It was one of those rare days in Care of Magical Creatures when we were confined to a classroom. I couldn't be more excited, I was sitting in the front row and practically bouncing in my seat while the more level headed students had chosen seats near the back. It was the day I had been waiting for. The day we got to meet the vampire.
Professor Banks, a stout, frizzy haired, sweet woman walked up to the front of the class. Goodness, even she looked nervous. I was starting to wonder if my own reaction was slightly demented. Vampires weren't (supposed to be) feared. The Ministry had classified them as "beings" and they aren't generally regarded as a threat to the wizarding community.
I had done my reading, see. I had also read though, about the countless intolerants that were giving the rest of us wizards a bad name. The try to get laws passed against the vampires, some demented self-righteous people even hunt them. Official treatment is laid out in "Guidelines for the treatment of Non-Wizard Part Humans." The book was ancient and did not really represent us wizards well.
Professor Banks began her lesson.
"As you know class, I have been promising for some time for you to meet a vampire in class. I'm, er, happy to announce that day will be today. I will make sure your silkworms are okay."
"Oh thank goodness." Someone quipped from the back, "I mean, we're meeting a vampire, but I was totally worrying about the silkworms."
"As you know if you've done the reading I assigned," The Professor continued as if she hadn't heard, "It has been determined that vampires do not pose a threat to the wizarding community. They need human blood to survive, and wizard blood is an especially powerful lure, but there are creative ways the vampire community has come up with so no one is harmed. Can anyone name one?"
There was silence, I put my hand up.
"Blood drives in the muggle and wizarding worlds?" I offered tentatively.
"Very good, anyone else?"
A Ravenclaw behind me put up his hand.
"Yes Derek?"
"Sometimes they develop relationships with consenting persons, otherwise known as bleeders, who donate personally."
"Yes, yes."
"Sometimes they just attack people," Mumbled a Slytherin from the back row.
Again, Professor Banks acted as if she hadn't heard, choosing to up her own volume rather than confronting the student.
"The vampire we're meeting today lives on a unique commune in Transylvania. She lives with a group of vampires, humans and wizards who all rely on each other. Everyone helps harvest food for the humans and wizards—all homegrown, the humans and wizards donate blood to the vampires, and the wizards study both."
Hmm, a she vampire. I had kind of assumed it would be a he. I don't quite know why.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce Sheia, the vampire." From Professor Banks' office there came an incredibly graceful, incredibly pale woman, probably in her early twenties. The wisecrackers said nothing; she was beautiful, like a Veela. She had long blonde hair which spilled over her shoulders in a straight, gleaming river. Her eyes were dark, and her cheeks sunken, and I could help but to think she looked hungry.
The woman began to speak.
"Hello, as your Professor said, I am Sheia. I am a vampire, and have been alive for one hundred and twelve years. I completed the blood exchange and my transformation in Paris, with my sire Leuis. We have been together ever since he changed me. We began the compound on which we now live, in tune with humans, nature, and our way of life."
I knew about the blood exchange. It was how you became a vampire. They drank some of your blood, you drank some of theirs, thus binding you forever. It was like an infection, and it stopped your heart, effectively killing you, until you awoke two days later. Your veins coursing with vampire blood, your cravings switched from chocolate, to human blood.
I also knew about vampire looks. This, vampires, was one subject that truly interested me, and I knew a lot about it. When something was interesting, it just stuck. If not, then, well, it didn't. Vampires were often beautiful, not because of some magical effect of vampire blood, but for a much more obvious reason. Vampires are often changed by someone who will be their life mate; they will be forever bonded in blood. If you're looking for a mate, and you can offer them eternal life, you often go for someone incredibly physically attractive. You have to get through decades without the passion dying, after all. Vampires also change sometimes to create, they cannot have children, and sometimes they wish they could.
"Does anyone have any questions for Sheia?" Banks asked. Most of us were dumbstruck, partially because she sounded a bit like a muggle hippy. I looked at her again. Her clothes, a long simple dress, looked homemade.
"Have you ever killed anyone?" Someone asked finally.
"Yes," Sheia turned her sad eyes around the room, "I was not always enlightened about our way of life. There was a period of time were I left Leuis. I was out of control. He found me, and saved me from myself."
"How does blood taste?" Someone else squeaked.
"It's tastes," She sighed, "unimaginable. A little different from person to person. Mostly rich, slightly salting, as addicting as alcohol."
I wanted to ask what she thought of the ministry's policies towards vampires, but… Oh what the heck. I put up my hand and asked.
"I think that they are somewhat unfair. I feel that people are uneducated about us, and intolerance is built on a lack of understanding. I also feel that there should be some effort to organize the vampires, to educate us about ourselves. We are so scattered that many different philosophies have taken root. I am worried where some of them may lead."
A very wise answer. I suppose that one had to accumulate at least some wisdom after living for one hundred and twelve years.
The questions continued for a few minutes, more personal than educational, but Sheia didn't seem to mind. Finally, Professor Banks cut in.
"Now class, before we run out of time, I have been asked to bring something up." I looked at the clock, there was a good twenty minutes left. Professor Banks fidgeted. "Sheia is used to taking blood, er, feeding, er…" She cleared her throat, "From a live human donor. Since she has so kindly agreed to come visit Hogwarts, it would be nice if we could have a few volunteers to, that is, to tide her over until she returns to her home."
I raised an eyebrow. I had never read anything about how vampire bites felt to humans.
"She will only take a pint of blood from any one donor. Not a large sum. Just make sure to keep hydrated and well fed after you have donated. I would not ask you unless I was sure you would be safe."
"How does it feel?" I blurted, "To, um, be bitten."
"Well," Sheia smiled, "We vampires are no wizards, but we have a little magic of our own. We can make it feel…however we like."
I shrugged, I knew even if she had said it was going to be more painful that childbirth that I just had to try it.
"Bite me." I said, grinning. She grinned back, looking a little relieved that she would be fed.
"As you wish."
"Oh, now, now Jen, why don't you just come up here, sit in my chair, there. Now everyone can see you." I almost laughed. Gee thanks, Professor Banks, I feel so much more comfortable now.
Sheia brushed my hair back from my neck and leaned over me,
"You're sure?" She asked, "I will not take your gift of blood if you do not want to give it."
"I'm sure."
I flinched a bit as her fangs extended, piercing my neck and finding my vein. Ouch! Magic my ass. But then the blood started to flow, and everything felt better. I rolled my head back, my body feeling vaguely like I was floating.
I giggled, the whole situation now seemed seriously funny. I was being bitten by a vampire. Haha ha ha… This continued for a few minutes and then, abruptly, it was over.
Sheia touched my neck twice, sealing my wounds. She said she could erase the marks completely, but I asked for scars. She smiled, and left them there.
-
"Jen, you are insane," Jeremy said, fingering my scars. I was sitting with him and Alice on the lawn, supposedly studying, and I was feeling pretty darn awesome.
"I know." I said proudly, "How many other people can say they've been bitten by a vampire?"
"Derek and Harem," Alice put in, bursting my bubble just a teeny bit. I thought of the curious Ravenclawn and stuttering Hufflepuff who had volunteered to go after me. Thus providing Sheia with three pints of blood, a sum, she assured us, was perfectly adequate.
"Yeah I guess. But it did it first."
"An insane ten year old." Jeremy laughed. The right corner of my mouth twitched up.
"I guess that might be accurate."
I turned my head at the sound of movement, and Kim ran up to us, flushed with excitement.
"You're going to love this Jen," She pronounced, gasping, "Lily Evans is a total and complete genius."
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A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! You'll see more of Remus soon!