Harry Potter and the Order of the Crimson Eye

by Chemiclord

Several years after fulfilling the prophecy between himself and Lord Voldemort, Harry has finally found peace in his life, and well as landing his dream job. But nothing ever goes smoothly for the most famous wizard in the world...

4. Eyes in the Dark

Chapter four: Eyes in the Dark

The next two weeks was filled with anticipation and gossip. With Madam Hooch incapacitated the question of who would be able to replace her as the Flying Instructor and Primary Quiddich Referee by the time the second half of the Cup Season started in the spring was flying about with names and rumors. The debate among the students was so intense that it actually overwhelmed gossip about the reason Madam Hooch had to be replaced to begin with.

Hermione shook her head in disgust at that fact. "It still amazes me how a stupid sport can make people forget what is truly important. Madam Hooch is in perilous condition, and all the brats can talk about is who is going to officiate the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw match in March… almost five months away."

"Some people need the distraction, Herms." Harry had replied knowingly. "Besides, I suspect you'll like the replacement."

"You sound awfully certain of that, Harry James Potter." Hermione said sternly. "I can only assume that Dumbledore has made a decision then."

"He had made the decision within days, actually. It simply took a while to confirm it, and for the individual in question to finish up prior engagements. I just happened to be talking with dear Albus when the owl carrying confirmation arrived."

"Is that right?" Hermione replied flatly, "Then do tell and spare me the suspense."

"It wouldn't be any fun that way. It's supposed to be a surprise, after all. Besides, you and the rest of the school will know by the evening meal." Harry pulled a small timepiece out of his pocket, and added, "As a matter of fact, he should be arriving pretty soon. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for us to get introductions out of the way while we have the chance."

With a dejected sigh, Hermione stacked her books to the side of her desk, and stood to follow Harry towards the docks. She mumbled the entire way there about wasting her time on "some ruddy broom jockey" and chiding Harry for looking so irritatingly smug.

They reached the west entrance just as Troy began to enter, and a familiar voice behind them attached to a familiar face they couldn't see muttered, "It's amazing how so little of this place has changed… it's almost like coming home… although if you ever tell my mother that, she'd bloody well kill me…"

Hermione squeaked joyfully, and exploded past Harry towards the doorway. Troy just happened to look up to see her bolting towards him, and luckily was able to sidestep and spin away from the charging woman. The man behind him, her target, was not nearly so lucky. There was a breathless grunt, and then a soft thud, as the poor fellow was literally thrown onto his back just outside the door.

"That is… if this barking mad girl doesn't kill me first…" Ron Weasely rasped, rubbing the back of his head where it had bumped against the ground. "It's good to see you, Hermy." Then with a slightly dazed voice, he added jovially, "All three of you…"

Troy stuck his head around the doorway, and whistled impressively. "I happen to know someone who works for the Oakland Raiders, Miss Granger. I think I'll drop him your name sometime."

Hermione paid no attention to them, as she slowly let Ron to her feet, and said, "This is such a wonderful surprise… although I do wish Harry had decided to tell me as soon as he knew. But he waited and waited until the last moment just like you did…"

Ron groaned, and replied, "I'm sorry about your birthday, okay? I was in a three game set and didn't have time to even so much as owl you. I sent your present as soon as I could! Honest!"

He then smiled at Harry, and pointed down at Hermione, "See? This is what I've had to deal with for months!"

Hermione turned away, as if upset with Ron, but her eyes twinkled with playfulness that belied her true feelings. Harry couldn't help but laugh… unfortunately, the good humor didn't last long.

"I see the wonder trio is reunited…" Snape remarked bitterly as he stepped to the front of the welcoming group. "The remaining Quiddich season will certainly no doubt be a shining example of impartiality."

"Oh, do get over yourself, Snape." Ron shot back, "Like you are so impartial yourself."

"Simmer, dear sirs, there will be plenty of time to argue about the fickle nature of the Quiddich pitch in due time." Dumbledore interrupted, as if oblivious to the negative emotions beginning to swirl about. "Mr. Ailona, I trust you showed Mr. Weasely where everything relevant to his position is?"

Troy smirked. "As if he hadn't been aware of them all already. Apparently, you don't change the layout of things much. Entropy is the bane of existence, you know…"

Harry grinned, and said, "You should have seen enough of his office to know that a barely controlled chaos rules our Headmaster's life, Troy… and fortunately not his grounds."

Meanwhile, Ron exchanged welcomes with several familiar faces then the procession moved to the Grand Hall for the evening meal.

After the evening meal, the three decided to visit Hagrid like old times. The half-giant was more than welcome to have the company, and immediately began boiling some water for tea. Fang didn't seem to have forgotten Ron in the time he had been away, and the image of the massive hound laying his head in Ron's lap might have been endearing… had Fang's head not been so massive that Ron looked like he was nothing but a chest and calves.

Harry asked in an effort to start conversation, "So, I hear you won the French Champes Cup this year."

Ron narrowed his eyes, and said bitterly, "Where did you hear that rubbish? We lost to the Navarre Comets in the final match 170-80. Our bloody Seeker this year could barely find the nose on his face, much less the Snitch."

Harry flushed in embarrassment. "Oh." Hoping that Ron didn't realize that Harry had actually thought Ron had played for Navarre… not against them. He promised himself to keep better track of the professional leagues in the future so as to not make such an epic mistake again. Fortunately, neither Hermione nor Hagrid had the knowledge to call him on the error, or that would have been particularly potent fodder for future teasing.

"I'm telling you, Harry, you blindfolded, with one arm tied behind your back, could be a better Seeker than this numbskull. He was looking around dumbly near the opponent's goal while the other Seeker grabbed the thing near midfield. It was something brutal."

Harry, unbelievably, wasn't all that interested. He had to stop hanging around Hermione… she was becoming a bad influence on him. Nonetheless, he laughed, and shook his head disbelievingly.

"Seriously, come down to Lourdes next fall with me. You can't be that out of form. Hells, you could be dead and probably be a better Seeker than our current loser."

Harry didn't immediately reply, his mind racing with all the ways the Disciple of Voldemort could have managed Harry's death in his Auror duties… and how easily it could be done on a Quiddich pitch. He began to wonder how much Ron knew about the situation at the school… and how much Albus had conveniently left out.

"That probably wouldn't be such a good idea given the current events, Ron." Hermione chided.

Ron's eyes began to move from Harry to Hermione to Hagrid, and he asked slowly, "What current events?"

Harry sighed, and rubbed his temple, "So, Dumbledore didn't tell you? Figures…"

"Didn't bloody tell me what?" Ron demanded impatiently.

At that moment, Hagrid set down several large cups of tea in front of them, and took a seat himself. Meanwhile, Hermione, mouth slack, finally gathered the motor skills to sputter, "You mean you don't know anything about the attempts on Harry's life?"

Ron sighed in relief. "Oh, you mean those? Of course I do. Dumbledore told me about them before I signed on to take over for Madam Hooch. I thought you were talking about something else."

"Something else?" Hermione sputtered. "I can't imagine how it could get any worse than that! You can be such an utter imbecile, Ron Weasley."

"Well, seriously, Herm…" Ron argued, "This wizard has been trying really hard to keep quiet and in the shadows, which tells me he probably wouldn't try anything like killing another wizard in front of tens of thousands of witnesses."

"With all the things that can go wrong in that game… it wouldn't be hard for him to disguise his intent." Hermione answered adamantly. "I've read the rulebook on that game, and any sport that is compelled to outlaw battle axes on the field of play probably isn't the safest of places to be."

As outrageous as it may have seemed to Harry just five years ago… he was actually agreeing with Hermione. Nonetheless, he didn't want to seem like he was agreeing with her for Ron's sake. So, before one of Ron and Hermione's animated spats could develop, Harry interceded, "Ron, under any other circumstances, I'd be sorely tempted to give it a chance. However, even if I was somehow still merely at the level I ended school at; I suspect that part of my life is long over."

Harry's statement had the desired effect. Hermione leaned back triumphantly, convinced she had won the argument, while Ron was satisfied that he had won out in his own little way. The peace was abruptly shattered when the sounds of a large number of hoof beats grabbed the attention of the hut's occupants.

Hagrid knew exactly who was responsible, although it didn't take a great amount of deduction to figure it out. "Buggerin' centaurs…" Hagrid muttered angrily under his breath, snatching his crossbow from its place leaning against the wall. "I might need you three's help. Judging from the weight of their hoof beats, those blasted creatures aren't suited up for a spot of tea…"

Hagrid turned out to be right… although Harry suspected that the half-giant had slightly underestimated the centaurs' numbers. Three rows of twenty horsemen formed ranks, the last fingers of the setting sun catching deep orange and gold reflections off the studs of their leather and hide armor. The front two rows carried long, beautifully polished and colored javelins and spears, while the rear line appeared to be prepared with bows and arrows. Ron gulped nervously, and whispered to Harry, "We're supposed to help with that?"

"I guess." Harry answered skeptically, his eyes scanning around for anything that could be used as cover… without much success.

A spear wielding centaur in the center of the first line took three strides forward. Harry recognized the face as belonging to Bane, not the friendliest of centaur-kind. "You have insulted our decency and our honor for the last time, Hagrid." Bane snarled.

Making sure the drawstring of his crossbow was tight, Hagrid growled back, "What are you going on about now?"

"Did you think we forgot about the minotaur you sent here?" Bane chided. "We have received an informant who identified you as the culprit of that monstrosity's presence."

Harry's eyes narrowed, "This informant wouldn't happen to have been Draco Malfoy, would it?"

"Our informant is none of your concern." Bane snapped, and Harry was somewhat surprised that Bane's expression didn't belay Harry guessing correctly. Either Bane was much better at hiding his thoughts than Harry expected, or more likely, Draco had nothing to do with the centaurs coming.

"It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Hagrid had nothing to do with the minotaur." Hermione said exasperatedly.

"Silence!" Bane roared, "This is not a time for arguing. Even if Hagrid wasn't responsible, which I highly doubt, he has committed enough crimes against the forest and our ownership of it over the last twenty years to deserve our just ire."

"And there you go with the ownership of the ruddy forest again…" Hagrid sighed. "The sooner you get it out of your skulls that you own the bloody forest just as much as I do, most of the problems between us will disappear."

"Our people roamed this forest for ages before that abominable castle was ever built. As far as we are concerned, you are merely visitors. One such visitor, that would be you, Hagrid, we will no longer tolerate. Archers at the ready!"

Tension ruled the grounds for a half second, and Harry began to wonder why no one had noticed the developing scene, even if it was rather late. Finally, Harry felt his scar tickle, and was finally confident that someone had taken notice.

"Is there a problem here, fellows?" Troy asked, his clothes almost perfectly blending into the deepening night, so that it seemed like he had materialized out of thin air. "Whatever it is, I suspect it is nothing to fight over."

"You would know nothing, then." Bane snorted dismissively.

"That may be… but I suspect I know far more than you." Troy said darkly, "Especially since you apparently are totally unaware of your peril."

"Our peril?" Bane laughed. "We are sixty strong, with hundreds more to reinforce us. You are five, with your other wizards preparing for slumber."

Even as the waxing moon began to rise, it was as if the light coming from it was absorbed by an invisible force before it ever struck the ground. Everything suddenly seemed darker, and Harry felt a raw emptiness in his gut began to swell through his whole body. The only time he had ever felt something similar to this was when he had been in the presence of a Dementor, but the similarities ended the moment the first wave of terror washed over him.

His mind was flooded with images of pure darkness dotted with countless glowing red eyes, his ears with the ghostly wailing of hundreds of thousands of tormented souls, their blood curdling screams making his veins chill cold, and a general paralysis to freeze his body. Harry's scar began to throb painfully, but he was barely aware of that, as it could have likely been due to the salty, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

It was only with great effort that he willed his head to turn towards his friends. Hermione's face was ashen, her lips trembling, muttering something completely incomprehensible. Ron had fallen to his knees, mouth hanging loosely from his jaw, with his fingers starting to claw into his thighs. Even Hagrid's eyes were bulging wide, the half-giant's massive frame visibly trembling.

The centaurs were also clearly feeling whatever it was that was affecting the wizards. Half the archers in the back had dropped their weapons, and the other half had lowered them to the point where a slight breeze would have knocked them away. The rest of the centaurs staggered backward slightly, and only Bane seemed to be holding his ground. But even he looked like he was ready to bolt at the slightest provocation.

Then the second surge of fright hit like the storm waves on the school dockside. At that point, centaurs scattered like a school of startled fish, weapons and all sensibilities forgotten in their blind panic. Bane hesitated for a brief second, his eyes locked with Troy's, and by the time he turned to flee, it was too late. Troy lunged, grabbing the centaur by the neck, and whipping him to the ground fiercely.

Troy planted his right boot directly on the side of Bane's neck, staring down menacingly at the now whimpering centaur. "The next time you leave that forest behind you, or trouble anyone who goes inside it… I will break you at the knees." Troy growled, almost literally. His voice sounded almost like a cross between a man and a dragon, and sent shivers down Harry's spine, the only sensation he could really distinguish in his numb body save the pain in his scar.

Bane nodded rapidly, likely more out of fear of his very existence than anything else. With a sigh of disgust, Troy spat, "Then get going, and stop wasting my time."

Bane tried to scramble to his hooves so quickly that he stumbled and fell down again, but once the centaur did regain his balance, he bolted with all the speed his legs could muster towards the forest.

Only when Bane completely disappeared from sight did the unnatural darkness lift, and Harry could feel the blood starting to flow through his body again. He wiped the layer of accumulated sweat of his brow, and finally began to truly process the information his brain had acquired during the last minute or so.

Then, as if barely anything amiss had just occurred, Troy flipped a lazy salute, and said, "They shouldn't be bothering you for a while. Have a good night.", and then slipped off into the night towards the castle.

Ron slowly stood, and looked forlornly down at his winter robe, which had dipped up to his waist in the snow at their feet. Finally, he had the courage to ask, "Can anyone explain to me just what the bloody hell happened just now?"

Hermione replied, "I don't rightly know… this definitely calls for some research. There are a small number of creatures that can incite fear in their victims, like Dementors for example, but none of them can just call and dispel that ability on command."

Hagrid interrupted them, "Perhaps you'll all think clearer with something warm in ya. I suspect there's still some tea warming in my kettle."

As Christmas drew near, the trio were no nearer an explanation as they were that night. Because of their classes and impending semester exams, neither Hermione nor Harry had much time to research or investigate, and Ron… well, his attention span had been grievously shortened living the life of a professional sports star.

Classes had just finished that evening, and most of the students had gone home for the winter break. However, checking in on the Gryffindor Common Room, he noticed a familiar first-year girl as its lone occupant.

"Julie?" Harry asked.

The girl put down the book she was reading, a Muggle novel titled, The Fellowship of the Ring, from the cover. "Oh, hello, Professor Potter… I was just reading."

"Good book?"

Julie shrugged passively, "It's alright, I guess. Boring as all get out at first, but it picks up eventually. I've always liked fantasy books, with wizards and unicorns and stuff. My parents aren't too keen on them, though."

Harry smiled knowingly, "Is that why you're still here instead of heading home for Christmas?"

Julie shook her head, "My parents are in Australia visiting other family. We knew that I wouldn't be able to join them this year because the time my father and mother could get for vacation wouldn't work with my school schedule."

"Oh."

"That's not to say they are exactly thrilled that I'm here." Julie amended, obviously not wanting to speak at all poorly about her father and mother. "They're a bit overwhelmed with it all, I think… I know I was. I think they had a nice idea where I was going with my life, and now it's been completely thrown for a loop."

Harry said softly, "They'll come around, I'm sure. My aunt and uncle were absolutely against all of it, and likely still are."

"You think so?"

Harry laughed reassuringly, "Hagrid didn't have to come acquire you, which would mean they aren't so against this school that they won't even give you the chance. Besides, you're doing just fine here from what I can see. Your grades are exemplary, you appear to have made some nice friends, and it seems to me you like it here."

Julie nodded emphatically, "Oh, I do… I really do!" She turned her head towards the window, and peered out at the gentle snowfall. "Everything here seems so much… more… than it is in the Muggle world… even something as simple as the snow."

At that point, Harry sensed Troy was nearing. About three days ago, he had decided to try and get answers from an unlikely source… the person responsible himself. Unfortunately, the caretaker had been oddly absent the last few days.

"Hold that thought for a moment. I'll be right back, okay?" Harry asked, and barely perceiving her slight nod, quickly left the common room, following his scar like a divining rod. Eventually, he stopped at the upper walkway that encircled the prime entry hall. Troy was talking to Dumbledore, and not about the weather.

"I'm not strong enough to break through the wards on this castle, and I trust you've reinforced the wards protecting the grounds themselves." Troy stated.

"Yes… I cannot see how you'll be able to get inside the school. The nearest town is Hogsmeade, but I don't see how you would possess the judgment to go all that way."

"Good. Don't let anyone outside unless I return with my sunglasses on." Troy advised. "If I don't have them on, then I'm not myself, and you are under no circumstance to allow me inside. Just wait a couple days… and I shouldn't be a problem."

"Are you sure there is someone out there that will be sufficient for you?" Dumbledore queried.

"Before Bane and his cronies decided to take matters into their own hands and cause undue strain in our relationship, the centaurs had informed me that they saw a wizard consorting with the vampire enclave inside the forest. He hasn't left, and I suspect he will find the same trouble trying to escape as I would. He should serve my purposes well enough. I'm not terribly picky when hungry."

"Very well… peace be with you, my friend." Dumbledore said, grasping Troy's forearm.

"Peace has never been my traveling companion, Albus… I see no reason why that will change."

Harry made himself scarce before either Troy or Dumbledore could become aware of his presence. He returned to the common room, and to his horror, he noticed Julie was gone, and that she had taken her winter robe off the rack. Soon after, a shrill shriek ruptured the silence, and lunging to the window, he could barely make out a figure flying leisurely through the night sky, carrying a small squirming bundle.

Harry bounded out of the Common Room, and crashed into Ron, who was heading past with equal speed. Hermione pulled to a stop just before she too was engulfed in the tumbling mass as the two men fell several steps down before the banister kindly put a stop to their descent.

Harry didn't bother to give an explanation, nor did Ron or Hermione demand one, merely falling into running stride behind Harry. At the main entry hall, they met Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, who appeared to be waiting for them.

"It was Julie!" Harry said with surprisingly strong breath after his sprint. "She snuck outside. I think a vampire took her."

Harry could only think of less than a handful of times in which Dumbledore looked panicked. "They know… they're going to try to give him an easier prey…" He muttered to himself. "I will need you all to stay here… and make sure the school continues to run properly… in case I do not return."

"Julie is the one out there, Albus." Harry protested, "I'm not going to sit here while she's in danger."

"Nor am I." Hermione challenged, a motion Ron seconded, though more likely because he didn't want to be left out while all his friends courageously stepped forward.

Dumbledore turned dismissively, "Very well, we do not have time to argue. Minerva, Severus… I am counting on you to keep the school secure."

He forced the doors open with a simple opening spell, and has he strode outside with Harry, Hermione, and Ron close behind, he warned, "Be cautious, you three, for I am afraid to say that this night holds a far greater peril than vampires…"

They crossed the exterior grounds without incident, though Harry was certain that once they reached the forest that things would change. When a pair of centaur scouts suddenly slipped into his vision, Harry worried that things were about to get ugly.

To his relief, they didn't. Apparently, the centaurs held Albus Dumbledore in considerably higher esteem than Hagrid… or anyone else for that matter. "Dumbledore, we are honored by your presence." The right centaur said reverently, and his companion joined him in a somewhat awkward bow.

"As I am by yours." Dumbledore replied with a gentle nod. "I trust Magorian sent you?"

"To lead you to the vampire nest if you are willing to assist us in ridding the forest of them." The scout answered.

"That is indeed where we are going." Dumbledore said. "However, I would request that Magorian ask you to return to your homes, and do not wander. The vampires will be dealt with, but there is another danger that might not discriminate between friend and foe as I would."

"You have been fair with us before, and your wisdom is not to be dismissed lightly. Very well, we shall guide you to your destination then relay your counsel."

Harry, apparently, wasn't the only one to notice the genteel exchange. "Wait… why's it that we can't go ten feet into this forest without being threatened by a centaur, yet they're about ready to offer you tea and pastry, Albus?"

"Respect takes time, patience, and wisdom, Mr. Weasely. I have had my lion's share of the former, ample amounts of the second, and apparently just enough of the latter to make due." Dumbledore answered. "That and I suspect the majority of your forays into this forest have been with Hagrid… whose occasional lack of restraint in matters of diplomacy have grated unnecessarily roughly against the sensibilities of these wonderful people. It is a misunderstanding I have tried to correct for years."

The centaur scouts helpfully took a slower gait so that their two legged followers could keep up through the sometimes rough forest terrain. In the back of his mind, Harry realized that he had gone farther into the forest than ever before… and that the dangers of the forest tended to get worse the further he had gone… and that it wasn't likely to change now.

Harry had finally been ready to ask what Dumbledore's conversation with Troy was about, when Albus threw up his hands to stop the procession. Ahead of them was a large earth mound that climbed to roughly seven meters at the top of the dome. A small open entry was carved into the mound plunging into a dark interior in which no light escaped from.

"That is no doubt where Miss Fitzsimmons is being held." Dumbledore said. "We must hurry quickly. Even now we might be too late."

With that in mind, Harry took the lead almost blindly, fortunately catching the movement of a heavy-set male vampire lunging from the inside of the mound. A quick incendiary spell caused the undead monster to tumble aside, batting in vain at the rapidly spreading flames that found purchase on its body.

Another pair prepared to attack, but quickly stumbled back as they felt the compelling force of the protective ward Harry cast around him and his friends. Finally catching up, the three other wizards reinforced the aura, allowing the group to push into the mound itself, vampires clamoring away from them in all directions until the four wizards emerged into the central chamber.

The vampire Harry had seen earlier was along the south wall of the chamber, holding a squirming Julie Fitzsimmons tightly in its grasp. Due the expectedly dim torchlight in the chamber, Harry couldn't accurately ascertain any of its features, but judging from the way that it was holding its own against his wards, he could be rather certain that it was the vampire lord Barbaras.

"Good, now that we have you right where we want you, we can stop our little game." Barbaras declared. With a snap of the fingers on its left hand, a small army of vampires emerged from the hallway they had just entered from, most of them likely the same undead monsters that had been running away from them just moments before. Harry muttered a curse under his breath, just now coming to understand just how powerful Barbaras's influence was… and how powerful it meant the Disciple of Voldemort was if the vampire lord was under the dark wizard's sway.

"You are not to feed on them, Barbaras." A light, sinister, feminine voice declared. The black robed figure that suddenly appeared took Harry by surprise, as it seemed like she had appeared out of nowhere. At first thinking she had apparated, he discarded the idea as there hadn't been any sign that she had done so.

"I know that, Mistress Andromeda." Barbaras answered. "After all, you want all the squishy bodies you can find to increase your own chances of survival. Didn't expect the demon-kin to get hungry quite so quickly did you?"

"I grow tired of your taunts, vampire." The wizard threatened, walking right in front of Harry so that he could see the back of her robe. An unusual symbol had been woven onto the back, the crimson red outline of what resembled a cat's eye. "Bear in mind that you are under my orders."

"For now…"

Andromeda smirked triumphantly. "Indeed… especially since I sense your unnatural existence on this mortal coil is about to come to a tragic end."

Clearly the wizard and the vampire lord were not exactly on the same page, Harry noted, hoping that problem extended beyond the pair. If there were divisions in the ranks, it would make his and his friends chances of surviving all the better.

"And how is that, I ask?" Barbaras queried coolly, making a few hand motions towards members of his legions to form ranks in front of him.

"Maybe my forecasts of exactly when our demon-kin was to become hungry was slightly… inaccurate." Andromeda noted slyly. "But perhaps that was intentional. Dear little Barbaras was an unfortunate casualty of the rampage. Oops, my mistake…"

"What do you mean, intentional?"

Andromeda consulted what Harry guessed to be some sort of timepiece, before declaring, "Yes… our dear friend should be arriving right about… now…"

There was the sound of breaking earth from above, followed seconds later by a trench-coat clad figure that fell exactly in the center of the chamber between Andromeda and Barbaras. Troy took about two seconds to analyze the situation, then without saying a word lunged at the vampire lord.

Barbaras initially panicked, and leaped to the side, releasing Julie as he did so. The ruse worked, as Troy didn't press the attack further, instead catching the young girl before she hit the ground roughly.

Troy whispered something to Julie and she dashed across the distance towards Harry's group. Harry caught her up, and the student clung to him tightly. It was clear she wanted to bawl over her undoubtedly frightening ordeal, but showing the courage that was the hallmark of her house, she maintained her composure to say, "Mr. Ailona says we have to leave now… he says he can't control himself much longer. Do you know what he means?"

Dumbledore replied, "There is no time to explain that, Miss Fitzsimmons. I suggest we do as he requests without delay."

Unfortunately in the meantime, they had forgotten about Barbaras, who shouted triumphantly from behind them, "If you survive this, witch, I suspect we will discuss our differences another time." The vampire lord then retreated from the grand chamber, using his unnatural strength to actually rip down the doorway, collapsing it shut with the earth above it.

A hideous scream turned their attention back towards Troy, who pulled his sunglasses from his face, and stuffed them in the pocket of his coat, before removing it in a flourish and hanging it on the chair that Barbaras had just vacated.

Dumbledore nudged Harry slightly, and began drawing a series of intricate runes in a circle around the group of wizards. He was about halfway done as Troy began to pull his long sleeved shirt over his head while vampire and wizard alike watched with either awed fright or uninformed fascination.

Dumbledore just finished the circle, the runes flashing with a gentle blue glow just as the familiar wave of terror struck. The protection circle that Dumbledore had fashioned clearly dampened the effects, but by no means completely. Troy finally opened his eyes, blood red irises and narrow slit pupils, glowing through the dim light of the chamber. A second later, two deep black dragon-like wings unfurled from his back, and Troy roared, a blood curdling howl that sounded like a banshee hooked up to a high density bass sub-woofer. Harry cringed, his ears ringing.

Behind him, he heard Hermione begin to stutter, "A… a… cam… cam…"

From the southeast section of the circular chamber, Andromeda finally shouted, "If you monsters wish to continue your unnatural existence, you must slay the beast now before he becomes too strong."

The vampires trapped in the chamber didn't immediately react to the order, and that delay proved to be deadly. With one powerful flap of his wings, Troy launched himself at the vampires, grabbing the closest creature before ripping its blackened heart out with his bare left hand.

Finally, the vampires retaliated in ever increasing waves, only to be mowed down by Troy with ruthless and bloodthirsty efficiency. The head of one decapitated vampire rolled a few feet from the edge of the protection circle, its blank stare causing Julie to yelp fearfully, and nearly slip inside Harry's robes. The said vampire's headless body then became a flying weapon, as Troy effortlessly swung it into three advancing foes, sending them all toppling to the ground.

One vampire finally seemed to get an opening, jumping forward and momentarily sinking its teeth into Troy's shoulder. Troy once again roared in anger, and grabbed the offending vampire by the neck, and pulled it away. The caretaker then bit into the vampire's neck, ripping almost half of the creature's throat out before discarding the vampire like a bag of trash, spitting out the undead flesh as he did so.

Once again, Harry heard Hermione mumbling frightfully, "A camb… camb…"

With every vampire in various number of pieces, Andromeda shrieked, and quickly threw a glistening, sheer, cloak over her form, then with a quick spell, extinguished every light in the chamber, enveloping everything in darkness in which the only thing Harry could see was the dim blue glow of the rune circle around him, the pale silhouettes of his friends, faint twinkles of stars from the hole in the mound ceiling, and Troy's glowing red eyes in the darkness as they turned in Harry's direction.

The eyes charged at him, crashing into the invisible barrier of the circle with a series of light blue sparks of energy. In the dim light created by the impact, Harry could see Troy's face, contorted in rage and mindless, almost animalistic, hunger. With each charge, he seemed to get closer, as if the barrier was slowly bending under the pressure.

"The circle will not hold long." Dumbledore remarked, "I will reinforce it for as long as I can. Harry, keep Miss Fitzsimmons calm while Ron and Hermione try and clear the exitway."

Unfortunately, Hermione didn't seem inclined to do much of anything but stare at the repeatedly charging Troy while muttering with equal repetition the same attempted word. Ron gave the effort an attempt, but after several spells, replied to Dumbledore, "I think that witch is impeding my efforts… it's being a struggle just to move a pebble."

Dumbledore nodded, "It makes sense… she's going to make us the bait and hope to sneak away when Troy has been sated." Dumbledore's explanation was enhanced by another full body crash by Troy on the protective circle… who had now seemed to find some purchase in the barrier… wriggling his ichor-stained left wrist around like he had gouged a small tear in a wall. Brown clotted vampire blood flew about as he did so, splattering randomly on the group as they instinctively took short steps back. One droplet struck Julie on the cheek, and she pulled her face out of Harry's chest quizzically.

The young girl blinked a couple times then appraised the scene before her. She then squirmed out of Harry's grasp, and despite his attempts to pull her back, she experimentally raised her wand and said, "Lumos"

Instantly, the chamber exploded in light. Troy suddenly howled in pain, and staggered away from the source of illumination, pressing his left forearm over his eyes.

"Brilliant idea, Miss Fitzsimmons!" Dumbledore cheered. Leaning close to Harry, Albus added, "This might be our best and only chance. I want you to ignite the dark witch's cloak with a small fireball once I tell Julie to extinguish her wand."

Harry nodded, making note of Andromeda, who seemed to be largely unconcerned by Julie's spell, probably thinking it was merely delaying the inevitable. No doubt she knew several spells that would quickly darken the chamber once more, but was content to let Julie continue for a while.

Troy started moving forward again, swiping with his right arm like a feeler while his other remained covering his eyes. "Julie, remove your light…" Dumbledore requested

Confused by the order, but not wanting to disobey the Headmaster, Julie reluctantly ended her spell. Sensing that the light had died away, Troy pulled his arm away from his face, the glowing red circles of his eyes once again the only significantly visible object in the vicinity.

"Now, Harry!"

Harry quickly flipped an incendiary spell where he had last seen Andromeda waiting along the wall. He wasn't completely accurate, but close enough to catch the back of her shimmering cloak with flame. Troy's eyes followed the ball like a cat teased with a piece of tin foil. Meanwhile, Andromeda momentarily forgot the situation as she yelped, the flames beginning to spread along her cloak before she hurried it off her shoulders.

"Nice try, Mr. Potter." She sneered, "But even if you kill me, one of you would still die…"

"The intent was not to kill you, madam." Dumbledore replied, "I'm afraid our friend has far greater expertise in that field."

Andromeda's bluster died away like the winds after a thunderstorm. Through the light provided by her burning cloak, she could see the stalking form of Troy approaching her like a sadistic hunter, growling with reptilian beastly fury.

Andromeda yelped in terror, and instantly reached for her cloak, jumping back as the growing flames singed her hands. She then cast three Killing Curses just before Troy pounced, the first two missing while the third struck him in the shoulder. Unfortunately for Andromeda, the curse that could rip the life out of most any living being only seemed to make Troy angry. He howled furiously, rolled the affected shoulder twice, and then pounced on the defenseless witch.

"I would suggest you turn away… this will not be a sight for the light of stomach…" Dumbledore warned.

This of course, Harry simply found he couldn't do. The still burning cloak provided just enough light for him to see Troy rip a large gouge in Andromeda's stomach with his right hand, then dive headfirst into the wound. There was the squish of blood and the wet tearing of internal tissue before Troy lifted his head with reddened, dripping intestines hanging from his teeth. Andromeda screamed a banshee, and Harry barely registered Julie clutching his legs and pressing her face into his knees while Troy slurped down the remains like spaghetti.

He went into the breach again, this time wolfing down the remaining intestines and what Harry guessed was Andromeda's liver. The witch's screams were fading, but it was clear she was still alive as Troy devoured her with what Harry could only describe as a beastly, yet sadistic, glee.

After apparently cleaning out Andromeda's abdominal cavity, he moved to her arms. Harry heard the bones snap and muscles tear as Troy's mouth ripped half her forearm from the rest, and busily crunched on the bone and cartilage, less than a minute later doing the same with the other arm.

Harry heard Ron finally give up fighting back the bile compiling in his throat after Troy then split Andromeda's ribcage open with a gouging uppercut along her sternum. Hermione continued to repeat her half-finished mumblings, and even Dumbledore was looking quite green. Blessedly, the cloak finally burned to nothing just as Troy once more bent down towards Andromeda's weakly whimpering form, no longer giving enough light to see anything but the vaguest of outlines. There was one final, bloody gurgle from Andromeda, and then silence; save for the ripping of muscle, slurping of blood, and crunching of bone.

Finally, Hermione finished what she had been trying to say. "A cambion… he's a… cambion…"

The gruesome sounds continued for about a half-hour before total silence ruled the chamber. There was some rustling of clothes before Troy spoke for the first time, his voice regretful. "I'm done. You can have some light now."

Harry really didn't want to see the aftermath of the grisly battle, but Dumbledore lit up the area with his wand. Harry's eyes instantly went to where Andromeda had lied… to see nothing but blood-stained ground and the shredded remains of a black robe. Troy had eaten almost everything.

"It is safe now." Dumbledore replied, "We can leave the circle."

"If it's all the same to you… I'd rather stay." Ron said, and Harry could feel Julie nodding against his legs.

Troy didn't wait for anyone else to move. He walked around the circle, his head down in a mixture of disgust and regret. He examined the blocked passage, and with a grim determination, started flinging rocks and debris, rejecting the aid Dumbledore tried to offer. Within two minutes, the hall was cleared enough for exit, and Troy was about to do just that before he paused with one leg in the hall. "I'm sorry you had to see that." He said forlornly, "I won't be returning to the castle right away, Albus… I think your friends need some time."

He then left the wizards alone to gather their wits and return to the school to fail miserably at sleep.