Harry awoke in the Infirmary, with the aftertaste of potion in his mouth.
"You were very lucky, Mr. Potter. Another few minutes and you wouldn't be here anymore," Madam Pomphrey said, standing over his bed.
"What happened?"
"Somebody spiked your drink with vampire poison," Ginny answered.
Harry began coughing, "Did you see who it was?"
"Yes, but he ran out before I could catch him."
"Could you tell if he was a vampire?"
"He was."
Ginny watched Harry's face pale, "Harry, are you okay?"
He appeared not to have heard her, "But the only vampire who would come near Hogwarts is…"
He suddenly stood up out of bed, "Harry, lay down!"
"Ginny, I've got to go."
"Harry, you have to lie down."
"I've got to go, Ginny," Harry said and walked around her.
"Harry!" Ginny squeezed his hand, "Be careful."
"I'll try."
XXX
Harry glanced about furtively. This was not supposed to be happening. If he'd known what that bastard was going to do, he would've killed him when he had the chance.
You don't mean that, he told himself.
I'm to freaked to care right now, he countered.
Harry shook his head and concentrated on the task at hand. Getting out of the castle.
Not that it would be hard, he reasoned, he just needed to find a place to get out quietly. The one-eyed witch's passage would do.
He slipped down the passage, finding it more difficult than he remembered.
He breathed a sigh as he reached the bottom.
This would hurt later, he thought as he spoke the word.
XXX
He appeared outside the Hogs Head and walked in. He spoke to the bar tender, "You know where I can find Bartholomew?"
The bartender stopped wiping out a glass and said, "Out back."
Harry nodded and walked out. There he found Bartholomew, drinking rum and avoiding the sunlight, "Harry!" he said, "Good to see you!"
"How've you been, Bart?"
"You know, staying out of the sun, having a couple a drinks—"
"Poisoning me?"
He looked up in surprise, "You? That was for you? I didn't know man, it was just business. I needed some money."
"So you let them milk your teeth?"
"I was asleep when they did it, mate. Didn't feel a thing."
"I can't believe this. You sell that stuff? Like, on the black market?"
"Not many people want to hire a vampire, Harry…or a werewolf, for that matter."
Harry put his hands over his ears, "Don't say that!"
"Its true Harry," Bartholomew began to mesmerize him, "No job, no friends, you'll lose all your money and that little girlfriend of yours too."
"No! It's not true!"
"But it is Harry. It is."
XXX
Harry woke up somewhere in the Forbidden Forest, his head splitting in two. He groaned and stood up. Walking was bearable, but he knew he couldn't walk if he couldn't see the trees. He found his wand, still intact, thank God, and sent red sparks into the air. He hoped he would be found soon.
He sat down against what he hoped was a tree and passed out again.
XXX