Chapter Five

The Facts

Draco patted Harry's hand comfortingly. The Vampyr was in his natural form now, bruises and all, though most of those had diminished after having Severus treat them. Though, in truth, Severus had remarked that it was really Harry's natural Vampyric abilities that was causing the healing, even now, as Draco watched the boy carefully, the bruises seemed to be slowly fading.

Severus had settled into his own seat across from his two students and was watching them with calculating eyes. "I believe that those bruises should be completely faded by tonight Mr. Potter," he said calmly. Harry just inclined his head. Draco frowned. Harry had been eerily quiet after having Severus heal him. The Slytherin supposed that it was just shock from someone actively taking an interest in his welfare.

"Mr. Potter, I do not want you to think, even for one moment, that we are done talking about these problems of yours," Severus said, and Harry tensed up. "But....I do believe that you need some time to acclimate yourself to the situation, so we that discussion will not take place tonight."

Harry sighed in relief, though Severus shot him a scathing look. "On to other matters," Severus spoke again, his voice taking on a much more professional tone, "as I said before you will need to be here on Saturday for Draco's transformation. I expect you to use those five days until then to read these books."

He picked out half a dozen books from his bookshelves and plopped them into Harry's hands. "They will prepare you in case you reach your inheritance on that day as well."

Harry nodded, scanning the books over quickly. Draco looked over the Gryffindor's shoulder and whistled appreciatively.

"Where did you get Vampyr: The Forgotten Ones? That book is supposed to be one of like, what, ten?"

"I have my connections Draco," Snape snapped.

Harry stood, "Professor, if you wouldn't mind taking this magical binding off?"

Severus looked at it cautiously. "Do you think yourself capable of controlling your magic Mr. Potter?"

Harry hung his head. "Yes sir, I apologize for my outburst the other day."

Snape sighed, "There is nothing to apologize for Mr. Potter, though it pains me to say it. You had every right to be emotional. I will take off the binding."

Snape touched his wand to the band and it fell off, Harry massaged the place where it had been, feeling the magic run through his body again. It pushed at the surface of his mind, but the Gryffindor fought it down, feeling it settle finally in the place where it usually did.

Harry turned on his heal, grabbed his books, placed the glamour on himself again, and walked away.

Harry spent much of the next week reading. Some of the passages enticed him to no end. He was particularly fascinated with the book Draco had mentioned. It was the only tomb on Vampyrs that Snape had given him. One passage in particular fascinated him.

Vampyric history, and the disappearance of the true creatures of the night

Vampyrs appeared openly to the wizarding world for the first time in the early nineteen hundreds. The first ever recorded Vampyr to date stands as a Vampyr by the name of Saetan Lupine. Unlike most magical creatures, Lupine not only appeared in the Wizarding world, but also in the Muggle world. In fact, he survives as a legend there even today, existing by the name of "Satan" or the devil, the demon usually categorized with hell-a place of eternal death and torture.

Lupine never revealed his origins and eventually other Vampyrs appeared on the scene. Though Vampyrs don't seem to be particularly social beings, all of those Vampyrs seemed to regard Lupine in high esteem, perhaps as royalty. Indeed, most actions that the Vampyrs ever made in the Wizarding World seemed to have come only by his approval.

After the rise of the Dark Lord Grindelwald, whom which most of the Vampyrs seemed to support, and the subsequent huntings and extermination of most of the known Vampyrs, the race seemed to disappear. Surprisingly or perhaps not, Lupine was never one of the ones killed, nor was he ever documented as following Grindelwald. Since that time there hasn't been a recorded sighting of a Vampyr.

Harry had need a little while to mull those facts over after having read them. It took him a second or two to accept that he was going to be virtually alone as a Vampyr. He had always thought that another Vampyr might show up and show him the ways, now it seemed as though that was an impossibility. In fact, Harry himself was going to be the first known Vampyr in decades.

These thoughts were quickly pushed out of his head though when he read the next passage.

Vampyric Inheritance

Most full-blooded, or even part-blood Vampyrs come into their inheritance around the age of sixteen. The transition is believed to be very painful. Though every Vampyr's gifts vary, all Vampyrs inherit body-length wings, the feathers usually resembling the bearers hair color. These wings supposedly can hold a full grown Vampyr in flight and have been known to be able to be retracted.

Most Vampyrs undergo a surge in magical powers, and some Vampyrs have been known to cast wandless magic. Vampyrs commonly come into specific gifts at the age of their inheritance, usually gifts that their parents also possess. Documented gifts have included telepathy, invisibility, and an increase in physical strength and stamina. All Vampyrs have the ability to talk to one another mind-to-mind.

Vampyrs are believed to be one of the long-lived species of magical creatures. In fact, a Vampyr has never been known to die from natural means. The average lifespan for a Vampyr is unknown, as Vampyrs are very secretive creatures, but it is speculated that they may never die.

Harry wondered if he too would be immortal or if only full-blooded Vampyrs possessed that longevity, the book didn't say so he had no way of knowing. Deciding that he had spent quite enough time on that book he looked at the next:

Elves: Caretakers of the Earth.

Elvin Appearance and Inheritance

Elves are most often categorized by their pointed ears and tall, seemly bodies. It has been long noted that Elves have an affinity with nature, which accounts for most Elves having some form of elemental magic (water, earth, fire, air), though most can wield only one type. There have been some known instances of extremely powerful Elves being able to wield more than one (usually water and air or earth and fire), but no Elf has ever been known to wield more than two.

Elves are one of the only types of magical creatures in which the part-Blooded of the species possess the same abilities and usually some of the appearance as well. However, Elves have never been good breeders, and over the centuries they have dwindled and are at present dangerously close to extinction.

Most Elves come into their inheritance in their twentieth year or so, though if part-Bloods possess other magical creature blood, they may come into their inheritance earlier. During this period of time, the adolescent elves will experience enormous mood swings, and within weeks of their transformations (in which they gain their physical attributes), they will begin to become attuned to nature. This is a particularly dangerous time for any Elf, as they will need to learn to adjust to the changes in nature. This is also the period of time that they will gain their elemental magic, if they so possess any.

Other Elvin abilities include telepathy and empathy, which is most probably related to their close attachment with nature.

Harry blinked. Then he blinked again. And then he reread the passage. Then he thought.

That Elves would be empathic made sense to Harry, as did the attunement with nature, and the empathic abilities, which accounted for Harry being able to sense others feelings, especially those he was close to. He turned to the book on Veela.

Veela: Beautiful Sirens or Dangerous Beasts

Veela have become almost synonymous with beauty in the modern times. This has led to the subsequent hunting and enslavement of most Veela. Veela have become, far from the history of the old days, possessions of the utmost value. When a Veela of exceptional beauty comes into their inheritance, they must be very careful as they will be carefully hunted.

While Veela are beautiful, they can also be dangerous if provoked. Most full-blooded and part-blooded Veela have a second form, which is often described as an angry, sharp-beaked bird, that is a far cry from Veela's beautiful selves.

When a Veela comes into inheritance, around the age of sixteen, they will find not only that their nails and hair have taken on a luster, and that their teeth have formed fangs, but also that their very voices have chanced and become more melodious, and more lulling. Most Veela's are capable of the "Veela Song" right after puberty. The "Veela Song" is an enchantment that can immediately put any wizard asleep.

If provoked, a Veela's bite can be poisonous, and the poison that a Veela possesses does not have a cure. However, if a Veela should bite in lust or love, usually with their mate, it will not be poisonous.

Both part-blooded and full-blooded Veela will require a mate when they reach inheritance, however if a part-blooded Veela also possesses other magical creature blood (such as Elvin or pixie for example), then there is the possibility that the Veela will be able to control that urge to find a mate, and it will not be dangerous to them.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He had been wondering if he too would be facing the same problem as Malfoy ever since he had heard that he had Veela blood.

No, Harry would not have to mate.

At least not right away.

I know it wasn't a very exciting chapter, but it was really just a filler. Next chapter's the transformation and it's all ready and written, so be good and review and I'll update.

By the way, I did some calculations, deciding the potency of the magical creature in James family and came up with results/percentages for Harry's blood. I don't have my notebook with me so I won't post it right now today, but I'll post it probably after the break, but you may have to wait a few chapters.

P.S. For those of you who asked I live in America now, but I was born in England, and have lived in France and Ireland as well.