The High Vampire

Sirius let out a gasp and opened his eyes, but they burned with an unexpected pain and he hurriedly closed them again.

"Sirius!"

The voice pounded through his skull, and he groaned as his head ached as though it had been wrung out and left in the sun.

"Ssh Mr Potter!" another voice hissed. "Is it the light?"

Sirius opened his mouth to reply but his throat felt starched and he found he was unable to speak. He nodded his head slowly, trying not to make it hurt anymore but it didn't seem to help at all; a flare of pain shot through his body at the movement and he gasped.

There was a swish and then a sudden darkness and Sirius knew it was safe for him to open his eyes. He looked around as best he could without moving his head and thought he recognised the room somehow though he wasn't sure how. It was white, very white, and smelt clean, but it wasn't the Hospital Wing. He closed his eyes again.

"There now Mr Potter, you can go now; he's awake. You know he's safe now," the voice said quietly and Sirius realised that he also recognised that.

"I'm not leaving him," James declared defiantly.

"Mr Potter, you promised you would leave as soon as he woke."

"Can I at least speak to him?" James asked pleadingly.

"Absolutely not; Mr Black is not in the right condition for visitors, in case you hadn't noticed, now I must insist that you leave," the voice said firmly.

"Fine," said James begrudgingly. "Sirius, I know you can hear me, I just want you to know that we're all waiting for you to come back, and we really miss you. Just get better, okay?"

Sirius took in a breath for courage and nodded his head, trying his utmost not to scream as his body grinded in pain. He heard the sound of doors closing and footsteps coming towards him.

"Thank the Lord he's gone," said the voice, sounding relieved. "I'm sorry it's so painful Sirius but I couldn't give you what you needed whilst he was here because he doesn't know apparently."

And Sirius finally realised where he was, and who the voice belonged to. He smiled a little as the smell of blood reached his nostrils and he drank deeply, feeling the pain in him wash away as the cuts began to heal.

He opened his eyes again and looked up at the man who was grinning down at him. "Hello Healer Compton," he said quietly, glad that his throat was wet again.

"Oh, so you can speak," the Healer said, smiling as he began checking Sirius's injuries. "I don't know what you thought you were doing, running around with a werewolf." Sirius could hear the chiding in his voice and suppressed a smile.

"At least you got to see me again," he replied. "Can I sit up?"

"Sure," Compton said, stepping back. "You're healing much faster now," he said, sounding pleased.

Sirius grinned. "That's because I'm good at what I do," he said cockily.

"What, fight with wolves?" Compton asked, laughing as he walked away.

Sirius smiled, contented, as he sat up slowly and rested against the pillows. He looked at his arms and saw faint scars across them, and on his legs. Glancing down he saw a more defined scar across his chest and he knew there would also be one on his back. He raised an eyebrow.

"Note to self: werewolves cause scarring," he muttered under his breath. "Another note to self: scratch the first; the scars are macho."

Healer Compton walked in carrying three large goblets full of warm blood that Sirius drained in a matter of seconds.

"Better?" he asked as Sirius wiped his mouth.

"Much," Sirius replied. "Can I leave now?"

"We would feel better if you stayed here for a few nights, just to check that everything's okay," Compton said.

"But everything is okay," Sirius said.

"How can you be sure?" Compton asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Well, because it's me," Sirius replied, frowning.

"Either way, you're to stay in here for a few days, if only to trick Mr Potter into thinking that you heal at the rate of a normal human," Compton said.

Sirius rolled his eyes but didn't complain. "So what happened?" he asked.

Compton looked confused. "When?"

"Well, I remember the fight, vaguely, but then I don't know what happened."

"Well, from what I gather, your annoying friend Mr Potter saved your life," Compton said casually.

"James? Oh god, was he hurt?" Sirius asked worriedly.

"Fortunately he only sustained a minor blow to the head and a few scratches, all things your Matron was able to fix," Compton assured him.

"So James came and found me?" Sirius asked.

"And held the werewolf off until daybreak from what I hear," the Healer said. "Now, rest. You need to heal."

Two days later Sirius was in the Hospital Wing of Hogwarts with Healer Compton being checked over one last time before going back to lessons and homework.

"Everything seems fine," Compton said brightly, straightening up and grinning at Sirius.

"I told you; I'm good at what I do," said Sirius cockily, sliding off the bed. "Thanks," he added sincerely. "You helped…a lot."

"It's my job. Now, go away before I have to say goodbye again," said the Healer, shooing him away. "And don't get into any more fights."

Sirius grinned. "Me?" he asked innocently, before turning and walking away, back to his friends who he knew would be in the Common Room. They didn't know he was due back today as he had come early so he was looking forward to surprising them.

It was a slight let-down however when he found that none of his fellow Marauders were in the Common Room. Lily was, however, and she jumped up to greet him when he walked in.

"Sirius!" she said jovially, hugging him. "You're okay!"

"Kinda," Sirius replied, spreading his hands and grinning at her. He got along well with Lily, though they couldn't really act friendly so much when James was around as he became extremely jealous when they merely greeted each other.

"I was so worried," she said, looking him up and down, her eyes lingering oh the scars on Sirius hands and the faint one on his neck. "What happened?"

"Oh, just the normal, you know," he replied nervously, avoiding the question.

She frowned at him but let it drop. "Remus, Peter and Potter are in the library," she said.

"Thanks," said Sirius, smiling at her and instantly regretting it as he remembered his fangs. The smile faltered and he turned and left hurriedly, trying not to run; he was sure her eyes had flickered to his teeth.

He burst into the library more quickly than he had intended to and tripped, spinning into a bookcase before steadying himself and glancing around, hoping no one had seen. Then he walked over to the Marauder's corner, whistling innocently.

"No, that's not big enough," James was saying. "It needs to be really big, massive in fact; we haven't done anything yet."

"Why don't you set a new target? See how long you can go without getting detention."

"Now Moony, I'm surprised. Even you couldn't be so stupid as to actually suggest that," Sirius said, steeping out from behind a bookcase and dropping into a chair.

There were two yells of 'Padfoot' and one insulted 'hey'.

"Why didn't you tell us you were back?" James asked, looking annoyed. He thumped Sirius hard on the shoulder and then pulled him into a hug.

"What was that for?" Sirius asked indignantly, rubbing his shoulder and pulling away, disturbed at how strong the scent of James's blood was in his nostrils.

"Do you know how worried I was?" he asked furiously, glaring at his friend. "What the hell did you think you were doing? Why didn't you transform, you know Moony's dangerous!"

"Ssh," Remus hissed, terrified as he looked around for eavesdroppers. "Not so loud James, you moron."

"Well he was stupid," James said as though this resolved everything. "I
It's a wonder he wasn't bitten."

Remus flinched involuntarily but nobody noticed.

"So, what has to be big?" Sirius asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from himself.

"Our first prank of the year," James replied, gesturing at the books in front of him. "But we don't have many ideas yet."

"How about rain?" Sirius asked.

James looked out of the window at the bright sunshine. "I think you're losing it mate," he said, glancing at Sirius worriedly.

"No, I mean actual rain – why don't we make it rain in the Great Hall?"

James blinked. "That's brilliant!" he said happily. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"You lack the brain capacity," Sirius smirked. "Is it possible Moony?"

Remus glanced at the ceiling, his expression thoughtful. "I think so," he said eventually. "But it will take a lot of magic."

Sirius grinned. "This settles it; I'm the best prankster there has ever been."

James shoved him. "Come off it."

Remus pulled a piece of parchment towards him and began taking notes on water, rain, weather, ceilings, anything that could be related to their prank and was soon absorbed in his task while his friends began to mess around, arm wresting on the desks and playing hangman on the corner of his parchment and so the rest of the day passed rather uneventfully and the Marauders went to bed that night full of anticipation of their prank next week.

The following evening, Sirius beat the all too familiar path to Dumbledore's office, his stomach tying itself into devil's tongue knots again and again.

He gave the password to the gargoyles and stepped onto the moving staircase, feeling sick with nerves but too afraid to run away from what he knew was waiting for him in Dumbledore's office.

Without bothering to knock he strode into the office, glancing around nervously as he entered, unsure of what he was expecting but an empty office was not it. It wasn't even on the list of maybes.

He wandered over to one of the delicate silver instruments and reached out with his index finger to touch the pointy needle on top. It bent and the entire instrument collapsed with a loud clattering and Sirius jumped away, staring around guiltily.

"I didn't do it!" he exclaimed out of habit.

"It was fragile anyway, Mr Black," said the calm voice of Dumbledore from the doorway. Sirius whirled around in surprise, eyes wide with guilt.

"Sorry Sir, it –" he began but Dumbledore cut him off with a casual wave of the hand.

"It doesn't matter Sirius," he said, waving his wand and fixing the silver machine. "Anyway, there are more important matters at hand; you are about to meet the High Vampire."

Sirius's face fell as the fear that had held off for several seconds came flooding back. "Oh yeah," he remembered quietly.

"Why so glum?" the Headmaster asked, gesturing to the chair that Sirius often sat in and placing himself behind his desk.

"Why do you think? I don't want to meet this…what's his name?"

"Artifex. Why on earth do you not want to meet him?" Dumbledore questioned, staring at Sirius intently.

Sirius merely shrugged.

"Sirius, it's better for you to get over this now, before he arrives, than to have this conversation in front of him," Dumbledore said logically.

Sirius glared for a moment but then he opened his mouth. "I don't see why I should be excited about meeting a vampire," he said simply.

"Sirius, they are your family now," Dumbledore said quietly, staring Sirius in the eye.

"Maybe I don't want them to be!" he yelled furiously. "Maybe I want to be normal, with a normal family and a normal life!"

"That's out of the question Sirius; You. Are. A. Vampire," he said, emphasising each word.

Sirius scowled, trying his utmost not to cry. "Thanks for reminding me," he said sourly.

"You cannot escape this Sirius; you are what you are," Dumbledore replied calmly. "High Vampire Artifex will be here in minutes, I suggest that you calm yourself down."

Sirius jumped up and began pacing around the office, a wind beginning to pick up but it was punctured and inconstant as Sirius tried to stop it. The door rattled on its hinges and the torches lighting the office flickered and suddenly roared in large flames at least five feet high.

"Sirius," Dumbledore warned in a low voice as the wind blew around the office again, this time uncontrolled.

"I can't help it," Sirius replied through gritted teeth, face screwed up as he fought the power inside of him.

"You have to, I thought you had mastered this," Dumbledore said, keeping his voice quiet.

There was a knock on the door and the wind exploded into a storm as fear took over. The door burst open, the flames died and Sirius gasped as the power leaked from him.

"He is strong," a voice from the door observed. A figure stepped over the threshold and Sirius felt a sudden sense of calm envelope him. "Direct it," the voice instructed firmly. "Make it useful."

"What?" Sirius asked furiously, struggling not to break anything.

"Turn the power into something," the voice said. "Make it a force and use it against me."

Sirius frowned for a moment but then, without knowing how, took control of the power leaking out of him and directed it at the voice which absorbed it somehow and made it harmless.

He gasped when it was gone, stumbling slightly as the strength left his legs and collapsing into his chair.

"How many times has this happened?" the voice asked sharply, descending upon Sirius and shoving the neck of a bottle into his lips.

"Several," Dumbledore said, stepping forward to greet the man. "High Vampire Artifex?"

The man nodded and pocketed the bottle. "Look at me," he said to the fledgling in front of him. Sirius looked up reluctantly to see his own eyes reflected at him from a deathly pale, surprisingly young face surrounded by thick black hair. The man's nose was slightly long but so straight it looked as though it had been drawn with a ruler and he had highly defined cheekbones and a slightly pointed chin. He reached out with a pale hand and placed two long fingers against Sirius's neck. Immediately two wounds opened in Sirius's jugular and dribbled blood down his neck. Artifex smiled, apparently satisfied before placing his fingers over the wound, healing them in an instant.

"That is Ambrose's work," he said, straightening. "I wondered when he would make a fledgling."

Sirius, who had clapped his hand to his neck in horror, stared at the vampire before him in surprise; he wasn't the imposing, strict figure Ambrose had been. Instead he seemed calm, yet authoritative, and Sirius felt he could grow to trust him.

"Please, sit down," Dumbledore said, conjuring another chair. Artifex looked at it for a moment before sitting suspiciously and Sirius could see that he was tensed, ready to spring into action if the need arose.

"This is Sirius," Dumbledore said needlessly, gesturing to Sirius who was fighting the urge to get up and run. As though Artifex knew what was going through his mind he grinned at the boy, revealing four razor sharp fangs in his top jaw.

"Do you honestly think you can outrun me?" he asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.

Sirius scowled furiously but refused to reply. Artifex shrugged, unconcerned before turning back to Dumbledore.

"How many times has he lost control like that?" he asked again.

"Quite a few," Dumbledore replied.

"And the same things happened? The wind, I mean. Was there wind each time?" Artifex's voice was fast and fluent as he questioned the headmaster.

Dumbledore nodded. "Always the wind, and fire as well. General destruction," he replied.

Artifex smiled as he turned to Sirius. "I think it would be good for you to spend some time with us," he said thoughtfully. "You can learn to control yourself."

"No!" Sirius said quickly, looking angry.

"No?" Artifex asked, leaning towards Sirius. "And what exactly makes you say that?"

As Sirius struggled for words Artifex stood and walked slowly, deliberately, around the office. "Do you not wish to learn how to control yourself?"

"I'm fine on my own," Sirius said finally.

"But are your friends? Your classmates? Your teachers? Are they fine whilst you're around? Are you not a danger to them?" he asked slowly. "You have already gotten into a fight, you know that you can survive an attack from a supernatural, but can your friends?" He reached into his pocket and lifted out another bottle of crimson liquid, slowly uncorking it. He blew across the top, allowing the breeze to caress Sirius's senses, making him stand and pulling him to the vampire as though on a rope. Then Artifex corked the bottle and began to put it away but he was interrupted by a furious hiss as Sirius dived at him, eyes onyx black, in an attempt to lift the bottle. In a second Artifex had Sirius pinned tight against him, with his arms around the boy's chest, fangs at his neck.

"A fledgling cannot resist the temptation," he whispered against Sirius's skin, smiling a little and allowing his fangs to brush against the boy's neck.

Sirius didn't struggle; he was captivated by the feel of the fangs against his skin, as he had been the night he had been Turned.

"You see?" Artifex murmured. "You see how easy it is to forget yourself? To grant that scent control of your mind. A fledgling would attack his brother without a second thought if tempted."

Artifex tilted his head so that he could easily bite through Sirius's skin and feed but he resisted. "You see now what control is?" he asked softly.

Sirius nodded, unable to speak; he was in shock at the loss of control he had just experienced.

"You see the importance of staying with us?" Artifex continued quietly, his voice so low only Sirius could hear. "See the danger you present?"

Sirius nodded, blood pooling in his eyes. "Yes," he whispered, his voice haunted.

There was a smile against Sirius's skin before he was released from Artifex's grip. Sirius tried to wipe his eyes but the High Vampire took his wrists.

"Do not feel ashamed," he said, looking directly at Sirius with bright eyes as the blood trickled down the fledgling's cheeks. "You will soon learn."

Then he turned and was gone, leaving Sirius standing, confused, in the middle of Dumbledore's office. He reached up and wiped away the blood before slowly walking away, shutting the door behind him and making his way outside to lose himself in the darkness of night.