AN: Dearest readers and followers,

My apologies for the late update of this chapter, I have been stricken down by the flu bug and unable to life. Hope you are all still enjoying this story, and expect a new chapter on Sunday as usual!

Aways,

Sybilla

20th December 2006

"God damnit Padma, don't tell me those bloodsuckers don't have humans with their bloody phones and computers and other crap around for you to trace," Draco positively growled despite her unimpressed expression.

They were on Day 12 of Mission Find Hermione, and they were making zero progress. The place she was held was either cloaked, or enchanted, or something, because Draco was ready to apparate there and find her himself.

Belarus, check.

Caves, check.

Miles of mountains and not enough people to check them, also fucking check.

It didn't help any that Ginger One and Ginger Two were breathing down his neck, along with Kingsley, the rest of the team who were looking for her furiously, as well as a feisty little girl that was actually growing on him. Damn Gryffindors, he was surrounded by them these days….

"Hey Draco, can I grab you for a sec?" Bill appeared out of nowhere by his elbow, looking all sombre.

"You have two minutes," Draco leaned back against his desk while Bill closed the door on his office. It appeared he was going to get slack from Ginger number Three. Fan-fucking-tastic.

"You mentioned dream-walking. She was turned, wasn't she?" he asked without permeable, always right to the point.

Draco considered him for a moment and shrugged. "I can't tell whether that is her own ability, or one she gained upon turning," he answered honestly for once. When Granger was concerned, there really was no telling what she was capable of. "But I suspect Reznikov will not let this opportunity pass him by, I think he wants her," he added.

"Have you told Kings?" Bill asked, crossing his arms over his chest, a deep frown marring his forehead.

Draco shook his head. "There is nothing to tell him just yet. I'm not going to provide him with unverified information, that is not part of my job," he said firmly.

Bill was about to respond but he was silenced by a deep blue memo, one that was urgent and only sent by the very man they were discussing. MY OFFICE. NOW. BOTH OF YOU.

They shared a quick look before using the special floo connection between their department and the office of the Minister, only to stumble upon quite a sight.

Hermione Granger was standing in the middle of Kingsley Shacklebolt's office, the ivory long sleeve dress thin and leaving little to imagination, not to mention the blood covering it was making a right mess of it.

She offered a half smile but took a step back just as Draco took a step towards her. "If you are planning to hug me, I wouldn't. I haven't hugged a human yet," she admitted honestly.

The change was subtle to most but to them it was immediately noticeable. Her skin was clear and a couple of shades paler than usual, making the dotting of freckles on her nose stand out a bit more. Her voluminous curls were thick and glossy and untamed as ever but the reddish undertones were much more pronounced. And where her whiskey eyes used to glisten with intelligence, they were now sharp with knowledge beyond their understanding, and something deep, a little predatory.

Bill took out his wand and watched her eyes capture his every single movement. "Magic still a bit haywire?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and stood still, showing him she would accept his magic. He cast a gentle cleaning charm and both her skin and dress were now clean, making her appear less intimidating. "Thank you," she nodded and looked at Kingsley. "May I take a seat?" she asked, well aware that Kingsley was a little bit stunned.

Kingsley came to himself when she addressed him and motioned at the comfortable armchair. "Of course, please. Can we get you anything? Are you hurt in any way?" he asked, his concern evident as much as his relief to have her back.

Hermione shook her head. "I'm well, thank you. A cup of tea would be nice though?" she suggested and smiled thankfully when Kings called in his secretary for the order.

Draco walked over with measured steps and took the armchair beside her, watching her reaction just as much as she watched him. She seemed to be amused about something.

"What's funny?" Draco asked, still a bit dazed and just taking his best friend in.

"You smell exotic but I don't want to taste you," she said plainly, snickering when he nearly choked on his own breath.

"That is probably the last thing I ever expected to hear from your mouth," he managed.

Hermione shrugged. "I bet you never expected me to be a vampire either," she said, addressing the elephant in the room. "I'm still getting used to it but I'm mostly aware of my abilities and needs. I pose no threat to any of you at present time," she promised and watched everyone relax a little.

"Mind if I do a check up? Just want to make sure your magic is handling the physical changes," Bill offered.

Hermione nodded and crossed her legs elegantly, waiting patiently for him to do the scan. Bill muttered words in one of the older languages he spoke, not a traditional latin incantation that they were used to. The magic was however warm and tickled a little, making her smile as it traveled through her body and enveloped her steadily pulsing magical core.

Bill looked surprised for a moment before he realised who he was doing the reading on and smiled. "Well, you may give Ollivander a run for his money trying to get a new wand. Your core can sustain in itself, and you will probably be using a bit more blood-bound and blood-born magic, but you may yet accept a new wand," he confirmed.

"Mine was broken in the struggle, was it not?" she asked Draco, knowing he would have been in her flat.

Draco nodded and reached into his pocket, showing her the small piece he was able to salvage. "That's all we've got," he offered it to her.

She however shook her head, her old wand now holding no appeal to her. "It's fine, I'll just have to see Olivander. Before that though, I guess you're all wondering about what happened."

The tea arrived and they all settled down for her report. Leaving out no detail about the location, conditions she was kept in and the plans she overheard, she explained everything that occurred for the past 12 days.

"How did you escape, and whose was the blood?" Bill asked, covering the two things she yet hasn't answered.

"I killed Reznikov, and the blood on my dress was his," she confirmed what they already suspected.

"How?" Draco asked, curious to know how the events unraveled.

"Well…" Hermione began, thinking back at last night.

The night she was waiting for finally arrived and with it a gown that hid very little, a fitting choice for what Reznikov was planning for them. She took a leisurely bath to keep him waiting in anticipation, applied a light perfume to entice, and pulled on the beautiful dress. She would never have chosen it herself, but seeing it hugging her curves made her feel powerful and she wasn't sure where that feeling came from; confidence or her vampire nature. She applied the rouge to her lips, knowing it would help mark her glass out and keep the poisoned one away from herself.

He was waiting for her when she came in and she could now recognise the slight flutter of his nostrils as he breathed her in and his irises widened slightly, taking her in.

"You look splendid," he offered and picked up her hand, kissing her knuckles gallantly. If she didn't know him and his motives, she might even have suspected he was a gentleman. Thankfully she knew better.

While still remaining 'out of bounds', her attitude was playful over the past few days, showing him that she was getting used to his presence and further sparking his interest. "You picked the dress," she replied playfully and allowed herself to be led into the room.

The layout has been changed slightly and there was no chess in sight, only a new chaise lounge that has been brought in to sit in front of the fire.

"And you wear it with grace. Would you care to join me?" he motioned at the seat.

Hermione offered a small playful smile and nodded. "The fire is rather small though. I'll get the wine while you..stroke the flames a bit more?" she suggested, the words rolling off her tongue and hitting her mark head on, judging by the flex of his fingers against hers.

"Don't take long," he said before heading for the flame.

Hermione walked over to the table with the glasses and the two carafes, one of blood and the other of wine. She poured the wine first and while one of her hands set the wine down, the other gently tipped over Reznikov's glass and nearly all of the soft powder left her ring and fell into his glass. She closed the jewelled cap on the ring with a simple hand gesture and picked up the wine carafe, pouring the blood in and watching the poison mix in nicely into the liquid. Perfect. She took a small sip from her own glass and carried them over, hers already marked out.

Reznikov raised a brow. "Impatient, my dear?" he teased.

Hermione put on a demure look. "I am a little peckish," she admitted and let herself be pulled into his lap as they raised their glasses in a toast. "To a new beginning?" she suggested.

"That is suitable," he agreed and they clinked their glasses before drinking them down.

Once the empty glasses were set down, Hermione kicked off her heels and pressed Reznikov down into the cushion, turning to straddle his waist, the dress now hiked up dangerously high upon her thigh. She knew the poison would work much faster than on a human due to the way vampire heart pumped the blood around the system, so he wanted him distracted until it was too late. The feeling of his arousal against her inner thigh was sickening but she managed to keep her facade.

"Now, shall we?" she asked coquettishly, seeing the whites of his eyes turning yellow. It was working fast.

He was about to respond but began coughing instead, a trail of blood leaking from his mouth. He looked down and realised what was happening, his gaze turned hateful and reached for her throat. She tried to stop him but he was strong, and they ended up rolling on the floor, trying to overpower one another. For a moment it looked like he was going to break her neck but he suddenly convulsed atop her and all the blood came up as he spewed it all over her chest and dress.

She finally managed to roll away and watched in fascination as the blood turned black and he began falling apart, his undead body falling into pieces and turning to ashes….

"What happened next, how did you get out of there?" Bill asked calmly but internally was absolutely fascinated by this side of Hermione.

"His guard heard our scuffle and came in. Then several of the other vampires of his clan came in and saw Reznikov was dead. According to our rules, what you kill, you claim. They pledged allegiance to me, the whole coven," Hermione replied with an amused smile.

"So, you are now in control of a whole coven," Kingsley repeated, just to make sure he understood well.

"Yes. They will all travel tomorrow to London and will willingly begin cooperating with the Ministry. There is one I want to introduce to you, Monsieur Guillaume Babylas. He was the oldest, turned in the 1700s and was only a part of the coven because he was planning to tear Reznikov down. He's part of a French version of out Unit 25," she explained.

"Then he will be most welcome," Kingsley nodded. "Now, with regards to your…status, do you wish to remain a part of Unit 25 or will you be re-evaluating your position?" he asked, now back in full Prime Minister mode.

Hermione set down her cup of tea and stood. "I would like to take two weeks to rest and consider my next steps, if that is acceptable with you," she asked, her question one of deeper meaning for the man she called her friend.

Kingsley clearly understood her message and nodded. "You are welcome to rest and then return at your convenience," he replied before dismissing them all.

Draco steered Hermione into the floo and once down in their department quickly into his office. She smiled fondly at his antics, relieved to see him as well. They stood looking at each other for a moment once the door was closed, before Hermione stepped closer and hugged him lightly, knowing her strength was elevated. Draco wrapped his arms around her tightly and held her close, relishing having his friend back. She felt still the same, warm and comforting and soft. If he closed his eyes he wouldn't even know his best friend has changed.

"I'm glad you're back," he admitted as they pulled back to look at each other.

"It's good to be home," she offered a smile before sighing. "I have a favour to ask of you."

"Name it," Draco said simply, praying to all gods she wasn't leaving their lives.

Hermione smiled at the lack of hesitation. "I need to meet with Fred. No George, no Roxy, just Fred. And I need to do it in your apartment."

Draco raised a perplexed brow. "Why in my apartment?" he asked curiously.

"Because I know your scent and your blood holds no appeal. I don't know how I'll react to Fred and I know you can stop me if I need to be stopped," she admitted, having a feeling she would need the support.

Draco considered her for a moment before nodding. "Come, we'll use my floo," he directed her to the fireplace and they were gone with a flicker of green flames.