…
Previously:
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"Rose, Hermione might keep her word." tried Esme
"Oh please, when has our luck ever been that good?" retorted the blonde causing smiles to appear on all of the vampire's faces.
"On to better news!" exclaimed Alice, "I finally picked out a present for Bella!"
Hermione walked towards the door leading back to her car. She shook her head fondly when she thought she heard Ginny yell out something about Northern stuffed Crab Cakes with Chocolate Frogs, followed by a familiar popping noise.
"And the dementors are probably thrilled not following either side."
"That's another thing we wanted to talk to you about. They've taken to hiding out in caves, forests, mountains, and other dislocated areas where humans are known to wonder off in."
She hurriedly dressed in the little black dress Alice got for her early birthday gift and made her way down stairs looking for Hermione but when she couldn't find her shouted her good-byes to Charlie.
And entered what she knew would start a very bad night.
…
Now:
…
You know how Bella thought that this would be a really bad night.
Great, now you just need to add into the fact how her intuition is almost never right.
Everything went exactly how Alice foresaw it happening. She even made sure that either she or Edward unwrapped all the presents in fear of the Evil Paper Cuts. Bella couldn't help but stare mockingly at the pixie one for that statement.
'Evil Paper Cuts, my ass.' thought Bella vehemently as she laid next to Edward on his king-sized bed. A new addition he added for Bella's comfort.
"So…" Bella started breaking the silence between her and Edward who merely blinked at her in question.
"It's still my birthday. And as such if I should ask for something you would give it to me right?" asked Bella as Edward raised an eyebrow in question towards her
"Depends on what it is you wish and if it's reasonable." he answered back drawing her closer into his arms as he felt her breath in his scent. He breathed in as well noticing the others had yet to return from their hunting trip.
"I want to stay with you." she mumbled as Edward's eyes unknowingly raised
"I'm always with you Bella." he whispered back.
"No I want to stay with you. Here. Tonight." she emphasized
"Bella." he began but stopped at the look she gave him.
"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he asked moving on top of her and gently pecking her lips.
"I might have an idea." she mumbled back before taking his mouth for her own again.
After a few moments of making out Edward very reluctantly pulled away.
"Stop." he commanded watching as her lust-filled eyes took on a hint of confusion.
"But-"
"Before I lose control." he said sitting up not paying attention when Bella followed him up and began kissing along his neck then chest.
"Maybe I want you to lose control." she said before continuing her administrations on his body
"Bella." he moaned.
"Please just-... Just try." she begged as she closed the gap between there bodies once more.
He didn't protest again.
…
Hermione was driving back to her Uncle's house or at least she was eventually going to go back to her uncle's house. She was pretty sure she was somewhere in La Push. She hoped. She just drove off in a random direction. She knew she was in Forks and she decided that as long as she was in the town everything was fine. Now once she started to see the signs that said she was entering Canada, then she would freak out but until then the drive was pretty damn serene and she was going to enjoy it until some prat came to blow it all to hell like they usually do.
But that has yet to happen, and considering that she was driving alongside a beach with Native Americans wading in the water and sunbathing (not like they need it) on the sand. She deduced she was in La Push. Now all she had to do was figure out how to get to Charlie's house from here.
She wasn't lost though. Nope she just decided to conveniently misplace her whereabouts. But she was absolutely not lost. At least physically. Mentally, though, it was worst than Ron's mind when he tried to study for their NEWTs.
'There's more than one reason why we're here Hermione. Kingsley has decided with the recent break out of remaining Death Eaters it would be safer for you and us if we were far away. Until they bring the remaining Death Eaters to justice. Now I know, just like Ginny knows, and that I'm definitely 100% positive that all of us agree this is total bullshit. Especially taking into account that the dementors are under the other side's control once more. We have to be careful. Especially you're Uncle and cousin, Hermione. We know that you feel it's best to keep your magical side a secret from them, but whether you like it or not they're now unfortunately part of our world. It would be best to tell them before Yaxley or Avery find out about them and do to them what-'
'What Bellatrix did to her. Like she didn't know that already it's just it's going to be so difficult. Telling Charlie and Bella. Not to mention the Cullens. If the Cullens don't kill me for being a witch then Charlie will.'
Those were the last words of the serious issue Harry had briefly mentioned in the letter. And they plagued her mind along with every single scenario that could and more than likely would happen once she revealed herself. So it was no wonder how distracted she was to not notice someone run in front of her car until the last minute.
Hermione slammed on her brakes to where she thought she would have kicked her foot through the bottom. The car just barely stopped about three inches away from where Jacob Black fell over from shock.
Hermione once she calmed her heart, jumped out of the truck and raced over to Jacob reaching him a few seconds before his friends did. Which didn't stop Hermione at all from sprouting out apologies.
"Oh Merlin!" shrieked Hermione hugging Jacob for all she was worth, and with her arms around his torso and his head leaning slightly on her chest and shoulder he wasn't exactly complaining. So his two friends that came to his rescue analyzed the scene and quickly backed off until Jacob would come back and explain who the hot chick was.
"Are you all right Jacob? I am so sorry. I wasn't paying enough attention and my mind was elsewhere. I'm really, really sorry." she rambled off as she stepped back a little from him to look him in his face.
"Chill, 'Mione. I'm fine. No broken bones. No twists. Hell I don't even have a scratch. You stopped just in time. I was just a little shocked that's all." spoke Jacob as he smiled at Hermione and rubbed the back of his head nervously causing Hermione to flush.
"Are you sure you're all right Jacob?" questioned Hermione.
"Yes, I'm sure. Unless of course you wanted to be my doctor for the night, in which case I'm feeling completely awful." he finished with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
Hermione laughed good naturally and playfully swatted at his chest and called him something that sounded remarkably like 'prat'.
Jacob stood then offered his hand to Hermione which she gratefully accepted.
"So now that my near death experience is over, I believe that you owe me a favor for putting me in such a compromising position." stated Jacob matter of factly.
"Oh, really? And what might that be?" asked Hermione playing along.
"Why don't you grace me with you're presence for the rest of the day?" Jacob asked hopefully
"Why Mr. Black I do believe you just asked me out?" Hermione joked
"Well someone would have to be blind not to ask someone as pretty as you out." Jacob spoke seriously this time causing Hermione to stop mid-step before she spoke again.
"Well what if you're right."
"Huh?"
"What if someone already has asked me out? And I said yes?" Hermione spoke quietly almost sadly if Jacob guessed the emotion behind her words right.
"Well until you tell me to leave you the hell alone and to jump off the side of the world, I'll keep trying and I'll be there when he messes up. But until then why don't you come with me as a friend to meet my other friends." spoke Jacob sadly in a tone to match Hermione's own dulcet ones.
Hermione looked up shocked and then a smile lit up her face which caused Jacob's heart to melt. "I'd love to." she spoke and she didn't protest when he grabbed her hand and led her to the four boys that looked on curiously at her.
'Explaining what I am can wait just one more day. Spending time with Jacob won't be such a bad thing. Hopefully.'
…
Jacob was having a really bad day. First he gets stuck on watchdog duty, then when he finally catches the red-headed leech she jumps into the fucking ocean. The one place that he has the disadvantage at. So he telepathically tells the others what just happened and Sam commands everyone including their newest member Seth to meet at the beach closest to Jacob. His elder sister was fortunately still avoiding their leader. Something about having enough mutts their that she could go home and take care of some school work.
So there he was waiting for the command that would let him leave to go home and hopefully sort through his thoughts.
'Like that would happen though. Ever since he met Hermione a month ago, all he was able to think about was his attraction for her and how he should be feeling that for her cousin. Not that she wasn't pretty or anything but damn it he was supposed to love Bella. Not Hermione.'
So you can imagine how confused he was when his body decided to not listen to his head as he felt drawn towards the road which was weird because with his heightened senses he could tell that a car or truck was coming. A really big one if that rumbling has anything to do with it.
And he was absolutely right, still confused though. Why the hell was his body not listening to Sam and the others' yells to move my dumb ass out of the way before I die. But he didn't. He just stood there and waited for what seemed like eternity before he heard the screeching of the tires on the Ridgeline and his body decided to finally move with that sound. He fell on his ass shocked and confused as all hell.
He vaguely recalls hearing Paul, Quil, and Embry run towards him, along with more softer and rushed footfalls after a slamming of a car door. The next thing he for sure realized was the scent of apples, caramel, and vanilla reached his nostrils. Then he felt arms wrap around his chest and his head fall onto a shoulder.
He was absolutely in heaven and he never wanted to move again. Until it clicked into his head why he was getting this reaction.
Hermione was hugging him.
She was also talking.
More specifically she was apologizing to him.
Why the hell was she doing that? Oh right. He almost 'died'.
"Chill, 'Mione. I'm fine. No broken bones. No twists. Hell I don't even have a scratch. You stopped just in time. I was just a little shocked that's all." he replied shyly praying she couldn't notice his light blush. But just to make sure he smiled widely at her then began to sheepishly rub his neck nervously. A bad habit he picked up from his father when he got in trouble with his mom.
"Are you sure you're all right, Jacob?" asked Hermione once more making Jacob inwardly sigh before a thought struck him
"Yes, I'm sure. Unless of course you wanted to be my doctor for the night, in which case I'm feeling completely awful." he finished with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.
She laughed at his lewd joke, Thank God. And playfully slapped his chest while calling him a prat.
Jacob decided that Hermione wasn't going to hug him anytime soon again so he stood then offered her his hand which she gratefully accepted as another thought occurred to Jacob. But before his normal mind could tell him to shut up the wolf in him took matters into his own hands. Or rather mouth.
"So now that my near death experience is over, I believe that you owe me a favor for putting me in such a compromising position." Jacob spoke smartly
"Oh, really? And what might that be?" asked Hermione playing along.
"Why don't you grace me with you're presence for the rest of the day?" he asked hopefully(Which he would later deny.)
"Why Mr. Black I do believe you just asked me out?" Hermione joked
"Well someone would have to be blind not to ask someone as pretty as you out." Jacob spoke before his rational side could tell the wolf in him to shut up.
"Well what if you're right." she whispered
"Huh?" he asked shocked and slightly hurt.
'Of course she would have a boy friend. I mean even Paul even admitted that she was pretty. Who wouldn't want to date her?'
Jacob just didn't realize that hearing her say that would hurt so much though.
'It doesn't matter. I love Bella.' he thought determinedly
"What if someone already has asked me out? And I said yes?" Hermione spoke quietly almost sadly if Jacob guessed the emotion behind her words right.
"Well until you tell me to leave you the hell alone and to jump off the side of the world, I'll keep trying and I'll be there when he messes up. But until then why don't you come with me as a friend to meet my other friends." spoke Jacob sadly in a tone to match Hermione's own dulcet ones.
But he cheered remarkably at the smile that lit up her face, one that he couldn't help but to match. He was so excited that she was no longer sad that he barely caught the "I'd love to." she spoke. But luckily he did and his mood only brightened from there as he grabbed her hand and instead of pulling back she held on and squeezed his overly large hand compared to hers. Only when he was half-way towards the others did he realize that his imprint acted like his body heat was normal. Well for a human. She didn't flinch back or ask if he was sick. It would be like she was holding Bella's hand.
Jacob was completely sure he was confused now. But maybe today wasn't such a bad day.
…
While Jacob and Hermione had their discussion. The others in the pack were having one of their own.
"So this is Hermione." spoke Embry more than a statement than an actual question.
"Apparently. Maybe we could take her to Emily's-" started Quil but was cut off by Sam.
"She barely even knows Jake let alone us. Do you really think she would willingly go with us all the way on the other side of the Rez?" asked Sam to the others.
"Well he'll have to tell her sometime." muttered Paul
"And it won't be today." barked back Sam, "Can you guys at least wait until he asks her out before you start acting like a bunch of gossiping old grannies?" asked Sam and the others had the decency to at least look somewhat abashed.
They quickly composed themselves though when Hermione and Jacob were a few feet away from them.
"Hey guys." yelled Jacob obviously happy. And the others could tell why they were still holding hands. "This is Hermione Granger. She's Bella's younger cousin." spoke Jacob normally now as Sam walked up when Jacob lightly pushed Hermione forward.
"Nice to meet you Hermione. Name's Sam. That's Paul and Jared," he spoke pointing to the two that looked slightly younger than Sam himself, "Embry and Quil," the two that looked about Jacob's age. "And then the youngest, Seth." who looked to be about 13.
"Pleasure to meet you all." she spoke shyly with a small smile on her face.
"Damn. Jake said your accent was sexy, but its even better in person." spoke Paul, and despite the lewd joke Hermione couldn't help but relax. He jokes the same way Draco and Blaise do. It was comforting to her and she really began to enjoy all of Jacob's friends company.
Bella was right, Embry and Quil are dorks, but in an adorable way.
Paul and Jared were just like Draco and Blaise, she realized, Paul being Draco and having a very crude yet intelligent sense of humor, and then Jared like Blaise, the same personality as Draco and Paul only a more watered down version with a sweet and charming side.
Sam reminded her of Bill or Charlie. He acted much like the older brother figure to all of the boys and even to an extent her. Besides Jake he was the one she was most comfortable around. Despite their obvious hate between races she could see a lot of similarities between Emmet and Sam. Not that she would say that out loud though.
And then Seth. He was so adorable he didn't really remind her of anyone from back home but it didn't mean she liked him any less. Seth was a little charmer that was for sure. He flirted with her more than Jacob, Jared and Paul combined but mostly to annoy Jacob.
Another thing Bella might be right about. Could Jacob really like her? Another thought for another day though, she decided. The sun was setting. Bella should be back from the Cullens now. And she still had to think of a way to tell Charlie and Bella about magic.
Just as Hermione was about to tell the others she should be going a yawn over came her and she blushed prettily before apologizing. Jacob and the others just laughed causing her cheeks to darken before Jacob once again offered her his hand to help her stand before he spoke.
"Come on it's getting late I'll drive you home." before wrapping his arms around her shoulders and leading her to her truck that was still parked in the right lane of the road.
"Besides when am I ever going to get a chance to drive a pretty little truck like that again." he pleaded and Hermione lost all incentive to argue with him.
After he helped her into her seat and buckled her up much to her embarrassment got into the driver's seat and took off.
"Jacob…" Hermione spoke once they left the border line of La Push.
"Hmm." he mumbled back not trusting his voice after the throaty demonstration she used to speak his name.
"What's the real reason you drove me home?" she asked instead of the original question she had on her mind.
"Well…truthfully?" he asked and at her nod he continued.
"I honestly didn't trust you to drive on the right side of the road." he teased and was surprised when Hermione snorted in amusement.
"Please you Americans are the ones who drive wrong." she argued back then laughed followed by his more boisterous one.
"Okay, truthfully. Even if you have a boyfriend, which I really understand if you do," he added quickly not wanting to upset her, "but I still like you and the time we spend together."
Hermione was in a state of shock trying to figure out if what she really heard was right, 'Did he just say…' her thoughts trailed off and what she did next she would forever blame from spending to much time with Ginny. Her Gryffindor courage shined through and she leaned up then whispered in his ear, "I don't." then kissed him on his cheek before finding her place in the passenger seat once more.
It was decided.
It wasn't such a bad day for Jacob.
And Hermione would start worrying about telling Bella and Charlie the truth tomorrow.
For now. They would enjoy the serenity of being in each others presence.
…
Summary: Hermione could not believe how she got conned into going to visit her relatives in the states after the war. There were only three things she knew for sure. First she was a very tired and exhausted warrior from war not yet ready to move on like her parents were forcing her to do. Second she was not allowed to use any of her magic. And third Hermione knew irrevocably and without a doubt that if nothing interesting would happen in Forks, Washington something or someone is going to get blown up.
Pairings: Hermione Granger x Jacob Black
Rated: M+
Edited: 07/08/12
Dark Wolf Love