On a Hot Summer Night

[AN]Thanks to WeasleyWench, Snakelette, gitana, DB1, virginia, and Megan for comments. I'm surprised that this is going over so well. I know my chapters are a bit short, but I think of them like movie scenes. I am trying to write longer chapters though.[/AN]


She rolled out of her fireplace unaware of the danger lurking just outside her door. She went to her fridge and opened it, staring at the rows of blood, some in jugs and some in vials. It was stupid that she was on a hunger strike previously. It wasn't going to sate her at all. In fact, it just made her more hungry. Heating one of the vials in the microwave (since magic ruined the taste) she flopped down on her couch. Her laptop was sitting charged, and she picked it up to find that she had a new e-mail from the Department of Magical Affairs. The merging of the two very different worlds still amazed her. At first she was ridiculed for using muggle contraptions. Now, they were as common as wands.

The e-mail stated that she needed to report to the Department for monthly vampire testing. It was USA policy. But it made her feel like an animal. She hadn't hunted in a while out of fear. Fear that she would be caught with illegal human blood. That would cost her if she tested positive. They would most likely put her in a cage until the blood worked its way through her system. Luckily she fought hard in the UK to get those rules, as well as any werewolf rules, repealed. The work was going slower in the US though. Mostly because of the stubborn people here.

The knock at the door was faint, but her advanced senses picked it up. She wondered who it was, when she heard the microwave beep. Ignoring whoever it was, she went to the microwave and pulled out the hot-to-touch vial. Pouring it carefully into a mug, watching the smoke rise from it, she walked to the door and peered out the peephole.

Upon seeing who it was, she was shocked to see that he wasn't in his traditional robes. In fact, he looked fuckable. Wait. Hermione Granger had just not thought that. She mentally slapped herself and undid the locks (both muggle and magical) on the door and let Severus in.

She had taken a while to get to the door, and it scared him a bit, thinking that maybe he had the wrong door. But at least she opened it. Which was more than what he thought. The first thing he smelled was the warm blood, and looked at the mug Hermione had. Severus smirked a little. She was no doubt well fed, however the lack of fresh human blood was making her more hungry. Not to mention her hunger strike.

"What are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad that you're here. But it's only been a few minutes. You would think that you would give me at least a few hours. The day is still here."

The time change was something that Severus had forgotten. NYC was 4 hours behind London. Or anywhere in England for that matter. It was night there already. But still day in NYC.

"I should have been more careful, I'm sorry. I thought that we should go hunting this evening. Just the two of us. I'll teach you a few tricks."

Her eyebrows raised in an expression of either surprise or shock. She didn't know what to say. The last time she had indulged herself on a human had been years ago. And she had made sure so much that they were an evil-doer that it ruined the whole hunt. Now she either stole or obtained blood from hospitals. Somehow that blood always had a different taste. What she was offered now was a chance to bond with Severus. Regardless if she killed or not, the experience would be entertaining.

"What makes you think that I'm a worthy hunting partner. Or that I want to hunt at all."

Severus smirked. He suspected that she wouldn't just willingly say yes. He knew how to convince her though. His voice became a bit more husky, and he looked her deep into the eyes, moving in closer to her face.

"I don't. But I want a fresh kill tonight. No bottled stuff. Something real and tangible. New York is a good enough city to find someone worthy for death. Besides, you didn't think I would just let you walk out of my room like that, did you?"

Her cheeks turned hot, not only by the way Severus was turning her on, but with embarrassment. It was true that she was cruel to him before. She had kicked him out of her apartment, then when she went to him for help, stormed off like a spoiled brat. Maybe a good kill would do her good. After all, it wasn't like he was asking her on a date. This would be more out of necessity, instead of lust. She looked behind her shoulder to the buzzing laptop and recalled the e-mail she had just read. That worried her, that she would surely be treated horribly if she went through with this. But the look that Severus was giving her made her weak in the knees, and she spoke in a shaky voice.

"Sure. Fine. I'll do it. It is 4 in the afternoon now. Come back at 8 tonight. I'll be ready then."

"As you wish."

With that, the older vampire disapparated out of sight, to who knew where. Hermione could only guess that he stayed around New York. Maybe went to a famous landmark, since that would be easy to apparate to. She doubted that he went all the way back to England. Shutting her door, she poured the hot blood down her drain. She would need to reserve her appetite.

Now she had four hours. Of nothing to do. First she went to her laptop and e-mailed the Department back:

To whom it may concern:

I, Hermione Granger, am fully aware of the fact that I am a vampire. For the past four years I have obliged you by reporting every month to have a small bit of my blood drawn for testing. In these four years, I have remained on a diet of hospital blood. I have recently found that this is unhealthy in long term for vampires, and am requesting that you lift the current requirements for my species. I understand that there are many vampires living in America, and the release of them to feed on the human populous would be catastrophic. I am suggesting an honor system. No tracking systems, no reporting. Vampires would be allowed to feast on the evil and corrupt of the world, ridding it of those not wanted. It is not only the blood that sustains us, but the hunt. I will not be reporting this month, or any month after this. You must understand that the vampires will outlive all of you, and your policies. We are natural killers, and I will do what it is in our right to do. Kill. England has no restrictions on vampires hunting, since their honor system is enforced. If a vampire is found to have murdered an innocent, they face the sun, without spells. All you need to do is look to the news for any suspicious killings. We are all registered and tagged like animals, and I refuse to endorse these policies that treat us like we are less than what we are: vampires.

Sincerely,

Ms. Hermione Granger

Looking at the e-mail, not sent yet, she was satisfied. That ought to teach them a lesson. She clicked the send button, and sat back in her couch as if a great weight were lifted off her shoulders. Putting the laptop down, she headed to her bedroom. She need to think of what to wear. From what Severus was wearing, she could tell that he meant something other than hunting. However, she could not wear something too provocative. Pulling out an old plain black skirt and putting it on, she took her wand out and shortened it. It was now just above her knee and pulled tight at her hips. With another wave she added interwoven red sparkles. It seemed to make the skirt come alive. Another old black shirt came out of her closet, and she tried it on. Hermione stared and lowered the neck line to make a plunging V shape. Just enough cleavage. The sleeves ruffled just at her shoulders with another wave, and with one last wave she added the same red sparkles that were on the skirt. Shoes were simple: black, strappy, with a 2 1/2 inch heel. The red sparkles were added on those too to complete the outfit.

Her reflection looked a tad slutty, and she lowered the skirt hem to just at her knees. From there she ruffled it out, so those extended past her knees, but that was just for decoration. She was not one to wear makeup, and was positively clueless of what to do. Quickly she grabbed her phone and dialed Ginny's number.