Hermione let out a small cry of pain as her back crashed into the wet ground. The grass did not cushion her fall at all.
Her breathing stopped for a few seconds.
Hermione laid still, her hands sinking into the wet grass. She looked up at the blue sky, coming back to her senses.
She didn't know if it was the jet lag exhaustion or if it was that feeling that was tearing her heart apart when she was thinking about Ron, but the brunette suddenly felt an uncontrollable rage.
Without warning, Hermione jumped to her feet and pushed Remus away with all her strength.
Making him fall too.
It had been tougher for Remus to handle the attack. His transformations had damaged him badly over time, his body had become more fragile.
However, he stood up quickly, with a chuckle.
Hermione immediately felt guilty and approached her former teacher. Reaching out her hand towards him, before lowering it again. Realizing it was probably not appropriate.
"I'm sorry Remus, I... I didn't mean to." She stammered.
"No Hermione, no. That's exactly what we want! You're getting stronger, and this is the penultimate step."
Hermione lowered her head and sighed. She was indeed getting stronger. Her body was more muscular. After hours and hours of training over the summer, it was not surprising.
But the young woman was getting tired of it.
She missed doing magic terribly, in those moments when she was fighting with Remus in a purely physical, Muggle way.
"Is that really necessary? I thought waiting was enough. I didn't think I would have to fight for so long."
"I'm sorry to do this to you Hermione, but I want you to be ready. You must have enough physical strength to endure what is about to happen. I don't want you to die." Remus explained to her as he removed the dirt and grass stuck on his arms.
Hermione swallowed hard.
Death.
She couldn't hear that word anymore, without thinking of what was lying in wait for them all, in a few months.
"Of course," Hermione replied, pulling herself together.
Remus nodded, a faint smirk forming on the tip of his lips.
With slow steps, they stepped back. They kept staring at each other.
Hermione couldn't even count the number of duels they'd had in the last few weeks, and yet this was the first time she wasn't unsettled by Lupin's gaze.
His light brown eyes showed undeniable fatigue, but they were also soft... and threatening.
This contradictory combination usually threw Hermione off.
Today, she had so many sordid thoughts inside her head that she no longer paid attention to his eyes.
Since she had to do so, she would continue to fight.
She refused to die before seeing Ron and Harry one last time.
She was looking forward to this long-awaited day. Where she would finally be free of this awful training.
So, Hermione took a deep breath. And she just went for it.
Her reflexes had greatly improved, and she managed to avoid Remus' hands that had tried to grab her.
She knocked him down again. Pushing him forward by pressing on his back.
However, Hermione was unable to counter Remus' next attack. They struggled for several minutes trying to knock each other down.
This fight was so physical that Hermione was now sweating all over her body. Grunts of discontent escaped from her throat.
She couldn't even hear the birds singing around her in the tall trees that surrounded the huge meadow where the two wizards were standing.
In the end, Hermione was defeated. Once again lying on her back, Remus stood over her, his head bowed towards her.
"Well done, Hermione. It is by resisting as long as possible that your strength grows." Remus encouraged her in a breathless voice.
Remus reached out his hand to her and she took it, standing up for the second time today.
Hermione smiled, agreeing with what Remus had just said.
"That's it, we're done for today. Let's go home before a hunter comes across us. He'd find our training... strange. Don't you think?"
Hermione laughed, feeling relieved.
For a few seconds, she scrutinized Remus. He looked exhausted.
And when his facial features were drawn with fatigue, his scars stood out even more.
Hermione had to admit that it had been very strange to train, to fight barehanded, with Remus. At first.
She liked him, after being her teacher he had become a friend.
But their age difference made it confusing for her to be this… close to him.
She had found it very difficult to put her hands on him, on his skin, to wrap her arms around his body to resist the attacks.
She couldn't even count the number of times she had blushed and cleared her throat, during those moments when they had been forced to be close to each other.
Over time, Hermione had come to terms with it. She now saw Remus as nothing more than a coach.
"Thank you, Remus, for your patience."
Remus looked at Hermione, considering her words for a moment.
"It was hard for me too at first, Hermione. But you have to feel more comfortable with me, from now on."
Hermione pinched her lips together. Indeed.
She tended to forget that they were going to have to play the role of father and daughter.
It seemed unreal, almost strange, and disturbing.
Hermione hoped she would get used to it.
It had been four days since they had arrived in Forks, and this was the first time they had been outside, further than their backyard.
Hermione couldn't deny it anymore.
When the sun shone on this dreary town, the landscape became breathtaking.
The flowery meadow they were in made her feel like she was floating in a dream.
The forest was as green as emerald, and the air was sweet.
Hermione was already dreading the return of the foggy and rainy weather. Her mental health was declining way too much to handle it.
McGonagall had made sure to find them a large house, one they would feel comfortable in.
Their new home was on the side of a road that wasn't very busy. No other houses surrounded it, so they could enjoy the large yard without a single intrusive glance.
In front of their house, there were only fir trees. As far as the eye could see.
While the exterior facade had lost its luster over time, the interior of the house was warm and welcoming.
Many beams adorned the rooms, a huge fireplace decorated the living room and the spacious kitchen made Hermione want to cook, even though she hated cooking.
Hermione's favorite room was her bedroom. And for a good reason.
She was lucky enough to have access to a balcony from there when she slid the large patio door open.
She already knew that she would spend a lot of time there.
Hermione took refuge here after a long, hot shower to recover from her training.
Remus had chosen the big brown sofa in the living room. A book in one hand, and black tea in the other.
The sun was beating down, warming Hermione up even more.
Sitting down in a chair, Hermione stretched out her whole body, almost falling off the seat.
It felt good on her already bruised body.
Hermione had to admit it, life was peaceful in Forks.
It wasn't a crowded city like London was.
People were quiet, they didn't pay attention to others. They went on about their routine without worrying about their surroundings.
She no longer knew what serenity was, due to those chaotic last few years.
Here, she couldn't hear anything except the few animals that wandered through the forest.
It had been a long time since Hermione had experienced such silence.
And there was no sensation of impending war in the air. There was no Evil threatening to destroy everything.
Hermione felt guilty for feeling... relaxed. While Harry and Ron braved the worst ordeals.
"Merlin, please protect them." She whispered, looking out into the woods that faced her balcony.
She was afraid of losing them.
With this unbearable distance, her love for Ron was only growing. Unquestionably.
She longed to hold him tight.
If they were to die on this quest, Hermione wouldn't have the strength to fight.
She would blame herself forever for not going with them.
Hermione struggled to find a way to contact them. Remus had assured her that it was far too soon, that she would put them in danger.
It was hard, living in uncertainty and fear.
Hermione shook her head, as if to chase away the thoughts that were clouding her sanity.
Everything will be fine.
And what about her mission?
They hadn't done any research yet, but Hermione wondered how these wolves managed to keep a low profile.
McGonagall had had a hard time observing them, very little information had been passed on to Remus and Hermione.
However, the Transfiguration professor had been definite about three things.
These wolves were gigantic, as well as incredibly powerful. Moreover, they were different from Remus' werewolf, for example.
Because, unlike Remus, these humans kept control over their wolf form. It wasn't the animal that took over, at least not usually.
"How can they be so secretive?" Hermione sighed, frowning her eyebrows.
Hermione didn't even know what they looked like in their human form.
Yes, they were Native Americans. They lived on a reservation called La Push. But not all of them turned into wolves.
If she were to talk to those who were not affected by this condition, her plan would fall apart.
Besides, McGonagall had made it clear. Hermione was not allowed to go to the reservation, she was not to rush them. At the risk of losing their trust, which wasn't even gained yet.
It was no small thing to convince a pack of wolves to participate in a war to save a world that was not theirs.
Hermione then remembered something McGonagall had said.
"Do not rush it, Miss Granger, they will come to you. Without you having to do anything. And only then can you gain their trust. Little by little."
How could McGonagall be so sure of herself? How could she know that these people would make the first move toward Hermione?
The witch didn't understand. The logical explanation for these words eluded her.
"Hermione, can you come downstairs?" Remus called her from the stairs.
Hermione, lost in her thoughts, gasped at the call.
The stiffness was already showing, and Hermione struggled to get out of her chair.
However, just as she was about to go back inside, Hermione felt an insistent look on her back.
Slowly, she turned around.
Hermione's mouth fell open as she met an unknown man's eyes.
He was standing at the edge of the forest. His head was high, his fists slightly clenched.
His gaze was stern, and he stared at Hermione, unceasingly.
He was wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt and pants, which made his broad build stand out.
He was probably in his early twenties, but a certain maturity was prominent on his face.
He is one of them.
There was no doubt about it. That man was from the La Push reservation.
Hermione's body tensed.
There was no kindness in the way he was staring at her, it was the opposite. He didn't look happy to see her here.
Was he threatening her, through this silent exchange?
It was impossible, they didn't know Remus and Hermione existed.
McGonagall hadn't even been noticed when she had been watching them. They didn't know anything about them.
The stranger finally looked away. Without further ado, he disappeared into the woods, leaving no trace behind him.
It was as if Hermione had imagined this scene.
And that was the only time she saw the man for the rest of the summer.
Chapter 2 is up! What did you think?
Who was that stranger? Don't forget to leave a review! xx
Thank you MoonKitten02 for your review, I appreciate it! 3