Title: Blood
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Rating: R (eventual NC-17)
Pairing: HP/SS
Disclaimer: I own not a thing.
Summary: Thrust into the distant past and turned into a vampire against his will, Harry struggles to understand what he has become and tries to fill his one desire: to get home.
WARNING!!!!
THIS STORY CONTAINS ELEMENTS OF SLASH!!!!
IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT OR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PAIRING… LEAVE NOW!!!!
Thanks to: snapeysnapesnape for the excellent beta.
Chapter Six: Old Blood
{7 years later – 1123 AD}
"You summoned me, Father?"
Harry looked up and smiled. "Yes, come in and sit down."
"Is something wrong?" Lily asked. "Why did I need to leave Shingu?"
"I was looking over some of Salazar's things." Harry stood. "I've only recently begun organizing his room and workshop. I can only assume he meant to tell me about it once he finished his research… his illness must have prevented that, and then he forgot about it…."
"Forgot about what?" Lily asked curious, but patient.
"Apparently he was researching vampiric magic."
"What aspect?" Lily asked, intrigued. "We are only able to use our magic when we procreate. Had he found some method of harnessing it?"
"No, that magic is still locked from those not in the priesthood. However, those vampires that are wizards can be taught wizardry."
"How? You are the only vampire who didn't go insane from the twisting of the magic."
"That's because I was not bonded when I was turned. I bonded afterwards."
Lily seized upon his meaning immediately. "The properties of familiar magic prevent it from being used to harm, and a vampire by nature is harmful to those around it!"
"Exactly," Harry said. "When the innate magic was transformed into vampiric magic, the familiar bond was transformed into something destructive: something no familiar bond can survive."
"Clever Slytherin!" Lily breathed. "Why didn't anyone realize?"
Harry smiled slightly. "Because we all assumed it had to do with the training, which in a sense it does, but now that we know that bonding is okay after turning – or birth – and wands are fine as well, those vampires that wish to learn can do so."
"This will be a great tactical advantage," Lily said thoughtfully. "I know that I am not the only one who was concerned that we were becoming obsolete. Without magic, we had only our physical skills… and against a wizard or an elf, we would lose."
"Yes, that was my fear as well. I want to start the first class, with a small number of students. I assume you wish to be a part of it?"
"Of course!"
"Good. It would be best to train in this coven; you'll need to select a replacement for Shingu's First. It will take several years just to get the basics down."
"That won't be a problem. Who else will you choose for this class?"
"Like I said, I want to keep it small. You – Shingu's First, Ariel – Rome's Second, Elspeth – Rachael's apprentice, Zeraclies – Sparta's First Healer, and Edward – London's High Priest, will be the first students."
"Why Ariel or Zeraclies or Edward? Why not someone more easily replaced?"
"Once they've learned, they can train those in their coven without the confusion of adding another individual to the command structure. Those that replace the leaders during their training can be sent to found a new coven once the training is over."
Lily grinned. "So pick someone I don't mind losing?"
Harry smiled. "You can think of it like that."
Lily laughed, delighted. "Finally, I'll have a legitimate reason to banish Hikaru from Shingu!"
***
{65 years later – 1188 AD}
Harry chose not to limit himself to magic, despite his age and experience, and occasionally could be found doing things the "Muggle way." Which is why he was currently walking to London to meet Victoria Snape.
After Slytherin's disappearance, the remaining members of the Snape family had contacted the vampires upon their graduation. Harry kept a close eye on both children as they finished growing and began their lives. Both were very bitter and would, on occasion, remind Harry of his almost forgotten Potions Professor. They were very different from their ancestors who although known for their bluntness and directness of speech, were still considered cheerful and good-natured. Victoria and her elder brother were very cynical.
Harry stopped as he noticed a cloud of dust rising in the distance. Curious, he cast a sight-enhancing spell on himself. It was a fairly large group of knights, humans if he wasn't mistaken. He didn't recall any human wars in danger of springing up. England was fairly peaceful under King Richard's rule, though his brother John was bound to cause trouble in his quest for the throne. But he hadn't thought that John was ready to act against Richard yet.
He contacted Rachael and asked her if she knew of any human forces on the move. Her reply surprised him. The Third Crusade was beginning. Harry shook his head. Humans.
***
{12 years later – 1200 AD}
Harry stared pensively down at the table. The council meeting had adjourned temporarily. It was only every ten years that the First of every coven met, and as such the meeting usually lasted at least a week. There were forty-two covens currently in existence. Already there were plans being created for the next, though as far as the humans were concerned, there was only one coven, and the wizards knew only of the Forbidden Forest Coven and Shingu.
He had worried, wondering what catastrophe was going to befall his people to wipe them out. With the long success of the covens' concealment, he had begun to realize that the vampires had not died out, merely gone into hiding. He also felt that it would soon be time for the vampires to "die out."
In this council meeting he would order the slow fade of the vampires. No trained wizards would be turned from this day forth. The turning of humans would be carefully monitored. Vampires would be ordered to stay clear of contact with wizards not connected with Shingu. Half-vampires would remain half-vampires, so as to promote the thought that the vampires were truly gone. The Forbidden Forest Coven would be emptied of all non-essential personnel. It would be used only for training purposes and as the center for the vampires' main religion, as well as its continued use as Harry's base of operations.
After the council meeting was over, he would travel to Shingu, and they would also receive orders. Shingu would continue to be a town where the races lived together, but to the outside world, the vampires will have disappeared. Only the residents of the town could know that vampires still existed. The town would also be commanded to stop the immigration of other wizards. Only humans would still be allowed to come to the town unhindered. The veela and the elves would also be called upon to help hide the vampires' presence. Harry would also begin severing himself from the majority of his contacts in the wizarding and human worlds.
Once a sufficient amount of time had passed, however, the vampires would slip amongst the humans and wizards again, unnoticed. It was time to begin training spies.
***
{Later that same year - 1200 AD}
Harry entered Snape Manor without a problem. Its wards had long since been set to accept his presence. Victoria's great-great-granddaughter Isabelle greeted him. "Harry!"
"Hello, Little Izy," he replied fondly. "How is your grandmother today?"
"Fine," the little girl chirped. "She was instructin' Adam on his potions this mornin'."
Harry smiled. "Then I'd say she's having a very good day."
"Yep!"
Isabelle followed along chattering away as Harry walked to Victoria's rooms. Victoria was a very old witch at 187, and she was still going strong. She had outlived her brother by nearly a decade and still mourned his loss, perhaps even more than she mourned the loss of her husband.
When they reached the old woman's rooms, Isabelle bid him goodbye and took off before her great-great-grandmother decided to instruct her on potions. Harry was grinning as he entered Victoria's rooms, and Victoria's smile soon matched his.
"Well, if it isn't everyone's favorite vampire!" she cackled.
Harry kissed her cheek warmly. "Well, if it isn't my favorite tyrannical cynic," he replied.
"I've been hearing things, Harry," she said seriously.
"Oh?"
"That something has frightened the vampires; that whatever it is, it's killing them. Soon there will no longer be any vampires."
"I've heard that too."
"Is it true?"
Harry cast a very complex silencing spell over them to prevent eavesdroppers. "It is both true and untrue."
Victoria closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Her eyes were misted when she opened them. "What's happening?"
"The vampires are going away for awhile. We are waiting for someone, a Dark Lord named Voldemort."
"You're preparing to take him down."
"Yes. He's much stronger and more evil than Abernon could have ever hoped to be."
"What would you like me to do?"
"Nothing. He won't be rising till nearly 800 years have passed."
"When he rises, vampires will only be a memory. He'll never see you coming."
"That's the idea."
They sat quietly for a moment. "You'll be disappearing soon, then."
"Yes."
"I'll miss you, Harry."
Harry smiled. "No, you won't. There's no rush. I promised you I'd be around whenever you need me. As long as you are here, I will be too. There is still plenty of time."
***
{57 years later – 1256 AD}
Harry glanced up as he sensed someone approach the door of his classroom. The vampire was young, which is probably why she sought him out instead of contacting him through their mental link and to give him a message: Illiona was visiting the coven.
Harry's jaw clenched as he dismissed his class and walked down to his office. "Princess Illiona," he greeted her, coldly formal.
"Rector Lamia Harry," she replied, her voice just as devoid of warmth as his. "My father sends his regards."
Harry just nodded and sat down at his desk. He stared at her pointedly. "What do you want?"
"I bring tidings of the elves. My father, as High King of the Elves, has commanded that we follow the vampires' example and fade away from the human and wizarding worlds."
"Thank your father for me. I appreciate being informed of this decision." Harry stood. "If there is nothing else?"
For the first time since Harry entered the room, her face softened. "Harry…"
"Then I'll bid you good day," Harry cut her off. "You know the way out. Try not to kill anyone as you go," he snapped.
Illiona flinched and did not reply.
Harry brushed past her and went to one of the training rooms. Too angry to risk sparing against one of his vampires, he activated one of the training spells, and decimated his magically constructed opponents. Upon the completion of the training spell, he was still so angry his body was shaking.
***
{117 years later – 1373 AD}
"No! Please! I'm innocent! Oh, God! Help me! Please!"
Harry watched dispassionately as the townsfolk shouted foul things at the helpless woman. One of the men grabbed her long blonde hair and dragged her to the center of town. Her screams, cries, and pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears.
"Burn the witch!" someone shouted, and the refrain was taken up by the rest of the mob. The woman's screams became even more hysterical.
Harry scowled as he followed the crowd. He had been out walking, trying to clear his head, and the noise had drawn his attention. Humans could be so stupid. The woman was a healer, and although had magic, was not trained, and therefore not truly a witch. Really! What kind of idiot did you have to be to equate a simple herbal remedy with witchcraft? Humans truly had fallen far since the wizards had begun concealing themselves from the Muggles.
Considering the Muggles reaction to the "unexplained" though, was it any wonder that the smarter wizards had hidden themselves away? Very few wizards still lived among Muggles.
This particular woman seemed very familiar to him though. He couldn't quite place where he had seen her before. Unless she had traveled though, he knew he couldn't have seen her. The woman was only twenty at the most, but quite possibly younger, and he hadn't been in England in at least thirty years.
He sensed that she could be turned, but there was no reason that he could see to risk exposure by saving her.
"Narcissa Black, you have been charged with crimes against God and man. May the righteous fire cleanse the evil from your soul!"
Harry nearly fell over as it hit him who this woman was. Before he could react they set fire to her. Harry whipped out his wand and doused the flames, causing the townspeople around him to scatter. He rushed to her side and scooped her up, apparating the second she was secure in his hold.
***
"How's she doing?" Harry asked, hovering near the foot of the bed.
Mikhail glanced up. "She'll be fine, Harry. I've already begun healing the damage from the fire. She won't even have a scar."
"Then why is she unconscious?" he scowled.
"Harry, use your brain," he replied dryly. "She was set on fire. She passed out from the shock."
"But she'll be okay?"
"Yes," Mikhail replied exasperated. "Want to tell me why you're so bent out of shape about one un-trained witch?"
"How old is your youngest?" Harry asked, ignoring the question.
Mikhail stared at him a moment in shock, then sputtered out a reply. "Rose is 467."
"Think you could take her on?"
"Of course… Harry, what's going on?"
"Mikhail, she's very important to me, but I can't risk turning her myself. Will you do this for me?"
"Harry, you've known me for over two millennia, you don't have to ask me that. I trust you. I'll do whatever you need me to."
"Turn her."
***
{156 years later – 1529 AD}
"Narcissa. Pay attention."
"Sorry, Harry."
"I realize this is your first time out among the humans," he said in the old tongue. "But if you are not careful, you could be spotted by a wizard."
"They couldn't find a vampire if it jumped up and bit them." She giggled. "I still can't believe they thought Prince Dracula was a vampire."
Harry smiled. "The Muggles thought he was one, and since the vampires have 'died out' the Britain Ministry of Magic wanted to make sure he wasn't the last vampire or something." Harry shook his head. "We are here so you can work on you accent. Speak in French."
"Oui, Monsieur."
"Smart ass."
***
{103 years later - 1632 AD}
"Those damned wizards are always causing problems," Lily growled. "Because of Britain's Ministry of Magic, everyone else in the world has decided to put magic tracer spells out. If any of us leave the protection of the covens, we'll get put on their lists!"
"Our spies in the various ministries can't work fast enough to keep our names off," Jason added. "It's becoming a very serious problem."
"It isn't becoming a very serious problem, it is a very serious problem!" Lily snapped.
"What they're trying to do is admirable," Rachael commented.
"Admirable?" Lily squawked.
"They're trying to protect both the humans and themselves by concealing the existence of magic from the Muggles. They're keeping the magical creatures from sight as well. That's admirable. It's only unfortunate that they are able to pick up the vampires as well." Rachael turned to Harry. "Can they pick up the non-wizard vampires too?"
"Yes. They've managed to net our innate magic signal in their spell. They've caught the elves and Queen Fleur as well," Harry replied. "We need to come up with something that disrupts the spells and prevents them from detecting any of us. We haven't much time before someone realizes that names and creatures are being erased from the lists."
***
{17 years later – Jan 30, 1649}
"I don't know, which one do you think is the better rule?" Narcissa asked.
Lily shrugged, and then stopped as a thought occurred to her. "Would they consider Father to be a king or a dictator?"
"Well, Rector Lamia translates roughly to Master Vampire, so continue that thought to…Lord and Master, then you get…hmmm…Harry's a God!" Narcissa bust out laughing.
Lily grinned. "That makes me a Demi-Goddess!"
"And I am a favorite of the Gods!"
"You know, we probably shouldn't be laughing."
"Yeah, a beheading is serious business."
Lily snickered. "Shut-up, we're supposed to be watching so Father can put it in his journals."
"Right! Paying attention," Narcissa said, trying to keep from smiling.
"I shouldn't go anywhere with you. You make me feel like a little girl again. I act like such an idiot around you."
"Thanks," Narcissa replied cheerfully.
Lily laughed. "Come on, quit it. They're going to be bringing him out soon." Lily shook her head and sighed. "I can't imagine anyone rebelling against Father, can you?"
"Harry's a great leader though." Narcissa gestured towards the waiting block. "King Charles made mistakes that Harry would never make."
"Father is just as fallible as any of us, Narcissa. Don't place him on a pedestal."
"I know that. I've seen Harry make mistakes. Making a mistake does not make you a bad leader; it's what you do after the mistake is made."
Lily smiled softly. "I'm glad Father has you to keep him company."
Narcissa frowned. "What do you mean? He's got Rachael, Jason, my father, not to mention he talks with you and Fleur all the time. He's got tons of friends."
"But you are his only lover."
Narcissa's mouth dropped open. "I'm not his lover!" she yelped.
"You're not?" Lily asked shocked.
"Does everyone think that?" Narcissa asked in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
"I don't know. I thought you were…. You're not?"
"I think if anyone would know, it would be me," she hissed. "Why…why would you think that?" she asked hesitantly.
"I don't know…I mean, you're very attractive…."
"You think I'm attractive?"
Lily blushed. "Narcissa, you're very beautiful. I think it would be difficult for anyone to find you unattractive."
***
{83 years later - July 28, 1732}
"In a dream I saw a man shadowed in the darkness of night, but the dark was not evil. Light shone from within the dark and I knew the man was good. Closer I walked to him and I saw that which frightened me. The good man of the night had fangs. I dreamt of a vampire." Yui looked up from her reading. "What rubbish! Who actually reads this garbage?"
Harry laughed. "I thought you might enjoy that."
"This is a piece of crap! Is this dumb witch actually going to fall in love with this wacko dream vampire? You know she is! This idiot can't even characterize a vampire correctly and this is the opening of the book! The wording is stupid and overly dramatic!" Yui continued outraged.
"Oh, Yui. You'll have to accept that with the 'passing' of the vampires and elves that people will want to romanticize us." Harry replied smiling.
"Harry, this is supposed to be written by someone who claims to have done extensive research on vampires. Whoever wrote it… was this written by a wizard or a witch… a witch… figures! This witch is an idiot and if anyone reads this and actually believes it, vampires will be laughing stocks!" Yui hissed.
"It's a romance novel, love. No one will believe anything in it," Harry soothed.
"It's stupid, Harry," she muttered.
"You know, wizards outside of Shingu no longer know how to create the familiar bond. Familiars are being romanticized too," Harry prodded.
"The second they write some trashy novel about a snake familiar, I'm writing the damn Ministry to complain!" Yui snapped.
***
{155 years later – March 4, 1887}
"Hello, Father. Have you come to Shingu on business or pleasure?"
Harry smiled at his daughter. "A bit of both actually. I need to talk to the council, but I also planned on training, as well as checking up on Narcissa."
Lily frowned. "I'd like it if you could tell me what it is exactly you are training her for. She won't tell me. The only thing I know is that she won't mate with me until the task is complete. And she won't tell me when that is either!"
Harry's smile faded. "I'm sorry, Lily. I know how much you want a child."
"Sorry doesn't cut it! Rachael knows, Fleur knows, damn it even Yui knows! I'm your daughter and her intended! Why can't I know?"
"Because you would try to stop her, and I can't allow that."
"Could she die?"
"She's already dead."
"Stop joking around!"
"Every spy I send out has the possibility of dying."
"How high is her possibility?"
Harry hesitated a moment. "Very."
Lily blanched. "Don't tell me anymore, unless you're going to tell me why."
"I'm sorry, Lily. I'll tell you everything the moment she leaves."
"Whatever," she said and walked away.
***
{83 years later – August 10, 1970}
"Harry?"
Harry stiffened and turned around.
"Still out wandering the Forbidden Forest, keeping watch over Hogwarts?"
"What do you want, Illiona?"
"Harry…." She placed a trembling hand on his shoulder only to have it shrugged off. "Harry, it's been over 700 years. Why can't we get past this? I did what had to be done."
"You used me, Illiona. I trusted you. You didn't even have the decency to tell me what you were doing. I found out nearly three hundred years after the fact and by accident! I don't know what hurt more, that you did what you did, or that you did it and didn't bother to tell me…."
"Could you have let me do it? Could you have stood by?"
"You didn't give me a choice!" Harry paused to take a calming breath. "I am going to have to stand by and allow my parents to be slaughtered. While it's true that I never knew them, that isn't the point. If I save them, I change my whole fucking past and the past of this entire world. If I allow them to die, everything that went wrong before will go wrong again. That's my choice. If I can stand here and say they must die for the greater good, that I have to live with my past and my regrets, then I can damn well make sure that the past happens the way it should to result in my future!"
"Will you be able to stand by when Voldemort comes for your parents?" she demanded.
"Yes," he hissed.
They stood staring at each other in tense silence. "I am sorry, Harry."
"You always are."
"Voldemort has risen."
Harry loosed a mocking laugh. "It begins then."
"What are you going to do?"
Harry glared at her. "Kill the fucking bastard."
***
{6 years later – June 12, 1976}
"All the spells are in place," Harry said. "Whenever you're ready."
"I am as ready as I can be."
"Good luck, Narcissa. Be careful, I don't fancy telling Lily that anything bad happened to you."
Narcissa nodded quickly. "Okay."
"Go on then, Sirius Black will meet you and take you to the ball. Don't make friends with him."
"Right, I'm a cold, haughty bitch."
"Correct."
"Okay. I'm ready."
"I'm always here when you need to talk, don't hesitate to talk to me for any reason. My mind will always be open to you."
"Okay. How do I look?"
"Like a rich, elegant, seventeen-year old girl."
"Good, that's what I was going for."
"You don't want to be late."
"Right. I'm going." She grabbed Harry in a tight hug. "Bye," she said, then apparated.
***
{2 months later – August 23, 1976}
"Where have you been hiding?" Harry asked. "I thought you wanted to know as soon as possible."
"Where is she?" Lily asked without looking away from the Isle of the Dead.
"She's still here in Britain."
"Where is she infiltrating? The Ministry? Hogwarts?"
"Neither." Harry hesitated a moment. "She's marrying into the Malfoy family."
Lily tightened her hold on her legs. "What?"
"She's going to marry Lucius Malfoy."
"Does he love her?"
"No. It's a political marriage."
Lily began to shake; Harry grabbed her and held her close. "She's going to have to give him a child," she stuttered.
"Yes."
"I…I…" Lily couldn't speak through her tears.
"Goddess, Lily, I'm so sorry," he breathed.
***
{5 years later – October 31, 1981}
"Stop pacing, Harry, you're giving me a headache."
"Sorry."
"Harry, sit down before I tie you down." Fleur watched as Harry struggled to control his nervous energy. "Would it help if I knocked you out?"
"Maybe."
Fleur blinked. "I was joking."
"I wasn't."
"Working yourself into a frenzy will not help the situation."
"What if I am supposed to be there? What if something I do is the reason why I lived? If I'm not there, how am I supposed to do it?"
"Do you truly think you should be there?"
"I don't know!"
"Harry, this isn't like your journeys through time. You were responsible for the things that happened to you because you caused the situation in the first place. Whether or not you went back in time, this situation would still be the same, this isn't in your jurisdiction… per say."
"What if I saved myself and gave myself the opportunity to travel back in time in the first place?"
"Now I really am getting a headache. Playing 'what if' games are pointless, Harry. Whether you want to go or not, I'm not letting you leave this room. This conversation is moot. Voldemort will fall without any interference from Rector Lamia Harry. Harry James Potter will bring him down this time. You are up to bat next."
Harry stared at her a moment in surprise, then gave a half-smile as he calmed somewhat. "Just how were you planning on doing that?"
"Well, I was first going to try seducing you."
"A vampire is immune to a veela's charms."
"True. I figured that I could distract you by attempting to seduce you… and then whack you upside the head and knock you out."
Harry laughed. "That might work."
Both tensed and turned as the door opened. "Your Majesty, Rector Lamia… the Dark Lord Voldemort has fallen to Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived."
***
{14 years later - October 8, 1995}
"Is everything ready?"
"What are you doing here?"
"Where else would I be?"
"True." Harry was quite a moment. "I guess in a way, I'm glad you are here."
"Then I…" Illiona cleared her throat. "Then I am glad too."
"The past, present, and future are about to collide. Are you sure you want to witness this?"
"I trust your spell making," she said quietly.
Harry stared at her a moment. "I know," he finally replied. "Are you ready, Yui?"
For once, Yui wasn't her usual arrogant self. "Yes."
"Here you come," Illiona said softly. "Get ready." She slowly began to back away out of the range of Harry's spell.
***
Illiona carefully approached the still form of the Rector Lamia. With her heart pounding in her throat, she looked him over. "Thank the Goddess," she wheezed, feeling a pulse beneath his cool skin. She looked over Yui next; the snake was also unconscious. Illiona took Harry's wand from his hand and returned it to his sheath. She glanced up as she heard shouts. The wards over the school had detected Harry's spell. The cavalry was coming.
She backed away from the body and carefully but quickly erased all signs that anyone other than Harry had been there. She scaled a nearby tree to wait.
"This way!" someone shouted.
Two men and one woman came running towards Harry's fallen body. Illiona's mouth dropped open, and then closed with a smile. "You think of everything, Harry, don't you?" she whispered.
The older wizard had to be Dumbledore, and Illiona had known enough Snapes to recognize the younger man as one, but without a doubt Illiona recognized Poppy Pomfrey – age: 1,587.
"What happened to him?" Poppy gasped and drew her wand. She quickly examined him. "His magic levels are severely depleted."
"Death Eaters?" Snape demanded while scanning the woods.
"No, this was contained completely within him," she replied, not looking away from her patient.
"Something he cast triggered the wards?" Snape scoffed.
"Harry is an unusual boy," Dumbledore commented.
"No, he didn't cast this. He's not even holding his wand… hello, what's this?"
"What?"
"There's a snake… it's unconscious too." Poppy glanced up at Dumbledore. "I would hazard a guess and say that the snake is involved in whatever this is."
Dumbledore nodded. "Then let's get them both back to the school. We can figure out there what trap Voldemort has sprung."
Poppy nodded and levitated both of her patients.
Illiona watched them go. "Clever, clever, Harry. Let them think that anything that seems off is the result of a brand new familiar bond." She chuckled. "Good luck."
***
TBC…
Okay, yes, yes, I know it's short, it's been forever since the last update… anything else? I apologize sincerely. I knew at the end of the last chapter that this one was going to be shorter than I wanted. It's about 2,000 words shorter than the average chapter for this fic. Later, when I go back and do the editing process, I'll try and beef up this chapter some more. Fill in more details on Narcissa's training and her relationship with Lily, as well as a few additional scenes with the Snapes.
Okay, now – the long wait. At first RL was keeping me super busy and I barely had time to breathe much less write, then I finally get some time to write and wham-bam! Car accident. I broke both my right arm and leg (I was in the front passenger seat). I have a rod in my leg until October of 2004, but the cast on my arm is off and I'm doing PT. The docs say it will never be at full strength, but I have hope. My right arm is my dominant arm.
Now, to the fic – the reason that Illiona and Harry had their falling out will be addressed in flashbacks and conversations between Severus and Harry. Harry was very angry about it, as you might have noticed. Lily is completely heart-broken and so is Narcissa. No surprise Draco turned out the way he did when he's got an asshole for a father and a mother who didn't want him and is in love with someone she can't be with because of his father. Ouch, huh?
Which reminds me! What did you all think about the spies? Who else do you think might be a spy? I am quite curious. I'll go ahead and say Dumbledore is not a spy and neither is Fudge. Severus is not a vampire either…yet…hehehe….
Another thing, if the "First" and "Second" and "First Healer" stuff confused you, you are probably not alone. The new ranks and government will be explained to Dumbledore and co. when the vampires are introduced, as well as the development of religion within the covens. The priesthood's magic will also be addressed then – i.e.: Rachael is not a witch-vampire, but can do some magic.
So, next chapter… Harry's back to his original time!!! The elves, the vampires, and the Veela Queen are all going to come to light. Shingu is about to reopen its doors, and Voldemort has no fucking clue! I love it! ::goofy laugh::
As I have said before, I do post sneak peeks to chapters when there has been a long wait between updates, but I only post them at my group. My yahoo!group:
groups.yahoo.com/group/HuntressSmiles/
As always, please feel free to ask me questions. If you're having trouble understanding something, then please let me know. Unfortunately, questions are more likely to be answered if you ask them at my group than if you ask me in an e-mail. I have the very bad habit of forgetting to respond back to e-mails. If you are one of those people who sent me an e-mail and didn't get a response back, I'm sooooo sorry. If you did get a response back… you lucky dogs!
Thanks to everyone who has reviewed or sent me an e-mail. All encouragement is appreciated.
~Artemis Luna Diana~