Chapter Ten

Hermione could feel the vampires drawing closer, they were moving through the woods quickly and heading straight towards the Chateau. She wasn't sure how many of them there were but she knew one thing, they wouldn't get the chance to get close to the three wizards who were inside waiting safely.

She stood still, focusing all of her attention on the woods, looking for any sign of them advancing. She prepared herself for fighting and hoped that it wouldn't come down to that. But she would do anything to protect her friends.

Movement finally caught her eye and three unknown vampires came walking out towards her. There were two females and a male.

One female had long blonde hair down to her waist, she was tall and slender, and had her arms wrapped around the male, obviously he was her lover. The male had cropped brown hair and was big and bulky reminding Hermione of Emmett, he wasn't as tall as Emmett but he was just as broad. He had a cocky grin on his face as he bent his head to capture his lover's lips, obviously in a show of possession. The blonde vampire giggled loving the attention she was getting from the male.

The third vampire had black bobbed hair. She was small in size and curvy and the glare she sent Hermione was one of warning. Hermione may not have wanted to engage in a fight, but judging from this vampire, that was what she was wanting. She stopped the other two vampires at the edge of the woods and sniffed the air. Her eyes glowed brightly as she snarled.

"Well, well, well what do we have here then?" She said her voice commanding. Out of the three vampires she seemed to be the one who was in charge. "You appear to be a vampire but you don't look like one." She snarled out.

Hermione stood tall and proud not showing any signs of nerves. She had quickly scanned the area and realised something felt strange to her. There was a fourth vampire lurking somewhere from behind. They were planning on cornering her so that they could ambush her without her knowing. But her senses were too sharp. Slowly her own plan began to form in her mind. She needed to keep the other three's attention focused on her for it to work however.

"Believe me little girl you haven't seen the likes of me before." Hermione said, bending her knees slightly as if she was about to set off in a run.

"Little girl?" The other vampire yelled out. "How dare you patronize me like that? Have you no idea who I am?" She too moved into the defensive position, so that she could strike Hermione down at any moment.

"Am I supposed too?" Hermione replied laughing slightly, her voice sounding sweet and innocent.

The dark haired vampire went to step forward when her two friends suddenly stopped her.

"Let her be for now Margery. We are here for something else." The male vampire said in warning. There was something different about this loan vampire and he didn't like the feeling that he got from her. She was dangerous. Margery glared at him before nodding her head in agreement.

"Very well but if she's uncooperative then she's mine." She grinned wickedly and turned her attention back to Hermione. "We traced a wolf here and we came to kill it. So you are either protecting it or hunting it yourself. Which is it?"

The need to protect her friends, especially Remus who was their primary target, engulfed her, as she let out a low feral growl in warning. She could feel the fourth vampire move closer to her but she did not take her eyes off the black haired one. She was the one who needed to be watched closely, Hermione decided.

"I will kill you before you get the chance to touch a single hair on his head." She snarled out at the small vampire.

And evil wide smile crossed Margery's pale face, as her eyes lit up even more. She snorted and shook her head in disbelief.

"Protecting a werewolf are we. What a foolish mistake that is. Have you no idea what the Volturi will do to you if they know you associate with those savages." She laughed again. "I don't think they would mind too much if we took care of the problem ourselves." She sneered, delight flashing in her bright red eyes.

It was Hermione who snorted this time, as she tilted her head to the side to eye up her opponent. She really didn't like this vampire and would take great pleasure in showing her just how much she disliked her.

"Actually I know all about the Volturi since I am a member myself." She said sniggering at the shocked looks on the three vampires faces.

"Liar." Margery hissed out, sounding almost like Bellatrix Lestrange for a moment. "If you really are a member of the Volturi then where is the crest. Every member has one." She said triumphantly.

Hermione's hand automatically reached up to her chest, where the crest used to hang from on a gold chain. Then she remembered why she was no longer wearing it. During a fit of anger, she tore it from her neck and flung it at Aro's feet in an act of defiance. When she told him that she would never be one of them. How she wished she had the necklace now?

"It's at the Palazzo dei Priori where the Volturi coven live." Hermione said, hoping to prove that her knowledge about the Volturi would be sufficient enough proof for them.

Margery laughed and quickly stole a glance behind Hermione's back. The fourth vampire was getting closer and they didn't realize Hermione knew he was there. She would have to make her move soon or risk being attacked.

"Every vampire knows where the Volturi live, it's common knowledge. So that doesn't mean a thing."

Hermione stood straight, relaxing her defensive pose as she squared her shoulders. She wiggled her fingers slowly getting ready to cast wandless magic if she had too.

"Perhaps not." Hermione agreed. "Oh by the way I'm sorry."

"For what?" Margery asked looking confused and bewildered at Hermione's words.

Hermione smiled menacingly at the other vampire.

"For killing your friend." She said innocently. Before the other vampires could say anything else, Hermione quickly flew up into the air towards the new male vampire. He had his arm outstretched as if he went to grab her and didn't have the chance to defend himself, before she had ripped his head off from his shoulders. Still holding it in her hand by his hair, she touched down on the ground and smiled wickedly. Tossing the head down next to his still body, she cast a wandless spell setting it alight.

"No." Margery screamed ready to run at Hermione in anger. The male vampire had obviously been her lover or mate by the reaction she had.

The big bulky vampire grabbed her and looked at Hermione.

"What the hell are you?" He asked, the fear radiating from him in waves. They had never seen a vampire witch before and were scared and curious about what they had just witnessed.

Hermione grinned menacingly, hoping her little killer act would frighten them off.

"I am your worst nightmare, it's nice to meet you." She said teasingly.

"Bitch." Margery yelled. Her eyes flickered from the burning body of her mate to the vampire who had just killed him. "You will pay for that."

Margery broke free from the bulky vampires grip and ran straight towards Hermione, who ran to meet her halfway. They began to engage in combat as the other two vampires looked on.

Hermione tossed Margery over her shoulder, but Margery was quick kicking at Hermione's ankles so that she fell onto the ground. The other female was stronger and Hermione was badly out of practice, but she wouldn't give up. She couldn't. Dumbledore, Remus and Severus needed her.

With that thought she flung Margery off of her, and watched as she went gliding across the grass. She quickly got to her feet and growled at Hermione.

"Get ready you bitch." She hissed out.

"Give it your best shot."

Before either one could make a move the three people Hermione was trying to protect came bursting out of the Chateau looking from Hermione, to the other three vampires, to the burning body, then back to Hermione.

"Watch out." Remus yelled.

Hermione had been momentarily distracted by their sudden appearance and taking advantage of that distraction, Margery ran wrapping her hands around Hermione's throat and flinging her onto the grass.

"Get the wolf." She called out to the other two vampires, who obeyed her orders at once.

The three wizards had their wands out as they cast spell after spell on the two vampires, without any of them working. There magic wasn't powerful enough against them. Hermione tried to punch Margery, but she managed to defend herself and instead crashed her fist down on Hermione's face. A small crack appeared on Hermione's cheek at the impact.

"No." Hermione yelled, her wandless magic bursting forth, flinging Margery high into the air. She managed to get to her feet and ran towards the three wizards, standing in front of them ready to strike, as the three vampires descended. Despite the fact that there were only three vampires and four of them, they were out powered. Hermione would need to take out all three of them in order to protect the others who were useless in this battle.

"Give up little girl. The wolf and all your friends are ours." Margery grinned menacingly, using Hermione's own words against her.

"Tut tut honestly my little witchling. Having a party and not inviting us, I truly am offended. And here I was thinking we were friends." A familiar voice said from behind the three vampires.

Every head whipped around to look at the new voice, and instantly relief filled Hermione. Never had she been more pleased to see members of the Volturi than she was at that moment. But of course these weren't just any members, these were her friends.

"Felix and Demetri I do apologise. But I believe this was a surprise party." Hermione joked.

Margery looked utterly offended as she pointed her finger at Hermione, noticing the Volturi crest the newcomers wore.

"This thing is protecting a werewolf. We were only doing our duty in destroying it when she viciously killed my mate." Margery yelled out, sounding almost frantic.

"Is this true my little witchling. Are you protecting a werewolf and did you really kill this woman's mate?"

Hermione would have been worried if it wasn't for the playful glint in Demetri's eyes and the joyous smirk on Felix's face. She knew how the Volturi worked and knew the laws of their world, which she was knowingly breaking at this moment.

"Yes to both accusations." She admitted freely.

Demetri shook his head and tutted loudly, causing Margery's face to grow smug.

"I really didn't think you had it in you my little witchling. I must confess to rather liking this side of you." Demetri grinned.

Margery's smug smile faded at once, as a loud scream tore from her and she ran towards Hermione. Once again they engaged in combat and Hermione was quick to get the better of her opponent. She flipped Margery onto her back and ground her foot hard into the other woman's stomach.

"As I am a very nice person I will give you two options, either run now and leave this place, or keep this up and join you mate in a pile of ash. What's it going to be?"

Margery struggled underneath Hermione's strength. She screamed again and tried to push Hermione's leg off but failed.

"Go to hell." She hissed out.

"Very well then." Hermione bent over and picked Margery up by the scruff of her neck. She let out a feral roar, as she flew across the grass flinging Margery hard into a tree. With her back pressed firmly against the trunk, Hermione wrapped her hand against the vampire's throat squeezing it tightly. Small cracks began to appear and as Hermione pressed tighter the cracks deepened.

A hand reached out and touched Hermione's shoulder, and when she turned her gaze Dumbledore was standing there, concern written all over his weary face.

"Let her go Hermione. This isn't you."

Hermione's anger was palpable. She knew that if she let Margery go now she would just attack again and Hermione couldn't let that happen.

Her eyes turned to the onlookers who watched with a mixture of pride, amusement and sadness. She nodded her head in agreement as Dumbledore let out the breath he was holding.

Margery grinned as Hermione turned her head away, and as Dumbledore turned his back and began to walk away from them, Hermione finished off the job she had started and broke the other vampire's neck. She let go of the limp body and set fire to it exactly where it lay.

Hermione moved away, not daring to look at the disappointment that was no doubt on Dumbledore's face, as she walked to the other two vampires who had been with Margery. The look of fear was written all over their faces as Hermione made her way to them.

"Now Margery made the wrong decision so let's hope you both make the right one. Leave here in one piece or burn beside your friends. What shall it be?" Hermione stared unblinking at them, her presence had turned and was now commanding and intimidating.

"W-we'll l-leave." The bulky vampire said, pulling his mate away from the angry Hermione.

"Good now run. If I find you I will not hesitate in giving you the same fate as your friends." She said.

They did not need to be told twice, as they both ran from the group and into the trees as fast as they possible could. Hermione could feel their presence retreating at once, but her eyes never left the spot they had disappeared from. She wanted to make sure that they were gone first before she let her guard down. That had been a close call and if it hadn't been for Demetri and Felix's sudden appearance she wasn't sure what would have happened. She was powerful, but she was also out of practice, something that she would need to rectify at once.

"Well my little witchling, you've been away for less than a day and already you've gotten yourself in trouble. What are we going to do with you hmm?" Demetri walked up beside her, planting his arm around her shoulder.

"They were some pretty badass moves little witchling. I am impressed." Felix said joining them.

Hermione finally turned her eyes to them, ignoring the three wizards who looked on curiously.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything but what they hell are you doing here? And how the hell did you find us?" She suddenly asked.

Felix grinned and put his hand on Hermione's shoulder as well. So that she was stuck between the two grinning vampires.

"Well you see little witchling it was orders from the big man himself. He wanted us to keep an eye on you and make sure you weren't hurt. You sure do have his interest. I don't think I've ever seen him so protective over a member before."

Demetri smacked Felix's arm hard and shook his head no, not wanting him to say anything more about their leader. Whatever Aro's motives were when it came to Hermione, were his own and they didn't need to discuss it. Especially not in front of Hermione's three friends.

"And you forget my little witchling I am the top tracker that there is." Demetri stated proudly, if a little smug. Causing both Hermione and Felix to roll their eyes at his boasting. "You were rather easy to find since we have become friends."

"Speaking of friends aren't you going to introduce us to yours?" Felix said, letting go of Hermione and turning to face the three wizards. He had already seen the old wizard earlier on; he didn't need to be shown who the werewolf was because he could literally smell him a mile away. And the last time he had seen the dark wizard was when they collected Hermione from Hogwarts.

"Yes of course sorry where are my manners?" Turning to the three wizards she said, "This is Albus Dumbledore who you met briefly today. He is the most powerful wizard in the world." She smiled warmly, still unable to meet his twinkling blue eyes.

"A pleasure." Dumbledore said shaking both their hands enthusiastically.

"Likewise." Demetri said with a small smile.

"This here is Remus Lupin. Not only is he a werewolf but he is also my best friend and a powerful wizard as well." As she introduced Remus to Demetri and Felix, her tone of voice held a hint of warning. She might like the two vampires, but in her eyes Remus had been her friend longer.

"No offense but forgive us for not shaking your hand." Demetri said, trying not to wrinkle his nose at the smell that came from the wolf.

Remus chuckled lightly and said,

"Don't worry about it, my little blood sucker here often tells me how much I smell like wet dog."

Hermione sniggered and shook her head fondly at him.

"It's true." She laughed. "And this is Severus Snape a powerful wizard and potioneer."

Demetri's eyebrow rose high up into his head as a small grin spread across his face. He looked Severus up and down then turned to look at Hermione.

"So this is Severus Snape, I have to say I approve wholeheartedly."

Hermione scowled at him, wishing the ground would open up and swallow her whole.

"Shut up you." She said, unable to hide her smile.

"Nice to finally meet the famous Severus Snape." Felix held out his hand to Severus, who reluctantly shook it in return. Pulling his hand away, he tucked it back into his robes and stared at the two vampires.

"And you are?" He questioned. The famous Snape-sneer plastered on his face. Hermione had mentioned them in conversation earlier and although he knew they were friends, he didn't realise just how close they seemed to be.

"I am Demetri, Hermione's other half in Volterra." He grinned playfully when he saw the look of annoyance pass across the dark wizard's face. Obviously he still harboured feelings for his little witchling.

"And I am Felix, Hermione's other, other half in Volterra." Felix chirped in, playing along with Demetri's little game.

"Bloody hell it's like the Golden Trio all over again." Remus smiled, rubbing his hand across his forehead.

"The what?" Felix asked.

Hermione smiled at the comparison. It was true though, somehow she always seemed to become friends with two males and ended up stuck in between them.

"Remember I told you about the stories of me growing up in Hogwarts and the adventures I had with my two best friends Ron and Harry. Well everyone used to call us the Golden Trio and the name kind of stuck throughout the years." Hermione explained.

"So you've upgraded to bigger and better now." Felix said puffing out his chest.

Hermione laughed at his antics and pushed his arm, but he was so sturdy and hard that he barely moved.

"Would you tell us stories about our little witchling? I think it would be fascinating getting to know what she was like." Demetri asked, genuinely curious about her.

So they all headed inside and sat around the livingroom, as Dumbledore and Remus exchanged stories about Hermione during her younger days. She was mortified by some of the things she had done and said, especially when it came to S.P.E.W and her boggart of Professor McGonagall saying how she had failed all her exams and wasn't clever enough to be a witch. Felix and Demetri took great pleasure in laughing at her naivety and couldn't believe how much of a bookworm and swat she was.

They also spoke about some of the escapades she, Ron and Harry had gotten up to throughout the years. Telling them from their own perspectives rather than from Hermione's. It was amazing to see two high ranking members of the Volturi guard sitting in conversation with a werewolf, their natural sworn enemy. It made her heart swell with joy as she watched all her friends interacting, without any hostility or prejudice.

The only person who wasn't joining in with the conversation no matter how much they tried to coax him to, was Severus. He sat quietly in his chair sipping on a hot cup of tea, listening to what everyone was saying. Often Hermione felt his eyes lingering on her, but she tried to avoid him as much as possible.

What had happened earlier between them was a mistake, as much as she wanted it at the time, and as much as she wanted him still, she knew it wouldn't be allowed to happen again.

If it hadn't been for their guests interrupting them when they did, she would have given in and told him then and there exactly what it was that he wanted to hear. That she loved him and needed him. Even though that was true she couldn't get his hopes up again. She wanted to do the right thing, but why did the right thing have to feel so hard.

"Earth to my little witchling." Demetri's voice said, bringing her out of her thoughts.

She shook her head and looked at him.

"Hmm." She said having not heard a single word they had been saying for a while now.

"Your friends were saying how they were going to retire for the night. It is very late, or rather early, after all."

"Oh right, yes, of course." She said snapping herself back to reality. She looked at the three wizards and smiled rather shyly at them. "Thank you all for coming to see me, I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. I'm just sorry that you had to see that." Her eyes flickered over to Dumbledore who sat running his hand through his beard. The twinkle in his baby blue eyes was gone, and replacing it was the look of confusion.

Ever since Hermione turned into a vampire, he had always thought of her as one of them, even after what he witnessed on the grounds of Hogwarts, the two separate occasions she had killed the wolves. But seeing her today, something had shifted in her. The more primal side of her had come to light, as she baited and teased those vampires. She had known what she was going to do to them all along, and nothing he could have said or done would have changed her mind. It was only now that he realised just how different she was. This wasn't the little Hermione Granger he had watched growing up, this was a budding warrior, and she was quickly becoming a predator.

The vampire world was slowly changing her and she was right, Hogwarts could no longer be her home anymore. She had wonderful control regarding her instincts, but seeing her in full fighting mode, showed how fierce she really was. He couldn't let her near the students now. The change in her had shocked him but he knew that she was slowly becoming the person that she was meant to be and could not hold that against her, for she did not choose this life after all.

"Don't worry Hermione we all have to do things sometimes to protect the ones we love." Remus said, understanding how she felt. If anyone had tried to hurt the ones he loved, he would like to have thought that he too would do the exact same thing.

"Thanks Remus." She whispered sheepishly, not knowing if he was simply trying to placate her or not.

"Well good night everyone. I shall see you all in the morning." Dumbledore said, slowly rising from his chair and heading towards one of the spare bedrooms without looking back.

Hermione watched him leave, feeling her heart drop at the thought of her disappointing him. She really hoped that he would understand what she had done.

Remus put his hand gently on her shoulder and squeezed it affectionately.

"Don't mind him Hermione, he's just a little shocked by what happened. Give him a little time and he'll come around."

She placed her cold hand on his and returned the gesture by squeezing it gently.

"Thanks Remus."

"Good night gentlemen." Remus nodded in the direction of the other two vampires before he too headed towards a spare room. Once the door had closed firmly behind him, Demetri glanced towards Felix and beckoned him outside with a tilt of his head. Felix nodded and together they stepped out of the room silently, giving Hermione and Severus some time on their own.

Severus was grateful to them for giving him this chance with Hermione. Unlike Dumbledore, he wasn't shocked or disappointed by what he had saw Hermione do. In fact he was impressed.

"Remus is right you know, don't worry about what Albus Dumbledore thinks of you Hermione. He is a meddling old coot and always wants to see the good in everyone." Hermione was startled at hearing Severus's voice. When she turned to look around the room, she was even more surprised to see that they were alone. Everyone had gone and left them. Her body tensed slightly at this realisation.

"Perhaps I could have handled things differently." She whispered, looking down at her clasped hands that were lying in her lap.

Severus snorted at her words and shook his head.

"No you handled it the right way. If you had let her go she would have kept attacking you. She would have gotten to us one way or another. No, you done the right thing Hermione so don't think otherwise."

She sighed and leaned her head against the back of the couch, shutting her eyes.

"He thinks I'm a monster Severus." She said sadly.

He was swift and silent like a cat as he moved to sit beside her. Taking her hands in his he squeezed them in his own, and let his thumb run over her soft cold skin.

"You are not a monster Hermione, so never think that."

She looked at his pale face, as he sat watching her closely.

"Later today the three of you need to go back to Hogwarts. I need to go back to Volterra. This little excursion has to come to an end."

His body froze at her words; she was dismissing them.

"Why do you want us to leave so soon?" He asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer or not.

She sighed and tried to pull her hand from his, but he wasn't for letting go of her yet and she didn't want to break the bones of his hand by insisting he let go. So she relaxed somewhat.

"I think it's time that you left here. You've all seen me, you've seen that I'm fine so now you have to go back home."

"What about what happened earlier Hermione, I thought- I thought that meant something to you." His voice sounded pleading, even to his own ears but he didn't care. After what happened earlier he let himself believe that she wanted him. He let himself hope that perhaps they could be together. The passion and love they had for each other was still there, he could feel it but the only thing stopping them was her. She was afraid to let him in, afraid of the future they would have together. Now he felt all the hope dissolve as once again she prepared herself for walking away.

"Severus we can't do this. You know we can't. What happened earlier was a mistake it should never have happened. I-I can't keep hurting you like this. We are over."

She got up off the couch and went to head outside to join Demetri and Felix, but before she even got to the door Severus's voice called out to her.

"Hermione if you walk out on me again, that's it for us." He was barely grasping on to her with the tips of his fingers. He couldn't just give up on her without a fight, he just couldn't give up on them like that. He had to try, even if it meant begging and pleading. He had done that once before with Lily. After he had called her a mudblood he had camped outside the Gryffindor common room, becoming the laughing stock of the school. He had begged and pleaded for her forgiveness, which she had never given him. He had vowed to himself never to be that weak again, but here he was begging and pleading with Hermione. Someone he thought he would never to do that with. "Please Hermione, don't give up on us."

Her body became rigid, as she stopped at the door. She squeezed her eyes and shut them tightly, while she counted to ten, as she tried to get her emotions under control. She knew what she had to do, but that didn't make it any easier. So mustering all the strength and courage she had she calmly said,

"There was never going to be an us Severus. Goodbye." With those cold words, she left the Chateau, walking passed a worried looking Demetri and Felix and ran through the woods, not stopping until she was as far away from Severus as she could possibly be.

Screaming, she let go of all the pain she felt in her heart, as she fell to her knees in heaving sobs. She had never hated anyone more than she hated herself at that moment. She was selfish and pathetic, and had hurt the man she loved all because she couldn't stay away from him in the first place. She always knew it couldn't work between them and yet she had ignored that. And now look at them.

Anger and misery pulsated through her body, as her eyesight blurred with unshed tears. Slowly she rose to her feet and unable to control herself, wandless magic escaped her and she began to blow up pieces of trees and any objects she could make out. She poured all of her feelings into her magic as every raw emotion was ripped out of her body. She didn't stop until her tears had stopped, and she felt completely drained.

Sinking back down to her knees she hugged her body tightly, before curling up on the forest floor in the fetal position. This pain was so much worse than when she turned into a vampire. It was so much worse than when she starved herself almost to madness. That pain she could handle, but this, this was by far the worst.

So consumed in her misery was she, Hermione didn't hear the two vampires walk slowly towards her. Nor did she hear them sit down next to her, or notice when Felix pulled her into his strong arms, cradling and rocking her as if she was a small baby.

"We're sorry little witchling, we really are." Felix whispered soothingly to her. Pressing a small affectionate kiss on top of her head.

"Yeah we are." Demetri added, stroking her arm. "If anyone knows anything about forbidden love and not being allowed to be with that person it's us." He whispered softly.

Hermione looked up at Demetri's face and gasped.

"Us as in you and Felix." She whispered, trying to understand what he was saying to her.

Both vampires smiled at her, as they moved to clasp each other's hands.

"That's right little witchling, remember how I told you about that person I was seeing. Well I was talking about Felix. Everyone thinks we're just best friends but it's so much more." He whispered sadly.

"Demetri and I are mates, we belong together." Felix added.

Hermione sat upright and looked at her two friends, feeling honoured that they were sharing this intimate part of their lives with her, considering they hadn't known her for very long.

"If that's true then why haven't you told everyone yet? Surly they would be pleased that you have found each other." Hermione asked curiously.

They looked at each other before Demetri said,

"You have so much to learn about the ways of the Volturi my little witchling. They are all for members finding mates and living happily ever after in the Palazzo. But they are also old fashioned with it."

"They believe that only males and females should be mated together, that is the conventional way. Two males together is seen as being wrong. They would not accept us, even if we did say we were mated. To them that isn't possible." Felix added.

"So all this time you have kept it a secret. How have you gotten away with it?" Hermione asked.

Demetri sighed lying back on the grass, with Hermione and Felix soon following his actions, as the three of them gazed up at the twinkling stars.

"Unfortunately to escape suspicion we often have to court other women. Neither of us particularly likes doing it, for it's a betrayal of our love. But there is no other option."

The three friends lay on the grass in silence, mulling over their disastrous love lives. Why did finding love have to be so hard? Why could it not be simple for them?

Hermione knew that she and Severus would never work, but for Demetri and Felix there was still hope, there was still a chance for them and she could help. After all was she not a witch.

Sitting bolt upright she giggled slightly as a plan formed in her head.

"You know I have the perfect solution to your situation."

"Enlighten us my little witchling." Demetri said.

"Well one of you could pretend to be courting me. No-one would find it suspicious if the one I was seeing came in and out of my room a lot."

Felix frowned at her then asked,

"How is that a solution to our predicament?"

She grinned at him wickedly and said,

"Well this is where the genius part comes in. I'm a witch so when the one who is courting me comes into my room, I can apparate them to the others room. That will mean you can see each other in secret and no-one will know any differently. Plus it keeps the suspicion off of you both and I will hold no romantic expectations from you either."

Both Felix and Demetri lay back in silence as they thought over her words. They didn't get to spend that much time together in private, because there was only so much time that was acceptable for two male friends to spend with each other, without drawing suspicion. With Hermione's help they could change that. They could spend more alone time together and one of them could pretend to court Hermione, someone they trusted enough with their secret. It sounded good and so it was possible that it just might work.

They looked at each other, both coming to the same conclusion.

"Well my little witchling it looks as if you may be onto something. Would you really do that for us?" Demetri asked, amazed by the kindness that their friend was showing towards them. She really was such a remarkable person and they were lucky to have her.

"Of course I would. At least maybe then one of us could have a happily ever after." She whispered quietly, trying not to think of Severus or her broken heart.

"Then we accept. The only thing is you need to decide which of us handsome sexy vampires you want to court you." He replied.

"Yeah do you want brains?" Felix said pointing his finger at Demetri. "Or do you want brawns." He lifted up his arms in a macho man way and grinned.

Hermione giggled at his actions and shook her head, wondering what the heck she was letting herself in for.

"Well how about since Aro and Sulpicia are already suspicious of us, we make them believe that they were right." She said looking towards Demetri.

"Yes that means I get to do that cool apparating thing with you again." He smirked.

Both men hugged her at the same time, truly cementing their little trio reputation.

"Thanks little witchling we can't thank you enough for this." Felix said.

"Don't-" Hermione began unable to finish her sentence, as pain crashed through her head and images flashed in her mind. She gasped at the severity of the images, not feeling anything like that since the first premonition she had back at Hogwarts. How was it still possible to have Alice's power?

Once the image had stopped, she held her head in her hands and moaned loudly.

"Hermione are you alright what on earth was that." Felix said, trying to hold her upright.

She turned a serious face towards him and simply said,

"We need to get back to Volterra. Now." She emphasised the last word letting them know how urgent it was. Without any other spoken words, they headed back to the Chateau to inform the others that they would be leaving immediately. She had to speak to Aro and the other two leaders as quickly as possible.