Hermione had it all. A loving boyfriend, loving friends, a career. Unfortunately, fate feeds on the good. As soon as you think nothing could be better, it punches you hard. Getting you back to reality it makes you remember to enjoy things while they last.
Fate had its way and took her love away.
It was a cold winter's night. The flames flickered in the fireplace and spread the warmth.
"I just have to hand in this report. I promise I'll be back in twenty minutes." Ron gave her a half-smile. She breathed out deeply.
"Okay, but make it quick." She looked concerned out of the window. "It's cold outside. Why don't you disapparate?"
"You never stop caring, do you? The office is just five minutes away. I need a fresh breath of air anyway." He gently kissed her on the cheek. "But that's why I love you so much."
She saw his fiery red hair disappearing behind the door. Snuggling in her blanket, she said: "I love you, too."
Forty minutes passed and no sign of Ron. She put on her boots and left the apartment with a thick coat and a scarf. She waited a few moments outside, hoping he would appear at the next corner with a pizza box in his hands. Anxious, she went on and kept a tight grip on her wand.
She told herself she was too paranoid, but in the next alley, she saw something terrifying. Two people were laying on the cold floor, surrounded by blood. One of them looked frighteningly familiar.
That was the breaking point. There was no going back. It was too late. Ron's body was drained of blood. They told her that he probably saw a muggle being attacked by a vampire and wanted to help. Little did he know that there was another vampire to join them, much older and stronger as the other. The muggle was able to survive, but Ron was forever lost.
The next hours passed in a fog. She wasn't aware of her surroundings. Interrogation, condolences from people she barely knew, Harry's comforting words... For what? He was gone.
There was just one thing on her mind: Find the vampire and kill it. She had enough information: A strong build woman with orange hair. Her Target. Not even Harry was able to convince her to stay. There was nothing left for her.
Secretly, she left her home and placed everything of importance in her beaded bag. She began following the traces of the vampires. They lead her across Europe.
In Lyon, she kills her first vampire. Not because he was the one she searched for, no. The innocent Hermione was completely gone. No one would judge her. The vampire was a useful source of information, just collateral damage. She told herself it was just to practice, that he just lived as a monster and she would help people with it.
She gained scars along the way. Near death, an Italian witch had found her, healed her. The witch told Hermione ancient stories about the first vampires, the Originals as they were referred to. She was told her wand would only be a weakness. One snap and it would break. No chance against a vampire. She started practicing wandless magic and followed her prey.
They almost met in Madrid. She heard her name. Sage. First, she thought she was running away, but the vampire was searching for something, too.
She was fast, never staying in one place. Inevitable, she realized she was being followed. Hermione was experienced in hiding. It was like a game of mouse and cat.
Suddenly, she changed her direction from south to west, crossing the Atlantic ocean. Something picked her interest, and Hermione would soon find out what it was. Over the time, she gained strength. She didn't feel any remorse over the vampires she left on her bloody journey. The contact to England was completely broken. She didn't want anyone else to get involved in this. People always assumed she would be fine, somehow or the other.
If the brightest witch of her age couldn't go through this, who else could?
The orange haired vampire lead her to a small town, but the traces were old and when she got there, the murderer of Ron was dead. No magic could show her where Sage was. She could not believe this at first. She wanted to laugh, but only tears came out. For the first time, she felt how empty she was. All the time, her heart was filled with revenge.
She thought she would feel better. She didn't. She was truly alone, nothing to hold on to.
She found herself in Mystic Falls. Not a safe place to stay, she knew it. It was surrounded by mystical creatures, fights she wasn't part of. But she was tired of running.
One night, she wandered through the park, seeking out the calm of the darkness around her.
She sat down on a bench. As she looked to the stars, she wondered if Ron was now watching over her.
She felt something. A vampire was approaching; a very old one, maybe even an Original. Hermione remained were she was, hoping he wouldn't be looking for a human blood bag. He was wearing a white suit with a twenties theme.
He looked pleased with himself, a smile still lingering on his lips.
Their eyes met. In a matter of a second, he had her in a tight grip.
"Who sent you? Elena?" He asked in a coarse voice, trying to intimidate her. She noticed his British accent.
"Nobody sent me. I don't even know the Elena you're talking about."
He didn't let go." Why are you here?"
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Don't play games with me, witch. I know this is a trap."
"Well, maybe not everything revolves around you and maybe people just enjoy a stroll in the park," she said in a stern voice. "Until now, you didn't do anything to anger me, vampire." She spat the last word out. "But if you do not let me go, trust me, I will make you."
He looked to the side, debating with himself what to do. "Better not cross paths with me again, witch." He whispered in her ear and disappeared the next second.
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding and went back to her motel.
The next time she saw him, he was injured. He lay panting on the forest ground, under huge trees. Hermione sensed a huge amount of magical activity and went to see what the cause was. A witch tried to neutralize him, drawing the blood out of his system. Somehow, he managed to escape.
Up on noticing her, he muttered: "You again?" He could barely let out a laugh. "Are you here to finish me off?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "What happened?"
He averted his gaze. "The usual, being betrayed, again, by someone I wanted to trust. A foolish thought."
"You won't gain any trust if you're not trustworthy yourself."
He looked at her again, pain visible in his eyes.
"What are you trying to achieve? As it is now, everybody will sooner or later turn their backs on you."
She heard stories from witches she met. Gruesome stories. "You don't have to be like this. You can choose the right path. "
Strangely, she didn't want to see him going down the path that only lead to self-destruction.
"Where do you live?" She looked around. "I can walk with you.''
"I doubt that." He stated. "You should run while you can."
"What makes you think I will be in danger? Don't forget your own position. You should be thankful I'm making you this offer. "
He held up a finger and pointed at a path several meters away.
She took his arm and helped him up. With the help of magic, it was easy to walk with him.
She gaped when they stood in front of his mansion. It reminded her of the small cottages that were scattered all over England; only bigger, of course.
"I guess you'll be just fine from here on." She turned to leave.
"What's your name, witch?"
"It's Hermione, vampire."
"Hermione; quite an unusual name for this time period. I believe you've already heard my name." He chuckled. "To make it clear: Nothing changed with you helping me. I could've helped myself."
"Sure you could." She smiled. "Until we meet again, Niklaus." Leaving the mansion, she didn't hear the 'Thank you' from a certain hybrid.
Unknown to her, he drew the first sketch of her that night.
She spent her time in the old library, reading about the town's history.
Naturally, there wasn't much information on vampires. Apart from ridiculous romance novels, that is.
She saw the other vampires that lived there. From what she could tell, they wanted to see the Originals dead, except for Klaus.
Hermione talked to Bonnie, strong for her age. She informed her that every vampire was bound to an Original. They killed one and with him, Sage died.
Her third encounter with Niklaus was at the Mystic Grill. She sat at the bar, thinking about when to leave the small town. He took the seat next to her.
"What took you from England to Mystic Falls?" His question was sincere.
"Revenge," was her answer.
He took a sip from his drink. "I suppose you didn't succeed then."
"Not exactly. When I arrived here, she was already dead."
By now, he knew of whom she was talking about.
"Tell me about you, your story. There's more to that."
"That would be a very long story." She chuckled. "And I don't think it would interest you." She paid for her drink and left the bar.
He followed her outside. "What interests me and what not is my business. Besides, I've got all the time in the world for a good story."
They perched down on a park bench. The moon was shining bright.
"If I tell you my story, you have to tell me yours."
"It's a bargain then." He smiled. His dimples showed.
She began telling him about Hogwarts, Voldemort and the Battle. About how Sage killed Ron and her seeking revenge.
He gave her his full attention and remarked: "So young, but so much to bear." Niklaus told her about himself. The worst he had done. She wasn't very surprised.
''You saw everything there is to see, didn't you?'' He stared at her while she mused. ''Had the time to achieve huge knowledge. Yet, you're not happy. At the end of the day, there's nothing left for you. Betrayed. Again and again. Your immortal life is worth nothing.''
That hit home too hard. ''You don't know what you're talking about. I'm stronger, faster than everyone else. I don't need your pity.''
He stood up. ''It's late now. I think it's best to go separate ways from here on.''
She knew she should not have been so honest. It caused him pain he didn't want to admit.
''You know, it's not a weakness to ask for help.'' And again, he vanished.
A few weeks later was her last in Mystic Falls. She had no idea how, but Niklaus found out. He caught her as she checked out of the motel.
''You're leaving?''
''Yes... I don't have a reason to stay. I think I'll travel some more before I return to England. Is there something you want to tell me?''
He was torn.
''Niklaus, I'm not immortal like you. I can't wait centuries.''
He remained silent. "Good bye, Nik, " she said and closed the door.
She started her travel in Rome and enjoyed the sights. What she didn't enjoy was a vampire. He attacked her.
"That was for Cynthia!" he shouted and left a deep bite mark on her neck.
How ironic. She composed herself, took a breath and killed him. Hermione sat down on the floor, leaning her head against the wall. Blood was oozing from her wound. She would have to treat it soon, but for the moment, she just closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the night.
A pair of hands held her by the shoulder. Niklaus. He found her.
She smiled. "Just a little late, isn't it?"
"It's fine. I'll fix you. You're going to be ok." He talked with a soothing voice, and lifted her in his arms.
"I suppose you know where my hotel is?"
"Of course, love." Of course he knew.
In her room, she treated her wound with a potion. He sat opposite of her in a chair beside her bed.
"Why did you decide to join me?" Even without asking, she already knew the answer.
"The doppelgänger was turned. She is useless to me now." There was more. "I had nothing to lose." He didn't want to be lonely.
From then on, they travelled together through Italy. He showed her magnificent places one wouldn't find through tourist tours.
In Farnetta, she showed him her first true smile since Ron's death. He compared it to the rising sun: Only a small prelude to what was to come.
Hermione made it clear to him that she wouldn't tolerate it if he killed
Humans and, in return, she promised not to betray him. She wouldn't.
As they reached Greece, she realized how he was slowly filling the whole in her heart. In a small tavern, they danced together.
In front of her hotel room, he studied her: "You're different."
She looked at him with furrowed brows.
"I don't mean it in a bad way, love. It amazes me how you can stand here, with me, after all that has happened to you. You might be the most strong-willed woman I've ever met. You would do anything to help your friends. You understand me, something that is worth so much." He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Hermione. See you tomorrow." He left with a smug grin.
Something in her did really change that night.
On her 25th birthday, she told him about her feelings: "I know you've done bad things, and you're certainly not a good guy, but I trust you. I'm not sure that I can overcome my past, but with you, it hurts less."
He held her in a tight embrace. They were both lost, broken. But as two, the pieces fit together, forming something new.
After her 27th birthday, there was love between them.
Her heart stopped beating before her 30th birthday to be united for eternity.
"I love you because you're everything I need."
Edit: Got rid of some adverbs and some grammar mistakes. Hope you enjoyed the story
