Veela and her wolf

29

A/N:  Disclaimers:  alas, I still own nothing except my love of puns and cheesy humor

Also story note here:  I have taken some more liberties with some creature abilities and histories, so again just chalk it up to writers' prerogative. Also I used google translate on the Latin, any incorrectness I would gladly correct if notified

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Hermione had just finished her last patrol of the Hogwarts grounds as she shifted back and headed into the carriage.  Since she had come back to the castle from break she took what she learned from her pack in the Americas and began patrolling every night after her imprint fell asleep. She would only retun once the perimeter was secured, protecting her mate and wanting to keep the skills up that she had just learned.

Her first night out, she had ventured deeper into the forbidden forest than she had ever gone.  She was so deep in thought, that she stumbled into the heard of centaurs sleeping. 

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Flashback

She skidded to a stop and stood stock still, blinking eyeing them with respect and more than a little bit of trepidation once they stood.  

The leader of the herd walked forward speaking plainly and with authority.

'Alpha shifter, shift back so we may speak'

She nodded her head once in agreement and shifted back, not bothering to put her coverings on she stood there shoulders squared showing the strength of her heritage, creatures had no concept of nudity or care about it. 

She cleared her throat of a light growl and spoke with conviction and honesty.

'Hello brave and honorable centaurs my name is Hermione Jean Riddle-Delacour, Alpha of my pack, mated and bonded to Fleur Delacour of the Delacour  Veela flock, Gryffindor student of Hogwarts, and member of the Order of the Phoenix.  I humbly present myself and apologize for trespassing on your clearly marked lands.  Much has distracted me lately and I can only request forgiveness for this transgression.'

She bowed her head in respect, waiting for a reply.

The centaurs took a few moments to let the words of the young shifter sink in.  The elders of the herd conversed in ancient Centaurian in calm tones, once an agreement was reached the leader trotted forward.

'Lift your gaze young one'. Waiting until Hermione did so he then began.  'My name is Magorian, leader of the centaurs of the British isles.  The other elders assembled are Bane, Firenze, and Ronan. '

Hermione took each member in nodding respectfully at each mentioned.

'We have heard of you and your brother Harry Potter along the years and each time you were in the forest we could smell the change coming from you, as such we knew you would come across our path one day.'

Hermione blinked, thinking about the times they had walked with and without Hagrid through the forest. 

'Young one, do not be wary, we accept all magical creatures, but from past experiences we are wary of most witches and wizards.  Our friend Hagrid has spoken kindly of you and your brothers.  Harry especially has a heavy burden to bear, one we would wish upon none of our kind.'

This made sense, the level of trepidation he spoke of, if the history Professor Binns had spoken of was true, their past was a bloody one full of sorrow at their losses at the hands of many dark wizards systematically pushing them off prized lands and killing them off to the point of almost extinction.  One could almost draw a parallel to her mother's own people in the Americas sad history.