~ Chapter Four ~
Draco and Altair cringed in fear. The scream of pure fury that flowed through their enhanced hearing was definitely from their supposed sire. It echoed around them in the early morning and caused the wildlife to freeze in terror and back away from the two immortal beings knowing instantly it was them that the wrath was focused towards. The animals could sense that something wasn't right about them anyway from their lack of a heartbeat and that the sound of rage that travelled towards them was meant for them and not the wildlife in the surrounding area. The two immortal beings would be hunted while they were left alone.
That didn't stop Draco and Altair from moving onwards at their swift speed. They were still not any closer to a community of either magical people or simple muggles. Either would be fine as long as they had a fireplace. Since their father was caught up with the Dark Lord, Lucius made sure that Draco always carried spare floo powder since he couldn't go for his apparating licence yet. It was a failsafe that Draco was currently very thankful for. It would provide an escape for both himself and his brother.
Draco only paused in his movements to cast an anxious glance at his younger brother. He wasn't sure how exactly Altair was handling this new situation. A lot of information had been forced upon him since he had woken and only more was about to come should they eventually reach Malfoy Manor before Sanguini discovered them.
First he had discovered that he had been turned into a vampire, a creature that his second godfather naturally despised. Lupin would instantly know what Altair was and it wouldn't matter about what happened in the past, he would attack without thought. The werewolf inside Lupin would attack without thought and without feeling and Altair would retaliate with no option left. One of them would end up dead and with Draco aiding his sibling there was no way Lupin would win. Altair would lose the very last connection he had to his adoptive family. Something of that emotional magnitude would crush his younger brother.
Then there was the fact that he had been kidnapped. Surely after being portkeyed directly from the school to a graveyard he would have been emotionally affected by another kidnapping? Nope he hadn't shown anything of that either though it was the lesser of two evils.
After that came the fact that as vampires they couldn't use their magic any longer. They couldn't feel something that was connected to them since their birth. It was heart wrenching and even Draco had to admit that he was having difficulty with that notion. Not being able to access his magic any longer was like not being able to breath . . . well he didn't have to do that any longer and yet he wasn't too worried about that either. The fact that he had some ability manifest had aided towards his calm nature even if he had yet to utilize it appropriately.
Altair didn't have that comfort to aid him. No ability had made itself present after the turning and if Draco hadn't witnessed how powerful his brother truly was he would almost say that his brother wouldn't have any ability to help him through his eternal life. Thankfully he knew better. As Harry Potter, Altair had been strong in both magic and spirit. You could hardly find anything that would knock him down well until the death of his godfather, Sirius Black. But that was hardly his fault.
No Altair Narcissus Malfoy was hardly a push over.
However after everything that occurred he had remained emotionless. Through all of this he had remained impassive making it appear almost natural that Altair didn't feel anything for the change of situation. Draco had seen the look many times before on other Slytherins who always masked their pain and allowed others to see a cheerier face when in public so he knew the signs.
Altair wasn't taking this well at all and Draco, his own brother, had no idea how to help him through it.
Since they had always been rivals during school and he didn't remember ever interacting with his "friends" that way he was unsure of what to do. Should he stop and hug his brother? Should he simply ask what was wrong? As an older brother what was he meant to do? Draco sighed he had no idea.
"Draco whatever is on your mind speak it I won't laugh at you for thinking it."
The sudden sentence from his brother startled him out of his own thoughts and made him trip . . . through a tree. Damn his abilities wouldn't stabilize for another few years yet until he was no longer a newborn. Meaning he would still fall through things or worse crush thing as they ran into him as he turned into a solid form like a brick. Double damn!
A tinkling laugh that sounded like wind chimes floated around the forest and seemed to attract the attention of all the wildlife. The sound was soft at first before filling the air around them in harmony. It was Altair.
Never had Draco heard his brother laugh like this not even when they had been in Hogwarts. His emotions were always kept on a leash as if he were afraid that he would give the wrong reaction. It was a cautionary tactic that was placed before a mask. It hid his true self away from the world and left only Harry Potter. No this was much better than having Harry Potter around. Draco enjoyed listening to his brother laugh as if he had never done so before allowing a small amount of relaxation that truly they couldn't afford.
Once he had calmed a bit, Draco asked, "Why do you believe I have something on my mind, Altair?"
"You get this pensive look on your face when you have something bothering you even during school. It's not obvious to those around you who don't pay any attention but the more I watched you after I became suspicious of you this year the more I noticed certain things that betrayed what you truly felt. It's one of the main reasons I have travelled with you this far."
Draco's breath caught. Altair had been watching him? Why would he . . . of course his task. There was no way that he would be able to complete it now. Not when he was a vampire. He would never be permitted back into the school at this rate. He would never be able to save his mother or keep his father out of harms way in Azkaban.
"Draco?"
Altair had seen the pensive look that crossed his brother's face that mixed with a look of fear and sadness. It tugged greatly at his heart and he needed to know why his brother was in so much pain by one thought.
"Draco, you can tell me what happened. I might be able to help even though I am now in the same position as you." Altair suggested softly.
"The Dark Lord gave me a task as you guessed. If I was to succeed the task I would be honoured amongst the Death Eaters and assume my father's position in his fold. If I was to fail the task then my mother would be killed and my father would be moved to the worst possible cell in Azkaban. I having failed the task would either be killed or remain in the lowly position that I am depending on how greatly I failed."
Altair was horrified that Voldemort would actually stoop so low as to use an underage teenager but he was insane so why did it come as such a surprise?
"Draco, what task did he give you?"
He was mostly curious and yet he knew that his brother needed to get this off of his chest since he probably had been told not to speak of it to anyone else.
"I was tasked with finding a way to smuggle Death Eaters into the castle and killing Dumbledore by the end of the year. I already had a way to get the Death Eaters into the castle and yet I was beginning to get desperate with Dumbledore. No matter what I thought up he wouldn't be there half the time to even begin my plans and the only person who actually saw him when he returned was you." Draco said stiffly.
"Draco you were doing what you had to do for your - our family. You were obeying to keep them safe. In your position I would do the exact same thing. Don't think any less of yourself just because you were doing what you believed to be right!"
Draco looked up startled at Altair's outburst. He'd never thought of it that way. He just believed that he was betraying the wizarding world. He felt like scum kneeling to that madman and he'd always had to hide the pure disgust he held for the Dark Lord beneath his Occlumency shields. But here was Altair, once Harry Potter, telling him he would have done the same. It made him feel slightly elated that someone of such light would say that to him.
"You're free of that task now and we can always come up with a plan to free Luc—father and keep mother out of harm's way. Sure we won't be able to return to Hogwarts but we will have each other. We will have our family and it's all thanks to you Draco." Altair continued.
Draco nodded conceding the point. Truly there was no point in arguing against Altair if he made sense. Then he realized they had been distracted from their original discussion. Draco had desired to find out what was bothering Altair and get him to explain everything. He wanted his brother to open up to him.
"What of you Altair? What worries you?"
Altair shifted nervously finally showing some emotion that he had been desperately attempting to hide. It didn't work, not on Draco.
"I have told my fears to you. I would say it is only fair but that is not what I desire. Altair, I want us to truly be brothers and if that means helping each other through thick and thin then that is what we shall do. I want to help you through your pain like you did to me. We have just been through a change in our systems after being bitten and then when you add that on top of the demanding things we find ourselves placed in this year it will only continue to grow until you finally lose control. Add to the fact that you're a vampire now and that only means that you will have one huge explosion to cover. So please Altair let me help you!"
Draco's face was pleading with him and yet he couldn't bring himself to speak. How could he when he had hardly come to terms with what he was meant to be now. His life had been turned upside down in the space of a few days and he hadn't been coherent to actually pay any attention to it at all. Then there was the fact that Draco had been his rival in everything which didn't particularly help. The change in his appearance did little to aid in that assumption.
Draco sensed the hesitation in his brother and smiled sadly. It would take a while for him to begin to trust him but he had a feeling that it would happen.
"If you like we can keep moving and as you feel comfortable you can just say what is on your mind out loud. That way we can move further away from the lunatic of a vampire and help you with your feelings."
Altair nodded and followed closely behind his brother.
There were many things that he needed to speak allowed not only to reassure him but to get them off his chest. He needed to talk to someone about Sirius, the prophecy and what the Dark Lord had gotten him into. Sure he may have hinted stuff to Ron and Hermione at times but not enough to feel completely alone in the task. Then there was the whole vampire change and the helplessness he felt at losing his magic and not gaining any other abilities . . . yet . . . according to Draco that was.
The scenery continued to fly past them as they ran through the woods trying to locate a town, village or any home with a fireplace before Sanguini tracked them down. Silence stretched out between them as Draco remained silent and allowed his brother to gather his thoughts. The natural sounds of wildlife weren't heard as they sped past since they were too swift to hear anything of any substance. Not that it truly mattered to them whether they did or didn't anyway. They only had one plan in mind and that was getting as far away as possible before finding the nearest town and flooing away. They had to stick to their plan.
"I suppose all of my worries began at the end of last year."
Draco looked up startled. He hadn't expected his brother to begin talking so soon and least of all about that. Everyone who supported the Dark Lord knew of Sirius Black's demise. Bellatrix raved about for weeks afterward thanks to her depleted sanity. So they all knew it was a sore subject for Harry and knew it would get a reaction out of him during a battle.
"All of the visions Voldemort gave me just led me into a trap that he had set up simply so I could get something for him that he needed. The prophecy, it screwed up my life even if I wasn't really Harry Potter. Now it doesn't even count considering that the entire thing no longer makes any sense. The real saviour would now have to be Neville and that's simply sad. No matter how much I care for him Neville wouldn't be able to pick up the role of saviour of the wizarding world not when everyone pins their hope on you and you doubt yourself every day considering your past failures."
"Then this year I had to make sure that I kept the prophecy out of my mind in case Vold- the Dark Lord discovered the contents and acted upon it. Along with that was the guilt I felt for Sirius and Cedric. It got slightly better the longer I spent around my friends I think as I felt better towards the end of the summer though I still can't connect them properly."
"I suppose the biggest problem I've had all year was attempting to discover what Dumbledore has been teaching me and for what purpose. All I know is that the Dark Lord's past is involved and it links to some objects and the prophecy. Honestly I wasn't even paying attention when we were viewing memories. All I saw was a kid who like me never received any love as a child however Dumbledore didn't pick up on any of that. All he saw was his own plan."
Draco swore that if he ever met the "relatives" that had raised his brother they wouldn't remain in the land of the living for very long to get acquainted with one another. Family didn't treat each other worse than scum. They were supposed to love each other and that was what he was going to teach his brother.
Altair paused and took a breath in thought. This was actually a good idea. He'd never talked so much about his past to anyone or what he was currently going through and getting everything off of his back was pleasantly calming almost as if the wind were caressing him gently, softly.
"I suppose that is a relief, knowing that I can't fulfil the prophecy anymore or accomplish any of the goals Dumbledore has set up for me considering that I am now a vampire. Knowing that Remus will more than likely attack me the instant I walk in the same room as him isn't a pleasant thought but I can't do anything about that either. I also have a feeling that I would get help from you if it ever came to that." Altair said smiling at his brother.
There was no uncertainty in his face. Altair knew that Draco would do anything for him.
"The kidnapping wasn't so unpleasant. Sure it brought back memories of fourth year but it wasn't that bad once I realize it was you I was with. I knew that the Dark Lord would never kidnap one of his own followers. It would just be pointless. The one thing though about this whole situation would be the loss of my magic."
Here Altair's voice gained emotion that it had previously been lacking. Losing magic was tough for someone who could previously feel it. For squibs it was alright as they'd never actually had magic to call their own to begin with however for wizards and witches it was different. Magic was like an electric current that ran through the blood. It was sharp and danced with vigour beneath their skin. It was a part of them and now it was gone.
"I don't even have an ability to counter that and it worries me that I don't have it yet knowing that all magical vampires have an ability after reawakening. Will I even gain an ability or is it another freakish thing about me that I carried over into my immortal life?"
Draco almost growled as he mentioned the word freakish. He didn't have to be a genius to figure out where his brother began to think of himself and his magic as freakish. The family Altair had been left with was nearing their last days. But then he began to notice something odd. The wind almost had a mind of its own.
The wind rustled through the trees and around them at his despair as if it knew that Altair was having trouble and was desperately trying to relax him. This was not normal by any means muggle or magical and Draco knew that it had something to do with his brother; he just had to figure out how.
"I wouldn't worry too much Altair. You are as strong if not stronger than I am. You will have an ability all you have to do is be patient. We don't know the circumstances of our birth or what happened to drive us apart. Once everything had been pieced together we'll have more of an idea about how to help your abilities manifest faster."
The reassurance that Altair heard in the words from his brother calmed Altair and with him the wind that seemed to dance to his brother. The air was somehow linked to his brother and that revealed a lot more than either knew about Altair's power. This only proved to Draco that the air had some connection to his brother's abilities. Perhaps there was simply more to his ability than they had first thought? However Draco didn't want to raise his brother's hopes by mentioning what had occurred. If he figured it out on his own then perhaps he would aid in the discovery of what lay ahead but until then he didn't want to do that to his sibling.
"Everything will work out in the end. You'll see."
Altair nodded his eyes gleaming with a life that Draco had once thought lost. Yes everything would work out.
x-x-x-x-x
After their little talk that morning they had travelled a further ninety kilometres from the cottage that Sanguini had first taken them to however it still wasn't far enough away for either of them to relax despite how far away it appeared to be for muggles.
They knew that Sanguini wouldn't be pleased that they had left but they weren't about to stay and listen to him drone on and on about how they would make the perfect family together. How they would live their lives peacefully together and possibly create an even larger family than the Volturri. With dreams like that Sanguini was simply begging to be killed for treason against the ruling group of immortals. Neither would be a part of something that huge or dangerous.
It would be suicide and even if they were immortal and didn't have anywhere to return to should Lucius reject them for what they were they wouldn't be desperate enough to turn to suicide for a way out of their soon to be miserable lives. All of their hopes rested with Lucius Malfoy, their father, and if they couldn't count on a family member who could they count on?
The sun was beginning to drop down in the sky now as they rushed through more groves of trees with more stamina then humanly possible. There was only a slight problem in their plan. One they hadn't even though of yet as their main focus was to escape from their capture. They hadn't had anything to eat since awakening and their thirst was beginning to drive them insane with need.
Never had they felt anything like this before.
The thirst burnt their throats unlike the parched feeling that they felt when human. It burnt as if a fire was spreading swiftly through their system and demanding something to quench it however unlike water it craved for blood. The feeling was so unlike any other that they had ceased their running to think of possible ways to prevent the blood lust taking control. All they had thought was to drink blood. That was the only way to prevent it. But with no animal or person in sight they didn't have much choice but to continue their journey.
Throughout the day they had known that the blood lust would be upon them during the evening as it grew stronger with every bit of energy they consumed from running at an impossible pace. It would soon take over and the only thing that would stop their rampage would be the consumption of blood.
Draco was suffering the effects haven not eaten anything properly for awhile even as a human. He'd been too focused on his task and the constant throb of pain that emanated from his Dark Mark. The experience hadn't been pleasant. That was also however one good thing about being a vampire. You could not be marked permanently. The Dark Mark was already beginning to fade as was Altair's cursed scar. All other marks had long since disappeared.
"Draco . . . I'm beginning to . . . lose control." Altair panted.
He wasn't tired but the effort he was using to control the animalistic part of him was beginning to take its toll.
"I know . . . just a little further . . . we will make it Altair."
Barely ten minutes later their control slipped causing their eyes fogging over slightly. Their animalistic tendencies took control. To them it wasn't particularly an unpleasant situation as they knew roughly what they were doing but they couldn't do anything to cease their actions if they were completely conscious of their actions. They raced through the trees as the blood lust controlled their thoughts. There was only one thought on their minds.
Food . . .
They needed blood and that was it. There was no different path to take they needed to kill and that was it. In their induced states they didn't particularly care either and not even when they were out of their states. Draco had come to accept that he would be ordered to kill someone eventually by the Dark Lord. It was inevitable. Altair had accepted that he would have to kill the Dark Lord and also anyone who got in his way. It was simply an inevitable fact of life and there was nothing they could have done to change it. The circumstances were slightly different but they were still going to kill and both knew it and had accepted the thought as soon as they realized what they were. It truly didn't bother them.
They just wanted food.
Both stopped running and tilted their heads in unison as they heard rustling ahead of them. A kilometre away was a type of mammal. They weren't sure what type of mammal they only knew one decisive thing.
The mammals held blood. Warm blood. Food . . .
Kill . . .
Without a second thought they raced forwards silently. Neither made a sound as they closed the kilometre distance between them and their meal. The mammals didn't even stir. Not even a second later they pounced and took down two of the moving figures before sinking their dripping fangs into the closest available spot. In their blood lust state they truly didn't care about mess or making it as painless for whatever it was they were eating. They just needed sustenance and they were finally receiving.
The blood that seeped out from between the mammals wound and their hungry mouths oozed around them and stained their clothes making them cling tightly to the skin. Their robes had been taken from them during the change and hadn't been in the room with them leaving them in nothing more than t-shirts, pants and shoes now stained with blood and dirt. Rips were a common thing in their clothes as they didn't quite take care of what they ran into since the foliage simply snapped when run into. Of course they hadn't noticed that yet.
Once the mammal was dry and the blood lust had receded, Altair pulled back with a grimace on his face and took a look at his "food". It was a deer. He had never thought about the food that he would desire to eat if he was turned into a vampire. He'd never believed it necessary. But this was something he never wanted to try again. The deer reminded him too much of James Potter and his own patronus – which he wouldn't be able to do again – it was too much to bear.
Still he hadn't believed that an animal's blood would taste that bad. Sure he expected that cold blooded animals tasted differently to warm blooded animals and yet here was the deer and it tasted terrible to his delicate senses. The warm blood should have been fine for a substitute meal for humans until they came across a village and drank there but it wasn't the case.
Altair looked over to his brother. "Draco that tasted foul."
Draco finished his meal as well grimacing while swallowing the last of it. The deer blood helped with the blood lust but it was awfully tangy and sour almost like sucking on a lemon. In no way did it compare the supposed wine-like taste of human blood. For muggle vampires it tasted sweet like a perfectly ripe fruit however for magical vampires it tasted more like aged wine. It was perfect. This however was far from that amazing taste.
"I'm not sure why that was so . . . disagreeable to out tastes. Perhaps we will learn more about our tastes from father when we return. If not it shall have to be trial and error I suppose until we find something that is pleasing to our refined tastes."
Altair nodded and stood elegantly even though he was covered in blood. There was no way he would mourn for the death of an animal. There was no need for it. It had given him what he desired and that was to be rid of the blood lust. He didn't even bother to thank it as this was the nature of all life. Everything fell to predators. Draco shared the same sentiments.
"We need to locate a residence with a fireplace so that we can floo home and find some blood to drink. I know that father keeps some in the kitchen for when we have more questionable guests visit. This deer blood won't sustain us for long with its unpleasant taste. The sooner we locate a village the better it will be for us."
Altair nodded and started his run again. They would eventually leave this forest behind them and return back to their world. Until then they only had each other to rely on and that was enough for the both of them for now.
x-x-x-x-x
As nightfall approached they neared a small village on the outskirts of the forest they had been travelling in. It was a miracle they had even located a village out in the middle of nowhere like this and they were both counting their blessings or well Altair's obvious luck.
Without setting anything off they moved into the quiet town that was inside preparing for dinner or simply relaxing. That worked well for them as they didn't desire anyone to see what they were doing not that any mortal could. Both moved at a speed that muggles couldn't see so that didn't particularly worry them. Weaving through the rows of houses in the village they finally came across a vacation home that hadn't been used in years if anyone was to go by the overgrown hedges and lawn in the front garden.
Without pause they broke inside and began the search of the lower level for a fireplace. It didn't take them long and once they found it all they had to do was light it and throw the floo powder down, calling out Malfoy Manor. They were so close to being home they were practically jumping on the spot or they would be if they weren't reframing themselves from doing so.
"Altair we'll need something to light this with."
Altair was already searching however for matches knowing that they had entered a human holiday spot and not a magical one. At least he knew how to light a fire the muggle way. He guessed that those years spent at the Dursley's had prepared him for something even though he would spend the rest of his life despising them for things he couldn't quite remember.
Bringing the matches back to the fireplace he immediately lit a match and threw it into the fireplace. The fire wouldn't start immediately but it wouldn't take long either. All they had to do know was wait.
"Draco once the fire is ready to use we will have to use it immediately as the smoke coming from the chimney will alert the villagers that someone is in the home. They will come looking." Altair warned.
Draco nodded and brought out the floo powder he carried with him. It would be enough for them. Finally they were going home. He just wanted to show his mother and father that he had found Altair. That his brother, their son, was still alive and not dead like they had always assumed. He has a sibling now and he would never let Altair out of his sight even for a second.
By now the fire was roaring and the smoke was calmly floating above the house. It was time to leave this pitiable area and return home. Altair turned to Draco and nodded his head. Swiftly, Draco threw the floo powder he had taken out into the fireplace while wrapping his left arm around his younger brother and pulling him close. Normally this was only done to smaller children but Altair hardly ever used the floo so Draco would help him like he should have done when they were younger if they had grown up together. He would do his brotherly duties.
Stepping into the fireplace, Draco checked he had his brother securely against him and shouted out clearly the two words that would send them home.
"Malfoy Manor!"
And with that they disappeared leaving a confused village all wondering who would simply light a fireplace and leave without stealing a single item in sight.
Thank you to SYRENA LI and SKYLARA for the suggestions on Altair's power to be related to Air. It also ties in well with his name and I hadn't thought of that. I'd also like to thank DARKNARUTO002 for the wonderful review you gave me along with the suggestions!
Thank you to everyone who reviewed!
~MidnightEmber