Thanks to Firedrake, Emma, lightning bug, Saranha and Froghopper for reading my story.
Monday came with no mention from Dumbledore about my little discretion. I can only assume he did not know. I felt guilty about my feeding but the blood of the young wizard gave me great strength that even on Monday I was able to stand in the afternoon sun. I walked around the campus of the castle admiring the beauty of the castle and the grounds that surrounded it. It reminded me of my own castle but in a much larger version. Dumbledore spoke to me briefly the day before on the demands of the vampires. I assured him that if they dared to came near the school, which I highly doubt they would, I would not let harm come to the students or teachers of his school. I walked near the lake allowing the sun to wash over, for the first time in a long time I did not feel hungry. Some students were in boats on the lake, collecting small fish for one of their classes. The half-giant, Hagrid, was on the shore watching them and then watching me.
"Oh Ms. Wiglaf, didn't think you'd be out side I mean right now it's kina bright."
"I am well fed. You're the Care of Magical Creatures teacher?"
"Yes." He answered defensively."
"Vampires are not taught in your class?" I already knew the answer.
"Umm no that's more of a dark arts thing..."
"Dark arts." I said it to myself really. Louder I said, "Don't be so nervous Hagrid. If you fear for your students, which you should not, you should know that Vampires cannot easily cross flowing water. It causes great discomfort and is avoided." At that moment the students were making their way back to shore with full buckets. "Excuse me I'll leave you to your class." I walked back into the castle, running into the potions teacher in the hallway. "Professor Snape." I greeted him. He looked down on me with his dark eyes. He looked like the stereotypical vampire and I had to keep a straight face as I saw fear in his eyes. "Ms. Wiglaf." He said curtly.
"Viola, please Professor. You do not agree with me being here?" I cut to the point.
"Our headmaster has agreed that you are to stay here for the time being but no I think it is dangerous to have you as a teacher here."
"It would be dangerous to have me as an enemy as well."
"Is that a threat?"
"It is a statement, you may take it as you wish, but I am here and I will not be leaving."
"Your brethren wish you dead, you are here to be protected."
I smiled. And walked away. I knew the teacher would not accept me; there was nothing I could do to change that. I would also not give into my violence and attack the man.
I sat at the diner table told by Dumbledore that it was better that I attend meals even if I did not eat. I used the time to watch the four tables of students. The four houses were so separated and I was uneasy about the separation remembering what had happened between my own clans. I asked Professor McGonagall why they separated the children so and she gave me a strange look before answer that it had always been done and that by pairing the children together with those they shared traits made them a closer house and formed a bond. Unfortunately I thought to myself it also places hatred, envy and fierce competition into the students. But I did not question her. I fear the teachers, although they know my nature, see me as my human age shows me, as a young adult of 19 or 20 and not as a creature that has seen over 2500 years of history.
My class also saw me as a young teacher and my authority was questioned that night. Again but Mr. Malfoy who seemed to like to show off his "authority."
"How can she be an expert on Vampires?" He said loudly as he walked into the room. "She's looks barely older then the seventh years. I owled my Father about her and you can bet the ministry will hear about this."
"Mr. Malfoy, if you will kindly take your seat."
I scanned the room with my eyes. Ron and Harry were whispering to each other while Hermione was giving them looks to be quiet.
"I'm sure there are questions about me, and rumors floating around this school." All the students sat a little straighter in their seats expecting me to answer some of their questions about myself. "I will only say I'm older then I look and have been studying vampires since I was, a little older then you are know." True enough my master had come to me for the first time when I was seventeen. My first child had just died and my husband was angry for it was a boy. A stranger came to me offering comfort which I rejected fearing being called a lose woman. I saw him many times in the town and shortly after started having dreams of him.
I brought my thoughts back to the present. "Tonight we will talk about the weaknesses of a vampire."
"How can a vampire be killed?" I asked.
Hermione raised her hand high. A few others had hands up as well. "Patrick?"
"Well, a stake through the heart." It sounded almost like a question.
"You can also chop off their heads." That was Tracey.
Hermione's and they others hands dropped. I guess that that was what they were going to say.
"Decapitation is one way." I agreed. "The stake through the heart is a bit more tricky."
Draco was talking in the back. He simply had no respect. I could hear him as though he was shouting. "This class is a joke."
"Draco." Using his first name seemed to startle him more then the tone of my voice. I stared right into his eyes making him uncomfortable. I didn't say another word to him.
"A stake through the heart will not kill a vampire unless the stake also servers the spine. Decapitation and serving the spine are two of the three ways. The Third?"
"Harry?" His hand was up much to the surprise of Hermione. "Sunlight?" he said tentatively.
"Very good but it must be under the right conditions. A vampires body must be drained of blood and left in the sun during the brightest time of the day."
The lesson continued as I talked about true death.
My thoughts after the lesson dwelt on my master, Niklos, how he saved me and condemned me on one night so many years ago. I am not sure of the year, calendars have changed so much. But after the death of my second child the dreams of my stranger grew stronger and my husband demanded to be allowed to marry another. My father was disappointed with me and I was blamed for the death of my children. I was disgraced. That is when the stranger who was to become my master approached me a second time. He promised that I would be able to live without the help of any man but I did not believe him. Then he promised to take care of me, I told him of my dreams and he revealed his nature to me. I was as surprised as he that I did not shrink in horror. I instead asked many questions. I followed him out of my homeland not yet of his kind. He allowed me to think on it and also allowed me to accompany on his journey. A few months later I consented to him and became what I am. I loved him yes
and I believe he cared for me. The bond between us was strong and even if I was not near him, even if he was thousands of miles away I could feel his mind and I knew he was alive. And know I feel nothing. I have neither bonds of my own nor the bond of my master. Again my thoughts turned to the young Weasley.
Monday came with no mention from Dumbledore about my little discretion. I can only assume he did not know. I felt guilty about my feeding but the blood of the young wizard gave me great strength that even on Monday I was able to stand in the afternoon sun. I walked around the campus of the castle admiring the beauty of the castle and the grounds that surrounded it. It reminded me of my own castle but in a much larger version. Dumbledore spoke to me briefly the day before on the demands of the vampires. I assured him that if they dared to came near the school, which I highly doubt they would, I would not let harm come to the students or teachers of his school. I walked near the lake allowing the sun to wash over, for the first time in a long time I did not feel hungry. Some students were in boats on the lake, collecting small fish for one of their classes. The half-giant, Hagrid, was on the shore watching them and then watching me.
"Oh Ms. Wiglaf, didn't think you'd be out side I mean right now it's kina bright."
"I am well fed. You're the Care of Magical Creatures teacher?"
"Yes." He answered defensively."
"Vampires are not taught in your class?" I already knew the answer.
"Umm no that's more of a dark arts thing..."
"Dark arts." I said it to myself really. Louder I said, "Don't be so nervous Hagrid. If you fear for your students, which you should not, you should know that Vampires cannot easily cross flowing water. It causes great discomfort and is avoided." At that moment the students were making their way back to shore with full buckets. "Excuse me I'll leave you to your class." I walked back into the castle, running into the potions teacher in the hallway. "Professor Snape." I greeted him. He looked down on me with his dark eyes. He looked like the stereotypical vampire and I had to keep a straight face as I saw fear in his eyes. "Ms. Wiglaf." He said curtly.
"Viola, please Professor. You do not agree with me being here?" I cut to the point.
"Our headmaster has agreed that you are to stay here for the time being but no I think it is dangerous to have you as a teacher here."
"It would be dangerous to have me as an enemy as well."
"Is that a threat?"
"It is a statement, you may take it as you wish, but I am here and I will not be leaving."
"Your brethren wish you dead, you are here to be protected."
I smiled. And walked away. I knew the teacher would not accept me; there was nothing I could do to change that. I would also not give into my violence and attack the man.
I sat at the diner table told by Dumbledore that it was better that I attend meals even if I did not eat. I used the time to watch the four tables of students. The four houses were so separated and I was uneasy about the separation remembering what had happened between my own clans. I asked Professor McGonagall why they separated the children so and she gave me a strange look before answer that it had always been done and that by pairing the children together with those they shared traits made them a closer house and formed a bond. Unfortunately I thought to myself it also places hatred, envy and fierce competition into the students. But I did not question her. I fear the teachers, although they know my nature, see me as my human age shows me, as a young adult of 19 or 20 and not as a creature that has seen over 2500 years of history.
My class also saw me as a young teacher and my authority was questioned that night. Again but Mr. Malfoy who seemed to like to show off his "authority."
"How can she be an expert on Vampires?" He said loudly as he walked into the room. "She's looks barely older then the seventh years. I owled my Father about her and you can bet the ministry will hear about this."
"Mr. Malfoy, if you will kindly take your seat."
I scanned the room with my eyes. Ron and Harry were whispering to each other while Hermione was giving them looks to be quiet.
"I'm sure there are questions about me, and rumors floating around this school." All the students sat a little straighter in their seats expecting me to answer some of their questions about myself. "I will only say I'm older then I look and have been studying vampires since I was, a little older then you are know." True enough my master had come to me for the first time when I was seventeen. My first child had just died and my husband was angry for it was a boy. A stranger came to me offering comfort which I rejected fearing being called a lose woman. I saw him many times in the town and shortly after started having dreams of him.
I brought my thoughts back to the present. "Tonight we will talk about the weaknesses of a vampire."
"How can a vampire be killed?" I asked.
Hermione raised her hand high. A few others had hands up as well. "Patrick?"
"Well, a stake through the heart." It sounded almost like a question.
"You can also chop off their heads." That was Tracey.
Hermione's and they others hands dropped. I guess that that was what they were going to say.
"Decapitation is one way." I agreed. "The stake through the heart is a bit more tricky."
Draco was talking in the back. He simply had no respect. I could hear him as though he was shouting. "This class is a joke."
"Draco." Using his first name seemed to startle him more then the tone of my voice. I stared right into his eyes making him uncomfortable. I didn't say another word to him.
"A stake through the heart will not kill a vampire unless the stake also servers the spine. Decapitation and serving the spine are two of the three ways. The Third?"
"Harry?" His hand was up much to the surprise of Hermione. "Sunlight?" he said tentatively.
"Very good but it must be under the right conditions. A vampires body must be drained of blood and left in the sun during the brightest time of the day."
The lesson continued as I talked about true death.
My thoughts after the lesson dwelt on my master, Niklos, how he saved me and condemned me on one night so many years ago. I am not sure of the year, calendars have changed so much. But after the death of my second child the dreams of my stranger grew stronger and my husband demanded to be allowed to marry another. My father was disappointed with me and I was blamed for the death of my children. I was disgraced. That is when the stranger who was to become my master approached me a second time. He promised that I would be able to live without the help of any man but I did not believe him. Then he promised to take care of me, I told him of my dreams and he revealed his nature to me. I was as surprised as he that I did not shrink in horror. I instead asked many questions. I followed him out of my homeland not yet of his kind. He allowed me to think on it and also allowed me to accompany on his journey. A few months later I consented to him and became what I am. I loved him yes
and I believe he cared for me. The bond between us was strong and even if I was not near him, even if he was thousands of miles away I could feel his mind and I knew he was alive. And know I feel nothing. I have neither bonds of my own nor the bond of my master. Again my thoughts turned to the young Weasley.