Dumbledore's P.O.V

"Albus, may I please speak with you." The voice floated in from the door, and I gave a conceding nod. "Ahhh… Severus, what brings you to my office? Nothing bad I hope." I asked smiling.

Sererus's face did not lighten nor change in the slightest. He was a hard man to read, but that was a trait he had learned, being one of Voldemort's henchmen. Too bad Severus had used that against Voldemort, and Voldemort himself could not even tell what the man was thinking.

"Albus…" Severus slowly paced the length of the floor, his cloak whipping behind him. I knew by his voice that it was something serious. I sat up straighter, my good mood being replaced by worry. Severus continued, "You said it would take Draco at least a hundred years before he would come to his full Prince of Darkness… abilities." I nodded my head for him to continue, and he hurried on quickly. "He came to me a couple of nights ago, the blood lust upon him strong. He isn't even supposed to be feeling blood lust, Albus. The Prince of Darkness is more human that any vampire, it is supposed to take him at least a hundred years before any of this should have happened."

I sighed heavily, "He has met his trigger." Severus paled as my words were spoken and I knew that he knew exactly what the trigger was. "Severus, who is his trigger?" Severus's eyes slowly met mine, "It is Hermione Granger, Albus."

I grimaced, the one thing that should have been kept as far away from Draco was around him all the time; always a silent urge to push Draco toward his Prince of Darkness role.

"Man of blood, of power…

He walks the line between death and life

He waits for neither other, to fall to either side

But one will come with power, the deed he must fulfill

To kill his kind that he loves most

Till his death becomes his plunder

But in some case may it lay hidden

To swirl occasionally to the top

But only will it come with death

Of death not worth the price

He walks the narrow line

His future; yet hidden"

I trailed of quietly, but the power in the prophecy hung in the air. Severus stood, rigid, his eyes unmoving. He blinked slowly, once, then twice. He shook his head, the echo of magic finally evaporating. "Do you have any idea what it means, Albus?"

I sighed again, "Yes, most of it. Draco will kill… humans with out any conscience of even doing so. Eventually if not killed already, his Prince of Darkness taint will die, and he will die with it. But the taint will fade after much blood is consumed. The last man, Alferonzo… was put down by auroras, but even then he had killed at least 100 people before he was stopped. We found out too late that it was him. When all the other vampires were drawn to him; that was how we found out. You see vampires see the Prince of Darkness as their "Lord Voldemort." They love him no matter what. They know that he will kill people, but in their minds the shedding of fresh blood is worth it. They will do anything he says. It is kind of like a spell all in itself." I paused a moment, "But there is a way of containing his instinct to kill, but it comes with the death of I know not what. But as said in the prophecy, "Of death not worth the price." It will be something that will in all likely hood claim Draco's life with it. "

"What do we do Albus? Is it best to just… save Draco from his misery?" I shook my head no, "And would you like to be the one to tell his father that we had to put down his son? I don't think he will accept it, even if you are the boy's godfather." I tried to smile lightly at this, but my lips hardly found the urge to lift even at the ends. "We must separate Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy. I fear that she will be one of the first he will kill, if allowed to. Since she is his trigger, she will be the one he wishes most to drink from."

Fate seemed to be sitting on our shoulders, and for once I had no idea what to do. I could almost see the disappointment in Severus's eyes, and it made me ashamed. I rose from my chair, "I am off to the vaults at the Ministry of Magic, I will look up everything I can, and perhaps we will find a way out of this. Severus nodded his head solemnly, and exited his face neutral like normal, like always.

When the door clicked behind him, I turned back to the fire. "And Mr. Potter, how much of that did you hear?" I heard a surprised intake of breath before Harry's face came back into the fire. Behind him you could see as Ron storming across the room, his hands flying through the air in disbelief. Faintly I could hear him yelling, "I bloody knew it… vampire… hypnotized Mione… evil prat from the start." Harry turned back around to yell over his shoulder at Ron to be quiet.

His face came back to look at mine, though his eyes didn't meet mine, but were seemingly to stare at my nose. Even in the fire you could tell he had a slight embarrassed blush to his cheeks. "I'm sorry professor, I didn't mean to intrude, or interrupt, or listen but… you said Hermione, and…" Harry was at a loss for words, and I sighed in understanding. "What you heard is to be kept secret, Professor Snape and I will figure this one out. I don't want you two to step into the fray. Do you understand?" Harry nodded his head and said sheppily, "Yes sir." "And you, Mr. Weasly?" I asked. No response. "Mr. Weasly…?"

Harry whipped around to look behind him. "Shit!" He cursed then whipped to face me, "He's gone professor. To Hermone I think!"

Dread filled my old aching bones, and without a seconds thought, I was running, as fast as an old man could, to the head's dormitories.

Draco's P.O.V.

This was not happening, not again. The hunger churned tightly in my stomach, as I once again grimaced with pain. Never had it hurt like this, not so soon after drinking. I rushed quickly to my robe which lay folded across the back of my chair. I searched franticly through the pockets, until my hand gripped the potion bottle. Twisting tightly, the cork flew out of the bottle. I didn't wait a second; I just drowned the contents down my dry throat.

The relief that came over nearly caused my legs to give out beneath me. I sighed, all the frustration and exhausting leaving my body… for a while. Who knew when the next spurt would come on again. After taking a couple of steadying breaths, I quickly wiped the sweat from my brow. Now I was ready for the Heads meeting. Opening my door, I found Hermione, like always, reading a book.

I smiled, walking loud enough for her to hear me. She looked up at me and smiled, and my heart skipped a beat in response to it. She quickly sat up patting the seat next to her, "Come, sit. We're going to be here all night." I rolled my eyes, but sat down none the less. She glanced out the big window into the dark stormy light. The trees in the forbidden forest thrashed away back and forth creepily as lightning flashed and rain poured down in buckets. "So what do we have to plan now?" I asked. Hermione quickly pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail, and slowly skimmed her eyes over the paper. "Well, first…" she said pointing down to the neat outlines of this month. She obviously had made them herself, for her neat hand writing was printed all over the page. "I think we should start planning the next Prefect meeting. I feel like we never get anything accomplished at those, everyone just likes to argue."

I smirked knowing exactly who the arguing was between; Slytherins and Gryffindors. Sometimes it was even arguing between Hermione and I. Hermione began to chew on her bottom lip, a habit that I found I liked just as much as when she would slowly cross, and uncross her legs.

"Draco hello, you there?" her hand waved in front of my face, and I shook my head, "Oh, sorry, what were you saying, I was … daydreaming of a … beautiful brown eyed babe. You know the one that loves to read books, and tell everyone how hot her boyfriend Draco is." I smirked, and Hermione lightly gave me a shove on the shoulder. "You know if my boyfriend was here, he'd kick your butt. He's awfully strong…" Her hand slowly traced up my arm. "And he has these eyes to die for." Her eyes stared deeply into mine. I could feel as she moved closer to me. When next she spoke her voice lowered huskily. "And oh my, how silky his hair is." Her hands entered my hair, where they traced figure eights at my neck. I groaned lightly in pleasure. I cut in, "You mean the man who's about to kiss you right now?" I didn't wait for her to answer; I just plucked her up onto my lap, and crushed my lips to hers. Her tongue eagerly met mine, and we both moaned. But before anything could continue, Hermione pulled away laughing, "Draco, we're never going to get anything done." Her cheeks were lightly flushed, and she quickly resorted to the chair across the table. "See what I have to resort to?" She said smirking. I laughed, "You sure are picking up my signature smirk there. Just don't loose it; I'll want to kiss that look off you face." I laughed before closing my eyes and pretending to be kissing the air; very exaggerated. I just didn't expect the pillow that whammed my in the face.

Her laugher filled the air, and in was contagious. I laughed along with, and even when she hugged her stomach and the happy tears fell. We finally stopped, though it took a couple of seconds of silence, with a somewhat audible snicker, followed by more laughter. But when it stopped, I never felt more relaxed. I sighed, content with the happiness that seemed to be floating through me and by me. Only Hermione could make me feel such. "You know what Hermione… I think I'm falling in love with you." It came out as a friendly piece of conversation, but my mind and heart knew it for its truth.

Hermione blinked slowly her mind processing the words. I shifted in my place on the couch, now slightly uncomfortable. Then her eyes met mine and they were full of what I hoped showed in mine; love, care, honesty, trust. So many things, but just how I wanted it. She did not look away, but smiled slightly. I heard her whisper, "I feel the same…"

But it was interrupted as the portrait door open with a bang. Ron ran into the room yelling at the top of his lungs, "Hermione, get away from the monster. The bloody bastard, blood sucker…" Ron rambled on his eyes wide as though on drugs. My body stiffened, and I felt as my blood grew cold.

Hermione stood up, "Ron what is with you? What stuff are you taking?" Ron whirled on Hermione, "He's a vampire Hermione and he's going to kill you." I jumped up from my seat growling, "This is nonsense!" Ron stepped in front of Hermione as if protecting her. "See watch." His hand jumped into his pocket, and he pulled from it a pin.

I wanted to laugh, I really did, but I had no idea what he was planning. He grabbed Hermione's hand and brought it before him. Hermione screamed, as she realized Ron mean to stab her with it. I tried to move, to help her. But I was frozen, frozen as I saw the sharp piece of steel reach for her tender flesh. After he pulled the pin away from her thumb, did my eyes become transfixed on the small bead of blood that slowly began to pool out. That's when the explosion hit me. The scent filled me, and my body crumbled before it. I cried out, fighting the hunger with all my might. Her thumb dripped the blood onto the floor, and as much as Hermione tried to pull her arm away, Ron held on to it tightly.

Hermione didn't even glance my way until Ron said, "You see Hermione." He released her hand and pointed down to me on the floor. I saw it in her eyes, the fear, in her open mouth, and in the way she clutched to Ron like a lifeline. I knew my eyes burned yellow, my teeth coming out over my bottom lip.

I hardly noticed the tears that fell down my cheeks to land on the floor. I just cried, and let the sobs rack my body. "I would never… hurt you, Hermione." I pleaded.

Tears fell down her cheeks also, and with out hesitation, she ran to me. She knelt before me, and to me she was like my angel, coming to take me away. Away from this horror movie that was coming true before my eyes. Her hand traced my cheek gently as she whispered, "Oh Draco." Then she was ripped from me, Ron's arms pulling her away. "Hermione no, he will kill you." Hermione screamed, "Let go of me Ron!" But no matter how much she twisted to get away she was caught.

Foot steps echoed in from the open portrait, and Ron smirked, "They're coming for you Draco. How many people have you killed, huh? Trying to take Hermione next? Well, you won't have her. You will die before you will ever have her!"

Hermione screamed, her body being racked with her sobs. "Stop it Ron, Just stop it!" Now the pairs upon pairs of footsteps were loud, echoing through my ears, I stumbled up, fighting the pain in my stomach. I rushed towards the window, but stopped to turn around one last time. Hermione eyes met mine. "I love you Hermione." She mouthed back to me, I love you, too. Her strong emotions seeming to have silenced her voice. Her tears flowing down her cheeks like a water fall, and I wanted to kiss them away, just kiss all the pain away. But I couldn't.

I ran as fast as I could to the window, and with a leap, I crashed through it, into the night. Her scream following me out, "Nooooooo………."