"Paul!"

The rocker vampire yelped letting out a loud cackle before vaulting over the pristine fancy looking dark blue couch and in between Marko and Michael. Sam was hot on his heels, concentration marring his features. "Just try to catch me midget!"

"If you don't stop running you might find Holy Water in your shampoo again," Marko snickered.

Sam could be a vindictive little spitfire when you messed with his comics. David was actually pretty smug about that. Said something about 'of course his childe was vicious'.

Michael was busying himself with the TV, keeping an eye on the news for the Surrey explosion. The muggles, as the wizarding world called them, couldn't add much more than they already knew but Dwayne was adamant that they couldn't miss anything in case it was crucial.

Marko tsked at the pang of irritation not his own that rang in the back of his head. Dwayne had been pretty touchy the last few years about Daniel. The closer they all got the more frantic their brother became. They all felt it, of course. The frayed bond with him was still there, weak as a spider's thread and stretched so taut a feather could break it, but there. David had put it down to the magic the kid had had still trying to connect them even if they weren't technically packmates anymore. It was one of the reasons they were all so intent on getting the boy back. He was still theirs and the wizards had committed a grievous slight by taking him.

Which was actually a thing in their laws. Vampiric laws. That one particular law even wizards respected. As long as they could get Daniel back and prove he was theirs first, the wizards that took him could be submitted to the English councils for punishments. Not that it happened very often. Wizards were extremely prejudiced against any magical creatures or beings and they fought pretty hard to find any loophole to use against them to win in court. Or they 'sent' hunters. Whichever had a higher chance of the human magicals coming out on top. Fucking bastards.

Paul sped right in front of Marko, who stuck his foot out. The blonde tripped, sailing through the air, and careened into the stone brick wall across the room. The rocker groaned and Sam pounced, landing both feet square in the middle of the stoner's back. The kid swooped down, snatching his rolled Batman comic with a triumphant cry followed by a mini dance; still on Paul's back.

Michael snorted at Paul's mental tirade of curses. He side- eyed his two brothers with a grin. "You think you would have learned by now Paul."

Fuck off, Michael.

The blue eyed vampire snorted and nudged Marko with an elbow. "I think he likes it."

Marko howled with laughter at Sam's 'gross' and Paul's ever increasing vulgarity.

"Boys, can you ever not be children?"

Everyone, except Paul whose face was still smashed into the stone, turned to look at David who was smirking in the doorway.

Where's the fun in that, Paul whined. With a heave he launched himself backwards startling their, technically, youngest member into flight. It's not like I can addle my senses with drugs right now. Dwayne already chucked me in the ocean for letting Daniel slip through my fingers.

Dude, that was pretty harsh, Michael hummed. Marko agreed. The burns took all night (and several choice meals) to heal.

Sam scoffed, letting his feet touch back down on the floor. Even after 10 years, flying still unnerved the kid… even if he did it instinctually now. Poor Paul. Definitely didn't deserve it.

Bite me bitch, Paul snarled flashing his teeth at Sam's dripping sarcasm. The blonde shook out his mane of hair and sniffed before trotting over and plopping himself between Marko and Michael. They both grunted at him but moved over to make room.

David stalked into the room, an unlit cigarette between his lips. He'd more than once complained about not smoking in their mindspace but as the leader of their group he had the most rules to follow so they didn't insult their host. He swaggered to the couch, leaning his elbows and body weight on it, hands dropping on Marko's and Michael's head to mess with their hair. They both gave an indignant shout. Marko turned to bite at the gloved hand while the brunette slid off the couch to stand next to his little brother, jabbing his fingers into the boy's ribs with a smirk.

"Aw c'mon Mikey. Really?"

The kid danced out of reach before trying to turn the tables and failing. He got caught in a headlock instead.

"Yea really you twerp. Why you gotta cause trouble?"

"Me? Trouble? Mike, I wouldn't dare. David might eat me," he choked with a snigger.

David grinned, shark-like, with a teasing gleam in his eyes. "I think Paul is the one that needs to be eaten."

He leaned down to nip at the blonde's ear teasingly.

Sam groaned, trying to hid his face in his brother's arm and only succeeding in choking himself more. Marko howled along with Paul. As a pack they were closer and more physically intimate than most humans were comfortable with. Sam seemed to have carried that with him, along with his sense of empathy -which was rather strange- into his undead life. Made for really easy teasing, though.

Are we ready? Dwayne's voice rang through their heads like a solemn gong.

Marko frowned. Poor brother was really taking it hard. He hadn't been able to honestly join in on any fun within the last two years -too busy working his ass off every minute he spent awake-. Not since their host had found Daniel in the magical world.

Yea Dwayne, he responded. We'll get him back.

The native american appeared in the doorway, his orange eyes blazing. He flashed his teeth and looked to David. Their leader smirked and tipped his chin.

Tonight we hunt.

Ginny sighed at the news the twins brought. The Order was going out of their minds, their mother especially, with worry. They were running around like chickens with their heads cut off to try to find them.

"That's it?"

"That's everything-

"We know so far."

"Alright. Thanks, guys." She flopped onto the bed with another sigh. She really wished Ron and Hermione had taken her with them. This was the second time she was missing out on actually doing stuff. She wanted to help too dammit!

"Awww," Fred cooed, leaning over her.

"Is poor Gin Gin bored," George chuckled, smiling with way too many teeth.

"Don't even think about it," she grunted, kicking her leg out lazily. The twins dodged easily, snickering behind their hands.

"Of course, of course."

"Hey-"

"Isn't it getting dark-"

"Already? Where are-"

"The other two?"

"Out trying to secure us a new hotel room. They decided that the faster we moved the better. After you guys said you could come back to visit tonight they thought it might be best to split up for a night. Tomorrow I'll go over to where they are."

Which wasn't a bad plan but it still didn't make her feel better. If the vampires could track Hermione, wouldn't it be better if they were together? But no, she thought it was best to keep them away from Harry which… was smart. If they got their slimy claws on him it would be extremely difficult to get him back.

And, of course, Ron wouldn't leave his girlfriend so Ginny was stuck with Harry who was still Inferi like. Creepy, but boring.

"Hmm…" The twins glanced at each other. "Are you hungry?"

"I mean… a bit but I don't think I should trust any food coming from you guys," she snorted, smirking at the ceiling.

They grinned. "Fair. We're still going to get you some. There was a little noodle shop we saw earlier. We'll get some take away."

"Fine fine. I'll just lounge here and starve."

They both laughed before leaving. She glanced at the small clock on the nightstand.

6:13pm. The sun had already set.

She let out a huff of breath, sending a quick prayer to magic that Hermione and Ron would be safe. Manchester was a fair distance after all.

He stared at the door. Trapped. He knew but could hardly muddle through the heavy clouds mucking up his thoughts. There was a lock. He tried it but it didn't budge.

His head hurt, his lungs were tight, his fingers and mouth itched.

He was trapped and his throat was burning with needneedneedneed.

They were there too. After so long. He could feel them. So far. So close. He just needed to not be trapped.

His vision flickered, a flash of greenish gold appearing over the handle.

He was hungry, so hungry that his stomach was knotted and making him dizzy. So hungry that he felt he could dry heave the nothing right out of his belly. So hungry his throat ached and itched with every breath.

If he couldn't have what he needed, the smell so alluring and tempting on the other side of the door, then maybe he could try what was on the handle? It didn't smell, wasn't tempting, but still something in him cried at it. Longed for it. It was a small piece. Not enough. Never enough.

He leaned down, bloodshot dry eyes staring hard at the unpolished brass. Within a second he had chomped down on the flicker of light coating the handle. It struggled, stinging, burning, fighting but he didn't care.

It was his now.

He swallowed.

And, oh, what clarity of mind it gave him. The clouds swept away and he could finally feel the burning agony that encased his weak shell in its entirety. He was so hungry!

But more than that he could feel them again. They were so weak, so far from him but he remembered. He could call them just as he had before. More than anything he needed to be with them again. They could help him. They could fix him. He was never hungry with them.

With everything he had -not much because he was still so confused and hungry- he sent a plea, a tug, a cry for help.

Was that a tug back? He couldn't tell. He need to go, to be out there. To find them.

He tried the door again. It opened slowly and silently.

Ginny shivered, opening her eyes to the much darker room. She couldn't have been out that long surely? A quick, squinted glance at the clock proved she hadn't. It was only 6:42. But what had startled her awake?

With a groan she stretched her arms and sat up. There was nothing in the room that looked suspicious. Hm. Maybe all the stress was starting to get her. Or the boredom. She did get twitchy when she was bored.

She glanced at the door wondering why it was taking so long for her brothers to get back.

Wait… Was the bathroom door open?

The witch shot to her feet, a strong feeling of dread and apprehension slithering down her back leaving goose pimples in its wake. Her eyes looked around frantically as she spun on the spot looking for Harry. Even as well adjusted as her eyes were, she saw nothing. There was no Potter hiding in the shadowed corner. No pale skin standing out starkly in the darkness.

With a gulp, she looked to the only place he could still be if he hadn't left.

"Harry," she called out nervously. "Are you still in the bathroom?"

With quiet steps and panting breaths she went around the bed and crouched next to her bag under the bed and slowly pulled it out. Her wand was in its holster that the twins had given her tied to the outside of the bag for easy access. She snatched it up quickly and jerked to a standing position at a soft snuffling sound. Standing only two yards away was Harry and, dear Merlin, did he look terrible. If she'd thought he looked bad before, after his magic episodes, that had nothing on how horrendous he could look.

His cheeks were gaunt as if he'd been starving his entire life -not entirely inaccurate if she thought about how he looked after he came back from the Dursley's every summer-, his eyes were half lidded and dull and so dark that she couldn't make out anything without more light. The eyes bags were prominent and his head and body were hunched in such a way that he looked like a beaten dog. Merlin, she was almost afraid to see what he'd look like when she could clearly make out his features.

"Harry? It's me Ginny."

The silence was slightly unnerving and she couldn't help but think back on Ron's warning and the crying from the bathroom last night.

"Harry, I'm going to open the curtains, okay?"

Whether or not he heard her, he made no move to acknowledge the words. Slightly emboldened, the redhead shuffled awkwardly over to the window. Inch by inch she peeled them back, keeping an eye on her friend and crush. She needed to be careful. She knew that. She knew that.

So when she glanced away, startling at a noise from outside, she had enough sense about her to kick Harry in the nads when he jumped her. He moved extremely quickly, backing away with a pained hiss. He stared at her, a sliver of moonlight alighting on his face showing the sickly pallor of his skin and the absolutely feral look in his eyes as he bared sharpened teeth.

It suddenly hit her like a rampaging Hippogriff. Harry, her wonderful, fun, sarcastic Harry was in the process of changing. Much too quickly than should be normal but still transforming. Ginny had hoped that everything they'd said had been… not a lie but speculation. Something that would be wrong and the brunette would be okay and they could go back to forming their own little faction in the war. It hit her and it hit her hard.

Her knees shook, sobs stole her breath away, but still she kept her wand in hand tightly held. So tightly it was starting to creak and leave painful grooves without actually piercing her flesh.

"Don't you dare, Harry Potter," she snarled. "Don't you dare try that again. I will bat-bogey your face so hard you'll be crying for months."

Harry tilted his head like a curious animal before lifting his hand and licking his nails paying her almost no mind.

What?

He moaned his body nearly sagging before his head snapped up and she was faced with the full hunger of a half turned vampire. The face of a predator staring down a mightily delicious prey. The features of his face were more angular and his eyes were a deep orange ringed in red.

Oh. Oh no. She recognized those eyes from a DADA lesson in second year. Of the multiple types of vampires these ones were the most immune to magics. Only the weird muggle religious stuff could off them. They had a lot of weaknesses she just needed to remember them to exploit them. Except she was having trouble trying to remember anything over her panic and pounding heart as he lunged again.

She screeched in fright throwing herself onto the bed to roll away. It was a painfully awkward landing on the floor but she hopped up and shoved herself against the wall. Now there was a bed between her and him and Ginny was closer to the door. And, Merlin, if she ran would he chase her or try to go after a helpless muggle? Shit, she couldn't let him outside of the room.

Harry growled at her, going into a half crouch with his fingers curled as if they had claws. He lunged.

"Confringo!"

Then he hit the back wall with an ear rending screech and a painful thud before sliding to the ground. Ginny gulped pushing herself off the wall, wand hand trembling with the rest of her. She… she needed to get him back in the bathroom. How in the world had he even gotten out? The redhead doubted that the locking charm had worn off.

She was by the end of the bed when the doorknob rattled before the piece of wood was almost torn off its hinges. George and Fred almost got their faces blasted off by their younger sister when they stormed in.

"Ginny, are you alright!?"

"What happened!?"

"I-I…"

Her mouth wouldn't cooperate and she almost drowned in the sense of relief. It didn't last very long.

Fred stared in horror as his sister was tackled from behind -oh bloody hell was the bathroom door open!?- and sent sprawling. Her choked scream was absolutely chilling but it spurred him and George into action. He lunged forward his fingers hooking through the messy knotted locks on Harry's head with one hand, the other going to restrain an entire arm by yanking it back. George went for the mouth.

Fred could absolutely not jerk back for fear of mangling his sister's neck but if Harry wasn't pulled off he would easily be able to drain her.

"Fuck, Harry we love you but LET. GO!"

George grunted in frustration his hands going back to his fallen wand as he brought it up with a determined fierceness. "Lumos Solem."

Harry let go with a screech and Fred was able to wrestle the boy down to the floor. The halfling bucked, skin smoking, and Fred tsked, tightening his precarious hold. At least his five years as a beater were good for something, right?

"How is she," he demanded.

"I'm fine," Ginny croaked in response her voice cracking dangerously.

George scoffed loudly. "You are not. Now be quiet."

There was a few moments of silence, the only noise being Harry's struggles and Fred's grunts. Then George was standing next to him with a grim face. He lifted his wand, carefully pointing it at Harry's eyes and cast a Stupefy. The brunette slumped, eyes glassy and green again. Fred let out a breath of relief and turned his attention to Ginny.

Her face was streaked with tears and there was a bandage around her neck with a few spots of red. Her eyes carried a fierce determination, though. So that was good. At least she wasn't as traumatized as second year.

"Come on, Fred. I'll grab his legs, you get his torso. Let's put him back in the tub."

They both dropped him, only slightly carefully, back into the bathroom before reapplying the locking charm. Then he turned to the front door and poked his head out making sure no curious or concerned muggles were around before repairing it.

"That was ridiculous," Fred groused as he worked. "What happened to the previous charm?"

Ginny shuffled over bumping his shoulder and he gave a weak smile in return. Shit. He'd almost lost his sister. His hand fumbled with his wand, the smooth wood almost falling to the floor. He barely finished the spell before the world got heavier and his limbs felt leaden, head heavy and staticy. What if they'd been too late? His heartbeat was louder and painful. What if they'd come back to a fully turned vampire, his little sister drained and pale and lifeless on the floor? His fingers clenched, nails digging into his palms as the brown wood creaked ominously. Would he have had the heart to kill his adopted brother? Their fun sassy little partner in crime? The last legacy of the Marauders and Sirius Black? One of the few who could actually tell them apart?

A hand on his arm startled him and he turned to stare at his own face. Then he realized his face was wet and hot and his jaw ached from clenching his teeth. George patted his forearm lightly and took his hand to lead him over to the bed. Ginny followed, pulling them both into a hug as they sat on the bed.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have fallen asleep."

George snorted and Fred knew that he was a lot less put together on the inside than he looked. His twin was the more compassionate, the gentler one, but also the more composed. Fred had always been more passionate, more showy and filled with a heat that could sometimes consume him. George was his soothing water and he, his brother's igniting fire.

"We won't say it's fine, because it's not but we are glad you're alright," they chorused.

They both moved their hands up to ruffle her hair. She grunted but didn't move, brown eyes twinkling back at them. The bandage, a cruel reminder, shined a bright white in the small amount of moonlight coming from the window.

Sam shuffled up the stairs, anticipation making his fangs itch in his mouth. They always did when he was on a hunt. Though, this time it was a little different, more of a search and rescue, just like some of the superheroes in his comics. They'd be saving a little boy lost to time. One of their own cruelly ripped away from them. He couldn't wait.

He barely knew Daniel then. He'd only just been turned and he didn't have the same connection the other guys felt since he was David's and not Max's. But… he'd been around the pack long enough to feel the echo of something missing. It was an aching chasm and if it felt like that to him then he could hardly imagine how it felt to the rest. He was so ready to bring back one of their own and fix the gnawing pain that they all felt.

Oh. He smelled blood. Strong and thick, recently spilled.

His eyes flickered in his excitement and his lips kept tugging up at the corners. He pushed open the stairwell door and the tempting scent grew even stronger. Closer and closer and closer and closer.

212.

He stared at the door hungrily. There was a lingering smell of burnt sugar in the air signifying some sort of magic. Why was it always sweet? He liked sweets but magic was just nose curdling and it put him off his dessert more than once, which was annoying. But the irony tang of blood covered most of it, made it almost pleasant.

He really hoped there was more blood spilt tonight.

Found the room.

The feeling of his Sire inside of his mind was strange. Hard to explain. It felt maybe like sentient smoke wrapping around him, filling him, possessing him. But there was no control there, not without an order. It was just David seeing through his eyes, hearing through his ears, and smelling through his nose. Like someone else was there beside him, silent company, unseen and unheard. A comfort now unlike the very beginning when he'd freaked out more times than he could count. Transitioning was not the easiest for Sam, unfortunately.

Good job, Sam. You know what do. We need two minutes before crashing the party.

On it, he replied with glee.

AN: And the plot rolls forward! The Weasleys are in danger and Ron and Hermione are out and about. And more Vampire goodness!

I can't wait for things to finally go down! Tell me what ya'll think?