~*Author's Note: Thanks Pixie5252 your my most devoted reader! I appreciate it! Hope you enjoy the next chapter!*~

Vast Vacancies and Vampires

Ginny walked in front of Harry her back pressed against his body as they waked. He held his left arm around her shoulders and chest pressing her against him and in his right hand he held his wand in the air lighting their pathway. He whispered in her ear,

"Which way did u see them go, Ginny?" She was flustered by the sound of him saying her name.

"We're going the right way I think." She murmurred back. He held his wand high and grasped Ginny tighter against him when he heard the loud screeching noise again. It sounded to be coming from the area where Hagrid kept his baby giant Quap. Ginny made a quiet scream, startled by the scream and Harry held her tighter.

"Don't worry," He assured her. "I've heard it before. And I promise I'll protect you from whatever it is." She whispered a "thanks" and adjusted herself in his arms snuggling up to him as they continued walking carefully.

After what seemed like hours, they heard it again, making them both jump.

"Look Harry! Look there!" Ginny said in a loud whisper. Harry focused in the direction she was pointing. There was Snape. Blood all over his mouth.

"Harry!" Said Ginny in a confused voice. "He looks as though he's sucking blood from the air." Ginny murmurred.

"No." Harry said. For he knew what that meant. "He's drinking the blood of a Thestral." Harry said in another undertone.

"What?"

"You can only see them if you've seen death," Harry said quietly and without expression. Ginny turned around to see that Harry, hadn't changed his position behind her, yet he couldn't take his eyes off of Snape.

"Harry? Are you okay?" Ginny said in a concerned tone of voice.

"Yes." Harry said in the same, non-expression voice that frightened Ginny. Suddenly, Snape transformed into a bat and started flapping his wings high into the sky, obviously having had his fill of thestral blood. Harry felt discusted. He and Ginny both gasped very loudly and Harry knew they were doomed. Snape had heard them and his bat eyes looked all around the forest for where the sound came from. Harry and Ginny clasped there hands over their mouths so that Snape wouldn't be able to hear their hard, and afraid breaths.

"He's an Annimagus!" Ginny gasped.

"No." Said Harry grasping her hand. "He's a vampire."

Ginny's eyes grew wide at the thought of her own Potions teacher being an ugly, black, blood sucking, fang-containing, bat. Then Harry remembered his first year. Quirrel had been extremely afraid of Snape, he had worn garlic around his neck several times. It was because he KNEW that Snape was a vampire. It all tied together.

"Let's keep looking for-" The loud screeching noise sounded once again right next to them and they knew it was the Thestral that was making that noise.

"Snape shouldn't be allowed to just kill things like that because he's hungry." Ginny said cautiously.

"He probably isn't." Harry said sorrowfully. "Well at least he chose a Thestral, out of all things. Now, come on let's keep looking for Ron and Hermione."