Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood impatiently with the small group he'd gathered in his office, awaiting Harry Potter's return.
He knew the boy would be not happy when he first arrived and would most likely lash out at him for taking him away from those people. But sacrifices have to be made for the Greater Good. Harry's upcoming role in Tom's final defeat was too important, he needed his guidance.
Dumbledore's plan was simple:
1. Summon Harry, using the one-time Horcrux Tracker & Retrieving spell.
2. Pacify the Boy, with his friends and Remus.
3. Keep an eye on him, for the remainder of the School Year. And finally,
4. Somehow Persuade Petunia to reconsider her position on Harry.
"-How much longer?" asked Hermione.
Albus though, knowing she and Harry were going through a rough patch. Had "invited" her to come, hoping that this would be enough to begin mending their fences. It would be a shame if such a powerful friendship was truly thrown away over something as petty as a Howler.
Young Ronald and his Mother Molly were also in attendance. Poor Remus, just wanted to see his cub again. It was one of the reasons he accepted the offer to teach at Hogwarts this year. Dumbledore almost felt bad about keeping him away from Harry for so long. But it needed to be done, the boy desperately needed a solid foundation in his early life after what happened to James and Lily.
He didn't even bother inviting Severus though, with his emotions still running high from this morning. The idea was to keep Harry calm, if he and Severus were currently in the same room together. There would most definitely be a fight, and Albus wasn't sure his right eye would survive it. His potions Master/Spy knew how to throw a mean punch.
Fawkes had to donate some tears for him to actually be able to see at the moment. What would he do if he didn't have a Phoenix as a familiar? Though getting knocked down like he was, had given Dumbledore a new respect for Muggles' defenses.
"-It shouldn't be long now Miss Granger," he answered.
"-But Professor, are you sure it's a good idea for me to be here? Harry and I aren't seeing eye to eye at the moment. I'm afraid it will do more harm than good,"
"-Hermione Dear, what are you talking about?" asked Mrs. Weasley.
"-I did something really stupid and I hurt him badly. He hasn't forgiven me. Snape is right, I am "An Insufferable Know It All" I can easily figure out the correct answer to an Assignment or Test but… Not people."
"-Oh, my Dear!" she said, pulling her into a hug. "I'm sure given enough time and effort, he'll come around."
"-You don't understand Mrs. Weasley. Growing up, my parents sheltered and protected me. Teaching me to respect all authority figures. They were the good guys, it never occurred to me. That Family could be the bad guys. My eyes have been opened to "Child Abuse." There's a reason why Harry defies certain authority. He's doesn't respect those who don't respect him. He almost died this past Summer at the hands of his own relatives. I-I actually Yelled at him to go BACK there! WHERE HE'D BE SAFE!" she shrieked at the end as she broke down crying in the Mother's arms.
"-Shh!" said Molly as she attempted to comfort her, rubbing her back. While glaring over her shoulder at the Headmaster. They would definitely be having words later; she had known something was wrong ever since her boys had "rescued" Harry in that bloody flying car. Dumbledore would have to let Harry stay at the Barrow this time.
The Dursleys could not be trusted!
Suddenly a blinding light flashed throughout the office before vanishing as quickly as it came, leaving behind a figure sprawled out on the floor.
"-Harry! My boy! Welcome Ba-!" Dumbledore started to say as it started to move.
"-That's where you're wrong, Old Man. I am not hairy, and I am definitely not a boy" said the woman groaning as she stumbled to get to her feet. The audience gasped,
"-Albus! What's the meaning of this?! You said that spell was supposed to be foolproof!" shouted Molly Weasley into his dumbstruck face. Ron started smirking, "Ronald Weasley! This is not funny! Don't you care about Harry?!"
"-Of Course, I do Mum! But I told you it wasn't a good idea to try and kidnap him from his new family. Harry deserves a bit a happiness Mum. He even wrote that his new guardian was considering sending him back to school next year. You didn't want to wait! I call what's happened, "Poetic Justice."
"-That's some impressive words Ron," said Hermione.
"-I do pick up a book other than Quidditch, every once in a while, Hermione. To try and understand what the bloody hell Percy is always talking about."
"- Ronald! You will talk nice about your brother," his mother scolded.
"-I hate to interrupt this interesting family feud but somebody want to tell me where I am?" asked the newcomer with a degree of snark to her voice.
Dumbledore by this time had worked mostly through his initial shock. But was quickly finding it replaced with feelings of Confusion, Frustration, and Humiliation at having an audience witnessed to his blunder. Still, he tried to smooth things over by being hospitable.
"-You are at "Hogwarts' School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Miss-?"
"-Pierce, Katherine Pierce. And you are?"
"-Don't trust a word she says, Headmaster." Professor Remus Lupin all but growled out before he could reply. "She's a Vampire."
"-Mmm, very Good. Such a smart Werewolf you've got there Professor." Katherine responded with a playfully wicked grin that reached her eyes.
"-What?!" and "-I knew it!" were Ron and Hermione's reactions to the news.
"-How? How did you know Hermione?" questioned Mrs. Weasley,
"-Professor Snape assigned an essay during one of Professor Lupin's off days."
The Professor and the Headmaster looked at their students.
"-Well, now that you know. Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, it is very imperative-!"
"-What's that?"
"-Important, that Professor Lupin's condition be kept a secret from your peers. Otherwise there will be an uproar."
"-Does that include me?"
"-Unfortunately, it does Miss Pierce. Not me personally, but the vast majority of the British Wizarding World views both your kinds of people as dangerous, unpredictable Supernatural Creatures."
"-Oh! They're right, in that I am "dangerous" if anybody crosses me. You said "British" so do that mean we're back in England?"
"-Scotland, actually. Hogwarts is a part of the Wizarding World; it is concealed from the Muggle- that the is non-supernatural human world."
"-Hmm, in that case…Would it be alright if I stayed here while I come up with some sort of plan of what to do next? After all you are already harboring a Werewolf. What's one more "Creature"?
Remus Lupin was starting to regret his action in exposing her. This Katherine just turned it right back on him.
Albus sighed, taking off his recently repaired glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. This was definitely not the way he wanted any of this to go. Katherine wasn't supposed to be here, Harry was. But he had to now face the reality in front of him.
"-Yes, Miss Pierce. You can stay but there are rules."
Katherine inwardly groaned; she like it when there were no rules. But these people did just save her life, she owed them. "-Very well, what are they?"
"-First, I know that there is always this tension between the Vampires and the Werewolves. But I must ask you not to fight with each other in the presence of the children or on these grounds.
Secondly, I won't dare insult you by asking what your diet is like. But I must insist that you are not to feed on any of the staff or students at any time or anywhere. If you absolutely must drink human blood, there is a village down the road from the castle called "Hogsmeade." Be discreet with your victims and don't kill anyone. Since I know that Vampires are able to drink without doing so. That includes turning. If this does not sound reasonable, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave"
Katherine shook her head, "-That sounds fine Headmaster. But-!" She suddenly flashed in front of his face, dilating her pupils and making him lock eyes with her. "You will not attempt to read my mind again"
"-I will not attempt to read your mind again," Dumbledore found himself helplessly repeating the words as the control took hold.
"-Perfect, then we'll get along." Katherine smiled backing up. "Now, who's going to show me to my room?"
After one of the house elves whisked her away, and the students had gone back to class. Leaving the remaining adults in the office. Molly Weasley worriedly approached the Headmaster.
"-Are you alright Albus? She didn't cast the imperious curse on you, did she?" Dumbledore shook his head, gathering his thoughts.
"-No, she compelled me. It's a Vampire's supernatural gift of controlling the situation. With their hypnotic gaze."
"-But Headmaster, you yourself are a master of both Occlumency and Legitimens. How could she break through the barriers?"
"-The only known way to avoid being compelled is ingesting or wearing the essence of an offensive plant called "Vervain," It has been so long since I've encountered a Vampire, that I haven't stocked up and forgot about that trick."
Once Albus Dumbledore was left alone to his own devices. He finally let loose of everything that had been building since his plan failed. The paperwork which had been stacked neat and orderly on his desk was soon scattered EVERYWHERE!
He couldn't figure out where he had gone wrong with the incantation. Harry should have been here!
That one-time spell located horcruxes, not vamp-Wait! If Katherine is here, that means…Oh Merlin's Beard!
Only one person was supposed to die in the quest to stop Tom, which was Harry himself. But if Katherine is a Horcrux? That makes two regrettable deaths. The poor body count just kept rising, and it made sense why Voldemort would choose her. Vampires were immortal. Dumbledore sighed, there were times he felt he was getting too old for this.
...
Across the water however two other conversations were being held. One between Elena and the newly resurrected Elijah.
Some weeks ago, the group had apparently gotten ahold of an ancient mystical dagger. The one weapon dipped in the ash of the white oak that could kill an Original. He had thus been daggered and his body placed down in the basement of the Salvatore House. But with Klaus' recent surprise attack, resulting in the near death of Bonnie and Harry's kidnapping.
(You heard me right, Bonnie had apparently collaborated with Damon to fake her death. To give them the surprise advantage.) Elena chose to go against the Salvatore's wishes, taking matters into her own hands. They needed information on Klaus.
"-And Katherina? She would have been released from my compulsion when I died."
"-Klaus took her, we fear she may be dead."
Elijah raised an amused eyebrow, "-I doubt that. Death would be too easy for her after what she did." The doppelganger was confused,
"-I don't understand, you say "you want Klaus dead" but you still want to make her pay for betraying him?"
The Original gave a sly yet hurt smile "-I have my own reasons for wanting Katerina to pay."
Elena sighed, "-She's not the only one, he took Harry too. Caroline is furious. Elijah, tell me the truth. What does Klaus want with him? Is he endanger?"
It was his turn to sigh as a far-off look came into his eyes.
"-Niklaus' interest in the boy is the same as my own. He will not hurt him. At least not intentionally. Unlike Katerina, he means too much to him – too much to our family actually. If they were still alive…"
"-What? Why?"
"-Let's just say, the recent discovery of the Human Petrova Doppelganger is not the only impossible supernatural surprise we've had this year."
...
Back at the apartment, Klaus had returned to his original body. While still being quite angry that Katerina had escaped a second time, he was more anxious about his brother's progress. Both Greta and Maddox did say that they noticed a positive change once that bloody horcrux was removed.
"-What's the prognosis Love?" he asked seeing Greta lean over Harry.
"-Very good, that blood you donated helped tremendously. The rune engravings have faded and His magical core has completely stabilized. Beginning to rebuild and actually regain strength. Something that wasn't happening before, not properly. Like how sometimes, humans will break a bone but if its not set in the right place. It heals wrong."
"-And when do you expect that he will wake up?"
"-Not long now, I think. If you continue to give blood every few hours tonight? Then the morning after the full moon is the earliest, we can anticipate."
Klaus nodded, that was a day and a half away. While he would have liked to see if he could remain a wolf longer after finally breaking that curse. Being there to see Henrick awaken and being able to see and talk to him like he used to. Made it all worth it.
Later that night, Klaus approached his still form with a syringe full of his blood. Gently, he pulled back the covers, took Harry's right arm and injected the needle.
"-There now, that's better" he said softly as he watched the tiny hole heal before brushing a lock of dark hair out of his face.
"Oh Henrick,
so much has happened little brother. Our family is no longer how you may remember it. Father truly has become the bad guy. He's hunting us, and Mother? The less said about her the better. I killed our siblings, they're not dead, dead. They can be revived. But it's not safe for them right now. Maybe once Mikael is defeated, we can all be together. Henrick…I never got the chance to say how truly sorry I am for what happened to you. It was not your fault, it was mine. I should have been a better brother. I can't change the past, but I give you my word: You will be safe from now on, or I will die trying. I owe you that much and more…"
