"The treachery of a friend is worse than the treachery of an enemy."

The purpose Chapter 69 Nurmengard

The MACUSA, fourth level basement, November 7th, 1981

They had placed every privacy charms imaginable and alerts on several places on the buildings in case of one Gellert's followers came inside. Everyone present in the room was on edge.

''Did all of your aurors remove it?'' Asked Dumbledore about the Triunes.

''No.'' Answered Tina, rubbing her arms. ''We needed a plan and the less suspicion, the better. We only have one chance.''

Gaspard squashed his cigarette on a table, burning the wood.

''One fucking lame chance yeah. Stupid fucks.'' Grunted Gaspard before kicking an empty box on the floor.

''I'd appreciate you would not use that language.'' Said Dumbledore.

Gaspard went to Albus and pushed a finger on his robes.

''Oh yeah? How about you shut your yap. You are not the one who's going to do all the work this time, huh?'' Hissed Leclerc.

Dumbledore did not react.

''Leclerc, remember the terms on which you accepted to do this.'' Reminded Tina.

''Yeah, whatever.'' Said Gaspard as he lit another cigarette.

To help them, Tina had to propose something to Leclerc that would make sure he would do it. Meaning if they succeeded, Gaspard had made her swear she would not imprison him for any crime ever committed in the past and give him five thousand galleons per year. She had reluctantly agreed.

Gaspard had been one to still idolize Gellert, and believing in only one idea Gellert had, which was the protection of the wizarding world, no matter the methods. Dumbledore thought Gaspard reminded him of Mundungus Fletcher, but cleverer. His eyes went on the vampire Darthael, one of the few that knew Seth from birth. Not every vampire liked Gellert, and not every vampire wanted him as a superior. That was the case of Darthael, and Angel, also present with them. Corban was whispering softly to Ruma, and Albus could not understand what they were saying.

''Should everything happen like planned, what are you going to do with all the vampires with the muggles currently in the government? Gellert will still be able to control all of them.'' Said Darthael.

''Nach hon dol. Whispers of a Queen shall be our demise, is it not?'' Said Angel in a quiet honey voice.

''What? Gellert is to be killed as soon as we have that monitor!'' Said Tina.

Gaspard scoffed and pointed at her.

''You… you are blinded by rage, Miss. If you kill him, you will create a whole new problem, especially if his alliance is not delt with, first! And that is not part of the plan you told me.'' Snarled Gaspard.

''Mr. Leclerc is right. Neutralizing Gellert just because of vengeance will not resolve anything. We have to make sure the vampires were not supposed to act against any vampires laws previously made by Nathaniel and Seth.'' Said Dumbledore.

Angel took a step forward and began to talk elegantly, as if explaining something new to ignorant people.

''For now, as incredible as it seems, the muggles from the USA are acting… normal. Like nothing really happened, even if leaders are dead here and now. They got replaced and elected in a matter of days. Vampires that were concerned to be near the ones that are dead, live as they normally would have. Gellert did not sire idiots, but men in politics who have influence in the eventuality that wizards get known, so that nothing gets done against them. His methods may be cruel to you, but he had found the solution.'' Said Angel.

''Says the vampire whose got everything he wants.'' Snarled Porpentina.

Angel gave her a scowl and his voice went cold.

''No. I deserve everything I have, Mrs. Scamander. Seth made me dream of a world where I would not have to hide what I am, and that is not going to happen because of your plan. I am only here because I respect my queen, and I will do everything for her. If she wants me to kill you, I will. If she believes what Gellert did is wrong and wants him dead, I still have no problem with it.'' Said Angel.

''So, what, she is like a god to you?'' Asked Tina.

''Seth was, is, and she is a queen, my queen.'' Assured Angel.

Corban and Ruma walked to them.

''I'll do it. I'll neutralize Gellert while you kill his alliance… and we won't have to wait to get our hands on the monitor he has.'' Said Ruma with determination.

OoOoO

White house, Washington, Cabinet room, November 8th, 1981

''How can we know this won't happen again? The coroners have not found anything in their mouths that could have caused that! Their blood was clean of any substances of any sorts!'' Said the secretary of defense, Caspar Weinberger.

''We have liaison from the other countries, we are the only ones that have been targeted so dramatically, but three policemen in Italy have died in similar conditions.'' Said the international ambassador.

''In Italy? Perhaps a test was performed there before attacking us then?'' Asked Reagan, the new President.

''No, it happened at the same time and the Italian secretary of defense is also on edge.'' Said the international ambassador.

A knock was heard on the door, and they all fell silent. Caspar gestured to a guard, heavily armed, to open the door. The guard nodded and opened the door where Gellert showed, with a serious face and with his alliance behind him. Caspar stood up, recognizing the one he thought was the undersecretary of defense, inviting him inside for more information.

''Mr. President, you have seen Grindelwald before. He has been my right hand for national security for two years now, and I hope he brings information.'' Said Caspar.

The president stood up and shook Gellert's hands.

''I do remember, but I do not know who the ones with you are.'' Said Reagan.

''Thank you, Mr. President. Of course, they are scientists, doctors, and veterans of the first world war. I wanted to inform you all… we have found the cause of the ones who died.'' Said Gellert.

Whispers were heard around the room. Gellert's childes placed themselves around the room, waving their hidden wands in their sleeves and placing the Imperius curse on the guards in the room. They also placed a muggle-repelling and silencing charm on the door.

''Well, that is interesting news. What is the cause?'' Asked Caspar.

Gellert was about to speak when he saw something in the window. He saw his reflection, angry, and his surroundings looked like a castle, his castle Nurmengard. A vision.

''Mr. Grindelwald?'' Asked the President.

Then he felt it, all the dots in his head, the Triuned, were gone. A dread feeling washed over him. Were all the aurors dead?

No.

They had found a way to remove the Triunes from their mouths without him noticing because he had been too distracted. The air went suddenly dense before heavy magic was felt in the room. Dumbledore, Tina, Newt, Maximillian, several aurors, Gaspard, Maugrey, Corban, Angel, and Darthael apparated around Ruma.

Everything went fast and chaos erupted. Gellert's first move was to cast an unstoppable dark curse at Ruma, meant to prevent her to speak any Venthyr words. He then set his focus on Dumbledore as blood splattered the walls, tables, chairs, and on everyone. Screams from the muggles invaded the atmosphere as spells and curses were shouted. He deflected and shielded from many curses cast in his direction, but also injured severely Tina and killed the French auror, Fontaine.

''Avada Kedavra!'' Shouted Gellert as he pointed at Dumbledore who summoned a chair in front of him, making it shatter upon the curse's contact.

''Baw tovon cost, ha na- an conn-!'' Shouted Gaspard, or so Gellert thought until he felt the magic bind him right where he was, his wand trembling and words on his lips refusing to part.

''NO! IMPOSSIBLE!'' Yelled Gellert as he looked at Ruma who still had the purple chain curse binding her lips.

He looked around and saw his childes all dead on the floor, and then… he felt the emptiness in his mind. Angel was slowly licking his bloodied arm with delectation, Vinda at his feet with a giant hole through her chest. The muggles were in a corner, alive and whimpering. Tina and Newt were in front of them. Tina held her arm on which he had cast a muscle severing curse impossible to heal. Abernathy's head had rolled under a table. Nagel was unmoving with gashes everywhere on his body. Frieda and Cassius had received the killing curse. His last childe, Marvin, also had a deep hole in his chest.

Several wands were raised, pointing at him. Gaspard went in front of Gellert and that's when he noticed a scar over his eye that should not have been there before, heterochromia eyes like he once had too, grey hairs mixed in golden locks. That was the true appearance of Gaspard Leclerc, and Ruma had used Polyjuice. He noticed the disillusionned crown on 'his' head.

''Díhen- nin, lah'wi.'' Said 'Gaspard'.

It was not an order, but his throat constricted.

''Baw, nin Rîs.'' Answered Gellert before he grabbed her and kissed her forcefully and, in his arms, she began to change back into who she was.

Tears flowed from her eyes and when he broke the kiss, she whispered the words he did not want to hear.

''Lóre, na Nurmengard cin glenn-.'' Said Ruma quietly in Venthyr.

And under the eyes of his foes, Gellert fell on the floor.

OoOoO

Nurmengard

Wiping the memories of the whole President Cabinet had not been easy. Removing the curse placed on Gaspard's mouth had been complex and arduous, but Ruma had managed to go through after several hours of chanting and placing runewords around them when she noticed something. That curse had been specifically made for the vampire King or Queen. Gaspard had lightened a cigarette as soon as he had been freed from the curse.

''You knew he would do that.'' Said Gaspard, exhaling a puff of smoke on the side.

She removed the runewords around them and sat down beside him. They were on a bench in front of Nurmengard's castle. A sheet of snow covered the grounds, and she had placed warming charms on both of them.

''Evidently. You and I must be the ones who know everything about him, but there are still things he was hiding very well. He always wanted to control me, in the end.'' Said Ruma.

They stayed there in silence, watching some snowflakes fall slowly from the grey covered sky.

''What are you going to do now?'' Asked Gaspard.

''The MACUSA… they are discussing what Gellert has done and changed, and wondering what they should keep or not, since several laws appealed to the majority of the population and the wizards might protest upcoming changes again. Dumbledore had suspended school for three weeks, but I don't know if I will be able to return, because I have to take care of the vampires there… the ones in the USA and it seems like the jinx Voldemort had placed on the Defense against the dark art class was still there somehow.'' Said Ruma.

''A jinx? Why wouldn't you be able to go back? I mean, Darthael, Angel, and Sanguini are pretty good taking care of things over there.'' Said Gaspard.

''What about you? You don't regret the decision of staying here with him?'' Asked Ruma.

Gaspard exhaled another puff of cigarette.

''That man was my idol, until I met Seth, of course. I still think Dumbledore is an idiot, and that we should not have stopped Gellert. But, I don't have anything to complain… I'll be able to read things I have never read here, and learn from one of the greatest man I know, in exchange of feeding him and keeping him alive until Seth comes back, right? You closed his mind to his childes and bounded him here, within a kilometer of his own castle.'' Said Gaspard, gesturing towards the landscape.

''He'll be mad… he might hurt you.'' Said Ruma, worried.

''Oh yeah, I'm sure he will, but since I'll be his only food source, I'll doubt he will stay mad long enough. Besides, I can apparate like I want and do what I want around the villages here. Goldstein pays me, and so do you, I'll be fine.'' Assured Gaspard, still calling Tina by her old family name.

Ruma sighed.

''There's Jobry, Gellert's house-elf that is here with you two, taking care of the castle and both your needs for anything.'' Reminded Ruma.

''See? We'll be fine.'' Said Gaspard.

Ruma nodded and stood up.

''I'll write… every month and try to visit sometimes, if he is not too mad at me.'' Said Ruma.

''Are you going to try to find Voldemort so you can bring back Seth?'' Asked Gaspard as he stood up too.

Ruma shook her head.

''We have no lead. Corban is already gone to do that… he might quit his job at the ministry.'' Began Ruma before looking around as if someone was listening to them. ''He went to the Lestrange's manor, where aurors assaulted it and arrested many deatheaters. Corban and I wondered where Nagini was, since it's Voldemort's familiar but she seemed to have disappeared too. He does not know the ritual Seth and you used to follow magical trails.'' Said Ruma.

''Oh… I'm so sorry… I only know the first part since I lose consciousness halfway through the ritual, and Seth never told me where he found it.'' Said Gaspard with an apologizing look.

''Really? That's not like him to not show things…'' Said Ruma.

''I don't blame him, I never asked because I did not like to do it.'' Said Gaspard.

Suddenly, they heard an enormous scream coming from the castle followed by explosions and the ground shaking.

''I'd better leave… you take care, Gaspard, both of you.'' Said Ruma as she embraced Gaspard.

''You too, Mrs. Vulken.'' Answered Gaspard.

As the ground shook again, Ruma apparated away.

OoOoO

December 25th, 1981, Switzerland

Corban had gone to every bar he could find, starting from France, where he had spoken briefly with François, the French vampire, in case anything he could have heard about Voldemort's shadow. There was nothing, nowhere, not a sign. He had suggested to him to stay a day or two at bars where men blabbered the most about anything. Corban had thought about trying to find the horcrux at the Black's house, but since he would not know how to use it to bring back Voldemort, he had not bothered. Especially since he wanted a clear head, and not have the madman's influence for anything he could regret.

So, there he sat, for the 43rd time in a bar, listening to every conversation while watching the television when there was one, or listened to the radio. Often, women approached him, and he gladly bought them a drink and spoke smoothly so he could end by taking their blood before wiping their memories and leaving.

He could feel Seth in his mind. That bright light shining every time he closed his eyes, where he would take refuge each time he slept, as if he was right beside him. It's as if he was sleeping, unable to wake him up.

It was driving him mad. And he did not know how long he could keep his calm. A young man went beside him.

''Ello zere. Firs' time I zee you in thiz bar. Do I azzume correct by zpeaking English?'' Said the man.

Corban turned his empty glass and nodded as he looked at him. The man looked nice, and maybe, just maybe, he would be able to forget for a few minute what he was doing. He could feel the man was looking for a one-night stand as he used his legilimency.

''You did. It is my first time here.'' Answered Corban as he turned his body facing the man and placed his hand on his cheek, holding his head so that he could look interested to him.

The man smiled and showed straight white teeth.

''Would you be interezted een joining my friendz and I at ze ozer table?'' Asked the man.

Corban smiled.

''Gladly.'' Answered Corban.

OoOoO

Hotel room, Switzerland

Corban stared at the three corpses on the bed, wondering if he could feel anything apart from being fed. There was blood everywhere, and that was very unusual for him to even do something like that. What had passed through his mind? He remembered being at their table and even laughing with them. He had taken several more drinks and ended being drunk. This motel is right beside the bar where they were. Hazy memories of walking with the man and the two women tried to come back to him.

He had kissed one of the woman. She had smelled of cherry. He licked his lips, noticing there was still blood on his face. When did he lose control? Had he cast a silencing charm on the door? They had not tried to flee… did he also place a muggle-repelling charm? He looked down at his hand, where his wand still hung loosely. He waved his wand to see which spells he had used and like he thought was a muggle-repelling and a silencing charm. Had he mindlessly planned this, or his vampire-side did while he was drunk?

As the minutes passed, he remembered what he felt. Yes, he could feel something else apart from being fed. He had felt in control of his sorrow, and he had enjoyed drinking their last drop of life from them. That all made it more tempting to do it again, since he had forgotten why he was doing all this, why he was searching for Voldemort just so he could see Seth again.

He looked at the scene before him again. He could not let any wizards think any of this was vampire related and so he waved his wand around, cleaning every speck of blood and healing the wounds on their neck before placing them, with their clothes on, on the bed. He ended his task with several scourgify on his face as he looked in the mirror in the bathroom, then apparated away, on a street further.

He cast a tempus which showed him it was Christmas. Perhaps, he should see Ruma, or his friends Vincent and Brian. He knew he would find them at the ministry, even on this day. He transfigured his eyes for a darker blue before grabbing a portkey from his pocket, a pen, where he clicked on it as he mumbled the password.

He apparated in the ministry hall and made his way towards the law department floor. The ministry was almost empty. He knocked on Vincent's door twice before entering and closing the door behind him.

''Ho Corban. Merry Christmas, dilthen còon.'' Said Vincent as he looked at Corban with his piercing gaze. ''Hm, trying to forget might not be a good option, just like drowning in beer like muggles do is not either. But I am not here to judge you, I have a lot more work since both leaders are gone, so to speak.'' He added.

Corban sat in front of him and sighed.

''I'm already tired. Maybe I should keep my job here… or so to distract me at least.'' Said Corban.

''Ho yeah, Crouch tried to do what you were doing, and boy does he fail miserably… ever since his son got arrested, it did not help at all. They would gladly take you back tomorrow.'' Said Vincent.

''I see. Have you seen Ruma recently?'' Asked Corban.

Vincent nodded.

''I had to… ask her to come see me. Gellert was at the head of a huge organisation of human trafficking, to feed vampires that Seth found more and more over the years. Sanguini and Darthael helped a lot into avoiding as much as they could with their taverns. Since the MACUSA was no longer in control by Gellert or any of his childes, it made the situation even more difficult, but not unfeasible.'' Said Vincent.

''The MACUSA don't know about this?'' Asked Corban.

''Not yet, since they are busier into calming the population over the changes they are making again, and the majority do not even like it. Since they had changed the law that muggles could marry wizards, more of muggles were aware of the wizarding world, just like Gellert wanted, and it had been forbidden for so long before… you see where this is going?'' Said Vincent.

Corban nodded and passed a hand over his face.

''Somehow, I am sure Ruma cared too much about the human trafficking, and also about how the MACUSA ruining Gellert's projects.'' Said Corban.

''Yes, she… is… too much human and too young, if you want my opinion, and yes, she did care about it, she spoke in Venthyr, Corban… it was awful.'' Said Vincent with a face showing he did not want to remember.

''What? She ordered you something?'' Asked Corban.

''Oh yeah, she did, although I had nothing to do with the human trafficking. I did not tell her, that her order meant nothing to me, proving my point of what I just said: innocent for some things, but clever for others.'' Said Vincent.

Vincent placed the parchments that were in front of him on a pile on his left.

''She went back to Hogwarts then?'' Asked Corban.

''Yeah. I know Steven and Galea were already closer to Gellert about that, and they are taking care of everything. It still stays within the oldest of us… Gellert was just… Seth's first, and we bent a way.'' Said Vincent, tapping his fingers on the table.

Corban stayed silent, knowing what he meant about Seth's vulnerability for his childes, except for Elisabeth, in which he did not inquire as much. He knew she was the first lady of Africa, along with her husband, Ruma's father. Would Voldemort go to a place where he felt familiar?

''There's nothing I could find about Voldemort's whereabouts, not a whisper, not a rumour.'' Said Corban.

Vincent joined hands, placing pointing fingers over his mouth.

''I'd doubt you'd find him anytime soon, not after what happened.'' Said Vincent.

''How are you aware of everything?'' Inquired Corban, frowning.

Vincent chuckled.

''Because I'm me. I take care of every single magical and law mishaps… but also because I have good ears and know where and when to listen. For example, that boy, Harry Potter, was placed with his aunt, his muggle aunt and uncle. Brian told me there is a vault for him in Gringotts, but apparently, it has only been touched to open another one, in the muggle world, but it has yet to be touched. He thought the muggles taking care of him would use that money, but it seems they might not be aware of it, so I took the matters into my own hands and went to Little Whinging, where they live, where only muggles live Corban, so that I could inform them of their rights…'' Said Vincent, readjusting into his seat. ''Wouldn't you know… there is a blood ward surrounding their home. I can't get to it, and so I inquired Mr. Malfoy to answer that puzzle for me, since wards is his specialty after all. Here's what he answered.'' Said Vincent as he gave him a letter from his drawer.

Vincent,

Blood wards work to protect intensively a home in which, if your heart holds malevolent actions towards a person, will prevent you in any possible way, to enter it's limits, as long as the person considers that place their home. Blood wards only work with sacrifices, and so, only a few has been registered in History of Magic.

Lucius Malfoy

Corban frowned.

''You hold malevolent feelings towards the boy?'' Asked Corban.

Vincent snorted and shook his head.

''I would not think so, so there was two possibilities I saw. One, perhaps I do hold a grudge because of my King's disappearance, or two, something tells me I would probably kill the muggles he lives with if I ever saw them. Maybe it's both reasons, I don't know. You think you would be able to go there?'' Answered Vincent.

''Now that you mention that, no… because I hate everything that have to do with the disappearance of Seth.'' Said Corban.

''Yeah, so, I have no idea what they are doing to him… I guess we shall see when he turns eleven, and that he goes to Hogwarts where our dearest Queen will teach him.'' Deduced Vincent.

''Hn, ten years. I could not only imagine if I had to wait that many years before seeing Seth again.'' Mumbled Corban with a sad tone and looked down.

Vincent stayed silent for a moment, respecting his emotion.

''Ten years is nothing in a vampire's life, but an eternity without the one you love.'' Said Vincent.

Corban's eyes went to him again.

''You sound as if it happened to you before.'' Said Corban.

''Of course, it has. You don't live three hundred years without a love story. The ones who keep saying time heals wounds clearly were not in love enough. I'm so sorry, Corban.'' Sighed Vincent.

''What happened to your love, if I may?'' Wondered Corban.

Vincent made a soft smile and rested his hands on his lap.

''She grew old. Wrinkles covered her beautiful face. Her hair was as white as Seth's. She smelled of sweets and flowers, and her smile was like the sun each time it was on her lips. Could you guess why I work in laws, Corban?'' Said Vincent.

''I may have a hunch that an injustice was made to you, or her, and you wanted to have some sort of control.'' Said Corban.

''Not some sort. I make justice.'' Said Vincent fiercely. ''How many times the aurors and Dumbledore has tried to ruin vampires again? Too many times to count… I make up stories, I falsify them or create some so that vampires always win. The day Danyck was arrested was the hardest I ever had to live, and it was devastating to see our King that way. I tried to come up with something but failed as such a short time was allocated to me. I guess I could have kissed Gellert that day, for what he made the director Graves do, but Danyck still got killed.''

Vincent took a deep breath and shook his head.

''Good thing I did not have the Dark Mark when that Karkaroff blabbered about Seth.'' Said Corban.

Vincent growled.

''That asshead is the new Headmaster of Durmstrang. If you ever see him, please rip his head off for me.'' Grunted Vincent.

Corban snorted.

''Evidently.'' Answered Corban. ''How about we invite Brian and see who's at the castle on this joyous night?'' Asked Corban to change the mood.

''I will never say no to apparition to home.'' Said Vincent.

OoOoO

January 9th, 1982, Azkaban prison

Anton had taken two months after Gellert had possessed him to get better and had asked for Ruma to escort him back to Azkaban. Greisha had come to greet them, but she also looked apologetic.

''I'm so sorry, my Queen, I did not know.'' Began Greisha.

''Know what?'' Asked Ruma nervously.

''I… your…. Sirius Black… I thought you would have read the Newspaper. After all, It happened barely a week after Seth was gone.'' Said Greisha.

Ruma frowned.

''What? Sirius Black? He's here? I did not… know…'' Said Ruma.

She had not read the Newspaper, isolating herself for two months and she had only just started going back to her classes a week before Christmas. She was about to ask her what he did, but she preferred going there herself.

''Where is his cell?'' Asked Ruma.

''Third floor on the left, second corridor on the right.'' Said Greisha.

She was not told twice as she made her way there as Anton spoke with Greisha, leaving her alone with her unicorn Patronus by her side. She saw many deatheaters that were students at the same time as her, now in here, and she did not know how to feel. Two months had been enough for some of them to be less than a beggar. They were mumbling quietly to themselves, while some wondered who was passing before them, with the unicorn keeping the dementors at bay. She could hear the dementors whispering the word 'Queen' in Venthyr, and she wondered why.

When she came in front of Sirius's cell, she saw him in a corner, like most did, but he did not mumble anything. His eyes went to her, and he began to laugh.

''Hahaha, what more can dementors torment me with?'' Said Sirius.

She placed her fingers around the bars.

''Sirius, this is not the dementors doing. Why are you locked up?'' Asked Ruma as her unicorn walked slowly behind her.

Sirius stopped laughing and he stayed silent for a moment before standing up.

''Like you did not read the news or anything?'' Sneered Sirius.

''I was… elsewhere. I don't know anything… I just learned you were here because of Greisha.'' Said Ruma.

''Is that, that woman vampire's name? She took one bite from me, then apologized before running away…'' Said Sirius as he eyed her crown. ''Does this have something to do with that crown over your head? And because I'm your brother?'' He spat.

''… maybe… probably… what happened? I could perhaps get you out?'' Asked Ruma.

''Someone in which I thought had my total trust betrayed James and Lily. Everyone thinks I was the secret guardian of the Fidelitus charm placed on their home, but we switched, without telling anyone!'' Said Sirius, his voice breaking under the emotion. ''And because I was the one to suggest it… they are dead… dead because of me. I deserve to be here.''

Ruma wondered who it was between Remus and Peter, or so she assumed, since they were all inseparable before. She thought Remus could have felt compelled to join Voldemort due to his werewolf status and his intelligence, but Peter was very much a coward in which he could have sought refuge into, having someone stronger than him and everyone, for she knew Voldemort could be very convincing.

''Who?'' She asked.

''Just forget it, Ruma. Everyone thinks I killed him, since no one knows he is an Animagus. Even Remus believes it's me. He killed a dozen muggle with a well-placed Bombarda, then he bit his finger off and transformed into a rat before scurrying away, leaving me with the corpses as aurors arrived. There's nothing anyone can do, unless someone catches him.'' Said Sirius before throwing a rock against a wall.

''And there's no way to find him… I understand. He's the reason Harry Potter defeated Voldemort though, but also the reason Seth is gone. Everything happened because of one single person.'' Said Ruma, now wondering what she could do to help him. ''Sirius… look at me.''

Sirius sighed and went to her, placing his calloused hands over hers. The contact made her heartbeat quickened, remembering all the passionate times they had together. She felt like a ball was in her throat.

''Sirius… I'll ask the dementors to pass the least amount of time at your cell. Anton and Greisha won't touch you, and they will keep an eye on your well-being. If I ever find him… you'll be free.'' Assured Ruma.

''You said Seth was gone earlier… that's not what the others say. They said he was hurt badly and at his castle. He had tried to protect Harry… is that right? Is a creature like him able to do something like that? Just like I've seen him hold… baby Regulus before?'' Wondered Sirius.

''That's right. You don't know Seth like I do, Sirius. And yes, he is gone, and to bring him back means everything to the vampire nation, but in order to do that… something awful needs to be done.'' Said Ruma.

''Which is?'' Wondered Sirius.

Ruma placed her forehead on the cell bars, feeling the cold metal on her skin.

''Voldemort needs to be brought back because he is not dead either.'' Said Ruma darkly.

''Not… Merlin. That… cannot be. No… when he comes back, he's going to go again at Harry! I can't stay here!'' Said Sirius as he began to panic, placing his hands on his head.

''Sirius! This is not going to happen anytime soon! And Harry is protected by blood wards. Even vampires can't go where he lives, they told me.'' Reassured Ruma. ''Corban Yaxley is devastated by Seth's disappearance, and even him can't find any traces of Voldemort…''

Sirius breathed fast and kicked in the wall with his right foot but regretted it soon enough when pain shot through his leg, making him whimper.

''Sirius…'' Said Ruma sadly.

Sirius yelled in frustration and kicked again in the wall repetitively until Ruma reached for her wand and waved it once, freezing his leg in the air.

''Let me go.'' Said Sirius quietly.

''Don't hurt yourself, please, dementors will hurt you plenty here.'' Pleaded Ruma.

''Exactly, let me find solace in the only thing I can control: my pain and feeling alive.'' Said Sirius.

She placed back her wand in her wand holder, then looked around her, seeing a dementor waiting not too far from her Patronus. She asked her unicorn to move away, then to the dementor to open the cell for a minute. The short moment of the dementor's proximity was enough for her to feel the cold and the lack of happiness fill her, but it was gone the moment the dementor moved again behind her unicorn.

''What are you doing? You want to torture me again with sentiment you don't hold?'' Said Sirius brokenly.

Ruma went to him, looking up at Sirius's dark eyes and placed her hands behind his head.

''No. Let me give you this single moment of happiness, and may it give you strength to pass through these uncertain times.'' Whispered Ruma before kissing him.

Sirius hesitated at first then placed his hands on her back, pulling her closer to his body. Her lavender smell filled his nose, and his breath froze in his lung, thinking he would never smell her again. Her lips were soft and perfect on his own. Her warmth felt surreal as much as her presence. She had come to see him, and she believed his story, she knew he was innocent, and there was nothing more pleasurable than knowing he was not alone anymore.

She had been gone for more than an hour, and he was still standing at the exact same place when they were kissing, trying to never forget that feeling. She kept to her words, and dementors only went to see him to give him food, and the vampires never bothered him.

Venthyr translation

''Nach hon dol.''

''Close his mind.''

''Baw tovon cost, ha na- an conn-!''

''No more fighting, it is an order!''

''Díhen- nin, lah'wi.''

''Forgive me, please.''

''Baw, nin Rîs.''

''No, my Queen.''

''Lóre, na Nurmengard cin glenn-.''

''Sleep, to Nurmengard you go.''

''Dilthen còon.''

''Little prince.''