The world changed. Warm sunlight, dusty streets, quaint brick houses and colourful shopfronts faded out of existence. A dark room took their place. Porcelain faces of black-clad dolls glared eerily from under the half-light of many hovering candles, and various macabre paintings lined the walls. Two luxurious striped chairs stood side-by-side somewhere towards the centre of the room, a pile of sweets between them.

This place was Rhode's creation; her dream world. It could be whatever she wanted it to be, and this room was a particular favourite of hers.

She seized Harry's hand and skipped over to the chairs, forcing him to jog to keep up. She swiped a red lollipop from the pile before climbing up into one of the chairs. "When you told me about Honeydukes, I just had to pay it a visit," she cheerfully chirped. Indeed, about half the pile was made up of such things as sugar quills, Bertie Bott's every flavour beans and Drooble's best blowing gum. And that red lollipop looked somewhat suspicious…

"Is that blood flavoured?"

"Yeah. Want one?"

"I'll pass for now. Maybe later." He eyed the pile of sweets, then shrugged and sprung nimbly into his chair without taking any. Less than a second later, Mugen swept through air that had previously been occupied by Harry's neck. "Too slow," he taunted with a smirk. Rhode's right. This is kinda fun. The afore-mentioned girl giggled and waved her lollipop about with both hands, in a mocking imitation of a sword. Kanda growled and stabbed at Harry's heart. Harry leaned swiftly to the side, and Mugen impaled his left arm instead.

It was pure agony, as though the sword had been removed from the heat of a forge mere moments before it was introduced to his flesh. The pain consumed him, and then it began to diminish.

Kanda had fallen back, his body and face riddled with wounds from pointy, dagger-sharp candles that now swirled around Harry in a protective whirlwind. Through the fading pain, Harry didn't know whether he felt more pitying or vindicated over the horrific, gaping holes that now took the place of the exorcist's eyes. Harry looked away from the grotesque scene, choosing to examine his arm instead.

It was blackened, charred. Skin and flesh was mangled, veins were exposed. "Heal it," said Rhode, and Harry gave her an inquiring, confused look. "Concentrate on it being healed, just like when you switch forms," she continued. "It's as easy as putting on a glove, really."

Smooth, unmarred skin slid over the appendage, just as though he really were putting on a glove. He laughed, revelling in the power. Voldemort's sure in for a surprise if he tries anything this year. He glanced back at the exorcist, and blinked at what he saw. It seemed that he and Rhode weren't the only ones here with supernatural healing abilities.

It was as though Kanda's healing process had been vastly accelerated; that which should have taken weeks or months to mend taking only minutes. Not only that, but his eyes also seemed to be growing back. Even as Harry watched, the exorcist clambered to his feet and, so softly that it was almost a whisper, said, "I won't die… until I find that person."

"What person?" asked Harry curiously, although he didn't really expect an answer.

Kanda sprung towards Rhode, who also sprung forward, flinging herself straight into the blade. Harry's eyes widened with shock. "Rhode? RHODE!" Fists clenching, teeth champing, Harry glared furiously at Kanda, rage boiling through his veins.

Fire leapt from Harry's hands, intercepting Kanda as he leapt forward with Mugen in hand. The flames left smouldering blisters on Harry's hands, but they healed quickly, all pain vanishing as though it were never there. It was almost as though his body were especially well equipped for dealing with that ravenous element that grows with all it devours.

Loud, girlish laughter that was maniacal in its intensity met his ears, and he pivoted to see Rhode laughing wildly as her entire body healed over just as smoothly as his arm had. "Rhode!" said Harry excitedly. He embraced her, and his own wild, mad laughter joined her own. I'm going crazy, some detached part of his brain observed. Hell, this whole family is crazy. He supposed it was just as well that he didn't really care.

"Your power's getting stronger," she murmured into his ear.

"That healing… Is it a power of all exorcists, or just that one?"

"Just that one, I think. Most can't, at any rate."

Kanda emerged from the flames, still badly burnt but miraculously alive. Now Harry knew what had prompted Allen to cast aside the worry his eyes had held for the samurai. Rhode tilted her head to the side as though listening to something, and then said, "I will find a way to kill you, exorcist. I will avenge Skin. But for now…" One of her heart-shaped doors appeared behind her, and she grabbed Harry's hand. Just before they stepped through the door, he glanced back to see that the room had begun to dissolve, faint outlines of brick houses and the colourful café slowly fading into existence.

They appeared beside Allen in a familiar street, the same one they had followed through the village before taking to the rooftop. People gasped at their sudden appearance, and most fled in fear. "Witches!" cried a woman, one of the few who had remained, and keeled over in a faint. One burly man scooped her up into his arms and also fled. Now a skinnier man was the only one remaining besides Allen, Harry and Rhode. "Get away from them, boy!" he shouted to Allen, brandishing a crucifix as though he thought them fell creations of Count Dracula.

Rhode laughed. "Why would he have to flee his family?" she asked, and placed an arm around Allen's shoulders. Harry felt an irrational flare of jealousy that he ruthlessly quashed before it had a chance to mature. The villager ran forward, madness taking form within his eyes, and aimed a punch at Harry, who intercepted the blow with an open palm. The man screamed as smoke rose from his scalded fist. Harry let him go, his lips curling sardonically. "Leave us, fool." With much whimpering and cursing, the man obeyed.

"Pathetic," muttered Rhode, and then turned to Allen. "Did you get the Innocence, Allen?" In reply, the white-haired boy withdrew a glowing green orb from his coat's pocket. Harry inhaled sharply as a strange rage assaulted him. It was as though the very existence of this orb was a personal insult to him.

"Is that… Innocence?" he asked, practically spitting the last word. Rhode nodded with a sneer upon her lips. Allen alone seemed unaffected by its presence. Rhode snatched it from his hand, and crushed it. Instantly, Harry straightened as unnatural tension lifted from his shoulders. Frowning at his own reaction, he said quietly, "I want to go for a walk alone."

Rhode studied him closely, and then nodded. "I understand. We'll meet back here in… fifteen minutes?"

Smiling gratefully, Harry nodded then turned on his heel and strode away down a side street.

He watched from behind dusty glass at a bookstore window as Lavi and Kanda were reunited. Some burns still marred the samurai's flesh, but they were much less severe than they had been previously. Harry's eyebrows rose when Lavi presented a glowing green orb identical to the one Rhode had destroyed. So there were two Innocences here. He felt the same anger as before; the same urge to destroy the substance. At this distance, however, it was a bearable urge that he was able to ignore, and so he decided that he would keep Allen's secret. Were I any closer, I would probably butcher them just to get at it. He was greatly relieved when the exorcists left his line of sight.

When he next saw Rhode and Allen they were accompanied by a young woman, the sole Akuma remaining from the small band that had accompanied them into the village. Harry's feelings over the destruction of Cedric were mixed. Was he sad that Cedric had died again, once again indirectly because of him, or was he glad that the Akuma's soul was now at peace if the curse on Allen's former eye was anything to go by? Will Mrs Diggory now seek to bring back her husband? he thought despairingly.

"You seem troubled, Harry-nii," said Rhode. "Is something the matter?"

"Ah… No," he replied. "It's nothing, Rhode." And he lifted his arm to ruffle her gravity-defying hair, smiling fondly. Rest in peace, Cedric. May your father avoid your fate. "You know, I've heard that there's supposed to be vampires in the Black Forest…"

"Ooooo, really?" said Rhode, a wicked smile taking form. "Hey, Akuma!"

"Yes, Lady Rhode?"

"Go let the Earl know that we've completed our mission, but we're staying a bit longer to look for vampires."

"We're WHAT?!" said Allen, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.

"Yes, Lady Rhode," said the Akuma, and turned to begin walking away.

"Wait!" called Harry, and the Akuma stopped. "Wouldn't it be quicker if she used one of your doors, Rhode?"

"Mmm, fine," said Rhode, frowning, and a heart-shaped door grew out of the ground. "Go, Akuma," she snapped, and the woman hurried out of sight through the door.

So it was that three members of the Noah clan found themselves hiking through the Black Forest in search of vampires. "Are you sure we should be doing this?" said Allen nervously. "Are vampires even real?"

"Of course they are," said Rhode confidently. "I read all about them in Voyages With Vampires. Is there really a spell to render them incapable of eating anything but lettuce?"

"Er… I don't think so," said Harry. "Lockhart's a complete fraud, Rhode. The only reason I have his books is because he was my teacher in second year. Hang on… when did you read that anyway?"

"Didn't you know? I've been stealing your things ever since you joined us."

"Er… right. Well… don't believe everything Lockhart writes. And give everything back before term starts."

"Alright. But you have to help me with my homework."

"You would have made him do that anyway," commented Allen. Rhode laughed.

Besides the dwelling place of the Noah clan, the Black Forest was the first place outside England that Harry had ever visited. With its countless pines and firs, both ancient and otherwise, and its unique wildlife, he thought it very beautiful. In this part of the Forest sunlight was filtered through a thick, many-layered blanket of pine-needles that plunged their surroundings into premature twilight.

"The Boy Who Lived, in this age so famed that even my ears have heard. How fateful it is that we two here do meet." The speaker was a tall, pale man with dark hair and eyes. What with the dark shadows under his red-rimmed eyes, he had something of the look of an insomniac. His smile revealed wicked fangs that drew Harry's attention only slightly more than his emaciated, unhealthy appearance. "My greetings to you, children," he continued. "I am Sanguini."

"Uh, hi," muttered Harry.

"It's an honour to meet you, Mr. Sanguini," said Allen.

"Here, have a sweet," said Rhode, and shoved a red lollipop into his hand. The vampire looked surprised for a moment, but then his expression returned to the boredom that Harry was beginning to think his customary face.

"Very kind of you, little lady," he said with a courteous bow. His lips twitched with something like amusement. "Whilst traversing my esteemed homeland, the Schwarzwald, few are the humans who count among their supplies blood-flavoured sweets."

"What can I say?" said Rhode, her expression gleeful. "They're… sweet. So, you're a vampire, hm?"

"That is correct."

Rhode laughed and clapped her hands. "Yay! I finally get to meet a vampire!"

Is that really something to be celebrating? Allen and Harry thought simultaneously. The vampire laughed and said, "Such an unusual young lady you are, Miss. You inspire a certain interest, I confess."

Allen and Harry watched with bemusement as Sanguini and Rhode proceeded to get along marvellously, chattering away like the oldest of friends. When the conversation turned to ancient torture devices, the two Noah boys drifted out of earshot. "Are you sure we should leave…" Harry began, but was interrupted by Allen.

"She can take care of herself quite well enough, and I don't exactly want to know the details of an Iron Maiden's function or the most effective way to impale people."

As Allen and Harry played rock-paper-scissors whilst keeping an eye each on their 'sister' and her new friend, they were interrupted by a handsome man in formal-wear, with grey skin, golden eyes, and the crown-of-thorns stigmata across his forehead.

"I see you found your vampire," said Tyki Mykk. "Hmmm… Rhode seems to be getting along well with him."

"What an understatement," Harry laughed. "They've been like that for at least an hour now. We made our retreat when they started arguing over whether more pain can be inflicted using candles or knives."

"Tyki!" Rhode called out, excitedly waving him over. "Meet Sanguini. Sanguini, this is Tyki. He's from my family. Hey, Tyki, ya know Sanguini personally knew Vlad Tepes! How cool is that?"

Tyki made some sort of noncommittal sound, exchanged pleasantries with Rhode's vampire friend, and then said, "The Earl wants you three to come back now."

Sanguini took Rhode's hand and kissed her fingertips. "Farewell, Rhode Kamelot. Mayhap we shall meet again, fate willing. Our conversation has awakened within me an urge to enter once again into the whirl and rush of human society."

"Fate willing," murmured Rhode, and gave a small curtsy.

Later, back in his room at the Noahs' house, Harry was pulled from half-slumber by a tapping at the window. He leapt to his feet and opened his window to let in Hedwig, and then removed her parchment burden. It seemed that she must have payed Hogwarts a visit in order to pick up his booklist.

"Good girl."