Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Bound	By : goldhorse Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 126052 -:- Recommendations : 15 -:- Currently Reading : 31
Disclaimer: JK owns HP. Not me. I also don't own any quotes you might recognize. I make no money doing this, I just get the plot bunnies to quit interrupting my sleep.

Chapter List
- 22
- 23
- 24
Another week passed and it was once again Monday. Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table but could barely keep her eyes open. Ever since Melody had returned, she’d been more merciless than before. She’d brought Harmony with her the day after her return. The blond looked better than they’d ever seen her. Her sky blue eyes sparkled with joy as she embraced them forcefully. She wasn’t around much and had explained that being around so many people usually gave her migraines from all the influx of information.

Their last two DADA classes had been more than interesting. Since she’d played blind over the holidays, Melody kept up the charade. She also never casted a spell or hex in front of anyone except the small band of students present in Professor Snape’s classroom three times a week. She’d even asked Harry not to tell anyone, especially since she didn’t use a wand.

Hermione had questioned her about that after Harry and Ginny left Wednesday night. Harry had managed to block the imperious in a few tries but was having a harder time applying that to occlumency. He still showed remarkable improvement though. Melody had explained that she hadn’t been able to use a wand since her second year in Salem Academy. Her powers were just too strong and unstable and she’d fried every one she’d tried. She couldn’t even make a suitable one.

She and Draco had finally managed to perfect the cloaking spell to keep them off the Marauder’s map when they didn’t want to be found on Friday. Unfortunately, this also meant that they’d celebrated a bit too ardently all weekend long. In between their bedroom workouts and their regular workouts, she was thoroughly spent. She was going to have to get some sleep soon or her concentration would slip and that could prove deadly.

“Morning Mione!” Ginny said brightly.

“Not really,” she groaned.

“Busy weekend then?” Ginny asked with a mischievous smile.

“I could ask you the same,” Hermione sniffed and smirked when the redhead blushed.

Ginny and Harry had decided to start dating but had kept it a secret from Ron so far. Neither one was certain what the hot-tempered boy would do when he did find out. They weren’t planning on keeping it from him forever, but it was nice to not have anyone breathing down their necks while they got to know each other a bit better.

“I’d say it was fair,” Ginny squeaked.

“So, when are you planning on breaking the news to Won-Won?”

“I don’t know,” Ginny moaned. “I don’t want to cause a fight and you know Ron will blow up.”

“He might but I think he’ll be fine with it in the end,” Hermione said thoughtfully. “After all, Harry is his best friend and he knows he’d never take advantage of you.”

“Yeah, no matter how bad I want him to,” Ginny grumbled.

Hermione spluttered her pumpkin juice and coughed a minute. “Pardon?”

“Oh, you heard me all right, you and those sensitive ears of yours,” Ginny mumbled. “He’s barely wanted to go further than a chaste snog. It’s frustrating.”

Hermione giggled. “Why rush it? The anticipation is half the fun.”

“More like twice the aggravation,” Ginny spat.

“You’ll get him in the end,” Hermione said softly.

“Get who?” Ron asked, plopping down at the table.

“The Easter Bunny,” Hermione said confidently.

“What?” Ron asked in confusion.

“Never mind.” Hermione smirked. “Ready for your potions test today?”

“Absolutely not,” Ron muttered. “Besides, what’s the point? Harry’s the golden boy, isn’t he?”

“Why am I the golden boy today?” Harry asked, sitting beside Ron and covertly shooting Ginny a wink. Hermione smothered her smirk by biting into a scone.

“You’ve got Slughorn wrapped around your finger you have, you and the Half-Blood Prince.”

Harry shrugged. “He’s got some good ideas.”

“Yes but they were his ideas Harry,” Hermione said angrily. “What you’re doing is almost as bad as cheating.”

“No, I’m merely reading notes and taking suggestions. He’s not brewing the potions for me,” Harry countered.

Hermione shook her head, unwilling to get into yet another battle with Harry over the Half-Blood Prince’s book. She had a feeling she knew who that book belonged to. It struck her when Professor Snape had said he was a half-blood that it could have been a reference to blood status. She’d looked up an Eileen Prince in the old yearbooks and was astonished how much she looked like Professor Snape, or perhaps vice versa. It had stilled her mind a bit about the spells in the book but it still angered her that Harry was taking advantage of it.

‘You might as well drop it, sweetheart. We have other things to worry about than Potter’s sudden insight into potion making,’ Draco’s thoughts broke in.

‘I can be angry and still concentrate on other things,’ she huffed back.

‘You mean like the next step in the potion? We’ll need to ask Melody if she can get us a drop of Alex’s blood. We need it tonight.’

‘That shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll ask her after class today.’ She turned her attention to the conversation at her table.

“Wonder what Snape’s got planned today?” Ron wondered aloud.

“Why?” Lavender asked. “We’ve been going over vampires and other dark creatures like them for the last week. I think I know all there is to know about them now.” She grimaced.

“Well, I just wondered when Melody was going to take over.” He shrugged.

“That’s Professor Bach, Ronald,” Hermione snapped. It drove her up the wall when he didn’t show her the proper respect.

“Well she hasn’t been teaching us, has she? She just sits over in the corner with that scary looking wolf and listens to him drone on and on. She’s got this dreamy look on her face like he’s reading her some wonky romance novel.” He shuddered. “It’s like she’s got it bad for vampires or something.”

Hermione nearly choked on her juice and noticed that Harry and Ginny were trying to hide their expressions as well. They knew she was with a vampire but they kept it secret, clearly out of respect to her. They’d realized just how knowledgeable she was.

“Maybe she’s just lusting after Snape,” Dean popped off.

Ron shuddered. “Ew. That’s just sick.”

“Not to her,” Seamus joked. “She’s blind though, right?”

“Just because she’s blind doesn’t mean she’s got bad taste in men. Maybe she sees something in Professor Snape that we don’t. Although, I don’t know what that would be.” Neville shuddered.

“I say she’s barmy,” Ron declared. “Still, I wonder what she’s here to teach us.”

“Maybe we’ll find out today,” Hermione said non-committedly. Melody had informed her and Draco that they would be working on intent during the next class using a rather unconventional method. She refused to say more but she did make them promise to work extra hard on pinpointing their intents, lest they blow the classroom up.

With that thought, she got up and headed out of the hall. Feeling strange, she stopped behind the familiar alcove and waited. She tried to pinpoint what was wrong and opened up her connection to find that Draco had shut her out for a second. She almost panicked until he came gliding into the alcove with her.

“What was that?” She hissed.

“Sorry.” He whispered. “Nott’s been working on his legilimency and tried to use me as a test dummy.”

“He didn’t get anything did he?” She asked, paling.

“Of course not,” Draco scoffed, upset at her lack of faith.

“Sorry,” she apologized when she felt his hurt as he opened the bond. “It’s just a terrifying thought.”

He sighed. “I know but have a little faith, yeah?”

She smiled weakly. “I need a little sleep before I can muster up enough energy to have a little faith.”

Draco chuckled and conjured two steaming mugs of coffee out of thin air. “Will this help a bit?”

“Well, it’ll hold me over.”

“Think your friends are in for a treat this morning?”

“I hope so,” Hermione mused. “Harry and Ginny are respecting her wishes and keeping quiet but the others think she’s just a decoration.”

“Better than what the Slytherin’s think,” He said darkly. “They think she’s a squib and they know she’s blind.”

“What?” Hermione said appalled.

“It’s ridiculous but you know I can’t say anything. They’ve been putting two and two together, she never casts any spells. She just sits and pets Celeste while listening to him lecture.”

Hermione nodded absentmindedly. “She can’t cast spells though or they’d know she is powerful enough to do it wandlessly.”

“She’s going to have to figure out a way then. Maybe she can just hold a stick? They’re going to try to test her soon,” Draco warned.

“Well, let’s hope nothing goes foul,” She said, drinking her last drop of coffee and vanishing the cup. “Let’s go then.”

Everyone was settled in class, eagerly awaiting their next lesson. Celeste the wolf was in the corner, growling lowly and shaking her head, obviously talking to herself. Snape was sitting at his desk, reading a parchment and pensively glancing at the door every few seconds. Melody hadn’t arrived yet. It was one minute until class started. Usually, she showed up at least fifteen minutes prior to class and stole the professor’s chair. Something was wrong.

The clock ticked the time and Snape put his parchment down, clearing his throat. “Silence!” he hissed and looked at the door once more. His face was set in his customary mask of indifference but the strange light in his eye let Hermione know that he was extremely worried. She could have just been held up, right?

“It appears,” Snape drawled, “that Professor Bach has decided to take a holiday today. Therefore-“

A loud bang sounded and the door crashed open, revealing a disheveled and bloody Melody who was leaning heavily on her white cane. “Not very fucking likely,” she said through gritted teeth. “I’ve never taken a holiday in my life.”

She slowly stuck her cane out in front of her and hopped on one foot into the room. Her face was scratched up, a gash bloodying her hairline. Her cloak hung off one shoulder and her sunglasses hung precariously off her nose, revealing startling white eyes that Hermione hadn’t seen since New Year’s Eve. Her right leg hung limply behind her and her right arm had a large gash in it. It was by no means the worse she’d ever been but she’d been worked over pretty good.

“What in Merlin’s name happened?” Snape bellowed, his hardened mask cracking as he scooped her up and carried her across the room. He swiped all the things off his desk and laid her down.

“I got in a fight,” Melody said with a painful shrug.

“I can see that!” Snape snapped harshly. “You look like you battled a troll!”

“Ha!” Melody barked. “More like a herd. You should see the other guys though.”

“Why?” Snape said softly.

Melody gave him a grim smile. “Let’s just say that today I finally found out why Harmony has such a horribly tempered familiar. Remind me never to piss her off again.”

“I’ll make a note of it,” He said, whipping off her cloak. “Damage?”

“Superficial, mostly. I might have cracked a rib though.” Melody winced.

“Why are you here?” Snape growled as he pulled up her sleeves and yanked her hemline up to the bottom of her bra to see if there was any more damage.

“I told you, I’ve never taken a holiday in my life and I’m not about to start now.”

“You’re completely daft, you know that?” He yelled as he used his wand to cut her jeans legs up to her hip bones and see the damage done. Her right leg was bloody, the knee obviously out of joint.

“I believe I’ve heard that somewhere before. Just patch me up and let’s get this show on the road,” she said softly.

“I can’t heal all of this. I’ll need to take you to Madam Pomfrey, the school medi-witch.”

“NO!” She shrieked and tried to roll off the table.

“CALM DOWN!” He bellowed, holding her down. She quit thrashing for a moment and sent him a pleading look.

“I know you can do this. Please, just stop the bleeding and I’m good,” she said so softly that only Hermione and Draco could have heard her.

“Where is Alex?” He asked tersely.

“Probably trying to find the sunlight potion so he can port key here and give me what for.”

“And the harpy?”

Melody smiled wickedly. “She’s enjoying the dark side.” Then she breathed softly in his ear. “There were six, one survived and she’s imperioed him.”

Snape’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Very well.”

He flicked his wand and a few potion bottles flew out of his desk. The class looked in astonished silence as their DADA professor diligently cleaned the broken woman’s wounds. He surreptitiously healed the deeper gashes as he went. It only took him a few minutes to get the bleeding to stop. Her head wound was the last one.

“Your eyes,” he whispered.

“Harm says it’s only temporary,” she breathed quietly. “I can still see just a bit. No worries, I’m used to it.”

Snape snorted. “No doubt.” He cleaned the wound and then sealed it, allowing himself one caress of her hair under the guise of checking for more gashes. “I can’t heal the rib; you’ll have to see a healer about it. The leg is beyond my expertise.”

The door to the room banged open again and an enraged Alex stormed in. His eyes flashed wildly as he stalked across the room. “It’s not beyond mine,” he spat. Melody winced at his tone. “What in the fuck is wrong with you?”

“I had to go to work,” Melody said meekly.

He grabbed her chin and brought her face to his and hissed. “You told me you wouldn’t break.”

Her eyes watered. “I’m not broken.”

“You look it,” he said softly and let go of her face. “Well,” he said, turning to Snape.

“Dislocated knee, possibly broken but I can’t tell and at least one broken rib.” He said blandly, aware that every student in the room was riveted to the floor show. Everyone that is, except for his children, who were trying their hardest not to squirm or run to their aid.

Alex huffed and shook his head. “You’re dead set on teaching today?”

“Of course!” Melody said brightly. “It’s my favorite lesson today.”

“You and those damned dolls.” Alex muttered and Melody crossed her arms like an impertinent child. “Fine,” he growled and took out his wand, running a diagnostic spell over her.

“Two broken ribs,” he said snidely and cast the charms to heal them. “Better?”

She breathed deeply and smiled. “Much!” She tried to get off the desk but he stayed her with one finger.

“Not so fast, we still have to deal with the leg.” He ran his wand over it and hissed. “I’ll need your help Severus.”

“I doubt that,” he said casually but walked over to the other side of the desk anyway.

“I’d rather not break her further if I have someone to help me,” Alex explained softly. “Melody, lie down and center yourself because this is really going to hurt.”

“Of course it is,” she snorted but complied.

“Severus, brace the top of the leg at the hip while I pull and twist. Don’t let it move.”

“Perhaps we should stun her first,” he said softly as he eyed her arms.

“I need her awake,” Alex said with a dark chuckle. “Why, don’t think you can handle a mere slip of a girl?”

Snape narrowed his eyes. “It’s not her right hook I’m concerned about,” he said in a deadly tone.

“Touché,” Alex said softly. “If it comes to that, I’ll handle it.”

“Oh I hope it does,” Snape chuckled evilly.

“You two stop talking about me and get this over with!” Melody snapped in annoyance. “I’ve got a lesson to get to!”

“As you wish, my queen,” Alex said sarcastically and bowed. “On three.”

Alex grabbed her leg. Snape placed one hand on her hip and one on her thigh, and then thought better of it. He stood back, conjured a few ropes and bound her to the desk so she couldn’t thrash about. Then he returned his hands as Melody huffed in annoyance.

“That wasn’t necessary,” she ground out.

“Perhaps,” Snape drawled. “But it is better to be safe than sorry.”

“One,” Alex said smirking. “Two.” He gently lifted the leg, earning a grunt from Melody. “Three!” He yanked her leg downward and then twisted it sharply to the side. It made a cracking sound that caused half of the class to turn green. Melody squealed but valiantly didn’t scream out. Then he turned it the other way sharply and it cracked again. She grunted this time. Finally, he felt her knee and nodded.

“It’s in. You’ll have to wear a brace for a few days.”

Melody was gasping for air as Snape released her from the ropes. She sat up, revealing that she’d bitten her lip while trying to control her reaction. Entranced, Alex stepped over and licked them. They healed instantly. He stepped back and shook his head. “Sorry.”

“That’s why I left,” she said softly and he nodded.

“Vampire!” Someone squeaked in the back. Realizing that they had an audience, Alex spun around and scanned the classroom. Everyone save Hermione and Draco gasped at his indigo eyes.

Snape chuckled evilly. “Now you can see what I was talking about,” he said in his lecture voice, trying to smooth everything over. “The saliva of a vampire has healing properties. It is mostly used to seal the bite wounds on their victims. However, it can be used to heal minor cuts not inflicted by fangs. Case in point.” He pointed to Melody’s lip. “However, too much saliva can have adverse effects. In large quantities, it is a hallucinogen, inciting vivid visions and can drive the victim mad. If he would have licked Professor Bach’s other injuries, she’d most likely go completely around the bend instead of just half-way.” He growled out the last few words.

Melody sniffed and glowered at him. “Hypocrite,” she hissed and tried to hop off the table. She was once again stopped by Alex. He took a few packs of gauze out of his pocket and transfigured them into a makeshift brace for her leg. Only when it was secure did he allow her to stand up. He repaired and cleaned her clothing, cutting away the jeans left below the brace. One brave person in the back raised their hands as he did so.

“Yes Miss Parkinson,” Snape drawled.

“If he’s a vampire, how is he out during the day?”

Alex chuckled and cocked his head at Snape, eagerly awaiting his response. Snape shook his head. “He has consumed a time release sunscreen potion. As long as he is fully cloaked while exposed to the sunlight, he can’t be harmed.”

Ron raised his hand eagerly.

“Weasley,” Snape said in exasperation.

“Can he show us everything else?” He asked enthusiastically. “Does he really have all the abilities you said?”

Alex cocked an eyebrow at Snape who gave an imperceptible nod. He grinned, showing his fangs and causing more than one person to flinch. Hermione shuddered and closed her eyes. All she could see was blood dripping from those fangs as he ripped yet another muggle in half. He’d been the most blood thirsty and brutal in the group. She took a deep breath to center herself.

‘He’d never hurt you Hermione,’ Draco said softly in her mind.

‘I know. I just can’t shake that image,’ She said, her body shaking.

Suddenly, Alex was right beside her, kneeling. “Does that answer your question, Mr. Weasley?” He asked softly. Ron happened to be right behind her. He jumped back and nodded, wide eyed. Alex looked over to Hermione in concern.

“Are you okay?” He muttered under his breath, knowing that she could hear him perfectly.

“I’ll be okay,” she breathed back, still shaking. “Just bad memories.”

Alex closed his eyes in shame and rose. “May I speak with you in private?” He asked her loudly.

She looked up at him with a hint of fear and then looked at her professor. He had his eyes narrowed. “What are you playing at Alex?”

“Nothing.” Alex said confidently. “I merely sense her extreme unease and wish to rectify it.”

“You will do so under my supervision,” Snape drawled menacingly.

“Very well,” Alex said and knelt so he could speak directly into her ear. “If I could go back to that day, I wouldn’t change what I had done to those men. I would, however, spare you that gruesome sight. Please know that I would never harm you or your loved ones. Vampires are, by nature, soulless creatures with no feelings. I’d like to think I’m different but I admit I’ve lost a great deal of my humanity. However, we vampires do have fierce protective instincts. Melody considers you her family and as her husband, you become mine as well. You should know she’s vowed to stay with you until the end. I’d like to make that same pledge.”

Hermione gasped in shock and looked at him in surprise. “You would?” She asked softly and he nodded with a soft smile on his face. She gave him a brilliant smile and fought the urge to get up and hug him. “Thank you,” she said instead. He nodded regally and stood back up.

“Anything else you’d like to see, Mr. Weasley?” He asked, turning to her friend.

Ron started and then grinned. “Everything.”

“Everything?” the vampire asked with a hint of amusement and Ron eagerly nodded. “Very well.” He leapt into the air and turned into a bat, flying back to land on Melody’s shoulder. She scratched his ear and then held out her hand so he could step onto it. He turned into mist and then reformed as a wolf. The class oohed and awed. He stood on his hind legs and turned back into himself. Then he turned around, and guided Melody away from Snape’s desk. With one hand, he lifted it into the air and then set it back down gently. He smirked when he earned louds gasps.

“I think that about does it. I didn’t miss anything did I?”

Snape smirked. “Short of a bite, I think that covers it.”

“What about the thrall?” Ron piped up and then flushed when Snape glared at him.

Alex grinned wickedly, stalked over to him, and stared into his eyes. “Stand up Mr. Weasley,” he said softly and Ron complied. “Walk to the front of the class.”

Ron did so as the females in the class sighed softly, all except for Hermione and Melody. Hermione heard Draco chuckling in her mind. ‘This is going to be good.’ Hermione huffed but secretly hoped Alex made him do something embarrassing.

“Now, Mr. Weasley, cluck like a chicken,” Alex said, smirking at the ‘BEGAWK!’ Ron let out. The class burst out laughing as Alex directed him to flap his wings and scratch the ground with his feet. After a few minutes, he ordered him to stop. He glanced at Snape and then walked to the red head’s side. “Now Mr. Weasley, would you like to experience the highest form of pleasure?”

“Yes,” Ron breathed out dreamily and the class gasped, realizing what was about to happen.

“You want me to bite you, don’t you?” Alex asked in a voice like smooth honey. Ron breathed out another affirmation. “You want me to drain you dry. You wouldn’t protest at all, would you? In fact, I’d wager you’d beg for me to finish it.” He stalked in a circle around Ron, his voice still smooth and captivating. Everyone save those few who were immune sighed dreamily. His voice had a hypnotic effect.

“Just say the words Ronald Weasley, and all your dreams will come true.”

“Please, take me!” Ron moaned out in despair.

“Enough,” Snape snapped and Alex nodded.

“Not today, Mr. Weasley,” he said, snapping his fingers and ending the trance. Ron looked at him in horror. “Take that as a lesson on why you should never look a vampire in the eyes.” Alex motioned for the shell shocked boy to sit down.

Ron scampered to his seat and wiped his forehead. “Blimey!” He said, realizing how close he’d come to being a vampire’s snack.

Melody cackled loudly. “Now I’m glad you came. Today’s lesson will seem that much more important.”

Alex bowed formally. She smiled and grabbed her cane to walk over to him. He shook his head and transfigured her cane into a crutch. “Stay off that leg as much as possible today.” She nodded. He leaned down and whispered something in her ear that caused her to blush and bat him on the shoulder. He smirked and backed up. Then he nodded his head to Snape who returned it and glided out the door.

“So,” Melody said, hobbling to the middle of the class. Snape growled exasperatedly and stormed over to her, putting an arm around her waist and picking her up. He deposited her on his desk so she could sit down but still maneuver. “As I was saying,” she glowered at Snape. “Raise your hands if you felt something odd when Mr. Weasley was under the thrall of the vampire?”

Most of the class raised their hands save three, Hermione, Harry, and Draco. Snape stalked over to tell her whose hands were not raised. She nodded, expecting that to be the case. “Lower your hand if you felt the need to run.” All hands remained in the air. “Lower your hand if you felt like you should have resisted the calm feelings that washed over you at that moment.” All hands remain raised. “Those of you who have your hands raised, nod if you felt sexually attracted to the vampire, regardless of your sexual orientation.” Tentative looks were shot around and Snape muttered to her again. “Oh get off it, it’s a natural reaction,” she snapped and watched as everyone nodded.

She smirked. “Lower your hands. Now, only three of you kept your hands down. In addition to those three, Professor Snape and I remained unaffected. Can anyone tell me why?”

Hermione’s hand itched something fierce but she didn’t want to raise it. She was sure her conversation with Alex had sparked more than a few people’s interest. Draco agreed that she should keep her hand lowered. He had no idea where Melody was going with this.

“No one? How disappointing,” she drawled, a dead ringer for Snape causing Draco to bite back a snigger. “The answer is both simple and complex. The first part is simple; don’t look at the vampire and especially not in the eyes. This is the easiest way for them to catch a victim. The second part is a bit more complex. Potter, Granger, Malfoy, up to the front.”

The three students shuffled to the front of the room, shooting nervous glances at each other. Melody gave them a soft smile and motioned Professor Snape over to the side. “Now, these are the three students that resisted the thrall. Miss Granger is actually the easiest to explain. She had an unnaturally strong negative reaction to Alex, so strong that he felt the need to comfort her. It is an unusual reaction for both of them. Most people are afraid of vampires but their dark attractive lure actually puts their victims at ease rather than increasing their fear.

She pointed to Snape. “I suspect that she has this unnatural reaction to other dark spells as well. Professor Snape, if you please.”

Snape nodded and took out his wand, causing her eyes to widen. “Imperio!” He said softly and watched as the spell engulfed her and then fizzled out. She was shaking minutely but no worse for wear. She felt like someone pulled a woolen blanket over her head and she had resisted. The warmth was snapped back and her head cleared.

“Perfect!” Melody said softly. “You may return to your seat Miss Granger.” Hermione returned to her chair shakily. “I’ve been told that Mr. Potter here can also resist the same curse. Professor.” Snape’s eyes sparkled in delight as he cast a stronger version of the curse. It hit Harry hard and then fizzled immediately.

“Then it’s true,” Melody said merrily. “You may return to your seat Mr. Potter.” She watched as he quickly shuffled into his chair. “Now, Mr. Malfoy, can you possibly guess why you resisted as well?” Draco nodded his head quickly. “I’m glad you caught on so fast. Return to your seat please.” She grinned as he stalked back to his seat. She didn’t want to let all her little chickens out of their basket. Now everyone would wonder if he was capable of throwing off the curse or not.

“Since I unwittingly wasted a great deal of our time this morning,” Melody said dryly. “We’re just going to assume that everyone else would be susceptible to the imperious curse. The vampire thrall is almost identical to it. This is why today’s lesson will be on intent. Why is this relevant? Anyone?”

Hermione’s hand shot in the air, unable to resist. Snape nodded to her. “Because intent in a large part of how to resist the curse and can also help in directing spells.”

“Very good Miss Granger, five points to Gryffindor,” Melody said cheerfully. “One must have intent when trying to overcome the imperious curse and one must also have intent when directing spells. I have been informed that some of you have problems directing a hex or casting one at full power. This all comes back to intent. Therefore, we are going to try an unorthodox exercise today that will focus it. This will require no wands or books, only sheer willpower and desire. Everyone put your things away and holster your wands.”

She pulled a small metal case out of her back pocket as the class shuffled about putting all their things away. She set it on the desk and watched as Snape enlarged it. Then she opened it and laid something on the table. She clicked the case shut and set it down behind the desk. Then she nodded at Snape who cast several spells over the objects she’d laid out. She turned around and waited patiently for everyone to settle down.

“Now then, these are intent dolls,” she said as Snape levitated two dolls about the size of toddlers to the middle of the floor and laid them down. They looked to be made of white muslin, their features nondescript and they were wearing no clothing. “A spell will connect you with the doll. From then on, it follows your intent.” She nodded and Snape flicked his wand at one of the dolls and then Melody. “Now, I intend for that doll to stand up.” It did so in quick fashion. “Watch closely as I bend it to my will.”

The doll immediately transformed. It was an exact replica of Melody. It wore her staple outfit, a button down shirt, jeans, and boots. The doll spun around and took a bow and then pointed to the other doll. “Professor, if you could take the other one please?” Snape nodded and the class watched as it too stood up and transformed. This one looked like a miniature Snape, complete with a glower and billowing robes. Melody giggled.

“Now, the changes we’ve made are superficial. They’re quite easy to manipulate because it is only an appearance. For example.” She cocked her head and grinned wickedly as the doll turned into a replica of Snape the night they’d gone clubbing right down to the fangs poking out from his mouth. Snape scoffed and changed his doll into a replica of her in a French maid’s outfit. She bit back a snort. “See, anything you’d like it to look like, you can will it to do so. Be warned, these are PG-13 dolls. There will be no nudity.” She smirked as the purebloods in class looked at her strangely. Her doll shifted again to look like Celeste in her emerald green halter top dress. Snape changed his to look like him in a simple cotton shirt and trousers with his hair pulled back.

“Now, movement is the next step.” Melody said confidently as she had her doll saunter over toward Snape’s and curtsey. Snape’s doll bowed in return. “The more movement, the harder they are to control. The final step is interaction. It takes the utmost concentration and your intent has everything to do with this. I intend for these two dolls to dance with each other. Therefore, I have to move my doll and have it move in response to Professor Snape’s doll as well. A bit of music and we’ll have a short demonstration.” Snape clicked on the wireless and a Latin song buzzed in the air.

“Starting out a bit difficult, aren’t you professor?” She sighed.

“Doubting your skills?” He taunted and she narrowed her eyes as she had her doll do a twirl and shake its hips.

“Let’s do this,” she said confidently and the class watched in awe as the two dolls twirled and spun with each other. Hermione thought it reminded her of that night at the club. Celeste and Snape had danced beautifully, looking tailor made to each other. As the music wore on, the dance got more intricate. Dips and lift were interspersed with precision footwork. The entire class was thoroughly captivated. The dance ended with a low dip and the dolls then righted themselves.

“Now,” Melody said, snapping everyone out of their trance. “Who thinks they can mimic that?” No one raised their hands. “Oh come now, you don’t have to know how to dance to do this. You just have to have intent.” Everyone stayed perfectly still. “Fine.” She sighed. “Parkinson, Weasley, you two first.”

The dolls fell on the ground and Snape flicked his wand again. “Now, you two are linked with your dolls. I want you to look at them and think of what you’d like them to look like.” The two concentrated hard and the dolls started to morph. Ron’s looked like a more muscular version of himself minus the freckles. It was dressed in trousers and a collared shirt. Pansy’s had jet black hair just like hers except it was much longer, down to the waist and it was wearing a set of designer robes.

“Fantastic!” Melody clapped. “Now, I want you to think about them standing up. Will them to do so.” The dolls twitched like they were having seizures but neither one rose off the ground. Finally, Ron’s turned around and pushed up on its hands and knees. It wobbled a few moments before it stood shakily. Parkinson, scowling at the other doll, narrowed her eyes and breathed harshly. Her face turned red as a beet before her doll suddenly shot to its feet, nearly toppling over with the force of it. Several sniggers broke out but were silenced by one glance from Snape.

“Excellent. You’ve gone through step two. Now, step three, will them to move. Any movement will do. They can wave or shake their hips, anything.” Melody said, ignoring the chatters across the room. Minutes passed and the two students looked like their eyes were going to pop out of their sockets but the dolls never moved. Finally, they fell to the ground.

“Very good for a first try. Next?” Melody went through various pairings. Crabbe and Goyle couldn’t even make their dolls morph. Seamus almost caught his on fire. Neville’s ended up looking like his Gran and he turned bright red. Harry and Blaise did quite well. They got their dolls up and moving but were unable to make them interact with each other. Finally it came down to two final students.

“Well, Malfoy, Granger, care to take a turn?” Melody said, fighting down a smirk. She knew this was going to be good. Draco grinned evilly, reminding Hermione of his dragon form. Snape placed the spells on them and they concentrated for a second. What should they make them look like?

‘How about that night at the club?’ Draco asked.

‘You don’t think that would arouse suspicions?’ Hermione bit back.

‘Why should it? We both looked drop dead sexy and everyone else made their dolls look like a better version of themselves.’

‘Alright but if this backfires, I’m cutting you off,’ Hermione huffed.

‘You wouldn’t cut me off. You like me too much.’

‘I wouldn’t hesitate to throttle you.’

‘Oh I know. Let’s give them a show they’ll never forget. You can even have your doll slap me at the end,’ Draco purred.

‘Deal,’ Hermione said, fight back a grin. It had been too long since she’d done something devious.

The dolls morphed into replicas of them that night. Melody had to put her hand over her mouth and bite her finger to keep from laughing out loud. Snape looked on stoically but the twinkle in his eye told them that he wasn’t unaffected. The rest of the class gasped as the two dolls stood up looking like runway models. Hermione had hers twirl and curtsey. Draco had his turn and bow several times.

“Perfect!” Melody said once she’d gotten a hold of herself. “Now, some music. Remember, you can make the dolls do whatever you want but they have to interact.”

Snape flicked his wand and a slow sexy beat came on. The dolls walked toward each other, slowly pacing around in a circle. Suddenly, Draco’s doll grabbed hers and dipped her, bringing her back up slowly and grinding itself against it.

She gasped and then narrowed her eyes in mock anger. Not to be outdone, she spun her doll around and had it twirl it’s hip sexily, dropping to the ground and gyrating on the way up, trailing it’s hand up the other doll’s pants leg.

Draco growled. “You’re on Granger.” She smirked and nodded her head in agreement.

The class watched, mouths gaping open as the dolls practically shagged in the middle of the floor. When the song ended, Draco’s doll grabbed her doll’s arse. She made hers turn around and slap his, hard.

“Well done!” Melody said, chuckling a bit. “Now, does everyone see how intent is important?” Everyone nodded. “Great. Now, your assignment is to write a foot of parchment on intent and its use in casting powerful hexes, due Wednesday.” The class groaned. “Dismissed!”

“Malfoy, Granger, you stay behind,” Snape said softly.

When the rest of the class filed out, Snape slammed the door shut and sealed it with a wave of his hand. Melody burst out laughing. “Oh, that was the best thing I think I’ve seen in a very long time.” Hermione and Draco smirked. “You’re going to have to answer for that though. Your story?”

“Oh, just trying to one up each other, a silent dare if you will,” Draco said and Melody nodded.

“Enough,” Snape said angrily. “What in the fuck happened this morning?”

Melody sighed sadly. “Apparently, you didn’t get them all. There were a few more and they jumped me this morning. I had very little warning. I took out one of them before Harmony charged back there, wand blazing. I’ve never seen her so enraged in all my life. Sev, she never casted the killing curse but her stunners were so strong they all died from the impact, all except for one. She’s got him imperioused and placed a tracking charm on him. She’ll have him go back and see if there are any others.”

“Why in the hell did you come here instead of getting healed first?” He snapped.

Her eyes watered a bit. “I didn’t want to cause you any more pain Sev. I knew you’d be worried. It’s better I show up a bit beat up and alive than not at all and you think I’m dead again.”

“Well, you managed to make a spectacle of yourself,” He groused.

She smiled. “I think it actually helped us out Sev. You’re lovely house was planning an ambush on me, you know. They think I’m a squib.” Draco gasped. “Hello? Sister who knows everything?” She said jovially. “Anyway, I didn’t plan on doing that. However, I think it worked. They now know that I can take some pain and that I have an ally in a vampire. They also saw my intent on that damn doll today, so hopefully they’ll think twice before they fuck with me.”

“You’ll have to cast eventually,” Draco said softly. “They won’t be satisfied until they see that you can cast as well.”

“I think I might have found a solution to my wand problem but it’s going to take a bit of time. It’s kind of unorthodox too.”

“What is it?” Snape asked softly.

“Well, it’s a combination of things that you’d never use for a wand. I’ll need a strand of hair from a vampire, which is easy enough, the venom from a deadly snake that I have befriended, which I’m sure I can procure, and a piece of an animal that has experienced a resurrection which is not easy to find.”

“What about a phoenix?” Hermione asked softly. “They die and then are resurrected from the ashes.”

“Yes, the phoenix would be perfect except it needs to be plucked willingly by the bird itself. I can’t take any of these things, they must be donated freely,” she said sadly. “The wood is easy enough, Birch, the symbolic tree of renewal. It’ll take me a week or so to craft it but I need to get everything together.”

“Well, I’m sure Alex will donate the hair,” Snape said softly. “You can milk my venom as the mamba whenever you need it and I’ll speak with Albus and Fawkes.”

Melody smiled tearfully. “You really are my best friend Sev. Now, how is that potion coming along?”

“Brilliantly,” Draco said softly. “We’re stuck though.”

“Why?” She asked.

“We need a drop of blood from a vampire,” Hermione said softly.

“Oh hell, that’s easy,” Melody scoffed. “I’ll have it by tonight. Anything else?”

“That should be it for a while. The potion takes about a month to simmer and will mature after the next full moon,” Hermione said confidently.

“Trust Merlin to come up with the most hair-brained potion in the world,” Melody snorted.

“Methods aside, I believe this will work,” Snape said softly.

“It will,” Melody said confidently. “It’s got to.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hermione,

Roses are red, violets are blue, sugar is sweet, but not as sweet as you. Will you be my valentine?

Your Secret Admirer

Hermione groaned as she crumpled the sixth secret admirer letter she’d gotten that morning. It was getting quite annoying really and the flowers were taking up all the room on the table. She’d destroyed the candy, not trusting it. Valentine’s Day had never been her favorite day, especially since she usually spent it alone. Now it was becoming a regular nightmare.

She knew that it was mostly the thrall that had attracted all of this unwanted attention. It was harder to control that she’d first imagined, not at all like her fangs. The other thing had been her performance with that intent doll that first time. They’d practiced several times with them now but the first time had caught everyone’s attention. Both she and Draco had played it off as trying to one up the other.

“Wow Granger, didn’t know you had it in you!” was the comment most heard after that. She’d noticed more and more people looking at her as word spread that she’d went toe to toe with Malfoy in class. Of course, it wasn’t the first time she’d fought him, but it was the first time she’d done something so brazen. It had opened many eyes, including ones she didn’t want on her.

“Another one,” Ginny said softly as yet another school owl swooped down and dropped a sickeningly frilly looking valentine beside her plate.

Hermione,

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

Your Secret Admirer

Hermione gagged and crumpled it up as well. “How long is this going to continue?”

“Well, you aren’t the only one having problems,” Ginny said, nodding her head over to Draco who used his wand to incinerate yet another card and box of chocolates. Then she glanced at Harry who had his nose crinkled in disgust as he shoved away a particularly strong scented card.

“I suppose so,” she sighed. “But I’ve never had this problem before!”

Ginny giggled. “It is kind of fun though, right?”

“Not really. It’s not really me they’re attracted to,” She grumbled softly and Ginny nodded in understanding. She’d been able to resist the thrall quite easily, especially since Snape had consumed her blood. Melody had explained that having a bond with a vampire also decreased the sensitivity to others. A nudge at her elbow caused Hermione to jump. She looked down to see Celeste with a plain white envelope in her jaws, her head tilted.

“Hello Celeste. Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said softly as she took the envelope from her. She looked at the script on the front and realized it was from Draco. Smiling softly, she glanced around. “Think you could do the same in opposite?” The wolf nodded and Hermione handed her a plain, thin, white box addressed to Draco. The wolf gently took it and ran back up to the dais to sit by Harmony, who was enjoying a cup of coffee and speaking with Snape very animatedly.

The blonde took the box and cackled. She put it in her lap and continued her conversation. A few minutes later, the wolf scampered over to the Slytherin table and covertly delivered a tiny red envelope to Draco. Draco took it and smirked at the writing on the package. He pocketed it but not before Pansy shot him a deadly look. The pug-faced girl had been furious with him, not only for ducking around her for the last few months but for that stunt with the doll as well. She had been planning something to get her fiancé right where she wanted him.

‘She’s dangerous Draco,’ Hermione hissed, seeing the girl’s furious expression.

‘Trust me, I know,’ Draco replied. ‘She’s pissed because her doting fiancé would rather eat slugs than look at her.’

‘How are we going to take care of this Draco?’

‘I have an idea but you won’t like it.’

‘Does it involve her sucking your lips off?’ Hermione groused.

‘Merlin NO! I don’t want those things anywhere near me. I was thinking about pushing her off on Nott.’

‘She’s not going to go for it,’ Hermione huffed. ‘She’s become abnormally devoted to you.’

‘Ugh, I know,’ Draco groaned mentally. ‘However, she and Nott used to be an item behind my back, which I thoroughly encouraged. I think I can convince him to pretend to be me easily enough.’

‘How?’ Hermione asked, curious as to his plans.

‘Polyjuice of course.’

‘But Draco, what about the tattoos, the hair?’

‘Godfather said they wouldn’t carry over through polyjuice, remember?’

‘Yes but I’d like to give it a test run before we try it out like that!’ Hermione said in alarm.

‘Of course, I’m not that stupid. I’m going to ask Crabbe to try it out. If it doesn’t work, I’ll obliviate him. He’s slow enough that he won’t be a threat, unlike Nott who could resist.’

‘I don’t like it,’ Hermione sighed. ‘But I’m not sure I see another way around it.’

‘It’s going to be alright, love,’ Draco said, reassuring her. ‘Read that card as soon as you leave here though. Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you.’

Hermione smiled, causing a few people to shoot her strange looks. ‘Happy Valentine’s Day Draco. I love you too.’

A valentine chose that moment to drop into her porridge and splatter it everywhere. She groaned and picked it up, scourgifying spare bits of porridge from her clothes and the letter. “This isn’t my day,” she sighed and opened up the letter.

Hermione,

My heart to you is given:

Oh, do give yours to me;

We'll lock them up together,

And throw away the key.

Your Secret Admirer

“Well, at least this one is a bit more original. Frederick Saunders, well at least they tried. Still, this is maddening. I’m going to go Ginny,” Hermione said, sighing heavily.

Ginny gave her a wan smile. “See you later Mione.”

Hermione trudged down to the DADA classroom in a snit. She was really beginning to hate this day. Suddenly, she was grabbed and thrown into an alcove. A hand clamped down on her mouth before she could shout out. Panicking, she opened up the link to Draco. ‘HELP!’

“Easy Granger,” an unfamiliar voice said in her ear. “I only want to talk.”

‘HERMIONE WHERE IN THE FUCK ARE YOU?’ Draco screamed in her mind and she winced from the force.

‘Alcove right before transfiguration,’ she answered back and spun around, throwing a right cross at her assailant.

“If you wanted to talk, you could do it like a normal human being!” She screamed and made a break for the hall.

“What the fuck was that for?” her attacker asked in a muffled voice as he spun her around. She noticed the Ravenclaw crest on his robes and looked at his face. She recognized him as Stephen Cornfoot, a normally reserved boy. He yanked her arm so hard that she lost her balance and fell down. “I said I wanted to talk.”

She whipped her wand out of her arm holster but was disarmed before she could aim it properly. “Ah, ah, ah Granger, I know your fast with a wand and I’m not in any hurry to get hexed.” He quickly pocketed her wand.

‘Shite!’ She thought loudly to Draco. She had no clue what Cornfoot wanted but he had her wand. She could take him easily but didn’t want to give herself away.

‘Almost there,’ Draco thought back. She could hear his pounding footfalls. He was a few halls away.

“What do you want?” She hissed at the boy who was still holding his nose.

“You,” he said as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

“You can’t have me,” she growled and scooted back against the wall, edging to get out of the alcove.

“I beg to differ,” he said softly, taking out a tiny potion bottle that looked a lot like the love potions that Fred and George sold. “You’ll want me too in just a second. I had hoped it wouldn’t come down to this but you’re a bit feistier than I thought.”

‘I’m going to have to hex him,’ She thought desperately.

‘No you’re not,’ Draco growled. ‘I thought I taught you how to do a sweeping kick.’

‘You did!’ She thought back, her eyes lighting up at the thought. Cornfoot just needed to get a bit closer. Her eyes narrowed in thought. “You won’t get away with this.”

“Oh I think I will. You see, I’ve become quite proficient at memory charms,” he said menacingly as he inched closer, his wand aimed at her head. “In just a few seconds, you’ll be mine and you’ll think it was your own idea.”

He finally got within her range but she saw the strange look in his eyes. He had a hair trigger. Hoping she didn’t give herself away, she threw a silent shield to protect herself and swept her leg out at the same time. He shot a spell that bounced off her shield and lost his footing. Scrambling to stand, he staggered out to the hallway and into one very enraged Draco Malfoy.

“PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!” He barked and watched dispassionately as Cornfoot fell to the floor, rigid as stone. “How dare you run over me.”

Hermione scrambled out of the alcove and came storming over. She landed a kick right to Cornfoot’s ribs and nodded in satisfaction when she heard a crack. Then she rolled him over with her foot and yanked her wand and his out of his back pocket.

Draco smirked despite the fact that he wanted to rip the boy to shreds. “Way to kick ‘em when they’re down Granger.”

“Bloody git deserved it!” She yelled and stomped off, her wand out and at the ready. She wouldn’t be ambushed again.

AN: Hello everyone! I literally teared up when I read all my wonderful reviews. I do love my characters. They bring me joy. Since the general consensus is that we love Snape in unsual clothing, I went with the middle ground... mini-Snape in unusual clothing. YAY! Thanks for voting and I'll definately incorporate some style into the bat's life from here on out. Don't worry HG4EVA, Harry will grow soon. He's just being a bit stubborn. Thanks to everyone again, you've made my week! As always, let me know how I'm doing and if you find any errors. Love you guys!
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