Hermione looked up seeing Marcus beside her, the concern he held in his eyes seeing the broken wizard in her arms.
"Yes, or No," Marcus said simply kneeling down beside her. "He's fading fast. I can hear his heart slowing. Do you want him forever?"
"Yes," Hermione answered instantly, letting him go as Marcus pulled Sirius into his arms and sinking his teeth into his neck. She hated herself for saying yes but she couldn't lose Sirius. She just hoped he wouldn't hate her when he finally woke.
"He'll be fine." Marcus let him go watching the bite mark on his neck begin to heal, letting Sirius lay on the ground. "He'll be a vampire, but he won't be dead or completely mindless."
"I should have done it," Hermione whispered looking him over, seeing the bite in his throat already trying to heal itself.
Marcus shook his head looking at her. "No, you know the vampires turned from blood are more mindless further down the line. It was better I did it."
"What happen?" Harry yelled running overseeing his godfather covered in blood. Harry himself was covered in blood from the cuts Hermione had purposely put on his neck making it look like she had fed on him. Harry had quickly caught onto the ploy she was pulling over Viktor's eyes, playing along with her.
"Harry. I'm sorry but Viktor almost killed him." Hermione explained to him as her voice broke, standing from the ground. "He was fading fast, I made a choice to save him."
"You saved him."
"I just cursed him. I-." Hermione froze when Harry pulled her into a hug.
"You saved him. I don't have to lose another family member. I don't care how he is still here he's here." Harry whispered relief filled his voice. A deep growl sounded behind them as Viktor weakened not being able to hold the elder form anymore, was back to his normal self.
"Harry, take the wounded to the castle," Hermione said turning her gaze to Viktor as Alexander and Ophelia came to where they stood as well. "We must deal with Viktor."
Harry nodded waving his wand lifting Sirius in the air moving him to the castle. "I'll keep him away from the others. Make it painful, Hermione."
Hermione nodded as she turned her full attention to Viktor as Viktor and Ophelia, pulled Viktor to his knees holding him up in place. He still tried struggling against the venom but was not able.
"You kill me." Viktor ground out struggling to voice the words. "You kill yourself."
Hermione's face darkened. "That's where you are wrong Viktor."
"Not possible."
"Oh, Viktor are you truly so naive." Marcus smiled, glaring down at his brother. "I did the same thing to Hermione to protect her as you did to my wife. When you took her from me, and then killed her."
Hermione's eyes widened ever so slightly, hearing that from Marcus.
Rage filled Viktor red eyes, "You took her from my line. That's against our laws."
"I know, I made the law," Marcus growled as the smirk instantly dropped from his face. "I drained her of your blood, filling her with my blood as she vowed a magical bond to me as her sire. I used ancient practices to protect her. So, no, she will not die with you. I repay the people who cross me, family or not. I'm going to take pleasure in watching you die."
"Did you truly think my hatred of you overpowered my will to continue on?" Hermione laughed.
"But you-"
"I am a very good actress when I need to be," Hermione bent down to Viktor's eyes, the smirk playing on her lips. She was about to lay her plan from the beginning bare before the vampire that destroyed everything for her. She was going to lover every second of it. "I played you Viktor. Marcus and I have been working together during all of this. I never felt the pull of your call because it held no power over me. The only reason I came was that I heard you, you were close enough to be heard. I let the man I love believe, I would die today. Just so I could kill you and I will make the same decision every time as long as it meant I could watch you die."
"You would let this happen to me, brother." Viktor tried to struggle against the venom. Alexander grabbed the back of Viktor's neck harshly, se could hear the bones cracking in his neck.
"You're no brother of mine," Marcus replied simply turning his back to him, the disgust on his face was clear.
"Alexander, do you want to do this?" Hermione asked.
"No child. I believe you have more than earned the right of killing him." Alexander spoke as he caught Viktor's eye. "Anything she does to you would never be enough. You actually will have it easier with her than what I would do to you."
Hermione smiled seeing true fear in Viktor's eyes, as Alexander spoke to him.
"You still deny the monster inside you." Viktor hissed out.
Hermione shook her head, "No, the monster and I attuned to one another now. Everything you thought you destroyed me has done nothing but make me stronger. It doesn't rule me, I control myself and the vampire. I know this because I now have the peace knowing you will be no more. That peace gives me control."
Hermione placed her hands on each side of his head turning it until she felt his head leave his shoulders. As she dropped his head on the ground, she felt the weight of everything she had carried for so long leave her.
"It's over Hermione," Marcus said placing a hand on her shoulder. Hermione let out a shaky relieved breath, placing her hand on his.
"I know." Hermione sighed in relief. Hermione pulled her wand from her sleeve pointing it at Viktor's head. "Incendio."
She watched the flames burn his head to ashes.
"We will handle the rest of him and the other vampires here, Hermione," Ophelia spoke moving over to Hermione. "You are very much needed inside."
"Thank you all so much." Hermione smiled at each of them.
"You're welcome but I believe this will be the last you see of Alexander and I, for a long time." she smiled sadly.
"Why?" Hermione asked shocked by the woman's words.
"We thought ending this would make us want to be in this world but it doesn't. We will be going back to sleep." Ophelia explained.
Alexander nodded.
Hermione paused glancing back to Marcus, to see if he would be following along with the elders "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. I am still amused by this world too much."
Hermione shook her head at Marcus, even at his age, he could still behave like a child at times.
"Thank you again." They nodded to her as she turned making her way to the castle. She glanced back one last time seeing this finish the remaining parts of Viktor's body begin to burn.
Giving a breath of relief she felt the weight of the world come off of her shoulders. She didn't truly have to lose herself in the beast to defeat the monster that had destroyed her. Turning her back on what was happening she made her way to find Sirius.
Hermione entered the castle, finding Severus covered in blood.
"Severus!" Hermione exclaimed as the potions master waved her off.
"This isn't my blood Hermione," Severus answered.
"Who's blood is it?" Hermione questioned looking the potions master over.
"Have you ever witnessed a vampire explode?" Severus questioned.
"No, not sure I want to." Hermione replied shaking her head. "Where were you?"
"Killing the ones that managed to slip inside the castle." Severus answered. "couldn't have them getting in."
Hermione nodded before asking, "Where have they taken him?"
"Room within the hospital wing," Severus answered with no snarky remark about the wizard he hated almost dying. "To protect everyone as he is turning Hermione."
"Thank you, Severus," Hermione spoke placing a kiss on the potion masters cheek. "I am glad to have you in my life."
The look in his eyes told her he felt the same, he was never one for words.
Hermione moved making her way towards where Sirius was being kept. She found Madam Pomfrey standing outside the doors.
"Miss Granger- Malfoy- whichever." The woman tried correcting herself. "Sirius is through here."
She nodded going into the room, seeing Sirius laying on the bed, Albus sitting in the room with him. She was surprised to see the headmaster sitting there.
"Albus?"
The man's blue eyes turned meeting hers.
"He didn't need to be alone," Albus commented standing from the chair he walked out his former student looking down to her. "I stayed with him until you got here."
"We can only wait now," Hermione told him.
"I must say I am glad your plan worked even for this unfortunate event," Albus added before leaving the room.
She listened to Sirius' heart beating slower and slower.
Hermione sat next to Sirius' bed as she heard his heart finally stop. She would say she was surprised it had even continued this long but she could only figure it was the venom. She looked up from her book placing it down on the table beside her, standing she moved to Sirius's side on the bed waiting for his eyes to open. She was glad Harry was with Ginny during this time not having to watch Sirius go through this change.
Sirius' eyes snapped open as she saw the dark red iris meet hers. Black veins pulled down from his eyes before receding away. His hands covered his eyes, from the light. Hermione grabbed her wand closing the shutters of the windows dulling the light indies of the room.
"Hermione?" Sirius questioned looking at her in confusion. She could see his eyes trying to focus, on everything he could now see. "Viktor? What happen?"
"Is dead." Hermione smiled looking down at him. Sirius shifted in the hospital bed glancing around the room trying to figure out where he was.
"Are we both dead? Cause if he's dead your supposed to be dead."
Hermione chuckled slightly before knowing she would have to tell Sirius he was now a vampire. "No, we both still here, in Hogwarts, very much alive"
"How are you not dead," Sirius questioned. "Not that I am complaining, but I'd like to know why?"
"Marcus saved me," Hermione answered taking his hand in hers. "I never knew it was possible to happen but Marcus took me under his line. Nasty little ritual, very painful too. I wouldn't trade anything for the opportunity to continue to live, even as a vampire."
Sirius narrowed his eyes in thought before his eyes turned back up to meet Hermione's red eyes. "The night at Malfoy Manor, when the elders came to the meeting. You did it that night, didn't you? That why they stayed so long."
"Yes." Hermione nodded. "I couldn't tell anyone. I couldn't take the risk of Viktor somehow finding out about it and ruin everything. I had to protect you all."
"You don't have to explain anything to me, Hermione," Sirius told her.
"Yes, I do," Hermione whispered scooting closer to him. 'There's something else. Do you know- Do you remember what happened?"
Sirius frowned slightly before shaking his head.
Hermione took his hand in her. "Viktor nearly killed you, he took a bite out of your throat before pushing his hand through your chest. Sirius, I let Marcus turn you to save you. I didn't want to lose you."
Hermione spoke waiting for him to explode.
"Thank you," Sirius whispered tightening her hand on hers.
"What?" Hermione asked making sure she had heard him right. "Are you really thanking me for turning you into a monster?"
"No, I am thanking you for not letting me die," Sirius answered. "I told you I would give everything to keep you safe."
"You did just that," Hermione whispered.
"Man of my word and all," Sirius smirked, before a frown pasted his face, rubbing his throat.
"You need to feed Sirius. Now actually." Hermione said standing from the bed. She grabbed a glass that had blood sitting in the glass. Picking it up the placed the glass in his hands, black veins appeared again under his eyes as fangs elongated. His breathing deepened as he smelt the blood. He stared at the glass before glancing at Hermione. She knew the look of apprehension on his face because she had the same thoughts the first time see had to drink blood.
"Don't think about it. Just drink." She urged him. "I don't want you to lose control, Sirius. I would hate for you to do something you regret."
Sirius took a deep breath drinking down the glass, finishing it off her handed it back to Hermione.
"Are you alright?" Hermione questioned looking him over.
"I'm alright." Meeting her eyes his faded back to his normal color, as a smile ghosted his lips. "but I have to get out of this bed."
"This blood will do for the moment but I will have to take you to something more-" Hermione paused looking for the right word.
"Fresh?" Sirius questioned.
"That's one way of putting it." Hermione moved letting him out of the bed. Standing she could see the differences the change had made in him. He looked better, almost younger. "You need a shower."
Sirius looked down at himself nodding in agreeance seeing all the blood still on him. Sirius turning going into the next room shutting the door, she heard the taps turn on as a knock sounded on the door.
Hermione opened the door seeing Harry standing there holding clothing in his hand. "I went to Grimmauld place and got some clothes. Ginny and I figured he would need them. There's a change of clothes for you as well."
Hermione took the clothing placing it on the bed in the room.
"How is he?" Harry asked, the worry for his godfather on his face.
"As of right now he is okay," Hermione answered honestly. "I'm still watching him for now."
Harry nodded making his way back to the door, "Take care of him, Hermione."
"Of course, Harry."
Harry closed the door leaving, Hermione to wait on Sirius.
The door opened as Sirius stepped out wearing a towel around his waist. Everything Azkaban had taken from him; the venom had returned mostly, he still looked the same but with a youthfulness to him more than ever.
"Harry brought you some clothes," Hermione noted pointing to the clothes.
Sirius smiled grabbing the clothes letting the towel drop from his waist. Hermione looked out the window as she heard him chuckle. "I'll give you something to laugh about."
"Don't worry your virgin eyes," Sirius mocked playfully. "I have pants on now and it's not like you haven't seen it before."
Hermione turned her eyes back to him to see he did have them on, fastening the buckle of his belt. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Hermione," Sirius sighed walking over to her taking her face into his hands. "I am not dead and I am with you. I am okay. I promise. I would tell you if I wasn't."
Sirius leaned down kissing her on the lips.
"I wasn't okay after my change," Hermione admitted. "I worry because I wasn't this controlled- normal."
"Don't worry. If I go off the bend." Sirius spoke lace his hand on each side of her face. "I have you to keep me grounded."
Hermione leaned into his touch, before meeting his eyes. "I wouldn't want anyone to go through that."
"We have each other," Sirius replied. "Go take shower get cleaned up and I'll be right here when you come out I won't leave the room. Leave the door open if you want too."
"For me to watch you or you watch me?" Hermione questioned with a smirk.
Sirius shrugged innocently going to sit in the chair, that just happen to let him see into the loo.
Hermione finished her shower getting dressed, in a white sweater and dark jeans, with black boots. A knock comes to the door as Hermione and Sirius shared a look. Opening the door Hermione saw Marcus standing on the other side of the door, bidding the door she let Marcus into the room.
"Sorry I wasn't here sooner," Marcus spoke as his gaze shifted to Sirius, who stood clean and sane before him. "I see the change has suited you well, I haven't seen many handle it like this. There are very few."
"Thank you?" Sirius responded not very sure what to say to the elder's statement.
"You're welcome," Marcus replied with a smirk, turning back to Hermione. "Viktor is fully gone and will never be a problem to you again or myself."
Hermione smiled a real smile again hearing those words. "You have no idea how happy that makes me hear."
"I can imagine," Marcus replied. "Well, I have come to say goodbye for now. It's my time to go back home. I wanted to see how my newest one was doing and you as well, before going."
"I think we are doing okay." Hermione smiled at the elder. "But we will see more as time goes."
"That's very good to know," Marcus replied.
"I am sorry about your wife, I never knew." Hermione expressed her thoughts.
Marcus gave a grimace, "You remind me so much of her, Hermione. Too much I must say."
Hermione smirked, "It explains so things about when I was with you for a small time."
Marcus simply shrugged turning to the door.
"Marcus," Hermione spoke stopping the elder in the door. "I can never thank you enough for everything you have done."
A smirk crossed the elder's face as he glanced at the woman in the room, "I could think of one."
"Marcus!"Hermione exclaimed her eyes widened. "I'm taken now."
The smirk grew as his eyes flicked between Hermione and Sirius. "I wouldn't mind a guest." He turned leaving the room and the pair stunned standing in the room. His laughter travel down the hall.
"Wasn't expecting that," Hermione muttered turning to Sirius. "Would you like to see Harry?"
"Yes," Sirius replied instantly.
The green flames flared high as Hermione stepped into the manor the Malfoy's owned in North America. Hearing nothing, she made her way through the home searching for her family. She finally found her father standing in the lounge, he looked to be lost in deep thought. She moved silently next to him.
"Something on your mind?" Hermione spoke up causing her father to jump slightly.
"Hermione." He said her name in relief pulling her into his arms. "Is everything alright?"
Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, It's over. Viktor is no more."
"Everyone else?" Abraxas questioned, a true concern on his face for the others.
"Everyone is okay but-," Hermione paused momentarily looking up to meet Abraxas' eyes. "Sirius, almost died."
"He was turned." Abraxas stated, as if he already knew the answer.
Hermione nodded, "He distracted Viktor letting me move in closer, but Viktor moved fast than I thought and-."
"You don't have to go into detail." Abraxas stopped her words seeing her starting to get upset.
"Thank you," Hermione sighed.
"Where is he?" Abraxas asked, taking Hermione over to the sofa taking a seat next to the older man.
"At Hogwarts with Harry," Hermione informed him. "Right now, Harry is the only one Sirius, trusts himself around besides me."
"How did he handle the change?" Abraxas asked as a house elf appeared leaving tea on the table and disappearing.
"Amazingly. I didn't know how it was possible." Hermione answered. "It's completely different than mine. I mean he was in some pain before he woke but he was nowhere near as mindless as I had been at first. He was normal just Sirius."
"There's a large difference between your change and his, darling," Abraxas noted.
"Your right." Hermione sighed. "He just told me, he had me so he was fine. I am amazed, Marcus was as well."
"Good," Abraxas said simply.
"What?" Hermione exclaimed sounding slightly shocked.
"I know my little girl won't be alone for the rest of her time in this world. However long that may be." Abraxas confessed. "No matter how much I don't like him."
"Father." Hermione sighed with a smile. "Where's Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco?"
"We're here," Lucius spoke up catching Hermione's attention. Hermione jumped from the couch going straight to her family wrapping each of them into her arms holding them tightly. Lucius was last as she held him a little tighter. "I knew there was some Slytherin in you. Self-preservation and all."
Hermione laughed shaking her head looking up at him. "I guess you're right."
"We are relieved to see you alright," Narcissa spoke wiping the rare tear from her face.
"I have to agree with you," Hermione replied, as she started in telling them about everything that happened with Viktor and everything with Sirius.
"Well, then I guess it's time for us all to return home," Draco suggested, for once happy to be returning to England, with his family safe and sound.