Once again the disclaimer:  I bow in awe of J.K. Rowling genius.  All characters and things in the Harry Potter world are hers. Please do not sue me.  I make no money and you would undoubted piss readers off if you delay in continuing the saga as we anxiously await your next book.  I have cited other fan fiction articles which have inspired me to incorporate their ideas in this story as well.  I encourage you to read them.  Please read and review. Thanks~ Leyna

Chapter 21:    Antone's

Snape arrived at her apartment to find Hermione deep in thought in her favorite chair. She held a mug of hot tea, acting out the ritual of stealing it's warmth through her fingertips which comforted her. Classical music carries throughout the flat.

"Handel." He approved.

She nodded. "Second movement of Concerto Grosso in B-flat major. The oboes have a wonderful sound don't you think?"

Hermione breathed deeply and removed herself from the chair and turned down the volume.

"What you did today was remarkable. How did you fight the serum?" Snape asked.

She smiled. "Magic." He smiled and shook his head at the cliché. "When you taught me Occlumency, I learned a great deal more than I bargained for. It was helpful to say the least. I only barely escaped telling that shrew Fudge what I really think of him."

"Now that's something I would've paid to see."  You haven't answered my question Miss Granger…

"I can't figure out how they knew it was me. Narcissa didn't see me, and I doubt Lucius has been conscious enough."

And now you're changing the topic.  "It doesn't matter. They can't do anything. Fudge's hands are tied, especially now that you managed to incriminate Malfoy in the process of their attempting to prosecute you. Are you sure the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor?" His lips curled in admiration.

"Slytherin's haven't entirely cornered the market on subterfuge."

"Obviously. I think perhaps Grumple and Fudge would try to force you into a trial of another sort like you had mentioned before.  I think it's entirely possible Grumple orchestrated this to evict you from your post without mentioning the shoddy ingredients."

She sighed deeply, she didn't want to think about that distraction right now.  She should really meditate on Grumple and his henchmen, try to get a lead.  "You're probably right of course."

Of course I'm right.  He looked at her seriously.

"My you're sure of yourself."

"I thought you didn't read personal thoughts," he said in a brusque tone.

"It's too easy when your thoughts scream at me in that tone of voice."

Snape snorted.  He had all kind of tones, ones that made most of his students run screaming from his classroom.  "I thought you'd be hard at work here. I just came to pick up some notes."

"Well," she said offering Snape a cup of tea, "I was until the Ministry called me away. Come see."

They muttered the password to the bookcase and it swung open. Snape's jaw went slack as he noticed all of the handwriting hanging in mid air. Hermione noted the book, open on the table and went quickly to retrieve it. Snape saw it only as blank parchment. There was a seal on the cover she wished hidden, she wasn't ready to reveal her secret yet.

"What have you done here? I meant to ask you about the rather impressive array of blood products you have in your storeroom…"

She shook her finger at him. "Not quite yet." He smiled at her. Very well, Miss Granger.

"You…are isolating some metal compounds in the blood and removing them." He thought aloud, evaluating the research before him. "Silver compounds for werewolves. Assessments of hormone levels…hmmm…a reflection of the effects on sunlight vs. moonlight on a persons blood? What's the dirt for?"

She smiled. They'd get to talk about elemental magic tonight. Later. She decided for a coy approach, "I'm sorry, I remember something about Italian food?"

"Shame on you. I'm a scientist, and as a fellow researcher you should indulge me."

Don't think about indulging. Thank God he can't read minds.  "I'm hungry, I need to indulge. I have two hours to get ready. We can talk over dinner." She turned on her heel and exited the lab. He had been dismissed.

This is going well, he thought.

Snape left to get dressed and for once found himself fussing over his choice of clothing. After seeing Hermione at Soulkata, his heart leapt at the thought of what she might wear. He showered and shaved and looked at his weathered body. He looked old. Too old for a girl of such beauty. But Hermione wasn't a girl anymore and she evidently could make her own choices. He wasn't unattractive though his body was a road map of scars left from one too many curses. The pendant on his chest warmed a bit and he tried to remove it, not wanting the distraction. At first it fought with him and then with some pressure the clasp released.

Hermione smiled in her own bathtub as she recognized the meaning behind his action. He still doesn't know.

He reached for a fine Italian suit, black. A dark red shirt with no tie. Severus felt a bit naked without the serpent guarding him. He looked at the pendant again and decided to make his way to Hermione's flat.

She slipped on the black dress which Jake had commented on earlier. It hugged her body in a not unflattering way. She wore beautiful lace undergarments that he would not see, but she felt more beautiful and feminine knowing she was wearing them. Her pendant shown with a stronger glow, it was anticipating the event. A first date. God, is he ever in for a surprise. She felt a bit sorry for him as she considered the shocking news which was about to be revealed. She sadly considered the possibility of rejection as all of her ancestors before her had considered. Everyone has a choice. Perhaps this is not a step, a leap of faith that Severus of all people would be willing to make.

She would not be able to forget her premonitions, her dreams of him, the promises of a day when she could free herself from the rules and confines of her station. She might never be free. But she reminded herself, at least Remus could.

A knock on the door signaled his arrival. Picking me up at the door, a gentleman. He could've apparated, he was permitted. But this was a date of sorts, and it was her flat.

Hermione opened the red door and he…held roses.

She pressed her lips together. "Thank you, Severus. Come in. Let me put these in some water." Calm down, breathe. She turned to go to the kitchen, and pulled out a tall vase. With her back to him he again noticed her hair. It was arranged in a tied bundle at the back of her neck, wrapped in a black velvet ribbon than wove in and out of her curls.

"You look lovely tonight." She was breathtaking, and he could hardly refrain from complementing her. As she arranged the flowers he studied her frame. Tall heels raised her height a bit, making her legs appear longer. There was a low slung back on the elegant black dress revealing the gentle curve of her spine. The hem was asymmetrical. He approved. What did wizards know about fashion anyway?

She looked up at him and smiled her thank you. She grabbed her coat. "Shall we?" She didn't want to complement him right after he had, but she was definitely impressed with how the stylish fashion had suited him.

Antone's was a warm and inviting place, the hosts greeting all customers as if they were old friends who'd been coming for years. Violins could be faintly heard serenading the diners. The floors were brick, and the smell of fresh bread wafted around the establishment. The waiter escorted them to their table; they stepped up into a booth on the right side of the restaurant. Severus ordered them a bottle of wine, a Riesling. Hermione appreciated the sweeter varieties of wine. As they sipped, they chatted as if they had for years about many things: food, family, music, and eventually came to their previous discussion.

"You're getting closer aren't you?" He lead.

Closer to what? I'm getting closer all right. Oh, it hot in here. "You mean to the cure? For vampirism?" she said under her breath. She discretely pulled her wand, muttered a charm and gently pulled at the curtains which hung loosely on the outside of the booth, offering a unique piece of privacy and signaling to the waiter they did not wish to be disturbed.

"I had a dream last night about Remus. One on my recent friends, he's a geneticist, we were talking recently about chemical tests and properties of blood. We talked about the effects of the moon on the tides and seasons and so on. We even speculated about stars, horoscopes and divination. Trust me, he was thrown for a loop when we veered off on that tangent. That's how I came up with the idea, of what blood products attract the vampire. What does a werewolf really desire? Besides feed his rage and animal hunger, when we eat, aren't our bodies seeking to replace some nutrient that they are missing? Women crave strange things during their pregnancies: pickles, oranges, starch, even dirt. What if we could identify those missing elements, the puzzle pieces that fit and apply them to the potion?"

"That makes sense. Idealistic, but you're managing to isolate certain compounds?"

"Yes. I think Remus's hormones change significantly when the full moon comes out. He is overwhelmed by his desires thrown out of balance by the moon's gravitational pull." Desire. The wave was building. "If we can identify which elements in his blood most strongly respond to the moon, then perhaps we can control whether or not he transforms."

She was beautiful this way, immersed in the thoughts of scientific concerns. Snape watched Hermione lean forward as she talked absorbed in the world of research, unaware how her dress had moved a bit to show a little cleavage. Severus was listening intently but a bit distracted. He shifted a bit in his seat. Hermione brought the glass of wine to her lips. Gods, everything she did was madness.

She quickly put down her glass. She breathed heavily. A remarkable sight for Severus to witness. Hermione eyes widened, and she beckoned quickly, "Draw the curtains shut." He swiftly obliged and she gripped the end of the table, unable to contain the sea of desire. She bit her lower lip, her brow furrowed and her mouth formed a low inaudible o.. The building tightening in her lower abdomen released her and she slumped a bit. Severus could almost feel the power of it reach him as it dissipated in and ever widening arc.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine now." She straightened her posture and picked up her glass as if nothing had happened.

Oh no you don't.  "Are you going to elaborate on that?"

"Not now, no," she said with a mysterious smile.

He managed to pose another question. "And what was the dirt for?"

Back to that are we? A twisted smile played about her lips. She licked her lips and sipped her wine again. She fingered the rim of her glass with her finger. It whistled a low melody as she looked at him. "Have you heard…of elemental magic?"

"I thought it was the secondary benefit, a side effect if you will, of magic performed without the aid of a wand. Like the selfless act Harry's mother performed saving him from the Dark Lord's curse. It protected him, a latent effect but a remarkably effective one."

"That is a rather limited view, yes. I imagine, there was an ancient time when wizards and witches," she spoke in a very low whisper, "performed wandless magic all of the time. I wonder when we lost that ability? My first dream I had, when I was 16. Do you remember?"

"You incanted a spell which knocked down all of the Death Eaters. What was it?"

She looked at him. "Elemental magic. I was mortified when I saw that I had no wand. I was determined to figure it out before telling anyone. Not even Harry noticed and he was there." Snape looked at her in disbelief.

"He said it was like nature had shoved them to the ground."

"A very accurate description. Elemental magic can be destructive or beautiful. It is guilty for phenomena like tornados and hurricanes, but it is also responsible for of growth of plants, the lunar cycle and the order of life.

"We are all connected: women to earth, men to water. When I was 17, I went outside to test my theory. Destruction was easy. The sheer power of it frightened me. I looked up at the moon, and it was then that the beauty of creation came to mind. So much more difficult. It required intense concentration to work with a living thing and encourage it to develop instead of forcing it selfishly to." She winced inwardly at the parallel. "I hope to teach other witches to use it, but I must admit I'm rather frightened of what it could mean. Men can also be taught. I think though, that the benefits will be worth it."

Snape thought for a moment. "You grew the wisteria. It was you, wasn't it?" He was in awe. She nodded. "Ginny mentioned something to me the night you fought Lucius. She told me not to be concerned about you."

Hermione's expression turned grave. "I edited the version of the story I told you. I reached a point of clarity during the altercation. I just…connected. And whoosh, he flew across the room into the wall. The stone floor was split like an earthquake had shaken the foundation of the house. It was horrible—terrifying to feel that powerful. I imagined it was something like what dark magic offers, what Voldemort uses to attract it's followers." Snape's face drained of color at that comment. "That feeling scared me more than Malfoy did." She finished her wine.

The waiter arrived, and pulled back the curtain to provide the check. It was getting late and they decided to take their conversation to the flat. As they exited the restaurant they walked down the street to a place where they could hail a taxi. Then she stopped put her arms out in a defensive posture and pulled Snape behind her.

"What?" He asked suddenly, "What is it?"

"Go home. Leave." Her icy tone conveyed the danger she felt.

He grabbed her upper arm and yanked her aside.  "You're crazy, I'm not leaving you." He was serious, they were on a date and she wanted him to leave her. He was no coward.

A deep voice whispered form the alleyway. "I've been waiting for you, Witch!" Severus leapt in front of her restricting her movement. He wanted to disapparate with her but it was dangerous with an unwilling person.

"Disapparate, Severus. I mean it. He's a vampire, I can handle this." She pulled her wand wriggling free from Severus' grip. Severus pulled his own wand as well which Severus knew was useless against the fiend. But two wands were better than one.

The vampire leapt at Severus and he dashed to Hermione's side attempting to shield her from his attack. "Let's go Hermione!" He muttered a dark incantation, and the words that vibrated through the air threw up a dark cloud which worried and disturbed Hermione. Come on woman! The vampires flew at him blocked only partially by the darkness. Hermione interrupted his attack.

"It's me you want isn't it?" She mocked and strode forward into the black corner. "Look at me," she said hypnotically, trying to divert his attention from Snape. Snape stood fast. She had to think quickly, he'd kill Severus without a thought. Damn you Severus.

"I bet your blood tastes sweet," he provoked her venomously. Snape felt sick but dare not move.

"You can find out," she offered silkily. She had slipped off her shoes. Snape noticed. Pricking her finger with the dagger from her cloak, she let the blood rise to the surface of her skin. In a flash the vampire struck, flying down upon her with desire and malice.

"Earth."  She chanted low and he slammed against the far wall held in place by her will and an outstretched hand.

The vampire was enraged. "Bitch!"

"Not like you'd think." The beast was paralyzed as she wiped the blood on his hand; he immediately brought the finger hungrily to his lips. A mistake. He collapsed and transformed into the remembrance of the mortal man he had been before he was made.

"What the hell? Hermione! GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Severus bellowed.

"Oh my God! What have you done? Who are you?" The blood burned through the vampire's veins.

"What is your name?" she inquired with care. Hermione reached down cautiously and helped the now powerless man to his feet.

"Nick Wagner."

"Nick, I will try to help you. But not today. You should enjoy this freedom you have for a little while. I expect you might tolerate the rising sun if time permits." Her look conveyed the honesty in her words and he could barely acknowledge her. "Do not approach me again. I will be the one to seek you out. Otherwise, I cannot be held responsible for the outcome."

She left with a livid Snape to the cab. He said nothing until they reached the den.

"You do have a long story don't you? Have you already solved it, are you just stringing me along?" He was enraged, sounding more like the acidic Potions Master she knew from school. She had totally disregarded him earlier and he was fuming.

"I'm sorry I stole your opportunity at chivalry, but once you hear a bit more perhaps you'll forgive me?"

He mumbled something which sounded like a slur.

She walked to the lab and he followed. She sighed and shook her head. "Of course, I haven't solved it." Hermione opened the cabinet of keys, removing the very beautiful one and it's companion. He looked at her in the lab light revealing every curve of her arm and leg as she unlocked the door and walked ahead of him to the end of the corridor. He walked past the point where he had previously as the heavy pressure that was pushing him groaned and released him. She opened the antique cabinet with ease and withdrew a vial of blood. She left the closet and returned to the lab. He watched carefully as she used a fine glass tube to remove two drops of reddish black liquid from it and placed them in an empty pewter cauldron. She returned to the storeroom and returned the vial. Odd that she was taking these extra steps.

She used a sticking charm on the cauldron and went to retrieve something from the far left closet. She pulled the container which read "Das Blut Die Vampir" The cauldron began to shake as she walked closer to the cauldron. She took a unusually long clean glass dropper and pulled some blood from the jar. She asked Severus to return the jar to the closet, which he did.

"Now, stand back." She reached out with the dropper at arms length, having to push as she did so. He watched the spectacle as the substances refused each other. She let the blood fall and the when the gravity pulled the drops together the cauldron contained a small explosion.

"That was with only two drops of blood each." She lectured. She turned to him and sighed. "I can't solve this problem by myself. Look at that. Now if you think that's difficult, imagine me trying to find a cure on my own without your help?"

He was still angry. But this seemed a good enough apology for the moment. "What potion was in that cabinet? Whose blood?"

She smiled at him and he followed her at her suggestion into the den. She poured the tranquility tea and she selected which portions of the story she felt able to tell. There was still tomorrow to consider.

"I was adopted. My mother told me at the end of the summer, when I started meditation. I kind of figured it out. That book, at Flourish and Blotts. It was important. It held the key to my family tree, and their work. My family has been fighting the war against vampires and other dark creatures for generations. I never knew what that might mean, but ever since then I've sought out a cure. A rather different approach than my ancestors before me took I might add. That blood, if you must know, belonged to my mother. And she was not a vampire," she added with a flare of her hazel-green eyes. She had leaned back in the couch with her legs crossed. She sipped her drink innocently. Anything but.

He laughed at the absurdity of it, but she was serious. "I didn't think you were a vampire."

"Good, 'cause I won't bite." Much.

Oh, you mischievous sprite. "I do have a question."  Or two… or twenty.

"Fire away." She leaned forward again, intrigued.

"Who was that man who came to the school that evening? I could hardly believe you had left the school." Wearing that dress.

Boy, he was the clever one, putting all of the pieces together.

"He was the person who knew my mother and was able to tell me more about my family than my adopted parents. Mr. McLeod bought the book from the bookstore, the one that explained my family tree, which gave me the clues that are helping us to solve the vampire and lycanthropy problem." She paused and drank her tea which had cooled.

She sighed. "It's late. Thank you for a wonderful evening. I haven't said so, but you look very dashing in that." She took his lapel and straightened it unnecessarily. Her voice was warm and her eyes twinkled at him. They stood at the door, and she kissed him tenderly on the cheek.

"We're not done with this conservation are we?" Snape stated silkily.

"I certainly hope not. I have a few questions for you." She baited.

"Goodnight, Hermione." He squeezed her hand.

"Goodnight, Severus."

She could barely suppress a squeal as she shut the door. She hoped she had read his body language accurately. She loved him. She longed for the sweet dreams that would follow, eager for the mist…

Author's Notes:

Ok.  Almost done!  Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

Once again you can read an excellent fanfic which also makes references to elemental magic by reading Hinge of Fate, by Ramos 004 also on www.fanfiction.net