Hermione looked out the window of the train as the heavy rain drummed against it. Seventh year at last, should it not mean something more than what she felt? If she even felt anything at all. Two years ago back before she had vanished into the night without a trace or sign of a fight it could have. Not anymore though. She thought back to the night of her sixteenth birthday and shuddered sharply at the memory.

flashback

"Hermione go see if your mother needs any help with supper please." Hermione peered at her father over the top of her potions text before closing it and placing it on the coffee table. Wandering into the kitchen she found her mother bent over the stove poking at a tray of chicken breasts.

"Do you need any help Mum?" Her mother placed the tray back in the oven and stood up.

"Please sweetie. Can you get the plates and tell your father supper is ready?" "Sure no problem Mum." Halfway through supper there was a loud knock at the front door.

"Now who could that be, we aren't expecting anyone to visit tonight." Mrs. Granger muttered as she got up from the table to answer the door, Several moments later blood curdling screams ripped through the air causing Hermione and her father to bolt into the front sitting room. The sight that met Hermione's eyes caused her to fall to her knees and vomit violently. Her mother was dead and by the looks of the room it had not been quick and painless. Body parts and blood were spattered about everywhere and in the middle of it all was a tall pale dark haired man holding her father by his throat.

Strong arms pulled Hermione to her feet and tried to hold her in place. Instinctively she began to kick and writhe in an attempt to get free.

"Now you filthy muggle man, which of you do we eat first, you or the girl?" Hermione's mind began to whirl Eat? Oh my god these are werewolves!! Wait...no it's a full moon outside they can't be werewolves. What else eats people!? Shit! Vampires!! SHIT! We're so dead! The man who was holding her was trying extremely hard to keep his grip on her.

"Holy shit Damian I thought you said these muggles wouldn't put up a fight?" The man called Damian twisted her fathers head clean off his shoulders causing Hermione to scream loudly. Dropping it on the floor amidst the other body parts he walked gracefully over to her, pausing momentarily to sniff her.

"Well well this isn't a muggle at all. What a pleasant surprise little witch, we don't come across your kind to often. Now listen carefully." Hermione stopped struggling at this point.

"If you want to live get your wand and clean up this shit. Understood?" Hermione gulped heavily as she was let go, sliding her wand out of her pocket she waved it several times and everything vanished leaving the sitting room sparkling clean. Immediately she was grabbed again and her wand taken from her.

"Hey!! You said I could live!!" Damian laughed coldly and traced a pale white finger down her throat.

"Of course little witch, I just failed to specify how you would live." He sunk his sharp fangs deep into her throat allowing her blood to flow down his throat. Moaning deeply Hermione collapsed into his arms, her brain screaming that this was extremly wrong. On the verge of death Damian offered her the only escape she would ever be given in the form of his bleeding wrist above her mouth. She was sixteen and she did not want to die, and so with the last ounce of strength she had Hermione parted her lips and allowed Damian to press his wrist down upon them.

end flashback

Sighing heavily Hermione looked up at the beautiful night sky through the sheets of rain. Truth was there would be no seventh year for her, no promenant job offers at the ministry, no apprenticeship offers. The dead had no such luck, they were doomed to wander forever. Damian of course had taken perverse delight in showing Hermione her own death anouncment colorfuly splashed against the front page of The Daily Prophet six months after she had died. She remembered reading some lines about mysterious disapearance, no body found, memorial service to be held at Hogwarts. Six months was all the effort the ministry could spare to her case since they still had a rampaging Dark Lord on the loose. Another colorful front page article came a year later announcing the defeat of the Dark Lord by one Harry Potter the boy who lived and one Ronald Weasley the valiant side kick. There had been a picture of both boys in formal robes to accompany the article. She hadn't bothered with the paper after that. Damian although her sire had decided to allow Hermione to fend for herself. He had simply taught her the things she needed to know then left her. He was honestly more of an annoying big brother to her than anything else. Typical.

The train screeched to a loud halt in the Hogsmeade station, billowing steam from its red chimney. Stepping down from the train she stopped to briefly inhale the crisp fall air still wet with the rain that had fallen not to long ago. She could only guess that it was sometime in October since she never really kept track of the time anymore. Why bother when you have more time than you know what to do with she thought bitterly to herself. Within moments she had reached the castle, being a vampire did have its occasional perks. Peering into the window of the Great Hall she saw a sea of students all hunched over plates of steaming food, thousands of jack-o-lanterns floating overhead. Ah so it's Halloween then is it, perfect. Looking down at herself Hermione examined her clothes. Boots, black denim low cut jeans, and a black midriff top. Why do I never think of carrying a change of clothing... Patting her pocket she made sure her wand was still there. She had thanked the gods when she had found out she could still do magic after she had died. Her boots made no noise on the stone floor as she slipped into the castle and picked her way through shadows down to the dark dungeons.

Stopping outside Professor Snapes private potions lab she drew her wand and prodded at the wards guarding the door. Great he makes them easier AFTER I've left school. After several incantations the wards dropped allowing her access to the professors private labs and potions ingredients. The things she needed were to be found in a cupboard in the back of the labs, she cursed loudly when she found that this too had been warded against intruders. Halfway through removing the wards on the cupboard the lab door banged open and a stunning spell shot past her head.

"Caught you at last little thief!" You've got to be fucking kidding me.

Pocketing her wand Hermione stood extremely still.

"Lumos!" The wand light illuminated the portion of the lab where she was standing and shimmered off her black hair.

" Why are you dressed in muggle clothes, where are your school robes? Turn around and look at me when I am talking to you" Professor Snape barked loudly. Well at least he still has the attitude. This should be fun. Smirking Hermione turned slowly with a dramatic flare allowing the wand light to fall on her face. And what a face she had. Straight black hair framed pale ivory skin, dark red lips and beautiful violet eyes. She was both beautiful and unrecognizable and Hermione loved it.

"Who the hell are you!?" It was amusing to see Professor Snape falter like this. Her cold laughter rang through the small potions lab.

"Why Proffessor Snape I'm your least favourite little know it all."