Chapter 4: A Necessity for Caution
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A/N: Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying it! If so or if not, please tell me what I could do better, fix or improve on! Or write more of! So, PLEASE REVIEW! I'm sure if someone suggested something exciting I could cater more to your whims, so please share your thoughts. It would be much appreciated for the writing process…
"Madame Pince, would you be able to tell me where I could find books on vampire legilimency?" Ginny asked the ancient looking, yet still stern librarian.
The woman looked puzzled at the question, "I am afraid that there are few good resources on legilimency, let alone vampire legilimency. I have never heard of such a study."
Ginny made herself look surprised, "Oh, but I could have sworn Professor Snape mentioned something of the sort when he was filling in for Professor Lupin a few years back." She was rather proud of the quick lie she had formulated.
The woman shrugged. "Well, if it is the case, perhaps… yes, perhaps you may want to ask Professor Snape to grant you permission to use the Forbidden Books, however I, in your place, would ask myself if this line of research is worth the risk." The woman finished and stalked away.
Ginny frowned. Well, this wasn't a good start. How could it be possible that no-one ever noticed their knack at reading minds? She made her way to where the books on occlumency were stored. She would study them in an attempt to keep him out. There was nothing else she could do.
"Oh, here she is Professor."
"Thank-you, Irma."
Ginny hardly paid attention to the conversation near her thinking it was not, in fact, about her until she sensed someone's approach.
"Miss Weasley, Madame Pince just informed me of your query into the very curious subject of vampire legilimency."
Ginny gaped; she had not intended this to happen. "Well, y-yes, Professor Snape."
The greasy man looked at her suspiciously. She broke eye contact quickly, fearing the worst. Harry had told her of his Occlumency lessons with Snape and she had plenty to hide. She tried to smile. "Yes, yes, indeed I have been researching vampires for quite some years now and in the process, getting to know this library very well."
He looked at her unimpressed, "Glad to hear of your," he cleared his throat, "scholarly enthusiasm. May I ask why this peculiar topic?"
She suddenly was hit with a very uneasy feeling about his question. It was more layered and important than it seemed. Her eyes narrowed, "Well, Professor Slughorn held one of his famous party's in my fourth year and I happened to meet the vampire Sanguini and I was just fascinated. I'm sure you could understand such a fascination."
His eyebrows rose a little questioningly but he accepted the answer. He peered at her from the corner of his eye, however, as he searched for a book, explaining that he would consider granting her permission to further this pursuit in the Forbidden Section, but until them she should look into these books. He named a few books Ginny had already read and left her, his cloak billowing behind him in his usual fashion. As unattractive and peculiar as he was, Ginny suspected he had a secret flare for the dramatics when he walked.
There are certain things in life that one just cannot omit or avoid doing. These things generally were: eating, sleeping, falling in love, homework for students and, in Ginny's case, giving up a portion of her blood to a vampire once a week or so. It was an odd routine to acquire, even for a witch. Strange enough, it wasn't as terrible as one could think. The months she had already endured were shocking enough. Ginny rather looked forward to it even, only because she could finally speak to someone of some higher form of intelligence. With Hermione gone, she really had to go out of her way to bump into her Ravenclaw acquaintances and they were beginning to be suspicious of her desperation to spend time with them. Luna was always a welcome visitor, however, her intellect was one of a kind and therefore, was not satisfying in the way Ginny needed. Ginny, upon realizing her rather cramped situation, took it upon herself to be-friend Amadeus. He had his imposing moments and insensitive comments, but she had all the confidence there was a lot more to him than he let on.
One evening in the requirement room, where Ginny had began studying avidly in the late evenings in order to avoid people in case Amadeus decided to pop in, he did just that.
"Another book Ginevra?"
She jumped in her seat from fright. "Must you always do that? How do you do that?" she eyed him curiously. She had a theory that his ability of getting around Hogwarts had to do with shadows for he always seemed to come out of them or hide in them and successfully unnoticed too.
"That is a bed-time story for another night," he replied and slid down the couch to sit beside her.
She scowled, "How patronizing of you."
"I know you enjoy it so much that I feel obligated to be so." He examined the little stack of books on the antique coffee table in front of her. "Hm. Now, why are you researching the Ministry Laws of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures? It doesn't have to do with me, does it?"
"It does."
He frowned, "Why are you looking into it?"
"Because I am curious." She smiled.
"Then why don't you simply ask me, if you seek the truth that is."
"I do seek the truth and want to ask you. Clearly, you have a beef with them, and from my research you have every right to be. However, I believe there's been a lot of erasing and editing in my books and I have been meaning to ask you, but," she paused succumbing to shyness, "I haven't had the courage."
Amadeus peered at her inquisitively. The small voice she finished with and her uncomfortable shifting in her seat all pointed to some timidity. Female humans were bizarre, to be sure. Perhaps she merely thought it would be a sore subject to him; she couldn't be more right. Normally, he wouldn't spend so much time with a human, even if she was his Blood Source, but Ginevra seemed to soothe his restlessness as much as his hunger. Such a young girl with such a large and complex personality; sometimes he questioned his choice in her. It didn't matter; she was submissive to his cravings and pleasant most of the time. She was the most convenient Blood Source he ever had. "I suppose I should take your fear as a compliment," he mused nonchalantly while Ginny scowled again, "but I shall tell you what I know, nonetheless." He paused and slipped the book presently in Ginny's palms out and placed it onto the table, ensuring her attention solely on him. She grinned in understanding; he ignored it.
"My kind have been hunted and massacred since the beginning of human civilization. We are kindred to you in a certain sense, you see. But, we've been destroyed time and time again to thin our blood lines to the point where only few resemble humans in appearance or nature. I can still pass as one, while the majority of vampires can no longer." Amadeus explained to her in an uncharacteristically sad tone. It stunned her for she realized that she finally saw the man behind the shadow.
"I hardly knew." She paused pensively, "But, it seems most beings considered as magical creatures by the Ministry are just as intelligent and capable as wizards and witches, I really do not understand all this oppression…" her voice trailed off thoughtfully.
"Neither do I. And then there's the fact that when we are caught, we are either imprisoned to devour each other, as you know, or we are enslaved and used as servants or luxury purchases to show off. The hunters themselves are ruthless. I believe it is quite an honour to be a vampire hunter, these days."
Ginny sat pensively. "What about you're magic? What's it like? You once said you weren't affected by spells, so how do hunters even capture vampires?"
He grinned bitterly at her enthusiasm and curiosity. At least she was respectful of it all. "Vampires of pure birth have the luxury of being unaffected by your little wands. But, of the lesser individuals, well, all it takes is a bit of bait and a couple binding spells to catch them, if the hunters are lucky enough to find their lair. Really, Ginevra, most vampires are more animals than intelligent beings. There are those in between that are enslaved like Sanguini, and there are also those rare ones like Lorcan D'Eath that because of their half – breed birth seems to do well in your society. Although, I see him at wizarding night clubs much too often…" his voice trailed off.
"Lorcan D'Eath? Wait, I think I've heard Lavender talk of him. Yes, isn't he a famous singer?"
Amadeus nodded.
"So, vampires can breed with humans?" she inquired.
An amused eyebrow rose and a grin spread over his features, "Why yes, dear Ginevra, they can." He taunted her to lose her temper further by playing with her hair rather affectionately, Ginny noted for future use. The conversation had turned, most unexpectedly.
"What you insinuate is out of the question." She said through her clenched teeth.
He chuckled, "I did not know you had such an active mind. I meant to insinuate nothing of the kind and yet you thought of that. Well, if you ever feel the particular need, I'll be happy to oblige."
Ginny's face was red. "How dare you!" she whipped out her wand and pointed it at him, "I dare you to say one more thing, just one!"
She watched him reach towards her face and stroke her flushed cheeks gently, smiling as confidently as ever. Her nostrils flared, "What? What are you doing?" as he pulled her closer and he, himself, diminished the distance to being one of very little. His palm still on her jaw, he tilted it up and kissed her on the lips.
As much as it was shocking for Ginny to be suddenly the object of such adoration, she could not help but relish in it. His fingers traced her neck gently and his other arm pulled her closer. Although Amadeus did not attempt to French kiss her, he did manage to make it so sensual and teasing that it could not have been more perfect, except for when he lowered his mouth to her neck and began to suck on her blood. Surprisingly, however, it felt much more pleasurable than usual; in fact it was just as sensual as the kiss. Ginny shivered at the new sensation. And when he finished with his little seduction and dinner, he looked at Ginny's intoxicated expression that had sealed their fate.
"I think I've wet my pants." She breathed absent-mindedly as she leaned back into the couch.
"If that's all it takes than I'll have little to do on your seventeenth." Amadeus declared his arrogance present once again.
Her eyes widened, "Little to do on my seventeenth? Merlin's Beard, what on Earth are you planning to do to me?"
He merely watched her come to the realization herself. Her fierce glare sparked a worrisome thought in the vampire; yes, perhaps that had been a little too much.
"And so, I am to understand that you think yourself so high and mighty to be invited into my bed on my seventeenth birthday. Oh, how honoured I should be." Her words oozed with sarcasm and fire. He had not seen her so deadly insulted before. "With such a macho attitude, I'm surprised you feel it even necessary to wait till I am of age. Silly me, thinking you were a man or vampire, whatever you prefer, of honour if you plan such deeds and so early on too! My mistake." She hissed and packed her things.
"Ginevra," he started, "Ginny."
She looked at him coldly for the first time, "Ginevra is sufficient."
"You don't have to take this so seriously. I was, more or less, joking, you know."
She sniffed like an insufferable snob, "Do I hear another sexist statement coming out of your chauvinist mouth? Oh, no, I am mistaken again;" her voice went icy, "for it seemed to me you were trying to belittle the rightful respect my sexuality and I deserve." She started off toward the door and upon reaching it she hesitated and looked back at him, "So we're clear then?" she did not wait for him to reply and simply smiled and said, "Good," in the most patronizing tone he'd ever heard.