulled back slightly and Hermione saw a sly twinkle in her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Hermione raised her eyebrow inquisitively at the girl above her. She watched a smirk cross Jade's lips as she leaned down and kissed her jaw under her ear.

"Just that if you're really cold," Jade pressed her body gently against Hermione's which caused a softly sigh to escape from the girl's lips. "We could strip off our clothes. It's better to warm each other with skin to skin contact." Her grin got bigger as she gently bit Hermione's neck.

As Jade softly sucked on a sensitive spot close to her ear, Hermione couldn't help letting a soft moan escape, which only drove her girlfriend to slip her hand under her shirt and wrap her arm around her waist. Hermione couldn't tell if it was snowing anymore, her eyes were closed and the warmth that was growing in her stomach was spreading throughout her body.

Her hand ran through black satin to hold Jade's head on the spot that was causing her mind to go fuzzy with pleasure. She felt Jade's mouth move down lower and nipped softly at her exposed collarbone. Hermione's back arched against the body above her and she heard a sigh escape Jade's warm lips against her skin.

Her hands were slowly roaming the brunette's slender body as she moved to the other side of Hermione's neck. She felt Jade's hand run over her ribs and the brunette couldn't help a giggle that erupted from her chest. Jade smiled against her neck and began to tickle the girl gently as she heard the pleasant sound of her laughter filling the air.

"Jade!" Hermione gasped between fits of giggling. "S-stop! Please! I…I need to breathe!" Jade ceased her onslaught of gentle torture and gently pulled Hermione's body against her own and kissed her passionately. The laughter was silenced immediately as Hermione lost herself in the throes of passion.

"I love you." Jade sighed softly as she pulled away. Hermione still blushed when Jade would look her in the eyes and confess her love. The fluttering in chest still hadn't gone away every time she saw the love in Jade's eyes.

"I love you too." Jade leaned down and kissed her again. "Do you want to go to dinner?" The dark haired girl stood and offered her hand to Hermione who took it gratefully.

"I'll let you have some time with your friends tonight." Jade's eyes were soft as they started walking towards the dining hall. "Not that I don't want to be with you 'Mione, but I feel like I take up a lot of your time away from your friends. So how about you eat with them tonight and I'll eat with Evette and the others?"

Hermione wanted to disagree, but she knew her girlfriend was right. They spent almost all their free time together and she was sure Ginny was getting irritated, but didn't want to say anything because of what Jade went through. She slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"I'll still stay with you tonight though, so don't worry about that." Jade grinned, leaning down and pecking her on the forehead as they reached the dining hall.

"I don't know why," Hermione said as they entered the glass doors. "I just feel like I need to be with you all the time. When we're apart…I feel this pull in my chest that's always leading me towards you. I know it sounds stupid." She'd never told Jade about the feeling she got when they were apart and it was sort of embarrassing that she just confessed it to her.

"I know what you mean." Jade smiled softly and stopped walked to gently grab Hermione by the waist. "When we aren't together, you're always on my mind and I want to be with you always, to make sure you're safe. I feel…incomplete when we aren't together, even if it's just us being in separate classes, I can't wait to see you again."

Hermione smiled brightly as a warm hand cupped her cheek. She was glad to know that Jade felt the same that she did and she wasn't silly for feeling that she wanted to be with her every waking moment of the day. The brunette had revealed her feelings to Ginny once and she just brushed it off as her being clingy, but it wasn't clingy. She didn't need to be next to her all the time or know where Jade was, it was more, just to know. As long as they were in the same room she felt fine, but when they were separated physically, it was like a piece of her was gone and Hermione hated that feeling.

"I guess I'll see you tonight?" Hermione asked looking into the cobalt eyes looking back at her. "Your room or mine?" A smirk grew on Jade's lips as she pondered the question and Hermione knew what the older girl was thinking. "Get those thoughts out of your mind, McHale."

"How about your room tonight." Jade chuckled softly and pecked Hermione on the lips. "I'll see you around nine." She kissed the young witch again before they parted to separate ends of the hall. As Hermione approached Ginny and Neville, she noticed Harry was missing.

"Where is Harry?" Hermione sat down next to Neville who was eagerly eating his meal.

"He and Draco are dueling." Ginny answered as Luna came and sat next to the red head. "They still have the stupid rivalry, even though they're friends." Suddenly Dean, Ron, and Seamus walked in, sitting at a table across from them. "I wish Ron would get over himself already. He and Harry haven't talked in weeks and we're leaving for break soon!" Ginny rubbed her fingers against her temple trying to relieve a headache. Luna rubbed her back gently.

"I'm sure it will pass Ginny." The blonde soothed. Luna's voice was always so calming for some reason and it seemed to be comforting Ginny's shot nerves. "They always get into arguments, but it never lasts too long."

"Yeah Gin, don't worry about it." Neville added as he wiped his mouth. "It will pass soon enough." Hermione felt eyes on her that weren't the eyes she wanted. She glanced sideways and noticed Ron staring at her. A smile crossed his lips as he turned back to his food.

"Ugh…"Hermione sighed as she took a bite of her food. "Why can't he just leave me alone? You think he'd catch on by now that I am not getting back together with him. At this point I'm not even sure if I want to be his friend."

"I dunno what's up with him lately, 'Mione." Neville said setting his fork down. "All he's been doing lately is bad talking Jade and saying how undeserving she is to have you. I think he's just overly jealous. He must be realizing what he lost." Hermione smiled at the boy next to her and gave him a one armed hug.

"Aw thanks, Neville." The boy blushed slightly and Luna giggled at the color creeping across his cheeks. As the four continued to eat their food, Hermione didn't notice the glare that Jade was shooting Ron from across the room.

"You know, Jade," Elise started as she noticed her friend trying to kill someone with her eyes. "If you keep staring like that, you might actually kill him." Evette and Jenson laughed quietly as Jade turned her attention back to her friends.

"I just don't trust him." Jade answered stirring her spoon in her soup lazily. "There's just something about how he's pursuing Hermione, even though she's made it clear that she's not interested, which tells me he's not too keen on the word 'no'." Jenson slowly wrapped an arm around Evette's shoulders.

"There is something stupid about him." Jenson was on the same track as Jade. He never much liked Ron after he assaulted his friend. Jade laughed softly as she took a spoonful of her soup. She had missed being with her friends like this and decided to try and hang out with them more often.

Jade stole another glance in Hermione's direction and saw her laughing with her friends which made her smile. She wanted Hermione to be happy always, and she knew time with their friends was good for each of them. Even if she didn't quite trust all of them.

Suddenly, Jade felt a pang in the back of her neck that froze her. Everything around her started to fade as she tried to hone in on where the feeling was coming from. The hairs on the back of her neck were on end as she scanned the room hastily, eyeing every student in the hall for a hint of something, or someone, being out of place. Then she saw it, Rayna, standing near the entry way of the hall. Their eyes met and Rayna turned towards the exit.

What is she doing here? Jade thought to herself as her body started to move without her permission. She rose to her feet and started walking in dirty blonde's direction. She was too close to Hermione, too close to someone important to her and she wanted the lycan gone.

"Jade?" She didn't hear her friends call her as she slowly, and silently, rose to her feet and walked across the space between her and Rayna. "Jade!" Still nothing, no response, no acknowledgment…nothing.

Hermione heard Jenson and Elise calling Jade's name. She looked over and saw the steady gaze focused on something in the distance in front of her. Hermione looked around, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

"Hey, Hermione!" Harry greeted as he and Draco pulled up chairs to join their friends. Hermione snapped out of her daze and looked at the green eyed boy.

"Hello Harry, Draco." Draco smiled kindly at the girl and nodded his head. He looked so much more human now since he was out of Voldemort's shadow, he even looked…nice, dare she say.

The boys sat down and started to eat and Hermione was watching Jade again carefully. She was at the entrance of the hall and her eyes were dark now, staring at whatever had drawn her attention. Then she saw her, the girl who's eyes could match Harry's in color, but were threatening and dangerous.

x—x

"Why are you here?" Jade's voice was low and forceful. Rayna looked at her and grinned, waving her hand dismissively.

"Oh you know," She sighed being nonchalant as if there wasn't any tension growing in the air. "Getting nostalgic for the old days, thought I'd come back and give into my human self a bit." When her eyes opened again they were bright, trying to make Jade bend to her will. "I see you're not with that girl tonight, did you two break up?"

"Hermione is none of your concern." Jade scoffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. "No part of my life is your concern anymore, Rayna." She noticed a few students were looking at them curiously, obviously not recognizing the girl Jade was conversing with.

"Why don't we take this outside hm?" Rayna took a step forward and brushed her hand against Jade's cheek. "Where we can talk more freely?"

Her nails raked against Jade's skin as she turned and walked out the doors. Jade clenched her fists and took a deep breath before following her former friend into the cold night air. She had neglected to notice Hermione rounding the corner as exited the building.

x—x

"Hermione, where are you going?" Ginny called after her wavy haired friend as she abruptly stood and walked towards the exit. The red head was about get up to follow her friend, but Harry put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I'll go after her, Gin," Harry said softly standing up from his seat. "I'll make sure she's ok."

"I'll go too." Neville said as he rose from the table. "I need to get a good stretch in anyways. Come on, Harry." The two boys left to follow Hermione who was standing by the exit watching Jade leave. Before either of them could say anything, Hermione walked out without a word. "I wonder where she's going?" Neville said as she looked at Harry questioningly. Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"I dunno, but we should probably go after her." Harry pulled on his cloak and pushed through the glass doors as Neville followed.

Before they even got fifty yards from the building, someone pulled them behind the stone wall. Hermione had the boys by the back of their cloaks and brought her finger to her lips telling the boys to keep quiet.

"What's going on?" Harry whispered as quietly as he could. Hermione said nothing, but nodded her head in the direction of the court yard.

Harry and Neville looked over the wall to see Jade and the dirty blonde facing each other. As much as Hermione hated to admit it, Rayna was gorgeous. Her green eyes contrasted her dark blonde hair and she was almost as tall as Jade. Her body was more developed than Hermione's which made the Gryffindor feel self-conscious. They watched carefully and made sure to be quiet so they could hear what was being said.

"So, Jade," Rayna began as she slowly started to circle the taller girl. "I'm here on an errand really, for your father. He wants me to tell you something." Jade's eyes narrowed as Rayna spoke the word 'father', but she remained silent. "He's offering you clemency for your actions at the tournament and is extending his olive branch to you. He promised not to come back, if you join the pack." Jade's body tensed so evidently that Hermione saw it from where she hid.

"I'm not going to join him." The firmness in Jade's voice was strong as she spoke. "And my actions were necessary to keep you from killing someone."

It was getting harder to control her anger. Just the sight of Rayna standing there made her blood boil. The wolf inside of her was growling dangerously, wanting to fight, but it wasn't the right time or place. She wasn't going to start a fight unless provoked. She was too proud to give in to the blonde girl's taunting. Rayna giggled softly and advanced on Jade.

"Now, now," She placed a hand on Jade's chest which made her tense even more, but she never wavered. "I remember a time where you'd let me do anything, Jadey."

Rayna snaked her arm around the taller girl's neck and pulled their bodies together. Hermione wanted to run out and curse the girl who was touching her girlfriend in such a way, but she knew that the action could be cataclysmic for her and her friends. As much as her body was telling her to blow her cover, her mind decided against it.

"That was years ago." Jade answered through gritted teeth. "And you're not who you were then." Rayna smiled and started playing with Jade's long hair.

"I was weak then." The blonde lycan ran a slim finger down Jade's cheek slowly. "I let you make me weak. When you broke up with me, I didn't want to be around you anymore. The mere thought of you made me…" There was hurt in the girl's voice, which disturbed Jade and almost made her feel pity. They used to be best friends, inseparable most days. "The thought of you made me ache inside Jade; we used to be best friends."

Rayna lowered her gaze and Jade saw her eyes gloss over with sadness. The human in her was coming out thinking about their times together and Jade couldn't help herself as she embraced her old friend. She felt Rayna tense against her arms, but she didn't let go.

"You were important to me, Ray," Jade said quietly as she hugged the girl tighter. "You were one of the best friends I've ever had, but we couldn't be together how you wanted. I knew... I knew you were in love with me. I knew you wanted more and I couldn't give it to you and I'm sorry for that."

Hermione watched in shock as her girlfriend embraced the blonde. A twinge of jealousy started growing in Hermione's chest, making it harder to breathe. Neville put a soft hand on her shoulder to try and calm her down, seeing that what she was witnessing was probably bothering her.

"I tried," Rayna whispered quietly against Jade's chest. "I tried to get over you y'know? I really did, but…you had my heart, Jade, and I knew the only way I would get it back is if I had time away from you. That's why I left and…and that's when I met your dad. I thought, if I was more like you…maybe you'd come to love me."

Hearing her confession made Jade's heart ache. Rayna had changed in hopes to alter the events between them. To try and coerce Jade to fall in love with her. Blue eyes narrowed as her father's image flashed in her mind. He ruined everything. Her best friend was forever a monster now because of him. She, herself, was now a monster because of him.

"I miss you, Jade. I miss being with you like this. With you holding me, comforting me." Jade was torn. She wanted her friend back, the girl that she could tell anything to and knew it wasn't going to leave her lips.

"Rayna, I-" Before she could say another word Rayna's lips crashed into her own abruptly. Jade was shocked and couldn't respond fast enough before she felt hands tangle into her hair. Her senses snapped back to her and she pushed Rayna away. "No…no Rayna. I can't. I'm with Hermione." Rayna's eyes suddenly went dark with anger and she pushed Jade away.

"That girl doesn't deserve to have you." She growled as her green eyes started to glow menacingly. "Do you even love her?!" Rayna's voice was rising with her temper. Jade took a cautious step back and regained her composure.

"I do." Rayna's eyes were full of shock and an odd mixture of pain. "I love her with every fiber of my being and I won't betray her with you."

"Well then," Rayna spat, raising her hand. "Why don't we bring her out here?" She flicked her wrist and the stone wall where the three teens were hiding was blown apart. Harry and Neville were thrown backwards as Hermione was being levitated to where the two lycans were. Jade's eyes were wide with fear as Rayna dropped the brunette at their feet. "Did you really think I didn't know you were there you filth? I could smell you the moment you stepped out of the hall." Before Hermione could stand or say anything, Jade was in front of her.

"You wanted her to see us." The realization hit Jade the moment she saw the brunette. "You were trying to get us apart weren't you? That's why you kissed me." Rayna chuckled slightly as Hermione rose to her feet and peered over Jade's shoulder.

"I've always wanted to kiss you again, Jade." Jade felt a twitch in the air as Rayna began to change. "But your father thought that if your little girlfriend was out of the picture, you'd come running." As the girl finished shifting she let out a mused growl. "I was more than happy to take on this task for him." A low growl emitted from Jade's chest and Hermione could feel it reverberate through the cold air.

"You knew my senses were duller than yours." Jade's voice was dripping with disdain and Hermione knew she was going to shift. "I won't let you hurt her."

A carnal sound, something between a roar and scream, ripped through the night as Jade began to change. She grew taller and her white coat grew fast as the glow in her eyes grew bright. Hermione took a step back as she watched her girlfriend change into her lycan form.

"Hermione!" Neville yelled as he, Harry and Ginny were running towards her with Luna and Draco tailing them. "Get away from them!" Hermione didn't even think before she started sprinting towards her friends. She looked over her shoulder and saw Jade lunge at the blonde lycan and sink her claws into her neck. As she reached the safety of friends, she turned back to watch the wolves.

"You're so weak, Jade!" Rayna was slashing the air wildly, trying to land a hit on her agile opponent. "Letting your heart go to that girl instead of a lycan like yourself. You're always going to have to protect her! With me it would've been easy." Rayna snarled as she connected a hit with Jade's jaw and sent her sprawling to the ground several feet away. Jade rolled on the ground and jumped to her feet with little effort as she shot a blast of fire towards Rayna. It barely missed the lycan and singed the fur on her face as it passed.

"Sorry," Jade snarled. "You're not my type." As Rayna dodged the attack, Jade had sprinted towards her and tackled her to the ground. The sound of snarling and growls were filling the air as they wrestled for power in the snow.

"What should we do?" Draco asked Hermione as they stood watching the wolves try and tear at each other. Hermione shook her head; she couldn't think straight watching Jade fight. She didn't even know if there was anything she could do. "Hermione?!" Draco was trying to get her attention, but every ounce of energy in her was focused on Jade.

"Hraah!" A loud bellowing roar tore from Rayna's throat as Jade slashed her deep along her back.

As Jade rounded on the dark blonde wolf to attack again Rayna let out an earth shattering roar that brought Jade to her knees, holding her head in pain. Suddenly a pain shook Jade's body on her right side. Rayna had ripped open Jade's side with her claws and she was bleed profusely.

"If you were pure blooded," Rayna said as she walked towards the injured half lycan. "You'd be healing by now." She walked up to the kneeling figure and back handed her with her over-sized hand.

Jade flew through the air and hit a tree before landing on the ground. Hermione couldn't resist the urge anymore to help. She jumped to her feet and started sprinting towards Jade's fallen body, but she was interjected as Rayna appeared in front of her, a wicked smile on her face. Before the young witch could pull out her wand, Rayna's giant clawed hand was around her neck and lifting her off the ground.

"I don't know what she sees in you." The lycan spat as she held Hermione in the air. The brunette tried to claw at the hand that was holding her with no success. Her nails were nothing compared to the claws Rayna possessed. "You're just a weak human witch. You don't belong with her; perhaps I should do you both a favor and rid you of this life? What do you think your precious Jade would do if she found you dead? Cry? Hunt me down? Or perhaps she would just kill herself." Hermione's blood was boiling as she thought of Jade being so distraught as to take her own life.

"She'd hunt you down." Hermione choked out bravely. Rayna's jaws opened and she let out a deep laugh. "She would kill you."

"You think she loves you that much?" Hermione was starting to feel weak due to the lack of oxygen. "You think she'd avenge you?" Suddenly a loud bang and Hermione was on the ground coughing and gasping for air. Rayna was on the ground smoking from the Bombarda curse Jade had attacked her with.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Jade limped over to Hermione slowly. Her side was still dripping blood and her wound bled worse with every step she was taking.

Regardless of her injury, Jade raised her hand at Rayna and levitated her body in the air. "I'll make you regret the very thought of hurting her!" Hermione saw Jade's eyes glowing bright with anger. She started to clench her hand into a fist and saw Rayna's form seize with pain. Hermione noticed the pool of blood at Jade's feet and stepped in front of her placing her hands on the wolf's shoulders.

"Jade, you have to stop moving!" Hermione pleaded. Jade's eyes were still on Rayna. As her hand closed more, it seemed like the more Rayna's body would tremble as she gasped for air, as if she was being crushed. "Jade, stop, please! You're going to bleed to death!" Hermione's voice broke through the barrier of hate Jade had built up while fighting Rayna.

Her eyes connected with brown orbs and she slowly lowered her arm, letting the blonde wolf fall to the ground. As everyone started running towards Jade and Hermione, the wolf disappeared into the night with a soft clap of thunder. When she saw Rayna was gone, Jade relaxed slowly as her human regained control and as she did so, she remembered the gaping wounds in her side. Hermione watched the life fade from the blue eyes she loved as Jade collapsed in the snow.

"JADE!" The pool of red was spreading fast against the flawless white on the ground.

"We have to get her to the hospital, Hermione." Ginny said as she scurried to pull her friend to her feet. "You need to go too." Hermione couldn't register anything Ginny was saying to her. Jade wasn't moving and the blood just kept soaking the ground. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her and drag her away from her fallen lover.

Hermione tried to fight them, but they were strong and she wasn't in a clear state of mind to fight. She watched as Neville and Ginny levitated Jade and quickly followed whoever was carrying her into the dining hall and up the stairs to the hospital wing. As they neared the front desk, the body carrying her set her down gently and as she looked up she was surprised to see Ron looking down at her.

"Sorry, Hermione," He said gently as he forced her to sit in one of the chairs. "But you need to relax and let the doctor see her." As Harry was explaining to the nurse what had happened, the doctor rushed out of the double doors and scurried them all inside. She faintly heard Draco mention that Hermione had been injured too and she was quickly ushered down into a hospital bed. There was a trail of blood through the room from Jade's injury and Hermione had started to cry silently. You can only lose so much blood before…

"Please get me more bandages, Nurse Jenny!" The doctor yelled at her assistants frantically as she chanted healing incantations and blood restoration spells. "More water!" Hermione sat up in her hospital bed as Ginny slipped her arms around her sympathetically trying to comfort the brunette. Jade's face was pale and her eyes were half open and void of any life.

Please don't let her die. Hermione prayed to the gods to save her girlfriend. Don't let her die trying to protect me. Not when things were getting better. The thought of losing Jade was overwhelming her as the doctor and nurses continued to work on her wounds. Hermione was shaking uncontrollably and she buried her head against Ginny's shoulder and cried.

It was too much to handle. Watching another girl kiss Jade, watching her embrace her like that, and then getting hurt trying to protect her. Jealousy was a horrible feeling, but even more horrible when you feel guilty for feeling it. In those moments, Hermione had doubted Jade's feelings, but she promised herself she would never doubt Jade, again no matter what. A nurse came over to Hermione's bed and forced a tonic down her throat, it was warm and calming and before she knew it everything, around her was blurring away as she fell asleep.

Hours must have passed, because when Hermione woke, everyone was gone except for the nurse who was sitting next to Jade's bed side changing her bandages. Hermione tried to focus her eyes in the dim light and suddenly everything came back to her. Why she was there and the intense injury Jade had sustained. She looked over and saw that Jade's entire upper body was wrapped in clean bandages. Hermione tried to sit up, but her head was throbbing.

"Do take it easy, dear." The nurse walked over and handed the brunette a glass of red liquid. "It's for the pain." Hermione nodded and downed the drink in one gulp. It almost burned her throat as it went down, but she was back to focusing on Jade.

"Is she going to be all right?" Hermione was weak and so was her voice. The nurse nodded and checked her watch.

"She stopped bleeding about an hour ago." Hermione sighed in relief and lay back down in her bed gently. "The doctor thinks that when she reverted back to her human form, the healing process from her lycan blood stopped, causing her to bleed more." It made sense, lycans and werewolves healed at an exponential rate, and even though Jade wasn't pureblooded, she knew she healed faster too. "She just needs rest now. She's been through quite a lot and honestly, if it were someone else I'm sure they wouldn't have made it. Oh, and your friends said they would be back tomorrow morning to check on both of you."

Hermione thanked the nurse as she left and laid on her side to watch Jade's chest slowly rise and fall. She looked around the room, and when she was sure no one was around, she magically slid her bed closer to Jade's so she could hold her hand. There was some warmth, but not as much as normal when Hermione would touch the lycan. There were several empty vials on the night table next to Jade's bed and Hermione could see they used many blood replenishing potions on her. She shuddered to think how close she was to losing her love and squeezed Jade's hand tighter subconsciously.

"Uhn…" A noise fluttered from Jade's throat. "H-Hermione…?" Jade's head turned slowly towards the brunette and blue eyes opened half way to look at the young girl. Jade smiled weakly before closing her eyes again. "I'm glad you're safe." She whispered as she slipped out of consciousness again.

Hermione let out a sigh of relief and laid her head down on her pillow as sleep began to take her again. She felt Jade squeeze her hand gently before she closed her eyes and she thanked the gods she hadn't lost Jade that night. With the extensive injuries she'd sustained, she was just glad the lycan had woken up at all.