THE DEATH DANCER

-CHAPTER FOURTEEN-

BETA: none

Snape was still in a fowl mood as they left the cave a couple of minutes later. He didn't say much, but Harry could tell Snape was curing every one and everything in his mind as they walked. Charmz let the way once again, and Harry held the vampire's hand in a firm grip. He had heard enough about those creatures the vampires guarded, that he knew he wouldn't want to get lost and meet them on his own. He wouldn't call himself a coward, because he wasn't, but he found it unnecessary to have an potentially dangerous confrontations witch nameless creatures.

"Where are we going now?" he asked his vampire father in a low voice.

"We're going home, to the place where I live most of the time. Mother use to live there too, whenever she isn't guarding this cave, that is," he mused.

"Oh…" Harry said weakly and mentally berated himself for sounding like such a fruitcake. He really wanted Charmz to like him, and so far he suspected that he had given the man a rather pitiful view of who he was. They continued to walk through the dark and damp cave in silence. Harry knew they must be nearing the exit, and sure, soon enough they could see the opening. Finally, Harry thought relieved. Ever since they left the other vampires and entered the tunnel he had been hearing whispering voices and threatening hisses, but since neither of the two others acknowledged it he didn't want to be the lesser man either.

He heard how Snape took a deep breath as they went outside. The air was much better here, but the sounds from the forest wasn't exactly conforting and Harry expected smoothing to attack them at any second, but Charmz seemed relaxed and carefree. He wished he too could be like that. Instead he searched for comfort at Snape's side, standing very close to the man. As if Snape has sensed his thoughts he carefully laid a hand on his shoulder, and it helped. Harry immediately felt more at ease.

"What now?" Snape said in an emotionless voice as he looked over at the vampire. Charmz looked around them, surveying the forest.

"Well…" he said and dragged it out. Harry knew that Snape wanted to snap at him to hurry up and spit it out, but he never did. "I think the easiest way is to apparate since you aren't able to walk through the shadows nor fly," Charmz told them and walked up right by their side. "Just hold on to me and I will handle everything," he told them. Snape reluctantly took a hold of Charmz arm and Harry copied the movement. Seconds later they disappeared.

It was still dark, wherever they now had ended up, but there was no spooky fog nor any frightful sounds near them. Harry relaxed slightly. Since he couldn't see much in the dark he could only tell that there was still a forest around them, but it looked like they were in some kind of valley. If he wasn't mistaking he could see mountains in the distance, they looked like gigantic dark shadows against the black- grey night sky.

"We'll have to walk a bit… There are wards around my home you see, and no one is able to apparate right inside the house," Charmz explained as they began to walk.

"Isn't that a huge inconvenience?" Snape asked snidely but Charmz didn't mind the attitude.

"Let me rephrase that," Charmz said patiently, but Harry had the feeling that the vampire was only informing them of things because of him. If Snape and Charmz had been alone then Charmz probably hadn't been so eager to provide the information. "No living can apparate into the house… unless I add your magical signature to the wards of course." Snape stayed quiet after that.

The road they were walking on went straight upwards, and soon both Snape and he were painting by the effort while Charmez seemed quite indifferent by the walk.

"God damn," Harry muttered to himself. He hadn't expected anyone to hear him, so he startled when Snape snorted beside him.

"Goddamn, indeed," Snape's dry reply said in the darkness.

"Don't worry, we're almost there now," Charmz told them.

"I bloody well hope so," Snape said. The road they walked on wasn't asphalt, but rather a big gravel path, like the roads a couple of hundred years ago. Everything was quiet, and there was no indication of any humans anywhere. There were no houses, and no source of light.

Finally, after Harry had told himself he would give up at least a couple of dousing times, they reached a black metallic gate. It was big and high, but quite regular besides that. Harry could see that the corrosion had began at some places. The gate opened by itself with a grinding sound. Harry shuddered when he heard it.

"Come on, step right through," Charmz said and prevented the gate from slamming shut again by the force of his hand. When Harry hesitated Snape stepped through before him. Since nothing happened Harry followed hesitantly.

"Now then, there is only a little bit of walk left…" Harry couldn't suppress a groan from slipping out and Charmz chuckled. "Yes, I know it must be exhausting… even if I can't quite remember what it felt like. I do not feel exhaustion anymore, at least not in the same way humans do." Harry blushed slightly but felt better when Snape took his hand to motivate him to move forward.

"At least the ground is more even and flat now," Snape whispered. Harry nodded before realising that Snape probably didn't see him do so.

"Yes," he agreed. "It's much better now."

At least Charmz had been truthful to them, soon they could see a big shadow of a building in front of them. It wasn't a castle like Harry had half expected, but it wasn't small either.

"Welcome to my home," Charmz said fondly. He clearly liked this place. Harry wished for the daylight. He was quite sure that the view and surroundings were spectacular. They had to be, after all that walking they had done! He could feel that they were high up in the mountains somewhere. The air was different too. Charmez walked in front of them, and he seemed eager to be home. Snape and Harry walked side by side. A few threes were spread around the grounds, and Harry thought he heard a stream somewhere near them. Even by night the grounds seemed friendly and very relaxing. Harmonious was a good word for the impression he got. Even Snape seemed to appreciate it when they walked to something that smelled like a herb garden. Harry could sense that Snape's curiosity was peaked and his interest of exploring the ground was big. He couldn't blame him, he felt the same. He supposed he could have a look around in the morning. There wasn't much to see right now.

As they got nearer the house garden touches lit up, made of bamboo.

"Oh my God…" Harry whispered and he heard Snape gasp as well. It was beautiful, he had never seen anything quite like it. Living fairly lights came alive in the big trees, and he could clearly see the limestone paths that led to various places all over the grounds. Bushed and flowers were all over the place in various colors, and Harry knew they must be magical or else they wouldn't be blooming right now. What Harry liked most of all was the big duck pond with a tree bridge over it. Blue lights were glimmering beneath the surface, and big round stones in various colors of white, grey and black were placed neatly around the edges and inside the pond, as well as water plants and flowers.

"This is so cool!" he told Charmz. He had always enjoyed gardening, and this was very gardeners paradise!

"Thank you. I though you'd like it," Charmz said in a friendly voice. Harry then looked up at the house and became speechless once again. It was huge! Several stories high, with big glass windows and two balconies. Stone steps led up to the enormous porch, and stone pillars supported the balcony which belonged to the first floor. The roof was built in several V- forms and looked very cool, and reminded Harry a bit about a ski lodge.

The house was built in dark tree, and Harry really liked it.

"Well then, let's step inside," Charmz said as the door opened for them. Harry eagerly stepped forward, he couldn't wait to see what was inside!