A/N: I blame Moonlight desire for this chapter. She told me to update, or say that this is all of it. I called up the story to edit it, and add an ending note. Five days later, I finished this chapter to start tying up the loose ends. I will try to have the rest of this up before the next holiday. Sincerely, HiBob





Chapter Two: Daylight and Nightfall

"He's fine," Poppy told the headmaster, "He's sleeping soundly."

"That is not what I am asking," Dumbledore said. "How is he in other respects."

Madam Pomfrey frowned as she thought how to answer. "He is still in perfect health, if that is what you mean. I don't know what effect that will have on his magical abilities. His fangs have disappeared, and I don't know if that means he has been cured. I don't know a great deal about vampires, Albus, or their victims."

"He is not a victim, Poppy. At least not in the normal sense of the word." Albus paced the infirmary while the doctor and Professor Snape watched him. "What happens still puzzles me. Everything the vampire did was because of Harry's father, but why?"

"I've summoned Sirius Black, as you've requested," Snape informed the headmaster. "Remus Lupin is already on his way here. He should arrive this afternoon."

"Thank you, Severus. Hopefully they can shed some light on the situation."

Snape gave a frown of his own. "I've told Hagrid to gather the ashes of the creature. I want to try a few experiment, with your permission."

Albus gave his colleague a wry smile. "Please let me know the results. They could be important. I trust my instincts, and they tell me this was no ordinary vampire. He planned everything he did, and he did it to save Harry's life. I want to know as much about him as possible."

The three turned when the door was opened. A tired and worried Hermione Granger stood there with an equally worried Ron Weasley.

"The two of you should be in class," Dumbledore informed them.

"We have Potions," Ron said, nodding towards Snape, "but the teacher didn't show up. We thought we would find out how Harry is."

"He's resting," Madam Pomfrey assured the two in a voice that told them to leave.

***

"Two of my goats are dead. What does this mean, shaman," the goatherder asked.

"A daemon is walking among us," the old man said. "It means I will not get much sleep tonight."

The shaman prepared the tools he would need. The wooden spear, the flint and the stone were gathered together. He walked with the goatherder back to his meadow and chose a likely spot. He waited, the same as the deer hunters would wait on the trails for their prey.

As the night grew, the shaman began to doze. Half asleep, he was grabbed from behind by hands almost as strong as his. He reacted immediately but he was already too late. The daemon had forced its fangs into his body, and its arm was across his mouth, muffling any cries. Cursing his own stupidity, the shaman fought as best he could even to the point of biting the arm that gagged him. Significantly, he drew blood, and the arm kept feeding him as his own life was drained from him.

They found the shaman in the morning, and carried him to his hut. He awoke and raised a call, summoning the villagers together.

"I have fallen victim to the daemon," he told them, "I am doomed to share its curse. This is my last day among you, but if you do not kill me I will continue to live each night as daemons do. You must destroy me now, by the spear and the fire."

"But the daemon still roams free, master," one of his acolytes said to him. "And you remain in your senses. Can you not help yourself? Can you not help us?"

The Shaman smiled. "Perhaps you are right. But this would require the permission of the entire village. If you are wrong, you will have doubled your peril instead of ending it."

The village elders talked the long day and decided. The shaman would first lead them to hunt the daemon. After the threat was gone, they would decide his fate.

***

"They're hiding something," Hermione said as she and Ron left the infirmary.

"No, they're not," Ron insisted. "It daytime, and Harry's sleeping normally. Right? That means he isn't a vampire anymore. I'll bet they want to make sure, first."

"I think you're right about Harry, but that's not what I mean. I've read about vampires. New vampires rarely survive because they're too weak. Harry was very strong. That means the vampire who bit him was very strong. Something happened."

"A lot of things happened," Ron laughed.

"This isn't funny," Hermione scowled.

"Isn't it? After everything that's happened in his life, Harry now survives being attacked by a vampire, and the only people hurt in the process were Malfoy and his thugs. I think that's funny."

"Malfoy could have been killed."

"What's wrong with that?"

Hermione scowled again. "Not like that. Not by Harry."

"I understand, Hermione," Ron said seriously, putting his hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't Harry who did that, anyway. Not really. But he's fine now, and Malfoy will recover." He smiled again. "But I want to be there when he sees Harry."

It worked, and Hermione let out a small laugh. "That would be fun," she admitted.

*

"He came back," Remus Lupin said, looking down on the sleeping form of his friend's son.

"And destroyed himself to save Harry from becoming like him," Dumbledore added.

"At least for as long as Harry lives."

Dumbledore startled. "What do you mean, Remus."

"From what you have told me, Harry was never bitten by the vampire. The vampire did feed him, however. He is still a carrier."

"I understand. When he dies he will again transform."

Remus nodded. "And it will be permanent this time, regardless of whether or not he has fed."

Dumbledore looked down at the sleeping form. "May you live a long and happy life, Harry Potter."

***

"The daemon is dead, master," the acolyte told him.

"I am aware of that," the shaman said, as he raised himself from its drained corpse. "Burn the carcass and scatter the ashes as you have been instructed."

"At once, Master," the acolyte said, and two villagers grabbed the remnant of the daemon and dragged it to the waiting fire.

The shaman studied the air. This daemon was not alone, but the night was almost gone. He would hunt again at dusk. He hurried back to his hut and burrowed into the earth to sleep until the day's light was gone.

***

"Good afternoon, Harry," Madam Pomfrey said, when the boy finally stirred. "Are you hungry?"

"Very," Harry admitted as he looked around. "Why am I in the infirmary?"

"You had an accident," Pomfrey said. "Professor Dumbledore will explain it to you after you've eaten." She fetched him a tray, and refused to say another word until he had finished all of the food.

Harry ate heartily, but without enthusiasm. Something had happened. He knew that by the simply fact that he wasn't wearing his glasses and he could see perfectly. Also, with a surreptitious movement, he brushed the hair back and felt that his scar was gone. He finished his meal thinking about what the voice in his head was telling him, about moonlight and ritual.

*

"He's awake and curious, Albus," Madam Pomfrey informed him. "He's already asking questions. He knows he doesn't need his glasses anymore, and I would wager he knows his scar is gone as well."

"I'll talk to him," Remus offered. "It will make things easier. Harry trusts me, and I know enough to answer his questions." With the headmaster's thanks he left for the infirmary with Poppy.

This is a puzzle, Albus thought to himself. Vampires only destroy, except for this vampire. It went out of its way to preserve a life. Remus revealed that he knew about the vampire and that there was a bond between it and James.

Albus startled himself with another thought. "Protector," he said out loud in the empty office. He did not know how, but he realized that the vampire was James Potter's protector. That was the answer. James was hidden from its sight by magic on the night he died, which was why it could not save Harry's father. Albus smiled at the thought. James Potter was truly a remarkable man to rank among his friends a vampire and a werewolf. He would not have been surprised that someone else had thought the same thing.

Dumbledore looked the urn filled with the ashes of the dead vampire. This was a mystery to be solved, but all those who knew the answers were dead,

***

He looked out over the valley. Thirty centuries had passed. His village had long since vanished into the boles of what was now a great city. All those he had known had died long before that happened. And still He hunted.

He had followed the Celts out of the east, and most recently followed the Romans to this isle. His prey were too numerous to destroy completely, but he could waste entire regions and keep their number in check. It was similar to the humans purging the rats. This land would give him plenty of meals for a long time, and then he would travel again. He would make it a point to return at regular intervals.

***

"The sun has set," Harry said as his friends escorted him down the hallway to the Gryffindor common room.

"How do you know that?" Hermione asked.

"I always know where the sun is," Harry said casually."

"Harry, You're not going to . . . You know?" Ron asked carefully.

"No," Harry laughed, "at least I was told I wouldn't."

Looking relieved, Ron added, "I should warn you. You gave us all quite a scare last night."

"I wish I could remember," Harry told him, then smiled. "At least the part about Malfoy."

"You were great, Harry. You pushed Crabbe and Goyle aside like they were paper, and threw Malfoy all the way back to the Slytherin table."

"He wasn't hurt much was he?"

"You almost killed him," Hermione said brusquely, and Harry paled.

"On second thought, I'm glad I don't remember."

They entered the common room to cautious greetings from everyone there. After several assurances, and Colin Creevey inspecting Harry's teeth, they all relaxed. But as the night wore on, Harry found himself sitting in front of the fireplace watching the flames. A sleepy Ron asked, "are you going to bed?"

"I slept most of the day. I'm not tired, yet. I'll be fine. Really."

"I'll stay up for a bit," Hermione offered and sat next to him on the couch.

"Aren't you tired?" Harry asked.

"Dreadfully," she replied, "but I'm so wound up, I can't lie down."

Ron went off to bed, and the two continued to watch the flames dance. Harry turned to watch Hermione and saw her thinking feverishly about something. He thought of something to help her relax, and reached out with his hand and brushed her cheek. Hermione was startled by the touch and looked at him with curiosity and, he thought, fear."

"Did I every tell you how beautiful you are," he said, putting as much feeling as he could into those words.

"Please, Harry," Hermione stammered, the fear now obvious in her face. "Don't say that."

"I'm sorry, Hermione," Harry said as earnestly as he could. "But I was looking at you, and I realized it's true. I only said it because I care about you, and I know you care about me."

"You've said that to me twice before," Hermione said, fear still in her voice.

"Yesterday?" Harry asked, and she nodded. "I didn't know." Then he risked making a joke. "I guess I have good taste, even as a vampire."

"E-Either that," Hermione stuttered, "or you think I taste good."

After they laughed, Harry took Hermione's hand in his. "I meant to say that I know you are my friend and you do care about me. I also know, now, that I scared you last night. I don't think I meant to hurt you. I think I didn't know what to do, and went to a friend for help."

"That's a nice way to put it, Harry, but you weren't there."

"Hermione, I promise this to you, and I promise on my honor which makes it a powerful promise indeed. I will never do anything to hurt you, ever. I will even risk my own life to keep that from happening."

A sense of relief came over Hermione as she visibly relaxed. Harry smiled at her, then asked, "You said I told you twice before that you were beautiful. What was I like?"

"You were a mess," Hermione said, making no effort to remove Harry's hand from hers. "You were covered in blood the first time, and the second time you were looking for it. It was frightening."

Harry saw her shudder and took his hand and put it around her shoulder, hugging her to him. "I didn't mean to, Hermione. I don't even remember."

"I know." Hermione smiled weakly. "It was embarrassing, too. I had finished my bath . . ."

"You mean . . ." Harry gasped, blushing.

"I was wearing a towel," Hermione said, forced to laugh at Harry's reaction.

"Oh, that's all right then," Harry said, then looked her in the eye, smiling slyly. "Perhaps I did want to know if you tasted good."

Hermione smirked, then caught the serious look in his eye. She also noticed how bright and piercing his green eyes seemed. She seemed to lose herself in them. In her head she heard someone say something, and she answered aloud, "I love you." She leaned into Harry, and they kissed.

*

"You're happy this morning," Ron said.

"I fell in love last night," Hermione said. "He kissed me. He said he loved me. He even proved it by remaining a perfect gentleman."

"Harry?"

"Yes," Hermione said gleefully, "I've fallen in love with the one and only Harry Potter and he's fallen in love with me."

"What about me?" Ron scowled.

"You can come to the wedding. Harry will probably want you to be his best man, so dress nice."

Ron's eyes bulged. "You're getting married? When?"

"I have no idea." Hermione laughed, then looked over as Harry entered the common room.

"Whenever you want," Harry said, looking at her.

"I'll see the both of you later," Ron said, and walked out in disgust.

Two minutes later, Harry broke his gaze and looked around. "What happened to Ron?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders, and the subject was dismissed. The two walked happily arm in arm to breakfast.

***

"Vampires?" He asked. "Is that what we are called in this day."

The frightened man nodded, trapped by those piercing eyes, unable to look away or run. He told the vampire all that he knew and gratefully forgot their meeting when He told him to.

The nest was near. He knew that. Now he had enough information that he knew where to hunt. He would feed well for several nights.

It was when the dawn was close that he fled to his resting place to find it blocked by a young human armed with a warding charm. He laughed at the thought of such an ignominious end. But that was not the end. Instead of dying, he had made an unlikely friend.

***

"Neither of us knows very much," Sirius Black admitted. "We knew James had a secret friend, one that he never shared with us. We would try to follow him, and watch, but I only met his friend once. It was that night that Snape . . ."

"We remember," Albus said, his look asking Severus to make no comment.

"Then you should know that James didn't save him. His friend did, before James could even ask."

"Of course," Severus said suddenly. "Now it makes sense." He looked at Sirius Black, "I still haven't forgiven you, but now you know why I believed that Potter had planned it all along."

"I couldn't say anything, Albus," Sirius acknowledged.

"You would have been expelled," Dumbledore acknowledged in return. "But how did this bond come about?"

"I've only a guess. That night, James muttered under his breath, 'I'm glad,' and touched his pocket. The one were he kept his charms. I know that one of them was a ward against vampires. He showed it to me when we were first years."

"A curious thought, that James Potter should spare a vampire, of all creatures." Albus shook his head at the irony of events.

A knock came to the door, and Ron Weasley entered, to no one's surprise.

"You told me to keep an eye on Harry, Sir."

"And what has happened?"

"He and Hermione are getting married. She told me I should dress nicely."

"That was fast," Sirius said.

Ron smirked. "You don't know the half of it. Hermione sat up with him last night, to make sure nothing happened. She was supposed to watch him."

"And what do you make of this, Mr. Weasley," Albus asked.

"I don't know what to make of it, Sir, but that isn't all that's happened. At breakfast, Harry went to the Slytherin table. He apologized to Crabbe and Goyle, and then asked how Malfoy was doing.".

Sirius Black laughed. "You have to be joking. Harry's a good boy, but he'd never apologize to a Slytherin for anything."

"You are half right," Snape interjected, "He would never apologize."

"Is there anything else?" Dumbledore asked.

"A bunch of little things. He told me it was sunset last night, then said he always knows where the sun is. He was eating breakfast and put down a piece of toast, saying it would not do good to eat any more. We were walking along and I asked him if he remembered one of the potions we needed to know for class. He closed his eyes to think, and began to recite the potion ingredients. He had his eyes closed for over a minute. And he never missed a step, even when we turned corners."

"It's the residual effect of the vampire," Remus Lupin said, speaking for the first time. "Harry still has part of the vampire in him, and he has inherited some of his gifts."

"We are fortunate that vampires rarely become so old," Albus commented. "His gifts are powerful if they can still have such a strong effect after being diluted."

"Sir," Ron Weasley interrupted, "there is one more thing. There's a full moon tomorrow night."

"We are aware of that, Ron," Albus said with a smile to Remus.

"So is Harry. He's mentioned it at least six times."

***

"You risk your children carelessly," He said to the proud young man.

"I thought he should meet all of his 'uncles'."

"He has his mothers eyes, but I suppose you have been told that often enough."

"As much as I love his mother, I will never tire of hearing it."

He looked at the young babe in his arm, and handed him back to his father. "I fear he grows cold in my arms. Keep him warm, James. I will help you keep him safe."

***

Harry sat back on the couch as the flames danced before him. Hermione sat next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Ron sat across the room, watching them. Occasionally, one or the other would whisper something affectionate, and they would hug each other.

"You could join us, Ron," Harry called out.

"No thanks. Three's a crowd," Ron called back.

"It never was before," Hermione added.

Ron shrugged. "Things change. I still have to finish my homework."

"You're doing homework?" Hermione laughed. "Things have changed."

Ron looked down at his book, but heard Hermione suddenly ask, "What is it?"

Harry stood up and stared off. "I have to go. I have to meet someone."

"I'll go with you," Hermione offered.

"No, stay here," Harry said, and Hermione immediately sat back down.

Harry looked at Ron as he walked out, saying, "don't worry, I won't be long."

Ron watched as Harry left the common room, then started to follow, but Hermione called him back.

"What happened to you?" Ron snapped. "You would have been the first one to run after him. You would never have let him run of like that in the first place."

"Nothing happened to me," Hermione snapped back, then smiled, "except that I fell in love. Anyway, I know where Harry's going. And we don't want to be too close when we follow."

Ron smiled. "It is still you. I thought Harry did something. You know."

"I'll tell you all about it later, but it should be safe to follow him now."

"Where is he going?" Ron asked when the had left the Gryffindor Tower.

"The Forest, of course," Hermione said. "That was the direction he was staring in."

Back inside the common room, rumors were flying. When Dennis Creevey asked his brother if Hermione would really marry Harry, Colin answered, "I don't know, and I don't care who she marries as long as they don't move next door to me."

*

Harry knew he was being followed but it couldn't be helped. He had to answer the voice that was calling to him. He walked into the woods and heard complete silence. He reached the clearing and found her waiting. Without a word, she came toward him and gently kissed him on his cheek, her fangs brushing his skin.

"The choice is yours," she said softly, and he nodded. She opened her robe, and with a sharp nail that seemed to grow, she gouged through the skin until the heart's blood flowed. She pulled Harry's head toward the gaping wound and held him there like a suckling babe while he drank his fill.