Chapter 50: Death Comes

I sat and spoke with my Vampire side for what seemed like hours, asking her questions, trying to understand her and get her to understand that Neville was important to us, that he was our future. She didn't seem to understand too much, but it was less threatened to kill all humans. I held the bulb like a baby, just as she did. "What do you think will happen when I wake up?" I asked, wondering if I would be able to tap into her power. "No way of knowing…that is if we even wake up. This could be it, forever trapped like this until we die." I lifted the plant up and I seen what looked to be where I took a bite, I seen the seeds inside, they were glowing slightly.

"Are you able to join with me again? I didn't mean to try to send you away, only our father's powers. You are me and I am you. I don't want you to go away. Please believe me, perhaps we can help each other." her eyes glowed with power, she stood up and helped me stand with the heavy plant in my arms. "What are you planning now?" "Don't you know?" I smirked at her, feeling more like myself. Her laugh mirrored my own as her hands met mine, holding the plant between us. "Of course. I am you after all. There's no way of knowing if this will work though, it's a gamble." "We love a gamble though…" I breathed out and we both pushed our powers into the bulb, my magic and her vampiric.

The bulb began to glow and it became so bright, we were forced to close our eyes and could only feel the heat and pulsating from it. I opened my eyes and saw my ceiling above me. I groaned and tried to move, it was difficult, but I was able to move my hand. "Aethna?" I moved my head slightly, it was so stiff, to see Neville staring with surprise on his face. "You're awake. Are you alright?" I nodded and motioned for him to come closer. When his face was next to mine, I whispered, "I need the Ganglion…or I'm going to die. Please…"

He went to object, but something about my face made him believe and he took off running. He returned with it in a bowl, my bite still taken out of it. "H-help me up-" I said and he objected, "No, you need your rest." I gave him a single look and he gasped, grabbing a rag and wiping my face. When he drew it back, I saw the blood on it. "Your eyes and nose are bleeding…" he helped me sit up and I felt like my body had been crushed, everything was so heavy. "Put it in my l-lap." I said and he did as I asked, wiping my eyes and nose again, more blood soaking the rag.

I felt so weak, but I knew what I needed to do. As soon as it was in my lap, I forced my hands to move, running it along the leaves and to the bulb. "Let me help…" he breathed out and I nodded slowly, letting him help me lift it to my mouth. I took a bite and the seed crunched in my mouth, sending pain and hot searing fire down my throat. I wanted to stop, I just wanted the pain to stop, however I forced another bite down. "Aethna, stop. This isn't helping." Neville's voice was quiet, but he didn't try to stop me. I didn't stop until the bulb was gone, finishing with the leaves and making sure nothing was left.

I fell back onto the bed with a groan and Neville adjusted the pillows for me. "Can you tell me what that was?" I shook my head, "I'm going back to sleep…Neville we can talk if I wake back up." my vision was getting blurry, my body getting heavy. "If? What do you mean if?" his voice was worried and I just sighed… "Go to school…finish for us both. Please, for me." and then I faded back into the darkness. It was cold…the darkness was lonely…it was forever. I needed to wake up though, I knew it.

I opened my eyes to the bright light, expecting to see Neville sitting by my bedside. There was no one there though, the whole room was empty. I winced as I sat up, feeling so tired and weak. There was rags everywhere, blankets and clothes. Empty potion bottles and cauldrons. My clothes were dirty and had blood on them. I looked at my legs, it was the moment of truth, I lifted them both up and they responded, lifting as I wanted them. I smiled, it had worked. I looked at my hands, flexing my fingers, willing my claws out, they appeared with ease, looking as dangerous as ever.

I lifted them to my face, not even feeling my fangs slide out and saw they were a little longer than what they used to be, but more normal. I smiled, I was alright! It worked, I could draw my vampire powers again. I looked around, seeing my wand on the table, I took it and silently shot a lumos spell out, the light launched out of the tip and I swung my legs over. I was fine now, this was such a happy day! I dressed and ran down the stairs, feeling so excited to find Neville and Augusta, to show them I was fine again.

The house was empty, only ran into a single house-elf, who was in tears and couldn't even speak. I walked outside and saw the sun shining bright in the sky. I found a car in the driveway and got in, I wasn't going to wait to see them…however, I had no clue how to drive this car. I sighed and climbed out, guess I would test my speed. I took off running, the wind blowing by my ears, I was moving just as fast as I used to. I felt so much like myself, I laughed and forced myself to go faster.

I ran until I hit the barrier of the castle, it was insane that I didn't feel tired at all. There was a wand at my throat a second later and I blinked, staring at a man with scars on his face. "Who are you?" he demanded to know and I answered, "I'm Aethna, I am a student here." "I never taught you." "I left my second year…this is my first year back. I'm friends with Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley." I explained and his eyes seemed on guard, but he lowered his wand. "Just ask Dumbledore, he knows all about me." his eyes left mine, looking at the ground as he opened the gate, letting me in.

"What's going on?" I heard a voice and saw McGonagall walking down rather quickly. "Aethna?" I smiled, happy to see her, although I stopped when I saw her eyes watery and her face solemn. "My dear, Augusta told me you were in a coma." I nodded, "I was…but I'm awake now. I come to see them. Why are they here? Has something happened to Neville?" my fears shot through me, what if something had happened while I wasn't around to protect him. "Longbottom is being discharged from the Hospital Wing now. I'll show you there." I didn't need anything else as I took off running, leaving them both behind.

Why was Neville in the hospital, what was going on. I ran until I saw a blonde girl helping Neville down the halls. I paused and stared, how badly was he hurt? How did he get hurt at all? Hogwarts was supposed to be safe. I walked forward, my bare feet making no sounds. "Neville, you should be resting." he gave her a shake of his head. "I want to be there. I'm alright. Thanks Luna. I just can't believe this is happening." I was also at him when he stopped walking, sensing me and turned. Our eyes met and I could see his shock and disbelief in his eyes. "A-Aethna?"

I smiled and ran over, meeting him in the middle in a tight hug. I felt his breath against my hair, I could smell his scent again, it was amazing. He groaned, but held me tight. "How? When? What?" I just shook my head, I didn't want to talk, I just wanted to be with him. "Later." he seemed to understand and leaned to meet me in a kiss. We broke apart and he sighed, "Did Gran tell you? Is that why you came?" I blinked, what was he talking about? "I only woke not long ago. I ran all the way here." his eyes left mine, his face growing sad, just like the others. "Neville, tell me what's wrong." he nodded and whispered, "Aethna, Dumbledore was killed last night."

I couldn't have heard those words right, Dumbledore couldn't be dead. It wasn't possible, he was the headmaster, the greatest wizard of this age. How could he had been killed? I didn't realize I was shaking under Neville's grip as I sank to the ground. "No, not true. Don't joke." I panted out, this wasn't happening. "Luna, go on ahead. I'll be there shortly." the footsteps meant we were alone now and I looked up, seeing the tears in his eyes, my own freely falling now as I realized that Neville would never lie about this. Dumbledore was truly gone…

He explained about the Death-eaters and the battle that happened. He told me that Harry was there when Dumbledore was killed…by Snape. I was so torn that I couldn't move, there was no way, Snape tried to help me, was there for me. Dumbledore trusted him beyond anything. Why would he betray everyone? "Aethna, are you there?" I blinked and saw Neville's face in front of me. "We were on the way to the funeral. Come with me, we can still make it." I let him help me up and we walked along the halls, it was so different now, the halls were empty, the lights seemed like bright, the air heavy with sorrow.

We sat at the back, holding hands and I leaned against his shoulder, letting the tears fall as I watched his body get carried to the front. A man stood and started speaking as I touched the mark on Neville's face. "You fought death-eaters?" he nodded and lifted his arm. "Your present worked well, I barely got hurt. You were here protecting me, helping me." there was quite a few leaves missing now, I needed to rework the spell soon. "Aethna." his hands found mine and he lifted them to his lips, kissing each finger. "I'm so glad you are alright. I could barely focus here, knowing you were there…I was so helpless."

"You did help me. In here." I pointed to my heart and my head, telling him about meeting my vampire self and working together to wake up. He smiled and leaned close to me, "I might have told Gran I planned on marrying you by the way." I nodded, remembering being awake for that. "I know what we planned…but I don't want to wait. If a great wizard like Dumbledore can be taken…" he trailed off, looking up as the flames engulfed his body and turned into his grave. "Neville, I understand…and I agree. We can't wait for our future to start. The world will never be the same. Let's get married now."