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

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

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."

Chapter 9
Hermione's Awakening

Eyes swept over the prone female on the silken sheets, the blue orbs resting upon an ugly purple bruise that marred the otherwise flawless tanned skin. He glared at the blemish, as he could do nothing else to vent his frustration silently, for he wanted his charge to rest peacefully. It was the least he could do to compensate the dreadful mistake he had made to her, for in his mind, it was his fault she had been Changed in the first place. He had not told her what to expect and what to do during the ceremony, and thus, to him, it was his mistake. 'Twas a dreadful mistake indeed. His hand twitched into motion, caressing the bruise as he held in his magic. Part of him wanted to weave it's spell and heal the discoloration, but his efforts would only be in vain, for he could only do this when she was awake and ready to consciously accept him as her Sire. He sighed; even now; he could not truly understand the reasoning behind Vampiric Healing.

"Cousin?" Vidar whirled around to the source of the sound. Emera stepped away from the shadows and into the moon's light. She gave him a small smile, before turning to close the balcony doors where she had entered. The older vampire tensed as his cousin's eyes flickered over to the motionless form on the bed. Emera caught his tension and backed away. "I won't hurt her," she said, bowing her head slightly in submission, "I only wondered about her health." Vidar narrowed his eyes and sniffed in her direction. He relaxed when he found no deceit.

He sighed. "Sorry about that," he said to her, "I'm just…"

"I know, Vidar," Emera said when he drifted off, "I know." Vidar looked at her, eyes expressing his self-doubt. "It was a long time ago, Vidar," Emera said, sensing his apprehension as it permeated the room's atmosphere. "Let her go."

"I can't," Vidar replied, his voice shallow as he remembered his late Childe.

Flashback

"Gina! No, get back!"

A predatory smile crossed her full lips as she watched her Sire kill off the rest of the spies. Blood spilled haphazardly on the green blades of grass as Vidar pulled the mortal's head off his neck. Her fangs grew out and her eyes turned a bright amber color as Vidar looked up at her, his pale cheek and neck tainted with strips of blood. She purred her arousal, approaching him slowly, white-blonde hair blowing back. Vidar smirked at her, smelling her scent and immediately knowing what she needed. He grabbed her when she was near enough and spun her around, slamming her onto a tree. He wiped the blood off his cheek and trailed it on her throat, where he sucked on it. Gina purred once again, pulling his hair back and biting his neck, drawing his own blood. Vidar growled, yanking her off his throat and sinking his own fangs into her pulse point.

"Vidar!"

End Flashback

"She was my first love, Emera," he said, eyes lowered. "She wasn't just some girl to me, not just a girl to bring to my bed. She was my best friend, my lover, a woman who was hotter than a spitting fire and tenderer than a mother… She was-" He chuckled suddenly before continuing. "She was to me what Harry will become for you, Emera. A- a partner in crime," Vidar tried to explain"Though, it's so much deeper than that… She…She was my other half, my Childe, Emera…"

There was silence for a while, as Emera processed his words and Vidar struggled to contain his emotions. Then- "You loved her very much, didn't you?" Emera asked. Vidar barely heard the emotion that weaved through her words, but he caught it nonetheless.

He gave her a small, brief smile. "It's what I've been trying to tell you, Emera. A Childe… I can't explain it very well, but they somehow wiggle themselves into your life and eventually, you get used to them there. You become their teacher, their parent, sibling, and lover at the same time. And Emera," Vidar's voice took on a warning tone as he said, "You can't have a family without love. As their Sire, they will love you." Vidar looked into her eyes, and he saw the acceptance in her emerald gaze. He gave her another smile and drew her into his arms. "You teach him and I will teach her."

"Everything we know," Emera assured him. Vidar's gaze returned to his Childe.

"Of course."

An emotionally tired, but nevertheless alert, Emera walked back into her room, a moving shadow that crept in the dark. At once, her eyes swept across the room, seeking intruders, and when the emerald gaze saw no threat, they immediately landed on the bed. "Harry…" She went over to his side, brushing back the bangs that fell upon his forehead. She sighed. "Still sleeping," she murmured to the wind, "He must be really powerful then, for him to lie this long." She walked over to the shelves that lined the room's southern walls and plucked out Tithe by Holly Black. Fictional, yes, but it was the only book she hadn't finished reading yet. After this one, she would have to travel for new books again. She waved her hand at the fireplace and lively, dancing tongues of orange flickered to life. She settled onto the comfy armchair in front of the fire and began to read.

No more than 10 pages into the book, her eyes stopped absorbing the words on the crisp pages and traveled to the bed once again. She sighed once more, before pinning her gaze on the fireplace. The tongues of fire appeared to reach out to her, and she smiled softly, her eyes turning an amber color as she summoned her powers, calling for the blades of fire. They obeyed and flew to her hand, forming a small ball of fire. She played with the orange dancers, weaving them around her fingers and pretending that the blades of fire were her fingernails, shortening and elongating the orange dancers. Then she drew upon the small ball to create a fire kris. She chuckled softly, before gently sending the ball back into the fireplace. She bit her lip, wondering then if Harry would also receive this gift.

"Emera?" From their perch on the fireplace, the amber orbs tore away from the dancing flames to look at her Childe. The relief flooding through her being sent her into action, flying onto the bed, and holding onto her bewildered charge, acting as if she would never let go. "Oomph! Emera, what-Mmph…!"

She pulled away from his lips. "I was so worried," Emera said, emotion in her voice for a change. Harry looked confused. "You've been asleep for a week… The longest sleeping period was mine too so it would make sense that you inherited many of my traits, but mine lasted for only four days, so I panicked- Mmph!" Harry pulled her back to him, reciprocating her previous actions and effectively ending her rant. It's rather becoming of her, Harry thought as he nibbled on her lower lip, although I would have to wonder why… Just then, Emera moved her hand high onto his lap. Later… Harry finished his thoughts, then turned his attentions to his Sire.

What? Where am I? What's that smell? Slowly, she opened her eyes, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room. Nighttime, she thought, seeing the full moon high in the sky. A wolf howled into the night. No, werewolf, her mind whispered once again. Confusion settled with in her. How do I know that?

A shift in the air alerted her to another's presence in the room, but she did not tense. She felt safe with him. What? Why? Him? A gentle touch on her hand, and her eyes locked with amber. She breathed in, because to her knowledge, oxygen was still a necessity for her. He trailed his fingertips against her temple, his lips against hers. "Mine," he whispered softly, and she knew it.

She exhaled, the unused air made her breath cold as it brushed his skin. "Yours."

As the morning sun gently crept across Harry's face, Emera opened her eyes, startled. She moved across the room faster than the human eye could see and closed the robe she grabbed from the armoire. Harry woke up to the sound of the door opening. "What is it, Adaeze?" he heard Emera say.

"Lady Fonseka has arrived, Lady Valerius," the black vampire said, bowing her head in respect.

"Alright, Adaeze, thank you. Tell father that I shall be down, and that Harry has awoken."

"Yes, Lady," she said, bowing once more before leaving. Emera closed the door, sighing before turning back to the bed. She was surprised to find Harry awake, watching her through sleepy eyes.

"Good morning, cara," Harry said as she approached him. Emera kissed him her greetings, and he was startled to receive her thoughts. What the hell is Fonseka doing here? What do I tell Vidar? Is Hermione awake from her coma already? When do I take that damn Asian pest to her? Harry should let me go now or I won't be able to shower… However inviting that last thought was, Harry's brain had stopped processing Emera's other thoughts when he heard Hermione's name. He immediately pulled back and faced his Sire. "What happened to Hermione? What coma?"

Emera's face was a picture of surprise and confusion as she registered his questions. "Oh, gods, Harry, I forgot… I forgot that you don't know…" Her voice held a tone of regret and guilt. Harry's mind went into overload.

"What happened?" he stressed, panic clutching his heart. He pulled away from Emera, clenching his hands into fists to relieve the tension forming in his body. Emera took notice of his actions, and was touched. He had pulled away to prevent himself from injuring her. Her chest tightened with deep emotions and she bit her tongue before speaking.

"She- she was Changed… When you were undergoing the ritual, she moved and it attracted the raw magic to her. She received most of Vidar's essence-"

"And now, she's Vidar's Childe…" Harry finished for her, his mind suddenly empty in shock. Then his thoughts began to flow, almost overpowering him. "Oh gods… What have I done?"

Emera's eyes widened. "Harry…" she breathed out, "Oh, caro, you did nothing! You couldn't! You were undergoing your own change, you didn't know!" Her voice had a tinge of desperation in it. She did not want her Childe to have regrets over his Change.

"No!" he cried, startling Emera, "I shouldn't have asked her to come…if I hadn't…"

"But you did," Emera said, trying to be herself again, the Emera that Harry knew, not Harry's Sire. They'll get to that later. "And there is a reason for everything, Harry. Accept it, or not, Hermione is now a Vampire. She is part of this Clan, and she is part of Vidar. No amount of disbelief, or guilt," she added, "will change that." Silence reigned in the room for a few moments. Then Emera, softening her tone, spoke once again. "The most you can do right now, Harry, is support her. She is still asleep, in a coma, resting as her Magic adjusts. It means that she will be powerful, as a Vampire and as a Witch. But when she awakes, I'm sure that she will be confused as to what has to be done. That's where you come in. Help her learn how to control herself."

"How?" Harry scoffed softly; still reeling from the news of Hermione's change. "I barely know anything." This realization brought a slight tightness in his chest.

"But what you know will help her, comfort her," Emera said. Harry sighed.

"I don't know if I can comfort myself right now…I feel like it's my fault. She wasn't ready!"

Emera grew silent for a few moments. "Everything has a place. Everything has a reason for being," she said finally.

"The problem with that," Harry said softly, "is we don't know what those reasons are." Emera sighed.

"I'm sorry, but I'm confused too. Even this event has the council baffled. That's why we called in Andrea, to help us See."

"Who?"

Emera sighed again. "Lady Andrea Fonseka is from Malaysia's Fonseka Clan. They lead the Malaysian Vampires. Andrea is one of the "princesses" of their clan, so every time she's here, she has to be treated royally. The other clan members tolerate her, but Vidar and I don't like her. She's a bitch, with a capital B." Harry smiled at her vehemence.

"So why her?" he asked. "If you hate her so much then why not call another Seer?"

"Because she's the most accurate of them all. That's why they dubbed her as one of the Malaysian Princesses even though she's just the King's niece." Emera rolled her eyes as she said this, then looked at the time. "I have to go shower. Andrea doesn't like to be kept waiting." Harry nodded, not moving from his perch on the bed. Emera rolled her eyes once more, before pulling him to the bathroom.

Moans filled the room, accompanied by the sound of flesh slapping against flesh. A gasp. "Vidar!"

He, too, gasped, the sound muffled by her shoulder. "Oh god…" He kissed her, deep, forceful, passionate, and she accepted it, opening her lips to let him enter and plunder her mouth ruthlessly. She grasped his shoulders, moving against him as he rode out his release, adding to her own climax. Soon they collapsed onto the bed, fully sated and tired, their bodies having worked through the night. He rolled over, pulling her close to him.

She smiled at him, a sleepy but satisfied smile, and he felt his emotions crashing into him for the millionth time. He sighed, his hand tracing symbols on her arms. "I love touching you," he said, "You feel like heaven to touch…" She giggled.

"I want to hold you so much…" she continued for him. He smiled back at her, entwining their hands together. She looked at their joined hands. "I accept it, you know," she said to him, looking into his eyes, "I want you to be my Sire."

Relief appeared in his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered, kissing her cheek, hand cupping her temple as his magic healed her bruise. Hermione sighed, the dull ache in her head dissipating. She moaned her appreciation, kissing his shoulder. "Goddess," he breathed, kissing her once again.

"Yes, I am," Hermione teased jokingly, her eyes dropping shut.

"Sleepy goddess," Vidar commented, but she didn't hear it as she had fallen asleep once again. Vidar smiled, satisfied and happy. My god, I am happy. He chuckled to himself, before falling asleep.

"Andrea, please," Emera called out, "Calm down, or else we'll have to restrain you." Andrea gasped.

"You wouldn't dare!" she said, scandalized. "I should have you beheaded for that!"

"I should have had you thrown in the dungeons the minute you got here, but did I do that? No, I did not," Emera snapped at her, fully frustrated. Vidar chuckled loudly, Harry looked amused, and Hermione bit her lip to hide her reaction. "Now, your plane leaves in 50 minutes. You either go there with the escorts, or you go there alone."

"I want you to bring me, Emera. I am your guest."

"You are not my guest. You are a guest of my father. You want an escort? I'll give you that. You want me to escort you? Sorry, not gonna happen." Andrea scoffed indignantly, but said nothing. She knew no one won against Era-Zana Valerius. Emera looked to the handsome men near the doors and nodded. They came forward and took Andrea to the limo that was waiting outside. Emera sighed as the Malaysian Seer finally left. "Thank god!"

"Emera…" her father chastised, "You do not treat Lady Andrea like that next time."

"Yes, Father." Vidar coughed loudly and Emera kicked him underneath the table. "Come on. We need to start training Hermione and Harry."

The foursome said their goodbyes to the council and left for the training hall. "Now… The first thing a new Vampire needs to learn," she said to them as they walked, "is how to control their blood lust." Hermione licked her lips at the mention of blood, an action that Emera saw. "Vidar have you fed Hermione?" she snapped. Vidar glared at her.

"Of course not!" he said hotly. "I'm not an idiot, Emera, geez!"

Emera rolled her eyes. "Of course you're not," she murmured, placing her palm against the ID pad and confirming her identity. The doors opened, and both Harry and Hermione drooled at the sight. "Like I said, we're not training with those yet." Disappointment rolled of the new Vampires and they turned their back on the weapons display. "If you learn fast, then we'll get to that soon." The two exchanged a glance. We'll learn fast, they thought mutually. "Here we go," Emera announced, opening the door. And then the chaos began.