Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Beyond the Pale	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 81362 -:- Recommendations : 11 -:- Currently Reading : 17
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, JK Rowling does, lucky woman. I make no money from this, which is probably why I'm poor as a church mouse.

Chapter List
- 16
- 17
- 18
“Sunrise is in ten minutes,” Melody said softly. “Best start heading back before everyone is awake.”

“I don’t want to go,” Hermione said sullenly and snuggled further into Draco’s arms. “I’m afraid I’ll rip Ron’s head off.”

Severus chuckled. “You’ve put up with him this long. Another morning most assuredly will not kill you.”

Hermione snorted. “Not much will. Still, after last night, I-I don’t think I can stand to look at Harry just yet…knowing.”

She shut her eyes against the flood of thoughts that were plowing through her brain. Harry, her dear sweet Harry, was a horcrux…at least, Dumbledore thought he was one. He was going to have to sacrifice himself, which was why Dumbledore tried to shelter him, let him live life oblivious, if only for a little while. She’d needed another vial of blood to replace the tears she cried over that revelation.

“There’s still hope,” Melody said gently. “Just keep reminding yourself of that.”

Hermione snorted. “Oh yes, all we have to do is find out how to get a stray piece soul out of him without killing him.”

“Well, I said there was hope,” Melody muttered. “Not that a bloody miracle was going to come falling out of the sky. Until then, let’s finish your training and then we’ll go looking for them.”

Draco reflexively sniffed. “I’m sure we’ll smell them first.”

“I wonder why we can’t smell it on Harry though,” Hermione whispered. She remembered Dumbledore taking out the ring and the diary, the cloying dark smell that lingered on them. It was traces of left over Dark Magic. She was torn between wanting to caress them and vomiting.

“You are quite attracted to him,” Melody offered. “Think of how quickly you radiated toward him after your turning.”

“Oh Merlin,” Hermione squeaked. “It’s his darkness. It calls to me.”

“Don’t,” Draco said sharply, sensing her self-recrimination. “Being attracted to the darkness isn’t a weakness, not unless you let it rule you. Besides, it makes it easier to hang around Potter and I am sickened to admit that I’m glad for it.”

At Hermione’s questioning glance, he sighed sadly. “Sweetheart, I’m used to being feared, having to pay people off to keep me company. In short, I’m used to loneliness. You aren’t…and as loathe as I am to admit it, Potter would die to protect you. I can’t begrudge him that quality, since I feel quite the same way.”

Hermione sighed sadly and burrowed yet even further into Draco’s chest. It was still strange to her logical mind, to seek comfort with her childhood enemy. Yet, they’d come so far. After Draco apologized for his behavior, and she had sheepishly done so for hers as a fair exchange, they had gotten on beautifully.

Draco was so much more than he seemed at first. He was second in class behind her, loved reading and learning, and had a secret weakness for muggle take away, one that Melody had fully enabled in the past. Now that he was a vampire, he found himself going for those smelling like fish and chips and curries. He’d even convinced her to go flying on his broom with him. She had to admit then that he was just as good a flyer as Harry. It also wasn’t as terrifying, since she could just hover if she fell off.

Being a vampire had taken away so many of her previous fears, heights, darkness, blood, and creepy crawly insects to name a few. They scarcely fazed her anymore. No, her only fear now was for her friends. She had her mate, her family, and now a new coven, Alex being the leader by age. She felt…at peace for her lot in life. That didn’t mean she didn’t wish she was still human, but at least she didn’t spend hours cursing her stupidity for wandering off into the forest alone anymore.

“You do need to be in the common room when they wake up,” Melody said some time later, breaking the heavy silence that permeated the room.

“I know,” Hermione sighed. “I just wish this was over so I could stay.”

“We all do,” Severus said and gently shooed them from his room. He would have been a bit more firm, except that they were both fairly depleted, Hermione from crying and Draco from feeling her distress.

“I’ll see you tonight, love,” Draco whispered as they stepped into the deserted hallway, cloak hoods over their heads to conceal their identity just in case.

“That’s so long,” Hermione whispered back.

He gave her a wicked smirk. “Oh, I’m sure I can think of something to make the time pass faster.”

She smiled and shook her head incredulously. “I’m sure you can. See you later.”

Draco nodded and hugged her one last time, placing a gentle kiss on her lips and then her forehead before turning back to the dungeons. She sighed, watching until his form disappeared around a corner before heading back up to the seventh floor and Gryffindor tower. She walked at normal speed, dreading her reentry into her house.

She took the time to think on their predicament logically. Dumbledore insisted that there were more than just the two horcruxes he had already destroyed, but he wasn’t sure of the exact number. He also was certain Harry contained one, simply from his reaction to being in close proximity to them. He was also convinced that he knew where a few of them might be, Slytherin’s locket and Hufflepuff’s cup to name a few. Both belonged to the Founders, were of great importance, and had been missing for years. She made a mental note to ask Luna if Ravenclaw had any valuable artifact that went missing. Then there was Gryffindor’s sword, which Dumbledore was confident Voldemort didn’t get his hands on.

She ticked them off mentally, the diary, the ring, the locket, the cup, Harry (which would be something from Gryffindor, now that she thought about it), and most likely something from Ravenclaw. That was six, entirely too many to think about and utterly disgusting since he had to split his soul to create one. No wonder he was an inhuman monster, he had no soul left. There was another one that Severus was concerned about, Nagini, Voldemort’s snake. He said she smelled like the horcruxes but that he’d never given it another thought, blaming the smell on her proximity to her master. It was something they’d have to look into, and also meant that would be the seventh piece.

Seven was quite the magical number, going back to the days of Merlin. Seven, also a large number to ensure that Voldemort return again and again. He wouldn’t expire because his soul would remain always. Immortality without a weakness to sunlight or silver. She shivered at the thought. They couldn’t know for sure though. Dumbledore was certain Slughorn was the key and confided that he would have Harry try and approach the pompous old walrus. Since Harry was seen as “collectable” in Slughorn’s eyes, it would be the easiest way in.

She looked up at the portrait of the Fat Lady in shock. When had she climbed the stairs? Or worse, had she forgotten completely and drifted up? She looked all around but saw nothing, reassuring herself that she was fine, and gave the password for entry. The common room was empty, a welcome sight. She still had about an hour before breakfast, plenty of time to write out a letter to the twins. Now that she knew Harry was in danger, she wanted to get him together with Ginny as quickly as possible. At least they could have a few months of happiness.

Determined to see things through, she deftly sat down and wrote a letter to her favorite twin brothers. They’d have plenty of insight to their sister, as much as they successfully ribbed her about her new boyfriend Dean. Hmmm, she’d have to do something about that. Oh, she wouldn’t be nasty, but she wanted Harry to see that he wanted her. Maybe it could work in her favor. She smirked at her very Slytherin thoughts and put her quill in ink. Sometimes, the Slytherin way was a lot more fun. No wonder Draco seemed to wear a permanent smirk.

She was in luck when a bright purple owl tapped on the window about an hour later. She grinned at the garish color, took the parchment, and rewarded the owl with a stash of treats she’d had tucked away. It hooted gratefully and flew away. Obviously they weren’t expecting a reply. She listened carefully, deciding that no one was quite coherent enough to come down and interrupt her reading just yet. The letter brought a smile to her face. Those twins could certainly brighten her day.

Oi Beautiful,

How’s our favorite dweller of the night? We were quite worried when we first saw your letter, you know. Didn’t think you’d go through all of those gifts so quickly! Alas, it is our dear baby sister you’re after, lucky cow. You’re in luck too. She is quite a bit more open minded than precious little Ronniekins. She’ll have more questions than you could shake a stick at, and we completely blame you for that one. Don’t know why you’d want her though, when you have two fine young specimens at your beckon call. If you ever need anything else…or just a bite to eat, drop us a line.

Love,

Gred & Forge

You mean Forge & Gred

That’s what I said, brother dear.

Oi, she likes me better. I should be first.

In your dreams Forge.

You’re on Gred.

Oh… bye beautiful!

Hermione giggled and rolled the letter up. Those two, always the jokesters. But they’d given her good advice. She’d try to tell Ginny when she could get a moment alone, which might be a while. She had a full schedule, Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle studies being the only two classes she’d dropped. She didn’t think magical creatures would take too kindly to a vampire being in their midst and Muggle studies just reminded her of what she had to give up.

“Oi, you’re up early,” Ron said grumpily as he trudged down the stairs.

Hermione rolled her eyes in irritation. “I’m always up this early Ronald.”

“Since when?”

“Since forever,” Hermione huffed. “I just normally stay in my room and study.”

“And you broke schedule today because…”

“Excited for lessons to start,” Hermione said with a false giddiness that made her teeth ache.

“Well, that makes one of us,” Harry chuckled as he stumbled down the stairs. He was a mess, shirt half unbuttoned and untucked, one trainer untied, and glasses askew.

“I can see that,” she snickered but it quickly died away. Now that she took a deeper breath, she could smell the tantalizing scent of Dark Magic on him. How could she not have noticed before? She shook that thought away and threw herself into his arms. It didn’t matter what Harry had inside of him. He was still her Harry and she was determined to save him, no matter what.

“Oi, get a room,” Seamus said loudly as he whizzed into the room.

“Oh honestly!” Hermione huffed. “It’s just a bloody hug!”

“Bit early for cursing, isn’t it Mione?” Ginny asked with a cheeky smirk. It didn’t quite meet her eyes though and Hermione felt horribly. Ginny must have believed the rumors. She’d have to tell her soon, but she wanted to run it by her father and mate first. She wouldn’t make a move without them.

“It’s stupid,” Hermione mumbled. “Just because I gave him a blasted hug, I’m suddenly on him like a snarfolopod.”

“Ignore them,” Harry whispered gently. “I know I do.”

She smiled and leaned against him again. “Thanks, Harry. Just a bit irritable this morning.”

“Did you not get to feed?”

She shook her head. “Mother had to patrol all night with Se-Professor Snape and we didn’t have time.”

Harry nodded, a smirk on his lips. “You’re going to have to do better than that or someone’s going to send you to the hospital wing…and it might very well be Snape for calling him that.”

“I know,” she groaned. “It’s just habit. Don’t worry, I’ll make a conscious effort. Come on, you need to eat. I can hear your stomach rumbling.”

Harry chuckled and threw an arm around her. “Come on, let’s eat.”

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“Father?” Hermione called softly as she breezed into the DADA room during the short break before class.

“Yes child?” he drawled from the next room.

She furrowed her brow and followed the sound, finding a fully stocked potion’s pantry. She smirked, knowing he wouldn’t trust Slughorn to his precious ingredients, and leaned against the door. “I meant to ask you something.”

“Ask away,” he said, frowning and tapping a glass filled with spider legs. “We’ve only a few moments before class.”

She nodded and licked her lips in nervousness. “I was wondering if…well, if I might…tell someone else.”

“What?” Severus hissed, giving her his undivided attention now.

“Well,” she said after swallowing hard. His sudden anger was hard to ignore. “I-I…I need someone to know besides Harry. Draco might have made it a point to be alone but I’m going mad!”

“And who might that be?” Severus asked tightly.

She reached a shaking hand into her satchel and gave him the letter the twins wrote. His eyes slid over the parchment, eyebrows rising into his hair as he got to the end. Then he carefully folded it and gave it back to her.

“Miss Weasley?”

She nodded. “She’s one of my very best friends…a female one at least, and…well, what with knowing about Harry and…oh blast and bloody bother.”

Severus smirked. “Language, Miss Granger. Suffice it to say, I am not obtuse. I realize what you are failing so miserably to express. You wish to fill Miss Weasley in so that not only will you have another confidant and alibi, but also so you can explain your apparently over affectionate behavior with Potter as of late.”

“Yes,” she breathed out in relief. “Thank you.”

Severus chuckled. “Very well. Since the twins speak so highly of her, I will allow it. However, you will not tell her the full story. You are to stick with the experimental potion story and that is the end of it. She will not know of your extended family, period. Is that clear?”

“Yes sir,” Hermione said and bowed her head. “Thank you sir.”

Severus nodded. “Be sure to run it by your mate before you go forward. I’m sure he’ll have a few words for you as well.”

“Yes sir,” she said and swallowed thickly. She certainly hoped Draco would understand.

She slung her satchel further over her shoulder and re-entered the classroom, skidding to a halt when she saw her very angry mate standing there…alone. She gulped and fought the urge to kneel at his feet and beg for forgiveness for whatever she’d done wrong. He merely frowned and crossed his arms, glaring at her until she couldn’t stand it anymore.

“What did I do?”

“You didn’t feel the need to ask me anything before you went running to him?”

Oh. She sighed and took the letter from her bag. “Here. I figured he was the first to petition. You were my next stop.”

“Somehow, I don’t believe you,” Draco said softly but read the letter anyhow, smirking when he got to the end. “So, Weaselette?”

“Don’t call her that!” Hermione snapped and then drew back when she realized what she’d done.

Draco sighed. “You’re entitled to your bloody opinion. If you don’t like it, I’ll find something else to call her. As it is, I agree. You need another shoulder…since mine is not always available to you.”

The hint of sadness in his tone made her feel wretched. It was a natural inclination for a vampire to comfort their mate and Draco was unable to. They had to keep up appearances, meaning that he still sneered and postured, going as far as calling her horrible names. He hadn’t done it yet but she knew it was going to sting like mad when he did. Before she could retort, she heard the footsteps of their classmates coming. She quickly gave him a peck on the lips before taking her seat and opening a copy of Confronting the Faceless.

When everyone was seated and blessedly silent, her father entered and closed the door. She briefly wondered how he traversed the entire classroom without being seen but then mentally smacked herself when she remembered he could turn into mist. She almost snorted at her stupidity and then held herself in check, not wanting to be chastised in front of the class.

“I have not asked you to take out your books,” Severus drawled and moved behind his desk, eyes on Hermione as she quickly shoved the book back into her bag. “I wish to speak to you, and I want your fullest attention.”

His eyes scanned the classroom, stopping on each student in turn and lingering a bit longer on Harry’s than others’. Each student shifted under his gaze and promptly breathed out a sigh of relief when he moved on. Hermione marveled at the change in heart rates from everyone except Harry. Well, he obviously knew a lot more about Severus than most, like how he’d helped his friend out when she’d become a vampire.

“You have had five teachers in this subject so far, I believe,” Severus continued, his voice low but still easily heard by those in the back of the class. “Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L. in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced.”

Severus stalked around the edge of the room, his voice even lower as he paced. Hermione was hard pressed not to giggle at him. It got worse when Draco muttered a comment about Lucius paling as a peacock next to him. She winced when she realized she’d pierced her lip in her desperation to keep her mouth shut. Her father shot her a glare as she licked her lip and continued his trek.

“The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible.”

Hermione panted a bit at the way her father’s voice was tinged with lust. She understood his obsession with them, the seductive call they weaved. Even as she hated herself for it, she realized it was another part of herself that she had to live with. Besides, learning about them didn’t mean she had to use them. She shook herself out and forced herself to concentrate on his speech, which had gotten a bit louder.

“Your defenses must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo. These pictures,” he said, pointing to a few gruesome posters on his wall, “give a fair representation of what happens to those who suffer, for instance, the cruciatus curse,” - a poster of a witch writhing in agony,- “feel the Dementor’s Kiss,” – a blank-eyed wizard slumped against a wall-, “or provoke the aggression of the inferius.” This last poster showed a bloody mass upon the ground.

“Has an Inferius been seen, then?” Parvati Patil asked shrilly. “Is it definite, is he using them?”

Hermione winced, her logical mind reminding her that she would have been technically dead as well. Were vampires classified as Inferius as well, since they were dead? No, she decided not since they had will of their own.

“The Dark Lord has used Inferi in the past,” Severus drawled, his voice carrying a slight hint of irritation, “which means you would be well-advised to assume he might use them again. Now,” he said, stalking back to his desk. “You are, I believe, complete novices in the use of nonverbal spells. What is the advantage of a nonverbal spell?”

Hermione’s eyes lit up with opportunity and her hand shot in the air. She knew this one! She’d only been studying it for a bloody month. Besides, everyone in class expected her to do it. She’d not done so in Ancient Runes earlier and everyone asked her if she was ill.

“Very well,” Severus said with a sigh when he realized no one else would raise their hands. “Miss Granger.”

Hermione smirked. “Your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you’re about to perform, which gives you a split-second advantage.”

“An answer copied almost word for word from The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six,” Severus drawled dismissively, ignoring the wince she gave him or Draco’s chuckles. “But correct in essentials. Yes, those who progress to using magic without shouting incantations gain an element of surprise in their spell-casting. Not all wizards can do this, of course; it is a question of concentration and mind power which some… lack.”

Hermione gritted her teeth when she realized that last comment was directed at Harry. She knew he didn’t like her friend, but he didn’t have to be a damned git about it. She breathed slowly to control her anger, knowing it would only get her into trouble at this point, and let it go.

“You will now divide into pairs.” Severus announced abruptly. “One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on.”

Hermione was pleased that she was paired with Neville, and quickly decided to make him the caster. It would make it easier to hide her abilities. She noticed Draco do the same thing as he paired with Crabbe. Neville muttered a jelly-legs jinx and she deftly blocked it, finding herself irritated when her father turned a blind to her brilliant move. She supposed she couldn’t hope for anything else though. He had a role to play as well.

Her father strolled along, his face set into a scowl as he watched Ron turn purple while trying to hex Harry. “Pathetic, Weasley. Here-let me show you-“

Harry was quick, but unfortunately pants at non-verbal. Still, his reflexes kicked in and he shouted, “Protego!” knocking Severus off balanced and causing him to hit a desk. His face was black as he righted himself.

“Do you remember me telling you we are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter?”

“Yes," Harry said stiffly, still irked that the dour man dared to hex him so quickly.

“Yes, sir.”

“There’s no need to call me ‘sir,’ Professor.”

Harry’s smart mouth made Hermione and a good half of the class gasp in shock. He was in for it now. How dare he talk to her father like that.

“Detention, Saturday night, my office,” Severus hissed. “I do not take cheek from anyone, Potter…not even ‘the Chosen One.’”

“That was brilliant, Harry!” Ron chortled during their break.

Hermione frowned a bit harder, still aggravated. “You really shouldn’t have said it. What made you?”

“He tried to jinx me, in case you didn’t notice!” Harry seethed. “I had enough of that during those Occlumency lessons! Why doesn’t he use another guinea pig for a change? What’s Dumbledore playing at, anyway, letting him teach Defense? Did you hear him talking about the Dark Arts? He loves them! All that unfixed, indestructible stuff.”

“Well,” Hermione said carefully, trying to weave a fine line between standing up for her father and not tearing into her friend. “I thought he sounded a bit like you”

Harry’s mouth hung open in shock before he stuttered, “Like me?”

She nodded. “When you were telling us what it’s like to face Voldemort. You said it wasn’t just memorizing a bunch of spells; you said it was just you and your brains and your guts – well, wasn’t that what Snape was saying? That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?”

Harry’s mouth hung open a minute or two but before he could come up with a suitable answer, they were interrupted by someone wanting to try out for the Quidditch team and then a missive from Dumbledore asking him to meet Saturday. Harry forgot all about their disagreement when he realized he would get out of detention and the trio shared theories about his lessons with Dumbledore. Hermione kept making erroneous ones, just to make sure they didn’t realize she already knew.

The rest of the day seemed to crawl by, made worse by her increasing thirst. By the time they had potions with Slughorn, she thought she might rip the Walrus in half. He smelled like firewhiskey and candied pineapple, a rather nauseating scent. She nervously clicked her tongue ring against her teeth, jumping when lime cordial flooded her mouth. She hadn’t realized she’d clicked the precise pattern and wondered if the twins could change it. Perhaps she’d grown too used to it.

Draco subtly brushed against her as he entered the class, both slowing down and sniffing as they passed the front table full of bubbling cauldrons. She fought hard to keep from leaning back into him and inhaling the scent that she’d come to love. It was then she realized that the smell was coming from two different places and paled. It couldn’t possibly be…

“Now then, now then, now then,” Slughorn interrupted her thoughts as he waddled up behind the line of cauldrons. “Scales out everyone, and potion kits, and don’t forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making…”

Hermione set about putting her things in order in her workspace as Harry and Ron sheepishly admitted that they didn’t have their potion supplies since they were unaware they could continue on to N.E.W.T.s. Slughorn graciously let them borrow some old books, scales, and the classroom ingredients. She took a second to sniff again, cataloging the fragrance of every potion to commit to memory. Severus had already started with her over the summer, but she couldn’t place some of these. However, after running their characteristics through her mind, she identified them.

“Now then,” Slughorn said with a puffed out chest, “I’ve prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of ‘em, even if you haven’t made ‘em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?”

The cauldron contained what looked like boiling water. She knew only two people in the whole classroom could smell it though. It was one Severus insisted that they know and had tested their ability to spot in extremely diluted situations. They couldn’t afford to be doused with it. She doggedly stuck her hand in the air, preparing to make a fool out of herself once again. Why had she been so eager before? She mentally sighed when Slughorn pointed at her.

“It’s Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth.”

“Very good, very good!” Slughorn said happily. “Now, this one here is pretty well known. Featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too. Who can-?”

Hermione shot her hand up again. She had marveled at first the difference between this jovial walrus and her rather dour father. Now she was eager to see how old Sluggy would handle her old personality. Would she be considered a “collectable” too? Perhaps if she was, she could help Harry along with obtaining whatever he was going to get from Slughorn. He called on her again.

“It’s Polyjuice Potion sir,” she said, recognizing the muddy substance. She’d know it anywhere, without her father’s training. That vile potion had turned her into a cat!

“Excellent, Excellent! Now this one here…yes, my dear?”

Hermione fought the urge to roll her eyes at his bemused fawning. “It’s Amortentia!”

“It is indeed. It seems almost foolish to ask, but I assume you know what it does?”

Hermione fought the urge to stick her tongue out at Draco, who’d murmured about what a little know-it-all she was under his breath. It was actually a term of endearment and she could feel his amusement and pride in her knowledge, but it still made her want to smack him. Instead, she put all her energy into answering the question.

“It’s the most powerful love potion in the world!”

“Quite right! You recognized it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?”

“And the seam rising in characteristic spirals,” she said, now excited about it. “And, it’s supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and-“

She clicked her mouth shut so sharply that her teeth banged on her tongue ring, making her eyes water from the sudden pricking of pain. She was about to tell the entire class that the potion smelled just like her mate and that would have been a disaster. She was sure to hear about it later, too. Slughorn thankfully gave her an easy out, asking her name and then making a large deal out of being Harry’s best friend who he touted to be the smartest in their year. The compliment made her warm inside, knowing how much faith Harry had in her. The twenty points Slughorn awarded her was icing on the cake.

“And now, it is time for us to start work,” Slughorn announced.

“Sir,” Ernie Macmillan called as he pointed to a small black cauldron filled with a golden liquid. “You haven’t told us what’s in this one.”

“Oho, yes. That. Well, that one, ladies and gentlemen, is a most curious little potion called Felix Felicis. I take it that you know what Felix Felicis does, Miss Granger?”

Hermione blushed, realizing that she’d let out an audible gasp upon realizing what was in that cauldron. “It’s liquid luck. It makes you lucky!”

“Quite right, take another ten points for Gryffindor. Yes, it’s a funny little potion, Felix Felicis. Desperately tricky to make, and disastrous to get wrong. However, if brewed correctly, as this has been, you will find that all your endeavors tend to succeed…at least until the effects wear off.”

Hermione’s mind buzzed in circles even as Slughorn prattled on about the effects and dangerous of over consumption. It was to be a reward for whoever brewed the Draught of Living Death correctly. For once in her life, she really hoped Harry would win. However, just in case, she decided to give it her all. If anything could help them in the war against Voldemort, it was that little bottle of potion.

One hour later, Harry was grinning and accepting the bottle of liquid luck and Hermione couldn’t help but feel annoyed at it. Harry was okay at potions, but he was no master. A muttered word from Draco and she knew he’d had the same results as her. Something wasn’t right and it nagged at her. Could someone have spelled Harry? It made her heart flutter and consequently, her throat burn worse.

When Harry explained how he had done so well, she couldn’t stop the rage that consumed her. He’d trusted a book? Wasn’t it a book that had nearly killed him and Ginny in second year? Oh, she just wanted to rip him limb from limb, and judging by the wary look on his face, he knew it too. She checked it for spells and found it…quite ordinary, and the property of the Half-Blood Prince. She’d ask her father later about it. Perhaps he knew of him. She settled for being annoyed that he was technically cheating and flouncing off. At least then, she wouldn’t mutilate him.

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When a paper butterfly landed on her desk during her last class of the day, History of Magic, she welcomed the distraction. She knew everyone thought she listened with rapt attention to Professor Binns, but in truth, she was just as bloody bored as everyone else. Carefully, she unwrapped the beautiful parchment and read the contents, blushing by the time she reached the end:

Oi Beautiful,

I figured that if they can call you that, I can too. Everyone thinks this lovely little thing is courtesy of that Patel girl. Impressive, ey? So, you, me, deserted classroom down the hall during free period. I have to have you. My bollocks are positively blue.

Me (Who else?)

Hermione fought down a grin and jotted down a reply for him. He wasn’t the only one aching. She charmed it into a pretty little hummingbird and sent it on its way, making sure to redirect its origin.

Oi Handsome,

Not that you needed the ego boost. This note comes to you from Crabbe. Why didn’t you tell me you two had a thing going on? Answer: yes. But it’ll have to be fast. Harry and Ron will be looking for me.

Me (or Crabbe, whichever you prefer)

Draco deftly caught the paper and snickered, causing a few people to look at him. He scowled fiercely until they turned away and then wrote again, this time charming it into a shape eerily similar to a dildo. She blushed profusely and quickly tore the letter open.

Oi you,

That was a dirty trick and this is from that Irish bloke, Fennagin isn’t it? Anyhow, I’m sure Pothead and Weasel can hold hands and find their way back to Gryffindor tower all on their own. See you in a few. Honestly woman, do you have any idea how bloody hard I am right now?

Me (and not the Irish bloke…or anyone else for that damned matter)

Hermione giggled but didn’t write back again. She couldn’t sit still after that, daydreaming about all the dirty and delicious things Draco could do to her. She frowned and discretely cast a cleansing charm on her knickers when she noticed their dampness. Draco’s dark chuckle didn’t help either and she found she had to cast another one. It just wasn’t bloody fair. He could play her like a harp and yet, he had control that rivaled her father. How was that possible? Well, she was going to figure out a way to get to him if it was the last thing she ever did.

As soon as Binns dismissed the class, she packed her things away and made a break for the door. In her haste, she’d accidentally run over poor Neville and sent his bag flying to the floor. Yelling a hasty apology over her shoulder, she rushed into the abandoned classroom and flung her bag into a corner. Then she turned to mist, lying in wait for her mate. She had the perfect idea to get under his skin.

Several minutes later, a still chuckling Draco sauntered in. He’d obviously been highly amused at her impatient exit. She waited a split second while he warded the door before shifting and pouncing, knocking him back into the wall and quickly spelling his hands to stay put. He could have easily shifted form, but he was so surprised, he just stood there, arms above his head and mouth hanging open.

“What is this?” he spluttered when he finally registered what happened.

“You made me miserable,” Hermione purred, walking her fingers up his robe covered chest. “It made me unhappy. You want me to stay happy, right?”

Draco swallowed a bit more forcefully than normal. “Of course I do. Remove the spell and I’ll make you so happy, you won’t know what to do with yourself.”

Hermione gave him a wicked smirk. “No, I think you need to pay for that. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to concentrate after that? My knickers were so wet I had to clean them twice.”

“Oh, I know,” Draco said a bit hoarsely. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“You bet you will,” she said, a devious chuckle escaping her still smirking lips.

“Wha-?”

Hermione didn’t even let Draco finish his first word before she had him stripped naked and her mouth on his cock. He let out a harsh yell, involuntarily bucking into her mouth. She released him with a pop and slapped his inner thigh in reprimand.

“None of that.”

“Release me!” Draco demanded. “No more of this.”

Hermione felt the weight of the order heavy on her shoulders. It stung badly, both from his refusal and the knowledge that he didn’t want this. The twinge of anger coming from him made her cringe. She couldn't help but back up a bit and take a few settling breaths. She thought he’d like this.

“Merlin,” Draco groaned in frustration. “Why are you fighting my order? Just let me go and we can both have fun.”

“You aren’t having fun,” Hermione breathed sadly.

In the short month they’d been together, he’d never refused to do something. She desperately wanted him at her mercy, if only in illusion. She wanted to please him…and he didn’t like it. He didn’t want it…her. Overcome by the urge to cry, she shot up off the floor and grabbed her bag. She spared him a wave of her hand to release him before running out the door.

She wanted nothing more than to run as fast as she possibly could away from everything. Instead, she ran as fast as she could without rousing suspicions…regarding her speed anyway. She garnered plenty of strange looks as she burst out the main doors and made a beeline for the forbidden forest. So funny, the one place she still feared above all others was the first she sought solace in. Once out of eyesight of the school, she used her vampire speed to run until the forest was black, no light remaining. Of course, she could see just fine, but the dull greys seemed to suit her mood. She plopped down on a rock and fought the tears that were trying to escape. She would not cry. Not this time.

By the time she regained control over her emotions, it was well past dinnertime, possibly close to curfew. She’d given up on sitting still and began roaming the forest. Keeping her senses sharp and alert for any danger seemed to calm her, keep her focused on something other than her mate’s rejection. She couldn’t help but think about how horrible Melody must have felt every time Severus rejected her. It had to have been excruciating.

Logically, she knew Draco didn’t reject her fully, just her treatment of him, but she couldn’t get past the hurt. It was like her vampire instincts had taken over and wounded her deeply. Still, why couldn’t he have played along? She was sure he would have enjoyed it. It depressed her that she couldn’t even have an ounce of control. Sure, she was a submissive, but she wanted to dictate, if only once.

A noise from her left startled her out of her musings. She quickly plastered herself to a tree and froze, trying to garner more information. It sounded like footsteps, angry footsteps, more than one pair. How many? She held her breath and listened harder. Three, three pairs, all angry and not caring in the least that they made noise. She was standing downwind from there direction so she carefully sniffed the air. Wood smoke, jasmine, grass and parchment, oh Merlin. They were coming for her and she had no wish to see what punishment they would administer.

Shifting to mist, she rose up to the treetops and quickly floated away as fast as the wind could take her. The footsteps were still gaining on her steadily but she didn’t want to switch into a faster form. They couldn’t scent her as easily like this. She continued deeper into the forest, hoping they’d give up soon.

“Merlin’s beard,” she heard Melody huff in exasperation. “How in the hell did you manage to piss her off this badly?”

“She’s not mad,” Draco said solemnly. “She’s hurt.”

“Oh for fucks sake,” Severus hissed. “We’ll be lucky to find her tonight.”

“What do you mean?” Draco’s voice had turned from sad to worried and bordering on scared instantly.

Melody sighed. “Draco, her instincts kicked in. When you demanded she release you, it triggered the response for rejection. Being rejected by your mate is…hard to swallow. Instinct tells you to run as far and fast as you can to please your mate. If your mate doesn’t want you around, then you get as far away as you can.”

“But I want her!” Draco said angrily. “So much it fucking hurts, damn it.”

“At the moment, her instincts say differently. A rejection is painful and once instinct kicks in, is a stronger reaction than sniffing blood when you’re famished. Add to that the fact that you’re both probably at your limit and need to feed, her instincts are in overdrive.”

“How would you know?” Draco muttered petulantly.

Severus sighed sadly. “The night Lucius got ahold of Melody, I thought she’d run away again because I gave her the harshest rejection you could possibly imagine during the party. I thought I’d give her enough time to cool off before I fetched her and gave her a sound spanking for her transgressions. How wrong I was.”

Hermione was hard pressed not to turn back to her human form. How horrible. Still, she didn’t want to be caught. A bruised backside wasn’t really on her to do list. She sauntered on, staying just out of their line of vision.

“When did you know she was in danger?” Draco asked softly after a lengthy silence.

“I felt it,” Severus said softly. “Trust me, you never want to feel that. Ever.”

“I believe you.”

Melody cleared her throat. “Why don’t we split up? We can find her faster that way.”

“Why can’t we use her necklace again?” Draco asked.

“Number one,” Severus said in irritation, “Hogwarts magic combined with the forest makes it harder to track. Number two, it doesn’t work if she’s either at full speed or not human.”

“Fuck,” Draco growled and punched a nearby tree, splintering it into thousands of pieces.

“Why don’t you two head out,” Melody tried again. “Sev, you continue on South, Draco, East. I’ll go west. Send up a flare if you find her.”

They reluctantly agreed and set off at a brisk pace. Hermione stayed in the tree above Melody, deciding that if she was spotted, Melody would be the lesser of evils. It was quite a few moments later when she felt the ripple of a spell go up.

“You can come down now Hermione. They’re out of earshot and I put up a silencing spell just in case.”

Knowing she’d been caught, she reluctantly floated to the ground and reformed. “How did you know?”

Melody smirked. “Honestly, how far do you think I really ran?”

“But I did run.”

Melody nodded. “But your scent ended when you reformed. Simple deduction.”

“It hurts,” Hermione whimpered, remembering why she’d run out here in the first place.

“I know sweetie,” Melody whispered, rubbing soothing circles on her back while she trembled. “It’s hard to swallow, harder to fight, and the worst to own up to.”

“I just wanted to… to… to make him feel like I do… out of control… just once.”

Melody chuckled. “I know. Tried the same thing myself. Took Sev a week to find me.”

“Where did you go?”

“America!”

“You’re kidding?!”

“Afraid not,” Melody chuckled. “I hid out with dad for the most part. He thought it was hilarious and it was…until Sev realized where I’d gone. Couldn’t sit down for a week after that.”

Hermione winced. “I’m not looking forward to that.”

Melody snorted. “I doubt Draco will be quite so harsh in his punishments. He’s beside himself with worry. You should have seen him, all bug eyed and rambling that you’d run away. From what he said though, it was a fairly gentle rejection. Why such a reaction, do you think?”

Hermione looked skyward to fight back the tears. “Because…because, deep down, I know he’s only with me because he has to be.”

“Bollocks,” Melody admonished.

“No, no it’s true. If we were still human, he wouldn’t spit on me if I were on fire.”

“That is complete and utter bullshit and you know it!” Draco’s voice was suddenly right in her ear and he was mad… so mad his eyes were glowing.

AN: Hey guys. It's been nothing but work, work, work around here but I managed to bang this little ditty out. Enjoy your cliffhanger my little ones. I'll try to get Fooling Fate finished by Monday. *shakes fist at never ending overtime* As always, thanks to everyone for your wonderful reviews. I really don't mean to leave you guys hanging for so long. I'll try writing faster. Honest. Keep those reviews coming (because I'm convinced it makes me type faster) and let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. Until next time... Love you guys!!!

*in case you didn't notice, the conversations in the classrooms were taken directly from THBP... because I really loved them.
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Beyond the Pale