A/N - I know that this has taken a really long time and is really short but I just haven't been in the mood for writing, this is due to a close family friend being diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully she is ok now but its been a hard time. Hopefully the next chapter will be up in the next week.

The ritual- part 1

The knife's blade caught the light as she slammed in down into the warm flesh beneath her, a roar erupted from somewhere in the dank basement. Suddenly hundreds of eyes were set on her as fresh blood spilled over the already stained stone floor.

She could hear the heart beat of her victim, like a drum deafening her, pounding in her ears entrancing her with its seductive beat. Slowly she leaned forwards, no longer the shy schoolgirl, when she reached the blade embedded in the flesh she flicked out her tongue tasting for the very first time the blood of the clan leader.

It was an ancient tradition in within the vampire race, dating back to the very beginning of the species. The newest member of a clan must be welcomed and confirmed by a ritual performed partly in the presence of the whole clan and partly in private with just the elder as a witness.

It was the last part of this ritual that Hermione was dreading the most, she had never been alone with the elder and Severus had refused to tell her anything of what was going to happen. She had been prepared for the first part of the ritual which involved stabbing the leader and drinking from him.

It was an overwhelming sensation to feel the blood of someone so powerful slide down her throat. It felt so right to her, to be a part of him and apart of this family. She imagined this was what it was like to be electrocuted, a powerful energy flowing through every part of her body, sending to a place where she wasn't sure if she was living in heaven or being sent to hell.

As she felt herself being pulled back from her pray she struggled, unable to focus properly, the world around her was blurred and surreal. She felt a strong hand grasp her shoulder sending pleasure seeping into her mind.

Somewhere in her sub-conscious se registered that the hand felt familiar but in her haze she didn't comprehend it. She spun, with the grace of a cat, catching the other hand of her assailant before it could reach her.

Lips crashed against hers and in an instant her demon had risen to the surface, mixing with her mind, melting into her.

Mouths battling for dominance, neither of them registering the chaos that was erupting all around them as the entire clan, who had been watching the ritual, began move against each other.

Heavy seductive music began to pulse through the dark room intensifying the rhythmic thumping of excited bodies grinding against each other. Clothing was torn form bodies in frantic couplings. The atmosphere in the room gained intensity as demons took control of their hosts for the first time in many years.

Hermione has been told that this was going to happen by Severus who had been nervously pacing their room in the Cravat manor since their arrival the previous morning. He had reverted back to his 'Professor' persona, snapping at her for the smallest thing.

When he had explained the ritual to her she had been terrified of the consequences. She learnt that the ritual was not only ancient but very dangerous. To the magical community it was considered one of the darkest forms of magic.

Blood magic was considered inherently evil as t involved promises and commitments that were sealed in blood containing the very essence of a persons being. It reminded Hermione of the muggle phrase 'selling your soul'.

"The difference is that for vampires blood is only half of our life force" Severus had lectured her while still trying to wear a hole in polished marble floor. "The blood that flows in our veins only nourishes the human parts of our existence. The demon inside us nourishes what remains of our soul."

Hermione had successfully deduced from this that although she was forming an irreversible bond with the clan it was not as life- threatening as it would be to a human. She also made a note in her mind to research the issue when they returned to Hogwarts.

The ceremony was taking place on Halloween, All Hallows Eve as it is traditionally called, in the basement room Hermione had discovered when she had last been a resident of the house. It seemed different than the last time she had seen it.

The room was still dark, the candles creating the same shadows on the same blood stained walls, but the clan seemed more anxious. The last time Hermione had seen this room full of people there had been copious amounts of sex and blood play. When she had entered the room earlier that evening, with Severus standing behind her like a bodyguard, she had felt the tension creep up her spine.

The room had been almost pitch black when she entered at the far end, as she had walked down the room towards the alter at the far end, the sea of vampires parted with ironic similarity of the parting of the red sea in the Bible. There were more people than last time but she barley noticed.

At school she had always hated being the centre of attention but now, in this strange place among the people who are forming her new family, she felt privileged that such powerful and ancient people would consider her worth all this trouble and effort.

She continued her walk through the clan members with Severus by her side. The haunting eyes following her towards the alter.

Laying on the alter, completely naked and exposed in all his glory was Calatios, looking every part the majestic leader. His eyes were closed but he was till aware of everything that was happening in the room.

Once Hermione had tasted his blood Calatios felt the bond form between himself and Hermione, it was small but it was the beginning of a link that would grow when the next stage of the ritual was completed.

This was a momentous occasion for him and the clan as a whole. They still ad no idea what this girl was capable of, the first half blood vampire and she was bond to him. He thought of the glory and the power that would come from using the girl to fight the war.