Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter in any way shape or form. I do not claim to own him or anything else that may in fact be the thought of the lovely writer Jo Rowling is, please don't sue me. I do however own all original characters in whole or in part that appear in this story. This story is not HBP compliant, though quite a few things are taken from that book; again I own nothing except for the plot and original characters. Thank you for reading! –Gypsy Jade

Summary: Not fully HBP compliant. Harry starts having strange dreams and they all end the same, with unearthly silver eyes haunting him. Something is going on and for the first time in the last 10 years if not the history of Hogwarts two new teachers grace Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Chapter 14

Revelations and Conversations

Harry was meticulous when it came to making sure the hangings around his bed were completely closed. He took a deep breath as he took a moment to mentally prepare himself for the seemingly innocent box sitting in front of him. Things he played with as a baby were in that box, things his mother carefully and lovingly packed were in that box, things he had once loved…were in that box, was he ready for it?

Ready or not, Harry was going to open that box. His fingers tingled as he slowly ran them over each curve and etching on the dark wood as if reawakening a memory.

He couldn't place if it was in his imagination or the mere magical quality of the box but a glow seemed to come from the box as he opened it to reveal a stuffed stag toy. Harry felt his eyes water.

"Harry, there you are! Where you been mate?" Harry slowly opened his eyes to the blurry sight of his redheaded freckled friend looking at him rather oddly from the foot of his bed.

"Just thought I'd get in a bit of reading…guess it set me to sleep." Harry rubbed his eyes hoping they didn't give away the tears he had shed. Ron laughed and nodded making his way to sit on his own bed.

"What about you? How was the walk?" Harry couldn't help but smirk a tad as Ron squirmed a bit on his bed and his cheeks reddened.

"It was all right. I never noticed she's not as uptight as we thought. It was strange mate...but a nice sort of strange." Harry couldn't help but laugh as Ron rubbed the back of his neck as he usually did when he had managed to confuse himself.

Harry shook his head and stood up putting away the book Fred had lent him. He was vaguely listening to Ron's point by point review. Fred's book had a very interesting footnote about the type of carvings that were on his treasure box, and for once in his life he didn't need Hermione to tell him he should go check the library.

"Hey Ron, want to come with me to the library? I want to check out a book on Japanese Ice dragons, when they're not trying to fry us, they're rather cool." Harry slipped his bag nonchalantly over his shoulder as Ron agreed and grabbed his own bag.

"I might as well look for a book on that new charm we're supposed to master this week." Ron stopped in front of a mirror and started fixing his appearance giving Harry the impression that Ron was more going to see if he could check out Hermione than to study up on his charm assignment.

Ron didn't find Hermoine in the library, but he and Harry did have a bump in with someone else while they browsed the Magical creature section.

"Hello Potter, Weasley." Nicer or not one thing could always be said about Draco Malfoy, he tended to sound as arrogant as he looked.

"Malfoy" Harry looked the other boy in the eyes and for once saw something other than the pure ice he had known before.

"If you're looking for Japanese Ice Dragons they're under mythical creatures according to the Ministry. If your looking up my cousin...then this is the book you need Potter." In his hands Draco held a worn leather book with the same swirled and intricate handwriting that Harry had seen on the underside of his treasure box. Harry felt his breath catch in his throat.

"Remember Potter...it's your decision not anyone else's." For that instance Harry understood that everything he had known Draco to be was only the façade the boy lived with, he realized that all of this was more important than who he took to the Masquerade ball, he knew he had been right when he felt that Draco was up to something...he was missing the picture so far and doubt settled into his being as his hands touched the soft leather binding incasing his answers. Answers that he was almost positive wouldn't make the full picture come into focus, but part of the picture was better than none, right?

"I know Malfoy, it's a promise" Harry felt his hand warm as he took the book properly and with only a nod the blonde Prince of Slytherin was gone.

"That's still freaky." Ron shook his head and wandered down the library aisles looking for the mythical creatures section. Harry looked over the book in his hands and a sudden cold chill traveled down his spine, did he dare? He very well could look through the book now and find what Dra...Malfoy was referring to; he didn't have to let Ron see...there was something instinctively dark about this book. In that sense it very much reminded him of Yamele, there is something instinctively dark about her...something he wasn't sure about...but he was possibly addicted to.

The more he looked at the book the less he could resist opening it, and really Ron was taking an absurd amount of time to find a simple book. Not to mention aside for the assignment Ron had no need to know about Yamele's past, and what she was. Harry's curiosity got the better of his patience, his breathing hitched as he opened the worn book to reveal something much akin to a family tree; and there at the top of the page in swirling letters was the name VanHouten...Just as Harry was going to read the smaller letters towards the bottom of the page he felt eyes on him, Ron was heading back.

"I can't believe the Ministry has these things classified as Mythical...it almost ate Hagrid for Merlin's sake!" Ron rolled his eyes as he maneuvered back to their table. Harry couldn't help but be amused at Ron's reaction and yet he was still slightly frustrated at the redhead's timing. In hopes that Ron would follow his lead Harry made to open the book once more, but again Ron interrupted him.

"You're not going to believe this mate." Ron had in fact beat him to the punch line as he had already opened the book on Japanese Ice Dragons, without waiting for Harry to inquire Ron read a particular passage out loud.

"Japanese Ice Dragons have only been seen with those members of what the Ministry in recent years has acknowledged as the Vampire Council. No witch or wizard alive has been able to tame them, and those foolish enough to try have met a horrible, painful and untimely death. Being that they are so rare the Ministry has given them the Mystical creature status until more information can be provided." Harry's blood ran cold. Had Ron just said...Japanese Ice Dragons had only ever been seen with members of the Vampire Council? Ron and Harry both shared a disbelieving look. Hesitantly, Harry took a good look at the cover of the worn leather bound volume and there in swirled lettering barely visible he made out the title. "Vampire Council: A Vampire Coven's Life".

"Mate, I think Professor VanHouten is part Vampire." As far as Harry was concerned that was the century's most understated sentence. With clammy hands he took the leather bound volume Draco had handed him and opened it once more to the "family tree" page. There like before at the very top he saw in swirling letters, the Van Houten name, quite proudly penned. The "tree" was rather short, with the two names leading towards Yamele's in red lettering, indicating that her parents were dead. There was a name before Yamele's which was smudged and glowing from red to blue. Then the line ended, at least on that page.

As they reached the end of the page and went to flip it on, more swirling lettering appeared. "The VanHouten clan is the oldest surviving clan with direct descendants still residing in Romania and as such upon the first full moon of the aforementioned descendant's 20th turning he/she will become the head of the Vampire Council."

"This is surreal...I mean...can we be fully sure? She doesn't look anything like a vampire." Harry could only rub his head feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information he was receiving. He heard Ron snort in response to his feeble attempt.

"When, Harry was the last time you've seen a vampire? Besides, Merlin knows the witches and wizards penning our books aren't always the most qualified...do I have to remind you of Lockhart?" Harry ceded to Ron's point sighing heavily but following in cleaning up their table.

"Look mate if you're not completely sure you want to believe what the book says, after all Malfoy did give it to you; then we could go ask Hermione." Harry nodded but he knew who he had to ask.
"Thanks Ron, but I think I'm just too tired to process all of this information. I think I'll go down to the kitchens and head back to bed." Harry knew what he had to do, and he also knew his friend enough to know Ron would insist on going with him; and Harry couldn't help but feel that this really was simply between himself and Yamele.

Making a quick stop in his dormitory Harry waited until all the other boys headed down to dinner before digging up his Marauder's Map and checking the castle for Yamele. There on the map was her dot heading out of her office. Taking enough time to stash the map in his back pocket, Harry hastily made his way out of Gryffindor tower and towards the Grand Staircase. On the third floor landing he pulled out the map again and checked for Yamele, only to find that she had already left her office and classroom. Double checking that they were alone in the corridor, Harry set off at a slight jog, map in hand, but he reached the end of the corridor, without sight of Yamele.

Stopping near a particularly dark portrait he checked the map again which showed he should be face to face with her.

"Yamele?" Harry turned around looking for hair or lovely hide of his obsession, only to be met by portraits, which appeared to be empty of their inhabitants. That is all of them except the peculiarly dark portrait he had stopped in front of; there sitting on what he could only assume to be an heirloom of a chair was a very pale looking girl, no older than 5, dressed in a very formal dress. Crystalline eyes stared unblinking at Harry, sending horrible chills down his spine.

"Er...excuse me, but do you know where Professor VanHouten is?" Harry watched as the girl tilted her head to the side as if sizing him up before holding out a pale hand to a bloodied man at her feet that Harry had not noticed until then. Transfixed Harry watched as the man stood and bowed before disappearing off the side of the portrait. Something in Harry told him to pay very close attention to the girl in the portrait as she watched him, there was some sense of nostalgia in watching her, her black curls framing her face, she looked angelic...until she smiled at him showing long canines. The portrait swung open breaking Harry from his trance.

"Harry? Why aren't you down at dinner?" there stood Yamele in much different muggle attire than what he was used to seeing her in. For a moment Harry forgot why he had come to see her, and just stared as she stood there in loose drawstring pants he had once heard Hermione describe as yoga pants and the same kind of thinned strapped shirt he had seen under her knit sweaters. Harry quite preferred this look on her; it was much more relaxed and frankly clung to her curves a lot better.

"Harry? Are you all right?" her hand on his cheek brought him back from his thoughts.

"What? ... oh yeah sorry, I erm wanted to talk to you" Harry rubbed the back of his neck as he felt a blush creep up on him. Yamele tilted her head to the side, watching him before standing up straighter.

"What could possibly be so important that you'd miss dinner for?" there was a tense note in her voice as she asked Harry why he sought her.

"...I know...I mean...that you're...part vampire." Harry could swear he could have heard a snitch fly in the corridor from how silent it had suddenly gotten. Yamele's features were impassive, Harry couldn't read her at all, and even her mercury eyes seemed void of emotion, if only for a moment.

"Oh, I see. Come in" she pushed the portrait wider and ushered Harry inside with a sort of resigned air about her. Harry had never seen the inside of any of the teacher's private quarters, but he remembered how very impressed he had been upon first seeing his Common Room, Yamele's living quarters made Gryffindor tower seem cramped and childish. The sitting area was lavishly decorated with dark woods and rich fabrics on antique looking furniture that would have been at home in any upscale household. There were walls lined with paintings, pictures and most impressively books. The fireplace gave the room a warm cozy glow and the light spilled over to what appeared to be was a very open kitchen area; two doors led off of the sitting room, one was opened to reveal part of a bathroom, while the other Harry assumed to be Yamele's actual bedroom was closed.

"I won't bite, make yourself comfortable. Would you like a butter beer or pumpkin juice?" Yamele nodded towards an inviting chair as she crossed over into the kitchen.
"Either is fine..." Harry rubbed his hands on his trousers as he sat in the chair and looked around the well decorated room. Volumes of books were open on a nearby end table, and on the coffee table was the catalog for A capite ad calcem, this brought up his own promise to her. Until now, Harry hadn't really given the Masquerade ball a second thought, but now it crossed his mind. Would he stand up to his promise? Did he really want to take a half vampire to the Masquerade ball? Of course the real question for Harry was, if he truly cared what Yamele was?

"Here you are. I suposse you'd like some questions answered." Yamele handed him a warm bottle of Rosemerta's butter beer as she sat on the edge of the loveseat nearest Harry holding a glass of a burgandy colored wine. Harry took a sip and thought about that, did he really have questions for her.

"Well...I hadn't thought of any before, but I guess I want to know why it's such a big secret." Harry watched as Yamele seemed to relax a bit more, he wasn't sure if it was the wine or his question.

"I'm a half breed, I'm not exactly on the top of anyone's list for a christmas present Harry. For instance, though Dumbledore gave me this job, he did so reluctantly and is very guarded with me. The ministry, once they figure out what and who I am will not want me here, but there is little they will be able to do by then. " The burgandy colored wine swirled in the frosted glass causing the slight splashes to glisten with the light from the fireplace.

"Why's that? Lupin was one of our best teachers and there wasn't a very warm welcome once everyone found out he was a werewolf." Harry took a deeper sip from his bottle as he watched the liquid meet the supple lips he often fantized about.

"Because I've gained my student's confidence and that of many of their parents. Remus is probably the best at what he does, and he's a very effective teacher, but werewolves have horrid reputations while my not being fully vampire will come into question. Besides, my position will be enough to intimidate the Ministry." Yamele set down her glass and watched Harry closer.

"Why is it that you're taking this so well Harry?" There in those mercury orbs Harry saw confusion and relief.
"Because, you're still yourself Yamele. And...it kind of answers a lot of things, and really because I can't help but still want to be around you. Besides, Remus trusts you and my parents trusted you, I know I can too." Harry finally saw Yamele truly smile, and now knowing he noticed her slightly enlongated canines and couldn't help but find them a very attractive sight.

"That Harry, makes everything seem much better." Setting her wine glass down Yamele took Harry's hand and held it to her cheek.

"This gives me hope, that perhaps things really will be worth while." Maybe it was how inviting she seemed to look to him, or the butterbeer mixed with the warmth of the fire, but Harry felt a certain need as she spoke. Setting his bottle down, he pulled on her hand and watched transfixed as she stood and hesitantly came closer. Not really knowing where this instinct was coming from, he felt himself wrap an arm around her waist and pull her towards him, his eyes connecting with hers. Green melted into mercury as he felt her body give in and her weight settle on his lap, and there in the soft glow of the fireplace, surrounded by a rich sense of tradition Harry kissed his obsession truly for the first time. There, in the sitting room behind the pecularly dark portrait Harry James Potter tasted a dark promise he wanted to be fufilled and it tasted like blood wine.