Dark Inheritance

Wow I haven't had such a good responce to any of my other stories! :)

I'm going to answer the reviews, then we'll get to the story.

Bandgsecuitiyaw: Thankyou.

Barraanca: Thanks, I quite agree, most author seem to want to ruin a good vampire story with romance, or slash!

Tempete Sanguine: Thanks. What's with the A+ I felt like I was back in school. ;)

Sweet Sweet Addiction: Grins evilly Get used to cliff hangers, I tend to do that a lot.

Anaknisatanas: We'll have to wait and see. Seriously, even I don't know that yet. Maybe I shouldn't confess that. Oh hum.

JWOHRfan: Hope this doesn't disappoint.

Lonely Traveler: I know, I love cliffhangers! And thanks.

Padfoot1severus: You'll have to wait to find out about powers and such, and I'll try to keep the chapters over 2,000 words. :)

Take deep breath. Well on with the story!

Chapter 1: Bittersweet Sixteenth

For the first time in his life Harry was, well pleased is to strong a word, so was relieved, he couldn't give a name to how he felt to be with the Durley's again. He didn't resent having to be there this summer, in fact it was nice to be away from the wizarding world for now. Everything had gone, well, nuts after the discovery that not only had Voldemort returned, but Harry had defeated him. Reporters had hounded him and his fellow students hadn't been much better. They had only let up after Hermione had threatened to curse the next person who pestered them about the events. The sight of one of the most straight-laced cool headed girl that angry had scared them off, even Ron had been wary of her after that. Harry chuckled at that memory. He was sitting on his bed waiting for midnight to come, just like he'd done every year of his birthday since he'd started at Hogwarts.

He glanced at his watch, five minutes and he'd be sixteen. Dumbledore had insisted that he went back to this house, Voldemort maybe dead, but there were still plenty of Deatheaters around. All of them would be after him for revenge. Lucius Malfoy was still out there and so was Bellatrix Lestrange. A cold hatred invaded his heart as he thought of her, and the way she'd killed the last family he had. He wanted to hurt her down and kill her. He gasped, had he really just thought that? He didn't really want to kill again did he? He'd killed Voldemort because he had to. He might not have done so, if he hadn't heard the prophecy not long before in the Department of Mysteries. But he'd done the right thing everyone told him that. But he still felt dirty for doing it, Harry could help it, it was wrong to kill.

"A lot of people were saved by doing it." A voice hissed in his head. Harry frowned that didn't sound like his own voice, but at the same time he knew it wasn't coming from anywhere but himself.

"Yes." Harry thought.

"You would do it again, to save others?" The voice asked.

"Yes." Harry said after a moments thought, thinking about his parents, Cedric, Sirius and Neville's parents. "But only if the were beyond hope." Their was a small chuckle in his head.

"Like Bellatrix?"

"Yes."

"Lucius?"

"Yes." Harry said wondering about the use of first names.

"Peter?"

"Yes."

"Severus?" Harry frowned he didn't like his potions professor but did he really think that was a good reason to kill him?

"No." Harry said.

"He's a Deatheater."

"He hasn't done anything too bad."

"As far as you know."

"Dumbledore trusts him, there must be a good reason for that." Harry said getting alittle annoyed, and becoming aware of the fact he was in fact arguing with himself. There was soft laughter.

"Deatheaters deserve death, and so does anyone that could become one." Harry's eyes widened at that.

"By that logic Draco..."

"Maybe he should."

"What!?" Harry yelped in his mind. "Draco maybe a git, but hasn't done anything!"

"Yet."

"Shut up!"

"You should stop them before they start." Harry shut his eyes.

"Shut up!" He thought angrily.

"It's only a matter of time." Harry shock his head.

"I said. SHUT UP!!" Harry shout thought to the voice, and surprisingly it did.

Harry opened his eyes and was surprise to find that he was panting. He ran a hand though his hair. What's got into me? He looked at his watch again and saw that it less than a minute till his birthday. Anticipation and excitement welled up within him, far more then any other birthdays. Something important was going to happen. He didn't know why or how he knew this. But his whole body and being was singing with excitement.

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Pain ripped though him at that moment. It didn't let up and only intensified. It was mostly centred around his shoulders. He was dimly aware of failing off the bed onto the floor before slipping out of consciousness.

Harry groaned as he regained consciousness, he whole body ached. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and froze. Where were his glasses, he looked round and saw them on the carpet. He frowned, if he wasn't wearing them then why was everything in perfect focus? In fact he was sure he could see better than could before he passed out. A glance at the window told him it was still the dead of night, but was no longer so dark to him.

He sat up and winced as the tip of his wing hit the edge of his bed. Hang on! Wing!? He shot to his feet, and winced again as his other wing banged against his bedside table. He looked to his side and saw that he did indeed have wings, they were feathered and such a deep obsidian that the eye couldn't focus on them. But tips were a dark red. His horror quickly faded to curiosity. He flexed them and found that yes they really were part of him. He easily had a wing span of eight foot. They felt... right, as if they were a part of his body he should always have had. Moments later instinct had them tucked safely behind his back. He wetted his dry lips and paused as his tongue passed his teeth. His eye teeth had lengthened to long and very sharp points. What the hell!?

Suddenly there were three loud cracks. Harry pressed his hands against his ears, he knew it was someone appariting, but it was much louder than it should be. He turned in the direction of the offending sound, to be confuted with the sight of three shocked wizards, Remus, Dumbledore and Snape.

"Professors?" Harry asked, and managed to convey all his confusion, fear and anxiety in just that one word. Harry became aware of an odd sensation like a dull ache in the pit of his stomach, and rhythmic beating sounds, there were three different rhythms.

"Oh dear lord, Harry." Remus said, taking a step forward. Harry's eyes widened slightly as the ache increased and so did one of the beating sounds, as Remus got closer to him. With a jolt Harry realised what the beating sound was, it was a heartbeat, he was hearing Remus's heartbeat! Harry shock his head and backed up, much to Remus's confusion. "Harry?" He said. Harry's leg hit the edge of his bed he sat heavily down and pushed himself back against the wall. He draw his legs up and new instincts had his wings envelope him. So all the others could see were back feathers. It was a very clear non-verbal 'Go away and leave me alone.' This can't be happening! It's got to be a dream, a nightmare. I just can't be a... He couldn't even think the word.

"Harry?" This time it was Dumbledore who'd spoken. But Harry didn't move. "I'm sure you want to know what has happened."

"I know what has happened sir." Harry said evenly, from within his black cocoon.

"You can't possibly understand, Potter. You were raised by Muggles, there is no way you..." Harry felt anger rise from nowhere and he growled making Snape stop in mid sentence. His wings shifted and he glared at his teacher.

"I may have been 'raised' by Muggles, sir." Making it into a sneer at the end. "But I am not stupid!" There were gasps from the men in front of him, as his eyes briefly flashed red before returning to their normal green. Harry blinked at their reactions and realised what he'd just said. Where had that come from? He didn't have anytime to think about that before Snape reacted.

"Mr Potter! Unless you plan to serve detention for the rest of your life, I suggest you hold you tongue." Snape said cooly, but there was an undercurrent of anger, Harry could smell it. Smell it? Harry stared at him. "Nothing to say, Potter?" Snape sneered. Harry felt the anger again and was unaware of fact his eyes had flashed red again. He was going to respond, but Dumbledore raised a placating hand.

"Severus, I don't think it is wise to antagonise Harry at the moment." He said, looking alittle worried. Severus looked at him then back to Harry, but didn't say anything more. Harry relaxed slightly

"Professor, I know that I have become a..." He trailed off.

"A vampire." Remus supplied softly. Harry gulped at that, he'd guessed that was it, but he didn't like it being confirmed like that.

"What I don't understand is how and why." He felt strangely calm about the whole thing after Remus had confirmed it. Dumbledore looked at him sadly, the twinkle completely missing from his blue eyes.

"Those, my boy, are basically the same questions." He said. Harry frowned at that cryptic response. "You see there aren't any pure blood families that do not have magical creatures somewhere in their family tree."

"But I'm not pure blood." Harry said.

"James was." Remus said.

"Quite so, Remus." Dumbledore said. "It seems that the Potter line had a vampire in it at some point. And creature inheritance happens on someone sixteenth birthday. However certain prerequisites have to be met before then to trigger the transformation." Harry waited for him to continue, but it seemed that was all he was going to say for now. Harry took a deep breath.

"And what might those be?" Harry said more harshly then he intended. Dumbledore and Remus seemed unable to met his gaze and Severus had a carefully placed blank expression.

"There is only one that we are aware of for vampires, and that is that someone has to kill before their sixteenth." Dumbledore said, Harry stared at him as his insides went cold at the realisation that this happened because he'd killed Voldemort. Why me?! Why can't I be normal for once?!

"I guess no good deed goes unpunished, huh, professor?" Harry said coldly. Dumbledore looked truly shocked at Harry's tone, as was Harry.

"It's not that bad, Harry." Remus said.

"Not that bad!?" Harry snapped. "I'm not human anymore, what could be worse than that?" Remus looked hurt. Harry suddenly very guilty. "I'm sorry." He said quietly. Remus waved it off.

"It's quiet alright, Harry." He said, and gave a weak smile. "I'm just glad we got more normal reaction from you." Harry frowned at that, had he be reacting oddly?

"It's not all bad, Harry." Dumbledore said, more like his normal self. "Severus there's a potion for the blood cravings, isn't there?" Severus nodded, eyeing Harry coldly.

"There is." He said. "I should start on it straight away." He apparited, and Harry flinched at the sound.

"With the blood lust risk out of the way I see no reason why you couldn't return to Hogwarts this year." Harry closed his eyes for a second at the mention of blood, he'd been trying to ignore the ache in his stomach, but now it had become burning and he found it hard to ignore it anymore. "Furthermore, as you have come of age, the ward on this house have been broken." Harry's eyes widened at this and a smile filled his face.

"You mean, I don't have to live here anymore?" He said.

"Quite so. You may move to the Burrow. I'm sure your friends will be pleased to see you." Dumbledore said. "I must go make the necessary arrangements." And with that he too apparited away, leaving just Remus with Harry.

"I doubt that will be an easy conversation." Harry said, He was ecstatic, he couldn't wait to see Ron, the twins and Ginny again, maybe even Hermione will be there.

"I'm sure it'll go be fine, the Weasley's are very open minded on these things." Remus said.

"Moony." Harry whispered. "I'm scared." Remus looked at the boy-that-lived, he looked so alone. Remus went to sit in the bed beside Harry who took a sharp in take of breath and moved away. Remus looked worried then realised what the problem was. He kept his distance.

"There's nothing to be scared of." Remus reasured him. Harry looked at him like he knew Remus was lying.

"Yes there is." He said. "Even if the Order and my friends accepts me, no one else will. After all I'm a dark creature now." He said bitterly. Remus looked saddly down at the boy he concidered his cub.

"Oh Harry." He said. "I'll never leave you, what ever happens I'll be there for you." Harry looked up at his one time professor wide eyed. The smile slowly returned.

"Thank you, Remus." He said. Remus smiled.

"Well, I better go. We'll come pick you up in the morning." He said and smiled again at Harry before apperiting away. Harry let his chin drop heaverily onto his knees, which were still against his chest. What on earth was he going to do now?

"Finally! I thought they were never going to leave!" A voice said and Harry jumped to his feet, reaching for his wand, which wasn't there it was on his desk. He looked round to see a man standing in the corner of the room. There was something familiar about him, even though Harry was sure he'd never met him before. The man chuckled at Harry's reaction, before moving further into the room.

"Don't worry Harry, I'm not here to hurt you." Harry only found that half reassuring, as far as he knew this guy could be a Deatheater.

Harry took in his appearance. Black robes, pale skin, hair that fell just below his shoulders, it was white even though he looked no more than thirty and sharp features. But by far the most striking thing about him was his eyes, they were grey, and held the lightness on Dumbledore, but there was a shadow behind them saying that if pushed he wouldn't hesitate in killing you. It was quite a disturbing combination.

"Who are you?" Harry asked. The man smiled.

"I'll give you one guess." He said, and Harry was shocked to hear that it was in Parseltongue. He'd only ever heard that from snakes and Voldemort. Harry took in his appearance again and noted that the robes the man wore had green lining and it had silver trimmings. Harry realised he had seen him before, in books and portraits in Hogwarts.

"Your Salazar Slytherin!" Harry exclaimed.

"Very good, Mr Potter, very good." Salazar said and smiled revealing a pair of very sharp fangs.

There we have it the first chapter. :)

Betcha ya didn't see that coming, Huh huh?

Any way please keep the reviews coming! :