Hey, I'm really sorry for the very long no upload thingie!!! I might be a bit rusty in writing, please correct me from my mistakes. I would be better for you to read from the start again cause it's been such a LONG TIME!!!! I love you, God Bless!
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The Quidditch match was said to squeeze through the heavy rains that followed a few weeks after Harry's " bathroom incident". It was to be held on a Saturday, which was drawing closer, but Harry did not attend practices. The reason? It was hard for him to take Malfoy off his mind. Again.
In all these years of knowing Malfoy, he had never expected this sudden "twist." He had never thought that anyone he knew (aside from the Darklord) could be something fundamentally evil. Oh, yes, he thought Draco was nasty, but not a pure spawn of darkness. But since Malfoy wasn't a human, since he was a Talim, he could very well fit the description of "Born to be Evil."
"Harry," Whined Ron, "You've spaced out again. Would you PLEASE move your piece?"
Harry blinked. Ron watched him, from across the table, motioning on the chessboard. Of course. He had been playing.
"knight to E-5," He said, absent-mindedly.
Ron quirked a brow, "You sure you want to do that?"
He said nothing. Truth was, he didn't really care whether he lost again or not. That night in the Prefect's bathroom kept coming back to him, repeating over and over more vibrantly then the last time.
"I'm not going to kill you!"
"You'll have to."
"No, I wont."
"Don't you understand, Pothead? It's the only way to stop me from killing you!"
"Shouldn't Harry be practicing?" Prepped up Hermione, who sat on a seat close to Ron.
"Aww, Herm…" said the lanky redhead, "Just after this last game. Besides, shouldn't you be resting? You've been researching too much."
"Don't change the subject," Said Hermione sternly, eyes never leaving her research. "I find studying very relaxing, mind you, and--…"
She stared and let out a long gasp. Both boys looked at her, confusion plastered on their faces. Hermione was never especially excited since their very first exams but here she was, a grin invading that shocked expression and in one movement, she stood up and exclaimed, "I've got it!!!"
"Got what?!" Asked Ron, curious.
Hermione did not answer. Instead, she took a few, long, quick strides over to her muggle bag and pulled out her Encyclopedia for her Ancient Rituals class. It was the same one as before, the Student's Encyclopedia of Rituals and Mantras.
"WHAT is it!?!" Ron exclaimed indignantly. Still no answer from the female. Sighing, Harry stood up and walked over to her, peering over her shoulder. Ron followed.
Hermione was scanning through the pages furiously, until she came across pages Cq-Da. She ran her fingers down until she came across the word, Credere.
"I remember that," Harry said quietly. "It's the believing ritual. The one me and Ron used in imagining Snape as an overgrown maggot, and Malfoy as a mosquito. Remember, Ron, That time in the Library?"
"Yeah, I remember that… But what about it, Herm?"
"Don't you guys GET it?!" Hermione said, intonating her words loudly. "In all our research about the Talim, it states that no potion or counter-curse can cure them… BUT, it never said RITUALS can't cure them… What if we use the Credere ritual? It's the simplest ritual we can do…I know where to get a lot of the ingredients."
Harry's eyes twinkled, as he started picking up, "You mean we make Malfoy *believe* he's *not* a vampire?"
"Exactly!" Hermione said, grin never fading. Ron's eyes widened, "Brilliant, Hermione! BRILLIANT!"
Hemione flushed at this, before stating, "It was just under our noses!"
"Wait, Herm," Said Harry cautiously, taking back a step, "If we try that ritual, and he believes he's not a vampire, he'll become… malnourished. Even if he believes he's not a Talim, his body will still need to feed on blood…"
Hermione closed her book, a thoughtful expression as her mind worked, "not exactly. If the ritual affects the brain the way we want it to, even the body will believe it wont need blood anymore! I'll go and research—"
A bang as the common room door shot open. Two, red-haired twins popped into the room, wearing identical scowls.
"Oh there you are, Harry!" Said Fred.
"We thought you died," Followed George.
"Maybe half his memory cells are dead, George. After all, he USUALLY remembers when our Quidditch practices are!"
They marched, advancing on the wide-eyed Harry. Harry backed away, "Oh, guys, I'm sorry—"
"CMON, GEORGE!" Fred said, grabbing Harry's shoulders, as George swept up Harry's feet. "LET'S TAKE OUR LOOT!"
"Accio, firebolt!" Yelled George, and Harry's broom swished towards them, shooting itself down Harry's shirt.
" To the QUIDDITCH FIELD!"
They thundered out of the room without another glance and it was pure silence when they had left. Hermione and Ron exchanged stunned expressions.
"Oh well."
---
It was a fine morning when the flags of the Quidditch fields were drawn up for the game. Harry woke early to prepare himself. Well, trying to mentally prepare himself. Thinking of vampires at each waking hour and dreaming of them at night were very hard to change. Everything kept reminding him of Talims. And WHEN he finally got ease off the vampire subject and was walking down the empty corridors, getting hyped up for the game, Draco Malfoy came up to him.
"I wish you luck in the Quidditch Match," said he, watching Harry intensely. Harry said nothing, trying stubbornly to look anywhere else but him. A light blush crept up his face. A silence intervened.
"But it is, after all, against Slytherin, so I shall not hold back for the Great Harry Potter," continued Malfoy, and slowly, his hand went to trace down Harry's cheek and to his chin. Tilting it up lightly, totally losing his control and not realizing it, he said, "I want you even more now..."
That blatant remark sent tiny shivers up Harry's spine but before he could do anything Draco leaned down and gave Harry a very passionate kiss. His lips were warm and soft, and Harry closed his eyes as he felt a thrill rush through him. The Talim withdrew quickly though, glancing one last time before turning around and making his way to the great hall. Harry Potter could only follow.
He was still thinking of that very experience when he was already soaring high above the clouds, looking everywhere for the snitch. He knew he had to find it quick, as he was handicapped against a vampire, but he did not lose hope. Malfoy didn't seem to look so confident yet.
It had been a long time until he spotted a glimmering golden something just above one of the Quidditch hoops. Malfoy seemed to have spotted it first and he was already charging to it. Harry wasted not one more second as he too, dived down to catch it. It seemed pretty downright that Malfoy would get the snitch.
But Harry was stubborn.
He would not stop his broom.
He kept on going.
Somehow, he knew he shouldn't give up. He knew he could win it.
As if his instincts were superbly correct, a bludger hurled about and swished right passed Malfoy, giving a second of hesitation for the blonde and before he knew it…
Harry had the snitch.
It was a magnificent game. The students burst in wild screams and shouts below, Harry held the snitch tightly and thrust it up in the air. The game won. He did it.
Everyone couldn't stop talking about it. The crowds exploded with questions and congratulations and barely coherent words in the unbelievable noise. Harry Potter landed safely amidst all the people and after a good few minutes was able to escape to the private dressing rooms. The Quidditch team congratulated him fiercely.
But after all the chaos that ensued, Harry could still think of only one thing.
He had seen Draco smiling.
---
"Harry!" Exclaimed Ron, slapping the raven haired boy playfully at the back, "Well won game!"
Harry grinned and sat down on the common room chair.
"It was magnificent, Harry," Smiled Hermione, across from him, a bit busy with her book. Harry shrugged, "You know, I didn't see professor Lupin in the crowd…"
Ron blinked and seated himself on his Wizard's Chess seat. "Oh come on Harry, you know he said he was suppose to be here in secret! Of course he wouldn't just show up!"
Harry said nothing.
"I'm sure he watched by some other means though," Continued Hermione, looking up, "I'm sure he wouldn't miss it for the world."
"…You guys are probably right… It's just that… I kinda miss Sirius…And Remus… With all their Talim things there's barely enough time for me to them..."
Only the sounds of the fireplace were heard for a while.
"…Speaking of Talims," Said Ron, trying to change the subject, "The Credere Ritual needs four other people aside from the person who will receive the ritual."
"Hm?" Harry perked up, "That means we have to tell one other person about Malfoy being a vampire…"
"Err…No…" Ron said, looking down at the carpet. Harry instantly looked bewildered, "What—"
"It's like this, Harry," Said Hermione, placing down her book, "By this time tomorrow, we would have had our ritual items ready … The problem is, exactly -when- the ritual should be happening, me and Ron would be in Hagrid's hut, helping Hagrid in his Diricawl case."
"Can't we postpone it?" Asked Harry a bit shaken, Hermione solemnly shook her head. "The ritual must be done on a New Moon, and when Pluto and Mars align each other with Earth. This only happens once in 20 years. The lucky and strange thing is, it happens tomorrow."
Harry stood up, "But who are we going to tell? Who's willing to help us? Ginny? Fred, George, who?"
Ron gasped, "Don't ever tell any of my brothers and sisters. Our family is kind of, super anti-vampire people… Something happened in the past…Don't ever mention anything about them… We were brought up to hate them…"
"Is that why you hate him so much?" Hermione asked softly.
Ron shrugged, "I've hated him since a long time ago but now that I know what he's been though and will be going through… I guess… I guess… Nah, I still hate him."
"But who will do the ritua—"
The door swung open. Neville hobbled inside, "Harry! Goyle's been looking for you, seems pretty pissed…"
Harry stared a few moments, "Ah, he can wait there for a few minutes longer—"
"Uh no, I tried that already. He needs to see you urgent and alone."
"What in Tyrant's name does he want?" Raged Ron, standing, "If he came here to fight I—"
"Ron, it's ok," Replied Harry, walking past Neville and to the door, "Thanks Nev,"
Neville looked back and said, "If you need any of us, just call."
"Of course."
--
The small room that contained the fat lady was orange-red in color, the bulbs in the ceiling casting straight streaks down to the floor. The other paintings designed to keep the Fat Lady company were all empty. Harry had problems getting out of the common room too. He had to kick it wide open. The fat lady left for tea a few minutes ago.
Goyle was leaning against a wall. "Potter." He growled.
"Why come here right at bedtime, Goyle?" Asked Harry suspiciously.
Goyle marched closer to Harry, "Stop getting close to Draco, or you'll be sorry."
Harry took a step back, "What do you mean? You can't tell me who I could talk to and who I cant."
"I'll tell his dad about you, you know. He'd yell at Draco for even thinking of taking friends like you."
"you're such a weasel," Mumbled Harry.
"As you are a fag." Countered the bulky Slytherin, "Don't talk to Draco."
Harry challenged the Slytherin, "I can't promise you anything,"
"Than I'll tell his father,"
"And I'll tell everyone who you've been drawing of in rather… interesting positions…"
A very long, disturbing silence. Harry was smirking.
Goyle slammed his fist against the wall, "I hate you, Potter."
--
The pain from my cuts seemed to seethe through my skin. Blood started coming forth at some imitation of a stigmata. I hissed at it all.
Hissed.
Hissed.
Rasped.
My eye felt as if I had bruises all over it. It felt as if tears were rolling down my cheeks, truth was that it was blood. It was blood.
Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
I like this feeling.
I smeared more blood across my arm, just to feel the seething sensation and the sticky feel of it. The blood. All of it… . I could smell it. I think my blonde hair is soaked red too.
My pupils dilated then changed into red.
My heart started pumping faster. My eyes were getting blurry, I knew they were changing colors. My head throbbed and ached until it felt like it exploded.
I hissed again.
Potter will be mine.