Title: Rushing, Forever. (Chapter Five)

Author: P.L.S

Contact: ptwentyfour@yahoo.com

Summery: VALOR challenge response. Harry seems to finally find a peace as a vampire, until the public finds out. . . running, hiding, helping others who are in need; his life is suddenly filled by hate and fear when the Ministry takes down the protections and declare Open Season on all Dark creatures, with a hefty bounty for the supposedly strongest vampire ever created, Harry Potter.

Rating: (Changes with the chapter)- Twelve years and up. Language and it's getting really dark.

Disclaimer: Is this even needed? Is it? I own very little in this thing. What I do own is fair game for the rest of you. Don't sue me, I won't sue you.

Note: Thank you to all who have reviewed. I'm going to address individuals in the final A/N but until then if you have an immediate concern please e-mail me or drop by my group. . . This is turning into a test for me. War is a time when our norms as far as sins are reversed, and I promise you there is no right or wrong in this war now. This is a very dark story, please understand this. Not even unicorns are pure anymore. . . (More at the end of this chapter.)


(10:34 am 30/03/07, Slayer Training Camp Number Five, Galapagos Islands)

Cho Chang was a brilliant liar when she wanted to be, she knew how to tug on the right heartstrings in order to play almost anyone like a fiddle. It was all to easy now that she was a Slayer. She laughed at the thought of her latest assignment, Harry Potter.

He was a blood sucking vampire, he was a Dark Lord, he was a ruthless killer, and he actually thought that she could be on his side. It was simply too easy. As one of the younger, but more talented female Slayers she found great pleasure in the act of baiting men into doing her dirty work, and as her instructor, Galileo, often pointed out, the best spies are men in power who think they are in love. She was already trying it out. Harry was still somewhat in love with her, or at least fond of her. It was going to be a snap to either spy or kill him. In her mind killing him was best but the Seniors wanted to know the whereabouts of the rumored villages and sanctuaries that were supposed to be scattered like the stars. She was also catching wind of a new type of ward that would link the safety points of the Dark and make the Darkness almost invincible.

Cho smiled as she saw the newest recruits doing their fitness exercises and laughing as they went. Most were just out of school, but a few had actually dropped school to come here. She had gone to Hogwarts all seven years before she was asked to join by her uncle. It was a perfect fit, she had the strong body, will, and magic to be a good vampire slayer, were-creatures were left for the muggle and weaker slayers. Vampires were not the hardest to kill though. The most elite slayers were the dementor and dragon slayers, both creatures were tough as nails and had no emotional weaknesses. To be a dragon or dementor slayer was the goal that Cho had in mind when she signed on for this mission. The idea was that if she could take out an Imperial Vampire like Harry Potter she could take out a dragon. After all a fourth year Harry Potter out smarted and out flew a mother Horntail, the most brutal dragon breed ever found. If he was that skilled then, he was most dangerous now, and he could probably slay a dragon himself.

Cho had done the math and she knew that in order for anyone to kill Potter they would have to be able to use the simple spells, like the Stunning Charm and Impediment Jinx, with about nineteen thousand SMEU (Standard Magical Eminence Units) behind it. She was up to a projected sixteen SMEU for her maximum output, and Potter was recorded at twenty-one SMEU, and he wasn't at his maximum then and he was a normal wizard. If she was to kill him, she would have to do it the muggle way and to do that she would have to get close to him and catch him sleeping. She had also noted that at least one lethifold was guarding him at any given time, it wasn't going to be easy to survive if she could kill him.

A grizzly of an old man walked up behind her and threw and arm over her shoulders. Hey, how ya doin', Chang? He asked in a brash, brutish voice. Cho smiled up at him.

Fine, et tu Brutus? she said, getting a laugh out of him. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, but he was the most well read slayer, his forte being Shakespeare.

Brilliant, just brilliant. Listen, they just moved a were-cat to the Coliseum cages. It's supposed to be a live wire, they want someone to teach it a bit of respect. I won the draw. Wanna come? Could be a nice little date. Brutus asked. Cho sighed.

Watching you beat up some stupid half-human? Sorry but I'd rather go wash my hair. When are you going to learn? she asked mock-scowling at him. Brutus laughed.

Actually, I was offering you a go at it, too. A present, if you will. he said to her. She smiled.

Sounds lovely, almost romantic. You are trainable. She said and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. They walked to the training arena, the Coliseum. Once there they went to the Arena Director's office and Brutus gave the young muggle man the slip that had his orders written out.

Lucky you. This is the last were-cat that we've found. Its mom died in camp twelve last week, according to the reports it was as wild as this thing is. You just gotta watch it. It's still young enough to infect you with a bite. said the man as he walked the to the cages.

It was in the last bared room, the biggest room with the unbreakable window wall, just to drive the animals nuts with desire to leave. Not to mention it gave the were-creatures a good look at the sun or moon depending on the type.

So who's going first? asked the director. Brutus smiled at Cho.

Go on, honey. I know the past few weeks have been murder on you. Cho grinned at her boyfriend and plucked a silver alloy katana off the rolling weapon rack next to the cell and went in as the muggle opened the door. Cowering inside was a young transformed were-cat. Were-cats were the size of large dogs with yellow green eyes and huge bat-like ears. This cat's fur was long and orange striped and it's tail was tipped with white. It's snout was longer than most and it bared it's teeth as it hissed at her. The were-cat would turn into a human at night, but during the day they were this monster, abomination, really. It was very good that this was the last one, a blessing.

Cho smiled grimly and twirled her katana around her in graceful arcs, this was going to be fun. She was really in no mood to just tame the beast, she wanted to kill.


(4:15 pm 30/03/07, Emergency Enclave Apparate Point, Unknown Locale)

This was the scariest meeting of the Dark Council that Julie McHugh had ever attended as the muggle representative of the Dakota/Central Canada Area of North America. Harry Potter, the one man she thought she could trust in to end this war, was looking crazy, but most importantly didn't stop the outcry for a full out war. Sure, she knew that things were getting bad, but was killing anyway to survive?

She had been just as shocked and angry when she heard the reports, five Catholic missions and churches along with the surrounding areas were decimated. Among them was that mission they had been using as a meeting hall. She was angry that this was not the first unprovoked attack as well, but talk was of an eye for an eye, their children and holy places in return for the damage done. The thing that was scaring her the most was that she felt that they were right.

Normally she was a pacifist but lately the news on Dark Truths was growing more and more disturbing. On the muggle news networks wizards were now becoming public and swaying the governments of the world to take the Light side of this war. Just last week the US signed the Pact of Toronto, saying they would support the worldwide White Wizards' Council in every way, even by declaring war. Mexico followed the US, or was until they became aware of just how much money the Dark Council was putting into it's economy with jobs, schools, and a potential resort or two in the villages of Greenwater and Santa Theresa. Now is was just the third world countries who refused to side with the Light or remain neutral. The Middle East was refusing to take sides, especially the magical side, which wasn't very hidden at all from the muggle.

Julie sighed, the world was going to hell, and in just a half an hour she would sign the document that sealed all their fates, the official declaration of war.


(12:12 am 04/04/07, Catacombs, Paris, France)

Everyone was agitated, Fleur came down two nights ago and no one had seen any of the matriarchs and battle leaders since then. They were waiting for the word, the orders to attack Paris and then the world.

This was the night. Everyone could feel it and when Matriarch Ana of the Sirens started her speech of passion and blood twelve minutes ago when all the missing leaders reappeared and called everyone together to hear her speak no one could doubt it.

In the Darkness we the three sisters of vengeance and punishment will rise into the early morning! No mortal man has trembled in fear of us in more than a millennia. It's time to remind the world who we are, why they feared us, and what we do to those who dare to try to harm our nests and young. Not a month ago the west Spain coastal nests of the Harpies was decimated by the foul hands of man. Over the years Sirens have been killed by pollution from the careless and evil-spirited men. For longer than that the Veela have been captured as slaves or corrupted by men looking to control their power. We shall not take it any longer! We will ally with the Dark Council in this war, they are fighting the same enemy for the same reasons. Now it is TIME! We will rise up tonight, the three sisters united, and decimate the city known for beauty. Paris will be rubble in the dawn!

Cheers escalated to cries to thunder. Ana grinned toothily and narrowed her eyebrows over her glittering amber eyes. She missed the blood, the lust for fighting, the pure energy of the young and hungry. They would feast in the morning on man flesh, that was sure. With one last spirited monologue she released her audience to go to their camp sites and start to gather in their clans. At half past midnight the first wave would fly up and take over the sky.

If all went to plan by six in the morning the city would be in cinders and they all would be finishing up the slaughter or captures. She knew of the costs the damage would incur, the loss of human art and lives, but in all honesty, did it matter? They who had the power to stop poisoning her people never did, they who knew of their crimes never cared, so why should she.

It was the cause of this war after all.


(12:53 am 04/04/07, Salem Witches Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, United States)

Bladehack closed his eyes, the screams of the children were getting to him.

He looked at his ax, it was scarlet with the blood of the children and teachers he had killed so far. Bladehack knew the reason for this, the need to prove their point, but this was just sickening.

They gave all their victims clean quick deaths, and for child wizards and witches they fought admirably. But Bladehack and his fellow goblin warriors could throw off weak curses and charms.

Only one child really gave them much trouble, a young girl who had dark eyes and hair like gold galleons. She actually cast the Crutatious on Griphook, but Bladeclaw had her head rolling on the floor before she could hurt the former bank guard too much. Her head was the last one he chopped off, her head was at his feet still. Bladeclaw closed his eyes. This was a sin in the worst manner, it was the killing of children who didn't earn death, nor did their parents.

Bladeclaw heard the sound of boots walking through the hall. The stopped ten feet away, Sir, Bladeclaw? it was Neckripper, the youngest warrior and most blood thirsty of the forty goblins here tonight.

Yes. What is it. Bladeclaw demanded in a rough voice. He knew if he stayed and looked at that girl's head he would break.

The wizards are ready to collapse the place. said Neckripper stepping a bit closer.

I understand. Bladeclaw turned to the young warrior and looked up at him, Let's go. We have to get ready for the next place we get asked to take out. Together they walked silently through the blood stained halls of the school, neither dared to say what was really going on in their heads. Their heavy foot falls echoed in the cavern like darkness, all around them the coppery smell of blood mixed with the stench of death and burned bodies. All in all, eight hundred sixty -four students and forty-seven teachers, heads, and other caretakers died as well as a good number of house elves and ghosts were banished by muggle exorcists and wizards. No one survived but the forty goblin, sixteen wizards, fifteen muggles, and eight lethifolds, which was all of the attacking force.

All over the world the Dark Council forces were attacking, all with death and blood flowing just like here. Bladeclaw was stunned when he saw the projected attacks that would happen all at midnight of the fourth of April. Finally the doors to the outside opened and the two goblins joined the rest of the goblins, some of whom were praying for the souls of their victims.

One of the wizards strode forward and held out his crystal tipped wand. He was the wizard who killed most of the teachers, Bladeclaw saw him kill them. He was ruthless but efficient. He never wasted a bit of his energy and used a blade when he could. Bladeclaw could see the katana's hilt at his side catch the moonlight and shine with a red tint, blood of its victims tainted it.

The man was raising his arms to the sky and chanting, it was spooky to watch. His long white hair was tinted like his sword and his pale skin seemed to glow as he chanted. A rumble sounded from the buildings before them all, it grew to thunder and soon clouds of dust hid everything from view. Bladeclaw could hear a few shouts of and soon the wizards had the dust cleared.

The goblins looked at the school in horror. Nothing was left standing. How much power could wizards obtain? What if this power was turned against them? The prospects looked bleak.


(5:54 am 06/04/07, Office of the Minister of Magic, London, England)



Please, Paris. . .

Look! Reports from Kyoto!

Oh God! Five schools are gone.

Minister Boatman!

What are your orders!

How do you want to. . .

Minister. . .

Boatman . . .

Herbert Boatman was confused for the first time in his life. He had no clue as to why the outlaws and exiles were attacking like this on this night. He just couldn't figure it out. Sure they had outlawed Dark magic and let Dark magic users be executed on the spot, but this was an outrageous over reaction. His auror and law enforcement squads hadn't reported anything to him on killing in months, in fact from what he knew they were taking prisoners as often as the could.

Paris, France - gone. Geneva, Switzerland - under siege. Drumstrang- no longer standing, no survivors. Salem Witches Institute - no longer standing, no survivors. On and on the list grew, each major country that was allied with the White Wizards' Council was touched and nothing was sacred or precious. Holy ground was desecrated, schools full of children were killed, hospitals destroyed, cities ruined.

Why did they strike in these places? Herbert asked the head of the Law Enforcement Department. He studied his trusted confidant, looking for a lie.

I have no idea, sir. responded Eric Jostens, Herbert noted the slight twitch. Jostens knew. Herbert was in no mood for secrets, it was war and he had to know the truth. Angrily he ordered everyone out but Jostens and glared at the man.

You are going to tell me just what you have been hiding and you are not going to leave anything out. This is a goddamned war and I cannot afford to be in the dark about anything that you know! Boatman yelled at the head who flinched slightly but met his glare.

You get the reports. You know what you need to know. said Jostens coolly.

No. That is the wrong answer. You have been doing something behind my back and I want to know what. demanded Boatman hotly. Jostens continued to glare and threaded his fingers together.

You know what you need to know. he answered. Boatman growled and ran a hand through his thinning gray hair.

I will not play this juvenile game. Tell me everything, now. he said not letting up in his anger. He was amazed at this act of betrayal and subversion in his Ministry. He had made it his campaigns cornerstone that he would root out the corruption of Fudge's reign. Now to find the one area he thought he could trust was seriously hiding their activities in such a pivotal time was insane. To make matters worse, in Hogwarts he and Jostens were roommates, both Light Slytherins who wanted to change the world, make it a better place. They were best friends, or so Boatman thought. This was soul-breaking.

Boatman was surprised to see Jostens laugh and smile at him like he used to during the war with Voldemort and in his campaigning days, Herb. Just trust me. I've seen you through before.

That simple phrase was one that Eric used often before the risky things he did went underway, it brought back memories of last second rescues and blocks of votes that pulled him out of a slump. Maybe', thought Herbert, maybe he does know what he's doing. Should I just let him continue? How do I tell the ambassadors though? What do I do?' Herbert slumped into his chair and buried his face in his arms.

he muttered.

Everything was so far out of his control that all he could do was either trust the man who helped save London in the first Voldemort war, the man who got him elected, the old friend who helped save him from detention time after time. Or he could give his clearly corrupt head of Law Enforcement the sack and find out the truth, but still have no way of correcting it because this war was so long in the making and too many had been killed in just one night to just forget it. Herbert had no clue of what to do.



Post Chapter Note: God! That was hard to write. It took me a week to get the courage to write that first part. The rest just flowed, but it was having Cho be that heartless that really killed me. I'm sorry it took so long and has so many cliffies and was so short. But never the less this is a pivotal chapter and as you have seen is important.

Please take a look at my group- ; for updates, special info on the plot, the powers, the magic, the creatures and everything. Please feel free to yell at me for my awful work, my jumpiness, my lateness. Any comments, good and bad are welcomed.

Take care and FYI- Eclipse from the manga Demon Diary is a hottie and is what I think a really hot younger Severus would look like (not act like!) I totally love the way Demon Diary manga-ka, Kara, is illustrating the series. Everyone needs to check it out!

--PLS!