Chapter 5: Another Death
Walking past Severus that night, I realized that of all things, I had already become too attached to him. Wanting his presence everywhere I went. Wanting to feel his arms wrapped around me. But most of all I wanted him. These thoughts and more passed through my mind as I walked in front of him, not daring to look back, feeling the curious look sent at me. Even as tears made their way down my face, leaving behind a wet trail, I dared not even make a sound.
Finally making our way through Hogwarts, we entered our common room. Severus's books still occupied one of the tables, as I quickly walked through the room and up the stairs. A moment later, I entered my room closing my door, before turning around and sinking to the ground, being able to finally breakdown in tears.
The next days went by in a blur for me it seemed, but the next part we pick up at is about 4 days later, when my jealousy took over me and I did something that could have ended disastrous.
"Severus?" Hermione called from behind his door. She knocked again, pressing her ear against the door listening for any possible sound movement. No answer, no footsteps, no nothing. Hermione stepped back from the door, unsure of what to do. Should she go in, or just wait until he returned? Since she didn't know when Severus was going to be back, she decided to go in.
The door slid open, Hermione peeking her head in afraid that Severus was going to pop out at any moment. Thinking that it was okay, she slowly made her way into the room, taking in every detail.
There was a bed in the far left corner right next to a huge bay window, letting Hermione see the sunset. A couch and a few chairs littered the surrounding area creating a mini lounge effect. While the door to his closet stood to the right. But that wasn't the weird part. The weird part was that everything was either in the shade of green, silver, or black. Not gold or red like his house colors. It almost seemed to Hermione like he was Slytherin, but he couldn't be. He told her that he was in Gryffindor.
Hermione strolled around the room, perplexed, but still looking for what she needed. A book that he taken from her to read, but she desperately needed it back or Madam Pince was going to have her head. Hermione absentmindedly sat down on his bed, trying to figure out where he would put her book. She looked around, but as she did, she found one of his drawers next to his bed slightly open with a note carelessly shoved into it.
Curiosity overwhelmed Hermione's senses as she found herself opening the drawer and carefully taking the letter out, frequently looking over her shoulder. Instead of a letter, it was an invitation with 'You're invited' written in green ink on the cover, which could only mean one thing.
You're cordially invited to the beginning of the year Slytherin Party
Where: Slytherin Common Room, password: Slither
When: Friday, September 5 from 9:00 - ?
Just remember to bring only yourself, this is a private party, dress appropriately, and directions are enclosed
A scowl came across Hermione's face, before she discarded the invitation, throwing it across the bed. She folded her arms across her chest, sitting back in the bed before sighing. She couldn't believe it. Severus was invited to a Slytherin Party, obviously by those skanks called girls. 'I thought he was different.' Hermione thought getting off the bed, the invitation still staring at her. 'He could've at least told me,' her mind reasoned as she continued to pace back and forth. She let out a frustrated groan looking back at the invitation, before snatching it up and heading into her room.
Not realizing it at the time, Hermione's jealousy got the better of her as she decided to go to that party and fetch Severus. She had it all planned out. Stroll in and go up to Severus, give him a piece of her mind and drag him out. Sighing, Hermione plopped down on her bed, invitation in her hand. Oh who was she kidding that would never work. The Slytherins would probably curse her into next week for being there and that gave her that much more reason to go there.
Hermione pushed herself up from the bed, quickly strolling over to her closet. 'Dress appropriately.' What the hell did that mean? What would she wear? It couldn't be Gryffindor colors and it definitely had to be a little more daring than what she was used to wearing. "Okay breath," she told herself, browsing through her clothes. "Uhh I absolutely have nothing!" Hermione yelled a moment later throwing her hands up in the air. "I can't do this," she told herself. Parties weren't her thing, so how in the world was she going to pull this off. She had only been to 2 parties before. She took a deep breath before strolling up to her window looking out at the Forbidden Forest, thinking about what would soon be happening. But as she saw the moon raising into the sky an idea hit her.
"Okay turn left," Hermione mumbled to herself, continuously looking at the directions. She turned left and soon found herself in the Slytherin hallway. The corridor was made of stone with sconces attached, giving it an eerie glow. The portrait was up just ahead and it made Hermione all the more nervous. What would happen? Would she make it out of there alive?
"Password?" the snake hissed looking at Hermione. Looking up, Hermione found herself at the entrance to the Slytherin common room.
Trying to look calm Hermione answered, "Umm… Slither." 'Great,' she told herself, 'you're out to a great start.'
The snake nodded at her, before opening the portrait. "Have fun," it laughed as the portrait closed behind her.
Hermione heard what the snake had said barely as the loud music filled the room. It sounded as if he knew something she didn't. And she had a sinking feeling it did.
Hermione turned around and was faced with the way Slytherin's party. The room was filled with people dancing and music blaring. In the middle of the room was a dance floor and surrounding it were couches and chairs. The room was of solid stone from the floor to the ceilings. It had a few objects around the room in shades of silver and green, but it just didn't hold the comfortable, warm feeling of the Gryffindor common room and it made it all the more uncomfortable.
Hermione cautiously made her way further into the room the lights dimmed and the music surrounding her. A couple sat down on one of the couches getting into a heated snog fest. As Hermione passed she found their clothes discarded on the floor. Shaking her head and looking away, Hermione continued through the room trying to find Severus. But her trek was soon stopped as a hand was laid on arm turning her back around.
"Hey where are you going gorgeous?" he asked eyeing her up and down. Hermione was wearing black jeans that hugged her hips and a tunic top that flowed down her body accenting her chest. It was green with a silver ribbon bow in the middle. Hermione blushed wrenching her arm out of his hand, holding it close to herself just in reach of her wand. The one thing that she learned from students was never trust a Slytherin. And she fully intended to do just that.
Hermione stared incredulously into the eyes of a blond hair, blue eyed Slytherin that went by the name of Will, she thought. He looked like a model out of a magazine she once read. Perfect in every way, well except for the part of being a Slytherin. She closed her mouth and tried to tell him that she was looking for someone, but all that came out were sounds and pointing. 'Great first impression,' she thought sarcastically to herself as she noticed an amused expression cross his face. 'Now let's try that again.' "I'm looking for someone," Hermione stated embarrassedly.
He then proceeded to tell her something but she blocked out everything as she spotted Severus some space in front of her. Hermione tilted her head to the side, looking over the guy's shoulder. Severus was casually sitting on one of the couches with at least a dozen girls fawning over him. 'No it can't be,' her mind continued to say as she felt her heart break. 'It just can't be.' She tried to look away but her eyes were glued to the person who she thought was different. Hermione wiped a tear from her face before her sadness quickly turned to anger as Severus looked her way. His face turned from happy to 'oh my god' so fast, Hermione smirked to herself, 'Serves him right.'
She turned her vision away, unable to look at him anymore and returned her attention back to… to… Will, that was his name. Well who cares, if he was there she would use him to her advantage. "Excuse me…" Hermione interrupted not hearing what he was saying.
"I was asking if you wanted to dance." He seemed nice enough and since Severus eyes never left her since he spotted her, she was going to except. But the one thing she missed was him throwing a wink to his friends in the back, before leading her to the dance floor.
Hermione smiled looking at Severus, "Sure, why not." She put her hand in his and made her way onto the dance floor. Once there, the two of them got closer and closer and by the end of the song the both of them were dancing as one. Hermione's back faced Will's chest as his hands had made their way onto her hip and under her shirt resting on her stomach, pulling her tighter to him. Hermione's hands reached behind her hanging them around his neck, just feeling the music as they continued to dance. Daring to look up, Hermione found herself staring into the eyes of Severus, still sitting on the couch, arms crossed over his chest, staring at her with a mad expression on his face, his black obsidian eyes getting darker.
Hermione chuckled to herself. He was jealous. A smile made its way onto her face as she leaned her head back onto Will's shoulder, not thinking about what she was doing, but imagining it was Severus holding her this close instead of Will. "Do you want to sit down?" Will suggested in Hermione's ear a moment later obviously getting tired.
She was also getting tired so… "Sure," Hermione said breathlessly. She untangled her arms from his neck as he released his grip on her. But one of his arms still hung around her hip as they made their way onto one of the couches.
A silence hung in the air as they both caught their breaths. Hermione's attention wavered as she scanned the crowd. People were still dancing, but most were starting to head back to their rooms to engage in more scandalous affairs. But Will got Hermione's attention back as he brought his hand from her hip, up to the back of her neck. She turned her head just as Will pushed her head forward pressing his lips against hers.
Hermione's eye widened. "Get off!" she half yelled, mumbling shoving Will off her.
Will smiled mischievously, "Why what's wrong?" He reached for her again, but missed as she got up from the couch heading toward the portrait. "On no you don't," he mumbled under his breath. Hermione's breath caught in her throat as he grabbed for her again, this time succeeding. He pulled her down onto the couch lying on top of her, covering her mouth. He uncovered her mouth, but all he heard was 'you bastard,' before he covered it again.
Hermione struggled to get out of his grasp, but failed as he had her pinned underneath him. Tears filled her eyes as she started to panic, but at that moment an idea struck her. It may be impossible but it was her only chance.
Severus watched with eyes wide open as Will kissed her. He glared, as he continued to watch the scene unfold. When he saw Hermione push him away, he smiled to himself. But that was replaced with a worried look as Will had grabbed Hermione pinning her underneath him. This had Severus halfway across the room in a blink of an eye. He couldn't have anything happen to her. He didn't know why, but a strange feeling had intertwined itself when he saw her dancing with him. His mind continued to race. He couldn't let anything happen to her. No matter what he felt for her. But as he was halfway there when a pink light flooded the room before dying down returning to the dark, dungeon. When his vision cleared all he saw was Hermione looking at him, before running out of the Slytherin common room.
Hermione rushed out of the Slytherin common room as fast as she could. She heard the snake cackling madly at her a she raced down the corridor, tears falling down her face. Her vision became blurred as she exploded into a full blown cry. Her sobs echoing in the hallway as the sounds of footsteps approached.
Severus sprinted out after Hermione into the corridor. He saw her disappear behind another corner. "Hermione!" he called breathing harder and harder. 'Man she was fast.'
Taking a deep breath Hermione yelled, "Go away!"
"No," he paused still running, "I'm not leaving you! What happened?" he yelled down the hallway.
"None of your freaking business," Hermione yelled loudly, entering the common room. "Now go away!" she cried helplessly.
Severus heard the pain in her voice and that gave him the motive to keep running. "It is my business. Why were you down there?" he yelled back entering the common room.
Hermione raced through the common room and up to her room. She heard Severus ask that question and she wasn't prepared to answer it just yet.
Just as Severus got onto the stairs to her room, the door to her room slammed shut with such force that it shook the stairs. He raced up to the door and pounded his fist against it. "Hermione open up!" he yelled getting desperate.
Hermione stood on the other side of the door, with her hand covering her mouth, trying to stop the sobs wracking through her body. She watched as the door shook with Severus's hands pounding the door continuously. Her body shook as tears cascaded down her face; she turned away from the door and away from Severus.
"Hermione!" he screamed. She needed him, and he needed her. He needed to talk to her. To see her, anything, just to know that she was okay. But that wouldn't happen. He pounded the door one more time before sliding down on his knees against the door. He laid against the door for who knows how long. He saw what happened to her down there over and over again in his mind. But he couldn't help but think that wasn't all that was bothering her. With that, he got up and walked to his room and fell asleep.
That night I sat in my bed and cried myself to sleep. Not just for what had happened to me, but for the reason that I could never have Severus and I never would. We were two different people from two different worlds. I was a vampire and he was a mere mortal. But I couldn't deny myself that there was a mutual attraction somewhere buried deep inside our friendship. Even though we were only friends I couldn't but help think what if we were to be together. But when I came to the end of that fantasy it always ended in death or devastation and nothing I could do would ever change that.
At dinner the next day Hermione and Severus sat at opposite ends of the Gryffindor Table still not talking to each other. Dumbledore sat at the High Table watching the pair, as Hermione glanced down the table towards Severus before returning back to her food. His eyes twinkled as he spotted Severus glance toward Hermione as she returned to her food, before he also did. This went on for some time, until a black eagle flew gracefully into the Great Hall.
Hermione quickly glanced up as she sensed Darien's eagle approaching. It flew in a circle above her head before landing gracefully on the Gryffindor table in front of her. Severus looked up worried as he watched the eagle land in front of Hermione.
"Hi Edward," Hermione whispered stroking the eagle. "What do you have for me today?" As if in answer to her question Edward deposited a black letter in Hermione's hands before squawking and taking off back into the air.
A panicked expression crossed Hermione's face as her eyebrows wrinkled together. She picked up the letter, opening the seal. Two words were scribbled obviously in a hurry.
Come Quick!
Hermione's heartbeat raced as she glanced towards the Headmaster. Dumbledore gave the slightest nod giving her silent permission to go.
Severus watched this silent conversation go on and decided to do something. He needed to find out what was wrong with Hermione. So when Hermione dashed outside the Great Hall, Severus followed.
Hermione raced outside and into the Forbidden Forest. Even though the trees were getting thicker and the light totally disappearing, she continued even faster than before. Something was wrong and she needed to know. Her senses were so jumbled that she hadn't even known that someone was following her.
Parting the bushes Hermione emerged into the clearing, fully transformed to find everyone sitting in a tight circle around the fire, silent as could be. Everyone looked up as Hermione entered and took a seat. Even though Hermione wanted desperately to know what was happening, she knew it was crucial to wait for Darien.
So when he emerged a minute later a grave expression present on his face, they all knew something bad had happened.
"Bloody trees!" Severus growled walking into more branches. He tried parting them but they always swatted him back. He needed to keep up with Hermione. "How can she move that fast?" he mumbled to himself continuing.
A moment later though, he heard voices vibrating in the area and a light obviously created by a fire. So when he reached the clearing he made sure to stay hidden behind the bushes listening to the conversation going on.
"I have some grave news to report or watch," Darien said his voice void of any emotion. His face held a blank expression; he couldn't believe what had happened. "One of our close members and family has died." A gasp filled the clearing as chatter exploded. Not having enough energy Darien waited until it was quiet again. "Tonight Alexia was attacked in her own house by Damien and his group."
"No!" yelled Hermione standing up. "It must be a mistake. I was just talking to her yesterday." Tears threatened to fall down her face again as she waited for Darien to answer.
"I'm afraid so Hermione."
"No! She's not!" she argued back, her voice getting louder.
"Then what do you call this?" Darien yelled back. He quickly mumbled something as smoke rose from the fire creating a screen of some sort. Once the smoke was formed something started showing on the screen.
"No!" Alexia screamed shutting the front door, locking it with every spell she knew. She quickly ran through the house locking doors, windows, everything as she felt the werewolf's power surrounding her house.
Taking a deep breath she knew it was the end for her and her family. But she didn't think it would be this soon. She saw her two children playing on the floor unaware of what was happening.
Hermione continued watching as she saw Alexia's husband come down the stairs wand in hand. She watched as the family stopped as they heard a crashing coming from down the hallway. Alexia quickly grabbed her two children before running up the stairs depositing them in their beds and then heading back downstairs. They had obviously gotten in. "Go!" Alex yelled at his wife, preparing to head off the werewolves.
"No I won't leave you," she yelled back looking at her husband. "I can't," she cried. She ran up to him hugging him and kissing him passionately on the lips.
He pushed her away, "You have to," he whispered urgently. "Hurry!" Alexia nodded before receding up the staircase. But halfway there she heard the killing curse be cast as green light filled the room.
"ALEX!" she screamed running back down the stairs. She stopped dead in her tracks, wand in hand as her living room was filled with werewolves, and in the corner was her dead husband. "NO!" she cried breaking down.
Damien cackled madly along with everyone else. "How do you like when your own family is killed?" he asked glaring at her. But before he could say anymore, Alexia cast the killing curse and then cried out any curse that came to mind. She knocked out 3 members before Damien cast the killing curse himself. Her last words that came out of her mouth were "she'll kill you," which infuriated him even more.
"NOOO!" Hermione screamed running toward the smoke, trying to reach her friend. She was like a mother to her. Darien grabbed Hermione's arms holding her back. Hermione struggle from his grasp screaming for Alexia as she then watched them proceed to kill her children, their screams echoing in her mind, before destroying the house, burning all the bodies inside. "NO!" she sobbed dropping to the ground on her knees. She put her head in her hands before totally breaking down altogether.
"Hermione," Darien proceeded slowly advancing on Hermione.
She looked up red eyes glaring at him, her fangs hanging below her lips. "Don't touch me," she seethed. "I don't want to talk to anyone, especially you." Hermione paused standing up. "You could have helped her," she sobbed falling back down on the ground.
Severus had seen enough. He couldn't take it anymore, so without being seen he quickly and silently headed back to the castle.
Darien picked Hermione back up off the ground holding her in his arms. "There's nothing we could have done," he whispered in her ear.
"Why?" she cried, "why couldn't we help her?"
"Because we also would have died Hermione," he tried to tell her calmly. "Now you should get back to the castle." He put her down softly on the ground before dismissing the group.
Hermione took one look back before heading back to the castle. 15 minutes later Hermione found herself in front of the Head's portrait. She didn't want to go in, but she had to, so after saying the password and the portrait swung open, Hermione made her way in the common room.
Severus sat on the couch, a book in his hand, watching as Hermione passed him a haunted look on her face.
Hermione stepped onto the first step of her staircase before she heard Severus's voice.
"You don't have to hide you know," he paused as he saw Hermione stop in her tracks, turning around. "I know what you are."
A/N: Ohh cliffhanger. Hey everyoneI hope you liked it. And if you didn't well to bad. ButI really would appreciate it if you would review and tell me how i'm doing, becauesI cannever tell if my writing is good. So just press that button down there and let me know. And look for the next chapter in about 2 weeks. Ciao!
