Hermione stepped inside the big mansion with a small smile on her face. "Hello Aunt Carol"

Carol beamed down at her only niece before enveloping her in a warm hug. "Oh Hermione, I've missed you"

Hermione pulled back from the hug with a guilty expression on her tired face "I'm so sorry about your loss aunt Carol. And I'm so sorry for not making it to the funeral…"

Her aunt's joyful smile quickly turned into a sad one at the mention of her deceased husband. She sighed. "It's fine dear. You're here now... How are your parents?"

Hermione expression remained natural. She had been expecting questions about her parents. "They're good. They've had a busy year. They're hardly ever home anymore"

"Well, I'm glad you finally decided to come visit us. You're just like your mother you know. Always buried in your books and never have time for anything else… Maybe you could teach Tyler a thing or two."

Hermione swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat before giving her aunt a forced smile "I'll see what I can do."

Carol's smile widened "You must be exhausted. Let me show you your room."

2 years ago

"I'm sorry"

Klaus looked up from the book he was reading and stared at her, his blue eyes cutting through her very soul. "Unless you're here so I can finally remove that bloody scar you can let yourself out."

She sighed and moved closer to him "Please try to understand. I was just…scared. I didn't mean to upset you. Nick, please don't be mad at me. I hate it when you're mad at me."

Klaus slammed his book shut and stood up from the couch. "I thought you trusted me"

"I do!" she insisted "It's just…My scar was created by very powerful dark magic. I don't even know if drinking your blood would help me. But if I do drink it, it would leave me vulnerable to becoming a…a…"

"A vampire" he finished "I don't want to see you in pain anymore Hermione." He said seriously. "And your potions obviously aren't affecting you the way they should have."

"But it doesn't matter" she says "I'm used to it by now"

His eyes darkened "You shouldn't have to be. Just let me help you"

Hermione sighed "But what if something happens to me and I turn-"

"Do you honestly think that I would ever let anything harm you?"

Hermione was silent for a few minutes before finally making up her mind "OK Nick. I trust you."

A rare smile graced his angelic face before quickly disappearing again. "Come here" he says softly.

Hermione stepped into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her entire height barely reached his shoulders. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, a warm feeling settling in her stomach. She felt…safe.

Klaus ran a hand through her hair before gently pushing her back. He brought his wrist to his mouth and bit it roughly, all the while looking into her eyes.

Hermione looked between the bleeding wrist in front of her and Klaus's eyes. Finally she brought her lips to his wrist and started sucking softly.

Klaus took a deep unneeded breath before quickly composing himself. As the seconds passed Klaus could feel Hermione taking his blood more urgently. He hesitantly placed his free hand on the back of her head and gently began stroking it. This seemed to encourage her more because somehow in the following seconds she had managed to move even closer to him.

He closed his eyes and gulped.

This had to stop...

.

.

.

But for some reason he just couldn't make himself push her away.

She was right… this was a bad idea.

Present time

A few hours had passed since she had arrived and she had spent most of that time talking with her aunt Carol. Her presence was comforting. Almost as if she was back at home talking to her mother. She wished she could tell her aunt everything. She wished she could tell her that her parents were no longer alive. that her sister was no longer alive. But she knew she couldn't. That would lead to too many questions she couldn't answer.

But still, she felt guilty.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of the front door opening.

Tyler

She rushed down the stairs and towards the front door with an excited smile on her face. When she finally reached her cousin seconds later, she enveloped him in a tight hug. Tyler stumbled back a few steps before retuning her tight hug "I missed you too." he said, chuckling.

Suddenly she pulled away from him, her expression horrified. Tyler looked at her with confusion.

Her large eyes filled with tears. "Tyler…you're a vampire?"

Tyler's eyes widened and he quickly looked around to make sure his mother wasn't anywhere in sight. "Hermione…it's a long story. Believe me."

"Who did this to you?" she whispered furiously "How the bloody hell did this happen?"

Tyler ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Where's my mother?"

"It's 1 a.m. Tyler. She's asleep." She snapped "Now tell me how this happened!"

"Let's go up to my room. Then I'll...I'll tell you everything."

"Fine" She said in a controlled voice before following him to his room.

"What happened?"

Tyler sat down next to her on his bed and sighed "My…sire is a hybrid. He's a vampire and a werewolf. He came to mystic falls to create an army of hybrids like him. When he found out I was a werewolf he…turned me"

Hermione stood up quickly and looked down at him, her whole body shaking "k-Klaus? Nicklaus?"

Tyler frowned "Yeah. You've heard about him?"

A sob escaped her parted lips. "Tyler…Tyler…I know…"

Tyler got up from the bed also and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder "I'm OK Hermione. It's OK"

She looked up at him with her tear filled eyes. She finally knew. The reason he had left her. "No. you don't understand. Tyler… I've known Nicklaus my entire life. We…we were close friends."

The next morning

Hermione woke up with a groan. She rolled to the side of her bed and got up quickly. She didn't have any time to waste. She looked at her watch. It was 5:00 a.m. but that wasn't exactly early for her.

She changed her clothes and pulled her hair up in a ponytail. Then she pulled her wand from under her pillow and put it in her invisible wand holder. She had a mission today.

She was going to kill Nicklaus Mikaelson.

Klaus stared at the fireplace with a frown on his face. What had Hermione wanted? Was she in some kind of trouble? Had somebody hurt her? Was that why she had come to him? Fuck. This was exactly why he didn't like getting attached. The constant worry, the feelings. He didn't like it.

Knock knock

His eyes snapped up towards the front door. He looked at his watch and frowned. Who the bloody hell was crazy enough to come to his house at 6 in the morning?

Well, the answer was pretty clear. It would have to be either Damon, Elena or…Hermione. He got up from his chair and walked towards the knew who it was before he was halfway there. That sweet smell…it was painfully familiar.

Hermione

His pace quickened. He took an unneeded breath before opening the door. The sight before him was not one that he was expecting.

Hermione stood in front of him with her want pointed directly at his heart.

His eyes narrowed "What are you doing?"

Hermione moved closer to him until the tip of her wand touched his chest. "You're the reason Tyler is a vampire. You took his life!"

He looked at her with confusion, his hand still resting on the doorknob. What the hell did that Lockwood kid have to do with her? "Yes…and your point is?"

"He's my cousin!" she cried "How could you do that to him? How could you do that to anyone!?"

"Your cousin?" he asked. Huh "Well, that's unfortunate isn't it?"

Hermione's eyes widened in rage "I'll kill you! Stupfy!" she cried.

Klaus went flying across the room but he had gotten back up from the ground before she could blink. He clenched his fists as he walked towards her. Hermione instantly took a step backwards. He was in front of her before she could even think of another spell. He grabbed her wand arm and yanked her towards him. "Don't you ever do that again" he whispered dangerously.

Hermione looked up at him with hatred. "I was wrong about you. You're a monster."

Klaus's hand tightened around her arm warningly. He was seconds away from using his vampire strength. Hermione cried out in pain. But he didn't notice "If you were anyone else you would have been dead by now" he snarled.

A few tears escaped her eyes from the painful grip he had on her arm. "Nick! You're hurting me!"

Klaus's eyes softened slightly and he quickly let go of her arm. Hermione instantly put her hand over her sore arm and looked at him with a hurt expression.

Klaus sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This wasn't good. "I…I'm sorry"

She quickly wiped her tears "Go to hell. I don't even know you anymore"

Klaus felt his anger rising again at her words. "Tyler would be suffering if it wasn't for me!"

Hermione swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "You had no right to take his life. It wasn't your decision to make! You're no better than…than…" Voldemort…Voldemort…

Klaus's teeth clenched angrily "No better than who?"

Hermione looked up at him with wide eyes "Voldemort. You're no better than Voldemort"

She felt something change in the atmosphere almost instantly. Everything suddenly felt much colder. That wasn'tgood. "Take my hand" she said quickly. She had learned to trust her instincts years ago.

Klaus's expression turned from anger to confusion "What?"

"Take my hand Nick! Now!" she yelled fearfully.

It was too late. Two wizards had already apparated into the living room before Klaus could move. Hermione looked at the wizards with terrified eyes. Avery and Goyle Sr.

Klaus moved in front of Hermione on instinct, shielding her from the death eaters.

One of the death eaters, Avery, smirked as he spotted Hermione. It was clear that he knew who she was. "Looks like we've caught ourselves a little treat."

Klaus's eyes narrowed and before anyone could even blink, he was in front of the death eaters, their hearts in his hand.

Hermione looked at the dead bodies of the death eaters with disgust before looking up at Klaus with gratitude "Thank you" she eyed the hearts in his hand with a with a grimace before looking away.

Klaus nodded stiffly and dropped the hearts to ground. "How did they know you were here?"

She bit her lip before answering "I don't know, but if they can find me than they can find Harry too. I have to go. Just…please…if our friendship ever meant anything to you…just please leave my family alone. Please Nick…"

Klaus grabbed her arm before she could turn to leave "Stay Hermione. You'll be safe here. I'll protect you. I promise"

Hermione looked as if all of her energy had been drained from her. "I can't leave Harry. I won't. And please remove your hand. I don't want a death eaters blood on my clothes."

"He's not your responsibility" Klaus insisted, ignoring her comment about ruining her clothes "He's putting you in danger!"

She yanked her arm away from him angrily "No he's not. And I know that he's not my responsibility but some of us actually know the meaning of friendship and loyalty"

Klaus's face hardened at her words "I can't let you leave knowing how much danger you're in."

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow disbelief written all over her face. "My life has always been dangerous." she said "Especially in the last two years. Where were you then?" she held up her hand before he could reply "I don't even care anymore. My friend needs me. Goodbye Nick"

"You're not going anywhere."

3 weeks later

Harry sat in the corner of his cell with a defeated expression on his face. It was over. He had failed. Now it was just a matter of time. A matter of time before Voldemort killed him and everyone he loved.

He sighed and sat up straighter. No, he shouldn't think like that. He was going to get out of there and kill the bastard once and for all. He was going to do it for his parents, for Sirius, for Remus…for Hermione… He was going to kill him even if it was the last thing he ever did.

Suddenly his cell door opened. Rodolphus Lestrange quickly shoved a food tray into his cell before locking it up again. "You're lucky my lord wants to keep you alive for now Potter."

"Voldemort" Harry spat "is nothing but a disgusting little coward."

"You dare speak his name?" Rodolphus growled.

"Yes I dare" Harry replied mockingly "and when I kill him, I'm going to make sure everyone else dares too." Instead of the Crucio he was expecting for the remark, Lestrange just laughed.

"I admire your confidence Potter. But I'm afraid that death is the only future that awaits for you. You'll be joining you mudblood girlfriend soon"

Harry eyes narrowed and a sickening feeling of fear washed over him "W-What the hell are you talking about?"

Rodolphus smirked and licked his lips "Your mudblood whore of course…hmm and what a delicious little whore she was too."

Rage unlike anything he had ever felt before filled his entire being. He jumped up from the ground and grabbed the cell bars, shaking them violently "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?"

Rodolphus chuckled at his reaction "I made her my little whore for a while before ripping out her pretty head."

"NO!" He screamed, tears filling his eyes "I'M GONNA KILL YOU LESTRANGE! I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU! You fucking bastard! I'LL KILL YOU WITH MY BARE HANDS!"

Rodolphus continued laughing.

A/N: Hey guys! Yeah, yeah. I know what your thinking. I've got some nerve showing my face around here don't i? I'm really sorry for not updating sooner. Life has been extra hard on me lately. But I'll try to update sooner in the future. Promise! :)

I would love it if you can tell me your thoughts about this chapter.

Anyway, I won't bore you guys any longer than necessary.

I love ya all :)

Hermione Salvatore Potter