Chapter 1 - Lover's Quarrel

A/N: I am back and sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Hope you enjoy this, I am working on the next chapter right now and will post it soon. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews.

- MidnightDreams261

Caroline Williamson swung open the door; her smile could have lit up Broadway as she looked over the three most important people in her life. "Jane, Mark, Hermione! This is so wonderful that you're all here loves!"

The two sisters embraced each other, gushing over themselves before Caroline turned her attentions to Mark and Hermione.

Mark smiled brightly at his sister in law before pulling her into a big bear hug, "Hey sis, how have you been? We've missed you back in England."

Hermione's aunt responded in kind before looking at her niece, the niece she had seen nearly six years ago. "My Hermione! It's been so long, we've all missed you love." She grasped her niece, hugging her tightly.

Hermione hugged her back, "I've missed you too Aunt Carol."

Caroline beamed at her niece as she ushered everyone inside. "Make yourselves at home everyone."

With that, both her parents began moving their luggage from the taxi they had come in and into the house. The cab driver handed Hermione her own suitcases and she thanked him before handing him a tip and going back inside her aunts home.

She watched as her parents mingled with her older cousins, laughing as they sat with them in the living room.

Caroline came up to her and directed her to the room she'd be staying in for the next week, kissing her forehead before bustling off through the house, set on making tea for everyone.

Hermione closed the door and looked around. The room was small but comfortable. It smelled like an antique shop and she loved it, the old worn furniture seemed inviting. She placed her luggage next to the tiny closet before proceeding to throw herself onto the bed, inhaling the sheets as she snuggled into them. The fresh scent of laundry soap filled her nostrils and she smiled as she pulled the sheets upwards to cover her feet. Looking over, she grabbed the remote and turned the TV on, wondering just what kind of muggle television they got out here in the states.

"So you think vampires don't have the right to exist like humans do?" A blonde woman spoke, her name highlighted underneath, Nan Flanagan.

A man in an off white suit with short brown hair flashed on the screen, sighing loudly, "I will not address this thing, if someone could please repeat what it said for me?"

The camera cut to another woman and she repeated the question.

"No," The camera flashed back to the man, "No they do not, they are demons, they are not children of god. They have no right to be here like you or I…" He gestured to himself and the woman who was repeating what the other woman was saying..

The camera flashed back to Nan, her fangs now exposed as she spoke, still eerily calm, "Everything has a right to life Mr. Newlin."

The camera flashed once more to Rev. Steve Newlin and he opened his mouth in a retort but Hermione muted the TV. She sat back against the headboard, blinking, her mouth suddenly dry.

Vampires were living out in the open in the states now…they had made their existence known. Sure they lived in the wizarding world as well amongst the magical folk but Hermione had never heard of them actually confirming their true existence to humans, to muggles. She was completely shocked, and yet, slightly jealous.

Wow, yes definitely jealous. She, being a witch, could never be 'out' in the open, could never really share her secrets with anyone save those in her world….her world… she could never have both worlds, live freely and openly in both worlds. At the very least, the vampires could live here walking amongst humans or live in Europe with her kind. Sure they might have a few crazy muggles hating them like that Steve Newlin guy, but they were still able to have that freedom.

She sighed, it would be wonderful to share her life and who she really was to her Aunt, but she knew that day would never come.

Staring out the window, Hermione watched as the sun drifted into the clouds, night setting quickly. She shivered, the vampires should be waking now.

A book sticking out from the tiny bookshelf caught her attention as she pulled herself away from the window and went to make the bed. She grabbed it, the title read 'Vampires, A look into the life of the night walkers.' She flipped it open, her curiosity peaked and her natural love for reading taking over as she sat on the bed, forgetting about making it altogether.

She wasn't sure how long had passed when a loud knock on the door startled her out of her deep reading. "Come in."

Aunt Caroline stood at the entryway, smiling at her niece, "Your parents are going out with your cousins and I thought perhaps you and I could catch up darling, after all we are long overdue."

Hermione smiled and nodded, closing the book and leaving it on the bed as she stood up, "What did you have in mind?"

"I thought we'd go out to Merlottes, it's this nice little bar and grill. We could grab dinner there and then if you'd like you could explore the nightlife this town has to offer afterwards. We have an excellent country club down the street from here that you could go to, maybe meet a young man?" Her Aunt cooed excitedly, "Given that you don't have a boyfriend already from that school of yours, what's it called again? Harlondale Academy?"

"No, no boyfriend," She swallowed the lump forming in her throat, "And yes that's the one."

Merlottes was bustling with customers tonight, the normally quiet little bar was having a bigger overflow of people tonight than usual thanks to the football game playing tonight.

Sam Merlotte sighed and threw a towel over his shoulder before grabbing a shot from the bar, downing it quickly before slipping to the back unnoticed.

"You got one for me too?" Well almost unnoticed, he cracked a smile at seeing Sookie Stackhouse walking towards him, beaming from ear to ear as usual, her crazy Sookie smile in place.

He laughed, "Sorry, for the boss only. Maybe when your shift is over."

She joined his laughter and elbowed him playfully on the arm before bounding over to the front, ready to take on all these customers. With a deep breath, she forced herself to shut her thoughts down, having gotten more control over them since learning more and more about her fairy nature.

"Here we go Sookie!" She spoke to herself, seeing two women being seated at one of her tables.

Hermione slid into the booth and thanked the woman who'd lead them to their seat, her name tag read Jessica, and she shivered as she watched the red head retreat towards another set of people. She was ninety nine percent sure the woman was a vampire, just by the air that surrounded her alone, rather intoxicating.

"Hey good evening ya'll, what can I get you two ladies tonight?"

Her thoughts were broken at the sound of a feminine voice, she glanced up to see a young blonde woman staring at her as she repeated her question, her aunt raising an eyebrow as well at her delayed response. "Sorry, I'll have a butterbee…" She trailed off realizing they didn't have that kind of drink here and said the first muggle drink that came to mind, "Coke, I'll have a coke please."

The waitress smiled and walked off. Hermione noted her name tag read Sookie Stackhouse, a very unusual name.

Once again someone interrupted her thoughts, this time the voice was her aunt speaking to her. "So how are your studies going dear?"

"Great."

"What are you studying towards, your degree?"

She paused. She couldn't very well tell her aunt that she was studying to become a potions master and that she planned on apprenticing with Professor Snape given that they both survived the upcoming war. "Chemistry…" Her voice spoke weakly, soft, "I'm planning to become the next Chemistry teacher at my school."

Her Aunt smiled, obviously pleased with her answer, "Well I don't know much about that subject but I am glad you are doing something you love, something that fits you dear."

She smiled back and her thoughts drifted back to the TV show she'd seen earlier. Oh the things she needed to write about to Harry and Ron, the boys would be astounded. She smiled to herself as their waitress returned.

"Decided what to eat ya'll? Fried shrimp with mash potatoes and fried zucchini is our special for this evening by the way."

"I'll try that." Hermione smiled.

Her aunt nodded, "That sounds great, I'll take that too."

Sookie Stackhouse smiled at the two women, writing their orders down quickly and then waltzed off in the direction of the kitchens, intent on giving their order to Lafayette who was cooking up a storm in the back.

"Sookie." The only voice that could give her chills and make her instantly comforted at the same time spoke in her ear as she slapped the meal ticket down on the bar for Tara to take to the kitchen.

Hermione saw her aunt talking but her attention was abruptly taken off of her as she felt something she'd never felt before, a warm chill in the air. Looking over at their waitress, she saw a blur and blinked as a man now stood beside her.

Scratch that, a tall blonde haired white as paper man stood beside her. She watched as he leaned in to talk to Sookie and the waitress tried to brush him off, seemingly annoyed with him. She turned on her heel and walked towards the back, the blonde haired man began walking after her at the same time.

Hermione felt all the air in her lungs leave her as his head turned in her direction so fast she was sure had he been human, he'd have snapped his neck. Their eyes met briefly, his pale blue ones seemingly staring holes into her, before he turned away, his attention once more on the retreating backside of their waitress.

A blush spread across her face and she turned to face her aunt, "Who was that Aunt Caroline?"

Her aunt smirked, "I am not sure of his name dear but I do see him around here often. I know he is a vampire but that's it I'm afraid."

"Vampire? So what is your take on this then? On vampires existing? How long have they been out? What was your reaction? Do you think since they exist, other things, perhaps magical things exist too?" She knew she was babbling but she couldn't help herself. She made a mental note to herself to find all the books she could on vampires somewhere in this town.

Caroline laughed, "Woah, slow down dear, one question at a time. "My reaction was shock at first and fright. I wasn't sure what to make of it, then Nan Flanagan began explaining more and more about their kind and of course Japan made those 'Tru Blood' drinks –"

"- Drinks? What's tru blood?" Hermione interrupted, unable to help herself.

"It's a synthetic blood they created upon hearing of the real existence of vampires. They made it so that the vampires do not have to take human blood, they can survive on tru blood instead, not that all of them choose to do that. On your last question however, I have realized that perhaps a lot of things we humans chose to consider myths or fictional are in fact as real as the vampires themselves."

Hermione was bursting by now to tell her Aunt the truth, to tell her who she really was, what was really going on in her life, all of her adventures. However, she forced herself to calm down and contain herself as another waitress, the red head who had escorted them to the table, place their food down in front of them. "Enjoy ya'll, sorry about Sookie, she got um…held up." Jessica smiled before walking back to the front doors of the restaurant.

Held up….Hermione couldn't help but wonder if it was by the mysterious blonde who'd followed her to the back. Against her better judgment she stood up, deciding to investigate. A smile crossed her face, Harry and Ron would be so proud if they knew what she was up to. "I'm going to run to the loo." She announced to her Aunt who nodded as she dug into her food.

Quickly, she made her way to the back, seeing the doors labeled guys and gals. She glanced around, not seeing anyone in the back at the moment. Voices grew louder and she barely recognized the southern belle accent that was her waitress' voice. Gotcha! She walked towards it, realizing it was coming from behind a door next to the girls lavatory. Glancing around once more to make sure no one was around, she pulled her wand out and muttered "Enhancio!" And suddenly she could hear their words in her ears…

"Eric I am busy and you know this! Why must you keep on with this?"

"Because you love it, you know you do."

"Ugh! Shut up! I don't have time for this, and Bill will be here later."

"To hell with Bill, I cannot believe you would accept him back after all he's done to you."

"I love him Eric!"

"Do you? Do you really?"

"What would you know of love Eric?"

….a long pause ensued before Eric's voice filled Hermione's ears, so light and yet hardened by years if not centuries of life experience she guessed.

"I know a lot considering how I feel about you Sookie." Her name came out in a light whisper and then the sound of the doorknob tore Hermione out of her thoughts and current actions.

Without a second thought, she made a beeline for the lavatory and just about threw herself in, the door slamming behind her as the door next to the bathrooms opened up. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest and she tried inhaling and exhaling deeply to calm herself down.

Pocketing her wand, she opened the door and made her way back out to the front.

"Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to eavesdrop on others?" The voice belonging to the man whose conversation she'd just listened in on sent shivers down her spine as she stopped cold in her tracks.

Turning around slowly, she saw him standing near the men's bathroom, casually leaning against the door. "I don't know what you are talking about sir."

An eyebrow raised, "Sir? Nice touch…" He came closer, so fast if she'd blinked, she would have missed his movements altogether. "Do try minding your manners in the future and keep your nose out of other people's business."

She half expected him to snarl at her or for his fangs to appear but he just smirked at her before disappearing out of sight.

"Took you long enough." Her aunt scolded as she sat back down at their table, a smile slipped through and Hermione knew she was messing with her.

"Sorry there was a line for the loo." She looked down and began forcing herself to eat her plate of now cold food.

A yell was heard and Hermione glanced up in time to see their waitress glaring at whom she assumed was the owner of the bar before slamming her apron down on one of the tables and storming out of the grill.

The bar owner yelled her name just as she slammed the door behind her and he ran a hand through his dirty blonde brown hair before stomping into the back room.

Everyone including Hermione's aunt seemed to be watching the scene before the bartender, Tara, yelled out "Mind your own fucking business people, go back to what ya'll were doing!"

This seemed to do the trick as everyone immediately did as she asked, er rather yelled.

"Wow I wonder what that fellow did to her to make her that angry." Caroline shook her head as she continued eating.

Hermione remained silent, shrugging her shoulders in response, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

The drive home was pleasant, her aunt flipped through various muggle songs as Hermione found herself lost in thought, missing her two best friends and wishing desperately she could somehow contact them. She also found herself thinking about the scene in Merlottes, analyzing the situation in typical Hermione style before she was broken out of her thoughts as they arrived at the house.

"Well I really enjoyed our little outing dear, though it is way past my bedtime now." Her aunt laughed as she pulled Hermione into a hug. "If you want to go to that club I suggested, take my car. The keys are on the counter."

"Goodnight Aunt Carol."

"Night dear."

Hermione watched as she disappeared into her own room and decided to take up her aunts offer. She wasn't tired and her parents were still out with her cousins. She would settle down with a good book but she hadn't been able to bring her Hogwarts books nor had she been able to visit the local bookstore here so that left exploring the nightlife, what little this town had to offer anyway.

Pulling out her aunt's keys, she opened the door to the ford taurus parked in the driveway and slid inside. The car smelled of floral scented perfume, Hermione wrinkled her nose in distaste, trying not to gag as she started the engine up. Glancing over, she saw a small paper with the words 'Fangtasia' written on it. She grabbed it and her mouth nearly dropped open in shock. On the cover was the same vampire she'd seen last week at Merlottes. He seemed to stare into her soul from the picture alone and for some reason she had the sudden urge to go there. She figured at the least, it'd be much better than her aunts suggested of the muggle club here in town if the picture was anything to go by alone. Glancing at the address, it said Shreveport LA. She grabbed the muggle gps in front of her and jotted down the same address before placing it back on the dashboard.

Tossing the flyer back onto the seat, she pulled out of the driveway, heading out for a night of fun on the town.

Pulling into the parking lot, Hermione shut the car off and got out. Sucking in a deep breath, she fiddled with her wand momentarily before sliding it into her back pocket and pulling her sweater down to cover it as she walked to the front of the building where a huge line of muggles stood outside, eagerly waiting to get in.

An hour later and she was starting to think maybe this wasn't the greatest idea when she finally made it to the front where a female vampire in the most revealing muggle outfit Hermione had ever seen, stood with a clipboard in hand.

"And who might you be?" An eyebrow raised as the vampire looked her over, licking her lips.

"I'm not on your list, my name is Hermione Granger."

Pam smirked, "Hmm I think I will make an exception for you Hermione," She purred out her name, "Come inside."

Hermione smiled in thanks and moved quickly inside.

People bumped and grind and seemed to almost melt together in the crowd. They all seemed to be dressed in hardly any clothing at all, the majority of it being leather and black in color. She suddenly felt very out of place in her deep purple turtleneck sweater and jeans.

Sighing, she decided she ought to have one drink at least before leaving, after all, she'd gotten in here without being carded.

As she moved to the bar, she caught sight of someone sitting in the middle of the dance area. She looked over and her mouth went dry. There in the middle of the room, the very same vampire she'd seen at Merlottes, sat in a throne like chair. His blonde hair fell in his eyes as he leaned over, appearing bored.

She sat down on a barstool, her attention still on him. A woman appeared, on her knees, seemingly begging him for attention to which he pushed her off of his person, looking thoroughly disgusted with her.

"What'll it be for you?"

Hermione snapped her attention to the bartender who was currently looking at her as though she were a prime steak, his fangs out and glistening.

"I'll have a margarita please."

The bartender seemed to study her momentarily before nodding and moving to make her drink.

"What's a beautiful lady like you doing in a place like this?" A man sitting next to her slurred his words as he moved closer.

Hermione blushed, "Just checking out the sights."

"You should come check out my place darlin'." He grinned as he moved one hand on her thigh.

"I don't think so." She shoved his hand away from her person and grabbed her drink, about to move away from him when she felt his hand around her waist, her drink flying onto the floor from her abrupt movements.

He spoke harshly, his foul breath invading her airspace, "Oh I think so little lady." He moved his free hand up her thigh, clearly intending to invade her private areas given a chance.

She went for her wand and tugged on it from her back pocket when a voice distracted her.

"I believe the lady said no." The voice of the one person she'd come all the way out here for spoke loudly and she felt the man's arm tear away from her as he was flung into the air, screaming, before slamming into the throne where the blonde vampire had been sitting.

Eric stood in front of her, fangs glistening as he turned in her direction, "Are you okay?" His fangs popped back into place.

Hermione stared in amazement at him before remembering how to speak, "Yes I'm fine, thank you."

He smirked and looked over her shoulder at his child, "Pam, clean up that mess." He gestured to the dead human laying near his throne.

Without another word, Eric sat down at the bar and Hermione did the same, sitting next to him. By now everyone had stopped what they were doing and watched him in awe as he was never seen mingling with anyone unless they came to him.

Eric's ice blue eyes shot back to the humans who stared at them, "Get back to your own business." That one simple command seemed to have the desired effect as everyone went back to their own business.

"Chow, get another margarita for the lady, on the house." He spoke without missing a beat, his ethereal eyes turning to the brunette sitting next to him, "You never told me your name or should I just call you the eavesdropper?"

Hermione laughed outright, "Hermione, Hermione Granger," She stuck her hand out to shake his, "Yours?"

He smirked, grasping her much smaller hand into his own, shaking it, "Eric Northman, Sheriff of Area 5 and owner of this bar here in Shreveport."

"Sheriff?" Hermione sipped on her drink, looking at him with confusion written all over her face. They hadn't mentioned Sheriff vampires in her book, perhaps there was a sort of hierarchy within their race, community….

Eric stared at her, she seemed genuinely confused. "You're not from around here are you Miss Granger?"

"No, I am visiting family here, I am actually from England."

"You seemed very surprised when I saw you at Merlottes…."

"How would you know?"

"Very perceptive."

"Well I live in a very small community and so I had never heard a thing about vampires coming out in the open here in the states." Her lie came out as smoothly as she could make, though she knew full well she was horrible at it.

"Very small indeed for we have been doing so in your country as well." Eric raised a brow to this but said no more on the subject.

Hermione finished off her drink and let out a stifled yawn before standing, "Well it's been a pleasure Mr. Northman but I must head back home now." She made to move away from him when his hand clasped over her wrist, forcefully pulling her to him.

Eric felt hungry, he thirsted for blood and in this moment he wanted hers, she smelled unique, a sweet euphoric scent he could almost taste on the air that surrounded her alone. Forcing her to face him, his ice blue eyes locked onto her startled chocolate colored ones, boring into them. "You should stay Miss Granger, allow me a sample of you delicious smelling blood, then I will let you go. Everything will be okay, now you will follow me to the back room."

Hermione felt dizzy, almost caught in a daze before blinking, she stood next to him, watching as he stood up obviously expecting her to obey him. Her eyes widened in realization of what had just occurred, he had attempted to and failed at glamoring her. According to her book, a vampire could hypnotize their prey with simple eye contact, so far no one had ever defied their what she would call 'captivating gaze'….until now that is. Part of her wondered if she should play along so as to avoid her almost certain death should he find out she could not be glamored like a normal human. But her more volatile side was angered at his audacity to do such a thing to her like she was no more than some blood bag! And to think she had found herself actually intrigued by him at first! She bristled in anger as she faced him again, wishing the place was empty so she could draw her wand on him and hex him to ashes.

A loud slap echoed throughout the room and soon everyone was staring at them. Eric stared at the human with a mixture of anger and curiosity while Hermione glared back at him livid. Pam watched the entire scene from her post at the front, trying very hard not to laugh at the little human who dared strike her master and in front of guests no less.

"You pompous arrogant arse! How dare you try to glamor me like I am nothing more than some meal for you to snack on! I cannot believe I wasted my time here with someone like you! Bloody arsehole! You are just like Malfoy!" And with that, she turned on her heel, practically running out of the club, just in time to hide her tears.

Eric stood silently, not having moved an inch since she slapped him. He was angry but more so he found himself….curious. Could this human be another telepathic fairy like Sookie? He wasn't sure but he was determined to find out one way or another.