Hidden Inheritance
Hidden Inheritance
Chapter 5
AN: I am really sorry it has taken so long to put up a new chapter but some circumstances could not be avoided and stalled me from updating. Again I'm sorry, so on with the chapter. And remember I own none of Jk Rowling's characters or any of the Harry Potter World.
Recap:
"Hermione?" The woman asked concerned.
"Mother." She greeted stiffly.
"Is there any problem here?" Valerie asked eyes the hand around her daughter's wrist.
"No." "Yes." The group answered simultaneously.
"Well which is it, and young man please remove your hands from my daughter's person." Valerie said coldly.
"D...Daughter?" Ron asked stupidly, immediately letting go.
"Yes daughter, now get out of my sight, I need to speak to my daughter alone."
As soon as Valerie had finished her sentence the two boys were already long gone. They had both ran, not wanting to feel the wrath of Hermione's mother if her temper was anything like Hermione's. Satisfied they were gone Valerie turned to the headmaster and his ever-twinkling eyes and asked if she could follow after a quick chat with her daughter. Acquiescing to her request the headmaster bade them all goodbye and went on his merry way.
"Hello Blaise, Pansy, Draco." Valerie said in greeting with a small bow of the head, it was hard to give up some pureblood traditions that had been embedded into the brain.
With all pleasantries through with Valerie turned to her daughter who had a curious look on her face. Sighing she took a step towards the group so they could hear her better; she looked at each of them for a few moments before turning back to Hermione.
Valerie Knew it was already beginning, she recognized the signs during the confrontation moments ago for what they really were; Blood lust, pure and simple Blood lust.
Finally explaining exactly why she was here and why she had not told Hermione beforehand, she waited for the initial reaction, but there was none.
Sighing tiredly, she looked Hermione in her red eyes. "We have a meeting with Dumbledore now."
Making there way quickly towards the headmasters office in silence, Hermione shot curious glances towards her mother who was professionally avoiding all eye contact. When they stopped outside the stone gargoyle, Valerie cursed when she remembered that she didn't have the password. Noticing her mother's distress she stepped forward saying the password and watched as the gargoyle jumped to the side allowing the entrance. Looking at her daughter curiously for a moment she got the answer to her un asked question.
"I'm Head Girl remember."
Nodding in assent Valerie led the way into the headmaster's office not even waiting to be allowed entrance or knocking. Behind her Hermione strode into the office and took a seat in one of the empty chairs opposite the headmaster's desk and beside her mother.
"Now that we are all here would you like to explain why you requested this meting Mrs. Granger?" Dumbledore asked politely.
Hermione shot a confused look towards the headmaster, if he didn't know what this meeting was about then it must be something serious, but by the look on his face she wasn't sure either of them would like the outcome.
"Yes headmaster I requested this meeting to discuss arrangements that will need to be made for Hermione during the time of her inheritance."
"And why is that?"
"As you know I myself am a pureblood, while I married a muggle making Hermione here a half blood."
"Yes I know this to be true but I have not heard of your family in a long time and had thought it died out centuries ago."
"No we were just in hiding for the last few centuries.
"Wait! What is all this about
" Hermione what neither you or the Headmaster knows is that you are the Heir to the vampire throne and when you receive your inheritance you will go through a final change and ascend to the throne taking full control of the vampire kingdom, though from what I can see you have already partially gone through the changes."
'Ah just as I thought, I knew there was something funny going on, I have been searching for any links from Mrs. Granger to the pureblood lines and the only one I could find began and ended with a line of vampires. This could be a valuable asset to the side of the light especially if miss granger decides to embrace her heritage. Unfortunately the beast will have to stay within the walls of Hogwarts, and as soon as Ms. Granger goes through the inheritance all trace of her will be gone and replaced with a cold blooded killer, but a cold blooded killer that could be kept on a tight leash if I play my cards right.' Dumbledore plotted.
"I…I'm a vampire, but how, I mean dad's a muggle and you're a pureblooded witch, I … I can't be a vampire. I mean what about you wouldn't that make you or even dad one too?"
"Yes I was born a pureblooded vampire, but since I grew up knowing of my heritage I had the choice of giving it up or taking the throne. I gave it up to be with your father, and now it's your choice. Your grandmother will probably be in contact with you trying to convince you to take the throne, and even though it is not what I wanted, I will support you if that's what you want."
"So I, I have a choice, I can choose weather I want this or not? How long have I got until I have to decide? When will grandmother contact me? Wait! Will I be allowed to continue in Hogwarts?"
"Yes you can choose and it will be entirely your choice, you have until your birthday in ten days, as for your grandmother I'm not sure when she will contact you we have been out of contact for a very long time. If you choose to take the throne you will not be allowed to complete you education here at Hogwarts, for the safety of both the students and faculty you could not remain here for your first year, but if you choose to deny the inheritance your life will remain exactly the same."
"Is this true professor will I have to leave Hogwarts, I mean what about Remus he got to stay here and he is a werewolf, what's so different about me?" Hermione asked looking at her professor, and for the first time in knowing her professor she flinched seeing the hardness flash in his eyes before covering over with a cheerful glint.
"I'm sorry my dear but if you choose the path of your grandmother then you will need to be removed from Hogwarts grounds he day after your inheritance. Vampires are quite different from Werewolves and even though Vampires are more in control of their disposition they need to feed every night and with the drive of bloodlust, the student's may not be safe. While a werewolf transforms only once a month so they pose a lesser threat to the student body at large."
"So what is going to happen to me now, is that why you came here mother to explain everything?"
"No I came here to make sure you had the proper living arrangements when it came time for your inheritance, if you choose to go through with it, and to ask the headmaster if I could accompany you through your transformation."
"You talk as if you know what I will choose."
"I have an idea." Her mother said vaguely.
"Well until the time of your inheritance I will have no problems with Ms. Granger staying in school to finish her education, and as for your transformation I can allow you 24 hours on the school ground with the presence of your mother before I will be forced to have you removed, I really am sorry my dear."
"Will I still be able to live with Blaise I mean we are both heads and we need to be in close proximity to complete the assigned work given to the head boy and girl. Wait! Blaise Draco and Pansy how am I going to tell them, I'm a, I'm a, a Vampire."
"Don't worry about Blaise, Draco and Pansy if they are really your friends then they will have no problem with you being a vampire, besides they were all brought up by respectable purebloods and should know the difference between born and turned Vampires." Valerie said arrogantly.
'Turned and born, there is no difference, they both kill to preserve there own lives which should have ended centuries ago when they first died. They should be destroyed for the countless lives they have destroyed from the light they are dark creatures and should be controlled during times of war and used like the animals they are. Without control they become bloodthirsty animals and kill like… oh how I miss you my dear, I will never forgive those monsters for what they put you through. 'Dumbledore thought.
"What is the difference between born and turned, as far as I have read there is no difference other than one's life is longer than the other."
"All poppy cock, there is a reason none of the differences between our two races has never been documented but passed down orally from generation to generation. It is because then they do not know our weaknesses, and how to destroy us."
"Oh, Mother? "
"Yes"
"Why do you refer to yourself as part of our race, if you gave up your inheritance wouldn't you be human?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"These questions will have to be answered at a different time Hermione, a time where we can talk freely. I am sorry professor Dumbledore but you are not even quarter vampire so I am unable to speak of such things in your presence. The safety of my daughter and my race in general could be at stake and though I have forsaken my heritage I am still a vampire at hearth and will not betray my secrets." Valerie said standing, pretending to be oblivious to the narrowing eyes of the headmaster.
"You think I am not trust worthy? My dear I would protect your secrets with my life." Dumbledore said fiercely, his grandfatherly persona on full flair.
"It is not a matter of you being trustworthy, but perceptions can change when old rivalries are taken into account. I initially wanted Hermione removed from Hogwarts, and moved to Durmstrang or at least have her home schooled, but I can see that is not something she would want."
"Mother, what do you mean when old rivalries are taken into account?"
"Hermione what's the first thing you were thought at this school about vampires?"
"That they are creatures of the dark, and that they have sided with Voldemort for years…" Hermione said trailing off at the end as she caught on to what her mother was saying. "So I will be perceived as some bloodthirsty animal out to kill everyone, my past friends ships forgotten because of a sudden realization of species." Hermione asked herself incredulously.
"This is why I wanted to request you had separate rooms from Gryffindor but since you are staying in the head dorms they should be adequate for the remainder of your stay."
"but, but what will happen if everyone finds out, my symptoms are obviously going to get worse the closer that it gets to my inheritance."
"We'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it." Dumbledore said eyes twinkling furiously.
Knowing that the subject of discussion was now closed Hermione and her mother stood up ready to leave the office, they would need to speak privately before Valerie had to leave and head back home. Hermione would need to be informed of all the changes that her body was to go through so she would not die from the shock and pain of the transformation when it finally came. She would also have to have someone present to feed off straight after the transformation.
Walking down the corridors with Hermione in tow she needed to find a place where she could finish explaining things to her daughter so it didn't come as too much of a shock to her system. She also didn't want her mother to be the first one to tell Hermione about her being a vampire heir and what that entailed.
"Hermione is there anywhere we can go where we can talk privately for a bit." Valerie asked her daughter cautiously, knowing everything she had said in the office was finally setting in.
"Yeah, uh sure, follow me." Hermione said distractedly leading her mother towards the Heads dorm.
Walking in silence Mother and Daughter walked the long winding route to the heads Dorm, not even a glance shared between them as they thought of all the things they could and should say to each other. Hermione was to caught up in realizing what her mother had actually told her and how that would affect her life from now on , and whether she wanted to actually take her inheritance or not. Meanwhile Valerie was thinking of how she could break various aspects of a Vampire heir's life to Hermione so as not to scare her away from any choice she might be leaning towards. She had a sinking feeling that Hermione would choose to go to her grandmother since she is the only witch in the family and also more integrated into the magical community than she herself was. Even though Valerie still had a little magic and was basically considered a witch because of it, it was still vampiric magic and worked slightly different from Wizarding magic.
Finally reaching the portrait of the founders she realized that they were not in there portrait, so she knocked on the portrait and waited to see if anyone would answer. Sighing in frustration she knocked harder, knowing that Blaise was not in she wanted to gather the attention of the founders so they could return to their portrait where they were supposed to be. A few minutes later the founders returned to their portrait looking sheepish in the face of the obviously aggravated Hermione who was tapping her foot impatiently. Saying the password she pushed the portrait door open and followed her mother inside.
Looking around for any sign of Blaise who might have been sleeping, she then cast a quick spell to reveal if there were any people present in the dorm. When the results came back negative Hermione sat her mother down and waited for her to say anything she needed to and couldn't say in front of Dumbledore. Just as Valerie was about to speak Hermione heard a soft hushing sound, of people whispering, Hermione looked around the room and since the spell had detected no person, she decided that it must be one of the portraits and sure enough the Founders were standing in there portrait quietly trying to make as little noise as possible so that they could go un noticed.
Turning to their portrait Hermione's eyes flashed red as she growled "I don't need this right now, get out now."
Without so much as a complaint the founders had scurried off as fast as they could through their portraits and back to the door where they wouldn't be able to hear anything.
"Well?" she asked her mother impatiently.
Dumbles Office:
Headmaster Dumbledore was currently pacing his office after having a meeting with Hermione and her mother, both of which had left just moments ago, but what he found out during the meeting was most interesting,
"Hermione was a vampire. What was even more interesting was how she was the heir to the vampire thrown. She would be a valuable asset to the light side if he could get her to turn the Vampires away from Voldemort, and more to his and Harry's side." He thought aloud.
"There would be some trouble with getting Harry and Hermione to talk again after everything that had happened recently and he didn't think Hermione would come back to Harry that easily."
"Since she was now a vampire or at least half vampire until she reached her inheritance then she would be leaning more towards the dark side like all dark creatures did. He knew Hermione would never go to the dark side willingly but she wasn't innocent little Hermione Granger any longer she was a dark creature with dark desires and he needed to remember that for Harry's sake. She would be killing people soon to sustain her own life and that was something her could not let happen. So the longer he could keep her under his control the better for his side of the war."
Walking over to the floo system he shouted into the flames calling out Severus Snape's name and standing back as the man he had called stepped out of the flames with a disgruntled look on his face and his hair thick with grease.
"Headmaster this better be important!" Severus said impatiently.
"Don't worry m boy I'm sure this will interest you." he said eyes twinkling.
"Well what is it."
"I want to know if you could brew a potion that could control vampires. As you know they are notorious for the strength of their minds and if my plan is a success we may have access to every vampire in Britain."
Severus gaped at the Headmaster for a moment in shock before composing himself and asking the inevitable.
"You got the co-operation of the vampire queen, when even the dark Lord was turned away?"
"Not the vampire Queen." Dumbledore said confusing Severus even more.
"The Heir to the thrown." He finished smirking.
"Willingly?"
"I wouldn't necessarily say she was willing but she will be."
Unknown to the headmaster some of the Portraits of past Headmasters were shaking their heads in disgust at the current headmaster before turning and leaving their portraits having already heard enough from the man.
Sighing Valerie sat back on the couch running her hands over her face tiredly before straightening up and composing herself enough to answer her daughter's question. She knew Hermione would react badly to this after all she had always hated when secrets were kept from here, especially those concerning her life and how it would be affected in the long run.
"Hermione there are two different types of Vampire, the first is the born, which are higher up in the social ladder, since they were born into vampire society. Born Vampire's have a longer life span, they can easily walk in light and none of that ridiculous crucifixes, holy water and Garlic affect' them. Another thing is that Born Vampires are immortal and can not be killed, we can stop our ageing whenever we want, and start it back up again if you want to age, but most stop ageing all together around 25-30. The only way to kill a born Vampire since they are impervious to all diseases is be-heading, which would kill anything really." Valerie said looking over her daughter waiting for a reaction but when she got none she continued.
"Now turned Vampires are much weaker, they are not immortal, and though they don't die from garlic or crucifixes they can severely damage them. Sunlight will kill them if they step directly into the sun. As for diseases they are impervious to disease as well, but will not live past the age of three hundred. Turned Vampires are looked down upon in vampire society, since they cannot fully control their bloodlust which can sometimes drive them crazy leaving them with only the instincts to kill to live on."
"So which am I?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Born, though you are still only half vampire."
"Then how will I ascend to the thrown if I am only a half Breed."
"Well if you choose to take the thrown you will be turned by your grandmother, my mother to turn you into a full vampire."
"But wouldn't turning me affect my chances of getting the thrown since I will be turned."
"No, because you were already born with vampire blood, you are still a vampire, the turning is really only going to be an exchanging of blood, to increase the vampire blood in your system but for this to work, it needs to be someone of the same blood family as you so the blood will be the same. That is why my mother would have to do it."
Hermione sat back with her hands on her face groaning in frustration, everything just seemed to happen to her and she had a feeling that this wasn't the worst of what she was to be told.
"Well mother, do your worst, tell me all you have to."
"Ok, your body should be going through some changes at the moment in preparation for the final change. You have already gone through some of these changes or they are at least in progress. Enhanced senses and speed, the need for blood will become stronger, your hair will become darker and your skin paler. Your fangs should already be fully developed and hidden within the pallet of your mouth." Valerie said looking at Hermione to see if she was following everything that was being said, seeing the nod from her daughter she moved on.
"Wait what are the pills for then?" Hermione interrupted.
"They were something I had created to help you control your bloodlust, so that it would not be as much of a problem for you, in a school full of young humans, easy prey really if you think about it even with their magic."
"Will they keep working, or will I have to start using fresh blood." Hermione asked with a disgusted look on her face.
"I would advice you to continue taking them until you decide whether you want to take the thrown or not. I would prefer if you decided within the next few days, because if you wish to take the thrown then you will slowly be taken off the pills and put onto fresh servings of blood, but I still want you to have a glass of fresh blood twice a day anyway."
"But wouldn't people be able to see the blood, and then they would know what I was."
"A simple concealing charm would take care of that as well as a notice me not." Her mother said smiling.
"A…and my back, was that a part of this transformation, I was having terrible pains in my back when I was experiencing the bloodlust and then my back felt like it busted open and there was blood, blood everywhere and I passed out." Hermione said staring at her Mother's emotionless face.
"Hermione what exactly did you see or feel when your back bled." Valerie asked curiously leaning forward.
"Two lumps sticking out of my back. Why?" Hermione asked her voice becoming higher as she spoke when she seen her mother's face pale.
"Are you sure Hermione, positively sure." Valerie demanded standing up, seeing Hermione nod adamantly.
"But that can't be true, that hasn't happen since the last great Vampire wars when my great, great Grandmother ruled, and that was centuries ago, maybe even a millennia ago." Valerie mumbled to herself angrily.
"Mother!" Hermione shouted catching her mother's attention.
"Oh, Hermione this could be bad news." Valerie said more to herself than Hermione as she began pacing the floor.
"What could be bad news?" Hermione demanded now standing on her feet.
"Wings Hermione, Vampire wings, Vampires haven't been known to be born with wings, the last was your great, great, great Grandmother ruled and that was during the vampire wars, and it turned out she was the one to end them." She explained carefully, before swinging around to face her daughter. "Can you fully extract them yet?"
"No, they were just small nubs, the last time that they had appeared and there was a lot of blood, I panicked, I didn't know what to do and then I passed out from blood loss." Hermione said staring at her mother nervously.
"Well this shouldn't cause too many problems at least any in the immediate future." Valerie reassured. "Have you got any more questions Hermione I don't really think that the Headmaster wants me here longer than necessary. "
"The Headmaster, what happened, first he was fine and then there was this tension in the room when you told him about the vampires." She asked eyebrows furrowing in thought.
"Hermione, Dumbledore Hates Vampires, a rogue fledgling killed someone very precious to him, and he has never been able to see vampires as something other than cold blooded killers. I don't want you alone with him if you can help it ok." She warned.
"He wouldn't try anything yet would he, I mean I'm still Hermione to him, it's not even as if I have changed species I've been a vampire my whole life and just because it has come to his attention he suddenly hates me."
"Hermione you know how you have always said they put to much pressure on Harry since he had an important role in the war?"
"Yes"
"Well Dumbledore is assured that Harry will fight for him even though he knows there is a high possibility of him dying, he will still fight, you on the other are a loose card you have allies that are definitely dedicated to both the dark and light, and you have the chance to rule the Vampires who have always taken the Darks side, but you have never clearly stated which side you wish to pledge your allegiance too if any at all."
"So he wants to use me as a pawn for his war." Hermione asked angrily. "Someone who will fight blindly for him without questions asked or without any type of resistance as well as bring the vampires."
"That's exactly what he wants but it's exactly what the Dark Lord wants as well, it's all down to your choice if you choose to take the thrown and if you don't then they will most definitely go to the side of the dark with my mother ruling."
"This is a lot to take in." Hermione said turning to stare at her mother's face that was marred with worry. "But I know exactly what I plan to do concerning Dumbledore and this war, well at least if I take the thrown." Hermione said smirking. "I will show Dumbledore that I'm not some puppet to be controlled."
"Oh Dear."
AN:
And that's a wrap. Sorry for the wait but here's the update anyway.
