Summary: Hermione graduated from Hogwarts 2 years ago and is now twenty. War rages on and she builds barriers around her heart.
Genre: Angst/Romance Rating: Mature/Lemon Warnings: This is very OOC. If you want the characters just the way they are in the book, stop now and click on the back button. This is also AU. If you do not like it, do not read it! Now for those who want to, enjoy!
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I Don't Believe In Love
Chapter Sixteen: Vampire Moon
'Hermione.' Severus sighed. He was very depressed these days. It has only been a week and a half since Hermione left for Durmstrang, and he felt as is she were gone forever. Every night, he would pass the courtyard, and he would see them together, safe in each other's embrace, whispering words of affection, gazing into the sky and the stars. But now this. Oh how he wished to feel her warmth again.
During daytime, he would be harsher to the students. Every one of them felt his wrath. Slytherin, his own house did not escape. Albus, along with the other staff members would try their best to award the points he took away. However, the numbers on the house hourglasses were rapidly declining.
He continued 'spying' on Lupin. Sometimes, they would arrange conversations where he seemed to gain information, but instead, it was misleading.
On his free time, he would lock himself up in his quarters. Oh how he could not wait for the next two and a half weeks to end. 'Hermione.'
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Hermione was not doing any better either. She missed Hogwarts and Severus. She rarely slept and she already finished reading half of the Durmstrang library. 'If I continue at this rate, I will be home a week earlier than expected.'
She looked outside through a small window. 'Hmm. A vampire moon. I have to be careful.' Hermione decided that it was already late. She closed the book and left the library. The eerily, dark, and quiet hallways of Durmstrang never failed to creep her out. Goosebumps began to appear on her skin.
Thankfully, she reached the door without harm befalling her way. 'Strange, where could Salazar be?' Over the past week, the two have formed a friendship of sorts. He would ensure that no harm would befall her while she stood on Durmstrang grounds. Apparently, Durmstrang has anti-apparition wards as well. Every night, she would apparate to a near muggle town, where she rented a room.
She walked alone, the cold winds, her company.
Suddenly, something caught her eye. It was a black bundle. 'Strange.' She ventured towards the bundle, and gasped. It was a man, huddled in fetal position. Occasionally, he would growl lightly.
"Excuse me. Are you alright?" She took a hesitant step forward. "Hello?" She tried again.
The man's head snapped up, and for the second time that night, she gasped. "Salazar! What happened?" Only when his mouth opened did she notice the long protruding fangs.
"Don't come any closer." He gruffly commanded. She took another step forward. His eyes were menacing. It was as if he was half resisting, and half submitting to something. Eventually, fatigue overcame him, and he fainted.
Hermione did not know what to do. He was a vampire. He could attack her immediately. On the other hand, he was needy. She took a deep breath, and composed herself. She had to treat him.
She cast 'mobilicorpus' on him, and continued to walk faster. She slung an arm around his, and apparated.
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The alley was dark. She cast a disillusionment charm on him, and used wandless 'mobilicorpus' on him. She just hoped no one would notice his outline.
Luckily, she met no one on the way to the rooms except for the information person, and she was too busy reading to care.
"Finite Incantatem." She dropped him on the couch. After some time, he stirred.
"Where am I?" He squinted.
"A rented apartment." She answered.
"Why did you bring me here? The vampire moon is not yet over."
"Well, forgive me for trying to help." She snapped. 'Ungrateful sod.'
"I am sorry; I did not mean it that way..." He fell asleep.
Hermione sighed. 'Well, I have to wait till morning.'
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Hermione watched Salazar, when he began to stir. He looked at her in confusion, before a look of understanding crossed his eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. What happened?" She wanted answers, no, she needed them.
He gulped and took a deep breath before speaking. "I resisted the urge to feed. I have tried and succeeded for a few years now."
"Years? It is a miracle you are still alive. Why did you stop feeding?" He looked uneasy. It was private after all, but he did not wish to seem ungrateful.
"The last person I fed from was a person who was very dear to me. She was my betrothed. It was a vampire moon that night. She knew of course. I did not find anyone to feed on that night. I promised her earlier, that she will be safe from me, but when I went home hungry that night," He gulped again. "She stood there, and told me to feed on her. She knew that if I did not, I would die. I betrayed her." He shook a little. "She offered herself, and I took her without hesitation. Her last words to ma were "Live. My love for you will last forever." And I took her last drop of blood. That was my last feeding. I did not die even though I abstained from blood." He finished his story. Sadness was etched in every corner and crease of his face. "We were to be married in a month."
"Then keep to mind her last words to you. Live. And you shall, for her." Determined and challenging, Hermione stared at him straight in the eyes.
Determination blazed within him. "I will, for her. Thank you." Hermione smiled in return. 'Perhaps he has some information.'
"Salazar, tell me, do you know of a widespread cruciatus curse?" He looked puzzled, and then answered.
"There is no such thing. I assure you. I cannot tell you haw I know, but I know that there is no such thing." Hermione felt relieved that there really was no curse.
"Thank you for the information." She smiled again. She would come home today.
"I am forever in your debt." He took out a chain, and a pendant. The pendant was gold. It was a circle, with a star in the middle. "The word will be 'Vampire's debt'. Touch the pendant, and say the word."
"Thank you." She said. Then an idea popped in her head, and her eyes lit up. "You may have to pay the debt earlier..."
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Severus was sitting behind his desk, correcting essays when someone knocked.
"Enter." He did not bother looking up.
"Hi Severus. I just wanted to give the unused stones back." His head snapped up.
"Auriga. Forgive me; I thought it was a student." She placed the stones on his desk and sat on a chair.
"Do you remember when Nott senior walked around with his robes up?" He smirked.
"Oh yes. He always walked so proudly. I remember that. He did not realize that his robes were caught by his underpants." Sinistra started giggling madly.
Between giggles, she said. "His underpants that were printed with waving pixies." Severus chuckled.
"Hail Nott, lord of the pixies." They burst out laughing at that.
After the laughter subsided, Sinistra leaned closer to him.
"I remember when my first year of teaching here. Do you remember those nights in bed?" Severus sobered.
"Auriga that was that past. Leave it at that." However, Sinistra would not give up.
"Don't you want it again?" Gods she was a temptress. She knew how to use her gift. She sat on his desk, pushing away the papers. "I'm free today."
'Hermione.' It was a long time since he engaged in anything sexual, and he was hungry for some. Here, in front of him, was a free meal.
Sinistra leaned closer, and nipped his earlobe. She whispered to him. "I could give it to you. Just like old times." She licked his earlobe. Lust threatened to overpower him. It was coursing through his blood.
Finally, he could not resist it and he pulled her on his lap. He kissed her with such ferociousness. His hands remembered all the curves. He pulled her closer by the waist, crushed her breasts to him. She moaned and whimpered. He grabbed one of those full, luscious breasts and kneaded. He crushed her mouth against his. 'Hermione.' Before he could pull away, a gasp came from the door. They both looked towards the door.
Hermione stood there. "Sorry." She hastily said before quickly closing the door.
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Hermione felt empty. She could not feel anything. No hurt, no jealousy, no anger, no joy, no feelings. The scene that she walked in on was etched in her brain. She was only gone for a week and a half.
She walked up the stairs. She could hear footsteps running towards her. "Hermione!" She could hear a voice. "Hermione." It was getting closer.
"I'm sorry; I should not have done that. I do not know what came over me." She did not say anything, but she turned to face him. "She came in and tempted me. I was weak. Forgive me."
She smiled at him. Her eyes were expressionless. "I understand Severus. I admit, I must have been tying you down for too long. You needed this. I cannot give it to you. It is fine. I forgive you."
He stepped closer to hug her, but she stepped back. "I forgive, but I do not forget." Her voice took that same cold tone that she used right before she hexed Lucius Malfoy to a bloody pulp.
"Hermione please." 'What have I done? I do not want to lose her now.'
"Go back to her. I understand." She turned and walked back to her rooms. Once inside, the feelings came crashing down on her. Was she not good enough? She could not cry. Staring at the wall opposite her, she asked herself 'Am I really so incompetent?' She sank down to her bed. All the sorrow, her comfort. She let herself drown in sadness. This is the consequence of her lack of strength. She opened herself to this man, and he proved to her that she really was worthless. She lay and closed her eyes and fell to sleep, floating in her black world.
(Snarks slithers in "We are gone in one chapter and look what hapnensss. A disssassster!" Smirks nods "Honessstly. Do thessse people need usss to do everything for them?" "Humph" Snarks slithers away, and Smirks shakes her heard before following him.)
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I am so sad. I only got seven reviews. Sigh. Anyway, I made an effort in this chapter. Sigh. Thank you to those who reviewed.
Mrs Luna Potter: I know, I was shuddering when I wrote it.
Mish Michelle: Next chappie is going to be filled with angst. I think...
deadlyabyss12: I hope you liked this chappie too.
MsPadfootVerona: It did look it. Well, I hope this chappie is an improvement.
Angelbabe385: Thank you. Whew. I am now less worried.
lydia: Don't worry everything will turn out alright...in one ending...
Sammi .J.: Oooh Thank you.
This is probably my longest chappie yet. I hope you guys liked it. Thanks for reading. Review. Please. - Darque
P.S. THE SNAKES ARE BACK!
