Chapter 24: Back to Hogwarts

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER.

Harry and Mary sat in one compartment while Rose and Ron said bye to Ms. Lamya and looked for Hermione. That's right they were going back to Hogwarts. It had been two days since Mary had told them about her being a Vampire. They hadn't spoken much about it but she knew she had to tell Hermione and that would bring up the subject.

Mary sighed and picked her head up off of Harry's shoulder where it had been resting.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked. Mary smiled weakly.

"Nothing, what makes you think something is wrong?" Mary asked.

"Mary," Harry sighed.

"I'm just still thinking about what happened two days ago." Mary said darkly.

"Are you going to tell Hermione?" Harry asked.

"I'm going to have to. She is smart she'll figure it out and I don't want to put you, Ron, or Rose in a position you guys wouldn't want to be in." Mary said. She then got up and pulled her headphones and walkman out of her trunk. She turned her CD to 11 and laid her head on Harry shoulder again. "They found Hermione." Mary said after a few moments of silence. Harry looked at her shocked.

"How did you know?" Harry asked.

"I will tell all of you when everyone comes and the train starts." Mary said wanting to be sure they weren't about to be overheard. Ron, Rose, and Hermione came back but Hermione wasn't alone. Terry Boot was with her. Mary shivered.

"Hi Mary, hi Harry," She said merrily. "You guys know Terry right?"

"Yeah," Harry said and Mary just nodded. Harry ran his fingers through Mary's hair. "Err, Hermione." Harry started thinking about how he would tell Hermione that Terry had to leave.

"Yes?" Hermione asked.

"Terry," Mary interrupted directing this comment to Terry, "I wanted to speak with my friends privately for a while. Is it okay if you left for a bit. When I am through speaking with my friends Hermione will come get you okay?" Mary asked. Terry nodded.

"I'll go find my friends." Terry said and kissed Hermione goodbye. When he was gone Hermione looked at Mary,

"That was rude." She said.

"Mary had a reason for why she said that." Rose said. "Sit down." They all sat and Mary magically locked the door and cast a spell around the compartment so no one could hear them.

"Where to start?" Mary sighed putting her head in her hands, in thought. "Well," Mary began. "I'm a Vampire." She said simply. Hermione stared at her for a while. Then she began laughing.

"Very funny joke Mary now what were you really going to say?" Hermione laughed.

"I'm serious I am a Vampire." Mary replied. "If you don't believe me ask any staff member at Hogwarts. Dumbeldore had to tell them when I was enrolled into Hogwarts."

"You really are serious. Oh my gosh, Mary." Hermione said in a bit higher then a whisper voice. Hermione went over and gave Mary a hug.

"Mary?" Rose asked.

"Yes?" Mary asked back.

"How come you can be out in the sun?" She asked. To Rose's well everyone's surprise Mary laughed.

"I asked that same question when the Healers told me I was a Vampire." Mary laughed. "There were lights on almost everywhere and the blinds were open. It would have been very funny actually, if it hadn't been for that matter. I know you guys read in Defense against Dark Arts about Vampires. I was present for most of those classes." Mary shuttered remembering how scared she had been. "There are different types of Vampires. I am the type that can stop themselves from wanting to drink blood from the first human I see each night. As long as I drink my potion at the right time each morning and as long as I don't get mad. If I get mad," Mary's voice trailed off and she shivered. "Anyway," She said after a bit of silence. "I can be out in the sunlight and I can have lots of lights on but as much as I hate having to admit it, I feel better in the dark." Mary shivered again.

"I have other powers though. One you guys already know." Mary continued. "These powers are not connected to my being a Vampire. I'm not sure if I should be thankful or not for that." She sighed. "I can turn invisible that you guys already know. I can also sense the presence of people. That is how I know that Ron and Rose had found Hermione." Mary directed this comment to Harry. "I don't know how I got those powers. I'm not even sure I've had them my whole life. I just know that whenever I use them I feel calm. It scares me sometimes and sometimes it doesn't." Mary said half confused with herself. "I think that is all I need to tell you." Mary sighed and leaned against Harry who kissed her head and allowed her to rest her head on his shoulder. Everyone was silenced then Mary spoke again.

"Don't tell anyone please. If you do I think I may be expelled. I'm breaking the rules by telling you but well after everything that happened I had to," Mary prattled.

"What happened?" Hermione asked and for the first time realized how pale Mary looked. Mary let Ron, Rose, and Harry tell the story of what had happened two days ago. Mary stared out the window and the fast moving landscape. 'They now know. I don't have to keep a secret from them anymore, so why do I feel bad?'

Hermione got up after the story was completed and went to find Terry. Mary placed the headphones on her ears and drowned herself in the music blocking everyone out. Mary fell asleep and Harry didn't seem to mind. He was deep in thought. He had tried not to think about it for a while but the thought kept haunting her. 'Mary's last name is Black. She's a witch. She could be related to Sirius.' Harry pushed the thought away. The mention of his godfathers name brought unwanted memories back. The lady with the food trolley came. Harry got some stuff as usual. Mary woke up at this time but didn't eat. She wasn't hungry. Terry kept looking over at Mary. He had joined Hermione in the compartment while Mary was asleep.

"Hermione tell your boyfriend to stop staring at me." Mary said annoyed. Terry stopped looking over at her and continued talking to Hermione. They were talking about boring school, of course.

Mary fingered her necklace. For some reason Terry made her nervous. Mary groaned as she sensed Draco Malfoy coming towards their compartment. She told Harry in a low voice so Terry couldn't hear. About two minutes later the compartment door slid open. Mary and Harry jumped to their feet. Mary whipped out her wand fast.

"What's all this about?" Draco asked innocently. "Can't a guy come talk to his favorite cousin?"

Mary laughed meanly. "I'm your favorite cousin then? Well I'm truly sorry to tell you this but I hate you." Mary said the 'truly sorry' part sarcastically.

"Get out of here." Rose said. Ron, Rose, Terry, and Hermione were now standing.

"I don't think I will. It's quite nice here." Draco said pushing Rose aside.

"She said get the hell out of here ferret boy." Ron said defending Rose. At the same time Ron and Mary yelled a curse resulting in something very, very odd. Malfoy ran out of the compartment. Mary high-fived Ron and then sat back down.

"Normally I'd say, 'why does he always have to bug us' but that was sort of fun." Mary laughed.

"Speak for yourself I have Malfoy germs." Rose said in disgust. Everyone laughed. After about five minutes, Terry left to go speak with his friends from Ravenclaw. A short while later they had arrived at Hogwarts.

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