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
- 35
- 36
- 37
Hermione immediately scooted back as far against Draco as she possibly could. What was Ron angry about?

“What, no answer?” Ron asked, pushing himself away from the door and strolling into the classroom. Hermione noticed that Harry had arrived and he and Ginny were watching Ron with worried eyes. Alex had Melody firmly around the middle and looked to be concentrating very hard. She must have been close to sparking. Snape was his usual self, his indifferent mask firmly in place but there was an eerie light in his eyes. Hermione had only seen it a few times before, once being the night he’d helped destroy the pack of muggles attacking the twins. She shuddered and tried to shuffle back some more.

“No one has anything to say at all,” Ron scoffed. “No one visits me in the hospital wing and when I get out, I’m treated to the sounds of someone who I thought was my best friend moaning and screaming like a harlot.”

Suddenly, Ron was thrown across the room and pinned to the wall. Hermione looked around in shock to see who’d lost their temper. She’d certainly wanted to but was proud of herself that she hadn’t. She noticed that everyone was staring around in shock, everyone but the one person she’d least expected. Celeste had transformed back and was pinning Ron to the wall with one hand controlling her magic, cold fury on her face. She was glowing platinum and her hair whipped around her face.

“Oh Weasley did you step way over the line,” Melody said in awe.

Severus walked over to his mate cautiously. “Celeste?”

“No Severus, I am not going to let him get away with that. He gave that poor girl the silent treatment, made it perfectly clear that he didn’t want her anywhere near him and then has the nerve to complain that she respected his wishes and stayed away. THEN, he called her a harlot and you know that’s just about the furthest damn thing from the truth I’ve ever heard.”

“Nevertheless, you must hold your temper,” he said softly.

“I’m tired of holding my temper. I’ve done nothing but hold my temper for years, YEARS! I’ve only lost it once, ONCE and I had a very good reason for it. You were there. I can’t stand to just sit there and do nothing anymore.”

Snape cautiously rubbed the shoulder of the arm that was holding Weasley. She trembled from the touch but held her ground. Ron wasn’t even struggling, just staring wide eyed at the enraged beauty that was pinning him to the wall. Snape gently kissed her shoulder, keeping his eyes trained on her hand to make sure she wasn’t going to do more than hold him.

“You were beautiful that night,” Snape said softly. “I’ve never seen someone so stunning in a fit of rage but you can’t do this. Weasley, of all people, is unworthy to unleash yourself upon.”

“He is a flea,” Celeste hissed. “I sat and watched them struggle Severus. They still struggle every day to come to terms with everything. Then this, this INSECT comes into it and causes them nothing but heartache. And for what? Why? He is so quick to turn his back on his so called friends. He makes me sick.”

“Just him?” Severus said quietly as he continued rubbing her shoulder, slowly inching his way down her arm.

“Yes him. Sure, Potter exploded at first. Hermione told me all about his initial reactions and how remorseful he was afterwards. Words cut deeply Severus but the ability to feel sorrow afterwards is a true test. It’s why I don’t care about your past because I see the sorrow every day. This boy doesn’t feel anything but self-righteous anger. He believes he is entitled!”

“No matter what he believes, he is not worth your time,” Severus reasoned as he worked down to her forearm, rubbing soothing circles and trying to get her to calm down. No one dared speak, sensing just how deadly she could be. Actually, the only ones who hadn’t seen it firsthand were Ginny, Harry, and Ron who was now the victim.

“I hardly care anymore. They are my family and I will protect them.”

“Is that so?” Snape asked in amusement.

“Yes,” Celeste spat. “It matters not if you decide to keep me. I have already adopted them into my heart. I think you know how deep my loyalty runs.”

“And If I decided to keep you?”

“Then it’ll be that much more permanent won’t it?”

“Why now?” Severus was rubbing circles on the back of her hand now.

“Have you ever had your fill?”

“More than once.” He smirked.

“I’ve had mine right now. I could deal with him acting like a toddler, he’s had a shock but he deliberately chose those words to cut as deeply as he could. He cares nothing about her suffering.”

“Suffering!” Ron shouted in disbelief. He’s apparently forgotten she practically held his life in the palm of her hands. “She’s not suffering. She’s lying on her back and panting for it.”

“One more comment like that Weasley, and it won’t be Celeste who’ll answer for your murder,” Severus said darkly.

“What do you care?” Ron growled.

“I thought we’d moved past this Weasley,” Melody sighed and pulled out her compact. “Harmony!”

A few seconds later, a voice answered. “Hey Mel. How are you?”

“Oh I’m just fine but I need some advice,” Melody said, glancing up to make sure Celeste was holding steady. Severus was still rubbing her hand and arm, not forcing her to let go but holding her back from doing anything worse.

“Something you can’t see?” Harmony asked, worry evident in her voice.

“Well, I can see it just fine. I just need your opinion,” Melody said.

“You’re scaring me Mel,” Harmony said slowly.

“Mmm. Probably not as much as this is going to. Take a good look sis.” Melody turned the compact around so Harmony could see what was going on.

“Oh dear sweet Merlin, what in the hell did that idiot boy do?” Harmony yelled.

Melody grinned as she turned the compact around. “Weasley decided to pout because no one came to see him in the hospital wing and then he called Hermione a harlot.”

“Are you sure that’s all?” Harmony said in shock.

“More or less.” Melody shrugged.

“Oh sweet baby Jesus,” Harmony huffed. “Celeste, can you hear me?”

“Yes Harmony,” Celeste said in a strong voice that no one had heard before.

“Sweetheart, we do need him. Could you please put him down?”

“No. He will not walk away from this scot free,” Celeste growled.

“Celeste, please just listen to me,” Harmony pleaded.

“No Harmony. Not this time,” Celeste said shortly.

“Merlin’s beard,” Harmony huffed. “That’s it. I’m coming over there and you and I are going to have a chat.”

“No!” Everyone cried.

“What?” Harmony asked in shock.

“It might not be safe,” Melody said in a strained voice.

Harmony huffed. “Alex?”

“Yes dear?” Alex drawled.

“Tell them I can floo.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“You don’t love me anymore?” Harmony said deadpan.

Alex chuckled. “No, it’s perfectly safe for you to floo. I’m just not so sure it’s safe for you to try and talk some sense into Celeste at the current moment.”

“Well if three of her lovers can’t talk her down, it’s time for someone else to step up.”

“Three?” Alex said and then glanced at Melody in understanding. “Ah. To tell the truth, Melody hasn’t tried.”

“Then why in the hell are you calling me?” Harmony yelled.

“Because I was going to ask if I should just say fuck it and obliviate the little weasel bastard,” Melody growled. “But you insisted we needed him.”

“We do but he’s not going to be that cooperative if she’s got him pinned to the wall. He certainly won’t be any use if she drains him either.”

“She won’t drain him,” Melody scoffed. “Now, ripping his throat out is another story.” She bit her lip and looked over at a now trembling Celeste. Her aura was flickering.

“There’s something else pissing her off,” Harmony said, rubbing her temples.

“Oh, he just claimed that Hermione hadn’t suffered anything,” Melody said, narrowing her eyes at Weasley.

“Well that would do it wouldn’t it?” Harmony snorted. “Alright, I have to come there and see something. I can’t tell from here. Give me a minute and I’ll floo directly to Severus’s chambers. Celeste, please don’t eat him before then.”

“I’ll hold. He’d probably taste disgusting anyhow,” Celeste spat.

“Eat me?” Ron squeaked.

“Never fuck with someone you don’t know,” Melody chided as she shut her compact. “Um… Harry, could you wait for my sister in Severus’s office please?”

“Uh, yeah,” Harry said, eyeing Ron warily.

“Celeste always keeps her promises. He’ll be alive when you return,” Melody reassured him. Harry scooted through the door with one last glance at Ginny.

“Eat me?” Ron squeaked again.

“What’s the matter Weasley, scared of fangs?” Draco taunted. He was barely holding on to his temper but he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He could tell Hermione didn’t approve of his goading but if he didn’t say something he was going to explode.

Ron tried to sneer but it came out as a grimace. “She’s a vampire.”

“Wrong again Weasley,” Celeste hissed and made to lunge at him.

Snape caught her around the middle. “Easy.”

“All that talk is making me thirsty.”

Snape sighed and brought out a knife. He slit his thumb and held it to her lips. She sucked it greedily and then lapped at the wound, making sure it closed. She moaned in a combination of ecstasy and disappointment. Her arm still raised, she laid her head on Snape’s chest.

“If you put him down, you can have more,” Snape bribed her.

“A taste, no matter how exquisite, is still not worth it.”

“What would be worth it?” Melody said, coming up next to Celeste cautiously. “You can have me again.” She tilted her neck and shifted the collar, exposing a bit of her flesh.

“You do taste delicious,” Celeste said, her eyes flickering.

“You never said what she tasted like,” Alex said curiously.

“Strawberry shortcake,” Celeste said with a smile. “I do so love it.”

“I take it your favorite desert is butter toffee,” Melody said with a smirk.

“You know it,” Celeste grinned, her fangs poking out.

Ron shuddered. “She’s got fangs. She’s got to be a bloody vampire.”

“Can I tell him?” Celeste asked, a strange light in her eyes as she glanced back at Hermione and Draco.

“Not yet,” Melody said softly.

“I think he’d be more obedient.” Celeste frowned.

Melody chuckled. “It hasn’t stopped me yet.”

“Oh really,” Celeste said, moving sideways and yanking Melody’s head sideways. “You talk a big game.”

Melody shivered involuntarily. “You are a very fast learner. However, have you ever seen me bow to someone I didn’t want to?”

“Only the Dark Lord and only because you are a truly gifted actor,” Celeste breathed and licked her neck. “Still, he doesn’t have your will.” She released the flustered woman.

“Few people do,” Severus drawled, breaking Celeste’s intense stare. “However, I believe it to be a bad idea. Weasley’s mouth knows no bounds.” Ginny snorted and Snape smirked. “He is nothing like his sister.” He stalked over to her and hissed softly. Unable to resist, she bowed to him and he put his hand on her head. “She knows her place.”

“Get your greasy hands off my sister!” Ron screamed.

“Why?” Snape drawled, taunting him. “She bows so willingly.”

Ginny trembled, torn between obeying her father and feeling a bit put out that Snape was using her to get at her brother. She understood why he was doing it but it didn’t make it sit well.

“You filthy pervert,” Ron growled.

“I can assure you that I have absolutely no sexual feelings toward any student in this school,” Snape growled.

“And yet you make her bow like a slave,” Ron yelled. Celeste tightened her grip and he squeaked in pain.

“Easy pet,” Severus called. “You promised.”

Celeste hissed and reluctantly eased her grip. Ron huffed out in relief.

“You should take a few lessons from your sister Weasley. She is everything you are not, obedient, powerful, strong willed, loyal, and most importantly…SILENT!” He bellowed. He bent down and released Ginny, apologizing for making her kneel to him again.

“I am loyal. I’d never turn my back on my friends,” Ron growled.

“And yet you do so right now,” Celeste hissed.

“She’s the one that ran to that slimy Death Eater. She turned her back on me.”

“Would you rather her die?” Melody cut in.

“No,” Ron said glumly. “I don’t believe them being together is the only way though.”

“You were so much more accepting Sunday.” Melody shook her head. “What happened?”

“Lots of thinking time.”

“That is your own damned fault,” Melody snapped.

“I’ve seen no proof,” Ron said. “How do I know that they didn’t just make all this up?”

“Well, I would have thought watching your best friend bleed out would be proof enough.” Melody shrugged. “However, once Harmony gets here and give me the go ahead, I think we might show you just exactly how they are affected.”

“You aren’t cursing us,” Draco growled.

“Of course not,” Melody said, a hurt look in her eyes. “I watched you take more pain that one human should have to bear in one night. I’m not about to put you through that again.”

“Just making sure,” Draco grumbled and held Hermione closer to him.

“What in the bloody hell are you talking about?” Ron growled.

“I’m HEee-EErrrree!” Harmony hollered right before the office door flew open.

“Oh thank Merlin,” Melody breathed. “I was fixing to knock him out. Now, let me have a look at you.” She surveyed her sister closely and then nodded. “Perfect.”

Harmony smiled. “I hope so. Philippe damn near threw a fit when I went through the floo.

Now, let’s get this party started.” She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

“Celeste, you’ll need to let him go. Harmony can’t touch your magic,” Melody said warningly.

“I’m not letting him go. He’d scamper off like a little rat.”

“So shackle him to the damned wall,” Melody snarked. “Just remove the spell.”

“Very well,” Celeste said quietly and looked to Severus. He waved his arm and manacles appeared and fastened themselves to Weasley’s arms and legs. When she was satisfied with his handy work, she released the spell and fell back into him. She quit glowing bodily but her eyes were bright indigo. Severus held her in a bear hug as she trembled in fury.

“Much better, thank you,” Harmony said softly and walked over to a now struggling Weasley.

“What’s she’ going to do? Is she going to bite me?” Ron yelled.

“I don’t have fangs,” Harmony laughed. “I’m just going to touch you. Hold still.”

“The hell I will,” Ron squeaked.

“Ron, if you don’t hold still I swear to Merlin I’ll hex your bollocks off,” Ginny growled, storming right up into his face. She wasn’t about to let him hurt Harmony or her twins. “If you hurt her, you are going to have a lot more than a few pissed off vampires on your arse.”

“You’d maim your own brother over her?” Ron asked in shock.

“You bet I would. She’s just trying to help and you’re acting worse than Malfoy EVER did,” Ginny spat and turned her back on him.

Stunned, Ron fell still.

“Words hurt, eh Weasley?” Celeste sneered.

“Shush,” Harmony said in exasperation as she extended her arm slowly. She placed a cool finger at Ron’s temple and closed her eyes. She immediately wobbled but held herself before anyone could dive to catch her. No one wanted to break her connection. Finally, she opened her eyes and nodded.

“Ronald Weasley,” Harmony said softly. “You have such potential but you’re going to waste it away if you continue to be angry and hold a grudge over something that no one had any control over.”

“What does that mean, no control?” Ron asked.

“Show him what he craves to know but be warned, he’ll need strong occlumency skills and a reminder of what would happen should he try to say anything in a fit of anger.”

“What are you, a bloody seer?” Ron sneered.

“That’s actually an insult as to what I am,” Harmony said darkly. “You’d do well to think your thoughts over before they come hurdling out of your mouth. It could get someone killed one day.”

“Killed?” Ron said in disbelief.

“Yes I believe I’d like a percentage on that one,” Melody said softly.

“It’s a very small tangent but one that was made possible due to his severe reaction to hearing the lovebirds over there.” Harmony nodded towards Hermione and Draco. Hermione half sobbed and shook her head in disbelief. “Calm down sweetheart, it could have happened at any time. That it’s this early in the game is a good thing. We can address it now.”

“Address what?” Ron shouted.

“Shout at me again Weasley and you won’t have to worry about ever speaking to another person as long as you live,” Harmony said, digging her finger in his cheek painfully. Ron gulped and she pulled back.

“Now, the tangent that I’m not supposed to say anything about goes like this: In a fit of petty jealousy and rage, Weasley opens his big trap about Hermione and Draco being together. Granted, he doesn’t do it in public but it is overheard. This news travels to the Dark Lord. Enraged, he slays Draco before he has a chance to react. With Draco gone, Hermione will of course die too. There is still a chance that Harry could defeat the Dark Lord but he could also be destroyed without ever having a chance. It would depend on whether or not he was close to Hermione at the time of her demise.”

“She could blow me up, in other words,” Harry spoke for the first time.

“Precisely. Like I said, it is a small tangent but a very real factor and a hard lesson in why you should always keep your mouth shut,” Harmony said softly. “I believe he should know what you are Celeste. It would make him think twice about his quaint little magical world with black and white creatures.”

“She’s a vampire,” Ron growled.

“No I’m not,” Celeste hissed. “I’m a daywalker.”

“Yea right. Those only exist in movies and fairy tales.”

“Wrong,” Hermione said softly. “They are extremely rare because it is considered forbidden to bite a woman with child in vampire laws.”

“What book did you read that in?” Ron sneered.

“Forbidden Creatures of Transylvania. It took me a month to find it.”

“So she’s a forbidden creature then. Why haven’t they gotten rid of her?” Ron asked darkly.

“Number one, they don’t know she exists in this continent,” Melody answered. “Number two, they couldn’t kill her on ours. Number three, magical laws really don’t coincide with vampire laws. Daywalkers aren’t outlawed, just frowned upon, even in vampire society.”

“What’s the difference between a vampire and a daywalker then?” Ron asked, his curiosity overriding his anger.

“All of their strengths, none of their weaknesses,” Melody said softly as she walked back over to Celeste. She’d been crouched very close to her sister, ready to spring but she finally felt comfortable enough to move. She began pacing around Celeste slowly, assessing her. “They don’t have to drink blood to survive, but they do drink it as you saw. It makes them stronger, enables them to heal faster, and it is decidedly pleasurable for both parties.”

She ran her finger over Celeste’s mouth and moaned softly when the redhead gently nipped the finger and suckled a bit of blood from it. Celeste’s eyes flashed brilliant indigo for a moment before turning platinum and then returning to her dazzling emerald. “See? It’s wonderful but don’t ever let a daywalker bite you Weasley.”

“Why?” Ron asked, shifting uncomfortably at the display.

“One bite and you are bound for life to one. Depending on age, you are either a child or a lover. There is no in between. As such, you are close enough to being of age that you would be considered an adult. With no other bond in place, you would become a sexual slave, craving nothing but the touch of your daywalker. I understand it’s horrible to be separated.” She let her finger trail over Celeste’s shoulder.

“She just bit you though. You’re her lover?” Ron squeaked.

Melody smirked. “Oh wouldn’t you like to know.” She chuckled when Ron went tomato red. “However, for the sake of saving your precious little morals, no, I am not her bound lover. I am immune to it, probably the only person on this planet who is.”

“How?” Ron asked in amazement.

“That is something for me to know and you not to find out. Suffice it to say that I am completely immune to any fanged humanoid including the vampire, the daywalker, and the children of daywalkers, who I’m not sure have a name because there haven’t been any ever reported. We should name them though, since they do exist. What should they be called? Thoughts?”

“Bloody lucky,” Ginny grumbled causing Hermione and Draco to snicker.

“Actually not bad,” Melody giggled. “How about we call them bloodlucks?”

“That sounds like some sort of leech,” Draco said in disgust.

“Hrm… fangwalker?” Alex suggested. “I mean, they have fangs, they can use them, but they only really have a few attributes.”

“Does that meet your approval Draco?” Melody asked with a grin.

“Not bad.”

Ron snorted. “Why does he have the approval?”

Everyone looked at Harmony for a moment. She smiled and nodded to Draco. “Harry, turn around,” the soft spoken blond asked. Harry complied.

Draco grinned evilly and locked eyes with Hermione. He willed his fangs out and hissed softly.

“Imagine those puppies sinking into your skin,” Melody said softly. “I told you that you should be a bit scared of him.”

“Malfoy is a, a, a fangwalker or whatever?” Ron squeaked.

Harry merely sat there blinking for a moment before shaking his head. “You knew that too didn’t you Gin.”

Ginny blushed and nodded jerkily.

“So who’s the daywalker, Lucius or his mum?” Ron asked.

“Neither,” Draco said definitively. “Yet another side effect of our illness Weasley.”

“Hermione?” Ron squeaked.

Hermione sighed and let her fangs out. She hissed and watched sadly as he shrank away.

“What kind of illness was it?” Ron cried.

“Rare,” Melody said. “I think I’m the only other one who suffered from it.”

“You don’t have fangs though.” Ron narrowed his eyes in thought. “You didn’t have to find anyone either.”

“If you remember, I’m immune. I also lost my magic for about seventeen years too.”

“No way,” Ron said in shock.

“Way. It’s why I have a hard time remembering those damned incantations.” Melody shrugged. “Now, we spoke about struggles. Do you see where having a set of fangs would be a fucking struggle?

Ron thought about it for a moment. “They don’t need to feed do they?”

“They feed off of each other,” Melody said softly. “Don’t worry Weasley, your neck is spared once again. Just… don’t let anyone drink your blood, especially a daywalker.”

“You said that already.”

“I said bite but it is possible to consume blood without teeth. Celeste didn’t bite Severus did she?”

“No,” Ron said, thinking back a few moments ago. “She just licked off the blood.”

“Yes. Consuming blood forms a bond as well, either sexual or as a parent/child bond. That bond is intense the first week and mellows out but they always feel each other afterwards. If you don’t want to bow and scrape before one, keep your blood in your veins.”

“Not a problem.” Ron shuddered.

“Now, let’s explore the depth of how bad your friend’s illness was,” Melody said, brandishing a knife. She conjured a curtain and placed it in between them but to where Ron could see them both. “Now, item one.” She grabbed Hermione’s arm and motioned for her to be silent. Then she poked her finger sharply.”

“Ouch! Damn it!” Draco yelled and shook his hand. Melody quirked an eyebrow and healed Hermione’s now bloody finger. Then she made her way over to Draco.

He sighed and held out his hand. She shook her head motioned for his shoulder. He nodded resignedly. She poked the tender flesh and Hermione yelped in pain. Then she nodded and healed Draco’s bloody shoulder. “Get it Weasley?”

“What in the bloody hell was that?”

“A rather unfortunate side effect,” Melody said. “We’re trying to find a way to counteract that one but we haven’t had much luck with it. The side effects aren’t all bad though.” She banished the curtain and made a motion with her hands that said to create a shield. “Power up.”

They nodded and concentrated. Soon, they were both glowing, wind whipping their hair back and forth. It wasn’t near as much as when they’d healed her eyes but it proved their point. She reached for Alex and caught Celeste and Severus’s attention.

“On three,” Melody called. She counted down and they all threw a hex at them at the same time. White light flooded the room rendering everyone blind for several moments. When the light dissipated, everyone except the couple had brilliant purple hair. “See?”

“That was bloody brilliant,” Ron exclaimed.

“And exactly the reason that they are in danger if you go running your mouth,” Harmony said, waving her hand and switching her hair back to its natural color. She walked up to him again and cocked her head. “You’ve learned much in such a short time span Weasley.” She touched his temple and wavered a moment, steadying herself at the last second. A few minutes later, she pulled away and nodded. “I think that does it. If you guys don’t mind, I need a nap. Train him up though. I think he’ll need it.” Alex zoomed over to her and picked her up gently, ignoring her protests that she could walk by herself.

“So Weasley, what’s it going to be?” Melody asked. “We can teach you all sorts of cool neat tricks and we can take down the Dark Bastard together, or we can leave you manacled to this wall until either the house elves or Dumbledore himself takes mercy on you and lets you down.”

“I still don’t trust Malfoy,” Ron growled.

“Fine, don’t trust him,” Melody said in exasperation. “Just keep your fucking mouth shut. In fact, hate him as loudly and publicly as you want, just don’t hex him or you’ll hurt Hermione.”

Ron sighed and gave one last look to Hermione who had buried her head in Draco’s bare chest. “She really had no choice.”

“None. Draco or death,” Melody said confidently.

“Alright. Where do we start?”

“We start with this!” Celeste yelled and hexed him before anyone could blink.

Ron yelled and screamed and then realized that nothing horribly had gone wrong. He was free of the manacles and actually kneeling on the ground. He looked all over but noticed nothing out of place. “What the bloody hell was that?”

“Payback Weasley,” Celeste smirked and conjured a mirror. On his forehead in bright scarlet ink, the word hypocrite could be clearly seen. It sparkled and flashed and then went back to red. “Try explaining that one,” she scoffed and transformed back into her wolf form, uncaring what he thought about it.

“She was the wolf,” Ron choked.

“Nothing is ever as it seems,” Melody said with a smirk. “Now, first things first, we need to get you two properly dressed. DOBBY!”

‘CRACK’ Dobby appeared with two outfits and bowed low before he cracked back out again.

“I do believe I love that little elf,” Melody mused. “Now, be sure to check on a few things while you are changing in there.” She pointed to the office.

Hermione and Draco grabbed their clothes and raced in as fast as they could into the office. They dressed in silence, too stunned to say much. Then they walked over to the covered cage where they knew the niffler was. Draco removed the sheet and they stared at the little animal for a few minutes. So still, so lifeless, and yet it hadn’t lost any color as most did. A modified spell let them know that it was, in fact, barely alive.

“Do you think the poison is still working?” Hermione breathed.

“I don’t know.” Draco tilted his head in thought. “Let’s try something though. We still have a bit of that poison left over right?”

“Yeah, Melody kept what was left over. She said that it never hurt to have a backup plan.”

Draco laughed. “Well, what if we modified a tracer spell to test for that poison and then see if we can find it in the niffler?”

“That’s brilliant!” Hermione cried and kissed him passionately.

Draco moaned and then pulled back. “As much as I would love to continue, I think we need to get to work.”

Hermione bit her lip sheepishly and blushed. They had just finished modifying the tracing spell when Melody knocked on the door and came in. “Hey you two, I thought you’d had enough for the afternoon.”

“Once is never enough,” Draco quipped, “But that wasn’t what we were doing.” He waved his hand and showed Melody the tracing spell they’d been working on.

“Oh wow, that’s some very nice spell work!” Melody said, impressed. “The question is, what are you going to do with it?”

“This,” Draco said, waving his hand over the niffler. A diagram of its little body hovered over it just like the one Philippe had done of Melody’s eyes. Then Hermione waved her hand and they watched with baited breath as certain portions of the diagram turned bright pink. It looked to be settled in the veins, not moving but not dissipating either.

“It’s just as we thought,” Melody said, chewing on her fingernail in thought. “Alex!” She called in a normal voice. Alex rushed in the room, looking around to see why he’d been summoned. “Alex do you happen to have a small needle, like a 31 gage?”

“Let me check.” He zoomed out of the room. He returned with his black bag and started rummaging through it. “AHA!” He cried, pulling out a pack of diabetic needles and tiny syringes. “I can’t believe I still have these. I used to use them all the time but there aren’t that many wizard diabetics out there. They should still be sterile. Why do you need them?”

“We’re going to treat the poison in the niffler and we need a tiny needle to do it with,” Melody explained.

“But we haven’t made the antidote yet,” Hermione protested.

“This one doesn’t have a premixed antidote,” Melody said. “It’s unique in that it has a ten step process. You push one ingredient every twelve hours and it breaks the poison down bit by bit.”

“What would happen if we just mixed everything together?” Draco asked curiously.

“Death. The cure is almost worse than the damned poison but if you introduce them one at a time, it serves as a buffer. Also, since the niffler is essentially down for the count, it won’t have any side effects like difficulty breathing, seizures, and high fever.”

“So it’s actually better we gave him Merlin’s potion then?” Hermione breathed.

“Yes. I think it might just be our very first lucky break.” Melody smiled brightly. “Anyway, the first ingredient is belladonna. The berries of the plant need to be juiced and then injected intravenously. Then we cast the circulation charm and wait to see if it takes effect.”

“Well, let’s get started then,” Draco said, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. Melody opened a little chest at the far end of the office and took out the belladonna berries and a mortar and pestle. Draco methodically crushed the berries into a juice. Then Alex carefully filled the little syringe and injected it into the niffler.

“Now, the circulation charm is a tricky little thing but it works wonders.” Alex pulled his wand out of his sleeve and tapped the niffler twice at the injection site. “Dispergo!” He said softly and then twirled his wand in a circular motion, making wider and wider circles. They watched in awe as the belladonna spread through the veins and the pink lost some of its brilliant hue. The last circle Alex made encompassed the entire niffler and then he tapped the injection site sharply. “Think you can do that?”

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” Draco said, cocking his head. “Why the wand though?”

“It requires precision and I don’t have that without the wand,” Alex explained, shrugging and putting his wand back up.

“Makes sense.” Draco nodded. “So now we wait twelve hours. Then what?”

“Powdered aconite,” Melody said softly. “We mix it with spring water and introduce it in the morning.”

“Lovely,” Draco said dryly.

“I said the cure was almost worse than the poison. Now, we’ve been gone far too long. Time to face the music.”

Hermione’s shoulders slumped and Draco spun her around and grabbed her face. “You have not now, nor have you ever been a harlot. Weasley just wanted to hurt you. Do not let it get to you.”

“He’s right. Besides, there is a reason Celeste tattooed hypocrite on that jerk’s forehead,” Melody snickered.

“Will that fade?” Hermione asked wide eyed.

“Oh, it will but he’ll have to wear it a few days. Should be good fun to watch him squirm.” Melody’s eyes narrowed and she smirked in evil pleasure.

“Poor Ron,” Hermione said.

“Poor Ron?” Draco yelled in outrage. “That bloody git deserves more than that! I’d hex his bits off.”

“Calm down Draco,” Hermione said softly. “He shouldn’t have said what he said and believe me, I wanted to hex him too but you have to see what a shock this is.”

“Whatever,” Draco mumbled.

“No, we’re going to stop this right now,” Hermione said, grabbing his face. “I don’t want to fight over this anymore. I want you, alright? Just you.”

“Bloody right,” he growled and slammed his mouth over hers.

Melody sighed. “Ah me, young love. Now, if you two don’t mind, we have much to go over tonight.”

“Like?” Draco asked as he pulled away, smirking at Hermione’s swollen lips.

“Making sure Weasley won’t talk and then you two are going to go back to basics. Harry’s still working on wandless magic. Ginny’s going to be meditating on her animagus form until Harry can catch up with her so they can practice dual casting. I’ll be drilling Weasley on occlumency.”

“Which basics?” Draco asked curiously.

“Sev and Alex have agreed to take over your fighting lessons until I can get Weasley up to speed. By the way, how good is he at occlumency?”

“Not bad,” Hermione said, biting her lip. “He helped me train Harry last summer so he’s gotten a head start at least.”

“Well that’s something then.” Melody nodded. “Let’s go. We have so much to cover.”

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Faster!” Melody yelled.

“I can’t go any faster damn it!” Draco yelled as he sparred with the bag Melody was levitating around the room.

“You’ll never catch a vampire this way,” Melody chided.

“I don’t think I want to,” Draco said, swinging hard with his left before landing a roundhouse and knocking the bag back a few feet.

“The Dark Lord has several at his disposal. Simply being immune to the thrall isn’t going to save your ass.”

Draco dodged and threw a right uppercut, sending the bag a few feet in the air. “What did you tell that vampire anyway?”

“Vampires have a code of silence extended to mortals. If you stumble upon a bonded pair, you keep your fucking mouth shut. I simply invoked it,” she said, jerking the bag to where it would catch Draco in the solar plexus.

He wheezed for a second and then shook himself out, throwing a few kicks at it before he drove his elbow in hard and sent it flying again. “What if he turns his back on the code?”

“There is a reason the vampire clan killed Celeste’s sire. I believe Severus’s sire is also dead. They created daywalkers and therefore, broke the code. There’s nothing worse to a vampire than to be destroyed. They consider their souls to be damned and no one wants to meet their maker after that.” She lifted the bag up and jerked it down to attack his head.

Draco went down into an impressive backbend and kicked straight up, dislodging the bag from its trajectory. Then he landed two punches in succession before he kicked it across the room. It landed with a thud and slid down the wall. “So why is Alex so willing to end his if you died?”

Melody smiled sadly and levitated the bag towards her so she could repair the rip it had. “Could you live for eternity without Hermione?”

Draco shook his head. “Not possible but if it was, I wouldn’t want to.”

“There you go. Hell seems a lot better than being alone to him. At least he’d have torment to keep his mind occupied.”

“You hate the thought,” Draco breathed.

“More than I can say.” She angrily brushed a tear from her face. “Sometimes I wish the turning would have worked.”

“Maybe one day it will,” Draco said softly.

“I’ll be an old maid by then,” she laughed.

“If he loves you, he won’t care,” Draco said as he stretched out his shoulders.

“I really don’t see why you have such a bad rap Draco. Beneath all that posturing, you’re a good man.”

“Posturing is what everyone sees and it’s too dangerous to let them look underneath it.” He shrugged and stretched out his calves.

“Touché. Your lady love should be done administering the water hemlock by now. Tomorrow morning you can do the white snakeroot.”

“It’s a wonder we haven’t killed that beast yet,” Draco snorted.

“It’s only Saturday Draco. We still have seven ingredients and three and a half days left before it even wakes up.”

“This had better work,” Draco said darkly.

“It’s our only shot.” Melody looked up as Hermione emerged from Snape’s chambers. “Did it go well?”

“Everything looks okay so far. The pink dulled a bit more,” Hermione informed them. “His heartbeat is still weak but it hasn’t changed so I think we’re on the right track.”

“We’ll need to go to the forbidden forest tonight for tomorrow night’s ingredient,” Snape drawled as he walked in behind her. “English yew isn’t something I keep readily in my stores.”

“No problem,” Melody chirped. “I’ll just stay here with Harry and Ginny and you can take them down to fetch it.”

“I’ve been fetching it, as you so eloquently put it, by myself for years,” Snape sneered.

“Draco, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Melody asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.

Draco scoffed. “A potions master.”

“There you have it. Take them, teach them. You are a teacher, are you not?” Melody asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Cheeky wench,” Snape snapped. “Very well, but Hermione will remain cloaked and glamoured at all times. There is no telling what or more importantly who we might run into, especially at this time of night.”

“Take Celeste, she’ll protect you.” Melody chuckled and looked at the red wolf who was sulking in the corner. “Oh come on Sev. If you hadn’t have been the teacher, you would have done more than that.”

“She disobeyed me,” Severus said softly.

“So fuck the shit out of her and get over it.” Melody shrugged.

“Everything so easily solved with a tumble in the sheets,” Snape sneered.

“Always set me to rights.” Melody smirked. “Besides, I think snapping once in 35 years without a life or death situation is a pretty damned good track record. You and I don’t even come close.” Snape sighed and pulled on his heavy cloak. “Please Sev?” Melody asked as she walked up to him and laid her head on his chest. “She doesn’t deserve this.”

“So willing to stand up for your friend,” Snape drawled and laid his chin on her head.

“Always. She would do no less for me. If you’re going to push her away Sev, I’ll keep her in my bed. I’m sure Alex wouldn’t mind.”

Snapes nostrils flared and he hissed softly. Melody grinned at Draco and Hermione who were silently watching the exchange. It was all they could do to keep from laughing. She knew exactly how to push his buttons to get what she wanted.

“The only way she will enter your bed again is if I am with her,” Snape growled.

“If you push her away, there will be no you in the picture Sev. Remember that,” Melody warned.

He brought his arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I have no intentions of pushing her away. I merely wish for her to see the seriousness of her actions.”

“She is fully aware of them Sev,” Melody whispered. “I know your punishment was the lack of access to you and it was quite effective. However, you weren’t the one who held her all night long as she cried.”

Snape inhaled sharply and froze for a moment before nodded his head and letting go of Melody. “Celeste, transform and come here.” The red wolf slunk over and lay down at his feet, whining softly. “Transform.”

The wolf merely rolled over and exposed her belly, whining a bit more audibly now. It was obvious she was begging him not to make her. Snape drew his wand and placed it right between her eyes. “You will not hide from me so easily.”

The wolf shook for a moment and then gave a minute nod of its head. Snape withdrew his wand and placed it back in his sleeve. Celeste rolled over and transformed, but remained curled in a tiny ball away from him. Snape ordered her to kneel and she complied, using the same position Melody had used in front of the Dark Lord but she was careful to keep her face down instead of placing her cheek on his boots.

He sighed heavily and rubbed the bridge of his nose before reaching down and grabbing a handful of Celeste’s hair. She resisted for a moment but gave into the sharp tug and looked up into his face. She looked horrible, her eyes red rimmed with dark circles underneath. She was pale and it was obvious she hadn’t slept or perhaps even eaten since the previous night.

“Do you know why you are being punished?” Snape asked softly.

Celeste nodded miserably. “I lost my temper and I ignored you. I endangered the life of one of your students and even though he is an unbelievable ass, it wasn’t worth it to blow my cover.”

“Yes,” Snape said. “More importantly, you frightened me.”

Celeste looked thoroughly confused. “How so?”

“For a moment, I wasn’t certain you could reign in your temper or your magic. I was most pleased to see you still responded to my touch but I haven’t been that worried since Draco and Hermione were unbound.”

“I didn’t mean to scare anyone but Weasley,” Celeste croaked, a tear running down her face. “I don’t think I’ve ever had that kind of reaction before, especially over a few words. What’s happening to me?”

“Shit,” Melody breathed. “I think that’s my fault. “

“How so?” Severus asked, turning toward her.

“Sev, how did you feel when you fed from me?” She blushed a bit at the memory.

“Unusually calm.” He frowned.

“Because we are opposites. She is not,” Melody said as she closed her eyes in shame.

“Ah,” Severus said softly.

“Celeste, have you cast any spells in the past week?” Melody asked softly.

Celeste shook her head. “No. I have no need to really.”

“There you go. The influx of my magic and no outlet caused a buildup and Weasley has a way of pissing off even the most complacent of people. I don’t think you could help it. I’m sorry,” Melody said, her eyes watering.

“It isn’t your fault,” Celeste said softly. “I need to learn to hold my temper.”

Melody laughed loudly. “There is only one person I’ve met that’s better at holding their temper and you are kneeling in front of him.”

Celeste cringed a bit and ducked her head again, unwilling to look up into Severus’s eyes. He’d been so angry and she could feel the disappointment rolling off of him in waves. She simply couldn’t bare it; she felt like a failure. His temper was famous but he was the master of holding it in check and she felt sick at her display.

Severus crouched down and gently grabbed his face in both of her hands. “Everyone makes mistakes pet. Merlin knows I’ve made more than my fair share of mine. I don’t wish for you to wallow in your mistake, merely realize how dangerous it could have been. Now that I know what’s going on, I wish I hadn’t been quite as hard on you.” He dried a few tears that leaked down her cheeks. “None of that. Punishment is over.”

Hermione had to catch her breath as Snape placed the most tender kiss she’d ever witnessed on Celeste’s lips. If she had doubted it before, she couldn’t now. He was falling in love with Celeste. She was so happy for him. Looking askance, she saw Melody furiously wiping away tears in an effort to remain strong. The woman turned her jade colored eyes to Hermione and bestowed her with a watery smile. She was truly happy for them both. Hermione could feel Draco’s happiness at the situation as well.

“Now,” Severus said, pulling away and clearing his throat uncomfortably. He seemed very ill at ease with showing his tender side. “We go to the forbidden forest. Glamours are a must.”

“Why don’t you two just wear these?” Melody asked, taking a few necklaces out of her pocket. The couple smiled when they realized it was the charms they’d worn at Fangs and Thangs in America. “And you might want to make sure to mask your scents. No telling what’s lurking about out there.”

“Why is everyone so worried?” Hermione asked in confusion. She wasn’t proud of it but she’d been to the forbidden forest more than her fair share of times. Snape had even taken them out there to practice.

“Things have changed,” Melody said biting her lip. “Moldy Shorts has given the orders for vampires and werewolves to lurk closely to the school and pick off any stragglers they find.”

“When did you find that out?” Draco said with a frown.

“Sergei, the vampire the Dark Lord had try to ensnare me, showed me. He’s really not very loyal to the cause. He’d only gone there at the request of his coven. That’s why Alex hasn’t joined one. The coven’s decision is law.” Melody eyes were far away as she remembered.

“How do you know he wasn’t having you on?” Draco asked curiously.

“Blackmail mostly,” Melody said softly. “He has a human lover, one he hasn’t told his coven about and wishes to become bonded to her. Only, he’s terrified of hurting her should he try it. I pried the information from him and he was astonished and frightened. I made a deal with him. His silence and we’ll help him leave his coven and obtain his lover.”

“That’s a very large promise,” Draco said with a frown.

“It’s one we’ll have to make. The alternative was death. I’m not very fond of death, having experienced it before.”

“How long?” Draco asked.

“Alex sent Vladimir to pick up Sergei’s lover and take her to America. Victor and Sampson have agreed to give her a job until Sergei can be freed.”

“Who is Vladimir?” Hermione asked softly.

Melody grinned. “Vladimir is in charge of entertainment at the club. He’s a silent partner of sorts. Of course, no one except for me and my friends know this. He’s rather embarrassed to be seen.”

“Why?” Hermione asked curiously. She’d never heard of a vampire being embarrassed about anything.

Melody chuckled. “He used to be a vampire hunter, a damned good one at that. Then one day he fell for the charms of a fanged beauty and he fell hard. He feels that he’d be somewhat of a joke if anyone were to know.”

“How did you meet all of these vampires?” Hermione asked in disbelief.

“Well… I ran into Victor and Sampson when I was young and still had my powers. I was looking for a way not to die but they refused to turn me until I’d exhausted all my options. I didn’t tell them exactly why I would die but they could smell the power and didn’t want to touch me. We remained close friends though. I think they grew fond of my smart mouth. I met Severus shortly after that. It was years later that I met Alex as you well know. Alex’s dam, I guess you’d call her, was Vladimir’s lover. They took care of him when he first turned. The rest, as they say, is history.” Melody smiled gently at the memory.

“That’s insane,” Draco scoffed.

“Insane or not, that’s what happened. Anyway, Sergei can only leave his coven for another coven and only if he is leaving the continent for good, plans not to return, and has the other coven’s blessing first. Victor and Sampson will meet with Sergei tonight to arrange everything.”

“You are something else,” Draco said in awe.

“I work fast,” she shrugged. “Now you guys had better get a move on. Watch out and cover your tracks.”

“Celeste,” Severus drawled. “I wish for you to go with us.”

“Really?” She choked, still kneeling and trembling.

“Really. However, you will need to do it as a wolf.”

Celeste transformed immediately and sat back on her haunches, waiting his command. Draco and Hermione slipped their necklaces over their heads and smiled as their faces transformed. Then they donned their cloaks and followed Snape out of the classroom. They gained several strange looks from students as they marched out the front doors on his heels with Celeste the wolf trailing behind.

It didn’t take very long for them to find the English yew they were looking for. It grew fairly close to the entrance, much to everyone’s relief. They listened with rapt attention as Snape lectured them on the proper way to harvest the leaves of the tree so it would not poison them. They had just packed their things away when Celeste growled lowly and Snape stiffened.

Draco and Hermione held their breaths, listening for anything out of the ordinary but it was too hard to pick out sounds among so much wildlife. Snape gave the signal to hold as he whipped his wand out and narrowed his eyes. “Fenrir.”

“Snape. How did you know?” A voice called as it stepped out into the clearing. It took everything Hermione had not to shudder as she glanced at the werewolf. Fenrir was human, well, almost. He always looked halfway transformed. She could hear his heavy panting pounding in her ears but there was another sound that made her stiffen and back into Draco. The low hissing of a vampire was unmistakable.

“I’m alert,” Snape said softly. “Who is with you?”

“Hello Severus, is it?” Sergei drawled as he walked from behind the bushes. “We meet again.”

“And you are both here because…” Snape let his voice trail off.

“We were ordered to,” Sergei said. “What brings you out to the forest at this time of night?” His nostrils flared as he scented Snape’s companions. His eyes widened a bit when he realized exactly what Snape and Celeste were. His senses had been somewhat dulled in the presence of the Dark Lord but now they were sharp.

“Harvesting potions ingredients,” Snape said offhand.

“Do you always bring an entourage to harvest?”

“No. I am teaching.”

“So these are your pupils?” Sergei asked in amusement as he eyed Hermione and Draco, both of which had pulled their cloaks up to obscure their faces.

“Yes,” Snape said tersely. “They are serving their detentions.”

“I see,” Sergei drawled. “And the wolf?”

“Melody’s familiar. I can’t get the bloody thing to leave my side.”

“She is most becoming,” Sergei said softly, making note of the way Snape’s hands clenched and unclenched while trying to reign in his temper.

“I suppose she has her uses,” Snape said flatly, not wanting to make idle chitchat, especially in front of Fenrir.

“Well, don’t let us keep you from your duties. Fenrir, if you could?” Sergei drawled.

Fenrir snarled and leapt into his face. “I take no orders from a vampire.”

“Then take your orders from your Lord and go ahead of me,” Sergei said tightly as his eyes narrowed.

Fenrir sniffed and bounded off. A few moments later, Sergei nodded and leaned forward. “I’ve never met one of your kind before, let alone two.”

“We are a rarity,” Snape said pithily.

“Indeed,” Sergei said softly. “There is no to explain time but know this. The club is soon to be visited by your friends and a demand will be put in to watch your little so called slave perform. Honestly, how do you keep your throat from being ripped out?”

“Because he does not wish for her throat to be ripped out,” Snape answered him coolly and watched the vampire nod in acceptance of his answer. “How soon?”

“Tonight. You might want to bring your students along Severus. It could get rather ugly in a hurry,” Sergei said, looking around. He leaned in. “I pray this works out. She will arrive tonight.”

Severus looked around before nodded to himself. “We’ll have her hidden before then. Thank you for the warning.”

“No thanks are needed as long as she is kept safe. Good day Severus. Enjoy your hunting,” Sergei said his goodbyes loudly and stalked off into the night, disappearing into a puff of mist.

“That doesn’t bode well,” Draco said softly.

“We need to get back now,” Snape said, scowling fiercely.

AN: Uh oh! Hello everybody! I was actually going to post this yesterday but my eyes rolled back in my head before I got a chance. It seems that strep throat has made it's way to the goldhorse household. YAY. I hope all of you are staying healthy. In this chapter, we get a glimpse at Celeste's power and a peek into how she and Severus are getting along. If enough people are interested, I might write a little snippet about them. As always, thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews. They've done an excellent job at stroking my ego (although whether that is a good thing or not is still in question, lol) and I love hearing how much you enjoy this. It's inspired me to finish my original novel so thank you all again. Keep them coming and let me know how I'm doing and if you find any mistakes. Until next time, love you guys!
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