CHAPTER TEN

Summary: Hermione Granger, an accomplished witch is working a particularly trying case and is in need of help. Deputy Sheriff Jordan Parrish is a hellhound and just the one she needs. When a fiery witch and a fire-proof supernatural being work together, sparks are sure to fly and Hermione and the Deputy find that they need each other for more than one reason. Rated M for a reason.

Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and the creators of Teen Wolf and MTV. This is purely for entertainment purposes and I am not making a profit from the posting of this. This is set after The Wild Hunt but disregards everything afterwards, so there was no war between the supernatural and humans, there is no Monroe or Gerard and there are no hunters. At least for now! Also, Parrish is 23 and Hermione is 24. Oh, and I'm fudging the time line a bit, too. This will be written mostly in Parrish's POV.

Page count: 5

Hermione had taken Teddy home and left him at the park, explaining that the magical barriers around Andromeda's home wouldn't allow him anywhere near it and she'd only been gone ten minutes when she returned.

They'd headed back towards The Leaky Cauldron and stepped into the floo, he'd been expecting for them to return to her office, so when he stepped out of the fireplace and into her apartment, he'd been a little surprised.

Hermione seeing the expression on his face laughed at him and headed over to the kitchen, scouring the cupboards to see what she could make for dinner.

"It's my job to ensure your health and safety, Deputy," she spoke as he sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island. "And that doesn't just mean your physical health, but your mental health also. I understand how much Prodigium can be damaging to your mind, you've been working exceptionally hard to help me with this case for the last week so it's about time you took a break away from it, hence the reason we've not returned to my office. Tomorrow we'll both have fresh eyes and a clear mind."

She turned around to face him, leaning back against the counter top.

"So, Deputy, we've had several traditional British foods over the last week. So, why don't we have something you'd eat at home?"

He raised an eyebrow but stood from the stool and made his way over to the cupboards, gently guiding Hermione out of the way.

"What are you doing?" She asked him confused.

He shrugged. "You want something I'd eat, I'm going to see what I have to work with and make dinner."

"You cook?" She asked, sounding curious.

"Not really, I can make a few things but I mostly live on take-out or microwave meals," he answered.

Her eyes travelled his face slowly before she nodded and then moved over to the stools, taking a seat and allowing him space. She watched in amusement as he pottered about the kitchen in search for the pots and pans, the cooking utensils and the plates, but he found them after a short while. He'd occasionally ask her questions and she'd answer, but they were mostly silent.

Not long later a plate was placed in front of her and an amused smile pulled at her mouth.

"Macaroni and cheese?" She questioned.

"It's my favourite," he shrugged. "And it's not just macaroni and cheese, it's macaroni and cheese with bacon, one of the best combinations in existence."

She laughed at him but ate her meal, which she did admit to him was really good and he gave her a knowing and proud grin in return. When the dishes had been washed, Hermione sat herself down on the arm chair and Parrish on the couch and they watched each other silently.

"You know, I never did get chance to ask that question," he said

"I suppose you didn't, but before you do, I wish to ask you something first," she responded.

"Alright," he said slowly.

"Can I speak to the hellhound?"

"I'm sorry?" He said in surprise. He'd expected her to ask something that may have been personal or embarrassing, but he'd never expected that to come from her lips.

"Can I speak to the hellhound?" She repeated.

He frowned slightly. "Why?"

"If I'm to help you then I need to have a little chat with him, he'll be able to give me answers to questions I have that you can't."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea, I can't control my hellhound and if I bring him forward, I can't stop him from hurting you. He's got a mind of his own."

She smiled at him softly. "Don't worry about me, Deputy, I'm a big witch and I can handle myself, or have you forgotten that I fought in a war for the better part of a decade?" He shook his head, but the worried crease in his forehead didn't lessen. "I'm certain he won't hurt me."

"You don't know that."

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't, but there's only one way to find out and I'd bet my last sickle that I'll be perfectly fine once you're in control once more." He looked conflicted. "Even if something were to happen, I have magical healing available to me and it's the best in existence. In any case, you're not a killer."

She held a hand out to him expectantly and he eyed it before reluctantly standing from the couch and walking over to her, taking her hand in his. She led him over to the fireplace and with a flick of her wand dancing flames began to warm the apartment.

"I'll give you some privacy," she spoke, before stepping away from him and moving to the kitchen, preparing herself a cup of tea.

He took a deep breath and quickly removed his t-shirt not wanting to ruin it, and then he knelt down in front of the fire, allowing himself to become entranced by the flames. He felt the heat and fire swarm through him, he felt the haze in his mind beginning to take over. He tore his eyes away from the flames and looked down at his hands, seeing the flames licking at his fingertips and knowing that it was almost over, he closed his eyes and gave in.

Hermione heard the heavy breathing and the crackling of a spitting fire and she slowly turned around, her eyes immediately landing on the burning man stood in the middle of her living room. An almost naked man. Hermione's breath caught in her throat at the sight he made.

His eyes glowing a fiery amber, bright and fierce, his teeth sharp and pointed and his nails were now sharp and claw-like. His clothing had been incinerated, leaving him in only his underwear and showing the thick muscle of his shoulders and torso and the powerful muscle in his thighs. His entire body glowed as hot fire and dancing flames surrounded him with some marks of black soot on his body.

A zing of fiery heat shot through her and went straight to her stomach, causing her to take a deep breath and close her eyes briefly. When they opened, she was immediately caught in his glowing gaze and felt all thoughts leaving her.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful," she breathed out slowly.

His eyes seemed to darken and he took a small step towards her, his gaze intense and impossible to look away from.

"For the sake of the deputy, I feel I must ask if you mean to harm me," she spoke, words finally returning to her mind and allowing her to speak.

"I would never hurt you," the hellhound replied, his voice deep but soft. "You are special."

She titled her head to the side but didn't reply. Slowly she left the kitchen, moving closer to him until she stood before him. She was able to feel the heat of the flames and she removed her blazer lest it accidentally catch fire, it was one of her favourite ones after all. After throwing it onto the couch, she turned her body back towards him.

"I have been waiting a long time to see you."

"I met the deputy all but a week ago," she raised an eyebrow.

"It feels much longer," he replied, tilting his head to the side. "I tried to come forward but he is a lot stronger than I realised and he kept me at bay."

"I wish to help you."

"I know, he might not be aware of it, but I am aware of everything that he hears and sees, we are one."

"Not quite," she replied. "And that is what I wish to help you with."

"It is not me, it's him, he is reluctant. We will be at our strongest and we can only achieve that with your help." He took another step, bringing them closer together and putting barely any space between them. "You are different, you are like me."

"Not exactly."

He titled his head to the side and his mouth twitched into a smile, before his fangs retreated and his claws did the same. She gasped in surprise when he closed the distance between them, his chest pressing against hers and the flames surrounding him licking at her skin, but it didn't hurt her. The flames, they were hot and entrancing, they caressed her skin softly, lovingly, and fire coursed through her body until she took a shaky breath.

Hands came up to the back of her neck, holding her gently and his thumbs ran along her jaw softly, sending sparks of heat through her. Her hands came up to wrap around his wrists, not the slightest bit worried about being burned by him.

He wouldn't hurt her, he couldn't.

She titled her head upwards, getting caught in his fiery gaze.

"I knew from the moment we laid eyes on you that you were different." He spoke, his voice enchanting and calming and he lowered his head, putting them only inches away from their noses touching. "I see you for what you truly are. I see your power, I see your fire. You don't have to hide it from me. Show me, show me who you really are."

Hermione's breath caught before she closed her eyes, and slowly they fluttered open, revealing a fiery, glowing amber that matched his own. Her eyes were wide and large and bright, and fire danced in them.

"You are beautiful," he said reverently. "You are beautiful and you are mine."

She opened her mouth to respond but words never came as soft, hot lips were suddenly on her own. It was just a simple press of lips but Hermione's insides burned with need and heat and fire. She felt alive in a way she never had before.

She opened her eyes -not realising they'd closed in the first place- and was caught by his heated gaze watching her intently.

"You are mine and have been since we first laid eyes on you."

She opened her mouth to respond but didn't have the chance to.

"You. Are. Mine." He punctuated each word slowly, powerfully. "And we do not like you flirting with Norton. It makes us angry, it hurts us."

She frowned and slowly nodded. "I don't particularly understand what is happening, but it if hurts you, I'll stop."

"I must go, he is becoming restless. I will whisper to him, convince him to accept your help. He will do so and soon he will understand and he will know what you are to us."

"I don't even understand it myself," she replied.

"You will."

He lowered his head once more to press his hot lips against hers and she felt a sigh of content leave her. When his hands came away from her face, she released her hold on him and he stepped back, feeling the heat of him no longer surrounding her comfortingly, and she brought her fingers up to her mouth, feeling them still tingling slightly.

His mouth twitched at the gesture. "Do not worry, my fierce Goddess, we will see each other again. I will always be with you, protecting you from harm."

"And who will protect you?" She asked.

"You protect my human, and that is protecting me. It seems we are the protectors of each other."

Hermione watched as his eyes closed and the fire around him began to die down. She turned and headed back to the kitchen, briefly catching sight of the black soot marks on her clothing as well as being made aware of the fact that he'd burned some holes into her blouse and trousers, but seeing as only a little of her skin was viewable and her modesty was still intact, it didn't bother her.

She continued to make herself a cup of tea and some coffee for Parrish and when done, she looked over her shoulder at the hellhound. The flames had now disappeared and the transformation was almost complete so she flicked her wand at him, dressing him in his discarded t-shirt and another pair of jeans so he wouldn't feel embarrassed about being partially naked in front of her.

She leaned against the counter, waiting for him to notice her presence.