He stared in awe and horror at what he was witnessing. Harry had pulled his head back and smiled, his mouth and chin wet with fresh blood. As Ron watched, the vampire fastened her robe, then looked to where he and Hermione were hiding and beckoned to them. Ron pulled back in fright, but Hermione simply stood up and walked into the clearing.
"I suppose it was foolish to try and hide," she said as she approached the two figures, then she added with a laugh, "You're a mess, Harry. Let me clean you up." Hermione pulled out her wand, and the blood politely disappeared.
"Thanks, 'Mione," Harry said as he clasped her free hand possessively. "Ara, this is Hermione Granger."
"You are to be the one?" the vampire asked.
"Hopefully," Hermione answered with a grin aimed at Harry, and the vampire smiled.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked. "He's not afraid? Don't tell me he is?"
Hermione laughed again. "He's still hiding in the bushes. He thinks something terrible is going to happen."
"Something terrible? But we're perfectly safe here."
"That is true, Harry" the vampire said. "There is nothing here that can harm me, and little that could hurt you."
"Well, we should be getting back anyway, or they will start spreading rumors about us."
"Harry," Hermione said with embarrassment, "I don't believe you said that. Rumors indeed."
"Farewell then, my son," Ara said in a soft whisper. "I will see you again at the fullness of the moon. And you as well, Hermione Granger."
"I'll be there, Ara. It was nice meeting you."
Harry and Hermione walked back to the school, neither noticing nor caring that Ron was gaping at them
*
"It is late, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said, "What is it?"
Ron told the headmaster everything he had witnessed, then repeated it when Professor Snape and Remus Lupin were summoned.
"Another vampire," Remus mused, "and a woman as well. Our late vampire becomes more interesting as time goes on. In my studies, I've never come across any instance where one of these creatures ever had a mate."
"You've studied them more than I have," Dumbledore admitted. "Apparently Harry has drunk the blood of this vampire as well. What do you make of that?"
"She wants to bind Harry to her for some reason. I would worry about that, as well as Miss Granger's strange reactions. Last night she was being frightened to death, and tonight she is cleaning up after Harry Potter. The boy is clearly glamourous."
"Excuse me?" Snape asked.
"Harry has obviously cast a glamour on Miss Granger. The question is why. The reason will make itself known tomorrow night during the full moon, and you will have to be on your guards."
"What should I do?" Ron asked.
"Get some sleep," Dumbledore said. "You are safe enough for tonight."
"That's easy for you to say, Professor. You weren't there."
"Mr. Weasley," Snape interrupted, "did this vampire try to talk to you at all?"
"I heard it call to me, Sir. That was when I started running. That's what took me so long. Somehow, I went running in the wrong direction. I was halfway to Hogsmeade before I realized what happened."
"More than enough time," Snape mused, "for this 'Lady' to go anywhere."
"No," Dumbledore said suddenly, "Not the vampire. Harry. Harry needed to do something, and you, Ron Weasley, were in the way."
"The urn," Snape said suddenly. "We gathered the ashes of the dead vampire together. I was using them for my experiments. If Harry needed to do something, it would be that. And he would have help with him. I'll be back as quickly as I can"
Ron watched nervously as the Potions Professor ran out of the room. He sat quietly holding his breath as the minutes dragged on. Finally, Snape returned, out of breath. "I was right. The urn is gone."
"I don't like this train of thought, Albus," Remus said, anxiously. "The pieces are fitting into a ghastly pattern. Harry Potter, the second vampire, the ashes of the first vampire and Hermione Granger."
Ron's eyes bulged as he put the pieces together. "Tomorrow night. The full moon. They're going to restore the vampire."
"Very good, Mr. Weasley," Snape retorted, "you were paying attention after all. Please try to do the same the next time you are in my class."
"Severus," Albus admonished. "Mr. Weasley, please go bother Madame Pomfrey, and have her give you a complete examination. And I think you should spend the rest of the night in the infirmary."
"But what about Hermione? Why do they need her?"
"They probably need a witness, " Snape said angrily. "Why do you think, boy? These creatures are killers. That is all they do."
"They didn't kill you that night," Remus Lupin said evenly, as though he was commenting on the weather.
"This is a different night," Severus snapped back.
Ron went to the infirmary, roused an irritable Madame Pomfrey, and spent the next hour being poked and prodded. In the end, he was permitted to get dressed and was given a sleeping potion, just in case. Just in case was one minute later.
***
The darkness covered the land, and the creatures of the night roamed at will. He uncovered the nest, and waited. A figure appeared next to him and brushed his arm, a sign of affection. It was the girl. She was newly made when she swore revenge. She had already killed scores, by cunning and deceit, when He discovered her.
She was his student and his lover. She reminded him of his life, and gave him purpose in his endless quest. She found in Him strength and hope. He was the bright star in her life. His being there kept her whole.
***
"I know I embarrassed the boy by making him undress, but I found the marks. He was bitten."
Albus Dumbledore nodded to Madame Pomfrey. "Bitten, but not killed? Don't you think that is odd?"
Poppy shook her head. "Not anymore, Albus. With what has been happening, I would have been more surprised if he was found dead. These vampires do not seem to kill very much."
"You are right," Albus mused. "The first vampire killed Mr. Potter's kidnappers, but that was all. Also, we have no significant record of unusual disappearances in the entire region, and I have checked with the Ministry."
Both paused, as Hagrid suddenly appeared in the office. "Beggin yer pardon, Professor. It's one of the Aurors we was expectin'. They found 'im by the front gates."
*
"Good Morning, Mister Potter, Miss Granger. I hope you've slept well."
"We have, Professor McGonagall," Harry answered with a smile, trying to catch the teachers eye.
Looking only at Hermione, McGonagall told her, "Mr. Weasley is in the infirmary. It isn't anything serious, but he said he went outside with you last night. Madam Pomfrey wants to make sure that you didn't catch anything."
"I'll go right away," Hermione said, giving Harry a goodbye kiss.
"I'll meet you in class, love," Harry told her.
As the girl walked away, McGonagall watched Harry's reactions. He seemed upset but not suspicious. "You care for her a great deal," she commented.
"I do. Now that I can see clearly, I can only look at her. I see my future in her eyes."
"Mr. Potter, aren't you afraid you might hurt her? You are not the same boy you were two days ago."
"Hurt her? How?" Harry said turning and looking directly at the teacher. Minerva McGonagall felt a fog filling her mind, telling her impossible things she could not understand. She quickly grabbed the charm in her pocket and her head cleared. Harry was still talking. " . . . everything to me. You don't need to worry."
"That is reassuring, Mr. Potter," Minerva said carefully. "I won't hold you up any longer."
"Curious," she said to herself as Harry went off to breakfast. "I don't think he knows what he is doing."
*
"How long has he been dead, Poppy?"
"Albus, he died near one o'clock this morning. Before you say it, Ronald Weasley told me that he found himself in that same area at near the same time."
Albus fumed at the thought, but he had a simple solution. Ron Weasley was still sleeping in the infirmary, thanks to the potion that Poppy had given the boy. He went through the boy's robes and found his wand. As Madame Pomfrey and Severus Snape watched, he performed the proper spell. It showed that the last spell cast by the wand was the killing curse.
As Albus' shoulders sagged, a voice at the door said, "You wanted to see me, Madame Pomfrey."
*
"Nothing," Albus told Remus Lupin. "There seems to be no spell or hex on the girl."
"Maybe it isn't a spell," Remus said after a pause. "I talked with Minerva about her experience this morning. Harry is capable of casting a powerful Glamour, but it can be broken." He paused again. "And you said that Hermione held the charm, and there was no change in her demeanor."
"Even holding the charm, she is still madly in love with Harry."
"It might not be magic," Remus said carefully. "Hermione had a bad fright from Harry. Then Harry tells her that he loves her."
"To make a poor joke," Albus said without a smile, "she may not be crazy in love, she may be only crazy."
"That would be my guess."
Albus pondered the thought, then smiled thinly. "I will talk to Severus about some of the protective potions he has been preparing. I have had an idea."
"I'll go with you," Remus offered. "He should have my potion prepared by now. I might as well save him the trip."
***
"You have changed," She told him.
"I have made a friend, a human boy."
"Foolishness."
"He spared me. I gave him my oath and he believed me without token or proof."
"Then I will share your oath, beloved. I owe that debt to you."
"You owe me nothing."
"I owe you everything. You gave my life purpose, and kept me from descending to the depths of those creatures we hunt. You gave me a life."
***
"It's almost time," Madame Pomfrey said cautiously.
"Is everyone prepared?" Albus asked.
Severus Snape nodded. Ron Weasley nodded weakly, almost cutting himself with the charmed pendant he was squeezing. Minerva McGonagall also nodded, then turned to the red-haired boy.
"You don't have to go through with this."
"I have to," Ron said sadly. "Since you're giving me the chance to be part of this group, I have to take it. Harry and Hermione are my friends."
"Your presence itself could be important, Mr. Weasley," Albus assured the boy. "You could very well make the difference."
"Thank you, Sir," Ron said appreciatively, and relaxed a little. Behind him, Severus Snape sized up the boy. Dumbledore was playing a dangerous game. If the charms the boy held were to fail, it was his duty to stop the boy, by any means necessary. He despised the Gryffindor, but not to that extent.
*
"It's almost time, Hermione," Harry said cheerfully.
"I can't wait," she replied echoing his enthusiasm. "In a little while, you'll have a family again. I'm so happy for you." She put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"The first thing I'm going to do," Harry said, when he had the chance, "I'm going to formally introduce you to my parents. That will make it official."
"I love you, Harry," she said, and they kissed again.
*
"It's almost time," Remus Lupin said fearfully.
"I'll be here, old friend," Sirius Black told him. "It will be like old times."
"You know what they are trying to do, Sirius."
"I do. I hate to admit this, but I wish I was with Snape right now."
Remus laughed. "I've spent quite some time with him, but he can be bearable."
This time Sirius laughed. "It's your fault. You could have studied something other than vampires . . ."
" . . . I studied werewolves as well . . ."
" . . . You know what I mean. Snape studied all those dark creatures. That made the two of you the school experts." He added with a snort, "Except for Harry. He has us all beat."
Remus smiled at the poor joke. "I'm worried about Harry. And his friends. I became fond of them when I was teaching here."
"They'll be fine, Moony. Dumbledore will take care of things. He always does."
"That, Padfoot, is because he always has people to help him."
"You've taken the potion."
"Yes. And I promise, we can chase each others tail after I change."
Sirius laughed, then gave a sly smile. "Now that you mention it, I'm in the mood for a good chase."
Remus tried to return the smile but the transformation had begun.
*
"It's almost time," Draco Malfoy said. "My father's surprise should be ready. We're going to have fun with Harry Potter today, and it won't be a game."
Crabbe and Goyle smiled at each other, hoping for a chance to watch the fun.
***
"You should have let him die." she screamed.
"I made an oath. To let him die was not an option."
"That child, Snape, was a wizard, and an enemy of the boy. It would not have violated your oath."
"Do you still carry such hate?" he asked sadly.
"Wizards used me as bait the night I was turned. Wizards are the enemy. If I had known the truth about the boy, I would have never shared your oath." Her anger was clearly outlined on her face. "I cannot bear this any longer."
He watched as the love of his life disappeared into the shadows. His fear was that someday they would become adversaries, but that would not be for a long time.