Disclaimer: The only thing I own is the Monogatari family and their friends not found in the HP universe.

Chapter 22

Poison

Lucius held the paper in his hand, pacing around as he read it, groaning with each word. Why did he agree to a teaching position? If these third year essays were any indication where their level of intelligence was, he was ready to avada himself. He had just turned toward his desk to toss the offending paper down when his classroom door burst open, bouncing off the wall. He turned to see Hermione Granger standing there, a piece of paper held tightly in her fist, cheeks flushed and eyes alight in anger.

As she stormed across the room toward his smirking face, he noticed two of those vampires standing just within the door, as if guarding her. His grey eyes remained on the vision of an angry Hermione. He was quite fond of it really. The first step had been made. She would be his.

Hermione stormed up to him, not bothering to say a word before her hand flew across his face with the resounding sound of flesh hitting flesh. By the door, Ayame cringed slightly remembering how it felt to be on Lucius' end of that hit.

"How dare you!" She threw her mother's letter at him.

He picked the letter up off the ground and looked down at it, skimming it enough to get the gist of what was said. His eyes were still filled with a cold anger at her physical attack of him.

"Did you honestly think I would marry you?"

"I know you will," Lucius said.

He pulled another paper out of his pocket and held it out to her. She snatched it from his hand and stared down at it, growing pale.

"I'm sure you recognize that," Lucius said. "You are a smart witch and I'm sure you've come across it in your History of Magic studies. Your mother signed the betrothal agreement. You will belong to me."

Hermione felt her chin quiver and felt the tears welling up. How could he do this? Why would he do this?

"Why? I'm a Mudblood, remember."

Lucius smirked ever so slightly.

"Yes," he said. "But you will be my Mudblood."

She dropped the contract and her hand flew back. Lucius saw it coming this time and caught her wrist, jerking her forward against him. The physical altercation would not be accepted by those guarding her. Had he forgotten they were even there? The moment Lucius grabbed her wrist and jerked her forward against him, he felt a hand on his throat and saw Ayame come up behind Hermione, wrapping an arm around her as if to pull her away.

"Let. Go. Of. Hermione-chan."

Chi's nostrils flared in anger. Without his glasses he was even more menacing looking. Lucius' eyes nervously looked at this vampire and then dropped Hermione's wrist. She allowed Ayame to pull her back out of Lucius' reach and she rubbed her wrist where she could see a bruise forming. Chi did not let go, instead he stepped in front of Lucius, where Hermione had been and leaned down into his ear.

"Listen closely, Malfoy-san," he hissed in a barely controlled rage. "Two of my nephews are in love with Hermione-chan. She is like a little sister to me. That makes her family." Chi's voice dropped even lower and became even more menacing as the threat seemed to send chills down Lucius' spine. "You will leave Imouto alone. If you so much as breathe wrong in her direction, I'm coming for you."

With a slight shove he let go of Lucius and watched him tumble back slightly before turning with a grin and joining Ayame with Hermione. As they reached the door, Ayame walked out first, followed by Hermione and Chi turned at the door to give one last chilling looking in Lucius' direction.

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They sat in her usual corner of the library, silent. His book lay open on the page he had been reading. Hermione's book sat on the table, not yet opened. Between the books sat a jar of cream Madame Pomfrey gave her once for bruising. Kuro sat facing Hermione, gently rubbing the cream on her bruised wrist, wishing more than anything to get his hands on Lucius.

Her eyes wouldn't leave him. The way Kuro, such a powerful man in his own right, moved, his gentle touch was simply amazing. It gave her chills to feel the warmth of his fingertips caressing the underside of her wrist. Her eyes closed for a moment. When she opened her eyes, Kuro slowly looked up at her. His dark eyes locked on hers. He could hear her heart pounding in her chest and suddenly the fragrance of her blood running through her veins surrounded him. All because he was in love with her and had tasted her. His fingertips stilled on her skin and he closed his eyes trying to will the fragrance, the desire away.

Hermione felt her heart pounding wildly. Kuro, she could see it all in her mind. She saw him at the beach party, the ball, inside that prison of Malfoy Manor, all the times she was with him and the overwhelming feeling of missing something, some part of her when he was gone. Her free hand tentatively reached out, touching his cheek. His eyes opened, meeting hers with that hungry desire dancing in their depths.

She knew.

She knew with every fiber of her being.

It was Kuro she could not do without.

She leaned forward as she noticed Kuro glancing at her lips moving slowly toward her. He stopped, just before allowing his lips to touch hers. He was fighting it. He didn't want to fight for her the way Ayame had been. He wanted her heart. He closed his eyes, not having the will power to back away, but refusing to give in. Hermione sighed, frustrated and aggravated.

"Sorry," she said backing away and sitting back into her seat. She pulled her wrist from his soft grip and shoved the cream into her bag.

Kuro watched her turn toward the book that lay before her. He could hear her heart beat shift from a rapid excited expectation to something different, something more like she really wanted to just leave. Hermione looked down at her book. Why did Kuro do that? Anytime he came close to kissing her, he would stop himself. Was he only being pulled toward her because of the stone? She felt her heart break at that thought and then, she could no longer stand to sit there next to him. It was suffocating.

Hermione suddenly shoved her book in her bag and stood up slinging her bag onto her shoulder. Kuro reached out barely catching a hold of her hand. She didn't even turn to look at him, just twisted her hand out of his grip and fled the library, barely noticing Chi and Ayame standing there confused.

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"Let's go for a walk before curfew."

Ayame looked up from his place sitting in the window of her room. He brushed his hair out of his face as he looked at her. Her smiled looked fake. It was as if she wanted him to believe nothing was bothering her, but he could tell. She fidgeted with her hands slightly and looked around the room as if she felt caged in the room. She had not spoken much to any of the Monogatari since fleeing the library the day before and Kuro would give him no answers.

"Sure, Mi-chan. Whatever you want," Ayame said standing up and following her toward the door.

He walked along side her through the corridors of Hogwarts. The silence was like a noose around his neck. For a moment he felt as if she were leading him to his death. He took a deep breath and shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out to touch her. They passed by a few students on their way. The sun had set a while ago, leaving the moon to be the only light outside. To say he was surprised when she reached the main doors and pushed her way through, out into the night would be putting it mildly. He reached out, grabbing her arm before she could start down the stone stairs that led to the castle.

"Mi-chan! It's dark, not safe."

She smiled at him and instead of sending his heart a flutter, it sent it sinking into the pit of his stomach. It was bittersweet and spoke of loss.

"Your vampires are stationed all around the ground and the castle. And besides, we'll always have the moonlight," she said and turned to continue on the path she had paved in her mind.

Ayame followed, each step becoming harder to take. For a panicked moment he thought if he could keep her from her destination then he wouldn't have to hear what he knew was coming. She stopped at a large tree by the edge of the lake. The moon seemed to shimmer down on that tree as if it were a spotlight. Hermione stepped forward, the soft sound of the moving water from the Giant Squid echoing in the soft splashes of the water. Her fingers reached out, gently touching a part of the tree trunk. Ayame looked. There were initial carved into the trunk from long ago.

J. P. & L. E.

Was this how they felt? Was Snape's bitter life any indication of what would become of Ayame? Or was Kuro her Snape? She closed her eyes. When they knew they wanted to be together, nothing stopped them. Not even a childhood friend. Hermione often wondered what would have happened if Lily had forgiven Snape. Would the initials in the tree have remained the same? When it came down to it, did Lily make her choice? Did she ask herself who it was she could not do without and was her answer indeed James? Or was it Severus and it frightened her, needing someone so strongly?

She dropped her hand from the trunk and turned around to face Ayame…to face her James Potter. She looked into his dark eyes and every moment seemed to flash in her memory, everything from his floating outside the hospital wing spitting biting words of how she would do nothing but hurt Kuro to begging her just for a taste. Ayame chuckled slightly and looked away, over the dark grounds of the school. He shrugged slightly.

"You don't have to say anything, Mi-chan. I knew this was coming," he said as he held up a vial of the potion to allow him out during the day. He knew he wouldn't be taking from the source anymore.

"I'm sorry, Ayame," her voice cracked. "I thought about it and I simply can't do without Kuro."

Ayame looked at her straight on.

"And I can't do without you."

Her eyes met his and she felt the tears welling up and begin to spill over. She could hear the hurt in his voice.

"If I were to choose you, Ayame I would always be waiting for Kuro. I would always be searching for that other part of myself. My heart would always be with Kuro."

Ayame closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, she held his dark stone out to him. He turned his hand palm up and allowed her to place the stone into his hand. His fist wrapped around it, his face twisting and turning in the heartache that was overwhelming him.

"And mine with you," he whispered.

"Please, Ayame," she said wiping the tears away. "Don't make this harder on me. It kills me to see you like this and know that I caused it…"

"Do you love him?"

Hermione paused at his interruption, head cocked slightly.

"What?"

Ayame toyed with the stone for a moment and then looked around again as if avoiding her tearful eyes before his penetrating hurting gaze fell back on her.

"You said you can't do without him. Fine. But do you love him? When you close your eyes to sleep is he the last face you see in your mind? When you wake up is he the first person you think of? Do you love him?"

The almost desperate sound of his voice was heart wrenching.

"I told you, Ayame. My heart will always be his."

He watched the way the moon lit up her face, causing those tears to almost sparkle. He closed his eyes, imprinting the beautiful image of her in the moonlight and committing to memory every taste, every touch and every sound that was related to Hermione. Then, he opened his eyes and reached out, grabbing her and pulling her against him as he hugged her tightly.

"You'll always be a part of me," he whispered into her hair.

Then, just as suddenly as he grabbed her, he let her go and turned away heading toward the castle. She fell back against the tree, looking down at the ground. She was doing the right thing; she was being true to herself. She turned to face the tree again and those initials carved into the tree.

"He's in the library, Hermione-chan."

She jumped and turned to see Chi standing there. He pushed his glasses up his nose and smiled at her.

"Don't let him get away this time," Chi said as if hinting that he knew what had happened in the library the previous day.

Hermione took one more glance at those initials before she turned and ran as fast as she could.

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Kuro looked up from his book. The last group of students that remained in the library was walking by, the girls of the group watching him, giggling. He heard one of them whispering and he caught the word "prince" and one of them whispered something with "Granger" in it. His eyes narrowed as they passed by as if warning them. They hurried by, no longer looking enamored with his presence. As the library doors shut behind those students, he closed his own book and stood up. Sliding the book off the table, into his hand he began to walk away, intent on stopping by Madame Pomfrey's for the potions before going to the chambers the Headmistress was kind enough to offer him and Chi during their stay.

He had just reached the other side of the table he was working at when he heard the doors burst open. He paused, listening for any sound. It was alarming the way the doors had opened and though he couldn't see who came through them from where he was at, he could tell by the rapid footsteps that someone was in a hurry.

He was almost too shocked to move when he saw Hermione turn the corner, eyes fixed determinedly on him. She paused for a moment, chest heaving in an attempt to catch her breath from not only running toward the castle, but through the castle as well. He would not be running away this time. Her foot was coming down. It had been a slowly building storm of missed moments and nearly theres.

Kuro looked curiously at her, almost worried as he noted her teary eyes, and flushed cheeks before she began to rush toward him again. He thought she would stop before getting to him, but she didn't. He was so much taller than her and where he tended to intimidate people with his presence, he did not intimidate her. She ran right into him, knocking him back against the table, his book dropping to the ground and knocking him down onto the table. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips crashed down on his.

She had made her choice.

And he was damn well going to realize that.

Kuro thought his heart had stopped. No, it wasn't the first time he had kissed her, but there just seemed to be something different this time. It was as if she were the hungry vampire. His long arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. She felt at home…safe…yet she felt this thrill of excitement similar to what she felt when Ayame kissed her, but to such a heightened level that it frightened her. She pulled away, grasping for control of herself.

"I made my choice, Kuro," she said, looking him in the eyes with no fear.

He was silent waiting for her to finish.

"When I ask myself who I can't do without, only one person comes to mind," she continued.

"And who is that?" His hand reached up brushing her hair back off her shoulder, his eyes lingering on her neck for only a moment.

"You."

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Chi was pulling double duty. He was working with Kuro on his assignments for his education and while Kuro spent his days doing the assigned reading and papers, Chi followed Hermione from class to class. Ayame had not been seen by her since they took that walk by the lake. Chi assured her he was fine; he just went back to Darkland for a bit.

She sat in her Defense class taking notes as she always did. Lucius' icy eyes often landed on her, ignoring the vampire by her side. It was their last class of the day and though she took notes her academic mind was on her upcoming NEWTs. As the bell rang, she turned around toward Harry and Ron.

"We are going to the library now," she said.

They looked like they were going to argue, but one look from Hermione shut them up and they nodded.

"Miss Granger, please stay behind for a moment."

Chi set his eyes on Lucius as if warning him. Lucius ignored him, waiting for the classroom to empty. Hermione looked back at the door. Harry and Ron hung around, glancing at her as if unsure if they should leave. Finally, they left, reminding themselves that Chi was there and his job was to protect her right now. When the door closed behind them, Lucius turned and walked toward his desk. Chi kept a close eye on him as if waiting for one wrong move. Lucius pulled what appeared to be a catalog and placed it on the desk in front of Hermione.

Wedding dresses.

The catalog was for wedding dresses, all of famous designers whose dresses cost about as much as at least a year in university. She looked down at it and then back up at Lucius.

"You have a week to make your choice," Lucius said walking toward his desk as if the conversation were over.

Hermione grabbed the catalog and stood up.

"I thought I was clear on this subject," she said. "I'm not going to marry you. I don't know how you got my mother to sign that, but there is no way…"

"Hermione," Lucius said. "I thought I was clear. It is a binding betrothal contract. You have no choice."

Chi slowly rose from his seat as Hermione growled in frustration and stormed from the room. She knew about the contract and what it meant. She knew it was binding. What she didn't know was why her mother would sign such a document. Did he charm her mother that much? Or did he Imperio her? She had no way of finding out. Kuro had moved quickly when word got out that Lucius had visited her mother and moved her somewhere only he knew. She entered the library and headed straight for the corner where she found Ron and Harry sitting with Kuro telling him all about Quidditch. She plopped down in her seat next to Kuro, intent on studying and not thinking about Lucius' insane ideas.

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He walked through the gates of Hogwarts with an almost inhuman grace. His hair was tied back like Kuro often wore his, but much longer. It looked like black spun silk hanging down his back. His eyes were like dark velvet looking over the people out on the grounds. His defined cheekbones, jaw line and nose gave him the appearance of a god. As he entered, every vampire on the grounds, every vampire from Darkland assigned to look out for the school and to protect its students, dropped to one knee, bowing their heads to their King.

Hermione followed the lead of Chi and Kuro, but instead of dropping to only one knee, she dropped to both her knees. Being in a school uniform skirt would not allow her to properly be on one knee without exposing herself. She bowed her head slightly and Rui stopped before the three of them. Rui reached out one hand, offering to help Hermione back up to her feet.

"Hermione-chan," he said with a playful smile as if still remembering her hitting Kuro on their first meeting.

Kuro and Chi stood up at his command, all three noticing he brought Ayame back with him and Chloe had tagged along, her light eyes remaining on Chi. Hermione almost giggled at the way Chi scowled and looked away from Chloe.

"Was it necessary to bring her?"

Rui looked at Chi with a raised eyebrow and nodded his head.

"Yes, Chi-san, it was."

Professor McGonagall was approaching at a rapid pace.

"I am so sorry I was detained and unable to meet you at the gate."

"That is quite alright," Rui said with a slight bow of the head.

"You needed to have a meeting you said?"

Rui nodded in agreement.

"I did not wish to ask for Hermione-chan's presence in Darkland for the meeting with her so close to exams. If there is somewhere within the castle…"

McGonagall nodded and looked toward Hermione.

"Take them to the Room of Requirement, Miss Granger."

Hermione nodded and began to lead the King and the rest of the Monogatari family through the castle. She had only taken a fleeting glance at Ayame; just enough to recognize the withdrawal he was experiencing and to see that he was trying his hardest to not look at her.

Hermione asked them to wait as she walked in front of the tapestry three times thinking about what they needed the room for. When the door formed and she opened it, she found the room to look almost exactly like a room in the Darkland estate. As soon as the door closed, Kuro turned to Rui.

"What is it, Ojii-san?"

Rui looked at all their faces and smiled almost sadly.

"Hanajima-chan has informed me that between her potions skills, studying Oriana's words and her research we now know how to rid us of the curse…what part Hermione-chan plays in this."

Ayame was not looking at them, instead looking at the wall off to the side. Hermione could see how his jaw was clenched and she wondered how hard it was for him to not bite her right now. Chi was removing his arm from Chloe's grip with a very cold "do you mind." Rui took a deep breath.

"Hermione-chan's blood is a key to the cure," Rui continued. "However, she is not meant to simply give a bit of blood to cure us."

Kuro's eyes narrowed.

"What do you mean?"

Rui looked at Hermione and then back at Kuro as if he hated to tell him the truth.

"To cure the family, Hermione-chan must be drained…"

In a flash, Kuro had grabbed Hermione and pushed her, almost too hard, behind him as if to say they would need to kill him first.

"You will not touch her!"

Chi rolled his eyes and looked over Kuro and Hermione and shrugged.

"You'll find another, Kuro-san," he said with a warped smile on his face.

"I am not finished," Rui said calmly.

"There's more?" Kuro was still hyper-alert of everything around him, around Hermione. He kept a hold of her hand, squeezing not too hard, but enough that it let Hermione know he feared losing her.

"The oracle's words were, 'blood of a witch, blood of another," Rui continued. "We originally thought that meant Hermione-chan being Muggle-born, as they call it, but we were wrong. This was realized at the celebration when the oracle greeted us." Rui's eyes shifted, noting how stiff Chi had become. "Hermione is the 'blood of a witch,' but the 'blood of another' is someone else. We took her blood and tested it alone and with Hermione-chan's. Both must be drained to cure us."

"Who is it?" Chi was looking at Rui suspiciously now, almost on the verge of denial.

Rui's eyes turned to Chi and looked at him as if he knew what this was going to do.

"It is Chloe-chan."

It echoed in the room, an almost primal roar of anger, anguish and denial as Chi grabbed Chloe by her arm, holding her partially behind him as he bared his teeth with a hiss of warning to anyone against approaching. His voice echoed, pain bouncing off the walls.

"NO! Anyone but her!"