Chapter 7

The weeks leading up to the Yule Ball had been mostly uneventful and fast for Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass. They had kept up with their earlier schedule of dueling at nights and physical conditioning in the mornings, and of course studies and school work during the day. It was in these days that Daphne realized just how smart Harry was. The boy wasn't simply some powerful wizard with some powerful magics and gifts, but the boy was truly a scholar worthy of House Ravenclaw. His ease in his studies was downright puzzling at times, and she wondered just what it would have been like to grow up in the Flamel house hold.

Daphne loved that Harry was so smart though, because the boy was also a great teacher. He never criticized her for not picking something up fast enough, but instead he gently guided her to the answers and crafted it, so she could still find them on her own. She had yet to comment to him about it, but the young man could have a serious calling in the teaching profession.

Harry on the other hand just enjoyed spending his time with the pretty blonde girl that he was now seeing possibilities with in the back of his mind. He also enjoyed working on their school work together, because Nicholas always told Harry that if you could teach something well then you truly understood the practical and the theoretical side of the magic.

It was a Hogsmeade weekend just a few days before the Yule Ball, and Harry along with Daphne and his other friends were hanging out in the Three Broom Sticks having a good time. Earlier in the afternoon the group had separated in boys' and girls' groups to purchase dress robes or make alterations to the already purchased clothing if it was needed. This also gave Harry an extra day to buy some Christmas gifts for his friends and family, so he had a great day.

Sitting at a round table with a group of friends Harry looked at Neville who had brought his date Susan Bones into the group, while her best friend Hannah Abbot and Ernie McMillan were with group, and Anthony Goldstein and Mandy Brocklehurst who were also each other dates to the Yule Ball. Harry had just bought the next round of drinks, and he was genuinely having a good time, "So Ms. Bones how exactly did you catch my favorite lions' attention?"

Neville proving himself the worthy Gryffindor however helped the girl out for a second, "I mean have you seen her Harry, she didn't have to do anything special to catch my eye."

At that he turned and winked at the girl who blushed, "I think I like this side of you Neville. I think I need to bring you around Harry more often."

Daphne asked the girl curiously, "What do you mean?"

"I don't think I have ever seen him so confident then he is when Harry is around. I noticed that since Harry arrived here." Susan explained calmly.

Raising his glass to the boy slightly Harry said, "Neville is my oldest friend in the world, so naturally we bring out the best in each other, and sometimes when we get up to no good the worst."

Neville raised his glass back, "I do solemnly swear."

Harry clicked his glass to the boy while some of the others looked questioningly at the inside joke, but Harry prompted Susan to answer the question originally asked and she smiled, "It was actually rather sweet. I think I had been stealing glances at him for a while, and he just seemed different over the past month, and definitely had a big boost in confidence, so naturally before I could muster the confidence to ask him, he knocked me over in the hallway."

This caused the group to laugh and Neville to blush, "I said I was worry."

Anthony patted the boy on the back, "What a tactic to get a girl's attention. Bold strategy Longbottom."

This led to another round of laughter, and Susan continued, "So he helped me up and apologized, and we started talking about a herbology project that was coming up, and I asked him for some help. That night we met in the library, and one thing led to the next, and he asked me to the Ball that night. I was surprised, but ecstatic so I quickly accepted."

Ernie McMillan patted the boy on the shoulder roughly, "Good job Longbottom, didn't know you had it in you."

Harry smugly said, "Just wait. You think he's got it now, when he grows into his magic a little bit more, I will turn him in a monster of a duelist, which is going to make that confidence of his legendary. Hogwarts better watch out when I finish with him. He is going to be a walking ball of confidence with the skill and grace to back it up."

Neville raised his glass to the boy once again and the girls looked interested at the boy, while the other boys looked somewhat jealous. Harry however just contently put his arm nonchalantly behind Daphne. The girl immediately took notice but said nothing.

They all then took turns quizzing each other on how they ended up with their dates to the Yule Ball until it ended up on Harry and Daphne. Hannah was the one brave enough to pose the question, "So Harry how did you manage to ask Daphne to the ball?"

Harry grinned at the group, "Unfortunately it was not as romantic as it could have been. Had I known that she would say yes, I may have tried to make a spectacle, but instead we had just finished up our dueling training, and I asked her. I told her before I did though that it was difficult choice for me, mostly because whoever I took will likely be put in the spotlight in the Daily Prophet, and I had to make sure that the Pureblood Elitist weren't going to strike against my date. So, Daphne was perfect for me."

Daphne smiled at the boy patting him on the cheek, "In your defense you did say I was a perfect match for you."

The girls cooed at this, and the boys rolled their eyes while Harry merely smiled. Susan then asked, "Are the girls of Hogwarts going to be disappointed that the Ice Queen of Slytherin has stolen the heart and arm of Britain's most eligible bachelor?"

Neville laughed, "You sound like one of those daily prophet reporters."

Harry however saved the girl from the question by saying, "Let's take it one night and date at a time before we make any calls like that. I am very much looking forward to the Yule Ball, but until we see how that goes, I don't think either of us could comment on that."

Daphne gave the boy a grateful look, and Susan held her hands up in surrender, "I was just curious myself, because I know some of the older Hufflepuff girls are planning to make a play at you, before it's too late."

Smoothly and quickly Harry responded, "And they will be shut down until Daphne and I have had our night in the spot light, and I would appreciate it if you passed that onto them."

Hannah whistled, while Daphne looked at the boy in a new appreciation, "I didn't realize you held such loyalty Harry. You could have been in our house with that attitude."

Shaking his head, "I only hold loyalty to people I trust. I am far to distrusting of the world to be in Hufflepuff."

Daphne taking a shot of revenge at Susan said, "Thank Merlin too I never would have heard the end of it from my house or my family if I had taken a Hufflepuff to the ball, Harry Potter or not. No offense of course."

The offense was there though, and Harry just grinned at the predatory look on Daphne's face proving her cunning that placed her in Slytherin. The naive Hufflepuffs however just waved it off and perhaps totally mistook the implied insult.

The drinks kept coming though and the group was getting a little rowdy, and Daphne had probably had a bit too much, when Harry decided it was time to go back to the castle for the night. The sun had already gone down when the group decided to head back, and it was pitch dark outside with some left-over stragglers heading back towards the castle before the curfew was up on the Hogsmeade visit.

Harry was feeling slightly paranoid by the night time quiet atmosphere. It felt unnaturally quiet. He had not had as much to drink as everyone else, and his tolerance was much higher due to his metabolism, so he knew he wasn't just freaking out. He closed the distance between himself and Daphne as subtly as he could and said nothing.

Daphne noticed the boy do this, and thought that he was trying to be smooth, and in her slightly inebriated state she gently grabbed his hand offering him a slight smile.

Harry offered her a slightly forced smile back and let out a sigh of relief when he could see the carriages up ahead that would take them back to the castle. However, his relief was short lived when a putrid smell entered the atmosphere. He instantly stopped, and took a deep breath letting his senses fill with the danger they were now in. He pulled his wand out and whirled around, to face the darkness, but nothing was there.

Neville noticed the boy stop suddenly, while Daphne was confused, "Harry what's going on? What's wrong?"

Harry looked dangerously towards the nearby tree line spitting out, "Stay behind me. They are here."

A brief memory passed through Daphne's voice at the sound of his voice taking such a commanding tone, and another piece of the puzzle fell together in her mind forming a picture she didn't understand how she missed before. Now the whole group had stopped and saw that the young man was facing the nearby tree line with his wand drawn, and they all shuffled uneasily, what did he see? Daphne was just about to step forward and place a hand on his shoulder, when Harry shouted, "Get back!"

"PROTEGO TOTALUM!"

A massive shield erupted in front of the group and half a dozen creatures smashed into it hard and jumped back. The lead figure was clad in all black and screeched at Harry in a very high-pitched sound, "Monsieur Potter we meet again."

Harry looked at the man no the creature in anticipation, "Yes and for the last time I fear for you Cadmus. You are going to pay for the lives you took in Paris."

The humanoid creature laughed, "Perhaps, but not tonight."

Harry growled, "Care to introduce me to your friends. I recognize your second in command. Simone, I think it was you I sensed first. Your foul stench goes for miles."

The second creature was a darker humanoid that stepped slightly into moonlight baring its fangs at Harry, "Potter. It seems that the dark one has drawn all sorts of magical anomalies to Britain on this night. I trust that is why you are here."

The group gasped at the sight of the fangs, and Daphne said quietly, "They are Vampires, creatures of the night."

Harry nodded, "Cadmus is the butcher of Paris, and Simone is his second in command, the other four I am assuming are just a couple of other shit heads that came to bite off more than they could chew. We met when I was on vacation with Sirius just over a year ago. Sirius saved my life that night, but I don't need his protection tonight, not this time. Run go get help."

Some of the group did so instantly, but Neville and Daphne looked at the boy with uncertainty, but he barked out, "Go I can't hold this shield forever. The time for a fight is coming near, and I won't be able to hold all of them forever."

Cadmus laughed in a screechy voice, "You won't be able to hold us at all once your shield falls Monsieur."

Harry stared hatefully at the creature, "We will see. Daphne, Neville go. You staying here will just get me killed. I can't protect all three of us."

Finally, at this Neville looked angry, but knew what had to be done, and grabbed Daphne to pull her away. After a moment Harry looked at the lead vampire, "Why are you here? You had to have known that you may kill me, but it would cost you your life, and possibly your friends as well, yet here you are with only six followers. I don't understand."

Simone cackled, "You are so transfixed on your self-importance that you think we are here to kill you. No that is not this night. We could have attacked much faster, and in much larger numbers. We are merely an envoy of messengers."

Harry laughed at this, "Whose bitch are you now Cadmus? Looking to find the Dark Wanker to realign your forces?"

The Vampire growled, "Hold your tongue you insolent child. You should know that we will not willingly serve the Dark Lord as a first choice. No, we are actually hear to offer some assistance."

This caused Harry to freeze in motion, and the shield faltered a bit causing one of the Vampires to lunge at it, but as fast it slipped it was back in place causing the creature to ricochet off painfully, "Yeah you really look like you want to help me."

Cadmus shook his head, "Let's not lie to each other Potter. You could likely hold this shield for hours, and while we could try and fight you through it, the others will return with back up and we would be overwhelmed in moments. We are here on peaceful terms, but that doesn't mean if I or one of my brethren had managed to sneak up on you, we wouldn't have just killed you right then and there. It would make our lives so much simpler as a matter of fact."

Harry rolled his eyes, "That makes me really want to trust this message you have come to deliver.

Simone spoke quietly to Cadmus for a moment when the head Vampire then shook his head, "There have been rumors on the continent of your growing power, and the power of a Dark Lord returning to these lands, with power that has never been seen before. As creatures of Dark Magic, we have been drawn to the beacon of light, and we won't be the only ones. I know our mutual enemy has already crossed back into Britain and begun recruiting."

Harry stared at the man with wide eyes, "Greyback."

All six Vampires hissed at his name, but Simone spoke fiercely, "The Dark One's greatest followers are on the move, and we are here to witness the darkest magic performed in recent history. We hope this is unsuccessful for obvious reasons, but that doesn't mean we will stop it."

Cadmus spoke calmly at this point, "We rely on you to stop the Dark One's rising. For make no mistake he is near returning to his full power, and more power than he ever could have originally imagined."

Voldemort? More powerful than ever? That didn't sound good Harry thought, "What do you get out of this?"

Another Vampire stepped forward speaking smoothly, "We get peace. If the Dark One returns, we will be forced to bow or die. We may placate him by fighting on his side for a while, but once it's over we will be forced to bow, and we will not bow. Even those on the continents who have the numbers to give this mad man a fight will not fight back until it is too late."

Harry stared at the creature and sensed an ancient power that he had never felt before, "I don't believe we've met."

"And tonight, is not the night for introductions. Young one, finish this, and get back. The headmaster approaches." The oldest vampire said and him and three of six disappeared. Leaving only Simone and Cadmus to talk with Harry.

"We will meet again Harry Potter, and next time we will do battle." Cadmus said.

Harry glared, "I look forward to it, let's make its a one on one date, or two on one if you allow me to kill your boyfriend at the same time."

Simone laughed which sounded terrible, "Just watch yourself child. Things are not as they seem even in the castle that you currently call home. Until next time prophesied one."

At this spells came flying over Harry's head, and the headmaster and a few others in Ministry uniforms were there finally allowing Harry to drop his shield. Sirius was among the group and was the first to his Godson, "Harry! Thank Merlin."

The man at once hugged his Godson while Harry spoke, "Cadmus and Simone they have come to Britain."

Sirius separated with the boy quickly having not seen his would-be attackers, "The Vampires we faced in France? That doesn't make sense why would they come here?"

Dumbledore gracefully came into the conversation, "We must get everyone back to the castle, but I too would very much like to hear the answer to that question."

With that Harry nodded, and quickly followed the others back to the castle, where Dumbledore sealed the front door shut, "Vampires have not been this close to Hogwarts grounds since the end of the last war this is very troubling."

Sirius quickly turned to his Godson, "What did they want?"

Before he could answer Daphne had seen Harry and ran over to him quickly pulling him into a tight hug, "Oh thank Merlin you are okay I was so worried. I didn't want to leave you."

Neville quickly followed behind pulling the boy into a hug, while Harry assured them, "I am okay, and I could have held that shield for a while I just wanted you guys to get clear in case there were more. I had it all under control, but I didn't want to take unnecessary risk."

The two teenagers did not look pleased to have been pushed out of danger so quickly when their friend was risking his life for their safety, "Besides they were here for me. They wanted to deliver a message, but it wasn't as important or as news worthy as they thought it was."

Harry gave significant looks to Dumbledore and Sirius at this, while the other Ministry Aurors looked confused. Sirius being the leader of the squad decided to dismiss the group and ask them to take escort Neville and Daphne back to their common rooms, where the parties were forced to separate, while Harry looked apologetically at his friends.

When they were in private again Sirius and Dumbledore looked expectantly at Harry, "Someone needs to write a letter to mum and dad. They were here to warn me that Fenrir Greyback has returned to Britain, and that a number of dark creatures would be following due to the fact that the Dark Lord was once again rising."

This caused Sirius to pale, and Dumbledore to pale, "It is as I feared then."

Harry nodded, "As we all feared, but I fear it gets worse. Apparently, Cadmus is under the impression that when Voldemort returns, he will be more powerful than ever before. He did not say how he came across this information, but the fact that they approached me so haphazardly tells me that something is not right. Had they attacked in larger numbers I would have been overwhelmed in less than a minute."

Sirius countered quickly with, "Yes, but you would have also had a moment longer to prepare. How close was it?"

"Way to close. I barely got the shield up. I smelt their flesh first, but I was surprised that they were in Britain and this far north I almost thought I was being paranoid."

Dumbledore shook his head gravely, "This is most troubling. I fear that we all have much thinking to do, and I suggest you get some rest Mr. Potter, and try not to focus on such dark matters. The Yule Ball is in a few days, and we will address the new situation as new problems arise after the new year. Until then I advise not to let these things linger for too long in your mind."

Harry gave the man a slight bow of acknowledgment, "I find your terms agreeable and wise Headmaster, I think I will just return to bed."

The Headmaster nodded to the boy wishing him a goodnight, while Harry hugged his Godfather again, and wished him a goodnight. He went straight back to his common room that night, and as soon as his butt touched down in the chair in his room, he took a deep breath, and then pulled out a piece of parchment, he had a letter to write.

(A/N) Did not feel this was my best work, but I think it takes off and gets better from here! Tell me what you guys are thinking of the new story so far? Also, I think I am working on my final fanfiction, it is an attempt I have wanted to make for a long time, and its going to be a time travel FanFic. The Potter Alliance is finishing up, and I have already written most of this story, so I am about to adventure into my longest, and hopefully best work yet. There is a poll on my profile, I would love to get some input from you guys! Cheers, and let's finish strong.