I'M BACK BABY! Did you miss me? I missed you guys! I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry that I haven't updated in months, but this year has not been good to me. School sucks, my family likes to start drama, I've lost two of my best friends, a family friend died, and life has just went to hell. In the midst of it all I lost my passion to write anything at all. I was sad, didn't do anything, became very confused about everything, and gained some weight.

BUT good news is I'm all better now. I've made great friends, went on a diet and lost twenty pounds, and my creative writing class started this semester and gave me my drive back. So, here I am! I'm going to work on this story and The Wizards Protection Program and finish both of them if it's the last thing I do! Don't give up on me yet!

So, with that said I give you this chapter!

Beach Day

A few days passed after the eventful Newton visit and it was now Saturday. Dean would still shudder whenever someone mentioned Allyson, much to everyone's amusement. He knew that taking that job from Greyson (Mr. Newton had insisted everyone call him by his first name) meant that he would see Allyson quite often, but knowing that he was going to be paid for doing something he loved made the idea seem less disgusting.

Seeing that the day they were supposed to go to the beach with Kylie and her friends had to be cancelled because of the whole Volturi trip, Draco proposed the idea of having a beach day with the family, the wolves, and Kylie's family and friends. The Cullens decided to sit out on this one because they had other things to do.

Currently Hermione's family and the pack were at the beach having fun while waiting for the Jacksons, Carlos, Morgan, Tatiana, and Violet to arrive. Sam, Jared, Quil, Embry, Draco, Blaise, Seamus, and Sirius were all playing football. Brady and Colin were on the rocks talking about pranks with Fred. Not too far away from them stood Leah and George, both seeing who could throw a rock further into the water from where they stood. Luna and Paul, much to his pack's surprise, had taken Jesse into the water. Theo, Neville, and Dean were kicking a ball between the three of them. Padma was chatting with Kim on a blanket and Narcissa and Remus were doing the same with Emily not too far away.

Hermione and Seth were farther away from the rest of the group, sitting in the sand near the shore, but far enough away so that the water couldn't reach them. They didn't speak. They just sat there in silence, enjoying each other's company while watching the waves roll onto surface.

After a little while Hermione finally spoke. "This is so much better than being stuck in an old house with four crazy people messing with my life."

Seth almost growled at the reminder. "You won't have to worry about them anymore, Hermione. You're safe now," he told her.

She looked up at him. Hermione didn't reply, but merely smiled sweetly at him before facing the shore again. She was safe. In less than a few days this boy has become someone special to her. He made her feel safe. Hermione was not one who paid much attention to boys. During school she focused on her studies, living up to the know-it-all impression her mother demanded of her. She didn't have time for boys. But now she was somewhere that she could be completely herself and be able to relax. With that came the realization that she was crushing hard on the boy sitting next to her, and the idea both scared and excited her. Sure, she went to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum, but they had went as friends. She had never thought twice about it. And she didn't count the forced crush she had on Ron.

So, what was Hermione to do? She had no idea. But she was Hermione freaking Granger. She was the bravest and brightest witch of her age. The last thing to stump her was going to be a boy. She just needed to think.

As Hermione got lost in her thoughts, Seth sat back and watched her. He could literally sit there and just stare at her all day. She was beautiful. Especially when she was deep in thought. Whenever she slipped into her thoughts her expression became unguarded for a moment and, if you were quick enough, you could catch some of her emotions make an appearance in her expression. Her soft smile widened a little before the look of slight confusion replaced it. Then she rolled her eyes as if she just heard something ridiculous. After a moment or two a look of scared excitement came to her face before it was replaced with a determined expression. He desperately wanted to know what was going through that big brain of hers, but wouldn't pry into her business. He was perfectly content with sitting there and taking in the breathtaking sight that was Hermione Granger.

He used to laugh whenever Sam and Jared gushed about their imprints, never understanding how with one look you fell in love with a person. But now he knew. And he loved the idea of love. God, he turned into such a sap, but he didn't really care. If loving this girl made him a sap then he'd take it.

He knew he had to tell her soon about her being his imprint. The thought of doing so scared the shit out of him. Emily hadn't taken it so well when Sam had told her. She refused him for weeks before she finally accepted him. The possibility of that happening made him want to cry. But, look at the two now. Happily together and soon to be married. If she does refuse him it'll all work out in the end, right? Right?

"Hermione! Draco!" the two heard Sirius shout, snapping them from their thoughts. "Your friends are here!"

They looked over to see that Kylie, her family, and her friends had arrived. Sirius was helping Raymond pull a grill from the back of the Jacksons' pickup truck. Chris had immediately joined the boys in football, Lisa had walked over to Narcissa, and Delante had run over to play with Jesse in the water. Draco had separated from the boys and was now talking to Kylie and the others.

Hermione grinned widely and looked at Seth as if she was asking if it was okay for her to go over to them.

Seth laughed lightly. "Go," he said.

She smiled sweetly at him. Without thinking about it she gave him a quick hug and peck on the cheek before sprinting over to her new American friends, leaving behind a dazed wolf holding a hand to his cheek.

"Kylie!" Hermione yelled as she neared them. She crashed into the girl, hugging her tightly, causing the other girl to squeal and laugh.

"Hermione," she laughed, hugging her back.

They let go of each other and Hermione greeted the others.

"Well," Morgan said, "as much as I would love to stay and chat, I got some waves to surf," she said with a wide smile.

"You surf?" Dean asked, having heard her as he was walking by.

She looked up at him smiled proudly. "Yes I do."

He matched her smile. "Mind if I join you? I was just about to jump in," he asked.

Morgan looked a little surprised that he would want to go surfing with her, but nodded. "Of course. I don't own the beach do I?" she laughed a little nervously and her brother shot her a look.

Dean continued to smile as he shrugged. "Just being polite," he said. He looked at her a little longer, making her fidget a little bit. "I'll go get my board."

As he ran off Morgan let out a sigh of relief. "Who is he?" she asked, staring after him.

Hermione exchanged a knowing smile with Kylie. "That's my brother, Dean," she replied.

"Aw, does my little sister have a crush?" Carlos asked in a baby voice, pinching his sister's cheek.

Morgan smacked his hand away, glaring at him. "No!" she exclaimed defensively. "A girl can't ask a question?" she demanded.

Carlos raised his hands in surrender. "I was just wondering. Why you so sensitive?" he teased and dodged the slap she aimed at him.

"I'm not!"

"You're not what?" Dean asked as he came back with his surf board.

Morgan's eyes widened a little and the others tried to stifle their laughter.

"Uh," she started looking for a quick excuse, "I'm not . . . going to wait anymore, so it's good that you're here," she said quickly, proud she came up with an excuse.

Dean smiled charmingly. "Well, I'm sorry to keep you waiting m'lady," he said, bowing slightly, but keeping his eyes on her.

She shivered lightly, but no one noticed. Clearing her throat, she nodded. "It's okay, um, you ready?" she asked.

"When you are," he replied.

She nodded to her friends before stomping determinedly to the water, an amused Dean right behind her.

Carlos smirked after his sister. "This is going to be fun," he laughed.

Tatiana smacked his arm. "You leave her alone," she scolded. "So, she's got a little crush."

"And apparently he does too," Hermione laughed happily. She had never seen that expression on his face before. She liked it. It's been a long time since we've been happy and if this girl ended up making him happy then she was good in her books.

"She's better than Allyson Newton," Draco laughed. Shudders went around the group.

A few hours passed and the large group started to pack up to go home. Dean and Morgan had spent most of their time in the water surfing and getting to know each other. Carlos had showed Tatiana how to skip rocks, finding excuses to hold her hand or touch her in any way. Draco had led Kylie and Violet away to teach them how to throw a football. Violet had gotten the hang of it pretty easily, but Kylie had trouble. Draco was very patient and helped reposition her stance or the way she was holding the ball, causing the girl to blush.

Hermione had gone back to Seth and the two had decided to walk on the edge of the shore. They were both very sad that it was time to go. Since Hermione's little peck on the cheek Seth has been building up the courage to say something, do something, anything.

As they headed back to the group Seth gently grabbed Hermione's arm, stopping them in their tracks. She turned to face him with a sweet smile that he felt was just for him.

"What's wrong, Seth?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Nothing, everything's great. I just wanted to ask you something," he said. Nerves shook his body as he prepared himself for what he was about to do.

Hermione smiled, though confused as she watched him shift nervously. "Yes?"

He looked out into the ocean and sucked up whatever courage he had left. "I was wondering . . . if you'd possibly want to, uh, maybe go out sometime . . . with me," he practically stuttered out. He refused to look at her for the fear that he would see rejection or, worse, disgust.

But neither of those expressions crossed her face. Hermione smiled in disbelief as the words left his mouth. She couldn't believe that this amazing boy standing in front of her actually felt the same way she did. The possibility of him reciprocating the same feelings seemed unimaginable.

Seeing he was still nervously avoiding eye contact, Hermione stepped forward and planted a small kiss to his cheek. He jumped slightly, but when he realized who it was and what she was doing a warm feeling filled his body as the wolf howled inside of him.

He looked down to see Hermione smiling up at him brightly.

"Of course I will," she whispered. They stood there looking into each other's eyes before her smile softened into his special sweet one. "Call me to let me know when," she whispered.

He smiled widely. "Will do," he said just as quietly.

She gave him one more sweet smile before turning and sprinting over to where her family was piling everything in the car. As her family started to climb into the car she gave him one more smile and a longing look that almost had him running after her before climbing into the car and driving away.

He looked around to see the beach empty. A bark came from the woods and Seth turned to see his pack waiting for him. He ran towards them happily, running past them and into the woods. Jumping into the air he transformed. Continuing to run, his pack right behind him, he howled loudly with triumph, his pack echoing him as they race through the woods.

SOOOOOOOOO whatcha think?! About time we got some Seth and Hermione action going on, huh? Next chapter will be the date! And what do you think of the whole Dean/Morgan possible pairing? I know he's two years older, but who cares? REVIEW!

With Passion,

-Olivia Rose