Review offering insight to the story:
"what a lovely update! again you never cease to wow your readers. i love how you show hermione building a relationship with not only remus but with james as well. you have portrayed her as a wonderfully compassionate and strong woman, which is very refeshing amidst these fanfics that show her as wanton and an overall weak woman figure. your descriptions of the characters are consistant and the voice of your work stays the same. you show a literary prowess in the work itself and in your creativity. im also interested to see if any of hermione's actions have any effect on the future. time is supposedly cyclical, so maybe hermione was meant to return, but her going back meant the actions of the future. very hard for me to explain but i'm still very interested in how this plays out. i hope hermione will keep an open mind about her relationship with remus. they really seem to be made for each other and your work amplifies that notion. good luck with your next chapter, but you hardly need luck after seeing your work from the previous chapters. keep up the lovely work and i simply can't wait to see what your creativity has spun for us next!" - DeltaGamma Liv of FanFiction net.
Thank you to the following reviewers: werewitch, Dizi 85, Wistful-Dreamer, Pure Girl, amrawo, nelygirl, FallFromGrace1191, Black-Rose23, Jester08, Rumidha, Hotkat144, Lupin's Mistress (Erika), killing u with umbrellas, LadyAkina, sensual-irish, pstibbons, M03, bethygirl94, DramaQueen4eva, mskiti (Tabi), Li-chan, quiet-mg, mariaboombaby, xthirdaliciousx andespecially DeltaGamma Liv, annieca (Anja), laugh.live.learn (Rachel) and galloping-goose (Zeus)
A/N There are various words here or there that are written in Romanian, the translations can be found at the bottom of the page.
Warning: Explicit language.
Dedicated to: Rachel (laugh.live.learn) and Anja (annieca) because their reviews are consistant, amazing, and in-depth. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
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The Werewolf Tamer
Chapter Eleven
The familiar tug at her navel happened and she felt mildly queasy as she spiraled through the world to land at her destination. She landed with a gentle thud, her shoulders falling forward an inch at the landing. There was a thick burst dust in the air that immediately assaulted her senses and she barely held back a sneeze. Opening her eyes, she found that not only was she standing in what appeared to be a closed, and possibly abandoned, sweets shop, but that she wasn't alone. She felt her anger grow along with her fear of what could go wrong, and her hands fisted. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Do you have any idea how unsafe it was for you to follow me? Let alone here, of all places!" she shrieked, shaking her head. "You have to go back! You have to--" She looked down, seeing that there was only one portkey and it wasn't the one they arrived with. This one would take them back, but she wouldn't have a way out in the morning. She sighed, feeling frustrated. "You are in so much trouble!" she exclaimed, frowning as she shook her head.
Wringing her hands, Lily offered her a small frown of apology. "I was worried," she explained. "You don't go out often and you seemed so frazzled all day." She sighed, squaring her shoulders, "When you told me not to tell the boys I knew you were about to do something dangerous. I just wanted to be sure that you weren't going alone. When I saw you there, with nothing but a portkey and a knapsack I knew there wouldn't be anybody to help you. I... I ..." She shook her head, swallowing audibly and then lifting her chin defiantly. "I'm a good dueler, I'm well versed in Charms, I can be of assistance in anything you need, Professor."
"Lily," Hermione sighed, her hand lifting to press against her furrowed brow. "You don't understand how dangerous this is."
"Which further proves that you should have somebody with you," the Gryffindor girl protested.
Hermione shook her head exasperated and leaned back against the counter near her, careful not to disturb any of the sweets jars on top of it. "Lily," she began, using her patient voice, "I'm here because there is a werewolf colony on the outskirts of this town. They're very suspicious of outsiders and one of the largest and most dangerous of its kind," she explained, staring at her with wide eyes. "Bringing you along could get you killed."
Lily swallowed thickly, licking her lips nervously. "Well, what about you?" she asked, her brows lifting.
"I have a way in. I... I know a safe word that will keep me from being attacked. But Lily, I can't allow you to come with me. It's far too dangerous," Hermione told her, frowning. "You shouldn't have followed me here." She dug around in her pocket, pulling out a gold pocket watch, "I have to go. I don't have much time." She sighed, looking up at Lily. "Hide somewhere in here. When I get back, we'll portkey back to Hogsmeade, and you won't tell anybody that you came along. D'you understand?" she asked, her voice leaving no room for discussion and her eyes wide and serious.
Lily shook her head sharply, "No. I'm here now and I don't think it's safe for you to go alone. You don't know the area, d'you? So it's smarter for us to go together. Besides, if someone comes back here, what am I suppose to do?" She lifted her arms, crossing them over her chest defiantly. "You said you knew the safe word, so we should both be fine."
"Lily I will not allow you to put yourself in danger," Hermione told her, quickly losing her temper. Her skin was crawling with the fear over what could happen. She shouldn't have been so obvious in front of the girl, then Lily wouldn't have followed her. If Lily got hurt, or even killed, there was a chance that the future was all but destroyed. Harry! Harry wouldn't be born if Lily died or was severely injured. She couldn't risk that. Couldn't risk Lily's life. Besides, while she was still rather worried about her own safety, there was no reason to put Lily in the same position. "No. You'll stay here. Find somewhere to hide. I'll be back soon." Without waiting for a response, she began walking to the door.
"If you don't take me with you, I'll follow you after you've left. Which is safer?" Lily asked, her tone serious and warning.
Hermione turned around quickly, her long hair flipping with her, "I could stun you and hide you and you'd have no idea what direction I went in," she said warningly.
Lily lifted her chin a notch, "But you won't," she said strongly.
Hermione stared at her a moment, seriously annoyed that the young girl could be acting so foolishly. "James is going to rant and rave for hours when he finds out about this," she muttered, rolling her eyes upward. Grabbing the map next to the portkey roughly, she turned away from the girl, examining what was ahead of them.
Lily sniffed, acting as though she didn't care, "After all the adventures Potter and the others have been on, the only thing he'll have to say is how much he wished he could have been here."
Hermione shook her head, adjusting her pack. "We have a bit of a hike, so make sure you're ready for this. No complaining about discomfort of any kind. You're the one who wanted to come along." She paused, frowning, "Just so you know, we're in Romania." Walking to the front door, Hermione used her wand to unlock it and cast a charm on the floor so nothing would be disturbed, she didn't want any trail left behind stating that anybody had been there. There were eyes everywhere. Pulling her hood up, she covered her face and turned to Lily as she followed her out. The girl was wearing her regular Hogwarts cloak, so Hermione cast a charm on it to hide the crest. No reason for her to stand out with a screaming sign that she was just a kid.
Lily walked beside her, no trace of fear in her expression as she held her head high and acted as though the cold night air wasn't a problem. Hermione rolled her eyes, casting a warming charm on the both of them, then put her wand away safely. They were in an old, sleeping village, one where Hermione could scarcely see the shops of, it was so dark. The light of the moon gave them a view of some things, but the entire area was fairly ominous. Hermione could hear boisterous laughing and knew that a pub must be full and open. With the time difference, Hermione assumed that the rest of the village had shut down, but it seemed most of the shops weren't even being used. She was reminded of how good that was for the werewolf colony, not having to deal with so many people. She shuddered however when she remembered that vampires were a constant in Romania and that could be the reason for the lack of humans and running shops. She didn't have an exact location for where she was, but the map she found by the portkey stated that hills and a trek through a dark forest were in sights for them.
Hermione looked down to see what kind of shoes Lily was wearing and closed her eyes, sighing. "There's no way you can hike in those, Lily. You're feet will start aching on the first summit and you'll be left limping."
"I'll survive," she replied curtly, frowning. "I didn't exactly have time to go and get my boots when you were rushing out of the school aiming to do something reckless," she added before her eyes widened when realizing just who she was speaking to. She bit her lip, looking flustered but then tried to hide it again by walking forward as if she hadn't said anything disrespectful to a professor.
Hermione couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Stop, Ms. Evans," she commanded, using a stern voice.
Lily's shoulders fell and she turned around slowly. "Look, I know I'm not wearing the best attire for this, Professor Granger, but I'm going and you're just going to have to deal with that. The boys would never forgive me if I let you go off into a werewolf colony on your own, and..." She sighed, her eyes falling. "I know you're used to being independent, but I really think this is a time for you to accept help."
Hermione lifted a brow, listening to her small speech with a sense of pride. Lily was a strong witch and a very capable woman. She was confident and powerful, and she never let anybody step over her. Hermione admired that about Harry's mother and couldn't help but feel a small bit of comfort at having her there. While she hadn't had the time to get to know Lily as well as the Marauders, she did know her better than most other students. She was very bright and had a good heart from what Hermione had seen. While she didn't respond to James the way he so desperately wanted her too, Hermione could tell that Lily did like James. She didn't appreciate his sometimes over-the-top antics on occasion, but she had grown fond of him all the same. The way all the other girls at the school looked at James and his past record of flirting and snogging them was a clear reason that Lily wasn't so certain about James' intentions with her. Hermione knew, even without the knowledge that he would marry Lily and have a son with her, that he was very much in love with her. And just like the strong and confident student in her classes, Lily stood defiantly in front of Hermione, showing no sign of backing down. Hermione shook her head, pulling her wand from her robes.
Lily's mouth opened and her eyes widened, but she never let her shoulders fall or her eyes lose their fiery strength.
Hermione flicked her wrist and rolled her fingers, saying an incantation under her breath. Within seconds, Lily's school issue shoes became hiking boots that fit her comfortably. Hermione added a cushioning charm and then replaced her wand again, before half-smiling at Lily. "We don't have long. It's suicide to walk into a colony of sleeping werewolves." She walked past Lily toward the rolling hill of grass and rock in the distance just at the end of the dark village. She could hear Lily's footsteps behind her and smiled lightly to herself, wondering if she too would have been the same if she were in Lily's position.
The noise behind them suddenly got louder and Hermione grabbed Lily's arm, yanking her down beside a dark, empty shop so they were hidden in the shadows and outside of the gleam of the moon. Back at the pub, Hermione could see the door was open and a few men exited the yellowish-orange glow of the archway. One man was stumbling, clearly sodded and quite robust in the stomach. Hermione motioned to Lily to keep very quiet and not move, while watching the other two men beside the drunk one. He fell to the ground, his knees landing painfully and his arms flailing out to help himself. Hermione could hear his laughing, loud and hiccupy. He tried getting up, but had troubles in his drunken stupor. The other two men easily reached out, picking him up from the dirt ground and lifting him up a foot in the air before letting him down on his shaky feet. Hermione blanched, knowing that kind of strength wasn't human. The drunk man brushed himself off and then turned as if to thank them or tell them off, but he stumbled away when one of their faces changed before him.
Becoming ridged and strained, pale and veiny, the vampire lunged forward, wrapping a long, lean hand around the man's throat and yanking him back. The other held his arms without problem, while the transformed vampire twisted the drunk's head to side and pierced his throat with long, white, gleaming incisors. They seemed to glow with an eerie aura and Hermione knew that if she could see them as clearly as they could, then there was no doubt with their sight they could see them. Thick, dark blood poured down the man's throat to be soaked up against his dirtied shirt stuck tight around his large stomach. Breathing heavily, Hermione grabbed Lily's arm and pulled her back, putting a silencing charm on both of their boots and tugging her along the shadows of the shops, hoping to get around the edge and rush for the hills before the vampires saw them.
"Did you enjoy that, ladies?" one of them called, laughingly. Their voice was loud, hoarse but melodic. She reminded herself that it was a spell. That all vampires had a natural pull to them when it came to women. They deceived the mind, coaxed the senses, and drew in even the least willing of women. Hermione's feet skipped a beat, but she shook her head, telling herself she wouldn't fall for it. She looked to Lily, who appeared confused, her eyes slowly glazing over. "Come back, pretties, we could have some fun," he added, his voice whispery in Hermione's ears, as if he was next to her, breathing against her neck and caressing her skin.
Lily was slowing down, so Hermione cast a charm on her ears so she couldn't hear anymore and then, panting hard, ran for the hills as fast as she could. It wouldn't do for her hearing to be covered too, she needed to be alert. Vampires had an incredible speed to them and she wasn't willing to find out if they wanted her and Lily enough to give chase. Given that they'd just eaten and she didn't know how many other willing witches and wizards were in the pub, she was fairly certain that they were going to get away well enough. If not, then she had a stake in her ankle clasp and she was ready to duel if need be. While vampire magic was low, having no wand to use, some of the elders were strong enough to battle a wizard as old and wise as Dumbledore. Hermione wasn't sure who would come out the victor but the fact that the vampire had the ability and agility said something in itself. When all she could hear was echoing laughter, she calmed down a bit. They had managed to the top of the first hill and Hermione took the charm off Lily's ears, who just seemed bewildered now, rather than intoxicated.
"What was that?" she asked, shaking her head.
"Vampire charm," Hermione replied quietly, looking down the other side of the hill.
"Really?" she asked, sounding rather excited. "Fascinating!"
"Lily," Hermione said, sighing, "I really don't think this is the time for you to take an interest in studying vampires."
"Oh, right, of course. Sorry, professor." Hermione could tell she was still quite intrigued by the fact that she'd just run into vampires and come away unscathed. Lily paused for a moment before finally blurting, "Oh, but isn't this interesting, professor? We've already seen two vampires and we're on our way to meet a pack of werewolves," she reminded, her voice full of studious awe. Hermione wondered if she would've been that excited were she in Lily's place. "James is going to be so jealous," she murmured.
"Lily, this isn't a fieldtrip. Those vampires didn't want to discuss eating habits and tell you all about their lives. They're dangerous. We're outside of the classroom now, you have to remember that these beings are not interested in being your DADA projects." She sighed, shaking her head. "You have to be cautious."
"I know," she replied, nodding. "I didn't mean to... I understand that we're in a dangerous place. I was momentarily distracted that's all. I haven't seen much of the Wizarding world outside of Hogwarts... But it won't happen again, professor," she vowed.
"Good. Now," Hermione said, stepping to the edge. "Time to go down."
The other side was steep and covered in rock rather than dirt and grass. Turning sideways, Hermione began rushing down carefully, her body turned toward the hill so she wouldn't topple. Her muscles strained against the movement and her hands scraped against sharp rocks as she slipped a few times and tried to grab on to something. Lily followed her instruction, moving the same way and Hermione found the last few feet were easy enough to run down without falling. Her throat burned as she hit the bottom and she waited for Lily, before lighting her wand against the map again. They had two more hills to cross before they'd hit the forest area, if they went around it would cost them hours. She looked to Lily who was breathing a little heavy but not complaining. She nodded at the younger girl, who gave her a small smile and nodded back.
Hermione turned to the hill once more and began climbing quickly, it was a little more steep than the last and she had to lean forward so she wasn't standing precariously. She moved on the tips of her boots from the angle and her shoulders burned against the weight of the pack and the strain of digging her fingers into the dirt for help. Lily moved beside her, her face strained and her skin peaky against the sudden workout. She slipped when she grabbed on to a weed, but caught herself before Hermione even had time to register there was a problem. Hermione reached the top first and sat down for a moment, waiting for Lily to reach close enough for her to tug her up. They looked at the next hill, which was even higher, and took a moment to catch their breaths. Hermione could see the tops of trees and smiled lightly, though her stomach filled with a sense of dread. Darnell would move soon, so she couldn't wait for a weekend to come looking for him. Walking into a werewolf colony at night was considered unbelievably stupid, even by someone trained as she was.
There would be guards watching overnight, either sleeping in tents, in the trees, or having their own huts around the area. Werewolves were careful and always suspicious. It was attack first, ask questions later. They'd been hunted all their lives, there wasn't time for pleasantries when so many were out to kill and hunt them. Hermione understood that, she knew werewolves better than any non-werewolf alive. But just because she knew them, just because she had the ability to talk to them in werewolf form, didn't mean she was out of harm's way. She usually had Remus with her for these kinds of things. The scent of another werewolf left most others mildly comforted and their suspicion was alleviated just a bit. No werewolf hunter would willingly travel with a werewolf, it was preposterous. Just like no werewolf would ever travel with a werewolf hunter. They'd be a traitor, and if werewolves were anything, it was loyal to each other. They were all they had. But Hermione was aiming to change that.
"Let's go," Hermione said, rising from the hill and twisting sideways to get down the hill again. Her boots dug into the rocks and dirt, pushing it up and giving her leverage as she moved. Her cloak was heavy around her and the heating charm was making things uncomfortable. She took it off and felt the cooling air slip through her cloak and sweater to calm her skin. It bit at her face, but the sweat and heat fought against it to make her skin tingle. Lily moved ahead of her this time, her feet moving quickly and swiftly against the rocks. She hit the ground with a thud, choosing to jump the last bit instead of struggle against the terrain. There was a space of high grass between the second hill and the last, which they had to get across.
Hermione didn't trust the area, knowing it was magical, so she lit her wand up and scanned the grass. Something dark was huddled up in one area, bringing the grass down and flattening it beneath its mass. She could see it moving, breathing. It was curled up, or at the very least lying down, and she didn't want to think of how large it could be standing up. Hermione motioned to Lily to be very quiet, she didn't want to find out what it was, if possible. There were grating snores coming from the creatures large, thick form, and Hermione moved closer to Lily. "There's a chance that if I stun it, it's hide will rebound it and it'll wake up. We can try running across without it waking up, or risk stunning it only to anger it," she whispered against the red head's ear, her eyes searching for any other animals.
"Let's run," Lily said after a moments deliberation. "It's not far and if it hasn't woken up to our climbing and grunting, it probably won't hear us running through the grass." She nodded, biting her lip. "Ready?" she asked, only mildly unsteady.
Hermione smiled at her courage. "Gryffindor for a reason," she told her, before she rushed forward. The grass reached her waist and slowed her down a bit, but she was able to run without tripping. Hermione's feet kicked against the grass and her arms moved as if trying to drag her through, making her shoulders sting with the effort. She heard a snorting grunt and felt her heart skip a beat. She looked over to Lily, who was a couple feet behind her but hurrying as best she could with a defiant expression on her face. Her red hair fell down over her eyes but she pushed it back and trudged on. Hermione heard another noise and her eyes widened some, she had stepped on something and it cracked loudly in the silence of the night. Hermione turned her head, searching for the dark form of the creature in the grass, only to find it wasn't where it had been. "Hurry! Lily," she said, her voice only loud enough to reach the girl behind her, she hoped.
Blanching, Lily tried to move faster and Hermione reached back, yanking her forward in hopes of getting her closer to her. Her cloak was getting tangled around her legs and catching on the grass, but Hermione pushed her knees forward and kept hurrying on. She heard a low growl and then a loud barking sound and Hermione cursed under her breath. Her hand tightened around Lily's and she pulled her forward until she was forced in front of her. Pushing her, Hermione stomped down on the grass and yanked her wand out. She sent a spell at the grass, making it shrivel up and move out of the way, a loud sizzling sound echoed which was why Hermione hadn't used it in the first place. With the path clear, Lily was able to run easier and Hermione kept up without problem, her eyes scanning around to find their attacker. She heard a noise and turned to see the large vicious looking boarhound leap from the grass. Its body was lean and muscular, making it appear capable and deadly. Hermione grabbed Lily's shoulder and pulled her down low enough so they wouldn't be hit by the monstrous sized dog. After its legs cleared them, Hermione shouted for Lily to run.
Panting, Lily's legs pumped beneath her and when she reached the edge of the hill, she leapt up in the air, hoping to get high enough that the dog would have trouble getting to her. Hermione turned to the left, out of the way of Lily and followed her example, lunging toward the rocks and dirt and getting a hold of a strong stump. She pulled herself up, exerting her arms to keep herself high enough. She looked back to see the dog coming toward them quickly and began climbing. Her knees dug into the rocks and her fingers reached out blindly for something to grab on to. Her digging caused rocks to come loose and she felt them fly past her, hitting her face and scraping her skin. She coughed as the dirt clouded up around her and blinked rapidly. When it cleared, she checked on Lily to see her climbing and battling the dirt and rocks, her face twisted with fear and determination. Lily's foot slipped beneath her making her fall a couple feet, but after shrieking in surprise, she shook her head and started climbing again. The boarhound jumped at the hill, its paws unable to get a good grip on the loose rocks. It dug in close to the hill, its stomach pressed down and its nails clawing to pull it up.
Hermione pulled her wand out and shot a stunning spell at the dog that unfortunately missed as she lost her balance by an inch. It slammed into the dirt however and spit it out at the dog, making it whine in irritation and slip down the hill some. Hermione looked over to Lily who was making her way up steadily now and looking over her shoulder every few feet to see how the boarhound was doing. Hermione managed to get herself up on her knees and then forced her aching body to her feet, knowing it'd be easier to move upright rather than crawl on her stomach. Lily reached the top first and helped Hermione up after. Hermione frowned when she felt a sting in her hands and twisted hers and Lily's in the moonlight to find both of their hands were scraped up and bleeding. Because she wasn't certain about what kinds of creatures could still be around, she did a bandaging charm on both of them to keep the blood covered and hoped the scent wasn't strong.
"It shouldn't be far now," Hermione said, panting.
Lily nodded, casting her eyes back toward where they came. "How are we going to get back?" she wondered.
Hermione frowned. "I think the boarhound belongs to the colony. If everything turns out well, it won't be a problem on our way back," she told her, nodding.
Lily nodded, adjusting her cloak and brushing it off. "Let's go then," she said, her voice strong, betraying no fear of what had happened or what could be coming. Hermione admired her courage and decided that James had great taste. Harry had a good mother and Hermione was determined to make sure that he grew up with her.
A dense forest stood before them, trees reaching high into the sky, branches waving to the heavens from the heavy, cold winds. Before entering, she decided to check the map Dumbledore had left her. "Lumos," she muttered, holding her wand over the map and scanned it with her eyes quickly. She knelt down, her back beginning to ache. "Can you see light ahead of you? A fire or a cottage or anything?" Hermione asked, glancing up at Lily.
Scuffing her hair out of her face, Lily screwed up her eyes and slowly looked through the area side to side, searching. "I think... maybe... very far that way," she said, pointing North East from her position.
Hermione squinted and then evaluated the map again. "That looks about right," she murmured, nodding. Replacing the map inside her robes, she turned to Lily. "You stay behind me. You don't say anything. Answer no questions, ask nothing," she told her, rising from the ground. Lily nodded at her, but Hermione shook her head. "I mean it. It's important that they know nothing about you for as long as possible." She bit her lip a moment, questioning how safe it all really was. She knew she couldn't just leave Lily where she was, especially given where they were now. There was no turning back. She'd have to come and Hermione couldn't stop her if she wanted to. It would make the colony question just how much they trusted her if she left somebody behind, and she had no idea what else could be lurking around them. While she knew Lily was intelligent and capable, she didn't know what to expect in this moment. She had already encountered vampires and a boarhound, and she knew that in the distance there was a pack of werewolves known for being strong and suspicious. "And hide your fear, Lily. Squash it down and forget all about it. It's okay to be careful and vigilant, but don't walk in there terrified. They'll know and they'll assume we're not what we say we are."
"I'm not a werewolf tamer," she reminded, her voice shaking a bit.
"You wanted to learn though, right," Hermione said, reaching out to put a hand on Lily's shoulder as she nodded slowly. "And you know Remus, he wouldn't hurt a fly unless necessary. These people have been running most of their lives. They're not trying to kill you, they're not out to hunt you. Right now, they're not even werewolves. They're just regular wizards who happen to be stronger than us physically. Mask your expression, stand up straight, look them in the eye like you did me when I tried to tell you to stay back," she told her, her eyes warning. "Understand?" Hermione asked, feeling sorry for having to treat her so abruptly. It was a necessity though, if they smelled her fear or felt her discomfort, they might just react without thinking.
"Yes," Lily replied, nodding shortly.
"Good," Hermione said, lowering her wand, "Nox," she said, putting out the light. "And don't get in the way if anything happens between me and them," she told her heavily. "Don't jump into fight and don't hurt any of them."
Lily's eyes widened in shock and for a moment Hermione was stunned by just how green they were. Just like her son's. "But--"
"No buts," she replied quick and final. "My first priority is keeping you safe. Second is proposing the program to them. D'you understand?"
Lily squirmed, obviously disliking the idea of leaving Hermione to fend for herself. "So, what? I'm supposed to run?" she asked incredulously, her expression screwing up with indignation.
"Run, hide, anything. Just stay out of it and wait for it to finish," Hermione told her, placing her hands firmly on her hips. "They won't hurt me," she told the young girl with a softer voice, trying to comfort her. "Darnell won't let them. Trust me."
"Do you know this Darnell man?" Lily asked, her brow furrowing and her mouth twisting with a frown.
"It's complicated," Hermione muttered. "Just promise me you'll stay out of it." Lily stood defiantly, her chin jutted out and her head turned to one side. "I mean it, Lily. You have no idea how important it is that you don't get harmed," she told her, her heart speeding up a bit at the possibility that Harry's mother was going to be killed. That the girl who had proved herself so courageous and strong would die because Hermione hadn't been smart enough to make sure she wasn't followed. All of her years in war and her training as an Auror down the drain. She was a disgrace to the Auror Department. Moody would likely kick her arse and then shake his head at her incapability.
"Fine," Lily agreed reluctantly.
Hermione nodded sharply before adjusting her pack again and walking into the forest. Her boots sounded loud in her ears, crunching and breaking things in her wake. Lily walked behind her for the first while, before finally taking up beside her. Her mouth was tight and her eyes thinned slightly. Hermione wasn't sure if Lily was keeping her eyes on her surroundings or simply annoyed with her. Owls and random noises could be heard throughout the silence, reverberating off of the trees and echoing through the night. The light of the moon slipped through branches, making the ground and air seem eerie and glowing. Shadows played in front of them, dancing over trees and ground, making shivers slither down Hermione's back. She could see yellow eyes peeking out of bushes, feel others watching her, whether animal or human she wasn't sure. The hairs on the back of her neck rose and she immediately felt on alert, knowing she was walking into danger. They were nearly at the camp sight, she could see the fire in the distance. There were a few tents, but mostly just makeshift beds laying around. She couldn't make out how many were in the pack just yet, but she knew they were there. Voices rose up, men mostly. She heard laughter coming from someone and felt mildly comforted by the fact that they weren't sitting around brooding or keeping to themselves. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for the inevitable confrontation. She hoped Darnell was the first to see her, but she knew it was unlikely.
She heard the snap of a twig nearby and her instincts reacted immediately. She pushed Lily back and took the brunt of the form leaping through the air straight to her chest. They flew back, skidding across hard ground. Twigs tore at her cloak, her backpack pressed into her back, and rocks scraped the skin of her arms as they became visible while she flailed in mild shock. Her head knocked against the ground and she strained her neck to keep it from being hit too much. Her hair was trapped beneath her cloak, her shoulders pressing down on it, yanking at her scalp. A man held her down, telling amber eyes staring down at her as he snarled. His body was lean, his arms heavily muscled and his legs pinning her down as he rode out the trip of her body dragging over the forest floor painfully. She stared up at him defiantly, her teeth grit against the trapped screams in her throat.
Her mind flew back to a moment so long ago when something similar happened, but Remus had pushed her out of the way and taken the hit himself. They were better suited to fight, having similar strength and the ability to do it. Remus was able to turn the attacker over and pin him to the ground while Hermione explained their reason for being there. That was then though. Now she was all alone in her fight. Hermione was frail compared to the likes of an adult werewolf. Hell, she was frail compared to a child werewolf. Still, she wasn't about to let him scare her. She had dealt with men like him for six years. He may not be in wolf form now, but that didn't mean she didn't understand them.
"COPIL!" she screamed in his face, her mouth twisted in fury, spittle flying up at his panting, snarling face.
His eyes widened, the amber glinting suspiciously. His hands loosened on her arms for a moment and the weight on her legs alleviated. But just as quickly as he'd trusted her, he left it behind. "Who the fuck are you?" he growled, baring his regular human teeth. Stubble covered his jaw and his hair hung down, brown and on its way to greasy. His clothes were worn and covered in various patches. There was a wild glint in his eyes, likely from being on the run too long. Despite the fact that he was ready to kill her, she felt angry that he was put in the place he was.
"I said copil," she told him, shaking her head. "We discuss who I am when I speak to your pack leader."
His arm reared back and his knuckle flew down to smash against her face, turning her head hard to one side. "You don't make demands, catea," he shouted at her, panting thickly in his anger.
Hermione could feel her cheek stinging fiercely and knew that it had either broken open or she'd have one very noticeable bruise in the morning. She rolled her eyes as he cursed her and struggled against his arms. "Get me Darnell," she ordered, wrapping her arms around his wrists. "I said the safe word, it's Darnell's bloody safe word!" she told him. Panic was beginning to rise up in her chest, but she brushed it away. She needed to stay focused, needed to keep somewhat calm. If she was too calm they'd suspect something, not that it was really an option as she was feeling trapped beneath the man above her, holding her as if a mouse beneath his curled fist. "COPIL! How many times do I have to say it?" she asked him, sneering angrily.
The man's hands wrapped around her shoulders, lifting her a few inches from the ground only to slap her back down. Stars danced in her eyes, but she ignored them. She could hear Lily whimper in the background and knew she hadn't run away. Hermione wanted to yell at her to get away, to hide somewhere, but there was nowhere to go. She wanted to make sure nobody else had come for her, but she wasn't willing to show any weakness by looking for the younger woman. Her attacker's chest was heaving and his eyes were looking around searchingly, as if he was expecting others to come out of the woods and save her or try and kill him. She understood that panic, could see that he didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. Then again, he could probably throw her pretty far. Hermione shook her head, realizing her thoughts were becoming muddled.
"Tell me who you are and what you're doing here," he ordered, his hands tightening around her shoulders painfully.
"I want to talk to Darnell," she told him, releasing no information.
"Mi se rupe!" he yelled at her, shaking his head and lifting her a few inches. "Tell me who you are and what you're doing here? How did you find us? Are you a tracker? Huh, tarfa?" he asked, his eyes thinning and his teeth gritting viciously.
Hermione swallowed the pain and fear. "Copil," she told him simply.
"Prost catea," he cursed, his hands dug into her shoulders, fingers reaching for her throat, long nails scratching at it. "We don't like trespassers," he told her, shaking his head and smirking at her viciously. "We kill strangers." His eyes thinned warningly, but Hermione simply stared back. "Have it your way," he spat, his fingers moving to wrap around her throat.
Before he could get a good handle, a dark arm reached out to wrap around the man's throat, lifting him three feet high into the air. Hermione stared up, her heart beating out of her chest in relief. Her savior roared in her attacker's face, spittle flying out as he growled loud and angry. The moon glinted off of him, showing him so much younger than Hermione remembered. His body was still tall, lean with muscle and radiating power and strength like most of his kind. He had a confidence in his stance however, that told the viewer that their death would be by his doing if they wronged him. He demanded loyalty and truth, or he would bring about their death with a simple snap of his wrist. His hair was sheer black, too short to curl like she knew it did and no longer a stormy grey with age. His skin was free of wrinkles and a few of the scars he had received more recently in her time line, but there were still numerous dips and tears telling his many battles against his dark brown skin. Black coarse hair surrounded his mouth and chin, just like it had in her time. His eyes glittered amber, but were darker now with fury. Hermione had known Darnell for five long years. She knew his temper when it was flared and she could tell that at the moment, he was hitting a peak where killing the man in front of him was almost a necessity. He could be as calm as needed, but when pushed to the limit, he snapped like no other. Hermione had never been afraid of Darnell however and she wasn't about to start now.
Darnell held the man in front of him, letting his legs dangle down, wiggling in their search for solid ground. He couldn't breath around the tight grip Darnell had on his throat and he struggled against the hands, tearing at Darnell's arm futilely. "What the 'ell d'you think you're doing?" he growled at the younger man, his bicep flexing as his grip tightened.
Letting out a strangled noise, the other werewolf fought against Darnell's grip until he let go enough for him to breathe. "She-- za-- stran-- ger--" he gasped, turning his eyes down at her and sneering. "Prob-- ly-- a-- track-- er--" He growled, twisting to look down at her. "Fil-- thy-- cat-- ea--" he spat.
"Did she ask for me, Prott?" Darnell demanded, his face still twisted in anger. Prott didn't reply right away, breathing heavily and turning his eyes off. "I asked you a question," Darnell shouted, shaking him violently. When Prott didn't reply right away, Darnell threw him forward and Hermione heard the distinct crunch of him hitting a tree in the background heavily. He cried out, falling to the ground with a thud, breathing heavily.
Hermione stared up at Darnell, no trace of fear evident in her face. The man above her panted thickly, his arms shaking beside him in his dark rage. He looked down, his eyes slowly lightening to become the familiar, warm amber she was used to seeing in a man she often looked up to like a father figure. He leaned forward and Hermione could clearly see the muscles working beneath his shirt. His arms hefted her up easily and Hermione was reminded of how much her body was aching in response to all that had happened through the night. She winced, but covered it quickly. She felt her eyes begin to moisten as she stared at Darnell, so familiar and comforting without even meaning to be.
"You all right?" he asked her gruffly, turning from the situation to begin walking back to camp. Hermione nodded jerkily. Darnell eyed her sideways and stomped toward the fire, before turning his head to the left. "Don't just stand there, fată," he called to Lily, who stood rigid in shock.
Shaking her head, the red haired girl stepped forward on shaky legs before breaking out into a run and making her way over to Hermione. She had to jog to keep up with Darnell's widespread gait, her concerned face looking down at Hermione who lay comfortably in Darnell's arms. Her head hurt, her face was stinging still, and she was fairly sure her throat and shoulders were covered in dark bruises. She just knew wherever her Remus was, he was shaking his head at her, bursting to shout at her and shake some sense into her while simultaneously wanting to hug and kiss her. Her throat closed up, but she cleared it, reminding herself that she had a mission and she couldn't be getting choked up while she was being carried by a man who really didn't know her at all.
Darnell stopped at the fire and hefted her up a couple inches. "Stay here," he ordered Lily, before turning to the other werewolves around the fire, each of them quiet and staring at the strangers suspiciously. "Durere cu fată şi eu vărsa al tău sînge," he barked at them, watching as each of them nodded agreeably.
Lily opened her mouth to protest but a dark look from Darnell had her closing her mouth immediately. She looked around at the men and a few women sitting near the fire and Hermione knew she wasn't covering her fear like she should be. "Lily," she called out to her as Darnell began walking again. "What would James do?" was all she could say before Darnell shoved her through the fabric doors of the largest tent.
Hermione looked around at where she was. The tent, like that of the one the Weasley's had at the Quidditch Tournament so very long ago, was much larger inside than it looked outside. Darnell walked her over to the only bed occupying the area and placed her on it with a gentleness that most wouldn't expect of him. He walked over to a table set off to the side covered in bandages and marked jars and began searching for things silently. Hermione sat up, lifting a hand to her ringing head and slumped forward, leaning her elbows on her knees. Her back was hurting and her skin seemed to tingle with pain all over. She watched Darnell from beneath her lashes as he walked around the table, putting together various potions to heal her and take away the stinging pain. There were so many things she wanted to say, to explain, but they all seemed to stumble over each other until she wasn't sure what to say.
"You did a crazy thing coming 'ere," he called out to her, his voice both amused and angry.
"I'm not the most sane of women," she replied, half-smiling.
He snorted. "I can see that," he mumbled. He was stirring something that she just knew would taste disgusting while stuffing some white bandages beneath his arms. He walked toward her, his eyes thinned slightly and his mouth frowning. "Who are you?" he wondered, his voice betraying more interest than he likely meant to.
"My name is Hermione," she told him, leaning back to relieve the pressure on her stomach which seemed to be causing a stitch in her side. "I work for Albus Dumbledore at Hogwarts school in Scotland."
Darnell nodded slowly, before kneeling down in front of her. He handed her the potion and then set the bandages beside her leg. "That doesn't answer my question," he said , shaking his head. "Who are you?" he repeated, staring her dead in the eye.
Hermione took the potion from his hand and guzzled it down in one quick motion, closing her eyes tightly and grimacing against the taste. She had no fear of him, didn't believe he'd do anything to harm her. It was stupid, she knew. This Darnell didn't know her. Had every right to be suspicious of her. But then, he could have let that Prott man kill her in the woods, no questions asked, but he didn't. And she knew Darnell, she knew all about his past when he was running his pack all on his own, long before she came along. He had been vicious, not someone who took kindly to strangers of any kind. He'd kill any man or woman who set foot on his territory without a legitimate excuse. He didn't kill those who simply stumbled upon his pack, but then his boarhound usually kept those from getting nearby. He'd killed many a werewolf tracker in his time, she knew.
Leaning forward, Hermione stared back at him. "Twenty six years from now, I'm a woman who tames werewolves so they can have the freedom they're due."
His eyes hardened but his mouth softened. "Come again, there, muiere?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
Hermione slipped her backpack off of her shoulders, her arms aching with the effort still. She could feel the potion taking effect, but the sting was still present. Opening the back latch, she dug around before pulling out a picture. "I work with werewolves. Have for six years. My husband was a wolf and he helped me learn how to, well, talk to them. In full werewolf form in the dead of night with a full moon high above," she told him, swallowing thickly. "In 2003, I have the majority of werewolf packs on my side against Voldemort. I've trained them for years, learned their language and taught them how to distinguish an adversary from a friend. The world was in chaos, but I was almost guaranteed freedom for werewolves if we were able to defeat Voldemort. There were too many problems though. So many from my side were dying. Good people, good werewolves."
Darnell stared at her, his expression betraying nothing of his opinion. He hadn't up and left though, which was a good sign. He hadn't called her various names for telling her quite absurd story and she took that to mean he wasn't going to jump to conclusions. She hadn't won him over yet, the skepticism was bright and obvious in his eyes, but he wasn't downright refusing to listen to her either.
Hermione shook her head, her mouth tightening. "It's hard to explain, it would take a long time to give you all of my history. The bottom line is that in that time, you were there next to me," she told him, staring into his eyes. "I told you I was coming back to this time. I had to change the time line if we were going to prosper. Voldemort is too powerful in that time, but he's beatable in this one. So I left that year and I traveled back to this one. Before I left," she took a deep breath, watching his expression for skepticism and disbelief, "you told me to find you. That if I looked at the moon, I would find my peace. You said..." She swallowed, feeling flustered and uncertain that he could every believe what she was saying. "You told me that no matter the year, you would protect me with your life. All I had to do was give you the safe word. Copil," she told him, nodding with a soft smile. "You sometimes called me your little copil. You were never the most sentimental guy," she added, shaking her head. "But you were always like a father to me, and I was like a daughter to you. I know that sounds... ugh, that sounds rather unbelievable. You've told me all about yourself from this time and I know that you probably think I'm making up all of this sentimental stuff in hopes of winning you over, but this is the truth, Darnell. I know you. I've known you for five long years. I came to you with my husband and we discussed the program with you. You thought I was crazy. You said I was mental for thinking I could gain the trust of werewolf packs, but I did. And you were right there with me. You helped me gain that trust, helped me expand over the world to train other werewolves. We were a team. You, me, Remus, Brighton. We were all a team." Her voice shook a little as she remembered how close they all were. She handed him the picture she took shortly before she left, of her, Brighton, Darnell and Jacques. He took it with a curious expression, his eyes widening slightly as he gazed down at his face twenty-six years older.
She could remember the original four of them back when the program was just starting to get recognized. Darnell, his arms crossed, coming across so gruff and naturally commanding. Brighton, the quiet, reserved man, looking knowledgeable and strong in his surroundings. Her Remus, the main leader of them all, taking up a position that made him look inspiring to so many other werewolves. He melted into his role the way it should have always been. He was trustworthy, a true commander to them. Père Loup – Father Wolf. And her, so much happier then, in her element amongst those who she trusted so dearly, those who would lay down their lives to keep her safe. Her strength was in her husband, her hope stood completely in him. How she wished it could be those times again. Back when Harry and Ron were still alive and thriving. Still in love and basking in the comforts of family and friends. It was an easier time then, still dark but not as hopeless as it had been when she left. The world hadn't yet crumbled, it was on the verge of either annihilation or rehabilitation. Unfortunately, it took the wrong pathway and Hermione had to change it before it could even reach that.
Hermione inhaled deeply, feeling as if she were getting hysterical. "There's so much to tell you, so much to explain. There's... There's a potion. Or there will be soon, I suppose. It's called Wolfsbane, it gives werewolves back their human senses while transforming. But..." She shook her head, her thoughts muddled. "But it loses its potency after awhile and stops working. It's also very expensive to make and those of you who buy it often are eventually found out and ostracized for simply being you." She frowned, her hands curling into fists. She was usually so much more put together. Why could she just pitch it to him like she had before? Why did she have to tell him all about the time traveling and the future? He likely thought she was completely mental!
Darnell was still kneeling in front of her, his expression hard but not dismissive. He had unraveled some of the gauze and was listening to her as he began tearing pieces off and lifting them to bandage various injuries on her. She watched as he wrapped her forearm in the white bandage, careful not to hurt her but tight enough to keep her wound covered properly. His hands were large and calloused, something that never changed when he grew older, except to become more rugged. Still though, he quickly bandaged her without being unnecessarily rough, knowing his own strength as a werewolf and capable of keeping it at bay. He smoothed her hair off her face as he looked over her cheek, frowning at the mark Prott had leveled her with. He poked it to see if she would react, not hard, but enough to see how sensitive it was. She winced, hissing slightly, and he gave her a half grunt of amusement. He looked almost pleased with her for not being weepy or whiny over her injury and she was reminded of the Darnell she knew who was quite coarse while being very warm and comforting underneath his hard exterior.
Clearing her throat, Hermione got back to business. "Voldemort began rallying the werewolves, promising them freedom in his world, but he didn't care about them." She shook her head, her eyes hardening, "He was sending them out first during the battles to be slaughtered. It was wrong, all wrong. So I put together a program with my soon-to-be husband. If we could give werewolves back their senses, at least enough so that people couldn't say that they were in life threatening danger, then werewolves could be given the ability to live freely. I started working with Remus, giving him half the Wolfsbane so that he could think enough like both a werewolf and a human that I could learn from him. Over six years, I had nearly all of the werewolf clans on my side. They weren't considered killers anymore, word was spreading and people weren't as afraid of them," she told him, pride swelling as she thought back to all that had been accomplished then.
"There's more to this than what you're telling me," he finally said, wiping away a smear of blood on her throat and holding a chunk of gauze against it. "A lot more," he grunted, shaking his head.
"But, d'you believe me?" she asked, wondering if she sounded as meek and worried as she felt.
Darnell looked up at her. "The idea's a little necrezut..." He rubbed the back of his neck, his mouth straightening to a thin line. "Time travel, it's a 'eavy subject. And freedom for werewolves," he added, a brief half-smile pulling at his mouth. "You dream big, cunoscut, almost too big," he told her, shaking his head. "Most would think you foolish."
"I'm not sure you didn't," she replied lightly.
Darnell nodded, his mouth twitching with the beginnings of a smile, but then his mouth fell back to seriousness. "If you 'ad such a following then why would you come back 'ere?" he wondered, looking up at her with his deep, probing amber eyes.
"There were complications," she replied, sighing. "A prophecy stated that a certain boy would be the one to defeat Voldemort, that he had a power the Dark Lord knew not. When it came time for them to fight, that boy was distracted by his wife's slaying. Voldemort killed him when his back was turned." She felt her heart jump just at the memory but told herself she could cry later, this was no time to fall into a pit of despair. "With him gone, the Wizarding world looked like free game. Voldemort's power was depleted though, he had to hide and recuperate. He couldn't take over immediately and the rest of us refused to let him take us without a fight. With Voldemort in hiding, the rest of us were left to defend against his Death Eater attacks. He started killing off the strongest of the resisters, somehow finding out where their homes were even though that knowledge was severely hidden from him and his kind. I still had the majority of the werewolves, but Voldemort was growing stronger every day." She looked away, her mouth shaking. "Three and a half months ago a group of Death Eaters attacked Diagon Alley while my husband and I were gathering supplies for the next full moon. While trying to fight and keep the public safe, he was k-killed." Her voice wavered and her throat began to close up. Tightening her eyes for a moment, she forced herself to straighten up.
Taking a deep breath, she continued. "I became one-minded in finding his killer. You kept telling me that my sights should be on the whole rather than just one, that I had to stop wallowing, but I... I couldn't," she told him, shaking her head. "I woke up late one night, like I usually do, and I decided to spend some time in my study downstairs. While there I came across a book, one that told me I was capable of going back in time. I decided then that there was only one thing I could do." She turned her head back, staring Darnell in the eyes, about to tell him her biggest secret, the one that only those most trusted knew. "I've come back to stop Voldemort from ever creating the future I know. If I can destroy him before certain events then I can save so many. I have until October 31st, 1981. That is the day that he finds the boy from the prophecy and kills his parents. He tries to kill the boy, who's only a year old at the time, but doesn't succeed. His mother's love causes the curse to rebound and not destroy him, but change him into something... unearthly." Her voice became hard, her expression dark, "If I can defeat Voldemort before then, then I'll have saved a whole world of people. I know the dates, Darnell. I know the time line of everything that brought about Voldemort's power and reign. I can create a world where not only you are free, but all that are good in the Wizarding world are, too." She swallowed heavily, "You understood in my time, you didn't agree with my going back, but you understood why I had to." She reached out, placing a heavy hand on Darnell's shoulder. "I need your help, Darnell. I need your support and your leadership. Please. Help me save them."
Darnell stared back, his eyes filled with the wisdom and strength she'd known for ages. This was it. If he said no then she lost a huge support system. Without his help, without him backing her, numerous werewolf colonies wouldn't even give her a chance. Besides the program, she herself needed him. She had looked up to him for years, knowing that with him there things were safer. Darnell had kept an eye on her since she was just nineteen years old. He had tackled the rambunctious werewolves when they got out of hand and tried lunging at her in fear. He battled next to her through various attacks and wars. He picked her up after Remus was gone, making sure she didn't wallow herself to death. He kept her eating when the mere thought of sustenance made her insides turn out. He was the stand-in father when her own had been killed and she honestly wasn't sure she could accomplish her mission without him. She couldn't have Remus, he was just a boy who knew nothing of what her Remus did. But she could at least have a friend, a natural born leader to keep her going when things got rough. Brighton was still young, still coming into his own and learning to be the man Hermione knew. She needed Darnell, she needed her mentor there with her to guide her through it all.
"If I do this, you better be sure you know what you're getting into," he replied, rising from the ground. "My pack is tough, they're mostly ornery men who 'ate all who aren't werewolves. They're going to rebel against your idea at first. They won't want to take orders from a 'uman, let alone a woman," he warned, shaking his head. "You 'ave to be strong back, don't take any of their câcat," he told her gruffly, frowning.
A slow smile broke out on Hermione's face and she nodded. "I know how to handle them," she assured, biting her lip.
"I'm sure you do," he said, his voice almost familiarly affectionate and Hermione wondered what it was she said that made him trust her already. He cleared his throat, crossing his arms over his chest and staring down at her. "What time d'you 'ave to be out of 'ere then?"
"Early," she told him, nodding. "My portkey leaves at seven tomorrow morning."
Darnell nodded jerkily. "You and the young one must not 'ave 'ad an easy time getting 'ere," he said, lifting a brow questioningly.
"There were horny vampires in town, the hills weren't friendly, and your boarhound is a light sleeper," she replied, shrugging with a dismissive sigh.
He laughed, the sound coarse and amused. Hermione was reminded of the man she knew in her time, a man who rarely had anything to laugh about. There were moments when Darnell would smile, but not often. There were times when people amused him enough to laugh long and hard, but it was rare. It came easy to him now, a few words and he laughed freely. She hoped to preserve that for him.
His expression slowly became more serious and he glanced over his shoulder. "The fată doesn't know, does she?" he asked, frowning.
Hermione shook her head. "There are very few who do."
"You don't trust easy," he noticed, nodding. "I'm not sure if that's smart or sad."
"A little of both," she replied, shaking her head as her eyes fell. "Most of those I trusted ended up dead. The last three I left behind for this."
Darnell nodded sagely, "Never trust anybody and you'll always be safe. But then what's the good of being safe if there's no one around to worry?" Hermione looked up at him, her brow furrowed and her mouth working as if to say something but finding nothing. "Trust is 'ard to give out, cunoscut, but when you find the people who deserve it, you shouldn't keep it from them." Kneeling back down in front of her, he half-smiled, something in his eyes that told her he was someone who would always keep her safe. "You've been 'urt. Battered, bruised, broken. So 'ave I. If in twenty six years from now I was able to trust you, then I know that there's something about you, 'ermione. You 'ave big dreams for such a small muiere, but you came to the right werewolf."
Hermione smiled at him, feeling as if her burden and mission had become a little more doable.
"Now," he said, standing up once more and handing her back her photo of them all, "It's late. You're probably 'ungry and tired. You and the fată can 'ave some dinner and then sleep 'ere. I'll take you back to town myself, early. No sense in leaving now, the vampires get rowdy around this time and you're both tuckered out. No fighting me on this," he told her gruffly when she opened her mouth to kindly protest. "I'll get you back to your portkey in time. My pack is moving out tomorrow, I'll 'ave to talk to them about this project of yours. I'll write to you when everything is figured out and then I'll move them down to Scotland where we can establish a place to meet for the full moons. I can't guarantee they'll all come, but I'll convince as many as I can. You can come in and talk to them yourself after we get established in our next settlement. We'll still be in Romania then, but far from 'ere."
Hermione nodded, understanding that things wouldn't work out immediately. It would take time and effort to put everything together. Just because Darnell believed her didn't mean the others would. Not right away anyway. She'd put in her work though and she'd come out the victor. There was much planning needed. She couldn't just throw all the clans together. Brighton and Remus likely wouldn't be comfortable with that just yet. She'd probably have awhile before the majority of Darnell's clans agreed to meet with her anyway. She could do this, she assured herself. She had done it once before and she could do it again. Hermione stood up from the bed, her stomach feeling more empty than it had before, only now recognizing that she really was hungry. She followed Darnell out of the tent, remembering that she left Lily all on her own with a pack of werewolves that most likely weren't going to be too welcoming.
Exiting the fabric doors of the tent, Hermione tightened her mouth to hold back a laugh. Lily was not politely sitting quietly by the fire, keeping to herself and pretending as though she wasn't fearing for her life. Instead she was talking comfortably with various men and women, telling stories about her years at Hogwarts and sharing memories about (of all people) the Marauders. Hermione smiled to herself, noticing how Lily smiled when she talked about James, who she was not referring to as Potter-the-Pest, or even Potter, but simply James. Her arms waved around and her cheeks flushed as she laughingly shared something else the Marauders had done. While she hadn't agreed with it, which she told them in a very Prefect sort of way, she did tell the stories with a certain pride to her voice. The men and women around her didn't appear hostile at all, instead listening raptly and enjoying every minute. They quieted when Darnell came out, looking up to him like only cubs to a parent could.
"This is 'ermione," he introduced, motioning to her as she walked toward Lily, who leapt up from the log she was sitting on and rushed over to her. Forgetting that Hermione was a professor, Lily wrapped her arms around her and anxiously asked if she was okay.
"I'm fine. Darnell fixed me up," she assured, patting the worried girls shoulder.
"From now on, you 'ear the word "copil" and you don't 'arm them. You bring them to me," Darnell ordered each of the men and women around him. Hermione frowned. If copil hadn't been the safe word all along, why did Darnell trust her in the first place? Before she could ask, Darnell turned to her. "The shirt you're wearing has the scent of a werewolf all over it, 'ermione. There are only two people who smell like a werewolf that aren't one. Trackers and spouses. No tracker would walk into my colony and use a word meant only for family. You've got a good 'eart, I'll give you that. But you're downright crazy, muiere." Hermione snorted, shrugging her shoulders. "From now on, you want to walk into a werewolf colony, you bring a werewolf," he told her seriously, his eyes wide and warning.
"I think I know one or two," she replied, nodding.
Darnell nodded before turning to Lily, "So, fată, what the 'ell brought you out 'ere?"
Lily blushed before straightening out. "I suppose I'm a little crazy myself."
Darnell half-smiled, laughing as he shook his head at her. Hermione smiled, taking a deep breath and letting it out nice and slow. As she looked around, amber eyes met hers, strong bodies, lean and muscled. She could hear Darnell's echoing laugh in her ears, and knew that she was surrounded by a feeling of comfort. A sense of home. She was back where she was meant to be, with werewolves and friends. If only Remus, Sirius, James and Brighton could be there, then she'd have all of her friends from this time. She felt a pang in her chest, as if she were replacing her friends and family with a new group. Looking over at Darnell who was talking to Lily in his gruff, serious but somehow friendly voice, Hermione knew that while she could have some of her past, the future would never be what she had. Some of that was good and some of that was heartbreaking. She would have to make due though. Lily's laughter reached her and she knew that a world without Lily's laugh and Darnell's smile was not a world she wanted to live in. Harry would grow up with a mother who was strong and loyal, loving and kind. Darnell would grow old in a world where he no longer had to live in tents and hide from trackers by using boarhounds. Remus would be free, to live how he wanted, to love who he wanted. The werewolves around the fire would be able to work like regular people, to own their own homes, to have families and live peacefully. She might not even have to find Jacques when he was turned if the world opened their eyes like how she wanted them to.
Hermione had a mission. One that she had Darnell's help with now. Looking at Lily and remembering all that she had done that night, Hermione knew that Darnell was right about trusting people. Not yet, she knew, she couldn't tell Lily everything just yet. That would be reckless and put both her and Lily in far too much danger. But she would know one day, when Hermione was sure that it was time to share with the Marauders and Lily without putting them in a position that could get them killed. Her top priority was keeping them safe and Hermione couldn't risk that. But her plan was moving forward, she was determined to complete her mission. Voldemort would not triumph, he would not learn of Harry or kill Lily and James. Bellatrix wouldn't torture the Longbottoms, in fact, Hermione wanted Bellatrix destroyed as soon as possible. While this Bellatrix didn't yet do what the Bellatrix from her time did, she would pay all the same. She'd probably already massacred who knows how many people, Hermione would be saving more lives than she could count. While Hermione knew that her plans were moving forward, she also knew that not everything would go smoothly. Something was happening, something sinister and unrelenting. Hermione felt a shiver go down her back. It wouldn't be long now. She suddenly couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts, she needed to check her calender.
Romanian Translations:
Copil – cub, baby, child
Prost – "stupid"
Catea – "bitch"
Tarfa - "whore"
Mi se rupe – "I don't give a fuck"
Fată – girl
Durere cu fată şi eu vărsa al tău sînge – "Hurt the girl and I spill your blood" (loosely)
Muiere – woman, female
Necrezut – unbelievable, inconceivable
Cunoscut – friend, acquaintance, familiar
Câcat – "shit"
A/N Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I felt Lily's invovlement was very important. I believe her character would have a hard time connecting with Hermione because she's a professor, she's want to see her only as a mentor and not get as close to her as the Maruaders have. So, I let her inquisitive nature bring her closer by taking her along for this journey. I think it'll definitely bring Lily into the story more now, rightfully. Also, I really liked writing Darnell's character here and I hope you liked how he came out, nearly thirty years younger. He's been somebody I wanted in the story as much as possible from the very beginning. I'll try to post another chapter soon!
An update on my other stories:
I hope to be writing more to A Family Affair very soon. I'm currently writing the epilogue to this story, but when I'm finished I hope to start the next chapter to AFA.
Blood Is Thicker Than Tears should have an update soon, also. That story is winding down here with only a handful or so of chapters left and I hope to be finishing it within the month.
Growing has not been updated for a very long time, I know. I have not abandoned it, but for right now it's on hold. I want to write more to it, but I haven't had the drive to. I will though, I have no doubt about that! It's prequel, Summer Haven, should also be updated soon, if possible.
Secret Life should be updated in about 5 days, giving it a weekly update.
Only In The World of Dragons has just been updated.
Thank you all for reading. Please review, it's greatly apprecaited.
Much Love,
-Amanda