Love Bites (REPOST)

Chapter 21 ~ Spells and Summonings

Hermione managed to stay out of Severus' way for the rest of the afternoon and late into the evening. This was mainly because the Potions Master decided to give her some space. She had to be having a difficult time coming to terms with her attraction to him. He had pocketed her Vellum Potion, intending to give it to her later.

The infirmary was empty again, so Severus strolled through and noticed Adam sitting in Hermione's office. His mouth was working strangely. Curious, Severus walked in and looked at the wizard, who sat forward when he saw the tall, dark wizard enter.

Adam spit something into his hand, and Severus' large nose wrinkled up as the chubby wizard dumped the contents of his hand into the wastebasket.

"What in the world are you doing, Adam?" Severus asked him.

Adam gave him a sloe-eyed look from behind his glasses.

"Sitting here imagining the wizard of my dreams would just stroll in and sweep me off my feet," Adam replied.

Severus scowled at him.

"Adam, the only reason I'd sweep you off your feet would be to make you fall and crack your head open. Now what are you eating? It looks disgusting," the Potions Master said, arching an eyebrow at the wizard.

Adam frowned at him, then held up a clear plastic bag that had some small, black and white seeds in it.

"Sunflower seeds. I love them," he said reaching into the bag.

Severus studied them.

"But they have hulls on them," the Potions Master said as Adam scooped a few out of the bag. He had quite a large amount.

"Yes, that's what makes them so fun to eat. You chew the hulls and get the seeds out and eat them, then spit out the hulls," Adam said, tossing a few in his mouth, then working it busily.

After a minute or two, he spit out the hulls, showing them, wet and glistening to the Potions Master, before tossing them into the garbage. Severus shook his head.

"You are a strange one, Adam," he said, exiting the room.

Adam watched him stride away.

"You have no idea, Professor," he said under his breath.

Severus started walking toward the lab. It had to be about eight o'clock now. He'd eaten and taken his blood-replenishing potion. He'd like to take a look at the Potions lab now, and see Hermione. He hoped she had come to terms with what was bound to happen between them and see it wasn't such a horrible thing. She had responded to him so powerfully last night.

The Potions Master licked his lips as he thought how she would respond to him as a lover. He felt himself harden a bit.

Severus pushed open the door to the lab and walked in. Now there was a wall and a door at the end of the medical part of the lab. Hermione wasn't in here. He walked to the next door. He heard Hermione muttering something. Quietly, he opened the door.

This lab had a lot of open space. It was the Spells lab. It consisted primarily of shelving ringing the walls, a large counter, and a large amount of parchments and quills. Hermione was standing in the middle of the room, waving her wand toward a stool she'd sat in the middle of the floor. Parchments were spread on the counter. She was adapting a spell.

Severus let himself in and watched the witch, noting how animated she appeared to be…how happy as she stopped, scowled, walked back over to her parchments, picked up her quill and scratched some notes down. Then suddenly she cast a water spell, the liquid shooting out of her wand tip. She looked at the puddle, scourgified it, then turned back to her parchment, scribbling some more. Then she stopped and took a deep breath, focusing on the stool.

"Aqua Orbis!" she cried.

A stream of water flew from her wand and landed near the stool. Suddenly it formed a fluid circle around the stool, flowing in a continuous stream.

Frowning slightly, Hermione placed her wand in her pocket and approached the stool, stepping over the flowing water. She picked up the stool and carried it a few feet away. The circle of water stayed with it. Hermione moved the stool further and the water circle stuck to them. She put the stool down and removed the spell. Then she pointed the wand at herself.

"Aqua Orbis!" she said again, and again the water circle formed around her. She began to walk and remained in the middle of the circle of flowing water, which moved with her. Hermione stopped, and ended the spell. Then she began to whoop, jumping up and down.

"Yes!" she cried, pumping her fist in the air. "I've still got it!"

The witch did a wild little victory dance, her stethoscope and ponytail bouncing up and down. Severus watched her, grinning. Yes, this was the witch he remembered. Exuberant, wild, expressive.

Suddenly Hermione stopped, coloring brightly as her amber eyes fell on the Potions Master.

"Oh, um…Professor. I was just…just…" she stammered.

"Celebrating successfully adapting a spell, I presume," he said silkily walking toward her. "Though I have no idea what purpose such a spell would serve unless it is to water the ground as the user walks about."

"Oh no, Professor. This spell will do much more than that. It is a protective spell against Vashti," she said excitedly. "Vampires cannot cross moving water. If you have this spell invoked when you approach her lair, she will not be able to touch you, even if you are in her domain. It will protect you. She won't be able to complete the turning."

"Brilliant," he thought but didn't say it.

"It seems adequate. But how will I invoke it if I am under her spell? I certainly wouldn't cast anything to keep her from me. I probably wouldn't have the ability," he said.

"I've thought about that. I think I have a solution. I will have to work it into a ward and apply it to you. If you leave the castle, it will automatically invoke and you will be surrounded by it. I just have to work out the details of that. It shouldn't take more than a day. And I have other ideas, to protect you," she said breathlessly, her eyes shining.

Severus shook his head slightly. Gods, she was brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

"We need to keep you out of her clutches until we can brew the Restorative Potion," Hermione said. "And then, once you are cured, you can use the protective spells to aid you in your hunt for her."

Severus looked at her with his dark eyes.

"You've certainly put a lot of thought into this, Dr. Granger," he said quietly.

"Well, Professor," Hermione said a bit uncomfortably, "You are very valued here at Hogwarts, and are considered a hero throughout the wizarding world, despite you not receiving a medal. You have to be protected. We all owe you so much."

He continued to look at her for a moment, and Hermione felt herself starting to get very nervous. She jumped when he suddenly reached into his pocket. He extracted a bottle and walked over to her.

"I think this belongs to you," he said silkily, handing it to her.

Hermione looked at it. It was her Vellum Potion.

"How did you get this?" she asked, frowning up at him.

"You dropped it when you left the study in such a hurry this afternoon," he replied. "That's quite a powerful potion. Is it working?"

"Yes…yes it is," the witch lied.

Severus' eyebrows went up at the blatant untruth. He stepped closer to her and she backed up against the counter, her breathing increasing at his closeness.

"Why are you breathing so hard, doctor?" the wizard asked her. He was looking at her mouth. He wanted to kiss her again and feel her go limp in his arms.

Hermione tried to think of a reasonable lie to tell the Potions Master. Unable to, she suddenly darted past him toward the door that led to the medical lab. Severus cursed. He should have grabbed her when he had the chance.

"I'm exhausted Professor and am going to bed. Feel free to look around. I think you'll like the Potions Lab. Turn down the torches when you leave," Hermione said, scooting out the door.

Severus sighed. If he did get a chance to deflower the witch, he might have to tie her to the bed first to keep her from running. She certainly was fast.

Well, he was fast too. He'd catch her…and when he did…he would thoroughly introduce the witch to a whole new world of pleasure.

He walked to the door that led to the Potions lab and pushed it open.

He stood there for a moment, drinking the lab in. His black eyes glittered in appreciation as he noted all the gleaming cauldrons, beakers, test tubes, distillers, pestles, mortars and other tools of the Potions trade, stacked neatly in wall to ceiling shelves. There was plenty of counter space and two nice sized desks in opposite corners of the room. Hermione evidently kept him in mind. There was plenty of room for two people to work on separate projects. His eyes fell on the potions stores. He walked over and pulled it open. It was filled with all manner of ingredients and potions. There was a fortune's worth of supplies. He knew Hogwarts didn't pay for all this. Hermione had done it. And she had done it so she could help him.

Severus scowled. He would find some way to put at least half of the costs of these labs back into her account as soon as he was cured. He appreciated her kindness and generosity, but he wasn't about to let the witch foot all the costs. It didn't matter she would use this lab for her own projects eventually. He had been the reason she set it up, and he wasn't the kind of man to let a woman empty her purse for him.

This setup was excellent. It would have to be securely warded however, particularly when they started brewing the potion.

The Potions Master yawned. It was time to retire. He closed the potions store and warded it securely. He was sure Hermione could take them down without too much effort, or else he could come and do it. He left the lab and also warded the door, and added an audible alarm. He then walked through the Spells lab, and the medical lab. He entered the study directly from there. He immediately saw Hermione's bedroom door was closed, and no doubt doubly warded after his appearance last night. He placed his ear to the door. No shower was running. Most likely she was in her bed with her covers pulled up to her chin, listening for him. He was tempted to knock just to get her started, but decided against it. She still needed to face the truth about herself. Needed to realize that she wanted him.

The Potions Master headed for his bedroom, entered it and divestoed his clothing then climbed into bed.

He fell asleep quickly.

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Vashti felt the wizard fall asleep. She levitated from her throne, her minions instantly become aware of her movements. They followed as she glided down the winding catacomb corridors until she came to the crevice and floated upward into the night, her scarves trailing eerily as she ascended into the night. She landed lightly on the ground. Her minions hissed below, waiting for her permission to follow. Vashti didn't give it as she transformed into a pale viper, and slithered away into the night.

The minions remained clustered beneath the crevice, hissing, waiting for her to summon them.

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Severus tossed and turned in his bed restlessly.

"Sssseverus. Sssseverus. Come to me. I long for you. Come, my king," Vashti's seductive voice hissed through his dreams. "I long for you and I command you to rise and come to me.

Severus' eyes suddenly flew open, a dull red fire burning in the center of his black orbs. He sat up and slid to the edge of his bed, stood and walked to his wardrobe. He took out a robe and put it on over his nude body, then pulled on his boots over his bare feet. He did this slowly and mechanically, his face expressionless.

He walked to his bedroom door and quietly opened it, walking into the study. Hermione was in a sound sleep, and didn't hear the wall go up as Severus exited their rooms.

But Adam did.

He was wide awake, looking at the latest issue of "Buns and Wands," (He had a two-year subscription which was delivered in a plain brown parchment by owl each month to whatever location he was at.) and still eating sunflower seeds. He looked up, then walked to his bedroom door.

He saw Professor Snape walking slowly up the infirmary, heading for the doors. He had a blank expression on his face, and his eyes were glowing.

"Shit!" Adam exclaimed, wrapping his floral silk robe around himself, tying the sash, and slipping his feet into his fuzzy pink bedroom slippers. He ran out into the infirmary and stood in front of the dazed Professor, who stopped…his red eyes focused on the wizard.

"Professor, where are you going?" Adam said, swallowing. He knew the wizard was under Vashti's spell.

"To Vashti, my Queen. To mate," the wizard said in a low monotone.

"But you can't, Professor…she'll turn you. You have to stay here. Let me get Dr. Granger," the medi-witch said, clutching his sunflower seeds to his chest as Severus bared his teeth. His eyeteeth were a bit more fang-like now.

"I must go. I must mate," Severus said, snarling slightly

"No!" Adam said, though he was shaking like a leaf. "I can't let you. You have to stay here. Please, Professor. Let me get you some help."

Suddenly Severus' arms shot out, grabbed the wizard by his round shoulders and flung him out of his path. Adam crashed to the floor heavily.

"Ow," he said as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. He was aching, but he could take a lot of punishment.

Severus started walking again in a slow, measured gait toward the infirmary doors. Adam stood up and ran after him, running past him and stopping, staring at the approaching wizard. Suddenly he got an idea. Adam wasn't sure how many vampire attributes the Professor actually had developed, but it was worth a try. The medi-wizard turned over his bag of sunflower seeds and shook them all over the floor in front of the stricken wizard.

Severus continued to walk forward, then stopped, looking down at the scattered seeds. There were hundreds of them. He bent down and slowly started to count them.

Adam let out a sigh of relief. That should hold the wizard for a while.

"I've got to get the doctor!" he exclaimed, his voice shrilly. "Wait here Professor, and keep counting honey!"

Severus hesitated at the sound of the wizard's voice, then continued to count, his pale finger touching each seed as he did so.

Adam gathered his robe up and ran as fast as his floppy slippers would allow to Hermione's room. He tapped out the sequence of bricks and waited impatiently, shifting side to side as the wall opened. He darted through and threw himself against Hermione's bedroom door, banging on it and shrieking like a witch.

"Dr. Granger! Dr. Granger! Wake up! Wake up! It's the Professor!" he cried.

Hermione stirred in the bed, then rolled over.

"Dr. Granger, wake up! Vashti's is trying to take the Professor!" Adam screamed. "Damn it, get your ass up!"

He banged on the door with a barrage of blows.

Hermione suddenly woke, grabbed her wand and lowered the wards, opening the door magically just as Adam flung himself at it again. The wizard stumbled into her room, his floral robe whipping wildly, just managing to keep from falling on his face.

"What is it Adam?" Hermione asked, sliding out of the bed in her short silk nightgown.

"The Professor is trying to leave. Vashti is summoning him. You have to come," Adam said, panting heavily.

"All right, just let me get my robe," she said starting toward the wardrobe.

"No! No robe. You have to turn him. He has to desire you to turn back from Vashti. He wants to mate," Adam said, motioning to her to come along.

"Mate?" Hermione said, hugging herself.

"You've got to show him something better than Vashti, or we're going to lose him. We can't stop the turning yet. We have no recourse. You have to pull him back, doctor, or he's lost," Adam said desperately.

Hermione stood there a moment. Show the Professor something better? Good gods.

"Where is he now, Adam?" she asked the wizard who was at the door now, looking at the witch plaintively.

"Counting sunflower seeds. Now come on. I don't know how fast he counts," Adam said, disappearing.

Hermione hesitated. Shit. What was she going to do to turn him back?

She didn't know, but she had to do something.

Hermione grabbed her wand and ran out the door.

She had a wizard to save.

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A/N: Next chapter. Severus needs help, and only Hermione can turn him back from Vashti. Adam showed a lot of courage stopping the wizard from leaving. Wow, what's going to happen next. Still sick but I am working at it ya'll. Your kind words help. Please review. Thanks.