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Disclaimer – JK Rowling and various publishers own the world of Harry Potter.
Book 3: Dark Moon
Chapter 35
Vampire Valley
The Minister for Magic was feeling quite uncomfortable in his chair behind the desk, in his office under the stern gaze of Lord Thant Solmyr. It was most unpleasant explaining how the trace had not been able to locate the whereabouts of young Harry Potter and though the boy had ran away on his own accord, though that too was a speculation, it was still not good enough of an excuse.
"I assure you, Lord Solmyr," – Cornelius Fudge was saying. "We are doing everything possible to isolate the problem. I have already dispatched several trackers alongside eight Aurors and a detachment of Dementors. We will find him."
"I hope for your sake you're right." – Thant noted with an increasing tone of frustration.
"Mind me saying, Lord Solmyr," – Cornelius stood up. "It is by your own admission that young Mr. Potter has ran away despite the protective charm you had placed upon his window."
"The charm could be removed from outside by any decent adult wizard."
"Minister," – A small voice coming from an oily and very ugly painting placed above the minister's chair spoke.
"Yes," – Cornelius turned to it.
"We just got word from the Knight Bus. I have Mr. Ernie Prang in the lounge waiting for you."
"I will…we will be there right away. Lord Solmyr,"
They left the office of the minister and headed for the lounge where Ernie Prang, proud driver of the Knight Bus was sitting quite nervously on the sofa. When he saw the two coming he stood up and quickly and started speaking quickly alongside a few hundred apologies. Thant had to calm him down forcibly.
"Now speak slowly and plainly," – He said his eyes flashing.
"Ah, yes," – Ernie swallowed. "It was after midnight. We picked up the signaling just outside your estate."
"The front gate?" – Cornelius inquired.
"No," – Ernie shook head. "The opposite's side."
"Go on," – Thant urged.
"We stopped and picked the boy. He introduced himself as Nimbus Dracon."
Thant smiled. Sometimes it was a pain to have two official names but other times it was a blessing.
"Stan noticed…"
"Stan?" – Thant interrupted.
"Stan Shunpike, it is the conductor."
"Of course, do go on."
"He noticed something on his forehead but the young man diverted the subject to the headlines in the newspaper. It was about Sirius Black. He did not seem to know who he is and we told of him. Stan was expl…"
"Where did he pay to go?" – Thant interrupted again as Ernie was likely to continue talking for a long time before getting to the point.
"He paid to go to Wick."
"Wick?" – Cornelius' face took on a form of an exclamation mark.
"And that's where we left him after depositing Mrs. Marsh at Abergavenny."
"Was he carrying anything?" – Thant asked.
"Ah, yes, his trunk…"
"Anything else?"
"No,"
"Wick, huh," – Thant exclaimed. "Alright, thank you, Mr. Prang, you have been most helpful."
"Minister," – Ernie bowed and left.
"Tell your Aurors to focus north." – Thant said.
"Black doesn't seem to be involved."
"As far as we know no."
"We will find him."
"I hope so." – Thant sighed. "I hope he is alright."
"What would possess Harry Potter to go north? Does he have any relation to that area?" – Cornelius asked.
"No, he doesn't and this is what is most puzzling." – Thant replied thoughtfully. "Please inform me when you have something."
"We'll do, Lord Solmyr."
Odd relief crossed Sirius' body when he saw at least half a dozen Aurors running and recalling the Dementors away. They all boarded that crazy purple monstrosity the Knight Bus and were off with the usual loud bang. Sirius wondered what must have transpired so they would come running to recall them. After all, he thought this time he was done for it. They had him cornered badly.
His path was once more clear and he could continue towards his goal – Hogwarts. He was about to go when he stopped himself. It was eating him away to know what was going on. Why they did come to recall the Dementors in such a hurry? Have others managed to escape from Azkaban? Or were they preparing a trap for him? The lack of information is usually a killer but going to pursue it was just as dangerous. He was pondering what to do next.
He had no choice but to move for if the Dementors return he will not have the time to ponder what next so he was back on his way.
The travel was exhausting on many levels and without a wand it was even more difficult but he had to. Revenge was so close. He was going to pay for everything and finally Sirius could fully relax whatever the cost.
The next village he arrived into was actually inhabited entirely by muggles and he passed as an adorable though a bit shaggy dog. He received a lot of pats by the local children and their parents and few hisses from the cats though he did enjoy chasing them away. It scared their willies and for that he received some warm meals. All in all it was worth the running and the fun.
The next few days, he had close encounters with several wizards and witches but since no one knew of his disguise none could out him out. Of course, stealing a wand was out of the question as it will bring more problems than actually being of any help. He had already gotten used to stealing food and newspapers. He hardly had any other choice and he had to maintain his disguise more and more often. He was now near his goal and it was getting more and more difficult to avoid being seen.
He was starting to think how he would infiltrate Hogwarts. The Ministry was bound to place Dementors at every known entrance. Fortunately he knew of one entrance that for certain will not be guarded. It was you could say the secret of the Marauders.
Sirius' thoughts went back in time. Those were beautiful times despite the danger they ran into every time they ran away. He was happy then with his friends…friends – James, Loony, and…this brought back everything and the reason he was out. What had happened to them? Why did they fall apart? Was it because he made the wrong choice? Was it their demeanor towards – well – everything? Maybe it was but at the time they were so careless. How could one man cause so much pain and distrust?
Sirius closed his eyes. He had to stop thinking about it for it hurt a lot and was bringing the really bad side of him. He could scream accusations to sky heavens and attract all the trouble in the world to him. He took a deep breath and calmed. No, this time he will have the chance to correct the error, the big, painful mistake.
Far, far away to the North, in a dark forest valley, inside a very old fortress where none had set foot in over a hundred years, young Harry was reeling in his trunk with annoying difficulty. The trunk's wheels were stuck in a furrow and all his efforts to get it free were not yielding any results.
At some point, he did remember he was a wizard much like Ron had yelled it at Hermione when they were caught by that plant in Hogwarts' basement when they were on their way to retrieve the Philosopher's Stone. He took out his wand and pointed at the wheels but stopped and pondered what spell he would need. But then it was so obvious that he simply did it. The wheels broke free.
He put the wand back into his pocket, pulled the trunk and continued down the path he had chosen. It was lit by some phosphorous plants and it gave the whole corridor an eerie look which he did not mind at all. The stone of the floor reminded him of the one in the chamber of Secrets. Every step he was making was loudly resonating. And there was still no sign of anything living.
After a left turn, he found himself into a large room with really old furniture and panoply – crests, chainmail, helmets, shields and swords, and if sold it would bring to anyone tremendous fortune.
Harry left his trunk next to the shelves of a library full of books from top to bottom. He took one book from the middle shelf, sat on an armchair with a crest of skulls and opened it. It was not really a book per say. It was more of diary. The date on the top left of the first page read December eighth eleven hundred seventy.
The words were not difficult to discern but the language though English was. Harry wished he knew of a spell that could make translation. The style of the letters though was beautiful and was attracting the eye easily. Harry could not read it so he left it back where he took it and took another one.
The date on this one read December eight fourteen hundred six four but hey there was the same problem. He did not understand even one word though this time it was a bit easier to read.
"Isn't there a modern translation of all this?" – Harry wondered out loud and like a miracle just waiting to happen, a book shot from the top shelves and landed into his lap. "If you ask you shall be given." Harry read on the back cover. "Oh, well, then…"
He opened the first page. Startled Harry jumped to his feet for the date said: August fourteenth that happened to be today's date and the time was just a few minutes ago. Harry looked around but saw no one.
He turned the first page and the next read: 'Welcome to Vampire Valley, young prince (to be) of Blackshire.'
"Any news, dear?" – Saptienna asked still in her night gown.
"None whatsoever." – Thant sighed deeply in frustration. "It is like he…he just dropped off the map."
"Oh, dear,"
"They've checked the trace."
"And?"
"And there is nothing wrong with the spell. It is working perfectly. The thing is it just can't locate Harry. It is like he…"
"…Dropped off the map." – Saptienna helped him sit down.
"Try the face of the planet Earth." – Thant said as he was comfortably sitting in his bones made chair. "They swept the entire area of in and out of Wick – nothing. No one has seen Harry. I just hope he…I just hope he is alright because if someone took him then by the gods…"
"Oh, ok, relax Thant," – Saptienna calmed him down by gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "There is no need for empty speculations."
"Dad?" – Cassie knocked onto the door.
"Yes,"
"Have you found Nimbus?"
"No, not yet,"
"Dear, has he told you anything?" – Saptienna asked her daughter.
Cassie assumed her mother's usual grimace of amicable annoyance. "I really had every time of every day to chat with him. Thanks to someone we know…"
"Oh, alright, dear," – Saptienna smiled. Cassie was becoming her mini copy and at times it was scary. "Your dad did the right thing."
"Oh yeah absolutely," – Cassie nodded depicting exactly the opposite. "Did it not occur to any of you two that Nimbus was going to stir crazy, ALONE, in that room?"
"This is the nature of…"
"Punishment!" – Cassie interrupted with fake cheer. "Dad, after all that has happened to him only you would be crazy enough to trap Mr. Trouble into a corner with access to spell books. What did you really think is going to happen? He would stay put? Ha! You do have a vivid delusion."
"ENOUGH!" – Thant's voice thundered and he leapt out of his chair. "What is done is done! Harry's…"
"Dear, pipe it down." – Saptienna stood before him with her hands in defensive position. "Cassie is raising a valid point. You and I made a mistake."
"Right," – Thant sat back down. "I'm sorry, Cassie. You are right. I overreacted."
"Dad, my point is we all love him but sometimes too much of a something leads to disaster."
"You'd know you are the expert." – Thant interjected with a growing smile.
"Yeah, well," – Cassie blushed.
"If you are all done with mushy stuff," – Xsi interjected from the door's threshold. "Then we could get to think where he might have gone, hah?"
"Yes, Xsi dear, we are done." – Thant nodded.
"Can't you use some spell to track him or find him?" – Cassie asked.
"We tried the trace. It leads nowhere." – Thant replied.
"How about the old Salem trace?" – Xsi proposed. "We just need something of his."
Thant closed his eyes then slapped himself on the forehead. "Of course, how silly of me… Why didn't I think of this?"
"You're preoccupied with trying to be a responsible parent."
Thant's gaze narrowed onto his daughter. There were times these two were more mature than their age suggested. The girls laughed at the grimace he was making and Saptienna joined them. It was indeed one of these family comic moments.
Harry had been kind enough to leave poor Hedwig behind not to mention the recently acquired Ferox. The blood of Harry was still imprinted on the latter's teeth which is all Thant needed.
Ordinarily no wizard or witch would employ the Salem tracking method as they were considered dark magic (actually any blood tracking is considered as such. The trace worked in a different way.). But Thant was not burdened by such superstitions. The Salem order still existed though their magical training was carefully observed by the International Federation of Warlocks.
Thant placed the ferox in the middle of the altar with four candle of black fire around it. Muttering slowly the incantation tiny drop of the blood streamed onto the map. They began moving at once – Blackshire then in the different directions the Knight Bus went to and then stopped near the water in Wick. There the blood seemed to boil, levitate and rose above the map.
Thant's eyes grew in surprise. He had not expected this to happen. The blood soon evaporated but Thant had gotten his answer. Harry was beyond any type of tracking.
"Well?" – Saptienna asked impatiently.
"The tracking spell was blocked." – Thant stated to everyone's astonishment.
"What?"
"I know."
"Where is he? Dad?" – Cassie also asked.
"Dear, how can this be?"
"I know of only one thing that could do that." – Thant replied seriously. "It is the Terra Edict."
It was Saptienna's turn to be surprised.
"What the heck is that?" – Xsi asked not understanding her parents' behavior.
"It is a defensive incantation," – Thant replied. "Old Magic."
"And it is very complex," – Saptienna added. "And it hasn't been used for the past thousand years. Any magical stronghold protected by the Terra Edict would prevent magical tracking of any kind. It would even turn blood into vapor."
There was silence for a while.
"Dear, he was last seen north. He can't have disapparated. He had not used the broom. So where or what did he do?"
"Yeah, I know. He must have taken a port key. It is the only thing left. But you see that is the thing no port key has been in use that night. The trace did not pick up anything."
"Isn't there a magical way that can be used without exciting the trace?" – Xsi asked.
"You know," – Saptienna said thoughtfully. "Dear…"
"No!" – Thant shook head.
"What?" – Cassie exclaimed.
"Mother?" – Xsi looked at her.
"In the older days, the Undead used the Bes key."
"Best key?"
"No, dear," – Saptienna chuckled. "The Bes Key…"
"What is that?"
"It is in a way like the port key but in deference to it was enchanted for a particular place. Normally it would be a family house or stronghold. But one must possess the pass in order to use it."
"The Bes Key was banned subsequently because some wizard found a way around it and anyone could use it. Then the Bes key was altered. It responded only to blood invitation and it was logically banned as being dark magic." – Thant added.
"So it was more of a personal use?" – Cassie reasoned.
"Yes, and it was untraceable, which is one of the other reasons why it was banned." – Thant added.
"So Harry must have used a Bes key?" – Xsi said.
"It is one of the fewer things left."
"You said it is untraceable, right?" – Cassie said.
"Yes," – Thant nodded.
"But how would Harry know where to find one and even use it?"
"Now that is an interesting point." – Saptienna said. "Dear, what do you think?"
"I don't know. There are many possibilities."
"Cornelius?"
"No," – Thant shook his head. "He's of the modern morons."
"The Minister?" – Xsi exclaimed.
"No, fudge head," – Cassie said. "The vampire idiot that…"
"Of course," – Thant exclaimed suddenly jumping to his feet. "Thank you, Cassie."
"Ah, sure, Dad." – Cassie replied though not really certain what she was thanked for.
"Dear?" – Saptienna looked at her husband.
"We have to make contact with Pete."
"Pete? What for?"
"I'm not sure but he might know."
"Why would he?"
"Last year, he was here. Saptienna, he has been converted."
"Yes, so?"
"Dear," – Thant sighed deeply. "He can move faster than Cornelius and only who can do that…"
Saptienna became thoughtful. "The Elder…"
"Oh, yes,"
"Dear, they are gone."
"I'm not convinced of that and neither was my father. There are some of them left. And if they are still around then believe me they will be in a place with such defenses this world has never seen before."
Harry was quite startled by the second page of this diary, first the date and now the welcoming greeting. It appeared after all that he was expected but he still wondered of the cloak and dagger routine. Why hide least of all of him? He was not that scary or dangerous.
Harry turned to the next page and read. 'Vampire Valley is home to the Nosfaeratus. It is here that they first appeared all these millennia ago in a dick (dark) night. They met the primitive locals and fed upon them forming a bond with the land….'
The history of the first arrival of the Nosfaeratus continued for many pages before it actually reached a point of any familiarity to Harry. They had been here longer than Harry could have ever imagined. They were of the oldest races.
Sadly their past caught up with them. The primitive world of Earth had not seen battles the likes of these where the skies filled with liquid fire and thunders. The first ones and their enemies seemed like gods entangled into a fight that lasted for a long time shaking and shattering the earth.
The first ones emerged victorious but there were no cheers for the result had been bloody. Much had been lost and Earth had become their home now. For millennia the first ones ruled the primitive locals bringing civilization and order to them but at some point the humans rebelled.
The first ones retreated to their strongholds and never appeared again leaving the world to the younger race of the humans. Sadly, the humans unable to continue in the footsteps left by the first ones did the only thing they were really good at – fight. They fought amongst each other until the day everything built in the centuries of glory and progress was destroyed.
The world then suffered a great climate change and most of the humans were wiped out. The few that remained formed settlements and communities and began once more to expand but they never reached the heights of the first ones.
At a later point of turmoil among them, the first separation occurred. The humans standing no longer united divided into two distinctive groups – the believers of the stars and the guardians of nature. The first group sought to strive for the achievements of the past through logic and reason while the second group strived for the power of nature through intent and mysticism, the source of nature's power.
For a time the two groups existed in perfect harmony until the day the first group malcontent of their inability to harness the necessary knowledge through hard work sought the power of the second to ease their ways. Great battle followed. Many were lost and once more darkness befell the world.
The survivors of the second group retreated into the darkest parts of the world never to be seen or heard of again. In time, helped by nature and nurtured by the first, they mastered the other way of nature, the hidden way, and the way people today call MAGIC.
The diary ended. There was no more in it. It was the early history of mankind and the beginning of the wizard kind. Were they all ungrateful? – Perhaps. Harry could not judge either for it happened so long ago but this is how everything began.
Harry placed the diary back to the shelves. Maybe learning of the past was not such a good idea after all. If one removes the mystery of it all, one loses its perks, its enigma. It no longer is as interesting. Maybe sometimes it is best not to know.
The same could not be said for his past. He wanted to know more. He has always wanted to know more. And if there was a way for him to go back in time, he would. He has to know. Who his parents really were? What did they do? Who his grandparents were? He knew some of the why but it was not enough.
"Sometimes getting those specifics answers hurt the most."
"Maybe," – Harry said without turning to the source of the voice. "But if one has lost everything one would want at least to know why."
"Even, if the answers bring only pain?"
"To understand my past I have to know." – Harry replied. "Even, if it hurts."
"Well, then, maybe one day you will get your wish, young Mr. Potter, but beware of the power of time it also carries consequences and responsibility."
Harry turned around and almost froze. Before him, dressed in high collared robe of scarlet red, a terrifyingly handsome and young man stood whose age however seemed impossible to be determined other than in his purely red eyes. He bore a staff with glittering in silvery shade rhombic diamond encased in a dragon hand out of which the staff appeared to be made of. His boots were of silver scales.
"Lord Sandro," – Harry exclaimed involuntarily.
Sandro's eyes narrowed. He had been told of the boy's inexplicable knowledge but experiencing it first hand was another matter entirely. His hand reached instantaneously for the wand and the mind spell was in effect.
Harry had frozen already but this time he was also bound by Sandro's spell that allowed the latter to get inside Harry's mind. To Sandro's greatest surprise, the boy was fully alert and aware of his presence.
The aura surrounding the boy though seemed somewhat familiar, very familiar.
"Impossible," – Sandro whispered but the purity of the truth was staring at him. "How?"
"Sometimes we seek not the essence of the answers' soul, Lord Sandro. It is best left where it withered."
"I have to know."
"It does sound familiar, doesn't it?" – Harry asked reminding Sandro of his own words just a few moments ago.
Sandro pulled out of Harry's mind and broke the spell over the boy. Pete had been right. There was another force in play here.
"You came to us. Why?" – Sandro asked.
"I didn't." – Harry shook head.
Sandro frowned at this counter logical answer.
"You didn't?" – His eyebrows flew high. "Then who did?"
"You already know the answer. But from my point of view I had nowhere else to be."
Sandro nodded. This was why the defenses had let him pass without even triggering. Ironically, the strongest of spells had very simple answers.
"Master Sandro, I have just lear…" – Pete entered but stopped at mid sentence as he noticed Harry.
"You were saying, Pete?"
"Never mind."
"It would seem young Lord Solmyr, is going to be staying with us for a while."
"Yes, master,"
"Give him the west wing," – Sandro said. "He will enjoy it."
"Yes, master," – Pete bowed. "Come with me, Harry."
"Food time will be at ten." – Sandro said before leaving the room.
"Do you even eat normally?" – Harry asked.
Sandro smiled. "Just because, it doesn't mean we don't."
"See you at ten then, master Sandro," – And Harry left with Pete through the left corridor.
Sirius woke up. It is late evening. The star were filling the sky and the night breeze was slightly ruffling the hair. The grass was softer as it was soaked in gentle dew. Sirius stood on four paws. His yellowish eyes scanned the immediate vicinity but there was no danger. It was time to move again. He broke into a run. It was so rejuvenating and the gentle touch of the breeze crossed through him.
Not so much later, he crossed a lonely road traversing a forest. A muggle car was crossing and another after it. Sirius stopped for a moment to observe then continued on his path. He was about to continue when he heard a horrid racket.
He turned around and saw one of the cars turned over at the closest road curve. He made his way to it. There was much broken glass though there was no one in the car that perplexed Sirius a great deal. He continued sniffing until he picked up a scent. It was blood.
He followed it and soon found the source that happened sadly to be quite dead and more to the point drained. A slight disturbing noise caught his attention. He noticed a dark figure over the other body. It was so obvious what it was doing.
Sirius cursed under breath. He had run into a vampire. And the vampire sensed him as well as it left its food and turned around. The vampire noticed the large black dog starring at him and also cursed.
The two kept watching each other for a quite the moment then the vampire launched itself at the dog but then flew backwards. Sirius had repulsed him and that startled the vampire a great deal. He had seen many dogs but none with this kind of strength. Sirius prepared for attack.
The vampire however did not consider confronting this black monstrosity a second time and made a run for it but the dog pursued. The exhausting chase lasted an hour before they both stopped tired back at the crash site.
The vampire moved to replenish with what was left of the corpse he had previously sucked while Sirius only observed. Finishing, the vampire was ready for an encore and it is now he noticed something odd in the behavior of the dog. It was observing not like a predator or even a dog. The vampire could swear the look was more of a reproach than an ordinary look of curiosity.
Sirius truth be said was very tired and wanted to change but revealing himself to a vampire is a really bad idea. The reproaching look was actually meant to indicate to the vampire that he ought at least to bury the victims. So only with his eyes he told the vampire what to do and this is what the vampire found quite intriguing. It is true dogs are perceptive but that perceptive well this was pushing it.
"What are you?" – The vampire could no longer resist asking.
Sirius revealed his bare teeth and growled. The vampire retreated but was certainly persistent.
Neither however had the time to anticipate the appearance of another figure that landed before Sirius. It bore a bow and a silver arrow flew in the direction of the vampire who barely had the time to dodge it.
The vampire launched himself at the shooter but was not as lucky and if it was not for Sirius he certainly wouldn't have made it alive. The shooter overwhelmed by the sudden appearance of the large dog had no other choice but to flee.
The vampire was unconscious though. The silver of the shooter's dagger had grazed him. Sirius dragged him by the collar of his robe to a safer place deep within the forest.
The vampire retook consciousness several hours later. There was no sign of the large dog though. There were a few dead ferrets almost fresh. The vampire chuckled. He knew enough to be certain it was not a dog he had encountered though what that was difficult to tell too but they got an understanding. The shooter however was no mystery to him and it was time he dealt with him.
At ten sharp, Harry, escorted by Pete, entered the dining room where his host Lord Sandro was sitting at the head of a large table of polished stone. Leathered chairs much like the ones in the greeting room were placed around it. Silver plates and goblets adorned the surfaced alongside plenty of delicious meals.
"Come," – Lord Sandro said standing up to greet his young guest.
He placed Harry two chairs away from him and retook his seat. Harry found quickly those meals that were among his favorite but also tasted some new ones. During the eating part, none spoke only the noises of clattering silver wear. The main course was followed by sweets and ice creams of all forms and variations and then most unusually by coffee and cake.
Sandro then led Harry to a different room. It could be called observatory floor right on the roof of the stronghold overseeing the dark forest. It was entirely of glass walls and roof. There were only two armchairs and a small table. The rest of the room floated in mid air – a simmering cauldron and even the fire under it, dozens of potions, a few very old looking books, and two oak cabinets. It was a bit surreal even for a wizard environment.
"Come, sit." – Sandro gestured and sat. Harry followed sitting on his right. "Once upon a time, there were two villages west of here. They were prosperous and many from around the world came to visit." Sandro sighed deeply. His eyes lost themselves somewhere in the horizon.
Harry said nothing. He was waiting patiently for his host to resume his thought. At times like these it was best not to interrupt.
"They were the jewel of Vampire Valley." – Sandro continued. "They represented the best of us. Anything you can think of was there and for a feeble amount of gold sold to anyone, which is why everyone came here – great quality and very low prices." Sandro smiled probably on a memory of that time.
"So what happened to them?" – Harry asked as he felt it appropriate.
"For many years nothing, they prospered. But then…" – Sandro paused a dark thread passed his face. "Then greed took over. The humans came alongside the new wizards and destroyed them."
"Well, the humans were probably unhappy working for free."
"There were no humans in those villages. They were all of vampire blood."
"Entirely vampiric?"
"Yes," – Sandro nodded. "Much like your village near the school – Hogsmeade."
"I haven't been to it yet. My father did not have the time to sign in the form."
"Because you ran away?"
"Yeah," – Harry nodded. "I don't think he's going to be very thrilled of that part."
"No father would be." – Sandro noted.
"So why did the humans and the wizards attack them?"
"They wanted the craftsmanship. I imagine you have never heard of vampire made goods of any kind?"
"No," – Harry shook head.
"That's because they are very rare. Well, at the time, they weren't that rare."
"Oh, I thought Goblins were best in this."
"Well, Goblin made weapons and armory are indeed of great quality but they are no match for vampire ones. Our craftsmen were unmatched much like the old elfish ones."
"And dwarves I imagine?"
"Yes, those too."
"Did the humans and the wizards managed to get possession of their desires?"
"To a point they succeeded but it did not last. We came back for revenge. It was not pretty. After that, we decided it best to disappear from the realm of the humans and the wizards. Unfortunately, the new clans of vampires stood in our way. A great battle ensued."
"They won?"
"With the help of the wizards and the humans they did. Very few of us remained behind. The wizards' bloodlines got mixed with the humans. It was the only way for them to survive. The vampires did not have much of a choice either."
"And the Necromancers?"
"Ah," – Sandro stood up and walked to the floating books, picked one and then sat back. "Yes, the Necromancers followed in our footsteps but they were attacked too. The vampire clans unleashed their fear and control over the humans and the wizards and betrayed their allies the Necromancers. That was also a great battle and its result forced the Necromancers to retreat as well."
"I imagine the Dakula clan?"
"No, and this is the irony. They were not in the center of this."
"Then who was?"
"Two clans named after few of the first ones – the Kowari clan and the Morrigan clan. They were at the center of it. They could never accept Nosfaeratus' or Necromancers' dominance."
"So where does the Dakula come in?"
"The Dakula clan is what you could call a remora."
"A remora?"
"Remoras are tiny creatures that attach themselves to sharks. The shark does the leg work and they get the spoilers."
"Oh," – Harry said. "But as of lately this is not the case."
"Not entirely, no,"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the other two clans are not gone yet, young Prince. They are still pulling strings."
"Are you sure?"
"No, at this point, I'm only guessing but given Pete's reports I'm inclined to believe part of them stand behind Cornelius' moves."
"So why haven't they shown themselves?"
"Oh, they will when the time is appropriate." – Sandro sighed and let the book rejoin its floating brothers. "Enough, history for tonight. Pete's told me of you and your deeds so far. I'm quite impressed. And I don't usually get impressed by wizards."
"I'm not sure whether to feel flattered or really concerned."
Sandro chuckled. "You are full of surprises, young Prince, this much is certain. Your magical level is at times beyond your age."
"I do have a feeling it is not entirely my own actions."
"At times, perhaps not, but the rest of it is you."
"Well, I have made strange allies – Louise Gryffindor and her clan…"
"Louise Griffin? I haven't heard of the Griffins in a long time. They descend from a noble bloodline."
"Well, you would know. You sent Pete to turn her while making it look like it was you."
Sandro looked up visibly surprised. "Well…Louis needed persuasion."
"And the Vaku?"
"Well, him too…"
"So you do interfere even after all these years?"
"We have to keep an eye on our legacies."
"You mean control them?"
"In a way, yes, but only in a way," – Sandro's eyes flickered. "If we don't the wizard society will be conquered. The vampire clans are usually occupied with the humans and with themselves alongside what are left of the Necromancers but their goals ultimately are to control the wizard world. Poor wizards, they would not know what would hit them if none bothered the clans."
"We can manage."
"Really? The wizard world cannot handle a simple dark wizard let alone a single vampire clan. Young Prince, you speak of things you barely understand and just because you won a few battles and with help doesn't mean you know what you are getting yourself into. There was a reason why the Nosfaeratus and the Necromancers ruled over the others. It was not about control it was about peace."
"Well, this is certainly your side of the story but a story, Lord Sandro, has always two sides."
"Very true,"
"Sadly, it would seem only few records of the time exist."
"Also true and you have to ask yourself why."
"Another time, I guess." – Harry stood up. "It is bed time for me."
Sandro had stood up too. "As you wish,"
Pete appeared and took HHHHHarry back to his chamber.
"He's everything you said he is, Pete." – Sandro said after Pete returned to the observatory room.
"He's not taking sides."
"For now."
"Very true, master," – Pete nodded.
"His intuition and perception are highly heightened though." – Sandro remarked.
"And Sandrile is speaking through him."
"I noticed already."
"Great changes are coming, Milord."
"Yes, they are. Sandrile has always been one step ahead of all of us."
"I wonder where it would lead us."
"Only Sandrile knows that." – Sandro sighed. "We wait and see."
"Yes, master,"
The next morning, Harry woke up early. At least it felt that way. His hosts were nowhere to be found. He assumed they had gone to eat (their way). He used the time to look around. Like any stronghold, it had many passages some leading everywhere and others with dead-ends.
One particular, hidden passage caught his attention. It passed between the walls along most of the rooms making spying on those rather easy and then it dived to the basement where it ended in a rather wide cave.
It had stables at the far end but no horses at least none in the common sense. The creatures were all too familiar to Harry – Pegasus, which was rather odd. These noble and gentle beings did not seem like the types of transport that a vampire would choose and vice versa. But here there were nevertheless. They noticed his presence immediately as they snorted.
Close to him but separated by a thin wall, Harry saw something like a room with black polished stone with golden intertwining circles. Each circle bore a distinct symbol. At first he thought they were runic but it turned out they represented crests. Some looked familiar other not.
He stepped into one crest with a dragon eye. The whole environment around him changed and he found himself looking at Vampire Valley. But it was not the same as it was now. It looked younger and more vivid. The two villages Lord Sandro had mention the day before were also there. They were magnificent and shone like a diamond in the rough. Streams of people (of all races) were coming in and out of them.
Harry stepped out of the crest and the vision of the past faded away. Intrigued by this discovery, Harry moved to the other circle crests.
The next he chose was a crest of Pegasus wings. The vision came promptly transporting to an unknown view overlooking valleys and mountains. The view then climbed higher into the air and halted at a sight unseen ever before – the domain of the Pegasus Riders. It was a floating mass of apparently solid clouds with castles like Hogwarts and small villages with houses of dark wood. There were plenty of fields with silver grass and trees with orange gold leaves.
The next circle was with dunes and it transported Harry to a vast and very hot dry desert with apparently nothing in it but that was not entirely true. Rocky formations climbed into view with countless apertures. The vision dived into one and it led into a great amber city full of emeralds, rubies and sapphires. Harry wondered whose realm was that until he noticed the inhabitants and froze. They were Genies of all sizes and shades of the blue.
Harry moved out the Genies' city to another circle of old tree painted in silver and lime. It transported Harry to the most vivid green forest he has ever laid his eyes upon. The trees teemed of life and colors. A city perched in the crowns of the trees caught immediately the eye. Its complexity and perfection had no equal. The trees themselves were grand with enormous wide branches. On each branch level there were wide wood tiles like floors and endless stairs around the stem. The inhabitants were the most beautiful beings Harry has ever seen (yes, they were elves).
Then followed a familiar circle with a skull with red glowing eyes and Harry knew where he was – Necropolis, the capital of the Necromancers' domain. It was a magnificent city. It looked a bit spooky but everything in it was build with perfection. The skull throne symbol of power was in the middle of the city at the Mortis Square. It was surrounded by eight great columns and on each of them a different crystal glowing in different colors – black, silver, blue, yellow, red, green, white and gold. Each color stood for a different power. Black stood for death and peace, Blue for serenity, Yellow for fear, Red for fury and blood, Green for will, White for nobility and purity, Gold for supremacy and bravery, and Silver for prophecy and creation.
The vision then changed. The columns were still there but the meaning of the colors had changed with time. Some have stayed the same – black for death and peace, white for nobility and purity, green for will and gold for supremacy and bravery. The others had changed – red for blood and justice, yellow for power and creation, blue for vanity and dominance, and silver for glory and beauty.
The vision changed a few times with slight alterations to the meanings much like any progressing and changing society. The color palette of the Necromancers is of the core of whom and what they are and thus it represents an important trait of their character.
The last circle Harry stepped into was that of blood. The vision took him to four cities one of which he recognized – Aetheris. It was obvious these were the Vampire domain. All cities were grand and luster magnificent. They were the pillar of society. And then one by one these candles were extinguished and only Aetheris remained but it was far from the glory of the old days.
The last thing Harry saw before the visions faded away were vast armies facing one another into the heart of Vampire Valley – Necromancers and Nosfaeratus against the Clans, dark wizards, and human armies.
"Yes, those were the days." – Harry heard Sandro's voice.
"It was…is…incredible." – Harry shared still shaken by the visions.
"Yes, the circles of history have that effect on anyone." – Sandro said and tiny smile came to his face.
"Master Harry," – Pete appeared too. "I just had a lovely converse with Master Thant."
"Oh," – Harry exclaimed.
"He expects you to be at Hogwarts at the appointed time."
"I shall certainly try." – Harry replied.
"One can ask for only so much." – Sandro said.
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