A/N – This is my 1st ever fanfic and I know its a short chapter but I just wanted to put the idea out there and see what people thought. As this is my first fic I know the quality is not amazing but I hope to expand and develop my writing. Any feedback is welcome but please be polite. If you hate it tell me why. Thanks xXx

Chapter 1: Death is only the beginning

As the sharp teeth of the creature bit into her neck Hermione knew that this was the end. She had lived a good life, always working hard and willing to help those not as gifted as her, namely Neville Longbottom. She felt the blood seep from her; just before she lost consciousness she felt a sharp jolt go through her. Then she fell to the ground in a bloody heap.

She should be dead, she knew she should be dead yet she was surrounded in silk sheets. A faint smell of cinnamon filled her nostrils and the room was completely dark and she could not make out anything. As awareness began to fill her hazy mind panic began to set in. She tried to move her arm but they felt like lead, too heavy to lift from the plush mattress beneath her. Just as she was contemplating how to get out of bed a door, which she had not noticed before, opened revealing a very familiar site that filled her with dread. Standing in the doorway was a very irate Severus Snape.

He stood for a moment before slowly walking into the room.

"P..P..Professor Snape" Hermione stammered over her words, it was almost as though she hadn't spoken before, her throat was dry and coarse and the words felt strange and unusual to her. "Where am I sir? what happened? where is everyone?" the endless barrage of questions spilled over her lips before she could stop them. She was already beginning to feel better but for some reason she felt different, like she had changed in some indefinable way.

"Miss Granger it appears that even your death cannot stem that annoying habit for questions, I had hopped your experience would help you to mature somewhat, but it seems I was wrong. You remain the foolish child that you always were." The cruel words of torment were enough to leave the potions master feeling much better; having let go some of his anger while insulting the girl made him a lot calmer. He no longer stood as straight and his muscles seemed to relax a little bit, going from pure rage to the usual state of tension.

"Death..I'm not dead sir I'm right here...and I don't appreciate being spoken to like a child. I am no longer a student and I am 19 years old, legal age in both the wizard and muggle world. I demand 

that you tell me where I am." Her eyes portraying her panic, and despite the cold exterior inside she was afraid.

"Miss Granger, when members of this clan found you early this morning you had bite marks on your neck and unfortunately despite their best efforts the change had begun. You're not dead in the traditional sense, Miss Granger, as of this morning you are a member of an ancient clan, one which I had hoped never to have to revel to any student of mine but nevertheless here we are and I am now responsible for your welfare. " He could see the confusion on her face and being the cold hearted man he was he did nothing to stem her panic he merely carried on with his speech. "Miss Granger, you will be staying in this house for the foreseeable future so you may as well get used to it. The clan to which you now belong is one of twenty that exist and one of the five original vampire settlements. We are called Caveat"

"Vampire" Hermione's voice was suddenly weaker than a Childs and she seemed to sink into the bed. Turing away from the Professor she turned to face the dark wall. The room was a little lighter now the door was open and she could make out furniture that looked ancient. A large wardrobe stood opposite the bed, a matching chest nest to the bed and a small empty bookshelf was discarded behind the door.

Suddenly it struck her, why was she thinking about the position of furniture when she had just been told she was a vampire. Surly that was more important than a wardrobe? But she could not seem to comprehend it. Even in the magical world she had lived in since she was eleven the idea of vampire seemed silly to her. They were the stuff of bedtime stories that her dad used to read her when she couldn't sleep as a child. This was not real, but then she remembered the pressure on her neck as she stood in the garden of her parents' home in Kent. The horrible feeling of knowing your dying and being powerless to stop overcame her once more as she began to shake.

Seeing the girl begin to go into shock prompted Severus into action, he had been patiently standing waiting for her to turn around and screaming at him. But when she began to shake he knew she had come to her own conclusion and was correct in thinking she had become one of the dammed.