Harry's POV and thoughts
Harry walked away from the office and couldn't believe the state in which her office was in. Hermione was always so orderly in the way files were put away and no scrap of paper was ever anywhere other than the report or file it needed to be in. He knew she was hurting and none of her friends knew what they could do to help, but to try to catch this guy or at least figure out his motives. It wasn't ritualistic, blood status, sexual or even age that had anything to do with this. Hell he couldn't even say gender was a victim profile item because the vampire had attacked both men and women, young as fresh out of school all the way up to the newest victim who was in their eighties. Harry made it back to his office and pulled out a piece of parchment.
Ron-
Take all evidence to Hermione and get her all the victims' medical records. Tread lightly and be sensitive.
-HP
The memo folded up into a paper airplane and flew out into the bullpen landing right on the top of Ron's desk. Harry worked on trying to find a connection by looking at the case board. He had even digitized it in homes that he could cross reference articles from the profit and quibbler easier. There was nothing relating the victims not a mention of any information that would even put them visiting the same places. This seemed like this vampire just had a sick drive to slaughter and would pick his victims at random and catch them when they were alone. Harry stayed staring at the information late into the evening.
Hermione's flat later that night
Hermione had owled Neville before she left her office and he texted her back stating he could stop by after dinner that evening and talk to her. Hermione made sure she had checked on Draco and told him all about everything that she was doing though he was still unconscious. She had just got home and finished making herself some dinner when she got a text from Neville asking if it was ok for him to come over. She pushed her dinner aside and eagerly agreed that it was an effective time. About five minutes passed and her floo lit up and Neville stepped through. She rose from her seat at her table and greeted him with a hug. "Neville, it's so great to see you. I am sorry to pull you away from Hogwarts."
"Not at all Hermione, How is Draco doing?"
"He's unconscious, but fighting it all the way. I am hoping you have some information. I was told that there is an herbalist in the US that knows something to help him, but I am waiting to see if they will share anything."
"Hermione, I'm sorry that there isn't much in the form of Herbology that can help. I can tell you how to repel a vampire, how to kill a vampire, and even how to treat a vampire's wounds, but none of the information that I have found was able to reverse the changing or how to save a human that has been bitten. I have this book that I got out of the restricted section in the library that has a section about how vampires marked those they turned. It might be useful to you."
Hermione's heart sank at the hope that her friend would be able to provide help and he had none. She took the book from Neville thanking him. Neville stayed and they talked over a cup of tea before he said he had to get back to the school and flooed back. Hermione started reading the book he had loaned her in hopes to find anything that would be useful. All she kept reading was about this marker that would be left behind. After reading for a few hours and seeing no lead in what the marker would be she started to fall asleep on her sofa with her phone and tablet sitting nearby. She woke up to her tablet pinging at her.
Dr. Granger,
I was able to contact the herbalist that helped the witch that had contracted the vampire virus. She states that she only knows of the herbs that were used in the potion, not the actual order, quantities or anything else. She stated ginseng, royal honey, ginger, peony root, Astragalus root, and foxglove. She did say though there was another part that she was not part of, in making sure was provided. She did say the potion does take 72 hours to brew. Once it is ready it is consumed on a schedule, but knows nothing else and says that you would need to get in touch with the actual witch. As I said before she is out of the country for the unforeseen future right now because her work was extended. I have sent her a message in hopes she will respond soon. Maybe you can figure out the combination and the missing ingredient that you need.
Respectfully,
Dr. Freya Burmecia
MACUSA- Forensics MIB
Hermione was thrilled that there was now something that she could work with to help Draco and anyone else that this sick blood sucker attacked. Hermione sat up and blinked away any sleepiness she still possessed. She stood stretching her aching muscles. I don't remember the last time I actually slept on this couch. It had to be early into Draco and my relationship. A sigh escaped her lips as she headed to her potion supply closet and saw most of those materials in there but all of them were easy enough for a muggle to even find. What would need to be added. She sat with the list of supplies and started searching each one's uses. They all came back in muggle searches to help with anemia. Which would be a major issue for someone who survived on needing blood they would have the needed iron in their blood. She took a sample of the virus and mixed a few samples of common muggle formulas of the anemic solution and added it. The virus quickly took to it eating it up.
This had to be a source to get the virus to consume whatever the actual cure was. "UUURRRGGGG!" Hermione shouted in frustration.
"Hermione… is this where you have been hiding tonight?" the voice startled her and she turned to look at who was in her flat.
"Cissa, I didn't hear the floo activate. I thought I was here alone." She smiled at the older witch hoping that she would understand her shock.
"I had stopped at the hospital today and they said that you weren't there very long and that Draco was still hanging on." She looked at the young witch she had grown to consider her daughter even though her son had been dragging his arse about asking her to marry him and now it looked as though that would never happen.
"Sorry, I had a long day at work and am trying to find help for him and the others like him." she paused before continuing, "but every path that I'm finding is only able to give me some of the information. " She sank to the chair inside her small home office. She knew if the ministry found out she brought the virus home she would be reprimanded for it, but she at least found something to help strengthen the blood in the person it was consuming. so if it turned out that the victim was anemic maybe that was what caused the blood fury?
"Hermione, sweetie, you need to accept that Draco is going to be a vampire soon. You need to figure out what you want to do with your life after that occurs." Narcissa closed the gap and placed a hand on the younger witches shoulder. Hermione looked up into her eyes and simply and firmly stated "I am staying with him. I am not going to leave him when he is still going to be the man I love."
"Hermione…. you still have a strong future. What will people think?" With that Narcissa left feeling the urge for tears to flow down her face. Hermione heard the floo this time and she went and waved her wand "Nox" and walked her way to bed to turn in for the night.
Needless to say that night Hermione had powerful dreams and unrestful sleep as her mind kept playing over and over scenarios where she was losing Draco and would be alone.
(Dream)
Hermione walks into a very dark room of the manor where only moonlight lights up sections. There sitting in a chair is Draco sitting elegantly and has a glass of something that shimmers red in the light. He casually swishes it around and takes a large drink finishing the glass. "Draco, I'm so glad to see you!" Hermione starts to move towards him till she notices he doesn't move he doesn't smile and he says nothing. She stops in her tracks. And in a blink of an eye Draco is now behind her. Holding her to his chest with his arm around her across her breasts. "You smell wonderfully alive my love." He inhales as his nose travels along, her neck breathing in her scent. "Your heart is beating so fast. Do I scare you? You could have ran, but instead you came to me." Hermione doesn't struggle at all in fact she only has one request of the man behind her she loves. "Draco let me look you in the eyes just once now that you have changed." He was never able to tell her no and turned her to face him in a quick movement. When she opened her eyes and the world stopped spinning she looked him in the eyes. The once stormy grey eyes she loved were now molten silver with specks of metallic red. His eyes were unique to him and meant he hadn't fed on enough blood for them to take the red color most insatiable vampires had.
She slowly brushed her hair aside, baring her neck to him. "Draco, I'm not afraid of you. My blood is yours for as long as you want it." Her heartbeat quickened in hopes that she wouldn't be drunk dry. Draco leaned down and kissed her and as he did he deepened the kiss running his tongue across her lip wanting entrance. Of course she didn't hesitate. She opened for him allowing the kiss to deepen and her tongue could taste the blood in his mouth that he had been drinking.. A strong metallic taste greeted her, but she didn't pull away, not even when her tongue met the tip of one of his fangs. As she pulled back needing air she saw the look of desire on Draco's face. Though she could not tell if the desire was for her sexually or only for the blood she was offering him. "Hermione, you should leave me. I don't want to hurt you or worse if I lose control." He whispered as his forehead met hers and both hands on the sides of her face. 'I'm not leaving you Draco, now drink from me." He brought his head down to the side of her neck and licked and kissed along the way. A moan escaped Hermione's lips as he found the vain he was going to drink from.
He knew he could bring her pleasure with this bite or pain. He kissed her neck as he ran his hands down her body. As Hermione felt herself enjoying his touch and kisses his mouth left her neck and she shivered in response. Before she could say anything his mouth returned with his fangs sinking into her neck. The sensation brought her over the edge causing her to climax from his bite and be undone right there in his arms.
(End dream)
Hermione woke with a start and looked at the clock in her room and sighed. Three a.m., too early to go to work, but she definitely wasn't going to get back to sleep after that dream because she felt the wetness between her legs. "Damn it!" She yelled as she flopped back on the bed. She really needed Draco in so many ways to make her feel whole. She knew she would need to take care of her problem herself, then take her shower, and get to work.
