Note to Disclaimer: I do not and never will own Harry Potter so PLEASE DON'T SUE ME! But please DO enjoy the fic!
Word Coding:
'Thoughts'
"Speaking"
Everything else
Occurrences from the past
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Golden curtains, made of the finest silk, drifted in the breeze that encircled her. She was spread upon the cushions, her hair flowing around her like a crown of sunlight upon her rich scarlet pillows. Everything was good during her time. She smiled graciously, sensually, at the person who approached her as she raised a select grape to her lips, sliding her tongue over it with precision. He smirked at her, his eyes dragging over her bare feet and ankles adorned by gold anklets to her firm yet softly toned legs. His eyes rested just above her well-rounded hips where the thin satiny material of her gown clung to her skin. After a brief pause, he continued his gaze up to her firm abdomen, toned from all the dancing she did to her firm round breasts. He was a man, and since he was thus, his gaze lingered there momentarily before moving up to her slim neck ornamented with various gold necklaces, some even made of jade or sapphire. Lastly, his eyes landed up her face, her perfectly chiseled pouting lips, her just-right nose, to her brilliant cinnamon spheres that were cat-like in shape. She simply smiled at him, formally, before turning her head in the opposite direction. He climbed atop the bed, prepared to claim his so-called prey, and she rolled over to face him, which surprised him. She traced his jaw as his lips claimed hers in a viciously passionate kiss. His hands roamed along her body, ravishing her until he was satisfied. She did the same, caressing every part of him until he was begging her to stop.
"You are taking advantage of me, my king." She said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Once we have consummated our relationship, it will matter no longer whether I take advantage of you are not." He said as he kissed her neck tenderly. "You will wish for it and I will provide it."
"When will you cease to be right?" She chuckled while she gazed into his eyes.
"When I find out we're not meant to be." He said seriously.
"That shall never happen, my love." She replied with equal seriousness.
"Never." He answered too as he kissed her again.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~
Hermione bolted up in her bed. She was covered in cold sweat, her hair matted to her face as she clung to her bed sheets. Lavender was sleeping soundly next to her. Hermione breathed in heavily, her eyes attempting to adjust to in the dark night. 'What do they mean?' She asked herself as she tightened her robe. Quietly, she began her journey to the kitchen for a midnight snack. She tickled the pear and opened the door only for her eyes to meet raven black hair. At first she wasn't sure but at the sight of the silky robe, she knew it wasn't Harry. She walked over, careful as she could be and tapped the woman's shoulder. "Excuse me?"
"Oh! You frightened me!" The woman shrieked.
"Cho Chang?" Hermione asked.
"Hermione Granger." Cho said in return, her eyebrows arching slightly as she extended her hand. "I remember you. Harry Potter's friend, right? And if I recall correctly, the new Transfiguration teacher?"
"Why, yes, that's me." Hermione said as she tried to hide the blush in her cheek. She shook Cho's hand before taking a seat across from the former Ravenclaw student. "Why are you down here Ms. Chang?"
"Late night snack, like you I'm sure." Cho said as she nibbled on a cracker while the house elves scurried about the kitchen.
Hermione nodded as conversation began. She found out that Cho was the new Quidditch gamekeeper, which was something they laughed about for a while. When they were both finished consuming their snacks, they bade each other good night and proceeded to their house entrances. Hermione was halfway up the stairs when she suddenly felt very faint. 'I'll just close my eyes and I'll be fine.' She did so, but when she opened them, nothing was what it seemed. She gaped at the golden staircases, the rich silk draperies and the ornate opalescent statues. 'This can't be Hogwarts!' She thought. Behind a statue, Hermione saw a woman, a woman who strangely resembled someone she knew. The woman's features were soft and amazingly pale, with soft blue eyes, a pert nose, and medium sized pink lips. The woman's strikingly black hair did not match her face though. But as the woman sat down at her vanity, the wig toppled off to reveal long curls of rich auburn. 'Ginny!' Hermione continued to watch as another woman joined Ginny. She was a stunningly tall beauty with hair like a raven's plumage, eyes like bright beads, and lips of a rich crimson that shone over her tan complexion. 'Cho!' Hermione could not believe she what she was seeing. 'What is going on here?' She closed her eyes again and everything disappeared. She was standing on the staircase as she had been before. She quickly glanced around before continuing on her way, but stopped when she heard voices echoing through the hallways.
"There are ten, Astarte."
"Anat, what will we do? When Lord Amun-Ra arrives, we will be forced to go into hiding as before." Astarte said. "I can no longer bear this. It will be the death of me dear sister, this life of solitude."
"Hush now, Astarte, for if someone should hear us-" Anat began but what promptly cut off. "RUN ASTARTE!"
"ANAT!"
"ASTARTE!"
Hermione gasped as she listened to the thunderous pounding of footsteps and cried of the two women who she now knew were Anat and Astarte. When it had all passed, Hermione hastily made her way up the stairs into her common room where another surprise awaited her. She squeaked loudly at the hand that fell upon her arm. "HARRY!"
"Hermione, what are you still doing up? It's 1:00 in the morning!" Harry asked as he rubbed his sleepy eyes. Hermione shook her head. "Is everything all right? I heard a scream and footsteps. Is someone out there?"
"No, nothing is wrong Harry." Hermione said with a fake chuckle. "I slipped and fell. Oh! Will you look at the time? Best be off to bed now. Goodnight Harry!"
"Hermione?"
But Hermione never glanced back as she hurried to her sanctuary: the teachers' dorms where she would be safe. When she entered, Lavender was still sleeping peacefully as though nothing had occurred through the course of the night, though much needed explanation for Hermione. She vaguely remembered a wisp of silver blonde hair as she saw the two women conversing. He had been coming through the door when she'd closed her eyes; it had all vanished into thin air, which Hermione was anything less than pleased with in her current state of mind. She fumbled about for the drapes to her bed hurriedly trying to shut them lest anyone try to come question her about her late night stroll. Once tucked into the security of her bed, she snuggled under the warm covers, protecting her skin against the chilly air that seemed to come from nowhere.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Now I want everyone to try and change your goblet into a toad or some other sort of small animal." Hermione said as she demonstrated by changing her goblet into a mouse. "I trust if anyone needs help, he or she will come and ask me. I will be walking around, but please try and do it by yourselves. Get to work."
She watched in amusement as many of them tried to unsuccessfully change their goblets into animals. She helped a few of them, but by the time she got around to those certain few, many of the students were perfecting their animals. She laughed when she caught a particularly klutzy girl changing her goblet into half a mouse and half a toad. What made her smile though was the boy next to her who helped her fix everything. 'Neville and myself.' She thought remembering Neville's inability to do things right their various years at Hogwarts. Taking a quick glance at her watch, Hermione clapped her hands to signal classes end. She began to pack up her things as students made their way out of the classroom. Once they had all gone, she fell back into her chair, rubbing her temples the entire way. Letting out a great sigh, she rested in her chair while the comforting silence embraced her. She would have continued to do so had she not heard voices. She quickly opened her eyes only to meet a familiar woman's figure. The woman spoke with a breezy voice as she walked towards Hermione who had scrunched back in her chair.
"Anat, I can dwell here no longer. I am leaving to the kingdom of the darkness. I dare say, beloved sister, I have fallen in love." The young woman said as she fingered her wig. "I should never have met him, for our love will create a conflict and we shall perish for such a beautiful gift…from her wrath. But I cannot deny my love for him nor will I ever do just that!"
"Astarte," Anat, the woman with raven colored hair stepped up to whom Hermione assumed was her sister. Anat spoke gently, her voice pained but accepting. "Astarte, Dear little sister, I understand what you say, for I am also in love, but with a mere peasant I'm afraid. I must let you go, but I will say this: I shall have no involvement in this affair. I do not wish to perish with you but I cannot deny you your want. Now go, and may all the Gods be with you, Astarte."
"You have done much for me, Anat. Thank you." Astarte bowed slightly before turning to disappear into the shadows she emerged from.
Hermione stared dumbfounded as the figures faded only to leave a certain silver haired man smirking at her. "Why, Hello, Professor Granger."
Abruptly, she threw her chair back violently, ignoring the clattering of it behind her. Her eyes blazed as she met his eyes. "What do you want?"
"Nothing much. I just wanted to remind you what we talked about that day." His smirk turned serious as he ran a finger over her desktop. "I don't want you to tell anyone, especially Virginia."
"Why not?" She questioned with slight fury, her eyes ablaze with anger.
"Because it would hurt her. It's not time for her to know." He said as he turned away from her, his hair hiding his expression. As he made his way out the door, her looked at her, "Hermione, you've been the only real friend I've had for a long time whether you believe it or not. Please don't back out on me. Good day."
Hermione watched him leave, her eyes tearing slightly at her recollection of their meeting. She shook her head. 'It's for the best.' Not wanting anyone to see her inner conflict, Hermione wiped her tears and headed for the Great hall. 'Harry will be expecting me.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hermione, is something the matter?" Harry asked. "You've been acting strange."
"I'm fine." She said dully.
"Good morning Professor Granger." A voice drawled.
"Good day, Professor Malfoy." Hermione said through gritted teeth as Harry glared at the silver haired Slytherin Potions master. "Excuse me Harry. I'll be back in a few minutes."
"I'll come with you." Harry hurled himself after her only to have her glare back at him.
"No thank you. I can do fine myself." She said as she stormed away from him and Malfoy.
"Perhaps I'll accompany her." Draco stated as he walked after her. Harry was about to follow when someone grabbed his shoulder. He looked down upon a small third year student. "Yes?"
"Professor Potter, can you please help me with something?" The little boy tugged at his sleeve.
Harry gave one more withering look after Draco who was walking next to Hermione before nodding and following the third year. "Yes, just show me what you need help with."
Somewhere down the hall, Draco was still pleading with Hermione, something he did not usually do with anyone except Ginny. "Hermione, please listen!" Draco pleaded with her.
"I will not listen to anymore of your rubbish!" Hermione spat as she continued hurriedly down the corridor.
"Wait!" He grabbed her hand. Hermione jolted as she stopped abruptly, Draco running straight into her. He staggered back a bit, trying to avoid contact with her body as it had caused some unexplainable happenings during their last encounter. "Hermione, we have to talk."
"I don't want to talk! Neither of us can explain what occurred back there, and I don't feel like getting caught with you out here!" Hermione wretched away from Draco's pressured grasp. "Excuse me Professor Malfoy. I must be somewhere."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ginny Weasley wandered the halls of Hogwarts in search of Ron, her older brother. They were all staying at the school until Christmas break was over. Ginny decided to do an article on the amazing Christmases children had at Hogwarts to show how safe the school had become with the defeat of Voldemort 4 years ago. Harry, Ron, Draco, Serverus, and many other Hogwarts professors had fought bravely and were now retired. Ginny found that doing an article on the new generation of Professors could help with her career, for at the present time, their was nothing interesting to write about. She brushed her rich auburn hair back as it had been blocking her vision. She sighed as she found the Gryffindor common room empty: no Ron. 'Looks like I'm going to be bored again this afternoon.' She thought to go to Hogsmeade, briefly, but then remembered Draco, Hermione, Lavender and Harry would surely be there buying supplies for their classes. Professor only received trips such as this during break times, which was fun, if you were all friends. But as far as Ginny knew, they might as well all go alone, for she had noticed that Hermione was quiet the recluse nowadays.
Harry seemed more distant than usual and even Hermione had ignored him, which appeared to affect Harry more than Hermione noticed. Other than that, Harry was rather quiet and inhibited. Lavender was too busy reading books, forgetting her fashion life for once, and paying too much attention to Ron and her students, which Ginny didn't find particularly disturbing, but odd. Draco. Ginny had to admit that her fiancée had been acting strangely lately, always out till ungodly hours, keeping a less clean living style, and usually always in the Gryffindor tower. Once time, she had seen him hanging around the Transfiguration classroom till class was dismissed. He had gone in and come out right after, his silver-gray eyes looking perturbed and distraught. Not too long afterwards, Hermione came out in tears, her cheeks stained and her eyes slightly red. Ginny wanted to comfort her, but she would have startled Hermione. She kept away. 'Something is definitely going on!' She thought as she heard voices from the Great hall.
"Harry, nothing is going on!" Hermione yelled at her friend. "How could you even suspect something like that?"
"Well, what am I supposed to think?" Harry bellowed back. "You didn't tell him to leave!"
"You're acting very childish, Harry!" Hermione said, her eyes furious as she glared at Harry. "Besides, what would I want with him? He's the one bothering me!"
"It doesn't seem like you're making any attempts to ward him off!" Harry muttered.
"I…" Hermione stuttered before her eyes began to tear slightly and she turned to run. Harry reached out for her, but she fled, leaving he and Ginny alone in the empty Great Hall.
"What happened here?" Ginny asked as she took a seat next to Harry who was rubbing his temples. "You guys seemed awfully into it!
"I don't know what's wrong with her anymore." Harry sighed heavily. "She won't tell me why Malfoy keeps following her around and she won't tell him to go away. What am I supposed to think?"
"Malfoy?" Ginny's ears perked up. "What do you mean he's following he around?"
Harry retold the Malfoy incident from earlier that day. When he was done, Ginny's ears were a bright red while her eyes were prepared to kill. 'Is he cheating on me?' Without another word, Ginny excused herself leaving Harry baffled for the second time that day. He scratched his head. 'Am I missing something?' As he made his way out of the empty Hall, he ran straight into his least favorite person at the moment. His look of anger told Draco that he should keep going, but being who he was, he stayed and started his slow torment. Harry could only take so much if it today, he figured, as he tried to ignore that Draco was staring at him with that smirk that Harry wanted to punch of his perfect face. 'Too bad he doesn't wear glasses or that would hurt!' Harry thought bitterly but then remembered that he also no longer wore his glasses. He curled his fist ready to strike, waiting for the perfect moment where Draco would slip and say something really stupid. And he did.
"Seems like Granger doesn't feel the same way you do, eh Potter? Is that what has got your knickers in a twist?" Draco chuckled menacingly.
"That's it!" Harry yelled as he lunged at Draco who stumbled back in surprise, but not time as Harry's fist crashed onto his face. Draco counter-attacked quickly, bringing his foot down on Harry's arm and punching him in the face as well.
"FUCK POTTER! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Draco roared as he cradled his bruising jaw while blood spurted from his broken nose.
"YOU'RE MY FUCKIN PROBLEM!" Harry shouted as he rubbed his broken arm and bruised black eye. "I WARNED YOU MALFOY!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Both men looked towards the entrance way of the Great Hall only to see Lavender staring at them, aghast, with first year students huddled behind her, all of them peering at their professors in surprise. Lavender looked ready to kill as she waved her finger at them. "Really now! What kind of examples are you two being to our students? Off with you now! You're lucky the Headmaster is busy right now or I would report you! Now go away so I may teach!"
As Draco and Harry made their way out of the Hall, each cradling his own wound, they began to laugh. "Is she becoming more like Granger everyday or is it just me?" Draco questioned with amusement.
"Nope, she's becoming like Hermione." Harry laughed as they headed towards the hospital wing.
They were almost there when Draco stopped dead in his tracks. "DO you see that Potter?"
"Yes." Harry answered plainly as figures sprang up before his very eyes.
A woman with long flowing brown hair sat at a vanity with a strange mirror in front of her. She was whispering very haunting word to the piece of glass. When done, she turned around. Harry gasped audibly. 'Hermione?' Her brown eyes burned with hatred as she stared down at the bed, pulling back the covers to reveal a very pale-skinned man with silver hair sleeping peacefully. Draco almost choked as did Harry. 'Draco?' The woman leaned over and planted a soft kiss on the man's lips before reaching behind her back. Both men cried out as they saw the glint of silver in the moonlight. But before she could plunge it into him, she appeared to have heard something as she quickly hid the knife. She backed into the shadows as a young woman, dressed in a flowing gold gown ran to the bed, her black hair concealing her face as she reached over and shook the man awake. He arose, his gray eyes half closed before whispering the woman's name.
"Astarte? My love, what are you doing here? Should Isis find out that you are here…" He trailed as Astarte looked up. Her face was covered with tears and blood from her dripping cheek. He brought her to his embrace. "Astarte, love, please tell me what has happened?"
"I cannot do this anymore." Astarte sobbed onto his shoulder. "Why must we hide our love?"
"You know very well the consequences." The man said.
"I know them well, but I no longer care. Just to see you, I must risk my life everyday! I have no more family for Anat has left me and I am alone. Pleas, love, just tell her already!"
"I cannot." He said as he stood to look out the window. "I love Isis, not like I love you, but I cannot hurt her."
"But you are to be wed in two weeks time. To reveal this to her then would devastate her more." Astarte said with understanding. She knew how it felt to be left at the altar. It tore her apart once; she would not let it happen to anyone else, even if it was her enemy. "Believe me, I know."
"Astarte, I will tell her tomorrow." He said as he kissed Astarte.
"You will do no such thing!"
"ISIS!" The man said in shock. Astarte hid behind her lover, afraid of Isis's wrath. "I can explain!"
"No need to! I have been here long enough to hear what I needed to hear! I did suspect this was happening, but now you have confirmed it for me!" Isis spat bitterly at him. "You lied to me! You never loved me! You are in love with that…that wench! But she will die now!"
"ISIS NO!" The man yelled in desperation.
"OSIRIS!" Astarte's deafening scream lifted in the air as it pierced everything around them.
"ASTARTE!"
"What was that about?" Draco asked as the image disappeared before their eyes.
"I don't know, but something tells me we are about to find out something very vital." Harry said as they continued to the hospital wing, shaken but otherwise functional.
^TBC^
(Ok, I admit that the ending was a bit sudden and rather odd, but don't worry. The plot will become clearer in every chapter and you will get an idea of the characters, believe me. I won't leave you hanging to long. Well, I hope you enjoyed that chapter! Please R&R! Bye for now!) ^. ~
^AgentBloodRayne^