A/N:I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters.
This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Writing Club March
Disney Challenge: Better to laugh than cry: Write about someone laughing at an inappropriate moment.
Showtime: 17 - Stay – (word) Sweet
Liza's Loves: 22 - Neptune Seas - Write about a being from the sea - examples: Mermaid, Siren, Sea-God
Lizzy's Loft: 4 - (au) Demon
Scamander's Case: 14 - (action) singing
Sophie's Shelf: 35 The Babadook, The Babadook (just because he's a true Pride icon): (genre) Horror
Warning: death, murder, some gore
Word Count: 1465
Hermione tossed her head, her dark brown curls bounced against her skin. The sun had started to set and she knew it would be dark soon. In the dark it was easier to find her prey. Her sisters all hunted during the daylight, letting their shell covered assets lure the sailors. Hermione looked down at her own flat chest.
She barely even needed to find shells to cover herself. Most the time, in fact, she wore a simple seaweed cover up similar to the one she'd worn as a child. Her less than flashy appearance was only one of the reasons she preferred to hunt at night.
She knew humans eyes were not as good in the darkness as they were during the day. They wouldn't see the danger until it was too late.
Hermione picked her favorite spot, a large jutting rock. She wrapped her tail around the base and sat watching the sea. She didn't see any lights or ships at the moment, but she knew it was only a matter of time. To pass the time, she sang.
She loved to sing and out of her family had one of the best voices. She sang a song she'd written herself, a sad song about wanting to find love. It seemed to be her fate to be alone. No man looked at her the way they looked at her flashy sisters.
No man looked at her when she knew the best places to hide, the best places to find treasure. These weren't important. Neither was the notes she'd made about the shifting tides, the lower amount of tuna the hunters were bringing back, or the fact she'd started seeing strange new creatures in their waters.
She had just finished her song when she spotted a dark shape on the horizon. It was a bit further out than she would have liked, but she also knew there might not be anything closer to day. She dove into the water, barely making a splash. Hermione had learned a long time ago how to move silently. There were a handful of predators that would love to make a snack out of her given the chance. Moving silently kept them from noticing her.
She swam up to the ship and poked her head out of the water. She smiled, her sharp teeth glittering in the light of the full moon. Tonight would be good hunting. She could hear noise on the ship; people talking, music, a lot of different voices.
She'd found a ship with a full crew. Slowly she circled the ship, looking for a perfect spot. Her eyes caught sight of a pair of black boots. Slowly her eyes followed the man's legs up to his face. He was looking out the sea. Hermione gasped slightly. She had never seen anyone so handsome before.
"Severus! Get your arse over here and man this sail!" a voice yelled. The man, Severus, walked away from the edge of the ship. Hermione hissed loudly. Whoever had called him away was going to pay. She slapped her tail against the side of the ship, causing it to rock in the waves. She thrashed in the water stirring up more waves, harsher waves.
"Mermaid!" someone yelled. Hermione laughed. Let them think she was mere mermaid, a creature of myth. She was so much more powerful than that. She knew the tales about mermaids, knew they were beautiful half fish girls. She hissed again, baring her pointed teeth. She was so much more than some pretty little fish maiden.
She struck the ship again. This time, it rocked dangerously. One more strong strike and she felt the bow break. Water rushed into the belly of the wooden vessel. Hermione smiled. Sinking a ship was always fun. It would be even more fun when she got her hands on the one who had dared interrupt her study of the handsome man. She had a feeling he was the captain.
A loud splash caught her attention. They'd dropped the rowboat. They were trying to escape. She bit back a laugh. No one escaped her. She was too meticulous for that. She'd never attacked a ship, never made a move unless she was sure she could win.
She waited, watching as several men fled into the boat. Three men to be exact. Three was a decent number. She could take them, be done for the night, let the others live. No, she wanted the captain. She wanted her handsome man in the black boots. And she would have them both.
Soon the ship started sinking. More men jumped into the water, trying to escape. Hermione's hunger grew. She finally grabbed the closest one. He was good enough looking with long blond hair. She smiled at him. His eyes widened at the sight of her teeth.
"Please, don't," he begged. Hermione ignored him. She rushed him, teeth meeting flesh. The water churned red with his blood. She dropped his lifeless body, letting it sink. The sharks would be thankful for the treat. That's when she saw him, standing on the deck. He was yelling something at the rest of the crew, waving a pointy stick.
She laughed. This was her prey. This was the captain. She smacked her tail against the ship knocking him off balance. He tumbled, falling to the ground. He rolled, stopping when he hit the railing. She grabbed his cloak pulling him into the water. He screamed as she smiled. She loved how the men always screamed at her teeth.
She loved how it felt when she pierced their flesh, the spray of fresh blood covering her. The captain was sweeter than most and she relished it. Once she was finished with him, she only had one goal left. She needed to find her black booted man. He was the only one who had ever made her pound. He would be hers. She circled the wreckage of the ship, pausing only briefly to look at the name written on the side.
"The Death Eater," she laughed. "Well, you can all enjoy your deaths," she stated.
It was on her third pass when she saw him. He was hanging onto a piece of wood. She swam over to him. He looked at her, but didn't show any fear. She smiled. He looked at her teeth.
"You're not scared of me?" she asked. "What kind of man doesn't fear me?"
"A smart man. I know what you are. I know what you kind truly is. Water demons, aren't you?"
"You are smart," Hermione stated, tracing a finger over his pale cheek. "So tell me, what are you called?"
"So you can know the name of your dinner?"
"No, so I can know the name of the one man I've decided not to kill," she replied, batting her eyes at him. He stared at her.
"Severus. My name is Severus."
"Severus," she repeated. "I like it. So tell me, Severus, have you ever heard about my kind keeping men alive?"
"Yes. I have. You select a human mate, keep him alive, make him your servant."
"You are smart. My name is Hermione, you may address me as such. And yes, I would like to keep you as my mate, my servant. If you'd prefer I kill you, well, I do have room for dessert?"
"I was a servant on the ship. I served my captain there. It would be an honor serving a creature like yourself."
"Perfect. Now, hold on and I will take you to your new home," she stated, holding out a hand. Severus slowly reached out and took it. Hermione giggled at his touch.
"Hold on tight!" she ordered, diving down quickly. Severus barely had a chance to grab a gulp of air. He managed to hold his breath until Hermione pulled him back to the surface. He looked around. The ship, or what was left of it, was no where in sight.
"Where are we?"
"Home, well, your home, since you can't live underwater," Hermione answered, pointing to a small cove. Severus could see a small sandbar.
"What about food?" he asked.
"I won't let you starve, my love," Hermione purred, pulling Severus onto the beach. "Rest. I'll be back in the morning with food and to see how you fared the night. I am going to love having you as mine," she added, before diving back into the water, leaving Severus staring after her. Hermione smiled seeing him watching her leave.
Yes, she'd finally found the one for her, the one who wasn't afraid of her teeth, who didn't appear to care about her flatness. He was going to be the perfect lover, the perfect servant, and if she ever decided he wasn't going work out, the perfect dessert.