Disclaimer: All of this is based upon the lovely J.K. Rowling's work. I own nothing except Salazar's wife, son, and various other original characters. This story is an AU of sixth year, but it will contain a few spoilers from Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows. However, it will still seriously diverge from canon.


"blah": dialogue

'blah': thoughts

"blah" : Parseltongue

"blah": Legilimency/Telepathy

Italics: excerpt from a book /newspaper or any other written form

Bold: a word or phrase that is emphasized

Italics, Underlined, and Bold: location/date of a scene in the story


Chapter Twenty-Two: Shards of Memory

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, The Great Hall: September 13th, 1996

It was going to be a great day.

And Harry just couldn't help but smile as he absentmindedly buttered his toast. He hummed to himself as he took a bite, thinking about what was to come. They were bringing back the others today.

Oh, they weren't returning memories to everyone from the past. No, such a thing would be far more harmful than helpful. For one, they were only bringing back those that would be the most useful. No offense to Faolan as he was an upstanding fellow, but as he was also a werewolf, he had not been allowed in the lesser magical schools as a child nor had he been apprenticed. So his understanding of magic was limited to what his mother had taught him and what he had picked up on his own. Further, Faolan hadn't had a very pleasant existence, even considering his long time friendship with the Slytherins. He had been ostracized and abused by other wizards, ridiculed for first his status as a werewolf and then by his mother's overprotective tendencies. All told, the return of his past would not be a benefit, and it would only bring back painful memories.

As for the Hufflepuff children, while they were a nice sort also, they weren't exactly known for their brains or their magical prowess. Perhaps they would be brought in later on, but for now the list was limited to knowledgeable help.

Additionally, quite a number of their old associates had changed in the last millennia and had questionable loyalties or motives. It wasn't that they were necessarily bad; they were just unknown factors. To this, it was wiser to err on the side of paranoia, only informing those they could absolutely trust. Basically, the other Founders, minus Godric obviously. They would also include Siobhan's adopted mother along with Rowena's sister and children, Helga's favorite nephew, and perhaps Tristan later on. However, both Hogwarts and Fawkes had championed adding another to the immediate list. After a great deal of discussion, Harry and Luna had finally acquiesced. Besides, he would be a great help.

The reborn Slytherin came out of his reverie and grinned as he thought about their plan. While it was fraught with pitfalls, it was the only way to get everyone in one room at the same time. The fact that it involved quite a bit of subterfuge did not bother him in the slightest.

'Besides,' he thought, 'there are far more important things to worry about.' He shivered with anticipation. 'It is everything we planned for, everything we hoped for, and it is scheduled to start in roughly,' Harry glanced at his watch before adding, 'five hours.' His grin widened. Suddenly, he laughed, causing Hermione to look at him peculiarly from over her toast.

"Are you alright, Harry?" she asked, setting her food aside and picking up the Daily Prophet.

"Oh… er… yes, just thinking," he replied and glanced at her paper.

"Alright," she turned the page, scanning an article. "Strange," she commented more to herself than to him, "the Prophet is reporting quite a number of disappearances but no outright deaths."

"Really?" he asked and looked up from his juice.

The Prefect nodded emphatically. "People are just vanishing, but they aren't finding any bodies. The Dark Mark was hovering over houses, but no one was inside."

"That is strange," Ginny stated, joining in the conversation. Her eyes darted around the table, noticing that no one else was showing any interest. She went on, "You know what else is strange?"

"No," Harry replied, "what?"

The redhead leaned forward and whispered hurriedly, "McGonagall and Snape. Have you noticed the way they've been acting? It's like they're possessed or something."

Hermione nodded firmly. "Yes, they stare at us all the time. In class, Professor McGonagall only seems to do it to Harry and me though." She inclined her head toward the Head Table. "They're doing it even now."

The other two glanced at the teachers, and true enough, Minerva and Severus were looking straight back at their students. Instantly, their eyes darted away, but the reborn Slytherin knew that they would both start again as soon as their students looked away.

Beside him, the redhead shivered. He followed her line of vision to Dominic.

"What is it?" Harry asked with a hint of nervousness.

"The new Defense professor. I don't trust him, not that I really trusted any of our Defense teachers," she murmured in a heated tone, eyes flickering back and forth between her friends. "He keeps looking at us, too. There's something odd about him. Untrustworthy." She growled faintly. "It's like he's hiding something."

"Ginny?" Hermione set down her paper. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that fact that he is always watching us," the redhead inserted fiercely, her voice dropping in volume when Parvati unexpectedly glanced over. "Especially Harry," she added. "I think he's up to something, plotting with You-Know-Who perhaps."

The Prefect shook her head. "No, he's not. He was approved by the Sorting Hat, remember? I don't believe he could hide something like that." However, she didn't seem entirely convinced by her own statement.

"I'm not sure. Death Eaters have gotten in before." Ginny frowned, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Besides, he still watches Harry all the time. Even now, he's looking right at us."

Sure enough, Dom was. And he offered the two female Gryffindors a jaunty smile when they turned to look at him. Hermione blushed when he winked. The redhead simply glared.

"I told you so," Ginny went on before Hermione could reply.

In turn, the brunette bit her lip nervously.

Harry filtered out the rest of the conversation, knowing exactly where it was going. Luna had told him earlier of Ginny's suspicions about the vampire. Apparently, Dominic reminded her of another tall, dark, and handsome wizard she had once known.

It was the thought of the Dark Lord that instantly drew Harry's attention back to the newspaper article Hermione had mentioned earlier. 'Disappearances? Why would he be abducting people instead of killing them?' the teenager mused internally. 'What is Tom planning?'

He turned the problem over in his head. There were several possibilities, and Harry shuddered just thinking about them. Thankfully, his mind soon drifted back to his earlier thoughts. He trembled and fidgeted with anxiety. Harry exhaled and tried to control his nervousness.

This was it. Today was the day. There was no turning back. The memories would be returned, truth would be revealed, and perceptions would be shattered.

It would be a great day indeed.


Hogwarts, The Dungeons: The Same Day

Draco Malfoy exited the entrance to the Slytherin dorms, walking away with his head bowed in thought. However, instead of going upstairs toward the Great Hall for breakfast, he headed deeper into the dungeons. The blond scuffed his feet along the stone corridors, one hand idly toying with the ash wand in his pocket.

Lately, his thoughts had been troubled. He had found himself confused, confounded. He had a role to play, and he couldn't afford to be caught unawares. He was the heir of two Death Eaters, one unwilling, the other tricked into following. But he didn't agree with the Dark Lord's doctrines, not really. Regardless, he truly didn't agree with the Ministry either. He didn't think that Muggleborns were worth less than pure-bloods; he didn't think the Dark was evil. But what he did believe was that they were headed for disaster, one that was probably the result of their own making.

And he knew that there was little to nothing he could do about it. It was far too large a task for one person to handle. Not even the great Dumbledore had been able to make much of a difference. There was little hope that he, Draco Malfoy, Slytherin and all-around git extraordinaire, could do anything.

So he did what he could, trying to save the other Slytherins from the mistakes of their parents. While keeping their masks firmly in place so that the Dark Lord would never know until it was too late. They were all alone, the Slytherins. The other Houses had disliked them from day one, not trusting them for even a moment, not giving them a chance. They had maintained their air of superiority and disdain because it hid what was going on underneath. It hid the real them so that they would only appear carbon-copies of their parents. It hid them for what they truly were. Scared children who had run out of options.

Even Dumbledore and Severus, try as they might to save them, could only do so much. The headmaster's hands were tied by his position in the school and in the government. Severus' by the bad choices he had made as a young man.

All they had was each other. If one gave away the game it would be to the doom of the entire House. And one bossy, bushy-haired witch was endangering them all.

She was a Muggleborn… Mudblood a little vicious voice corrected in his mind, one that sounded like his father. She probably loved books more than her own parents, and for some inexplicable reason, Draco found himself drawn to her. It had always been there, just under the surface, from the moment he had met her. And he had tried to cover it, keep her away. He had insulted her, called her horrible names, harassed her. Anything to keep her from noticing. But somehow she had, and she would be the death of them all.

'She's a danger to us, to me,' he thought quickly, 'but I don't know--'

His thoughts ran to a grounding halt as he crashed into a fleshy wall and landed in a heap on the floor. Silently berating himself for his lack of attention, a thing that could easily get him killed, he glanced up and heaved a relieved sigh as he saw that it only was Professor Boyd. The man was an unknown factor but hopefully, especially with what he had said in his class, an ally.

With a smile, the teacher offered his student a helping hand up. "My apologies."

"Oh, it's my fault, Professor," Draco assured him. Knowing it wasn't yet time to approach the man, he went on, "Forgive me, but I must be going."

He took a step back, watching as the professor nodded and moved down the corridor. The Prefect finally continued on his way. However, he stopped only two steps later. Shivering from the chills running down his spine, Draco turned only to get a burst of red light directly in the face.

The last thing Draco saw before the Stunner hit was the bright, purple light of the following Invisibility charm, and then, he knew no more.


Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, The Library: The Same Day

Bill rubbed his shoulders as he shifted in his chair, flipping another page from the book in front of him. He scowled at the text, squinting and wishing for the thousandth time that he had gotten new glasses like Hermione had suggested. He sighed and leaned back in his chair.

It was his day off, and what was he doing?

Researching… still researching. It was bad enough that he had to do it without any real idea what he was looking for. But he also had to do it without the delightful help and distraction that was Hermione. That girl… she was just so different.

Different from what he was used to. Different from what he was usually attracted to. At Hogwarts, he had been the nerdy one, the Prefect and Head Boy, so he hadn't really dated. And when he had, it wasn't girls who were more bookish than him simply because he was the most scholarly person in the entire school. There was a reason the Hat had tried to make him a Ravenclaw, after all, though he was still trying to figure out why it had almost forced him into Hufflepuff.

After Hogwarts, he had for lack of a better phrase become cool. And he had dated women who reflected that. He had gone out with people like Fleur, who was a nice person sure enough and a great friend. Nevertheless, she was much better suited to Charlie, and the two were quite happy together. But Bill couldn't help but feel a little left out. He had fancied Fleur and so had Charlie, and Charlie was his best friend and brother. Bill had done the honorable thing, the Gryffindor thing, and had stepped back. Now, the two were together and talking marriage. Yet, he was still left out.

Then, Hermione had come along and wasn't she a surprise! She was bossy and pushy and bookish and knowledgeable and shy and devoted and loyal and steadfast and so different from anyone he had ever pursued. She was so much like him that it was scary at times. They both loved books, reading all the time and practically forcing their friends to pry them out of their hands. They both loved to research. They could just sit quietly, doing exactly that, and when one made a discovery, it was like the other instantly knew and understood. It was like they were on the same wavelength.

But they were so different, too. He was laid back, easy-going, calm. She was bossy, always knowing what was best for everyone, always stressed out. They were polar opposites. They were so much alike and yet so different.

And that was why Bill knew they were perfect for each other.

There was a sudden burst of fire midair, and the redhead flew out of his chair, reaching for his wand, only to realize it was just Fawkes. He sighed with relief and was about to put his wand away when the bird swooped in and snatched it in his talons. The phoenix glided through the air and landed on a nearby table, looking at the wizard with suspicion.

With a sigh, Bill approached the bird, knowing that Dumbledore was probably summoning him for something. "I'm sorry, Fawkes. I didn't mean to, but you startled me," the redhead tried appeasingly, reaching for his wand.

However, the phoenix snapped at his fingers and glared at him with furious green and gold eyes.

"Well, I am sure you are," Fawkes commented.

Bill stopped short, gapping.

"Oh yes, I can talk, Mr. Weasley, but that is beside the point." He smirked then. "Anyway, we have somewhere to be." He ruffled his feathers, preparing for flight.

The redhead gaped again. "What do you mean by 'have somewhere--'" he started to ask but was halted when the phoenix landed on his shoulder.

Fawkes smirked again, and the two disappeared in a burst of fire.


Hogwarts, The Third Floor: The Same Day

"Where did you say we were going again, Harry?" Hermione asked as she trailed behind Luna and him, just in front of Neville and Ginny.

Unnoticed by the Prefect, the couple exchanged a glance before dropping back to walk beside the others. "It's a secret," he answered with a comical scrunch of his nose. "A secret place. I bet you ten Galleons even Gred and Forge don't know of it. It certainly wasn't on the map," he stated, indicating the parchment in Luna's hands, which she was using to supposedly check for Filch. But it wasn't like she needed it, not with her connection to Hogwarts, not that the others knew that.

"A secret, huh?" Hermione questioned. She looked at him appraisingly, finally speaking again. "You've been acting rather odd lately, Harry. So very unlike yourself."

Ginny smiled and quipped, "True. He's not been nearly broody enough." She nudged him with her elbow. Never noticing as Luna, who was on her other side, discreetly lifted the redhead's wand from her pocket.

"Oh, I bet I know why," Neville joined in.

Harry mock-glared, and a faint but a noticeable hint of red touched his cheeks.

"Really?" Luna inquired pensively, humming to herself. "Why?"

Neville chuckled. "You," he answered simply enough, also nudging Harry with his elbow. "More specifically, those lovely dreams he's been having about you. Apparently, if his moans are anything to go by, they're quite good."

Luna beamed at her boyfriend. "Good, that means I'm not the only one having carnal fantasies," she inserted without missing a beat.

Hermione and Ginny exchanged a shocked look before dissolving in giggles, Neville soon joining them. Harry ducked his head, his cheeks burning. Nevertheless, using his embarrassment as an opportunity, he quickly snagged Hermione's wand. His eye caught his girlfriend's, and her grin widened knowingly.

After a moment, the laughter ended. Harry redirected the banter to another topic, leaving both their destination and his dreams. A discreet wink later, and Luna drifted back to make a move for Neville's wand, too. The conversation continued around her, thankfully they had moved onto a different subject. However, the blonde never had the opportunity to complete her task as they soon reached the portrait of La Muerte.

The woman with the heart-shaped face smiled and winked, opening without a password. Harry led the group inside, his eyes scanning the room and instantly landing on the blond figure lying on a pile of pillows on the floor.

Good. Everything was going to plan.

The others stopped short, staring at the figure. Neville blinked. Hermione ran forward. Ginny whirled to face him.

"Harry, tell me you didn't," the redhead commanded as she watched the Prefect dash to the other side of the room, kneeling beside the blond. "Tell me, you didn't kidnap Draco Malfoy."

Hermione started reaching for her wand, but she stopped when Luna cast the Ennervate for her. Instantly, grey eyes snapped open, staring into brown. A flash of some nameless emotion passed between them before the witch looked away. She quickly rose to her feet and watched as he sat up.

"We didn't kidnap Draco, Ginny," Luna finally replied with a fair amount of annoyance.

"It'd be okay if you did though," Neville murmured himself. "I wouldn't blame you in the slightest." He was taking this situation the best out of all of them, meeting everything with an air of calm. Shaking his head, he turned back to the discussion at hand.

Hermione, apparently not having heard Neville, looked at Luna and Harry with complete disbelief. "Really?"

"They didn't," the Slytherin Prefect assured her absentmindedly as he stood. He swayed, the female Gryffindor steadying him. "Actually, it was that bloody Defense teacher." He stepped away from Hermione with an embarrassed shake of his head.

"But why?" Neville questioned, adding in his three Knuts worth. "Why would the professor do that? Hasn't tried to off us yet. He seems a decent enough bloke." Silently, he felt that the professor would be an even better person if he had disposed of Draco instead of just kidnapped him.

"Hasn't tried to off us yet?" Draco repeated incredulously. "He tried to off me!" He waved his hands through the air.

Neville glared at him and was about to say something rather unkind when he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Fawkes and Bill Weasley.

"Bill!" Hermione and Ginny exclaimed together. The older girl dashed to his side.

"What's going on?" the younger Weasley demanded as she ran to her brother, following in Hermione's wake.

Neville took several steps forward, craning his neck to see. Clearly, he was more interested in Bill's well-being than he had been for Draco.

"Yes, what is going on, Harry?" Hermione asked and reached for her boyfriend. "You've kidnapped Draco and now Bill." She glared at him fiercely, pointing an accusing finger. "You've been acting strange since the summer. At first, I thought it was because of Padfoot, but now I'm not so sure. You've started studying; you don't talk about Quidditch all the time. And you actually like Potions now." Her eyes widened suddenly as if something had dawned on her. "Oh, no… you're not Harry at all." She stepped back hurriedly, dragging Bill with her. "It's Polyjuice again!"

The others looked shell-shocked. Ginny trembled and reached for her wand, determined that she would not be a weakling again. But much to her shock, she discovered that it was gone. Belatedly, Hermione noticed the exact same situation with her wand. Neville, on the other hand, brought his out and stepped in front of the girls. Yet, before he could do anything else, Fawkes swoop in and snatched it in much the same way he had done to Bill. Draco didn't even bother to go for his, already knowing that it was gone.

There was a loud bang, and their attention instantly rocketed back to Harry. At their shocked expressions, he sighed heavily and tried to placate them.

"I assure you, I am who I appear to be."

The others looked thoroughly unconvinced.

"Here, I'll prove it to you." He sobered and put his wand away. "I am Harry James Potter. I recently lost the only parent I have ever known, Sirius Black, who was actually innocent and who I loved more than anything. I was his only heir, and he actually wanted to adopt me, but he never had the chance and never will," he finished, breathing heavily and shaking.

Complete silence filled the air.

"So maybe it's not Polyjuice," Bill allowed after a moment and squeezed Hermione's hand.

"It's Professor Boyd then!" Ginny exclaimed, jumping from the next obvious choice, Luna, and directly to the disliked teacher.

The blonde reprimanded her, "Oh, he's not Polyjuiced either. And he's not a Death Eater," she added, giving the redhead an appraising glance. The Ravenclaw smiled dreamily and played with a loose strand of her hair. "He is perfectly wonderful and quite the snazzy dresser. Oh, and a fantastic conversationalist. Just the other day we were talking about the difference between crumpled-horn--"

The Slytherin Prefect snorted and turned to Harry, who he thought was at least sane. "And this so-called wonderful man abducted me, Potter!" Draco spat, looking quite angry. "He hit me in the face with a bloody Stunner; do you have any idea how much that stings?"

Fawkes laughed. "Well, he's not really a man, mind you. Vampire would be a more accurate description," he chirped and ruffled his feathers. He flew through the air, once more using Bill as a perch.

Apparently, this was the wrong thing to say. Or maybe they were just surprised that phoenixes really could talk. And everyone froze. There was the sound of a several muffled gasps, and Hermione's mouth actually dropped open. She stuttered, causing her to cough and forcing a bemused Bill to slap her on the back.

Harry couldn't help but snort. "Oh, it's not really that bad. You make it seem as though he's a monster or something."

"But he is a monster, Harry," Ginny retorted nervously, her fingers itching for her wand.

Hermione nodded her agreement. Draco swallowed hard but made no move to agree. Bill blinked. Neville simply watched, only half paying attention. For some strange reason, his eyes kept being drawn to the portrait of an old sorcerer who was watching the exchange with interest from the far wall. The Gryffindor's face scrunched in a look of extreme concentration. There was something so familiar about that man.

Hermione spoke softly. "Vampires drink blood, human blood. They feed on humans, Harry." Her face was like an open book, one which was filled with nervousness and fear. "They feed on people. They eat people, Harry. Kill them!"

"Yeah, Potter," Draco added in, waving his hand, "he's probably going to use us for a meal or… a sacrifice." His grey eyes were flickering around, obviously looking for escape.

The sole Ravenclaw sighed and exchanged a glance with her boyfriend "No, they don't. And no, he won't. Vampires don't kill anyone, and they only feed on humans when it's freely given," Luna replied. Noticing Harry's blank expression turn slightly amused, the witch continued, "You know, love nibbles."

Hermione actually blushed at the comment as did Draco. Neville's eyebrow quirked before he returned his attention to the portrait. Bill had to stifle a laugh. However, Luna ignored it all, looking at her reactionless year-mate sadly.

"Okay, so maybe he won't feed on us, but you have to admit," Bill said after a moment in his typical calm fashion, "it is still a bit suspicious that he led us all here." He rubbed his temples, obviously trying to alleviate a building headache.

The reborn Salazar was about to reply, but Ginny beat him to it.

"And how do we know that he won't?" she insisted, her deep brown eyes blazing and hands gesturing for emphasis. "He could be lying; he's a Dark creature, after all."

From the side, the phoenix quietly surveyed her defiant expression, noticing a strange emotion flickering on her face. "Honestly," Fawkes tsked, finally chiming in from his perch on Bill's shoulder, "Tom Riddle is a man, and you all see how well that turned out. So it is not a very good basis to go on." He tilted his head, seeing that both of his allies had noticed it as well.

"And it's not like he's a ravenous lethifold or a man-eating murktrap that will attack you at any moment. He's still a person." Luna finished. She shook her head and stared at them with wide but sad eyes. Disappointment was etched onto her features, her normally dreamy expression forgotten.

"No, he's not; he's monster! Don't let him convince you otherwise. He's just using you!" the youngest Weasley screamed at her, face red. "Remember what he said; remember how he's a follower of the Dark. They're evil, I tell you. All of them are evil."

The others stared at her with shock, even Bill.

"Ginny," he began, "I know you had a bad experience before, but maybe we should listen--"

"No," his sister cut him off. "No, Bill. Not again. I listened once before, and you know how that turned out. I won't do it again." She sighed, moving in front of her brother. "Just no. I'm sorry," she murmured and reached for him.

Luna whispered to the female redhead. "I never thought that you would agree with Dolores Umbridge, Ginny. I thought you were better than that."

The girl stiffened instantaneously and whirled around. "But… he's Dark and so was Tom… and he used to say the same kind of things about magic not being good or evil," she muttered to herself. Realizing what she had let slip, her head snapped up. "I mean… we're always taught… the Ministry--"

Harry interrupted, "Right, the Ministry. They don't like vampires, so they're automatically bad in the eyes of the all-knowing government," he added sarcastically, moving toward the redhead. "You know how they are, Gin. They warp the truth about people and add in their own lies. They twist things, muddy the waters so that it is impossible to see anything. Remember how they lied about me?" He saw her faint nod and continued, "They're the same with everything else. Sure, there are some good people… like your father. Yet, you see how they treat even him, one of their own."

He faced the girl fully and gently took her hand in his. He lowered his head so that he could look her directly in the eyes.

"Dark doesn't mean evil; I know that Tom said that, too, but what he failed to mention is that evil still exists. He doesn't believe in it at all; he only believes in power." He squeezed her fingers tightly before releasing her hand, gazing down into her dazed eyes. "Tom is so evil that no other label really fits. He's not Dark, not Light. Just evil. And you shouldn't instantly think that other people are like that just because they remind you of him." Harry sighed, turning away and going back to Luna. But just as he was about to move away, he added in a whisper, "I'm a lot like him, too, Ginny. Even he acknowledged that. But you didn't automatically think the worst of me."

Luna watched as her boyfriend returned to her side before finally commenting. "He's right, you know."

But somehow, the others still didn't look fully convinced.

Not knowing what else to do she squeezed her willow wand in her hand, magic swirling at the end. "I swear my most solemn oath that to you that vampires are not evil; they're not at all like the Ministry describes. They're decent people," she appended after a beat, "at least Dom is." Seeing their blank expressions, she went on, "I also swear that Dom doesn't want to hurt us."

There was silence for a moment.

"But then, why did he kidnap me?" Draco asked, not showing any of his typical haughty behavior. He ran a shaky hand through his platinum, blond hair.

Harry and Luna's eyes met. He exhaled slowly.

"There is something very important that we must show you. However," he stated, holding up a hand to forestall their comments, "we cannot until the others arrive."

Confused expressions magically appeared on their faces.

"Er… what others?" Bill questioned and looked at the door.

It was at that very moment that the portrait swung open. Professor Boyd walked in followed by none other than Arthur and Molly Weasley.


Hogwarts, Minerva's Rooms: The Same Day

"What are we going to do, Minerva?" he asked and stopping his pacing to go to her. "I don't think I can do this anymore," he admitted to her. "I keep feeling things… hearing things. I think I'm going mad." He took her hands, squeezing them tightly within his own.

"If you are, Severus, then so am I," she quipped, squeezing back. She sighed and closed her eyes. "I just don't understand it. What is happening to us? I just feel so strange lately… like I'm being drawn, pulled in a direction…" she faltered.

"You never thought you'd go," he finished for her, dark eyes flashing.

She nodded faintly, and the two remained silent for a moment.

"I'm just so confused. So tired of it all," she whispered, eyes suspiciously bright.

"I am as well." He sighed and studied her. Unexpectedly, he leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers, his nose touching her own. "Minerva--"

"Severus, you know that we can't," she began but froze, head tilting to one side. "Do you feel that?"

"Yes, we have to go… Now!"

And he was at the door, Minerva hot on his heels.

The few students in the corridors between her second floor rooms and the third floor hallway were met with the interesting sight of both the deputy headmistress and the Potions master dashing by. The two ran flat out, following the inexplicable pull to the Sorting Hat's secret room. Once more, the portrait of La Muerte swung open without prompting. The two professors burst inside, wands at the ready, and the scene that greeted them was a surprising one.

Hermione and Bill Weasley were at the back wall, holding hands and standing near both Ginny and Draco Malfoy, of all people. All of them wore expressions of shock, though Bill's was tempered with calm. Further, Fawkes the phoenix was perched on the older redhead's shoulder, wearing a very smug look. Arthur and Molly Weasley were standing in the middle of the room facing Professor Boyd, who appeared to be trying to reason them. Neville Longbottom lingered nearby. Finally, Harry and Luna Lovegood were off to the side, twirling what appeared to be wands that didn't belong to them.

"What--" Minerva began.

She stuttered to a stop as her wand flew out of her hand. It was followed by Severus', though the man fiercely tried to hold on. Both landed in Dominic's open hand, when he nonchalantly reached behind him, not even bothering to turn around.

"Greetings, Professors," Luna inserted with a smile and beckoned them forward.

Severus backed up only to hit the now closed portrait.

"Why don't you come in and have a seat?"

"Yes," Harry chimed in, "we were just talking to Mrs. and Mr. Weasley."

"Just talking?" Snape repeated, striding forward with his robes billowing behind him. He looked incredibly angry. "I do not believe that you were 'just talking', Mr. Potter." His fingers clenched and balled into fists.

But before he could say anything else, Dom interrupted, "I would not do that, if I were you, Severus. Going for your second wand right now is not a smart thing to do."

The Potions master stopped short, face a mask. He took in the entire situation once more, reevaluating.

"Very well," he allowed. "What do you suggest I do then?"

Harry grinned. "Well, you take a seat, Professor," he said amicably, indicating two chairs, one green and the other blue.

Dark eyes flicked from his student to his fellow teacher, who was smiling pleasantly, and back. Severus growled slightly but graciously took his seat. Minerva did also, sitting stately, her chin held high. Both now wore similar expressions, ones which seemed to say "Now what?"

The vampire chuckled. "Now, we just have one more person to wait for." He exchanged a smile with Fawkes, noticing that the portrait entrance was slowly opening. "And it looks as if she is--"

"What, by Ravenclaw, is going on here?" an angry but calm voice demanded from the door.

And almost everyone spun around in surprise, everyone save those Hogwarts had warned. Harry smirked as his eyes meet Luna's, and as one, they both looked to the newcomer.

In all her infuriated glory with her eyes blazing and her angry wand pointed directly at Dominic, shooting blue and bronze sparks, Sybill Trelawney was an inspiring sight. She slid into the room, her back now at the wall, facing all those gathered. Her gaze flickered about, taking in and analyzing all the possible threats before seeking that of Minerva and then Severus. A silent exchange passed between the two women, but it seemed to only make Trelawney tense even more. She glanced at the students then, and while she was clearly unsure of the goings on, her fierce resolve to protect them was readily evident.

All of this occurred in less than a minute. Nonetheless, through it all, her wand never once drifted from the Defense teacher nor did she let him stray from the edge of her vision. And it in that very moment, the vampire truly understood why this woman was one of Dumbledore's top lieutenants, especially when he considered how well she had managed to hide that little fact.

"I ask again, what is going on here?" she inquired once more, this time addressing the children.

Harry took his cue. "Hello, Professor," he responded pleasantly, making her gaze land on him as he stepped forward. "We're just having a little get-together. I'm glad to see that you have received and accepted our invitation."

Trelawney stared at him, obviously put-off by his pleasant manner, as well as his statements. She raised a confused eyebrow, an expression very reminiscent of Minerva. She wasn't the only one either. The Weasley parents exchanged puzzled looks, while Severus' eyes narrowed.

"Harry," both of the other women stated together.

Exchanging a glance, Minerva carried on alone, "Harry, what are you talking about? Isn't this man attempting to kidnap you?"

Harry's smirk widened. And a giggle escaped his girlfriend's mouth.

"Man… hehe… that is a good one, Professor, but we've already had this discussion." A thoughtful expression crossed her face. "Well, I guess he could technically be called a man."

"What… what do you mean?" Arthur questioned, inching further in front of Hermione and Ginny.

"I am a vampire, of course," Dom finally spoke and joined in the fun.

He glanced around, noting the other adults' still cautious but surprisingly non-hostile looks. They didn't believe half the tripe spread around about vampires, but then, they hadn't been indoctrinated in the Dolores Umbridge School of Thought on Dark Creatures.

'Actually,' the vampire reflected as he studied them, 'they look sort of relieved that I am a vampire. Maybe they were worried I was something worse. Like a Soul Hunter.' Internally, he shuddered in complete revulsion at the thought.

"I believe this is beside the point," Severus cut in, startling everyone. His eyes drifted around the room, and he grimaced as he looked at Harry. "Regardless of your… status, Mr. Boyd, you have still detained – if not abducted – several students. So once more we ask you, what exactly is happening here?" his silky voice all but demanded.

Dominic smiled and showed several pointy teeth. "Well, first I must apologize for my methods of getting you here. It was the only real way. To that, now that we are all here," he said and glanced at Harry, receiving a short nod, "there is something very important that we have to show you. Something that can help us save the magical world."

He looked at those gathered, noting their interest, reluctant as it was in some cases. The vampire turned to the reborn Slytherins. And with equally toothy grins, the two of them pulled out their two halves of the amulet.

"And what does this have to do with anything?" Draco began, but he voice was filled with slight awe as he studied the swirling, blue stone.

Hermione nodded her silent agreement.

"Indeed," Severus commented dryly, eyeing the phoenix carving as it unfurled its wings. "It appears as though you are simply showing us an amulet." He cocked an eyebrow, and with only one look, he managed to convey his immense displeasure.

However, before anyone could form a reply to that, the Phoenix Gate took its cue. It started to glow brighter, Phoenix Song filling the air. Magic swirled through the room, a source-less breeze ruffling both hair and clothing. The song and light reached a crescendo, blinding in intensity, and everyone was forced to shield their eyes.

Once the light dimmed, Harry, Luna, Dom, and Fawkes uncovered their faces, glancing around. What they discovered caused the vampire to laugh mirthlessly, the phoenix to snort, and the two students to groan in dismay.

"Bugger," Harry stated, bending over an unconscious Minerva, "I'd forgotten about that part."


AN: This came out a bit sillier than I had intended, but I am just going to go with it. Oh, I didn't notice this until I had half the chapter written, but with the way I worked out the timeline, all of this is happening on Friday the Thirteenth. Kind of weird, no? It sort of creeps me out actually. Maybe it's an American thing.

Things to think about: The people brought to the Sorting Hat's room were, in no particular order: Draco, Hermione, Ginny, Bill, Neville, Arthur, Molly, Sybill, Minerva, and Severus. The people… er… returning, for lack of a better word, are: the Hufflepuffs, the Ravenclaws and their children, Rowena's sister, Siobhan's mother, and a very special surprise person.

To everyone who reviewed: Thanks.

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Truth within the Lies


Ever Hopeful,

Azar

Updated and Edited:

06/21/08