Disclaimer: As you know, this is not mine. The only thing I own is the character Kuro and no you can not have him (my mom and I are currently fighting over him).
A/N: Okay...you know to review! If anyone is interested in who I imagine Kuro to look like go to my profile page. I have posted a pic there...though I wish ffnet would allow larger pics. lol. Okay...review and let me know what you think!
Chapter Three
Nightshade
He tossed and turned all night. With the nightfall came the fear of what was laying in wait out there. He couldn't get it out of his mind. Monogatari Kuro…vampire. And not just any ordinary vampire…no, this one was something different…something more. The whole Monogatari family was legendary and no one knew where to draw the line between what was real and what was the myth.
That was the worse part…not knowing.
Frustrated, Lucius tossed the covers off and rose from the bed. It had been two days since Severus had delivered that hellish folder to him. The fact that the vampire the Dark Lord talked of being the one to turn to if all went wrong was this vampire meant one thing—Lucius' job to protect Hermione Granger was nothing more than a death sentence. Yet another reason to dislike that retched girl.
Lucius stood in front of the mirror, tying his hair back with a black ribbon. His reflection was as cold as ice. He rested his hands on the vanity in front of the mirror and stared into his own eyes. Was this reflection even him anymore? Was he prepared to die to protect a Mudblood. A year ago he would have been trying to kill her…or at least thinking about it. He looked down at his own hands as they gripped the vanity as if he could rip it off the wall. Did he even know who he was anymore?
As Lucius descended the stairs the sounds of laughter drifted in from the outdoors. He turned toward the window-wall. Slowly the view of the beach and all its occupants came into view. The sun was shining brightly lighting up the entire house through the glass wall eliminating any need for electrical lighting.
That was where he found his son.
Draco stood before the great windows. One hand was in his pocket, looking rather relaxed. The other hand held a piece of toast he was nibbling on. His attentions were out on that beach…either the activity the beach contained or a person the beach contained. Lucius really couldn't tell. He stepped up next to his son observing the outdoors. After a moment, Lucius looked around the main room and then back to his son.
"And where exactly is Miss Granger?"
Draco looked up at his father with a younger version of the smirk Lucius often wore. Without saying a word, Draco lifted a finger off his toast and pointed it out the window. Lucius followed his son's directions and soon discovered what Draco was more than likely looking at. Miss Granger was out on the beach again…just as they had found her upon their arrival.
Lucius couldn't help himself…really he couldn't. He just, well stared, unabashedly at the young woman laid out in a chair, book in hand. He watched the young woman close the book and stretch. His eyes didn't…couldn't leave her form. Her every contour seemed to draw his attention. It just wasn't right. She was no exotic beauty…you wouldn't see her form on a magazine cover or on T.V., but that was just it. Did she even know how attractive she was? He guessed not as she often hid behind her books and intelligence making sure that was what others saw.
She couldn't hide behind a book wearing so little.
She turned over onto her stomach and grabbed her book back up. Lucius heard the snort of amusement from his son. Cutting his eyes toward Draco, Lucius' lips turned up in a slight snarl.
"Something amuses you, Draco?"
Draco couldn't drop the smirk off his face no matter how he tried.
"Appreciating the scenery, father?"
With a lingering glare at his son, Lucius quickly turned from the window and headed toward the door. What was the girl thinking? She was a sitting duck out there! Any of the Death Eaters currently doing Monogatari's bidding could snatch her off that chair and deliver her to the vampire just in time for an evening snack. Draco stood where he was at, unable to leave the obvious entertainment coming his way.
A shadow fell over Hermione and the book she was reading. She glanced up from her book, her tied back hair brushing her bare shoulder. She found Lucius Malfoy standing there in his typical all black looking down his nose at her as if she were filth that had bothered him by merely existing. Choosing to ignore him, she turned back to her book.
"Miss Granger, come along. It is not prudent for you to be…," Lucius paused and looked her up and down as if committing every bit of what was before him to memory.
Mentally he slapped himself. What the bloody hell was he doing? He continued growing angrier with each word.
"...so exposed when your life could be in danger."
Hermione sighed, irritated with his attempt to control her summer.
"No, I am fine."
He felt his anger rising. This insolent girl wouldn't listen!
"Miss Granger, you are lying out in the open when…Death Eaters are after you."
Hermione looked up curiously at Lucius' pause before saying Death Eaters. It was strange, as if he had to think about it first. It was just enough to raise a red flag deep in Hermione's mind. They were keeping something from her. She glared up at Lucius.
"The only Death Eater I see around here as a danger is you."
His temper was boiling over. How dare this Mudblood say such a thing! He was bound to protect her! He had no choice! He reached down and with an angry hand he gripped her upper arm tightly, jerking her to her feet. It all happened so quickly. The book fell from her hands as she was jerked to her feet. In one quick movement, Lucius gripped her waist and flung her over his shoulder, forcing her into the house.
Draco stepped from the wall to watch his father fight to get Hermione through the door over his shoulder. She was a feisty one, no doubt about it. His father was going to have a time trying to keep her controlled the way he liked to keep his charges controlled.
Hermione fought with everything she had, but it seemed to do no good. The moment Lucius got her into the house he tossed her back down onto her feet, but did not let go of her arm. She jerked like a mad woman trying to get away. Her hair, seeming to have developed its own hostile personality during this was now coming out of its tie. Lucius wasn't letting go. He wanted to make sure this insolent girl understood the predicament she was in. Keeping a hold of her arm with one hand, he held his serpent handled cane in the other. The silver serpent slipped under her chin forcing her face to look up toward him. The feel of the cold silver digging into her flesh angered her even more.
How dare he!
With her free hand she knocked the handle not just out from under her chin, but out of Lucius' hand causing it to land with a clatter on the floor across the room. Seeing his wand flying across the room from such a rudimentary muggle move did nothing to improve Lucius' temper. His now free hand reached out grabbing Hermione's other arm. Hermione fought to get away. Draco stood watching debating whether or not he should come to her rescue.
Lucius had enough of her fighting and with a sudden surge of anger, he pinned her to the glass of the wall behind her. For a moment Lucius thought he may have broken the window when he heard the crack of her head against it. He froze…still keeping her pinned to the glass. The sudden impact of the glass on her head stilled Hermione for a moment. It was just long enough for her to glare up at the blond man and realize he had stilled in fear he had hurt her.
Realizing this was her opportunity, she began to try to pull from him again…twisting and turning in an attempt to get away. That was when he felt it. Yes, he stood next to his son "appreciating the scenery" as his son had put it, but that was entirely different from feeling her body against his in her futile attempt of escape. He was suddenly very aware of how "of age" Miss Granger had become.
Angry at himself, angry at her, angry at the situation of having to look out for her, he tightened his hold and shook her slightly.
"Never...again, Miss Granger."
She stilled at the sound of the anger in his voice. Her warm eyes looked up into his…slight fear dancing in her eyes.
"You have no idea what we are up against in order to keep you alive."
The look in his eyes frightened her. The majority of her body did not move. Her eyes did not leave his, but he saw the change in them…the pleading. She twisted her wrists around wishing he would let her go.
"Father."
Draco's voice cut through the tension in the hopes of reaching his father and making him realize what he was doing. Odd for Draco. There was something about seeing Granger in so little clothing fighting a desperate attempt at breaking free from his father…like watching his father transform into the Death Eater he once was.
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His strides were long, slow, and deliberate. Rabastan and Rodolphus both stood there dumbfounded and frightened. Dolohov was curled up on the marble floor covering his head with his arms as if that could protect him. Both of the Lestrange brothers feared seeing what Kuro would do to Dolohov, yet they could not pull their eyes away.
Dolohov had obviously angered the otherwise seemingly calm vampire.
Kuro reached down and with one hand lifted the large man up to the point that his feet dangled slightly above the ground.
"Your Dark Lord is dead, Dolohov. It's my game now and I said Hermione Granger is to live."
Dolohov's whimpers did not deter the vampire in the least. In fact, he seemed to enjoy watching Dolohov's fear. With an effortless toss Kuro sent Dolohov across the room to crash into the wall rendering him unconscious. He turned to look at the Death Eaters remaining in the room…each one matched in fear.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to question my choices?"
No one dared speak. He glared at each occupant of the room over the top of his eyes.
"Good then. I'll say this only once. If anyone hurts a hair on my pet's head I will rip your throat out with my teeth."
They were still silent as Kuro swept from the room.
Kuro walked down the corridor to another room…a room only he was allowed in. He closed the door behind, confident no one would enter because no one would want to face the consequences. The room recognized his presence and the candelabra lit up the room suddenly.
Every snapshot, wizarding and muggle, every clipping, everything that bore the picture of Hermione Granger on it Kuro owned was plastered like wallpaper in this small room. Her face covered the walls, moving in some stationary in others. There was but one spot that did not have Hermione Granger plastered and that was a gilded mirror hanging on the wall…it looked ancient with its old weave work of design along the golden edges, but the mirror its self looked shiny and new.
It was from here that he heard the cackling laughter.
Slowly Kuro turned, dark eyes searching, penetrating the room in such a way that death became a promise. His eyes fell on the mirror and the woman in the mirror. She had long white hair. Her age could not be determined by any means and she was not about to tell anyone.
"Oriana," Kuro said in a clipped greeting.
The woman leaned on an obvious work table causing her extremely long locks to fall forward slightly.
"Monogatari Kuro! Playing puppet master to a motley band of fools will not break it!"
Kuro leveled the woman in the mirror with a glare that sent a chill down her spine. The old family oracle straightened her posture back up and shifted uncomfortably at Kuro's deadly silence. Her voice, previously crisp and angry became soft.
"Do you need reminding, Kuro?"
He set her with a look, raising one eyebrow, daring her to continue. As the old oracle spoke, Kuro wandered to various pictures in the room…touching them…caressing them…longing for the object frozen in time in them.
"…blood of a witch and blood of another…"
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He was being forced to break the girl. Hermione Granger had been many things to him throughout his acquaintance with her. She had been "Potter's friend," Mudblood, Know-It-All, just to name a few. Now a new one was being added to the list.
Stubborn-Insufferable-Twit.
She stood before him, arms crossed over her chest, taping her foot in a clear sign of her disapproval and agitation. Lucius stood there looking down his nose at her observing every nuance of her anger. He had to admit, only to himself, that his favorite part was her flushed cheeks.
"You are not telling me why? It has to be more than just Death Eaters."
Her words came out heated. Lucius' lip quirked up in a slight smirk. Using his serpent handled cane he pushed some of her hair off her face as he spoke.
"You are mistaken, Mu…Miss Granger. I am under no obligation to explain anything, least of all to you. You will simply do as you are told and I am telling you, you are not to leave this house."
Hermione's anger was taking its toll. She wasn't stupid. There was more to what was going on than simply ticked off Death Eaters. Her anger boiled over the brim as she thought of the way he forced her in the house…the feel of his hands on her bare waist was a bit unnerving though—why did she keep thinking of that? Suddenly she whipped her wand out, pointing it up into his face.
Lucius did not flinch, but he looked bored to death with this little game they seemed to play on a daily basis.
"I will do as I please, Mister Malfoy. And if you man handle me again I will not be held responsible for the number of hexes you will endure."
Lucius' cold grey eyes flashed with something unreadable to Hermione as he looked from her flushed face to the wand she held in his. Tired of this game, Lucius reached out and plucked the wand from her hand.
"Honestly, children should not be given such dangerous toys to play with," he said as he placed her wand inside his pocket.
Hermione's mouth opened and closed seeming to gape like a fish at Lucius' over confidence. He watched her storm from the room…eager to get away from him. She was halfway across the room and halfway toward her escape when the front door opened to reveal Severus Snape's arrival. On his last visit Hermione had told him how ridiculous it was for him to always knock.
Noticing his arrival, Hermione turned straight to look at Severus while pointing at Lucius.
"He took my wand, Severus," Hermione said not caring at the moment if it sounded like she was whining.
Severus stepped farther into the room, crossing his arms over his chest looking between the two. Hermione was still slightly flushed from the argument. Lucius held his usual sneering smirk. Severus' eyes lingered on Lucius though before he rolled his eyes. That was just like Lucius to pull the girl's pigtails, metaphorically speaking.
"Give the girl her wand, Lucius. This is not the way to get her attention."
Draco, who had been silently enjoying the show between Hermione and his father sent pumpkin juice flying from his mouth at Severus' last words.
"What did you say," Lucius asked with every word sounding like poison.
Severus smirked. He made the comment to do nothing more than get a reaction from Lucius. The elder Malfoy's flabbergasted expression was well worth the effort of the comment and the embarrassment caused to Hermione. The embarrassment was enough to send Hermione from the room which ultimately was Severus' goal. He waited until he heard her door close up the stairs.
Severus turned toward Lucius, a different look on his face. No longer the look of amused irritation, Severus looked to be "not real happy," if one was to put it mildly.
"You made a promise, Lucius. You made a vow to protect her at all costs."
Lucius sighed. Who was Severus Snape to lecture him?
"Why was I forced to make such a vow, Severus? What is she to you?"
Severus looked at Lucius knowing what was going through the man's mind and none of it was what the truth was. He thought for a moment he also saw a spark of jealousy in the blond man's eyes.
"She reminds me…make me think…if Lily and I had a daughter she would have been very much like my little princess."
For a moment…just a moment…Lucius felt bad. He had no idea what Severus felt toward the stubborn girl was of a paternal nature and the reason behind it. Lucius wondered if this part of Severus that he normally kept so well hidden would ever have surfaced without Hermione's attempts to save his life. He realized as he watched the look on Severus' face shift that he was not through talking.
"Besides, Lucius, I would think you would be thrilled for the job. You did disclose to me how impressed you were with the girl's courage to stand before the Dark Lord as an enemy and take the torture he dished out again and again."
To Severus' delight he saw the twitch in Lucius' face…the look of horrifying reality that Severus had just disclosed something he was told in confidence in front of his son. Lucius had to take a few deep breaths before he could even respond to Severus.
"And I have followed through with my vow."
"Have you," Severus asked stepping closer to Lucius.
"Then why is it the latest intelligence says she is being watched!"
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"He was supposed to continue the works of the Dark Lord, not use us for his own agenda."
Rodolphus looked at his brother. Rabastan was correct. This Kuro character was not following the Dark Lord's plans…plans that were laid out for him to follow. He was obsessed with getting his hands on Hermione Granger…Potter's little Mudblood friend…the savior of Severus Snape.
She deserved to die.
"Where is the blood-sucker anyway," Rodolphus asked the room at large.
Luckily it was nothing but Death Eaters in this room or they may have found themselves slightly…dead.
"Night has fallen," Dolohov said. "He's gone to watch the Mudblood."
Rabastan sat up a little straighter at this.
"What," Rabastan asked. "How is it he can see that blasted house with that Fidelius Charm on it when we can't?"
Their answer came from the doorway. A man stood there with glasses and black hair. If it wasn't for the smirk on his face and the slight fangs that were visible when he smiled one would think he was just some smart guy. He pushed the glasses up his nose and smirked at the Death Eaters.
"Because he is not like you and he is not like the other vampires...he's more...much much more."
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He stood right outside the windows that made up the back wall of the house. The house was dark with the exception of the soft glow of light from the moon shining into the house illuminating the vision asleep on the sofa. Why she had fallen asleep on the sofa he did not know. What he did know was watching her behind these large walls of glass was like watching his pet in her cage…a glass cage that kept her safe.
He could hear her moan slightly in her sleep. He leaned his forehead against the glass, placing the palms of his hands on either side of his head as if this action could bring him closer to her. He closed his eyes listening to her every breath, her every moan, and the sound of her shifting body.
He opened his eyes.
She had shifted in her sleep causing the small shirt she wore with the small shorts to sleep in to shift up, revealing even more of her flesh.
Flesh…blood…my pet…
The sight was tempting, alluring. He closed his eyes at her next moan. What was she dreaming about? Was it pleasure or pain causing the sounds to float from her throat and drift to Kuro's ears?
Mine…mine…mine…
He knew what he was doing...despite the slight insanity that seemed to boil just beneath the surface.
He felt the cool glass vanish from beneath his touch. Slowly he opened his dark eyes. He was standing inside the house…standing over the young woman he wanted for his own.
"…blood of a witch and blood of another…"
He looked down at her. His eyes a smoldering pool of darkness and he could see the kiss of darkness upon her as well.
She was the one.
His eyes traveled from her pink painted toenails to her sleep tousled hair. With each shift of her small frame came the exposure of more flesh. What if that traitor Death Eater came down the stairs?
Reaching out one long finger, Kuro ran that finger gently from her ankle and up her leg. He smiled at her sighing breath. Normal vampire or not, he was able to do things no one else could do…to get away with things no one else could…to do things without anyone really knowing…
His fingertips grazed across her exposed stomach. With her soft moan Kuro took a deep breath. It was effortless…reaching both hands underneath her, he lifted her from the sofa, holding her up against him. He carried her as if she were nothing more than air up the stairs and to her room.
The room was as dark as the main room had been…the moonlight offering a soft glow. He laid her on the bed. He smiled, knowing she was unaware of the movement…unaware of anything beyond her dream which would be filled with visions of a delicious vampire ready to do her bidding. She was sure to be his death.
He crawled into the bed next to her…long arms wrapping around her as the night wraps around him. With his face buried into the crook of her neck he inhaled deeply as if he could smell her blood through her body…through her skin…as if he could almost taste the sweetness he imagined to be her.
"Hmmm," he moaned slightly. "My deadly Nightshade."
A/N: I'm still trying to decide if this should ultimately end up Lucius/Hermione or do something different and have it ultimately end up Kuro/Hermione. Tell me what you think!