Ch. 3 - You Were Never Able to Keep Me Breathing
Hermione entered her room late that night and leaned against the closed door. Pink dusted her cream colored checks and her breathing was accelerated.
Pizza with Malfo—Draco, had been wonderful. Maybe he wasn't so bad…
Over the next few days Hermione settled into her place within the Clan. Lilith, Blaise and Jade took her shopping and to gather her things from her parents' house, who, I might add, gave her no grief what so ever about moving out. She found that the four of them had a nice quartette dynamic.
Draco hung around a lot, too. Every evening they would have a drink together, it was becoming quite the ritual. Whenever he was around she would smell ripe strawberries and fresh parchment; it was a complete enigma to her. She thought about checking in her book on vampires, but she never seemed to get around to it.
On the fourth day, the day she was going to go out to feed again, Liam returned from his mysterious business.
Everyone was sitting around the coffee table as usual; Draco and Hermione were in a heated discussion with Blaise about the possibility of this year's Head Boy and Girl to be. The letters hadn't been sent out yet and there were a number of candidates. Of course, Draco thought that Hermione would get the position of Head Girl and, because of the schools love affair with him, that Potter would receive the honor of Head Boy. Hermione, never being the self-serving type, thought that Hannah Abbot and Terry Boot would be the obvious choices. Blaise argued that she chose people from neither Gryffindor nor Slytherin on purpose.
The conversation continued as such until the door opened with a bang and Liam swooped in. He actually pulled Hermione out of her discussion and kissed her in way that normally would have stopped her heart. However, she pushed him away and spoke indignantly, "Excuse me, while I'm glad to see that your back, I was in the middle of a discussion. There was absolutely no reason for that."
Lilith chuckled at her, "Actually, he has perfect timing. We should get ready to go feed." She was the only person to see Draco's eyes darken in jealousy.
The only thing he said was, "See you later, Granger," before he disappeared up the stairs and the loud muggle music could be heard once again.
Hermione frowned, but seeing as she had had the urge to bite Draco all day, it was probably for the best that she left him alone for the time being. The group got ready and this time they all went out together, to the same club as last time.
Draco was beside himself. He wasn't even sure what he was beside himself with. There was anger, jealousy, depression; he couldn't decide which was the strongest. It had only been three days of them hanging out together, but he felt that, in those three days, they had made a lot of progress. She was finally comfortable in his company. They joked together like friends. What is it about that asshole that made it so damn difficult for him to get close to her? The lyrics to the song playing floated into his mind like a sick reminder.
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
you're so fucking special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo
what the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
"Oh, yeah, she has no reason to want to be around me." He let his guilt about the way he had treated her in years past settle onto himself again.
He lit a cigarette and allowed himself to wallow in his own misery for a bit. That was until he heard the group of vampires come back. I mean really, you couldn't miss it. They were so damn rowdy; they almost drowned out his music. Almost. Then he heard her screams again, and that drowned out everything else.
He wasn't sure what came over him, but, knowing he couldn't beat the shit out of Liam like he wanted to, he grabbed his wallet and his coat, and stormed out of his room and out of the house.
Hermione lay in bed in the afterglow of orgasm. Liam really was good at that.
As she fell asleep she vaguely wondered where he had learned all of his tricks. Giving a mental shrug, she curled around her sire. Maybe it didn't matter if she was becoming a more sexual creature. Her sire liked it, if his enthusiasm was anything to go by. Maybe it was okay that she let loose. She could accept this new her, and so could her new family.
Hermione cuddled into her Sire. She could get used to his possessiveness. Maybe even begin to like it.
When Hermione woke mid-morning, it was to a loud frantic knock on the door. She sat up, rubbed her eyes sleepily, and made sure she was covered, "Come in."
Lyra opened the door looking like a mad woman, "Have you seen Draco?"
Hermione frowned at her, "No, I just woke up, let me-" Her response was cut off by Liam pulling her back down to his chest.
"No, Lyra, we haven't seen the human." Liam's response was accompanied by a condescending sneer.
Lyra frowned at him but responded softly, "Okay, well if you see him, please let me know. He isn't anywhere on the grounds."
Hermione watched as her mentor softly closed the door before turning to her sire and smacking him on the chest, "Why would say that? Draco isn't that bad. What if something is actually wrong?"
Liam glared at her before chuckling at her, "Cherry, Draco is a spoiled little rich boy. He has nowhere else to go. He probably just went for a walk, or a swim in the lake." He pulled Hermione to him tight and kissed her soundly, thinking the argument was over.
Hermione's mind, however, was nowhere near the things that her sire was doing to her. Lyra had said that they had searched the grounds. Draco wouldn't just up and leave for no reason, and if he did he always came back, or left a note in the first place. He wasn't irresponsible. What if when he went out he had gotten captured? Deatheaters were still looking for him weren't they? That's why they were 'hiding' in the muggle world, because Draco didn't want to take his father's place in Moldyshort's ranks. What if they hurt him? Oh gods, what if they killed him? No! He's MINE!
Where had that come from? Draco was NOT her anything; beside, maybe, a tentative friend.
Hermione pushed Liam away, "I'm sorry, I can't do this right now."
Liam scowled at her, "Whatever, Cherry. Let me know when you quit being a priss." He got up, pulled his pants on, and left without another word.
Hermione gave the slammed door her own scowl. What right did he have to talk to her like that? Her family was in distress. Her… Draco was missing, she had to help.
Lyra was rushing around the house going from room to room, maybe they had missed one. She prayed that her baby brother was alright. There were too many people in the world that wished him harm at the moment. Where could he have gone? She was to lost in her frantic thoughts, she walked right into an equally frazzled Hermione.
"I'm sorry, 'Mione."
"Lyra! Any luck?"
The elder vampire smiled sadly, "No, Blaise and Jade are out searching, I'm thinking of joining them."
"Would it be okay if I joined you?" Hermione blushed, "I know that Liam wasn't very nice about things earlier, I'm sorry."
"Oh, Hermione, it fine. That's just how Liam is. He and Draco have always butted heads. I'd like you to join me, thank you"
The four vampires searched throughout the night. Liam sat at the house waiting for his nice piece of ass to get home. She shouldn't be out looking for that douche bag, she should be on her knees. Taking care of the little problem he had had all morning. Damn. He would miss her responsiveness when he finally left. Inexperienced women always made the best noises.
The next evening, everyone was in the sitting area, brainstorming. They had started a list of places Draco liked to frequent. They planned on starting the search again that night.
Liam became upset, "Why are you going out again? If he wanted to be here he would be. I'm sure the spoiled brat just realized he couldn't live without the comforts of his 'daddy's' house."
The 4 other vampires gasped. Jade walked across the room and slapped Liam across the face. "How dare you! Draco is more a part of this clan than you are! He would never go back to that house and you know that!" She huffed heavily before continuing. If you aren't going to be helpful, either leave or go entertain yourself some other way.
Liam scowled and stormed up the stairs. No one saw him until later in the evening, almost morning, when Hermione finally came to bed. The young vampire snuggled into her sire, finally being able to relax after the tense day.
Hermione woke the next morning and stretched languidly. Draco's disappearance was still weighing heavily on her mind. He had been missing for two days. They had searched about half of their list tonight and were planning on doing the other half today.
She had turned to where Liam was supposed to be lying next to her, but he wasn't there. In his place was a letter addressed to her.
Hermione just sat there, looking at the letter. When she finally opened it, what she found made her want to crawl into a hole.
Hermione,
I'm sorry you have to find out this way, but I'm rubbish at saying things, so I figured this would be easier for the both of us. Besides, you're rather occupied with the human trash. I'm leaving. Not just you, but the clan. Lilith is a wonderful leader and she doesn't need me anymore. Neither do you. You're a beautiful girl Hermione, but you're just not for me. The business I was attending to called me away again. I figured you should know that it isn't really business at all. It's this human girl I kind of have a thing for and I went to be with her.
Don't worry though, you're a great fuck. You will make someone happy someday. No hard feelings.
Liam
P.S. – Thanks for the cherry.
Hermione's fists balled around the note. How could she be so stupid? Sleeping with a guy she hardly knew, giving him her virginity. She was so angry, at herself, at him, and at Lilith, and everyone else, for not warning her. It's not like it actually mattered, she didn't really like the guy, but she had given him a part of herself. She had at least expected the decency of a real good bye. She wanted to rip his heart out.
The weeks following Liam's departure and Draco's disappearance were absolute hell.
Blaise and Jade watched as Hermione slipped into a near depression. She refused to talk to anyone, and she hunted every night. By the end of the first week, she had drained and screwed enough people to satisfy the entire clan for a month.
Lilith on the other hand didn't hunt at all. She was so worried about her brother that she hardly moved from her perch on the balcony. She stood there, just waiting for him to return. They had search for four days straight for Draco when he had first disappeared. They had been all over London and the surrounding areas.
Blaise didn't know what else to do, so he stayed away from the house as much as possible, but when he wasn't feeding he was still searching for his best friend.
Jade hated seeing her sire like this. She hated seeing the woman that had given her life feel so much grief. You see, Lyra didn't just feel her own worry, she also felt Hermione's dejection, and Blaise's despair and Jade's desire to fix it all.
Jade knew she couldn't do this all on her own. She cursed Liam for leaving, every day as she watched Lyra keep watch and go through another restless, bloodless night. She didn't know what to do. She knew that Lyra's mood wouldn't change, unless they found Draco and Hermione stopped this madness. She pondered this every night as she walked alone along the busy muggle street, hoping for a sign, any sign, of Draco.
That night Jade went hunting with Blaise at the nearest gay bar; Blaise got into only because he went down on one of the bouncers.
"Now, Jade," Blaise spoke, wiping his mouth off as they walked into the bar, "Why would you, of all people, want to come to this shit hole. I know it's not because you like to watch me give head." He laughed, Jade stiffened at his casual mention of his sexuality, she was very open about her own, it wasn't a secret; she was just old fashioned. She never even talked to Lilith about her conquests.
"Well, Blaise," hear voice flippant, "as you know, Lyra hasn't been herself since Draco disappeared," she paused as he nodded in agreement, "I want you to devote all your energy into finding him."
"You brought me to gay bar, to tell me I need to 'devote energy' into something other than fucking the brains out of the next guy that looks at me?"
"Blaise, be serious, if we don't fix this, things could go horribly wrong for all of us!" She was angry now, how could he take something like their family so lightly, they could lose Lyra. Jade softened at her sire's name, she loved Lyra, more than anything. What was she going to do...? "We could lose her Blaise, if we can't put her back together, we will lose her."
"I know Jade, but I've been looking everywhere, he's not anywhere in Diagon alley or Hogsmead, I've checked all the places we used to hang out, I don't know where else to look."
"Did you check the manor or muggle areas?"
"Why the hell would he be there? Besides, the manor is in the possession of the ministry. He has nothing, accept Lyra and..."
Jade interrupted, "Just check, please, tomorrow, for me, and come home early tonight, she needs you too." After that she got up and left Blaise to his own devices.
When Jade got home she noticed that Lyra wasn't at her normal perch on the balcony. She walked into the house and fond her lying on the couch; the woman looked half dead.
Jade kneeled down beside her beloved sire solemnly. She kissed her lips and whispered, "I'll make it better for you, I promise, I can be strong." Lyra didn't move, didn't whimper. Not even as Jade moved her to her rooms; or when her Childe fed her from her own veins.
Jade softly maneuvered out of the room, "Now it's Hermione's turn."
Hermione was out hunting again. This bar was getting small. She was bored; the people didn't hold the same interest as they had when she first came here with Lyra.
Hermione frowned as she thought of the woman that had shown her that way into this new life of hers. She knew that she was hurting her. She knew that she would eventually come to regret all the attacks she had been making. None of it seemed to matter though. Her new family cared for her, and she cared for them. Draco, before he had gone and left her too, had been turning out to be someone she could be friends with. She missed that strawberry smell. She needed to stop this. Tonight's the last night. She didn't really have anywhere else to go if she fucked this up. Her old friends, "Who haven't owled me at all this summer," would never really accept her as she was now. Still, she missed them. She wondered what they would think about her missing Draco Malfoy's company.
She was brought out of her musings as she notices a guy at the bar wink at her. Reluctantly she got up and made her way towards him, "Here we go again."
Hermione had stayed in for the past two nights, just as she told herself and Jade that she would. She was still miserable, but at least the only person she was hurting now was herself. She kept watch with Lyra every night, her blood lust and absence completely forgiven. They didn't talk; they didn't need to. Even without their mind reading abilities, they both knew that Draco was the only thing on their minds. Sometimes Hermione would go look for him with Blaise, but for the most part she stayed inside, waiting.
On one such day, when Blaise was out searching and Hermione was in the living room taking a break from the watch, Jade went up to the balcony to talk to Lyra.
"Ly', I brought you some tea."
"Thank you, Jade." Lilith took the teacup from her with a drained smile.
"How are you holding up?"
"I'm alright. How long has it been?"
"Two weeks today. Lyra, you need to feed."
"I need to find my brother."
"Well, go out for a little while, but make sure you feed. When you get back we will have guests." At Lyra's raised eyebrow, Jade blushed and handed her the letter she had transcribed. "I thought that, maybe, it would help Hermione."
"I think this is a fabulous idea." Lyra smiled at the beautiful girl that she had sired. "I'll get ready and go out. How long do you think I have?"
"If all goes as planned, they should be coming this evening."
"And you're not telling Hermione?"
"Where's the fun in that?" Jade walked out the door and Lyra chuckled for the first time in two weeks.
My Dearest Harry, Ron, and Ginny
I haven't heard from you guys at all this summer, how have you been? Is everyone ok?
My summer has been, well, interesting. I moved out of my parents' house about a week into holiday and I'm living with some friends. I would love for you to meet them. You should come visit really soon. Actually, if you want to come right now that would be great. The location is on the back of the letter, you guys can floo here and stay as long as you like.
I miss you guys so, so much.
Please come!
Love Always,
Hermione Granger
"We are going to see her, right?" asked a very peeved Ginny. She couldn't believe that none of them had owled her since vacation started. It didn't seem like it had been that long. Realizing that the boys were not going to answer her, she stormed up the stairs, yelling, "FINE, I'LL GO SEE HER BY MYSELF!" She felt horrible for leaving Hermione completely alone just like they had done with Harry after fourth year. "Well I guess she's not completely alone if she's living with friends. But still."
"You are coming, aren't you, mate?" Ron couldn't figure out why his sister had yelled at them. Can't a guy have a minute to think?
"Of course I am Ron, but don't you think it's odd for Hermione to be so, I don't know, spontaneous?"
"A little, but it has been a while since we've seen her. I bet she's just bored out of her mind because she already finished all of her summer homework."
"Yeah, you're right. Let's go get ready to leave, before Ginny blows another gasket."
Ron laughed, "Yeah, race you."
The boys dashed up the stairs and packed to visit for a few days.
"Good, they're coming; I just hope Hermione won't get mad at me. Oh, well."
Jade put on her new hot pink corset that matched the red one Hermione had had on. With a sigh of relief, she thought, "Now, if Blaise finds Draco, tonight will be perfect."
Hermione was sitting in the living room reading a book on muggle mythology, when Jade came running down the stairs with Draco's stereo held over her head. She set the stereo down on the coffee table and pressed play. Hermione smile, for the first time in two weeks, when she heard her favorite song.
Jade magically pushed all of the furniture against the walls and pulled Hermione into the center of the living room. They started to move together to the music
Here we are so what you gonna do?
Do I gotta spell it out for you?
Lyra walked in and sat down. She watches the girls as they their movements matched the beat of the song perfectly.
Size me up you know I beat the best
Tick tock no time to rest
Let 'em say what they're gonna say but tonight,
I just don't really care
The girls ground against each other as they become lost to anyone in the world, but each other.
Come with me tonight
We could make the night last forever
Green flames flash from the fireplace, unnoticed.
Let me take you on the ride of your life
That's what I said alright
They can say what they wanna say 'cause tonight,
I just don't even care
Lilith heard gasps from across the room and unglued her eyes from the very attractive pair.
Come on baby we ain't gonna live forever
Let me show you all the things that we could do
You know you wanna be together
And I wanna spend the night with you
Assuming that the three people that had stepped out of the fireplace were the "guests" Jade had mentioned, she thought of stopping the girls, but when looked over to see them dancing so incredibly seductively, she promptly forgot.
The trio at the fireplace just stared in amazement at the site, the boys had never seen Hermione dance like that, and even though Ginny had, it was only when she was alone, never with someone.
Come on baby we ain't gonna live forever
Let me show you all the things that we could do
You know you wanna be together - together
And I wanna spend the night with you
(Yeah yeah) - with you, yeah With you
So come with me tonight
We could make the night last forever
The song ended and the pair parted laughing and catching their breath. Lilith cleared her throat to get the girls attention.
They both looked to Lyra as she spoke, "Aren't you going to introduce us to your guests, Hermione?"
A/N - The songs used in this chapter are: Creep - Radiohead and 4ever - the Veronicas.
I would like to thank 'Ginger' for editing my stories, she is a wonderful and beautiful stories. Let me know if her or I have missed anything.
Let me know what you think. Please?
