Chapter 11
"Oh no, oh no, no, no, NO!" Hermione frantically shoved her hand into her incredibly roomy backpack and quickly felt around, groaning angrily at the fact that she was unable to find what she was looking for. She rose from her seat on the couch and ran around the house at vampire speed, still coming up with nothing.
"Um, Hermione? Want to tell us why you're making a mess of the place?" Harry questioned while indicating to the chaotic place that was Hermione's home. Hermione sighed and quickly retrieved her wand to fix the sloppy mess.
"I've run out of blood pops! What am I supposed to do?" Hermione flopped dejectedly onto the couch, Harry and the others sitting near her.
"Well, that's not a problem. We can just apparate to Diagon Ally to get more. Let's go." Ginny stated as she grabbed her friend's arm.
Hermione shook her head and placed it in her hands. "You don't understand. The pack is coming to meet you all in a few minutes and none of us can go to get the pops. They'll be here for a few hours and I haven't had a pop since yesterday night. I've never gone this long without them and I don't know how I'll fare." Draco jumped to his feet.
"The pack is coming! Why the hell would you invite them over! Have you forgotten what that pup had done to my face?" Draco pointed dramatically at the bandages that covered his cheek. Hermione chuckled and threw a pillow at him, the object hitting his face and sliding off.
"This is exactly why I haven't told you. You overreact too much, drama queen." Draco pouted and lifted the pillow to throw at the girl but stopped as the doorbell rang. All humorous air left the room and the people in the home stayed still in the tense atmosphere. "I'll get it." Hermione rose from the couch and walked to the door and paused before opening the door quickly. The pack looked as tense as her group of friends inside.
"Ok, we're ready. Let's do this." Jacob said and walked in, pulling Hermione in by the waist. "But we're only doing this for you." The pack followed Jacob in and stood in a horizontal line opposite the others, in a showdown-like scene. Jacob and Draco eyed each other before breaking the eye contact.
"Ok, so I'll introduce you all." Hermione introduced the pack one by one to her friends and vice versa. Ginny, being the social butterfly that she is, was the first to walk up and shake everyone's hand with a beaming smile on her face.
"It's so nice to meet you all! Hermione has told us so much about you!" Ginny stopped at the end of the line in front of Jacob, eyeing him with a protective look. "And it's a pleasure to finally meet you Jacob Black." She held out a hand which Jacob wearily took. Upon contact, Ginny pulled Jacob in with a strength that surprised everyone. "If you hurt Hermione, I will hunt you down and feed you to wolves, got it?" Jacob's eyebrows rose tremendously and he frantically nodded. Ginny beamed at the nod and pulled her hand away.
"Ginny, no need to be so protective." Harry said as he grabbed his girlfriend by the shoulders and moved her behind him. He also held out his hand for Jacob to shake which Jacob took less wearily due to Harry's kind demeanor. Harry's eyes narrowed at the other man. "But we will kill you if you hurt Hermione."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her friends' actions. "Really, so overdramatic," she whispered to herself so that the others couldn't hear. "Alright, alright, stop it you two." Hermione said as she glared in a reprimanding way at her two friends, who immediately backed down sheepishly. "We are here to make friends with one another not to make threats, which are completely empty might I add. Now, sit down!" Everyone nervously sat down and stared at Hermione, waiting for the next set of instructions like little children. "I am going to prepare food and when I get back, you better be friends."
Hermione exited the room and entered the kitchen. She looked back at the still silent group before quickly muttering a silent incantation, making the appliances begin the cooking process. Hermione strained her ears to hear what was happening in the other room over the sound of pots and pans. "You've been cliff diving? That's awesome!" Harry exclaimed. "I've actually always wanted to go cliff diving."
"Really? Then why don't we all go? We always dive at this cliff in La Push where we live. We can go there right now." Jared suggested. The living room was now buzzing with excitement and everyone stood to walk towards the door.
"Not so fast!" Hermione said as she stepped out of the kitchen with a spatula pointed at the group. "You are not leaving with an empty stomach. Eat." She said as she pointed to the dining table with the spatula. Upon seeing the endless array of food, the pack obediently and excitedly ran to the dining room. On the other hand, the others walked grudgingly.
"Yes, mother." Harry said, earning a slap from Hermione's spatula. They all sat down in such a way that the witches and wizards were on one side and the pack on the other, except for Jake who sat next to Hermione. Everyone began to dig in, complimenting Hermione's cooking skills.
"Man, Hermione, I love your food!" Seth said with a full mouth and a chicken leg in each hand. Hermione chuckled.
"Thanks, Seth. Eat up." Jacob looked questioningly at Hermione.
"Aren't you going to eat?" Hermione looked to a worried Jacob and shook her head.
"I'm not hungry." As she was staring at Jake, Hermione couldn't help but stare at his jugular vein on his neck. She gulped down the venom that pooled in her mouth as she saw, heard, and smelled the motion of blood.
"Hermione, are you okay?" Luna, who sat next to her, looked worriedly at her friend. Leaning in closer, Luna carefully followed Hermione's eyes as they trailed to the former girl's neck. Luna's eyes widened as she realized Hermione's predicament.
"Luna, Hermione, what's wrong?" Harry inquired. Hermione could barely hear what the others were saying as the sound of blood throbbing within veins filled her ears. Luna grabbed Hermione's arm tightly and whispered,
"Go."
It didn't take a second thought before Hermione quickly shot up, catching the others' attentions. "I forgot that I had an errand to do. I'll meet you guys at the cliff." With that, she quickly walked out of the room and rushed to get her cloak and coin purse. Afterward, she rushed out of the door far enough so that the pack could not hear her apparate away. Upon opening her eyes, she was met with the sight of the Leaky Cauldron. How she was going to get past all of those throbbing veins and beating hearts was beyond Hermione.
Hermione pulled the cloak closer to cover her face. Witches and wizards alike were pushing past her in the far too narrow and crowded Diagon Ally. Hermione could not risk anyone seeing her or else it may give her position away to Dolohov.
What is wrong with me? Hermione thought to herself. She was still shocked by the fact that she craved the blood of her friends and Jacob and at that moment, she had not cared if she had to kill them to receive their blood. Hermione wanted to slap herself, to pinch herself, to inflict pain on herself so that she would wake up from her disgusting thoughts; and that was exactly what she did. It didn't work, however, and she could feel her throat becoming drier by the second and her cravings for the blood of everyone around her grow. How could I have such grotesque thoughts about my friends? About Jacob? In her musings, Hermione was unable to realize the fact that she was walking in the wrong direction and had actually entered a different ally. Hermione looked up as she felt a change in her surroundings. She was met with a dark, musky path that contained no shops whatsoever. This literal ally contained only doors and a mysterious air. Suddenly, one of these doors opened to reveal two figures. In panic, Hermione could only conceal herself in the dark with her equally as dark cloak. Somehow, most obviously from pure luck, she was not spotted.
"What do you mean I have to hide? I didn't escape just to hide myself." A gruff voice, that Hermione did not know, stated.
A dark, humorless chuckle came from the other man. "Escape? You did not escape, I freed you!" Hermione froze as she came to recognize this voice. Dolohov. "And because I freed you, you will do what I say! I could have left you for dead, you're lucky I spared you." Hermione could tell that the other man wanted to argue but he kept his mouth shut.
"Fine. What's the plan?" Dolohov smirked at the other man's compliance.
"The plan is we wait. We hide until that little brat does what he's supposed to do and then that mudblood is mine!" Hermione accidently let out a squeak, which caught the attention of the two men. "Who's there!" Hermione could hear Dolohov's footsteps nearing and did the only thing left to do. She apparated.
"Bloody hell!" A scream sounded from behind Hermione. Not a second later, she heard a loud thump and multiple things falling to the floor, making quite the ruckus. Quickly, Hermione turned around to see George laying in a pile of fallen plush toys that began to walk and spit glitter on the walls.
"George, I'm so sorry!" Hermione exclaimed as she rushed to help him up. Once George was on his feet, Hermione flicked her wand at the mess and returned the items to their original places. However, no matter how many times she tried, Hermione could not remove the splatters of glitter on the walls. She looked questioningly to the redhead who grinned.
"Permanent glitter spitters. A new creation by yours truly." George then did a little bow, making Hermione laugh. "Here, take one." He said while handing Hermione one of the glitter spitters. "You never know when you're going to have to throw glitter at your enemies." Hermione beamed and took the object in hand. It was a miniscule monkey with a spout coming out of its mouth.
"Why, thank you." Hermione stated jokingly while curtsying.
George gestured Hermione to exit the back room. Together, they left the room and were met with a vacant store. Suddenly, Hermione heard an excited scream. "Hermione!" Fred ran up to Hermione like an excited puppy and assaulted her with a hug. Hermione was stuck in the tight hug, her face centimeters away from Fred's neck. She could feel the venom pooling in her mouth once again, the amount increasing as she slowly went closer to his vein. At that moment, Fred pulled away and smiled brightly at Hermione, but upon looking at her face, his smile disappeared. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
Hermione shook her head in an effort to wake herself up. Her throat was as rough as sandpaper now and she wasn't sure if she could restrain herself anymore. She held her breath and turned to the twins, attempting to ignore the blood running through their veins. "Blood pop," Hermione croaked out with much effort. Recognizing the problem, George quickly ran to the back room and came out with a large sack. He took out a single blue pop and chucked at Hermione who deftly caught it and stuck it in her mouth. The pleasure was indescribable and Hermione could only sigh in relief. Pulling out the blood pop, Hermione looked to Fred and George apologetically. "I'm sorry guys. I had just run out of blood pops back home and-," Hermione stopped as she saw the strange looks the twins were giving her. "What?"
Fred and George simultaneously turned to look at one another before turning back to stare at Hermione. "Hermione," Fred stated wearily. Hermione quirked an eyebrow, urging him to continue. "You said back home." Silence ensued as Hermione expected Fred to explain more and the twins expected Hermione to understand.
"Ok, and?" Hermione said. George sighed and opened his mouth to reply.
"We thought England was home, not Forks." Hermione's eyebrows furrowed until she finally understood and her eyes widened.
"It was. I mean, it is. I just meant back at my house." The twins could tell that Hermione was lying but decided not to continue the conversation. "Anyway, do you think I could buy those blood pops from you? I really don't feel like going back out there," Hermione said while gesturing to the bustling street outside, "just to get more." Fred and George plastered on their usual grins and slung on arm over both of Hermione's shoulders.
"For our sister?" Fred began.
"Of course!" George continued
"That'll be 1,000 galleons." They both said while holding out their hands for the money. Hermione's eyes widened and she looked incredulously at the two. At her expression, Fred and George laughed.
"Oh, we're just kidding Hermione." George reassured. "We were actually going to send this sack out to you today but then you popped in, literally. What a coincidence!"
"Coincidence indeed!" Fred followed. Hermione laughed but then remembered the pack and the others back at Forks and gasped.
"Fred, George, I'd love to stay longer but I left a pack of wolves and the others back at my place and I really don't want to go back to a destroyed home." Fred and George stared at Hermione as if she was crazy.
"Wolves?!"
Hermione grinned. "I'll explain another time." And with that, she ran over to the sack of blood pops and tossed it over her shoulder. "Thanks for the pops!" She then turned on the spot and apparated to a hidden spot in the woods beside her house. Hermione quickly ran into her house and turned the corner into the dining room only to see it empty of people. However, it was absolutely filled with food. Meat cutlets littered the floor and tables along with napkins, corn pieces, and whatever else was served. Hermione could also swear that there was a stain of gravy on the wall. Sighing heavily, Hermione cleaned up the mess with a flick of her wand. Hermione walked to the living room and grabbed her keys from the hook beside the front door. "Here we go."
Hermione pulled up to the cliff where the pack and the others were pushing Quil towards the edge of the cliff. With a simultaneous shout from one to three, everyone shoved him over the edge, knowing he will end up okay. When hearing the splash of water at the bottom, the group erupted into cheers. Hermione rolled her eyes but still smiled at their childishness. Hermione exited the car, catching the attention of Jacob who waved enthusiastically at her. She waved back equally as enthusiastically and quickly ran over to him, easily slipping into his open arms.
"Now, now you two. We came here to jump off cliffs, not to do disgusting things like hug." Ginny interrupted, feigning a disgusted face. Hermione raised an eyebrow at her female friend.
"Might I remind you of the time when I caught you and Harry doing-," Ginny quickly slapped a hand over Hermione's mouth and laughed awkwardly.
"Ha ha, Hermione sure is quite the joker. Let's jump off cliffs, you guys!" With that, Ginny dived over the edge and landed neatly into the water. Hermione looked to Ron who was bright red in the face and staring at Harry incredulously. Harry smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry mate." He also jumped over the cliff to catch up with his girlfriend. Meanwhile, Ron stood on top of the cliff while blubbering nonsense. Annoyed, Luna shoved him off the cliff as if it were nothing, making the pack look at her as if she were crazy.
Luna rolled her eyes. "He's survived worse, he'll be fine. The nargles, however-," She didn't bother continuing her sentence before her eyes widened and she quickly jumped over the cliff. Those that were left standing on the cliff could hear Luna screaming, "Naaaaarrrrgggllleeeesss!" on her way down, the sound growing quieter as she went lower and lower until her voice was interrupted with a splash. The pack looked at Hermione and Draco questioningly who could only shake their heads in response. Hermione turned to Jake and whispered in his ear,
"You don't want to know." Jake laughed in response and brought Hermione closer, placing a kiss on top of her head.
"Ew." Draco stated with a look of repulse on his face. "Save it for the bedroom, you two." And with that, he also went over, following the other witches and wizards. The pack all looked to Jacob and tsked in fake shame.
"You're too young to be sexually active, Jacob Black!" Seth yelled before the pack all laughed and jumped over the edge simultaneously. Hermione chuckled as Jacob's expression turned into one of shock. She also tsked at the man in front of her. While walking backward slowly, she stated,
"Really, Jacob Black, please control your horny actions." With a last laugh, Hermione dived perfectly backwards, leaving a flabbergasted Jacob alone on the top of the cliff. Upon hitting the water, the entire group applauded, giving Hermione a perfect ten.
"Do you have to go?" Hermione asked sadly to her group of friends as they all stood with their bags in hand.
Draco dramatically flipped is nonexistent mane. "I know you'll miss me Granger, but this is how it is. No need to act so desperate." Draco was met with a pillow to the face.
"I don't care about you, Malfoy. You can get hit by the Knight Bus for all I care." With that, Hermione turned to the others and hugged everyone tightly, two at a time. "Call me as soon as you make it there, alright?" Harry rolled his eyes at his friend's actions.
"Hermione, it's a two second apparition trip, not a boat trip to the Bermuda Triangle." Draco, Ginny, Luna, and Ron all looked at Harry inquiringly.
"The what?" Ron asked with his typical buffoon-like expression on his face. Harry rolled his eyes even more at his other friend's actions and chose to ignore him.
"Hermione, we are not going to call you because I know that you know that we are going to be fine. On the other hand, you are to contact me-," Ginny chose this moment to grunt loudly and stare sternly at her boyfriend. "Us, whenever you need us. If there is trouble, we'll always be here for you. Don't really know about Malfoy though." Draco huffed and turned on his heel, not bothering to say a word.
Hermione chuckled. "Alright. Travel safely, okay? And you all can call me if you need me too. Now go. It's 12 o'clock in London and we all know that's lunch time at the Burrow." Ron gasped at Hermione's words and with a quick hug goodbye, Ron grabbed Luna by the waist and turned on the spot before disappearing.
Ginny shook her head. "Really, that boy simply lives for food. See you, Hermione! I'll miss you." Harry and Ginny both gave one last hug before apparating away, leaving Hermione to an absolutely silent and empty home.
It had been about a week since Hermione's friends' departure and every single day of Hermione's week had been spent with Jacob. Whether it be on a date or spending the day with the pack, Hermione and Jake had never really left each other's side other than during the night.
Hermione was currently pacing the floor of her living room, going back to her habit of biting her thumb and having it heal. Jacob had called her only a few minutes ago telling her to come over because he had something important to tell her. Any other day she wouldn't have thought of this as strange but today, it was too strange for Hermione. Jacob's voice sounded incredibly tense and dreadful, a tone Hermione had never heard on him before. She knew what was going to happen, her sixth sense had told her and it's never wrong. It's what saved her, Harry, and Ron from death multiple times after all. Jacob was going to tell her about him being a shape shifter, about the Cullens being vampires, and probably everything else too. "Oh bloody hell, I'm a terrible actress." Hermione then stopped her pacing in front of a mirror in the hallway, staring at her perfect features.
Hermione let out a breath and closed her eyes. "Okay, I can do this." She opened her eyes and feigned a shocked look.
"What! You're a wolf? What the hell? How could you not tell me before!" Hermione furrowed her eyebrows and she her head. "No, no." Again she faked a surprised expression.
"You're a wolf? That's so cool! I happen to be a vampire witch hybrid myself!" Hermione stopped and groaned at herself. "Hermione, what the heck is wrong with you." She looked to herself one last time but could not think of anything to say. It was then when she decided, screw it. She was going to wing it. Hermione quickly grabbed her keys and ran to the car, dreading what was to come.
Hermione pulled into the driveway of the Black house and exited the car, meeting Jacob who was waiting outside for her. The two shared a tense and silence hug before pulling apart. Jacob gestured to the open front and the two entered. "Hey Jake, is no one else here?" Hermione tried to say nonchalantly while flopping onto the couch. He nodded and went to sit next to Hermione, but at a few inches away. "So," Hermione stated making Jacob turn to look at her. "What do you have to tell me?"
Jacob looked down at his hands and took a shaky breath. "Hermione, what I am about to tell you will be very shocking and I don't want you to hate me or be afraid of me because of it." Hermione placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Jacob, I could never hate you and trust me, I will never be afraid of you, so you can tell me anything." Jake smiled lightly and held Hermione's hand in his before his smile quickly disappeared.
"Hermione, I'm not what you think I am." Jacob wanted to continue but his words got choked up in his throat. He hurriedly stood and began pacing at a fast pace before stopping abruptly in front of Hermione. "I'm a werewolf!" Hermione quickly surpressed the urge to correct him and say that he is a shapeshifter. Come on, Hermione. Put those acting skills into good use, she thought to herself.
Hermione sat still and looked at Jacob in fake shock. "What did you just say?" Jake sighed and placed a hand over his head.
"I'm a werewolf." Hermione furrowed her eyebrows to the point where she thought they were going to practically fall off of her face. She stood up and stared intensely at Jake's worried face. Her head hurt from thinking too hard. This is worse than the NEWTS.
"So you're meaning to tell me that you're a big hairy dog on the inside but can only become one on the full moon." Jacob flinched at Hermione's use of the word dog but let it slide.
"Well, not necessarily. We can sort of change whenever we want. Like a shape shifter, I guess." Hermione furrowed her eyebrows once again, making her wonder if vampires could get wrinkles.
"We?" Jake nodded in reply.
"Sam, Jared, Paul, Quil, Embry, Seth, Leah. We're all wolves." Hermione stood still and stared incredulously at the man in front of her.
"Are you crazy! What the heck have you been taking Jacob Black?" Hermione then made a move to leave through the front door but Jacob stood in her way with a panicked look on his face.
"Wait, listen Hermione! It's true! Please believe me!" Hermione still feigned a look of doubt, proud of how Jacob so easily believed her acting. "And I can prove it to you!" Hermione's eyes widened. She did not expect this. Suddenly, Jacob stepped out of the front door and urged Hermione to follow him outside. He took off his shirt and pants, causing Hermione's eyes to widen even more. Then, Jacob jumped over the railing of the front porch and in only a matter of seconds, he turned into a russet-colored wolf. Hermione stared in awe as this was the first time she had seen Jacob in his wolf form up close. Jacob shyly put his head to the floor and looked carefully at Hermione. Hermione walked over to Jake and once reaching him, she let out a hand carefully to pet him. She gently stroked him, making him lean into her hand.
Hermione smiled. "Anything else you want to tell me?" Jacob held his tongue out in what seemed like a smile before turning back into his human form. Hermione tried to ignore his nakedness by placing an amused smile on her face.
"The Cullens are vampires." Hermione chuckled.
"Figures. Should I be worried?" Jake chuckled at how well Hermione was taking the news.
"Nah. They seem to be especially okay around you."
Hermione smirked. "I wonder why." Jacob quickly ran into the house before Hermione could see anything more. Hermione laughed and followed. Upon entering the house, Hermione saw Jacob fully clothed and sitting with a happy grin on his face. He patted the seat next to him on the couch for Hermione to sit.
"Now, I have to tell you the most important part." Hermione looked questioningly at Jacob because she had thought that was all he had to tell her. "There's a reason we're together and we have great chemistry." By this point, Jacob was practically bouncing on the spot. Hermione smiled at his childishness and urged him to continue. "You see, we wolves are born with a thing called an imprint, which is like a soul mate. When we find this imprint, we want to do everything for them and we live to please this person. If this person were to be gone, we would essentially die of grief. Sam, Quil, Jared, Paul, and I have already imprinted on someone, which is actually incredibly rare. Even one member of a pack imprinting is rare." Jacob looked deep into Hermione's eyes with a look of genuine affection. "Hermione, you are my imprint."
Hermione shot up onto her feet and looked at Jacob, shocked. "What?"
Jacob looked confusedly at Hermione's reaction. "You're my imprint." Hermione began her habit of pacing and biting her thumb nervously before placing her head in her hands and sighing deeply. "Hermione, are you alright?"
Hermione swiftly stopped her pacing and turned to the man in the room. "No Jacob, I am not alright. So all along this had never really been real? Our relationship was the outcome of some stupid supernatural bullshit? And to think I actually believed that this could become something real, something serious." Jacob's eyes widened at Hermione's words and he quickly grabbed onto her hands as she was about to leave.
"It is real, Hermione! I like you; my feelings for you are as genuine as can be!" Hermione pushed Jacob away from her, not caring at the moment if she pushed him too hard.
"No, they aren't! This dumb imprinting has gotten to your head. Don't you understand, Jacob? Your feelings aren't real at all, but unfortunately, mine are." Hermione walked over to the front door but stopped before she could leave. Turning to Jacob with sad eyes, she muttered her last words, "Goodbye, Jacob."