Alexandria

Narrowing my eyes, I watched the plump wizard fumble with the hems on his simple black robes now that he could see my face. I could hear his heart speed up, and the blood pooled in his face. The tightening of my throat, the desire to tear through that thin skin to reach the blood… I was used to deflating my natural reflexes, being within such a close proximity to humans for so much of my new life. However, since this one was sitting a mere 2ft 4in away from me, I still had to close my eyes and loosen my body, which had automatically tightened when my brain had registered the smell. Instead of concentrating on that, I focused on his next words:

"The Dark Lord would be honored to have you, Alexandria, of the European Nomadic coven, join his forces-"

"HA!" Who knew the Dark Lord had the ability to sound weak, unprotected, and so…. official? Oh, he wanted something, alright, and it wasn't too hard to guess what…



At my outburst, the man yelped and fell backward out of his chair, knocking over the simple wooden chair. I could smell his sweat pores start to work furiously, and my nose wrinkled in disgust. I shook my head. He should have sent someone else with a bit more confidence, and maybe trained in Occlumency certainly would have helped, not hindered him. But as it was, I first had to rid myself of the weak, simpering man in front of me, trying to stand up but tripping over his robes. I stood up and walked over to him. His face slowly turned upward and froze in shock. This man was actually funny! I knelt down so our noses, mine straight and perfect, his squashy and sweaty. His weak, watery eyes widened, and I sneered at him.

"You, Wormtail, may give this answer to your precious master, to whom you are very loyal-" I spat at him –"he may throw whatever weapon he has at him, offer me all the money in the world, and threaten me with whatever Child of the Moon that is in his service, but I will not, repeat not ever with the scum of the world, nor will I sink to the levels of you and your master. You are excused. "

At this, I swept out the dusty parlor where I had met my guest. I let the oak door slam shut, and heard him start to whimper and mutter, wishing me misfortune in whatever I did.

I didn't even wait for him to Dissaperate before I flew through the back doors and out into the woods beyond the decrepit manor I call a "home". I took off running as soon as I was clear of the village.

I laughed out loud, thinking about the reaction Wormtail's failed mission would receive. But I felt no pity for him, he would get what he deserved soon enough…

Funny moment over and done with, I moved on to the next pressing matter, the reason I had fled Wormtail. Ha; fled that scumbag? No, fled the Death Eater(s) that would have surely would have followed as soon as he learned of Wormtail's failure. Someone to better "convince" me to join the Dark Lord's side. No, I decided. Never would I agree to do what they wanted most, kill those that opposed. Surely, I was on that list now. But I could handle that, easily.

Anyway, Dumbledore needed to know that the Dark Lord finally sent the message we both were expecting. I wove delicately through the pines, oaks, and maples. Autumn was coming on, giving the air a crisp, woody scent. The leaves were caught in the middle of their yearly transformation, some of them the classic dark green, others various shades of red, orange, and brown, while others still seemed undecided, half and half.

The air whipped my long, dark-brown-almost-black hair around behind him. Usually for humans, this autumn wind would drive them to put a jacket on. But for me, it merely felt like a pleasant sunbath.

I arrived at Hogwarts a few hours later, at twilight. I slowed my stride to match a human's normal walking pace, and pulled up my hood and let the sleeves on my dark green robes fall just past my knuckles. As I passed the lake, I saw tens of little boats with three or four students in each, being led by a boat with only one person in it. I frowned. That was certainly not Hagrid; it was a completely new scent, a female. My frown deepened. Where was Hagrid?

I watched the boats' progress until the light from the lanterns disappeared underneath the castle, where McGonagall was undoubtedly waiting for them. Instead of following them, I trekked up the slope to the main doors, and slipped in.

As soon as I was fully inside, a thousand scents, food and human-wise, hit me at full force. Luckily I had ran into a herd of elk before entering the grounds, so my thirst was just a dull throb, nothing to hard to handle.

I sank into the shadows as McGonagall and the extremely nervous looking first-years passed. A few looked like they were going to pass out very soon. I watched as McGonagall paused at the doors leading to the Great Hall, then she swung the doors open, and the chatter from inside ceased at once. I waited for all the students to pass before I silently 

followed them into the hall, still sheathed in the shadows, and slunk into the corner.

Along with everyone else, I watched the new students pass to the front of the hall, every eye glued onto them. I glance up at the staff table to see if Dumbledore was there, and sure enough, he was. But strangely enough, he was listening to a squat little toad-like woman with a pink bow in her awful hair talking speedily to him. She lifted her eyes, and surprisingly, found mine. She stared hungrily at me for a few seconds, and then leaned across the table to talk to Snape, who glanced at me quickly then replied with one word that I knew, even from this far away: Vampire.