Harry Potter
&
The Children of the Night
-by Lady Nichola Valerius

Previously, on Harry Potter and the Children of the Night:

Emera took in his appearance and asked him softly, "What happened?"

"We… talked," Harry said, his eyes searching Hermione's for permission to tell his soul-sister. Her eyes told him everything he needed to know. "About what happened in the Department of Mysteries." Emera's eyes flickered in understanding. She held her hand out to Harry and he took it. Hermione noticed something about them. They seemed too…intimate.

"You okay, caro?" Emera asked, holding a worried look. Harry squeezed her hand for a second, and Emera understood that he was fine. "Hermione?" she turned to the brown-haired girl. Emera felt a brief pang of irritation at the mortal. She did nothing wrong, they were bound to talk about this sooner, she thought to herself. She gave Hermione a half-smile. "Are you hungry?"

Hermione reciprocated the action. "Depends on what you're serving."

AN: Emphasized words mean that the speaker is using a different language. If another language is to be utilized, I shall inform you to it.
A slight WARNING: Later on in the chapter, you readers shall encounter a few oxymorons. I advise that you finish the paragraph, or the chapter, before forming your retorts. Thank you. -Lady Valerius

"Italian Language"
"Latin Language"

Chapter 8
Ceremony Surprise

"It's time, Harry." Emera stood at the doorway, watching as Harry adjusted the ceremonial robes he was required to wear. He looked at himself in the mirror, his anxiety radiating off him as Emera continued to watch him.

"I don't bite," Harry said, trying to loosen the tension he felt. He thought about what he said, then added, "yet." Emera's face didn't give, her expression blank and slightly cold. Harry tensed even more at her lack of response. "Lìa?"

"It's time," she repeated, letting impatience blend with her voice. Truthfully, she wasn't too keen on rushing him, but midnight was only an hour away. If he doesn't do this now, we'd have to wait another year. It's just not possible… Too much time will be wasted. Harry sighed heavily, then pushed himself away from the mirror. He walked to Emera, who turned and led him out of the Casa. They walked past the garden; the silence dragging, making Harry bite his lip in apprehension and unease as Emera glided along the pathway in front of him. The scent of exotic flowers distracted him a bit, making him less apprehensive, but when an unsuspecting Harry stepped on a small twig, he jumped out of his skin in fright, the apprehension returning full-force. Emera acted as if she was paying him no mind, but the vampire princess was aware of every twitch, pull, and jerk of her soul-brother's body.

As she passed a lighted lantern, Emera turned to see him, and Harry was suddenly stuck by how beautiful she looked. The dark bell-sleeved dress she wore contrasted against her milky skin and blended with her dark hair, seeming endless as the velvet clung to her form. Harry's eyes drifted to the Valerius symbol on her pale flesh. It shone brilliantly in silver against her skin, stating that no one was calling for her at the moment. The bottom of the cloak on her shoulders flowed as if a peaceful breeze was lifting it. But Harry couldn't feel the wind brushing against his skin, meaning that the cloak shouldn't have been trailing behind her like that. It's her aura. Harry's admiration of Emera suddenly turned into anxiety once more. Never had he felt an aura this powerful, and he suddenly felt betrayed. Why had she never shown me her true power? Does she not trust me? Harry banished the feeling and followed his Custodè once more as she continued down the trodden path.

Suddenly, Harry felt a wave of… something… course through him, as if stepping through a barrier, and as the feeling dissolved, a wall appeared. Harry, surprised and confused at it's sudden visibility, stopped, but Emera kept walking, staring straight through the solid barrier. Harry tried to shout out, but his voice, along with other sounds, couldn't be heard, as if all was muted. Which it probably is, Harry thought, the barrier he felt crossing his mind. Still in shocked, he watched helplessly as his soul-sister walked right into the wall. Then she was suddenly gone.

Bewildered and uncertain of the twist of happenings, he walked cautiously to the wall and cautiously stuck his hand through it. Then he was suddenly falling gracelessly to the ground, and Emera's hand, the only support he had, steadied him. He opened his mouth to thank her, but she gave him her no nonsense look, before straightening out his robes. Then she turned and walked through another wall, footsteps echoing around the room. Pursing his lips at her insistent silence, Harry followed her and found a hallway. He walked quickly to his female counterpart, and when she held her arm up. Upper arm parallel to her shoulder, forearm raised straight and her hand fisted up… it was a standard code and he stopped just like she signaled him to.

Drawing her favorite blade out of nowhere, she pricked her right ring finger and made the dagger disappear. She squeezed the wound to make the blood run faster, then spread her a vita forza on the silver coated symbol on her chest. It glowed red, then, as Emera took his hand in hers, Harry felt a pull in his chest. It was as if he was being smothered and drained of energy while feeling pleasure so extreme he could barely think. The world around him swirled into gray, but then all of a sudden, it was colorful again. Harry lost the feelings invoked by the pull, and was quick enough to balance himself when he felt the solid ground beneath him.

Harry surveyed his surroundings quickly, relaxing as he saw the familiar faces. Harry let a blank mask settle over his face, muscles tensing as he prepared himself for what was to come. Lord Valerius was there, as well as his wife, and Vidar, with Hermione seated next to him. They occupied four of the twenty, stone carved seats that encompassed a large pentacle engraved on the floor. Three guards were with her; two were on her left side opposite Vidar and one was standing, positioned behind her. To keep her safe, Harry realized, from me. His attention, however, was drawn to the chair that was placed in the center of the giant pentacle. It was slightly higher than the others, and he realized with a small chill that he was to sit on it sometime soon.

Emera walked over to the circle and sat next on her father's right side. As she did, the Council of Thirteen appeared from behind Harry, filing in to occupy the other thirteen seats. Only one seat was left, and they looked to Harry, who stood with the blank mask attached firmly to his face. Instinct, as well as common sense, compelled him to sit on the last seat, the one that was different than the rest. Gathering all his courage, Harry walked to the chair, and lifted himself up to sit in it. He found a comfortable spot at once, and that was the only warning he had. Thick metal cuffs appeared and secured his wrists and upper arms, as well as his legs and neck, against the still comfortable chair. Barely a few seconds after his incarceration, with his mind already thinking on his third escape plan, Lady Fabiane stood and started the ceremony.

"Harry James Evans Potter," she looked at him, her Italian tongue rolling off words in a cold, blank tone that sent a shiver up his spine. "You are here to be Changed." She gave him a challenging look. Harry returned it, leaving his face blank, yet his eyes burned with determination and daring. "Do you accept the lineage of the Immortals Era-Zana Emera Ciana Vitalia Valerius, La Bestia Lord Marcus Earl Valerius, Gemma di Guerra Lady Maeve Valerius y Vitalia, and Ergo-Caero Vidar Vitalia, whose blood shall serve as your life force? Whose flesh shall be your flesh, and whose throne shall be your heritage, should they be harmed during their time of rule?" Her tone spoke of pride and eternal pain for him if he dared to answer naught.

Harry looked down at her to level his emerald gaze against her azure orbs. "I do accept," he replied, contentment rushing through him as he did. He didn't know about the part of being taken as an heir… Must speak with Emera after this, he mused, attention turning back on the people below him. Lady Fabiane had turned back to walk over to an altar-like table. Must have materialized magically, he thought, not noticing it earlier. It was the only reason he could think of, seeing as it wasn't present when he walked in. Lady Fabiane placed her hand over it and a bright light shone through the thick marble. A dagger suddenly appeared through the slab of stone and Lady Fabiane caught it as it flew up into her hand.

She walked to Emera, and handed her the dagger. Harry noticed briefly that it was tinted in copper. When Emera touched it, the dagger shone once again and Harry turned away from the incredibly bright light. When he was able to look at it once more, it had turned into a kris, a knife with wickedly curved edges. It was also Emera's most favored choice of blade. The curves were covered in the same faint copper tints, and Emera stood. She knelt before the pentacle on the ground. She placed the kris above her upturned wrist and cut deeply into the milky flesh. Harry had to wince at the large cut she made, and noticed that the copper edge of the knife glowed a red color. Harry watched, fascinated, as his soul-sister's source of life dripped heavily into the symbolic carving. Lady Fabiane began to mutter something in Latin.

Emera stood after a few seconds more, and she gave the kris to Lady Fabiane. With another bright flash, it promptly returned to its original form, and Lady Fabiane handed it to Lord Marcus. It did the previous action, and turned into a small version of the Valerius sword. The pentacle on its hilt glared as the light from a nearby candle shone upon it. Lord Marcus did as Emera had, as well as Lady Maeve, whose silver blade had a falcon handle, and Vidar, whose blade turned into a magnificent replica of the Blade of Ra, the Egyptian Sun God.

Hermione was watching, fascinated. She never dreamed- well, all right she had dreamed once, but just once- that she'd be able to see a Vampiric Ceremonial Changing. She'd certainly never thought it'd be Harry who was to be Changed though. Harry looked utterly nervous, his blank expression long gone. Then Lady Fabiane took the blade back and returned it to the altar, where it was absorbed once more. Suddenly the pentacle on the ground glowed, and the blood that was offered by the Immortals began to spread, tracing the pattern embedded on the floor.

As Harry watched, he began to glow, unnoticed to those who did not look for it. But soon it held everyone's attention, and Harry felt the sudden sting of incredible pain penetrate his body. Before he could scream though, it was gone. Then it came back, and left again before Harry could make a sound. It continued as the light began to shine brighter, mimicking the blade that had risen from the marble altar. Then differently colored lightning began to spark around the light, followed by the sudden ring of loud silence echoed around them. Everyone didn't move a muscle… Well, everyone Immortal, that is.

Hermione instinctively covered her ears to the unheard sound, but at her movement, a bolt of navy colored lightning quickly sped to her, shocking her in the process. She let out a short shriek of pain, before flying against the wall. Every movement she made caused more navy bolts to attach themselves to her, and though the Immortals truly wanted to help, they all realized that by moving, the lightning bolts would attack them too, and incinerate them, because they were already Vampires, thus rendering themselves useless to the brown-haired girl.

Harry never saw what was happening to his best friend, his eyes already closed in extreme pain. Fangs began to grow out, nails growing longer, body adjusting itself to perfection, and, when his eyes snapped open, his emerald eyes were specked with amber-gold and a few tints of red. Then, it mercifully stopped. And he succumbed to the abyss of darkness, Hermione following him in only seconds.

Vidar stood quickly and ran to fetch Hermione, Emera doing the same for Harry. Lord Marcus caught Lady Fabiane's eyes and said, "This is…quite unexpected."

Lady Fabiane shook her head. "Don't, Marcus," she said sternly. "We do not know what will happen with the girl. This might have permanent side-effects."

One of the council members shrugged. "Who cares? She's a mortal. Just kill her."

A wisp of air sliced through the room and whacked the council member to the wall. "Touch her and you die," Vidar snarled, his fangs growing out as his eyes glowed amber. Everyone froze, even Emera, who had Harry in a fireman's carry. Vidar wrapped his arms around Hermione, cradling her against his body possessively, hiding her from view.

"Damn," Emera breathed. She took a deep breath in their general direction and exhaled heavily. Hermione now carried Vidar's scent; as a vampire, she was his Childe, his… property, in every right, as a daughter, a sister, a lover, a friend, whatever Vidar wanted, she would become, because he was a part of her now. She must have absorbed most of Vidar's essence, Emera thought to herself. It was the only way to explain his sudden possessiveness for the girl. Not that he wasn't possessive before, she thought once again.

Vidar bared his fangs once more, before adjusting his grip on his new Childe. He carried her out of the room, body tensing incase someone wanted to attack the new vampire. No one moved a muscle until his scent lightened up. Then they all looked to one another, before turning their heads to Harry. Emera sighed. "This will complicate things."

Lady Fabiane nodded. "Vidar knows his duties as a Sire, Emera," she said, "And you know what yours are." Emera nodded and righted her hold on Harry, before she walked out of the room. Harry stirred slightly, his eyes opening to reveal his normal shade of green.

Emera grimaced as he mumbled, "Hermione…" Then he fell back asleep again. She sighed once again.

"Damn."

Author's Note:

Just a quick survey. Would you prefer a HarryOC pairing and a HermioneOC pairing, or shall I continue with the HarryHermioneship? Please note that I shall only take your opinions into consideration. This note does not mean that I shall follow what you want entirely. I just need a few more opinions. Thank you.
-Lady Valerius