Previously on Love Vessel Chapter 1: Cormac

No steamy sex for him this night. Cormac had been in this position before. After a decent night out, Hermione sent him on his way with some excuse. It was getting old. He had needs, and expected to have them met by his girlfriend.

While Hermione stood there waiting for a response, Cormac clarified his thoughts. They weren't girlfriend and boyfriend or witch and wizard. They were two people who came together intimately whenever Hermione had the need. Perhaps it was time to give up on his critical and sometimes arrogant choice of witch.

Getting no response from Cormac, Hermione put paid to the entire conversation. "Thank you for the invite Cormac. I enjoyed myself. I'll see you Monday."

As Hermione turned into Apparition, Cormac cursed himself for not saying more. He could have said….. Actually, there wasn't anything he could have said. Hermione obviously had her mind made up. She wanted to read. The frustration was real, as it was each time she turned him away. It truly might be time to back away from Miss Granger and move on to a witch who would appreciate him.

/*/

When she landed in her flat, Hermione had done nothing more than step out of her outfit, let it drop to the floor and Accio'd a night shirt. Except for a pot of tea which she Accio'd next, she was ready. The books were calling her name. Not literally, of course, but she really did want to read

/************************************************************************

Chapter 2: Books

As meticulous as she was, Hermione couldn't just start reading, She had to run her hands over the books, put them in order by size, then resort them, because, by size, wouldn't do. When Hermione finally settled on a sort, it was in the order she had purchased them.

At the Book Sale, Hermione had chosen the smallest book first, so it was the one she chose to read first. Even though she knew she hadn't read the book before, for some odd reason, the theme seemed familiar. However, after ten pages, Hermione called bull shite. She hadn't noticed it was volume three of three. With a loud huff, she had thrown it aside. What in bloody hell good was volume three of three? Hermione moved on to the next book, but her thoughts kept going back to Being The Receptacle.

Unable to concentrate on the book in front of her, Hermione leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes. Bam! Hermione felt as though she'd been hit in the head with a Stinging Jinx. Her hands flew to the back of her head as she searched for the blood she was certain was there. There wasn't any blood, but Hermione picked up her wand from the table and stood up. She immediately walked the entire flat including the bathroom finding no one. She was alone. Although she didn't find an intruder, Hermione felt she had been attacked.

Hermione cleared away the tea set up and accio'd the bottle of Ogden's Finest Brandy she kept for company. The brandy was strong, but Hermione toughed it out downing it all in one. The brandy settled her nerves, however, it was a good fifteen minutes before the trembling in her hands subsided.

The throbbing in her head continued, so as a last resort Hermione lifted her wand and called out Reparifors. The purplish-white light of the spell took only seconds to circle Hermione's entire body. Her head felt better immediately which was what she wanted. However, it caused another concern. If she hadn't been attacked by magic, how could a magical spell heal her?

Glancing uneasily around her living room, Hermione's eyes fell on the books. Picking up the book she'd held last, Hermione spoke out loud. "Please tell me I haven't committed a sacrilege by simply opening these bloody books. This shite is beginning to smell like some fucking dark magic."

Refusing to touch the books with her bare hands, Hermione summoned a pair of dragon hide gloves from her closet, mumbling that one couldn't be too careful handling old books whose provenance was unknown.

The brandy was working. The uneasy Hermione Granger had disappeared, and the curious Hermione was back in charge. Feeling confident, Hermione grabbed for the book she'd recently put down called The Magical Unknown. Three more pages in, the uneasy feeling returned.

"Homenum Revelio," shouted Hermione with her head on a swivel in case someone did appear.

Nothing.

"Specialis Revelio," she shouted.

Nothing again, except this time Hermione could have sworn she saw a small, shimmering, blue light hovering over the books from the corner of her eye. However, when she looked at the pile straight on, there wasn't a light of any kind or color.

"That's it books. If some tosspot has left some poisonous spell on you, it won't be poisoning me. You will be put in a sack until I can have you all looked at."

"Accio sack." Hermione called out. "Mobiliarbus, books, sack."

When the books were safely in the sack, although she was reluctant to put down her wand, Hermione set it down to pour another brandy. After the third brandy, Hermione's resolve to leave the books in the sack turned back to curiosity. Grabbing her gloves, Hermione pulled out The Magical Unknown. This time, there was no denying it. A small blue light had appeared when she opened the sack. Without a seconds hesitation she called out,

"Finite Incantatem." The light disappeared, but in its place the word trunk appeared at eye level in huge, red letters.

TRUNK

Again swinging her wand one hundred eighty degrees, Hermione screamed, "Finite Incantatem; Finite Incantatem.

The word TRUNK faded away. Hermione couldn't dismiss this as a figment of her imagination, but now she was angry and convinced she'd been sold tainted books. Once the books were back in the closed sack, Miss inquisitive sat down to search her memory for anything like this. One of the first things that came to mind were Horcruxes.

"Can't be." She said out loud. Then she questioned her own judgment. "Yes, one or all of the books could be a Horcrux. Just like Tom Riddle discovered them, so could some other dark wizard arsehole. But, how would they have fallen into the hands of a simple book seller who made his money selling at a faire? Not a very likely candidate for dark magic. Hermione planned to find the book seller. She had some words for him.

"Slow down Hermione, slow down." She cautioned herself. "There's an answer for this and it doesn't have to be a Horcrux. I just need to figure this out."

Bringing her glass and the bottle of brandy with her, Hermione went to her library which was a big as her bedroom. It was a large library because Hermione had given up the second bedroom to have a room for her beloved books. Plunking down on her old, comfy couch, Hermione began summoning magical reference books from the shelves. She was looking for instances of books spelled to poison whomever touched them, the meaning of the suspicious, blue light and if there'd ever been an instance of the word TRUNK just suddenly appearing in the air.

Hermione had thumbed through several reference books when two things happened simultaneously, she remembered why the book, Being The Receptacle seemed familiar to her and where she had seen it before. Jumping up, Hermione ran to her room thinking TRUNK. The battered storage container she had used all four years at Uni. Yes, TRUNK. The thing she had pushed to the back of her closet to never be thought of again.

Hermione feverishly pulled through the crap that still lined the bottom. Old jumpers and buttons advertising her causes of the moment, unopened bottles of Muggle beer, quills, pens, empty ink bottles were all still there. Then, there it was. The book from her first year when she had spent most of her time wilding out. Being The Receptacle, vol. 1.

This is mad, thought Hermione as she hurried to the living room to retrieve the sack. My books are communicating with each other. She took a deep breath and stopped in her tracks.

"I have lost my Merlin loving mind. Communicating books my arse. I'll get to the bottom of this shite. Pulling Being The Receptacle, vol. 3 out of the sack, Hermione laid the two volumes side by side. As she sat there gazing in amazement at the two books she had found in two totally different areas of Britain, the skin under her right breast began to itch.

The itch wasn't one of those annoying itches. Hermione gave it a quick rub then turned back to her reference books looking for some explanation of what was going on with the books, and if they represented some sort of dark magic.

/*/

During the research, Hermione happened to glance at the ticket stub from The Fantasy Faire, and was surprised to find the faire was scheduled, not only for Friday, but Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon as well.

There wasn't anything slow about Hermione Granger. She realized there was something powerful and special about these books. No question. She would be going back Saturday, and if need be, Sunday to check if the bookseller might have the middle volume. She wanted the entire series. In fact, Hermione felt she needed the entire series. With that settled in her mind, Hermione pulled Being The Receptacle, vol. 1 in front of her and began to reread what she'd forgotten.

/*/

As Hermione read, little things began coming back to her in bits and pieces. Pulsating music, twinkling red lights, a steady blue flame and nude dancing.

Nude dancing?

What in bloody hell was she playing at? Hermione Granger hadn't ever danced around nude in her life. She'd done some fairly wild things, but nude dancing. She thought not.

Hermione snapped volume 1 closed, and as she did, the bits and pieces of memory dispersed as though they'd never been there. Hermione tried remembering what had just been floating through her mind, but all she could manage was the uneasy feeling she had forgotten something important.

It was late. Rather than face any more surprises, she washed her face, changed into a nightdress then climbed into bed making sure her wand was right beside her on the bed. Just in case.

/**/

Even though she had been up until the early morning hours, Hermione woke early on Saturday morning. After a quick shower, she dressed then Apparated to the Fantasy Faire venue, which was closed.

"Bollocks! Of course it's closed. The doors probably won't open until three or later." Then Hermione took the time to read the signs attached to the building. Ticket queue open at 4:00. Fantasy Faire begins at 9:00 pm. Book Sale begins at 8:00. Thank you for your patronage.

With a sigh, Hermione raised her wand for the Apparition home intent on having a bit of breakfast then going back to sleep for a few hours. Which is exactly what she did.

/*/

At 4:30, Hermione was back at the venue. After first speaking to the bookseller who revealed that he would have a fresh supply of books for that evening and Sunday as well, Hermione purchased a ticket for both performances. For the moment, she decided against confronting the wizard. There would be time enough for that if she didn't, either find an explanation, or volume two by Sunday evening.

Satisfied she had achieved her goals, Hermione decided to browse the shops in Diagon Alley. Two hours later, she was ready to get back home to look through the books once again.

However, when Hermione got to The Pet Menagerie, she had to stop in. It was a thing. Never pass The Menagerie without stopping in. Hermione wasn't all the way in the door when a smart looking, little, blue-tailed kitten jumped into her arms as though it had been waiting for her.

"Come here you little bugger," said the proprietor rushing around the counter. "So sorry Hermione. This one is a bundle of energy. She's three quarter kneazle, and I'm thinking the other quarter must be dragon. How have you been?"

"I've been lovely. Thank you for asking. I think this little sweetie knows I need some company."

The proprietor hesitated before replying. "With any other pet, I'd agree, but this one is a bit lively and needy. Are you sure you're ready for a beast like her?"

Hermione began cooing at the cat. "Did that bad witch just call you a beast? Don't listen to her." To the proprietor Hermione said, "I've been alone too long. You've made a sale. Please set me up with all the necessaries and have them sent to my flat. Box her. I'll take her now."

"Will do Hermione. I'll give you a little sack of food to tide her over until the delivery arrives. I hope you and she work out."

"We'll work out Laurie. I have no doubt. Take it out of my Gringotts main account."

Laurie had to pry the kitten away from Hermione. However, she finally got the Blue Kneazle into a box. Handing Hermione a small sack of kitten food, Laurie prepared the order for delivery.

/*/

Hermione meant to Apparate directly home, but she had only taken a few steps away from the pet shop when the kitten began to yowl. Hermione had stopped in place to assure the stressed out kitten that everything was okay when a husky voice asked if she needed help.

Hermione turned to thank the wizard for being so solicitous, but snapped her mouth closed when she recognized Draco Malfoy.

"Everything is fine Malfoy. What are you doing out in the daylight?"

"Funny Granger. Very funny. I see you've purchased a companion. I would venture to say that an animal is much better for you than McLaggen."

"Go away Draco." Hermione growled. "You are such an arse. Just fucking go away."

With his trademark smirk, Draco replied. "Please don't growl at me like that in public. You know what it does to me, or at least part of me."

Hermione turned bright red looking around to make sure no one had heard Draco. "Lower your voice. If you'll excuse me, my new companion and I have to get home."

Turning into Apparition, Hermione heard Draco call out. "Owl me if you need me."

During the short black void between turning into Apparition and landing, Hermione thought…. prat.

/*/

Immediately upon landing in the flat, Hermione let the kitten out of the box. The little bundle of energy took one look around and ran up Hermione's leg.

"Don't be afraid little one," cooed Hermione summoning a saucer and pouring in the kitten food. "Have a bit to eat while I put my things away. What shall we name you?"

The kitten stared at Hermione, a soft purr emanating from her throat.

"You are such a little, blue beauty," said Hermione bending down to rub her pet. I think I'll call you, BellaBlue. So there you have it. From now on, you will be known as BellaBlue."

BellaBlue let out a loud yowl of agreement.

"You are so loud," chanted Hermione as she gave BellaBlue a quick rub across the back. "But I'm glad you concur."

/*/

Hermione made a quick snack before sitting on the couch. Pulling BellaBlue onto her lap, Hermione solicited her input. "So, what do you think of that wanker Draco Malfoy?"

Beauty let out her loudest meow yet, to which Hermione replied, "Exactly. I feel the same way."

Hermione and BellaBlue played together until Hermione placed her in the kitty bed which had arrived about an hour prior. Hermione still had to bathe and dress. New companion or not, she planned on attending that night's Fantasy Faire.

/*/

By 7:55, BellaBlue had been fed and introduced to her kitty toilet. Hermione felt sure everything would be fine.

At 8:00 sharp, Hermione was producing her ticket and her wand. At 8:05, she was stepping into the book sellers stall noting it wasn't the same wizard who'd sold her the ticket. This particular no personality bookseller was quite brusque when Hermione tried asking about specific books.

"I'm busy Miss. We've made the Show Me Spell available to buyers. Please use it."

Although it was a true statement, Hermione couldn't resist countering with a huffy reply. "No need to be rude sir. You'll do well to remember the customer comes first."

Whatever the seller was prepared to say, died in his throat as Draco Malfoy, who had suddenly appeared at his elbow, suggested he adjust his attitude.

"Of course Mr. Malfoy," replied the apprehensive wizard. "I wasn't aware I was addressing one of your friends. My apologies."

Draco wasn't finished with the telling off. "Don't apologize. Just run this shack of a booth as intended."

Not Draco again, thought Hermione. He's becoming worse than Cormac. She spoke stiffly. "Thank you Draco, but I'm very capable of hexing a miserable sot on my own."

Instead of his usual smirking, insolent attitude, Draco was at his smoothest. He was oozing charm. "I realize that. How could I forget how handy you are with a wand when I've been on the receiving end of said wand."

Even though Draco had tried to stand up for her, Hermione sniped at him. "You deserved it."

Draco smiled. "Indeed I did. Perhaps one day we'll get past my little faux pas. How is your pet holding up. Hexed it yet?"

When Hermione gave off a loud snort, Draco held up his hands in surrender. "I was having a little joke, but I see you are not in a joking mood. Are you here for just the book sale or are you here for the faire as well?"

"Both. If you'll excuse me, I'm looking for a specific book and wouldn't want someone else to buy it right from under my nose."

"Really? Two nights in a row. That book must be exceptionally important. It's my fondest wish to have you find me that interesting. If you tell me the title, I'd be happy to assist you with your search."

Hermione was exasperated with Draco, but realized two heads might be better than one. "I'm seeking Being The Receptacle, vol. 2."

Draco cleared his throat. "I was surprised to find you at the Fantasy Faire now I'm doubly surprised to find you have an interest in the twisted side of magic. I knew there was a reason we clicked."

Hermione sighed. "We haven't clicked Draco. And I have no idea what you mean by twisted magic. I'm simply following up on a book I need to round out a set. If you can assist me, I won't refuse your help."

Taking Hermione gently by the elbow, Draco steered her towards the books stall where he informed her he was sure he could help.

Pulling her arm from Draco's grasp, Hermione snapped at him in a low voice. "Enough with the signifying Draco. It's an old and tired trick. Everything isn't about where you get to stick your dick. I'll look for the book myself."

Hermione strode away with Draco right on her heels. "Slow down Granger. I was being serious. Why only volume two? Do you have the other volumes? I told you, I'm familiar with certain things. I know exactly where to find volume two."

With arms folded, Hermione stood waiting for Draco to elaborate on his statements, hoping the bloody prat wasn't having her on. Because, if he was….