Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So don't sue me.

Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, when they notice something different about each other, both vows to find out one another's secret.

A/N: Hey, guys…I really have to apologize for something. When I posted this story, I meant to post this chapter up as well. I didn't mean to just put up the first chapter and leave ya'll to wonder what Hermione's secret is. So when you read this and her secret is not what you expected, blame it on me. I'm really sorry, but I hope this won't count against me as an author. On a lighter note, I want to thank you for the reviews. They were great and I appreciate them.

Here it is!

The Moon's Call

Chapter Two

August 3rd – One month later

Creak.

Hermione Granger's brown eyes opened. Was it just her or was her room looking different? Then she heard, "What are we going to do, Richard?"

That was her mum. Frowning, Hermione sat up and listened.

"I know," her dad replied. His voice was muffled. "We've been dreading this day ever since she was born, but it had to come sooner or later, Katlyn."

"I would rather have it later rather than sooner," snapped her mother.

"Do you want me to go upstairs and wake her?"

Upstairs?

But aren't they in their room a few doors down? Hermione shook her head. There was no way she could hear her parents downstairs in the kitchen.

She stopped.

How the hell did I know they were in the kitchen?

Her mum was cooking. Hermione could smell the faint delicious scent of bacon.

Stop it, she cried out silently. You don't smell bacon. You don't hear your parents talking downstairs in the KITCHEN! You are simply…becoming delusional. Yes, that's it. Just read one book too many, that's all. Just cut back on reading.

Hermione knew it was no use. For some unexplainable reason, she could hear and smell better than usual. She needed to write this down. Looking for her diary, she scanned the room. Her eyes picked up something on a poster across the room.

"Oh fuck!" She covered her eyes instantly. "I did not see that. I did not see that. I'm going to move my hands and will not see it anymore."

Slowly she moved her hands and focused on the same poster, at the bottom left corner.

"Impossible!"

She could see MADE IN THE UK in print small enough so she shouldn't—couldn't—have read it.

"Honey? Are you awake?" she heard her mother call. Hermione could hear her coming up the stairs. She opened the door. "Sweetie?"

"What's wrong with me?" asked Hermione helplessly.

Her mother sighed as she came into the room. Hermione could smell bacon on her and perfume that was suddenly too heavy a scent to bear. Her mother sat down and Hermione began to breathe through her mouth.

"Oh, my darling," Katlyn said. "I'm so sorry that you have to live with this. You must know that your father and I never wanted this life for you."

"What are you talking about?"

"There is no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it. Hermione…you're a…a werewolf."

She couldn't think. Her thoughts all just suddenly vanished. What did her mother just say? No. It wasn't possible. There was no way she could be a…werewolf. It just wasn't logical. She was dreaming. Yes. This was all a dream.

"Hermione?"

It's a dream. A stupid, fantastical dream that came from reading too much.

"Honey, are you all right?"

Hermione looked at her mother. "Yes. Of course, I am. This is just a dream."

Katlyn narrowed her eyes. "A dream? Herm, this isn't a dream. You are a werewolf by blood. You've inherited a curse that's been passed on for nine generations."

She laughed. "Right, Mom. I'm a werewolf and Grandpa's death was murder."

"It was," said her mother quietly. "Someone found out what he was and they killed him."

Hermione discreetly pinched herself to prove this was a dream. She hissed in pain.

"What?" her mother asked worriedly.

"Nothing, I just pinched myself to wake myself up, but it didn't work." The wheels in her mind slowly began to turn once more. "I'm really…a, uh, werewolf."

"Yes. You're more of a pureblood wolf than a witch. I know this is hard to accept and I know the changes you are going through right now, but you will get used to it."

Something suddenly struck her. "Is this why you and Dad are gone during the full moon?" Why hadn't she made the connection before?

Katlyn nodded. "Yes. Your father is a wolf by blood as well. It's a miracle, really, that we found each other."

"Why's that?"

"Well, we're not wizards, so it should have been nearly impossible that muggle pureblood wolves meet. It does happen, mind you, but far less frequent than in the wizard world where there are more wolfen families."

"Wait. Did you say 'wolfen families'? Are there actually wizarding families that are werewolves, too?" Hermione asked. It was too much to believe.

"Yes, but the names of the families are very secret. I imagine that it is possible you have met a pureblooded wolf and not even know it." Her mother stroked her hair lightly. "Understand this, my dear, wolfen families keep their secret to themselves because if anyone not wolf knew, there would be a witch hunt. It is easy for us to live in the muggle world because werewolves are mythical. In the wizarding world, however, it would be much worse."

Hermione practically yelled, "You knew about wizards before I even went to Hogwarts!"

Her mother smiled. "All pureblood wolves know about the wizards. Those of us not magically-inclined are warned to never reveal ourselves to them. We are more vulnerable than wizard wolves."

She abruptly thought of someone. "Mom, do you remember Professor Lupin, the man I introduced you to at the station? I never told you he's a—"

"Werewolf?" her mother cut in.

Frowning, Hermione nodded. How did her mother know? God, this was so confusing!

Her mother saw her face. She elaborated. "I knew by his scent and when he first looked into my eyes."

"What?"

Her mother smirked. A dimple winked at her. "Lupin's eyes dilated and he looked away. He feared me. I could smell it on him. I knew he was afraid of me. If your father had been there to greet you, he would have found an excuse to leave immediately."

"Why was he so afraid? Is that why last month when I saw him, he avoided my gaze and barely spoke to me? Did he know about me?" asked Hermione.

"He was bitten, not born. Therefore, he is weaker than a pureblood. We call such wolves Betas. The term is from the Greeks."

Finally something she could grasp without spinning her head. "Yes. It is the second letter in their alphabet—"

"And is appropriate for those bitten. Human is their first and natural form. Wolf is second. You must understand," her mother said, "that they are entirely controlled by the moon's call. Wolves like you and I are not. We can change at will. Purebloods such as ourselves are called Alphas."

"The first letter of the Greek alphabet," Hermione whispered. This was so fantastical that she could hardly believe it, but something within her told her it was all true.

Her mother didn't say anything. Hermione glanced at her. She was watching her carefully. Hermione sighed and looked away from her mother's piercing gaze.

"So," she started. Hermione had to say it with conviction or she would just be going in circles. "I'm…a werewolf."

There.

It was a statement. One she reluctantly accepted. There was no backing out now. Hermione took a deep breath. She felt she had to say it again to make it final.

"I'm a werewolf."

She heard finality and acceptance in her own voice. Was it just here or did she feel a new weight on her shoulders? Oh God, what was she getting herself into?

Whaddya think? So this whole werewolf and werewolf thing is a little too predictable, but I could have some fun with this story line. You'll just have to wait and see. You know what to do now: review it.

-TG