CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Summary: Sent to Volterra in order to negotiate terms of an alliance to end the war, Hermione's life is turned upside down as she is brought into the world of the Volturi, better known as the Vampire Kings. There she is made a part of a new kind of family and a most trusted member of the guard, whether she likes it or not, and surprisingly, she does. Rated M for language, violence and sexual content.
Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and Stepenie Myers. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. As for the descriptions of appearances for the Twilight characters, all my research is based on the books and not the movies, but I may have changed a few things regarding Alec's height and age.
Page count: 8
Saturday 2nd May 1998
It was the early hours of the morning when Alec and Demetri were alerted to something not being right with Hermione. Over the last week, they had grown accustomed to watching her down a potion –which they didn't know the purpose of as they never asked to respect her privacy- and they would listen to her even breathing and steady heartbeat as she slept peacefully through the night. She barely shifted during the night, if only to turn onto her side or pull the cover closer around herself.
But this night, they knew something was different. They hadn't thought of it as important when she didn't remove a potion from her bedside table, they had assumed that it was just a potion for healing and she no longer needed it. It occurred to them that something was different as when she fell asleep, they couldn't hear her heartbeat or the little puffs of air leaving her mouth during her sleep.
The real difference came when from the corner of their eyes they caught the movement of Hermione tossing and turning in her sleep, her back arching off the bed and her mouth open. Demetri had seen this before and he knew what was happening, yet he couldn't hear anything. Much to Alec's confusion, Demetri flew from his chair and over to Hermione's bed and the moment he reached it, he felt himself shudder as a pulse of magic washed over him and Hermione's screams suddenly filled his ears.
He reached out to touch her, and like that night at the castle, he found himself standing on the end of her wand.
"It's just me," he said softly, holding his hands up to show he meant her no harm.
She closed her eyes tightly and forced herself to calm down, taking deep steadying breaths as she lowered her arm. She brought her hands up to her cheeks and wiped away the falling tears before opening them and both Demetri and Alec came into her view, both sporting worried and confused expressions.
"A Silencing Charm," she explained, absentmindedly conjuring a glass and filling it with water, much to their amazement. "It's used to keep conversations private, depending on the charm you use, anyone outside the radius the charm protects will either hear nothing at all or a buzzing sound. Nothing can penetrate the sound barrier, not even superior hearing such as yours."
Demetri perched himself on the edge of the bed beside her and Alec watched his movements before doing the same, sitting on her other side.
"This is the first time you've had a nightmare since Volterra," Demetri commented softly.
"No, it's not," she shook her head, turning her attention to the blood that was seeping from her 'Mudblood' scar. She siphoned off the blood, summoned healing paste and bandages and tended to it. "I was emotionally exhausted the night that member of the guard attacked me and so I slept through the night. During the journey here, I cast a Silencing Charm around my room, and since I've been back, I've been taking the Dreamless Sleep Potion and it is aptly named. It prevents you from dreaming in which it prevents nightmares, too. I didn't take it tonight."
"Why not?" Alec probed.
"It's addictive, you have to be careful with the amount ingested, no more than a couple a week and I've already pushed my luck with taking six doses in the last week alone. I can't have any more until the remaining potions have been cleansed from my system and that can take weeks."
"Why did you place a sound barrier around yourself?"
"I didn't want to disturb you or be a burden to you by taking up your time."
Alec's and Demetri's eyes flickered to each other and then back to her, the ruby-red colouring glowing in the dark of the room.
"Hermione, you can have as much of our time as you want," Demetri told her softly.
She blinked in surprise before releasing a little sigh and then lying down, pulling the covers over herself. Their hands rested on top of the covers and Hermione slipped her hands into theirs without thought and they each gave her a comforting squeeze. They stayed by her side as her eyes closed, as her breathing evened out and they didn't leave until she next woke.
They were content to watch her sleep peacefully whilst she held their hands in her sleep.
~000~000~000
The day had gone by in a flurry of planning, preparing, and practising shielding charms and offensive spells. The house was overrun with Order members, some of which Hermione hadn't even met before that day. The only time anyone took a breather or short respite was when Mrs. Weasley forced them to sit and have something to eat so no one would be fighting on an empty stomach.
Hermione immediately noticed a difference in the way the others were treating Alec and Demetri. It was obvious they still didn't like them, yet they were civil and polite, and Hermione had seen some of them practising with the wands she had thrown on the ground the previous night. They had considered her words and they had listened.
She knew they didn't like Alec and Demetri but at least she didn't have to spend her time throwing up a shield or arguing with someone. For the time being, she would take the victory as she had a battle to prepare for.
She sat outside the house in the fields, looking up at the sky as sunset was slowly beginning to set in, hues and pinks, oranges and yellows bathing her from above. They were leaving the moment the sun disappeared and night fell and everyone had their own parts to play in the plan. Hermione's was instrumental and it was stupidly dangerous as always.
She shifted when the two figures of her vampires sat on either side of her.
"We leave soon," Alec stated.
She turned her head slightly in his direction, seeing that he was no longer in the muggle clothes she'd been supplying them with over the week, but he was now dressed in his Volturi Guard robes and cloak once again. Turning her head in the other direction she saw Demetri dressed the same, although Alec's cloak was a slightly darker grey than Demetri's.
It had been decided that although dressing them in muggle clothing or wizarding robes would be an advantageous, it was also helpful that they dress in their robes as the no-mad vampires would recognise who they were and hopefully, they would flee the battlefield in fear, dropping Voldemort's numbers by thirty once Alec and Demetri were seen. They could then focus their attention on helping to incapacitate the others following Voldemort.
"Yes, we do," she agreed, her eyes lifting to the sky once more.
"Why are you out here and not spending the last moments you may have with those that you care for?"
She caught Demetri glaring at Alec for his slightly insensitive words, but if she were honest, she found it amusing.
"I said my goodbyes to Harry and Ron a long time ago, as I did to Remus. Today I visited with Tonks and Teddy and I spoke with the Weasleys and Kingsley. I have said all I have to say to them, and they me," she said softly. "So, right now, I'm taking comfort in the silence and potentially watching my last sunset."
"Don't say that," Demetri chided, a slight snarl to his tone.
"I'm being rational. I never expected to see my eighteenth birthday, yet I did. I never expected to survive my capture and torture, yet I did. I never expected for the war to be so close to being over, regardless of who is left standing, yet it will be. I am the second biggest target in all of this and no one is going to be merciful if I should find myself in a duel with them. I will either survive by the skin of my teeth, or I will die. I don't fear death, and if it should claim me, then I won't fight it. I'm so very tired," she sighed and they noted that she did sound tired.
Demetri took her hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze and she tilted her head to lean against Alec's shoulder, being grateful for the comfort they were offering.
"I'm tired of being the one that has to bail everyone out of trouble. I'm tired of being the one that everyone goes to for information, I'm expected to know everything and I can't, it's impossible. I'm tired of being the one that is expected to keep everyone alive. I'm tired of being the strong one. I'm just tired," she muttered with her eyes closed, but she forced them to open so she wouldn't miss the sunset. "The odds of me surviving this battle are slim and so, I am watching the sunset as it is likely to be the last I will ever witness."
"You aren't going to die," Demetri promised.
"We won't allow it," Alec confirmed, slipping his hand into her free one, relishing in the difference between her warm skin and his ice-cold skin.
"I am not a priority," she told them. "There are hundreds of underage children at Hogwarts and the majority of them will be escorted to safety and protected by Order members and older students, but there is bound to be some that will get caught in the crossfire. If you are to see them, your job is to get them somewhere safe, you're the only ones that have the speed and strength to do so. And if you see someone on our side struggling, you are to help them. If not, you take down as many of the bastards as you can. You can't protect me."
"Yes, we can," Alec argued.
"Fine, you won't protect me."
"We will," Demetri argued.
"I will not allow you to," she fired back, seeing their far from pleased expressions. "I am going to be in the heart of the battle and I have my own tasks to complete, I need you elsewhere, where you can do the most good, where you can show people they are wrong for their prejudice towards you. If they see you protecting the innocent and helping us, it will be easier for the laws to be changed as they will have witnessed your actions. I may not have seen as many wars or battles as you have, but I have been fighting for my life and for the lives of others since I was twelve, and for a human, those seven years are a long time. I know what I'm doing and I'm not going into this battle unprepared, I am confident in my abilities, but there is always someone better than you and I may meet them and they may cause my downfall, if it happens, then so be it."
~000~000~000~
"Quickly, through here," Aberforth Dumbledore rushed out in one breath. "They're coming!"
Ron and Harry went through the secret passageway first and she peered over her shoulder at him.
"Thank you, Aberforth, we couldn't have done this without you," she spoke.
He made a grumbling sound of protest. "Just make sure you take down as many of those bastards as possible," he said gruffly.
Hermione nodded before turning and climbing into the passageway, knowing that Alec and Demetri were following behind her.
"Where is this leading?" Alec asked.
"This passageway will lead us into Hogwarts through the Room of Requirements," she explained, a smile tugging at her mouth. This was what she needed; a distraction and there was no better distraction than sharing your knowledge with someone else. "It's a part of the castle that exists but only a few know it does and even fewer know its location and how to use it. It will provide anything that you need. A lot of the students including many of our friends were forced to return despite it being run by Death Eaters. From what I've been told, they've been forcing students to learn how to torture each other and if they refuse, then not only are they tortured, but so is anyone that they seem to care for, siblings, friends, partners. The members of the D.A, -the illegal resistance group we instigated a couple of years ago- have taken it upon themselves to protect the younger students, and the Room of Requirement has been helping them to. The castle is literally protecting them and it's fighting back against being run by Death Eaters," she smiled at them over her shoulder and they blinked in surprise.
"Did I not mention the castle is sentient?" They both shook their heads. "Ah, sorry about that, I should've remembered to warn you. The castle's sentient." They both snorted. "Moving staircases, hidden passageways and classrooms, talking portraits, ghosts as house mascots, you know, the usual," she shrugged, not seeing their surprised and amused looks as they were behind her.
Her hearing picked up on the excited chatter and cheers up ahead and she felt herself smile as she stepped out of the tunnel and into the well-lit room. It appeared to be the room they had used for the D.A with stone walls and flooring, large glass windows, practice dummies in the corner and targets on the walls, except there were hammocks everywhere in the room.
"HERMIONE!"
She groaned as she suddenly found herself in a bone-crushing hug with vivid red hair trying to choke her.
"Ginny," she laughed joyously, squeezing back just as hard when she got her bearings back. "I missed you."
"I missed you, too," Ginny beamed, pulling back from Hermione and her eyes sweeping over her.
"You look awful."
"Thanks, Gin, you always know what to say," Hermione snarked.
"I have six brothers, it's a talent," she grinned and Hermione rolled her eyes. "Now, Hermione, tell me who the dishy males are currently stood protectively behind you."
"Ginny!" Hermione scolded through laughter as she turned her head to see Demetri and Alec's slightly surprised expressions as they took in their surroundings, as well as Ginny's words.
"You've heard of the Volturi?" She questioned her redheaded friend.
"Obviously, mum used to tell me stories about them when I was younger so I would behave, but with brothers like the twins, that's not really possible."
Hermione chuckled. "Well, this is Demetri and Alec, they are members of the Volturi Guard and Coven."
Ginny took the slightest step back and her smile faltered a little, but other than that, she appeared to be fine.
"Well, that's the best reaction we've had yet," Hermione said lightly, causing the two vampires to snort. "We are now allied with the Volturi and Alec and Demetri are here to help. With their aid, the chances of us actually winning this war are better than ever."
"Gifts?" Ginny questioned.
Hermione beamed at her in response for knowing they'd have gifts, unlike Ronald had. "Demetri is the best tracker to exist, he can find anyone in the word from simply coming into contact with them, his gift is more useful for finding certain people on the battlefield or fugitives afterwards. But he's a great warrior, too; he can take out twenty people in the space of sixty seconds." Ginny blinked, Hermione smiled proudly and Demetri stood a little taller. "And Alec, his gift allows him to mentally block the senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch, leaving the opponent in a state in which they are completely vulnerable and unable to even blink."
Ginny blinked in surprise before giving her head a shake. "We're winning this war," she declared.
"Ginny," Hermione sighed.
"What? I'm not being optimistic, I'm telling the truth. We are going to win this war."
"Ginny..."
"Say it. Say we're going to win this war."
"No, Ginny, we..."
"Say it," Ginny demanded, her hands on her hips and wearing a look on her face that was terrifyingly similar to Mrs. Weasley's.
"We're going to win this war," Hermione sighed in defeat.
"There's my girl, nice to have you back," Ginny said. Hermione rolled her eyes.
Ginny smiled at her, gave her another hug before disappearing into the crowd of students, just as Hermione was surrounded by everyone and cheers, as they all spoke to her excitedly and she smiled; it was good to be home.
"Hermione!"
She turned, seeing the figure pushing his way through the crowd but when they saw him they departed, leaving them alone.
"Neville!" Hermione laughed joyously as his much taller frame scooped her up into a hug and she heard the low snarls coming from Alec and Demetri.
She pulled back from Neville and turned slightly, arching an eyebrow at them in question but seeing they were too busy glaring at Neville murderously to notice. She frowned but turned back to Neville, her smile reappearing.
"Neville, I am so proud of you!" She gushed.
He blushed and shifted on his feet, ducking his head.
"Thanks," he muttered.
"No, Neville, I'm honestly so proud of you. I know what you did, you were the first to rebel against the Death Eaters and everyone followed. You've kept everyone safe and you've protected them and I know you've been giving them hell," she smiled. "You once had your doubts that you belonged in Gryffindor, Neville, I can't think of anyone who is better suited to Gryffindor than you." His face flamed red and she chuckled at the sight. "You're a hero and you're a Gryffindor, and don't you let anyone tell you any differently." He nodded. "Promise me."
"Promise," he mumbled, clearing his throat and she smiled at him. "What's the plan?" He stood taller and looked at her determinedly.
"The plan? Which one? There's several."
"I wouldn't expect anything different from the great Hermione Granger," he grinned and she rolled her eyes.
"The plan involves you and Seamus."
"I 'eard meh name," the distinctive sound of Seamus' Irish accent flittered to their ears from nearby.
"Seamus!" Hermione called excitedly as she pulled the Irishman into a hug, once again earning snarls from the two vampires behind her, which no one else seemed to be paying attention to.
"So, where've ya been, Lass?" He questioned, grinning down at her when she drew back from him.
"Oh, you know, here and there. Being on the run, breaking into the Ministry, being captured and then rescued and breaking into Gringotts."
They both blinked at her before Seamus laughed. "So the usual," he commented and she smiled sadly.
"Say, Seamus, have you blown anything up recently?"
"No," he said sadly and she and Neville sniggered at him.
"Perfect, let's rectify that."
The answering grins she received were wide and excited, even as an announcement went through the entire castle summoning all students to the great hall.
The plan had already been set in motion. It was time.