I have taken a few liberties with some characters backgrounds, as well as the outcome of the battle of Hogwarts. Tunks is not married, nor does she had any relationship with Lupin. I am making her of the same generation of harry potter. Other changes will be seen on the story.

Darkness descends upon the land, to wrap the world in night's black embrace.
The restless dead stir in their ancient tombs, and creatures born of shadows rise to quench their savage hungers.
Whispers echo from the crypt, beckoning with the promise of dark desire.
And those who heed their call are forever lost in the night.
-"Transylvania Overture", Nox Arcana

5 years ago, The aftermath of the battle

Minerva looked around frantically, trying to help those wounded in the battle. Professor Remus Lupin was at her side, as they both gave orders to the school staff, students and aurors to help those in need.

Even thought there were not as many casualties as she feared, still it broke her heart that Harry Potter, as well as others of her favourite students were agonizing.

"There is nothing we can do for them" A healer explained "Only a miracle could save them now"

Molly Weasley, who was at her side, began to sob "My children, my children" as her two youngest were among those. Even the twins, who were always cheerful, had somber expressions

Minerva stared at their unconscious faces and softly said their names "Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Nymphadora, Pansy" that last one surprised Minerva. The slytherin girl had joined the battle, with the rest of her house, in support of the good guys, but had paid a terrible price and lay dying with the rest.

"Minerva, she is waking up" She heard one of the professors calling her

Minerva turned and noticed that Bellatrix black, the vampire death eater, was beginning to stir from her state of unconsciousness in which she had fallen right when Lord Voldemort had been destroyed. Minerva had bounded her with a spell.

All the other death eaters that surrendered had been taken by the agents of the ministry of magic, But Minerva had requested to leave bellatrix under her authority for a while, as there were things to discuss with her.

Bellatrix opened her eyes, and for a moment Minerva saw confusion on the undead girl's eyes

"Where am I?" asked a confused bellatrix as she stared around the room.

Minerva looked into her eyes and recognized something she had not seen for 20 years, when Bellatrix was one of her students. Her eyes no longer filled with madness or evil

Minerva knew that Bellatrix, unlike others, had not joined the dark lord on her own free will. She had been abducted when she was in her 7th year at hogwarts by a vampire death eater. Voldemort himself had placed a powerful binding spell that tied her to his will.

Professor Lupin approached her with anger and said "You slut, now you are going to pay for all the evils you have done"

Bellatrix seemed really scared when she saw that everyone in the room was staring at her with hatred, tears were beginning to form in her eyes

Minerva looked at Lupin with pity in her eyes; she knew that Bellatrix, despite being of a different house, had been a close friend of Lupin. She put a comforting hand on his shoulders and said

"Calm down Remus…she was just a victim of the dark lord"

Lupin stared at Minerva as if she were mad and asked "Victim? You can't expect me to believe that, after all she has done"

"What have I done?" she asked, her voice denoted her confusion and fear

Minerva stared at him and said "Lupin, it was not her fault. If you let me explain"

Bellatrix eyes widened in surprise when she heard his name "Lupin…remus Lupin?, but how can that be? You look old"

Minerva sighed and asked "What is the last thing you remember?"

"The last thing I remember was walking outside Hogwarts right after my class with Professor Jones".

She took a moment to continue, as she began to recognize her surroundings

"Who are you…your face seems familiar…why can't I move? Why do I feel so strange inside?"

Minerva gave a brief explanation to her, and also to the others who didn't know the details. Only Dumbledore and herself knew her real story.

When Minerva finished, Bellatrix only managed to say

"V..vampire…death eater?"

Lupin's expression had softened a little, but he was still weary. After all these years to see Bellatrix as an enemy and the most devoted follower of the dark lord, it was hard for him to see her in other light.

"Perhaps she has regained her soul" he thought to himself "But she is still a creature of darkness…but then so am I" he thought of his werewolf nature

Then he saw something he didn't expect as tears began to flow from her eyes, eyes that stared at him with remorse and guilt

Minerva lifted the spell that kept Bellatrix bound and went to sit on her bed.

"No. don't come near me. I'm a monster"

Minerva reached out and gently touched the girl's face

"It was voldemort's will that took possession of your body. You were not responsible for those deeds" assured Minerva.

Bellatrix looked down in shame and said "I have these..memories, but they seem more like a distant dream. My God what can I do to pay for my sins?"

She started at Minerva and added "Even if I'm no longer under the control of voldemort, I'm still a danger to you all….the thirst will always be there with me"

"No one blames you for things that were out of your control" said a familiar voice, and everyone present froze.

There, in front of Minerva, stood the ghost of Albus Dumbledore. With him were also the fallen heroes of this war. Lilly Evans, James Potter and Sirius Black were standing there at Dumbledore's side. They all looked young, as when they were still students at Hogwarts.

For a moment a silence filled the room.

"There is something we need you to do" Said Dumbledore

20 minutes later

"Are you sure about this?" asked a doubtful Bellatrix. She had made a small cut on her wrist, and stood just above Luna Lovegood.

Dumbledore replied with conviction "Their time on earth is not over yet. They are all destined to do great things"

"But albus" Minerva replied "To put on them the curse of the dark prince? Do you actually want to condemn them to that unnatural life in death?"

Minerva knew that the curse of vampirism originated by Vlad III Voivode of Wallachia and Transylvania. A muggle prince that practiced alchemy and rose from his own grave

Albus smiled and said "Do you remember my old friend Mina Murray? You know very well that she was bitten by the dark prince and even drank from his blood, and yet has controlled her "condition" and fought on the side of good"

He took a moment and continued "Trust me on this Minerva"

Minerva stared at him and said "Then we must prepare" she knew that newly risen vampires were very thirsty, and was about to ask the healers to bring some blood packs, but Dumbledore stopped her.

"No need for that, I'll cast a sleeping spell on them" he smiled and said "The war has just ended, but we must rebuild what has been destroyed. I don't want you to worry for them when you have so much to do"

Later, when Bellatrix had given her own blood to all of them, Albus performed the spell that would put them into sleep for five years. Bellatrix had requested to be put into sleep, as she didn't want to be the only of her kind, and Dumbledore accepted.

Five years later. Scotland highlands.

Severus Snape looked in satisfaction the land he bought and thought "Snape the farmer, who would have thought". The place seemed isolated enough and peaceful, just as he wanted. He entered the small house and prepared for the night.

Little did he know that he had been followed