For The Love Of The Night

by Amata Mercy

Draco Malfoy knows exactly what he has become, just as Hermione knows what she is for him. But when Dumbledore asks for their help in the war, things get a little mixed up. Can everyone come out of this the same? VAMPIRE FIC!

16. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

Here's the next chapter! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do writing it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but a plot idea.

Chapter 15: Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead

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Stepping into the shadowed room, Blaise smiled at the blinded mated of the Shadow King, she was holding a small child, she was so gentle with her, even though the child kept talking of butterflies and flowers that only she could see. "You understand her then?" Blaise watched Luna nod to him.

"Irial, he feels so guilty about what he did to her, he didn't do it on purpose though I could feel that, he showed me exactly what the little one is seeing. I told him that perhaps for now it as better that that was all she could see." Tears still filled the brim of her pale blue eyes and Blaise went to sit next to her, "I do hope Harry will be alright... But Blaise, you can understand can't you? When Irial saved me, when he created this bit of a bond we have, he became much more than Harry ever could have been for me. I'm not completely sure I love Irial, but i do know I couldn't live without him, I couldn't survive in this world knowing he wasn't part of it." She looked down a bit, "I sound so sappy, don't I?"

Blaise wrapped an arm around her shoulder and felt as the young one played with his fingers as his hand hung over Luna's shoulder. "It's ok, really, I have Twi don't I? I know what you mean, if anything were to go wrong with her then my existence here would seem meaningless. The one I ache for now though is Draco, could you imagine the bond practically being ripped from between him and Hermione, of her not remembering anything at all, of watching how fragile she is now? It's slowly breaking him, and whoever is behind this for Voldemort knows that, knows just exactly what it's doing to him, and had intended it all along. It's so painful to even look in his eyes, Hermione is also hard to look at. She always has this confused look on her face as if she knows that there's something she's supposed to do, be, remember but she just can't."

"This is how it is supposed to be, you and her weren't meant to come into love so easily. My prophecy, it showed you having to leave Twilight, of Draco losing what he had gained in Hermione, it will make you both stronger when the final battle comes, trust me. It's why I can't be with Harry, because the one who will make him the strongest wasn't me, I was always meant to be with my Irial." She explained it all so blatantly that Blaise couldn't believe all the pain and sorrow she had foreseen. "I'm sorry, that it cant' be different. But you understand, this is how it has to be."

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The young lady with the striking cobalt eyes was sitting at her side crying again, apologizing again, and Hermione couldn't be completely sure why. Yet, the ones called Harry and Ron had explained that she had once been Hermione's friend and served her as her lady-in-waiting, o something to that effect. She didn't understand theses people, she was positive she'd lived a perfectly normal life trying to be a muggle. Still, the pain in the handsome blonde, named Draco made her want to try and be who they told her she really was, he always looked so sad around her and in pain. It hurt head trying so hard to remember all they told her. It had been only a day since she'd been carried from a burning castle, and watched as Twilight and Draco climbed among the rubble trying to count the dead and save the still living.

Soon Charis stopped crying, "Milady, do want for anything at all?"

"No, no, really I'm fine, could tell me some stories, please about who I really am supposed to be?" She watched as the young lady looked at her skeptically, apparently Draco had told everyone not to force her to try to remember anything that he didn't want to hurt her, he was very protective of her, but according to what she'd gotten out of Pansy, Draco was her mate, he was a vampire and he'd once changed her and they'd been madly in love. She felt so heartbroken for him if that was true, it was just she had such a hard time believing it when she'd heard other stories about herself and Draco when thy were younger.

"I guess I might, perhaps I'll tell you about your short time you spent with me at Rosencrantz, oh you were such a lovely Queen, the High Clan loved you dearly for even that small time. You had befriended Calm and even gotten old Sight to help out, I heard her Ladyship Calm herself was asking to see you soon once you would grant her audience." Charis smiled, and Hermione felt that the girl's joy was contagious and couldn't help smiling too.

Something kept nagging at her mind as she listened to Charis talk, that these things were familiar but still nothing completely could click into place just right, that bothered incessantly. Slowly she stood, once Charis had stopped speaking, "Do you think the others will be back soon? They had to go tallk with their Order or something, correct?"

Charis nodded, "Oh yes, I doubt Lord Draco would spend long away from you, he worries so when you two are even in separate rooms, he'd left you when you were attacked. He's convinced this is all his fault. That and Guildenstern's but then he always has found ways to blame that man and Rosencrantz for a while now for just about anything and everything. It didn't hold many fond memories for him. Lady Hermione, do you think you'll be up to talking with Professor Dumbledore, today? He was mighty worried about ye, and wishes to speak to you about all this. Thinks he might be able to help with your memories." Chairs was so gentle with her that Hermione almost wanted to scream in frustration at letting them all down with not being able to remember anything any of them told her.

Suddenly the smell of spices and sandalwood drift in as the door opened, she turned towards the entrance way to be greeted with the gloomy sight of Draco, "How are you feeling, love?"

Her smile wasn't too forced she hope but it was so hard to be reassuring to a man who looked at her as if she was dying in front of him at all times. "Fine, jut fine, do you think we could speak alone for a moment?" The man could be in the same room as her for hours but rarely spoke much, it seemed to pain him when he did speak to her. He nodded and watched as Charis left the room, never really meeting her eyes. "Draco..." He looked into her eyes then, "Pansy she said I was your mate, was she telling the truth?"

He growled a bit and she backed away, his eyes then looked sorrowful again, "I didn't mean to startle you, it's just I didn't want anyone to press things on you, I'm not sure if it could have adverse effects trying to make you remember things. Yes, it's true, you are my mate. You want to know what that entails," He smiled sadly a bit then, "You're still as curious as you ever were, oh I can read minds too if you were wondering. You see, I am a vampire, an immortal, but also I am a wizard. I was turned by Irial last summer, and once I awoke like all wizard vampires I knew immediately whom my mate was, I saw you Hermione, I needed you. A vampire who doesn't claim his mate within a year or so of finding them will die of heartbreak, it took me a long time to not only get you to fall in love with me, but to convince myself to claim you and make you immortal. I wanted you to have the most of what true life can offer you. You see as my mate, I am very protective and possessive of you, you are my all, I live for you. After claiming you, only drinking your blood would sustain me truly, but now I will return to substitutes, I only drank from you once, as you drank from twice. Little Kitten..."

Hermione had tears pouring from her eyes, she wanted to be what he had just told her, but how could she be? She couldn't say she felt anything at all for him, all she saw when she looked at him was an attractive man with gunmetal grey eyes, perfect alabaster skin, and soft looking bright blonde hair.

"Oh, please don't cry.. I don't think I can stand it if you do." He approached her slowly and she allowed him to settle her against his chest, he was cold, but she'd felt his icy chill before and couldn't say she really minded it all that much. Slowly he rubbed her back, she felt him tremble a bit, he was just as scared as she was, she had to remember that. But it wasn't for the same reasons, she feared she really was this person they told her about and she'd never be her again that she'd lose who she really was, he feared that he would lose her yes, but he feared that he lose himself as well. "Would you... would you allow me to court you?"

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Twilight stared straight out into the night, Ron and Pansy walked on either side of her and Harry slightly ahead of them Draco had apparated straight from Hogwarts once they'd all met in the Room of Requirement. Headquarters wasn't proper for them to meet in, Darco hadn't wanted to have Hermione face so many familiar but unfamiliar faces at once. Still he'd paced and worried about her all the same during the meeting. Calm had been there, as well as Sight and Bia, even a representative of the Rogue colonies. Dumbledore had been pleased with the new allies but disturbed with what else had happened on the mission gone haywire. Draco's words as the meeting started still lingered in her ears, "Rosencratz and Guildenstern are dead." he had said and then promptly sat back down.

Her mind lately had been slipping in and out of visions as she tried to keep up with all that was going on around her but it was just too much, lately she'd been as distant as Luna had been when she'd get prophecies. Harry was a mess, he still didn't understand Charis's role in all this and was upset over Luna. Then Irial had joined them for the meeting he'd just stared at him as if he was losing Luna all over again. Her lilac scent had been all over Irial, and Harry though completely mortal could somehow tell, she'd only know this thanks to Draco keeping track of the hero's thoughts.

Drifting to thoughts of Blaise she wondered if he was alright and if he'd been punished by the Dark Lord. She doubted it, he was the favored right hand but still she had to worry, as they had no bond she could never be sure besides what small glimpses she had of him in her visions.

Pansy nudged her arm and she realized they''d returned to Number 12 Grimmauld Place and she'd just been standing staring at the stares. The carnage of the castle she'd grown up in were still fresh in her mind. It was startling to see the Grand Hall in ruins, she'd never shown it but she had loved the room, it was the only part of her future rule that she had looked forward to. Distantly she could still recall running around the thrones watching her grandfather mile down at her as he presided over the court, Sight was now distant and uncaring of all, her father had been his son, and he'd died protecting her and as her mother had. The two thrones flanking either side of her grandfather had remained empty there after.

Her grandfather had saved her but never had been the same again, it had been mortals, in Salem. It was tragic really that even now people could be found to persecute her kind. Still she held no grudge as he had. Not all mortals were like the ones that had taken her father and mother from her, no she'd seen that in Draco's stories and friends when he'd first came to the castle, had been taught that by her best friend Irial. She'd never told Charis any of this, the girl still believed she'd only been there when they both were twelve, truth was she'd left for a year to try and get Irial to be so mopey. The truth behind Charis was her and Irial's secret, he would tell her when he was ready.

Thinking of Irial, she'd always dreamed as a little girl that she'd be the Faerie Queen he'd been looking for but when she'd come of age and seen Blaise or Nico she'd known that to be a mere childish fantasy. She'd remembered Blaise's face the first time she'd told him about it, she thought he was going to die because he'd stopped breathing, his face had even turned blue. It brought a smile to her face, Ron pulled on her arm a bit and she realized she was still standing there at the bottom of the steps, "Come on, Twi." he smiled at her and helped her into the house. They all stopped in the entrance way though when they saw Draco holding Hermione in his arms, she was crying and he was trying not to.

"They'll be alright, I know they will, they just have to be... I promise."

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Harry found himself staring at he fire in his room, when he heard a knock on his door, he got up trudging over t it when he saw the dark beauty standing there staring up at him, "Charis."

She smiled, she was always smiling around him, "Harry, I would like to talk with you, so I would." He stepped out of the way letting her through, he watched as he tidied up a bit on her way across to settle on the end of his bed nervously. She was dressed in an empire waist gown, or at least he thought that's what they called them, the sleeves were off the shoulder, it was a beautiful pearl color. Still he wasn't sure about her just yet, he could still remember the smell of lilacs that had been on Irial, Luna's apparent mate now.

It had hurt just to smell that light scent of lilacs, "What did you want to talk about?" He wasn't positive he'd be able to listen that well, he was aching for Luna and then there was this new encounter with Voldemort, and last the thing with Hermione.

"It's just that I know you know I'm part vampire." That caught his attention he'd never brought up her heritage in words before only had offered his own blood to her when she'd been injured, she'd still taken nothing at all even with the amount of blood she'd lost, she was starving herself essentially is what Twilight said. "Still, tis true enough that I am part wizard also, tis a half-blood, I am. In both species, that is, you see me mother she was and Irish catholic but a witch and never allowed herself to be changed even though me da was after it. Me da, on the other hand, he was a vampire and she was his true mate. Me da had been with another before, it was arranged since he'd never found me mother, twas because she was a century younger than him. He died two days after me mother was gone, I helped him survive that long, long enough for him to bring me to Rosencrantz, or perhaps not I've never been sure about it, me mother died having me and my gift as an empath helped my father survive." She explained it all so easily as if none of it was tragic, "I think I may have a brother, a boy alaways in my memories with rolling green hills and blue skies, he has thick black hair and violet indigo eyes."

Harry thought that sounded a lot like Irial, but didn't mention it, "I know all about you, so I do. What it tis I came to tell you is, being that I am a witch, I like Draco knew immediately whom my mate is. I've dreamed of him since I came of age, Harry you've haunted my dreams my whole life. I knew instantly when they brought me to you when I was injured. Not that I'm asking you to accept me, but I just couldn't go on without telling you. I found you when Draco first appeared at Rosencrantz, one night he spoke to you there about a mission, I hadn't meant to eavesdrop but so I did."

He watched her then as she played with the hem of his bed spread, looking down and he felt how uneasy she was with telling him all of this, but he wasn't sure how to respond. He remembered all that had happened just a day ago when she'd fell into his arms and life. Luna had told him that he was meant for someone else, had she foresaw Charis, known about Irial. Still how could he move on so quickly after losing her, she was his moon. Suddenly the girl stood up, she had a blush on her face, "Charis, wait."

She turned to him then, he stood up seeing he had a good five inches or so on her, she was very small and petite, slowly he reached out and lifted her chin to where she was looking him in the eyes. "Like I said, Harry, you don't have to accept me so soon, you don't."

"The consequences, they're the same as they are for Twi and Draco?" he asked and she looked away answering his question for him, "And you'd be truly satisfied if you drank from me? You actually crave my blood as Draco craves Hermione's as she did his, as Twi does Blaise's? That's why you purred when I held you lips to my neck, but you wouldn't drink form me." He pulled her closer then, "Charis, I want you to drink from me. I talked to Twi, you haven't taken any blood since you were injured which she says literally means you're starving yourself. I can't knowingly let you do that when I can do something about it." She looked up at him with shocked eyes, then he sat down and slowly moved her to his lap, "Don't tell me you can't this time." When she just sat there staring at him he took it upon himself to bring out a pocket knife from his pocket that the Dursley's had given him, he pressed it against his neck until he heard her gasp and felt a drop of blood trail down his neck.

"Harry... are you sure?" her eyes hadn't left his, he could se her control slipping and that's what he wanted, if he could help her survive then he would, he couldn't let her die knowing he could save her. Always the hero, wasn't he?

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Draco stared at his mate, she'd accepted his request to court her, even though neither of them specifically knew what he meant by it. It's just he wanted to have a chance to make her fall in love with him again. Now she was sitting in their bedroom here at headquarters, staring out the window at the night sky, he mind was trying so hard to think of how she could be who they told her she really was. "Don't try so hard, love. Every potion has a counter-potion to it, an antidote of sorts. I and Professor Snape are the best potion masters in the world, or well at least he is, and we'll find a way to bring your memories back."

Or at least he hoped they could, they still didn't know exactly what the potion had done to her other than make her mortal and erase her memories, he worried that there was some adverse effect they were missing that would sneak up on them. Gently he ran a hand through her hair, she was fragile again, he could break her so easily, anyone could and it caused him so much worry. She looked at him curiously and he caught her stray thought about his strong arms, and he smiled at her. Sitting up straight against the pillows on the headboard he beckoned her into his arms.

She was as shy as when he'd first tried to get into her heart, but less argumentative about everything, also she didn't know him as well anymore, the so called leash she kept him on before as Ron had said was gone. He found that he missed that. Slowly she scooted across the bed until he could wrap her up in his arms and let her fall asleep feeling safe. At least he knew he could provide her that, she felt safe with him and that made him happy for now.

"Do you miss her?" she asked quietly when he thought she was asleep.

It took him a bit to answer her, "Not the way you think I do, you're still like my Hermione, you are her, you just don't know it. To be honest, I miss our bickering, and how you could read me like a book."

"I wish I could... Draco, tell me everything, tell me all about us." He smiled, he wanted to, he hadn't realized it 'til now but he really had wanted to tell her what they had been like before she'd forgotten, even the worse parts like their childhood and the time she'd ran away from him. Slowly he began with the day they first met, on the train as first years. It was entertaining to watch her face as he talked about how annoying he'd found her and that no matter even as a child how much he'd tried to hate her for everything his father said to that all he could do was be jealous of her. She'd been shocked to here during third year she'd punched him in the nose, or how they'd constantly fight in every class or in the hallways. When he talked about the Yule Ball, he told her how beautiful she'd been, how he'd wanted to go up to Victor Krum and punch him in the face then take her as his own date.

"Wait, Victor Krum?" she asked slowly.

He cocked an eyebrow that that particular name had stuck out to her, "Yes, he was bulgarian quidditch player."

"No, no, not at all, he was some rugby player that I went to school with, we were romantically involved...but there's something else. Like I had seen him somewhere lately, but i just can't remember, he'd changed his name too, I think... oh I just can't get a grasp on it. Maybe, I'm wrong. It doesn't really matter I guess." Concentrating on her face he realized that maybe it did matter, she was obviously struggling with it, "Perhaps your Professor Dumbledore may be able to help when you take me to see him tomorrow."

Draco nodded then noticed how late it was getting, "You should sleep, love. We may have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Snauggling tighter against his side he began playing with her hair, remebering all he hadn't gotten to tell her, like how he'd found her right after he'd been changed, how she'd helped him keep from wanting to kill himself to keep out of Voldemort's hands, how she would always be his only reason to live, otherwise he'd go after Voldemort in a suicide mission for revenge. He wanted to tell her of how he'd gotten her to fall in love with him the first time, how they'd been before he changed her, and how they'd been after too. He was getting soft, that was for sure, his father would have killed him for it, but he liked to think his mother would have loved Hermione. The family dinner every Sunday night would have been entertaining anyways, at least once the war was over, but he'd never know now, except his father was alive and officially as demented as aunt Bella and as evil as the Dark Lord.

"Draco... don't worry, I'll figure this all out and we'll be happy again." That was something his Hermione would say, right before she hit the books on relationships and told him just why they had fought and how it had all ben his fault, always never failed. Somehow she always managed to get him to apologize, even when he was never sure what he did to be apologizing.

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Slowly she leaned in to him, touching her lips to his neck, his blood was so sweet, and she just wanted to sink her fangs in and drink him dry. Thus the reason she was being very careful with him, he was still mortal, she could end up killing him and that scared her more than anything. It also worried her of what she'd think of her once she did drink form him, would it be painful for him? She pulled back and looked up at him once more, "You'll stop me if it hurts or I take too much won't you" when he just pressed her back towards his neck she took it that he would.

Licking what had dripped free away she felt him tense up, that just served to make her more nervous, she began to draw away again when he placed his hand firmly against her head, and laced his fingers through her hair. It was a gentle grip but firm enough to tell her that he wanted her to do this. Her fangs scraped against his soft skin and drew more blood, she gently licked that away too, then she couldn't help the purr that escaped her. He placed a hand on her hip and pulled her closer, more protectively into his arms and lap. Then she breathed in deeply and plunged her fangs into his vein and he gripped her tightly to him. The blood that rushed into her was so sweet and she purred as it flowed down her throat. Harry laid back against his pillow with her on top of him, and moaned. She started to pull away but he kept there, starting to run his free hand up and down her back. Was it pleasurable for him?

Another moan made her curious so she tried running her tongue along his neck where her fangs were and he pulled her tight against him, and she could feel something against her thigh and swore she blushed straight to the roots of her hair. "Charis... I didn't know it would feel like this...don't stop just yet, take as much as you need... I swear it doesn't hut me at all." he moaned again and his hand started raising her dress up.

Pulling away she stared at him, "Harry, I should stop.. you're not thinking straight..." she whispered as she licked some of his blood from her lips and he watched her with lust in his eyes.

Suddenly he'd flipped her over and had his lips pressed to hers, "I'm thinking just fine..." he told her as he kissed her again, "I wasn't sure what to think of you... I'm not sure if I still do, but I know one thing... when I'm with you like this, when I can be the one that keeps you alive, nothing else matters... not the war, not my impending death, and not Luna..." He paused when he said her name and Charis could have cried just then. Trying to push away she felt him hold onto her tighter, "Please, don't leave Charis... please it doesn't hurt now... it deon't hurt to think of her, to think of her and Irial, to think I may never see her again... I-I want to give this a chance, Luna told me I was meant for someone else... maybe she was right, maybe it's you."

Charis stared up at him, his mossy green eyes stared into her cobalt ones begging her to stay, he was her mate, she'd never be able to say no to him. Didn't he know that? He would always be her weakness, he'd had her from the moment she'd seen his handsome face in her dreams. "I'll stay, Harry, for you I'll stay." Then his mouth slammed back onto hers and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She felt his hands begin reach around her back searching for her zipper, and she began unbuttoning his shirt. His skin was smooth against her hands and Harry began trailing down to her neck causing her to gasp. When her dress opened for him he peeled it down enough that he could see the tops of her chest, his mouth started on a journey down towards them. She gripped his already messy hair, and he pushed his shirt the rest of the way off, as he was returning to kissing her they heard a thump a squeal and a roar. "Lord Draco and Lady Hermione!"

Harry was already up and out of the bed then and she gathered her dress about her enough to follow after him when he stopped her, "Stay here Chairs, it could be dangerous." She scowled and he could tell he wasn't going to win. "Please... I lost someone I loved once... and I haven't even gotten the chance to love you..."

"If you hadn't noticed... I'm the immortal one between the two of us." He was stubborn she could tell but those were her royals, no way was she going to stay behind when something might happen to them. Finally he gave in and he trudged down the hall with her behind him, he kept her close enough that he could protect her if need be. When they got to the correct room they found Ron laughing in the middle of the hall way at a thoroughly soaked Draco and Hermione.

"Damn rain, and damn old roof," Draco was grumbling, one look in the bedroom and you could see the roof had given in spilling a gallon of water on top of the couple as they had laid in bed. "What the bloody hell is Charis doing half undressed, pothead?"

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Amata Mercy

I thought a little humor at the end of this one would brighten up all the dramatic stuff that had taken place lately.