Disclaimer: I own nothing...
A/N: So... When I pressed the post button for the last chapter, I knew I was saying goodbye to a good portion of my readers. Many of you were really rooting for a Dramione finale and I knew, making Leah imprint on him, will cost me a lot of readers.
And honestly I'm okay with that. A little sad but that's part of the game so to speak. That particular plot twist was written in my notes (I have about 30 pages in paper all dedicated to this story, all chapters plotted and detailed) since about the third month into writing this.
I knew I was risking a lot with Draco but I was and still am willing to take that risk.
This is a crossover. I may later in time write a crossover with a Dramione main pairing but not now, not in this.
So I bid to all who can't bear to read more since a Dramione ending is lost, goodbye and I want to say a big THANK YOU for sticking with this story so far and letting me know my mistakes and helping me develop and progress as a writer.
So before starting the chapter... Adieu and hope to see you in my Dramione story after Fate is complete!
And oh yes, you Dramione fans left please take a minute to go vote in my poll! It's about which story (Draco/Hermione) you'll like me to start working after Fate is complete!
Thanks to my wonderful beta Greekchic for doing an amazing job and all of you Dramione fans, take the time to go vote in my poll please!
Leah's Pain...
No no no no no NOOOOOOOOO!
Her green eyes darted around full of panic, locking for just a second with pitying golden orbs and then shifting again, desperately trying to avoid looking at him, although her whole being was screaming in protest, yearning to stare at her soul mate, to imprint his form in her mind's eye for all eternity. Cold sweat broke and she felt a shiver run down her spine. Her hands started shaking and she felt her breath leave her body and her heart beating a tattoo on her ribcage as she fought for control.
When she mentioned her hopes to imprint on Jake, she didn't mean so soon!
Be careful what you wish for, my ass! She mentally growled as she noticed Emily watching her anxiously.
Oh what are you staring at? She almost snapped but her mouth felt cotton-y, her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth and her throat felt dry.
Having a panic attack right now was not the best of options—not that she had many.
Maybe he'll give you CPR, her inner joker snickered.
Oh, shut up!
She blamed all the guys she had in her head all the time for her inappropriate humour in the worst case scenarios. Apparently their immaturity really was contagious!
She would rip out their thro-
It's not really their fault, so calm down! The logical part of her brain snapped but she mentally scoffed.
"-what do you mean Harry's on the phone? Why didn't you say so sooner?"
Hermione's shrill—not so pleasant, at least for her—voice cut through her thoughts and she involuntary turned her eyes to the two British individuals.
She was glaring at the blonde man with impatience and annoyance as she shook a threatening finger at his smirking face, her pale, heart shaped face coloured slightly with a rosy hue, making her face slightly glow as she reprimanded him like a child.
Leah's green eyes slowly shifted to the blonde man and she caught her breath.
Blonde was not really the word to describe his fine hair. It was more platinum than blonde; especially under the sun he looked like an angel of light with his shining, mirthful silver eyes and pale complexion.
He really was stunning, she surmised as she looked at him, her heart in her throat. His tall frame, strong built and perfectly sculptured face made her melt.
Oh man, I'm so screwed, she sighed, as she watched the petite woman stab a slender finger to her mate's chest and for the first time, noticed their familiarity and easy going attitude towards each other. They seemed close... too close for comfort, she gulped as she noticed how his eyes twinkled when he stared at Hermione, his full lips lifting slightly to an affectionate smile and his body almost curved protectively over her shorter frame.
"What's going on? Why is the leech staring at you?"
She almost jumped when Jacob's soft voice sounded right next to her ear. She was too preoccupied to really notice how she had frozen and Edward's knowing eyes were still on her, probably knowing her thoughts.
If you say one word... she threatened mentally, her eye twitching as she turned hard eyes on him. His reddish brown hair swished as he lightly shook his head, silently letting her know he'd say nothing as he averted his eyes.
"Nothing," she growled, but her voice quivered. Unfortunately everyone, with few exceptions, had more than excellent hearing and heard the slightly choke tone of her voice.
"Leah?" Sam's voice was anxious, caring and she marveled at the fact that she felt nothing now.
Until five minutes ago, she would have melted to the floor if she heard the care in his voice and saw the worry in his black eyes but now... Now she felt absolutely nothing as she locked eyes with him. Her heartbeat was steady. She didn't felt the usual anger and resentment towards him and in all honesty she couldn't really recall why she was angry with him in the first place. If Sam felt for Emily even the half of what she was currently feeling, then she had no idea how Sam lasted two whole weeks before he went after her cousin.
"I- I'm... I'm okay" she stuttered as his silver eyes passed over her and stopped on her form for just a second too long before he shifted them to the brunette in front of him.
"Is something wrong, sis? Do you wanna go home?" Seth, her beloved Seth, sounded regretful for leaving his new friends (she still had trouble believing he was friends with a bloodsucker) but he cared for her as much as she cared for him. After their father's death this spring, they had grown closer in their shared misery. She would willingly go to her death for her baby brother and she knew he would as well for her.
"I..."
"Guys!" Hermione (bless her soul!) looking quite irritated next to a highly amused blonde addressed the whole lot of them. "I have to take a call," she elbowed him and he yelped in surprise. Emmett's snickers made Leah rolled her eyes. "Sam, you know your way around the BBQ, start with steaks! I want to eat sometime this month."
With that, and after one more painful stomp on his foot, she flew into the house, her ponytail bouncing behind her.
"Aaaah, the dictator has finally left" Draco rubbed his hands together conspiratorially, an evil smirk on his lips as he walked towards them.
Her heart felt like it was going to break through its cage and fly away.
"Now who are you lot? I only seem to recall a certain Sam Uley?" He inquired smartly.
Sam tilted his head and lifted a shovel like hand.
"That's me, Hermione's friend, and who might you be?" he asked, his voice dark.
Eyebrow raised high: "Draco Malfoy, nice to meet you!"
They shook hands, silently measuring each other.
"Draco? Mya's ex?"
Green eyes widened fractionally. She now understood Edward's pitying glance and she held her breath.
Jacob, a frown on his handsome face, grasped her shoulder as he looked at her and then at Draco, a look of dawning understanding starting to settle on his dark features.
"Yes, and actually, hopefully Hermione's soon to be husband," Draco flippantly replied.
And her world came crushing down around her. Her heart gave a thundering thump, and in that moment she could swear, she actually felt it breaking. Her lungs felt empty no matter how much air she drew from her open mouth, and her eyes stung as she fought down desperation so grave it nearly brought her to her knees.
Of course he was in love with Hermione! Who wouldn't be?
She was pretty, smart, witty, rich and obviously his perfect match!
While she was a tomboy, poor, high school graduate with no hopes of ever going to college and a temper to rival volcanic activities and let's not forget the small, insignificant fact she turned into a giant wolf at will and couldn't have children!
Quite a catch wasn't she?
She was so out of his league. She felt hot anger and jealously burning her throat.
Hermione...
How she wanted to rip her pretty throat out, to scratch her pretty face and make sure no one would look at her twice!
"Leah!"
Jacob's hand on her shoulder brought her back to earth and she noticed Jake's fearful eyes. She was shaking so violently that her shape had blurred. A few more minutes and she would phase!
"Do something!" Came a hissing voice from the leeches and suddenly a wave of calmness passed through her.
There was no need to look but she did it anyway and true to her suspicions, the bloodsuckers were anxiously staring at her, the blonde male's eyes staring directly at her. She was completely calm and for the first time in her life, she was thankful to one of them.
A nod of acknowledgement was all she allowed herself, but the tiny one, Alice, threw a blindingly white smile at her.
"And who are you?" Came a soft, suave voice and she sharply turned to find herself face to face with her imprint.
Close up he was even more handsome, she realised with a startle as she watched the wisps of his white-blonde hair on his forehead. His lips were stretched in a friendly smile and his silver eyes were curious as he regarded her with something akin to wonder.
Not one to let her feelings damage her aloof behaviour, she bit down her apprehension and stared coolly at the love of her life.
"Leah Clearwater, nice to make your acquaintance," her voice was normal, thank the deities.
Draco watched her pensively for a moment, his silver eyes darkening to a storming grey as he regarded her with trepidation and curiosity. After a minute of his intense staring, he seemed to shake himself out of his temporary stupor and smiled brilliantly at her.
"Nice to meet you as well," he winked and turned to the rest.
The breath she had no idea she'd be holding left her, leaving her breathless.
"You imprinted on him, didn't you?" Jake asked very softly, earning him confused stares from the rest of the pack and the leeches, and alarmed looks in Leah's way.
Through gritted teeth: "Yes."
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"Harry James Potter, you have some explaining to do!" Hermione snapped as she could picture him flinching.
"I know, I know and I'm sorry! But it was all Kingsley's fault, really! He said we shouldn't tell you right away! And your parents are perfectly fine so-"
"So what!" She almost shrieked as she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to calm down and fighting the urge to start cursing everything in sight. When Draco told her Harry was on his phone and wanted to talk to her, she felt her earlier fury returning.
Her parents had been attacked and she had no idea!
When she got hold of that bloody Minister...
"I know you are upset but we only wanted to protect you!"
"Well, as you recall, I can protect myself thank you very much!" she growled. "There's no excuse for what you've done, Harry! You know damn well that their health could have taken a turn for the worse within minutes! The Cruciatus Curse is not a child's play! Especially for Muggles!"
"I know. I'm sorry."
And it was true. He did know...
Muggles tortured by the Cruciatus rarely survived,
Magical people had higher tolerance in curses; their magic protected them unlike Muggles.
So when Cruciatus was cast on Muggles it was more efficient, the pain much more intense and the side effects almost always permanent. Her parents were extremely lucky Dolohov was not as proficient as Bellatrix, or else they would have been permanent residents of St Mungo's fifth floor by now
Hermione barely managed to maintain her sanity under Bella's wand, and she still, even after more than a year, had phantom pains and painful cramps. She had a special potion, made for Cruciatus victims, always in her purse. Madame Pomfrey had said she would most probably have those pains for the rest of her life.
But she preferred it to losing her sanity...
One of her side projects was researching for a cure for the victims of the curse, like the Longbottoms. She was nowhere near the cure, but she had hope she would eventually succeed. If she passed away before finding it, she'd make sure the future generations would benefit from it.
"I know you're sorry Harry... but I lost them once and thought I'd never see them alive again... I can't do that again... I can't think of one of them or even both of them passing away without me being there! I just can't!"
She angrily wiped her wet cheeks and fought down the sobs threatening to overcome them. It had taken her two months to find them in Australia and during those months, every night, she was plagued with nightmares of their deaths. When she found them and lifted the spell, she had cried for over two hours.
Having them not speaking to her was hard but she understood.
And she came so close to losing them again!
"Promise me you'll protect them Harry," she pleaded.
"Of course. You didn't even have to ask! I'll make sure they are safer than the Minister himself until they come to you next week!"
"Thank you," she breathed and rubbed the rest of her tears away.
"So am I forgiven yet?" He sounded so sad that she had to bite back her smile.
"Always," she answered fondly. "Now I have to go, Harry. Have a barbecue to prepare!"
"Aw! You have barbecue? You know I love them!"
"And treacle tart as well" she sniggered at his whimper. Harry adored treacle tart. Sometimes she thought he loved the damn thing more than his broom!
"You are evil!"
"I know. Now stop with the compliments" she smirked. "Love you!"
"Love you too, see you soon!"
She pressed the end button with a small smile on her face.
"Interesting conversation. Does Draco know you have another boyfriend?"
She shrieked and jumped a good foot in the air as she swiftly turned around, her eyes flashing in annoyance and her hands resting on her hips.
"How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me?" She seethed at the standoffish vampire in front of her.
Edward was leaning against the wall, his hands shoved into his jeans pockets and one of his feet bent on her wall. Her white wall.
"First of all... get your foot of my wall or I'll chop it off! Secondly, Harry's not my boyfriend! Ew! He's my best friend and closer to me than a brother! To even suggest-" She stopped talking, breathed deeply through her nose and looked at him with narrowed eyes.
Edward casually dropped his foot to the floor, nodding imperiously and smiled a crooked smile at her, his eyes alight with amusement as he regarded the petite girl trying to stare down her nose at him even though he towered over her.
"Relax, your wall is as white as freshly fallen snow still," he smirked.
"It better be," she grumbled as she flicked a bang of honey coloured hair from her face. "What are you doing here?"
"You invited me," he replied. He knew his answer would enrage her and he was right. Her light coloured eyes darkened, her lips pressed into a thin line and her pale cheeks tinted with a rose hue. She was stunning and he felt his own eyes darkening, but not in anger... his hunger for her grew even stronger and he longed to taste her, her sweet, plump lips and enticing skin. The soft swell of her breasts made him swallow back venom and he looked up hastily in an effort to stop himself from lunging at her.
His feelings for her were far stronger than he ever experienced before and that scared him. He barely contained himself with Bella, and now with Hermione he felt his self- control slipping each passing second he was close to her and her intoxicating scent.
"Not in the mood for your crap, Edward," she snapped and walked to the door, conveniently right next to him. "I have some guests-"
She gasped when a cool, hard hand clasped around her upper arm and spun her around. She had only a second to see Edward's stony face before he propelled her backwards and pushed her soft body against the wall with his hard, cold one, his head bending lower to reach eye level with the startled witch in his arms.
He rested both his arms on the wall either side of her, effectively caging her in and breathed in her floral scent.
Hermione was shocked and a felt a stab of fear when an almost inaudible growl left his tightly pressed lips. Goosebumps rose on her skin and she felt her heart skip a beat... and then another.
"What the hell Edward?" she hissed after she found her voice, and even then she was mortified to note the husky quality of her tone. If the darkening of his eyes was any indication he heard it too. Oh damn!
"That man... Harry. You are not with him?" He asked gravelly, his hands inching closer to her flesh. She noted this with her peripheral vision and swallowed back her trepidation and what? Was that...anticipation?
Hell no!
"No! Harry's my best friend!" She adamantly answered and placed her hands on his hard chest to push him away.
Oh my!
She blushed slightly and she was thankful her anger always made her flush.
"Now let me go!" She shoved him but he, unsurprisingly, didn't move a millimetre.
"Not so fast, Hermione" his tone was mocking and she gritted her teeth. A gasp left her lips when he pushed her harder on the wall, their bodies completely aligning so she could feel every hard muscle of his strong, immortal body.
What the hell is he doing? She thought, panicked. He's supposed to be Bella's fiancé for crying out loud.
"What the hell do you want?" She hissed fearfully and shamefully glancing to the hall leading to the living room and through it to the back garden, where all her friends were at.
"What about Draco?" he sneered the name and she sneered back.
"What, jealous?" She spat.
"You have no idea." He growled and suddenly pressed his face to the crook of her neck, sniffing her scent and whining low.
Hermione felt her heart drop to her stomach and she violently pushed him away, using a small dose of magic to succeed. He stumbled back several steps, shocked at the stinging pain on his chest.
Good, she nastily thought, a little pain might gear his brain up.
"You," she seethed as she trembled violently, "will stay away from me. You are marrying my cousin in a few days and if you hurt her, God help me Edward, I'll destroy you!"
He stood there for five minutes after she swept of the room, trying to calm his raging hormones, and fighting his need to go to her. He had no idea what came over him but the thought of her with another man made him incense.
"Edward?"
Bella's soft, melodious voice made him look up and there she was, looking curiously at him with her big brown eyes, hands limp at her sides as she tilted her head. He noted distractedly that her eyes lacked the usual warmth he was accustomed to when she looked at him but his mind was too busy with thoughts of Hermione to really understand the meaning.
"Is something wrong?" She asked softly as she took a step towards him.
"Wrong?" He repeated stupidly. Many things... Mainly my urge to kiss your dear cousin to death... Not something I can talk about with you though...
"Hermione came out and she seems upset. Did you two have another fight?" She sighed in exasperation and he smiled.
"Indeed. But things will get back to normal soon," he promised as he motioned for them to go outside, avoiding putting his arms around her like he normally did.
Chocolate coloured orbs smiled up at him and he felt his heart breaking for the pain he was going to cause to her soon.
But he knew it was the right thing to do. Marrying her when he was in love with another woman was just plain wrong.
He closed his eyes and pictured Hermione in his mind.
Her smiling face warmed him and he found himself smiling as he followed his petite fiancée outside.
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Leah watched with pained eyes as Hermione came out, practically fuming, and Draco immediately was by her side, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear that caused a smile to appear on her weary face.
"You seriously imprinted on him?"
"I mean-"
"Leah, are you sure?"
"Leah..."
"That's gotta hurt-
"Shut your tramp, Quil!"
"Oh my God!"
"Is it possible?"
"I thought only guys imprinted!"
"She is the first female to ever transform after all-
"Everyone, shut up!" Came the commanding voice of their Alpha, just as Hermione approached them.
"Hey," She breathed out, "are you all okay? You seem jumpy."
"Splendid!"
"Just great!"
"Never better!"
"Oh, okay," she lifted a curious eyebrow at their simultaneous answers but she shrugged it off when Rachel offered to help her cook along with Kim and Emily.
"We'll talk later," Leah gritted as she plopped on a chair and started tapping her nails on the hard wood of the table, ignoring the looks from the leeches and the pack.
"Must be hard," came a drawl she knew all too well. No matter that she only heard it twice in her life. She steadied her breath and looked up at the blonde man across from her, his face resting on his palm and a small smile playing on his lips as he watched her with silver eyes.
"What must be hard?" She inquired loftily.
"Be a girl in the company of so many guys. Must be hard." He smiled wider and she rolled her eyes.
"We all practically grew up together. And there's Emily, Kim and Rachel."
"And yet you don't seem close to either of them," he noted with a frown.
"We are... different." Like you wouldn't believe, she thought bitterly. It was true. Emily, Kim and Rachel may know the secret but she was so much different than them. She didn't just know the secret she was part of it.
"I see," came his reply and she looked at him to see that he was staring at her intently, like he was trying to see in her very soul.
For the first time in her life, she let herself open...
And she realised with a pang, as she stared at him, that he was not hers.
No matter how much she loved him, he belonged to another.
Hermione...
Leah felt hot tears stinging the back of her eyes but she refused to let them fall.
She would bear it with her head held high like she always did.
She knew from the first time she phased she was cursed.
She was doomed to always lose what she cherished the most. What made her imprint any different?
First Sam, who she loved so much she got sick when he went missing, left her for the girl she viewed as her sister.
Then her father passed away...
And now... Now she lost her soul mate to a girl she never really liked.
...Better than sitting around and playing the happy bridesmaid. I don't say I'll forget Sam after one date. But I hope that if I start living again, I'll eventually find someone else to love. Maybe I'll find my imprint! Who knows?
You want to imprint?
Don't you?
No, to be honest. It seems so... impersonal. You see a person and then BAM, you are bound for life! I think the normal falling in love type suits me better.
I see your point, Jake, I really do. But don't you think that if you imprint your pain will go away? No more Bella, no more heart break? A new beginning...
Now that she recalled her conversation with Jacob she wanted to laugh bitterly.
So naive... She really believed if she found her imprint she would finally be happy.
And now she was more miserable than she ever thought she would be.
Fate really was a bitch, after all...
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A/N: Hey!
Hope you liked it!
I must admit that the Hermione/Edward moment was not in the notes, and really the whole chapter went very differently than planned but I am very satisfied with how it came out. Short, I know, but I can't always write monsters like the previous one! Give me a break!
And by the way I always pictured Edward with reddish brown hair (ginger therefore) and I don't plan to change it. I really don't think his hair colour makes him who he is and when I read this review: Edwards hair is a bronze/ brown colour. Never has he been a Ginger and I absolutely hate how you always say his hair is Ginger. Changing facts like that just doesn't make him Edward! I must admit, I laughed my head off. Someone's personality, good points, faults and quirks makes a person who he is, not his hair or eye colour.
If you really believe that then I changed personalities at least three times since I started writing this fic... I don't feel like it though!
Next time title iss:
Desperation...
A/N 2: Dear Shadowed Light, even though as you said you won't return to read more I just have to answer some things. The only thing I didn't answer on your previous review was Hermione not having a post war trauma.
Firstly... Check Chapter 23 (Draco Lucius Malfoy) where it mentions she still has nightmares about Bellatrix.
Secondly... Are you a seer? Or do you have access to my notes and head? Because this is a WIP and you have no idea what I plan to do next. But to ease your worries, I do in fact plan to show that Hermione is not so perfect or as stable as she appears to be so far. She has her fair share of mental scars but YOU (and I mean all the readers) don't get to see that yet.
Now as your remark about A/Ns.
If you meant the 2 separate chapters I had up, then yes, that's not allowed but I was planning to take them down before you said anything.
Now if you mean A/Ns like this, on every chapter then you, my dear, are sadly misinformed.
You can put A/Ns if you wish as long as they are not separate entries.
And trust me I read the rules carefully.
So my point still stands.
Learn. To. Read. A/Ns.
Especially if they warn you about something important like oh, I don't know, Draco being OOC!
I never claimed to be above the rules and you'll never hear me say this. I even edited the explicit scenes in When In Rio so they are not against said rules and posted them to my LJ.
Now if you have trouble reading said rules, that's your problem not mine.
Now your remarks about my readers.
I do not seek sympathy from them. I do not reply via notes so they can praise me and insult you and I hope they are all mature enough not to start a fight with anyone flaming/criticising me.
Everyone's entitled to his or her opinion.
But if you review anonymously, I can't answer you directly so here we are. You chose not to log in, so how did you expect me to answer you?
My flame remark was a little bitchy and inaccurate but I was a little testy for personal reasons when I received your review and I took it the wrong way.
For that, I'm sorry.
But still the only thing I accept from you is about Hermione being overly perfect and I'm trying to change it slowly.
And by the way I do recognise sarcasm... And use it right back.
For example... Why yes indeed making Hermione like fashion is way out of character (dear god she is a normal girl? Someone alert the press, we have an impostor amongst us!) but making her an assassin? Not at all! Everyday thing really!
As long as she keeps acting like her normal self otherwise, that's okay! Who cares if she kills someone, something the canon Hermione didn't do when her own life depended on it, if she likes books and isn't acting like a girly girl, it's not OOC!
After all we only knew her when she was still a teenager and know nothing about how she was when she grew older, but of course it's a sure bet, she didn't change at all, like all normal people do, she stayed the same even when she hit 40.
See?
And I know I describe lips, eyes and hair many times but that's my thing. I'll try to change it slowly but I don't think it will happen any time soon.