A Long Way Back ~ Editing

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to JKR. All situations are mine. No $$$ is being made from this fanfic.
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Chapter 10 ~ The Results of Adam's Treatment

"You're still skinny as a broomstick," Adam said critically as they walked up the stone stairs, "But your skin is lovely, pink and soft, your toenails are a healthy color...and that kindling that used to be your hair is gone…it's shiny and curling. The shadows under your eyes have disappeared and your lips are nice and moist. Don't get me wrong, honey, you still have a long way to go, but now you merely look anorexic. A bit like that American muggle actress, Calista Flockart or something."

Hermione hadn't yet seen her transformation, because there were no mirrors downstairs. Vampires had no reflections, so they didn't need them. But the minute she emerged upstairs, she hurried through the back room into the shop to the mirrors used for customers and looked at herself.

Yes, she was still dreadfully skinny, but she looked much, much better than she did. The shadows really were gone, the amber light was back in her eyes, and her skin was a healthy color, soft and smooth. Her chestnut hair was the riot of curls it used to bem though she still had the two gray streaks. The witch wasn't a hundred percent, but she was a damn sight better than she was when she first entered the beauty shop.

"Too bad I don't know any fattening charms," Adam said, startling the witch.

In the mirror she looked like she was alone, but Adam was standing right next to her.

"But most witches want slimming down, not fattening up," the vampire finished, eyeing his handiwork. "Too bad I didn't take a before picture. You would have been the poster witch for miraculous skin recovery."

Hermione turned to Adam.

"While I was soaking…I…I had…well…lucid dreams," Hermione said.

"Being in a throne room, getting poisoned, fucked by a demon with two cocks, turning a bunch of prisoners into minions and fucking Victor?" Adam asked her.

Hermione nodded.

"That was just that bitch Vashti's life and death memories. A side effect…though Victor is quite the little dish," Adam said, giving her a toothy smile. "Did you get a load of his dipping stick? Isn't it just gorgeous? Like someone sculpted it just for me."

Hermione looked at Adam, but didn't answer him concerning Victor's dipping stick. Yet she was very satisfied. She reached into her robes pocket and drew out a small drawstring purse.

"Adam, please let me pay for this treatment. It's wonderful and I think you should be compensated," the witch said, drawing out quite a few galleons. Adam graciously accepted them. Business was business after all.

"Now let's see if your wizard is back. You were under for two hours," Adam said, taking her arm and walking her to the waiting room.

Severus was indeed there, sitting in one of the cushioned chairs, glowering at Victor who was sitting opposite him glowering back. The tension between wizard and vampire was palpable. Severus had asked to see Hermione and was quickly told by Victor she was receiving a specialized beauty treatment and he would have to wait. Severus was in a bad mood. What kind of treatment took so damn long? He didn't want anyone seeing him sitting in a beauty shop. They might think he was a customer.

When Hermione and Adam came out of the beauty area, both Victor and he stood up.

Victor looked at Hermione and stiffened, his blue eyes beginning to glow slightly and his nostrils flaring. Adam took one look at him and scowled blackly.

"Go to the back, Victor…now!" he commanded.

Victor hesitated, then slowly walked past them, his red eyes on Hermione until he passed her and disappeared into the back.

Severus stared at Hermione.

"Circe's squealing pigs," the wizard thought. "The vampire worked a miracle on the witch. She's still skinny but she looks almost like her old self."

Hermione looked after the departing vampire, then at Adam.

"What was that all about?" she asked Adam, who looked a bit taken aback. He hadn't counted on this. He lowered his voice and leaned into the witch conspiratorially.

"Well my dear, it seems you absorbed a bit of Queen pheromones. You are emitting a powerful sexual signature that attracts and controls the male species, human and vampire alike," Adam replied, his eyes glowing a bit…not from attraction but at the thought of all the randy males that would be focused on the witch.

Hermione looked mortified.

"Dear gods. Adam, will that mean men will be all over me? I don't think I could handle that," Hermione said in a low voice so Severus wouldn't hear, her amber eyes worried.

Adam laughed.

"Oh no my dear. For all intents and purposes you are a Queen, albeit it's false advertising. You won't be attacked by any male. You will however make men randy for you, but they will not approach you directly. The pheromones make them relatively submissive. Your power makes them want to please you so you will invite them to have sex with you," Adam said, looking her over. "They will not ask you for sex."

"But if I were you sweetie, I wouldn't think about inviting anyone right now. You need to invite some food into your bloodstream. A lot of green vegetables for iron and red meat for protein. You have to put some meat on those bones before you put some meat in those bones…if you know what I mean…"

Hermione flushed. Sex was the last thing on her mind.

"Some men can handle the attraction better than others," Adam continued, "Depending on how strong-willed they are. Now, I don't know how long the influence is going to last. Maybe a day, maybe a month…but it will wear off eventually."

Hermione looked over at Severus, who was staring at her.

"What about him?" she asked Adam who looked over at the Potions Master. "He is staying with me."

"Who? Tall, pale and delicious? He'll either be very solicitous, anxious to fulfill your every whim, or if he is strong-willed, he will act very sullen and disturbed by your presence. Some men hate to be controlled so when they feel your pull, they will rebel and become surly because they are so attracted."

Hermione looked at the Potions Master. So he would either be solicitous or snarky. Hell, he was like that anyway. Adam looked at Severus thoughtfully.

"I think he will fight it. He is very dominant. Shit, he could dominate me any night. Beat me meatily, Mr.Yum Yum," Adam sighed. The Queen had Victor, but he still had a bit of slut in him.

Severus looked at the vampire uncomfortably as if sensing something very, very wrong. Hermione's influence had not yet hit him.

Hermione sighed.

"Well, I have equipment to buy Adam, so I'd better get going," she said, feeling queasy about Severus possibly becoming sexually attracted to her. But there was no helping it. Anyway, if he did get randy, it would be his own fault. He was the one who encouraged her to take Adam up on his offer to fix her up.

"He looks like he has adequate equipment," Adam quipped, his blue eyes washing over the Potions Master. The vampire pursed his lips at Severus, who frowned darkly. "Lave me in the lab, Sugarhips," the queen mouthed at him.

Good thing Severus couldn't read lips.

Hermione shook her head. Adam Sweetmeats was something else.

The witch remembered she wanted to pick up some toiletry items, and Adam happily sold her soaps, lotions, shampoos and conditioners as well as some facial and body scrubs guaranteed to make her feel beautiful. He put the items in a pretty little gift bag and reduced it. Hermione placed the tiny bag of goods in her robes pocket. She caught hold of the vampire's hand, noticing for the first time how cool it was.

"Thank you Adam," Hermione said, shaking it firmly.

The vampire slid his hand out of her grasp.

"Kisses," Adam replied, almost bringing his lips to both of Hermione's cheeks as if kissing her. "Now, if the treatment starts wearing off, come back for another. I'll keep a standing appointment for you."

Hermione thanked the vampire again and walked into the waiting room area.

"I'm ready," she said to Severus who looked her over.

The hollows under her eyes were gone and her skin was a healthy pink, smooth and soft looking. Her lips were fuller, reminiscent of the small full mouth he remembered. And her hair was as curling and untamed as it used to be. She was still horribly skinny though. Eating would help that.

"You look a thousand times better. That vampire deserves a shrine for this transformation," the Potions Master said.

"I think he'd consider a tumble with you a better reward," Hermione said, exiting the shop.

Severus looked over at Adam, who twiddled his fingers at him in lieu of a wave and sent a juicy kiss in the wizard's direction. Severus eyed the vampire queen murderously and stalked from the shop. He had nothing against gays or vampires as long as they stayed away from him. Adam was a disturbing combination of the two and literally made the hair on the back of the Potions Master's neck stand up.

He quickly caught up to Hermione, who was steadily walking toward the equipment shop. Wizards were slowing down as she approached, and looking after her when she passed. Severus noticed this, and it made him a little angry. What the hell were they looking at?

They turned into 'Humperdink's Lab Supply' and Hermione began browsing immediately. The young clerk behind the counter took one look at the skinny witch and nearly leapt over it, hurrying to be of assistance. Any assistance at all.

"Good morning, Miss. My name is Alan and I work here. Can I help you with anything?" the young wizard asked, his eyes rather glazed and hot as he looked at the petite witch, who had a piece of parchment and a muggle pen in her hand.

Hermione looked up at him.

"Hello Alan. No I don't need any assistance right now. I am making a list of what I wish to purchase and will give it to you when I'm done. You can have the items delivered to my manor," she said.

"Yes Miss," Alan said, still following her.

Severus, who was following Hermione about discreetly, frowned at the green-eyed brown-haired clerk. He strode up to the young man, scowling fiercely as he looked down on him.

"The witch said she needed no assistance. Do I need to draw you a map back to your counter? If I do, it will be drawn in blood. Yours," the Potions Master said through clenched teeth.

The clerk blanched and hurried back to his counter. Severus snorted, then began to follow Hermione again at a discreet distance, watching her check out item after item, writing down which she wanted. Occasionally male customers would saunter over, trying to engage her in unwanted conversation. Hermione would politely turn them away, and they would hover until Severus stalked up to them and said a few words. They left quickly after that.

Presently Hermione walked up to the counter, followed by a silent, glowering Severus. The clerk looked at the Potions Master as he nervously took the list out of Hermione's hand gingerly, not wanting to touch her in case the wizard behind her launched himself over the counter and beat him to death.

"My account number and address are on there too. Have the items delivered tomorrow. My gate will be open," Hermione said.

Severus looked at her. She was taking down the wards? Now this was progress.

"Yes Miss," the clerk said, looking at the witch dreamily a moment until Severus cleared his throat pointedly.

"Tally that up," he growled at the clerk.

Hermione spun.

"Why Severus?" she asked him.

"I want to pay for it. You are furnishing your lab because of me," he said to her.

"No. I will probably use it later on for myself," Hermione replied. "So I will pay for the equipment."

Severus looked at her blackly.

"I said I will pay for it Severus. Now stop it!" she seethed at him.

Suddenly the Potions Master felt the need to appease her. So he listened and backed down.

"All right," he said quietly, his black eyes resting on her.

Hermione stared at him. Severus Snape backing down so easily? What the hell was going on?

The Potions Master was wondering the same thing. He should have at least paid for half of the equipment. It didn't matter. He would simply send the shop payment later and have half of the money redeposited in Hermione's account without her knowledge. He didn't think the witch kept up on her spending, feeling as she did about the money Harry left her.

Hermione concluded the transaction, turned to Severus and said, "I'm exhausted. I want to go back to the manor. Did you get everything you needed?" she asked the wizard.

"Yes," he replied.

"Well, you don't have to leave now because I am," she said, walking out of the shop, Severus close behind her now.

"I am returning with you," he declared, his dark eyes locked to hers.

Hermione shrugged and turned in the direction of the closest apparation point. Severus followed, glaring at all the wizards slowing and turning as Hermione passed them. He felt like breaking some heads. This was strange. Why was he feeling so possessive about the witch? Yes, she looked better…but that was no reason to act this way. Physically, she was still too thin to fuck, even if he wanted to fuck her.

With a little start, he realized he did want to fuck her and would if she asked him too. This morning she could have sprawled naked in his bed with her little chicken-legs gapped and begged him until she was blue in the face and he still wouldn't have touched her. What had changed? There had to be magic working here.

"Hermione, just what did that vampire do to you in that shop?" he asked the witch. "Is there a spell on you?"

Hermione looked up at him.

"No, not a spell. More like an influence. I have Vampire Queen pheromones," she said.

Severus processed this as they arrived at the apparation point.

"What do these pheromones do exactly?" the Potions Master said.

Hermione turned to face him, and the wizard felt a pulse beneath his robes. Desire.

"Well according to Adam, they turn men on," Hermione replied, disapparating.

Severus' eyebrows went up.

"Shit," he thought, disapparating after her.

This couldn't be good.

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A/N: Lol. Queen pheromones. Too funny. And Severus getting all possessive and territorial, driving wizards away from her. Gotta love a jealous Severus. Anyway, please review.