NOTICE : Alittle part of the story is written in a different language so I put in bracets what it says in English. (I'm not sure if it's even correct in the other language but oh well)
Ok so it's been acouple of days since I last posted I've finished Chapter 26 also it just needs a bit more tweaking done with it and it should be up soon enough, So someone suggested a bit of Hermione and Justin, I added a bit of that into the story in the next chapter so thats all good. Sorry the chapters are getting so much longer I just think there are so many key idea's needed to be put in and half the time I can't stop myself just goes on and on!
Chapter 25 – Only By The Night
Alex joined them at dinner feeling much better after her long sleep, she hadn't told the others about her alliance with Stevie, and this made her nervous she wasn't even sure Stevie would keep to her deal of letting them get far enough. But then again the more time Umbridge spent looking for them the more time Stevie would get to get whatever she was looking for in Umbridge's office.
"Good luck today." Stevie grinned coming up behind Alex and smiling at the rest of them.
"Umm thanks." Alex replied through gritted teeth she was sure Stevie did it on purpose. There was a great deal of talk because Padma, the girl who had disappeared had suddenly re-appeared completely unharmed along with the other two students…not a scratch the only difference now was they were no longer wizards.
"I'm a squib!" Alex heard Padma wail as she passed, Alex didn't know what a squib was, but she assumed it was something bad.
"What's a squib?" Alex asked Hermione.
"It means you were born into a wizarding family but you have no magical gift." Hermione explained.
"Basically you can't do magic." Ron cut in.
"I kind of figured." Alex replied did Ron really think she was that stupid?
"Ok so we have everything we need?" Justin checked over everyone making sure they were ready.
"Ok Justin we have everything now can we just go." Alex snapped becoming impatient.
"Alex I'm just making sure." Justin scowled.
"I know you wouldn't know anything about going prepared." Justin continued glaring at her. Alex narrowed her eyes opening her mouth to say something until Hermione shushed her.
"Ok you two enough bickering lets just go." Harry ordered. Alex looked over her shoulder catching Stevie's eye and giving her a small smile. The group made their way down to the Whompping Willow. Stevie ran up to Umbridge's office knocking on her door.
"Alex Russo, Harry Potter and their friends are sneaking out of the grounds!" Stevie panted pointing out of the door. Umbridge rose from her seat walking briskly out to the grounds where she saw the group heading towards the Whompping Willow. Stevie smiled to herself very satisfied with her acting sneaking into Umbridge's office and closing the door.
"I order you to stop!" Umbridge shrieked chasing after them.
"Everybody run!" Justin shouted pelting towards the swinging tree. Alex smiled to herself knowing the plan would work they were going to get away at least. After casting the spell on the tree they clambered through the hole Umbridge following close behind.
"Keep going and don't look back." Harry called he was at the back. Alex led the way climbing through the trapped door into the shrieking shack where Mason was stood waiting eagerly. Mason helped pull them up out of the dark hole smiling as he came face to face with Alex.
"Ok we're all here." Justin panted counting each of them before continuing.
"Uhh Justin we kind of need to go Umbridge is right behind us." Alex pointed out. Alex was exactly right they heard Umbridge's shrieks come from the black obis and with that the group ran out of the shrieking shack and into the Hogsmead village they could hear Umbridge as she came running towards them sending spells their way.
"Take hold of our hands." Alex ordered entwining her hand in Mason's and then holding her hand out for Harry to take hold of. Ron groaned he didn't want to hold hands with Justin it would be weird Justin didn't feel too comfortable either.
"Oh get over it you don't have much choice." Alex yelled watching as Umbridge drew closer towards them, her face livid. Ron grabbed hold of Justin's hand closing his eyes while Hermione took hold of the other. The two groups disappeared in front of Umbridge's eyes she stared stunned then screamed in frustration.
Alex, Mason and Harry landed both Mason and Harry not ready for the landing both falling flat on their faces. Alex let out a giggle when Justin appeared a few feet away along with Hermione and Ron, Ron too losing his footing and falling to the cold ground. The three boys got up brushing themselves off. All of them stared up at the large dark castle towering before them the moon light their only source of light.
"Nice place." Ron gulped staring up at the high stone walls with towering turrets and towers. Mason stared around with very little light it was hard to see their surroundings. Justin's wand tip lit up giving them very little light, casting his wand around them taking in their new surroundings. Surrounding them was a pitch black forest hiding the castle away from main civilization. It was an eerie place Justin thought while taking a look around the terrain he wanted to make sure they weren't missing any clues on how to find the amulet.
"I think we're totally cut off from other people." Justin whispered, he didn't know why he was whispering as they were all alone but he some how felt he had to.
"Aw and I was hoping we could go shopping." Alex groaned earning her a cold glare from Justin.
"Sorry," She mouthed before staring up at the black castle.
"So where do we go now?" Mason asked staring at the five wizards.
"In to the castle I guess." Justin announced taking the lead.
"Oh well thank you captain obvious!" Alex retorted sarcastically frowning at her brother. He gave her around glare then continued leading them to the castle. They got to two large wooden doors that blocked their way. Only temporarily.
"How do we get in?" Harry asked.
"Well it's on show to tourists during the day I'm sure Alohomora would work." Justin said examining to door knocking on it.
"What are you doing?" Alex hissed although she didn't show it she felt terrified she pictured a creepy old man opening the door and inviting them inside then killing them off one by one. Alex shuddered at the thought.
"I watch too many horror movies." She murmured to herself so that nobody else could hear.
"Alohomora," Justin said pointing his wand at the lock, the lock clicked and the five wizards beamed at each other, Alex couldn't help feeling a little bit uneasy something told her that this task wasn't going to be as easy as it was being right now and that it would get much harder as they went on. Stepping inside it was pitch black castle they couldn't even see their hands in front of their faces.
"I don't like the dark." Ron squeaked clutching onto the sleeve of Hermione's top. Hermione let out a groan.
"Lumos maximus," Hermione whispered, and a ball of light shot out of Hermione's wand floating in mid air illuminating the entire room.
"That's better." Ron sighed with relief letting go of Hermione's sleeve while she glared at him.
"I'm surprised you stand without a spine." She scolded coldly giving Ron a death stare.
"I feel the same way about Justin." Alex admitted earning her another daggering stare from Justin but she shrugged it off.
"What I do." She continued giving Justin a smirk. She looked much more confident than she felt.
"I'm sure Dracula's corps will be in some sort of secret passage they wouldn't have it anywhere mere mortals could come across it by accident." Alex assumed looking around the room, the light from the spell Hermione had cast creating large shadows making every movement noticeable.
"I would think so too." Hermione answered beginning to search the corners.
"And how will we find a secret passage and a great castle like this?" Mason asked his nose twitched he could smell a vampire but stood still his nose twitching breathing in the scent.
"What is it boy?" Justin asked. Mason shot him a glare.
"S-sorry I had to do that." Justin said bowing his head and avoiding Mason's glare, Alex hit him lightly on the arm, she didn't appreciate him taking the piss out of her boyfriend.
"What is it?" Alex asked beginning to walk towards him curiously.
"I can smell a vampire..." He pushed Alex back.
"Don't come any closer." He hissed his nose still twitching his eyes staring around the illuminated room. He began walking and sniffing corners and bookcases and then disappearing into the darkness of another room.
"What is he doing?" Ron whispered nudging Alex to get her attention.
"Finding the secret passage." Alex answered watching her boyfriend as he searched. They followed Mason along a long cold dark corridor the stone floor covered with a crimson red carpet. Mason continued sniffing walking ahead of the five wizards. Mason stopped outside a door that had been roped of by a luxurious looking red velvet rope with a sign hanging gracefully from it with the words "Do not enter".
"Oh as if that is going to stop anyone from entering." Alex laughed sarcastically unclipping the velvet rope and opening the door. They entered a large stone room.
"It looks like a kitchen." Justin frowned looking at the tools surrounding them.
"What could possibly be in here?" Hermione asked using her wand as a torch. All six looked around the whole kitchen but none knew what they were searching for.
"This would be so much easier if we had a map." Ron groaned slumping himself on a wooden chair which immediately collapsed under his weight making him fall for the stone floor.
"A map." Harry repeated with a grin.
"Aren't any of you going to help me?" Ron grumbled taking hold of Harry's hand as Harry helped him to his feet.
"Thanks," Ron breathed but then noticing that nobody was paying attention to him, their eyes were all staring at a piece of parchment that was laying on the hard stone floor.
"Ron…I think you found the map." Hermione breathed in a sigh of relief.
"Well it was nothing really, I knew it all along." He grinned Justin, Alex and Mason stared at Ron is disbelief raising their eyebrows.
"Alright it was an accident…I just wanted to be right for once." Ron admitted glumly. Justin picked up the parchment opening it and staring at the directions.
"So where do we have to go?" Hermione asked standing on her tip toes and looking over Justin's shoulder. When Justin felt Hermione's hand on his shoulder and her breath on his neck, his legs suddenly turned to jelly making his palms sweat and his heart race. His mind was racing and he stared at the map but none of it was making sense, he couldn't think straight.
"Justin..," Alex urged impatiently. He was suddenly brought back to reality trying to focus on the map.
"Um well uh…" He looked over the map watching as Alex stared at him expectantly her arms folded across her chest her eyes fixed on him. He cleared his throat his eyes fixing on the map once more.
"Well lets see." He murmured casting his eyes over the map.
"We're currently on the ground floor." Justin announced not looking up from the map.
"Oh bravo Justin we never would have guessed that!" Alex said irritably she was becoming really impatient with Justin why was he taking so long? Grabbing the map off him aggressively opening it up in front of her and staring at it.
"So how do we know which is the secret passage way?" Alex asked narrowing her eyes as they scanned the map.
"Let me read it." Harry offered Alex nodded handing him the map.
"We need to go to the Great Hall it's on the first floor…kind of like Hogwarts." Harry pointed out. Alex smiled at Harry.
"At least someone here can read a map." She grinned staring at Justin and smirking.
"I can read a map!" Justin bellowed. Following after Harry as he led the way up to the first floor.
"I don't need a map to find things." Mason announced proudly Alex giggled she knew that it had made Mason jealous so he was trying to make himself better than Harry. Harry ignored his comment and continued leading the way. When they entered the massive stone room the fire immediately lit itself casting an orange fiery glow around the room warming them instantly. Mason's nose started twitching once more and he started sniffing around again as he came close to the large stone fireplace It didn't take long until Mason let out a howl.
"Shhh!" Alex hissed running over and covering Mason's mouth.
"I can't help it." Mason hissed back. Ron smirked Alex glared at him making him go quiet.
"Are you sure this is it?" Harry said looking over the marble fireplace
"It's hard to confuse a vampire with another scent." Mason explained wrinkling his nose he didn't like the smell.
"Well I can't say you smell much better." Harry admitted he thought Mason constantly smelled of wet dog. Mason growled baring his teeth at Harry stepping towards him beginning to big himself up.
"Yo guys! It doesn't matter what you smell like we're trying to find the amulet." Alex said pricing herself in-between the two men.
"I know testosterone levels are high but let's try and keep them under control." Alex urged pushing them apart Mason nodded in agreement.
"How fascinating." Hermione muttered admiring the engravings around the fireplace carefully.
"So what do we do now?" Justin asked looking at the fireplace and taking the map from Harry and staring at it. His eyes widened as he looked at the map.
"What is it?" Alex asked her voice filled with concern she knew whatever it was it wasn't good.
"It says blood must be shed." Justin breathed hoarsely. The rest of them stared at him.
"It's only a little blood though right?" Alex laughed nervously.
"If anyone is to shed blood it should be me." Mason announced stepping forward. Alex turned sharply staring at him.
"No you can't…Justin there must be another way!" Alex stammered her eyes beginning to water.
"As you said Alex…it's only a little blood." Mason smiled taking gently hold of her arm.
"I'll be fine." He continued but Alex wasn't convinced. But before she could do anything he grabbed one of the knives placed above the mantle piece and cut into his palm sharply. The red blood beginning to run down his arm he held his hand over the fire place the blood dripping onto the stone. They heard a low rumbling sound and the fire place lowered itself revealing a black passage way. Before allowing Mason to travel any further Alex wrapped his hand tight in a handkerchief Justin had taken out of his jean pocket. After wrapping up his hand Alex went to step forward but Mason held out his blooded hand stopping her.
"Me first." He said softly giving her a small smile. Stepping forward the blackness instantly engulfing him. They could hear his foot steps when suddenly the whole corridor lit up with flaming torches.
"This place has known magic." Justin breathed stepping into the corridor followed by Alex and the trio. They followed the corridor for awhile until they came to a large door guarded by stone figures. The door was engraved with writing. Cei care doresc să treacă trebuie să se dovedească demn. (Those who wish to pass must prove they are worthy.)
"What does it say?" Harry asked placing his hand over the lettering.
"I don't know." Justin breathed examining the writing. Justin began trying to pronounce the sentence after he finished he stared for a moment when the two stone figures sprang to life knocking Justin backwards off his feet. Alex screamed in shock running to assist her brother at his side. Mason transformed into his full wolf form bounding at one of the stone figures. Harry pulled out his wand trying to think of a spell Hermione and Ron pulled out their wands. Mason was no match for the stone beings by himself and was smashed to the wall collapsing to the ground.
"Mason!" Alex screamed running to Mason's side he had got much worse than Justin but she didn't want to lose either of them. Harry, Ron and Hermione were sending spells flying making them bounce off the walls but none seemed to have much effect. Alex pulled out her wand trying to think of a spell.
"Confringo," Alex yelled when the stone figure came rushing towards her. When the spell hit the stone it bust into flames but this didn't take much effect only slowing down the being and making it glow red from the heat. The stone figure was almost on top of Alex that was it, it would be the end of her, when she heard Justin scream.
"Expluso," Making the stone figure explode into tiny sandy grain pieces. Alex breathed heavily in a state of shock.
"Are you ok?" Justin panted wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead.
"I think so." Alex breathed looking over her body to check there were no injuries. There was a scream from Ron who was quickly backing away from another stone figure his wand shaking in his hands. He whined stuttering.
"Expluso!" Hermione screamed aiming at the stone figure which exploded into dust. Ron gulped.
"Thanks for that." He panted giving Hermione a grateful smile. The five wizards stared in shock at the piles of dust and sand on the stone floor Alex ran to Mason helping him to his feet.
"Are you ok?" She asked smoothing back his thick mousy brown hair and kissing his forehead gently.
"Fine." He smiled standing on his feet as if nothing had happened
"We should get going." Harry said through gritted teeth climbing through the small passage away into a dark cold room, Harry shivered narrowing his eyes on a massive stone tomb in the middle of the large room.
"It's there…" Justin breathed stepping towards it, Alex held out her arm stopping Justin from going any further.
"There could be traps." Alex hissed glaring up at Justin. He clearly hadn't learnt that everything was not as easy as it looked.
"Accio amulet" Hermione whispered but nothing happened.
"It was worth a try." Hermione shrugged stepping ahead of Justin and walking straight up to the tomb.
"It's safe." Hermione urged ushering everyone to come and join her.
"See!" Justin hissed at Alex his annoyance.
"Well sorry for caring." Alex scolded. Justin smiled.
"So you do have a heart." He smirked.
"Yes I do have a heart if you hadn't noticed and…" Hermione interrupted her in mid-sentence shushing her.
"You two stop bickering I can't open it on my own." Hermione said tugging on the top the tomb. Ron flexed his muscles and pushed with all his might but the lid of the tomb didn't budge. Mason joined pushed with all his strength along with Justin and Harry who just managed to push it off, all four were panting when the lid of the stone tomb crashed o the floor creating a cloud of dust. As the cloud of dust cleared they all peered into the tomb where the clear white skin on a handsome vampire glowed his slick black hair pulled back neatly out of his well featured face. Alex gazed at the wolf and vampire amulet resting on his chest Alex placed her hand on the amulet pulling it off the Vampires neck, she quickly looked at Harry who shrugged.
"I was expecting something to happen." Alex breathed looking down at the amulet.
"Yeah that was too easy." Harry replied glancing around.
"You know for and old dead dude he looks pretty good." Alex laughed. Mason stared at her looking quite hurt.
"The cold ones are supposed to draw you in, everything about them draws you in, girls can't help it." He explained coldly. Ron could feel the tension rising and decided to change the subject.
"Hey look what it says." Ron said pointing at the head of the tombstone.
"Cei care deţin această amuletă posedă puterea de a mă trezi şi de control pe cei care sfidează mine vă dau stength mea puterea si intelepciunea trezi mine mă trezesc.(Those who hold this amulet possess the power to awaken me and control those who defy me I give you my power strength and wisdom awaken me, awaken me.) What do you think that means?"
Ron read out scratching his head and shrugging.
"I don't know." Hermione admitted turning to head out of the tomb, Nobody noticed when Ron began to choke as two cold pale strong arms curled around Ron's neck. Ron was beginning to lose air.
"RON!" Harry bellowed pulling out his wand. Justin Alex and Hermione did the same all aiming their wands at the arms around Ron's neck. Harry thought furiously for a spell to help his best friend but couldn't think of anything…all could do nothing as they panicked. Mason was the first to act as he jumped forward biting at the vampires arm. There was a high pitch cackle and the vampire released Ron flying into the air. The vampire stood towering over them his smile wide leering at them. The group stared frozen in fright they don't know why none of them could run.
"You have awakened me, my children do not be afraid I only wish to posses the amulet." The vampire announced. Ron whimpered cowering behind Hermione. Mason bared his teeth viciously transforming into his full wolf form once more. The vampire hissed baring his own long fangs.
"Run!" Alex and Justin called in unison heading towards the door. Mason lead the way transforming into his half-wolf half human self catching hold of Alex's hand as they ran pulling her along. The rocks from the ceiling began to crumble and shake when they heard a high pitch screech covering their ears as they ran. Bodies began bursting out from the stone walls and climbing down from the ceiling. Alex screamed when a pale figure jumped in front of her bearing it's fangs it hardly looked human at all. Mason pounced on it clawing at it viciously. Alex grabbed Mason's hand and quickly took hold of Harry's hand and zapped them out landing hard on the cobblestone street of Hogsmead she wasn't ready for the landing either. Justin soon followed with Ron and Hermione panting slumping against a wall breathing heavily and wiping the beads of sweat running down his face.
"That was crazy!" He panted looking at Alex who held up the amulet which glittered in the moon light.
Next chapter is very exciting...well I think so anyway it's the part i've been planning since I first started the story so the next chapter and the chapter after that is my favourite! I hope you enjoyed this chapter it took awhile to write and I wasn't quite sure what to name it. Thank you for the few reviews I get it means a lot even if I don't get any I can still see people atleast click on the chapter so thank you that you've even got this far in the story...It must be pretty hard going. So thank you to those that have stuck with this story!