One

A/N: Thanks as ever to Septentrion for the beta, and thanks to JKR for letting us play in her sandbox.

For the sake of brevity Hermione has returned to Hogwarts, post battle, to take her NEWTs.

‘I’m positive he is. No one’s that pale.'

'He may be scary, but he’s breathing. Look.’

Hermione tried hard to block out the constant bickering from the much younger Gryffindors she was obliged to share the desk with, but even she had her limits.

'Hush, he’ll hear you,’ Hermione whispered. ‘You’ll end up in detention for a week.’

'How did he survive, then, if he’s not a—you know?’

Carefully, Hermione extinguished the flame under her cauldron and wiped the stirring rod with a cloth. ‘Rumour has it—’

'Miss Granger,’ said a raspy voice behind her. ‘See me after class.’

~*~

Hermione found herself on the wrong end of Snape’s wand the second the door closed.

'How long have you known?’ she asked, unperturbed.

'I’ve encountered enough Dark creatures in my lifetime to know one when I see one,’ Snape replied. ‘Besides, my Mark has been throbbing with unabashed glee every time I cast eyes on you and…’ He smirked nastily. ‘…as far as I can remember, you were never one of the fake tan brigade.’

'Ah. I see.’ Hermione’s eyes remained fixed on the wand. ‘I don’t suppose there’s much point in appealing to your better nature, then, is there?’

~*~

'Tell me,’ he barked. ‘What idiot let you back here?’

She stared a moment at the ruin of the man trying to intimidate her. How anyone could think he was like her was frankly ridiculous, if not insulting, when even the most short-sighted of Hufflepuffs should be able to spot he was on a downward spiral towards an untimely death. He was diseased; his blood stank of Nagini’s venom. Hermione wrinkled her nose in distaste.

'Minerva thought I deserved the chance after everything I’d been though.’

'I might have guessed.’ With a long suffering sigh, Snape let his wand drop.

~ * ~

'Thank you,’ said Hermione. The wand had been a futile gesture, and they both knew it. ‘Look, I mean you no harm, Professor Snape. All I want is to sit my N.E.W.Ts in peace, after which I shall disappear from the wizarding community, never to be seen again, and apply my knowledge to medical research like I’ve always intended. Until, that is, such time as I eventually get bored with eternity and step out into the sun like everyone else does.’

‘How… noble,’ he sneered. ‘But you are nonetheless a blood-sucking predator—a monster, in a school full of children.’

'And you are a man with sexual urges,’ Hermione retorted, smiling slightly. ‘Does that make you a serial rapist?’

'That is hardly the same thing.’

'Isn’t it? I’m as capable as you of controlling my basest instincts. I’ve never killed, and I don’t intend starting now.’ She moved a step closer. ‘I raid Muggle hospitals for blood. That quells the hunger so I’ve no need to hunt.’

Severus’ raised eyebrow spoke volumes. ‘And your Sire allows all this… altruism?’

'He is no more,’ Hermione replied with a shrug. ‘Harry staked him before he had the chance to… teach me otherwise.’

~ * ~

'Merlin,’ Severus murmured. ‘You never had your first kill.’ To his knowledge, this was practically unheard of, and if she’d been taken against her will, her soul was theoretically still intact. He half-turned away to ponder the matter further, mindless of the danger in such a move.

'Harry was too late to save my life,’ Hermione echoed his thoughts. ‘But he did save my soul.’ She had noted Severus’ uncharacteristic mistake, but decided not to take advantage of it. His trust was essential. ‘So, my fate appears to be in your hands, Professor. What is the price of your silence?’

~ * ~

Severus hesitated before sitting down heavily in his chair. He took his time answering, but Hermione, though no Legilimens, knew exactly what was coming. Suddenly, he locked eyes with her.

'Take your NEWTs, Miss Granger, but once the Leaving Feast is over, come to me, here. My price is… you make me… like you.’

'You don’t know what you’re asking.’

'Oh, but I think I do.’ Pain flashed momentarily across Severus’ face, and he pressed his hand against his wounded neck.

'You’re dying, sir,’ Hermione said matter-of-factly. ‘By the end of term, you’ll be too weak to make the transition.’

~ * ~

Again, the answer, though terrible, was predictable. ‘Then do it today.’

'But I’ve never done… that,’ she confessed, wide-eyed. ‘Besides, even then I can’t guarantee... It’s risky for me too, you know. Your blood’s poisoned, I—’

'That’s a risk I’m prepared to take.’

'And are you prepared for eternal fealty. To me?’

'Considering the alternative, yes.’ Retrieving his wand, Severus flicked it at the board.

‘Now leave. We’re both running late.’

'I’ll return at eight.’ Hermione paused by the door. ‘Please reconsider, sir. I’d gladly swap eternity to be human again.’

Severus inclined his head. 'Eight it is, Miss Granger.'

~ * ~