I'm currently working on chapter fifteen, so it may take a while to get it posted. I can't work on it tonight because I'll be in line for Goblet of Fire. By the way, there will most likely be a total of sixteen chapters. Maybe I'll have it finished in a week or two. :)

13. The Dream

"That's right, I'm a vampire," said Wilhelm, stepping back. That twisted smile she had, when Harry first met her, was starting to come back.

"Everybody has their weakness, and you have uncovered mine," she said. Harry felt like he should leave, before something happens.

She seemed to be struggling with herself. She would turn towards Harry, but then pull herself back.

"No. I swore I wouldn't," she muttered to herself. Does she want to bite me? I better get out of here.

"Potter, keep what you know to yourself," she said quickly. Harry was frozen to the spot.

"Promise me Harry. Promise you won't tell." Harry hadn't realized before how powerful it was when he was addressed by his first name.

"I – I promise. But, Ron, and – and Hermione – they already know you're a Snape." Wilhelm's eyes widened slightly, but then they narrowed again.

"Well, there is nothing I can do about that, is there? You promised though. I sincerely hope that you are true to your word."

Harry went back to Gryffindor tower, as fast as he could.

"So? What happened?" Ron asked quickly, upon Harry's arrival in the Common Room.

"Oh, uh, nothing really," Harry replied.

"Nothing? You know Harry, you're terrible at keeping secrets," Ron said.

"Okay, okay, so something happened. I promised her I wouldn't tell. Now I want you guys to promise not to tell anyone about what you saw on the map." Hermione and Ron looked at each other uneasily.

"Well, alright, I guess," Hermione said hesitantly. "So you can't just tell us?" Harry thought for a moment.

She said not to let the information fall into the wrong hands. I suppose I can tell Ron and Hermione, right? After all, they are trustworthy; they've spent six years proving that.

"Okay, but don't tell anyone."

Harry sat in the library, yet again. Recently, he found himself spending much of his time there.

"Hey Harry," said Priscilla, moseying over towards him. She sat down, with a large pile of books in her lap. "Charms is a dread, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess," Harry replied. The two of them talked for a while, discussing odd subjects. Of the more civilized being how one could go about improving the quality of a broom stick, down to the digestive process of a flobberworm.

"Do you ever wonder, like, what's going to happen after you die? Like, an afterlife?" Harry almost impulsively said that being in the fortress wouldn't be that bad, but he stopped himself, remembering one of Dumbledore's last words. It is supposed to be a secret only the dead know.

"I don't feel very comfortable talking about it," Harry said, after thinking a moment.

"Oh," Priscilla replied, "right." She looked off in to the distance, her eyes glossy.

"Do you ever feel like no one cares? Like you're totally alone in the world, off to fend for yourself? Nobody there to hear your heart cry out; nobody to listen to you. Your personality created by the way people expect you to be. As if they already no you, but they don't..." she said reminiscently, rather turning the end into a statement instead of a question.

"You – you feel like that? So do I," Harry said quietly, looking Priscilla straight in the eye. She looked up, her eyes definitely gathering a light mist.

"Is there something you want to tell me Priscilla?" Harry asked, trying carefully not to blink. Her lips were white. Her dark eyes were boring into Harry's mind.

"Abendroth – Abendroth is the name of my grandmother; not me. It was the first name that came to mind when you asked. My real surname is – is Snape." Harry's mind was working rapidly. What is the world coming to? Is everyone a Snape?

"You mean, your mum is Wilhelm?" Harry asked, his eyes still wide with wonderment. Priscilla looked down.

"Yes." Harry couldn't imagine what kind of childhood she had. It must have been dreadful. No wonder she needed someone in her life; she had been tormented, and abused for most of it. Harry got up, and knelt down beside her.

"It's okay. I'm here for you. This is what friends are for, right?" he whispered. She put her head on his shoulder.

"Thanks Harry. You've been really nice to me." Priscilla was the kind that never cried or screamed or anything like that. Her emotions lay hidden deep within her.

This was merely a glimpse. Harry figured that this was probably the first time she'd had a breakdown. Imagine, seventeen years of emotions bottled up, ready to burst at any moment.

Harry was surprised that she kind of let them out on him. Did she think of them as close friends?

"Harry, have you ever actually, like, loved someone? I mean, you get light headed, and your heart starts racing when you're near them? But it breaks your heart to know that they'll probably never think of you as more than a friend. You want so badly for their affections to change. But you have no idea whether they feel the same way or not."

Yet again, the ending felt more like a statement. Is she in love with me? No, if she was, she wouldn't be telling me this. Harry realized he had gone too long without replying, and Priscilla might get embarrassed. There was an awkward pause.

"Oh! I don't mean you Harry," she stammered. "I mean, I like you and all. But just as a friend, right?" she added quickly.

"Right. Of course, just as a friend," Harry said. "But ah, do you fancy someone?"

"Well, uh... yeah. Um, you're trustworthy, right? And, a good friend? Well, I kinda like... Draco," Priscilla mumbled. Harry's eyes widened. The world is going metal! A Snape and a Malfoy! Ugh, think of what their kids would be like. Harry was suddenly struck by a thought. Does Draco know she's part vampire? His question seemed to show through his eyes.

"No, he doesn't know," Priscilla stated. "Mum told me you found out." It still seemed weird to hear Wilhelm called 'mum.'

"Harry, this may sound weird, but... do you think you could slip Draco a love potion for me?"

"Priscilla! You know that's against the rules. And isn't that breaking some sort of law? Why would I want to do that?" Harry said.

"But you did it for Ron and Hermione; why can't you do it for me?" Priscilla seemed to realize her mistake. "Ginny told me. She said she overheard it." There was a long pause.

"You can keep a secret. I never slipped either of them anything. It was a joke," Harry said. Priscilla giggled.

"Really? Are you ever going to tell them?"

"Why would I? I just thought it was kinda funny. I wouldn't want to go out of my way to break rules. I only would if I had to." Harry looked down at his watch.

"Merlin's beard! Is that the time? We've been talking for hours." Harry got up, and smiled. "See you later."

He went down a few flights of steps, not knowing where he was headed. He turned a corner, and almost ran right into Ginny.

"Hey Ginny," Harry said. She had a strange look on her face, like she was very upset about something. "What is it?"

"Harry, we have a problem," she stated firmly. "Let's go for a walk, shall we?" They went towards the Entrance Hall, and ended up walking out onto the grounds, in silence.

"Harry, this isn't working. I love you and all, but we have to communicate, right? You can't just ignore me."

"Look Ginny, you know what I have to do. I'm afraid that if I get any closer to you, I'll just end up breaking your heart. Or lose you. I mean, I face death, in the hopes that I will be able to save not just you, but, everyone. I can't handle another loss. I never knew my parents. I miss them, but I never knew them. I've known you for nearly six years, and you're amazing. You're smart, and funny, and perfect! If you died, it would be worse than I could imagine. I never knew Cedric Diggory. It was hard to see him die, but I didn't love him. I really haven't faced a loss all that terrible yet. But I'm afraid I will."

Ginny's eyes were full of mist. Harry hadn't realized it, but they were already by the lake. The wind blew softly. Ginny's hair blew elegantly. The sky was still gray, but a small ray of light broke free from it's cloudy confines, finding itself shining directly on Ginny.

She was so beautiful. It didn't matter what anyone else thought of her.

"Do you really like me?" Ginny asked softly. "Do you think I'm pretty? Do you want to be with me forever?" There was a long silence.

"No." Ginny's mouth opened slightly.

"I don't like you; I love you. I think you're beautiful! I don't want to be with you forever; I need to be with you forever."

Harry walked slowly towards Wilhelm's office. It was time for another Occlumency lesson. He opened the door and walked in.

"Hello Mr. Potter. Have a nice weekend?" Harry nodded. "Well, shan't waste time. Best be getting started."

Harry stood in the middle of the room, as usual. Before he knew it, his mind was being broken into. He was used to this, so he forced himself to bring Wilhelm back into focus. He was about to do a spell, when his vision blurred again.

There was a flicker of red light. Then green. Objects were moving about quickly. A new shape was coming into focus. A face, fogging Harry's vision completely. The utterly unforgettable face that had haunted Harry for so many years.

"Hello Harry. Remember me? One should think so. I have been trying to contact you for a long time now. You've been avoiding me. You have three days. Your doom eagerly awaits you. Three days.

This statement was concluded with a screeching hiss. Voldemort's face slowly faded. Harry's head felt like it had split in two.