Chapter thirty three

Love is a powerful sorceress

/

No. Not like this, please, Angela begged in her mind.

The vampire lowered his head with an apparent intention, but then he just flew away from her in the flash of bright silver light. Breathless, she rolled onto her side.

Harry… she looked up to her boyfriend surprised that he managed to cast such a powerful spell so quickly.

Are you hurt? he asked, already helping her up on her feet.

I´m fine, Angela lied, even though she could feel the blood running down her arms under her shirt. Fortunately, in that awful blizzard, Harry did not notice her torn clothes and she did not want him to worry about her too much.

Dear Merlin, she thought as she looked around the narrowing circle of at least two dozen dark figures.

She snatched her wand and completed the last move hastily. At that moment, the blue light flared up in all the places where she had drawn the witchcraft marks and continued to grow stronger. Angela hastily recited the words of the incantation, and the blue rays shot out from those spots, collided in the air above the unicorn herd and scattered in all directions. They created a kind of protective net around them. However, the unicorns were apparently still nervous, just as she was.

Angela watched intently as the vampires stopped in front of the blue glowing wall. One of them touched it at the behest of the biggest vampire, most likely their leader. The connection made him hiss in pain, as his hand started to burn and then, the shield threw him back roughly, making him stagger. Angela winced and Harry gave her a concerned look.

The vampires roared in anger. The discarded vampire returned with a practically scorched arm.

Three more tried and Angela winced each time one of them touched the protection she had created. Harry realized then – this spell was draining her energy.

The vampires gathered in one place, probably discussing what to do. This was what Angela was waiting for. She turned to the unicorn leader.

No one can move now.

The unicorn nodded.

Harry, get away from me.

Why?

Just move!

Realizing the urgency of her request, Harry did not ask any more questions and stepped back. Angela acted quickly. She raised her wand high and began pulling the protective net into it. It was gone in five seconds and the vampires registered it.

Fortunately, before they could started moving, Angela concentrated as much as possible and sent the bluish field directly at them. A narrow dome formed around the vampires, and very soon, they realized with rage that it was the same protective wall as before.

Harry watched as Angela slowly lowered her wand, trembling all over.

Run, run as far as you can into the woods, she told the unicorn.

But what about you, the successors of Elessandra? Our enemies are still here.

I will take care of them. But for now, you´d better run in case if I can't do this.

Understand.

The unicorns started to trot into the woods and after a while, they all disappeared except for one who turned to Angela once more.

When you can, call me and I will tell you the secret of your past.

But how do I call you? she asked.

You know how... replied the unicorn and disappeared in the dark woods.

Pushing thoughts of unicorns away, Angela took a deep breath and hesitantly stepped toward the circle of vampires who were glaring at her and snarling in pain and fury.

Harry noticed Angela swaying and quickly jumped to her side and supported her.

Thanks…

He firmly held her around the waist without any reply, as she raised her wand again and pointed at the dome. After a while, to the horror of vampires, it began to withdraw. It continued to shrink inexorably. The vampires began to make desperate attempts to break through the blue wall again, but it was no use.

Mercilessly, the glow began to burn the outer vampires to coals. They huddled close together, but Angela did not slacken. One by one, the vampires roared, as they burned alive. Their figures disappeared in terrible piles of rotting meat and ash until only the last one remained.

He looked at Angela with hatred in his red eyes, and just before exploding in a blinding flash of blue light, he croaked hoarsely: "You will die, daughter of Elessandra, soon enough."

The light disappeared. If Harry were not holding her, his girlfriend would have fallen to the ground.

"Angela!" he cried out in fear when he saw her pale face.

"I'll be… okay," she whispered so that he almost did not hear her over the storm.

She tried to get to her feet, but once again had to rest her weight on Harry.

I probably won´t be able to walk now, she muttered to him in her mind.

I'll carry you, Harry stated with determination. We must get back to school.

But… I´m too heavy…

Angela could not say anything else. She passed out.

Harry did not hesitate for a second, and picked her up in his arms. After lightening her body up and using the Levitation Charm on her, he let his wand glow. He slipped it into Angela's sweatshirt pocket, so that it would lit the path ahead of them and holding her close, he resolutely set out to fight the blizzard again…

/

An hour later, he felt as if he had barely moved. He had to use the Levitation Charm repeatedly, since its effect was fading away and Angela in his arms was heavier with each step he took. He was short of breath and could hardly see the path ahead. All he could hold onto were their own fast-disappearing tracks. However, as he paused for a moment and carefully brushed the snowy hair from Angela's face, new determination grew in him. She was so cold and pale. He had to get her to school at all costs.

He conjured yet another warming spell over her body and started to move again.

/

He did not understand how he did it, but suddenly, the outline of Hogwarts Castle appeared in front of him. At that moment, Angela flinched and slightly opened her eyes.

Angie, Harry addressed her tenderly in his mind. We're almost there, hold on.

Put me on my feet.

But…

You´ve done enough, Harry. I'll try to get there myself.

Harry carefully let her stand up and she leaned against him, as they stumbled toward the unlocked main gate. They finally entered the warm corridors of the castle and Angela locked the gate again with a feeble wave of her wand. Harry was incredibly relieved they made it.

"And now, you will go to the Hospital Wing immediately," he urged.

Angela looked up at him from under the strands of frozen hair and a single firm word broke through her pale lips: "No."

"Angela, Madame Pomfrey must take care of you. You have no idea what you look like."

"But I realize that. Take me to the Room, Harry."

He gave her a disapproving look.

"If we alert anyone in the castle, there will be many questions I cannot answer," she added pleadingly. "There´s everything I could possibly need in the Room of Requirement. Please."

"You're more stubborn than a ram," Harry sighed as they carefully made their way up the stairs.

She just half-smiled feebly at that.

Harry glanced at his watch. It was half past one in the morning: "Oh, well…"

Angela saw the direction of his gaze. "What time is it?"

"Late. You're shaking," he added with a frown.

"You too," Angela reacted softly.

After several endless minutes, they crawled in front of the hidden door, Angela closed her eyes, and soon they found themselves in a warm, spacious room with an endless supply of potions, bandages, and vials.

However, Harry took Angela to the next room, which also appeared there and sat her on the spacious bed.

"You just rest, and no objections. Take off your wet clothes and wrap yourself in a blanket. Just tell me where to search."

Angela nodded a little more lively. Water was starting to drip from her hair, just like from Harry's.

"The shelf to the left of the window, at the very top, a purple bottle. Pour some for me and yourself, it will warm us up. Then there´s a water bowl in the cupboard by the door. Bring me something hot and also the ointment I gave you last time.''

Harry nodded, looking suspiciously at the torn sleeves of her sweatshirt, the edges of which were stained red. Then he left.

Angela frantically took off her snow-covered shoes, her jeans, sweatshirt, and T-shirt, and wrapped herself in a warm blanket only in her underwear. Harry rushed over with a goblet filled with purple liquid and cleared his throat. He was barefoot in shirt and soaked jeans.

"It burns pretty good," he commented with a smirk.

"I know," Angela carefully took the cup from him. "There's plenty of alcohol in it, too."

Harry's eyes then widened at her arms. There were long, half-dried bloody claws just below Angela´s shoulders.

"Damn it, you didn't say anything..."

"I need that water, Harry," Angela interrupted him, gulping the content of the cup in one go.

Harry took it from her and stepped aside with a concerned expression. Angela tiredly leaned against the head of the bed and let the liquid spread the pleasant warmth through her body. Harry was back in a moment and she moved to the edge of the bed. Harry placed the water on the bedside table and took a clean bandage to soak it.

"Can I?"

Angela eyed him with her eyes shining and then nodded. Harry sat down next to her with a wet bandage and carefully began to clean her wounds. She hissed in pain.

"Sorry."

"It's okay," she shook her head, looking into Harry´s eyes.

He hastily turned away, tossed the bloody bandage into the water and reached for the salve, which he had found quite easily. He gently began to rub her cleaned injuries.

"If you had gone to Madame Pomfrey, you wouldn't have had any scars."

"These will heal like this anyway..."

"That's good," he muttered, putting the salve aside.

"Harry, I don't want anyone to know that we were gone, let alone what happened," his girlfriend turned to him urgently. "They would think I´m a freak, running in the winter woods and talking with unicorns…"

He sighed: "Okay, I'm just… I am worried about you. In that forest I realized…"

"What?" Angela whispered, with her face so close to his he could feel her warm breath.

Harry looked into her eyes: "How much I care about you."

Angela stared at him wordlessly for a moment, and Harry felt his heart somewhere in his throat. Then she kissed him softly on the lips. When he caressed her cheek, Angela shivered and closed her eyes. She looked so tender and vulnerable at that moment that Harry could not help but kiss her more passionately.

After an uncertain moment, Angela returned him with the same and pressed herself against him trembling. Feeling himself warming up quickly, Harry kissed her neck and nape, pulling the blanket down to Angela's waist. She let out a shaky breath and began to tuck on Harry's shirt, clearly intending to get rid of it. Clinging on the remaining voice of reason, he pulled back a little.

"Angie… If you don't…" he started, but she put a finger on his lips.

"Shut up, Harry. Just kiss me," she requested tenderly.

With blood throbbing in his ears, he smiled at her: "I will gladly obey you in that…"

Harry helped her to take off his wet shirt and then he gently laid her down on the bed. His hands were trembling as he began to explore every part of her soft skin, from shoulders to breasts and then down to her flat stomach and hips.

Angela sighed in pleasure under his touches, making more than clear she liked Harry´s touches and wanted even more.

Their shaking bodies felt like burning with excitement and pleasure; as they hugged tight and happily forgot everything around them. As they caressed each other and kissed on all the places, which had remained hidden until that moment, their minds began to soar up to dizzying heights.

And then, when their bodies finally merged in a passionate embrace, nothing else existed. Just the two of them together.

/

There was peace and pleasant warmth in the Room of Requirement. It was slowly starting to dawn outside, and thanks to this, the never-ending snowstorm began to show in all its glory.

Harry, breathing calmly, with his right arm wrapped around Angela, who had her head on his chest and was fast asleep. The last night really tire her out.

Harry started to wake up first. Feeling an unfamiliar weight on his chest, he looked down and saw the chestnut brown hair. He smiled and reached with his free hand on the small bedside table for his watch. It was a little before seven o´clock.

As he looked around, he realized that they would have to get back to their dorms before anyone noticed they were gone. Regretfully, he began to caress Angela's face. She wiggled uneasily and rolled off him onto her other side. The ugly claws on her arms had almost healed overnight thanks to the magical salve. Harry relentlessly stroked her hair and neck until she finally opened her eyes.

"Good morning," he greeted her softly, smiling slightly.

Angela sighed tiredly: "What time is it?" she whispered.

"Half past six."

"Oh, no," she hummed dejectedly. "We'll have to get up..."

"I guess so," Harry agreed, pulling Angela close. "But in a moment."

"Okay," she agreed contentedly, curling up in his arms again.

"You're still pale," Harry noted with concern.

"I'll be fine, really," she assured him.

"But promise me that if you feel sick, you'll go to Madame."

"Okay, I promise," she murmured, closing her eyes again.

"Angie? Don't you regret what happened between us?" Harry asked suddenly.

Her eyes opened right away. Angela sat up sharply and turned to her boyfriend with a strange expression: "No," she said firmly. "Do you?"

"Not at all, I didn't mean it that way, I just…"

"Listen, Harry," Angela interrupted him. "Despite what we went through in the forest, it was the most beautiful night of my life."

Harry held out his hands apologetically.

"I'm sorry for even asking," he said quietly. "I just wanted to hear it, I guess. You do know me, don't you?"

"Yeah, I know," Angela sighed, laying down next to him again.

/

Draco woke up early in the morning with an uneasy feeling. He felt weird. He had many dreams at night and none of them made any sense. He got up, took cigarettes from under the bedside table, and glanced at the letter his mother had sent him. Angela was right again – they were supposed to come to see the Dark Lord for the next test.

He went down to the Slytherin common room and sat in his favourite seat by the window. However, seeing the snowstorm still raging and realizing he could not exactly open it, he shoved the box back in disappointment. He leaned his forehead against the cool glass and stared out absentmindedly. Just when he thought he would at least have some peace before anyone got up, the entrance to the common room opened.

Draco turned grumpily to the incoming figure and widened his eyes.

"Angela? "

She just stood there stunned, staring at Draco for a moment. He figured that she definitely was not just out for a morning walk.

"Where have you been?"

His classmate recovered a little and tossed her head.

"Nowhere," she retorted, heading toward the girls' bedrooms.

"You were gone all night?" he frowned.

Angela turned sharply: "Give me a break, Draco, I'm not in the mood for you!"

Draco smirked and then he realized what her strange expression could mean. "Wait… You were with him?" he asked in a dangerous tone.

"Even if I was, it's none of your business!" she bristled.

Draco slid down from the windowsill and calmly walked right in front of her. He stared at her motionless for a moment.

"Who doesn´t care, can't be helped," he said after a while, walked around her and across the room to the boys' bedrooms.

Pale Angela watched him leaving, and then she closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. When she opened them again, there were tears in them.

She quickly moved to her bed and even though it was close to seven o'clock, she fell fast asleep again. She was still too tired. Like that, she did not notice one of her roommates, Claire Nott, who, shortly after Angela began breathing peacefully, quietly jumped out of bed, threw on her robe and tiptoed out of their bedroom.