Tanya sat in her lab, blood dripping from a gash on her wrist. The blood was falling into a dark red potion. A man sat next to her being watched carefully by Moody.
"You know Moody, if you had told me a vampire would be in town, I could have done this earlier." Tanya looked up with a slight glare but Moody never took his eyes off the vampire.
"Well that bloody Slughorn shoulda contacted us sooner." Moody finally glanced at the potion before frowning.
"Don't even start. This blood potion takes a while." Tanya moved her wrist so it was facing up and stirred with her left hand. The man leaned forward towards her wrist. Drool dripping from long fangs. Moody growled but Tanya shrugged.
"Moods, he's hungry. Just don't take too much." Tanya ignored the man as he sunk his fangs into her wrist. Moody went to hex him but paused seeing the way Tanya continued to work unfazed by the action. Salazar's blood spell protected her, just as it did with Greyback.
"Tell Tonks to come in when you're done. By dinner, the potion should be ready." Tanya looked at the feeding vampire with a raised eyebrow.
"Let me rephrase this— you're done."
He took two more large gulps before detaching himself. He didn't have time to say thank you as Moody dragged him out. Tanya then let herself falter, letting her body drop onto her desk. She fumbled with a blood replenishing potion before gulping it down.
Tanya got herself back to looking somewhat normal when Tonks and Remus came in. They had their wands on a large wardrobe levitating it in.
"Thank you. If you wouldn't mind though," A wall appeared behind Tanya with a door.
"Could you please wait in the waiting room. This is private." Tanya opened the door to reveal a couch and some research notes for the cure they wanted. Before entering, Tonks stopped in concern.
"You sure? I can stay out here. You know I won't judge you. We got the one that… the one that we wouldn't show to students." Tonks put a hand on Tanya's shoulder before noticing the red stain on the end of her white long sleeve.
Before she could ask, her and Remus were shoved into the room. Tanya locked it before facing the wardrobe. With a wave of her hand, the doors opened to reveal the boggart.
It was her.
Tanya stared back at herself.
Remus shook his head as he sat down. Tonks sitting with him still looking worriedly at the door.
"That girl is crazy. Did you know she sent a famous painter to my house to make me a portrait?" Remus spoke softly, a grin on his face. Tonks relaxed, a smile on her face as well.
"You too? That girl told me to talk to it every day." Tonks grinned and Remus scooted closer to her, not realizing the couch grew slightly smaller.
"I heard she gave Moody one too, like she doesn't trust us or something." Tonks laughed and leaned forward slightly, "I've only been partners with this girl for a short time, but damn she's crazy."
Tonks smiled and reached over for the snacks.
Tanya stared back at the boggart trying not to panic. It looked exactly like her. Detail for detail. But Tanya knew why it was herself.
"I am not a monster." Tanya hissed at the creature and it hissed back. Then it threw Elia's broken wand at her. Tanya didn't flinch, didn't look away.
"I would never hurt her." Tanya felt her voice shake but still refused to look away. Then it smiled and lifted the necklace Voldemort gifted her. Tanya knew what it meant.
Her biggest fear wasn't hurting Elia. It was failing to protect her. The thing stepped back inside silently. The same eerie grin she gave others shining back at her.
Tonks and Remus were now sitting unreasonably close, the couch now almost a love seat. They sat quietly, Tonks living for the close moment.
"What's she doing in there?" He questioned after a moment.
She shrugged, "Who knows? It's been a while."
"Think she's dead?"
Tonks snorted, rolling her eyes. Her cheeks flushed and the tips of her hair were turning pink so subtlety.
"No way, can't kill that one. I just hope it works."
"If what works?"
"Her blood as a cure. She's immune remember? If she can push for a cure…" Tonks looked at him with hope, his eyes softened but Remus turned away.
"Dora, you know it'd be impossible."
"We can try."
"The Ministry won't allow it. They'd use her as an experiment at most but a cure? There is no cure."
"Remus— we'll find it!"
"And then what?" He snapped suddenly, but lowered his tone seeing her look of hurt. He stood from the couch, "I can't be here long, then question it. I'll see you later."
Remus left quickly, Tonks' gaze fell and her hair fell fully brown again.
Tanya sat in her workroom alone. Her owl holding a howler at bay.
"Fine, let it speak Hades." Tanya prepared herself for the yelling that came next. A deep male voice screamed in Bulgarian at her. It went on for three minutes before switching to English.
"Tanya, I've been trying to send you these fucking howlers for weeks and your owl keeps returning them. You left me in bed with women I didn't know. Half of them crying because you were gone, the other half begging me for your address. The men wondered how they got here and the couple you left here said it was you."
Tanya hummed wondering why when he was yelling his English was so perfect. He was truly getting so much better, she almost felt proud despite him yelling. Then she sent an order of an apology basket. Her dad could make it and her owl knew where to take it.
After, she went to the ministry and found her grandmother waiting with Moody. Both looked too suspicious for her taste.
"Tanya! My lovely granddaughter. Moody has given me permission to steal you tonight. For Slughorn's party. I'm not going but you will." Her words left no room for question. Just a demand with a sweet tone. Tanya took a deep breath but let it out realizing she could see her sister there.
With a nod she took her grandmother's arm as they went to a dress shop. Her grandmother pulled out a tight Slytherin green dress with a silver choker. Tanya looked at the other dresses but her grandmother pulled her into a dressing room. She accepted it.
At the party, Tanya socialized as best she could wondering where her sister may be. She watched the door as she stepped in with Harry. No blonde hair in sight. She arched a brow.
Tanya maneuvered the crowds waiting for her sister to be alone so she could pop up. She knew the Puff would be hungry and easily target every spot of food for her.
"There's some sandwiches at that table over there." Tanya glanced at the table before looking around. "I think there might be some cauldron cakes too and I saw an elf passing out pumpkin pasties."
Tanya smiled as her sister turned around. In a cute yellow dress that made her look like the princess she was. Her hair done up like she was royalty. Tanya explained why she was there, feeling more relaxed near her sister. They talked about her lack of date and Snape. Both men seemingly to be fucking up more and more.
Tanya turned a glare to the man. Rage still boiling in her veins. She wondered if that's why as a student she got away with so much. She wondered if that's why when a potion turned her hair red, he stared at her with such sadness. She bit her cheek before turning back to her sister. She was nothing like Lily, hell they didn't compare. Tanya knew that much.
She turned to Elia, realizing her sister was having her own problems with Draco. The boy basically neglecting her. She knew about the stress of his task but didn't grant him a pass for his behavior. She acknowledged Neville at the party as did Elia and made pleasentries, still planning Draco's murder. Then another idea came to mind.
It was cut short when she realized something, or someone. There was a vampire at this party. Her sister went to find food and she looked for her prey.
Finding them she focused on the taller man. He smiled before lifting her hand and kissing her wrist. His friend hit his arm so he let her go. His face went from a smile to a tight frown.
"You alright vampy?" Tanya asked softly watching his face. He glared but mumbled slightly.
"Someone here smells good, like something from a fine restaurant. Their best dish. One of a kind." His voice was breathless as he sniffed the air. Tanya frowned before seeing her sister in the corner of her eye. Her sister found no food, but a Hermione.
She brought the girls close to her, Hermione going off to find food for them but Tanya wrapped an arm around El.
"Fellas, this is my baby sister, Elia Barros." Tanya smiled proudly at her younger sister. "She is a student here."
"Ah! You are the Elia!" The older man next to the vampire exclaimed, who was shorter, "I am critically acclaimed writer Eldred Worple..." Tanya tuned him out for a moment. Looking back at the vampire, she never bothered learning the name of. He stood stiffly and looked in pain, eyeing Elia intensely.
"In my time, I've studied vampires— lived amongst them. This is one of my dear friends from that time." Eldred referred to the taller man, "Sanguini, greet the girl!"
Tanya hummed hearing his name finally. So if he hurt her sister, she could put a hit out on him. Sanguini gulped, before he reached out to shake her hand. Tanya smiled calmly at him a threat in her eyes.
When he licked his lips at her sister, oblivious to his growing hunger the moment she was in the room. T realized who the finest dish was. She pulled El away slightly, ready to kill. Although, she could see the pain in his eyes as he fought with himself. Eldred gave him a pastry in the mean time.
Later at the party, Trelawney approached them. She felt herself tense. She didn't mind the woman but she had been having visions and knew she'd need to ask if they could be hallucinations or if they could be a threat. A warning.
She always saw them when she turned on a burner. The fire pulling her in like a lover. Her interest was piqued when Trelawney kept warning Elia about a potential danger. Tanya's thoughts creeped back to the boggart.
Her glare then was set on Severus. Slughorn came over and called him, pulling him into their conversation. She ignored her sister and Harry's laughing, determined to kill the man before her with a glare. Before she could the doors burst open. Filch dragging Draco in.
The boy was gate crashing, or so he claimed. Filch mentioned he was in the upstairs corridor, she pieced it together exactly where he was. Her sister covered for him and Slughorn let him stay— until Severus stepped out with Draco for a 'talk'.
Tanya watched her sister, seeing how anxious she became. She pulled her to the side knowing her sister wouldn't want to admit anything in front of a group. She listened to her sister and realized she thought Draco was cheating. Really, he was doing a task for the Dark Lord. She could understand a distraction but this was not okay. Her sister was a princess and deserved to be treated as such.
A dark thought came to mind and she snatched onto it. She'd make Draco think it was over. She knew the suggestion would break her little sister's heart. Tanya took a deep breath and prepared to be hated. Sometimes you have to be broken before you can truly shine.
Tanya stood alone watching her sister go. The bright yellow flower looming a tad wilted. She turned away and found Severus. She frowned and clenched her fists.
"What do you want?" Tanya hissed. Venom on her lips for those man.
"I want you to forgive me. What I said was a slip of the tongue." Severus spoke softly trying to make sure no one could overhear. Tanya didn't raise her voice but those around could feel her words.
"How long did you see her in my eyes?" Tanya starred him dead in the eyes, daring him to slip up.
"More than I should. When you look at me with such joy, I see her eyes looking at me. Any other times your eyes are too different, but when you're happy, the color..." Severus put a hand on her shoulder, only to find someone else had their hand there first. Sanguini was there.
"Please refrain for upsetting my date any further." He then lead her outside. She wondered why he stepped in, and why he would feign she was his date. Sanguini knew her confusion and explained in the corridor.
"You dug your nails into your palm until they bled. I figured I should step in. I could smell it." He looked concerned and pained. Tanya offered her wrist before letting herself rant a little.
"I do not need a savior, but thank you anyway. That man just pisses me off. Thinks I'll let him look at me as anyone but me."
Tanya looked at the vampire. His eyes on her even as he fed from her wrist. Despite his hunger, his eyes softened at her.
Rage and sadness filled her. Grabbing his head, she pulled her wrist away and kissed him. He gasped in surprise, allowing Tanya to deepen the kiss. She could taste the iron. Taste the fire in her own blood.
His hands went to her shoulders to push her away before finding her hips. Tanya didn't even realize they made it to a classroom until she heard Peeves cackle.
"Since we're friends, I won't tattle as a reward— but be careful! Not just his bite! You have no wards here and the Baron told me you scream at night." Peeves grinned.
"Scream at night?" Sanguini asked softly, finally coming to his senses.
"Nightmares. Baron would wake me from them if they got too bad." Tanya let go of the man, realizing she still had a tight grip on his head and shoulder.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to." Tanya spoke softly realizing what she did.
"All is well, no need to apologize my Lady. For one, I am stronger than you. If I wanted you to stop, I could have stopped you." Sanguini kissed her wrist before leaving the room.
Leaving Tanya alone with Peeves, who told her of stories the students he torments. Tanya smiled and shook her head. She gave him ideas and he cackled just sitting with her. Peeves was not a good ghost but he wasn't evil, he was using what he did best to help a friend.
Where there is anger, there is always pain underneath.