Chapter 2
Hermione's Point of View
I brushed my bushy hair from my face as I sat on the barstool in the crowded, noisy pub. My eyes stared straight at the fireplace where the vampire Dumbledore told me about was supposed to come through. As much as it freaked me out I didn't question Professor Dumbledore's methods, I learn to quit that a while back. I laughed a bit as I imagined what this vampire looked like. 'Probably like a modern day Dracula.' A sudden sound jerked me from my wonderings. I glanced at the fireplace intently as a black garbed figure appeared, shaking himself free of soot.
He then looked up and I caught sight of his eyes. They were Gryffindor red with black creeping in on the edges. His face looked barely over 15 but he was none the less...beautiful. I cleared my throat and he looked up once again. I hoped off the stool and came over to him. "I'm Hermione Granger. And you are?"
The boy vampire smiled a little and replied "Alec Volturi, pleased to meet you." I blinked, trying to get his melodious voice out of my head. "Oh…right…um where do you hunt?" I asked, curious.
"Where ever I please but I only hunt humans." My mouth hung open as he hastily said "But don't worry Hermione I won't bite you." He mumbled something else but I didn't catch it. "I'm sorry, what was that last thing?" He looked a bit sheepishly at me before whispering "Your blood smells wondrous, though. "
I pondered that for a minute then he spoke again. "You see, we vampires…if we find a human's blood that 'tickles our fancy' then we are drawn to it. It, or that person is our 'singer' because their blood 'sings' to us. And I think after 300 years I have found mine." He finished looking down at his shoes. I blushed and asked "Can you tell me more about vampires while we find you somewhere and something to eat?" Alec nodded and held out his arm for me to take, sweeping us out of the grimy pub and into the city.
* * *
After Alec had 'fed', I had looked at a few books in the nearby shop; we headed back to the castle. Along the way we got to know more about each other and I learned his past. When I asked about the other vampires, the Cullens, Alec looked pained and a mist swirled at his feet.
"How did you do that? And what is it?" I asked staring at his feet. He sighed and said "That is my power; I use it to comfort me or defend against my enemies. It cuts off all the senses, immobilizing you. My sister Jane has the power to cause pain just by saying the word." Curious I asked "I heard you two are called 'The Witch Twins'. Is that because of the time period you lived in when you were human?"
He hissed at the term 'Witch Twins' and nodded. "Yes the villagers hated us and almost burned us at the stake." I placed my hand on his cold shoulder and whispered "I know how you feel." He shot me an incredulous look as I said "I'm something called a Muggleborn; the offspring of two Muggles, or non-magical people who has a child that can do magic, although some people prefer the term Mudblood." I spat out the last word as if it was bitter.
Alec noticed it and asked softly "Why did you say that word like it was poison?" My shoulders slumped a bit as I replied "Because it's a dirty term for Muggleborn and I hear it quite a lot form a certain group of students, almost on a daily basis." Alec growled and his red eyes got darker.
I squeezed his cloaked shoulder "It's all right I'm use to it by now. Although maybe you could sit with me at my table and if the Slytherins, that group I mentioned, come by you could growl at them." I laughed a bit at this then glanced at Alec to see his reaction. He chuckled a little and nodded. "I could do that, of course I'd be tempted to do worse but I think I can handle myself." I stared open-mouthed at him.
"I was only joking but it might come in handy not having to defend myself all the time." We walked the rest of the way in silence until we reached the Great Hall. "Would you like to come and sit with me and my friends?" I asked, hoping, for some odd reason he would say yes. He smiled and nodded as I led him to the Gryffindor table. "What do the different colored banners mean?" I explained the History of Hogwarts and was just telling Alec about the House ghost when Harry and Ron, my two best friends showed up.
Ron looked at Alec as if he would attack him "Is this the bloodsucker Dumbledore sent for?" Behind him Ron heard 8 hisses. He whirled around and sneered at the 8 vampires before stomping off to the far side of the table. Alec seemed surprised that the others took up for him. Harry held his hand out for Alec and the Cullens to shake while saying "Don't worry about Ron's behavior he's like this a lot. I'm Harry Potter by the way."
One by one the vampires introduced themselves and the leader of the Cullens explained why they were here. "Well that's good. We need all the help we can get. Welcome to Hogwarts." Harry said, smiling at them all as he sat down beside Alec. I tuned out their conversation, as all they talked about were sports.
Dinner went fairly well until Malfoy showed up. I glared at him before snapping "What do you want Malfoy? Come to tease and humiliate me again or did you decide to defy that pompous father of yours?"
His blue-grey eyes narrowed as he acidly replied "I can make up my own mind thank you very much and no I didn't come over here to tease you, I came because I heard the vampires had arrived." I glanced at Harry and shrugged. Alec smirked and said "Well here we are. Now what is it you wanted?"
Malfoy did a bit of a double take as he took in Alec and the Cullens. "I was told by my father to invite you all to a ball we are having at our Manor but I would understand you declined. Although he wouldn't." he mumbled this last bit, fear showing in his eyes and posture. I laughed to myself at the thought of the great Draco Malfoy being afraid but then I remember some of what I'd heard about the elder Malfoy's treatment of his son.
I sighed and said "Mal-Draco, if you are afraid of what your father might do to you, you could always stay at Grimuald Place. That house is owned by some of your family isn't it?" His eyes widened a bit as he nodded. "I might just do that. Thanks Granger…I mean Hermione." I then heard the mother figure of the Cullens ask softly "Is it really that bad?" Draco gulped and gestured to the bench. "May I?" I nodded and Alec scooted over to make room for him. Draco sat down and took off his cloak revealing his arms, skin almost as pale as the vampires.
As he turned I heard Esme gasp so I peered closer. To my horror I saw scars zigzagging across his otherwise flawless skin. Draco smirked, almost cruelly. "This was my punishment for refusing to become a Death Eater, plus I received the Mark against my will. I have more but I would have to disrobe in order for you to see." He then put his cloak back on, pulling it around him.
"Why do you submit to such torture? Even Aro would never do that to his victims." Alec asked amazed and shocked. Draco laughed harshly. "He is my father and disobedience equals death." Alec nodded and whispered "Now that I understand. I too have been threatened with death if I should fail." He lifted a pale hand and touched Draco's left arm.
"May we see the Mark? Perhaps Carlisle could remove it somehow." In response Draco pulled his sleeve up to the elbow to reveal the skull and snake mark, black as coal against his flesh. Carlisle, the leader of the Cullens, bent down and touched the skull as Draco hissed in pain.
"Please it burns…get it off!" he nearly screamed the last part as Carlisle stood and gestured for all of us to follow him. "How long has it hurt?" he asked his voice kind and fatherly. Draco's mouth was set in a grim line. "Ever since I received it; six months ago. Can you remove it?" Hope was clear in his eyes. Carlisle thought for a moment. "I think I can but it will be painful. Will you be able to stand it?" Draco stood up tall and straight as he said "I'm a Malfoy we were trained to stand everything." Carlisle nodded before taking his black doctor's bag out and opening it.
"Breath deep. Edward, Emmett can you hold him? Alec please numb his senses so this will be smoother." Edward and Emmett grabbed Draco's arms in a vise grip as Alec prepared to numb him.
"No wait! Don't numb the pain. I deserve it after the things I've done." Draco mumbled shaking his head. Carlisle looked at him before asking "Are you sure?" Draco nodded as Carlisle cut his flesh with the scalpel. I turned away as Alec wrapped his arms around me but I could still here Draco's shrill screams. All of the sudden I couldn't feel anything or see or hear.
I sighed and whispered 'thanks' to Alec. I felt his lips on my forehead and then I could see and hear again. Draco was hunched over, his face green with nausea but the Mark was gone. He breathed in and out a few times then stood up, his left arm bleeding profusely. I glanced at Alec and saw his eyes deepen in color.
"Carlisle I think Alec might need to leave for a bit." Alec growled and slipped out of my arms and into a crouch, staring at Draco like he was a rare steak. Then he shook himself and straightened up. "I apologize for my behavior." He bowed and walked off his black cloak billowing around him.