AN: I own nothing. Here's Chapter 8. Sorry It took me so long ti write this one. I was busy with school. So, here it goes.

Chapter 8: Highs and Lows

Hermione's eyes fluttered open. She looked up at an unfamiliar ceiling, and assumed that she was in Dracula's Castle. It looked almost like she imagined it would. Hermione rubbed her eyes, yawned, and then stretched her arms out. She noticed a woman was in the room.

"Glad you are awake Miss Dragomir." she curtsied. "I'm Teresa, your designated servant."

"Please." Hermione insisted. "Call me Hermione."

"Alright then, Hermione." the servant smiled.

"Not to be rude, but why does Dracula have human servants in his castle?"

"Most of the vampires that live here either serve as assassins, or doctors. And plus, someone else has to watch the place."

"Oh ok. Sorry about that."

"No problem, Miss."

Hermione's eye was stuck on a piece of parchment on a chair, with a dress of some sort. Hermione rose out of bed. She saw she was still in last night's clothing.

She got up to the chair. there was a note.

My Dearest Hermione,

I hope you can look past our previous encounter. I will come retrieve you for a grand tour of the castle, and dinner will be served afterwards.

Count Vladislaus Dracula.

The brunette approached the chair. The dress was a deep red color, almost blood red, delicately adorned with gold glitter. He even left her a gold heart locket and earrings to match.

"It's beautiful" the last Dragomir gasped.

Even Hermione Granger read some Van Helsing fanfics, which contained Dracula in them. And something like this came up in a few stories. She thought it was a sweet gesture, but would not keep her guard down.

"What time is it?" she turned to Teresa.

"There are a few hours until sun down." the maid replied.

"Oh.." Hermione sighed. "Thanks. I better get ready then."

Hermione did just that, with the help of Teresa(she insisted on it).

(Transition)

Miss Dragomir looked in the mirror one last time. It was right after sundown. Hermione inhaled and exhaled. She looked at her reflection. The corset hugged her tightly, and accented her curvy torso. The dress also had a deep v neck. Hermione even wore the jewelry that went along with it.

I look..Hermione's mind could not find the words. She hadn't felt good about herself in a long time. Guilt and pain took her confidence away. She twirled around once, and then stopped.

A knock was made. Hermione's heart began to race out of fear and anxiety. She went to open the door. No one was there.

Strange...she pondered. A sudden cold feeling was on her shoulder. She turned around and shrieked a bit.

"No need to be alarmed, my dear." The Count took her hand, kissed it, and then let go. The cold from his lips caused a shill to go through her.

"Pplease try not to do that again." she was still recovering from his entrance.

"You look absolutely stunning." he drawled.

"Thank you." Hermione couldn't help but blush. Being complimented was new to her, but nevertheless, good.

"Shall we?" Dracula asked, motioning outside the room. His hand out, waiting for her approval. Hermione nodded and accepted it.

They began the tour. He pointed out all the rooms, and she listened intently. She was intrigued by all his stories about each part of the castle, and its history. Sure, she knew at least half of it, but it was a break from all the other things she was surrounded by. Her guard still wasn't down, even if he was suave and sophisticated.

Count Dracula and Hermione turned a corner, and entered a majestic room. It had sky high shelves, with thousands upon thousands of books. Hermione gasped, and let go of his hand. She walked forward a bit to one of the many book shelves.

"There must be at least one hundred thousand books here!" the excitement in her voice. He appeared next to her, as she took a book out of the shelf, and opened it. Her eyes began to read the words, until...

"I see it is to your liking?" his Romanian accent was heard. Hermione looked up from the book.

"I can't describe it.."

"So, you do, like it?"

"Definitely!" Hermione exclaimed.

Hermione looked back at the library as they left it to proceed to the dining room. The table was already served with an array of foods. Hermione smiled a bit, but a deep depressing feeling resided in her soul. She couldn't figure out what it was, and why. Hermione and Dracula took their seats.

I wonder how Harry and the rest of them are doing..she wondered.

Shortly after seating, Hermione began t eat, and felt the stares of Dracula. She still didn't understand why he was fascinated with her.

Guilt sank in.

She abandoned all her friends, because she wished to depart from the earth.

She left them.

She could be helping them out with finding the horcruxes, but no.

She ran away.

She vanished from everything she knew.

While this sank in, she was poking at her food with her fork. Why did I desert them? They will probably loathe me if I ever came back..

"Hermione, something is bothering you.."

"What?" she was startled a bit. there was silence the whole time, until now.

"I can tell. You made it kind of clear."

Hermione looked down. He was right. She did make it evident by lazily stabbing the food on her plate over and over again.

"Well..."

"You can tell me, my dear." his accent was so perfect, but she didn't think about it.

"If you must know, I can't help thinking about my friends. They need me."

"I need you." he scowled a bit.

She furrowed her brow. "What are you saying? I can't see them? I can't tell them that I'm.."

"It will only make things harder for the both of us."

Hermione was angered with this statement. "First, there is no US. Second, My friends have been there for me throughout the years.."

"They weren't there when that man assaulted you over and over again." he was starting to get annoyed with her argument.

"They couldn't find me!" she was quick to defend her statement. "They had no idea what happened to me because I made the unintellegent choice to keep it bottled up inside! And let me remind you that THEY SAVED ME FROM VOLDEMORT!!!"

"I can't have my future queen associating with mere mortals."

Hermione froze for a few seconds. "Fffuture qqueeen?" she stuttered.

"Yes. Didn't I make it clear before?" The Count smirked. His smirk was dashing, and suited him well. "I never intend to kill you."

"That's it!" Hermione rose from her chair. "It's just want you want, eh? To..keep me from everything so I'll run right into you arms?!?!? Well, that's certainly not going to happen! I'd rather hang my self then be stuck for eternity with a creature like you!" she yelled. The sound was loud.

He rose from his chair and appeared right next to her. He embraced her by her waist, and held on tight. "You don't mean those hurtful things.." he purred."You hardly know me, my beauty..."

Hermione wiggled free, and backed away. "Not this time Count. And I know what you'll do. If I don't stay with you, you trade me into Voldemort! That's your diabolical plan! I can see right through you! If you don't mind, I'm going to bed before I find some excuse to stab you or myself with something sharp!! GOODNIGHT!"

Hermione ran out of the dining room and strait back to her room. Tears stained her face, and smudged some of her makeup. Her footsteps echoed.

Count Dracula knew it was useless to chase after her. She would just hate him even more than she currently did.

"Oh, Hermione." he sighed. "Such pain inside a lovely mortal.."

He knew that romancing the last Dragomir was going to be more difficult than planned.

AN: Please Make my day and review! I probably will have the next chapter up sometime next week. I have a busy weekend ahead of me to say the least. Gonna watch Van Helsing tomorrow at my friends house. YAY! I plan on making another Dracula and Hermione video on youtube that has nothing to do with the story...just for the heck of it. If you have any concerns or something, either review or IM me at: xXTheObsessorXx. So, yeah! TTFN. Ta Ta for Now!

Ali

(yes..that's my real name!)