Blood Play
Authors Note Please READ: In this chapter and in chapters to come you are going to notice a 1st person to 3rd person switch. When we are dealing with Harry at Hogwarts the person will switch so you will be able to tell the difference, please let me know if this causes any confusion. Thank You for all your reviews. For any readers that are also reading Awake I received a comment that is making me want to edit a bit more so I am doing so starting from chapter one. I expect to be done editing the existing chapters within the next few weeks then updates will continue as normal. This chapter has been edited! Note finished Enjoy and review!
Damien was busy playing with the toys Nanette had brought home with him. They were neither magical nor very flashy but he seemed to love them just the same. I sat and watched him play trying to decipher the babble that he was spewing to his toys. School had been another boring day and once again I had an episode, as I had come to call them, in the middle of class.
The room had transformed more completely then ever before. I found myself in the graveyard I had nightmares about that graveyard. Or at least I used to, that summer my nights had been plagued with nightmares. I shook my head forcefully to dislodge the memories. I didn't want to remember anymore. Some things about my past were still a blur and I wished they would just stay that way.
The smell of the fire seemed to be on my clothes and in my hair. I had been terrified and still felt a little jumpy. I had been tied to a gravestone. My arm had been sliced open to steal my blood. Cedric had been killed. Had Tom really done all of that? Had he really gone through such lengths to return? He had taunted me and the only thing that had saved me had been a fluke. The thoughts would not stop I could not control them.
The thing that had come out of that cauldron had looked nothing like Tom. It was positively vile. It had been tall and skeletal with absolutely no hair. I didn't want to know what else Tom had done. How had he become the devastatingly handsome man that he was now? The words 'kill the spare' seemed to be on repeat in my mind. Tom had certainly changed since we had become spouses. I had never seen him be so needlessly cruel. There was a lot that I didn't know though. He tended to do a lot of things on his own only filling me in later.
It had only been my constant complaining that had made him include me in more of his plans. I spent the rest of the day in a potion induced haze. Calming draughts were fast becoming my potion of choice. I was beginning to have panic attacks. There was a knock on my door and I rolled my eyes. I opened the door surprised to see Bella on the other side of it. I raised my eyebrow, her face was set and I resisted laughing. I put on my very best fake smile. This at least would offer some distraction.
"What a nice surprise do come in."
I stepped aside and held the door open for her. She stepped in and took off her shoes, her eyes fell on Damien who was busy playing and babbling to his toys on the floor. She smiled at him ever so slightly then looked up at me setting her face again. It made her look a little more sick than it did threatening but to each his own. I made a gesture for her to sit down.
"And to what do I owe this pleasure Miss. Swan?"
She narrowed her eyes at me and I was surprised to hear that her mind seemed to be clamped shut. I suppressed a cold smirk and twisted it into a parody of a welcoming smile.
"Cut the crap!"
I cringed not quite liking that expression. She was certainly lucky that my son was in the room, and she was even luckier that I decided against a killing spree for the moment. I looked over at my son and back at her. She flushed a deep red; Damien had paused in his play to look at her. His eyes were blue I was going to have to do something about that soon. He often changed the color of his eyes depending on his mood. I was not sure if he was a metamorphmagus or not. He did not seem able to change anything but his eye color yet.
"I'm afraid I don't understand Miss Swan, would you like some tea."
She narrowed her eyes. She was standing in the door way looking constipated and now unsure of her self. I gestured once again for her to take a seat.
"Perhaps you would like to take a seat then."
She nodded and went over to my couch looking uncomfortable. She sat down and Damien took another moment to stare at her. After a moment he smiled merrily and waved and then went back to playing. I watched him for a moment waiting for the snack to gather its thoughts.
"Edward wasn't in school toady."
I nodded he had been missing which was odd but I didn't see why that would bring her here. I waited silently knowing that she would continue eventually which she did.
"Did you do something to him?"
I hadn't done anything to him yet but I was left to wonder exactly what Cullen had told his snack. I took a moment to respond keeping my face neutral. I continued to stare at Damien. Her mind was quiet right now, I was sure though that it would be screaming at me soon enough. She seemed to have no control over blocking or unblocking her mind. It was strange though that it was blocked at all she was a muggle after all.
"What could I have done to him, we both know that you and I aren't capable of keeping someone like him captive."
I whooped for joy in my mind when that seemed to give her pause. She had been told nothing about me then. She flushed becoming embarrassed and her thoughts were suddenly blasted to me once more. She was strange for a muggle, strange enough I supposed to catch a vampire's attention completely. She wasn't pretty though, not pretty enough to be a vampire at any rate.
Right now she was berating her self for coming over here. Apparently Cullen had told her that I was bad news. She looked at Damien once more; she was trying to figure out how to leave without making herself look like more of an idiot. I wasn't about to help with that. I had an idea forming in the back of my mind. I was going to get her to stay for just a moment longer. My aim was not clear yet but I wanted more information.
"Well since you've come all the way over here at least have some tea."
She made a face which did not make her look desirable and shook her head.
"I don't really like tea."
I smiled my face was becoming stiff from the fake expression. If I didn't stop soon my face would be stuck in a permanent grin.
"Soda?"
She shook her head again blushing once more.
"I don't really have the head for soda."
I suppressed a growl. I needed her to drink something or I was going to attack her mind instead. I plastered a smile on my face, and took her arm gently and steered her to the kitchen. I discretely cast a gentle ward to keep my son in place. He looked angry with me and I winked, he sighed and went back to playing once more.
"How about a glass of water, anything you like."
She looked nervous and she finally thought that maybe I would think she was rude if she refused my offer. I seized on the thought smiling in a way I knew was charming.
"It is our custom to always give our guests a drink."
She nodded and took a seat at the table unlinking our arms.
"Water?"
"Sure."
I made a big show of fishing out a glass. I seldom used Veritaserum but I couldn't very well send her home demented. I needed to blend in for now. The potion was clear and tasteless and forced the drinker to tell the truth, a few drops would have even me spilling my guts. I had the antidote in my blood though an invention of Tom's. It had been one of his more brilliant moments. He had tested it on me using his skills in manipulation to make the guinea pig! It had been well worth it though.
She drank her water slowly only taking a few sips then her eyes glazed over. I smiled using my own brand of magic to make her forget what I was about to do. Anyone who had access to her mind would not be able to unearth what had happened here and anyone that pushed would damage her mind beyond repair. With that done I took a seat across from her.
"Name?"
"Isabella Swan."
Her voice was monotone as was common with the use of Veritaserum I smiled and continued.
"Age?"
"Eighteen."
I smiled gently which made little difference since she wouldn't remember any of this when I was finished.
"Very good."
I sat back and watched her for a moment. She looked at me and I had cruel urges to do more to her but I reined myself in. Hurting her now would be of no use.
"What do you know about me?"
She looked dead ahead seeming to take a moment to think. Her mind was silent again which in itself was very strange.
"Your name is Harry you're from England and you have a child and live alone with him."
The thing about Veritaserum was that it not only forced you to tell the truth it seemed to make the victim only state pure fact, there was never any speculation. It was true or it wasn't true and there was nothing in between.
"Is anyone suspicious of me?"
"Edward and his family."
I nodded. I knew that already. It had been my doing after all. No one else in the town seemed to have the good sense to be suspicious of me though.
"Do you love Edward?"
"No."
No? This was interesting. I knew that she thought she loved Edward. So this was the subconscious truth. In short she was not even aware that she didn't love him. I had seen this type of mortal before. She wanted the power she wanted to be turned. They would remain together possibly for centuries but eventually she would slip away. I filed that away for later and continued on.
"Why not?"
She looked forward with her eyes glazed over seeming to have to think for a moment. It wasn't a surprise though she was not aware of it so it would take a moment for her to find the true answer.
"I don't know, I really like him."
I felt like a stupid gossip but I pressed on wanting to know more. She must love someone everybody loved someone.
"Who do you love?"
"Myself."
I nodded a noble answer indeed. It was great that she loved herself. There was more to Miss. Swan than I had previously thought; she was not the pristine person Cullen thought her to be. I waited until her eyes cleared not wanting to question her any further. She got to her feet and thanked me for the water and left. I saw her out smiling politely and waving at her before shutting the door.
"Papa?"
I went to check on Damien he was glaring at the wards which had turned pink around him. They didn't hurt him in anyway they tickled him, he despised being tickled though. I banished the wards and he came over to me. I picked him up and kissed his cheek. He looked cross and was attempting to scowl but it looked more like a pout.
"How about we make those cookies I promised you."
"Cookie!"
I put Damien to bed he had one too many cookies he was full of sugar and then he promptly crashed. I went to my room and mulled over the information I had gotten. The vampire had gone off and left his little snack to its own devices. I wasn't stupid Cullen had left because of something I had done. For now though I could not pin point what that something was. I sat on the edge of my bed. I was coming apart, visions; complete apparation's would come to me at any time. My dreams were plagued with memories.
The distraction of what Cullen was up to was a welcome one right now. I felt like I was two people. The boy who had been innocent and good, and the man who had been…who had grown up to be. What had I become? It was becoming harder to tell myself that Tom was cunning and that I would have done the same thing.
That isn't to say that I wouldn't have done the same thing. I would have, but if the situation had been reversed I knew that Tom would not stay loyal to the side he had been against all along. He would have deflected. He would have used all of his considerable cunning to destroy me. A sharp pain ran through my head. I screamed and threw up a silencing spell. My head was splitting in two. I hadn't felt this pain for so long. I clutched my head trying to hold it together. The world around me grew dark and I hit the floor.
Harry sat up covering his mouth and trying to stifle his screams. He could only hope that his quick silencing spell had stayed in place. He had been having strange things happening to him all week. In the middle of one class he had suddenly found himself in a room full of muggles and vampires. It had only been for a second but it had been very real.
He had seen a boy he knew was his son but he was sure that he didn't have a son. These illusions had been so completely realized that Harry had kept them to himself. It was par for the course that strange things happened to him. He wasn't going to tell Ron or Hermione though that he seemed to be having flashes of another life. It hadn't been very frequent; each episode had been jarring though.
The pain finally stopped and Harry rolled out of bed. He stumbled fighting the nausea that usually followed these attacks. He made his way to the washroom and splashed his face with cold water. Harry gripped the edges of the sink willing the nausea away and clearing his mind of all thought. He turned when he heard a noise behind him; Ron came out of the shower stall with a towel covering his private bits.
"You aright mate?"
Harry nodded and Ron continued to look worried Harry spoke hoping that his voice would come out right and not sound weak or sick.
"Yeah I'm fine just a bit of a headache."
"Again?"
Ron looked worried. They both knew that 'head aches' were not good news. Ron patted him on the shoulder and went back out into the dorms to change clothes. Which was a relief to Harry who did not much fancy talking to a towel clad Ron. Harry stood in front of the mirror; he had become taller and paler as of late. He took off his glasses not sure why he was hiding that he had fixed his eye sight. Well he was sure why he was hiding it but he didn't like that he had to hide it from them at all. He didn't like feeling like there was something that he couldn't tell Ron and Hermione.
He hadn't known that the spell that fixed eye sight was considered dark or that it took a particularly powerful wizard to cast it. He hoped that his two best friends had moved beyond the point where they became suspicious of him. Harry couldn't be sure though so he kept it to himself. He seemed to be keeping a lot of things to himself lately. There had been a shift and it seemed that none of them were willing to talk about it. Harry wasn't about to point fingers though he would be the first to avoid such a conversation.
He was beginning to wonder why he was so powerful. Dumbledore would have known about it by now. He was keeping too many secrets and after what had happened to Sirius…Harry shook his head to clear his thoughts. He was starting to have his misgivings about Dumbledore. The man was being secretive it seemed his life had become secrets.
Over the summer Harry had been suffering magical surges. It was not pleasant in the least and caused a great deal of pain. He had taken it upon himself to master his magic by himself. Self-study was not something that was encouraged by Dumbledore. It was frowned upon actually it may have even been against the law. The last wizard to have been so interested in self-study had grown up to be the most twisted person of all time. Harry put back on his glasses which no longer held a prescription.
"You still in there? You want to go see Madame Pomfrey?"
Harry came out of the washroom and smiled at Ron trying to look healthy. He did not want to see the nurse. He took a seat on his bed and Ron disappeared behind his bed curtains to change. He had been suffering terribly since Sirius's death and this summer had been one of the worst he had ever had. He felt far removed from Ron and Hermione, he felt removed from everything around him.
He was suffering like he had never suffered before. He found himself wanting to escape this life. He really didn't want to be Harry Potter anymore. How could he be the savior if he couldn't even save his family? He had decided a few nights ago to just leave. He was going to disappear into the forbidden forest and see how lost he could get. The strangest thing had happened though he had blacked out and when he awoke Ron was standing over him asking him where his boyfriend had gone.
He didn't have a boyfriend. He wasn't even gay. Harry sighed and stood up. Ron came up behind him and together they trudged down to the common room. Hermione had set up revising schedules for them. Tonight it would be potions. Harry cracked open his potions book plunging into it and blocking out the world around him. He was becoming studious but not for any lofty academic goal. It was just easier to lose himself in his work, it kept Hermione off his back and forced Ron to ignore him or study as well.
He knew his friends were worried about him. Hermione was more worried than anyone since she was more perceptive than Ron. He was becoming withdrawn. He knew Hermione would be torn though between him studying and him being happy. He was grateful that for now she seemed inclined to let him study. Harry figured he could have been doing worse things than burying himself in school work. He had been planning on doing worse things.
His mind drifted back to his illusions, they were so strange and came at the most random moments. None of them made any sense. He wondered if he was going off his nut and fantasying life as a muggle. He shook his head and went back to reading about the properties of newt eyes and wood worm venom. He pondered for a moment why a worm would even have venom but then he went back to reading not wanting to bother to wonder why about anything anymore.
I woke up in a pool of vomit that seemed to be mixed with blood. I sat up and got shakily to my feet and made my way to the washroom. The scar that I had always wondered about was spilt it wasn't bleeding anymore though. I healed it quickly and vanished the sick that was on my shirt. I splashed my face with cold water. I said a quick spell to check the time.
At least four hours had gone by. I tried to remember if anything had happened but I only succeeded in giving myself a headache. Everything was black. I went to check on Damien who was sleeping soundly in his bed. It was two am I stumbled back to my room and collapsed on the bed. In the morning I awoke to my son jumping up and down and yelling for me to wake up.
"I'm up I'm up, come here."
He bounded over to me and I hugged him and kissed his cheek. He giggled and sat down making himself comfortable. He played with my hand pulling on my fingers like he was trying to pull them off. He didn't use enough force for it to hurt though. I kissed him again and scooped him up and got out of bed. Damien asked for his Daddy daily and every day I would tell him that he would see his Daddy again soon.
I made his breakfast; the stupid ritual was starting to become soothing to my nerves. I listened to him talking to his plush bear which he seemed to have formed an attachment to. I made oatmeal and cut up an apple. Damien had enough junk food and cookies. I was going to have to talk to Nanette about that when she got here. Sure enough the door bell rang as soon as Damien declared his breakfast as 'all gone.'
I smiled not wanting to upset the woman who was caring for my son. She embraced me and I went stiff not lifting my arms to return the gesture. I dressed Damien and he kissed me and hugged me and then ran over to Nanette.
"Bye papa."
"Bye sweetie I love you."
He waved happily still holding his bear.
"You to papa."
I closed the door and went to get ready for school. My hands started to shake when I reached the car. I pulled out a calming draught and took a swig. I noticed that Cullen was still missing from school, but his siblings made sure to follow my every move. I went to my first class. Jasper glared at me like I had done something to personally offend him.
"Hello Jasper how are you doing?"
He glared and looked forward, the pixie smiled and waved but her eyes were cold. Was Cullen the coven leader or something? They all seemed to be a little out of sorts, all but Rosalie who I loved for her beauty. She had waved at me merrily from her beautiful red car this morning. I settled in prepared today to focus on class if it would stave off my too real flash backs. I was surprised to find that I was in an English class. Everyone in this class spoke English it seemed just a tad bit unnecessary.
I focused on the teacher unable to focus on anything else. His voice was nasally and I focused more on that then what he was saying. The class passed without incident and I hoped that my luck would hold for the next few days. These episodes were making me feel crazy. The day ended quickly I was too calm by the end of the day. I was going to have to slow down with my calming draughts. I felt a bit like I was floating and I was smiling like an idiot. Nanette was there to greet me and Damien came running over clutching a glass jar in both hands.
"Look Papa!"
I looked into the jar which Damien was holding up proudly. It contained twigs and leaves and a blue furry caterpillar. Holes had been punched in the top not big enough to let the bug out but small enough to let the air in. I smiled and ruffled his hair. Damien giggled and took hold of my hand. He waved bye to Nanette who was already making her way down the drive.
"Do you want to stay for dinner?"
If it wouldn't have seemed weird I would have clamped my hands over my mouth. As it was I just smiled sweetly wondering what had come over me to offer such an invitation. The words had just burst from my mouth. She smiled and nodded and headed back to the house. I opened the door keeping the smile plastered to my face.
This woman most likely didn't know much about me. Valeel had probably only told her to mention his name. Perhaps he had mentioned that I might be dangerous. Nanette didn't seem to think so. She was already helping Damien remove his coat and boots. He was talking to her about his 'pet', and she seemed just as excited about it.
Once he was free of his coat he bounded over to me and began to tell me about his day. I took out a few toys and he played with them while babbling on. I tried my best to respond smiling and nodding and making the occasional astonished sound which seemed to placate him. I thawed the chicken with a quick spell and set to work on washing it and then cutting up some seasoning.
"Need any help?"
I smiled at Nanette and she smiled back looking more then happy. There was nothing wrong with her but I didn't like her at all. I held a natural aggression towards her for no real purpose that I could think of.
"It's ok I think I got the hang of it."
Damien was still talking and I was listening only understanding one third of what he said. I decided to make a stir-fry I had the vegetables and the noodles. In no time everything was simmering nicely and I took a seat at the table. Damien stopped talking and reached forward. I picked him up out of his chair and he hugged me tightly around the neck and began to play with my hand.
"How was school Harry?"
I looked up at Nanette who was smiling. Perhaps there was something wrong with me. There was no reason to not like Nanette. I tried to remember if I had always had such a strong aversion to all muggles. It was no use things about my past seemed to only become clear when I didn't want them to and not a moment before.
"It was alright."
Nanette laughed and Damien giggled but I had missed the joke somehow. I stared nonplused wondering once more what had come over me to make me invite this woman for dinner. I stared at her not knowing what to do or say.
"Papa color with me."'
I nodded happy for something to do besides stare at Nanette. I conjured the coloring book and crayons, I studied Nanette. Her eyes widened just a bit but other than that she didn't seem very surprised. She didn't know much about me then, I assumed that she didn't know much about magic either. A wandless spell even a simple one took a great deal more power. I opened the box of crayons and Damien flipped through the pages until he found something he liked. He handed me a pink crayon looking perfectly serious and we began to color in the dinosaur.
I put Damien down in his seat and gave him the coloring book. I kissed his pouting lip and he smiled. I went to check on the stir-fry which was just about done. I turned the stove down to low and went back to sit at the table. Nanette smiled at me and I smiled at her not knowing what to say. For something to do I went to the cupboard and got the plates out. I served up two plates and one bowl. I cooled Damien's food to an agreeable temperature and set it in front of him.
"Do you want something to drink?"
"A glass of water would be fine."
I poured the water and fought the urge to put poison in it. It seemed more like a compulsion then an actual thought. I just wanted to kill this women, with no good cause. It was unlike me I knew that much. Even if I could not remember much else.
"Of course."
I poured two glasses of water and gave Damien a juice box. I dug in, Damien was already eating. Nanette made a noise and smiled at me looking surprised.
"You're a very good cook Harry."
"Thank you."
Dinner was not entirely unpleasant it was down right normal which was what set me on edge. Nanette left giving Damien a kiss goodnight. He was already nodding off; I got him up so I could give him a quick bath, and then settled him into bed. It was still early and it was pouring outside. I felt a shiver go through my body. I waited for a moment than I felt another. I wanted to laugh someone was trying to breach my wards. Damien came out of his room, and I let him follow me down the stairs.
I opened the door, Cullen was there looking like he had been shocked. He glared at me looking hostile enough to be frightening but I wasn't frightened. I smirked at him and he stood there dripping wet and glaring death at me. He was definitely the dramatic sort. I waited knowing he would let me know why he looked so angry soon enough.
"You really had to try that twice Cullen? Bella was over here looking for you. Where did you go?
His expression cleared but he didn't seem inclined to talk so I continued.
"She seems to think that I kidnapped you. How much does Bells know by the way…about me?"
He face blanked out and he blinked, staying completely still.
"Bells?"
"Nick name."
I leaned against the door noting that he looked angrier than before. I wasn't sure if it was my nick name or if it was because Bells had been over here. I hadn't done her that much harm. Damien came up to me and pulled on my pant leg demanding 'up'. He pointed at Cullen.
"Wampire."
"Yes sweetie vampire, and a very stupid one at that."
Damien giggled and then stared at Cullen. He rested his head on my shoulder and rubbed at his eyes.
"Stay away from Bella."
"Oh I have been but she can't seem to stay away from me."
I winked and closed the door. I hadn't failed to spot that Bella was making her way out of her house. I went back up the stairs and put Damien to bed. He held on to me and I sat down on the bed. I hummed a little tune and Damien smiled and drifted off to sleep. He hadn't demanded anymore bed time stories. I probably didn't do it as good as Tom. I kissed him and made sure he was tucked in.
It was late now and I was hoping to fall asleep and avoid all dreams or flashbacks for today. I wasn't so lucky as soon as I closed my eyes I was in the dorm room. Hermione and Ron had just gone to bed. I was staring at my potions book. My eyes snapped open. That had been different; it had felt different than a flash back. It had felt like I was there for just a moment. It had seemed like I was actually living that life again.
I sat up and looked out the window. The clouds had parted just a bit and I could make out a small amount of stars. I got out of the bed giving up for now on getting any sleep. I checked on Damien to find him sleeping soundly. Maybe some late night television would lull me to sleep. I turned on the thing and flipped through the channels.
Not very many of the shows were familiar to me. I had never watched much television as a child. The only shows I did happen to see were the news and sometimes British sitcoms. American television was definitely different. It also seemed that a lot of smut was on the television at this time of night. I found a late night talk show and watched that.
The host seemed to really enjoy the camera. I sighed and turned off the blasted thing. Sitting alone in the dark was never a good thing. I had a vivid imagination but I put it to sleep and just stared in to the dark corners of room not seeing anything that wasn't there. The sun rose, not that I could see it thanks to all the clouds. No, the sunrise in this god forsaken place was that the sky turned grey slowly. I stretched wincing at the loud popping noises my spine made.
I woke Damien up who grumbled at me and went back to sleep as soon as I had him in my arms. I changed his clothes and he grumbled some more. He had gone to bed early but since he seemed so tired I put him down on the couch and stared on breakfast.
I was running out of ideas for breakfast and made toast and fruit. I woke up Damien who grumbled and sighed and sat up with his hair sticking in all directions.
I kissed his cheek and he held up his little arms to be picked up. I carried him to the kitchen and put him in his chair. I set the plate of toast and fruit down and he stared at it. He picked up the toast which I had spread with jam and dropped it on the floor. I sighed and vanished the toast and pushed the fruit in front of him.
"Would you like to try fruit loops instead?"
"Cookie!"
I shook my head at Damien and he started too eat his fruit. I took a bite of my toast. Damien started to talk to me. I smiled and nodded until I heard the word Daddy.
"You saw Daddy?"
He nodded at me and smiled looking happy. I forced myself to stay in my seat. Every emotion was running through me at once. I took a deep breath.
"Where did you see Daddy?"
Damien smiled clearly trying to remember where he had seen him.
"Sleep, daddy say he come home."
In a dream? Damien stopped smiling and slowly started to look worried. I smiled at him and he stared at me. I picked him up and hugged him. It was beginning to dawn on me that any version of Tom that I might find in the world would now be a danger to me and to my son. What had happened to the Tom that was with me in Hogwarts?
"Daddy come home?"
I nodded and kissed his forehead. Daddy would come home. He would find me and before I could explain anything…my body seemed to spasm and I held my son tighter to my chest. I hated this I was terrified of Voldermort for the second time in my life. I was more terrified of him than I had ever been before. The door bell rang; I went to the door and let Nanette in.
"I'm not going to school today."
She smiled a very falsely sweet smile.
"You have to go to school Harry."
I shook my head and she smiled when Damien waved at her. I was not leaving my son with her. She wouldn't be able to protect him. Tom would feel me at some point. I was too far away, I was his horcrux.
"Not today Nanette."
Not ever again. I was leaving this town and I wasn't leaving my son's safety up to some muggle. I turned around and the room began to blur. I screamed trying to force everything to stay still and it stopped. It looked like everything had become distorted then it went back to normal and I was still holding my son. I ushered Nanette out and closed the door. The door bell rang again.
"Papa?"
"It's ok."
I shushed him and went back upstairs to my bedroom. I was a sitting duck. I couldn't wait for Tom to find me and I couldn't go looking for him. What was Valeel thinking? He couldn't mess with things like this, he wasn't god! Nanette began to pound on the door. I shut my bedroom door. She would leave soon. I had no plan though, no matter where I went I was a sitting duck.
I felt safer though with Damien with me. He would be safer with me. Nanette wouldn't know any better, if Damien saw Tom he would go to him. I had never feared for my son's life before, I had never… I was crying and it wouldn't stop. How many children had I killed, how many mother's had I put in this position before?
"Papa okay?"
I nodded and wiped at my tears. Damien stood in my lap and looked at me worryingly. I had never cried in front of him and he looked alarmed.
"I'm ok you want cookies?"
"Cookies!"
I went to the kitchen it was only nine am I shouldn't have been making cookies.
"Harry, you caused me a great deal of pain this morning."
I spun around to see Valeel standing in my kitchen. He did indeed look a tiny bit frazzled.
"Get out."
He chuckled lowly and walked slowly to where Damien was trailing his long fingers against the shiny brown surface of the table.
"You vex me Harry Potter."
I said nothing I walked over to my son and picked him up. His eyes were locked onto Valeel's and he smiled at Damien who waved and said hi.
"You are much more powerful then I thought. It seems you were born to be underestimated. But do not underestimate me, Harry Potter. You are in no danger. You panic because you understand nothing."
I narrowed my eyes, Valeel was a fool to come here. I was itching for the chance to destroy him. I used the spell to set him on fire only to have him turn into water. He laughed and then came very close to me smiling genially.
"But you know nothing young one. I cannot be destroyed with fire! You really believe in those muggle fairy tales? I am a wizard just like you and a vampire as well."
I blinked. A vampire who was a wizard I had never heard of such a thing it was not supposed to be possible. Any wizard bitten would die. I could have slapped myself of course any wizard bitten would die, they would die and become a vampire like anybody else! The room I had been in could be nothing less then magic. We had miscalculated.
"Indeed you and your spouse believed the myth that we ourselves started. That a magical person could not be turned that there magic would kill there body before the change could take place. I am more powerful than your spouse and I am more powerful than you.
"Although I am beginning to believe I am not that much more powerful than you at all. You were able to stop my spell this morning, and as I said you caused me a great deal of pain. You vex me Harry Potter."
I could not think very clearly. Valeel had been holding in this piece of information for this exact moment.
"So kill me then if I vex you. Kill me now and save the world."
Valeel nodded and took a step forward with his hand outstretched like he would choke me to death. Damien squirmed in my arms and Valeel took a step back like he had been shocked.
"If only it was that simple. I cannot kill you, you are not meant to die. Do not worry about Tom and do not miss anymore school, whatever else you do is up to you. The fate of the world is in your hands. Until we meet again Harry Potter."
He vanished and I was left shivering. The room had become unbearably cold. Damien was crying I shushed him and sang to him until he fell asleep. An early nap wasn't good for him but he was over stimulated. I put him down in the play pen only because it was not as high as the couch. Magical vampires, I had never heard of such a thing.
Why would he interfere now if they had been so determined to keep there existence secret. There was no fighting them a wizard only became stronger with age not weaker. Valeel had been surprised that I had nearly been a match for him. An army of magical vampires though, no one would be a match for that. There was no war to be fought no battles to be won.
I was overpowered, outsmarted and outmaneuvered. I had to trust that Valeel would keep my son safe. I went back to making the cookies. They would make Damien happy when he woke up. I spent the day with my son coloring and reading and even venturing into the backyard once the rain had let up. He fell asleep and I put him in bed with me once more, not being able to have him very far away. I fell asleep and woke up to the door bell. I looked at the clock to find that I had slept in. I picked up Damien who grumbled and remained asleep.
I went to open the door and smiled weakly at Nanette. She waved happily and took my sleeping son. She told me to hurry so I wasn't late for school and assured me she would give Damien breakfast. I nodded and closed the door pressing one last kiss to my son's cheek. I showered and dressed inattentively. I ended up in all black once more. It was appropriate I supposed, I was in mourning anyhow. I got into my car, with a slight buzzing in my ears.
I was half way to the school when it happened I was taken over completely by a flashback. I was no longer in my car but in a coach on it's way to school. I could see the thestral's and no one else could see them. One of them was staring at me with its white cornea. I stared at it in alarm and looked around sure that someone else must see this thing but not one person looked alarmed. I blinked I was on the wrong side of the road.
I was headed for a red truck, a red truck that I had seen each morning parked across the street since I had been here. I froze unable to move I was headed straight for the truck at an alarming speed. There was a crash and I closed my eyes. My body jolted a bit with the impact. I opened my eyes Edward was there holding the cars apart with each hand. My hood appeared to have crumpled and the truck had suffered the same fate.
My eyes locked on to Edwards, several cars going in the other direction had stopped. There was a blood curdling scream and then another crash. At least eight of the students who had been behind Bella saw Edward impossibly holding the cars apart. I blinked how had I ended up on the other side of the road and in the opposite direction. My guess began and ended with Valeel. I couldn't see how exposing Edward to the small town would help anything though.
The screaming got louder until there was utter chaos. Edward continued to stare at me unblinkingly. I stared at him and I suddenly felt bad. Edward was thinking that he had destroyed his family. A lot of the students had taken out there cell phones and were snapping pictures. Edward continued to look at me. Bella was staring at me as well she seemed enraged. I could hear things like 'oh my god' 'I knew there was something wrong with him.' 'look at him' 'how is he doing that?'
Edward hung his head and let go of the cars. They both fell down less than a foot as they were being held in the air. I got out of my car and went over to Edward. He was looking at the ground clearly panicking. Bella was still behind the wheel of her truck.
'I'll fix it.'
He looked up at me sharply.
"What? How can you fix this?"
He looked at me with a mixture of desperation and hope. I nodded trying to look determined not understanding why I wanted to fix this for him. I didn't like him looking so defeated.
"I'll fix it don't worry just go."
He looked like he wanted to protest. He looked me up and down quickly and then moved closer.
"Are you alright?"
I stared at him and nodded. I was not alright but something in me wanted to wipe that panicked look off his face.
"Take Bella and go."
I used my most authoritative voice and he complied getting Bella out of her car and running away. I sighed this was going to be difficult. I searched each mind in town anyone who knew of or had seen what happened I summoned around me. I went into each of their minds one at a time and erased there memory.
I was near to collapsing when I was finished. I tried to go back to my car but I only ended up falling over. Instead of hitting the ground I was held up by a pair of strong cold arms.
"What did you do?"
I pulled myself up and forced myself to remain steady on my feet. I wasn't doing very well though.
"Are you alright?"
I hadn't been sleeping or eating very well and it was beginning to catch up with me. I was not about to faint though. I pulled out a strengthening potion and drank it in one go. I gave my head a shake and made my way to my car.
"I'm fine."
Edward nodded averting his eyes. I went back to my car only to find that it was leaking a copious amount of bright green liquid.
"I think you'll need to take that to the shop. Your transmission is leaking."
I did not now what a transmission was. I assumed that it was part of an engine. I knew enough to know that a car could not work without and engine.
"Do you want to go to the hospital? My father is a doctor."
"You're father?"
I scoffed and Edward looked like he might blush; only he couldn't so he settled for looking sheepish.
"My sire is a doctor."
I shook my head in disbelief. A vampire was a doctor.
"He's a surgeon actually."
A bloody surgeon! I began to laugh the whole lot of them were nuts! Edward stood there silently while I laughed myself sick. I tried to speak only to be overcome once more. I gained control of myself with a few stray chuckles escaping now and then.
"You can't be serious! What is wrong with you people?"
I began to laugh again. When I was finally able to stop I was being glared at.
"It seems that you are quite well, would you like a ride to school?"
I assumed I would need one, if my car was broken. I could see the flashing lights of the police and the tow truck. Edward gestured to a silver car sitting on the side of the road. Bella was sitting in the passenger's seat. I wasn't sure where I was and I didn't feel like going to school. I started to laugh again and Edward growled low in his throat. I didn't want to push my luck so I got in the back of the car.
Bella stared forward resembling a statue. Edward got into the drivers seat and made a u-turn. I was late for school and luckily Edward explained the situation. It also helped that everyone remembered me colliding with the red truck. I sat in class hoping no more flash backs would assault me. I was lucky to get through the whole day without a single one. At the end of school day I was left with a predicament. Edward was there to solve the problem right away.
"I'll drop you home Bella lives right across form you anyway."
I got into the car feeling at odds. We weren't suddenly friends and I still; well I wasn't sure what I wanted anymore. I watched the trees on the way home, the atmosphere inside the car was tense, no body spoke to anyone at all. My eyes kept connecting with Edward's in the rearview mirror. He didn't seem to be paying attention to the road.
The more I looked the more it seemed he was trying to stay as far away from Bella as possible. He hadn't even seemed dressed for school he was in sweats and I knew somehow that he wasn't the type to wear sweat suits. Something had gone wrong and when I finally looked at Bella she was glaring at me. I got out of the car. Nanette was already waiting at the door with Damien in her arms.
I supposed I should think about finding her a spare key. I had only been able to find one key. I thanked Edward stiffly and got out of the car. I walked up the drive and Damien squirmed to be let down and then ran over to me. I thanked Nanette and went inside. I closed the door to see the car still parked outside my house. It looked like Bella was yelling, Edward was practically pushed up against the window.
I closed the door, and stopped as soon as I turned around. I pulled out my wand without thought and pushed Damien behind me. To my surprise he held up his hands in surrender.
"Tom?"
"Daddy!"
A/N: let me know what you think! Thanks for the reviews!!!!
Next Chapter: Tom and Harry talk some things out and Harry forces Tom to go to school!