Hermione reappeared with Viktor outside of a large castle-like building. Nothing like the size of Hogwarts but still It was impressive. The outside of it was a picture of elegance and class. She frowned seeing this. It wasn't what she had imagined.
"What were you expecting?" Viktor questioned, stepping in front of her with a smirk on his face. "Motes, coffins, rundown warehouse?"
"Well," Hermione replied. "You're not wrong."
She heard a true laugh fall from his lips, that made her skin crawl. Viktor moved to the castle as Hermione followed behind him. Viktor pushed open the door as Hermione saw the vampires filling the room dressed, shockingly, to the divines. Hermione frowned once again as a waiter past by with blood filled champagne flutes. Viktor took two glasses handing her one.
"Don't worry. It's just blood. I'm not trying to kill you." Viktor said.
"You already did that," Hermione replied, taking a drink from the glass. She savored the taste in the glass.
Hermione opened her eyes seeing Viktor intently watching her. "What?"
"The red in your eyes look wonderful."
"Me and everyone else in the room, Viktor." Hermione sassed.
"True." Viktor finished off his glass, sitting it down. "but these vampires here are venom turned, not turned by blood. Better. Purer."
"Purity?" Hermione scoffed. "Everything is always about purity."
"Not like-"
"Yes, yes, I know. Those turned by venom are better, sane for one. If you're turned by blood, they run based more on instinct."
"Overly simplified way of putting things, but yes." Viktor shrugged. "I will move in the following days. I will turn everyone I see."
"You know the order will stand against you," Hermione noted taking another glass of blood.
"I know I am counting on it." Viktor smiled. "Since you answered my call. I need to know you are loyal to me."
"Of course, I am. You called I came." Hermione answered instantly.
"I know but I want you to do something for me." Viktor spoked before snapping his finger. Hermione looked over seeing a door open as a vampire pulled a girl by her hair out into the room. The girl was shoved at Hermione's feet. The bright green eyes looked up to Hermione as she cried her eyes out, the smell of fear rolled off of the girl.
"Please, I just want to go home." The girl choked between sobs. "Don't hurt me."
"Drain her dry," Viktor ordered drinking from his glass watching her closely.
Without any hesitation, she pulled the girl up ignoring her screams skinning her teeth into the girl's neck as she cried and screamed at her. Hermione drink until she no longer heard anything coming from the girl. Hermione took deep breaths almost feeling high from blood straight through the veins of someone new.
Releasing the girl, she heard a slow clap from in front of her.
"Bravo." Viktor smiled wildly, standing to walk over to her. "I didn't think you had that in you. It's so much easier when the monster and you are one. I can see her in your eyes. No confliction in what you truly are."
Viktor ran his fingers over her lips letting the blood from her face coat his fingers. He caught her chin making her look into his red eyes.
"You are deadly perfection. Everything a vampire is with the power of a witch. I cannot wait to see you in a battle. I will soon enough, you will kill the ones you love."
"Anything you ask," Hermione replied.
"You're taking this exceedingly well," Viktor spoke his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "For someone who wanted to kill me not too long ago."
"Yes well, after you called me. Let's say I saw things more clearly." Hermione answered. "I'm more powerful than them- Any of them. Why continue to fight for things so weak?"
"Now." Viktor smiled almost maniacally. "You are seeing things my way."
"I'm seeing many things," Hermione smirked at the vampire.
Viktor paused moving closer to her, till he was a breath away from her. "Tell me what you see."
Hermione didn't flinch away from him, as he leaned into her. She placed a hand on his chest holding him away from her. "Maybe later. I have to have my secrets."
Hermione turned from him walking away.
"I could always make you tell me," Viktor called after her.
"Where's the fun in that?" Hermione tossed over her shoulder continuing on her same path. Her question didn't anger the elder Vampire, it more intrigued him even more than he had been before.
He knew he had made the right choice with turning her. He couldn't have made a more perfect selection, but he wanted to push her more to see if she could really turn and hold the same monstrous form as an elder.
Hermione stepped into the night air watching the stars shine brightly above her. She crossed her arms letting out a steady breath, now her waiting would begin.
Sirius had left Hogwarts after the meeting ended, going with Marcus to meet with Alexander and Ophelia, where they were being hidden. So, they would be a surprise element against Viktor. Marcus and Alexander were speaking with one another about Hermione leaving. Sirius tried listening to what they were saying but, both voices were so low he couldn't make anything out. Sitting alone until he felt a presence near him. Glancing around he found Ophelia standing next to him, for a vampire she had a truly calming presence about her.
"I hope I didn't startle you." She spoke softly.
Sirius shook his head, "Not at all. I wouldn't mind the company. The waiting is getting to me."
"It's always the hardest part for humans." Ophelia smiled taking a seat next to the wizard. "For a vampire, time is nothing."
"Very true." Sirius chuckled before sobering. "What do you know of Viktor?"
Ophelia frowned, "I never cared for him. I could always feel his emotions. Jealousy, Rage, and a hunger. Either blood or power. I now see that it was both. Viktor, even as a child always followed in Marcus' footsteps until Viktor went too far. Even further than what Marcus would do. Marcus was vicious and absolutely lethal. Marcus changed after he lost his mate, but Viktor changed too."
"Marcus had a mate?" Sirius questioned surprised by the information, even though he shouldn't be.
"Yes," Ophelia replied with a sadness in her voice. "She was- something else. One of the kindest vampires I had known. She didn't want to kill unless it was necessary, had a thirst for knowledge, instead of blood and she loved only one man and that was Marcus. Until-" Ophelia's words froze, "I am sorry I shouldn't share more. This is all of Marcus' business."
"Why was nothing ever done before now?" Sirius questioned, not with anger but honest curiosity. He changed the subject not wanting to push the previous topic.
"Vampires never normally have a high moral standard, but there are even lines we don't cross. Which are few." Ophelia explained. "Most of the things he has done were overlooked. There was nothing that could cause a- well war. Now he is making a spectacle of himself, against wizards of all things. All that matters now is it's being taken care of now."
"Yeah." Sirius agreed but a sadness sounded in his voice.
"You're worried about her."
"I'm petrified," Sirius admitted in a whisper. "She'll be gone. I'm losing her again."
Ophelia places a comforting hand on his should, "She's strong and brilliant. You must trust her."
Recognition dawned on his face as he spoke, "She has something planned."
Ophelia's face remained blank responding to his words, "After everything you know about this girl you think she wouldn't?"
Ophelia continued speaking to were Sirius couldn't speak. "But we will have to see what she has planned, won't we?"
She smiled patting his cheek before walking away from the wizard. Sirius frowned watching the three vampires they knew something was happening. Sirius wanted to know what, but he knew his chances of getting the information was none existent.
Sitting down in the chair near him, he waited for any sign, signaling the battle had started.
Two days had passed as Hermione watched the sunrise that morning she could feel a tension in the air she knew that this was the day Viktor would move. Not a word had to be said to her she could feel it, rubbing her arm she could feel her wand sitting in her sleeve. She knew within hours she would be on a battlefield once again.
She should live with the choices she had made, well if she made it to the end of the day.
"We must move now," Viktor spoke standing right behind her.
"Let's go," Hermione said turning to face the red-eyed vampire staring down at her. Grasping his arm, she turned on the spot landing not far from the castle. "We fall under magical creatures. We should be able to get in and find Albus and kill him before the order is aware of what has happened. Take out their leader and they will either flee or die." Hermione explained walking through the woods.
"You seem very sure of yourself," Viktor noted looking at her curiously down at her.
Hermione paused in the woods looking up at Viktor. "I have already fought in one war. I think I know my way around a battlefield without pure power. We needed a plan, and I figured them up."
"Didn't most of your plans go to hell?" Viktor questioned quietly, his gaze upon her.
Hermione frowned before shrugging, "True but, that's the toss up with a plan in war. There's a fifty percent chance it will go as planned and fifty percent chance it will go up in flames."
Hermione turns continuing onwards to the meeting point. Coming to a stop right outside of the castle grounds. She paused glancing around the grounds seeing no one outside. She stepped into the clearing walking forward until someone yelled out to her.
"Hermione?" She turned seeing Harry standing there looking relieved to see her. "We've been worried about you."
Hermione smirked as the red in her eyes deepened and the veins appeared on her face. She grabbed Harry pulling him to her before tossing, him backward as he landed on his back. The vampires stepped from the shadowed forest behind her.
Harry's eyes widened as he pulled his wand casting a shield around him, before sending a Patronus.
"They're here!" Harry yelled sending away the Patronus. Two young vampires lunged forward trying to go after him. Harry was surprisingly faster, setting them both ablaze. Moments passed as the wards to the castle were lowered enough, to allow The Order to apparated into the school grounds. Members came in fast taking out as many vampires in the process.
The order had filled the clearing, as Viktor stepped forward. The way Viktor moved ahead in front of his followers was almost similar to Voldemort. "Join us and be turned. Fight and you die."
"Yeah," Harry glanced at the others on the field seeing the stances of defense waiting for the fight, glaring at the elder vampire he answered. "That's a no."
A full battle broke out and it was if they had all been thrown back in time to the battle of Hogwarts but this time it was wizards as one, against vampires.
"Hermione, please don't do this," Harry com in front of her pleading with her, as she continued stalking forward. Her red eyes focused only on him. "You have to fight against him, fight the call."
"This is simpler. Easy on this side, to do what I need to do. What needs to be done." Hermione spoke to the wizard, who had been her best friend since she was a child. "Scream Harry." Harry letting out a deep, painful scream drawing attention to the pair.
Hermione remained silent before digging her nails into his neck, seeing the blood pour out. Opening her jaws her mouth latched onto his neck, drinking the blood.
"One down the rest of you to go," Viktor said aloud moving through the crowds as he even shoves his own out of his way. Viktor smiled at the carnage around him, the bloodshed, death, and destruction. It was pure bliss for him.
Sirius landed in the middle of the field, after receiving a Patronus informing him it was time to fight. Alexander and Ophelia at his side both elders began destroying any vampire they could lay their hands on. Sirius looked around the fighting and instantly locked eyes with the red-eye elder that had him on his warpath. Sending spell after spell Sirius knew there was no stopping the Viktor from getting to him. He felt Viktor's hand wrap around his throat. The man shifted into the terrifying creature, like the drawing that had been shown at the original meeting with the order at Malfoy Manor. His bat-like wings stretched out behind him as he growled.
"If it isn't the former lover." Viktor hissed glaring into the wizard's eye.
"I'm not the former lover." Sirius gasped struggling against Viktor strength. Sirius saw Hermione moving towards them but trying not to draw attention to herself as she moved through the hordes around them. Sirius made sure to keep his gaze locked on the Elder in front of him.
"You're a problem for me." Viktor snarled.
"I'm only a problem because you know even now she loves me." Sirius retorted, choking out the last bit as the vampire's grip tightened lifting Sirius from the ground.
"Maybe," Viktor shrugged, before biting out a chunk of his throat. "Now you're nothing." He whispered into this ear.
"True," Sirius grumbled as the blood coated his mouth. His grey eyes shifted behind the elder vampire as blood coated his mouth, Hermione standing behind the elder vampire with rage burning in her eyes. "but then I'm also an amazing distraction."
"What?" Viktor questioned, frowning at the wizard's words. Sirius would have laughed at his vampire's face but he couldn't as he was dropped to the ground.
The sickening blow to the side of Viktor's face was delivered by Hermione with a deep growl rolling through her chest. Viktor was back on his feet in a flash.
"You betrayed me," Viktor growled.
"Betrayal requires loyalty first." Hermione shrugged, as she dodged the blows Viktor was trying to deliver. Her foot landed a hard hit on his chest, kicking him back down to the floor. "You won't touch me again."
"Watch me," Viktor yelled going after Hermione again.
Hermione simply smiled as his fist yet again, missed every mark. She dodged faster than he could deliver.
Viktor let out an enraged scream, landing a single kick to Hermione as she hit the ground. He stalked over to her, nearly standing over her as he felt his back split open, from a spell. Spinning around he found Sirius standing again. Delivering as many spells as he could. Viktor moved in a flashback to the Black Heir.
Viktor's hand was plunged through the right side of his chest, as he felt something lodge directly into his spine.
"Sirius!" Hermione screamed, running over as Viktor staggered to the ground.
"What is this?" Viktor demanded.
"That would be pure werewolf venom. Your paralysis is taking effect now." Hermione informed him walking past him, Sirius was now her focus.
Viktor looked around while she could see the other elders on the field, tearing his vampires apart, not including the ones trying to run. His brother amongst them doing the most damage. Knowing Viktor couldn't move, she ran over to Sirius pulling his head into her lap.
"Sirius!" Hermione exclaimed seeing blood covering his body. She felt the tears running down her face. "You'll be fine."
"I told you," Sirius struggled to talk and breath, his blood coated hand grasped hers holding it tight as he could. "I would give my life to save you."
"Sirius, you can't die," Hermione's voice broke as she spoke placing her hand on the side of his face, letting her thumb glide across his face.
"Sorry about that kitten, don't have a choice in this," Sirius replied grasping her hand as tight as he could. "I love you. I always have and always will."
Sirius let out a ragged breath as his gripped loosened on her hand.
"Sirius?" Shaking him slightly she called his name with no response.