AN: Thanks for waiting for this chapter. I apologize to you all for it taking so long, but Ive had a lot going on in RL and I was just now able to finish. So, r&r, enjoy, and in chapter 8 there will be NC17 stuff…..you have my word! ONWARD!!!
Chapter Seven
Hermione arrived back at the mansion just before dawn and her way up to her private suite uninterrupted. She went straight to the French style double doors that led to her balcony and locked them tightly and drew the shades down to the floor. She then cast an Impervious charm to ensure that no creeping light could sneak into her room while she was sleeping. Sighing, she removed her clothing and dawned an old Gryffindor tee shirt. It was Harry's shirt actually; she had been wearing it the night Taunis forced her to leave with him. She didn't really know why she kept the shirt but it was probably for the same reason that she still had her wedding band set. Sentimental value.
Harry had proposed to Hermione with his mother's engagement ring and she would never dream of getting rid of it. Instead, it was tucked away in a small velvet box hidden in the back of her underwear drawer. Hermione found that holding onto special items from her past helped her feel more…human. Her moments of humanity had to always be in private because if her coven was to see them, she would be coined weak and a coup would erupt leaving only death and destruction.
Hermione pulled back her covers, fluffed the pillow and got into her warm bed. She laughed a loud as she recalled her newborn fixation with the idea of having to sleep in a coffin. When Taunis had told her that coffins were part of an outdated, archaic ritual, she had been relieved that she would at least be able to continue sleeping in a bed. Hermione settled comfortably and smiled as she felt her eyelids growing heavy. It seemed that she was never really tired until the sun began to rise. She sighed and drifted off into a deep, coma like sleep.
*~*
Harry clutched a small bit of parchment in his hand. Moody had been hesitant to give him directions to Remus' location, but somehow Harry had been able to talk him into it. Ron had to get back to his reports and so Harry was left to confront Remus alone. The address Harry held crumpled in his hand was to an old abandoned factory in the old English industrial countryside. Harry stopped outside of the dilapidated entrance and drew a shaky breath. He squared his shoulders and knocked twice on the right side of the door. After a few moments of silence, a scruffy voice answered.
"Oo is it?"
Harry cleared his throat and took a step closer to the door.
"My name is Harry Potter and I am here to see Remus Lupin. It is an emergency."
There was silence once more and then Harry jumped as the heavy door creaked open. He pushed it forward and walked into the decaying building. The door slammed closed behind him and Harry stood in an enormous labor room. There were bits of broken machines strewn about the dust-covered floor. The high windows were mostly broken with rotting beams of wood covering the gaping holes of glassless steel. There was a large metal balcony that overlooked the room; it had several doors that Harry supposed led to different parts of the factory beyond.
Harry heard shuffling footsteps to his right and turned apprehensively. Approaching him was a short, stalky man with waist length, dirty red hair. As he drew closer, Harry noticed that the man had deep scars scattered about his face and neck. He was missing three fingers on his left hand and two on his right. The man reached Harry and stopped about three feet away. The two men observed each other quietly and then the stranger spoke in his low, gruff voice.
"So you're `Arry Potter then?"
Harry nodded and the man gave a low grunt.
"Well, I'm `Orace Daplin. I'm Remus' second in command. `E's been expectin you fer sometime now. Follow me, and whatever ya do, make no quick movements. Yer not in the wizarding world anymore. Yer in the den of the Wolves."
Harry followed Horace out of the labor room through a hallway to the right. The hall was dimly lit and they passed by several doors on either side. Halfway down, a demented looking man stuck his head out of a door and sniffed the air greedily. Harry gained a little more ground on Horace but still stayed a comfortable distance away.
The hall forked and the duo took a sharp left and the hall disintegrated into an old cavern. Soon they were headed down a rough stone staircase. The narrow passage emptied into a catacomb and Harry found himself growing uneasy. After taking another passage to the right and walking for what seemed like miles, Horace finally stopped. Harry almost collided with the little man and looked up to see one solitary door in the middle of the stone wall. Horace turned and eyed Harry.
"Well, `ere ya are. Knock once, `e'll know it's you."
With that, Horace turned and disappeared down one of the passageways to the left. Harry stood in front of the door for a moment then gathering all his courage, knocked once. The door opened inward and Harry took a hesitant step into the room.
It was a small, windowless opening. In the middle laid a thin mat made of straw and in the corner sat an old writing desk. Harry was jerked from his thoughts as a familiar voice spoke from the other darkened corner.
"It's not much, but I get by."
Remus Lupin stepped out from the shadows and Harry met him halfway in an embrace. Remus held him out at arms length, giving him a once over.
"You look good Harry. So much like your father. But I suppose that's old news by now."
Harry chuckled politely and stepped back to look at his old mentor. Lupin looked much the same as he always had, only grayer and shabbier than he had ever been.
"I've been expecting you for a while now. I'm surprised that it took this long for you to find me." Lupin said as he conjured two chairs. He motioned for Harry to take a seat and they positioned themselves across from one another.
"Remus, I wish I were here for a friendly visit and a catch up, but I need information."
Remus nodded and Harry continued.
"I need to know why you tried to kill Hermione and what is this impending war between the vampires and werewolves really about?"
Remus sat thoughtfully for a moment and folded his hands in his lap.
"Well, I'm afraid that it's all terribly complicated Harry. But I shall tell you as much as I know. But first I need for you to tell me what you know."
"Hermione came to my house. I've spent the better part of the last ten years trying to find her and she just, poof, showed up. She told me that she tried to come see me shortly after she was taken but you attacked and tried to kill her."
Remus sighed heavily and rubbed his tired eyes.
"Harry, I am going to take this opportunity to share with you knowledge that very few have ever been privy to. I cannot start at the beginning because that story is far too old for my memory to recall. The knowledge I do have came to me when I assumed leadership of the clan after Voldemort fell.
Taunis Marconi still stood as the leader of the vampire coven and he and I were in constant battle. He waned to be a beast master, the overlord of the vampires and the werewolves. He felt that his superiority entitled him to rule over both clans. He was determined to thin our numbers until I conceded but I would not, under and circumstances. If I did, it would mean the enslavement of all werewolves and the death of many. But he would not relent.
His whole plan came to a climax when he took Hermione. With her incredible power plus the abilities of a vampire, she would be virtually indestructible. He planned to train her to be a killing machine. It was his hope that he could re-wire her, as it were, to do his bidding. He wanted to make her his mind slave. When I intercepted her that night she returned, I saw Taunis' work was already in progress. She was ruthless, attacking several of my counterparts. She was utterly consumed by the blood lust and when she said she wanted to see you, I panicked. For all I knew, Taunis had convinced her to suck you dry.
You must understand Harry, that vampirism is very much different from lycanthropy. Once a person becomes a vampire, he or she is always a vampire. There is no potion, no spell that can reverse it or contain its side effects. Control over the blood lust and raging strength comes from within the vampire's mind and if they choose not to harness themselves, then the effects can be catastrophic.
I tried to kill Hermione because I know what she is capable of. She killed Taunis for god sake, a feat that no human or vampire had been capable of accomplishing for more than two thousand years. So, we will have our war, and I will destroy her. Not because I want to, but because it is what must be done."
Harry sat consumed in total silence, his mind racing. He collected his thoughts roughly and looked Remus in the eye.
"A part of her is still alive Remus. When she came to my flat, she -kissed me. I felt it, that essence that was hers. I know that she can be saved. I feel it in my heart."
Remus shook his shaggy head and sighed.
"No Harry, what you have is a fool's hope of rescuing his true love from the monster's grip. But your true love is the monster. You are way out of league here. Please, don't interfere. You will only get yourself killed. Because if it comes down to you or Hermione, she will kill you without a second's hesitation. It's her nature now."
Harry stood and went to the door and stopped with an outstretched hand on the knob. He looked back at Remus.
"That's not true. I know that it isn't. I have to do what I feel needs to be done."
Remus stood also and squared his shoulders.
"And I have to do what I know needs to be done."
Harry nodded curtly and left the lair, not once looking back.
-->