[Small R18 warning. This chapter contains some sensitive scenes. Read at your own discretion :v]
The corridors were mostly empty, and the few students still about travelled in groups of at least two for safety.
After stepping into the bathroom and taking a quick look around, he found it deserted; even Myrtle was nowhere to be seen.
Looking around, he noticed that nobody had yet cleaned up the remains of the potion-making session or the mess they had left after drinking it, so he cast a few cleaning spells to clear away the residue. Afterwards, he put away the cauldron they had used to brew the Polyjuice Potion.
He checked the time on his watch and, considering the scene before him, it was obvious they had already finished.
The effects of Polyjuice Potion only lasted an hour after being consumed, and judging by the time and the evidence left behind, they should have returned to their normal appearances by now.
Extimum: 'That only leaves the hospital wing.'
He remembered that Hermione had mistaken her target's hair for a cat's, though he hadn't paid it much attention at the time. He had assumed it would only be temporary and, besides, he had been so focused on his investigation that he never had the chance to warn her afterwards.
He couldn't remember how long the side effects of Polyjuice Potion lasted when non-human ingredients were used, nor had he researched anything beyond the brewing process itself, but he assumed they wouldn't persist for very long.
After making sure everything had been put back in order, he left the bathroom and headed for the hospital wing.
...
The walk there was just as lonely.
When he arrived, he found neither Harry nor Ron, but Madam Pomfrey was there, sitting behind her desk with an expression of unmistakable exhaustion.
Pomfrey: "Oh, Extimum, don't tell me you've been affected by something as well?"
Extimum: "Don't worry, Madam Pomfrey. I'm not here for medical treatment. Is Hermione behind that curtain?"
Pomfrey: "*Sigh* She is. I didn't ask what they did, but taking Polyjuice Potion with anything other than human hair always leads to adverse effects. She'll have to remain like that for at least two weeks."
Extimum: "Two weeks?"
Extimum made no attempt to hide his surprise; he had expected something far shorter, perhaps a day or two at most.
Pomfrey: "Yes. I've already treated her with every remedy I could think of, so I've managed to reverse most of the... after-effects, but some parts will take longer to return to normal because of their nature."
She avoided giving any further details, clearly out of consideration for her patient's privacy.
Pomfrey: "Oh, that's right. What did you need?"
Extimum: "I came to see how Hermione was doing."
Pomfrey: "She should be awake. If she's willing to see you, I don't mind, but don't stay too long. It's getting late."
Extimum nodded and was about to approach when Pomfrey spoke again.
Pomfrey: "Extimum, since you're here, would you mind looking after her for a little while? I need to assist Professor Dumbledore. I shouldn't be long."
Extimum: "Of course."
Pomfrey: "Thank you. I'll be back soon. I don't expect anyone else to come by at this hour, but if someone does, I'm sure you can handle the basics until I return."
Madam Pomfrey took a few items from a cupboard and left the hospital wing.
Extimum walked over to the curtain, stopping just before entering.
Extimum: "Hermione?"
Hermione: "E-Extimum?" Her voice sounded surprised... and somewhat tense.
Extimum: "Are you alright? May I come in?"
He reached a hand towards the curtain, but—
Hermione: "No!"
A brief silence followed.
Hermione: "I mean... I'm fine, but I don't want you to come in. Not like this."
Extimum: "Don't you trust me?"
Hermione: "It's not that, it's just... Ah!... Don't come in!"
Dismissing her hesitation as nothing more than embarrassment, he drew the curtain aside and stepped inside.
Hermione immediately buried herself beneath the blankets.
The space inside was small: a bed, a bedside cabinet, a chair, and a small table. Sitting atop the cabinet was a single-candle holder, casting a faint glow over the room.
Leaving his coat on the nearby chair, he sat down on the bed beside the mound of blankets and...
waited.
He didn't believe she intended to stay hidden under them forever.
A brief silence enveloped them, broken only by the slow rhythm of their breathing.
The slight dip in the mattress served as a constant reminder to Hermione that he had no intention of leaving any time soon.
1 second...
2 seconds...
5 seconds...
15 seconds...
At last, she gave in.
Hermione: "But don't laugh..."
Slowly, she lowered the blankets.
The first thing he saw was a pair of drooping brown ears.
Then, yellow eyes with vertical pupils.
An intriguing sight, prompting him to lean in slightly for a better look.
Their eyes met at close range, only for Hermione to avert hers almost immediately, clearly uneasy, as she let go of the blanket and left herself exposed.
She was wearing a white one-piece set of pyjamas. Her features had changed subtly: feline eyes, visible cat ears, and slight alterations to her face that gave it a sharper appearance.
He couldn't tell whether fur covered the rest of her body, though there were signs suggesting it did; the most obvious being the tail protruding near her waist.
The silence lingered.
Hermione waited for his reaction, torn between anticipation and nervousness over her new appearance.
Extimum, however, said nothing. Instead, he leaned a little closer, studying her with unwavering attention until only a few inches separated them.
Hermione: "W-What?"
His closeness, coupled with the intensity of his gaze, was more than a little intimidating.
Extimum blinked faintly and gave his head a small shake.
A sudden wave of dizziness struck him, disorienting him as though someone had dealt him a crushing blow to the head, knocking him completely off balance.
He didn't notice how close he now was, nor the intense look he was giving her.
He tried to steady himself, but the sensation only worsened, shifting from dizziness to heat...
As though he had just finished an exhausting workout or swallowed a strong drink, it travelled slowly down his throat until it settled in his stomach.
Scorching, it burned through his stomach and chest like acid.
And as the heat spread, his daze began to fade, only to be swiftly replaced by a thick haze...
Clouding both his vision and his thoughts, as though he were sinking into tar, dulling his very sense of self.
A suffocating pressure filled the room.
The change took place in only a matter of seconds.
Despite his condition, his mind raced as fast as it could, analysing the situation with growing alarm.
It wasn't his bloodline. After what had happened last time, he had already become one with it.
Everything felt strange, just like when those incidents of accidental magic had occurred...
That was it.
It was exactly the same.
It was coming from within him...
But he couldn't control it.
** Bam **
His head snapped up as though he had been struck once again.
A new sensation crashed into his mind, spreading through his body like an electric current, almost painfully, making every hair on his body stand on end.
The heat climbed from his stomach to his chest, burning fiercely, and then, as though that weren't enough, seeped into the very depths of him, into his blood.
As though it were boiling.
Steam nearly escaped from his skin and the top of his head.
His gaze fell upon Hermione's once more, utterly oblivious to what he himself was experiencing.
She was still waiting for his opinion.
** Grrg **
A low growl escaped his mouth as he clenched his teeth, enduring the pain.
His hand trembled, and for a brief second, a terrible thought suddenly made perfect sense amidst the chaos in his mind, the agony coursing through his body, and Hermione's unwavering gaze.
His hand trembled again as he felt invisible threads cling to his skin, seizing him violently and tearing control of his own body away as though he were nothing more than a puppet.
For the first time in a very long while, panic welled up within him, and had he not already lost control of himself, even his stony composure would have shattered.
His instinctive sense of control was slipping away, relegating him to nothing more than an observer.
Inside his own body.
Made all the more obvious by the movements his body was making...
Movements he knew he wasn't the one making.
Panic gave way to anger, burning almost as fiercely.
What an outrage!
Savage contractions echoed from within his body, audible only to him, as he resisted with everything he had left, clinging desperately to what little remained of himself and refusing to yield.
** Taskk **
Perhaps it was only his imagination, but it sounded as though a cord had snapped somewhere, granting him a pitiful measure of relief.
A futile one.
It was like a cart racing downhill. No matter what he did, it wouldn't stop; the most he could do was force it to veer off course with tremendous effort.
He tried to use magic, but it wouldn't answer him, and his Occlumency seemed useless for anything other than preserving the last trace of consciousness amid the endless tide of emotions that followed.
A savagery unlike anything he had ever experienced, followed by madness, exhilaration... desire... and... lust.
His body moved closer to Hermione, tilting his head towards her ear before whispering,
"I like this Hermione too."
Then... one of his hands slid to her waist, gripping it firmly and pulling her body against his.
And, despite his resistance, his mouth opened and, before she could understand what was happening, closed around her neck, sinking his sharp fangs into her flesh.
** Ahhg! **
A muffled cry of pain rang out.
A hand weakly pushed against his shoulder, but it lost its strength almost at once, unaware of the true danger and, perhaps, not all that surprised that it was happening again.
Then again... perhaps none of that mattered.
Not with what he was feeling.
A sweet, intoxicating, familiar taste filled his mouth as he savoured once more the nectar he had forbidden himself from ever tasting again, torn between fascination and revulsion.
But... it wasn't enough.
The thirst...
Wasn't fading.
At least, not quickly enough.
He pulled away from her neck, lifting his face.
** Pant **
The hand around her waist tightened before sliding downward, curling into a fist and...
With a single sharp tug, tore her pyjamas apart.
"What are you—?"
Hermione's dreamy haze was shattered by the sudden tug, followed by the cold air against her skin. Confusion and alarm struggled to surface, but before she could even protest, they were silenced by another bite.
Extimum's darkened eyes travelled over the bare canvas before him.
Soft, pale skin.
A slender, yet petite figure.
Two small white mounds standing proudly in defiance.
Small patches of soft brown fur scattered across her skin.
And, a little below her smooth abdomen, a fine patch of hair concealing her intimacy.
"Ex-Extimum... s-stop."
Her hands moved, trying to shield herself from his burning gaze, which seemed to scorch every place it settled, making her squirm slightly, but she felt weak and could offer little resistance.
Even so, her efforts were in vain.
Her wrists were caught and pinned above her head, preventing her from covering herself.
Warm breath brushed against her neck as the bite came to an end.
'So warm... and sweet.'
Extimum drew in her scent. Slowly lowering his head again, he brought his lips close to her neck, but this time... he left behind a gentle kiss.
One became two, and before long, he found himself trailing kisses across her neck... her shoulders... her chest... her entire body.
His free hand traced the contours of her figure, savouring the warmth and softness beneath his fingertips.
** Mmm~ **
Helpless upon the bed, soft moans escaped Hermione's lips. Whatever strength she still possessed slipped away the moment his hands began exploring her body.
** Ahm~~ **
And when the hand roaming over her body came to rest upon her breast, an especially high-pitched moan escaped her lips.
It was a curious, unfamiliar sensation.
Each gentle squeeze drew fresh moans from Hermione, while to him it felt as though he were kneading something soft and warm, an oddly addictive sensation, pleasing both to the touch and to the ear.
Even amidst the fierce struggle inside his clouded, suppressed mind, he couldn't stop genuine arousal from seeping in, tempting him, guiding him... no, controlling him.
His mouth, still thirsty, descended towards one of the small mounds and gave the pink tip at its peak a gentle bite.
** Kyaaahh~! **
A loud... wonderful cry escaped Hermione's lips.
'No...'
He sensed pain... but those last notes... they had been... pleasure.
Opening what little awareness remained to something unknown.
** Ahm~~ **
Her pain... was intoxicating.
And he wanted more.
To feel it more.
To hear it more.
But he didn't bite her again. Instead, he merely suckled at her now-hardened nipple while gently pinching the other with his free hand.
His tails, freed from the constraints of conscious illusion, slipped from around his waist, unfurling as they began to glide over Hermione's body, slipping into every crevice within reach before wrapping themselves around her limbs.
His shirt was abruptly stripped from his body, assisted by his tails, and tossed onto the floor.
** Mmm~ **
** Ahhm~ **
Sweet moans filled the room as Hermione's body writhed constantly beneath the relentless stimulation.
Once he had satisfied himself with one breast, he moved on to the other. However, his free hand did not return to the one he had abandoned. Instead, one of his tails took its place, slowly gliding over the nipple's areola, keeping it under constant stimulation.
Meanwhile, his free hand slowly drifted lower, feeling the smoothness of her stomach, passing over the patches where traces of cat fur still remained, until it finally reached the small brown patch of hair he had noticed before.
Hermione didn't react consciously, yet her body still stiffened visibly as his hand slipped further down, touching the place now slick with moisture.
Noticing her tense up, he paused for a brief moment. He left her breast and moved closer to her face.
Hermione's eyes were hazy and half-lidded, concealing an intense warmth within them. Soft moans escaped her lips beneath the unrelenting sensations coursing through her body.
He gently kissed her cheek before leaning close to her ear.
"Hermione~."
A faint whisper, warm breath brushing against her skin, laden with unmistakable desire.
An unfamiliar discomfort was building inside his trousers, pressing insistently against the fabric.
His lips parted slightly before he gently bit Hermione's earlobe, making her body jolt as a louder moan escaped her lips, delivering the final blow that left her body completely limp.
With nothing left to hinder him, his fingers slowly slipped between the folds of her sex, finding only a faint trace of moisture. He had barely begun to explore when—
** Aughhm~~ **
A loud moan echoed through the room, followed almost immediately by a fresh wave of wetness that coated his hand.
"Ahhhhhh~!... timum..."
Their eyes met, sharing the same burning heat. If one still struggled to resist, the other had already lost herself completely in pleasure. Nothing remained in those eyes but pure desire mingled with an unfamiliar expectation.
His breathing deepened.
Magic burst from his body, stripping away what little clothing he still wore before placing him between Hermione's legs.
There was nothing left to stop him.
Just then—
A glow shone from the trousers lying on the floor.
It was the pendant he carried.
The moment its light touched his body, a soothing warmth flowed through him.
His clouded, suppressed mind finally saw a glimmer of light, severing the invisible threads and restoring control over his body.
But it was fleeting.
The light faded as quickly as it had appeared.
And with it, both his control and his clarity shattered once more.
The searing pain returned, and with it came the dark impulses assailing his psyche. Yet even without them, the fire of lust already consumed his body.
His consciousness splintered once again, taking with it every shred of control over his own body.
He tried to channel his magic into the pendant, but it gave no response, remaining as utterly inert as it had before.
His mind raced, but there was nothing he knew—nothing he possessed—that could help him. His gaze shifted from the pendant to... his tails.
An idea came to him instantly.
With what little strength remained, he pulled Hermione towards him and embraced her tightly, feeling her body pressed against his. His tails writhed around them before extending outward, wrapping around them both and binding them firmly together.
The last thread of lucidity slipped away, and with it, even the final vestige of will to which he had clung.
Nothing remained in his mind, completely drowned in darkness, as his body began to writhe and convulse.
But no matter how fiercely he struggled, his tails no longer obeyed his thoughts or intentions, holding him fast within their restraint.
His nails began to lengthen, and his arms tightened around Hermione, drawing her even closer as they raked across her back, leaving bloody scratches.
"Ahhg!"
"Ugh."
With his mind gone, only darkness and instinct remained.
The fire still burned, and with it, the tension within his body continued to build, with no release.
His pupils narrowed into unnaturally sharp slits, and his fangs became pronounced among his teeth.
His only option was to sink his teeth into the exposed shoulder, aggressive and ravenous.
"Ahhhg... mmm~!"
"Grrrg."
A sensory surge unlike anything either of them had ever experienced erupted, coursing through them, flowing from one to the other, washing away the pain and drowning everything in pleasure, frustration, lust, desire, and... relief.
It was intense, savage, and violent, but... it prevented the complete loss of control to madness.
"Aahhhhh!"
Hermione's eyes flew wide open, and she cried out.
When the cry died in her throat, it was as though a bolt of lightning had struck them both, freezing them in place. Then, followed by a faint moan, they both found release.
Exhaustion hit them immediately, claiming Hermione first as she drifted into the world of dreams.
Light returned to Extimum's eyes as he drew his mouth away from Hermione's bloodied shoulder.
His saliva was already beginning to seal the wound.
He felt terribly drained and dizzy, yet at last calm and relieved, the darkness having receded and complete control over his body restored once more.
It was already an achievement that he remained conscious after that overwhelming torrent of sensations.
Weakly, he freed his left hand from the tangle of limbs and stretched it outward.
"Fermaportus, Impassivitas, Messag—"
Two spells were cast, while a third died on his lips as consciousness slipped away from him.
The first sealed the curtain entrance, and the second erected a barrier around them.
He wasn't sure whether the first spell would work on curtains, so he took precautions with the second.
As for the third...
A few minutes after they had both fallen asleep, Madam Pomfrey returned to the hospital wing.
"Extimum? Could he have left already? But he wouldn't simply leave the place like this."
As Pomfrey looked around the hospital wing without finding any sign of Extimum, a sheet of paper slipped out from behind the curtains surrounding Hermione's "room."
Pomfrey noticed it at once and picked it up.
"Dear Madam Pomfrey... I have looked after the hospital wing as you asked me to... but I had to step out a few moments before your return... so... I left this letter... to... let you know... as I had a feeling... you wouldn't be long."
The letter read somewhat strangely, the words appearing unusually spaced apart, yet it was still perfectly legible.
It was a letter born from exhausted thoughts, the product of an incomplete spell that, by sheer chance, managed to take shape and, though it was never sent, drifted just far enough to emerge from behind the curtains and be noticed.
"Oh, that's more like him. Well then, I'm off to get some rest as well."
It was already late, and unless an emergency arose, no more patients would be seen that night.
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