A Second Chance at Life Chapter 34, a harry potter fanfic

A Second Chance at Life is now being translated into French by the immensely talented Eirame! You can check out her translation on her account.

Many many thanks to everyone who reviewed, you kept me going while I didn't have time to write and was going crazy with excess plot ideas that I couldn't type up.

Chapter 34

Over the next few days Daray worked with Namach and the headmistress to keep control over his demon form. Long meditation session and work to block the demon into a tiny corner of his mind, while also trying to shed aside the advancing magics into other areas to slow it. Whatever they were doing it seemed to work, and Daray kept control of his form. He recovered quickly from the vicious torture and much to Rahkesh's surprise it seemed to have helped his control. Whatever Namach had done had worked, though the methods were rather gruesome.

Surprisingly having an uncontrollable demon raging in him calmed the vampire, as if the danger pushed his mind calmer and calmer as it got harder to hold on. Rahkesh noticed a decrease in the numbers of fights Daray had with other students, vampire or otherwise.

However the one poor fool vampire who mistook the almost-tranquility for meekness and tried to get at Daray's blood while he seemed to be slower than usual wound up with acids dumped into his eyes and several yards of intestine removed. While Daray didn't pick fights anymore his viciousness towards anyone who attacked him increased dramatically, probably a response to not feeling in top form.

Rahkesh kept an eye on his friend's behavior, finding it interesting to watch the changes, and a little dangerous. Silas complained that he smelled different, and the werewolves had apparently noticed as well, though Rahkesh didn't. However everyone kept their observations to themselves, and so most of the mortal students and veela weren't aware of anything. Though the fae abruptly started keeping away from Daray. Which annoyed Daray no end – he had a liking for fae blood and Rahkesh knew he occasionally fed on the weaker fae who couldn't fight well enough to get away. However given that a good fight got the demon riled up he stopped feeding on the better fae, temporarily. Namach believed, and so did the headmistress, that a demon would only transform if the environmental conditions were right. The transformation would initially cause great weakness from the use and transformation of so much magic. And it wouldn't be a good survival strategy to do that in a bad time. Nvara was working on a program that would hopefully help Daray to trick his demon into thinking that it was a vary bad time, and stall it.

While Daray struggled with his demon side Rahkesh searched for Sharahak. The vampire-turned-demon would be well over a thousand years old, and no one knew the exact demon life span. It was likely that he had died of old age, but Rahkesh wasn't ready to give up just yet. It was very possible that enough of Sharahak's vampire magics had remained to delay aging, or keep him immortal.

He attempted to find a telepathic link with the demon, but meditation sessions left him with only his own mind…and the ever present darkness lurking about from the connection with Voldemort. Rahkesh supposed that the demon's link might have wanted darker company and set up nearer to that, but he was too thankful of the peace he'd gotten from that old wound lately and didn't try tapping on it any. He was friends with Sharahak, and enemies with Voldemort, Sharahak owned him a debt, Voldemort wanted him dead, the two were not likely to be able to coexist easily.

That Sharahak still carried the tiny diamond vial of blood Rahkesh had given him was certain. The vampire turned demon would never have taken it off and so long as he lived it was very nearly indestructible. Rahkesh knew the proper method for summoning Sharahak, but the connection that should have existed did not, meaning that it was unlikely Sharahak would be able to hear or sense him at all.

Namach had proposed that Sharahak might be in another universe, parallel reality, had time traveled before Rahkesh's birth, or was in one of the areas like Akren, which existed outside of the world, between spaces. Sometimes bloodmagic did not work between individuals in different places in that situation, though it shouldn't have taken away the connection. Any of those worried Rahkesh, recalling how the record keeper had been terrified of the elves finding out about full demons in the world. He also knew that it could mean that Sharahak was somehow in the demon realm, sent there of his own will or by someone else, and that had snapped the connection. Or possibly, was dead. Rahkesh doubted he was dead, he thought he would be able to tell if he was. He knew Sharahak was alive, he couldn't say how, but it seemed to be a message from his magics and blood, and so he knew it had to be true.

"I don't know what to tell you then, I may know an awful lot more than most about vampiric blood debts, simply because they are bloodmagic, but this is very unusual." Namach said, frowning into a diamond and gold goblet of blood. A bottle labeled Rasputin sat on the table in front of him. Namach had what often seemed to be an endless store of blood from well-known historical figures. And he pulled it out whenever other vampires dropped by. A status thing possibly, Rahkesh had never asked, occasionally the answers to his questions about seemingly innocent bits of vampire etiquette or custom drew answers he'd rather not have heard. Mariah had just been there giving some advice on whether or not dragon magic would have affected the link at all. She doubted it, having seen dragons form that type of bond before. If dragons formed bonds based on life debts then their magic would never attack such a link, even if it had been altered and locked into a human. Across the coffee table from Namach, Rahkesh swirled the tea in his own cup around and tried to come up with some other solution.

"Would it be possible to use bloodmagic to trace his path?"

"Where he went after you saved his life, every movement he made until the present? Yes, unless he went back in time, then you'd stop at the time where he is. The problems are loosing your own mind tracing that, getting your mind stuck in whatever time he's in, or whatever place, and your body here. Clearly that would kill you, the separation isn't sustainable across times. You might get your magic attached to the link and being turned into a muggle when it all got sucked away into other times, creating a massive vortex of unattached magic in the past and thereby possibly erasing the present. Getting caught in his mind, getting caught in the demonic magics, the only way out would be death. Or winding the blood debt too deeply into both of you and accidentally creating a life bond – which I doubt either of you wants and therefore it would probably kill you both." Namach agreed, and listed off the dangers, Rahkesh realized he'd probably already thought of that idea. Bloodmagic was definitely out, none of those sounded remotely possible much less survivable.

"You still think finding Auzric is our best chance?" He asked. Namach nodded slowly.

"Yes. The demons he called were not killed; they existed here for some time. They were here at least long enough that he would have seen at minimum one metamorphosis and possibly more. From his memories we can piece together what happens, even if he doesn't know anything about it. If we can find the location I, or a few friends of mine, may be able to pull out the place's memory the memory of the demonic magics – this universe remembers demon magic after it's over because demons did not originate in this universe, they came from somewhere else, and so places hold an echo long after the demons have left." Namach explained.

"Great, they're not just demons they're also aliens." Rahkesh muttered, bloody wonderful. Did Daray know? Perhaps he should get his friend an alien costume, muggle stores had them.

"No, aliens come from other planets, in the definition you're thinking of. Demons came from another universe entirely." Namach corrected. "Now Goblins came from another planet. And, now that I think of it, the elves came from somewhere else too, they aren't native to Earth either, but they also came from another universe rather than a nearby planet." He grinned at Rahkesh's wide eyes. "Human aren't native either." He added, purposefully timing it so that Rahkesh choked on his tea in shock. "Your evolutionary ancestors were brought here, magically bound into an existing gene pool on Earth by the elves. They're not sharing the exact process by which they did that, but they did at one point tell us it happened." While Rahkesh coughed and glared the ancient vampire shot him another dark grin and continued, "Cyala has some of her family looking for Auzric, being good at what they do they're very good at finding people who are hiding."

"What if he's not hiding of his own will?"

"That would be more of a problem." Namach replied, a severe understatement. If the elves were keeping Auzric locked away somewhere, then the vampires would probably try to get him out, unless he had somehow wronged the elves. Species loyalty demanded it, even if it might have apocalyptic results. "Don't you worry over the consequences of that. If that is the case I will not allow it to become widely known, I've lived a long time and I don't feel like having someone end my existence for me."

"I however, have no intention of seeing one of mine die just because the elves are being fussy. If they're keeping Auzric I'll get him back." Cyala Ateres said firmly. Rahkesh forced himself not to jump, he hadn't heard her enter. Eli the magical frill-neck followed her in, rubbing his scaly head against her legs like a cat. The big lizard snarled warningly at Rahkesh, and Rahkesh quickly moved his feet so the lizard could pass, and then dodged Eli's spiked tail as it flicked up towards his eyes.

"Beast ought to spend a few weeks in obedience schooling." He grouched. Namach looked like was about to agree, but then Eli turned and gave his master as much a puppy-dog eyed look as a lizard could manage. Namach shrugged and picked him up, settling Eli onto the couch beside him and petting his frilled neck.

"I thought you were abducting the last of the trainee aurors?" Namach asked, handing Cyala a glass of blood, she waved it away.

"I don't care for Rasputin much." She said, Namach shrugged and put it aside. "We got the last of them this morning."

"What happened?" Rahkesh asked, Moody had informed him of the planned attack on the training center. But that was supposed to have been days ago. Moody hadn't mentioned problems. Daniel the werewolf had said something, but it hadn't sounded serious. Everyone, it seemed, was closely following what was happening.

"A few of them made it into the basement and walled themselves off in some old cell blocks. The wards on the cell blocks were done a long time ago; possibly over a thousand years ago and possibly done by an Akren graduate. Back when Akren recruiters didn't get arrested or executed for recruiting in European schools."

"Thread magic wards?" Namach asked.

"Yes, three layers, no interconnection at all, different weavers for each. Getting through took a while. My brood has a few that excel in thread magic, but the best two were on assignment in Japan." Cyala explained. Rahkesh might not be able to do thread magic, but that hadn't stopped him from reading a book on it. If one person had created all three layers of wards then the wards would be connected, though only a little bit. And damaging one would cause slight damage to all. Having three different creators ensured that each layer had to be broken individually.

"Next on the list is?"

"We were planning on the Unspeakables, however we received a communication requesting an extra few days for them to get out of the country with their families. Apparently a whole crowd of them want to take off and need a bit more time." Cyala said, "Lord Hadrian agreed. We're planning a few raids on some night clubs that we known are a haven for vampire-hating witches and wizards. There're a lot of anti-vampire groups, and of course they like to gather to discuss how much they hate us blood drinkers. Actually there are several anti vampire cult-like groups emerging that have everyone very worried. They're very violent and not just towards vampires, but to anyone who doesn't hate us as much as they do. Young people, male mostly, who want authority and are finding being anti-vampire a good rallying point."

"Of course the worry isn't over whether they can harm you so much as them harming other mortals." Rahkesh said.

"Yes, a lot of people can't or won't leave, but aren't part of these groups. And people planning to leave are becoming targets, traitors to the cause and so on." Cyala agreed.

Rahkesh focused on Eli, trying not to let his worry show. It was summer and while the Akren "official" break hadn't started yet Hogwarts was closed and Ron had graduated. A legal adult now he would not be surprised if Ron was to be found these days circulating in the anti-vampire groups. Probably bragging to anybody who'd listen about what he was going to do to the vampires. Being oblivious he wouldn't hear warning and wouldn't notice anyone trying to use and manipulate him. He would be easy prey for groups looking for cannon fodder in their fights. Tell Ron he'd be a hero, throw him at the vampires, and if he managed to do some damage all the better, if he didn't, no loss.

Hermione had tried her hardest to keep tabs on Ron. But she wasn't comfortable with his new group, or any of the things he said and did. Plus now that most schools were out she was working on the program to get students out of Europe. She'd sent him word by way of Moody that she'd stopped accompanying Ron around, saying that his activities bother her too much. She hadn't specified anything, and Rahkesh was planning to visit during his break to see how she was faring and what she'd meant. Hermione had mentioned that Molly Weasely was upset with Ron's behavior and angry at him and Ginny had stopped talking to her brother. Ron didn't know Ginny would be attending Salem Academy in the fall instead of Hogwarts, and Arthur had quietly called Fred, George, and Bill home for that conversation. He'd invited Harry as well, but Rahkesh wondered if Harry's presence wouldn't just make things worse. He was however very worried about Ginny. Ron wouldn't take well to her going to a vampire-friendly country for school, and when Ron got irrational he did things he shouldn't. He could become dangerous and while Rahkesh knew Ginny could probably kick her brother's ass he was more worried about Ron's new friends, whoever they were.

Off to the side, on a woven mat near the wall, Daray suddenly woke out of the meditative trance Namach had sent him into a half hour earlier. The demon glanced over his shoulder at them and raised an eyebrow at his grandmother. Stretching he transformed back into a vampire. Eli growled softly, Rahkesh personally thought that the frill-neck had a problem with other magical reptiles. He'd been caught pouncing on Marluck's fire salamander (again) not two days before.

"Any progress?" Cyala asked. Daray growled and shook his head.

"No not really. My skin itches, like it doesn't fit right." He said, sitting down and accepting the potion Namach handed him. It smelled like rotting flesh and was neon purple.

"Rahkesh you've been working with an alumnus over there on their dark wizard problem, is he a part of their ministry?" Cyala asked.

"Yes. He was once one of their best aurors. Alastor Moody." Rahkesh answered.

"We need to do some reconnaissance in the Ministry buildings, do you think he would be willing to help?"

"At this point he'd probably be willing to do anything to mess with the Ministry." Rahkesh said with a chuckle, and a wince at the idea of Cyala Ateres and her band plotting with the trigger-happy paranoid auror. "I'll ask him if he would mind a visit from you, best get him to disable his wards first. I think he'll agree. So long as he has time for his plans. He's gathering forces for some major moves against Voldemort."

"Excellent. The werewolves are starting to get their act together and have said they're willing to commit to a fight against this Voldemort. And then deal with the various European governments in need of disposal. Elvira (Rianae's mother) says we can expect a similar response from the fae native to Europe. The ones from other places may prefer to wait a bit. The vampires seem to be in favor of actual offensive opposition but we're having some issues with multiple old ones in the same territory. There's a reason we don't gather much, many of us don't get along and don't want certain others in our territories." Cyala said.

That of course was just usual vampiric territoriality, they were after all predators and being territorial was second nature. However getting top many old ones in close proximity was unwise unless there was the threat of retribution from ancients like Namach to keep everyone suitably in line.

"How long is a decision going to take?" Rahkesh asked.

"We're holding another brief meeting tonight. Partially to discuss how to choose what young ones we leave alive, what criteria we establish for killing mortals on the battlefield, rules when in another's territory, stuff like that." Cyala said, she and Namach shared a distinctly unenthusiastic look. Daray snickered. "The more extreme anti-mortal elements are going to be a problem, and will likely refuse to help outside their territory until an agreement is reached. As will those who are overly fond of mortals. Having the two sides at a table when discussing battle and enslavement/torture rules for captives is occasionally entertaining. We may have to kill one or two to get the rest to leave their more radical ideas aside and negotiate at all."

"My sympathies." Rahkesh said, he could image how nasty those discussions would get.

"Can we get that in video?" Daray requested, and received scowls from both older vampires. "For educational purposes." He tried again, Cyala blinked, and slowly shook her head.

"I don't know what you'd expect to see, vampires fighting."

"Maybe some new curses." Daray suggested.

"Hmph. Perhaps." Daray let it drop.

"What other magical creatures are choosing sides?" Rahkesh asked. The centaurs had already announced themselves ready for a violent opposition of Voldemort and anyone who tried to place any sort of restrictions on them. But there was a current silence from the other magical beings.

"The veela held a secret conclave two nights ago. Voldemort made them an offer, and while pureblood supremacists are less likely to complain about them because of their beauty they've not been treated well lately. They're in a tough spot and have secretly sent out a message that they're willing to actively side with anyone opposing Voldemort and the current anti-magical creature laws. " Cyala told him.

"Why have the veela agreed? They haven't been outlawed yet."

"No but there have been restrictions imposed. Especially on their right to transform. There's talk of permanent magical restraints so that they can't transform They're being treated like dirt and they're getting very worried, they've been keeping to themselves because no one will hire them, except as whores, they're sex appeal is working against them." Namach explained. "Seems everyone's forgotten that not only do they transform, but they can be damn dangerous when pissed." The two vampires chuckled.

XXXX

When Rahkesh arrived back in his rooms he immediately noticed that the framed sheet of hippocampus hair on his dresser was glowing. Flicking a drop on blood onto it he watched as the image rippled outwards to fill the frame, showing a very cheerful looking Mad Eye.

"Siraka just called." Moody said, holding up a tiny cellphone. "She's ready."

"I'll be there tonight, seven." Rahkesh replied. Moody nodded and cut the connection.

Rahkesh had left another phone in the woods not far from Voldemort's underground fortress. Teaching his snake spy Siraka to dial a number hadn't been hard. Morse code in hisses had been a little more difficult. Her instructions had been to call Moody when she was ready to take out Nagini.

Rahkesh cut his end off, and then realized that he was going to be back home during the vampire meeting, he'd have to lock down on his magical signature. He didn't need a curious vampire finding out anything just yet. Andrew Farov might know what moody was doing, but that was doubtful, he'd helped them once but Moody claimed that he'd lied through his teeth about what it was actually for. With Farov probably out none of the old ones knew what was actually going on.

Siraka was a nonmagical snake, and so Rahkesh didn't expect her to kill Nagini on her own, he had found another way. The Akren library had books on horcruxes, apparently the hideous devices hadn't been all that uncommon at one point. They were all destructible, but a person who knew their own magic very well could structure that weakness to make it difficult. Since it was unlikely that Voldemort had known that he was not the world's only parseltongue at the time of Nagini's creation Rahkesh had guessed that he had worked the magics so that only parseltongue magic could do anything to the giant serpent. That way the only person capable of using magic on her was Voldemort. Voldemort had probably guessed at there being one or two vampire parseltongues around, and Rahkesh didn't see how he could have missed the few parseltongue healers…but Voldemort hadn't gone after them so he may have missed it. After all, Rahkesh had been looking for it; Voldemort would have concentrated his studies on other things. And if he had created his first horcrux at the age of sixteen – the diary – then his magic may have been damaged, and so the knowledge usually contained within the parseltongue magics might not be fully functional in Voldemort. A killing curse in parseltongue should be enough to destroy what remnant on Voldemort's soul resided in Nagini. And probably kill her too.

The cup would be more difficult to destroy; while Nagini was probably only susceptible to a parseltongue Rahkesh didn't know anything about the cup's weakness. He was starting to seriously consider asking Namach for help. He had a feeling the ancient vampire would agree, it was in his best interest to get rid of Voldemort. And Rahkesh was quite aware that Namach almost certainly knew what his real identity was, and hadn't called him yet on it because either he truly could not care less about it, or because he found it amusing to continue this way until Rahkesh actually told him. He was pretty sure Cyala knew as well, after all he was very friendly with the two youngest members of her flock. She would have done a very thorough background check and probably some tests he wasn't aware of while he'd been at her palace.

At seven that evening Rahkesh apparated to just a point a block away from Regulus's house, which was still their best base. The black fox on the porch sniffed the air for a moment before transforming into Regulus and letting him in. Tonks was sitting on a stool and waved cheerfully. Rahkesh waved back and echoed her greeting. The purple and green haired woman seemed immune to any seriousness of what they were doing, though Rahkesh knew that was only an act.

"When did you become an animagus anyway?" Rahkesh asked. He hadn't had a whole lot of contact with Sirius's brother. Though they looked very much alike their personalities were very different. Regulus was quiet, shy, and a bit jumpy. However none of the others had found any reason to question his commitment to fighting Voldemort. Indeed, Moody had taken a liking to him, possibly because after hiding so much Regulus was a tad bit paranoid…or maybe more than a tad bit. Rahkesh had learned that he had done very well in the muggle tourism arena and had enjoyed living under his false name, and was hoping to get back to that life as soon as Voldemort was gone, leaving the name of Black behind him once again. He had a girlfriend in Australia and they were hoping to marry sometime soon. She was a witch from a small but genetically very powerful family and knew enough Occlumency to keep his real identity secret from just about anyone.

"Shortly before I fled. I used some of my brother's old notebooks as a guide." Regulus said.

"Evening Rahkesh." Moody said, one eye on the small snake sitting on the table and the other spinning around to look at Rahkesh. Rahkesh nodded to Moody, and to Remus, Tonks, Kingsley, and Bill Weasely. Then he took the last seat and turned to the young snake. Sygra uncoiled from his neck and settled onto the table, causing the young non-magical snake to jump and stare at her, tongue flickering madly, finally it bowed its head, Sygra nodded regally and coiled up.

Siraka sent you? Rahkesh asked, the young snake nodded slowly.

Yes. She explained her plan to me.

How did you get here?

I believe you call it a bus, no one noticed me.

Thank you for doing this.

No need. This creature uses his power to make people fear and hate snakes, I have seen him, he is not worthy of our allegiance.

Agreed. What is the plan?

Just as the speaker rules the humans Nagini rules his serpents. She takes care of all problems among them. If the scent of some unfamiliar snakes was planted outside it would be reported to Nagini and she would investigate before informing her master. That gets her out and away from him. There she can be attacked and captured.

Simple and clever, very well. When?

Tonight if possible. HE is away gathering more young vampires, he told his snakes they were refugees. How interesting, Rahkesh thought, he would of course inform Andrew Farov at once, or have Moody do it. Maybe they could mess up that meeting tonight as well. And with many of the old ones gathering for a brief meeting tonight as well…what were the chances of this being a coincidence? Slim. Very slim. We they planning on having meeting then making a statement by eradicating everyone at Voldemort's gathering? Why would Cyala, Namach, and Hadrian schedule their meeting for the same night as Voldemort? There were enough spies in Voldemort's vampires that they couldn't not know. Why? Some sort of tactical advantage.

Do you know anything about that meeting?

Sygra said that he was going to gather more vampires, then take them on an attack. The snake replied. And it all clicked in Rahkesh's mind. Oh…those two ancients were clever. They had let Voldemort know when their meeting was, probably manipulated him into planning an attack, in order to bring the various vampiric factions to the table. And to get this war off to a violent start. Cyala and Namach might act fairly reasonable and gentle most of the time, but Rahkesh hadn't any illusions about the violent reality of the vampiric psyche. Nor about just how war-like those two in particular were. He didn't know Namach's animagus, but whatever it was it was intensely violent, more so than a thunderbird. And he knew that Namach had actually used all of the hundred plus weapons decorating the walls in his rooms and on the walls of the bloodmagic hallways outside the chambers. And Cyala Ateres had started the First World War Sure she'd manipulated muggles into helping, but she had started it as revenge on some European city masters who had pissed her off. Oh this was going to be fun, Voldemort and his forces were about to get a lesson in why the oldest of vampires were so feared. And if he worked this right he might get there in time to see it.

But Nagini would come first, the opportunity was too good. Voldemort was going to be too preoccupied to come to her rescue, and Rahkesh could count on the vampires tricking Voldemort into getting as many of his supporters there as possible.

Where?

Same place you dropped her off in the forest.

Good. Thank you again.

Happy to help, this is fun. Call again sometime. My name is Vesfrass.

Rahkesh nodded and let the snake out, wandlessly summoning a mouse into the garden for him. The little snake shot off after it. Rahkesh tripped the mouse and got a hiss of thanks from the snake. Then he went inside and explained Siraka's plan to the others.

"I like it. Do you know how to do the spell?" Moody asked.

"Yes. Someone should be putting up wards, just in case. And everyone who comes ought to take a shielding potion." Rahkesh answered. Shielding potions lessened the impact of uncontrolled magic, and were commonly used when disassembling wards or enchantments. Rahkesh tapped his earring and his trunk fell out. Opening it to the potions compartment he took out three doses of the potion, tossing one each to Moody and Regulus. Regulus would accompany them in fox form; his fox senses should give then an added advantage. Rahkesh drank the third dose himself, and felt it mix in and strengthen the usual shield potion he took every week or so. His usual shield potion dampened or threw off the more subtle spells, such as spells to make him tired, angry, weak, or sick.

While the other two drank their potions and Moody taught Regulus a few emergency shielding spells Rahkesh went outside and summoned three snakes from the forest surrounding Regulus's house. They thought his request a bit bizarre but were agreeable enough and soon Rahkesh was back inside with three containers of snake scat.

They took the portkey Regulus had made to the woods. Quickly hiding their magical auras the two humans and one fox then hid their scent, sounds, even the heat their bodies gave off (Moody's idea).

Rahkesh, using a hidden steps spell on his fee tot disguise footprints, left a faint trail of the snakes scent for half a kilometer around the forest, passing it by a point where Siraka could easily pick it up to report. He transformed a rock into looking like a snake, smeared a little of one of the three scents onto it, and left it in the clearing along with all the leftovers. Getting back to Moody he settled down on a fallen tree next to the ex-auror, with a black fox on his other side, and waited.

XXXX

"This is not acceptable!"

"Neither is total slaughter!"

"Killing is more of a mercy than slavery!"

"Oh just enslave them all…heck the mortals won't be able to complain about us feeding of anyone who doesn't want or deserve it then."

"Find me a mortal society that will approve of enslaving our prisoners!"

"Parts of Africa and Asia-"

"I meant wizarding society dimwit."

"Why do we want their approval? Find me a reason why they deserve any sort of such respect!"

"We must not tolerate such a challenge. Show them why we should be respected!"

"By torture?"

"It works."

Cyala Ateres turned an old goblet made of smoothed shined seashells connected with gold, examining the way the light glinted off the milky polished surfaces. Ignoring the shouting form most of the other ninety vampires present. Let them fight for now. She and Tristan had planned out their own strategy.

"Very nice work." She said quietly to Taiven Vachinto, who was sitting beside her. The club owner nodded agreement. He was also ignoring the chaos, his creator had trained him well and he knew that this could be left to the ancients. Besides, everyone was shouting, not talking out a plan, therefore there really was no reason to participate.

"I think they were a gift from Bashadri." He said, referring to the highly artistic Master of Madrid. "And apology I believe for one of his minions who mistook Lord Hadrian for a muggle vampire some decades back."

"Has there been any sign of further attack son either of your establishments?" Cyala asked, she had a preference for hunting at his Raven's Loft. There were always male models and porn stars to be found, and if she didn't feel like hunting them there were always corrupt businessmen and a steady stream of wealthy criminals…most of whom thought themselves to be very powerful and scary. Cyala liked showing them what actual fear was.

"No, surprisingly not. But I believe you and yours have been keeping them busy enough. The attack is indeed finished?"

"The first round. We have some forty young aurors and a dozen or so teachers."

"What will become of them?"

"I don't really know yet. Currently they are feeding my flock. Some of the more despiccable ones are in storage for the party I expect will happen later tonight." Cyala said with a nasty grin. Taiven chuckled.

Another chuckle sounded from Cyala's other side, Taiven froze and went pale before carefully placing his own glass down, his hand was shaking. He hadn't realized Tristan Namach was listening in. Cyala flicked an annoyed glance at her fellow ancient for startling the younger vampire. Tristan just smirked, and then turned back to the Master of Tokyo who was on his other side. One of the few ancients who chose to rule a city he was currently updating Tristan on how well his attempt to exterminate unauthorized muggle vampires was going.

The last of the vampires finished screaming as the mark burned into his arm solidified. He dropped to the floor, shaking, and bowed from the knees, then he rose and joined his fellows. Half of those present were vampires, half were wizards, the two groups did not mix.

While any outright hostility was punished glares and insults were common. Voldemort was playing a dangerous game, trying to mix pureblood supremacists with vampires, but his authority and the danger of his anger kept everyone in line.

Voldemort looked out at his hundreds of new recruits, wizards and vampires. Many of the vampires brought to him because of his promise of mortals to feed on, many of the wizards brought to him by a promise that magical creatures and half-breeds would end. Vampires would be kept only as soldiers to serve them against their enemies. And the vampires, fleeing from the extermination they had brought upon themselves from the old ones, had no choice but to accept.

"Come now, my followers, we have business tonight with those who would oppose my rule."

"The days of slavery are over!"

"Execution makes a statement, slavery asks for retaliation."

"There are few enough magical people in this world, to kill so many…"

"I will not stand by and let them think they are superior!"

"We must show them what we really are and if that means enslaving those who don't acknowledge our authority then it does!"

"When exactly do you two plan to intervene?" Taiven asked cautiously, lowering his own magical wards and mind magics as a submissive gesture should his question anger the matriarch of the assassins' clan.

"Our dearest dark lord will make an appearance soon with some of his." Cyala explained, "we will settle this once we've had our fun with him and his army."

"Ah. Dementors?"

"And wizards and young vampires."

"More fodder for the party I guess."

"Actually a few of us want to have a little fun with their souls. And Tristan needs a few for his necromancy classes." Cyala said, making Taiven shiver.

XXX

"The vampire council meets in secret, plotting to destroy everyone who does not bow to them. Well we will show them that we will not fall down, they have neither the right nor the power, and they do not know who they are opposing. Tonight we will remind them of why wizards are superior, and why all have a right to exist." The wizards cheered defeating the half-breeds, the vampires tried to ignore it, hoping for safety, and wanting their right to rule. "It is time for those relics to be overthrown!" A vast roar went up. "Summon the dementors! Let these so-called rulers of the night know true fear of the dark!"

Amidst the cheers and roars the elite were moving about, organizing their units. The battle plan was a fairly straightforward one and briefing each unit took only a few minutes. The flyers summoned their brooms to them and headed for the roof. Ground assault teams went over a quick review of positions.

Color-coordinating badges were handed out and stripes down robes sleeves were dyed to match. Blue teams would stay behind to take prisoners to the cells. Purple teams would transport vampires from the attack site to the prison. Orange teams would gather incapacitated vampires from the battlefield and bring them to the purple tams. Green, red, and silver teams were attacking on the ground, red teams responsible for setting up shields after the first strike to catch the first counter attack, while silver and green attacked first, then dropped back behind the shields before continuing. The immediate reaction would be dangerous, but once it was over all three teams would begin attacking again. Teams with two stripes would stay in parts of the building already secured to keep them, while teams with one or three stripes would drive the attack forward. The ones with all black robes were the broom units.

XXXX

Siraka slipped into the snakes den in Voldemort's fortress. Three other snakes noted her passing and hissed greetings; Siraka returned the greetings and said she had a report.

Nagini is in the master's rooms. Haszahka told her, a large timber rattlesnake given to Voldemort as a peace gift by pureblood supremacists fleeing the United States, Haszahka wasn't too bright and was more concerned with her current pregnancy than anything else.

The other two might be more troublesome should they catch on, the asp viper was an old fellow, Xasseri, and he was very fast – mentally and physically. The last was very young and not at all poisonous, a newcomer who had been taught to stay out of Siraka's way - he was still healing from the fang wounds and while angry at her was not too likely to try to follow her around.

Thanksss, how's your skin coming? Siraka asked. Haszahka had the misfortune to be close to the end of her pregnancy and being about to start shedding, not a comfortable combination.

Slowly. Haszhka replied, and returned to her nap. Xasseri sniffed the air, and then followed Siraka out of the dens.

You smell like unknown snakes?

My report. Three of them nearby. Siraka said with a sigh. I doubt they're anything to be worried over. I really wish we didn't have to report it every time a pet shop burned down. Xasseri chuckled, an irreverent old fellow he was unlikely to turn her in for complaining. He was barely respectful even to Voldemort, the dark lord tolerated it because he was smart and good at organizing the younger snakes…Nagini had a tendency to just eat them.

Nagini? I have a report, three unknown snakes near the border. Siraka hissed as she curled up over the back of the cushions Nagini was lying on. Xasseri slipped around to the side. He seemed intent on tagging along. Siraka hid her displeasure. He would be difficult…but she had never had indication that he was actually loyal anyway. Perhaps he disagreed with Voldemort and would welcome an escape? Rahkesh was not likely to turn him away…

I can smell them. Nagini replied shortly, flickering her tongue in and out. Where?

The edge of the rocks near the old shed, the trail is fairly fresh.

Sssssss. Different snakes, different ages…even different species…you didn't mention that. Nagini hissed, sounding superior and annoyed. Siraka resisted the urge to rolled her eyes.

That is why I report it. She replied dryly. Nagini's eyes narrowed and she hissed. Uncoiling her bulk from the cushions and making sure Siraka got an idea of their size difference, Nagini headed for the exit. Siraka followed her out, Xasseri behind her.

What does the human say? Bitch? The old snake hissed very softly once Nagini was a good distance ahead.

XXXX

"Truly I think Voldemort hasn't actually decided what he's doing yet. He won't declare for the vampires and vampiric rights because that would alienate his pureblood base and most potential mortal recruits, and himself. But he won't totally declare for only purebloods and exterminate al others because he needs vampires. He's doing a dangerous balancing act." Cyala said.

"Well apparently he makes a distinction between vampires who were magical and those who were muggle." Taiven told her.

"Oh?"

"Yes, Farov and Kylara's spies say that he wants the magical ones to command vampire attack units to control his territories. The threat of well-trained magical vampires should keep everyone in line. However the nonmagical ones don't seem to have much of a role yet. He may be planning to phase them out entirely."

"He doesn't know how many of them there are then." Cyala said with a chuckle. "And there are enough that exterminating them would be nigh impossible for him. We're having a hard enough time of it."

They had been waiting for a little less than an hour when Siraka led Nagini along the trail and into the trap.

Rahkesh heard the snakes first, Siraka was laughing, louder than was necessary, in parseltongue. He'd activated all of his hearing improving bloodmagic and used hearing spells, the glow from the bloodmagic runes hidden by a hood. The combination made his ears very sensitive. He reached out tentatively and felt Moody's mind respond. He's wasn't good at this, hadn't practiced the actual communication at all really, but he manage dot get across that there were three snakes. Moody frowned, and then shrugged. Rahkesh held up three fingers for Regulus to see, and pointed to the trail of snake scent.

It was dark, they were well hidden. They didn't know if Nagini could sense magic, but they had cloaked themselves as completely as possible. The only way they would be discovered would be if Nagini had some enchantments from Voldemort that could penetrate their disguises. But Moody had done a good portion of the spell work, and the stuff he'd done was probably taught only at Akren, Voldemort was unlikely to have discovered the exact spells anywhere else.

Whoever the third snake was he – Rahkesh was fairly sure it was a he – must be telling jokes, though Rahkesh couldn't make out the words. Siraka continued to be loud, alerting them to their progress.

Rahkesh had instructed Siraka that they needed to know where Nagini was at all times, so Siraka was currently asking Nagini if she found the joke funny. Nagini hissed a reply. She was a yard or so ahead, the other two traveling beside her. Siraka would probably start dropping back a bit soon, so she didn't get caught in any magics. She would have to take care of whoever the other snake was. Rahkesh juts hoped she could do it far enough away that the backlash he expected from destroying the horcrux wouldn't catch her.

Nagini finally appeared, still to far away – distance would give her enough time to dodge – but getting closer. She truly was a huge serpent; easily six meters long. Rahkesh thought she'd grown even more since he'd seen her last. Siraka had now dropped back near Nagini's long tail, another snake beside her. She was keeping him distracted by asking where he'd learned whatever joke he'd been telling.

XXX

Clouds summoned in by Voldemort hid the fliers as they soared over towns. In precise units flight after flight of airborne wizards and vampires.

Soon another presence made itself known, soaring down to fall in behind and around the fighters. Dementors, hundreds of them. The air went cold, but the dementors held back their full powers, they had been restrained from harming Voldemort's people.

On the ground groups gathered at portkey points. The portkeys had been painstakingly crafted by the best of Voldemort's servants and dipped in potions so that they could slip past the wards.

Voldemort apparated to just beyond the wards, smiling as he watched his people pass, sensing the magics of the portkeys. His agents within Hadrian's servants had assured him that the blood drunk that night was drugged, and the wards shifted sideways, enough distortion to making reading them appear fine, when in fact they were not.

XXX

From a short distance away three of those agents watched the dark wizard, he finally smiled and nodded his snake-like head. The older of the two vampires, and therefore the leader, picked up his cell phone and placed a call to Lord Hadrian.

Voldemort was too confident, and all three vampires were Akren graduates with master status at mind magics. Their false memories and thoughts had made them appear loyal, and Voldemort had wanted to believe that they were, and so he'd never noticed their plotting.

The guards on duty that night outside Lord Hadrian's smaller mansion where the gathering was taking place were not actually guards. They were captives, held under the imperius curse by Kylara.

Being young witches and wizards who thought being a vampire would be "cool" they had been turned late in life and as a result were not properly trained, and their transformation had not been approved by Lord Hadrian. Finally realizing that the "coolness" of feeding on blood only lasted until number got too high and the parties too wild and the old ones stepped in they had been forced to turn to Voldemort for help, and had been easily captured in an early round up. They had little more education than the average witch or wizard. Their vampiric senses helped, but they could do little. Their minds were weak, and Kylara, half-sister to Cyala Ateres, was very strong.

She had had little difficulty forcing them into compliance with their roles for the night. She had even promised a possible freedom to make their compliance and fight more genuine. A promise that obviously would never be carried through…the guards would be killed by Voldemort's forces, giving them a sense of security in killing some of Hadrians' "guards" so easily.

The three double agents waited until Voldemort apparated again, then the third vampire traced his movement. Though very skilled at hiding his apparition Voldemort wasn't really trying right then. And Sierra Ateres had been trained specifically for spy work and assassination at Akren and by the best of the infamous Ateres assassins.

"He's on the front lawn." Sierra said, becoming invisible and floating skywards to follow through the trees. "He's got some sort of device…its magics say it's a portkey activator, and the magics are parseltongue."

"Summoning his serpents, alert the other teams." Cyala Ateres spoke into the tiny transmitter attached to the collar of her robes. Sierra sent out the signal, in Morse code, to Hadrian's teams and the rest of her family.

"I wish we had Rahkesh around." Sierra muttered into the communicator.

"Eventually, I haven't given up on that one yet. He's too good to waste as a mortal human."

"And far too good looking." Sierra chuckled into the phone, "I'm switching to the enchanted radio."

The radio attached to the collar of her battle armor – Kevlar, bloodmetal, and magical fabric – whirred softly to life and went silent. Alert by a quick pulse of magic the communicators worn by the rest of the teams switched on, as did the matching ear pieces.

Two of the more tech-oriented of the Ateres family with several PhDs from elite muggle universities had designed them. Using mundane chemicals to absorb and hide the enchantments that they used in place of actual radio signals and using bloodmetal and bloodmagic work engraved into the metal casings to hide all magical traces and electronic signatures.

XXX

Sitting at the table, chin on fist, watching the various sides argue, the Master of London felt a slight tingle at the edge of the wards. He released them, and let the attackers through. Most of the wards had been "down for repairs" anyway. Repairs Voldemort had been quietly informed of by a "spy", who in fact happened to be one of Cyala's brood, her granddaughter Sierra.

A few slight twitches from certain individuals said that others had noticed what was happening, but telepathic messages from Cyala and Tristan silenced them.

Andrew Farov and Ambrosius finished preparing the illusions that wrapped the buildings. Better to let Voldemort's followers think their first attack actually did some damage. The illusions would make sound and shake and appear to fall apart. The actual buildings would be easily able to withstand the attack.

Lord Hadrian felt a touch on his mind, and lowered his defenses. Tristan was generally the most polite of the ancients, he could easily get into almost any vampire's mind without them noticing, but he stuck to more polite methods. The ancient vampire was confident enough in his power and authority that intimidation and aggression weren't actually needed on daily basis. Though he did nothing to hide his power once inside your mind, and Hadrian fought the urge to cringe and whimper. Tristan didn't both much with holding back his power at meetings with other influential vampires. They weren't likely to collapse from a brief glimpse of it, and it made sure everyone remembered who was actually in charge. If anyone expressed any discomfort he would probably draw back a little, depending on his mood, but Hadrian wasn't going to admit that Tristan's telepathic presence felt like an the radiation of a continuous atomic explosion. That would be verbally admitting the vast power difference. Which was never spoken of, just sensed.

- You did remove all the prisoners from the cells correct? -

- Except for the poisoned ones. – That was a nifty plan crafted by Tristan and the Master of Moscow, who was another ancient who ruled a city, and a good part of Russia. Getting those two plotting together was almost worse than getting Cyala and Tristan working together. They had revived some old magics that had been purposefully forgotten centuries ago because of how destructive they were. The poisoned imprisoned death eaters would be brought to Voldemort and his fortress, where the poison would activate when in close proximity to an odorless, colorless chemical rubbed into the walls by the double agents. The poison would vaporize their bodies, using their magic, life force, and even their souls, to create a "death cloud" that would kill any mortal, even a werewolf or fae, and shred the soul, body, and life-magics of any vampire. The vampires would then die a slow death as their bodies deteriorated when the magics that allowed them to live on blood no longer worked. It not only harmed the soul and physical body, but blocked their ability to draw energy, magic, and life from blood. It would also break into dementors and temporarily block their soul feeding while systematically attacking their magics and the souls that they had taken.

The "death cloud" had originally been invented by Cyala Ateres and Tristan Namach during a past extermination of young vampires. They'd used mortal criminals to kill off thousands of young vampires during the Black Death's rampage through Europe, when the young vampires had hugely overpopulated and the mortals were all dying off. There had been too many vampires, not enough healthy prey, and the recently turned vampires turning their former friends and family to save them. The City Masters, the old ones, and the ancients had been forced to step in and cull one and quarter million vampires. All of them mortals who had turned vampires to escape the plague, and for power in the vampire gangs that ranged the desolated cities and countryside, picking up great wealth from dead mortals.

"Death clouds" had been invented and used to completely clear the cities, slightly different then they'd been designed to not harm mortals. Just the vampires and the loose, also overpopulating, dementors, who had been having a great time with the misery and unguarded souls.

- Do you think he will notice? - Hadrian asked.

- No. Not until it's too late. – Tristan replied. Both vampires felt a third presence, and then Cyala joined the connection.

- My daughter reports at least five hundred dementors. And teams of werewolves forced into a transformation by potions. -

- Really? I had not thought his forces would be so large. This will be a real battle then. – Tristan did not seem at all upset at the prospect. – I haven't seen a good blood bath in a while. Nor a good fight. Perhaps between numbers and however powerful this mortal actually is, we might even have a decent opponent. – unlike other vampires Tristan did not underestimate anyone because they happened to be mortal, nasty surprises were not good during a war.

- Remember, nothing to harm the city or anyone nearby. Anything we do must be held in check. – Cyala reminded, that, unfortunately, would severely limit what they could do. All three were capable of causing directed earth quakes and tornadoes and hail storms, and fire storms, but ti all had to be hidden from the muggles. And from the Ministry – they didn't need them getting involved tonight.

- How big is the property? – Tristan asked Hadrian.

- Six hundred square kilometers. – Hadrian replied. His land was mostly removed from the world, larger inside than outside, but the border were knit into actual muggle space and many spells or things they might create could overflow.

- Big enough to transform. – Tristan purred happily. Hadrian choked on the blood he was drinking. Tristan meant to use his animagus?

- Only if he does. Voldemort is a parseltongue. His form is undoubtedly a basilisk. And he's over fifty and quite powerful so it'll be large. It's been nearly eight hundred years since I got into a fight with a basilisk. – The ancient replied.

- Hmm, animagus forms…that could liven things up a bit. – Cyala agreed. What her form(s) were Hadrian didn't actually know. It had been so long since anyone had seen them and anyone who knew surely wasn't saying.

XXX

"ATTACK!" The commander roared. Hundreds of black robed figures snapped into existence in units all across the lawn in front of the mansion. Lifting their wands the entire army called on a single spell.

"REDUCTO INTERITUS" From the ground hundreds of beams of light shot towards the mansion, from the air hundreds more followed.

The wards held, then snapped and dissolved away with crackling waves of magic. Standing in the center of his troops Voldemort raised both arms, wand held horizontally between them, and called up his spell, minor bloodmagic caused both his hands to bleed, mixing his blood into it. Bringing the wand down while turning it between both palms to point at the mansion he bellowed an incantation.

"ERADICARUM STRUCTURAE!" The air rippled as a massive wave of light and power roared into being and flung itself at the mansion.

The illusions vanished, Voldemort grinned as the spell sunk into the building and soared around the outside until it encased the entire mansion, then it sunk in seeking the center.

As the spell sunk in death eaters appeared carrying fifty prisoners. Voldemort held out a hand as his death eaters cut the living heart out of each prisoner. When they touched his palm the hearts vanished and bright glow of black and silver light began to grow instead. When all fifty hearts had been collected the bodies were removed, Voldemort raised his wand and with a sharp motion activated the spell already on the building.

XXX

Inside all the vampires went silent as the earth shook and the destructive power of the magic used rocked through the room. Silverware shattered or melted, paintings on the walls disintegrated.

"What was that?" Someone shouted when it finally passed, leaving the tables and chairs in ruins.

Whoever that was would be embarrassed by the fear in his voice later, Cyala thought.

"He's good, he's very good." Hadrian admitted. "That was an old spell." The Master of London seemed surprisingly unconcerned about the damage to his mansion. They had planned for this as well if Voldemort managed it.

"SILENCE!" Tristan barked into the crowded room. "That would be Voldemort, launching an attack." The vampires waited, "we'll let him think he's done some damage."

Hadrian nodded, "I have two reserve sets of enchantments ready, let him destroy the mansion, it will only make the end defeat worse for him." Now he was getting confused looks, how would a destroyed mansion be bad for Voldemort? The oldest traded amused looks. The others had apparently never heard of the enchantments Hadrian was talking about.

"After the battle." Cyala said quickly when someone began to ask a question. "Shields." Immediately shields appeared around everyone. "Let him think he's hit us."

"Guards are all dead." Kylara reported, "good thing they weren't actual guards." She chuckled.

Voldemort raised the glowing magic ripped from the dying hearts of the witches and wizards whose lives he had just ended. Death magics were necessarily destructive when the death was a murder. And if you could harness the power the destructive magics could become a terrible weapon.

"OBLITERATUM!" he roared, hurling the magic across the field. Powered by magics the ball of glowing death and destruction hurtled into the side of the building. "Shields!" The death eaters with red stripes raised their wands and created a massive connected shield, while all others created individual back up shields.

Lord Hadrian's manor exploded.

Massive blocks of stone and marble shattered into sharp edges fragments and flew everywhere. Pieces of wood from furniture and fire from candles and fireplaces leaped out of the destruction. Dust and ash and rocks hurtled upwards, and then fell towards the earth, raining down on the crumbled ruins of the mansion and the army outside it. Moving with amazing speed the shreds of the building blasted across the lawn and impacted the glowing shield creating showers of sparks and gravel as the pieces were crushed by the shield magics into harmless chips or rock.

In the air the fliers had their own shields, but they had misjudged how fast and how hard the explosion would hit. The force of the explosion knocked several off their brooms. Unsteady already many shields didn't hold against the onslaught of broken rocks and furniture and cracked chunks of walls and floors and ceiling tiles and tower stones and clay gutter bits rising towards them. It was also true that they had practiced shields at things thrown at them, not stuff from below.

Brooms snapped like twigs and sparked off magics, fliers tried to catch each other and lost concentration. Blasting spells did little to help and the air born brigades were borne upwards by the massive tide of fast-moving material flying up from below. Legs were crushed against rising rocks and brooms hurtled out of control. A wash of color showed the magics they tried to use to stop their explosion-driven ascent and to stop the wave of debris from colliding with them.

Not hearing the screams from above those on the ground were shocked when the bodies started falling. But then they had more important things to worry about – a moment's loss of concentrations and energy on shielding meant death Massive boulders from the foundations and chunks of thick rock walls and stone columns bounced across the shields.

Finally one massive piece of marble staircase found a weak spot and fell through. The large shield snapped.

The rain of gravel turned into a torrent of truck and car sized hunks of debris. Screams rang out as those who had created the large shield were caught without protection and crushed to death. Other individual shields couldn't take the hits and cracked. Black robed people fell to the ground trying to cover themselves. Some attempted to blast everything away, but the amount of material raining down on them was too much and soon they were flattened and smothered.

Finally the shattered charred remains of the mansion fell to earth and settled, some rolling over fleeing witches and wizards as they did. The air was filled with dust and smoke and a fine mist of smaller pieces. Stepping through it all Voldemort laughed. Oh those haughty vampires and their talk of superiority, telling him he wasn't good enough, refusing to bow to him! Where were they now? Still laughing he waved a hand, rolling debris off what remained of his people.

They had practiced shield spells for days and most were okay, simply covered by rock fragments, their shields intact and keeping them safe. As unit leaders gathered them back into attack formations and the lead units ran forward Voldemort laughed again and summoned Nagini, she deserved to be here to see his victory.

Nagini was right in front of them. Rahkesh nodded to Moody the auror leaped to a safe distance as Rahkesh stood and pointed his wand.

Nagini sensed them and dodged.

Adssvadssrass Kedavssrass!" Rahkesh hissed, Nagini rolled and the spell missed, blasting a crater into the ground. Then Nagini began to glow.

"He's moving her away!" Moody roared, Regulus leaped in and bit down on the snake, trying to hold her still. Moody shouted a restraining spell and Rahkesh tried again. His and Moody's spells hit at the same time Nagini vanished. Their magics connected, and Regulus physically connected, all three were dragged along as Voldemort summoned the serpent.

They landed in the middle of the worst blast zone Rahkesh had ever seen. He landed on the shredded remains of a sofa and desk, sharp slivers of wood digging deep into his back and arm.

Somewhere to his right heard Regulus's yelp of pain and Moody's grunt.

The place was a ruin. Dust was rising from the layer of rock and trash that covered the ground.

Nagini was alive…but injured. Moody's spell had stopped her from being summoned directly to Voldemort. She had landed on what might have been a stove, and a sharp spike on thin metal had gone through her. Shallow it wouldn't kill her, but getting off would be hard and movement difficult.

Rahkesh head spun as he tried to rise, and blood ran down his back from his head and the cuts from the wood. He checked Sygra, and found her around his neck, shaking from the transportation. It had not been an easy ride. Besides being parseltongue magic their presence had messed it up, though Rahkesh doubted Voldemort had noticed.

His killing curse seemed to have been flung about and finally absorbed into the energy that had moved them, or lost along the way. Rahkesh spared a faint hope that no one had been killed by it.

"Where are we?"

"I know the location…this was one of Lord Hadrian's manors…what on earth happened here?" Moody said softly as he pulled himself up by his staff. "Merlin's beard…it's been destroyed.

"Voldemort." Rahkesh said, spotting him at once. The tall figure in black and green and silver was standing atop a massive boulder. "And his army." Peoples were moving among the debris towards the foundations of the manor.

"YOU SEE? YOU SEE? THE GREAT LORDS OF THE VAMPIRES BROUGHT DOWN AND CRUSHED!" Voldemort shouted gleefully. Rahkesh gasped and looked around, surely not? Moody clumped over beside him and looked around; the old auror looked to be nearly in shock, his horror plain.

Voldemort gave a wild laugh and summoned his followers with a cry of "Onwards! Find any survivors! Kill them, and bring back those they have taken from us!"

His army, now mostly on its feet, cheered and roared. The young vampires raising their fists in victory and the purebloods giving great victory cries.

Then the ground beneath the center of the sea of destruction began to glow, and to shake.

Then the remains of the once proud manor opened up and glowing figures rose out of them, surrounded by magics and levitating through the air.

When the glow dimmed the vampires landed, and Voldemort stopped dead, staring in shock, as he found himself face to face with nearly a hundred very powerful very angry vampires.

Tristan Namach strode forward, while Cyala Ateres sent out telepathic coordination signals to the vampires. The vampires moved into position, memorizing the altered landscape and their instructions. The wave of power that flooded the property as the vampires lowered all shields sent the army of young vampires to their knees, screaming, shaking and crying in terror. The witches and wizards stumbled and gasped desperately for breath, dropping their wands as they grabbed at their heads and shook like leaves in a gale. The waves of Dementors, only juts appearing, shuddered and backed away, shrieking and jerking about in fear and uncertainty.

The wind picked up, blowing swirling clouds of ash and dust, lifting billowing cloaks and capes as the vampires clothing transformed into impressive battle gear. Through it all Namach's voice boomed out with all the intensity of an angry king.

"I say!" The ancient roared his voice deadly "red eyed weakling mortal spawn of a diseased prostitute!" Voldemort just gaped. "Yes! You!" Namach barked, "Are you that raving loon and deluded whoreson who calls himself Voldemort!"

Tada! Over 11,000 words. In one day.

Sorry for the very long wait. End of the year work, ack, and exams coming soon.

Another round of applause of Eirame who has taken on the challenge of translating this into French.

Just to give everyone a fair warning, I'll be leaving in a few weeks to spend the entire summer out in the woods with no internet connection. I will start updating as soon as I return but from mid May to mid July there won't be any updates. Sorry, when you do the work I do you're out in the field for months. I will try to update again before that. I want to finish the battle as much as you do. But the work load might not allow it. I can only say I'll try.

I am NOT, repeat NOT, abandoning this. Just going away for a while. I have much of the next year at Akren planned, along with the ends of the horcruxes, resolving Daray's troubles, Voldemorts' demise, and the plot after that (big scale plot, probably several fics worth). I don't think this is even halfway over yet.

Please review! I hope it didn't get too confusing near the end there. Kinda wild, hope you liked the action.