A/N: So we are at the second half of winter break, they will be meeting the pack. This is still very much a Hermione/Fleur story but you will be meeting characters from Twilight pairings will be different from cannon mostly, but you will see these characters later in the story, they are minor characters so I don't necessarily consider it a crossover, but fair warning if Twilight isn't your thing. This chapter ended up being pretty long, so I decided to break it up into two parts, upside that means faster update!
A beret…a beret seriously? This was the port key they were using to get to her mother's old pack? Like, seriously? Do they have to meet every French stereotype? At least it wasn't a baguette, or some cheese…
Hermione shook her head. The family circled around the black beret in the garden, ready for their trip. The morning had been uneventful after the previous nights activities, and Hermione's heart was full to overflowing with familial love she didn't know she was missing. Joséphine has explained that the crest that adorned their shoulders in both forms was that of the Delacour clan. Upon recognition of the crest any Veela no matter the clan would aide their assistance, a fact that Hermione filed away knowing of the upcoming war. She would knowingly endanger the loving species, but if their support meant that her imprint would be kept safe she would not hesitate in the slightest.
For as beautiful as the ceremony was she was still that modest girl she always was. Veela are very sexual creatures, and their bodies are expressions of their love. She was soothed by the knowledge that only adult female Veela were in attendance. Fleur too had been left in the dark about certain aspects of the ritual but seemed unbothered by it, as she was raised in that society.
Hermione was excited to see her Godfather and meet his family, well she guessed it was her family too. Going from a muggle family that ignored her to losing the only family she knew, to learning that the darkest wizard to kill her best mate and his parents was her father, to finding out her mentor was her pack mother, to finding her mate and bonding with her family had been a whirlwind experience for the young wolf.
Marrying her love was nothing that actually bothered her, if anything it soothed her wolf in ways she could not fully comprehend. They did not exchange rings, they didn't have to it went deeper than that. It was a bonding of the souls that strengthened the mating bond even deeper. They could still hear each other's thoughts once shifted, but even in human form they began to feel a pull in their chest when one was at any distance. This pull was not directional, but contestant soothing, letting each other know the other was alive and well. Distress could be felt as well, but the distance of the bond neither of them knew, it was curious indeed and Hermione, ever the bookworm longed to research the further implications. The Alpha elder had never heard of the ritual causing this and vowed to research on her end as well.
They landed in the center of the snow covered reservation at twilight, the time difference jarring the French family. A bonfire just off in the distance was going full steam and the smell of some interesting food was wafting the wolf's way.
Hermione was glad that sleep would be coming fast, as she had yet to get a full nights sleep after the ritual, and would help the jet lag…err port key lag...'
Jacob came running up full steam to the group with a brunette woman with a curious heart beat riding on his back.
'Hermione! So glad you could make it!' He joyously stated then stopped completely. 'Oh my god! Emmitt, old man good to see you!' Jacob exclaimed as the woman on his back dropped and the two men met in a fierce bear hug, which quickly turned into a playful wrestling match.
'No matter how old those two are they always do this', muttered the woman happily. She turned to the remaining group assembled. 'Appoline it is so nice to see you again dear friend.' She embraced the matriarch and pinched her butt, making the usually put together woman squeal indignantly. She jumped back smacking the woman on the shoulder playfully.
Both woman laughed, 'it's been too long old friend.' Appoline said 'let me introduce you to my daughter and her mate.'
'Fleur you remember your Aunt Nessy?'
'Oui, I have missed you half breed.' Fleur said grinning mischievously.
'Half breed?' Hermione asked confused
' ah this must be Le Lee's kid, you know the whole tribe mourned your mother and you, you have no idea what finding out you were alive has done to the tribe's psyche…but I'm getting ahead of myself, my name is Renesme Black your Godfather's imprint. My father is Edward Cullen a vampire and my mother's maiden name is Bella Swan. She had me when she was still human, and quickly went through the change after having me. I am a hybrid, one of the few of my kind.'
Hermione stood stunned, her analytical mind going a mile a minute. Everything that was just said went contrary to any and all literature she had read on vampires. 'Amazing' is all she could mumble out. 'I'm sorry…err I…it's just that it would appear my research is entirely outdated. I wonder if you might answer some queries I have at a later date?'
The hybrid laughed heartily, 'of course, but first how about we separate these two lunk heads, yeah?'
The four women laughed and walked towards the scuffle. For a human, Emmitt had a strength to him, sure he was massive, but he was wrestling a shifter.
'Alright fur ball, enough play time. We need to introduce everyone to the rest of the tribe before the human imprints have to go to sleep.' Renesme stated
The two men stopped and helped each other up, laughing at their disheveled appearance.
The group walked towards the bonfire and greeted everyone. The reservation was such a stark contrast to the Delacour mansion. The modest homes were not fancy by any stretch of the imagination, but were well maintained, and Hermione could tell that the tribe members had pride in their homes. The sense of community ran deep and she could tell that all present took ownership of their lands. The white man may have hunted their ancestors to near extinction, but here they were strong as ever flourishing, honoring their way of life and their heritage. As they were approaching the pounding of drums increased along with the ceremonial singing, she could see painted faces, jingling Bells, and feathers, dancing and joy all around.
Her Godfather stated that some generations ago their ancestors had been forced to assimilate to the culture of the pale faces, they had seen what their other Native American nations went through on the Trail of Tears. Their hair was cut, they were forced to not speak the native tongue to their children. Some rituals were forever lost to time, but they clung onto the ones they still practiced. Hermione was to learn during this trip, of such rituals, so they set up the pow wow for her first night arrival. They welcomed their long lost tribe member with open arms.
The group sat down on the open log seat by the fire. A pale faced man who looked like he came straight out of the American Civil War sat staring at one of the tall men dancing. This man had the most interesting smell to him Hermione mused, as she subtly sniffed the air due to her proximity sitting next to him.
'Some people think men's fancy feather dance dance derived from Buffalo Bill's Wild West show that used to travel around, not many people know that Bill paid the Native Americans the same as the pale faces for their acts, providing a living and means for their family that was allowed to travel with them that far surpassed what they could have on some reservations, this was the same show that showcased the great Annie Oakley as well as buffalo bill himself.' The man said with a southern accent.
Hermione was intrigued, and turned to face him.
'The name is Jasper Whitlock-Clearwater ma'am, the man dancing is my mate, your Uncle Seth. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.' The man said as he tipped his cowboy hat to her.
'Sethy thought it would be prudent for me to answer your questions for the evening. He figured if you were anything like his sister you would want an explanation about every detail. Le Lee was always a curious one.'
Hermione was touched, this was her blood relation, this tribe was to become another home for her. She felt a tug on her heart to this land, though unfamiliar, she felt a surge of protective desire for this land.
'Pleasure sir to meet you, and yes I suppose if what people tell me is correct I am much like my mother, any information would be greatly appreciated.' Hermione answered, but asked, 'if I may sir, please do not take offense, but your scent, I do not recognize it…'
'Ah I take it you have never met a vampire before, that is besides half pint back there.'
Renesme hit him in the back of the head at this, then walked away both of them laughing.
'Ah yes, that makes sense.'
'Anyway I was an officer during the Civil War and was around for some of the atrocities conducted by my people, thankfully I was changed before I was forced to mistreat these great people.'
'Just oh, wow.'
They spoke for a while, Hermione floored by the wealth of information from the southern gentleman. She asked many questions, always answered with a soft kind response, then the conversation turned back to the drum circle.
'The drum beat represents the heartbeat of life, which is first heard in the mother's womb'
At this one Jake took Hermione's hand and had her join the dancing, following their movements, getting lost in the sensations of oneness with the earth. Half way through the third song an eagle feather fell at Hermione's feet effectively stopping the dance. Immediately an elder spoke up explaining that they needed to do a retrieval ceremony which would also involve prayer. It was explained that the eagle feather is revered because it represents the highest of the earth, as it flies higher than any other animal
'The great spirit has blessed you Hermione with this feather, give thanks'. The elder spoke tying the feather to a strand of her bushy hair.
The night was amazing for the young wolf, she was inundated with everything, and yet she drunk it in eagerly. The Delacours remained sitting, conversing with Jasper and Renesme, as well as some of the imprints not dancing.
Hermione discovered that the funny smelling food was an American staple, hot dogs, she had seen them in muggle movies, but had not been able to sample them yet, as they were not common amongst magical folk, and her adoptive parents were dentist, so they limited her food intake based on dental health. She was assured hot dogs contained no actual canine…as she was confused previously how a pack could eat dog meat so eagerly…
The Delacours and Hermione were shown to the Clearwater residence. Her grandma Sue lived here her entire life, and her Uncle left the house the way his mom had it, honoring her memory.
Hermione was shown to her mother's old room. A pile of shredded clothes in a pile on the ground made Hermione smile, as her room at Hogwarts had the same thing, in fact quite a few things were strikingly similar. The way they organized their rooms, the logic of it was identical. Hermione reverently touched items left, while her imprint held her from behind offering silent strong support.
After silent study, she tiredly got ready for bed smelling the distant scent of her mother, committing the scent to memory, she snuggled into her imprint and lost all tension she had been holding and drifted away to the most relaxing sleep she had ever experienced.
