The witch and the hothead

by WitchlingInBlackk

Hermione is done beeing a puppet. She leaves England for the US to help MACUSA settle the treaty between the shapeshifters and the vampires.

12. Chapter 12

Witch and the hothead 12

The wizarding district in Seattle was small and the streets almost empty, but they had a good number of shops with things I needed.
Stocking up on my potions and some ingrediencies, along with some vials to store the potions I brew myself in the future. And potions I might share, I'm still curious about how magic works on the shapeshifters.

The menagerie was small, but there were a lot of different magical animals to choose from. The kneezle kittens made me miss crooks so much. I might get a new cat in the future, but not right now.

What I did buy was an owl, a small female Tawny owl.
She perked up when she saw me, and her big and round eyes had a gentle and wise look.
Once I had all the accessories she would need and some pellets, I apparated us back home.

I keep her in the cage for half an hour before letting her out, and she immediately finds her spot on one of the wooden beams in the ceiling.
She let out a happy hoot and then fell asleep.

I glance up at her, smile from my spot on the sofa, and let out a sigh. Today was a good day.
I'm so relieved that meeting Sam for the first time went well. I was so nervous and scared that he would be mad and angry about me being here.

I cast a quick tempus, 3 p.m.; maybe I could go check for some plants at the local flower shop and then swing by Jacob's garage to say hi. I want to try out the charms and spells I've written down, and I have a feeling he would be up for it.

I quickly get ready and then pull the wards up again before getting in the car, pulling out of my driveway, and heading towards town.

It's starting to get dark by the time I reach the flower shop, and the temperature has dropped a bit. I pull my jacket close and jog over to the entrance.
I browse and look for some green plants and some that bloom, but at this time of the year, nothing really does.
I pick out a bunch, and the elderly lady in the shop helps me carry them to my car and wave as I pull out of the parking lot.
On my way to the grocery store, I drive by Jacob's garage, and I can see him moving around inside; his massive form is hard to miss.

I say hi to Joy, Quils mother, as I step inside the grocery store and grab a chart. I load it with everything I need and more, I don't want to use the car more than necessary.
I get to the check-out line and grab a local new paper before unloading my chart.
"How are you, Hermione?" Joy asks and smiles happily, scanning my goods.

I grab a few bags and start to pack the groceries in them.

"I'm good. I have been at the flower shop and got some plants for the house, so now the inside is almost done, you have to come visit some day!" I say and handle my credit card.

"I'd love to! I grew up in that house and Quil has probably told you how we used to spend a lot of time in that house when he was younger. "I nod and smile.

"Yes, I met Sam earlier, and he told me they used to hang out there a lot when they were younger. I want to hear all the good stories," I say and wink at her, and she laughs and handles me the receipt.

"Here, take my phone number and let me know when you want me to stop by." She hands me a note with her number, and I thank her before going out to my car, putting the bags in the backseat since the trunk is filled with plants.

I head towards the garage, pull up out front, and kill the engine. I see Jacob looking through the window of his office. He smiles when he sees me.

I grab the heavy door and pull it open, it closes with a heavy thud behind me. I sigh when the heat in the office washes over me, making me relax. Just going from the car to his office made me shiver. I need a better jacket or to start using warming charms.

"Heey Hermione! How are you?" Jacob says and walks towards me, grabbing me in a bone-crushing hug. I gasp when he squeezes all the air from my lungs, and he laughs, setting me down on the floor again before stepping back. I punch him in the shoulder and rub my ribs while glaring at him.

"Just because I can do magic doesn't mean that I'm unbreakable, you big oaf!"
I complain while he snickers at me.

"I heard you met Sam earlier, I'm guessing it went well since you haven't run back to England," he says and grins.

I smirk and cross my arms over my chest. "It takes more than some grumpy alpha growling at me to make me give up," I say, raising my chin and huffing.

Jacobs laugh is loud, and I can see his shoulders relax as if he is relieved that I'm not going to give up so easily.

"I'm guessing you already know what we spoke about since you have that mind link going on," I say, raising my brow.

He shakes his head, and his face grows serious.
"No, actually, it was kind of weird. We had a pack meeting after he left your place, he was very tight-lipped about the whole thing. He just informed us about your purpose here, and almost alpha ordered us to help you with anything you need and to provide information that could be of use."

I sit down in the uncomfortable metal chair in front of his desk. I wonder why he didn't tell them or show them our conversation. Maybe it has something to do with that strange reaction he had when he first entered my home.

I look over at Jacob and notice him studying my face closely, his brows furrowed, and his bulky arms crossed over his chest. I break eye contact and fiddle with my fingers nervously. His intense gaze feels like it's burning a hole in my forehead.

"What happened when you met Sam?" He asks, his voice serious, and he walks over and sits down on his desk in front of me. "He didn't hurt you, right?"

That question makes me look up at him, confused.
"No, of course not. Why would you ask me that?" I ask, irritated. Why would he even suggest such a thing? I can feel myself grow angry, and I abruptly stand up from my seat and start to pace in his office.
The thought of Sam hurting me makes me nauseous, he made me feel safe and at home.

I pause, and all the anger and irritation leave my body as quick as it came, and I breathe out a calming breath. Why did I get so angry at that question?
And how did I feel safe in his presence after just a few minutes of meeting him?
My trip to Seattle almost made me forget about it.

I glance back at Jacob, his dark eyes meet mine, and he is watching me closely.

"No, he didn't hurt me," I say, much calmer, and I blush, feeling embarrassed over my reaction.
"He was acting a bit strange, though." I pause, and Jacob nods for me to continue. "He scented me and asked why I smelled familiar., as if he had met me before. And even though he got too close, I got a feeling I was safe."

I shrug and look at him, almost expecting him to laugh or make a joke, but he looks more serious, if that's even possible.

"I also felt a strong pull towards his wolf, and when I touched him, it felt like I got zapped." I mumble and bite my lip, my hands fiddeling with the zipper on my jacket, before glancing at Jacob again.

He has gone completely still, like he is frozen in place. His mouth is hanging open, and his eyes are wide, staring at me.
It makes me uncomfortable, and I get closer and wave my hand in front of his face.
"Heeellooo?"

He shakes his head, grabs my wrist, and pulls me closer. With him sitting on his desk, he is just a couple of inches taller than me, and he leans in closer and sniffs my hair and my neck.

I hold still and let him do his wolfy thing. After a few seconds, he leans back, letting go of my wrist and meeting my eyes again.

"I can't speak for Sam, but it's weird that you felt like that in the presence of a wolf and especially the Alpha. You were cautious about me and Quill to an extent; I could smell it on you the first night at your house. He rubs his face and sighs.

"And that connection with his wolf is not normal either. The fact that he even let you near his wolf after what happened to Emily makes me so fucking confused.

Frowning I try to remember if I read about this in the file. I know Emily is Sam's fiancée and imprint. He even mentioned her when he was at my place.

"What happened to Emily?" I ask and stare at him.

He swallows, breaks eye contact, and gets up. He turns his back to me and shakes his head.
"It's not my place to tell you, sorry," he says, his voice low, sounding almost sad.

I smile despite the heavy feeling lingering in the room, it's nice to see some true loyalty. The fact that he doesn't want to air out all the pack's secrets, especially one that seems like a private thing between Sam and Emily, makes my respect for Jacob grow.

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snoop for information." I say and smile when he looks at me over his shoulder. His smile is gentle, but his eyes shine with sadness.

I check the time, almost dinner time, and I still haven't asked him about my little experiment.
"So, you know I told you about my magic going crazy at the house, right?"
He looks a little confused at first at the subject change, but nods.

"I really need to test some spells and see if you are affected, and if you are, how much. My theory is that since you are in fact human, I should be able to use spells and charms on you, but I don't know if the wolf gene blocks it."

He is facing me now, his eyes big and his mouth stretched out in a big grin.
"So you came here to ask me if I want to be your guineapig?"

I blush and shrug. "Yeah, I guess"

He lets out a laugh as if he can't believe what I just said.

"Of course I won't do anything that could injure you or something like that," I stress out.

He begins to laugh, leaning against his desk not to fall over with laughter. The door to his office opens, and Quil steps in. He looks at Jacob as if he has lost his mind, and then at me, raising an eyebrow in question. I smile sheepishly and shrug.

Jacob pauses and takes deep breaths, then looks at me, only to begin laughing again. I shake my head and jump up to sit on his desk. Crossing my arms over my chest, I started to feel a bit annoyed. Maybe it was a dumb idea after all.

"She wants to experiment on us with magic, with magic dude, nothing that would injure us though," Jacob says between laughter and thumps Quil on the back. Quils head whips around so fast, and his face matches Jacobs when I first asked the question, and then he also lets out a booming laugh, leaning against Jacob for support.

I feel my face heat up in embarrassment. I glare at them as I slide off his desk, walking towards the door.
"I'll just go if all you're going to do is laugh at me."

A heavy hand lands on my shoulder, holding me back from opening the door. Their laughter has calmed down, and I glare at them over my shoulder.

"Oh man, that felt good. I haven't laughed that hard in ages," Jacob says, taking a deep breath and grins.
"Of course we will help you, Hermione. It was just funny that you thought you could injure us, were made to kill vampires. It takes a lot to get rid of us, I promise."

I gasped, affronted at his ignorance of magic and the dangers of it if misused. But I guess they've never encountered magic in that way. I smirk.
This is going to be fun.

Quil chuckles and wraps his arm around me. "I think you're gonna regret saying that, Jake. This one is more vicious than you think.. He says and winks at me.

"I'll head home now then and wait for you to close up; if you survive, I will make you dinner," I say as I exit his office, not bothering to wait for their response, and get in my car and head home.

I turn on the high beams as I turn off the main road to the road leading to my house. The beams light up the road, it's gloomy, and the trees cast shadows around me where the light doesn't reach making it look like something is moving in the shadows, and it makes me shudder.

I pull up outside the garage, quickly unload the car, and bring everything inside. I put away the groceries and then start to arrange the plants I bought. I extend the window sill in the living room, making more room for the big monstera I got, and smile, pleased with the result.

When I hear a low 'yowl' outside, I pull my wand from the invisible holster on my thigh before walking out. I stop right outside the door. There are three wolves standing in my yard, not two.

I walk slowly down the stairs, my eyes on the new wolf. They all stand still, watching me as I get closer. The reddish-brown wolf I know is Jacob, he is the biggest out of the three, and his eyes are friendly and playful as I walk towards him. Next to him is Quil, his chocolate brown fur is beautiful, and it looks softer than Jacobs. The last wolf is gray, and I notice the black spots on its coat, and I smile.

"Hello, Embry," I say, my voice low and calm.

He raises his head and tilts it to the right, his ears twitching. Jacob lets out a sound that I know would have been a laugh if he were in human form.

I step up next to Jacob and pat him on the head, he whines low and then backs up, and after Sam's stunt earlier, I spin around and cover my eyes to be on the safe side.

When I hear them snickering behind my back, I wait a few more seconds before I turn around again. Quil and Jacob have big grins on their faces, looking like they just cracked the funniest joke ever. I roll my eyes at them and walk over to Embry.

He is lankier than the other two, but still muscular. His face is slim, not round like Jacob and Quils. He got a strong jawline and high cheekbones, making him more regal, but his body language tells me he is much more insecure.
He smiles shyly, shoulders hunched with his hands in his back pockets. His eyes are alert and roam over me, taking in every detail before stopping at my face.

"Hi! I'm Hermione" I say and hold out my hand.

He grabs my hand and shakes it gently, nodding his head in acknowledgement. He reminds me a little of Neville, and it makes me smile.

"Are you here voluntarily, or did they drag you along to be experimented on?" I ask, and his face breaks out in a large smile. He laughs.

"No, I'm here on my own free will; don't worry. I was curious about you, and when I saw the conversation between you and Jake in the pack link, I knew I had to be here.

I nod my head. "I'm glad you're here. I'm surprised that I haven't met the whole pack yet," I say, and glance at Jacob with my brow raised in question.

"Sam told us to leave you alone until you asked for a meeting," he says, shrugging.

"Are we gonna start now? I want to see what you can do, lil' miss." Quil says, rubs his hands together, and grins.

Laughing at his excitement, I nod my head, clearing my throat.

"Okay, so first I want to try some charms on myself and see how effective they are around you with your heightened senses, first as humans and then as wolves." I say, and they nod.

I cast a disillusionment charm and stand still. Movement makes it easier to spot me, as the charm makes me blend in with the environment.
Embry takes a shocked step back, but the others just look intrigued, they've witnessed me doing making before.

"I can't see you, but I hear and smell you," Jacob says looking in the direction I'm standing. Embry and Quil nod.

"I'm going to silence myself,try to find me," I say, quickly casting a silencio and a muffilato around me. I move to the left slowly and stop.

I watch as they close their eyes and breathe deep through their noses. When they open their eyes, all of them are looking right at where I stand, as if they can see me.
It's so fascinating to see how they sync, and even though they are in human form, they look like wolves.

I cast the spell that I found in the books about vampires that makes my smell disappear and move slowly around them. They are looking around and scenting the air for me.

"I can't smell you now either," Jacob says, and since I'm standing so close to them, I can hear Embry mumble.
"Creepy ass shit."
It makes me giggle. Just wait, my furry friend, I think, and slowly creep up behind him and tap him on the shoulder.

I'm glad I still have quick reflexes since I have to throw myself backward not to get hit when he whirls around so fast it almost makes him blurry. He scans the area and swings his arms in the air in front of him.

I cancel the charms, and he lets out a startled yell when I appear in front of him, just out of reach. I laugh at the look on his face.

"At least you didn't scream like a little girl like Quil did," I say and snicker.

I see Quil move towards me, and I cast a protego. As he comes close, he hits my shield and bounces back, not being able to get closer to me.

"Heey! That's cheating," he complains and tries again with more force, only to bounce off again. I grin behind the protego shield and then lower my wand.

"Good to know that works too, "I say and smile.

We try a lot of basic spells, and they all work on them in human form, but that was my suspicion from the start. Now I need to know how the spells and charms work on them in their wolf form.

I back up, turn my back as they phase, and try all the spells again.

The difference this time is that they can spot me when I'm disillusioned, but the silencio and scent-cloaking spells work.
The protego didn't work, and Jacob whines when he knocks me over for breaking my shield.
I pat him on the head and tell him I'm okay, and then I try a protego maxima. That one works, but I have to use a lot of magic, even with my new-found strength here on the property.

I wipe the sweat from my brow when I cancel the spell, taking a deep breath to get rid of the dizziness.
The basic spells don't work, but defensive magic does.
I gasp when I hit Quil with a slicing charm on his flank, and he starts bleeding. He shakes his head at me and nudges me with his muzzle.

I step closer to where the spell hit him to cast a healing spell, but the wound has already healed.

I back up and cast an obliteration charm around me in a circle. I swallow the lump in my throat as I think back on the war and the times on the run. I failed to cast it correctly, and that disgusting snatcher Scabior could smell my perfume through the wards.

I cancel the spell and rest my hands on my knees as I lean forward to calm my breathing. It was a long time ago that I had a panic attack, but the memories that popped up when I cast the charm make it hard for me to occlude.

A warm hand lands softly on my shoulder, and Quil squats down so he is face-to-face with me.

"Hey, take deep breaths. In through the nose and out through your mouth, yes, just like that.. He rubs my shoulder and keeps talking to me as I try to get my breathing under control.

I smile shakily, my sight blurry with tears. He moves slowly, making sure not to spook me as he picks me up and walks towards the house. Embry runs ahead and opens the door. He looks at me worriedly as we pass him.

Quil walks over to the sofa, lowers me slowly on it, and sits down next to me.

"What happened? First you disappeared, your smell and all sounds of you too, and then when you lowered the shield or whatever that was, I almost fell over from the smell of your panic and anxiety."

Jacob hands me a glass of water, and I whisper my thanks and take a sip before telling them a bit about the war and the incident in the woods.

Embry looks pale when I'm done telling them about Scabior and Grayback. I don't tell them about Malfoy Manor; that would just trigger another panic attack. It can wait for another time.

"So, there was a war because some people didn't like witches like you who have non-magical parents? What did you call them, muggers?" Quil ask, and it makes me giggle.

"Muggles, and yes. But there are also a lot of other reasons. I will tell you another day; I don't think I can handle talking about it right now.

They all nod their heads, and I smile in thanks. The heavy atmosphere is broken when Jacob's stomach lets out a loud rumble, and I giggle.

"Come on, you can keep me company in the kitchen while I prepare the food," I say, and get up from the sofa with help from Quil, he slings a heavy arm around my shoulders as we walk to the kitchen.

"This almost feels like old times, "Embry says and smiles, a faraway look in his eyes.

I pull out the ingredients to make pizzas, and they tell stories about their time here and growing up. About the time before phasing. How life was easier before. I smile and nod my head, I know the feeling.

The thoughts about the war disappear into the shadows of my mind as the three of them continue to tell stories and jokes around all through dinner. They radiate warmth and happiness and even though it's dark outside it feels like sunshine inside.

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New chapter! Embry is here, I really liked his character in the twilight books, he just seems like a really good guy. The same with Jake and Quil but they are more clowny than Embry.

Sorry for the bad update over Christmas, I had plans on writing a lot but life got in the way..
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

Thank you for the reviews, likes and follows! Makes me so happy 3

-CallaRose4ever : Interesting thoughts, laughed so much at the " any howl" hahah it fit in perfectly!

-Deanna4403 : That sounds like a good story, if you find it, please dm me the name of the story!

-Msmalloryreads : Welcome! Twilight fan or HP, or both maybe?

-SereniteRose : Thank you so much for your lovely reviews, so glad that you are enjoying the story!

-SaffronAngel : Don't worry, I've just been bad at updating regularly. I will try to get better!

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Psst!

I have published a new story, it's called: witch in the woods, no crossover just HP. Check it out if you want to!