A/N: Hope you enjoy! Again sorry for the slow update but as I said: life defining exams happened, as well as life itself and I just didn't have the time to update! Please please forgive me! This story is close to an end! Training in the next chapter! Then the 'war' that never happens and then an epilogue (maybe)... So really, just two or three chapters left! Holy cow, that was quick. R&R
Hopefully the next few chapters will come faster (they should)... Unless you know, I get my exam results and fall into a short depression because I completely messed up exams instead of acing them like I had thought.
Disclaimer: I own shi* and you all know it!
"Jacob, we need to talk," Hermione said, blankly, trying to control her emotions.
Quil and Embry, who had joined Jacob's pack a few days earlier, 'ooh-ed' playfully, snickering at their friend.
"Shut it," Jake muttered, shoving them.
Hermione smiled at the wolves who had grown confident enough to phase in the vampires presence, who grinned back at her, winking. Hermione turned away from Jacob and strode into the trees, knowing Jake was following her. Once she deemed they had gone far enough to have a private conversation, Hermione leaned against a mossy tree and crossed her arms.
"Is there anything you'd like to tell me?" She questioned softly.
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck, thoughtfully and nervously, avoiding her gaze. "I'm not sure..." He spoke slowly, as if knowing that she already knew the answer to his question.
"Don't lie to me Jacob, it's unbecoming."
"How did you find out?"
"Renesmee showed me. She realized I was confused by Seth's attitude towards her and the other wolves attitudes towards people, like Paul with Rachel, Quil with Claire... You with me," she murmured, quietly.
"Does it bother you?" Jake wondered, trying to catch her gaze.
"Yes, a bit."
Jacob frowned, his head snapping up. "Why?"
"Well, you basically had no choice but to fall for me! In any other situation you probably never would have noticed me."
"Hermione... I don't think you understand what imprinting is. To imprint on someone is to feel the unavoidable need to protect someone, to love and take care of them forever. Yes, I loved you the first time I set eyes on you but I didn't have to fall in love with you! I fell in love with you when I got to know you. As soon as I realized how beautiful you were, inside and out it was impossible for me not to love you. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I'm not sure."
"When a wolf imprints, he becomes whatever his imprint needs, for now Quil and Seth will be protective older brothers. It's very likely that as soon as their imprints are of age, they will become mates. A wolf simply becomes whatever it's imprint needs: brother, father, mate. "
"So you could have not fallen in love with me?"
"Hermione, my falling in love with you was always going to happen. You are perfect for me, you're my soulmate. You're fun, incredibly smart and beautiful in every way."
He wrapped his arms around her and burried his face into her neck. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I was just worried you'd be frightened away by the revelation," he admitted.
"Why would being your imprint frighten me?"
"It's pretty final. Now, you know you're it for me. If you ever leave me, the wolf inside me will wither and die. There will never be anyone else for me. You still have a choice. You're still young enough, you're barely 18," he turned his head away from her.
Hermione cupped his cheek in her palm. "I can't be sure but," she bit her lower lip. "I'm pretty sure you're it for me too. I love you with all my heart Jacob."
Hermione's eyes fluttered closed as Jacob pulled her closer, tipping his head slightly until his cheek brushed her temple. She could feel his breath on her hair as he breathed in her scent. He hummed in satisfaction, low and rumbling through his body into hers, she could feel the heat of his body tingling along her skin. He pulled back, slowly, enough to hold her gaze, he grabbed her hand, entwining their fingers. His other hand was using his fingers to slip tantalizingly up her arm, across her shoulder, until they came to rest behind her head, cupping her neck, his thumb rubbing circles against her skin. She stared up at him, still as mesmerized with him as the first time while he lowered his lips to hers.
She clung to Jake, trying to regain her balance as her knees weakened. The dizziness refused to dissipate. When his tongue traced along her lips, it was natural to part them, to breathe him in and taste him. Her fingers found their way into his thick mass of black hair, he groaned in response, pulling her closer, crushing her to him as he devoured her mouth.
Hermione could feel the panic radiating off of Bella as she hurried into the house clutching Renesmee in her arms, Seth following closely.
"What's the matter?" Carlisle asked, as soon as Bella put down Renesmee.
"Seth, Nessie and I were out hunting... Seth was trying to teach her to eat animal blood instead of human blood but Irina, she came out of nowhere! I didn't know what to do! She saw Seth with us and she ran, I didn't even have any time to explain the situation to her," Bella explained.
The Cullens all glanced at the youngest family member who was peacefully curled up in Seth's lap. "Bella, I doubt Irina left because of Seth."
Bella frowned confused though the meaning of Carlisle's statement was obvious. "What exactly was Renesmee doing when Irina appeared?"
"She was hunting, well, learning to hunt."
"She must believe your child is an Immortal," Hermione gasped, appalled by the very idea.
"Immortal? Of course she's immortal," Bella replied, confused.
"No, she's a vampire-hybrid," Esme corrected, gently.
"An Immortal Child is hard to explain. Extremly dangerous. What they were thinking, those ancient ones when they first started making some, I can't begin to understand. They created vampires out of humans who were barely more than infants... They were very beautiful. So endearing, so enchanting, you can't imagine. You had but to be near them to love them; it was an automatic thing. However, they could not be taught. They were frozen at whatever level of development they'd achieved before being bitten. Adorable two-year-olds with dimples and lisps that could destroy half a village in one of their tantrums. If they hungered, they fed, and no words of warning could restrain them... In the end, the practice was completely eliminated. The Immortal Children became unmentionable, a taboo," Carlisle spoke, his gaze distant.
"Hopefully she'll just go back to her coven and leave it at that," Jacob stated.
"It's likely, the Denali's won't do anything about what they suspect, they avoid the Volturi almost more than us," Jasper observed.
"None the less, Alice should keep an eye on her," Rosalie recommended.
"So far she's still undecided, it doesn't look like she'll change her mind soon," Alice informed.
Hermione, Ron and Harry practically rolled their eyes. In their opinion, the Cullen's were being too happy go lucky. Sighing Hermione walked out of the house with her three closest friends. She cast a quick muffliato spell and nodded at them so that they new it was safe to talk.
"So, I'm not the only one who thinks the Cullens are being too hopeful?"
"They're not being hopeful Ron, they're being full on dense!" Harry proclaimed. "Have you heard anything from Malfoy?"
"Of course not, it's too soon... If Irina does go, he'll inform us immediately, as it is she hasn't decided what to do yet as Alice stated," Ginny replied.
"I was thinking..." Hermione trailed off, the wheels in her head still turning as an idea desperately tried to form in her mind. The others watched her silently not wanting to distract her train of thought. "Irina knows the Cullens well doesn't she? So that means she knows how Alice's powers work..."
"You mean you think she's purposfully keeping her mind undecided so the Cullens won't be aware of what she's doing?"
"It's a strong possibility," she shrugged. "If she's about to turn in close family friends to the Volturi, she wouldn't want them aware of it."
"So you believe she's off to Italie?" Ron wondered.
"I'm willing to bet there's a strong chance," she nodded.
"I should send a patronus to Draco then so that he can warn Sanguini and Blaise to keep an eye out?"
"That would be the wisest thing to do at the moment," Hermione agreed.
Ron took down the protective spell Hermione had put up and glanced up at the balcony where the vampires and wolves were watching in curiosity at what Harry was doing. Harry waved his wand gracefully, whispering his favorite spell after expelliarmus, his beautiful white light stag appeared in front of him, bowing his head as he listened to the message Harry was transfering into him. Finally, the stag turned away from Harry and galloped away, gradually disappearing into thin air. All the non-magical folk looked on mesmerized, never realizing that magic could be so marvelous.
"What was that?" Esme inquired.
"A patronus, it's one of our quickest ways to relay messages," Harry explained.
"Ever heard of a cellphone? Those are pretty quick," Emmett mocked.
"A patronus can find someone no matter where they are in the world, even if they are hiding behind spells and enchantements. You can't hide from a Patronus. In fact Malfoy is probably already listening to our message," Hermione stated.
"What if someone undesireable is around to hear it?" Jasper asked.
"The message is relayed into the person's very mind if it's directed only to them," Ginny claimed.
The others nodded, some not seeming to completely understand as they all headed back into the house. Ron and Jasper hoping to play a game of chess before the wizards headed back to their house for the night.
A day had passed without anything unexpected happening, Hermione was sitting in the Cullens yard, petting her boyfriend who was currently wrapped around her feet, dozing off. She was idly trwirling a lock of his fur around her index finger, lost in thought. After releasing a third loud sigh, Jacob lifted his head, cocking his head as if asking what was wrong.
She shook her head. "I'm on edge, that's all. Don't mind me."
The wolf frowned and scoffed. Or at least Hermione suspected the noise that escaped his mouth would be a scoff if he had been in his human form. "I just thought we would have heard from Draco and Blaise already."
The large wolf languidly stood up, stretching his legs before blinking at her once more and disappearing into the woods. Hermione shook her head fondly as the huge beast trotted away.
"Hello," a gentle voice said as someone sat beside her.
"Hullo Nessie," Hermione glanced at the young girl who already seemed to be eight. "Where's your shadow?"
"I told him to sleep, or I wouldn't talk to him," the child admitted.
"He must have loved that," Hermione giggled.
"Not really, but he's obviously exhausted, I rarely find him sleeping, even during the late hours of the night."
"He's worried about you, we all are," Hermione said, finding it odd how this girl was technically only a few months old and already speaking like an adult.
The small brunette did not reply, which did not surprise Hermione as the girl rarely spoke more than a few words to anyone, prefering to transmit her thoughts to people through her touch. In fact she only really spoke to Seth. Looking in the direction Jacob had disappeared into, Hermione squinted at the sight of a large number of wolves gathering before the Cullens home.
"What's happening?" She asked, standing up.
The wolves all ignored her, grouping together around two wolves. Hermione moved to the side in order to have a better view of the center of the circle. Her eyes widened when she saw Jacob and Sam facing one another, having one of their silent conversations. In the blink on eye, Renesmee was beside her, staring at the wolves as well.
"There's been a disturbance in the forest, seventy eight miles away from here," the girl informed her. "To the North. Close to the border."
Suddenly, as if remembering where he had left her, Jacob turned to look at her. Hermione met his gaze straight on, not even blinking. Jacob's lips lifted off his teeth as if he was about to snarl a warning at her, knowing exactly what was happening in that brain of hers. Jake stepped forward but he was too late. Hermione had already spun on her heels waving her wand and disappearing on the spot. Jacob's frustrated howl was heard all over Forks and even beyond.
"I can't believe you went there without me! Without waiting for us to check it was safe!" Jacob snarled, a hand raking through his short hair in anger.
"I knew it was him. Besides I'm a witch, I'm more than capable of defending myself!" She argued back, only the slightest bit miffed by his attitude but mainly finding his protectiveness endearing.
"It was still dangerous! He's a wizard too! One you and the others don't trust!"
"I've always bested him in combat... You don't need to worry about me around him," Hermione reassured.
"I imprinted on you, I love you, I can't do anything but worry about you when you're not in my sight," he murmured, rubbing her cheek with his knuckles.
Hermione's eyes closed at the warm sensation that spread through her body because of his touch. The tan boy pressed his lips to her forhead, breathing in her scent to calm down his somewhat animal instincts. He moved his mouth to her eyelids before kissing her cheeks, grazing her jaw line before capturing her lips with his in a soft and loving kiss. He sighed into the kiss, pulling away gently.
"I was never in any real danger you know, not today at least," she whispered, against his lips.
"I know but I can't help it. I have an insane and uncontrollable urge to protect you. Always."
"Perhaps..." She trailed off, turning her face away from his and eyeing the white house lit up brightly in the darkness. "Perhaps you should meet him. You might feel better if you know who he is."
He nodded. "Probably not but I still need to get to know his scent, for patrol reasons."
She took his hand. "Come on then."
They entered the house, Jasper and Ron sitting, heads bent close, at the dining table, debating their favorite battle strategies over a game of chess. Edward sat at the piano, teaching his daughter how to play while Bella stood not far away. Harry sat on a prestine white couch, staring at Carlisle who was standing beside Draco Malfoy who was his usual pale self. In fact, as Hermione came to stop in the doorway with Jacob at her side, Hermione found that Draco highly resembled the older vampire. It was almost uncanny. Even with his silver eyes, Draco could have been passed off as a vampire. Draco immediately turned to the pair as they entered, smirking at them. Blaise rose from his seat, grinning at the pretty brunette.
"Miss Granger a pleasure as always."
Hermione nodded, realising that though Blaise had indeed arrived, just like Draco had told them, Sanguini was still missing from their group. "Where is Sanguini?"
The vampires in the room all visibly tensed, Edward going as far as hitting the wrong key on the piano.
"We - ah - thought it best to not bring him right away, knowing his reputation among vampires," Blaise explained.
Hermione's eyebrows raised. "You do not get along with him?"
"No vampire does," Edward all but snarled.
"Why is that? I recall conversing with him a few times a little over a year ago. He seemed rather pleasent."
The vampires appeared surprised by this. "He's not known as bloodthirsty for no reason," Carlisle spoke, calmly.
"And yet he's helping us, is he not?" Hermione demanded.
"Because Potter asked," Malfoy responded.
"Don't even go there," Harry snapped, hating it when everyone brought situations back to his name.
"You know it's true!" Blaise laughed, completely at ease with these hostile groups.
"Even you told me you were pulling the "Harry Potter" card on him and us," Draco stated.
"You owed me a life debt, that was no card play!" Harry argued.
"Same difference," Blaise shrugged. "When it concerns you, the whole wizarding world owes you a life debt. If we're gonna get technical about it: Malfoy owes you two life debts."
"Thanks for that Blaise," Draco snorted. "That's really helpful."
"I'm here for you mate," Blaise Zabini grinned.
The vampires watched the exchange in small amusement, as the discussion was finally cut short by Ron.
"I suggest we forget about who owes who life debts, because if we go there, I'd like to point out that you owe me some as well! And Hermione. In fact I'd say you owe Hermione as many life debts as Harry, if not more!"
"Really, Ronald? And how do you figure?" Hermione demanded, intrigued.
"Simple, if you hadn't been around to save our skins, we would have died at eleven," Ron shrugged.
"He's right you know," Harry agreed, pointing a finger at his friend.
"I think that's a bit of an exageration, I've hardly done that much."
"Trap door, first year, the black fire," Harry stated.
"Yes, well, that simply compensates for the troll in the bathroom," she responded.
"Second year, the Basilisk in the pipes?" Ron offered.
"I got petrified and you would have figured it out in the end," she defended.
"No, we wouldn't," Ron snorted.
"Time Travelling to save Sirius and Buckbeak, not to mention my own life, third year," Harry added.
"That hardly counts as life saving," Hermione crossed her arms while shaking her head.
"Alright, what about the spell training you helped Harry with in the Tournament during our fourth year?"
"Anybody would have done that!"
"Nuh-hun, everybody hated him at that time," Ron argued.
"Fifth year, Dumbledore's Army, need I say more?"
"Now you're just making things up..." She murmured with a blush.
"Blimey Hermione! This doesn't count as modesty anymore! You created a rebel resistance army! Single-handedly!"
Every eyebrow in the room flew up at those words. "That's far from true, you helped and I wouldn't have been able to help if Harry wasn't there. Nothing would have been possible without him, so in the end everything comes down to him."
"Whatever Hermione, I give up trying to convince you of this, we've been trying for years and you're still just as dense. Brightest witch of her Age, my arse," Ron muttered.
"As amusing as this interlude has been, we really should get back on track," Draco sneered.
"Sanguini will be arriving tomorrow, in the morning. We need to be prepared," Blaise interjected.
"What exactly did he say to you?" Carlisle inquired.
"That he was summoned by the Volturi to join their army. They'll come here in a week. They seem to believe that Renesmee is an Immortal Child and plan on destroying her and all of you."
"They want to out number you, leave you without the slightest chance of survival," Draco explained.
"We can find allies," Esme spoke softly.
"Indeed, we have friends in Denali, Ireland, India even. We could seek out their aid?" Carlisle proposed.
Jasper nodded. "Edward and Bella could travel to the Denali Coven with Renesmee, to prove our story, while Esme and Carlisle convince the others. Hopefully, news of our situation will spread and tempt others to join our cause. Perhaps making our problem public knowledge could work to our advantage."
"In the mean time, you should remain quiet about the alliance you have formed with us and the wolves," Harry spoke. "We can be a sort of secret weapon. Of course, Aro knows we are here because of the wedding, but he surely won't have shared that information with the others. And he is aware of the wolves existing in the area but he does not know the exact number."
"Harry's right," Ron stated, stepping forward as his eyes glinted with fierce determination. "Our strongest element right now is our numbers, especially if you manage to gather more vampires to your cause."
"Very well," Carlisle nodded. "Esme and I shall leave tonight."
"Edward and I will leave in the morning," Bella said, placing a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"I will speak with Sam tomorrow as well. He will help, the safety of an Imprint is a wolf's first priority," Jacob claimed.
"Even if that wolf is no longer of his pack? A traitor?" Draco questioned.
"Sam understands the reasons for my choices. He respects my decision to leave him," Seth spoke, calmly.
"I'll send a Patronus to Remus," Ginny offered. "He will help. I don't believe we need to involve anyone else."
"Where is Leah?" Fred inquired.
"She went for a run. She needed to clear her mind..." Seth explained.
"Why?" George wondered.
"She hasn't been herself lately," Jacob offered.
"Is she sick?" Fred demanded, worried.
"She's fine, simply going through a... Wolf issue, shall we say," Jacob explained.
Emmett snickered. "Good luck mate," he said, slapping Fred on the back.
"Thanks... I guess?" Fred replied, completely confused as to what was being discussed.
A/N: Here we go, nothing much happened in this chapter... But the next one will be action packed-ish! Anyway please review and tell me what you think! I always have the same problem with my stories: they start out good and then go every which way after a few chapters... They turn out rather 'lame' in my opinion, best parts being the beginning... Surely I'm not the only one who's noticed or thought that... (I hope to make my other story much more organised and not n'importe quoi!)
Anyway, thank you for all the love! You guys are awesome reviewers! The best I've had so far, I believe! (Excuse the mistakes, I re-read but I never seem to find them all)
Tell me what you think, please?