CHAPTER FOURTEEN: RAID

The air in Staffordshire was frosty when Harry and Ginny Apparated into the town near Rabinovich's manor house. Harry could see his breath billowing into the air and he fought back the shiver trying to seize his muscles. He heard the soft pops of Ron, Hermione, and Neville Apparating nearby.

Ginny was under Harry's invisibility cloak to protect her from the sun's rays, though Harry wasn't sure how much protection she needed with such an overcast sky. Still, he didn't want to take any more chances with Ginny's life than they had to. "Alright?" he asked them all.

Everyone nodded, and they all began to disillusion themselves.

"Remember the plan," Harry whispered to Ginny's invisible form.

He heard the cloak swish slightly and assumed she was nodding. "I've got it," Ginny reminded him quietly, voice tense.

He had noticed that her moods had become much more mercurial since she had been changed, and he wasn't sure if it was a reaction to her trauma from the event or just the vampirism. He had heard that vampires could be quite moody, so perhaps it was the change to her body that had caused it.

Harry didn't want anything to go wrong—he didn't know if he could forgive himself if any of the others were hurt in this endeavor. He'd never led anyone in this type of setting—Sirius and Remus had fought to keep him behind the scenes of the war, and Harry hadn't seen many battles until that last year after Sirius' cousin Bellatrix had murdered him in cold blood. Remus had been too beside himself to keep Harry from what he'd seen as his duty.

Harry shook his head at himself to get his thoughts focused on the task at hand. Hopefully, it would be a simple raid.

They approached the manor house and Harry's eyes widened at the sight in front of him. It reminded him rather too much of Malfoy Manor, where he had been kept for a week after being captured upon Sirius' death.

It was an impressive, foreboding home. The gardens, too, looked impressive through the iron fence. "This is it," Ginny whispered.

"Let's get to our assigned places," Harry told them all as quietly as he could while still being heard.

He heard the muffled shuffling of their feet in the damp leaves on the ground and then when Harry was almost completely sure they were in position, he gave the signal.

First, Harry checked to see if there were any curses on the fence. "A little cocky," he muttered, grinning.

He began to scale the fence, scrabbling as quickly as he could until he reached the top, dropping down into a low crouch into the overgrown garden. He peered about, making sure that no one was hidden or lurking before he made his way to the escape route that Ginny had told him about.

It had been something Ginny had used once with Morana when she'd been coming to the manor as a human and had only been shown the exit once because there had been someone lurking about—or at least, Ginny had said, Morana had told her. Whatever the reason, it came in handy now. It was hidden behind the statue of a manticore and it would allow him to step down into an underground tunnel that could only open from the inside.

Harry travelled through the tunnel and at the end found the latch on a small door that resembled some sort of drain. He fumbled with the latch for a moment before opening it.

"Alright?" he asked his companions.

He felt a hand on his shoulder for a brief moment and waited until he stopped feeling anyone walking by him before closing it behind him lightly—not locking it—and following the echoing footsteps through the passage.

This was where their plan got complicated. They'd each break off in their own directions, except Harry and Ginny. Ginny would remove Harry's invisibility cloak, and that would allow them entrance through the front door of the manor when whoever opened the door saw it was her.

"Got your other cloak?" Harry asked as he cancelled his disillusionment charm on himself.

Ginny removed the invisibility cloak, appearing seemingly out of thin air as she handed it to him and pulled a shrunken version of her own winter cloak out of her pockets. Harry enlarged it to its original size for her and she donned the heavy garment, pulling the black hood up around her fiery hair.

Harry couldn't help but stop and admire her form—she was a striking vision, her flaming hair bright against the dark velvety material of her cloak, face half-hidden in the shadows of the hood. He could only see her almost-glowing eyes and her lips, now redder than they'd been in life, fangs sticking out as she smirked at him.

Harry wasn't sure what it was about the way she was holding her mouth that turned him on, but he had to force himself to focus on the task at hand, rather than how she'd feel wrapped around his cock, slick and warm… Focus, Potter, he chastised himself.

Shaking his head of the tempting thoughts, Harry stuffed the invisibility cloak away in his pocket, marveling at the size of wizard pockets compared to those of Muggle clothing. Truly wondrous, he thought for a moment before he once again focused.

He pulled Ginny into his arms and tilted her face up to his. "Ginny…" he wasn't sure what to say, so many different words were floating around in his mind. Their lips met in the middle, and Harry's insides squirmed as his mind lit up electrifyingly. He needed for both of them to survive this fight. Harry didn't know what he'd do if Rabinovich outsmarted them yet again.

Harry had to stop himself from stroking Ginny's body, pulling away from her painfully.

"Let's do this," he told her roughly.

Ginny nodded at him, eyes dark with attraction, and maybe, Harry imagined, blood lust.

Her hood had fallen back as they had kissed, so she pulled it back up and over her hair once again, and Harry disillusioned himself once again before they exited the tunnel.

As Harry and Ginny traversed the gardens, he peered about, cataloging his surroundings. The gardens were absolutely resplendent—overgrown ferns, rosebushes, and white hydrangea bushes seemed to be overtaking many of the statues and fountains. It reminded Harry of something from a Muggle movie set.

It was as if Rabinovich took a perverse pleasure in death and decay intermixed with decadence. He had to hand it to the vampire: the man had a very particular sense of style.

Ginny knocked on the large front door loudly, body tense underneath her cloak. Harry felt similarly—their plan hinged on Harry entering with Ginny undetected. Finally, the door opened, revealing a witch who Harry imagined had to be Morana, based off the description that Ginny had provided.

Morana didn't look happy to see Ginny, either. She said something as she scowled at Ginny, and he could tell by the bob of her hood that she'd replied to Morana, but he didn't know what it was they were saying. Harry tried to convince himself that he didn't need to know the words exchanged, but he had been taught throughout his life to gather all possible information and analyze it carefully—Remus had taught him so, saying it was the key to good defence.

There was nothing to be done for it, Harry told himself. As Morana finally let Ginny in, he followed closely behind her, careful not to brush against Morana accidentally. As he stepped into the manor for the first time, Harry had to stop and gape.

It reminded him too much of Malfoy manor—but the art was better, at least. There seemed to be a draft in the manor, and he imagined that the stone walls and floors must be freezing this late in the autumn. The sconces on the walls gave off minimum light, creating an eerie ambience. What a fitting home for an old vampire, Harry thought sardonically.

Ginny shrugged off her heavy cloak and handed it to Morana to take. Morana looked annoyed but took the cloak from Ginny and began to lead her down a corridor.

He followed Ginny and Morana as they made their way to what he guessed would be the drawing room. They twisted and turned down dark corridors and down a set of spiral stairs before they arrived in the large room, filled to the brim with opulent antiques and lavish rugs.

Maybe crime did pay.

Ginny took a seat on the sofa near the fireplace, sitting more still than he'd ever seen her. It was so strange to see her as an undead being, having known her when she'd been so full of life and happiness. It wasn't that Ginny wasn't capable of happiness now, but there had been a vibrancy within her that Harry couldn't see now.

Morana left the drawing room and Harry stood in a corner, hoping to stay as nondescript under his disillusionment charm as possible. After what seemed like ages, he heard soft footsteps approaching in a nearby corridor and he stood more on guard, listening for whoever was making their way to greet Ginny.

As Rabinovich traipsed into the room, Ginny stood up—Harry suspected her action was borne out of some habit.

"Ginevra, you came back," Rabinovich smiled.

Ginny grinned weakly back at her sire, face somehow appearing paler to Harry in the light of the flames from the hearth.

"I came to apologize, Master Doru," Ginny said.

Harry's stomach twisted at her words, disgusted that Rabinovich dare require those around him to call him master.

"I was wrong," Ginny continued on. "I shouldn't have fled. You provide a safe place for me here, and this should be my home."

Rabinovich raised an eyebrow at her and Harry worried that she may have laid it on too thick until Rabinovich smiled at her and said, "Why, Ginevra, all can be forgiven."

"It can?" Ginny looked hopeful and Harry silently applauded his girlfriend's acting skills.

"Yes," Rabinovich answered. "All you'll need to do is help me with another acquisition…"

This part was critical for Harry. To be able to legally search the manor, he needed for Rabinovich to say the magic words.

And that he did. When he'd detailed exactly what he wanted Ginny to steal, Harry revealed himself.

"Doru Rabinovich, you are under arrest for dealing in illegal potions and international art theft."

"Why, hello, Mr. Potter," Rabinovich greeted. "I'd wondered when you were going to reveal yourself. Long time, no see, as they say."

Rabinovich was grinning at Harry cockily, fangs flashing as he talked.

"Turn around and place your hands behind your back," Harry told Rabinovich.

Rabinovich, predictably, did not listen to Harry. Rather, he laughed at the order. "Now, why would I do that?"

"Because the Ministry doesn't take kindly to either one of those crimes we'll be convicting you for, and if you come quietly, you might get a lighter sentence."

"I answer to no Ministry of Magic, nor any humans, Mr. Potter," Rabinovich's voice turned frosty and Harry wondered if it was his imagination when he felt the room get ten degrees colder around him.

Harry would be lying if he'd said that he'd hoped it wouldn't come to this. He'd been spoiling for a true fight. What Rabinovich had done to Ginny had ignited a fire within him that Harry hadn't felt since the war. It was a strange anger that only a few things could incite in him, but his wrath was mighty.

"I was hoping you'd say that, Rabinovich," Harry grinned honestly at the vampire. "I so would like to end you."

Rabinovich laughed, cold and high, reminding Harry too much of Voldemort.

Something within him snapped and Harry shot a spell off before he'd even processed that his wand had made its way to his hand. It was a red spell—a basic stunning spell.

Harry wasn't sure what would happen next—he'd never fought a vampire before, nor had he thought that he would ever do so. Generally, the vampire race had become peaceful in the last two-hundred years; apparently this wanker was the exception.

He prayed that wherever Ron, Hermione, and Neville were, they were taking care of Rabinovich's henchmen.

Rabinovich was in front of Harry in mere seconds, snarling, fangs flashing as his hands made to grab at Harry. Harry ducked beneath Rabinovich's grasp, hitting the floor and rolling away from the vampire.

Harry saw a flash of spellfire fly over his shoulder and turned to look in the direction as quickly as he could afford. It was Morana, wand in hand.

"Harry, you get her, and I'll take care of that arsehole," Ginny told him through gritted teeth, her own fangs sinking into her lower lip and drawing a bit of blood.

Harry was hesitant to listen to her but knew that Ginny would be better suited fighting against Rabinovich with her own vampire instincts, while he could duel Morana with magic.

"Okay!" Harry called, turning towards Morana, hoping Ginny was on her guard as she turned to face Rabinovich.

"So, you're the boytoy that lured her away from us," Morana smiled at Harry, twirling her wand in her hand blithely.

Harry inclined his head towards the witch. "Guilty. And you're the witch who drugged her and stole her life from her."

Morana continued to smile, unconcerned with Harry's words. Harry decided he needed to go on the offence, as Morana seemed content to taunt him. It almost reminded him of a night, long ago, with Sirius and Bellatrix. No, this was nothing like that night, Harry told himself as he shot an incarcerous spell at Morana.

She lightly dodged to the side of the spell, shooting back her own curse that Harry didn't recognize. He had to admit that she was a good dueler; Rabinovich had probably provided her the best tutors.

He shot another spell at the ground in front of Morana, intending to trip her into a second spell he sent just a second after the first. Her shield spell was too quick, and Harry cursed inwardly.

Morana grinned at him. "Is the great Harry Potter just made up of local folklore?"

Harry cursed aloud and sent another stunning spell at her, quickly followed by the leg-locker curse and then the levicorpus hex. He wouldn't use lethal force until Morana used it first—he simply couldn't allow himself to do so.

Morana threw her shield up, but took the brunt of the last hex he'd cast. She hadn't expected three spells in a row.

She was hoisted by her feet into the air. Angrily, she quickly muttered the counter-curse as Harry had been preparing to stun her.

She dropped from the air, rolling onto the ground and under his stunning spell.

"Fuck," Harry grunted.

Morana grinned at him again and he grew angrier at her for a moment before he realized that she was attempting to goad him into losing his concentration.

He needed to up the ante.

"Bates mocos!" Harry shouted. Ginny had once told him that it was her favourite hex, and he cast this specific one in her honour.

Morana hadn't expected his hex to be so strong, the bogey-coloured hex ripping through the shield she'd hastily erected. Bat-bogeys began to fly out her face and Morana let out a screech that hurt Harry's ears.

Taking a tiny amount of pity on the witch, Harry shot a stunner at her. Morana crumpled to the ground. He could hear Ginny and Rabinovich still grappling behind him, but he could not allow himself to be distracted before he sent Morana off, tied up to the Ministry of Magic. He attached his prisoner portkey to her and touched the middle, muttering the incantation quietly before turning to watch Ginny and Rabinovich.

It was strangely like watching poetry—very violent poetry, Harry thought. Ginny and Rabinovich were fighting in a style that Harry would normally describe as animalistic—graceful and instinctive, but positively vicious. Their fangs were flashing, and they were hissing as they circled each other, knees bent, their centers of gravity low as they each waited for a moment before Ginny took the initiative and leapt at Rabinovich once again.

She swiped at him with a fist, her teeth leading the way towards his neck. He wasn't sure if she knew what she was doing, but he imagined that she must have had some sort of instinct leading her, as he had never seen her move in quite this way before. Then again, he'd never seen Ginny fight before at all. He wondered if she'd always been so skilled, or if it was something inherent in her newfound nature as a vampire.

Harry realized that he'd never done much research into vampires, beyond how to kill them or subdue them as needed.

Ginny's fist connected with Rabinovich's jaw, but the old vampire did not react. He looked exactly as he had before. Harry pulled out a silver stake he'd bought at Knockturn Alley the day before when they'd been preparing for the raid. He wasn't skilled in using it, but he assumed it must be pretty simple with enough brute strength.

He continued to watch them grapple, wondering if he should step in and help. Would it distract Ginny if he tried to help? Harry worried.

Rabinovich seemed to be getting an edge on Ginny now, as she was much newer and less strong than the old vampire was. Harry watched in horror as Rabinovich pushed Ginny to the ground, straddling her with his legs as he leaned toward her throat—

Harry had to move. He ran towards Rabinovich, silver stake raised in his hand. Rabinovich turned his head toward Harry, snarling at him, fangs and teeth all bared.

Harry pushed the old vampire off Ginny, who had been looking more and more like she'd been about to be dinner—or pulverized.

Harry lunged at Rabinovich as the vampire attempted to regain his footing. As he knocked back into him, Harry realized just how strong Rabinovich was. He had always heard stories, but he had never been able to experience the true strength of an older vampire.

"You can't have her," Harry snarled at Rabinovich as they wrestled. Harry's grip was loosening on the stake, and he couldn't allow that to happen. He struggled to reposition his grip on the stake as he continued to fight with Rabinovich, who was attempting to gain the upper hand and flip them so that he was on top of Harry, chest protected.

"I already do," Rabinovich laughed, finally managing to flip them.

With a grunt, Harry ground his leg into the ground, hooking his arm over Rabinovich's shoulder and his other leg around one of Rabinovich's. He bucked his hips up as he drove his leg into the ground, pushing with all his might. He threw his momentum to his right side, flipping Rabinovich back to his vulnerable position.

"No, you don't," Harry said, panting, as he drove the stake into Rabinvovich's chest. He hit the vampire's ribs, cursing. Knowing he needed to get it right, or else all could be lost, Harry tried again, driving the stake in from beneath the ribs, towards the vampire's heart.

He felt Rabinovich's msucles relax underneath him. Harry removed his stake from the heart, cleaning the blood on it off on his shirt.

"Bloody hell," Harry said. He got up off of Rabinovich, turning towards Ginny.

Ginny's face was ashen as she stared at Harry, eyes wide in fright. "Harry!" She warned. He felt something hit him, then, and he fell forward, face hitting the cold, hard stone floor.

"Fuck," Harry cursed, seeing stars.

He heard a scuffling and blearily looked over to see Ginny fighting with Rabinovich once again. Rabinovich looked weaker than he had before Harry had stabbed him through the heart, and Harry watched as Ginny was able to hold her own this time.

She bent forward and opened her mouth, light catching on her fangs as she bit into Rabinovich's neck. Harry winced at the sight, watching as Ginny tore into the vampire's neck, blood pouring from the wound. "Merlin, Ginny," Harry couldn't help but say.

Ginny turned to look at Harry, a look on her face that he'd never seen on anyone's face, save perhaps Fenrir Greyback's. It was a look of pure bloodlust, blank and hungry.

As she turned back towards Rabinovich's neck, Ginny placed her lips on him and drank deeply for a moment. She seemed to gain some sort of fortification from the older vampire's blood. Harry felt a vague sense of discomfort as he watched how much Ginny enjoyed herself as she drained Rabinovich. This is who she has to be, now, Harry reminded himself.

When Ginny finished her meal, she pulled Rabinovich's limp body upwards and grabbed him, one hand on his neck and the other on his head, giving a small twist.

"It's done," Ginny said, dropping Rabinovich's body onto the floor and jumping up. She wiped the blood running down from her chin on the sleeve of her blouse and smiled at Harry brightly, the creature within her that he'd seen only moments before gone entirely.

"Good," Harry said. "Let's go check on the others."

Ginny nodded and took Harry's hand into hers as she led him somewhere within the manor. Halfway through their trek, Ginny pulled him into an alcove and placed a searing kiss on his lips. Her body was tense and passionate as she pulled him to her, hands already wandering Harry's body. Harry moaned, unable to help the feeling of desire building within him at Ginny's touch.

"Fuck, Harry," Ginny groaned. "I want you so much."

"I want you too," he whispered hoarsely. "But I'm not sure we have the time…" Merlin, how he wished they had the time.

Ginny pouted against his lips and caressed his member through his trousers. Harry groaned again.

"Now, that's not playing fair," he chastised her, thinking of how he could just take her quickly…

"All's fair in love and war," Ginny grinned at him, still toying with his cock through his trousers, twirling her hair in her other hand.

Harry couldn't resist—he kissed her again heatedly, all other thought leaving his head as their lips met. He brought a hand to her bum for a moment, giving it a hard squeeze before he brought it around and caressed her clit through her own trousers.

"How's that feel?" he asked huskily.

Ginny gave a moan and Harry smiled darkly, enjoying the lust in her eyes as she looked up at him. He continued to rub her through her trousers as they kissed. Ginny began to fumble with the button on his trousers, undoing it after a few seconds and pulling his pants down with the trousers, freeing Harry's cock.

She latched her mouth onto him as soon as he was free, licking up the precum that had begun to leak from his tip. "Mm, I like how you taste," Ginny told him, eyes dark and smile wicked. Ginny took him completely into her mouth then, and when Harry felt his tip hit the back of her throat, he had to stop himself from cumming instantly.

He held back, somehow, Harry didn't know how, and pulled Ginny upwards, picking her up by her arse and placing her on the ledge against the window in the alcove. He kissed her neck, nipping at it before he made his way downwards, placing a soft kiss on her breast through her shirt and bra before gave yet another nip. Ginny moaned and wriggled her hips against the ledge beneath her. Harry traveled lower still, placing a kiss on her mound, and then her clit, through her trousers.

"Harry," Ginny whined.

"What's that?" Harry asked her, enjoying teasing her and seeing how much she needed him.

"Please," Ginny pleaded. "Please fuck me."

Harry didn't need another invitation. He unbuttoned her trousers and pulled them downwards—with her help as she pushed herself up to allow them past her bum—and off her legs, onto the stone floor somewhere behind them in the corridor. He pushed her knickers aside, soaking wet, to Harry's delight, and guided his cock into her opening.

He groaned as he entered her, feeling Ginny's velvety warmth all around him. He moved within her, thrusting in and out, a thumb rubbing her clit as he kissed her neck.

"Fuck, yes," Ginny murmured. She thrust back at him, his cock reaching new depths inside her.

Harry moaned. Ginny's hand found his arse and squeezed, nails digging into the skin on his backside. "Ginny," he groaned. "Feels—so—good," he said between thrusts.

Ginny nodded, pulling his face back towards her for another kiss. Merlin, she was so wet, Harry thought. She felt so good wrapped tightly around him, milking him for all he had—he was so close. He brought his thumb back to her clit, feeling her flutter around him as her legs began to squeeze and quiver around his waist.

Ginny's back arched, head hitting against the window behind her with a thunk.

Harry could no longer control himself. With a grunt, he came inside her, filling her.

"Merlin," Ginny said as she came down from her orgasm. "That was…"

"Bloody amazing," Harry finished for her, panting.

She nodded and kissed him. "Where did our trousers go?"

Harry chuckled, summoning their clothing. He performed freshening charms on each of them, remembering that Ginny could no longer do magic.

They put their clothes on quickly. As Harry was pulling his shirt over his head, he told Ginny, "We've really got to check on the others."

"I agree," she told him. "We shouldn't have taken that detour, but seeing you fight, and my own fight against Doru just made me so randy."

"You make me randy," Harry replied.

Ginny grinned. "Let's go, before we turn into hormonal teens all over again."

Harry nodded and they continued on where Ginny had been leading him before. They traveled down a set of stairs and in a large room, Harry saw that Ron, Hermione, and Neville were standing over a body.

"Glad to see you lot," Ginny told them.

Harry went over to Neville and gave his partner a gentle swat on the shoulder. "Everything alright, Longbottom?"

"Yeah," Neville answered. "But this whole thing will be a bloody mess to explain to Robards."

"Oh, fuck, you're right," Harry realized, imagining the look on the Head Auror's face as he explained the casualties and why they had gone in with three civilians and no Auror backup.

"Where's Rabinovich?" Hermione asked them.

"Dead," Ginny replied matter-of-factly. "Finished him off. He never would have allowed himself to go to Azkaban."

"Vampires who break the law don't go to Azkaban, Ginny," Hermione told her. "They get executed."

"What?" she asked.

"Yes, they're considered a drain on Ministry resources in the prison system," Hermione explained, a look of disgust on her face.

"Well, they do live basically forever," Ron said. "So, it's a lot of wasted tax money."

"Do we at least get a trial?" Ginny asked. She was sure that if her heart was working, it would be pounding inside her chest at this news.

"Yes," Hermione said. "But only because of recent legislation."

"Fucking hell," Ginny said. "I guess I'd better brush up on my new rights as a magical being, rather than a witch."

Hermione nodded. "The Ministry can be positively archaic."

"That helps," Ginny muttered lowly to herself. Harry was sure he was the only one who heard her, looking down at her in concern and placing a kiss on her crown.

"What happened with that other witch?" asked Ron.

"Morana?" Harry asked. "I knocked her out and sent her to the holding cells in the Ministry. Somebody will have gotten notification that a new prisoner had arrived and will be doing the processing, I imagine."

"What do we do now?" Ginny asked.

Harry looked down at her. "Clean up, head into the Ministry, and file an incident report. Then, we'll rest and start trying to find a way to turn you back into a human."

Ginny looked at him, amber eyes wide. "I can't imagine it's possible."

"It doesn't hurt to try," Harry shrugged. "After all, I've survived quite a lot of things that I shouldn't have."