"Your wives are correct," the unspeakable informed the aurors. "As far as vampires not being able to naturally reproduce or their blood being changed, anyway."

The man had come to the aurors' joint office the next morning without any word from either of them. He did have information to share with them regarding the tests he performed on Gerald, but their conversation had started out by Ron talking about the encounter with their investigatee.

"Those odd properties in Gerald's blood has nothing to do with vampires?" Harry asked.

"There was a body found a few centuries ago," Croaker continued, "Its condition was so baffling that it ended up locked away in the department of mysteries. It appeared normal enough at first glance other than wounds similar to that you just discovered on your American friend, but there was absolutely no blood within the corpse. The injuries were minor at best so nothing to cause a huge blood loss. Even if there were, a human will die long before anywhere near hundred percent of their blood is gone and when a person dies, they stop bleeding because it is the beating of the heart that makes us bleed. That means to be entirely drained, the body would have to have been pumped clean. There was no sign of this either."

"They had vampire claw wounds...so then a vampire drank all their blood?" Ron guessed.

"It was a thought, but no," Croaker gave, "There was no wound suggesting that either. Like I said, the cuts were hardly anything. We found that the canines were removed from the jaw... It's believed that the corpse itself is that of a vampire."

Harry and Ron both became completely enthralled at that point. "The body didn't have any blood because vampires don't have any," Harry mused.

"Right," the unspeakable smiled, "Every test showed that the body is, in all physicality, human."

"There couldn't be any combining DNA then to make someone have vampire powers then, yeah?" the redhead surmised.

Saul Croaker shook his head, "This Gerald might not be part vampire, but he's part something inhuman. And yes, Mr. Weasely, whatever that is is the reason behind his youthful appearance."

"What did you find out?" Harry asked, lifting the cooling tea in his hand and taking a drink.

"Just that the bits I pointed out have to be that of another creature. Closer inspection has taught me that the length of his telomeres are unprecedented. They're longer than any creature we've known."

Harry lowered his cup, watching as his partner's expression became just as confused as his own. "His what, sir?"

"In our DNA, there are strings, if you will, called telomeres. These are directly linked to the longevity of a person. Generally speaking, the longer they are, the younger you are," Croaker clarified, "Gerald's expand far past even that of an infant."

"That proves that his body was tampered with, but does that necessarily show that he is less than human?" Harry questioned with another sip.

"Cause and effect, Mr. Potter," the unspeakable laughed. "The telomeres are the direct effect of adding DNA of a nonhuman creature that lives remarkably longer than a wizard. Following that effect backwards, I was able to find this cause to be true by pulling apart what lengthened these strands and therefore isolating the second type of DNA. Unfortunately, placing it with everything in our database, I was still incapable of finding a match. So this other part of Gerald? Still a mystery as to what it is though I can tell you much of what it is not."

Ron sighed, "Great, so he's half human, half something nobody has ever heard of before. I wonder if he has any idea that he's not normal. Well, you know, in this sense anyway."

"I think he does," the lead auror focused on the drink in his hands, cupping it more tightly, easing, and then repeating in a relaxed concentration. "When we were first talking to him and Oliver about his wandless magic and his looks, I remember feeling that Gerald was annoyed with his friend's theory about them. It was as if he knew the real reason so it made him think Oliver's idea was stupid." Harry looked back up at Ron and Croaker, "After so many years knowing these rare things about himself in addition to others that we might not know yet, I'm sure he's got some inkling at the least."

"I'd say it's safe to assume that, Harry," the unspeakable's grin fell away right as the phone sitting to his side rang. "That's all I have for you now anyway. I will let you tend to business," the older man pushed palms on knees to help himself to stand and then tipped his hat as he strolled out of the office.

Harry stepped over to the phone and picked it up, "Department of Investigation, this is Harry Potter."

"Potter, I need you and Weasely to meet me at Malfoy Manor," Draco's voice sounded with urgency.

Harry paused.

"Are you listening, Potter?" Draco pressed.

"Yes, Draco, I hear you, but why? What's going on?" Harry choked out.

The auror's old classmate groaned, "It's just- It's important. Bring the girls if you want, but come here."

Harry hesitated at the order. He looked over to Ron who had remained quite even through his curious expression watching his partner's befuddlement.

"Uh, OK. We'll be there shortly," Harry relented.

Draco hung up immediately after the answer without any further word or instruction. The auror blinked his eyes awkwardly as the situation was still catching up to him.

"What the bloody hell was that about?" Ron questioned.

"Draco wants us to go see him at Malfoy Manor with Ginny and Hermione," Harry spoke in an almost hushed tone.

"I take it he didn't say what for," the redhead squeaked.

Harry shook his head. "It sounded important. He seemed...upset. Like he was scared more than angry."

"You think he's found something that his father left? Something about going after Gerald maybe?" Ron suggested

"Probably," Harry agreed. "I don't know why else he would contact us."

"Well, let's go," Ron stood, then laughed, "Don't want him getting his knickers in a twist."

The two swiftly left the ministry, regrouped with their wives and apparated to Malfoy Manor.

The mansion was much different than that of Hogwarts and even the old buildings of Hogsmeade in that it had a more modern look about it. It wasn't obvious what construct it was made of, but its exterior was covered with smooth, clean sidings as opposed to any ancient stone or brick. The home was located miles away from anything else in a barren looking land that kept a constantly gloomy air. The sidewalk leading to the double doors on front was lined on either side with shrubberies.

Ginny took hold of her husband's hand, pulling him to take notice that Hermione was bothered. The woman was clutching onto Ron's arm and it was obvious she was trying to push away her unease. Ron pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead but she kept her eyes forward and swallowed.

"It will be alright," Harry spoke. "It's just a home now. Nothing to worry about. Everything else is in the past."

He looked over to Ginny who gave him a short smile, acknowledging his efforts. Then he led the group forward.

As they got closer to the mansion, they saw that Draco was standing outside, waiting for them. He stood in a stance not unlike that of his late father, a formal and reserved pose. He watched as the group approached him, not speaking until they stopped just a few feet away.

"Thank you for coming," Draco spoke with an air of obligation.

"You're welcome," Harry answered. "You were pretty vague, though so why exactly are we here?"

The ex-deatheater took in a breath, "I admit I was startled. I wasn't sure how to approach this situation." The white haired wizard turned to his side and took the two steps up to the door of his childhood home. "I think it's better that I show you," he put one hand on a door as he looked back, awaiting the others' response.

"OK, show us then," Hermione was the one to speak.

Draco raised an eye at the witch before continuing on inside the hollow home. Hermione let go of her husband's arm and took the first steps in following inside. Ron stepped hesitantly behind and then came Harry and Ginny.

The four followed Draco through the main hall and up the stairway. Harry caught a glimpse of Hermione gazing off to the all too familiar room where she had been tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. But Draco's voice took everyone's attention then.

"I was reluctant to do so, but I came here to begin setting my father's last affairs straight and take care of what he left," Draco informed as the group clogged up the steps. "And, well, I found something very unexpected."

He took the last step onto the second floor and stepped to the side for the rest to catch up. Once they all were, he began walking down the new hall, leading them to the outside of a large door where he halted once more.

"That's why I wanted you here," he took in a deep breath and reached to his side to push the door open. "This is the master bedroom. You'll see what I mean once you're inside."

Harry peered into the dimly lit room, his body tensing with caution before making a decision about entering. Hermione, though, once again was the first to act, determined to ignore her own fear. She trotted forward into the room with the rest of her companions close on her heels, Draco being the last to enter.

Inside, there was a large bed with huge wooden chamber posts painted black, its grey sheets neatly folded under matching pillows. Nightstands with ornate lamps were on either side. To one end of the room was an open door leading into what looked to be a bathroom. Next to it was a steel desk with several books and some letters laying on it. The other side of the room was decorated with two cushioned chairs just in front of a tall window, covered by a heavy curtain.

The room appeared immaculate, leaving the company wondering what they were meant to see. The group eased out of their circle as Harry turned to face Draco in order to ask what was going on.

However, the moment he turned his gaze toward the white haired wizard, he jumped backward with eyes wide.

The movement drew the attention of his friends who backed away further from Draco in fright. Ginny gasped, grabbing hold of her husband and Hermione quickly drew her wand, shakily aiming it toward their host.

Just at Draco's side, another white haired figure had emerged in the previously empty room and was glaring angrily at the four younger wizards.

"Lucius?" Harry breathed.