Her nails tapped forgotten tunes,
As foul people wanted to change the runes
Dementors? The one who allowed a sanction for Dementors to be outside of their normal jurisdiction, let alone near Hogwarts, was to be found, their wand taken and thrown into Azkaban. But, the Gods forgetting her warning, the one was, none other than, Albus Dumbledore; whom she had, for the goodness of her heart, no respect left.
Etched Into her very soul,
Something mixed with gold.
Not since he allowed Norbeta, Fluffy and The Basilisk to be treated badly in the school, the most latter being saved by only her at the very last moment. Animal cruelty, in all forms, magical and non, was disgusting to her, along with any crime to magical and non-magical plants and creatures. Innocent things. she would only harm them in self-defence, human beings on the other hand... She would kill on a whim.
Miss Alexandria, they say.
Of the house Biast.
The train slowed, slowed enough that students, from houses unlike, popped their heads outside the compartments. Prefects, alike with their shining old and new badges, rushed students back into their seating, for they, as they were informed by the Head Boy and Head Girl, knew what was aboard the Hogwarts Express.
You're here because of your crimes today,
Not because of your dreadful past.
The Lady sat alone, excluding a Spectre bat, a Maine Coon Kneazle and a Grim puppy, the room silent as she reread a book, Monster Book of Monsters. All that was heard was the intake of breath each creature took. Silence; the pure bliss. Silent until The Head Girl, Penelope Clearwater came rushing in.
They include treason for no valid reason,
Homicide and genocide to kill the righteous mind,
"Demen–" She panted. The Head compartment was on the front end of the train, she rushed all the way to back. "Dementors stopped the train, the middle of the train is almost frozen. Please help before someone is kis–"
What do you plea? they ask.
"Kissed? A student in Hogwarts kissed by a Dementor?" She chuckled. What an amusing thought, a student of Hogwarts, not even a worm would kiss these foul people. "Fine, I'll go help. You three, stay. Mist, make sure the book doesn't follow, scared enough first years already."
Her eyes, flashing blue
And her nails turn to claws;
Her little mutters began, a habit she made sure was helpful, all her mutters were of various spells and incantations. They warmed her up, even if she was in a pair of leggings and a thin tank top with flats; the animal hair covering her clothes was removed soon enough. Her feet took her to the compartment of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and, she supposed, the new Professor.
They had no clue
What to do when their tongues became raw.
Her hazel eyes, pupils widening enough to hide the amber colour, gazed over the creature in question.
The creature beside her,
With its shadow of a robe
Tattered robes made from shadows draped his body, allowing his face to be hidden and grey boned fingers to be seen. The robe would have to been made from shadows, no magical or muggle fabric did what that fabric could; flowing yet stiff, transparent yet opaque, plain yet one could see the despair and remorse in its folds.
And skin that of leather,
But with the gentleness unknow to the globe,
His claws hand drew closer to Potter, hissing a deep tone that froze the boy. Her eyes dared the creature to touch him, to take his soul. The hood of the creature tilted as if to question her judgment, though he was rightful to do so. He withdrew his hand, clasping her neck as if to suck her happiness and soul out. What a poor meal it would have!
Touch her cheek,
Making people turn meek.
The punishment for allowing the Boy-Who-Lived to die wasn't worth it, she did want to see it though, even if it would not affect her. He could die for all she cared, he was simply a human, not worth a moment of her time.
The people couldn't meet her gaze.
They yelled Kill her in a blaze.
Her own touched the wrist of the grey hand, clasping her fingers around the wrist firmly. "I, in your best interest, would let go of my throat." It did as she asked, bowing his head slightly to communicate his understanding. "Thank you. You should go before someone tries to prove how tough they are and angers you, though it would be good entertainment. Go, and find the one who is your target."
Let her soul rot.
But they forgot,
A small swirl of mist, only a creature of shadow could make the mist so dark yet beautiful, appeared in his bony hand, turning into a frost flower. He handed her it, an apology. She said a simple thank you and good luck, he left the three students, Professor, and Mistress.
Forgot who she was,
And her undead status.
"Well then, he's told his colleges and they'll leave the train alone until we get to Hogwarts. See you at school. I'll be seeing the driver."
For her soul couldn't die,
Couldn't rot or change or disappear.
The Professor, Remus Lupin she recognised when he sat up, spoke, flabbergasted. "Just who are you, Miss? How did you speak to a Dementor, a foul thing such as that?!"
Even the creature,
With death-like features
She left, lips tugging and mirth rising at his rushed words."Who is that? Do you three know?"
A bad omen for all,
"Who doesn't!?" Weasley said, opening a chocolate frog he had saved. He passed a piece to Potter. "Blimey! She's one of the cruellest teachers here, just as bad as Snape, and never had her yet. Hell, I don't want to."
And the hunger for a soul,
"Our Mistress of Beasts. She becomes a Professor when she feels like it, every decade or two, or when something frighteningly bad was going to happen. Her name is Alexandria Biast, a Seelentrinker, a Soul–" The next word Hermione uttered sent chills down Remus Lupin's spin, alarm masked fear as she finished her sentence. "–Drinker Vampire."
Couldn't take hers whole...
Alexandria was not human. As one alive could not help but live, she could not help but touch and caress the boney creatures that lured the carriages closer to the awaiting students. The creatures, with such eeriness most students did not want to enter the carriages they carried, allowed her to pet them, as they allowed each and every year.
A taller, wider and stronger Thestral came closer to Alexandria, behind it was his mate, a thinner Thestral with a curvier but still boney head, and their young foal. The male, nudging her to the female Thestral, urged her further away from the moving students. The female hid her little foal until the final moment, her wing pushed the little female into the open and relaxed arms of the vampire.
"You have had a foal, and what a cute little one you are." The little foal nipped her forearm as she picked her up like she would a baby, cradling the creature. "How had the pack been doing, have you been getting enough food over the summer?"
The female leaned in, licking the head of her foal. Her mate nodded, he looked at the trio of females. "Good. I worried the prey I gathered was not enough."
Alexandria stayed with the Thestral family for what seemed mere seconds while, in fact, almost an hour had passed.
He tilted his head sidewards toward the glowing castle that was Hogwarts, wanting his mate and young foal to go home and feed. They did as he wanted, he was a stubborn thing and it was easier just to live with it unless the foal decided to chase a bird once again. As he was stubborn and confident, he would not allow the Being that had helped over the last century to ride in the filthy carriages and offered his back and wings as a way of transport to the castle.
Alexandria bowed her head and accepted the offered alteration of transport, he knelt down and allowed her one. With one large push of his powerful wings, the Thestral flew towards the castle.
He dropped her off at the large front of the castle where two Dementors stood, guarding the entrance. She bowed her head once again in thanks, leaving him to find his family again. She made her own way to her family, which she found were still sleeping, the Spectre Bat slept between the pages of the book she had been reading.
She chuckled at the cluster of small creatures; the Spectre bat in the book pages, the Kneazle and Grim puppy tangled next to him, an indigo python decided to chase a giant blonde ferret while a fluffy brown one watched on in laughter.
An ebony sweater draped her frame, engulfing the crimson bodysuit underneath that was tucked into black jeans. It was paired with plain black boots. She tucked a loose hair behind her ears as she put her long hair into a ponytail, binding it with a single grey band. A black cloak was clasped on and the hood was pulled up. Alexandria checked her makeup, her dark neutral makeup was still in place and would stay so.
"You two best get to the feast," She rubbed her lips together, then traced the lipstick again. "Get your asses out of here before Dumbledore thinks something is up. Go."
Alexandria sat down at her custom seat, Dumbledore's eyes bored into her head as she did not give him the satisfaction to look her in the eye. Her seat, between Minerva McGonagall and Filius Flitwick, was too close to Dumbledore for her liking. Minerva, with her greying brown hair in a tight bun and dressed in a deep emerald set of robes, sat between her and the buffoon, a sort of filter and protective shield.
"Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…" Dumbledore cleared his throat and Alexandria ignored him. She already knew what his speech would include, afterall she was informed by the Minister himself.
The cutlery and plates were golden, but the gold was plain and without character. She held a fork in a hand and dropped it instantly. Gold hinted with pure silver. Her aura, before a calm and soothing thing, bristled slightly.
"Mittens," Alexandria called out lightly, Mittens the house elf appeared beside her. She wore a little black dress with little gloves. "Get me pure gold cutlery and plate, please. These have some pure silver in them. They burn."
"Yes, 'Istress," Mittens said and waved her hands. "It's good to see you again."
"Good to see you too, Mittens," Her plate and cutlery changed from the brass gold tones to a sharper gold. "Can you make sure my dinner doesn't mix up with anyone else's. It would be a disaster."
"Yes, of course 'Istress." The clear glass filled with crimson, Snape glanced to it and then continued to speak to the Charms Professor. Mittens disappeared, a pop following her away.
"Welcome," Dumbledore said as he stood to greet the hall. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, let me introduce Mistress Biast, our teacher in the course, Defence Against Magical Creatures, mandatory for third years and above. Any words needed before class starts, Mistress?"
She stood up and crossed her arms, her cloak only showing her stance and figure. "Yes but only a few, as always. For my lessons are dangerous, I will not have fools in my lessons and so I can get you excluded, easily. Thank you."
"Let the feast begin!"
Most of the dishes, inedible to Alexandria, smelled like rotting caucus, dog bile and dragon dung. They were unpleasant to her nose but she simply blocked it out, taking a long draw of her crimson beverage.
The next hour seemed like an eternity.
She had to leave before something unfortunate happened. Her heeled boots clicked as she made her way to Madam Pomfrey and whispered her situation.
Alexandria walked the way she came, and then down the middle of the four tables. She caught the attention of most of the two middle tables, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. She touched the gem on the clasp of her cloak, activating the charm, it grew longer to be touching the floor, if only it could stay still long enough, from its ankle length before. Her hand drew out from under the darkness, facing the grand door, it opened and let both women pass through, closing again after.
"Let's get you to the Infirmary and out of sight," Madam Pomfrey said. She had tried to grab Alexandria's arm but Alexandria ripped it out of her grip, her fangs bared and eyes tainted ruby. The Madam reeled backwards and the vampire realised what she did, she stiffened her gaze forward and her whole body went tense.
"Sorry," Alexandria said. she didn't let her eyes waver from her destination. "I just need a blood packet and a blood-replenisher, I'll be fine."
The blood-replenisher was almost as bad as the dishes in the Grand Hall. She drained a blood packet and then drowned the blood-replenisher, revolting taste. She sighed and sat on the clean infirmary bed behind her. Alexandria rubbed her eyes.
"The worst bit, I know it's coming on but it's always too late." She pulled her tight braid out, the hair flowing free and loose, reaching her waist. "God, I always hate the crash."
"Why do you such things to yourself?" The Madam asked and gave Alexandria pepper-up potion. She tilted it and looked at its content. Madam Pomfrey's eyes narrowed and an eyebrow rose, asking if she would argue with her orders. She opened her mouth and gulped it down within a second.
Her once tired and groggy features were replaced by a relaxed one. "Thanks. God, I needed that last one."
"Answer my question," Madam demanded. Why would Alexandria do such a thing to herself and torture herself? "Why do you do such things?"
"Because I have no choice," Alexandria stated. Her voice low and emotionless "I am not allowed human blood, and animal blood is utterly disgusting and makes my stomach turn. So does most human food."
"I'll order in some blood-flavoured lollipop from Hogsmeade for class," Alexandria nodded, it was a clever idea and surely it could help. "You doing alright now? Will you be fine till morning when classes start? The lollipops will be in by then."
"I'm fine, I am calm and my bloodlust is under control." Alexandria stood up and dusted her cloak off then put it on, she lifted the hood up. "I'll be going to my chambers now, see you tomorrow at breakfast, Madam. Have a pleasant sleep."
She went down staircases upon staircases to hide her way, caution was how she lived for so long. Most of the Slytherin students were walking down the very same way as she was, for her chambers were near the dungeons, just as they were long ago. She smiled at the startled students.
"When was she behind us?" A student whispered to another, they both turned and look behind them.
"No clue, wasn't she the one who was talking with Professor Snape?" The other replied back.
"Yes, I was," Alexandria was behind the small students and leaned forward, towering over them with her 5'8 in heels height. "And I suggest you don't speak of things you don't know about. Anyway, you lot won't be having me till the third year, good for me."
Her chambers had two floors, the ground floor and a loft bedroom over the fireplace. the ground floor held a large and old fireplace between two large bookcases, a leather chaise longue and a little table next to that. one wall was covered with a window that reached the ceiling of the loft bedroom, overviewing the lake and under the water.
If Alexandria was to stand on the very edge of the loft bedroom, without toppling over the non-existent railings, she would be able to get a clear view of the door. the bedroom loft held a king size bed that sat on the floor, it faced the doorway and a large walk-in wardrobe that held all her needed belongings. A small staircase was connecting the loft to the ground floor, it was attached to the opposite wall and had a liquor cabinet under it.
"Is 'Istress settling In well?" Mittens' voice sounded from the chaise longue. "Is the room decent enough for 'Istress?"
"Yes, thank you, Mittens, for keeping my chambers clean for so long," She sat beside the grey house-elf, passing the small creature a long piece of cloth, vibrant purple in colour. "You deserve to change the cloth you're wearing, make a nice and new outfit for yourself."
"Thank you! Thank You!" Mittens' eyes widened and she smiled. "'Istress is so kind. Mittens will make a nice, new outfit for herself, one that is fit for a servant of 'Istress"
Mittens popped away and left a small smile on Alexandria's lips, Mittens was a strange house-elf, good but strange. She had been serving Alexandria for a few centuries and still had her bubbly persona.
Alexandria yawned, her fangs nipping her upper lip and drew blood. She needed a nap and hot water. Mittens, knowing her Mistress' habits, ordered another house-elf to bring a steaming hot kettle and a hot water bottle. Alexandria crawled into bed after changing into new underwear and a loose, black tank top without anything underneath. she gazed into the waters of the Black Lake and drifted with the tides to sleep.
Mittens turned off the lights on the ground floor and placed an iced blood packet by the bed, her mistress would be starving in the morning. She left her to sleep soundly, covered in the thick black duvet and layers of furs.