AN: There's currently a poll in my author bio for who you think Vlad should end up with. So make sure to vote soon so I can get everyone's feedback xx St3ph

To Hermione it felt as though her world was crashing down around her. First Vlad got engaged, became a Death Eater, and told her none of it was some giant rouse or trick. He'd said he hadn't even been forced into any of it! And now Ron was standing in the middle of the Common Room, surrounded by cheering housemates, as he was snogged silly by Lavender Brown. Hermione knew she was being childish in thinking that she had any sort of predetermined 'dibs' over either of them, but she couldn't help it.

Vlad had been so nice to her only a year ago, they'd even bonded over being outcasts in Wizarding Society. She remembered when he started to push away, and she didn't do a thing to stop it. And Ron, well, she'd never been brave enough to actually act on the feelings she had for him.

She sat heavily at the bottom of a set of stairs, having run out of the Common Room. Hermione scrunched her eyes tight, trying to keep the tears in. It was all her fault, everything going wrong for her was because of something she did. No matter how hard she tried to stop them, she felt the trickle of warm wetness slide down her cheeks.

Hermione couldn't stop thinking about how much Vlad had changed since last year, and she couldn't help the blush that overcame her at the thought of their exchange only a few nights ago now. She remembered how he had held her close, in a way that was cold and distant but effected her all the same. Hermione knew it shouldn't have made her feel this way, and she couldn't even explain why it did. There was just something about the way Vlad spoken to her. Yes, his words had reduced her to tears, but his voice was enchanting. Hermione was convinced that if he'd asked her to do anything in those moments she would have complied without hesitation. And that thought alone chilled her to the very bone.

ooo

In the middle of the night, only a few days after Slughorn's dinner party, Vlad was woken up with a start. He could tell immediately that something wasn't right. Then he heard it. Daphne's mind was calling out to him, begging him to come quickly.

He speed-ran into the girls dormitory finding his fianceé's bed he knelt down next to her, "Daphne what's wrong?"

Sweat was beading on her face and she was struggling to speak, her eyes were wide and she kept making these odd half gasping noises. Vlad looked up from her to see her roommates all starring down at them, mixes of disgust and fear tainting their features. "Did any of you see what happened to her?"

One of the girls spoke up, "We were all woken up by what sounded like choking, when I looked over at Daphne she was writhing on the bed looking like she was trying to breath."

"Shit, not here. Anywhere but here!" Vlad groaned to himself. "I need you all to leave, her transformation is nearly complete. When it's done she'll want blood and I'd rather not have to explain to Snape why several of his students have been drained dry. I'll let you know when it's safe to go back to bed."

All the girls hurried out of the room, swiftly closing the door behind them.

Vlad peered down at Daphne, and tried his best to calm her down. "It's okay, this is completely normal for half-fangs. Your body is just transitioning from needing oxygen, to not needing it. Just relax, you don't need the air you're trying to breath in. It's unnecessary for you now."

She appeared to calm slightly and was no longer looking like a fish out of water. "It'll all be over soon."

ooo

It felt like hours until Daphne's transformation was finally complete, her fangs having come through, though in reality it hadn't been more than 1 hour. Vlad had spent the whole time worrying that her magic was going to mess around with the change, but it seemed as though everything was going to be okay. He smiled at Daphne, "You need to rest, I'll go get some painkillers from the hospital wing."

Vlad sped off before she could even nod in ascent, stopping briefly in the Common Room to tell the girls they could back up now.

Pansy frowned at him, "Are you sure it's safe? She hasn't been around people yet, what if she tries to bite us!"

"She's sleeping, Parkinson. You'll be fine." And with that he ran to the Hospital Wing.

When he arrived there was no one anywhere, not even in any of the beds. Vlad supposed that it was quite late, and there just wasn't anyone sick at the moment. He called out for the Medi-Witch until he heard movement coming from a room just off the main room. Madam Pomfrey's head popped out of the door way, looking clearly eyed and thoroughly annoyed at being woken up so late at night.

"Mr Dracula? What are you doing here?" She questioned with a yawn.

"Daphne needs some painkillers, her fangs have just come through." The witch's eyes widened and she was suddenly rather awake.

"Right, of course. Just one moment." She was back seconds late with a small phial in her hands, "This should be enough to get her through the night, I'm sure. However, I'd like to giver her a once over. Would you let her know I'd like to see her in the morning, Mr Dracula?"

Vlad simply nodded and grabbed the phial, "Thanks Madam Pomfrey."

Daphne was fast asleep when he got back, curled up like a kitten, so he left the phial on her bedside table with a small note to tell her what it was.

The morning came and went, Pomfrey declared Daphne as 'as good as one can get, being a Vampire'. Vlad escorted her down to breakfast, making sure to keep an eye on her. He poured her some soya blood and hoped it would be enough to get her through to lunch at the very least.

Throughout the day Vlad noticed some subtle changes in Daphne. She seemed slightly more snappy and prone to outbursts of anger. Overall she came across a more like Ingrid, which scared him a lot. Though, it could just be that she was having bad day, and that's what Vlad chose to believe for now.

After the momentary comparison of his fiancée to his sister, Vlad couldn't stop thinking about his family. He hadn't seen them in so long and, though he hated to admit it, Vlad really missed them. It had been almost a week since Daphne's transformation and he couldn't help but think of his own. Vlad would be sixteen soon, he would have to confront his family and stand before the blood mirror. What would happen if he didn't go? Was it possible for him to just turn his back on them forever? Or would he be drawn to the mirror when he turned sixteen? There were so many questions Vlad wanted to ask, but had no one to give him the answers.

Vlad was soon shocked out of his reverie by an owl tapping at his dorm window. Looking around, he saw he was alone in the room. Letting the owl inside, it dropped a letter at his feet and swiftly flew back out the window. Vlad picked up the letter from the floor.

Dear Mr Vladimir Dracula,

Happy Christmas!

You are cordially invited to Professor Horace Slughorn's Anual Christmas Gala on the last night before the half-term break.

Formal attire is required, and plus ones are permitted.

We hope to see you there, in the potions classroom at 7pm.

Yours Sincerely,

Professor Horace Slughorn

Vlad groaned, not another party. That being said, he would still go, his father had raised him to never turn down a party invite. Unless it was from an enemy, in which case it was probably a trap.

On the up side, Vlad didn't have to find a date. He had a fiancée.

ooo

Like always, time had flown. Christmas was nearly upon them and it was the last day before the school would be emptied of a majority of it's students. Vlad woke up with a sinking feeling in his stomach, he just knew tonights party wasn't to go as seamlessly as he really hoped it would. Knowing his luck something akin to his father turning up would occur in the evening's events.

With a heavy sigh, Vlad got ready for breakfast and a long day of classes. He descended the stairs quickly, knowing fiancée would be waiting.

On arrival in the Common Room Daphne spotted him instantly, speed running right up to him.

"What took you so long?" She'd taken to using her speed for everything, and anything less was too slow.

He kissed her lightly on her once pink lips, as he'd taken to doing. "Just thinking about how beautiful you'll be at tonight's party."

Daphne smirked widely at him, pulling Vlad closer. "When did you become such a sweet talker?"

"I like to keep my cards close to my chest, that way I can keep surprising you." He grinned just as wide as her smirk.

Laughing, the two made their way to breakfast.

As suspected, classes dragged on. What Vlad wouldn't do for this day to just be over! Alas, it had hardly even begun…

ooo

Vlad, once again, made his way down the staircase into the Common Room. However, quite unlike the morning, he took as long as he could to reach his destination. It wouldn't matter if they were late to the party, Vampires were always 'fashionably' late. The later you were the higher rank you held. It was a very complex system that even Vlad couldn't get his head around it, all he knew was that as Draculas he and his family would arrive four hours late at the earliest. However, as this was both a Wizarding and school event, he wouldn't observe such protocols. Which was probably for the best, considering Vlad didn't think Slughorn's stamina would keep him going much longer than four hours.

When he finally made it to the Common Room, Vlad noticed that Daphne wasn't there yet. Figuring she was still getting ready, he sat in front of the fire beside his fellow Slytherins also awaiting their dates to appear from their dorms.

Vlad turned to Terence Higgs, who was seated in the chair to his left. "Who're you taking tonight?"

He'd never really taken much notice of Terence, he was the year above him and other than being on the Quidditch team didn't seem to be any sort of interesting. There was a chance that Daphne had developed the need to arrive late like so many Vampires before her, so Vlad had to pass the time somehow.

"Tracy Davis." Terence replied, not looking at Vlad. "You?"

Vlad frowned, "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking—"

He was abruptly cut off by the sound of shattering glass and an angered scream. Vlad looked around at the others sitting with him, they all held faces of shock. As the boys all made to stand up Daphne appeared in the Common Room. She was snarling and her fangs were bared. Daphne's anger was manifesting in the form of a raging wind circulating the room, fierce enough to put out the flames in the large fireplace. Her hair was whipping around her face, making her look like a frighteningly gorgeous spirit with a vengeance.

"Vladimir Dracula, this is all your fault."

At her words Vlad swallowed thickly, he was almost afraid to ask.

"What is? Daph, is everything okay?" This only seemed to anger her more.

"Don't you 'Daph' me! It's completely your fault! I can't see myself in the Merlin damned mirror, Vlad! How am I supposed to get ready for a party with influential people in attendance if I can't even see what I look like!?"

Vlad cringed slightly, it was technically his fault he supposed, but he wasn't the only one to blame. He took a calming breath, there was no point in them both getting angry. They would destroy the common room.

"I get it Daphne, I really do. It's an adjustment all Vampires have to make. But in my defence, I asked you before I turned you. I was fully prepared to let you die if that's what you'd have preferred, but you chose this. So don't go pointing the finger when you're also responsible here." Vlad regretted his words almost as soon as they left his mouth.

"It wasn't much of a choice was it!? Desperate and staring death right in the face, die or become like you." She spat the word like he was something disgusting. "Don't lie to me Vladimir, I know who you are. I know that inside you there's this little worm of guilt making your stomach turn every time you look at me. You know you shouldn't have turned me, you know that you should have just let him kill me. But you didn't, and it wasn't because I asked you to, that's just what you keep telling yourself. We both know it's because you wanted nothing else in that moment but to drink my blood, and the thought makes you sick. Which makes me so happy, and you know why? Because it's all your fault."

She turned to walk back up the stairs, making her way back to the girls dorm at a human pace. As she strolled there was a the faint sound of a small metal object hitting the carpeted floor, and she left him with one last sentiment.

"Why should I tie myself to you forever when I have eternity to look forward to?"