Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or the series.

A/N: Sorry about a cliffhanger, but I hope you enjoy it anyway!

Forever Red

Chapter Six: Through The Woods

Hermione found Harry and I as we rushed to find her. "She's a vampire!" Hermione shouted, grabbing my arm tightly. She quickly noticed my wrapped wrist. "What happened?"

"Snape caught her," Harry said. "And since Ron is completely in love with the undead he let her eat his arm."

"She just drank some of the blood in my wrist, and it was so we could properly communicate," I said.

"Snape caught her?" Hermione said. She paused for a moment, watching us carefully. "IN LOVE?"

Hermione seemed rather upset with me. "I am NOT in love with her," I said. "He knew her before. It only makes sense that she'd want to continue watching him."

"It's a triangle. Selena loves Snape, Ron loves Selena and Snape… is… Snape…" Harry looked around trying to get his triangle to work. "It doesn't really matter, what does matter is that we're going into the forest to find her and we need your help."

Hermione crossed her arms, frustrated with both of us. "Why do you need my help?" she asked. "You went to see Snape without me."

"We didn't have a choice," I said. "She was going to leave once it was dark."

"Plus Selena has a very attractive friend, so who will break Ron and I from out trances?" Harry asked her.
"Fine," Hermione said. "I'll help. Let's go."

We walked from the school, unnoticed since most people were eating in the great hall. "How did you find out that she was a vampire?" I asked Hermione as we walked in the direction of the woods.

"I was looking it up," she said and handed me a cross. "It should protect you."

I looked at the small wooden cross and shoved it into my pocket. "Thanks," I said looking up at her.

The three of us walked in silence as we entered the woods. Leaves crunched underneath our feet. We looked around, keeping our eyes out for anything that moved. "What was that?" Harry whispered.

"I didn't hear anything," Hermione said.

I shushed them both as we stood, surrounded by trees. Footsteps came from behind us, in front of us and from each side. I dug in my pockets to pull out my wand, ready for anything to jump out from the bushes. Sandra's voice came from behind a tree. "It's just Selena's newest victim," she said to another shadow.

"Is Selena here?" I shouted, trying to figure out where Sandra was. "I just wanted to talk."

Sandra was in front of me once again, invading my bubble. Her lips touch mine as she spoke quietly. "I haven't seen her since we left you. She wanted to check on another pet," she said. "I wasn't allowed to come."

I backed up to a tree. "I saw her then. She left, I was just checking if she was here," I said.

Sandra licked her lips as her eyes brightened. I watched several other vampires walk out from behind various trees. "One of you is bleeding," she said, looking at the three of us.

I quickly pulled out the cross that Hermione had given me. "Get back!" I said.

Laughter came from all of the vampires. "It's not even blessed," she hit it from my hand. "You're not really that bright, are you?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but I noticed Selena land on the ground, with her back to me. "What are you doing to him?" Selena glared at her.

"Nothing," Sandra crossed her arms.

Harry and Hermione walked on either side of me, behind the vicious Selena. "Then why did you bring them here?" she asked.

"They came on their own, looking for you," Sandra responded.
Selena turned her head around, to look at me. "It's true," I said.

"Fine," Selena said. "I'll talk to him, and then he'll leave."

"Can we have the other two then?" Sandra asked.
"No!" Selena responded before we could protest. "We can't take people from the school often, especially more than one. We'll get chased out of here."

"Fine!" Sandra glared at Selena.

Sandra and the other vampires wandered off. Selena crossed her arms and looked at me. She quickly noticed Hermione. "Hi, I'm Selena," she said and put her hand out to Hermione, ignoring Harry.

Hermione smiled and shook the undead's hand. "Hermione," she said.

"I'm not going to bother Ron anymore, don't worry," Selena said. "But I wouldn't mind knowing why he's here," her red eyes looked at me.

"I just wanted to ask some questions," I said.

"I'll come to your room, it's not safe for you guys to be wandering around in here," she said.

We nodded in unison and walked back into the school. It wasn't as easy walking into the school as it was out. Professor McGonnigal noticed us immediately. "What were you three doing outside?" she asked, crossing her arms.

We looked at each other hoping for someone to have an excuse. Selena walked in behind us. "Trying to find me," she said.

"Selena?" McGonnigal looked at Selena carefully, rather stunned. "You look as if haven't aged a day."

Selena bashfully looked down. "Hi Minerva," she said. "It took me a moment recognize you. Age has been rather kind to you."

She laughed lightly. "You're not coming into this school, even if you are complimenting me."

Selena looked down. "I just want to talk to Ron privately," she said.

McGonnigal raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "What... exactly are you?" she asked, looking back at Selena.

Selena shrugged. "Listen, Severus'll chaperone to make sure I don't eat Ron," she said back, not answering her question.

"Wait here," Professor McGonnigal said as she walked off.

Selena looked at me for a quick moment. "He wouldn't eavesdrop," she smiled at me. "And it won't matter if he does because he's heard the whole thing before."

Snape quickly turned the corner and looked at us. I watched his stern expression melt as he viewed Selena in all of her undead glory. "Where am I chaperoning?" he questioned. "My classroom?"

"Sure," Selena smiled at my professor.

We started to walk along the hallway in an awkward silence. Snape opened the door to his classroom and we walked in. Selena sat down in a desk. "Ask away," she said.

I sat down beside her and looked at Harry. He shrugged. "Why are you a vampire?" I asked.

She rolled her eyes. "Because a vampire was draining my blood," she said.

"I mean, why did whoever did make you a vampire," I responded.

She crossed her legs and fixed her dress. "He wanted someone to have for himself, a mate I guess. He was out late one night and... didn't return. We found him, well the remains of him the next day," she said.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said.

She shrugged. "It was a forced relationship anyway," she said. "That's why I was trying to get you to like me before I turned you over."

"Before you killed him," Harry corrected.

"Whatever," she said. "It's not like I'm going to do it now anyway."

"What are you going to do for the rest of eternity?" Snape asked her.

She smiled bashfully at him. "You're not allowed to ask questions," she said. "You didn't go into the forest looking for me."

I watched his eyes look at me. "What are you going to do for the rest of eternity?" I asked.

"I don't know," she said. "I'll probably look for another mate," she said, lowering her eyes.

"I hope you find one," I said.

I watched her pale face turn into a small smile. "Thanks," she said.

The windows started to rattle, startling most of us. Professor Snape stood up to lock the windows, but he was knocked over quickly as Sandra flew into the room. Large grey wings came out of her back and her teeth seemed longer. Her bright blue eyes looked in the direction of Professor Snape. He backed up, still on the ground. "Is this the person you've been watching?" Sandra hissed, looking at the frightened Professor. "If I can't have one of the children, can I have him?"

"No," Selena was nervous.

"You know," Sandra started to approach Snape. "Not everyone a vampire feasts on turn into a vampire."