Thank you for your patience everyone. With both physical and mental health being a big factor in my lack of writing I'm proud to say I've finally picked up the pen again. I can't promise constant updates, but I'll try hard to get more out soon.

Life

Isaac took a seat, moving his plate from the floor and onto the table munching on it a little bit. "Sorry, Harry here has been learning to talk around answers or ignore them, but if he mentioned the pack to you, he shouldn't be doing so." Isaac raised an eyebrow at Harry and gave him a look that crossed between exasperation and endearment. "We are a part of a pack; not everyone is supernatural; who protect our home and it's surrounding areas. We send what help we can to our allies and them to us if needed but home is… complicated."

"That is an understatement Is'." Harry was flushed slightly red at Isaac's look but seemed to be trying to brush it off. Harry looked at Hermione and smiled gently. "Let's go through your questions again shall we. I have been in California with my new family. My, uh, aunt for a lack of better term is who helped me with the hair and got me contacts once we saw a doctor. My other aunt tried to take me shopping, but I leaned more towards my parents' style and I'm adding my own a bit at a time." Harry tugged on the longer part of his hair, brushing it back again and allowing his scar to be fully seen. Dropping his hand back to the table Harry looked to Isaac with a small frown. "How much am I allowed to tell her exactly? You kind of gave up the shape shifting werewolf part, but I don't know how much I can say."

"I talked with Derek before we left. Everyone figured you would want to speak with Ron and Hermione about what's going on. After seeing what happened earlier, I'll say Ron is not to be told anything at this time. Hermione here, so long as she can honestly promise to speak of this to only our pack, may be told everything."

The two males looked to the young witch who nodded vigorously, "of course!"

"No Hermione, we need you to speak the words. Please." Harry's whispered words traveled the small distance.

Taking a deep breath Hermione nodded, "I, Hermione Jean Granger, do solemnly swear to that anything and everything said to me about what has happened to Harry will remain with me. I will speak of this to no one who is not a part of your pack." Hermione took a moment and smirked at Harry, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good."

Isaac nodded to Harry and they both relaxed the rest of the way. Whatever barrier that had been hidden to Hermione was now gone. "The reason I haven't responded to any letters is first: I live in America now. Letters are harder to get via owl overseas. I did get a few but not many. Those were all from Errol and he seemed near dead just getting to me. I wasn't sending him back with a letter just to die on the way. Secondly, my dad has a barrier in place around our home county to help keep it safe. That helped to keep people from find me as well. He put a secondary barrier up around our house after the fourth time Errol showed up. Owls couldn't find me after that. Dad's pretty good at making things safe now."

"Your father hid you from your own friends? From the world that we're all a part of? Why would he do that Harry? I get that he cares for you but, it isn't a good thing to separate people from their support system."

"True, but in this case, it wasn't about taking away a support system or separating me from others; which is a good thing to look our for; it was about taking me away from manipulations already imbedded in my life. I don't know if I'm ready to talk about that just yet with you Hermione and I ask that you please wait until I am. Okay?"

Hermione jumped from her chair and threw herself at Harry. She felt his shoulders stiffen like they normally did with contact before he gently returned the hug. "I will never force you to tell me something you don't want to. I may push and I'm sorry if I do, but I think last year taught me a bit about respecting people's wishes." Hermione pulled away, keeping her hands on Harry's shoulders to look him in the eyes. "I shouldn't have pushed you into talking about any of this! You have your own life, and I don't need to know everything."

Harry gave a genuine laugh and pulled Hermione back into a hug. "You'll always need to know everything. That's just who you are Hermione. And you didn't push on this. I let you ask and was willing to answer. Or at least, as willing as I can be right now. Thank you for listening to my wants."

The two teens soon felt a longer pair of arms wrap around them and envelope them in warmth. Isaac had decided to join the cuddle session. The happy and content chemo-signals making him feel like he was back home with the rest of the pack. "I think this might be enough for the night. Let's get you two filed up then off to bed."

The three separated to finish their food. Dobby came by to bring Isaac another plate which was cleaned of food before Harry and Hermione finished their shared meal. Finishing their meal Harry took the dishes and went to wash them, refusing any help from the house elves with a smile and shake of his head. "He does the dishes as his chore at home so he'll probably take a lot of meals down here when he can, just to help keep a sense of normalcy." Hermione looked at Isaac confusedly. "He uses patterns sometimes to help keep his temper in check. As his best friend you should know where to find him. Give him a few days and you might see more. You can ask him then about them if you feel like you need to."

Harry returned to them and Isaac cracked his neck, shifting back into his wolf form. As one they made their way up towards Gryffindor tower. Hermione gave the password and they walked into the surprisingly quiet common room. Heading up the stairs and to their own dorms. "I'll spell my curtains shut so if you want to sleep human you can. No one will be able to open them. At least, not any students in this dorm room."

Isaac shifted back once more, moving to Harry's trunk, and pulling out pajamas for them both. "You'll be okay till someone else can get here? I know it's only a week, but I just don't like leaving you alone here."

Harry curled into the bed once dressed, leaving room for Isaac. "I'll be fine. The beginning of school is usually very slow and honestly, I had enough excitement this summer. I don't need anymore thank you very much. I'll even ask Hermione to watch out for me and any 'hero moments' I might have." Isaac pulled the curtains closed and slipped under the blankets to watch Harry spell his bed curtains closed with a couple different spells. "I promise Uncle Isaac, I just want to study and then go home. No more adventures here at school."

"Okay. I'll hold you to that promise. Now get some sleep. I leave early since I've got a long way to run to meet up with Chris."