Chapter XII

Hermione never would have guessed that she would be running for her life all because her maidenhood was at stake. If anyone had said that to her before she would have said it was a load of bullock and laugh about it, saying there was no way for that to happen.

Then again she never thought she have a horny werewolf by the name of Moony pursuing and was gaining real fast as she ran through the forest heading straight for the castle.

What the bloody hell happened? She didn't understand how everything could have gone so wrong as he was out in the open instead of the shack like he should have been, not out in the open without his friends to stop him. Surely Remus would have until morning and—

She didn't have time to be questioning this as she could see Hagrid's hut and the grounds up ahead and quicken her pace to get there.

As she was getting closer, she was thinking of what would happen if Remus followed her inside to the school.

Someone, a professor or perfect or Head, whoever was unfortunate to be up at this godforsaken hour and hearing the commotion and going to investigate and were to go see what it was and then…?

Remus would be exposed and he'll probably hurt someone and that would spell trouble as well ruining the future for him. Everyone will know and his whole life at Hogwarts would be miserable. They probably hate him except the Marauders of course but the whole student body staring, whispering in the hallway when they saw him, fear and disgust in their eyes and he could possibly be kicked out…

Merlin no! She can't allow that to happen, not for Remus' future to be utterly destroyed like that! She couldn't let that for Remus' life to betray his secret for the whole school to know.

She had to find some other way to prevent this but how? She had to keep Remus from going in yet what could she do to stop him?

Com'n think! Think Hermione, you're the brainy one so put your mind to it! She looked around her surroundings and saw the Whomping tree and an idea forming in her mind, knowing was either very ingenious or very stupid and almost suicidal on her behalf.

If Remus wants me badly, he'll have to follow me through there! She ran towards the giant willow and stood close, keeping a good measurable distance and sense Remus coming, sniffing the air again and waiting patiently for him as he emerged out of the forest and onto the grounds.

Ok, he's out and now all I have to do is get him to follow me through the tunnel to the shack. She bend down on all fours and threw her head back and howl, loud enough to grab his attention as she rush to the tree, dodging the swinging branches and through the entrance of the tunnel. She heard Remus following not too far behind.

So far so good, got to keep this up and get him through here so he'll be safe and I hope I can get through this myself with what I am about to do... Her claws and pads scrapping up dirt and running up to the shack as he came in hot pursuit of his intended.

Sirius had just gotten out of the forest to see James pulling off his invisibility cloak and running for him. He saw the grim coming towards him and Sirius transform back into his original form, holding onto his bended knees as he tried to catch his breath.

"Moony (pant) saw him chasing (pant) attacked by (pant) coming…" His words weren't making much sense and James wasn't really listening to most of it, too busy trying to figure where the werewolf Moony gone off to.

"Padfoot, did Moony come back here or is still in the forest? Where the bloody hell did—Blimey what is that thing!" He pointing behind Sirius, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open, seeing that the shadow was coming closer, "It's heading straight towards us!"

Sirius turn to see Keller, her silhouette demonic under the moonlight and hitting the ground with a soft thud and standing a couple inches from them and looking seriously pissed when she stalked over to the two gaping boys.

With ebony eyes and her stark white face giving her that scary and menacing complexion and almost made James jump right out of his skin the way she stared and he had only seen that expression with only one other and that was usually Moony when he was peeved off or wanting to tear something. She seem to be capable of both and tried to swallow the lump forming in his throat, jiggling down and heading to the pit of his stomach.

Sirius having seen the change once yet still gave him the chills and the hair on the back of his neck standing up before her eyes went back to being hazel and she looked almost normal again with the exception her wings hadn't disappear and should be on alert if she probably transform.

"Where is she?" She asked, almost snarling like a very angry dog as James haven't had a clue to who 'she' was referring to and looking again at the large demonic wings on her back and Sirius had no idea where Moony or Hermione or Sonja or whatever her name was could be right now. They as much had no idea where their friend and her cousin, if she really were related, and probably would be able to find until morning.

Keller turning her head and started sniffing the air, trying to locate their scents. James and Sirius looked to one another, "Is that really…?" Sirius was nodding slowly even as he hadn't believed it as they watch Keller what she was doing. There were so many surrounding them but few held trances of Remus and Hermione lingered by and had came this way.

She saw the faint prints going for the Whomping Willow and heading towards it, maneuvering the branches and diving in the tunnel herself with a swoop. James and Sirius followed, changing into their animagus forms and getting through and going after her, wondering what exactly was going on and why did it seem to involve Keller and her cousin?

Hermione had been able to get inside and head into one of the rooms upstairs, the bedroom that Remus usually went for his basic transformation.

The room itself remained her from the story 'Beauty and the Beast' where the beast's lair was with broken furniture upturn and scattered everywhere and scratch marks and dry blood staining from the walls to the floor. The only thing missing was the enchanted rose and the Beast himself only which she knew he was going to be up here at any second and wasn't going to be handing a bouquet when he came.

Her heart was thumping like a caught rabbit and beating like hell in her chest as she moved across the room and tried to figure out what to do next as she heard the pounding of his paws on the wooden stairs and Moony came in the room and looked around and spotted her sitting by the other end, his eyes glowing amber when he saw her.

She tried to stand, feeling shaken from all that running and watch him and snapped her fangs when she thought he was coming too close for comfort and keeping him at bay for now. She was recalling all the things she had remember up until now leading to this.

The second mark has to then be bitten by the thigh, close to the nub of the female lycan that connects to her virginal blood, giving him only right to take her virtues after she had given her consent to the male after their first mark…

With the third mark, you are to consummate after he has given you to the second in which marks both your souls to bond together and belong to one another, for all eternity.

Gebo can mean both good and bad as it means 'Sacrifice' or 'gift'.

Gebo, yes she was becoming the sacrifice and the gift. This was what she had to do for him, for both their sakes. Hermione revered back to her human guise, Remus getting slightly suspicious but not preparing to attack as she sat down and part her legs and pulled back her skirt to reveal her thighs and said the words he needed to hear before giving the second mark, "I am yours now…take me as you will…Remus."

Keller was running through the tunnel, her wings scrapping the top and had to lay them flat on her back as she made her way faster without them slowing her down and hurrying to reach the opening leading to the shack above.

Please don't let me be too late, by the Elder Mione, please be safe! She hope beyond anything she make it in times and rush through the trapdoor and stood in the middle of the room, trying to locate where her cousin was and heard growling coming from upstairs.

Oh elders no "Mione," and fearing the worse already, ran up those stairs, three steps at once and standing by the doorway saw the lycan, Remus or Moony or whoever he bloody called himself in that bestial form and her cousin lying on the other side of the room, his teeth embedded in the fleshy part of her leg, his muzzle red with blood, unaware of her presence watching and her eyes turning black with rage.

MIONE!!! Keller screech as she rush in and pulled him back by the scruff of his neck and plunge the syringe into his throat, pushing the plunger and the serum into his bloodstream through his entire body.

Moony howled but she didn't listen and threw him across the room to the side of the broken bed and over it, disappearing from sight. Her main concern was on Hermione and went over and brushing the strands of hair from her face, looking to her cousin who was unconscious, her eyes closed and the blood seeping out from the bite on her thigh.

Oh elder no…please don't let her be…! She crouched down, feeling warm tangy blood soaked through her jeans, causing them to turn dark but ignore the strong aroma and lift Hermione's left wrist and pressed her fingers to sought for her pulse. She felt the slight strong beat and the heavy breathing coming from her lips and then stared down at the color of her blood. She was relieve to see no artery was puncture but had to stop and add pressure to keep it from flowing freely or she might lose too much and go into a state of shock if she didn't regenerate or heal the bite mark soon. Good thing her father had taught her earlier on medical treatments but knew wouldn't really need that sort.

Vampires and werewolves were suppose to have amazing healing capabilities unless it was penetrated by silver or sunlight and takes them forever to heal if they didn't get rid of the toxic. But for her and Hermione's, theirs was able to in matter of minutes. But if one were to lose too much blood and not have enough the recovery might not be easy. And judging from the swiftly spreading puddle that continues to leak out on the floor, Keller saw that she didn't have much time to be wasting gawking like an idiot when she should be helping her!

Hang on Hermione! Take it, drink, you must! I'm not going to let you go without a fight even if it kills me or I'll force you to open up and pour this down your throat!

She raised her arm to her mouth and bit deep her wrist. Blood flowed from her severed vein, pulling back as her lips were now crimson and thrusting her wound to her cousin's lips and holding it steady to let the blood seep through, giving Hermione the taste and the blood that trailed down the corners and use her thumb to clean them up. Her eyes crack open slightly before closing back again and began to drink. Keller felt her tongue lapping at the wound gently then sucking furiously as her thirst overpowered her will and was gulping it down as if she couldn't have enough.

She flinched against the pain and had to bite her lip from gasping out loud as the bleeding stung with each draw but didn't pull her arm away as she cradle Hermione's form, feeling her heartbeat within her head as she took her blood and they became more synchronized with the more Hermione took.

"That right Mione, that's it…just a little more, you can do it. Come on you need this…" She knew she had feed pretty well tonight and had enough to spare for the time being but her body was starting to become weaker as she continue to allow herself to being drain until she had to pull her arm away and heard her cousin almost speaking through the mindlink before breaking apart from one another. You came…for me?

Keller held her wrist, watching the wound closed slowly and leaving no sign that it had been there with no scar, turn her head and said coolly, "Yeah I figured even when I told you to head straight to the castle but seeing how I had no choice but to go after you. I didn't feel like watching you being mauled by a lycan today." And turn back before seeing the faint smile on Hermione's lips while she licked the last few remaining drops of blood from her lips, remembering what had transpired between them and heard her heartbeat seeing how much she cared even when she tried to pretend she didn't at times.

Yeah right, whatever you say Keller…whatever you say…

Just shut up and go back to sleep, you're going to need it.

James and Sirius came rushing up the stairs to see Keller standing by Sonja's side, ripping a piece of cloth from her shirt, wiping the blood and looking at the mark on her inner thigh and frowned, "Elder that's going to be a nasty bitch of a scar…"

They also notice the large puddle under the girls and how it stained the knees of Keller's pants and trying to figure how much blood did Sonja lose and wondered if she would be all right as she laid there while Keller clean the blood off her as best she could. But James and Sirius' concerns was for their friend, Remus who there seem to be no sight of as they looked around the room before their very eyes and then to Keller.

"Where's Remus? Is he still here in the shack somewhere? Where's Moony?" James was asking as Keller turn to look at them while holding Hermione still as she was recovery with a slower rate but that was to be expected when losing so much and had to do the same herself after giving hers.

She knew that the wound that Hermione had gotten was closing and had been saved and would lose no more blood but the bite would leave a scar that not even her healing capability had been able to rid. But as long as they got the Hell out of here and far from here than that was all that matter to her at the moment for her cousin's safety.

We'll head to the Room of Requirements and stay and rest there before going to the dorms. These two can watch over their friend and keep an eye on him while we make our leave and outta here. The quicker we get to the castle, the sooner we can be out of danger.

"Behind the bed over there. He should be back to his normal form and out cold for the rest of the night but you can see for yourself if you don't believe me." James and Sirius thought confuse but moved to where she had said and saw that lying by the foot of the bed indeed laid a naked Remus, the werewolf completely gone.

"What the bloody hell, what happened to him? How is he? I mean…blimey its Remus again." Sirius said while staring at his unconscious friend as James pulls the syringe from his neck, holding the empty cylindrical glass chamber and then turns around to regard her with perplexity and curiosity.

What had she exactly dosed Remus with to change him back, was this permanent then? How had she been able to find the cure and free him from his cursed state?

Keller grunted as she picked up Hermione and leaning her against her shoulder and Sirius went to help as they tried to get her balance and walking towards the door.

"We'll have to take her to Madam Promfrey and have that bite treated though we'll have to try to think of a reasonable excuse as to why your cousin got bitten, not to say by Moony as a werewolf unless you want us to reveal your—" She was about to remark that if he dared tried to blackmail her he had another thing coming and there was no way she was taking her cousin to the hospital wing when suddenly they James knocked forward and hitting the wall by the door.

"Holy Merlin's Beard! What the bloody hell?!" Sirius said and heard the growls coming from behind and turn to see Remus standing on top the bed, his eyes glowing cobalt and his lips drawn back revealing dry blood and saliva on his canines and dripping down his chin as he snarled at them again.

Sirius almost lost his gripped and was freaked that Remus was acting this way as if he was still Moony even in his old body when he really shouldn't be as this wasn't suppose to happen. He turn to Keller, expecting to see if she knew what was going on or at least give them a idea and saw she had the same expression he had with her eyes wide in shock.

"What did you exactly give him?! I thought you said that serum-antidote or whatever you dose him would change him back to normal but now look at him, he's bloody pissed!"

"You think I blind not to see that?!" Keller turning her attention back to Remus and saying, "Yeah I thought so too but I'm guessing that the serum I created didn't work up to its' full potential like it should have, only work to change his physical appearance didn't apply to his mental state of mind as we now see normality is overrated for this case."

"So now you tell us?!" He stares back and forth from one unconscious friend to one very scary looking one who jumped off the bed and walking towards them on all fours, sniffing them slowly and going around them.

Sirius wanted to start backing away but Keller stood her ground, holding tightly to Hermione and look to him, trying to get his attention and listen to her closely, "Sirius, whatever you do, don't do what you're thinking right now at this moment. Don't make any sudden moves and keep your voice down, you don't want to shout cause that will be the last thing you want to do in your friend's case and need to stay calm cause he will smell out your fear."

Sirius would have made a snapping comment if it weren't for Remus circling around the three the second time. He whispered while watching Remus to keep him in his line of vision to see what was going on, "Ah Keller what's he doing do you know? Cause he's circling around us and I have a bad feeling about it?"

"Yeah I can see that thank you captain obvious!" She hissed, keeping her voices low and not tried to make Remus think they were up to anything but still had to resist shouting at Sirius and turning to what was going on, "I think he's trying to figure which one of us is his, um, intended…"

Sirius gave her a confused glance as she rolled her eyes as she should have known better, "Apparently since you and I have my cousin in our arms, he can smell her scent on the both of us but sense the two different odors and trying to see which is his mate, which is the threat that mostly concerns you as you are male and might decide on getting rid of you since you are kind of touching her and he might see that as a threat and believe you challenging in on his territory."

"WHAT!" He cried out but shush up before Remus turn to stare at them and they kept quiet before he kept circling around them, still sniffing out for his mate while circling around slowly to let him keep smelling them.

Keller shot him a mean glance in his direction and whispered harshly, "Way to go, you almost got his attention and probably even more provoke. What's next, being ripped to shreds is the next part of your plan then I suggest you keep at it if you want a quick and painless death for us both!" and notched her head to the still circling Remus who was now growling at Sirius and walking towards him with a dark predatory look in his eye.

"Oh man, Remus, Moony, nice wolfy, nice Moony, it's us, your friends, Padfoot, Prongs? Don't you remember? We're the marauders, your best friends since first year. Come on Moony old buddy, old pal, snap out of it!"

Remus stopped circling finally, which almost made them dizzy from watching and saw he had discovered the scent belonging to his true mate that was sandwich in between the two and was moving towards them and they were backing away slowly, knowing he knew which was his intended and which were his threats.

Keller was holding Hermione closer, trying to drag her cousin away but saw Remus turn to snarl at her, looking ready to pounce at any given moment if she dare try to take her and rip her to pieces.

She held still but didn't let go and felt Hermione's head lolled onto her shoulder and slowly waking up and hearing what the was going on and knew there was trouble. She had to do something to keep Remus from harming them.

Sirius…Tell him…to let… go…of me… Keller looked from seeing Remus growling at her to Hermione struggling to stay conscious as she said for her to heard, "Tell Sirius to let go…Remus, thinks he's trying to…"

Oh ok no problem I'll try, let me handle this just relax we'll get out of here I promise.

She looked from her cousin to Sirius who was fidgeting nervously, unsure what to do now that Remus had figured out, "Sirius hey psst listen, let my cousin go and back away slowly. We don't want Remus to think you're up to something now do we?"

Sirius turn around to stare from Remus who was paying attention to her and her cousin and nodded her head in the direction of him and Mione and told him that he was to let her out of his arms and back away without getting Remus noticing.

He did, letting Keller take the full weight of her cousin, holding her up while speaking once more to him. "Now you go and take James and get out of here before Moony decides to eliminated the competition if you get my drift." Sirius didn't move as he looked at her like she grown a second head or something.

Was she nuts, thinking that he would leave her and her cousin in the hands of Moony in the body of an unconscious Remus? Especially a werewolf who looked at them like having two fresh sheep inside a wolf's den, only with something worse than a hungry wolf but a bloodthirsty werewolf.

"Forget it are you crazy, he could bloody well tear you both to itty pieces! I'm not leaving you!" She turn and saw she was damn serious and also what shock him was watching her mask slip for one second, the fear and concern showing underneath before sliding back into her normal cool guise and barked one last time to grab his full attention.

"Just get the hell outta here now! Don't worry, we'll be fine, just go! Now!" Sirius, not without realizing that she did care for their safety and not her own sake and went to help James who groan as he was picked up, hearing him muttering, 'Anyone get the number of that Cleansweep…' and head down the stairs, holding on to the batter railing for support as they made it out of there.

With the two gone and leaving only them to deal with Remus who was coming towards them and Keller backing away before Hermione was able to whisper to her once more, "Keller, go after James and Sirius and leave us."

She spun her head around and her hair falling into her eyes as she looked to her cousin like she had gone mental, "What, no way Mione! Are you out of your mind?! I'm not leaving you to deal with him!" She said, almost thinking how funny those seem to be the exact same words Sirius' had said but this was completely different.

She could already imagine what Remus would do to her cousin and was not going to let that happened as she was trying to think of how to get them out of this jam they were in but no solution came to her. She tighten her hold around Hermione's waist, not wanting to let her go and leave her to this sort of fate.

I already made my promise that I wouldn't let you be harmed and I don't intend to break it!

Remus snarled, growing impatient and moving closer to the two and Keller hissing like an angry spite cat and thinking if she could make a run to the door, dragging her cousin along and stop him from coming through the tunnel after them could they make it.

Hermione knew this would end terribly if she didn't do something and tried to muster as much strength she could, now with the blood flowing in her veins and pumping through her limbs, she manage to pull herself away from Keller and tried to stand on her own.

But feeling the shakiness start in her knees and not having it reach there yet to fully recover, knew she wouldn't be able to hold up much longer without falling to the floor in less than a minute before her body could regenerate itself.

I have to do this, this is the only way Remus will calm down, he's now my mate and not only is he protective of me as I had given my consent to him and I have to go through the whole ordeal if I must help prevent him from harming everyone or himself. Even with what I have to do…

She tried to walk over to the other side, her legs wobbling uneasy with each step she took but refusing to give up without standing by Remus until he was calm. Her legs moved unsteady but manage as she wrapped her arms around his neck and feel him relax against her.

Keller saw what was going to happen with Hermione as her legs finally gave in and was about to go over and help but Remus grabbed her waist and caught her before she could hit the ground.

She watch him lift Hermione and carried her to the bed and laid her down and join her, embracing her body towards him while watching wary of her and wrapping his arms around his mate possessively.

Hermione turn her head to look with her brown eyes staring right at Keller and told her to go.

"But Mione I—" She didn't want to do this, wishing there was another way but Hermione had given her no choice in the manner as she said to her in a voice calm and caring and giving her nothing else to do for this situation.

"Keller this was my decision and I've agreed and have accept it as his mate. I already have the second mark on me." She touched the hem of her skirt and pulled it up to reveal the mark scarred on her thigh, closed to where it connect to the rest of her body. She ran her hand tenderly down, almost remembering how painful it was when his fang dig deep and had passed out.

But it was gone now, the second task completed and all that remain was the scar on her thigh, decreeing herself as his mate and that the third and final one was near at hand.

"Now I have to fulfill the last one, we have to do this Keller. Best you go and let them know seeing as they might need to know." What she meant by 'them' was James and Sirius and probably to tell them half of the truth but that could wait till later as she was more concern on her.

She stared, seeing Hermione's eyes shine brightly before she finally agree, seeing there was no other way and wasn't in her power to this and fate must have a funny sense of humor she guessed. She tried to put a smile on her face which Hermione thought look like she forced but all the while she felt a bit at ease how she was taking this.

"Ok I'll go but he better treat you right or else I'll hunt him down and pump his guts full of silver nitrate that I still have stored in my pack and not afraid to use it if he dares tries to break your heart. You got that Remus?"

Remus didn't hear what she said as he buried his face in Hermione's neck and inhaled her scent and licking her throat as he held her close, not looking to where Keller was and purring in Hermione's ear like a happy cat, causing her to slightly giggle from the sudden action.

She smiled warmly to her cousin while putting one hand on Remus' back, "I'll be sure to relate the message to him when he's…conscious and I'm sure he won't dare. Better go or he'll lose his cool again with you still around otherwise I don't think you want to stay and watch."

Keller had to keep herself from laughing, shaking her head and walked out the room, thinking that she should try to close the door to give them at least some privacy but seeing how it look almost ready to be pulled off the hinges and head down the stairs to the tunnel.

She walked down the tunnel to the Willow outside where the two boys were waiting, James once again conscious and asking what happened before Sirius filled him in as much he could before seeing Keller emerged from the tree and walking towards them.

She looked up towards the sky and saw how the stars were twinkling and the moon, a bright shining orb as clear as ever that which she felt that tonight of all nights was going to have some drastic changes to their lives.

"I hope you know what you're doing Mione, for your sake..."

Blue Kitsune: Whee took me a while to figure how to get this done but don't worry there's more to come as the next chapter is with Remus/Hermione smut and hope everyone will enjoy.