FINDING A CURE

Nikolett sat by her father's bed every night, never getting any sleep, but she didn't care.  Her father was all she had left and she would stay by him until the end.  "Ivan will make a wonderful husband."  He whispered to her.  "He is loyal and will never betray our family.  Once I am better, the two of you shall be wed."  She gave her father a kind smile.  She wondered if he was speaking the truth or if his illness was getting to him.

"Father, are you sure Ivan is loyal?  I mean, I feel strange when I am around him."

"It must be love, my daughter.  Love is what you feel."

"No.  It's not that.  I have felt love before, but that is not the way I feel around him."  Her father let out a loud sigh which was followed by a hacking cough.

"You're not going to bring that… wizard into this, are you?"  He asked.  "That is not love you felt.  You and Ivan will make a perfect heir.  And most importantly, it will have nothing to do with that world!"  She gave him an angry glare and pulled away from him.  She hated when he talked that way about the wizarding world.  It made her almost think that he had forgotten all about her mother and the woman who had once been his wife.

"What about my mother?  She was a witch and you fell in love with her."

"Yes, and look what happened.  That is not your world.  You are a vampire!  You should have been raised as one."

"I was raised as one, but I was also raised as a witch.  I love being what I am, father.  I am part of both worlds, but I can only belong in one of them."

"Yes.  This one!"  He tried to shout, but his condition was getting worse and making it harder for him to speak.  "You will marry Ivan once I am better and that is final."  Her eyes went wide in shock.

"But, I do not love him!"

"You will learn.  Now, leave me be.  I need my rest."  She was going to say something else, but she decided not to as she turned and left the room, muttering in Romanian.  She closed the door as she exited, covered her mouth with her hands, and let out a loud scream.

"My lady, is everything all right?"  She heard a familiar voice ask.  She slowly turned to see Ivan standing over her.

"Wonderful."  She said, giving him a fake smile.  "Excuse me."  There was a loud crack! and she was gone.  He looked around to see where she had gone, but he knew he wouldn't find her.

"Damn that witch blood in her."

Harry and Ron sat at the kitchen table, playing wizard's chess while Sirius and Hermione sifted through as many books as they could.  They were looking for something, but what, Harry and Ron didn't know.  "What are you two doing, anyway?"  Ron asked as one of his pawns was being taken out.

"We're looking for a cure."  Hermione said.  "But, nothing we've found matches the symptoms of Nikolett's father."  She said, tossing the book, in her hands, aside and picking up another one.  "There's got to be an answer somewhere."

"Well, tell us when you find it."  Harry said.

"You two could help, you know.  You wanted to help her just as much as we did."  She said, throwing two more books aside.

"Yeah, but you always do all the work anyway."  Ron pointed out which made her chuck a hard book at his head.  He ducked out of the way just in time.

"This isn't some stupid school assignment.  This is a matter of life or death."

"So, there'll be one less vampire in the world.  Who cares?"

"I do," said a sharp voice entering the kitchen.  It was Nikolett and she looked as if she was about to cry.

"Sorry.  I didn't mean it."  He tried to explain.

"Yes, you did… It's all right, Ron.  I sometimes feel the same way.  But, he is my father and I would give anything to help him."

"Then, that's what you'll do."  Sirius said, finally speaking up.

"How?  We haven't found a cure, yet."  Hermione said.

"I did."  He turned the book toward Nikolett so she could read.  "There's only one way to heal him."

"How?"  Harry asked.  Nikolett gave a shocked look and Hermione took over the book.

"He must 'drink the blood of his heart'."  She read.

"The blood of his heart?"  Harry asked.

"It means that he must drink the blood of the one he loves the most."

"Which would be…"  Ron began.

"Which would be me."  Nikolett said.

"Are you sure?"  Sirius asked.  "He does have other children who are full vampires.  Are you sure it is not one of them?"

"Yes, I am the one he holds closest to him.  I am his last and I'm different from the others.  The magic in my blood would make him ever more powerful."

"But, that's not a good thing."  Harry said.

"I know it isn't… But, my father would never abuse the power that is given to him."  She said, taking a seat next to Sirius.

"If Ivan married you, he'd take over ruling this kingdom, wouldn't he?"  Sirius asked.

"I suppose so."

"Well, if he's as bad as you say he is, the kingdom is in trouble."  Hermione said.

"Which is why I must do this."  She grasped Sirius' hand tightly, which surprised him.  But, then he squeezed back.

"I'm coming with you."  He said, firmly.  "Even if I have to go as a dog, I'm coming with you.  And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."  She smiled at him.

"And this time, I'm not giving it."  She said.