Forbidden Obsession

Forbidden Obsession

Chapter 2

A week later Hermione, Ron, and Harry were making their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin. He had been re-hired by Albus Dumbledore with full support from the Ministry. Cornelius Fudge was no longer entrusted with the office of Minister of Magic since his denial of the return of Voldemort. It was felt amongst top-level officials that had Fudge acknowledged the return of the Dark Lord and aided Dumbledore when the first rumors of Voldemort\'s reappearance arose, he might not have been the threat to the wizarding world he was today.

Griselda Marchbanks was the new Minister of Magic. She had been head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority and had administered the N.E.W.T.s for so many years that she even administered them to Albus Dumbledore in his seventh year at Hogwarts. The only break in her many years of service had been her protest to Delores Umbridge\'s appointing herself Hogwarts High Inquisitor. Griselda refused to tolerate such nonsense and resigned to show her full support for Albus Dumbledore. The Ministry of Magic saw this action as a display of true but they\'re kind of adversarial to Albus a lot of the integrity and therefore appointed her Minister of Magic.

Severus was quite resentful that he had not been offered the DADA position, and he took a rather depraved pleasure in taunting Remus about the werewolf\'s value, or lack thereof, to the Order. He knew full well the way that it sent Lupin into a cycle of self-condemnation; and his emotions were barely restrained while he was in the company of the surly Potions Master at the best of times. But the animosity Severus bore the man was not solely born of his opinion of him. Over the years that he had contributed to the Order and to Hogwarts, Albus had assured Severus that he held full faith in him. The Headmaster\'s continued denial of Severus\' request for the Dark Arts position, however, confirmed in Severus\' mind that he was considered an expendable pawn. His pleasure, enjoyment, desires, and ambitions were held in escrow, easily taken from him if doubt or suspicion ever fell upon him. His life was a mere game for those higher powers who would use him to help them divide, defeat, and conquer, but he would be lucky to end as fodder for Hippogriffs if he should ever fail or become redundant.

As his class entered for their DADA lesson, Remus stood quietly outside the door, collecting his thoughts, when Severus glided to his side. Hermione knew of the almost tangible animosity between the two wizards, and inwardly cringed when she noticed her Potions Professor\'s appearance.

Speaking just loud enough for Remus to hear, Severus hissed, \"Always an observer, Lupin. Your usefulness is wearing thin.\" Severus continued walking as though nothing had occurred, but inwardly satisfied that it was just enough salt to rub in the wounds he had scraped into Remus\' thoughts and feelings, bleeding him slowly of his confidence and purpose.

Letting out a low growl, Remus stormed into the classroom, slamming the door behind him. He had spent a great deal of his life trying to search for a place to belong, finding it once in his illicit adventures with James, Sirius, and Peter, but it had been short lived. The seven years they had spent together had blessed him briefly with a sense of belonging and acceptance, but it was only a memory now. His friends had been picked off one by one, and now he was left alone, more so than he had been in his entire life.

The seventh year Gryffindors and Slytherins watched Professor Lupin storm into the room, a gesture, that until now, they had been under the obviously mistaken assumption was trademarked by Snape. There was no warm greeting today as Professor Lupin spoke in a tone that none of the students had thought him capable of. His voice was low and menacing.

\"For your N.E.W.T.’s Defense Against the Arts Class, you will write a 20 foot essay on vampires.\" Hermione’s hand shot up in the air, but Remus ignored her. \"I am aware that you wrote an essay on vampires, but this time you will explore them in depth, researching specifically the Romanian Vampire and how this particular vampire feeds upon its victims and how it can be destroyed.\" He emphasized the last word, leaving a chill in the room. \"Contrary to common belief, not all vampires are dead, but I will leave the rest for you to discover on your own. It will be due in one month.\" The class groaned, not because of the topic of the essay, because the length was beyond reasonable. Not even Snape assigned a paper that long. Class continued with the lecture they had begun the previous week, the topic of vampires left for another lesson. Having already read in depth the subject of discussion, Hermione allowed her mind to wander to the vampire essay. It was so uncharacteristic of Professor Lupin to show hostility at all, let alone while he was teaching, but then again, Professor Snape had that effect on people. Still, Hermione sensed that there was more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A few nights later Hermione was in the library with a stack of books, including a few on vampires, when Ron and Harry reluctantly entered the library. They would have rather been practicing Quidditch than doing homework, but they had promised Hermione that they would follow the study schedule she had created for them.

Hermione and Harry, as Head Girl and Boy, had less time for studying. Their responsibilities as Hogwarts student leaders took time, increasing their need to focus when they did have studying time available to them. When they were first notified about being selected as Head Boy and Head Girl, Ron initially displayed years of suppressed resentment towards Harry, having lived in his famous friend\'s shadow his entire Hogwarts experience, but his anger was extinguished when Harry persuaded the Gryffindor Quidditch team that Ron would make a fine captain. Ron, being the Quidditch fanatic he was, felt this station to be at least as important as being Head Boy, and stopped holding any grudge against Harry. The Golden Trio were proud of the status they held at school, but didn’t let it get in the way of who they really were - best friends.

\"I should have known, Hermione. You\'re already starting the essay Remus gave us,\" grumbled Ron, but Hermione did not acknowledge him, nor stop her note taking.

\"Hermione!\"

\"Did you know that some vampires are born vampires, while others are created?\" she asked, not looking up. She had heard every word they had said, but prided herself in her ability to ignore them. The book she had checked out from the Restricted Section on vampires was too fascinating for her to be drawn from it to respond to their never-ending complaints about her studying.

\"Don’t waste your time reading, love. If you want to know about vampires, ask Snape,\" said Harry flatly gesturing over his shoulder. They looked up to see that Snape had just entered the library, heading directly toward the Restricted Section with his black robes billowing behind him.

\"He might look like a vampire, but he can’t be one,\" whispered Ron, \"Vampires can’t survive in the sunlight, and you know that Snape hasn\'t missed a Quidditch match in years.\"

\"Only the Strigoii cannot tolerate sun, because they are dead vampires. The Moroii are living vampires and can tolerate the sun, though they are more comfortable in the shadows,\" stated Hermione, proudly sharing the information she had discovered. Ron and Harry were less than impressed as they covertly watched Snape walk out of the Restricted Section and over to Madam Pince. Although the boys were fully aware of the role Snape played within the Order, they preferred not to turn their backs on him, and they watched him closely as he crossed his arms, wrapping his robes around himself.

\"Bloody hell, you mean he really is a vampire?\" choked Ron, as the implication of Hermione\'s words finally registered with him. Hermione rolled her eyes.

\"If that were the only characteristic that qualified someone to be a vampire, then half the wizards and witches we know would be vampires too.\"

\"She’s right, Ron, don’t read so much into it,\" said Harry. \"If I honestly thought he was a vampire, I would have sprayed him with holy water by now.\" Ron laughed nervously as Snape\'s head snapped around in their direction, both boys feeling intimidated at the thought that he had heard their conversation.

\"I suggest that you two stop watching vampire movies and start researching the facts, then perhaps you will find out that Hollywood portrayals of the vampire are based on unsubstantiated rumors and fables,\" Hermione interjected in a vicious hiss.

Wanting to avoid an intellectual debate they were clearly under-prepared for, Ron and Harry sat down and each pulled out a project to work on, neither of them acknowledging the vampire essay that Hermione was so evidently enthralled in. They were, in all honesty, a little resentful that Remus had assigned such a difficult essay.

Draco Malfoy entered the library a short time later with his two cronies, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. All three had grown noticeably in the past two years, but whereas Malfoy had grown taller, Crabbe and Goyle had merely become thicker and more feebleminded. Draco looked very much like his father now that his hair was longer and pulled back. He was almost as tall, but not as muscular, as Lucius. It was Malfoy who noticed the Gryffindor trio and led Crabbe and Goyle over to them.

\"Well, what do we have here?\" sneered Malfoy, \"The Boy Who Lived, or should I say, an obedient watchdog, just like his useless mutt of a godfather.\" Crabbe and Goyle let out a few grunts that could only be interpreted as laughter.

Harry began to stand up, but Ron placed a hand on his shoulder, holding him down. Malfoy glanced down at Hermione’s book on vampires and snorted. Turning to Hermione, he smirked at her, \"You are supposed to be such a know-it-all, yet you can’t even see what has been in front of you all these years.\"

Hermione’s eyes narrowed, her mind working quickly, attempting to interpret Malfoy\'s meaning.

\"Shut up, Malfoy,\" Ron hissed as he jumped to his feet, and stood to face off with Draco. Ron was slightly the taller of the two, and resembled a bulldog with his chest puffed out, ready to defend Hermione’s honor.

Crabbe and Goyle again grunted at Ron, while Draco ignored him, instead turning to Harry as he hissed maliciously, \"It’s nice having father back after all this time. But I guess that is something you will never understand, hey, Potter?\"

In one smooth move, Harry stood, drew his wand, and aimed it at Draco’s throat. Annunciating each word slowly, Harry spoke in a dangerously low voice. \"One. More. Word. Malfoy. And. It. Ends. Here.\"

\"Harry!\" hissed Hermione.

\"Twenty points from Gryffindor, Potter, and put your wand down,\" said the deep voice of Snape, who had approached the group. The sneer on his face made it clear that the Potions Master was enjoying the situation. \"And another twenty points from Gryffindor,\" his eyes flashed to Hermione. \"You are Head Girl, Miss Granger, needless to say I am disappointed in your lack of ability to take charge. I do believe I shall be obligated to discuss with Professor McGonagall your apparent inadequacies as an effective leader.\"

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all fuming with anger, but they managed to refrain from saying anything else, thinking of the number of points Snape would take off if they retaliated. Narrowing her eyes again and glaring, Hermione was the only one to make eye contact with Snape, but when he raised an eyebrow as if challenging her to reciprocate, she quickly backed down and turned to Harry and Ron, fearful that her own temper would result in her expulsion from Hogwarts.

\"Let’s go to the Gryffindor common room where we can study in peace,\" said Hermione in a pretentious voice. Harry and Ron glared once more at Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle before gathering their things and leaving.

Severus turned back to Draco and hissed, \"What the hell was that all about?\"

Draco snorted while glancing at Crabbe and then Goyle. \"Just having fun, sir,\" but before Severus could comment, Draco continued, \"Sir, there is something you should know...\"


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A week after the Gryffindors\' library confrontation with the Slytherin trio, Professor Lupin appeared to be in a somewhat better mood as he stood in front of the DADA class, wearing a set of robes that had clearly seen better days.

\"I must apologize to you,\" he began with a slight hint of sarcasm, \"but as I was taking a closer look at what you will be tested on during the N.E.W.T.s, I realized that you only need to know the basic principles of a vampire, which we covered in your third year. I am canceling the essay on vampires that I assigned you last week. Clearly, it would be a waste of time, since we have much more important topics to explore.\" His eyes flashed in Malfoy\'s direction as he finished.


The class breathed a sigh of relief, except for Hermione, who was not only disappointed, but also a bit suspicious of Remus\' motives. It was so incongruous for him to make such an error. Hermione simply smiled, however, and pretended to be just as pleased as her classmates with the revelation.

The lecture began immediately, so it wasn’t until they broke into small groups to discuss the applications of the new defense curse they just learned that Hermione leaned closer to Harry and Ron and whispered, \"It doesn’t make sense. Why would Remus backtrack on an assignment? It’s not like him.\"

\"What are you talking about, Hermione?\" asked Harry.

\"The Vampire essay.\"

\"I don’t care what his reasoning is, even if it\'s insanity, just as long as I don’t have to write a twenty foot essay,\" snapped Ron.

\"I have to agree with him there, Hermione. Our homework load is much heavier than it\'s been in the past, and a twenty foot essay on Vampires is not what I want to be spending my time on for the next month,\" added Harry. Faced with the apathy-motivated opinions of her friends, Hermione dropped the subject and concentrated on her current assignment. Harry\'s observation on their workload was, in all fairness, accurate, but she was still concerned about the true genesis of Remus\' change of heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The month passed by slowly for the three, consumed in homework and classes. Together they made the decision to become Aurors, and since they had all their classes together, they were able to work on the assignments together.

Despite her best efforts, Hermione\'s thoughts still wandered occasionally back to the vampire essay that Remus had reneged on, so she decided to complete her research for it to see if the something in the material itself would establish the reason for its cancellation.

She had been working on the research for almost two weeks when she received a letter from Madam Pince.


Miss Granger,

You have in your possession a book called The Legendary Elements of the Romanian Vampire, by Antigonus Eglamous. A professor is in need of this book, so I am requesting that you return it as soon as possible.

Madam Pince

Hermione read the note several times before tucking it away and pulling out a scroll to write her reply. She had always been considerate of others by quickly reading and efficiently returning books before they had been due, so this note was unusual and worrisome. Also, Hermione had already noticed that this book had not previously been checked out by anyone for over 20 years. Her suspicions grew because it was a professor, rather than a student, who wished to borrow it. Feeling more than a little put out by this request, as well as suspicious, Hermione decided not to simply give in and return the book easily.

Madam Pince,

I assure you that I will promptly return the book when I am finished reading it, just as I always have. Please take into consideration that the book contains over 5000 pages, so I will need the full two weeks that I am allotted when checking out a book.

Sincerely,

Hermione Granger

The next day Hermione received another note.

Miss Granger,

I am requesting that you return the book, The Legendary Elements of the Romanian Vampire, by Antigonus Eglamous immediately. The professor who has requested the book needs it to prepare for a class, and until this book is returned, you are prohibiting the education of the professor’s students. I will expect the book in my library today at five o’clock.

Sincerely,

Madam Pince

Hermione made her way to the library a little before five o’clock with the book in hand. She had finished reading the book and had taken the necessary notes, so she was ready to return it, but she was still offended at the notion that she was keeping other students from learning. Madam Pince was sitting behind her desk, looking at the Head Girl sternly as she entered the library and approached her.

Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun while her eyes searched Hermione suspiciously, as if the girl were there to destroy all of her books in retaliation.

\"Miss Granger, I see that you decided to return the book,\" she said irritably. She resembled an underfed vulture, with her shriveled face and cold eyes.

“Considering that I didn\'t have a choice, Madam Pince, I decided that it was best.\" Hermione handed the book to her and waited. Madam Pince snatched the book from her hands and placed it on the desk before returning her attention to what she had been working on. Looking up after a short time, the Librarian was surprised and irritated to see Hermione still standing in her presence expectantly, her arms crossed and her fingers drumming absentmindedly.

\"Can I help you with something else?\" snapped Madam Pince.

\"I am waiting for you to send the book to the professor who needs it, seeing that he or she couldn’t bear to be without the book for another moment.\"

\"Miss Granger, I suggest that you mind your own business before I take points from Gryffindor. Do I make myself clear, young lady?\"

Hermione gave her a small smile, answering mechanically, \"Perfectly clear.\" She then turned and found a table to sit at to work on her homework. Hermione sat in the library the remainder of the evening, waiting to see who came in for the book or to whom Madam Pince sent it. Needless to say, there was an array of both professors and students that entered the library, but none, as far as Hermione could tell, approached Madam Pince and left with the book. At ten o’clock, the library was set to close, and Hermione casually walked by Madame Pince’s desk. The book was gone.

Hermione was ready to kick herself. It was occasions like this when she realized that she still thought like a Muggle, when witch’s logic was what was needed. It was obvious that there were other ways for a professor to get a book from the library without actually walking into the library - or were there? It didn’t matter now, since the book was gone and there had been too many people in the library for her to possibly remember who might have taken it. Gathering her things, Hermione left in frustration.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That weekend, Severus was summoned by the Dark Lord, and found himself standing in the circle of Death Eaters, waiting for his Master to speak. There was a new moon, so the evening was not only cold and windy, but dark and eerie. Of course, it could have been the middle of a summer afternoon and the Dark Lord’s presence would still create an atmosphere of foreboding.

\"It is time to remind Dumbledore that I am in control. I want a member of his Order to die, but not just any member. I want Remus Lupin dead. It is time to put an end to the Marauders,\" hissed the Dark Lord. His servants murmured amongst themselves as he slowly walked to each Death Eater, reading their thoughts. When he came to Severus, he stopped.

\"Severus, you have no thoughts, my son?\" Severus didn’t move, but maintained eye contact with his Master. \"There is only one reason for this. You are keeping information from me.\"

Severus did not respond, knowing that denial would make it worse. The last thing he heard was the cold hiss, \"Crucio!\"


~*~*~*~*~*~*~

With all Hermione’s duties as Head Girl, her homework, and regular meetings of the Order, it had been a long, stressful week. She decided to make some time for herself by enjoying the serenity of the night while sitting by the lake. It was very late, but if she didn’t take the time to clear her mind, she would only deny herself another night\'s rest. She often suffered sleeplessness because of her ever active mind, which constantly churned over events in her life, searching tirelessly for answers and solutions that usually failed to come forth.

Sitting on a rock outside Hogwarts\' grounds that she had claimed as her own, she curled her legs up to her chest, rested her chin on her knees, and wrapped her robe tightly around her body to keep the night chill out. She could easily have placed a warming charm on herself, but preferred the comforting feeling of her robes.

She stared off into the direction of the lake, listening to the ripples caused by the movement of the squid lap against the rocks at the shore. Only the stars could be seen tonight, as there was no moon to illuminate her surroundings.

This was Hermione\'s time to reflect and try to make sense of what her life had become. She certainly wasn\'t complaining or disappointed that she was a witch, but the challenges, prejudices, and wars that accompanied rewards were complications she had never anticipated in childhood.

Slowly breathing in the crisp night air, she momentarily held her breath before exhaling, releasing her tension. Closing her eyes, she emptied her mind.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Severus lay on his back, trying to regulate his breathing and overcome the pain from the Cruciatus that had been inflicted upon him by the Dark Lord. Hearing his Master say, \"That is all,\" Severus finally breathed a sigh of relief instead. He heard his colleagues of the dark Disapparate and became painfully aware that he was drained of his energy. Keeping his eyes closed, he concentrated all his energy to Disapparate.

Severus opened his eyes to the blackness of the night. He heard the familiar sounds of water splashing into rocks and realized he had again succeeded in Apparating under strenuous circumstances. He continued to lie on his back, waiting for death. His energy had never been so depleted and, not having the energy to find a victim to feed upon, he resigned himself to his fate and readied to face his mortality.

With her mind feeling relaxed enough to sleep, Hermione slowly rose from the rock and began walking back to the castle. Suddenly, she tripped over something in the dark.

She fell flat on her face, but quickly rolled onto her side and drew her wand to defend herself.

\"Lumos,\" she whispered. A light shone from the end of her wand, and she turned it toward the object lying in her path.

\"Oh gods,\" she whispered, seeing Professor Snape lying on the ground. Dropping to her knees, she leaned over him to see if he was conscious. Shining her wand over his face, she could see that his hair was wet and he was sweating. Assuming that he was sick, she touched him on the cheek and cradled his face.

\"Professor Snape,\" she said gently, \"you will be okay, sir. I’m going to help you.\"

The voice sounded so far away, but Severus forced his eyes open. Looking into a pair of familiar brown eyes, Severus recognized Hermione Granger.

Faced with the choice of life or death, Severus’ natural instincts took over.

On the occasions that Severus had to save his life, whether for self-defense or survival, he would automatically go for his victim’s jugular which would guarantee his victim’s death but his survival. When feeding to restore his low energy levels, his victim of choice was a woman, because sex, like the energy released at the point of death, was far more powerful and restorative than blood alone.

With a strained voice, he replied to her assurances, \"I know.\" Then he was in her mind, controlling her.

A warm and alien feeling of comfort and desire flooded Hermione as she searched into the depths of Severus\' eyes. Her fears and doubt disappeared, replaced with security and a need, a passion to please and an urge to give the man lying beneath her all she possessed. She wanted him. She wanted nothing more than to do his bidding, to be rewarded with his validation of her - his scent making her heady, the feel of the skin of his face tempting her to give him the same pleasures that he was bestowing on her. Somewhere deep inside she could hear a voice, a familiar voice, trying to scream out, but its warnings of danger were muffled by the unadulterated calm she found herself succumbing to. She was lost within herself and she would not fight him.

Maintaining eye contact with him, she continued to hold her lit wand in one hand and stretched out her other so that her wrist was over his mouth. Severus buried his sharp fangs into her soft tender flesh, slicing her skin and piercing her artery. The blood pumped into his mouth and he drank eagerly. At first he swallowed quickly, desperate to replenish his energy reserves, but after several minutes he slowed down and was able to suck the blood from the artery, taking full swallows.

Hermione flinched from the initial piercing of his teeth, but quickly the pain turned into a feeling she had never experienced before. Her hiss of pain turned gradually into a feral moan of delight and desire as she began to move her hips restlessly and bite her lower lip in anticipation. Further down her body there was a release she had not known before, a damp heat that spread not only to her senses, but also to the man beneath her. Sucking on her more enthusiastically, he groaned as well, thrusting his hips towards her, a mutated dichotic relationship. She was giving back his life, and he was passing on the eroticism of a thousand past encounters to her. Breathing as one. Their hearts beating as one. Their life forces pulsing and fusing to form the perfect entity. Unstoppable. Insurmountable. Beautiful and strong. The feeling was so pure it caused a relaxation to spread over her body, so powerful her eyes rolled into the back of her head and closed. The contact had been broken, del Severus was sure. Many other feedings had ended prematurely for the same reason. He prepared himself to have her pull her wrist away, but instead he heard her whisper, \"More.\"

He quickly let her go, frightened by his victim’s acquiescence despite the broken contact, for the first time ever. His fear brought Severus back to the reality of his situation, well aware of the ramifications of draining too much of her blood, well aware of what he would do to her - his student, entrusted to his care - if he allowed himself to continue.

He took her hand, removed it from his mouth, and sat up. She opened her eyes, surprised, to see him sitting in front of her. She looked down at her wrist: two perfect punctures. Her eyes flashed back to his face; he was no longer sickly. Then it all became clear. Snape was a vampire.

Both stood up, facing each other. Holding up her wand to see him, Hermione stared into his dark eyes and opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a syllable, she heard, \"Obliviate.\"


~TBC