Do I really need to say this again? J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. If you recognise anything that seems remotely familiar from any movie, TV show, book or whatever else, it's probably because it is from them. If you want my 'full' warning, you can check out either 'Dormant Power' or 'Beginning of the End'.

So, I've written a prequel, on with the sequel! Remember, I only wrote this because several reviewers requested me to (gosh, am I nice or what, lol!). Again, only some names are mine (as is the storyline I guess), everything else is not!

Alrighty, sorry for taking so long to update…inspiration has still been a major factor but so was the fact that I went on holiday recently. Took another trip to North America, this time to see the band Nightwish in Seattle. It was my beta, SongOfStars, idea actually…though 'beta' doesn't really cut it anymore since she's my girlfriend now as well (and that took us long enough…me dancing around the issue until she confronted me about it, lol). Concert was brilliant and the only letdown was the fact that I had to go back to NZ and couldn't stay…oh well, hopefully one day soon I can do that.

Anyway, she's blaming me for 'sidetracking her' and delaying any updates of her stories so I'll blame her for not writing this for me, LOL!

Chapter 37 – Making Amends

Harry looked himself over in the mirror. For the meeting with Brard he had chosen to wear the duelling robe he inherited from Trent as everyone he talked to had said that the first impression counts the most with vampires. He let out a sigh as he recalled the last time he and Bianca had gone anywhere.

It happened less than a week ago when he had arranged to take her to Hogsmeade for dinner…at least, that was the plan anyway. Instead he ended up having to deal with a whole host of reporters who had somehow figured out he was there.

-flashback-

"Mr Potter, are you aware of the recent poll for who should be the next Minister?"

"I am, and I was highly surprised and honoured that my name was mentioned in such elite company."

"Will you put your name down as a candidate?"

Harry shrugged. "I might as well. I mean, who wouldn't want to have a chance at becoming Minister?"

"Do you think Cornelius Fudge has been a good Minister?"

Harry was about to say that he didn't think he had been, but thought better of it. "Minister Fudge has been through a very difficult time in his tenure as Minister. He's had to face war, as well as…"

"He was instrumental in trying to bring both yourself and Albus Dumbledore down for telling everyone that Voldemort had returned," a reporter cut in.

"I'm aware of what he said. But he was under a lot of stress back then. The events of the triwizard tournament were bad enough, but then having to face the realisation that one of the most feared Dark Lords in history had returned? He did what he thought was best at the time. I do not blame him for making a mistake, everyone does it. It's just that his are a little more high profile than others."

"His mistake cost you the life of your Godfather."

Harry glared at the person who said this before answering. "Several people could be blamed for that. Yes it would have been easier if he had announced that Voldemort was back, but he didn't. I am more to blame for that than he was."

"Why is that? From all reports, you were lured there under false pretences."

"I was. But I also should have thought that it might have been a ploy to do that."

"Do you regret not doing that?"

"I lost one of the people I loved the most, so of course I regret it. But Sirius died doing something many people wouldn't have done. He was considered a fugitive, yet he still risked, and lost his life fighting against Voldemort's forces."

Silence greeted this comment until one lone voice spoke. "What would be the first decision you'd make if elected as Minister?"

Harry grinned at the person before replying, "I think it would be whether or not to open a nice big bottle of firewhiskey!"

-end flashback-

He shook his head at the memory as that pretty much wrecked the evening. It seemed that every time the two of them were alone, something would happen to ruin the moment. He sighed again and headed outside to meet up with Bianca. She didn't have a duelling robe but Tonks had given her a dress robe which suited her perfectly; it was black but shimmered in the light to appear purple that brought out the colour of her eyes. Her hair hanging down her left side and she had a silver clip on the top to stop her fringes from falling into her eyes.

"We can go when you've finished staring at me," she teased which snapped Harry back to the present as he cleared his throat.

"Er, right. Well, grab hold since this might feel a bit weird."

She nodded and grasped his arm before Harry apparated them to the edge of the Transylvanian forest, knowing that unlike the first time he came here it would be well guarded.

As expected, four vampire warriors, each armed with spears, quickly surrounded them while a fifth spoke to him. "Who are you and state your reason for trespassing."

"My name is Harry James Potter. I seek counsel and advice from Brard Darkspawn."

"And your friend?"

"Bianca Chelmsford, child of Brard Darkspawn. I am here to show that he bears no ill will towards us and do not intend on going in with him."

The warriors lowered their weapons, but still wouldn't let them pass. Harry only had a vague idea of what kind of reception he'd receive, but he hadn't been surprised by their coldness.

"Purpose?"

Before Harry could answer, a deep voice from behind him did so for him. "He wishes to ask advice from the 1928 duelling champion about wand crafting as well as ask permission for an eventual marriage since they are bound."

Harry spluttered with indignation while Bianca felt herself blush before they turned around to come face to face with the tall figure of Brard. What differed from last time was that Brard didn't appear to be as bitter as he had been at the final battle. If anything, it seemed he had expected their arrival.

He gestured for the guards to back down, and beckoned Harry to follow him into the main camp while Bianca stayed behind. While passing through, he looked around, noticing the small dwellings that were scattered about and estimated that there were roughly two hundred vampires in the immediate vicinity. He followed Brard into the largest of the structures, which Harry guessed was for meetings and the like. Harry was taken aback when Brard led him into a room with a long table where several vampires were already seated, all of whom were the elders of this tribe.

They all looked up as the duo entered and Harry was left with a sickening feeling in his stomach as Brard pulled out one of the two remaining seats for him. "Would you like anything to drink, defeater of Voldemort and Lord of the Dementors?" he politely asked.

"Only if you were planning on having one for yourself," Harry replied, remembering what Remus, Hermione, Tobius and Bianca had told him about vampires respecting those who don't think of themselves first.

Brard nodded his head ever so slightly in respect. "Not particularly so we shall move on to your reason for being here," he answered. "But first, I must ask you this; how is it possible for you to be bound to one I turned when I haven't turned anyone for over fifty years?"

"It's a long story actually," Harry said before telling them about what had happened to Remus and himself, along with what little they knew about the reasoning behind why the war began.

After hearing Harry's tale in its entirety, Brard immediately addressed the elders, "Firstly, I must beg for your forgiveness. I daresay it must have been that Umbridge woman who flared my temper in the first place." He then turned back to Harry, "I anticipate that you are curious to why I mentioned her name? It was she who figured out that I was what I am. She drove many of those you saw on your way into this room to Transylvania with her laws," he then looked deep into Harry's eyes, silver meeting emerald. "There is no lie in your story, and while I thank you for bringing this to our attention, I don't know what you intend to do by letting us know this information."

"I intend to run for Minister. That way, I can make several changes to the way things are run, and hopefully prevent the war from, at the very least, getting to the magnitude it did."

"You seek an alliance?"

"If possible, but I would settle for recognition on your behalf."

Brard mused over this, and Harry wondered if anyone else would say anything. It was kind of unnerving to be sitting at a table, and being one of only two people doing to talking.

"And what kind of recognition are you talking about?"

"I intend to demolish the law that states no magical creatures are allowed within the Ministry itself. I don't see the reason why you cannot be treated as equals amongst us."

The elders gaped at Harry after hearing that while Brard's eyebrows shot up before he composed himself. "Well then, it would seem we have a lot to discuss."

"You appear troubled," Brard said as he led Harry back to the forest edge where the guards and Bianca were waiting for them.

"Well, it's just…what do you know about blending timber for a wand?"

That question took the vampire by surprise. "Not a lot. However, I sense you ask me with a different question in mind."

Harry let out a chuckle thinking that the Brard from this time was much easier to talk to…probably because he wasn't trying to kill him.

"I am constructing a wand of my own creation and require a blend of Holly and Teak before encasing it in graphite for the base."

"I see…perhaps I can make a deal with you."

That peaked Harry's interest and he looked keenly at Brard, wondering what he had in mind.

"You see, I happen to know of several clans who live in vastly different forests. If you manage to revoke the law about magical creatures not being able to work for the Ministry, I might be able to persuade them into letting you browse their forests for both of those timbers."

"Really? That'd be brilliant! Er, you won't use force, will you?"

"Oh no, no, no," he laughed, "I certainly wouldn't resort to such tactics. Several owe me a favour and I could use that as payment," he explained.

"You didn't hit him," Harry said after Bianca and he were back at Hogwarts, lounging on the couch in front of the fire.

"I know," she replied. "I guess the way he talked made me feel for him a bit knowing what he turned into."

Harry gave her a smile. "It told me that you're getting more control over your temper."

"Or that you've rubbed off on me too much," she laughed, causing Harry to poke his tongue out at her. Bianca then sighed as she laid her head against Harry's shoulder. "I just wish I knew if this was me or the bond. I know that before, I'd have given him a right old bollocking."

"I think it's a bit of both. I mean, you did say that you'd try your best to keep your temper in check. Maybe you're just feeling more peaceful about things overall?"

"Mmm, I think you're right. My life wasn't the easiest. My parents didn't exactly get on with each other, but they stayed together for me which was better than the alternative I guess. It was because of them that I grew up to be cautious around people and not putting much trust in others, that's why I didn't have many close friends. Doesn't mean I was never asked out or anything," She laughed. "I was asked a few times by guys at Uni but I wasn't really interested back then since I knew all they wanted was me in a bed."

"Not all of us are like that," Harry said softly, stroking her hair.

"I know that now, but only because of you," she answered, unconsciously snuggling into him. "All the stories I'd heard about you made you to be kind of like this untouchable legend. That you'd just sweep in and save the day without any worries so I was wary about you since I assumed you'd have had females hanging off you."

Here Harry snorted, stifling a laugh. "I was a bit like you, led a private life until I came to Hogwarts and found things out. I hated being in the spotlight but I suppose I can understand why people looked to me to fix everything. Kind of hard to live up to something that happened when you were barely one though."

"Yeah, I came to realise that the more time we spent together. But you're not possessive like me and that's something I've always been, not from when I got turned into what I am. The stories you told me about Hogwarts made me have to bite my tongue from saying something like 'you're mine!' whenever you mentioned Hermione, Ginny, Luna or any other girls. I don't really know why our bon…mmph!"

Bianca was cut off when she felt Harry's lips on hers. After a brief moment of shock, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to fall into the kiss. Just as she was starting to enjoy it and feel a little lightheaded, Harry broke the kiss and whispered, "I hope that removes any lingering doubts about whether or not I'm yours."

"I…think I need some more of that before I'm fully convinced," she coyly replied, causing Harry to chuckle. He then waved his hand at the door, locking it with wandless magic, before gently wrapping his arms around her and leant back in for another kiss, this time deeper as they explored each others tongue.

The only thought in both their minds was, 'I could get used to this.'