CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Summary: Voldemort is dead but the war is not yet over, however, the light side is prevailing, even with the death of many major key players of the war. Hermione is forced to leave England and go into hiding, her fathers, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black leave with her. They leave for the States, a small town called Forks, which is said to be the safest place on Earth for her. But no one knew that the population of Forks included a family of Vampires and a pack of Shape-shifters.

Disclaimer: I don't own any canon events or characters, only those that I create. All rights go to J.K Rowling and Stephanie Myers. I don't make a profit writing or posting this fanfic.

Monday 13th November 2006

Hermione landed with a 'crack' in the woods and she headed out of the trees, seeing that Jacob was already there waiting for her. When he noticed her approaching him, he stood up away from the wall and beamed at her.

Hermione smiled in return. "Hey, are you hungry?" she asked, being well aware of the wolves' appetite.

"A little," he shrugged.

She chuckled. "I thought you might be, come on, we'll order you something to go, something to tie you over until dinner, did Paul text you?"

"Yeah, and I have everyone's order," he confirmed.

"Great, we'll go later then," she then headed inside and they took seats at the counter. Jacob ordered a foot-long chicken, bacon and sausage sandwich to go and they walked to the beach together.

Jacob had already eaten the sandwich well before they arrived. They found a spot on the beach and sat down, watching as the waves climbed the cliff-face and the birds flew over the sea, diving to catch fish.

"So what are we doing here?" he asked her, after getting himself comfortable, leaning back on his hands with his legs outstretched.

She turned to face him to give him her full attention, she crossed her legs and leaned forwards slightly.

"As I said before, I know you the least out of my soul bonds and I feel as though I'm neglecting you for Paul and Edward, whether you think I am or not, I want to apologise for that. It was not my intention to make you feel as though I do not care for you, nor that I do not want you, I have spent more time around Paul and Edward than I have around you. I will not make that mistake again."

"I'll admit, it sucks that you feel less comfortable around me than you do Cullen."

"I don't," she said softly. "I am comfortable around you both."

"Not like you are with Paul."

She sighed. "Paul has been giving me attention since the day I met him, even before he found out I was his imprint. He liked me before that. You only started paying attention to me because you imprinted on me. I have spent more time with Paul than I have you. I am more affectionate with Paul for that reason, I'm not very affectionate with Edward because I know he worries for my safety and he is confused about how he could possibly be in my life and future. I am not as affectionate with you because I know you the least. I know more about Paul than I do myself, and that's in the short time that I've known him. My goal is for me to know more about you, so I can know who Jacob Black is."

"You don't love Cullen," he stated.

"No, I don't."

"You don't love me," he stated again.

"No, I don't," she replied softly. "But I will, it is guaranteed that I will love you in the future, I will fall for you naturally, it could take years, it could take weeks, I don't know, but I will love you. But just because I don't love you now, doesn't mean that you're not important to me, because you are, you are so very important to me. You will never have to doubt your importance in my life or your worth to me."

"Do you love Paul?"

She frowned and mulled his question over. "I don't love him yet, but I am falling in love with him." She admitted. "And please don't be discouraged or offended by that, I need all three of you in my life."

"Have you slept with him?" his question caught her off guard and she was visibly surprised by it.

"No, I haven't yet slept with him, but that doesn't mean I'm a virgin," she wanted to see his reaction.

His eyes clouded over with anger before he took a deep breath and it disappeared.

"I am not Paul," his cheeks darkened and he looked down at the sand, embarrassment riddled his face.

"Sorry?" She asked confused.

"I am not Paul, I haven't slept with as many girls as him."

"How many?" she asked curiously.

He looked up at her and held her gaze. "None."

"You're a virgin?" she asked bluntly. He nodded, and looked everywhere but at her. "Okay," she shrugged and he was surprised by her reaction. "It's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed over, if I hadn't have gone through a war, I would likely still be a virgin too. The only reason I'm not is because war changes people, it influences their decisions and I thought I was going to die and I wanted to experience that part of life before I did. I've only slept with one guy. I suspect Edward's a virgin too, though I think it's because he's worried he'd hurt a human and he's never found another vampire he wanted to have sex with," she said without shame or embarrassment.

"I can't be like him," he muttered.

"And I don't want you to be, I want you to be you and no one else. What you can't give me, Paul can and vice versa. I have three soul bonds; you each will be able to give me something the other can't. In the winter, Edward can't keep me warm but you and Paul can. In the summer your body temperature will likely irritate me when we have boiling weather, but Edward will be like my personal ice box. Edward can keep up with me in the regard of Literature and books, whereas Paul can keep up with me with wit and humour, you I'm not sure about yet, but we'll soon find out. Edward, he can't give me children, but you and Paul can." He looked up at her at that.

"You want children with me?" he asked surprised.

"Of course I do, you're my future and did you really think you'd be a virgin for the rest of your life?" he blinked at her dumbly. "Not to sound like a tart, but sometime in the future I'll be jumping your bones and you'll get sick of me," she laughed at his look of disbelief. "You are my life and you are all equal in my eyes, my mind, my soul and my heart, okay?" she spoke with a soft smile and he nodded. "Hermione Jean Black, nice to meet you," she held her hand out to him for him to shake.

He smiled and sat up, turning to face her.

"Jacob Ephraim Black, enchante mademoiselle," he said, and rather than shaking her hand, he held it gently and kissed her knuckles.

She laughed at him joyfully. "Very smooth, I must say, you beat both Paul and Edward in greeting, nicely done by slipping a bit of French in there to show you're able to speak a foreign language."

He grinned in reply. "Actually, I know about ten common phrases in French and that's about it."

She laughed louder and he joined in with her.

"So you're not bi-lingual?"

"Not really, like I said, I know about ten common phrases in French, I know some Quileute language, but my Spanish is slightly better, even though I'm failing at the moment," he shrugged. "Do you know any languages?"

She nodded. "I speak eight languages fluently."

He spluttered and stared at her. "What?"

"English is my first language, I learnt Italian and German through visiting the countries when my parents had conferences. I learned Latin in school, since most spells are in Latin, as are most Ancient Runes and spell books and you have to do a lot of translating to English. I learned Bulgarian from my ex-boyfriend, Viktor Krum. I speak Mandarin as I had a free period at school and I was bored and wanted a challenge, Mandarin is the most universally spoken language so I thought it might come in handy one day, and I had to learn French and Spanish in order to fulfil the adoption contract. It's a long held tradition of the House of Black that the children be able to speak Spanish and French and Sirius wouldn't have been able to adopt me unless I was fluent in both." He stared at her, just stared. "And don't you worry, I'll have you at the top of your Spanish class before the summer," she promised. "Paul told me his grades have improved since he's met me," she grinned and he shook his head and laughed at her.

There was a sudden rumble and a flash of lightning shot across the sky, they both looked up just as the heavens opened and rain poured down.

Hermione looked at Jacob and laughed, tipping her head back and smiling as the rain ran down her face.

"I love the rain," she told him, oblivious to the way he was staring at her in adoration. "Not only does it remind me of England, you know, since it never stops raining there, but there's something therapeutic about it. Watching as the rain keeps nature alive, watching as the rain hits other water sources and seeing the ripples it creates. The sound of the rain bouncing off the ground or the roof, it's so calming and natural, you can't imitate it and you can't control it. It's something only nature can produce. And when it hits you, it's like its washing away all of your troubles, all of your fears and worries and it leaves you feeling refreshed, as if you're a new you, a better you." She sighed and opened her eyes, noticing that he was staring at her in complete adoration, regardless of the fact she probably looked like a drowned rat.

"You'll catch a cold," he spoke, his eyes still watching her.

She smiled at him and then pulled her wand, she muttered under her breath and he watched enraptured as a cloud of gold dust flew from the tip of her wand and surrounded them. A blue hued dome began to form over them, until it touched the ground and it became invisible. He was amazed as he could still see and hear the rain, but it didn't fall over them. No, it fell around them.

She chuckled at him and laid down on the wet sand, uncaring that she was soaked through and a chill was beginning to set in her bones. She knew she could easily cast a Drying and Warming Charm over herself, but she didn't want to. The cold reminded her of England; it reminded her of snow and Christmas at The Burrow.

"You're cold," he stated, when he saw her shudder.

"I'm okay, the cold's a welcome feeling," she said softly, with her eyes focused on the rain, watching as it bounced off the dome and ran down the sides.

She heard him shifting and she turned her head to see that he too was laid on his back, an arm tucked behind his head and the other stretched out in invitation. He had a look in his eyes that Hermione translated to mean 'please don't reject me' and she snorted to herself, as if she would reject her soul bond.

Without hesitation she shuffled closer to him and rested against his neck, tucking her head under his chin, an arm rested over his waist and his wrapped around hers. They laid in comfortable silence watching the rain continue to fall, with no sign of it letting up.

"What's your favourite flower?" he asked her, breaking the silence between them.

"Sunflowers; they're bright and always manage to survive in harsh weathers. It takes a lot to stop them from growing, and in the end they always grow back," she answered him.

"When you're stressed or frightened, what calms you?"

"If I'm stressed, a good strong cup of tea, a distraction and a book. If I'm frightened, such as waking up from a nightmare, a cuddle, reassurances and someone to stay with me until I fall asleep. Any kind of physical affection helps actually, holding my hand, giving me a cuddle, Sirius used to just play with my hair until I fell asleep and Remus would make these strange rumbling sounds, the werewolf in him coming out at seeing his cub upset."

"You like to have your hair played with?"

"Yes," she sighed, closing her eyes. "It's calming and makes me feel sleepy. Don't even think about it," she warned him.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"Playing with my hair, if you do I'll fall asleep and you'll be stuck here, I've been told on more than one occasion that I have the strength of a grizzly bear when I'm sleeping," he chuckled at her, ignoring her warnings and he ran his hand through her wet curls. She sighed and her eyes drifted closed as she snuggled further into him, making him smile.

"What do you want to do when you finish school?" Her voice was soft and sleepy.

"I'm not sure, I thought about travelling for a little while but I don't think I could leave my father for that long, besides, he's already lost Rachel and Rebecca, my older twin sisters. Rachel moved to Seattle for college and hasn't been back since, Rebecca married some guy I don't even remember the name of and moved to Hawaii, she hasn't been back since either and to be honest, I don't think they'll ever come back. I have a responsibility to my pack and Tribe so I can't really travel for long due to that reason. I doubt I'll ever leave La Push, but when I leave school, I'd like to have my own business, maybe become an engineer."

"Why?" She asked intrigued.

"I like building things. I like to know how things work, what makes them tick. I like taking things apart and putting them back together. I built the engine for my bike from scratch and I enjoyed doing it."

"Sirius will love you," she stated.

"Why?"

"He's obsessed with Muggle motorbikes and has been since he was a child. He had one once and somehow he managed to infuse magic into it which is not an easy thing to do, believe me. When he'd finished, the motorbike could fly."

"Seriously?"

"Yes, he's been talking for a while about getting another one he can experiment with. If you talk to him about it, I'm sure he'll let you in on the project, he might even ask you to build him a bike to use just so that he can watch you do it."

"You think?"

"I know, he's a man-child, as I've stated many, many times before."

He chuckled at her. "What about you? What do you want to do after finishing school?"

"I doubt I'll ever graduate from a Wizarding School, which has always been one of my biggest goals in life, to prove to everyone that as a Muggleborn, I am just as capable as completing my education and getting my qualifications, maybe even with better exam results than them. I've always pushed myself to be better, to be the best. I was tired of everyone looking down on me because of my blood status, they thought they were better than me, that I was little more than something on the bottom of their shoes. So I did everything I could to prove them wrong. I studied hard, I got the highest grades in my year group, sometimes even the entire school. I answered every question in class and I got house points so at the end of the year my house could win the house cup. I soaked up knowledge like a sponge, and I practiced spells that weren't due to be taught to me for another three years, just to show them that they weren't better than me. They bullied me, they tried to hex me when I wasn't looking, they called me names, they called me a Mudblood, but the funny thing is, my blood is actually purer than theirs was. I am a first generation magic user, meaning my magic is pure and strong as I have nothing polluting it, killing off the magic inside of me. Their magic has grown weaker over the years and sooner or later, entire blood lines will die out because they aren't able to produce magically gifted children. Muggleborns and Half-bloods are going to be the saving grace of the Wizarding World, they'll keep it alive."

"So where do you want to work? Here or there?"

"I don't know, how am I supposed to choose between this world and the other? I was born to this world but I belong in the other. I was bullied in this world for being different and I was hunted in the other for being born in this world. Going on the assumption that everything works out and no one is severely injured during the battle when the Death Eaters find us, I'd like to do something to help people, to make the world a better place. I don't think I could be an auror, I've had enough of fighting for my life and chasing the bad guys. I don't think I could work for The Ministry because although I know it's being rebuilt by Kingsley and he's a good man and a brilliant leader, I can't forget the fact that it was corrupt for so long."

"I don't think I could go back to Wizarding School, I've learnt all I can from school and I've learned more than I ever possibly could from my fathers, my research, the war and my own experiences. I don't think they'd be able to intellectually challenge me the way they used to. I'd get bored, I wouldn't be able to focus; there would be no point of me going back to school. I can easily take my exams out of school and still get my qualifications. Besides, going back to school without Harry and Ron, or Ginny and Luna, it wouldn't be the same."

"Maybe I could become a Healer, I've studied as many magical text books as possible; I've got plenty of practical experience due to the war, our training sessions and Alpha's injuries after the full moon. I just don't have a license, nor have I took my healer exams or been observed. I like the thought of becoming a Professor and teaching young witches and wizards. They're the future and with the right guidance and support, they could make the world a truly wonderful place, where there is no prejudice, no war and no hatred for magical creatures and Muggleborns. Maybe I could set up my own charity fund; I have more than enough money to do so. I could make it so that magical creatures, such as werewolves can live in peace. I could build villages for them to live in, so they can own their own properties. I could hire someone to heal them after the full moon or hire someone to teach the cubs about magic, so they can grow up like a normal Wizarding child, happy and free, so they have a future. Maybe I could do my masters and become a Potions Mistress, creating my own potions to better the world in healing, or maybe even become a Spell Creator and create handy and simple spells, to make the lives of others easier."

"I don't know much about your world or magic, but from what I've seen and the way your fathers speak of your power and intelligence, as though they're not only proud but amazed, I'd say any one of those options is open to you."

"I don't know how I'm going to choose between them," she sighed. "Seriously, if you keep doing that, I'm going to nod off any minute," he chuckled at her, ignoring her words and continuing to run his hands through her wet hair.

Once again she snuggled closer, her leg hooking over one of his, her cold hand shifting under his t-shirt to press against his overly hot skin and her side pressed up against his.

"I've been thinking," she spoke.

"Hmmm?"

"I feel awful that you're unable to tell your father about me and it's important for him to know that sometime in the future, he'll have grandchildren that will be displaying magic by the age of five, and that's going to be hard to explain. I've spoken to my fathers and they're in agreement, and although it's technically breaking the law, we think you should tell him about us."

She tilted her head up to see his reaction and she was surprised to see that a guilt riddled look crossed his face.

"Yeah, about that," he laughed nervously and removed the arm behind his head to scratch at the back of his neck. "I may have already told him."

"Excuse me?" she said in surprise.

"I may have already explained to him about what you are and why you moved here, and Council Leaders Ateara and Clearwater were there too." She raised an eyebrow at him. "They were utterly shocked to hear what I had to say, my father almost fainted in disbelief. It took me half an hour to convince them I was telling the truth, and then a further two hours to explain the rest since I had to keep repeating myself. They want to meet you and your fathers, for real this time, and you don't have to hide who you are."

"Jacob Black, you are an awful secret keeper," she scowled at him.

"Yeah, I am," he admitted sheepishly. She sighed before she chuckled and snuggled back down against him.

"Seriously, you are pants, I thought Sirius was bad but you have effectively surpassed him in that regard," he chuckled, wrapping his now free arm around her and using the other to continue playing with her hair. "How'd they take it?" she asked curiously.

"Like I said, it took me half an hour to convince them I was telling the truth about magic existing and then two hours to explain everything. I left quite a bit out, mainly skimming through the war and telling them why you moved here. They seemed a mixture of shocked, amazed, horrified and intrigued. I had to call Sam in to confirm what I had told them. And since they know about Paul also imprinting on you, they knew something was different about you, so it didn't take as long as I thought it would've."

"How long have they known?"

"Not long, a few days after we found out and Paul imprinted on you."

"I'll speak to my fathers and see when they want to meet with them."

"Thank God," he sighed. "They've been bugging me nonstop for an answer to when you'd meet with them," she chuckled.

"If you'd have told me sooner, we probably would've already spoken by now."

"No thanks, I've seen what happens when you're mad and I didn't have permission to tell them anyway, by the way, setting Cullen's coat on fire, brilliant."

"Thanks," she grinned up at him and he burst out laughing.

"I've got my work cut out for me with you, haven't I?"

"Obviously, but where's the fun if I didn't keep you on your toes, you'll never have a boring life with me around."

"So I'm beginning to understand," he smiled down at her fondly.

There was a sudden ringing and Jacob frowned, shifting slightly to dig into his pocket where he pulled out his phone. Looking at the caller ID he sighed and looked at Hermione.

"What?" she asked with a frown, seeing the expression he wore on his face.

"It's Bella."