Update alert! Hello, guys again. I am sorry for not updating for so long. I had exams in middle and then my laptop memory got erased, and the three chapter I've written erased too. It was a tragedy.
I intended to write Hermione interaction with Bonnie and the werewolf scene with Stefan and Matt. But then… I changed my course. This one looked more interesting to me. I stuck to Hermione's character and behavior in HP series, I just love her like that.
Please rate and review and let me know how you liked it!
Chapter - 4
Hermione tapped on her foot, suddenly finding the drawer very frustrating – both the corners were very suitable for Theo's gift – but where should she place it?
Tapping the wand on her chin and suddenly feeling very irritated, Hermione cried out in pure utter frustration. Oh, she missed Teddy to bits – to fricking bits.
That darling toddler had grown on her. Spending time with nothing to do – she left the Vampires research a long while ago. There was nothing she didn't know. Except the Originals bit. Now that was curious – very curious. Where Vampires originated from, fascinated Hermione to no end.
Hermione sighed as she rubbed her eyes, practicing the spell of flying a paper dragon as it soared in the air; roaring in all its glory– Teddy always loved that. Oh, who was she kidding? Hermione flicked her wand and the dragon tore into pieces as she channeled all her irritation on it.
Doing a quick Cleaning spell on the floor, Hermione finally pulled the drawer on the middle, resolute in her decision. It was a special gift by her newly turned friend Theo, but it was no common gift. The drawer was fit with a boggart, providing utmost protection with strong charms as well.
And, Hermione thought grimly, I might need it – who knows?
Giving a shook of head, Hermione turned around and grabbed her coat, determined to distract her head from Teddy. Andy said she'll drop him by night – as today was finally a holiday from her Healer calling and she requested Hermione to let her spend time with Teddy. Hermione offered Andy that that she could come here and spend time – Andy declined, saying that she had to look after some stack of papers. She promised to do so next time.
Should she buy a car? It would be better if she did – at least Teddy will like it.
Hermione nodded to herself cheerfully and decided her destination – Mystic Alley. She could exchange her money there, her vault is already overloading from her fame and her exceptional work of Gillyweeds in Healing Potions had earned her recognition in Wizarding World of many countries.
Settling herself for a brisk walk as she crossed the Gilbert's house, Hermione noticed, and blushed profusely, Elena was kissing younger Salvatore.
Hermione cleared her throat uncomfortably, avoiding elder Salvatore's piercing stare as she tried to walk away. But Elena found this the right opportunity to break their kiss.
"Hermione!"
The said girl winced mentally. She turned around with a smile.
"Hey Elena," Hermione's eyes flickered to the car, "going somewhere?"
Elena's eyes tightened around the corners, her smile fading as she nodded seriously. Her eyes met Stefan, looking back at her again.
"Need some answers. Going on a research." Elena said. Hermione's eyes widened, letting out a small unintentional shriek of excitement. Elena and Stefan looked at her, surprised.
"Research is my passion." Hermione beamed and sighed, "So lucky." She gave a wistful smile, "I have nothing to occupy me right now, so I'm looking for something to busy me. Maybe I should just go-"
"You're coming with us." Damon said suddenly.
Both Hermione and Elena turned to him like he was crazy.
Damon smirked, that arrogant, grating-your-nerves-yet-charming smirk that made Hermione's eye twitch. He said in that same annoying silky voice, "Oh you love researching, then you might be of some help. Now you wouldn't say no to your just turned pal, would you?"
Hermione looked at him with narrowed eyes, scrutinizing his sudden interest in her – testing what brought this on.
"You're right, Damon," Surprisingly, it was Stefan who spoke up, giving Hermione a calculating look – Elena seemed to sense what he was thinking as she gaped at him incredulously, "she'll help Elena, of course."
Hermione wished she could use Legilimency on him, to read what damn thing they were adding her to. She understood Damon – he was trying to figure her out after last night – that compulsion failure has certainly sparked his interest. But Stefan…?
Elena's sighed and nodded.
"Come with us." Elena offered. Hermione resisted, she tried valiantly to resist such a tempting offer – only she couldn't.
"Sure." She sealed the deal with that one word.
"Take care of her." Stefan whispered as he held the door as Elena got inside. Hermione gave him a searching look, before giving a slight nod. Hermione had a hunch that it had something to do with Damon. She got inside, Stefan closing the door behind them.
"Ah… all set? And… may I know who this is?" A ruggedly handsome bloke in the driver seat spoke. Hermione's eyes met the friendly, yet careful looking warm earth brown of eyes from the rear view mirror.
"Hermione." Hermione introduced herself, "Hermione Granger."
"The one and only to resist my compulsion." Damon said loudly, mockingly, giving a smirk when Hermione sniffed.
Alaric found it easy to ignore Damon, yet betraying his surprised look as Elena gave a startled gasp, "A Shakespearian name, and a beautiful one at that."
"My father was a fan of Shakespeare." Hermione stated tonelessly, yet a wistful smile appeared at the memory. She could feel Elena stiffen beside her, but found it grateful that Alaric didn't comment on the usage of past tense.
Damon, however, was a different story, "Was?"
"They were murdered." Hermione snapped. That shut him up.
The silence was heavy.
"So," Elena decided to break the terse silence, "you were planning to go somewhere? I didn't see Teddy with you."
Hermione smiled slightly at the mention of Teddy, "Oh, he's being babysitted. I thought I should explore Mystic Falls. I hardly know this place."
"Teddy?" Alaric asked with a smile.
"Oh, he's my nephew. His godfather left me to him for his honeymoon." Hermione said fondly.
"What about his parents, then?" Alaric asked curiously.
Hermione's smile faded, "They're dead, too."
The stifling silence again.
Hermione was surprised and a little grateful when Damon broke the silence, "How're you doing back there?" he asked Elena. Hermione felt he was atleast a bit more serious this time – as Elena's eyes hardened.
Elena didn't reply, so Damon continued, a hit of somberness peeking with his tone, "You know this whole pretending to hate me thing is getting a little silly." He was humble this time; Hermione wondered what this cartoon did to earn a vicious glare from Elena.
"Heh, I don't think she's pretending. You did kill her brother." Alaric said offhandedly. Hermione gave a loud gasp – how could they discuss death so… so… easily?
Alaric looked ready to apologize and explain it to her, but Damon interrupted, gazing outside the window, "There's a huge asterisk next to that statement. He came back to life!" his eyes travelled to the warning brown of Alaric's.
Hermione sussed it out, "Let me guess, Witch magic?"
"Yes," Alaric's gaze went back to her, impressed. Hermione waved her hand off, "Nothing difficult to figure out. The ring was charmed by Emily Bennett. Jonathan Gilbert was the first member of the Gilbert family to possess and use the ring in 1864, and it has been passed in the Gilbert family since then, from what I've figured out." Hermione concluded, pointing at Alaric's finger.
All of them stared at Hermione in amazement.
"I did my research."
"The source?" Alaric asked warily.
This time Hermione gave a Slytherin-like smirk, "Let's just say I have very dependable sources which I'm currently not interested to share with anyone."
Damon looked ahead, but Alaric looked at Damon's face and smiled. He was impressed, Alaric could tell that much.
"You're actually grateful you brought her, aren't you?"
Damon snorted, "I knew I did right." Hermione rolled her eyes at that.
"I brought here myself." Hermione sniffed. Damon didn't reply.
"Well, anyways, back to my point – he came back alive." Damon continued as he leaned back on his seat. Elena broke her gaze from Hermione's figure, amazement turning into shrewdness.
"Thanks to the ring you didn't know he was wearing."
Damon looked at Elena from the mirror, "Why are you so sure I didn't know?" he actually looked mildly exasperated. Elena narrowed her eyes. "Did you?"
"Yes." Hermione could easily detect the lie with the airiness – too much airiness – Damon showed.
It seems like Elena did too, "You're lying." She said slowly.
"Elena, I saw the ring. It's a big tacky thing. It's hard to miss." Damon said which Hermione guessed was his most convincing tone – only that he wasn't convincing to anyone.
What really appalled Hermione was how lightly Damon took Death. He had his humanity intact – she saw it in his eyes, as clear as day in his liquidy grey eyes. Or he was some emotional fool to think he didn't feel. Hermione nodded, Human Psychology was very interesting.
"So, what is this research about?" Hermione turned to Elena, "Don't tell me if you don't want to." She added hastily at Elena's fallen expression.
Elena was quick to assure, "It's okay, I guess… I don't mind." She gave a small smile. Elena explained her about all Katherine and her birth mother – Alaric's wife, then John getting attacked at the Founder's Day and her lineage and striking similarities to Katherine Pierce, her doppelganger.
"And Werewolves, but that's on my list." Damon added, totally at ease.
Hermione turned sharply at that, "Werewolves?"
Damon caught her tone and turned around slowly, looking at her suspiciously, "What do you know about Werewolves?"
Hermione rolled her eyes, trying to press down the discomfort, "Children of the Moon." Her tone indicated the end of the subject. Damon gave her a long look, before turning back on his seat. Hermione could almost hear the cogs of his brain rolling.
Elena was more at ease with Hermione now, chatting about Mystic Falls and telling her about the Mystic Grill, which Hermione paid more attention to. She was planning to go to Mystic Alley and it was just behind the Mystic Grill. Elena actually laughed at times; even Hermione did too at her own dry humor.
"We're here ladies." Damon announced suddenly. Elena looked as surprised as Hermione, the two hour road trip seemed like fifteen minutes to both of them.
The place was clean and with trimmed grass, the trees and shrubs blossoming with flowers at the best of their colors, a slight breeze blowing with the comfortable sun gleaming on them. The air was light and comfortable, perfect for research and study. It was more like a Manor, huge. Hermione couldn't get more excited – but she controlled it as they came here for a reason, a serious reason.
Hermione suddenly grabbed the hand and spun threateningly at the hand that was frozen just few inches from her head. She turned around abruptly.
"What're you doing?" Hermione tried to calm her heart. It was only Damon… no need to be this wary…
"This," Damon said slowly, picking out a loose tendril from her messy bun. He tucked it behind her ear; his eyes letting her know he didn't mean any harm. He stayed there; looking into her eyes as she her heartbeats picked its normal pace.
"What?"
Damon pressed his lips together, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"For…" Hermione cocked an eyebrow, "For saving me yesterday."
Hermione blinked and looked at her shoes, "I hate violence."
Getting no reply, she looked up, startled when those ice-grey eyes looked at her intensely. She blinked twice, confused as to why he was acting all shady. 'If you're done staring, let's go."
Damon barked a laugh, "Let's go… so you're not a werewolf, afterall."
Hermione laughed back easily.
Damon… was not expecting that reply at all. He thought she would say something like she didn't wanted witchy to blame herself, or I didn't do it for you, etc. She said she hated violence. He actually came to a realization: she was innocent. He was still trying to figure out those red eyes of her yesterday… that's why he invited her today. It felt like a very good opportunity Damon definitely didn't want to miss.
"So Isobel was officially employed by the Anthropology Department, given that the most paranormal phenomena is rooted in folklore." Alaric explained as they entered the pleasantly dim entrance with a curious antique setup. Hermione tried hard not to bounce on her heels as she looked at the paintings.
They walked on further, the dimness suddenly ending when they entered a larger room with bookshelves at her right side, a sleek study table at the right corner of the room as a woman shuffled through her stacked drawers. Hermione took in a deep breath, giving a silent yet pleasant exhale. Wherever was Library, she was home.
Damon actually looked mildly amused by her antics. Hermione cocked her eyebrows in her most characteristic way and turned to the pretty lady.
"Excuse me." Alaric used his easygoing yet a polite tone he used on Hermione, "Hi, I'm Alaric Saltzman. I called earlier-"
"Yes." The woman cut him off, closing the drawer with a smile as she walked to them, "Uh, of course. I'm Vanessa Monroe, research assistant." Vanessa shook Alaric's hand in a friendly manner, "comparative folklore." She added distractedly, her eyes settling on Elena for a second longer than necessary as she smiled at Alaric.
Hermione slightly narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she gave her a smile, "Oh, let me grab Isobel's keys." She pointed behind her.
"Ah sorry, my friends Elena, Damon and Hermione." Alaric introduced, his eyes lingered on Hermione and she shook her head slightly to tell she didn't mind and smiled, "I hope this isn't an imposition." Alaric turned back to her.
"Oh please." Vanessa smiled invitingly, "Isobel's office is right through there." She walked to her study table, "Isobel was one of my first professors. I'm a grad student. She was brilliant." Vanessa said honestly, perching on the table, raising her eyebrows, "And one of the reasons I went into folklore."
Damon looked a bit impatient and Elena looked eager to know about her birth mother.
Vanessa's smile faltered as she took a deep breath, "I have to ask, um… has there been any news?" she directed her question to Alaric.
"No, no. I'm afraid not." Alaric's expression remained blank.
Vanessa nodded once, "This way." She opened the door to her left. The entered the dim room with many shelves filled with unknown things and lots of research piles and notes, a handsome study table right in front, yet a bit distant from the window.
"It's fascinating isn't it?" Vanessa asked Hermione, catching the glitter in her eyes.
"Oh, I must say – very." Hermione replied charmingly, "The room gives an aura of a researcher. I bet Isobel is a very intelligent woman." Vanessa nodded with enthusiastic agreement and went outside.
Hermione took a deep breath, ignoring the signals the back of her mind were sending, Constant Vigilance, Constant Vigilance, Constant Vigilance…
"What was that?" Damon asked abruptly. It made Hermione realize she was uttering out loud.
"What?" Elena asked with a frown, looking at her then Damon.
Hermione scratched her head, "Uh… I'm not sure how to explain this. I think I'm just paranoid."
"'Constant Vigilance'" Damon mocked with a girly tone.
"My late teacher's words of wisdom. Don't you dare mock that." Hermione snapped, shoving Damon aside to look around for the pile.
Elena gave Damon a glare and Hermione a sympathetic look as she turned to study the shelf behind her.
"Where did she go?" Damon asked to no one in particular. Oh the feeling was really bad for her war-instilled instincts. Hermione tried to press them down. Her neck tickled with goosebumps.
Hermione turned in time to see Vanessa with a dangerous crossbow in her hand. She was ready to jump instinctively in front the muggle.
She did. She tried to pull out her wand. For a moment, she felt like she was channeling Harry – honestly, who jumped like that? The war had messed with her instincts, or it was just Harry disease that had rubbed off on her.
It was in slow motion, that Hermione shut her eyes, waiting for the impact as she felt a rustle and a body in front of her – the arrow hitting a flesh as someone grunted.
Her wand hand froze as she opened her eyes.
No blood, no pain. Then…
Her eyes met the wincing face of Damon, his hand clutching the shelf as he tried to steady himself – Elena and Hermione looking at him with shock and horror.
He fell down.
Hermione jumped to pull him up. She grunted under his weight, looking at Elena with concern, "Are you okay?" she asked her worriedly. Elena looked at her and nodded slowly, pulling Damon's arm on her right side as they dragged him. Hermione looked at Alaric tackled an almost hysterical Vanessa.
Damon leaned at the study table, turning to Elena.
"Pull it out," He commanded. He rolled his eyes when Elena hesitated, figuring out how to pull it out without causing him much pain, "I can't reach it Elena. Just pull the damn thing out, it hurts." Hermione actually winced at Damon's pain. Elena finally fuelled up her previous anger as she pulled out the bow without hesitance, dropping it beside him.
Damon groaned, and then shuddered as the healing started, making strange noises. "It's okay now." He pointed at her curved, tensed shoulders, his devilish smirk back. Hermione's eye twitched as she curled her lips, "I'm not worried." She faked haughtily.
Damon looked a little surprised and amused by her tone.
"I never said you were."
Hermione sniffed.
Elena looked back at her disbelievingly, "I can't believe you actually jumped in front of me." Elena paused, something shimmering in her eyes "Thank you." She added hesitantly.
"Acted on instinct." Hermione said with a shrug.
"Constant Vigilance, huh?" Damon murmured, "I'm starting like that phrase."
"You noticed it too, didn't you?" Hermione smirked. Damon nodded.
"I didn't think she would do that." Damon drawled and turned to Elena, "That bitch is dead."
Hermione choked on her breath as Elena glared, "You're not gonna kill her." She crossed her arms and stood in front of him.
Damon's eyes widened cruelly at the challenge.
"Watch me." He strutted past her.
"You touch her and I swear I'll never speak to you again!" Elena warned.
Damon actually stopped at that, turning around cockily, he smirked, "What makes you think that has any power over me?" He walked to her, his body closing on her, "Because I took an arrow in the back for you?" Damon emphasized the word arrow mockingly. "You're severely overestimating yourself." Elena pushed his hand away as he tried to place it on her shoulder.
"Right, I forgot I was speaking to a psychotic mind who snaps and kills people impulsively." Elena shot back.
"An apt description," Hermione duly noted, checking her nails.
Damon glared at Hermione, and then turned back to Elena. They both stared at each other for a minute.
"Fine, go ahead, do whatever you want." Elena said carelessly, bait hanging on her words.
"You're trying to manipulate me." Damon said arrogantly, his eyebrows knitting as he tried to press the intensity of his ice grey orbs in Elena's mocha colored eyes. For a moment, she could almost compare Damon to Malfoy.
Hermione let them bicker, giving out a snort as she walked out of the room.
Alaric was trying to settle a still hysterical Vanessa woman.
"Calm down!"
"Okay! Please, please!" Vanessa finally sat on the chair. Alaric stood loosely akimbo as he looked at Hermione pleadingly.
"Miss. Monroe." Hermione stated politely, walking towards the woman and placing her both of her hands on her shoulder, she cast a calming charm on her – the potions worked more effectively but she didn't have one, "Prithee, it would be kind of you if you would just listen to us and calm down, please," Hermione said soothingly, realizing her gentle words and the spell worked as Vanessa calmed explicitly.
Alaric looked strangely impressed, he mouthed 'thank you'. Hermione mouthed back 'no problem.'
"It's not possible. Katherine Pierce can't be alive…" she took a deep breath, continuing calmly, "Damon Salvatore died in 1864. I have read Isobel's research."
"Well, then you should know just how possible this is." Alaric said quietly. Elena and Damon chose to enter at the same moment.
Vanessa bristled, unconsciously holding Hermione's hand.
Damon cleared her throat.
"I'm Elena Gilbert." Elena said in an assuring manner, watching Vanessa hold Hermione's arm, "Isobel's daughter and a descendant of Katherine Pierce."
Vanessa looked slowly at Alaric – Hermione wondered if she was waiting for a loud April Fool, disregarding it wasn't April.
"And this is Damon Salvatore, who you just shot."
"I'll be extra nice to me now." Damon laced his words with threat.
"I won't be nice to you now if you don't shut your mouth Salvatore." Hermione snapped.
Damon looked at her challengingly. Hermione cocked one eyebrow.
"Look, we need your help, okay?" Elena said as Vanessa let go of Hermione's arm. "We need to see all of Isobel's research. Anything related to Mystic Falls."
Vanessa looked at Hermione's eyes, then Alaric – then finally darted back to Elena as she nodded slowly.