Xanth had followed the couple out of the room, not wanting to be alone in the room with Ron and Hermione who were just a little afraid of him. He watched Harry and Ginny inter her room and before going down the stairs he placed a ward around her bedroom door. This one was invisible like the last, but instead of keeping everyone out it would only keep people out that were a threat to Harry. Aside from that it would alarm him if anyone entered the room.
Xanth left the house, and roamed thought the woods near it. He didn't intend to hunt tonight, but he knew he would need to soon. It wouldn't do at all if he was weak from hunger at a time an enemy decided to attack. Xanth paused near a small pond to reflect on his thoughts. He stared at the water, not really seeing it and became absolutely still. All vampires did this, most of the time they didn't even try, it was like there mind was in another place, as if they were dead, no one knew why though there were theories.
He pondered on how the crew of friends had taken in the fact that he was a vampire. All of them were a bit shock, Hermione was afraid, Ron had been just about terrified. Ginny on the other hand didn't really care, he had scanned all of there minds when he gave them the information, and the thing that she was think about the most was Harry. She thought about how he trusted Xanth and she would to. He liked that about her, she was very loyal to him.
The main thing though that he had to think about was how he was feeling about both sets of couples. He liked the fact that they were together, it gave them strength and that was something they needed. But he felt something else toward them, something he had never really felt before, jealousy. He had no one, all his life he didn't have anyone, and for the most of part he was find with that. But today seeing all the couples dancing, seeing Harry and Ginny's soul mated, and seeing Ron and Hermione together made him realize how lonely he was. How much he wanted what they had.
Years ago, late at night he had felt that loneliness before. Its not that he had desired the pleasures of the flesh, then, but he just wanted someone near him, to hold him. That had been the reason he had started sleeping in one position, so that at night he couldn't curl into a ball and reach his hand out to pull in someone that wasn't there. He felt odd now, though, not only was he lonely but now he desired flesh, he desired sex. He was a vampire. And vampires were very erotic creatures by nature. They craved bodily pleasures.
Xanth knew that things would change about him when he became a vampire. That's part of the reason he wanted to be one. But he didn't know exactly how much they would change until he arrived at the Weasley's house. He reflected on his body, thinking of all the things that had changed. First off there was his since of smell, why even being miles away deep in the forest he could smell the hormones raging off of Hermione and Ron in the house. He could hear the conversation Ginny was having with Harry. He also saw things differently. Everything seemed to have before brighter, more defined. It was almost as if he viewed the world now through 4-D. It was surprising but excellent. Then it was his since of touch, It had changed just as much as everything else. He felt the material of his clothing brushing against his skin, there was something erotic about the fact that it seemed everything he touched was a live, like they moved and swayed. There really was no better way to describe it.
Earlier when Fleur had spoken in that deep throaty voice, something in his lower body had pulled, had began to stir. He understood what had happened, he had began to get an erection and that had shocked the hell out of him. All his life he had remanded limp. Although he had wanted a companion, someone to hold at night sex had had nothing to do with it. He knew for a fact that he didn't desire Fleur, he couldn't imagine her as his companion or as a bed mate, so the fact that she had aroused apart of his body, without his consent had angered him.
Since becoming a vampire things had definitely changed. The supernatural abilities were excellent for him. With all of his previous training he would indeed become the ultimate warrior. But now becoming a vampire had a downside, he desired a body. His own one had a craving that needed to be satisfied. Come to thing of it, it had two that it now needed satisfied.
Xanth put all of those ideals out of his head. He had come out hear for a reason besides thinking. He wanted to train, to see just how much strength he had. He leaped up in the air, trying to see how high he could jump, to his surprised though he kept rising and rising until he told his body to stop. When he stopped, he didn't immediately fall back upon the earth. He stayed suspended in the air, he could fly. He smiled, this time doing a real one, for the moment no longer thinking of masking his face.
He started going back to the ground, changed his position in mid air and made a dive out of it pulling out quickly before landing on his feet. For the remainder of the night he practiced using the other magic he had obtained.
Harry woke in the morning feeling quite happy. He didn't know why for a few seconds but when he felt Ginny in his arms everything came back to him. He had her now, as he knew he always would. Deep down he knew that he couldn't resist Ginny, even though being with her put her in danger he really couldn't let her go. The thought made him feel ashamed but he just couldn't help it. He had to be with her, it was meant to be.
Sliding his arm from around Ginny, Harry sat up. He grabbed his glasses off of the table by her bed and then adjusted them on his face properly. Thoughts of last night flooded his mind. During his sleep Ginny had pressed her body into his on more than one occasion, He had awoken, felt his erection pressing into bottom. Afraid of her waking up and screaming something at him like 'pervert' he drew back, allowing space between there two bodies and eventually his erection went down. Now that he was awake he couldn't help but wonder if Ginny had been asleep after all. Last night he had been pressing against her really hard. Could someone really sleep threw all of that?
Not allowing the thought to really take into his mind, Harry got up and left the room to go down stairs. Ron was already awoke and working on his game of chest. This one had lasted him about two weeks. He had other boards, in other places where he played against himself, occasionally moving a piece but he was loosing on them. They would be completed fast. On this particular game neither side of the board had lost any pieces, and that's exactly the way he wanted it to remain.
Xanth was also in the room. He hadn't bother going to sleep last night, he really didn't need to sleep anymore and would only do so for comfort. Harry slowly walked up to him, with a concerted look on his face. Xanth was standing perfectly still, looking at nothing in particular. His eyes had a look to them that was almost lifeless. When Harry reached out to touch his arm though, Xanth grabbed it, and shook his head.
Harry stumbled back, nearly tripping and falling over. Hearing the commotion Ron looked up. He saw Harry falling backwards, and Xanth's arm on him. Reaching the conclusion that Xanth had hit Harry he pulled out his wand, pointed it Xanth and yelled out "stupefy"
Xanth had released Harry's arm the moment he realized he'd grabbed it. When Ron pulled out his wand and tried to stupefy him, he did a side ways twist, that manage to look almost like a back flip. He pointed his hand at Ron, thinking STOP.
Ron's hands shot straight down to his side, his legs pulled together. His body had been petrified.
Harry took out his wand, pointed it at Ron and said the counter jinx, making him once again able to move. Ron pointed his wand at Xanth once again, but before the words of a spell had left his mouth Harry shouted, "Expelliamus." Making Ron's wand fly out of his hand and land in Harry's.
Ron's jaws dropped. He looked horrified. "Why are you siding with that vampire?" He shouted, making vampire sound like a very nasty word.
"You misunderstand Ron. Xanth wasn't going to hurt me. I though something was wrong with him, and when I reached out to touch him he grabbed my arm." Looking very confused Harry paused, wondering exactly why Xanth had grabbed him.
"Once again I tell you all that I am a Vampire" Xanth said. "I wasn't paying attention to what was happening, and when Harry reached out to touch me, my body reacted instantly, grabbing him. Do not touch me; I rarely like to be touched at all. And with the new decencies that this body has it protected it self."
Ron looked at Xanth with an expression of pure fear. Was he wrong, or did Xanth did just say that his body tried to fight without him even controlling it? He definitely didn't want to get into a fight with this person, but if he were lying, if he tried to hurt Harry, he would give it his all, every single time.
Xanth looked up at Ron, He smiled though his emotions didn't show on his face. "You don't have to worry about that Ron. We are on the same side, though it's rather good that you've decided to protect Harry against any threat." He walked over to Ron, and bowed his head. "Don't be afraid of me, Harry has my loyalty, and now you do to. I'd no more try to harm either of you than you would yourself."
Ron was full of mixed feelings. He had forgotten that Xanth could read minds, and to his embarrassment Xanth had read all the fear his had in it. But he had also maid it clear that he wouldn't hurt either of them, he had said that they were on the same side. Ron bowed his head back and said "Sorry, I just over reacted. I thought you were hurting Harry. Friends?"
Xanth nodded, went back to his original position, and stood still. He had made progress with Ron. He could feel Ron's uncertainty about him still, but he could also feel his fear subsiding. In no time at all Ron would consider him a friend.
Later that night everyone in the Weasley's house hold sat around the table having dinner. Mr. Weasley had already explained that Dumbledore had left a note with the Ministry of Magic, telling all about his plans with Xanth in the event of his death. Since Xanth was bound to go to Harry, and Harry the Weasley the minister of magic informed Mr. Weasley on all the details. Xanth was to enter the school with Harry. He would be in the same year as him, and he basically didn't have anything to worry about.
Everyone that had been invited to Harry's party, with the exception of McGonagall, had already left. McGonagall stood, cleared her throat softly and said, "I fell that there is no longer a reason to delay this. I must be getting back to my own duties but before I must tell you of the contents of Dumbledore's will. To the Order Of Phoenix, The Weasley family, Xanth and Hogwarts school of witch craft and wizardry he left his gold. It's stated that each part shall get a fourth of it, and under no contemp will it be allowed for the Weasley to not accept the money."
At hearing they were getting the money everyone of the Weasley said something about not being able to accept it, they were proud. Harry smiled at Dumbledore's genius, he would leave his friends with something they needed no matter what. He knew that they already forgave him for it.
McGonagall continued, "Dumbledore next states, that his real home was Hogwarts. He had very little material things, but he did have a house, in northern France that consisted of mainly a large Library. This he leaves to Hermione, the smartest witch of her age." Hermione gasped at this clearly surprised. She hadn't expected to be in his will, and he left her a gift that was far more valuable to her than money.
"The will says that Harry should already have his gift from Dumbledore" McGonagall looked over her specatules at Harry, pausing for a moment to see if he would tell what it was. When he didn't say anything she went on, "But It also says to give you the package, he left in his office at Hogwarts school. The will explains that this isn't a gift from Dumbledore himself, its something that your parents left to him to give to you when you reached man hood."
Harry took the package from McGonagall hands. He wanted to open it in private, it was a gift from his parents and he really didn't want to share it with everyone in the room. He placed the package in his pocket. No one at the table said anything. They seemed to understand.
Soon after that McGonagall left.
Everyone had already grieved over Dumbledore's death and no one wanted to dwell on it. It hurt too much to think of the fact that a man as great as him was gone.
When three large owls came threw the open window and dropped parches at the students feet all of them eagerly went to pick the papers up. There book lists, for there school had arrived today. Harry, Ron and Xanth had all the same classes. Hermione however was taking an extra class, arithmetic.
"How'd you do on your O.W.L's?" Hermione asked, nearly snatching the paper out of Ginny's hand, to read it for herself. Ron looked at her in mocked disgust, he just couldn't understand her love for known how well a test went. He thought it was bad enough having to do the test without having to see the grades to.
"Wow, you passed every subject!" Hermione said, while ignoring the look on Ron's face. "I was sure Harry was distracting you to much."
Ginny wasn't paying to much attention to what Hermione was saying. She was looking down at something in her hand quite surprised. She held it up to the show the room, at the same time she heard a loud squeal from Hermione.
With the noise every head in the room, with the exception of Xanth's, turned to Hermione to see what was wrong. "Sorry ya'll, it's just that I got so excited. I made Head Girl, and look Harry made Head Boy. See the second letter by his enveloped?"
At this point Ms. Weasley came into the room, "What's all the screaming about in here" Her eyes fell to the thing Ginny held in her hand and she ran to her, placing a large kiss on cheeks. " You are a prefect, don't hide that badge hold it up, I never expected it, that's everyone in the family."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Ron asked. "Fred and George aren't here to rag on you.
Ginny simply shrugged, and walked over to Harry pinning her Prefects bag on his chest.
Ms. Weasley was going on and on, about getting her a new present, and about with the new money it would be something good. When she saw that Harry and Hermione had made Head boy and girl she ran to the both of them, giving off a gleeful shreek and hugging, and hissing them as if they were her own.
Ron looked down at his shoes, clearly disappointed. Last year he had made Prefect, and Harry didn't. He had expected to become Head Boy but that didn't happen, and now everyone in the room was getting extra attention except for him, and Xanth but Xanth didn't count he was new. When Ms. Weasley ran over and hugged Ron he was quite surprised. He wiped the kiss that she had put on his face away and asked "what was that for?"
"Didn't you see your letter?" Hermione asked. "Harry can't be quidditch captain now that he's Head Boy. He'd have to much to do with N.E.W.T.s coming up this year. You have become the new captain."
Ron looked at the second letter from his enveloped and smiled. She had been right. He had been selected as the new Quiditch captain.
Xanth had seen the look on Ron's face when he saw that Harry was Head Boy. He had used his powers and made up a letter to Ron, saying he was the new captain of the team. He had also made one for Harry telling him of why he had done it. Harry wouldn't mind.
The mood that had been placed in the house after the reading of Dumbledore's will had been fully lifted. Everyone was running around, smiling and talking about the trip to Diagon Alley for their school supplies. Bill and Fleur's wedding would be held in only a couple of days, and before long the conversation strayed to that. Xanth was the only one that didn't participate in all the talking. He could always be found though near, Harry but completely zoned out.
When all the talking had ended and everyone was in there bed, Ms. Weasley had made sure that Harry and Ron shared a room, And Ginny and Hermione the other, Harry took out the gift from his parents and unwrapped it.
He had gotten two small wedding rings. A note from the package in Dumbledore's hand writing said, 'Your parents took these off there hands not long after making wormtail there secret keeper. They said to give them to you, and to tell you to share this, there love, with the woman you loved, when you became ready.
Harry smiled, and turned both rings over and over in his hand. Before falling asleep he slipped both rings on his fingers. He dreamed that night, something about a wedding, and two people getting married.
Although Bill and Fleur's Wedding was only three days away. Harry's dream had nothing to do about them.
HEY, TRYING HARD TO UPDATE FOR YOU ALL DAILY. IM SIMPLY NOT GETTING ENOUGH REVIEWS THOUGH. PLEASE REVIEW AND I'LL KEEP THE UPDATES COMING. FAST. WRITTING IS HARD FOR ME, BUT I ENJOY IT, IM TRYING. THANKS.