A/N: as always I own none of the characters besides Noah and Blue
The lyrics at the beginning are from 'Opposites attract' by Paula Abdul
Cheers for all the reviews babes, I just had to write a story with vampires in cos I absolutely love them! Anyway keep reviewin plz peeps! Enjoy = ) Cheers babes xx
I take--2 steps forward
I take--2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know--it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
Chapter Two – Blood Lines
"Noah!"
Ginny bellowed, sticking her head out of her dormitory door and watching as he appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"You rang?"
He mumbled sarcastically, squinting up at her as she raised an eyebrow at him, clutching her short towel tighter around her.
"Very funny, I need you to help me decide what to wear."
She snapped, giving him an adorable look she knew he couldn't resist. He sighed and made to start up the stairs, pausing when he remembered.
"Noah Carne is allowed up the Girls' Dormitory stairs."
Ginny said in a loud clear voice and he grinned before jogging up the stairs quickly as though the spell might wear off if he went slowly. He followed Ginny into her room and yanked open her wardrobe doors, staring in critically before pulling out a pair of tight black leather trousers and tossing them at her. He moved onto the shelves in the corner of her wardrobe and thumbed through her tops until he found the white one he was looking for and handed it to her.
Ginny grinned at him and kissed him on the cheek before dashing into the bathroom.
"How do you have such good taste in clothes?"
She whined, her voice travelling out of the open door as he slouched across her bed and flicked through a discarded magazine.
"Growing up with four sisters will do that to you."
He called back, beginning on the quiz in the centre of the magazine as Ginny came out of the bathroom, her long red hair contrasting completely with her outfit. She ruffled up her hair so it fell in wild waves about her face and flicked her wand at her face where at least a dozen layers of eyeliner appeared making her eyes stand out vividly against her skin and a fine layer of glitter lip gloss coated her lips.
"Like the top?"
She asked, pulling the front down so it fell taut against her chest so he could read it properly.
"Leaving me in bed while you go play Quidditch immediately afterwards is highly inadvisable if you would like my behaviour to be repeated in the future."
He read out shaking his head and raising an eyebrow, she shrugged and grinned at him before grabbing her denim jacket from the end of her bed and throwing herself down next to him.
"Are you alright today?"
She asked, concern in her voice as he lowered his head and nodded, gazing hard at the magazine before him.
"Sure, right now I'm trying to figure out who my perfect guy is."
He said, indicating the open magazine and she laughed and pulled it towards her.
"Hmmmm a score of fifty that means...."
She scanned down the page and pointed at the centre box at the bottom, reading out the caption for him as he threw himself down face first on her bed to brood.
"... You need to get over that guy he isn't worth it, stop looking for the attractive brainless ones and content yourself with that cute guy that sits in front of you in Transfiguration..."
Ginny looked over at his back, his black t-shirt with silver writing standing out against the red and white bed sheets, she tilted her head and read what it said on his t-shirt with a grin; Sex is Evil, Evil is Sin, Sin is Forgiven, So Get Stuck In.
"Nice top, I'll have to lend it one day."
His voice was muffled as his head was still buried in his arms and all she could see was his hair splayed out over his tanned muscular arms.
"Huh?"
She asked, prodding him in the ribs until he rolled onto his back to stare at the canopy of her four poster bed moodily.
"I said I sit behind Xander in Transfiguration class."
He repeated, his eyes fixed on the worn pattern above him as Ginny lay down on her back with her head on his chest and her hands placed on her stomach, she could hear his heartbeat and it was so peaceful, she really didn't want to have to break the friendly mood but she knew she had to go meet her parents as it was her birthday.
"Well what do you know, a secret love discovered through a trashy magazine."
She sighed smiling when he laughed, something he hadn't been doing a lot of lately. She looked sideways at her watch and leapt off the bed dragging a protesting Noah with her.
"I am going to be so late."
Noah grinned at her and rolled his eyes, the amused sparkle once more lighting up his face.
"So what's new there?"
Ginny scowled at him as she struggled to put her other arm in the arm of her jacket which didn't seem to want to go on.
"Damn this stupid bloody fucking thing."
She cursed, finally ripping her arm through it and shoving her wand in her top pocket, dropping down once more onto the bed to pull on her heavy gothic boots that strapped up to the knee with numerous buckles and zips. After ten minutes of struggling that included numerous swear words Noah had never even heard of she finally did up the last buckle and pulled her trouser legs down over the boots and got to her feet with a loud clumpy noise, standing at least three inches taller now as she dragged Xander out of the room.
"Shit."
Ginny turned to look at Noah who was patting the pockets of his jeans with an angry expression on his face.
"What?"
She asked, her eyes on the clock above the fireplace as it struck eleven o'clock, al hopes of being on time now definitely out of the window.
"I left my wand by my bed; I'll have to meet you there."
Ginny sighed and nodded before dashing out of the common room and down numerous hidden passageways, leaping over several trick stairs and barrelling head first into a hard muscular chest.
"I'm sorry, oh it's only you never mind then."
She muttered, brushing the dust off her pants as she got to her feet gingerly and glowered at Draco, grinning when she realised she was exactly the same height as him. Suddenly realising she was practically pressed against him she took a swift step back and backed into the wall, the same wave of longing from Ancient Mythology sweeping over her.
"What?"
She growled defensively when he remained exactly where he had been a few seconds before, staring at her with something unusual flickering in the back of his eyes as he watched her.
"Nothing, why don't you watch where you're going?"
He hissed, not trusting himself to move as the urge to touch her was making him shake as he fought to control it. She scowled at him but didn't move, her entire body trembling with cold sweats as an almost inhuman urge to jump on him surged up inside her.
"Why don't you, it's not like you didn't see me coming."
She snapped rudely, every inch of her skin tingling with the hope of his touch. She crossed her arms and stayed glaring at him as he smirked at her.
"I don't recall hearing you complain."
Ginny felt colour creep up in her cheeks but she kept a cool composed front and leaned back against the wall behind her, bringing one leg up and resting her foot on the wall so her knee was inches away from Draco's groin.
"Is there a reason you were slinking along deserted corridors while the rest of the school is at Hogsmeade?"
Draco raised an eyebrow and took a step closer to her, splaying one hand on the wall behind her head and leaning in close as a group of fifth years intent on getting out as fast as they can streaked past.
"I wasn't slinking, and do you have a reason for barging down corridors?"
Ginny sneered up at him but hunger burned in her eyes and she matched his own cold gaze with hers.
"Of course."
She replied smoothly, her eyes never leaving his as he handsome pale face moved even closer, his hair falling over his cheek and softening it somehow.
"Oh really."
Ginny's heart was racing against her ribs but not a trace of emotion flickered over her features as she scowled at him.
"Yes really, but I don't see how it's any of your business."
She snarled, shoving him roughly away with her hands so he half stumbled back a step. He caught his balance and continued to gaze at her with the same smug expression on his face that was making Ginny use every ounce of control not to slam her fist into it.
"Well gossip is my business; I've heard things about you."
He murmured, walking in slow deliberate circles around her as she stepped away from the way, his voice low and rhythmic as she glanced at him over her shoulder. A hand crept up her spine and came to rest on her shoulder, one finger tickling her neck ever so slightly. Ginny had definitely had enough, ignoring the desperate desire she felt to leap on him she spun around so their faces were inches apart.
"I've heard a great deal of things about you too."
She hissed, their eyes making contact; icy grey against shining jade as he raised an eyebrow waited for her to continue.
"Such as?"
He prompted, half curious as to what she was going to say. She gave a half laugh and looked him directly in the eye, taunting him with her gaze.
"That you're good at using your mouth to, but you're in dire need of some help when it comes to using..."
She trailed off and her eyes drifted down to his crotch, slowly working their way up again as she smirked at him.
"Other parts of your anatomy."
He gave her look of half-amusement and half-anger but he never lost his composure, simply raised an eyebrow yet again lowered his hand, trailing it ever so slightly down her back. She snatched his hand away from her and glowered at him.
"Bugger off Malfoy; I've already lowered myself to breathing the same air as you."
He watched her for a moment before stepping away from her a smirk playing over his face as he surveyed her and she was disgusted to feel her body reacting in shameful ways to his gaze. Without another word she spun on her heel and stalked off down the corridor, once again positive his eyes were on her from the second she turned her back.
The familiar smells and sounds of Hogwarts drove all thoughts of Draco Malfoy out of her head as Ginny wandered around aimlessly from group to group laughing and chattering on her way to the Three Broomsticks. She stood in the doorway for a second and glanced around at the crowded tables looking for her parents, she finally saw them sat with Dumbledore at one of the back tables where it was quieter looking distinctly nervous for some reason.
"Mom? Dad? What did you want to see me for?"
Ginny asked warily, eyeing her parents uncertainly as they exchanged a look before rising to their feet. They hugged Ginny in turn and gave her pleased smiles but she knew something was wrong and she continued to watch them as she dropped into a chair.
"Would you like a Butterbeer, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny shook her head slowly at Dumbledore before turning back to her parents who had their hands clasped together on the table top, Ginny could see her father's knuckles turning steadily white as he gripped his wife's hand tightly.
"Well, you see dear. Now you're sixteen things are going to start happening to you, feelings and urges..."
Mrs Weasley trailed off slightly, exchanging another look with her husband before snapping her head back to a horrified Ginny when she gasped.
"Good god! You did not bring me here to give me a sex talk?!"
She hissed, her mouth still open as she gaped at her parents who shook their heads and leaned further towards her. Ginny could see they were terrified and she was more confused then ever, what the hell was going on?
"This is rather difficult, love."
Her father said kindly, giving his wife's hand a comforting squeeze as another thought occurred to Ginny and she leapt right in, only barely keeping her voice lowered.
"I'm not adopted... am I?"
She stammered, colour draining from her face as thought someone had pulled a plug. She was getting impatient now as her parents once again shook their heads vigorously and glanced at each other.
"Well it is about you're blood. You see my father, you're grandfather, married my mother who wasn't entirely human."
Mrs Weasley trailed off once more and Ginny gaped at her, she wasn't fully human? Then what was she? And why were they only telling her this now? Something of her thoughts must have shown on her face because her mother immediately leapt in to do some well needed explaining.
"My mother was, well she was a vampire. One of the last of the Great Protectors left on Earth before Muggles and wizards killed them off."
Mrs Weasley's voice was a mixture of emotions; Ginny could detect pride at her lineage, anger at how her kind was killed off and a certain defiance mixed in with the others. Ginny could think of nothing to say so she didn't say anything at all; she just sat there staring at her parents, sensing there was something else that need to be said.
"Ginny dear, you're the heir to a vampuric throne. You will be the Queen of all the Undead."
Ginny knew they were joking now and she squinted up at them with a grin half-formed on her face. She couldn't be a vampire, if she was how was it that she could go out in the daylight and not be in pain, how come she had never needed to drink anyone's blood and why did crosses not affect her? She didn't realise she had said all of this out loud until her parents immediately begin giving her explanations for each question.
"None of those affect you because of your other blood. You're half vampire because I'm quarter and so is your father, the rest of us both is human. And since you're the only female in the family as my mother was, it is only you that the vampire blood effects."
Ginny was stunned; she sat back in her seat and stared at her hands clasped in her lap as thousands of thoughts buzzed through her head at the same time. She had no idea what this meant at all.
"How is this going to affect me?"
She finally asked, taking a grateful sip of the Butterbeer Dumbledore had just bought her and refusing to raise her eyes to her parents while she thought things through.
"It means you're powers will begin to emerge."
She snapped her head up and stared at them as her mother continued with her explanation, seeming thoroughly relieved her daughter wasn't about to start hurling things at her over this momentous discovery.
"Well you're fortunate in some ways as you don't have the Thirst or the reaction to strong lights. But you will get the heightened senses, the ability to see clearly in the dark as well as in daylight, the extraordinarily fast reflexes and extra strength which you will have to learn to harness. And then there's the matter of your mate."
Ginny who had been rather liking the sound of these attributes narrowed her eyes at her mother who was looking nervous again.
"My what excuse me?"
She said sharply, watching her parents as they exchanged yet another look and her mother's grip on her husband's hand tightened unbearably making Ginny positive there would be finger nail marks in his palm.
"Your mate. Well when a vampire finds his or her mate, they stay with them for the rest of their lives which can be considerably lengthened. It is actually physically painful for a vampire if their mate comes into contact with another member of the opposite sex in a sexual way."
Ginny folded her arms and glared at her parents who were both looking slightly sheepish; no wonder they had kept this little jewel till last. She felt a sharp twinge simultaneously in her heart, her head and around her navel above her belly button; she pulled back her top slightly and saw a vivid black mark etched into her skin.
She stared in horror at it but at the same time she couldn't help noticing how beautiful the design was. It was what looked like a cross but the top was a loop not a line and it had the outline of a bleeding heart in front of the bottom line of the cross.
"Albus! The Mark!"
Ginny looked up as her mother gasped these words and she gaped at them when they looked completely calm as though tattoos just magically appeared out of nowhere all the time.
"What the hell is it?"
Ginny asked, unable to take her eyes off it as she ran a fingertip down her skin and shuddered in what felt like pleasure.
"It's the vampire mark, only descendents of the Protectors have one. When you find your Mate he'll have one."
Ginny slowly lowered her top and looked up at her parents, curiosity sparkling inside them.
"What are the Protectors?"
Dumbledore and her parents exchanged uneasy looks before Dumbledore rescued her parents from these murky waters;
"They were the first six vampires ever created and were the last to be killed. For hundreds of years they protected both our world and the Muggle world from the rebellious side of their kind.
You see Miss Weasley, there were some vampires, as there are some wizards, that thought they were better than Muggles and mixed breeds. They rampaged through both worlds slaughtering whoever they found unworthy of a place in this world. And in the Last of the Great Battles which I'm sure you will have heard about briefly in History of Magic?"
Ginny nodded dully, completely enthralled in this revelation.
"Well in the Last battle the only six vampires who were on the side of good brought together a last alliance of all creatures to stand against them. The Six led them into battle and returned victorious. But at a great cost. The leaders of the Rebels were furious naturally and set about assassinating every member of the Six's individual clans which consisted of natural vampires, mixed blood vampires, wizards, witches and Muggles, as they could find, almost succeeding in wiping them out except for one descendant from each line who was brought to my ancestor to protect.
He kept them all alive, three girls and three boys and they grew up together, their powers developing at a steady pace as they had no idea of the conflict in other parts of the world. Eventually they married one another, the opposites attracting in the most unusual pairings."
His eyes twinkled and Ginny narrowed hers suspiciously, wondering who her opposite would be.
"The six of them finished their parents' battle and rid the world of ninety- nine percent of the rebels, the few that remained fled to caves where they slowly generated a weakness for the light, only being able to leave their holes at night. Hence the old Muggle tales of Night-Walkers.
Alas the Six had not been successful as they had once thought they had, the surviving rebels found a way to breed with Muggles and sometimes wizards or witches and their lines gradually grew stronger once again which brings us to the Prophecy."
He stopped abruptly and Ginny had the feeling he had mentioned something he shouldn't have. She let it slip for the time being and returned to questioning them about what would happen to her now.
"Am I gonna get any funky dreams about this battle thing or scenes from the past?"
Her parents looked up at her suspiciously, shaking their heads simultaneously.
"You shouldn't, why have you?"
Ginny shook her head; "Nope, I saw it in a Muggle film and just wondered if it might happen; I mean it looked cool..."
She trailed off when her mother gave her a funny look before swiftly changing the subject back to her new powers.
Ginny, her parents and Dumbledore were so busy discussing Ginny's new skills and the pros and cons of each to notice a figure swathed in shadows sitting alone at a table just behind them his face showing no surprise at what he had heard but his insides were crashing down on each other.
He rolled up his black sweater and gazed down at his own vampire mark engraved onto his skin the same day as he himself found out about his roots. He downed the dregs of his Butterbeer and slammed the bottle onto the table, swiftly getting to his feet and sweeping out of the pub with his cloak billowing out behind him; he now had an idea what he felt when ever he looked at Ginny Weasley.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
((Draco's POV))
The sunlight sliced through the heavy green velvet drapes surrounding Draco's four poster bed and he groaned and rolled over suddenly noticing the absence of his silver bed sheets. He sat up slowly as a tall figure already dressed in baggy jeans and a baggy green vest top threw himself onto Draco's bed almost squashing its occupant.
"Bugger off, Blue."
Draco growled, wriggling out from under his best friend and sauntering over to the bathroom in just his black silk pyjama bottoms. He quickly showered and pulled on a pair of black cords and a black long-sleeved sweater, performing a quick drying spell on his hair and leaving it loose around his face.
Still bare foot he padded into his room making no noise on the black shaggy carpet. He grinned at Blue who was still sprawling on his bed helping himself to Draco's supply of wizard sweets and cakes he received weekly from his mother.
"Haven't you gone yet?"
He said, perching on the edge of his bed to pull on his socks and dragon hide boots.
"Now now Draco, that's not a very polite thing to say to your only friend."
Draco shot Blue a side-ways glance and snatched his box of treats away from him, sealing the lid with his wand and kicking it under the bed. Blue clicked his tongue and gave him a reproachful look.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you how to share?"
Draco snorted and punched Blue on the arm making him pretend to whimper and fall onto his back across the unmade bed.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to beg?"
It was Blue's turn to make an amused noise in the back of his throat and raise a jet-black eyebrow at Draco.
"Like we ever needed to beg for anything anyway."
He said arrogantly making Draco laugh and nod as he sat up slowly and looked at his Rolex.
"Well I'm off to Hogsmeade, got that cute little red head to deal with from Hufflepuff."
He winked at Draco and blew him a mocking kiss as he swept out of the room making Draco chuckle and pull on his own black designer cloak. He shoved his wand into his pocket followed Blue out of the Slytherin common room, nodding in acknowledgement at Pansy and her cronies and quickly avoiding Crabbe and Goyle as they lumbered to their feet to follow him.
He made a quick detour up to the prefects bathroom on the floor above and was on his way back down when a head of red hair and a black and white figure came hurtling around the corner running smack into him. He only just remained on his feet as the girl sprawled onto the floor at his feet.
He watched her get to her feet and he knew even before he saw her face by the plummeting of his stomach that it was Ginny.
"I'm sorry, oh it's only you never mind then."
He watched her carefully as she got to her feet and brushed some marks off her tight leather pants, glowering at him as she stood up, their eyes level.
"What?"
She snarled, watching him as he kept his eyes on her, all kinds of forbidden emotions bouncing around his body and head.
"Nothing, why don't you watch where you're going?"
He finally sneered, physically preventing himself from touching her, his muscles coiled under his skin as though in preparation for him pouncing.
"Why don't you, it's not like you didn't see me coming."
He raised an eyebrow at her when she folded her arms and glowered at him looking thoroughly pissed off about something he couldn't guess.
"I don't recall hearing you complain."
He watched her flush as she took a step back and leant against the wall behind her, resting one foot on the wall, her knee almost touching his crotch.
"Is there a reason you were slinking along deserted corridors while the rest of the school is at Hogsmeade?"
He raised an eyebrow at her again and took a step towards her as a group of what looked like fifth or fourth years rushed past, chattering at the top of their voices in the most annoying way.
"I wasn't slinking, and do you have a reason for barging down corridors?"
He saw her look up at him, the same passion he felt burning inside him filling her darkened eyes.
"Of course."
He leaned in closer towards her, not wanting to break the tension to brush back a lock of hair that fell over his face.
"Oh really."
He smirked at her as he edged closer.
"Yes really, but I don't see how it's any of your business."
He stumbled back when she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him, only just keeping on his feet again as she stepped out from against the wall.
"Well gossip is my business; I've heard things about you."
He began circling her as he spoke, placing a hand on the small of her back and trailing it up her spine before resting it on her shoulder, his index finger caressing her neck with a feather light touch. He controlled his jump when she spun on her heel to face him, his face mere inches from hers.
"I've heard a great deal of things about you too."
He wasn't remotely surprised at this, just intrigued as to what exactly she had heard.
"Such as?"
She gave him a scornful laugh and a mocking look he would have been proud of if it had come from anyone else before continuing.
"That you're good at using your mouth to, but you're in dire need of some help when it comes to using..."
His lips tightened almost invisibly but he didn't say anything as he waited for her to finish her insult.
"Other parts of your anatomy."
He again didn't say anything when she had done, just lowered his hand down her back, feeling her shudder with pleasure before she snatched his hand away.
"Bugger off Malfoy; I've already lowered myself to breathing the same air as you."
He watched her go as she stalked off down the corridor; somehow sure she knew he was watching her even though she didn't turn around once.
Wandering slowly through Hogsmeade he caught sight of her a little way ahead of him chatting with a group of friends before darting off to another. He was just about to make a cutting remark when she wavered away from the group and headed for the Three Broomsticks, after a hesitant second debating with himself he turned sharp left and followed her inside.
Nodding at various Slytherins he recognised on his way he weaved his way through the tables to the very back where he dropped down unnoticed at a table next to where Dumbledore and Ginny's parents were greeting Ginny. He waved a hand imperiously at Madam Rosmerta who blushed and scuttled over with a bottle of Butterbeer which she placed lovingly before him.
His sensitive ears could easily pick up exactly what was being said at Ginny's table, despite the noise of the crowded bar. He snorted into his bottle when he heard Ginny accuse her parents of giving her a sex talk which he would have found very amusing to listen to, and then she demanded to know if they had adopted her.
The moment he heard the words 'vampire' and 'Great Protectors' he sat up a little straighter in his chair and shifted ever so slightly to the right so he could hear with both ears as the conversation just got more interesting.
It couldn't be! It just wasn't possible! He listened to Mrs Weasley's talk, so similar to the one his own parents had given him less than a year before, with a sinking heart. When he heard Ginny give a pained gasp he knew she was receiving the mark he had woken up with on his sixteenth birthday. And no sooner had he thought this than Mrs Weasley gave a gasp of her own and he managed to distinguish a few words she whispered to Dumbledore.
"Albus! The Mark!"
Without waiting any longer he slowly pulled back his top to look at his own mark which had been burning steadily every time Ginny had spoken. Surveying it for a few seconds he drained his Butterbeer bottle and threw back his seat, sweeping out of the pub without a backward glance, his top once more covering the mark of his annoying ancestry.
The lyrics at the beginning are from 'Opposites attract' by Paula Abdul
Cheers for all the reviews babes, I just had to write a story with vampires in cos I absolutely love them! Anyway keep reviewin plz peeps! Enjoy = ) Cheers babes xx
I take--2 steps forward
I take--2 steps back
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
And you know--it ain't fiction
Just a natural fact
We come together
Cuz opposites attract
Chapter Two – Blood Lines
"Noah!"
Ginny bellowed, sticking her head out of her dormitory door and watching as he appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"You rang?"
He mumbled sarcastically, squinting up at her as she raised an eyebrow at him, clutching her short towel tighter around her.
"Very funny, I need you to help me decide what to wear."
She snapped, giving him an adorable look she knew he couldn't resist. He sighed and made to start up the stairs, pausing when he remembered.
"Noah Carne is allowed up the Girls' Dormitory stairs."
Ginny said in a loud clear voice and he grinned before jogging up the stairs quickly as though the spell might wear off if he went slowly. He followed Ginny into her room and yanked open her wardrobe doors, staring in critically before pulling out a pair of tight black leather trousers and tossing them at her. He moved onto the shelves in the corner of her wardrobe and thumbed through her tops until he found the white one he was looking for and handed it to her.
Ginny grinned at him and kissed him on the cheek before dashing into the bathroom.
"How do you have such good taste in clothes?"
She whined, her voice travelling out of the open door as he slouched across her bed and flicked through a discarded magazine.
"Growing up with four sisters will do that to you."
He called back, beginning on the quiz in the centre of the magazine as Ginny came out of the bathroom, her long red hair contrasting completely with her outfit. She ruffled up her hair so it fell in wild waves about her face and flicked her wand at her face where at least a dozen layers of eyeliner appeared making her eyes stand out vividly against her skin and a fine layer of glitter lip gloss coated her lips.
"Like the top?"
She asked, pulling the front down so it fell taut against her chest so he could read it properly.
"Leaving me in bed while you go play Quidditch immediately afterwards is highly inadvisable if you would like my behaviour to be repeated in the future."
He read out shaking his head and raising an eyebrow, she shrugged and grinned at him before grabbing her denim jacket from the end of her bed and throwing herself down next to him.
"Are you alright today?"
She asked, concern in her voice as he lowered his head and nodded, gazing hard at the magazine before him.
"Sure, right now I'm trying to figure out who my perfect guy is."
He said, indicating the open magazine and she laughed and pulled it towards her.
"Hmmmm a score of fifty that means...."
She scanned down the page and pointed at the centre box at the bottom, reading out the caption for him as he threw himself down face first on her bed to brood.
"... You need to get over that guy he isn't worth it, stop looking for the attractive brainless ones and content yourself with that cute guy that sits in front of you in Transfiguration..."
Ginny looked over at his back, his black t-shirt with silver writing standing out against the red and white bed sheets, she tilted her head and read what it said on his t-shirt with a grin; Sex is Evil, Evil is Sin, Sin is Forgiven, So Get Stuck In.
"Nice top, I'll have to lend it one day."
His voice was muffled as his head was still buried in his arms and all she could see was his hair splayed out over his tanned muscular arms.
"Huh?"
She asked, prodding him in the ribs until he rolled onto his back to stare at the canopy of her four poster bed moodily.
"I said I sit behind Xander in Transfiguration class."
He repeated, his eyes fixed on the worn pattern above him as Ginny lay down on her back with her head on his chest and her hands placed on her stomach, she could hear his heartbeat and it was so peaceful, she really didn't want to have to break the friendly mood but she knew she had to go meet her parents as it was her birthday.
"Well what do you know, a secret love discovered through a trashy magazine."
She sighed smiling when he laughed, something he hadn't been doing a lot of lately. She looked sideways at her watch and leapt off the bed dragging a protesting Noah with her.
"I am going to be so late."
Noah grinned at her and rolled his eyes, the amused sparkle once more lighting up his face.
"So what's new there?"
Ginny scowled at him as she struggled to put her other arm in the arm of her jacket which didn't seem to want to go on.
"Damn this stupid bloody fucking thing."
She cursed, finally ripping her arm through it and shoving her wand in her top pocket, dropping down once more onto the bed to pull on her heavy gothic boots that strapped up to the knee with numerous buckles and zips. After ten minutes of struggling that included numerous swear words Noah had never even heard of she finally did up the last buckle and pulled her trouser legs down over the boots and got to her feet with a loud clumpy noise, standing at least three inches taller now as she dragged Xander out of the room.
"Shit."
Ginny turned to look at Noah who was patting the pockets of his jeans with an angry expression on his face.
"What?"
She asked, her eyes on the clock above the fireplace as it struck eleven o'clock, al hopes of being on time now definitely out of the window.
"I left my wand by my bed; I'll have to meet you there."
Ginny sighed and nodded before dashing out of the common room and down numerous hidden passageways, leaping over several trick stairs and barrelling head first into a hard muscular chest.
"I'm sorry, oh it's only you never mind then."
She muttered, brushing the dust off her pants as she got to her feet gingerly and glowered at Draco, grinning when she realised she was exactly the same height as him. Suddenly realising she was practically pressed against him she took a swift step back and backed into the wall, the same wave of longing from Ancient Mythology sweeping over her.
"What?"
She growled defensively when he remained exactly where he had been a few seconds before, staring at her with something unusual flickering in the back of his eyes as he watched her.
"Nothing, why don't you watch where you're going?"
He hissed, not trusting himself to move as the urge to touch her was making him shake as he fought to control it. She scowled at him but didn't move, her entire body trembling with cold sweats as an almost inhuman urge to jump on him surged up inside her.
"Why don't you, it's not like you didn't see me coming."
She snapped rudely, every inch of her skin tingling with the hope of his touch. She crossed her arms and stayed glaring at him as he smirked at her.
"I don't recall hearing you complain."
Ginny felt colour creep up in her cheeks but she kept a cool composed front and leaned back against the wall behind her, bringing one leg up and resting her foot on the wall so her knee was inches away from Draco's groin.
"Is there a reason you were slinking along deserted corridors while the rest of the school is at Hogsmeade?"
Draco raised an eyebrow and took a step closer to her, splaying one hand on the wall behind her head and leaning in close as a group of fifth years intent on getting out as fast as they can streaked past.
"I wasn't slinking, and do you have a reason for barging down corridors?"
Ginny sneered up at him but hunger burned in her eyes and she matched his own cold gaze with hers.
"Of course."
She replied smoothly, her eyes never leaving his as he handsome pale face moved even closer, his hair falling over his cheek and softening it somehow.
"Oh really."
Ginny's heart was racing against her ribs but not a trace of emotion flickered over her features as she scowled at him.
"Yes really, but I don't see how it's any of your business."
She snarled, shoving him roughly away with her hands so he half stumbled back a step. He caught his balance and continued to gaze at her with the same smug expression on his face that was making Ginny use every ounce of control not to slam her fist into it.
"Well gossip is my business; I've heard things about you."
He murmured, walking in slow deliberate circles around her as she stepped away from the way, his voice low and rhythmic as she glanced at him over her shoulder. A hand crept up her spine and came to rest on her shoulder, one finger tickling her neck ever so slightly. Ginny had definitely had enough, ignoring the desperate desire she felt to leap on him she spun around so their faces were inches apart.
"I've heard a great deal of things about you too."
She hissed, their eyes making contact; icy grey against shining jade as he raised an eyebrow waited for her to continue.
"Such as?"
He prompted, half curious as to what she was going to say. She gave a half laugh and looked him directly in the eye, taunting him with her gaze.
"That you're good at using your mouth to, but you're in dire need of some help when it comes to using..."
She trailed off and her eyes drifted down to his crotch, slowly working their way up again as she smirked at him.
"Other parts of your anatomy."
He gave her look of half-amusement and half-anger but he never lost his composure, simply raised an eyebrow yet again lowered his hand, trailing it ever so slightly down her back. She snatched his hand away from her and glowered at him.
"Bugger off Malfoy; I've already lowered myself to breathing the same air as you."
He watched her for a moment before stepping away from her a smirk playing over his face as he surveyed her and she was disgusted to feel her body reacting in shameful ways to his gaze. Without another word she spun on her heel and stalked off down the corridor, once again positive his eyes were on her from the second she turned her back.
The familiar smells and sounds of Hogwarts drove all thoughts of Draco Malfoy out of her head as Ginny wandered around aimlessly from group to group laughing and chattering on her way to the Three Broomsticks. She stood in the doorway for a second and glanced around at the crowded tables looking for her parents, she finally saw them sat with Dumbledore at one of the back tables where it was quieter looking distinctly nervous for some reason.
"Mom? Dad? What did you want to see me for?"
Ginny asked warily, eyeing her parents uncertainly as they exchanged a look before rising to their feet. They hugged Ginny in turn and gave her pleased smiles but she knew something was wrong and she continued to watch them as she dropped into a chair.
"Would you like a Butterbeer, Miss Weasley?"
Ginny shook her head slowly at Dumbledore before turning back to her parents who had their hands clasped together on the table top, Ginny could see her father's knuckles turning steadily white as he gripped his wife's hand tightly.
"Well, you see dear. Now you're sixteen things are going to start happening to you, feelings and urges..."
Mrs Weasley trailed off slightly, exchanging another look with her husband before snapping her head back to a horrified Ginny when she gasped.
"Good god! You did not bring me here to give me a sex talk?!"
She hissed, her mouth still open as she gaped at her parents who shook their heads and leaned further towards her. Ginny could see they were terrified and she was more confused then ever, what the hell was going on?
"This is rather difficult, love."
Her father said kindly, giving his wife's hand a comforting squeeze as another thought occurred to Ginny and she leapt right in, only barely keeping her voice lowered.
"I'm not adopted... am I?"
She stammered, colour draining from her face as thought someone had pulled a plug. She was getting impatient now as her parents once again shook their heads vigorously and glanced at each other.
"Well it is about you're blood. You see my father, you're grandfather, married my mother who wasn't entirely human."
Mrs Weasley trailed off once more and Ginny gaped at her, she wasn't fully human? Then what was she? And why were they only telling her this now? Something of her thoughts must have shown on her face because her mother immediately leapt in to do some well needed explaining.
"My mother was, well she was a vampire. One of the last of the Great Protectors left on Earth before Muggles and wizards killed them off."
Mrs Weasley's voice was a mixture of emotions; Ginny could detect pride at her lineage, anger at how her kind was killed off and a certain defiance mixed in with the others. Ginny could think of nothing to say so she didn't say anything at all; she just sat there staring at her parents, sensing there was something else that need to be said.
"Ginny dear, you're the heir to a vampuric throne. You will be the Queen of all the Undead."
Ginny knew they were joking now and she squinted up at them with a grin half-formed on her face. She couldn't be a vampire, if she was how was it that she could go out in the daylight and not be in pain, how come she had never needed to drink anyone's blood and why did crosses not affect her? She didn't realise she had said all of this out loud until her parents immediately begin giving her explanations for each question.
"None of those affect you because of your other blood. You're half vampire because I'm quarter and so is your father, the rest of us both is human. And since you're the only female in the family as my mother was, it is only you that the vampire blood effects."
Ginny was stunned; she sat back in her seat and stared at her hands clasped in her lap as thousands of thoughts buzzed through her head at the same time. She had no idea what this meant at all.
"How is this going to affect me?"
She finally asked, taking a grateful sip of the Butterbeer Dumbledore had just bought her and refusing to raise her eyes to her parents while she thought things through.
"It means you're powers will begin to emerge."
She snapped her head up and stared at them as her mother continued with her explanation, seeming thoroughly relieved her daughter wasn't about to start hurling things at her over this momentous discovery.
"Well you're fortunate in some ways as you don't have the Thirst or the reaction to strong lights. But you will get the heightened senses, the ability to see clearly in the dark as well as in daylight, the extraordinarily fast reflexes and extra strength which you will have to learn to harness. And then there's the matter of your mate."
Ginny who had been rather liking the sound of these attributes narrowed her eyes at her mother who was looking nervous again.
"My what excuse me?"
She said sharply, watching her parents as they exchanged yet another look and her mother's grip on her husband's hand tightened unbearably making Ginny positive there would be finger nail marks in his palm.
"Your mate. Well when a vampire finds his or her mate, they stay with them for the rest of their lives which can be considerably lengthened. It is actually physically painful for a vampire if their mate comes into contact with another member of the opposite sex in a sexual way."
Ginny folded her arms and glared at her parents who were both looking slightly sheepish; no wonder they had kept this little jewel till last. She felt a sharp twinge simultaneously in her heart, her head and around her navel above her belly button; she pulled back her top slightly and saw a vivid black mark etched into her skin.
She stared in horror at it but at the same time she couldn't help noticing how beautiful the design was. It was what looked like a cross but the top was a loop not a line and it had the outline of a bleeding heart in front of the bottom line of the cross.
"Albus! The Mark!"
Ginny looked up as her mother gasped these words and she gaped at them when they looked completely calm as though tattoos just magically appeared out of nowhere all the time.
"What the hell is it?"
Ginny asked, unable to take her eyes off it as she ran a fingertip down her skin and shuddered in what felt like pleasure.
"It's the vampire mark, only descendents of the Protectors have one. When you find your Mate he'll have one."
Ginny slowly lowered her top and looked up at her parents, curiosity sparkling inside them.
"What are the Protectors?"
Dumbledore and her parents exchanged uneasy looks before Dumbledore rescued her parents from these murky waters;
"They were the first six vampires ever created and were the last to be killed. For hundreds of years they protected both our world and the Muggle world from the rebellious side of their kind.
You see Miss Weasley, there were some vampires, as there are some wizards, that thought they were better than Muggles and mixed breeds. They rampaged through both worlds slaughtering whoever they found unworthy of a place in this world. And in the Last of the Great Battles which I'm sure you will have heard about briefly in History of Magic?"
Ginny nodded dully, completely enthralled in this revelation.
"Well in the Last battle the only six vampires who were on the side of good brought together a last alliance of all creatures to stand against them. The Six led them into battle and returned victorious. But at a great cost. The leaders of the Rebels were furious naturally and set about assassinating every member of the Six's individual clans which consisted of natural vampires, mixed blood vampires, wizards, witches and Muggles, as they could find, almost succeeding in wiping them out except for one descendant from each line who was brought to my ancestor to protect.
He kept them all alive, three girls and three boys and they grew up together, their powers developing at a steady pace as they had no idea of the conflict in other parts of the world. Eventually they married one another, the opposites attracting in the most unusual pairings."
His eyes twinkled and Ginny narrowed hers suspiciously, wondering who her opposite would be.
"The six of them finished their parents' battle and rid the world of ninety- nine percent of the rebels, the few that remained fled to caves where they slowly generated a weakness for the light, only being able to leave their holes at night. Hence the old Muggle tales of Night-Walkers.
Alas the Six had not been successful as they had once thought they had, the surviving rebels found a way to breed with Muggles and sometimes wizards or witches and their lines gradually grew stronger once again which brings us to the Prophecy."
He stopped abruptly and Ginny had the feeling he had mentioned something he shouldn't have. She let it slip for the time being and returned to questioning them about what would happen to her now.
"Am I gonna get any funky dreams about this battle thing or scenes from the past?"
Her parents looked up at her suspiciously, shaking their heads simultaneously.
"You shouldn't, why have you?"
Ginny shook her head; "Nope, I saw it in a Muggle film and just wondered if it might happen; I mean it looked cool..."
She trailed off when her mother gave her a funny look before swiftly changing the subject back to her new powers.
Ginny, her parents and Dumbledore were so busy discussing Ginny's new skills and the pros and cons of each to notice a figure swathed in shadows sitting alone at a table just behind them his face showing no surprise at what he had heard but his insides were crashing down on each other.
He rolled up his black sweater and gazed down at his own vampire mark engraved onto his skin the same day as he himself found out about his roots. He downed the dregs of his Butterbeer and slammed the bottle onto the table, swiftly getting to his feet and sweeping out of the pub with his cloak billowing out behind him; he now had an idea what he felt when ever he looked at Ginny Weasley.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--
((Draco's POV))
The sunlight sliced through the heavy green velvet drapes surrounding Draco's four poster bed and he groaned and rolled over suddenly noticing the absence of his silver bed sheets. He sat up slowly as a tall figure already dressed in baggy jeans and a baggy green vest top threw himself onto Draco's bed almost squashing its occupant.
"Bugger off, Blue."
Draco growled, wriggling out from under his best friend and sauntering over to the bathroom in just his black silk pyjama bottoms. He quickly showered and pulled on a pair of black cords and a black long-sleeved sweater, performing a quick drying spell on his hair and leaving it loose around his face.
Still bare foot he padded into his room making no noise on the black shaggy carpet. He grinned at Blue who was still sprawling on his bed helping himself to Draco's supply of wizard sweets and cakes he received weekly from his mother.
"Haven't you gone yet?"
He said, perching on the edge of his bed to pull on his socks and dragon hide boots.
"Now now Draco, that's not a very polite thing to say to your only friend."
Draco shot Blue a side-ways glance and snatched his box of treats away from him, sealing the lid with his wand and kicking it under the bed. Blue clicked his tongue and gave him a reproachful look.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you how to share?"
Draco snorted and punched Blue on the arm making him pretend to whimper and fall onto his back across the unmade bed.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to beg?"
It was Blue's turn to make an amused noise in the back of his throat and raise a jet-black eyebrow at Draco.
"Like we ever needed to beg for anything anyway."
He said arrogantly making Draco laugh and nod as he sat up slowly and looked at his Rolex.
"Well I'm off to Hogsmeade, got that cute little red head to deal with from Hufflepuff."
He winked at Draco and blew him a mocking kiss as he swept out of the room making Draco chuckle and pull on his own black designer cloak. He shoved his wand into his pocket followed Blue out of the Slytherin common room, nodding in acknowledgement at Pansy and her cronies and quickly avoiding Crabbe and Goyle as they lumbered to their feet to follow him.
He made a quick detour up to the prefects bathroom on the floor above and was on his way back down when a head of red hair and a black and white figure came hurtling around the corner running smack into him. He only just remained on his feet as the girl sprawled onto the floor at his feet.
He watched her get to her feet and he knew even before he saw her face by the plummeting of his stomach that it was Ginny.
"I'm sorry, oh it's only you never mind then."
He watched her carefully as she got to her feet and brushed some marks off her tight leather pants, glowering at him as she stood up, their eyes level.
"What?"
She snarled, watching him as he kept his eyes on her, all kinds of forbidden emotions bouncing around his body and head.
"Nothing, why don't you watch where you're going?"
He finally sneered, physically preventing himself from touching her, his muscles coiled under his skin as though in preparation for him pouncing.
"Why don't you, it's not like you didn't see me coming."
He raised an eyebrow at her when she folded her arms and glowered at him looking thoroughly pissed off about something he couldn't guess.
"I don't recall hearing you complain."
He watched her flush as she took a step back and leant against the wall behind her, resting one foot on the wall, her knee almost touching his crotch.
"Is there a reason you were slinking along deserted corridors while the rest of the school is at Hogsmeade?"
He raised an eyebrow at her again and took a step towards her as a group of what looked like fifth or fourth years rushed past, chattering at the top of their voices in the most annoying way.
"I wasn't slinking, and do you have a reason for barging down corridors?"
He saw her look up at him, the same passion he felt burning inside him filling her darkened eyes.
"Of course."
He leaned in closer towards her, not wanting to break the tension to brush back a lock of hair that fell over his face.
"Oh really."
He smirked at her as he edged closer.
"Yes really, but I don't see how it's any of your business."
He stumbled back when she placed both hands on his chest and shoved him, only just keeping on his feet again as she stepped out from against the wall.
"Well gossip is my business; I've heard things about you."
He began circling her as he spoke, placing a hand on the small of her back and trailing it up her spine before resting it on her shoulder, his index finger caressing her neck with a feather light touch. He controlled his jump when she spun on her heel to face him, his face mere inches from hers.
"I've heard a great deal of things about you too."
He wasn't remotely surprised at this, just intrigued as to what exactly she had heard.
"Such as?"
She gave him a scornful laugh and a mocking look he would have been proud of if it had come from anyone else before continuing.
"That you're good at using your mouth to, but you're in dire need of some help when it comes to using..."
His lips tightened almost invisibly but he didn't say anything as he waited for her to finish her insult.
"Other parts of your anatomy."
He again didn't say anything when she had done, just lowered his hand down her back, feeling her shudder with pleasure before she snatched his hand away.
"Bugger off Malfoy; I've already lowered myself to breathing the same air as you."
He watched her go as she stalked off down the corridor; somehow sure she knew he was watching her even though she didn't turn around once.
Wandering slowly through Hogsmeade he caught sight of her a little way ahead of him chatting with a group of friends before darting off to another. He was just about to make a cutting remark when she wavered away from the group and headed for the Three Broomsticks, after a hesitant second debating with himself he turned sharp left and followed her inside.
Nodding at various Slytherins he recognised on his way he weaved his way through the tables to the very back where he dropped down unnoticed at a table next to where Dumbledore and Ginny's parents were greeting Ginny. He waved a hand imperiously at Madam Rosmerta who blushed and scuttled over with a bottle of Butterbeer which she placed lovingly before him.
His sensitive ears could easily pick up exactly what was being said at Ginny's table, despite the noise of the crowded bar. He snorted into his bottle when he heard Ginny accuse her parents of giving her a sex talk which he would have found very amusing to listen to, and then she demanded to know if they had adopted her.
The moment he heard the words 'vampire' and 'Great Protectors' he sat up a little straighter in his chair and shifted ever so slightly to the right so he could hear with both ears as the conversation just got more interesting.
It couldn't be! It just wasn't possible! He listened to Mrs Weasley's talk, so similar to the one his own parents had given him less than a year before, with a sinking heart. When he heard Ginny give a pained gasp he knew she was receiving the mark he had woken up with on his sixteenth birthday. And no sooner had he thought this than Mrs Weasley gave a gasp of her own and he managed to distinguish a few words she whispered to Dumbledore.
"Albus! The Mark!"
Without waiting any longer he slowly pulled back his top to look at his own mark which had been burning steadily every time Ginny had spoken. Surveying it for a few seconds he drained his Butterbeer bottle and threw back his seat, sweeping out of the pub without a backward glance, his top once more covering the mark of his annoying ancestry.