Hi everyone! Thank-you so much for everyone who review for me! I'm sorry, I know I said I'd have this up by the end of May, but it's been so busy around here I'm surprised I even had time to write this. But another problem I've had is WRITER'S BLOCK especially for this story; it's such a pain in the butt! I have free time now and I can't get a good word out! I need to map my next few chapters before I start anything else, maybe that'll help! I'm still a bit uncertain with this chapter, no matter how much I rewrote stuff or looked at it a certain way I still couldn't get it right. Well, I hope that you all enjoy friends! oxox
The wind howled outside, the tree leaves shook and the snow flacks making the earth heavenly looking; but it was really anything but that. Winter; many refer to it as the season of death, of the coldness. It could chill the bone of any living creature, freeze a human until their skin turns blue and be the gripping end of any creatures caught in its path.
Sipre waved a hand over the surface of the pool of water. It shimmed and Sipre muttered an incarnation under his breath and peered into the surface. What he saw, no one would know, only if Sipre would let them…
The candles on the wall flickered and one-by-one, as if by an imaginative wind; the orange flames evaporated into grey smoke that rose from the waxy tip. The moon shifted in and out behind a black cloud and the room fell in and out of a moment's darkness.
A ragged breath, "You let the boy look?"
A voice like the winter chill outside the mansion cut the air like a knife on icy. It was a slippery sound but chilled the core and it numbed the body with its coldness, as if ice had been pressed to skin and left there; creating a numbing pain.
Sipre slowly raised his head from the bowl; he turned slowly to face a figure in black robes. It floated a few inches above the ground, its body bent forward slightly as if it had a spinal disorder, a hood pulled low over where the head should be. No skin was visible; just a shape of black robes and an icy voice. Sipre's red eyes flash at the floating shape.
"My masters are not happy Sipre."
"I do not know what you mean," answered Sipre. The sudden drop in temperature did not bother the Vampire Elder but it did not go unnoticed.
The black shape floated in mid air for a moment, although it showed no eyes, it seemed to be staring into Sipre in a non-visible, silent way. Then, eerily, the black shape skimmed through the air towards Sipre, who stiffened, as the creature turned his hooded head to the bowl.
"Do you know why they sent me?"
"I would never guess," replied Sipre coldly
"Tell me Sipre what does this mirror do?"
"You should know," retorted Sipre
The floating cloak slowly turned its hooded head to the vampire, "You are not a favourite with my masters at the moment. Watch how you address me."
Sipre remained silent, staring at the figure before saying bluntly, "Why are you here?"
The hooded head turned back to the bowl, "What does this mirror do?"
"Reveal everything that has happened, is happening and will come to pass. As I said, you should know."
"Reveal everything that has happened, is happening and will come to pass," repeated the icy voice, "every secret to the world, to our world, my masters' worlds. Am I correct?"
"Yes," said Sipre still not seeing where this conversation was heading
"And you let an eleven-year-old physic vampire look into it?"
A ringing silence followed the black shape's words as Sipre looked slightly taken aback. The silence continued for another moment before Sipre said, "I watched his mind carefully, he saw nothing but what I intended to show him-"
"Still," the icy voice was now dangerous, "just because you didn't see it does mean he doesn't know of anything he shouldn't. Some secrets not even you know of!"
Sipre was silent for a moment, seeming to contemplate before replying, "Whatever secrets he might have accidentally seen, it's every probable he doesn't even know about them! He wasn't concentrating on anything else; if he saw anything or heard anything he shouldn't have it'll be hidden between layers of psychotic vibes."
Suddenly the shape gave a ragged laugh, "Sipre, secrets are not my masters' concern and I have no regard for the boy's mental state. But keeping those secrets, that it the problem."
"What?" retorted Sipre, "do you think he'll go blabbing them around? I highly doubt it."
"Even so," the icy voice sounded almost reasonable then, as if it was agreeing, "we cannot risk certain…riddles…becoming common knowledge."
"I still do not understand what you mean."
"Perhaps you are not suppose to," replied the black shape as it began to glide away from Sipre. There was a pause as it continued to move inharmoniously through the air. It then slowly turned on the spot to face Sipre from across the room, "My masters cannot afford this, you know what must happen; it's for our protection."
Without another word the black shape moved through the opposite wall and disappeared. The temperature in the room rose and the orange flames of the candles on the wall returned, flicking shadows against the walls.
Sipre stood rooted to the ground, stiff and a strange feeling spreading through his bloodless veins. The candlelight from the walls flicked shadows across his old face as he stared at the place the shape had disappeared.
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The sky was a curtain of black expect for the stars over head that shone brightly, the eight plants of the Milky Way solar system hung in the sky with the moon shining brightly among them.
A green forest ahead hid secrets, a brown cobbled path, the green leaves of the trees shone in the silver light of the moon. Inside of the forest Hermione Granger walked slowly done the path, her brown foots making a soft crunching noise against the cobbled path, her orange eyes moving from the darkness around her, checking for any signs of life that would be threatening to her.
This place; this world, she was in was not her own, this was not earth. Everything was too quiet; too peaceful. She was the only thing here that was creating noise or was any sign of danger; of course a vampire was dangerous. Looking up she saw through the tree tops the plant Saturn, its reddish circle rings around the gas giant's body; it stared down at her and she heard the whisper like a soft melody, Welcome.
Welcome? Welcome where? She didn't even know the name of this place.
Her overcoat brushed against the green leaves, they ruffled slightly as she gently skimmed her fingertips along the brim of them. As she past one leaf the moon's silver shine fell onto it revealing small red droplets of blood. But Hermione did not notice, something was pushing her down the path, something was at the end…
She heard soft wind chimes in the distance; they twinkled and chimed through the air, sending a shiver down the young vampire's spine from the sweetness that it gave off. Then she heard laugher, soft poetic laughter of that of children; high tones, too innocent for the world in which she came from. She slowly smiled a little.
She felt fingertips brush against the palm of her hand and she turned her head lightly, her brown curls spinning around her face as she did so.
Cody stood beside her as he slipped his fingers through the same hand he had touched, grinned at her, his boyish face in shadow from the night around them but she could see a dirt smudge along his left cheek bone; and he began to pull her from the path. Hermione frowned, she didn't want to leave the path, she had to follow it; she wanted to follow it. She wanted to find out about those wind chimes she had heard and the children laughing.
Hermione made to protest but she could find her voice as Cody tugging of her outstretched arm and she felt him pull her feet from the path and onto the twigged and soft earthed ground.
Hermione turned to face him but his fingers were suddenly in her hair and his lips were against her neck. It felt strange; she didn't flinch back or push him away, it felt surprisingly…nice. His lips washed up against her neck and over her jaw-line, her skin left suddenly felt fire, a strange electronic shock penetrated through her body and she closed her eyes and smiled.
Suddenly Cody's warm fingers were gone from her hair, his lips from her skin and the entire forest, along with the planets from overhead. She felt a sudden pull in her chest as she was pushed backwards, stumbled and fell. Suddenly she gone from forest and was on the floor of a bright room with burgundy carpet, long timber seat rows where on either side of her. She pushed herself up and found herself standing in an aisle from the door down to the other side of the room, where a long rectangular table stood draped in a pure white cloth. Behind it was a large golden figure of a man, a torn and ripped cloth wrapped around his midriff, a crown of thorns on his head, his arms outspread either side of him and his hands were pinned to a golden cross that was nailed to the wall behind him. His feet were sitting together and were also nailed to the crucifix behind him.
Hermione stared at the large sculpture; she had never been a religious person, her experiences in her short existence had pushed all possibilities of a God watching over humanity far away. To her, if such a powerful creature as God existed there wouldn't be so much suffering in the world, of things a child should never seen as she had. Besides, there was no actual proof…
She walked between the rows and heard soft crying. Turning her head to the left as saw an old woman sitting in the front row. Her light blue watery eyes were wide and terrified. She clutched a tiny golden crucifix on a golden chain in her hands as she rocked back and forwards, whispering frantically and sometimes whimpering under her breath. Her eyes were glued to the golden sculpture of the nailed man to the cross.
"Excuse me," called Hermione approaching the old woman, "Can you tell me what's going on here. What is this place?"
She stopped next to the old woman but she didn't even glance at Hermione, she simply seemed to be ignoring her.
"Excuse me?"
Nothing.
Narrowing her eyes in confusion Hermione slowly moved her hand in front of the woman's face but the woman didn't even blink, she gave no recognisation of another creature beside her; she just continued starting at the golden statue and clutching the golden chain in her fingers and muttering, swinging back and forwards. Hermione turned to look away from the woman and looked around. She was in a church, she gathered that much, but nobody other then this old woman and herself were in it.
Suddenly a scream filled the church and Hermione spun back around to find the old woman sprawled on the floor staring up the ceiling screaming, "Lord save me! It's here! Help, help!"
Hermione looked up at the ceiling but saw nothing but the cream coloured paint. The old woman continued to scream as she scrambled to her feet and began to run as if something terrifying was on her heels.
"Hey wait!" called Hermione taking a few steps after the woman.
The old woman suddenly disappeared, she evaporated into ashes when her frail body hit the back wall, taking Hermione by surprise and leaving her in the sudden quietness of the church, shocked and completely lost to what was happening. Well now that wasn't something that happened everyday! She looked up at the ceiling staring at it, there was nothing there.
She turned around to look at the golden statue again but gave a scream in shock and fright when a bloody and wild meat ripped face appeared before her and slashed her face with a knife and threw itself at her, flinging her off her feet and onto the floor.
Panicked she kicked her feet against the floor and tried to push this thing off her.
Giving a high pitched screech that hurt her ears this creature began to frantically slash her stomach open, spilling blood everywhere and as she gave a scream of pain it ripped a piece of flesh clear of her shoulder-
Hermione sat up like a shot. Her vision spun heavily in the front of her eyes; the lids of her eyes suddenly felt heavy as if they weighed a ton but she wouldn't let them drop. Her hand instantly went in the direction of her shoulder…nothing…her flesh was still intake. She licked her lips and suddenly became aware that her mouth and tongue were dry and sticky; she needed water-
No, not water, something sweeter, something thicker and fulfilling…
She felt something press against her shoulders and she was pushed down onto something soft and thin, her vision was blurred with a bright white light as she stared upwards into something that she couldn't see. Her senses felt all over the place, she couldn't smell anything or hear anything expect a soft murmuring. Her body felt numb as if she had been giving an injection of liquid to numb feeling in her body. Maybe this was a dream, or nightmare…either one was more of a reality of her life at the moment.
She blinked a few times, but the bright light didn't fade, she struggled to sit up again but was pushed down again. Annoyed she gave a soft hiss, a clear warning for who or what was restraining to back off.
She felt a stronger presence against her shoulders and this time her stomach and legs and arms. The annoyance was suddenly replaced by panic. What was going on here?! Had it all ended? Had they been ambushed and caught?
The brightness in her eye sight began to swing so it gave her different shades of light. The whiteness began to soften as well; it was becoming a more yellowy colour, and blackness around the yellow light had appeared too.
She began to struggle more forcefully; she had to get away from here! She had to find the others! Her smell was coming back; she could smell something…familiar…sweet…she knew it; blood. She could smell body pumping through vein vessels to the heart and brain, through the entire body; alive bodies.
She gave an angry growl and threw herself upwards and stumbled onto something hard and cold. She heard footsteps, hurried frantic, she heard voices; their vocal tones were high in panic. She still couldn't see, the yellow light and the blackness surrounding it was still in her vision.
Suddenly there was a strange whooshing in her ears, and suddenly as if someone had punched her hard in the stomach her body felt was pulled upwards towards the sky very abruptly. She was suddenly mid air and the back of her head hit something hard and the blackness in her vision took her instantly…
Elden sat humming a soft tune under his breathe while an eleven-year-old Edward sat crossed legged on the stool next to him. Outside was a bitter winter howl and white snow stuck to the windows and crowded along their ledges. The fire crackling away under the bubbling pot was the only source of heat in the entire house. Christmas was always a terrible season when they had no fire…
Edward's eyes were squinting in concentration at the book resting open on the table in front of him. Elden sighed as he stood, muttering, "Dinner should be ready soon."
A suddenly loud bang from above them made both Elden and Edward jump a little in surprise as the quietness was shaken by a loud frustrated cry of, "Cody! Give me back my shoes!"
The scream was suddenly accomiped by loud thumping from the second story of the house as well as another angry cry of, "Cody!!"
Edward smirked and looked over at Elden who pulled a lopsided face of irritation and rolled his eyes. The door leading into the main two room of the house burst open and Cody stumbled into the room, almost tripping, in hysterics. He stumbled slightly on his feet and ran around the table next to Edward, gasping for breath from laughing, just as Hermione skittered into the room, her chocolate eyes flashed with anger and were on Cody.
"What did you do?!" Edward said to Cody.
"Where are they?!" Hermione demanded, her wild curls even messier then usual, her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. She stuffed her hand into one of her pockets of her coat and pulled out her wand and pointed it threatened at Cody.
"What's the matter my dear?" asked Elden calmly from his place next to the pot which sat above the crackling flames of the fire underneath it. Edward grinned, it was always Hermione he'd ask what the issue at hand was, considering it was always Cody who caused it.
"You can't use that!" said Cody, meaning her wand, as he stuck out his tongue at her and dancing around Edward, who was watching the conflict with amusement, "you'll get in trouble! Said so yourself!"
"I don't need to use it for magic!" growled Hermione angrily, "I'll just stuff it up your-"
"Language my dear!" interrupted Elden sternly as Edward laughed.
"Yeah, language Mynie! And I told you I don't have them!" replied Cody still laughing. Hermione made an irritated noise in her throat and ran around the table to grab Cody who bolted from Edward's side but as he ran past Elden the old man grabbed the boy by the back of his collar and swung him back.
"Where are they?!" Hermione snapped again as she grabbed the front of Cody's shirt.
"What makes you think I know where your bloody shoes are?!" Cody's grin suddenly turned into a glare as he struggled to get away from both Hermione and Elden's grips.
"Because you always hid them!"
Cody said nothing in reply, he simple smirked.
Hermione pushed Cody backwards a little before growling at Elden, "Can't you do something with him?!"
"Where'd you put her shoes?" Elden said to Cody who grinned brightly up at him.
"Tell her to say, please."
"Cody…"
"If you don't tell me where my shoes are at this moment I'm going to-"
"He hasn't got them."
All three turned to look at Edward who had spoken. His young face was placed in smug grin. Elden raised his eyebrows and Cody grinned mischievously at him.
Hermione folded her arms and frowned sternly at him.
"He put them up the chimney and now their stuck," Edward's smirk grew wider into a grin. Hermione frown disappeared and she slowly turned to stare at Cody. Elden gave a silent sigh; he knew what was coming.
"I told you I didn't have them," said Cody, sounding proud of himself that he had been right.
Hermione looked up at Elden who shrugged at her before saying, "We can get them back my dear."
"Then send him out to do the dirty work!" snapped Hermione pointing at Cody. She refused to do any stealing until they got her boots back; after all, they were even lucky to possess something like a pair of shoes. She didn't care how much Elden threatened, she would not work until her boots had been returned, in the exact condition they had been taken in, she was tried of Cody always hiding them in the craziest places and finding it absolutely hilarious fun to do so.
"Of course I'll go," grinned Cody as he tugged on Elden's grip again. Hermione stood very still for a moment before she suddenly sprung into life and literally threw herself at Cody and they both tumbled straight to the floor.
"You are dead Aarons!" cried Hermione as she began to smack her fists into his stomach. Cody coughed but he pushed the girl off himself and stumbled to his feet and ran as Hermione followed and was close behind him.
"I don't think Mynie's going to be eating dinner tonight," Edward said to Elden as the two children ran from the room and their loud and frantic footsteps was heard against the floorboards of the stairs, mixed in with Cody's laughter.
A few loud hours later…
"Is it safe?" a soft hiss went through the darkened kitchen area.
Edward looked up and grinned at the direction of the voice and began to chuckle, "Yes, she's at the Inland with Elden."
Edward was counting the money they had collected from their day of work as the candles around him threw the boy into an orange glow, the sky was more of a navy colour and the kitchen area was slightly darker now, making the light quickly evaporate.
A dark shadow shiftier slightly at the door and Cody's pale face came into the candlelight. Edward stared at the sight of him. His light brown hair was knotted and chaotic, his clothes looked as if they had been stretched out of shape and his was sporting a few dark areas on his cheeks.
"I'd ask what happened to you," said Edward, "but I think Hermione's made her statement."
"Girls," Cody shook his head as if in disappointment as he sat down next to Edward, "they loss their heads at times."
"I bet," said Edward smirking, "To think, a girl did that to you!"
"You make that sound like an offense," Cody turned his dark eyes onto his friend.
"By what you are and what she is," Edward's smirk widened, "she puts you to shame Cody!"
Cody scowled at Edward and was silent for a moment before saying, "I'll admit, for a human she packs a good punch."
Edward suddenly laughed, "my point exactly."
Cody grinned childishly before saying, "she still doesn't believe me does she?"
Edward shrugged, "Go easy on her; I mean, who believes in vampires!"
"You believed me," said Cody every quietly as if he sounded offended, "besides, she's been at that school for a while now. I would have thought…"
"Yeah, but I've seen proof," said Edward, "Nobody has fangs like you've got!!"
Cody gave him a full fledged grin before the two fell into silence again. Cody's eyes fell onto the book that Edward had been previously reading. Reaching across the table Cody picked it put curiously and stared at the front cover. He looked up at Edward.
"I still dunno why you bother," he said, "it's not like we're gonna make it in life."
"Elden says it's good if we learn to read," replied Edward, "you should too Cody. It'll help."
"Yeah right," Cody muttered under his breath. Edward opened his mouth to reply but Cody suddenly held the book up stiff and alert, a sign that made Edward stay quiet. His dark eyes were wide in the candlelight and his small pale face wore a slightly alarmed expression. His head was tilled as if he was listening hard to something in the distance.
"Oh no," he breathed, "She's back!"
Edward laughed, "Run!"
And before Edward spoke another word Cody was gone from his side, the book in his place…
The sudden world was swallowed in on itself into a black nothingness as Hermione's eyes snapped open. She was lying on her side with her legs bent loosely and arms draped to her left. She was lying on something soft but stiff at the same time. She blinked a few times and it took her mind a few moments to recognize the place she was in.
It was Dumbledore's office. Not only that it, was silent expect for the hot fire that was crackling in the fireplace, no Dumbledore or anyone else in sight and Edward, Cody and Bellina were all lying on the floor to her left silently sleeping as if it were the middle of the night and the room was not lit.
Silently and slightly confused and hazed Hermione pushed herself up on her hands. Her forearms shook slightly as she leaned on her hands. She sat back and looked around her. Her head felt like it was spinning; like it did when she would attain a cold when she was human.
The office was exactly as she remembered it. The portraits of the former Headmasters of the school, the shelves of strange objects that some she did and didn't know the names of and the headmaster's desk and chair at the opposite end of the room. There was a strange warmness to Dumbledore's office, a friendliness about the atmosphere in the room.
A sudden purr in the corner make Hermione start in surprise at it; snapping her head in the direction of the sound but the sudden alertness in her chest fell away when her eyes met the ones of a phoenix.
Hermione's eyes widened in shock and surprise at seeing the bird. She guessed this was Fawlkes; Dumbledore's phoenix. Harry had mentioned him a few times since his victory down in the Chamber of Secrets in their second year. The phoenix eyed her almost doubtful. Another noise caught Hermione's attention and she turned to the door. Dumbledore stood in the office door frame, wearing a midnight robe with silver stars printed on the fabric, and upon seeing her sitting up he smiled.
"You're awake Miss Granger," his voice was kind, but there was a tightness to it that Hermione didn't understand. Hermione opened her mouth to speak but no sound escaped. She put a hand to her forehead and blinked; such strange dreams, well, the first part any how.
"Come on now," said Dumbledore sweeping down and took her by the arms and helped her upwards. Her legs felt like jelly and she swayed a little on her feet. Dumbledore pulled her to the chair across from his desk and pushed her to sit in it. He then pulled out his wand from his robes and tapped the surface of the desk in front of Hermione. A golden sting of vine draped elegantly from Dumbledore's wand tip to the surface of the desk and it poured onto it and formed and shaped itself into a goblet. Inside the goblet was a purple liquid. A sudden horrible smell reached Hermione's nose and she instantly clapped her hands around her nose and pulled a face of disgust.
Dumbledore gave a soft chuckle at her reaction, "you must excuse me; I forget you have a high sense of smell. It normally does taste awful; the smell would, naturally, be similar."
"You don't want me to drink…that?" said Hermione, her voice muffled, as she stared into the goblet, "do you."
"It will help," said Dumbledore as he moved to sit opposite Hermione, "I suggest you pinch your nose and drink it as fast as you can, although, maybe that might not work for you now..."
Hermione stared at the goblet before carefully taking it up in her hands. The smell was almost as bad as the scent of a werewolf. She went to swallow but there was no saliva in her mouth, her tongue and mouth were dry…
Before she let her thoughts wonder too far and have her end up doing something wrong, she took a deep breath, pinched her nose, squeezed her eyes shut and tipped the purple liquid down her throat. Dumbledore was right; pinching her nose didn't help and the taste was even worse then the smell! She winced at the taste and when she had swallowed all the liquid the entry goblet slipped from her fingers and onto the floor and shuddered as she began to cough and she clutched her stomach. A shocking icy feeling was moving down her throat and into her chest, the taste of the liquid still presently horrid in her mouth.
"Well done," said Dumbledore in almost amused admiration, "most people cannot handle even the smell of that potion. It allows for alertness, I thought it would be best as you seemed very unsteady on your feet."
"Thank-you," Hermione managed when she had caught her breath. She blinked a few times and could already feel the fatigue leaving her. She had so many questions. She looked at Dumbledore before saying, "How did you find us? Who were those people, the wizards?"
"Did you really think I would have you leave out into such a dangerous world without someone following your little group?" said Dumbledore smiling softly, "We are in a middle of a wizarding war where all creatures, human or not, are somehow involved. And as for the four of you, you have something that the dark side wants."
Hermione swallowed; she knew what Dumbledore was talking about, although how he knew all this, she didn't know.
"Imagine our worry when your gang disappeared from sight after you let that little abandoned house in the Wales' countryside. We were not able to find you again and we feared that you might have been taken by the Alusta clan, especially when we found the remains of the child vampire outside," Dumbledore paused here and Hermione adverted her eyes. She had only gotten used to the idea of having to kill, but the memory of shock and horror was still fresh in her mind.
"Miss Granger," Dumbledore leaned forward, his long fingers together on the table in front of him. Hermione looked at him, his expression was now very serious, almost a worried expression. Worried?! A coven of vampires were coming to attack Hogwarts! Of course he would be worried! Dumbledore opened a draw from his desk and pulled out a piece of a newspaper clipping. He placed it in front of Hermione who only had to read the heading to instantly recognized it.
"I already seen this," said Hermione
"You have?"
"Yes, Voldemort showed me."
"Voldemort!?"
Dumbledore stared at Hermione, his expression caught between shock and confusion. At this moment Hermione wished that she had Edward's talent of mind reading, she wanted more then anything to know what Dumbledore was thinking.
"You must tell me everything," said Dumbledore urgently, "Start at the beginning."
"The beginning?"
"Yes, if you please Miss Granger. There is something I seem to be missing."
Hermione stared at Dumbledore; there was something she needed to know first. She looked back at her friends' unconscious forms on the floor of the office. They seemed to be unharmed, in fact, they simply looked peacefully asleep.
"What happened to us?"
Dumbledore shook his head slowly, "I will explain later."
"No, now Professor." She knew she was being demanding and a little rude but to wake up and find the others asleep next to her in a wizard's office with no recollection of getting there would defiantly drive her to questions.
Dumbledore sighed and leaned forward, "Miss Granger the four of you needed to be put to sleep, we cannot risk any attack from inside the castle."
"You-You thought-?"
"It's not that we didn't trust the four of you," said Dumbledore, "Believe me, you have proven yourselves to be trustworthy by simply fighting for each other, and risking so much by coming into the open and in a place where the Alusta clan can easily corner your coven. You belong in Gryffindor for a reason and whether you are a vampire or not will never change that. And as for your friends; I hear they have hearts like lions."
Hermione smiled, a proud feeling flooding her, "they do."
"But you must understand," said Dumbledore, "we are trying to not only to protect you but also protect the students of this school. The reason that you came here was to tell us about the Alusta clan I presume? It was simply a matter of precaution I assure you. Harm came to none I you, I made sure of it."
Hermione watched Dumbledore as he explained. She stayed silent as he finished and assumed there was no lie in his blue eyes or in his voice. He was guilty of nothing; since when had she become so suspicious of everyone? This wasn't like her, but, then again, having a powerful vampire clan chase her and her friends across the country and even across the border into a neighbouring land could do that to a being.
"Now it is your turn," said Dumbledore, "please begin at the beginning. I must know what has happened, and when I mean beginning I mean from when you first arrived at the Inland as a child."
"How do you-?"
"Like I said Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, his blue eyes suddenly twinkling, "I have my informants."
"And every good ones too!" came a voice from behind Hermione. She jumped and turned in surprise. However, she instantly froze, she knew this face, she knew this human, but she hadn't seen him in a long time.
He was exactly as she remembered him in her memory. How could this be possible?! She had been sure that he'd be dead, she hadn't seen him since Cody had tried to attack one of the Weasley twins…
The white wispy hair, the long overcoat, the cane, and of course, the leering crooked grin fixed on his old and wrinkled face. This was more strange and shocking then anything; she had never imagined her teacher standing in Dumbledore's office, it just wasn't logical, it was just…unbelievable. Maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"Elden?!"
Hermione turned back to Dumbledore, who was observing her over his half mooned glasses, his kind smile in place and his blue eyes twinkled amusingly. She was in shock. She turned silently back to Elden, opened her mouth but as her voice failed so her she closed it again.
"My old friend came to me for help when you all disappeared with no trace," said Dumbledore from behind Hermione, "did you ever wonder Miss Granger, how Elden could afford to give you money for your books and uniform? I am aware of the tight budget you live on and your means to get money. You see Hermione, I provided it."
Hermione slowly turned from Elden back to Dumbledore, "you?"
Dumbledore gave a nod, "Me."
"And that's a good thing too my dear," Elden sat down in the chair next to Hermione, "you would have bankrupted us!"
Hermione stared at Elden, who turned slightly to look at her. Finally he gave her a glare, "your staring at me like I'm a slug. I aren't exactly handsome my dear but I'm not hideous! Now out with it! What's the matter?!"
Hermione swallowed and opened her mouth; her voice was barely above a whisper, "Where'd you go after…"
"That would be my doing Hermione," said Dumbledore, "I provided Elden with a safe house; the first person that the Alusta clan would go after would be Elden. And I was right, they were trying to track him down, but alas, they could not find him."
Hermione looked from Dumbledore to Elden and then back again, "How exactly do you both know each other."
"We go back to the old days," said Elden quietly, "you will know all in good time."
"But-"
"Hush now, my dear," said Elden waving an impatient hand at her, "Too many questions all at once is not good for me; I'm an old man!"
"Professor-"
"What are you doing here?!"
Hermione spun in her seat (once again) to find Belina, Edward and Cody all sitting up. Edward had a blackened eye she had not noticed before, Bellina's blonde hair was a mess and fallen out of her ponytail and Cody's pale face was only broken by the pink shades on his cheeks.
"You're awake!" cried Hermione in relief
"Yeah," said Cody rubbing his eyes, "what put us to sleep?"
Belina stood but her knees gave way under her and she fell flat on her stomach and a "huff." Cody laughed loudly in reaction.
"More potion is needed I believe!" said Dumbledore as he drew his wand from out of his robes again. Suddenly Hermione remembered something; she pulled her own wand from out of one of her coat pockets. It felt strangely small and thin under her fingers.
"Ah, I see you still have your wand," said Dumbledore eyeing the magical instrument.
Hermione nodded, "why wouldn't I?"
Dumbledore remained silent as conjured up three goblets with the purple liquid inside. The horrible smell filled her nose again but this she grinned. Wait for it…
"Oh My God!"
"What the hell is that smell?!"
"It stinks like shit! Fucking hell!"
"Language children please!" cried Elden glaring at them, as Hermione flashed a bright grin at her friends, "Drink up!"
She dissolved into a fit of giggles at their horrified and disgusted faces.
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Ron gave a sigh of annoyance. Harry gave him a half glance before turned his gaze back to his invisibility cloak. They had been in the Gryffindor tower since lunch time. Classes had stopped and dinner had been brought up to their house but nobody ate much. He had watched as McGonagall and Flitwick set repelling charms and curses on the windows of the tower and the tower itself.
Before they had been sent back to their common rooms they had been pulled from class and the entire school had assembled in the Great Hall. Dumbledore had addressed them, the seriousness and graveness about him reminded Harry of the night he had witnessed Voldemort's return when Dumbledore had interrogated him about it. Then, Dumbledore had told them the full truth; the school was under threat of a vampire attack. The Hogsmeade village and other villages surrounding Hogwarts had been evacuated by the Ministry and if need be the school might need to be evacuated too. Dumbledore had asked if any student had any information to come forward. Should he have come forward and told Dumbledore about Hermione? Surely he must have read about it in the Daily Prophet, when other students in the school had found the article that Dean and Seamus had they began to gossip.
Now, of course, people were saying Hermione was involved. But she wouldn't be, what reason would she have to attack her old school? Why would vampires even want to attack Hogwarts, other then to go on a blood killing spree?! Hermione might be a vampire now, but surely she would at least have retained some sort of humanity. She was most likely with Edward and Cody and both of them seemed humane enough, well, at least Edward was, but there was no reason for her to be involved…
Ron voiced the exact question Harry was fighting with himself over, "Do you think she's involved?"
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
If one of the other boys had been in their dormitory with them Harry knew Ron would not have said anything about the subject.
"I dunno. There would be no reason for her to be."
Ron was silent for a few moments before saying, "You know the Ministry is having trouble with magical creatures at the moment. Well, not trouble, just confusion really. Their disappearing you know."
"Disappearing?"
"Yeah, magical creatures; it happened before, last time. For a few months before You-Know-Who came into real power, suddenly creatures like werewolves and vampires and giants started to kinda like, go into hiding. Dad says it's happening again and some Ministry officials are freaking out because, you know, it's another sign that he's back. But Fudge is just saying it's a coincidence and there's no need to panic. But when You-Know-Who came out into the open he had an entire army behind him, creatures that wanted to get back at wizards and humans for discrimination, or what they believed it to be."
Harry made an angry noise in his throat. He was used to this type of denial by people but when it was lied about, Harry knew Fudge really understood that Voldemort had returned, that's what got him angry.
"It's just a thought," Ron muttered, "Just something that's been bugging me for a while…"
"You think Voldemort has something to do with this?" asked Harry. Why hadn't he thought out it earlier?! It wouldn't surprise him if Voldemort was somehow involved in all this panic and commotion. What perfect way to get into Hogwarts and find his way to Harry to kill him…
But, then again, wasn't Voldemort keeping it low? This would defantily get huge media attention in the wizarding world. Voldemort wouldn't risk something like this unless he was using the vampires as a distraction. But surely Dumbledore would have thought of that?
Ron shrugged and turned to Harry, "It's a strange coincidence if it hasn't, don't you think?"
"You don't think Hermione knew about this?" asked Harry, "and that Edward and Cody knew about this, or maybe they knew but didn't tell her?"
"I don't see why they would," said Ron darkly, "I never trusted them anyway. For all we know they properly changed her into a vampire and forced her to join You-Know-Who."
"Ron I don't think that would happen," said Harry rolling his eyes at Ron's absurd theory.
"It's a possibility," muttered Ron darkly, his face shadowed.
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After Bellina, Cody and Edward were nearly chocked by the revolting taste and smell of the potion Dumbledore had conjured three more chairs and then began the exchange of explanation. First, it was Hermione's turn. She explained everything to Dumbledore that she could remember; from the time when she was picked up at The Inland by Edward when they had been young children to this very moment, sitting in one of Dumbledore's chairs (helped along by Edward and Cody of points she might have missed. She left out her "own" business that she would sometimes do for Elden, and surprisingly neither Cody nor Edward or Bellina brought it up either. She guessed from the absence of Edward's reminder, Edward could tell that Dumbledore must know and the others were given the indicator from this).
Dumbledore hardly gave any interruption as she spoke and when she had finally finished with a deep breathe Dumbledore stood and walked slowly over to a cabinet on the wall. He pulled back the doors and a bright blue light shone around him, opposite him was a mirror. Dumbledore leaned over what looked like a giant chalice made of grey marble stone. In the reflection of the mirror Hermione could make out a sea of something bright white-blue.
Dumbledore raised his wand to his temple and slowly full a stand of silvery line from it. Edward, Cody and Bellina watched in fascination and confusion, but Hermione instantly understood. It was a thought. A Pensieve.
"What's he doing?!" she heard Cody whisper to Edward
"It's a Pensieve," explained Hermione watching Dumbledore as he let the stand of silvery thought gently fall into the surface, "it allows you to store your memories or thoughts for later usage. You or others may be able to see them again; by actually being in the memory as if you were actually there. Similar to time travel, but there the people or creatures can't see you."
"Maybe you should get one of those," Cody smirked at Edward, "I bet you'd have a good use for it!"
"When one's head becomes full of thoughts," said Dumbledore, his voice was far off as if he was in another world, "it is most convenient to simple…cast them away…"
"See?" said Cody, his voice cheerful and happy, "My point exactly!"
Dumbledore moved back from the magical object and shut the cabinet doors silently, the white-blue light was blocked and he walked back to his desk and sat in his chair. Hermione thought he might ask her more questions but instead, to her surprise, he addressed Cody.
"Tell me about your sister," he said suddenly looking grave.
Cody blinked, looking taken aback, before narrowing his eyes distrustfully, and saying slowly, "why?"
"I must know where she stands in all this," said Dumbledore, "I mean no offense Cody I just need to know."
Cody remained silent for a moment and stayed very still; his dark eyes were boring into Dumbledore's face. Hermione watched as Edward slowly turned his head to look at Cody; she watched as a hesitant look came onto Edward's face, but he took went every still as if he were waiting for something. She wondered what Edward could see in Cody's mind.
"She's not here," he said his voice suddenly tight.
"I am aware of that," said Dumbledore giving him a small nod, "But I need to know, has she joined with the Alusta clan?"
"What's this!" said Elden looking between the four of them
Hermione watched as Cody's eyes softened and the tightness on his face weakened a little. She felt sorry for him; Natty was, after all, his sister. God only knew what he must be going through, it had hurt her enough when they had rejected to help her back at the Vinican's mansion, she could properly only half imagine what he was feeling.
"I-I don't know…" said Cody shifting slightly in his seat. Hermione knew him well enough to understand his hesitation to answer; Natty had joined their enemies. Cody looked away from Dumbledore hesitantly and lowered his eyes to one of the desk's supportive legs. Dumbledore looked at Edward for a moment, who gave a small nod. Hermione slowly closed her eyes and opened them again, and with a lunge from her stomach, Hermione knew her speculation had been confirmed.
Complete silence followed. Dumbledore slowly stood to his feet before saying, "I will be back shortly." He moved around the desk and towards the door, opened it and disappeared, closing the door behind him.
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The silence inside Dumbledore's office filled the nothingness of words. They had tried to persuade Elden to tell them where he'd been all these months but Elden had stayed silent on the matter, only giving them, "it's for protection my dears. If someone asked you where our little community gathered, would you tell them?"
So they sat and they waited for Dumbledore's return; expect Cody who was pacing slowly back and forth behind the chairs. Cody stopped next to Elden's chair and turned to him, folded his arms across his chest and said in a rather frustrated voice, "Are we going to sit here all night and wait for the Alusta clan to find us?"
"Shut it," said Elden through his missing teeth, making his voice seem muffled.
"No he's right," said Edward piping up, "We came here to fight them. We should be out there."
The silence returned again but a sudden loud knock and the door busting open make them all jump. In a flash Edward had his sword out and Hermione and Bellina had jumped to their feet. A overshadow of a huge person stood in the doorway crying, "Professor! Profe-! Oh…"
A sudden low hiss escaped from Cody who took a step forward, his eyes suddenly gleaming yellow. But Hermione took a step back and lowered her defenses; she recognized that voice.
"Hagrid!" she cried moving forward, half in relief and half in happiness. Hagrid pulled down his great hood of his huge coat, his face was red and his hair was as bushy as ever. But when his eyes fell on Hermione, the normal warmth she usually saw in them when he met her around Hogwarts, faltered a little.
"I, ah, I need ta see Professor Dumbledore, it's urgent," his voice held great nervousness. She could sense the others behind her taking steps forward towards them.
"He's not here at the moment," said Hermione as normally as she could, "but I think he'll be back."
"ah," said Hagrid, "ya see I need ta speak to him now, because we're got some trouble."
"Trouble," said Bellina instantly from behind Hermione, "what trouble?"
"Err," Hermione watched as Hagrid twisted his hat in his hands, "the trouble we've been waiting for I'm afraid."
A sudden voice was heard through out the castle, "Can teachers please report to their appointed areas." A sudden siren wail similar to one of an air raid went off through the castle.
Hermione's lips parted slightly as she took a step back, she suddenly felt extremely scared. She turned to look at the others; the tension in the room sudden took a new height as the siren wailed a few more times. Edward's sword had lowered slightly but his grip was so tight that his knuckles were white. Bellina stared at Hagrid, stiff as a statue, while Cody took a few steps forward before looking at Edward, "We have to go down there. Now!"
"You need a plan first," Dumbledore had suddenly reappeared next to Hagrid, but Hermione looked at him to speak but her words drowned in her mouth with shock when her eyes fell onto the boy his side.
It was Harry Potter. He looked exactly the same as she remembered, black hair, green eyes, rounded glasses, lightening scar; a normal human…
Hermione stood very still for the moment, not really knowing how to react. It was more the shock of seeing Harry again that froze her mind into disbelief. She had not expected to see him; in fact, she had not really wanted to see him. She didn't even what to think about what he might think of her now…
"We haven't got time for a bloody plan," snarled Cody taking a couple more steps forward this time more urgently, ignoring Harry's presence completely, "they defiantly aren't going to wait for us to make a plan!"
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Dumbledore had not explained a word to Harry as he took him from the Gryffindor tower. They just hurried along the corridors of Hogwarts, with Dumbledore's wand out. The sky was darker now; the blackness of the night was fast approaching and would be upon the castle and grounds soon.
As they hurried through the castle Harry realized where they were heading; Dumbledore's office. He didn't really know what was happening. Maybe Ron had been right, what if this did have something to do with Voldemort…?
"Professor-"
"Not now Harry," said Dumbledore looking straight ahead, "just a few more moments."
A sudden voice broke the silence of the castle, "Can teachers please report to their appointed areas." Dumbledore suddenly stopped and as did Harry. Harry watched as Dumbledore stood extremely still and his wide and seeming to understand something. Then, a sudden siren wail similar to one of an air raid went off through the castle.
Dumbledore grasped Harry's arm and pulled him forward calling over the noise, "Hurry!"
Their hurried footsteps against the floor of the school were washed out by the repeated wail of the siren, but finally they came to the open winged eagle to the entrance of Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore waved his wand and pushed Harry onto the stairs and they moved upwards in a hurry.
The door to Dumbledore's office was already open and Hagrid was standing in the entrance, blocking Harry from seeing the inside of the office. Dumbledore pushed Harry towards the door and Harry heard someone say, a somewhat familiar voice, "We have to go down there. Now!"
"You need a plan first," said Dumbledore. Harry took one look into the office, expecting it to be the same as he remembered but eyes widened in shock at the presences in Dumbledore's office. This was too much at the moment. There standing a few steps from Hagrid was Hermione. Only she had changed quite a bit. Her face was suddenly very pretty and her hair was not messily, but long glossy brown curls. But it was her eyes that stopped Harry; they were not the chocolate colour he remembered, they were orange. And they were staring right back at him. There was something different about her, a strange feeling he got when he looked at her. He didn't know if it was real or whether his imagination had conjured it up considering he knew what she was.
Behind her stood the blonde girl he had only remembered coming across once in The Inland, Hermione had said her name was Bellina. Cody and Edward stood further back behind them (Edward had a blackened eye and a sword in his hand) both of them not looking a day older then when they had last met, and Elden sat in a chair at Dumbledore's desk.
He didn't know what to feel at this moment. Shocked would properly be the appropriate word; the last thing he expected was to find in Dumbledore's office was Hermione with the rest of the coven she belonged to.
"We haven't got time for a bloody plan," snarled Cody as he took a few steps forward, his eyes were bright yellow, "they defiantly aren't going to wait for us to make a plan!"
Harry hand automatically went to his wand in his pocket, he grasped it but didn't pull it out; a sudden tightness in his chest made him extremely uncomfortable. He didn't miss though how Cody's yellow eyes flicked to him for a moment before going back to Dumbledore.
"What do you propose?" said Bellina.
"Well someone needs to stay here," said Edward, "just incase they get into the castle."
Harry brought himself out of his slight trace; he suddenly realized they were talking about the vampires. The announcement, the siren, their presence, it all clicked in Harry's head.
"You're here to fight them?" he suddenly asked
Hermione turned to look at him, "Yes. What? Did you think we'd be on their side? Harry we've been running from them for the past six months!"
Their eyes lingered on each other for a moment, Harry felt a strange shiver skim down his spine, her glowing orange eyes seemed to be piecing right through him as if she could see right through his front. She turned back to Edward who said to her, "Two of us will be out there and two inside the castle…just in case."
"But that's a waste," scowled Cody, "you do realize they will have more then just vampires with them, we are completely outnumbered as it is, we all need to fight Edward! We're better fighters then them, you know we are! We can handle it!"
Edward's expression turned extremely uneasy and he bit his bottom lip, looking between Cody and Hermione, "You two, stay inside-"
"No way Ed!"
"You'll need us out there!"
Harry suddenly thought of something and spoke his opinion before he had really thought of it, "But Hermione, aren't they after you? Shouldn't you-?"
Hermione suddenly rounded on Harry, her eyes glowed dangerously and her voice was a sharp hiss that cut Harry's sentence short, "Stay out of this!"
Taken aback by her anger, Harry fell silent as Hermione moved her angry gaze from Harry back to Edward, "Nobody is staying in the castle Edward!"
"We've been over this a hundred times!" added Cody taking a few more steps forward. Edward sighed and began to shake his head-
"Look guys!" cried Bellina, "we have no time to argue like this!" she turned to Dumbledore, "are there any wizards out there?"
"Yes," said Dumbledore with a nod, "Ministry officials and some teachers. But also vampire hunters and fighters."
"They need to know that we are out there too, we can't have your wizards kill us thinking we're with the Alusta clan. And we need some weapons," said Bellina, "we don't have much."
Hermione suddenly pulled out her wand, "I can use this."
"No!" said Dumbledore instantly. Everyone turned to look at him in surprise. However he ignored them as he hurried forward to a white trunk, which stood stationary against one of the walls.
"Why not?!"
"Just keep your wand hidden Hermione," said Dumbledore suddenly stern as he tapped the trunk lid with his own wand and lifted it open, "do you understand? Do not let them see your wand!"
"Professor I don't understand-"
"Not now," said Dumbledore, "we have no time now. Here hurry, this should be enough."
Harry watched as the four vampires moved towards the trunk and peered into it. Cody raised his eyebrows and gave an amazed whistle before looking at Dumbledore saying, "Security measures?"
Dumbledore gave the boy a tight smile before a short nod. Harry watched as the four of them began to pull bits and pieces from the trunk; it was weaponry: knives, guns, some objects that Harry didn't even know the name of. Edward pulled out a bow and a set of arrows and handed them over to Cody who took them.
"Can you even use that?!" said Hermione staring at Cody, who was strapping the holder for the arrows diagonally along his chest. He looked at her, a smirk on his boyish face, "You'd be surprised."
Harry watched as Hermione pulled a gun from out of the trunk and she put the weapon into it's holster after checking it thoroughly. He could remember, barely seven months ago she had been only been known as the brightest witch of her age at Hogwarts. Now…Harry didn't even know if she was the same…she seemed fit to be a killing machine now. He watched as her and her companions hurryingly took the weapons out from the trunk in such a business like way. How could he have missed this all? How could he not have realized what sort of underworld life she came from? She seemed so…high in her morals and the good of the right thing, so how, how could he have just missed the whole detail behind her muggle life when it had been sitting there in front of him for the last four years? Had she maybe let something slip and he had stupidly presumed that she was talking about Charms or Transfiguration?
He wanted more then anything to speak to her…now that he was seeing her again after all these months he realized how much he'd missed. But here now, she stood barely a few feet from him and he couldn't think of anything to say. He felt uncomfortable bring up the subject of her life and what she was now, like he was being disrespectful, offensive towards her. What was there to say? How hard the fifth-year was? How Snape had become more of a pain since last year? How he had been having visions of Voldemort? How Dumbledore was avoiding looking at him since the end of last year? How he felt more alone now just because everyone thought he was a crazy, lunatic liar? Yes, he concluded he had missed her advice and comfort, very much. Maybe later, when this all ended he be able to speak to her for a small time-
BANG!
Harry jumped in unexpected shock as a sudden explosion brought him out of his thought. The four vampires all whipped around. A sudden stream of shouts began and distance growling that carried up from the grounds.
"Let's go!" said Edward, his eyes on the window that overlooked the grounds of the school, "Now."
The other three instantly followed him as he moved across the office and past Harry and Hagrid, who had remained silent through the entire time. There was suddenly something different in the air, a tension like Harry hadn't felt before. Hermione was the last one to leave the office as she moved past him for a split second he saw her hesitate. Hermione's eyes met Harry's and she gave him a small smile. Harry knew in that second nothing had changed between them, she was still willing to be his best friend if he needed her there, her eyes said so. And he knew that right now she needed him; they needed help.
"Hey," he said just as she went to follow her companions. She stopped and turned to him, looking slightly surprised.
She remained silent, waiting for him to speak and he said, feeling a little awkward, "Good luck out here."
She gave him a full smile, one he also remembered, "Thanks." Then she was gone.
Harry then turned to Dumbledore saying, "Professor, I have to fight."
"No Harry," said Dumbledore, "you must stay in the castle. I fear the evacuation escapes have been blocked. Something Miss. Granger said disturbed me, Voldemort might be working with the other vampires; everyone has something that someone else wants and it's connected to this school. Lord Voldemort was a student at this school once; he'd know all the secret hideouts and escapes. It was too late before I realized Voldemort may be apart of this," Dumbledore rested his face in his hands as if in shame. Suddenly his head snapped up and he muttered to himself, "It may work."
"But Professor you can't-"
Dumbledore held up a hand to silence Harry. He was suddenly up from his desk and moved around it. He looked over at Elden, who was silent in the chair at his desk.
"Elden," said Dumbledore quietly, "Maybe you could open it?"
"It has not been opened since then Albus," said Elden, "and once they would be in there would be no way out. It'll be a massacre if they were to get in."
Dumbledore said nothing, he began to pace and seemed to be lost in thought, muttering frantically to himself.
Elden moved to his feet slowly and he moved a hand over his old face, "I will be willing to try. Whether it would work…? I am a Squib, only a wizard is able to open it."
"But it is your bloodline," said Dumbledore pacing now, "It's the bloodline that matters-"
A sudden explosion drowned out Dumbledore's words and the entire office shook so suddenly that the four of them all stumbled sideward. Harry stumbled to the floor and hit his forehead against the carpet looking making the world spin in front of his eyes.
He blinked a few times and saw just in time Dumbledore hurry to the office window and look down, his hands gripped the sill of the window. He gave a sudden shout and swirled from the window as an arrow came whistling through and hit a painting of a former headmaster, who squealed and disappeared from the frame just before the arrow hit him.
Dumbledore held his wand to his throat and his booming voice made Harry clap his hands over his ears, "All students are to report to their common rooms immediately."
"We must leave," cried Dumbledore, "We must get all the students down into the chamber. Hurry! Hagrid go to the Ravenclaw common room and organize the students to go down to the girls' second floor bathroom. Make sure they have their wands."
"Right ya are Professor," Hagrid hurried from the office, moving as fast as his half giant body would let him.
"Harry," said Dumbledore pulling Harry to his feet, "you must go to the Gryffindor common room and do the same. All students to have their wands and bring them down to the girls' toilet on the second floor, and," Dumbledore lowered his voice, "bring your invisibility cloak."
"This has something to do with the Chamber of Secrets doesn't it?" said Harry as Dumbledore steered him towards the door.
"Yes Harry," said Dumbledore looking down at him over his half moon glasses as he steered Harry towards the open door, "it does. Now do as I ask, I trust you will keep yourself inside the castle. Straight to the common and straight to the second floor girls' bathroom, understood?"
Harry stared up at Dumbledore, his kind blue eyes had a new urgency and worry in them. Harry respected Dumbledore above all wizards, but this…if Voldemort was here that had something to do with him, which meant he was involved. Other people didn't have for sacrifice for him. Hermione didn't have to…
"Of course Professor," said Harry sounding the most honest he could
"Swear to me Harry," Dumbledore gripped his shoulder tight, his voice urgent and strained, "Swear to me you won't leave the castle."
Harry swallowed the lump in his throat; he hated lying to Dumbledore, "I swear sir."
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Mist floated in the air, the snow was marked with footprints, soon to be marked by blood.
Slowly through the mist came four figures, just teenagers, but they walked with such confidence they seemed much older to someone that didn't know them. But there was a deadly air about them, properly considering the weapons that they carried. It looked like they would kill any enemy without the slight bit of hesitation. After all, they were vampires.
The sun had disappeared outside; the moon was the only light. Hermione could hear the growls and hisses from the distance. She gripped the swords in her hands tightly. She looked around at Edward who pointed silently to her left. She gave a nod, understanding the direction.
She hurried to her left and moved within the shadows of the gazebo that led out into the wider grounds near Hagrid's hut.
She heard a soft hiss in the wind, "Hermione!"
She turned her head slightly in the direction of the sound, a sudden drop in her stomach made her nervous. She was still and alert, her hypersensitive hearing and the distance of Edward's vocal cords told her he was about a hundred metres from her.
"Move down ahead first," said Edward's voice in the air, "We'll cover you."
Hermione didn't have time to think, she just moved. She could smell blood in the distance; it was in the air, death. The moonlight above her was her path as she moved along the snow flack grass, cautious, her eyes looking out for anything. Even through the darkness she could see through the blanket of night around her. She hurried down the stone steps that led down to Hagrid's hut. The screams and cries were louder now, coming from inside the forbidden forest.
She could feel eyes on her; was that Edward, Cody and Bellina or the enemy; someone from the Alusta clan, a werewolf, Natty…?
The thought made her stomach launch and she gripped her swords even tighter. Her stomach was a twist of knots, now her training would really be put to the test. She could feel her sharp fangs against her bottom lip, she listened hard for something, any approaching threat, but nothing. They were keeping the battle in the forest. She moved forward again.
"Hermione relax!" she heard Bellina's voice, "I can sense your stress from here!"
"Wait, exactly what am I supposed to be doing?" muttered Hermione
"They need to see you," Edward's voice, "Do something."
Hermione stared down at the forbidden forest, "See me? Why-"
"They're using the trees as a cover," said Edward, "if we can lure them out into the open we'll have a better chance."
A sudden explosion of yellow and pink lightened up the forest tops. Hermione saw for a flash moment a bloody body lying near the edge of the forest. She suddenly had a thought. Maybe it'll work…
She pulled the sleeve of her brown over coat up and raised her arm to her lips and let her sharp teeth slice into her skin.
"What in God's name are you doing?!" Cody's voice hissed in the darkness.
A stringing sensation went along her arm but Hermione ignored it, the taste of her own blood was flowery; almost like, like, of she did have time to be thinking at the moment. She pulled her teeth from her arm and let her blood trail from the teeth wounds to the grass floor. She began to work forwards and she left a blood trail behind her. Her own blood trickled from her forearm down her palm and her fingertips and dropped to the ground.
Hopefully…She pressed against the wound to make the blood be released from her body more quicker and thicker.
"Good girl Mynie," she heard Edward's voice, "The werewolves can smell vampire blood, some are coming!"
"You're left," Cody's voice hissed, "move to your left."
Suddenly huge shadows flicked in the trees, impossible to see to the human eye. As they moved into the moonlight overgrown dogs appeared, about eight of them, their jaws were snapping, growling and howling. One had bloody saliva tripping from its mouth. Their eyes were wild and they were all on Hermione. Suddenly one raised itself onto its hind legs (with a slight shock Hermione realized it was over twenty feet tall!) gave a howl to the moon and suddenly all eight of them sprinting at her; their jaws snapping angrily.
"Hermione move! Now!"
She did. She was suddenly running at neck breaking speed towards her left, but she could hear the panting of the werewolves behind her. She turned her head to look behind her, her curls were flying but she could see the closest one to her; it's eyes were blood red and it snapped it's jaws and gave a terrifying growl.
She tried to push her legs faster but she was going as fast as she could. But that wasn't fast enough. They were less then five metres from her, they were catching up to her.
She kept running on her path, hoping that the others were doing what they needed to do; she couldn't keep this up any longer.
Four metres from her.
"Guys there catching up to me!" she called into the darkness. She knew they would hear her but that didn't stop the panic from rising inside her as she felt the snapping of the huge jaws right behind her.
Hagrid's hut loomed in the darkness. She tried to push herself faster. Three metres; she could hear the nearest's paws thundering against the snowy earth. She wasn't going to make it.
As she rounded the corner of Hagrid's hut she skidded and slipped against the snowy and slippery grass, her feet coming out from under her. Shit!
It happened so fast. She looked up as the first werewolf raised itself on its hind legs, its huge clawed paw raised in the air to swipe at her and as the animal brought it down on her a sudden gush of wind past her ear and the werewolf suddenly collapsed to the ground, an arrow through its head.
She reacted instantly. She heard a familiar growl in the darkness; Edward. A sudden heavy weight was on top of her, knocked her completely on her back, hot disgusting breath was in her face. Before the werewolf could deliver an attack she thrashed her swords into its stomach. It gave a howl of pain and she kicked it in the stomach, surprising herself when it sailed off her.
A sudden strange feeling swept over her. It was too quick and familiar to resist; defend, kill. She leapt to her feet from the ground and lunched herself at one of the hairy beast, its jaw snapping wildly at her.
She would have had it but a sudden muffled scream broke her concentration and, distracted, she wasn't quick enough as it raised a paw and clawed her across her stomach, a pain speared and she doubled slightly at the shock of it. She ducked as the animal clawed at her face this time and she jumped up and pushed both her knives into the animals' neck.
She spun around, waiting, but nothing came. The world pulled back into focus and all eight of the werewolves were on the floor, dead, scattered in a line behind each other. She understood what she was running for; the others had attacked the pack while they had been distracted by her. She heard shuffling against the grass as someone approached her, but she didn't need to attack them. She could smell him, it was Edward.
"You alright?" he asked
Hermione nodded and said breathlessly, "Just a scratch. Did you hear that?"
Edward looked at her, "Hear what?"
"That scream?" Hermione frowned, she was so sure she had heard someone, or something scream, "I-I was so sure I heard it…"
"It was properly one of the wolves," said Edward shrugging, "I didn't hear anything."
"You didn't?" said Hermione staring at him uncertainly. Edward shook his head saying slowly, "No."
As Cody approached out of the darkness Hermione saw him readjusting the sling of the bow. She stared at him, "was that you? With the arrow."
Cody glanced at her, "Yeah."
"Nice shot," she said, slightly impressed, "good timing too!"
"Yeah," said Cody giving her a slight grin, "or that pretty face of yours would have been in a bad shape."
"Guys," said Edward sharply. Hermione turned her attention straight to him. He was staring into the forest; his posture tense and alert. Hermione followed his eye line. A sudden prick was on the back of her neck.
"There's more coming?" she said.
"Yes," said Cody putting a new arrow into the sling, "they won't come out of the forest, we'll need to fight them in there."
The cries and shouts from inside the woods were louder now.
"They have to be driven out into the open," said Cody, "get them out into the open."
"Yes," said Edward moving forward as did Cody. Hermione went to follow them, determination in her. She was here to kill, no hesitations. But she stopped, she suddenly noticed something.
"Wait!" she said, stopping dead in her tracks. Cody and Edward turned to her, alarmed by the fright in her voice, "Where's Bellina?"
Sudden realization drew onto their faces and the three of them looked around in a panic. The bodies of the werewolves they had just slaughtered were there, but no Bellina.
"She was right there," said Edward, "she was right next to me."
"Here!" cried Cody, pointing.
There was a body lying on the floor, about a hundred feet from them. Her stomach dropped almost a metre when she recognized the blonde hair.
"Oh no," said Cody softly
"Bells!" called Edward; nothing. She didn't even move.
Everything happened in slowly motion to her. Hermione suddenly became deaf; the world had spun to a halt. Edward was suddenly running towards Bellina's body.
"She's, she's not-" Hermione couldn't speak the words. Cody remained silent and still as a statue next to her. Neither of them moved.
She watched as Edward took a couple of steps back from Bellina's body, a look of disbelief and horror on his face. He looked up at Hermione and Cody. One look at his face told Hermione everything she needed to know.
She felt the swords in her hands slip from her grip, she suddenly felt strangely weak. She suddenly felt numb; Bellina, no God, no, no, no. This, this, couldn't, no.
She didn't know what to do. The shouts and cries from inside the forest suddenly became louder to her. A slow realization came to her, it had been Bellina! She heard her scream and she'd just left her! She hadn't helped her! She-She could have…
"Hermione," she heard Cody's voice in her ear. Hermione couldn't give a shit what he wanted at this moment, her eyes were on Bellina's body; tears began to build up in her vision. She suddenly felt alive; more alive then she had ever been. A sudden anger boiled under her skin, boiled through the disbelief. She wanted that wolf that killed her to be brought back to life again so she could kill it with her own hands! Her hands began to ball into fists. The bastards, the fucking bastards, she'd kill them. She'd kill them all!
Without a second thought she picked up her swords from snowy grass and turned on her heels and walked straight into the forbidden forest, ignoring Cody and Edward's calls behind her.
The monster inside her growled with happiness. She felt a grip under her arm as she moved into the trees, trying to pull her back, but she wrenched her arm away.
Welcome back, purred the monster in side her. She was going to end this, right now.
She suddenly felt free, a bloodlust rose inside her and a rage she remembered from her early days as a new vampire was swirling around inside her. The grip on her swords was tight and secure.
The blackness of the forest did nothing to her. She rounded the side of a tree and into a clearing where she was met by the tips of wands. Her eye line followed up to the owner and she smiled.
Long figures and hooded black cloaks, masks hiding their faces. She knew who these wizards were; Death Eaters.
"Whoa, hold back," said one, "It's a bloodsucker."
"Holy water!"
She took a few steps forward and smiled even wider when they took a few steps backwards. Bellina's body glued into her mind, her dead friend's scream still ringing in her ears; then, without a second thought, she gave a sharp hiss and leapt at the wizards…
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