A/N: The Muse struck! Believe it or not it actually dragged it's lazy ass out and slammed me on the head with its big 'ole mother of a hammer and landed me in my computer chair :D

I hope I'll be updating regularly from now on ( meaning at least a chap in 2-3 weeks)

Please excuse the grammar - still lacking a beta.

Origin of Sin

Chapter 7: The Other Side

"Good Draco. You have done well with your work in the Ministry. You are free to leave" Voldemort said to the blonde standing before him. Bowing deeply Draco took three steps back before turning and leaving trough the wide double doors of the room.

The Dark Lord followed his process until the figure was gone from his sight.

"Come out Lucius" he said after a minute his reptilian eyes looking to his right as a tall figure exited the shadows that covered the corners behind his seat" I want you to take care of this MacKinnon before he becomes an obstacle"

Lucius bowed deeply and stood waiting.

"Your son is doing an admirable job, you should be proud Lucius" Voldemort said noting the tensing in his minion's shoulders and the way his hands trembled for a second as if he was imagining strangling someone. It wasn't hard to guess who that someone was" You shouldn't envy him my snake. He has his responsibilities now but so do you, or have you forgotten?" he hissed the last.

Lucius' shoulders tensed even further.

"No My Lord, I am…pleased…that I have more time to take care of my other duties to you"

"As you should be Lucius, remember that and bring me news on McKinnon soon. You are free to leave" bowing like his son before him Lucius took his leave.

As soon as he was out the doors his hands clenched into white-knuckled fists and a murderous sneer twisted the handsome features of his face.

He walked down the twisting corridors in a brisk step. How dare he! The little brat! Being reduced to taking care of the 'dirty work'… He would have growled if he didn't have too much dignity to do so. While true that he enjoyed a little play he was bred to be a politician!

His eyes narrowed further and his sneer slowly melted into a calculating expression. As good as his backstabbing son thought he was, Lucius had been in the game much longer than him. He only had to wait for the little monster to slip and he'll be there to bring him down all the way.

But that didn't stop him from pushing a little here and there…

SSS

"Did you have a nice walk Draco?" Damien said leaning casually next to the opening of the passage Draco had just come out of. The latter started and whipped around to look at the speaker, his wand shooting into his hand from its holster on his forearm.

"Don't be alarmed. It's just me" Damien pushed off the wall he'd been leaning on and took a step so he was a breath away from the blonde. Slowly he leaned in and brushed his lips over the other's, biting lightly in the lower one then drew back and looked him directly in the eye.

"Come on. Dinner has started"

Blinking Draco looked at the vampire who simply raised a brow. A little smirk tugged on the blonde's lips, the wand slipped back into its sheath and he fell in step with the other boy as he turned around and they walked the corridors together.

As they reached the door of the Great Hall Draco caught Damien by the shoulder to stop him then whispered in his ear, his lips brushing the earlobe.

"I had a very nice…walk"

Damien smirked at the blonde's back as he entered the Hall. 'Voldemort is no fool'

SSS

Lucius looked at the sniveling excuse of a pureblood before him and sneered. That one was too cowardly to be of any use. He said, promised, he would never betray him but the Malfoy knew the slug would stab him in the back as soon as it was at least half-way turned. Still, it was good to remind him who he would be stabbing and what would happen should he live to return the favor.

Turning around, his cloak swishing, he exited the shop and walked away, stalking the dirty cobbles of Knockturn Alley. A silent snarl stretched his lips as he thought of his son. Flesh from his flesh, blood of his blood. His hand itched and he knew the way to cure the itch was if his hand squeezed the life out of the younger Malfoy.

He absently clenched and unclenched a fist as he walked with wide steps to his next destination.

Suddenly something was in his way and he had to veer to the side to avoid collusion. Turning quickly, his wand easily slipping into his hand he was ready to curse whoever it was.

"Lucius Malfoy" a cool velvet voice said in the darkness. The figure was seemingly male, not too tall and not too short; a large black cloak of the finest quality obscured any further view of the speaker, the voice seeming to come out of the thick darkness of the pulled hood without a physical body to belong to.

"And you are?" Lucius' voice was cool, polite and above all dangerous. The type of person who was so cool in such a situation was one to watch out for it spoke of that he was used to the danger.

The person didn't say anything. Instead he suddenly turned, a hand snapping out, making Lucius' wand hand twitch and a curse form on his lips before he could take in the situation.

As soon as he did however he felt some curiosity as he watched the figure of a struggling boy, perhaps in his early teens, as he was held effortlessly about an inch from the ground by his neck.

The person in the cloak didn't seem to find holding the boy an effort for as his hand clenched around the victim's neck he turned to the blonde again.

"Excuse me for the interruption. This delicacy had managed to run from me and I just couldn't let it run by again"

Delicacy…there were a few ways to read that word, thrown so casually in there, but considering the stranger's attire and the place and time of the meeting a nagging idea nestled itself in the aristocrat's head. A very unsettling idea when combined with the absolute lack of magical identification which every common creature gave off. Only those powerful enough could hide from the aristocrat's unusually sharp senses.

Suddenly the stranger's face tilted in such a way that his wide but sharp grin exposing pearly white teeth and a pair of elongated canines became visible, shining like a sinister beacon in the dark alley.

"Would you care to sample?" the vampire said in his velvet tones, unmindful of the choking figure in his hand.

Lucius felt a chill creep up his spine.

He had met quite a few vampires but they had all been lesser ones, or ones that held more political than actual magical power so he had been safe. This one's casual question sent a thrill of fear trough the blonde's heart. He had a secret and it was meant to stay one.

"No, thank you. I do not have a taste for such delicacies" he answered cautiously, hoping against hope that what he knew was happening wasn't true.

"No?" the man lowered the now still, unconscious body of the boy down against the alley wall before tilting the urchin's face up with a long elegant pale finger so that it was lit by the little light in the street" But he is such a beautiful catch, I can tell that his blood would be just as fine as this sweet face"

Who? Who was this vampire? Lucius already knew and was fast bemoaning his fate and the fact that his little secret will soon be out. Damn his mother to hell and may that fickle bitch called Fate join her there.

"I'm afraid I must decline your generous offer Mr. …?"

The vampire released the boy's chin and it fell on the narrow chest, lolling to the side and exposing a delicate throat. He was silent for a second before he gave a shadow of a bow then as he introduced himself.

"Daemon of the Clan of the Blakes"

There were a few titles that could and would in a formal setting, be added to that but were largely unneeded with most new acquaintances. They weren't with Lucius Malfoy whose expression became blank to conceal his shock.

There before him stood the second in command of the most powerful vampire clan and the leader of said clan's death squad. To think such a meeting was a coincidence was…unthinkable.

After a pause that lasted only a second too long Lucius caught his bearings back.

"It is a…pleasure, to meet you Mr. Blake" he gave his own incline that should pass as a bow and offered his hand, now free of wand, for a handshake.

He saw a flash of those white teeth in a sharp grin again before it disappeared into the shadows of the man's clothing as he moved to take the hand in a firm but rather brief handshake, his cool skin sending another chill trough the warm one.

"The pleasure is all mine, I assure you Lord Malfoy" the way the vampire said it sounded full of concealed meaning. Then Lucius' mind caught up with the way he'd been referred to – Lord Malfoy. It was his son that wore that title and the signet ring ever since his imprisonment. Curiosity plagued he ventured a question.

"If I may be so bold to ask – what is a man as you doing in a place like this Mr. Blake? I have been given the impression that your Clan prefers not to meddle with the affairs of magic folk"

SSS

Daemon sat at the Quidditch stands watching out of the corner of his eyes as Velin flew complicated shapes around the other candidates for the position of the third chaser. Most of his attention thought was centered on the figure hovering in the shadow of the stands. He was pleased to see that Cho's eyes were straying more often than not towards his brother and hoped it would be not too long before the other could really start of that part of his work.

It was somewhat amusing to watch yet he knew very annoying, and not in a good way, for Velin to have to deal with teenage witches. Unfortunately for him he was the perfect candidate for the position and they absolutely needed the power that the Changs could give them on their side when the hands hit the table. If luck was with them all would go according to plan and Velin would be free of that particular duty soon enough.

His observation was diverted when he saw a bushy-haired figure moving on the stands, circling them towards his seat.

It was strange seeing his one-time friends from such a severely different perspective but at the same time he was glad to say that he had been able to do one of the things that humans found the hardest, almost impossible – let go of the past and the emotions connected with it.

It had been painful, agonizing process, which had taken most of his will's power and had often enough been close to breaking him, that had prompted him to dabble in the Soul Arts. In the end the Arts hadn't helped him much but what he had achieved in shedding useless feelings had enabled him to Master them.

It was after all one of the only things that stopped people from becoming Soul Mages. The magic itself was both powerful and uncomplicated, not to mention it didn't drain the Caster's own magical reserves much. It was a very good combination on the whole if not for the wildness of it – anything that came from a human source tended to be. There had been cases known where a Soul Mage had suffered unspeakable things for just a flicker of uncontrolled emotion while using the Powers of the Spirits.

Many knew the Art as that of uncommonly foolish or the rather more common suicidal individuals.

Daemon was neither.

Ignoring the presence that neared him he continued to follow Cho's Aura, feeling a tingle of anticipation for the moment he would be able to take control of her soul. All he needed was for Velin to plant the seeds and he would send them wildly growing into a snare which the beautiful Chinese girl would not escape with her life. Though he rather doubted that once she was caught she would even want to escape.

In his experience people preferred to suffer a one-sided love and scamper to please their beloved than to live without that love.

Soalr had once jokingly shrugged over one such dead man's body and muttered a ' Go figure' that had been ruined by his entirely knowing, cynical and hungry smile.

Daemon's mouth quirked into a half-smirk. Go figure.

"Hello"

He didn't look up but his smirk melted away when the reminiscent mood was ruined by the arrival of one Hermione Granger.

Nodding at her with a superficial fleeting glance up to her for propriety's sake he returned to following the Chinese's Aura and waiting for the moment where Velin would not hold up any more and call either him or Soalr to complain of boredom.

"May I sit here?"

He lifted his shoulders in a gesture that Soalr would have qualified as an 'anemic shrug'.

He could feel it in the girl's blood that she was nervous, even if she was hiding it rather well. Her heart was beating a little too fast and he could feel the scent of her apprehensiveness in the fine drops of sweat on her body.

He heard her draw her tongue over her lips, an unconscious gesture he remembered her having, and turned to look at her. There was no need for him to give her any indicating of question but knew she would speak. She might've been a little too smart for Gryffindor but she undoubtedly had courage to rival any of her classmates.

"I'm Hermione Granger" she started, meeting his eyes but looking away soon" I'm in Velin's house"

"Damien Blake"

She gave a small smile.

"I know. You're a friend of Velin's, are you not?"

Daemon nodded and looked away to put her more at ease. He wanted her to feel more comfortable when rooting for information so he could have more excuse to give her hints when asked good questions.

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again.

"Did he play at Durmstrang? He is very good on a broom"

It was an understatement but he let it slide.

"We all played" he said and let it open for interpretation, sure that the girl will use as an opening.

"Quidditch?" she asked lightly but he could feel her excitement.

He allowed a smirk to twist his lips, knowing she would see him even if she wasn't directly watching him. She was always the observant one.

"Amongst other things"

"And you are all as good as he is? If you are I don't doubt you won every time"

He shot her a look from the corner of his eyes and made sure to put enough of a leer in his words so as not to leave any doubt.

"Oh we are. Perhaps even better" he turned to her making her look at him too. He leaned in, accurately aware that she had a larger personals pace than most and so close contact made her more nervous than others" The …trick…Hermione is in how much you are willing to give so you can receive"

"It is?" she said, refusing to back down.

"Oh yes" he said, lowering his voice. Usually with vampires there was no need for such theatrics but a wizard's mind was led by impressions and he knew how to leave those" You see, at Durmstrang the curriculum is a bit ...harsher, than here. They teach us many things" he said and was already nose to nose with her" And many things we teach ourselves trough experimentation" his smirk widened he sniffed at her distinctly.

He winked and sat back.

" You smell sweet Hermione" he said looking at Velin who he knew had noticed the laughter that echoed inside his head and he allowed to seep trough his link.

"Would you care for a walk with me?" he continued" Tonight perhaps?" he turned to meet her slightly shocked eyes" I so love the night"

Her mouth opened then closed, a light blush crept up her cheeks then her gaze shifted.

"Um thank you but I have some work to finish" she said and swallowed.

Daemon grinned then, aware that even in his human form his canines were a little too sharp and prominent to be missed.

"Another time then. I wouldn't want to keep you from your work"

"Yes, another time perhaps" she said, grabbing onto the saving line. She then lifted her wrist and looked at the watch there" Ah, its been…interesting to talk to you but I have a meeting with a friend of mine. Have a nice day!" she said with a smile that was just on the side of forced and was off.

"And a nice day to you too Miss Granger"

And if she hadn't at least got a big clue about the subjects of her curiosity now then the next move would be to leave the "Vampyr Genealogy" open on her bed.

'What did the little bookworm have to say?'

Daemon had to smile as his Angel's voice cut in as soon as the words were out of his mouth.

'I think she's turned into a mole now. She was a worm in first year. Five years are enough for a worm to go trough metamorphosis, don't you think?'

There was a distinct feeling of amusement in answer.

'Depending on how stubborn the worm in question is I doubt even a hundred years would be enough'

Velin did a loop in the air and landed gracefully.

'I think she'd caught some of your stubbornness. In fact I think its some kind of a disease. At least that's what Master Serth says'

'Considering how prim and proper you were before I got to the Academy? I'd say he had a reason to say that"

He received another wave of amusement and saw Velin take off his shirt as he walked towards the lockers and use it to wipe the sweat off his face. The move didn't go unnoticed by a large part of the teens present, and most importantly – Cho.

Velin had a powerful body though he couldn't be called bulky by a long shot. It was muscled in a way that told of his ability to use his body as more than a showcase and the few scars on it only added to his allure.

There was a flare of lust, endorphins and adrenalin pumping the young people on the field's blood to create an exotic cocktail that hit Daemon's senses and he nearly purred. His delight was added to when he noticed the bright flash of a lustful purplish ripple trough Cho's Aura.

'You are a tease, Velin'

'I try'

As Velin disappeared into the locker-room Daemon stood and brushed off his clothes before heading back to the Castle.

SSS

Soalr laughed and grinned at Terry.

" I can't believe, still can't believe, your Uncle let you see the actual wandmaking!" he said in delight that was far from faked and forced some awe into his gaze.

The boy next to him seemed to inflate with the awe of his undeniably close to brilliant new friend.

"It wasn't easy but since he wants me to take the business over one day Uncle Olivander did allow me to see the initial stages"

Solar threw a hand over Terry's shoulders and squeezed then, being careful to use only a little of his strength.

"You're one lucky man Terry. What I wouldn't give to even see the back room of a wandmaker! Or to meet one and have him talk with me!" he sighed as if that was one of his life's dreams.

While he seemed to be in another place he could feel Terry's mind working on ideas to have him visit.

"So what do we have next?" he said after he noticed the boy was going into the problems that it might cause if he asked his uncle to let Soalr see his work room and meet with him. He didn't want his target dwelling on such thoughts.

"Um I think we have Herbology"

"Oh! That means Velin will be there. Wait till I tell him you got to see wandmaking! He'd gonna flip!"

Terry grinned at him and Soalr led him out.

Oh, Velin was going to flip alright. He would flip on the ground in laughter when he saw what kind of a 'fan' Soalr had had to become to get his target.

And he was never going to let him live it down.

Brunching his nose he decided that Daemon better repay him for his work plenty this time.

SSS

Draco sat back in his seat, his finished orb on the desk in front of him, and observed Damien as he seemed to catch up on some sleep on the row next to his, a finished orb before him too.

His eyes slid over the other students and noticed the way most had managed to get a seat further from Damien's part of the room. Whether unconsciously or on purpose there was a small, almost unnoticeable if you weren't looking, space around the new classmate.

In the small amount of time he'd known the vampire he'd come to realize that there was much, much, more to him. Not to mention that with the hints Severus had given him he'd been led to something he hadn't expected.

He looked intently at the boy and tried something he prayed wouldn't work and yet feared it would.

"Daemon…"

He tried to make the thought forceful and was both surprised and not when suddenly the vampire's eyes snapped open and zeroed in on him with amazing intensity.

'Yes?' the voice echoed in his head so clearly he flinched and his chair's leg's scraped the floor.

"Mr. Malfoy, are you alright?" McGonagall's voice startled him out of his staring.

"Quite, Professor" he answered slowly dragging his attention away from the black gaze with difficulty

"Then would you care to show me your work?" she said sternly, drawing his attention to her completely.

He looked at her and the way her mouth was pressed. It was obvious in so many of the professors' faces that they saw his father in him and disliked him for it.

With a flick of his wand and a muttered spell the orb was filled with sparks. They danced filling it, making it look like a glittering light before dying slowly.

"Five points to Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy" she said and passed by, then made Damien repeat it and her mouth pressed into a firmer line when she had to give five more points to Slytherin.

With the ring on the bell Draco stood and put away his things. Feeling a presence behind him he turned to see a lightly smirking Damien.

"Do the teachers here usually make it a point to show their displeasure at their student's success?"

Seeing a convenient diversion, until they were alone, Draco shot a look at McGonagall.

It was true that the teachers seemed tenser this year; somehow it seemed the fact that the menace of a gryffindor's disappearance had put everyone in a rather foul mood. Everyone except Severus that is. He smirked.

"No, not usually. Only since their golden-boy disappeared"

He turned to walk out and acutely felt that Daemon was too close for comfort.

"Is that so?" he said a low voice that rumbled making Draco suppress a shiver.

The blonde lifted an imperious brow.

"You are in my way Blake"

He received a sharp grin in return and the other leaned closer. For a second Draco didn't know whether to expect a kiss or something else but then he felt a cool cheek rub against his.

Like a cat, he thought.

A small chuckle traveled trough the other's chest to his where they pressed together.

"Velin and Soalr often tell me I must have been a feline in a previous life"

Draco's mind sobered from the intoxicating closeness and he stepped sideways. Training cool silver eyes on the winkling black ones he narrowed then.

"You and I have some things to talk about Blake"

The smirk he received in return was just enough to be called infuriating.

"More than you know, Malfoy"

"Mr. Blake, Mr. Malfoy I believe you have Potions next?"

Daemon turned a blinding smile on the Professor who had just stepped out of the door and seen Daemon's back .

"Yes, Professor. Have a good day"

With that he shot a meaningful look over his shoulder and walked off.

Saying his goodbyes Draco followed.

Catching up to the vampire he put a heavy hand on his shoulder to stop him.

"Come" he said once and turned into a side corridor that was hidden behind a painting of a forest of unicorns.

He knew Damien, Daemon, whoever he was, was following.

His eyes glittered in the light of the fire-lit hall as a hard and sharp sheen overcame them. He was Lord Malfoy and Halloween was getting closer he could not allow this farce to go on any longer. It was time he asked some questions and got straightforward answers before such nuisances became a reason for his Master's displeasure.

He didn't get the chance to.

SSS

"My Lord"

"Rise Severus. What news do you bring me?"

Severus stood before the Dark Lord with his head respectfully bowed and his mind decided. He had always felt where the winds of power pointed at and he was about to make sure he was not following but going alongside them.

"My Lord, I have informed you of the transfer students that Dumbledore has allowed into his school. I bring an interesting development in that path, Master" he bowed deeper" The students are vampires, Lord"

He could feel the sudden attention falling on him.

"Is that so Severus?"

"Yes, my Lord"

"I assume the old man knows of this?"

"Indeed he does Master"

He felt the cold presence of the Dark Lord step closer with a movement unheard, as if he had stepped on air.

"Then why do I learn now, Severus?" the high, dry voice that was not a whisper but reminded the Potion's Master of the voices of the spirits that rose only on the night of the bloody moon. Quiet yet loud and chilling, coming from a different dimension than the earthly life.

"There is more, Master" Severus bowed deeper" They are not ordinary vampires. They are daywalkers"

There was a second of silence then a cold as the body of a snake, long and pale finger lifted his bowed chin until he met the bloody irises spit in two by a thin serpentine pupil, surrounded by a crown of red veins. The eyes of a demon.

"Who are they my Severus?"

"They are Death's Angels, Master. The assassins of the Blake clan"

Heat filled the inhuman eyes and Severus was not ashamed to admit to the shudder than ran trough him as the lipless mouth stretched in a horrifying disfigurement of a smile.

"So my only family has come back to me"

Or after you. Snape hurried to erase the mere memory of the traitorous thought out of his mind.