AN: I am proud to announce that I have made some wallpapers of Dracula and Hermione!

Link: i4(dot)photobucket(dot)com/albums/y115/ScorpioGodess777/Hollow/

I am open to suggestions on other stuff I should make for this fanfic...

Poion's Response to Chapter 30:

Poison--gasp as they enter a room wearing snazzy feathery outfits-- you changed your name? I got so confused, deadly.
Deadly- I know, mwahahahaa, god you were right about the spandex and dominatrix outfits...not exactly comfy are they?
Poison--mumbles-- try wearing one for a whole week and then you'll know the meaning of the word wedgie.
Drac- Are we ready to dispose of these filthy mortals for good?
Poison and Deadly- Yes, yes master.
Drac- good--eyes shine-- then go--pushes them onto stage, suddenly turn yellow and simpsonish, 400th episode after all!
Poison and deadly dance and slip onto death eaters laps.
Deadly- Ready Poison?"
Poison- Ready. --bite, bite scream, gone--
Poison- gasps-- I've been staked.--turns around with t-bone steak stuck to face. M, someone pass the gravy!
Deadly- blood..no more mortal food for you. cmon, master is waiting for us at the rear entrance.
Poison--laughs--
Deadly- what?
Poison- you s-s-said rear!

I am still deciding if I am to get out the character guillotine for some of the characters in the story...not so sure yet...I have a half worked out plan of how I want things to end...which there won't be an ending for a long time. Ok..so I am rambling on a bit. Without further delay, here's Chapter 31. Kind of cute, and a break from all the drama and sadness.

Chapter 31: Captivated by Presence and Stories

Hermione sat in the library for the first time in a little while, thinking about the events that had taken place since Ron's death.

She began to realize that Dracula only thought he was Hollow, which in fact, he wasn't. Sure, he didn't have a heart beat, but he was able to love, it's just that no one noticed it, and if they did, they didn't point it out. Slowly, she was giving into what he wanted from her, for her to belong to him.

For some reason, Hermione had taken up the piano once again. One song lingered in her heart, which described the way she felt. From listening to it on her Ipod, and by memory of piano lessons long ago, she began to teach herself the entire song. She slaved her days into it, hoping that one night, she could perfect it...just for him.

Why? Because she was captivated by the man that Count Vladislaus had become. She changed him, somehow, and still couldn't explain that.

"Greetings, Hermione." he drawled with that perfect Romanian accented drawl. She turned to see the man that occupied her mind; Count Dracula. She maintained a stern face, not exposing her emotions.

"Hello, Count." she nodded once in acknowledgment. Her gaze was caught on his deep blue eyes.

He sat besides her, and exhaled. "It's good to see you back here...I thought you would have barricaded yourself in there forever."

"Forever?" Hermione questioned. "I don't have forever. I'm a mortal."

"That will change soon, my dear..." he purred, and gave a smirk that made Hermione giggle. Her cheeks immediately turned crimson with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry…" she regained herself. "I know you meant it...its just hard for me to take in...I mean, forever. No one besides you has lived for centuries. Except for Nicolas Flamel..."

He cocked his eyebrow. "Nicolas Flamel? The name does ring a bell..."
The Count mused.

"Well..." Hermione felt confidence coming in. She was all over the subject almost instantly. "Nicolas Flamel was famous for creating the sorcerer's Stone, which could be used to make the elixir of life. The potion would in turn allow the drinker to have an eternal life. He also did some alchemy with Professor Albus Dumbledore. Flamel lived just past his 665th birthday...as I recall..."

He was captivated by how she absorbed information so quickly, and it would remain in her memory. "Didn't your friend Ron help you and Harry Potter get to that Sorcerer's Stone?"

Hermione paused, and thought of Ron. "You are correct...so Voldemort wouldn't return..." she started again. "We all had something to do with getting to the stone. You see, we all found out that the three headed dog, Fluffy..."

"A three headed dog?" Dracula was a bit taken back.

"Yeah. A three headed dog. I still have no clue why Hagrid named it Fluffy. That thing was monstrous. So, as I was saying. Fluffy could be put to sleep with music. When we got to the corridor that Fluffy was in, someone had already set up an enchanted harp. We assumed it was Snape..."

"...And was it?"

"No. I'm getting to that..."

He then listened intently as she described how they got past Fluffy, the Devil's Snare, the flying keys, the wizard's chess, and the final task with the several potions that Harry and Hermione had to choose from. Then, she told Dracula that it wasn't Snape who was after the Sorcerer's Stone, but Quirrel. Hermione explained, from what Harry had told her back then that Voldemort attached himself to the back of Quirrel's head in order to survive. Harry defeated Quirrel/Voldemort, and the rest was history.

"Very interesting..." he mused. Hermione smiled again.

"Don't you have any triumphant stories?" Hermione wondered.

"Not really..." he said in a dull tone. "One time, I was so close to achieving my prime goal, but was defeated by Van Helsing..." he sounded angry when he mentioned the evil vanquisher's name.

"Really?" Hermione made it look like she had no idea about Dracula's past, when really, she did. She had watched Van Helsing at least ten times, and recited every line Dracula had said...before she found out her real identity from Cardinal Gordini.

He went on, counting his attempts to have his children live, and telling the tale of how he became who he was. Hermione was captivated by it all. There was nothing in the world that could direct her attention otherwise.

AN: Please Read and Review! Chapter 32 up ASAP...and as soon as I get my plan for the story straight!!!!

Poison -still laughing from the whole rear thing.-

Deadly: It wasn't that funny...I think?

Dracula: What do you mean, get your plan straight?-looks at Deadly-

Deadly: I'm not sure what to do with you, my little puppet-nudges twice-

Dracula: You have no control over me...-is a bit angry-

Deadly: Yes I do! I'm writing the damn story! I'll make your sorry ass do whatever the hell I want it to!

Poison: You said ass! -howls with laughter-