Lovers In a Dangerous Time

Chapter Seven

Upside Down

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"Wake up Harry."

Harry, for the first time in days was able to sleep at night without waking up. His body was telling him to stay in bed all day but a soft voice kept brushing against his mind, telling him something wasn't right and he needed to get up. He was still asleep, but right on the edge of alertness as the voice touched him again. "Wake up Harry." Harry waved his hands over his head as if flicking away an annoying bug.

"WAKE UP HARRY, you can't sleep all day! Were waiting for you!"

This time Harry knew that someone was talking to him, rather sending messages to him. He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. It took him a moment to realize that Ginny was talking to him, through their connection. He almost forgot about this new discovery and found himself smiling as Ginny's soft voice continued to jog his brain.

"Hermione, Ron and I are in the kitchen sleepy head, come have a late breakfast." Ginny said.

"I can get used to you waking me this way, come here and make my morning even better." Harry told Ginny as he flung his legs over the side of the bed, preparing to get up.

"I can't Harry, I'm talking with Hermione about the Prophet...will you come out here please." Ginny replied.

"Your no fun."

Harry pushed up with his hands to stand up, the moment he put pressure on his feet he almost fell backwards. His body was so weak he could barely move, he felt like all the bones in his body were gone, turning him into a pile of rubber. Holding onto the railing of the bed he managed to move over to his dresser and pull out a shirt. He put it on with difficulty then headed towards the door. Before long he ran out of bed railing and was surprised at how hard it was to support himself.

"Ginny, I need help." Harry contacted her, sounding like a hurt child. "Somethings not right."

"I'm coming, your weak because you still haven't had enough blood. We tried to warn you Harry." Ginny said.

"Don't scold me, just come help."

Just as Harry reached the door, Ginny came busting through it, nearly knocking Harry over in the process. Harry smiled as he looked her up and down. She looked beautiful, she had on a light green summer dress and her hair was up in a bun. His stomach did flips as he took in her simple beauty. Ginny put her arm around Harry to support him as he slowly walked out the door way. The burning desire he always felt when holding her was seeping through his body, giving him a small amount of strength.

"You look beautiful today Ginny." Harry remarked as he tumbled down the hallway.

"And you're so pale today, you could be mistaken for a ghost. You must eat Harry, and you have to will yourself not to be sick." Ginny said with the air of a mother scolding her child.

Harry entered the kitchen with the help of Ginny, Ron and Hermione eying him closely as he slung himself into a chair. Harry waited for Ginny to sit down opposite him before he spoke. "So, what brings everyone here this morning?"

Hermione sat up in her chair and said, "First of all you look really bad Harry, you need to eat. Secondly, our little trip into Hogsmead last night created quite a stir."

Late last night, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny made their way down to the Three Broomsticks as Harry had planned with Tonks. At first nothing seemed out of place, they sat down, got drinks and enjoyed a few minuets of conversation. That is until the right person spotted Harry. Sitting in a corner with several empty mugs around him was Hagrid. He boomed loudly as he spotted Harry and declared to the room at large how they were the best of mates and how Hagrid piratically raised Harry. Soon the whole bar was chattering and gathering around. Reporters were asking questions, people were shaking his hand all the while Harry kept getting weaker and weaker. He barely made it home in one piece, if it hadn't been for Ron he wouldn't have.

"I'll donate this time." Ginny said loudly as she got up to get a glass from the cupboard.

"No you won't Ginny, I'm not drinking your blood." Harry said definitely then added in thought. "Please don't fight me on this, I have my reasons. Let Ron or Hermione do it."

"But why?" Ginny said back, feeling Harry's concern. "I only want to help you."

"I can't explain, Ginny." Harry said sadly. Harry knew that if he drank her blood the bond that they shared would only increase, he wasn't sure what would happen if he ever did feed from her but he was sure it wouldn't be wise.

"On second thought, I think I'll let you do it again, Ron." Ginny said as she sat down, handed the glass to Ron and gave Harry a worried look.

Ron happily took the glass then pulled out his wand. Harry and Ginny sat and watched as he filled it up, Hermione was to busy reading the paper to pay much attention. Once the glass was full, Ron pulled his wand away and handed the glass to Harry with a smile. "Try keep it down this time." he added.

Harry picked the glass up and felt his face contort and his fangs appear. He pushed the glass to his lips and drank. As the warm blood flowed down he could feel his body energize. His skin seemed to tingle as he felt his muscles harden and twitch. The energy that was flowing in him was like drinking twenty cups of coffee at one time, nothing had ever made him feel so alive. With several large gulps the glass was empty, he looked at the glass sadly as if he expected it to refill it's self.

Harry put the red stained glass down, turned to Ron and smiled. "Thanks mate."

"Feel better?" Ron asked as he watch Harry closely for any signs of illness.

"I feel loads better, and I don't feel sick this time. I guess if you need it bad enough it doesn't have the same effect." Harry said as he reveled in how much energy he suddenly had.

"That was disgusting, I could feel what you were feeling as you drank that." Ginny told Harry through their connection.

"Really? Can you tell what I'm feeling now." Harry said as he winked at Ginny and rubbed her leg with his foot under the table.

"Pervert." Ginny replied with a smile.

"The prophet is talking about you being at the Three Broomsticks last night Harry, but they also make mention of how you seemed ill before you left." Hermione said, "There making claims that escaped St. Mungos and your actually very sick, some even think you were faking it just to leave the pub. But it's only a matter of time before someone realizes what your symptoms actually were. You need to make sure you feed every few days to avoid appearing unwell.

"And the fact that I will never been seen in the daylight won't raise any alarms?" Harry asked.

"Well yes but there are ways of hiding that, if we get you a thick set of robes and take you to darker locations during the day people won't..."

"They will notice Hermione, we can't fool anyone for real long. Especially when I turn two hundred years old and I'm still sporting the same thick set of robes." Harry said without thinking then clapped his hands to his mouth in horror. He hadn't told anyone yet about him being immortal, it wasn't an easy conversation to have and he just made a joke about it.

"WHAT!" Ginny screamed in her head, catching Harry off guard.

"What do you mean Harry?" Ron asked.

"Alright, I wasn't sure If I was going to tell you but I guess I have too. I have been reading more in those books Hermione gave me." Harry turned to see pride welling in Hermione's eyes. "And they say that unless I fry to death in the sun, am burned or stabbed in the heart I could live forever."

"I didn't know that, I don't remember reading it." Hermione said.

"It was in that little blue one, about the lifemates." Harry said, avoiding Ginny's gaze.

"Well, I didn't read that one much...some of the things they talked about were somewhat..."

"Dirty?" Harry finished for Hermione and laughed. "You don't know the half of what's in that book."

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That night, after Ron and Hermione headed home, Ginny decided to stay and keep Harry company. After the sun went down, Harry found his way outside once more and leaned up against the single lonely tree in Lupin's front yard. Tonks and Lupin were inside the house, paying no mind to Harry what so ever. Ginny was laying on the ground beside Harry, looking up into the stars and playing with his shoe laces.

"So, your going to live forever...are you scared?"

"I don't know what I feel really. I'm either going to die some horrible, tragic death or live to watch everyone I care about vanish, over and over again. I will see the whole world change around me as if it was nothing then before I know it, it will change again. I just can't fathom what it's going to be like, nor do I really want too." Harry said as he looked down at Ginny. "That book Hermione gave me is really disturbing, it's all I have been able to think about for a few days now."

"You can't worry about it Harry, you'll drive yourself mad over it. I don't know what's going to happen, but I know you, it's nothing you can't or wont be able to handle. Just deal with it when it comes, it's all you can do." she said.

Harry lowered himself down to the ground so he could kiss her, their bodies facing in opposite directions, the sensation of kissing upside down was different but still felt as good. Just as Harry was about to move so he could kiss her properly a loud crack echoed the night, distracting Harry. When he looked up he was instantly annoyed at the appearance of Erin Lovegood, someone he wasn't sure if he wanted to see again.

Ginny felt his annoyance and silently asked, "Who is it Harry, what's wrong?"

"His name is Erin Lovegood, Luna's cousin. He's a vampire too so be on your guard. Though I don't think he means us any harm." Harry told her.

"Good evening Mr. Potter. Fine night isn't it?"

"Hello Erin." Harry said, standing up and shaking his hand. "How can I help you tonight."

"I see were on a first name basis now, Harry. And who is this lovely lady?" Erin asked as he put a hand out to help her off the ground.

"I'm Ginny Weasley." She said as she quickly let go of his hand and found Harry's instead.

Erin noticed this and said, "So, you must already have a lifemate then. It's a wonderful thing isn't."

Harry cringed at the word lifemate, something about it just rubbed him the wrong way. "We were busy, did you need something."

"Only to see if you have considered my offer anymore. We need to deal with this Malincov situation as quickly as we can. An act is going to the Wizengammot on Monday and I wish to see it pass, it will be the first step in a long line of efforts on behalf of the VLG."

Ginny asked, "Harry, what's the VLG?"

"Vampire legalization group, don't say anything, I don't entirely trust him." Harry said silently. "It wasn't much of an offer to consider Erin, all I want to do is live in peace and you seemed bent on disturbing that."

"Ah, but you see Harry. As long as vampires like Malincov still roam these lands you will never be in peace. Your lucky to still be alive by my standards. You will fight him, no matter if you want to or not. You don't have a choice. You will either join him or pay a price like I have." Erin said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of parchment. "This is the address for the VLG's headquarters, just outside of Diagon Alley. If you change your mind and wish to join or help us...please stop by. Have a good evening."

Harry was just about to ask what price he had to pay at the hands of Malincov, but before he could get the words out, he vanished. "I just don't know about him, I have this funny feeling I just can't rub off."

"He is nothing like Luna." Ginny commented as she stared at the area where Erin was standing.

Harry laughed slightly, "I know, looks like her though."

Ginny turned to look Harry in the eyes. "You should follow your instincts Harry, they tend to be right." Ginny said. "What does he want you to do anyways?"

"He wants me to hunt down Malincov, the one who turned me and kill him so that the VLG can convince the ministry to give vampires rites. Malincov takes pleasure out of creating evil vampires, I was supposed to be his next one. But I was lucky and didn't follow my natural instincts, so now he wants to kill me. So says Erin."

"But Harry, you have done so much fighting, you just can't do this." Ginny pleaded.

"Don't worry, I don't plan to fight unless I have too."