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: Thanks for the reviews, guys. You make my world go round. And Draco's not going to meet Hermione just yet.
The Moon's Call
Chapter Four
"Mom, it's so hot. I can't breathe."
Hermione pulled at the collar of her dress. She was with her mother at her grandfather's old place. It was in the middle of the countryside. The nearest neighbors were seven miles away.
Even if the distance was two miles, the surrounding forest was dense enough to make them feel isolated.
It was the night of the full moon. Hermione felt nervous and excited.
What if I can't change? What if I get stuck in wolf form? Oh God, what if I get stuck in the middle? These thoughts kept running through her mind.
"Hermione, calm down," her mother said gently. They were sitting in a clearing of the forest. "It'll be okay."
"What if I don't change?" she asked urgently.
Her mother smiled. "That won't happen, dear. Just let your instincts take control. Don't think about it. Feel it."
"Why wouldn't you let me try to change before tonight?" Hermione whispered.
"Because tonight is the only night where you have no choice but to change. If I had let you try before tonight, something might have gone wrong, scared you and make you loathe your other half. I couldn't take that chance."
They both fell silent as they waited for the moon to rise. It wasn't long before that time came.
Her mother stood up quickly. "Take off your clothes, darling."
She felt her eyes bulge in embarrassment. "WHAT?"
"If you want to go home wearing rags, you're welcome to stay clothed. I, on the other hand, do not." With that, her mother peeled off her shirt and jeans. Then she took off her underthings.
Hermione turned around to give her mother privacy. "I can see why you wouldn't let Dad come with us."
"I figured this would be more comfortable for you."
Taking a deep breath, Hermione braced herself and whipped off the light dress she wore. She kicked off her sandals and took her bra and underwear off.
"Here it comes, Hermione. Whatever you do, don't be afraid. Just feel the power flow through you and let yourself to change. Your instincts will help you with the rest," her mother said.
The moon topped the trees and shone down into the clearing, bathing Hermione in its blue light. Something then entered her, through her skin, eyes, or mouth, whatever. Or perhaps it had always been inside her sleeping and it was just waking up now.
Whatever it was, it just filled her. Energy surged in her, touching everything. Hermione felt afraid, but forced herself to let go of her fears. She would see her mother on the other side. She focused on this energy within her and let it expand.
Her mouth and jaw pushed outward and her ears went up. She fell to all fours and grunted in pain when her knees popped out of place and reversed. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see. She felt her nails harden and lengthen, and her teeth grow long.
Then the change stopped. She felt different now, more aware of herself than usual.
Something wet lick her face.
Hermione opened her eyes. Her eyesight was even better. She could see the tip of her nose.
Holy shit!
She yelped in surprise and twisted to look at herself. Her fur was black and her tail was long and luxurious. Hermione stretched and tried out walking. After a few stumbles, she finally got the hang of walking on four feet.
She scented another wolf. It was slightly familiar, but earthier now. She turned to see a gray wolf watching her with satisfaction.
Mom?
Her mother got up and went to her. She nudged her side and walked away, then stopped to look back at her. Then her mother shot away, quick as lightning. Hermione followed closely, not wanting to be left behind.
They ran and Hermione kept up. It was some time before Katlyn stopped. She couldn't ask what was happening, but she whined.
She jumped in surprise and fear when her mother snarled at her in warning. She crouched down so she was not a threat. Her mother growled low in her throat and Hermione felt the urge to submit. She got down and rolled onto her back, exposing her throat. Only then did her mother back away.
Katlyn put her nose in the air and scented the wind. She looked at Hermione expectantly. Hermione didn't know what to do after what had just happened, so she copied her.
Breathing in, Hermione detect several rich scents. She knew which belonged to the earth, the grass, the trees and so on, but there were others she did not recognize. She concluded they belonged to animals living in the forest.
It seemed once her mother had decided they were done, she dashed away again. Hermione sighed, but followed anyway.
Several times, Katlyn stopped and crouched low to the ground. Hermione copied her again as she didn't know what was expected of her. She now knew the smell of rabbit, owl, raccoon, and deer.
They ran again, racing along the game trails when Hermione caught another earthy scent similar to her mother's but subtly different. She stopped and Katlyn disappeared, not noticing her daughter had stopped.
Hermione wanted to know if it was another werewolf, so she chased the faint odor to its source. When it got strong enough, she slowed down. She kept her ears and nose open for danger while her eyes swept the forest.
Then she saw it.
The wolf was black like her, but she knew instinctively it was a male. He was slightly bigger than she was and she approached cautiously.
His nose went up and she heard him sniffing. He growled threateningly as he turned to face her. He ran at her suddenly. Fear flooded her body. The male bowled into her, driving her into the ground.
Growling filled her ears and she rolled onto her back, submitting to him, eyes closed. Hermione couldn't breathe for the fear constricting her throat. It seemed like eternity before he moved away.
She slowly got to her feet, still slinking down, her tail between her legs.
He watched her with imperious golden eyes. Unexpectedly, he came near and she went even closer to the ground. The male sniffed at her jaw and throat before moving down along her body to nose at her—HOLY SHIT!
Hermione twisted around in a flash and snarled at him. He jumped away in surprise.
There was no need for that whoever he was! They were both werewolves, not dogs.
He growled deep in his chest as he approached. Dominance clearly filled his being, but Hermione wouldn't allow herself to be intimidated by this fast moving pup. She bared her teeth in defiance.
The rumbling grew louder from him, but she still wouldn't submit to him.
A howl brought their attention to the charging gray wolf.
The male was completely knocked over and the gray wolf snarled a challenge at him. The black wolf slunk down and turned away. Hermione saw his black tail disappear beyond the trees.
The gray wolf turned to her and bumped her nose against hers. She knew that scent. It was her mother!
Hermione jumped up and circled her mother. Then Katlyn snapped her teeth at her reproachfully.
She whined slightly, confused, but Katlyn didn't pay any attention to that. She just urged her to follow once more. Her mother took off like a shot again.
As she ran after Katlyn, Hermione wondered who the black wolf was.
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—TG