Disclaimer: I have never used the last name Rowling, so I don't own Hp, or SS, or DM…it's not fair!
A/N: Well, as you can see, this story is moving right along. I would say that we are coming into the final section of this tale. In other words, there are still more chapters to come, but we are getting to the final stretch.
In some sense, Draco was sad to be leaving Snape Manor. Granted, when he had first arrived, he hated the place- simply because it belonged to his father. But after spending a bit of time there, he had come to think of it as home. And now, he had to go back to the place that had caused most of the messes in the first place.
Part of him did not fault Potter. It wasn't like the kid had ever known the security of a wizarding family, just ignorant muggles. So, it was hard to place blame on the kid when he was never taught how to act properly. On the other hand, Potter had been at Hogwarts for the last 6 years, so he had had time to learn from others.
But Draco had to remind himself, Potter was a bloody Gryffindor after all.
In some sense, he still felt unease when he remembered that his father had crossed Potter first. Somehow, that in itself should not have made him feel slighted, but it always seemed that Potter got everything because he was "the Boy Who Refused to Die", while he was stuck having to take second best.
Draco looked around the room he had inhabited for the last month with a certain fondness. He really did hate to leave it behind.
Draco was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he never heard his father enter the room.
"Draco? Is everything alright?" Severus asked his son with concern.
Draco jumped at the sound of his father's voice. "Yes…I'm fine."
"Are you positive?"
"Yes, sir. I suppose that I just hate to leave."
Severus laughed. "And to think I always did everything I could to get out of this place. Draco, things will be different now. Besides, where do you think you will be spending the holidays?"
Draco smiled. "If that's the case, then I'm done here I think."
"Don't forget your cloak. I believe it has started to snow." Severus quietly walked out of the room.
Hermione stretched when she woke the following morning. Today, she would confront Harry. She had let him get by without answering questions for entirely too long.
After dressing, she slipping into the common room, hoping to find him there, but he was no where to be found. She then went to his dorm, to find the place deserted. Had she overslept by that much of a difference?
She turned to the clock on the mantle of the fireplace in the common room. 11:30! She had overslept by at least 2 hours. She ran down to the Great Hall as fast as her legs would carry her.
Once her eyes set upon Harry, she knew that she was in for it. The mischevious glint in his eye had finally returned, and for the time being at least, there was nothing that she could do about it.
She stealthly walked to the table and sat down beside her friend. "Hi Harry." She said quietly.
"Well, I never thought I would live to see the day that you would outsleep half the student body. Long night, Hermione?"
"Harry, don't be so droll. Besides, I spent the night entertaining that crazed acquaintance of yours."
Harry's eyes widened in shock. "You didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Spend time with Erasmus unaccompanied. He isn't someone you want to mess around with, Hermione."
"Harry, please. He was nothing but a gentleman. At least I don't think he did anything untoward. But I did feel rather tired after speaking with him."
"Hermione, do me a favor. Don't spend time with him alone. He's not right in the head, and well, he forcibly made Draco a vampire didn't he?"
"What?" Hermione gasped.
"Oh, um…forget I said it."
"Harold James Potter! I will not forget it. You've been keeping things from me!" Hermione grabbed Harry by the arm and drug him towards the Room of Requirement.
"What about lunch?" Harry asked exasperatedly.
"It serves you right to do without. You've got some things to answer for."
Harry knew his goose was cooked. It was all over now. He would be spending at least the better part of the day trapped in a room by his "entirely too curious for her own good" friend.
Draco walked seamlessly from the wall in his father's chambers. Being a vampire did have its advantages.
"Master Erasmus?" Severus called from behind his son.
Erasmus appeared from the bedchamber. "Ahh, my boy. You have finally returned. But alas, I do not think I am ready to give your classes back. It's been most fun."
Severus laughed. "Only you would find first year Gryffindors amuzing."
Erasmus returned the smile and then turned and set his eyes on Draco. "Are you ready to behave now?"
Draco glared at the elder vampire. "I believe that I accomplished what I needed to, nothing more."
Erasmus smiled gleefully. "Well then, I can feel comfortable giving Severus back his classes. My time will now be spent training you."
"Training me for what?" Draco asked cautiously.
"To rule."
'Hermione. How many times do I have to repeat myself? No, I don't know why whatever Erasmus was trying to do didn't work. I will probably have to ask Snape. No more, Hermione. I'm tired. I'm hungry, and if you don't want me taking a chunk out of your left side, I suggest you let me get something to eat."
Hermione would not have been disturbed, except for the fact that Harry's eyes were beginning to glow red.
"Alright, Harry. I'll stop. Just remember, I care, alright?"
"Hermione. Don't worry. After today, I don't think I would ever doubt your caring capability. Come on. I think I could eat a Hippogriff."
Hermione laughed and followed Harry to the Great Hall. Perhaps it didn't matter what sort of creature a teenage boy was. They all seemed to act the same.
Voldemort smiled at the injured vampire chained to the floor. It had taken some time to find one so weak, but it would have its purpose soon enough. Luckily, he was able to buy this rat of a vampire from its master for a reasonable price. The creature should feel honored. Becuase of it, the wizarding world was going to take on a new greatness. And to think, all he needed was the blood of a vampire taken forcefully, combined with a small quantity of unicorn blood and the hair from one lycanthrope, and he would achieve a status of immortality the modern wizarding world had never seen.
It was all so perfect, so despicable. For a small moment, he had felt a sense of fear when he learned that the boy was no longer human. But that passed rather quickly when he remembered the old archaic text that had been left in the rubble of his mother's home. Oh, yes. The line of Slytherin had its important skeletons.
Yes, he now had the ability to fight the Potter brat. If things went accordingly to plan, he would be ready with the coming of the next full moon. He knew that the transformation would be painful, but he was used to pain. Pain tended to make one clear. Pain tended to preserve.
Maybe he wouldn't have to kill the brat. It would be nice to have a pet around to lick his boots. And a mere boy would be so easy to break. Yes, the time for his power to rule the wizarding world was coming close. He could taste it.