Christmas Ball
Sitting Room, Azkaban Palace, Azkaban:
Dementors had swarmed upon the five standing Aurors and a terrified Minister of Magic. Lord Azkaban had kept him alive, just to prove to the fool that he wasn't dead and to inform him that he was officially broke along with the Ministry. The six mortals found themselves in a sitting room with dementor guards before Lord Azkaban entered.
"Hello Minister and Madam Bones. I warned you not to set foot on my home again and yet you came anyway and attempted to take my home from me and my people. I told you Minister I wasn't to be trifled with. Your little Aurors who are now nothing but ash were killed because they intended to harm me and my subjects. Fudge by all rights you should be dead, however I interfered and kept you alive for the moment. Amelia you and these four with you are alive because they truly did not want to be here. My wards won't harm anyone who wishes no harm upon me."
"Lord Azkaban, three Aurors disappeared when the Minister ordered them to escort Mr. Snape here. I was wondering…"
"If they're still alive? Except for the woman you sent who has good sense and is now one of my subjects, the other two are in prison cells for the crime of trespassing." A dementor spoke in Lumen and Lord Azkaban nodded. "I will return them to you if you agree to my orders," Lord Azkaban said. "You did read the letter I sent you didn't you? It should have arrived with the dead Aurors I killed for attacking me and my subjects."
"Meow," a cat said and the young Lord looked down and rolled his eyes before it transformed into the shape of a stern looking witch.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! JUST WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!"
Phoenix winched at the noise and wandlessly removed the glamor from his eyes. "Professor how'd you know it was me? And how did you get away from my guards when I told them to keep you locked…"
"DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO GET AROUND MY QUESTION MR. POTTER? FIRST I READ IN THE DAILY PROPHET THAT YOU'RE DEAD AND WERE A SECRET DEATH EATER! THEN THE HEAD OF REMUS LUPIN ARRIVES IN THE STAFF ROOM AT HOGWARTS DURING AN ORDER MEETING AND A HOWLER ARRIVES WITH YOUR VOICE SAYING YOU'RE ALIVE?! THEN I FIND MYSELF STANDING HERE IN SOME PALACE WITH A DEMENTOR BESIDE ME?!"
"Fine, fine I'll tell you. But we'll have to wait for some guests." He held up a hand as his old transfiguration professor opened her mouth to begin speaking and spoke to a couple of dementors. /Fetch Lucius, Snape, Narcissa and Annie. Bring them here./
"Professor kindly sit down and I will explain when our guests arrive," Phoenix said.
"You're Harry Potter?" An auror asked staring at Phoenix.
"I haven't been Harry Potter since I died on my sixteenth birthday," Phoenix said. It was fifteen minutes before the dementors came back with the guests Phoenix had asked for. "Take a seat anywhere," Phoenix said. "First I think I'd like to get your names," he said looking at the Aurors he didn't know.
"Jason Fletcher."
"Adam Cullen."
"Maria Jewel."
"Brian Weather."
"What do you know about Gellert Grindelwald?"
"He was a dark lord who tried taking over in the thirties and helped the muggle leader Hitler in the muggle war called World War 2," Adam said. "I'm muggleborn," he said when everyone looked at him. "Dumbledore defeated him and became known as the leader of the light."
"Yet many believe that Grindelwald was killed. He wasn't. He's very much alive and locked away in Nurmengard."
"But who put him there?" Maria asked.
"Who do you think? Dumbledore obviously. Aniketos told me that Gellert and Dumbledore were once lovers and that he still disappears from time to time."
"Aniketos?" Amelia asked.
"Snape's familiar," Phoenix said. "The poison phoenix sitting on his shoulder. You bonded with Dumbledore's old 'pet' Severus," Phoenix said to everyone's horror.
"Why does he look different?" Severus asked.
"He changed before he bonded with you," Phoenix said. "He's the one who told me about Grindelwald. Grindelwald was trying to protect the Old Ways and Dumbledore didn't want that so he stripped Grindelwald of his magic and threw him in Nurmengard to die. Yet he still goes to see his lover every so often. Just as Dumbledore is the one who turned Tom Riddle into a Dark Lord and trained me to be his weapon to defeat Tom Riddle."
"Who is Tom Riddle?"
"Lucius and Severus should know him but if not Minerva does. Think Minerva. Who was the brightest wizard at Hogwarts when Dippet was headmaster?"
"Tom Riddle," Minerva said, horror dawning on his face. "He became Voldemort?"
"He did. He sank so far into the dark arts that when he used my blood at the end of my fourth year in the graveyard to resurrect himself he didn't obtain his former body and instead became something that his half snake and half human. You want to know how Tommy survived? He made seven Horcruxes. I destroyed one in second year."
"The diary was a horcrux?" Lucius asked.
"You're telling me you just took an item from my cousin and didn't bother to wonder about what it was. Honestly Lucy you need to use your brain."
"I'm NOT Lucy!"
"And the last horcrux was me."
"Was?" Amelia asked.
"I was turned into a vampire on my sixteenth birthday. Are you people fucking blind? Being turned destroyed both the soul piece and the scar on my forehead. I was taken to Sirius Black's home and Remus found out I was a vampire. They bound me with rope, threw me in the dungeons and were going to turn me over to the Ministry I guess. I don't know because Remus snapped my wand and I escaped shortly after. I got a new wand, found out that Dumbledore said I was a death eater who had died under 'unusual circumstances', made a new vault and left with my sire. We've been in Italy all this time except for I've had to come back here to protect my people. Azkaban is one of the lines I inherited. I found out my inheritance the day I went to hear my parents' will and my godfather's will. I'm Lord Black and discovered something interesting about my mother."
"What was that?"
"Before I say more I want an unbreakable oath from you all that you will not betray me or side with my enemies. My enemies are the light and the dark. I intend to remain neutral in this war and have a good mind to leave Britain to her own fate."
"I want to become a citizen of Azkaban," Adam said.
"Why?"
"Muggles and half-bloods aren't welcome in wizard society," Adam said sadly. "What's the point of being an Auror if the people I'm protecting look down on me?"
"Fair enough," Phoenix said. "But you should know my citizens don't leave Azkaban or the Druid Islands. They're rejected everywhere else but aren't here."
"That's fine. I was thinking of getting out of the Auror business anyway," Adam said.
"You can't leave!" Amelia shouted.
"Why the hell should I fight for people who look down on me because I'm not a pureblood Amelia?" Adam asked.
"You have a problem with half-dementors?" Phoenix asked.
Adam looked surprised. "I've never met any before but I know what it's like to be judged and looked down on because of my parentage. I swear on my life and magic I won't judge any citizens, no matter the blood, of my Lord Azkaban."
Phoenix nodded as the magic accepted Adam's oath. He got up, walked over to Adam and placed his hand on the human's forehead before speaking in Lumen. There was a flash and a Celtic knot appeared on his forehead. "Welcome to Azkaban and the Druid Islands Adam Cullen. Oh and Minister you're broke as is the Ministry of Magic. Since I knew you wouldn't pay me I went to the Goblins and got them to pay me back the money from yourself and the Ministry. Snape I did you the favor of warding all the Snape and Prince properties you own so when your sentence is up you can go back there and won't have to worry about anyone breaking through goblin wards though I did take back some of the money that you had that came from my vaults."
"I didn't know that Potter money was taken. If it had been I never would have accepted it."
"True but I think that Dumbledore didn't tell anyone about where the money was coming from to supply his precious order. So I don't fault you for that or you Minerva," Phoenix said. "Actually Minerva you were on the list of guardians for me. Including Severus, Croaker, the Longbottoms, Sirius, the wolf Remus, and the Greengrasses. I could have grown up with any of you knowing my heritage sooner."
"Who are you the heir of?" Amelia asked.
"Swear that you'll never betray me to my enemies and I'll tell you," Phoenix said. "If not then I'm afraid you won't be leaving here. Lucy and Severus both have five years before they can hope to leave."
"That's impossible! Severus Snape has a life sentence."
"DO NOT TEST ME HUMAN! I AM IN CONTROL HERE! YOU ARE ON MY LAND AND AS SUCH MY PRISONERS' SENTENCES ARE MINE TO RAISE OR LOWER AS I SEE FIT!" Phoenix shouted, unleashing his magic and slamming the Minister bodily into the wall. /He's useless to me. Kill him. I don't care how it's done./
The dementors nodded, eager to kill one of the humans who had made their lives hell and called their Lord a liar and allowed the toad to torture him. The humans watched in shock as the dementors fed on Fudge's soul. "Fudge is no use to me or the wizarding world. Seriously what good did he do Britain in the time you've all been alive? Accepting money from death eaters so they could stay out of Azkaban. Doing nothing for a year which gave my cousin time to gather his slaves. Sending a toad to school to try to get teachers suspended. Though some teachers like Trelawney could do with being kicked out. Old bat can't even make a true prophecy. Amelia if you want the job I can help make you Minister of Magic and I think you're the best person. You aren't loyal to either the light or the dark, have common sense and fight for justice. You also aren't likely to slip into the corruption of your predecessors."
"How can you help me?"
"I am the heir to ten different families so I hold a lot of power in the wizard and vampire worlds. But first do I have your oaths?"
Everyone gave their oaths and Phoenix nodded. "Well then to the lines but first I'm a pureblood."
"Lily was a half-blood. That's impossible."
"Oh I assure it is possible and I have the proof. How many of you know that Merope Gaunt had a sister?"
Ichor Manor, Florence, Italy:
Phoenix was pleased with himself. He had gained a few more allies in Britain and gotten Minerva a home in Italy where she'd be safe from Dumbledore's manipulations. Not only did it have goblin wards on it but it was also unplottable and anybody who was over would forget the location as soon as they left. In fact Phoenix had added his blood to the wards, allowing him free access to the villa he had purchased for his old professor. In addition he had talked to the goblins, got Minerva's vault re-opened, pardoned her of the debt owed him, and gotten the lifetime ban removed. However she was on probation for two years and was unable to withdraw money without Phoenix's approval or him being there in person. Snow was falling and it was finally Christmas. He'd be introduced to the Council in an hour and had gotten two new dresses for Emily and Sarah as well as taken them to a hair salon owned by a female vampire who had styled their hair.
"Well how has school been?" Ash asked as his son and two daughter-in-laws stepped out of Phoenix's carriage. "And where are your guards?"
"It's been fine. I haven't had any interruption since that damn Minister tried attacking my subjects so I've been able to catch up on my missed homework and attend classes. I sent back to their homes on Azkaban and the Druid Islands for Christmas. They'll be gone until we go back which is January 5th."
"My Lord," Sarah started.
"Call me Ash young one," Ash said. "But do make sure to address the Council by their titles of 'Lord' and 'Lady'."
Sarah and Emily nodded. "Where are we going?" Emily asked.
"To the home of the Council. It's a big manor beneath the mountains in Romania," Ash said. He pulled out a port key. "This will take us directly to the home of the Council. Don't go wandering off. It's easy to get lost in the stone tunnels beneath the mountains."
"Why is it under a cave?" Sarah asked.
"A few reasons. One is the Council feels more safe being underground and two we can't be out in the sun longer than a few hours without burning to death. It's also easy to protect the vampire home and is our sanctuary when we're being hunted as the entire mountain chain is warded against everything except vampires, animals and humans. There's a few cities under the mountain chain in addition to the home of the Council."
The newborns nodded. It made sense and was actually a smart idea. Ash held out the port key, a boot, and the four vampires disappeared. "What mountain range is this?" Phoenix asked.
"Carpathian Mountains," Ash said. "The hidden cities of the vampires span the entire range of the Carpathian Mountains. Do you really think that J.R.R. Tolkien could have come up with dwarven cities on his own? Nope he had a vampire for a friend. One of the few humans to befriend a vampire in our entire history."
"Is that vampire still alive?"
"Yup. Want to meet him?"
Phoenix nodded. "That was on my favorite books as a kid."
"You'll probably have to do something for him but I can arrange that. I supposed we can spend the entire vacation here."
"What about my slaves and your slaves?"
"They'll survive without us for a couple weeks."
"Crystal how are you?" Ash stopped a blond haired vampire woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties.
"Ash it's good to see you again. Where have you been and who are they?"
"I was captured by some wizards during my stay in Britain. This is my son, Phoenix Moon and his mates who are also his children, Sarah Hashem and Emily Spear. He also has another mate who is human from his old school. Emily is his soul mate. Phoenix, Sarah, and Emily this is Crystal Longshot. She's an old friend of mine."
"How old are you all?" Crystal asked curious. She wondered what had happened to the child to be turned so young.
"I'm sixteen, Sarah's sixteen and Emily six. Or if you want vampire age then we're all under one year old," Phoenix said. "I'll be five months old on December 31st, Emily is a couple months old and Sarah is one month old."
"Well it's nice to have new members to the nation," Crystal said holding out her hand. The newborns looked to Ash who nodded and they each shook Crystal's hands. "How long are you all staying?"
"Phoenix is attending Astral Academy," Ash said. "So he's on break. I figured they could see some of the vampire cities here and we'd stay here for the two weeks Phoenix has off school."
"Sounds good. Well I must be going. Jason's probably giving Matt a difficult time."
Ash smiled. "I'll try to stop by sometime. You going to be here long?"
"We're considering moving into Lunar City permanently," Crystal said. "That way Jason can be among his own kind and we've been having some trouble with hunters going around and killing our kin."
Ash growled at that but nodded. "Be safe Crystal."
"Oh we will be Ash. Nice to meet you three," Crystal said before continuing down the tunnel and disappearing into the darkness.
"Come on you three. We have to check in with Miss Archer. The woman won't hesitate to beat you senseless if you piss her off," Ash said winching as he remembered the one and only time he'd ever upset that woman. He had been five years old and had made the mistake of suggesting that there was no way she could ever fight him and win. He'd been cocky and stupid and never did that again. Nope never piss off Miss Archer.
They slipped into room a little distance ahead and saw it was furnished with comfortable arm chairs, lit by torches like the entire range of the Carpathian range, had a cherry desk with a leather swivel chair behind the desk and a fire flickering in the fireplace. "Hey Miss Archer," Ash said bowing to her.
"Ash Ichor what a surprise. Going to smart off to me again?"
"No ma'am! I just wanted to check in as is required when attending the annual Christmas ball and get my son and daughter-in-laws checked in as well."
"So you got yourself another child did you? Who turned the girls?"
"I did ma'am," Phoenix said. "Emily's the little one. She's my soul mate and was dying. I had no choice but to turn her and Sarah asked me to turn her on her sixteenth birthday."
"Poor thing," Miss Archer said looking down at Emily. "What are your ages?"
"I'm going to be five months on December 31st, Emily's two months old and Sarah is one month old."
Miss Archer wrote some information down and nodded. "You're all set then."
"Thank you Miss," Emily said curtseying to the dark brown haired woman.
"You're welcome little one," Miss Archer said. "Ash do you remember the rules?"
"Yes Miss Archer. I'm responsible for Phoenix and he is responsible for his children. I told him before we came here."
"Good. It's nice to see you remember something since you haven't been around for the past three Christmas balls. Good day."
"What was that about?" Phoenix asked Ash when they had left the stone office.
"I was stupid and thought that Miss Archer couldn't win in a fight against me. I was only five at the time and cocky as well as I'd never lost in a fight except to Caleb and my dead blood brother, Arrow. Miss Archer was older than me and kicked my ass in front of the entire vampire nation."
Phoenix burst out laughing. "That's sad," he said when he finally got ahold of himself. "Where we staying?"
"Guest Housing in Silver City," Ash said. "It's a good ways ahead of us. About five hours but that's where the Council's Villa is. We'll pass through Season City."
"Why's it called Season City?" Sarah asked.
"Because there's a lake and a nice field bordered by mountains where you can go out and experience all four seasons," Ash said. "The vampires who live in the Carpathian Mountain Range feed on the various human villages, towns and cities in the area. As for Silver City, there used to be deposits of silver around there before the supply dried up back in the 1800s."
Five hours later the four vampires made it to Silver City. It was about the size of London in the UK. Two silver dragons stood outside the court yard that led to the Guest Houses. They saw a huge villa in the distance. "That's the Council House. It's where they host the Christmas Ball," Ash said. "You'll meet the Council at the Christmas Ball in a couple days."
"Ash!" Caleb shouted coming over. "You made it."
"Well I had to introduce Phoenix to the rest of the Council and Phoenix has to introduce little Emily and Sarah."
"So you two are vampires now huh?" Caleb said bowing to them both. "I'm staying here as well," Caleb nodded to the Guest Houses. Two days later all the vampires from all over the world were in attendance for the Christmas Ball. There were two hundred vampires in total.
"Are these all the vampires?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah," Caleb said. "There's two hundred vampires throughout the world. Used to be more but hunters killed a lot of them."
Ball Room, Council Villa, Silver City, Romania-Christmas Day:
"Merry Christmas everyone," Lord Stone said coming into the ball room. "For the newborns gathered here tonight I am Lord Stone though my first name is Anubis. You will meet the rest of the Council tonight and learn why werewolves, our fellow siblings of the moon, and vampires do not get along. For those of you are taking Children of the Moon class at Astral Academy you won't have to sit for it. Now I want all newborns and their sires up here in the front."
Phoenix appeared to be one of the few newborns who had sired their own children shortly after their own turnings. Some appeared to be biologically related to each other so Phoenix guessed they were siblings or possibly parents and children. Ash, Phoenix, Emily and Sarah walked forward. The rest of the Council came out of a side room and stood in front of the newborns and their sires. "Phoenix who are they?" Lord Stone asked when it was Phoenix's turn.
"My mates and children," Phoenix said. "Well two of my mates. I have three."
"Why did you turn the child?" Lord Vesper asked.
"She is my soul mate and was dying my Lord," Phoenix answered. "Ash said there was no way to save her except by turning her into a vampire."
"What caused her to begin dying?"
"I don't know. I have a magical creature hybrid from basilisk venom and phoenix tears being in my blood and she must have felt the same pain I did during my first transformation because when I got to the slave home at school, she was dying. It was at Ichor Manor that I found out that we had a soul bond."
Lord Stone nodded. "We cannot interfere in the actions of a soul bond."
Another lord by the name of Marcus Shale said "Let the Christmas Ball begin!"