Chapter 17 Bad weather all around
Disclaimer JKR owns it all. The story and new characters belong to me.
Late February 1998
The space outside our blue planet was experiencing electromagnetic disturbances, which started at the same exact moment of the change of the guard for the day. No guards were able to return to their post, leaving our earthly couple unguarded. The 'storm' was caused by intermittent meteor showers and went mostly undetected by Muggle telescopes and measurement devices.
Travel conditions between realms were dangerous and just not possible. It was not the first, neither the last time this would happen, but there would be lessons learned for this particular case. In the future, the leaving group would not start their travel back until the fresh pair had entirely materialized at their duty place. The anxiety was great during that time when they had been unprotected.
Meanwhile the condition lasted several weeks and the golden pair was left to their own devices. It couldn't had happened at a worse time.
At the tent.
"I won't leave, I am staying for good. Right now I need you to kiss me."
Bill and his wolf were hungry for their young mate. Hermione took the initiative for the first time.
She sat on his lap and leaned her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and slowly traced his scars, his eyebrows, eyes, nose, and moved to his lips. His mouth was semi-open, and she took advantage and caressed his bottom lip and the top of his lower teeth.
Bill was breathing hard and moved up, he sat over his calves and she straddled him, and at the same time her fingers were replaced by her tongue. He still didn't move, just enjoying her try at sensuality. Her tongue went backwards in the exploration path; she traced the bottom lip, bottom teeth, nose, eyes, eyebrows, and small moans escaped his lips.
Her trajectory was languid and deliberate. Her eyes were closed when her hands joined. First they unbuttoned his shirt under the jumper. Once the shirt was open her fingers found his chest, searching for the scars, which she found.
By this time Bill was aroused beyond his control. His hips were arched making contact with her. She could feel his hardness rubbing against her, and she cried softly. His hands moved slowly to rub her back; so far they had stayed inert. He did not want to change the slow tempo. Outside of the tent he could hear Ron complaining about Bill moving in, and Harry not sounding happier, although conciliatory.
He took the time to get his wand, put a ward on the entrance to the tent, and a silencing charm for good measure. He wanted to kiss her but wanted her to make the first move. His hands were adeptly removing her clothes. He wanted her bare flesh.
Next, her tongue licked his neck, and then her lips joined in a hot trail of small kisses, and short whispers."Bill, Bill, Bill…" followed by deep sighs that made his cock twitch. Even through the cloth he could feel how warm she was. He had been wishing this for a month, what a time to play with him.
Listening to his name was a powerful incentive to pick up the tempo. He wanted her lips. With one hand he steadied her face and slowly brought her face up to his.
His lips descended upon hers, and once they established contact it all unraveled fast. The hunger for her overwhelmed him. His hands were all over her, she followed his tempo.
"Clothes, off," he was not even able to articulate complete sentences. She moved from his lap and helped him undress. Gods, he was beautiful. She helped him pull off his boots, and then his trousers.
For once, it was daytime, and she could see him well. Her hand went for his erection, and his breath hitched. He closed his eyes and waited.
She only wanted to touch and observe. Her arms went around his neck, "Kiss me, and love me." Her voice pleaded.
He lowered her to their cot; her eyes were closed waiting to feel him inside her. She opened her eyes and peeked. He was looking at her, specifically between her legs, and she flushed bright red.
"You are beautiful," he lifted his eyes, his face was also flushed with desire, he brought her legs up and lowered his head down. He slowly kissed her thighs, tracing the contours with his tongue, she tried pulling away, "Tsk, tsk, be a good little witch and let me taste you," his voice was low. In seconds, Bill couldn't wait, her reaction just made him want to be inside. It had been too long.
Moments later, he was pushing inside of her. Both cried at the first contact. He did not want to move, afraid to come. This was the feeling of coming home. "Did you miss me?" He asked his voice strangled and husky. His hand went in between them. He wanted to touch her, to make her feel even more.
Meanwhile outside, "Merlin, what are you two doing in there, we need to fix supper before it gets dark," it was Ron, and his voice was rude and curt.
They laughed until Bill's hips went forward almost instinctively and both moaned. "I want you," she cried and met his movements one by one. Her inexperienced moves just inflamed Bill. To him there was not better lover, ever. This was what he was afraid of, he was in love. He truly loved the young witch.
The next minutes were fast and urgent, the wolf was ecstatic, his mate, and he was with her and their pup.
The passion raged inside the tent, all sickness, separation and sorrow forgotten, and all was well during their time inside the tent. It was the first time the watchers were not within reach to protect them or to benefit from their love.
Suspicion
Dinner time was quiet and conversation forced; Bill could not keep his hands away from Hermione. He pulled her to his lap, and Ron was irate. "Dinner time is not touching time," he growled.
The couple ignored him, their universe was very small, the two of them. "So Bill, how are things back at home?" Harry asked.
"Muggles disappear daily; the Dark Mark is seen at least once per day, murders are common occurrence all over the Wizarding World. Death Eaters and Dementors are seen everywhere. The Dark Lord is rumored to be staying at the Malfoys. Lucius is said to be breaking down. I heard that he is with the Order. Fortescue was found murdered; the Mark was flying over the Diagon Alley more than once these last weeks."
Bill appeared tired and upset. He was so afraid for his mate. Maybe he would leave England, and he would take his mate and baby to Egypt.
The shadows around them were particularly oppressive; it was as if the forest had ears, and evil was rapidly coming towards them.
"Bill," Ron made sure to emphasize the following words." What on earth is an accoutrement?"
"It is an object of decoration, a piece of adornment as a jewel. Why? It is a strange out of the blue question," Bill asked him all curious. His wolf was alert, he sensed aggression in Ron.
"Hmm, what jewel did my mother send you with Hermione during your failed wedding day?" Ron asked again with a malicious gleam in his eyes.
Hermione was outraged, what was Ron implying? What was going on with him? Harry had been upset with Ron, but now was curious.
"Jewels, no, she didn't," Bill was smiling.
"Ron, why didn't you ask me?" Hermione asked a little irritated. She didn't want to tell Ron that she was having her period, and that it had made the wolf recognize his mate and had gone crazy; it would be too embarrassing.
"All my mother gave me was this, he untied the coin from his neck, and showed to Ron.
"The Prewett's coin, all Prewett wizards carry it during their wedding day. I have it for now. It reminds me of my luck that day." He smiled coyly to Hermione who turned very red.
Ron knitted his brows together, "I don't think that is all there is to it," he said. Why did Hermione bring it to you?"
"I was the only one around." Hermione turn red, a fact that didn't escape from Ron, even when the sun was ready to disappear and natural light was not the best.
"Let me hold it for a second. "Ron insisted. Bill shrugged his shoulders and passed it to Ron.
Ron played around with it for a minute, trying to see if he could feel magic emanating from it. He looked at Hermione for reactions, to see if she was suddenly attracted to him and nothing happened.
"What does it suppose to do?" Ron asked a little more forceful this time.
Bill wasn't happy with Ron's line of interrogation, and pulled the coin away from Ron and hanged it around his neck.
"Why are you asking this?" Bill was no longer accommodating.
"Why, why do I ask? Hmm, let's see. You were about to marry your beloved Fleur one minute, and next you had turned into a wild thing stealing my witch from me."'
Hermione was crying, the hormones acting up, "What are you implying Ron, I was not your witch, you had never even looked at me twice. That day, I had a date with Victor."
Bill looked at her a little angry. For goodness sake, he was marrying Fleur that day.
Hermione could not believe what was going on here.
Harry wasn't saying anything, Ron might be right, what if they were under a spell. If they were, he would be the first to try, not Ron.
"What I am saying, is that Mum sent you the coin to make you like Hermione." Ron declared.
"Ron, you are such an arse. Why would Mum want me to like Hermione, she is quite young. You are imagining it. Something happened that day, but it was not the coin. And I am not going to disclose it here, come here Hermione." He called her when he saw her backing up.
"It was the coin; she must have put a love charm. You don't love her, you are under a spell." Ron was yelling now.
"You imbecile, I only started wearing the coin after she left. You don't know what happened. All the coin supposes to do is to make sure you choose the right bride." Bill said.
At this, the realization that some magic had influenced his decision confused him for a minute, but before he could think it through, Ron exclaimed, "You see, you couldn't have fallen for Hermione, I knew it. It was the coin. Great, you never liked her or wanted her. How could you when you had Fleur. Phew, what a relief, now, let her go."
Bill was still speechless, his mother had interfered, but he was glad. So Fleur was not suited to be his spouse, Ignore the pup, she is our mate, I always knew it. Lobo let his voice be heard after hiding the entire day.
In the midst of all the discussion, Hermione heard Ron's accusations and not a contradiction, or a denial, or something coming back from Bill, he appeared flabbergasted.
She knew that he just realized that the coin had made him choose her instead of the beautiful Fleur; and now she had ruined all getting pregnant. How could she have? She slowly backed up and took off running, she had her wand and her coat; she was leaving.
As soon as she was out the Forest, she was Apparating back to wherever.
Harry was the first to notice.
Bill was answering, "Ron, you will be the first to know, even before my mate, I –," he saw Harry running "Mimi, stop, where are you—?"
They all saw the same; she had stepped on a slippery mossy rock, and her lithe body did something that Bill would never forget, it slipped, flew up in the air, and then it brutally fell down on a patch of hard ground.
Nobody's Fault
Bill ran to pick her up along with Harry. Ron stood up and was frozen in place. He could see that she was hurt. Her body lay in a strange angle; he went running in the opposite direction, he couldn't handle to see if something bad had happened to Hermione. What if she were dead? Oh gods, oh holly shit. All his fault.
First thing both wizards observed was a pool of dark liquid by her head. Both ran, "Hermione, Hermione," both called. There weren't any answers just silence.
In seconds, both wizards were on their knees. Bill was an experienced healer and pulled out his wand. He passed the wand over her. "She is breathing ok, she has a scrape on the back of the head, no major injuries," and now for the part he didn't want to do, he was afraid something had happened to the baby.
He casted a spell to determine the health of a fetus, there were basic healing spells to be used in determining the gravity of a patient. He took the training when he started with Gringotts, he even learned how to help deliver a baby, to heal internal wounds. He was ready for any kind of emergency situation.
The light showed and wrote right above, gravid. Ok, she was pregnant, and the light started titillating from blue to nearly black. The darker the color the worse the condition, meaning the pregnancy was failing.
Harry had seen the light and the message. He wasn't sure, but gravid meant what? So near the lower stomach, oh Merlin, pregnant, his Hermione was pregnant, but something was wrong.
"Bill, heal her head she is bleeding a lot." Harry implored.
"Episkey," he murmured, his voice broken, tears in his eyes. Since nothing was wrong with her back or neck, he bent and picked her up and held her tight against his chest.
His mouth close to her hair, "My sweet beloved witch, my Hermione, please be all right and ignore Ron. Ron is an imbecile, just a spoiled child, he is wrong, I do care about you. I love you."
"Bill you need to take her out of here." Harry told Bill.
"No, getting here was very difficult. There are Death Eaters and snatchers all over the place. Ollivander is also missing as well as others. I brought all kind of healing potions, let me treat her."
Harry stretched his hand to touch her face."Bill, she is so cold. I am sorry, will the baby be ok?" He asked, his voice choked with emotion. He was imagining a little Hermione, and he couldn't even breathe, the baby needed to be fine. He should have controlled Ron, but he was jealous and saw this as an opportunity to get rid of Bill.
"I don't know, but it is unlikely." Bill murmured, he sounded very upset.
Harry patted Bill's shoulder with commiseration. They had arrived at the tent. Bill set her on their cot, took of her shoes. "Harry please turn around, I am going to take her trousers off and her outer clothes. I want her inside the blankets."
Harry did as asked. In a couple minutes she was inside the blankets.
Ron turned around after a while, he remembered about the giant spiders, and the darkness made him re-evaluate his decision to leave, and when he was on his way back he heard voices.
"Potter and the other two brats are around here. There is a big reward for their capture. The Muggle witch is worth a lot. But she cannot be touched or you are dead. Per the orders of the Dark Lord, a big reward for either the Mudblood, or the older Weasley, the one that our boss marked, must be brought in one piece. No torture, all in one piece, or whoever brings them injured will be eaten by the snake. "
Someone was after Hermione and Bill. He needed to warn them. Wait what if they were mad at him.
A/N. If Hermione in effect has lost the baby, the fall cannot be blamed. It could be a coincidence. Maybe the additional stress contributed, but she is undernourished, living under a lot of stress, and not the optimal conditions. It is unfortunate that Ron has behaved so poorly, but all cannot be blamed on him. That wasn't my intent.
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