Okay guys, here it is. I'm unsure about this chapter, as I have said, I have been suffering horrible writers block. This chapter is a two part with this chapter being the more angsty one and the next one being a more upbeat, fluffy one. Next chapter we finally get to experience the pack bonfire. Also, next chapter is the official start of the courting process for Sirius and Hermione. I want to focus more on the romance aspect of this story for a while so we will be following along with them as they take the road to becoming a mated pair.

I actually cried writing parts of this story, particularly the part closer to the end; so, there's that.

Anyway, I hope you guys like this chapter; or can at least tolerate it. Let me know what you guys think.

P.s. I want to tell you guys just how much I appreciate your patience with me. So, thank you.

"Because I…"

"Mum!"

Hermione jumped up at Holland's yell and vaguely heard Sirius mutter about 'shit timing, kid' before she was being tackled to the ground by her pup. Holland's arms wrapped around her waist as he buried his head in her neck and inhaled sharply. He growled deeply and Hermione realised he was smelling Caleb's scent on her.

"I'm okay," she soothed, running her fingers through his dark curls, "Sirius got to me before Caleb could do more than kiss me."

The next growl that filled the air belonged to David who quickly picked Holland and Hermione up before wrapping them both in a tight bear hug. "I swear you're trying to send me to an early grave, pup," he said into her abundant curls, "you gotta stop scaring the hell outta me."

"M'sorry," Hermione muttered into his chest before David put her and Holland back on their own feet and took a step back.

"So, should I just expect random people to enter my home now?"

Hermione, Holland, and David turned to see Sirius leaning against the near wall of the living room.

"Pretty much," Holland answered with a shrug and a smirk. He snickered when Sirius glared over at him before Hermione drew the wizards attention away from him.

"Sorry, Sirius," she said softly, "it's a small community and we all have an open door policy. If it really bothers you, I'm sure you can set wards to prevent people from entering unannounced."

"I'm sure we'll be fine, 'Mione," Tonks commented as she, Remus, and Teddy entered the home, "it'll just be an adjustment; but one we're more than willing to make. Right, Sirius?"

Sirius grunted from where he was now standing beside Hermione, his arm brushing hers and causing the woman's cheeks to flush; much to the amusement of everyone present.

David was the one to break the silence now. "So, you're the infamous Sirius Black, huh?" he asked, walking over until he was only a few scant inches away from said wizard as he sized the man up. He didn't miss how Sirius straightened to his full height, which was still shorter than his own.

"And you must be David, Kitten's Alpha."

"I'm no longer Mia's Alpha but that doesn't mean she isn't still a member of my pack and under my protection," David grunted. I may not be her Alpha, but I'll still tear you to pieces if you hurt her.

"I can respect that," Sirius replied smoothly. I have no intention of hurting her but it's good to know someone else is willing to look after her when I can't.

David and Sirius suddenly grinned at each other, moving to shake hands as Hermione looked between the two of them confusedly. She turned to an amused Remus and an equally confused Tonks. "I feel like I missed something," she told the older witch who only nodded slowly in agreement.

Remus chuckled, wrapping his arm around his mates waist and pulling her close so he could nuzzle her hair, "I tell you about it later, love," he whispered into her ear before he winked amusedly at a still confused Hermione. She glared at him, and he chuckled again.

"You haven't started unpacking yet?"

David's question drew Hermione's attention back to the two men.

"We'd just finished unpacking Remus' place when that little shit attacked us," Sirius told the older man, folding his arms over his broad chest, "I have everything stored away in a few trunks upstairs and Harry's offered to come around later tonight to help me unpack."

"Actually, Harry can't make it tonight, Padfoot," Remus announced suddenly, "something came up at work and he'll be there until morning."

David had already removed his phone before Remus had finished. "Hey, love," he said when Kathy picked up the phone, "can you gather the pack and the mates; have half come to that large cottage just outside of town and the other half go to the shops to pick up everything we need for a pack bonfire, it's time we officially welcome in our new Alpha and packmates."

"David that's really not…"

"Hush, pup," David said lightly as he hung up on his squealing wife, "we've been meaning to do this since you decided to take up the mantel; may as well kill two birds with one stone. Now, how about you go contact your den mother so she and her mate can be there tonight."

Hermione smiled widely before she ran from the house, heading back to her own at top speed.

David waited until she was well out of earshot before he turned back to Sirius, his smile gone as he looked down at the other man. "So, you're Hermione's mate, huh?" he asked seriously.

"She told you?" Sirius replied, surprised.

"I've been Hermione's Alpha for ten years, of course she'd tell me when she found her mate," he scoffed as if the very notion of Hermione not telling him was ludicrous. "What I'm interested in knowing is how you plan on going about this," he continued.

"I don't know why that's any of your business, mate."

David sneered at the man before folding his large arms over his equally massive chest. "Look," he began, "the mate bond is a powerful, instinctual pull to another person. People tend to think it's one sided but it's not. The link is weak in the beginning but as you go through the mating rituals that bond strengthens. Right now, as the bond is, you have a chance to reject it without causing permanent harm to either of you.

"If you reject the bond in this phase than both you and Hermione can move on and find other people to love. It'd never be as fulfilling as the bond, but it wouldn't hinder your abilities to love them fully either. However, if you continue through the rituals and allow the bond to strengthen before deciding that you no longer want her, you risk seriously harming her. Being rejected by our mate isn't fatal in the beginning but to do so after you've undertaken the rituals will mean sentencing Hermione to a slow, agonising death."

"Mia told me that rejecting the bond didn't kill the wolf," Sirius argued with a frown.

"Tell me something, Sirius; if you truly loved someone and knew that being without them would kill you, but also didn't want them to feel obligated to be with you, would you not tell them a lie to protect them from the truth? Hermione's wolf was right to say the bond wouldn't kill her, but only if you reject it now, before you start the rituals," David told him solemnly.

"And if I don't want to reject it?" he asked firmly.

David grinned, "than you better not think seducing her will work for you."

He chuckled at the incredulous look on the younger man's face. "What, you think I can't?" he demanded.

"I think you're more than capable," David retorted amusedly, "however, I also know that Hermione can be as thick as a brick wall when she's trying to avoid something. If you want her to accept that you accept the bond, than beating around the bush isn't going to work."

"And how do you think I should go about it?" he questioned, curious now.

"It's simple, isn't it?" Tonks spoke up, reminding the two men that they indeed had an audience. "You spell it out as plain as day for her," she continued when the two men remained silent, "lay it all out so that she can't deny it."

"Don't faulter," David added, "Hermione may be an Alpha, but she is still a submissive wolf; you need to assert your dominance. If you want to be with her, then don't ask; take."

"Take? I rather like having all my limbs firmly attached, thank you very much," Sirius grunted.

David chuckled, "believe me; they'll all be firmly attached when you're done. The attraction isn't one sided and Hermione was attracted long before she was bitten."

"I'm sorry, do you want to repeat that?" Sirius asked, eyes wide.

David grinned slyly, "Hermione has always found you attractive, Sirius. The only difference now is that all parties are legally old enough to act upon this attraction you both feel, and the age gaps has significantly diminished."

Sirius was about to retort when several people started filing into his home. They all gathered in his living room, each and every one of them studying him closely.

"Okay, everyone, this is Sirius Black; he's just moved in and we're gonna help him unpack," David told them all. When they all groaned, he glared at them, "keep in mind that this isn't a request and to go against him would be to go against Hermione."

"Why?" Kyla asked, cocking her hip as she looked the man up a down, "what's he to our Alpha? He doesn't smell like a new beta."

"Sirius Black is the unclaimed mate of our Alpha," David announced, mentally preparing for the very pissed of Alpha he would be dealing with once this got back to her. Still, this needed to be done. David could see that Sirius really did want to pursue this bond and he'd be damned if he allowed his old beta to be stubborn about this.

There were various whispers before the packmates present merely shrugged and got to work.

By the time Hermione got home, Henry was more than ready to hand over Luca and head home to Lisa and the kids. "Kids packing a set of lungs, Mia," he told her as he handed the squalling baby over to the brunette, watching with rapt attention as he settled immediately; falling asleep the moment he was in his 'mothers' arms.

Hermione bid Henry a goodnight before she made her way over to the floo and contacted Lavender. Her den mother and her mate were more than eager to attend the bonfire that night and Hermione stepped back to allow them passage after they had changed into more comfortable attire.

"Hermione," Lavender breathed, resting her forehead against her Alpha's before she looked down and coo'd at the sleeping baby in Hermione's arms, "how is he?"

"He'll scream for anyone who isn't me or Holland," she replied with a fond roll of her eyes, "David refuses to watch him after he almost burst his eardrums with his screams."

Lavender winced in sympathy before she took a step back and allowed her mate to greet his best friend. "Thanks for inviting us, 'Mione," Ron breathed into her hair, hugging her gently so as not to hurt the baby she held.

"Of course," Hermione replied, stepping away from the tall red head, "you're pack, after all. I'm just sorry Harry couldn't attend; is everything alright?"

"Sorry, 'Mione, I can't really say anything about this case," he told her, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Hermione waved his concerns off before she told them to make themselves comfortable whilst she went and got herself and Luca ready for the bonfire.

Since bringing Luca back to Alaska, Lisa, Hermione, and Kathy had gone a little spend crazy with the baby items for him and the twins. Kathy had practically forced Hermione to buy half the store just to make sure Luca had everything he could possibly need. Hermione was more than happy to splurge on her 'sons' and had even dragged Holland along so that he could shop for everything he wanted for his room. She had assured the teen that she had more than enough money to last their little family quite a few lifetimes of indulgent spending. Hermione wasn't naturally a big spender, so she was more than happy to have an excuse to spend the money in her bank.

Dressing Luca in a forest green, long sleeve onesie with baby wolves on it, she placed the sleeping pup in his cot and started on getting herself ready. Pack bonfires were generally a casual affair, but this was her introduction as the new Alpha and, as such, Hermione needed to dress up for tonight's ritual.

Whilst most packs ignored the old ways, David had drilled a high level of respect for them into the pack and Hermione wasn't willing to break them simply because she was now the Alpha. In fact, she saw the value in sticking to the old ways; it kept them connected not only to their roots, but to their pack and their wolves.

Kathy has taken Hermione shopping for a dress to wear; both women knowing that a bonfire for her 'coming out' was an inevitable event. They had travelled to a nearby city where they had then gone on to visit six bridal stores before finding the perfect dress. Wolves didn't really hold wedding dresses to the same standards as society. The white gowns were used for a variety of rituals that the female wolves participated in; just as the male wolves would wear a white suit for their own rituals.

In fact, the only time a wedding dress was truly a wedding dress was if mates decided they wished to have a muggle wedding. Weddings for wolves were a very private affair for the pack and usually the two to be mated wore nothing. It had been awkward for Hermione the first few times she had participated in a bonding ceremony, but it was vital that all wolves were present for the occasion, so she had eventually gotten over it.

The dress she now wore was a basic A-line wedding gown, made of a chiffon with a natural waistline and a built-in bra. The dress had boning and was fulling lined with soft netting to shape the skirt. The skirt also had a sweeping train, something Hermione and Kathy had argued the practicality on before Kathy had gotten her way with a smug smile. Hermione particularly like the ruching on the bodice and the ballooning of the off-shoulder sleeves before they cuffed in at her wrists. She had been more than happy that the dress wasn't lined with beading, she thought it looked more beautiful without all the embellishments.

She left her hair down, brushing out the waist-length strands until they fell in slightly frizzy waves. Her eyes zeroed in on the ugly purple mark that marred her chest, tilting her head curiously as she studied the spell residue. It didn't bother her anymore; not after everything that had happened to her. She could still remember just how self-conscious she had been about it when she had first woken up in the Hospital Wing. Back then, she had believed it was only temporary but the vain part of her couldn't help but wish it would just vanish.

Now, David had taught them all to wear their scars like badges of honour; and they did. It had taken her a long time to think herself beautiful after the war had left her body scarred and her mind disfigured. The pack had done everything they could to save her from herself; never giving up even when Hermione had tried so desperately to push them away. And at their helm was David. The very same man she saw as a father. He had seen that she was drowning in her pasted and, instead of merely keeping her afloat, he had pulled her from the ocean and sailed her to shore.

A whimper from the cot behind her pulled Hermione from her thoughts and she quickly scooped Luca into her arms and held him against her chest just as Lavender walked in with a warm bottle. Her beta froze at the sight of her, only moving when Luca's fussing increased. Her eyes never left Hermione's form as she handed her Alpha the bottle and watched the woman place the teat to Luca's mouth; the pup eagerly latching on.

"Hermione," Lavender breathed, "you look so beautiful."

Hermione felt her cheeks warm at the compliment but smiled and thanked her beta none the less. The two women exited the room where Hermione's blush increased at Ron's stuttering before the quartet left the little cottage and made their way towards the packs clearing.

They weren't the first to arrive, but Hermione took note that Sirius, Remus, Holland, Teddy, Tonks, and Kathy were still missing from the group. David was already making his way over to them, his eyes focused solely on Hermione. She was well aware that all the chatter had ceased, and the pack was staring at her, but the thought barely had time to settle before she was being wrapped in a warm hug, her and Luca pressed gently to David chest.

"You look stunning, Hermione," David told her before leading her over to where the females of the pack were seated. He handed her over to Tully; who was the elder of the pack, having lived to see a hundred and ninety-three years. She was a natural born wolf and was the third person to join their pack when David had begun to form one here in Alaska.

The women gushed over their new Alpha, forming a protective circle around her as they began their own little ritual. Lavender was ushered over to their little group and happily joined in as the women took to braiding each other's hair as Tully prepared Hermione for her ceremony.

Mild herbs and oils were rubbed across every piece of exposed skin, the oils being used in her hair as well. The smell of sandalwood, cedar, and frankincense was a predominant scent and one that Hermione found pleasant to her senses. The faint scent of roses accompanied the aforementioned scents and had her feeling like she was laying in a meadow full of roses and surrounded by the forest.

Tully muttered words under her breath in a language far older than any Hermione had ever heard as she prepared the young wolf. With the herbs and oils thoroughly rubbed into her skin, Tully moved on to braiding flowers and vines into Hermione's mane of hair. Her muttered words never let up as she did this, the cadence speeding up and deepening into a hauntingly beautiful melody that had all the women shivering down to their very core.

Hermione was unaware of when Tonks joined their circle. She missed the awestruck looks the woman threw her way before she was assigned her own spot in the braiding circle of the other female packmates. Kathy joined Tully in her preparation of Hermione; as the mate of the previous Alpha, it fell on her and the female Elder to prepare the next Alpha if they so happened to be female. Had Hermione been born a male, this would have been taken over by Marcus and David.

She may not have been aware when Tonks and Kathy had arrived, but Hermione was hyperaware of Sirius entering the clearing with Remus, Teddy, and Holland. Her eyes brightened to gold as her senses sharpened, centring around the man currently laughing with Remus, David, and Marcus.

A form hand grabbing her chin drew her attention to Tully who had tugged Hermione's head to the side so their eyes could me. "Focus not on the men, child," she told her sternly, "your mate will still be there when we are finished. You must focus now."

"On what?" Hermione asked, her voice husky as Mia conjured exactly what she wished to currently be doing.

"Connecting with the earth," Tully went on, "feeling the bond we share with her and how it can be used to strengthen your abilities as Alpha. You are of magic blood; the connection should not be hard to make."

"I no longer have my magic," Hermione argued even as she closed her eyes and focused on the rich soil beneath them.

Tully scoffed, "foolish child, to think that was the only magic in your blood."

Hermione's eyebrows furrowed, expanding her subconscious and gasping when something reached back.

"Ah, you have found her," Tully nodded happily, "now, embrace her; listen to what she has to say. You may find that she is very familiar."

My Guardian.

It was the woman from her dreams, the entity that had helped her to escape Greybacks manor and free herself from Bellatrix in the veil. The one who had named her Luca's guardian and had told her she was going to die in the forest.

It was foretold that Hermione Granger would fall in that forest, the woman told her, her voice softer than a delicate breeze, and fall you did. Hermione Granger is no more; the witch with the bright future no longer exists.

Than who am I? Hermione asked, feeling lost.

Something caressed her cheek, too heavy to be the breeze but too light to be a physical hand.

You are Hermione Granger, Alpha wolf and Guardian to the true heir of the Lycaon throne. You are a guardian, a protector, a mother, and a leader. It was not I who chose you as Guardian, little wolf, it was Lycaon himself. He looked into your soul and saw someone worthy of protecting his bloodline.

How can I protect Luca when I no longer have magic? You took it from me so that I could beat Bellatrix.

No such thing was taken, the woman replied hauntingly, the loss of your magic was your own doing.

But if that is the case, what did you take? Hermione asked desperately.

All magic comes with a price, she replied heavily, the answer you seek is closer than you think, Guardian. Beware the freshly fallen snow, for it is than that the grounds will be stained red, and the sky will be flooded with smoke. A battle approaches, heed my warning and cherish the bonds you were blessed with. To ignore them could mean to lose them forever.

Before Hermione could reply, the connection was cut off and she was back in the clearing, her head resting in Tully's lap as the woman muttered ancients prayers above her.

"Tully…"

"The words spoken are an inevitability," she replied to the unasked question, "to ignore them would be most unwise, child."

Hermione was silent for the longest time, trying to process all she had heard. The freshly fallen snow? Could she mean the first snow? But that's only five months away. Are we so close to war?

"Focus less on the bad and more on the good," Tully scolded her, "it is time."

The ancient voice rang out in the clearance as the women, as one, got to their feet. Hermione remained within the protective circle as she heard the males of their pack move to circle them. Lavender took Luca from Hermione, the older woman letting him go reluctantly.

Tully turned Hermione to face her and motioned for the woman to kneel before her. Hermione did so, pressing her head to the rich soil beneath her in respect for her Elder. "We gather here this night to welcome our new Alpha. Added to our ranks a mere decade ago, the wolf before us has transcended to a level most would be forced to fight for. She has faced trials and hardships that have moulded her and her wolf into the leader who kneels before us now.

"Rise, Hermione, but remember the roots of which you came from; know that whilst your power has grown, it is only as strong as the bonds in your pack." Hermione straightened her back, still kneeling before the Elder who radiated an ancient power that could be felt by all present.

A withered finger was pressed to her forehead, tracing symbols onto her skin. Hermione could feel the cool paint on her skin and see it on Tully's finger. "Your trials begin now, Alpha," she told the woman heavily, "but first; your guide."

Hermione felt David settle beside her, his body radiating heat as he allowed Tully to trace the same patterns into his skin. "Alpha David, do you willingly kneel before me, accepting your roll as guide to Alpha Hermione for the trials she is about to face?" Tully recited, stepping away from the large man.

"I do," David replied.

"Alpha Hermione, do you willingly accept Alpha David as your guide for the trials you are about to face?"

"I do," Hermione answered, her eyes remaining forward as the power in the clearing swelled.

"May Lycaon watch over you and allow you to return to us alive," Tully announced before she placed her aged hands onto their foreheads and pushed.

Holland had to grab Remus and Sirius when Hermione fell unconscious. His grip tightened when the men began to struggle. He could see Kyla repeating the action with Lavender and Tonks.

"Aunt 'Mione?"

Holland looked down at Teddy, offering the frightened child a soft smile even as nerves raged a war inside of him. "Hermione will be fine, Teddy," he tried to assure the boy before he turned his attention back to the adults, "you both need to stop. Hermione's just unconscious but if you try and wake her right now you'll risk killing her."

"What the hell did she do?" Sirius growled, glaring at the Elder who stood above Hermione and David.

"Hermione is our Alpha, but she didn't fight for it like what usually happens," Holland explained quietly, "in order to prevent Hermione and David from having to fight for her title to be official, Hermione needs to go through three trials. She already passed the first one by willingly allowing another Alpha to walk amongst her subconscious. Our subconscious is vulnerable and to allow another to freely walk it is difficult for a lot of wolves."

"What are the other two trials?" Remus asked, calming slightly.

"She passed the trial of trust; now she needs to face the trials of temptation and…" Holland trailed off.

"…and… what, kid?" Sirius grunted.

"And the trial of suffering," Holland mumbled.

Remus had to practically tackle Sirius when he broke free of Holland's hold with an angry snarl.

Hermione was cooing a Luca as she held him close to her chest, looking out of the large window that overlooked a beautiful lake. She smiled as she felt the fluttering of tiny feet inside of her, one hand moving to stroke over her swollen belly. Outside, she could see Holland playing with Teddy, Logan, Kyla, and Caleb. The teens and pre-teen were playing a game of tag and Hermione chuckled as she watched Kyla tackle Caleb into the lake.

"What has you so amused, love?" came Sirius' voice from behind her moments before is arms wrapped around her and pulled her gently to his firm chest.

"Caleb looks like a drowned kitten," Hermione commented, watching said boy hiss angrily as the laughing girl who was equally as soaked as he was.

Sirius chuckled at the mental image before he placed a kiss on his wife's cheek. "And how are the little ones?" he asked, looking down at Luca and bringing a hand up to gently stroke his chubby cheek.

"Luca just got to sleep, and Regulus is kicking up a storm. Again."

"And what about you, love? How is my beautiful wife?" he asked, leading the heavily pregnant Hermione over to the chair in the corner of the nursery.

"Tired," Hermione sighed happily as the pressure on her swollen feet was relieved, "and I have this niggling in the back of my head that I'm forgetting something important."

"Did you forget to turn the stove off again?" Sirius joked, earning a playful swat from Hermione before she handed Luca over to him and watched as he gently placed the baby into his cot.

This isn't real.

Hermione frowned at the voice that spoke inside of her mind. It most certainly wasn't her own as it was distinctly male.

Hermione, none of this is real, it continued, you need to look closer; find the cracks.

She shook her head, ignoring Sirius' question as she struggled to her feet and made her way out of the nursery and down the stairs. Maybe I did leave the stove on again, she thought to herself as she entered the kitchen and smiled at Remus, Tonks, and Cassie who were all seated at the kitchen table.

Charlie entered a moment later, placing a kiss on Cassie's lips before moving around the kitchen to make himself a coffee. Her eyes followed his motions, vaguely noting that the stove wasn't on and so that couldn't possibly be what she had forgotten.

You're ignoring the obvious, pup, the male voice scolded, you're avoiding look at her for too long; but you need to force yourself to do it, Hermione. Look at her.

Hermione's eyes slowly moved back over to Cassie, and she frowned as she noticed her friends opaque appearance. Remus and Tonks weren't including her in their conversation either anymore and Charlie was no where to be found.

Maybe he went outside, Hermione thought as she made her way into the back yard overlooking the lake. I feel like something is missing, she thought as she stared at the large black lake. She turned back to look at her home and saw a modest cottage with old bricks and a vegetable patch. Her mother was working in the vegetable patch, her dad cracking jokes behind her as she laughed. Hermione's heart jolted at the sight of them before quickly looking away as they too became opaque.

That's it, Hermione; find the cracks. None of this is real.

Her hand moved back to her stomach and her heart sank when her hand didn't come into contact with the swollen belly. The wind rushed passed her, blowing her hair around behind her as she looked to the sky and saw Harry and Ron playing quidditch with the other Weasley children.

A dark chuckle had her turning to the lake to see a fully grown man standing where Caleb once was. He was hold Luca. He was holding Luca under the water. She ran forward, desperate to reach her son and pull him away from the man trying to hurt him. The other children were nowhere to be seen but right now, Hermione needed to focus on saving Luca.

She ran into the lake, the water felt like tar as she tried to reach her son only to look up and see herself alone in the lake, her belly swollen and the children looking at her worriedly from the shore.

Sirius ran out to her, the others in tow, and waded through the water until he was by her side.

"Love, what happened? Are you okay?" he asked frantically, "is it the baby? Do we need to get you to the hospital?"

"This isn't real," Hermione mumbled to herself, tears filling her eyes as she took as strained step away from the man she loved. "None of this is real?" she asked, her eyes pleading for him to tell her otherwise.

I'm sorry, pup, the male voice in her mind said as everything around her began to distort and change. The cottage was replaced with a castle. A castle that was burning. Bodies littered the ground, and the smell of blood soaked the air.

Hermione didn't wait for the vision to end as she ran toward the castle. She needed to find Harry; she wouldn't let him go alone; she'd follow him to the ends of the Earth. She arrived at the courtyard and froze at the sight of Tonk and Remus duelling Bellatrix and Greyback. She watched as Bellatrix fired the killing curse, the green light racing towards Tonks as Remus screamed for his wife.

Hermione called for the older witch, her feet moving but not fast enough. I'm never fast enough. The curse struck skin and Remus roared. Tonks fell to her knees, buckling under the weight of her friend who had just taken the curse meant for her. She screamed. Begged for Cassie to open her eyes. Promised she wouldn't be angry for the cruelty of the joke.

Cassie remained still.

Another green light struck the grieving witch just as Remus was sliced in half by the curse Greyback sent flying at the distracted wizard.

A cackle wrought the air and Hermione felt her heart stop completely when those crazed black eyes met hers. "Wanna play wittle Mudblood?" she cooed as Hermione turned and ran into the castle, her vision blinded by tears that wouldn't stop.

Find the cracks, Hermione, the male voice was back. It sounded distressed but Hermione blocked it out. She needed to find Harry. Harry needed to live. All of this would have meant nothing if Harry were to die. She ran passed the Great Hall and the bodies laying within. Fred's crushed figure laid beside Georges burnt one. Percy's face cut to pieces until it was nothing more than a, unrecognisable mess. Mister Weasley killed trying to protect Ron. Her precious Ron, who lay beside Lavender. She had been too late to save the younger witch from Greyback. Too slow to pull Ron out of the way of the killing curse.

Missus Weasley and Ginny were in the Great Hall, defending their family until the end. A fiery end that came from some low level Death Eater casting fiendfyre.

You need to focus! The male voice yelled, find the cracks before this trial kills you, Hermione!

The distorted image of a man appeared beside her, running by her side as she made her way towards Dumbledore's office. She burst through the door and felt her throat tear at the scream that was ripped from it. The Sword of Gryffindor was shoved through Harry's heart and Voldemort stood over her friends dead body, laughing an oily laugh.

"Too late again, Miss Granger," he hissed at her, "poor little Mudblood, unable to save the precious Harry Potter. Ah, but just in time to witness the dawning of a new era."

"Mum!"

Hermione turned to see Greyback dragging Holland through the door, Bellatrix skipping happily behind him. "No," Hermione whimpered, moving towards her son only to find herself rooted to the spot.

"Tsk, Mudblood," Voldemort began, "it's rude for one of your status to think they have the right to move without my say so."

He waved his wand and Hermione cried out as she felt the fresh scar on her arm reopen.

Hermione, fight it! You need to face it in order to defeat it!

"Now, what shall we do with the lost little pup that wandered into our mists?" Voldemort asked, walking over to a struggling Holland.

"Don't touch him!" Hermione screamed, "please! Holland!"

"Don't touch him! Please! Holland!"

Holland's eyes watered as he watched Hermione call out to him. She had only been smiling a short time ago and now there were tears falling freely from her closed eyes. The ritual kept her from fighting back but the wild twitching of her body said she would be fighting hard if she could.

David was scowling and Holland wondered what was going on in there when the Alpha pheromones suddenly increased so much that the pack was brought to their knees.

"What's happening?" Sirius asked, kneeling before Holland to check on the boy who meant so much to Hermione.

Suddenly, David game to with a gasp just as an earth-shattering roar filled the clearing.

David hated this. It was his first time acting as a guide and he had no idea what to expect. When he had seen Hermione trial of temptation, David had felt sorry for her. It was obvious that Hermione hadn't wanted the vision to end but she had come to terms with the fact that it wasn't real and had been allowed to move forward.

What he witnessed in her next trial made David want to hold her close and protect her from the world. He knew the vision was changed to cause the maximum amount of suffering for the trial and David had no idea just how she could pass this trial. He could only guide her as best he could.

When he had seen Holland being dragged into the strange office by Greyback, David had tried to lunge at the werewolf; futile as it was. He had expected to see Sirius for the catalyst to this trial, but he supposed it made more sense that Sirius was the leading man in her vision of temptation.

Still, David felt useless as he watched Greyback lick Holland's neck and dry hump against his back. The pup was deathly pale, and Hermione was flushed with anger and fear. It was when Greyback had moved to forcefully mark the Potential that David felt it.

Alpha pheromones the likes of which he had rarely felt filled the room and Hermione broke free of the vision induced spell and was in front of Greyback in less than the time it took to blink. She ripped Holland away from the werewolf before grabbing his head and pulling; a furious, earth-shattering roar leaving her lips as his head disconnected from his body and the vision faded.

He gasped awake quickly, sitting upright even as the clearing was swamped with enough pheromones that it kept the betas kneeled on the ground. Hermione awoke shortly after him, her roar following her from the vision as her eyes glowed a brilliant gold and the symbols on her head burned before fading into nothingness.

"She has passed the trials," Tully announced, regaining her composure faster than the others present, "blessed be our new Alpha, Hermione Granger."

"Blessed be," the rest of the pack retorted as Hermione reigned in her pheromones and managed to steady her breathing.

Everyone moved forward to help their Alpha up off the ground, but it was Sirius who reached her first, pulling her into his chest as he calmed his racing heart. "You live to scare the hell outta everyone, don't you kitten?" he breathed into her hair.

She chuckled raggedly, "sorry about that, Sirius; you probably wish you were back in England right now, huh?"

"Hermione."

The seriousness of his tone and the fact he had used her first name made Hermione look up at him with wide eyes. Silver met amber and he seemed to study her closely before he shook his head with a sigh.

"You really can be obtuse sometimes, love," he told her before his lips were suddenly on hers and Hermione's mind went blank.