The Wolf Who Loved Me

CHAPTER 3: The Gypsies







Hermione was too stunned to think properly as she was led through the woods by the hand. Remus stopped to gather his things where he left them and then proceeded on towards the camp. When they broke through the wood line she couldn’t help but gasp. At least a dozen wooden wagons were sitting curved in a half circle around the river. The scent of meat cooking over an open fire filled the air.







She could see children playing; hear the sounds of people singing and laughing and the chatter of happy voices. It didn’t seem like a group of magical terrorists.







“Do not be misled.” Remus said softly at her ear. “Every member of this clan is a lycanthrope, even the children are deadly.”







She nodded her head and clung to his arm as he pulled her into camp. Several people looked up, some waving at Remus in recognition. At the beginning of the war he had gone to stay among various groups of werewolves to ascertain their loyalties and the clan of Beng Ruv had been one of them. It had been a long time since he had been among them but it made him no less welcome.







Hermione on the other hand was a different story. Not only was she gadje, or non-gypsy, but she was not a werewolf. She held close to Remus as Paine led them to the outside of the circle and withdrew his wand to transfigure a wooden crate into a wagon for their use.







“Please, accept our hospitality Miss Granger and enjoy your stay among my people.” Paine said politely as he reached up to open the door. “Remus, do join us, I know members of my family are anxious to see you again.” With that Paine slipped away amongst the brightly dressed members of the clan.







Remus ushered Hermione inside the wagon. It was more spacious than she would have believed but nothing grand, simply a mattress and bedding for sleeping and baskets for storage. Remus quickly cast a silencing spell over the wagon and warded the entrance while Hermione set their things aside until later. When he turned back to her she was sitting in the center of the bedding with her knees drawn up and her arms wrapped around them.







“This has become more complicated than it should have been with your presence.” He said as he raked his fingers through his hair.







“I’m sorry, Remus. I just…I knew something was off about your stories…I was so worried and I won’t lie, I was curious. I never dreamed in a million years that you…that this…I just never imagined.” She said, eyes wide and somewhat unfocused as she struggled to process what she now knew of him.







“That is what makes me good at what I do, Hermione, no one suspects me of being anything other than passive, reclusive Remus. I pose no threat to the Alphas because my Alpha tendencies are latent and am no competition for their bitches…erm, females.” He said. “I have no choice but to keep you with me, at least for a few days and then I will have to take you back to the house before the full moon, we can use that as the excuse and say that you have to be back for work.” He began pacing slowly back and forth inside the wagon. “Until then we must be able to act the couple convincingly. Are you going to be able to do that?”









She looked up at him and immediately he was short of breath. Hell all she had to do was look at him like that and no one would doubt it. How had he not seen before? Had he just not been looking? Her feelings were there, so plainly written in her eyes, on her face that there was no mistaking them.







“I don’t think it will be a problem…for me at least.” She said softly, ducking her head in embarrassment.









Remus came to sit beside her and took her hand in his. They sat in silence for several minutes, his thumb brushing gentle circles over the top of her hand.







“We need to discuss this.” He said finally.









“No we don’t.” She whispered, pulling her hand free.









“Hermione, please don’t be ashamed…I don’t want to hurt you…” She wouldn’t look him in the eye and it made him angry.







“Don’t, Remus, please just drop it. It isn’t important.” She didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to hear his gentle let down, his speech about how she was too young for him and he wasn’t good enough for her and how he was to dangerous to get involved with anyone. She had heard it before, with Dora as he pushed her away.







“It is important, your feelings for me…”







“Are just that, MY feelings for you and therefore mine to deal with as I see fit. Drop it, Remus, it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t change anything.” She said forcefully as she got up and made for the door. “Let us do what needs to be done so I can go home.”







Remus sat there staring at her, he could see the hurt in her eyes as she struggled to avoid the topic. What was he to do? He couldn’t go back to pretending he didn’t know but he didn’t want to lose what he had with her, that easy friendship, the bright spot in his life that cast all the darkness away. With her he felt normal, like any other man and it would break his heart to lose that.







“Alright, Hermione, we will drop it for now.” He said, shaking his head when her shoulders relaxed and she exhaled a sigh of relief. He got to his feet and walked to the door to stand behind her. “Remember what I said, Hermione, I know it will go against your very nature but I need you to act like one of those clingy women, needy and unable to stand her wizard being out of her sight. It will lessen the chances of us being separated. I do not want you alone more than is necessary.”







“I understand. You want me to act like Lavender and the way she hangs on Ron.” Hermione said with a slight frown, she found Lav’s behavior annoying even if Ron seemed to revel in it.







“Yes, though I would appreciate it if you would leave me some room to draw breath.” He said with a slight twitch to his lips to let her know he was joking. He saw her smile and his pulse stuttered a little. “Let’s go.” He said quietly, suddenly needing to get out of the enclosed space and someplace where they weren’t so alone.







He nudged her out of the wagon and closed the door behind them. She didn’t look at him as he threaded his fingers through hers, but he felt her quick intake of breath and could easily detect the kick to her pulse. He gave her fingers a reassuring squeeze, guilt tearing at him as he realized what this was doing to her. He still couldn’t believe that she had feelings for him, that she felt anything other than friendship or even daughterly affection for him. To know that she desired him on an intimate, personal level made him feel conflicted.







He pulled her along with him as he entered the center of the camp. He nodded in greeting to several of the men who were sitting around a table playing chess and talking. Women were seating near the fire pit watching what appeared to be a deer cooking on a spit and sewing as they conversed. Hermione was enchanted by the richly colored wardrobe of the people, the men in their brightly colored shirts and vests, the women in their skirts, blouses and scarves.







Remus suddenly stopped and his whole body went tense. Hermione followed the line of his gaze to a woman making her way towards them.







“Damn it.” He muttered. She appeared to be in her early to mid thirties and she was stunningly beautiful. She had long, silky black hair and dusky olive skin. Her eyes were green and tilted at the outside corners giving her an exotic look. She was wearing a bright purple layered skirt that swished around her calves and ankles as she walked and a matching peasant style blouse that bared one shoulder. Her wrists were covered in several gold bangles, large gold hoops were suspended from her ears and she even had tiny gold rings on her toes.







“Remus, you have returned at last.” She purred, stopping to pose seductively in front of him.







“Hello, Nadia.” He said tightly. He slipped his arm around Hermione’s waist and pulled her to his side and smiled. “Hermione, love, this is Nadia Greyback, Paine’s daughter. Nadia, this is Hermione Granger…my significant other.”







Nadia’s green eyes narrowed as she took in the very young, very plain little witch. She didn’t feel threatened in any way until Remus looked down at the young woman and she saw the obvious caring in his eyes.







“You brought a companion?” She asked with a pout. “I thought I made it clear years ago that you were welcome to share my bed?” Nadia was bold, brazen and confident in her beauty. During the war when Remus had come to visit them, she had desired the passive wolf, had been attracted to him because he wasn’t an alpha and she would not be under his paw. He had refused her then, thanked her for her offer and told her perhaps another time. She had taken more than her fair share of lovers, but all of them had been alpha and tried to dominate her, none of them the right mate for her. She wanted a man who could be controlled, who would bow to her command. She wanted Remus and now the little witch clinging to his arm would be in the way of that.







“And I believe I thanked you for the offer and refused.” Remus said, not at all surprised that she would be so forward in front of Hermione. “Please do not insult my companion again with such lewd suggestions.” He said, rising to his full height and showing her that he was no longer the passive, beta wolf she recalled.







He could see the moment that knowledge registered with her and she took a step back, bumping into a woman who looked just like her only her eyes were kind and she was smiling brightly.







“Remus! My goodness look at how you have changed!” The smiling woman exclaimed as she grabbed his arm and gave him a gentle squeeze. “Welcome.”







“Katia, so good to see you again. This is Hermione.” He said, smiling. “Hermione, this is Katia Greyback.”







“He brought his Gadje girlfriend with him.” Nadia sneered in Hermione’s direction.







“Hush, Nadia!” Katia snapped at her sister. “You continue to disrespect a guest and I will go to father.” Nadia glowered at her sister then with a flip of her skirts she flounced away in a snit. “Don’t mind her, she has long hoped to land Remus, for some reason she believed him to be controllable.” Katia looked up and smiled slyly. “I always knew there was more to you than you seemed. You look amazing Remus, obviously this witch agrees with you.”







“She most certainly does.” He said giving Hermione’s shoulders a slight squeeze.







“How rude of me! Here I am chatting to Remus as though you weren’t standing right here!” Katia said, reaching out for Hermione’s hand. “Forgive me, Hermione.”









“It is a pleasure to meet you, Katia.” Hermione said, staring across the camp at the woman’s twin who was shooting daggers with her eyes.







“As opposed to my sister?” Katia laughed when Hermione blushed. “Don’t mind her, she is harmless for the most part, just spoiled. Remus is the only man to ever turn her down on an offer to share her bed, she can not stand that he will be sharing one with you while visiting.”









Hermione was somewhat stunned by the woman’s openness and honesty in regards to her sister and her intentions towards Remus. She liked her however, Hermione always had a talent for reading people, for being able to discern who was friend and who was foe. This woman genuinely seemed to have friendship in her heart, unlike her twin.







“I am sorry if my presence here will cause trouble for anyone.” She said softly.







“Not at all. Don’t worry about Nadia. You and Remus enjoy your stay among the Beng Ruv.” She said. “As a matter of fact my father sent me to fetch you, Remus, he would like to speak with you.” She said.







Remus looked down at Hermione, he wasn’t sure what to do for he knew that Paine absolutely would not allow a woman to be present for their conversation. He didn’t want her left alone, he didn’t trust Nadia nor did he trust leaving her alone with the other males.







“Don’t worry, Remus, I will take care of her for you.” Katia said, linking her arm with Hermione’s.







“I have to see him alone, Luv.” He said softly, bending down so their noses nearly touched. “You can trust Katia, stay with her and don’t leave her side until I come back for you.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before he walked away.







“He guards you fiercely, little one.” Katia said with a soft laugh.







“He is very protective.” Hermione acknowledged, her stomach clenching as he walked away.











“It is more than you think.” Katia said with a smirk. “I see great passion between you.”

She saw Hermione blush and look down at her feet. “Come…if you are going to stay among the gypsies then you must look like you belong here.” She tugged on the young woman’s arm, pulling her towards a wagon.









“I don’t….what….where are we going?” Hermione asked, glancing around wildly as she was pulled along.







“We are going to give you a little makeover, Hermione. Remus will love it I promise you.”





~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*







“Oh, Katia, I can’t wear this.” Hermione said, looking down at herself.







“Why ever not? You look beautiful and I know a certain wolf who will go crazy when he sees you. Moon fever will hit him hard this month.” Katia chuckled. Hermione was wearing a long black skirt that brushed the tops of her bare feet and a bright red peasant blouse with a black corset tied loosely in the front. Her breasts were plumped over the neckline and her round hips and narrow waist were accented by the corset. Katia had even managed to tame her hair to some degree so that it parted at one side and fell in soft waves to her waist.







“Moon fever?” Hermione asked as she folded her jeans and sweatshirt and set her trainers on top of them.









“You don’t know about moon fever? The few days before the full moon when the males of our kind go into a mating frenzy?” Katia took Hermione’s wrist and slid several gold bangles over her hand. Hermione blushed and glanced back down at her now prominent cleavage.









“Remus usually stays away those days.” She muttered, tugging the blouse up to try and cover herself.







“Leave it be, you look amazing.” Katia said. “I am certain he thinks you too delicate to be subjected to him at that time since you aren’t a were. But I see a change coming for you both and soon.”







“You see? You practice divination then?” Hermione asked, hoping she didn’t sound rude as she was not a believer in the practice. Katia smiled and pushed Hermione’s hair back from her shoulder.







“I am Rom, Hermione, many of my kind are blessed with the sight.” She said softly. She was drawn to the young witch, sensed great power within her as well as remarkable restraint. She also knew that she and Remus weren’t what they said despite the fact that there was real emotion between them. Katia liked Remus, she always had, and there was an incredible amount of goodness in him, something she wished she could find within her own family.







While they had stayed separated from her uncles politics and ties to the death eaters, her family had very dark tendencies and very strong views on what was right and what was wrong. They hated being outcasts, being on the low end of the totem because they were werewolves. Unfortunately they had opted for the less peaceful route when it came to fighting for equal rights and people were harmed.







They had chosen the ways of the gadje, not the peaceful way of the Rom and it distressed her. She longed for change too, but not at the cost of innocent lives.







“I mean no offense…” Hermione said, blushing.







“You do not put much stock in to divination?” Katia smiled, not offended at all. “Do not fret over it, not many people do and that is fine, I know what I know. Now, are you ready to go outside? It is nearing time for the evening events.”







“Evening events?” Hermione asked, shifting nervously in the unfamiliar clothes.







“Food, storytelling, music, it is the way of our people. Come along, let us find your wolf.” Katia said taking her by the hand and leading her from the wagon.