Love Bites (REPOST)

Chapter 27 ~ Pulling It All Together

Hermione found out there was going to be a three-week delay in the delivery of one of the rarer ingredients for the elixir. She was furious and set about trying to locate a supplier who could provide it faster. No one else had the connections to acquire it. She visited the apocathery shop to see if she could speed up the delivery.

"I'm sorry doctor, but basilisk bladder is a difficult item to acquire. We have located one, but we must negotiate for it, since it is a private seller in China," Paul told her. "I'm very sorry I can't get it to you any faster."

Indeed, Paul did look very sorry, but it was just one of those things.

Since they couldn't brew, Hermione worked on protective spells. They called in Adam as a consultant, and the wizard was delighted to put in his two knuts.

"That is an EXCELLENT spell," Adam gushed as Hermione surrounded Severus with the circle of moving water. "That'll keep them off him. You need to get that warded to his signature as soon as possible, doctor. Vashti is quiet, but she hasn't given up, I'm sure. Probably trying to catch you both off-guard."

Adam wanted Hermione to create a spell that shot wooden stakes, but she declined.

"All weapons spells have to be approved by the Ministry, and that can take months. They don't believe vampires exist any more anyway," she said facing away from the wizards and busily writing notes on a piece of parchment.

Adam looked at Severus.

"Why don't you just show them tall, pale and deliciously ghoulish here?" Adam said, skittering away as Severus made a grab at him when Hermione wasn't looking, the Potions Master splashing the gay wizard with the water running around him as he lunged.

"Because their reaction would probably be to kill him instantly, even if he isn't a full-vampire. That is their standard mode of operation. That's why we haven't informed them about Vashti. They wouldn't bother looking for her. The Professor here is not a favorite of the Ministry by a long shot," she said turning to them.

Adam looked thoughtful.

"Well, how would they explain him turning then?" the wizard asked Hermione

"There have always been rumors about me being a vampire," Severus said, "If they found I was a half-vampire, it would simply be presumed I have always been. Particularly since I am so proficient at slaying them. I don't know if they would kill me as Dr. Granger fears, but they would certainly lock me under the thumb of Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and legally I would be treated similarly as house elves and werewolves. So I do not want the Ministry involved at all. They would take away my rights and I would have no recourse under the law. In that case, I might as well be a vampire."

"I see," Adam said. "Well Dr. Granger, since wooden stakes are out, how about a seed-scattering spell and knotted rope spell? Those would distract vampires until an escape could be made."

Hermione smiled at the wizard.

"That is a great idea, Adam. As soon as I get this spell warded to Severus, I'll work on it."

The wizard smiled, glad to have been able to contribute something to help the Professor.

"May I have the spells when they are completed?" he asked Hermione.

"Certainly, Adam. We may need you like we did the night Vashti tried to lure Severus away," she replied.

Adam clapped his hands together happily.

"That's wonderful," he gushed. "I can help protect the Professor's honor."

Severus scowled at him.

"I am not some witch in need of a champion, Adam," he said, frowning.

"You're definitely no witch, Professor…not with that tool," the medi-witch said.

Adam took every possible opportunity to comment on Severus' cock, so long as the Professor initiated it in some way.

"But I'd champion you any day," the wizard said, fluttering his eyelashes at the Potions Master.

Hermione ignored both of them as she worked on the warding spell. Adam's flirting had become commonplace and for the most part Severus took it stoically, since he owed the wizard for stopping him from leaving the infirmary until Hermione arrived. Though sometimes he would surreptiously cast tripping spells at the wizard, making him fall on his face. Adam just couldn't understand why he was so feeble-footed.

Severus made it a point to fuck Hermione at least once a day. He called it his maintenance fuck, claiming that it kept Vashti's influence at bay. He had taken to wearing a little belt of purple potion vials, to have them handy for the witch. Hermione hadn't been aware of this, and just thought he kept one in his pocket.

One day when he was unfastening his robes in preparation of taking her against the wall of the infirmary showers while Adam was away, he forgot he had the belt on and Hermione saw the line of vials winding around his waist.

"Severus, what are those?" she asked him, her brow furrowing.

"Ah, these?" Severus said, stalling so he could think up an answer.

Hermione folded her arms, leaning against the tiled wall of the shower, frowning.

"Yes…those," she replied. "Those are purple potion vials, aren't they?"

Severus looked at the vials as if he had never seen them before.

"Why yes, I believe they are," he said.

Hermione stormed out of the shower.

"Damn it," Severus hissed, buttoning up his robes and striding after her.

Hermione walked into the study, Severus following, erect and robes billowing. What was the big deal? She should be happy he thought about her welfare this way.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked her, catching her by her arm.

Hermione yanked her arm away from him, and he scowled blackly at her.

"You made me believe that our bouts of sex were purely spontaneous," she seethed, "then I see you wrapped in a bandoleer of purple vials like you're perpetually armed for sex. You've planned every single encounter, Severus. You must have thirty vials on that belt!"

"Actually, thirty-two, but that's neither here nor there," he said to her silkily. "I just find this more convenient than have to going to the stores every time we indulge ourselves. This way I am prepared to take care of you quickly and with dispatch."

"Like you do when we have our little quickies, I suppose," Hermione said, her hands on her hips.

Severus just arched an eyebrow at her. He didn't look repentant at all.

Hermione sighed.

"Severus, it's just disconcerting to know you are walking around with an arsenal of purple potion ready for me. It's like I am under siege or something," she said.

"You are," the Potions Master responded silkily. "and I'll gladly use my huge battering ram on your succulent little walls at every possible opportunity."

Hermione shook her head. Severus was incorrigible…just the way she found she liked him. He was such a sexual animal and seemed to want her all the time. Plus, he was a Slytherin. She should have realized he'd make taking her as trouble-free as possible.

"Listen, Severus, could you please lose the purple potion belt? It just makes me uncomfortable," she said.

"If it means I get to breech your city, certainly," he purred, his eyes glowing slightly as he opened his robe and unclasped the belt. Hermione watched as he laid the long belt of purple vials on the study table.

"Now that being done…" he said.

Suddenly the wizard grabbed Hermione and roughly bent her over the table, lifting her lab coat and yanking down both her knickers and trousers. Bending over her while holding her down with his forearm across the small of her back, he undid his trousers with his other hand.

"Prepare for your city to be battered, witch," he breathed, pulling out his cock, "The troops have arrived."

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Three weeks later the basilisk bladder arrived, and Severus was ready to retrieve the Agstani blossom from his lab. Hermione accompanied him to his rooms. The witches had since given up on him being there so all was clear.

Severus walked into his lab, followed by Hermione, stopped in front of the drying cabinet and removed the disillusionment spell. Hermione began to walk forward.

"No!" Severus cried, yanking the witch back as a huge bear trap-like mechanism, rose out of the floor, its jagged metal jaws snapping together viciously. It would have bitten her legs off just below the knees.

"What the fuck is that?" Hermione cried, pulled back against Severus, whose pale hands clasped her shoulders protectively.

"One of my protective wards," Severus replied. "It is only triggered if someone approaches the drying cabinet with the intentions of opening it."

"You call that a ward? That's a deathtrap. It would kill someone Severus," Hermione gasped, shivering. That had been close.

"Well, no one has any business being in my lab…so they take their chances," the Potions Master replied, pointing his wand at the drying cabinet and removing all the other surprises he had for potential thieves.

"What other kinds of wards do you have?" Hermione asked him curiously.

"Hot acid, thrusting spear, boiling oil," he said non-chalantly.

Hermione shuddered. He certainly was protecting that bloom.

Severus opened the cabinet and reached in his pocket, taking out a small, clear bag. Carefully he reached deep in to the cabinet. His eyes narrowed.

"Hermione," he said, "Give me some light so I can see. I can't drop a bit of this."

Hermione pulled out her wand.

"Lumos," she said and the tip glowed. She stood beside Severus and stuck her wand into the cabinet.

Severus saw the flower. It had shriveled and was now a pale, washed out pink.

"There it is," he breathed.

Carefully, he opened the bag and without touching the bloom, drew it over the dried flower.

"I've got it," he said, disengaging the hook and drawing the flower out.

Hermione had been holding her breath and let it out with a sigh, her eyes shining as she looked at the dried bloom.

"The Agstani Flower," she breathed reverently. "You really do have it."

Severus scowled at her.

"Of course I do. Now let's get it back to the labs and begin brewing," he said.

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Over the next thirty-five days, Severus and Hermione worked tirelessly brewing the Restoration Elixir. Hermione was there for every part of the process except for one night.

The alarm had gone off signifying another step had to be made within the next ten minutes, and Severus was walking toward the lab when Hermione walked out of her bedroom, dressed in her running clothes.

"I'm going for a run, Severus," she said, her amber eyes turned toward the door a bit glassily.

"A run?" he asked.

This wasn't like Hermione. She was dedicated.

"I have to go," she said exiting the room.

Severus wanted to go after her but he had to attend the brew. Scowling he watched her step through the floo, presumably to the main hall to head outside.

The next process would take an hour and a half to complete. If she wasn't back by then, he'd go find her.

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Hermione immediately took off running without stretches or warm-ups. She stared straight ahead, drawn to the copse of trees. Something white sat in the path, and she ran up to it and stopped. The white wolf's eyes met hers, and then the creature transformed to Victor.

He was scowling.

"Hello, witch," he hissed at Hermione. "I am afraid that your wizard will be soon drawn to Vashti and there is nothing either of us can do about it. His turning or not turning all means the same to me, death. And so, to you. But still, tell me what you are doing to try and stop the turning."

"We are brewing the Restoration Elixir," Hermione replied, trembling with lust for the vampire.

Victor looked at the witch thoughtfully. She was small, yet pleasant to look at. But mortal. Mortal. Hm. His brow furrowed.

The vampire had wracked his brain the past few weeks to try and figure out how to save himself. Vashti was a lost cause to him. Either way this came out…she would no longer be his, and he would end up dead. He brought his hand to his mouth, pulling at it as he studied the witch. He wondered.

"How long until the Elixir is completed?" Victor asked Hermione, leaning in and smelling the jasmine in her hair. He sneezed. What an unappealing scent.

"Three more weeks, on the night of the full moon," she replied.

Victor's eyebrows rose. That was the night that the wizard would be drawn to Vashti.

"Listen to me good, witch. That is the night your wizard will be drawn to Vashti. Nothing will stay him. He will kill if he has to, so do not try to stop him. You must follow him, stopping here first before you pursue him. Do you think you can follow him? Find Vashti's lair?" Victor asked her.

Hermione nodded.

"I have a tracking charm on him," she replied hollowly. "I can find him anywhere."

Actually both she and Adam had a tracking charm on the wizard. And Adam had also cast a tracking spell on Hermione, though she wasn't aware of it. If anything went down, the wizard wanted to know where both of them were.

"Good. I will meet you here on the night of the full moon. Then you will do as I say. We may both come out of this alive," the vampire said.

Victor leaned in and pressed his face against Hermione's pulsing jugular. Her flesh was so warm and her blood still smelled sweet. She was no longer a virgin but he still longed to taste her. He let his fangs scrape her skin without breaking it, causing the witch to shudder with pleasure. The vampire pulled back from her with an effort. Once again he waved his hand, causing the witch's eyes to close.

"You will not remember this meeting, but you will remember my instructions, witch. Again, you leave my presence alive," the vampire said, transforming into a bat and flapping away into the night.

Slowly Hermione came to herself. She was in the same place she was last time she had lost time. The witch looked around, shrugged and finished her run.

Something about that area…that copse of trees…disturbed her.

She didn't know why.

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A/N: Wow, it seems Victor has come up with a plan to keep himself alive and it involves Hermione. Maybe it isn't over, folks. How about the bandoleer of purple potions? For those of you who don't know what a bandoleer is, it's a belt fitted with small pockets or loops for carrying cartridges and worn across the chest by soldiers. You know strips of ammo that the tough guys wear. Lol. Too funny. Well, the confrontation between Severus and Vashti is coming up soon. Please review.