A/N: So very sorry for the late update, but if you read my AN in the last chapter, you should know why I've been absent. Anyway, thank you all for your well-wishes.

So, this is my latest chapter, I hope you enjoy it. You haven't forgotten about this story, have you?

I tried to make it a bit better, but this is how it came out, so…R&R. That's all I can ask of you. Oh, by the way, thank you all for your previous reviews. I hope I will be able to post again in a week's time. I'm back now.

Love you all. Kisses.

Chapter19.

Severus woke with a start. Something was missing, and he didn't need more than a few seconds to acknowledge that Hermione wasn't beside him. His brows furrowed as he saw that it was barely 03:20 in the morning. There was absolutely no reason for her to be away from his bed, seeing as both she and Harry now shared his quarters with him. Pulling on his boxers and a t-shirt, he stood and exited his bedroom. His first stop was her supposed bedroom, but he found it empty. Telling himself that she had said that she loved him and had no reason to leave, he walked further, towards Harry's bedroom, hoping to find the two talking. But, yet again, he was disappointed. Harry was sound asleep, and only Hedwig was the other living thing in the bedroom.

Trying to erase any pessimistic thought that surfaced, he entered the sitting room and poured himself a glass of Firewiskey.

A whispered 'Incendio' left his lips as he sat on the couch and the flames started growing in the hearth. It wasn't uncommon for him to be awake at this hour, but for the first time in almost twenty tears, his thoughts were far away from Voldemort.

Severus hadn't allowed himself to open up again towards any woman, ever since he'd done so with Lilly and got stomped over, but her words and their activities in the past hours had awakened those feelings once again. And they were even stronger than he remembered feeling as a teenager.

Merlin, he couldn't lose her. In the past weeks, Hermione Granger had wormed herself into his heart and losing her meant losing himself forever. She had healed the open wounds that he had been nursing for the past seventeen years. Dumbledore had given him a purpose once, a purpose based on lies and manipulations, but Hermione's goal quickly became more important. She had managed to make him feel worthy of love again. She had managed to make him feel useful again. And as he sat there, Severus became painfully aware that Hermione Granger had become his life purpose. She was what kept him going. She was what kept his hopes up.

Was it an obsession?

He didn't know.

He hoped not.

Lilly had been an obsession for years and her rejection had left his heart in pieces. And he knew that if Hermione rejected him now, the pieces that had slowly started to come together would be destroyed beyond repair.

A tear slid slowly down his cheek as the images he'd created of the two of them in his mind started to crumble and he mentally cursed himself for allowing his heart to get attached so quickly.

It was humiliating really. He had always prided himself for managing to restrain his feelings and foolish fantasies, and now, here he was, wishing he could drink himself to death because he had opened the gates to his shattered heart.

He shook his head and gulped down the remaining drink. He would try again. If he had done it once, he had to do it again and this time lock the gates and throw the key into the deepest ocean.

Severus Snape was known as a cold, heartless bastard. He should have never changed.

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''My Lady.'' Hermione greeted and fell to one knee.

''What do you need of me Angel?'' Lillith asked smiling.

''My Lady, you once told me I could have the vampires fight with us?''

''Of course. Don't tell me that the battle is already planned…''

''No. No, my lady. The problem is that some of them have sided with Voldemort.''

''What!'' Lillith suddenly shouted. Hermione cringed as a thought of what the leader of those vampires was about to endure.

''Yes. Bellatrix Lestrange sent me a gift, a bracelet. At the time I didn't know it was from her and I couldn't detect any spells on it, but as it proved, it was a portkey. I don't know where exactly it sent us, but it was night time, and a full moon. The problem is that Harry got whisked away with me. I don't know if it was intended that way, but we have to be careful. If Dumbledore even suspects that we know the truth, he might complicate things for us.''

''Angel…'' Lillith said, trying to calm her ever growing anger, she was after all the queen of the vampires. They had to obey her, and an attack against Hermione was like an attack against herself. ''I will send to you every leader that is willing to fight for you. They will be here by morning if they know what's good for them. Also, I've talked to the king, and we've come to the conclusion that you will need more help. I have a plan, but you will have to decide the outcome, and choose wisely.''

Hermione blinked. This was unexpected. She knew that the king was quite unwilling to spend any amount of time by training an angel, although he had taught her their history himself, but to send more help…that was unheard of.

''Of course My Lady.''

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If anyone were to see Hermione as she skipped towards Severus' chambers, that someone would say that the books had finally driven the bookworm to insanity. She had a mad woman's grin on her lips and a spark in her eyes that even Voldemort would have backend away from. It was quite disturbing, to say the least.

As she reached the stairs that lead towards the dungeons though, her grin fell, and worry started to worm it's way into her features. She knew Harry could fall into depression, but she hadn't felt something like this from him since Sirius had died. This should have been a happy day, even if they had faced werewolves and vampires. He had her, and he should know that she would never let him face anything alone.

Quickening her pace until it ended up in a jog, she finally reached the Head of Slytherin quarters and busted through the door. The fire in the sitting room was lit, but no one was there. Closing the door behind her, she started towards Harry's bedroom, but stopped mid-way.

The emotions were Severus'.

Why? What had driven him to that? What was running through his head?

Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door to his bedroom and stepped in. He was sitting in an armchair in the far corner of the room, in complete darkness. Did he regret what had happened? Was he thinking of a way to tell her that he had made a mistake?

Surely not.

''Severus?'' she asked cautiously, and was startled to hear him laugh. ''Severus, are you alright?'' she said and started to slowly make her way towards the armchair.

''Why are you here, Hermione?'' he asked. His emotions were making her dizzy. Whatever he was thinking, made his heart beat like mad. Damn the lack of light.

''What do you mean?''

''Exactly what you heard. Why are you here? You left. Why did you come back?''

Hermione frowned. Damn, even with her ability to see in the dark, she couldn't see his eyes and see what was running through that brilliant mind of his.

''Y…You didn't want me to come back?'' she asked in a small voice. She could feel her heart start to crack. Maybe he didn't want her afterall.

''Damnit, Hermione..'' he suddenly jumped out of the armchair and Hermione took an involuntary step back. ''Why did you leave? Where did you go? Why didn't you wake me up? What the hell are you playing at? Is this some kind of joke to you?''

Honestly, his questions didn't quite make sense to her, and his emotions were going wild.

''Severus, please calm down…''

''Calm down? I told you I loved you and you just up and leave? Why? What did I do wrong?''

''I…I had to report to Lillith…she needed to know about the vampires…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to upset you…I'll just go…'' It was obvious that he needed to calm down. Whatever was bothering him, the way his emotions were affecting her, she wasn't able to help him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't block him out.

She felt her knees tremble as she started walking back towards the door. But she never got there, as Severus' strong arms encircled her waist from behind holding her tightly, his face buried in her hair.

''I'm sorry.'' he whispered and kissed her neck. ''Please forgive me…I'm an idiot…please don't go…'' he continued kissing her with every phrase.

''I have to…either you control your emotions, or I have to leave…they're making me dizzy…'' Hermione whispered, closing her eyes and leaning her head on his shoulder.

She felt him trying to calm down as he swept her in his arms and carried her to the bed.

''Care to tell me what that was all about?''

''Tomorrow. I promise.'' he said and kissed her deeply. ''You're tired.''

Hermione just nodded and snuggled closer to his chest with a smile on her lips. Now that his feelings were calming, she could feel his relief, and his love for her. Well, at least he'd said it himself…he was indeed an idiot if he thought she'd leave him…That would never happen.

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It was noon by the time Hermione decided to lift her head from underneath the covers and give a fresh start to another day, and since they were all excused from classes, a lie-in was exactly what she needed.

''Are you going to grace us with your presence, or not?'' came Harry's voice from the door.

Trying to avoid the streak of light that entered the bedroom through the open door, Hermione groaned and flipped onto her belly.

''Sod off Harry. I'll get out when I bloody want to.'' she growled and he just laughed.

''Suit yourself, but you need to know that you have visitors, and I don't think they will be pleased if you don't show up. It was difficult enough to get them inside without Dumbledore, or anyone else seeing them. And Snape is getting pretty angry because they won't say why they're here.''

Remembering what she had done the previous night, after Severus had fallen asleep, she sighed and got out of bed. Pushing Harry out of the bedroom, she managed to somewhat tame her hair and get dressed in a pair of jeans and a white shirt and headed towards the sitting room.

Sure enough, five of the six people-if you could call them that-were waiting for her, looking tense and glaring at Severus.

''Care to explain who are they and why they are here?'' Severus asked through gritted teeth.

''Don't get angry, Severus. Remember that Bellatrix had vampires with her? Do you remember what I told you at the beginning of the year about them? Well, these are five of the six leaders of their world.'' Hermione said and saw the five men nodding in agreement. ''Now, if I'm not mistaking you would be Lord Luther of the British coven, Lord Marcus of the Romanian coven, Lord Alexander of the Greek coven, Lord Vladimir from the Russian coven and Lord Hasim from the Arabic coven?''

They each bowed down to her and remained there. ''So I take it Julius and the others decided to side with Voldemort. Well, it will be a tough fight, but we'll win. Have a seat, all of you.'' Hermione said and turned to Severus and Harry. ''Last night I talked with Lady Lillith and told her what happened. As she is the only goddess that can control the vampires, and she promised me to have them help us in the war, I felt that she had to know. I don't know how the Italians will take her wrath, and I don't really care. They were sent by her, and they will help us.'' She said and pointed to the five seated vampires.

Severus didn't like them, but he couldn't deny that they would be a valuable force to have in their side. And most of all, he didn't like how that Alexander fellow was looking at Hermione. Fighting the urge to just draw his wand and kill the blonde vampire, he nodded and listened to the conversation.

''I want each of you to tell me how many men you will be able to spare, and if any of you will be fighting along us.'' Hermione addressed the vampires and crossed her arms over her chest.

''I have about three hundred, and I'll be here too.'' Alexander said and gave her a toothy grin. In all honesty, it made her shudder, thinking about how they fought, and what horrors they were capable of, but they needed them.

Hermione nodded and looked at the others expectantly.

''I have two hundred, and I will also be here.'' Vladimir said in his deep voice, his accent didn't make the words sound too clearly, but you could understand him.

''I have five hundred.'' Hasim smiled proudly.

''Angel, you have our help. We have heard of the Dark Lord, and we know that he wouldn't stop here. If he rules England, he will go beyond the borders, so I will fight at your side, and bring with me two hundred of our army.'' Marcus said politely and bowed his head again.

This one, Severus liked. He was a vampire, but was polite enough and respectful. Unlike others…

''What say you Lord Luther?'' Hermione asked.

Luther thought for a minute and then looked Hermione straight in the eye. ''I don't know. My people won't like it. We've been able to hide and feed in England for centuries, and now you ask us to fight a war? Why? Can't we stay neutral?''

Hermione's every muscle stiffened as a wave of disgust and hate rolled over her. Luther was in agreement with Voldemort. She narrowed her eyes and took a step closer to him.

''Neutral you say? Are you sure that is what you wish, Lord Luther? Or is it that you also hate muggle-borns and think of them unworthy to wield magic? You will decide now, who is it? Us, or Voldemort.'' she hissed as her eyes turned to crimson.

''That trick, miss, is easy with a bit of magic, witch. How do we even know that you really are Lady Lillith's Angel? And why, if every Angel until now was a pure-blood, did she choose you, a mere muggle-born to lead us? And yes, I do believe that Lord Voldemort is right, and that all muggles should be killed, or more likely feed upon…'' The dark haired spat as the others started hissing at him.

Hermione smirked and lifted a hand in the air. At that moment, Lord Luther started choking and his neck and face started cracking like a porcelain doll's. ''You do know, I hope, that Lady Lillith gave me her permission to kill any of you that ignores her wishes?'' she watched his eyes widen and knew that the goddess hadn't told them anything but the fact that they were to meet her and talk about the war. Of course, it was their choice to join, or stay neutral, but never to turn to the dark side.

''Never…we will never…join a …muddblood…'' Luther managed to gasp out. Hermione gave a nod as flames burst out of her hand and engulfed the vampire. Moments later, with a sharp flick of her wrist the ashes vanished and she turned to the others.

''Any of you have anything to object?'' they shook their heads 'no'. ''Good. Now, you should all know that Dumbledore is not to be trusted, and I want as many of as you can to gather the British coven and ask them what they want. Whoever wants to side with Voldemort you kill. On other matters…''

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''Damn it, Bella. I've told you before. We will wait until Tezrian says we're ready. What in Merlin's name drove you to do something that insane? We can not lose anyone. What do I have to do to make you understand that? Kill you?'' Voldemort hissed while circling the trembling witch, his wand still trained on her.

''My…my Lord…you used to…ask for…our opinion. Ever since…she came…you don't pay any…attention to us…'' Bella said while panting, trying to gather herself after the last bout of Cruciatus.

Voldemort suddenly lunged at her, his skeletal hand grasping her chin, forcing her to look at him. ''Tezrian is far more powerful than any of you…'' he hissed, his crimson eyes sparkling with malice, ''…you will pay her the respect she deserves. After all…'' he quickly released her and moved away smirking, ''…when we win, she will become your Lady. You will all have to obey her as you do me.''

''But, My Lord…''

''There are no but's Bella…in a month's time we will take over Hogwarts. In a month's time the wizarding world will bow down to me. But if you continue to disobey, you will not live long enough to share our joy. CRUCIO!''

Narcissa felt her heart trying to burst from her chest. One month? Lucius was already in Askaban…and Draco was at Hogwarts.

Shaking her head, she pushed away from the wall and started walking towards her room. She snorted. Voldemort had made her a guest in her own home, he had her husband…he won't have her son.

Not if she could do something about it…

A/N: Liked it? Hated it? Leave me your thoughts, or any idea you might have. Thank you all.