Chapter 24 Methods of Escape

In the 8th year girls dormitory a certain brunette known for her voluminous curls was already stirring, having been up nearly an hour now, mind abuzz with the mystery of the professor. Forgoing any further sleep she was up now, headed to the common room to consult her books some more and wait for Harry.

As it would turn out, she didn't have to wait long because a bleary-eyed Harry stumbled into the common room a short while later, unable to get back to sleep after his terrifying realization.

"Oh good, you're awake." They spoke in unison.

"I'm glad you're up," Hermione continued, "I think I have an idea about what Albatross might be after."

Before she could continued, however, Harry broke back in. "There's more than that Hermione. I think... I... I think that Draco has been having some kind of a... relationship with him." Harry blurted out, unsure how she would react to his revelation. Much to his surprise, however, she said nothing, a solemn look on her face.

"You knew! You knew this whole time didn't you! Why in Merlin's name didn't you say anything Hermoine. He could be in serious danger!" Harry shouted, blowing up at his companion's silence.

"I didn't know for sure!" She countered guiltily, "Since when do you care what happens to him anyway, you guys have done nothing but fight since first year!" she added, trying to alleviate her conscience though she knew it was a low-blow.

"Blimey, he's still human! No one deserves to be some vampire's sex toy!" Harry hissed realizing too late what he'd said.

"Sex toy? What are you talking about Harry. I mean, I suspected he'd manipulated Draco somehow to get the blood, but I thought he'd just promised him power or eternal life or something equally foolish." Hermione spoke quickly, concern and guilt multiplying exponentially. "Cards on the table, I'll tell you what I know if you explain what you mean."

"Fine, but you first." Harry said looking around the common room. "And maybe we should find someplace more private to talk."

xxx

A short while later, in a back section of the Library, Harry was finishing his recount of the events at the Shrieking Shack and the epiphany of his dream; and though they'd agreed they'd hold nothing back this time, Harry still omitted the part about his arousal and subsequent relieving of said arousal deciding ultimately it was not pertinent to the discussion and would only further distract them from the matter at hand.

"I see," Hermione said gravely, . "This just means more bad news. If Draco is involved with him as intimately as you say it will only put more obstacles in our path." she went on, noticing Harry divert his eyes when she spoke the words "Draco" and "intimate", a coy blush inching up his face. "As I said this earlier this morning, I think I've figured out what he is up to, and let me tell you, it's bad."

Harry said nothing, only looked at his friend to continue.

"I can't be 100% certain but if I am right then that raises a whole bunch of other serious concerns. First of all, I don't know how much you had a chance to read on the Lamia but apparently they need a potion to go out in the daylight. It's rather difficult to come by because it has to be brewed by a wizard. Now obviously a wizard is not going to brew a potion to help a vampire, however, it is quite rare but occasionally a wizard can be turned into a vampire. You see most vampires were formerly humans, a vampire can attempt to turn a wizard, but in most cases the wizard dies. The magic is generally thought to be incompatible between the two. But in rare circumstances, the wizard does survive and becomes a sort of hybrid of the two, taking on characteristics of both. Our Professor Albatross is one of these.

Aside from it's difficulty to acquire, the potion has other drawbacks too. It only last 12 hours. It'll will take the user through a day generally but you'll need to re administer it the next day. It doesn't work well in the long term as a practical solution. There's another issue with it too. During the war between wizards and vampires the wizard learned of their so called sun potion and developed a counter potion that can be administered topically." At Harry's slight twitch of confusion Hermione added, "through the skin. The counter potion is also very easy to brew, in sharp contrast to the sun potion. Once wizards figured this out they would just splash the counter potion on them and leave them to the mercy of the sun. It was one of the ways they were able to get the upper hand in the war. When they were at their weakest, a group of wizards broke into one of their main conclaves and stole the famed Book of the Crimson Heritage. This was allegedly the oldest tome the vampires kept, said to contain numerous dark spells and rituals used by the vampires, including not just the recipe for the sun potion, but a far darker, far more powerful ritual. One that would let a vampire live in the light. Permanently. For years the vampires searched, trying to get it back, but part of the problem was that no one could say for sure who were the ones who took it or where they'd stashed it. I was able to find all of this out from the usual books, but it wasn't until I found this exert," Hermione said, pointing to a small line on one of the open books, "that I realized that this was our little thief's true target. The art is valuable, sure, but not enough for a vampire to risk his life coming here. But this, well just read it! If this person was right, and the founders were actually responsible for taking it from the vampires, that that means it was likely here all along. Right under everyone's nose!" She finished her rant excitedly.

Harry's face darkened. "But Hermione, didn't we just hear when we were in the Restricted Section, the book's been stolen from the library! They already have it, we're too late!"

"Almost, but not quite. There's a athame. Said to be anointed in the oldest vampires blood and bound to the Book of Crimson Heritage. They wouldn't be able to preform the day walking ritual without it."

"That must be why he's still here," Harry reasoned. "It must be somewhere in this castle as well!"

"Yes exactly!" Hermiones exclaimed. "There is still one thing that bothers me though."

"What is that?" Harry asked, eyes trained on the brunette.

"How did he find out they were here in the first place?" Hermione mused.

Harry again said nothing, only stared at the floor mind filled with more questions and still no answer.

xxx

Draco sat, alone and a wreck, outside the castle, nestled against his favorite tree. It was Saturday, so he did not have classes, and thus was free to rot as he preferred. Things have grown increasingly difficult for him to deal with recently, after the violent attack from his professor some kids from another class thought it would be quite funny to hex him repeatedly, escalating his humiliation and inadvertently aggravating his still sore injuries. Of course there were the endless death stares and angry words that rand too true for Draco to be able to deal with. He was safe here, at his tree, but for how long? How long until someone found him and reminded him of what a worthless piece of trash he was? Perhaps it was time to consider a more permanent solution...

A voice drew Draco from his deep trance, though the words could not be made out as he snapped back to reality.

"Huh?" Draco grunted looking up lazily to see who had come to have their fun with him. To his surprise it was a gentle looking Adrian, coming over to sit near him in the grass. Involuntarily the blonde felt himself shudder and Adrian moved to push Draco's hair from his face.

"Relax love," Adrain purred, turning on his charm. "I am not going to hurt you again, love. I just care about you, too much." Adrian reached for him again, this time grabbing him firmly, pulling the boys petite frame up tight against his. Stroking his flaxen hair his whispered softly in the subdued boys ear, "Shhh, my pet. You won't have to suffer here much longer. I'm going to take you away from here, where I will take care of you and you will be mine forever. No one can care for you like I do. No one else will ever understand you like I do. I know what you need. Only I can give it to you. You will come with me, wont you." He finished, his questions sounding more like a statement. Though Draco knew he shouldn't he found himself nodding in silent agreement.

"Good boy, I will take good care of you. But there's one more thing I need to take care of before we go. You will meet me here again, after night falls. 10 o clock tonight. You will be here, and we will leave behind these people who hurt my precious love." He whispered emphasizing the last word in Draco's ear, making him shudder again, this time wantonly. He knew it was wrong, he knew something was wrong, but somehow he just couldn't bring himself to care as he watched the tall, gorgeous man disappear from sight.