Chapter Twenty-one: Bloodlust and Bondage
All Shaddi could see was her enemy, Jordan. Her ally vampire ducked aside as Shaddi raced at him. He dogged her but only by a hair. He turned tail and headed for the door but was blocked by Shaddi's other cloaked vampire. It was then that Shaddi caught him. From behind she grabbed his shoulders and threw him, slamming him down onto the Slytherin table. She flipped him over so he was on his back, her face twisted into a satisfied smile as she moved in for the kill. With a snarl she drove her fangs into him, as he had done so many times to her. She enjoyed the scream he produced for her as she drank greedily. She could hear others screams as well, but didn't care. She drank until she felt he heart slow and then she quickened her drafts. until she felt the well run dry. When she pulled back. she turned her eyes to the nearest student which happened to be a Slytherin first year. The girl cowered as Shaddi set her empty and lustful eyes on her. Once Shaddi stood to her full height the girl was nearly screaming. Both of the only true vampires remaining grabbed Shaddi and with great difficulty drug her from the hall.
Once they were gone no one moved, they all sat stunned. For the first time everyone noticed that Severus had risen from his chair and was standing in the middle of the hall. barley visible in the dancing sliver light from the hardly burning corpses of the vampires. The teachers rose and returned light to the hall. Only then was it visible the amount of carnage they lay within Hogwarts. Thirty vampires lay scattered around the great hall. Everyone of them dead. The students were starting to buzz with horror at what they had just seen. Shaddi was a vampire. How could that be?
Severus heard a set of footsteps and turned (along with everyone else) to the doors. The vampires stood there hoods no longer obscuring their faces. They were a pair of porcine twin dolls. No older than twenty-five. Long deep-blood red hair hanging to their waists. the only difference between them was that the girl on the left had venomous violet eyes, the exact shade of Shaddi's. While the other's eyes were a shimmering set of emeralds. They moved into the hall and up toward Severus. when they were five feet from him they kneeled and then stood.
"We bring you our deepest condolences." The emerald eyed one said. "I am Alexandria and this is my sister, Aria."
"What is it you two want, exactly?" Severus asked his voice struggling to be calm.
"We have to tell you of a few things regarding Shaddi's current, condition."
"Such as." Professor McGonagall said standing.
"Well first off, her vampiric state isn't permanent. I'm sure your potions master can tell you the properties of the Vampirus Elixir." The one called Aria said waving a hand toward Severus.
"Vampirus Elixir! But that was outlawed one-hundred years ago, it's not even legal to brew mush less drink." McGonagall stated in a high pitched voice.
"Of course it really is a very simple thing to make, I can even see where she got vampire blood. Right here." Severus said gesturing toward the twins.
"Yes, I will confess I did give her my blood. However niter of us wanted this for her."
"Really and why is that?" He asked, a bit of bite of his voice.
"Because I know where she is right now!" Aria shouted. "Shortly before my own permeant transformation I too took The Vampirus Elixir. Look at my eyes. and you will have no trouble believing me, I'm sure." It was true her eyes were in fact that shade of violet that made you think they would glow in the dark. "I lived my mortal life before the out lawing of this potion, I was one of five people who took it. I was the only one who kept the eyes. Others kept fangs, and some had hair that was pitch black for the rest of their days. I was also the only one who was later turned into a true vampire."
"Why would you keep the eyes?" McGonagall asked confused.
"Minirvera,surly you know every person is different." Severus said
"Well of course Severus." She seemed inpatient now.
"Well then you can understand that, every person reacts to potions differently. In regards to this potion some keep certain traits such as fangs or oddly colored eyes while some keep nothing at all. The only thing everyone has in common it that the change to vampirism is never permanents."
"And" Aria added "Unlike true vampires, who can drink the blood of animals in order to live. Those under the influence of The Vampirus Elixir have no choice but to drink human blood." The hall went dead silent.
"There is still one more problem." Alexandria said. "Strong a person as she was Shaddi is a very strong vampire, and she drank the blood of an even stronger immortal." She waved her hand at the flesh covered skeletal body of Jordan. "Now her strength rivals ours. As you saw it takes both of us to move her."
"And." Severus said
"Well we cruelty have her locked in our house deep in the forest. However with that strength she won't be kept there long." Aria cut in.
"And if she escapes this school is in danger. For she knows no one and nothing now. Even you Severus, the one whom she loves more than anything, would die violently at her hand. She needs to be confined in a stronger prison."
"This all for three days." Severus said. Aria laughed a high and musical laugh that rung off the walls.
"Three days normally." She said "However as we have already stated, she drank the blood of a powerful coven leader, she is now looking at a minimum of two weeks. A vampire needs to feed every two days, so instead of looking at one feeding session she's looking at seven. All of which she will remember."
"And if she doesn't feed."
"She will die" Aria said
"But that very well might be her fate." said the other. "I mean how many would hand themselves over to that?"
"I'll do it." Severus said
"No!" The twins said at once. Then Aria,
"Do you understand what that would do to her? She will remember every person she feeds from. And should that person be you. It would drive her insane. And she would never forgive herself for it. No you won't be the one."
"I'll do it." Everyone looked toward the Slytherins. Draco was standing holding the edge of the able. He moved toward the others. Once he was within conversation range he spoke again. "Let me do it."
"Do realize what you would be doing?" Aria said stepping over and around him. Her body nearly touching his. He shuddered as he felt her icy breath on his neck.
"Yes." Everyone could hear the struggle to keep his voice even "But I don't have a choise. She saved my life, it's only fair that I help her in return." The sisters looked at each other and nodded.
"But what's to stop her from killing him?" McGonagall asked.
"We'll be there to pull her away. Don't worry about that."
"But now how do we stop her from running off?" Aria asked
"We'll confine her in one of the lowest dungeons. We'll have it reinforced so she can't break out." Dumbledore said.
"Then it should be done soon, by soon I mean now. I don't know how long she stay in the cell where we've got her." Alexandria said.
"All right, Prefects take you houses back to their common rooms. No one is to leave under any condition." Dumbledore said, the students began to file out. Draco was stopped by Aria.
"You should stay with us." The group of teachers, vampires and Malfoy headed down to the lowest dungeon. Professor McGonagall had the task of transfiguring the door. So that not even the twins combined strength could break it. then there was the matter of restraints. The strongest sliver coated with unbreakable charms, created by Flitwick and McGonagall were made so that Shaddi couldn't kill Draco from the start when he got in the door. The chain that would connect around her neck was the only one draco would have the ability to get off. The others would have to be removed by the twins. And finally the addition of two coffins where the twins would stay.
"All right I believe were ready for her. Draco, now that you have seen the set up you may go back to your dorm. We will come get you tomorrow for the first feeding." Aria said, he nodded and left, very pail.
"Well now that it's all ready, let us go get her."
"Severus I think it would be best if you didn't come." Aira said to him.
"Why is that." He was now starting to get angry.
"She won't want you to see her like this. Believe me."
"I'm going and that's final." He half shouted. Alexandria put a hand on her sister's shoulder before she could retort. Aria gave up.
"Whatever, you have to marry her, not me."
"Let's go." Alexandria said, they headed down to the forest and waited for Hagrid to get his crossbow, the twins telling everyone it would be a good idea. Once he and Fang returned they set off into the forest. At their speed it took then nearly an hour and a half, but finally they reached the small cabin. Severus could see why it took her time to build. It was beautiful. Solid granite, two stories, with all the gothic touches. A balcony with carved stone guardrails, gargoyles on top of the roofs, and a small tower with bared windows. Alexandria pointed to the tower.
"That is where we have her. Now what ever you do, you cannot scream. Vampires feed off of a mortals fear as much as they do blood. And screaming will only influence her." They went into the house, the work she had done was just a beautiful in here. hard wood floors were prized in the low lighting of the teachers wands. Once they reached the tower door they could her growling and thrashing.
"Listen to me." Aria said. "If she gets loose, I don't want to hear complaints I want you to hit her with a killing curse. She is in every sense immortal and will not die but will be stunned for a second, but that's all we need. For you Hagrid, you just shoot her, if you must. But none of you are to hesitate if you have a shot. take it, or she'll take you." They nodded and stepped back as the twins opened the door.
The sight that met their eyes was horrifying. Shaddi was chained from the ceiling and floor. She was desperately trying to break the bonds holding her. Severus could see that she had one hand free and was clawing at the other. Sharp nails dug into the flesh and drew blood. The wounds healed even as she cut in again. She looked up as they entered everyone pointing a weapon at her. Alexandria had the very sword Shaddi had transfigured in the Great Hall and Aria had one very similar to it. Which Severus could only assume Shaddi had given her.
"Ready?" Aria asked, they all nodded, the twins stepped forward and put the swords to her throat. Shaddi stopped trashing. Snarls still came from her. They raised the swords and cut the chain from the celling. Shaddi lashed out at Aria only to receive a slash across the midsection from her sister. She let out a scream and fell to the floor clutching her ribs where the blade had cut her open. the sister cut the chains around her ankles and drug her to her feet. She tried to get loose again but met a blow to the back of the head from the pummel of Aria's sword. Her head hung and she groaned. Alexandria nodded of McGonagall who transfigured a piece of the wall into a large stone coffin. The twins restrained Shaddi inside. Once the lid was closed and locked she began to trash and snarl again.
"Come one before she rips this thing apart." Alexandria said. Hagrid held one end while the twins each took the other. They set off back toward the castle. Those not holding the coffin still had their wands drawn. It was a very difficult trip back to the castle. Shaddi's spasmodic movements kept threatening to run to coffin over. At one point she was successful during which she tried to get out. Severus was forced to curse her. After forcing her back into the coffin they made it up to the castle. Shaddi must have woken up every student who was asleep, her cries and growls rebounded off the walls floors throughout the castle as they moved down to the dungeons. Once they were at the room prepared for her they drug the coffin into it and let her out. The teachers stood outside listening as the twins restrained Shaddi. When they emerged Aria was sporting several deep cuts on her face and hands, while Alexandria had a crater in the side of her face. both had nearly had their clothing ripped from them.
"Well she's all set. She should calm down in a bit."
"Are you two alright?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh yes, we'll be fine, these are just scratches, they heal soon enough. And she was right, the scars across her face were already staring to close, and her sisters face was starting to fill out again. "Well should get the hall cleaned up."
"It's already bee taken care of. I'm sure the house elves have done a brilliant job with it." Dumbledore said.
"Well that if that's everything, I guess you should all get to bed, we've all had a long night." Aria said, they began to leave. "And Severus." He turned to look at her. "She's going to be alright. You should be congratulated for what you did in the forest. She will thank you for it."
"Why would she do that?" He asked coldly.
"Because, when I took this potion, I killed my lover. That was why I didn't want you to go. I had hoped on saving you both from that heartache. No, I killed him, I killed him because he couldn't do me harm. One doesn't know love in this state, he couldn't keep me away. And to this day I remember his screams as he died, even in my dreams. But you, you did it, I saw how much it hurt you but you did it. And she will thank you for it. Good night." She went back into the chamber with her sister and Shaddi.
Severus went back to his chambers alone and thought of going to sit in the study. When he entered he found it destroyed. He almost got mad until he found a broken vial on the floor. After assessing it he realized it was a stray vial of the Vampirus Elixir, she had brewed it in his chambers, with instructions from his books, and the ingredients from his stores, and the blood of her vampires. But all and all she couldn't have done it without him. He cleaned the room and returned his and her things to their respective places. After that he took a long hot shower. When he was out he dressed for bed, and threw himself down upon his mattress. Upon his night stand rested a picture of him and Shaddi in Hogsmead. They were standing sitting in the Three Broomsticks, holding hands and smiling. Every now and them they would salute Severus with their mugs, as they hugged. Severus groaned as he looked at the picture. He rolled over and stuffed his face into a pillow. Waiting for morning to come.
In the days to come everyone could see the strain that feeding was having upon Draco, he was always pail and fatigued. During meals he could nearly out eat Crabbe and Goyle. They saw the extent of his trauma during potions one day when he was bringing his vial up to be graded when he fainted and his potion shattered across the dungeon floor causing he's skin to burn a bit. He was put into the hospital wing until it was time for him to feed Shaddi again. Severus too suffered, as he watched Draco deteriorate. He prepared potions for him to help him stay awake, to help him rejuvenate. And for them both to sleep without dreams at night.
Shortly before the Christmas break Dumbledore announced that Severus and Shaddi's wedding would be held on Christmas Eve and that all who wished to attend were invited to stay through the holidays. Those who chose to stay were mostly from Gryffindor and Slytherin and few from the other houses stayed and those who didn't wished Severus congratulation and said they would send gifts in the mail. A few people wondered if Shaddi would be in any condition to be married on the set date. But the twins assured everyone that she was only days off, from recovering.
With Christmas just one week away and Shaddi still unrecovered Severus was starting to worry. The twins summoned Draco and told him that if al was right it would be the last night he would have to feed her. He held his head high as they walked down to the dungeons. Draco had the procedure down by heart now. Door open, inside release the manacles and brace for impact. And this shouldn't be any different. However something was different. When they reached the door They turned to him before they opened it.
"Listen to me" Aria said " I know that really should be the last time you feed her, but let me warn you, this is the time she will take the most. Before your were able to walk away. I guarantee you won't walk away this time. She will but no means kill you however she will come very close. I have already warned the nurse and she is waiting for you along with Severus, in the hospital wing. After tonight Shaddi will be human once again. And she will have you to thank for it. For tonight she will draw the human essence right out of you and bring herself back to life with it. This means you will be put in allot of pain, and this is the the time to say you don't want to do this. If you have any doubt in your mind about this, speak now."
"I'm ready, I've come this far. I'm going to finish what I started." He said with dead determination.
"All right you know what to do." They opened the door and they all went in. Draco could already see the change occurring within Shaddi. The ends of her hair were once again Platinum blonde like his own. Her skin was no longer with like the moon but held a greenish tinge as if she were fatally I'll. The plastic like garments which had been tight on her in pervious days were now loose as if she were starved. But it was her eyes that still held the beast. As they door shut and locked, her head snapped up and she growled. He saw her eyes were in fact void of all things human. they glinted with bloodlust and rage. The vampire twins undid Shaddi's arms and legs as she lunged at Draco she was ripped back by the collar around her neck. Draco Raised his wand.
"Alohamora!" He commanded, the binding fell to the floor with a clatter. Shaddi looked at it for a second then dove on Draco. She slammed him into the door with such forced that his head snapped back contacting with the stone and blinding him with dancing stars. He only knew what was going on from the splitting pain on his throat and She dug her fangs into him. He gasped in pain and griped her sides, but he didn't dare struggle, he still had marks from the last time he tried that. Beside he couldn't have moved if he had wanted to, she had the full weight of her body and all her strength holding him in place. Somehow, Draco thought, when he imagined being held up against the wall by this woman he never thought she would be drinking his blood. His vision steadily went dark and he lost his consciousness.
When next Draco woke he found himself in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfery and Professor Snape. The nurse smiled as he opened his eyes, Snape nodded and told him to drink the potion he handed him. Once it was down he fell back asleep.
When Draco woke up again, the hospital wing was dark and moonlight was casting a very odd shadow on the ceiling, he turned to see what the shadow was and found leaning against the window was someone with bright violet eyes. Seeing he was awake the person moved closer to Draco, as she passed by another window moonlight danced off the face of Shaddi Ravencroft. It seemed she had gotten a Shower and changed her clothes, for now she was in slacks and white poet's shirt and a black velvet blazer. Draco nearly screamed until he noticed something different. She was still skeletally thin and had purple eyes, but that was where the difference was. Her eyes now held tears and pleading. As sat on the edge of his bed and looked at the floor.
"Shaddi." He whispered. "Is that you?"
"Yes Draco, It's me." She said her voice breaking. Draco could see she still had fangs. "I'm so sorry, for everything." A single crystal tear ran down the side of her thin face.
"Don't, no, don't cry. He sat up and whipped the tear from her face. "I asked to do it. They didn't make me, I told them I wanted to." She looked at him tears still threatening to fall from her eyes. Draco sighed, it was a Malfoy's duty to be strong and never waist time on the emotional, but he couldn't help it, not this time. He drew Shaddi into his arms and held her close and she cried on his shoulder. After sometime she stopped crying and just sat there in Draco's arms. Then she pulled away, much to Draco's dismay.
"I should go, I have other people to see. I just felt I should see you first, above others. I felt you deserved an apology for the pain I put you in."
"Don't worry about it." He said laying back. She nodded then smiled in a sly way. "What?" He asked, she leaned and kissed him on the cheek then stood and left with a wink. He smiled and settled into the pillows.
Shaddi swept down the corridors heading toward the Headmaster's office, somehow she knew he would be there waiting for her. Once she was in front of his door she knocked, and just as she thought, he beckoned her in. As she entered he smiled at her. She took her usual seat in front of his desk and looked at him.
"Well I'm glad to see your, yourself again." He said with a smile
"Trust me Professor your not the only one." She said quietly. "That is something I never want to do again."
"I would hope not. You gave us quite the scare. I dare say Severus is in a right state." That was when she remembered the forest.
"I almost killed him." She whispered remembering the curse.
"I took great strength for him to turn his wand on you, he loves you very much and was destroyed that he did such a thing."
"Yes, but I would have been hurt more if he had let me get at him."
"I'm sure you would have been. Well I thank you for coming to see me, and I think you would do well to go see Severus now. Goodness knows he's been waiting to see you sence we put you in there." His eyes twinkled at her. She got up to leave and he called her back. "Shaddi." She looked at him. "The fangs, they suit you." Shaddi rolled her eyes and smiled. Then she left heading for the dungeons.
Severus twitched in his sleep. It felt like a bug landed on his face. He swiped it away and met something alive. "Ow." Someone said as he hit them. He opened his eyes and turned his wand in hand pointed at the intruder. Shaddi jumped off the bad and took a few steps backward her hand in view.
"Severus!" She said hoping he wouldn't curse her through the wall. He blinked and looked closer in the darkness.
"Lumos!" His wand tip lit and the light fell across Shaddi. Her blazer gone the light sparkled on the ruffles of her shirt and the platinum strands of her hair. His eyes widened upon seeing her. "Shaddi!" He said then he ran to her gathering her in his arms. He kissed her and pulled back when his tongue came in contact with of her her fangs. "Ouch!" He said, he looked at her curiously.
"Sorry, they kind of stuck with me." She said bringing a hand to her lips.
"Along with the eyes." He said, she nodded. "How do you feel?" He asked
"Tired?"
"Hungry?" She groaned
"Please Severus, don't even mention food. Unfortunately enough I'm still digesting blood, and the thought of real food makes me want to be sick." He hugged her again.
"I'm sorry, do you want anything?"
"Sleep." She said. He smiled again,
"Well then, lets get you into bed." He picked her up and with a twitch of his wand pulled the covers the rest of the way back. With a soft flump he dropped her unto the bed and climbed in next to her. With his arms around her fell fell into the first real sleep he had had since the incident.
Severus woke to find Shaddi shaking and in a cold sweat. Mumbling things which made no sense to him at all. She would thrash every now and then. He watched her for a moment and when she let out a short scream he had had enough. He gently grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Shaddi!" Violet eyes shot open and focused on him. Her breathing ragged and strained. "Are you alright?" She sat up and put her head in her hands, tears silently began to fall from her eyes. She felt Severus wrap his arms around her and rock her gently back and forth. Once she was calm she went and took a shower to help calm her nerves. When she came out she found Severus in the living room reading a book.
"Good morning." She said and she dropped onto the couch next to him.
"Feeling better?" He asked
"Let me ask you something. How do you think you would feel after having to kill a child, then have that child revisit you in your dreams?"
"Even if the child is a bloodthirsty vampire. Bent on killing you?" He asked.
"Yes Severus."
"I honestly don't know, how I would feel."
"Well I feel like absolute shit. And to top it all off I now have to face Draco Malfoy as if I didn't viciously attack him on a bi-nightly basis." He prevented her from saying even one more word by bring their lips together. When they parted Shaddi smiled. "Not fair."
"Who said I had to be fair?"
"Not your students that's for sure."
"Hey! That's not nice."
"Who said I had to be nice?"
"Not vampire covens that's for sure." She raised and eyebrow at him before rolling her eyes "Come on we should get to breakfast."
"I think you'll be surprised at how many people stayed for our wedding." She looked at him surprised. "I asked the Headmaster to announce it before the end of term."
"Well let's go see." She said getting out the door before he had even was off the couch. As he shut the door and stepped into the hall way he saw the sixteen-year-old girl heading toward the entrance hall. As she stepped into the doorway to the Great Hall, Hermione looked up.
"Shaddi!" And not for the last time that year the trio of Gryffindors jumped up from the table and bounded toward the violet eyed girl. She caught Harry and a hug and then was almost knocked off balance by Ron and Hermione as they grabbed her too. Once they let go Shaddi greeted the rest of the Quidditch team. Then those from other houses. Many congratulating her not only on the great fight against the vampires but on her up coming wedding. It was as such that the day went on. At lunch Shaddi had a great conversation with Draco who it seemed did forgive her, and kept repeating that she didn't need to feel bad, every time she brought up an apologies. That night she went to bed feeling better than she had in long time.