Chapter 14 - Danger, Danger! High Voltage!
Danger, Danger!
It's high voltage!
When we touch,
When we kiss, Lover!
Electric Six - Danger! High Voltage
Hermione rested her head against the cool glass of the Hogwarts Express, the windows blurred by the speeding wilderness beyond, greens and browns blending into a familiar backdrop and drawing a fond sigh from her lips. The final leg of her journey had been relatively uneventful, and she had forwarded an owl to ensure people were aware of her arrival. In turn, she had received a particularly...explicit...response from her paramour. She reflected on their brief time together so far, smiling to herself at the memories of their encounters, and sighed once more, though this time so audibly that Harry, who had been thus far snoozing in the corner of their shared compartment, stirred and rubbed his sleep filled eyes.
"You're doing it again, you know?"
Hermione started at the groggy voice and looked over from her musings, a flush creeping across her cheeks.
"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean, Harry." She said, straightening herself in her chair and smiling at him fondly.
Harry chuckled and settled back into his slumbering repost, muttering before dozing back off.
"Of course not, and you aren't blushing either, right?"
He opened his eyes once more and gave a conspiratorial wink that reminded Hermione so much of the young man she had known for most of her life, and as a gentle snore heralded his return to the land of nod, Hermione took the opportunity to lightly touch her cheeks. The cold of her hands met the warmth and she tutted, grabbing a book from her purse and absentmindedly flicking through until she found her marked page. Through the guise of her reading, she wandered back through her memories, and allowed herself to feel the anticipation of once again seeing her soulmate.
The Council of Magical Beings - Second Session Post-SSW
He was there again. Him, and his guard dog, the blonde, lethal looking vampire who went by the name of Pam. Pam looked vaguely interested in her surroundings, now a plush conference room in the Ministry of Magic as opposed to the ancient druidic circle of the Forbidden Forest. The opulence seemed to please her immensely as she settled onto an available armchair, poised and refined, a porcelain doll against the deep scarlet velvet of the seat. Hermione envied her then, her beauty and refinement, and felt a pang of jealousy when seeing the ease with which she interacted with her...but what was he to her? Hermione had completed background checks on all members of the newly formed council, and it appeared that he was her sire, but what that entailed was not as easily definable as what one would find in a textbook. Thus far, the only history written in wizarding lore of vampires was vague, or scarce, and illustrated a leonine, lithe creature that hunted for flowing blood. They created family units comprised of those deemed "worthy" and compatible with the attitude of the original vampire. If that was the case, with a woman who looked so truly deadly, Hermione could only assume that the hulking behemoth that was Eric Northman was dangerous, though he presented himself as a perfect gentleman.
As part of the aftermath of the war, Hermione had found herself drawn towards the more "dangerous" magical creatures within their society. With examples such as Remus and the Centaurs, she felt that there needed to be a more politically attuned voice within the magical community to raise awareness to the humanity within all creatures, even those previously maligned. Hermione was politically shrewd, and understood how many had been easily recruited to Voldemort's side simply by being shunned by the so-called "Light". She hated that moniker, thinking it pretentious and unnecessary. War was never so black and white as a "good" and an "evil" side, and it was with this in mind she felt compelled to ensure integration amongst all magically adept creatures to ensure such segregation never again caused the mayhem it had previously. It had been a hard fight, but with the "Saviour" at her side, she had been able to start working on her latest project, the Council of Magical Beings, swiftly after achieving her NEWTS. She had recruited the greatest minds from Hogwarts, starting with - to the shock of the magical community - one Draco Malfoy, who had been the driving force for the recruitment of Pansy Parkinson and Theo Nott, bringing with them Daphne Greengrass and her wife, Tracey Evans, two of the most politically astute women that Hermione had the pleasure to be tutored by. They had shown Hermione the errors in her own previous prejudices against Pureblood society and, in so doing, had created a force to be reckoned with that was a Gryffindor Princess with the poise and savvy of a Slytherin Queen. Susan Bones, following the tragedies that had befallen her family, had been brought on board, and now Hermione had a fine team, all dedicated to bringing justice to a world ripped apart by hatred and fear.
Hermione had always shied away from the limelight the attention of her most prolific cases and meetings with the Wizengamot shone upon her, although she had finally managed to win the respect of Rita Skeeter, following Hermione acting as the only witness for the defence, citing the need for a freedom of speech and opinions, even if they were negative, to allow for society to feel they are all heard. Rita had been in line for Azkaban, she had been aware that her methods of reporting, and her many affluent enemies, would be enough to get her at least 15 brutal years. However, with the Heroine of the Wizarding World at her back, she had been released to house arrest with an allowance for 15 hours per week escorted outside of the home, and Hermione had also asked the judge for leniency for many who had been saved the same judgement. Hermione was clear that even a home can become a prison, and can rot the mind, and that every person, no matter their previous alliances, deserves to be trapped with no means of seeing the world. Conditions like these bred the Bellatrix Lestrange's of the world, and even the most prolific Death Eaters had been afforded more programmes within the prison that encouraged them to leave their cells and interact with the newly renovated, fully warded court yard that looked out across the North Sea. Rita had written a glowing retraction that had dominated three pages of the Daily Prophet, and had also registered as an Animagus, a condition of her arrest. It had given her time to build a professional bond with Hermione, and in so doing had brought a very strong ally to Hermione's own causes.
Rita was present for this meeting, and had made a bee-line for Hermione the moment she entered the room, her stunning red lips and shining white teeth flashing, reminded Hermione of a shark honing in on its prey. Hermione smiled warmly back, she felt no more malice towards Rita, she had changed and grown and was an example of what could be achieved by mercy. She felt herself being pulled by the shoulders into exuberant air kisses, the strength of the Chanel Rita had chosen lingering between them as Rita began to prattle on excitedly about the crowd. She had already been able to secure future interviews with some of the Magical Councillors, and was on the hunt for a night with the hunky new blonde with bulging muscles and ice blue eyes. If she was lucky, maybe his friend would join them.
Rita burst into laughter as Hermione finally tuned her in and looked shocked, a puce blush rushing up her body and flooding her neck. Unbeknownst to her, Rita had watched her staring across the room at the vampire, and of course had cottoned on by Hermione's expression that she was somewhat entranced.
"You are quite easy to read, my girl, once one really is allowed to get to know what goes on it that swotty head of yours!" Rita said between laughs, causing Hermione to flush further.
"Rita, I'm sure I haven't a clue what you are on about. I was just staring into space…"
"Of course, into his space…"
Hermione playfully smacked Rita on the arm, taking the same arm and looping it with her own as they walked over to where Hermione had spotted Ronan. He had been a representative for the Forbidden Forest clan of centaurs, and had also mastered the Ra'Hat, the centuarian ability to change to full human form at will. He still towered over many of the other creatures, and the goblins seemed particularly unsure of getting close to something so giant like. Rita slipped away, noting the entrance of one of her photographers, leaving the couple to catch up.
Ronan swept Hermione up into a warm embrace and kissed her soundly on the lips.
"Freer of Dragons, it is good to see you, you never seem to be available these days,'' Ronan winked and Hermione swore she had turned the shade of a lobster. She and Ronan had, previously, explored the benefits of the Ra'Hat, and had always been good friends, so signs of affection such as these were common place. Hermione was shocked when Ronan bent so close to her eat that she felt his warm breath tickle the back of her neck, his rich voice rolling down her spine. She wondered absentmindedly if she could one day work out a way of getting both Ronan and Professor Snape to whisper in her ear, and quickly pushed the idea away, shooting a slicing look at Ronan who she knew had placed the thought in her mind...not that it was that displeasing. Filing that away for later, her shock was further exacerbated when Ronan let out a chuckle upon hearing a feral, leonine growl from across the room, the air feeling a tad more dense around them. Within moments the sound was gone, but Hermione whipped her head to where the Viking Vampire had been standing, his back turned to her and his lieutenant clearly telling him off. What was that all about?
Hermione could not help herself, she was dying to know what was being said. So, Ronan continued to whisper the conversation, which only caused the China Doll to shoot her a quick look that she sure was meant to be intimidating, but on a face such as hers it seemed to say "cut it out". It was only when she flashed a second, harder look that Ronan straightened up with a quick shove from Hermione, as the second look definitely said "cut it out, or I cut you", and Hermione didn't find her chances very strong.
"He wishes to bond with you, I can feel it in his aura, but not in the usual way a vampire wishes to absorb the essence of prey, it is more a true bond. I caution you, Freer of Dragons, if you do not with to Nah-Foal* with this vampire, you must stay away from him. But, if your aura reads correctly, you don't seem so averse to the concept? Ronan was grinning down at her and she huffed, she didn't believe in his aura nonsense, as he had used it a few times to get her into bed...it took minimal effort when she had to consider the stallion she would be riding. With that thought in mind she chuckled, and Ronan raised a suggestive eyebrow.
"Stop doing that, it isn't big and it isn't clever," Hermione tutted. Ronan simply chuckled as he looked at Hermione with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Oh, don't you dare…!" Hermione said with a hint of nervousness, anger and urgency in her voice. She knew what Ronan was like when he got a look like that. He shrugged his shoulders and held his hands up innocently, retreating from her across the room, a false apology on his face, and made a direct line to the vampires corner of the room.
Eric had been trying, trying very very hard he may add, to ignore the siren song that called to him, the scent of his mate stifling his senses and choking him from the inside. It was borderline painful, and Eric had not felt this way in a long time. Not even with Sookie had he been drawn from his very soul to her, a primeval need to protect her, love her, devour her, encompassed his senses. Pam was on edge, knowing how her sire was feeling was making her long for such a powerful connection with another creature. She had shared this bond once before, and she had assumed that what was left of her heart had been broken upon the death of her soulmate. But for a broken soul, there is always one who can truly help to heal it, and that is what she saw when watching Eric pour every last drop of his self restraint in remaining aloof, keeping his distance from the witch. He had given her some bullshit self pity story, and she had given him a piece of her mind, but now it seemed he needed reminding as he growled menacingly at the near 7 foot centaur across the room. Grabbing his arm, she yanked him into her eyeline.7
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Who do you thi…"
"No, you do not get to be superior when you were growling like a tiger at someone across the room because they are touching the woman you happen to be in love with. Oh, don't look so shocked," Pam waved a hand dismissively, "do you forget your my sire in the presence of this woman, along with your common sense. Snap out of it, we are here for a reason, YOU wanted us to be here, so you better pull yourself together. Fast."
Pam did not leave any room for discussion, letting go of his arm but changing her seated position so she was more coiled, ready to spring should she need to hold her sire back. She shot a look at the stupid girl, I mean COME ON seriously?. The girl seemed to not process the meaning, so she flashed her teeth, licking the tip of a sharpened canine menacingly. That got the message across. This, however, did not make the issue any less complicated when the centaur began to make his way over to them, palms out and raised in a friendly show of supplication acknowledged across all magical creatures. Eric stood, placing both hands palms up and bowed his head. He knew that respect was due to this centaur, the heir to the King of the Forbidden Forest held a lot of weight in many businesses, both magical and regular human, and he was not going to upset someone with that sort of power whilst his was still somewhat precarious. He may need him as an ally, but he could not make his smile meet his eyes, causing it to be more of a sneer. Ronan laughed, and clapped him on the shoulder. They had met many times before, owing to Eric having bought a potions ingredients company as a gateway into the wizarding world post war. It was a shrewd financial move, and was already turning a tidy profit that could be reinvesting in the non magical world as well as magical. Ronan's tribe held the secrets to a variety of rare, sometimes borderline extinct in other parts of the world, ingredients that sold for small fortunes, so Eric ensured he maintained that professional warmth. But why was that horse pawing all over his mate?
"Northman! How good to see you! You still up for our end of quarter meeting next week? We've been harvesting Moon leaves, the next quarter projections should be even better than these…" Ronan knew Eric was not listening. His eyes were still slightly feral, and Pam looked and Ronan apologetically, with a sideline of displeasure.
"You know, she wants to jump your bones and ride you like a stallion. You may as well just go and talk to her."
Pam's mouth fell open and her face broke into a broad smile, she hadn't seen anyone be so blunt to Eric in such a long time, it made her miss her home and friends. Judging by Eric's face, he had been bowled over, and he hadn't had a challenge thrown at him like that since Sookie Stackhouse herself! Eric nodded at Ronan, then looked at Pam, who slightly nodded and leaned back into her chair, getting ready for the show. Ronan ushered Eric from his own seat and replaced him, also making a show like Pam in preparing for the action. Eric scowled at the pair of them, ran a hand through his hair, and made his way over to where an open mouthed Hermione was staring in disbelief. She was going to kill Ronan.
"Miss Granger, it is good to see you again." The sultry voice of the vampire washed over HErmione, making her tingle suggestively. She smiled at him, reciting the same platitudes. Then, there was silence. It wasn't the awkward silence of two people who had nothing to say to one another. It was a silence, laced with so many emotions, that words would have led to a catastrophic overspill. Hermione stared into the piercing eyes that also stared into her melting honey eyes, neither able to move. Suddenly, Eric had taken hold of Hermione's arm, pulling her subtly to him and walking with her in the direction of the door. She didn't register her being led out into the corridor, nor was she overly aware when she was escorted further into the Ministry of Magic, over to the elevators. She couldn't fathom why they were heading to the emptiest one, where they were going, but right now she didn't really care. Upon entering the lift, Eric punched a button and the doors swiftly closed. The lift did not move, and Eric chose to look Hermione in the eyes seductively as he whispered the words, "seal the doors". Hermione waved her hand, absentmindedly sending a complicated nexus of spells that sealed the door, silenced the lift, disillusioned the doors to have a "Out of Service" sign on it, and had tuned out the fettered elevator music that tinkled annoyingly in the background. Again the couple stared at each other. Silence.
Hermione cleared her throat, but as she opened her mouth to speak she felt herself being launched against the nearest wall, her mouth covered with hot, wet, teasing perfection. The cool, creamy skin of the vampires naked chest pressed her against the wall and she wrapped her legs around his waist. Pulling away from the smouldering kiss, Hermione smirked wickedly as she muttered,
"Too many clothes"
With another wave of her hand they were both naked, her legs wrapped leaving her in the perfect position. Eric's member strained as it rubbed its very tip against her already glistening folds, pulsing at her in preparation. She looked into Eric's eyes and nodded, and that was all that was needed for Eric to thrust straight into her soft, tight warmth. They both hissed, Hermione dug her nails into the vampire's shoulders, her only means of purchase. He licked and sucked on her neck, thrusting hard and fast into her, her warm breath caressing his neck in sharp pants and rolling down his back, urging him deeper, harder, faster into her. She started to glow, her moans of pleasure rising to cries of passion. He pulled himself back far enough to capture an exposed, pert nipple between his teeth, biting it and feeling the hot blood trickling from the broken skin. Hermione gasped at the pain, but the pleasure that followed took her breath away. She had never been taken so perfectly roughly, and the sight of her own blood did nothing to dampen the rising tide that was to be her orgasm, which was speeding towards her.
"I...I can't….I need…."
"What do you need, Princess, tell me what you need." Eric's voice was against her ear, and her eyes rolled back into her head as it made her body shudder, drawing her closer.
"I need to cum, I need to cum!"
With those words, Eric lowered his lips to her shoulder and kissed the pulsing spot that led to her neck. He drew his fangs and bit, his speed increasing, his hands holding her under her bum and, somehow, tickling her arsehole, causing an even more overwhelming feeling that was pulling Hermione towards the final hurdle. Eric, too, felt his release rising imminently, his balls tightly pulled to his body, his prick coated in the hot, wet juices her beautiful body created.
"Cum with me" He commanded, biting her. He was marking her, and for some reason beyond all logic Hermione felt purely blissful. With that final shock, Hermione shattered into a thousand pieces, Eric's name ripped from her throat as she climaxed, juices shooting from her as Eric came with her. They both instantly slumped, sliding to the floor, which had received some of their loving gifts, curling up against each other.
Hermione tried to apply logic to the situation, reason, practicality, but she fell short at every turn. Silently, they kissed once more, as if they had been lovers for years and had simply woken up in each other's arms. She waved her hand and they were clean and dressed, the disillusionment charms dissolving as they both exited the lift together and separated, Eric returning to Pam as Hermione made her way over to where the Minister and Harry were looking over the crowd for her. She nodded at both mean and shot a look at Harry that simply said "later". The room quieted as she took to the podium constructed in the centre of the room, looking around her at all that had gathered. She cleared her throat, taking out her speech notes, popping on her glasses, and slipping effortlessly into politician mode. Harry stood off, in the background, sending her silent support as she discussed the plans being implemented moving forwards, the laws that would need changing, the treatise in need of revision. As a general inspires his troops before battle, Hermione had the room entranced by her rationality, her fairness, her care, and she was listened to with reverence and respect. She had won them over, and Harry had never felt more proud of her. But, he thought as he let out a near inaudible chuckle, we will be discussing that love bite later, and the reason her blouse is on inside out...