The Animal Within

A cool breeze whispered across the planes; the wind whistled through the tall grass and the crickets sung their song as the sunset and the moon rose. It’s perfect orb glistening in the fading light. In the distance, the forest creatures hunkered down for the night as the nocturnal roused themselves for the hunt of delicious morsels scuttled through the brush. The owls hooted, the wolves howled and in the distance an animal roared.

Hermione scrambled up a tree and peered out through the foliage. What the hell is that? She thought as she looked around frantically trying to distinguish where the noise was coming from, when an extra-large panther jumped out from behind a bush. Hermione sighed in relief and jumped from the tree to land softly on her feet.

Hermione crawled over to the panther and put her head down showing her neck to the animal. The panther sniffed her and then nuzzled her cheek as Hermione did the same.

The panther sat on its haunches and regarded Hermione almost curiously. He cocked his head to the side and licked his chops at her. Hermione would have smiled but instead she turned around and flicked her tail at him. He snarled and jumped at her but she leapt out of the way just in time and shot off through the forest with him close behind.

They played for hours and then went their separate ways for the hunt since they found out long ago that they did not share their meals well.

After her meal of a young buck, Hermione lay under the moon gazing up at wishing she never had to leave this place. St. Louis was like a second home to her. Jean-Claude and Asher were very good to her and even Anita tolerated her. Micah and Nathaniel were her favourites though. She was out with Micah now as she had just wanted to run free on one of her last nights here before she returned to Hogwarts, back to the secrets and back to the war.

Although she loved Harry and Ron, she felt more at home in St. Louis because of what she was. A were-tiger. One of the last of her kind, bitten five years ago when she came here with her parents. It seemed so long ago; she barely remembers the night at all. And after coming to terms with what she was, she came into herself more and more and had begun to love who she was. Hermione felt empowered and strong. She felt like a woman.

Hermione sighed and laid her head on her paws. She wished she didn’t have to go. She hated lying to Harry and Ron but honestly she was unsure of hot to tell them. ‘Hey Ron, Harry, I’m a were-tiger. And it doesn’t even have to be a full moon for me to get furry. Isn’t that cool?’ Hermione snorted, that would go over well.

Hermione shuddered and rolled over onto her back. She closed her eyes and sighed. What wouldn’t I give to be able to be just one thing at a time? Were-tiger or witch? Why can’t I just be one?

Micah padded over to Hermione and sat next to her. Hermione opened one eye and looked at him before rolling over. She got up and sauntered back towards the car. She walked around to the other side and shifted back before pulling on her clothes and jumping into Anita’s jeep that Micah had borrowed. She buckled her seatbelt and looked the other way as Micah changed.

Hermione stared out the window for a while, her keen eyesight picking up the small creatures scurrying around in the dark. The car door opened and Hermione jumped slightly as she was pulled out of her trance. She looked at Micah with a scowl.

“You seem on edge Hermione, what’s wrong? Do you sense something?”

“No, I’m just worried about going back to school.” Hermione sighed.

“Sweetie, you’ve been studying all summer, you’ll do just fine.” Micah almost rolled his eyes at her.

“It’s not that. I still haven’t told Harry and Ron about the whole other side of me yet. I know I’m going to have to since Riddle has started gaining more power and the Final Battle is fast approaching…” Hermione was rambling and completely unaware that she was talking about the war when she promised herself that she would never tell Micah or Jean-Claude or even Anita about. She feared they would worry too much about her. “…And I just don’t really know how to tell them. I can’t really just walk up to them and say, ‘hey guess what? I’m a were-tiger and I can change into a tiger whenever I want.’ That would not go down well.” Hermione sighed and looked out the window at the lights flashing by.

“Hermione? What do you mean by war? Who’s Riddle? And what do you mean the Final Battle is fast approaching?” By this time Micah’s voice had raised in sound. “What kind of trouble of are you in?”

Hermione sighed and started to bang her head against the window. Stupid, stupid, STUPID!

“Hermione Jane Granger. You will tell me what is going on!” Micah growled while pulling into Anita’s driveway. Hermione cringed at his tone.

“Ah… You don’t want to know?” The car stopped and quick as lightening she bolted from the car and ran for the house. She got about as far as the front step before Micah tackled her to the ground, where they landed outside the window.

“Hermione…” Micah looked at her pleadingly.

“Fine, but can we go inside. It’s freezing and I’m dirty and cold and in much need of a shower.”

“Fine, you can shower and then you’re going to tell me what the Hell is going on!” Micah growled.

“What the Hell is going on?” A voice said above them. They looked up and saw Anita with her Browning in one hand staring down at them.

“Nothing.” Micah said as he pushed himself up before helping Hermione.

“Nothing?” Anita did not look placated. “Nothing would be you two walking through that door like father and cub, not rolling around in the bushes outside my front windows.”

“Sorry Anita. I’ll fix them tomorrow.” Hermione mumbled before walking into the house ad heading for the bathroom to take a shower.

“You have twenty minutes and then you get out here and explain to us all what the Hell is going on. Is that clear young lady?” Micah yelled through the bathroom door.

“What’s going on?” Anita asked.

“Hermione might be in a little trouble.” Micah rubbed his temples and walked into the kitchen to make some tea.

“What kind of trouble?”

“I have no idea. She said something about a war and a Final Battle and some guy named Riddle.”

Anita laughed out loud, “Riddle? Is he a joke? He can’t be that powerful with a name like that.”

Micah sat down at the table and put his head in his hands. “If I’d known she was in danger, I would have kept her here away from it.” He sighed.

“Well, when she comes out of the shower she will tell us what is going on.” Anita said.

“That’s for damn sure. If there’s a way for us to protect her then I’m up for it. She’s like a daughter to me. I’m not going to sit here and worry about her if I can protect her from some idiot that wants to rage war. Especially on my Hermione.” Micah sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

“We’ll find a way to protect her. If it means relocating to London for a while, then so be it. I know I don’t show it much but I do actually care for the girl a lot. She grows on you. Not too mention she’s awfully loyal. I can’t nor will I turn my back on one of our own.”

Hermione sighed. This is what she had been afraid of. She didn’t want her family to get hurt. She had already sacrificed one family when she moved her parents to Australia and Oblivated their minds or all memories of her to ensure their safety against the Death Eaters. She let her head rest against the wall and closed her eyes. How was she going to tell her newfound family that she was one of the main targets because of her association with Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived

Hermione took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen to make some tea before relaying her story to some of her most beloved friends.

Micah watched Hermione as she made her tea ad motioned for them to follow her into the living room.

“I’m not really quite sure where to start.” She said while blowing softly on her tea.

“The beginning is always a good place.” Anita said as she sank into the chair with a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

“Well it started when I was eleven and I first met Harry…” Hermione recounted the entire tale of her adventures and dangerous missions that she encountered over the past seven years of her life.

At the end, Micah and Anita were silent and a little shocked.

“Well there is a simple answer to this,” Micah said. “You can stay here until it all blows over.”

“I can’t do that.” Hermione replied.

“And why not?”

“Because Harry and Ron need me. The entire Wizarding World is depending on us and I can’t just walk away from that. I won’t let some asshole control my life. I’m going back Micah, there’s not a lot you can do about that.”

“And if you die?” Anita asked.

“Then I’ve died fighting for what is right. I’m not going to run and hide because a megalomaniac is trying to kill me. It’s not new. He’s been trying for years and he hasn’t succeeded yet. And anyone who tries is going to be in for one hell of a surprise when they come after me. My mentor once said, “it’s harder to do what is right than what is easy.’ And I’m prepared that I might not survive but I’ll be damned if I sit back and watch Riddle try and kill my best friends.” Hermione had risen out of her chair and was practically shouting at the two adults.

“Right, then we will prepare.” Micah said.

“Prepare? Prepare for what?” Hermione asked.

“You’re not going to fight this alone. We’re coming with you.” Anita stated.

“The Hell you are.”

“Don’t use that tone of voice with me.” Micah looked at Hermione pointedly.

“We’re coming to protect you.”

“You don’t understand, my world is so different than this one. Magical creatures and all. And not to mention the Ministry’s view on anything ‘were’ is appalling.”

“Well tough, my cub is not going to fight this war without us. We protect our own Hermione.” Micah said.

“But I don’t want you to get hurt because of me. Please stay behind. Please.”

“Nope too late. I’ve made up my mind. We’re coming.” Anita said. “And you can’t talk us out of it. So that’s final.”

Hermione sank back into the chair and sighed. This is going to be interesting…

“Well, that settles it. I should start packing. Micah, why don’t you round up Nathaniel and anyone you want to bring with you? I’ll call Jean-Claude and Richard and fill them in.” Anita drained the last of her coffee and got up to make the calls.

Micah looked at Hermione and could see the shimmer of tears in her eyes. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”

“I’ll never be able to forgive myself if something happens to you.”

Micah drew her into his arms. “Shh, it’s going to be alright. With Anita and everyone on your side, we’ll get this guy and when it’s over you can come back here and live with us. For as long as you want.”

Hermione sniffled, “alright. But if this doesn’t work out, I want everyone to come home until the war is over.”

“Alright, we’ll see.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.” Micah silently prayed that he didn’t have to break his promise to his surrogate daughter. “Now you look tired. Why don’t you get some rest while we fill everybody else in? Okay?”

“Okay.” Hermione got up and walked off toward the spare bedroom.

Micah sighed. It was going to be a long night.