Author note: Based on the lyrics to the song Possom Kingdom by the Toadies. From 1994.

Begin

Harry came back for his sixth year a slightly changed and odd person. He was pale and gaunt with a dark humor about him Hermione thought. Dumbledore had said he had been sick over the summer and that they shouldn't pressure harry to tell them about it.

Halloween night was a clear pleasant fall night in Scotland. With a bright clear sky studded with a million stars it seemed like. Hermione was looking out of the window enjoying the view she never saw from her home in Crowley.

She spun when she felt a presence behind her, only to relax when she saw it was Harry.

"Oh Harry. You startled me. I swear you're almost as quiet as Luna."

He gave a strange little chuckle, "I don't have as much practice as her."

"No I suppose not." She said as he joined her at the window seat in the castle.

"It's a beautiful night isn't it?" he asked, "I never saw stars like this. Little Whinging is too close to London."

Hermione sighed, "I know what you mean. I live practically under the landing path for Gatwick. I could identify almost any airliner you could think of but stars, or galaxies only existed in a book."

"Let's take a walk. Get outside and see them even better." He suggested with a soft smile.

"I don't know harry. Its almost curfew. Plus I do have some studying to do." Hermione suddenly felt nervous as she looked into Harry's haunted and shadowy eyes. "I mean. I'd like to spend some time with you and it is a nice night but. Well. I don't know."

"Make up your mind Hermione. Decide to walk with me or not." He flatly said, no anger or malice in his voice.

Hermione took a deep breath and nodded, "Alright. I'll come with you."

He smiled and turned, Hermione followed him closely. She studied how he seemed to move with a careful grace, a fluid glide from step to step. After they elft the lighted castle she had to struggle to stay with him as he seemed to move through the shadows like it was still daylight. When she stumbled along the shore of the lake he took her hand to help guide her finally.

"Harry you're so cold. We should go back inside." She protested.

"In a few moments. I have a dark secret I need to show you." Harry's voice had taken on a melancholy tone. "I have something to say to you."

"Oh-okay" Was all Hermione could stammer as her blood chilled in a night breeze.

They soon reached the boathouse and stood on the landing behind it. The breeze and sounds of the lake faded into a deep silence broken only by her breathing.

Harry turned to face her. Staring deeply into her eyes she felt her soul being examined.

"Hermione, I'm not going to lie. I want you. I want you to be my bride, my lover, to be with me forever." He whispered urgently.

Hermione suddenly realized what had happened to harry over the summer. His changes, his appearance. She gasped suddenly, briefly taking a step backwards. Almost falling in the water until Harry's hand whipped out impossibly fast to gasp her in an iron vice, yet gentle. She giggled internally as she had the mental image of a velvet wrapped vice.

"Something funny?" He asked with a slight grin.

"I. I just realized what you are. I know what you are." She said.

"Say it. Go ahead so I know that you understand." He ordered, but gently.

Hermione whispered a single word, "Vampire."

Tilting her face upwards he smiled at her. Two sharp incisors visible in the pale light. "Yes. And I want you to join me Hermione. I promise you'll stay beautiful, with dark hair and soft skin forever."

Hermione bit her quivering lip as she looked into the Emerald eyes ringed in amber. "You think I'm beautiful?"

Harry softly caressed her cheek, "I've always thought you were beautiful. My angel. Please make up your mind as I don't want to hurt you."

Tilting her head back to expose her throat she took her last breath, "I'm not afraid. I want forever to begin now."

Review Responses:

Freddie Rindklip: True. I suppose this would be a rather short one shot. It was never meant to be serious. I do like to do that occasionally. Thank you about the review response. Passive Aggression is one of my high ranking skills. LOL. Fate's Reard was removed, the others have had their priorities changed. No you're good.

SMB: I'm not sure what to tell you. Harry and Hermione realized their love for each other. And I'm not sure who is the whore you're referring to. Anyhow listen to the song the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts for the inspiration for this story. And as always thank you for leaving a message. We will assign it the value it deserves.

KellerDeath: Could be interesting. I'll keep it in mind. Lol.

DennisUD: I may come back and work on it some. Not sure where I was going with that one but we'll both find out I guess.

IDLEmanRPG: Thought you would enjoy Ginny's description. I do have a vague idea of her bulk playing a role in the story somehow. Megan Trainor is a decent pop singer. My daughter likes her.

OfficerDonNZ: Indeed. I have some rather dark and unpleasant ideas in the notebook that I will probably never share where things went very very bad at the Ministry.