Chapter 9: Attack

Draco woke late in the afternoon, feeling much better. An owl was waiting for him to wake on his bedpost. It held out its leg and Draco took the letter. It flew off a moment later. Opening the letter, his good mood began to decline.

He would have to apologize to his mother soon, or he would be excommunicated by the Malfoy Family and the Black Family.

A written apology would be worthless to both of his parents, and therefore pointless. He'd have to explain to his mother everything—maybe even to his father—in person. He thought of what he'd have to say.

Speak politely, tread carefully, and act sincerely. Appearance would be a key factor as well.

Once he felt ready, he headed to his father's office.

"So, you came."

Draco held the letter. "I want you to be witness to what I will say to Mother. You should hear it too."

Lucius stood and they flooed to the Manor. Narcissa was resting on the lounge. She looked worn, ill, and terribly troubled. Lucius went to support her.

Draco sighed and prepared himself.

"Mother," he began, kneeling before her. He took her hand. "I beg your forgiveness. Perhaps you'll understand my actions after I explain why I threatened you."

Narcissa refused to look at Draco, but Lucius nodded, allowing him to begin.

"It is true that I have been bitten and marked by a Vampire."

He undid the gauze and showed the mark. "At first, I did not know that allowing a Vampire to partake in my blood would bind me to that Vampire. When I did, I figured I had already sealed my fate to her and willingly let her have more blood. At first, she drank only from my wrist," Draco showed the scar from where Octavia first drank from him.

"After about a week of having her in my care, I met with the Vampire that turned her. He's a very powerful Vampire Lord and I was lucky to have walked away unscathed. I was frightened, but refused to lose my calm until I returned to the school. I was enraged and lashed out at her and a few girls in my class. Blaise urged me to drink some wine, which I had been drinking since I first experienced the resonance from having my blood drained. After a few drinks, I was feeling slightly better, but still far from calm. I wasn't lashing out at her and the girls, which was an improvement. But it did not change the fact that I had insulted her. I went to apologize the next day."

Narcissa was watching him with cold eyes. Draco swallowed and continued.

"That was the first time she drank from my neck. I do not know how you and father will think of what I'm about to say next, so I'm just going to say it: I enjoyed that feeling of having her teeth embedded in me. When she finished drinking from me, I asked her to tell me how she became a Vampire. She did so. I regretted asking her to tell me, because she was in tears most of the time. I even told her she didn't have to tell me everything, but she went on. That was just about two weeks ago. Just last night, I was visited by the same Vampire Lord that turned her in my dreams. He was enraged that I had allowed her to drink from my neck. I was frightened still, but I knew I wouldn't let him have her."

Draco bowed his head. "When you said you'd have her killed, Mother, I know it was not because you were vile towards her—you don't know her. I understand that all you wanted to do was protect me, fearing that I might become a Vampire if I kept letting her drink my blood, right?"

Narcissa did not answer. Draco continued.

"I can't let you kill her, Mother. I can't. I love her." Draco stood. "I made Octavia promise to turn me into a Vampire if she had no other choice."

Narcissa blinked, her cold gaze changed to surprise. "Octavia?"

"His Vampire is Octavia Gryffindor," Lucius clarified. "The same legendary Vampire that was once the daughter of Godric Gryffindor."

"And you want to become a Vampire?" Narcissa asked. Draco nodded. "You would risk our family name? Our reputation?"

"Maybe your generation would be condescending to it, but mine won't. Everyone in Slytherin met Octavia and have become very fond of her. Every student in my year had Professor Lupin for a teacher when we were all thirteen, give or take. It might change years of tension between the Werewolves and Vampires and us humans if given time."

Narcissa stood. She embraced Draco. "You are forgiven. But Draco, I fear for you. If you believe that you are safe with this Vampire, then I will trust you are right. If it must be, than it shall be." She released him. "Before you are turned, I want to meet this woman."

Draco looked at his father. He nodded.

Draco stepped away. "Very well." He and Lucius returned to the school. Draco went to change into his school uniform.

While heading to the Common Room, he began to feel watched. He glanced over his shoulder. There was no one.

However, the feeling only grew. Draco pulled his wand out of his holster and kept walking. While looking at a closet, he was tackled to the ground and pinned to the ground by a hand.

Augustan snarled at him, dressed in all black. "Where is she?" he demanded. Draco pointed his wand at the Vampire.

Expeliarmus, Draco thought. Augustan was hit dead on by the spell. He laughed—the spell had no effect.

"Did you really think you could disarm me?" Augustan asked, still holding Draco down on the ground. He picked Draco up still holding on to his head. "I wonder what would happen if I killed you now," Augustan snarled, bringing Draco close to his face. "I also wonder, what makes Octavia crave your blood. Of course, you won't let me taste you willingly."

Draco grabbed Augustan's cloak and, aiming a kick in the Vampire Lord's stomach, yanked off the cape. Augustan released him in surprise.

Draco dropped the cape and ran. Augustan chased after him and cut him off at the stairs. Draco skidded while turning and ran in a different direction. Augustan again cut him off and grabbed his throat. Draco punched at the Vampire, but his touch felt like nothing. Augustan pulled Draco closer to him and bit his shoulder.

Draco wanted to scream, but was unable to. After what seemed like hours of agony, Augustan released him and vanished.

Draco heard people running to him, but soon, he lost all consciousness