I silently crept across the street, feeling stealthy as I was careful to stay in the shadows. The sun had not yet risen, the sky was a deep black freckled with many glowing white stars – to a humans eyes they were merely white dots, but to me they were like little fireflies in the sky that you could almost touch if you reached out.
I shook my head and walked on, wiping away the tears that had streaked my face – i hadn't cried for so long, the tears felt foreign to me. I wasn't ashamed to say that I missed being human... I missed the feeling of happiness, to hold someone's hand, to be in love. Now all I felt was sadness, and every time I touched human's skin, all I could feel was the blood pulsating throughout their veins.
Sighing, I opened my mail locker and looked at the letter that sat by itself. In the corner of the envelope was the stamp of Hogwarts, which meant that Dubmledore wanted me to go to the school this year to act as one of the auror guards – something he asked for every year. I had gone to Hogwarts when I was a human child, and had enjoyed every minute of it, especially Defence Against the Dark Arts. I ripped open the envelope to see the familiar handwriting of Albus Dumbledore, requesting my aid at Hogwarts this year. It was nice to know that he trusted me – most people were terrified to have me around their children, let alone an entire castle full of humans.
I quickly shoved the letter in my pocket, and headed back to my house. The sky had lit up with a light red colour that streaked across the sky, making it look like spilled blood. I stopped in the middle of the street, watching as a cat quickly ran across the road, avoiding any contact at all. I swallowed, feeling the thirst rise like someone had poured hot water down my throat.
"Katrina?" I heard someone call. I turned to find my neighbour, Don, staring at me, a confused look crossing his handsome face. I swallowed again as his aroma floated in my direction. "Are you alright?" he asked, taking a few steps closer. I felt my mouth water, and my self-control begin to fade.
"Don't come any closer" I whispered, watching as he stopped in his tracks, worry lines furrowing into his forehead.
"Katrina" a firm voice came from behind me. I turned to find Albus Dumbledore standing behind me, but he wasn't looking at me, he was looking at Don. "I suggest you go home, Katrina will be fine, I assure you" Dumbledore said kindly, nodding for him to leave. Don looked from Dumbledore to me. I merely nodded and reassured him everything was ok. He slowly retreated back into his house, and as soon as the door on his front porch went out, I looked back at Dumbledore, who merely studied me over his half-moon glasses.
"Thirsty?" he finally asked after several moments of silence. I stared at him with a blank stare on my face, hiding the confusion I felt. How on earth did he have such good timing? He chuckled and walked towards me, ignoring the feral growl rising in my throat.
"It's not safe" I whispered, trying to ignore his scent that made my mouth water.
"I want you to relax" he said simply before placing a metal instrument against my throat. A sharp pain followed by numbness made me wonder what the hell had just happened. "All better?"
I breathed, feeling completely relaxed. "What on earth was that?"
He raised the metal object into the light so I could see what it looked like – which in appearance was a tiny gun, but instead of a chamber for bullets, there was a chamber of blood. I stared at it in awe... why on earth hadn't I heard of this? "I discovered this on my latest trip, where I met a vampire clan. I told them of you and they simply handed one over, and gave you their regards" he smiled, handing the small contraption to me.
"Fascinating" I said, studying the small gun as the morning light reflected off the metal.
"Hogwarts is stocked for whatever you need in order to make you comfortable, that is if you accept" he said, chuckling soflty.
"You know I will, I can't stay away from Hogwarts... it's practically my home" I sighed, looking off into the distance, where the sky was now a light blue, streaked with orange and pink – several birds were chirping and a couple of dogs were barking, making it sound like they were having a conversation.
"You know if you really wanted to, you could become a professor. You would have your own room, and office. Defence Against the Dark Arts is in need of replacement, and of course Remus Lupin will be there to quide you if you need help – he is currently stationed at Hogwarts as an auror." he said, his bright blue eyes twinkling in the rising sun. I stared at him for a long moment, not quite sure how to respond.
"That's a taking an awfully big risk, Albus" I managed to say, still in shock at his proposition. I of course wanted to be a professor... and I had the choice of taking help from the handsome Remus Lupin, a well known werewolf.
"I trust you completely" he said with a smile that touched his eyes.
"I'm going to have to think about it. I would like to continue being an auror – it's what I graduated for, but of course you remember" I smiled, running my hand through my midnight black hair.
"But of course. You can still have the title of auror, but you can also be a professor as well. Instead of being at the school during school hours, you may stay at the school however long you like". I nodded, feeling very grateful towards the kind headmaster.
"I don't know how to thank you. I accept of course". I smiled, feeling human for a slight second.
"Well I must be off. I shall see you when the school year starts" Dumbledore said, bowing slightly before he apparated into the night.