24 - World Cup
Hermione could not keep the smile off her face, watching Ylva's eyes shine after the second-eldest Weasley. She loved seeing her so happy. What was normally only a little ember somewhere in the back of her head was a bright spark that was so infectious that Hermione could not keep the smile off her own face. Even Bill's deflections did not seem to affect her joy; he was not taking her advances seriously, but who could have expected him to? She certainly wouldn't have, if she were him. She knew she and Ylva were still so young, despite all they had been through.
Even now, she was not certain she truly understood. She was only fourteen, after all, and while Ylva was not much older, she was experiencing something Hermione had only been told of briefly. She tried not to dwell on it, though she occasionally stumbled into fancies for herself. She tried not to think of Fenrir, but he always slipped in eventually. Hermione knew she should think about boys her own age. How old was their Alpha, anyway? At least twice her age. No; it was better to think about other things. She longed to understand Ylva's draw to Bill, but she also had so many questions.
What if the magic was wrong? What would happen if your mate died? Would there be another? What if you had irreconcilable differences? What if they loved someone else? There were so many questions and absolutely no books to read about any of it. Geira was only so helpful, she was very much like Fenrir and wouldn't give her straight answers when she gave her answers at all.
"But what is the point?"
Bill laughed quietly, the sound sending Ylva's heart fluttering with delight.
"The point is to win, Ylva." His words were overshadowed by the sound of Charlie's table crashing into Bill's most unceremoniously.
"Yes, but why this game in particular? Do you not have other games that don't involve destroying your Mother's tables?"
"Ah!" Charlie said, "That is the second point."
Ylva frowned incredulously. It was chaos. She didn't understand, but it was exciting to her. She shook her head and leapt up to the top of the garden wall, settling herself into a comfortable perch. She watched, not bothering to conceal her favor for Bill, cheering with the rest of the Weasley siblings whenever the tables crashed together in a particularly destructive manner.
It was not long before Mrs. Wealsey put an end to the table smashing. The men repaired their respective tables and Mrs. Weasley quickly set out the tablecloths and magicked dinner onto them. Everything steamed and looked delicious.
Ylva smiled widely when Bill initiated conversation, and eagerly told him of the parts of her home and family that she could share.
"I hear you live in Norway, some fascinating curses up there that have never been broken."
"I don't know much about curses, but I know the countryside is full of mystery. I live in a little village in the north, we may as well all be family. It is hard being the only one there under thirty," she said, rolling her eyes good-naturedly.
"That does sound hard. I can see why Hogwarts might be a relief. I'm glad my sister has been able to make friends with you. She had a hard time her first year."
"I really like her. I like all of your siblings."
Bill put a hand to his forehead in a mock dramatic gesture. "Only my siblings! Ylva, you wound me!"
Ylva felt heat in her cheeks, despite his teasing manner. "No, no! I like you, too!" she laughed.
He grinned at her and then his Mother dragged him into another conversation.
Hermione ran through the dark forest. She could hear screams coming from the campsite she had run from. She had lost Harry and Ron and Ylva. The air reeked with fear and smoke, and it smothered every other scent. She looked back, trying to orient herself, and fell hard, twisting her ankle on a tree root. She cried out as she hit the dirt.
She stood shakily and tested her ankle. It hurt, but it held her weight when she leaned onto it. She took a breath and tried to use the pack bond to locate Ylva. She closed her eyes and she had it. She turned and began to walk gingerly toward her friend. She should have started there.
"Oh, Pup."
Hermione spun at the familiar voice and crashed into Fenrir's arms, sobbing quietly.
"You've got dirt in your hair. I thought I taught you better," he chided, relief evident in his voice. "I am glad you're alright. We need to get you to safety. I saw Ylva still with your human friends not long ago. She should be safe with them for now."
Hermione swallowed and nodded. She followed Fenrir at a slow pace, keeping an eye and ear out behind them for any trouble. They made their way silently, if slowly, through the forest. Any sound they did make was drowned out by the screams and spell cracks from the campground. A stunning spell rocketed its red flare straight toward them through the trees and before Hermione could cry out, it slammed into Fenrir's head. He stumbled to one side and fell. Hermione turned toward their attacker and drew her wand. Three figures in those awful masks and hoods faced her casually, wands pointed at her.
"Well, well, Fenrir. Found another mudblood for your pack of mongrels?"
Hermione did not dare glance behind her, but she was stunned when she heard Fenrir stir and rise to stand behind her. Had the stunning spell done nothing but knock him down? She continued to hold her wand steady at their assailants.
"Put it down, little one," Fenrir said, his voice calm, but his scent was angry.
She obeyed hesitantly.
"Brave child," the one on the left sneered in a nasally tone, "be a good dog, hm?"
Hermione almost raised her wand again at the insult, but Fenrir grabbed her arm. Maybe he knew something she didn't. They certainly seemed to know Fenrir.
"Not joining in the fun, Greyback?"
Fenrir growled, "I do not serve your whims any longer. I hunt prey that has a chance. Not very sporting of you to kill things that can't fight back."
"Take care, wolf, I think you will be back with us soon," the one in the middle said.
"Don't bet on it, Crabbe," Fenrir said flippantly. "You know, those masks do nothing to disguise your scents. You might consider a design upgrade."
"If you aren't with us, then I suppose you're against us. Pity," said the nasally voiced man.
"You don't want to fight me," Fenrir growled, "If your Lord comes back, he would be very disappointed to find his favorite wolf was killed by you."
Sudden fear wafted off the three and they began to back off.
"Some day, wolf, you and your pack will follow orders again."
"And some day, I will be free to rip your throats out," Fenrir growled at their retreating forms.
"Ylva!" Bill's voice rang out, heard clearly through the din.
Ylva tried to ignore the frantic sound; she had to find Hermione. She didn't understand how she had disappeared so quickly.
"Hermione?" She screamed, looking for her friend. She couldn't have lost her. Tears streaked down her face; she couldn't smell anything though the smoke and flames.
Bill's hand found her arm and pulled her away.
"We will find her, but we need to get you all to safety first!"
"I can't lose her! I promised I would look out for her!" Ylva cried, trying to pull away from Bill's grasp.
"I'm not going to let you run off and get yourself lost, too," he said sternly, "We need to get back to the others!"
Ylva looked up at the very human wizard who would one day see her as an equal and said quietly, "I'm tougher than I look."
Bill sighed, and a small smile grew on his face. "We'll look together, but I need you to stay close."
Ylva slipped her hand into his and nodded seriously.
"They know you, Fenrir," Hermione said slowly, "Greyback…You—"
"I know you've heard the rumors by now, Hermione. They have to start somewhere," he said, not meeting her eyes.
A rush hit her when he said her name. Something primal she could not exactly pinpoint. She tried to ignore it and continued with her questioning.
"You haven't….eaten people."
"Not by choice."
Hermione froze.
Fenrir's face did not change; it remained hard and unreadable. His scent was almost as guarded as his face, but anger leaked through, and Hermione could feel his guilt and rage through the pack bond they shared.
"I told you once to be careful who to trust. Sometimes death is better than the savior who becomes your master. Do you understand?"
"You owe Voldemort a life debt. But he's not really...living anymore."
"And so I can ignore the call. For now. I still feel it. The pull. It's faint, but there is still enough of him left in the world that I cannot be sure I will ever be free of it," he growled. "If he does return, he will continue to use me. I will not allow him to get to any of you. I will pass the bond to you, and you will be Alpha."
"Alpha—I'm not ready. I'm—just a girl.
"You were never just a girl, pup, that is part of the problem."
"I will save you," she promised fiercely.
"I know." His blue eyes bored into hers, filled with pride. "Do not get yourself killed doing it."
"I won't."
He pulled her into a tight hug.
A twig snapped and they spun, Fenrir's wand was out in a flash, but the dark figure fell before its spell was loosed.
"Hermione!" Ylva slammed into them with a tearful hug.
"Greyback?" Bill's voice wavered, a shocked tremble breaking his normally steady voice, his wand still raised. His eyes darted to the girls and then back to Fenrir.
A tense silence fell over the group. Bill's eyes were wide and he smelled of fresh terror.
"Go on," Fenrir nudged Hermione gently.
"Alph—"
Fenrir's snarl sent Ylva scampering towards Bill. Hermione backpedaled a step or two, then returned his snarl with one of her own. He was not just going to run off into danger again. She needed him, and he wasn't going anywhere.
Fenrir glared at her.
"Now is not the time for this," he growled.
His will pressed onto Hermione's and she felt the weight of it. It was suffocating, but she still pushed against it.
Fenrir snorted a soft laugh as she tried to fight him. He pulled her into a hug, and she relaxed against him, letting herself give in.
"You are ready, and nothing is going to happen to me tonight. I need you two to be safe," he said. "I can't do what I need to and make sure you stay safe."
Hermione frowned at him, but nodded. She reluctantly moved away from him and toward Bill.
"I don't like it," Hermione frowned. He did not answer her.
"You will keep them safe, Weasley," he growled; and then he was gone.
"What the hell was that?" Bill exclaimed, staring at the two teenage girls. "Damn it, Hermione, you're a werewolf?"
Hermione swallowed.
"Fenrir—" she started.
Bill looked over at Ylva, her blue eyes shining in the moonlight.
"You're both werewolves," he said.
Hermione nodded.
"Merlin, but Fenrir Greyback? You know what he's done."
"It wasn't his fault," Hermione said softly.
"How the f—" Bill stopped and took a breath. "How do you know he isn't lying to you?"
"I don't expect you to understand. I know when he lies. I can smell it," she continued carefully. "If he doesn't want me to know something, he just won't talk about it."
Bill frowned heavily.
"He owes him a life debt, and You-Know-Who won't ever put him in a position to repay it, and so he had to do everything he ordered. People don't taste good, you know," Hermione said simply.
Bill blanched.
Hermione's eyes widened, "Not from experience! It's just a smell. Humans just smell like not-werewolves. It's hard to explain…"
Ylva jumped in.
"It's like a candle. Candles smell nice, but you wouldn't eat one."
Bill stared at the other girl for a moment and nodded, calming at her reassurance when Hermione hadn't helped. They couldn't undo this. They needed him to trust them, or they would have to run again.
Hermione looked up at the eldest Weasley with some fear in her eyes.
"If anyone else finds out…"
"They won't let you go back to school," Bill inferred. He nodded solemnly. "I will keep your secret. You haven't bitten my brother or sister, have you?"
"No!" They both said in unison.
"We haven't bitten anyone," Hermione emphasized softly.
"But Fenrir bit you?"
"Yes," Hermione admitted.
"And you still trust him."
"Implicitly," she said firmly.
"Ylva?"
"I was never bitten. I was just born like this."
Hermione could smell Ylva's relief at Bill's quickly calming demeanor.
Bill rubbed his forehead and groaned.
"Is there anything else I need to know? Neither of you are going to transform into a bird and fly off on me are you?"
"No," Ylva stuttered a little.
The nervous smell from the other girl was back.
"I'll tell you later. I don't think you're ready for it," Ylva said carefully.
Hermione was surprised at the other teen's restraint.
"As long as it isn't important."
"It is, but it can wait," Ylva said again.
Bill nodded. "Let's get back to the others. Werewolves. Fuck."
A/N: I LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! I struggled so hard with the pre-text, I just dropped it. You're here for the plot and fluffies, anyway ;)