Chapter Six: Embrace

Hermione swayed back and forth licking her lips closing her eyes in ecstasy. The metallic taste of blood was on her toung, he body heating from the warm blood that rushed through her veins. Her kill at her feet, but she didn't notice as she swayed to music that had begun to play in her head. Classical music, she didn't know who the composer was, neither did she care. She started to hum it and began to dance a weird drunken dance, if anyone were to walk into the hall way she was standing in would think she was crazy.

"Does it always feel like this?" She asked no one in particular since she was alone, or at least she thought she was.

"It's different for everyone, pet, but it could be if you like the thrill of killing." Came Spike's voice from somewhere on her left. She opened her eyes an insane glint in them a smile forming on her lips, a deep shade of red from the blood she just drank.

"Spike, it's been a while. How have you been?" She said dancing her crazy little dance towards him taking up her humming again closing her eyes. He stared at her in awe at how much she was acting like Drusilla.

"You remind me of someone." He said snorting at their comparison.

"I bet I know who. Is it Drew?" She replied, taking his hands to have him join her in her little dance. He joined her taking lead in a different dance of his own going in step to the tune she was humming. Hermione opened her eyes to look at him again her head swaying from side to side.

"So where's Seth? I thought you two were together?"

"He may be my sire, but that doesn't mean I have to be with him always. To tell you the truth I really don't fancy him much." She said before humming that last few notes of the song, but they dance continued down the hall.

"If you dislike him so much then why did you sleep with him?" Hermione pulled away from him abruptly her anger glinting in her eyes.

"Did he tell you that little tid-bit?" She asked through gritted teeth, clenching and unclenching her fists. "Does he tell you everything that goes on in his pathetic life?"

"He does, just not everything. And why are you so angry about it? Was he not as good as you thought he would be? Just because he's had a lot of experience doesn't always mean he's the best you know." Spike answered in a way that put on he was trying to protect Seth.

"Oh, trying to protect the little worm now are you?" She had no idea why she was mad at Spike; she was in reality mad at herself for being weak and falling for Seth's charm. Or if that's what you can call charm, talking about some kind of prophecy and all that crap. Like there was some kind of prophecy, and about her of all people! That was something she refused to believe.

"At times I guess I do try. He does do some very stupid things. I do admit he does, but he does have a good taste though if I do say so my self." Spike answered leisurely, tilting his head back to the side. Great so now she was an object, a piece of furniture. Hermione glared at him before storming off towards the door.

"Where are you going? I was hoping we could talk some more!" Spike called after her.

"I am going back to Hogwarts, it was nice talking to you Spike, really it was. Hopefully we can do it again some time. Good-bye!" She said turning slightly towards him before opening the door and slamming it shut behind her. She released her molecules and floated up into the air catching a breeze that would take her into the direction of Hogwarts. As she floated away she thought back to the night she slept with Seth. The reason was, it was her first time to drink human blood and she got high off the thrill of killing and the warmth of the human blood was intoxicating.

She whished she could stay like this forever, it felt so good just floating around not having any weight at all. Not having a care in the world. She touched down reluctantly on the astronomy tower and looked up at the night sky. It was very clear tonight, one could see anything and everything at this moment. She released her molecules again and floated down the side of the tower. She moved along lazily to the Gryffindor tower and slipped in through a crack under the boy's dorms window. It wasn't that late, only one or two, three at the latest, and yet all the boys were sleeping soundly. Her eyes scanned for Harry and Ron's beds and found them quickly. Her feet tred softly as she walked to stand in-between the two beds. She sat down softly on the edge of Harry's bed and watched him sleep. He looked different sleep, as all people do, but he looked just so angelic she had to hold back with all her self control not to turn him and ruin his angelic sleep. Make him the demon she was cursed to be. Her hand reached out ignoring all her bodies' restraints and touched his cheek lightly, brushing his hair lightly tangling a strand around her index finger lightly before letting her finger fall down the side of his face softly just barely touching his soft skin. Her finger made its way down to the crook of his neck that was being exposed quite nicely and made a small gash placing the pad of her finger over the wound so that the precious blood wouldn't drip anywhere. She moved her head down towards his neck licking her lips as she removed the finger from the gash.

"I'm sorry Harry." She whispered just before placing her lips over the gash and sucking in some of his warm blood. Something moved behind her and her head snapped up, her hand snapped up to her lips and wiped away a drop of blood that had begun to drip from the side of her mouth. It wasn't safe to linger here anymore so she bent her head down again rolling some saliva around in her mouth and licked the wound clean and watched as it closed up leaving behind a small scare. She stood and made her way quickly out of the room before anyone could see her if they were to wake while she was feeding. She stood in the grand Gryffindor common room and inhaled deeply taking in its familiar sent. She couldn't linger here, no matter how much she wanted to she couldn't. Ever since she was switched to Slytherin she was forbidden to set foot into the Gryffindor tower. She walked over to the door pushed it open and climbed out shutting it softly behind her. Releasing her molecules yet again she zipped through the hall ways down into the dungeons and to the entrance of the Slytherin common room. She slipped between the cracks not bothering to regain her form until she was in her bedroom.

"And where have you been Hermione?" Came Seth's voice from somewhere behind her.

"Be gone Seth, I banish you from the Hogwarts grounds. You are not to set foot here ever again do you understand?" She said bitterly turning to face him. If looks could kill he would be a pile of ash.

"Why are you doing this? I made you what you are, and you push me away like I'm trash?" he asked standing anger starting to kindle inside of him. He walked over to her but she pushed him back with a mental barricade.

"I never wanted to become this. I took my ageing as a gift to know that I would live a good life, and then die old and wrinkled. I NEVER wanted to live forever! I never wanted to live off of everyone else's blood; they die so that I can live. You destroyed me! I have a right to be angry!" She yelled her nails digging into her palms causing little rivers of blood to flow down her fingers and drip onto the stone floor. Her words hit Seth sharply and if they could they would have left large blood gushing gashes all over his body. He was speechless and knowing her she would tear him to pieces if he stayed any longer, so he left. Hermione's breath was coming ragged and she collapsed to the floor week and drained. She licked the blood off her hands and watched he small half circles vanish back into her palms from whence they came. She almost felt relieved when she felt Seth leave, he couldn't do anymore damage here. He couldn't turn another girl into the demon that now plagued her. She rolled her neck and shoulders trying to loose the tension that had been building there for the past few hours that she had been hunting. In a strange way she had a sense of property over Hogwarts, she felt obligated to protect the grounds from other vampires. This was her hunting ground and no one was going to take it away from her.

SSSSSSS

"Ron, come have a look at this!" Harry called from the bathroom. He stood in front of the mirror a towel wrapped tightly around his waist. He had taken a shower that morning only to find, when he looked in the mirror afterward, a new scar that had seemingly appeared over night. He knew of all the scars that were on his body, he remembered how he got them and in what month he had received it. He was so taken up by the mystery scare that he hadn't bothered to continue drying his body so he was still dripping from the shower he had taken only five minutes ago.

"What is it?" Ron asked entering the bathroom still clad in his Pj's. "This better be good because I would have liked to have gotten a few more Z's in." He complained walking over to the row of sinks rubbing his eyes groggily. Harry glared at him using the mirror to shot his glare rather then turning around before continuing to examine the scar.

"This scar, I've never seen it before. Do you know where it came from?" Harry asked moving to stand at an angle so the Ron could see it.

"I haven't seen it before. And why would I know where it came from? It's not like I keep a record of all your scratches." Ron answered in a grumpy voice. Harry sighed knowing this conversation wouldn't be leading him anywhere near to the revealing of where this scare had come from.

"Well thanks for your help Ron. Now go get ready for breakfast, it'll be starting in a half hour." Harry said grabbing another towel so he could finish drying himself.

"Yes mother." Ron answered with a sigh as he left the bathroom and reentered the dorm room.

SSSSSSSSS

"Hermione! Hermione are you in there! I'm coming in on the count of five!" Draco yelled through the door pounding it every so often. Hermione groaned lifting her head slightly before letting it drop again. She squinted her eyes and opened them tugging her right arm out from under her and rubbed either side of the bridge of her nose wondering why her bed was so hard.

"…One…"

She let out another groan realizing that she had fallen asleep on the floor right by the foot of her bed. She sat up slowly cradling her head, how long had she been asleep?

"…Two…"

Why was Draco being such a nuisance this morning? Did something happen? Was Dumbledore looking for her? Did he find out that she had stolen some of Harry's blood last night?

"…Three…"

Now wasn't the time for questions. She was hungry and needed some food. But first she had to get up and change her cloths because she was still wearing the same cloths from last night.

"…Four…"

She thought back to last night as she stood up slowly rolling her shoulders to shake away the stiffness. Why had she done what she did to Harry? Urges she had never felt before were coming to the surface. She was loosing control of her blood lust, she had gone to long without human blood and now it was coming back to bite her.

"…Five…alright I'm coming in!" Draco yelled before storming into her room only to find that she wasn't there. He stepped into the room cautiously his eyes taking in everything, like he had been trained, so he would be able to see everything incase there was a sudden attack.

"Were you looking for me Draco?" Came Hermione's voice from behind him. It was cold, empty, detached from what it usually sounded like. He turned slowly to face her and took in how different she looked. She was unstable; she had finally lost control like he knew she would.

"I have, breakfast is going to start soon." He answered coolly. "Oh, and Dumbledore wanted me to give you this." He lied, taking out a small bottle that he had filled with human blood so she would be in control for the day. He tossed her the bottle; she grabbed it without taking her eyes off of his and drank. She knew the instant the blood touched her tongue that it was human. She chugged the bottle a small smile grazing over her lips as she slowly gained control of herself and placed the bottle down on the side table that was by the door.

"Dumbledore didn't give you that. He wouldn't give me human blood even if his life depended on it. So, whose blood is it?" Hermione questioned, not taking her eyes off him, pinning him to where he stood on.

"Well, today it was mine. But next time I don't think it'll be mine."

"Oh, so there's a next time?"

"Yes."

"Good."

SSSSSSSS

Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall and by habit their eyes scanned for Hermione only to have the sad news slap them in the face again that she wasn't in Gryffindor anymore. They sighed in unison and walked to the Gryffindor table taking their normal seats that faced the Slytherin table. There was a scroll sitting on Harry plate, almost as if it knew he would be sitting there and was just waiting for him to come. He picked it up and pulled the blood red silk ribbon loose unraveling the parchment.

'Dear Mr. Potter,

I know who and what gave you that scare. Meet me in the Quidditch pitch after your last class. I'll be waiting.'

Harry frowned at the letter and handed it to Ron so he could read it and put in some input as to who might have sent it. He felt eyes upon him and looked up to see Hermione staring at him. She was talking to Malfoy but her eyes weren't on him they were on Harry. After about ten seconds she caught Harry's gaze on her and her eyes turned back to Malfoy and small smile forming on her red lips.

SSSSSS

Hermione sighed out of boredom as she sat in her dark corner in transfiguration. She propped her head up with her hand closing her eyes and sighing again. McGonagall was reviewing some sort of spell that she already knew since 3rd year, but since no one else really bothered to study they had to review it. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling. She was exhausted. Last night was draining. She didn't do much but it was the fact that she only got three hours of sleep weighed down on her. A folded up piece of parchment bounced into her line of vision and rolled to a stop right in the center of her desk. She stared at it for the longest time not registering that it was a note from Harry to her. She shook her head gathering her thoughts and picked it up. She knew it was Harry just by the smell he had left on the parchment. The so familiar scent of his musky cologne that he wore lightly sprayed over his body every morning. The scent that she had grown to love, the scent that used to drive her crazy with longing when they had started dating that summer of 6th year. She unfolded it and read the scrawled handwriting a small smile grazing her lips.

'Hi 'Mione, how are you? It's been a while.' She picked up her quill and scribbled her answer before tossing it gently back to him.

'Hey Harry, I'm fine but I've been better how are you? Yeah it has been a while too long. What have you been up to lately? When is Quidditch going to be starting up?'

'I'm fine as well. I haven't been doing anything lately and the Gryffindor common room is emptier without you. Quidditch is going to be starting this Friday, come to tryouts and watch or something it's way too long since we've hung out.' Hermione nodded her answer to Harry, who was watching her every move since he had last tossed her the note. A small smile grazed her lips as she checked her charmed watch and held out her left hand, hidden by the desk but so Harry could see it. Her fingers extended out to show the number 5 and started a countdown. 5…4…3…2…1. The bell sounded and she sprang to her feet rushing out of the room. She stopped just to the left of the door and waited for Draco; closing her eyes she rubbed them vigorously. The sun had been irritating them lately, she knew from her reading that as she grew stronger the irritation would become greater, but that also meant that she could walk around freely during the day with out her heavy cloak covering her. She caught sight of Draco's fair haired head as it made its way down the hall way, and moved to stand next to him as they walked to the stairs to make their way down the castle to the dungeons for potions.

"You alright Hermione?" Draco asked suddenly when he noticed her rubbing her eyes for about the fifth time in the last few moments.

"My eyes are getting irritated by the sun that's all, I'm fine." She answered absently, brushing off his question easily. Draco raised a pale eyebrow at her answer but didn't comment.

SSSSSSSSS

The pale moon rose slowly over the dark silhouette of the forbidden forest, its luminescent glow giving everything it touched a ghostly appearance. Hermione sat, knees hugged to her chest, on the edge of the Astronomy Tower gazing out over the sprawling grounds. She heaved a long sigh letting her legs dangle over the edge of the tower allowing the breeze to blow freely over her body. She was supposed to have met Harry over an hour ago; he was still waiting for her though. He always will be. Hawk-eyes watched his pin point of a body pace around the Quidditch pitch his mumbling catching the breeze so that she caught wisps of it as the breeze blew through her hair. Taking up an unfamiliar tune she began to hum her voice catching in the breeze taking her song up into the heavens. She twirled once keeping herself balanced on the edge before twirling herself straight off it falling silently and quickly a few stories before vanishing into shadow. She collected her self in the row closest to the pitch on one of the many bleachers keeping a sharp eye on Harry as she sat swinging her legs over the edge leaning on her knees.

"Hello Harry." She whispered into the wind letting it carry her voice down to him where he stopped and looked up to lock eyes with her. She watched him visibly shiver as he stared into her unforgiving eyes.

"Hermione." He whispered his voice barely audible. Hermione let out a breath that showed white in the cooling air of the evening. Leaning forward she let her self fall the fifty feet to the ground landing in a crouch and rising with the stealth of a cat she stalked over to where Harry stood frozen. Fear leeched off his body as he felt her icy aura emit in crashing waves around her suffocating him. Gasping for fresh air Harry took a step back a hand rushing to his throat.

"Something wrong Harry? You look ill." Hermione said in a cold voice. Harry shook his head violently, this couldn't have been the Hermione he had come to love. His Hermione didn't sound so cruel.

"What happened to 'Mione? You sound so different from before." Harry said his eyes pleading with her to go back to how she used to be. Hermione stopped moving forward leaned her head back and laughed a cold gut-wrenching laugh. Harry took another step back to find himself pinned against one of the bleacher walls. She didn't answer except continued to move forward until she had him bodily pinned to the wall.

"I'm embracing my true self."