Authors Note: I got the idea for this story while reading an Anita Blake Vampire Novel, Burnt Offerings. In it there was a vampire called The Traveller who could posses lesser vampire body's. This story, somehow, came from there.
Disclaimer: Any of the characters you recognise, they're not mine; they belong to J K Rowling. Only this story line is mine.
Distribution: If you want it, take it, but tell me where it's going.
Timeline: Fifth book time, though I will be paying no attention to any spoilers in this.
Category: Horror
Content Warnings: Deaths, (no main characters though) mental torture, high angst, violence
Rating: PG-13
Status: In progress, might be first in a series.
Summary: A monster we've only heard about in Defence against the Dark Arts Becomes a reality…
Vampyre
It was a still night in late September, a waning gibbous moon rode high above in the night sky, and shadows lurked in the undergrowth of the Forbidden Forest.
Harry Potter walked across the expanse of grass close to the Forest, tugging his cloak tighter around him against the chill in the autumn air. He was making his way back to school after visiting Hagrid to examine the latest creature he had managed to procure for their Care of Magical Creatures classes.
Harry glanced up at the harvest moon and involuntarily his thoughts turned to Remus Lupin, and to Sirius, his Godfather. He grinned wryly to himself. No doubt there would be yet another letter from Sirius when he got back up to the castle telling him to be careful and not to go wandering off.
Harry froze at a rustle among the forest's undergrowth. He was turning, hand plunging inside his robes to grab his wand when a body slammed into him, one arm wrapped tight around his body, pinning his arms, one hand pressed tight over his mouth so he couldn't cry out. Harry struggled, kicking out and squirming, trying to just get free for long enough to grab his wand, but his attackers arms were like iron bands around his chest, Harry couldn't even make them move an inch.
He was being dragged deeper into the forest now, away from Hogwarts. His attacker removed his hand from his mouth and Harry twisted, trying to get free. He caught a glimpse of a face, flesh seeming to be decaying on the bone almost hidden by a tattered black cowl before the figure grabbed hold of his hair, pulling his head back.
"You can scream if you want," a voice said almost conversationally. "We're far enough away from the castle that they won't be able to hear you."
"Wh-what are you?" Harry panted, trying to keep the fear that was coursing through him out of his voice. The figure ignored him, letting go of the hold he had on his hair briefly- Harry drove his head back as soon s he did so, hoping to hit something- and looped a necklace over Harry's head. Harry caught a glimpse of a crystal that looked like it had been carved out of clear glass before it settled icy cold next to his skin and his hair was grabbed again.
"I've been watching you," the voice whispered. "You have power, a lot of it. Power that matches my own, and so your body will sustain me."
Harry's eyes widened in confusion and fear, and then increased his struggles anew as the figure bent down over his exposed neck. His cold breath caressed Harry's neck as he breathed in slightly, then viper quick he struck, fangs piercing vulnerable flesh and life rich blood poured into the vampyre's eager mouth.
Harry screamed as the fangs sank into his neck, feeling like hot pokers. He felt himself weakening, a lethargy creeping over him even as high whimpers of pain escaped his mouth as his blood was sucked out of him. Dimly he was aware that he had fallen to his knees as the vampire removed his fangs, his head lolling back limply. He could feel his life draining out of him as his blood had been. He forced his eyes open, fighting against the blood loss, his stubborn spirit refusing to lie down and die.
The vampire smiled down at him, his fangs red with Harry's blood, then lifted a tiny knife that gleamed silver to his own throat, making a small cut out of which dark red blood began to seep. The vampire bent down and lifted Harry's limp body up. Harry's eyes widened, this time in pure fear as his mind darted back to a long ago Defence Against the Dark lesson. He began to struggle weakly, putting his hand s up against the vampire chest, trying futilely to halt his progress. The vampire held him close against his body, one hand on the back of his head pressing his mouth over the self inflicted wound on his neck. Harry continued to struggle, trying to keep his mouth closed, trying not to swallow any of the blood, but a spurt managed to get in and he swallowed involuntarily. Reflexively his mouth worked, swallowing the blood even as his mind screamed out in protest, the crystal the vampire had placed on him was burning red hot against his skin.
Harry slid limply to the ground, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. Nausea welled up in him but he hadn't even the strength to be sick. His eyes closed, he heard the thump of a body hitting the ground next to him and he forced his eyes open to see the twisted, disfigured face of his killer relaxed in expression almost like peace.
Then… Harry felt it. A sense of centuries old evil, of power and dark magic, of twisted knowledge to rival only Voldemort, touching his very soul. Harry screamed silently as he felt cold fingers encroaching on his spirit, as darkness settled around him. He lashed out desperately, fighting against the stupefying presence, struggling against its dark soul. For a moment he felt it waver and he seized the advantage, attacking, trying to drive it out, and he felt it lift for just a second and he tried to lash out once more- and hit an unyielding surface. Desperately Harry whirled, trying to get past the barrier so he could attack again but each time he hit the crystalline defence, and the evil settled around him like a prison.
{Who are you?} Harry whispered
Then suddenly he felt as if his mind had been opened up, he felt as if something reached deep inside him and grabbed hold of his memories, he struggled, trying desperately to shield his mind, but suddenly he felt himself be hit by a inexorable force, and memories not his own exploded into his mind with the force of an express train, memories belonging to the dark soul that had possessed him.
He was a thousand years old and known only as the Traveller; even he had forgotten his true name. He had been a Dark Wizard in the time of Merlin, and had held many in fear. And, like Voldemort, he had sought Immortality. He had found ancient Dark Art spells, which told how one could preserve their spirit, and so posses others. But before he could advance any further, Merlin had found him. It had been a great battle with spells lighting up the skies for miles around, but in the end Merlin had been victorious and had left Traveller, broken and dieing. One of Traveller's vampyre followers had found him, and Traveller had ordered him to turn him. He had always shunned this path before, because when a person was turned, there soul was lost leaving only a shell that retained their personality. Now though, as he drank the blood his sire offered him and his soul broke free, he realised that the path to his sire was open and he leapt, possessing his body and crushing the feeble shadow that inhabited it. He had raised his head to the skies and laughed in triumph, because he had survived and he was immortal.
His joy had quickly faded though, as his new body was decaying rapidly. He had turned a wizard, possessing his body and though that lasted longer, the body still failed and decayed. Throughout the centuries he repeated this pattern and he discovered that the more powerful the wizard, the longer his body survived. Traveller realised that only the body of a wizard whose power matched his could hold his dark spirit.
The flood of memories faded and Harry tried frantically to gain some insight into his position, to assimilate through his new memories for anything that might possibly be helpful to him. Then, he felt his own voice laugh, and his eyes open though he didn't choose to do so. Panic swept through him and he fought to gain a handle on his fear as his body stood. He sighed, and Harry heard a voice inside his mind.
{It is good to have a young body again,} Traveller said with satisfaction.
{Glad your enjoying it,} Harry snapped, trying to hide his terror. He felt Travellers amusement, then his pleasure as he lifted his-Harry's- arms above his head and stretched. Traveller glanced down at his former host and he nudged the disfigured body with his foot disdainfully. With a sigh it crumpled to dust.
{He has the freedom he wanted,} Traveller remarked with contempt. Terror engulfed Harry as he realised-
{You mean, he was aware of what was happening to him?! They all were?!}
{Of course,} Traveller said amusedly, {As will you.} He laughed. {At least you will share immortality with me,}
{Until my body also decays,} Harry pointed out, trying to ignore the revulsion that statement brought to him}
{No, actually,} Traveller said slowly. {You are my last host.}
{What-} Harry began in confusion
{Your power is equal to mine,} Traveller continued, satisfaction evident in his tone. {Your body will be able to contain me, it will not rot. It is truly Immortal, as am I now,}
{No,} Harry whispered, {I'm not that powerful!}
{You are,} Traveller said softly, {You just haven't learnt how
to use it yet.} Harry remained silent, but Traveller could sense the confusion and
shock emanating from him.
{So many wasted years,} he said softly, speaking half to himself, half to Harry, {So much of my magic had to go in to just sustaining myself and the body I was in, I could not even begin to think of regaining my power, but now…now at last…} he chuckled softly to himself before bending down and picking up the cloak Harry had dropped, swinging it around their shoulders.
{What?} Harry asked, startled as he realised Travellers intent. {You're going up to the School? You do realise that Hermione and Ron will realise it isn't me, not to mention Dumble-}
{Dumbledore didn't even realise Moody was an impostor, and I don't have to question someone to learn how to act} Traveller interrupted.
{What do you mean?} Harry asked slowly. Traveller smirked
{In your first year, you Hermione and Ron helped Hagrid to raise a Norwegian Ridgeback called Norbert in his hut, then in your second year you brewed a Polyjuice Potion in Moaning Myrtle's Bathroom in order to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room and in third year Fred and George Weasly gave you the Marauder's Map, which, incidentally, was created by your Father and his friends.}
Harry fell silent; Traveller chuckled.
{You didn't think the memory exchange was just a one-way thing, did you?} he asked mockingly
{They will realise,} Harry repeated confidently, but Traveller sensed the doubt behind the words as he made his way up to Hogwarts