Note: Since the story is in Hermione's POV, I felt it necessary to tell you all that Eric is negotiating with Bill for Hermione, not Sookie. He wants Hermione because she is powerful and Sookie's cousin, however he understands that to get her he has to go through Bill and Sookie. He is aware that Hermione is there to protect Sookie, although he is unsure why.

Chapter Thirteen

The night after Hermione and Bill helped Sookie babysit Arlene's kids, Coby and Lisa, Hermione and Sookie told Bill that they wanted to go out. Sookie chose to wear her hair down and a white sundress, while Hermione pulled her hair up into a stylish messy bun. She chose to wear a sexy black lace slip dress. Hermione thought it was sweet that Bill did as Lisa suggested and brought Sookie flowers, but she felt his choice of venue left something to be desired.

When they arrived to their destination, both Sookie and Hermione were frowning.

"You said you wanted to go out tonight," Bill told him.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "We didn't mean Fangtasia."

"I mean, really," Sookie added. "All those pathetic people who come here looking for sex with vampires."

"I know. It's despicable," he said sarcastically.

Hermione had to give him that and she laughed.

It was Sookie's turn to roll her eyes, "You know what I mean. So, what five, 10 minutes?"

"We leave now?" Hermione requested.

"As long as Eric requires us," Bill told them.

Hermione sighed, "Merlin."

"You mean as long as he requires me and Hermione," Sookie corrected. "He didn't even have the decency to ask himself."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed.

"Despite what you think, Eric has declared you as his," He told her then turned to Sookie. "And you are mine. He didn't need to ask permission."

Hermione frowned, "He cannot check us out like library books."

"Exactly," Sookie agreed with her cousin.

"Unfortunately, he can," Bill negated. "Eric is sheriff of Area 5."

"Sheriff?" Sookie asked.

Bill grew serious, "It's a position of great power among our kind. We do not want to anger him."

Hermione was brought back to memories of her fifth year, "I hate politics."

"As long as the requests are reasonable," Bill replied to her comment. "We should accede to his wishes."

Sookie chose to not comment and smelled her flowers. Wanting to give them a moment to talk to themselves, Hermione went inside the club by herself to see Pam, Longshadow, and Eric standing at the bar. She could tell Eric was undressing her with his heated eyes as she walked up to them.

"Hello, Little One," Eric greeted.

Hermione crossed her arms, "You didn't ask for us to come."

"I don't have to," Eric trailed a finger down Hermione's bare neck. "You are mine."

She frowned, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach at Eric's touch, "A normal person has manners."

"We aren't people," Pam told her unnecessarily.

"Obviously," Hermione turned to Pam. "Hello, Pam. How are you doing?"

Pam arched an eyebrow, "Really?"

"I don't get a greeting, Future Lover?" Eric all but purred.

Hermione ignored Eric, "Yes, Pam. Really. I'd rather talk to you."

"I said it before, Sunshine," Pam smirked. "I like you."

Shortly after Bill and Sookie walked in and took their seats, Sookie at a table and Bill at the bar, a man was brought in to sit in front of Hermione's cousin.

Eric went into his introduction, "Pam, Longshadow, and I are partners in this club. And we recently noticed that $60,000 has gone missing from our books." He stopped in front of the man and put a hand on the clearly terrified man's shoulder. "And Bruce, is our accountant. Perhaps you can start by listening to him."

"He's not saying anything," Sookie said.

"Don't be coy," Eric paused. "It's humbling enough to turn to a human for assistance."

"Then why do you hire humans?" Hermione asked sarcastically.

Eric glared at Hermione before turning to her cousin, "We know what you can do."

Sookie shrugged, "And we know what you can do too."

"Why don't you just glamour him?" Hermione wondered.

Eric gave Hermione a pointed look, "Now, don't you think we tried everything before summoning the both of you?" He looked to the blonde telepath, "So, it would be a great favor to me and to Mr. Compton if you help us."

Hermione brightened, "A favor to you?"

Eric arched an eyebrow, "The agreement between us still stands. I am asking a favor of Miss Stackhouse."

"If I find out who did it, then what?" Sookie asked.

Longshadow was the one to answer, "We'll turn that person over to the police and let the authorities handle it from there."

To the surprise of everyone, Sookie and Hermione laughed.

"Hundreds of years old and you're still a terrible liar. Come on." Sookie turned back to face Eric, "I'll make you a deal. If you promise to hand over the person who did this to the police, I'll agree to help you any time you want."

Hermione nodded, "That goes for me as well."

Eric smirked at both of the cousins, "All right. Why not?"

Sookie took Bruce's hand and began to read his mind, "Bruce, it's okay. Take a deep breath. Did you steal their money?"

"No. No, no," Hermione felt bad as she watched the man sweat, "You gotta believe me. I didn't do it. I swear to-"

Sookie shushed him, "Do you know who did?"

"No, I wish."

"He's telling the truth," Sookie told Eric.

"You trust the skinny human to clear the fat one?" Hermione arched her brow at Longshadow's suspicious tone.

She found herself wishing it was possible to perform Legilimency on vampires.

Eric did not refute Sookie's words, "Bring the next one in."

Hermione felt the night drag on as two more people were brought before Sookie. When a woman named Ginger was brought out, Hermione's patience was thin.

Pam steered Ginger to the table, "This is the last of our humans."

Hermione was sorely tempted to shout out 'Thank Merlin!'

Ginger looked to Sookie, "Yummy."

"Ginger," Eric addressed the older human, "This woman has some questions for you. Be a good girl and answer them, will you?"

"Aye, aye, master," Hermione rolled her eyes at Ginger's response, but when Sookie went to take her hand she glared, "Don't you touch me.""

"Hold her still," Eric commanded.

Pam held on to Ginger, leaning the human towards Sookie, allowing the telepath to take her hand.

"Ginger," Sookie spoke to the older woman. "Someone's been stealing from the bar."

"Really?" Ginger replied.

"She didn't do it…" Sookie paused. "But she knows who did."

Pam let go of Ginger as she replied, "What? Fuck you."

Hermione moved behind Ginger, in between Eric and Pam, "Hey!"

Sookie continued listening to Ginger's mind, "Who? Who's gonna kill you? Ginger, honey, what's his name?... It's blank, like her memory's been erased."

Time seemed to move in fast forward for Hermione. Something was wrong here.

Ginger looked to Pam and Eric, "I don't know anything, I swear."

Pam picked up on the situation quickly, "She's been glamoured."

"It's a vampire!" Sookie exclaimed.

As Longshadow jumped over the counter, Eric and Pam held on to Hermione, preventing her from drawing her wand. Hermione watched helplessly as the vampire choked Sookie. Ginger's screaming only stopped at Pam's command, however when Bill staked Longshadow to prevent the Native American vampire from biting his girlfriend, Ginger started screaming again as blood burst all over Sookie. Never in her life had Hermione seen so much blood, and she had been through a war. To Hermione's horror, Longshadow's flesh disintegrated into a pile of goo. Hermione felt like following Ginger's que to throw up.

After the shock had worn off, Sookie want to the bathroom to clean while Ginger was tasked for the clean-up. They all watched as Ginger was hysterically crying as she cleaned.

"When Ginger is finished glamour her for me," Eric told Pam.

"Are you sure?" Pam asked. "She's been glamoured one too many times already, who knows how much of her is left."

"It's either that or turn her," he told his progeny. "You want her?"

Pam scoffed, "Please. I'm not that desperate."

"I'll Obliviate her," Hermione spoke up, causing all of the vampires to look to her. "It will erase her memory that this happened."

Eric stared at her for a moment, "I wasn't aware that a witch could do that." He looked to Ginger with an "Excellent" before he walked away and told Bill, "Come. I'll buy you a Blood."