Love Bites (REPOST)

Chapter 28 ~ Summoned!

Adam worried Severus and Hermione so much about what secret project they had going on in the Potions lab that finally they made him take a Wizard's Oath and told him. The bloom had already been utilized so there was no danger of it being stolen.

"The Restoration Elixir? Oh my gods. Where did you get an Agstani bloom?" the wizard asked, clutching his heart dramatically.

"Severus found the plant years ago in the Forbidden Forest and nurtured it until it matured. He was harvesting it the night Vashti bit him," Hermione informed the wizard. "What we can't understand is why she waited so long to try an claim him."

"Did you change your habits concerning the plant's welfare toward the end, Professor?" the wizard asked him.

"Yes. I went to the forest every night for a month before I harvested the plant," the Potions Master replied.

Adam looked thoughtful, as did Hermione.

"Possibly, your initial visits were so scattered that she could find no pattern. Also, your vampire killing skills are formidable, she could have been hesitant to strike because of that, particularly if you were armed. More than likely she knew you would be harvesting the bloom and it would be her last opportunity, and her attack on you was fueled by desperation. In the pensieve I saw you almost overcame the bat," Adam said.

"Yes, I was going to kill it with my sword, but it escaped," the Potions Master said.

"You established a pattern of nightly visitation, Severus. That made it easy for her to plan an attack," Hermione said.

"She hasn't tried to summon you since that first night," Adam said, frowning slightly. "I don't like it. That Queen has something going on. I'm sure of it. I'll be glad when that potion is finished."

"It will be completed tomorrow night," Severus said.

He'd be glad too. He hadn't slept a full night in weeks. There was a slightly haggard look about him. Hermione looked tired too.

"Then you can take it, and this will all be over," Hermione said.

There was something in her voice that disturbed Severus.

"Not all of it," he said to the witch, "Not us. I've grown accustomed to you witch. I refuse to end this."

Hermione stared at him. He wanted to continue to be her lover.

Adam swooned.

"Oh my gods…why couldn't there be another one of you, Professor? A gay one?" he breathed. "Who liked teddy bear type wizards."

Severus looked at him.

"I imagine because there are gods, Adam," he replied shortly.

Hermione felt like fucking Severus right now. She had yet to initiate sex between them. Severus was always the aggressor. But she was so tired. Tonight they would be in the lab for hours doing the final steps. There would be no time for even a quick pleasure.

Severus' reflection had almost become completely solid now. The Potion Master was very attached to Hermione. More than he had ever been to any other witch and this was the closest thing to a committed relationship that he had ever had. There had always been at least two witches who he would see. He liked variety. But Hermione seemed determined to gain as much sexual knowledge as intellectual knowledge, and he was primed to teach her. There were still some things he hadn't done with her. Hopefully when the threat of Vashti was past, he could take the time to introduce her to some other forms of sexual gratification. He knew one thing.

It wouldn't be an easy lesson for her. Not the way he was hung.

Still, she'd have to learn.

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At last the brewing was completed. The Restoration Elixir turned a bright amber color, showing that it had been created correctly. Both Hermione and Severus stared at the cauldron as the color changed from blood red to golden.

Hermione let out a scream and leaped on Severus, wrapping both her arms and legs around the wizard, sending him staggering back as he clutched her.

Adam came running in, thinking something juicy was going on. They had included him in the ward signatures. He took one look, saw they were fully dressed and let out a sigh.

"And I thought something good was going on," he muttered.

Hermione, still in Severus' arms looked over at the round wizard.

"But something good is going on, Adam," she said. "The elixir is completed. We only have to let it cool and Severus can drink it. Then he will be free of the curse," she said smiling, then she kissed Severus soundly, who smirked at her. She really was the delight of his life now.

"It's finished? That's wonderful," he said, though his voice gave away that he thought it wasn't so wonderful at all.

He'd have to return to his dull life at dull St. Mungo's.

Hermione divined his thoughts.

"Adam, you will be welcome to stop by anytime," she said, feeling a little ache in her heart.

Severus scowled.

"Stop by the infirmary," the Potions Master said, his nostrils flared. "I don't want you anywhere near my rooms."

Adam blew him a kiss. The Potions Master's face went black as Hermione snickered, sliding off of him.

But the black look on Severus' face didn't change. Suddenly he exited the lab without saying a word, his wand left on the counter.

"What's with him?" Adam asked Hermione who looked after the wizard. Suddenly, Hermione stiffened, and mechanically walked after him.

"And what's with you?" Adam asked the departing witch.

Suddenly, Adam had a bad, bad feeling. He rushed after the witch and wizard ran past them, and stopped, looking at them. Severus' eyes were glowing redly, and he looked positively evil. He was clearly possessed.

"Shit, Vashti would do this tonight," Adam breathed as Severus advanced on him, Hermione trailing about twenty feet behind, her face expressionless, her amber eyes locked to the Potions Master's back. Adam looked around the wizard at the doctor.

"Damn, did she do something to Dr. Granger too?" Adam wondered.

He whipped out his wand and scattered mustard seeds on the floor before Severus. The Potions Master walked right over them, heading for the infirmary doors.

"Fuck!" Adam exclaimed, running ahead of the wizard and sending out knotted ropes. Severus walked over them too, approached the doors and pushed them open. The normal methods of slowing a vampire down weren't working on him.

Desperately, the wizard ran up to Hermione and shook her.

"Dr. Granger! Dr. Granger!" Adam shouted at her, his voice shrilly. "Snap out of it!"

Hermione let him shake her for a moment, then with one arm, shoved him aside powerfully, sending him staggering, then followed Severus out of the door, her wand in hand.

Adam stared after them.

"Damn it," he said. He stood there a moment, then ran back to the lab. He stared at the cooling potion.

"I've got to take this and get it to the Professor," he breathed. "Hell, it can cool in a bottle just as well as in a cauldron."

He ran into the infirmary, shuffled through the stores cabinet until he found a bottle large enough to hold the Elixir, took it and ran back to the lab. He uncapped the bottle, pulled out his wand, tapped the side of the cauldron, then the mouth of the bottle. The amber liquid filled the glass and Adam sealed it. Then almost dropped it.

"I'm just a bundle of nerves," the wizard said, his heart pounding. Then he drew in a deep breath to center himself.

"Calm…calm…in…out…cleansing…" he breathed, then said to himself, "All right, Adam…this is it, girl. This is where you become a hero. Heroine. Something."

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Severus and Hermione descended the stairwells without incident, not running into a single soul. It was as if their path had been magically cleared. Since a greater power moved the wizard, this was entirely possible. They descended into the main hall, and exited through the main doors on to the grounds of Hogwarts.

The moment Severus descended the stairs, the ward was invoked, and the circle of flowing water appeared around him. He began to jog across the grounds, toward the Forbidden Forest.

Hermione stopped and watched him, then turned and began running toward the copse of trees.

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Adam stopped in the kitchens and grabbed some garlic from the house elves, then headed out the main doors of the castle, a garland of the fragrant cloves draped around his neck. He invoked the tracking charm for Hermione and felt himself pulled in the direction she had gone. Adam was chubby, but he had a lot of stamina. He took off at a trot.

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Victor sat in the copse of trees in his wolf form, snarling as the scent of the wizard wafted to him. He also smelled the witch. He rose to all fours and paced as he waited for her to appear. There was only one thing he could do now.

Hermione suddenly appeared, perspiring since she had on her uniform and lab coat. She stopped in front of the wolf, who immediately transformed into Victor. The witch was already under his power. He advanced on her.

"He is on his way to Vashti. Demons guide him. Very powerful demons. Nothing will stop him from getting to the catacombs. He is under their protection until he arrives in Vashti's domain," he said to the witch, pacing back and forth. He looked at her, indecision in his red eyes.

Hermione's amber eyes followed the vampire hungrily, wanting him badly. But she stood before him, quivering, waiting for his instruction.

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Adam was fast approaching the copse of trees, feeling the pull intensify. That meant Dr. Granger was close. He sped up.

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Victor stared at Hermione, his eyes beginning to glow.

"I have no choice," he said to the witch. "I know you would prefer another option witch, but the only other option is death. Come to me."

He opened his arms and Hermione bolted into them, molding her body to his and moving against him wantonly. The vampire hissed. He was cold, but even he couldn't help responding to the witch's movements.

"You are a passionate one," Victor said to her softly, leaning her head to the side, exposing her throat. "Your blood is probably sweet as Vashti's."

Victor studied the pulsing artery for a moment as the witch moaned, pressing against him. His eyes began to blaze.

The vampire bared his glistening fangs, his mouth watering…then sunk them deeply into Hermione throat, groaning with pleasure as her hot, sweet blood filled his mouth. It had been so long since he'd tasted a human. He hardened with bliss and pressed his loins into the witch, rubbing against her sensuously.

The witch convulsed, orgasmed and slumped against the vampire as he drank deeply, grinding against her. Apparently getting bitten by a sentient was a very erotic act.

Adam suddenly appeared, his blue eyes widening with horror as he saw Hermione in Victor's arms, the vampire's mouth locked to her throat, apparently feeding.

"No!" the wizard cried, charging forward, his wand drawn.

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A/N: Oh man. The dragon dung has hit the fan. What the f*** is going on here? Victor's bitten Hermione, apparently Adam is attacking Victor, and Severus is trotting toward Vashti's lair. Whoo. A lot going on. Nice, nasty cliffie eh? Yeah it is. Anyway, please review.