With a Whimper

Chapter 1

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.

~T.S. Elliot, The Hollow Men

Hermione dumped her bag on her bed. This was the very first day of her independence. She had invited Ginny to come with her on a vacation in Sussex, and they were living in Hermione's parents' summerhouse for a month. No parents, no Harry, and especially no Ron; Hermione needed to escape them for a while. She just couldn't concentrate with them constantly demanding her undivided attention. Hermione waltzed down the spiral stairs, a bright smile on her lips. Now she could truly concentrate on her studies and relax.

Ginny sat at the glass table in the living room, reading the newspaper, her feet dangling over the beautiful Spanish tiles. Outside the large, ornate window, the woods stretched on for about a mile, shielding the setting sun. Apparently she was looking at the entertainment section because she looked up, waggled her eyebrows imploringly, and asked,

"Hey, Hermione, do you want to go to a club tonight? We could celebrate our first night of independence."

Hermione hesitated. She had never been to a club before. Normally, she didn't really want to go out; she would rather stay home reading or watching movies with friends. Then she grinned and studied the newspaper. She was going to let herself loose a little, just this once. After all, she was here where nobody knew her. What could possibly go wrong?

Later that night, Hermione walked cautiously down the stairs. The little black dress she had packed for clubbing had seemed gorgeous at the time, but now she wasn't so sure. It was too tight, too short, too everything. It was mid-thigh length and cut low at the top, with little fluttering, translucent cap sleeves. It had seemed beautiful in the store, but now just made her feel uncomfortable. Ginny was waiting impatiently for her at the foot of the stairs. She was wearing a short dress of midnight blue with spaghetti strap sleeves. Her red hair was thrown into a half ponytail, giving that messy, perfect look that took forever to get just right. Her brown eyes were lined with kohl, and dominated her oval face. She looked stunning. Hermione glanced at her and threw her shoulders back.

"What do you think?" Her hair was straightened, and her head held high, showing off a pretty blue necklace. She eyed Ginny anxiously, waiting for her answer.

"You look great Herms," Ginny replied, laughing at the expression on her face at Harry's dreadful nickname, "absolutely perfect for clubbing. I suspect the guys will be swarming around you when we get there." Together, they walked through the woods to the club.

They headed inside the building, and it took a moment for them to get their bearings. Hermione gazed around at the surroundings, dazed by the bright flashing lights and blaring music. Since it was much too loud for talking, Ginny began swaying to the music and grabbed Hermione and started dancing. Hermione joined in, and together they danced up a storm. The girls were too oblivious to notice a woman looking at them with interest.

Marian Deshoulières was caught up by their virility and happiness with life. She hadn't seen such passionate life force in mortals for a long time and it intrigued her. Their auras were shining with life and were practically solid. The more solid the aura, the stronger the person. She quickly moved and tapped the person to her left on the shoulder. She stared directly into his eyes and whispered her commands. Binded to the vampire's spell, he moved towards Hermione and Ginny, tapping a friend as he went.

Ginny and Hermione were approached by the two men, who joined them in their dancing. The girls exchanged looks, amazed at their luck. Two very cute guys were dancing with them, out of all the other girls there. They went on as before, letting them join their complicated dance.

After the song was over, the guys led them to a table and ordered them drinks. Ginny led most of the conversation, but Hermione piped up when the conversation ran to books and courses at school.

"So boys, what are your names?" Ginny asked, smirking at their attempted tough-guy, sexy looks that were, frankly, adorable.

"My name's Paul and this is my friend Will, and we're here on vacation from France. We go to Beauxbatons. You go to Hogwarts, right?"

Ginny entertained Will with stories about Peeves, while Hermione and Paul engaged in a conversation about the differences between the school's curriculum and such.

Later on Paul, the first wizard under the vampire's spell, asked Hermione if she wanted him to walk her home. Ginny gave Hermione a look, but Hermione shrugged, entranced by the guy's intelligent conversation, not to mention his good looks, and said, "Well, we're staying in my house by the woods, so you needn't bother. It's pretty far from you anyway."

Marian, watching nearby, silently swore. These girls weren't the type to let take guys take them back to their house after one night. She would have to think of another way to isolate them. She supposed she could follow them home, but that might not work. There were two of them, and she might not be able to bewitch them both at the same time. She needed another vampire, or at least someone to help. She silently summoned Damian, another vampire, with strict instructions to take on Paul's form and seduce the brunette. She smiled a little unpleasantly. She needed strong new vampires to fulfill the plan, and these girls were more than strong enough additions to her line.

Hermione and Ginny, ignorant to the woman's malicious thoughts, were getting tipsy. Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to walk home if she kept drinking, and one glance at Ginny showed that she was in the same way. It was one o'clock already and Hermione felt it was probably time to leave. Hermione tapped Ginny on the arm. Ginny nodded and kissed Will on the cheek.

"I'll see you later," she whispered in his ear, winking at him.

The girls walked out the door into the cool night air, each steadying the other. They stumbled towards the woods surrounding Hermione's house, trying not to trip over invisible tree roots. Hermione mumbled "Lumos", lighting up the night air. She shivered as she and Ginny slowly made their way through the dense trees. Hermione walked more quickly, swaying slightly, and thought, Why didn't I call a taxi? These woods are seriously starting to scare me.

The vampires slowly followed them from behind, careful not to make a sound. When the girls reached a clearing in the deep center, Marian uttered, "Potentus Nox", extinguishing all light in the area. She nodded to Damian, silently bidding him to lead Hermione off by herself, away from the redheaded girl.

Ginny shrieked as the light from Hermione's wand went out. Every light in the world seemed to have died. Even the stars overhead could no longer be seen. She clutched Hermione's hand like a little girl in distress.

The vampire smiled wickedly at the noise. Following the smell of fresh blood, she walked towards the girls. What little girls they were too, mere children. She smiled sardonically. What on earth were their mothers thinking, letting them stay at a house alone? Didn't they realize the dangers they had put their daughters in? She deliberately made her steps louder so that the girls would hear. She signaled to Damian through telepathy, telling him to get rid of the brunette. She would deal with the redhead.

Damian smiled in the dark at Marian's message. This should be fun. He slowly took on Paul's form and transported the brunette to another clearing.

Hermione screamed as she was whisked off in another direction. She landed with a thump on the forest floor. Who had transported her? Was it the one who had cast the night spell? She had only read about that spell once, a spell powerful enough to dim the lights of an entire area, even the sky. Anyone who could perform such magic had to be very powerful. Her whole body was shaking in fear as she tried to distract herself with academic facts, and she tensed as she heard soft footsteps. Screw academic facts, she was in full-out panic mode. A man slowly entered the clearing and flicked a lighter, illuminating his face. Hermione gasped,

"Paul?"

Ginny was not faring much better. She had heard a woman screaming and glanced in vain for Hermione. It was so dark that she couldn't see anyway. Her head was dizzy from the drinks she had consumed, and the footsteps were coming closer and closer. Head spinning, Ginny quickly tried to remember what to do in a situation like this. Think, Ginny, use your brain! She smiled when she remembered the knife Ron had given her. She drew it out of the special sheath on her thigh, and grinned at the memory of her brother's lecture. Ron warned her to draw it whenever a man was "taking liberties". After months of self-defense lessons from Ron and her parents, she was ready. Muttering the Sober Spell Fred and George had taught her, she assumed the fighting stance.

The vampire laughed as the sound of a blade being drawn. So the foolish mortal wanted to fight. Quickly, she stepped into the clearing and undid the spell of darkness. The mortal faced her with a set jaw and a dazed face, furiously trying to control her fear. The vampire deliberately made her voice soothing with a touch of French, setting her gaze on her and threw power behind it designed to trap. The girl was caught in her stare, caught like a bug in a spider's web. Marian let her keep the knife, smiling wickedly with anticipation of a fight.

"Girl, please, come forward. I wish to talk to you, soothe your nerves after what must have been a fright. You were plunged in darkness, non? You must be frightened. Do not worry yourself about me, I noticed a man following you. I did not wish you to be hurt, so I picked up your trail and sent the man away."

The girl tensed for a moment, but then fell back into the spell and walked towards her like a kitten seeking her mother.

"Thank you, miss. I did not realize that I was being followed. How could I have not noticed after all those defense lessons?"

Ginny said, quickly performing some marvelous acting, opening her eyes wide and pitching her voice high for the vampire's benefit. She wasn't really sucked into the spell. Ginny had been taught since babyhood what tricks vampires used, which was why she carried a knife, among other reasons, since magic was practically useless on their kind. The vampire was looking innocently at her, trying for all the world to act the mother hen. Well, if she could play, so could Ginny. After walking almost right into the woman, Ginny cut her along her arm, her movements fast as lightning. The vampire shrieked in outrage, and bodily threw Ginny off of her. Ginny slammed into the forest floor, but remained conscious and stood up almost at once. She stared down the vampire, daring her to do her bloody worst. Suddenly, the vampire smiled, her skin healing before Ginny's eyes. Ginny tensed, waiting for the vampire's next move in this dangerous game.

Hermione just stared at Paul.

"What on earth are you doing here? Are you the one who cast that spell on the forest? Why are you following Ginny and me? You pervert, go the hell away!"

With that, Hermione drew her wand, pointing it at his chest. Paul just smirked and locked his gaze on her, entrancing Hermione like Marian had entranced Ginny. She sucked in a long breath, suddenly finding Paul irresistibly enticing. His big eyes lured her forward towards him, and she didn't fight when he pulled her close.

"You're mine, little one," he murmured, smiling at how easily Hermione had fallen into his spell.

Hermione tensed. His mind control had lasted approximately a minute before her training had kicked in. Thank God she had read all those books. But what on earth was she going to do now? His grip was like iron! She kicked and scratched at him, taking the vampire off-guard. He cursed, and held her even tighter, squeezing the air out of her lungs before she couldn't cry for help.

His fangs slid out and pierced her flesh. He would make her pay for trying to run from him. She would feel pain and would fight him, adding to her strength as the vampire she would become.

Hermione finally found her voice and screamed a wordless, blood-curdling cry. Oh, my Lord, the pain! STOP! PLEASE! Dear God, save me! She was frantically fighting him: punching, kicking, and scratching with her long nails. She slid her wand out of her pocket and screamed, "Filio Lumen!" the spell against demons. The spell bounced off of him, and he laughed against her neck, still not releasing her. She was losing blood fast, and it was hard to stay conscious. Her brain screamed for oxygen. She was fighting a losing battle, and slowly surrendered to him. Her kicks grew feeble, and she felt herself slowly die and could not envision a happy heaven awaiting her.

Ginny watched the vampire warily, tensing as she came close.

"What a nice game of chess we play. But, do tell, what will you're next move be, prey?" Marian spat at her, looking into Ginny's eyes as she spoke.

Ginny quickly acted like she was under Marian's spell again to give herself time, muttering some simpering words. For a moment, Ginny thought of throwing her blade into the Vampire's heart, but she was nearsighted. If she lost her blade, it was all over.

Marian advanced slowly, drawing out Ginny's fear.

"You are very cunning, small one. I thought you fully under my spell earlier. You have tricked me; I surrender." The vampire opened her arms. "Can we not be friends? You are a worthy friend to me, a strong vampire." The redhead smiled, absurdly happy that she had defeated her. She slowly stepped across the forest, willingly walking towards the vampire's embrace. Then she stopped in her tracks. Marian frantically threw more power into her gaze. Come on! Just a few more steps! Something wasn't right. Why could this little girl defeat her?

Ginny rolled her eyes at the vampire's pathetic attempt to act nice. She quickly dropped the defenseless act, staring the vampire down, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"Oh, Honey, I think you got things mixed up earlier." Ginny said, smiling indolently at Marian and enunciating her words carefully. "I'm no ones prey!" Ginny lost her teasing gleam and ran towards the vampire, murder in her eyes and knife aimed at Marian's heart.

Damian stared down at the dying girl in his arms. He smiled and slit his own throat, pulling her towards him. He pushed her up against his neck, laughing as she drank him. He knew without a doubt that this girl would become an extremely strong vampire, and maybe even strengthen his bloodline to dominance, along with her strong-willed friend. He and Marian had researched the girls, seeking out intelligent, strong mortals to add to their bloodline and fulfill their plan. Hermione was chosen for her dazzling strength of mind, and they chose Ginny for her strength of character and fiery ways. Both would aid them in their revenge. Revenge against the arrogant fools who dared to call themselves better than the vampires: the wizards of the light side, with their narrow, ignorant minds of the ways of the world. Those despicable creatures that cut off his kind from the world and tried to keep them safely locked away in designated territories. These girls could infiltrate the very hub of Wizarding life with their connections to Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter, and the Ministry of Magic. Damian smiled as Hermione finished her first drink of blood.

Hermione gasped back into consciousness as she felt the vampire's blood against her lips. Her blood-starved body drank greedily at his neck, absorbing the blood and the life it brought her. The vampire laughed and pushed her away, telling her that she had had enough. Hermione stood back on weak knees, feeling extremely strange. She tried to take a breath, but the air just stayed there; her lungs no longer moved. She quickly exhaled it. She watched in horror and fascination as the various cuts and bruises on her body disappeared, along with her scars. Even her split ends went away. Her dry, damaged hair slowly changed into tamed curls. Her fingernails grew back where she had bitten them. She reached a hand up to touch her neck. The puncture wounds had faded. She stared at him, silently asking what the hell had just happened. In response, he murmured, "obdormisco", rendering her unconscious.

Marian reached out a hand and stopped Ginny's advance, grabbing the redhead's hair and throwing her down into the dirt.

"You will pay for attempting murder, petite," she hissed in the girl's ear. She furiously yanked Ginny off the ground by the hair and held high at arms length. Ginny swung and kicked to no avail, feet swinging above the ground. She clawed at the vampire's steel grip in an effort to regain her breath.

"Let go of me, you ugly old hag!" she screamed, for lack of a better comeback. She was extremely distracted by the pain surging through her.

The vampire laughed evilly and leaned forward to feed. Ginny screamed at the pain, holding back tears. No way was she going to cry in front of this sadistic bitch!

The blood was literally being sucked from her veins, exploding capillaries as it went. Slowly, her very arteries began to shrivel from the blood loss, and she could feel her heart slow. She counted the seconds between each beat as increasing pain swamped her brain.

Marian smiled against Ginny's neck and removed her fangs. The girl could only stare in a wordless gaze into her cold blue eyes. She stole her knife and used it to slit her wrist. Letting the girl drink from her neck would be far too messy for her taste. She held the dripping wrist in front of Ginny's nose, laughing as the little brat ravenously sucked at the offered blood.

Ginny was surprised at the odd taste of the blood rolling around in her mouth. Oddly enough, it didn't disgust her. It tasted salty, like an old Bloody Mary that had sat in the refrigerator a bit too long. She quickly pulled away, despite her hunger. She couldn't possibly drink another person's blood. She quickly reached up to her neck. The wound was gone. Ginny smiled dazedly as she realized that she was undergoing the vampire transformation. At least I'll never have to worry about wrinkles, she thought before Marian stunned her.

Marian looked around in exasperation, waiting for Damian to show up with Hermione. He appeared out of the shadows, cradling the sleeping girl in his arms. She laid Ginny down on the grass, and Damian laid Hermione beside her.

"At last, we will gain victory. Do you know how long I have waited, Damian? I am an Ancient. I was there when the first wizards appeared in the dark center of France, deep in the forest. I watched as they began their codes of law, finally outlawing us out of their fear and ignorance. The wizards shall pay, nay; they will grovel, beg, and scream for mercy when I am through. These girls shall be the key to the ministry's undoing. They have their finger on the pulse of the wizarding heart: Albus Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, and the Boy Who Lived. With them in the palm of our hands, we shall conquer."

Damian smirked. He couldn't resist a retort.

"And yet you run to Voldemort, a wizard, for help. And these childer you have created were wizards too, and they are also essential to your plans."

Marian's eyes glinted with fury. She slapped him across the face, sending him flying back into a tree. His concussion healed almost instantly, but she ran over to him and drew him to her, twisting his arms back at impossible angles. She bent low to his face and whispered menacingly,

"Careful, Damian, I know your weakness for the little brunette. I could kill her in one second, and then you will never have her for yourself." She pressed a mocking kiss to his neck and teleported away, leaving Damian outraged and cursing himself for his own weakness. He flung himself away, vanishing into the night.