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Twice in a Blue Moon	By : UnseenLibrarian Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Hermione/Bill Views: 19685 -:- Recommendations : 3 -:- Currently Reading : 5
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. I make no money from this story.

Chapter List
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CHAPTER FOUR

Saturday afternoon, December 11, 2000

Moon phase: Full

Sunset: 3:51 pm

Moonrise: 4:16 pm

o

Current Time: 3:15 pm

Matted hair clung to his face and sweat dripped from his brow. Blood oozed from his bare feet and hands, torn and cut from running such a long distance over rocks and brambles. His naked torso was scratched raw from branches, old scars now hidden by new, bleeding wounds. Heedless, he bared his teeth in a snarl, a low growl issuing from his throat, as he stared hungrily through the trees at the tall, crooked house rising into the air ahead of him.

o

"Greyback's escaped?" Lavender's face was white with shock. Her hands covered her belly protectively as she peered up into Ron's face. "How could that have happened? He was so heavily guarded-"

"I don't know, but we're going to find out. I came straight here as soon as I saw that headline. What does it say, 'Mione?" Ron ran a large hand through his hair, glaring at the paper in Hermione's hands. She was reading the article, skimming quickly as she tried to find the pertinent facts about the escape.

"There isn't much in here, really," she said finally, tossing the Prophet onto the table. "All they say is that the breakout happened just after noon, some guards were killed, and Greyback was the only one to escape – all the other prisoners are accounted for." Hermione looked out the western window at the rapidly setting sun. She bit her lip, meeting Lavender's gaze, and then looked to Ron. "We need to know more than this. I'm going to contact Harry. He's an Auror; he must have more information."

"Great idea. We need answers, now." Ron let go of Lavender, who nodded in agreement.

"Sending him a Patronus, asking him to contact us quickly if he can, would be best and fastest."

So saying, Hermione extracted her wand from her schoolbag, concentrated on the happy, delicious feelings of her previous evening with Bill, and cast "Expecto Patronum."Immediately, her new she-wolf Patronus leapt from her wand, circling once around the room before stopping before her. Whispering her request to Harry to it, she sent it on its way. She watched the silvery wolf bound out of the room through the window. Hermione then called up another Patronus, whispering to it as well, and this wolf too jumped out the window, tongue lolling, but in a completely different direction.

Turning back to the others, Hermione was greeted by Lavender's knowing grin and Ron's gaping jaw.

"She's beautiful, 'Mione," said Lav.

"Thank you," Hermione smiled.

"Was the second one a message for Bill?"

Hermione nodded shyly, her cheeks pinking. "We haven't heard from him all day, after all ... have you seen him, Ron? Has he come by the Diagon Alley shop today?" Her eyes lit up with hope.

"Bill? Uh, no, I haven't seen him," Ron answered, distractedly. Hermione's face fell. "But, he's been stopping by at lunch all week though, since he's been back from Egypt. He probably had today off. 'Mione, what happened to your otter Patronus?" Ron asked, waving a hand at the window. "Are you pulling a Tonks on us? I know last night you and Bill …"

"Come on, love, Let's get the kettle on while we wait for Harry's reply," Lav said briskly before Hermione could answer. She was grateful for her friend's interference, as she wasn't sure she could answer Ron's question yet. Lavender continued, "We can't start adding more wards to the house until everyone gets here. 'Mione, why don't you contact the rest of the family, and stay here by the fireplace in case Harry calls by Floo?" With a wink, she indicated her hope that perhaps Bill might be the first one to appear in front of Hermione.

Hermione agreed, fervently sharing that hope. She was beginning to have some serious concerns about Bill's well-being. Aloud, she said, "Good idea. Might as well contact everyone. They've probably seen the Evening Prophet by now, but you never know." She raised her wand again. Lavender nodded, and with that, she dragged Ron off to the kitchen by one hand. He stumbled along behind his wife, shooting a bemused look at Hermione as he did so.

Hermione rapidly conjured enough Patronuses to inform the rest of the Weasleys of the situation and sent them off, silently thanking Dumbledore for the invention of such a useful messaging trick.

Afterward, she paced the floor, tapping her wand against her palm and silently reciting the protective enchantments she, Ron and Harry had used during their year on the run from Voldemort. She wouldn't be able to set blood wards for the Weasleys, being neither a blood relative nor a Weasley by marriage, but she was able to set defensive charms and she wanted to be sure that she remembered them correctly.

Salvio Hexia, Cave Inimicum, Protego Totalum ...

o

Current time: 3:30 pm

He was closer now, crouched behind the large gnarled tree in the back garden. His prey was visible through the window. Snuffling the air, hair hanging in his face, he growled, his eyes darting around as he tried to determine how to reach her. He could practically taste her. Memories boiled in his mind, making him crazy with hunger ... and lust.

o

Barely ten minutes had passed since sending her first Patronus when the fireplace roared to life with green flames. Hermione watched eagerly as someone appeared, spinning rapidly in the fire before stumbling out onto the hearth.

It was Harry. He was wearing his official green Auror's cloak and had a worn leather messenger bag slung over one shoulder. His black hair was as unkempt as ever and he looked rather intimidating as he dusted himself off. He spied Hermione and, without a word, strode forward to embrace her. She hugged him back, hard. "Harry, I didn't expect you to come in person. I just wanted to find out more about Greyback's escape," she said, a little breathlessly.

Releasing her, Harry adjusted his glasses and grinned. "Well, you get to hear everything straight from the horse's mouth, Hermione. Chief Robards has sent Aurors to guard Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, and families of known Greyback victims. Neville's protecting little Teddy and Andromeda. I insisted on taking guard duty here at the Burrow. Robards didn't argue. "

"I've sent word to all the others about the escape, in case they haven't heard," Hermione told him.

"Good. The sooner they are home, the better. We need to strengthen the existing protective charms and set up blood wards." Harry checked his watch. "Shit, moonrise is at 4:16 pm, we've only got about forty-five minutes. Are any of the Weasleys-by-blood here yet?"

"Yes, Ron's here, with Lav in the kitchen."

"Good, he can get started on the blood protection spells then. We need to do all we can to keep Greyback away from here." Harry stated, firmly.

"I know I'm not a blood relative, but I can set the protective charms, Harry. I was just refreshing my memory of them when you arrived." Hermione was itching to help.

Harry pulled the messenger bag off his shoulder. "Actually, Hermione, there is something else I need your help with, if you are willing. Let me send word back to headquarters, and then I'll show you what I mean."

Harry drew his wand, summoned his stag Patronus, and sent it off to inform his boss that he was now in position. He turned back to Hermione just as Ron and Lavender brought tea and a plate of gingerbread men through from the kitchen.

"Harry!" Ron set down the plate of biscuits and clapped him on the back. "Boy, am I glad to see you! They sent you over in person?" Lavender handed a mug of tea to Hermione and then one to Harry, who took it, nodding his thanks.

"Yep, I'm the Weasley family bodyguard tonight. We need to start warding the Burrow, get everything locked down tight and secure. Ron, you and I are going to need to set up protective charms and blood wards ASAP, actually. Those can be done before everyone gets here, since non-blood friends and family, like Audrey and Angelina, will be traveling with blood family members," He took a sip of tea.

Rob nodded impatiently. "Yeah, okay, Harry, we'll get to it, but first, what do you know about that bastard, Greyback? How did he get out? Why the extra protection?"

Before Harry could answer, several silvery shapes came darting into the room through the windows, one after another. "Oh, it looks like everyone sent a reply!" said Lavender.

The first to materialize was Arthur's weasel, which sat up on its hindquarters and, in Arthur's slightly-harried voice, told them he'd soon be home and they should not wait to set the wards in place. Harry nodded once as the weasel dispersed. It was followed in quick succession by the appearance of other Patronuses from the family: the pompous peacock of Percy's, Ginny's whinnying mare, Charlie's Romanian Longhorn dragon, and an utterly unexpected duck-billed platypus, which belonged to none other than George. George sent word that he and Angelina would be staying in Hogsmeade at the flat above the new shop, as the town was well-guarded by Aurors. The Patronus messages from the rest of the family all said they'd be home by four o'clock, either by Floo powder or by Apparating.

As the final words were uttered and the last silvery wisps of the Patronuses were dissipating, Hermione's searching eyes met Lavender's, who shot her a look of sympathy and shared concern. She swallowed back the growing lump of unease lodged in her throat. There had been no big silver wolf Patronus. Bill had not responded.

Ron voiced her worry aloud, crossing to the window, opening it, and peering outside. "We didn't hear from Bill. He's better than all of us at casting his Patronus, so what the fuck?" He smacked one open hand against the window frame. He whirled around, glancing at Hermione with a fierce expression on his face before turning to glare at Harry. "Is Greyback targeting Bill, Harry? All his past victims? What's going on?" He crossed back to Lavender, once again pulling her against him. "What are we facing, here?" As one, the three of them looked to Harry for his reply.

o

Current Time: 3:45 pm

His blood was running hot, his pupils and nostrils dilated. Her enticing aroma wafted through the open window and brought his lust to a fever-pitch. His bloodied claw-like fingernails tore at what remained of his trousers. He could see his female, but she was no longer alone! There were males with her. Another female's scent came on the wind – this one was familiar, but she was carrying the pup of one of the males. It was the other female, his female, he craved ...

o

Harry put down his tea and drew his wand. "Okay. Let me tell you what we think happened with Greyback. The bastard was never very stable to begin with, we can all agree on that, can't we?" Harry paused, twirling his wand. "Greyback's been in Azkaban since the war ended, and he's lost whatever final ties to sanity he had left, I'm afraid. He's always been heavily guarded, especially for the three days around the full moon."

Harry looked out the west window at the sun, which was very close to setting. He opened his bag, withdrawing a thick purple accordion file from its depths.

"We have half an hour to get the protective wards in place. Hermione, I know you are eager to help set up protections, but I'm going to have Ron do that with me. I would really appreciate it if you would put that wonderful brain of yours to analyzing this file, instead. It contains all the notes and reports we have on Greyback. It includes victim debriefing summaries from when he was first incarcerated, and I personally asked his guards to make monthly reports on his behavior, which they sent to me dutifully. He muttered a lot, and the things he'd say, over and over, were quite worrisome."

Hermione started to protest, but Harry held up a hand. "Please, Hermione. I could really use your help on this. We've been trying to determine where he might actually strike tonight. We don't think he'll lie low. It's the full moon. He'll be transforming, and he was well-known in the past for positioning himself close to chosen victims so he could pounce as soon as he'd changed. We think he's probably going to do the same thing, but with someone he's already attacked. There is strong evidence that suggests he will be attempting to attack one or more of his past victims tonight. You have the right mind for details, 'Mione. You can put pieces together like no one else. See what you make of it. Please?"

His beseeching tone convinced her. "All right," she agreed. "I'll see if I can pull together these notes." She looked at the mass of paper. "You haven't given me much time!" she grumbled, as Harry gave her a quick grin of thanks and tapped Ron on the shoulder.

"Let's get started," he said. The two men hustled out of the sitting room, towards the kitchen and the back door. Ron paused only to give Lavender a deep kiss and to caress her cheek and her pregnant belly as he did so. She, in turn, clung fiercely to his shoulders, running a hand through his hair. A sharp pang of loneliness and yearning twisted in Hermione's belly as she watched. Wow, where did that come from? She wondered. She wasn't covetous of Ron, but she did suddenly feel jealous of the close, loving relationship that her ex-boyfriend obviously had with his wife-mate, Lavender. The fact that she'd neither seen nor heard from Bill, after such a seemingly mutually exciting evening, made it that much harder to deal with the total silence from him today. Coupling that with Greyback's escape and the worry that Bill could be in danger, and Hermione's nerves were frayed raw.

Taking a deep, calming breath, she went to the kitchen as Ron let the door bang shut behind him, thudding his way down the steps. Sliding the reports out of the file and spreading them on the table, she heard Lav cast a Warming Charm on the teapot in the sitting room. A moment later, her friend joined her at the table where she'd begun to read through the copious notes.

"May I take a look too, 'Mione?" her friend asked.

Hermione nodded, smiling grimly, and handed Lav part of the stack. "Let's see what Greyback's planning, shall we?"

o

Current Time: 3:51 pm

His lupine blood gave him preternatural strength and the banging of the door masked the sound of his leap from the tree onto the roof of the crooked house. He tossed the shreds of cloth that were all that remained of his trousers into a corner under the eaves. Naked, he quickly slid behind the nearest chimney, which lead to the kitchen's fireplace. Sweat droplets glistened as they slid down his hairy, bloody chest. He tensed, listening to her voice rising through the flue, waiting for his moment. His erection was huge and dripping. The sun had set, and the full moon was coming.

o

Hermione turned as pale as the Grey Lady as she speed-read through the file's recounting of Greyback's years of incarceration. She chewed on her lower lip, her mind racing.

"Listen to this, Hermione. It's from the most recent report, written just a few days ago." Lavender read aloud from the parchment she was holding.

'I'll finish what I started. I will finish. Potter. Weasley! Blood traitor ... finish Weasley ... the girl! Delicious girl, what a treat. I always like the softness of the skin, so delicious, so tasty. Her blood was so sweet, so luscious. I need her. Iwant her. I will have her for my own! Mate her. I must ... must mate her. Kill them all, Kill Weasley. Start a new pack, begin again ... "

They looked at each other, twin looks of horror on their faces.

"So does this mean that bastard is planning to kill Ron and take me away?" Lavender spat out, disgusted at the idea. Her hands were shaking and she dropped the report back onto the table.

Hermione hesitated. "I suppose that's one possible explanation. It could be made to fit. He bit you during the final battle and so got a taste of you," she gestured at Lavender's throat. "and now you and Ron have mated. Your marriage announcement was in the papers." She scrabbled through the notes as she continued to speak. "The prisoners are allowed to have access to the Daily Prophet now; they keep up with the news. If he'd been wanting you for himself and he saw that, well ..."

Hermione stopped, mulling this over. The idea that Greyback was seeking out Lavender and Ron just didn't sit right with her. He had so many other victims to choose from, and he'd never physically attacked Ron.

Lavender seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "I don't know, Hermione. Something seems off about that. Yes, Greyback bit me. But the arsehole managed just one good chomp before you and Sybill Trelawney knocked him away. He was on me for a total of maybe … ten or fifteen seconds?" She balled her hands into fists, scowling. "I just don't see that one bite and barely any skin contact could attach him to me that intensely. Ron and I had been dating for months before we mated, and we'd fallen in love ..."

Hermione cleared her throat and spoke, her voice shaky, sweat beading her forehead and her upper lip. She held another transcript in her hands. This one was the debriefing she herself had given to the Aurors of the torture she'd undergone at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, at Malfoy Manor in April of 1998. Puzzle pieces were rapidly falling into place in her mind and she needed to voice her suspicions aloud. "I think, Lav, I might have the answer here, the reason for Greyback's escape."

The blonde woman looked at her, eyebrows raised. Lavender slid a concerned arm around her friend, noting Hermione's sweating brow and pale complexion. "What is it, 'Mione? What have you found?"

Hermione leaned back in the worn kitchen chair, clutching the document she'd uncovered. "Remember I told you how the three of us were captured by Greyback's Snatchers?"

Lavender nodded, "What did he do to you, 'Mione?"

Taking a steadying breath, Hermione carefully re-told the story of that day's events. "Greyback kept," she swallowed hard before continuing, "he kept fondling me in front of the boys, talking about how soft I was, my skin, how delicious I was ... the words he used were almost exactly what he was muttering in his cell in the most recent report." She tapped the bundle of paper. "His sidekick Scabior even had to warn him not to bite me."

Lavender took her hand in her own. "There's more though, isn't there."

Hermione gritted her teeth. "I never told the boys this, but when Bellatrix began torturing me, she had Greyback help her." She closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. Her voice dropped to a low murmur.

"Bellatrix told Greyback to hold me down, while she poked me with her little knife. Then she used the Cruciatuscurse. I bit my lip, which drew blood, and suddenly Greyback started licking my face and kissing me. Then he shoved his tongue in my mouth and started sucking on my bitten lip." She furiously wiped tears of memory off her cheeks. "Bellatrix was laughing even as she was screaming at me and at him. He became more and more worked up and he started growling and whining. He was scarier than she was!"

Hermione paused. "The worst was when he shoved his hand down my jeans. Oh Lavender, I was, I was ..." she stopped, blushed furiously.

"What, Hermione? You were what?" Lav asked.

"I was having my period." Hermione whispered. She cleared her throat and continued, stronger. "I was menstruating, and the Cruciatus had intensified my flow something terrible. Greyback pulled his hand out, and of course it was all bloody, and he just went crazy at the sight. He started smelling and licking his hand. Then he licked my face again, which smeared my ... my own blood all over me, and he was sucking at my lip again and kissing me all over and muttering about how good I tasted, how good I smelled ..." she shuddered with revulsion, then looked at her girl friend.

"Lav," she hissed. "He was aroused. He was practically lying on top of me, and he was grinding his ... himself ... against me. I think, with all that kissing, licking, and sucking he was doing, he somehow began to bond with me. Because of all that physical, sexual contact, I'm afraid Greyback decided he didn't want to eat me, but that he wanted me in that way, you know what I mean? If Ron and Harry hadn't broken out of the cellar when they did, he probably would have raped me."

Lavender was horrified, rubbing the scar on her throat as she said, "'Mione, what are you getting at?"

Hermione stood up and started pacing, rattling off facts as if she were in a classroom. "The lycanthropy contamination is passed on by saliva-blood transfer, which is usually done through a violent bite. You and Bill were both bitten when Greyback was in human form, hence your demi-were status."

"Oh Merlin, Hermione. With all the molesting he did, are you thinking Greyback must have infected you, too, with a trace of the werewolf taint?" Lavender nearly whimpered with empathy. "It was passive transference through licking and sucking, when compared to a bite, but it could have happened."

Hermione stopped pacing and closed her eyes. "That's exactly what I think. It makes sense. My menstrual cycle's been in-sync with the lunar cycle ever since the Manor incident, I've been more and more drawn to Bill as the years have passed, Bill's been extra-attentive and possessive ... our inner wolves must realize we'd be good mates for each other. My Patronus has changed, even, though that's probably because I'm already half-besotted with your brother-in-law, darn it!" She managed a weak laugh but then swallowed, feeling a bit faint. She leaned on the table for support.

"Lavender, the idea of mating with Bill – it's exciting. But, if I'm right about all that physical contact with Greyback," she looked at her friend for confirmation. Lavender was reluctantly nodding her head. She had reached the same dreadful conclusion.

"You are right, Hermione. His saliva on your wounds passed on some infection to you, and he became so attracted to your scent, taste and blood that he must have bonded with you during the time you were together in the Manor. And," Lavender went on, color draining from her face, "he's been a werewolf for so long that maybe the call of the Blue Moon doesn't affect him the same way? Or maybe its part of why he's so horrible and nasty ..."

Both women stared at each other with sickening realization on their faces.

Hermione took a deep breath. "Greyback wants me, Lavender, not you. He wants to finish what he started and claim me ... as his mate."

o

Current Time: 4:01 pm

Listening to her voice, his body reacted in a most satisfying way. He was rock-hard and ready to take her. As soon as the males casting the wards were farthest from the house, he would strike.

He gripped his erection, slowly pumping it, gauging the distance between the warding males and the house … then several POPs startled him. Crouching behind the crumbling chimney bricks, he peered around and saw a balding older male and a young female, both redheads, moving through the back garden towards the two males walking around the property. He sniffed the wind, catching their scents, and snarled as he saw a third, this one a young virile redheaded male, heading towards the house instead. He heard this male open the door and shout back to the others outside.

Here was a threat.

o

Just as these words and their import washed over the two of them, the fireplace in the sitting room roared to life and there were several POPs of Apparition from outside, announced the arrival of the Weasleys. Molly, Audrey, and Percy were talking loudly in the sitting room and there were telltale cries of a disgruntled baby. Charlie came bursting in through the back door, calling over his shoulder as he did so, "Okay, Dad, I'll tell Mum that you and Ginny are helping Ron and Harry finish the wards."

He shut the door and turned to see Lavender and Hermione, still looking shell-shocked, the table littered with papers. His broad, muscular frame filled the kitchen and his freckled face split into a relieved smile as he engulfed first Lavender, then Hermione in huge bear hugs.

"Gods, I'm glad you both are here. I knew you were, Hermione – nice Patronus, by the way – but Lav, it's good you are here too. Safety in numbers, and all that!" Charlie stuck his head into the sitting room just as his mother and Percy were coming through, and he relayed his father's message.

Molly was visibly pleased that almost everyone was accounted for, though she fretted aloud about Bill as she bustled about, helping Audrey settle into a rocking chair to nurse the baby at the same time as she kept watch through the windows as Ginny and the men finished setting wards. Percy started to pontificate about Bill's arrogant, self-absorbed ways, causing Lav to roll her eyes behind his back. Hermione gritted her teeth and quickly gathered Greyback's papers back together, stuffing them into the purple folder and trying to ignore everyone. Only when Charlie spoke loudly over the din did she pay attention.

"Oh, shut up, Perce. Bill's neither arrogant nor self-absorbed. He keeps to himself around the full moon to spare us the worst of his grumpy attitude, that's all," he said. He looked at his mother, then at Hermione. "I was still in Hogsmeade when I got your Patronus. I Apparated to Shell Cottage first before coming here. Thought I'd better check on Bill, what with the moon and all."

"Did you see him? Is he on his way?" Molly asked frantically. Hermione just waited, her hands clutching the back of the kitchen chair.

"No, I didn't, but that's nothing to panic about, Mum!" Charlie said quickly, holding out a hand in placation as Molly started to flutter around with anxiety. "His wand was on the table and the door was unlocked. Before he went to Egypt he used to run along the beach. A lot." Charlie cast a sidelong look at Hermione. "He told me it kept his … tensions … in check. He'd run for hours."

He looked around the room. "He said he kept it up in Egypt on his off-time. He started working out too. Chuffin' Short Snouts, haven't any of you wondered where he's gotten that physique? Seriously, he could give even me a good boxing 'round the ears now, if he had a mind to."

A luscious vision of Bill's bare pectorals with their delectable dusting of russet chest hair flashed through Hermione's mind. She flushed to her ears with the memory, and to her embarrassment she realized that Charlie had noticed, as he was grinning widely at her. He nudged her with his elbow and winked. To distract herself and him, she asked, "He doesn't take his wand with him when he runs?"

"Nope. I've run with him on occasion in the past. He always leaves it behind. I've said he should get an arm-belt or thigh-holster for it - handier than that belt-thing he's got - but he says he likes the feeling of total disconnect from the world while he's running."

"So if he was out on a run when my Patronus reached him, it would explain why he didn't reply. He couldn't have, without his wand." Charlie nodded his agreement, and Hermione went limp with relief.

They were unable to say anymore on the subject, however, because just then Harry, Arthur, Ginny, and Ron all trooped inside, having finished setting the wards around the Weasleys' property. Hugs went 'round and voices were raised both in greeting and with questions and answers. Ron engulfed Lavender in his arms again, and Harry made a beeline for Hermione and asked her in a low voice if she'd had any luck. She handed him the file and with a mostly-steady voice, quickly told him and Charlie the conclusion that she and Lavender had drawn. She glanced at Lav, who was talking quietly to Ron. She was no doubt filling him in as he, too, looked worried. When she finished, Harry looked grave, and he called to Arthur, asking him to close down the Floo for the night.

Glancing at the clock, Hermione noted with a jolt it was already five past four. "Oh Harry, don't close the Floo yet; I'd like to go get Crookshanks, my toothbrush, and a change of clothes from my flat before moonrise. I've got about ten minutes. I need to go."

Harry looked reluctant, but Charlie spoke up, "I'll take you to your flat, Hermione. We can Side-Along Apparate, grab your stuff, then Side-Along back here together through the blood wards."

Hermione agreed, glad to have a quick solution, and Harry sighed but didn't protest, simply asking them to be as quick as possible.

Grabbing spare travel cloaks from the hooks by the front door, Hermione and Charlie stepped outside and quickly moved away from the house to the regular Apparition spot halfway to the gate. Resting her hand on Charlie's arm, Hermione braced herself for the feeling as Charlie Disapparated them both away to her flat, the echoes of Harry's "Hurry the hell up!" and the slam of the door following them on the breeze.

o

Current Time: 4:06 pm

He sat up, alert, when his female exited the house with the virile male-threat. Teeth bared, he quickly moved towards the edge of the roof, but then he heard the black-haired male's voice in warning, and the following POP hurt his ears and he yelped in pain. The rapidly-darkening sky mocked him as he stared at the point where they had disappeared. She was gone. That strong, younger male had taken her! He leapt down, sniffing the cold air and the frozen ground, unmindful of calling attention to himself. He glared at the closed house door, then crept behind the broom shed at the back of the garden.

They would be back and he would be waiting for them. The young male would pay for taking her away. He would not allow this, she was his. And if that male tried to mate with her … he drew his claws across his thighs, causing rivulets of blood to start running down his legs.

o

They appeared directly inside Hermione's living room. Charlie looked around with some interest at the piles of books and papers scattered about, all on the subject of werewolves. He grinned at Hermione. "Research, perchance?" he queried. Hermione elbowed him.

"See if you can locate Crookshanks, and grab some of his food from the cupboard under the sink in the kitchen, please," she said to Charlie, as she started toward the bedroom. Crookshanks loved his mistress, but Charlie had developed a relationship with the half-Kneazle ginger that bordered on bizarre. Crookshanks adored Charlie as much as he'd always abhorred Ron when she was dating him.

"Sure," said Charlie, easily, and he began chirping for the cat as he headed for the kitchen.

Hermione entered her bedroom and Crookshanks zoomed past her, a meowing, gingery blur, heading right for his beloved male friend.

It must be his knack with magical creatures. Charlie's in the right line of work, she thought to herself, as she quickly pulled open her drawers and grabbed a change of clothes for the next day. She took her charmed beaded bag from where it rested on top of her dresser and stuffed the clothes into it, cringing that she didn't have time to fold them but stifling her slight OCD tendencies in the interests of time.

She ran to the bathroom, which was just off the hall outside the bedroom, as Charlie approached with Crookshanks draped across his shoulders and a few tins of cat food in his hands. She held open her bag and he dropped them in, the cat purring as loudly as a Muggle lawnmower the whole time. The bag clanked dully as the tins landed.

"I would love one of these bags for Christmas, Hermione. Hint, hint," said Charlie.

"All right," she said, tossing her toothpaste and floss into the bag and distractedly searching for her travel toothbrush in the medicine cabinet, "I'll make you an extended beaded bag for Christmas. Or would you prefer sequins?"

Charlie chuckled. "Definitely sequins. I think they say something special about a man."

Hermione stopped suddenly and turned to face him. "Charlie, tomorrow's your birthday! With all that's going on, has anyone made any plans?"

The beefy redhead laughed. "Oh absolutely, 'Mione! Don't worry. I'm sure Mum's got a cake in mind, and even if not, I have plans to get myself back to Hogsmeade tomorrow as soon as I can." he flushed red as he said this, the slight burn marks on his cheeks evening out.

"Why?" Hermione asked without thinking, then she realized. "Charlie! Is there a girl in your life? Is that where you were all day today?"

He blushed harder, but grinned at her, winking. "As a matter of fact, yes, I was spending the day with a lovely young lady. We were at Hogwarts together and reacquainted ourselves last night at the party. Her name's Lori. She's a freelance writer, and she's written for the Quibbler and the Daily Prophet, mostly on rare magical creatures. She's got big brains, a great set of hooters and a nice arse, and, she's insatiable! To top it all off, she was in Slytherin. Mum'll freak when she meets her." He was smirking ear to ear now. "May I use your Floo to give her a quick call while you finish?"

Hermione nodded, smiling, wishing everyone was as simple and direct as Charlie when it came to matters of the heart. He headed to the living room, Crookshanks still warming his neck, and she stood on tiptoe to reach the top shelf of the medicine cabinet. Ah, there was her spare toothbrush! She pulled it down, and along with it came a small liquid-filled vial which smashed on impact in the sink.

She recognized it at once as an old dose of the contraceptive potion she used to take when she and Ron were a couple.

Her eyes suddenly flooded with tears and she started shaking. Oh God, oh God, oh God … what do I do? The evidence indicates that Greyback wants to mate with me, Bill's missing, I want him not Greyback … oh God, what a mess.

She straightened up, wiping her eyes and looking at herself in the mirror. Do what you have always done, Hermione. Take care of yourself. Protect yourself as much as possible.

She shoved the toothbrush into her bag, then took her wand from her pocket and Evanesco'd the remains of the vial. Steadying her nerves, she recalled the words for the twenty-four hour contraceptive charm that she had taught herself in an attempt to make things more spontaneous and fun with Ron, and cast it over her belly. It hadn't been successful in helping her relationship with Ron, but it was a damned handy spell to know nonetheless.

There, she thought, as the familiar warm tingle spread through her womb, if Greyback does somehow capture and rape me tonight, at least I know I won't end up carrying his spawn.

She turned off the light, left the bathroom and headed back to the living room, where Charlie was just ending his Floo call. He stood up and held out a hand. "Ready to go?" She nodded, taking his proffered arm. Her wand was back in her pocket, her bag was in her hand, and her cat was draped across Charlie like a mangy fur stole. They hadn't even removed their cloaks. Their entire trip had taken only about ten minutes, start to finish. Charlie raised his own wand and they Disapparated back to the Burrow.

o

Current Time: 4:17 pm

The POP alerted him to their return. He lunged out from behind the shed. There they were, at the steps already, walking up to the door.

The moon had risen one minute ago, and with its appearance his chance to pair-bond with his mate this month was lost. He could still take her, fuck her, get her with his pups. First, though, he would rip out the throat of that male for causing him to lose this chance with his female.

He began to run.

o

Hermione and Charlie entered the Burrow, stomping their feet on the mat and hanging up their cloaks. Crookshanks jumped down and slunk off to explore his second-favorite home in the world.

Harry, who had been pacing the floor of the kitchen, breathed a sigh of relief and said with a small smile, "One minute late, you two. The moon's already risen." Ginny, still in her Holyhead Harpy practice robes, smacked him on the shoulder.

Hermione gave a halfhearted chuckle, wanting to just sit down in a quiet corner with a good book for a while. "Has Bill appeared, by any chance?" she asked, not able to help herself. Harry's green gaze pierced her as he shook his head slowly. She nodded, trying not to betray any emotion in her face. Harry locked the door before he and Ginny moved into the sitting room.

Hermione followed behind. She was on the verge of tears again and she struggled not to let them fall. Charlie seemed to sense that and he silently offered comfort with his arm thrown around her shoulders.

CRASH

Everyone nearby whirled around to look at the windowless back door, which was shuddering on its hinges as something heavy thudded against it again.

CRASH

The door splintered slightly at the knob and the hinges.

"Shit!"

Everyone drew wands and stood back from the kitchen. Harry pushed to the front of the group, and he and Ron flanked Charlie, the three of them spreading out as the front line of defense. Percy took Audrey and the baby upstairs while Arthur stationed himself at the bottom. Molly and Ginny guarded Lavender, who stood near the stairs but refused to be shooed up them despite Ron's repeated requests. Hermione stood behind Charlie and Harry, wand in hand, heart in throat.

CRASH!

A whimper came from the back of the room: it was Molly, scared for her family.

"Do not fire until I do," hissed Harry. He glanced sideways at Ron. "I mean it. He's officially an escaped prisoner and is under Ministry jurisdiction."

"Fine," growled Ron. "But if he attacks …"

"Don't worry. He's not going to get that chance," gritted Harry.

CRASH!

The door exploded, splintering into shards of oak and metal as a naked male body hurtled through it. The man didn't seem to be affected by the impact of his repeated lunges at the door at all. He rose to his full height, his body appearing to loom over the room, his face in shadow, his muscles shunting back and forth as they tensed to spring, the sheer maleness of him jutting forward as he glared at the people before him. He focused on one person, his eyes narrowed, then he was leaping forward on all fours, a horrifying vision of scarred flesh, blood, sweat, dirt, glaring amber eyes and teeth. A snarl escaped him and his red hair flew all around as he barreled straight at Charlie.

Red hair?

"It's Bill! Don't shoot!" Hermione screamed. She lowered her wand just as Bill reached Charlie, who had dropped his wand and raised his arms, turning his head to offer Bill his throat in submission.

"You. Took. My. FEMALE!" roared Bill in his brother's face. "She. is. MINE!"

"Bill, NO!" cried Hermione, as Bill's teeth descended towards Charlie's neck. Halted by the sound of her voice, Bill looked towards Hermione, then back at his brother. Snarling, he pulled his fist back and punched Charlie so hard the dragon tamer was thrown backwards to the floor several feet away, unconscious at his mother's feet. Molly screamed and dropped to her knees to check her son.

Ignoring all others in the room, Bill swung around to focus on Hermione. He was panting, his body dripping with sweat and blood, his matted hair hanging down his back. His wild amber eyes showed no trace of the human inside. Reaching out, he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her against him and rubbed his face over hers, taking deep sniffs of her hair and neck. He shoved one hand under her sweater and shirt and found her breasts, even as he thrust his enormous erection over her hip.

Ron and Harry were calling her name, but Hermione could only concentrate on the fact that Bill was here and alive, though how much of his mind was present she wasn't sure. He seemed to be completely under the power of the moon. Her throat arched as he licked at her skin. Her eyes fluttered shut. She felt worry and concern for Charlie, but strangely, no actual fear for herself. She realized with surprise that her knickers were soaked. She shivered in his heated grip. His rumbling, feral voice came to her as if from far away.

"Mine. Mine. My female. MY mate. I will have you. NOW."

With that, he tossed her easily over his shoulders and loped toward the ruined door. Harry attempted to thwart his progress but Bill shouldered him aside as if he were simply a branch on a young sapling tree. He ducked through the broken entry and then ran with great speed into the underbrush, through the orchard, and into the thicker trees bordering the property. The last thing Hermione saw before Bill carried her out of sight were the shocked faces of the Weasleys standing on the back porch, Harry's dumbstruck expression from where he stood in the back garden, and Lavender's knowing grin, watching from the sitting room window.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note:

Has the call of the wild finally completely taken control of Bill? Is he going to hurt Hermione? How will she handle what is probably about to happen? And how about that Greyback revelation, what will that mean for our star-crossed lovers? Leave me a review and let me know what you think!
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Twice in a Blue Moon