Hermione stirred, though her body begged for her to fall back to sleep. For her to rest. She reached up her hand, rubbing at her eyes, trying to pry them open. She jumped straight from the bed though when she saw what was next to her, her mind trying to compute. Trying to work.

There was a man. He was staring straight at her.

"Morning Sunshine." Damon smiled, his blue eyes glinting playfully as he saw her dishevelled state. "Sleep well?"

"You arse, Salvatore." Hermione said, leaning across the bed to shove his shoulder playfully. "I'm regretting taking up your offer to stay the night. Please tell me you haven't slept in the same bed as me? That is really creepy."

The vampire had the audacity to look offended. As if he hadn't been sat in the bed, staring at her as she had been sleep. She should have warded the room before she slept, but she had been so exhausted. She mentally slapped herself on the back of the wrist.

"Of course not." Damon scoffed, "I just wanted to see how my guest was doing."

"Your guest is fine." Hermione assured, looking down at the clothes she was wearing. The long baggy top that she had borrowed from the man currently gazing at her. But she was looking for her phone which had been in her shorts . The denim pair caught her eye from across the room, Hermione quickly pacing over to check if she had received any messages. She reminded herself that she would need to grab her suitcase from the car outside.

"So, we have a slight problem." Damon said, finally removing himself from the bed. He walked closer to Hermione, looking over her shoulder. To look at the worried text she had received from Fred regarding Harry. She was not observant enough as she replied to the redhead, meaning that she didn't notice Damon behind her until he asked, "Harry has a boyfriend?"

Hermione spun to confront him, finding Damon too close for comfort. That man did not know the definition of personal space. "Had." Hermione corrected, backing away from the vampire.

"Seems a little too concerned about her wellbeing to just be a friend." Damon argued, seeming to enjoy the conversation they were having. Maybe he just liked annoying people.

"If we're to use that hypothesis, it would lead me to believe that you also have feelings for Harry." Hermione countered, seeing as Damon's eyes widened. "Afterall, you were the one that tried to free her from Klaus. Even risked your own life."

"It's called gratitude, princess. Harry saved my life, I feel like I owe her one." Damon replied edgily.

"Ah yes, how could I forget; you're in love with your brother's girlfriend." Hermione snarked, seeing Damon's muscle tense with quiet fury.

"About her, we have a problem." He said, steering the conversation in a different direction.

"I think 'you' have a problem, but not me. I'm not involving myself any further in this mess that you have made unless it puts Harry in danger." Hermione defended, flopping back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"It could intervene with Harry." Damon explained, lying back down next to her.

"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, turning her head towards him so that he had her full attention.

"Katherine – Elena's doppelgänger, ancestor, whatever – called her this morning. Told her where she could find Stefan. She'd dead set on going to Chicago to bring him back, but I know it's more than likely a trap. Katherine has always been sneaky." Damon explained, reaching out a hand to play with the hem of Hermione's oversized shirt.

Hermione slapped his hand away, watching as Damon rubbed the sore spot as she replied, "Then stop her from going, Damon. Tell her that it's dangerous."

"Tell me, did that ever work where Harry was concerned?" He asked, already knowing the answer.

"No." Hermione huffed. "Short from tying her to a chair, she would have always walked straight into a fight without ever looking back. Without looking at the consequences." She continued, reminiscing about her best friend. "So what, you want me to come to Chicago with you? Play back-up?"

"I mean you told me you took a few weeks off work. You can't tell me you have anything better to do?" Damon asked.

"I was actually going to curl up in a nice hotel somewhere near here with a good book and wait for Harry to call asking for help. Sooner or later, it's bound to happen." Hermione replied honestly, a simple shrug of her shoulders.

"Well you can wait in Chicago can't you?" He asked, batting his eyelids at her.

Hermione couldn't supress the grin that started to grow on her face. Damon reminded her slightly of the Twins, just with a dash of murderous vampire in the mix. She sat up on the edge of the bed, vampire following suit. "Fine, but you're driving-"

"Damon!" A voice yelled from downstairs. "Damon?" The woman asked again, this time closer. A brunette pocked her head around the door, smiling when she caught sight of the vampire. But it slowly slipped as she saw Hermione next to him, still dressed in very little, and the unmade bed they were perched upon.

"Good morning Elena." Damon greeted. "Up for a little road trip?"

"Yeah, I'd like to leave as soon as possible so if you wouldn't mind…finishing up whatever this is." Elena said, eyes darting between Damon and Hermione.

Hermione's gaze snapped to Damon when she understood the insinuation, but the vampire only had a lazy smile on his face. That bastard. She crossed her arms tightly to her chest, looking back at the woman, "There wasn't much finishing in all honesty. Not on my part that is."

Damon's head turned so quickly towards her that she wasn't sure how it hadn't fallen off. Elena's blush was visible across the room, continuing to stutter for words.

"Nicely played, Granger." Damon said shaking his head, standing to vacate the room. "Get dressed, we leave in ten."

~

If Harry were to disappear, she didn't think that Klaus nor Stefan would notice. They had arrived in Chicago in the early hours of the morning, only for the two to start reminiscing about the good old Ripper days. It didn't help that Stefan could scarcely remember the details, Klaus feeling the need to delve into the depths of the nineteen-twenties.

"Chicago was magical." She heard Klaus say as she examined the contents of the storage facility they had parked within. There was nothing of note, which disappointed Harry. She was hoping to learn why they were here without having to ask.

"They do actually have a magical community here." Harry added, trying to hide her own worry. Larger cities always put her on edge, knowing that there was a higher possibility that someone could recognise her. But especially now if MACUSA found out she was here, with a creature they classed as a 'dark being' at that, there would most definitely be conversations around her sanity.

But as concern started creeping in, Hermione's voice filtered into her mind. 'Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light.' Though Dumbledore's words, the meaning behind them had rang true through the war. When Harry and her best friends would sit in their tent whilst on the Horcrux hunt on the cold winter nights playing with Ron's deluminator. Showing that hope could be found within a world of despair.

So, when Stefan had reminded her to 'turn on the light', Harry knew that her best friend had found her somehow. And that message now consoled her, stopped the rising panic.

"I'll take your word for it." Klaus called back, closing the shutter doors that himself and Stefan had been staring at the city's skyline through.

"Why are we still with you Klaus?" Stefan asked the Hybrid edgily. He seemed to be becoming angrier by the day. "We had our fun, your hybrids failed. I mean, don't you want to move on?"

Stefan was walking a dangerous line, Harry thought to herself. Klaus, after overcoming the shock of witnessing Harry use Death magic, had thrown the biggest tantrum she had ever seen. He couldn't figure out why his hybrids had been unable to transition.

But both Stefan and Harry had a theory on why Klaus's hybrids had failed; Elena was still alive. Although Harry thought there might have been another explanation, seeing as Elena had actually died in the sacrifice. Either way, Stefan nor Harry wanted Klaus to find out that the human doppelgänger was still breathing.

"We're going to see my favourite witch." Klaus explained, smiling towards Harry. "Don't worry love, she's a nature witch. You're still superior in my eyes."

"Lucky me." Harry drawled, walking back towards them.

"Seeing as your magic can not help here, Henrietta, we're going to see if she can help us with our hybrid problem." Klaus said, holding his arm out, indicating for Harry to get into the car first. Apparently chivalry wasn't dead after all.

"Any chance we could grab food on the way?" Harry asked, looking through the dark tinted windows of the black SUV they had acquired. "And I mean human food. Unless you have forgotten that I'm not actually a vampire."

Klaus chuckled from the driver's seat, heading out into the city. Next to him, Stefan's face remained impassive. "How about pizza? I don't think they will have treacle tart anywhere around here."

Harry's eyebrows pinched together, looking at him through the rear-view mirror, unaware of how he knew that was her favourite food. She hadn't mentioned it once since they had left Mystic Falls. "Sure." Harry replied, "Pizza would be great."

An hour later, the three of them strolled into a bar. Harry eyes scanned the facility they had just entered, examining. The stage at the front was full of instruments, whereas old style paintings lined the walls over the leather seated booths. Light started to flicker through the windows as the sun rose, allowing Harry to see the dust that seemed to rise.

"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Klaus asked Stefan, leaning against the wooden barrier that overlooked the dance floor.

"I can't believe this place is still here." Stefan replied, also looking around the timeworn establishment, recognition blazing in his eyes.

From the shadows from across the room, a woman emerged. She looked across the three of them, Harry noticing the tight grip she had on a book that was securely fastened underneath her arm. A grimoire if she had to guess. This was the witch Klaus was looking for. "You gotta be kidding me." The woman said flummoxed.

"So, a hybrid walks into the bar, says to the bartender-" Klaus tried to joke.

"Stop." The woman demanded, walking closer. "You may be invincible but that doesn't make you funny."

Klaus laughed, surprising Harry. She didn't know he had the ability to make friends. But the nature witch was now looking at Stefan, the vampire scrutinizing as if he were trying to put a name to a face. "I remember you." The nature witch spoke.

"Yeah." Stefan agreed. "You're Gloria."

Gloria turned to Harry, eyes narrowing as she took in her appearance. "You I don't know."

"Lyra Evans." Harry replied, falling back into the routine of providing a false identity.

"British as well." Gloria noted. "What's a pretty young thing like you doing in the company of an Original Hybrid?"

"She's not compelled, if that's what you're thinking." Klaus defended, walking closer to casually throw an arm over Harry's shoulder in a show of unity. Harry tried her best not to grimace, or let her anger get the better of her. "I just happen to enjoy her company."

"Wish I could say the same." Harry muttered in a low voice, allowing only the vampires to hear her. Though Gloria continued to stare at her, but not with worry. With intrigue.

Klaus shot her his signature warning look before turning to Stefan, asking him, "Why don't you go and fix us up a little something from behind the bar?"

The demand in the hybrids voice was clear for all of those present, Stefan pivoting on his feet to head behind the bar. "I'll just have a bottle of something." Harry called out, hoping to make the day bearable.

Both Klaus and Gloria walked towards the nearest table, Harry happy to stay standing where she was. But when Klaus pulled out another chair, head swivelling back to Harry in invitation, she found her feet moving.

"You trust her?" Gloria asked Klaus as Harry sat down. Klaus's head dipped minutely in answer. "Never thought I would see the day."

"Lyra and I have an…understanding." Klaus explained, smiling tightly at Harry. She narrowed her eyes in return. That is not the wording she would use.

Gloria nodded her head in acceptance as she said to Klaus, "I know why you're here. A hybrid out to make more hybrids? That kind of news travels."

"So, what am I doing wrong?" Klaus asked agitatedly, arm draped across the back of Harry's chair. She could feel the heat of his skin soak into her back, as she scooted to the edge of her chair to avoid him. But Harry couldn't help but think he looked elegant as he draped across his seat, even though she was aware of the beast that lurked beneath the surface. "I broke the curse."

"Obviously you did something wrong." Gloria said flippantly. But when she saw the look that passed over Klaus's face, she continued, "Look, every spell has a loophole but a curse that old, we'd have to contact the witch that created it."

"Well, that would be the original witch." Klaus responded, eyebrows raised in what Harry thought was amusement. "She's very dead."

"I know, which is why I'll need help to contact her." Gloria explained simply. "Bring me Rebekah."

Klaus bared his teeth, breathing in deeply. "Rebekah….Rebekah's a bit preoccupied."

"She has what I need." Gloria argued, standing to walk towards the door she had originally appeared from. "Bring her to me."

When the witch had disappeared from ear shot, Harry pivoted in her chair to look at the vampire. His face was full of resolve, as if he had finally understood what was needed in order to succeed.

"We need another woman's help?" Harry asked jokingly, pulling Klaus from his thoughts. "I reckon you don't need me around anymore."

A smile spread across his face. "Don't put yourself down, love. It seems you don't know your worth to me." He said jovially. Harry continued to stare at him, waiting for a backhanded compliment. But he didn't, his eyes rapidly moving to survey her face. Suddenly he turned to look at Stefan.

Stefan's face was bunched up in confusion, causing Harry's own eyebrows to pinch together. "What is this?" Stefan asked, turning the photo he had in his hand around. There stood Klaus and Stefan in the photo, the latter's arm wrapped around the other. A photo from the nineteen-twenties. One that Stefan clearly had no remembrance of.

This trip just got a whole lot more complicated, Harry thought bitterly.

~

The car ride had been awkward, even by Hermione's standards. The tension that had risen between Elena and Damon could be broken with a knife. So, Hermione had resigned herself to listening to them sniping at each other whilst led in the back of the car on the way to Chicago.

She must have dozed off to their dulcet tones as she was rudely awakened for the second time that day to the sight of Damon's face. Though this time, he was a lot bloodier. He had his hand covering his nose, before a loud crunch was heard when he snapped his nose back into place. "What the fuck, Granger?"

"Sorry!" She spluttered out, figuring she must have been the cause. She watched the vampire as he hastily wiped the blood from his face. Ungracefully, Hermione managed to clumber out of the car onto the concrete pathway. "You should never wake a sleeping witch, Salvatore. Thought you would have learnt that from Harry."

To say that both herself and Harry were not still experiencing unresolved issues from the Second Wizarding War would not be accurate. Ten years had passed but unfortunately some wounds heal slower than others, the two witches only being able to find solace some nights with each other. When the nightmares become too vivid. When a certain sound triggered an unexplainable response.

"Surprisingly never had to wake Harry up." Damon replied. "But I'll make a note to use a poking stick."

Hermione smiled as she quickly surveyed their surroundings, the layby in which Damon had parked. The sound of the busy streets of the bustling city flooded into her hearing as soon as she got out of the car. "We're witches. She could easily turn the stick into a snake."

"A snake?" He chuckled, walking into a desolate building across the street, Elena following close behind. "Medusa style?"

"Don't let her hear you say that." Hermione said, realising that her friend must not have told the vampire about being a Parslemouth. They made their way up the stairs, the sound of the wood aching under their weight not filling the witch with confidence. "Stefan really couldn't find himself somewhere better to stay?" Hermione asked, watching what she thought was mice running along the hallway.

"There used to be an all-girls high school around the corner." Damon explained, walking towards the furthest door from them. "But it got shut down for attendance issues."

Hermione could almost hear Elena's eye roll from beside her. Damon simply shrugged his shoulders, reaching out his hand towards the door handle. He tightened his hand, increasing his grip strength and with one final pull, ripped it off of the door. A simple push of the door led them into Stefan's old room, dust lining all the furniture. However, it was still tidy, not having too many break ins over the years.

Damon made a show of explaining the little details to Elena, clearly trying to frighten her into dropping the ridiculous plan she had concocted. Though the doppelgänger was not deterred by any of the gruesome information that Damon spouted, including the wall that specified the names of all of Stefan's victims. Of the people he had murdered.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed, perching on the already crumpled sheets. Between her fingers, she played with her wand, twirling it back and forth in her hand. A bad habit that Professor McGonagall would scoff at, but one she found comfort in nonetheless.

The vampire headed towards the door abruptly, pulling the witch from her thoughts. "Just where do you think you are going?" She asked in the same tone she used with Harry.

"Stefan's old stomping ground." He replied, twisting his head around to look at her through his dark eyelashes. "You're now officially on babysitting duty."

Hermione scoffed, looking at Elena besides her who seemed to be trying to drill holes in the side of Damon head with her stare alone. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Not at all. I'll be back when I have him." Damon assured, closing the door behind him to block out any further protest.

The witch looked around the room, seeing the dust that was resting on the surface, the marks that she didn't even want to guess were the remnants of. At least she would have something to do to keep her mind occupied.

After an extended period of tense silence, with only Hermione casting the occasional cleaning spell, Elena finally asked, "So you and Damon…"

The laugh that escaped Hermione's throat was genuine. "There is no me and Damon, that I can assure you."

"But this morning, you two were together?" She asked sceptically, seemingly not believing Hermione.

"He was being a creep, snuck in to watch me sleep. It was as if I was in Twilight, just less romantic and more stalkerish." Hermione explained, snapping the duvet in place with a spell to rid of the creases.

"Yeah he can be a bit…Damon." Elena joked, admiring the work that Hermione was completing. "You and Harry seem to be close though. She mentioned you went to school together."

The witch appreciated the change in subject, but speaking about school, remembering Ron, sometimes it was too hard to talk about than not. "Yeah, we were roommates for six years. Would have been seven if it weren't for the war."

"Harry doesn't talk about the war much but I'm sorry…for what you guys had to go through. For those that you lost."

Hermione sucked in a breath as a sharp pain spasmed through her chest. The faces of the people they couldn't save flashing before her. The funerals she attended. The remembrance of the tears that didn't stop flowing for weeks. "Thank you. I'm sorry too, for losing your parents. I know what that's like."

An understanding settled between them, both returning to comforting silence but speaking about the odd subject. Though an hour later, when Hermione heard footsteps edging closer to their location, she wondered if the spring clean she had commenced was the smartest idea.

One look at Elena showed that she was already panicking. Hermione silently pushed her index finger to her lips in a request to remain quiet. Elena nodded, though watched as Hermione drew her beaded bag closer to her, only to pull out a cloak from within. The witch could understand the confusion but didn't allow Elena to comment before she tossed the material over them, heading back into the hidden storage unit for additional safety.

Right next to the list of Stefan's victims.

Voices were muffled from behind the closed door, but she could make out a distinct male voice. "Do either of you feel that?"

"This place has been vacant for decades." Another voice said. Elena tensed next to her, Hermione was just able make out the word Elena was mouthing in the dark. 'Stefan'. "People must break in all the time."

"You sure this isn't someone's apartment? It seems way too clean to have been vacant for so long."

Harry. She was here.

Their voices drifted in and out of earshot as they wandered around the apartment. Suddenly the door to the storage cupboard was flung open. "You believe me now?" The British male asked.

But something about that voice seemed familiar, as if she had heard it a hundred times before. Though it felt like a distant memory, a dream she had long ago and had since been forgotten.

Stefan emerged around the corner, looking straight through them towards the wall of names of his victims. Elena was shaking with restraint to stop her throwing herself at her boyfriend she had not seen in months.

"It's a shame your name isn't on his list, Klaus." Harry taunted the Hybrid. Hermione closed her eyes as she reigned in her temper at her best friend provoking an immortal being. One of the oldest known in existence.

But instead, laughter was heard. "Now love, you would miss me if I wasn't here." Klaus said flirtatiously.

'Wait. Klaus was flirting. With Harry.' Hermione thought to herself, staggered at the turn of events.

"If you two keep antagonising each other, I'm going to need another drink." Stefan explained, reaching to grab a random bottle from the shelves before closing the storage door behind him.

No one had been aware of either herself or Elena's presence.

But Hermione needed an explanation from her best friend. Needed to find answers as to what in the name of Merlin was happening between her and the Original Hybrid.

~

Harry sat at the bar, nursing the Whiskey that was in her tumbler. Rubbing her temples, she tried to ignore the men that were sat to the right of her. All day, all they seemed to do was reminisce about the 1920's. The witch didn't mind, she just would have preferred to have been anywhere else instead of listening to them. Especially could have skipped the trip where she learnt that Klaus kept his sister daggered in a box.

Another presence appeared to her left, feeling their eyes drilling into the back of her head. She waited to see if they would relent without Harry having to turn them down, but they seemed persistent. "Can I help you?" Harry asked irritably, not turning around.

Harry's voice seemed to have lulled Klaus from his conversation with Stefan as his head perked up to look over at her.

"Sorry, you just look exactly like Harry-"

The core witch pivoted in her chair in a rush, looking at the man behind her. He was young, probably only just old enough to enter the bar. He had shoulder length dark hair pulled back into a bun, and sharp defining features. "Who?" She asked, playing the innocent muggle façade.

"Merlin's beard you are Harry Potter!" The man exclaimed excitedly before trying to gain his composure. Smoothing out his top, he extended his hand towards her. "My name is Bradley Moonington. I was hoping that I would run into you one day."

Distantly she heard Stefan mention finding a real drink, his footsteps soon retreating. But Harry was too concerned with contemplating her next cause of action to allow the wizard in front of her to leave as quickly as possible. With minimal fuss might she add. Finally Harry huffed out a breathe, pushing her hand out to grasp Bradley's. "Pleasure to meet you." She greeted half-heartedly. But discretely she leant in to whisper to him, "Look Bradley, I'm going to be honest with you. I am actually on an assignment right now."

She heard his excited intake of breath. "Oh really?" He asked, eyes roaming Rita's bar as if he didn't believe her.

"Yes, so what I need you to do is-"

"This man bothering you?" Klaus asked, now standing beside her, his face not overly pleased.

Harry pulled back from the man, ignoring as she viewed in her peripheral vision as Bradley began to shake. With nerves or excitement, she would never know. "Not at all. This young gentleman was just singing my praises." Harry explained, trying to lighten the mood.

It did not work.

Klaus's features became even more pinched, as he looked Bradley up and down. "I see." He said shortly. "Why don't you join us for a drink mate?"

Bradley didn't have time to answer as Klaus guided him into a seat roughly, though the wizard didn't seem too put out as he sat down next to Harry. "Yeah that would be great." He exclaimed, completely dismissing the fake scenario Harry had provided.

"So," Klaus began, looking directly at Bradley. But Harry could see as the Hybrid's eyes started to dilate as his words starting to flow, "What are your intentions with the lovely Harry here tonight?"

"Klaus, what the fuck –" Harry began to yell.

But Bradley began talking, his eyes dazed as he started to spout an explanation "When I saw she was here, I was hoping that she would come back to my place. My friends would think I was Merlin reincarnated if I was able to bang Harry Potter."

Klaus had the right to look smug, giving Harry a look that said, 'I told you so.'. But his attention turned back to the wizard in front of him, the man now looking around in a daze trying to figure out why he had just admitted such a thing. The hybrid looked in Bradley's eyes once more, whilst he demanded, "You will forget meeting Harry and myself tonight. You will go home by yourself and sit in the solitude of your empty apartment as you so deserve. You contemplate your useless existence whilst repeating the mantra 'woman are not objects' until the sun rises in the morning."

Bradley blinked rapidly, shaking his head as if he forgot something. Then, without another glimpse at either of them, he stood and left the bar. When he was gone, she turned to Klaus. "You just compelled him."

"Obviously." He drawled, taking a sip of his drink. "Would you have preferred that I killed him instead?"

"No!" Harry exclaimed shaking her head.

"Look love, I saw him staring at you as soon as he walked into the bar." Klaus explained, eyes now taking in Harry's features. "A thousand years on this earth and you learn to read people. But if you want to go back to Bradley's place and be a score on his list of women that he's fucked, then feel free."

Harry spluttered, trying to form words over the haze of anger. "No, I do not want to go back to his." She said, pushing his arm in anger. It seemed to only make him smile, as if he were supressing a laugh. "What do you find so funny?"

"Oh nothing." Klaus chuckled, "Just for someone so deadly, I have a hard time to find you anything but adorable."

Harry squinted her eyes, though now peacefully resting once again on her stool. "Careful, that was almost a compliment."

"Wouldn't want that, would we?" Klaus joked, though his eyes seemed to dim.

But maybe Harry did.

~

"I assume the plan worked?" Damon asked, his eyes carefully watching as Elena exited a darkened back alley across the road. Though her face revealed that the conversation she had with Stefan did not end well.

"You were right." Hermione admitted frustratedly. "Klaus didn't even consider following Stefan out when he saw Harry talking to another man."

Damon hummed. "He's like a lovesick puppy. It's disgusting."

"I think I'm partially inclined to agree with you." Hermione said, wondering how Harry had not only avoided dying by the Original Vampires hand but made him like her. "It was a good idea to compel Brad, I fear he may have been too scared to approach Harry if not. She can be somewhat…"

"Intimidating?" Damon supplied the word for her.

"Yes, that's a nice way to put it. The only one that could understand her was Fred, but they were two peas in a pod." Hermione explained in kind.

"Two peas in a what?" Damon asked, clearly not listening to Hermione as Elena neared.

"It's a saying." Hermione replied, rolling her eyes. The vampire had tuned her out completely now, starting a conversation with Elena. But it allowed Hermione the time to contemplate; something she had been doing a lot lately.

With a strong disillusionment charm, she had been able to spy on her friend from within Rita's bar. The invisibility cloak could have worked, but she was worried her friend may be able to see through the glamour considering her unusual abilities. But she was able to watch first-hand the interaction Harry had with Klaus.

And if Hermione knew her friend, which she did, she would dare say that Harry was starting to reciprocate Klaus's obvious feelings. It was the only reason Hermione had decided to not involve herself further. Harry had not been involved with anyone other than Fred, forgetting the occasional fling. Had cut off any possible connection with another being before allowing it to bloom, too scared of losing yet another person in her life. So, if Harry decided that this man was worthy, even if he were a thousand year old murderous vampire, then so be it. But this she would not be mentioning to Damon.

"Let's go home." Hermione heard Damon say, his eyes now looking at Hermione in a silent request to leave. But as they were strolling, he also added, "Oh, remind me to grab you some vervain, Granger. You were saying earlier that you had ran out."

"Thank you, that would be great." Hermione replied appreciatively. "Harry did mention before that a core witch or wizard could be compelled by the supernatural vampires. It's because we didn't create your kind you see, that we don't have an innate ability to resist compulsion. But if you're talented enough at occulemy then –"

"Thank you for the history lesson, Granger. But would you mind if we got out of here first?" Damon asked tiredly.

Hermione nodded her head, understanding that the situation must now be taking its toll on Damon. But Elena's voice seemed to perk him up. "Do you think Harry will be okay?"

"Oh, she'll be fine. She always is." Hermione replied, not letting slip of her suspicions.

"For her sake, I hope you're right." Damon stated offhandedly.

Hermione hoped she was right too.

~

The dead body was no longer in the coffin.

Blood surrounded the dead guard Klaus had compelled earlier that day.

The Hybrid stood alongside the open casket, hands slackened at his sides as his eyes roamed the too silent warehouse. Harry stood further back, leaning against a metal shelf out of sight, darkness curled around her. This was one family reunion that she did not want to be a part of.

"Rebekah." Klaus called in a mocking voice. "It's your big brother. Come out, come out, wherever you are."

Faster than even Harry's eyes could track, Klaus was pushed against the crates behind him by a blurred force. His body slammed into the ridge, the sound echoing off the stone walls. Klaus gasped as a blonde female came into view. The same woman Harry had seen earlier that day, daggered and decaying.

Rebekah.

Her eyes zoomed in on the two siblings, Harry now able to see that same weapon protruding out of Klaus's chest. Harry couldn't help it. Couldn't resist the joy she felt at seeing the infamous Klaus, the Original Hybrid, wounded.

Harry laughed.

Loudly.

The blonde's face snapped towards her as Klaus's face turned grim, pulling the dagger out of his heart. With dramatic effect, he dropped it to the floor. The clatter tore Rebekah's attention back to her brother. "You knew that wouldn't kill me, sweet sister."

Rebekah pouted. "No but I was hoping it would hurt more." She admitted. Though she didn't hesitate when she asked, "Have you brought me another snack?"

Her heels snapped against the concrete, her face morphing into one of a predator. As if she were about to stalk her prey. But Klaus sped in front of her, blocking any further advancement. "Henrietta love," He called, "come and meet my lovely sister."

Cautiously, though not timid, Harry stalked out of the darkness towards them. Rebekah's eyes roamed her from head to toe as the witch stopped besides Klaus. The vampires face did not disguise any of her feelings; hunger, anger, but the most obvious of all, resentment.

"Who's this, Nik?" Rebekah asked brashly, eyes darting between the two of them.

"Pleasure to meet you, Rebekah." Harry greeted in kind. "I'm a…friend of Klaus."

"Klaus doesn't have friends." Rebekah spat, clearly confused.

"Oh really?" Klaus asked, seemingly flummoxed. "Then I guess the peace offering that I brought won't be of interest to you."

As if summoned, Stefan walked into the room warily. He eyed all of us that had gathered, looking as if he were weighing up his options if all of us turned against him. Harry would dare say he was becoming paranoid.

Klaus walked up to Stefan, leaving Harry besides Rebekah. And even though Stefan should have been the priority on the vampire's mind, the witch could feel the female vampire staring at her. Assessing her.

But when Klaus compelled Stefan to remember them, the two vampires and hybrid all reunited. If Harry wasn't so worried that one of her arteries might be ripped open any second by the Original Vampire, then she might have enjoyed watching. But instead, she remained on guard.

"Now the reason you're here." Klaus said to his sister. "Gloria tells me that you know how to contact the Original Witch."

"The Original Witch?" Rebekah asked confused. "Why?"

Klaus ignored her question. "Tell me, Rebekah. What do you have that Gloria needs?"

His sister relented, rolling her eyes as she raised a hand to her neck. But fear seemed to consume her features as she caressed her collar bones. She looked down suddenly, "What did you do with my necklace?" She demanded from her brother. "Where is it? I never take it off!"

"I don't know, I didn't touch it." Klaus assured, though clearly angered. "Tell me that's not what she needs. Tell me that's not what she needs, Rebekah!"

The blonde swirled towards her coffin, pulling apart the interior. Searching every crevasse for the piece of jewellery. But Harry wasn't watching her tantrum. Her focus was zoomed in on Stefan, his face full of unfiltered guilt and fear. Not even as the Original Vampire flipped the coffin over did Harry move, nor flinch.

She was so consumed with one thought. One she knew was correct from Stefan's facial expression.

Elena had the necklace.