The Pack

Hermione woke quite early the next morning. Every head in the house snapped towards the ceiling when the soft sound of her bedroom door opened and the distinguishing sound of the only beating heart in the building was suddenly heard. It was still weird that they couldn't hear her moving around in her room, but she had explained about the privacy wards she erected.

Esme immediately went to the kitchen to begin making the witch's breakfast, Rosalie rolled her eyes before heading to her room, Emmett continued to flip through channels on the television, Jasper, Carlisle and Edward watched Alice bounce to meet her cousin at the bottom of the stairs. She had quickly learned not to startle a battlemage by surprising Hermione at her bedroom door. Being slammed through a wall once was enough for Alice. The vampire was still impressed with the speed of her cousin's magic and the skill in which she wielded her craft.

"Good morning," Alice chirped.

"Good morning," Hermione chuckled before receiving a hug from her enthusiastic cousin.

Alice lowered her voice and motioned towards the living room, "Edward is home. He's not too thrilled about keeping Bella in the dark about you being a witch. I tried to explain it to him and he read my mind as I replayed our meeting with the family, but he's really on edge-"

Hermione held her hand out to stop her cousin's babbling, "It's okay, Alice. Really. Besides, he's right - to an extent - and I'd probably feel the same way if I were in his shoes." The two rounded the corner and entered the living room as she continued, knowing the entire house was able to hear every word they had spoken, "I thought about it last night, if I'm to be of any help during your little encounter with the newborns, then all those involved will need to know I'm a witch. After all, I'm still only human. I haven't your wicked strength or speed, heightened hearing or vision. I don't have your advantages, so I must rely on my own God given gifts.

"I need to make a trip to the nearest wizarding stores." Hermione began ticking off the list she had just handed to Alice, "I need to brew some potions, so I will need to purchase a new cauldron, a fair few ingredients. If time is permitted, I could set up various runestones to contain the battle to our choice of area. There's no way to shield the entire town, I haven't the time nor the magic to do such a thing on my own."

Jasper had taken the list from his mate and read down the notes the witch had jotted down the night before. He chuckled softly, "Did you manage to sleep at all last night?"

Hermione laughed, "Eventually, but my mind wouldn't leave me be. I kept thinking of things I needed to do, spells I could research if I had my books, potions we'd need and really it all became a bit too much. It's overwhelming really. There's so much that needs to be done, but we simply haven't the time to do everything. In the end I took a sip of dreamless sleep for a respite."

"Dreamless sleep?" Carlisle piped in. "Is that one of your medicinal potions? How can it be healthy? All humans must dream. REM sleep is necessary for recuperation."

"It does exactly as it sounds, it gives a person a full eight hours of rest without memorable dreams giving the impression of a night sans dreams. Otherwise there is the possibilities of the imbiber experiencing restlessness, nightmares, etc. I opted for a sip since I'm not suffering any illness other than an over active mind. Besides, it is one of our more potent potions and highly addictive if one isn't careful." Hermione had immediately slipped into her lecturing tone and Carlisle was nodding in understanding. It was the rumbling of the witch's empty stomach that brought their discussion to an abrupt ending. "Well that's embarrassing."

Carlisle smiled and motioned her towards the kitchen, "Esme is making your breakfast."

Edward took a step forward as if to say something, but simply frowned at her instead. "I can't… why can't I hear you?"

That caught everyone's attention - minus Alice who had an idea to why - and Hermione tapped her temple, "Occlumency."

Alice recited, "It is a form of mind magic. It helps her compartmentalize thoughts and emotions. Apparently it keeps Edward out as well."

All vampires turned in surprise at her knowledge and Hermione laughed, "Exactly. It is a defensive magic with offensive capabilities." The witch turned her attention to Edward, "I strongly suggest you don't try forcing your way into my mind to test my occlumency. I know for humans it can be painful when forcefully ejected, but I haven't the foggiest what it will do to you."

Edward smirked, "That almost sounded like a challenge."

"If you wish," Hermione shrugged, but didn't back down. "I don't fancy a headache, but if you insist on trying then so be it."

Alice shot her brother a warning look and grabbed Hermione's hand, "You should eat."

Esme had set out a plate of food and a cup of tea, "Did you want juice, dear?"

"No thank you," Hermione took a seat, "I appreciate you going through the trouble of cooking, but-"

"It's no trouble. Alice warned you that I enjoy cooking." Esme countered. "Seeing how none of us eat and Bella is usually too high strung to eat much here, I don't always get the opportunity."

Edward shot his mother an exasperated look that she pointedly ignored and poured tea for Hermione. The witch took an appreciative bite of her omelet, "It's delicious, thank you."

Alice sat beside her cousin at the dining room table. Jasper sat across from them reading through the list written in Hermione's tiny script. Edward hovered near the doorway and Carlisle took a seat at the head of the table. Hermione paused in her eating. "I can understand why Bella feels skittish about eating here. If you all continue to watch me eat, I'll have to take my meals elsewhere as well."

Esme gasped at the idle threat and shooed everyone - with the exception of Alice - out of the dining room while Hermione hid her smile in her cup of tea. Alice leaned closer to her cousin, "Well played."

That afternoon they gathered at a large open field with smatterings of green grass and clover surrounded by thick tall trees. Everything was a vibrant green and full of natural magical energy. Hermione walked around the perimeter near the treeline as the Cullen family plus Bella watched her.

The witch could hear their muttering voices, but hadn't a clue what they were saying. She simply assumed they were wondering what she was up to so she voiced a response to the unasked questions. "Since this is your chosen place for battle, I'm simply walking the perimeter in order to assess if there is any way I can help magically: wards, shields, dampeners." She made her way back to the watching family, "There's so much natural magical potential here. Trouble is, vampires are naturally resistant to magic. Without my tomes, I'm unsure if any of them would do any good or simply hinder you lot as well as the newborns."

Emmett frowned, "You can hinder vampires?"

"There are spells, potions or wards against all beings: vampires, werewolves, humans, pixies, doxies, hags, imps, hinkypunks, kappas, red caps-"

"Hinkypunks?" Emmett laughed, "You made that up."

Hermione shook her head at the large male, "While I admit that I've personally only ever seen one - and in a controlled, classroom environment - I did not make them up. They're vile little creatures that lure travelers into bogs. They appear harmless enough, but can shoot fireballs and shouldn't be underestimated."

Emmett blinked at that, "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Hermione gave a small shrug.

The Cullen family - as one - turned their attention towards the treeline and Bella stepped closer to Edward. Hermione simply canted her head in curiousity. Whatever approached wasn't a threat or the vampires would be crouching in preparation of attacking.

Two large men stepped out from the treeline. They were soon followed by five males and a female. The males were all similar: the shortest among them stood a minimum of six feet tall, broad shoulders, tanned skin, black hair and wearing nothing but cut off jean shorts. Hermione was suddenly struck with a mental image of her old Hogwarts roommates and pictured how they'd fawn all over these boys. The sole female was nearly as tall as the males, graceful in her movements as she loped forward with a bob of black hair wearing a tank top and similar shorts.

Watching them approach was quite telling about the packs' dynamics. The two in front were obviously alpha and beta while the others simply came up behind their leaders.

In her youth, the sheer number of suspicious looks that Hermione was receiving would have unnerved her. Years of being friends with Harry Potter had helped her grow a thicker skin and Hermione was able to ignore them. Yet there were two exceptions within the pack who stared at her with open curiosity. Hermione focused her attention on these two shape shifters. These two males appeared young even if they were both at least six feet tall and dwarfed her in size. For some unfathomable reason, Hermione felt drawn to them and stepped closer until the the alpha scowled and asked, "Who's the girl?"

"Girl?" Hermione sniffed in disdain, "I am Healer Hermione Granger." The witch ignored the warning growls and turned her attention to the Cullen family while discreetly twitching her wrist allowing her wand to drop into her hand, "Not one of you thought to warn them about me?"

Each family member looked to Edward - including Bella - who simply smirked at the wolves, "Where would be the fun be in that?"

"For someone over a century old, you're an insufferable child." Hermione rolled her eyes at the vampire before turning back to the pack. "I'm here to aid in the battle against the newborns."

"You're a human," The alpha snorted, "What help could you possibly be?"

"Care to find out?" Hermione challenged, falling easily into her defensive stance.

Hermione's eyes were busily scanning the shape shifters and narrowed at the angriest male of the lot, figuring he'd be the easiest to lure into taking action. She smirked openly at him and he foolishly took the bait. The tall male growled, ignoring the calls of 'Paul' and rushed forward in his human form. The witch easily twisted into an apparation and appeared with a soft pop a few feet behind the group of shape shifters, "Nice try. You'll have to move faster than that."

The two boys who had watched her with curiosity were now grinning at her. Paul on the other hand leapt at her, shifting as he went only to land once again without his prized prey. Hermione popped behind the scowling Alpha and pressed her wand into his lower back, "You should tame your pup."

"Paul," the Alpha growled.

Only the two weren't listening, Paul was growing angrier and Hermione popped away once again and waited for the inevitable attack. She taunted again, "Come now, Paul. You've failed your direct attacks, try something else."

The angry howl that came from his throat was guttural and caused Hermione's hair to stand on end. Flashbacks of Fenrir Greyback threatened to cripple her, but she mentally shook them off. She gripped her wand tightly and waited. Paul ran towards her, dwarfing her by a good foot - even on all fours - and Hermione shouted, "Immobulus!" Paul's body froze, but its forward momentum caused Hermione to dodge, "Levicorpus!"

The witch flicked her wand to the side, forcing the dangling wolf to move out of her line of sight. "Any more questions?"

The Alpha was still scowling. He clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes at Hermione, "What are you?"

Hermione ignored his question and asked Edward, "Is anyone else going to attack me?"

"No," Edward looked at the pack and his eyes widened momentarily. The movement was so slight, most missed it before he moved his attention back to the dangling wolf. "Paul is still annoyed."

"That's to be expected," Hermione stepped forward and with two fingers raised the torn shorts. "Reparo."

The witch dropped the shorts beneath the wolf's form and spoke directly to him, "I am a witch. I know many spells. I'm also a healer, so not only can I inflict numerous curses, hexes and jinxes, I know where to inflict them for the greatest impact." She smiled, "Liberacorpus", and watched the wolf drop to the ground in a heap. He was still immobilized so she crouched beside the large mound of fur. "We won't have any more trouble. Will we?"

Hermione couldn't help herself, she reached out and brushed her hand along his side and ignored the growls of warning. She stroke him behind the ear and listened to the grumbling noise he made. Edward laughed, "He said he'll make you a deal: you stop treating him like a puppy, he'll stop attacking."

Patting Paul on the head, Hermione acquiesced, "Deal." She stood and canceled the charm, "Finite. You may want to take those shorts with you. Personally I've seen a number of males in the all together - seeing how I'm a healer - but I'm pretty sure Edward would have kittens if you were to change back to your human form in front of Bella without those on." The wolf huffed, snatched up his shorts in his maw and loped off to the trees. "Now, introductions would be nice."

The scowling Alpha folded his arms across his chest defiantly, but the second in command was more accommodating. "That's Sam. I'm Jacob. This is Leah, Quil, Embry, Jared and Paul. Back at the rez there's-"

"She doesn't need to know about them." Sam interrupted. Hermione simply raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment.

During the introductions Paul had come back from the trees although he was still in his wolf form, but had his shorts tied strategically to his leg. Hermione beckoned him over to her and he went… hesitantly. The witch laughed softly, "I promise not to be rude. I find it interesting that you tie your clothing to your body. I'm guessing this is so you don't have to suffer the indignities of being caught starkers."

She looked up at Jacob who nodded and stepped closer, crouching beside the woman. Jacob pointed out the string tied to a belt loop on his own shorts. "It makes life easier. Why do you ask?"

"Just thinking of possibilities," She stood bit her lip in thought, tapping her wand against her thigh. Hermione began pacing as she rambled to herself about charms, bags, pouches, extending cords… "A small bag with a small undetectable extension charm would only help with carrying the clothes. What would you do with it while in wolf form? That's the tricky bit. Leah would need a full extension charm or perhaps mokeskin pouches! They're rather rare so that won't do…"

Carlisle shook his head, "She may be a while. In the meantime, we need to practice. Shall we?"

The wolves agreed and those that needed to switch went back into the trees. Paul sat on his haunches and cocked his head to the side listening as his pack phased. The Cullen family began pairing off, Jasper was speaking softly with Carlisle and the wolves bounded back to train.

Hermione studiously ignored the training session, throwing an absent minded shield when someone came too close. Bella frowned at the witch and finally asked, "What is a moke?"

Blinking, Hermione stopped her train of thought and asked, "What?"

"A moke," Bella asked hesitantly, "What is that?"

"A lizard," Hermione waved off the question, "They're found mostly in Great Britain and Ireland. Difficult to find because they shrink when predators come near. Which is why their skin is so bloody expensive and the mokeskin pouches are so valuable.

"You see, the trouble I'm having isn't so much the bag itself. I can charm any bag of their choosing to hold their clothes inside, the trick is how to attach it to them in wolf form." Hermione pointed out the nearest wolf as it tackled Emmett, the pair rolling in the dirt. The gray wolf used his hind legs to push the vampire off of him before scrambling to his feet for another attack. "If it were to be around the neck, Emmett could easily use it to strangle him. That would be bad for the wolf. If it were made more flexible, meaning that instead of it being sturdy enough to cause damage and break away to ensure the wolf's safety, it would really defeat the purpose of the bag altogether."

"True," Bella agreed. "Something like a bungee cord would be bad. It would stretch, but then bounce back and really hurt them. There's also the issue of the length of cord. Too long and it dangles obscenely while in human form, but if it is too form fitting in human form, it would strangle them when they phased. Is it possible to make it so the cord and bag meld with their fur so it's impossible to find unless they're in human form?"

Hermione's eyes widened, "I don't know! But that would solve the problem rather nicely. Good thinking, Isabella."

The teen cringed, "Why do you call me that?"

"It's your name." Hermione threw another shield up as a dark gray wolf with black spots slid towards them. He stood slowly, shook his head and huffed, drawing a giggle from the witch. She quickly covered her mouth as if surprised at the sound that came forth from her, which if she were honest, she was. The wolf looked up at the two women and gave a wolfish smile with his tongue lolling out. "Watch out!"

Emmett came barreling over in their direction. The gray wolf lowered himself into a defensive crouch and snarled at the incoming vampire. Their momentum was too much, Hermione grabbed onto Bella and apparated two feet to their left out of harm's way.

Belle groaned at her first encounter with side along appration and leaned against the witch, "That was horrible."

"Being plowed over by those two would have been much worse." Hermione countered.

"Dammit Emmett," Edward yelled.

"What?" Emmett paused in his spar to ask what the problem was, but was blindsided by the dark gray wolf. The two were on the ground and it didn't look like the wolf was very happy with the vampire.

A large black wolf let out a single bark, much like a command.

The dark gray wolf stilled, rolled away from the vampire, but stayed low in his crouch and growled deep in his chest. Emmett brushed off the dirt from his shirt and frowned, "What gives?"

Edward was spitting angry. "You almost hurt Bella!" The dark gray wolf let out a bark and Edward nodded, "Right, and Hermione."

"Nice to know I rank a nod of concern, but we're obviously fine." Hermione looked at the dark gray spotted wolf as he nudged her gently. She smiled at him, boggled that the wolf was as tall as she was and gave him a scratch behind the ear. "I'm fine. Not a scratch on me. You two didn't even come close."

"See?" Edward told Bella as he gestured towards the unrepentant Emmett and a large reddish brown wolf, "This is why you can't be anywhere near the battle when they get here. We can't concentrate if you're here, Bella. We'll be too worried about your safety."

"I need to be here," Bella said in exasperation. That was apparently an old argument that they were rehashing, "They're following my scent. If I'm anywhere else, they'll go there and what if they can't find my scent? They'll go to my home and put Charlie in danger. My staying here just makes sense."

"No! You'll be far away from here during the-"

"Actually…" Hermione interrupted before the two love birds' argument could begin again. She stood her ground as all heads swivelled in her direction, idly rubbing the dark gray wolf's head, "We can do both."

Jasper asked, "How?"

"Apparate," Hermione held out her hand to halt any further questions. "You all saw me pop in and out of places, can you honestly think that I can't pop Isabella off to safety once the fighting starts?" The witch turned her focus onto Bella, "Can you trust me long enough to take you out of harm's way once the newborns arrive?"

"I…" The girl hedged and fidgeted from one foot to the other, not looking as if she were going to budge on the argument of her location during the battle. "It made me kind of sick."

"True, side along apparation can do that, but it gets easier with time." Hermione tried a different tactic. "Edward suggested a tent in the mountains out of the area. You brought up a valid point of your scent. What if we could do both?" The witch walked ten feet away and began warding an area to prove her point. The dark gray wolf followed close behind sniffing the air where the magic was placed. Hermione added repelling wards, privacy wards and a few she had picked up from a beloved werewolf friend before he was killed during the final battle at Hogwarts.

"Where…"

The witch and wolf walked forward, out of the warded area and back to the group. Hermione held her hand out to Bella. "Take my hand and trust me to take you to safety."

"I just know I'm going to regret this," Bella took a deep breath and nodded before she took Hermione's hand firmly in her own. With a sudden pop of disapparation, the two disappeared into the warded area ten feet away. The teen teetered on her feet, "Oh that's still horrible."

"Yes, but look there at your friends," Hermione pointed towards the crowd they had just left.

"What are they looking for?"

"I'd wager, they're looking for us."

"But we're right here."

"Yes, but they can't see, hear nor smell you. It's the same wards I put up around my room. Last thing I need is for an entire clan of vampires knowing when I'm in the loo." Hermione said and pointed outwards, "You can walk back to them and cross the wards. It only stops them from coming to you."

"Just walk…"

"Yes, just walk forward." So the pair did just that. They walked. Both vampires and shape shifters noted their scents immediately and turned towards them. Hermione smiled triumphantly when they made it to the startled group. The witch commented, "I can ward any area just as I did here." She turned back towards the area ten feet away and dropped the wards with a dismissive swish of her wand, "Finite. The larger the area, the more difficult and time consuming the task is. I'd be able to do a small area quickly. I hid with my two best friends from an army of dark wizards for a year, we slept in a tent and traveled from forest to forest."

Edward looked at the witch and gave a nod, "That could work."

"Great, so I don't need to go to the mountains if she can do the wards here. I can stay-"

"No," Hermione shook her head, "The wards only work if you stay within its parameter. If you see someone get hurt; what are the chances that you'll stay put?"

Bella wanted to argue, it was written on her face, but in the end she just sighed and gave a reluctant nod, "You're right. I hate it, but you're right."

While they had been discussing Bella's place during the battle, the wolves had phased back to their human forms and came to join the rest of the conversation. Sam was the first to speak, "Seth, I want you with Bella at the tent. She will need protection along with this magic protection that the witch provides."

Hermione bit back any comment about being deemed 'the witch' rather than having a name. The young wolf wanted to object and struggled with his response, but he knew he couldn't go against his Alpha's command. Bella gave him a sympathetic look. Seth huffed dejectedly and folded his arms, "Fine."

"The hardest part will be waiting for their arrival." Sam growled, "As much as I don't want to endanger my pack, I hate waiting."

"We know it will be soon." Alice confirmed, "Victoria will-"

Hermione gave Jasper a significant look as the vampire stilled mid-sentence. The soldier simply shook his head and gave a resounding, "No."

Hermione threw her hands up in exasperation, "They could be in Seattle in no time at all. One call to the Ministry of Magic for a portkey-"

"We can't risk it." Jasper frowned, "The extra help would be welcome, but we can't risk the Volturi's involvement."

"Do you honestly think they don't already know about the army in Seattle?" Hermione was loathed to give in too easily. More wizards could make or break the upcoming battle. "The Volturi aren't stupid, they're sure to know the signs."

Alice blinked as Edward growled at what he saw of the shared vision. "They're coming the day after graduation. Victoria thinks we'll be too distracted to anticipate their arrival."

AN: Thank goodness for the internet. It has been so long since I've read the books that I kept getting mixed up. Things like the pack didn't split until after Bella was preggers. Sheesh.

Also thank you to everyone who reviews. Lately they aren't showing up for me. I get notified via email, but don't see them on the website... weird! Still, I love each and everyone.

HermioneHolmesGranger: About the pairing, it won't be revealed until later. As for hints, well the first two are in this chapter.