~ Chapter 18 ~

"Trying to live and love

With a heart that can't be broken

Is like trying to see the light

With eyes that can't be opened

Yeah, we both carry baggage

We picked up on our way

So, if you love me, do it gently"

-Glass by Thompson Square

(Recap)

The rest of the year was cancelled and to resume the following year. The ministry was evaluating their wards and security and had ordered Hogwarts and its professors to do the same. Umbridge was taken off as Head and Dumbledore was reinstated. At least one thing about the following year will be calm. No UnderBore as a teacher or an Overlord. Our HA meetings will continue next school year, after the summer recess. Though the physical HA meetings will not take place, every so often I will be sure to use the communication coins to send out a topic or spell that they should look up or start to study. Just because we don't meet doesn't mean a free pass to slack off. Reading and just knowing thinks could save your life. Now that I am back home I plan to train with my parents and study with extra effort. It is needed now more than ever. The climax is sure to come, and I, we, need to be ready.

(The Great Hall – First day back)

Hogwarts was my second home, where I met all my friends and loved ones, and now I'm back again for my sixth year but something was bothering me. It's been about 3 months since I've gotten a letter from Fleur. I've been writing but haven't got anything back. I wrote Gabby to see if anything had happened, but she said nothing was out of the ordinary as far as she knew. Fleur was still working at Gringotts's bank as a curse breaker. I tried to visit to see what was wrong but every time I went it seemed like she was always out of the country doing research or on a job.

Harry was next to me while Ron was across from us. They were both talking but I wasn't listening. I wasn't feeling good at the moment. Something was gonna happen and I feared what. My body was tense, and Harry was the first to notice.

"Mione?" I barley heard him. His voice just swirled around my head for a few seconds but got blotted out by my other thoughts.

"Mione?!" Harry tried again but I was distracted again by the incoming Owl post for the morning. The first day back was always filled with good luck letters from family about the upcoming year or care packages with candy and school supplies.

The Hall was filled with excitement and the crinkling of chocolates being opened but the one letter that fell into Ron's hands, was my down fall.

"Oh, it's from Mum!" Ron tore the package open and three things fell out. Some candy for Ron and Ginny, a letter, and a few folded cards tied together. Ron immediately threw one to Ginny and tore into his own. Ron shoved the whole chocolate frog into his mouth before it could get away, the picked up the letter.

"Mum says hi guys, and to have a good year. Oh? Mum said she got this in the mail for us. Said they couldn't send it to Hermione and that Harry probably wouldn't be able to get his because of your uncle."

"Just let us know what it is Ron, its probably all the same" Harry said.

Ron picked up his and read it.

"Oh, uh." Ron stammered.

"What?" Harry asked confused.

Ron glanced over the card at me hesitantly and gave us our cards. I was shaking. This must be what was making me feel bad all day, since I got to Hogwarts. Something bad is in this letter and my instincts were telling me not to open it. I hesitated while Harry opened his.

"WHAT?!" Harry yelled. He was angry, not much could get Harry angry. It had to be bad.

I moved to open my letter.

"Hermione, wait!" Harry tried to stop me, but it was too late.

To one Ms. Hermione Granger:

We could like to cordially invite you to a very special occasion.

Together, Mr. Billius Weasley and Ms. Fleur Delacour, would like to happily invite you to join them for their joyful union in Marriage.

I couldn't read the rest. I knew everything that I needed to know. My vision was blurry, and I was shaking.

"Mione!"

"Hermione!"

I needed out.

I launched myself out of my sitting position and bolted toward the double doors. I barely stopped myself from breaking Hogwarts' wards and apparating out.

[Minerva]

It hurt. My mate was hurting.

As soon as Hermione bolted up and headed toward the doors, I was up as well. I don't know what was going on, but all I knew was that my Mate was hurting. I couldn't even imagine what Hermione was feeling right now. If what I was feeling right now was only a sliver of what a Mate can feel with a Mating bond, Hermione but be in unimaginable pain.

I passed Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley just as they were moving to stand and follow.

"Stay. I will go." I couldn't see their faces as I had already passed them, but I knew they were hesitant but the slowly sat back down by what I could hear. I had moved just as quick as Hermione but as soon as she was out the doors, in the hallway and out of sight, she ran as fast as she could, faster than any human could ever run. I couldn't do the same yet, I was a second behind and still in the Great Hall. I heard the Grand Entrance doors slam open just as I made it out the Great Hall. With relief, I charged after my Mate. I was getting closer now that I was running at full capacity, but Hermione was still far ahead of me.

Hermione was tearing down trees in her path as she ran with wild abandon, I followed through the ravaged path being made.

Hermione was heading for the clearing that I always went to when I changed every full moon. Her path was clear. Hermione had changed about half way there and so did I. She was even faster now in this form, and I tried to pick up my pace. I was a few seconds out from the clearing before I hollowed howl pierced the air. It was so loud, and the pain was so profound that I stumbled, but I pushed on and finally made it to the clearing.

[Harry]

Hermione had left the Hall in a hurry and McGonagall followed close behind. Of course, she was her mate and Hermione was in so much pain. The second I looked at that invitation, I was furious. I was furious and incredibly worried. I was seething but through that I was out of sorts for Hermione. Fleur was supposed to be Hermione's Mate together with McGonagall! What the bloody hell is going on!?

Ron doesn't know yet about Hermione, but he knows that they were together. He was worried as well but not as much as me because I know more about the situation. Hermione planned to tell Ron about everything when we got back. I was going to be the backup. But with this, it will be obviously postponed.

I can't believe this! I thought a Mate was a Mate. How can Fleur do this?! I'm obviously missing information of some kind.

My thoughts were cut off as a howl filled the air.

Hermione.

The Hall was filled with worried students and alert professors. There were whispers of wolves of werewolves. I wasn't paying attention. The howl was filled with pain and sorrow. I was close to tears, not just because of the sorrow reflected in the howl but because I knew it was Hermione. One of my best friends was in pain and there was nothing I could do.

"Settle down. Return to your common rooms. Prefects lead the way. You are safe here." Dumbledore dismissed the students and the Hall was alight with noise and clattering. Everyone was about, but I stayed still. I didn't attempt move until Ron yelled at me.

"Eh Harry! We got to go. Its scary but the professors will take care of it."

I slowly followed Ron and the rest of the students out, still grieving with my friend as I went.

[Hermione]

I wasn't in control anymore. My wolf had taken over, my instincts were screaming at me to run. And my body obeyed. Without thinking I ran. I ran, no matter what was in my way. I ran away and into the forbidden forest, feeling safer among the trees then out in the open with the night sky. My instincts told me it was to open. I was to vulnerable out in the open, too hurt. Safer in the trees.

My body took me to a familiar clearing and my mind signaled to me that I was a safe enough distance from anything ready to hurt me more.

I screamed. I howled. I shattered.

I fell to the forest floor and dug my claws into the dirt. I heard whimpering as I curled into a ball on the floor. Was that me? I couldn't tell anymore. I lay there for what felt like hours until I was enveloped in a warmth that my quivering body clung too, needed with everything it had. I don't know how long I lay there unaware, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered right now, except this warmth that helped me to breathe.

[Magnus]

Something was wrong.

My feline ears picked up a pained howl in the distance. Hermione had said something was going to happen and that her instincts were on high alert. Oh no.

Tali seemed to sense something was wrong with her Mistress as well because she hissed and wiggled out from under the bed spread. She swerved over to me and curled around my shoulders, as if knowing that I was on my way to Hermione. She was right.

I couldn't leave this room with out being noticed and I can't just break a window to get out, so I changed back to my human form and called out.

"Kreacher!"

"Yes Ms. Hermione's familiar?" Kreacher popped into the room and looked at me expectantly. Kreacher had been a fine elf since Hermione employed his friendship. Helping around the castle and then at the Meniscus castle as well. He got to know everything that was going on.

"Take me to Hermione." I said.

"At once." Kreacher grasped my pant leg and popped us away.

We landed in the Forbidden forest in the clearing that we changed in on the full moon for the first time. I looked around quickly and found a huddled mass of wolf fur on the ground. A blend of two colors. Minerva and Hermione.

I saw them before I heard the pained cries.

"What?" I was cut off from saying anything else because Minerva whipped her head around and growled loudly at me, protective of her hurting Mate. She seemed to recognize me and Kreacher because she just grunted and turned back to Hermione.

I didn't say anything else, neither did Kreacher. We just sat a few feet away on the forest floor. We wanted to help but knew that all we could do was sit and just be here as a comforting presence.

Time passed, the sun had risen and the fallen. But still we sat.

Hermione was in pain, we would not move.

[Hermione]

I was slowly coming back, noticing more things as time went on. My mind was slowly putting pieces back together. I first noticed that the warmth by my side was Minerva. Then that we were on the ground. It took some time before I realized that we were in the forest and that there were more then just us present. It was much later that I noticed that some time during all my pain, I had returned to my human form.

I slowly came back to myself, but I was still broken.

"Minerva..." My voice was raspy and cracking.

"I'm here." Tears still ran down my face, but I needed to get up. My body would not survive much longer with no food or water. Though not very important at the moment, my mind told me that there were still things that I needed to do. My Mate was also in pain and I needed to make sure what happened had really happened. I needed answers.

"Help me up." I said slowly. Minerva shifted and helped me stand. I looked around to get a look at the other smells present. I saw Magnus, Tali, and Kreacher.

"Kreacher."

"Yes." Kreacher seemed to know what I wanted as he left but was back in a matter of seconds. I reached out and took the offered food. I ate silently. Once I was done, I looked up toward the direction of the castle.

"I need to know." I said resolutely. What was going on? Was this real? And if it was, what do I do? My thoughts were scrambled, and I couldn't really figure out right from left. I needed confirmation first. But most importantly, I needed my parents.