The Battle

The two females stood in the open meadow. The grass grew wild and swayed in the breeze rising just below their knees. The sun was high in the sky valiantly attempting to warm the hazy summer day, but it was overshadowed by Fork's usual thick cloud cover. The air was crackling with anticipation and magic. Hermione and Bella were facing each other speaking softly in calm tones.

Hermione was comforted by the warm furry grey spotted wolf's muzzle lying on her foot. Every ear in the meadow, seen and unseen, perked when the witch said, "They've breached the first perimeter."

While the witch was speaking directly to the young girl before her, she was also alerting the warriors waiting in hiding scattered in the high grass. Bella began trembling, her adrenaline spiked at the news. She stopped shaking when a cold marble hand caressed her ankle. The teen did her best to appear relaxed and then gave the witch a small nod as if agreeing to something. "Your… ward… told you?"

"That's right," Hermione agreed. The witch shifted her weight from one foot to the other then canted her head as if a thought struck her. The entire scene had been roughly scripted to create a visual calmness of two females out and about without a care. They strove to make the newborn army believe they were unaware, unaccompanied, unprepared and untroubled by their arrival. Hermione gave Bella a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "They're moving fast. Second perimeter from the North has been breached."

The recent graduate smiled back and waved a hand dismissively, "That's barely a hundred yards."

"It was," Hermione agreed.

"Was?"

"They're here."

Bella blinked once. Twice. Visibly swallowed. "Oh."

A hiss was heard faintly from the edge of the forest. Hermione and Bella nonchalantly turned their attention to the sound and stared at the small army lining up at the edge of the meadow. "Oh indeed," Hermione intoned.

A female redheaded vampire stood ahead of the others. She stared at them with a sneer of undisguised malice. She spoke with a lilting voice that was cold and taunting, "Where's your protection, human?"

Without missing a beat, Bella put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and stepped closer to the witch effectively removing her ankle from Edward's grasp in preparation. Bella taunted back, "Where's James, Victoria?"

The woman took the bait, crouched and hissed at her subordinates, "Kill her!"

The army launched forward. Hermione's wrist flicked and her wand dropped into her waiting hand. The witch took a small step forward to distance herself from Embry and called out, "Impedimenta Maxima!"

When the spell hit the advancing vampires, several things happened at once: the newborn army slowed to human speed; with a pop the two females disappeared; the Cullen family and La Push pack were no longer hiding among the high grass and were on the move to intercept the incoming slowed army and Victoria screamed out in frustration because Bella was gone.

The redhead could be heard yelling, "Impossible! Where? Where is she?"

But Alice didn't take the time to answer. No one did. The small vampire used her speed and dexterity to her advantage following the gray spotted wolf to advance on their prey. Everyone was primed for battle, even the mild tempered Carlisle and sweet Esme. Today they were protectors, warriors, and anyone that threatened their home and family faced dire repercussions.

Each vampire had been paired with a shapeshifter in order to capitalize on their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. Alice ran, practically flew, towards an opponent. When he braced himself for impact, Alice lured him into a sense of false superiority. She widened her eyes. The pixie sized vampire then banked left of the blonde male newborn. Just as she had hoped, he narrowed in on what he'd considered easy prey and turned to attack.

Her shapeshifter partner, Embry - the gray spotted wolf - tackled the man to the ground, teeth biting and claws scraping at marble skin. The newborn swiped a clawed hand at him, teeth bared, fangs extended menacingly. The pair rolled and Alice was upon them an instant later.

The moment Embry was on the bottom, Alice grabbed at the man by the hair with one hand. Their tumble stopped, Alice pulled his head back hard -one hand in his hair, her forearm around his forehead - with all her strength and weight exposing the newborn's throat to the wolf. Embry tore at the exposed pale flesh and the blonde flailed in panic scoring his claws at the wolf's pelt and elbowing Alice to get her to release him.

The blonde hissed and gurgled. Taking advantage of the damaged newborn's throat, Alice twisted using her entire body to get the job done. The man's neck snapped easier than she had expected and soon Alice stood with his head in hands.

Alice's eyes were wild as she stared down at the headless twitching body. Embry gave out a bark to gain her attention and she visibly shook her head to clear her mind. She dropped the head to the side and pulled the twitching body off of Embry.

"Sorry," Alice started, but then gave a small grin when Embry butted his head against her side. "Vision. There's a newborn. She's crying at the edge of the trees. She's scared. She doesn't want to fight, but I saw her getting hurt."

Embry gave a huff and shook his big furry head. Alice huffed back at him, "She didn't ask to be killed. She didn't ask to be… just come on."

The slowing spell was wearing off. A good number of the newborns were down and in pieces, but not all of them. The odds were no longer in the newborn army's favor.

Alice ran towards the tree line dodging around fighting bodies. The clash of vampire bodies was as loud as boulders crashing together. The sound was near deafening and was soon joined with flashes of light that must have been spells from Hermione. A howl and a yelp made her wince, but she didn't slow her pace. She needed to get to the edge of the meadow. The treeline was just before them. Embry was at her side as they weaved out of the way of battling opponents, moving as one in harmony.

When they made it to the treeline, they didn't stop to chat with the cowering girl. One of the newborns was yelling at her - male, brunette, tall and strong - and was ready to pounce on one of his own out of what appeared to be angry frustration.

The slowing spell had worn off, so the duo took advantage of the fact that the man was distracted and applied different tactics with their new opponent. The target was purely focused on the recoiling girl. Alice and Embry leapt forward. The pixie tucked into a low, quick roll that clipped the man's legs out from under him as the canine leapt up with his maw opened. The wolf went for the throat and he wrenched his head with a jerk the moment the newborn's neck was positioned between his teeth.

The body twisted from the dual impacts and his neck snapped. The girl screamed, scrambling away until her back came into contact with a tree. She covered her head with her hands and rocked while muttering through her tears, "Please, please, please, please…"

The brunette hadn't give up fighting, the body twitched and lashed out. Alice and Embry tore limbs from the torso until it stilled. Embry gave a puppy grin of satisfaction until the girl's voice reached them. "Please, please, please, please…"

"Shhh, it's alright." Alice cooed at the girl.

Her head shot up and she stifled a shriek by covering her mouth with both hands. Her red eyes were wide as she stared into the fierce black eyes of the wolf snarling at her practically nose to nose. She whimpered, "Please don't hurt me."

Embry's response was a low menacing growl and he bared his teeth. The newborn shook her head when she declared in a small choked voice, "I didn't ask to be a monster."

Her tone was so petulant that it apparently startled Embry as the wolf cocked his head at the newborn. Alice crouched beside Embry and tugged him out of her face, "I'm Alice. What's your name?"

"Bree?"

The look on Bree's face was so frightened it knotted Alice's emotions and she gave the girl a nod. "Okay, Bree. We're taking you to Hermione for safety." Alice ignored Embry's bark and kept talking to Bree, "We'll decide what to do with you after the fighting is done."

"I didn't…" Bree's words broke off when the wolf sat on the ground with a disgruntled huff. She tried again, choosing to talk to the wolf instead. "I don't want to hurt anyone and I don't want to fight." She shook her head vehemently, "I really don't like hurting people."

Alice nodded and motioned for the girl to follow quickly. "See the brunette over there? The human," she clarified when Bree wrinkled her nose at her. Bree looked again and then nodded slowly. Alice continued, "We have to dash through the fighting to get to her. Your job will be to protect her."

Bree's head snapped back to Alice with a look of hope, "Okay."

Embry took off at a run towards Hermione. Alice and Bree followed in his wake. He didn't deviate from his course and only once did he have to leap over someone in his path. Hermione was busy casting spells and waving her wand over one of the shapeshifters that was back in his human form. As the girls drew closer, Alice realized it was Paul, but her gaze was drawn away from her cousin as Embry leapt over the witch at an approaching newborn.

Hermione remained focused on her patient while Embry began fighting with the newborn. Alice pointed at the ground near Paul, "Sit and don't move," but the pixie vampire didn't break her stride and kept moving towards Embry.

Hermione wasn't sure what was going on, but when Alice told the girl to sit next to Paul, she initially ignored her. That was until the girl whimpered at the smell of Paul's blood. Hermione had done what she could to siphon away the blood, but the coppery scent was still noticeable even to her. The witch looked at the girl and noticed the red eyes growing darker. The girl looked from Paul to Hermione with a panicked gaze, "I can't…"

The girl's fangs extended and the witch reacted, "Imperium immortui! "

Once the girl was under control, her fangs slid back in place and calm once more appeared on her features. Hermione commanded, "Tell me your name."

"Bree Tanner."

Hermione was reassured that the girl was in her control and went back to tending to Paul. The gash in his side was healed nicely with only a slight pink line to show where he was injured. The witch wasn't going to risk releasing the newborn beside her sleeping injured patient. "You will sit there calmly until the fighting is over and only move if I tell you to do so. Understand?"

"Yes."

The girl's voice was monotone and her red eyes were glassy, but that was to be expected. Bree was completely under Hermione's control and if the girl didn't like it… well, when the fighting was over, they would address the issue then.

Hermione woke Paul from his magically induced slumber and he groaned. The shapeshifter tried to move, but Hermione quickly pushed down on his shoulder to warn him, "Don't move too hastily. You're not fully healed, but I can't have you alone and vulnerable out here so I woke you early."

Paul's voice was hoarse, "M'kay…"

"A few things you need to know. You heal so rapidly, that your forearm was mending crooked. That means I had to remove the bone from your arm. Breaking it again was an option, but it takes too long and requires too much of my focus. I'm needed elsewhere." His head whipped around to his bound arm with wide frightened eyes. Hermione's hand on his shoulder squeezed gently and spoke calmly, "I gave you skele gro. Your body is growing a new one already. It may itch or feel like pins and needles, but I don't want you moving it so I've immobilized your arm in a temporary splint.

"You had three cracked ribs and a nasty gash. The gash and cracks are mended, but you will be tender. I need you to drink this. It tastes nasty, but it will help… I promise." Hermione eased his head up and poured a health potion into his mouth. She smiled when he sighed contently after he groaned and sputtered. Hermione laid his head back down before motioning towards Bree and said, "Watch her for me. She shouldn't be moving, but if she breaks free from my spell I don't want you caught unaware."

Hermione was about to dash off when a howl went up. The howl wasn't from just one wolf. It was the entire pack. Hermione looked at Paul and asked, "What's wrong?"

Paul looked around at his pack, "Dunno. I'm not phased."

"Hermione!"

The witch whipped around towards the voice, landed on her bottom and forgot to breathe. Embry was running over to her, apparently unconcerned that he didn't have a stitch of clothing on. Her eyes moved over him. She would have liked to say it was to ensure that he wasn't injured, but the hunger in her gaze told a different tale. Embry continued speaking, "It's Seth!" That broke the daze she was in. She sprung up to her feet, wand in hand. The shapeshifter came to a stop and grabbed hold of her arm, but he wasn't done speaking. "Edward ran off to go to them. That redhead vamp is up there!"

She struggled to keep her eyes on his and ignore the warmth coming from his body. His naked, muscled, naked, tanned, NAKED body. She was a professional healer. She saw naked bodies all the time. She just saw Paul's for pity's sake. Hermione was mentally kicking her girly-girl side that was begging to touch, lick and smell that hard body before her. It wouldn't take much effort, he was right there. She could just lean in and… but Seth and Bella needed help. Hermione gave a sharp nod, "Hold on to me."

Hermione grabbed hold of her small bag and focused on getting to the tent. She had to mentally block out the feelings stirring inside her when he did what he was told. Embry wrapped an arm around her waist and held her. Close.

He smelled like the woods after a spring shower. He smelled of pure male, dirt, sweat and something musky, but it was all tainted with the coppery smell of blood.

Embry immediately let go when they were at the tent sight. He staggered before phasing into his wolf form. Hermione didn't wait to see if he was okay. There wasn't time. Victoria was howling mad and clawing at the wards. The entire time she yelled, "I smelled her. I know she has to be here!"

Hermione could feel the wards now that she was closer. They held, but just barely. She'll leave berating herself for not putting up monitoring wards later. "Sectumsempra!"

Victoria let out a cry of pain. The gash across her back wasn't deep. Her marble skin saved her from the severity of the spell. She spun around to attack and was met with Embry. Seth came through the wards and joined his pack brother. Hermione didn't hear the footfalls behind her, but Edward was soon sailing past her to join the fight.

The witch immediately stepped through the wards and began strengthening them. Hermione then went to the tent and dropped it with a tap of her wand. The fighting was nearly done down in the meadow. There was no point of leaving things to be cleaned up later and by busying herself, she wouldn't fret over the fight happening just feet away. The tent folded on itself, pegs lifted from the ground and the entire thing became a small package. Hermione dropped the package into the small bag she had been carrying around with her. Then she finally looked at the girl. Bella was barely restraining herself. Arms wrapped around her torso and she rocked back and forth murmuring Edward's name in a chant or prayer.

Hermione ignored the fight just beyond the wards to focus on Bella. She crouched next to the girl. "Bella, are you injured?"

The teen blinked and dragged her gaze away from her boyfriend. "What?"

Her voice hitched, but the diagnostic spell showed that the girl was in good health, but in shock. Hermione gave a soft sigh, "You'll be fine. Just don't go past the wards. How did she find you? I blocked all scent from escaping the wards, how..."

"Wards." The girl was talking as if in a dream. Short stilted sentences. "They kept her out. But she smelled me. Out there." Bella pointed to the apparition point. "We were inside the tent. Seth heard her come. We came out to see her out there. She was sniffing. Sniffing for me. Then she bumped into the wards."

"Bella!"

The two females looked over and noted that Victoria was dead. Bella whimpered, "Edward."

It hadn't taken long for the three to dispatch her. Hermione stood and dropped the wards. Edward moved swiftly and was at Bella's side immediately. He held her and she clung to him. Hermione went to the body and looked around the ground. She spoke to the two wolves. "Make sure I have all the pieces."

Seth cocked his head in question, but Embry went about looking for the missing limbs. Seth followed suit and soon Victoria was in a small pile. "Incendio!"

Embry moved to Hermione's side and sat on his haunches. Seth followed suit once again mimicking Embry's movements and sat on Hermione's other side to bookend her. As Victoria's body burned, both wolves looked down the hill towards the meadow in unison as if they heard something. Edward spoke from behind them. "We have to go back."

Hermione didn't question them, she only nodded. She was aware that the pack was linked while in wolf form. They apparently knew or heard something and Edward most likely read it from their minds. She doused the flames and grabbed the fur on both wolves at the scruff of their necks, "Sorry, boys."

Before either wolf could think to question her proclamation, they had been popped back to the outskirts of the meadow. Seth shook his head. Embry let out a nearly inaudible wuff.

The fight with the newborn army had ended. A fire burned in the center of the meadow, but there was no celebrating. Instead the Cullen family stood beside the pack and faced a new group. There were four of them - three males and a female: the two in the middle were short, the female was about the same height as Alice, and the tallest male was bigger than Emmet - all wearing hooded cloaks.

The moment the three popped to the meadow, the four newcomers turned their attention towards them. Embry and Seth growled low in their throats. Hermione tugged gently at their ear, but she needn't have bothered prompting them. The moment she moved towards the Cullen family, they loped at her side. The witch was on edge and gripped her wand tighter, but her movements were smooth and calculated.

The newcomers watched their progression in unison, much like a predator follows the path of its prey, they watched the human with her personal wolf bodyguards.

Hermione stood beside her cousin, making her show of loyalty obvious to even the most obtuse minded. Alice turned her attention to the witch and smiled apologetically, "We have company. This is Jane, Alec, Demetri and Felix. They're with the Volturi guard."

"Volturi guard, here. Conveniently showing after the fighting is over." Hermione's voice was whisper soft, but they all heard her as if she had spoken loud and clear, "I see."

Before the battle, Jasper had spoken to Hermione at length about the Volturi. How often does one get the chance to question a vampire about their government and its key members? Hermione thought of those talks and remembered what she was told about each of them. Jane alone had been a topic of conversation that gave Hermione pause. Jane could mentally cause pain the likes of the cruciatus curse. Her twin Alec had a nasty power of his own: sensory deprivation. Felix was extremely strong and Demetri was their tracker.

Jane peered at Hermione. The shortest guard sneered when she spoke. Her words broke through Hermione's drifting thoughts and brought her back to the present. Jane asked, "What are you?"

Hermione's fingers wound their way into Embry's fur at his neck and he stopped growling. The motion was to calm him and herself. There was no point in denying what she was, so she didn't. "I'm a witch."

"You did that?" Jane pointed at Bree.

"Create her? Obviously not." Hermione looked over at the newborn girl noting she still hadn't moved from where she was told to stay before returning her attention to the Volturi. Hermione continued, "Convince her not to fight, not really. I believe that was her choice initially. Keep her from feeding on one of the pack as I healed him, yes."

Edward came through the treeline carrying Bella on his back. They moved with swiftness and were soon standing with the Cullen family. Bella slid down to stand beside the others with her boyfriend's arm firmly around her.

The biggest male behind Jane tensed and snarled silently. It was rather intimidating to witness and Hermione's grip on Embry tightened. The wolf leaned his large body against hers for comfort and she took a calming breath.

It was the shortest male, Hermione believed that one was Alec, that spoke next, he demanded, "Release her from your spell, witch. We need to question her."

Hermione looked over at Paul who still hadn't phased back into wolf form, but stood alongside the coven in his tattered shorts and arm in a splint. "No, I don't believe I will. She's still a danger to my patient."

Jane smiled slowly. It wasn't a pleasant sight. The small vampire's features were nearly angelic, but the smile was sadistic and cruel, "That wasn't a request."

Hermione didn't back down and once again refused. "I am not a vampire; I don't fall under your laws. I'm a witch and a healer. You have no power over me."

The smile was soon gone and Jane growled. "How?"

Edward huffed in surprise, "You're immune to her power, Hermione."

The witch almost sagged in relief to hear that. She had been under the cruciatus curse before and had no wish to experience Jane's form of torture.

Alec stole a quick glance at his sister before he motioned for Felix to go to Bree. "We don't need to hear from her. Kill her and be done with it so we can leave."

"Why?"

"She broke the law. She must pay the price."

Hermione frowned and released Bree from her spell. She refused to keep the girl under her control while they killed her. The witch didn't agree with their reasoning, but she wasn't a vampire and it wasn't her place to get involved in their politics. She had thought British wizarding laws were last century, but at least Bree would have gotten a trial in her world. Bree gasped at being free and glared at the witch.

Edward's head snapped to the newborn as if he saw something, but he remained silent. Bree stared back at him. He spoke suddenly, "They knew."

The look from Bree didn't last long because Felix was at her side in the blink of an eye. Hermione turned away. She had seen enough death for two life times, but there was no escaping the sounds. The clashing of marble bodies, the tearing of limbs and the screams of pain.

The young girl's body and parts were soon tossed into the flames and Felix, grinning, rejoined the guard. Hermione shuddered. It took him less than five minutes to dispatch the girl. Only they didn't leave immediately afterwards. Jane's gaze moved to Bella. Edward slid the human behind him to protect her. The move wasn't lost on anyone and the smile was back on Jane's lips, "Aro will be disappointed to hear she's still human. You're running out of time."

With that parting warning, the Volturi guard was gone.

The folks in the meadow stood silent for a moment as if the world was holding its breath.

The large russet colored wolf tried to stand, but only managed to teeter and fall down into the grass.

And Bella screamed.

Created spell(s):
Imperium immortui - curse, control an undead

AN: Thank the stars that chapter is over. Mind you, I did warn folks that I'm not big on the battle chapters so I minimized my fights and cheated around them. I know, shame on me. Blah.

Suzululu4moe: Welcome to the story. Your reviews had me giggling and dammit, I wish I had thought of the every flavored beans and the chocolate frogs! That could have been fun.