A/N: Thanks hermioneFanFicLuvr, for pointing out to me the hole in my plot. I thought I'd already said this bit, but since it was obviously confusing, here's this chapter to explain a bit.
Wild Child
A wolfish story
"Most of us think ourselves as standing wearily and helplessly at the center of a circle bristling with tasks, burdens, problems, annoyance, and responsibilities which are rushing in upon us. At every moment we have a dozen different things to do, a dozen problems to solve, a dozen strains to endure. We see ourselves as overdriven, overburdened, overtired."
An explosion rocked the Burrow, smoke filling the air. Pygmy Puffs scrambled in every direction, escaping from windows and doors, and every other crack or cranny they could find. Mrs. Weasely burst into the living room, having run from the kitchen.
"FRED, GEORGE! WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT..!" Mrs. Weasely started to yell, only to find that neither Fred nor George was present. In fact, now that she thought about it, both twins were at their shop working. A very sooty Harry, whose face was now almost indistinguishable from his hair, and a charcoal gray Ron stared back at her guiltily from where they sat on the floor. Behind the couch a tuft of red hair hid, and Mrs. Weasely could hear the sounds of her daughter coughing.
"Sorry Mrs. Weasely...my exploding snap got the better of me, I'm afraid. I think Fred and George might have tampered with this pack, though..." Harry offered, looking a bit helpless. Mrs. Weasely sighed, shaking her head. She knew those two were involved somehow.
"That's alright, Harry dear. You'd best clean up, though. Shaklebolt is supposed to be coming over later to discuss some things for the Order, and you never know when Dumbledore might drop by these days." Mrs. Weasely sighed. The boys gave her puzzled glances.
"Uh...mum? How come Order people are coming over here to talk about the...you know...? I thought that's what Head Quarters were for." Ron asked, trading looks with Harry.
"Well, Dumbledore's got Hermione working on some project he doesn't want disturbed, apparently. That's why Hermione's staying over there with just Lupin. Well, that and she can keep an eye on him better if everyone's not running amok over there. That's why she hasn't been to visit, dears. Lots to be done, I'm afraid." Mrs. Weasely sighed.
"Why's Hermione doing stuff for the Order when Harry and Ron aren't?" Ginny asked, popping up from behind the couch, now that she was sure it was safe to surface. Mrs. Weasely looked surprised.
"Well, of course because she...actually, I don't know. You'd have to ask Dumbledore I'm afraid. Now, get cleaned up. The lot of you look like those licorice snaps Dumbledore's so fond of." Mrs. Weasely responded. Just as the boys stood, a knock came on the door. Completely ignoring the mess they'd created, and how dirty they were, Harry and Ron raced to answer the door. Ginny followed quickly on their heels, throwing her mother an amused look as she went. Grabbing the door handle, Ron threw the door open and gave Harry a triumphant look. Then, facing the door once more, his jaw dropped to the floor. There in the doorway stood not only Shaklebolt; but also Dumbledore, Tonks, Moody, Lupin, the twins, Bill, and Fleur. In fact the porch was rather crowded.
The boys stood staring at the people before them, wondering what was happening that so many Order members had descended upon the Burrow. As they watched, Hagrid and McGonagall joined the party on the porch. Slowly more Order members showed up, and eventually even Lupin stood there. It wasn't until Ginny caught up to the boys and asked them why they were standing in the doorway that they regained their senses. Quickly they stepped aside and let the guests in. 2
The people filed into the living room, and took their turn at staring in amazement. Someone gave a long, low whistle of amazement. Trying to stifle their laughter, Ron and Harry quickly vanished the smoke and charcoal left all over the room.
"Wha' appened 'ere?" Hagrid asked.
"Exploding Snap gone wrong." Harry explained briefly as everyone settled themselves around the newly cleaned room. Ron and Harry traded glances again as the other talked. Clearing his throat, Harry waited until the others were silent and he had their attention before speaking.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir...why is the Order meeting here? And why can't we visit Hermione? We haven't seen her all summer, sir. She hasn't even sent us letters! Hermione always writes us letters!" Harry demanded respectfully. Dumbledore regarded Harry over the tops of his half-moon spectacles.
"I'm afraid the work Miss Granger is doing for the Order is top-secret. It is something that only someone of Miss Granger's background and intelligence can do for us, I'm afraid. Don't worry, Harry. You'll get your chance soon enough." Dumbledore replied at length.
"But why now? And why can't she take a break once in awhile? I mean, we haven't seen her all summer!" Ron complained. Moody growled something under his breath that made Tonks, who was sitting next to him on a little red settee, blush a shade of scarlet so bright it would have been impossible for anyone who was not a morphmagus.
"Because it is a pressing matter that I, myself, am unable to solve. We're hoping that Miss Granger's fresh pair of eyes will be able to grant us an insight heretofore unavailable." Dumbledore informed them gravely. Ron's mouth snapped shut, making a sound rather like someone tapping their fingernails on a desk. He still looked rebellious, though.
"Could we see her for just a day, Professor Dumbledore? You wouldn't want to overwork Hermione. You know how she is, Professor. Once she gets started on something, she doesn't stop even if she needs to." Ginny implored. Dumbledore looked about to refuse, when Lupin interrupted.
"I think that would be an excellent idea. She very nearly threw me out of Grimmauld Place this morning for breathing too loudly. Much as I hate to admit it, Ginerva may be right. Miss Granger could do with a break." Lupin admitted ruefully. Looking like he didn't think it a wise idea, Dumbledore finally agreed, on the condition that it would take place only at the Burrow, with complete supervision by Mrs. Weasely. After all, mad Deatheaters could be anywhere.
Then the three children were unceremoniously kicked out of the house so that the Order could have their meeting. When the children were gone and the room impervius-ed, the adults picked up their conversation once more.
"You say Miss Granger kicked you out of Grimmauld Place?" Dumbledore asked calmly or Remus Lupin. Lupin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. Apparently Tonks, Bill, Fleur, and I were making too much noise. I think the research is not going well. The other day when I walked into the library, she was about ready to cry, I reckon. What do you have her doing?" Lupin asked. Dumbledore sighed and gave Remus and inscrutable look.
"I'm afraid I shall have to give you the same answer as Mr. Potter's. It is top-secret, and I cannot divulge the answers. Suffice it to say, it is partially for Harry and partially for the Order. I just don't have the time, or resources, to do the research myself. Miss Granger has some...unique contacts that make her ideally suited for the job. I'm afraid I also feel Miss Granger is more...ready...to help the Order. During her third year, Miss Granger used a time-turner every day and basically aged three years instead of one that year. Not only that, but she was already more mature than the other children. She 3 seems to be an old soul, and it shows in her maturity and thinking." the wizened wizard said. The other occupants of the room tried to look understanding, but Remus just gave the headmaster a look that said he didn't believe that answer. To Remus, the answer seemed to pat, and it seemed like the man was giving answers when really all he'd done was avoid the issue.
"Except for that bit about the contacts..."Remus's eyes narrowed at the thought. What sort of "contacts" could Hermione Granger, muggleborn witch, possibly have that could be important to the Order of the Phoenix? Even if she was 17 years old. That was something Remus was going to have to find out. Something funny was going on here, and if Dumbledore wasn't going to say it, then Remus and Moony would just have to find out on their own. Moony growled in agreeance. Of course, Moony was up for anything that had to do with His Hermione.
"Aarrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!" Screamed Hermione, throwing her head back and letting loose the banshee's cry of frustration. Picking up the book and shaking it in front of her, she contemplated defenstrating the thing. This research was turning out to be almost more trouble than it was worth! Standing, she chucked the book away from her and onto a small coffee table that already had mounds of books on it. The book she'd thrown hit one of the piles, which collapsed and scattered all over the place and knocked over two more stacks of books.
"WHY DOES THIS STUPID LIBRARY NOT HAVE A SINGLE HELPFUL BOOK?!" Hermione demanded, looking up towards the ceiling and shaking her fists in the air. An amused chuckle came from behind her, and Hermione spun around quickly. Her body was tensed into a half-crouched position and her eyes wary as they scanned her opponent. Her hair had long ago burst free from its confinement in her elastic and it swirled wildly around her face and head. Her hands were bent into a clawing position, and she was half-way up on her toes.
"Sorry to startle you, Mya. One the cousins sent this, when we made those inquiries for you. It might be worth taking a look at. Unlike these...Wizarding books." the person said, obviously contemptuous of anything Wizarding. Hermione relaxed almost immediately when she saw it was her brother Rowan. Letting out the breath she'd held, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Rowan!" She cried, not able to express her happiness at his presence any better. He knew, though. He could feel it through their pack-bond. He chuckled again and returned her hug. Patting her on the back, he let go. Quickly Hermione caught his hand and drew him over to the couch. Draping herself over the couch and her brother, she held out her hands imperiously.
"What'd you bring me?" She demanded, sounding rather like a spoiled child. He grinned and handed her the book. Looking over the cover, she saw the words 'En Media Res'. Wrinkling up her forehead, Hermione tried to translate it with what little knowledge she had of Latin.
"In the middle? Isn't that when someone starts a thought in the middle of a sentence, or when someone starts a story after the beginning?" Hermione asked, confused. Rowan nodded and let her continue to scan the book. It was obviously old. When Hermione sniffed it experimentally, she was somewhat surprised to see that it was older than anything she'd encountered in the Wizarding world before. It must have come from one of the older packs. Or perhaps Rowan had found it in their packs' personal library. One could never be sure exactly where books came from, when Rowan was involved. Books seemed to gravitate to him like anything that stood in the path of a black hole. 4
He said it'd come from one of their cousins, but that could have been a cover in case someone else was in Grimmauld Place and happened to overhear the conversation. Then again, maybe one of their cousins had sent the book. Both possibilities were equally probable. She wouldn't ask, though. At least this way when someone asked where she'd gotten her information, she could simply say it was from a distant cousin.
Sparkling silver vines covered the outside, and the book was hardbound. The cover was black, and ancient symbols of the Esa's covered it. The symbols themselves had no direct meaning as a human might take it. Instead they worked like miniature representations of spells. Some for hiding the book from the eyes of anyone with out Esa blood, some for letting the book contain more information than its size should allow, and some for making the information the reader needed most appear within pages.
Cracking open the cover, Hermione was glad to see it was a well-treated book. Despite its obvious age, it appeared almost brand-new. Across the pages the language of her pack ran, telling a tale that Hermione had never heard before. Smiling up at Rowan, Hermione leaned against one of the armrests and began to read. Rowan produced a book from a hidden pocket in his jacket, and both passed the next couple hours in peaceful contemplation and reading.
"Aha!" Hermione cried suddenly, jumping to her feet. Rowan winced as her feet crashed down off his lap, bruising his knee on the way. Paying no attention to the look Rowan was giving her, she danced around the room. Waving the book about in the air, Hermione chanted 'yes!' over and over again.
"Not that I'm not happy for you...but...what is it?" He asked. She turned around, grabbed his hand, and drew him up to dance around the room with her.
"I've found some of what I've been looking for! The key to unlocking...it!" She cried before releasing his hands and continued to jump up and down on her own.
"Are you sure? We had the secret to that all along?! I don't remember hearing, or reading, anything about it before..." Rowan demanded, racking his mind to try and find any mention of it in their libraries at home. Hermione just grinned at him. Rolling his eyes at the exuberant girl, he decided she had been cooped up in Grimmauld place too long.
"Running doesn't seem to be doing enough to release your energy, Mya. You should come home soon." Rowan murmured. Pouting, Hermione stopped her excited celebration.
"Can't. Still got lots to find out." She claimed. Rowan snorted, but didn't push the issue. That's just how his sister was.
"Alright, but remember we're always here for you if you need us. I've got to get back before someone finds me here, but I'll keep an eye out for anything else...useful at home." He told her before giving her a brief hug. Then he was gone, with no sign of his ever being there. Hermione was positively green with envy. There was something she didn't know how to do.
Hey all! Hope that explained a bit for you. Plot development..oi. Anyways, I hope that wasn't too boring.
Wingsrookie