Cardcaptor Pandora
Episode XVIII
Blood-Hunter's Moon

The New Moon always did something strange to the castle and those who lived there. Maybe nothing particularly noticeable, but it was felt. It was mysterious, more so than even the full moon. For although the full moon invited the presence of bloodthirsty werewolves, it was the moon which brought so much light that even the inmost of all secrets had to be brought out. Or was that really true? And if it was, what was the magic of the New Moon? Perhaps it was the very darkness of it, the fact that any secret or danger could be out in the open, and still no one would see it.... until it was too late.

Panda, are you okay?

Pandora jumped from her seat by the window and turned quickly to see Harry standing there. Yes, of course I'm okay. Why do you ask?

I don't know, you just seem a little more distant than usual. At least, I've never known you to be one to stare out into the night for hours on end.

She smiled tiredly and shook her head. I'm not really. I guess I am a little distracted about things. I just feel something... I don't know, something mysterious. Something that just isn't quite right.

Is it a card?

If it is, it's not very strong yet and it hasn't done anything to help me figure out what it might be. Which makes me think it's not, because the cards are usually quite eager to cause trouble, especially the ones that give me this dark, foreboding feeling.

Harry smirked as he charmed a chair over to the window next to her and sat down. I think it's just because you're letting your Slytherin fourth out. It tends to be a little darker.

Slytherin fourth?

He laughed and said, Panda, come on! You know what I'm talking about. You have the qualities of all four houses equally, which means Slytherin has to be in there somewhere.

Yes, well, I don't think it comes in it's dark form. I'm too cute, after all.

Not to mention a little vain, just like every other Malfoy I've ever met before, Harry muttered.

You say it like it's something bad.

But really, his words did make her think a little. It was true, after all. There had to be something inside of her that wasn't completely as cute and as as she would like to think. She knew it was there, and it was on nights like this that it was the strongest. After all, in darkness all truth can be forthcoming and yet never be seen.

She stood up suddenly and paced around the room, Harry's eyes following her like prey watching the predator. Panda, you're worrying me a little. I've never seen you like this.

I... I'm sorry... I think I need to go out for a while.

You'll get in trouble if you're not careful, it's too late for us to be out.

I'll be fine, Harry, she said just a bit irritably. An Invisibility Card works better than even your treasured Invisibility Cloak. She called upon the powers of that card with only a thought that night. Rarely was she quite that powerful.

She walked the many corridors of the castle for hours, feeling even more restless with every step she took. Whatever was wrong with her, she wanted it to end.

She'd never really used the full powers of this card, but that night she felt like taking every advantage of it possible. There was no way she could continue haunting the castle like a ghost herself. Of course the castle was always full of new and different wonders, but they seemed like nothing. She needed fresh air and maybe a little bit of adventure, dangerous adventure. And she didn't want anyone else to be a part of it.

The crisp night air hit her sharply, almost like a bite, but she loved it. The strange-colored darkness excited her, angered her, laughed at her, she wasn't entirely sure. It was all around and all-encompassing. Her thoughts overlapped eachother so much there were hardly any real thoughts left at all. Something was pulling her farther away from the castle, and she was more than willing to follow it out and out even more until the branches of the Forbidden Forest closed around her, hiding her from everyone that would not be able to see her anyway.

It's a terribly dangerous evening for a beautiful young lady such as yourself to be out, a charming voice said.

She turned quickly but quietly to face a young man dressed in all black with pale skin that seemed to radiate a dim glow like the moon itself. He had a handsome, almost seductive smile, and dark eyes that drew the blessed object of their gaze straight to their master, like a moth to a flame. She didn't move though, for he could not be talking to her after all. She was invisible.

He threw back his head and laughed, his white teeth catching a glimpse in the moonlight which wasn't there. That magic will not hide you from me, my dear, but there's nothing for you to hide from out here. Your invisibility will protect you from a Nightshade just about as well as that lovely, light, figure-fit robe you are wearing.

She felt her cheeks grow hot as she withdrew the powers of the Invisibility Card with yet again only a thought. Good evening, she said, her voice catching and coming out very small and timid. Who are you?

Lady's first, he said with a full extravagant bow at the waist.

She laughed nervously and said a little louder, My name is Pandora Malfoy. I go to Hogwarts.

I could have figured that much, he said coming closer and dropping his voice to barely above a whisper. My name is Lunarus, and once again, I must warn you that this is not a safe place for a beautiful woman such as yourself. Perhaps I could assist you in some way?

He was now speaking calmly directly into Pandora's ear, sending chills through her body. Again, she laughed nervously and backed away, her feelings from earlier stronger than ever. Thanks, but no. I was just coming out for some night air and thought a little glimpse into the forest would be nice, but I really should be going back. They might worry if they found out that...

Oh, but stay, he said, stepping in front of her and drawing out a long black cloak that was tied around his neck. For your own protection, stay.

What do you mean? You already said that it was dangerous for me to be here.

Ah, but it is ever-so-much-more dangerous for you to go back. There are dangerous things here, Pandora. Dangerous creatures, dangerous people. Do stay.

She turned her back on him after her head had begun to feel dizzy, similar to how she felt when in Divination with all of the various fumes flying about. But this wasn't from intoxicating fumes, this was from the proximity of an incredibly handsome man, a tall, dark stranger whom she had never met before and knew she needed to be careful of. And yet...

She felt his hands on her shoulders. They touched her so lightly, it was more like a presence than the physical touch of a human being. In any case, she sensed something very wrong with all of it. You have nothing to worry about, Pandora, he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear as he spoke into it. I'm here... I'll protect you...

She felt herself begin to fall back into him, though her mind screamed out against it. And if it hadn't been for the distraction of a blood-curtling scream, she just might have done a number of other things she may have severely regretted later. But the scream jarred her away from the trance she had been temporarily under, and her sealing staff appeared in her hand almost as effortlessly as she had used the Invisibility Card from earlier.

The sight of the staff immediately caused Lunarus to back up, lowering his face so that she could see very little of it anymore except for his dark, piercing eyes. I'll leave you for now, Pandora, but don't forget I warned you.

You... you're... she stammered, taking a step forward with the staff in hand, until from behind her she heard frantic cries mixed with sobs after a time of complete silence after the scream which had been abruptly choked to a stop. She turned, wondering if it was closer, but when she looked back to where Lunarus had been, he had completely disappeared into the forest.

Once again facing the forest, she stepped boldly into it, her staff tightly clenched in her hand as she moved silently towards the sobbing. When she parted the last few branched blocking her way, she saw a girl kneeling in the grass on her knees, her face in her hands as she bent over entirely, as if bowing before a god. She had long black hair, which immediately made Pandora think of a certain someone who had not been at school ever since the incident with the Time Card.



The figure whirled around, still crouched close to the ground. Pandora was correct, it was Pansy Parkinson, but her face was even paler than usual and her eyes flashed hatred and fear, and something else not quite so easily placed. What do you want, Malfoy? she growled.

Pandora didn't know what to make of her. Her body was bent over and thin, as if completely fatigued, yet she had such energy in her eyes. The energy of a starving predator. Pansy, why did you scream? What's wrong? Are you alright?

Pansy managed to pull herself upright, but then clung to a tree as if restraining herself. Leave now, I'm warning you. Due to recent developments, I just might kill you with very little thought beforehand if you don't save yourself now.

Pansy! What is going on?

She narrowed her dark eyes, regarding Pandora silently for a moment until she did something which didn't quite fit the character of everything else going on. She smiled. This strange action caught Pandora off-guard at first, until she saw the reasoning behind it. Pansy's canine teeth had grown into long, sharp fangs.

Immediately Pandora understood why she was suddenly so pale. She had just been attacked, which would explain the screaming, and had little blood in her. She was hungry.

Now maybe you'll understand why you should get away, Malfoy. Right now, before I do something in my dizzying state of starvation...

Pansy, no! You need help! There are doctors you can talk to, and I'm sure Dumbledore can protect you from other things. Come back with me. You've got to go somewhere before the sun rises.

You haven't noticed? she sneered, her teeth flashing in the moonlight which wasn't there. You don't even know what time it is.

Close to morning, I know that much.

Yes, very. It's 8:30.

Pandora stared at her curiously. But that's impossible. It's still this dark outside...

You haven't met Lunarus, have you.

Pandora blushed at the mere memory. Yes, but what does he have to do with it still being dark outside?

Because he's powerful enough to keep the night present, possibly forever. The... vampire... who drained me found Lunarus' spirit in a dark cave somewhere here in the Forbidden Forest when he was hiding from the sunlight, then used his powers to keep it dark. Pansy crossed her arms and looked away sadly. I suppose I should be glad about it, I won't have any use for the sunlight anymore.

Pandora was hardly listening anymore. She knew exactly what Lunarus was, and now she had to find him again unless she wanted the eerie New Moon to stay out for the rest of eternity over Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. Do you know where he might be?

Who? The vampire or Lunarus?



Pansy shrugged. If you're really stupid enough to want to find him, that's your own problem. I'm out of it. She smirked slightly as she began to walk away. In all truth, I'm probably freer now than I have been for a few months. The Dark Mark doesn't work on a dead body.

Pandora watched nervously as Pansy seemed to disappear in a mist as she walked away, her feet touching the grass and crisp leaves without making a sound. At least now she understood the dark feeling she was having... at least to a certain extent. Lunarus was a Hogwarts Card, but exactly what was he? Of course, it wasn't always necessary to name a card before sealing it, so she would have to hope that this was one of those times.

She was very wary of her surroundings as she continued searching, knowing that she might easily stumble upon something or someone other than Lunarus. And with a vampire around...? The very thought made her shudder. She could only hope that he had gotten enough blood off of Pansy, considering he did suck her dry, obviously. But that also made her worry for Pansy's sake. What would she do now? Was she just going to live forever out in the Forbidden Forest? There was bound to be some day when the sun would catch her off guard if that was the case. She would have to figure some way of bringing Pansy back to the castle, but that would have to come later. For now, she needed Lunarus, but where would he be?

It was times like this that made her wish she was Holly. Holly always had an answer for everything, and she would certainly know how to get a card like Lunarus to show himself. Unfortunately, she didn't, nor did she figure he would come upon her so easily again now that he knew she was on to him.

Pandora thought hard, trying to remember everything Rangi had ever told her about capturing a card. Finally, she remembered something about that when she was powerful enough she would be able to force a nearby card into her presence by calling it's name, but it did require a lot of power. More than that she didn't even know what card it was, and if she was even going to attempt that she would have to be certain in his true identity.

The more she tried to think of who he really was, the more she couldn't get him off of her mind. His low voice which drew anyone who listened closer to him. His handsome pale face framed by his jaw-length black hair, like the orb of light in a cloudless midnight sky. His warm breath against her neck like the gentle rays of light the moon casts to the ground from the sky through the piercing chilled wind. His very skin, casting that same glow which that particular night was absent from the sky, the glow of moonlight...

Moonlight... Moonlight... Moon-

Moon Card, come into my presence now! I, the Center, command it! Pandora shouted fiercely to the night pitch black sky, her staff raised high as she felt the power and energy that had long been bottled inside her that evening swelling up and releasing itself, power she had never felt in herself before.

Congratulations, Mistress, came the sound of his voice, causing another chill to flow down her body. I was skeptical of your true power at first, but I see had little reason to worry. Perhaps you truly are worthy of your title.

No more sweet-talk from you, Lunarus! I am sealing you!

Of course you are, but don't you want to do something about your friend first? If you seal me away, the sun will come out and she will not be expecting it, a mistake which will cause her her life. All you will find of her will be a little pile of ashes.

Pandora narrowed her eyes, but she knew he was right. She couldn't just leave Pansy out there, but neither could she trust Lunarus could wait for her, and she seriously doubted that she would be able to call him to herself again. To be honest, she felt her powers slowly dwindling.

Finally, she thought of something, but she didn't know if it would work. It was her only option, though, so she took it. Power of Sleep, find Pansy Parkinson and put her into a deep sleep. Power of Wind, bring her gently to me. Go!

She waited, staring straight at Lunarus who did not move, though she believed he would disappear in a heartbeat if she blinked for an extended nanosecond. Soon she seriously began to doubt that her plan was working, but relieved a moment later when the sleeping body of Pansy Parkinson came to rest softly at her feet.

Now came the risky part, which if she was wrong, could cost Pansy her life. But she had to seal the card, there was no question of that. Powers of Invisibility and Freeze, combine to cloak her from the dangerous rays of sunlight.

Soon only an imprint in the grass was all that told Pandora that Pansy was still there. At last, she raised her staff towards Lunarus, and whispered lowly, Return to the Center, your Master awaits. Hogwarts Card Moon... Return!
*******************************************************

It was a lovely day off, even if the actual didn't start until about 9:30 after the Slytherin Moon Card had been sealed by Pandora. In the meantime, Pandora had snuck Pansy Parkinson into her room so that she could be certain that the sunlight hadn't harmed her. She was very relieved when Pansy woke up and felt no pain. But Pansy was not happy to be back in the castle, not at all. In fact, she made Pandora promise not to tell anyone, not Dumbledore, not Draco, not Harry, not anyone. It was a similar exchanging of secrets that she and Harry had shared when she had admitted to him that she was a Cardcaptor, because of course she had to explain to Pansy how she had gotten rid of Lunarus and gotten Pansy safely into the castle with the warm rays of a morning sun bearing down on her frail vampire skin.

She didn't know how long the promise would last, because she knew Pansy would get fed up with only having her for company after a while. But Rangi was quite pleased to have another person to talk to constantly, and was even more pleased when he heard of Pandora's adventure, though initially he seemed incredibly disturbed at the mention of Lunarus.

Pandora! You met Lunarus? What happened? Did he... did you... are you okay?! Pandoraaaaaa!!

I sealed him, didn't I?

But... but... He sighed. Yes, you did, which is amazing. His main way of defending himself--which he is quite good at--is... well... seducing the captor. He doesn't try that method for males, however, which is probably why he was working for the vampire... Rangi shook his head and smirked. In face, it takes an incredible amount of power for a female to withstand his charms, for there's more than just his handsome smile involved. He uses magic, and rarely he lose. Not only that, but you were actually able to summon him into your presence. Pandora, you really are turning out to be Cardcaptor I knew was inside of you.

She smiled and said, Thanks, but it was a rather awkward evening overall. I don't know what came over me. Some sort of strange energy... it made the darker sort of mood I was in even worse.

New Moon, huh? Rangi said, staring at the ground as if it held the secrets of the multiverse. We'll need to be keeping an eye out for those, especially when a Hogwarts Card is up to something at the same time.

((Sorry it took me a while to get this one out. I had a lot of projects and stuff... But the next episode's going to be the Valentine's Day Special (even though it's not quite Valentine's Day, but oh well) and it's going to be funny, I promise! It's the one I was supposed to write for Romilly, if you're still out there! So stay tuned! ~_^ ))