Pairings: Jasper/Krista. Edward/Alice. Neville/Luna. Ethan/Susan.

Warnings: Extreme AU. OC characters. Some character bashing. Mature scenes. Violence.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and Twilight or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me


Chapter Two: Merlin's Heart

"The Shadows and the Night are not yours to control. They bend to the will of one who walks with them." - Theodore Nott

XXXXXX

~1863; Unknown Location~

Jasper Whitlock felt as if his entire body was on fire, and had already been for what felt like days. Several times, he had sobbed and begged for death—Death is a much preferable fate compared to this, he had felt. His throat had already gone hoarse due to how much that he had screamed for what must feel like days.

What had just happened?

His memory is currently in pieces. He can't even remember what had happened after meeting an enchantingly beautiful woman with ruby red eyes that had introduced herself as Maria.

Not for the first time, Jasper had cursed himself out for being so stupid!

How many times had Krista warned him over the past few years to never accept anything or any invitation from an enchantingly beautiful person? They are never what they seem to be, Krista had warned. There are dark forces in this world that you will never understand—not until you become one of them, and I pray that you never will, she had said.

Maria had been enchantingly beautiful, and while Jasper had indeed felt a tug—urging him to follow her, for some reason, he had managed to resist it. For some reason, Krista's face had immediately popped into his head when something seemed to urge him to follow Maria.

Maria had been surprised at that. And then, she had simply pounced on him before he could run.

Then, he had collapsed, as his entire body seems to burn. He had felt as if he's dying, and he just wanted it to stop. Is this dying? The burning pain seems to intensify more as the hours and days went by, and just as Jasper thought that he could take it no more, the fire suddenly went away.

Jasper felt almost…strange as he sat up gingerly—feeling almost alien in his own body—like he don't recognise it as his own. He clutched at his chest, pooling the cloth of his Confederate uniform in his fist—and his eyes widened when he realised that his heart isn't beating.

Had he…died?

And then, Jasper realised that he seemed to be seeing things a lot clearer. He could even count the number of rings in the trunk of a tree nearly fifty meters away. He then swallowed as he felt a constant burn at the back of his throat, and he licked at his lips, suddenly desperately wanting a drink of some sort.

"So you're up."

Jasper leapt up at the sound of the voice, and soon noticed a woman standing not too far away from him. He recognised her immediately.

"Maria." Jasper growled, almost startled to realise that he had just growled at the woman like a beast—or even like one of the dogs back home. He pressed the pads of his thumb and index finger deep into his throat—hoping to quench the thirst, but to no avail. "What did you do to me?"

The smirk on Maria's face only widened. "I gave you a gift," she said gleefully. "But first, let us go quench your thirst, Major Whitlock." She twirled about—the ends of the frilly white dress that she had been wearing when Jasper had first met her flowing about her thighs. Now he understood why a young woman is wearing a dress like that with no escort—she is playing bait.

"What did you do? What am I?" Jasper almost cried, backing away from Maria, digging his fingers deeper into his neck like it will stop the burning at the back of his throat. Why can he smell everything so much better like it is just under his nose? He swore he could hear the sounds of some stream loud and clear like it is just next to him as well.

The smile on Maria's face grew wider. "You, my dear Major, is now a vampire," she said gleefully. "All questions can wait. Right now, you need to feed. And mark my words, you won't be seeing any of your friends and family anymore." A cold smirk appeared on her face. "You're mine now."

Jasper glared at Maria with hatred, feeling as if his un-beating heart is about to shatter into pieces with Maria's words. 'Krista… I'm sorry…'

XXXXXX

~1863; Unknown Location~

"Want a drink?" Hermione Granger asked the trio of best friends politely—with several of the teens currently sitting around the large campfire in the heart of the Salem town.

Krista looked up and shook her head. "…No thanks."

The redhead glanced at Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott that were both sitting on either side of her. The succubus and Necromancer respectively showed nothing on their faces much like Krista, but the redhead knew that both boys were getting nervous. Their time is nearly at its end. If they don't somehow locate the source of where the Salems have been absorbing the magic of the land, there won't be a world left to save.

Krista glanced at Hermione Granger who had sat down beside Ronald Weasley, and she fought hard not to allow the grimace to show on her face. For five years, she had been working undercover alongside Blaise and Theo—ever since she was promoted to the Enforcers of Nightshades straight upon graduation, and given her first undercover field mission. And with each day that she spent amongst their enemies, she felt a little of her die inside with what she knew that the Salems did.

Ronald Weasley gave a disgusted sound as he glared at the glob of…something on the plate that Hermione had given him. "What is this crap?" he asked, disgusted at having to shovel it down. "Don't we have something better?"

Weasley.

Krista knew that an Arthur Weasley is a member of the Salem Council—most likely the father of Ronald. The dhampir also knew from Ethan that there were actually four Weasleys that had defected from Salem to the Wiccan some years back when she was still with the Academy. Apparently, they were born with Wiccan magic, and that made them outcasts. Thus, they've fled to Sin City when the younger two of the four brothers have overheard a plan between their parents and Albus Dumbledore to kill them.

Krista had actually met those four brothers, and were friends with the younger two—identical twin brothers who had opened a joke shop in Sin City that actually also supplies Nightshades with items that they need for their missions. The older two have actually gone through several tedious tests and questioning for over two months before Xatis had made them Nightshades agents. And from what Krista knew from Viktor Krum, the leader of the Gate Guardians—the division that guards the gates of Sin City, the two older Weasley brothers were now Gate Guardians.

"Don't ask for the impossible!" Hermione scolded Ronald. "You know that we don't have much choice in terms of food these days. Everything is dying. That's why we need to win this war and destroy the Wiccans." Krista's fingers twitched slightly. "They're destroying the world with their dark and devious ways. Even Nightshades. I don't care that they've been around since the time of King Arthur. Necromancers and the creatures of the night are evil beasts! They should be exterminated like the vermin they are! If they all die, then this world will be saved."

Krista continuously chanted the Italian alphabet from forwards to backwards and backwards to forwards several times in her head to prevent herself from killing the little bitch like how she'd done numerous times over the past five years. On either side of her, Krista could sense Blaise and Theo bristling with anger, but they fought hard to keep their magic down. It wouldn't be a good idea if they were ousted as Wiccans or even as 'creatures of the night'.

The people of the Wiccan faith were vastly different from those of the Salem Faith. It is true in a way that they are complete opposites in everything. The Wiccans believed that magic is just magic. It is their intent that could be judged as 'good' or 'evil'. It is also only the Wiccans who have the denizens of the Dark World like the vampires, the werewolves, the fae and such living amongst them.

They promote Harmony and Balance. They are the Guides. They are Night and Darkness. Where there is Dark, there is also Light. Thus, unlike the Salems, the Wiccans have never discriminated against another just because of how they look like or even how they're born.

Thus, while the Salem community town had been dying and growing smaller with each passing year, with their magic dying as well, Sin City of Italy that is the Wiccans' stronghold that is also Nightshades' hometown had only grown stronger and larger each year.

When one rejects Magic, Magic will in turn reject them.

This is the Salems' punishment for their arrogance.

"But with the number of Wiccans whom we'd gotten the mundanes to kill, shouldn't we be seeing some life returning to our lands by now?" Ronald asked, stabbing his fork into his…food.

Krista felt Theo bristling next to her, and she could distinctly feel faint rumblings beneath her feet, as the Death Aura grew stronger. Theo's Necromancer magic is getting affected by his emotions—Krista should know, as she's one of the Shadow Guides. If Theo isn't careful, he might accidentally summon the dead from the grounds.

"Calm down." Krista murmured in a way so that the Salems around them wouldn't see her lips moving and hear her words. But for Wiccans and part-humans like Krista, Blaise and Theo, they could hear it loud and clear.

While Theo isn't a part human or a non-human like Krista and Blaise, he is a Necromancer who had signed an agreement with the Guardian of the Dead when he'd first woken to his powers. Thus, he was given enhanced senses and even the gift of eternal life—basically turning him part-demon in a way.

"Don't let your anger affect the dead energies, Theo." Blaise murmured, hiding his lips behind his wooden mug as he pretended to consume the drink in his hand. He is hard pressed to not break something—preferably Granger's stupid head.

That stupid bint and her idiot of a fiancé have been getting on the trio's nerves since day one when they have posed as new students at the training academy for the Salem community. She had treated everyone as if they're stupid and talked to the trio like they're babies or idiots who didn't know any better—even the adults. Just because she's supposedly the 'best' amongst her peers and the favourite of the Salem Council, she walked around as if she'd owned the place.

Unfortunately however, the leader of the Salems, Albus Dumbledore had favoured her, and thus, she got away with a lot of things.

If Hermione Granger had been in Nightshades Academy and had acted like that, well… She wouldn't survive beyond the first week. Not a single person in Nightshades would take a high-end attitude like this lying down. More than one person would have made her disappear, and no one would ever find her body.

More than once, Krista had to resist ordering the shadows to bury Granger into the ground…deep, deep into the ground.

And the 'best'. Hah. What a joke. Any first year at the Nightshades Academy could beat Granger with both their eyes closed. Unlike the Salems, the Wiccans don't hold back when it comes to their training. And unlike them, the Wiccans don't just focus on magic training—as in 'stand still and let loose spells' type of training.

Nightshades Academy is a tough place to survive. Only the best of the best survives long enough to graduate—with majority of them joining Nightshades as an agent upon graduation—being one of those that maintains the balance of the power and making sure that the Dark World don't make a show of themselves.

Krista had been a rare case as she had skipped two grades and had graduated early—almost unheard of. The only other person before her who had skipped a few grades and had graduated early had just been Tom Riddle, currently the head Necromancer, and also the assistant head of the Intelligence Department at Nightshades.

Upon graduation, Krista had been recruited straight into the Enforcers—Nightshades' elite strike force. They are the best of the best—only taking in the best—hence why there are always less than ten of them—and they are also the most mysterious. The only other department in Nightshades that had that least amount of agents are just the Gate Guardians—the guardians and guards of the gates of Sin City—the Wiccans' city.

No matter the rank however, as long as one is a Nightshades' agent, they work in pairs or threes—that had been an absolute rule. Thus, Krista's field partner ever since her graduation had been Ethan. But throughout the duration of this undercover mission, she had partnered with Blaise and Theo who have been her classmates at the Academy. This mission is also a trial run for the both of them—to see if they indeed have what it takes to join the Enforcers—though this is a fact known only to Ethan and Krista—the first and second-in-commands of the Enforcers.

"…I get first dibs on Granger when it's time." Theo hissed, clenching his teeth so tightly that both Krista and Blaise almost winced when their sensitive hearing heard the sounds of angry grinding.

"No argument there." Blaise muttered.

"But seriously, hasn't Merlin's Heart absorbed enough magic already?" Ronald complained, and the trio of Wiccans pricked up their ears at the mention of 'Merlin's Heart'. In actual fact, this isn't the first time they have heard this term—they just didn't know what it really is, though Krista had a feeling that it might be related to the source of the Salems' power.

"Dumbledore would decide when it is enough." Hermione said tiredly as if she had said it a hundred times before. "It is the Salems' treasure, after all. Our secret weapon against the Wiccans. Once it'd absorbed enough energy and magic, it will be powerful enough to wipe out the Wiccans and once we find out where their stronghold is, it can destroy their town. That'll teach them to use dark and evil magic!" The brunette's tone of voice is so malicious that Krista had to grip Theo's arm to stop him from lashing out—she had gripped it hard enough with her vampire strength that it is most likely going to leave behind bruises. Half-vampire or not, Krista is still stronger than the average human, and it didn't help that the brunette's words are making her angry as well.

"I need a walk!" Theo declared loudly, placing down the plate of food that he'd barely touched onto the ground and stalking off towards the forest as quickly as he could, trying to keep his temper under control.

"Me too." Blaise murmured, mimicking Theo's actions and following him.

"I'm going with them." Krista added, also copying the boys' actions and retracing Theo's footsteps.

None of them looked back.


They didn't stop until they reached the lake deep in the forest near the Salem community town. Krista and Blaise said nothing—they just watched Theo walking up and down, trying to rid himself of his anger.

Krista let out a huff before digging her hand into her pocket, closing her fingers over a certain item. Well, she might as well report to the Wiccan Council about their findings. Last that she knew, the Wiccan Council had been really worried about leaving the three of them deep in the heart of enemy territory when war is about to break out between their two factions at any time.

"…Blaise, privacy barrier." Krista told the Italian succubus who nodded, "Theo, confounding ward." The Necromancer gave a curt nod.

The redhead then pulled out the choker that identifies her as one of Nightshades' Enforcers—a black choker with a pendant of Hecate's Wheel—a labyrinth-like symbol with a six pinwheel symbol in the middle. A sapphire blue crystal was also embedded in the middle of the pinwheel symbol.

Krista raised the pendant just before her face when she felt the wards and barriers came up, activating the communication crystal. A few scant moments passed before a beam of blue light emerged from said crystal, and a hologram-like image appeared before the trio—reflecting the images of the Wiccan Council.

While the Wiccan Council is a high authority in Sin City—the Wiccans' stronghold and also Nightshades' hometown, the truth is that they never interfered in Nightshades' affairs. There is always only seven members at each given time—usually the chosen representative of their individual races—vampire, fae, elf, Veela, drake, nymph and a Necromancer to represent the humans amongst the Wiccan community. Any other race that doesn't have a seat in the Wiccan Council will actually be represented by one of the seven so that everyone has a voice.

The main responsibilities of the Wiccan Council is to maintain the balance of power amongst the Wiccans and also to keep up the ward and barrier network running across all of Sin City that keeps the city safe.

Occasionally however, there is a need to consult with the Wiccan Council on matters of importance—such as the current issue with the Salems. In actual fact, it had actually been the Wiccan Council who had requested Krista, Blaise and Theo to infiltrate the Salem community nearly five years ago. They were actually free to turn down this undercover mission, but the trio have agreed to the Wiccan Council's request.

"Finally. I thought that the three of you would never report back." Klaus Nightray, the father of Ethan Nightray and also the representative sent by the Vampire High Council grunted when the hologram images of the Wiccan Council came into view. The representative had originally been Xatis, but as the mentioned vampire is also the commander of Nightshades, that was seen as a conflict of interests, and thus, Xatis' brother was chosen in his place as the representative.

"The three of you are cutting it real close." The head Necromancer, Tom Riddle warned. Did I also fail to mention that he also happens to be Theo's mentor in the Necromancy arts? "You should hurry and return to Nightshades."

"We're this close!" Theo protested. "We're close to figuring out how to shut down the Salem system and to stop them from stealing anymore magic and life from the lands! We only know that it has to do with something called 'Merlin's Heart'. If we can just find it, we can stop it."

"The Salems are on their last legs, and they know it." Blaise added. "That's why they're getting desperate. We're this close." He said again. "Just a little longer."

"Besides, I heard rumours that Albus Dumbledore is coming back to the town." Krista remarked. She narrowed her eyes as she noted that the members of the Wiccan Council looked surprised. "If he made an appearance, I might be able to rift through his memories and find out where the location of Merlin's Heart is." She flexed her fingers. "Even as arrogant as that man is, he had never bothered to learn how to block the Mind Magicks of the Wiccans—especially the ones that the vampires used."

The Wiccan Council fell silent. After several moments, the draconic representative turned towards Tom. "Tom, what do you think?" Lucius Malfoy questioned.

The head Necromancer was frowning as he stared straight at the trio—almost as if trying to see something. "…I think it's worth a risk," he said at last. "Three more months." He added. "I want all of you to return to Nightshades by then. That's as much time as we could give you."

"Well… It's better than having them turn Merlin's Heart—whatever it is on us and killing this world, I suppose." Klaus Nightray muttered irritably, not happy with his fellow councilman's decision. "But never take any risks, do you hear me?" He warned the trio. "We weren't happy to begin with when Ethan had first informed us that you're extending your undercover mission by another year and a half."

"Find and destroy this Merlin's Heart, all three of you." Tom said heavily, "Destroy it…and find your father, Krista. Bring him home."

The hologram images then blinked out.

"Three more months, huh?" Blaise murmured. "We have to hurry."

He then exchanged looks with Theo, and both boys knew what the other is thinking. When they were first sent on this undercover mission, Xatis Nightray, the commander of Nightshades had actually told them that the only reason why Lady Lillian Evans—Krista's mother had gone deep into the heart of Salem territory herself all those years ago is to find her mate—Krista's father who had been captured by the Salems. True, there is no proof that he is even still alive, but there isn't any proof that stated that he's dead either.

Krista nodded, stuffing the choker back into her pocket and turning to face her two friends. "We have to hurry," she echoed. "We're really out of time." She stared at her hand. "Besides, in six more months, we really have to return by Nightshades by then. I'll come into my inheritance by that point. And both of you would have gained your creature maturity around that time as well. We would all be ousted as Wiccans and can't remain undercover any longer."

"This is the end of Salem." Theo concluded heavily. "What a sad end to a sect that had been around for as long as the Wiccans. Their lands are dying. And so is their magic."

Blaise scowled. "What is Dumbledore even doing to their lands and their magic?" he frowned. "We can all feel it. Their magic is dying, and that isn't even supposed to be possible. Their lands and everything… It is losing the Magic, and with it, the life force. No matter what it is, everything has magic in them. If they lose it, it will kill them."

"Magic is also rejecting them as they rejected her." Krista answered. "Ethan has said the same thing before. Lady Hecate is angry—and you know that the Lady is entirely too unforgiving if we anger Her."

"And the one sure way to anger Her is to misuse Her gift." Theo said heavily. "Three more months." He murmured. "We have to hurry."

XXXXXX

The streets of Sin City were lit up with the lights outside the various shophouses of Imperial Street—the shopping district of the Wiccans' city even as two men walked down the cobblestone streets—their boots making light tapping sounds as they moved.

The black haired man carried himself elegantly, being dressed in a white dress shirt with black trousers and boots, and he had a black cloak wound around his shoulders that had the crest of the Black family symbol on it—one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful family amongst the Dark Elves. He had aristocratic features—with high cheekbones and a firm jawline with blue-gray eyes that looked exhausted. His companion is a brunette with messy hair and dark brown eyes, dressed in a casual gray shirt and black pants with a gray cloak. Unlike his companion however, the brunette had scars on his arms—reminiscent of scars that a werewolf would have.

Finally, the pair approached a shop that had a black signboard hanging above the door that had white cursive words 'Prince's Apothecary' written across it. Various glass vials and medicinal plants and herbs of all kinds were displayed in the glass windows, and there was even a standing signboard just beside the entrance that had the opening hours written on it.

A bell tinkled somewhere in the apothecary, along with the strong spells of potions as Sirius Black opened the door, running his hands through his hair tiredly. "Sev, Reggie, we're coming in!" he announced, with his best friend Remus Lupin close behind him—with the latter also looking exhausted.

Severus Prince, the apothecary's owner and also a Necromancer, Healer and Potions Master all in one glanced up from behind the counter where he is currently labelling several glass vials. He looked remarkably similar to Sirius, with similar elegant aristocratic features and chin-length black hair with dark eyes. Beside him, Regulus Black who is almost a carbon copy of Sirius as he just so happens to be his younger brother and also a Necromancer quirked an eyebrow over talking to Ethan Nightray who looked exhausted—even for a noble vampire.

"Ethan?" Remus questioned, and the exhausted vampire gave a tired wave from where he is speaking to Regulus at the counter. There are currently no customers in the apothecary, as it is late at night. "When did you get back?"

"Three hours ago." Ethan answered, exhausted. "I've just reported to Xatis."

"How is it looking?" Sirius asked, concerned.

Ethan shook his head wordlessly. "Not good," he answered grimly. "We might be looking at a fully fledged war in just a few months. And Krista, Blaise and Theo are still stuck there. I've actually gotten back from a meeting with the Wiccan Council too. They told me that Krista and the other two told them that they might have an idea how to shut down the source of the Salems' power. They think that it might be something known as Merlin's Heart. And anyway, they have to find it first."

"Merlin's Heart…" Remus mused. "Ironic that it is basically destroying the Salems from the inside when its original intent is to protect them."

Regulus nodded. "From what I know, the relations between the Wiccans and the Salems never used to be so bitter," he noted.

"There's quite a difference between the Wiccans and the Salems though." Severus pointed out. "We use Gray Magic. We are the Balance. Night and Day. Dark and Light. We use both. We balance out Harmony."

"The Salems on the other hand originally used Protective Magic." Remus added. "We are the attackers. They are the defenders. During the time of King Arthur, that was originally the system behind our two sects. But at some point after the deaths of King Arthur Pendragon, Lady Morgana le Fey and Merlin, it all fell apart."

Remus would know his history from back to front. Back during Ethan and Krista's time in the Nightshades Academy, Remus had actually stood in for Professor Cynthia Roth as the History professor for a year once when Xatis had sent her for an urgent mission. And amongst the Wiccans, they don't just teach their students the history of the Dark World, but also that of the mundane world so that they know how to blend in.

And even now, Remus made his living as a historian for Nightshades in the archives section, sometimes offering his services as a consultant. He had been an excellent beta and second-in-command of the werewolf pack for Fenrir Greyback who had valued his talent and mind.

"Yeah. We think that at some point, some of the Salems have resented that they're always hiding behind the Wiccans, and sought power for themselves." Sirius sighed heavily. "And then… Both sects that were originally allies became bitter enemies. From a gentle and loving sect, they became something that the Wiccans and Nightshades once hunted in the streets during the Dark Ages. Vampire. Werewolf. Fae. Drake. Elf. Nymph. Anything that isn't human—anything that doesn't conform to their views of 'acceptable' is seen as monstrous and 'dark' by them."

"Which is simply ridiculous." Ethan looked angry, and none of the four men with him could blame the vampire. As one of the Enforcers, Ethan had seen first hand accounts for himself just what the prejudiced views of the Salems have done. "Magic is just magic. It is really the intent that labels it as 'evil' or 'good'."

"We were raised to believe that." Remus responded. "And originally, that was what the Salems were raised to believe too. But now, they are rejecting Magic herself. And in turn, they are also rejecting the Lady Hecate's gift. She's angry. Maybe that's even why their magic and their lands are dying—not only because of whatever that they're doing that is only killing them faster. They've angered the Lady in the worst possible way, and this is Her retaliation."

"Besides, I really doubt that we even have a choice now." Sirius pointed out. "If what Krista and the other two are reporting is true, then the Salems are absorbing the very magic of this land into Merlin's Heart. The world can't survive without magic. We're going to have to eliminate the Salems if it ever comes down to it."

There was an uneasy silence amongst the five for several moments.

Ethan was the first one to break the silence. "There's more," he said, and as one, the remaining four snapped their heads towards him. "In Krista's last letter to me nearly three months ago, she told me the reason why she'd even agreed to go on this undercover assignment when the Wiccan Council had asked her to. She said that there is a chance that she might be able to find her father."

The truth is that Krista had known who her father is the moment that she'd stepped into Sin City and had attended Nightshades Academy. Xatis had briefed her on her family history—with the Nightray family being a very distant relation to her father's family, and had also introduced Sirius and Remus to her—the two men have been her father's best friends when they were in the Academy, despite the different races that they were from, and have remained as friends even after.

Sirius had actually offered to adopt Krista during her first year—being her father's best friend and all, but Krista had declined, stating that she already had a family in the Whitlock family, and she didn't want to leave them. Xatis had investigated secretly, and as that particular family doesn't seem to have any problems with Krista being a Wiccan and a dhampir, he had left it be—not that he is entirely sure that they even knew.

It still didn't stop both the Dark Elf and the werewolf from visiting Krista during Family Days at Nightshades that only takes place once a year. It is also for certain reasons why Krista still chose to retain her mother's maiden name and not use her father's.

Everyone could understand her reasoning however. Krista's father's family had a rather long and famous history, and it is that same reason why most members of that family actually go by other names outside Sin City so as to not attract attention. Even the mundanes would recognise the last name easily, as that name had been a rather prominent name since the time of King Arthur.

Krista's parents have both met in the Nightshades Academy, though they didn't really become friends until their fifth year or so when they started sharing more classes together and soon identified each other as the other's mate when they've reached their maturity. Their marriage was a quiet one—only their closest friends were invited. And even Sirius and Remus didn't know that the couple had a child until they received Lady Lillian Evans' letter after her death.

They were excited when Xatis had informed them about Krista, and were startled to realise that she looked a lot like her mother—that is probably why she had hidden her daughter's existence, as Krista's father's family notwithstanding, the Evans' line is an extremely prominent line amongst the Wiccans.

"…Do you think it's true what Lily had told us before she'd died?" Sirius asked at last. "That James had fallen into the hands of the Salem?"

"I believe so." Regulus answered heavily. While not as close to Lillian Evans like Alice Longbottom and even Severus Prince who had grown up with her—with both the Evans and Prince lines being allies for centuries, he is still one of her best friends despite being two years below her. "Lily's a member of the Wiccan Council for a reason." He reminded them. "She just has this way of knowing things—it's in Evans' blood. The Evans Family acts as the crossroads between the worlds—they're the Shadow Guides. They're one of the strongest Wiccan families for a reason. Krista too. She's always been extremely intuitive. That's probably why Lily even went straight into the heart of Salem territory to free her mate, knowing that she might die."

Ethan had remained silent whilst letting his elders talk. "…If Krista's father had indeed fallen into their hands, do you think that he's still alive?" he asked carefully.

There was a tense silence for several moments.

"…I don't know." Sirius admitted.

Severus Prince sighed to himself before glancing towards the window near him, his sharp eyes immediately spying the charm that Krista had made for him when she'd graduated from Nightshades—a charm hand-woven with dark red, black and blue strings in the shape of the Elven Star, also more commonly known as the seven-pointed star.

"…Krista… Stay safe and come back alive, child." Severus murmured to himself.

XXXXXX

"Sir, you're back!"

"Only for two days." Albus Dumbledore smiled down at the excited Hermione Granger. "I had to head out again after that. So how are your studies going, my dear?"

"Excellent." Hermione said proudly. "I'm learning a whole lot now, and the professor is pleased. She said that I will be of tremendous help to you in the upcoming war."

"Ah. Good. Good." Albus' eyes twinkled like mad before he was startled when he felt someone bump into him, and he was quick to catch the unfortunate soul who had tripped near him, catching hold of the wrist. "Careful there, my dear. Don't run when you can walk." He scolded in his grandfatherly tone to the young redhead who doesn't look much older than sixteen or seventeen.

Krista Evans dipped her head politely, ignoring Granger's indignant glare on her person that another person will have her idol's attention. "My apologies," she said smoothly before she walked away—acting for all in the world like she isn't rushing off anywhere—walking towards the meal area where she found Blaise and Theo immediately—with both being seated at their usual table.

"How is it?" Blaise murmured even as she slid in beside him. Neither one of the three were worried that their conversation might be overheard as there is currently so much excitement going on from all the other Salems.

"I got the information." Krista answered, eyes flickering from Theo to Blaise and back again. She wriggled the fingers of her left hand at them. "Good thing that I've actually learned how to rift through memories by just skin touch alone from Viktor back when we were still in Nightshades."

"Then we'd better move tonight." Theo concluded, and the other two nodded their heads. "I don't know about you, but it's best if we get out of Salem as soon as we could. I could feel it in the air—war is about to break out."

XXXXXX

That night, at exactly three in the morning, three shadows slinked from shadow to shadow, moving amongst the quiet and dead silent Salem town until they've arrived near the edge—before the three shadows then formed into three figures.

Blaise Zabini frowned, poking at the latch chain with the toe of his boot before he yanked at it simply with one hand—the wooden latch door opened easily without a sound. "…I can see why we would miss it," he said at last. "No one would know that there is a dungeon holding area beneath this unless we know that there is one."

"Theo?" Krista glanced at the Necromancer who was frowning, peering down at the complete darkness.

"I can't sense anything—something's blocking me." Theo muttered, his brows furrowing with displeasure. "But there is a huge concentration of power below though." He glanced at his two friends. "Merlin's Heart, do you think?"

Blaise and Krista exchanged glances before shrugging as one. "Let's check it out." Krista suggested before Blaise walked down the steps leading below first of all, with Krista heading after him. Theo was last, with him closing the latch door after him so that no one would stumble across it. With all three having enhanced senses whether through creature lineage or in the case of Theo, having Necromancer abilities, they were able to see clearly in the dark.

The hallway that they were in is almost endless, with just the occasional wall torches as they passed. Empty prison cells lined the walls as they walked—and presumably, once upon a time, they were prison cells before the Salems have taken to using the mundanes to do their dirty work for them.

Honestly speaking, the Salems aren't that much different from their 'evil enemies', though the Salems might just be worse. At least the Wiccans had never sold out the identities of the Salems to the mundanes, knowing perfectly well what would happen if they do.

"Do you hear something?" Krista asked after about five minutes of endless walking. She could distinctly hear a faint whirring sound, and the faint source of power that they could sense from up above is getting stronger the further they walked.

"Yeah." Blaise nodded. He narrowed his eyes. "What's that?"

All three could see a faint red glow coming from the last prison cell at the end of the long hallway. The trio exchanged looks, and as one, they increased their walking speed to the end of the hallway.

In the prison cell is an enormous crimson red crystal that almost reached from ceiling to floor, being wrapped in several chains. It is currently giving off a crimson glow, and Krista could sense a foreboding power emanating from it. But that isn't what is giving her pause. A figure that is currently chained to the bottom of the crystal that Krista assumed must be Merlin's Heart is motionless—with long and dirty black hair covering his face, and his clothes were tattered and looked years old.

"Is that Merlin's Heart?" Blaise gaped. "Now I can see why we've never found it before. Kris?" He called out to the girl who had stepped forward the moment she had spied the motionless figure—something is calling out to her.

Krista took hold of the chains bounding the man and snapped it easily with her half-vampire strength, examining the unconscious figure—immediately identifying him as a vampire with the pale skin. "He's Wiccan. A vampire." Krista told Blaise and Theo over her shoulder even as Blaise supported the unknown vampire's weight by placing one arm around his shoulders. "Let's get him out of here after destroying this thing." She looked at Merlin's Heart with disgust. How low had the Salems fallen by using something in this manner that Merlin had left to his descendants to protect them?

"All right." Theo nodded, stepping forward. "Krista, ready?"

Krista nodded wordlessly. As one, the both of them muttered the same Wiccan incantations beneath their breath even as wisps of dark light surrounded the crystal before a crack developed down the middle. Then, with a loud crack, the entire crystal shattered, leaving a destroyed mound at the bottom.

Blaise watched, almost transfixed, even as rays of light started flying back down the hallway—presumably returning to wherever the magic was stolen from. Several of those rays of light were actually flowing back into the unconscious vampire that he is currently supporting, and Blaise grimaced. So his hunch was right—this vampire was used as some sort of stabiliser for Merlin's Heart.

"The magic is returning to the land." Theo noted. "I can see why the Lady is angry now. This is defilement of Nature and Magic at its very finest!"

Before either Blaise or Krista could say anything, alarms started going off, and the trio exchanged quick alarmed expressions even as they stepped out of the cell. Just in time too—as the gates of each prison cell is slamming shut and locking itself, even the one that had just contained Merlin's Heart.

"Get ready for Shadow Travel." Krista murmured to her friends before digging into her pocket for the choker and activating the communication crystal—only this time, she only used enough power so that only their voices would reach each other and not the visuals. "Tom? Are you there?"

"Krista?" The head Necromancer's voice sounded concerned. "Theo? Blaise?"

"We need you to open a path for us, Tom!" Blaise said urgently. "And hurry!"

"Buy us some time." Tom answered promptly. "We will open up a route for you for Shadow Travel as you can't open it yourself deep in the heart of Salem territory—with their wards and barriers everywhere!"

The communication shut off just then—only signifying the urgency. With Theo, a Necromancer here with them, Tom could easily open up a safe route for Shadow Travel for them. But it is going to take some time.

"We got company." Krista murmured, her sharp hearing picking up the sounds of running footsteps. On either side of her, both boys nodded.

"Well, we did expect this to happen when we've agreed to undertake this assignment." Blaise muttered. "An undercover mission for nearly five years. It has taken us long enough."

"Here they come."

And then, the running footsteps got louder before the visages of five people appeared before them.

The members of the Salem Council themselves—Albus Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley, Cornelius Fudge, Dolores Umbridge and Rufus Scrimgeour.

"What is it? Where are the intruders? What happened?" Umbridge was demanding the moment that she'd laid eyes on them, immediately assuming that they're here to catch the intruders—not realising that just by the fact of them being present at the secret place where Merlin's Heart is located is already suspicious by itself.

Krista's eyes flickered downwards to the floor where several dark shadows crisscrossed over the walls and the floors—only enhanced by the shadows of the Salem Council. An idea came into her head, and she hoped that it might work as they're after all still in Salem territory.

"Come forth, Garm!" Krista commanded.

And then, from within the dark shadows crisscrossing over the floors and the walls, a black wolf-like shadow creature with blood red eyes and equally dangerous fangs sprang out with a ferocious snarl and growl. And before anyone could react, Garm had leapt onto the stunned Umbridge who happened to be standing the closest and ripped out her throat with his dangerous fangs.

The toad-like woman was dead before she'd even hit the ground, with blood splattering everywhere.

"Monster!" Fudge cried out, holding out his right hand to cast a spell only to get it ripped off by Garm for his troubles.

"What are you doing?"

"You fool, Scrimgeour!" Dumbledore thundered, glaring murderously at the three Wiccans standing across from him, along with the unconscious form of the noble vampire that he'd captured years ago, using him as a stabiliser for Merlin's Heart. He ignored Fudge's screams of pain as he nursed his stump of an arm. "They're Wiccans!"

As one, Krista, Blaise and Theo removed the glamours on their person that concealed their true appearances as well as removed the runic wards on their skin that concealed the true feel of their Wiccan magic.

Krista Evans now stood before them—with wavy auburn hair that fell to a little below her shoulders and unusual emerald green eyes, with a cold smirk on her face even as the shadow dog—Garm stood in between his mistress and the Salem Council, growling ferociously. Blaise Zabini stood on Krista's right, supporting the weight of the unconscious Wiccan vampire. His raven black hair is elegantly styled, with it just covering his earlobes. He is dark-skinned and his demeanour spoke of Italian descent. His golden eyes looked almost serpentine—giving away his succubus status. On Krista's left stood Theodore Nott, with the black Necromancer rune markings visible on both arms.

The Wiccan presence and magic that they've concealed from day one of their undercover work is now free and could be felt by the members of the Salem Council before them—three of the most ruthless Wiccans that wouldn't hesitate to hunt down the Salems that have killed their friends.

"Our thanks for your hospitality for the past five years." Blaise said pleasantly. "As thanks, we'll be taking him." He gestured towards the unconscious vampire on his shoulders.

"You're all fools to anger the Lady and to defile Nature and the Magic of the Land the way you did." Theodore Nott hissed with anger. "The Shadows and the Night are not yours to control. They bend to the will of one who walks with them. You who fear the Night and the Darkness will never hope to beat the Wiccans. Only with Shadow can there be Light. And only with Night can there be Day. They are two different sides of the same coin, you fool. You who reject the gift of True Magic have now been abandoned by the Lady Hecate. You're no longer under Her protection."

"Fool! We Salems are the true masters of Magic!" Dumbledore thundered, a crazed look visible in his eyes. "It is you Wiccans who are defiling the true art of Magic itself!"

Krista shook her head as if pitying the delusional man. "Salem is on its last legs, no matter how much you deny it," she said. On either side of Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley and Rufus Scrimgeour looked afraid. "When you reject Magic, you reject the Lady Hecate. And in turn, She has abandoned you. Magic has chosen its Heir, and it is not the Salems. The time of your people is coming to an end, Albus Dumbledore."

The communication crystal in Krista's pocket activated just then, and Tom's voice echoed out. "Kris, Blaise, Theo! The path is opened!"

"We'll be taking our leave." Theo remarked before dark shadows started to envelop their bodies.

"It will begin soon—the Beginning of the End." Krista commented. "We'll give you a reason to fear the Wiccans—especially after what you'd done to us. And you'll also learn to fear Nightshades."

"Is this for revenge?" Scrimgeour demanded. "We didn't do anything that you did to us."

"Wrong." Blaise shook his head. "Even as furious as you'd made us, we'd never once sold out the identities of your people to the mundanes, knowing perfectly well what they would do. Tell me then, Salems, if we're monsters, then what does that make you?"

Theo gave a cold smirk, giving a two fingered salute. "We'll see you again on the battlefield," he said, before the shadows swallowed the trio with one vampire entirely—only leaving behind a shocked silence in its wake.


The shadows emerged again nearly fifteen miles away from the Salem community town.

Blaise placed down the unconscious vampire against the trunk of the tree, examining him carefully. "He's still alive." The succubus remarked, tilting the vampire's face this way and that. "His magic is returning. He seems to be a noble." He noted, recognising the aristocratic features that is rather reminiscent of that of Ethan's. He wonders for a moment which clan that this vampire is from.

"Do you think he needs blood?" Theo wondered, ready to slit his arm open to offer up some blood.

Blaise is out of the question, as he's a succubus—essentially some sort of vampire, though unlike his vampire cousins who rely on blood, his lifespan isn't reliant on blood but sexual intercourse.

And Theo knows better than anyone else what would happen if Krista offers her blood. This mystery vampire would drain her dry before he could stop himself—especially if he hadn't fed in years. Half Bloods had this allure towards the denizens of the Dark World, especially their blood. It is why dhampirs are so rare these days, as majority of them were hunted down and killed just for their allure and their blood. Thus, until Krista's arrival at Nightshades, no one had seen a dhampir for years.

"I think so." Krista remarked, examining the vampire before turning towards Theo apologetically. "My apologies, Theo. Could you?" She gestured towards the unconscious vampire.

Theo nodded, using a silver dagger to form a cut on his arm. The red liquid flowed immediately before he knelt next to the unconscious vampire and placed the lips of the vampire to the cut.

The vampire's eyes slid opened—revealing the crimson orbs of a vampire and immediately started to feed. After several moments, Theo stepped away from the vampire, whispering a spell, and the cut on his arm healed instantly.

"Who…?" The vampire slurred, staring up at the trio with cautious eyes. He sniffed at the air. "Wiccans?"

"Yes. What's your name?" Krista questioned. "You're a noble vampire, aren't you?"

The vampire turned his eyes on Krista, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. "…I go by the birth name of Jameson le Fey," he said slowly, and the trio froze. The direct line to THE Morgana le Fey—the first Wiccan, and if their history records are correct, the first noble vampire clan? "But I am also more commonly known as James Potter."


A/N: This just has to be the longest chapter that I've ever done for a story of mine! And I do believe that I've asked this in the previous version, but as this is a rewritten story, I do appreciate some feedback and what you think of this version. It wouldn't take very long for you to review, and I'll also deeply appreciate it.

Additionally, Jasper will make some appearances here and there, as the next couple of chapters will be rather Krista centric because of the Salem War until the Cullens make an appearance. And to any Americans here, do you know who won the war that Jasper is involved in when he was human, because I'm not too certain of my American history.

Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!