To say there was a tense feeling in the room after that would have been like saying sun was a bit hot. Both Aiden and Remus were stood as though ready to start a battle. Remus was growling deep in his throat every time Aiden would so much as glance in direction of his family and Aiden was sending out his own snarl whenever he looked at Hermione and saw the bruises on her neck.
'What is with these two?' Chrimson and Hermione both thought.
Dumbledore decided this would be a good time to intervene.
"Welcome Mr. Savage I hope you are willing to help us in our upcoming battle. You are welcome to stay here at headquarters if you wish" he said, his eyes twinkling like mad.
Remus' response was to growl even loader. The mere thought of this male being near his family made his blood boil.
"I don't think that would be a smart idea Albus" Salina said never taking her eyes of the two men. She had been observing the two of them and could tell that if Aiden Savage stayed there would be a fierce battle in the house till one was either dead or decided to leave the house.
Both Chrimson and Hermione sensed this as well but they had a different approach to the situation. They both looked at each other and sighed in frustration. They decided to put an end to the situation before it got out of hand.
"You know" Chrimson started.
"There is a wall in the garden" Continued Hermione.
"Why don't you both" Chrimson smirked.
"Just go and have" Hermione grinned
"A pissing contest" they finished together with innocent smiles.
Everyone just turned to look at them. Salina was the first to start chuckling. Ron was bright red from trying to hold his laughter in. Harry was shaking with laughter and Dumbledore just looked amused. Aiden was laughing to himself with a look wonder and enjoyment on his face.
Remus looked at his Goddaughters and let out a bark of laughter. Soon everyone was joining him.
"WOW ... that was like watching Fred and George" Ron gasped out.
Hermione couldn't help but smile at being compared to the two pranksters.
With that the tension in the room evaporated. Remus and Aiden kept eyeing one another though but neither was being openly hostile anymore.
~*~*~*~*~
"Well that was intense" Chrimson said whilst sitting on Hermiones bed.
"You're telling me" Hermione sighed.
The meeting with Dumbledore had ended a few hours ago and the two sisters were still reeling over what had occurred in the end.
~*~*~*~*~
2 hours earlier:
Everyone was still laughing after Chrimson and Hermiones antics when Dumbledore decided it was time to return to the topic of which he asked everyone there for.
"Now everyone has calmed down a bit I would like a progress report on the spell. Hermione?" Dumbledore began.
"Well..." Hermione started in a raspy voice. Her throat was really hurting her but she didn't want to draw any more attention to it then she had to. She cleared her throat gently and tried talking again.
"It's coming along, we are almost ready to cast it." Hermione grimaced as she spoke and unconsciously raised her hand to her neck. 'Damn, how long is this going to take to heal?' she wondered.
Remus could see her in pain and it made him feel even guiltier. As though sensing his feelings Hermione reached out and took his hand whilst smiling gently. Chrimson took his other hand and gently squeezed it. Both girls knew that he had lost control for a moment but otherwise he would never hurt them.
Ron and Harry were sat in silence, watching the small family exchange. They couldn't understand how Hermione was being so calm about what happened.
Aiden was watching in case he had to step in to protect the girls ... well Hermione mostly. There was just something about her that he couldn't put his finger on.
Salina was watching Aiden for any signs of aggression towards them. She still did not trust him.
"Ahh yes. Good. Good, and we are now certain it can be done without incident?" Dumbledore asked.
Before either girl could answer Aiden interrupted, "I'm sorry but what are you talking about? I am not up to speed on what is going on" he said.
"It's none of your concern" Harry responded without thinking.
"That's where you are wrong human" Aiden said with an evil smirk. "This is my concern. As an elder vampire anything these three," he gestured to Salina, Chrimson and Hermione, "do I'm responsible and I don't feel like being hunted down and punished by the ruler of the vampire nation" he finished.
Harry didn't know what to say to this so he wisely decided to keep his mouth shut.
Dumbledore proceeded to tell him of the plan Hermione had come up with before she was turned and that they were still going to attempt it.
~*~*~*~*~
"I still can't believe you took his blood" Chrimson said still reeling from the shock of it. What Hermione had done was unheard of. It was forbidden. 'I knew she was brilliant' Chrimson thought with glee.
Hermione just smiled softly as she remembered what happened.
~*~*~*~*~
Hermione took this opportunity to leave the table and do something about her throat. She left the kitchen silently and did not notice a set of eyes following her. She did hear Chrimson take over the conversation and go to explain how they believed the spell could be performed without anyone being lost or injured ... well at least not seriously injured.
Aiden had heard all he needed to hear and left the kitchen as the rest finished up their discussion. He found Hermione in the living room looking in the mirror trying every spell she knew to heal her throat.
Hermione was so wrapped up in what she was doing that she didn't hear anyone enter the room 'it looks less swollen but it still hurt to talk' she thought sadly.
"You know there are only two things you can do" came a voice from the door way.
Hermione spun round in shock, wand raised ready to fire of a spell when she realized it was Aiden who was talking to her.
"Don't do that!!" she rasped out "I could of killed you" she continued reproachfully.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you" Aiden said sincerely "I was only trying to help."
"It's ok but try to remember we are in a war and sneaking up on people is a sure way to get yourself killed" Hermione said whilst turning back to the mirror.
"I will keep that in mind in the future. As I was saying there is only two ways to heal your throat. Normal spells will no longer work on you" Aiden explained at Hermiones questioning look.
"Ok what are my two choices?" Hermione asked.
"A) You sit back and wait for your body to heal but that could take a couple of days and would require you not talking at all or B) You except my offering to heal yourself" Aiden said in all seriousness.
Hermione was about to ask what he meant when the most delectable sent reached her nose. She turned round, determined to find out what it was she smelt, only to come up against a hard chest. A hard, bare, masculine chest. She looked up to find Aiden looking down at her, his shirt opened wide, a talon like nail slicing in to his chest and his blood running down.
"Accept my offering Hermione, I can't stand to see you in pain" he whispered to her.
"Why?" Hermione whispered back. She didn't understand what was going on, only that her body was craving and demanding that she take his blood.
"Ask me that again when the war is over" Aiden replied. He then gently drew her against him and guided her head to the incision on his chest.
Aiden had to hold back a groan of pleasure at the feel of Hermiones mouth on his body. 'By the ancients' he thought. He had never had this reaction to his late wife so why now to this slip of a girl? He didn't know and at this moment in time he didn't care as waves of pleasure washed through him. 'I have to taste her' was the only thing going through his head.
Hermione was lost in the taste and sent of him. She didn't notice when he started to pull her hair away from her neck. She did feeling the shock of pleasure as his fangs pierced her neck and she could help but to arch in to him.
Both were so caught up in their own world that they failed to hear the door open or the startled gasps of the other members of the household.
