It was 7 O'clock in the evening and Harry was lying on his bed. The day had been mostly uneventful, he had two hours of Potions and one hour of Defense against the Dark Arts. Snape hadn't targeted him this time which he was grateful for. However, he felt sorry for Neville who received all of Snape's remarks that day. Defense Against the Dark Arts had been different. Their new professor, Moody, had showed them the three Unforgivable Curses and even casted the Imperius curse on every student to see if anyone could resist it. Surprisingly, he had resisted it, he still had no idea how he did it though. He had wanted to ask his professor more about it but Moody had dismissed the class after Neville paled at the sight of the Crucio curse and offered the boy some tea to calm down.

Hermoine and Ron were studying together in the Common Room downstairs and had asked him to join them but he had politely declined. He appreciated that they wanted to help but he could study better on his own. He started to read in his transfiguration textbook, to brush up on some spells for his class tomorrow. After half an hour of studying he decided to take another walk around the castle to clear his head before the curfew was issued. He left his room and descended the stairs to the Common room, spotting Hermoine and Ron in the sofa, studying.

"I'm going to take a walk to clear my head a bit, I'll be back before curfew." He called out to them, before walking towards the backside of the exit.

"Okay." Came Hermoine's short reply, not even looking up from her books. Ron just hummed in acknowledgement.

Harry loved taking walks outside of Hogwarts, even though it was a bit cold outside, it helped him clear his head when it became all to much to handle. His mean concern was Voldemort, he hadn't showed himself for his second and third year and was worried that he might be planning something big. He needed to become stronger, but he had no idea how, he didn't really had someone he trusted enough to share his concerns with. Most people were to scared to even say Voldemort's name out loud, let alone help him to prepare to fight him. He passed the Quidditch field and figured that he should probably start to head back if he wanted to make it in time. However when he looked up he saw three people standing in the middle of the field. He frowned. Isn't it a bit late to make Quidditch plans? He wondered. Harry wasn't really nosy but he found it kind of odd that three people stood in the middle of the field, doing nothing.

He made his way over there and once he got closer he could see their faces. Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnsen and Katie Bell, his three Quidditch team members. They didn't even seem to notice him. However when he looked closer he saw what was wrong, their eyes were a bit different, and he remembered where he had seen that kind of look before. During Moody's demonstration of the Imperius Curse he noticed that the victim's eyes seemed empty. They are under the Imperius! I need to do something! He told himself and yelled out their names, trying to get their attention back. Katie was the first to shake her head, the emptiness and dazed look in her eyes vanishing. She frowned, looked around and spotted Harry, with Alicia and Angelina still standing next to her.

"Harry? What is happening?" She asked, unsure how she ended up in the middle of the Quidditch field.

"I don't know, Katie. I decided to take a walk to clear my head and saw you, Alicia and Angelina standing here. I think you were under the Imperius curse. I yelled your names but apparently you are the only one who managed to snap out of it." He explained.

"Something isn't right here." She started, she yelled her friends' name a couple of times again until they too seem to shake of the curse's effects. The other girls frowned too, probably wondering the same thing. Before they could voice their concern, several black streaks of smokes had them on high alert. Several black roped individuals materialized around them, wearing white masks. 6 Death Eaters had ambushed them, with no way out. The students quickly drew their wands and stood back to back, determined to hold on as long as possible.

Harry had really no idea how Death Eaters had managed to get on Hogwarts grounds. It was supposed to be the safest place in Brittain. He suddenly felt guilty, these Dead Eaters were probably the ones that held the girls under the Imperius curse. He felt like he was at fault for endangering their lives. "I am sorry, you were probably taken here because of me." He said sadly, slowing dropping his head in disappointment. He kept eying the death eaters though, trying to figure out what they were planning. Katie was the first to speak up.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Harry. We'll get out of this." She answered while giving him a small smile. He smiled back and gave her an approving nod.

"Alicia and I will focus on defense, you two focus on the attack." Angelina whispered.

"We need the boy alive, kill the girls." One of the Death Eaters said. The others soon started throwing all kind of curses at them.

Harry and Katie immediately went on the offensive, throwing mostly stunners at their attackers while Angelina and Alicia focused on protecting the four of them. None of their attacks hit, however, they were all either dodged or blocked by the Death Eaters. Harry was about to yell out another stun when he saw a giant black bird flying towards them. It seemed like it was holding something between its claws. His fellow Quidditch players saw it too.

"What in Merlin's name is that." Alicia Exclaimed. Blocking a cruse that would've hit Katie.

"No idea. Stay vigilant, it may be one of their tricks." Angelina warned, blocking a nasty hex before quickly retaliating.

""Look, it dropped something." Katie said as she saw the giant crow open its talons and fly away.

"That's not something, it's a person." Angelina exclaimed in shock.

Harry quickly looked over only to see said person land, in a crouching position, behind two Death Eaters. He held a sword in his right hand and a red flaming glove in his left hand. He wore charred robes with a silver shield strapped on his back. The Death Eaters seemed oblivious to his presence. He quickly stood and threw a fireball at one of them, incinerating them on the spot. Harry quickly averted his gaze to focus on his attackers but was still a bit shaken at the fact that the unknown person killed without a second thought.

"Is he on our side?" Katie asked hopefully while taking a quick glance. The second Death Eater had seen the death of his comrade and turned around, only to be impaled by a large blue projectile. Katie frowned at the man's aggressiveness. She saw him making his way towards them. "He's coming, stay vigilant." She warned but she was quickly silenced when one of the Death Eater's attacked hit her right in her chest.

"Katie's hit!" Yelled Angelina, quickly rushing towards her friend's side. She quickly noted that she was hit by some kind of poisoning curse and voiced this towards the others. "She's poisoned!" She quickly threw a shield at Harry's backside to protect him from an attack. The man ran past her, Alicia and Harry, positioning himself in the middle. She tore her gaze away and focused on stabilizing her friend.

The man raised his gloved left hand, making fire pillars erupt from the ground, creating a barrier between them. Harry noticed that one of the Death Eaters was caught inside one of these pillars, reducing him to nothing but ash. The man quickly turned around, handing him a purple plant.

"Give this to your friend, it will reduce the poison buildup until we're safe." He pushed the plant in his hands and turned around just in time to see the pillars come back down. Harry quickly glanced to Alicia. She nodded indicating that he should do what the man said. So harry turned around and crouched on the other side of Katie's unconscious body. Angelina raised an eyebrow.

"What's that?" She asked as the man and Alicia engaged once again with their attackers.

"That man gave it to me, he said it would reduce the poison." He answered, eying the plant carefully, he wasn't sure if he should trust that man.

"You trust him?"

"I don't know but we don't have much of a choice, Katie's situation is getting worse with the minute." He said, glancing down at her. She was burning up with a fever, the poison was spreading fast. He gently opened her mouth and fed her the plant. "Let's hope this works." He saw the man run his sword through another Death Eater. It seemed they were retreating.

The man, However was having none of it and created a flaming lasso in his left hand and seized one of them before they could flee. Alicia was already running back towards them, while the man slowly made his way over too, ushering the captured Death Eater to follow him.

"Is she okay?" Alicia asked once she arrived, her voice full of concern.

"She got hit by a poisoning curse, that man gave me something to reduce its effects and it seems to be working." Harry said just as the man arrived as well.

"I caught one, do you need to interrogate him?" He asked curtly, forcing the Death Eater on his knees.

"I have a couple of questions." Harry answered, standing up and towering over the Death Eater, hoping that he was at least a bit intimidating. "why did you attack us." He started, the man just started laughing.

"We lured you here to try and either kill or capture you for the Dark Lord. We failed but the dark Lord will soon rise again!" He exclaimed.

"So you were the ones behind the Imperius curse that held my friends?" He continued. He did a double take on his choice of words, it was true, however. He saw the three girls as friends. The only ones he got along with beside Ron and Hermoine.

"You won't get any more information from me, boy." The man said, averting his eyes downwards.

"Then you are no longer of use to us." The man who had helped them said, grabbed his sword and slit his throat. The Death Eater fell down face first into the grass, gurgling and coughing up blood. Once again Harry was shocked at the coldness of this man, Alicia and Angelina gasped behind him. Probably as shocked as him at the cruel execution.

"Who are you?" Angelina was the first one to find her voice back.

"I am Yuri, I'll try to stabilize your friend even further until you can get her to a doctor." He introduced himself while walking over to Katie and crouched down too. He raised his left hand and held it over her chest.

"Hey, what do you think your doing?" Alicia asked and was about to push him away until a white yellowish light came out of his hand. He held it there for a couple of more seconds until a small circle of the same colors formed on Katie's chest, with a satisfied nod he stood back up.

"I tried to hold the Poison of but it is spreading faster than I expected. I am not proficient enough in healing spells, she needs to see a doctor, just to be sure." He warned while standing back up. Harry and Alicia worked together the pick Katie up, Harry would do it alone but he didn't want to hurt her.

"Thank you for the help, you are welcome to follow us as I am sure the Headmaster would want to meet you." Harry said without looking back, helping Alicia carry Katie.

Angelina was still eying Yuri with suspicion before catching up to them to check on her friend. When she was sure Katie was doing okay she glanced back to see that Yuri was indeed walking a few meters behind them. She casted one last look on Katies unmoving frame and decided to have a little talk with him.

She slowed down so she could walk with him, and wondered what to ask. She had never seen anyone do the things he had done. And she had definitely never seen anyone use a sword before. Not even the muggles use swords anymore. She thought. She decided to introduce herself and go from there.

"I am Angelina Johnsen, nice meeting you. And thank you again for helping us." She started. "I am not sure how it would've ended if you didn't show up." She really didn't, the Death Eaters had an amazing defense and were throwing some mean hexes and curses at them.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Johnson, I am Yuri." He said politely. "You would've made it out if you had decided to use more effective spells." He retorted as if he was disappointed in the fact that they only used stunners and non-lethal hexes. Angelina frowned at that.

"We aren't all as comfortable with killing as you, it would seem." She shot back and she saw him looking at her through that cowl of his. If she were honest she was a little angry at how he could kill so easily, even though their attackers were Death Eaters, she believed that everyone deserved a fair case and come before court.

"In such situations it is either kill or be killed, Miss Johnsen. Besides, My kind had never problems with killing before, don't know why I should start now." He answered and Angelina frowned even more.

"What do you mean with your kind?" She asked, not entirely sure what he meant. She could see the surprise on his face before he chuckled.

"You don't know." She could see the soft smile on his lips although she couldn't figure what he didn't want her to know. She waited a minute or two before talking again.

"I've never seen those spells before. You have a way with fire." She said trying to lighten the mood, smirking a little as she looked sideways this time, waiting for his response. She couldn't see all of his facial features due to the cowl he was wearing. He scoffed.

"Of course you haven't, they are pyromancies." He answered curtly.

"You are a pyromancer?" she asked. She had once read that pyromancies were very rare and that only a specific amount of people could become a pyromancer but she didn't remember what kind of people.

"I am." He said proudly. It was his time to smirk at her, clearly taking pride in the title, and she chuckled in response. As he did this she could see something in his neck, on the left side. It was a small burning circle.

"What is that in your neck?" She asked, wondering if he got hurt somehow during the fight. The smirk immediately left his face as soon as she asked the question and she felt the light mood that hung between them disappearing instantly.

"It's nothing." He answered curtly, adjusting his cowl.

His reaction prompted her to the think more about the things she read about pyromancer and eventual tattoo's. After a couple of minutes she suddenly remembered and she didn't feel so safe anymore. If Yuri was what she thought he was, they may be in even greater danger.

"You…. You are…." She started unsure if she should finish the sentence, Yuri looked at her again with a raised eyebrow.

"I am what, Miss Johnsen?" He asked bitterly. She could see the scowl on his face again and regretted already that she said anything at all.

"You are Undead." She eventually said, voice all but a whisper so Harry and Alicia wouldn't hear it, they still had a little walk to go and didn't want to alarm them.

"You figured it out." He said coldly. Angelina decided to create a little more space between them while keeping her wand close. There wasn't really much known about Undead but the things she had read were worrying to say the least. She had read that Undead were very dangerous. They were ruthless killers and should never be trusted.

"Why did you help us?" She asked in a small voice. It didn't add up that someone like him would help them, the way how he got there was a bit suspicious too. Even though she concluded that he probably wouldn't answer her first question she couldn't help herself but ask. "How did you even get here?"

"An…. Acquaintance told me to go here, so I did." He hesitated, not really sure what to call Oscar. She won't get the full story from me anyway. He thought bitterly, not even bothering to mention the giant crow. It was always the same. People would talk to him normally, treat him normally, until everything fell into place and discovered he was Undead. Then they would tense up search for their weapon of choice and create distance, like the young woman beside him just did. He admitted that he had brought it up on his own but He was not going to hide who he was. Or rather what I am, like they would say. "I saw spells flying around and saw that you were on the defensive so I decided to step in." he answered in truth. He had figured out these people were in danger and as an Undead it was first and foremost his job to protect the living. Well at least sort of. I am not getting to tactical, they hate me for existing either way. He mainly did it because he wanted to keep his word to Oscar and to see if the 16 years in the Asylum had affected his combat.

"Why are you here for?" She dared to ask. The question made him look sideways at her again, showing that burning circle in his neck again. She could see his left hand tensing around his sheathed blade. She had angered him, again, and decided to create even more space between them.

"That is none of your concern, Miss Johnsen. I'll talk to your headmaster and see what he has to say." He managed to keep the bitterness out of his voice. Angelina was surprised that the cold, irritated and bitter tone had disappeared. Addressing her formally and politely like he had done at the beginning of the conversation. She decided that it would be best to let the man be and walked back up the Harry and Alicia, checking how Katie was doing.

The group saw some familiar faces approaching them. Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall were walking towards them, with Madam Pomfrey in tow. Harry saw a questioning look on both Professor's faces but these were quickly replaced with concern once they saw the state Katie was in.

"Harry, what happened?" Dumbledore was the first to ask, concern lacing his voice.

"To make a long story short, we got attacked by Death Eaters at the Quidditch field. Katie got hit by a poisoning hex." Harry said rapidly. "Madam Pomfrey, can you please take care of Katie?" He asked with concern evident in his voice. He still blamed himself, Katie would've never gotten hurt if she weren't friends with him.

"Of course, I'll take her the infirmary right away." She said while taking over from Harry. "Would you please help me carry her the infirmary, Miss Spinnet."

"Of course, Madam." Came her short reply as they both carried Katie to be treated. By this time, Yuri had caught up to the two remaining students and took place at Harry's right side.

"Harry, who is this?" McGonagall asked, eyeing the stranger carefully. Before Harry could answer, Yuri introduced himself.

"I am Yuri, Miss." Came his short introduction, both Dumbledore and McGonagall threw questioning glances at both Harry and Angelina.

"We should probably go to the infirmary too to check up on Miss Bell's condition. Would you tell me what happened while we walk, Harry?" Dumbledore inquired, not even bothering to acknowledge Yuri or to properly introduce himself to the man.

"I decided to take a walk before curfew, to clear my head. I had reached the Quidditch field when I decided to go back until I saw Katie, Alicia and Angelina standing there, in the middle of the field. Once I got close I noticed that they were under the Imperius curse and managed to bring Katie back by calling her name loud enough. She then managed to snap both Alicia and Angelina out of it." He started. Angelina was listening closely too. She didn't remember how she got on that field in the first place and had wondered what had transpired before the attack. She quickly risked a glance at Yuri to see what he was doing. He walked beside Harry, listening closely to the retelling of the story before he intervened. She quickly did the same as he continued. "before we had time recover we were attacked by six Death Eaters." McGonagall gasped when he mentioned that, Dumbledore motioned him to continue. "We decided to try and work together, Katie and I would focus on the offensive while Alicia and Angelina focused on the defensive. The Death Eaters, were relentless however, and forced all of us on the defensive." Soon after Yuri landed behind them and started to take them out, he is probably the reason we got out of there alive." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at his choice of words.

"What happened to the Death Eaters?" He dared to ask. However, Yuri answered before Harry could.

"Don't worry, Sir." He started politely. He knew that these people were opposed to killing so he had decided to take over that part of the story, for now. "Your students did not take a single life, I was the one who killed four and executed another after we asked him a couple of questions." He continued and saw their surprised expression by openly admitting to murder. Probably teachers not wanting their students to get corrupted or something. He scoffed internally. "The last one managed to escape though." He finished. He was still mentally scolding himself. It would appear the 16 years in the Asylum affected my casting speed and such. I'll need to work on that. He concluded.

By the time Yuri had finished they were already walking in the hall leading the infirmary. Once Dumbledore opened the doors Harry searched for Katie and soon found her, with Alicia sitting beside her bed. Both he and Angelina quickly made their way over, leaving Dumbledore, McGonagall and Yuri. Dumbledore turned to Yuri.

"I'll talk to you later, Yuri." Yuri scoffed internally again. So he did hear my short introduction. "But, if you don't mind I want to check on my students first." Yuri couldn't be bothered to reply so he gave a nod. Both McGonagall and Dumbledore made their way towards Katie while Yuri decided to sit on one of the empty beds, waiting.

"How is Miss Bell's condition, Madam Pomfrey?" McGonagall asked while Dumbledore seemed to think about something.

"She is stable, I don't know what kind of magic or antidote was given to her but it worked. The poison concentration in her blood is slowly decreasing, she should be fine in a few days." The Nurse said. Angelina couldn't help but look up at Yuri who was sitting on one of the beds near the entrance. You saved her, thank you. She thanked him, silently. She wanted to step up to him and thank him for saving her friend but wasn't sure if that were such a great idea after the way their conversation had ended. She quickly looked away once his eyes made contact with hers. She heard Alicia and Harry sigh in relief.

"That's good to hear, Madam Pomfrey." Dumbledore started. "Now, I think it would be best if we briefly talk with our guest so you three can go back to your dormitories. You can visit Miss Bell again tomorrow, after or in between your lessons." He looked at his students as he addressed them. With one last look at their friend, both Alicia and Angelina stood up to take their leave. He saw Harry was about to speak up but decided to cut him off. "I promise I will look into how those Death Eaters could've possibly entered Hogwarts ground." He reassured him, Harry nodded in response and stood up too.

Yuri looked up as he saw the students and teachers walking towards him. Here we go. He thought. The man with the white beard addressed him first.

"I want to thank you for helping my students and saving Miss Bell's life." Dumbledore started, eying Yuri carefully. He knew that Yuri was Undead of course and decided to figure out what he was doing in Hogwarts. "If I may ask, what are you doing here exactly?" Yuri stood up too now.

"I promised an acquaintance of mine I would go to Scotland and ended up here." He answered, his voice betraying nothing. Dumbledore found it difficult to read the man. "The Young man said you would want to talk to me so I followed them." He said while pointing to Harry. Dumbledore turned to Harry with a raised eyebrow, the boy just shrugged in response. "If that is everything you had to say, I'll take my leave then." He said as he turned around to walk away.

"Yuri, you don't need to leave if you don't have to. I would gladly give you one of the guest rooms if you want to stay." Dumbledore said, shocking not only McGonagall but Angelina too. Does he even know what that man is? He is dangerous, Albus, what are you planning.. Minerva McGonagall asked herself. She of course knew too that Yuri was Undead, and a very dangerous one if his retelling of the fight was anything to go by.

Yuri knew there was more to that question than the man let on but he decided it couldn't hurt to ask. "I suppose you aren't willing to let me stay here without anything in return." He said and saw the man before him nod. Of course.. "What do you want?" He asked curtly, seeing how the other teacher was eying his every move.

"These are difficult times for our school, Yuri. And we are planning a major event within less than 2 months and could use some extra protection." Dumbledore started, Making McGonagall release a small sigh of relief as she saw what the Headmaster was planning. "We will offer you our finest guest room and will provide you with food and beverages during your stay. In return I ask you to keep our school and it's students safe at all cost." Dumbledore looked closely at Yuri's response to the last part of the offer. They didn't expect him to chuckle.

"I see what you are referring at, Sir Dumbledore was it?" He said, not remembering the man's name. The nod he received indicated that he had guessed his name correctly. It's as good as any offer. "I accept, Sir Dumbledore." He decided. It would at least give him a purpose again. Dumbledore looked relieved but it seemed that he was waiting for something. Yuri threw him a questioning glance. "Oh, I see, you want me to pledge, don't you?" He asked when he finally figured out what he wanted. The three students had no clue what was happening which Yuri found highly amusing. Dumbledore's nod said enough.

"If you wouldn't mind, Yuri." Dumbledore answered. Yuri scoffed.

"It seems that you don't trust me either." He responded but cut the Headmaster off before he could justify himself. "Don't worry, I understand, you are not the only one who doesn't trust me or my Kind, Headmaster." He said, aimed towards no one in particular but he saw the shame on Angelina's face.

"It's not…" Dumbledore started but Yuri cut him off again.

"You don't have to justify anything, I'll do it." Yuri said before lowering himself on one knee before Dumbledore. He bowed his head in subjugation and started the pledge. "I hereby swear on my Dark Soul that I will protect the school and, most importantly, it's students until I die or succumb to the Curse."

Harry had no idea what just happened but he frowned at whatever it was Yuri just did. Did Dumbledore just subjugate the man? He asked to himself, he glanced around to see if Alicia or Angelina had any idea what was happing. He deducted on the surprised faces that they had no clue either.

"Thank you, Yuri." Dumbledore said with a smile as Yuri stood back up. "Professor McGonagall will show you to your room." He finished and then turned towards the students who still had no clue what had just transpired. "Now, it really is time for you to go back to your dormitories, good night." And with that he left. McGonagall motioned Yuri to follow her.

"What was that all about?" Alicia asked. Harry just shrugged, he had no idea what to make of the whole situation.

"I don't know, it seemed like Yuri subjugated himself to the school." He started unsure. "Why would he do that?" Angelina knew of course that Yuri was Undead but the whole thing didn't make much sense to her either. However, she was not going to tell her friends Yuri's true identity. It was up to Yuri himself to tell that.

"We really should get going though, I think its already way past curfew." Angelina said. They bid each other a good night and made their way to their dormitories.

Ten minutes later Harry finally arrived in the Common Room with no sight of Hermoine or Ron. They are probably already asleep. He concluded and made his way up to the room he shared with Ron. And indeed, Ron's snores were a tell tale sign that he was asleep. Harry quickly stripped himself of clothes, except his boxers, of course, and crawled under the sheets, making himself comfortable. He was happy that Katie would make a full recovery and that the others were fine. He still didn't know much about Yuri or about the whole pledging thing. Perhaps I could ask Yuri tomorrow, he seemed like a nice enough guy. Or I could just go and ask Dumbledore. He thought before drifting off to sleep.