Lovers In a Dangerous Time

Chapter Fifteen

I've Seen the Facts

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The excitement that Harry and Ginny were suddenly entering into a great battle passed rather quickly. After sitting on the cold earth for nearly twenty minuets the thrill was gone. Erin, Tracy and several other VLG members joined them not shortly after only to find other locations around the area to keep surveillance, leaving Harry and Ginny alone once more.

As the time passed the air continued to grow colder and colder under the night sky. The heavy dew was sending chills down their spine. Ginny, who forgot to grab her robe was huddled close to Harry wrapping his around her. Harry was rubbing her arms to keep her as warm as possible. Being a vampire has many disadvantages a big one being that their body temperatures seemed to match that of the air around them. As the summer drew to a close, Harry was afraid of what the cool air would do to him.

"Well, I guess we have nothing better to do. Wanna talk?" Ginny asked as she pulled herself closer to Harry.

"Sure, let's talk about how numb my butt is." Harry replied with a smirk.

Ginny smiled quickly before her face became serious, "No, I actually had a topic in mind. I was talking to Tracy today about what she said. About female vampires not being able to have children. She said in the history of vampires in England, only two females were able to conceive, and only one of the children made it past their first year."

Harry couldn't think of anything soothing to respond with so he asked the only question on his mind. "The one that survived, was it born a vampire or a human?"

"A vampire, I asked the same question but she wasn't able to tell me any more. Like how long it lived, if it was a wizard or not, nothing. Basically she said that we can try, but we shouldn't ever get our hopes up. Our chances are very, very low." Ginny said as she nuzzled her head into Harry's arm.

Harry smiled, desperate to break the tension. "Well, it will be fun trying at least."

Ginny pushed him, almost knocking him over, "Harry I'm serious!"

"I don't know what to say to you Ginny. I can't think of anything comforting right now. I honestly didn't even know we we're at the point of talking about such things. I mean we're not even married yet or anything. I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you but don't you think we're going a bit fast?"

"A bit fast? Harry, in case you haven't noticed we're more married than most married people are! I can read your thoughts, feel your emotions, see what your seeing. I freak out when I'm away from you for one second! Your blood runs in my veins, your my lifemate and sire! We couldn't be more married if we tried. After all that we have been through, suddenly you gained a fear of commitment?" Ginny frowned as she felt Harry's guilt rush through her.

"That's not exactly what I meant. We just have more important things to worry about at the moment." Harry tried to block his mind off from what he was really feeling. He feared for her life. He had to protect her, keep her safe from Malincov and any other creature of the night that hunted him. He knew that he was facing a lifetime of battles, darkness and fear. He would be hunted for all time because of who he was and who he had become. This wasn't a life he wanted Ginny to be a part of.

Ginny knew he was right, but she was annoyed at him for not showing any emotion at all over the situation. "I'm a Weasley, it's in my nature to think about children. If I can't have one of my own I'll find another way."

For some reason Harry was determined to remain shut off, he needed to remain emotionless for the pending doom that was residing over him. Desperate to get off the cold ground he stood up and stretched his arms, leaving Ginny in the cold once more. Harry could feel Ginny's annoyance with him for his sudden grumpy attitude but he didn't care very much. But he wasn't about to step away from his top priority. When Ginny stood and wrapped herself up in his cloak again, Harry didn't move away instead he wrapped his arms around her in return.

Ginny hated when Harry was sullen so she tried to get his mind on other topics, "You want to know what else Tracy and I talked about?" When Harry didn't respond she went on. "Well, Erin has only been a vampire for about five years. Him and his lifemate were turned by Malincov on the same day. I guess Malincov came up on them in a park or something and attacked them. Casey was killed by accident only a few weeks later. When Erin was brought in for his meeting with Malincov, like you were, Erin was about to pledge himself to Malincov. But somehow Casey got pushed outside during the day and fried up before Erin could save her. When Erin almost killed Malincov with his bare hands he was inducted into the VLG."

Harry looked interested, "How did he almost kill him?"

"Ripped about half of his flesh off with his nails." Ginny shuddered at the thought. "I guess Malincov almost bleed to death, but being that he's so old his healing abilities far exceed ours. He was able to put himself back together or something."

Harry felt sorry for Erin knowing how much a lifemate can effect you, "He didn't even have a chance with Casey."

"I know, I felt the same thing." Ginny said. "I also learned a little about Jamie too."

"Oh yeah? What did you find out?" Harry asked as he continued to scan the hill for any signs of movement.

"He was only fifteen when he was turned. He is almost as old as Tracy, she passes him by about twenty years. He was an orphan, both of his parents were killed by dragons. That was when dragons still roamed free. He ended up living on the street when he wasn't at Hogwarts. The summer before his sixth year he was living in Hogsmead, being fed scraps of food from one of the bars. He met a vampire and became fascinated with him. They would meet up every night and the vampire would tell him about his latest victim. Until one night Jamie got into a fight with the vampire over something and he became the next victim but before Jamie died he reached up and sliced open the vampires face and stole his blood. In a way he turned himself into a vampire. It wasn't until many years later did he devote his life to good and join the VLG."

"You and Tracy had quite a talk then." Harry said with a smirk.

"Actually, Jamie told me that one. I find all of this oddly fascinating really. To think that people can live that long is astounding to me. I love the history of it, I just want to find out as much as I can from people that have actually been there and seen it. Don't you find some of this terribly interesting?" Ginny asked.

"I guess so."

"Harry why are you being so quite?" Ginny tugged at his arm as she spoke.

"I'm not, I'm just trying to keep a look out. I have this feeling that something is going to happen and I want to be ready when it does."

Ginny sighed but didn't press him any further. She could feel Harry's unease through their tie. She closed her eyes and tried to press her mind into his hoping to read his thoughts be he was as shut down as if a brick wall and been set between them. She knew he was doing it on purpose, to spare her whatever emotion he was feeling but she didn't like it. When their tie was broken she had the same wrenching feeling she felt when they were apart from each other. Despite their closeness she felt miles away from him. After giving one last push on his mind she gave up, defeated, and sat back down on ground.

Harry walked away from her and out into a clearing so he could scan the large hill a little more. Everything was silent, too silent. He would have been happy to just hear a bird sing but no signs of nature could be heard. No hint of the other VLG members could be seen. No lights or signs of life anywhere. The three small houses that rested at the bottom of the hill looked empty and abandoned. The air was too still, Harry was silently wishing there was a slight wind to help ease his dread.

As he looked up into the distance he could see a slight trace of pink in the sky. Is that the sun rising? He thought to himself.

Ginny must of heard it and replied, It's almost five in the morning, we will have to get back soon.

How did time pass so quickly? He wondered. Harry wasn't real worried about the rising sun, it was after all a very cloudy morning, that would help keep the sun off them for a least another hour. Suddenly as if he had been struck in the head the feeling of fear swept over him. But something was funny, it wasn't his fear. He felt as if the entire world around him was trembling. It was such a strong emotion he thought he would fall over with the force.

When he turned around to express his thoughts to Ginny his heart froze. Ginny had been pulled up off the ground by her hair. She was dangling dangerously as a dark gloved hand kept her from screaming. She looked like a rag doll that was being carried around unceremoniously. Malincov was looking over at Harry with pure hate and fire in his eyes. As he continued to hold Ginny he stepped forward, inching towards Harry who was frozen to the spot.

Harry reached into his back pocket to pull out his wand but was stopped as Malincov's voice rang through the night. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I'll cut this pretty little girls neck if you try anything funny."

"Put her down first." Harry demanded.

Harry opened his mind once more and pressed his thoughts into Ginny, Don't move, whatever you do. Just do what he wants or he'll kill us both.

"You think to bargain with me young Harry? Alright, let's hear it." Malincov slowly lowered Ginny to the ground but never released his grip on her hair. Pain was shooting through Harry from Ginny, he looked over to see tears splashing her cheeks.

Harry wanted to run to her but had to force himself to focus, block out emotion, it was the only way to survive. "This entire area is covered with VLG members. If you let her go I won't send up the signal. It will be just you an me. That's what you want isn't it? You want me dead, well here is your chance. Let her go and I'm yours."

Harry NO! Ginny screamed with her mind.

Malincov twisted his lips into a half smile as he eyed Harry closely, "Still playing the big hero are we? It gives me to much joy to see the look in your eyes when I hurt her. But your offer is tempting. However I'm not exactly worried about the VLG, I have my own guard sweeping these hills as we speak. What to do, what to do...should I release her and let her run off and squeal like a pig or kill her and watch you crumble in agony?"

"The choice is yours but either way your going to die tonight." Harry said, the statement had the effect he was looking for.

Instantly he released Ginny letting her scramble to the ground, rubbing her hands over her head in pain. Malincov roared with laughter at Harry's statement. Harry took the chance to say to Ginny, Start moving away from him, slowly. Don't make any quick movements.

"Do you think you scare me? You and your whiny VLG members don't hold a candle to my power. I could kill you all right now with a flick of my wrist." Malincov said and Harry was grateful that he hadn't noticed Ginny inching her way away from him.

Harry was desperate to keep him talking, "Then why don't you? If your so powerful then what's stopping you?"

"Oh you see, this is all great fun for me. After my many long years existence nothing excites me much anymore but the hunt. Teasing the VLG members, searching for that one fledgling that will serve me above all others. It's the thrill of it all Harry, some day when you give into your true nature you will understand."

"Someday? Then you don't intend to kill me then?" Harry asked.

"No, I intend to kill her and watch you suffer."

Harry had asked the wrong question because as Malincov finished his statement he looked over to see that Ginny had made it almost far enough away to start running. Harry glanced at Ginny then back at Malincov who had anger seeping over his face. Harry reached out to Ginny, RUN! Get up and run!

Ginny pushed up from the ground and took off with everything she had. As Malincov chased after her Harry reached in his back pocket, pulled out his wand and shot red sparks high into the air, the signal the VLG instructed him on. With his wand still at the ready he followed after Malincov, shooting stunning spells at him as he ran.

Suddenly all around him members of the VLG were materializing with loud pops and cracks. Harry started to scream at them, telling them to chase after Malincov. When he turned his focus back onto Ginny his heart sank once more and panic welled in him, both his and hers. Ginny had stumbled and twisted her ankle, the pain of it coursing through Harry as well. Malincov reached her with great speed as she struggled to get up and start running again.

Harry put every ounce of energy into getting to her but he was to late. Malincov grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up. He whipped around to look at Harry and the advancing VLG member's then said. "You wish to chase me? Alright then, let's have some fun." And with an echoing crack Malincov and Ginny vanished right before them. Harry could feel Ginny's fear rush over him and he fell to his knees, shear panic etched over his face.