Moonlight and Strife

Time issues

The last four years at Hogwarts has been at the very least strenuous for Hermione. You would think that being a werewolf would give someone an edge. But no she was tormented, purely because she wasn't quite the same as the werewolves they know of. She did not need the full moon to change. She could do so at her own will. Her body retained some aspects of her wolfic side when she was normal, like her incisors and her nails were a bit longer and came to a point. The worst of all is that she was in complete control of herself but no one cared or believed her. Some people were actually scared of her.

Over the past few years she confided in Harry and Ron, letting them know many things about her. They had been a huge help, along with Luna and Ginny. The only thing they could never help her explain themselves or with research was a feeling of longing that she has had her whole life. Her father said it sounded similar to the pull he felt for her mother. But a mate bond just didn't seem right to her. She has had the feeling her whole life so how could it be?

In her third year she used a time-turner to accommodate her busy school schedule. But perhaps she used it to much. After deciding to use it for her non-academic activities as well, she went back to many times. Using the device made her age two years in no time at all. That being a problem of its own, it also brought on more problems in the lycanthropy department. Her hunger grew rapidly and her motabolism skyrocketed. Her physical appearance changed too. Her usually girlish frame was now toned with very lanky defined muscle tone. But for her the most stressfull change was that weird pull. It wasn't just a twinge any more it was fierce. It took her months to be able to focus on anything other than it alone.

Now she sat on the train, heading to Hogwarts for her fifth year. She tapped her foot nervously as Harry looked at her from over his bag that he was digging through. "Hermione. It will be fine." He said in a drawn out tone like he was tired of repeating himself. Hermione looked at him with a completely scared expression. "Fine? It's never fine. Every year I go through something new. And now that the time-turner effects have caught up to me I have even more things to worry about." She said rather fast and Harry closed his bag and gave her a curious look. "What else do you have to worry about? Isn't it the same absolute dickheads from every other year?" He questioned her, calmly.

Hermione shifted in her seat, rubbing the back of her neck. It was evedent to Harry that there was more than just the bullying on her mind. "Mione… you can tell me." He said softly. She gave a shaky sigh and played with her hair. "That pull… the one my father said sounds like a mate bond. It's so much stronger now that I'm about to be turning 18." She said, her eyes filling with tears. Harry looked at her confused. "Well, you messing with the time-turner did age you. I mean at least you don't have the trace any more. But the pull… what is so bad about that? Maybe it means your about to meet your mate?" He said with a shrug, only for Hermione to let her head fall back against the seat. "Why would I want to meet someone that I'm just supposed to be with because a bond tells me to. And this pull makes me act ridiculous. It took my mum nearly all summer to get me to focus on anything but trying to follow it. It's hard to even be sitting here now." She said, her voice cracking a bit toward the end. Harry frowned as he watched her start crying. He went to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "We'll figure it out Hermione. You got us, remember?" She nodded and layed her head on Harry's shoulder.

Just as she started to try to calm herself they heard the compartment door open. Ron walked in and grabbed his bag, glaring at them the whole time. Hermione's stomach turned and Harry narrowed his eyes at his friend. "What's the look for, Ron?" The ginger threw his bag over his shoulder. "All this talk about mates. I never had a chance." He mumbled as he went to walk off. Harry spoke up quickly. "What's that supposed to mean? Have you ever once asked her?" Ron stopped and turned to Harry with a dark look. "Even if I had wanted to… look at her, Harry. She's not the same. She looks and acts compleatly different. She's not Hermione anymore. She's more beast than person." The calm demeanor in his voice just hit Hermione harder. She squeezed Harry's hand as Ron left the compartment. "I wish I never touched that damned necklace." She said as she wiped tears from her eyes.

When the train came to a halt the two of them made their way to the to the platform. They walked toward the wagons until they came to the gate and saw a set of Aurors interrogating Draco and the woman that accompanied him. "Why am I being accosted I've done nothing but deliver my nephew to school after he missed the train." The woman snarked and the Auror put his hands up gently. "I understand Madame Lestrange. But a known Deatheater cannot just apperate outside of the campus gates without questions coming up." He spoke calmly but the woman snarled. She shoved a piece of parchment against the man's chest. "Read it." She growled. The man cleared his throat. "The prisoner, Bellatrix Lestrange has been released into the custody of her sister, Narcissa Malfoy. No other stipulations are being placed on the prisoner unless she proves untrustworthy. Signed, Cornelius Fudge." His voice trailed off at the end and she grinned. "Now have I done something wrong?" She asked with a toothy grin.

Harry and Hermione watched as Bellatrix turned, stopping and staring at them, or more like Hermione. Harry looked over to see Hermione staring at her with wide eyes. He nudged her but she didn't react. The haughty woman walked past , never looking away from her untill she got halfway to the train. The second Bellatrix turned around, Hermione lunged. Harry grabbed her, his arms tight around her waist and dug his feet into the ground. She effortlessly drug him. Hearing the scuffle Bellatrix turned around, hand already on her wand. They also caught the attention of Luna and Ginny, who jumped from the wagon and got in front of Hermione. They pushed against her, giving Bellatrix enough time to gather herself just enough to Disapperate. Hermione stopped shoving against her friends and began to let out hushed whines. Everyone around stared and mumbled. When she realized she had an audience she hung her head and got in the wagon. Her friends sat around her and Harry gave her a shocked look. "What was all that about?" He asked and Hermione raked her hair out of her face. "I don't f*****g know. I don't know s**t about anything going on with me right now." She replied in a huff. Ginny adjusted in her seat as she let out a shaky breath. "It looked like you were going to eat her. I get she's a former Deatheater but what did she do to you?" Hermione shrugged at Ginny's question and layed her head in her hands as she groaned.