Chapter XII: A Very Sick Day

The next day Filch and all of the house elves began ripping the curtains off from every window in the castle. They were trying to get as much sunlight in as possible. As McGonagall was heading toward the Great Hall, she saw Filch gathering up all of the curtains and getting rid of them.

"How's it going, Mr. Filch?"

"All the curtains are down Professor, but there is a problem. The dungeons don't have any windows and there are still corridors that aren't getting any sunlight," said Filch.

"I will talk to Professor Snape about the dungeons, and as for the corridors I want you to close them off," said McGonagall.

"Yes Professor."

McGonagall continued walking toward the Great Hall, and Filch began walking in the opposite direction.

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As the sun began to rise for the morning, all of the students began to get ready. Nobody wanted to leave the safety of their common room to a place where the vampire could attack, but they knew that it was for the best. Breakfast was served exactly at sun up and students began heading for the Great Hall. In the Great Hall, it was completely lit with sunlight, but none of the students were talking. They all ate in silence and were making glances over their shoulders as if waiting for something to happened.

"This is unbelievable," said Hermione. She gave a glance at everyone and just couldn't believe in what she was seeing. "I don't know what's worse, the Great Hall being dead quite or that we're walking through the halls with a hungry vampire lose."

"Well we can't live the rest of our lives lock up in Gryffindor Tower," said Harry. "I don't like this either Hermione, but I don't see another option.

"Well I wouldn't mind teaching myself magic," she replied. "How about you Donny?" She then glanced over at Donny and was startled in what she saw. Donny had collapsed on the bench and wasn't moving. Thinking that he was asleep, she began shaking him to wake up. It didn't work. He wasn't responding. His face didn't have any color. Hermione shook him again but this time she called his name.

"Donny wake up," she cried but still there was no responses. The surround students were beginning to stare at them.

"Hermione what's wrong?" asked Harry.

"I don't know."

She began shaking him again. She didn't stop until she felt a soft hand on her shoulder. She look up and saw Dumbledore. With his gentle eyes he told her that it was all right that Donny would be okay. From the staff table McGonagall saw what was happening and came over to see what the problem was.

"What's wrong Albus?" she asked.

"Mr. Galahad is very sick. I need to take him to see Madam Pomfrey," said Dumbledore. He bend down and picked him up. Hermione watched Dumbledore until he was out of sight.

"Oh I hope Donny's alright," said Hermione.

"Well he really didn't looked that great," said Harry. "I mean he should have seen Madam Pomfrey when he first didn't feel good, and that was around the lock down . . . so that's been two weeks."

"I know but when it comes to his health it's like he doesn't care," said Hermione.

They quickly finished their breakfast and headed off for their Mythology class.

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"Good morning students," said Emmett. "I'm glad to see you all here."

"At least somebody is," mumbled Draco.

"Okay today we will be picking off where we last left off. Does anyone remember?"

Hermione raised her hand and answered, "We were learning about the Guardians."

"That's right. Miss Granger. Now remember when I said that not all vampires were heartless and evil and that some can be good? Those vampires are the Guardians. Hundreds and thousands of years ago the prince of the vampires was rescued by a mortal. The vampire was so grateful that he created a blood bond that if a vampire ever gets rescued from a life threat situation by a mortal then their soul would be returned and they must served and protect that human until death. And because of that bond Guardians were always portrayed as heroes, or warriors in vampire lore. Only because they would be the link to keep the peace between mortals and vampires."

"So you mean Lucid made his vampires into slaves for mortals?" smirked Draco.

"No the vampires became protectors. It's more like a life debt. The vampire would be connected to their savior," said Emmett. "But I guess if the mortal, who is the master, abuses their control, and then yes the vampire could be a slave."

"So how do you control a Guardian vampire?" asked Ron. "I mean if someone tells me to do something I won't do it unless I have to."

"With vampires it's all about promises," said Emmett. "They think of a promise as a knight will do about honor. What ever promises a vampire makes it will last until death." Emmett went over to one of his book shelves and pulled out a book. He opened it and began flipping through he pages. He found the page he was looking for and began reading from it. "When the master wants their guardian to make a promise they would have to say, 'Promise me Guardian that you will . . .' then they what you want to say and the guardian will reply, 'I promise Master.'" Emmett closed the book and sat it back on the shelf.

"Does a Guardian always have to make a promise, or can they say no?" asked Hermione.

"That I do no know. The tale of the Guardian was written down long ago. If there was ever one in existence you should ask it," said Emmett.

"So if Guardian did exist how would you be able to tell the difference from a regular vampire?" asked Ron.

"No one would be able to," replied Emmett. "Well maybe the vampires can tell each other apart, but no mortal can."

The lesson went on, but the class was cut short and Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed off to Transfiguration. The day was dragging by very slowly and the students were still jittery, and by lunch time students were eating nothing but garlic. Donny was still absent and Hermione couldn't believe that he was still sick.

"He was out cold this morning," stated Harry. "He could be there for a long time."

"But what could possibly be wrong with him?" asked Hermione.

"Maybe it was something he ate," suggested Harry.

"Or lack of eating," said Ron. "For someone who isn't skin and bone, he sure eats very little or not at all."

"Ron are you suggesting that Donny has an eating disorder?" asked Hermione.

"No I'm just saying what I know," said Ron. He went back to his meal and kept quiet.

Hermione was disturbed on Ron's comment about Donny's eating habit and left to the library.

After all of the classes were done for the day, all of the prefects and the Head Boy and Girl met Dumbledore in the Room of Requirement for their meeting. They all sat around a big round table and waited for everyone to arrive.

"Is everyone here?" said Dumbledore. He looked around and saw that everyone was in their seat. "I have called this meeting because of our current situation. Now what happened to Miss. Patil and Mr. Corner was very tragic, and we will have a ceremony tomorrow for them in the Great Hall. Now as everyone saw this morning all of the curtains were re-moved from all of the windows. I did this so students could walk to class safely, but there are some corridors that won't get any sunlight. Mr. Flitch closed them off and I don't want any students traveling through those corridors, so when this meeting is over I want you to tell your house mates to avoid the third and sixth floor."

"But sir a lot of the students rely on the third floor for short cuts to their classes," said Hermione.

"I know that Miss. Granger, but I can't risk sending anyone to a dark corridor, and there's another problem. The vampire is after one of the students. More precise a girl."

"Are you sure. I mean both Michael and Padma are dead," said Hannah.

"Yes I am. Even though Mr. Corner and Miss Patil died, it was Miss. Patil who was bitten. I have reasons to believe that he will go after all of the girls until he finds the one he's looking for," said Dumbledore.

"Well then," said Draco. He got up with a big smile on his face, "if it's after a girl then us guys can have the freedom to do what ever we want."

"Malfoy sit down and shut up!" yelled Hermione. "If the vampire is after a girl, what makes you so confident that it won't kill any more guys?"

Malfoy glared at Hermione for a moment and then sat down.

Dumbledore waited to see if the argument was to continue. Once he was sure that it was dissolved he spoke, "Now I want everyone to travel in large groups. If anyone finds themselves alone then ask a professor to walk with you."

The students all nodded with agreement and then the room went quiet. But soon everyone could hear that someone was crying. It was Anthony Goldstein.

"Anthony are you okay?" asked Hermione.

He looked up at her. Tears were running down his face. "See I told you . . . all of you that the dance was a bad idea. It's all your fault. If you all had listen to me, Mike and Padma would still be alive." Hannah was sitting next to him and placed her arm around him.

"Oh shut up Goldstein," said Draco. "If we didn't have a dance than someone else would be dead."

"Malfoy is right. It could have been anyone of us that would been dead right no, but we shouldn't be pointing fingers at anyone. The only reason why the vampire is here is because someone invited it in, not because of a dance," said Cho, the Head Girl.

"But do we know who invited the vampire?" asked Hermione.

"No we don't. Right now Moody is checking on that and will report back to me later," said Dumbledore. "But when we do find out we can't blame that person. Vampires do have the power of mind control and probably made someone to let him in. Now if anyone has nothing further so say I will end this meeting." Dumbledore looked around the table seeing if anyone would say anything.

Cho was taking notes about the meeting. When she was done she re-read everything and then spoke, "Professor, what are we going to do with the bodies?"

"Well since we can't give the bodies to the parents, I'm going to keep them in this room," answered Dumbledore. "I think that they will be safe from any harm, and don't tell anyone that they are here."

They agreed to Dumbledore wishes and the meeting was dismissed.

Dinner was served early and the atmosphere was the same. The students weren't use to a threat in the castle. The anticipation that someone could die at any moment was eating them up. At Gryffindor table an empty seat was next to Hermione. She kept glancing at it as if she was picturing a person there.

"Hermione are you okay?' asked Ron. He waved his arm in front of her. She blink a few times and then turned to look at Ron.

"Sorry. I was just wondering about Donny," she said.

"If you're so worried why don't you go visit him before going back to the Common Room," suggested Harry. "I mean it is on the way."

"You're right Harry. I should visit him," said Hermione. She quickly finished her dinner and headed off. As Hermione was heading to the hospital wing, she felt as if someone was watching her and quicken her pace. She still felt that someone was with her and so she grabbed a small bottle out of her bag. It had the words 'holy water' on the front and she began loosening the cap. She soon saw the doors to the hospital wing and the anxiety in her was easing. Hermione was about to opened the doors when she saw the knobs were turning. The doors opened and it was Dumbledore.

"Miss. Granger what are you doing here?" asked Dumbledore.

"I was coming to see Donny. How's he? Ever since this morning I've been worried," she said.

" I was just going to give you a report. Miss Granger, Donny is very sick. If we don't treat him, he will turn . . . quite ugly," he said.

"Can I see him?"

"No. It would be best if you stay away. It would be what he wants."

"Okay then. Please tell him that I came." She turned around and began headed back toward the Common Room.

" Miss. Granger." Dumbledore looked around and notice that she wasn't with anyone. "Where are your friends?"

"They should be in the Common Room," she answered.

"Well you shouldn't be in the halls by your self remember," said Dumbledore. He then saw Professor Maddox coming in the opposite direction. "Oh Myrddin could you escort Miss. Granger to her Common Room."

Maddox agreed and they left. Once Hermione and Professor Maddox was gone Dumbledore quickly slipped back into the hospital.

"How is Donny, Poppy?"

"He's not good. He was getting out of control so I had to tie him to the bed. If he turns nothing will stop him from feeding," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Don't we have something to give him?"

"I've given him the last bottle of blood, but it won't be enough for him. He's been need blood for about three weeks. I need more or his instincts will kick in and he will look for his own food."

"Why did he do this? He knows he can only survive a week or two," said Dumbledore. He began pacing back and forth. "Well I can't ordered a case of blood for him since we can't leave. He will have to go get it himself once he get's better." Dumbledore then saw some movements on the ground and concentrated his focus on it. It was a rat, a big fat rat. The rat soon caught sight of the two adults and quickly ran under a table.

"Poppy have you considered using the rats for a source of food?"

"No I haven't and that's a great idea," said Madam Pomfrey. She went over to the rat and picked it up. She then snapped the neck off and began draining it's blood in a cup. "A rat doesn't have a lot of blood as humans. I will be needing more." She tossed the dead rat in the garbage and went over to Donny. She tilt his head up. He look at her with his bright red eyes and began to drink the blood.

"I need more," Donny growled.

"I know dear. We will be getting you more," insured Madam Pomfrey. She placed the empty cup down and tighten the straps on his arms.

"Poppy," said Dumbledore. "Will you be all right here by yourself?"

"I will. Where will you be?"

"I'll be with Filch gathering the rats," said Dumbledore. He headed towards the door. When he opened the door he looked back at Madam Pomfrey. "Take care Poppy. " She smiled at him and gave a motion to go, but his gaze went over to Donny. He looked at Donny and he could tell that he needed to hurry and fast. "Hold on Donny. Just hold on." Dumbledore quickly went through the doors and left.