A/N Guys I am so sorry I have not updated in a while and please excuse my late writing but i am getting married in 20 days so my time is occupied with my Alice In Wonderland Wedding ... Enjoy this chapter :)
Hermione was in her element being back in the classroom, the children were bright individuals all of whom had different personalities. Teddy was the class joker; he would make the kids laugh with his newly coloured hair or his constant need to make 'arm farts'. James the most intellectual of the class, with a vast knowledge of muggle and Wizarding History, Hermione didn't hold it against anyone that James was the eldest so therefore he knew more. Maybe that was not even the case? Albus was the shy kid and would answer a question if Hermione directly asked him; of course, he knew all of the answers. And Scorpious, little Scorpious was the class magician. He was always the first to be able to conduct magic when needed … or not. Of course Scorp proclaimed it was all accidental but Hermione knew better, she didn't have it in her to punish any of the boys if they misbehaved Hermione simply loved them all the same.
The children were currently zipping up their coats and following the parents through the floo fire after the day of education had been completed when Narcissa joined Hermione in the classroom. Of course she knew Cissy would like to have a little chat, it was inevitable that she would considering the circumstances.
"Maybe you can tell me more about your relationship with Vladimir?" Picking up loose paper balls up off of the floor -Teddy had thrown at Albus during an English spelling test- she turned to face the older witch and raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe you can tell me more about Womanly magic …. Oh don't give me that look Narcissa" Hermione slightly scolded, being a bookworm at heart it was her weekend's job to try and figure out what had happened. In the end she resorted to writing to Andy for information. It didn't take long for her to piece the clues together after Andy could only put it down to one magical source.
"Fair point, shall we return to my chambers for a spot of tea?" Hermione's magic crackled around her usually calm aura.
"No more lies Narcissa, I am sick of it. If there is something I am missing bloody spit it out already" Hermione snapped as she straightened the desks and chairs up.
"You are missing nothing, I seem to have offended you somehow. Forgive me" Before she could retort Cissy had left the room as quickly as she had entered. Shaking her head from the angry thoughts she too collected her own coat before heading to the floo room.
"Hermione are you not staying for tea?" Scorp asked from the bottom of the stairs.
"I can't today darling; I have to have a very long chat with my Daddy. I shall see you tomorrow. Make sure you work on your spellings young man, I will know if you have put in the effort" Draco listened in the shadows. Usually Hermione could never turn down any request asked of her from Scorp, what was she up to?.
"Good afternoon Mr Malfoy" Hermione looked straight at Draco before disappearing into the floor fire. Damn he thought he had hidden quite well … obviously not.
"Daddy, I'm home" Hermione unwound her scarf from around her neck and unzipped her coat before placing them on her coat hook. Magic rapidly flew through her veins, sending a tingly sensations as it flowed freely.
Opening up the living room door she wasn't surprised to see her Grandfather sat staring at Severus as Severus stared icily back. Each of them not backing down until Hermione spoke.
"Grandfather, what an unexpected visit" Vladimir's face lit up as he rose to greet his heir.
"Hermione, you grow more beautiful every time I see you" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Please every time we see each other it usually ends in a vicious row" Vladimir smirked as he sat next to Hermione.
"Yes, you seem to have got your fieriness from your Grandmother"
"What is it we can do for you" Severus scoffed at his Daughter's question as he handed over to her a red envelope.
"Your Grandfather has gracefully invited us to the hearing of Ms Greengrass" Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"You have Astoria?" Vladimir nodded firmly.
"Grandfather release her, she has done you no wrong. Hand her over to the Auror's" Hermione pleaded slightly, she knew the torture Humans received from Vampires and she wished that on no one …. Not even Voldemort himself.
"No can do dear, sorry" Hermione squinted her eyes at him, he wasn't sorry one bit.
"She has done you no wrong" Hermione repeated slightly exasperated.
"She kidnapped my Granddaughter, the Princess of my world, do you not think my people … our people want justice" Vladimir also raised his voice.
"I have two years to decide on that … don't push it on me, please Grandfather" Hermione replied icily.
"You will follow in my footsteps" Hermione stood up abruptly
"And if I choose not to?" Vladimir stood to his full height, easily towering over the young witch.
"I see we are getting to a decision no quicker, her hearing is tomorrow at 10.00am. The Malfoy family have also being invited. I shall bid you farewell until tomorrow my dear" He bent down and allowed his cold lips to touch her warm cheek for brief second before disappearing from the wards.
"Merlin that man … Vampire gets on my nerves" Severus stood to comfort his young witch and embraced her in his arms.
"He makes everything so complicated Daddy" Severus sighed and kissed the top of her head.
"I know, but you're right, you have two years to decide what it is you want to do" Hermione pulled away from Severus's tight hold to smile warmly up at him.
"Did you get your information from Cissy you wanted?" Hermione shook her head.
"I have ways though Daddy don't you worry" Severus smiled proudly at her before following her into the kitchen where he's stomach was shouting at him to go.
Hermione made spaghetti and pasta sauce for tea accompanied with homemade garlic bread. They ate in comfortable silence, Severus worried for Hermione's well-being at tomorrow's shindig and Hermione wondering how slyly she could pry information from Narcissa Malfoy. It wasn't going to be easy but she was sure she could do it eventually.
Severus cleared and washed the plates as Hermione retired into the library where she pulled a few books from the shelves to divulge in. Severus followed suit as soon as the cleaning was done and the bowls and cutlery were put away.
"Go get some sleep my dear, you will need all the rest you have for tomorrow"
He had been watching Hermione's eyes close for a brief moment before they snapped straight back open, to only fall back shut again. Kissing Severus on the cheek she retired to her warm bed.
"Hermione, wake up please" Groggily her eyes opened to Scorpius jumping by her bed.
"What time is it?"
"Late, Severus forgot to set an alarm on his wand which is unusual for him" A familiar husky voice answered form the doorway.
"Can you ask Uncle Severus to make me some breakfast whilst I just get ready darling?" Scorp nodded eagerly and ran to find the adults.
"Have you eaten?" She flung her legs over the side of her bed and stretched her arms out. Thankfully she had chosen her clothes the night before and laid them over her computer chair back.
"Your concern for my welfare is touching" Hermione snorted slightly as she pushed him out of her bedroom.
"Vampires find human's more delectable to drain with an empty stomach" Hermione delighted in him scowling as he stormed downstairs in search for a food source.
Changing her clothes, putting her makeup on and taming her hair with a few beauty charms later Hermione was ready to join the rest of the clang downstairs. She was thankful she had her magic and wand for unlimited use.
"What took you so long woman" Severus sneered as he stood near the fireplace
"Oh do be quiet, and good morning to you too Daddy" Scorp brought her toast in buttered and cut into triangles as Draco followed with his own toast.
"Where are my heels?" Hermione asked no one in particular.
"Your black lace ones? The foot of your bed" Severus answered, Hermione smiled inwardly as she wolfed her toast down and ran up the stairs for her favourite footwear.
Slipping her feet into her favourite pair of shoes she slowly ran back downstairs whilst straightening her dress down of toast crumbs.
"Where's your cloak?" Severus asked as she stepped away from the stairs.
"Damn you" Hermione screeched as she ran back upstairs for her cloak and ran all the way back down.
"Right I'm ready" Hermione announced as she flung her black velvet cloak around her shoulders.
The group fell into a circle and held hands tightly as Hermione said the incantation to allow them access to the vampire world.
"So glad you could join us your majesty" Hermione groaned at the voices of the high council. Wordlessly she showed her guests where to sit before begrudgingly joining her Grandfather to his right. The room set out rather like a roman coliseum with the high council and the royals in a special box.
"First task of hand to address the high council is Princess Hermione's coronation.
"This can be discussed another time" Hermione butted in quickly. Councillor Viscount, His hair –although still black- was thinning every century; A pale elongated face; Piercing red blood eyes and humour so dry water couldn't cure it … even plank of wood has a better personality than the old boring vampire.
"I'm afraid it cannot it" Gosh how she so wish she could rip his throat out the pushy old man.
"It can because I haven't made my mind up" Hushed whispers rang around the room in quiet outrage.
"Quiet" The high council demanded as he banged his brown staff on the floor. A magical wave pushed through the audience immediately silencing them.
"Your majesty, you have little under two years left how can you have not decided yet?"
"I … I just haven't" Hermione answered sheepishly.
"Is this to do with your Grandmother? I always did say she would be trouble my King, did I not?"
Vladimir stared down at Hermione, looking deep within their magical bond and tried to access her soul but with no prevail.
"No it isn't that" Vladimir answered rather confused.
"I just haven't decided yet … can we push onto more important matters?"
Vladimir waved it off to the high council, silently telling them to move on.
"I bring to you, our king, Our Princess and the High council. Mortal Astoria Greengrass Charged for abduction of Princess Hermione." Hisses and growls echoed loudly around the room as two vampires practically dragged a bloody Astoria into the room.
Hermione gasped slightly as her head rose to meet Hermione's eyes. The vampires let go of her body and she slumped to her knees. It made Hermione literally gag at the sight. Astoria's face swollen from the torture she endured, her own dried blood stained onto her white summer dress, scratches and gashes filled her arms and legs. Hermione peered over to Severus and the Malfoy's but there face kept impassive. Maybe it was the many years of watching Voldemort torture others that kept them immune to the obviously painful sight.
"Bring in the traitor" Hermione jumped out of her skin slightly, she was to engrossed in looking over Astoria's broken body she hadn't noticed the hearing had officially started. The same vampires that brought Astoria in, also dragged a male vampire in silver handcuffs.
"What is Arnold doing here?" Hermione leaned into her Grandfather to ask.
"Tried to escape with Astoria on numerous occasions and has been caught having coutis with said prisoner" Leaning back into her chair she couldn't help the shiver run up her spine making the temperature in the room drop a few degrees.
"Astoria Greengrass the charges are brought to you as followed, abduction of a member of the Royal Family with intent of killing. How do you plead?" Hermione watched painfully as the younger witch whimpered in front of her.
"Herr … Herm … Hermione … you can stop this …" Astoria crawled slightly before being dragged back by the guards. She had to avert her eyes away from the Greengrass girl, willing herself not cry. No matter what she had done Hermione was a kind and compassionate person.
"Guilty" Astoria lowered her head southwards towards the floor.
"Arnold Wagner the charges are brought to you as followed, 2nd party in helping Ms Greengrass escape on more than one occasion. How do you plead?"
"You cannot break my spirit" The vampire spat venom on the floor proving his point clearly.
"Take them away both to be taken into the yellow room where they are to be restrained until further notice" Four of the vampire guards dragged the two out of the room, the brown double doors slamming loudly as it shut.
Hermione knew full well what happened in the yellow room. Astoria would be drained by a member of the guard and Arnold would be slowly dismantled piece by piece of his stone body.
"Can you stay for a brief talk?" Vladimir helped her out of her chair and back into her cloak.
"I better not, I have things to be getting on with" Vladimir tried to smile, he did but it turned more out like a sneer.
"Very well, until I see you again Granddaughter" He bent down to kiss her cheek just as Severus came to wrap an arm around her. The group could apparate away from the room which was a good job as Hermione snuggled into Severus's chest, this place always weakened her magical core.
Lucius apparated them to Malfoy Manors parlour room where he set about making stiff drinks for everyone. Cissy called Pinkie the elf and asked for an arrange of sandwiches to be brought in.
Severus helped Hermione to sit on the sofa and gather some strength back up. Draco hovered near her just in case he was needed.
"Can we have that talk now my dear? I dare say we were both a little agitated yesterday to speak of such things" Hermione nodded, accepting the glass of wine from Lucius's out stretched hand.
"Right ok, How long have you known of your Vampire heritage?" Hermione thought back slightly.
"As long as I have known I am a witch. I have known my Grandmother was a Pagan as far back as I can remember though. I remember my first meeting with Grandmother and I was scared stiff but thankfully Minerva was there with me" Cissy nodded and allowed Hermione to think of her own questions.
"What does this bond between us entail?" Hermione asked a bit worried about an answer.
"Nothing really, if you're in trouble I will feel it, if you need a helping in hand I will know. In essence I am your Mother in Magic which is the same of being a normal Mother but I don't want you to think I am pushing anything on you my dear" Hermione smiled, she would like it very much but she didn't want anyone to quite know.
"What did Vladimir mean when you have only two years left to decide?" Lowering her head ever so slightly she accepted the sandwich the food tray offered her.
"When I turn 30 I have the option to reign by my Grandfathers side as a vampire, if I decide not the role immediately goes to my cousin in Romania."
"And what have you decided?" Lucius retorted in slightly coldly.
"I have not decided as of yet"
"But you have accepted the bond" Draco pointed out
"The bond yes … you no" Hermione bit back some of the daggers in her voice.