DISCLAIMER: You know already

HIDDEN CHANGES

Chapter 14

"I haven't gone to my house because it was blasted to tiny bits by Alex's lovely parents!"

Tanya shouted, "Xavier! Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't want everyone looking into it. It is fine. They won't find this house. The only reason they found my other house is because I was being careless. I have put up many wards on this house so no one who is trying to cause you harm can come close."

Alex looked over, "Xavier we trust your magic just fine but why didn't you just tell us when it happened?"

"I didn't want you guys worried. I am fine." Xavier replied. "We can talk about this later."

Hermione walked back in minus her ears, "Your house was destroyed?"

Xavier nodded, "I am fine about it, I was just careless. Hey you got rid of your ears all by yourself. You are doing better than Alex and Bobby."

Bobby glared, "I can do that too, it is the tail that is a problem for me."

Alex hummed, "I have the tail down but my ears are my problem."

Cassandra smiled superiorly saying, "I have control of everything."

Bobby tugged on Cassandra's hair playfully, "Be quiet squirt."

Xavier turned to Tanya, "Did Madame Pomfrey fix everyone?"

Bobby raised his hand, "I have a bruise from when Hermione tossed me across the room."

Alex turned to him, "Don't you love it when a lady can rough you up like that!"

Bobby smirked and winked at Hermione, "Oh yeah a major plus."

Hermione began to blush again and her ears started to appear again, "I am sorry."

Xavier looked over snapping, "Hermione your ears!"

Hermione covered them with her hands muttering another, "sorry."

Alex and Bobby snickered, "We were just kidding."

Tanya smacked both of the boys upside the head, "Behave."

Bobby whined, "She is so rough with us."

Alex rubbed his head grumbling, "Please don't hit with the rings on. Hey Xavier can Tanya and I have that pepper-up now?"

Xavier nodded and tossed them each a bottle, "Bottoms up."

Hermione sat down next to Cassandra and across from Alex. "Sorry about your brother Alex."

"Not your fault he is a major dick."

"Alex, language!" Tanya snapped.

Bobby snickered, "So Hermione, you are going to pick me up from school today too?"

Hermione looked at Xavier who shrugged, "I guess. I mean I am going to pick up Cassandra. Are your schools close to one another's?"

Cassandra nodded, "The elementary school is right next to the middle school which is right next to the high school."

Alex looked over, "I think it is weird but it makes it easier to pick them up. I will drive you to pick them up since Xavier can't drive because he sucks at it."

"I never wanted to learn." Xavier retorted.

"Because you suck at it," Bobby shot back.

Tanya looked over, "Even I can admit you suck at driving. The slamming on the breaks makes me sick."

"At least I am not a speed demon like you Tanya." Xavier grumbled.

"Are you riding with Hermione and I to pick up Bobby and Cassie, Xavier?"

Xavier glared, "I can barely tolerate you three. Why would I want to deal with more children?"

Alex, "Three? There are four of us!"

"Hermione doesn't count," Xavier explained and when he looked up he saw Tanya was staring at him doubtfully, "she is more mature than you guys."

Hermione glanced over, "You seemed fine at Hogwarts."

"Well I didn't have to talk to any of them did I?"

Alex stood up, "I have to get to the stable."

Bobby looked over, "Time to shovel shit?"

"Bobby! Language!" Tanya said.

"I don't just shovel shit!"

"Alex! Language!"

"Ahh! But you DO shovel shit!"

"BOBBY!"

"Teehee you said shit!"

"CASSANDRA!"

Xavier rubbed his temples snapping, "Stop cursing in front of Cassandra! One of these days she is going to tell a teacher to take that homework and shove it up their …"

"XAVIER!"

Hermione looked at all of the boys, "Do you just harass Miss Tanya all day long?"

"Basically." Alex, Bobby, and Xavier said all at the same time.

"I'll be back around two thirty to pick you up Hermione. Then we can head to pick up Cassie and Bobby." Alex walked over and kissed all the girls heads quickly before grabbing his keys.

Hermione turned and watched Alex shut the back door, "Did he just kiss my head?"

Tanya looked over, "Habit of his. Apparently he had to kiss his mother's head before he left the house. It was like a sign of respect or something. I appreciate it."

Cassandra smiled, "Bobby only gives hugs to me!"

Hermione looked over smiling at Cassandra, "well aren't you the favorite!"

Bobby grumbled. "She is like my baby sister."

Xavier observed quietly thinking to himself that Hermione fit in very well here.

Tanya stood up and started picking up the now empty plates. Hermione stood up quickly and began to help Tanya as Cassandra ran over and sat on Bobby's lap talking to Xavier quickly.

Hermione followed Tanya and placed the dishes in the sink. "So is this a typical morning here?"

Tanya turned around and smiled to Hermione. "Yes. Step one get ready, Step two harass Miss Tanya. Step three repeat step two as needed. I am just glad Xavier can straighten out the boys when necessary. Sometimes they forget I am their legal guardian. That wasn't easy. I don't know how Xavier was able to convince those people that I was a good guardian. I mean I am only four and a half years older than Alex, seven years older than Bobby, and fourteen years older than Cassie."

"Must be hard," Hermione mused.

"At times, but I enjoy it at the end of the day. We may be disfuctional but we are definitely a family." Tanya smiled.

Hermione looked out the kitchen door seeing Bobby holding Cassandra happily saying, "I know Alex's and Cassie's story, but what about Bobby? How did he become… well one of us?"

Tanya looked over, "Xavier was passing through a neighborhood one day. When he heard screaming, when he ran in he saw Bobby crying in a corner. Apparently some altercation between his parents came out and the mother killed his dad then herself. Xavier took Bobby before the cops arrived. He was only nine."

Hermione gasped, "Was he in the room?"

Tanya replied, "Well he never really talks about it and when he does he says he doesn't care about it. He will talk when he is ready I am sure."

Hermione sat on the counter, "So what is your story and how long have you been a Kanima?"

Tanya looked over, "Well, I knew a man who was very secretive who lived next door to me when I was young. I think I was six when I saw what he really was, a Kanima. Of course I was terrified in a way but I didn't stop trying to talk to him. When my parents got a divorce when I was seven there was an argument of who had custody and they tried to make me decide. They told me I had to choose by morning. I didn't want to hurt them like that so I ran away. I guess I still hurt them by doing that but it seems cruel to do that to a kid. I mean they both loved me and all but I didn't want to choose. I ran next door and hid in that man's shed. He of course sensed something was up and found me the next day. When I told him my story he took me to Derek, he was Cassie's father and leader at the time. He basically interrogated me and then asked me if I wanted this life. I said yes. So I have been a Kanima for seventeen years. Xavier has been a Kanima the longest of anyone alive. That is why he is 'alpha,' I mean he is almost thirty and he has been a Kanima for about twenty-six years or something like that."

Xavier walked in, "I am still twenty nine, thank you. It is almost time for you to get to work and drop off the two cubs."

"Xavier, stop calling people cubs. It is annoying." Tanya sighed before shouting. "Y'all ready?"

Xavier turned, "Take that potion. Your accent is getting stronger, Tanya."

Tanya flipped him the finger before pulling the vial out and downing it. She shuddered and made a gagging noise before shaking it off. "Let's go guys!"

Hermione walked out of the kitchen watching Cassie and Bobby grabbing their bags for school. "Have fun at school!"

Bobby grumbled, "Yeah right."

Cassandra smiled, "Yes Mam!"

Tanya smiled to Hermione, "Get some rest, I am sure you will be fine but please make sure you keep your temper in check. Be sure to lock the door Xavier."

Xavier grumbled and waved them out of the door. "Go to work and stop worrying."

Tanya, Bobby, and Cassandra waved as they left for the day. Xavier locked the door and turned to Hermione, "How are you feeling?"

Hermione thought for a moment, "Well I feel fine physically, but mentally I am just irritated constantly. I have been ignoring it but well it is still there. But I have an idea."

Xavier looked at her and sighed knowing what she wanted, "Do you want to go to a library?"

Hermione smiled and patted his cheek, "You know me so well. I can get books on how to calm oneself. I could also get self-help books I am sure they have some good tips on keeping anger in check… I bet they also have…"

Xavier tuned her out knowing that it was going to be a long day for him.

Dumbledore sat down in his office across from Draco Malfoy. "Lemon drop?"

Draco shook his head, "I know you want to obliviate me. You did it to the other students who figured out it was Granger. I am the only one other that Potty and Weasel that knows."

Albus Dumbledore stared silently at Draco Malfoy, "Have you notified your parents of Alex's existence?"

Draco sat silent, "I couldn't do that sir."

Albus smiled softly, "Why not?"

Draco looked up exasperated, "He may be a squib but he is still my brother. They would kill him."

The old man looked at the boy, "Are you going to tell them of Granger?"

Malfoy just seemed to get angry at that, "I would because I hate that know-it-all but I can't because they will ask for the memory of it and then they will know about him. My hands are tied in this situation."

Professor Dumbledore smiled, "So you agree to not tell anyone about Miss Granger?"

Draco pouted, "I can't make that promise. I do promise to not tell anyone about Alex though."

"Well then I will wipe the memory of Miss Granger and you can keep the memory of your brother. Are we in agreement?"

Draco nodded reluctantly and closed his eyes as he heard Dumbledore murmur, "Obliviate."

Chapter 15 is giving me some trouble, but I promise to get it up by Sunday! Please continue to review!

Mousie

aka Meg