Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

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"Ally, I think that's enough," Gabby said, amused at what Alucard was doing. "You have been gurgling that mouthwash for about half an hour. Don't you think that's over doing it?" Alucard looked at her inquiringly and spat the mouthwash.

"There," Gabby smiled but Alucard emptied the remaining mouthwash and gurgled again. Gabby laughed and sat on the kitchen table. She smiled as she remembered Alucard's state the previous night. He was covered mostly in blood and vampire dust. "Why do you need to disinfect your mouth like that?"

Alucard spat the mouthwash and walked towards her. Smiling, he leaned and kissed her on the cheek.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?" Gabby asked still dazed by the kiss even if it was a little peck.

"For not turning me away," Alucard sighed. He suddenly frowned and sniffed his clothes. "Even if I smell like the dead." Gabby giggled.

"You don't..." her face fell as realization struck her hardly. She looked at Alucard who was looking at her curiously.

"Is there something wrong, Lady Gabrielle," he asked confusingly. His voice was soothing calm and a little husky. It made her feel warm just to hear his voice.

Hold on? Hear his voice?

"You... can talk?" she asked dumbfounded. Alucard gave a nod.

"Since when?"

"Since I was about two years old," he said. Gabby groaned.

"After I met you," she was getting irritated.

"Last night," he sighed. "Vampire blood had regenerative properties although they taste nothing like human blood."

"You're a vampire?" she asked warily. "Of course you are. The fangs and sucking of blood. But you walked with us under the sun."

"Since you have trusted me I will trust you," he smiled. "I am a Dhampir. One of the rarest. I can tolerate the sun as much as humans."

"I didn't know that vampires existed that far back," Gabby said softly. "How old are you?"

"Fifteen winters," Alucard said. "But if you count my stay in that tomb it's about three thousand, eight hundred and five. Personally, I would like to be fifteen." Gabby laughed and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"I will like you even if you are old and wrinkly," she smiled. Alucard gave a nervous smile at that. "What is it?"

"In two years my appearance will stay as it is forever," he said sadly. "A curse I have to live with."

"Why is it a curse?" Gabby asked. "People would love to get a chance to live forever."

"In my case I will never grow old," he said softly.

"Is that a problem?" she asked concerned.

"It is if someone I love will die without me," he smiled sullenly as he looked at her. "Could we change the subject?"

Sensing his distress, Gabby agreed.

*** ***

Bill woke up late that day. The shock he had with the previous night kept him thinking into the hours of the night.

What he witnessed, what was revealed and what was puzzling were keeping his thoughts in turmoil.

Vampires, Alucard, the stranger in white and Mrs. Malfoy. All of them have a contribution to the mystery.

Shaking his head of all thoughts, he sighed and got out of bed.

He sleepily walked towards the kitchen passing Alucard and Gabby engaged in an animated conversation. Smirking, he entered the kitchen and made himself a cup of tea.

A few moments later, a sleepy quarter Veela joined him.

"You have slept late, yes?" Fleur asked. "I cannot comprehend what had happened last night.

"I have some interesting theories," Bill said as he poured her a cup of tea. "But I know you must have figured them out as well."

"Like Alucard being the Talons of Horis?" she smiled. "It was not an artifact after all but just the title of a warrior bestowed upon our little friend."

"And the man in white being the Berserk Fury," Bill shook his head. "He didn't seem to be the guy that would rip a person apart but that's maybe where the berserker came in."

"How'd you guess?" she sipped her tea as she waited for an answer.

"Iracundia is latin for fury," Bill said, refilling his cup of tea. "Lamia is vampire."

His statement jolted her awake.

"Alucard's a vampire?" she asked as she looked at the kitchen door that led to the living room. "My sister's in love with a vampire?"

"Human and Veela unions were also frowned upon all those years ago," Bill said with a sigh. Then he blinked as he looked at her. "She's in love with him?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Fleur asked incredulously. "She likes him even though she saw his dark side. I say that comes pretty close to being in love. And we do not drink our partner's blood."

"Only tear their hearts out. But Alucard's different," Bill smiled as the caffeine entered his system.

"He is," Fleur sighed as she took another sip. "It is hard to fault a man like that."

"I think he likes your sister very much," Bill smiled as he moved closer to her.

"Really?" she smiled seductively as she measured him up. "And how do you know this?"

"It pretty obvious really. He controlled his urges so Gabby wouldn't get hurt." Bill moved closer and leaned forward. Fleur had her elbow propped on the table as she rested her head on her hand.

"And you?" she asked as she waited for him.

"I'm a different case," his lips were inches from hers. Smiling, Fleur placed a hand on the nape of his neck.

"How different?" she said huskily as she pulled him in. Their lips met preventing Bill to answer her, not that he was complaining. Tentatively he slipped her tongue in her mouth, tasting the tea that she had drunk.

For some reason, it tasted better on her. Fleur fought his tongue for supremacy. Her French blood will not let her loose.

In the end, it was a stalemate. For both had given up on the battle as the kiss deepened. The passion intensified the kiss as their hands tried to find the perfect place to grip.

Fleur didn't know how they ended up on the table. But her mind was in another place that time as she concentrated on her task.

For them time stopped and nothing else mattered.

"Don't forget to breathe," an unfamiliar voice said as they heard the door closed. Bill waved whoever it was off and continued to attack Fleur's mouth. A few moments later they decided, although reluctantly, to heed the stranger's advice.

Suddenly, their eyes widened as their minds finally noticed the small detail that they had missed.

"Who was that?" Fleur asked. Bill frowned as he helped her off of the table.

"I don't know," he said. They slowly walked out to the living room and found Gabby talking to Alucard who had a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Good morning," Gabby greeted jovially to the two. Alucard was shyly smiling and blushing as he turned to look at them.

"Good morning too," Fleur said looking around. "Is there someone else here?"

"We heard another voice and thought that we have a visitor," Bill smiled at them.

"It's only us," Gabby smiled. "Maybe you're still dreaming."

"Perhaps," Bill sighed in relief. "I thought I was going crazy."

"It is said that if the circulation of air to the brain is stopped it may cause mild hallucinations," Alucard said as he sipped his coffee.

"That's probably right," Fluer sighed but immediately sucked all the breath she had released and looked at Alucard with wide eyes.

Bill had the same expression but his jaw sagged in surprise.

"They are taking it lightly," Alucard said to Gabby as he smiled through his coffee.

"Very light," Gabby agreed.

"Do you think we should remove them from their shock?" he asked teasingly. Gabby merely giggled and smiled at him.

"He talks," Bill said shockingly.

"How?" Fleur asked as she stared at Alucard.

Sighing, he told explained.

*** ***

Sirius Black was investigating the recent Death Eater attack. It was getting complicated by the minute.

First it was zombies then it was vampires.

What's next? Hellhounds?

So far the only evidence he had was .454 casul casings. And a lot of dust.

The Death Eaters were all dead, fourteen in all. This was getting out of hand.

He needed answers and the only one who could give it to him may have a clue.

He needed to take that risk.

And he needed a drink.

*** ***

Narcissa was back at the Sanctuary. She left the ball before anyone could inquire. She left before they would find her.

But thinking of Bismarck made her curious and lightheaded. She liked him but he was mysterious and handsome. And he's younger than him.

She knew she had no chance but when she was with him she felt eternal happiness that she never felt from Lucius. Something she had never felt from anyone before.

But he still scared her.

He had more power than her husband ever had. Enough power to kill vampires.

Enough power to take on the dark lord.

Narcissa yawned. She was still too tired. She lay on her bed to rest. Leaving to think about it the next day.

For now she would dream about him.

Nice wonderful dreams that even the dark lord could not take away from her.

***

The hunt was on. The fullness of the moon has past and he hungers once again.

In the highlands of Scotland, he entered the shadow of a castle that had been there for years. It was said to be abandoned, but the presence in it said otherwise.

In the heart of the castle lays the blood of the dark. The blood that he craves.

Carefully and silently, he entered the castle. Hiding within the shadows, he crept to his target.

But something was not right. Something felt out of place.

Growling, he moved forward. It was too late to back out. He needed to be careful.

But that word was never in his dictionary. Until now.

He took out his weapon and looked around.

It was too quiet. Too damned quiet.

Using the shadow as his cloak he pursued his mission. He entered the main chamber as quietly as possible. He knew what held before him for he could feel them.

He knew it the instant he stepped into the castle.

Opening the door fully, he faced damnation. Growling his frustration, he pointed his weapon at his enemies.

"Damn it to hell," he said and all hell broke loose. .

End of 12.