Chapter 2 – Loving You

A/N: Hope you all enjoy :D Working on the next chapter now. Thank you for the wonderful reviews hehe.

- MidnightDreams261

A week had gone by and found Eric sitting in his office, staring out at the sky, knowing he only had a couple more hours till daybreak. He drummed his fingers against the desk, his mind clouded with images of a certain human that he just couldn't get out of his head.

"Eric, I meant to tell you, Chow said he found this about a week ago, and wanted me to toss it in the lost and found. However I thought you might find it of interest." Pam walked into his office, smirking at her maker as she handed him a small black leather wallet.

He opened it, surprised to see the very face of the woman he couldn't get out of his head, smiling up at him in an id photo.

"I believe I should give this to her tonight don't you think Pam?"

His child nodded her head and walked out, on the phone already to find out where the human was staying at.

"Hermione dear…" Something hit her on the arm and she groaned, turning over and pulling her pillow over her head.

"Go away."

Jane Granger laughed and poked at her daughter once more, continuing to pester her until she finally sat up, blinking from the bright sunlight which seemed to pour into the room.

"We are going to go sight see up in Shreveport, would you like to come?"

Hermione groaned again, not quite believing what she was hearing. "No thank you mum, I think I'll go get some breakfast at that Merlottes and maybe go for a nice walk around town."

"Of course dear, well our number is on the fridge if you need to get a hold of us. Caroline said she'd leave her car here for you if you decided to stay here."

"But you guys need a car too mum."

"We have your cousin Madison's car, she got picked up earlier by her boyfriend and is staying with him for the week."

"Okay well have fun." She hugged her mum before laying back down, unable to sleep anymore, just staring at the ceiling as her mum walked out of the room. Soon she could hear the engine of her cousin's car start up and waited till it was silent once more.

Slowly, she got back up, making her way to the bathroom to get herself ready for breakfast.

"Hello welcome to Merlottes!" The same bubbly waitress from the night before greeted Hermione as she looked up from her menu. "Oh you were here last night, I remember you."

Hermione smiled at her, and nodded her head before glancing at her menu again.

Wonder what her connection is to Eric, if she's his lover or something….maybe she could tell me more about him….

"Eric?" The name slipped out of Sookie's mouth and she gasped as Hermione glanced up in shock, clearing her throat she quickly asked what she would like to drink, hoping to distract the younger woman.

Hermione watched the expression on the waitress change as soon as his name left her mouth, she knew what she heard, yet the waitress acted as though she'd said nothing. "Tea please, unsweet." She watched as 'Sookie' rushed off as fast as humanly possible.

Her mind was a blur of thoughts; was this woman a witch like her? A practiced legilimens? The idea excited her, that perhaps she'd stumbled upon a witch like herself with whom she could converse about the magical world freely while being stuck here in this tiny little town.

Sookie soon returned with her drink and was about to run off again when Hermione rather impulsively grasped her hand as she set her drink down. "How did you know what I was thinking?"

The waitress jerked her hand away as though she'd been burned and backed up, "Look just know that Eric is nothing but trouble waiting for a place to happen. I don't know how you know him but just know that."

I wonder what he'll do if he finds out what I really am, why he can't glamour me…

Sookie's face changed at the end of Hermione's thoughts and she watched the expression of surprise grace her face. "You are a mind reader! Are you a legilimens?" Hermione felt almost giddy.

The waitress paled, "I don't know what a legilimens is nor do I know what you are talking about."

As she spoke, Hermione quietly mumbled 'legilimens!' under her breath all the while never breaking eye contact with Sookie, her wand pointing at her discreetly below the table.

The waitress mind opened up to a blur of images, all inaccessible except for a recent one which surrounded the young witch.

"You know how I feel about you Sookie." Eric stared at her and Hermione as Sookie took a step back. They seemed to be inside an office of some sort.

"You don't know how to feel."

"Yes, because of you, I do."

"I'm sorry but I love Bill."

"No you don't Sookie!" Eric suddenly appeared in front of Sookie, grabbing her by the shoulders and kissing her firmly.

Sookie gasped and pulled away, running out of the room, Eric never seeing the tears that ran down her face as she ran out of the building of what Hermione now recognized to be Fangtasia.

Hermione pulled out of her head and sat quietly, the waitress looking at her with a weird expression before walking off.

Hermione felt like her head was spinning. There was something about this woman, she wasn't human, that much she could tell. And apparently she meant something to the asshole vampire she'd met in Fangtasia.

With a sigh, she drank her tea and threw down some muggle money, not caring that it was way more than what the drink actually cost as she walked out of the restaurant.

Flipping open her muggle cell phone that her mum had insisted she have while in the muggle world with them, she quickly dialed her mom's number.

"Hello?"

"Mum, where are you guys?"

"We are in downtown Shreveport, checking out the local shops."

"I'm heading your way now."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes mum."

"Alright, call us when you get here."

"Bye."

The phone clicked shut and she slid into her car, starting up the engine. She needed a distraction from everything so perhaps she could find a local bookstore to browse there.

In Shreveport

Hermione groaned, wishing she could magically shrink all her books as she walked back to her car. She struggled to carry all ten of them in the bag the cashier had wrapped them in.

After what seemed like the longest walk, she finally made it back to her car, dropping the books into the backseat before getting into the front seat.

Looking at the rear view mirror, she could see her Aunt and parents climbing into her cousins car, loading all of their items into the car before pulling out of the parking lot. She smiled, enjoying how she spent most of her day today, she couldn't wait to get home and start reading her new books. They seemed to be calling to her, she chuckled to herself knowing how Ron and Harry would be shaking their heads at her if they were there with her now.

Starting the car up, she slowly pulled out of the parking lot, following her family back to Bon Temps.

Later that evening in the Williamson house – Hermione's P.O.V.

"I am really going to miss you when you head back to England dears. Perhaps I will take a trip out there to visit you sometime." My aunt Caroline smiled at us as she served dinner.

My mother beamed, happily nodding her head while my dad fiddled with his napkin, obviously wondering how they would explain my absence if she were to come visit us.

I simply ate my food silently while they conversed. My thoughts drifted to my two best friends who had spent the summer at the Weasleys. I was definitely missing them.

Out of nowhere, the doorbell rang and my mother jumped up to answer it. We continued eating when mum burst into the room with none other than Eric Northman on her arm. I sputtered and choked on my diet coke in a very undignified manner, his blue eyes locking on me momentarily before saying hello to the rest of the family.

"You? What are you doing here?" I all but yelled out.

Eric's smirk deepened if that was possible, "I am the owner of the vampire bar in Shreveport, the one your daughter visited last night. I came here to return her wallet."

Wallet? I didn't recall leaving it there, I could have sworn it was in my car. But that was dashed as soon as he raised his hand, revealing my black leather wallet dad had gotten me one Christmas.

"Ah you're the one we saw at Merlottes last week." My aunt commented, her brown eyes twinkling in a most unsettling fashion.

Eric nodded, "Yes, I am sorry I had to interrupt your waitress then, I had some business to discuss with her." His lie came out as smoothly as ever.

I snorted in a most un Hermione like way, unable to help myself, knowing he was full of shit. Suddenly my blood ran cold as I realized something, mum had let him in, she had invited him inside….this meant according to my books, that he could come and go as he pleased. I cursed under my breath and stood up, "Thank you for finding and bringing my wallet to me Mr. Northman, let me walk you out." I smiled and excused myself, letting him follow me outside.

Once the front door swung shut, I turned around to face him, "Like I said, thank you for finding my wallet Mr. Northman, good evening." I turned back to head inside when he was suddenly in front of me, my hair slapping me in the face from his sudden movements.

"We are not done yet little human."

"Yes we are."

"What are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You are not human."

"Yes I am."

"Why was I not able to glamour you when we last met?"

"I don't bloody well know! Maybe it was just a fluke."

"I am trying right now and you are unresponsive."

Indeed, I shivered and felt the pin pricks of his attempted mind invasion. I glared at him and tried to push past him. "Let me go inside."

"Tell me the truth and maybe I'll let you live." He moved closer to me.

"Let me live?" I was getting angrier by the second, my wand was in my pocket and my fingers itched to draw it on him especially since the chances of someone actually seeing anything were slim to none considering my aunt lived on a generous amount of land.

"Yes I will let you….." Eric stopped in mid sentence, staring over my shoulder, his fangs popping out as he sniffed the air.

I started turning to look in the direction he was facing when I felt his arm go around me. Suddenly I fell hard into the ground away from him, the grass hitting me in the face as I skidded. Angrily, I got up, yelling out at him, absolutely livid when I heard a roar.

My eyes bugged out as I watched the scene happen in slow motion.

The ugliest black wolf I could imagine possible, lunged at him, growling and snapping. Eric hissed and leapt towards the beast, and they collided in mid air. I felt helpless, unsure of what to do as my family opened the door, staring out in horror.

The two fell to the ground with a thud, blood flying everywhere. I managed to stand as my dad ushered my mom and aunt back inside before running towards me. "What the hell is going on? Are you okay sweetheart?"

I nodded and he stood in front of me protectively, grabbing at my hand, attempting to lead me inside to safety.

The wolf howled viciously and that's when I saw it. A scar on its eyebrow, jagged and puffed out. It couldn't be a coincidence. I knew that scar. I gave him that scar when the death eaters raided Hogsmeade and Fenrir Greyback led them. He had tried to kidnap Ginny but I had fought him off as best as I could, long enough for Ginny to get help. I had grabbed my silver necklace as he had me pinned to the ground, salivating over the opportunity to try out the Mudblood, and I had dragged the edge of it over his eyebrow and eye in a last attempt to escape. It had never healed, I watched as the aurors dragged him away in his human form, the gash still there. I had listened to him cursing my name and swearing revenge for himself and on behalf of his master. Months later he had escaped Azkaban once more, though how he'd found me here was something else altogether. I knew it was him though, I just knew.

I turned to my dad and pushed him inside, ignoring his protests as I shut the door in his face. I ran back and watched as the snarling werewolf transformed, throwing Eric off of him. Fenrir Greyback stood nude, producing his wand, death eater robes manifesting out of thin air as he drew his wand over himself. He turned to me, lips pulled back in the most grotesque grin as he advanced.

I went to draw my own wand but he was faster. "Crucio!"

Fire attacked my insides, it felt like I was burning from the inside out. I cried out as I fell to the ground, barely seeing the blurry image of Eric appearing in front of me, once again attacking the death eater.

I sucked in all the air I possibly could, struggling to get to my feet. As I stood shakily, I watched in horror as Eric was hit by a crucio. He fell to the ground, eyes wide in surprise, cursing in pain.

Fenrir raised his wand once more and I didn't have to be a mind reader to know what was coming next. I pulled my own wand out and aimed it at the werewolf's back, "Sectumsempra!"

He snarled and yelled out, cuts forming all over, blood spilling through his robes. He whirled around, "The Mudblood wishes to play?" He smiled sadistically. "Imperio!"

I cried out but soon everything became clouded and this time my actions were not my own.

"Come to me."

My legs moved against my wishes towards him until I was flush against him, his putrid breath invading my airspace.

Eric P.O.V.

I clutched my sides, the pain the wolf had inflicted on me was intense, I had most definitely not experienced this kind of pain for a long time in my vampire years. I growled and slowly stood up, sucking up the pain I felt from the curse. I watched in horror as the wolf pointed his wand at Hermione, seemingly forcing her to come to him with his spoken command. Her legs stiff and forced as she moved into his arms. I felt confused and out of control and I was never confused nor out of control. This was completely unacceptable and I would end this with the lycan's death. With a roar, I leapt onto the man and felt my fangs descend as I tore into the side of his neck. He tried to throw me off but I kept hold. Disgustingly tangy warmness filled my mouth but I kept drinking, blood pouring out of my mouth as I spit it out, unable to handle drinking his foul blood.

Hermione P.O.V.

I watched in horror as Greyback scraped his nails down my shirt with me unable to so much as lift a finger. I felt tears coming down my face and braced myself for the worst when Eric came out of nowhere, his fangs sinking into the death eaters neck. Blood started pouring and I felt the pull of the imperio break as Greybacks concentration was broken.

Fenrir howled in agony as he thrashed around, trying to throw Eric off of him. He pointed his wand and I quickly stopped him, "Expelliarmus!"

His wand sailed to the floor and he cursed loudly before suddenly slamming himself to the hard ground, effectively throwing Eric off of him.

I aimed my wand once more but Greyback proved faster, his wand already back in hand, he hit me once again with the cruciatous curse. I cried out as I fell to my knees in pain.

"I'll be seeing you again Mudblood, and this time it will end with your death." He smiled sadistically at me before tapping the dark mark on his arm with the tip of his wand. I tried aiming my wand at him, shakily, but before I could even utter a word he disappeared.

Eric slowly got back up from the ground, his eyes wide in disbelief at the disappearance of the wolf. He came towards me and grabbed me by my arm, pulling me to my feet.

"What the hell are you woman?" The words flew out of his mouth as he glared at me.

I braced myself, figuring as soon as the words came out, I'd be dead. I might have a wand but against a vampire, he could easily snap my neck in seconds if he wished. "I'm a witch."

"A witch?" He was suddenly next to me, inches away. He sniffed the air, "That explains your unique scent."

Suddenly I found myself pinned to the tree behind me, his hand holding me in place as he used his free hand to confiscate my wand. "But that does not explain how you are able to resist my glamouring. Tell me now, no lies witch."

I struggled against but realized I had no choice but to explain as he was ten times stronger than me. "I practice occlumency, it can protect your mind from being invaded, from others seeing your memories."

"Occlumency? This is a spell?"

"Sort of, you have to practice repetitively."

"And here I thought you were some sort of fairy."

"Fairy? Fairies exist?"

"Yes." As he said this, his eyes seemed to conceal some sort of heartache behind them. I thought to ask him why but figured he would not respond and or rip me to pieces for asking such a thing.

"Who was that that just attacked me?"

I cringed, "His name was Fenrir Greyback. He is a werewolf and death eater, a follower of Voldemort."

"Voldemort?" Eric released me as he stood back, confusion written clearly across his face.

I sighed, realizing I'd have to explain the entire story to him. I opened my mouth to talk when the front door swung open to reveal the worried face of my father. He rushed to me and pulled me into a hug. "You listen to me next time and get inside when I say so!" He seemed close to tears as he crushed me in the hug, "We were so upset and worried, we had no idea what to do Hermione! What if that monster had killed you? What if…"

I cut him off, "I'm okay dad, let's go inside, I need to do a few things now, like talk to Aunt Caroline."

He nodded and walked inside, I followed behind and Eric followed me. I said nothing, knowing he would not leave until he got answers.

Once inside, I saw my mother sobbing and my aunt looking as though she'd been hit by a train.

She looked up at me, eyes red from crying, "I don't understand, what just happened?"

I watched as my dad moved towards her, trying to comfort her. I sighed, knowing what I had to do.

I needed to leave right away to tell Professor Dumbledore what had just occurred and by the state of things, they wouldn't let me leave like this.

My own eyes welled up with unshed tears, I saw Eric staring at me with an eyebrow raised as I raised my wand at my family.

"I love you all very much."

Everyone looked at me in shock, my dad started walking towards me, "Hermione?"

"Obliviate!" I shouted

They all remained in place, unmoving, "We had a great trip and you guys are staying here another week while I fly back to England for school. You are okay with this and you don't remember anything that happened since we went shopping earlier."

All of them nodded and I gave them a weak smile as they went about their business, my mom asking if I needed any help packing to which I said no. And all of them asking who Eric was except for my Aunt who spoke up, "Oh yes I remember you, you were at that restaurant talking to our waitress." She smiled at him and Eric merely nodded, still silent.

I quickly ushered him out of the room and outside the house.

He turned to me, once again pinning me, this time to the side of the house. "So who is this Voldemort? And what the hell did you just do back there witch? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were one of us."

I sighed and pushed him off of me, going to the swing on the front porch. He followed and leaned against the brick. I sat down and stared up at the sky as I spoke, recalling the events that had lead up to the battle which could take place any day now on Hogwarts grounds. I told him of my adventures with Harry and Ron, of everything which had occurred. I couldn't explain why I was telling him all of this, somehow it just felt right, nice, a relief to be able to tell someone outside of the wizarding community, to be able to finally share a huge chunk of my life with someone, even if that someone was virtually a stranger to me.

Eric's P.O.V.

In all my existence, very little shocked me anymore. But this little human, this witch, managed to do just that.

She sat there and as she spoke her face was a pattern I recognized as clear as day, someone who had seen too much, seen horrors that someone her age should have never seen. She reminded me of me, and I wasn't sure I liked that.

As she regaled with me with her life story and the things that were happening within her world, I found myself more and more entranced. I was really starting to disgust myself. I had just gotten through being burned by Sookie and now here I was becoming fascinated with another woman.

Feelings were something I needed to rid myself of, it was truly becoming a nuisance more than anything. And I had Sookie Stackhouse to thank for my newly enhanced emotions. I growled under my breathe and forced myself to focus once more on the brown haired witch speaking to me.

Hermione P.O.V.

"Well there you have it Mr. Northman, my entire life story. Now if you will excuse me, I have to be on my way, I have a plane to catch."

"Back to your Hogwarts school?"

"Yes."

"Well it was interesting to say the least meeting you Miss Granger." He gave me a brilliant smile and I gave a small one back, the look on his face sending shivers down my spine as I stood up and headed for the door.

"So you won't be trying to kill me then?"

Eric smirked at me and shook his head, "Not anytime soon."

I laughed, unable to help myself as I walked back in.

At the Airport

"Flight 1085 boarding for London, England."

I stood up, gathering my things and made my way towards the line.

Soon I would be home and I would be making my way to Hogwarts.

Malfoy Manor

Fenrir Greyback apparated into the middle of the living room in Malfoy Manor. Chest heaving up and down as he struggled to catch his breath from his long distance apparition.

"News for me?" The voice of his master rang out and he looked up to see the Dark Lord standing next to the couch where Bella and Narcissa sat.

Fenrir nodded his head excitedly as he rushed to his masters feet, kissing the hem of his robes before looking up at him. "The Mudblood, she is in the United States, in Louisiana. I almost had her but a bloodsucker attacked me and she lives for now. Something tells me she will be returning soon though to tell her precious Dumbledore of what has happened." The words came out rushed and he awaited the Dark Lord's response.

"You failed to bring the girl to me Greyback, however this is interesting, that a vampire attacked you. Very interesting…" Voldemort hissed as he stepped away from his servant.

A glowing ball of flames sat on the coffee table and he grabbed it, stroking it like he had done a week ago when he'd pried it from the dead hands of its last owner.

She who is full of knowledge will grab hold

A power so bright

Shared with another

He will go from dark to light

Combining them shall break the evil

And if they should rise

Into the ashes shall the Dark Lord fall

As they claim victory

Once and for all

"Greyback you have done well however you failed in bringing the Mudblood to me, crucio!" The Dark Lord laughed as his servant howled in agony and curled onto the floor.

He turned his attention to Bella and Narcissa. "Bella, you are to tell the others to follow the Granger girl's every move when she gets back to Hogwarts."

"Of course my Lord, as you wish." She all but purred to him before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.

"Narcissa, tell that useless husband of yours he has a special job to perform for me and he is to report to me at once. As for you, you will inform Draco to keep an eye on Miss Granger and to be ready. I should hate to have to punish your family once more should any harm befall my future bride."

Narcissa merely nodded, her lips pressed in a thin line as she stood and bowed to him before leaving the room.

Voldemort sat down on the couch, toying with the ball of flames, a smirk on his face.

At the Burrow

Harry yelled, sitting up so fast he felt his back pop.

"You okay mate?" The concerned voice of one of his best mates filled the air and he blinked groggily as he grabbed his glasses, slipping them onto his face.

He looked up at Ron and shook his head, "I saw him, I heard a prophecy, I think he wanted me to see it, to hear it."

Ron stared at him concerned, "Should we go to Dumbledore now?"

Harry nodded as he stood up, "We have to! It concerns Hermione! We have to tell him to bring her back now, she's in danger!"

Ron didn't need any more details. He slipped his shoes on and raced down the stairs after Harry, both boys running out the front door and summoning their brooms. "Hogwarts?" He looked at Harry.

Harry nodded, "Hogwarts."

And they both took off into the night.

Back in Shreveport

"Eric what do you mean?"

"You will run the club in my absence Pam, what part of that didn't you understand?"

"The part where you failed to mention why?"

Eric laughed, "There is something which requires my attention out of the country."

"Out of the country?"

"You will find out soon enough."

"This doesn't have anything to do with that weird woman you've been pursuing?"

"Perhaps."

Pam sighed, "Eric don't do this again, after what happened with…"

"Enough Pam, I have made my decision. I will contact you shortly when I arrive in England."

"England?"

Eric gave her a fixed glare.

"Fine fine."

"Good." Eric stood up from his desk, "I will be needing you to call the airport, make arrangements for me to fly out immediately."

"As you wish Eric."

"Oh and make sure you book Concorde."

"Concorde? But Eric that's a lot of…"

"It's fine Pam."

Pam sighed and flipped open her phone, walking out of the room.

Eric smirked and followed her out, heading to his car to make his way to the airport. At this rate, he would get there hours before her flight touched ground and by the evening which made things work out perfectly in his favor.