A/n: Thanks again to my two excellent betas JDeppIsMyLovely and Tessa Cresswell!

Warning: Character death. You've been warned.

The Disbelief

Draco was quick to go locate Hermione after his conversation with Sarafene. Now he knew where his bite mark came from at least, but the woman was unable to tell him who bit his son. No one had come forward yet, and she told him that she doubted anyone would. He was better off on focusing how to change his son back than who bit him in the girl's opinion. But that didn't mean he was going to stop trying.

Recounting everything to Hermione was strange. For a while she looked just as lost as he had felt, until he began to really explain her bite, and things finally connected for her. Thankfully his son was asleep again and that gave them the much needed peace to have the conversation.

"I can't believe he was trying to do something so horrid to me!" she fumed once they were out in the hallway. "It's perverted, it's wrong, and it's creepy. Thank Merlin those wards are so damn strong or we could've had a real problem on our hands!"

"We already have a problem," he reminded darkly, leaning against the wall. "Our affections towards each other might've diminished part of his power over you but we don't know if the connection is thoroughly broken or simply hindered."

She rubbed her lip thoughtfully, peering at him. "What do you think?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, honestly. Sarafene thinks it's completely broken, but I'm not so sure. Besides, that cry sounded quite angry. He might not have a hold over you physically right now but that doesn't mean he won't be able to develop one again, and that's what worries me. He's probably going to try and attack your mind as it is."

Her expression darkened. "I can't keep him out of my mind yet."

"Not yet, but the point is your shielding ability has grown. You can attempt to force him out at the very least."

"And what if I can't? Ugh, this is so complicated! There's always something, isn't there?"

Smiling softly at the woman's frustration as he began pacing, he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her quickly before she could step away. "Then I'll have to handle it later. Panicking about it won't help us right now; I won't give another lesson until you've rested, for it won't do any good to tire you out."

She nodded once, unaccustomed to having him hug her at all- let alone like that. Whether it was for her comfort or his she wasn't sure, but she wouldn't argue with it at the moment.

"You never told me."

"I never told you what?" she asked, sitting in bed later. Scorpius was all checked out and passed out again, his vampire side draining him more and more each day. Draco was antsy to start working on a potion, and did so for a few hours before returning to the bedroom. It was early morning now, and they were finally ready to sleep. Hurray for backwards sleeping.

"About the shower incident," he replied, yawning as he sat beside her, "or the bathroom, or whatever it was. And people keep bringing it up."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, it's way too late to be getting into things like that."

"You're no fun," he pouted. "You keep avoiding the topic."

"With good reason!" she remarked hotly, flipping her hair. "It's private."

"It's important. Obviously something huge must've happened, so why not indulge me?"

"I don't want to," she said, rolling her eyes. "Can we talk about something else?"

"No," he replied, scooting closer. "You can tell me though."

"Why should I?"

"Because it might help."

"Or it might embarrass the hell out of me."

"Either or," he replied cheekily, thankful that a few pleasures in life still made him smile. "Come on Hermione, tell me."

She looked away a moment, apparently considering the offer. Then she turned back, blushing as she leaned over and whispered into his ear. Immediately, his eyebrows shot up, and he pulled back with an angry expression on his face.

"What?!"

"Do you see why I didn't want to tell you?" she asked, sighing even as he shook his head. "It's not something I'm proud of."

Draco huffed. "Hermione, I don't get you; you're embarrassed over something you couldn't control, and you're not angry? Sometimes I don't understand what goes on in your bloody head."

Despite everything, she couldn't help lightly smiling at that. Hermione expected his reaction to be worse, for him to curse and be angry, but he was rather diluted. There was the possibility that he was keeping his thoughts inside, but she wasn't sure. Part of her was thankful there was no blowout over the topic, yet the rest of her was a bit disheartened that he didn't have anything more than a witty comment past his initial reaction.

"Yes, silly me."

"Don't overthink it," he said, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck. "You'll only stay up with a headache, and it's late already Hermione. We must sleep."

"This from the man who a few minutes ago wanted to stay up and ponder the potion."

"At least something would come out of my idea," he said tiredly, stifling a yawn. "Now lay with me. I can't keep my eyes open any longer."

She smiled again, scooting down in the bed so they were lying together. The pair readjusted, Hermione finding herself resting against his chest; it wasn't common, but it also wasn't unwanted. And it was in that position that they finally passed out.

It was the anguished scream that alerted him something was wrong. The cry probably awoke several other occupants on the floor, and he wouldn't be surprised if more than one called about a disturbance. But it wouldn't matter now though, not with the mess he would find.

Percy had been completely comfortable at his desk, relaxing and looking through things, trying to clear his mind. But the cry down the hall stopped his train of thought, drawing him out of his world of thoughts and into the reality around him; a reality he didn't want to face.

The wizard bolted down the hall to see what was wrong. Wand in hand, he could feel the dread seeping in from the very moment the cry broke out. Something was terribly wrong; although he had strong wards, he knew they weren't invincible. Now that he was housing someone like Astoria, he should've reinforced them. He should've done something to protect his quaint apartment as soon as the woman declared she wasn't leaving. But he was a fool, and he did nothing.

Breaking through the door to her room, he immediately felt the shock hit him. Initially there was no break in the scream, no sound of the girl being attacked. But she only cried out once, and that should've been his first warning in the scarce seconds following. He should've known something was wrong, and he should've been prepared.

It had to be Adam's doing, it had to be. Who else would do it? Falling to his knees, he felt his breath come in shallows gasps as panic overtook him, his eyes bulging larger and larger as he stared at the scene.

Her body lay on the floor, blood oozing out. About a foot away her severed head rested on the bed, the torn appendix staring back at him, the terrified expression on the girls face captured forever in the final brief seconds of her life when Astoria had time to cry out, before her life was dashed away.

The blood pooled, and his heartbeat accelerated. The window was open, and he could feel his dread slipping in. What if the monster came back? Would he perish as well? Attempting to think through his horror, Percy stumbled back, turning on the light as he searched frantically for the killer. Sweeping his eyes across the space quickly, he found that no one was there.

Get out of here now! Get on the emergency line; make a call. Don't let this fiend kill you too!

Bolting out of the room, his mind set up hundreds of scenarios about what was going to happen on his dash to the floo. This really was an emergency now, one which he would alert the Ministry of ASAP. Astoria's sudden and unexplainable death warranted a lot of questions even in Percy's scattered mind, drawing up several similar questions. One in particular stuck out though as he reported what had happened in his home mere moments before.

Why kill her? What could she have known that was so dastardly that she had to die?

He couldn't believe she was dead. Earlier that morning she made a discovery and tried to get him to help her out, and now she was dead because of it. Why would Adam kill her? How did he even know?

The final answer was obvious, for Percy had been dealing with this issue for far too long now to ignore it. Shaking as the floo connection cut off with the promise of emergency Aurors coming in just moments, he fell on his bottom and tried to steady his breathing.

Vampire. Adam was a cold, cutthroat vampire, and apparently had no problem slaughtering humans when it fit his fancy. Vaguely, Percy wondered if the Minister even realized how twisted his vampire-informant honestly was, and if the information documented was honest at all. Adam didn't seem like such a trustworthy, believable person anymore.

Hermione awoke last the following day. By the time she was physically able to drag herself from the bed sheets, she found that it was nearly noon and the place beside her was cold. It didn't take long to locate both the Malfoy's in a room near Scorpius', a cauldron placed between them.

"This will help?" the child asked, watching his father intently. The poor thing was relaxed into a chair, a blanket scrunched in around him. Even at the early-day hour he looked exhausted, and Hermione felt her confidence in the child dwindle a bit at that. Each day, she witnessed it get worse. Scorpius got weak and tired very easily, his bedtime becoming earlier and earlier every few days. With each decline in his son's overall health, Draco's frustration grew. She knew for a fact that he blamed himself for the child's declining health, convinced that everything would be better if he could only figure out the correct potion to incorporate the Dragon blood with. Hermione wasn't so sure that was true, however. A potion might heal him physically, but she felt that the psychological effects would last for years to come. But she wouldn't tell him that, not when he was already so stressed.

"Yes," his father replied, ruffling the blonde's hair. "It's going to help you get better, okay? Once your better, Lizzy can return."

Scorpius' face brightened. "Can she come over today?"

"Not today," he said, inclining his head in Hermione's direction as he noticed her in the doorway, "We already have a visitor. And we don't want to hurt Lizzy, right? So I have to make you all better first."

The child paused as the brunette swooped in, moving to stand beside Draco and wrap an arm around him. "She's not a guest daddy, she's new mommy."

Startled, Hermione quickly retracted her arm. Although the notion of being called "mommy" was endearing, she didn't want to cross into that territory when she had kissed the boy's father for the first time yesterday. Of course Scorpius didn't know any of that, but that didn't mean things weren't uncomfortable. Astoria was still the mother, and until the basic idea of a relationship was even discussed she didn't want to go around having this child call her mommy.

"I'm your daddy's friend," she corrected, smiling down at the boy. He didn't look nearly as pleased with her response, but didn't argue the matter. Shooting Draco a look, she wondered if she should've just left the topic alone right then. Astoria did seem to be a sensitive subject towards the elder Malfoy was it was.

He leaned over as Scorpius busied himself with inspecting the complicated books and ingredients again, breathing into her ear, "I need a moment, Hermione. I'm losing my bloody mind in here getting nowhere, and I don't particularly want to curse in front of my son when I'm just trying to help him. Mind watching him for a moment while I blow off some stream?"

Pulling away from him to raise an eyebrow, she noted that he did look quite frazzled. It was good that he wanted to get the potion done as soon as possible, but stressing himself out for too long wouldn't help anyone. Nodding once as she smiled, the blonde thanked her and he disappeared from the room, telling his son he needed to use the loo.

Left alone with Scorpius, she found herself studying the books more than the child. Several quick glances got a few things from her regular check-list marked off, but she didn't specifically want to speak with the child. Although she was more comfortable with him than ever before, she still didn't think she was all that gifted with speaking to children.

"Why won't you be my mommy?" he asked after only a minute or two of his father being out of the room. "I thought you liked me."

Arching an eyebrow, she gave Scorpius a bemused smile. "And who said I didn't? But don't you think your real mommy will be upset? You don't want to hurt her feelings, do you?"

Looking away, she could see the guilty look creeping onto the child's face. "No."

"Then maybe we should ask her how she feels next time about me being your other mommy," the brunette said, flipping a page in the book before her. "Sound good?"

"Yes," the child agreed, already happy. She was about to make another remark when she suddenly buckled over, gripping the sides of the table as her head exploded.

Hello, Princess.

Fuck.

"Get out of my head. I have nothing more to say to you, so just forget your reason for bothering me this time. I refuse to listen!"

As if you're strong enough to actually block me yet Hermione. However, today you should-

"Save it, I don't have the time to handle you. Bother someone else for a change."

Darling, I intend to bother you. Like it or not, you've only enlarged my fury. But that is not the reason I have come to bother your head.

"I don't care about your reasons. Take you, your possessive attitude, and your fury and bother someone else. If my kisses from yesterday didn't get the point across then I'll just have to kiss Draco again and make sure you get the picture!"

Oh, Princess, I doubt you will be kissing Malfoy any time tonight. You're still going to be mine my darling.

"As if."

We're straying off topic Princess. I am not here to be a complete arsehole for once. I only bring with me a burden of bad news.

"You are bad news."

"Mrs. Herme-one?"

The child's trying to get your attention dear. And don't be cocky, I'm still going to get you. But you're better off right now trying to get that kid to believe you're his real mommy than to deny being a mommy at all.

"What are you-"

She cut herself off as the door flew open and Draco stormed in, his face whiter than a sheet. "We have to go, now."

"Go? Why, what's-"

"Hermione, we have to go!" he cried, ignoring the tears on her cheeks just then. She hadn't realized beforehand that her eyes were leaking from concentration, and quickly wiped the streaks away as he turned to his son. "I'm calling Uncle Blaise, okay? He's going to come watch you."

"I want to come, daddy!"

"You can't!" he barked, causing his son to shrink back in the chair, and the brunette sent him a strange look. "Scorp, I can't have you coming along right now, okay? Please just stay here; I'm going to call your Uncle to come over."

"Can Lizzy come?"

"Maybe later."

"But-"

"Why don't we go get you changed and let your dad call your uncle?" Hermione said, entering the conversation. Draco looked stressed, and the constant questions from his young son didn't seem to be helping. She decided to step in before he lost his cool. "We'll get you dressed and then I'll pull out some of your toys for you to play with until he arrives, okay?"

Begrudgingly, the child agreed. As Hermione helped him down and took his hand, she sent a fleeting look back to Draco, who was already turning away from her to use the floo. But the expression in his eyes was clear as day.

He looked horrified. Hurrying his son from the room, she made quick work of helping him change and finding something comfortable for him to play in. Once he seemed settled, she excused herself and made to go find Draco.

Along the way she bumped into Zabini, who was apparently on his way to get Scorpius. His expression was grave.

"What's-"

"Don't ask me Hermione," he said, sighing. "You have to ask Draco. He's probably going to pour it all out to you anyway."

"What do you mean?"

Patting her on the shoulder, he brushed past her, the sad expression on his face never changing. "You'll see."

"Draco, slow down. You're working yourself up too much."

"Shut up!" he told her, storming through the Ministry, headed up to the Auror section. Originally he was told to go down to St. Mungo's, but was quickly corrected once there. She still didn't know what was actually plaguing his mind, for he wouldn't tell her. But he seemed incredibly distressed, and his skin grew paler every time she asked questions. At that point, she was just trying to make sure he didn't reach a breaking point and start cursing at everyone. That was her main fear by then.

At least Scorpius was safe at home, free of his father's hostile behavior. Although she knew he wouldn't actually do anything to the child, she wasn't so sure he could control his attitude either. Hurrying after him, her mind hopped around from scenario to scenario, trying to figure out just what had him in such an uproar.

Arriving at their destination, he threw the door open without missing a beat and stormed in. She followed, noticing that there were two men in the room who seemed to be discussing something, and waved apologetically in their direction for his rude entrance.

"Tell me it's not true!" he spat, walking right up to the desk and he slammed his hands down on the wood. "That emergency call, it's a fraud to get me down here for some reason, isn't it!?"

Hermione looked between the three men as Draco's statement hung in the air, searching for answers within their faces. Of the two men, there were a young and an old, with the elder sitting at the desk. His eyes locked for a single moment with her own, and she thought she saw pity there.

"No one would owl you such a thing if it wasn't true, Mr. Malfoy," the elder said, his voice weary. "You have come to me specifically because of the strange elements of this murder."

"She's not dead," he said, his voice dead-serious. "Astoria is a complete lunatic, but she wouldn't get so caught up in a situation that she would let herself die! She loves herself far too much to go anywhere dangerous."

Hermione processed that sentence slowly, fixating on the back of Draco's head. So that was the problem; his ex was dead. But how, and why? Questions pressed at her mind, attempting to explode, but she pressed her lips together and held her tongue, letting the blonde vent.

"Mr. Malfoy, I realize this is hard-"

"What the fuck am I supposed to tell my son?" he asked shaking with anger. "How do you tell a child that their mother's dead?! This is some sick joke!"

"I would not joke about this!" the elder man replied, standing now. "Watch your tongue in my office young man; you do not have power here. You were sent here to speak to me, and speak to me you shall. Drop your voice, and take a seat. This yelling must stop."

Reaching forward, she lightly rested a hand on the blonde's shoulder, but he shoved her off. "I will do whatever I please! This is completely idiotic! Do you even hear…"

Hermione didn't hear what he said next, for her attention was drawn away by the younger fellow, the one stepping past Draco to her now. The blonde didn't even notice, too lost in his banter with the other man. Beckoning with his hand, the younger one indicated that she should follow him out. Looking at Draco though, she wondered if that was a good idea.

"They'll be at it for a while," he said quietly, and neither man even glanced back their way. "The news is hard, and the description didn't help matters."

"What description?" she asked, narrowing her eyes."

He inclined his head to the door. "Let him talk; you can be the shoulder to cry on later, Miss. I want to discuss something with you."

Although his words made sense, Hermione was hesitant to leave. Malfoy had a temper, and she didn't want him getting arrested for trying to hex answers out of someone. She had seen his protective streak come out whenever it involved his family, and although she knew he hadn't been fond of Astoria recently, she doubted he would want to hear that she was dead. The news was shocking to her, who barely knew the woman, and she couldn't fathom how Draco was taking it.

The screaming continued, but her ears had grown numb and she wasn't listening to the words. Slipping out the door for a moment wouldn't be the end of the world, and it would give them some time to actually start talking and quit arguing. Deciding to simply comply, she followed the younger man out of the office.

"What is it you want to discuss?" she asked once they had entered the hallway. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Quick to get to the point, aren't you Healer Hermione? Don't be alarmed, your record precedes you up here in this department, considering that you have helped more than your fair share of the people we save on a day-to-day basis. I'm not sure we've ever personally met, however. My name is Chandler."

"Pleasure," she replied, raising an eyebrow. What did her job have to do with anything?

"I understand you've spent a lot of time at Malfoy Manor dealing with Mr. Malfoy's son," he continued, looking her straight in the eye. "Don't look surprised; there are a few of us up here who thoroughly understand the… implications of the case. Scorpius Malfoy was bitten by a vampire."

Her eyebrows shot up, and she looked around the hallway quickly to make sure no one else was around. "What?! How do-"

"How do I know? Don't play daft Miss Granger, the moment that Astoria Greengrass' body was located we were on the scene, and shortly after we attempted to contact Sarafene, one of the vampires that resides in the woods behind the Manor. We here at the Ministry know more than you would originally suspect."

"So I've heard," she muttered, studying Chandler carefully. "And why did you do that?"

He frowned. "Don't you know by now Miss Granger? Don't you know what happened?"

"No. Draco told me nothing on the way here."

He nodded gravely, realizing he had more to explain than he originally thought. "Percy Weasley made an emergency call to the Ministry last night. We've been trying to get into contact with Mr. Malfoy since arriving at Percy's home, but he only just responded an hour ago. Percy Weasley apparently allowed Astoria to stay at his home last night, after learning some disturbing news from her. He was alerted that something was wrong, and discovered Miss Greengrass to be dead only moments later."

"But-"

"We learned that Astoria was staying at Adam's apartment," the man continued, speaking right over her. "The Minster knew, but he wasn't certain how deep the connection was."

Hermione shook her head, staring at him with wide eyes. "Wait, stop. Just what are you talking about? What does this have to do with anything?"

Chandler sighed, rubbing his head. "You're more out of the loop than we originally thought. Miss Granger, let me put this in the simplest of terms. There is a body downstairs that is very much Astoria Greengrass'. A medical report has been filed about her attack, and a Healer is supposed to be looking into the death sometime today. I intend to hand the file to you."

"I'm not on this case," she reminded, her mind swimming as things tangled around themselves. He wasn't making a whole lot of sense. "I'm already assigned a job, Mr. Chandler, a job helping Scorpius Malfoy. I can't accept another case."

"I never said you were," he replied airily, waving his hand. "I said I was handing you a file. It might be a bit out of conduct, but I don't really care. You see Miss Granger, some of us who are high up in our department know things that others never will. I received information initially when Scorpius Malfoy's tragedy entered the papers, and have since kept the file close to me. After reading through the report on Astoria's swift death, I've come to terms that it is something you need to read as well."

"You don't even know me," she retorted, crossing her arms. "How do you know what I need?"

His eyes twinkled briefly. "I don't. But I have worked with you indirectly on a few cases, and I'm well aware, as is anyone else in Britain, that you're a brilliant witch. I see things that distantly connect together, and I'm sure you'll be able to connect all the dots and reveal the truth, Healer Granger. You might discover a thing or two about your former work partner as well."

She tilted her head to that, still unsure why this man she had only ever vaguely seen the name of was so intent on giving this file to her. From the contents of his jacket he pulled a file out, handing it to her. She supposed it had probably been shrunken while inside there.

"Read the file Miss Granger," he continued, looking over her shoulder at two approaching forms, "I think it will help you. I'm betting that it will help us all. Things are becoming more and more complicated by the day."

"Yes," she agreed, continuing to watch this strange man. He didn't make a lot of sense to her, and the scattered bits of information he sent her way only served to give her a headache. Hopefully by reading the file in her hands, things would make more sense.

She'd have to check with that other Auror once Draco was finished conversing with him and make sure she was actually supposed to be set up. After everything she had been through recently she wasn't going to be so stupid as to take a Ministry file without first checking. She didn't want to lose her job too.

"Hermione," said a voice, catching her off-guard. Whirling around, she was surprised to see Harry and Ron standing behind her, the both of them scanning her body, as though making sure she was alright. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

It was Ron who spoke, but Harry to launched himself at her for a hug. She couldn't believe she didn't see this coming, especially when she was visiting their department. Ron followed suit, and she mumbled hello to the both of them, trying to show them that it was pleasant to see the two. Although she would love to converse and catch up about what had been happening over the last several weeks, she couldn't, not with that new file sitting in her hot little hands.

Turning around briefly, she attempted to thank Chandler for the file. But glancing around the hall, she frowned. He wasn't there anymore.

How strange. But she couldn't focus on that right now, not with her two excited friends speaking to her like they were. She needed to say something.

Sitting in the trees, he studied his surroundings. Blood still clung to his fingers under the nails, but that wasn't something he wasn't accustomed to. He rarely had a clean kill. Lounging there, he wondered when he would be bothered.

Sarafene, she had to know what he had done, and where he would hide. But the question was whether or not she would betray him. The nights they spent ravishing each other in bed, drawing attention through unpresented and indecent kisses, it would all mean naught if she betrayed him and revealed his common hiding places.

Adam knew that she was coy though. She would see whether or not it was worth it for her to speak aloud, and if it was she would drop him for something better. Her biggest ambition was always for protection, but he wondered when she would see past mortal protection to the ability to kill humans. She just needed to see red, and then she would literally be everything he ever wanted her to be.

He hoped she would play smart and say nothing. Merlin knew what she had already revealed to Malfoy and his old partner Granger. They were bad news; always asking questions and prying around. He didn't like it.

It didn't matter that the Weasley boy was alive and certain it was Adam who killed Astoria, for who cared? She was a plaything for one, meant to be discarded in the end. Her death just came earlier than expected through her betrayal. He knew Percy would push to have him investigated and searched for, but Adam had no intention to hang around to be caught in his little game. He hadn't gone through all of this effort to be stopped now.

He had plans, big plans, plans that would remind humanity that they were not the only ones alive still. Greater forces still thrived on earth, forces that didn't like humans any more than humans liked them. And he intended to see that point through.

A/n: Dark chapter here. But let me know what you're thinking lovely readers and keep them reviews coming :) They do help, and they make me feel good.

This story has less than ten chapters remaining dearies. We're getting to the end!