Ω

Dark Waltz

Chapter 2: Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

oΩo

'Why me?'

That was Harry's first thought.

Isn't it funny how life can suddenly pull a 180 and you find yourself heading in the opposite direction you were before. In Harry's case this was quite literal. A mere moment ago he found out that the love of his life might be hiding as big a secret from him as he was from her. Yet somehow this relieved him and he felt much better about this.

"So what you're saying is that Hermione is either secretly a non-human or she doesn't know it herself? Wow and I thought that I was the only one."

"Why would you think that Harry? In fact most students with blood from a 'pureblood' line have creature blood in them. It just takes special circumstances and spells and potions to make it manifest. You are just an interesting mix of two very powerful creatures that is what made you manifest on your own."

"I thought it was tied in to the emotional release and the depth of my love for Hermione?"

"Exactly, emotions are all it takes for vampires to manifest if they are born naturally. And love is a pure emotion which is a catalyst for any divine creature, Dryadic angels or otherwise. The fact that you manifested at a young age is also astonishing as most do not until they are at least 25."

"So how do we make Hermione manifest or do we just leave this alone and forget about it? I mean I don't want to put her in danger but I don't want to be alone in this kind of thing either." Harry sighed in confusion and looked at Luna with anxiety in his eyes.

"Well first I think you should learn all about your powers and abilities then we can devise a way for you to express your feelings for Hermione without breaking her heart and your friendship with Ron. To the library we go." Luna's expression returned to the one that she normally wore but hiding behind those vapid eyes was a spark of interest that hadn't been there before. She now had helped Harry to heal his heart and set him on the path to save his secret betrothed as well as learned that she had her own secret admirer, one who she herself watched from afar.

oΩo

Sneaking into the library somehow seemed easier now that he moved quieter than a feather on the floor. Even without his invisibility cloak he seemed to never be seen. Upon entering Hermione's favorite room in the castle he smiled at the memories of the first time he had realized his feelings for her.

Ω - It was a cloudy and cool in late September in their second year. Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat around a table by one of the windows overlooking the lake and forest. Harry glanced up and his breath caught in his chest.

Hermione had gotten caught in an escaping shaft of sunlight that struck through the clouds. It seemed to dance around her. It rested on the soft curls of her hair and lightened her hair to a honey streaked chocolate, like someone had added streaks of rich caramel to her twisting locks. Her skin gained a healthy glow and her eyes seemed to absorb the sunlight making them glow with a near golden light. All around her the flying dust motes sparkled like glittering insects dancing around her head. Harry blinked because he could have sworn he saw a small bronze circlet fastened in her hair but when he looked again nothing was there.

He gasped and she looked up. Averting his eyes quickly he made it seem that he had read something amazing in the book before him. When he raised his eyes again the sun had gone back behind the cloud cover but to Harry she stilled glowed. That was the moment he realized that the feelings he felt for her were more than that of a friends or even siblings, he loved her. - Ω

Moving silently Harry approached the area of the library that held all books about sentient and near-human magical creatures. Pulling a number of titles from the shelf he flipped through them until he found one that would suit his needs.

It was titled Magical Inheritance: A Guide to the Manifestation and Classification of Your New Non-Human Powers by D.N. Acid & R.N. Acid4. He looked through it until he reached the Dual Inheritance chapter. Looking through a list of creatures he found a matchup of both his species. At first surprised that the book would have a paring as rare as this written in it he then realized that a magic book means that every time a new combination appears the book re-writes itself.

The book stated this information: 'A very rare combination of two of the most powerful sentient creatures a Vampire/Dryadic Angel paring is called a Demi. Known for having an extreme sense of right and wrong, along with being utterly devoted to their families, Demis were once the most respected of Non-humans. Coming from a society that had a stiff social hierarchy and one that always deferred to those of higher power Demis have an inbred idea of respect and responsibility and will never willingly allow people to sacrifice themselves for the Demi's sake. While a full list of their powers has never been transcribed some of their most recurring traits include but are not limited to: Hypnosis, Flight, Healing, Heightened single sense, Plant growth, and Empathic Numbing. A basic physical make-up is the basis of most Demis but after centuries of breeding with humans they can be very varied and may not carry any of these traits. Such traits are pale skin, dark unruly hair, green eyes and fangs. For more information on Demis read the Field Journal of Semi-Divine and Divine Beings by Angel Watcher.'

After reading the book the chapter he flipped to the index and copied out the quick guide to classification which stated this information:

Species – Demi

Family – Fae (Wood class)

Power Level – Class 95

Population – 1 surviving member

Famous Figures - Merlin, Nicholas Flamel, Harry Potter

Personality Traits – Kind, Honest, Loyal, Brave, Intelligent, Devoted, puts others first sometimes at loss of life.

Weaknesses – Fire, Soul Death, Betrayal, Highly Susceptible to Poisons

*Note – All but one members of this race have died out because of selfless acts that led to the death of the Demi but saved countless other lives.

After finding all the information he needed Harry decided to try out his new powers by planting a suggestion to the Headmaster using Hypnosis. If this actually worked Harry had a way to complete the other half of his mission and then he could save Hermione, though he didn't know that he had to yet.

oΩo

The next morning Dumbledore addressed all of the students in the Great Hall saying that during the summer the school was going to host a masquerade ball in an effort to increase inter-school relationships with some of the other magical schools in Europe.

"I do so hope that you can all make it as we don't want to misrepresent our glorious school now would we?" Dumbledore asked smiling, his eyes twinkling in their classic way.

"Ohh, a masquerade! Isn't that exciting I hope that I can find a date." Lavender Brown squealed to her friend Parvati Patil.

Parvati answered in kind, "Same here. Do you think your mum can take us dress shopping, I don't have any ball gowns that would work for summer weather."

As those two droned on Harry stole a glance at Hermione. She sat uncomfortably next to Ron who was so busy wolfing down food that he had failed to really hear the entire announcement, not that he cared much. Dancing wasn't Ron's thing. Harry smiled sadly at Hermione's discomfort; he knew exactly what she was thinking. He stood and approached her.

"Hey Hermione I need your help with something in the library, could you come there with me?" he politely asked "I don't want to interrupt anything though so if you can't then we could do it later."

"Oh, sure Harry I can come now if you want." Hermione stood and said farewell to Ron, and the girls then followed Harry out of the Great Hall.

Walking through the corridors silently, Hermione could almost feel the emotion rolling off of Harry. She didn't understand what was wrong because he had seemed distant all night and most of the morning. "Harry? Umm… Is everything okay? I mean you seem to be avoiding me and Ron and well… everyone."

"I've been going through some stuff and didn't want anyone to know. That's all." He answered vaguely. "If you and I hadn't of rescued Sirius together it might not have happened but that's okay I don't blame you."

Surprised Hermione looked at him stunned "What, you mean that something I did is what caused this? Well what was it I want to know."

"I can't tell you it would be too…painful." He finished quietly, "and I don't want to cause pain."

Hermione was even more shocked. 'What could he mean by that? Did I cause something?'

"You look scared Hermione do you not want to work with me on this?" Harry asked softly "I completely understand." He smiled a sad, empty smile as he knew she would accept eventually.

"No Harry I'm going to do this. You said that you needed help and I'm here to give it. I'm not going to leave even if something bad happens to us." She smiled reassuringly but at the same time fidgeted anxiously, as the awkward mood that permeated the air made her extremely uncomfortable.

"Very well, but don't say I didn't give you the chance earlier." Harry joked but the humor didn't reach his eyes and Hermione could've sworn she saw tears threatening to escape. HE turned away quickly a gazed out the window.

"No, I can't do this it's too much!" With that Harry bolted and was soon lost from a stunned Hermione's sight.

"Harry! Harry! Wait, why are you running away?" she called pleadingly as she chased after him. "Please Harry I didn't mean it! Whatever I did I didn't mean it. Please don't run away from me. Please you're my only true…" She stopped 'My only true what?'

Slowly it dawned on the brightest witch of her age; Harry was her only true…

"Friend."

Ω