Ashes to Ashes
Chapter Four
By Mell8
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Draco:
The weeks until Christmas had passed far too quickly. I had only seen Ginny a couple more times before I was forced to board the train for home.
I sighed. Father was not going to be pleased. I still had no idea who the childe was. The only information I could give him was that the childe was definitely attending Hogwarts. Hopefully I could escape the manor before father became violent.
I sat in my compartment, thinking of plausible excuses that my father would believe. I shook my head. I had no idea what to say to him.
III
Ginny:
"So Ginny," Ron asked as he helped me board the train home for Christmas. "Who's house are you staying at again?"
I smiled down at Ron. "A friend from the Village, Ron. She's home schooled."
My parents were going to visit Bill in Egypt again and Ron and his friends were staying at the castle for the holidays. I had been given permission to visit a "friend" instead of staying at Hogwarts. I was really going to see Dante so I could learn more from him, but no one else knew about my powers so I had been forced to lie to my family.
Ron hoisted my trunk onto the train and I smiled in thanks and ran off to find an empty compartment.
I had walked up and back along the train and every compartment was full! I snarled in annoyance. Why where there so many students going home for the holidays? I kept walking until I found the only semi empty compartment.
Draco Malfoy was sitting on one side of the compartment, glaring down at the floor. I quietly opened the door and stepped inside.
"Is the floor planning to eat you, Malfoy?" I asked. He jumped and glared at me. I just smirked and sat down opposite him.
We were quiet for an hour; just enjoying the others company before reality showed it's cruel head. After a while, Draco fell asleep.
I studied his profile with a small smile. He had rings under his eyes that told of little sleep and bad dreams. I wondered what he could have on his mind that affected him that badly? My eyes drifted down to his neck where I could smell his sweet blood pumping through his body. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably.
Since that time in the prefect's bath I had not been in such close contact with Draco. I blushed as I remembered his body and the massage, but there was something else that drew me towards the boy sleeping in front of me.
His powerful blood.
I felt my teeth elongate in my mouth at the thought. His blood had contained so much power and warmth that, even though I had only taken a sip, I had not needed to feed again for two nights.
My eyes fixed on his wrist, the one I had bitten the other night. A few more sips wouldn't hurt.
I gently picked up his hand and bit into the wrist. I took three large gulps before gently healing the wound.
When Draco woke up a couple of hours later I was on my side of the compartment, immersed in a vampire book. The train came to a halt at platform nine and three quarters and we both went our separate ways. I was very eager to see Dante again.
III
Draco:
I watched Ginny get off the train ahead of me and run off to hug a tall man. I looked after her quizzically. Who was the man she was hugging? It was not someone from her family, the lack of orange hair proved that.
I shrugged and went to find my father. What she did with her life should not bother me.
Yet, why did I have another strange dream of her sipping blood out of my wrist on the train?
I stopped thinking about that as soon as I saw my father's angry scowl. I had more important issues to contend with.
My father steered me into his study as soon as we arrived home. "Boy, why have I not gotten any information concerning this childe?" he snarled.
"I have sent you everything I have been able to discover. The childe is definitely at Hogwarts."
"But why have you not found this childe yet?" he screamed.
"Dumbledore has been searching for the childe as well. I need to keep my search hidden from his spies as well father."
"Dumbledore is searching for the childe?" Lucius snapped. "Well, that complicates things. Go to your room and let me think for a minute. I may have an assignment for you in a few days."
Sighing in relief, I quickly left father's study. I was not going to be punished. Now all I had to do was lay low until my father asked for me again.
III
Ginny:
Dante had met me at the station and I had run up to him to give him a hug. He had seemed surprised at first but had hugged me back just as warmly after his shock wore off. Dante picked up my luggage and led me to a car waiting outside in the Muggle part of the station. We were soon on our way to Dante's mansion.
I stowed my belongings in the large bedroom that Dante had fixed up for me and went to find him to ask what he wanted to do for the rest of the day.
I pushed open the door to his parlor and stepped inside. Dante was sitting in a chair with his back towards me and was talking to two other vampires. The vampire on the left noticed me first. He snarled and jumped at me with his super human strength. I dodged and let him run into the wall. He bounced back, stunned, and before he could gather his wits, I grabbed his arms in a choke hold Dante had taught me over the summer, and placed my mouth near his throat where I could easily rip out his throat if he struggled.
The other vampire backed off, trying not to force me to hurt his friend.
He looked up confused when Dante started clapping. "Very good, little one. I want you to meet your new instructors. This is Danny," he said pointing to the vampire that was backing away from me. I let the vampire that had attacked me go. "That is Josh." He pointed at the vampire I had just released.
He rolled his shoulder in annoyance. "Who is this little tramp?" he hissed. "How dare she attack a high society vampire!" His fangs were bared in a snarl.
"This girl," Dante said with a cold smile, "is my Childe and the heir to the throne of the vampires. I believe she outranks you." The vampires gasped and bowed low towards me muttering apologies.
Dante turned his back on the two bowing vampires and spoke directly to me. "Little one, Danny will be your protocol instructor and Josh is your new teacher on vampiric powers." He led up a hand to forestall my enraged outburst. Why couldn't Dante teach me himself? "I am forced to go to France for a week. There is a small uprising of vampires that I must control. When I return there will be a ball held in your honor to welcome you into the fold of vampirism. I want you to know everything possible about our people before the ball and, since I cannot be here, I have hired the two best instructors possible."
Dante bent down and kissed me gently on the cheek. "Be good while I am gone and please do not antagonize these two more than is necessary." Dante smiled and walked out of the room. His transportation was waiting for him.
I smiled grimly. The next week was going to be very difficult.