Ties of Blood
Summery: AU Starting after Fourth year. Harry is down about Cedric but Sirius has been helping him through it. Secrets are revealed and a family is gained. Vampires, Werewolves, and other things to come.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This story is all out of my head and if it happens to be like another story I'm sorry. I myself have not read any other story quite like this. Vanessa and Others are most definitely Mine. Hehehe. Enjoy the story.
Chapter 3
Sirius, seeing that Harry was ready brought his free wrist to his mouth and let his fangs grow out. Using his fangs he cut into his wrist so the blood would flow. He then presented it to his godson. Harry could smell Sirius' blood in front of him. He brought his hands up and took the bleeding wrist into his mouth. He was quickly drinking as much blood as he could.
After a few minutes Sirius gently pulled his wrist away and liked the wound shut. He was now fully supporting a half conscious Harry against his side. Quickly his sister brought her bleeding wrist to Harry who did the same as before. He began drinking again and after a few minutes he was nearly asleep. Adhara brought her wrist away and licked the wound shut. The twins then helped get Harry situated in bed before leaving the room and blissfully out Harry.
Harry woke up around 7 am and was quite ready to get up for breakfast. He had been in bed for days, it was high time he got to walk around again. On that note Harry got out of bed and into his trunk. Pulling out some of Dudley's hand-me-downs he made note that he should go shopping when he had the chance.
After finishing is usual morning bathroom routine and getting ready for the day, he headed down for breakfast. The Weasley's were all staying here so it was no doubt that Mrs. Weasley would have breakfast cooking. Besides the Weasley's, those staying were himself, Sirius of course as he owned the place, Remus, Vanessa, and as of last night, Adhara, Vanessa's mother.
Harry wondered what Hermione was up too. If he recalled what Ron had said when he first woke up, then she would be coming in another week. He couldn't wait to see her. He wanted to trust his friends with his secret but it was a family thing and not just his decision.
Family. That was going to take some getting used to. But Harry sure enjoyed the feeling. He would always see James and Lily Potter as his parents, but not really knowing them was a bit of a drawback. Ever since the end of third year, Harry had started to look at Sirius as a father figure.
Now he was his sire as well as his godfather. He was blood family, just as Adhara and Vanessa were. He would be sure to do them proud. He truly loved Sirius, and Remus was most definitely part his family. The true wolf of the clan.
Hmm. That was an idea. 'I wander if I have an Animagus form, and what it is. Maybe I can get Sirius to agree to teach me. Wonder if Hermione would want to learn. I know Ron would, and mustn't forget about Vanessa. Only one way to find out.'
Harry walked into the kitchen and sat himself besides Ron. He immediately went to filling his plate full of breakfast foods. He was starved after last night. He assumed it was from the turning. Maybe it was done, he felt, complete. 'There is so much I still don't know. I guess today is another lecture day about vampires.'
Not long after Harry had sat down with Remus and the rest of the Weasley's, Sirius, and Vanessa walked through the door, closely followed by Adhara. At the entrance of another person the Weasley's all froze. "Who are you?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"My name is Adhara." She said while sitting down next to Harry with Vanessa sitting on her other side and Sirius sitting down across from her. "She's my twin Arthur." Sirius said to the man. "Don't hassle her, or you won't like what you get in return. That especially goes for the other set of twins in this room."
Fred and George looked over. "Who us?" They asked in unison. "Yes you." Sirius and Adhara answered also in unison. "Ok that is just way too freaky." Ron said. Harry and Vanessa both snickered at the same time, "What is?" They asked in perfect unison, down to the smiles they were wearing. "Stop." Ron moaned. The rest of the table joined in the laughter.
It was Saturday and most of the Old Crowd didn't have anything else going on. Because of this it had been deemed a meeting day. Adhara didn't wish to be seen just yet and so after asking the older Weasley's not to mention her just yet, she and the younger generation went to the upper floors for the rest of the day. They would have one or both of the twins get lunch for everyone when it was time.
Harry had already become attached to his new family. He was quite comfortable with Vanessa and saw her as a sister, while he looked at Adhara as someone who could fill the mother position. He hope that she didn't mind him looking at her that way. Suddenly Adhara came from behind and gave him a tight hug. She then spoke to his mind as they were still close enough to the stairs for those below to hear. 'I am pleased that you already see me as family and I would be happy to be viewed as a mother to you. You have been without nearly all of your life. It is time you had the chance.'
Harry leaned back into her hug and replied. 'Thank you for understanding and allowing me to see you as such.' She smiled down at him. 'We should speak more later. There is much you still need to know.' Harry wryly gave her a mental grin. 'I was actually thinking of that during breakfast. How does this afternoon seem to you?' Adhara let him go and gave a short nod and smile. She then gave him a little push and sent him on his way to catch up to the rest of his friends. She would be spending the day in her room with its mini library. She always loved to read unlike a dear brother of hers.
Harry and the others spent the rest of the morning playing games and enjoying each other's company. Sometime during the middle of the day Hermione arrived with Tonks and joined the rest of the students upstairs. She was of course introduced to Vanessa and told about Adhara. For her part Adhara remained hidden in her room reading a lovely muggle novel she had picked up just the other day. This was the first time she had actually had to sit down and read it. When it was lunchtime she joined the rest of those upstairs. They had all decided to eat on the third floor with Buckbeak.
After lunch Harry, Vanessa, and Adhara looked to the Weasley twins, Ron, and Ginny as if they others wanted some time alone with each other. They thought that is was because Harry was seeing them as family already and they didn't wish to intrude upon them.
Soon after the Weasley's left, Vanessa disappeared to her room to work on going through all of Harry's school books that he had loaned her. She knew they wished to discuss Harry's new heritage and they really didn't need her at the moment. She on the other hand needed to go over what was covered in Hogwarts, if she was to join every one this September.
Harry and Adhara sat down with Buckbeak and got to know each other better. Harry told her more in detail about his life, and she in turn told him how she had first been turned.
"I was turned for much the same reasons as you were Harry. Sirius and I were ten and the family was currently out of the city at one of our larger manors. Just off the grounds was a large ravine with a river running through it. The two of us had gone off to play in the ravine when we met a young boy. I know now he was older than us but at the time he looked about our age. The three of us were having a grand time when it happened.
"We were near the edge of the ravine, at the top of course. A sudden, and very strong, wind came up and managed to tip my balance. Both Sirius and Van tried to grab me but they missed. I fell and broke most of the bones in my body. I guess I was lucky enough not to break neck, though I had a number of ribs go through my lungs. I was dieing.
"Both boys came down as quick as they could, but nothing could stop it. Sirius was crying, as was I. That was when Van asked us if we knew about vampires. Sirius said we knew a little and Van admitted to being one. He asked me if I wanted to live. Said he could turn me but it would be painful. I had very little time to choose. I asked him if the rumors of all vampires being evil were true. He told me no and I believed him. I agreed.
"Sirius watched as Van turned me. He then went back to our manor to get our parents. Van was beside me when they arrived to check me over. I learned later that Sirius had not told them I had been turned. They noticed it anyways. I don't really know how but Sirius once told me that our father had a ring that gave him an aura reading ability like ours. Less of one but still useful. Van was pointed at right away, as he could not hid his nature after turning me, he was still young. I of course was already showing that I had been turned.
"Right there, as I lay still broken on the ground, did they disown me. Threatened my very painful death if I should return or tell anyone I had been their daughter. Adhara Black died falling from a ravine cliff at the age of ten. They then dragged Sirius away from my side as I cried, with only Van to hold me."
All the time Adhara had been speaking, Harry was listening with rapped attention. When she had started he had immediately been drawn in by the story. He could almost see it as it happened, feel the joy and sorrow. It was mind boggling the emotions he could feel. It must be the aura reading ability or something, he thought. Adhara continued with the story.
"As I lay there Van began talking to me. He told me how sorry he was. Somewhere along the line he had started crying with me. After a short while my crying slowed, whether from my exhaustion or the lessoning pain I'm still not sure. Perhaps a bit of both. I heard Van saying he was going to move me to a more sheltered place and then get his family as I blacked out.
"The next thing I know I'm waking up in a bed still unable to move. Van was by my side. He stayed there the whole way through. Taught me about our people, and our heritage, and about the family I was now part of. I was officially adopted by the Togalla family as a stray orphan who Van had met. I didn't see Sirius for four months.
"When I did it was by pure chance. Miriet, Van's mother, had decided to take me shopping on a woman's day out as it was my birthday. We were at Diagon Ally when I saw him. He was getting supplies for Hogwarts but he looked so depressed. I knew he didn't recognize me, as I had been put under a glamour. When he was in the bookstore by himself I pulled him aside. He begged me to take him to Van's mother, and I did.
"When he asked her to turn him she at first refused. She then found out we were twins and didn't want this to separate us. He told that he was going to Hogwarts and that someone could come help him while he was there. She reluctantly agreed and turned him right there. Sirius was ecstatic. Miriet went to Hogwarts once a week for the first year, I occasionally went along as well. And in the end every thing turned out for the best. Now you know how it happened with me. What do you think?" She asked him when she was finally done.
"Wow. How long did it take for you to turn?" Harry asked her. "Three days."
"Then why did it take me longer?" Adhara looked at him. "Well for one thing, you were injured for a length of time before you were turned. For me the injury's had just happened. Older injury's take longer to heal. That healing slowed down your turning."
"Oh, so is that why I needed more blood from Sirius and you?" Harry asked curious about last night. "Yes. As we said before, all new vampires need to feed from their sires the first time. But because you were still in your turning you needed more. It is why it made you so tired. Well I think that is enough for now. Why don't we get the others and head down for dinner with the Order. Hmm?" Harry and Adhara shared a devious smile.
It was at this time that Molly Weasley called for everyone to come down for dinner. All the Order was staying except for a few of the Professors, this included Snape who had left without a word, so no one really made any mention as to the extra place setting. They just figured that it hadn't been removed yet. Little did they know they would be meeting someone new for that setting.
All of the kids came down first. Filling in the gaps between the adults only leaving the seat across from Sirius and Harry empty. It was then that Adhara walked into the main dining room where all of this was to take place.
Now not all had yet heard that Sirius had a niece. It was those who where surprised to see not one new person, sitting next to Harry, but another take the place that had been empty. Every one else but the Weasley's were simply shocked by one new addition.
"Thank you Molly for the place setting. I just know that this will be a wonderful meal." Adhara said into the silence.
"Well hello." Dumbledore said when he laid eyes on the newcomer. "And who might you be?" He could see some resemblance to Sirius and Vanessa and figured she was the mother of the girl. Sirius' twin.
"Adhara Togalla." She said with a mischievous smile. Every one at the table froze and stared at her. "Togalla?" Moody asked, he looked over at Sirius who just smiled and nodded. Hermione looked confused. She seemed to be the only one who didn't know what that name meant and she figured it was because she was a muggle-born.
"What is so important about the name?" She asked Ron. "They are a very large and old family. Very powerful." He answered. "Actually, all told we are considered a clan." Vanessa said in reply. Ron looked a little confused at that but Hermione's eyes widened more than they had been.
"Hun?" Ron asked dumbly. "A clan means that they consider others in their immediate family that don't carry the name. It also means that the clan will have it's own leaders, usually elders, and they can carry out their own rules. Only old family groups can be considered clans as they were formed before the Ministries were established." Hermione explained to him.
"In the wizarding world there are few true clans. Togalla is one. This gives them legal rights over their members without the interference of the ministries unless the elders approve. Most clans have magical creatures in their groups and blood lines as well." Remus added on to the explanation. "How very interesting." Hermione said to that bit of information. She would have to do some more research.
"We heard vampires were starting to join Voldemort," most at the table shuddered, "What of your clan?" Moody asked Adhara. Many at the table gave her a frightened look at the word vampire.
"There are many vampires in our clan. We are no different than humans and will be treated as such." She replied looked at those at the table sternly. "I can tell you now that Togalla will never side with Voldemort. He has caused pain to the clan. He will have to pay for it." She finished, answering Moody's question.
"You're a vampire?" Hermione asked Vanessa and her mother. "Yes we are. Do you have a problem with that?" Vanessa asked the girl she was beginning to see as a friends.
"Of course not. The best Defense teacher we ever had is a werewolf. I think I am open minded enough to find out the good opposed to the bad of each being." Hermione replied with utmost seriousness.
During this exchange Harry was looking around at everyone else. He was happy to see that the others at the table were getting used to sitting down with the two vampires and would try to get to know them before judging them. This made him happy as he was now a vampire. He didn't want those he knew and considered close friends and family to hate him for it.
"Well you told us your name but not who you are or why you are here." Said someone from the other end of the table. It was a member of the order but they had not been there to meet Vanessa either so didn't have any idea who the two woman were. It was just as well for those who thought they knew wanted to be sure.
"Well the answer to that is quite simple. Sirius is my twin, the young woman beside me is Vanessa my daughter, and I'm here to bring Harry into the clan, as well as Sirius as I want my brother cleared of wrongful charges." Adhara replied to the voice.
Dumbledore looked a bit wary when he heard this. He needed Harry, and joining the Togalla clan could disrupt all his well-laid plans. The young man had a job to do, a duty to the light. Though the old Headmaster didn't believe that vampires were all evil, they were still dark creatures. And the Togalla clan was known to be quite independent and possessive of its own. Harry couldn't get involved with the clan.
He would have to figure out a way to keep Harry from getting too attached to the clan. It would cause him to loose control of the still pliable boy. Sirius was getting to be a problem in that regard as well. He never did follow orders well, even if Azkaban had helped with that to some extant, it still wasn't enough. Just take him getting Vanessa to stay.
Now that Sirius had his sister and niece as well as Harry it would be harder to keep him in line. Perhaps he could get Remus to help him keep Sirius under control. Harry must not get over involved with any dark creatures and Remus was too afraid of hurting James' son to get too close. It seemed to be the best option.
The rest of the table was happily getting to know Adhara as dinner recommenced. There were only three who seeded to notice Dumbledore's slightly darkening of mood. Sirius, Remus and a hidden Moody all took note, even if only one could read deeper into the cause than the other two. Sirius caught Remus' eye and they both nodded slightly to each other. It was going to be an interesting conversation later tonight about this. Moody took note of the nod and vowed to himself to keep an eye on all of them. Magic eyes were wonderful for such. To bad he had to lose a real one to get it.
Sirius and Remus had just finished relaying their thoughts on Dumbledore's mood to the rest of their small family. Harry was curled up in his bed with Vanessa curled at his side with a second blanket around her. Sirius and Adhara were making up for lost time by leaning against each other as twins will do. Remus was sitting in a chair next to the two younger members.
"Why didn't you just say something about it telepathically?" Harry asked.
"On occasion telepathic messages can be heard by very strong wizards like Dumbledore. Or those who have very extensive practice in mind arts, as Dumbledore, and Voldemort do." Adhara said to him. "The good thing is that it is only possible for the receiver to hear the massage. So lets say that Dumbledore was standing near me when you sent me a message. He would not be able to hear it. But, if Dumbledore was standing next to you when you sent me a message he would know what you had said." Sirius said to him. "Get it?"
Harry nodded. "Yea, I think so. That means I can't really send you any massages during school because Snape and Dumbledore are both there. What about Vanessa? Dumbledore already knows she's telepathic." Vanessa's eyes widened at that thought. "That is really going to stink." She said. "I can't talk through telepathy either because it would be to easy for Dumbledore to find out about you, mum, and Uncle Sirius."
Adhara smiled. "You'll deal with it. Now as to you going to Hogwarts this fall, I think it is a great idea and I have already put it into the works. I have gone behind Dumbledore's back and had you entered in as a transfer by the Board of Governors. The Headmaster won't find out till a day before term starts. He will not be able to do anything but have you sorted along with the first years." She continued looking smug.
Remus chuckled. "This is going to be a fun year. I can tell." Harry and Vanessa smiled evilly at that statement. Sirius and Adhara both saw this and with a sly look at each other they broke out laughing. Fun indeed.
AN/ Hello all. This is just a small note to let you know that I am not giving this story up by a long means, BUT I will be out of Internet reach for about two months starting June 14th. I am to be working on Isle Royal in Michigan and though I will be working on my stories, both of them, they will not get updated till I get back. I do hope to have more that just one new chapter done though so lucky you. Later all and have a great summer. Dragon Foxx