The week passed without much remark at all. In spite of the newly developed peace between her and Draco it still wasn't as if they were close. Without the moon driving them together he always remained on the periphery of her friends. Loosely associated with Theo and worth the occasional nod or smile of acknowledgement and no more. In a way it made her sad, to see him so separate from the rest of them.
Luna however was the exact opposite. She had informed McGonagall of her return and she was swiftly re-enrolled… not that she attended class. She would occasionally be seen at some spot in the castle before disappearing from view entirely. She seemed to just sort of… wander. But her work was getting turned in so the teachers didn't kick a fuss about it.
More often than not, Luna could be found in the councilors' dorms at night, curled up next to Neville in a sickening display that had Hermione hoping that she and Theo weren't so… animated. Hermione had learned to knock on her own door, lest she see something she had no desire to.
Hermione was actually discussing the issue with both Theo and Neville one Saturday as they wandered the castle.
"I just don't see why you can't do it in your room Longbottom. Or a broom closet. Or literally anywhere that had a door."
"What am I supposed to do?" Neville laughed. "Say no? Besides you've only caught us a few times. I'd say our ratio of getting away with it is quite good."
"Ratio?" Hermione asked. "How could you be possibly having that much sex when she's missing most of the time? What does she even do during the day?"
"Who knows?" Neville sighed happily. "It's Luna."
"You're love-struck mate," Theo responded, brushing his hand across Hermione's shoulder.
"Oh, like you two are any better?" Neville scoffed.
Both Theo and Hermione frowned at that. They were better, at least when it came to public displays of affections. Sure, technically since Harry and Ron knew they had no more reason to hide it. Most of Gryffindor at least tolerated Theo as Neville's friend and a relationship wouldn't be too far out of the question... maybe. Slytherin would be upset but at this point they had moved on to ignoring Theo for the most part...
But somehow, both of them hesitated. They weren't ashamed but something felt... not right about being public with their relationship. Theo was happy to just pass under the radar and Hermione had spent enough time in the spotlight, so while they weren't hiding anything, they also weren't particularly outward about things. It didn't help that Neville's very frequent love bites were assumed to come from her, no matter how many times they both contested otherwise.
It was during this argument when they heard the low murmur of voices. Hermione inhaled deeply, a sharp panic spiking through her as the familiar icy scent of anger rolled through the hall.
"That can't be good," Theo mumbled.
They set off at a run, following their ears until they spilled into a corridor filled with students. Hermione wasted no time shouldering her way to the front. It would have been easier to let Theo or Neville clear the way but anxiety was driving her, sparking her fear.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. the wolf growled. Danger! Protect!
Hermione held her breath as the person in front of her shifted, revealing a coldly calm Draco, twisting his wand in his fingers. His face was blank as he scanned the opponents in front of him that she couldn't quite make out yet but she could see the tension in his shoulders, the tightness of his jaw and most importantly, the scent he was throwing off was cold enough to freeze fire.
Fight! Threat! Defend! Mine!
She turned to find the source of the feral rage bubbling up from inside her. With a sharp nudge of her shoulder the sixth year Ravenclaw stumbled away revealing the opponents. Hermione hissed at the egregious numbers advantage, counting no less than five students with their wands drawn and a few in the crowd who looked ready to jump in. She scanned the wizards, noting the variety of house colors only to land on a familiar face, contorted in an unfamiliar rage. Michael Corner was standing at the forefront, his wand trained on Malfoy unapologetically.
"-belong here. Everyone knows it so why don't you just crawl into whatever hole you call a home and die there."
"Even a hovel by Malfoy standards would be a palace by yours, Corner," Malfoy scoffed, sounding every bit the toe-rag git Hermione knew from childhood.
"Your name doesn't carry weight anymore, Malfoy." Michael spit the word out like it was a curse. "As a matter of fact it may as well be taboo. I don't even know why you are allowed at this school."
"I could ask the same about you with your utter lack of intelligence but apparently Hogwarts is allowing trolls now."
"I'd have to care for your opinion to be bothered by your insults," Michael responded. " Flipendo !"
The crowd gasped at the flash of light shot from Corner's wand as it was joined by the others standing with him. Before Hermione could draw her own Malfoy already had a shield up, the color splashing harmlessly against it.
"Childish curses for a child himself. How utterly predicable."
Malfoy finished the statement by letting his eyes rover over the crowd as if he were wholly unconcerned with the scene in front of him. It was only as his gaze landed on the three of them that Hermione saw his breath hitch and the first flash of fear cross his face. He snarled, his lip pulling up in distaste before he looked away. The message was clear, even to her human self. Stay out of this.
Hermione struggled against her instincts, wanting to do as her Alpha requested but also knowing she should interfere. She would for anyone, and Malfoy really wasn't that bad. He really didn't deserve to-
"Dark curses are more your thing but the Carrows did teach a few after all. Flag- "
Just as she was about to step forward to block the painful heating curse (likely aimed at Malfoy's robes) something shifted in her periphery. Michael stumbled over the incantation at the distraction, letting it die at the tip of his wand. Malfoy audibly scoffed when Theo strode forward lazily, as if he were totally unaware of the tension around them, to come to a stop at Malfoys right, slightly behind him.
"Theo," Malfoy greeted tightly.
"Draco," Theo responded, eying the group in front of him. "Causing problems again I see."
"Nothing that needs your interference. Move along."
"I'd listen to him if I were you."
Hermione flinched and turned her attention back to Michael. He had grown over the year she had been gone and his face showed signs of aging. Just lancing up his neck she could see the white threading of a spellfire scar.
"No can do," Theo sighed dramatically withdrawing his own wand lazily. "I hate to see an unfair fight. We could even the odds a bit more but I say we all just call it a day and all move along, before anyone gets hurt."
"Careful Nott, we barely tolerate you. You don't have much leverage." Hermione flinched to see Michael's eyes flicking over to her and Neville in clear warning. As if telling them to pull back their dog that had gotten off its lead.
Michael shifted and Hermione was forced to bite back an inhuman whine as Dennis McCreevy was revealed to his right, staring murderously at Draco with his wand still aimed. The cute, young boy known for his over-exuberance was gone and in its place was a hard, almost cruel sneer. As a matter of fact most of the group watching placidly was made up of older years and quite a few, she was sad to note, had been a part of the DA by the end. No one was doing anything to stop it.
"Yeah well, unfortunately I am stuck with this git. If I let you hex him he'll whinge about it all day," Theo said jokingly. Despite his cool demeanor it was clear to Hermione that he was more than prepared for a fight. While his position was loose, one quick shift of his hips would result in planted feet and a quick draw.
"Stand down," Dennis said, glaring at Theo. "Siding with a Death Eater isn't a good look."
"I'm siding with my friend," Theo growled, letting some of his anger slip past his mask. "Some of that Gryffindor stupidity rubbing off on me no doubt."
"Fine," Michael scowled. "Never trusted you anyway. Consang- "
Hermione's eyes widened as the spell was cast. She reached out her hand, taking a step forward, only to be met by a hail of wands flying at her. She caught the first two, Michael's and Dennis's, before the remainder clattered by her feet. Her own wand was noticeably absent, still in her robe's pocket.
"Fuck," Neville mumbled under his breath, stepping forward.
Her choice already apparent in the burst of wandless magic, Hermione strolled forward with him, taking her place by Malfoy, examining the wands in her hand. She didn't bother drawing her own. Not only were they unarmed, after a display like that she had revealed that she hardly needed it this soon after the moon.
"Dare I ask what's going on here," Hermione asked with a raised eyebrow. She put on her best Prefect voice, hoping it kept the shaking rage out of it.
"Stay out of this Granger," Michael spat. "You've already made enough questionable choices lately… you too Longbottom."
"Wasn't aware we were worth scrutinizing," Neville said, glaring at Dennis, who suddenly looked a bit abashed. "It's a sad day to see DA members picking unfair fights. I thought we had more ethics than that."
"Don't lecture me on ethics Longbottom," Michael snarled. "Your brain is clearly addled with the company you keep lately. Are you adding another Death Eater to your collection? Did Granger wrap you up in her pity project?"
"War is over Corner," Hermione said firmly. "Let it go."
"Oh, I am so glad you can forgive and forget. How magnanimous of you," he scoffed. "But you weren't exactly here for any of it, were you?"
"I wasn't," Hermione agreed, bristling at the dig. It shouldn't bother her, she more than paid her dues to the war, but it stung all the same. "I was on the run, starving, and fighting behind the scenes so that you could stand here today. If I can… tolerate Malfoy's existence peacefully so can you."
"He let them in," Dennis said coldly. "He was directly responsible for the Headmaster's death and every other death resulting from it."
"That's not even to speak of what happened last year," Michael sneered. "It's his fault that-"
"I'd be careful assigning blame there, Corner," Neville growled. "Don't want to be a hypocrite."
"I did what I had to," Michael said firmly. But his fist was balled up at his side, shaking slightly. He was noticeably keeping his glare off of Neville, bouncing between Hermione, Draco, and Theo.
"So did the rest of us," Neville said.
"That's not the same. Not even close."
"Says who?" Neville asked. "You cruico 'd me until I blacked out and probably more after and I have forgiven-"
"That's different!" Michael shouted, finally looking at Neville. "I had no choice!"
"And I acknowledge that," Neville said evenly. "But I am telling you to let it go. He's only here another year, then you'll never have to see him again. Just ignore him." He paused for a moment before adding coldly, "Much like I do with you."
Michael held his gaze for another moment before looking away with a frown.
"How can you just sit there and let him exist? How can you possibly forgive it all?" Dennis blurted out, his anger still highly apparent. "He got away with zero consequences. No punishment whatsoever causing direct-"
"Maybe... it's not a matter of forgiveness," the voice was small and came from somewhere to Hermione's left. In spite of the distinct urge to not tear her eyes away from the threat in front of her, Hermione forced herself to view the speaker. To her surprise it was a very wary Samuel, staring at Draco thoughtfully. "Maybe…" his eyes landed on hers warily before he nodded. "Maybe there was more to the war than we saw."
Samuels' gaze drifted back to Malfoy and Hermione could practically see the gears turning in his head.
"What are you-" Dennis started softly with a look of betrayal. It took her a moment to remember that Samuel was one of his roommates, and his best friend.
"Isn't that right, Hermione?" Samuel said.
Hermione wanted to chew her lips but resisted the urge to in the face of danger. She had already made her decision, she knew that. But she also couldn't shake the feeling that this moment was somehow more important than ever.
"That's right," she said firmly, her gaze not wavering from the group of wizards in front of her. "I'm not saying that you have to forgive, or even like him. But there were many undertows from the war, and if you never got pulled down into one, you never knew they were there."
The statement settled in a hush over the crowd. No one ever talked about the war if it could be avoided. While the story of how she, Harry and Ron had spent the last year of the war was reported, it was painfully clear to even the most simple of mind that a lot of the story had been redacted. Mostly involving the horcrux hunt, but other details as well. The end result was that their part was the stuff of heroes and legends. When she spoke on it, it was taken as truth, and the truth spoke volumes.
"Well, I for one am sick of all this testosterone," Ginny sighed from somewhere in the crowd. "Honestly, if you're going to actually try to duel Hermione can you start? I'd like to see her wipe the floor with you before I have to head to Charms."
The crowd began to murmur as people whispered to their friends. Hermione delighted to see the wary looks on the people standing behind Michael as they stepped back cautiously. Michael, quickly reading the lay of the land, sent one last hateful glare towards Malfoy before summoning his wand from Hermione's hand. It was a weak charm. With the barest hint of effort, she could hold onto it. But rather than risking prolonging the fight she released it, letting the others call back their own before stalking away.
"Any other issue?" Hermione barked at the still staring crowd. "No? Then get to class before I start docking points."
The crowd began to disperse and Hermione was internally groaning about how quickly this would reach every ear in the school. Theo sauntered up to her side with a smile and nudged her shoulder.
"Are you even allowed to dock points as a counselor?"
"They don't need to know that," she muttered, finally dropping her guard when the last student disappeared from the corridor.
"You didn't have to-" Malfoy started.
"We know," Hermione said, turning toward the blond. His shoulders were hunched and now that the threat was going she could see the agitation he didn't show leaking from his body. His cheeks were lightly flushed and for some reason he wasn't looking at her. At any of them. It was almost as if… oh.
"You don't need to be embarrassed, Malfoy." She couldn't but find the very human emotion from him charming and it was very difficult not to giggle at his self-imposed distress. Sometimes she was just as guilty as forgetting that he was just a regular teenager, stumbling through life as well.
"I don't need protection," he snapped at her.
The action gave her a clear view of his expression that was swimming with doubt and the fear of rejection. If it were anyone else she may have laughed and pulled them into a hug for the very thought. As it was she just nodded, leaning into the arm Theo threw around her shoulder.
"We're stuck together, Malfoy, regardless of the phase of the moon. Better just get used to it."
He blinked at her before turning to Theo and Neville. She kept her eyes trained on his, but the boys must have managed to convey something similar. His lip twitch and tension drained from his shoulders as he slid into a relaxed posture, sliding his hands into his pockets. If she squinted hard enough she may have been able to imagine a smile on his face.
"So I'm stuck with a know-it-all soft touch, an antisocial heir with daddy issues, and Longbottom. Wonderful," he said drily.
"Oi!" Neville scowled in indignation.
"And we're stuck with a pretentious martyr with his own daddy issues." Theo nudged Hermione's cheek with his nose. "Just where did you find us? The shelter?"
That drew a laugh (and even a snort from Malfoy).
"Well, we've got to get to lunch," Hermione said warmly, she raised a brow at Draco. "You coming?"
"With you? Ha! I think you've already given them enough to talk about for the week. I think I'll eat dinner in my room. Like a civilized outcast."
Hermione just shook her head as Draco turned heel and stalked down the hall. He could pretend he was annoyed all he wanted but Hermione knew as well as the others that he didn't mean it in the slightest.
0000000000000000000
Hermione was ready to pull her hair out. Rumors were thrown around like leaves in an autumn breeze, tumbling in and out of favor on a whim.
The most insulting was that Theo and Draco had somehow impiriused her and Neville. The most ridiculous one was that she and Neville had someone impiriused the Slytherins. Honestly it was a wreck. By the time Hermione trudged back to her room that Friday she was exhausted from the beating her reputation had taken. But it would pass, it always did.
More importantly the general viciousness towards Malfoy had bled off, even if it was now passive-aggressively directed at her and Neville. There was hope though, a few small sects of Hufflepuff (who saw the event as loyal friends defending each other) and Gryffindor (who were honestly a bit terrified of her after years of her hair trigger temper) who had moved on to watching the four with a close eye. Thankfully, there wasn't actually anything to see. Malfoy stayed at his table and in his house, while her and Neville remained with the Lions. Theo bounded between the two as needed, though he was sticking closer to her side lately.
The Ravenclaws were whispering… but Hermione could never be sure of the topic. It made her nervous, even though she knew that their opinions shouldn't bother her.
With a groan of annoyance she pushed open the door to her dorm, prepared to collapse on the couch and sleep until dinner. Unfortunately, she was not alone.
"Hello there Hermione."
"Luna!" Hermione yelped in surprise. "You scared me."
"I apologize," she hummed. "I was just swinging by to say that you did a good thing yesterday."
"I'm sorry?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"For Draco," Luna clarified. "I know he can be a bit beastly but he's got a good soul in there. He just doesn't like to show it much."
"He's not awful," Hermione agreed.
"He's actually quite kind when you let him be. He gave me a chocolate bar at my mothers funeral. It really helped."
"That's... sweet," Hermione responded blankly.
"He was a good caretaker, even then. I shouldn't be surprised he grew into an Alpha."
"I guess."
Hermione shifted awkwardly while Luna waited. With Draco drifting away again she found herself bubbling with the sort of question she most definitely did not want to ask him. Perhaps having a female perspective would help. Finally she gave in, her quest for knowledge more important than her pride.
"Luna, do you know anything about all of this?"
"All of what, Hermione?" Luna asked, cocking her head.
"This whole...werewolf business?" Hermione clarified. "I must admit that I am more than a bit out of my depth with it."
"Oh yes," Luna responded thoughtfully. "You are, aren't you? But it's not my place to tell. You'll have to talk to Draco."
"Not your place? What does that even mean?" Hermione groaned in exasperation.
"Well I'm an Omega," Luna supplied with a sympathetic pat on the back. "I'm pretty much the quietest and weakest. I'm good for listening and working things out but not much help on the information side of things. That's between you and your Alpha."
"But I'm the Alpha," Hermione groaned.
"Yes I know. But so is he. He's the other side of you. Trust in him more and it'll all work out in the end."
"It's so hard to trust anyone anymore," Hermione sighed, picking at the velvet of the couch.
"Well...You trust Neville, and Theo, me, and Justin too. Why is Draco so hard to accept?"
"Luna," Hermione sighed in exasperation. "You, of all people, know who he was. What he did. It's just..."
"But is that who he is now?"
"I'm honestly not sure," Hermione responded. "There is so much I don't know and so few things that make sense."
"I'm sorry," Luna responded with a comforting pat. Sensing that nothing more was to come of the conversation Hermione smiled at the blond.
"Me too. Are you waiting for Neville?"
"I'm not waiting for anything really. Just existing at a point in time," Luna hummed happily.
"Right, well while you exist would you like some hot chocolate?"
"With the miniature marshmallows if you could."
"I'll get right on that."
The girls were sipping at the last dredges of cocoa and whipped cream when the door slammed open. Hermione jumped as the subtle scent of blood washed into the room as Draco shouldered through the doorway with a stumbling Theo, also supported by Neville. Draco's scent still carried the cold tinges of anger but there was also the warm scent of satisfaction coming from the both of them. Hermione gasped at the reason, blood was covering Theo's face, his eye was bruised and swollen and his nose was clearly broken.
"You've got a bathroom in this hovel, Longbottom?"
"Let me handle it," Neville groaned, hauling Theo to the bathroom with a nod towards Hermione and a dopey smile for Luna. The girls watched them go, Hermione too shocked to speak.
"He's so strong," Luna hummed.
"What in the hell happened?" Hermione snapped. But it was all human fear, the kind that was pure concern and logic. The wolf wasn't the least bit bothered and seemed mildly pleased for some reason.
"There was an…" Malfoy shifted his weight from one foot to the other, watching the boys disappear into the bathroom. "Incorrect assumption about your relationship with the males around you."
"They were being cunts!" Theo shouted then yelped as Neville likely put some sort of stinging healing cream on him.
"How so?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow at Draco.
"That's not important."
"Oh, I've heard about this," Luna interjected. "Some Ravenclaws asked me if you have sex with them all at the same time or if you take turns. I told them that Neville is mine but-"
"They're cunts!" Neville shouted from the bathroom. "Don't worry about it Hermione. No one believes it. Theo! Stop squirming and hold still."
"Regardless," Draco growled, shooting a glare of irritation at Luna. "I doubt any of them will be saying anything at all until Madam Pomfrey gets them fixed up. After that, I hope they are intelligent enough to think twice… They should be reminded of it every time they look in a mirror but I don't put much faith in the masses."
"You didn't have to-"
"You're stuck with us Granger," Draco smirked, his eyes sparking almost playfully. "Better get used to it."
Hermione really didn't understand the warmth pooling in her chest, even as Theo continued to swear at Neville's healing efforts. Luna engaged Draco in a rather confusing conversation about the creatures that supposedly used to live in his manor garden and enticed him to settle on one of the arm chairs.
As she observed her friends, her pack, she couldn't help but compare the feeling of warmth and safety to the comfort of the Gryffindor common room. It has been years since she felt so wholly at peace and relaxed.
Luna eventually flitted away to fuss over Neville's more minor wounds (apparently Theo had started it all). Draco sent her a smirk and settled further into the chair, summoning a book from her shelf and began to read… as if he belonged there. Maybe he did.
Theo stumbled in, sending her a sheepish grin as he settled next to her, the only evidence of the fight being some drops of dark red on his shirt. Hermione rolled her eyes but pulled him to fall against her, his head in her lap.
"Stupid boys," she sighed as she ran her hands through his curls. Theo melted against her happily, all but purring. Malfoy scoffed from his spot on the couch but continued to read with a smirk on his face. By the time Luna and Neville rejoined the room they had to share an armchair but neither of them seemed to mind.
Hermione smiled, glancing around at her pack. Suddenly, she didn't really mind being stuck with them at all.