A/N: I present you with Chapter 5. My beta was most annoyed that I somehow managed to work vampires into the storyline of my Harry Potter fic (She dislikes Buffy the Vampire Slayer which I happen to be addicted to and somehow does not see the hotness of Spike even though Draco looks kind of like him. Very sad). Anyhow, it is crucial to the storyline, so pay very close attention to this chapter or you will get confused next time.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters are owned by JK Rowling. References to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dracula, and the Anne Rice novels go to their respective authors.

Warning: Murder, I think that's it.

I Never Thought I Would Be A Hero

Original Dark Angel

Chapter 5: Carrie

The boy in the corner was 6'2", thin, and pale. His blond hair was spiked and he wore muggle clothes. He was Draco Malfoy, and he wasnot happy.

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," he complained to his companion, a much shorter girl dressed in black, wearing too much eyeliner and streaks of black in her copper hair. "Spying on Lucas, fine. Muggle club and clothes, sure. Lousy tasting food and loud music, why not? But letting you do this to my hair was a moment of sheer insanity."

"Every girl in this room thinks that you are unbelievably hot."

"Too bad for them; I've already got a girlfriend who owns me, lock, stock, and spiked blonde hair."

"Damn straight."

"I'm starting to rub off on you," he teased. "I'll just have to-" He broke off as a boy in a full 18th century tux approached them.

"Welcome. I am Armont. I hope you enjoy tonight's performance. It is good that you are open to the night. Our fanged brethren thank you. May I ask your names?"

"I'm . . . er . . . Spike." It was the only media vampire name he could think of that wasn't from an Anne Rice novel, as he was fairly certain they would all be taken (probably more than once). He distinctly heard Ginny stifle a giggle. Annoyed, he finished with "and this is my girlfriend, Kitten." Ginny smiled sweetly, but he knew that he would pay for it later.

"Welcome, Spike. Welcome, Kitten." 'Armont' bowed deeply, and walked away, almost tripping on a Dracula-wannabe's cape.

"Kitten?" Ginny growled.

"I thought you liked cats."

"Not enough to go by 'Kitten' for a whole night."

"It's better than 'Spike.' I just couldn't think of anything else."

"Angelus? Kakistos?"

"You watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer? But that's an American show!"

"I've seen it. So why not those names? You can be angelic if you want to be."

"Both of them are ugly and stupid. Not to mention trite."

"You know, if you had the leather duster, you'd look an awful lot like Spike," she giggled.

"Ha-ha. Very funny."

"I'm serious!"

"You're-Lucas, funny to see you here."

"Not at all, but here I go by The Immortal. And you?"

"Spike."

"Her?"

"None of your business."

"I'll find out sooner or later. Do you really want me to bring her to the attention of some of these nut-jobs?"

"She goes by Kitten."

"Cute."

Unnerved, Draco pulled Ginny a little closer to him. "What are you doing here anyway, Lucas?"

"Meeting my girlfriends. Ah, there they are." Three girls approached them, seemingly identical, and probably triplets. "Girls, meet my friends, Spike and Kitten."

"Charmed," they responded at exactly the same time. "We are The Three." Their voices sounded like a chant as they rose and fell at exactly the same time.

"O-kay. Have fun." He hurried Ginny away. "Dracula's Brides?" he asked her, trying valiantly to hold back his laughter.

"Probably."

"Fitting for 'The Immortal.' Three girls, one brain."

Ginny swatted him. "Be nice." Before he could protest, she pulled him out onto the dance floor and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Dance with me."

It was a command that Draco was pleased to obey, and the song playing (Transylvanian Concubine) gave him permission to hold her close while they danced. She rested her head on his shoulder and tightened her grip around his neck. He whispered something that made her blush, but before she could respond, screams ripped through the air. Three perfectly pitched screams.

"Bloody hell! Stay here!" Of course Ginny followed him anyway as he started questioning the crowd. "Where'd the dark haired boy with three pretty blonde girls go? Um, The Immortal and The Three."

"Upstairs."

Draco immediately shoved people aside and took off. It took Ginny a couple of minutes to catch up, as she had to fight her way through the crowd of panicking teenagers. She got up there just in time to hear a crash and a heavy blow. The door was blocked, but she could hear Draco. "I killed it. It can't hurt you I promise." A girl was crying, harsh broken sobs. "Let's get you out of here." Whatever was blocking the door, Ginny could hear the scrape as Draco shoved it away. He appeared with one of the girls. Seeing her, he shook his head. "Don't look. Just take her." Ginny nodded. She had already seen blonde hair on the floor and had no desire to see the rest of the scene. "I need to get Snape. I'll use the next room's fireplace."

Ginny nodded and knelt next to the girl. "Are you hurt?"

"I don't wanna play anymore." Ginny studied the girl and realized that she couldn't be more than twelve. The make-up and high heels had fooled her. "I want Bethy and Annie."

"Bloody he-" Ginny cut it off in front of the girl. "What's your real name?"

"Carrie." I don't wanna play anymore. I want my sisters." Ginny tried to comfort her. How could three years make such a difference? Eventually Draco returned with Snape, and while they inspected the room, Ginny got more of the story out of Carrie. "It was Annie's idea. She liked the horror pictures and shows. When we're dressed like that and grouped all together, people think we're a lot older. Bethy faked some i.d.s for us to get in here. Then that older boy noticed us and took us places. It was fun to fool him. But tonight he . . . he . . had that thing waiting for us." She looked up as Draco emerged. "Are Annie and Bethy okay now?"

Seeing what Ginny had seen, Draco crouched next to her and put a hand on the little girl's shoulder. "They didn't make it. You know that," he said gently.

"No!" The girl clapped her hands over her ears and screamed. Every window and mirror shattered, not due to the pitch of the scream (although considerably high), but to a force unseen.

"She's a witch," Draco breathed.

"Why isn't she in school then?"

"Snape joined them. "All three were magical muggleborns. Dumbledore couldn't convince their parents to send them to school. No choice now but to take her with us. Draco, use the fire and take her straight to Dumbledore. Miss Weasley, go with them. I have somewhere else to be."

An hour later, they sat in the Hospital Wing, guarding Carrie. Ginny fixed the covers, and hovered. "He traded them for a vampiric amulet. He had to have noticed that they weren't really sixteen. Why them? There were dozens of girls there, who probably would have considered it an honor. Why three little girls?"

"What made them stand out last night? Think, why were they different?"

It was a test of her observation skills and Ginny knew it. She concentrated. Flashing lights, mirrors, smoke, dark haired people in dark clothes. That's it!

"Besides you they were the only blondes."

"Right. Forget Muggle stories. All vampires are blonde. They can only sire blondes, because blonde hair means that there was a vampire in the person's lineage already. That vampire probably fancied himself a modern day Dracula and thought three identical brides would be a good start to a new coven."

"She's the first muggleborn to ever be put in Slytherin. It's kind of weird. At least we can protect her now. But Lucas will find her."

"He won't be back. He's probably trading the amulet in for the Dark Mark as we speak." Involuntarily, Ginny's eyes were drawn to his forearm and of course he noticed. "I won't take the mark. I promise, Ginny."

"But you're going back."

"Only to declare my decision, then I'll disapparate."

"I'm going with you," she said, firmly. "No arguing. I'm going. I love you."

"I love you too."

Malfoy Manor was, if possible, even colder and unfriendly than her last visit. Ginny clung to Draco's hand, and dashed through the rain. In the entryway a house-elf took their cloaks, and left them there to wait. Draco sat on the floor and leaned his head back against the wall. "It'll be a while. Etta can't interrupt and no one ever notices the house-elves right away." Ginny sat next to him, laying her head on his chest, letting his fingers stroke her hair. "How's Carrie?"

"She replaced my shadow. But it's okay. I know that she's scared."

"Has good reason to be. Where is she going over the break?"

"Grimmauld Place. Mum's going to talk her parents into letting her stay over the summer. She'll be safe there."

"Good. I love you."

"I love you too."

They sat there for close to an hour, and Ginny was almost asleep when the door slid open, and Lucas entered. " About time you two got here. Hurry up."

"Only us then?" Draco inquired.

"I've already got mine." With a grin he pulled up his sleeve and shoved his arm in their faces. "Check it out!" The black ink stood out in sharp relief on his pale skin, and even though the Dark Mark was a frightening image, Lucas wore it proudly.

"Yeah. Where's my father?"

"Waiting for you in the Black Room. The rest are in the dungeon."

"Thanks." Draco stood and offered his hand to Ginny. "Let's go, luv." He pulled her to her feet, but didn't release her hand, almost as if he was afraid of losing her.

Lucius was waiting eagerly. "Hurry up, boy. Put on your robes. The Dark Lord is waiting!"

"No."

Lucius paused and looked back at Draco, his eyes going cold. "No?"

"No, father. I do not now or ever wish to be a deatheater and serve that slimy creep that you're too afraid of to even use his name. I'm not. Voldemort, Tom Marvolo Riddle, whoever he is, he doesn't scare me and I won't serve him."

"Is this some sort of joke?" Lucius asked dangerously.

"No joke, father," Draco answered calmly, but Ginny noticed how carefully he calculated his movements. He had kept her behind him the whole time, but now he tightened his grip on her hand, and with a pop, they both vanished from the Black Room and now stood in Ginny's bedroom at Grimmauld Place. "You're safe now," Draco whispered, releasing her.

"We're home?" she asked. He nodded. "We're home! Mum! Dad! I'm home." She took off down the hall and down the stairs. Draco followed at a more sedate pace, enjoying her excitement. She knocked over an umbrella stand in her haste, woke Mrs. Black's portrait, and kept up the cheerful laughing cries. People spilled out of the kitchen, hurrying to hug and exclaim over her. He soon found himself in a corner alone, but for Carrie, the only person to come and hug him, happy that he was still alive.

She looked up at him. "They treat me funny here. Cause I'm a Slytherin. They don't want me here."

"They don't want me either. We just have to stick together. That's all." He ruffled the little girl's hair. "Let's go get something to eat, shall we?"

"Okay."

"Draco, wait!" Ginny pulled away from her fan club and walked up to him. Deliberately, she wrapped both arms around his neck and kissed him. The room immediately went quiet. "I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Draco."

Ron and the twins were incapable of speech, and Hermione was just staring. Harry was the one who broke the silence. "Malfoy and you? Is this a joke?"

"Nope, and you will all stop calling him that. His name is Draco." Abruptly she changed the subject. "Is there anything left to eat? We're starved!" Mrs. Weasley nodded and bustled back into the kitchen to serve up plates.

Draco was eating the best food that he had ever tasted, when Dumbledore appeared. He stood and faced the elderly man. Dumbledore looked old and worn. "You rejected it then?"

"I told you that I would in first year. I swore that I would never take the mark."

"Even if it would have helped us further?" Dumbledore's voice was raised now and anger filled his features. "You were our best spy, well placed and unsuspected. The mark wouldn't change that."

"But it would change me. I couldn't take looking like him anymore than I already do. I am not my father. I will not run his company. I will not follow his rules, and I will not take the mark of his dictator."

"But you're useless to us now. You have no money, no information, and no home, not to mention you've brainwashed Ginny. What were you planning on doing?" shouted Harry. "Convince me why we should keep any of you Slytherins around!"

"Because you're the bloody hero! I'm not penniless, I can take care of myself, but Carrie needs protection!"

"She's a Slytherin."

"She's a twelve year old kid," Draco said quietly, "who's been through a hell of a lot. So much for the heroes. Come on, Carrie. If we're unwelcome here, I'll rent us some rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. You see, Potter, I've been planning this for six years, saving pocket money, birthday money, selling things. I've got a Gringotts account that rivals even yours, and no one can touch it," Draco spat.

"Stop!" Ginny cried out, and every eye turned to her. "If Draco goes, I go."

This sparked a wave of protest, but she held firm. "Draco and I are a set. We stay together. And as for Carrie, I won't have you being rude to her either. So she's a Slytherin. So is Draco, and Professor Snape, and I may as well be after having Tom Riddle in my head, so I bloody well hope that you would show the same consideration to her as you did to me. If not, we'll be on our way."

"Harry, please," Mrs. Weasley pleaded.

"Fine. Find and empty bedroom, Malfoy, and stay out of our way." Harry stalked out followed by Fred, George, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna. Dumbledore disapparated and the rest of the table found other things to do, except for Bill.

"Ginny, Carrie's staying in your room. It's late, so why don't you two go up to bed? I'll show Draco where there's an empty room."

Ginny obeyed. She kissed Draco good night and then dashed off with Carrie.

Draco turned to Bill, suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"Convince me that you love my baby sister. I'm the oldest you see and it will be me who hunts you down if you break her heart. So convince me."

"I. Love. Her." Draco looked down. "Look, I can tell you a million things about her, me, us, but they're all cliché, like I love her more than life itself, she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, or that she understands me, and while that's all true, it's not what you want to hear. I love her for a million reasons. She is simply the most amazing, frustrating, loving, intelligent, courageous, funniest, sweetest, and determined girl I ever met. And I love her."

"Okay then. Let's go claim you a room."

"There you go, Carrie." Ginny set the brush on her nightstand and held up a mirror so the younger girl could admire her blonde braid.

"Thanks, Ginny." The younger girl bounced off the bed and into her own. "Night."

"Night." Ginny flicked off the light and fiddled with the wireless. The other girl's breathing grew even, but Ginny couldn't find the right station. Finally she chose a replacement and slid down into bed.

"Ginny!" Loud knocking ensued.

Ginny groaned and tossed the covers aside. She pulled the door open. "What do you want? Carrie is asleep."

Harry shrugged. "You're sleeping in Hermione and Luna's room."

"What?"

"Move your stuff into their room."

"Their room is tiny. Why-you think Draco will come in here."

"I know Malfoy will, so you won't be here when he does."

"No, four-or even three, so don't bother suggesting it-do not fit in one room. You don't know Draco at all, and even if you did, you have no right to order me around. You are not my father. You are not my brother. You have been nothing but rude to my boyfriend. I'm staying in my room. Good night." She slammed the door and locked it. Then she collapsed back on her bed, but was unable to sleep. It would be a long vacation, and Ginny couldn't wait to get back to Hogwarts.

"Be right there, Carrie." Ginny called sprinting for the dormitory. She wanted to wear the bracelet that Draco had given her for Christmas. They were going to meet Draco at the Three Broomsticks in ten minutes and she wanted to wear that bracelet. She looked up from her jewelry box, as the blonde girl entered. "Sorry, I can't seem to-Oh! Here it is." She slipped the bracelet on and started to close the lid, when the other girl pointed to a dark amulet dropped in the corner.

"What's that?"

Ginny bit her lip. Carrie had been doing so well. She really didn't want to bring Lucas's name up. "Just an old necklace. I don't like it much."

"Why? It's gorgeous and it matches the purple in your skirt. It'll make the whole outfit look great. Put it on."

Reluctantly, Ginny unfastened the clasp. Draco hadn't been able to find anything wrong with it. She fastened it around her neck and checked in the mirror, before turning to the younger girl. "How's it look?" The smile on Carrie's face scared her. "Carrie?"

"Looks good, Ginevra. Bind thy will!" The blonde girl held up an identical amulet now filled with black smoke, and when she smiled, Ginny could see white fangs. "Sleep."

Everything went black.

"Drop her. Lucas can take care of this from here." The girl's voice penetrated the fog of Ginny's mind. She tried to speak, but she had been gagged. She heard the vampiress go into the bathroom and assumed from the noises that she was changing clothes. Moments later, she returned no longer in a school uniform fitting for a twelve year old girl, but dressed as she had been the night Ginny had first met her. "Awake I see," she sniffed. "About time. I was growing bored."

"Couldn't have that, could we, darling?" Lucas laughed as he entered. "So, it worked?"

"Like a charm." The blonde offered him the amulet and kissed him deeply. "Voldemort will be pleased. Are you?"

"Very, my temptress."

"Don't forget it," she warned him.

"Never. After tonight we'll go off to Paris or Italy. But first the dark lord's ritual." Lucas turned to Ginny. "This amulet allows me to control you. You can only do what I wish you to do. Of course the spell had to be performed by a Vampire but-I believeyou call her 'Carrie'- offered her services in place of the one cousin Draco killed. Now get dressed for tonight's ceremony. My girlfriend will assist you. Be ready in half an hour." He strode out leaving Ginny alone in the dubious though preferred company of the vampire.

Bored, the girl reached forward and removed the gag. "Disappointed in little Carrie, Ginevra?"

"You're not Carrie."

A/N: Am I evil or what? One more week, ladies and gents. Then I will give you the next chapter which will sum up the end of year six for Draco and year five for Ginny, before we start the final year. Enjoy!

A/N II: Since I'm going to Creation Fest next week and won't be back in time to get up the next chapter, I decided to take pity on you and post it this week. Enjoy the double.