I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
I feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For the rest of time, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Aerosmith "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
In her lifetime, Hermione had seen exactly one werewolf fight. She was grateful beyond reason for that statistic, but she was now unnerved by the fact that she was about to see another one. The first one didn't really count as a werewolf fight since one member of the fight had been a werewolf, and it hadn't even been a real fight. More like a scuffle.
George was incredible to watch in wolf form at any time, but when he was calling on his inner alpha he became… majestic. He stood taller, stronger, ready to lead and save his entire pack. He had an air of dignity that demanded respect and submission from anyone who was not an alpha themselves.
Greyback lacked that air. He was an alpha, and that much was obvious by the stance he took, but he lacked the dignity that George radiated. Instead, he gave Hermione a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. His body was lanky and his fur patchy. He didn't look healthy but he radiated power. A sickening power that would do anything to get ahead.
Harry tugged at her hands, trying to remove the gloves while Ron mumbled protective spells. Hermione recognized several from their year searching for Horcruxs.
"Try an expanding charm." Ron hissed as Greyback lowered his head and snarled. It echoed through the forest and forced Hermione to fight the urge to lay down and submit to the powerful wolves will. Ron's entire body shuddered and Harry's eyes widened in surprise.
George stared at him, unblinking. Greyback let out another low rumbling growl and stepped forward towards George and further into the clearing.
They were both massive, as big as a bear with broad shoulders and coarse fur. George snarled, his top lip curling up to show a row of white teeth. Together they took a step and began to pad their way around the clearing, circling each other. They paused, ready to attack and then with a roar unlike anything else Hermione had ever heard, they lunged.
They were airborne the moment they moved, flying through the air at one another then clashing in the middle. It sounded like two boulders smashing together-the same sound Grawp would make whenever he clapped or hit the ground with his fist. The other wolves stepped back, their ears falling back as they cowered, whimpering. Birds flew out of the tree Hermione was resting against, screeching in terror. They wrestled violently, each trying to throw the other to the floor. Greyback got his paws under George and threw him back with all his strength. George flew through the air and hit a tree that cracked and shuddered as it's splinters filled the air.
George didn't even yelp before he was back on his feet. He lunged and snapped at Greyback, barely missing the wolves throat. He twisted around before Greyback could retaliate and jumped straight up before landing on his back. He forced Greyback to the ground and the wrestled before George flipped Greyback over. He used his full weight to hold the wolf down. Hermione lost track of who was winning as their teeth flashed and snapped in the night air.
Harry tugged at her hand and she looked down in mild surprise to find it free. Harry worked at the other one and it to slipped free.
A crack sounded and Hermione looked up to find George skidding to a stop as Greyback staggered up, his back paw obviously broken. George's muzzle was bleeding but his fur seemed to glow brighter in the night light.
"Should we help?" Harry whispered. Ron shook his head.
"No, win or lose, it has to be George's fight." Right. Like Hermione would actually let him lose. She was an alpha as well. She'd take Greyback down herself if her George looked like he was going to lose.
George dashed forward, ducked underneath Greyback when he surged upward to where George's throat had been and flipped his body over. He pinned Greyback's paws to his side and bodily through him over and onto his back. Greyback glared up at George defiantly, unable to move.
"Submit to me," George ordered, his voice cold as the night and undeniable. Hermione had never heard him speak in wolf form before and she was rather sure she'd be fine with never hearing it again.
Greyback's entire body shuddered but his eyes flashed defiantly. George growled and pressed his muzzle closer to the werewolf.
"No." Greyback snarled raspily. George bared his teeth and lunged forward. Hermione closed her eyes and turned her head away as Greyback's scream filled the air. A crack quickly followed and the forest grew utterly quiet. George lay still for a moment before he pushed himself up and looked around at the gathered werewolves. He seemed taller, despite the blood coating his fur.
The nearest wolf, a petite light brown wolf, lowered her head and stepped forward slowly. George touched his nose to her and she lay down in front of him. One by one the rest of the wolves followed her lead.
Hermione watched in silence.
-o-o-o-
"So, you two can just rest here for a bit while we sort everything else out. 'Kay?" George nodded tiredly. Fred beamed and walked out of the room, practically bouncing. He didn't blame his twin. Everything had turned out far better than they could have ever hoped. They'd found Hermione, he'd taken Greyback out, (which he still kind of couldn't believe) and now they were at St. Mungo's getting examined. Hermione was dehydrated, had three cracked ribs and a concussion but she was otherwise alright.
"Thank you." George frowned and sat up straighter.
"I'm sorry? What for?" Hermione smiled, a soft smile that made her look older and wiser and somehow fragile. It made George want to wrap her up in his arms and hold her as tightly as he could.
"For finding me, rescuing me, and taking Greyback down." George grinned and got up. He hobbled to the other side of his bed, mindful of his injured foot (darn werewolves and the magical quality to their teeth that made magical healing pointless) and pushed. He didn't stop till it was flush against Hermione's. He smiled cheekily at her and climbed back up on his bed. Hermione blushed but moved closer so that she could lay her head on his chest.
"I'll rescue you anytime. We're always going to save each other. It's just what we do." He brushed his nose against her hair. "You never have to thank me for that."
"I don't want you to think I'm ungrateful." She replied in mock huffieness. George grinned and kissed the top of her head. "Do you think they'll learn what caused you and everyone else to assume your wolf form? It was a bit more advanced magic than Greyback would be able to produce."
"No," George shook his head and wrapped his arm around her small form. "and I'd honestly rather not talk about it." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against his pillow. His body was drained, exhausted in the way that only strenuous exercise could accomplish.
"Okay." Hermione said after a moment. "My book was accepted." George's eyes popped open. "The first copy goes to print in a month."
"Wow." George breathed, feeling shocked. "Isn't that quick?"
Hermione gave a little shrug. "Not really. You're popular right now. The publishers want to capitalize off your fame while they can."
"Well. It's a bit weird to think of everyone reading about my life." Hermione chortled against his chest.
"Do you have something to hide?"
George shook his head, smiling at her. "Not especially." He stared for a moment and found himself blurting something out without thinking. "Tell me something. An aspiration that no one knows."
Hermione was silent for forty-five seconds. George counted them in his head. "I want to go to Uni and study English. I loved writing and I think it could be an incredible tool to affect change."
"You'd be incredible." George replied. He rubbed his hand up and down her arm. A knock at the door startled them both. Hermione shuffled back to her bed and smoothed her hair down while George pouted at her. She rolled her eyes and gave her head a good natured shake.
"We don't want to get a healer angry. They could separate us."
"It'll just be Lavender and Su Li. They wouldn't separate us."
Hermione tutted. "Someone over their heads could."
George grinned, took her hand, and looked back at the door. "Come in, we're both decent!"
Ron poked his head in and stuck his tongue out. "You wanker! That was a thought I never wanted." George shrugged and squeezed Hermione's fault.
"Not my fault."
Ron shook his head and shuffled into the room with a few papers clenched in his right fist. "George?" He finally asked, examining him with a strange look. It took George a moment to figure out what was odd about the gaze.
It was respectful.
"Yeah, Ronnie?"
"Dosenger. He… Um-wants to press charges."
Hermione lifted her head up, wincing, and frowned. "Over what?" She clenched George's hand tight enough to make him want to wince from her nails.
"He wants to say that you murdered Greyback unlawfully."
"Kingsley's letting him get away with that?" Hermione demanded. Ron started to shrug but George cut him off before he could say anything.
"I don't really care one way or another."
"What?" Ron and Hermione asked together."
George shrugged. "We'd win either way, concussions or not." He looked at Hermione and smiled. "You see, what he, Dosenger, has never realized is that we have a lot of living to do, and it needs to be restriction free. Well, freer. Fred and I need to expand the flat and let you lodge in it with me while you go to Uni for your English degree. We need to backpack across Europe and then open a werewolf school. You have to marry me and help me figure out how to raise pups and –"
"Yes."
George blinked in confusion. Hermione's face was pressed into the pillow, her eyes glowing in the soft light. Georg thought over what he'd just said and broke out in a huge grin (and a blush.)
"I'm going to ask you this again someday, when we're not worried about another potential court case and we're not suffering from severe head trauma, but I want to hear it right now." He pushed himself up onto his side so he could see Hermione better. The wolf panicked a bit at his mate being covered in bandages but George calmed him with a mental hug.
"Hermione, will you marry me?"
"Yes." She whispered, and smiled against her pillow.
Ron chuckled from behind them and Hermione flushed a brilliant red.
"You are a couple of nutters. Best of luck to you anyway. I'm going to make sure that Kingsley roasts Dosenger. Get well." He backed out of the room and closed the door behind himself. George scooted back onto Hermione's bed and kissed her.
-o-o-o-
It was Hermione's first day back at work. Two days before the full moon. She'd been excused for a ridiculously long time thanks to Kingsley. He'd pulled his Minister magic and seen to it that she not only got an extended leave (which meant lots of snuggle time with George) but that Dosenger had also been demoted. Diggle had taken over his position. Today was the last day of their werewolf get together before the full moon. Three of the wolves from Greyback's pack had joined George. She made it to the lobby and saw her boyfriend, Fred, Harry, and Ron waiting on her. Her lips instantly lifted up in a grin and she quickened her pace.
Right before a hand on her shoulder stopped her. She was spun around to find Dosenger standing in front of her with a glower.
"What do you want?" Hermione demanded as patiently as she could.
"It's not going to work. They'll be mine before the years end. You're fuck-buddy will be in Azkaban waiting to snog a dementor and you'll be unemployed. That's my promise." Dosenger stated simply.
Hermione glanced over her shoulder at where George, Fred, Harry, and Ron were waiting for her. They would take her to the Room of Requirements in a few minutes where over twenty other people would be waiting. They had at least another three dozen friends between them all that would quickly step forward to aid them with anything without hesitation. They weren't alone. They were all so very far from it.
And because of that, they would win. They would win by a landslide.
"I may not be able to physically best you." Hermione stated, turning her head back to Dosenger. "But we, the lycans and their friends? Each of us are smarter than you. When push comes to shove? We always team together and we do not give up." Hermione stepped closer and leveled the full force of her stare on him.
"You," Hermione said calmly as she invaded his personal space, "are a bully. There is a reason bullies do not take on groups. And we are a group. Rather a large one. You might want to reexamine the tally. It's shifted to our favor." She picked her bag back up and swung it over her shoulder before turning and walking back towards George and her friends. "Think about it." She called over her shoulder before taking her boyfriends hand.
She had a pack to meet. A pack that had adopted her into it and loved her as one of their own. She, unlike Dosenger, had a place where she belonged.
A/N: So, we're getting near the end but we still have a few items to take care of. I've written out the actual ending so I just have to write the chapter(s) between us and it :D I'm quite excited if I'm being honest.
