AN: Hi guys, I love the reviews. I thank you for every last one of them. So, I finally wrote a Harry point of view, and don't worry—Scabior will stir a lot of trouble for the future couple. Bella and Edward will have their drama, too, but my focus will mostly be on Hermione and her relationship with everyone. Remember guys my story is Au. Dates will not correspond with the books, but please try to follow along as certain events occur. Some deaths will happen sooner than in the books or the movies. My story is mostly based on the movies. So sorry if the AN makes no sense at all. Please enjoy this chapter!
Hermione had an amazing night's rest. She did not even need a dreamless sleep potion. She was so tired that as soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light. The stress relief that Mr Molina provided, with equal excitement, had her body succumbing to exhaustion. Her brain was thoroughly switched off, a miracle in itself.
Her eyes caught a glimpse of the time on the clock by her bedside and she almost ended up on the floor in her hurry to get out of bed. Sheets tangled around her feet. It's nearly half past ten in the morning. She overslept. She must have been exhausted. Smirking, she wondered how her colleague was doing this morning and if he was equally exhausted.
After showering and throwing on a white floral dress with some flats. Pulling her hair up into a high ponytail with a few strands framing her face, she went downstairs to get started on Sunday lunch. Her brother was off from work today, but the house appeared to be empty. Bella was missing from her bed when she woke up. Where could they be?
Ignoring the knot that settled in her stomach at the thought of something being wrong. She went to gather ingredients for roast beef, mashed potatoes, and gravy, peas and boiled carrots. She made a pineapple upside-down cake for dessert that she will serve with ice cream.
The food was nearly done and there was still no sign of her brother and cousin. At exactly one pm there was a knock on the front door. Rushing to the door hoping it was one of her family members, even though she knew it wasn't because they would not bother with knocking. Schooling her disappointment into a pleasant smile when Jacob Black was revealed.
Her smile never left her face. "Jacob, how have you been?" She quickly hugged him and stepped out of the way to give him room to enter the house. "If you are looking for Bella or Charles, they are not here. Is there something I can maybe help you with?" Hermione was so focused on Jacob that she hardly noticed the wheelchair behind him or the person in it.
Jacob looked a bit uncomfortable. Rubbing the back of his neck, he gave an embarrassed chuckle. " Uhm, hi, Hermione. Charlie invited my dad and I to have lunch with you guys. I just assumed you knew." he frowned at the floor, thinking that Charlie may have forgotten he had invited them.
"Oh! That's great! I did not know you were coming but lucky for you I always make enough food to feed a small army." She grinned at him "Come on in. No need to block the entryway. Where is your father? I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting him" She peered over Jacob's shoulder, searching for an equally tall man but came up empty.
That's when Jacob moved out of the way and her confused brown eyes locked onto eyes so dark it could pass for black and gave a small gasp. She could feel her magic acting up, trying to leave her body and latch onto this stranger to establish some kind of connection. She took an involuntary step forward, her body moving on its own accord, singing with anticipation at the thought of touching the man in front of her. Her soul sighs in contentment, recognising its other half. She couldn't believe it. The one she had been waiting and searching for was right there, in front of her.
The clearing of Jacob's throat brought her out of the frozen state she was in. "Hermione, this is my dad, Billy Black." He introduced, knowing they were meeting for the first time and trying to get the awkward part behind them so that they could eat.
He gave Hermione a weird look when she made no indication that she heard him. Jacob cleared his throat again trying to hide his embarrassment at Hermione ignoring him. To save face he continued "Dad, this is Hermione Granger, Charlie's sister and my friend." Again, nothing. He was going to kill his father. Was he not embarrassed enough? They were making the situation highly uncomfortable for him. Now they were having a bedroom-eyes-stare-off as if they were about to have a make-out session right there in Charlie's entryway.
Billy, when he was still hidden behind Jacob, listened intently to the voice welcoming his son into his friend's house. He finds himself mesmerized by the voice. It sent his nerve endings into overdrive, even the ones that were lifeless for years. The strangest thing was, the moment he saw her and their eyes connected, everything started to make sense. His body got a dose of renewed energy, and he could feel life being pushed to his nether regions, all the way to his toes.
After the pins and needles sensation disappeared, he stood up abruptly, wheelchair rolling off the porch. Ignoring Jacob who fell to the ground in shock. His eyes focused on the angel in front of him.
The moment their eyes locked everything, and everyone began to float away and there was only the lovely Hermione keeping him anchored to the Earth. He wanted to be everything she wanted, she needed and breathed. He will go to any length to make her happy and feel protected. She was his everything. His reason for living, his imprint.
She could decide to be friends, and he would be powerless against it, but he would make sure to insert himself into her life as more than a friend.
Jacob's mind is still reeling over the fact that his father, [who has been paralysed from the waist down since he could remember, stood up so fast it could be considered inhuman.
Billy still, paid Jacob no mind. His eyes locked onto his beautiful woman. Yes, his beautiful woman. She belonged to him and he to her. They belong to each other.
He reached out and touched her cheek and she automatically pressed her face in his hand as if she was craving his touch. He growled in satisfaction and wrapped her up in his arms, melting their bodies together. "Mine!" He growled into her neck and Hermione moaned craning her neck to give him even more access. He had to bend considerably because she was almost half his size.
Jacob stood up slowly, a bewildered look still on his face. He couldn't move past the fact that his father was walking again. He was completely lost on the fact that his father was trying to squeeze Hermione into his body "Dad! You can walk!" He all but shouted. At that moment Charlie arrived with a troubled expression on his face, but it disappeared immediately at the scene at the entrance of his living room. He also caught Jake's exclamation, and his eyes widened in awe and amazement. His best friend and brother stood as if he'd been doing it without fail and were plastered against his little sister. He frowned "What the hell is going on here?"
Hermione startled, straightened out of her submissive stands and tried to put some distance between her and Billy but he did not want to let go. He growled menacingly at Charlie. Hermione placed a comforting hand on his cheek. "It's okay, it's just Charles" Charlie looked on in shock at the interaction and was affronted at his friend growling at him, in his own home.
Hermione stared at the bewildered faces of her brother and Jacob. "Maybe we should head to the kitchen and talk for a bit. While we do that we can eat before the food gets even colder." She moved away from Billy but grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen. The others followed quietly.
Hermione busied herself by plating the food. When she looked up to the other to see why everyone was so quiet. They were busy glaring at each other and poor Jacob was stuck in the middle. Hermione took a minute to study her soulmate while he and her brother were busy growling at each other.
He had black hair that fell just past his shoulders and a light brown complexion, it would contrast lovely with her pale white. He has almond-shaped eyes lined with thick dark eyelashes, her favourite thing on a man. There were a few laugh lines around his eyes, but it was less prominent than her brothers. His lips were full and were almost bow-shaped. She wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips, biting her lip in response to the thought. As if he heard her thoughts, he glanced up catching her staring. A slow tantalizing smirk formed on his lips and gave her a look that promised passion as soon as they were alone together. Hermione blushed and turned her back to him.
"What are you smirking at?" Charles asks in a hostile voice. Hermione can just imagine her brother being slightly red with frustration.
"Oh, just thinking about my fast-approaching sex life" Billy reclined back in his chair with his hand behind his head, pointedly looking at Hermione's back. "You can't fault me, after being stuck in that damn chair for years," he added with a scowl.
Jacob just stares at his father, still can't wrap his head over how his father can now walk. It was nothing short of a miracle. He tuned into the conversation again and blushed two shades darker. Is this the conversation to have in front of him, a mere sixteen-year-old?
"I will not stand for you looking at my sister like a dog in heat. Stop it!" Charlie all but shouted at his long-time friend who was undressing his sister with his eyes when she set the food in front of them.
"If you could see what my mind is conjuring up Charlie, you would think it mating season," he smirked as Charlie turned an ugly shade of red.
Hermione just as red, seeing her brother was about to explode, changed the subject because poor Jacob was so embarrassed he looked as if he wanted to crawl under the table. "The food is getting cold you should start eating. Charles, when I woke up this morning you and Bella were missing. I was worried because I knew it was your off day. Where were you?" Hermione saw the hurt and troubled look flash across her brother's face. She laid a hand on top of his as encouragement.
Charlie stared directly into Billy's face, his previous anger all but forgotten. "We found two bodies this morning in the forest near La Push." Billy and Jacob perked up at the mention of their home and that there could be possible danger threatening it. They waited patiently for Charlie to continue. "One body was sucked dry of his blood and the other one died of what seemed to be a heart attack or some kind of organ failure. It seems all his organs just ceased up and stopped at the same time." Hermione paled at the description of the second body. Who would use the killing curse on muggles, obviously death eaters, but here in Forks. Her hands began to shake, and panic was starting to set in. Charlie didn't notice and just continued "The organ failure body we identified as a Forks High teacher, Mr Molina."
Hermione couldn't stop the gasp that passed through her lips. Tears started to prick at the corners of her eyes. He was dead because of her. She felt a gentle hand rest upon her knee under the table. Her brother only now noticing the state she was in, pulled her towards him in a one-armed awkward hug. "I almost forgot that you and Molina had a thing going, Hermione. I'm sorry for your loss and I promise to get justice for your friend. "He kissed the side of her head. Hermione blushed a little and gave a glance to her left at Billy.
None of them heard the silent growl and saw the glint of satisfaction at a Mr Molina's death. Billy would go to dark lengths to keep what was his and Hermione belonged to him. His Mate. His forever. His love. He dared someone to come in his way of claiming her. Jacob's voice broke through his dark thoughts.
"Who does the other body belong to?" He didn't know who this Molina guy was, but it was affecting Hermione, and he wanted to change the subject as quickly as possible.
Charlie gave Billy another sad look "Harry Clearwater." the air in the room shifted and the table started vibrating. But it wasn't the table vibrating, it was Billy. Everyone started to move away from him, not sure what was happening. Then there was an explosion of clothes, and the table was nothing but splinters and in the place of Billy stood a huge white wolf. Hermione stared on in shock, her wolf was purring inside her head. Billy's eyes stared back at her before she could react Charlie pulled her behind his back. Billy growled but whined when the thought of Harry entered his mind. He ran past them and out the back door straight into the forest.
Jacob was visibly shivering; he kept repeating "The legends are real" and "Harry is dead" Hermione was equally shocked but was more interested in knowing what those legends were. She did not know who Harry Clearwater was but mourned for the people he left behind.
She laid her hands upon Jacobs' cheeks trying to make him focus on her. Everything was getting to him, and it was hard for him to get control over his emotions. "Jake, look at me." His eyes connected with hers and a calm settled over him. His left hand settled over hers pressing her hand harder against his face closing his eyes with a sigh.
"I know everything is a little overwhelming at the moment, but I need you to focus on me. What are these legends you are talking about?" She needed answers. She wanted to kick herself for not researching the magical beings in this area. First the vampires and now possible shapeshifters.
"Uhm, it's the legends of our tribe. Quileute's are descended from wolves. My great, don't know how many great grandfathers were the first to shift into" he gestured to the back door where his father disappeared from a moment ago, "to protect the tribe from cold ones. Bloodsuckers. We the blacks being directly descended from the first Alpha, make my dad the alpha now, when and if a new pack arises. You triggered the wolf inside my dad when you locked eyes and his pretty possessive of you. Maybe you are mates." He stared at her like the sun rose and set with her. "You made my dad whole again and more awesome than before. Thank you, Hermione." He pulled her close to him for a hug which she wholeheartedly returned kissing his cheek.
"There is no need to say thank you, Jake. I want to thank you for being a dear friend to Bella and me; and for looking after your father when you should be out enjoying your teen years." Hermione looked around for her brother finding him sitting in a chair, shocked and a huge bottle of brandy in his hand. Where did that come from?
"Charlie, are you okay?" She asked with concern.
"Okay? Am I okay? My best friend just up and walked out of his wheelchair, want to get into my baby sister's pants and turned into a giant freaking wolf. I'm bloody brilliant!" He knew being sarcastic wasn't necessary, but hey he's a bit freaked out. He took another swig of the brandy offering it to Jacob who was eager to take it, only for Hermione to snatch it away. "No sixteen-year-old is drinking in front of me. Where is Bella, Charles? She has been gone for most of the day."
"She went out to play baseball with her boyfriend's family," he grumbled.
Hermione raised an eyebrow "Bella doesn't like any sport, it's a bit out of character for her to have an interest in any physical activity."
"I know, maybe that pretty Cullen boy made it sound super appealing. He promised to have her back before dawn. So do not worry too much. We have other more serious problems to deal with." He gestured to Jake who was busy nursing an orange juice, looking lost. "Like finding my best friend and making sure he's okay."
Hermione searched her brother's face and saw genuine worry for his [wolf] friend and a resigned acceptance of what his friend now was. Stealing her resolve "I have a way to track and find him, but I would have to shift too."
"Shift? What? You don't make any sense Hermes." She growled at that hated nickname. Without answering she took out her wand and shifted into her Animagus form. A slightly smaller white wolf stood in the place where Hermione stood.
Charlie was on the brink of fainting. Hermione, the wolf, came over to her brother and licked his face like a dog would do. She ran out the back door, following the trail her mate left behind. Jacob began laughing. Charlie looked at him as if he had grown several heads. He pointed at Charlie, "You said he looked at her like a dog in heat, and they are both dogs in a way."
Charlie turned that ugly shade of red again. "He better keep his paws to himself." He grunted out making Jake laugh harder. "Bella won't be home for another few hours and we don't know how long it will take for Hermione to track down your father so we might as well eat and enjoy a game on the TV." He threw his arm around Jake's shoulder and led him to the couch with what was left over from Sunday lunch.
The Chapter is a bit shorter than the others, but I wanted to give you guys something to chew on. Working on the next on. Please review! Thank you!