"Draco, it's been three days," Theodore said in a hushed voice, setting his hand on his shoulder. Hermione watched from the hallway, not daring to look at the bed where Astoria's body laid. For three long days, Draco hadn't left the room. They had cast several spells on Astoria to ensure that she wouldn't waste away before Draco could turn her, but there was only so much more they could do before it would be too late for the curse to take hold.

Draco didn't respond to his friend, sitting in the silence and the dim candle light. A word hadn't been uttered from his pale lips since she had passed, almost as if he were a ghost haunting the room. As still as a statue, like he was made of stone himself. Twinkle had been bringing him fire whiskey, but that remained untouched.

Twinkle hadn't missed a beat. Each morning, she kept the same routine she had with Astoria. Giving her a sponge bath, dressing her in new clothes, brushing her hair. Hermione had read many books on grief throughout her years of constant loss and knowing the different stages one could go through. She hoped that with as quickly as Astoria would come back, they wouldn't need to experience pain for long, but it was clear that Twinkle was in denial. Her brain doing everything it could to try not to see Astoria was so clearly gone before her.

"You need to make a decision soon, old pal. I'm right here if you need me. And there's a beautiful witch in the hallway who is here for you too," Theodore told him with a gentle, yet assuring tone. And as if he was kicked back to his senses, gaining consciousness, he turned to her. The look on his face broke her heart, like a scared boy who needed comfort and not a man who was hardened by war any longer.

There wasn't anything else she could do but try her best to offer him some sort of solace in his time of grief. Slowly, she entered the room for the first time since they said their goodbyes to Astoria. The curtains were tightly pulled shut, blocking out any daylight, though it felt like the sun hadn't shined since she left them. It felt heavy. Heavy with sadness and despair. Hermione felt like the air was nearly choking her. As gently as she could, she placed her hand on Draco's other shoulder, solidifying that he had them both.

His cold hand rested on top of hers, his thumb running against the smooth emerald on the ring he had given her not long ago. "Is Daphne okay?" he asked quietly.

Daphne was not okay, that was the truth Hermione knew. She had blown through every calming potion that they had brought with them to the farmhouse. Theodore and Hermione thought it would be best for her to sleep until Astoria was back, so they had given her every Potion of Dreamless Sleep she asked for. She slept, only waking when called by Theodore or herself to eat and drink.

"Daph's sleeping, waiting for Tori to come back," Theodore replied.

Draco's attention was turned back to Astoria, but his thumb kept making the soft brushing movements against the ring. "She just looks so peaceful, how could I ever disturb her like this? For so long she's told me she was tired, and now she's finally resting." He looked up at Hermione, who still wasn't able to lay her eyes on Astoria. "Will she hate me when she wakes?"

Hermione brushed the strands of hair that had fallen in front of his eyes away. "Astoria would never hate you."

"It won't be Astoria. It'll be a monster in her clothing," he murmured.

Theodore smiled, bringing a sense of calm. "Tori could come back with horns and scales and still wouldn't be a monster. You know that."

"What if her magic is gone after she's turned?" Draco asked, the guilt in his voice was heavy.

"Astoria can find magic in just about anything, Draco. You know that," Hermione responded, squeezing his shoulder to comfort him.

"I think you both should leave. When she wakes she's going to be hungry," Draco said, his voice becoming monotone, using his Occlumency to hide his fears. "That means you too, Twinkle."

"Yes, master," Twinkle mumbled sadly. Over the past few days, Hermione and Theodore had slowly filled an enchanted pitcher with their blood, ensuring Astoria had something to drink. They had expected Draco to have some, as he hadn't eaten anything in days, but he didn't take a sip.

They sat at the dining room table, enjoying the scents of the pastries Tappy was baking. Hermione nervously rolled her necklace between her fingers, waiting to feel a disturbance in the air or goosebumps cover her arms at the change of Astoria, but she knew there would be no signs. Not until she heard her voice or saw Astoria with her own eyes.

"When the war is over, what do you want to do?" Hermione asked Theodore, noticing him tapping anxiously against the wooden table. Though he smiled and always seemed so calm, she knew this was eating him alive.

Theodore grinned brightly, "Take Daph on holiday. Make a honeymoon of it. And after things go back to how they were before this fucking mess, I think I'd like to do what Hagrid did. Teach kids about the wonders of the world."

"You'd be good at that, Teddy. I don't think there's anyone else Hagrid would have wanted to take the helm," she replied, remembering her old friend so fondly. She pictured Theodore teaching James, Albus, and Lily at Hogwarts. All the students would watch in awe as he rode into class on a Hippogriff and showed them how to care for Bowtruckles.

"You think so?" he asked. His fingers had stopped fidgeting as he relaxed into his seat.

"I know it," she smiled at him. "Maybe I can take your class too. Still need to finish up my studies."

Theodore laughed heartily. "There isn't a damn thing I could teach you that you don't already know."

"You taught me all those dueling spells, which reminds me, I should probably get to training again," Hermione thought out loud.

"Training? For what?" Theodore raised an eyebrow as he poured some whiskey for the both of them.

Hermione took a sip of the liquor, feeling the warmth slowly trickle down her throat. "To prepare for the Ministry. You don't expect me to sit idly by, do you?"

Theodore shook his head, "I don't expect you to do anything. But I can't say the same for Draco."

"He's going to have to deal with it, I've been a part of this war for just as long as you two have. I'm going to see it through."

Theodore sighed, not taking a drink. His soft brown curls were pulled back and tied away from his face. There was a faint scar down his cheek she hadn't seen before, wondering what creature may have given it to him, or perhaps it wasn't a creature. Perhaps it was one of her friends or even done by her own hand during battle.

"He just wants to keep you safe," Theodore said, finally lifting the whiskey glass to his lips. But he paused for a moment just before taking a sip, always looking like he was deep in thought.

"And I want to keep him safe, that's why I have to go. I have to make sure he comes back to me," she insisted right back.

Theodore's look of remembrance faded to a smirk. "That's why he likes you so much. You're tough as nails and stubborn as hell."

Hermione laughed so loud she startled herself, it felt so long since she had made that noise. "I think he'd much prefer it if I was more agreeable."

Theodore bellowed his gentle laughter towards her. "I completely disagree, Miss Granger. I'm his only friend because I cause him trouble. Trust me, he likes it."

It was about an hour until Hermione and Theodore had begun to feel the full effects of the alcohol. It was apparent how inebriated they had become in how they spoke of their childhoods, what professors they were fond of, days before the war and heartbreak. In the middle of Theodore narrating a tale of Draco, Goyle, Crabbe, and himself sneaking out of Hogwarts to the Forbidden Forest, they heard the creak of the floorboard directly above them.

They froze dead in their tracks, hearing the subtle movement. She had become so familiar with Draco, she could nearly picture how he moved just by the sound traveling in the farmhouse. Familiar. Captivated. Obsessed. Every piece of him she could visualize so perfectly as if he were etched into the back of her eyelids. The air was so still, almost eerie if it weren't for the warmth from the fireplace and soft pink wallpaper surrounding them.

The pair didn't speak for several hours, sitting and waiting in agony to get any sort of sign. It wasn't long until the sun had set and several bottles had been passed between them. Everything Hermione knew about vampiric transformations was at the forefront of her mind. The accounts of how painful it was to wake and feel an insatiable hunger and the thought of sweet Astoria feeling that made her feel uneasy.

And as Theodore poured the last of the fire whiskey into her cup, a blood curdling scream shook the white farmhouse.

Draco hadn't allowed himself to feel a damn thing in nearly a decade. The moment he heard Astoria's heartbeat weaken, he put his walls up. The walls he built were strong, every brick was placed meticulously and with purpose. Since he was a boy, he had perfected his Occlumency to the point where it was unbreakable, not even by the Dark Lord himself. It had to be perfect, Bellatrix and his father made sure of it. Long nights were spent in the same cellar that held his mother, feeling the painful prying into his mind until it became impenetrable to Legilimency. For most of his life, he spent his time in this inbetween space, not allowing himself to experience pain. It came at the price of not feeling happiness, but it was a measly price to pay if it meant that he could fulfill his duties to keep those he cared for safe.

He didn't think anything could break what he had built around him when he Occluded his mind, but losing Astoria nearly did. The first cracks in his Occlumency appeared, nearly crumpling everything to the floor. There wasn't a way of holding it all in, he had to focus on not falling apart, so the guilt spilt out of the cracks as he stopped his sadness from consuming him.

Sitting in the dark, alone again with Astoria, he knew he had to turn her soon. With every bit of strength he could find, he attempted to reinforce his walls to ensure that he could sink his teeth into her flesh and watch her transform. What he really needed to protect himself from was what would happen once she rose again, remembering what he endured. Astoria would be scared, hungry, and confused, so he needed to hold himself together for her, as much as he felt like falling apart.

Turning her into a monster meant several things. He had to trust that Astoria could handle the transition and that Hermione would soon have the cure. But he knew that even if Hermione couldn't find a way to rid them of vampirism, he had no choice but to change her. He promised the Greengrasses that Astoria would have a second chance. And though she'd be cursed yet again, at least she wouldn't be bound to her bed, unable to live.

Slowly, he stood from the chair he hadn't left in three days, moving towards where Astoria rested. Twinkle had braided her thin hair up and away from her face, but even with the spells they had casted on her so she wouldn't rot away, her body was nearly nothing but bones. Despite that, he couldn't shake how peaceful she looked as she laid there with a slight smile on her thin lips. The past few years, she had mentioned how tired she felt. Their morning walks became shorter with each passing month and traveling to different places became harder on her body.

Now, she looked like she finally was getting the rest she was begging for and Draco was just going to be replacing the pain she felt for a different kind. There weren't any other options that would bring her back to him, and he needed her. He needed her because she was the closest thing to a conscience he had. Before Hermione, she was the only thing that could make the horrors of the world disappear, even if only for a few minutes.

Sat at the edge of the bed next to her, taking Astoria's hand in his. It was chilling to feel how cold she was. As gently as he could, he lifted her arm, kissing the back of her frail hand before positioning her wrist against his lips.

"Forgive me, Astoria," he murmured before sinking his fangs into her paper thin skin. He had never turned another person before, but it was instinctual what he felt that he needed to do. The venom flowed from his mouth into her veins, and soon, it would make its way to her heart.

Draco watched closely as her body began to change over the next few hours. The first sign the curse took place was the slow start of her heart and the gentle rising of her chest. Her hollow cheeks began to fill, though not enough to make her look healthy. He knew she would need to consume blood, and a lot of it for the next few days to become healthier and to not attack the others. He half thought about feeding Bellatrix to her, but that would have traumatized Astoria to no end. He and everyone else would ensure that she would never have to drink directly from a person.

Astoria began to groan, shifting slightly in bed. Sweat began to cover her brow, and she winced. The hunger was already causing her discomfort. The nervousness he was starting to feel needed to be suppressed, and he stayed completely still until a guttural growl escaped her lips.

She shot upright, clutching her hands to her ears and screamed. Screamed so loudly it made Draco's ears ring. As quickly as she rose, he was at her side, holding her so she wouldn't make a break to find a meal. He held a cup of Hermione and Theodore's blood to her lips, but she tried to struggle away from his grasp.

"You need to drink, Tori," he urged.

"WHY IS IT SO LOUD?" she yelled, pressing her hands harder over her ears. "WHY ARE THEIR HEART BEATS SO LOUD?"

"It's okay, Tori. Just drink. You'll feel better," Draco comforted her, feeling her pain but also breathing a sigh of relief. He hadn't heard her raise her voice like this in years. Most days as of late, she had barely spoken above a whisper. As she ripped the cup away from him and began to drink the contents in deep gulps, he held her close, and for a moment, let his emotions slip. Cold tears streamed from his eyes into her brown hair. The tears of sadness had gone, it was joy now. She was back with him. Her heart, though slow, was beating.

When she had emptied the cup licking up every bit of it she could, he felt her tremble. Astoria looked up at him, and his heart broke when he saw that her big brown eyes were now the same silver as his.

"I'm so hungry, Draco," she cried, her silver eyes looking like glass.

"I know, Tori. But soon, you won't be."

A few days had passed, and Hermione anxiously waited for Draco and Astoria. She watched as Daphne paced the hallway in front of Astoria's room, nearly burning a hole into the floor with the ferocity in which she took every step. Twinkle had her ear pressed to the door, ready at a moment's notice to be summoned. They knew they had to keep their distance until Astoria's hunger dampened, but it didn't quell any of their nerves.

For days now, they heard Astoria cry out in agony, screaming at Draco. The noises coming from her felt so foreign. Hermione couldn't imagine that the tiny witch she once knew making the sounds that were spilling into the hallway. But that day, it was quiet. No clattering of objects or crying. Just the whispers between the pair that she couldn't quite hear.

"I'm going to come in," Daphne impatiently called at the door.

"Lady Greengrass, Lord Malfoy said we mustn't enter the room until given the clearance," Twinkle said, standing in between the door and Daphne.

"I don't care, my sister is in there," Daphne grumbled, stepping around Twinkle. As her hand reached for the doorknob, it opened, and Draco poked his head out.

"She's ready, I think," Draco shrugged, almost unsure of himself. Daphne pushed past him, heading straight in the room. Draco followed closely behind her, but Hermione waited in the hallway for a few moments, not wanting to interrupt. She could hear the cries of happiness from Daphne and the giggles from Astoria.

Hearing the joy from the Greengrass sisters made Hermione smile. She closed her eyes, enjoying the warm feeling building in her chest. Astoria was okay, she was laughing and not tearing her sister apart. If she could have, she would have sat there and listened for a while. A part of her wondered what life would have been like if she wasn't an only child, being surrounded by the Weasleys and the Greengrasses could make anyone do the same.

"Hermione," Astoria's voice called out. "Hurry up and get in here, silly girl."

"I'm sorry," Hermione blushed, walking towards the room, finally looking inside. In the dim lighting, she could see Astoria and Daphne were sat on the bed and Draco was leaned against the wall next to the doorway. Even in the candle light, Hermione saw the silvery glint of Astoria's eyes. But, to her surprise, looked much healthier. Her face was fuller, and though her eyes were unfamiliar, we're full of life. "I just wanted to give you a few minutes with your sister."

"You're our sister too, Hermione," Astoria said, holding her arms open. Hermione rushed towards her, and was stunned at how cold she was. Astoria held her tightly, nearly restricting her breathing.

"Oops, sorry," Astoria said as she quickly let go. "I'm not used to this yet."

Hermione pressed her forehead to Astoria's, smelling the iron wafting from her breath, but not minding it. "I'm glad you're with us, Astoria."

"I'm happy I'm here," she smiled, flashing her new set of fangs. "I missed you all."

"I missed you very much," Hermione replied.

"You probably miss Draco too," Astoria nudged. "Don't worry, you can have him back once Teddy is here. Draco doesn't fully trust me to be alone with anyone yet. But I am very full thanks to you."

"Knock, knock," Theodore chimed from the hallway. "How's my girl?"

Hermione stepped aside so he could greet her, finally turning to face Draco. Not seeing him for days was agony, but she didn't let it show. She knew he was already dealing with so much. But when he held out his hand to her, she had to stop herself from crashing into him.

Draco pulled her into his chest, his slow heartbeat against her cheek. He buried his nose into the top of her hair, breathing her in while Astoria chatted about how long Theodore's hair had gotten and all the magazines she needed to get caught up with.

"Thank you for letting me take time with Astoria," Draco whispered to her.

"It's silly you would thank me for that," she replied, looking up. Exhaustion riddled his face and she could see the stress in the crease of his forehead. Her hand went to his cheek to comfort him.

"Hermione, would you take Draco to get some sleep? I don't think he's slept a wink in two days," Astoria sweetly pleaded. Before Draco could protest, Hermione took his hand and led him to the small room she had been sleeping in alone.

She sat him on the single bed, grabbed a comb off the nightstand, and began to brush the slight tangles in his hair. Draco closed his eyes, looking as if he could fall asleep sitting upright. Hermione waved her wand, replacing his clothes with a light tee shirt and sleeping pants for him to sleep comfortably in.

"How is she doing?" she asked him.

Draco sighed deeply. "Not well. She's always been a good actress though. But she hates it, cries a lot, and hasn't fully come to terms yet."

"Lay down, Draco. Get some sleep," she said, kissing his lips softly between the words.

"Lay with me, please," he begged her. "I need you."

Hermione crawled on top of him, resting her head on his shoulder. His arms snaked around her, absorbing her warmth. Within seconds, he was fast asleep, she could tell by his slowed breathing and the slight twitch of his fingers. It felt so peaceful hearing the chatter of Astoria and Daphne and feeling Draco's soft breaths in the comfort of the farmhouse. It all lulled her into a rest she wasn't expecting.

When she woke in his arms a short time later, she could sense his unease. His body felt tense as he brushed his thumb against the smooth gem on her ring, staring directly at the ceiling.

"Are you okay, Draco?" she asked softly.

"I'm fine, baby," he replied, but she knew that wasn't the truth. It was far from it. The feeling of his fingers kneading into her skin made her moan softly, but it was a clear indication he was attempting to distract himself.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" she asked, realizing that he had been stuck in a room with Astoria for nearly a week with no sleep and not eating.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you," he whispered. That didn't even cross her mind that he would, nearly forgetting he drank blood and she was full of it. She had plenty to give though.

"I know you won't, so drink from me," she told him, turning him away from the ceiling to look at her.

"It's not a good idea," Draco mumbled. "Not today."

Hermione kissed him deeply, wanting to tempt him. Days without an intimate moment between made it much more desperate in how they touched each other. His hands roamed her entire body, making her shiver at his touch. Clothes were being torn away, exposing every inch of her skin. She straddled him, moving her hips in circular motions right over his cock.

Draco held onto her waist, looking directly into her eyes, looking hungry in more than one way. She couldn't help but feel the same towards him, so she leaned down to make even more contact between them. It didn't seem like there could be enough, she wanted to be fully consumed by him.

She couldn't help herself as their tongues danced against each other, she pressed the tip of hers against his fang. As she began to bleed, Draco growled into her mouth.

"Fuck," he groaned, kissing her harder, nipping at her lips. He sucked on her tongue, tasting more of her. Before she could even make a noise, Draco was on top, pressing his weight down, making her breathless. His hand took hers, holding them over her head as he pulled away. "You drive me fucking insane," he barked in her face. "Why the fuck do you want me to eat you so badly?"

"I'm yours, Draco. Eat me," she moaned, tasting the blood that was filling her mouth and spilling from her lips.

Draco kissed her neck, nestling right at her pulse point. The tip of his cock pressed into her clit, making her knees buckle. His cold tongue licked right where she knew his teeth would enter her. Hermione whimpered at every cold sensation, mewling at each one of his touches.

"Keep making those noises," he murmured in her neck. "I'm going to fucking drain you."

The sharp pain of his fangs entering her throat was quickly dampened by the feeling of blood rushing from her. It was euphoric feeling his lips sucking on her skin, desperately trying to feed himself while holding back the urge to kill her. It was a rush to have such power over him. If she were anyone else, she would have been dead the second his fangs breached her skin. But she was everything to him, he couldn't kill her, and she knew that. Draco was vibrating as he tried to restrain himself from tearing her apart.

The length of his thick cock skated against her clit, sliding in between her thighs, nuzzling right up against her opening. Hermione mumbled his name every time he sucked on the soft skin where she had been opened, her vision blurring with each drink. She rubbed herself against him, begging to be fucked. The head of his cock pressed into her, and slowly, he inched his way inside.

A sharp breath escaped his lips, like a sense of reprieve came over him as he fully buried himself inside. Hermione tightened around him, feeling herself reaching bliss nearly immediately. His cold presence around her, draining and heavy, was nearly enough to drive her over the edge alone. Now that he was inside of her, she fully released the built up tension in her core, covering him in wet warmth.

"Did you cum already, baby?" he whispered. His bloodied lips pressed against her ear. "Cum again. Say my name when you cum again."

He released her hands, propping himself up and looking down at her as he pumped his cock deep into her hole. She had a hard time focusing on his intense face, feeling her eyes rolling back once again as he hit the exact spot she needed. But she wanted to look at him, he looked like a god above her. His mouth covered in her blood, his eyes lusting for her.

"Draco," she whispered over and over again as the feeling of release built up again.

"Good girl, keep saying it," he muttered, his movements becoming faster. She felt his hand wrap around her neck, squeezing down gently as she began to tremble.

The feeling was overwhelming, she dug her fingers into his biceps as her eyes fluttered. She sang his name out for him, just as he commanded her to. But more than she intended slipped from her lips, the feeling of pure pleasure making her deepest urges and desires surface.

"Draco… I love you," she mumbled as she felt herself let go. As she came down from her high, her eyes went wide, noticing that Draco had stopped fucking her and froze in place.

His lips parted slightly, looking as if he were about to say something but couldn't find the words. The sounds of several Apparition cracks drew his eyes towards the window. Before Hermione could even ask who it was, the entire farmhouse rattled and smoke began to fill the air.