Chapter 2

Disclaimer – same as always. I don't own anything but the characters I made up, and this story line.

I hope you enjoy!

It was only two weeks into the semester when something happened. Remember when I said in September, my life would change forever?

George came running into my defense against the dark arts class (affectionately known as DADA) and asked Lupin (who was back in his post) if I could be excused. George seemed frantic, which made me very nervous. "Have you seen Fred?" he asked me when he pulled me into the hallway.

I replied in the negative and asked, "What do you mean, 'have I seen him'?Why would I have seen him? He doesn't come to visit without you, and he lives with you. You mean to tell me you can't find him?"

"He's been missing for days, Gin!"

This made my face go almost as white as a vampire's. "What? Days? How many days? And why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Three nights. He disappeared, just like that. He went out to visit someone and never came back. I thought he might after a while, but he didn't, so I just decided to come and tell you, and ask you if you've seen him. I don't know…maybe he came to see you without me." But George knew his twin would never come here without him.

"What time did he go out?"

"Why does that matter?"

"Just tell me!"

"Uh, seven, maybe? It was after dark."

I paled even more, if that was possible. "After dark? Oh my G-d…" I slid down against the wall and tears came to my eyes. My brain immediately came up with all kinds of scenarios – many that had to do with him being murdered by a vampire or a savage werewolf.

George looked absolutely horrible without his brother, and even worse when he thought of what his disappearance might mean. "Oh no. Not Fred. Ginny will you stay with me for a few days? Please? Help me look for him over the weekend?"

"Of course I'll stay with you. Come on. I'm sure Dumbledore will let me go early in such a crisis. And please calm down. I don't want you apparating in your state."

"I'll walk. We'll walk. To Hogsmeade until we get to the apparition station. It'll do me some good…maybe."

I felt sick. My brother was missing, and he went missing after dark. I would go with George to look for him. It was a Friday, after all, and my last subject was potions. I gulped, and tried not to think about what Snape would say to me on Monday. I didn't even think about telling Ron, I was so scared. I wouldn't even have had time to get him.

Dumbledore, of course, understood, and once I was packed for the weekend, George and I left. "Where were you when he went out?" I asked.

"We didn't go to mum and dad's because mum came down with a stomach ache. She now blames herself for his disappearance." George looked worse than I've ever seen him. "But really, it was my fault. We went back to the apartment and I told him to go have fun without me because I wanted to have a night at home eating mac and cheese and watching the telly. Oh Ginny." He moaned and I put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"We'll find him, George. We will." Dead or alive was what I left unsaid. It would have just made both of us more upset. I had silent tears running down my cheeks but I brushed them away. I had to be strong for George.

By the time we got to Hogsmeade, we calmed down enough to apparate to Diagon Alley, where Fred and George's shop was (they lived above it). There was a vampire bar in an offshoot street called Club of the Living Dead. Vampires weren't known for their humor. I figured this was as good a place to start as any. When it was dark, George and I set off for the bar. When we met the doorman, a tall African vampire, we told him of our situation and asked if we could speak to a vampire who could help us.

"Wait just a moment," he said with a thick, attractive accent, and he went inside. When he came back out, he beckoned us in. "You will talk to the Area seven sheriff and owner of this bar. Elizabeth Sterling."

We looked at each other, confusion written all over our faces at the mention of a sheriff, but didn't get the chance to ask about it. We were guided into the club to a secluded table all the way on the other side of the room. It was already packed with vampires and fangbangers (humans who liked to hang around vamps, do them, and donate themselves for vampire food). When we reached the table, the sheriff, who had been eyeing us all along, nodded. We sat.

Elizabeth Sterling was a beautiful vampire with rolling red curls done up in a seventeen hundreds style. She wore an elegant, black, but casual seventeen hundred's dress. Her eyes were gray and not too big, her lips full. She had the angled face of a woman, but the soft, unblemished skin of a child. She was maybe nineteen or twenty when she died and became a vampire. I noticed her looking at me mostly, in what seemed to be wonder.

"So you are looking for your brother?" she asked. "Why would any of us know where he is?" Her voice was very pleasing to listen to.

"He has been missing for days, ma'am," I started. "He disappeared at night after he went out into Diagon Alley to a friend's flat. I thought someone here might know of any disturbance in the area…if…well…"

"If a vampire killed your brother in my area, you are asking." It wasn't a question.

"Well, yes. Or something else. I didn't want to offend you."

"My dear look-alike, vampires hunted and killed humans for thousands of years. It is not unlikely for that to still happen once in a while. What is your name?"

"Ginevra Weasley. This is my brother, George. Fred is who is missing. He is George's twin."

At the mention of my name, Elizabeth's eyes widened in surprise. Had my name meant something to her? "What was your mother's maiden name?"

"Prewett."

She looked thoughtful, and pleasantly surprised, I thought. "Hmm. Well, Ginevra, I will help you search for your brother. I can see how important it is for you both. There has, in fact, been a rogue vampire killing and turning lots of people, then leaving them to fend for themselves during the First Hunger." We looked very frightened. "But I don't think that has anything to do with your brother. That vampire hasn't targeted this area, yet. I will, however, look into it. He is your identical twin?" she asked George, who nodded. "I will let you know what I have found out."

George gave her his address and we were off. There was nothing more we could really do, so we went home.

"Who were they?" the African vampire asked Elizabeth.

"Family, Kutu."

We went home later that night, defeated and dead tired. We agreed to go out tomorrow night at dusk to try again. There were other vampire bars, we were sure. We were also losing hope, even though it had only been one night. However, while we were finishing our TV dinners, a knock came at the door and we both jumped. There was a moment where we looked at each other, then ran for the door. George beat me, being faster than me, and when he opened the door, our eyes widened in shock. There was Fred, being supported by a taller, older, blonde vampire.

"FRED!" I screamed. He looked up at me with sad, ashamed eyes but I hugged him and kissed his cheek, anyway. George hugged him, too. Tightly and frantically; the thoughts of losing Fred were still fresh in his mind.

"May I come in?" the blonde asked with an American accent.

"Yes, come in," said George, and we moved aside.

"Who are you?" I asked. "And what are you doing in Britain? How did you find Fred?"

The blonde man – who I thought was a vampire – was patient with my questions. "I am Eric Northman, sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana (there was that area sheriff thing, again). I am here with a few people on business – we are looking for a very dangerous runaway vampire called Mickey. The only reason why I am telling you my business is because he is the vampire that turned this man." We looked wide-eyed at Fred, who's own eyes stayed focused on the floor. Elizabeth Sterling's story did have something to do with Fred's disappearance. "He is on the run because he encroached on my territory, used an unwilling woman for blood and sex, and was called by his maker after I informed her of his actions. But he refused to go to her. She has increased the intensity of her calls, but he is strong and continues to disobey her. His sentence is to meet the sun. He is now turning as many people as he can in spite, which involves roughly one person every three to five days. This is causing a big increase in new vampires, and he is not taking care of them. They are being rounded up by volunteers who are old enough to take on such a responsibility. Unfortunately, your brother is one of the victims. I found him when I felt him rise. I ran as quickly as I could and got him before he attacked a human. I also fed him. I hold temporary responsibility for him, but I am busy. I am here on a mission, not to take care of baby vamps. I will find someone to help him but until then, I will do it."

George and I were horrified.

"I'm sorry," we heard Fred say. His voice was quiet and full of shame and despair.

"Sorry? You're the victim, Fred, not us," I said. I went to him and hugged him again. "I don't care that you're a vampire," I said into his ear. "You're still our brother and we aren't just gonna leave you to deal with this on your own."

Fred was astonished. I guess he really thought we would toss him out just because he became a vampire.

"Why did it take three days for him to come back to us?" George asked Eric.

"In order to make a vampire, you need to drain the person until only a tiny spark of life is left in their bodies, cut your wrist and give them your vampire blood, and bury them in a place where sunlight cannot penetrate, whether it is in the ground or in a light-tight space in a house. It takes three nights for the body to transform fully."

"Turn me."

We all looked at George.

"What?" I asked softly.

"Turn me, Fred. You need blood and I can't live without you. I can't grow while you stay the same age. I need my twin."

Fred was so stunned, he didn't really know what to say. "I…no, no don't make me do that, George."

"I'm gonna do it whether you're my maker or not. Though, I'd prefer it if you were."

There was a heavy silence, so Eric decided to break the tension. "The sheriff of this Area and I both feel responsible for letting this happen because we cannot control him, so if I can be of any assistance, I will do what I can." Eric Northman said.

I looked at him and I felt true gratitude for this vampire. "Thank you, Eric. Thank you for taking care of him and bringing him back to us."

George nodded his thanks, too.

"It is my pleasure. However, you must know that it is of the utmost importance that he receives nutrients, whether it be by TrueBlood or one of you." I gulped. "I made sure to give him enough TrueBlood to hold him before we came here, but he needs more as soon as possible. New vampires do not have a lot of self control, so there is always the chance of him going after the nearest human."

"Fred, we don't have any TrueBlood here," George said. "Take from me and turn me. Don't make me go to someone else I don't trust."

Eric must have noticed that Fred glanced at him, because he answered my brother's silent question. "I could turn you, George, if you truly want that," Eric said, "but it is a serious decision. Also, the bond between a vampire and its maker is very strong and deep. If a maker calls, the vampire must go. Mickey is old enough and strong enough to resist, but even so, resisting a maker's call is almost impossible until you are as old as I am."

"How old are you?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Over a thousand years." Our eyes widened. "It would probably be best if your brother turned you," Eric said to George, "because I live so far away. You two seem close and you have a shop to run. If I had to call you for some reason, you would have to come. I don't have that many children. If I were to turn another vampire, they would have to live near me and work for me."

Fred gulped. "So, I would have to do it?" He and George looked at each other and finally, Fred relented. "If it's what you really want…"

"It is." George's voice was strong. I knew he wouldn't back down.

"I will stay and guide you," Eric said. "A new vampire would drain without the ability to stop, unless their will power is extremely strong. I will make sure that nothing goes wrong and tell you what to do when he wakes. Either I or someone I send will help him get through the First Hunger." Tall blonde and handsome looked at me. "It would be wise for you to go into another room. Draining is a messy process."

"I have a strong stomach," I said.

"So be it," Eric answered.

And so, that night, both of my brothers became vampires. Well, technically, three nights from then.

"Ginny!" Hermione shouted when I sat down at the table at dinner Sunday night. "Where've you been all weekend? We've been worried sick! Ron's been a right mess! You should have told us you were leaving!"

I was gritting my teeth and tried not to be angry with Hermione. She was only worried. "I don't have to tell you everything about me, Hermione." Hermione backed off. "How about asking me if I'm alright instead of bombarding me with anger? How about asking me why Fred was missing for three days?"

Hermione had the sense to look ashamed. "Ron told us about that…is that what you were doing? Looking for him?"

"George came to get me Friday afternoon from DADA. He was frantic. We took off without telling Ron. Sorry Ron," I said. "We only had Fred on our minds. When he came back, we went to the Burrow the next night. Did mum send you a letter?"

Ron nodded numbly. "Just got it…before you sat down…"

"He wouldn't tell us what she wrote," Harry said, worried. "He just kind of sat there, white-faced. I was going to look at it, but then you sat down. Ginny, what happened to Fred?"

"Fred and George didn't go to the burrow Wednesday night because mum came down with a stomach ache, so Fred went out after seven to visit a friend, but he never came back." I had Harry and Hermione's rapt attention, and also the unwanted attention of the nearest people to us. But I didn't care. It would soon be known that my brothers were vampires, anyway. "Friday, almost three days after that happened, George came to my DADA class. Dumbledore let me leave for the day so I skipped potions."

"You'll pay for that tomorrow," Harry said.

"Don't remind me," I replied, then continued. "George and I went to Club of the Living Dead – the vampire bar in Diagon Alley – to see if anyone had seen Fred, or knew about any new deaths…as much as we hated to ask. Apparently there is a hierarchy among vampires because the sheriff of England's Area 7 spoke to us. She said there was trouble with a vampire who was running around turning people…but that it most likely didn't have anything to do with Fred. We gave her our information and she told us she would keep in touch if she heard anything. George and I went back to the apartment and not an hour later, Fred shows up at our door with a very tall, blonde, American vampire named Eric Northman. He's the sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana. He found Fred when he woke and helped him cope until they got to the apartment. Fred had some TrueBlood but new vamps have a hard time with hunger…George begged to be turned because – well, you know them…those two can't bear to be parted, or do anything without the other. Fred finally relented and Eric helped him turn George."

"They're both vampires?" Hermione asked in shock.

"Well, tomorrow night is when George will rise. It takes three days after being drained and given vamp blood to rise."

"Wow…" was all Harry could say.

"How are they? Do they need anything? Maybe I can help with George when he rises?"

"Hermione," I said, "you don't want to be anywhere near a new vamp when they rise. All they think about is food. Well, blood. And human blood is best. When they first wake up, they can't comprehend what's going on around them. They're so hungry, they'd even attack family."

"What's George gonna do?" Harry asked.

"I dunno…I'm thinking of going over tomorrow after classes with Dumbledore's permission and putting some TrueBlood bottles in their fridge. Then get the hell outta there before dark. Eric said he would be there to help George through his First Hunger but I don't know when he'll get there. I really don't want to be there if he isn't."

"Let us come with you. Even if Fred and Eric are there to help George, Fred is still a new vampire. It'll be good to have an extra hand or two."

Bless you, Harry. Hermione nodded, and Ron was still sitting as still as a gargoyle. But he'd come. I knew that much. He was as devoted to his family as we all were.

Snape sure was in a pick-on-Ginny mood the next morning (potions was in the mornings Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and in the afternoons on Thursday and Friday). He may have survived the war and was grateful to Harry for saving his life, but he still loved to pick on us, even if it wasn't nearly as malicious as it used to be. Secretly though, I was one of his favorite students. "Miss Weasley, so nice of you to join us, today. Would you care to tell me why you skipped my class on Friday?"

"I can't, Professor," and I gave him a look that meant I'd tell him later.

"Well then, five points from Gryffindor." But he'd give them back to me later when no one was around to witness it. I always went to the classroom after classes for extra help or just to finish my homework early, and that's how we started to get closer. He would give me assignments and I would do them, and I would challenge him and he would be snarky, but we got along really well. I sighed in annoyance just for show.

After my last class, I tore off to the main floor. I tickled the pear on the painting that guarded the kitchens and went inside. Dobby brought me two six packs of TrueBlood and I thanked him. As I was leaving, who should walk in but Draco Malfoy. He, like Snape, had calmed down a lot. His attitude has had a big change since Harry saved his life in the fire. However, he still liked to tease us sometimes. Mostly me.

"Turned into a vampire, Weasley? I didn't think you had it in you."

I hissed at him and he jumped nearly straight out of his skin. It was more believable with me than with others since my canines are more pronounced than most people's. Man, I was laughing all the way up to the common room, and then some more when I told Harry, Ron, and Hermione. It sure cheered Ron up.

We left soon after and set out for Hogsmeade. When we arrived in the apartment (we decided to floo since Harry hates apparating), we dusted ourselves off and spread out so we could all get inside. I went immediately to the fridge and put the TrueBlood in, after which I wrote Fred and George a note that I pinned to the fridge with a magnet. I took two bottles and warmed them up in the microwave, after which I swirled them around to get rid of hot spots.

"Ginny," Hermione said hesitantly, "I think we were too late…it's getting dark."

And when I looked out the window, it was, indeed, almost completely black outside. We all jumped at a knock on the door. When I answered it, recognition drew on my face. "Elizabeth! It's nice to see you but we found Fred. Or rather, the sheriff of Area 5 in Louisiana found him and brought him back. He's supposed to come, tonight, so I thought you would be him."

Elizabeth was wearing a plainer dress, this time, though also black with simple black heels. I guessed that the seventeen hundred's one was reserved for the bar.

"I know. I found out. He also told me he would be coming but he was afraid he might be a little late and asked me to come at first dark to help George. But I also came for other reasons." She and I stared at each other for a few moments. "Can you ask me to come in?"

"Uh, sure, I was wondering why you weren't…"

"Vampires cannot enter a human home without being invited in," she said simply, "and since George has not yet risen, the house still considers him human."

"Oh, so that part isn't a myth…well, please come in."

She smiled at me. "Thank you. I see you have guests."

I looked over at them and felt a little sheepish for forgetting they were there. I introduced them. They were all pretty stunned, actually, and I was wondering why. "What's the matter?" I asked them.

"Ginny, you…you look just like her," Ron said, coming out of his shock.

I looked in the mirror to the left of me and she did, as well. To my utter surprise, we really did look alike. So much that if our eyes were the same color, we could easily be mistaken for twins. I subconsciously noticed that I could see her reflection in the mirror – so that myth wasn't true. I turned back to her with puzzlement. "You so readily helped us on Friday when I told you my name, and my mother's maiden name. Why? And why did you come here tonight?" I wasn't unnerved, just curious. The way she reacted when she found out my mother's maiden name and how much we look alike was too weird to be coincidental.

"I came to help my kin become accustomed to vampirism. I volunteered to help Fred and George when Eric told me about them."

"Kin," I repeated. I looked at Ron, and he looked back at me.

"You're our kin?" he asked.

"No. You are mine," she said. "I will explain once the twins rise. Ah, they are waking."

It took us a moment to realize she was talking about Fred and George. They came into the kitchen/living room and were surprised to see us. The raw hunger I saw in George's eyes was something I never wanted to see again. But I was ready with an open bottle of TrueBlood in my hands. I was also the closest to them, so George lunged at me. I moved quickly and stuck the bottle in his mouth. He grabbed it and gulped it down like it was nothing, but it gave me enough time to hand Fred one and open another to give George, even though it was cold. All in all, George drank six bottles in a row while Fred drank two.

George's eyes began to focus and he blinked. "Ginny? Harry, Ron, Hermione! What are you all doing here?"

"They came, like good siblings and friends do, to help you," said Elizabeth. "They brought TrueBlood to sate your hunger and make sure you were alright."

"Wow," Fred said. "You're not…disgusted? Frightened?"

Every one of us shook our heads.

"We're your friends, Fred," Hermione said lovingly. She and Harry were like extra siblings, and we treated them as such, but they were also our best friends. Well, minus the Ron-Hermione relationship that was yet to be."We would never leave you."

Fred and George smiled. Then Fred was approached by Elizabeth. "I am Elizabeth Sterling. I believe you are the brother Fred who went missing? I see you arrived back home in good form, albeit a little sad."

"Ah, yeah. I didn't want to become a vampire. No offense. But it's not so bad, I guess."

"None taken."

Just then, Eric arrived. I let him in and did introductions.

"Ah, the famous Harry Potter and friends. I am glad to meet you. I apologize for not being here sooner. I was held up. I am glad to see that everything is under control. I see Elizabeth made it alright." He nodded at the redheaded vampire and she nodded back with a slightly deeper inclination of her head. I wondered about that. Maybe because Eric was older? She continued.

"I just explained to these four that they are my kin, something I failed to mention Friday night when George and Ginevra came to my bar." She turned back to us. "I go by the last name Sterling, but I had a different one when I died and was brought over in 1210." Our eyes widened when we realized how old she was. "I was twenty years old and had a husband and a son." I noticed Eric send her an odd look, but she didn't respond. "My married name was Prewett." Our faces lit up. "My son took on the surname Sterling-Prewett, married, and had a son and two daughters. There was at least one son in each generation, continuing the Prewett line. I kept track. In 1262, my great-great-grandson William married Anne Farraway, producing the Farraway-Sterling-Prewett line. When his great-great-grandson Gabrial married in 1319, he and his wife agreed to drop everything but Prewett, so the surname went back to being just Prewett. Then, my descendents eventually produced your uncles Gideon and Fabian, and your mother Molly, who married Arthur Weasley. I have always been a family woman, and I take care of my own, which is what I came here to do. I will be your mentor, if you'll have me, and I will teach you our ways. I will guide you through your first year of vampirism, but I must say – if Mickey calls you, Fred, you must go to him. However, you must try your hardest not to. He is a wanted man all over the world, now, so he will be dead very soon. I was very sorry to hear that he was the one who attacked you. Eric reported to me after he brought you here. To make your bond with Mickey weaker and the bond with me stronger, we can exchange blood a few times. That should help. You may come to work for me in my bar if you wish. There will always be spots for both of you."

After soaking in all of the information, the twins looked at each other. "No wonder you look so much like her, Gin," Fred said. "Family that old?" George muttered. "Well, thank you for the help and offers, but we're going to keep Weasley's Wizard Wheezes," Fred said to Elizabeth. George nodded. "We'll just have extra hours. WWW, now open into the night!"

They laughed, and it put the rest of us in a good mood.

I hope you enjoyed it. Please review! Reviews keep me motivated.