On a Hot Summer Night

[AN]Long time no chapter. I had the sudden urge to update this, and I hope it's read and somewhat appreciated. Thanks for the reviews and support.[/AN]



The sensation of waking up next to her maker was a strange one. She had not slept with a being in a bed for quite some time, and although they did not necessarily have sex, they came close. Being in the dungeons meant that Hermione had no idea what time it was. Severus was sleeping soundly next her, though she was sure that he might awake if she move too much. Laying content next to her…well…what was he now to her. A professor, a father, a friend, a fellow vampire. Or something much more. A lover. The thought lingered and seemed to be stuck in Hermione’s brain. Lovers. Could they ever be? Were they already.



Looking at the innocent sleeping vampire with a new sense of regret she quietly crawled out of the bed as quickly as she could muster. Deciding not to traipse around Severus’ abode completely naked she grabbed only her panty and bra and put them on. Time to explore her surroundings. The blood from the night before was enough to keep her alert now, but she would need to ingest something before she went back to sleep. The sexual explorations of the night before had taken its own toll on her body, especially her orgasm, and she was only now feeling the effects.



She was still in the bedroom and after a good night’s sleep she could appreciate the décor even more. Although most of the trappings were Slytherin in color there were a few sparks of red. Probably more of a vampire thing than a Gryffindor longing on his part, but she could hope. Walking out of the room she snuck one last glance at the man she didn’t know how to define. The candles were still lit and were burning furiously. They were on too long. Making her way back into the room she snatched her wand from the bed-side table where Severus had placed it only to find it long elegant fingers wrapped around her wrist.



He had moved too fast for her to see. Was this because he was older than her in so many ways? Or because she was caught off guard. Unaccustomed after ten years of immortality she did not like this surprise and glared into Severus black hard eyes. She yanked her arm away from him and touched the tip of her wand to the closest flame to her. They all went out with a blink of an eye and left the room with what seemed like hundreds of smoke puffs from the extinguished wicks. The candles let off a menagerie of smells and even colors, giving a slightly hallucinogenic feeling to the room. As the smoke dissipated into the rest of the air Hermione returned her wand to the table and walked out of the room without so much as recognizing Severus.



Had he done something wrong? He was just trying to give her a little fright, nothing more. And he was sure that the last night he had done nothing wrong. No missteps at all. He had done his best to do his best. Damnit that was a damn lot. And that little…witch. Ungrateful in his eyes. Sitting on the edge of his bed he decided to let Hermione be for now. Whatever was going on with her was more than he wanted to deal with. He took a quick shower and dressed modernly: a long sleeve black v-neck t-shirt with a pair of very dark wash jeans. A quick run of his fingers through his hair and he was ready to find his ‘daughter’.



She had meandered to the living room. It was still as inviting as it was when she decided that she wanted to speak with Severus in the first place. That seemed like ages ago. Their relationship had changed within a matter of days, barely even weeks. This was not something that Hermione was used to. Needing to forget about her worries for now she picked up one of the hundreds of volumes that laced the shelves. She almost didn’t care what it was about, but as she started reading her thirst for knowledge kicked in and she actually began paying attention to the words and topics (Medieval failed potions). There was no way she would leave. Not without seeing Severus again. But she was too afraid to.



He looked at her from the doorway, polished and dressed. She was still in her underwear and that only made him crave her more. Not now, he told himself. Clearing his throat to make her aware of his presence he watched as her head shot up almost instantly to look at him inquisitively. He joined her by the fireplace in his familiar chair and used his wand to summon a decanter of blood and two glasses. He poured one each and was astounded when Hermione took hers without a word. Deciding to break his silence he was smart enough not to mention anything about the night before.



“What are you reading?”



“Something of yours. About Medieval potions and which ones actually worked.”



“Do you like it?”



“It’s all right.”



Silence consumed the room once more as the two vampires slowly drank their blood. In the awkward-ness Hermione decided that she was not going to be so childish any longer. Closing the book loud enough to stir Severus from his own thoughts she spoke softly.



“What’s happened between us? What are we now? Is this even legal…with you being my maker and all. What is this in the first place?”



Still half-contemplating Severus made direct eye-contact with Hermione. Her innocence shone though her state as an immortal even as she drank the essence of something that was once alive.



“Those are a lot of questions. And I’m not sure I have the answers. I suppose we’ll have to figure them out together. I do know that in the vampire community it is perfectly natural for makers and children to bond in more than one way. Many times a vampire will turn a human he or she finds attractive simply for a relationship or sex. So, yes, it is perfectly legal and accepted.”



She absorbed this while finishing her blood. Still a little hungry she poured herself another helping and downed it within seconds.



“If you had asked me if I would even speak to you again, Severus, a few days ago I would have said no. And now I’m sharing your bed and doing things I’ve only thought about in my dreams. I don’t know how to react. Should I be ecstatic or ashamed.”



The innocent Gryffindor witch in her was revealed to Severus. The two of them shared a longing look, as if the answer was right between them, but neither would mention it. He put down his blood and took her hand, holding it like any good boyfriend would.



“We are what we are, Hermione. Nothing more. I can stay here and you can go back to New York. All I know is that if that happens my heart will break. I have waited for this since just before I turned you. But if you can’t handle it, then leave. If you want to pursue this, then I will follow you to the ends of the earth. We can stay here or I will move in with you. Three choices. You know my choice is one of two. But you have three. Make a wise one. And don’t just rely on me for answers. Ask your friends, your family. They know you better than I do.”



He stood and made to apparate away in order to leave her alone when she placed her fingers on the closest piece of him she could find, his thigh and spoke in a whisper.



“No one knows me better than you.”



With that, he apparated away.