All right, I've been working on this thing FOREVER. Yes, I'm taking off with the sort of Harry Potter/Twilight combo story, but I do mine differently so I think that you'll like it. Plus, while you're all reading this, it'll give me more time to work on the sequel to Sing Sweet Nightingale. If you're all lovely readers and leave lots of reviews, I'll pump that story out faster. Besides, I'm already like twenty chapters into this story and I want feedback. Seriously, tell me what you think. It's my first time doing anything involving Neville Longbottom as a main character. That's right, he's the main guy this time and I'm very excited! I've always been a Longbottom fan, and I feel like it's about time that he got some...and he will get some, trust me. So read and be merry!

"You are filth!"

The words echoed in her ears, making her glance away with her shoulders shrugged.

"Noel, we've given you many chances to be part of this Family, but every time you have failed miserably. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"Well…I suppose that all I can say is that you're all completely anal about everything and if you kicked me out I wouldn't cry…well, I can't cry, but you get the idea."

A general growl escaped from the crowd around her and she just sighed. This wasn't new for her; Noel always seemed to get into trouble with The Family. They weren't her actual, biological family, but they were the closest thing that she had to family. Needless to say, Noel wasn't the most normal teenager that you would come across. On December 17th, 1973, on Noel's much awaited nineteenth birthday, she was kidnapped from the mortal world that she knew and loved and throwing her into the cold world of vampires. Yes, vampires. She woke up almost three days later with a tall man crouching over her now cold body. His name was William and kindly introduced himself as part of the original Family. The Family was a group of vampires, one of dozens around the world. William brought her to the Family the next day and she had been part of them ever since.

Clearly, since this was Noel's 292nd hearing, something was terribly wrong. William leaned forward with his eyes narrowed. Noel learned very quickly that not only was William a member of The Family, he was the head of The Family.

"Noel, do you understand the strain that you've put on me? I was the one that brought you into our circle." Noel raised an eyebrow.

"That was your decision to bite me, I didn't ask you to kidnap me from my lovely party to join the world of the undead." She said smartly. William grimaced. Kathleen, William's long standing military advisor, leaned on the arm of his chair.

"I believe that you had a moment of weakness, William, remember?" She asked, rubbing it in his face.

"I really wish that you had shown some control." Noel muttered.

"Enough!"

William slowly rose from his seat with his eyes dark, glaring over at her.

"I'm sorry Noel, but I have no choice. You are banished from this Family and this town, and will be killed if you ever return." Noel refused to show it, but on the inside she was shaking from fear. Being banished didn't frighten her, it was the threat of death that made her knees shake. It was not an easy process to kill a vampire and she had seen it done…it wasn't pleasant…

"I'm banished from this town and…?"

"The country. You're not allowed anywhere near us…but we will make regular checkups on you, just to see that you're doing well." Noel scoffed.

"Well that doesn't exactly seem fair."

"It is in the best interest of this group that we keep a close eye on you." She rolled her eyes.

"Right, cause I'm gonna get in so much trouble while away from you guys." William didn't narrow his eyes and scold her like he normally would. He simply stared at her with the saddest eyes.

"My only wish was to protect you…it pains me greatly to lose you, and your great talent."

"You won't miss me." Noel quickly muttered. "So great, I'm banished, never to return, blah blah blah, can I go now?" She was waved away and, grabbing her already packed overnight bag, Noel dashed for the door. She didn't look back, doing her best to hide the smile that was just itching to burst. Finally, she was free! But then the thought came that she had no idea where to go. She shrugged to herself, shouldering her large bag. The only place that she could think to go was home.

William watched her walk away, the murmur of happiness spreading through the crowd. Noel had proved to be a source of stress for everybody in that room, even William. Still, he was sad to see her go.

"Very wise decision, Sir, way to get rid of the only burden to our Family." She said enthusiastically. William would have usually at least acknowledged any compliment that she gave him, but tonight he was just not in the mood.

"Kathleen…I feel like I was too harsh on her." He muttered thoughtfully as his Family slowly dispersed from the hall.

"Oh no Sir, she never contributed to feeding us or keeping us safe."

"But…her voice…"

"All right, she attracted a few meals, but mostly she would mope around and miss her family, how disgustingly cliché." William flinched, leaning back in his seat. He still remembered the night that he had taken Noel. Her birthday, surrounded by friends and family in a large parlor room, singing. It had been her voice that had drawn him to her in the first place. It was the most beautiful and intoxicating thing that had ever invaded his ears. She had weakened him and in that moment, he had stolen her and changed her. He had hoped that she would fall into his arms and use him as her guide…and eventually become his mate. Foolish, he knew that from the start, but he had become lonely leading his Family and he thought that Noel would be a good match for him. Now he regretted ever hearing her song.

"Sir, this is for the best, she contributed nothing and was merely a burden to the rest of us."

"I want you to watch her." He said as he rose from his ornate chair.

"Excuse me Sir?"

"Track her, follow her, and watch her. I want to know everything that she's doing and everything about everybody that she comes into contact with." Kathleen felt a low growl rumble from her chest, but she clapped a hand on her chest and bowed to her knee.

"Yes Sir, I will send the trackers out tomorrow evening."

"No, you will send them after her tonight."

"But Sir, she will notice us if we go after her too quickly."

"She will be too focused on trying to find a place to go. There aren't many places where there aren't already established clans. Also, make sure that she's protected. She will carry our scent for a few weeks and could be a threat to other clans." Kathleen furrowed her brow together as she watched William walk across the room.

"Sir…excuse me for asking, but why did you banish her if you intend on keeping such a close eye on her?"

"Because, I believe that if we allow her to go out and experience life outside of our Family, she will return and beg to rejoin us." Kathleen raised an eyebrow.

"So you have no intension of killing her if she returns?" He shook his head.

"Noel is a willful soul, she merely needs to be broken. Then she will conform to our rules and our ways…I am very confident that she will return."

"Yes Sir, I will pass your…intensions along and make sure we keep you informed of her whereabouts." William turned with a nod and left the hall and disappeared into his private chambers. His rooms were large with cathedral ceilings and black fabric covering almost every surface, including the floor to ceiling windows. He walked past his private library and around his bed chamber to his closet, an even darker room that held his dark wardrobe. William reached into the corner and pulled out the only item with any color in it. A dress, blushing pink with white roses carefully sewn on. The once while tulle was slowly fading to brown and the seams were gaping, but the smell still remained. He pressed the fabric to his face, taking in a long and deep breath. This was Noel's party dress, the dress that she had worn when he had taken her and changed her. The stain of her blood had been left on the front of the dress, almost brown from age.

William wasn't sure why he had kept the dress, but now that Noel was gone he finally understood its purpose. This would be his comfort, his lowly connection to her while she was away. Hopefully this dress and the constant reports would keep his loneliness at bay.