Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter's world. That is the property of JKR, a most talented woman. So, don't sue me.
Plot: Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger are normal talented wizards who, on their 16th birthdays, learn otherwise. They are now burdened with family secrets that no one can ever know. They return to Hogwarts and struggle to get their lives back on track. However, when they notice something different about each other, both vows to find out one another's secret.
A/N: Thanks for the great reviews. I didn't think this story would appeal to many, but thanks for proving me wrong!
Vashka: I appreciate your input about the sentence structure. I don't have a beta, but I do like to think that my writing has no flaws usually, as most writers do. I am willing to own up to shortcomings that I have when it does come to writing, though. I'll also re-read my chapters and correct any awkwardness that I see. If it continues, though, I will consider getting a beta.
Rhiannan24: I didn't catch that connection about the name Lucien and the movie Underworld. It was purely coincidence, but it does provide some intriguing food for thought, no?
For the rest of you reviewers, if you have any questions, ask them and I'll do my best to answer.
The Moon's Call
Chapter Three
"Drink." The cup was held out to him.
Draco stared at the cup. The liquid within it turned his stomach. He could barely control his urge to gag, or worse, retch. He shook his head. "No."
"You must. Otherwise, you will be a danger to everyone around you," came the reply. "You must drink."
Draco could smell the coppery tang. It was in his nose and he tried to breathe through his mouth. It didn't work. It was there, too. "I won't drink it, Lucien."
Lucien lowered his pale eyes to the cup. He swirled it gently. Then he spoke. "I do not see the problem, Draco. It is only blood. This is child's play compared to what your father would have you do for that vile creature he serves."
"But it's human!" he yelled. The deliberate degradation of the act was almost too much, and panic was beating on the boundaries of his sanity. Draco didn't think whatever his father had planned was this terrible. It couldn't be.
"And you no longer are, Draco."
"No! It's sick and—and ghastly!" He shook his head fiercely. "I refuse to do it."
Lucien smiled coldly. "What you want to do is pointless. Your will is no longer relevant on the issue."
Draco backed away warily.
"IMPERIO!"
The curse came out of nowhere, catching Draco off guard. His mind felt blank. He was floating gently. He was barely aware that Lucien had pushed the cup into his hands.
Drink, Draco…drink from the cup…
He brought the cup to his lips, but stopped. A voice in his head asked why should he. Why should he drink?
Drink…
He tipped the cup up.
The voice shouted no.
But it was too late.
Lukewarm liquid washed over his tongue, filling his mouth. He could taste copper. He felt the blood go through his body, touching every nerve, every cell. It was like being filled with incredible energy. It—
"NO!" Draco threw the cup away from his lips. It hit the far wall. Blood splattered across the wall like red paint upon a canvass. He spat out what he could. His stomach gave a violent shudder. Draco fell to his knees, clutching his middle…
Draco woke, but kept his eyes closed. He didn't hear or smell anything in his room. It was clear. He opened his eyes then.
His room was still dark, but he could see clearly. The sun hadn't come up yet, but he was up. It was no use trying to get more sleep.
Groaning, he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. After sliding his feet into his slippers, Draco went to the bathroom and took a quick shower. Wrapping the towel about his waist, he wiped the steamed mirror in one downward swipe. He saw himself and curled his lip in anger.
He still looked like his father…and Lucien. The shade of blonde hair, the pale gray eyes, the jaw line—all the same!
Just as he turned away, Draco saw something he never had taken into account before—his nose. It was his mother's nose. He smirked. At least one part of him wasn't dominated by his father.
He went into his room and dressed slowly. The sun was barely rising.
His mother didn't like Lucien. Perhaps it was because he looked too much like Lucius for comfort. Draco didn't like him either, but he respected the man. He knew just about everything about werewolves.
Here was what he told Draco so far:
There are two kinds of werewolves—Alphas and Betas.
Alphas are born werewolves, but their inner beast doesn't wake until their sixteenth year. Betas were originally humans who were bitten and then turned into werewolves. Alphas are more powerful than Betas inevitably. Both kinds turn, but Alphas are not ruled by the full moon like Betas are. Alphas can change at will.
In their wolf forms, Betas go by instinct rather than intelligence although they keep some part of their human mind. Alphas, on the other hand, retain the whole of their intelligence. That is why Alphas have never been discovered.
When an Alpha is captured and/or killed, their families pass them off as Betas so their secret does not get out. In the wizarding world, Betas are eventually caught either way.
Both kinds can be destroyed by silver. The metal is harmless when it touches the skin, but turns deadly when it gets in the body either by a cut, swallowed, or injected. Lucien says that is the most common way to kill a werewolf.
They can also be killed by another werewolf or creature just as powerful. Lucien said suicide is another way as is fire, but fire is the most difficult. A werewolf would have to be chained down or immobilized for that to succeed. Then again, any wound that can cause heart or brain damage will work, too.
Draco left his room to see if his mother was up. As he strode down the hallway, he thought of the change. He had already seen his first full moon. He could still remember sweet pain, the ecstasy of the change. It was like an orgasm. He had reveled in the gift, running as fast as he could and even stereotypically, howling at the moon.
Lucien taught him to fight that night. He had fought to the best of his ability, but Lucien was too experienced, not to mention more muscled, but in the end, Draco had to submit. He was ashamed of that, but Lucien disabused him of that notion.
He said be proud that he had put up a fight. More than his old man, in fact.
But that only made him despise Lucius even more. Draco wondered if that was Lucien's aim all along.
"Draco," her mother called when he passed by one of the many sitting rooms they had in the house.
He whirled around and joined her, glad that she didn't like to sleep in.
"So, how are the lessons going?" she asked politely.
He relaxed in one of the chairs opposite her. "All right, I guess."
"When did you get in last night?"
He looked skyward in concentration. Draco counted off the hours in his head. "About two in the morning."
"I don't like that he keeps you for days at a time," sniffed Narcissa. She picked up her tea cup and sipped. She put it back down. "I hardly see you anymore."
He merely shrugged, not bothering to say what was at the tip of his tongue.
"Full moon's in two days," she commented. "Are you going to stay here until then or does he have something else in mind?"
"I'm leaving again tomorrow night and staying with him until Monday next week. I'll be back to pick up my booklist and go to Diagon Alley, so don't worry yourself about school."
"I see. Is he going to take you to Diagon Alley?"
"No. I plan to go by myself."
"Is that wise, Draco?"
He chuckled and looked at her. "Probably not, but oh well." The slight smile faded away. "Mother, why didn't you tell me what I was to become?"
She glanced at him and then away, embarrassed. "To tell the truth, I forgot. With your father…gone and the war starting out in the open, I somehow managed to forget. I'm not proud of it, Draco."
He took one long measuring look of her and nodded once.
Narcissa asked softly, "What does Lucien have in mind this full moon?"
"He said he's going to take me for a run somewhere." Draco sneaked a look out the window. The sun was fully out. He stood up quickly. "I'm going to Diagon Alley for a bit. Did you want anything?"
She shook her head. "No, son, but thank you for offering."
He nodded again and left the sitting room. Draco walked out of the house and apparated to Diagon Alley.
"Thank you, Father," he quipped softly. There were advantages to being the son of a Death Eater. One had to learn more spells than others his age. Apparation was only one.
Draco decided to get some ice cream from Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Then to Flourish Blotts afterwards.
Yes, that sounded like a plan.
What do you think? You know what to do...
-TG